Last weekend we went to a wedding. Over the past week you would have found me muttering at random, "who gets married in the winter?" - anger at the bride and groom because I had nothing to wear to a winter wedding. ( I ended up with a sleeveless, light blue dress worn only once when I was pregnant with Asher, to our last law school event, covered with a wrap.)
About half way into the 5+ hour drive I looked at the cover of the book I was reading - A Wedding in December. Huh. Irony. (It's January, but close enough.) Needless to say I finished the book during the ten hours of driving there and back, and I realized I finally have a favorite author - Anita Shreve.
I've read several of her books; The Last Time They Met, The Pilot's Wife, All He Ever Wanted, Light on Snow, but none of them really got me like Wedding did. I guess because I'm in this place of remembering, and the story was about a group of high school friends who gather, 27 years after graduation, for the wedding of two of the group. Their friendship is bonded and haunted by the death of one of their classmates just before graduation. It's a great story, and I love how Shreve inserts these great words like, "enuii" into her text.
A work of fiction by one of the characters was included and at first I was turned off by the story within the story at random in the chapters, but I ended up almost more curious about that story the the first one!
Anyway, the wedding was beautiful, but I didn't know anyone and Terry and I kind of regretted making all that effort to get out there. At least I got to finish my book!
Oh, and work is good so far. It's so nice to have something productive to accomplish during the day and feel no guilt about plopping in front of the TV for an hour at night. It's 25+ hours a week, just enough. And if I have trouble getting out of bed at 6:30am, I just remember that I'm working for the military and it's families!!!
Have a great week everyone!
Monday, January 29, 2007
Monday, January 22, 2007
A good week
It's Monday and school is delayed for two hours because of snow (blech), so while my boys watch TV/play Legos and the yet to be used bottle of bubble bath I bought a month ago when I was really depressed sits shattered on my bathroom floor, purple soap oozing across the tiles, I thought, "What better time to blog?", since these days will be fewer when I START WORKING THIS WEEK!
First you probably are dying to know how the bullying situation turned out: Gabe whipped all their butts.
Ok, I'm kidding. Actually Terry went to the bus stop and made Gabe face this little brat. Some background first though: When Terry came home from Iraq, Gabe's teacher asked if Terry would like to come and speak for Veteran's Day, which he did. Of course the kids had lots of questions for him about Iraq (he premised his talk with "I won't answer any questions about killing people"). One kid who we now know as "the bully" had lots of questions for Terry. Fast forward to last week.
Terry asked the kid if he remembered Terry. The Bully said, "yes." Terry asked him where he lived and the Bully actually told him! So Terry spoke to the kid's mother and she was very upset that her son was doing these things to Gabe. When Terry told her one of the things her son was doing was making fun of Gabe because he was slapped in the face and cried about it, she said, "He got a lot of nerve! That kid cries at everything. And you tell Gabe that." It was sweet. So, then we called the school and talked to Gabe's teacher who gave each kid a special "no bullying" talk, and the principal who reassured us that we did the right thing, which we hate, because sometimes she is a bit condescending to us young parents. Anyhoo, it seems to be worked out, but I'm definitely keeping my eye on things.
The last week has been just crazy, actually this whole month has been busy. I feel great about the job I chose. I went with a group of four other ladies from my new place of employment, to be on a panel of spouses/parents of deployed service members. In front of about 20 psych students, for three hours, we talked and talked about our experiences. It was surprising that the other four women had worked together for years, some during their kids'/husbands' deployments, but never shared this much. Amazing isn't it? I held back a little out of respect for my husband, but it was so cathartic to tell an audience, "This is what it was like for me, and this is what you can do to help others in my situation."
I chose a daycare for Asher, but I'm only about 85% on it. It's definitely temp until I can find a place with an opening, or I may love it and I'll keep him there, we'll see. Meanwhile I'm hiring a friend with hopes this nasty flu thing will pass and Asher won't drag it home with him the first day of daycare.
I'm also taking on another project for another NP that has helped me through the years. I must have, "I love to volunteer" written on my forehead :) So, I'm going to be crazy busy in February.
Also, I'm so proud that I met my goal to write an article a week. One article, done, ready to ship off to an editor who will say, "You are amazing. Will you join our staff? We've never had a mom write about parenting before." Yes, you can laugh at me.
Lastly, we booked our trip to Disneyworld!!!!! It's real! We saved for it during the deployment and kept delaying it, but we've finally dried our tears from sticker shock, and are ready to go. It's not for a few months but it feels good to have the flight and hotel reservations on the corkboard.
At this rate, who knows, we may actually get lucky enough to buy a house this year.
First you probably are dying to know how the bullying situation turned out: Gabe whipped all their butts.
Ok, I'm kidding. Actually Terry went to the bus stop and made Gabe face this little brat. Some background first though: When Terry came home from Iraq, Gabe's teacher asked if Terry would like to come and speak for Veteran's Day, which he did. Of course the kids had lots of questions for him about Iraq (he premised his talk with "I won't answer any questions about killing people"). One kid who we now know as "the bully" had lots of questions for Terry. Fast forward to last week.
Terry asked the kid if he remembered Terry. The Bully said, "yes." Terry asked him where he lived and the Bully actually told him! So Terry spoke to the kid's mother and she was very upset that her son was doing these things to Gabe. When Terry told her one of the things her son was doing was making fun of Gabe because he was slapped in the face and cried about it, she said, "He got a lot of nerve! That kid cries at everything. And you tell Gabe that." It was sweet. So, then we called the school and talked to Gabe's teacher who gave each kid a special "no bullying" talk, and the principal who reassured us that we did the right thing, which we hate, because sometimes she is a bit condescending to us young parents. Anyhoo, it seems to be worked out, but I'm definitely keeping my eye on things.
The last week has been just crazy, actually this whole month has been busy. I feel great about the job I chose. I went with a group of four other ladies from my new place of employment, to be on a panel of spouses/parents of deployed service members. In front of about 20 psych students, for three hours, we talked and talked about our experiences. It was surprising that the other four women had worked together for years, some during their kids'/husbands' deployments, but never shared this much. Amazing isn't it? I held back a little out of respect for my husband, but it was so cathartic to tell an audience, "This is what it was like for me, and this is what you can do to help others in my situation."
I chose a daycare for Asher, but I'm only about 85% on it. It's definitely temp until I can find a place with an opening, or I may love it and I'll keep him there, we'll see. Meanwhile I'm hiring a friend with hopes this nasty flu thing will pass and Asher won't drag it home with him the first day of daycare.
I'm also taking on another project for another NP that has helped me through the years. I must have, "I love to volunteer" written on my forehead :) So, I'm going to be crazy busy in February.
Also, I'm so proud that I met my goal to write an article a week. One article, done, ready to ship off to an editor who will say, "You are amazing. Will you join our staff? We've never had a mom write about parenting before." Yes, you can laugh at me.
Lastly, we booked our trip to Disneyworld!!!!! It's real! We saved for it during the deployment and kept delaying it, but we've finally dried our tears from sticker shock, and are ready to go. It's not for a few months but it feels good to have the flight and hotel reservations on the corkboard.
At this rate, who knows, we may actually get lucky enough to buy a house this year.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
It's raining jobs...
This is going to be quick and dirty.
The last week has been crazy for me. After about 30 resume submissions and about as many rejections/no answers I got THREE job offers last week and one yesterday. WTF? Feast or famine, right?
I agonized over my options:
#1 A nonprofit in the city, decent pay, about an hour commute, would have to wrangle for flex hours to be home when school gets out. It would be rewarding, challenging, a perfect career move for me. But I didn't have any emotional pull to it. AND they were dragging out the second interview and decision for over a week, all while saying I was the "top candidate."
#2 A nonprofit local to my home, crappy pay, 15 minute commute, set my own hours, can be home for kids whenever I need. Very rewarding, helping the military community, total new set of skills, not a challenging job, not within my career field really (though writing skills are paramount), I know people there, feels more like family than colleagues. I've volunteered for them before.
#3 An editor of a small magazine covering minority businesses, NO telecommuting, a micromanaging boss, part time, didn't get far enough to know the salary, but he's interested in a story I wrote to try and seal the deal and rush a decision, and he asked me to profile a TV personality that you may know, (but I can't say), which of course I jumped at the opportunity to do :)
#4 A nonprofit internship - just called that as a way to get me paid to work on a very specific project. They've helped me lots, I would do it for free and may still if the "intern" stipend will cover my babysitting costs.
I chose number 2, with the hope of upping my pay, and getting a better title. I didn't get either, but I don't think I could find a more flexible job or a place that I would rather be. Anyway, that's only the half of it.
THEN, there is the daycare situation. I bawled for about two straight days about putting Ash in daycare. It's only three days a week during school hours, but it's a big change for us. I've been home with him for three years and managed to hold down a full telecommute job for half that time, but this is the big step into preschool for him (and me). It's the end of an era. :( Oh, and I'm terrified he'll be sick for the first 9 months.
Send positive vibes my way...
The last week has been crazy for me. After about 30 resume submissions and about as many rejections/no answers I got THREE job offers last week and one yesterday. WTF? Feast or famine, right?
I agonized over my options:
#1 A nonprofit in the city, decent pay, about an hour commute, would have to wrangle for flex hours to be home when school gets out. It would be rewarding, challenging, a perfect career move for me. But I didn't have any emotional pull to it. AND they were dragging out the second interview and decision for over a week, all while saying I was the "top candidate."
#2 A nonprofit local to my home, crappy pay, 15 minute commute, set my own hours, can be home for kids whenever I need. Very rewarding, helping the military community, total new set of skills, not a challenging job, not within my career field really (though writing skills are paramount), I know people there, feels more like family than colleagues. I've volunteered for them before.
#3 An editor of a small magazine covering minority businesses, NO telecommuting, a micromanaging boss, part time, didn't get far enough to know the salary, but he's interested in a story I wrote to try and seal the deal and rush a decision, and he asked me to profile a TV personality that you may know, (but I can't say), which of course I jumped at the opportunity to do :)
#4 A nonprofit internship - just called that as a way to get me paid to work on a very specific project. They've helped me lots, I would do it for free and may still if the "intern" stipend will cover my babysitting costs.
I chose number 2, with the hope of upping my pay, and getting a better title. I didn't get either, but I don't think I could find a more flexible job or a place that I would rather be. Anyway, that's only the half of it.
THEN, there is the daycare situation. I bawled for about two straight days about putting Ash in daycare. It's only three days a week during school hours, but it's a big change for us. I've been home with him for three years and managed to hold down a full telecommute job for half that time, but this is the big step into preschool for him (and me). It's the end of an era. :( Oh, and I'm terrified he'll be sick for the first 9 months.
Send positive vibes my way...
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Getting to know me 2007
Place an X by all the things you've done, or remove the x from the ones you have not, and send it to all of your friends (including me). But you have to click forward before you can change answers. This is for your entire life:
(x ) Smoked a cigarette
(X) Drank so much you threw up
() Crashed a friend's car
() Stolen a car
(X) Been in love
(x) Been dumped
( x) Shoplifted
( x) Been laid off/fired
(x) Quit your job
() Been in a fist fight as an adult?
(x) Snuck out of your parent's house
(x) Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back (who hasn't?)
( ) Been arrested
( x) Gone on a blind date
( x) Lied to a friend
(x) Skipped school
( ) Seen someone die
( x) Been to Canada
(X) Been to Mexico
(x) Been on a plane
( x) Been lost
(X) Been on the opposite side of the country
( x) Gone to Washington, DC
(X) Swam in the ocean
() Felt like dying
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
() Played cops and robbers...Cowboys and Indians
(X) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang karaoke
( x) Paid for a meal with only coins
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't...
(x) Made prank phone calls...
() Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain....
() Written a letter to Santa Claus
() Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) made a bonfire on the beach
() Crashed a party
(X) Gone roller-skating
(X) Ice-skating
> Any nicknames? Pretty girl
> Mother's name? rosanna
> Drink? Vodka Cran
> Tattoos? yes--singular, not plural
>Body piercing's? Yes, ears
> Birthplace: Cali
>Favorite Vacation Place: Disney
> Ever steal any traffic signs? No
> Ever been in a car accident? many
> A, B, C, D, DD cup size? B
> 2 Door or 4 Door? 4 Door
> Salad dressing? Honey mustard
>Favorite pies? apple
>Favorite number? 7
>Favorite movie? Too many; mostly girly stuff
>Favorite holiday? Christmas
> Favorite food? Mexican
> Favorite day of the week? Fridays
> Favorite brand of body soap? Cetaphil
> Favorite TV show? Lost
> Toothpaste? Mentadent
> Favorite smell? Baby breath
> What do you do to relax? read
> Message to your friends reading this? I love you all.
>How do you see yourself in 10 years? A kid in college, a kid in high school, a lot more money, a bigger home, an established writer – but just as happy as I am today.
>What do you do when you are bored? blog
> Furthest place you will send this message around the country? Koel is somewhere in Asia I think.
(x ) Smoked a cigarette
(X) Drank so much you threw up
() Crashed a friend's car
() Stolen a car
(X) Been in love
(x) Been dumped
( x) Shoplifted
( x) Been laid off/fired
(x) Quit your job
() Been in a fist fight as an adult?
(x) Snuck out of your parent's house
(x) Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back (who hasn't?)
( ) Been arrested
( x) Gone on a blind date
( x) Lied to a friend
(x) Skipped school
( ) Seen someone die
( x) Been to Canada
(X) Been to Mexico
(x) Been on a plane
( x) Been lost
(X) Been on the opposite side of the country
( x) Gone to Washington, DC
(X) Swam in the ocean
() Felt like dying
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
() Played cops and robbers...Cowboys and Indians
(X) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Sang karaoke
( x) Paid for a meal with only coins
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't...
(x) Made prank phone calls...
() Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain....
() Written a letter to Santa Claus
() Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sun rise with someone you care about
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) made a bonfire on the beach
() Crashed a party
(X) Gone roller-skating
(X) Ice-skating
> Any nicknames? Pretty girl
> Mother's name? rosanna
> Drink? Vodka Cran
> Tattoos? yes--singular, not plural
>Body piercing's? Yes, ears
> Birthplace: Cali
>Favorite Vacation Place: Disney
> Ever steal any traffic signs? No
> Ever been in a car accident? many
> A, B, C, D, DD cup size? B
> 2 Door or 4 Door? 4 Door
> Salad dressing? Honey mustard
>Favorite pies? apple
>Favorite number? 7
>Favorite movie? Too many; mostly girly stuff
>Favorite holiday? Christmas
> Favorite food? Mexican
> Favorite day of the week? Fridays
> Favorite brand of body soap? Cetaphil
> Favorite TV show? Lost
> Toothpaste? Mentadent
> Favorite smell? Baby breath
> What do you do to relax? read
> Message to your friends reading this? I love you all.
>How do you see yourself in 10 years? A kid in college, a kid in high school, a lot more money, a bigger home, an established writer – but just as happy as I am today.
>What do you do when you are bored? blog
> Furthest place you will send this message around the country? Koel is somewhere in Asia I think.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Tell Congress what military families need
The National Military Family Association is preparing its legislative and policy goals for 2007. Congresspeople count on NMFA to keep them updated on the needs of the military families, so tell 'em!
www.nmfa.org/whatsimportant
www.nmfa.org/whatsimportant
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