Being a NRFU Agent

I completed my week of Census Training and now I am officially a NRFU Agent. I'll see if you can figure out what acronym NRFU is. There were TONS of acronyms in the NRFU training manual. HU, WHEHU, EQ and various other such tid bits of exciting information.

I'd love to be able to tell you that training was extremely fun and riveting, but alas...I can not. Since I had gone through the previous training most of the first couple of days was a recap of stuff I already knew. I really tried not to be a know it all, because I just can not tolerate know it alls. To pacify myself and keep my ADD from kicking in, I texted friends and read a book during the parts I already knew. I didn't think I had bothered anyone, but the next day our CL advised me about excessive texting, she didn't seem to mind the two ladies sitting at the end of my table that talked constantly. In response I limited my texting to breaks and lunch but continued to read my book, which I finished yesterday.

I guess you might be wondering how a teacher managed to take off time during TAKS testing. Normally, I wouldn't have been able to do that, but since the school I am employed by is shutting their doors for good on May 28th, and we haven't had a math teacher for over a month, I didn't think they would mind much. I'll see when I return to work on Monday.

Others have asked what I'll be doing for employment. Well, just yesterday I was informed by the Kermit ISD, a little district about seven miles from my abode, hired me. Yep, the school board met last night and voted to accept my application. Hmmm...that's something the Wink ISD school board could never do. I wonder why?

I was also delighted about the salary. It's good. The drive, a fourteen mile round trip, will be the shortest commute I've had since moving to Texas back in 2001. I've gone from one hundred four to ninety eight to thirty four and now just fourteen miles! I'm so very very excited!

Traveling HWY 18 everyday this week to Census Training had me passing something unusual. It involves wheels, carts, blue containers and a man. I think tomorrow I am gonna stop and take some pictures and figure out what this little man is up to. Should make for an interesting day.

Census Training Cancelled By Snow Storm

That's the view from my front door looking across my yard into my neighbor's yard. That's a lot of snow and it's still coming down. I've complained to Old Man Winter already, but he's not taking complaints. I'm done with Winter. My Rose bushes were done with Winter, they had already started budding. I took the week off from my teaching assignment to do a week of training for the 2010 Census. Why would someone take a week off from their real job in order to train for a part time gig?

The school in which I teach will be closing soon. We were promised and assured by the leaders in Austin that we would have until August 31st of 2010. Then suddenly, an email was sent by Cherie Townsend stating that if West Texas State School and Victory Field closed early, let's say, by April 2nd of 2010, it would save the state 3 million dollars and possibly meet the budget cut requirements set forth by Governor Perry.

If the school closes April 2nd, then I'll have to drive four hours a day to Iraan in order to continue to work. I'm thinking I just might not do that. I'd have to leave the house around 4:30AM and that means waking my nine year old and getting her over to mommy's and daddy's at that time. Wouldn't you consider this quite a hardship?

The 2010 Census isn't really a part time gig. Seems that I have the opportunity to work seventeen weeks. That's a lot of guaranteed money. Also, I'm getting back into the insurance business, Medicare to be specific. And if Congress is able to create a National Payor, they're going to need a lot of insurance representatives, and that's something I know how to do REALLY well.

Considering I'm snowed in for the time being, I should probably use my time wisely and do a bit of cleaning and organizing. I should probably make some soup as well, I'm thinking Crab Bisque would be good. Yummy!




2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon chicken bouillon granules
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1 1/2 cups half-and-half cream
1/2 pound pre-cooked crab meat
1/2 cup white wine

1.In a large saucepan, melt butter over a low heat. Stir in flour, salt, white pepper, bouillon granules, and onion. Blend 3/4 cup half-and-half cream into the mixture. Mix in shrimp and crab meat. Turn the temperature to medium heat and continue stirring until the mixture thickens.
2.Blend the remaining half-and-half cream and wine into the mixture.