The schedule struggle

I am currently going to school on-line to become a Medical Transcriptionist. I am doing this so that I can then work as a transcriptionist from home. This will be my third work-from-home job. The first one was running a day care. I thought that was hard when I was doing it. What I mean is, I thought that was hard to do while also caring for my kids and keeping up on the housework. I was wrong! That was one of the easiest jobs I've ever done from home when you consider taking care of the kids and the housework too. My second job was working as an internet researcher. That one wasn't as easy, but not as hard as being a transcriptionist is going to be. One reason is because most of the time I was doing that I only had my three older children then. I could work while they were at school, I could work in a different room and not worry as much about what they were doing. I could also work at any time of the day I wanted & was able to be interrupted quite easily without getting lost on what I was doing. Transcriptioning won't be the same way. Now I have an almost 2 yr old whom I have to keep a sharp eye on. Plus with MT you have to where head phones and be able to hear what the dictator is saying. That is going to be the biggest obstacle. I either won't be able to hear what my 2 yr old is doing, or I won't be able to hear the dictator well enough to do my job.
As for scheduling-that is a big issue too. Before with daycare my kids just played with the other kids, or did their homework at the table where i could easily help them and watch the kids. With my internet research job my hours were completely flexible, when & how many were totally up to me except for a few times a year. This job though they need to know how many hours a week I can work ahead of time. I have a limited amount of time to finish the work and turn it back in. Right now my scheduling issue is schooling. Luckily the program is just as flexible as my 2nd wah job was. Anytime, for any amount of time I want. The problem is finding the time-or rather making the time-around my hubby's schedule, my kids, trying to work out to lose this extra weight I've all ready gained & to fight the weight I am likely to gain in the future & do all the sahm jobs that I have too. Not to mention my 21 mo old doesn't always like to stick to a schedule either. Today is the first day of the "newest" schedule I have tried to put in place. However, this time I also have hubby's weird 4 day work week to contend with. He is now home 2 days through the week. You'd think that would make it easier on me then, right? Wrong! Hubby isn't real good at knowing what needs done around the house or with the kids without asking me. He's also not good at moving at a faster speed than he's on-which is necessary for a family this size with as many activities as we have. My frustration gets to be a bit much at trying and trying and getting no where it seems. My worry is that I'm going to be very stressed out when I do actually get to work that no one is going to be happy. I can't change it if I don't keep trying though. Ironically I am blowing part of my schedule by writing this blog about scheduling! I'm my own worst enemy sometimes.

Dogs, Dogs & more dogs!

That's right, dogs everywhere! I feel like part of the Old McDonald song-here a dog, there a dog, everywhere a dog, dog! First of all I have two boxers that live in my house. I have 3 dogs who live outside in my yard. Two little llaso Apsos and one young mutt. All my dogs are loose, either in the house or outside. Keeping track of five different dogs inside & out is a good part time job. Keeping track of all the other dogs that are running around the neighborhood that like to come "visiting" makes it almost a full time job! Now I know that leaving a dog loose means that sometimes they are going to wander. I know this because despite my best efforts even my dogs leave our yard once in awhile. These particular dogs though roam the streets ALL the time. Their owners watch them leave and say nothing. Watch them chase children on bikes, amish horse and buggies, horseback riders and motorcyclists being chased and say nothing! This one particular dog is a big bully. She has charged me while carrying my newborn in my own yard. She has growled at my husband and I for trying to chase her out of our yard. She comes and tries to attack our little dogs when they are chained up and unable to get away. These people have had the dog warden called on them before because this female & her many grown up pups attacked a miniature pinscher, breaking it's hip. The grown pups disappeared and for a short time she was penned up. Within a month or so she was loose again and having more pups!
We have done everything we can to keep her out & all the other unwanted dogs in our yard. We taught our boxers to chase out dogs & cats that are not part of our family. We have shot at them trying to warn them. Some dogs get the hint, this particular female has not. It's almost a daily drama here trying to chase & keep the dogs out. Yesterday the female, a pup, & two other stray dogs were here. My boxer got into it with her and I was hoping that would help. Not sure yet though since it's only been a day. Today's drama though was with a male dog, making friends with our female mutt outside. Not only do I not want the dog visiting, but our female mutt is not fixed yet. She's approx. 9 mos old and apparently it's time to get her fixed. Calling the vet today for the appointment. Last thing I need is puppies to add to my dog drama!
I've done my time, am doing my time, with helping with the unwanted overpopulation of cats & dogs. Last July is when our female mutt showed up outside as a pup. We tried to find her a home but it didn't happen. She is such a good dog that I couldn't stand the idea of sending her to the pound. The August before that we got our second boxer, full grown running around the local town for weeks before we took her in. I can not take in anymore dogs, for financial reasons and for my own sanity!
I just wish that other owners would try to be more responsible with their own pets. Short of chaining our dogs up all the time I'm doing everything I can to teach my dogs to stay in their own yard. They do stay home about 90% of the time too. I spend many months from spring to fall walking them the border of our yard to learn their borders. We've bought a shock collar to use when they start getting the wanderlust. Even bought a wireless fence to use for the outside dogs when they also get the wanderlust. Use it for a few days and then it is weeks or longer before they try it again. I'll admit it isn't easy or cheap, but as responsible pet owners it's your job, or don't have the animals. It really gets my blood boiling when the owners are watching their dog chase kids, people, animals, etc and don't do anything about it! Yet these same owners shot another stray dog for showing up on their property! The hypocrites! In case you are wondering it is legal here to shoot dogs that are on your property if they are a nusiance. We live out in the country, in the midst of several counties of farmland.
Well the dog drama has ceased for the moment so I'd better go try to do all the other things I need to do before the next round!