Instead of the phone call I was expecting confirming a tentatively scheduled third interview, I got a letter in the mail. *sigh*
So! Let's get on with the PLEASANT part of last week, shall we? It was winter break, so I had the kids home with me all week. And since we got our tax refund, and since we had the time, and since we had a little birthday in the house (My boy! My little boy is EIGHT!), John decided to schedule a very quick, mini-vacation to an indoor water park (we were barely there!).
Mary and I spent the evening we first got there going down all the big slides. John took Izzy and Keith through the kiddie slides. The next morning, John took Keith down the big slides. I managed to get Izzy down two of the tube slides (with her screaming in fright the whole way down!). Mary kind of tagged along with Izzy and me--we would get in the same set of lines and then wait for each other.
We beat feet back home rather early, but I think we got in enough fun time for all. It was a nice change of pace for me and my gloomies. And the kids had fun, too!
Another portion of the taxes went to a couple of new appliances. Of course, we were trying to cash in on the rebate program, but the stipulations were very difficult for what we actually NEEDED in this house. John and I went through our needs and wants and ended up getting a brand! new! DISHWASHER! Yay! Ours was probably over 20 years old, didn't seem to be cleaning too well, and had a piece that was continuously falling off and basically too difficult to snap back into place, and the dishwasher was almost impossible to even START. No rebate on that baby--it was ALL us.
Since John's been doing a bit more cooking lately, he has actually discovered an amazing fact--our refrigerator is TOO SMALL! (Really? Hmmm? Didn't I tell you that a while back? Hmmm?) So, we bought ourselves a really cheap model to put in the basement for a bit of extra beer and milk storage. At least that little baby got us a rebate.
(Other new gadgets acquired since John has started cooking more--new knives, new cutting boards, a compact food processor [I HATE the big ones and refuse to use them!], and new prep bowls!)
I didn't do any dishes Sunday as John pulled out the old one to be carted away, and we DO want dishes to try out on the new one, right? Well, I forgot how quickly dishes pile up in a household of five. I could barely get to the sink by the evening. And...John didn't quite finish getting the new dishwasher installed last night. He needs a different part, and it was too late to go out and get it last night. I rolled up my sleeves and tackled the pile in my sink this morning. We will fill the new washer soon enough!
And now...on to the birthday boy! Yes, Keith turned eight and was once again spoiled by family. He got a couple of choice DS games, another snap circuits kit (we love those!), and Mary made him some Mario characters out of clay (Goomba! Yoshi! Bob-bomb! Bullet Bill!) amongst other things....
We're hoping to try to get his school buddies together next month for a little "gathering." It's just too difficult for the poor guy when his birthday falls on winter break like that.
And...Keith's birthday presents have led to ANOTHER issue. I have replaced my reading obsession with a DS obsession! MUST. SOLVE. MARIO!!!! So...I am limiting my DS time just like I do the kids' DS time. Sheesh!
Now, if you'll excuse me. I need to put away that mountain of clean dishes. And do more laundry. And follow up on a job lead. And get some more resumes out. And go to the grocery store. And get the house picked up for Keith's playdate this afternoon. And...I still haven't had any coffee!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Disability-Free
I went to the doctor on Friday. They removed the cast, zapped it with radiation to take their pretty pictures, and discovered...no break! Yay! But the wrist still hurts a bit, so the doctor put me on a brace. Oh! That's so much better!
So, now I'm back to typing and lugging laundry and maybe getting the house cleaned. (Um....MAYBE.)
The kids are home from school for winter break, so I'm trying to keep them entertained while trying to get stuff done and maybe put out a resume or two. The good news is that I got called in for a second interview from the place where I interviewed last week (WITH cast, thankyouverymuch!). Of course, when they called, the kids and I were at a playdate. We got home after 5:00, and I've called them back twice now, and the phone has not rung here again yet. So now my grand plans for the day are on hold while I wait for the phone.
It really shouldn't surprise me how much job hunting is like mate-seeking. You put your ad out there (resume) with your best traits in it (MSOffice instead of SWF) in dire need of seeking attention of the perfect mate (Family-friendly, good pay, decent benefits).
I just tweaked my resume per the Resume Workshop I attended. I do find it interesting that my out of date resume has gathered SOME attention, though. We'll see how it fairs with the new! improved! version.
We got our tax money back, so we decided to spend a little of it on an impromptu trip to an indoor waterpark this week. The kids are super-excited. And Keith's birthday is this weekend, and once again, it has snuck up on everybody. Poor kid. So...the waterpark is kind of a treat for him. Now...what to GET him?
...I've asked Izzy to get dressed at least TEN TIMES NOW!! She keeps taking advantage of my computer distraction! Ugh!
Oh, yes. Back to the job search. And the kid watch/entertainment. And trying desperately NOT to pick up that book I want to finish!!!
So, now I'm back to typing and lugging laundry and maybe getting the house cleaned. (Um....MAYBE.)
The kids are home from school for winter break, so I'm trying to keep them entertained while trying to get stuff done and maybe put out a resume or two. The good news is that I got called in for a second interview from the place where I interviewed last week (WITH cast, thankyouverymuch!). Of course, when they called, the kids and I were at a playdate. We got home after 5:00, and I've called them back twice now, and the phone has not rung here again yet. So now my grand plans for the day are on hold while I wait for the phone.
It really shouldn't surprise me how much job hunting is like mate-seeking. You put your ad out there (resume) with your best traits in it (MSOffice instead of SWF) in dire need of seeking attention of the perfect mate (Family-friendly, good pay, decent benefits).
I just tweaked my resume per the Resume Workshop I attended. I do find it interesting that my out of date resume has gathered SOME attention, though. We'll see how it fairs with the new! improved! version.
We got our tax money back, so we decided to spend a little of it on an impromptu trip to an indoor waterpark this week. The kids are super-excited. And Keith's birthday is this weekend, and once again, it has snuck up on everybody. Poor kid. So...the waterpark is kind of a treat for him. Now...what to GET him?
...I've asked Izzy to get dressed at least TEN TIMES NOW!! She keeps taking advantage of my computer distraction! Ugh!
Oh, yes. Back to the job search. And the kid watch/entertainment. And trying desperately NOT to pick up that book I want to finish!!!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Tuning Out
Now that I'm "disabled," I find myself at a loss of what to do with myself during the day. Chores? Naah--cast gets in the way. Knit? HA! Look for jobs? Depressing. Get caught up on all that GS stuff that 's LINGERING and TAKING OVER the living room? Also depressing. Read? Oh...YEAH!
I picked up some books from the library when I had to go to help Mary research her Colonial Project (Oh! These projects! They are going to be the death of me!). THAT was a big mistake. HUGE.
I cut myself off from the books a few months ago--even before I lost my job. I found that I was cutting myself off from my family and daily life too much. The laundry never got done, I didn't bother eating breakfast or even, sometimes, lunch, and I guess the worst part--I just seemed so down, so depressed all the time. When I finished a book, I would clamor around the house, desperately seeking another one to help fill the VOID that was NOT reading. Pretty pathetic.
So...I stopped reading. And then, after a few weeks, after I "woke up" a bit, and started enjoying the kids and my life again, and things like Keith's not doing his homework weren't slipping by me anymore, I decided I was ready to slip the reading back in again--but in controlled, small amounts.
And it worked great. I was good and only read about 20-30 minutes a day--at night when the kids were in bed and didn't need my attention. And I felt like a responsible human being again.
Then I lost my job.
Let's face it, being unemployed now means that I have a LOT of time on my hands. And while I am busy and getting things done, I was starting to feel overwhelmed. ALL that "free-time" meant that I SHOULD be getting more things done. Dinner should be punctual. The dusting should be done. GS meetings should be thought out and well-planned ahead of time. No more incomplete homework should be slipping by my notice. I should be more organized. And...oh yeah, I should be looking for jobs now, too.
Oh! The job search! The depressing job search! It started buckling me down and wearing me thin. How many times have I been asked, "Are you looking for work?" The implication being that I'm just going to sit here and live off the government now. Um...YES, I'M LOOKING FOR WORK. I've actually looked a LOT. I've actually put some EFFORT into it. But...as the weeks go by, and the searches go on, and the choices are so bleak, and the phone does NOT ring, it's been bringing me down.
SO! Hey! Throw into that mix a busted wrist, and the inability to do a good chunk of the housework, and a tendency to get the winter blues, and a trip to the library, and what do you get? A girl hooked on reading again.
I pick up a book and can't seem to do anything else AT ALL until it's done. I am forgetting important things like meetings, phone calls, to check backpacks, and my own children (OMG! Is THAT the time! The BUS! Eek!). And...I forget to eat breakfast, or lunch, or both, and I seem to have lost all sense of routine/organization. I dipped right back into the book fog....
I'm glad I caught myself before I spent the whole winter like this. I am cutting the books out again, and I am getting myself back in the groove. I can't do anything about this depressing winter weather, but I can pick myself up from my bootstraps and clear the REST of the fog that's wearing me down.
And maybe I should start meeting girlfriends for coffee or something--something to get me out of the house and then maybe I won't feel so overwhelmed.
And maybe my wrist WON'T be broken, and the cast can come off, and I get at least get the laundry caught up again....
I picked up some books from the library when I had to go to help Mary research her Colonial Project (Oh! These projects! They are going to be the death of me!). THAT was a big mistake. HUGE.
I cut myself off from the books a few months ago--even before I lost my job. I found that I was cutting myself off from my family and daily life too much. The laundry never got done, I didn't bother eating breakfast or even, sometimes, lunch, and I guess the worst part--I just seemed so down, so depressed all the time. When I finished a book, I would clamor around the house, desperately seeking another one to help fill the VOID that was NOT reading. Pretty pathetic.
So...I stopped reading. And then, after a few weeks, after I "woke up" a bit, and started enjoying the kids and my life again, and things like Keith's not doing his homework weren't slipping by me anymore, I decided I was ready to slip the reading back in again--but in controlled, small amounts.
And it worked great. I was good and only read about 20-30 minutes a day--at night when the kids were in bed and didn't need my attention. And I felt like a responsible human being again.
Then I lost my job.
Let's face it, being unemployed now means that I have a LOT of time on my hands. And while I am busy and getting things done, I was starting to feel overwhelmed. ALL that "free-time" meant that I SHOULD be getting more things done. Dinner should be punctual. The dusting should be done. GS meetings should be thought out and well-planned ahead of time. No more incomplete homework should be slipping by my notice. I should be more organized. And...oh yeah, I should be looking for jobs now, too.
Oh! The job search! The depressing job search! It started buckling me down and wearing me thin. How many times have I been asked, "Are you looking for work?" The implication being that I'm just going to sit here and live off the government now. Um...YES, I'M LOOKING FOR WORK. I've actually looked a LOT. I've actually put some EFFORT into it. But...as the weeks go by, and the searches go on, and the choices are so bleak, and the phone does NOT ring, it's been bringing me down.
SO! Hey! Throw into that mix a busted wrist, and the inability to do a good chunk of the housework, and a tendency to get the winter blues, and a trip to the library, and what do you get? A girl hooked on reading again.
I pick up a book and can't seem to do anything else AT ALL until it's done. I am forgetting important things like meetings, phone calls, to check backpacks, and my own children (OMG! Is THAT the time! The BUS! Eek!). And...I forget to eat breakfast, or lunch, or both, and I seem to have lost all sense of routine/organization. I dipped right back into the book fog....
I'm glad I caught myself before I spent the whole winter like this. I am cutting the books out again, and I am getting myself back in the groove. I can't do anything about this depressing winter weather, but I can pick myself up from my bootstraps and clear the REST of the fog that's wearing me down.
And maybe I should start meeting girlfriends for coffee or something--something to get me out of the house and then maybe I won't feel so overwhelmed.
And maybe my wrist WON'T be broken, and the cast can come off, and I get at least get the laundry caught up again....
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Other Happenings
- I can't write, and I can barely type.
- Other new challenges: washing my hair, shaving my pits (gah! have doctor's appointment tomorrow!), putting on clothes, lifting ANYTHING, finding warm clothes/coat that fit over bulky cast....
- Keith lost a tooth a couple of weeks ago biting into some tofu. The tooth fairy left $3. Obviously, the economy isn't affecting her, AND DOES SHE NOT REALIZE HOW MANY TEETH THERE STILL ARE TO LOSE IN THIS HOUSE AND HOW MUCH THAT WILL ADD UP? *ahem*
- Under the heading of "Acting My Age:" I finally solved Mary's Zelda game, and only had to cheat a few...well, WHATEVER, I solved it, OK?
- Mary is just behind me on the game. With much less cheating--although she does have ME there to help her....
- We put Mary and Keith in swim lessons again. And Mary is doing a volleyball camp, and Keith is starting basketball this weekend. Suddenly Saturdays are crazy again.
- They are both in chess club, too.
- I'm guessing I won't be able to knit for a while.
- John has started downloading and COOKING healthy recipes he's finding online. I think I just fell in love with him all over again. (I'm guessing it's been almost five years since the last time he cooked--and it didn't involve picking up the phone to call Pizza Hut.)
- And...wasn't that timing just perfect since cooking would probably be a bit difficult for me right now?
- Play Doh is my new playdate friend.
- And so is the new Bissell vacuum thingy John bought--to suck it all up off the floor!
- My little boy is almost 8! It's going to sneak up on me again this year, I can just tell!
Monday, February 01, 2010
Acting My Age
So! This has been a fun-filled week! I won't bog you down with all the details. Just...I was really, really busy and yet didn't seem to get a lot done?
We took Mary's troop ice skating on Sunday. For Mary and me, it was only the second time we'd ever been. Both of us were doing pretty well. Mary hugged the side so that she could "gently" fall onto the edge when she lost her balance. I was more brave--especially when I realized that it really is sorta like roller skating, and I'm a pretty decent roller skater.
I actually did take the time when we first got there to warn the troop about "falling on your butt." You see, I fell roller skating when I was a teenager and broke my left wrist trying to break my fall (OK--I'm a "pretty decent roller skater" except for THAT ONE TIME). Well...guess who fell and immediately reacted by throwing out her right arm? Yeah--that would be ME. *sigh* I even had to sit by the side of the rink for a few minutes as I got a bit faint--always happens to me with any sudden injuries.
Anyway, I braved it out (and even skated more--and no, I didn't fall anymore), but when I was still having some pain this morning, I decided to get in to the doctor just in case.
He sent me for x-rays, of course. We were hoping it was just a sprain. And after spending a good chunk of my afternoon getting x-rays--and another x-ray--and an additional x-ray--I...am still not sure if my wrist is broken or not!
The way the P.A. was talking, it looked suspect, but the bone she suspected may not show a break on film for 7-10 days after the injury. "So," she says, "we're going to cast you." Um...huh? Yes. A cast. For ten days. And then I'll get to come in again and have it looked at again. If no fracture shows, I get the cast off! Joy!
I was watching Izzy's girlfriend, so I had these two extremely-chatty five-year olds following me around through all of this. They kept the technicians and doctors and P.A.s in stitches. The girls wanted me to get a "lello" cast, but since I'm sort of in the hopes of maybe having a job interview, I went for a baby blue--should go well with my suit! LOL
So...there ya have it. Mrs. Q. should probably act her age and keep AWAY from activities like ice skating with a bunch of ten-year olds! OUCH!
We took Mary's troop ice skating on Sunday. For Mary and me, it was only the second time we'd ever been. Both of us were doing pretty well. Mary hugged the side so that she could "gently" fall onto the edge when she lost her balance. I was more brave--especially when I realized that it really is sorta like roller skating, and I'm a pretty decent roller skater.
I actually did take the time when we first got there to warn the troop about "falling on your butt." You see, I fell roller skating when I was a teenager and broke my left wrist trying to break my fall (OK--I'm a "pretty decent roller skater" except for THAT ONE TIME). Well...guess who fell and immediately reacted by throwing out her right arm? Yeah--that would be ME. *sigh* I even had to sit by the side of the rink for a few minutes as I got a bit faint--always happens to me with any sudden injuries.
Anyway, I braved it out (and even skated more--and no, I didn't fall anymore), but when I was still having some pain this morning, I decided to get in to the doctor just in case.
He sent me for x-rays, of course. We were hoping it was just a sprain. And after spending a good chunk of my afternoon getting x-rays--and another x-ray--and an additional x-ray--I...am still not sure if my wrist is broken or not!
The way the P.A. was talking, it looked suspect, but the bone she suspected may not show a break on film for 7-10 days after the injury. "So," she says, "we're going to cast you." Um...huh? Yes. A cast. For ten days. And then I'll get to come in again and have it looked at again. If no fracture shows, I get the cast off! Joy!
I was watching Izzy's girlfriend, so I had these two extremely-chatty five-year olds following me around through all of this. They kept the technicians and doctors and P.A.s in stitches. The girls wanted me to get a "lello" cast, but since I'm sort of in the hopes of maybe having a job interview, I went for a baby blue--should go well with my suit! LOL
So...there ya have it. Mrs. Q. should probably act her age and keep AWAY from activities like ice skating with a bunch of ten-year olds! OUCH!
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