I was a bit more serious in posing the question of there being a job for me than I thought - I'm now unemployed!  Grr... Laid off due to lack of work.  I think I fall into the category of "be careful what you wish for" since I had been fairly unhappy with the stress at work and now I don't have that stress anymore!  The bad part is that I don't feel the stress of not having work yet - I'm enjoying it just fine, thanks.

Trying to make the most of it while I keep searching for new jobs by getting my "to do" list a bit shorter, but it seems to end up longer every time I look at it.  For every item I cross off, I think of 3 more to add to it - at least I'm crossing something off, though!

Update on my Vitamin D - I'm in the "normal" range again, so that's good.  Now I just have to keep it up!  And I'm due for my blood donation next week; A negative people, schedule your major blood loss traumas, because you'll have plenty from me!  ;)
 
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My friend John's book is published!  Black Blade Blues was released yesterday and I got to go to his reading and signing at the U Bookstore in Seattle yesterday.  I'm already quite a few chapters into it and enjoying it very much.  It's urban fantasy with a strong female protagonist which is always fun to read (at least for me!).

Congrats John!  Can't wait for the next two!

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I've been thinking about why some parents seem to shut out the obvious signs of their kids' drinking or unsafe driving or whatever.  Why parents are in denial about their kids participating in dangerous behaviors.  Statistics show that kids *are* doing these things, so don't assume that it's "not my kid" because it very well could be.  My best guess is that parents don't want to hear what their kid is doing from other parents because they think it shows failure or weakness as a parent.  Get over it.  If my kid is making a choice to do something that is wrong or illegal or whatever - PLEASE tell me.  I know my child has to make their own choices out in the world, but that does not mean that I don't want to know what they are (while they are minors and living at home) and that I don't want them to take responsibility for those choices when needed.  I'd rather know that my kid is underage drinking so I can have the appropriate conversation with them rather than have them try to hide it from me and think that another adult is helping them.

It's okay to tell your kids "no" when they want to do something that you're not okay with.  You will NOT be the only parent that doesn't want their kids out drinking or at prom parties.  Your kid will survive the embarrassment - they might not survive the drunk driving accident.

The job of a parent is to make sure your kid becomes an independent individual who can make choices for themselves and take responsibility.  They have to learn these things when they are a teenager.  I can't remember how the saying goes, but it's along the lines of parenting is like no other job in the world - when you're successful at it, you make your job obsolete.
 
I was quite excited when I found out The Pioneer Woman was going on a spring cookbook tour and including Seattle.  I'd finally get to meet a blogging queen!  (I sadly missed Jen Yates on her Cake Wrecks tour last year).  So I put the date on my calendar, told my hubby that I was going and it wasn't an option and set out to meet Ree.  I, however, did not know that tickets were handed out starting April 1st for the April 17th event, so I was a bit further back in line than I would have liked, but I was IN LINE!  This was the woman that had roped me in with her Black Heels to Tractor Wheels story that I read almost continuously from start to finish (it took 2 days, yes I read it while at work).

After 4 1/2 hours, I had a chance to say hello to MM's mom who was wandering the bookstore.  May I just say that I would LOVE to age as gracefully as MM's mom.   Her oldest daughter was also wandering around and she's very sweet as well.

I finally got to the front of the line after more than 5 hours of waiting around for my turn and do I tell her my funny story about my Dad saying that I could go to U$C as long as he got to buy me a gun first?  (He's a big UCLA fan)  Do I even tell her "Welcome to Seattle"?  Nope.. I'm the shy engineer-type who smiles and says "Hi, I have a camera."  And get my picture taken with her.  *facepalm*

But I DO have my picture taken with her, so there's that.  Next time maybe I'll show that I have social skills (though I don't in the real world, so I'm not sure how well that plan will work).

I guess I can say it now..  "Welcome to Seattle, Ree!"
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