same_sky: (Default)
same_sky ([personal profile] same_sky) wrote2004-02-07 02:22 am

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I came up with this system for having portraits done--I've written about it before. M and I planned to have professional pictures taken every year. I came up with the bright idea to have it done once every thirteen months. I came up with that after an excess of booze and crack, obviously, but it makes sense if you think about it. I figured that once a year would mean that we would have pictures from the same season all the time, but eventually, it would be summer and we could wear different types of clothes. It also helped that we had it done in October of 99, then we had a lot of them done in November of 2000 (wedding, you know) and then in December of 2001. That's when we came up with the plan. But last year, we kept putting it off for one reason or another, and I just re-noticed that the first thing listed on our big to-do list is to have those pictures made. Part of me thinks we should go get it done and finally out of the way but then again, the pattern has been ruined already.

The last time we had them done, it was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing. I had been to an interview at the elementary school down the road, so I was all made up and figured that we might as well get some use out of it. I had applied for my aunt's job as an aid--she was going to be spending less time with the children. I'd been out of school for six months or so by then, and I hadn't been job-hunting at all during most of that time. (I figured that seventeen years of school should merit a vacation.) Anyway, I don't blame them for not hiring me. The education didn't fit the job, but moreover, it was painfully clear that I wouldn't want to do that long-term. What annoyed me was that they hired this other woman, presumably because she had a kid in the school and she wanted to be closer to him. Okay. She quit a pretty good job at the university and took a pay cut to take the job. Then she finds out after a few weeks that the funding for that position was being cut in May (the job started with the return of school after Christmas break.) Apparently, they knew that all along, so in my opinion, they really should have hired me instead of screwing around with the other woman, because that wasn't fair at all to her. They didn't want someone long-term; I didn't want to be there long-term, so we could have all benefited. Oh, well.

I've been thinking for the last month or so that perhaps I should seriously consider being a substitute teacher. I actually had that strongly on my mind in the day or two before M got laid off, but I hadn't mentioned it because I knew that if I did, I'd be committed to it. He has this tendency to nag me when he takes a notion to. Kentucky apparently requires just sixty college credits to be a sub, so that wouldn't be a problem. My aunts and cousins have asked numerous times why I don't get started on that. I find it terrifying, that's why. I don't think I would be a very good teacher, substitute or otherwise. I like kids, but I don't think I would be good with a whole classroom full of them. On the other hand, most people don't have the option of not pursuing a source of income. I don't know. I don't want to, that's the problem. I want to have a nice little work-from-home scheme with a few different things going on pulling in money, and, of course, I want to win the lottery. As I've said before, I don't want to be unemployed and I don't want to be a housewife--I want to be independently wealthy, darnit. Is that so much to ask? The money issue is so complicated. Anyway, if I started working at school I would be even more like [livejournal.com profile] carrieb than I am already and then I might not be able to tell myself apart from her at all, and that would make my head hurt, so I'd better not. See, usually my rationales don't even need to be logical. That makes life easier.

We taught my eight-year-old niece to play Rook tonight. She doesn't have a firm grasp of it yet, but she did pretty well. We won, at least. M and I are finally pretty good together..we win at least as much as we lose, and maybe a little more.

Sweet moment of the day: My grandfather, as I've tried and failed previously to adequately describe, tries to pretend that he's a grumpy old man. He doesn't do hugs--but he'll lean towards you and sure make it easy for you to hug him. He hasn't been to a single wedding of any of his grandkids--because he missed the first one and so he doesn't want her to feel slighted, even though they've all assured him repeatedly that it would be okay. (He almost gave in and came to mine.. he did show up at the reception.) He worries about us constantly, but he doesn't really want us to know it--that sort of thing. I've never managed to describe him just right, so this probably won't sound all that spectacular, but I wanted to write about it anyway so I would remember. Anyway, he got a little Valentine's Day note from one of his great-nieces..she's about three. He had it in his pocket today, and when Mom asked him about it, he showed it to her and said that well, he thought he just might stop and pick her up a card and send to her. They were out in town so they stopped to get the card, and Mom filled it out for him and addressed it, and he pulled out a stamp from his pocket. *giggle* It's just so sweet. He had that planned all along, and it's just about as sentimental as I've ever seen him admit to being.

Anyway, it's bedtime, although the husband took a nap this afternoon and will probably be very hard to get into bed. Sleepy girls always win, though.

[identity profile] dbrus.livejournal.com 2004-02-06 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
About the portraits, we do it once ever 5 years since we got married. So we have them from the wedding and from our 5 year anniversary. I am hoping by the time the next 5 year rolls around (2007) there will be a little one in the portrait too...

[identity profile] lizardek.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
That was such a sweet story about your grandfather :)

We're so behind on family portraits, it's ridiculous. We had one taken in 2000!! We get regular kid portraits thanks to daycare and school, but it's so damned expensive here in Sweden that we've kept putting off the family one. Maybe this summer if we make it to the States as planned we can get it done for a more reasonable price at Sears or Penneys

[identity profile] big-bubba.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 08:38 am (UTC)(link)
I want to win the lottery. As I've said before, I don't want to be unemployed and I don't want to be a housewife--I want to be independently wealthy, darnit. Is that so much to ask?

Nope, I find that very reasonable. I have the same scheme for my life, though it would probably help if I started actually playing the lottery. Procrastinating, always procrastinating...

Anyway, if I started working at school I would be even more like carrieb than I am already and then I might not be able to tell myself apart from her at all, and that would make my head hurt, so I'd better not.

*lol* I wouldn't worry too much about that. There is only one C, and she is uncopyable.

Grandfathers are cute.. even when they don't admit it

[identity profile] tarynfogle.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 08:40 am (UTC)(link)
Your grandpa reminds me of mine lately. He has alzheimers and since grandma died in November it has seemed to get worse. BUt lately, he has been so cute. He offers me money (all he carries is some coins in his pocket) to pay for his dinner or whatever. In case I need the help! ONe day, about 2 weeks ago, my mom was helping my sister move to her apartment and I was staying with grandpa. He said he was hungry. He reached into his pocket, handed me 0.75 and asked me to run up the street and buy us something to eat. I was like, are you hungry? He said yes, and so I said i could make him something to eat if he wanted me to. HE said ok whatever you want to do. He just really tries to help out still, even though he doesn't really know or understand. BUt it is so cute and makes me want to cry sometimes.

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[identity profile] big-bubba.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 09:09 am (UTC)(link)
On second though I realise that I shouldn't just brush your worries aside that easily, so I've made a little test for you to determine whether your C-ness reaches dangerously high levels. If you answer no to all the questions below, then there is no problem. I'd say that at three yes you reach a critical limit, and if you have all five then you are definitely twins.

  1. Do you start dancing around the room happily when you find out that there is a new Koontz book being published in five months?


  2. Is your biggest wish in life to own a flying bed?


  3. If you were seriously allergic to cats, would you let one spend hours on the keyboard (which is in your lap) just because you are too softhearted to send her away?


  4. Is it impossible for you sleep at night until you have put all the three pillows in exactly the right position?


  5. If you were done with your chewing gum and needed to toss it away but couldn't find a trash can, would you temporarily store it in your bellybutton?


  6. Ouch! I got whapped. "I was four!", she says after reading the last question. It still counts, I say.

[identity profile] carrieb.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 09:29 am (UTC)(link)
Your grandpa sounds like a really sweet guy. I don't have any grandfathers so it is always interesting to hear about other peoples.


Now, as for the subbing. . .

You wouldn't want to be any more like me, that's for sure. I still laugh every time I think about our last MM meeting and how we kept saying the same thing at the same time.

If you do decide to sub, though, let me know and I'll tell you some of the tricks of the trade. I remember my first week of subbing I was utterly and completely terrified but it turned out to be the best job I ever had. If you are in the elementary schools it is really easy work because generally the kids still think all adults walk on water and you can bribe them with candy if they don't.

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[identity profile] same-sky.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 11:57 am (UTC)(link)
Awww. Why does it make me so happy when my friends talk about little ones?! :) Good luck with that. :)

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[identity profile] same-sky.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 11:59 am (UTC)(link)
We have a K-Mart in a little town half an hour away with an Olan Mills studio. We usually have them done there and pay ridiculously little, but they always turn out very well. That makes it a little easier to justify doing so often.. I think we spent $15 last time. :)

Re: Grandfathers are cute.. even when they don't admit it

[identity profile] same-sky.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 12:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Isn't it funny that people get cute again when they get old? Actually, it's probably less funny if you're the old person in question.. anyway. That's sweet of your granndpa, too. My grandmother has Alzheimers and it's just so heartbreaking. :(

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[identity profile] same-sky.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 12:06 pm (UTC)(link)
I think the others were a little disturbed by that. *grin* It was very funny though.

I'll definitely pester you for hints if I decide to do it. I'm leaning against it again at the moment but I might change my mind. I don't want to at all, though. I think I'll get rich via ebay instead.. I get lots of great emails letting me in on the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn how it's done...

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[identity profile] same-sky.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 12:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh. You mean you have to play the lottery to win? That sucks. I guess I should start doing that if I'm going to have a chance..

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[identity profile] same-sky.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 12:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, here's the thing. I completely fail this at first glance, but on second thought, I'm not so sure. I fail at the letter of the quiz but pass at the concepts.

1. Do you start dancing around the room happily when you find out that there is a new Koontz book being published in five months?
I don't get excited by Dean Koontz, but I do for WoT. I bounce around for a few months before a new release, reread the whole darned thing in preparation and also start reading looney theories on various websites until much past my bedtime. That's pretty close.

2. Is your biggest wish in life to own a flying bed?
Not so much to begin with--but actually, after she mentioned it and I read about poor Sarah's adventures flying through a painting, it occured to me that a flying bed would be the Coolest Thing Ever. I would need a magic windbreaker to go with it, though, because otherwise my ears would hurt at high speeds.

3. If you were seriously allergic to cats, would you let one spend hours on the keyboard (which is in your lap) just because you are too softhearted to send her away?
Probably. I would be even more likely to do this if it was a puppy.

4. Is it impossible for you sleep at night until you have put all the three pillows in exactly the right position?
No--I don't care about the pillows. But I need the blankets (all three of them, regardless of temperature) perfectly folded back so there is a soft fold in the sheet against my skin, and that *has* to be covering my ear or it's hopeless.

5. If you were done with your chewing gum and needed to toss it away but couldn't find a trash can, would you temporarily store it in your bellybutton?
That was really funny. *giggle*

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[identity profile] lizardek.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 01:08 pm (UTC)(link)
$15!!! Geez louise, is that CHEAP! I think even at Sears we paid $50 for the cheapest package!! wow. I'll have to check that option out when we're in the States next time.

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[identity profile] dbrus.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 02:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I need luck convincing T to try...send some baby vibes his way!!!

[identity profile] courtesy.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
That's so cute about your grandfather :)

As for the sub teacher, it does sound daunting but it also sounds like one of those things that you could end up getting a lot of satisfaction from and after two classes you woulnd't feel daunted at all I'm sure. It's more whether you want to do it :)

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[identity profile] big-bubba.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 09:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Wow, I didn't know you were such a WoT freak! I can't believe you actually reread the whole shablong before a new book, though I did manage to get through 6-9 in preparation for CoT. Too bad CoT sucked so badly, I'm not even inspired to get the new New Spring. Oh, and reading looney theories is the best part of WoT fandom.

As for your answers - you are now officially starting to scare me. Especially using the phrase "coolest thing ever". That's C-ness, pure C-ness...

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[identity profile] same-sky.livejournal.com 2004-02-07 11:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I will confess that I'm only freakish when it's near time for a new book. After I have the thing read, I'm over it for a year or two until it's approximately time for a new one. It's kind of funny because I didn't enjoy it at all when I first started reading--I just bought it because my obsession of the moment (an online game) was very loosely based on the series. I remember the feeling of profound relief when I finally got to the end of Eye of the World. It grew on me around book three or four. I've reread it twice, I think, and I highly recommend that.. it was actually a lot better the second time through. I'm also disappointed with the last book or two, although I noticed in the last reread that the second-to-last one was a LOT better than I remembered it.. I hope that happens again. I haven't actually bought New Spring either, though I read the short story published in Legends and found it quite nice. To tell the truth, I'm so out of the loop when it's not around booktime that I didn't even know that the new book form was different from that, though I saw it in a store the other day. I'm fickle, I guess. I don't even read fantasy much, except for this series. I have been thinking lately about finding a new one, though--but this time, by golly, I'm going to find one that's finished!