Sparks and Butterflies

I have realized something. Summer is not my friend. No, not the heat. For southern California, it’s been rather mild. I’m talking about the whole relaxed atmosphere.

On school days, I get up between 5 and 6 am. As a result, I get quite a few things done before the kids wake. Once they’re at school, I have the preliminaries out of the way and I can work. Getting up late, and then the kids getting up means everything takes twice as much time. Alas, this means I have to start getting up at the normal school year time.

I hate being a grownup.

As you all know…  I have a business, Vineyard Virtual Services.  I am a Virtual Assistant who caters to freelance writers and small business owners.  As part of that, I also freelance write/ghostwrite.  I usually can’t share that stuff, as it’s not my own byline.

However, at one of my gigs, I’m a one of the writers on the company blog.  I write as MicheleW, so the owner said she was happy for me to promote posts when they happen.  I’ve been writing there a few months now.

Fun and Function is a special needs resource company.  I would say they are more geared towards the Autism spectrum and Sensory Processing Disorder, but there’s something for everyone if your child has special needs.  I write about various topics in the blog from the perspective of being a parent of kids with special needs.

All this to say that there’s a new post over there!

I got interviewed about blogging over at Commitment. Won’t you take a look?

I know several of my online and offline friends deal with kids who have special needs.  I’m one of them.  I’m writing an article for one of my clients, and I would love to hear your stories on the fiscal impact it’s made on your family.  State paid?  Medical Insurance?  District paid?  Out of pocket?  Private care?  I’m looking for the myriad of routes you’ve taken financially to provide special needs care to your child.  Comment or email.  Thanks!

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?

I keep forgetting to promote anything else I’m doing around the innernetwebs.  Here are some links to recent Schtuff.

Most pressing – IMAX is doing a giveaway to promote Where the Wild Things Are and you can find out the details here.

I edited a new post over at Blog Nosh Magazine.  Embedded in Time is from an author that’s new to me, but expresses herself with such a strong voice.

And finally 4 reviews are up:

Give up the Ghost – Brandi Carlile

At Home With Friends – Joshua Bell

Safety Tats

Once in a Blue Moon, by Eileen Goudge

Phew.  Ok.  Carry on.

Quick update on my business elsewhere:

Blissfully Domestic: A Word on the Bias You’ll Face

Aiming Low: Not a bad mom… Just aiming low

Butterviews: Rock of Ages (giveaway ends Sunday) & CookieKids Contest

Needed to tell you before I completely forgot. Thanks, and please feel free to move about the cabin.

There’s got to be a break in here somewhere, right?

We just found out from Poe’s friend that the grocery store job fell through. The one he’s terribly overqualified for, but he needs a job? Yeah, not hiring. That was sort of our ace in the hole. He could work nights and still look for a job in his actual career.

Not gonna happen.

Which means we’ve got nothing with 6 weeks to go on unemployment.

There is another choice, which we’re fighting against tooth and nail. My closing my business and going to work full time while he stays home and manages the kids.

This is not the right choice for us for a whole host of reasons. On the other hand, there’s no money left. And we’ve paid enough ahead to maybe have Cobra through September. And then – nothing.

I don’t WANT to close my business. I don’t have a bunch of clients, but the ones I’ve had are very very happy with my work! I can do this!!

I’m so frustrated. All the things we worked towards are gone. All our savings is gone. All our debt elimination progress is gone. Our credit is back in the toilet. All those years of work, with nothing to show for it. All gone.

I’ve got one last thing that I might have to go for. Our retirement. I haven’t touched it because we’ll take such a hit on the money due to taxes. I don’t know. That’s money I’ve been saving for retirement since I was 18 years old with my first 401K. And if we tap it – it’s gone.

God, I hate this. I hate it. I feel desperate and stupid. I shouldn’t feel stupid, I’ve done nothing wrong, but I do.

Just the Monday Catch Up on my other gigs:

I did a book review on a book called Emergency by Neil Strauss.

The Capri-Sun $250 gift card giveaway is still going strong until 7/8.

Oy. Poe is up for a job. This is GOOD. He had a pre-interview over the phone. Went well. Went in for an actual interview. Went great. Now they’ve asked for a portfolio – anything that can be sent at all? You see Poe had his portfolio of personal drawings stolen. And all his work for companies has been company intellectual property. So, we cobbled some stuff together and sent it (along with the explanation.) In addition we found some online galleries with the locations clearly labeled so Poe knew what was HIS previous work, and we were able to pass that on as well.

I think they really want him. But they’ve never gone into this computer thing before, they’ve only done hand drawn. And the software as well as other components are about $10,000. That does not include the cost of Poe himself. So, I think they’re trying to justify the cost of going this route in the first place, not to mention Poe himself.

ARG!

Worst is, we still don’t know any details of salary or benefits yet – both of which are important points for us. You think?

And so we wait. One thing I have to say, though, is they move very fast. None of this terrible waiting on HR. The guy who owns the company emailed Wednesday night. Poe called Thursday morning. Owner called back Thursday night. Interview in person Friday, with a promise to call on Monday. However, we sent some software pricing information on Friday night. And they called Monday morning (today) at 8am. Sheesh. Cobbled the portfolio together, condensed the files and as of 10 am knew they were in the right hands.

In case you haven’t been in the world of job hunting or Human Resources, lately – that’s FAST. Which in my opinion is a good thing – it means they want to make a decision, and won’t hem and haw about it. It also means they’re communicative, and they also follow through. So – while he may not get the job – I think we’ll know about it, they won’t leave us hanging, and we’ll know why. Conversely, if he does get the job, it’ll be soon.

I don’t have much else to say. Basically the job hunt is sucking up all the brain cells in my head lately. That and the kids are in their final two weeks of school, and this is scaring me.