What Our Christmas Was Like

Our Christmas holiday stretched for several days, making it an interesting and hectic experience. (BTW, if anyone wants a tired and whiny toddler, I have one to share this morning.)

It started on Sunday, the 23rd. We traveled down to Kentucky to my aunt's house. There we shared appetizers and finger foods, watching my daughter be a screaming heathen. My cousin has a little girl who is just a bit older than Piper, and both girls brought bags of toys to play with while visiting. Piper decided that my cousin's girl's toys were hers and that her toys were hers. When my mother and I were making Piper share, my aunt, my cousin, and his wife were all trying to tell us that it was okay for Piper to hog all the toys! Not so much in my book, so we had screaming battle of wills. Lessen learned: Piper needs more play dates with other kids.

On Christmas Eve, we loaded up and arrived at my parents' house for brunch. It was a good experience. My mom's parents live with my parents, so there were several of us. We filled ourselves with all sorts of wonderful breakfast foods, then opened presents. Since Mom keeps Piper during the week, she redid Piper's bedroom with all sorts of big girl stuff for her Christmas. There was a toddler bed, a kitchen, a table and chairs, and she got some bath toys. It was good for her.

I got a new MP3 player that I'd wanted. It has a radio, records voice, and records radio directly to the player. It also features a pedometer, stopwatch and some other nifty things. The ear buds on it are different than others, and quite comfortable, too. They also got me Barnes & Noble and Starbucks gift cards. My husband got a Visa gift card, as he is the hardest person in the world to shop for.

In the evening, we went to his mother's house for pizza and presents. Piper got a tent, sleeping bag, etc. combo thing, some clothes and his sister got her a Cabbage Patch doll named Piper. I got some fu-fu smelly stuff and some cash. My husband got some cash and I don't know what else. Not a bad evening.

Christmas Day, we learned that Santa had brought Piper a Dora kitchen and a Dora ATV. Even though Piper doesn't watch TV, I think it's Dora's friendly face that has attracted her to the character. She also got a some accessories to take care of her babies and some extra food items to use in her kitchen. Mommy and Daddy got her the Little People Sarah Lynn Camping Adventure.

The husband went out and bought his gift from me for himself. That's not that different or new. We do things oddly and backwards for the most part. It works for us, no matter what others may say. Seriously, I said something about wanting a new vacuum, and when he told the guys at work, they insisted that if that's all he got me, then I would be pissy about. Really? Last time I checked, I'm not really in to jewelry and other seriously girly stuff. Never have been, and it drives me crazy when others assume that I can't be different. One year, he got me a stove and a dishwasher for Christmas and anniversary (I don't remember which gift was which, as they run so close together.). I was happy as could be to have good, working appliances to make my life easier.

But back to the gifts. I haven't decided what I want my gift from him to be yet, so I don't have anything, and I'm not too worried about it right this second. Around noon, we went to his aunt's house to do his family's thing. Piper got some new clothes and a pink poodle purse for her name draw gift. His grandmother got her a stick pony, pink cowboy boots, and a Little People farm (which she's had for awhile at Mom's, but I was saying a thing). Christopher got some kind of cologne, and some other stuff I never got to see. I got some Victoria Secret smelly stuff that I like, a cute little picture frame, and a Barnes & Noble gift card.

In grand total, I have $75 in B&N gift cards, which makes me a very happy woman. The holidays have been grand. Tomorrow, we have to go and do stuff with my mom's family, which is just food, conversation, and white elephant gifts. It's usually a good time.

Now that I've written my huge narrative, and I know the answer for some, but did everyone have a good holiday?

Big Mommy...And Other Things

The little one and I have both been sick with some kind of nasty crud. A sick toddler is a major handful, let me just say. It involves lots of crying and whining, and many other things I'd rather not mention. Thankfully, I can report that we both are feeling better.

Which brings me to this very funny story from last week. My mother, who watches Piper while I work, made a trip to the store one morning. In the car on the way home, she and Piper had the following conversation:

Piper: See Mommy.

Mom: We can't see Mommy right now. She's at work.

Piper: See Mommy.

Mom: Mommy's at work. We'll see her this evening.

Piper: *Claps her hands together.* SEE BIG MOMMY NOW!

Frankly, I have no idea if that turned out as funny as it was, but it was hilarious, and I am now known as Big Mommy in some circles.

****

Most of you who come here know that I was going to try to hire someone to come in on the weekends to help with things around here. In a bit of luck, my husband's cousin recently moved in next door with her husband. They are expecting a baby. Having just relocated from Illinois, they have yet to find jobs, and could use some extra cash. My husband mentioned something in passing about giving her $20 to watch Little Bit for a few while I did some things (to be discussed further down). It was a huge blessing, and a blazing success. Piper loves her, and so they bounced back and forth between both houses, while I got some serious work done.

Then, in one of those lovely twists of fate, we started discussing other cleaning. So, his cousin is going to come and do a set list of tasks during the week while we are gone, and I'll increase the pay accordingly. I can't tell you how nice it was coming home this evening to find Piper's room picked up and neat, one of the bathrooms all clean, the dishes done, and Piper's clean laundry folded and put away. It's great so far, and there's less stress for me. The hardest part for me is deciding how much to compensate her for the efforts.

****

This weekend, during the previously mentioned time that the husband's cousin was helping with Piper, I cleaned out eight large trash bags of clothes that I've accumulated for the last several years. There for the longest time, I kept everything. However, since I've become a mother, and had a million tasks added to my to do list, I just don't have the time to clean up or around all that stuff. So, I've been slightly ruthless in getting rid of stuff, and I made a ton of space in my house by clearing out this stuff.

I've also come to the conclusion that it is selfish as to hang on to all these perfectly good things when there are people out there that need them. So, I'm hauling loads of usable things to the Goodwill, where people who need things can use them. It's helping a bunch.

****

I'm finally feeling good again. There for a bit I was rather depressed and a real Downer Debbie. It felt like the relationship with the husband was strained. We've finally started to have some time together. Things are feeling a little bit better all around. I've gotten the kind of help I need.

****

I've not written anything recently. Not that I'm not thinking about my novel. It's on my mind a lot, and I have some things I need to work through, so I'm not upset because it's not dead in the water.

****

Friday is our fifth wedding anniversary. It is also the same day that marks 11 years of being together. It's amazing. We have a nice evening planned. We're going out for dinner, and doing a little Christmas shopping to finish up some of the things we need. It's hard to imagine the holidays are so close, but I'm feeling better than I have in a while. Now I just need to get a sleepy toddler ready for bed.

Disconnect

On the way home from work today, I saw something that I am sure is common today, but made me think back about my experiences several years ago. As this car passed me on the highway, you could see the dad in the front seat, chatting on the phone. In the back, you could see the daughter chatting away on her phone.

Now back in the Stone Ages (or ten years ago), when you rode in the car, you either brought material to entertain yourself with or actually speak with the people in the car. It made me wonder how many families don't use the time as a good time for discussions and insights to one another. It makes me think back to all the family road trips we took when I was younger.

We almost always left at night. My brother and my mother would fall asleep in the back, and I'd ride shotgun next to my dad since I was always wide awake. Sleeping in the car was not a skill I acquired until I met my husband. I would read the map and keep track of when our next exit would be, and Dad and I could talk about all sorts of things. It was a real bonding experience, and one activity of many we've enjoyed over the years. (Other than my teenage years, but that's another story for another time.)

What I expect happens most often now, is that each person is involved in their own activities, that they miss out on easy time with each other to build relationships. I worry what that does to families. Most often, on our rides to and from my parent's, Piper and I talk, sing, and sometimes enjoy the silence. If I have to make a call, it's most often to my husband, for less than a minute, to give him an ETA. Those rides are an easy time for bonding and I don't want to miss them. I mean, we're stuck in a car together for cryin' out loud!

Cell phones are handy, but I think people have gotten so caught up in being connected all the time, that they don't take the opportunity to be disconnected. Not to mention the risks in using your cell phone on the road. The other morning some college-aged kid was so busy texting that he forgot to drive, nearly sideswiping my car. That kind of stuff scares the crap out of me.

But the point I am trying to make is that if you are connected all the time, take some time to disconnect and see what it feels like to have that freedom again. Use that time that comes so easily to build relationships with those around you. After all, relationships are what life is about.

Busy Week

This week is a busy one at work. I've not even had the chance to open up the WIP. The husband has also been working longer hours. My daughter just dumped the dogs' water on the floor. It's fun. Time to hit the sack so I can get up early.

Not Doing So Hot on This Posting Thing...Or Writing For That Matter

Things have been a bit nutty. They always are this time of year. It's when I become a widow to the deer hunt. This holiday weekend was the longest ever. It just wouldn't go away. Normally I'm all for the paid time off from work, but Piper just wouldn't quit. No naps until an hour or two before bedtime. Stripping all her clothes off and peeing on the floor. Honestly, it felt good to go drop her off at my mom's for work yesterday. The whole plan for the weekend: Write when Piper's sleeping. It just never happened. I swear I have bad luck or bad karma. Bad something.



Then there's is this personal thing that I've been going through. I think it's a quarter life crisis. I don't know. It's just that I've realized that you only live one life, and, well, I want a job that makes a difference in someone's life. Even if it's just to make someone's day go by a little easier. Plus, I really want to run my own business. Have for long time.



This current job I'm now is supposed to be the big after college job. But I don't feel that great about it for a lot of reasons. Most of which I won't mention here because they are private. It's not the first time that I've felt that I'm not right for the corporate world, though.



So I've decided that I want to start an errand business. I think it's an unfilled niche to this area. I also think it won't take off right away, so I'd like to supplement with freelance writing. I suggested this to my dad and the response was less than overwhelming. I knew better than to mention it to my husband.

Then I pitched the idea to Miss Michele's Tarot, the lovely alter ego of Dawn Allcot. The reading? Basically, I will be successful, but it will take work and there will be obstacles. Story of my life. I've always been a fan of hard work to reach what you want. It builds character. But that reading also meant that in order for this to start happening, I'd have to talk about it to my husband. Which scared the crap out of me.

I walked around for many days with my stomach twisted in a knot, and tears leaking down my face. Finally, this weekend, I got the nerve to say something to him about what I wanted. His response, very typical for him, was something about how we couldn't afford it right now. Well, I don't mean right now. I'm thinking of a launch in a year or year and a half or so. Huge planner, right here folks.

So I'm going to put together a plan, get my foot in the door freelancing, and do this thing. I don't know how much time that will leave for fiction writing, but I want this. I really want this. So I'm going to try very hard to achieve it.

TGTD - Weekend One

This is the first weekend in The Great Tea Debacle (it comes out in a great booming voice in my head, in case you were wondering). So far things have sucked. I wrote some during the week, and I thought to write some this weekend. I thought to write quite a lot this weekend.

Then my allergies flaired. I feel somewhat better today, but not great.

Then Piper started. Poor thing has been off the mark for the last few days, and yesterday she was a mess. I was so tired and frustrated by the time evening came, that I was near tears. The husband was gone all day (big surprise here ) and being alone with a million things I wanted to do was no fun.

Finally, yesterday evening, my husband and his buddy were talking, and I guess the buddy is bringing his new girl over tomorrow evening. Thank goodness I was already planning a big dinner, so there isn't much extra effort there. The big thing is that now I have to do housecleaning I wasn't planning on doing, and I was going to write today.

Today has already been interesting. Time changed last night. Piper woke up and when I checked the alarm clock, it said 5:30, so I thought, "That's okay. It's close enough to six that we'll just get up." Then I make it to the computer, and realize that we didn't set our clocks back before bed. It's really early.

Now, I'm going to try and write a few words since Piper is napping and the husband is still in bed. While I write, I am going to enjoy a pot pie for breakfast because it was the only thing that sounded good. Hopefully, I can have a decent number to email in tonight.

Surprisingly Good Shrimp

Yesterday, after getting off from work, I was hungry. I stopped at Dairy Queen for the popcorn shrimp basket. I just wanted the shrimp, but that's what you gotta order. For being a dessert, and sometimes good burger place, the popcorn shrimp is surprisingly good. Not that it really makes a good pre-dinner snack (I didn't even really eat at dinner), but it's good and it hit the spot.

Hump day I got some sleep. I had about as hard a time waking up yesterday as any other day. All warm and snuggled up in the bed. But, alas, this morning Piper thinks we need to wake up at 3:30. So, I fed her another snack, and put some cartoons on. I'm hoping she'll doze back off so I can take a shower.

And this week, of all weeks, the urge to write has returned. I've taken to packing my little notebook in my purse and jotting down notes. It feels good. I have discovered that I don't like to write far out into the future. This story started with a broad overview, and I just jot out the ideas for a few scenes beforehand. When I get too far ahead of myself, I get bored.

And, in book news, Harry Potter comes out Saturday! Right, I know. You've known for ages, but I'm getting all pysched up here, and I can't wait. I'm hoping Piper takes a long nap on Saturday. Fast reading is my specialty. When book six came out, I read the whole thing twice and the ending an extra time in the first 72 hours. After I read seven, I'm going to reread the whole series start to finish. Woohoo!

Long Time No Post

So, things have changed. The change seems like a good thing, but it does take time. We're getting adjusted to the new schedule. It takes some time, of course, but it seems to be pretty good.

I think I'm going to really like the New Job once I get trained in. The people I work with are really nice.

Not so much news in the writing front. Everything seems to have stalled. Once the chaos of change has cleared, I'm hoping to define a very good schedule. I just need to get used to less sleep.

Ch-Ch-Changes

I accepted the formal job offer, so I start June 18. My last day in my current role is June 13, so I did manage to arrange my four day weekend. Which is nice since I was so close to earning vacation in my current job. It worked out just the way I wanted it to.

Though, I will admit that I hate leaving where I’m at. I’ve gotten to know some fantastic people, and I was really hoping to get hired on here. However, I believe this new position will be good for me, and open up doors and provide experiences that match my education very well.

So it’s exciting, and I need to work on getting this new routine down. I’ll be getting home an hour later, and that means that we need to work out the kinks ahead of time so we won’t be eating at 8:00 PM.

I’m starting to think I need a slow cooker cookbook.

It’s been a long week, as the little one has not been sleeping well at night, which in turn, means we have not been sleeping well at night. It’s exhausting.

The Waiting Game

I completed my second interview for that position, and now I’m waiting. Considering the speed with which all other communications have come, it makes me a bit nervous that I haven’t heard anything yet. I’m crossing my fingers that I will hear something today.

In other job search news, a position came open where I work now in the department I interned in, so I applied for that. I don’t know how high to get my hopes up, but I applied, and that’s what counts.

In other unrelated news, I tried to buy a laptop on my Dell Preferred card. It seems my account is still locked down from when I had financial troubles a year ago. My dad keeps encouraging me to call them and ask about it, but I’m leaning towards just buying one outright. I can save enough money in about a month and a half, and it won’t increase the debt load.

Of course, it will decrease the debt payoff because that is where the extra funds will come from. Then there’s always the fact that one of us needs to get an economical car, and I’m thinking my husband will be first because he drives further than I do. But I did some quick pricing and it looks like we can get him something reasonable for about $5,000. Maybe not pretty or sporty or big like he likes, but reasonable for all his damn driving.

In other news, I get DVR on Friday. So the husband and I won’t be fighting over TV. And I haven’t been writing much lately. Considering that I can’t at home due to computer issues that I still have not had time to address, I don’t have a way to do so. So I sneak a bit in here or there and think about it all the time.

Job Search Success

At least it seems to be headed in that direction. I got a call for a second interview with my potential boss's boss.

Good news.

And I will define irony as being six weeks away from having earned vacation in my current job. Just my luck. I so need some vacation. I've had more disappointment and frustration than I can handle lately.

Mother's Day was the worst letdown I have experienced all year. I was not revered or even acknowledged by the spousal unit. At all. And he knew what day it was. So much for my dreams of a happy family. I just don't see it in the cards.

Falling Off the Face of the Planet

So I've disappeared for a bit, given all the computer difficulties. I have to figure out a way around the problems I keep having, and I'm not sure how that's going to happen, but I'll get there. What I am debating right now is whether I want to order a cheap laptop, and whether I should tell the husband before or after it arrives.

I've wanted a laptop for a long time, and this a great time to get one. I can back up all the data from my desktop and wipe it, while enjoying the comforts of still having a computer to use. Not to mention I can write while sitting next to the husband on the couch while he watches some TV show that I can nothing about.

And a thanks to Frank Baron for posting a comment and here, which prompted a comment to myself along the lines of, "Hey Dummy! Yeah you. The blog is feeling neglected so get over there and write."

Playing Hooky from My Blog

Soooooo…

I have all these plans and then Poof! I disappear. Well, I still have plans, and I have been doing things, so it’s not a total wash.

Since my last post, I have been crazy busy. Our peeps next door moved out and we’re getting the place ready for new people. The daughter has been a royal handful as well. And I’ve decided to pull all the crap from the house that we don’t need that’s clogging up space or that needs to be in a garage sale. So basically, that means there’s stuff everywhere until I get it over to my dad’s.

In good news, I submitted a contest entry over at the AW Freelance Board, which means that I wrote an entire freelance article. In my book, it’s progress toward that my freelancing goals.

I opened up my WIP yesterday and added new words! Queen of Legends currently resides at 3,632 words so far. I’m putting up a mock finish goal of 100,000 words, but I have no clue how many words I’m headed towards, but considering there are six main people and two primary points of view, I have a feeling it will be huge. But I’m getting excited about it again.

I’m reading Holly Lisle’s Character Clinic as I’m getting back in , so I hope it helps a bunch. Actually I love all of Holly’s stuff because her writing is clear, clean and resonates with me. Ten people can explain it to me, but it always seems to click when Holly adds her voice.

I really want to get started on book reviews soon. *Glances over at stack of books awaiting reviews.* Okay, I really NEED to get start on book reviews soon. I’ll be adding them to the mix soon, but I figure I should stir the bowl as I slowly add ingredients. Then I be the writer I want to be.

Blog changes are still pending. I’m compiling ideas and such. When I get a bit of the housework caught up, I’ll work on the blog. Until the next time, take care.

Sleep Will Find Me Soon (I Hope)

This has been one exciting and busy week. I interviewed on Tuesday for one position and received a call to interview next week for another.

But as a result I'm exhausted from Tuesday. Three in the morning is not the best time to get up. So I went to bed earlier last night, and had the weirdest night. I woke up at least 4 or 5 times and every time I woke up, I thought I had slept through the alarm and was late for work. Piper ended up in the bed with us, though I believe it's because the thunder and wind woke her up.

So, essentially I'm brain dead until I sleep in Saturday morning. And sometime this weekend I'll be doing some stuff with my blog.

Computer Room Makeover

I'm trying to get my home clean, organized, and clutter free. So, despite my husband's objections that other rooms are more important, I've started on the computer room. There is a method to my madness, regardless of other opinions. The reasoning being that the computer room is where all the papers, files, and miscellanous items of the house reside, and before I go stuffing other crap in here, I'd like to know how the systems are going to work.

Tonight was the first night in ages that Piper's slept in her own bed. So I've been here since then, going through stuff and making more organized stacks. I'm making real progress, and hopefully can finish it all tomorrow. After that it's on to Piper's room. Once these two rooms are done, I don't see the rest of the rooms in the house being difficult.

Which means I don't know if I'll get to any real writing this weekend, but after I get things organized, writing should be easier. But I may or may not be online the rest of the weekend. It's really up in the air.

I'm So Going to Crash

So poor sweet Piper.

Piper. Piper. Piper.

At 2AM, she decides that it's not time to sleep anymore and we get up. And I never made it back to bed. Considering my lack of sleep this week already, Thursday is not the day for this kind of thing.

I'm going to crash hardcore when I get home. And someone will need to be there to pick up the pieces. The husband has been warned that tonight is leftover/whatever-you-can-fix-yourself for supper tonight. I'm just too tired. Thank goodness for Graduates Toddler Meals.

Of Illnesses and Such

My daughter's sick. Tonsillitis. So this week has been full of exhaustion. She's not sleeping, so correspondingly, neither am I. It's turning into, "Floor met Face. Face meet floor." Productivity is trashed, and I long for a nice sleep in event. I'm having the craving to write, but lack the neurons to produce anything.

On a more positive note, I pulled apart the computer room and the only part that's put back together at this moment is the computer desk. Monday is a work holiday, and my mom has agreed to keep the baby for at least part of the day, so it's going to be a cleaning and de-cluttering day. I'm excited. I want to get this place straightened up!