So Little Time...

I was supposed to be off work tomorrow. But I have to go in at 8am and work until 6pm. This means I am working 4 -10 hour days in a row. I know that I was just off last weekend and then off Christmas Day but I really need a day to catch up. Christmas was spent with family in fellowship and preparations. I need to spend time paying bills, organizing and straightening, and eventually putting away decorations. I have my first meeting as president of my Homemaker's Club in a few weeks and I need to sit down and prepare for that, also. I haven't cross-stitched in almost 2 weeks and I am way behind on my reading. We have another get-together on Sunday and then Tuesday (after working New Year's Eve) we are taking a little family trip. I really needed tomorrow off. But don't worry I am going to make them pay me dearly for the pleasure of my company.

Long Time No Post

I didn't really mean to quit posting. But, it has been several weeks nonetheless. When I went back to working full-time at Wal-Mart the appeal of spending time on the computer was lost. When I am home I don't even want to check my email, much less spend hours browsing other peoples blogs and finding witty things to post. Call it laziness if it makes you feel better.

I have been really happy back at WM, though, and am confident I've made the right decision.

We've been very busy. I got the house decorated for Christmas. This weekend we went to Auburn for my cousin's wedding and just got back this afternoon. It was a beautiful wedding. Rick and I enjoyed taking a walking tour with our kids of the University Campus (where we both attended) last evening. A lot has changed since we graduated.

Christmas is approaching fast. I have all my presents wrapped except for whatever last minute things come up. I really need to finish my Christmas cards and get them in the mail. I have my deer and Palm Trees up in the front yard.

We have finished the second season of Lost and are anxiously waiting the 3rd season release on Tuesday. To say we are hooked would be an understatement. I don't know what we will do when we have to start watching it only once a week with the fourth season in January.

There is so much going on that sometimes everything is just a blur. We have Christmas parties and family gatherings coming up. The kids and I have an annual tradition of decorating a Gingerbread house. I have Dr appts for both children next week. I have to work next weekend and then my parents will be here over the holiday. Hopefully, we are taking a little trip after New Year's to recover from the rush.

I hope everyone will continue to stop by once in a while. I'll try to post at least once a week until Christmas.

Cool Weather

Well, I had to turn the heat on today. I really do not like to turn the heat on and then turn the air back on a few days later. That is a common situation here in the South. The temp in the house got below 60 last night, so I relented. Last year we had to turn the air back on briefly in December.

I finally got outside and planted some bulbs and pansies. A good thing, too, since we had a hard frost last night. My beautiful impatiens had finally had enough and died. I planted tulips and daffodils and hyacinths. Every year the ground gets a little easier to work so the bulb planting went quickly. My daughter was a big help, dropping the bulbs into the holes I dug and covering them with dirt.

We have some gorgeous fall color and if my camera was working I would take a picture and show you. Our camera never worked after our vacation. I've still got to get the pictures off the memory card. Hubby is looking at getting another one. He has been wanting a SLR camera but I didn't want to spend the money. Now I guess it is necessary. I think I might buy myself a small camera to carry in my purse.

We had a great time at the Auburn game last weekend and I know I should do an entire post about it but I have been so busy. I am enjoying the new job but between it and school activities it leaves little time for the non-essentials like blogging and reading blogs. I still find time to read, somehow, though.

I'm working all weekend and I just wanted to do a quick post because I'm not sure when I'll be back. If I didn't get a chance to visit your blog this week, I'm sorry and hope to visit soon.

Friday

I have been so busy lately. I've backed myself in a little corner. But next week I have two days set aside to spend with my mother. We're going to shop and eat out and enjoy ourselves. I am enjoying my new (old) job. I really like the schedule. Of course, in the evenings I am very tired, but the days go by so fast. I'm really enjoying the people I'm working with, too. My old boss has called me about 3 times to ask when I am coming back. It is nice to be in a career with so much demand.

Tomorrow is the annual Auburn University Alumni Band Reunion. My daughter and I are headed down this afternoon. I'll practice with the alumni band tomorrow morning and then we'll perform with the college band during the halftime of the football game and in the stands. Playing with the Auburn band was the most enjoyable experience I had in college and every year when fall rolls around I miss that excitement. It is nice to spend this little Saturday afternoon going back. My SIL is going to meet us in Auburn and sit with B during the game. Looks like we're going to have great weather (not as hot as usual). We're going to a barbecue at the pharmacy school for lunch.

Maybe next week I can check on how everyone is doing with NaBloPoMo. Have a great weekend.

Monday

Even though today is a holiday I am working. That happens sometimes to those who do not have normal M-F, 8-5 jobs. My husband and kids are at home enjoying their day off. I wonder if they'll notice I am not there.

Yesterday morning I went out and walked before church and again this morning before work. I'm not becoming obsessed. I'm just trying to stave off the guilt of not exercising. Plus tomorrow I may not get the chance. I'm off tomorrow but going in for a few hours at the other job to help them out. The day after Labor Day is a busy day for pharmacies.

I'm going to the second meeting of my book club tomorrow. Our book this month was any title by Lillian Jackson Braun. I read the Cat Who Read Backwards.

Yesterday evening the kids and I did a little bicycling in the neighborhood. We're trying to build up our stamina for longer rides when the weather cools off.

Monday

Yesterday I worked at that other job. It was one of those days in which I remember why it was that I quit working there full-time a year ago. First of all, I went out and walked in the morning which guaranteed I would be tired by the end of the day. I didn't go in to work until 10am so I had an hour in the morning to relax. Later, I was really glad I took that time. One of the computer terminals was out at work. This both slowed down production and interrupted the normal flow of work. Also, someone knew was in to start training. Monday is not the best day to train someone. We were entirely too busy to take the time. I'm not the best person to train someone as I have little patience for it. (Get trained already and get to work!) After I ate some lunch the laser printer quit working. (It had been giving us maintenance warnings all day but we had unwisely ignored them). There is a back-up printer (of the dot matrix variety) but it prints about a page per minute. After that small things began to go wrong. There were a couple of times I thought I was going to lose it but I kept it under control. (There really wasn't time for a panic attack.) After an hour or so a second printer was located and installed and we were back at full-speed. I left at 9pm having worked steadily on my feet for 11 hours (except for my 20 minutes of lunch). I had to buy groceries. I managed to arrive home by 10pm but naturally I forgot some things in my haste to get out of the store. This morning I am here at the regular job and I am going to sit down for most of the day and recover.

On the positive side it was a good day diet-wise. I was too tired to eat supper last night and instead ate a banana and went to bed. I didn't have a snack. I'm sure I'll make up for it today.

The Ants Go Marching

I'm at work today. I was supposed to be off and go to a luncheon. I had even booked a baby-sitter for the few hours I would need to be away. But as plans sometimes do, things went amiss. My partner's little girl is sick and we swapped today and Friday. This means my son can go to an ice-skating birthday party on Friday, though. But my second day to spend with my mom is lost. She is leaving in the morning. I'm busy squashing ants right now, but later I'll try to do a Thursday Thirteen.

Edit: Although the ants are still coming in and marching across the floor, word must have gotten out about the massacre. They are staying away from me and my computer now.

Tuesday

I worked yesterday at my other job. You know the one that I told you I was considering going back to full time. Why was I considering that again? Oh, yeah, because I was suffering from some form of insanity. (No offense intended to those of you who are actually insane). Anyway, yesterday I worked 13 hours (excepting the 20 minute lunch). I was on my feet that entire time. Today I feel much like I imagine I would feel if indeed I was run over by a Mack truck. They were shorthanded as usual. The other pharmacist that was supposed to be working went home sick. At least here at this job there is no one else but me. Of course, it gets lonely, but I don't have to worry about not having help. So I'm not going back there full-time (at least not right now). Don't worry there will be other opportunities for them to throw money at me and try to entice me back.

We had a really good weekend. Friday night (without the kids, Yipee!!) We went to see the new Pirates movie and we went to a new restaraunt in town called Grille 29. It was quite good. I had the crab alfredo and even had some left over to take home.

Saturday morning we went to Tuscumbia for the Helen Keller Festival to see my SIL in her first 5mile race. My lovely son counted the number of people that crossed the finish before her. Isn't he a great encouragement? Afterwards, we went to lunch with hubby's family. We ate at a country place called The Rocking Chair. I had hamburger steak with fried okra and hasbrown casserole. Again, it was quite good.

Monday I went back on my diet. I sure am getting hungry.

Tuesday

Yesterday I worked at my other job at Wal-Mart. It was a long, hard, tiring day. I had vicious leg cramps last night and dreamed all night long about filling prescriptions. It's hard to understand then why I am seriously considering going back there full-time. The pharmacy manager at the store I have been working at for the last 3 years is moving and her position has become available. It would mean a raise of 25% over what I am making at my current job plus a bonus in the spring. Of course, there are lots of drawbacks. The work is definitely more demanding and stressful. I wouldn't have long hours to read blogs and play Mahjong. Although, I have enjoyed getting paid to do very little the long boring hours are starting to take their toll. (I also have to wonder how long my current employer will continue this operation at a loss.) Plus, my dad, tells me that you can tolerate just about anything (job-wise) for two years. In two years, if our plans work-out, Hubby will be finished with his teaching degree. Maybe, then I could go back to working part-time. Also, sometime in the next two years a new supercenter is scheduled to open up even closer to my home. I really enjoyed starting a new store once before and would welcome that opportunity again. I am starting to think about what demands I should make in order to come back. I already have 3 weeks vacation at the company. I would also like to work no more than every 4th Sunday. So, if you know me, you may be thinking I am crazy to even consider this. However, if you don't know me you may have a hard time understanding why I wouldn't take the job. At any rate, chime in with your opinion.

Monday

I know it is not Monday morning. I worked at that other job yesterday. And I mean I WORKED. I feel slightly hung over this morning. I worked all night long in my sleep, also. I need to catch up on my blog reading and hopefully post a regular post today. And I need a nap. Naps should be allowed at work, shouldn't they?

Random Thoughts

Not much going on here but I have to post because otherwise it would be 3 days. I am listening to a really good album right now by Taylor Swift (self-titled). Take a listen. It is country music but not what you might be used to. I am also reading a really good book called The Time Traveler's Wife (I realize I may be late to that party.) It is a beautiful spring day and I can see it out my window. (If you are a new reader you may not realize I spent the previous 12 years at a job without a window.) The pear trees are quickly turning from white to a glorious green. Spring has arrived.

Tuesday

Today is the first day of a 3 day-in-a-row workweek for me. (I know some of you work 5 days in a row. But please remember that I work 10 hour shifts and am not allowed to leave for lunch.) I have caught up on my blog reading and now must come up with something witty to blog about. (Tomorrow, I'll read all the magazines - what will I do on Thursday?)

"Today you will feel completely in control of your life and it will feel as though nothing can fluster you. This will be very useful as there is likely to be something of a crisis at school or in the workplace that will need your input. A positive aspect between the Moon and Saturn will allow you to cope with ease. "

This is my horoscope for today. The crisis could be that my previous employer (WM) has begged me to come back and offered me more money and better hours than I was making with them before. I am having a hard time with this decision. I hope the Moon and Saturn will help me out.

I read about this quiz called Weffriddles on Chichimama's blog and I am stumped. I only got to level 3. Someone help me out here.

I got several comments on my jeans blog. It seems at least 5 people are reading my blog. Wow!

I weighed in today and have lost a total of 9.2lbs. Yeah for me!

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."