I truly cannot believe that the summer is mainly behind us.  Where did the weeks go?

Unlike a couple of years ago when we took our first real family vacation and traveled to Vermont we lacked not only the money to afford a trip this year, but also lacked the money to afford my taking a week off without pay (and then paying for my insurance deductible out of pocket as well).

I had hoped to do more in the way of day trips.  I had hoped to maybe do a weekend trip somewhere. But time and money seemed to constantly be lacking.

I had planned to start going to the library twice a month and had had every intention of getting the girls into separate rooms.  What can I say, the spirit was willing but the flesh was oh so very weak.

So what did we do?

Princess Nibbles spent 7 weeks at the township run day camp. She had fun overall, but there were a lot of bored days.

Miss Artistic started out with a job, one from which she was fired 2 weeks to the day of starting.  In part this was because she wasn’t really ready to have a job, but mostly this was due to her working for MY employer which didn’t do much in the way of training, anything in the way of coaching, and even less in the way of giving her a fair shake.

The kids kept up with their Taekwondo, earning their high green belts in late June and their Blue belts 2 months later.  Miss Artistic did her summer reading and the related project.

There were sleep-overs and movie nights, but nothing exciting.

But, I am not going to focus on my disappointment.

I am going to look instead at the blessing of the new school year and the fresh start that it represents.  I am working on finding the good in my new position at work and hoping (still) for other things to fall into place as well.

I am going to resume working on getting the girls into separate rooms (at this point just waiting for cooler weather).

I am going to find time, somewhere in my schedule, to write.  Not just here on the blog but for myself .. for goals I have and hope to see come to fruition.

I am going to keep a promise to Gamer Dude and go to my doctor(s), catch up on my preventative care, address some concerns, and take better care of myself.

I am going to try very hard to light a fire in my soul and live the life I want to live as much as possible each and every day.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:family, life

Today I am grateful for an extra $80 in my paycheck this past Friday, which correlates to 2 days work on the newest project that my employer has assigned me to.  I am even more grateful for another $40 they owe me from the previous project and an anticipated $200 from last week’s work.  I have not had access to any kind of extra money at work since January so it is nice to see a more livable wage again.

Today I am grateful for being just about done getting the kids ready for school (I still need hand sanitizer, erasers, and loose leaf).  I am grateful for catching a few deals, thanks to coupons and gift cards.  One example is my picking up 5 pairs of sneakers for $42 (my girls prefer to have a few pairs of cheap sneakers to match with outfits as opposed to 1 better pair of sneakers).

Today I am grateful for going to the same hair dresser for over 15 years.  She gave Miss Artistic her first hair cut, her first eyebrow waxing, and her first highlights.  Today she cut off more than 10″ of my elder daughter’s hair, gave her a real cute inverse angle cut, low lights and two shades of highlights, and charged me much less than she should have.

Today I am grateful that school is almost in session.  Princess Nibbles can’t wait any longer (especially as she got the teacher she had wished for all year) and the anticipation for Miss Artistic is much worse than the reality will be.  She goes back for 2.5 hours on Wednesday for Freshman orientation and then they both go back on Thursday.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:back to school, kids

Sorry I’ve been quiet. Its less a matter of depression or anxiety as much as it is a lack of anything to say.

I still hate my job, though I have hit another plateau where I am comfortable again, especially as the extra income potential is (at least right now) promising.

I sleep all too little. As a result I am physically and emotionally exhausted. My new position chases me in such a way that I wind up telemarketing in my dreams.

I spend much time (and too much money) getting the girls ready for school. And there is yet more to spend … shoes to be purchased, some clothes for Miss Artistic and even more importantly a totally new hair-do (and highlights).

I feel, frankly, rather un-witchy these days. I am hoping that once some things fall into place (if they do, please may it be so) that I will feel less trapped at my job, that I will feel less stressed and therefore less drained, and perhaps even find what I need to be a little more me again and maybe even think about finding more places and people that allow me to leave the closet behind from time to time.

I expect to be back to blogging regularly soon, one way or another, even if only because I need this space in the Internet ether too much to consider doing otherwise.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly

Want some more advice aside from the videos? Check out sites like these:

How to Make a Book of Shadows – from About.com

How to Create a Book of Shadows – by Deanna Anderson

The Book of Shadows – from collegewicca.com

Written by Mama KellyTags:wicca, witchcraft

Today I am grateful for a nice weekend. Filled with rest and laughter. Filled with the opportunity to be away from my telemarketing job. And still a family viewing of Coraline to look forward to this evening.

Today I am grateful that things are improving a bit at work.  Granted I still hate my job. But, we are now pitching a different product.  One that I don’t feel so morally ambiguous about and one that I feel has a higher earning potential.  Since both programs earned me commission on top of my hourly I can illustrate that easily by telling you that I earned $40 on the first program in 8 days and $80 in 2 days on the new program.

Today I am grateful for Taekwondo. Miss Artistic had talked about quitting. Her concerns were addressed by the couple who run the school, she was encouraged, and not only did she decide to continue but both she, and Princess Nibbles, rocked their belt testing. I am now the proud parent of two blue belts.

Today I am grateful for our trip to the mall. Granted I spent more than I meant to (much more unfortunately*), but Princess Nibbles wanted a “new look” for 4th grade – a look that is a blend of hippie and rocker with further touches of punk and schoolgirl and preppy. I managed to pick up a really great sale price on a dress she’ll wear for the holidays, and of course the requisite socks, panties, and sports (read training) bras.

Today I am grateful for Miss Artistic’s friend “S”. I am grateful to her parents who welcomed my daughter to not just 1 but 2 overnights. I am grateful to having “S’s” company at belt testing and the mall. It’s so nice when you love your kids’ friends.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

* Something I can “make up” by eating out of the freezer and pantry next weekend instead of doing a big food shopping.

Written by Mama Kelly

Written by Lady RoseTags:poem

This started out as a comment over at Anne’s blog, The Gods are Bored and grew so long (and so snarky) that it deserved a post of its own.  Anne write about how in her opinion that Whole Foods CEO John Mackey is a moron par excellence.  I happen to agree. But, don’t take it from me, or Anne, read his words yourself.

“Most of the diseases that kill us and account for about 70% of all health-care spending—heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and obesity—are mostly preventable through proper diet, exercise, not smoking, minimal alcohol consumption and other healthy lifestyle choices.”

I understand now .. its suddenly clear … if only Id realized that I could’ve avoided all of my and my family’s health issues so easily. With diet, exercise and of course (I’m sure) shopping organically at Whole Foods.

My daughter doesn’t REALLY need medication for her depression.  My husband didn’t really NEED that spinal fusion surgery, he did that for fun.  Oh and I got BORED and decided that a hysterectomy would break up the monotony.  And I guess if we’d eaten more carrots that 3 of the 4 of us could’ve SKIPPED on needing eyeglasses.

If only I’d shopped at Whole Foods my placenta would’ve behaved and I wouldn’t have needed that emergency C-section I had with my youngest (and she wouldn’t have required that pesky NICU stay).  When my daughter fell off her scooter there wouldn’t have been a need for stitches – even though I could see bone – she would’ve healed up just fine.

And since I can trust in living to 90 or 100 I can always ignore the risks associated with my genetic condition neurofibromatosis. I can ignore routine checkups, colonoscopies, mammograms, blood work, and my kids’ immunizations.

I guess I’d never again have to worry about our allergies or my all too frequent upper respiratory infections and I can finally “just say no” to annual Pap smears – hooray!

But, the brilliance continues …

“Health care is a service that we all need, but just like food and shelter it is best provided through voluntary and mutually beneficial market exchanges. A careful reading of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution will not reveal any intrinsic right to health care, food or shelter. That’s because there isn’t any. This “right” has never existed in America.”

Insofar as this lovely but of prose …. technically he’s right.

But, perhaps the fact that food shelter and health care are not guaranteed by the constitution (though one could argue that the right to them is implied by the right to “life”) is the root cause of many of societies ills – literally and figuratively.

In other words Mr. Mackey, that’s the problem.

We live in one of the wealthiest nations in the world and yet too many of our citizens lack a permanent, safe place to call home. Even among those who are lucky enough to have a home, many struggle to continue to pay ever increasing rent, mortgages, and property taxes. It’s hard to stay healthy when you have to constantly find a new shelter to sleep in or, even worse, have to sleep out in the elements.

We live in one of the wealthiest nations in the world and yet too many of our citizens cannot afford to eat sufficient, healthy, and regular meals. Even among those who are lucky enough to never go hungry still often find themselves struggling to find more room in their budgets as food costs continue to rise. It’s hard to stay healthy when you can’t afford to make the “right choices” at the supermarket.

We live in one of the wealthiest nations in the world and yet too many of our citizens lack health insurance. Even among those lucky enough to have health insurance, many struggle to be able to afford to keep it, never mind use it. It’s really hard to stay healthy when you skip on preventative care because you just don’t have the cash to afford to pay the doctor or to afford your copay.

In other words Mr. Mackey illustrates the stumbling block to Health Care Reform perfectly.

He simply doesn’t get it.

Even worse, he doesn’t even care to try.

And that is what makes him a moron.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:health care reform, national health insurance

I found this video thanks to Hecate. Watch it and really listen to its message.

Decide what you and yours can do to make a change. Because, despite what the song says, we cant afford to waste time waiting on the world to change, one way or another we have to help change it.

And while I believe that hope and prayer and magic all have a role to play in bringing that change into reality.  It takes effort and action – tangible real world effort to effect a change of this magnitude.

So ….

write letters to anyone you can in power

reduce reuse repurpose recycle and stop and rethink before you buy that new thing-a-ma-jig

bless the water that goes down your drain, ask it to help heal the planet

plant seeds and make things grow, each with a blessing for the planet

whisper to fish and fur and fowl, let them know you’re on their side

enlist the aid of your guides, your gods, your angels, and your faeries

read blogs like Fake Plastic Fish and think about what changes you are willing to make in your life

talk about it on your blog on facebook on twitter and get other people involved

and then continue to hope

continue to pray

and work magic like all get out

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:environment, living green, planet

Today I am grateful that my dear friend and blogging partner Lady Rose is doing so well after he gastric bypass surgery a little more than a week ago.  She is still getting tired very easily but she was up and around when we went down to see her today (and pick up my goddess daughter) a nice improvement from her couch-bound status this time last week.

Today I am grateful that Angel Girl is spending a couple (perhaps a few) days with us.  I don’t get to see her all that often and am hoping that she has a good time while she is with us.  So far things are a little underwhelming.  We got home a little after 4:30, watched a little cooking TV, and ate dinner.  Afterwards, the girls (my 2, AngelGirl, and Miss Artistic’s friend “S”) ran around outside for a bit and came in for strawberry floats.

Today I am grateful that the community pool is a close walk from our house and the girls can spend a few hours there tomorrow.  Sun, fun, and money to spend at the snack bar I should come home from work to find very happy kids (well 1 tween and 2 teens).  I am grateful for Gamer Dude’s willingness to take them to a movie one day while I am at work.  I am hopeful that I can find enough to do to keep my guest somewhat entertained.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly

Well the car had to go in for repairs, $750 worth of them to be exact. YEOUCH!!

One bright side of this is that dad had “given us” a tune-up for Christmas that we never redeemed and so he paid for most of it.  The other bright side of this is that while there we found out about a recall on our car’s under-chassis which means that we get a brand new one absolutely free next week once the ordered part comes in.  Little by little our almost 10-year old car is getting fixed up quite nicely thanks to other recalls and the extended warranty we purchased when we bought the car.  Now all it needs is a new paint-job and you’d never guess that its really a clunker in disguise.  Can you guess what I’ll be asking for this Xmas?

I still am not happy about the new department I’m working in. I quite literally broke down in tears of frustration every day Monday through Thursday.  Now granted, I take my job way too seriously and my stress levels (and related depression and anxiety) are still sky high but this is not usual behavior even for me.  Friday was a little better (but then I leave at 2 on Fridays) but the job is following me home in that I can’t shake the stress, I’m on a very short fuse, and frankly even in my dreams (waht few I seem to have) I’m telemarketing.

I’m not sure if it makes it better or worse but apparently my boss is focusing on me as the potential team lead for this new department.  Now, for many companies this would be a positive.  But I work in an alternate dimension where the harder you work the worse you are treated.  It is common practice that any supervisory role is regularly scapegoated and unsupported.  Its a conundrum to be sure.  All I know is that something needs to change in regards to my work situation and this is a resume builder if nothing else, and that since the alternative is not having a job at all, its suck it up time.

In other news, we are picking up Lady Rose’s daughter Angel Girl tomorrow and keeping her for a couple of days.  Princess Nibbles is done with day camp and the predicted weather looks to be lovely and so I predict days spent lounging at the local community pool (for them not for me).  I am hoping to fit in other fun activities as well in my evenings after work and hopefully a trip to the Mall which will be a mix of fun and necessity as my girls need new clothes for the coming school year.

Hope each of you has something to look forward to this week, or, if you don’t that a lovely surprise happens your way.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama Kelly