As seen on TV

So I've been catching up on my favorite shows, and have figured out what will make my life complete - a voice over track. Nothing flashy, just that voice that will calmly summarize everything so that I don't have to figure it out. You know, like this:

"As Katie screams at her mother that she is ruining her life, Susan realizes that the trauma of grounding her daughter for all eternity can be erased by a really great therapist, and will be covered by her daughter's insurance."

"While Will is throwing things at his brother, Susan realizes that all Will really needs is some alone time with his parents instead of losing all video game privileges for the next millennia."

Or even better -
"Susan realizes that her family yet again has low blood sugar, and that making homemade meals are overrated when pizza could have been on the table 30 minutes ago. And she shouldn't have even felt guilty about relying on takeout for the 4th night in a row, since she had a coupon."

Auditions start at 7 - bring your child psychology credentials. Marriage counseling experience helpful, but not required.

On the List

I love lists. Lists of things to do, crafts to make, letters to write, groceries... you name it, I love it better on a list. I've always been a list person - it clears my head, and allows me to focus on one thing at a time, which I desperately need help with.

The three-ring circus vibe we've got going on around here has made more lists - kid lists, packing lists, home improvement lists... and worst of all, lists of lists. There is still satisfaction in crossing thing off the lists, but it's now weighed down by the finding of the forgotten list, and that happens more often than I'd like to admit. (I didn't say I was organized, just that I make lists.)

Today, I had the distinct pleasure, however, of finding a list with every last little thing crossed off. It may have been old - summer, by the looks of it - but it reminded me that you can have everything you need done and put away. I needed that feeling today, when things with the job are at a fever pitch, and there are decisions to be made and schedules to figure out.

Here's to more days soon with a crossed-off list.

A Grateful Return

Home again, home again, from a quick business trip to Princeton, which made Will just thrilled to be able to say "How's it going in a new state, Mom?" Oh, the things that enchant that child - globes, train travel, new states, and the ability to have Dad do walk in drop off. He is so easy to please, my sweet boy.

Trenton, on the other hand, seems a bit crankier, given their slogan - the bridge picture above is from Wikipedia, and makes me wish I had taken my camera along for the trip. The sign is so beautiful at night, all red against the darkness and reflected just nicely on the water. The slogan, on the other hand, makes me wonder if it's a nice advertisement for Trenton's manufacturing, or a bitter statement against urban flight.

But I'm home finally, and grateful for it - my children missed me, and my sweet husband was casually reminded that getting children to school is not an easy exercise. (He made the one catastrophic mistake of allowing breakfast before getting dressed - it all goes downhill from there.) Sleeping in a strange and noisy hotel makes me happy to have a cozy bed at home, surrounded by my familiar things and sounds of my family.

We are going through a bit of a gratitude exercise around here - the job situation is tenuous, and we're trying to figure out what's essential in our life, and what it would take to replicate it (or create a better one) somewhere else. Although I hate the circumstances, I like the fact that we're paring down and figuring out what's important to us. Family, access to good schools, and a place to call home - this is what we need. Extra entertainment, pricey gas, and long commutes - not so much. It's brought a nice attitude adjustment around here as we figure out where we can just be, instead of racing around and checking off lists. We need a slower life, we've decided, and it may require moving, which frankly scares the crap out of me.

But in the meantime, we'll try to think of things to be grateful for: the love of my children, the fact that we have options (although too many at this point), and the ability to find humor in the little things along the road.

Year of Color : Tumbleweed

We've jumped on into the new year, busy as bees, work and school and school and work projects at the ready. The weather here has been crazy warm, which only lends itself to being outdoors, not to crafting or actual blogging. I love it, even though I think we'll be really, really sorry come February as the East Coast suffers through a late storm. No real reason to think that, but weather karma has never been this area's strong point.

I've made the customary resolutions, and am keeping them well into week 2, which takes care of Resolution #3 - keep the resolution into February. Small steps, right? (Last year I think I made it to the 15th?)

One of the resolutions I've made is to stop watching and start wading into things - the Year of Color group is one that I've admired for a long time, hosted by the talented happythings, whose quilts are to die for. So here I go, tiptoes into the pool.

So far, the water's fine.