Greatest show in Earth?

Lot's of liberal angst and hand-wringing among the local parents this week. The Carson and Barnes Circus was coming to town to do a show. In this corner: PETA, with their statement that not only are circus's generally cruel, but Carson and Barne's elephant handler is the devil incarnate. In the other corner: small child who really, really, really wants to go.
 
Once I got there, I began to think that the animals were fine but had some worries for the humans. Lot's of family acts with little girls doing acrobatics and young boys helping with the animals. I'm sure the ringmaster was the only person who has US citizenship, so you wonder if the others really know about employment law.
Had fun anyway. Left Claire with the grandparents so I could focus on Nathan. He was a little afraid of the clowns at first, but then loved everything else. Although I had to keep drawing his attention to the important scenes. He was just as likely to be watching the stage crew setting up instead of the high wire act. We also met up with a family we knew so we weren't sitting alone. Gotta love that Sunny came wearing his clown costume. The whole show was actually in a Big Tent, so that was fun too. I tried to get some pictures of that, but I'm still getting used to the new camera and ended up with very fuzzy elephants. Oh well. 

Who needs sleep, well you're never gonna get it

Haven't been sleeping well lately. I'm tired and yawning when I get in bed, then nothing happens. Sometimes it's pain in my ankles and knees. I tried getting a body pillow, which takes away the pain for a bit. But then I have this great big pillow and I'm just not used to sleeping with it. Other times, I'm not in much pain but my brain just won't shut off. Usually I give it up as a lost cause after an hour or so and come out to the computer.
So now it's 3:30 am, I'm still up, and I'm less tired than I was 5 hours ago. I've been staying up past 2:00 at least two nights a week. Not fun.
I have a doctor's appnt today. Have to deal with a few issues, and I think I'll add a request for sleep meds to the list.


Who needs sleep?
well you're never gonna get it
Who needs sleep?
tell me what's that for
Who needs sleep?
be happy with what you're getting
There's a guy who's been awake
since the Second World War

Poor Pluto

 
We had fun doing this space theme for Nathan's Germantown bedroom. Even though we've moved, we still have the lamp and also have nine planets strung on fishing wire over his head. Yes, nine planets. And now there are only eight. I decided to tell Nathan this tonight at bedtime, that Pluto was no longer a planet.
"What is it?" he replied.
So I went with "It's a dwarf planet".
"Ha Ha, that's silly mommy" was his response.

Do I take Pluto off the ceiling? Should I take a hammer to his lamp and knock Pluto off. Or repaint it and name it Ceres instead. 

Do I want this job?

This job posting seems really, really, really vague. And their website isn't much better. Lots of business-speak.

TASK MANAGER
xxx, one of the largest providers of telecommunications management in the US is looking for a Task Manager to work in our operations office in Potsdam, New York. The Task Manager is responsible for assisting with the completion of projects and telecommunications orders on behalf of xxx-designated customers. The Task Manager ensures all of the information in our applications is updated and accurate. The Task Manager works closely with xx Project Managers as well as xxx clients and partners. Successful candidates must have excellent written & verbal communication skills, strong customer service focus, detail oriented & have the ability to manage multiple assignments simultaneously. An understanding of telecommunications is preferred.

Will the fact that I have no cell phone undermine my attempt to bs my "understanding of telecommunications"?

Blankie

 
Haven't posted a pic of Claire in awhile. Just have to say that I'm thrilled that she's been dragging around the blanket I made her. Makes me feel like a proud Mama to have made something just for her that she loves so much. 

WTF

I don't know what's going on anymore. The Pitcher Inn wasn't offering much money. Dan and I spent some time yesterday discussing what we want to do. The gist was that we're mostly happy here, and it's better to stay until something he's sure of comes along. And there's still the possibility that the Lodge will rehire him in the spring, so we're fine waiting.

Then, at 9:00 pm while he was browsing for other chef jobs, he found a posting for his old job at the Lodge. They're looking for an Exec Sous and didn't call him first. WTF.

Another reason to move to Vermont

I'm excited about the five game Boston/New York series this weekend, even though the Sox are currently losing the first game. But I really wish I didn't have to watch it on the Yankees YES Network. Hearing their promo with the catchphrase of "Pride, Power, Pinstripes" drives me up the WALL!!

The perks of working in the hospitality industry

Spent the last two nights at The Pitcher Inn where Dan was interviewing for a job. Quintessential Vermont country inn. And, as a plus, it's already burned down once, so hopefully it won't again.

Stayed in this very nice suite, but it does get tiring being away from home. At least we got to see Dad a bit, he's only 40 minutes from this hotel.

Dan did not feel the "love at first sight" that he did with the LPL kitchen and chef. Although nothing will compare to that place, so he's bound to be disappointed anywhere. I kept nitpicking the details of the room too, because everything at LPL was so perfect on my birthday. We'll wait and see if they make a job offer, and see what the money is. He's got another (phone) interview this week with a place in New Hampshire. Meanwhile, I'm applying for jobs here in case we decide to stay. We're trying not to rush into a bad decision. But we also know that New England hotels are hiring now to prepare for foliage season, and the openings will dry up before winter sets in.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Today's weather forecast......

Today: Partly cloudy. High 69F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Generally clear. Scattered frost possible. Low 37F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.

This is what happens when I try to clean

  

You ain't got no alibi, you're just UGLY

 
I am a conniseur of ugly shoes. Granny boots, clogs, Doc Martins, wooden soled sandals - I've owned them all. And even I thought Crocs were hideous the first time I saw them. However, after having back pain all weekend from my no-support flip flops, I picked these up yesterday. I took them off to sleep, but have worn them every minute since getting them. The back pain is gone, I'll have to wait and see if they have an impact on my arthritic knees and ankles. 

Up in smoke again

I thought Dan was likely to change his mind about wanting to move, and had been taking steps to get a job and daycare here. He really wanted to go back to the Lodge, and I didn't think the offer from the new place would be enough to change his mind. But tonight he was talking to his old boss and the equation has changed. His old Chef is leaving, and he's the main reason Dan wanted to go back. He wanted to work with Ken again. Plus, Ken thought that the owners may decide to sell before finishing the reconstruction. If that happened, the new owners wouldn't feel any obligation to take Dan back.

So, Vermont is seeming more and more likely. We'll be going next week for his interview, and I'll start looking for houses/apartments.

Perfect Day

Dad's here this weekend. Spent last night playing monopoly, I took the tournament 2-1, and watching the Sox win. Perfection.

Water, Water nowhere

About two weeks ago our water heater went down for a few days. Not much fun, but at least we could flush toilets and get water for the kids to drink and run the dishwasher. Annoying, but not too bad.

Saturday, I discovered that when the electricity goes out, the pump to the well stops working too. At least this time we were showered and dressed, but I had nothing to make up bottles for Claire or to wash hands. So we decamped to the in-laws for a few hours until the power came back. On Sunday, we finally got our lazy asses in gear to shower around eleven, and the pump wasn't working again. So, another trip to the in-laws shower. Caught the landlord at his parents on the way out and told him. He very quickly diagnosed a worn out gear and replaced it.

Good thing he's not a doctor, because his diagnosis was wrong. Once again, had to shower at the in-laws today. Mike was at the door the second he got off work though, he's been a great landlord, and just replaced the whole pump. Yay!!!! Baths, and dishes, and laundry yippeee!!!!