Sparks and Butterflies

Well.

Brace yourself.

Poe got a job!

Now, the caveat…  He’s making less than half his previous salary – which also means he’s making less than unemployment brings in.  But – benefits kick in in 90 days, and they promote from within.  We’re hoping he’ll continue to be promoted over time.

This is a very good thing.  It’s good for our finances, it’s good for his state of mind, and frankly, it’s good for me.  Having room to breathe and do my thing has been good.

However.  I don’t deal with change well.  We’re having to learn a new routine because he has a very odd shift.  So, I’m scrapping my whole routine and starting over from scratch.  And then I’ll get to do it again when the kids go back to school.

That’s okay.  He got a job!

I don’t know that we’re going to make the in-laws, Poe’s seeing if he can trade shifts once in a while.  I may take the kids on our camping trip by myself.  We’ll see – automobiles might be an issue there.

Sigh.  These are good problems to have.

Now, I’m going to need to fix our budget.  That’s going to take some time.

***

Check out Butterviews for BlogHer…  What caregiving is to me.  There’s a chance for a cruise at BlogHer’s roundup page – so you might want to check it out!  The post is Full Plates and Everything Else.

I can honestly say I’ve never has the opportunity to write this before. I just got back from the shooting range with Poe.

I shot a Glock.

Huh.

I have a really intrinsic fear of guns. They have been held to my head. I’ve been literally physically forced to hold them. Now I’m afraid of them. Not a healthy fear that promotes safety, but but a flight response. Because Poe’s potential line of work will probably entail firearms coming home I have to get over this, learn the safety, and learn how to use them the right way.

It’s going to take time. But I stayed the whole time and didn’t run. I fired 10 rounds. And now that I’ve fired a 9mm Poe wants me to 22mm next time. He said it’ll be more comfortable for me, but wanted to start me bigger so I have a healthy respect for the weapon. When it was time for me to shoot again, I just looked at him and said I don’t want to. He didn’t force me. I actually cried the 1st 15 minutes we were in there.

My husband is such a patient man. He was even proud of me.

I’ve always wanted to post that (and mean it.)  We’re leaving for a camping/fishing trip early tomorrow morning.  A girls only Palm Springs trip is to directly follow.

And would be burglars?  My dad’s house/cat sitting.  He shoots first.  I wouldn’t test the voracity of that statement.

See you next week!

I don’t know if all moms are like me.  But I make lists.  Lots and lots of lists.

And right now I have a couple of clients heading out to NY next week, who have not yet given me credit card info for flights, another client to write for, swim lessons to sign up for, and a camping trip next week, followed the next day by a Palm Springs trip with some girls from high school.  Although “girls” seems like the wrong term since I’m 3 years away from my 20 year reunion.

I’ve made a lot of lists.

Lists of meetings and itineraries for clients.  Packing lists for camping.  Packing lists for Palm Springs.  Lists of what to buy.  Lists of what to do.  Not to mention reservations, directions, and how-to’s.  I had to google how to clean a fish.  Because my dad always did that part.  I also had to google how to percolate coffee.  I wasn’t old enough back then.

It’s quite possible that the lists are indeed keeping me sane.  Does that make me OCD?

We’re in this completely strange state of limbo.

Each day, I’m in limbo as I wait for jobs that come in through one of my clients.

My son is in limbo as we wait for his potential school tour.  His being home, without his brother, who’s at school, is weird.

We’re in limbo as we send the resumes and tend to Poe’s joblessness.

We’re in limbo as we have now lost our medical insurance.  We had Cobra, on the government subsidy.  The nine months allowed is up, and we cannot afford $777/mo on unemployment.  Thus, we wait with prayer and bated breath that no one needs emergency medical attention.

I feel like we’re in this bubble.  Floating along, never landing.  We just don’t know how far up we’ll be when the bubble bursts.

So – I managed to completely forget about NaBloPoMo this weekend.  That’s impressive.  Does this mean I have failed?

In other news, we have friends coming over for Monday Night Football.  This is big news – since we don’t allow people into our cave-like existence.

Still other news…  I am matron of honor in a wedding in January.  This is taking entirely more brainpower than I had anticipated.  What?  We eloped!

YAY!  I cannot tell you how happy I am that it’s Friday!

Beyond that – I’ve got nothing to say.

I’m quite busy with client work, the week was all funky with a different schedule for the kids, and so I’m just done.

I might be having a friend over for dinner tonight, so I’m excited about that.

Tomorrow is my “day off.”  No chores, no work, no nothing.  Lazy day.  I will, of course, be here.

Idea – anyone have any questions?  I’m pretty open about my life, so nothing (this may bite me later) is off limits.  Ask away!  Religion, politics, home life, work, preferences, I don’t care.  I’d love to answer questions!  Gets the juices flowing.

I’m doing Nablopomo, are you?

Boring title.  Boring entry.  I don’t have time to write today (really write.)  I have a bunch of client work, errands, two school conferences, and a cardiologist appointment, not to mention kid pickups, homework, and feeding them lunch and dinner.  And housework.

I really dislike school half days.

I’m doing NaBloPoMo, are you?

The carpet installers are hours – yes HOURS – late.

I’m juggling three clients.

I got a call from school that Joseph is refusing his lunch.

I have to finish the three clients’ work for the day, pick up the kids, supervise the installation, and help move all our living room furniture back into the house.

Tick tock…  Tick tock…

How do you juggle?  I suppose that’s the age old question.  I don’t care if you stay at home, work a paying gig at home, work a paying gig outside of the home – juggling.

It’s absolutely great that I’ve landed these gigs.  Absolutely.  Now how do do I keep everything in the air?

And please.  No flaming torches please.

I’m doing NaBloPoMo, are you?

The last few days have simply sucked and are still sucking because I managed to throw out my back.  Lovely that.  One never quite realizes how much one uses their back until they, say, attempt to do laundry.

Vicodin was consumed.  It was the only thing that helped with the pain (and a second dose 4 hours later was promptly rejected by my body violently.  Which did wonders for said back.

So, I’m on day 4 of pain.  Yesterday wasn’t too bad, but today is, so I’m thinking I did too much yesterday.

In other news, we’re getting carpet put into our living room on Friday.  Which means moving the furniture out.  That includes a piano, credenza, dining set, dish armoir, loveseat, recliner, and some odd and ends.  Should do WONDERS for my back.

As an aside…  I shall be attempting NaBloPoMo this year.  Care to join me?