Soap in the Bed

This is my go to soap.  It might be old fashioned, Yardley has been around forever and ever, but it is my absolute favorite.  Oh, I've catted around with other soaps- the liquid kind, the wonderful smelling expensive stuff from Bath and Body, the hand made versions- made by hippies in Asheville, or by Grendel- but I have rediscovered my first love and am wondering why I ever left.  It is perfect for the skin, smells grand and even sits sweetly in the soap dish, having that drying property of old fashioned soap where it doesn't stay all slimy at the bottom, but skins up quickly.  Wonderful, wonderful stuff...and at the dollar store.

I bought it for an experiment.  For years Mother has been swearing that a bar of soap in the bed keeps away leg cramps.  Now, I don't have leg cramps- for one reason, I love love love the taste of diet tonic water and drink it when I can- but Mr. Owens does.  So I thought I'd give it a go- but then, which soap?  I knew that (obviously) liquid soap wouldn't work, or any of the handmade kind as they get soft very quickly when warm and are mostly glycerine based.  I never was keen on the scent of Ivory, Lux, Lifebouy, Dial- and while I admire the bold striping of Irish Spring and Coast, they smell like waking up, not going to sleep.  Dove reminds me of  my Mother, and while I like the scent and love my mother, again, it is not a bedtime smell. I was about to buy it anyway, but then I spotted the Yardley at the dollar store- stacked demurely between the neon liquid soaps with scents like 'tropical paradise', 'freesa spirit', 'berry banana blast'.

Yardley is great for washing, and in bed. (No pun intended!)  The scent is clean, just feminine enough, and it holds up well.  The sheets smell amazing- Turrello loves it- but it is not over powering.  And the lavender is real, not the synthetic 'lavender' smell found in laundry detergent.  I keep the soap loose, and it 'roams' all over the bed- it is cool and smooth, and somehow comforting to the feet.  I thought it would be annoying but it is addicting instead~ I've become a fan.

But what of the leg cramps?  Well, a bit of research into it, (Geek is Good) I found out that soap contains sodium chloride, which naturally replenishes potassium.  Potassium is key to preventing leg cramps- and you can get it from bananas, gatorade, tonic water etc.  Now, obviously you don't eat the soap, and the washing with it doesn't do the trick either.  And the fancy soaps/ organic soaps/ glycerine soaps are made differently, so they don't work in the same way.  What happens is this: the soap is in bed, where it is warmed by the heat of your body (or electric blanket).  The heat helps the soap to 'breathe', releasing sodium chloride, which is kept in the closed environment of the blankets and absorbed into your skin- your pores are open because of the warm bed.  The potassium is replenished and- wala- no leg cramps.  Brilliant!  

Swimming Upstream!

Good bye summer, back to school... already.  Yet this has been the most relaxing summer in awhile- but perhaps a bit to relaxed as I am not as prepared as normal for this first day.  Even though today is all about cleaning, and a leadership meeting (complete with desserts- so far, Sara is bringing rice krispie treats, Jerry is bringing brownies and I made these weird black cherry red velvet vanilla chip cookies that I am not sure are good or just odd... hooray for art teachers who like to eat!)  I have high hopes of focusing and getting things done- determined to be positive and proactive, have decided that the Raleigh job is not meant to be (even though they haven't notified yet) so I might as well kick butt at this one.  Lots of plans, lots of ideas- but like what happens at wal-mart, I end up walking in with an agenda then wandering around aimlessly sniffing the candles.

Speaking of walmart, could someone *Please* tell me where they hide the hand-sanitizer?  It wasn't with the soap, or in the baby-supplies, or pharmacy or with the school supplies (I had wal-minions trying to help me)... so... maybe it is just our wal-mart or mayhap their is a secret location for such a thing.  Not that I actually use hand sanitizer (except in porta-potties)... it kills all the good along with the bad.... but you can use it to preserve bugs.  (and things? I want to try it on flowers...) what you do is put some of the gel into a bottle, then the bug, then more gel.  You have to heat it a bit on the stove to get all the bubbles out, but the results are one exceptionally clear suspended specimen.  (This would be a show-n-tell winner, folks with kids!  Or science fair!  It can also work with flat cases for butterflies and the like, though I like butterflies better dried under glass).  And another disclaimer- I don't kill bugs, but I do hunt for the naturally deceased. Mainly moths and butterflies, but sometimes the pretty beetles, and I found a walking stick this summer- which is the coolest.  Maybe a praying mantis will come my way... I've only seen live ones.  I know it's odd, because I am not a vegetarian in the least, and I am not squeamish or opposed to bones, but I don't kill things, even bugs. Unless they are bugs-that-bite which include mosquitoes, deer flies, fleas, ticks and the like. And roaches. Roaches bad, nothing redeeming about them what so ever.  Everything else can live in peace, including spiders, which I explain to my kids are not scary at all- they kill/eat the bugs that bite, spiders can't chase you down and catch you, and they don't really lay 'spider eggs' in your ears or belly buttons.  Spiders are our pals.

My brain is obviously butterflying all over the place this morning-  I should be focused, practical-sensible, ducks in a row, but all of my ducks are not quite in migratory mode and are thus flying around aimlessly.  Rather like the image above- it is a picture of something- I was working on a tshirt design for a contest.  The contest was a timed 60 minute 'theme'- mine was "the heroic struggle", so I thought of bears and salmon. The bear turned into a rock/wave/water idea (can you still see the bear?) but I am still not happy with the salmon- and my 60 minutes expired long, long ago.  Like several days ago.  But that doesn't mean that I am going to abandon the project- good thing/ bad thing, I work ideas to death and back instead of just saying 'oh well' and letting it go.  Tenaciousness- vice or virtue? 

Surrogate

Once upon a time, about 3 years ago, Turrello came to live with us.  The magical bringer-of-cats-fairy dropped him, tiny and abandoned, into a hole in our yard.  Alerted by the ever vigilant doggs, Mr. Owens braved the unknown to reach down into the ground and rescue the little one.  Originally named 'squirt', the foundling grew into a handsome cat deserving of a grown up name- and became Turrello, in honor of one of the coolest, toughest, TV detectives ever.  Since then, his life has been a golden time, filled with sleeping on the bed, tuna sprinkles, flowers, cat-nip and nestling-in-the-beard.  The only rain on the Turrello parade is when we go on vacation, or- as his beloved dad has become a movie star- long, long, l-o-n-g nights without the beard.

Because I love this cat- even though I am still not a cat person- and he likes me well enough (as long as I don't try to squeeze him, or pet him like a doggy, or mess with Mr. Owens when he is napping in the beard... or sit in his chair, put my stuff in his sunlight, squirt him with the water bottle....) I made him a surrogate 'dad' to ease the pain of separation.  I used my considerable embroidery skills on felt to make a dad-face, complete with long hair and a beard.  When complete, in order to offer the fullest dad-experience possible, I filled it with beard trimmings (from awhile back- the beard is protected from trimming now) and catnip, then sewed it up tight.  Success!  Turrello approved greatly of his new dad, played hard with it, then curled up and went sound to sleep.  All that first day he carried it to different places- on the bed, under the bed, in his chair, by his food.... and now it has been living in the bedroom, safe from the doggs (who could care less, but it is important to Turrello).   The birthday present was well-received!

On other notes, summer is over, officially- I started back Thursday and Friday, working and typing all day which felt wonderful as I could focus and accomplish much.  Friday Mr. Owens took me out for date night at our favorite restaurant in celebration of his first 'Hollywood' check (may there be many more!)   Saturday we went to the city- he for proper headshots at the photographers and me for 'spa day', which means hair-and-eyebrows at the cosmetology school.  His photos turned out great, my hair- it's a bit dark (had it dyed) but that will lighten up, and the eyebrows are tamed again... the school is nice, in the mall, very clean and my person was graduating later that day (and quite nice, but fit the sterotype of hairchick- blonde, tanned within an inch of her life, very made up- pretty in that way- all excited about her boyfriend, and her little doggs, and her new station at a salon in leland, which is decorated all in gold cheetah print... I wish her well).  Anyway, it was cheap and fun (hooray for coupons for photographers and beauty-school rates- both hair + eyebrows for just a little over what the eyebrows cost at walmart).  Then we went to lunch, then AC Moore for a new sketchbook- then I came home, and being me, took a four hour nap.  Busy fun day- today though I intend to write and focus and get things ready for school...for tomorrow it is back on, full force at all three levels.  (Still waiting to see if the magic-new-job-fairy zaps me into the land of grey cubicles and quiet) but that's ok.  I can keep doing what I do, well and happily enough. And so starts year 16!

Whose got the look?

Apparently Mr. Owens does!  He just got booked yesterday for another filming- this time for a tv series 'Revolution'.  Which is a good thing, because while now it is for a couple of weeks it is ongoing so - you never know.  And this is my (very unprofessional) photo- but I like it- the hair should be tided up, eyes intensified, and some air brushing, then he could look like this:
               

"Cupcake Owens"

(It says 'trial' because I was using trial software to edit the photo... it is a program used for glamour shots).  Actually, he is looking a bit biblical there- in the 'airbrushed Jesus' sense, when the real biblical guys probably looked more like the real Mr. Owens.    Needless to say, I am absurdly proud of my star, and have been collecting all sorts of 'stage handler' tips from watching endless episodes of "Toddlers and Tiaras"  (and "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo"- for what not to do).   So here abouts it's been all 'cupcake hands and pretty feet' (I am actually trying to teach Max 'pretty feet' so he can stretch out and show off his fluffy, fluffy paws).  Reminds me of back in the day when I attended White Gloves and Party Manners (still have the books!) and learned how to curtsy, pivot and use the right fork.  Training sticks, because I still *know* all of that though it has been awhile since I've been called on to curtsy.

As for me, no news on the job yet- I did my 'week-after follow up' letter yesterday (I have been reading all the interview advice available on the web!)- but we will see what we see.  I've done my best- and now back to the reality of school.  Today is my first day, not at my school, but at the resource center where I will spend two days on 'lockdown' developing training materials for teachers.  I'm rather excited because this is what I love to do best- come up with presentations and ideas in a nice quiet room (made extra quiet by wearing my magic headphones.  Melissa taught me the trick of headphones = cloak of invisibility because everyone assumes you are 'in the zone' and doesn't interrupt you with social chat or questions of the 'how do you turn on this computer again?' nature.  It's magic.) So...I'm excited about that.  It will be hard to say goodbye to summer though- this is the most relaxed I've been since leaving the beach, and I'm hoping to keep in that groove.  We are starting off right by just taking it a day at a time, and 'not eating the whole elephant at once', which is apparently what I like to do with elephants, ice cream, work and everything else. This year, I'm going to nibble.

                                                    

Waiting for the good things~

Today is beautiful- not hot, the sun is shinning, and one of my morning glories is actually blooming!  I planted *tons* of morning glory and moon flower seeds this spring.... they grow wild all over everyone's fields and beside the road, so I was expecting them to take off.  I waited, and waited- there would be a hint of a leaf or two, the start of the vine, then something would come along and eat it, or it would just vanish.  No flowers, no growth, even though everything else in the yarden is growing out of control (literally- ).  Over the past few weeks, while the rest of the country has been all dried up and droughtish, we have been drenched. Rain daily- sometimes just a hard shower, usually a long soaking, which is a good thing.  Everything is wet and deeply green, mushrooms everywhere, and then suddenly today the sun is out and there is the first morning glory, huge and purple and wonderful.  I take it as a sign of wonder and good things!

I am feeling like working today- another good thing- and am excited and ready to focus.  Yesterday I talked with Dr. Mike (who I haven't seen since before Texas trip) and that went well- he is going to refer me to a different primary care physician who is a bit more keyed in on psych/sleep issues.  Even though it is summer, and relatively stress-free, I am still sleeping quite a bit and get very confusseled if I don't take my medication- and we are having a time of it trying to get it to be consistent through the day, rather than peak/crash.  That is ok during the summer when I have the leisure to nap-at-will, but school starts in a week and I have to be stabilized and on mark then.  I have a whole new understanding of how tricky it is for parents with kids that have ADD- and how much the medication really makes a difference.  It's like day and night, seriously.

After Dr. Mike I picked up Grendel and we went and hung out at World Market, where we mainly stayed in our two favorite sections: candy and beer.   The choices for the day were Mango licorice for him, and he treated me to 1/2 a 6 pack of beer- provided we each chose things we haven't tried before.  My choices were: coconut, honey basil and oyster (so far I drank the coconut, and it was quite good- dark but not to much, toasty, and you could taste the coconut).  He chose honey basil, Viru  (which has an awesome strange bottle and fantastic website), and something else that I don't remember. I bought a roll of printed paper (India style design, with elephants- trunks happily upraised) for school (it was on sale and way cooler than the typical bulletin board paper with crayons, apples and 123) ... and if I get the Raleigh job I will use it for something else creative down the line.  Anyway, we had fun, then I came home to delightful leftover mansketti, the coconut beer and several episodes of T-n-T while sewing on my small intestine.  (not the real one- one of the felt anatomies).  

Manz was out all night- they loved his look, used him in a street scene (he was right beside Jennifer A.'s car, so hopefully he will have screen time)... then he ended up staying all night but they didn't get to the other scene.  Fingers crossed that means a call back- last night only 5 of them ended up staying, and the holding area was a Russian bar downtown (I didn't know that Wilmington had a Russian bar. huh.)... they spent the night talking, and one of the fellows does ghost tours so hopefully soon we are going to have a ghost-tour date night  (I'm thinking Front Street Brewery and then Ghost Tour, or vice versa)... and he had a good time over all.  Plus getting paid for providing the car, even though they didn't use it (we think- just parked it).

So today- it's 10 already!- I am going to do some work, mail the blogs off to Mother, be mouse-quiet while he sleeps... and maybe go out and enjoy the sunshine in a bit if the mosquitoes aren't to bad. It's a lovely day and I intend to make the most of it!

Directions, Motivations and Which Way to Turn Next

This photo is a product of waiting in line at the McDonald's drive about while on one of the summer institutes- I was waiting patiently for my chocolate dip cone and thought this sign a bit humorous. It also turned out to be rather portentous, as this summer has been like a road trip where you might be required to switch lanes at any moment, without much warning.

At the start of summer, I applied for the Raleigh Job on a whim- the whole "I don't think I'd ever be considered, but they asked me, so what the heck, I'll give it a go at the last possible second".  And then the trickle of excitement began, the 'what if's', the worry and the thinking, but it was still just a distant possibility and I didn't dwell on it all that much.  Then I got the call for the first interview, which required preparation- I dug out my resume and turned it into a cv, bought a grown up dress and shoes, networked around- and began to imagine the 'what ifs'.  I was still a bit larky about it though, and the first interview was fun and easy,  and I left on the top of the world feeling that all things were possible.  Later, I got the call back for the second interview- which required more polishing, another dress (which doesn't matter but it does) and a last minute print out of a presentation.  (They called late afternoon before the interview, and just said 'bring two hard copies of a presentation'.  Not which presentation, or back up notes, or the preparatory design files, just the presentation.  So I brought my presentation slides printed out, an overview plan of presentations for staff development for the year, and a copy of a full workup instructional design for part 3 of the first series.  This required focused stress, trying to get links to work, and a very expensive midnight trip to Walmart for printing ink.... Mr. Owens kept me calm the whole way through, drove me to Walmart and made sure that I was as good to go as possible.  Hooray for Mr. Owens!).  Anyway, the second interview was much more challenging, the questions difficult but interesting, and I wasn't quite on mark the way I usually am.  I did do what I could though, tried my best and wrote some fair incredible thank-you notes.  I could blame other things for the interview faults- I was up to late buying ink and up to early printing, I left home late and had to rush to be there on time, it was pouring rain like mad the whole way there which made driving tricky, my hair a hot mess (note to self: hair-hold is *not* a good idea for curly hair, especially in humid conditions, even if it is made for it.  It just turns into a frizzy, staticy mess that leaves me looking like the guy in room 222), and with 'thick ears' from the barometric pressure.... oh, and I forgot to take my Ritalin with me, so I was a bit distracted.....but those are just conditions, things that happen despite our best intentions, things that are out of our control.  I did what I did, I know that I could do well at this job but that I have quite a bit to learn.  Right this morning I am not feeling all that confident, but you never know- and I am both dreaming about a new start (always loved new starts), the quiet quiet quiet environment to work in  (it is amazing what a difference that would make to me), the opportunity to reinvent part of myself to 'career professional self'.  It's like playing 'grown-up' with a nice gray cubicle to decorate, a chance to dress up, and an environment focused on work instead of behavior.... but at the same time, I am thinking about the school year, about projects and students and paint, about all the things I can do and make and create, the absolute fun of the high school where yes, I do have to put up with a lot of crap and responsibilities that are annoying (other job has them as well, but I *wouldn't* have to do gate duty, monitor the bathrooms or tell people to take that out of their mouth because it is a tool not a toy and certainly something that wasn't meant to be chewed on.... and I doubt that anyone at dpi spends their spare time doodling pot leaves, penises and gang symbols. Or tells everyone in explicit detail what they did with their date last night...)
    Anyhoo, point is that I could turn in either direction now and be ok with it.  If I get the new job, I am going to be excited, proud, thrilled and scared to death.  I will have to change in many ways at once, but I'm good at that....I will also be sad to leave the kids, the classroom, the wild abandon where I can paint all day if I feel like it, have people tell me they love me daily and mean it, where I am making hands-on differences- even if they are small ones.  If I don't get the new job, I won't lie- I will be disappointed.... but truthfully, a bit relieved.  The job I have now I love, it is stable and safe, I can be myself and rule my part of the roost.  We won't have to move, or change the way I dress  (except I rather enjoyed the new dresses- but they are *not* suitable to wear to school!  But I will look awesome at weddings and funerals)  and I can continue on doing what I do, which is pretty cool.  Still and all I wish they would make up their minds and let me know- I am getting on with things but even so, I am trying now to get on with preparing for *four* things (school, teaching, virtual school, and new job).... its a bit like dating:  step 1: humm.... looks interesting, may not be interested, ok why not, let's hang out.   step 2: first real date- dressing up, going out, aiming for the best impression.   step 3: meet the folks- ok, you like me, but do I fit in?  Is this going to be a serious relationship or are we going to be 'just friends'...... I am waiting for the engagement or breakup, which ever comes next.  (Either way, an ice-cream celebration/condolences will be called for-)
    My beloved manz is also exploring new roads, and they are following a similar direction.  I submitted him as a movie extra on a whim, just because it was advertised, it looked kinda fun and he loves movies so much I thought he'd get a kick out of it.  He was surprised when he was called- later we found out on Tona's (the casting agent) that over 20,000 people had applied for extras in the film...(of course that is all locations, but some of these people who are extras travel quite a bit for even a day).  He worked all week last week, and was called back for this Monday, and is on stand by for the rest of the week.  The movie folks (makeup, hair, codirectors, other actors) love his look, his positive attitude, friendliness and willingness to help out and be coachable. On set he is fun, easy-going, practical sensible and dependable, while not demanding to be a 'diva' (apparently there are extras that are difficult, demanding, whiny) but doing his job and doing it well.  I always knew that he has a great amount of talent and creativity, and this is an area where it shines.  No speaking lines yet, but he has done a bit of improv that they liked, and even some of the 'big stars' (can't name names, we are not allowed) were friendly with him.  His phone has been ringing, we went to the mall and he was recognized from the set, and there is a world of opportunity ahead.  He submitted for another major movie and was selected again (different casting company, different movie studio)- tonight he will be filming in downtown Wilmington, in a specific extra role- hopefully may upgrade to a speaking part.  We know that is all may just be a flash- but he loves it, I am so proud of him, and you never know- things happen.   The key to it all I suppose is just finding joy in the journey~ and right now we are both having a ball!

Body of Work

Kidney: embroidery on felt

This summer is winding over- which always astonishes me because every year I wonder where the time has disappeared and why so many of the things on my summer list are still undone. I get a little freaked out, because while I get in the mood to start working on school stuff, I also want to just stall out and enjoy what is left- and a compromise is needed.  So today, because I have about a week and a half left- I am going to apply some backwards design and list what I *have* accomplished:

1.  Texas:  we went to Texas, visited Mother and Sue/Tom.  We saw roadrunners and deer, found lovely armadillo bones, explored Santa land again (this time brought home a find!), went fossil hunting and had a lovely spa-ish time at the Casino.

2.  I taught my summer class for NCVPS and learned Moodle, which I used to set up my own class for Trask.

3.  I went to the mountains for the games, had quality time with both Melissa and Grendel, got to see Raph win a prize and brought home honey that tastes like sunshine and reminds me of Melissa's house.

4.  I attended the leadership retreat for Trask, and advocated for BYOD, and ate lots of doughnuts.

5. I attended the summer institutes for 6 days, some of which counted for my internship, networked successfully, took 36 pages of notes, and explored a wonderful abandoned school in Coats, NC- I only got to the first level, but the place is amazing!

6.  I bought my first 'grown-up' (yes, I *know* I'm 48) business dress, summer suit and pencil skirt. And I shaved my legs~

7.  I applied for a job that just might change our lives, and enable me to make a serious impact on education.  I am very, very excited about it, go back for a second interview Tuesday, and am keeping my fingers crossed.

8.  My husband is a movie star!  Iron man 3 premiers March 3, 2013.  Mark your calendars for the debut of  Mr. Owens. 

9. I have been learning anatomical structure through embroidery (see kidney above) and so far have completed: a kidney, pancreas, breast, prostate and gall bladder.  I have also been sewing a host of other small things~

10.  I repainted the cat sculpture head, and the record case in a mojo style- both successful!

So, that is not to bad- and I know that the planning will get done, the house will get clean, and things will work out for the best- I am feeling more positive and energetic this morning (good long sleep last night where all my dreams were a rather nice shade of gray, and involved books, university towers and my sisters), and ready to move along.

Summer

digital painting- polyvore and photoshop

So, Hello, How is everybody?  It seems like I have been AWOL forever, and so I have been- taking a break, even though there has been lots to write about and I feel more centered when I share/write out all the things that have been going on.  Find a firm footing, become grounded, get a move on.... all of which I need to do as I find my way back into some sort of schedule and personal discipline.  No matter how boring that sounds (after all it still *is* summer) without it I find myself happily consuming pizza on the couch while watching multiple episodes of 'Toddlers and Tiaras', which is stunningly non-productive, makes me just a bit dumber, and installs a strange urge to hot-glue rhinestones to everything and learn how to wear makeup.

On to a ketchup- went up into the mountains for Grendel's birthday, and it was amazing- from over heated tropical swamp land to the high mountains with fog, endless rain, and the cold.  Sleeping on the futon on the sunporch of their house, watching the rain, waking up with the sun, all the doggs cuddling when they could sneak aboard.  Way to much food- but so good- birthday banana pudding and up at the games bread pudding with whiskey sauce, fresh fried fish and chips (wonderful, wonderful- that was my 'go to' food), Eccles cakes, shortbread.  Music and mountains, and Melissa bought a magical woolen cloak.  Grendel and Raphael  roamed the grounds, flirting with the whiskey-pudding girl and assorted belly dancers.  (Yes, I know, but somehow or another it has become appropriate for belly dancers/ hula hoopers to be part of the Highland games. Long lost tribe I suppose...).  Raphael entered the wrestling competition and won first place in men's light heavyweight (oxymoron that) which was a HUGE silver plate.  This was amusing because Raph is black, and was wrestling men that were the most part older/larger than he was- barefoot, in a kilt, with highland rules- but he happily toppled them right over while we cheered from the sidelines.  Very, very fun.

After the mountains I was working on dpi/ school stuff (dpi = department of public instruction) which consisted of two day classes at different locations x 3.  And they kept us the whole day- 7:30 until 5:00, and it was mostly fun.  The first set was over by New Bern- new school, catered lunches- best food was the chicken Marcella with roasted eggplant.  Not your normal conference food.  The next set was over by ECU in the Rose high school- which came with assorted roaches roaming about, no janitors and cafeteria food which was....well....return of the mystery meat.  Except it was mashed up and served over baked potatoes (mine was black on the inside- ew). And recycled fruit salad that turned up all day both days.  The last one was over in Lee county, in the middle of the state, Panera catered so breakfast included pumpkin muffins (awesome!).  I learned quite a bit at all of this- and spent as much time as possible networking (which wore me out- I am not all that networky by nature) and dressed pretty much like a grown-up- because of the overlap of people, I considered this as a type of dress rehearsal for my interview. 

The interview itself went well- I wore my $5.00 gray dress with a black cardigan and low heels- it all looked good thanks to the dress sausage.  I had my cv all printed out neat, I *love* answering questions so that wasn't a problem (I am, oddly, never nervous about direct questions or small conversations.) and the *surprise*  timed writing sample went ok.  Good thing that I love to write, they let me use a computer, and the prompt wasn't so very difficult.  I have a call-back interview on Tuesday- trying to prepare for that, but nervous none-the-less (do I wear the dress again? or something different? take copies of cv again? how many? is there another test?  what do I do if they offer me the job? - take it, of course, figure everything out later.  Easier said than done, though I will take it in a heartbeat....but where to live? how to sell the house? argh).  Anyway, I am happy and excited and will be a bit disappointed if I *don't* get the job, but that is liveable because I do have a job I love, am ready for this school year and it will not be a big issue. But for some reason I find myself oddly attracted to the false utopia of working in a small grey cubical with a BIG new computer and all grown ups in a very quiet environment where I can actually hear people when they talk..... and I also believe that I can do some great things, not sure what, but something-

As for Mr. Owens, he has been working diligently with the roadside knight-in-shining-armor job, but also has a budding new career as a film extra.  I submitted his photo on a whim, and he was picked to be an extra in a feature film that is being filmed locally.  He has had to work all night long (literally- 6pm to 6am) for the past few nights, and has at least one more night to go.   It's been very exciting- he loves meeting all different sorts of people, the way makeup/hair folks fuss over his beard/hair (they love it- one has declared him 'their favorite'), seeing the special effect and sets, and, of course, the action of the actual filming.  He is fairly worn out now- last night was unexpectedly very physical- but this would be a cool side job for him if he gets called for other projects.  Fun, fun, and we will all have to go see the opening sometime next March.  I've married a movie-star, who woulda thought!

Otherwise, all is well- Grendel is fine, doggs are fine, cat is fine, we are all ok- I am eating *way* to much again, trying to cut back (and the walking didn't resume when we got back from the mountains, mainly due to work-aways, lots of rain and lots of bugs-that-bite.  I can't stand bugs-that-bite, would rather be very hot and dry). I'm full of good intentions that sometimes end up on the couch watching T-n-T.  But that's ok to, I suppose- at least I'm finally relaxing.