My Life in the 40s

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 14:09:00 +0000

Nope, I didn't get the job. Someone with an MBA wanted a $30K year job. I'm not ready to dust myself off yet, but I don't want to slip into a depression, either. I really feel like hell and it would be really easy to just curl up in a ball and hid for awhile.

When it rains, it pours.

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 17:25:00 +0000

I may have a job - at least, I have the most promising interview I've had in a long time. It's a lateral move, both professionally and financially, and the benefits are not the best, but it's a job. And if I get it, I need to start right away.

I was planning to use the next two weeks when the Boy is at camp to do projects around the house - finally get my garage, laundry room and other cluttered areas in my house in some semblance of order. I've had all year to do this, but when do I start? Yesterday, when I finally dumped 5 bags of garbage from the laundry room (with more to come.) And now, if things go well, I won't have the rest of the summer to do this stuff.

I've been promising the Boy a new desk before school started, and I found a cool one at a yard sale. It's not really a desk, it's an old-fashioned kitchen table with an enamel top. He wanted black paint - I think red would be better in his room, but he wants the walls black, so this is a compromise. Maybe if we get him red desktop stuff.

What to do with an only child in the summer?

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:47:00 +0000

I now understand why my mother sent me away to camp for the whole summer. The Boy is bored out of his mind and has nothing much to do. Last year wasn't so bad - he had 2 weeks of day camp, plus we took 10 days of vacation, and after that we spent the whole summer at the country club. Now we've put the country club membership on hold, and, although we still belong to a gym with a pool, unless we know that friends will be there, he doesn't want to go. It's not fun for him without other kids.

I'm feeling terrible that I can't send him to his favorite day camp for the whole summer. Hopefully next year I'll be gainfully employed and he can go. Grandma is paying for one week.

I've been letting him play Pirates of the Caribbean online and teaching him how to play blackjack so he can win gold pieces to buy pirate ships. This is not my proudest mothering moment.

I miss my cleaning lady

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:13:00 +0000

Oh, how I miss Stella. She drove me crazy, with her bleaching my clothes that I didn't want her to wash and singing, loudly and off key, to the music blaring from her headphones, but man, did she clean. Like the little lady in Poltergeist, on leaving a house, she declared it clean.

I hate housework. HATE it. And it shows in my house. My bathroom is really gross and I have to clean it and I dread it. Absolutely dread it. I'm doing all sorts of things to put it off. Cleaning the kitchen. Pulling weeds. Typing a blog post. Anything, anything, to avoid going near that nasty bathroom.

Still looking . . .

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:15:00 +0000

So I am still looking for a job. There seem to be more openings lately, which is good, but lots of people applying. I heard there were 200 applicants for one of the jobs I applied for. I'm up for something I think I would like, but won't know if I even get a face-to-face interview until next week. The screening process is brutal.

I got called for a 2-month temp job at a bank downtown, but when I said that I might have to call off to interview and would leave if I got the job, I was off the list. I told the recruiter when I went down there that I wanted just short-term assignments, and 2-3 days a week would be perfect, unless it were somewhere where I'd like to work permanently. It also looks like there are some university jobs opening up, thanks to the stimulus bill.

The Man was supposed to have a closing on a listing that had been on the market for over a year. Two doctors can't get the loan they were pre-qualified for. It's been postponed 3 times. Not good.

On Santa Claus

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:22:00 +0000

This may be our last year, or at least one of our last years, for Santa Claus. The Boy is already surrounded by doubters, yet he still believes. Perhaps he's not ready to let go of his childhood too soon. Perhaps he is inspired by the magic of Christmas, the spirit of giving and the visions of sugar plums that dance in his head.

Or perhaps he wants to believe that he is getting a Wii for Christmas, like Santa promised last year.

It doesn't matter. He still believes.

It's December . . .

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:19:00 +0000

How did the time go by so quickly?

I took a nice summer break, only to start looking for a job just as unemployment hit a new high and the markets tanked. Now that's timing!

Anyone for a Timeshare?

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:20:00 +0000

They finally did it - at home laser hair removal! But there's a catch. There's always a catch, isn't there? The catch on this one is that it costs $995. That's more than two weeks worth of unemployment. Anyone want to buy a time share in one of these?

Read more here.

Maintenance, or how I am spending my summer vacation

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:39:00 +0000

I am loving the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Rejuvenator line. Right now, I'm using the puffs and the serum, and in less than two weeks, I can see a difference in my skin. It feels much softer, as well. I also use Neutrogena's tinted moisturizer with sunblock, but not the one from this line. So I didn't need a Clarisonic after all! But mostly, I want to look like Diane Lane.

Summertime, and the living is easy

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:08:00 +0000

I'm enjoying my break, and really appreciate that it may be a long time before I get such an extended break again, but I have to admit that I'm starting to get bored. I need a new project. Since the boy has been at day camp for the past two weeks, I'm getting really sick of my house. If I'm not back at work in September, I'm going to have to come up with something interesting to do.

It's (almost) over!!!

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:23:00 +0000

They hired someone else for my job, at less than $10K above what I was making part-time. Poor guy just sold his life for peanuts. And I don't have to go back there! Yippee!

I say almost, because I haven't received official notice. I got a "courtesy call" (which I take as something unofficial) and phone calls from some of my friends. So I don't have a separation date, and I need to take care of the COBRA and apply for unemployment (which he better not fuck with or I will sue the SOB.)

I am employable! I am, I am!

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Wed, 21 May 2008 22:23:00 +0000

I have an interview! Which just happens to take place on the day I'm supposed to have my "review." HA! Bite me, you arrogant bastard!

My Middle-Aged Crush

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:33:00 +0000

When I was a little girl, I loved Keith Partridge. Now I love Keith Olbermann.

Not the light-hearted blog I wanted to create

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Fri, 16 May 2008 18:19:00 +0000

I started this blog thinking I would write light-hearted comments on life as a middle-aged woman, but my life has taken several crazy turns. I may soon be unemployed (and am actively looking for a new job) and if we had universal health care, I would have walked a month ago.

This is my boss (except for the "unusually bright" part. He's far less bright than he thinks he is):

The Controlling Egomaniac:

Most often found in organizations built on the celebrity or accomplishments of one person, the Controlling Egomaniac is unusually bright and extremely driven. These individuals frequently launch and run organizations that communicate a strong vision and mission statement. Friendly and charming to people who can do something for them, Controlling Egomaniacs make it clear that the institution, company or department they oversee is their show.

A defining characteristic of this kind of boss is insatiable hunger for fame, respect and status. As a result, Controlling Egomaniacs tend to overinflate their abilities and magnify their accomplishments. They’ll cater to anyone — the press, fundraisers, politicians — who can enhance their star quality.

Although the personality of a Controlling Egomaniac is often charismatic and engaging, working for this creature is another story. These are the original micromanagers. They don’t know how to delegate and can’t handle criticism.

Anyone who works for a Controlling Egomaniac must obey the cardinal rule: no one can outshine me.

(From "Working with you is killing me"http://www.wwyikm.com/)

To top it off, this week, our house was burgled. All they got was stuff, mostly small electronics and other easily replaceable things, but they took my grandmother's diamond that I wore as a pendant.

It's just stuff. We are all safe. The boy is doing okay, but he is still scared at night. He learned a new word. It begins with "mother."

I think I got a few new gray hairs over this one.

Let it Be

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 15:45:00 +0000

I've had a terrible week. I'm trying to get in the right frame of mind for Easter and the coming of Spring.

First crocus today

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:07:00 +0000

I saw the first crocus of the year today. It's almost over. Thank god.

DIY dermatology

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:21:00 +0000

I so want this. It's called a Clairsonic and it works like a sonicare toothbrush, except it's for your skin. My skin is getting dry and wrinkly, yet I still have clogged pores. That really sucks.

It costs $200, which would be cheap if it really were the miracle worker it says it is. I've bought too many beauty products that have been crap (remember the epilady?) to really believe that this would be the solution to my skin care woes.

Maintenance in the 40s is getting more and more expensive. Maybe after camp is paid for, I'll buy one. Hope springs eternal.

My life in the 40s

noreply@blogger.com (TimesnLatte) — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:52:00 +0000

I've been thinking a great deal lately about my upcoming birthday, when I will reach what is hopefully my half-way point. By upcoming, I mean in October. I tend to get ahead of myself with these things, so that by the time the actual day comes, it will be no big deal.

It took me awhile to even come to grips with being 40 -- I think I spent about 2 years saying I was 40 when asked, not lying, just that it took me so long to get used to it. So here I am, almost 45 and wondering how in the hell that happened. I'm very optimistic about saying the half way point, especially since neither of my parents saw 60, but there are some significantly old genes in my family and I'm hopeful I got at least a few of them.

I went with students from work to visit a nursing home on Valentine's Day and was reminded of 3 important lessons:

1) Be nice to the people who will pick your nursing home.
2) Save your money.
3) Floss.