Moms @ Home Working

2004-06-17T13:19:00.000-04:00

June 16, 2004

I can't believ it's been almost a month since I've written! Why is it when we're young we want time to pass quickly and when we're adults we'd like to find a way to freeze time? Like they say, "Knowledge is wasted on the youth." LOL

It has been unbearably hot here the past few weeks- temps in high 80's and melting humidity. I only venture out to do yard work in the evenings when the sun is sinking over the horizon.

Tough to get motivated when the kids are home for the summer. I tell myself I'm going to get up early before they do and get a start on my work, but...hasn't worked out like that yet. I get up with my son Dusty at 5:15 and get him off to work at the golf course, and find myself laying back down for longer than I intend to. And sure enough, just when I settle in to check email or work on a newsletter, one of the kids need to be toted to the Y or a friend's or some type of lesson. I keep telling myself that's why I work from home, though. Can't imagine how I would spend any time with the kids if I worked outside the house.

The cicada invasion is finally simmering down here- of course as they die, they pile up around the tree bases and tend to smell- ugh.

Off to pick the kids up from swimming.

Until next time....

Barb

2004-05-19T08:01:00.000-04:00

May 19, 2004

Whew- seems like it should be Friday! I began painting my bedroom last Friday and I'm still working on it- what a hassle. It's sucking up paint like crazy for some reason. Went a little out of the box for me and painted it "lemon drop yellow". Was a little hesitant at first to deviate from my normal boring neutral tones, but I am so glad I did! It is so bright and fresh-looking.I absolutely love it. Guess that will teach me not to be so conservative.

12 more days of school for the kids. The older they get, the quicker the time goes. I think (hope) my oldest, Dusty, will return to traditional high school in the fall and leave homeschooling behind. He has been learning from home since the 2nd quarter of his freshman year, but I think it's time to go back. He can get into an engineering program at his old high school and earn college credits for a couple of classes, so he can't really pass up that opportunity. He has wanted to be an engineer since he was a little sprout...and that's been awhile as he towers over me- he's 6'2" now. When he returns, that will be the first time since 1987 that I will be alone in my house during the school year. I am looking so forward to it. With 4 kids, I can really use some alone time.

Life as a single mom can be overwhelming, to say the least. I am "it"- taxi driver, cook, laundress, problem-solver, etc Just not enough hours in the day any more but...I wouldn't go back to my married life for anything. The five of us are so much healthier (mentally and emotionally) now.

Until next time,

Barb

2004-05-11T14:27:00.000-04:00

May 11, 2004

Why is it so hard to find the time for at least a weekly journal entry? Gosh, I wonder how hectic life will be in a few weeks when the kids are out of school!

Hope you all had a nice Mother's Day. The weather cooperated here and it was just gorgeous. I spent the day working (yes, working) in the yard, but I enjoy that- I call it my "therapy." It's a good excuse for telling the kids that I can't hear them yelling over the mower going.

Sunday was also my daughter's 15th birthday. Hard to believe that I'll have another teen driving soon- scary.

Cincinnati's 17 year cicada invasion is expected this week! The little bug-eyed pests go underground for 17 years but boy, when they come out, it's unbelievable. Hundreds of thousands will be buzzing around until the end of June. My kids are so freaked out about them.

Til next time,

Barb

2004-04-30T08:31:00.000-04:00

April 30. 2004

TGIF! Been a long week- bogged down with newspaper articles to write, recruiting, and school work. Unfortunately, my school work has taken a back burner to everything else and I need to get back on track as the semester is rapidly coming to a close. I registered for summer classes- really didn't want to but need to get as many credits as I can.

Weather has been unpredictable as usual. We'll get a few days that are balmy and gorgeous and now it's back to the 50's and rainy! Depressing. The only thing that likes all this precipitation is the grass.

Off to take a photo for an article that I'm writing about a local church's renovations.

Until next time,

Barb

2004-04-22T14:23:00.000-04:00

April 22, 2004

Really wish I had more time to blog but life, as usual, has been chaotic. Listed the house with a realtor last Friday and have been trying to get the yard in shape. Last weekend was gorgeous so spent two days spreading mulch, weed eating, trimming shrubs- all that good stuff. If I do say so myself, it looks so pretty. My tulips are in full bloom and I have baskets of pansies on my front porch...now if somebody would just come and fall in love with it and buy it!!! Keep me in your thoughts if you would.

I've been writing a fair amount of articles for our local paper which I really enjoy. I have interviewed some real "characters" lately and the extra money (not much) helps. The editor has asked me to start covering government meetings, etc- boring. Not sure if I'll accept- prefer the human interest stories.

This day has been so totally unproductive as far as work or school, Normally, I try to work on the ezine, articles, and school work throughout the day but ran all morning and have a 6:00 showing tonight, so did some major cleaning in the afternoon. Oh well, that is one of the best perks about working from home- I set my own hours. I can work tonight when the kids are watching t.v. or in bed.

Until next time...

Barb

2004-04-14T12:24:00.001-04:00

April 14, 2004

I have missed journaling but as usual, life has been so hectic. House hasn't sold, so may have to break down and list with a realtor which I really didn't want to have to resort to.

Kids were off last week and we ran every day: to Y for a swim, movies, park, etc We had good weather so spent a lot of time outside soaking up some rays. Coming down the home stretch with school- something like 35 days left!

I had problems with Yahoogroups not mailing my newsletter out for a few days and can't believe how much I missed working on it.

This week, being a single mom is a bit overwhelming- feeling down in the dumps. Hope that some warmer weather and sunshine will perk my mood up. It's hard at times when there is no one to lean on.

Until next time,

Barb

2004-04-14T12:24:00.000-04:00

April 14, 2004

I have missed journaling but as usual, life has been so hectic. House hasn't sold, so may have to break down and list with a realtor which I really didn't want to have to resort to.

Kids were off last week and we ran every day: to Y for a swim, movies, park, etc We had good weather so spent a lot of time outside soaking up some rays. Coming down the home stretch with school- something like 35 days left!

I had problems with Yahoogroups not mailing my newsletter out for a few days and can't believe how much I missed working on it.

this week, being a single mom is a bit overwhelming- feeling down in the dumps. Hope that some warmer weather and sunshine will perk my mood up. It's hard at times when there is no one to lean on.

Until next time,

Barb

2004-03-30T12:38:00.000-05:00

March 30, 2004

Well, no lookers for my house this past weekend. Guess I'll try a new strategy this week- maybe a lower price or change the ad copy. My dogwoods and Bradford Pears will be in full bloom by the end of the week and are absolutely gorgeous when they bloom- hopefully that will help.

Temps are back down in the low 50's. We've been spoiled and tempted with balmy 70 degree days lately but March is going out like a lion. It's thundering like crazy at the moment and the skies are that ominous dark gray. April is prime tornado season in Ohio-ugh.

Working on an outline of 8 chapters for school. I will be so glad when that's behind me (the outline, not school). This semester is full of papers to write. While I enjoy the classes that I'm taking, I have this huge pressure of these hanging over my head. I will be taking a full load this summer, so can't even look forward to a break. Well, it will all be worth it some day.

Hope you all enjoy spring break with your kids. Take some time off and relax!

Until next time..

Barb

2004-03-26T14:39:00.000-05:00

3/26 Gosh , I have really missed "blogging." The past couple of weeks have been so hectic. I put an offer in on a house in early March and have my house advertised- what a hassle!! Trying to keep it clean with 4 kids, 2 dogs 3 cats, a bird, a turtle and a bunny- not the easiest task!! I love these folks that call and ask to see it in a 1/2 hour! You should see me run!! I never knew I could push a vacuum that fast! I have had about 6 showings or so and one lowball offer. Hoping the warm weather encourages more to come out that are house-hunting.

The newsletter is in full swing again- thank gosh. It's always slow around the first of the year and Feb but starts to pick up advertisers, etc in March so that's always a welcome change.

I work p/t as a recruiter and placed my first candidate a month ago and just received my first commission check- too cool. It's a lot of networking and maybe only getting 1% response from ALL the potential candidates that I contact but so satisfying when I placed my first one. It's nice because I can set my own hours which gives me flexibility for the kids, the newsletter and my college work. I am now a f/t student as of March 1st. I really enjoy being back in school this past year. The one thing I really am proud of. a 4.0 GPA so far.

The kids have one more full week of school and then off for 10 days for spring break. I know I'm ready- SO tired of those 5:3 a.m. wakeup calls. Getting everyone ready and out the door in an hour- what a joy.

I am going to make a concerted effort to blog more often- very therapeutic.

Til next time,

Barb

2004-03-05T12:10:00.000-05:00

March 6, 2004

Just when you think Spring has arrived- it's been very mild all week and today it's balmy and in the low 70's, but...the weekend forecast calls for temps in the 40's and rainy. My poor tulips were just peeking through the soil. I'm sure they'll be fine but will stay dormant for a bit longer now. I planted over 150 bulbs last fall and I can't wait to see the cornucopia of color soon. Something to look forward to...

Until next time

2004-03-04T08:02:00.000-05:00

3/5

My best friend called yesterday while I was working on a freelance article that I was writing for a local newspaper. When I told her what I was doing, she replied, " WAH jobs just fall into your lap!" OH MY GOSH!!! Ironically, I think many of my readers have that same misconception given the fact that I publish telecommuting jobs daily. Many think that I must have some "inside track" to wah jobs NOT SO. I apply for jobs listed just like my readers and I sure get my share of "rejection" letters.I follow my own advice that I continually preach to my readers: you have to think of your job search as a "job" in its own right. Every day. I email and fax my resumes to jobs that I find, I follow up with thank you notes to HR folks that I have contacted, I scan dozens of wah sites and newsletters like my own in search of possible positions. Sometimes I will dog a company for months in order to get a job that I'm interested in.

Look for an article on this subject soon

Until next time..

Barb

2004-03-02T10:21:00.000-05:00

3/2/04

Oh my gosh! I put an offer in on a house yesterday and it was accepted!! I have been looking to downsize since my divorce last summer. The thought of packing and moving 4 kids and myself is overwhelming. Where do I start? With work, my college courses and running the kids, I have no time as it is.

Keep me in your thoughts- I have to get through the loan process.

2004-02-20T10:05:00.000-05:00

February 20th

Just got online after a Raod Runner outage since yesterday- so frustrating. I have this "thing" about getting my ezine out before 6:00 a.m. every morning.

TGIF! This week has seemed to go on and on. Long week but not one of my most productive ones. The kids were off of school on Monday, had an early release day on Wednesday, and Taylor stayed home sick on Wednesday, also. Hopefully, the illnesses will wane with the coming warm weather.

Gotta' run- Patty, the school nurse (we're on a first-name basis) , just called to say Alix has a fever and headache so have to pick her up.

Just a typical week in our house!

2004-02-19T19:08:00.000-05:00

February 19th

I don't think I'll get through one week of the school year without one of the kids being sick and staying home. It always seems to happen on a day when I had planned to accomplish so much in my home office...Murphy's Law.With 4 kids, I guess one of them is bound to bring home nasty germs and infiltrate everybody else!

When one of them stays home, I just write off most of my working plans, gather a handful of videos and lay under the covers with the "patient" and spend some one-on-one with him/her. It's so seldom that I get to spend time alone with just one of the kids, that I figure I shouldn't waste the opportunity. Work will always be there. On the other hand, kids grow up so fast!