Entries from September 2008 ↓

I’ve been trying to live with my head in the sand, hoping that this whole mess with the economy would just pass on by, by some miracle. It hasn’t though.

With yesterday’s market crash, we were hit indirectly. My husband is self-employed, but sub-contracted out exclusively to his Father who is in construction. He is brilliant at what he does, which is mostly new builds. Anyway, after yesterday, their BIG winter project was cancelled. Their client had a lot invested in the market and it took a big hit. Now we have no Winter work lined up.

Times like these are scary. I’m trying not fret, but I also know that their jobs are linked to how the economy does. No one is going to be building new homes if they can barely afford to live. (Or vacationing or renting St. Barts villa rentals for that matter.) It really bites.

I have been reading a ton on the whole financial crisis, and I am not exactly sure I understand it all. But what I do know is that a lot of people, us included, are going to be affected.

I truly hope something takes an upswing soon.

A few weeks back, I had an amazing experience I’ve wanted to share with you, but haven’t had the time to sit down and put my feelings into words. Tonight I decided to do it before I forget.

When we were in Niagara Falls, we went to Marineland. It had been a long day, wandering through the exhibits and amusement rides with the boys and we were about ready to pack it up and go home. A Killer Whale show was going on, but the boys would not sit still another minute, so we decided to leave. However as we started walking, the baby and Warrior fell asleep in the stroller, so we thought we’d take a look at the last exhibit: the Belugas.

Because the Killer Whale show was going on, and the park wasn’t that busy, we were the only ones at the big underwater viewing area.

It was amazing, the peaceful blue colors, the sound of the water running and nothing else, and the Belugas. There were probably about 15 of them. But there was one right by us that particularly caught our eye; a mother and her babe. It was absolutely breath taking to watch such huge and graceful creatures, but watching the mother/child bond with the whales was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. Everywhere this mother would swim, her babe would be right beside her, gliding along on her back or her side. At one point, the babe started to nurse. (I had no idea that whales nursed, but I guess why wouldn’t they, they are mammals!) When it was done, the mother and babe nuzzled each other.

During this process, several people came and went, but it was so bizarre — everyone was pretty much silent, and if they talked, it was in a  whisper when they came in. No one told them too, but something just overtook you. It was like we were intruders, allowing a peek in on this private, beautiful moment, and you didn’t want to ruin it. I can’t explain it at all, but we must have stood there for close to an hour, just basking in the moment.

 When we were done, as we were walking out, my husband said to me “Do you feel really peaceful? Like a weird, amazing peaceful?” and I was shocked he asked that, because I was just thinking that. It was like that was a moment for the soul. A bizarre, once in a lifetime kind of spiritual experience that just calmed your spirit. It just melted off the stress and worries of life. I felt like that moment that we had there, with no one else to interrupt it was a gift. Something you have to get on one of those European cruises or something.

Soccer Mom’ing that is.

Do you know how many times a week those kids practice?? Two! (And they’re four years old!)

Do you know how many Saturday mornings they have games? Every!

Do you know how hard it is to make sure the one soccer jersey, shorts and soccer socks are washed for every single practice and game when you’re already doing two loads of laundry every day? Very!

All whining aside, do I do find my heart swelling with immense pride as I stand on the sidelines in my athletic pants and baseball hat (because I didn’t have time to fix my hair!) watching my son score goals. Absolutely!

GO FOREST!

Did I ever post pictures of our old living room vs. our newly updated living room? I’ve been meaning to, however the changes are happening so slowly that I never feel like it is finished enough to show. Everything is a work in progress, as I come up with new ideas, find new inexpensive items to use, and whatnot.

As I’ve mentioned before, we rent. (We’d love to own our home, but with my husband in school, and us not being sure where he’ll be when he gets out, it’s just unwise at this point.) So we have to keep our eyes open for simple fixes, and just learn to live with some things that we don’t really care for (The carpet!!! Someone was obviously on crack when they picked it out.) But I am trying to find ways throughout the house to update a little without spending much money. Things that are fabulous enough to distract your eye from the ugly unchangeables.

We painted our lighting fixtures on the walls, because they were rusting and very outdated looking. It turned out great! We painted the walls a tan and the trim white, and our front door is now chocolate brown. My sister made the curtain. I bought enough fabric to make matching pillows and either valances or fabric covered window boxes for the windows (no where near being in the making yet.)

One of my favorite parts is the wall collage I put together. I got a beautiful new mirror (Wal*Mart special: $30) for my birthday and I happened to run across a clearance sale on great photo frames. They were very heavy and a great quality, and were each $5 or less (most less)! I filled them with random photos of the family.

Another of my favorite areas is my little table. I picked it up at a yardsale a year or two ago for $20! I’ve added just a few cheap pieces. I’m not totally thrilled with it quite yet, but I’m getting there!

About seven years ago, this is so not something I ever would have thought would be happening at my house with my children. Good thing that pre-three children Carrie isn’t around, or she may have slapped me and told me I was setting my children up for a life of diet pills and ADHD. Oh well, whatever it takes to get dinner done, right? Sometimes it’s all about survival.