Passion in the Pool

The Stress Pool isn't as crowded these days, but it still carries the same amount of trouble as always. Moink is quite sad that his sister is away at school because now he is the focus of all the attention. As an only child, I remember receiving all the attention and desperately wishing there was someone else to blame something on - anyone! I usually blamed one of the parental units. Yeah, that worked! So Moink wants to know why we're paying so much attention to him and what he's doing. It freaks him out, so maybe it's worth doing anyway!
Ms. Business is going to get a name change. It appears they read a book for freshman forum about finding one's passion. Marketing isn't her passion, but she isn't sure exactly what it is. I would challenge any nineteen year old to identify their passion - holy cow, I'm still honing mine and I'm way past nineteen!
Speaking of passion, we're coming up on November, also known as National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo to those of us who choose to have no lives that month. No matter that it's riddled with holiday preperations - not to the true Nano. Time to work on the skills of my passion - writing. Whether or not it will get me anywhere, it calms my inner child, and she needs some serious calming down! What a brat she's been lately. Perhaps if I name her, give her an identity, we might come to an understanding. Of course, that might give someone the idea I'm crazier than they think.
Maybe it's all the proof anyone needs. Name searching it is. Meanwhile, on to the novel.

Sunning by the side of the Pool

What a summer it's been.
Sometime in the late spring, something snapped. Nothing like a bone or a rubber band, but a little switch inside my head, and it clicked me into reality.  When the school year ended and I'd brought everything home (in boxes and bags with every intention of attending to them), I was all set to write. And paint. My favorite things to do.
But, that's what I've been doing for the past few years, and while satisfying, not really. Other things were lacking. Maybe it was the speck of dust on the television stand. Maybe it was my youngest moving on from eighth grade, or Ms. Business getting ready to leave for college. Maybe it was the back porch, my favorite place to hang out in the summer, which hadn't been set up and enjoyed last year.
Maybe it was being sick and tired of feeling dead. Five years of shuffling through the days with a pasted on smile wasn't cutting it anymore.
I spent the summer outside, and asked the kids to help build out the patio. What we didn't know was how much field stone and clay the earth could actually hold! We built a retaining wall (one more row to go!), and the 15' long patio looks so much better! Listening to chirping crickets at night and singing birds in the morning has been refreshing.
Now, Ms. Business is deposited at college, a little nervous, but we're confident she'll be fine.  And, the youngest has completed two days of high school. He's managed to make it home both days, and is relatively happy, except for learning how to be the only child in the house most days.
And, I'm no longer dead. I'm the happiest I've been in a long time, and that's saying a lot.
Time to get back in the water, but this time I'm not treading, but actually swimming.

Sinking in the Stress Pool

Remember sunny days at the pool when you were a kid?  Pinching your nose with one hand and diving in, feet first, closing your eyes and letting the cool, clear water cover you?  And, each time you might try to go deeper than the last until your feet touched bottom.  Then, you'd bounce back to the surface, gasping for air and pushing hair out of your face.
I did that this week.  Pinched my nose and dove, feet first.  There was no reason not to, nothing to fear.  I even joked about it.  The car was in for inspection, and I had scheduled an annual physical and a mammogram.  I'm relatively healthy, so there was no worry.
Until the doctor called the next day about the bloodwork.  It seems that the diabetes leech that sucks on my family finally found me on this dive.  So, life will change a little.  And, I thought I did okay with salads at lunch!
Tonight, I realized I'd missed a call earlier from the mammogram center.  Seems they want a call back.  I hope it's becasue I dropped something that was found and I just have to pick it up.  Guess I'll be calling them tomorrow.
When I spoke with the nurse practicioner to schedule a time to talk about the diabetes thing, she asked if I've been dealing with any stress lately.
Apparently, she hasn't read my blog!
And, I'm still trying to touch the bottom.  Wish me luck!

Sometimes the Water is Murky

I've not got a good memory.  There are times Hubby and I are out, and someone stops to talk for a few minutes.  After parting, I wait for it, and the question always comes. "Who was that?"
My standard answer:  "I'm not sure."
So, when I went into the office supply store this evening for a printer cartridge, I ran into a similar situation.  The cashier asked if I had my rewards card - you know, the ones that give you coupons for things you'll never use - and of course, I didn't have it with me.  He was able to look it up using my phone number, and my name popped up on his screen.  He asked if that was me, and then said, "Well, of course it's you, I know who you are."
Well, I shop there maybe two, three times a year tops.  Now I'm searching his face.  Do I know him? Then my other downside kicked in:  I misunderstood what he said.  I thought he said we sing together.  I sing in two choirs, and knew he wasn't in the local church choir - could he be in the larger one, the one with 80 members?  So, I said, "We sing together?"
"No, I don't sing," he said.  Now he was confused.  Good, I wasn't the only one.  "I said, I think."
Good.  That's a good sign.
 He said he recognized me from when I've been in the store.  Smiling, I said I was sure that was it, took my ink and walked to the car, all the while thinking how difficult it can be having a face that looks like so many others.
Who, apparently, share my name.
Until next time, keep smiling!

Waiting for Warmer Weather

Spring is almost upon us!  The woodpeckers are out full-force, which is very good news, indeed.  Any day now, I expect the groundhog that resides outside my classroom window to poke his head out.  Frederick George will be a welcome sight! 
At a recent meeting of the Three Rivers Romance Writers, it was suggested that everyone should have a website, because that's something that publishers want to see.  This is indeed a daunting task for some of us.  Let's face it - I can barely find time to post on my own blog, let alone keep a website updated!  But, now that I've been sending out my first real book (so many words, so little time), Not on My Watch might actually be published before Social Security starts.  If it even exists by then! 
And, of course, thinking of the design, pictures, a brand (it was suggested one have a brand.  I need help with that one!), and all the other things one needs for a website.  The author who spoke said she pays around $500 for someone to help her with her website.  Just starting out, looking at the money needed for memberships, websites, publicists, printer ink...I would need another job besides my teaching career, and then there wouldn't be time to write!
But then, one hopes the book will be picked up and will sell!  That takes care of printer ink!
So, when I get brave enough to make a website - maybe over spring break - I'll post the link.  In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed that the book gets picked up.

Another Cloudy Day at the Pool

Time to run the filter through the pool.  Yep, it's venting time for the Head Lifeguard (that would be me).  I actuall think it's cabin fever, even though I get out of the cabin every day.  I just don't like winter anymore.  I used to love it, before kids, before my knees gave out, before...well, that's enough befores!
Moink has conveniently misplaced his winter jacket.  The one he just had to have.  The one he couldn't live without.  Oh, but no worries - he's found that Big Brother's letter jacket from high school fits like a glove, and has been wearing that.  Big Brother doesn't seem to mind, but I'm curious as to what has happened to the other winter jacket!
I shouldn't complain, but I'm going to.  I went food shopping on my way home from work yesterday.  No big deal, right?  Remember the monthly menu thing?  While I'm working on the next two weeks of the menu yesterday morning (I had a two hour delay - ymmy!), Hubby says, "I started on next month's menu."
What about this one?  He continues.  "I put down chicken soup and cabbage and ham."  (These things are in the freezer, and I was going to use them.)  I furiously start erasing.  He leaves for work.  I'm now up the proberbial creek without a paddle, because there are no other choices than to think of things to make, that require my time.
The crux of the matter is that I shop for the food, put the food away, cook the food, and then clean up from making the food.  I'm supposed to clean the floors and toilets.  I'm the chief chauffer.  I also work full-time out of the house.  I'm also an aspiring writer, and writing daily is what keeps me sane.  These people here at the pool don't realize how important that last fact is.  Sanity.
Hubby works full-time, too, and he's great at doing the laundry.  Except for the good clothes.  If you don't want things a wrinkled mess, you've got to do them yourself.  Even the kids have learned this.  So, I'm ready to go on strike again.  Or, fly to Aruba, with nothing but my bathing suit, a towel, and my laptop.
I lke the second choice much better! 
No winter coats to worry about there.
Room service away from the Stress pool.  That's what I'm talking about!

Wintering at the Pool instead of Aruba

"To wear the coat, or not to wear the coat?  That is the question."  Personal tropical vacation vs. sub-zero temperatures outside. We're all hot-blooded here, except Hubby.  Neighbors used to laugh when they told me they could never tell what the temperature was outside by looking at how the children were dressed.  I've always been the conscientious mom - coats, hats, scarves, mittens and gloves- were always bought or made every winter.  We have a laundry basket at the bottom of the coat closet filled with personalized scarves and what-not.  Hangers are filled with winter coats and snow pants.
The preferred garb is a hoodie.  Sometimes a hat.  Never gloves, unless you're going skiing, sledding, or ice-skating.  I used to chase them to the door, calling out that jeans are a better choice over gym shorts because there is a wind chill of -12, all to no avail.
Now, it's my turn.  My skin is often ready to spontaneously combust, 24/7.  I longingly glance at turtlenecks and heavy sweaters, knowing if I put one on I will be miserable all day long.  Besides, I'm just running from the car to the building - and in the morning, that's fine.  In the afternoon, however, the car hasn't been in the nice, warm garage, but in the freezing cold, and it takes awhile before it's sufficiently heated and my hands aren't frozen to the steering wheel.  And, while I've been wearing the coat this week (we had two hour delays two mornings this week because of the cold), I'm ready for the long sweater.  Hubby, on the other hand, has been zipping up the jacket, wrapping the scarf around his neck, burrowing his hands in his big, warm gloves.   At night, he puts on fluffy wool socks and climbs underneath three blankets.  He insisted we put flannel sheets on the bed.  He's happy and comfy all night long.  I'm not. I often wake up feeling as if I've been to the gym!  Ah, well, this too shall pass.
And, I guess I'll wear the coat.  Better to be safe than sorry.

Brr! The Water's too Cold!

Ah, mid-January, and the water is freezing.  No, I'm not talking about the actual temperature of the water outside - don't be silly!  We can see that it's frozen over, but the ice is way too thin to skate on! I'm talking about the warmth of the holidays ending, leaving in its wake the cold, harsh reality that those days are falling away from us, fast.
I often look at Hubby and myself as the lifeguards.  After all, we're the ones who have to keep the pool clean and make sure that nobody "drowns".  While the high holidays were upon us, the pool kept regular hours, everyone played nicely, and it was downright sunny!  Once those days were past, however, it pretty much ended.  Both only children, Hubby and I often don't get the sibling rivalry thing.  Our children do.  They are masters.  I'm glad to say that things have calmed down and now we're in for the long winter haul.  We're glad to see some of our favorite shows come back for a new season (remember when shows played from September through around the end of March and that was a season?).  "Once Upon a Time" is a fave, and everyone was sitting around the T.V. watching, wondering how things were going to weave together.  "Grimm" is another fave, and we're still waiting on that one.  "Merlin" apparently started last week, but we missed the first one.  Do you see the theme here? 
Of course, there is always the rot-gut that the children watch - I'm not even going to mention shows like "Moonshiners" and "Amish Mafia".  Makes one glad that the Kindle is stocked with good reads.  Maybe I'll even catch up on Facebook and get in a game or two of  Angry Birds.  And, of course, if I can muster enough energy, I'll get some good writing time in.  There are query letters to write and send, revisions to be made...the list never ends, and provides some bit of sanity in the stress pool.
Oh Summer, where art thou?
How do you get through the cold winter?  Do you see it as "getting through", or do you love it?