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Tuesday, August 25, 2009

It was a whopper!

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So we took the boys fishing last weekend. It was The Captain's third or fourth time and as you can see, he already has the ability of a seasoned pro. Just look at the whopper on his line!




But Little D was not to be outdone by his big brother and landed his first catch of the day too.










We took them fishing at some ponds outside of town. I hate fishing in ponds. Actually I just plain hate ponds. Especially the kind that have half weed, half nasty-ass scum-of-some-type covering the surface. These ponds did - as you can see by the picture. Doesn't that look like the perfect pond home for a swamp monster, or a dead body??? Shiver.



I have never been a fan of large, murky bodies of water. I have always had a problem with swimming in them because I'm totally afraid that something could be lurking right below the surface, just waiting to get me. I saw a movie a loooong time ago about a big swamp blob that ate a pack of swimmers after they took an innocent afternoon dip. I was at a very impressionable age so I'm sure that's why I'm such a freak about it.

Anyway, after the boys grew bored with fishing, they ate some watermelon and then went exploring.






Then we drove to a nearby peach orchard and picked some peaches.
Notice Little D going for all the rotten fruit on the ground. But he quickly figured out that the peaches from the tree were much tastier.


After we had eaten/picked our fill we went home. The boys were muddy, tired, sticky and exhausted - a sign of a very good day.

Looking back at this summer, I think we have had quite a few great days and I'm really thankful for that. I have enjoyed being able to spend more time my boys, taking them to the beach, the zoo, and the water parks.

I'm looking for work now and will probably end up going back full-time. Even though I knew this time would come sooner or later, it's still going to be hard, so my plan for now is to enjoy the rest of the time that I have left and really make the most of it. I think I hear the beach calling my name again!

Monday, August 17, 2009

Ouch - that hurt!

I started my day by shelling out $950.00 to our friendly neighborhood plumber. I guess the good news is that now my toilets flush again and my dirty little monsters can finally take a bath after going all weekend without one.

I HATE! HATE! HATE! unexpected repairs - especially ones that cost an arm and a leg. And it only figures that I almost had enough money saved up for new windows, which we desperately need. Now I'm probably going to have to go through another winter with our shitty-ass, old-as-dirt windows because my dear husband, bless his heart, violently opposes using credit cards which means we try to save up for big ticket things instead of whipping out the plastic. I must confess it's nice not to have any credit card debt, but when things like this happen I really hear Mastercard calling my name!!!!

I know it could be a lot worse so I'm trying to look on the bright side of things - which I usually try to do. But sometimes it would just be nice, for once, not to feel like some circus juggler trying to keep all the balls in the air - you know?

I'm off to cry in my coffee now.

Monday, August 10, 2009

The New Normal..almost

So I got a little taste of my soon to be "new normal" (being unemployed) this week and all I have to say is that I may need to starting take some super vitamins.

So far I have survived a trip to the coast, two trips to the water park, and a trip to the zoo with the kids....by myself. Don't get me wrong -I had a great time, but right now I am so freakin tired my eyes feel like there's a slow acid drip eating away at them. Sweet.

My boys are loving this new routine - I can tell they're trying to figure out what they could have possibly done that was so awesome as to deserve all of these exciting adventures with Mommy.

However, they're not going to be to happy when they wake up tomorrow morning and find out they have to go to school/daycare - at least for another whopping four days as that is all I have left to work. Quite frankly they're going to be pissed off and I completely understand - I don't want to go to work tomorrow either. Like I said in my last post, I'm actually looking forward to spending more time with the boys while there's still a good chunk of summertime left. And isn't there such a thing as "short timers" syndrome - or does that only apply to high school seniors?

Anyway, I also have a gnawing feeling that I am going to jump through all the hoops to get signed up for unemployment and Cobra to just turn around and not need it. At least that's my hope..sort of. Does that even make sense?? I do want this layoff to be a temporary thing, but just not too temporary. How crazy is that? I must sound like a complete idiot!

Oh well, if I do sound like a raving lunatic I'm placing the blame squarely on my fatigued body, my water-logged brain, my sunburned back and the stomachache I have from eating a Big N Tasty at McD's this afternoon with the kids!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Downsized....and I'm not talking about my waistline.

The inevitable has finally happened - I have been "let go" as of today. Or I guess I should say "temporarily" let go as of today.

I'm really not surprised - the writing on the wall has been there for quite a few months. Our work has slowed down to barely a drizzle and it's been painfully slow and boring at work.

My boss is calling this a "temporary thing" and has already told me that he will need me back on board in as soon as a month or two if the company wins any of the project bids that we currently have out right now.

So for now my plan is to apply for unemployment and COBRA and to look at the positives in this situation - which to me appear to be numerous. To begin with, I'm going to get to spend more time with my boys and they will be super happy about that. Secondly, this could be the break I need to decide if this is the path I want to continue down. I stumbled into this work quite on accident and just kept chugging along quite frankly because the job fit my needs at the time. But now I'll have a chance to look at what else is out there and actually go for other opportunities without feeling like I'm going behind my boss' back. If I do decide this is what I want to do and here is where I want to be, then it will only be a matter of time until things return to work as usual around here, and I can definitely live with that.

My biggest concern in this whole situation is my poor husband. I think I better have a nice cold beer waiting for him when I break the news to him tonight!