- After hanging out with family on Monday, I was feeling much better Tuesday. And I started to really BE thankful for all I have and those little things. I really should wake up and make a list of things I’m grateful for. My brain would probably always be in a much better space if I did.
- I was thinking about going to an amateur soccer game this Saturday but I keep forgetting, then remembering, that Ash and I are in Gainesville just for a quick trip to steward a beer competition. We’ll be back Saturday afternoon, late, but probably won’t want to go. Ah well. Another time, perhaps.
- Isaac says he’s going to play fall club soccer and I hope he does. I let him skip spring and it was not good for him. He began gaming more and his grades dropped. He said he wanted to skip so he could do more homework and he said that the soccer schedule messed up his eating. I won’t be falling for that one again. I find that when the kids have a schedule and an activity, it makes them plan their other stuff better.
- In my new-found “be here now” attitude, I am trying not to spiral in my thinking about, well, everything. But my pool is bothering me because I got it clear but then algae creeped back in so now it’s frustrating me. I put in for a quote from a pool store and I accepted the price. It’s a lot but it will save me in the long run. It includes chemicals and they come weekly so I feel like it’s worth it. Especially considering that I would be buying chemicals and all that and maybe not even doing the right things. Plus, this saves me time and stress! I hope they can get it under control and we can all be happy.
- On Tuesday afternoon, the other community college for which I’ll teach online sent me all my onboarding stuff so I could get started. It isn’t until the Fall term but I am excited to get all that going. That was a huge sigh of relief. Now, hopefully it pays similarly to the one I’ll work for here. They paid pretty well, as I recall. I had even taken a course that allowed me to be paid more so there’s that, as I rememeber.
- This morning, I am taking an early, extended lunch to go watch Dakota’s “graduation” thing. They do a farewell walk through the school then the principal says a few things and then they do snacks and stuff. I told her I’d take her to Starbucks and let her get whatever she wanted. It’s not much – not as much as we did for Isaac – but she’s excited. I don’t think they need a ceremony for every one of these milestones but they do it and I don’t want my kids to feel completely ignored either. It’s a weird place the schools put parents in.
- Also going to a 4:30 movie, which means I have to probably leave by 4:20ish and meet Ash there. It’s all very rush rush and I can’t for the life of me figure out when we’ll eat today! Oh well; maybe I don’t need to.
- Tomorrow is a half day and I did not want to spend any more leave but as I mentioned, Ash wanted me to accompany him to the competition. I’ll really need to buckle down and work full days from now on though.
- It’s been hard getting started today; since I’m heading out for her thing in about 30, I didn’t want to get involved in any grading. The construction guys are on the floor above me, banging relentlessly. I have a headache. I’m waiting to get a call from the pool people to make sure they’re coming out to doctor my green pool. It’s all…so much.
- DEEEEEP BREATH
- OK, I’m doing better now. I really am too up in my head and now focusing on what I can do, now, to move forward. I’m just feeling like I’m in limbo, you know? But I will get past it and be just fine, I know.
- OK so her little ceremony was very nice. They did call every fifth grader but it went quickly. They did a little slideshow and reception after but we left and I took her to get Starbucks. I keep thinking that if none of these other full time in office jobs happen and I just end up teaching, I can go to these events without having to use leave.
- I met the new pool person when I took Koda home and my fear was confirmed: our salt cell has gone bad. It’s pretty dang old so it makes sense. Apparently they’re only supposed to last 3 years and, well, this one is probably 8. So anyway, the pool service is just going to treat mine like a chlorine pool this summer and when I can afford a new cell, then maybe it’ll once again be an easier thing to maintain. It is what it is: homeownership, man!
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Sometimes I feel like we don’t “own our things” but that they “own us” . . .maintenance, etc! I’m glad the “mini graduation” ceremony was nice, and I hope she feels celebrated.
Glad you are doing well. You sound extremely busy. Those deep breaths are important.
Owning a home is super expensive- we paid over $20k last summer for a new roof and a new HVAC system. It pained me because we had nothing cosmetic to show for it :(. At least you will have a nice looking pool! You have a lot going on but its sounds like you have a pretty good handle on things… I hope you have a great long weekend!
Wow, that’s pretty good for both those things! Our roof was about 15k and I don’t even want to know what the HVAC is going to run us!