Well, March is starting out quite decent.

Dh is doing a $65 focus group next week (it's actually been a while).

Also, we are very happy with Verizon and have been with them for about a decade. We have been on contract/off contract with them for many years. We shop around every time we need new phones, but I hardly feel it is worth the effort any more. They are just the best for our needs. Plus I have no complaints about the service.

Anyway, we upped our minutes last year and I guess we are on a one-year contract - ??? (I thought they were 2 years - color me confused. I guess 2 years when you upgrade your phones?) We upgraded in 2005 and they are fine.

I didn't even realize our contract epxired next month. So they offered us a free months' service if we signed another 1-year contract.

Sounds good to me.

Save us $80.

So between the 2, an extra $145 for March.

This is good since I think we need to take both cars into the shop.

Dh's engine light came on. I'll have to check the fluid levels (yup, he hasn't a clue to do with the cars, I am the "mechanic" in the family - which is a very scary thought. My brain doesn't do well with mechanical things. But I can change a tire and do basic maintenance on a car). So I will look it over and make sure the fluid levels are okay. But we've had the car about 6 years and it has like never needed anything. It's super car! We were going to drive it to So. Cal in May and take it in for a lookover before the big drive. I figure might as well take it now. Kill 2 birds with one stone. Make sure there is nothing to this engine light thing and make sure nothing needs replacing/fixing before our big drive. It's close enough to May.

To be cleasr, the car has computer issues and we have taken it in a lot to be told it was nothing. So, though we are pretty vigilant about maintaining our cars, well, I have to say we don't get very excited when the engine light comes on, in this particular car. BUT it's been so long we've taken the car in for anything but an oil change, I wouldn't be surprised if there is something to it this time. I mean I think I will be shocked if we take it in and they say "nothing needs replacing." Just isn't possible. I don't remember replacing the brakes or anything. IT has a good 75k miles. If it wasn't my trusted mechanic who takes very good care of us, I'd think they were crazy.

Likewise, last time I had a Ford, it seemed like around 60k miles EVERYTHING needed replacing at once. So I kind of dread that this is where we are heading. No repairs, no repairs, no repairs. & then replace most of the compoments of the entire car at once!!!

I know we've replaced the tires and maybe a belt here and there - but that is all I can remember.

We'll see...

So anyway, I am sure it will need some work.

I mean it's just a little cheapie Ford. So I am extra astonished by that thing. Sper car, I Tell you!

Likewise, I need to take my car into the dealer for a recall thing. However, I have had a lot of problems with the driver side window. So while we're there we'll ask them about it. I assume it would be a quick fix and they would know what it is (my mechanic can fix it temporarily but that seems about it - it is very intermittent - I guess this is when the dealer comes in handy), but might pay a bit to have it fixed. We'll see... I don't really expect it to be much, but you never know.

In other news, I am so peeved with our local elementary school. We found out yesterday BM got in. That part is good. But they had a lottery and they made EVERYONE participate; even though there were quite a few obvious people getting in. Just seemed like a waste of time and resources. We had top priority because we volunteered x hours to FORM the school. IT's a relatively new public charter school.

Anyway, I feel pleased with it because it is right down the street. They have NO spots for 1st-5th grades. Everyone is returning. I've heard GREAT things about the school, but the proof is in the pudding. No one is giving up a coveted spot.

Anyway, the only interesting thing about the pointless lottery was going and seeing how many people were vying to get in. I counted 250 people (they had a list on the wall) for 61 Kindergarten spots. WOW!

I can't even go there, but I will. We were s'posed to have a school in our neighborhood and there was a lot of political BS there. We don't have a school. We have 1000 homes, I'd say our neighborhood runs pretty much 1/2 retirees and 1/2 very young families. So maybe 400 homes with pre-K children. & the school district was just maddening to deal with. So the parents finally had enough and we started our own public school. I give so much kudos to the parents. Likewise, parent participation is very high and that is much of why the school is so successful.

So anyway, to make a long story short, the school district says there is no demand for a new school in our neighborhood (The district is WAY overcrowded and they are building houses faster than you can blink. What the foo?). Instead the land that was reserved for the school was sold to a developer. Rumor was the school district got a large kickback for deciding to build the school elsewhere - like 10 years later on land that hasn't even been studied. In fact, I believe they bought the land in the end, even though like I said, they don't even know if it is buildable land. What a bunch of BS. But they wouldn't buy the land where the need is because it was "too expensive." So they paid twice as much for questionable land. Yeah, makes a lot of sense...

A lot of good it does for families with small kids now. To have an elemantary school in 10 years (maybe 15?).

So anyway, we are "founding parents" and were in the first lottery. They basically pulled out everyone's # and sent us on our way. YEah, what a freaking waste of time. Like they couldn't just do the math and say we have 30 founding parents and 60 spots. Gee, you're all in. !!!!! ??????

Bureacracy!

But I can figure that about 200 people didn't get in. So it feels pretty darn nice to have that all squared away. Phew!!!!! On top of all that, this school is very different than most in the area and is really a perfect fit for BM. So I am really pleased about this.

LM? That will remain to be seen. But I think it will be a good fit for him, for very different reasons.

So we'll see.


After the stupid "lottery" yesterday we went out to dinner. The kids were quite cranky, as were dh and I Really - LOL. So I was kind of nervous if it was a good idea. But the kids were absolutely perfect at dinner. Go figure. Could blow me over with a feather. I think it was just a fun change of pace for them. We spent $40 - yeesh.

But it was a fun splurge. A very once in a blue moon splurge.

The only other thing was I was trying to set up a babysitting night with their preschool. Anyway, Ms. Preschool truned me down. !!!!! LOL. I was shocked. Not often, but she has taken them before in the evenings. She is like our second family and really no one else I really trust to watch the kids; outside of our true family anyway.

Anyway, it leaves you wondering if there is some reason she doesn't want to watch my kids. She just said she had a full daycare lately and wasn't up to it. I think that is really true. She took LM an extra day last week for free. I tried to pay her but she said, "oh - you're family. Don't worry about it." So I think she was being honest. Just threw me for a loop.

Anyway, I have a friend who uses a drop-in care center and is very pleased with it. The upside is it is a little cheaper and a LOT cloer (just down the street). In fact, the place is a chain based in San Jose and so we could also use it in San Jose if we sign up (sometimes, rarely, but sometimes we do need care there when we are visiting family).

The downsides though - the placed had an overwhelming smell of bleach. I am not really into heavy cleaners and I am very sensitive to cleaners and scents. I admit. But I, personally, could not stand to be in there very long. I imagine the kids living in our house with so few chemicals and scents would feel much the same. We're just not used to it. I mean, I Can't even walk down the cleaning aisle or the soap aisle in the store. My eyes burn and my airways constrict. Blech.

So that was REALLY my pet peeve. A little strong on the bleach!

Likewise, they had a 12:1 ratio as far as the adult to kids. For BM who is almost 5? Quite fine. But I think it's a bit much for LM.

Well, we'll see. The kids seemed to really like the place. We may drop them off for an hour as an experiment. If nothing else it would be kind of nice for emergency/last minute kind of stuff.

As far as other babysitting options? I am not really comfortable with a teenaged babysitter for LM yet. & all the good ones either live too far from us or are booked solid. Likewise, I know a lot of people find their babysitters on Craigslist. That just makes me very uncomfortable. I mean, that is where I found this daycare and they are the BEST in the world. But it is different taking your kid to an established/licensed daycare. Just very different than throwing a dart at the yellow pages, essentially. Probably a lot of great babysitters, but I rather get one from referral I guess.

So we'll work on it. But this drop-in center may be good in the interim.

The other nice thing was the price for one kids was QUITE good. $7.50/hour for one. That's about as cheap as it gets, teenager or not. However, for 2 it is $11.50/hour. PRetty avergae. BUT sometimes we need care for just one. & the price is certainly good. Of course they also charge for meals and snacks which are included with Ms. Preschool. So in the end the price is about the same. But there is a huge convenience factor. The hours are also way better/more inclusive.

So we'll see with that. It might work out in the end. I think date night can be much more cheaper and enjoyable not having to drive so far to drop off/pick up the kids. So in a weird way it just may work out, her turning me down. Kind of kicked my butt to look at some other options. She was my first choice, but doesn't necessarily make the most sense.

Then again it is hard to put a price on knowing your kids are WELL cared for...

Well, I worry less and less about BM with time. He doesn't need as much supervision, for one. & you can reason pretty easily with him. LM is still my little baby though. I might need another year to feel comfortable with this babysitting thing. I mean he loves the gym daycare, but they can run out and get me if he has a meltdown, which he did just this week. So, yeah, mommy isn't so sure. The nice thing is mommy worries less with time. IT does get easier with age. Phew!!!