The Coburn Blog

boy I tell yah, I think I’ve been busier not working, then I was when I was working, hehe. I didn’t realize how much a stay at home step-dad actually does around the house. hehe I mean, I knew I’d be doing the dishes, cleaning the bathroom, those kinds of things, but I didn’t expect how tired I would be, after doing those things, and going to all these places. Its probably more work I did when I was at work. hehe

I dunno, I think its funny though, the guy who took my place at KMC, Tim, was saying to Susan that, he can’t cut all that wire, plus glue, plus cover, and whenever he askes for help, the other guys in the factory say, they would rather stand there and do nothing at all, then help him, and I told Susan I said “yeap, thats what they did to me too”.. Only reason I could do it as fast as I did, is because I’ve been doing it for 8 years, and because I am a fast worker.. I just think its funny that they didn’t appreciate how good of a worker I was, until I left.. I just think its funny as heck, and whats even funnier, they had 3 Mexicans over there upholstering at one time, and all 3 of them working together, couldn’t keep up with me, me doing those 3 jobs Tim is doing now, and the funny part about that, is my Foreman’s Steve and Betty, always told me “I” was slow, and that the only fast employees are the Mexicans.. like yeah right, three 15 year old Mexicans couldn’t keep up with me I was so FAST, and Blind on top of that, so I just think its funnier then heck. hehe

Well, Ivy Tech got back with me today on how many classes I would need to finish up my Associates. I only need 5 classes total, but she recommended 2 more so I could get A+ Certified, so I’m going to do that. Because Voc rehab is funding the rest of it though, I’ll probably still attend both schools, Indiana Tech and Ivy Tech, because once I get my Associates they’ll probably drop funding, but if I’m going for my Bachelors at the same time, they’ll fund it until I’m done, so thats what I’ve decided to do, attend both schools. Its not like I won’t have the time, not working and everything. Anyway, here is the list

Speech COM 101
Database Design CIS 125*
CIS 203 Systems Analysis and Design
CIT 121 Network fund *
CIS 279 Captstone (one credit)

* Certification included

Recommended: CIT 210 11B and 211 11B A+ Certification

Sounds doable.. I did actually complete Speech and Systems Analysis and Design 10 years ago, but she was saying, those were the past credits that were not accepted, decision made by the South Bend main office, because originally all I had to repeat was Database Design, but thats ok, 7 classes is definitely better then a full 2 years worth, so I was more then satisfied with that decision. Now I just have to present this plan to James, my voc rehab counselor, to see what he thinks. I think it all depends on how many additional classes I need to get my bachelors, but I’m guessing only 2 more years worth, since once I get my AAS that degree will transfer to any 4 year college, so it would only be 60 additional credits, or around 2 years. Since I have to attend full time anyway, and maintain that 2.0 average, taking 60 additional credits, at 16 credits per semester, it shouldn’t take me but 2 more years to graduate. Thats if I take summer classes too, which I probably will so I can hurry up and graduate. and besides, all those other classes, except for A+, can be taken online she was saying, so I still think its doable within 2-3 years, but even if it takes me 4-5, as long as I maintain that 2.0 average, I believe Voc rehab will continue to fund my college, as long as he feels its what I need, and I think so. I know not all employers ask for a degree, but I’ll be competing with people with 4 year degrees, and being visually impaired on top of that, I’ll need every advantage I can get, so thats the argument I’m going to use to him on that. FAFSA may also cover quite a bit of it, me not having an income and all, but we’ll see how it goes. The amount I get from Voc rehab, also figures in living expenses too, so I’ll probably get a little extra money, which will help pay for food and utilities, so I think its a good plan.

I figure, all these people out there, who are getting Social Security, just for being lazy, least they could do is, let someone who actually NEEDS it get it, right? but that is why I could never get it before. As long as I was able to work, Social Security wouldn’t pay a dime, you have to actually prove that your unable to do your job due to your disability.

I just have too much of my dad in me.. If there’s something I cannot do, I find a way to do it, thats how I’ve been able to do most jobs I’ve had until now. I’ve had 20/100 - 20/200 ever since I can remember. My mom said I was born Blind, but that was further back then I can remember. In fact, I don’t remember anything before age 6, and only bits and pieces, and now that my vision is going back to how it was when I was real young, I don’t know how to do everyday tasks, that I had enough vision to do earlier in my life, so that is why Voc rehab set me up with Independent Living skills, and mobility, training. Its normally to teach people who used to have 20/20, do everyday activities as their eyesight gets worse. Braille, how to use a caine, even personal things like how to find things in the shower, etc, but my voc rehab counselor, felt because I’ve lost so much vision over the last year, that I needed a refresher course in all that, and he was right, they’ve taught me things already that I could have used earlier in my life. like for instance, how to moe the lawn, hehe, my dad probably really wishes they had taught me how to moe the lawn when I was a kid when he used to get all upset with me for not moeing right, hehe So I mean, as funny as those experiences were in my life when I was younger, I think its good that I’m getting training for them now. I know my step-mom is always so nervous when I come over to her house, and I knock over a lamp, or little figurines she has lying around.. See, those are things my instructor will teach me too, so she will no longer have to worry about me knocking over things, so I’m sure she’ll be happy to hear that. hehe

Of course, it means I have to carry a caine with me around wherever I go. My mobility instructor already scolded me on that one, and thats how I got in that situation on loosing my job in the first place, because I took my caine to work with me, like I was supposed to, and work got nervous, because they said a factory is not the place to walk with a caine, which was stupid, yeah, but at the same time, I can’t walk without it anymore, and they realized that, but because I’ve been such a good worker for them in the past, my boss was kind enough to put me on layoff, so that, if for some reason I can’t get Social Security for some unknown reason, I can always get unemployment, so even if the plan doesn’t work out, I’ll still be able to get a different job somewhere else, so I think it’ll work out in the end. God will not let me down, he never has

Besides, I won’t get anywhere in life, if I don’t learn to take risks.