This One's Especially For You, Melissa

Hello. Let me introduce myself. My name is Julie. Also known as "Mud" to certain of you out there who shall remain nameless [MELISSA!] who like to remind me that I am also being called "Blog Slacker" in certain circles. Just wanted to let you know that yes, I am indeed alive. Although yesterday that was up for debate for about 12 hours. But that's a story I'm keeping between me and my toilet.

[Truly Random Side Note: If you need a W.O.N.D.E.R.F.U.L. chick flick, please, please, please go rent, borrow, beg, or steal - well, no, I'm not condoning theft! - "Sarah Plain and Tall"...wonderful children's book that was extremely well done as Hallmark movie. This is not a children's movie, although it's perfectly wholesome. Go! Go get it now! Well, after you've finished reading this post, that is. I'll be expecting my thank you note in the mail in the next few days].

OK. Back to my Lack O' Blog.

Yeah, so not so much motivation earlier in the year, and now, frankly not so much time. I was talking about my dearth of exercise with my sister the other day who quite bluntly pointed out that I am home three days out of the five day "work week." Well, yes, but my bon bon eating does get in the way of too much movement, you know? And I actually do find it enjoyable when I am not able to fit into ANY OF MY WORK PANTS.

But the same is a bit true of my blogging at this point. It's this little thing that has been preoccupying my home time and home energy and home thoughts. It's called (sitting down?) My Job.

And you know, it's just never a great idea to talk about your job too much for all the internet to see (well, all the internet with some privacy filters). Which is why I never mentioned working at Snooty School with the priviledged little one who would briskly inform me "I'm not your butler!" when it was requested that he pick up a marker off the floor. Or, why it never came up when the Boss Lady told me in a meeting that "if you're not happy here, you can just pack up and leave!" [Well! And didn't I show her!]. Or a million other little irritations that made me consciously think every day I went there, "Jesus loves the rich people, TOO!" But see - now I just feel free to foolishly blab it all! For reals, it really wasn't that bad of a job - it just wasn't a good fit for me. And I have had no regrets whatsoever with leaving Richie Rich school behind (aside from some wonderful teacher friends - whom I will stay in touch with - and a few normal parents). I'm just going to go ahead and confess: I'm a Non-Rich Snob.

[Another side note: Lest you think my own children don't come up with their own remarkable, insightful statements, Michael sternly told me the other day to "stop being foolish with me!" Where does he get this stuff? Who uses the word "foolish" around him? And what would possess him to apply that word to me???].

Sooooo, all of this to say that while I have decreased my work days from 2.5 days to 2, what I am finding is that I am spending a large amount of time at home working on job stuff. You know, the crazy fun stuff like report writing and therapy notes and phone chats with the chickie I'm supervising. Sigh. And while it's kind-of paid time (more complicated to explain that than I feel like getting into at 8 pm on a Thursday night), it's also cutting into my "home" time more than I would like. But all told, I do think the time sucking will become less. And I do love my kiddies! Not a one has thrown a butler statement at me because a) they're almost all on medicaid, and b) not a one can talk that well. And as for Boss Lady, I can barely get her to return phone messages and/or email (ironic for a company that is supposed to improve communication, eh? But maybe I'm just being foolish), so I don't anticipate any "pack up and leave" messages any time soon. So, see - a win-win situation!

So, I can tell you all about how James maintained eye contact only when I sang (yikes! was that due to horror?) or how Rosalinda could not distinguish between two colors even with a carrier phrase like "red like a strawberry" or how Colin keeps substituting /f/ for /tr/ blends (as in, the word TRUCK!), but I'm not sure you all would be too interested. It's been a busy, but good couple of months. Am twirling around some thoughts for the future, but we'll see what's to come.

In the meantime - if there are any loyal readers still out there - thank you for your patience. BUT, if you're not happy with my tardiness, you can just pack up and leave!