Job Interview

I have a job interview at USM this afternoon. I have mixed feelings about whether I want a full-time regular job. I've enjoyed consulting and being able to set my own schedule, but I haven't enjoyed the lack of certainty about contracts and paychecks. Plus I had committed to spending the next year focusing on my dissertations. The question that arises is will the job, if I get it, interfere with the dissertation or push me to complete it because I'll be less stressed? Or will I be more stressed since I'll be working in yet another position that has not been in place before (in other words, I'll be the first "me" again as I have been in every single job I've had in Mississippi)? There's the old panic of when I'll manage to get everything I've been doing the past year at home (shopping, clothes washing, cooking, accounting, etc.)? But, there's a paycheck, regular insurance, tuition reimbursement, etc...stability.

Book Review, of sorts

I loved Faking It! by Jennifer Crusie. She's a terrific writer, has a great easy-to-read style, and her characters are so much fun. I found myself not wanting to finish the book because I didn't want my time with these people to be over.

Other than that, I don't have much to say--or I have too much to say and I'm simply too tired to say it. If you like a contemporary, fun, light and easy-to-read book that won't challenge you too hard, go read Crusie...there's just something about her that makes life fun. And that's a good thing!

I've been a busy girl

At least I think I have. I've been tired in the evenings and feel like my whole day has been running from one project to the other, but I don't know what specifically I've managed to accomplish other than getting the Christmas tree up, finally, and wrapping presents as they are delivered.

My good news is that I have a job interview on Friday. I feel good about the interview and hopeful that it'll turn into an offer...guess we'll see where it goes.

Still waiting on my loom and hoping that I haven't totally forgotten everything I learned in weaving class!

The Holidays have Officially Begun

David and I are talking about how we'd like to decorate the tree. The kids are asking when we're going to put it up. We're planning our trip to Texas for Thanksgiving and are even getting to meet up with friends we met in Europe along the way. The Christmas cards are addressed, stamped and awaiting the family photo. Presents are even bought and some are wrapped--others are on their way.

Oh, and my birthday is this week...always a marker for the "start" of the holidays even though it's 2 days after Thanksgiving this year.

Let me know some of your favorite holiday traditions. I'll be writing about some of mine after I get back from my trip.

...And I take a bow...

...Because I believe I'm the first person in America who is actually finished with her Christmas shopping!

Book Review: The Second Mrs. Darcy by Elizabeth Aston

The Second Mrs. Darcy by Elizabeth Aston is really quite an enjoyable book. I had a little trouble getting into it, but once I did, I didn't want it to end. I really enjoyed the main character Octavia. She developed into a fully grown and enjoyable woman who was independent and willing to do what it takes to fight for that independence.

The synopsis of the book is that Octavia Darcy is recently widowed and left very poor by her husband, Christopher Darcy whose first wife gambled him into serious debt. Since his property is entailed, it goes to the nearest male cousin. Fate would smile on Octavia, however, in the form of a great-aunt who died and left her her vast estates and wealth. Octavia, overnight, becomes a very wealthy woman.

The remainder of the book is focused on love matches between several of the characters a-la Jane Austen, and is quite fun and interesting to read. As I said, I really didn't want this book to end, and I can only hope that Aston revisits Octavia, but if the past four books are indication, she won't. I enjoyed this one more than the previous three, I think, because Octavia is a young woman, not a teenager growing up. If you like a good story, get this book.

Vignette #6

Alyssa and Elizabeth got in from church around 8:30 last night and brought up some conversation they were having with their youth leader that had to do with old laws on the books that aren't really applicable any more.

And the one that E quoted was that Mississippi law made illegal "any sexual positions but the military position."

"Missionary" Alyssa prompted, but David and I were already rolling in the floor.

That "Thornton" Luck

David often comments about "that Thornton luck" when referring to why I tend to win things that have no skill involved (drawings, slot machine, etc.). What he's referring to isn't "technically" Thornton, but we'll pretend that it is since the name Thornton is associated with all the lucky people in my family.

First there's my grandmother, Emma Thornton. She seems to always win little things from the radio, newspaper, etc.

Then there's my dad who won a new truck a few years ago in a local raffle.

And mom who won several thousand dollars in Las Vegas on only a few spins of the slot machine. She wisely didn't temp her luck, or she may have left Vegas a millionaire.

I've always won things. When I was a kid I had a knack for picking out the cereal boxes with the winning game piece. I had so many junky games and toys in my closet when I moved to college that it was a little surprising. I won a $1000 worth of jewelry from a local jewelry store when I was a freshman in college. I won a pizza party for 15 of my favorite friends from a radio station that same semester. While I've never stuck it big in the casinos, I do tend to leave with more money than I came with--same at the horse races...so I do consider myself a lucky person, though I've never won the lottery, which is really a dream of mine. Imagine $20 million. What I could do with that.

Another "lucky" trait I have is being called for jury duty. When I moved away to college Limestone County called me several times even after I'd registered to vote in another county. Since living in Mississippi, I've been called 6 times...this most recent for federal jury duty. I have to go to Jackson today to see if I'm going to be picked for the jury. I really hope not because I'm in the smack middle of so many things that putting them on hold for however many days/weeks it takes for this trial to work itself out may be really frustrating.

I've been fussed at by one of my friends for wanting to shirk my civic duty, but I do have to ask if being called for jury duty once a year is typical. And I can't seem to get the picture out of my head of me sitting in the jury box bored out of my skull and wanting nothing more than to run away and scream...

Where did the week go?

It's been a busy week. I can't think of anything major that I've accomplished other than revising and turning in my pre-proposal (a nice step, but not much work). I have gotten my hair done--it looks nice. I took my ring in for re-sizing, ordered and purchased a weaving loom and supplies for my studio, went to book club and hosted sewing group. My friend from California has been here to go to his friend's funeral--she died of leukemia and was about 5 years younger than me. I've also gone through all my quilts and quilting fabric and made a fairly substantial donation to the children's quilts of our local guild. They are working on quilts for children of soldiers deployed to Iraq.

And underneath it all, all I want to do is weave...and I can't, so I bide my time and try to keep myself from itching too bad until the loom gets here sometime around Christmas...

Taking the Plunge

I took the plunge and ordered a 36" 8 shaft, 10 treadle hand weaving loom today! I'm very excited and don't know how I'm ever going to wait the 6-8 weeks it will take to be completed and delivered.

In the meantime here's a picture of my loom during class...it's smaller than the one I'll get, but the same logic.

Vignette #5

Elizabeth comes in from hanging out with her friends and sits on the couch next to me: You know I think you and dad are hypocritical.

Me: You'd better explain yourself or leave.

E: Well, you expect us to get a job but you won't buy us a second car so that we can both get to the job.

Me: Your dad has offered multiple times to drop you off and pick you up whenver you're working and don't have the car. You don't need a second car for that.

E: But getting me a new volkswagon beatle convertible--in green if you want to make it really special--would save you the trouble.

Me: Or you can get a job nearby and walk to it. McAlister's or Gold Post would be really easy. Or, if you want, you can just deal with being dropped off because we're not buying another car.

E: I'll be happy with a USED one if you need it.

Me: This is going nowhere. I'm not buying you a new car. You'll have to deal with things the way they are.

E: But is SO EMBARASSING to have your parents drop you off at your job.

Me: Oh well...

Weaving Class Day #3

I was too excited to tell what I did yesterday...I played with patterns. After warping the loom and getting the warp ready to weave, she told us to play around with different patterns. The bottom half of the picture above was completed on Day #2. I found that I have a significant interest in patterns...so much so that I couldn't sleep last night dreaming up new ways to do patterns!

Today we learned to read weaving drafts, which are like blueprints for weavers. Then we got to play with fibers, or threads. We could pick anything in the shop that was on a cone and weave to our heart's content. I did not do any fancy patterns, this time, but did enjoy getting to feel all the different kinds of threads available.

So, above you have me and my sampler. I absolutely LOVE weaving. I have to go home now and figure out how to make room for a loom and all the weaving accoutrements you need! Donations are accepted :)

WEaving Class Day #2

I'm hooked...

Weaving Class Day #1

Today I

• planned a project
• created my warp
• tied the warp off
• threaded the warp through the reed
• threaded the warp through the heddles
• tied the warp to the back bar
• tied the warp to the front bar

It really was quite a lot of work and whew! I'm tired! Thankfully Janice is making a dinner that smells yummalicious!

I'll have pictures when I get back home as I forgot to bring my cords! yikes!

Vignette #4

E, running in the house and slamming down the car keys—clearly in a tizzy: I’m not ever driving her around anywhere.

A not screaming but clearly high-pitched and distressed: Well, what am I supposed to do when you were about to hit a car? Be silent and get hurt?

E: I wasn’t about to hit a car!

A: Yes you were!

Me: Can we stop screaming please? What’s all this about?

E and A simultaneously: “She yells at me when I drive”
“She doesn’t drive like I do and we almost hit a car.”

Me: Let’s talk about this reasonably—I attempt to do so, doesn’t work, I send them to their room to calm down until they can talk reasonably.

About 10 minutes later:

E: I’m serious, I’m not driving her around.

Me: That’s fine, then you don’t drive.

E: That’s not fair.

Me: Sure it is. It’s my car and I can decide who drives and when. If you won’t share the car then you don’t have the right to drive it.

At this point they start arguing with each other again.

Me breaking in: I will sell the car if the two of you can’t come to some agreement about how you’ll drive and ride together.

A: I won’t complain about how you drive, but I will mention if we’re about to hit another car.

E: That’s fine and I’ll do the same.

And it was over. No other mention, no more upset feelings, no anger…just over.

Vacation Pictures

As promised, pictures from our vacation...

Aaah, Vacation

David and I had so much relaxation on our vacation that coming home as been rather shocking...not because anything is bad, but because we can't spend our days as we did on the beach...and we really enjoyed ourselves at the beach. I should have a pic or two up on the blog in a few days.

In a nutshell we:

• played lots of games: monopoly, dominoes, backgammon and battleship
• put together a 1000 piece puzzle
• read 2 books a piece
• talked
• went out to dinner
• walked on the beach once--but it was too windy to really do much else
• drove around looking at all the new construction...did you know that for only $3,000,000 you can buy a 5500 square foot condo?
• slept late
• shopped
• met our friends in Mobile for lunch on our way home.

Can't wait to get back!

A Happy Couple

This happy couple is about to take a bona fide business retreat. We are both much in need of some serious downtime. So, until Thursday next week, I'm at the beach!

The Tunnel

David and I have started walking daily on our local rails-to-trails bike and walking trail. It's not always lovely considering that south Mississippi is probably always the most humid in the morning, but it is nice to have a destination and then be required to come back. I can't wimp out and say "I'm too tired or hot or whatever to continue." About 3/4 mile into the walk there is a tunnel that goes under a busy street. It's a fairly long tunnel--probably 20 yards or more--and it' actually dark inside, and cool and all the other wonderful things you want when you're hot and sweaty.

This week we upped our mileage to three miles and when I see that tunnel on our return trip--about 2 1/4 miles, remember, I'm thinking..."there's the tunnel and I can see the light at the end of it."

And metaphorically that's where I am today. I completed my first draft of a 133 page report. It was a grueling couple of weeks, but I'm proud of it tonight. When I look at it on the other side of the tunnel tomorrow, it may not be so pretty, but today I'm happy...very happy actually...so happy that I could just fall asleep on the couch and not move until I get up to do my 3 mile walk tomorrow morning...

...and I can honestly say that I think I'm looking forward to the beach even more than I thought possible!

And btw, this is a picture of a tunnel in Ireland which, though it doesn't look exactly like our tunnel, reminds me of it somehow...

Busy...

Been busy lately, that's why I've been incommunicado...I think if I were to actually go back and look, I've been working 10-12 hours every day for the past two weeks. The big crunch is over on Friday, thank goodness...then David and I be here for 4.5 days.