I have no idea what to title this post

I finished my eight week condensed course and now have four more college credits to my name. The class took up a lot of my time especially the second half of it and now work has me incredibly busy. This makes finding time to blog difficult and the inspiration isn't so easy. I spend about three hours a day commuting due to the location of Mini Red's camp. Quite a few topics have crossed my mind during the long hours in the car but when it comes time to sitting down and writing it out I'm finding other things that need to be done.

This weekend Mini Red and I have been under the weather. When I picked her up from camp on Friday she was sniffing and sneezing like crazy. I had been fighting a migraine all day and couldn't get out of work early since there was so much to do. The evening plans had changed and Mini Red and I were staying in. This meant no blogger happy hour for me this month.

Mini Red and I did get out and make it to the company picnic on Saturday after much debate. I was hoping the heat and just getting out would help and it did. It was a good thing we went because there weren't many people in attendance. Not one of our executives showed up. The company has gone through some major changes in the last year and it has been very scary and difficult for those of us that have stayed/survived. Things have been getting better but the lack of executives at the picnic was quite a blow to many of us and gives a bad impression of how they (The Executives) feel about the company and it's future.

After the picnic we were exhausted. The drive home seemed to take forever and we were looking forward to putting on a movie and taking a nap. Mini Red pulled out the blow up mattress and made herself comfortable and I crashed on the couch.

Sunday brought more laziness and trying to figure out how to transfer VHS to DVD while suffering another migraine. We also watched home movies from when Mini Red was little little little. Oh how she has changed and I would love to revisit her at that age and just hug her. My favorite was at the age of almost four, on Christmas morning Mini Red was lead into the room with the gifts under the tree. When she saw everything she exclaimed in a high pitched voice, "Look at all the stuff!" Aww she is so cute and I would love to have another. Mini Red says I could just have one injected since I don't have a man. How cute is she?

We then reluctantly ran out to get groceries for the coming week during the thunderstorm and this helped both of us a lot. We enjoyed walking through the rain in and out of the store plus Mini Red was a huge help and made this chore enjoyable because we worked together.

As for my course I learned some really fun stuff that can be done with Photoshop. My third assignment was my favorite. In this assignment we were to show what we learned about channels and creating highlights and shadows among other things like rays of sunlight. I used two of my own photos and four stock photos. I added shadows and rays and used filters. Here are the photos I used:

My end result:

The Big Catch Up... Are you Ready?

The posts have been few and far between and what has been posted has been minor stuff. I guess I should get a little caught up.

Last Thursday I had a project due for class and it had me all in a tizzy. I had been working on it for about a week and last Tuesday when I was in class I realized I missed a few of the requirements and had to throw the whole thing out and start from scratch. I left class right after the lecture and got home and got to it. I worked til 3am got up the next morning and got back to work immediately after dropping Mini Red off at camp and worked til late afternoon. I was done and had met the requirements but there was an issue with part of it that I wasn’t quite sure how to deal with.

After the lecture on Thursday I asked my professor for some advice and he said it would take some doing but I could have til Tuesday to turn it in if I wanted. On the other hand he noted that I met all the requirements and could turn it in as is. I worked on it during our lab and got a small portion done but I wasn’t happy. I decided to turn it in and still work on it over the weekend and then see about turning it in again on Tuesday. I needed to turn it in at least for me. I needed to show I could meet the deadline with the requirements met. I also need to show I can take that extra step to do what is really necessary and show it's more than the requirements and that I can be thorough and turn out a good product.

Not sure what I think of my end product. I guess it’s like an artist looking at their own work and they can be their own worst critic. I love it and hate it. Now I have to start my final project and the blank canvas can be the most difficult part. I’ll be working on this through out the weekend.

This weekend I was supposed to go to the beach again but I woke up Friday morning and just didn’t feel right. I’m exhausted and just couldn’t see making the three hour drive when I couldn’t leave as early as I planned, which was to work from home in the morning and leave around noon. The goal was to make it to the beach for happy hour but then my presence was requested in a meeting at 1pm. This meant I would be in the office and I couldn’t turn it down since I didn’t have official leave time on the books and had only gotten a verbal ok from a supervisor.

On top of that I got a peek at Mini Red’s room. I try not to be overbearing since most kids grow up living in a messy room and I try to let her take care of it knowing that when I see it in such disarray I usually go a little bat shit like I did Friday morning. The most amazing part is her laundry. I know our lives are crazy lately but her laundry is multiplying like rabbits. I’ve had her do some of her laundry when she is hanging at Grandmas while I’m in class but it hasn’t even made a dent. So I laid some Catholic guilt on her and let her know some of the reason I’m staying home this weekend is to do some cleaning in her room as well as her laundry. There is so much laundry that my Mom has offered to do it this week and I just have to drop it off. I might have to take her up on some of that.

Since there was no beach I mention grabbing a drink after work to a few of the girls at the office and they were all up for that. Liz is the one who finds new places so we checked out Seagar’s in the Hilton near the King Street Metro. After there we headed over to Joe Theisman’s where there was more of a crowd but we all agreed that Union Street Pub is the place that consistently has a better choice of eye candy. Plus they have these great bar stools that are a little wider with handles so you can hold on if you drink too much.

I got home a reasonable hour, especially for someone my age. Yes, I’m old! Last weekend I was sitting on the beach watching Mini Red play in the ocean. I was thinking about how I’m turning 39 next month and that means 40 next year. Holy Fuck I’ll be 40! There were tears in my eyes as I contemplated this. I’ve already told friends that we need to throw me a party. I haven’t had a birthday party since I was 8 and I figured there’s no beating around the bush about this and I would just be blunt about it. I even suggested an extended chick’s weekend at the beach and that would lower cost for some of my friends but in thinking about this more I may need to do something spectacular for myself. I’ve never been one to say I have to do this this and this by the time I’m this this and this age but I may not be able to do this this and this for much longer. I need to get crack-a-lacking but life is getting in the way.

I left my ex the day before I turned thirty with the hope that I was still young enough to get my life where I wanted it to be. Life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect it. I guess I’m just trying to figure out what I need to do next. I’m in College and getting that done but what else is there? There are places to see but not sure where I want to go plus there really isn’t anyone to go with. We are back to this alone shit again. This is what I like about going to the beach when Mini Red is gone… I’m not alone and at home I just get sad over this shit.

So I digressed… Sorry.

Saturday, I headed out to get some things done. I ran to the bank so I could get quarters for the laundry. Picked up a coffee at Dunkin and headed over to my Aunts to help her with her computer. It’s funny… I was telling here there is a service called The Geek Squad that she could always use. She said, “Why use them. You are my geek!”

Oye! I guess I am a geek.

Next, I stopped in Home Goods to see what they had before heading over to Shoppers to pick up broccoli for a dish I was making for a barbecue Saturday night. I put the broccoli in the cooler I keep in my car and headed over to UA Nails in White Flint to get my toes done. I had planned to get a well deserved and needed pedicure on Wednesday but I ended up working on my project all day. I picked out my nail color and the girl was working on my feet and it was feeling very nice I must say. I was thinking this is a treat that really isn’t expensive enough to break my bank and I need to partake more. The girl grabs my flip flops to put on my feet so she can paint the toes and she has a funny look on her face and then I see it! I have two different flip flops on and I've been wearing them all day! I couldn’t stop laughing and the girl couldn’t help but laugh too. I can’t believe I did that. I guess I need some more sleep.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of the shoe incident from fifth grade. I couldn’t decide which shoes to wear to school one day so I put a different shoe on each foot and was checking myself out in the mirror. I lost track of time and somehow forgot I had two different shoes on and ended up at school like this. OMG! So I called my Grandma since Mom wasn’t home and asked her to bring me a shoe that would match one that I had. I thought she would just bring one shoe and that would also resolve my dilemma of which shoe to wear. Plus I could blame it on her if it looked bad. The problem was…She brought both and I still had to decide which shoe to wear.

After the pedicure I headed home with my two different shoes to get a load of laundry in and make the broccoli salad. I picked up Mrs. M a little late, as I am usually at least a little late, and we headed to Woodbridge for a Poker Barbecue (that’s gonna get some comments from Uncle Keith) at Google Boy’s house. I don’t know how to play poker but Google Boy’s Wife really knows how to cook and that was what I was looking forward to. I brought Mrs. M since she is a killer poker player but I made the mistake of letting Google Boy know that.

The food was excellent, as I had expected, and Mrs. M and I joined in a game of Wii bowling before the poker game got started. I didn’t play poker since I’m clueless about the game… or at least was clueless. Liz showed up and joined the game stating she had no idea how to play either but in the end she nearly ran away with everyone’s money until Google Boy got a really good hand and wiped her out.

Today is the BIG laundry day. I’ve separated out the laundry into six piles, 95% of which is Mini Red’s. One load is in and this may not be as easy as I was hoping. I had to go two floors up to even find an open machine.

Now, I guess, it's time to head into Mini Red's room and her bathroom. I'm really scared!

Talk to the hand cause the face just don't want to hear it

There have been times in my life where I’ve become grumpy. I say grumpy because it just didn’t seem to be enough to refer to it as a bout of depression. My divorce brought on a lot of this and the struggling I have done to make it all work and forge forward and create a great life for Mini Red.

I have come to rely on only myself but to not be afraid to ask family for help. Asking is the key because they can’t know unless I ask them and asking for help is not easy for me.

There were times I would come home from work and turn off the home phone and the cell phone. For me it was shutting out everything that was bothering me or causing me stress. I would then focus on Mini Red and we would fix dinner and do homework and have the evening and I would do my best not to think about what was bothering me. I was even shutting out my family and would go weeks without speaking to them. This was before Mini Red was hanging at the folks after school and before family dinner nights. I thought they would miss me and be worried and try to contact me to make sure everything was ok. The funny thing is they didn’t even notice because we were all so busy. I think the family dinners started because I would then talk to Mom about this and she realized we were all drifting apart.

The family dinners have been so good for our family. With the large age difference between my siblings and I there was a disconnect. Since starting the family dinner nights we have all become closer and more family members are joining.

My goal is to provide a great life for Mini Red as she grows into her own. I have also understood that if I don’t take care of myself then I can’t effectively take care of her. So I would try to get out and do stuff like date and hang with friends. I felt this was important for Mini Red to see so she would do the same for herself when she was older. Part of me always thought I would meet someone and we would work together have more kids and create this great life I couldn’t make work with FN. I left FN the day before I turned 30 hoping there was still enough time to meet someone to have more kids and build that home life I couldn’t make work the first go round.

So almost 9 years later I see it differently. I want to have a home and a dog for Mini Red but I want to get to that point on my own. I don’t need some guy but some guy would be nice to have. I still yearn to have at least one more child but I’m resolved that probably won’t happen. The goals and the outlook have changed.

Lately, my life is harry at best. I’m in college taking one course at a time and this second class is condensed which makes it more difficult. This is on top of a full time job, being a single Mom and trying to find some time for myself after I have had some time with Mini Red.

This is all ok and there is a definite goal that will be reached and a lesson for Mini Red to learn. What is really bothering me is some of the people in my life just don’t get it.

I have a friend who is a stay-at-home Mom caring for two kids. That is not an easy job but she has a husband that works so she can do this. She is forever asking me to give up something to help her. Help her!? So I help and I’ve taken off work to watch her kids and I stayed over to drive her and the kids to the airport for her vacation, closed up her house and even drove to her place several times a week to water the lawn and garden for two weeks. While she was on vacation I started my next class, which is condensed meaning twice a week from 6 to 10:50 at night. She then got mad when she called from her vacation to see if I could pick them up from the airport. When I said I couldn’t for some really valid reasons, one of which is Mini Red needed to catch her bus and I wouldn’t leave her to get ready on her own, she got mad. Yes, she got mad and even hung up on me. She called about a week after they got home and acted like nothing happened. Not even a thank you for watering or checking on their home. She doesn’t get it and I just don’t have the time to deal with this right now so I guess I’m shutting her out.

There’s this guy and he is really sweet but he isn’t for me. I have let him know this three times and he agreed that we would just be friends. We have hung out and had fun but he is really pushing for something more. It looks like we can’t even be friends and I can’t deal with trying to fight him off right now so I guess I’m shutting him out.

I realized that right now I’m shutting people out and turning off the phones so-to-speak but not to my family. I need my family and these weekends at the beach with them are perfect. I don’t have to do anything but be me and relax and have that bucket of alcohol to wash away the week’s crap. There is no stress here and that is what I need after my crazy weeks.

When this class is over I will talk to my friend and we will work it out because I love her. That guy can’t be in my life anymore because nothing will happen with us and he can’t seem to accept that. I still hope that one day I will meet a guy who can accept my craziness and me and can accept that I have Mini Red (that also seems to be an issue with many guys).

For right now I’m shutting some people out because sometimes you do what you have to do so you can get through life.

This is why I blog…

So I have someone to tell all about my odd little days filled with good and bad, especially the good.

The day started off well enough. I got to work and ate my oatmeal with berries. I logged on to see if my test of the Preventive Maintenance (PMs) auto generation worked properly. It did… sort of. This meant tinkering with it all morning and it still wasn't working right. Finally, I set it to run while I was out to lunch and figured I would work on it when I got back.

Trish was picking me up and we were meeting Justin for lunch at Chevy’s at one of the Pentagon malls. First I ran to my car to grab the gift I had for her and the baby. She had offered to pick me up since I was just over the bridge and I was more than happy to let her. So I stood out there on 14th Street waiting for her holding a bag that said “TaDa”. I quickly turned the bag around and gave myself a quick once over to make sure I couldn’t be mistaken for a… You know. Then again they don’t hang around there anymore… Do they? I couldn’t help but laugh and hope she would show up soon, which she did.

I could have stayed at lunch all day. We had a seat outside and Justin and I decided to get the Frozen Watermelon Margarita. YumFookingYum!! We covered a wide range of topics including Boobs. Trish keeps asking me how I deal with them because it’s taking some getting used to. She’s hoping she gets to keep them after the baby arrives. Time flew by too fast and I knew I had to get back and get the test PMs running for the client. We all agreed that our lunch reminded us of a “Sex In The City” episode. None of us could claim to be Samantha but in the end we decided that today Trish was a “Pregnant, Put Together, Charlotte”, I was a “Too Busy Miranda with no Man”, and Justin was “Carrie” because he has the boyfriend, the social life, and just got back from Aruba and is lookin so fine. Beotch! I tried to arrange something where we all go out before Trish has the baby because she could be the DD. Plus she doesn’t need a drop to drink to have a good time or instigate something. I can’t wait to have lunch with you guys again soon. I miss the whole gang not being together anymore.

Back at work I found that all my hard work paid off and the PMs ran perfectly. I documented it and successfully finished some other tasks before heading out. Tonight is class you know and I need to see Mini Red on my way there. I was in a great mood til I came up against Metro Area drivers. They are all over the place and my point was proven as I drove up Cathedral Avenue. Some nut bag not only hit a parked car but his right front wheel was in the parked car’s front windshield. WTF!?!? I know I need to be faster with the camera but I need to see Mini Red before getting to class.

Can I tell you how much I hate Connecticut Avenue on the Maryland side of Chevy Chase Circle? The lanes are so narrow it’s scary and on top of that one of those “Potomac, Suburban Driving, on the phone without a earpiece Mom’s” pulls out from a side road and comes into my lane nearly hitting me. WTF?!?! I even mentioned this to Mom, when I got to her house, who gave an “Oh, one of those” looks because aren’t we all familiar with those women?

So I grabbed a quick bite to eat and a little bit of time with Mini Red before I was off to class. I suggested to Mini Red that instead of watching TV she could read, practice her violin or even write up a review for the blog. I said all of this loud enough so Mom could hear and I think the writing came as a great idea to both of them.

Class was uneventful but a lot of information I'm hoping to retain. When I picked up Mini Red I was glad to hear she spent her time constructively and wrote a post (see previous post).

It was a long day and full of everything imaginable. I think the frozen margarita was key for such a successful day. You should try it sometime, but only one or your right front tire could end up in someone’s windshield.

I hope next week isn't as tough

It has been a very chaotic week. Not sure how I’m gonna do this for another seven weeks but hopefully Mini Red’s drama is over and that will help a lot.

After all the crap with the hate list there was more to the story. The bully had bothered Mini Red so much that she wrote some not so nice things in her journal. Mini Red had a friend spend the night some weeks ago and somehow the friend saw the journal and told the bully. This is, supposedly, why the hate list was created. Then Mini Red retaliated and created her own hate list. She had a few people sign it but then trashed it realizing it was wrong. She hadn’t told me about it because she knew I would not be happy but she readily admitted it to the school administration.

After all that the two girls were punished equally and were suspended from going to the amusement park with the school and I’m out the money. I wrote a long email to the principal and the counselors stating that I agreed with Mini Red being punished BUT pointed out that her punishment was by her own admission of acting out after being bullied whereas they had the bully’s hate list in their hands.

I know the school is limited and can only deal with this so far. My concerns have been noted and Mini Red has learned that retaliation has put her in the same light as the bully. This also means she should have listened to Mom from the git.

Tuesday, I started my class and there are a whole different lot of people in this class. I have learned there are different levels of geeks. I consider myself a geek but then there is a higher level of geekdome. This higher level consider themselves to be the End-All-Be-All and compete to show how awesomely smart they are. Two such people found each other in my class and during the break proceeded to attempt to communicate right in front of me. I swear they were both speaking a different language and weren’t listening to each other. They were loud and I have concluded this is to help others understand just how smart they are. On top of that they are both in their mid forties yet the dude talked like he was in high school and would use words such as “Sweeeet!” These are also the two people that will pop out of their seat grab your mouse and show you something rather than letting the teacher answer a question you have just asked. I am staying very quiet in this class and becoming very amused by all the different characters but if someone pops up behind me and grabs my mouse my redheaded temper might just get the best of me.

Wednesday, brought a bit of a free day. The family dinner was cancelled so I met up with Mrs. M for a run. It was a tough run since we had been slacking the last week and it was hot out. We pushed forward and it felt good but dehydrated us. I cleaned up after sucking down a ton of water, and took Mini Red for a bite to eat before we headed to Columbia to water a friend’s property since they are out of town. I swear there just aren’t enough hours in a day and for a free day we were pretty busy.

The second class, on Thursday, was much better and some familiar faces showed from my spring class. We have been given our first assignment and I’m enjoying it.

Thursday, definitely required some scheduling so I could get to class. Mini Red had her last swimming class and her last concert of the school year plus my parents were heading out of town for a wedding. I didn’t want to miss class so I did some planning. She would have to miss swimming because the concert is part of her grade. I contacted her father and I was able to get him to come out and get her to the concert. This meant he needed to get her before I had to leave at 5pm and have her at the school by 6pm for the 7pm concert. He didn’t want to have to feed her so I would leave work early to do that. He said something about an hour not being enough time. Go figure. After the concert he would drop her off at my cousins and I would pick her up from there on my way home from school. Sounds easy but that’s a lot of people to pull together.

Things got a little turned around when the day came but it all worked out and her Dad took her shopping and out to get a bite before the concert. Mini Red did well in the concert but, evidently, it was so hot that everyone was soaked with sweat by the time it was over.

Friday, brought the end to a crazy week and a change of plans for Mini Red. The original plan was the Nats game and she and I would each bring a friend. Instead she babysat for the cousins kids and they came to the game with me. The Nats pulled it out to win in the bottom of the 10th and Mini Red earned some money to pay me back for the money I wasn’t getting refunded on that school trip she was suspended from. She did an excellent job taking care of the kids and I couldn’t be more proud. So I let her keep the money. She has gotten off easy and I’m out money but if she has learned some lessons then it’s all worth it.

The Weekend Wrap-Up

Mini Red wanted to address each of you and thank you for your support but we’ve run out of time this weekend. Thank you for the support it is very much appreciated.

Tuesday morning I will be driving her to school and talking to the counselors. I don't see a need for the two girls to talk and want to know that the school will be taking care of the situation.

Cross your fingers for us.

This week begins another phase for me and that will be another college course. In my first class I earned an A (a/k/a 4.0). Wahoo! This next class is condensed to 8 weeks and therefore twice a week. This will be tough because each class consists of lecture and lab bringing each class to almost 5 hrs.

So if the posts are few and far between this is why.

This weekend Mini Red saw “The Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”. First, she saw it with her Dad and again today with me at the Uptown. I’ve asked her to write a review so keep an eye out. Then again she has a busy week herself including the last concert of the year and ending the week with a Nats game.

I hope everyone had a fun, safe Memorial Day weekend. I for one am not looking forward to work tomorrow.

I’m Done!

As in:
Accomplished, a wrap, all in, all over, brought about, buttoned up, compassed, complete, completed, concluded, consummated, depleted, done in, done with, down, drained, effected, effete, ended, executed, exhausted, finished, fixed, fulfilled, over, perfected, performed, realized, rendered, set, spent, succeeded, terminated, through, used up, wired, wrought.

I'm talking about my first credited college course. That is… Until the next class which begins May 29th.

Since the Summer semester is condensed I’ll have this class twice a week, 6 to 11 pm, for eight weeks. I was a little nervous signing up and committing not only myself but Mom but we all know what we are getting into. I finally signed up last night and it’s a good thing too since there was only one seat left.

I have a few family members that recently needed help with their computers and I’m usually on-call for them. I have forewarned them there is a chance I might be calling them for help with Mini Red while I’m at class. This wasn’t my intention when I was helping them but hey why not?

HEAD and SHOULDERS, knees and toes, knees and toes

Class last night was SO MUCH FUN! The topic was Head and Shoulders. We were going to learn how to put someone's head on another person's shoulders. I could very well become a menace to family and friends with my new knowledge and talents.

Almost every class the Professor will say something to the effect of, "If your not having fun then you shouldn't be here. We have a lovely Accounting course maybe you would enjoy."

Last night I had so much fun that I was tempted to yell out, "I'M HAVING FUN!" Thank goodness I didn't but I was wiggling in my seat.

So after he reviewed and taught us it was our turn to do something original. I had no idea and no real great photos to work from. Then it hit me!

I have this great photo from a friend's wedding day. She had a traditional Indian wedding and her outfit was red and decorated elaborately. I decided to put my head on her shoulders. So I took my face from this photo we saw in the last post.

After some adjustments I came up with this: I had so much fun with this and finished rather quickly so I did more:

Ok here it is a little closer.

This photo with the green eyes and the piercings didn't go over well with Mini Red. She didn't like Mama Red looking like that.

Gawd! I love this class! Not bad for my first time.

Today is my Spring Break! Wahoo!

Well... Not the kind of Spring Break those girls are having.

No school for me tonight because it's Spring Break! Next week we learn how to put people's heads/faces on other bodies. Can't wait!

In the meantime I get tonight off and my trip to NJ for work got cancelled. I'm glad I won't be driving that tonight.

Mini Red has stated that when swimming she has been getting out of breath. I suggested she do other exercising so tonight she is going running with me. This should be interesting especially since she has grown out of most of her shoes and she will be wearing a pair of mine, just for tonight. I'm looking forward to it.

Wanna peek? Sure ya do!

I know I know there has been a lack of posts from your truly. I’ve heard it from a few of you and I find that a bit amusing.

Justin, who I haven’t spoken to in about a month, called to see if I was ok.

Google Boy called and said “No posts in 6 days! Is this correct? I want to make sure I’m not missing anything.”

I even got an email from Elvis asking what’s up with the dating scene especially after this post. He said he would be my cheerleading section:

She's sexy, she's cute,
She's popular to boot.
She's bitchin', great hair,
The boys all love to stare,
She's wanted, she's hot,
She's everything GSA feds are not.

As for you curious folks… No, I did not hear from DM but I didn’t expect to. Steps have been taken in the dating arena but that is not to be revealed for fear of being jinxed.

This life of mine has so many roles and keeping me very busy especially of late.

Work is very busy and no time to even check out any blogs during the day let alone post. It doesn’t help that I’m on site and only have dial up for internet. On-site we are in a room with no windows on the bottom floor. Because of the tight security we have to be escorted anywhere we go in the building so we just stay in this room until we leave. We are, thank goodness, allowed to go to the bathroom unescorted. I have come to the conclusion that women come from all parts of the building to our out-of-the-way bathroom to unleash the dead within them. Each day I am able to hold my breath longer and longer.

Class is five hours every Tuesday evening. Two hours lecture and three hours lab but the time flies and I’m loving it. We recently learned to repair/restore old or damaged photos and colorization.

As a Single Mom Mini Red keeps me busy. She has swimming twice a week and then there are the various activities such as her concerts. Going to the concerts can be pain not only because I don’t know many of the other parents but I often sit alone or even worse with Mini Red’s father (ugggh), his wife and various other family members of his. I love to listen to Mini Red play but these events get PACKED and are enough to make anyone claustrophobic. I would do anything for Mini Red and thankfully my family tries their best to be there for not only Mini Red but me.

Wednesday is Family Dinner Night. Brotha-Man, SIL, Sis and sometimes… Hmmmm he needs a name. I’m talking about Sis’s boyfriend... Let’s call him Chase. Haha it’s done you finally have a name here. So as I was saying we all go over to the Folks for dinner every Wednesday after work. We catch up on what everyone is up to and sometimes other family members join us like Aunts and Uncles. These nights have become more fun each week and bring us all closer. We love seeing SIL’s pregnant belly growing on her tiny frame. Mini Red will play her violin and more recently I have been sharing what I have been producing in my class. My big night was when Chase found me in Wa Po Express (print edition pg 36) and brought a copy for me. I think Dad got a kick out of it or at least I did watching him read it.

Then there is the one night I run. Mrs. M and I alternate meeting at each others homes and we run different routes each time. This has at times been difficult but we motivate each other. We miss every so often due to weather or illness but try to make it up. We not only get some exercise but there are other benefits like exploring the neighborhoods around us and getting time to talk away from the craziness that is our lives.

So there you have a peek into my crazy weekdays and why I might be tired. You know what? I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Assignment #2 for my Graphics Arts class

Assignment #2 is on raster graphics. Our assignment is to recreate a book cover using the tools we’ve been taught so far. Mini Red helped me decide on a book cover to recreate.

Below is my completed assignment:

Waiting for my real life to begin

There has been a lot going on in my life lately keeping me pretty busy. Namely, Mini Red and all her activities like violin and swimming. On top of that I finally started taking a college class. One is enough right now considering it’s two hours of lecture, three hours of lab and all in one night. My class is on Graphic Arts and I can’t wait to learn more. It is so much fun and the time flys when I’m there.

This class is the thing that seems to be wearing me out but I am so grateful for it. The day of my first class my company did a third round of layoffs. This one was hard, at least for me, because I don’t think anyone saw it coming. Thankfully, I still have a job and I’m on a new project that is keeping me VERY busy. So to start the class that day is giving me hope for my future so that if I am laid off (heaven forbid) at least I’m finally doing something about it.

Even though this class is wearing on me it is also making me very excited about possibilities. I guess you’re never too old.

With all that said Velvet says it’s Bloggie Poetry Day and posted lyrics to a song that define how she’s been feeling lately. I happen to have a song that keeps running through my head especially on the nights I have class.

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WAITING FOR MY REAL LIFE TO BEGIN
Colin Hay

Any minute now, my ship is coming in
I'll keep checking the horizon
I'll stand on the bow, feel the waves come crashing
Come crashing down down down, on me

And you say, be still my love
Open up your heart
Let the light shine in
But don't you understand
I already have a plan
I'm waiting for my real life to begin

When I awoke today, suddenly nothing happened
But in my dreams, I slew the dragon
And down this beaten path, and up this cobbled lane
I'm walking in my old footsteps, once again
And you say, just be here now
Forget about the past, your mask is wearing thin
Let me throw one more dice
I know that I can win
I'm waiting for my real life to begin

Any minute now, my ship is coming in
I’ll keep checking the horizon
And I'll check my machine, there's sure to be that call
It's gonna happen soon, soon, soon
It's just that times are lean

And you say, be still my love
Open up your heart, let the light shine in
Don't you understand I already have a plan
I'm waiting for my real life to begin

It was supposed to be a relaxing weekend... All in all I guess it was

Saturday my goal was to sleep and get rejuvenated. I even got some Excedrin PM to help. See I’ve had these elbow issues for some time now and I’ve been in Physical Therapy. It was going really well until I got back from Chicago. My Physical Therapist is now working on my neck and after he pointed this out I realized that my neck has been bothering me again and usually it’s from stress. You would think my neck would have bothered me prior to the holidays considering all the stress, but it didn’t. I’ve also realized some of my issues are due to the computer and primarily the mouse. Yeah work doesn't help the stress either (*sarcasm*).

I’m kinda embarassed even going into therapy at this point because it seems it’s my stress and I’m just frustrating the PT guy. I’m the type of person that usually avoids the doctor but PT is something I haven’t missed because this painful arm is something I’ve dealt with for far too long. I can hardly carry anything anymore and I’m thankful Mom got me a cart as a Christmas gift. Damn I’m feeling old.

I can’t let the computer cause this issue either. This week I will start my first college course, Intro to Graphic Design. I am so excited about this class but I’m nervous too. I’m betting the nervousness will pass after the first class. I just don’t know what to expect.

So I was able to sleep in on Saturday and bum around. I fell asleep again and was up at strange hours. I took an Excedrin PM and chilled out on the couch when I noticed I had missed a call. “Who would be calling me at 3:30 in the morning”, I thought. Then the home phone rang and it was Mini Red. She was upset and sitting in the car because her Dad’s house had a fire. They were very lucky and caught it early but it was very scary. I kept saying, “Let me come pick you up”, but she said, “No”. I just wanted to have her home safe with me. After I got off the phone with her I realized it was a good thing because I had taken that Excedrin PM. Then I was glad I had taken it because I might have stayed awake worrying about Mini Red. She was ok she wanted to stay and support her Dad and his wife. What an awesome kid she is.

Sunday was another relaxing day and I was just trying to keep from bugging Mini Red to come home early. So I headed out to see Pan’s Labyrinth. What a cool movie and definitely not for kids cause it had some real gruesome moments.

Afterwards I headed out to pick up Mini Red and this was not easy due to the snow. I left at 4pm and didn’t get back until 7:30. The crazies were definitely out. I think part of the issue with snow in the DC area is there are so many people from so many different places that live here. So when it snows people who aren’t used to it just freak out.

On our way home I told Mini Red the story of Pan’s Labyrinth, which made the time fly by. We then stopped and picked up one of our favorite meals from El Pollo Rico so we could relax together after her crazy weekend.

Mini Red doesn’t have school tomorrow but I’m hoping I don’t have to go into work.