I'm so glad the kids are out of school tomorrow. I need a good night's rest. A vacation from our vacation. *laugh* No, actually the camping this weekend was wonderful. We couldn't have asked for better weather, especially to sleep at night in the tents. We met some wonderful people in the campsite next to us and may meet them for camping again. They are wildlife rehabbers who were just the sweetest folks. A woman and her husband, their daughter and the daughter's two kids. They played with all of our kids and now we are having the 'Wait to see whose kid comes down with Poison X rash first'.

Scott stayed with us on Friday night, and bought the boys a pocket knife. He taught them proper handling, opening, closing, and they kept it in their pocket (taking turns). He also sat them down and taught them to whittle (I actually typed 'shittle' there. Clumsy fingers). Saturday morning they were up at the crack of dawn and Scott took almost all of the kids fishing at the lake. Unfortunately, he had to head out this morning, so he left Saturday to be able to get his dry cleaning, a hair cut and pack his bags. We got back just before lunch today.

We will absolutely need to camp more often down there. It's a 30-45 minute drive, depending upon traffic, and only costs $15 a night for a campsite. Each site has a covered picnic table / pavilion type thing, a water pump, two electrical outlets, ample room for 2-3 tents, and a fire pit. We were lucky that we booked one that was two sites down from the restrooms. Didn't stop some of the kids. We now know the answer to the question 'Does a Matthew shit in the woods?' *laugh*

Pictures later, but here is where we were: Loyd Park in Grand Prairie

--------

On a sadder note, when I logged into my IM session tonight, I saw Gene logged in. It says idle just over 2 days. I wonder who has been on his computer. Paula? It made me really sad, because I started to IM him making some wisecrack about camping before I realized that sending to his IM account isn't an option anymore.

Going camping with the kids until Sunday. Scott's going with us for tonight.

YAY!

It's strange how empty I feel inside without a 'day job'. I've been putting a lot into the Southern Living At HOME job, but I still get this feeling like I'm shirking work. It's like there is something I'm supposed to be doing and I'm ducking out of it. I'm too used to working my ass off that I don't know what to do when I'm not totally PLANNED.

The other strange thing? Getting a lump sum payment with 25% held out. See, you have that much taken out gradually across your salary and you don't realize the loss. You have it in black and white how much is held out in one payout and SHOCK!!!!!

I used to live on less than my severance each year, but then I didn't have a house, kids, big car payments, dogs, an elderly mother, so many bills.

I did my first 'reality' step today: I actually inquired about an opening at Starbucks. Unfortunately, it was only a night position, so I didn't apply. In the next week or so, if nothing else comes through, I'm going to apply at Michael's, Hobby Lobby and Joann's.

OH! I did apply this morning for a position that would be SO COOL. It's an affiliate marketing position with the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Wouldn't that be perfect???

I didn't get an umbrella :(

How to make a Trish

Ingredients: 5 parts friendliness 5 parts silliness 3 parts ego

Method: Blend at a low speed for 30 seconds. Add a little wisdom if desired!

Here is where the 'virtual party' idea comes into play for me.
I came up with the idea that since a great majority of my
friends are 'online' that I would have a Souther Living At HOME
party online also.

I have set up an online catalog at:

http://www.southernlivingathome.com/trishhoward

Please look through the catalog and see if there are any
things you are interested in. We will work out delivery of
the product when I receive it. The October customer
specials are GREAT and a link to them can be found on my
front page.

Southern Living At HOME has the most wonderful products
and I have spent years collecting them. I love them so
much that I really do want to share that passion with others.

I am also going to set up a Southern Living At HOME
filter for my list, where I can tell you about discounts
on products, how to get free products, and any interesting
work-related items that have come up. If you would like to
be included on that filter, please comment and let me know.

Thanks for your support as I make this transition in my life!

Sad news today. We have lost one of the good ones. The quirky ones. The ones who can always make you laugh.

Our good friend, Gene Saunders was found dead of presumably natural causes. They believe the death occurred on September 19, 2008. It has come as a total shock to all of us. It will probably sink in tomorrow.

A couple of you on my list knew Gene (I just typed 'know Gene' and had to back up. That was hard.) and what a wonder he was. He was a big question mark, you never knew if he was teasing and he knew more useless information than anyone I have ever met. He could always surprise you.

While the homeowner's association he was previously president of have up a great 'fact-based' memorial, here is how I prefer to remember Gene: He, Jill and I went on a lark to see the Legendary Pink Dots. We stood out like a sore thumb, but we laughed like crazy. Sushi on the way, including pictures of the spectacular automated toilet. Shiny happy people out of their comfort zone.



Gebo, you added to my life and you will be remembered as you should be, not as a God-fearing Mifipi Southern Baptist.

It took me a week, but I finally scaled down the pictures from Aruba. I also scaled BACK on the number. I took a gazillion pictures, particularly one day at sunset when I think I took one every 5 seconds *laugh*

Here is a preview of how gorgeous Aruba was:





For the rest of the pictures, you can go to see the trip photos or see the full set of the sunset photos

I wish we could have stayed for more than 4 days. :)

The one thing I regret is that I didn't want to spend the money on a waterproof digital camera since I am still unemployed. Instead, we got two disposable waterproof cameras. MUCH SUCKAGE!!!!! The photos from our snorkeling turned out to be just a bunch of blue with one or two things barely visible. I'm going to see if I can save some with photoshop, and if so I will post them. although there is no photo memories of the snorkel trip, it was AWESOME!!!! We took boat out with an OPEN BAR. We drank a LOT in a short period of time. The snorkeling was in two areas - one for the fish and the other at a shipwreck. Gorgeous. Beyond words. I just love snorkeling.

When I got back, I did some research and talked a camera shop guy into selling me a $300 waterproof camera for $140. Nice little 7.1 MP with 3X optical zoom and 10x digital zoom. It has a TON of settings and even takes video underwater. YAY! If I had known that the disposables would cost me about as much as buying the digital, I would have done it BEFORE the trip.

Soon to come - a post about our Col. Potter's Cairn Terrier Rescue foster dog. He's a sweetheart with a funny name who was rescued from a puppy mill. He will soon make someone a GREAT pet.

Scott and I were married 13 years ago today!

I love my sweetheart even after all this time.

We have made it home from Aruba and I have many tales to tell. It was a wonderful trip and I have lots of pictures to share.

Tomorrow.

...and I can see Russia from my house!

Palin/Clinton opening on SNL

I invite you all to join me as I blow my own horn :)

My Southern Living At HOME web site is now available for your viewing and ordering pleasure!

http://www.southernlivingathome.com/trishhoward

Explore the concept I am implementing of hosting a 'virtual party'. You get the same benefits of being a hostess (free product, drastic discounts, gifts for your 'guests') and you don't even have to clean your home!!! WOW! You are given the same hostess package, complete with catalogs, order forms and other information, and I will work with you to coordinate a combination of catalog and online orders that YOU will get credit for!

Comment back if you have questions, feedback, or want to know more.

(as phenway would say - "In bullets")

- Spent Friday evening over at a friend's house playing cards. It was a lot of fun! It turned out to be a card-playing weekend. Friday, we just played Golf and drank.

- Saturday, I took the boys to go swimming at a friend's house and they ended up spending the night. More cards! Golf and Spades. I felt like an old fuddy-duddy but I had a great time. When I came home around 11:30 pm, Scott was hiding behind the corner in the kitchen ready to scare the kids. *laugh* NO KIDS!!!!! It was nice to sleep in the next day.

- Last night was my first meeting as a room parent. Sounds like it will be a lot of fun to be this involved in the boys' school activities.

- This morning I actually got a CALL BACK on my resume! A REAL CALL, not one of those 'Hey, we're an executive recruiting firm and we think we could help you'! I applied at Hotels.com for a position strangely similar to the one I had at Sun. I think it would be a lot of fun. My first phone interview is set for tomorrow morning. YAY!

- I also talked to my consultant at Right Management, the company Sun pays to help us get back on our feet and find a job. Turns out we have a mutual friend who lives in Florida! How small is this world? She gave me some great information about handling interviews around health issues, disability, and getting things rolling on my home business.

- Tonight is the Gail Pittman gathering at the McKinney Country Club. I think her pieces are just GORGEOUS and I will be taking a few to be signed. If I could get half the following she has for her painting, I would consider it a blessing.

- For those of you that live here, realize I'm probably going to bug you about Southern Living at Home parties for a little while. Bear with me while I expand out of my little circle into a second layer of contacts. suewin - would you be willing to have a party at your place and invite people you work with or other friends if I helped you do everything? You would get cool things free! :) What about you, misskerri?

- I finished one of the fan blades for my friend's daughter's room and it turned out looking WAY better than I thought it would. I've also gotten started on a raised feeding station for dogs. I'll post pics as more things get done. I'm going to try to build a light box to take better photos of pieces, so things look more professional. I also picked up a lot of the local kids/home/pets freebie magazines from the area to look at different ways to advertise and different shops I can talk to about displaying my work.

It's been a good week!

I'm going through pricing conflicts, so I thought I would do a poll.

Poll #1254434 How much would YOU pay?
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

How much would you pay for a hand-painted wooden serving tray like this?

Next I need to put a clear coat finish to protect it, but the painting itself is done.



( Additional views and detail shots )

I am actively seeking a job, but with the state of our economy I haven't even heard back on a single application. Only one company even acknowledged that I applied! The rest were just thank you pages on the web site.

Last week, I started thinking about what I could do if this turned into a long-term unemployment. I mean, the first time Scott was unemployed, it was for a year when the kids were babies. This last year, he was out for nine months. We have NO savings left. No credit left either.

I made a decision to not sit around waiting for another IT/Corporate job and instead try to make money doing things I enjoy. I'm putting a lot into it and this way, I wouldn't be desperate to get a job and end up somewhere I wasn't happy.

Here is my plan and why nobody has seen me lately. It's a bit scattershot right now and needs to be narrowed in scope, but I think it all ties in nicely. We'll see what works best.

- The jewelry I have already designed will be for sale, but I will only make other custom pieces if asked. Instead, I will focus on 'home' items, such as fan pulls and bookmarks. I'm even making a beaded pull for a friend to replace the cord on the pull-down door to her attic.

- I am looking into teaching jewelry classes at one of the local craft shops. You get a discount on supplies and you keep 100% of the fees for your classes. The store gives you the classroom space, they market it in their store class schedules and on their web site, and you set the time, days and price for the classes. If I set up a kit to make a bracelet and a fan pull, do a 2-week course for $60 per person, or break that into two types of one-night classes for $40 per person.

- Next week I am going to a party with the Southern Living At Home consultant I've used in the past. Gail Pittman will be there to talk about her designs and I can take some of the stuff of hers I own to get it signed. YAY! On a side note, Gina (the consultant) and I will be talking about me becoming a consultant. I wouldn't have this as my only source of income, but I think it would fit nicely with my goal of 'home decoration items'. It, like the classes, would allow flexibility in my schedule for my family and my health.

- Finally, I've started painting again and have two things on the burner. The first is a friend who is starting a dog-related business wants me to design her logo and also create products for the company. These are things like raised feeding stations, leash holders, yard signs, collars, etc. The second is to go along with my decorative sales. I have been creating for years things that I recently realized I should expand on. I've always made custom painted outlet covers and switchplates for any room I redecorate. Now I am adding tissue box covers, storage units, vases, serving trays, murals and other items. I made zebra strip covers for the daughter of a friend, and her other daughter wanted me to make some for her. I'll be making the outlet and lightswitch covers and also painting designs on the blades of her ceiling fan. I am documented all I am doing in photos, and have started a 'portfolio' of work I can carry around with me. When I figure out pricing for things (my worst area - everyone tells me I completely underpriced my jewelry) and add it to the book. If things seem to take off, I could talk to smaller, independent shops around here to carry my pieces.

Here are some pictures of some of the things I've been making lately

So tell me what you think! Does this seem like a viable option for me? Do you think that these four things are all related or that it is spreading too thin? Where would you expect to see some of these items/services priced?

When I was lamenting the additional money I had to put out to stay an additional day in Atlanta with GS, and waiting for the 15 minutes to pass until I could check in for my flight online, I decided to actually try out the game Mt. Dew had going. I had an account, because I had entered one cap from home. I had tried to get the plasma TV and X-box 360. No luck.

When we left the ER to get prescriptions filled from CVS, I grabbed two Diet Mt. Dews as an afterthought. I went to the contest site while I was waiting around later. First cap - nothing. Second cap, on a lark, I changed my selection to the 'Dale Jr. Prize Pack'. Wow. I thought there had to be a mistake and there was no way I actually WON that.

After coming home, sure enough there was a priority letter for me that was my eligibility form. It had a prepaid priority envelope in so I didn't even have to pay to mail it back. Last week, everything arrived!!!!

Here's a teaser shot of all of the items:



And here you can go see more detail shots

I can't believe my luck!

It's been so long since I've posted anything! I've been a busy little monkey the past couple of weeks. I thought I would jot down some highlights for my memory.

- We moved to the new Dojo for our martial arts. It is an IMPRESSIVE place and I love being a part of it. I've been putting in sweat equity. Since I have no job, I have been working my ass off (what's there in the first place) by doing odd jobs for the school. I have painted a border mural in the kids' area, filled and sanded nailholes, painted and varnished the mat frame, varnished the kitchen cabinets, and made signs for the student entrance and the instructor area. I'm doing all of this to cut down on our martial arts costs.

- I made my third red stripe testing last week, so in about two months (hopefully) I will test for my red belt. After red belt comes brown, then after that you are a black belt candidate. Can you BELIEVE THAT????? The boys had a bad month and we gave them a final say on TKD: Either shape up in the next four weeks and learn your forms or you will be taken out of TKD. The instructors have to sign off that they are making significant improvement in order to stay. I'm not paying (or working) for them to just goof off and not even be able to show them a form they have known for two years now.

- I got my new passport and from September 17 - 21, I will be sunning myself on the beach in Aruba. I get to fly first and business class from here to Miami and then to Aruba. WHEEEE! I can't wait!

- I got all of the stuff I won in the Mt. Dew / Amp Energy contest. That will be a post of its own.

- Michael and Matthew LOVE second grade so far. Matthew is doing great in class without Michael and thinks this is going to be the best school year ever. I offered to be a room parent, and ended up getting assigned to Michael's class. They both seemed to understand that the school picked, not me, and that next year I would sign up for Matthew's class.

- I have decided to give corporate America the finger (while still searching for a corporate American job *laugh*). That will be a post of its own as well. I've gotten back into art and design, and I'm actually thinking about staying here.

- Probably the best thing (ok, just short of Aruba) is what happened today. I was brushing one of the dogs in the entryway and heard a *THUMP* at the front door. No doorbell, just a thump. When I looked outside, the mailman had dropped a box on our step. A package of Hawaiian goods from GS! It's a shame that box of macadamia nuts is so close to empty. Wonder how that happened? *ahem*. There is a cute surfing Santa ornament, a fridge magnet to go with my collection and the COOLEST THING!!!! -> Del Sol nail polish!!!! I think I remember us talking about this when we were in Florida. I liked our Del Sol t-shirts so much, since they spring into great colors when you go into the sun, and GS mentioned there is nail polish that does the same. I now have pink polish that turns purple in the sun, and lavender that turns pink! A blend of pink and purple - how very symbolic of our relationship!

Ok, on to the photo posts!

Today has been one of those 'everything went right' kind of days we wish we could always have. I medicated Matthew so he was on a saner plane with the rest of us all day. Both boys helped me with cleaning up their room, getting dirty laundry together, and taking out the trash. They made no complaints about leftovers tonight (a tasty meal of meatloaf, ribs and a corndog. Can't beat that). At TKD they tried really hard and I remembered my forms relatively well.

The boys took their first segregated 'on their own' showers tonight. Every other night, they will be doing an 'on my own' shower. This is where they have been instructed on how to heat the water (start cold and slowly add in, test with your hand, etc.). They know the routine once in, and I actually left them alone to do their hair and bodies, although I did spot checks at the end. They dried off, got dressed, did their hair and brushed their teeth, all of their own.

I must be IN FOR IT tomorrow :)

Oh, to bring the passport fiasco up to date, when I talked to Scott he said if I hadn't found it by this morning to go in an get an expedited one. It wasn't as bad as I expected. Stopped in CVS for passport photos, went down to the post office down the block, waited a little while in line (which would have been way less if people would READ) and when I got up there it was wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am. I had everything I needed, signed in front of her, did my little oath, she walked me over to the counter to pay the fees and it is OFF. She said expedition is actually only running 1 - 2 weeks right now and we don't leave until Sept 17.

I'M SO EXCITED!!! This is just a few days shy of our 13th wedding anniversary, so we can live it up in Aruba. Well, except for Scott working every day :) To me, that just means 'me time at the beach!'. I have no problem with snuggling up with a good book and catching some rays.

Right now, instead of Rays, I'll be catching Zzzzzzs. The ambien is kicking in. So goodnight ya'll before I keep rambling for hours.

Oh! And tomorrow the boys are having their first 'official' sleepover. This is where another boy actually comes and they do boy things and have no girls to bother them. Of course, it gives mommies time to have a sleepover of our own and drink ourselves silly. The boys are very excited. They have had plenty of sleepovers with Trini and Kayln (2 girls), a couple with Riley and Brendan there (one boy, one girl), and some other boy/girl combinations. Never just a boys night. I think they need it. I need the time with Miss Kimmy. Absolutely.

That reminds me. I'm out of vodka. Gotta make a store run tomorrow.

I can NOT find my flippin' passport ANYWHERE!!! We got it many years back when Scott was maybe going to France for business, so it's just been sitting in with paperwork for all of that time. We've since moved stuff around, changed offices, put stuff in the attic, put stuff in storage, and all manner of things.

Do I know where it is? NO! I know where it WAS, but not where it is.

If I can't find that passport, I can't go to Aruba :(

Will find passport tonight if it kills me.

Hey, GS!!! During your travels/cruises, did you go to Aruba at all? If so, anything of note I should know about or see? Scott has to go for work (I know! WTF? BUSINESS in Aruba??? I think it's a sales meeting, actually) so we are going to use his miles for me to go for a few days next month.

Remember my embarrassing tale of being dragged to the concrete by a visiting Great Dane? I thought all I had done was jammed my finger and scraped myself up, so that night I went for drinks at a friend's house. Matthew was spiraling downward into one of his fits, so I left early after only a few drinks. Came home, watched some TV, took my blood thinners and went to bed. The next morning, I was laying on the couch when I felt a POP in my right side, just under the bottom of my rib cage. It got worse and worse and I spent that evening on the couch.

On Sunday morning, I couldn't take it anymore and was worried about internal bleeding the more I thought about it. The urgent care place took X-rays and saw that my diaphragm was pushed upwards on that side and my liver was 'inflamed'. They sent me for a CT scan Monday morning and gave me something for the pain. Outside of going to the CT scan, I've been mostly asleep on the couch since Saturday because that is the only way I can get comfortable.

Today, they called back with the CT results. I did have internal bleeding, but it had resolved by Monday. They think it might have been a small laceration in the liver or something around there, and the liver is 'bruised'. The lining of my ribcage is swollen like my liver and that's why it hurts. Think of a bruise, only a really big one on the inside. I'm supposed to take it easy for a week or two so nothing gets going again, and check back with them on the 17th. If it gets worse, or I start running a fever, gotta hit the ER.

Oh - the joys of being on blood thinners. Something as innocent as falling flat on the sidewalk can cause more than scrapes and bruises.

Ang - you said you were worried because you had never seen me look like I did on Friday night and I wasn't myself. Now we know why! *laugh*

Amazingly, this isn't a complaint post. Yeah, I hurt, but I'm laughing about it more than anything (but only in my mind. laughing for real hurts *laugh*). A GREAT DANE DRAGGED ME AROUND MY FRONT YARD UNTIL I FELL DOWN. Had there been a video camera we could have won some awards on America's Funniest Home Videos!

I've always been a klutz. I'm tall and blond. Only difference is that now my klutzy moves can have more serious side effects.