Some Progress

Things seem to be moving along with Possible New Job. I got a packet in the mail from them which I have to fill out and then they check my driving record (thought they already did that but whatever) and I am in. I have to do a bunch of copying at Kinkos but it's worth it. They need some documents and I need copies of what I send to them so Tuesday I'll be spending some time doing that.

DS has been wonderful the whole time he's been here. It's going to be hard to let him go when it's time to go back on Monday. I hope he doesn't give us any trouble that day. We've had some issues with him returning to school in the past and the last time was horrible but DH was in the hospital that day and he was scared so that would explain it. DH will be taking him to the train to go back and that should keep him calm. He rarely gets upset with DH. If we think he's going to get upset we'll make the long drive to the school ourselves. But I am amazed by how well he is doing this past week. So calm and so interactive which for a kid with Bipolar disorder and Autism is pretty damn good.

DD bought herself a Ninetndo DS with her Hanukkah money plus some she'd saved on her own. She seems to be happy with it. OK, she's obsessed with the thing :). It's pretty interesting with a touch screen to do most of the work in addition to the usual keys that control the action. What's nice is that it's backward compatible you can play Nintendo Advance games on it so the old games she has are still usable. The kids also got some CD's, DVD's, games and still a couple of more presents to come. We don't give out eight presents we try to keep this low key. We've also given them money this year as they are a bit older and we figure they can buy what they like this way.

DH is still feeling pain from his rib and I think I have persuaded him to call the doctor and have it checked out. It seems to me that the pain should be getting better and it hasn't really decreased in a long time. He's considering calling this week. I know it should still be sore but this is a bit more than I think he should be feeling.

Tonight is New Years Eve and we will be celebrating, as we always do, with our best friends. This year at their house. Lots of food, talk and perhaps some football watching. (we all enjoy football and there's a game on tonight) I wish you all a very wonderful New Year and the best for 2006.

Tell Me Something Good.....Please!

Still haven't heard about Possible New Job. I was lead to believe the job was mine pending a search of my driving record, which is pretty good (one small accident a few years ago), and that they'd know by Wednesday. Well that came and went and I've heard nothing. I'm going to call on Tuesday and see what's going on. I just have to get out of Lousy Job. I just got something in the mail I have to do this week for it and I don't even understand how to go about it. I suppose I'll figure it out but it's going to be a pain. I also have a project to do in one store that I've been putting off that really should get done too, and a potential problem in that same store with one of the managers (who is nice but a control freak nut). It doesn't end. I wish I could just leave the job at the job. I hate not being able to do that. I want a job that ends at the end of the day. Not one that goes on and on.

DS is home till January 2. He's doing very well so far. He spent the day with my mother-in-law while I worked. Behaved himself, made her tea and cookies and even helped her make a sandwich. Not much for a normal 15 year old but for a kid with high functioning autism and bipolar disorder this is big. He even decided to wash the dishes without being told. No dishwasher, did it the old fashioned way. Took a shower without prompting too. They are doing a heck of a job at his school. He's come far in the nearly one year since he's been there, very far indeed. Right now he's watching some videos we took out of the library. Some old favorites including a couple of Anime, which both he and DD love.

During the same trip to the library I took out a couple of books myself. A book called the Cheese Primer about, you guessed it, Cheese. I adore cheese in all it's forms and this is a book I've wanted to read for a while. It's written by a noted NY area cheese expert and is full of facts, tidbits and all matter of things cheese. DD is almost as much of a fanatic as me. There's a market near here with an extraordinary cheese section and we stand in front of it and drool. We try a new one each time. I happen to like goat cheese a lot and they have an excellent goat Gouda. They also have some wonderful long aged cheddar. Expensive but worth it. The other book I got was about artisan breads. I've been baking bread again after a long lay off and I want to expand my repertoire. I've plenty of bread books but want something I've never done before. Something new to tickle the taste buds and my skills. We'll see how I do.

Just Some Chit Chat

I'm feeling a bit better these days. There's another job possibility on the horizon, I'll know about it soon. I'll post about it if and when I get it. Let's not jinx this one :). Work at lousy job is not so bad right now. Dealing with a couple of annoying people is what's getting me down, got a nice "gift" today one of them was out. Good thing too she's going to have a world of crap to hand me when she gets back. You see I work for a broker that services stores for distributor. So I have no real power over the product or the credits or really anything. I'm a conduit. These folks keep forgetting that. *sigh* With any luck it will be over soon.

Best news is that DS comes home for a visit tomorrow until January 2nd. It will be wonderful to see him even though I will have to work for some of the time he'll be home. I at least have him near by. I've been missing him a lot lately. He's been doing well, being independent and I guess that makes me miss him more, he needs me less.

DH is nearly back to normal. Still having to be careful about lifting things and it hurts to sneeze but he's doing much better than he was. At this point it's just the broken rib healing. Although he can't fly till like March as a precaution for the lung. Since we don't plan any trips this is not a problem.

DD is in the drama club which for me is a royal pain. Our district rejected it's school budget and we are on austerity. One of the things they cut out was the late bus, so for the few extra curricular activities still left after the cuts you have to go pick your kid up. For a working mom this is a problem. I can usually make it in time but I worry about times when I can't. Today I had a sixth sense I'd be late so I told her to hitch a ride with her best friend. (her mom never has a problem with this) DD has no cell phone due to the fact that DH doesn't want her to due to cost and other factors. I think that it may be time to push harder for DD to get that cell.

Back to the Drawing Board

Well I didn't get the job. They said they'd call by the middle of this week and it's Thursday and there was no call so I guess that's it. Sorry about this, really sorry. I wanted this job a lot and the one I have now is starting to get me so depressed that I may actually quit without one to go to. I spoke to my supervisor today about cutting my workload (I service a number of stores for a company and want to cut out the two I added last). She was noncommittal. I will speak to her again after New Years and essentially tell her it's either that or I quit. Maybe if my workload is lower I will feel better.

My food has been all over the map. Not over eating per se but not eating all that healthfully. Don't know what I will tell the nutritionist and may cancel the appointment anyway. I have something else to do that morning and may not finish in time. We'll see how I feel tomorrow. On a brighter note (got to pick up the tone of this entry somehow) DH is doing very well. More or less back to work and the pain is manageable. Broken ribs take a long time to heal and they can't splint them to help with the pain or healing in anyway so he kind of has to suffer along with it. DS comes home on the 22nd which we are all looking forward to. My MIL offered to stay with him on the one day I have to work when he is home without DH. She's a real wonderful woman. I adore her. She always pitches in, is always there for me in ways my own mother often was not. So many people think she's my actual mom it's amazing.

I faithfully promise to try and pick up the tone of this blog and not complain quite as much as I have been. It's just that things haven't been going all that well for me lately. I apologize for being such a downer.

Interview Time Again

Went on another interview today. This one went very well. The woman and I hit it off and I left with a good feeling. Even if I don't get it I'd feel good about it. I hope it works out though, nice place a busy high end appliance/kitchen showroom. I'd be in the office as a gal Friday. Working phones, filing, running computers and such. Seems like a nice atmosphere and good people to be with. Best part is it's near home and could go from part time to full time if they feel my chemistry is right with the team. That's important to them, an attitude I like. I liked this place so much that even if I don't get the job I'd shop there.

DH continues to work partial days. He comes home tired and aches but he's happy to be starting to get back to his old routine. He is considering adding some more hours next week. His attitude is that he can always leave if it gets to be too much for him. I'm just glad he's doing better.

DS has been a little off the last couple of days. He's been spending time on the yellow part of the schools Green, Yellow, Red behavior scale. But the whole house is a little off I am told. They're all tense over the holidays and the upcoming vacation. I like the fact that he keeps his chin up and keeps resolving to do better. His attitude is very good. We're going to try and see him next week. I'll do the long distance driving, DH will drive the local stuff so that will make it manageable. By then DH should be able to handle the long ride. Let's just hope the weather holds out. I'd hate to disappoint the kid.

The Beat Goes On

Well things are moving along rather nicely at our house. DH was able to go to work for a couple of hours today and will do that again tomorrow. Project declutter continues to move along, slowly but still moving. I've been doing a to do list every day. Not always doing the entire list but getting to most of it. Food has been a small issue, probably because I am once again nervous about work. I anticipate a problem with one of my stores tomorrow and I am just not looking forward to facing it. Don't know why I get so worked up over these things. Other people don't, but I do. I suppose it's because I tend to be a bit obsessive compulsive. Hard for me to let things go.

I've been part of a secret pal exchange the last few months and sent of the last package today. A little late, sorry to say but I think it's a nice package. It's supposed to be related in some way to fiber arts. My pal, like me, is a knitter. I sent two nice skeins of yarn, a few pairs of earrings (I also do beading) and some hand cream. You can't ever have too much of that this time of year. At least I can't. I keep it in my knitting bag all the time because I find that the yarn will snag on my hands if they are too rough. I also sent a note about myself. You are supposed to reveal who you are with the last package. I wonder how much of a surprise I will be to my pal.

Nothing was heard from the interview I went on so I guess I didn't get the job. Well there are some freelance possibilities coming up that may work to my advantage. We will see. Hopefully I can quite lousy job soon.

I've been buying some wonderful music lately that I've found on the Podsafe Music Network. I encourage you to go to this wonderful resource for independent musicians. All of them have agreed to allow podcasters to play the uploaded tracks on their shows free of charge. They've found that this will actually increase their sales. This very afternoon I bought an entire album and a couple of tracks from listening to them either on the network or a podcast. The music industry is undergoing a seachange. Check out the PMN be part of the change.

Project Declutter

My house is a clutter magnet, the entire house. It's been a problem for years. I've finally gotten fed up with it and with the help of the Flylady website, I have embarked on project declutter. This rather remarkable website helps you get your clutter and life under control. She suggests that you take everything in small bites, slowly get a routine in place and that if you do that you will have a cleaner neater house inside a month. She has you start out by cleaning and shining your sink and keep it in shape daily. Then you progress to various declutter assignments, always in small bites and for short periods of time. So far I've been able to keep up. I'll keep you posted on how I do. The food, BTW, has been mostly good. When I went to the nutritionist the other day I had lost a pound. Not all that much but when you consider that Thanksgiving was in the middle there, not too bad either.

DH continues his recovery which is good because I really need his help with project declutter. While I cannot expect him to pitch in for a bit I would hope that he not add to the problem. Now this is a real issue between us. He has a tendency to leave things for me to pick up after him which is half the reason the house is a mess (the other half being my fault of course). I have decided to bite the bullet for now and do the cleaning up myself, but hell's gonna pay if the family sabotages me. Stay tuned for the blow by blow :)

Work Matters

Well I didn't hear about the job I interviewed for yet. But she said she'd let people know on Friday or Monday so it could still happen. I hope the idiots at the job I worked at that I used for a reference got hold of her. They can be stupid that way. I did hear about a couple of freelance jobs today so I still may be able to quit lousy job. We will see early next week. Keep those fingers and toes crossed. Freelance work is chancey in terms of money, but I am willing to take chances to get out of this job. At the very least I will cut down on the amount of work I do for the people I work for now. They aren't going to like it, but too bad.

DH is doing quite well today. He's able to move around with little pain but still tires easily, and hurts if he moves wrong. Monday he goes to the surgeon to get a checkup and have the stitches out. That should make him more comfortable; don't know about you but stitches always make me more uncomfortable.

DS had a very good report card. Mastering his work(he doesn't get grades) and his teacher is pleased by his progress academically, socially and emotionally. She says he still has trouble getting into challenging work, he resists it, but is even getting better about that. For a kid who used to be prone to tearing up his papers and not working at all, this is big stuff. His reading level is up, he's writing better. All good things for him. Hard having him away but I say again it's the best thing we ever did for him.