A List for Tuesday

5 Reasons I Love My Job at Paper Source

1. My boss Meg is awesome! She's a fun mix of my sisters Heidi and Heather. (Heidi: when someone says something random she always says, "These potatoes are so creamy" or "Mary mashed 'em.")
2. It's a beautiful place to work. I mean that literally. You walk in and it's bright with lots of color everywhere and it just makes me happy.
3. I'm good at it. I've been working there for less than a month and I'm being considered for a promotion.
4. It's really fun to help people with their projects or wedding invitations, or helping them come up with ideas for gifts.
5. It's nice to have something that's just mine. I don't share it with anyone else. I haven't had that in a long time and I really needed it.

What do you love about your job?

Unplugging in December

This morning, after having spent a good portion of the night not sleeping, I came to a decision. I am going to "unplug" in December. Only my computer. I need my phone, obviously, and movies are a big part of the Christmas experience, so I won't be unplugging anything else.

I realized how much time I spent on my computer. A lot of time I'm not even doing anything, just burying my face in the screen and wasting time. Sure I do good things on my computer, but I think the "junk" has overtaken something fierce.

So, beginning December 1st, I am going to do all my writing by hand, not read my emails, not play Diablo III and stay away from Facebook, Hulu, and all those wonderful writing blogs I follow. I won't be posting here either, of course, but that really isn't much of a difference since I only post about once a week (if that).

There are two notable exceptions to this rule, however. I may have to use the computer at work, and I'm also working on a super-secret project/gift. I'm hoping to finish it before December, but that might not happen. Other than that I am staying away from all things computer-ish.

So if you need me call, write a letter, or drop on by! I'll be having fun with my boys, paying more attention to them than I have in a long time (possibly ever). I'll be trying my best to get that warm, glowing Christmas feeling. I'll be baking cookies and listening to Christmas music; decorating and wrapping. NOT multi-tasking, and NOT worrying about anything but my little family right here and right now.

If you need anything before then, you better let me know now!

Merry Christmas!

A List for Tuesday

5 Random Things Because I'm in a Random Mood

1. I have a fear of getting prematurely old. I saw a picture of a girl my age (who I went to high school with) and she looked like she was about 40. What if that happens to me?
2. I love my job. Really super-duper love it. And my boss is awesome.
3. I am in full Christmas planning mode and it's fun to make the choices of what to buy the boys. This year we're giving them 4 gifts: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.
4. I wish I had money for a whole new wardrobe. I'm tired of all my clothes and want to start over from the ground up. Not gonna happen.
5. My boys have been so busy lately, they make me tired just watching them!

Tell me one random thing going on in your head.

A Few Things About Dutch

We went in for Dutch's parent/teacher conference last week. It was full of surprises! Almost without exception Dutch has improved enormously in everything since school started. He's more social, more engaged, paying more attention, listening better, and - the best of all! - he now has "normal" speech for his age. I was so surprised when his teacher and speech language pathologist told us that!

The last few months his language has just exploded, but I hadn't realized it had gotten THAT good. He's used words like "catastrophe" and "ruckus" and keeps surprising us with how much he's willing to say. There are still times when I can't understand a word, but those are few and far between.

To put this in perspective: Last year on Dutch's first day of pre-school I asked him what he did at school today and he responded, "I played with toys." I cried because that was the most he had ever said all at once. Now, only a year and a few months later, he is telling Chris, "Daddy, take your coat off. It's really nice in here."

His teacher said that he should be ready for kindergarten next year, no questions asked. That made me really nervous. Chris and I had dabbled with the idea of holding Dutch back a year, just to make sure he was ready. Turns out he won't be eligible for the early intervention program next year because their policy is if the kid is 5 he goes to kindergarten.

Friday the answer to my prayers came. A few weeks ago Chris had applied Dutch for a special autism starter program that the state is starting. They had so many applicants that they did a lottery and picked 250 kids. Dutch was one of them. This means that he will get a lot of extra help, one-on-one attention, and a lot of opportunities he wouldn't otherwise have.

I feel really lucky and blessed that things are going so well for Dutch. Like every mother, I worry about what the world holds for my child. Now I can rest a little easier knowing that he is being given his best chance to succeed through all these amazing programs and people.

A List for Tuesday

Five Reasons I'm in a Funk

1. I was sick last week and my body is still recovering. Seriously, I thought I was going to die, I couldn't even move without being sick. It was horrible. Dutch took such great care of me and both boys were so good for me. At least I think they were. It's all kind of a blur.
2. Reading has not come as easily to me the last couple of months. For every book I finish I start about 5 or 6. I'm tired of having to slog through so much crap before I get to a good one. I can only imagine how editors and agents feel. Life is always harder when I'm not reading a good book.
3. I started a new job. It's only part-time, but it's going to take a little bit of adjustment. So far I have not found the right balance on days I have to work.
4. My writing is going really well. Wait, what? Why, you ask, would that put me in a funk? I'm not exactly sure. I think it has something to do with being afraid of messing it up because it's going so well.
5. Dutch is not sleeping very well and therefore I am not sleeping very well.

Any suggestions to pull me out of my funk?