First day ... and second ... at work

Well, the first day at full-time work in nearly eight years was fine and no different than any other day. Frustrations were running high by day two. It doesn't help that my transition is going hand-in-hand with the start of the school year. We're tired, cranky, whiny and irritable. And it just goes downhill from there!

Day one had a chaotic night. We knew in advance it would be madness! I get off at 5 but needed dog food -- there were a few scraps in the bin, and the wrath of the puppies isn't one I want to face! Dan picked up the kids from ASP, dropped Ryker off at voice lessons, went home to put together the homemade pizza with the crust I made two days earlier -- which failed to rise, and no, I didn't forget the yeast, though it might have expired as there was no date on it -- and had 20 minutes before he had to swap Ryker for Abby. Then he had 25 minutes to feed Ryker, dress him in full football pads and get him to practice. I hit Wal-mart for the dog food, milk, cheese and chicken for Tuesday night's dinner (I could have saved us all a lot of hassle by skipping the chicken -- more on that later) and went straight to a client's house in Athens to drop off a photo order and then to pick up Abby at voice. Abby and I got home, ate pizza and changed into our "workout clothes" for a bike ride. That's about the time I remembered I had milk, cheese and chicken in the back of the Jeep that had been there a good hour or so! Abby whined through a two-hour bike ride and then convinced me to buy a tow-behind bike that will attach to my bike. Not a bad idea, and so when we went to see the end of Ryker's football practice, I got on my iPhone and ordered it. $89 and delivered in two days -- perfect timing for our bicycling event Saturday if we get the hang of it by then! We got home, and I went for another bike ride -- or should I say a "real" one -- while Dan contended with crabby kids some more.


Dan, meanwhile, had the living room turned upside down form the last piece of the fireplace he ripped out earlier. He had to cover up a spot that was churning attic heat into the house, not to mention clean up for the Boy Scout meeting that was now an hour away. Finally at 6:12, we all strolled out of the house into the Jeep with nary a plan in hand. The tank was beyond empty, further cramping our schedule. Dan's ingenious idea -- the corner gas station 10 minutes away that had a Subway. Perfect! Everyone loves Subway. So the $5 chicken turned into $25 sub sandwiches. But Dan and Ryker made it to Boy Scouts on time. The downside: we had to drop them off so they would get there right at 7 p.m. I was going to leave my cell phone so Dan could call when they were done. Guess what? I forgot. Then Abby and I walked across town to get ice cream cones and I left my cell phone behind! We were nearly home an hour later when I realized I hadn't brought my cell phone. Then I realized that it hardly mattered since he didn't have his phone -- I was supposed to leave mine for him! It was still about 30 minutes to the time when Dan thought the meeting would end, so I cleaned up the kitchen. We headed out with 15 minutes to spare, so I figured I was doing pretty good. Then the boys spotted us and hollered about halfway to the park. They didn't try to hitch a ride; they decided to enjoy the evening on a stroll home. Ryker was happy. Abby said it was the best night of her life. I guess chalk one up for the parents, but we'll definitely need another plan. Subway for dinner every night will break us!! And don't even get me started on the Amazon shopping. That web site is very dangerous!

I'm back!!!

I miss blogging! And I apparently need another hobby, so why not? Perhaps you detect the sarcasm??? I'm starting a FULL-TIME job on Monday. I'm excited, inspired, enthused, honored and...scared! I've worked part-time jobs or home-based jobs since Abby was 10 months old. I went back to my full-time job when she was 3 months old, and I lasted 7 months. (And I thought I was bad at math!) She will be 9 this year, and it was exactly eight years ago that I left my full-time position as health reporter at the Herald & Review in Decatur. Gee...time really does fly!

So, what am I thinking? Well, specifically I'm thinking about college savings and a 401k. We've made some headway on our finances the last few years, but we want to move forward on Dave Ramsey's baby steps. Unfortunately, my photography business is stagnant -- I've made $8,000 a year all four years! Of course, I never took out a loan, and each year I invested more and more to make my business better. :) It's been great to us, allowing me grow in my skills and even get fantastic art of my own children during these years that race by so quickly. And I've learned a ton about marketing, which is the field I'll be working in! I'll actually be working at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln, where I've spent the last three years working two days a week. I love the people there and everything I do, so it's definitely something to look forward to!

My kids spent most of the summer in "school" at the Montessori Children's House, and LOVED it -- the structure, the learning, the adventures. That convinced me the timing is right. There are some things that scare me more than others, such as the day they turn 13 and can no longer go to "camps" and the church after-school program. I mean, this is the age they are bound to get into big-time trouble with time on their hands. For the school year, Dan will be home minutes after they get home. So that pretty much solves that dilemma. And a friend of mine said she still hired a high school or college student to ferry her kids places when they were this age. I know I won't leave them to an empty house! And I've got a few years to write a plan. Frankly, if I can't figure it out, I also have no problem leaving the workforce and returning home either. I love that type of flexibility!

I hope I'll find the time to blog -- maybe late at night since I don't watch television -- so I can share my adventure, keep family up-to-speed on the craziness of this life, inspire you with stories about money, faith and raising an ADHD child, and maybe even make you laugh or smile from time to time.

Stay tuned....