Got GAS?

• This is the best kind of gas in town- FREE GAS. So about a month ago the lovely govenor of Wisconsin decided to add more gas tax. I think about .10 a gallon. Why? For education. Because gas and education - un well- because... ok I do not get the connection. I am all for education (of course I do not send my kids to the local public schools) but why should the tax come from gas. Gas tax should go to cleaning the environment- fixing the roads- even paying for more bloody policemen to keep our roads and city safer. I tell ya- it is enough to turn this very liberally raised girl into a republican!
• I have been very absent from blogging lately. I blame it on summer and on school. I've just had so much writing to do for school- there has been nothing left for this here blog. But I do miss just joting down my feelings. And I especially miss Sunday Scribbling and Self-Portrait Tuesday. I cannot believe I missed the entire month of June which was in your environment. I should have been all over that. And now this month- the elements. Well I am going to make sure I post something this Tuesday.
• Harry Potter- Harry Potter- Harry Potter. Can't wait. It all starts this week. We are already starting to decorate the store. I even got my niece to volunteer to work with me that night. I've been doing my weekly review with the kids. I am just amazed at how much these kids remember. They remember the details. The tiny tiny details in the books. Without even looking it all up. And I give them an assignment each week- to come up with at least 5 trivia questions to ask the group. There questions RAWK! They are so hard that I do not always know the answers. And I am pretty good at my Potter trivia. Just wish I would have had time to re-read all the books in order before the 20th. But no- I've been doing some Kite Runner- and some Greek Classics.
• Speaking of Kite Runner. I was avoiding that book. I knew it would be heartbreaking. But since it was an assigned reading for Ethnic Lit. I could avoid no more. Absolutely beautifully written. Loved the plot. But heartbreaking- yes. An absolute eye-opener.
• Hey- I am now a published critic. My 1/3 page spread on "Clementine" was published in our paper. I have received ohhs and ahhs over it. Seriosly. Even by some co-workers who are not the ohh and aahh type. Very proud. Not as proud as if I was a published author- but its a start!
• I cannot believe that the 4th of July has come and gone. Spent the holiday in our traditional fashion at my parents house. It was great as always. Kids had a blast. Isn't it always about the kids. Didn't take any pictures. Just lived in the momment.
• It is so flippin' hot here. Supposed to get near 100 degrees. High humidity. Thank god for central air. Hate it. But it is definately a necessary evil right about now. And my electric bill is going to be sky high. Oh that is probobly taxed for education too.
• Hey- Junie B. and her stupid smelly school bus was at the store and let me tell you the parents were in love with her as much as the kids. They said they would have even paid for that performance. The girl- Junie was incredible. I do not think I have seen anyone with so much energy. Not to mention we sold over $1,700 in merchandise in a little over 2 hours. We do not even do that at Christmas time. CRAZY!

Oh my Gawd!

It has been so long since I have visited my little ol' blog. I have been completely unispired to write. Not uninspired- just nothing that I had to get out of my head.

Started working again. A little love/hate relationship with that one. Like getting out! Like getting a paycheck!! But hate carting the kids around to the sitter (which is my mom- I know very lucky- and she lives very close) But still takes more time out of the day than it should.

Love working at a children's book store. I have learned sooooo much about the business- retail and publishing. Boy is that business down to a science.

School is almost out for the summer- two more days. I can't wait to have all the kids home. Like them home with me.

I stopped doing digi layouts for a while and started the old regular way. Paper scrapping. Took me a while to get into the groove. I missed the "erase button" and the "undo" button. Boy once you cut a real piece a paper there it is. You are stuck with it. But I am getting the hang of it again. Need to do the baby's book. Will post pics soon. Don't have a scanner that does 12 x 12, so I am working on doing it with the camera.

Feeling Blue

Haven't visited my little ol
blog in a while. The computer
break was good. Too much
computer makes me
a little unsocial.

Got a job this week. Just couldn't
stand not receiving a paycheck.
So I will be working at a little
bookstore in town. It has a bit
of charm and rooms of children's
books. So I am offically no longer
a SAHM. Almost made it a year.
Not really working much though, just 11
hours a week. I was so nervous for my
interview. I haven't interviewed for a
job in over 12 years. And I was used
to being the interviewer not the
interviewee.

I didn't really think they would
take my application seriously.
Think I was overqualified.
I though I may have to defend
my claim that I am not looking
for a career, just some time for myself
and a place to see different walls and
different faces. A place where I am
known by my name and not Alex's mom, etc.

The pay isn't much. But it will help pay
for some things that I want and do
not let myself get. We also have some
student loans we would like to finally
rid ourselves of. And next year I would really
like to persue my own business. But not
until the loans are gone, gone, gone.
Not willing to take that kind of risk with
extra debt on my shoulders.

I got a job this week. Scares me a bit.
I am once again on someone else's time.
I like being on my own time. Doing my own
thing. Scares me a lot. I enjoyed not having
to arrange any childcare. My mom is watching the
girls while I work. Very short shifts. But still
she goes on vacation, she has a life. The one
good thing about daycares is that they do
not go on vacation.

Enough of this... it's just another phase
in life. My birthday is coming up. My daughter
just had her party today. Her birthday is Tues. And mine is
five days later. I see her grow up and it makes me feel older.
I am getting older. And I do not want to. Want us all to stay right
here. I like where we are at. I like that we are all healthy and young
and fun and cute and cuddly. I like that there is still a baby in the house
and that I can play princess and playstation. I love that I
get to have a tea party with 2 lumps of sugar in my tea
each day. I love that my kids are at ages where they still like
to be held and kissed and hugged. That they still believe in Santa and
the Easter bunny and the toothfairy. I want to capture these momments
but they seem to slip away so fast. The days and weeks go by so fast.
I feel like Alex just started first grade and now summer vacation is almost
here. He is reading. He reads to his sister. He reads to me. He reads
signs and the newspaper and magazine covers. When did all this happen-
where was I this past year. Where have I been. What have I been doing.

Maybe that is my solution to these feelings I have. When I was working
the projects and day to day activities were very tangible. Each year a
raise and a performance review to summarize the past years activity.
I think that I will give myself a performance review. Hmmm.

Time for bed. My brain is hurting. Too much birthday cake. And her
birthday isn't even here yet. When did birthdays become a multi- day
event. No matter how hard I try my kids birthdays just drag out. I am
always so happy when they are over. Not Tess's though. Because mine
is 5 days after hers. Her could just linger on forever. Wouldn't mind just
stalling my birthday for a while.