Is it next week already?

I've been very busy for the last few days. Two projects can account for this: Sarah and Praveen plan to marry in January, and I need some part-time work.

It looks like January 2nd for the wedding. We've already begun looking at reception sites. A bit of sticker shock there. Rebekah, and my little sister, Erin, tried on bridesmaid's dresses on Sunday. It seems they've decided on a style in Wisteria. Sarah loves that color, and it's a good color on each of the girls. Maid of Honor will be Rebekah, with my twin sisters, Erin and Robin, and Sarah's best friend, Adele down the line. How's that song go? "We've only just begun..."

The other project is my finding a job. This is not as easy as it was 3 years ago. I got two interviews, and ended up working in a gift shop within two weeks of applying. Now I'm knocking on every door, and coming up empty. I've been loking for a month now. I've gotten jaded when present employees tell me, "Yeah, I think they're hiring part-time, day shift. I'm not sure - go online to apply." Then nothing happens.

Applying for a job online is a lengthy process. It takes anywhere from 10 minutes to 1-1/2 hours. Today I filled out 25 pages with 4 questions each, and that was just about my personality. The biggest hurdle is my not willing to work evenings or weekends. I've even began to offer to work Saturdays, since David can keep Noah, no matter what the big kids are doing. Speaking of which, I'd better go to some more sites.

I wish I could go back to college again, for creative writing. I've thought of taking a course online, but between housework and cooking demands, and then helping Noah with homework and cello, there probably isn't time. At least I'm taking the time to pratice cello every other day. I make Noah practice for 10-20 minutes a day

So what else is new? Well, on Friday last, my mom and I drove Josh to BWI to catch a flight to Savannah, where he's studying architecture. Becka drove herself up here from Liberty, all alone. She was quick and resourceful though.

Isn't Peanut Butter Cap'n Cruch the nest best? I just ate some dry, with milk on the side.

Well, my eyes droop. G'night all

Frustration

I have been looking for part-time work for 3 weeks now. I've have 2 interviews. The one offered me had inconvenient -even scanty - hours, and I'm still waiting for word from the other. I'm guessing I'm competing with many other housewives forced to get some supplemental income during this economy. I am hoping to to work to put money back into the bank after buying Rebekah a car and spending $2100 repairing our own elderly carriages.

We recently had the pleasure to visit with David's mother's family on Saturday, a little over an hour away. These are kind folk, feeling much love and affection for one another. I always feel a warm contentment when I am among them. They hosted a cook-out, and a tasty meal it was. I enjoyed being part of the food preparation in the kitchen, mashed in between Aunt Mady and Aunt Sarah, peeling eggs, to devil them. It reminded me of my own family's cookouts, at my Aunt Gerry's. I loved being with my many cousins - all six of them! Games, teasing, and too much good food to try everything! I'm glad my kids have a similar experience with these relatives.

New purse and skateboards! (and Cosmo update)

I am delighted with my new purse! It's a Tignanello, the same brand as the really nice one my Dad and step-mom gave Sarah for her college graduation. I could hardly believe the price on it. It was on sale twice, and was down to $57 from $109. I had $50 left on a gift card, so I went for it. It's fine heavy leather with - something I need very much - three compartments. It's not a deep purse, which discourages burying items under others. I've needed a new purse for some time now, so it's a relief to finally have such a practical, attractive one.

Josh and Ben have new skateboards. Josh painted them. He came up with the Indian design, a stencil he drew and cut. Ben came up with the circle designs underneath, and Josh drew and painted them. My creative boys. I love seeing them work together; They're best friends.

Cosmo is all better now. His hives went away on the third day.

Hives on Cosmo

Poor little Cozzy has hives. He woke up this way yesterday, looking like he was wearing puffy skin goggles. Now the hives are all over him. The vet said to give him benadryl every 8 hours, and that really helps. But again, he had them this morning because his evening dose wore off. I never saw him yipe outside, so I don't think he was stung by a bee. But another bug might have bitten him. Or it could be the food coloring in his kibble. I bought some all-natural kibble for his meal last night. It has no artificial anything, so hopefully that will help. Meanwhile, we all feel sorry for him. The last time I had hives, it lasted a week. I hope it's over sooner for him.





















Even his flews are swollen. They're normally half this size.

Group proposal?

I just saw the dumbest thing on youtube - a group proposal put together by the Today Show. All these girls who thought they were having Valentine's makeovers we told to turn their swivel chairs around, and then a bunch of guys filed in. Katie Couric directed, "OK, ladies, turn around - guys, do your thing!" And about 20 young men simultaneously kneeled and proposed to their girlfriends. I'm sorry, but what should have been a sweet private moment for two was instead made into a public conveyor-belt display for 15 seconds on national TV. I hated it. I felt bad for the girls and guys. Give me a candle-lit dinner proposal anyday. In fact, the way David gave me my ring, atop a lighthouse, was priceless. It was just Noah, the lighthouse lady, David and me.

Oh well. We don't all go crazy alike.

Here's the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNhxytlTKrE&feature=related

Well, it's just me and the dogs. I put the boys on the bus this morning. Ben's in 11th and Noah's in 2nd. This is Noah's first year to ride a bus, and I think he was excited about that. He was also quite pleased with his Spiderman lunch box. It's the metal kind like I used to take. Walmart had them for $7. I like them because sandwhiches don't get flattened. Ben was feeling quite dapper in his new duds. (Actually, he's "borrowing" a shirt from Josh, since he's not here to protest.)

I didn't cry this year. Actually, I'm enjoying being alone in the house. Because Sarah's car is sick, she took mine, so I'm a 1950's mom today - it's housework for me! And I'm actually glad for it. I can iron while I watch TV. Also, I can practice my cello without the family hearing, and sound better next time the do hear me.

August Eve

This has got to be the most perfect evening of the whole summer. It's 7:47pm. The sky is washed in hues of pink and purple. The cicadas are buzzing lazily in response to the cooler, darker atmosphere. Their replacements, crickets, are warming up and chirping louder every few minutes. How I love a summer evening.

It was a lovely day too. Mid-70's with a breeze. Low humidity. A few puffy clouds decorated the sky. Of course, Noah and I took off for the park right after lunch. He scootered, and I toted a backpack containing my essentials: a good book - Villette, for now - a Sudoku book, a notebook - for any ideas I might have - my camera, cell, and a big bottle of water to share with Noah.

I read a fair amount of Villette, by Charlotte Bronte. I'm enjoying it, but it's not as good as Jane Eyre. She lingered too long on the characters. Altogether, it's too wordy; I think she could have pared the book down by about a third. As I read, I was continually dazzled by the diamond ring David gave me last summer. I finally took some pics of it.

Noah enjoyed playing with other kids. He makes friends easily; probably - having no close siblings - because he has too. After an hour and a half, he and I swung on a bench overlooking the river, and talked. He's into Star Wars right now, so that's mainly what we talked about.

Of course I took pics on our park outing. In particular, I took some of a sweet little house which looks as though it's inhabited by hobbits. One half expects one to pop it's head out of the window and say hello. We walk by it every time we go to the park. I love my neighborhood. It's old and charming with mature trees and a variety of homes, older and newer. (mostly older) I also took some pics of some winding steps that were recently put down. The landscaping is endearing; it reminds me of a quaint English yard.

When we got back, we had Razzleberry pie and ice-cream and Ben and I watched Monk. I wish Mr. Monk lived next-door. (With Natalie close-by as well.)