Happy Birthday

Today is Kris's dad's birthday.  He is 83 today, and we spent the afternoon over at his apartment. Of course, he didn't know it was his birthday, or how old he is.  He asked a few times while we were there and then didn't believe us when we told him he was 83.  We brought over some good cheeseburgers,(not a McDonalds type burger, but a GOOD one) since he doesn't get that kind of stuff anymore, and a German chocolate cake, which is his favorite.  Hopefully he enjoyed it.

My Insurance Rates Just Went Up

Well, not quite yet.  but they will be shortly, because Sarah passed her written test for the learner's permit.  But since she can't actually get it until she turns 15½, she has to wait until February.  I don't know how many questions they had on their test, but Sarah told me they were allowed to get as many as 10 questions wrong.  Sarah missed 6 questions.  When I asked which ones, she said that the driving school people were not allowed to tell them which questions they missed.  

That doesn't sound right to me.  How do they expect them to correct the questions they got wrong, or rather, make sure they learn the right answer.  I's hate to be on the road with some kid who got the question about what a stop sign means wrong.  And how do you expect the kid to know what to do at stop sign unless you let them know, "Hey, you got that wrong.  The correct answer is...."

I think that I'll start giving Sarah some quick lessons just in the driveway with backing out and pulling in, just to get her used to what it feels like.  Hopefully that will be enough until they start their on the road instruction.  I don't know if they have any closed driving course instruction before they hit the road, but I think Sarah is going to need a little bit of practice before she gets turned loose on the street.  And if how she drove the golf cart at my parents' house in Florida is any indication of how she will be driving a car, she is going to need a lot of practice.

No News Yet

It's been a little over a week since I had my last interview, and so far no news.  I called to follow up yesterday, but got the HR woman's voice mail, so hopefully I'll hear something back soon.  I thought about it a little and figured that I was the first person that they met with, and they are probably interviewing others.  It would only make sense, especially given the size of the company and today's business climate.  So all I can do is wait now.  

Driver's Ed

Sarah is almost done with her driver's ed, she's in her final week.  I've been trying to figure out exactly what they've been learning since they don't have a text book.  At least they have been trying to teach them some things, like yielding to emergency vehicles, stopping for school buses, etc.  But one thing she said their teacher told them was not to yell at friends when you drive by them, and not to make "hand gestures", and some of the basics of road rage.  Funny, I don't ever remember being taught not to flip off idiots, or honk the horn at friends when you drove by.  I suppose lots has changed since Kris and I took driver's ed.  The worst thing we had to worry about was changing the radio station while driving.  Now they have to be taught not to text while driving, or talk on their phones in addition to the other things.  Hopefully she'll retain those things after she takes her test on Friday.

National Anthem

One of the other things that I missed posting last month was Alison's class singing the national anthem.  On March 2nd, Ali's 5th grade chorus got to sing the national anthem at the Milwaukee Wave soccer game.  I forget how exactly they managed to get the gig, but it was something they practiced for quite some time.  I think it paid off, because I think they did a pretty good job, but Alison was very nervous beforehand.  She is in the back row on the left, the fifth person in.

Shady Lane 5th Grade Chorus - National Anthem from Dennis Hahn on Vimeo.

Sorry about the shaky video, but it was hard to get the auto focus to work in the low light, and I couldn't see the control to adjust it in the dark.

We stayed for the game since we have never been to an indoor professional soccer game before.  I have to say, as much as I don't really like soccer, this game was pretty fun.  We ended up sitting by one of Ali's friends and she had a fun time with her during the game, though she had to leave a little early.

They also had a mascot game at one of the intermissions.  Those things are always entertaining.

Overall, I think Ali had a good time.  And I think Sarah did too.  Sarah had been to a couple of games before, because she used to get to go to a game every year in Jr. High as a reward for making the honor roll.   So it may be something we do next year as a family activity.  I think it's a cheap family night out as well as an entertaining event.  It's much cheaper than taking the family out to a Bucks game for sure.

The Start of Driver's Ed

This week began the three weeks of driver's ed for Sarah.  So far from what I can gather, her instruction is going to consist of watching some power point presentations and videos of what happens when you drink and drive, or text and drive.  While that is important, I wonder when they will start teaching them the rules of the road.  Important things, like how to navigate those stupid roundabouts, or who has the right of way at a four way stop, or at an uncontrolled intersection.  I take it back, she did say they told her class that she should have her hands at 9 and 3 (or 8 and 4).  So I guess that's something.

At the end of her class she'll take her test for her learner's permit.  Then 10 days before she hits 15½, we are supposed to call the driving school and they'll issue her permit.  I already told Sarah that as soon as she turns 15 I'll start having her practice backing the car in and out of of the driveway, and maybe even take her to a deserted parking lot and do some practice driving.  She's already saying she's going to freak out when it comes time to take her driver's test.  I told her that she just needs to have a look around the DMV and see the people that they give driver's licenses to.  The little old grandma's who can barely see over the dashboard get driver's licenses, so I am sure she'll be just fine.  Plus, she has plenty of time to practice.

Cheer Showcase

About a month ago, Sarah had her year end cheer showcase.  It is basically where the cheer teams do their routines, demonstrate some of their moves, the coaches give a short speech, etc.

But as a tradition, the JV and Varsity girls will do a short routine with their dads.  So this year, Sarah asked me if I would do it with her, and being the wonderful dad I am, I said sure.  Kris was seated on the opposite side of the gym, so she didn't get any video of it, but one of the other girls' mom's did.  She posted it to youtube.  I wasn't going to link to it, but Kris told me that I had to.  So instead, I just D/L it.  Here you go:

 

I should add...  I am carrying the second "D", just so you know which ones we are.

Job Searching

A couple of weeks ago, I was emptying out all my junk email and I had a message from LinkedIn about job searches.  I had joined LinkedIn a few months ago on a recommendation to try and do some professional networking, but never thought much about it.  Well, I decided to check out the job links and came across one that I thought I was particularly qualified for.  After reading it over, I decided to send a resume.  I figured maybe I'd hear something in a couple of weeks if they thought I was qualified.  To my surprise, I got a call the next day from them to schedule a phone interview. 

Apparently they liked what they heard, because the woman I spoke to said she thought I would be a good match and was going to contact the head of the department and go over my qualifications.  He was on vacation with his family for spring break, but he had access to email, so she said she'd be in touch with me.  I got a call a couple of days later to set up a face to face interview.  So I met with him last Friday.  I think it was a good sign, because he came back from his vacation a day early just to meet with me, and then this week he was going to be out of the country.  So I gathered that I am the only person they are talking to at this point.  When I left he said that he would have the HR lady get back to me this week about setting up another interview with a couple more people. 

I got a call on Monday to come back in for a third interview now.  That happens on Friday.  Hopefully things work out.  I am really hoping that they offer me this position.  I have been at my current job for almost 10 years and I have been growing increasingly loathsome of going to work.  Aside from feeling put off by my coworkers and supervisors, I am getting frustrated by things that I see that the company is not doing right, and they are not receptive to any of my suggestions for improvement.  So I think it may be time to start looking to move on.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Of course now, by posting this I am probably jinxing myself, but I hope not.

End of Spring Break

At last, the day has come.  Tomorrow is the end of spring break.  It can't come soon enough.  The girls have been home for a week and they are driving me crazy.  Of course, they both had school work to do over break and they left it until the night before they were supposed to go back to school.  It wasn't anything that was due immediately upon getting back, but it was stuff they needed to do.  Hopefully they (especially Sarah) will be able to get back into their routine without too much trouble.  Since they didn't have to get up for school, Sarah will regularly sleep until at least 9:00 AM, if not later and Alison was usually up by 8:00.  Now it's back to waking up by 5:30.