Ramblings on Friday October 21, 2005
10/21/2005 01:54 p.m.
Well... I have actually started looking into the graduate programs offered at universities within a reasonable commute from home. I would prefer not to have to give up my full-time teaching and benefits.

The "benefits" package is coming up for renewal. We have to begin making our choicess the beginning of next month.
Once again the district is changing medical coverage providers, and once more we are seeing a pretty significant jump in our costs ($140/month increase for myself and my boys...$345/bimonthly pay period). Thank God I don't have to cover an entire family! By the time the insurance, etc. was taken out I'd be taking up about $300/month! It's CRAZY! I can't speak for all other states, but Texas needs to seriously increase the pay for teacher's or we need to subsidize the health insurance more! Medicare recipients have a better plan/program than teachers, and teacher's make too much money to qualify for Medicare or for reduced medical insurance for their children!

Back to my Grad school plans... I guess since I'm getting serious that means I'm gonna have to take the GRE. I dread that! I hate tests like that, I never perform well.

I was also told by a co-worker that "they" don't like you to get your grad. degree from the same school you got your undergraduate. Well I'm not real sure who "they" are, but unless "they" are going to pay for my grad. school and unless "they" are also going to pay all of my bills, then "they" are just going to have to live with it. My Alma Mater is less than 70 miles away, there is also the possibility of taking some of the courses through "distance learning" at a college near me.... I could take evening classes during the year and still work, and my Alma Mater is one of the lesser expensive options I've found.

And the very BEST thing about today/this week?! My hometeam Astros have FINALLY made it to the World Series!

GO ASTROS