Gaining perspective

" I cried because I had no shoes..."

I haven't gotten as much done on the possible RIF as I'd like.
Haven't even written my congress people.
I've checked the state jobsite.
I called about a replacement license (can't find mine anywhere).
Registered for CPR/AED training refresher so I can keep up my substitute teacher license.
Little depressed about the whole thing.

"...And then I met a man who had no feet..."

Saw an acquaintence today...haven't seen her in a while.
Her husband left her and their two girls
and she's about to lose her house,
and she's on public assistance.
Has a good job at least...
yikes.

and I can't even watch the Haiti coverage.
Lord, Lord, Lord.

Planes Trains and Cars Friday5

1. What was the mode of transit for your last trip?
Car or actually mini-van. I really like our mini-van. We call it Hank the Tank.

2) Have you ever traveled by train?
Sorta. I grew up near Philly so you could travel to DC and NYC very easily by train. Took the train to Boston once. Used to commute to grad school in Philly from the burbs regularly. Would LOVE to take a train vacation but I think the kids need to be a better age for it. Flash is almost right, Cosy is way too young and both of them need a lot of exercise these days.

3) Do you live in a place with public transit, and if so, do you use it?
NOPE. No public transportation out here in the cornfields. As mentioned above, I have used Public Transportation when it went where I needed to go.

4) What's the most unusual vehicle in which you've ever traveled?
Hmmm. Boat? My Dad has always had a boat. Still does. Named Ariel and he lives a half mile from her on the Chesapeake. I rode on a cable car when I visited San Fransisco too. Oh and I've never ridden a horse. Every few years I name that as my New Year's resolution...to ride a horse. Not this year though.

5) What's the next trip you're planning to take?
Next week we are FLYING to Georgia for my Brother in law's wedding. Hubby is officiating. I am not looking forward to the flying part. I don't mind flying at all, I mind airports, airlines and the overall hassle. I'd almost rather drive, but time will not allow it.

Friday5: IF

1. If you were a color, what would you be? a nice sky blue I think or lavender

2. If you were a flower (or plant), what would you be? I am completely terrible with plants and if I was a plant I imagine Mother Nature would take her revenge for all the plants I've neglected...Probably better choose something wild...like wild raspberry bushes.

3. If you were an animal, what kind would you be? Hmmmm.

4. If you were a shoe, what type would you be? a Comfy pair of sandals. Show off those cute toes!

5. If you were a typeface, which font would you be? Comic Sans? Its what I use most.

Bonus: If you are in a bookstore or library take a look at My Many Colored Days by Dr. Seuss. Published post-humously and illustrated by someone else, but very very good and fits perfectly.

RIF

Reduction in Force.
Our state is cutting 300 mil in education
my school district's share is 4.5 mil
and among the proposals is cutting:
Specials: art, music, PE and Library
across the district...
The head of the media specialists thinks its dire...
she actually ended an email with "its been lovely working with all of you"

I cried.
I'd had a lovely evening yesterday and a nice morning with the kids and walked into school happy and within a half hour I was crying.
Its a job I know but I like this job.
and we are struggling here a bit.

Part of me thinks we should start looking elsewhere, but Hubby doesn't think we're done here yet. Sigh.

Important to say that this isn't written in stone and its possible that something else will happen...but I will start pulling together my paperwork over the weekend.

Dreamy Friday5

I didn't have many answers for this Friday5...hmmmmm.

1. Do you tend to daydream?
No...not recently, when my mind wanders it tends to go towards my to do list.

2. Do you usually remember your night dreams? Do you find them symbolic and meaningful or just quirky?
I do not remember them, most of the time.

3. Have you ever had a life changing dream which you'll never forget?
No. I haven't.

4. Share a long term dream for one or more aspects of your life and work.
Long Term dream...
Huh,I think I am in-between here. I've thought about more schooling or career change. Writing a book... Location change down the road would be nice too. Mostly, I'd like to do what I do in a great location that isn't too far away from family. That's a dream.
I'm a little more grounded these days...wanting an hour to myself, a clean organized home and a date with my Hubby sometime soon.

5. Share a dream for 2010....How can we support you in prayer on both the short and long term dreams?
A safe happy and healthy family.



Bonus: a poem, song, artwork, etc. that deals with dreams in general or one of your dreams.

HeartlessGrouch

What a grouch I am
How heartless and ungrateful
Hubby called and said he was visiting someone at the hospital in the late afternoon, wouldn't be able to pick up the kids and didn't know when he'd be home. Wouldn't tell me much but I gathered that the person may not leave the hospital.
And I am a terrible person.
because my next five minutes were
1. grumpy about another night of doing everything myself and probably ruined plans for the weekend.
2. self-loathing that I have that much grouch in me when someone's loved one is dying.

Flash's fashion sense

We have a family wedding at the end of the month.
Hubby's mom found a tuxedo with tails for Flash at a thrift store.
She tried to play it up for him.
Grandma: "And guess what you'll get to wear to the wedding?"
Flash: "I thought I'd be wearing a big black robe like Daddy's."

Part of me wants to look for one!

First Friday5 ina long long while

1. What will you gladly leave behind in 2009?
Um, I lost some weight in 2009. So 2009 can have it. Maybe 2010 can have more.

2. What is the biggest challenge of 2010 for you?
Being thankful for what I have...My big confession is always ingratitude and jealousy. I have a job, a home, wonderful husband, children, family and friends. I have more than plenty in so many ways.

3. Is there anything that you simply need to hand to God and say "all will be well, for you are with me"? Of course! I worry about a lot of things and have few to talk to about those worries. I'm going to find a counselor this year...that is a good resolution I think.

4. If you could only achieve one thing in 2010 what would it be?
Only one thing? One thing.... survive, enjoy, even ...triumph! I would love to look back one year from now and be astonished at all the wonderful things that have happened. Come on optimism!

5. Post a picture, poem or song that sums up your prayer for the year ahead....
In my head I'm toying with...that song "I get Down, God lifts me up, I get down..."
Praying for God to lift us up!

Open House

I don't know why I worry, its always a great time!
I wasn't as well prepared as I'd like.
We cleaned and preprared almost everything this morning.
At some point you have to just bgive up and say "good enough!"
although theres a voice in my head that says "good enough is half done".
Nice folks from church, neighbors, friends and acquaintences.
It went longer than planned, in a good way
and some great good friends arrived early enough to help out! Yay them!
Flash had a ball, Cosy was charming, And Hubby and I held our own too.
Happy Happy New Year
and g'nite!