Today and for the next two or three days I have to work my magazine job for the last time. I am feeling sad and disappointed about this, but I also have a plan. I will conduct myself with the utmost professionalism, grace, and style. I will catch errors big and small. I will be seen by as many people in the office as possible, and I will network my ass off! I look super-hot today too.
Watch me. I’m on FIRE.
Asher’s party yesterday was great! I think everyone had a pretty good time, considering there was no pole or booze and my great granny, great aunt, mom, and dad were all there chaperoning. Actually, I kinda meant to serve champagne, but then I forgot. About 26 people were here, I think, which is a helluva tribute to a little person who can’t even talk yet. Thank you to everyone who took time out of your busy lives to witness the anniversary of my little man and our survival of Kid Two: Year One. It means a lot to me that our community loves our sons. Thank you!
The food we served worked out pretty well, I thought. The punch was a hit with the kiddos. I tried to get all Martha on the birthday cake, which kinda sorta worked out, but kinda sorta failed. I guess it depends on how you look at it. I baked an Apple Hill cake and sprinkled it with powdered sugar. But not before I placed atop the cake paper twigs and leaves that Lucas and I cut out. Then we powdered it, so we had a negative image of the branches when we took the paper off. I decorated the branches with marzipan flowers that I made myself. This is the funny part: It took me three tries to create decent flowers. They caught fire when I went to brown them in the oven on the first try. The wax paper the flowers were sitting on was too close to the broiler, so actually it was the paper that burned. On the second try, I let Lucas distract me in conversation for exactly one minute and the flowers burned again. The third try worked OK, and they went on the cake. Lucas and I had decorated a special beeswax candle with modeling beeswax: It had a yellow star and a little toddler boy holding a single, giant flower. Lucas painstaikingly molded each flower petal for the candle.
Asher was completely distraught when we tried to feed him birthday cake. The vanilla ice cream made him cry. Poor baby, it was a very stimulating day and he didn’t seem to like it much when everyone’s attention turned toward him.
I only took a handful of photos, but I think my dad took some. Also, Tate and Elisa arrived and took some family shots of us, which I am excited to see.
We have a ton of thank you cards to write. Asher received plenty of gifts: some of which will go and live at the grandparents’ houses for when he spends time over there. That’s just fine with me. Some clothes will go into the closet until he grows into them, as will at least one toy rated for 3-year-olds.
Spent a ton of time adding recent experience to my out-of-date résumé. Then I gave it to my friend, Dakini_grl to slash the hell out of it, which she did with great wisdom and discretion. Out with the old! Thank you, Dakini!
It’s kinda funny. I guess with regard to my résumé I was still mentally operating as though I were still just starting out, when every job I ever touched seemed crucial and relevant. Funny how we fall into patterns. I am not just starting out. In fact, I’ve been able to make a solid living doing what I do on my own, and within my own values and the parameters of my family life for 4.5 years now. And dammit, that’s no small thing. And Ian kindly pointed out to me that I’ve lost exactly nothing if this opportunity doesn’t come through. Thanks, honey.
I don’t even know how to talk about it, but a colleague of mine, with whom I’ve worked on several large projects, contacted me yesterday with a cryptic message: “Need any work? I have a great referral for you if you have time. Pay is around $XX-XX per hour. Interested?”
“Why yes, my friend. So kind of you to think of me. A big contract just ended and my plate is actually empty now,” I replied. That $XX-XX per hour rate is freakin' sweet, which makes the work appealing even if it isn’t something I’d normally be into. So now I’m busily updating my résumé, which I absolutely despise doing. (It must be done religiously Once Per Year Or Else, although if I did it more often it would be so much easier.) For this potential client, I’m spinning it in the direction of technical writing and developmental editing, the first of which is a small stretch, the second of which is no problem. I’m just not that great at selling myself on a good day, and frankly, right now I’m really rusty at it. But I shall carry on! I shall bravely do tasks I hate. I shall courageously take on tasks I'm not 100% sure I’m capable of doing. We’ll see …
It’s amazing to me. Asher’s birthday is just two days away. I’m planning the food for his party on Sunday: we’re thinking sandwiches, chili and cornbread, salad, punch. I’m thinking of making an apple cake for the birthday cake, maybe with powdered sugar on top. Ice cream too, of course.
Yesterday Lucas and I decorated a beeswax candle with modeling beeswax. It’s a really lovely work of art now and it’s ready to stand in the place of honor on Asher’s cake.
Letter from Lucas’s teachers:
We are enjoying the rainy weather, thanks to our waterproof gear. Inside we are learning to sew, finger knit, knead our bread and chop the vegetables for our Friday soup. Many boats are being created for the “Little Ones” to go on an adventures. The children have grown kinder and gentler with one another and everyone has become friends.
Soon it will be Valentine’s Day. There is no need for you and your child to make 24 Valentines for the other children. I have found this can be overwhelming. Instead we will be making Valentines for you at school, having fun while practicing our cutting and gluing.
Our school auction is on Saturday, March 15. This is a lively event with many treasures to be purchased to help support our school. You are invited to a delicious dinner, a silent auction and a live auction. There is also an opportunity to attend as a volunteer. Each class gives a gift and our kindergarten has traditionally given a set of puppets. We decided to make a countryside set with a farmer, his wife, children, animals, etc. Please join us on February 6 and 13 for an evening of conversation, sewing and fun. We will gather all the supplies, This is an opportunity to learn to sew, and to make a puppet which each of the older children in the kindergarten will be making after the spring break. We are asking for a $5.00 donation for the supplies. This can be put in the envelope on the shelf by the classroom door. We use the lids of frozen juice or spaghetti sauce for the bottoms of the puppets so if you have any of these we would appreciate it.
IMG_4616
Originally uploaded by SarabellaE
My mother made Asher a gorgeous batik quilt. She let me choose the design and the colors/fabrics. It looks fantastic in his room next to my mural.
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Originally uploaded by SarabellaE
On Flickr there are a number of photos with descriptions of gifts that Lucas gave to me, Ian, and Asher for Christmas. They are all things he worked on with his own hands. This photo shows a Lucas original design: Cup Cozies!
Frostee, Asher, and I were having lunch last Thursday (1/24) at a sushi restaurant. Asher somehow leaned over in his high chair just wrong and bonked his mouth on the marble tabletop. He cried pretty hard and I could tell he was hurt, but I didn’t see it happen, so I wasn’t sure what he hit, exactly. After a few minutes he stopped crying. We finished our lunch and went on our way. About 20 to 30 minutes later, I noticed that his front left incisor was chipped. He knocked a small chip out of his tooth when he hit the table.
Later, I could feel the jagged edge of the tooth when nursing him. I called our dentist/uncle and made an appointment.
This morning we went in to see the dentist. He agreed it would be best to smooth out the poky part. I held poor Asher’s body and head still while the assistant held down his arms and my uncle smoothed out the tooth with what looked and sounded like a tiny power grinder. Poor baby cried and struggled and turned bright red with frustration. Fortunately, it was over very quickly. He got a plastic bath toy out of the deal, but he seemed pretty pissed off about the experience. He’s currently sleeping it off.
Before and After photos on flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37914323@N00/2226261841/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37914323@N00/2227052454/
I still have to take a picture showing the smoothed tooth.
I took about a half day to feel sad and let down about the magazine gig ending. Then I emailed around to some other clients. Looks like one client will have a big massage book for me that must get into production by June 1, which will require about 30 hours a month for me, starting the beginning of February through May/June. She also has a giant medical terminology textbook that needs revision; the author is someone I really like, so I’m pleased to get aboard that revision. Plus, it will be steady work through the fall. She may also need me to write a manuscript on a natural health topic, but this one isn’t definite yet. So, other doors are opening up. That feels good.
