We're officially in our own place. I haven't cooked any meals yet,* and we're revisiting our youth by sleeping on mattresses on the floor, but I can take a shower and get ready for work with ease. To me, if you can prepare for a day out without too much hassle, you're settled. My bar is pretty low, as you can see.
I've bought my first plants. Spearmint and rosemary, to be specific. I found some cute, reasonably priced terracotta pots at Target, and got them potted and set up on our patio wall. I even made some iced tea with sprigs of mint in it.
I'm happy to get going with some container plants - I have a list of them I want to get started on. It's fun to watch the local garden shows and see what I can do. My grandfather was a horticulturist and it makes me sad that he died before I really cared much about gardening. Now that I could really use his advice, it's too late. At least I know he'd be thrilled if he were still around!
As for work, it seems to be going well. It still makes me twitch when I think about all my student loans, and not finishing school, and what am I going to do about that, and on and on and on. But the job itself, it's good. I think I'll be good at it, when I finally make it through training.**
Have I mentioned that my last job in this same industry made me want to stab myself in the eye? So far I've had no urges in that direction. Maybe I never will. It's possible, right? Different company, different atmosphere, more internally driven direction on my end. Either way, I'm sure that one of two things will happen - I'll love the job, decide to change my major, and life will be good. Or, I'll not love the job, I'll quit and finish nursing school, and life will be good. I'm leaving myself open to both options, and I'll accept*** which ever one seems to work for us.
******
*Unless microwaving a bowl of soup counts??
**SIXTEEN weeks of training. Eight weeks of classroom training, and eight weeks of OJT. Crikey, it's a lot of training. But it's kind of nice - makes me all warm and fuzzy inside that it's so extensive. Says a lot about their priorities, I think.
***Gratefully. Very, very gratefully. That I'll have a choice, that I have options, that I won't feel trapped in a job I don't like, should that come to pass. That I have the option of school and a different career. I'm done with working because it's the only option - we spend too much time at work to not like what we're doing. If I'm going to work, I'm going to like it, dammit. And I will NOT let it interfere with how we raise BW.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
A Place Of Our Own
Wow! It's been a crazy couple of weeks.
We had a great time with BW this weekend. We hung out, shopped for some clothes, went to lunch, went to see Night At The Museum, and to B&N so BW could pick out some books.* BW also got his lovely curls shorn short for summer.** It was a busy couple of days, but lots of fun.
We found a new apartment and should be moving in on Wednesday. We were going to live with M1 for the next six months, but, you all know how it is. Sometimes things don't quite go as planned. All is well, but we thought it'd be best if we found our own place. On one hand it'll be really nice to be somewhere with a pool and where it's just the three of us. On the other hand, it was really, really nice seeing M1 and the kids every day, and I miss them already.
It took some searching, but we found an apartment we like with reasonable rent that's close to my new job. The management seems competent and the on-site staff is really nice. We're looking forward to having a little more room to spread out. It was nice to have MM there to do most of the looking and research. I just had to show up at a few places so we could pick one. With any luck, I'll get out of most of the moving and unpacking, too. Working does have it's good points!
I'm off to read some books to BW before bed time. Have a great week all, hopefully my next post will be from the comfort of my own place, rather than as a guest!
*****
*BW got to pick out whatever he wanted to get for his birthday at the bookstore. I chose one for him about gardening for kids - Grow It and Eat It - which looks wonderful. He chose two Seymour Simon books - Sharks and Stars. It made my heart sing. He not only was thrilled to be picking out books, but he picks out "school" books.
**It makes me sad, but I know they'll grow back.
We had a great time with BW this weekend. We hung out, shopped for some clothes, went to lunch, went to see Night At The Museum, and to B&N so BW could pick out some books.* BW also got his lovely curls shorn short for summer.** It was a busy couple of days, but lots of fun.
We found a new apartment and should be moving in on Wednesday. We were going to live with M1 for the next six months, but, you all know how it is. Sometimes things don't quite go as planned. All is well, but we thought it'd be best if we found our own place. On one hand it'll be really nice to be somewhere with a pool and where it's just the three of us. On the other hand, it was really, really nice seeing M1 and the kids every day, and I miss them already.
It took some searching, but we found an apartment we like with reasonable rent that's close to my new job. The management seems competent and the on-site staff is really nice. We're looking forward to having a little more room to spread out. It was nice to have MM there to do most of the looking and research. I just had to show up at a few places so we could pick one. With any luck, I'll get out of most of the moving and unpacking, too. Working does have it's good points!
I'm off to read some books to BW before bed time. Have a great week all, hopefully my next post will be from the comfort of my own place, rather than as a guest!
*****
*BW got to pick out whatever he wanted to get for his birthday at the bookstore. I chose one for him about gardening for kids - Grow It and Eat It - which looks wonderful. He chose two Seymour Simon books - Sharks and Stars. It made my heart sing. He not only was thrilled to be picking out books, but he picks out "school" books.
**It makes me sad, but I know they'll grow back.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Happy Birthday, BW!
Eight years ago today, almost to the very minute, I was in the hospital six weeks earlier then planned having an emergency c-section. Daddy was there too, and he gave me a play by play of the whole procedure.* My doctor held you over the divider sheet after he pulled you out and you dripped goo all over my face, which still makes me laugh.
You were a tiny thing - only 4.7 lbs - and you looked like a tiny alien. They immediately whisked you away to NICU and stuck you full of tubes and needles, and sent me to another floor entirely for recovery. The next day I was finally able to get up and see you for the second time, and after our visit I came back to my room and sobbed. Your birth was not at all what I envisioned, and we were so worried about you being born early. You spent your first two weeks of life in NICU, with me travelling back and forth to see you from home.
The whole premature thing? Turned out to not matter a bit. You were a happy and healthy baby, who grew into a happy and healthy toddler, and then into a happy and healthy boy.
You're funny, smart, mouthy, loving, gorgeous, cuddly, sweet, curious, and a billion other things. Your father and I are so proud of you, and completely in awe of the fact that the two of us created such a wonderful being.
I love you each and every moment of every day, and I couldn't have picked a better son.
Happy eighth birthday, my love.
*****
*Which consisted of "OH MY GOD, THAT'S HER UTERUS????? HONEY, THEY JUST TOOK IT OUT OF YOUR BODY AND PUT IT ON YOUR STOMACH!!!!!"
You were a tiny thing - only 4.7 lbs - and you looked like a tiny alien. They immediately whisked you away to NICU and stuck you full of tubes and needles, and sent me to another floor entirely for recovery. The next day I was finally able to get up and see you for the second time, and after our visit I came back to my room and sobbed. Your birth was not at all what I envisioned, and we were so worried about you being born early. You spent your first two weeks of life in NICU, with me travelling back and forth to see you from home.
The whole premature thing? Turned out to not matter a bit. You were a happy and healthy baby, who grew into a happy and healthy toddler, and then into a happy and healthy boy.
You're funny, smart, mouthy, loving, gorgeous, cuddly, sweet, curious, and a billion other things. Your father and I are so proud of you, and completely in awe of the fact that the two of us created such a wonderful being.
I love you each and every moment of every day, and I couldn't have picked a better son.
Happy eighth birthday, my love.
*****
*Which consisted of "OH MY GOD, THAT'S HER UTERUS????? HONEY, THEY JUST TOOK IT OUT OF YOUR BODY AND PUT IT ON YOUR STOMACH!!!!!"
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Week One
Week one at my new job has left me pretty happy. I'm am actually in shock and awe over the benefits this company offers. They pay for my school (in advance, on a pre-paid MasterCard, up to $5250 a year).* The health benefits are incredibly affordable, and they give me $3000 to pay for any expenses I incur that insurance doesn't cover. Ample paid time off. They have an onsite gym and will reimburse my fees if I use it.
On top of this, they actually seem 100% sincere in their caring for their customers and employees. The average tenure for employees is somewhere between eight and nine years. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, because, seriously? Too good to be true. Maybe they're all zombies, waiting to eat my brain? Everyone there has drank the Kool-Aid, and in all honesty, I'm a little freaked out by all the goodness and trust and integrity I keep seeing.
****
Today, I'm making crock-pot yogurt. I've never done it this way before, I've been using a pot on the stove and an oven. M1's oven light is burnt out and I can't think of another viable option for keeping the warmth. Thus the crock-pot. I think it may work, but only time will tell. I'll let you know how it goes. If I remember, which I may not. If you're interested, remind me.
****
Thursday night I went to the Desert Botanical Garden with some friends and saw the Chihuly exhibit. Unbelievably amazing. I wish I could post all of the 100+ pictures I took, but since I cannot, here is a sampling.
******
*Unfortunately, I'd have to change my major to take advantage of it. I have to say, I'm seriously considering it. They'll pay for English, History, Psych, and Sociology degrees, among many, many others. Several of the options appeal to me. Such a struggle since I've worked so hard at my pre-reqs for nursing, and had a plan in mind for my future. But what a nice struggle to have - I'm definitely not complaining about this opportunity!!!
On top of this, they actually seem 100% sincere in their caring for their customers and employees. The average tenure for employees is somewhere between eight and nine years. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, because, seriously? Too good to be true. Maybe they're all zombies, waiting to eat my brain? Everyone there has drank the Kool-Aid, and in all honesty, I'm a little freaked out by all the goodness and trust and integrity I keep seeing.
****
Today, I'm making crock-pot yogurt. I've never done it this way before, I've been using a pot on the stove and an oven. M1's oven light is burnt out and I can't think of another viable option for keeping the warmth. Thus the crock-pot. I think it may work, but only time will tell. I'll let you know how it goes. If I remember, which I may not. If you're interested, remind me.
****
Thursday night I went to the Desert Botanical Garden with some friends and saw the Chihuly exhibit. Unbelievably amazing. I wish I could post all of the 100+ pictures I took, but since I cannot, here is a sampling.
******
*Unfortunately, I'd have to change my major to take advantage of it. I have to say, I'm seriously considering it. They'll pay for English, History, Psych, and Sociology degrees, among many, many others. Several of the options appeal to me. Such a struggle since I've worked so hard at my pre-reqs for nursing, and had a plan in mind for my future. But what a nice struggle to have - I'm definitely not complaining about this opportunity!!!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
I Am so SCREWED
My new job has a really awesome cafe on site. As well as a three different coffee options, one of which is Starbucks. As in one of those little Starbucks kiosks that sell some of the menu items, but not all.
My badge can be used as a debit card at these places, and it comes directly out of my check.
This may be a problem.
My badge can be used as a debit card at these places, and it comes directly out of my check.
This may be a problem.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Someone Should Invent Holographic Clothing
It would totally solve my laundry problems.*
The only problem I can foresee is full frontal contact hugs. And crowded areas, like concerts or the subway. I think I'd freak out a bit if some stranger's penis brushed against me in an elevator.** And if your holograph machine ran out of batteries or something, that could be a problem. It would give new meaning to the phrase "wardrobe malfunction", now wouldn't it?
OK, maybe this isn't such a clever idea after all. Maybe we should just become nudists?
*****
*Problems as in, there's always more to do. ALWAYS. And I'm guessing work will put an end to wearing pajamas for 48 hours straight mid-week.
**Especially if said stranger was standing six inches away.
The only problem I can foresee is full frontal contact hugs. And crowded areas, like concerts or the subway. I think I'd freak out a bit if some stranger's penis brushed against me in an elevator.** And if your holograph machine ran out of batteries or something, that could be a problem. It would give new meaning to the phrase "wardrobe malfunction", now wouldn't it?
OK, maybe this isn't such a clever idea after all. Maybe we should just become nudists?
*****
*Problems as in, there's always more to do. ALWAYS. And I'm guessing work will put an end to wearing pajamas for 48 hours straight mid-week.
**Especially if said stranger was standing six inches away.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Science Center/Downtown Pics
Rock climbing, a bed of nails (way cool!!!), Lego statues and buildings and whatnot. The Lego Knight exhibit was OK. Nothing special. Lots of Lego stations for kids to build on, which was good. Some cool displays. Nothing really earth shattering. I expected, I don't know, more buildings, bigger statues, cities of Legos. I guess I expected a mini Legoland.
******
The Arizona Center. We walked over here after going to the Science Center. We had a lovely lunch, ice cream and then a stroll. The kids had fun playing in the grass and running around, and I soaked up the view, the buildings, and a great day out with one of my closest friends.
This was on the side of a building we saw on the way home. A couple of questions come to mind: First, if you're watching, why do you need tips to catch vandals - shouldn't you have already seen who did it? And second, huh?!? This is so not helping the lingering feeling of post-background check paranoia.
******
I'll have to read up about this sculpture. There was a set of three, actually. All bugs, all with little people riding them, handing them these little puck-like things, and/or being pinched within claws. They were utterly fantastic, in a sort of creepy storybook way. My only issue is that they're metal. I don't know what I expected them to be made from, but seriously - sculptures that entice kids to climb on them + metal + Phoenix in July = "Are you totally fucking insane?" and "Who EXACTLY do I contact to pay for the treatment of these 3rd degree burns?"
*****
The Arizona Center. We walked over here after going to the Science Center. We had a lovely lunch, ice cream and then a stroll. The kids had fun playing in the grass and running around, and I soaked up the view, the buildings, and a great day out with one of my closest friends.
*****
The light rail train. My first trip on it, complete with a slightly loopy homeless person and a crackhead begging for cash. Gotta love it.
*****
This was on the side of a building we saw on the way home. A couple of questions come to mind: First, if you're watching, why do you need tips to catch vandals - shouldn't you have already seen who did it? And second, huh?!? This is so not helping the lingering feeling of post-background check paranoia.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)