na-dir [na-deer]: 1350-1400 ME; –noun
1. Astronomy. the point on the celestial sphere directly beneath a given position or observer and diametrically opposite the zenith.
2. Astrology. the point of a horoscope opposite the midheaven: the cusp of the fourth house.
3. The lowest point; point of greatest adversity or despair.
Confession: I stayed in my pajamas and bathrobe until almost 3pm. This was after my mom came over to visit and my daughter brought her family over to visit and consult on the cabana construction. I played video games most of the day, and squeezed in a minimal amount of housework in between playing and filing my unemployment.
Is this the low point? It really wasn't that bad, though I was trying to chase dark thoughts from my head all day. I finally had a nice dinner out with the hubby and spent the evening cuddled up on the couch watching TV, then went to bed. But at 2:30, I was awakened by the sound of the water running in the kids bathtub. I investigated and found my son washing his feet in the tub. He snapped his head around at my query and told me he'd gotten splashed on when plunging the toilet to clear the clog. Which had been there since Sunday morning. When my father-in-law left to go home. Can you say "Ewww!"? So I left the boy-man to his ministrations, and went back to bed. Tossed, turned, cuddled, tossed some more... My mind by this time was whirling with angry thoughts toward my son and his wife and they way they are taking advantage of our hospitality. That's why I'm now awake at 3:30 in the morning writing in my blog. Gotta get it out of my head!
But now it is Tuesday... time to go back to bed.
Tuesday
Wednesday
Monday
Wow - Another Monday!
Another Monday has crept up on me when I wasn't looking. A friend had to remind me that I hadn't posted my Monday update, so sorry, all you fans out there in the cyber world!
I'm really getting used to not getting up and going to work. Sleeping in until 7 or 8 in the morning, having a cup of tea with the newspaper, petting the cat and eating some breakfast, catching up with Facebook... this is now my morning routine. Sometimes it lasts until 10 or 11 - in the morning, of course! It's going to difficult to get back into a decent frame of mind for working again when something finally comes along. Bummer :)
Had a really busy weekend - didn't think about employment once! Saturday was filled with gardening and hardscape construction. We are finally working on building the walkway/stairway
from the deck level of the new house to the lower yard level along the creek. Over the two days, we cut in four steps, after much "negotiation" on the engineering and construction techniques. Fortunately, Scott and I learned the art of compromise very early in our marriage, which is probably why we have stayed together for over 28 years! It was a beautiful weekend, warm during the day and chilly at night - perfect for working outdoors! Not only were we able to make that progress, Rich came and started laying floor beams for the waterfront cabana. After months and months of planning, measuring, estimating, waiting for funding, and "negotiating" the plans (again with the negotiating...) we had trenches dug for the footings and our son-in-law poured the footings, set the pier blocks, and with Scott's help, shot the measurements for the floor beams. Next step is rolling the floor joists and backfilling the footings. We should have a shell in a couple weeks! It's very exciting - I will be sure to post some pictures of the progress from time to time. I haven't taken any yet - usually when I'm down there, I'm covered in dirt :)
Michael heads back to Afghanistan on Wednesday after a nice 15-day visit. He'll be gone for another 8 months or so. He's spent a lot of time at his favorite watering hole, singing karaoke until the wee hours and hanging out with his buddies. We will sure miss him when he's gone again - our little soldier boy is such a goofball and so much fun to be around. Keep him in your prayers while he is in harm's way over in the desert.
We had quite a runaround on Sunday - My sister, Carolyn, came down from Vancouver BC for the day - she wanted to visit with Michael before he redeployed. But Michael was visiting with one of his Army buddies across town - and planning to visit with his daughter in the afternoon. So, Rich came over early with Anita and baby Griffin so he could work on the cabana and Anita and Griff could visit with everyone. Erick and Liz took baby Aeries to the fair with Liz' uncle and grandma, and Michael went to his friend's place after church. Carolyn made it to mom's next door and had some lunch while we finished up with the landscaping, and Rich finished for the day and took off to help his uncle move. Then Mom, Carolyn and I took Anita & Griffin home around 2, then headed over to Rannen's home to hook up with Michael during his visitation. Around 4, we picked up Scott and went into Seattle to meet my brother Tom & his g/f Miho for dinner and more visiting while Carolyn was in town. Carolyn had to leave during dinner to catch her train, Tom & Miho headed home after our meal, then Scott, Mom & I went to see Carol Burnette at McCaw Hall! Carol's show was a hoot - a mixture of old clips from her show and Q & A time with the audience. She even did her Tarzan yell! It was a pleasant way to end a busy day, and a busy week. No wonder I was surprised to find Monday rolling around again...
Enjoy your week, and I will press on with mine!
I'm really getting used to not getting up and going to work. Sleeping in until 7 or 8 in the morning, having a cup of tea with the newspaper, petting the cat and eating some breakfast, catching up with Facebook... this is now my morning routine. Sometimes it lasts until 10 or 11 - in the morning, of course! It's going to difficult to get back into a decent frame of mind for working again when something finally comes along. Bummer :)
Had a really busy weekend - didn't think about employment once! Saturday was filled with gardening and hardscape construction. We are finally working on building the walkway/stairway
from the deck level of the new house to the lower yard level along the creek. Over the two days, we cut in four steps, after much "negotiation" on the engineering and construction techniques. Fortunately, Scott and I learned the art of compromise very early in our marriage, which is probably why we have stayed together for over 28 years! It was a beautiful weekend, warm during the day and chilly at night - perfect for working outdoors! Not only were we able to make that progress, Rich came and started laying floor beams for the waterfront cabana. After months and months of planning, measuring, estimating, waiting for funding, and "negotiating" the plans (again with the negotiating...) we had trenches dug for the footings and our son-in-law poured the footings, set the pier blocks, and with Scott's help, shot the measurements for the floor beams. Next step is rolling the floor joists and backfilling the footings. We should have a shell in a couple weeks! It's very exciting - I will be sure to post some pictures of the progress from time to time. I haven't taken any yet - usually when I'm down there, I'm covered in dirt :)Michael heads back to Afghanistan on Wednesday after a nice 15-day visit. He'll be gone for another 8 months or so. He's spent a lot of time at his favorite watering hole, singing karaoke until the wee hours and hanging out with his buddies. We will sure miss him when he's gone again - our little soldier boy is such a goofball and so much fun to be around. Keep him in your prayers while he is in harm's way over in the desert.
We had quite a runaround on Sunday - My sister, Carolyn, came down from Vancouver BC for the day - she wanted to visit with Michael before he redeployed. But Michael was visiting with one of his Army buddies across town - and planning to visit with his daughter in the afternoon. So, Rich came over early with Anita and baby Griffin so he could work on the cabana and Anita and Griff could visit with everyone. Erick and Liz took baby Aeries to the fair with Liz' uncle and grandma, and Michael went to his friend's place after church. Carolyn made it to mom's next door and had some lunch while we finished up with the landscaping, and Rich finished for the day and took off to help his uncle move. Then Mom, Carolyn and I took Anita & Griffin home around 2, then headed over to Rannen's home to hook up with Michael during his visitation. Around 4, we picked up Scott and went into Seattle to meet my brother Tom & his g/f Miho for dinner and more visiting while Carolyn was in town. Carolyn had to leave during dinner to catch her train, Tom & Miho headed home after our meal, then Scott, Mom & I went to see Carol Burnette at McCaw Hall! Carol's show was a hoot - a mixture of old clips from her show and Q & A time with the audience. She even did her Tarzan yell! It was a pleasant way to end a busy day, and a busy week. No wonder I was surprised to find Monday rolling around again...
Enjoy your week, and I will press on with mine!
Yikes!
This morning started with a nosebleed! (sorry - no photos...)
Fortunately, it ended pretty quickly, with no other casualties!
Another Monday, and no new job, or offers, or anything. It's a beautiful day, though, and I believe I will get something done in the yard. Hopefully my son and his wife will get some housework done also, like they agreed to do when we allowed them to stay here.
So, we put together a rental agreement, and they have yet to agree to it! How do you boot out your non-compliant adult kid and his wife when they have a darling baby girl who will assuredly suffer if they take her also? I say: IF, because we have offered to keep her here until they get on their feet somewhere else. They (naturally) did not find that offer attractive... however practical it may be.
We ask them to keep their room tidy, and currently their piles of clothing, etc. are not only obliterating the floor in their room, they are spilling out into the hallway and the "spare" room next door. Perhaps I will offer to throw away anything that ends up in the hall. But of course, that will only spark strife, and I can't take any more of that. I like a peaceful house.
So here's a questions: Am I trading cleanliness for peace? Is that a reasonable trade?
Maybe I will post some pictures of their mess, just to memorialize it! On day, I am sure they will "grow up" and realize they can't live like that - that it is an unhealthy environment for them AND their daughter.
Arggh! Sometimes it is so frustrating! I am looking for suggestions from all you readers out there (both of you)... and something more practical than "Put your big girl panties on and show them the door!" Tough love is tougher than it sounds....
Fortunately, it ended pretty quickly, with no other casualties!
Another Monday, and no new job, or offers, or anything. It's a beautiful day, though, and I believe I will get something done in the yard. Hopefully my son and his wife will get some housework done also, like they agreed to do when we allowed them to stay here.
So, we put together a rental agreement, and they have yet to agree to it! How do you boot out your non-compliant adult kid and his wife when they have a darling baby girl who will assuredly suffer if they take her also? I say: IF, because we have offered to keep her here until they get on their feet somewhere else. They (naturally) did not find that offer attractive... however practical it may be.
We ask them to keep their room tidy, and currently their piles of clothing, etc. are not only obliterating the floor in their room, they are spilling out into the hallway and the "spare" room next door. Perhaps I will offer to throw away anything that ends up in the hall. But of course, that will only spark strife, and I can't take any more of that. I like a peaceful house.
So here's a questions: Am I trading cleanliness for peace? Is that a reasonable trade?
Maybe I will post some pictures of their mess, just to memorialize it! On day, I am sure they will "grow up" and realize they can't live like that - that it is an unhealthy environment for them AND their daughter.
Arggh! Sometimes it is so frustrating! I am looking for suggestions from all you readers out there (both of you)... and something more practical than "Put your big girl panties on and show them the door!" Tough love is tougher than it sounds....
Melancholy Monday
This is my sixth Monday since the layoff.
Focusing on the positive has got to become a standard practice for me again! I have to take charge of my situation - I can't keep wallowing in self-pity and self-aggrandizement. (Of course, the office will do fine. Nobody is indispensable. I was not the only one there who was capable of excellence...) Pulling myself up by the bootstraps has to become a daily workout! I will get through this and come out a better person with more appreciation for al the wonderful gifts God has given me in this life, and not worry about those that have been lost. Even the things in my past have given me lessons and memories that will last a lifetime! Looking for the silver lining has got to become second-nature for me.
I woke up feeling empty and lost - again. I though I was over this phase... But I started thinking about work and the ladies who are still there. I know today is a heavy workload, being the Monday after the 10th of the month. I started wondering who was doing which tasks - Are they overwhelmed? Are they having a hard time juggling priorities? Is someone doing my old tasks - and are they doing them well? Will the work be done on time? Which deadlines will slip? etc, etc, etc.....
I had thought I was past this phase - but then I recall some old psychology class lesson on the impact of "life-changing situations," including death in the family, moving, and job loss/change. The full impact is sometimes not felt for 6 months. Your mind stays in a state of shock so that the person can continue to function while gradually absorbing the impact of the "life change." I sure don't want to feel this way for 6 months!
Focusing on the positive has got to become a standard practice for me again! I have to take charge of my situation - I can't keep wallowing in self-pity and self-aggrandizement. (Of course, the office will do fine. Nobody is indispensable. I was not the only one there who was capable of excellence...) Pulling myself up by the bootstraps has to become a daily workout! I will get through this and come out a better person with more appreciation for al the wonderful gifts God has given me in this life, and not worry about those that have been lost. Even the things in my past have given me lessons and memories that will last a lifetime! Looking for the silver lining has got to become second-nature for me.Then - out of the blue - my younger son called from Dallas... Yes, Dallas! He has been on deployment in Afghanistan, and we knew he was due to have leave this month, but did not know the exact dates. He will be home today! We will get him for two weeks before he has to go back - it will be a joyous time for sure. And a little difficult too. I have been handling his finances in his absence, and I have got to make him understand how broke he really is. My boys both have a really difficult time comprehending finances. They both crave instant gratification, and will spend every penny in their pocket without regard to upcoming bills. It's a really difficult lesson for them - especially since the poor impulse control they have is directly tied to their ADHD. Still, today will be a good day after all!
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