More Vlogs Posts at 2nd Cup of Coffeea few notes about my vlogging experience:
purrrdeeee
Have a wonderful Sunday with your family. I will.
Dear Levis (and other jean manufacturers),
I am an average woman of average height with an average figure that
wears an average size.
I don't wear support underwear -yet. I don't wear a thing. I save my
floss for my teeth. Nor do I wear granny panties. But underwear, it's
not my problem.
My problem is that I have worn many styles of jeans in my life. The
550s on me now have been good to me. They're cut to fit me
comfortably. They're the right length, without needing to be hemmed.
My issue us with your decision to include Spandex or Lycra or Stretchy
Thread Of The Year in this style.
Here's how itworks for me...
I dress in my clean jeans. They're a little snug, as is SOP with
Freshly Washed Jeans. I squat and twist and they become tolerably Not
As Tight.
I wear these jeans all day, as they are an integral part of my Uniform.
After 5 or 6 hours wear, I am forced to hitch them up a little so as
to not reveal the color of my Barely Theres.
At the end of my long workday, I am aware that my jeans are barely
hanging on my hips. And everyone knows my Barely Theres are blue.
Please tell me the purpose of Stretchy Thread Of The Year. Cuz if its
to make my jeans a little more comfortable when I first put them on,
no thank you.
I don't want anything special. I just want my jeans to not outgrow me
over the span of one day.
Thankyouverymuch,
Keri
#1 - I’m trying to be optimistic about my first 10 days without The Mighty Hunter, but realism keeps whispering to me that I’m gonna be a little overwhelmed and it will be ok if I yell a little and run late for soccer games and don’t get the oil changed in my van and we eat only fish sticks and hot dogs and crackers and Sprite. My kids will still love me and I’ll still love them and there will be more soccer games and fish is good for their little brains.
#2 - (while watching Stinkerbell and friends ride the Tilt-A-Whirl at the county fair tonight) "I used to love this ride. But since I had children, my equilibrium has changed. I never would have thought my inner ear is connected to my uterus, but, sure 'nuf, it is!"
We slept late.
We snuggled and tickled and giggled and made a tent with the sheets.
We took pictures of Lucky in a pair of Liberty overalls that had been
mine when I was 4! (he is 20 months-almost.)
We took pictures of Jake, the Lickingest Dog in the World.
We printed them and entered them in our county fair. (Stinkerbell took
the pics, so SHE entered them.)
We returned our video camera for service - again.
We ate the Never-ending Pasta Bowl and a piece of cheesecake.
We got The Mighty Hunter some new clothes.
We all showered - separately, much to The Mighty Hunter's dismay.
We had a good time.
It was a good day.
A beautiful day.
A peaceful day.
God's day.
Sent from my iPhone... Cuz I'm cool like that.
Look over to the left and click on my Etsy Shop link.
Go browse all my gorgeous designs.
Email this link to your friends www.keriscarddesigns.etsy.com
Email me with your heart's desires for your family's Christmas card designs or a special birthday party invitation design or a personalized ANYTHING design. I'll create something unique for whatever you need.
Yes, it is a LITTLE early to start your Christmas card-planning. But you can make your purchase now and wait until you have the Santa pictures in hand or a little closer to December to put me to work.
The point of my "hurry up and order now" post is that my special sale expires in 11 days.
Thank you!
Today, I'm introducing a theme that will (or maybe not) be revisited from time to time here.
Keri's How To...
Today, I will enlighten you on How To NOT Get A Job With Benefits and Good Salary
A friend that worked for The Mighty Hunter had interviewed for this same position and would have been offered the job had she not accepted a job at a local attorney's office. So, I had a little insight into the job and the interview process, etc. before I was even contacted to schedule an interview.
A quick phone interview with the HR Gal happened Monday. During it, she said that she would take her notes to the VP and, depending on his interest, she would schedule a personal interview. Later that day, I got the call asking for the personal interview.
"Be here at 8, please. From 8-8:30, you will fill out the application. 8:30-9, I will meet with you. 9-10, you will be interviewed by the Dir of Marketing. 10-11, you will be interviewed by the VP."
I was aware of the length of the interview process already and thought it ridiculous.
With the life changes we are currently handling, The Mighty Hunter and I talked about the job a lot. We discussed the salary requirements that would justify my putting Lucky in daycare and arranging after-school care for Stinkerbell. Plus the housekeeping help I'd have to have and extra expenses for simply not being at home as much.
We picked a number. We both knew it was high for the job. We both knew they'd probably say "soooooorrreeeeee." We both were ok with that.
But if they want ME, they're gonna have to pay me enough so that I can justify leaving my children right now. And because of the tumult and stress Stinkerbell is experiencing, it would have to be what we consider a lot.
I completed their application.
I met with HR Gal. She asked a question about my most recent salary, which naturally led to my salary requirements.
"Sorry to waste your time."
So, I'm still "unemployed." And, interestingly, I'm relieved about it.
We decided that Sunday was to be the day to tell Stinkerbell about The Mighty Hunter's new job.
oops! I think I forgot to mention that he has a new job.
Well, the Major Insurance Company wants him back. He will be handling catastrophe claims of all kinds. The money is close to what he made running our company. The caveat is that the job is not HERE. The work requires him to travel.
And that just plain sucks. There's not a delicate, lady-like way to express how I feel about it. So, there.
The travel is not horrible though. He will work 10 days and have 4 days off. His travel to and from home for those 4 days is paid for by the Company, and he travels on a work day. He will get lots of expenses paid by the Company (including laundry service!!) He will have earned 4 paid off days by the end of this year - hopefully he can use them at Christmas.
Yes, his schedule puts him at work the days around Christmas.
More sucking.
So, Saturday, Stinkerbell AND Lucky spent the night at my parents. Lucky had never stayed away from me for more than a few hours - without having his dad around at least. So, he stayed with them and did really well.
Sunday, we finished weeding and mulching and pruning and other horribly evil chores that I haven't done all summer. The yard looks great, by the way. My hands, however, are killing me!
After the yardwork was done, I fetched the kiddos and braced myself for the inevitable tears that would come from the news that she would soon hear.
And they came. She tried to be strong and brave. She expressed her feelings without getting terribly upset. Her daddy held her close and reassured her the only way he could. I sat on the couch and cried and tried to find some bright lining to this dark cloud.
The rest of the day wasn't filled with tears, though. We played and goofed off and ate dinner with Carl and Bev.
At bedtime, I always lie with her while she prays, then I tell her "how to go to sleep" and sing my "Mommy loves you" song. I spent a little extra time with her, just being quiet.
"Mommy, why does Daddy have to leave?"
platitudes and "God has called him to this work" and "he gets to help people" and "it will be ok."
"Mommy, will you pray for me?"
Now, she has asked me to pray for her before, meaning: "say my prayers for me, my throat hurts/I'm too tired/I like to hear you pray sometimes." But tonight, I realized she needed prayers and was aware of the fact that she needed prayers.
So, I prayed FOR her. And we both cried some more. And The Mighty Hunter came in the room and held her and talked to her until she was through crying for the night and went to sleep.
Fridady was our 16th anniversary. I had planned to get a hotel room and baby sitters and spend the day incommunicado and nakey with him. We will do this another day. The Mighty Hunter did 2 phone interviews for a new job (hoping for an offer next week) and his brother and sister-in-law visited and we cooked shrimp and chicken fajitas. BTW, I rock shrimp and chicken fajitas!
...In a beautiful, pastoral land there was a gal who loved Auburn University. She dreamed of walking the peaceful, tree-lined sidewalks from building to building in search of an education that would equip her with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in her adult life. She fantasized about the fantastic, exciting career she would have in some cool Big City, where she owned a tastefully decorated apartment complete with the sounds of Mozart playing through her BOSE at all hours. And when Mozart was a little too relaxing, then the Black Crowes would reflect the mood change. Returning to her beautiful, pastoral homeland to visit her family, she would wave her professionally-manicured hand out the window of her Lamborghini, acknowledging that she still remembered the country folk that she left behind.
In a neighboring, equally beautiful, pastoral land, there was a young hunter who realized the need for a college education in order to not dig ditches or knit socks for the rest of his life. He dreamed of living in an area near his college of choice that would allow for him to return from class and still make it to the woods before dark to try to bag a deer. His future would certainly allow him to return to his beautiful, pastoral land and raise a family while hunting on the weekends and an annual week-long trip to some far-away hunter's paradise.
**That's all I can manage for making this into a fairy tale. I will now stop the whole narrator voice thing. You're welcome.**
The Mighty Hunter and I grew up in neighboring towns. We attended different high schools. We had never heard of each other before finishing high school.
Him, Class of 1988
Me, Class of 1989
There is a junior/community college in our area that is the easy next step after high school. You know, the Not Ready To Leave Home But Not Wanting To Get Full Time Job School. My best friend had already been at the Jr College for a year and was there with me my first day of classes.
The cafeteria/student center was the place to meet and hang out. There were always several games of Rook or Spades to watch or someone with a deck of cards in the book bag waiting for opponents and partners to waste time and/or skip class with them while they perfected their bluffing and bidding.
That first day, Tammy and I walked into the student center and looked around for a table to occupy while we waited for our classes.
At a table with 3 other guys, he was playing Rook.
"I'm going out with him"
"Yeah, he's cute."
(I realize my use of the word"cute" dates me. I'm old. I admit it. I no longer care - unless covering my gray hairs counts as caring, then in that case, I totally care.)
Within a week or two, I had managed to be dealt into a few Rook games with him. First as an opponent. Soon, we were partners.
His favorite line when he had a good hand and could carry the game without much help:
"just sit there and look pretty"
What a charmer.
Not long after our first Rook games, we had our first date. Some movie. No memory of the movie. Only memory was that he was, shall we say, "goal oriented" as only a teenage boy can be. Also, that he could kiss good. Really good.
And I wasn't interested.
A few more dates and he decided he could "accomplish" more with other girls.
We continued to play Rook as both partners and opponents. We remained friends. We enjoyed annoying each other as much as possible. We never did anything that would prevent any future romance or relationship. I might have stalked him just a little.
The school year passed. We saw each other less and less. I left Jr College and moved to AU the next fall. I marched in the AWESOMEST college marching band. I worked hard (sorta) in my classes.
Auburn is 3 hours from home - easy driving distance for a weekend at home. Yet, football games and marching band commitments kept me at school until the last weekend in October. It was then that I saw him again.
And he was wearing a brand new suede coat.
And it smelled yummy.
And he looked yummy.
And he hugged me instantly.
And later he kissed me.
And I invited him down to AU for a game.
And 2 weekends later, he came.
November 9, 1990. Our official first date this time around.
And this time it stuck.
To be continued...
My ear is ticklish...
Daddy, you don't have to squeeze my head!
Big boys with big boy haircuts...
Thank you Miss Patti!
But I may cry myself to sleep tonight...
