Sunday, September 16, 2007

The Guilt Trip … It Worked!



I'm still not really back to blogging but I couldn't stand another cute little sad plea for my return. LOL! Angie, Sondra — YOU CRACK ME UP!! Plus, I thought it was time to supplant that pic of the stuffed dog with a photo of real poochies.

Life is still rolling along here. Older son has deferred college until the Spring semester and is currently working two jobs. One is at The Cheesecake Factory, where he brings home TONS of tip money, more than should be legal for an 18-year old! The other is at The St. Pete Times Forum (in downtown Tampa), where the Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL hockey team) play and bands, shows, etc. perform. That job usually runs through the middle of the night when he and the rest of the "Conversion Team" change the floor from or back to ice. Thursday night was an Alice Cooper & Black Sabbath show and DS floated back home after actually talking to some of the (geriatric) rockers. ;-) DS is really liking that job and has been interested in sets and stages since his Drama days in high school. Who knows, maybe it will actually lead somewhere for him.

DS#2 is a sophomore this year. Our district changed their schedules and we've been adjusting to that. Until this year, we were on the "block" system, which meant four 90-minute classes per day, and only one semester per major class. So for instance, Biology would only take one semester instead of a whole year. Now, because of budgetary and legislative class-size concerns, they are on a traditional schedule with seven classes per day and all classes (except electives) last the full school year. Apparently you need less teachers/classrooms this way. DS is in all Honors and AP classes so he's a bit loaded down. But he's doing great and was the only kid in his World History class to make a 100 on a surprise test the other day. I hope he keeps that up!

And, yes, there's football. I'm still in the middle of the annual tee shirt sales and still doing the Varsity meals every Friday. DS#2 was supposed to be on the JV team this year. He is only a sophomore after all. But the Varsity second-string Center quit the team and so the Varsity coach moved DS up to the Varsity team to fill the gap. It's a mixed blessing because what it really means is that he won't play much and that disappoints him (and us). And no, he doesn't have a choice. Even with me as the Team Mom, there's no extra pull. LOL! But he's adjusting and the current Center is a senior this year so DS is definitely IN to be the starting Varsity Center his junior and senior years. I suppose it's good for him to learn some patience, right?

The biggest change around here is that DH and I have decided to get out of the self-employment biz. DS has been in training classes for the past couple of weeks with two more weeks to go before he moves into a slot with his former employer, a major transportation company. It will be nice to have regular paychecks and company-paid benefits again. But it also means DH will be on the road traveling a lot, leaving me to man the fort at home alone. That will take some getting used to after 15 years of a set-your-own schedule. Sigh.

The second biggest change is we're down to one vehicle between DH and I right now. The lease was up on our gas-guzzling SUV last month and we've just been too busy to slow down and decide/shop for what we want. So, of course, I've needed a vehicle during the day more than I usually do and we've had to do some shuttling. Ugh. With DS's Mustang in the shop the first 3 days of this past week, it's been ugly. But his car is out (long rant coming on that another day), and he's actually buying an old Jeep tomorrow to be his daily driver, so we'll be back to 3 vehicles in less than 24 hours. And once DH is out of the classes, we'll shop for our second and the family's fourth. Oh Lordy, be still my insurance rates! But I will say it's been nice to NOT have to $$fill up$$ the honkin' big V-8 SUV anymore.

And me. I haven't sewn a thing for myself since whenever I last posted I did. But I have been sewing. A LOT. And not doggy diapers, although I'm still doing them in dribs and drabs. I stumbled on to some private customers that at another time I might have turned town, but it's been lucrative so I'm giving it a shot since we need the income right now with DH in training mode and me officially un-self-employed. But, man, that Burda top is still calling to me every time I open the stash closet and see that beautiful fabric. Sniff, sniff. It will be hot/warm here for quite a while yet, so I haven't given up on it. And I will have to convert a football tee to a female version very soon. So, hang in there … there will be sewing on this blog again soon.

28 comments:

  1. Wonderful to have a new post from you, Debbie! I've followed you on Pattern Review, but just stumbled across your blog a couple of weeks ago. I've been checking regularly for a new update. Good luck on your transition from self-employment and I hope you get to sew something for yourself again soon!

    Jodi

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  2. I am so glad you are back. Have missed the antics of you canines and the accomplishments of your boys. I was worried that you had a mishap and that was the reason for the silent blog. Glad all is well!!! Anne

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  3. Glad to have you posting again! We've all missed you.

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  4. Yea Debbie - good to know that you are okay, that life it just chugging along like it has to do and you got sucked into it. Glad everything is mostly okay - hope you get to do some personal sewing soon! g

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  5. Yaaaay!!! So glad to hear that you're well.

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  6. Happy to see you back!

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  7. Welcome home, Debbie. We all obviously missed you. Boy, do I sure understand the steady paycheck and company-paid benefits deal. It's one of the reasons I never started freelancing full time. I just love seeing pics of your doggies and hearing what's up with you. It reassures me that my lack of sewing isn't a sin either. :)

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  8. Coming out of lurkdom to say...So glad to see you post again. I have missed you.

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  9. I'm so happy you and the pups are back. I missed you. Betsy

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  10. I've been thinking about you a lot lately, Debbie! So glad to see a new post!!

    I can identify with the car shortage...long story, but for the last couple of weeks we've been dealing w/three drivers w/three schedules and only two vehicles. If anyone goes without wheels for the day it's usually me...

    And I'm finding myself thinking more and more about 'sewing for the public', too; are you enjoying that? Can you make enough at it to be worth the hassle? LOL

    Looking forward to more news!

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  11. Yay! I opened the blog expecting to see the stuffed doggie again and I get to see the real thing. So glad to see you blogging again. I know how you feel with the one car. We have one vehicle, live out of town a wee way and have children who do a lot of sport. I do a lot of ferrying between sports grounds. Hang in there and I hope life slows down a bit for you with the switch from self-employment.

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  12. Hey stranger! Finally, you have come out from under that rock. Never a dull moment at the Cook household is there?. :)

    I have missed you blogging on a regular basis. You spoilt me for so long that now come to expect it. Like OPGal I feel so disppointed when there is nothing new to read. Today the sun is shining brightly. Don't hide for too long now will you.
    Belinda

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  13. Yea! You're back. Now, at least I'll have cute dog faces to greet me each morning. Glad all is okay and things are busy as usual at the Cook household. I'll be looking forward to your next blog.

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  14. Oh Debbie, I read your blog every morning and was worried about your not having posted for over a month (yes, I was counting)! Glad to hear lif is chugging along.I'm also looking forward to another post.

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  15. You have really been missed!! ;) Glad all is well - it is so nice to see the pooches too!

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  16. hey debbie ....

    good to see you back for however long a time it is ... i was wondering what happened, whether you were in some kind of *mishap* .... glad to know all is well, well, basically *well* ....

    looking forward to more sewing bloggs ....

    darlene

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  17. It's great to see you back! Next time, don't stay away so long. I'm glad all is well. Continue to take care! :)

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  18. Well it's about $@!#$% time! :P

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  19. Will you be able to blog about your paying customers? I must get my Debbie fix. Sorry to be so self-centered while you are so busy, but I want to see what you are sewing!!

    Really, though, I'm glad you are back.

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  20. Glad you're back! I bet a steady income will be wonderful. Another self employed household ;)

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  21. Hi Debbie, welcome back. I've missed your sewing adventures. Glad that all is well with your HH and you. Happy Stitching!

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  22. Lovely to see your new post Debbie :))) Life surely has been busy for you. I look forward to reading again from you, but whenever things get too busy, you can always put the 'stuffed dog' up again....then we won't worry.

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  23. Hi Debbie,

    Hopefully blogging isn't getting too much of a burden. We sure are demanding aren't we? Great to hear from you.

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  24. Debbie -- are you selling these on ebay? Can you post the link to your site. I've tried searching Poochie Boutique but didn't find anything. I REALLY REALLY need to get one of these for my dog and I am so not going to spend my time figuring it out. The ones in the store don't fit right at all so I'm hoping I can just buy one of yours : ) BTW - a huge "Welcome Back!" Susan C

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  25. Good to have you back Debbie. I've missed you.
    zetor

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  26. You are one of my very favorite blogs ! I was so excited to see you back. I know it takes a lot of time to blog so I don't blame you for breaking but I wanted you to know how much you have been missed. I hope all goes well for you and your new adventures. If sewing picks up, post if you can, we love your stuff!!!
    SHorty

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  27. aw, debbie, good luck to you and your family during this transitional stage. i've missed your blog a lot--so glad you changed the pic, i was getting tired of doggie dipes. not that they're *not* cute . . .

    nice to "hear" about you again.

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Thank you for each and every comment. I appreciate them all, but I have to be honest and let you know that I'm usually bad about answering questions. I hope you understand that there just isn't enough time in the day to do everything I want to do.

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