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I am on the verge... of a nervous breakdown... or greatness... it depends on the day.

Public Market Adventure From the Verge

We took the kids to the Public Market today. My thinking was that it would be a fun adventure... they thought it would be a great chance to suck the fun out of the day.

The complaints began on the way to the Market. They were carsick. They were bored. They were generally unhappy. Once we arrived, they were hot, thirsty and (you guessed it) unhappy.


My youngest had an excuse. He's on crutches for this:


2 fractures in his left ankle. The distal tibia and fibula are both fractured at the growth plates. I know, ouch, right?

But he complained less than his brothers. They were texting and complaining. All. Morning. Long.

They even complained during smoothies, empanadas, and fried dough. Nobody should complain while eating fried dough. It's just not right.

Unfortunately for them I was unmoved by their crabbiness. I bought 2 designer knockoff purses for $80 and a cute top for $10. I moved on to trail mixes, bread, scones, veggies, fruit and pierogies.

Next time hubby and I will go to the Public Market alone... unless I feel the need to torture my children by feeding them delicious junk and giving them money to buy stuff again. *sigh* There's just no satisfying some people.

Beware, Parents!

I'll make this one straightforward and to the point:

If your child's school balks at showing parents the curriculum something is VERY wrong.

Another Cryptic Clue

Yesterday I returned home to yet another cryptic clue on my doorstep. I will try to add the photo later, it's on my phone, but here's what it was:

Two of my pots were moved. The geranium was on the step with a lightbulb resting in the dirt. Next to this was a small melon. Lastly a cookie in a plastic container with a small square of butter on top.

I don't know what it means or who is doing it, but quite frankly I am finding it annoying and tiresome. So - do I set up a sting or leave a nasty note?

A Bad Week

My youngest son had saved for months for a new skateboard. Last week he finally got it. $125 worth of danger.

Three days after his purchase I spent $125 on an emergency room visit. He has broken his ankle in two places.

Ironic? Annoying.

What Does This Mean????

After a long day at my mother's house on Sunday, I came home to a mystery on my doorstep. Sitting in neat little row, were the following items:
A lightbulb, a pineapple, and a lemon in a plastic container with a piece of taffy on top of the container.
A brief survey of likely culprits did not yield any answers. In true OCD fashion, I have been ruminating on the meaning for the last two days. This is what I have come up with...

*It's dark in Spongebob's house and his lemonade needs sweetening
*Get an idea - you're welcome to my candy as long as you aren't sour
*Here's a thought. You're prickly on the outside and sweet on the inside... or sweet on the outside and sour on the inside.
*I'm screwing with your head.

I think the last one is the most likely. Of course, I'm not entirely sure who the cryptic message was aimed at - me, one of my kids, hubby, or the whole family.

I wish I had taken a picture before I threw the whole thing away... I could have shared it with you... or the police... huh.

Freelance Work is Ramping Up!!!

My first audiobook column is up at: Audiobooks as Privacy Tools

I just landed a job writing a fun, scary story/article for an award winning Halloween Haunted House AND my first ebook on making malasadas!!!

Exciting day!!

Expanding My Interests...

I am trying to find out how to obtain ARC or other promotional books/materials to offer as online giveaways for this blog. I am an avid reader and would love to share books with others through this site...

Interest?

Changing Careers - How Did I Get Here?

My biggest mistake was changing majors in college. I was an English major, hoping to teach HS English. I love reading and writing, so this was a good fit. Unfortunately, the outlook for employment was bleak. I considered my options and for some idiotic reason (to get a car so I could see my boyfriend more regularly) I chose to move to a community college and go into nursing. The outcome was a series of stressful jobs that I disliked... and a husband that I love.

After the birth of our first child, we decided that I would stay home with the kids. I'll go into my volunteer exploits later... But when my youngest reached first grade, I began to substitute in the school system. I knew that I wanted to work, yet be home when my kids were home. This was the best of both worlds, right? Wrong. The pay was awful and the job was worse. I dreaded that daily call and the stomach churning anxiety of walking into an unfamiliar class.

I decided to get certified as a Teaching Assistant and pursue a regular job. I managed to find one... but the full time hours were absolutely awful. I was stressed all the time, running from work to home to delivering kids to activities, to cooking, to cleaning, to feeling like I couldn't keep up. To top it off, work was miserable. You know when you get paired with that person who just doesn't appreciate you? Yeah, I was with her. It became unbearable all around, so I quit.

With this economy and my clunker van needing frequent repair, I knew I needed to do something- but what? With the guidance of an incredibly kind friend, I found Elance and began freelance writing about 2 months ago. I started with small jobs and found that I am actually quite good at this! My goal is to find some regular clients so I can count on the income.

I have just accepted my first long-term job posting for an audio book website. I will put a link here after I ask permission from the site owner... I don't think he'll mind!

I welcome any and all advice on learning the ropes of freelancing. I am constantly searching the web for resources. If you have any leads for me, post a comment!