Juggling Life

Common Sense

Just yesterday I declared my love for Fresh Air and Terry Gross. Today Fareed Zakaria was on the show. That man has so much common sense that if I had my choice we'd stage a coup and declare him the Supreme Ruler of this country until it got back on track. I know, not very American of me, but I am quite frustrated. Desperate times call for desperate measures as they say.

If you have the time to listen, I would, but if not let me just say that he highlights the simple economics behind the fact that "No tax increase" and "No debt ceiling increase" are simply impossible to navigate. Plus he has the numbers and statistics to demonstrate and highlight that reducing taxes has never equated to job growth; you could prove a causal connection for the inverse though if you were pressed.

After a week in which Michele Bachmann espoused eliminating the Federal Minimum Wage as a means to more employment (which is a great idea if you want to bring back slave labor--and hey, while you're at it, let's reinstitute debtor's prisons), Zakharia was a breath of, well, fresh air.

Creature of Habit

I love a good routine. Even on vacation I like my days to have a predictable rhthym. I've got a pretty sweet rut going right now.

I wake at 6. After I feed the dogs I pick some basil and tomatoes for my lunch sandwich and make my lunch and breakfast before I shower and get ready for work. I leave at 7:15--the 30 mile drive is actually smooth sailing so I am hating it less than I anticipated. In the morning I listen to the news on NPR and in the afternoon it is Fresh Air (which I adore).

I teach from 8 to 1, but the program allows for a 10-minute break each hour--though we've got it combined so there's a 10 minute break early and a 30 minute lunch from 11-11:30. This is totally against the rules, but much more sensible. And hey, I'm just the sub! I am really enjoying the students--a mix of post high-schoolers to moms wanting to return to work to career-changing men--and everything in between.

I head home shortly after 1--there is a mall right next door with Target, Old Navy and everything else under the sun, so that's convenient if I need to pick something up.

When I get home I do a little cleaning, a load of laundry (though not much of that with only Danger Boy and I here), what have you. I read a couple of blogs and have a light dinner at 4. Then I head out to kayak with one friend and when we're done I walk with another. I'm getting a solid 2+ hours of exercise in.

Then it's back home for some more computer time, maybe a little DVR'd TV (Weeds is back. Woohoo!), some fruit to eat. Before I know it it's time to brush my teeth and read my book for a bit before falling asleep around 10 (I am an 8-hour a night gal).

Next week I'll have to add schoolwork to the routine (my last master's class starts July 1), but I think I can squeeze it in without much trouble. During the day I have the chance to play some Words with Friends on my phone, chat with Mr. Fix-it, hang out for a bit with Danger Boy and The Girl Next Door as they kill Nazi Zombies and water a couple of plants.

I've been hosting girls' night out with a couple of different groups on the weekends Mr. Fix-it isn't home, and that's fun. It's quite a different life than I was living a year ago, but it is has its charms!

 

 

Pretty in Pink

I love me some pink in the garden--here's a sampling of what's blooming now.

 

Conundrum of the Control Freak

When you are a person who likes to manage everything you have to remain aware that others doesn't always wish to be managed by you. I do try to keep that in mind.

Last week Southwest Airlines had a fantastic sale. I emailed and called Mr. Fix-it in the afternoon to let him know and to suggest he purchase all his tickets home for August, September, October and November (at the low, low price of $160 RT) as well as maybe a ticket to visit MVP and for MVP to visit him (those flights would have been $80 RT). He thought it was a great idea. I called MVP and told him to pick a couple of dates and get with his Dad that evening as the sale was ending that night.

That night I contemplated calling and making sure Mr. Fix-it had taken care of the tickets. But doing that would have made me a nag, so I didn't.

You know where this is going, right?

The tickets never got purchased.

I'm having a hard time letting it go.

If anyone has the solution to this conundrum, I'd love to hear it!

 

 

Work

I start a new job Monday morning. I am not totally thrilled with the position, but it seems an option worth exploring. I do know that I am really blessed to  have this opportunity and I appreciate that. Here's the backstory.

When my husband lost his job a few months ago I applied for every position I thought might be a fit at all. One opening, which several for-profit colleges advertised, was for an instructor in their Pharmacy Technician training/certification programs. Shockingly, I got no response from most of the companies given that I hold both a Pharmacy Technician License and a Teaching Credential--but, these were the companies that upon looking into them more closely, I would not have worked for anyway.

There was one school where the Director of Education and I spoke, but the position had already been filled. Still, he liked me and thought that I might be interesting in teaching for them as a general ed instructor once my master's was finished. I filed that thought away and then the impetus for me to get a job, any job, was removed when my husband got his current job.

A few weeks ago the position came open again and I was called to interview for it--since conventional wisdom says you never turn down an interview, I went. It turned out the interview was actually a formality and they really wanted me to work for them. I was completely honest and said that the position, factoring in the commute (30 miles) and pay (which I obviously can't say exactly, but I would say it is good for the position, but I'm overqualified for the position) was not attractive to me.

I am still holding out hope for a teaching job in secondary education and I've got some irons in the fire on that front and want to keep my options open.

My straightforwardness paid off and the director asked what I would think about an adjunct position where I could substitute teach for them over the summer to see if I liked the school at all--then, if I did, and my other options didn't pan out, he would help me try to find a position on a campus closer to my home as a general ed instructor when the time came.

 Now that I was interested in!

 So I've done about 12 hours of training, had the world's most hideous badge picture taken and am teaching a class tomorrow. I can work up to 24 hours a week for the rest of the summer--if I want to. I'm just committed to covering a two-week maternity leave. It is all about finding out if this is something I might want to do long-term.

I'm not going to say the name of the school, but I will say that they were more than willing to address my concerns about for-profit schools (which are myriad) and I am satisfied that this school is operating ethically.

Really interesting things can happen when you don't "need" a job and can be candid about it. I realize that makes me very lucky.

 

My Old Man

I am not referring to my "Old Man" the way Gemma might refer to Clay on Sons of Anarchy (my old man rides a motorcycle, but the similarity ends there).

No, I'm referring to my 112-year old dog (that's 16 in people years).

  This is his preferred position most of the time now. When all our company came a couple of weeks ago he spent a lot of time walking around as we congregated, barbecued and ate in the backyard. It like to have done him in. The next day he was visibly in pain--panting as dogs in pain do, and required assistance to stand up (he has a slipped disk in his back). MVP was vocal that his quality of life had declined to the point where we needed to take action.

I was worried MVP was right.

I upped his Prednisone dosage and added Aspirin to his daily meds. After a day of this he bounced back to "normal." His normal is pretty sedentary, but he still enjoys his food and his petting. That's good enough for me for now.

Every now and then he gets up to use the facilities outside and his body reacts a little too soon--which is actually a bit comical as he looks like one of these toys.

I think an old man like him has earned the right to be a little bit of an inconvenience now and then.

 

My Garage Door Hates Me

I was warned about this phenomenon by women whose husbands are frequently absent. Said phenomenon is commonly known as Murphy's Law and it certainly seems to be in full effect around here.

It turns out that my garage door really prefers Mr. Fix-it's touch. Some part of the garage door (springs, motor) has gone out every time my husband leaves for Salt Lake City. This from a garage door that has performed faithfully, and without fail, for many years.

The garage door also doesn't like my neighbor Mark, my go-to guy for handy husband stuff--he adjusted the tension one night and it seemed like that did the trick--until smoke started pouring from the box and we had to unplug the whole thing. It stayed unplugged and I schlepped groceries through the front door for a week until my husband plugged it back in and it purred like a kitten and did its job until he left again.

Is there an inanimate object around your house that has it out for you?

 

Random Photos I'm Glad I Have

I'm glad it's Wordless Wednesday--I used my daily writing quotient finishing a paper, doing discussion boards and taking a final. This means I have ONE more class until I finish my master's degree. Woohoo!

 

                                     I think you know these peeps

 

                                     Social Butterfly and Cousin Al

 

Our celebrants--Nana & Papa celebrating their 50th, the high school graduate, M & S celebrating their 25th. Not only did I go to high school with my husband, I took Honor's English with my brother-in-law in 1982.

 

                                     More cute peeps

 

                                     Nana & Papa and their grand-peeps

 

 

                                     Nephew peep on Dramamine

 

   One very goofy peep and me. That's not a Loser sign BTW--it's a "Lunch Lady Krew" sign--we got it from our kids and I'm sure we have no idea what it actually means.

 

 

Cousins

The cousin relationship comes in many sizes and shapes--a lot depends on ages and proximity, but no matter what there is the shorthand of being part of the same family.

My SIL and I spent a lot of time together in the very early married with children years, but by the time Social Butterfly was about two this cousin became a "Temecula" cousin and then a couple of years later, a "Mississippi" cousin. The last time SB and her cousin Al spent any time together was about five years ago (the last time they came to California and stayed with us).

It didn't matter.

The were two peas in a pod.

 

A helicopter pod that is.

These two (Danger Boy and Chris) may be 8 years apart in age, but the spirit is kindred.

Danger Boy has a special uncle too--he happens to be the father of the boy above.

Their last wrestling match inspired Uncle Jim to hit the gym and watch the diet. He looks great, but he still had to tap out!

 

In Which I WAS NOT Joking About the Best Laid Plans . . .

Have you heard the saying "We plan, God laughs?" God has obviously met my husband's family. I had a great week and am completely exhausted as well as happy to have some solitude (it's just Danger Boy and me for a spell). I'll share some of the fun stuff, but let's just get the "OMFG!" episode out of the way first (you know every family visit has one).

You may remember me posting about how I only made ONE plan for the entire week. That plan was a Champagne brunch cruise for 27 people to celebrate my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary. Since my MIL also wanted a family photograph and we were all going to be dressed up for the cruise it seemed (to me) a natural to combine the two. Plus, the waterfront in San Diego is gorgeous, right?

 

           This is one of the many sculptures that line the harbor walk where our ship was boarding.

The cruise was boarding at 11 a.m., so we were to meet for photos starting at 9 a.m. Those of us who were closer would be there right at 9 and take our individual family pics first; those that had to travel an hour would start getting there about 9:30. The photographer is someone my SIL knows who is starting out and building a portfolio so we negotiated a reasonable price and the ownership of the files to print on our own.

If you're keeping track, the PLAN provides a) a gorgeous backdrop and b) a perfect time for lighting (no harsh sun overhead).

You can imagine (I know you can) my shock to receive a call on Saturday night at 10 p.m. (that would be 11 hours before we were to meet) stating that Nana was inquiring as to whether or not there would be a "wooded" setting available for the photos--since that was the backdrop she wanted. Ummm, no--there are no "woods" at the San Diego harbor.

Also, it turns out some people traveling the hour had just (that very moment!) realized they didn't want to wake up early.

An ALTERNATE plan had been developed whereby we would go on the cruise then, later in the afternoon at 5, we would meet up at a park (that was said to be ideal) near where the hour-north contingent lives.

Blindsided, in shock and not wanting to be the one to crush Nana's just-voiced "wooded area" dream, I agreed to this change. Then I got off the phone and the rest of the crew at my house shared their vociferous objections to the change. These objections included, but were not limited to, the following:

• Having photos taken after partaking liberally of all the offerings of a Champagne brunch cruise (food babies were mentioned).
• The need to cancel afternoon and evening plans made by young adults who were only in San Diego for 5 short days and had hoped to see their friends as well as family.*
• The fact that any amateur photographer (and I count myself as one) knows that lighting is the biggest factor in taking a great photo--and at 5 p.m. on a summer evening the overhead light will be strong and harsh and shadows are problematic.

I'm sharing here the best "just out of the camera" shot that resulted . . .

This is pre-Photoshop magic, so I have hopes for improvement (regardless of the halo is wearing this shot, we all know Danger Boy is not angel). The much-desired "wooded" area? I don't see it either. Please don't get me started on the fountain in the background.

I will say that I feel the blue-and-white clothing theme seems to have worked well and it is wonderful to have a picture of just about everybody in my husband's family (except his deployed sister). The second part of the anniversary gift from us will be to put the finished photo on canvas for Nana & Papa.

And? I did get a blog post out of it!

 

* MVP to me--I used to think all your planning was annoying, but this is far more annoying.

I will be sure to share the final project when it becomes available--like I said, high hopes!