~Busy, But Not Too Busy~

Warning: This is more of a journal update than an enjoyable reading post. Continue at your own risk of boredom due to lack of cleverness or fabulous photography.

Posts are long overdue here at the Parkinson Home. You may be wondering if something is wrong.... but no. We haven't been sick. We haven't been out of town. I haven't been all that stressed out. I just haven't felt like blogging... and I've felt busy but not too busy. Just busy enough that I haven't taken the time to come here, or take many pictures for that matter. Funny how that happens sometimes. So what have I been not too busy doing?

Well, I got a job at the Gap. Right now I'm working somewhere between 12-20 hours a week in the evenings or on Saturdays when Nick can be home with the kids. I've never worked retail ever so this has been a new experience for me. I enjoy my work. It takes my brain to a different place than where I spend the rest of my day. Mostly what I do is sell sell sell merchandise in the fitting rooms and give (mostly solicited) fashion advice. I still can't get over the fact that people want me to give them fashion advice. ME! Seriously? I guess I'm wearing the headset working for the machine so I must know something... at least that must be what people think. Oh, and I fold clothes, and believe me, after working on Black Friday for 8 hours mostly folding clothes I think I've become a master at the "board fold." I've never thought of myself as being much of a salesman, but I sold two Gap Cards yesterday, something which I don't even own myself. I'm not a believer in owning lots of credit cards or taking on possibly unmanageable debt, yet somehow I convinced two people to sign up so maybe I'm more of a natural salesman than I thought.

I've also been working hard to complete two blog books through Blurb Bookmaker. Blurb had a holiday deal that was too good to miss so I spent almost every free moment for a week organizing pictures, blog posts, and typing journal entries for 2007 and 2008. I didn't make my deadline with the 2008 book, but that's okay. Another deal will come again.

I've also been trying to spend quality time with the family. It was so nice to have a few days with Nick around, playing with the kids, relaxing, celebrating Thanksgiving with great friends, and planning out our Christmas purchases. Now I'm looking back and realizing that maybe we didn't plan well enough, as we've spent much more than I intended. Even with all those Black Friday deals things can get out of control fast. Thank goodness for 30 day return policies. :-)

After much pleading from the little Al we put our Christmas lights on the house, and pulled out our tree. The kids were squealing with delight when we got to decorate it together. The babies have taken a liking to our 5 year old candy canes, and needless to say we don't have many more of those on our tree anymore either. They're favorite spot for devouring their stale sugary treat? The corner behind the tree. And they're quiet as mice back there, hoping I won't find them but the four pudgy little stocking feet under the tree always give them away. They pull all the ornaments off and play with them around the house so the lower half of our tree is pretty bare, but I still love it. After all, it's our tree.

Nick is home alone with the kids in the evening about half the week. He's a great dad, and has so much fun doing activities, playing games, going exciting places, eating treats, coloring and watching shows with the kids. I don't feel guilty about being gone because I think it's a great change of pace for everyone. It also helps that I'm getting paid. :-)

So that is what is up with us. We're healthy. We're happy. We're here! We've just been a little busy, enjoying life. Maybe tomorrow I'll feel like getting back into the swing of things and catching up on my pictures, but for now this will have to do.

Peace out.