Sparks and Butterflies Sparks and Butterflies Caffeine from above ~ Coffee from below.... I'd sure like some dull! Articles
Impressions on Being Home
2008-12-10 15:27:00 So, I’ve been home a couple weeks now. Three? I don’t know, the days go by so fast. The first thing that comes to mind is, I’m exhausted. I was exhausted before. But this time, I’m not stressed out too, so that’s good. I am going to bed earlier and earlier. My work day ends after cleaning up dinner. And I’m just wiped. I’m having trouble with timing. There are things I want to do online, with the house, and with my business, and I’m having real trouble putting it all together. Just when I get into a groove - Stop! Have to pick up a kid. Another groove - Stop! Have to pick up the other kid. Believe it or not, I’m going to be putting together a spreadsheet today in 15 minute increments, and placing blocks of time of doing certain things. It sounds anal, but I really need to get some kind of plan in place. But the height of excitement came when I went to Target. At 11am. On a weekday. It Was Awesome... More About: Home , Impressions
Conversations with my husband
2008-12-09 16:08:00 Now that I’m home, there’s been a new delegation of work around the house. He’s bringing home the bacon, and I therefore feel that the household is my “job.” He is responsible for the trash going out, the kitty litter, any bug murder, and brawn needed. The last thing on the list is he makes the kids’ lunches and snacks. But now that I’m home he keeps forgetting. This morning he called me around 7am. “I’m just calling to let you know that I forgot to make their lunches and snacks. But! I have figured out a way to fix this!” “What’s that?” “I’ll make them at night while you’re cleaning up the kitchen. That way, we’ll be in the same room together, and can get in each other’s way and bump butts and stuff.” “You want to bump butts with me, baby?” “Exactly.” So apparently, my husband has decided to get in my way. I’m ok with that. More About: Husband
Dear Lady
2008-12-09 15:28:00 Dear Lady Behind Me At The Checkstand, I know that I was in the express lane with a full cart. But you see, it was the only lane open that early in the morning and the checker told me to. I know that I used a bunch of coupons. I have to to make it. Did you not notice that I was all paid up and ready to go, and that I was waiting on the checker? So, really? Was it necessary to actually bump my behind out of the way with your CART when I was leaving? Are you really in that big of a rush? I’ll be accepting your apology anytime… Sincerely, Michele
Weird Question
2008-12-07 09:36:00 I’ve got a weird question for you all… I’ve been doing this blogging gig since as far back as 1995. Of course they were Online Journals/Diaries back then. Each handcoded html page lovingly ftp’d. And don’t forget to handcode the previous entry and archive page and upload those too! Anyway, there’s a chick I used to read… And I wanted to see if she was still writing online. I wanted to see if any of you remember her and can point me to her? And all these details were freely written on her blog - I’m not some weird stalker chick. She lived in the Bay area, near oakland. Her blog was called footprints, or footsteps… something like that. She loved maybelline mascara, lived with her husband (David I think), and had a daughter named Jamie, along with another daughter and son. She wrote freely about her recovering alcoholism. And there was a happy panda toaster and happy pants in there somewhere. That&rs... More About: Weird , Question
Dissappointment
2008-12-06 19:57:00 I hate being a grown-up. I really do. Blissdom ‘09 is coming. In February. Considering I write for Blissfully Domestic (shut up. I do. I just have writer’s block.) You’d think it would be a good idea that I go. You’d think that since I’m an editor for Blog Nosh Magazine, and Megan’s speaking, that it would be a good idea that I go. You’d think that since I have started my own business, it would be a good idea that I go. But it’s in Nashville. So, flying, hotel, some food, and the conference itself, brings the cost to a little less than $1,000. I kinda have the money. I mean, between the money I got from leaving my job, and the Christmas fund (if I get nothing), maybe. But I’m sort of saving for Poe’s teeth getting fixed. I hate this. Not to mention the kid care arranging, since my husband has to work that Friday. I don’t know what to do.
Love Languages and All That Crap
2008-12-03 18:40:00 So, I haven’t read the book - Don’t even know exactly what the title is - but I understand the basic concept… People have ways that they accept love as love, and everyone is different. Perhaps it’s works, or in other words, when people do things for you. Perhaps it’s affirmations, like being told they’re wonderful. Etc. When those things happen, whatever they are, that person feels loved. Oftentimes, people will act out in the ways they feel loved. Sort of doing how they want to be treated. The trick is, learning what the other person’s language IS, so you can make THEM feel loved instead of acting out how YOU feel loved. We have a basic rule in our house, both with parenting, and with household tasks. Butt out. In other words, if I’m doing the task, you don’t tell me how to do it, I’ll do it my way. That’s not a one-way street, both Poe and I do this. Early on in our marriage, he told me I wa... More About: Love , Languages , Crap
So the other day…
2008-12-02 16:02:00 I know I fell off the radar. I’m sorry. I utterly and totally failed NaBloPoMo. Again, my apologies. Some of you have emailed me wondering A) Where the hell I am and B) Am I okay. Thank you. As soon as I can get mired out of the muck, you will receive a reply. Preferably in this century. And now… A listing of various things heard around these parts, which may have accounted for the dissappearing act. “Could you please buy me some more NyQuil on your way home?” “This is Small Town Elementary, and this is not an emergency, but…” “So, how many stitches?” “We don’t have our new insurance yet. You are not ALLOWED to break your knee.” “Could you run and pickup this prescription?” “So, what you’re telling me is, if I use the garbage disposal, the toilets back up?” “Mooooooommmmm, Pebbles just barfed all over!” “Mom, we have to go shopping, my backpack just...
Friday Wound Check
2008-11-21 15:12:00 There’s no real reason for today’s title. Except that I need to take Logan to the ER today for a wound check. I like how it sounds - like he’s been through a war or something. Anyway, I’ll be doing that today after school. I also have a meeting to Discuss Things with Joseph’s teacher/counselor/Special Ed teacher… I raised a stink about his therapist putting anything into his IEP, you see. Because his mental health issues have never been in his IEP - that’s always been the other half of the whole therapuetic package, as opposed to part of the educational portion. So essentially, I don’t want it in the IEP under my authority, because that’s basically ME saying for the state to spend X amount of dollars on his mental health care. While yes, I think it’s still necessary, and has been incredibly beneficial to him, I don’t have that kind of authority. And frankly, I don’t want a bill for years of ther... More About: Check , Friday
Only Us
2008-11-20 16:33:00 You know… People think I’m exagerrating when I say weird crap happens to us. I’m not. Like how every time my parents go out of town, something happens. Or anytime I want a vacation, something happens. It’s true. So, let’s see. This week - all I wanted is a vacation, before I started concentrating on my home, and my business. I sound like a barking seal, so I’ve spent most of this week heavilly medicated. Joseph’s IEP blew up with the state so I have a big meeting on Friday to try to fix it. And last but not least (it is only Thursday) stitches. This is the last week at after school care (my vacation remember?) If there’s a problem with after school care, they usually call my husband first, rather than me, because Poe is the one who goes and gets them. Fine. Yesterday, Poe called me. It’s always bad when someone leads with “He’s OK, but…” Turns out that Logan was running on the p...
Hating this
2008-11-19 16:24:00 Again - not much to say except that I’m sick. My head cold has traveled, and now I have a chest cold. I sound like a freakin’ barking seal. To top things off, if things get much worse, I’m going to have to wear depends panty liners. No, I just wish I were kidding. I didn’t have a problem after one kid, but after two? Coughing fits tend to make me… tinkle. And now you know too much. Can I blame it on the cold meds?
An Obvious Blech
2008-11-18 16:36:00 This is basically just a post to keep me in the running on NaBloPoMo. Cause all the letters are kind of sliding to the right. Or that’s just me. I’m really rather sick. This cold is kicking my ass. I’m so ever ever ever grateful that my only responsibility today is to get the kids to school, and then maybe watch law and order in a nyquil induced haze. So consider this my official post. With an out sick sign in front of my desk. And sick leave on my timesheet. Oh wait… More About: Obvious , Blech
A Bit of a Rant
2008-11-17 15:26:00 Today is Monday. Which means all I have to do is get the kids up and ready and out the door on time for school. Then I get to come home and do whatever I want. You see, this week is my vacation, before I start really concentrating on home stuff. Which would be awesome. Unless you come down with a major cold. Yesterday’s allergies turned out to not be allergies, and instead, an actual full blown cold. Can you feel the joy? But - yesterday’s plumbing debacle has been fixed thanks to my father’s plumbing snake. I’m running into a lot of disbelief about my coming home. It’s funny - it changes. For example, my mother feels the need to blab my business to all of her friends. “Well, you know, she pays $1300 a month in childcare, and that’s just rediculous.” I told her that they don’t need to know that, and the answer of “She’s home with her children” is enough. But since SHE’S sketchy about th... More About: Rant
Seriously?
2008-11-16 20:12:00 All I wanted next week is a vacation. That’s all. To only have to worry about getting my kids to school in the morning - and that’s it. Who knows when I’ll next have an actual break, and Poe thought that it was a good idea as well. Instead, I’m either have a really royal sinus allergy event, or I’ve caught a cold, and my dad is currently running a snake through our pipes because both (!) toilets are stopped up. Seriously? No, really… Seriously?
Long Cleansing Breath
2008-11-15 19:55:00 It’s over. The two years of wishing. The 10 years of planning. The 3 months of waiting. It’s all over. I’m home. It’s time to get my house in order, and my business off the ground. I don’t think this will hit me until Monday morning, when I take the kids to school, and then come home instead of getting on the freeway. More About: Breath , Long , Cleansing
Last Day
2008-11-14 16:39:00 “How’re you feeling?” “A little nausous actually.” -Poe and Michele’s discussion upon rising on this, Michele’s last day of work before becoming a stay-at-home mom and freelance business owner. This is being counted as an entry because Michele is having trouble putting a cohesive thought - much less a full sentence - together.
2 days to go
2008-11-13 15:00:00 That’s it. Two days to go. Today and tomorrow. I’m getting butterflies. My goodbye lunch is today. Wrath of the Lich King came out today… Or really, midnight last night. Amongst those that know me, I’m considered a geek. I’ve always thought so too. I’m interested in video games, I’m into computers. I have a blog, and know how to both update it, as well as play with code. I’ve known html since ‘95. For goodness sake, my husband and I sit and play computer games together. After standing in line last night waiting for the midnight launch of this game, however… I don’t think I can honestly say I’m a geek anymore. Or is there a difference between a dork and a geek? I really don’t want to be mean. So I’ll just say - all stereotypes come from somewhere, people, and man were they manifested last night. And. OOOOOh. I got ticked. We’re in line for my group to buy th... More About: Days
Shorty
2008-11-12 15:36:00 Short post today as I left it a little late this morning to write, and I don’t know that I’ll have a chance later. First… LONGEST WEEK EVER. I knew that this would just be a long week or the shortest week known to man. It is the former. Then to top it all off… Period shows up. You know, ’cause I don’t have enough going on this week. So I feel like total crap. If it wouldn’t be bad form - considering Friday is my last day - I would call in sick, I feel that bad. Hopefully I’ll feel better tomorrow, as tomorrow is my goodbye lunch. And WOTLK comes out tomorrow - meaning midnight tonight. My dad’s going to sit with the kids while they sleep, while Poe and I stand in line for two hours waiting to get our copies on reserve. We are freaks. Only to come home and get up for work three’ish hours later. We are idiots. This is will not help me feel better tomorrow. Three more days including today. I’l...
A Day to Say Thank You
2008-11-11 16:40:00 I have a really stupid question. Is Veteran’s Day to honor all that have served in the armed forces, or just the ones that have been in conflicts? I’m going to pretend it’s all. In which case I’m honoring my husband, a former Marine. My father, former Army. My grandfather, deceased, former Air Force, and WWII Veteran. My Uncle, deceased, former Navy, and WWII Veteran. I’m also honoring my Great-Grandmother, deceased, who was a Rosie during WWII. Thank you for all your sacrifices. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your service.
Beginning of the End
2008-11-10 15:12:00 Today is Monday. I have survived one week on Nablopomo. Today begins my last week at work. This is the last Monday I have to go in. I’m actually taking my laptop with me, because I’m no longer on the computer, my replacement is. This is good. But I still have to be able to access my work email in case any stragglers didn’t listen to my email last week. THIS IS SO WEIRD. SO SO WEIRD. One thing I’m curious about, and a little anxious too - how is Poe going to react? Reality hasn’t set in yet, as I’m still working. Is he going to be jealous? He knows that I’m going to be taking on a lot of what he’s done, which will lessen the stress on him. But still. Come this Monday, I don’t have to go to work, and he does. I wonder how it’ll shake out in his mind. He wants me to do this - let’s make that clear. But, wow, that’s a lot of pressure for someone. You are now the sole breadwinner for 4 peopl...
Uh oh
2008-11-09 22:18:00 Have I hit the wall? No. But other posts I’d like to write would take thinking, and emotions, and you know… Stuff. I just don’t have that in me today. But. Today is the last Sunday night where I have to get up and go to work the next day. That = awesome. And as a small plus, the kids don’t have school Monday or Tuesday, which means that Poe is going to take them to our other babysitter - and I don’t have to do the morning routine! Yay! This is it. The last week. I’m having a going away lunch on Thursday - but Poe can’t make it. He was sick for a full week a couple of weeks ago, and so he can’t take the time off of work. Sigh. Oh well. ALMOST DONE. Almost. We’re at the finish line.
Marking Time
2008-11-08 19:48:00 I suppose it’s natural. I keep marking time. This is my last weekend in which I will have to wake up Monday and go to work. I’m excited, elated, scared, tired, anxious. Mostly I just want the transition overwith so I can get going on my “new” life. Training my new replacement is going well. She’s smart, so it’s not like I have to teach her how Outlook or Word works, which helps tremendously. She also has temped at my company before, which means she’s familiar with some internal programs, also a huge help. She’s religious, so I don’t have to feel like I have to keep anything down low. We do, however, have a tendency to go off on tangents, so some of the training has gone slower than I wanted it to, however, I think I’ll get most of it done with her. She’s very perky and excited, which I’ll beat out of her. Kidding. Sort of. Basically, this is her first “real” job out of grad school, ... More About: Time
TGIF
2008-11-07 15:16:00 Today is the last Friday and weekend in which I still need to go to work on Monday. Next Friday is my last day. It’s almost all over. No more celebrity sightings. No more diva requests. No more international travel accomodations to arrange. No more office politics to tiptoe through. No more boss to keep happy through filtering and screening and representation. No more beautiful courtyard office. People… I’m coming out of the closet as to where I work. What are they going to do? Fire me? For almost 4 years I’ve worked in the music division of Warner Bros. Studios. I’ve worked on almost all their releases in some capacity or another during that time. I’ve read scripts. I’ve seen the prereleases. I’ve navigated the bureaucracy that goes along with all large companies. I’m coming home to be with my children, and the rest of my family. This is the right decision, but I’m losing some stuff to do it. ...
Quickly
2008-11-06 15:35:00 Just a quick post to keep up NaBloPoMo… I don’t really have access to my computer at work any more, so I need to dash this off this morning. Training is going decently. My replacement is SMART!! This is so so good. It means that I don’t have to explain how Word works for goodness sake. In addition, she has a masters of Divinity as well as a pastor’s wife - so we have good conversations. The bad part of this is we keep getting waylaid by side conversations… But I suppose that’s always the case with people getting to know each other. It’s all very strange. But I’m leaving and I’m trying to release it all to her with grace. I basically am just trying to get it all done, you know? I’m done with the job a week from tomorrow. Wow. It’s finally here. And then I have to get geared up for Thanksgiving which is all me this year. I had to cancel a gynecologist appointment today. It was fascinating. ...
Obligatory Day After Post
2008-11-05 15:27:00 Well, the presidential elections have come to a close (Thank God.) My reaction? I’m bitterly dissappointed. I’m still waiting on two California Props, which are going my way as of this writing, but are too close not to wait to the bitter end for the final results. But as for the presidency, I’m terribly, terribly dissappointed. I did not want President-Elect Obama to be my president. I did not vote for him. I’ve always said that even if you don’t like the president as an individual, you still need to respect the office he holds. This is the first year that it’s going to take me a few days to get over my bitterness and get to that point. I will. I think I just need to go through a small grieving process after all my hoping during the last year. Beyond the presidency, I honestly fear for my country this time around. It seems to me that in previous years, there’s been more of a balance of power… That is missing now. ... More About: Post
Will anyone get anything done today?
2008-11-04 15:20:00 So. I voted. Actually I voted weeks ago via absentee ballot. I’ve had too many years where some kind of issue kept me from the polls… you know fevers, pipes busting and the like, and so now, my husband and I vote absentee in order to make sure our voice is heard. We weren’t undecided on any issue, so we were able to take advantage of that. That also means, we’ve been sitting on the sidelines, “Let’s get ON with it already!” And so. Unless this turns into an election MONTH, we’ll know tonight or tomorrow morning who has won. For me - although I voted on everything in my ballot, I only care about the Presidential election and two props, so I’ll be keeping my eyes on those. I start training my assistant replacement at work today. I had some computer issues in getting her setup, so that’s been stalled, which is frustrating considering we put her paperwork in a month ago. And she’ll be late, ’c... More About: Today
this week
2008-11-03 17:48:00 So. This week is just going to be fabulous… She said with sarcasm. I don’t do well with change. It’s very difficult. Add to that - I’m premenstrual, and I have serious PMS symptoms (trust me, you want to give your sympathies to my husband.) And the next two weeks is ALL ABOUT CHANGE. I burst into tears on the way to work for no reason whatsoever. Oh yeah. This is gonna be good. Today is my last day alone in the office. The rest of the two weeks will be training my replacement. Which isn’t anxiety inducing AT ALL. My mother decided to get all passive aggressive on me about us not being here for Christmas. My punishment? Thanksgiving is ALL ME, baby. All cooking, etc. Mind you this is the same woman who can’t stand my turkey, potatoes, or yams. Therefore, dinner should be really really pleasant. I’m just this little ball of stress and anxiety right now. I’m doing the right thing - but getting there is oh so... More About: Week
Before I forget…
2008-11-03 06:05:00 Thought I better get a post in before I go to bed… Was a little busy today, and couldn’t until now. So the business has launched. Let me know if I can help you! Tomorrow will be the start of my last two weeks at work. I’m excited and apprehensive all at the same time. It’s finally happening! Now we just have to pull this off as a family. But tomorrow is my last day alone in the office, and then the rest of the time, I’ll be training the replacement. Which is odd. I’ll survive. I’m hoping that once I get going at home, I’ll be able to concentrate a little more on my duties for Blissfully Domestic and Blog Nosh. I’ve had to put them a little to the side for the time being, but I should be able to get back into the swing of things. Oh. And my mother has informed me that Hey! I’m doing Thanksgiving! You know - ALL of it! Guess it’s good I’ll have time to clean, huh? See you tomorrow.
Launch Day!
2008-11-01 16:48:00 I’m very proud and elated to announce that Vineyard Virtual Services has launched, and is open for business! Please take a look around the site, and be sure to let me know if I can help YOU. Etsy owner getting mired? Freelance writers and bloggers getting stuck? Small business entrepreneurs spending way to much time on paperwork? Then I’m your woman. With 17 years of assisting under my belt - with the last decade at the executive level - I’m the qualified person to get you out of the muck, and back to working on your business growth. Vineyard Virtual Services ~ Assisting you so you can flourish… More About: Launch
NaBloPoMo
2008-10-30 15:00:00 I am insane. I’m going to be doing NaBloPoMo. I’ve got a few things going on. November 1st is the launch of my business. November 4th is the election. November 13th, WOTLK comes out. November 14th is my last day at my day job. November 21st is the kids’ last day at daycare. November 27th is Thanksgiving. Then there will of course be the aftermath of the election, the resulting chaos of figuring out how to be home, the aftermath of figuring out my business. I figure there will be plenty of blog fodder to keep me going. But this may just be a case of my truly being insane.
Sneak Peek
More articles from this author:2008-10-29 18:11:00 Months ago, when Poe and I decided that I should stay home, there were very good reasons involved. Mainly - the gist is, I can’t do anything productive for our family, when I’m away 11 hours a day. Two kids who need me. My elderly parents next door. The slack my husband was picking up was making it difficult on him at his job. I just needed to be home. But, as we all know… Money simply doesn’t grow on trees. I still need to bring money in. But we decided that the day job has got to go. I need to be physically located at home. So, we took the plunge, and I only have 2 1/2 more weeks to go. But that whole Money on Trees thing is still there. I started thinking about what I’m good at. Crafts? Well, yes, but no. They’re not good enough for public consumption in my opinion. Homemaking? Well, no. I mean my children are fed, clothed, educated, and semi clean. I’m doing something right. But - I’m still learni... More About: Sneak Peek , Peek 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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