Changing It Up

I'll be over at my new blog at HeartScraps giving a new blog hosting site a try.  Who knows? I may return to blogger, but for now I needed a change.  Come see me!

Friday Quickies/Quirkies

I have wanted one of these forever!  I would look on e-bay or other sites and most were a bit pricey for my budget.  My mom had this one the entire time tucked in some closet!  It's mine now, baby!

I guess I'm not 13, but why is this sexy or cute?  I just can't figure out the fascination with this guy.  Guess I had teen idols that grownups didn't care for, but I have an appreciation for Big Time Rush and even One Direction, but I will never understand JB.

Was hoping to be sitting under one of these next week, but the trip was cancelled.  I'm a very sad girl right now.  I was hoping to regroup, meditate, journal, and forget about job hunting just for a few days.

I want this sign!

This little guy made my day...

with this:

I've decided that I could camp if I could be a Glamper!  Who wouldn't love camping in these?  Heck, I'd glamp in my backyard every weekend! 

Check out the inside of a couple.  Adorable!!

Here are some more pictures of some cute exteriors and interiors.  Can you tell I'm partial to pink? 

Check out this little cupcake business.  Gives me an idea or three.  Cute little burger stand?  My dad makes such great burgers, I know we'd do well.  Yogurt or homemade ice cream stand?  Soups for the fall and winter?  I know in my area, people are desperate for good food and new places.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Writing "Young"

I have been writing for an online magazine for about three weeks now.  I was concerned at first about the age of their readership, which is about 16 to 25.  I'm going to be 50 next April!  I am the mother of a 9 year old so parenting and kids' stuff are easy, but it's not all I want to write about.  How on earth do I write younger than my age? 

Firstly, it's been almost 25 years since I was 25!  When I was 16, I was so incredibly shy that I never spoke to anyone so how would I know what other 16 year old girls were into?  Some of the topics I've seen on the site are about choosing the best shade of lipstick.  Lipstick?  Honestly, I'm lucky to find time to put on makeup at all.  Great vintage hairstyles is another article I came across.  I'm happy to have hair still!  I also spotted the article on Inspirational rap songs to listen to when you're down.  Is there such a thing, really? 

Coming upon the midway point of my life (hopefully), all I know  firsthand to write about besides my sweet boy, is how not to pee when you sneeze or cough, when NOT to roll your eyes at a teenager you see making an idiot of themselves and hoping your kid never does the same thing, and what Spanx will do to you if you don't get those suckers pulled up all the way. 

Any suggestions for writing for the younger generation of women? 

Another Article up on All Women Stalk!

I'm so excited to see another of my articles up on All Women Stalk!  I realize it's a very small start to any type of writing "career", but it's something I never imagined happening.  I'm looking for other writing jobs and have a few leads so I'm hopeful. 

I had a great weekend, and it looks like I may be be able to go on the little getaway I was invited to.  I'll be able to spend the days on the beach while my friend is handling his business meetings.  Then we'll have the evenings together.  I can't wait!  I need this little respite so badly.

Happy Monday!

My "Being Unemployed" Pet Peeves (Tongue in Cheek Mostly)

"Wow, your front tires are really bald."  Why yes, yes they are.  Thank you for reminding me.  There are several tire companies up the street if you would like to buy four new tires for me.

"Goodness, your house is a mess."  Priorities?  Looking for work is a bigger priority than how clean my house is right now.

"I saw an ad....gosh what was it...you'd be great at it...man, what WAS that?"  Shut the hell up.

"Susie said you should go to the new office the hospital is opening."
"Which one?"
"It's the new one."  (Our hospital opens up new offices practically every day.) 
"Well, just go there."
"Where is it?"
"I don't know."
Thanks.

"Don't get upset."  Do not tell me NOT to get upset.  I can get upset if I want to.  I'm allowed to have a breakdown, to cry, and to be friggin'  upset!

"Well, a lot of people have it much worse."  Yes, that is true, BUT:

"Let me know if you need anything."  Okay, I need groceries, gas in my car, and new glasses.  "You know I'd help if I could."

Above all these, the silence is the worst.  You rarely hear from anyone aside from the quick "how are things going" you may get in an email or text.  No one calls because they think you're only going to talk about being unemployed.  Actually, I want to hear from you because I'd rather hear how you are and talk about something so far  from my issues so that I can feel normal again. Yes, I could call and ask what's up and suggest we do something.  Once I know my free time, most have made plans.  I have learned to be more spontaneous because my free time is dictated by my family, but I'm not sure anyone does spontaneous anymore. I may not have the cash to go to dinner or a movie, yet I still need and want to socialize and talk and laugh.  I'm still the same person I was before I lost my job.  I'm only going through a tough time.  I don't have a contagious disease and you shouldn't have to put a spit mask on me while I'm with you. 

I find myself here at least once or twice a week these days:

Really, I'm writing what's been in my head the past couple of days, and it's rather silly, but there is some truth in it as well.  My stepmom was here yesterday to help me with something, and she asked me if I'd had dinner yet.  I said I hadn't, and so the two of us went out for dinner together.  She said, "I can at least get you out of the house for a while."  It was such a nice thing to hear and really, she didn't have to spend money to get me out of the house.  In fact, just being with me and chit-chatting was super nice.  Just hearing the words and knowing she understood was relieving and uplifting at the same time.

That's all someone needs really who is going through a tough time.  Your time, your company, your understanding.  That's all. 

First Article up on All Women Stalk!

I was SO happy to see my article on the web site!  I was assigned this topic so I had to do the best I could with something I really knew nothing about, but I added my take on the topic, Jennifer at AWS liked it, and now it's online!

Jake is away this weekend; he and I both needed a break from each other, poor guy.  I had a lovely Friday evening with a friend. I have more writing to do this weekend, and I'm looking forward to some time for myself.  I feel good about things, trying to stay positive, and I've applied for several jobs this week I'd really like to hear from. I'm looking for other writing jobs as well. 

We're scheduled to meet with a psychologist for Jake, just the adults on Thursday.  I'm looking forward to meeting her and hopeful that she can help Jake get past his anxieties.  I hate seeing my boy this way.  It's been a tough summer for him so far and he's really not enjoyed much of it at all.

I finally watched the Dustin Hoffman video that's been going around the Internet.  Whether he's sincere or not, the statement he makes is still true.  Men and women make a quick judgement on looks and if you aren't beautiful, you're cast aside.  What a shame that is, isn't it?  Below is the video if you haven't watched.

Happy weekend!

Hump Day Post

There's really not much going on today.  I'm waiting on my topics to be approved so I can get my next set of articles done for All Women Stalk.  In the meantime, a Wednesday blog post. 

Jake and I have our days and nights upside down.  He's a night owl like me so I have just as hard a time insisting he go to bed at 9:30 as he does going.  We have to get this fixed though or else I will be in big trouble come the first day of school.  Summer bedtime is 9:30 and I don't blame him for not liking it, but he is quite grumpy without his sleep.  This past school year, I moved bedtime to 8:30 instead of 9:00 because of how difficult it was to get him out of bed.  Once I start working again, it will be really important he get up and get dressed without my having to repeat it 50 times.  Wish I had an alarm like Sponge Bob's ship horn.  That might do the trick! 

Came across an interesting web site today called Purple Clover.  I'm still figuring everything out, but I've enjoyed reading the posts so far.  Check it out!

Finally swept and mopped my kitchen floor since moving in!  I had some little things to put away still so now that's done, I have a completely clean kitchen.  I'm thinking of selling my larger rectangular dining table and six chairs and getting a round table.  I've wanted one anyway and it will fit much better in this space.  I'll have to price round tables and make sure I can get for my table what a round one will cost.  I want the mismatched chairs like this, which perhaps I could borrow (confiscate) from family, except I'm not sure on the blue color or all white or perhaps different colors!  I have no fear of color! 

I'm really looking forward to a free weekend coming up.  It's been a while since Jake has spent a weekend away and I'm sure we both need a break from each other.  I know I'm in desperate need of some quiet time.  Jake needs time with Pat and I hope she can get some further insight on his anxieties.

I'm really worried about this.  He was so fearful of a possible storm today and even got angry about it.  I did my best to talk with him and explain our area's weather pattern, but it was not much help to him.  These fears-an extreme fear of storms, fear of something happening to me so much that he follows me from room to room, and a fear of the world ending and everyone dying-have to be part of a bigger fear maybe?  I just can't figure it out.  I can't watch the news, commercials about life insurance or fire/flood insurance trigger his anxiety, and the unusually stormy and rainy summer we're having doesn't help one bit.  I tried to remember when this started and I guess within the last year.  Of course, losing my job 9 months ago hasn't helped and may have exacerbated his fears.  I'm just not sure and can only guess.  We try to use the tips the family counselor gives us, but they don't always work.  Pray that we can get this all figured out and help our boy.