Thank God, It's Almost Over!

Can I just say how glad I am that this month is just about over?? I mean, seriously, this has been like the WORST month ever!

Why, you ask?

Okay, first there was the sinus infection. That wasn't pleasant. Then it was the strep throat. I am having some major neck and shoulder issues from being at the computer all day long, too. It's all making me feel very, very old. Then there was the three-day-car-repair extravaganza. Did I not blog about that one? Frank's van broke down two weeks ago and we thought it was merely a broken belt which would have been a quick fix. But this is us that we are dealing with and so of course it wasn't just that. We have AAA which we could have used to get the car towed to our house but the registration wasn't up to date and so we had to take care of that BEFORE we could tow the car. Once that got resolved, it was the next day, and we find out that it is not just the belt but also the water pump. Poor Frank worked like a fiend for a total of three days because numerous obstacles kept coming up.

Now add to all of that that as of this posting, he has been out of work for a little over two weeks. The savings are all gone. I'm still unemployed, my birthday is in two days and Christmas is around the corner. How much is my birthday going to suck? A WHOLE LOT!! I don't ever want to do much to begin with, but I do appreciate not having to cook on my special day (or at least have something better than Burger King!). I haven't begun to Christmas shop because there is no money and I am just ready to be done.

Then there was losing Collette. I was sitting at church today and I just sobbed the entire time that the music played because she was on my mind and all I could think was that she was up in heaven now, hopefully watching over us, and know how much we miss her. I lost two amazing women this year and I just can't seem to wrap my heart around it and not be so sad.

And then there was the computer crashing. Oh, it's up and running and all that but it's still not quite right. I'm going to try and get some more work done on it again this week to tweak all of the programs that are still acting a little floopy and it's made my life a little more complicated.

Oh, and did I mention that I heard Nick calling his girlfriend's mom "mom"? I mean, why not just get a rusty carving knife that just cut up some raw chicken and stab me in the heart!! Honestly, I died a little bit when I heard him say it!

So be GONE November! I am so done with you!! I just want, no NEED some good news!

*Today's Examiner.com article is on educational programs at the park. You can read it HERE. Thanks!*

Welcome to My World...

There is so much going on in our lives right now that my head is spinning. None of it is HUGE, per se, but it's just a lot. For example, Nick leaves for his mountains trip on Monday. Today is Saturday. I am standing back and watching him pack and trying to not get overly mom-like and nag him about what he needs to have with him and the importance of personal hygiene. He's going to be gone for 9 days. I have to admit, for all of my worrying, I'm a little bit giddy at the thought of there might being a night or two that Michael can sleep out and Frank and I could have some time alone! Woo-hoo!

I am heading up the graduation committee for our homeschool group this year. I decided to do this mainly because I want to make sure that my son has an amazing graduation ceremony that he will actually look back on and smile about. I graduated with like 300 people. We sat on a hot football field, I sat next to people that I couldn't stand, you waited for your name to be called, walked across a stage and then sat until the other 299 names were called. I don't have any fond memories of that day...well, I should say that. I do have a great picture of my grandmother from my party later on that day and she was laughing and having a great time and she's wearing my graduation cap. I love that picture!

But here's the thing with the graduation committee...I wanted to make sure that I was actively involved so that this wasn't turned in to some dorky program. One year there was talk of the graduates walking in carrying their families bible verse. I'm sorry, but no. That is not going to happen on my watch. I think that would be sweet at a kindergarten graduation, but not a high school one. So I'm getting the names of the graduates, I've found a facility for us to meet at (I originally wanted it at my home but we had a bigger turnout that I could possibly fit!) and I got the binder with all of the instructions. Here's the fly in my ointment, there is someone that is coming to this meeting with her child who I just do NOT want to work with. I knew there was a chance of having to work with people that we don't click with but this individual just really, REALLY rubs me the wrong way. For you long-time readers of All-Stace you'll remember the boy with the knife at the bookstore? Yea, he and his mom will be on my committee. There he'll be, in all his knife glory and there's not a thing I can do about it. Pray that this goes well. Because if the way she responded to that incident are any indication of how she'll be on a committee, we're all in trouble. That meeting is Monday. Yikes.

Work is still scarce for Frank and I am starting to go in to panic mode. I don't like feeling that way at all but I cannot help it. I want to yell, scream and wail but I know it won't do any good. I, on the other hand, am looking at several options for freelance writing and while I know it won't make me rich, they could pan out to keep our heads above water. I'll give you more details on that as I learn more about it.

Well, I'm off to begin my day. Michael has a birthday party to go to for a new classmate. We've got packing to work on and my laundry pile is starting to look ominous! Wish me luck...