War Eagle!!

Auburn is playing against South Carolina tonight. That is right, on Thursday. I do not understand the logic behind a Thursday night game and would be surprised if it was for any other reason than money. I am going to try and get home before kick-off but I doubt the people here will cooperate. They rarely do. I set the TiVo at my husband's suggestion, however. I can get home and rewind and watch from the beginning and the catch up during the commercials. Of course, I usually listen to the game (while watching) on the internet radio becuause I much prefer Auburn's Radion Network announcers to ESPN or whoever. It is much more enjoyable to watch a game when the announcers are on the same side you are. Especially, if you happen to be the only person in your house who even cares. When I get home my husband will be asking me, "what football game?" and undoubtedly the T.V. will be tuned to evening Nick Toons. It's ironic that he doesn't care for football. But I never say, "What race?" Of course, in his defense, he doesn't jump up and down and yell at the referees during the formula one races.

Jane Eyre

I just finished reading Jane Eyre.

Although I do not commonly employ the phrase, I am somewhat of a "bookaholic". What I mean is that I read a lot. I read almost exclusively fiction from several genres. I average a little better than a book a week or about 60-70 books a year. (I know what you are thinking, "How does she have time?"). I read faster than the average person and I steal time to read when others are just sitting. I read sitting in the car in the morning in the interim between dropping kids off at school and going in to work. I read during my lunch break. I read while waiting (in car line, for appointments, on people, etc). I read at least 30 minutes before retiring at night. It is a hobby that is easily portable (unlike the majority of my husband's hobbies). If you think about it you can make time for the things you enjoy.

I do spend a lot of money on books. Mostly, this is because I have a few authors that I enjoy so much that I must buy their books new and in hardback. I swap books with my mother who also reads alot. I donate a lot of books to the library. I keep very few of the books I read because I do not have the space.

Recently, I have been rereading a few books I have enjoyed. (This is necessary when I run out of new books.) I just finished reading Jane Eyre again. I don't think I have read it since high school. I don't read very many classics. Just because something is old and widely read does not make it is a good book. I require entertainment in my reading. I want to be enthralled. Mostly, I want to escape from my life to someone eles's for a little while. Jane Eyre was written over 150 years ago. It remains still a very good read. It is a romance but without all the trappings of romances on today's market. It is a mystery. It is the story of courage. I cannot imagine that something written today would still be read in 150 years. (I am not sure I can imagine that people will be reading in 150 years.)

I am now rereading White Fang. I am waiting on a shipment from Amazon. I am going on vacation in a few weeks and I plan to read the new Butch Karp book as well as the new John Grisham due out in October.

Football

Football season is in full swing. I am a serious college football fan. Or rather a serious Auburn Tiger football fan. My husband however, is not. He and I graduated from the same college but he practices passive indifference to the scores, stats & polls. He will occasionally watch a game with me if he is in the room but that is the extent of it.

Football in the Deep South is serious business. I grew up with one of the fierces rivalries known in NCAA football. My father graduated from Auburn, also and raised my brother and I with a fierce loyalty. We were children in the 1970's when Auburn's cross-state rival was the powerhouse and being an Auburn fan was out of vogue. Being ridiculed as a child for supporting something I didn't then understand made a lasting impression. I detest people who waver their support for whoever is winning. There have been some tough years to be an Auburn Tiger (probation, losing seasons) and I have stayed with them through it all. I will always remain loyal.

That being said it is still glorious to see (or hear) them win. Warrrr Eagle!!!!

Working Mothers

When I discovered the SAHD community on the web I was delighted. Not only because there were so many fathers out there opting out of work but because they shared their adventures in their blogs. I went in search of blogs by working mothers (the antithesis, I suppose). I found few, if any. I know these working mothers are out there. Perhaps, balancing home, family, work, school, church, etc allows very little time for these women to sit down at a computer.

I have been a full-time working mother for most of my eldest child's eight years. I work both because of need and desire. I tried the SAHM thing a while after my second child was born and found out it wasn't for me. I admire mothers of all types who balance everything on their plate. I frequently struggle with the challenges of working and mothering.

My husband and I are coparenting. We are both raising our children. I have a neighbor with three girls who are very active in afterschool activities. My neighbor herself is very involved in several from-home businesses. I suspect that she is far busier than I am. When I am off work I have leisure time to spend with my children. We are not rushing hither and yon trying to keep up with all of their activities. All mothers are working mothers whether or not we have a regular working job and paycheck.

Ponder this: Maybe all blogs by Mothers are actually blogs by Working Mothers.

Work

I recently began a job where I am required to be present for 10 hours per shift but the amount of actual work required of me in that 10 hours is less than 1.5 hours. I know you workaholics out there are crying, "How boring." Yes, I thought so at first. But you can get used to a lot of things if they pay you well enough.

Yesterday, to make up for my day of leisure on Wednesday I worked a full day at my other job. This is the job I left in July to pursue the above mentioned job. I work there only 1 day every 2 weeks. This job is in the customer service area at a place we will call WM. I worked 13 hours with a 20 minute stop for lunch. I can honestly say I worked non-stop (except for the afore mentioned lunch) the entire time. I was on my feet all day and I am exhausted. Today, I am back to the "boring job" we'll call AMC. It is in the same field as WM but doesn't pay quite as well. However, I am allowed a long leisurely lunch (as long as I don't leave), internet access, a radio and a window (a luxury if you've ever worked without one). I think the pay cut is worth the extras. The real advantage is the low stress level. You workaholics out there should start to envy me now.

It is raining today and I can actually look out my window and see this. I worked the last 12 years in a job where you only knew it rained if it was hard enough to hear. Night and day were indiscernible. Now I will be able to observe the change of seasons as I sit on my stool in quiet reflection. Yes, "Life ain't always beautiful, but it's a beautiful life."

Fall is Here

Today is my first blog. For months I have been reading the daily musings of many others and thought: "If them, why not me, too"

Today I have nothing planned. That is unusual for me. Eventually, I will begin my day and try to make it somehow productive. I hold out little hope, however. I am not motivated. It is a beautiful fall day. The weather I have been longing for all summer is finally here. It reminds me of the words "I could go crazy on a night like tonite, when summer's beginning to give up it's fight". Only I think the fight has been called. Fall is officially here. Tommorrow is September 21st.