I'd like to thank everyone that keeps checking in on me. That list is mainly my Unemployment Case Worker. I'm glad that although she wants me to get a job, she's concerned that it be a good fit. She recently sent me this video.



I like to think that she sent it out of love.

Snow Day

Yes, that's right world travelers be forewarned that the children of Lewisville, Tx did not have school today because of closure due to inclement weather. Now what exactly that inclement weather is or where it is eludes me. I certainly didn't have any thoughts of it this morning when I drove them to school. I did luckily notice that absolutely no one was in the parking lot so I turned around and brought them back home and verified on TV that indeed the schools were closed. I seem to recall that I could never get a snow day when I was a kid yet somehow today's kids are able to get them easily, without the benefit of snow or ice on the ground. I've heard that it might ice tonight. MIGHT. M-I-G-H-T. What the hell? School lets out at 3:00. That's more than enough time to make it home before the arctic conditions make it unliveable outside. I guess I can safely assume that means that there will be no school tomorrow to.

Don't get me wrong. I love my kids. I love spending time with them. I love spending time with them on weekends and properly scheduled times called "holidays". The rest of the time is "me time". Instead I've spent my day constantly fixing them food. What is this where kids can go all day at school with just a sandwich, but at home they can't go five minutes without needing some elaborately prepared meal set before them. Like Ramen or Extra Cheesy Mac n' Cheese. I was saving that for me, you know.

Well, here's the one bright spot in the world that I was able to find today.

For those of you wanting to know what I've been up to since being laid off I thought I'd share.

Whew!! Made it!

Yes, that's right. I survived the holidays. It wasn't easy as you might imagine on one income and some unemployment, but we managed to get the kids a couple of things and we got a few things in return. Now we can concentrate on scraping by without the distraction of the holidays. To my son's credit he never really asks for much and seems delighted with whatever he gets and seems generally amused that anyone gets him anything at all. This was also the first year that he wanted to get gifts for some friends at school. I guess 7th grade is about that age, but it still kind of caught me by surprise. The boy remains kind of socially awkward, but he's managed to find himself a group of anime loving friends that he apparently fits in with. I've suggested that he invite them over, but he's not ready for that right now. That or he thinks I'm going to embarrass him. That remains a distinct possibility.

The girl had her 9th birthday party in early/mid December and for it we endured (cue ominous music and echo sound effects) the sleep over. We had nine girls come over and spend the night and although there were certainly the dramatic tear filled moments, in the end everyone had a good time. She also has been continuing with her writing and got some very positive feedback from her teacher about a story that she wrote. The assignment was to write a story using six of her spelling words, which for most of us means a story that is six sentences long. The girl loves to write though and wrote something considerably longer. Maybe I'll post it.

I received a soccer ball for Christmas from my son and a bouncey magic eight ball type thing from the girl. The soccer ball I wanted because I find I never have enough coaching supplies and really still need a few more. The bouncey eight ball/snow globe thing was something I had made a comment about Walmart and the girl determined was something I really wanted. It made for great conversation the rest of the break as I got to make several announcements to the family about how happy I am with my balls, and how proud I am of my balls, how I can't wait to play with my balls, etc. Finally the kids asked me to stop. That's the sign of good parenting. The kids have learned decorum.

Here are a few quick hits regardsing the last couple of months of unemployment.

I still don't know how to make much use out of Facebook. I think it's really like those memo boards that people use to put on their dorm room doors letting people know that they are out.

I've become addicted to Naruto.

I've recently made the single greatest meatloaf ever. I'm very proud of it.

I've recently made one of the hottest tastiest pots of chili ever. It'll make your eyeballs bleed it's so good.

Soccer sign ups are ongoing and I'm busily recruiting players to come back from last years team.

I am also planning practices and formulating some psychological tactics to get my team to play better. Some thing that uses less physical abuse and probably more verbal abuse. This is 2009 after all.

Happy birthday Goo.