Ugh

Re-entry into the real world, and very specifically, my job hasn't been easy. I love coming home after traveling, but of course, at home, I'm always about a dozen steps behind on everything.

And work... oh work... Let's just say I left very strategically in the two weeks between the end of registration and the beginning of everything religious ed related. So when I got back, not only do I have my regular full time office admin stuff to do and catch up on, but I also have ridiculous amounts of late registrations, questions, program stuff to get together, lots of meetings... Basically I am swamped. Don't get me wrong, I care more about the religious ed side of my job- it's a good challenge, good work to do, and a lot that needs to happen. BUT... it may have been unwise to take on what should be a full time job on top of another full time job, no matter how mindless and boring I was finding the original full time stuff. Regret runs deep right now. Maybe in a month or two things will slow down a bit, or return to a normal frantic pace, but right now I'm buried... and that lovely two week vacation seems like a lifetime ago, not just a few days. And mostly I'm ready to escape again.

I have friends who have said it isn't work taking vacation because it's too much work to prepare and recover from them... I can't say I'm there. That two week trip was fabulous- probably the highlight of my year... but ugh, recovery is pretty rough right now.

So if you don't see me for a month or two...

The Great Escape 2010

What an adventure!! Starting August 31st, after work, two of my friends and I climbed into my new (to me) Honda CRV and headed out for a road trip west to Washington State and then home again.

The stats:
3 passengers
11 visits (as in stops to see friends)
12 days
15 states
5,000 miles

As with all road trips, it is hard to put into words all of what happened. Suffice it to say, I had a blast. I wish it was longer. Wish I could have visited longer with everyone, but am so glad I was able to do it and see so many of my cross country friends and family. I'll fill you in on the details later... after driving through Friday night and then arriving home this morning (Sunday) at 3 am, my brain is mush. It was an awesome adventure and it is great to be home.

And it is kind of shocking to arrive home after being on the road to realize it is mid-September. I am refusing to check my work email until work tomorrow-- that will be soon enough. In the meantime I need to clean out my car, clean my house, do laundry, deal with veggies from the garden, and more. Home sweet home. Happy mid-September my friends.

Edit: I should also mention our terrific housemate Jenny Pink who stayed home and took care of the dogs and house in my absence. Such a huge help, although we wish she could have gone with us instead.

Also, the dogs were so excited when I walked in last night that Maggie threw herself into my arms for a huge hug and Suzie wet the floor. Sure is great to be loved. :)

You say it best when you say nothing at all...

She's gone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Spasto dog returned to her rightful owners this evening-- leaving the Homestead a peaceful, quiet, beautiful place of happiness. I have dog sat a lot of dogs in my life, but I can honestly say this is one I hope to never see again. I hope her owners will do some work with her- do some actual training so everyone can live in peace- but in the meantime, I'm loving my peace here. So beautiful!

And now on to that list...

Peaches are canned.
Tomatoes are in the canner now.
Cukes haven't been dealt with.
Peppers are overflowing.
Laundry is drying.
Car needs packing.
Sunglasses must be found.

Countdown to The Great Escape 2010 Roadtrip... 16 hours, 43 minutes...

Friday night fun

I love the weekends, absolutely love them!! Last night we had a game night / canning peaches night with some friends and family. In the middle of peach mayhem in the kitchen, Mrs M came by with a birthday gift and joined in the fun for a bit. And then my dad showed up to return my camera and also visited for a bit. Somewhere right in that moment-- with sticky peachiness covering every surface in the kitchen, dogs underfoot, friends and family in the kitchen-- it occurred to me (again) just how blessed I am.

Lately I think a lot about what I want to be doing with my life-- especially job-wise. Where am I supposed to be? What am I supposed to be doing? Should I start job hunting out of state? I've never really wanted to leave before, but having a fulfilling job sounds better and better... and I do have family and friends scattered throughout the country. Maybe I should be looking more seriously at job hunting near them. And at the same time, some of my new responsibilties in my current job are good, giving me plenty to think about and keeping me ridiculously busy, maybe I am where I'm supposed to be. I just don't know... things feel generally unsettled lately. I know God has a plan, I just wish He'd tell me what it is sometimes.

But a Friday night at home, in the kitchen, canning fruit, and spending time with a bunch of people that I love, that feels really right, no matter what else is going on in my life.

(And Spasto dog leaves in only two more days...)

Counting down

2 workdays to survive before the weekend (including today)
5 days left with Spasto dog
5 days till Jenny Pink starts her new job! Yay!
6 days till Leslie, Katie and I roadtrip west... visiting lots of friends on the way there and back and visiting my sister and her fam in their new digs

The demon in our house

There she is...

This is our visiting Spasto dog. She would be a sweet enough dog, but she is completely untrained. and she barks incessantly. and she is driving us INSANE. Insane, I tell you. We try to wear her out-- minutes later, she's getting into something, or barking for more attention, or chewing the corner of the rug. Ahhhhh.

And then eventually, when she stops barking because she's so exhausted she can't stay awake, she does this:

which is completely against the rules here in the Nichols Homestead, where dogs are dogs and remain on the floor. But at some point I just can't fight anymore. And if she is quiet, I can't bring myself to move her and make her start barking again. (As I write this, she is crated in the basement because the barking was on my last nerve).

The one funny thing she does is when you spray the hose she goes nuts, trying to eat (while choking on) the jet stream, and dancing in the water. Cute. And then she shakes all over you repeatedly, not so cute.


The countdown is on. Spasto-dog leaves on Monday, August 30th. That's 6 days... only 6 more days...