You know you're a grown-up when

I have to take my laptop with me on vacation next week. Unfortunately, we had another hiccup to our daily round, and had to attend my father-in-law's funeral Monday and Tuesday in Savannah. I don't want to treat it lightly, because a funeral never is, and his had its emotional moments. But I don't know that my blogging about it is appropriate or necessary. At least not right now.
I'm trying to think of all these days off (sick leave for Kate, bereavement, moving days) as God gifting me with more non-work time than usual this summer. It's nice in that way and I do recognize it.

But what I'm mulling over right now is my job. Sigh, this job. I don't know what I hoped it would be... a little more glamorous? A little less like a peon? Yes, a little less like a peon slash worker-bee slash dump-ee was what I was hoping for. (Not that I'm "better" than a worker-bee, of course. But you know? You want to advance a little bit.) And that has not panned out. In one publication, one entity, I have a nice title of "Editor," but it does not carry any authority, and that bums me out a bit.

I do good work here. My colleagues thank me for it annually with good reviews, and I earn a very good paycheck. I know that work is work, and there are things that are sometimes unpleasant about it. It's not called "play." I don't believe work will ever be more fun than it is work. That's a farce.

But I don't know if this place is where I'm meant to land for The Duration. I'm tired of the Drama of this place. So much stupid drama. And I'm tired of the excuse of "the down economy" that has pared us to so few people per "department." How can you call it a department if there are only 2 people, and one of those (not me, thank goodness) is serving a role in a different department as well? My job is not all-tech, nor all-creative. It's both, all the time, plus some secretarial work thrown in for good measure. I truly wish I had a simpler job description. Much simpler. I used to think I'd make a great Receptionist for some big company. And I'd keep a novel under my desk for when it was quiet. And I could do freelance writing on the side, to make up the pay I'd have to relinquish to step down to that kind of calm work. (Ha. I'm sure it's not actually calm.) I doubt that job exists anymore. I know our receptionist does much more than just answer the phones and "put you through to his voice mail."(Well, besides that I don't want to be a receptionist and be chained to the phone. All right, fine.)

And also, I just bought a new house, so I definitely need this level of salary. But I do find myself wondering if I could go to a recruiter and find a company that runs itself better, where my skills would be equally appreciated. I don't know.

I have to take my laptop with me to the beach next week and check emails every day, at least. Not because I'm a very important executive, but because I have an over-supply of tasks that only I can do. So I'm punished for that, by not being able to actually take a true vacation.

It sucks, and it's normal for the American worker, and that sucks. (At least one cousin will also be working during our vacation week, so there's that. And in years past, other cousins have, too. Misery loves company, I suppose.)

There was a surprise party

...and it wasn't even a result of my impolitely requesting one right here on this blog.

Evidently, my Darling Husband began thinking about this, and told my parents to plan for it, LAST year around my birthday. He is so smart. And kind. And good.

Through all the stress of moving he has also been coordinating this.

It was wonderful, of course. He rented a space, even, and sent Evites to my friends for whom he had to go digging up email addresses. Even if I HAD known about it, which I did not, it was still SUPER surprising to see friends gathered at the top of the stairs, yelling, "Surprise!" (I laughed and burst into tears, naturally.) There were girlfriends from our kids' school (it's hard to know what to call these friends, btw; "school friends?" No... "Mom friends?" I don't know. Anyway, my current girlfriends whose kids attend my kids' school. Ha.), previous job friends, current job friends, friends from college (!), and Mom and Dad peeking through the crowd to ultimately surprise me all the way from Florida.

I.

Loved.

It.

There are only a few instances in life when a person gets to feel so beloved and special, and I'll float on this high of knowing people "like me, they really like me," for a long time to come. And anytime after that, if I'm feeling down. I'll never forget it. Black "Over the Hill" signs and all. I'm so happy for Shawn for pulling it off! He didn't tell the kids, so they were confused/surprised, as well, which I think is so fun. I racked up a lot of bottles of wine! Wooo! But really, more important, I was so, so happy. It was perfect.

So, hello FORTY. You're looking great so far.


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This week, summer has hit full stride. I mean, it's been stupid-busy since the kids got out of school because of the move. We haven't had a "regular" summer week yet - and maybe we won't at all, this year. Last week was hijacked by two things: One, I had a 2-day meeting on the other side of town, for which I stayed in a hotel, Monday-Tuesday. It felt really weird to have just moved into the house and then pack a bag to spend the night away from everyone, for work. (The meeting itself was mostly awful/boring, to boot.) Tuesday while I was away, Kate had a fever/headache and had to stay "home" from camp, i.e., at the office with Daddy. Wednesday she seemed to feel better, and it was a swimming day for her, so she went to camp. But that evening she was feverish again, so I kept her home with me TH, took her to the doc and she was diagnosed with strep. So we worked from home together again on Friday.

THIS week, Alex is at his Comic Book Art & Manga camp at KSU. I'm so excited for him, ...and apprehensive. He's really wanting to learn some drawing techniques and loves everything about Manga. I know that if there are other kids in the class who are already excellent artists, he's going to feel "less than." This is just the way he is. But I hope, hope, hope he'll enjoy it and do well, and learn. We've had the "don't compare yourself to others" discussion but it's a tough lesson to ever learn (pretty sure I haven't fully learned it yet; pretty sure most adults never do).

NEXT week, they're off to Pensacola for a week with the grands and cousins. Then: BEACH WEEK!

Many reasons June is my favorite. ;)