"A Teachers Salary"

I got this from FB, at first I was PISSED, as a prospective teacher, when I saw the title. Then I read it and deemed it re-post-able:

Are you sick of highly paid teachers?

     Teachers' hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or10 months a year! It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do - babysit!

We can get that for less than minimum wage.

     That's right. Let's give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch and plan-- that equals 6 1/2 hours).

     Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. Now how many students do they teach in a day...maybe 30? So that's $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day.

However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations.

LET'S SEE....

That's $585 X 180= $105,300

per year. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries).

     What about those special

education teachers and the ones with Master's degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an

hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 30 children X 180 days = $280,800 per year.

Wait a minute -- there's

something wrong here! There sure is!

The average teacher's salary

(nation wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days = $277.77/per day/30

students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student--a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!) WHAT A DEAL!!!!

by Meredith Menden

Make a teacher smile; repost this to show appreciation for all educators

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"5 things"

I was tagged by Hayley to blog about 5 things I love. 

So without further ado:

1.

I love this coffee. I go through like 3 things of it every 2 weeks. It is delicious.

I buy it already ground though.

2.

I got this tumbler, except its coffee brown/ bronze, from my mom for Christmas. 

She has a green one and I loved hers to the point of trying to steal it, so she got me my own.

Keeps my coffee HOT from 8-12, I don't drink coffee after noon.

3.

I got this Shampoo/ Conditioner/ Leave-in from the salon yesterday. Not only does it smell terrific, if you know me you know I am obsessed w.hair products and they HAVE to smell good, but it makes my hair like silk.

4.

I drink  this tea, hot only. 

I usually have 1-2 cups almost every night. It is decaf so it doesnt keep me up and the warmth relaxes my body.

I used to drink it cold mixed w.lemonade from SB, but now I only drink it hot, ask me in June when its 100* if I drink it cold. hah. 

5.

I have four pairs of flats from Target. I have the pewter ones (pictures second in from the bottom, next to the zebra ones), I have the black w.ruffles as well as purple w.ruffles (seen here) and a dark denim/navy pair.

I love them b/c they look great with jeans, shorts, skirts and dresses. 

In love.

I tag anyone who wants to participate.

:)

Happy Monday all.

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"Five Question Friday"

Questions for Friday, February 18th: (Special thanks to Rene, Sandy,Tammy, Ciara, andRachel for their question suggestions! If YOU would like to be linked in a future 5QF, head on over to my community and offer up your best question suggestions! Feel free to shout them out on Twitter [I'll link your twitter handle], using hashtag #5QF and @5crookedhalos me!)

1. Have you worn the same outfit more than one day in a row? 

Yes. I wore it to class in PA on a Thursday and then I wore it shopping w.my girl the next day, Friday. I felt that since I wore it from 5-10 it was cool. 

2. If you had to choose any LARGE city to live in, which would it be?

Oh lord. I live right outside Orlando... does that count? 

If not, I would prolly Atlanta, Ga.

3. Fly or drive with the kids on vacation?

Depends on where we are going, like distance. If its more than 4 hours, fly. 3 hrs and under drive.

4. What is your idea of "spring cleaning"?

Purging closets and dressers. Cabinets. rearranging things. I have brand new carpet but if I didnt, a good carpet shampoo. Pressure washing the back porch will be happening.

5. What is the best book you have ever read?

I read, a lot. I have had a Kindle for over 2 yrs and in the last 2 yrs I have read some amazing books. I just ordered Shut Up about your perfect kid and I am very excited about it. Not only b.c MG has special needs but b/c I think it will help make me a better teacher. 

Its your turn...Link-Up

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"Valentines Day"

[via]

A year ago today, the man I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with made that wish a reality, when he proposed to me. (read about it here).


Then things happened and some how we did not survive the things. We don't even talk now. He blocked me on FB, I blocked his phone number.

How it got so bad is beyond me. When just 1 year ago we were "so in love", taking the big step towards forever.

I had been in love with M for over 3 1/2 years at that time,  we started out as friends and out relationship grew, but the same way our relationship grew and a bond formed between us a bond never formed between my parents and him.

I am a huge family person and the lack of a bond between my family and M it put a rift in our "bullet-proof" relationship. There were other things but that seemed to be the most prominent.

I have never been really big on Valentines day, I feel that if you love someone, you should show them daily, not once a year.

I had also never had a really good vday, until it became the day M proposed to me and I thought that was the first day of the rest of our lives. I had vowed to love/ celebrate that day forever; Until Sept. 7 months after said proposal, I ended things.

When I did that I didn't even think about Feb. 14 2011. -- This is the first vday I have been alone since 2003. At first thought I was sad, then I realized that vday was never a favorite of mine, even when I had someone, b/c I  think you should show your love daily.

Today, my daughter is my valentine. I love her more than words can describe, and I SHOW HER DAILY, so I think its fitting.

A valentine does not have to be a s/o- it can be someone you love dearly, like a child.

I hope that soon I will find/be with someone who is willing to show me daily, how he feels about me, not just 1 day a year. Until then, its just my girl and I and that is enough for me.

I hope everyone has a wonderful VDay, if you celebrate it, if not, have a great Monday, I know I will- only 10days left of suffering through 2 jobs.

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"We are a Family Too"

The other day I was shopping, alone (!), E was in school and until Feb 28, I only work job1 M-W, read about that here.

Anyways I was trying on some work attire, I am running low on my choices for job1 and shadowing (& b/c I had a GC). While I was in the dressing room I over heard a few ladies talking, I never saw them but if I had to guess their ages, I would say mid-late 30s.

It was kind of hard NOT to hear them, I was the only other person in the dressing rooms and it sounded as if they were shouting. They probably weren't and it was just echoing, but srsly.

They were discussing running their mouths about how to be a real "legit" (their word not mine) family it can't just be you and your husband or a single parent and their kid(s).

My initial thought was WTF?! Then, I thought how that is one of the most ignorant things I have ever heard. Then I felt sorry for them, as they have a fucked up view of what a family is.

I wanted so badly to say something, to correct them. Tell them how wrong they were. That I am a single parent; THAT MY DAUGHTER & I ARE A FAMILY! We DONT have to have a man to make us a family.

But I couldn't open my mouth, I felt paralyzed; I couldn't speak or move.

A family can be 2 people or 30. Since when is a man, woman and children the only kind of "family"? What if a couple decides to live childless? What if a woman decides to be a choice mom? What if a mother abandons her family and the dad is left raising his children alone? or visa versa?

I was raised by my single mom fulltime and my single dad part time with help from my grandmother. I had TWO families. My mom & I and my dad, Gran and I.

But by the standards of thses two women, and majority of America, I did not have a family. My daughter and I are not a family.  I tried to find a picture to accompany this post, but when I typed "Family" all I got was pictures of a mom, dad and 2 kids. My heart broke for Google and its close-mindedness.

I typed "Single Parent Family" and I still got pictures of a mom, dad and children with a black "broken" "jagged" line down the middle to symbolize the divorce. NOT all single parents are divorced, some are choice parents. Some were never married to begin with.

I am still reeling from overhearing that convo and the lack of images via google.

Hearing those women, hurt me to the core; I am a single mother, and I feel that my daughter and I are a complete FAMILY, a family of 2.

I would love to ADD a loving man to our family one day, but I am not going to take the first thing that comes my way b/c we don't need a man to make us a family.

**Tell me, what are your thoughts? Feel free to disagree with me, this is an open forum, no judgements here

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"Ready"

Right now I am lucky enough to stay home with my pretty in the mornings on Thursday & Fridays. So I decided I have neglected my reader for long enough; I started perusing blogs as I sipped my coffee with a smile on my face.

I don't know exactly when it happened, but I realized I AM READY...

...to be happy; Not just sometimes but always.

...to stop over analyzing, everything.


...to leave the past where it belongs, in the past.


...to take the walls down, slowly & open up.


and I am ready...


...for March to come, my life is unfolding around me and I am stuck in this vortex. I can't get out but I see everything happening. 


Come Feb. 28 I will only have one job.
     I will go from working M-W 9-2 at job1 and M 215-545 T&F 215-530 W 115-530 and Th 215-600 at job2 to working M&W 9-330, T&Th 9-2 at job1.

I am excited for this change, the chance to continue making money and supporting my daughter and I, but also the opportunity to spend more time with my girl and to focus on school.

Instead of being so stressed out from the moment I leave work and walk in the door at night, trying to get dinner on the table, E in a bath and ready for bed all in the span of about 1.5 hrs. I will be able to get dinner on the table at a decent time while enjoying the time with my girl without constantly checking the clock.

I know I will MISS my kids like crazy. Not just my 4th graders but Heathers and her 3rd graders, Allison and her 2nd graders and Vickie and her1st graders and my Kindergarten "babies" (I dont like the K teacher and will NOT miss her)


The good thing is I am leaving on a positive note, I don't like burning bridges, so I WILL go visit when it fits my schedule.

I love ext day but E has been acting out, bad. I honestly believe it's b/c she doesn't see me enough and she wants attention, good or bad. I had to make the hard decision to leave the job that causes me to be home so late and away from her.

I know this decision will help make me happy, all the time.

The other things will come with time.

Things like that don't happen over night. I am starting to take the walls down, brick-by-brick. I have been really happy as of late, while I may analyze, everything, I am still smiling.

I also realized this morning, that I may be "replaceable" but NOONE is ME. I have so much love and happiness to offer too right person. I think I have found the right person to give that love and happiness too, but I am not sure he is ready... I am willing to walk slow, by his pace. Only time will tell.

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

  

"They Grow-up Too Fast!"

Remember when I told you all I was insanely busy, here.

Well since then...

GREEN BAY WON THE SUPERBOWL!!!

We've been playing w.our favorite mom/daughter duo a lot.

I made the decision to start dating, went on a date. Realized I STILL can not trust men. I am terrified they are going to do what GD & M did, and bail.

GREEN BAY WON THE SUPERBOWL!!!

Just because I am scared isn't going to stop me from trying. Cautiously, but still trying.

I got a new iPhone 4, "boyfriend" b/c my 3G kicked it.

I gave a MONTHS notice at job2. My last day will be Feb. 25. It became too much, getting home around 645/7PM with a toddler who's behavior has gotten out of control b/c she doesn't see mommy enough (more on this later this week), in GRAD school full time, Shadowing for school, keeping my house running, Job1

I've been lucky enough to spend some quality with a friend who leaves for Afghan before the month is over.

GREEN BAY WON THE SUPERBOWL!!!

I have wonderful people in my life, who are helping me become a happier person.

I have started to "train", read run/walk combo on a treadmill, so I can run a 5K in Sept. with my favorite family.

I am starting to become okay with the idea of non-family members babysitting E. I had a friend and her husband babysit her last week and I have another friend (and her husband if he wants to join her) babysit E this coming Friday.

GREEN BAY WON THE SUPERBOWL!!!

Oh yah, did I mention...

E STARTED PRE-SCHOOL, 3 days a week, MWF, from 9-2. 

I cried so much after I dropped her off, esp when she said "Mama why you leaving me?", then I saw her and her classmates walking to class and I sat in the car and just cried and cried. 

She loved school, so much that this AM when she woke up, 20 minutes before my alarm, she ran in my room screaming "Me ready for school!" When I told her there was no school today she cried. A lot. It was kind of cute.

So needless to say, we've been busy, but I am going to continue to try and update the blog at least two times a week. I hope come March, when I am only working 1 job (more hrs) I will be "around" more.

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli

"The List"

Last week I wrote a post, here, about "The List" and why I am making one. 

It took me a few days but, I have tweaked it and refined it. I am pleased with it. 

Now the hard part, not only looking for these traits in a MAN, but to become the list myself. 

I will continue to add to the list but, you get the idea: 

• You accept my daughter, not just tolerate her. We are a package deal, you see me, you will most likely see her too. I am a single mom, I don't get a babysitter often.
• You are confident in the MAN you are and can deal with my past. I can deal with yours.
• When you look at me, You look me in the eyes. 
• You get that I am emotional and thats okay. Thats who I am.
• You stick by my side, even through rough times, I can look and you're still there.
• You get along with your family and mine- or try to.
• You want to grow with me, physically and emotionally.
• We have extreme chemistry; Physically and Emotionally. 
• You are financially responsible.
• You cheer me on and are excited for my successes. I will do the same for you.
• You pick me up when I fall. I will have a band-aid for you when you fall.
• You like to cook every once in a while & enjoy when I cook and bake.
• You know how to communicate, genuinely and respectfully. You make  the effort to talk to me, about every day things. As well as the future.
• You don't feel the need to fill the silence, you are okay just sitting with me, without talking.
• You make me laugh an laugh at my lame attempts to be funny- even if you know its not funny, laugh.
• You have a great work ethic. 
• You are a good role model for my daughter. 
• You are a ONE WOMAN man. You only want to be in a committed relationship.
• You are up for trying new things with me.

I know there is so much more and as I venture out into the dating world, I am sure I will refine this list.

Is there anything, YOU think I should add? Let me know your thoughts. 

This list may be "ridiculous" but I have settled in the past. Never again. 

*You can check out Rachel Sarah's, Single Mom Seeking, list Here.

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Keep up in between posts, I Tweet , A lot.

xo

-Kandid Kelli