A couple of weekends ago Brian had a business trip to Atlanta. He's been covering the story of a local high school student/athlete who was paralyzed from the neck down over the summer in a Jeeping accident in the mountains. Brian has known this boy and his dad for some time (the dad is a former college baseball star who was drafted by the Atl Braves and now coaches in the area). The family chose to send the son to a rehab facility in Atlanta that specializes in teens with spinal cord and related injuries, and Brian went there to do an in-depth story and see the boy's transfer from inpatient to outpatient center.
He interviewed the family extensively (and was moved to tears on a number of occasions, it must be said), and also interviewed a number of caregivers. He tried to interview Vince Vaughn, who is good friends with said family and is in Atlanta filming a movie. They couldn't get a time set. Bummer. The dad said maybe next time Vince and his wife come to visit them in Colorado. Gotta claim the perks when they come. They have been few and far between.
Brian did have one day in which to see a sight or two, and being a major history buff he ventured to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield and visitor center. He hiked to the top of Kennesaw Mountain, which has sweeping views of Atlanta in the distance; atop the mountain are a number of cannons hauled up there by the confederate army during the Civil War to attack approaching Yanks, and left there to this day. Brian loved this.
He was only gone for four days, Friday through Monday. But it was seriously an action-packed weekend for me/us:
Friday I had a phone interview for a 6-month contract job as a communications project manager for one of the schools within a nearby major university. More on that later. I worked on a few more items for a craft fair. More on that later. I took the kids to see a local children's production of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, in which several of their friends performed. It was cute.
On Saturday my friend Ashley and I had a booth at a local craft fair (we also did one in November at our rec center). I had made a bunch of things for these fairs, including felt dahlias, bird nest necklaces, felt rosette hair clips, appliqued baby onesies, clay bird ornaments, felt and yarn wreaths, and pillow bookends. The fairs were an interesting experience, but between them and some friends coming over for some in-home shopping, I was able to earn a little cash to put toward Christmas shopping. And I appreciate my MIL coming over for a good part of the day so I could participate, with Brian out of town! Here's a sampling of my goods:
Saturday evening I took the kids to Longmont Lights, a nearby Christmas festival with an awesome parade of lights...
...after which we walked up to a park that was beautifully lit, and we enjoyed free hot chocolate and cookies, large fire pits, a fireworks show set to Christmas music and vocal performances. Such a fun night!
On Sunday I had to teach Relief Society, so I spent a good part of the day preparing for my lesson.
On Monday I had the big tri-annual (every 3 year) review for Connor's IEP with his teacher and special ed teachers. Suffice it to say he is doing so amazing that they removed pretty much all of his support, moving him from 2 hours of special ed a week to 30 minutes, and they said he barely needs that. They will allow him to take the CSAP in a small group and he will get extra breaks and a longer period of time in which to take it, and he will continue to attend his weekly social skills group. But that's about it. His progress astounds all of us, his teachers included. It's crazy to think that the IEP in place now will carry him into middle school; two years from this month they will start preparing his transfer plan and will take him on a big personalized tour of the middle school. I.CANNOT.GO.THERE. Refuse to believe that could even possibly be on our horizon.
On Tuesday I had an in-person interview for said job for which I interviewed via phone on Friday. I had such mixed feelings. I like doing contract/freelance work, but have only done maybe 10 or 15 hours a week max, and it's been a year and half since I've had much work. I have been a candidate recently for other contract jobs, but can't commit to full-time on-site for a year or more. This was for 40 hours a week, but for only 6 months, and partly from home. I simply prayed that if it was meant to be let them offer it and we would somehow make it work. And if not, let it not progress. I was not offered the position. I felt relieved in a stress/time aspect, but sadly kissed the idea of the extra income goodbye.
I was interviewed by the manager and then her team. When I was answering a few questions from one of the team managers, she grabbed a copy of my resume and looked at it, then asked, "wait, are you married to BRIAN???" I replied yes, and then she went on to say she had worked with Brian at the paper and how much she loved him, what a great reporter he is, what a good guy he is and how she is impressed with how much he loves his family. Then she said to me, "I've been hearing about you for years! Don't you have a baby like every couple of years?" I die. Strange development. Um, yes, I have four children. And in that moment I was reminded of how far from a career girl I have come. There was a time. But that is just not my priority right now. I am happy where I am, raising those babies that have come every couple of years. I really think it is difficult to do it all. Maybe sequentially. But all at once? Not for me. I am a believer in the "seasons" school of thought. I had a career. Now I have children. I'm kind of an all-or-nothing girl. I would like someday to maybe add a bigger helping of career to my life plate. I think. Who knows.
So that was our weekend. It sorta left my head spinning.
