The fish played dead until it hit the bucket, anyway

June 30, 2008 | Category: In My Life

John Steinbeck once wrote "So in our pride we ordered for breakfast an omelet, toast and coffee and what has just arrived is a tomato salad with onions, a dish of pickles, a big slice of watermelon and two bottles of cream soda."

Ever had that happen to you?

I woke up this morning, determined to be pleased with the world. I gave it all the benefits of my doubts, made a keen breakfast for the men, and rolled up my sleeves at the computer to tackle a good days' work.

And what I got? Was a plate of pickles and a cream soda.

Look, I know life doesn't owe me anything. Not a positive bank account, not a steak dinner and a margarita, not a healthy dog with a fresh stick. But when you factor in how hard and fast I run in the wheel on a daily basis, all I'm saying here is that eventually it just ain't outta line for me to expect to be somewhere when I get off at the end of the day.

And to still be there in the morning, when I get back on.

No, I'm not high. I'm not altered, undone, ill, or even recently ravished. Well, depending on your definition of recently - but mine's "in the past 5 minutes" and I'm standing pat there.

I'm just a stay at home freelance writing homeschooling tomato-growing dinner-making God-loving semi-socialist pink-haired womanly woman who's getting over writer's block and just, wouldn't it be nice, if LIFE WOULD SHUT UP AND LET ME GET ON WITH IT????

I'm gonna go do something insane, tackle some billables with a greased-up mitt and a steely eye, and let the committee of sleep whack the rest into line.

The Secret Language of (Corporate) Fathers

June 15, 2008 | Category:

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!

I wrote an article to celebrate the Corporate Fathers I've known, over at Chicago Mom's Blog:

One day, in near frustration and exhaustion, I instant messaged my boss; “I think I need a demotion.”

Almost immediately my phone rang.

“What’s the problem?” he demanded.

“I’m sorry, sir,” I confided to the former Marine officer. “The responsibilities of this position against my family obligations…”

“What’s the problem?” he demanded, again.

“Uh, well, specifically today I’ve been called into that red team meeting with the VP for the same time I’m supposed to relieving my nanny.”

“Any wiggle room with the nanny?”

“Maybe a half an hour,” I sighed.

“Right, join the call and tell them...."

Read the rest at Chicago Moms Blog...