Okay. It's official. I am coming home for good at the end of May, so maybe our little party on the 31st could be a Welcome Home Angie party instead. (Hear that? It's me tootin' my own horn )

There are many factors surrounding my decision to return home, but the main reason is that my father is not well and I feel the need to come home and take care of him. I'll be staying with him in Porter until I get employed and get on my feet, but will probably end up living in Porter anyway to be near him. Plus, as I said somewhere else, I don't want my daughter going to school in MC.

So, there you have it folks!

Good luck with the move, Ang!

The MCAS are not that bad! Honestly! If you have good kids, who make good decisions, and you're a good parent who supports their education, they'll do fine. (There are kids getting $56,000 scholarships from U of Chicago and Northwestern that go to MCHS...and Lilly full ride scholarships...both of which are academic...but you never hear of it.)

I'm sure you do those things! Welcome back to MC, we need thinkers!

Honestly...

Because I am a rather outspoken person (see my quote at the bottom), and because I was an employee of the MCAS (and outspoken then), I don't believe my child would be well received by some people within the school system (I'm trying VERY hard to be PC). While, I believe, I left on good terms, or at least reasonably good terms, I haven't been afraid to voice my opinion as often as I feel the need to since I left.

Having said that, at this point I think it's best my daughter not attend school within the MCAS, and private school is not an option.

I sincerely agree that there is a good education to be had from MCAS, but it is up to the student to have the determination to suceed. My experience with my son as a student within MCAS showed me that the teachers want to help the children be more successful academically, but due to politics, their hands are tied as to just exactly how much help they can provide and with social promotion, it's better to leave the lazy kids alone and work more with the children who are more motivated. The lazy kids will get to move forward anyway, so why not help the kids who want the help?
By the time I moved here, my son was starting 9th grade and the damage had been done. There is no such thing as "social promotion" here and he was expected to have the skills of a 9th grader, but because he was pushed through the system in MC, he had the skills of a 7th grader-more or less. He ended up quitting school at the end of 10th grade--he had 2.5 credits toward graduation.

I'm not saying that ALL of the MCAS is bad. I know there are excellent teachers out there. I have met and worked with many. I'm saying that my experience was very bad with my son and I think it's best that my daughter attend school in another district.

(on a positive note, my son went to Job Corps and earned his GED in three months. He passed the test in the top 10% and was just barely 17. He is a very smart kid, and had he been encouraged and worked with while he was in middle school, he would have been a very successful student in high school.)

/soapbox.
Thank you.

And one more thing...

I worked with my son. He sat and did homework every night, I helped him, we studied, I communicated with his teachers (I was an employee then and I had a good rapport with all of his teachers), I did it all as best I could, but at school he was lazy. I cannot help what the child does when I'm not around.

Wow, Ang - congratulations to you! I think I'm a little envious. Good luck with the move - see you in December!

Thanks! I'm terrified with the economy the way it is, but this is something I need to do.

I'll be looking forward to December!

Good luck Ang!

It will be great to have you back. I hope the move goes well.

Good luck with the move, Ang!

Thank you all so much!

sniff sniff

You're making me blush. I wish people in WY could be as friendly and caring as us "mid-westerners"

I can't wait to get home!

Wow, it's great to hear you're coming back. I'm sorry to hear about your father; tough that it's under those circumstances. But I'm looking forward to meeting you in real life!

Yet, you do know the deal on the weather. Welcome home for now dear.

It's funny that you mention that Michelle because I have every intention of stopping by the library to meet you when I get home. I was just going to walk in and surprise you, but now that you know I'm coming please don't run and hide.


I'll do my best to leave it here. I promise.

[quote name='Ang' date='Apr 28 2009, 11:40 AM' post='20813']
It's funny that you mention that Michelle because I have every intention of stopping by the library to meet you when I get home. I was just going to walk in and surprise you, but now that you know I'm coming please don't run and hide.

lol, not a chance. Please leave the snow there, though. I love it, but I'm ready for summer. Already busted out the Beach Boys music.

I'm officially moved out of my house and homeless. Wow! Never been homeless before. It's kind of an eerie feeling to tell the truth. At least I have a car I can live out of for the next four weeks.

Seriously, though--don't worry--I do have a place to stay till we leave.

Oh, and I left the snow shovels behind with the hopes that we won't get any more snow. I guess it wouldn't matter if we did since I have no sidewalks to be responsible for anymore.

My target departure date is May 26th (notice that I keep moving it up? By the time I'm done, I'll probably be there next week.) My last work day is May 22 and my daughter's last school day is also May 22. I've got a Humane Society obligation on May 23rd, and two high school graduations to attend on the 24th and 25th, so on the 26th I plan to be east bound-loaded up and runnin' (can anyone name that tune?)

I'm gonna miss your avatar pics...

Oh, don't worry, I've got a ton of pics on the laptop at home, I promise to keep the avatar changing with beautiful mountain scenery pics. I'll probably throw in a couple of lake scenery pics for variety, though

Ok guys! I'm going to be offline for a coupla days, but I will go by the library Wednesday to check in (and meet Michelle!)

I was going to sleep down on my boat tonight, but the teperature dropped. Did you have anything to do with it Ang?

Weee, Ang is in town!

Apparently she and the family crept into town in the dead of night. She stopped by the library, and asked me to let you all know she's here.

Welcome home Ang and family!

Yeah!!

It's good to be home!

Job Searching really blows right now! Plus, Dad doesn't have internet, so that really puts a damper on things considering every place I've called says, "Sign up at our website" LOL.
So, I am a new patron of the Westchester Public Library. I called the Chesterton (Thomas) branch and the lady on the phone says that I can't get a card because of no proof of address in Porter Co. So, I told her, "That's ok. My friend is a librarian at the Michigan City library, I'll just go there. She'll help me." That lady changed her tune right quick at the mention of MC. LOL.
I now have a library card for the Porter branch and they were all to eager to help me out. I've signed up with two employment agencies and done a little searching of open positions. But, life would be so much easier if someone would just say, "Angelique Peters, come on down! I have a job for you!" (OK, wake up now, Ang!)
Anyway, now that I can use the internet here, I should be around a little more often.

Ang, I have noticed a large number of Michigan City/NW Indiana jobs are available at Simply Hired Website. You might check that out also. Good Luck!

If you are willing to commute to Chicago, the Federal Government is hiring like CRAZY. Look on USAjobs.com

lol, that's strange I had no idea that we were in such a competitive business.

Job-hunting completely stinks right now. But you have great experience, and that will be recognized in the long run. It's just a time and diligence investment at this point. Companies are deluged with applications right now, and it's hard to get their attention, but you really have the goods. There's no doubt that you're going to attract interest. Hang in there!

Now that we got connected at home, OMG I have a lot to catch up on!

I rather suspected something when I hit "view new posts" and it all ended in "Ang" !

Its good to see you around Ang. Its a lot harder for me to post from home, as the room the computer is in, is also the least kid proofed. Ugh.

It's good to be back. I feel like I've missed so much and there is so much to share but I'm not sure where to begin. I'll save most of for Saturday night.

You made it Welcome home Ang!

Check out the Sawgrass Market on Saturday & Sunday in Chesterton.

Where have you been? Hardly seen you around here. And are you coming on Saturday to girls/boys night out?

Hi Michelle My computer was ill...and I lost passwords, etc. Plus, life in general has been hectic in my little corner of the world. I can't make it on Saturday, my son is coming home for the weekend. You all have a good time and have an adult beverage for me

I'll be looking forward to pics and details!

Thanks! Now all I wish is for the sun to come out. This gloom and doom is depressing me.

Hmmmm
Florida?