Been a while

My friend Charlotte observed that it's been awhile since I have blogged, and she is absolutely right and I know why--Facebook has been my undoing in that department. I am at her house now, sitting in theater style chairs watching the Hunt for Red October in Blu Ray on their enormous theater type screen. I likely feel the urge to write now because it is the first time in many many months that I have been relaxed enough to do so. Her home has become a haven--not that my home or its company is anything to run from. There however, I am faced with tasks in every corner and on every surface. It is not restful. Next week I will attack it with a fervor not seen in quite some time! My only regret is that Greg is home.

Seguing into the flow here was easier than I imagined. There was little awkwardness. I don't know why I thought it would be, perhaps because Kal is so young and before he preferred the singular company of his mom. It's hard to be near a child and not help (or touch!) . All of the children have blended in and Kal has welcomed me as a friend.

So now I am feeling spoiled and almost ready to take a deep breath and almost ready to realize I can relax some.

Update

After two weeks of not hearing anything after the test, I was sure I was getting a "thank you for applying but" letter in the mail. Got a phone call last night instead. I passed the test. Apparently the medical center has received 900 and some applications for the IS job postings and they were totally overwhelmed. But I passed the test! Next is a background check and calling my references. Then a site visit and on-site interview. In Arizona. As i look out at the snow covered landscape and get blown by the winter winds as I run errands, the thought of Arizona makes me smile. Still lots of things to happen before we decide. But I passed the test!

Took a test

And feel utterly stupid. Actually, that's not true-- not stupid, just lacking. I am in an interview process for an informatics position out of state. They are in the beginning steps of implementing Epic. In order to do so, the informaticists have to be certified in different Epic applications-- apparently the exams are quite hard. So before the prospective company moves me across country, I needed to take a proctored exam--logic, math and verbal. I am ready to cry. I got some things right but know I got alot wrong. Even the logic stuff. Had I taken that exam 20 years ago--I would've done fine. the questions required a kind of mental flexibility that has been conditioned out of me over the last fifteen years. I work, practice according to rules and regulations--think of a box. I operate in a box. Thinking outside the box labels you a disrupter, non team player and torpedos your career--which would be fine if I didn't have responsibilities--like a mortgage. Greg urges me to wait and see. Of course I will. He is extremely good at the logic and math stuff--which is even harder on my ego. I like to think of myself as smart. But I'm not as smart as I used to be. And I really wanted to be good at this and move away from this fucking place.

Winter storm advisory

Hooray! Snow!! School cancellations and sledding. I am actually happy when this happens. We are supposed to get around 4-6 inches depending on which news source you go by. It is coming down faster now (9:58 am). I love taking the kids sledding and they love to build in the snow!! They are at school for now, we'll see how it looks tomorrow!

Library trip yesterday. I am sad. Romance novels-ech--no interest anymore. I got the latest Scarpetta novel. Ech. No interest there either. Same with Margaret Maron. Hmmm. Time to start digging for some new stuff. The kids cleaned up though. One library bag is no longer going to handle it. Ryan is consuming/inhaling/absorbing dinosaur books. He is spitting out dino facts all the time--sizes, whast they ate, his favorite, his least favorite, his favorite carnivore, herbivore and omnivore. Asking about my favorite carnivore, herbivore and omnivore. Etc etc. Charlotte is fascinated by crafts and fairies. Told her no Barbie books--this did not make her happy. Capitualted on one Tinkerbell book. the librarian was helpful but most of the fairy books are chapter books and she's not ready for those. Will re-visit Real Aloud Companion for things to read to her too. She still had an armful.

Practicum for school has started. Doesn't look bad really. Wish I could be more confident about actually having a job at the network when I am done but I am not getting those warm fuzzies. So I have started looking. I haven't had to actively look for a job outside of a hospital in 15 years. I don't even want to think about interviewing. I have no idea what to ask for, what is considered appropriate. Do I stay in Dayton or move? Looking harder at Colorado since Greg's parent company is there. Wouldn't mind leaving Dayton. It is a little overwhelming.

The Wii is a hit. Love it, kids love it, Greg likes it--he is still in the take it or leave it phase. We have enough remotes now:)

Ryan is still missing his two front teeth. We were reassured by the dentist that this is normal. It's taking forever!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Well no, not really. It's getting closer (12 days left) so it should look like it. Well, it's an Ohio Christmas. Cold and wet. Must start writing the Christmas missive soon. The kiddos have one more week before their break begins and Greg's folks are coming our way next Saturday. Christmas shopping is almost done--shopping for the kids should be easy, but for the first time we spending alot of time asking if we have enough or too much? It's so easy to go overboard. We are entering the year of more pricey items (ergo fewer as well). Today I realized a need a few days solid just to sort through stuff in the house and pass it along! It is so relaxing to have tidy spaces! But that also means letting go of things as well. What to do with the Thomas the Tank table that Greg's parents bought? How much stuff can we honestly keep for the grandchildren??

Ryan's tastes are getting more complex. He is still devoted to books but is also fascinated with his DS, and Legos. Today he planned and executed a carnival in the living room . There were four games (with prizes). It was a wonderful effort and I love his creativity. He also wants a Chinese New Year party. Since Chinese New Year falls on Valentine's Day next year (and it's a Sunday) we'll aim for Saturday.

Charlotte is still making books and gluing and taping and cutting. She is getting popsicle sticks, more glue, a hole punch and her own stapler. Today she got a stack of colored paper and sturdier tape dispenser. The love of Disney princesses continues and is indulged.

So the war between public school washout and creativity continues. I am sure it is a battle I am only imagining (just a little). Charlotte watches Dora at K for heaven's sake and is learning some cheer type songs to remember her ABCs etc. But I grit my teeth and breathe. It's hard! Ryan is learning so much about descriptive writing and is excelling in math. I am finally coming to grips with them in public for 2 more years. If we don't move, Ryan would still have 2 years at Antioch and Charlotte would have four. The current battle involves teaching Ryan (and Charlotte a little) how to be generous with their time (especially with each other). There are times Ryan definitely wants to be alone or seems to not want to be bothered by his sister. He can be mean in the way he tries to avoid her. He likes to make excuses, races ahead of her to be first and just in all frustrates her. However, while we can admonish him, modeling what he should do is definitely something we need to start. Patience again. It is not an easy thing when we are frequently rushed ourselves.

Curious kids

And a tired mom. It is official. Working full time sucks. I always had a suspicion it did and now I know it is true. I've been on a day schedule this week due to meetings for the electronic health record implementation. I mistakenly thought I would have more energy. Uh, no. I get home and the children are bursting with creative ideas and all I can think about is dinner, homework, teeth and bed--theirs, not mine. Though, after they are in bed, it doesn't take long for my mind to drift in the same direction! Ryan wants to do science, Charlotte wants to make another tornado out of water bottles, they both want to cook. So tonight while I was warming my meal, Greg had already fed them... I challenged Ryan to spelling words while doing Charlotte's flashcards. We didn't have a book home for her to read today so we worked on Ten Apples on Top. It is wonderful watching her make the beginning and end sounds and try to put it together. I gave Ryan words he didn't necessarily know--he played along for awhile and then gave up. Curious, curious children. Tired, tired mom.

Bookmakers

So the kids have started making books. I am not sure what has started this...Charlotte brings a collection of papers to be stapled. She fills hers with drawings. Ryan wrote another book today. It's about a ship called the Larson Dawson that gets hit by a tornado, catches fire and sinks. And is found 19 years later. You can definitely see what favorite subject is influencing this piece! But it is accompanied by pictures. And punctuation.

Charlotte is reading simple sentences now and is writing. The teacher encourages the children to spell by the sounds they hear--so some of Charlotte's words are very interesting! Today they spent some time in their fort. Ryan wanted to make a flag for it--literally wanted me to sew him the flag of England and mount it on a standard flag pole--I talked him in to a garden flag pole and he picked "Peace on Earth" flag--thank goodness. the kids' craft requests for fabric items are stacking up. I will have plenty of work to do on the sewing machine when school is done.

I am reading them Charlie and the Chocolate Factory--two chapters a night. I've never read it before now. We'll catch the Gene Wilder version after we're done. The Johnny Depp version looks creepy. It's my first time reading them a novel--I look forward to others.