Camouflaged Daydreams: October 2005Camouflaged Daydreams

Monday, October 31, 2005

Happy Halloween

I hope everyone has enjoyed their Halloween. It is a cold Halloween night here. I took the kids trick-or-treating out about 5 p.m. it was 14 degrees. The kids for the first time learned the art of layering clothes and coats under their Halloween costumes.

Chase is still not feeling well. I took him back to the clinic this morning, missing part of work. Luckily I have a very understanding boss. After five days of antibiotics Chase has still not improved much. They put him on a stronger medication and hopefully this will do the trick.

On top of being sick and the ear infections in both ears, he pulled a muscle in his leg. Poor little guy has been limping around since this weekend.

I debated back and forth on whether to take him out tonight or not. I decided to bundle him extra well and made sure his ears were covered and we gave it a try. I offered to carry him from house to house but he had insisted on walking/limping. After the five houses his little leg was too sore to go on and he wanted to go home. Missy split off with a friend and her mom and I carried Chase home.

It sounds terrible of me but I am so ready for this holiday to be over. We've been busy at work with decorating, baking, and other special Halloween projects. And before I even started working I had offered to volunteer at Jr and Missy's Halloween Carnival. So straight after work on Friday I had to pick up kids, dress them in costumes, and head straight to the school to help out.

We had two more carnivals to attend the following day, one was for work I was to help at, but we ended up staying home because Chase got worse over the weekend.

I was in charge of the ring toss booth at Jr and Missy's school. After a day of bending and stooping at work, I spend another 2 hours bending and stooping at the carnival retrieving thrown rings. It was fun helping and giving out prizes to the kids but boy my legs and butt were so sore by the time I got home. I really hope I get a tight butt and fabulous legs out of all this. I guess it might help if I can keep my hands out of the kids' Halloween candy.

Sunday, October 30, 2005

While I Was Sleeping

I think I've mentioned before how I talk in my sleep. Something all three kids have inherited from me. I also move around a lot in my sleep. And at times, especially lately, I even act out my dreams.

I was dreaming of work. I dreamed I was in the nap room trying to get twenty young kids down for a nap. One of the child's blankets was stuck behind a table. The blanket was really stuck. I was tucking with all my strength to pull the blanket free.

I wake to Hubby yelling something. I open my eyes. My dream starts to melt away and I realize I am in my bedroom. Instead of a blanket I realize I have Hubby's pillow in my hands and was trying to pull from under his head.

I was dreaming of work again. This time I was dreaming I was in a classroom helping the kids with a project. We were working with leather. I was showing the kids how to push some pegs through the leather.

It doesn't make any sense but that was my dream. It takes a little strength and a little work. I'm showing the kids how to use their fingers to pound these pegs into the leather.

I wake to Hubby yelling something again. Instead of pounding pegs into leather as I was dreaming, I had been sitting up over Hubby pounding my fingers into his forehead.

Poor Hubby. I guess it's a good thing I didn't take a job with more strenuous activity. I think I would have been permanently banned to the couch if I had taken a job as a martial arts instructor.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Sick Day

Today I took my first sick day from work. Well, I haven't actually worked long enough to earn a sick day. Another week before I earn that. But I had to take the day without pay anyway. Chase woke up this morning with his eyes crushed shut. The poor thing has pink eye.

When I told him this he argued with me of course. He insisted "my eyes are not pink. They are black." Then he climbed on the toilet to look for himself in the bathroom mirror. There no convincing him his eyes are brown not black either.

I called into work and they were very understanding. I then called the clinic and was able to get right in. The doctor confirmed my suspicion of pink eye. She also let me know both his ears were infected and as I knew he's been fighting a nasty cold the last couple of days. The poor baby was just sick all over.

Chase has been such a trooper. After the doctor visit he wanted to go to school. He insisted he was well enough. Only after I bribed him with promises of hot chocolate and cartoons did he finally stop arguing.

Hubby and I are working up a plan for tomorrow so I won't have to miss another full day of work. Chase will no longer be contagious but I would like to wait to see how he feels before I take him to pre-school. If Chase still feels bad Hubby will take the morning off and then drop him off to me in the afternoon. I will take the rest of the afternoon off and take Chase home with me.

~~~~~~
My part of Alaska is slowly getting darker and colder. We are supposed to be in the single digits overnight this week. Hitting the upper teens during the day. And each day we lose about 7 minutes of daylight. The days are still long but late to start now. The sun is just starting to rise when I arrive at work shortly before nine.

There is a constant, thin blanket of snow on the ground. Just enough to hide the green grass beneath. We've had light snow off and on. Just enough to keep the ground covered in white.

We've also had two ice storms overnight. I only noticed the result the next morning when driving to work.

I am getting used to driving in the weather now. I did not take me long. It did all come back to me as some of you said it would.

~~~~~~
I am slowly adjusting my life around work. Adjusting to work was the easy part. Adjusting to my other normal routines was the problem. I am having some trouble trying to find the time to do all the housework I was used to doing before I worked. The kids have been keeping up with their chores and Hubby has taken on extra work around the house. It is my part that is falling short.

I still cook dinner every night, as I get home much earlier than Hubby. I do some minimal cleaning, and basic laundry, but that is the extent of it until weekends, just the basics.

I'm slowly adapting and trying to establish routines. I already have an effective nightly routine down. I pre-pack lunches, check back packs, sign notes, check the bank accounts, set out clothes for the next morning, and fill my purse and oversized bag with all the essentials I will need the next day.

My morning routine is just as effective. I have now adjusted to waking early and no longer feel so tired. I have myself timed well and get everyone out of the house on time. I even manage to arrive to work early.

Me early for something? Who would have imagined?

I now know the roads well. I know what roads are well plowed and which ones are lacking. I know which ones have more stop lights. Which ironically happen to coincide with the ones that are not as well kept. I've learned the quickest route to work, and the slightly longer one if I need to stop off for something in town.

I have myself well timed and know pretty well how long it will take me to get to work that morning just by watching the weather. I err on the side of caution and allow myself an extra ten to fifteen minutes. This gives me time to get Chase out of winter gear and settled in his classroom before I start working. It gives me time in case of stopped traffic for an accident, which has happen twice already. Or a little time to stop off at the Java Lava for a cappuccino. My little treat I allow myself a couple times a week.

I am also well organized at work. Now if I can just get myself on some sort of schedule in the time frame after I arrive home from work and before I start dinner it would be great. That's when I feel most drained and when all but the basic housework falls to the way side.

One thing that has helped is I recently signed Jr and Missy up at the Youth Center. They now go there after school. This gives me a little time to run errands in town on the way home from work instead of rushing home to meet the bus. It also works well if I ever get off work late or have to drive extra slow for the weather. The kids love it. They have a lot of activities each day. And the best part is after a $30 yearly fee it is free no matter how long they stay each day.

As you may have noticed I've also fallen behind on my blog. Both reading blogs and posting. So many times I've started a post, then saved it when something has come up planning to come back to finish and post it, but often not getting back to it. It instead stays in the saved work. I am working on improving that also.

I know I won't ever be Supermom but dang it I can dream can't I?

Friday, October 21, 2005

Another Day, Another Dollar

Work is going great. I can't believe how lucky I got to not only get a job that is the perfect hours for me, I have a job I love. How lucky is that. I've been counting my blessing lately and thanking God for helping me find this job.

I work with a great group of people. They laugh, joke and tease each other all day. Now I'm being teased just like the rest of them. This afternoon in particular I was harassed. I had one of those types of moments I seem to have all too often.

I was just about to leave work with Chase in tow. "Honey, where's your lunch box? I thought we just had it."

After a quick survey of the room I found it. I mumbled under my breath, but not quite quiet enough "uh, never mind. It's on my arm under my purse... Oh! I did forget my coffee mug though. Now where did I put it?"

A teacher who wears glasses looked up from his work. "Hey, has anyone seen my glasses?"

I make it way too easy for people.

Today was an interesting day at work to begin with. It's funny when you start a new job you think only of the positives. How much it will pay. The benefits. Hours. And so on. You rarely think of the negative... or gross jobs. And the staff rarely let you in on these little nasty secrets until after you're hired.

I was peed on the other day. Today I had to clean up vomit when a poor little one got sick.

It really surprised me when it didn't bother me. I cleaned it quickly and went back to comfort him until his mom could pick him up. All those numerous times of cleaning up after my own sick children have paid off.

I earned kudos from my co-workers when they learned who cleaned up the mess. To be honest I didn't think much of it. It happen in front of me so I cleaned it up as quickly as possible. It didn't really sink in until the job was done and the sickly little one was safely on his way home. It was then a teacher patted me on the back.

"Welcome to working in a school."

Gee, thanks for waiting until I was hired before warning me about this kind of stuff.

I found out that a couple of the staff members can not handle vomit. When it happens another has to clean it. I can guess who will be getting that job from now on. Maybe I shouldn't have been so quick to clean it up. I should have at least faked a gag or two.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Wet Initiation

It is official. I am now fully a part of the team at work. I was initiated today.

In other words, I was peed on.

I work with young kids. 3 to 6 year olds. So accidents happen often. It happen to me this afternoon while I was working in the nap room. I was in the middle of waking children.

After waking one child I lifted his blanket to fold it. I rested the blanket on my leg while I was folding it. It took a couple of seconds for the information from my leg to reach my brain. I had the blanket nearly folded before alarm bells went off in my head and I realized the blanket and now my leg were soaking wet.

The bright side of this all, besides giving everyone at work something to chuckle at, is that this happen at the end of the day. It was my last assignment for the day before leaving work. I only had to drive home in my wet pants.

I think tomorrow I'll start bringing an extra set of clothes. Just in case.

Friday, October 14, 2005

Rocking the House, 80's Style

I finished my first week of work. I still love the job. I'm still very busy so the work day flies by. I'm also on my feet for most of the time I'm there. I rarely have an opportunity to sit. My feet are aching but that too I'm sure I'll get used too. I learned by day two to wear comfortable shoes. Good thing I'm not a stiletto girl anyway.

Chase loves pre-school now. After the first two days of not being so sure and crying when mommy first left his classroom, he's doing great. He woke up this morning ready to go. He told me "mom we have to go. My teacher's are waiting for me." I guess he figures class just can't start without him.

Tonight we have another party. This one is 80's theme. After working all week I'm ready to let my hair down...Or spiked up in this case. I'm wearing a vest, because I remember a vest being my most important staple in my 80's wardrobe. I donned a bunch of blue eye shadow. Ratted my hair so high and so far out I'm starting to worry about catching it in the car door when we leave. I have so much hair spray in my hair that I think my head is nearly bullet proof. I almost forgot how much hair spray was necessary for any cool 80's hair style.

I also couldn't forget my multiple earrings. I had my ears pierced three times on my left ear lobe and two times on my right. Because back then it was cool to have your ears pierced as many times as possible, and you must always have one extra on the left than the right. I was surprised when I could still stick earrings through the extra holes in my ears. I haven't worn more than one pair of earrings in years.

The kids watched me get ready for the party with looks mixed between humor and horror. They couldn't believe it was actually cool to look this way back then.

I'm waiting on Hubby to get home. If the kids think I look weird they are going to have a ball laughing at their daddy. For Hubby's costume I picked him up a mullet wig. I'm sure I'll be watching him all night waiting for him to break into a chorus of "Achy Breaky Heart."

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Snow Days

Today was my second day at work. I am really enjoying it. I only work part-time, about five and half hours. The day just flies by. I am so busy my work day is over before I know it. That's the way I prefer it. I would rather things busy.

Chase is getting used to his new pre-school class. He seems to really enjoy it once he's there. It's a matter of getting him into his classroom. He cries a bit in the morning. But once I'm out of sight he's all smiles.

I'm waking earlier in the morning. That's the hardest part to get used to. I only get up an hour earlier but boy is that extra hour kicking my butt. I don't have to leave for work until about 8:30 in the morning. But I wake up at 5:30. That way I can get ready for work before I have to wake the kids for school.

The weather has been nasty lately. This morning when I left for work it was 24 degrees with a light dust of snow on the roads. Tonight I had to make a meeting. After the meeting I drove home in the dark through a heavier snow. The roads were so covered you couldn't see the lane lines. I did what everyone else did. Followed the tire tracks left from the car in front of me.

I'm a little ashamed of my white knuckle hold on the steering wheel driving in this kind of weather. I grew up in Utah. I was used to snow. I practically learned to drive in the snow. I remember doing donuts in snow covered parking lots. Driving down wide side roads and hitting the brakes hard so I could do a one-eighty. (Mom if you happen to read this. Uh, that's how I got the car stuck in the snow bank when I was sixteen) As a teen I thought driving in the snow was about the coolest thing to do in our small town.

I was a little stupid as a teen, but at that age who wasn't. I did things to the car I wouldn't do now. But also then I was very used to driving in that kind of climate. I knew my own and the car's limits. I also had enough sense to only perform the stupid stunts in empty parking lots and wide back roads where I couldn't injure anyone.

Now I come home from driving, even in a light snow, shaking all over and hands sore from my perma-grip on the steering wheel. It's not so much common sense we seem to acquire with age. I think it has more to do with the fact that I have lived in the south for the majority of the last nine years. I seemed to have forgotten the rules of the snow covered road.

I'm living in Alaska now, I guess I better start getting used to it. I'm sure in time I'll relax a little more. Though I don't see myself attempting donuts or one-eighties... Not on purpose anyway.

Monday, October 10, 2005

Working Mommy

I had my job interview today. I got the job! I start tomorrow morning.

The hours are perfect. I can get Jr and Missy off to school in the morning, and be there to pick them up in the after school. Not to mention I will have weekends and school holidays off.

Chase is going with me. He will be enrolled in the preschool program there.

Well, I have to go get things together for my first day back to work and Chase's first day of preschool.

Friday, October 07, 2005

A Few Things

Nickelodeon is featuring a little informational segment about 'flatulence', as they put it. I have to admit it was pretty funny. As a fan of a good laugh, I have to admire that.

But my kids really don't need any more encouragement to make bodily noises, sheesh.

~~~~
My nine year old daughter has been told she's a hottie.

Missy came home from school and proudly announced to a stunned mom and dad that three boys on bus number 10 saw her at the bus stop and called her a hottie. A couple of her friends were on this bus and related the story, including lots of little girl giggles, to my daughter.

This must be my punishment for being so boy crazy when I was young.

~~~~
I'm sorely outnumbered when it comes to sports in the house. I'd rather watch, well, anything but a sports game on t.v. The three boys, Hubby included, have Missy and I out voted.

A note to my neighbors: Those yells and screams you've heard coming from my house lately is not a domestic dispute or my children gone wild. I can assure you everyone in the house is fine. It is just my boys enjoying, or cursing, their current sports game.

~~~~
Store owners are on my list this week. I know you all put the candy in the check line just so I can argue with my children. I am quite aware on what a deliberate marketing ploy this is.

Isn't it enough that I often buy the magazine I am flipping through while waiting for my turn to pay for my purchases. I easily surrender to that marketing ploy. Must you target my children also?

I ask you to move that candy not only for my own sanity but for the sanity of parents every where. Not to mention your cashiers who also have to listen to the whining children.

My idea is to move all sugary snacks to top shelves in the back of the store. Better yet, hide them deep in the woman's underwear section. I can assure you this will increase customer appreciation and will stop tantrums in the check out line.

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Soccer Mishaps

I got a call from the school nurse today. Jr had a little mishap playing soccer. Poor kid got slammed in the face with the soccer ball. It broke his glasses. The frame split and the lens popped out. The broken frame cut his eye lid.

He came home from school with his pieces of glasses in a baggy. His left cheek red and puffy. And his eye swollen. He said the nurse thought he was going to have a black eye for sure. He said she iced it. It helped. It doesn't look like he'll go to school sporting a shiner tomorrow. I do imagine it will still be a little swollen.

The school had called to ask if he had a spare pair I could bring down. Unfortunately I didn't. He's had his glasses less than a year, and at the time all I could afford was that one pair. I was smart enough to make sure I had warranty on them just in case.

After school I took him to town to try and get them fixed. It took some time to find someone who would honor the warranty. I was starting to panic. I still had 5 months left on his warranty and I wasn't sure I was going to get to use it. I bought the glasses in Texas. When I bought them I asked before purchasing the warranty if it would be transferable to Alaska. I was assured I'd have no problem finding a place that would take it. Hah!

As we're getting the run around I was balancing the bank account in my head. There was no way I'd be able to afford another pair just yet. I had just caught up on bills, got all the kids Halloween costumes, and Hubby had to get new tires on his car. With the extras we were already scrapping bottom.

Isn't that the way it always happens? When you have a payday where money is already tight something breaks?!

So I'm running this all through my mind as we tried another place. I figured it would be another week before I could afford another pair of glasses. Then it would probably take an additional week for them to be ordered. I'm wondering how in the world this poor kid is going to make it two weeks without glasses.

Luck was on our side. We found the one place within 300 miles that honors this particular warranty. They also had his particular frames in stock. Jr had his new glasses within about 15 minutes. Whew. I heaved a huge sigh of relief.

Just as soon as I can afford it I'm going to get him another pair and probably drop them off at the school. As much as Jr loves sports I'm afraid this won't be the last mishap. At least that way he won't have to walk around half blind the rest of the school day like he did today. Not that he complained though. He got out of a lot of school work. He could barely see out of his swollen left eye, and without his glasses he couldn't see far with the right. So the teacher let him off easy today, and let him out of his homework too. And you know how boys are. Any injury is a thing to brag about the next day. They just love recounting the play by plays on how they got hurt. He might actually be disappointed that he doesn't have a black eye to show off. Kids.

On another note I got a call today and I have a job interview on Monday. I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. I don't know whether to do my happy dance or throw up.

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Have a Heart

While shopping yesterday I found this cute thing to hang on the wall. It is a cute woman made from wood. Across her chest is written "mom's busy. Have a heart."

I just loved it. I was showing the kids my find and trying to decide where to put it.

Jr took one look at it and said "you should hang it on the bathroom door."

Monday, October 03, 2005

Oh What A Lovely Morning

I woke this morning to Chase yelling "Don't worry mommy I'll save you!"

Before I could even open my eyes he belly flopped himself over my head. I then felt the distinct depression in the mattress of two very mischievous puppies jumping on the bed.

"Get away dogs! Go! My mommy's sleeping."

Uh, not anymore she's not.

Sunday, October 02, 2005

Stuck In Between Dream Land and Road Construction III

~Conclusion~

After a 25 minute drive I made it to town. I pull out my handy directions I printed off the Internet. I start looking for the first road I was to pull off. For the life of me I can't find it. I drive all the way through town, still no luck. I turn the van around and start looking again. I carefully check every street sign. No luck.

I get back to the beginning of town and still no luck. Okay, don't panic. It's too late to drive back home and look up new directions. What do I do? I know. I'll drive down the main road and see if I can find any of the other streets on the directions.

The plan worked. I found street numbered 3 in the directions. Oh course I turned west when I should have turned east. It took me until I reached the end of the street before I realized this.

Finally on the right side of the road I start looking. I find another road listed on the map. Woohoo! Now we're making progress! Or so I thought.

I reached the final street, the one the school was on and immediately hit road construction. It was a section of the road blocked off being repaired. I turned around and tried going up a block. I hit another section blocked off. Tried going up further, and so it went. I would turn around, try another side road, hit another section of construction, and on and on it went.

I finally saw a school. It had to be it I thought. I could see the buses. It took me some time to navigate through the sections of road construction but I finally reached it. The sign for the school was on the side of the building -the side blocked by a section of construction.

It's okay. How many schools can there be on this road? This must be it. Just in case I'll go in and if it's not it I'll tell them what school I'm looking for.

The school was named something like 'First Moments School' - (named changed) I walked inside and looked for signs, anything to tell me if this was the right place. I saw a bill board. I quickly scanned the info. I see a sign on top that says 'Moments Schools.' Aha this has to be it!

I found the office and spoke to a woman. I told her I was here to drop off my resume and pick up an application.

Woman-"I'm sorry Sue left early. I'm just filling in. I don't know where she keeps the applications."

*RED FLAG #1 - the woman I talked to on the phone was named Jane not Sue

"That's okay. If it's alright I'll just drop off my resume and I can come back tomorrow to pick up the application."

Woman-"That would be great. I would love to help but I'm just filling in. I'm actually just a parent filling in."

Hmm, having a parent filling in. They must really need help

"No problem at all. I'll come by tomorrow."

Woman-"You should come first thing in the morning. Sue's been hurt and has been leaving by ten."

RED FLAG #2 - I spoke to the woman on the phone about noon.

Woman-"Are you putting in for the Teacher Aide position?"

RED FLAG #3- Not the job I was putting in for, nor did the school have this title listed.

After leaving my resume I left the building with all these red flags circling around in my mind. I decided to walk along the side of the building to take a look at the sign.
'Charter Moments School'

misprint in the newspaper? Is this the school's real name? It's so close. First Moments School and Charter Moments School. Or is this another red flag?

Once I got in the van I drove down about a half a block and then pulled over. I started digging through my van to see if I still had the newspaper ad. I didn't find it but I did find another piece of paper I had jotted down the building number.

3015 Okay I'll just turn around and see if that school building number matches up, and then I know for sure.

A quick turn around and I saw the numbers 2210.

Damn

So after near to no sleep, and a serious eyebrow mishap, I can now add dropping off my resume to the wrong place to the list. On the bright side - and at this point I was looking for any bright side I could find- I did drop off my resume to a place that was obviously in need of help.

By this time is was too late to continue looking for the correct building. As it was I was going to have to haul butt back home if I was going to make it to meet Jr and Missy at the bus stop.

"So that's what happen. It was horrible. I know that school was right there somewhere but I just couldn't get to it. And did I mention I shaved off part of my eyebrow?"

Hubby- "Yes. And I uh, noticed it before you said anything.

Sniff Sob

On the up side to this story my eyebrow is growing back nicely. And the following day (Wednesday) I found the correct school. I had gone every wrong way possible, there was few choices left. I dropped off my resume and had a nice chat with the woman I had spoke to on the phone.

Camouflaged Daydreams