My Love

Spending time with my special love
Before I go back to work tomorrow.

Family

Most of my relatives live in a different state,
So I hardly see them at all.
But yesterday my two oldest practical nieces came over,
And we played games, laughed, and talked.
Oh, and the younger one got a sugar high.
It was all fun, and really, the only extended family I needed.

Good Christmas

It was a good Christmas.

New house, same routine.

Stockings, breakfast, big gifts, down time, Christmas meal.

This year two friends came over for the dinner.

I took a nap during down time - that is the only thing new.

And it was good.

Through the Classics

This break I am reading through the classic novels.
The abridged kids' versions at least,
Which I borrowed from the library.
Here is what they are filled with:

-main character does something stupid, gets into trouble, blames fate and/or God
-main character, having been rescued, does something else stupid, gets into trouble,
blames fate and/or God again
-repeat at least one more time, sometimes more
-ends up at the end of the journey, summarizes their fateful life, and leaves off that life goes on in their tragic life

Seriously? This is what we call classics? At least literature today is filled with diverse (if not overused) plot lines, more interesting characters (who are more outwardly flawed - not these "I'm the greatest person ever" douchebags who blame everything on God or the fates), and lively (i.e. more graphic) action. (Although maybe the real version is more graphic, I don't know, but the stories would still be mostly boring.)

These works are seriously lacking almost everything that I would call great.
I suffer through them because I am an avid reader who still desires to know the basic stories, boring as I have found them. Luckily, I think I have only two left (that I have misplace and need to find). Ha!

Christmas Shopping

Finished last Monday with my BFF,
And go tomorrow with my dad.
It's all gone so fast,
But I am glad when spending money's done.

Loans

I would really like to get them paid off.

Little by little, each month, a dent is made.

But it only seems like pennies in a black hole.

Sigh.

Party

Today was the first party at the new house - a Christmas party.

It was my parents' party, for helpers at church,

And it went surprisingly very well.

The only two couples who toured the house were people I wanted to -

My friends and the pastor's wife whom I love -

And everybody else was too busy to notice.

Fun, food, and fellowship -

What a wonderful Sunday afternoon.

Accident

There was one.

Last week.

Luckily I was the only one in the car,

And the damages are minimal.

But though I love the rental,

I'm sure I won't the cost.

It's Started

The Holiday Mania has started.

It's all they're showing on Hallmark (at least whenever I've walked in on my mom watching - which is quite a bit).

The stores have decorated.

I am not ready, but oh I so love this time of year.

Now I Can Rest

I'm finally done unpacking.

Did I ever mention that sleeping is a hobby of mine?

Well, it is.

And now I get to sleep. And rest.

And Another One

Last one (I think!) of the Burtka-Harris clan, 2013.

It looks like Harper is quite a character. Maybe she inherited her daddy's acting skills?

My Favorite Halloween Family

The Burtka-Harris Clan

2011 - Peter Pan

2012 - The Wizard of Oz

2013 - Alice in Wonderland

Moving is Hard

Especially for animals.

But for people, too.

Still unpacking, though totally moved in.

Almost All Done

We are almost all done painting.

Today, three rooms, including mine.

Monday, one last room.

One project before moving, almost done.

There Are Days

Sometimes there are days when everything fits perfectly into place.

This isn't one of those days.

One Day a Week

I am now down to one free day a week.

And that's only because I keep blocking it off.

Because one day is better than none.

Now I Can Announce

I am moving!

It's been in progress since June, but it was secret.
Finally the closing is near,
And I am beyond excited.

Here's to fresh starts,
In a new house,
With a nice new room,
And new beginnings all around.

Curbside Treasure

Really the guy actually asked me if I wanted it
And the doll house fell apart when I was trying to get it into my car.
But in the bottom was an American Girl sized couch
That I will use for the Kelly House I am making for my adoptive nieces to use.
And the backdrops to the house - if I can't get it back together - will serve well for backgrounds.
All in all, not bad for free stuff going to the curb today.

Wonder Woman Babysitter

This is me, Wonder Woman Babysitter.



Actually no, I don't know who that would be.

Instead, I'm just going to die.

Popsicle Girls

The two girls I nanny for got popsicles from their bus driver today.

Everybody on the bus got one.

Why?

Because it's 9/11.

I just don't get it.

Popsicles to celebrate a tragedy?

ETA: My brother informed me that it is because it's a memorial, but I doubt most kids on that bus understood that.

I Have Not Forgotten

I have not forgotten where I came from.

I just choose to love, not hate.

All Signed Up

So, I signed up for the baby-sitting part of the agency where I got my nanny job.

Now if only I could bribe the kids with lollipops.



Funny enough, the agency actually did send me a pink bag to use.

Disconnected

For many years I used to wish my sister and I were close.
After all, many sisters are, aren't they?
But for us, it never seemed to happen.
With the exception of one year where she'd play with me -
Yes, one out of my standard eighteen at home -
It was my brother and me, my brother and her,
Or the three of us in some vague way.
I played a lot by myself too.

Then, in college, I started documenting my efforts
Through a sister journal -  not online.
Through that, I have come to realize that we will never be close.
We just have such different personalities, that
We will never understand each other.
We will never "get" each other,
Never connect in a meaningful way.

The only connection is my brother, and
The technicalities of our blood.
But she is soon off to her senior year of college,
And then plans to marry her sweetheart next summer.

So, if I don't mention her a lot,
Or just in terms of her boyfriend visiting,
That is why.

I Should Stop Thinking

How come when I think a baby-sitting job is going to be easy, it never is?

"Bad" Cat

So, today at work one of the cats brought
My youngest charge and me a dead bird.
Apparently he killed it.
Probably for us.

But then, as I started moving it out of the way,
He grabbed it back with his mouth and started eating it.

So when the older girls arrived home from school,
I heard running and a shriek and quickly followed them outside.
Apparently, he had just got done eating the head.
And they witnessed it.

They said this has happened before,
And I told them the cat was just trying to bring a gift
(And apparently he was trying to say he was starving,
Which, if you know how often he tries to get people to feed him,
You would know how much he thinks he is starving.)

But the girls didn't care.
They buried the bird
and chased the cat.
But he baby and I still like the "bad" cat!

Disney Dumbing Down

I've spent a good portion of this year watching Disney.
It happens when you are a nanny to kids ages 3-10.

I remember Hannah Montana, and thought it was okay.
Phil of the Future and That's So Raven - tolerable.
But the shows now? Like A.N.T. Farm,
Shake it Up, and Austin and Ally?
Can't stand them. They are so dumb.

I realize I am not the target market age.
I realize that they are not made for my level.
But seriously - when I was 13 Britney Spears
and Vitamin C were on Disney Channel.
They were showing re-runs of  Boy Meets World
And came out with Lizzie McGuire.

Compare those shows to now -
It's a fact that the substance of the shows are different.
Maybe it's a reaction to complaints,
Or the fact that younger viewers are watching.
But the logical, cogent facts are there -
The shows have been dumbed down.

And it really annoys me.

Less Pleasant Things

I am currently downsizing my books,
Along with everything else I own.

It's not very pleasant,
The digging and sorting,
But on my days off,
It has to be done.

Weekend Getaway

So this past weekend my mom, sister, and I took off
To see a couple relatives in a different part of the state.

Seeing them was great - we had lots of laughs, fun games,
And way too much food to eat.

The only downside was a close friend who was hanging around,
Because what we really wanted was family time.

All in all, though, it was fun.

Sometimes I Need

Sometimes all I need
is a good place
to hide from the world.

Celebrity Theron Quote

I don't normally post these but, go Charlize!

"I live a very simple life. I don't have to make those giant movies. I don't have a yacht or a private plane. As long as I can maintain this life, which is pretty low-maintenance and simple, then all of a sudden you don't have to worry about all that stuff. I don't have to take a job to pay a mortgage on a house I can't afford."

-Charlize Theron

I Hurt My Knee

I hurt my knee.

I'm not sure how,
Because all I did was play the wii.
And I've never had knee problems before.

I have a heating pad on it,
But it still hurts to walk.

I really hope it heals quickly.
Because I have to go back to work tomorrow regardless.

On My Day Off

TV, please?
And sleep.
It's my recharge day.

Making Money

Lately I've been getting quite a few extra babysitting jobs.
They have delightfully brought in extra money,
In addition to my weekly job.
But no matter how much I make,
It seems to go so fast.

I save my change,
I try to put back extra money,
I do have savings in my account.
But it doesn't seem like enough.

I know, compared to the world,
I am rich.
But this culture is what counts,
For the day to day expenses.

But I am thankful for my jobs,
My steady one and all the extras.

This is How I Feel

This is how I feel after a day of nannying.
Not that I don't like my job -
It's just exhausting.

Also, this family and the last both have cats.
I like cats.

Negotiation

Negotiating a pay rate.
I hate it.

Jet Lag

Vacation was... intense.
Mostly because I was PMSing
And my grandma is spastic
Being excited and worried.

I swam, I shopped, I played
Hand and Food with my grandma.
I rode bikes, went on the swing,
read, wrote, and slept.

All in all, it was relaxing if not long.
Getting back was hard -
And just a whole other story -
but I'm just grateful that I am back.

Flying to Florida

I fly to Florida tomorrow
With my grandmother in tow.

Last summer, my whole family went.
The summer before, I went for a week.
The summer before that, I went for two weeks.

I am looking forward to relaxing,
But I have so much to do here.

I am mostly packed.
I hope it all goes well!

The Busy Busy Summer

I know it's only the middle of June,
But already I am tons busy.

My grandma is visiting,
And so is my sister's boyfriend.
We play tennis most mornings,
And I try to bike a lot too.

Next week I leave for vacation.
My mother is de-cluttering the house.
Lots of family dinners, games, and talks.

I try to work on my afghan business.
I like to write and read.
But I have been working quite a bit
On stuff for my other job.

And it will get busier.
Because it's only just begun.

This Time of Year

What is it about this time of year that makes kids go crazy?
I mean, I know school's out, but still.
I never acted this badly with the babysitters, summer or not.

Can't Wait!

Can't wait for this book to come out!

Kiddie Blues

I was all set for a job this summer
Nannying for two school-age kids.
But then all of a sudden it wasn't for all summer
But scattered here and there.

At first I thought it was just their dad
Who is coming from another state to visit them.
But when I got the schedule in my email
And I found out no,
It was just that she had another girl added
Who she hadn't told me about
But who I was going to "share" my job with.

Then I thought, maybe it's another young adult
Who is as desperate for work as I am.
But then I found out no,
It's the teenage girl of the school superintendent,
In the family with all the perks
Just because of their position in the school.

To say I am mad is an understatement.
Because this situation,
That I found out in this way,
Is just rude and unsettling.

I did it!

It took just under 26 years,
But finally I got my ears pierced.

Birthday Girl in the Middle

Last year my birthday was spectacular. 

I spent the day with my bff

And went to dinner with my family.

But this year both want to go out to lunch,

And my brother can't stand my friend,

So there's no chance of us going out all together.

I don't know what to do,

Like a monkey caught in the middle.

It's my birthday,

But this year it's not my own to dictate.

Starting a Garden

It's more like a plot
In a community garden
But this is the first time ever
That I am attempting this.

I've always loved the concept,
But I'm not a big fan of dirt.
I've planted tomatoes so far,
And I can't wait to watch them grow.

Death of a 19 Year Old

I did not know him, but my sister was friends with him.
I had before met him, and I knew his sister a bit.
Tonight was the viewing.

He was hiking in a place I've been so many times before,
Even when I was a small child.
But he and his friends left the path,
And he fell. 60 feet.

I feel sad for the parents, the sister, and the friends.
For my sister, for mutual friends.
And even as I personally do not closely grieve,
I think of how it wasn't supposed to end this way.

Nightmares

In the last several years I've changed a lot
And worked through so many issues.
But there's still anger inside of me;
I see it when I dream.

It appears in a recurring nightmare
And I really hate what I see.
The details may vary,
But the feelings are the same.

I only wish I could stop them,
But I had another one today.
I really wish I could stop them.
Because I wake up hating myself.

Tragedy

When tragedy strikes
And the world seems dim,
You've got to hug the ones you care about,
Pray like your life depends on it,
Remember that God is in control,
And strive to make tomorrow better.

Volunteering

It's only volunteering
If the person decides to do it
Not for money
Or because one's forced

My parents have always been active in this,
Mostly with the church.
But at home I heard the complaining,
And growing up was forced to endure it.

Now I am an adult
And I guard my time
For it is not theirs
Or anyone else's.

I will volunteer
For what I want to
But if I choose not to
That is my decision
And no one else's.

So no one should push guilt
Or try to talk me into it
Do what you want to do
And I will choose what I do.