What I've been up to

So, I've been pretty quiet for two weeks now. Here's what's kept me so busy, in no particular order:

- standing on the picket line at Hubby's school

- trying to keep the kids engaged during the strike

- picking up a part-time job (2 hours, twice a month)

- picking up a paid serving gig

- making LOTS AND LOTS of card woven trim. I'm doing this to help raise money to take care of our family during the strike, as there is no money to pay the teachers for being on strike.

Here are some example of the last item...

Oh, and also a couple of these:

Gotta go now, I have another warp of trim to work on :)

10 Day Writing Challenge: Day One

Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.

1: It is precisely because of children like yours that my husband is fighting so hard for better conditions in the school. Open your eyes and see, and for the love of all that is good, stop vilifying the people who are trying to help you.

2: You can get through this. You have already shown everyone your strength and resilience; you amaze me with your ability to carry on in the face of such challenges.

3: You are my hero.

4: I know you're angry and full of hate right now. But shutting it all inside isn't going to help you. Talk to someone - anyone - about how you're feeling. I wish there was more I could do to help you, because seeing you hurting like this breaks my heart.

5: I've come to realise that how we each viewed our friendship was very different, indeed. I guess that's why it got so broken when your assumptions about me were proven to be not altogether what you believed. I still want there to be healing, but I know it will never be what it was, and that makes me profoundly sad.

6: At some point, you will have to make a decision about this situation, and actually stick with it. Stop waffling, because you are damaging everyone involved.

7: You don't have to blindly parrot what your partner says. You are clearly the more intelligent of the two of you, and to see you subjugate your own views in order to give the appearance of support makes me very sad for you. I'd much rather hear what YOU think and feel.

8: Stop spending so much time reading what the "experts" say, and start trusting your own instincts. You're doing fine.

9: I miss what our friendship was like. But I know what happened has forever changed that. I wish it hadn't happened, because I think the cost was too great.

10: You are smarter, more beautiful and more talented than you believe you are. Stop being afraid of your own greatness. Embrace it, and use it to improve the lives of those around you.

Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

Greetings, friends.

This past week and a half has been a blur of dealing with Hubby's work situation. With a full strike vote looming tomorrow, we are more unsure than ever how we will make ends meet in the face of the government hold-back of 10% of his wages, ostensibly for unwillingness to perform 100% of their job (yet they are still working Every. Single. Minute. that they are permitted to be at the school, but that is another post entirely). So, I've spent the last couple of days figuring out how I can generate income for our family. I have a home-based business, so there's always that, but I'm also a crafter/artisan, so I have hung out my shingle and am now working on three commissions for weaving and embroidery, as well as creating embroidered pieces that I feel might sell to my desired niche market. If I can maintain momentum with that, I can make a meaningful contribution to the household finances throughout the year. But it's time to give the embroidery a rest for a few minutes, and introduce a writing exercise that I hope will get me back into the habit of writing. So, with thanks to my friend Lisa, here it is:

The 10 Day Writing Challenge

Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.
Day Two: Nine things about yourself.
Day Three: Eight ways to win your heart.
Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.
Day Five: Six things you wish you’d never done.
Day Six: Five people who mean a lot (in no order whatsoever)
Day Seven: Four turn offs.
Day Eight: Three turn ons.
Day Nine: Two smileys that describe your life right now (I will be substituting two emotions for the smileys, as I feel that emoticons are woefully inadequate for conveying mood).
Day Ten: One confession.

There you have it. If I get time, I'll start tonight. I make no promises that I will write every day. C'mon, I've got four kids here...