Sunday, March 16, 2008

 

Is this thing on?

Sigh.

Life has been challenging. Life has been challenging on the home front and the work front for far, far too long.

And you know what? I'm tired of it.

So.

I'm reclaiming my life -- at least the fun parts of it. The majority of the depressing and soul-sucking parts of my life have been kicked to the curb (buh-bye job that made me feel like a second-class citizen!) and I am really focusing on getting some things back on track. Coming soon: a new look, a new perspective, semi-regular blogging and.... oh yeah. An election year.

Wheeeeee!

Believe it or not, I've actually kept up with some of you... sorry to hear about your dad and your job, SkinnyDan. Thrilled about Lenise's new addition -- congrats!! Have very much enjoyed reading about Jordana's trip to Jolly Olde England (though I am longing to see some more photos of the renovated house). And have been keeping Janis and her brother in prayer.

As for Possum Dad, I flat-out refuse to believe he's really quit.

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Thursday, January 11, 2007

 

The Very Lady Francesca the Discombobulated of Wallop upon Deane

"Wallop upon Deane" has a nice ring to it, as long as it's this Deane.

The Very Lady Francesca is alive and overwhelmed and trying to make the adjustment back to being a working Very Lady Francesca. For the two or three of you that still pop in here occasionally, an update is coming soon, I promise. Meantime, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

UPDATE: Nick's is:

The Right Reverend Nicholas the Deipnosophist of Old Throcking in the Hole

Heh. ("Deipnosophist" means one who is skilled in the art of dinner conversation. And he certainly can be.)

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Very Lady Francesca the Discombobulated of Wallop upon Deane Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

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Wednesday, November 29, 2006

 

Yes

Tony Woodlief cuts to the heart of the matter. It's short enough that I won't excerpt it here -- just go read the whole thing.

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Thursday, November 16, 2006

 

Cool tool

I bought myself one of these as soon as I saw it. For the last 15 years, chestnuts have been a staple in my Thanksgiving and Christmas turkey stuffing, and Nick and I have spent many hours together laboriously cutting X's into each and every one (not to mention peeling them after roasting). Thank God, neither one of us ever cut a finger in the process, but we've come close -- and we've always wound up with very sore thumbs from bracing the nuts against the knife blade. This will be the first year we won't have to do them all by hand.

It's a little sad how excited I am to try this thing out. My life is apparently not sufficiently thrilling -- and I have always had a thing for kitchen gadgets.

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Tuesday, November 07, 2006

 

It's aliiiiiiiiiiiive!!

My deepest and most heartfelt thanks to all of you who have wondered about where and how I am doing these last two months. Contrary to some speculation, I have not retired to a South Seas Island in blissful splendor. I thought about coming up with a good cover story, but decided that truth is the best defense, so here goes:

The truth is that this situation we are in with our dear Daughter is more heartbreaking and soul consuming than I could have imagined. Don't get me wrong: life remains generally good and I am blessed beyond anything I have a right to expect for myself. But the pain and anguish of watching my Daughter struggle with life-altering issues, with the growth necessary to deal with those issues effectively, and with the resulting fundamental changes in our family life is pretty hard. We have taken out loans to pay for her treatment that are equivalent to several years of college at an Ivy League institution of higher education, and I have had to go back to work as a result. I thank God with all my heart that He has led me to a job made to order -- decent pay, lovely people, a work ethic I can get behind, and a job description that was written just for me. Good pay doesn't hurt.

But psychologically and emotionally, I am doing the equivalent of putting one foot in front of the other. And doing so takes most of my concentration and energy. At the end of the day, I am at the end of my reserves. Nick and I are working mostly at tending to ourselves and our marriage, all of which have taken a greater beating than we were previously prepared to acknowledge. How grateful we are that God has led us to a place where the "treatment" includes giving us permission to NOT beat ourselves up over our failures as parents, but to ackowledge our heartfelt commitment to this child and simultaneously take the space we need to regroup and heal.

So.

My heart hasn't been much into blogging. I have appreciated your e-mails and comments expressing concern, even if I haven't been able to summon the energy to respond. I hope you will forgive me. I will be back. One of these mornings, I'm gonna wake up with the urge to write about something and this is where it will wind up. In the meantime, keep us all in your prayers, and know how deeply appreciative we are of your concern and good wishes.

Oh, and my new job has taken me to Dallas on business, where I offer the following photos as proof that not only am I alive, but that Little A and Mrs. Mayhem are also among the living:



We ate a lot of food:







(Little A was especially happy with his choice.)

Our waiter Tony thought we were a little strange because we wanted to take photos of all the food, but he was a good sport about it:



After dinner -- where, I assure you, we solved the world's problems (too bad you missed it) -- we decided to be extremely bad and indulge in this:



And this:



And this:



But never fear! We incorporated plenty of roughage in the form of edamame (which Little A didn't care for so much):



All of which was worth every single stinking calorie.

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Tuesday, September 19, 2006

 

The Wicker Man

Ellyn Burstyn. Nicolas Cage. Beautiful Pacific Northwest scenery. What could go wrong?

A lot, it seems.

What a complete stinker. I mean really: a complete and total stinker. Pee. Yew.

At one point, I actually started giggling and nearly couldn't stop. When three evil wenches wearing animals masks popped up in unison from behind some bushes and then popped down again, I laughed out loud.

Do yourself a favor and miss this film. Really. It just reeks.

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Thursday, September 14, 2006

 

Help Wanted

JOB DESCRIPTION

Long term, team players needed for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION

None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
None required. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION

Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS

While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered, this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.

Thanks to regular reader Bob for sending this to me recently -- too funny, and too true.

(I have no attribution for this, so if you know who wrote it, let me know.)

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