Tales of a Shoebox Princess

Last night, at Mike's insistence, we had dinner at a pizza place featuring music played for us by the resident organist. I could have stayed for hours and watched this guy play. He used NO sheet music. He played everything from memory and most of it was from requests made by the customers. When the organist went on break, I inspected and took pictures of the organ pipes and the console (which I hope to post next week--I suspect I'm the only one interested in it, though). Some of the organ noisemakers were suspended from the ceiling or hung on the walls. There was a row of plastic duck decoys that moved up and down when that rank of pipes was activated on the organ. While I was taking pictures, I noticed that the organist was watching me. I asked him a few pipe-related questions and we got into a conversation about what it's like as the organ player for this pizza joint. I enjoyed his commentary, especially the story of a guy who came in with the sole purpose of stumpi...

The interview went well, at least from my point of view. I was a wreck all day before the interview, but once it got started, I calmed down. It was a group interview--very interesting. There were 11 of us and we had to answer questions in front of the group. One guy bugged out halfway through the 2 1/4 hour interview. We had a break and he never came back. I really can't say how I think I did because I have no idea how professional people think. I can only say that I do not regret anything that I said or did. And now I am relaxing in Wisconsin for a few days. We left right after the interview and arrived late last night (Don't even think about invading my home though. I left my attack cats at home and I booby-trapped all potential entrances including the sky light in the bathroom. Plus there is still one familial occupant in the house who has to work so the house is not empty). Anyway, I am too busy eating up the delicious thighs of my little niece to blog right now so ...

I promise that next week (or perhaps Fri or Sat) I will blog pictures. This week, though, I have too much going on to fiddle with the camera. I did finish serging some bandanas for YW camp. Had to get those done by today because camp is Monday and we are going out of town tomorrow til Sunday. I still have to tweak my resume tonight, and I have to make some dinners for Other Jim, who is going to be the sentinel at the house while the rest of us are away. I picked beans too and they need dealing with. Perhaps I will just wash them and put them in the fridge and bring them with us on the trip to Mike and Jen's. I'll offer up the beans for dinner on Friday or whatever. Jen, you have been alerted to incoming beans. Stay with me, folks, as I figure out what will be happening with my life. And hope and pray I get a job somewhere.

My life is in flux right now. My body doesn't like to be in a state of uncertainty though, and I've had a nervous stomach since I got an appointment for a group interview with a bank for a teller position. This process of application is long and filled with proverbial hoops. Hoop #1: online application, which leads to... Hoop #2: online screening, which leads to... Hoop #3: phone conversation with a recruiter, which leads to... Hoop #4: group interview. And I don't know that the group interview leads to (provided I pass). It's hard for me to blog when I am this agitated. I'm not depressed; I'm just too nervous to think of anything else. My mind is fixating. In other news, I get to teach seminary this school year. I just got the official call yesterday at church. I have been telling myself that I really need to get up earlier and the Lord heard me and said, "You want to get up early? I'll help you achieve that goal!" Har. No, I'm really ex...

How does one explain on job applications that motherhood is work experience? I have learned to multi-task: I can process five different requests (verbally marked URGENT by shouting) at once. I can function in crisis situations: I have not melted down when various children were hit by cars, I drove my own self to urgent care when I needed stitches, I gave birth (UNMEDICATED!!) to five children. I'd like to see CEOs do that. I can deal with the public: I've had to go to countless parent/teacher conferences, I've volunteered at church/school/community activities, and I know how to be polite (thank you mother!) I am not stupid, but just because I haven't been in the "work" force for the last 16 years, my "work" experience is nil.

I have a little friend over to play today. His name is Austin and he's such a sweet little baby. His big brother, Owen, is in the hospital for a little while and since his parents (my brother and sister-in-law) need to be with Owen, Austin gets to spend the day with me. There are lots of other people who are helping out, but today is my day with the little squirt and I'm enjoying kissing this baby's fat cheeks and nomming on his fat thighs. Dave was right when he told me that if you sorta tickle his chin, he laughs. I've already endured changing a blowout--blowouts on infants his age, which is nearly two months, are not very bad at all--and he's eaten quite well. He's napped for nearly two hours too. I'm going to settle him into the stroller and take him and Fake Child (who is also here) for a walk. More pictures later. Get better, Owen! PS the cat is back from a bladder scan. Special food and antibiotics for Servo. Servo was happy to be back home aft...

Yesterday: Make sure Paul got home from CC practice Take three children to the dentist Receive Fake Child Get 2nd urine sample from cat Realize that the antibiotics have not been working on Servo Take sample to vet Call ortho because a metal band fell off Hayley's tooth Take Hayley to ortho Entertain Fake Child until her father came to get her Take Paul out for his birthday dinner Go visiting teaching Today: Make three trips to middle school Babysit Fake Child Three long phone calls with family members Dinner? Pick Matt up from a friend's house Church activity tonight Worry about Servo If I can make it through until Friday, I have a more restful weekend (hopefully) ahead. Then a trip to Wisconsin next week.