Monday, Monday...

We were all geared up for a family day at the fair today when just before we left I had a prospective employer call and ask if I could come in. Um... OK! So I did that and then ran home to change back into my fair attire and we headed out. Today was the quiet day, rides are being saved up for Friday.





American Gothic.
aflac...aflac...AFLAC!!! One of the ducks said it. I swear.

A sitting cow?!

I get to claim that this artist is one of my good friends! Congrats, Brooke! I knew that picture was a winner!

Our annual photo button. Larry and I have been getting them forever!

The Island

Saturday I returned "home". I get a little sad every time I go to the south end of Whidbey because I have no family there anymore. No "base". I'm now an outsider, looking in the windows of my home. But it was also therapeutic because I got to reconnect with lots of old classmates and introduce my children to a few island memories. And so they reminded me that I was still a part of the fabric of the island.

A really blurry shot (I swear I'm getting a new camera when I get a job)... my kids were totally enamored by Michael. I remember him being the pest on the school bus ;)
My kids in one of the fire trucks. I was bummed that the fire fighter on duty was new, so he didn't remember my dad. But I still like the fact that my kids were crawling around in my dad's old truck.
Ah, the Fiddle Faddle Farm. I used to run around in there every year when I was a kid. We used to be able to catch farm animals in the Critter Chase and bring them home. PETA ended that tradition.
Brady wasn't tall enough to ride these alone, but apparently the carny doesn't discriminate.
Tuned in and blocked out. Stick a pacifier in his mouth and call him the pinball wizard.

Tom, Carrie, and Mike patiently waiting for me while the kids rode some rides.
Me, Trice, and Carrie at Freeland Park.

My mom knows me

She made her boyfriend send me this photo:

Dust off my bottom and get back on the horse

So today I woke up, took a long Internet placement test (which I'm pretty confident in my aptitude), had a phone interview with a bank, and got a few chores completed. I have to say I am really encouraged by the responses I've gotten so far during my job search. And the farther I get away from my last day at my old job, the easier I breathe.
And I'm totally excited about this weekend, I am heading down to the island to have a picnic with some old classmates, possibly see some family, and do the island county fair and see some more old friends from high school. Facebook has encouraged us all to actually reconnect with each other.
And... as much as I hated that my mother did it every summer, I am counting down the days until Brady goes back to school. He is driving me bonkers!

I need some bootstraps

To pull up.
I quit my job yesterday. I had it up to here. I don't want to go into it much here because I just don't have the interest to give this situation any energy. I'm done, period.
But, that fact doesn't stop the onslaught of sheer panic over my current state of employ. Especially in this economy. So I've been very diligent about preparing my resume (it's really short) and searching for a job that pays me what I'm worth and brings me joy and satisfaction. Not too tall of an order I think.
I have noticed the waves of emotion taking their toll though. I took a nap today (a rarity) and I'm still exhausted. Besides my own personal drama, I also found out my brother lost his home, my friends husband has started Hospice, another friend is just plain ole struggling to maintain... I feel completely overwhelmed and drained of energy.
Somebody find me some bootstraps (whatever the hell they are!)

You Can't Choose Your Family

Last weekend the kids spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa's house when Larry and I went to the Mariners game and then to a wedding the next day. I could use more weekends like that (sans children that is).

This is what I have to put up with (and I love it):
On the door of Grandma & Grandpa's house when we pull up to take our children home.

Lil' Larry & Heather

The kids are in the bedroom tied up with gags on. They can breathe we think.

We have left. Probably not coming back.

Being Grandparents is an honor and we are very proud of the grandkids.

Now that we are old we need naps, they don't. We need quiet, not in their vocabulary. We eat at a specific time. They eat all the time. We need time alone. They need our time.

All in all a great couple of days.

Love ya

Cameron & Sue

No forwarding address or phone number.

We open the door and Cameron had overturned chairs, strewn magazines all over the floor and his clothes were disheveled.

I love that I have a fellow smart-ass in the family. He takes the heat off me and I have someone who can dish it out AND take it. I love you Cameron!

Mom's Adventure

Tuesday after mom retired, she headed to Ketchikan with her new main squeeze for a couple of weeks of nuttin'. I've been receiving photo updates from Jim during their trip. Looks like they're having a grand time!
I personally think this is one of the nicest pictures of my mom ever.