That's a good note, Aimee.

In mememe news, I'm starting to feel oddly relieved about the prospect of finding a job again. I'm worried about finding childcare, and I'm worried that I won't be able to find a manager who'll appreciate my independent ways rather than micromanaging and teambuilding me to death. But the thing is, my heart has never been in freelancing. I like it, but my passion is all for the novels. To freelance effectively, I think you need the passion. When you have to market yourself, you can't have a clock-puncher's attitude.

So if I can just find a job that A) either allows me to work from home or afford childcare, B) pays well enough to punch down our debt and help us get this house bought and remodeled, C) isn't another House of Soulsuck, and D) leaves me with enough time to write, then I can focus my heart and soul on my writing with a clear conscience. (I know, I don't ask for much!) And, with the blessing, someday I'll be working from home again because I'll be an author.

My mom's the best. She gave me my birthday present early (which isn't surprising) -- and it's the kitchen cart I wanted! I went to Wal Mart to get it this weekend and they were out but said they'd get more in, when I went back even the display model was gone . I had them call around but the other stores claimed not to have it.

Mom went to the one by her work and badgered them into giving her the display model. They didn't want to because supposedly they were getting more.

I only turned to Walmart because the other ones I found were too big. This is what I got.

[link]

It says in stock but the other day it said out of stock.

Susan-- have you considered a more low level job. I found that doing something like retail or just part-time easy secretarial work really kept my mind free for more creative pursuits. plus it is shift work, so it may solve the childcare issue.

Sophia, if it's an evening and weekend retail job, enough hours to bring in a decent paycheck would mean almost never seeing DH, I fear. Plus, it'd probably mean quitting choir, not being able to participate as actively in writing groups, etc. Talk about House of Soulsuck.

And a part-time secretarial job wouldn't be bad, but it'd be a daytime gig, and from what I've seen of childcare pricing, I really need a professional job to get daycare and improve our financial position. I'm open to new data, but from what I've researched so far, my best options look like working from home or getting some kind of Administrative Specialist or Assistant to Dean job at UW--I'm highly qualified for that sort of thing, and the good thing about academia is they tend to respect that their employees have lives.

What's the haps, people? Did Lilty and Teppy ask their respective retail cuties out? Any more babies? You Bitches still hot?

(Congrats, Stephanie!)

I'm highly qualified for that sort of thing, and the good thing about academia is they tend to respect that their employees have lives.

Also usually some good childcare options.

Resume suggestions have been recieved and acted on. Now someone make me actually write the personal statement instead of starting it, decending into a rant and tossing the thing.

Just stickin' my head in the door before I have to run out of here (stupid job wanting me to do actual work and not just sit and chat all afternoon!)

Hey P-C, nice to see you! (Says the gal who keeps forgetting that she has barely shown her own "face" around here lately).

Skipping to the front to ask a question Emily's making me ask.

Do I have to have dinner? I had a good lunch at 11:30 and a few snacks since then. I'm not hungry. Nothing sounds good. It's almost bedtime.

Ice cream should do me, right?

Protein and calcium. Sounds like a nutritious meal to me.

A 'lil bit of a meara

You are brilliant! I can do this and sell my CD's! You just saved me from hocking my TV! I love you!

I love you too! I made 40 dollars for a biggish stack of cds, two dvds, and a PS2 game. The sorting was the only hard part. Well, that and refusing FIFTY dollars in store credit. But now I've got gas in my car and dinners for the week.

They were sold at stands and in little shops and while ham and butter on bread sounds lame, its french ham on french bread with french butter (and sometime little french pickles) and it tastes OUTSTANDING and I cheerfully ate them every day.

That sounds nummy. I'm probably happier with the cheap stuff anyway. Also, my friend just called. We'll be in an actual hotel in Italy for two nights (as she will be seeing her boyfriend, and they'll have been apart for a while. Ahem.) We are going to bike around vineyards in Tuscany!!!

Going up the Eifel Tower, for example, was prohibitively expensive.

I just want to walk BY the Eiffel Tower. Sit by it for a bit.

As far as gifts, Nilly taught me the BEST policy ever-- magnets, bookmarks, keychains.

My mom wants a pebble from everywhere I go. That is all.

After walking around looking at all the beauty we stopped in a little shop and got several pasties and a drink and then walked over to a park and had an impromptu picnic.

This would make me every bit as happy as any restaurant.

She is your friend, and she will understand, or she will have to understand, that no matter how much you care about her, you have priorities that are a universe apart from spa treatments in Vegas.

Listen to Nora's ass, for it is wise.

Ice cream should do me, right?

It's my plan. That or beer.