As you may know, I'm a teacher. In Michigan, you are first given a 6-year certificate called a "Provisional Certificate." During those six years, you must accumulate 15 credit hours towards a Master's, or a Master's Degree itself. Once that requirement is met, you earn your "Professional Certificate."

Unfortunately, I have had **** teaching jobs for five years, and only now have a position where I am appreciated, backed by administration, and wanted. Until this time, I was going to probably going to switch careers after my certificate expired.:? Now that I have a good job, :D I've decided to stay in teaching; but I'm on my last year.:(

Panic ensues. :o

After much research, I have discovered that I can get my employing district to sponsor a one-time, 2-year extension on my Provisional Certificate, if I am a part of a Master's Degree program, and will finish within those two years. But

• I need my job to get the extension
• I need the extension to keep my job

After much begging, and a "heart-to-heart" between HR and my principal, my district is going to sponsor me for the extension, and thus let me keep my job.

PHEW! :)

Then there's my bank... two and a half months ago, I noticed that the minimum payment on our loan had lowered. "Hell no," I thought. If my monthly payment lowers, I'll never get out of debt. So I called up customer service, and requested the automaticpayment to stop, and I would set up a different automaticpayment online for a higher amount.

Unfortunately for me, my bank is stupid. The customer service agent did NOT correctly/successfully remove my original monthly payment setting, and so for the past two months (despite several phone calls in which the agents claimed they fixed the problem) I have made two payments instead of one. :evil:

Long story short, rent was late for two months, and we're handed an eviction notice.

In the end, it all worked out, as I spoke to a very understanding women in the main office (not my local apartment office) who said that if I was able to pay this month on time, she would have the court case dropped and we could remain in our home.

PHEW does not quite describe it