Sep
13
September 12, 2007
The other day I was driving home from work and an emergency vehicle appeared on the horizon behind me, and as it came wailing up the road everyone in sight obediently slowed and pulled off to the side, and as all the cars waited patiently I thought how oddly kind the whole scene appeared, like if an alien was observing us from space they would see this generous giving-way sort of group movement and think what a selfless, supportive species we are.
Of course, a few minutes later I was nearly sideswiped by a fetid chunk of dickcheese yapping on their cell phone while blithely cutting their Range Rover into the lane inconveniently occupied by my car, so my newfound faith in humanity was short-lived.
In general I don’t really mind my commute, homicidal Range Rovers notwithstanding. It’s a nice space of time to zone out, ponder my life, and blast Ministry at top volume if I so choose.
Traffic is problematic, though. I take advantage of my office’s lax core hours policy by leaving the house late enough to miss the lion’s share of morning traffic, but there’s just no good way to get home (for those who are familiar with Seattle, I work over by the University Village Mall, and I live in Bellevue—it’s a clusterfuck any way you approach it). I get home late, Riley is always tired and cranky, and I only have a hectic hour or so with him before it’s bedtime.
My workplace office is scheduled to move sometime in the fall/winter timeframe, and my commute will become longer and, I think, even more congested. I don’t know exactly how it’s going to be on a regular basis, but there is potential for it to really and truly suck.
I think ahead to a new baby next year, and the costs of having two children in daycare. I think about my salary, and how immensely useful it is despite those associated daycare costs. I think about my future career and how I would love to move into freelancing full time someday but I can’t figure for the life of me how I could make enough each month to pay for the childcare I would need in order to have the time to work to pay for the childcare alone.
My ideal situation for the future is to be self-employed, and have a part-time childcare solution so I can dedicate that time to freelance projects. I’d like a really great nanny/babsitter who can care for the kids at my house, while I head out to various public wifi-and-caffeine zones (pro: holds my more pathological hermity tendencies at bay, con: fuels a potentially budget-breaking latte addiction).
This seems like an attainable goal, doesn’t it? I’m not sure why it feels so utterly impossible to me right now. Why my head is filled with giant dollar signs and logistical roadblocks instead of faith in my own dreams.
For now, I drive my commute and play music and think about all of these things and more, like why it is that Range Rovers have the vehicular equivalent of shark gills on their sides.
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PS: Thanks for the blog name votes and suggestions—we’re still chewing on the various ideas. I’ll let you know when the blog is up and running.
Sep
11
September 11, 2007
I have another blogging-related question for you, since you guys are always so insightful and smart and shit (seriously, it’s kind of intimidating, visualizing all of your ginormous pulsating brains. I bet you’re good at math, too, and you can parallel park without backing and filling nine thousand times, and I bet you can even put on mascara without gaping your mouth wide open like a Golden Retriever).
Starting sometime in the next week or so, I’ll be writing a blog for Work It, Mom!. I know, you’re probably thinking that the last thing the internet needs is another goddamned blog from me, because haven’t I sullied the web enough with my foul language and tiresome Simpsons references and inability to spell “restaurant” without using a spellchecker every single time?
Well of course not. Voluminous Blog Content of Dubious Quality, that’s my motto!
Work It, Mom! asked me a while back if I’d be interested in doing this, and I reluctantly declined because I thought it would be hard to find the extra time. Lately, though, I’ve been thinking that things like interesting writing projects are things I need to make time for, as long as I can do it without jettisoning any other things I love to do (you know, like spending time with my son. Oh, and watching television while flopped on the couch and eating fistfuls of Triscuits).
So I’ve decided vacuuming is off my to-do list starting now, because I’m positive that will free up a useful amount of time each week. Say, anyone need some extra dog fur? I HAVE LOTS.
Anyway, the blog is going to be focused on product recommendations, parenting tips, and idea-sharing—fun, useful stuff for busy moms. We’ve been kicking around name ideas, and I could really use your feedback. Here’s what’s in the hopper:
Mixed Bag
Milk and Cookies
Tools of the Trade
A La Mode
Creature Comforts
The Right Stuff
Are any of those jumping out at you? Let me know what your top choice is, and if you have a blog name idea of your own, please share!
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My product review site:
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