: About Me

My name is L.B. Shearer. I am NOT a soccer mom. My house could be cleaner, even though I try not toI cuss in front of my kids, I have OCD, I am a recovering people pleaser (thanks mom), and I am a bit of an over achiever in some areas.
I have been married 14 years and have three children, a stepdaughter 17 who lives with her mom, a stepson 16, and a son 11. The kids keep me busy with sports schedules that include basketball, soccer, and baseball. Basketball is "the" sport and my husband and I (being huge sports enthusiasts) are excited to have our sophomore son starting varsity and being contacted by colleges! The youngest, also a basketball player is following his brother's footsteps and averaging 14 points per game as the starting point guard. Thanks god they both get good grades because we will not be able to afford college for them!
I have lived in Pennsylvania, Washington, DC, and Okinawa, Japan before relocating back to my hometown in PA eleven years ago. I have traveled over most of the United States and several places abroad such as England, France, Italy, and Switzerland. We currently help work a 1300 acre farm that was originally my grandfathers who past away two years ago at the ripe 'ol age of 91 (and he was still farming)! We grow corn, barely, oats, and wheat and raise our own beef cattle and pork. We also have some chickens, bunnies and cats (too many to name them all). For my day job, I currently a 7th grade Social Studies teacher in inner city Harrisburg. In the past I have taught 8th grade Civics and 5th grade.
Teaching is my second career. I graduated from Penn State in '88 with a degree in business before moving to Washington, DC. I worked for several entrepreneurs when I met my husband, a U.S. marine (ooh rah devil dogs). We married and moved to Japan. After living there for a year, we received orders back to Washington, D.C. While in D.C. the second time, I became pregnant and after my son was born we decided to return to my hometown in PA. I started coaching volleyball, basketball, and soccer at our local rural middle school while running a small home internet business. I enjoyed coaching so much that I contemplated a career in education. Soon after my son went to school, I went back to Penn State University and received a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. I have only been teaching seven years but I have done most of my field placements in an urban school district bringing my experience close to 9 years in the inner city school environment. In 2005, I decided to continue working full time as well as attend classes' full time to obtain my Masters degree in Curriculum Instruction and Technology. It only took two years of non-stop learning but I got it done and I am happy to get a break as it seems.
I have a long commute but I do not complain because it is great for gearing up and winding down. A little XM talk radio, some comedy channels, and an eclectic collection of music including 80's music, punk rock, rockabilly, country, and classic rock meet my needs for the drive. I must say it is really nice to satisfy all parts of meI can teach and exist in the city and work with underprivileged youths and return home to my county home and work in my garden and on the farm!

My passion is ...

Friends, Food, and FUN!

I know too much about ...

nothing,but a little about everything.

My parents always told me ...

never start a fight but don't lose one.

My childhood ambition ...

to be admired.

My favorite memory ...

eating milk toast with uncle Dave.

Why I write ...

I feel the need.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Bentley Little/Funny Sitcoms/Punk Rock

My first job ...

gas atttendant

My best moment ...

Graduating college .... all three times.

My inspiration ...

family.

Travel > Travel Planning & Advice Planning a family summer vacation on a budget

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How to arrange a family vacation on a budget. Asking the right questions, being well organized and using simple technology can make planning a family vacation on a budget simple. Package deals can be economical and used when in a pinch for time. However, in as little as an hour with internet access a budget vacation can be planned at minimal cost. Here are five steps that will ease the budget vacation planning blues. First, calculate the price of gas for the road trip. Use Google Maps to estimate travel miles. Simply divide the travel miles by the MPG rate, and then multiply that by the pr...

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