Stress sucks

My husband started a new job about a year and a half ago, and is now going back to school. For those of you who don't know, he was a stay-at-home Dad who worked in the evenings for about seven years before all of this, and did a fantastic job. I was always the stress case, struggling to maintain my sanity while raising two small boys alone in the evenings.

Now, you may argue, "what's the difference between raising them alone in the evening as opposed to raising them alone during the day?" And I would tell you honestly, "I don't know." But I have seen a marked difference in my husband since he has returned to work full time. I now get home a couple of hours later than he does, and it's usually mayhem at the house. I actually thanked him the other day, just because I realized that I wasn't a total freak all those years. If it can affect Ed this way, I know that I wasn't insane. He acknowledged that, saying that he of course knew I wasn't insane. (Diplomatic, wouldn't you say?)

But in light of the stress full-time work in a stressful, high-profile position can cause, I'd say we're doing pretty well. I fully realize that it's my turn to shine, as it were; to take the load off Ed so he can take care of business. Once school starts in earnest for him, I know how important that will be. I hope that I can remain selfless and "fight" for the greater good. Now if I can just convince my kids. :)

But, like my title says, stress sucks. Ed's intent is that with his degree he will be able to support us as a family and allow me the opportunity, at long last, to stay home. I look forward to it, but realize that it may not be so important once it gets here. But then again, with teen boys (by then) it may be more important than ever.

Have a great day.

We're growing...

I realized I said I would post info about our garden expansion here at work, and then never did. I work for Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, and we have the Conservation Garden Park on our site. It's really pretty cool. The last year has been a painful growing experience, in that we are expanding the current 2-acre garden, which showcases waterwise landscaping, into a 4.5-acre garden which will teach people how to achieve that type of landscape. For more info, visit www.conservationgardenpark.org.

It's been a thrilling project, and I'm happy to have been a part of it. I've learned a lot about how much coordination and attention to detail is required for a project of this size, where most of my projects here at work are done by me. Solo. I've often said it's hard to be a creative team of one, and it really is. However, I was privileged to work with some now great friends in San Diego (DPA, SMY, ADA, you know who you are), and am still working with them. A great group, all of them. Thanks to them all for their tutorship, mentoring, and help. You rock!

As for outside resources for those who must design on their own, I highly recommend "Before and After," an excellent series to which you can subscribe. The good news for me is, I've turned in a proposal here at work to see if we (I) can get some additional help around here. I'll let you know how it goes.

Quail meeting

The other day Lennon was looking out into our backyard when he said, "If you look outside you'll see a meeting of quail."

Me: "A meeting of quail?"

Lennon: "Yeah, a big meeting."

I love kids!

Surgery Update

My surgery went well, for a surgery. Life is mostly back to normal, but I still had to ask the question after it was all over, "Was that worth it?" Time will tell, I suppose.

On a childish note (hee hee), my kids are back in school and doing well. They don't have school lunch for the first month (what the?), so we've been making them for them. I think they're enjoying it, but Lennon lost his lunch bag the first week. Still hasn't turned up!

Sorry for the short note; I just felt it was time to get back in the swing of blogging, and the wife of a friend here at work started one, so I was feeling left out. :( I told him he'd be my inspiration to start again.

I need to write more about the garden expansion, so will plan to do that next post.
Ciao!

Cumet de Fois

Got to be a part of my niece's wedding Saturday. What a spiritually moving event. Sitting in the temple I love to drink in the Spirit. It was a joy to spend time with all of my family--they are a treasure to me in every sense of the word. The wedding was in Highland, and I got to travel there with my brother, who had flown in from Denver, and parents. What a treat.

On the way (there or back, can't remember), my brother and I were discussing many things, and I don't recall what we were talking about when all of a sudden he said, "Cumet de Fois." I asked him, "What does that mean?" He looked at me funny. It was then I realized that he said, "Kewmit the Fwog." He really doesn't speak French. :)

Other hilarious moments included his retelling of my sister and me folding clothes as part of our chores, then pointing to a pile of freshly-folded linens and asking, "Is that Gomer's pile?" Jesse related that story and I burst out laughing, just at the pure silliness of it all, but then it got better--apparently we referred to Jesse as "Gomer" growing up, and it was his pile of clothes we would point to. I had no memory of that, but it still makes me laugh. Poor youngest brother who had nothing but older sisters to pester and smother him. I'm shocked he turned out so well.

Another was when Jesse used the term, "decidedly odd." If that doesn't tell you something about my brother, I'm afraid you'll never understand. I love that guy immensely.

Cumet de Fois!

Of bubbles and waffles

"Oh, I wanna eat and eat and eat and eat until I die!"

There's a lady here at my work whom I just adore. I can be in the dumps considerably, and after five minutes with her, life is rosy again. I don't know what it is, other than her bubbly personality and joyful outlook. That or she's in a constant manic state. Either way, for me it's infectious. Don't get me wrong--every manic episode seems to require a fall, and she does have those, as well, at which point we lift her back to her effervescent self. Frankly, I love being a part of it.

On another note (waffles), I'm waffling with a decision, and I hate that. Those are the tough ones. Usually my gut tells me right up front, and I'm pretty sure I know the answer with this one, but when I tell myself that's it, I get a little panicky. Not a fun place to be. Sigh. I had surgery five years ago, and now I've learned that some muscles have separated from my ribs, which will require another surgery to fix it. It's not urgent, but it would be nice to get it done. I'm just not looking forward to another surgery of any kind. So I'm still waffling. Writing it down hasn't helped much. :)

The crisis is over

Thank goodness. The project I mentioned in my last couple of posts is in final review, and changes were made to everyone's satisfaction (even mine, if you can believe it). Today I feel like a bump on a log as I'm not in a pressure cooker to get anything done. Just waiting around for reviewers, writers, etc. While it's a relief, it's also a wee bit uncomfortable. Not something I've had the pleasure of feeling for a while.

The other day I was offering 20 points to whomever could tell me the source of this song: "Turkey, lobster, sweet potato pie; pancakes piled up till they reach the sky." Here's a part I can't remember, then on to a big finish: "Oh I wanna eat and eat and eat and eat until I die!"

I know Jesse will guess, and probably most anyone in my family, but it was fun to watch co-workers screw up their faces trying to figure it out. Good luck!