Wordless Wednesday: Gangsta Ballerina

Weekend Whatever

Time marches staggers on, which warrants a bullet point post:

• Work is good but busy.
• Commuting is much better when it’s not snowing and now that it’s getting light out earlier. That said, we’re getting a snowstorm tonight. Again.
• Our weekends tend to be lazy yet fly by. They often sneak up on us before we can make any plans, but it is so, so nice to not have to work (I have worked a little a few weekends but swore it off completely for Lent). Two weeks ago we went out and brunched hard, just the three of us, just because we could.
• We have started watching Lost. We cannot stop watching Lost. We are addicted to watching Lost. We are just about to start season 2, so we have only 50 or 60 hours of television to catch up on before the series finale. We are confident in our ability to be this lazy (see above re: weekends) so NO SPOILERS, people.
• I have started getting together with the other wives of Aaron’s “Jedi Council” seminary posse. We are the Sacred Sisters…of the Traveling…Husbands…or something. We just hang out one night a week with no agenda other than to find out what’s going on with each other, pray, and breathe in the sweet sweet air of a quiet, comfy home that’s not littered with plastic kid junk, sippy cups, and wet mittens. I think it has been just what we all needed. Why should our husbands have all the fun–and all the support? I am getting to know people at work at church, but it’s hard to get involved in anything with them or coordinate much to see old friends, even though in theory we are not that far from GR. So it’s good to have these friends who are going through a lot of the same things and who live right here by us.
• Aaron preached at our church for the first time today and he did great! He didn’t even seem nervous (you’ll have to ask him if he secretly was). He preached a number of times at our church in Oregon and has given countless Young Life and youth group talks, but it’s always more pressure the first time in a new place, I think, and our church here is bigger. He didn’t shy from the challenge, though, but took on a crazy hard passage and brought it home strong. Even if he did skip an entire page of his notes! Must be the power of the fauxhawk.

Survivor: January

We have been having trouble with our Internet connection at home, and since it’s the school’s, not our own, there’s not much we can do about it. That hasn’t helped my blogging and keeping up on email, but I suppose the bigger problem is that it seems 8, 9, 10 hours a day are just gone out of my day now and by 9:00 p.m. I’m in a catatonic state. Can’t imagine why.

Kidding aside, I really figured I’d be happy with basic survival skills this month–if I got to work every day and everybody in the house found something to eat three times at least once a day, we’d be doing pretty good. I guess I’m exceeding my low expectations since I’ve yet to oversleep or resort to takeout for dinner and I did get the Christmas decorations down today before the clock ran out on January.

This complete change in routine has forced me to be more organized as far as meals and to go back to getting shopping, laundry, hair braiding, and the like done on weekends instead of whenever I felt like it. I’m actually pretty proud of myself for doing as well as I have so far. And now that I’ve said this, I’m set me up for a major domestic fail of some sort, I’m sure.

And now that I’ve been satisfied by discovering Bon Jovi gracing my TV to make up for the Pro Bowl (football nerd alert!) being mysteriously absent, I need to get my getting-up-early booty to bed. Livin’ on a prayer . . . and coffee.

Workin’ for the Man Every Night and Day

I think I’m getting the hang of this working thing.

Go figure, I think I like it too. Yes, the days start early and the drive is long, and sometimes I sit at my desk in my cold office for so long that my pulse slows to roughly 40 bpm and I have to take coffee via IV to get going again. But on the other hand, I don’t have to repeat simple requests seventeen times in a row seven thousand times a day or help wipe any part of any other person’s body.

At work my office has a door and a huge stash of snacks and no Mr. Potato Head parts on the floor. Sometimes there are coffee runs or people stopping to say hi. And I get to have LIVE, INTELLIGENT CONVERSATIONS with actual, mature, ADULT HUMAN BEINGS.

For example, last week I got to spend an hour with two others comparing ideas and opinions on designs for a major project. I love that kind of thing. People think that editors must be quiet, shy introverts, but I am a collaborative person and I think actually an extrovert. Those conversations and connections to the bigger picture give me the energy to go back and do the focused solo work. I did miss that sometimes as a freelancer. (Of course, there is also the imposing wall of deadlines looming over me to keep me focused. Yikes!)

I have my morning routine down pretty well and was just able to simplify our daycare/grandmacare schedule. AJ is doing great with the new routine, although she was happy to spend Saturday at home just lazing around in her pajamas and then ballerina outfit. Me too. (Well, minus the tutu.) I did feel like I should have been working on the weekend, since that was when I got a lot of my freelance work done, but it is nice that now when I’m off, I’m really off–no choice, no guilt.

Today was the first day of Aaron’s new semester, so we’ll soon see how his weeks flow and how all this goes with him juggling a ton as well.

Time to go juggle some chili into my crock pot.

Workweek 1 / Prayer Request

First week down. I commuted to work four days and the weather was only nasty three of them. Today I was able to work at home, which probably saved me the embarrassment of falling asleep at my desk. The mornings came very, very early this week.

Aaron ended up not going on his retreat because of some doctor’s appointments and things he needed to deal with. So he could stay with AJ some of the days I worked and get dinner going before I finally got home. Thank goodness! AJ did great with letting me drag her out of bed, bundle her up, and drag her out in the dark (baffling to her) to head to Miss J’s day care or to meet my mom. I don’t think she gets yet that we’ll be doing this all the time.

Going back to work at the same place I worked six years ago is strange in the way our whole life has been since moving back to Michigan from Oregon: The same, only different. Familiar, but it’s changed. Old friends nearby but lots of new people too. Really it was like being in one of my crazy dreams: I dreamed I went back to work, and you, and you, and you were there . . . and they gave me your old office but stole all the furniture except one of the crappy brown chairs and a pile of screws.

The first day was a lot of meeting new people and chatting with those I’d worked with before, getting set up on the computer, and regretting those shoes as I toured the building which is now much bigger than it was. I’ve also been gradually recalling the terminology and processes I didn’t use as a freelancer–how to set project schedules, how to do pre-production tasks, technical terms like cast-off and loose lines and Green Envelope. It’s like dusting off all that German I learned back in school (Kennst du Ingo? Ingo ist mein Freund.). But I was pretty much able to get right to work.

If it wasn’t clear enough that this is a good place to be, Wednesday we all got a reminder: someone from editorial was in a severe car accident on the way to work. We waited to hear anything at all, then heard he was in surgery and did one of the remarkable things about working at a Christian company: those who wanted to gathered in a conference room to pray for Jeff, his family, the doctors, the other person in the accident.

Like they prayed for me eight years ago when Aaron’s brother died.

Like they have prayed for so many.

I stepped in the room as they were already praying, and this struck me so hard I was immediately in tears. But many eyes glistened as we agreed For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory and the company president reminded us, “This is why we’re here. This is so much more important than what’s on your desk any given day.”

Please join the many praying for Jeff. They did surgery on his heart that day and are now most concerned about pressure in his head. Family has come from out of state to be with his wife and young daughters. Miracles have happened but he needs more.

.

More blogging soon–after I go catch up on my sleep. Ah, Saturday sweet Saturday . . . suddenly I love you so much more.

New Year, New JOB!

Sha-na-na-na, sha-na-na-na-na . . . I got a job!

Or rather, the job got me. I wasn’t really looking for it, but some opportunities you just don’t pass up. Especially when you really need benefits like insurance you can afford. I just had to get my ducks in a row (hence the photo) and find some blogging time amidst it all before I said anything here (the “40″ hint was for 40 hours a week).

This came about a couple weeks ago and I start Monday (when, most inconveniently, Aaron leaves for a week-long retreat). I’ll be a trade books editor at a publishing house. Let’s call it Family Religious Publishers for now, although some of you know its real name because I used to work there before we moved to Oregon and have been freelancing for them for the last six years. So they know me, I know them–heck, I even have my old office nameplate ready to slap back on the wall.

So I’m not really nervous about it, but I have had my freak-out moments over the last couple weeks because it is a total life organization makeover: Who will take care of our child? How will I get to work? How late will I get home and when am I going to cook, eat, shop, braid hair? I’m going to have to get up how early?

The job is about 45 minutes away from home, although I will be able to work from home one day a week. We couldn’t make that work with only one vehicle, so we had to find a second car. Obviously we needed day care for the Joygirl. Clearly my wardrobe has atrophied significantly over the last six years.

Day care: One of our neighbors has been extremely pleased with the in-home day care person she started using this fall. And my daughter has declared that she is marrying their son, so shouldn’t they spend some quality time together? Unfortunately Aaron’s schedule for this semester is terrible–more afternoon classes to work his internship and study time around–and the day care lady couldn’t take AJ late enough a couple days I would have preferred . . . but eventually we figured out how to make it work. I think. Thank goodness for my mom, who is helping out a couple days a week. AJ has spent a few days at day care already to get used to it and she seems to have enjoyed it and had no trouble at all saying goodbye to us, so I feel good about it.

Transportation: We couldn’t possibly pull off this schedule with one vehicle, and I wouldn’t want to commute in a giant gas-sucking truck anyway (except on snowy days). We needed to find a car that gets good gas mileage but is still comfortable for my 6′5″ husband and our budget. We tried various wagons and ended up with a 2005 Scion xB–the box car people seem to either love or hate (Aaron thinks it looks “badass”). It’s small but it’s funky, the interior is surprisingly big, and it gets 30+ mpg. (I’ll post a photo when I locate it under all the snow we just got.)

I wasn’t really ready to be excited about the job until I had those two major things under control–more like Good Lord, what have I done?–but now I’m ready to actually think about the working part. Freelancing definitely has some great advantages as far as flexibility. But it was hard to work at home with a three-year-old and honestly, I think I will appreciate her more and be a more patient parent when I’m not with her 24/7. I will enjoy working with people again and having a clear line between work at home. And after a month I will have paid vacation/sick time and the all-important health insurance. WILL WORK FOR INSURANCE.

Ready or not, publishing here I come!

Christmas Gatherings Roundup

Those not interested in holiday recaps may wish to skip this post–but check back soon for an announcement about these ducks.

For those who have not yet overdosed on holiday cuteness . . .

Our Christmas celebrations were spread out this year, starting two weekends ago when we all gathered at The Farm: the three of us, my parents, my brother, my sister-in-law, and my nephew “Tobo.” AJ and I went up early to get out of Aaron’s hair during his exam week of doom, so he missed some of the frolicking in the snow and the traditional turning of the house into a cookie decorating factory. Tobo and AJ together are a blast!

Saturday we did stockings and other gifts. AJ and Grandma have matching flannel nighties. AJ got a sweet ride for her Fisher Price Happy Family people. Ever attentive Grandma bought families of different colors and rearranged them so they look like ours (well, the mom and baby look like me and AJ; the daddy we call Denzel)!

Sunday my aunt and grandma were able to come over from the other side of the state, although for some reason I have no photographic proof of this (family members, help!).

Christmas Eve our college friend Chatterbox came to stay with us through this week. We slid over the ice to a nearby church service so we could light candles and raise our voices with the four-year-old standing on a chair next to me shouting, “REJOIIIIICE! REJOIIIIIICE! E-MA-A-AN-U-EL!” (which is the only proper response to the Good News of the Incarnation).

Then came the three Christmas Eve traditions: opening an ornament, opening new pajamas, and reading Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Christmas Day Santa brought all that had been expected (plus two light sabers, go figure): a sled, a new puppy backpack, Muppet Show DVDs, cheapo kid camera, and the long awaited and greatly anticipated–so much so that she was telling strangers in restaurants about how you get it when you learn to spit when you brush–big kid Dora the Explorer toothpaste. Best opened sitting in your sled.

Then we trekked to Aaron’s parents’ house to gather with them and his brothers and their families. Family pictures were only semi-successful but it is always nice to see the brothers together, AJ loved teasing the cat with a feather for hours, and the food was good and plentiful. Just enough fullness for one day.

Saturday night: annual party Aaron’s friend Gus has been throwing for we think 14 years. Fun times with old friends, plus white elephant gift wrapping prize win! Ain’t she pretty? (The contents were even better–who doesn’t want some ugly 1970s coasters and 2 giant bags of lettuce?)

And . . . if you’ve made it this far you deserve a hint about what has been filling my mind and days between gatherings. Ready?

Hint: 40.

More soon!

Blizzard Season

It’s blizzard season–including holidays, weather, and schoolwork.

Last weekend we celebrated the Joygirl’s birthday. She got to wear her birthday girl shirt and her grandparents and a couple friends joined us for cake, way too many presents, and some twirling.

The next day she asked, “AJ three now, Mama? Three?” Yes, yes you are. And she proved it with a rare episode of TERRIBLE behavior in the library. One of us cried.

Tuesday our truck went in the shop for broken windshield wipers and yada yada yada we didn’t get it back until Saturday. But that was fine because no one was going anywhere in the blizzard that hit Wednesday and Thursday. We actually didn’t get tons of snow but the wind was terrible and it was dang cold. Welcome back to Michigan.

Saturday we were finally able to procure the Griswold Family Christmas Tree, miniature size. In Oregon we had a 15-foot ceiling so we’d have our lumberjack friend hike us up some mountain and drag down a 14-footer with a 12-inch trunk. So our six-footer seems a little puny, but it’s nice. And AJ had been asking to get out the train our friends gave us last year. It whistles, but she’s the hoot!

Aaron is buried in schoolwork because he has classes through Wednesday and finals Thursday and Friday. AJ and I are going to get out of his way by going up to my parents’ house before my brother, sister-in-law, and nephew arrive for this weekend’s family Christmas festivities.

And that’s all that’s going on in the Wetzel house. As far as you know.

“Little full. Lot of sap.”

Birthdays, Snow Days

Friday Finger Update: Aaron’s wounded finger is healing fine. The pain is much less and yesterday the hand doctor looked at it and gave him the okay to wear just a small bandage, get it wet, etc.

Joygirl is almost three! This weekend we are celebrating her birthday. She has been eagerly anticipating cake and being three. And we’ve explained to her how when you’re three there’s no more diapers and your taste buds change so you like more foods, like peanut butter. It’s common knowledge, right? (*cough cough*)

She will get a few small things from us, but I also made a donation to Ethiopian Orphan Relief in her honor, as I will continue to do each year. This is a nonprofit organization started by parents who adopted from Ethiopia (some of whom we got to know during our adoption process) that “works to improve the living conditions and lives of Ethiopian orphans remaining in Ethiopia by working with Ethiopian orphanages and adoption agency care houses to provide supplies, infrastructure and experiences.” I encourage you to check out their website and blog. And if you are a person who might feel compelled to send the Joygirl a card or gift, I’d be pleased if you’d like to donate the $5 or more to Ethiopian Orphan Relief instead.

But before there are birthdays, there are snow days! We got our first snow last night and it’s gorgeous. When didn’t get snow on the Oregon coast, really–a dusting would be a county-wide emergency–although AJ has seen snow before when we visited Michigan at Christmastime. But this is the first year she’s really old enough to want to play in it. I let her walk around outside for a few minutes last night when it was really coming down. (Sorry, the video clip I took is too big to upload here.) She wandered around in awe and shrieked at it hitting her in the face. I think our Oregonian college friend had just about the same happy reaction!

Then before dinner she was in my way and needed to do a job to get some toys back, so I had her put away the silverware:

Hope no one needed to find a fork.

Be Our Guest, Put Our Thrift Stores to the Test

Our favorite Oregonian-turned-Michigan-college-girl Chatterbox joined us last night for the remainder of her Thanksgiving break, for which we’re very thankful. We got to catch up, have some Wii battles, and see how she reacts to being jumped on by a hyper three-year-old at 8:00 a.m. (or as she calls it, Whaaaaa time is it?).

Today I had this weird urge to go shopping, mostly because I could do it without the Joygirl in tow and maybe get or at least scout some things for her that I can’t shop for very well with her along (see: girl crying I waaaaaant it nooooooow in toy aisle). After all, her birthday is coming up in early December. (NOT January, remember, everyone? Sorry, new readers–long story.) And she expects cake.

So Chatterbox and I ventured out to the farmer’s/holiday market, Target, and a couple thrift stores.

You know you’re a Young Life leader when you get excited by . . .

Neon purple ’80s high-waist snowmobiling jumpsuits!

There has got to be character for those.

And then there was this:

The picture doesn’t do justice to this dress made of spoons with candelabra head.

I think it’s only meant to illustrate that they sell silverware, but I did expect it to start twirling and singing:

Be our guest! Be our guest!

Put our thrift store to the test!

If you need some spoons or jumpsuits, well, we’ll provide the best!

There can be no kitsch complaining while the flatware’s entertaining!

.

All I got was How the Grinch Stole Christmas for $1.00, which I’m sure Joygirl will not like because she’s scared of every scary bad guy plus anyone else remotely scary/grumpy/ugly right now. But I like it, and it will put some songs in my head that are not Dora singing about common household objects.

Thrift stores + camera phones for the win!

Next Page »