But wait, there's more!

One of the first things I noticed, driving around this 5.2 square-mile town, is that there are A LOT of auto parts stores. Actually, it was my daughter who first noticed it. "Mom. People here must ALL fix their own cars. There's an auto parts store on every corner!"

This is the auto parts store closest to my house.

This is the NEXT closest auto parts store. It's almost directly across the street from the first one!

THIS is the next, NEXT closest auto parts store, and it's at the very next intersection.

JUST as my daughter made her observation, we drove past yet ANOTHER another auto parts store! We got lost a lot that first day, so I don't remember exactly where that store was, but when I pointed out to a local resident the proliferation of auto parts stores, I was told, "Oh, and that's not all of them!" Evidently, there is a FIFTH auto parts store at the other end of town ("...across the tracks, down a ways, past the station...", etc...) but I didn't go look for that one.

How can a town of 8200 people support FIVE auto parts stores?!?

Well, it turns out it can't. Yesterday I heard the sad news that the oldest of the auto parts stores, not pictured here, will be closing it's doors. Gee, I hope the other FOUR can handle the slack!

ABC's

The ABCs of Me

The Letter A

Are you available?: Technically, yes.

What is your age?: Old enough to lie about it.

What annoys you?: People with NPD.

The Letter B

Do you live in a big house?: Is 2300 sq ft big? I think it is, pretty much!

When is your birthday?: Dec 1.

Who is your best friend?: You know who you are.

The Letter C

What's your favorite candy?: Lindt truffles.

Who's your crush?: Undisclosed.

When was the last time you cried?: January 20-something.

The Letter D

Do you daydream?: All the time.

What's your favorite kind of dog?: Someone else's.

What day of the week is it?: Wednesday.

The Letter E

How do you like your eggs?: Over-easy.

Have you ever been in the emergency room?: For myself? No.

What's the easiest thing ever to do?: Um...Fall off a log?

The Letter F

Have you ever flown in a plane?: Sure.

Do you use fly swatters?: Yep.

Have you ever used a foghorn?: To do WHAT?!?

The Letter G

Do you chew gum?: When I have garlic or onion breath.

Are you a giver or a taker?: Both, when appropriate.

Do you like gummy candies?: Yes.

The Letter H

How are you?: Better than most, not as good as some.

What color is your hair?: Dark blonde.

The Letter I

What's your favorite ice cream?: Mint Chocolate Chip or Coffee

Have you ever ice skated?: Yes. I filed it under NA. Never Again.

Do you play an instrument?: I sure wish I could, but no.

The Letter J

What's your favorite jelly bean flavor? The ones my kid won't eat.

Do you wear jewelry?: Yes. Not a ton, but a bit.

The Letter K

Who do you want to kill?: Literally? No one. Fantasy wise? I'm thinking...

Do you want kids?: In the thick of it, baby!

Where did you go for kindergarten?: William E Fanning Elementary.

The Letter L

Are you laid back?: Yeah, I think I am.

Do you lie?: I HAVE, but I try really hard not to!

The Letter M

Whats your favorite movie?: Oooh. Unfair. Too many. There needs to be a category for drama, adventure, romance, comedy, etc...

Do you still watch Disney movies?: Of course!

Do you like mangos?: YES! With lime and salt.Yes, I know that applies to margaritas, but trust me, it goes with mangoes, too!

The Letter N

Do you have a nickname?: No. I can't think of one. Kinda sad, really.

What is your real name?: Laurel Ann, as my profile implies.

Whats your favorite number?: 11 and 23. No reason.Do you prefer night over day?: That depends.

The Letter O

What's your one wish?: For 3 more wishes?

Are you an only child?: Yep.

The Letter P

What one fear are you most paranoid about?: I'm not very fearful.

What are your pet peeves?: Repetitive noises

What's a personality trait you look for in people?: Sense of humor, hands down!

The Letter Q

What's your favorite quote?: "That which does not kill me makes me stronger." Or, "I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."

Are you quick to judge people?: I try not to.

The Letter R

Do you think you're always right?: Yes. And the sooner you figure that out, the happier a person you will be.:)

Are you one to cry?: I didn't used to be, but I'm softening as I get older. (But that question doesn't have anything to do with the letter "R").

The Letter S

Do you prefer sun or rain?: I love blustery days.

Do you like snow?: Ugh. No. A thousand times, no.

What's your favorite season?: Fall.

The Letter T

What time is it?: 7:48

What time did you wake up?: 6:30

When was the last time you slept in a tent?: Thankfully long enough ago that I don't even remember.

The Letter U

Are you wearing underwear?: (*checking*)...YES!

Underwear or boxers?: "Girl" boxers, actually.

The Letter V

What's the worst veggie?: Brussells sprouts.

Where do you want to go on vacation?: The operative word there is "GO". Doesn't matter where.

The Letter W

What's your worst habit?: Pro...cras...tin...a...tion.....

Where do you live?: About a block from the elementary school.

What's your worst fear?: Not being able to think of survey answers.

The Letter X

Have you ever had an x-ray?: Every year at the dentist.

Have you seen the x-games?: Yes, in Oceanside, at the pier.

Do you own a xylophone?: No, but I had one of those toy ones when I was a kid!

The Letter Y

Do you like the color yellow?: On bananas, lemons, sunrises, etc...

What's one thing you yearn for?: Clear direction.

The Letter Z

Whats your zodiac sign?: Sagittarius

Do you believe in the zodiac?: Not at all.

Favorite zoo animal?: Otters.

A Must See!

My PC crashed last October, and I never did get it back, so I lost the links to all my favorites. A bunch of them I remembered, when I thought of this or that, but there had been a lot of them, and I couldn't recall them all.

Something on a recipe card or something recently reminded me of one of my favorite sites. I only look at it every couple months, so I kind of forget about it, and it's funny all over again. I went there last night because I needed a laugh, and it didn't disappoint!
The Gallery Of Regrettable Food.

The author's comments are what's funny; I have never failed to find something there that makes me helpless with laughter.

And who can't use that?!? Enjoy!

Okay, I'll bite...

I got this from Heather's site. I'll play along...if I can think of 25 things. Let's see:


1. I have kissed the Blarney Stone, so maybe you shouldn't believe another thing I say.


2. My dad's Collie dog attacked me when I was 3. My mom broke a 2x4 over his back.


3. I dislike strawberry flavored things. Love strawberries, but hate the flavoring.


4. I believe it was an angel in human form who saved me from plummeting to my death off of Huayna Picchu in Peru.


5. I have only white towels. They give a "spa" feeling, and can be bleached, and...


6. ...I lo-o-ve the smell of a towel when you unfold it and you get that little whiff of bleach.


7. A man named Felix, a native of Venezuela, once proposed to me.


8. My grandmother always told me that I was her favorite (she might have told all of us that).


9. I am right handed, but left "eye'd". Interesting when trying to site a firearm.


10. I have handled firearms.


11. I'm not bad at basketball.


12. I keep acrylic nails because if I didn't, I'd chew my nails down to bloody stumps.


13. If we're out of peanut butter, we're out of food.


14. I mourn the old days of actual film in my camera. I'm a dinosaur, I know.


15. I tend to rearrange furniture a lot.


16. I hate my dog. (Please, no emails. He gets treated just fine. I just don't like 'im.)


17. My ex-husband and I were married twice: a civil service and a church service. Not that it did much good.


18. My ob/gyn misdiagnosed my second pregnancy as fibroids.


19. That second pregnancy, my son, had a perfect knot tied in his cord. The delivery staff couldn't believe he was even alive.


20. I think I have cubital tunnel syndrome.


21. Years ago, I adopted Heather's practice of never answering the phone until I know who it is.


22. I don't buy margarine. Real butter only.


23. I don't like pens with caps; I like clicky pens.


24. I enjoy public speaking.


25. People either pretty much instantly like me/get a kick out of me, or find me impossible.

Hey! I made it to 25! Your turn!

Informative afternoon

Spent some time today, talking with the pastor at church. I had done some research on this denomination, and I had notes with some questions about a few things that I'd read about their "flavor" of belief system. As I'd thought, there weren't any real deal-breakers, but I did want the pastor to know my thoughts on the few... diversities I found. He defended them as I supposed he would, and I didn't disagree with his arguments; I just don't fully agree with their interpretation of a couple things.

But on the whole, the fact that this body of believers holds to the ideal that, "We find nothing essential except that which is found in Scripture." I can agree with all of their essentials; the non-essentials are just that--not essential to getting along. You like peanuts on your ice cream? I'll pass, but toffee bits? Now we're talking! As long as we begin with quality ice cream in each bowl.

The pastor was impressed and pleased that I'd bothered to go to all the trouble of reading up on the differences in doctrine here, from what I'm used to. But wouldn't any reasonable person want to know WHAT they were agreeing to uphold? Especially if I'm going to stand up in front of the congregation.

But we had a good talk, and he respects my viewpoint. Also importantly, he now knows a bit more about me and where I'm coming from.

The pastor stopped me on the way out of church this morning. As I shook his hand, he took my elbow with his other hand, and said, "I'm so, so sorry that I have neglected you! Can we meet some afternoon or evening this week?"

By "neglected", he meant that he hasn't approached me about joining the church. I am accustomed to churches having a pastor's class, or a membership class, or something of that nature, and either interested parties sign up on their own, or someone asks them if they'd be interested.

I am inclined to go ahead and join this body, but I was kind of waiting around for...whatever I assumed was protocol. In answer to a casual inquiry, I was told last week that there is no formal protocol. But this information was accompanied by the question, "You mean no one's checked on you since you've been here? For 10 weeks?"

Uh, no... Were they supposed to? Evidently this is a sore point amongst some of the folks, here. Whose job is it to follow up with newcomers? IS it the pastor? If it's NOT solely the pastor's job, then who delegates, and to whom? Should people have to ASK to be told more about the church, or shouldn't someone offer? In the preacher's defense, he did call me the week after we first attended, but I guess the issue is that there was no follow-up later to see how we were doing, settling in, if we needed anything, had we found classes, etc...

Anyway, the fact that a new family had been thus neglected was pointedly brought to the pastor's attention this past week, with some degree of "what are you going to do about this?" and it would seem that he is acting on that challenge. I'm to call the church office tomorrow and set up a time that I can meet with him.

I have a few questions. I'm used to churches carefully outlining "What We Believe", and then a person decides if they can spiritually align themselves with that doctrine. This will be the first time that I have had to conduct an "interview", if you will, with a church and what it stands for. I already know that this congregation stands for all the right stuff; it's not about that. But I want to feel like someone within the corporate entity understands where I'm coming from, and vice versa. Traditionally, that should be the pastor.

I don't think there are any "deal breakers" to be had, but I'm interested in finding out how the land lays on a few issues, just for the sake of argument. For example, I was in a church once before that I was surprised to learn had drawn a line in the sand over something that I simply could not agree with. It didn't make me want to leave the church, but I knew that I would have to agree to disagree on that matter.

I believe in God's people contributing their time, talents, and treasure to the local ministry, and I intend to do so. I just want to get some "gee-whiz" information on this body's belief system before I sign on.

20 Degrees

"Whether the weather is cold, or whether the weather is hot, we'll weather the weather, whatever the weather, whether we like it or not!"

I went snow skiing a lot when I was a teenager, and I remember discovering that for me, 20 degrees was about the perfect temperature. It was just cold enough so that you didn't get TOO warm from the clothing and the activity. 20 degrees was comfortable, on the slopes.

However, I realized this morning that: A) I don't own ski clothes any more (and wouldn't I look silly driving the kids to school wearing my banana-yellow down bibs?!?), and B) Walking a pug is not quite the same level of exertion as skiing.

Nevertheless, I had to laugh when I heard that Fullerton, California was 82 degrees yesterday. In CA, the seasons are limited to "It's raining! Turn on the news!", and "Close the door! The air is on!"

No, I'm glad to be where there are four distinct seasons.

By the way...

I was on the local NBC nightly news the other night.


There was a town hall kind of parents' meeting about the redistricting of the schools, here; it has a lot of people upset. The interesting thing, I have learned from an outside source, is that there's wa-a-y more going on with this issue than what the informational meeting spoon-fed to the parents.

Having confirmed where my son would be attending next year, I stood in the auditorium, chatting with our church's Children's Director, and we were approached by a reporter from WMGT. He asked if we'd mind sharing our reactions with him. Betty abstained, since she doesn't have a child in the system; she was there just for the information. So it was up to me.

As we walked toward the exit, I told him my perception of what we'd been told. It was then that I realized (I had not, before) that he was a television reporter. I'd assumed that he was a writer for a local paper, but the camera set up in the lobby corrected that notion.

"Would you mind just going over all of that again, on camera?" he asked me.

"Um. Sure." I said.

As it turns out, mine was the interview that enabled the reporter able to say, "...parents had mixed reactions...". When we watched the story on the 11 o'clock news that night (and again the next morning!--*groan*), two dads and two moms before me were complaining about the re-districting. I was the final soundbite, and was the sole proponent, stating that in my case, my son would be attending closer to home, so for me this development is a good thing.

Anyway, when I did it, I had no idea there was as much involved in this imbroglio as there is. I'm glad I didn't say anything too controversial!

My little 5 seconds of fame.

I guess they take that off my account, right?

Okay, I'll bite...2008 In Review:

2008: A Year In Bulletpoints

Q: What did you do in 2008 that you had never done before?
A: Um...got divorced. Moved 2000 miles away. Beat that.

Q: Did you keep your New Year's resolutions?
A: Who can remember that far back?!? I must not have made one.

Q: What would you like to have in '09 that you didn't have in '08?
A: I'm laughing hysterically; I'll have to get back to you on that one.

Q: What dates from '08 will remain etched upon your memory?
A: March 23, May 5, October 29, November 8, December 4.

Q: Did you suffer from any injury?
A: Only my heart breaking.

Q: Where did most of your money go?
A: Into the bank, thankfully.

Q: What did you get really excited about?
A: Let me think...

Q: What song will always remind you of 2008?
A: Pocketful of Sunshine

Q: Favorite TV shows of 2008?
A: Dirty Jobs, Good Eats

Q: What was your greatest musical discovery?
A: I have no idea.

Q: Best book you read this year?
A: A Lydsay Sands vampire book on the plane.

Q: Favorite film of the year?
A: I can't recall going to the movies in 2008. At all. I'm sure I must have, but that's what kind of impact the films had on me.

Q: Describe your fashion concept of '08:
A: It takes the exact same amount of time to pull on a flattering sweater and a pair of slacks as it does a stained sweatshirt and baggy jeans. May as well look presentable.

Q: What celebrities did you fancy the most?
A: Kiefer Sutherland's kinda hunky.


Q: Who do you miss?
A: A bloody loaded question, that.

Q: Biggest achievement?
A: Landing on my feet.

Q: Did you fall in love in 2008?
A: I'm gonna have to go with "no".

Q: What's one thing that would have made your year more satisfying?
A: To have more of the questions answered, but they'll come in time...

I'm exhausted.

Last night I noticed that several of the flood lights that light up the corners of the house (not a lot of streetlights around here) were out. So I went to the hardware store, got enough lamps to replace ALL of them, dragged out the ladder, and changed out all the bulbs. I got the low-energy kind, thank you very greenly.

Then I decided to get all my scrapbook stuff into one area. At some point, I will purge, consolidate, and organize it better, but for now, it's still in the bins I shipped it all in. But I did clear out the bottom of the closet in the study, and I moved the tables around again, to try to find the best arrangement to set up a scrap area.

Also, this way, the messy desk is hidden from view when people enter the house, and it's no longer the view from the kitchen "window".

I've also been contemplating this house, and how we'd use the space if I turn the "bookroom" into a guest house/rental studio apartment. It's nice to have a "run around in it" room, but we don't really need it. I might rather have the income and or/one of the kids might like the privacy if they live at home during college. Really the only part of the room in actual use is the built-in bookshelves. So I hauled all of our scrapbooks into the living room (where people are much more likely to see them), and put them into the bookcases I have in there, which up til now were empty.

Then it bugged me the lamps were on the floor in there, so I stacked some baskets and made a couple temporary lampstands.

THEN it bugged me that the tv we got for that room is truly too hard to see from the seating; it's too small a screen for that space. So I gave in and moved the tv into my room. IF I decide to put another tv in the living room, it will need to be bigger. And I know, I know. I CANNOT believe those words are coming from me, but I tried to watch a movie in there the other day, and it was too far away to see well.

After I got my desk moved, I realized that the shutters on the kitchen window (previously the outdoor window, but since the addition, a pass-through to the "study") really bugged me. So I took them down. Then I kept going and took down a bi-fold door between the hall and the family room, that made it hard to carry a laundry basket. Gone. Up in the attic!

Now, I'm going to make a cup of tea, sit down, and watch American Idol.

Yes, American Idol.

Can't help it--it's like the scene of an accident. I can't tear my eyes away.

Fifteen bucks...

This was the some of the best 15 bucks I've ever spent!

Opelika

Yeah, it's a word. It's in Alabama; it's where I meet the kids' dad to drop them off to him and pick them up. It's the halfway point between my house and his. Cruising at 77 miles per hour, while hoping the GA state troopers don't take 65 all that seriously, it takes just under 90 minutes, one way. With a bathroom break/coffee order at the 24-hour Starbucks (go figure!), it's still about a 3 1/2 hour project, at least. And that happens on the Friday, then again on the Sunday. So it ain't fun.

Someone reported to me that a relative of theirs speculated on what I'm doing over here in Georgia, and why didn't I move to Alabama to be closer to my ex so that he could help me with the kids. My somewhat repulsed response was, "Has she BEEN to Alabama?!?" Now, I'm not knocking Big Al; I'm sure there are all kinds of redeeming qualities there, or someone wouldn't have written the song. I guess I just haven't had opportunity to witness same.

I'm telling you: you cross the line into Alabama, and the drivers get weird. They just do. They don't know how to speed up to merge, and will HONK at you for not slamming on your brakes to let them in. No, sweetie--you have to speed up to the flow of traffic. They don't know what "slower traffic keep right" means. They will pull out onto a highway where everyone is zipping along at 65-70, and drop in front of you at 45, when they could have very well have gone over into the right lane. By the way they drive, I'd swear they're all octagenarians from Sarasota, but I see that they are not.

This past Friday, 5 minutes after we crossed the state line, some guy did something out-of-the-"where-the-sky-is-so-blue"-stupid, and as I downshifted and slammed on my brakes, I yelled, "I don't LIKE Alabama!", which cracked my daughter up. I can't explain it, but as soon as you get on the 280 east and cross BACK into Georgia, people drive normal again. Another cultural phenomenon? I don't know. But I have done 8 trips, now, and it's the same every time. I have been making a list of why I find I like it here in Georgia, and now I have the beginnings of a list of why I don't think I'd make it in Alabama. The perpetual road rage wouldn't be worth it--3 times a month is enough!

You don't say...

There are days like this:

I know, because I have them all the time.


Today wasn't so bad, though (well, except for paying the babysitter MORE than I made at work). I have been wondering the past few days when to give notice at my retail job, ever since learning that the insurance job PROBABLY will be coming through. I was thinking about that this morning, while it was just the manager and I opening the building, getting ready for the day.
Mike turned to me and said, "Listen I gotta talk to you,". I thought, "Oh, bother," figuring I was going to get reemed for skipping work for that funeral yesterday. Maybe I wouldn't NEED to give notice...


But he said, "What kind of availability can you give me?"


I asked, "What do you mean, exactly?"


He went on to explain that he wants to make some changes in the building, and because I'm certified in a particular position from my other store, he wants to give me that job... which is full time, Mon-Fri, and includes benefits. The glitch is that I'd have to work 7 am - 4 pm. The 4 pm is not a problem, but there's no way I can leave for work at 6:30 am. The girl child might be able to get herself to school, but the boy? The elementary school is 10 miles away. I'd have to put him in before AND after school care! And get him there at 6:00 every morning?!? Meaning get UP at 5:00? UGH!!!


Now, I appreciate that he gave me a chance and took my transfer, which he didn't have to do. And I'm glad that he's pleased enough with my performance after a month to offer me a full-time position, and IF I could work out the childcare, it would be what I need to keep the wolf from the door...


...but if that insurance job comes through, right here in town, no commuting 250 miles a week, and being that it's NOT RETAIL... I mean, c'mon. I'm over 40 years old. How long do I want to climb up and down ladders wearing an apron, with a pricing gun in my hand, counting whisks, escorting customers to the Mighty Mend-it, and explaining the features and benefits of various personal depilitators?


(I don't want a lot of shocked emails; go look up the word, "depilitator", if necessary).


Anyway, the answer is that, while I COULD take Mike up on his offer (IF I could figure out the details), do I really WANT to? Well, hell to the no. I WOULD, if I had to, but I find it interesting that this offer comes on the heels of a well-respected business right here in my own town indicating that they will "definitely" have something for me, soon. So I don't know what to do. I truly wish I could never ring another return of another duvet with another mysterious stain on it (oh, it happens. I'm about tired of pillows being returned with body hair in the packaging!). I truly have had it with people and their bringing back icky used things.


I don't want to give Mike the idea that I'm going to take the job, and him start making plans and adjustments, if indeed I'm going to bail on him after the first of the month. I wouldn't take the position, only to dump it back in their laps and make them start all over. But what if the insurance thing DOESN'T come through? It really sounds like it will, though.


The boon here is that there's, "... no emergency...". I am supposed to, "...see what I can do..." about being able to get there by 7:00 every morning. Frankly, I don't see how that's possible.


But interesting that I've got the offer on the table... stay tuned...

Nice day for a funeral...

Today I attended the funeral of my next door neighbor, Mr. Lanyon. I never met him; he was already in a care facility when I moved in, here. But, being that the family is now technically my next door neighbor, it was suggested to me that I might attend the funeral and pay my respects to them, which I did.


With the exception of the teenage granddaughter, I was by far the youngest person there. It was interesting to note that for the majority of us there, it was simply a matter of form, standing out there around the seated family. And it was also interesting to me that, despite the fact that there were at least a dozen empty chairs behind the relatives, and some of the eldest attendees were barely upright on their own, none of the tri-pod tribe availed themselves of the extra seating. Bad form, I guess.


In addition to meeting the daughter of the deceased, I was also introduced to several people from the community, who now know who I am and where I live. Which was kind of the point of my going to the funeral in the first place: to establish that I am becoming a part of the community, and taking my part in it.


In fact, I played hookey from work to be there this morning, and I have to say that compared to ringing yet another return of The Man Groomer, or whatever ill-advised Christmas gifts people want rid of, spending a beautiful winter's morning performing a social ritual, exploring amongst the gravestones, and contemplating the meaning of life was a damn site more enjoyable. I need to learn not to wear pumps to the cemetary, but other than that, it wasn't a bad way to spend a morning.


Plus, I got lunch out of it! Heh. :)

It's Coming Together!

I got this chair for my bedroom. This is really what started it. JT was in the book room watching cartoons. AJ was in the family room watching rubbish. I was talking to a friend on the phone. I was wandering around the house, finding NOWHERE to SIT. The front room was empty. I guess I could have sat at the dining room table, but I didn't think of it. I ended up laying down on my bed, which is not a bad thing, but one likes to have options. I thought, I need someplace to sit in here, and I have GOT to make that front room functional!


I moved this hutch into the dining room; it's part curio cabinet, but it also houses my grandmother's china, so it made more sense to me that it go in the dining room, and it feel right on that wall, to me. Still need to hang the kids' artwork. You can't see the other sunflower, but each of the kids, at different times, brought home a sunflower art piece, so I had them framed similarly. You know that question, "If your house was on fire, what would you grab?" I'd grab these.



This is my new sofa. I was really only looking for a loveseat for this space, but this baby was "slightly damaged", and was a steal! I asked to see the damage; the delivery guys had accidentally slashed the fabric wa-a-y back on the side of that far armrest. Their upholsterer stitched it up like magic; I'd sure never notice it! It's a darn nice sofa, and they charged me less than some of the not-as-nice loveseats! That is the window that I placed these club chairs to view. I love these chairs. These are the ones I dragged from the family room, where they didn't fit right with the sofa.





I also got this coffee table with a set of two end tables. Actually, the budget was blown on seating; the tables are flat-pack assembly-required from Fred's, and cost almost nothing. But they're might sturdy pieces! One of them is going to be pressed into service for a digital tv that I'm going to break down and buy, eventually. If the cable goes out in a catastrophe, I want to be able to get SOME reception. We already had that little ottoman, but it goes with the dark pieces.



Speaking of dark pieces, I got these barrel chairs to replace the giant club chairs that moved into the room above. With this sofa, those brown chairs JUST wouldn't fit right, no matter what I did. But having just the sofa in the family room was ridiculous; there simply wasn't enough seating. And you don't always WANT to sit on the sofa, and if someone's laying down, etc... These chairs have a much smaller profile, but with the ottoman (again, already owned), they are as comfortable as the club chairs. I know, because I tested out the one on the left tonight, watching "Raising Helen". This is a weird-shaped room, and I had trouble figuring out where stuff works. My poor kids would go get the mail, come back, and another room would be different again! But I think I've got it figured out, now!

This. This is the "book room", as JT calls it. There are bean bags. That's about it. I have some plans, if I end up buying this house, to convert it into at least an awesome guest room, but at some point, I may consider making it into a functional studio apartment, and rent it out. But for right now, it's essentially a rumpus room.

I have a table set up in here that "could" be a scrap table, but I haven't used it, yet. If I give up this room to convert it, I think I can get my scrapping stuff into the whatever-the-room-is-where-my-desk-and-breakfast-table-are. People would just have to eat their Cheerios at the dining room table. Or in front of the tv, which is more likely, if we're being honest!

A very b-b-blustery day!

It's the perfect day today to sit in the warm house and listen to the wind rage outside, and watch the dark clouds lumber by!

So here's what it really looks like, around here. You can see that some of the trees are green year-round, the pine-ish ones, but there are lot of trees that lose their leaves, too. Mine are all the balding kind, but they looked amazing during the fall. I can't wait to see them in spring and summer!

I even rearranged some furniture so that I can sit in my favorite chair and watch the sky out the front window. It's fun to watch the squirrels scurrying around, trying to beat some internal time-clock they've got going on.

Speaking of furniture, it was an interesting thing, what happened yesterday.

I had just come to the conclusion that there was nothing wrong with taking a sabbatical from worrying about stuff, at least until the school year is out in May. That's when I have to decide if I'm going to buy this house or not, but in the meantime, I really can just relax and see what's what. We have a snug house, food on the table, nice schools, and time to adjust to it all.

One of the things that I felt relieved about, too, was that I found out that I can keep my COBRA through my ex-husband's new insurance. With that, and realizing that there is no reason to panic right now, I was breathing easier.

Coincidentally, yesterday I went to the bank to have my CA accounts transferred here, and I found I'd made a certain amount of interest. I decided that the front room being empty and unused bugged me, so I took that little bit of interest, and went to the furniture store to see what I could do with it. I actually did very well for my money, and found several things that this house needed. I came home and started rearranging rooms, feeling more and more comfortable with how the place is shaping up. I was looking forward to the next couple months, just puttering around and tweaking stuff until it feels right...

...when the phone rang. It was my friend, with the great news that the insurance job, evidently, WILL be a reality around the end of the month. Isn't it funny that the DAY after I decided to let go of worrying for a while, the source of worry is alleviated for me?

There are a few things to figure out. JT will need after school care, so I have to call around the places near his school and find one that picks them up. I'lll need an office wardrobe, but that's not too difficult. I'm a little concerned about AJ coming home to an empty house every day, so I hope to find something for her to do. I may ask the neighbor lady, a single older gal, if she needs anything done around her house. She could "hire" AJ to putter around her house, but I'd be providing the paycheck. Neighbor gets free puttering, AJ is kept occupied after school and makes some money.

It will take some getting used to, being in an office all day every day again; I haven't done that since about 1989. I'm very much hoping and praying that I prove myself able to do the job. So there are some details to work on, but all in all, this is a very good sign!

My bestest friend here made a "Gee-Whiz" follow-up call to a friend of his, who had interviewed me a little over 2 months ago for a job in her insurance office. I'd checked back twice, but never heard anything too promising. I've been applying other places in the meantime, with no results, and I was starting to feel a little desperate.

The other day, we got to talking about it, my friend and I, and we decided that there's nothing wrong with taking a breather. A LOT has happened in this past year, of course. We looked at my situation and realized that there is NO wolf at my door, and I have time to let the dust settle. So I determined to just relax and go with the flow for a while.

BUT, just to be on the proactive side, a friendly "How are you?" call was made, not specifically on my behalf, but my name was, y'know...mentioned casually. "Are you still planning on putting that new program in place? Will you still be looking for extra help with that, or no?"

The upshot of it is that, according to what we understand, that the insurance office WILL be needing me, sometime after the end of this month. Full-time, benefits, 9-5 M-F, no weekends.

God is good!

I love Happy Bunny! Except I don't think it's cute what I did this morning!

I set the alarm in plenty of time to get MYSELF to WORK, but forgot that JT had school (the high school is out today). We scrambled to get ready and get out the door, no coffee, JT didn't brush his hair, nothing. Did I mention his school is 10 miles away? I'd still have to walk him to the office and sign him in.

We got all the way there, and... you guessed it.

No school for him, either!

WHY DIDN'T I CHECK?!? JT said, "I'm sorry," as though it were his fault.

"No, honey, this is Mommy's fault," I told him, as I headed BACK toward the house.

I called work and told them what happened. Unfortunately, another gal called out this morning, too, or they probably would have told me to just stay home. I came home, got JT some breakfast, poured a cup of the coffee I was lacking (which I'm enjoying now), and called work and told them I'd be there in an hour. I'll stay late to make up for it.

Happy Monday. Jeez.

What's your best Monday story? You know--when things just DON'T go right? I want to hear them!