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11/6/14

BPBP: The Bullet Point Blog Post


  • It's been over a month since I've posted, and OMG I love you guys so much. Emails and comments and concern..."Hope you're okay!?!" messages. Come here and give me some sugar, my lovelies. Feel free to pull my hair just a tiny bit while we hug. Too much? Sorry. You bring out the lover in me.
  • I'M FINE. Kids are fine, dog is fine, everyone is fine. It's just taking me a while to adjust to our crazy new schedule.
  • Speaking of schedules: YES I AM EMPLOYED. Full time, insurance, sick days, the whole kit and caboodle. I have an angel disguised as an elementary school principal to thank for this. To say I'm #blessed is a massive understatement.
  • The new hours are insane. I'm at school by 6:30 a.m., and three days a week I don't leave until 6:15 p.m. I'm wearing several hats and love each one of them. Clerical, teaching reading to first graders, supervisory/para stuff...after this year I will be highly qualified to perform just about any job in an elementary school. Except, like be a real teacher. I'm thinking of going back to school again...
  • So with the new hours, my two remaining kids at home are 100% responsible for getting themselves up and ready and out the door for their bus at 7:00 a.m. And guess what? THEY'RE NAILING IT. Proud of my boys. We've only had one "omg mom we overslept why didn't you wake us up" call and now they know I mean business. Funny how it's taken me almost two decades of parenting to learn this lesson: give them the responsibility and they'll do it. Hanging my kinda-sorta enabling parenting head in shame.
  • My two college babies are thriving and surviving. It's hard for me to not try to live vicariously through Molly, though: she's nothing at all like I was in college (thank GOD) and although I know it's a good thing, part of me is worried that she's missing out on some of those stupid, beer-scented memories. Then someone (usually Molly) will remind me that I never graduated and my focus becomes clear again. 
  • Hello, fall television. I'm in love with Viola Davis and "How To Get Away With Murder", my second-in-command-pretend-boyfriend James Spader and "The Blacklist" and I'm gonna admit it right here, the boys on "Chicago Fire" keep me warm. I've also caught up on "The Good Wife" and of course Sunday nights are whole again thanks to "The Walking Dead" (although the last episode bored me to tears...). We also enjoyed "The Strain", thanks to Corey Stoll who is a tall, thick oak-tree I'd climb in a hot second.
  • Hey! I had a birthday! I'm 48 now and somehow still feel like a 20-something inside. I had a big party at my house and was surrounded by friends and love and martinis. It was beautiful:  
    I've know these ladies for over 30 years. Love, love, LOVE.
  • Speaking of parties, my BFF Danielle and I hosted a Halloween bash at my house last weekend. We fretted and worried that nobody would come and it would end up just being the two of us, drinking and taking selfies. We were so pleased that not only did a bunch of people show up, it was a raging good time. Next year's party is already being planned. We did manage to take one kick ass selfie, though:  
    Axl and Slash in the house! We had to bum a cig from one of Danielle's young coworkers. 
  • Okay so I kind of lied about everything being totally fine. I was completely stressed out during October, which killed me because October is usually the last sweeeet and fun month before the holiday stuff kicks in. But, the alimony that Big Daddy has been paying pretty faithfully for the past few years was scheduled to end on November 1st (have you heard of a Karon waiver? It was in our decree where alimony was concerned and it was a blessing/curse. More about that later). I've known the day was coming and tried my best to prepare for it. It's not a huge amount but of course it's helped. So I was freaking out about having this hole in my finances. Turns out the end of alimony means that child support goes up. Way up. I pretty much gave myself an ulcer wondering how I'd approach him with the numbers that the Minnesota child support calculator gave me. Talked to my lawyer friends, consulted with the hens, basically agonized over every single worst-case scenario my cuckoo brain could come up with. Turns out...all it took was an email. Is it possible that we've reached the amicable stage of our divorce? After only 8 years? So, my whackadoo bad thoughts have been put to rest for now, and I'm feeling pretty freaking good about life. I will say, stress is a total bitch. I couldn't sleep, couldn't focus, chewed the inside of my mouth to a pulp and ate pretty much everything that I could fit in my pie hole. When he agreed to the child support, I felt that monkey climb off my back and I've been walking on sunshine ever since. Still eating, though, because it's November in Minnesota and that's how we do.
  • How's menopause, you ask? I'd like to say THANK YOU to my wise sister-friends who advised me to hang onto the boxes of super plus tampons in my bathroom closet. Because after two blissful months of menses-freedom *bam* it came back. Like a mofo. Sigh. At least now I know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And I'm also very thankful to have a black office chair. 
That's the end of the bullet pointing, folks. I will be back, just like Arnold in The Terminator. Thank you all for hanging out and checking in and just basically being your wonderful selves. Now I'm off to research UV lights to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder. #winteriscoming

20 comments:

  1. So glad to hear your lovely post. I've been a long-time reader and was worried that you were silent for so long. I work in an ES, too, not as a teacher. SO much fun, isn't it? Sounds like your grass is definitely green right now. That's so great to hear. Happy Happy Weekend! :-)

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    1. Thank you so much, Tiffany! Yes, it's such a great work environment. I can't imagine anything else! Thanks a million for sticking around, and for your lovely words.

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  2. So glad for the update!! That halloween pic is amazing. Glad child support discussion worked out. Phew!!! love all the other bullet points. Except . . . do you not watch Scandel!?!

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    1. Nina!! I am about 2 seasons behind on Scandal! I love it, just got caught up in other stories and never made my way back. I think Netflix has the last season so I definitely need to visit Olivia P. and her friends again ;)

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  3. Dang, I love it when you share. When you do give us an update I don't feel like I'm totally alone in living my life post divorce, especially when I'm forced to deal with the new Mrs. and the Mr. Ex.
    Ugh! I'd rather poke both of my own eyes out with knitting needles than trying to work out details.
    Be well.

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    1. Thank you so much, Mary! I feel terrible for neglecting the blog and my beautiful readers for so long. Never again! Hope you're doing well, and yes, I second the knitting needles. Hitting "send' on the email to Big Daddy took some guts. I hate that.

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  4. Jenny, you probably know this already from experience with your children, but application time for college is now!!! It doesn't hurt to give some admissions offices some calls to know what amount of units you'd need . And you can knock them out online before formally transferring into an online bachelors program, and really just steamroll through that, and viola!!!

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    1. I am TOTALLY looking into the online stuff! I think that's going to be the best option for me. It's funny though, when you're as old as I am, the transcripts are buried in some archive room that probably also houses the Lost Ark. Thanks for the tips, and the encouragement :)

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  5. Yay! You're baaack! This blog is my favorite and I wondered allowed "hope she's ok" to which the hubby replied, "wait how do you know her again?...just call & check" I explained I just follow your blog & the look I got was priceless, as I've shared stories (& my hubby saw a doc about his ADD thanks to a post of yours, THANK YOU!!!! He's open to whatever it takes as he identified totally w/things you wrote... Amazing & thankful!) so he walks away shaking his head in confusion mumbling "never met her? I don't get women..." So yeah - I missed your updates!!! Awesome costumes BTW and so glad to hear about job, child support, etc. you've been in prayer over here & love seeing someone who works SO hard be blessed & have things come together!!!

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    1. Ahhh thanks a ton, JenYFur!! So happy the husband is getting some advice/help with the ADD. It's such a two-headed beast, so much good comes with so much drama. Hope he's seeing the light.

      I say the same stuff about my online blog friends. It's just as real as flesh and blood relationships! Sometimes even more real, I think ;)

      Thank you for your sweet words and your prayers. We feel 'em!

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  6. ha ha Jen-Y-Fur! MEN! They just don't get how we connect here in the blogosphere!! ;-)

    So glad you are back, Jenny, and that all sounds well! Like someone said, your grass is getting greener!! :-) Your kids are doing well, you are liking your job, and the child support turned out to be stress-free discussion. AMEN! Loved the pics! Take care and be well! We love reading your updates, so glad you popped in!

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    1. Thank you, anon. Here's to some green grass (which is now covered in snow, lol).

      I appreciate your kind words, so so much.

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  7. Yay! You're back! My best friend lives in MN and I was able to spend the past weekend with her and my family in Fargo!! And I'm so glad to hear of someone else who likes "How to get away with Murder" I freaking LOVE that show and know no one who watches it. Glad to hear that all is well and that you survived your stress and came out better than ever! That's so awesome for you! Andrea

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    1. Thank you Andrea! Hope you guys were ahead of the big snow storm!

      And YES, God I love that show. It's addicting. I need one quiet night to watch the last episode. I think I have it kind of figured out ;)

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  8. What a relief! I was wondering and praying that all is well with you. I don't know you, but I feel as if I know you through your writings. The way you paint with your words make such vivid reading, as if I'm there with you. I love how you walk your life be it trudging through the heavy mud of life, or sliding through when life gives you a break. Either way, you go through each step, and even though it's scary you don't step back, but you keep on going. You are such a pusher of an encourager... I'm so happy for this slice of light from heaven right now for you. Always keep you and your beautiful kids in my prayer.

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    1. Oh wow! What a wonderful thing to read. Thank you, so much. I appreciate this more than you can ever know.

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  9. I'm honored to be part of this post. I'm also thrilled to know the child support worked out. You certainly deserved a break there.

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  10. Love your Blog and totally love your personality. Congrats on landing the job. I'm thinking the reason that Big Daddy was accepting of the change was because it would look better in print. Has to make him a little uncomfortable knowing that thousands of readers know when he's been naughty or nice.....Good.

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