Imagine my surprise when I get a phone call from Marcy asking if everything was going alright with me. I hadn't realized it had been that long since I had been away from here. I haven't had much time lately. As most of you know, I have a 6 yr. old, 5 yr. old (next week) & soon to be 3 yr. old.
I applied for a job in the kitchen of my kids private school. The pay wasn't going to be much but it was only a few hours & for the most part, the kids would be at school & I'd be off when they were. It turned out they had nine unexpected applicants & unfortunately I didn't get the job. Even though I went to a cooking school & had 9 years experience, I can't help feel I didn't get it because I'm simply the new kid on the block but Oh! well. But I did get the substitute job which means I'll get called to substitute any of the cooks when they can't go in to work. So far, I've already done it twice.
The month of may was extremely hectic with both kids having three different field trips, grandparents day, fun day & a school program. I was asked to be in charge of the props & scheduling the meetings of the parent volunteers. I had alot of moms helping bringing props in but just a few actually make them since they said they weren't artistic so I was left with making most of them. I ended having to sew 5 poodle skirts which to my surprise turned out really well despite my lack of sewing skills. They did a musical version of Mother Goose stories which they performed three times. Once for the school, then in the evening for all the parents & the next morning they did their final performance for the grandparents visiting on grandparents day. It was a lot of work but seeing the hard work all the kids put in & their happy faces made it all worth it.
Since my kids had been taking computer class at school they both think they know it all now. So one day they were playing their computer game while I made lunch & they attempted to turn the computer off but instead they erased my email inbox for nearly a month. It took me a week to remember that I could still check my email online but once my husband was able to retrieve it, they did something that I still can't access it because it keeps locking up.
Then I've also been having a few family problems that have really been stressing me out. My mom has been suffering with a nerve disease on one side of her face that causes constant excrutiating pain. She's at the point that the strong pain killers don't help her much. Unfortunately the only way she has hope of relief is thru surgery but its expensive & has no guarantee that it will releive her pain 100%. The main problem is that they earn enough to pay their bills but thats about it. They don't have insurance & she doesn't qualify for medicare so my sister has been taking her to a goverment run hospital for low income families. Then my youngest brother was accused of breaking into a building that is behind my parents property. The public defender he had wasnot really trying to do anything for my brother who was innocent. After months of hounding him, we finally scrapped enough money to get him his own lawyer. It turned out the real kid that did the breaking in & stealing (it was his uncles place) had been in trouble before but he knew my brother & his friend Pat (minor) had none so he figured they'd just get a slap on the wrist or so if he put the blame on them. It just happened that the day of the robbery my brother was at Pat's house for his birthday party. This new lawyer took statements from Pat's mom, aunt, cousins & those that were at the party that my brother had been at Pat's all day & even spent the night over because he had been helping his parents set up for the party, etc. The town is small & everyone is related to someone else so they all have had the attitude of believing their kin just because they are kin. After months of worry & going to several court dates, my brother & Pat were finally cleared of the charges & the kid confessed.
Also, as I told Marcy. I lost many of my hoyas & houseplants. Incredibly it wasn't due to a mealy or scale outbreak but mainly for lack of enough light, water, & care I guess. I did have several that kept developing yellowing leaves despite me trying to get them better. This winter I really didn't care for them like in the past since I was a little down. I guess I had been a little depressed & tried to keep myself busy in other ways that I just gave up on the little things I enjoyed doing. I had several bouts of the stomach flu with the kids so that too wore me out. My DH has been having to work longer hours due to some restructuring at work so I honestly have been feeling like a single parent having to do it all at home. I guess now I can relate somewhat to what all you military spouses go thru. In order to keep my sanity & getting out of the house more, I also started taking the kids over their friends house for play dates. I found this helped me too because I'd actually have adult conversation too.
Now, I'm been keeping busy with my kitchen remodel. My DH bought me a new gas stove & microwave/hood combo. I've been cleaning & painting....have lots more to do. I was given the (volunteer) Head Librarian job at school so now I've got training to go thru. It took us a week to get the inventory done & Friday we have to take everything out so one of the commitees can paint & the new carpet installed. Then we finally got word that we were given the grant to computerize the library so I'll be busier then getting the system installed, etc. I'll be in charge of organising the other volunteer librarians, ordering supplies & books & will be in charge of two book fairs. It seems overwhelming but I'm really having fun doing it. And I also have some crafts prep to do for Vacation Bible School next month.
Well, this has really turned into a novel...sorry for making this so long. I've got alot of catching up to do. Just at first glance I'm seeing all these beautiful photos everyone is posting... they're gorgeous! I've got alot of reading to do & will make an effort to get on here more often.Last week I had my first garage sale, boy am I tired! This week, I've got major house cleaning to do for the arrival of my inlaws on Saturday. Then my sisters are finally coming to visit next week, boy! do I wish I had the energy of my kids.
Thanks all for your well wishes & for thinking of me. Blessing to all of you,
Gemila
