The one where I have a new life

Fall is a time for new beginnings, right? Creating a routine, getting back into a whole new "swing of things."

I think I can confidently say that I am doing that.

The first new thing I started is a workout routine. I'm one of those people who has always liked the idea of working out but never put that idea into effect. And not because I'm lazy but because I have always wanted the variety of a gym workout and have never been able to afford that. I found out recently that the Cardiac Rehab gym at the hospital is free for employees to use after hours. SWEET! All I had to do was sign a form saying that I won't bring any family and/or friends in and that I won't file an on-the-job injury claim if I hurt myself.

I went for the third time last night and I am absolutely loving it. I have always wanted to be able to run for more than 30 seconds and haven't been able to, partly because of mild asthma and partly because of no stamina. I'm slowly trying to build up to feeling like I can actually run and call it "running" not just "attempting to run." And I also love that I've been just a tad bit sore after each workout, knowing that I pushed myself just a little but not so far that I can't move the next day.

(The other really exciting part about this is that I finally bought an iPod and I totally love that, too. I've only been waiting two years for one of those.)

New thing number two:

I put out an e-mail on public notices at work awhile back saying that I was looking to pick up some here-and-there childcare jobs. I got one lady who calls me every few weeks to watch her two kids for a few hours and I really like their family. (Hers is the son who is three days younger than Jordan.) But twenty bucks every four weeks or so wasn't really what I had in mind so I put out a couple more e-mails. Not only am I offering childcare but I'm also offering house and pet sitting and house cleaning.

The house cleaning is what gets them, folks. Apparently there are lots of people who would rather shell out the money than clean their house themselves. Or, like the family I cleaned for tonight, they just have too darned many kids and would rather spend time with THEM than cleaning the house! (The dad of this family has an Australian accent and I totally stood in the bathroom just cleaning away and listening to him talk and use phrases like, "The battery is flat.")

I have two one-time cleaning sessions set up for the next couple of weeks, this one family from tonight who wants me every other week and at least 4 other people who I'm setting up consults with and will probably clean for every week or every other week. This could really turn into a nice little side business...

The funny thing is that a couple of the people who want me to clean their house have also said, "Oh, and you do childcare too... Hmm, we should talk about that..."

And the third thing is that I'm finally reading a little bit more. I had almost dropped that hobby for awhile (without really intending or wanting to) during all those moves to and from Albany I was making but now I'm getting back into it. I joined a book club a few weeks ago and I like picking the books and then OWNING them and taking as long as I want to read them. AND, if the book doesn't grab my interest in the first chapter or two I'm more inclined to read a little further than usual because hey, I PAID for this book! :)

Anyway, I'm feeling extremely good about things. Little extra cash coming in, little extra savings going on, little extra happy around here. :)

And it's RAINING! Fall is really here!!!

The one where something happens every day

A lot has been going on! And at the same time, not that much. It just seems like a lot.

Saturday I babysat for some friends who were moving into their dream house they just built. I have no idea what the temperature peaked at that day but it was HOT! I did not envy them moving and was so thankful to be able to spend the afternoon in a very air conditioned room. Their house is AMAZING. I can't wait to babysit there in the future.

Sunday the daughter of one of my coworkers called. They were doing laundry at the laundromat and had the kids with them. It was NOT working out and she asked if I could PLEASE come and pick them up. I had never babysat for them before. They are two and three and FULL of energy! More energy than I have seen in any kids that age before. First I brought them to my apartment because it was SO hot outside. I thought, worse case scenario, pop in a movie and give them some fruit snacks. After fifteen minutes they had COMPLETELY destroyed my apartment and I called my friend and begged her to meet me at the park with her two kids.

Once we got to the park they were angels. I told them the one rule was that they had to keep their shoes on (most of the park was bark dust). That rule was only broken about... 72 times, but otherwise they were really good. My coworker asked if I would ever watch them again and I said yes, just not at my apartment! I thought it was kid proof/kid friendly but these kids were something else.

Monday night my kitchen flooded! I was rinsing dishes and loading my dishwasher and I turned on the garbage disposal. It immediately started grinding and sounded like there was a tin can in it so I shut it off and decided I would just not use it and let my managers know it wasn't working. La la la, loading dishwasher, water running, tv on... feet wet? I look down and the bath mat I keep in front of my sink is soaked and the water is running out over the floor. I shut off the faucet and open the cupboard under the sink... water is GUSHING out of my garbage disposal. In four places.

I immediately start calling people. First my on-site manager. Then the two emergency maintenance numbers I was given. Then all three again. Then a third time. FINALLY somebody answered at one number. She listened to my story and said yeah, that's a problem, I'll call some people and get right back to you. This was at about 5:45. During all this I threw some towels on the floor and started mopping up the lake that was spreading throughout my kitchen. But before I could get the water all soaked up it started disappearing... down the floor? Under the stove? Turns out, the new owner of the building doesn't really care where the water went. She basically said, "eh" and shrugged her shoulders about it. Which ought to make it fun when the linoleum in my kitchen starts peeling up or the neighbors downstairs start getting a sagging ceiling.

When I finally talked to a maintenance person she said since they just bought the place they don't have an established maintenance crew in Corvallis. Well folks, time to get one! So then the story was that it might take two days to fix. Hello! If I turn my sink on the water comes out the bottom! The plumbers ended up having extra time in their day and were able to fix it on Tuesday. They replaced the disposal and everything's fine so I have no idea what was wrong with it. And no idea where all that water went!

Last night I went shopping for supplies to make invitations for a girls night next weekend. Madre told me we should have a night while I'm house sitting and I told her we should probably ask (it's a guy from our church who she works for and knows really well). She marched me over to ask and he looked at me and said, "Yeah! Have more than one! But seriously, have anybody over that you want. We trust you." So we're gonna have a little party. =) I came up with a super cool invitation idea and as soon as I'm done providing you with information about my crazy week, I'm gonna go put my imagination to work. =)

Speaking of work, the 4th is my holiday to work this year. I much prefer it to a holiday like Thanksgiving or Christmas but working any holiday stinks (aside from the pay). We're planning to barbecue in the evening so that will be fun. And then Saturday is our annual family reunion/picnic/BBQ on my dad's side which I'm also looking forward to.

It's been (and will continue to be) a busy week! Hope all is well with everyone! Have a safe and happy 4th!

Kids, clothes and porch deco

Yesterday I babysat for a woman that I (sort of) work with. Her kids are so much fun. Their dad works graveyard and sleeps during the day so I had them at my place. We got out the box of Play-Doh and they had the time of their lives. My friend's daughter usually plays with the dough but not the accessories but these guys tried EVERYTHING out and there is some cool stuff in there! I got the whole box for free and I've never really looked through it so yesterday I went through all the dough and threw out the crusty stuff. I have about 4 containers of orange and pink and zero blue. lol

Shayla fed lunch to the frog and the "lion." Hedgehog is a hard word. =)


Rhonen spent a good portion of time in the "teeth making business" as you can hear him talking about.



Today I spent some time shopping with a friend (ex roommate) and got some REALLY cute stuff that I'm excited to wear to work. The whole spree was inspired by needing some professional summer clothes and I found some! The trip included a pair of shoes that I can wear without socks but that are close-toed (hard to find in a summer shoe). Dress codes make it tricky to find stuff sometimes. Here's my haul:

I stopped at the store for a couple of plants for my porch because it was looking bare. I also transplanted a house plant (my only one) so it looks cheery inside too! Doesn't my front door look happy??

The weekend is always too short. I'm babysitting several times this week so that's fun. Off to decide which cute outfit to wear to work and make tomorrow's lunch!