mermaids

My boys are not perfect, but, some days, they come awfully close.  Today is my birthday.  Since we had a delayed opening for school, the boys made breakfast for me.  Cinnamon rolls.  No, not from scratch, but they were still awfully yummy.  They made their own lunches and cleaned up the kitchen. 

For some inane reason, I accepted a subbing assignment for today, 8th grade science.  They were beyond horrible.  Okay, not all of them, not even most of them.  During the last month of school, some 8th graders totally lose their minds.  Even though I went postal on almost every class, there were a couple of bright spots.  One girl gave me hug after class.  She said, “You look like you need one today.”  Another girl said, “Thanks for being such a good sub.  They really deserved being yelled at.”  I hate yelling, but sometimes it is the only thing that works. 

After school, the boys resumed treating my like royalty.  They listened to my tales of woe for the day.  They prepared snacks and cleaned up.  They started their homework without being asked.  We planned to go out for dinner, but homework got in the way.  J had a paper to finish up and a cooking project for Health class.  Tonight, going out to dinner seemed like more work than it was worth.  I would rather wait until the weekend when we can all relax and really enjoy it. 

The geeking out of my sewing room was a combined Mother’s Day and birthday gift.  However, this morning, the boys and Hubski promised to help me with a couple of intensive cleaning/organizing projects weekend.  Crossing some onerous items off my To Do List is the best gift of all. 

With both Mother’s Day and my birthday in the same week, the guys have been fishing for gift ideas.  In reality, I am a low maintenance girl.  Lots of things catch my fancy, but I am too practical to seriously entertain the thought of ownership. 

There was lots of brainstorming.  The guys wanted to get me something really good this year.  At the electronics store, we were all salivating over the giant monitors.  J teased me that my Mr MaGoo vision makes a bigger monitor a necessity.  Thus, the idea was born.  I had no idea just how big that idea that would get. 

We looked at bigger monitors.  Hubski chimes in that I could set up my computer to have two monitors running simultaneously.  Sweet!  No more minimizing windows to work on two applications at once.  As a joke, I said our 42″ TV would make a wicked monitor.  Hubski got that glint in his eye again.  There are TV’s that can be used as computer monitors.  It is easy to switch back and forth between the two functions.  Totally sweet!

My head was spinning at this point.  I don’t even remember how it entered the conversation, but the option of a second DVR was now on the table.  Somehow we went from simply getting a larger monitor to a really big monitor/TV with a DVR.  Of course, I had to get a new graphics card to support the dual monitors.  The new graphics card is freakishly amazing.  It is dangerous to let our family loose in an electronics store. 

My old 19″ monitor is now dwarfed by an awesomely swank 23″ Sony LCD TV which is hooked up to my very own DVR.  I can tape all the craft, DIY, and sewing shows I want.  Hubski was all set to get the 32″ TV, but I just don’t have the room.  It is so cool to drag windows from one monitor to another.  Looking at Flickr photos is seriously fun on the Sony.  The resolution….there are not the words to describe it. 

I have seriously geeked out sewing room now.  I guess I owe the guys a few new shirts.

We have started using reusable shopping bags.  No, I did not make them.  Why would I when the grocery store sells them for $1 a piece?  Anyway, today I needed several plastic bags to separate some books.  Lo and behold, there were hardly any bags under the kitchen sink.  Those plastic bags come in handy once in a while.  Does it mean I’m not “green” if I occasionally “forget” my canvas bags just to replenish my supply of plastic bags?  Besides, what am I suppose to use to  line my wastebaskets? 

This green thing can be confusing at times.

It is time to finally admit that I am not a “stay at home” mom.  I work.  I have a job.  There, I said it.

The substitute teaching began as a “once in a while” thing.  A teacher was out for a few weeks due to surgery.  I agreed to cover her classes since the schedule could be arranged so I only worked half days.  The teacher never returned.  The school year ended and my name was on the sub list.

The plan was to work perhaps one or two days a week.  It would be a nice way to spend time in a classroom without the pressure of a full time job.  The extra money would be fun, too.  One or two days a week turned into three or four. 

The tipping point was the district’s decision to use a web based program for scheduling subs.  Previously, teachers had to call in requests for subs.  Requesting a particular sub was cumbersome, if not impossible.  With the new program, a teacher can see if her favorite sub is available and simply click on the sub’s name to request.  Suddenly, I was getting called every day.  Now I have teachers stopping me in the hall and requesting me weeks in advance. 

I have been in denial about my working status.  I have been trying to run the house as though I were still at home every day.  My volunteer activities have reduced only slightly.  I am operating under the premise of “Oh, I can do that tomorrow when I am not working.”  Tomorrow comes, I am working, and nothing gets done at home. 

As of Monday, I am already booked to work half of May.  It is time to adopt a new mind set.  I am a working mother.  At times, I am a working single mother thanks to Hubski’s travel schedule.  It is time reprioritize some things and rework my schedule.  I need operate under the assumption that I will be working every day.  The days that I don’t get called to work will be a bonus. 

Arlington Park by Rachel Cusk

I am dreadfully late with this review because it took forever to finish this book. It was not a “page turner” by any stretch of the imagination.  Arlington Park is yet another novel about disgruntled middle class mothers.  There was nothing new in terms of plot.  The characters lacked depth and interest. 

Quite honestly, I get tired of the whining. These women live in nice houses, have healthy children, and husbands who, while not perfect, try to provide a good life for their families.  They think their lives are boring because they have bought into the myth of “having it all.”  Motherhood is not glamorous, but it does have its rewards if one chooses to see them. 

Rachel Cusk does have a pleasing writing style.  She brings the setting vividly to life.  However, her character development is superficial.  It would be fun to see what she could do with a more interesting topic.  The story of the unhappy housewife has been done to death. 

Hubski, C, and I played Scrabble tonight….on line.  We were on three different computers in three different rooms.  Despite the geekiness of it all, we had fun.  We chatted on IM while playing, but Hubski was able to sneak in a little work between turns. I did a little organizing in my sewing room.  We tried to convince J to join in via the laptop, but he was busy reading.  Isn’t it sad that we have enough computers with access to the internet for the whole family to play at once?  Believe it or not, we do not own an actual Scrabble board.  How did that happen?  A normal family would go out and buy a game board.  I am thinking, “Why have more clutter when we can just play on line?” 

Hubski was in Asia for almost 3 weeks.  He was gone for 3 weekends, which is the part that matters to me the most.  During the week, the boys and I are busy with school and extra curricular stuff.  It’s not that we don’t miss him during the week, there is just less time to focus on missing him.  However, the weekends can be long when he is gone.  The weekends are hectic for me because, as the only person in the house with a driver’s license, I live in the car shuttling everyone where they need to be and doing all the errands.  Hubski does a lot with the boys on the weekends, so it is on the weekend that his absence is really apparent. 

During his trip, Hubski went to India, China, and Japan.  He really should start a blog of his adventures.  When he travels to these exotic locales, he has very little time for sightseeing or shopping.  He is usually there because there is a big problem to resolve or he is trying to visit as many business partners as possible.  His schedule is always overbooked, but there is always drama with international travel.  He did manage to sneak in a little fabric shopping for me.  No sari from India because he was not in the part of India where saris are worn.  :(  However, he scored some awesome silk in China.  I will post photos soon.  (Excuse for not posting photos now to follow) 

Since Hubski had been away and it is finally Spring Break at school, we decided to take a little trip at the last minute.  We had talked about it before he left, but we did not make reservations until Thursday….and we left Friday.  Can we say “last minute”?  We all needed a little family time.  There is lots to tell about our trip, but I am tired.  So, we shall play a little guessing game. 

From this photo, can you guess where we went?

By the way, our new camera totally rocks.  This photo is entirely un-photoshopped.  Yes, photoshop is now a verb.  :) 

Dear Hubski,

If Tom the GPS says, “Turn left,” you really should turn left.   Don’t try to out think it and definitely don’t try to wing it when it comes to navigation.  Really, it is not one of your strengths.

Are you ever so proud of your child that you could just burst?  The school is trying to publish the first issue of the literary magazine, but there is currently no funding for the project.  Like most schools, there aren’t little piles of cash sitting around waiting for a project.  Last night, Hubski and I were discussing the possibility of making a contribution to help cover the costs of the first issue.  C immediately offered to donate the allowance money he has saved.  We are stingy with allowance and we don’t buy them anything beyond the basics, like clothes and shoes.  New video games and such come out of their allowance or they have to wait until their birthday.  (I know, we are harsh, but those boys know the value of a dollar.)  Anyway, I was so touched that C was willing to give his cash to help the school.  What a great guy! 

So now I am torn.  I will feel bad if C gives up his cash because he gets so little.  However, it would be wonderful for him to feel the joy of giving to something he really believes in.  Here’s my plan…tell me what you think.  I have a lot of fabric that needs to be cut for the soft sculpture unit I am doing with the art teacher.  What if I “paid” him to help me (because I *will* need help) and let that be the money he donates to the literary magazine? 

C is such a compassionate and giving young man.  Makes a mama proud.

Insomnia has become my constant companion.  Last night was not too bad, only woke up three times.  I woke up at 5:30, but managed to doze off again until I heard those words no mother wants to wake up to, “Mom, sorry to disturb you, but J almost threw up twice.  I thought you might want to know.”  Instead of being a good mother who rushes to her sick child’s side, I give C instructions, “There is ginger ale in the garage.  Please give J some with crushed ice….oh, and put a bucket near him.”  I swear I actually wanted to go back to sleep, but guilt kept poking me with a sharp stick.  J was much better after some ginger ale.  No idea what made him nauseous.  Just another fun filled day in our petri dish we call home.