Monday's Musings

As I look back over the past few months at my blog and try to figure out what direction I want it to go, I realize I've done more with pictures than with words.  I know I've been trying to improve my photography skills.  I purchased a new camera last year and have been playing with it to see just what I can do.  I know I'll never be a professional photographer (I can't focus well enough on the picture to focus a camera), but I do want what I do take to look as good as I can get it.

So, it may be that I'm transitioning (for now) to be more of a picture blogger.  I don't think I can call myself a photography blogger as I'm not teaching how to take the pictures, I'm just sharing the pictures I take.  I can only hope that as I work this out, that my pictures become good enough to tell the story I'm wanting to share.

Monday Musings

• It's amazing how fast my kids will clean their rooms if the alternative is washing the dog.
• It's very annoying when, after you tell someone you don't have money so don't do anything that will cost money, that they ignore you and do it anyway.
• My son's summary of his first full week of school - busy and kinda hard
•  I know I've overextended myself when I'm tired enough to sleep 11 hours straight.

My favorite pinterest pin of the week -

Monday Musings

On the Aquarium:

The past few times I've gone to the Aquarium, I've ended up talking to new volunteers.  At some point, they notice that I've been around a while and inevitably they ask how many hours I've put in.  They seem shocked (and somewhat disappointed) when I say 900+ hours.  They seem to expect me to have put in considerably more.  I even had one point out that in a month he's put in 100 already.  I can't decide if I'm insulted or not by their attitude.  They don't have my life or my commitments, so they really can't compare what they can do with what I'm comfortable doing.  I find it wonderful that a)they're volunteering and b)have the time to commit that I don't.   If I could volunteer more, I would, and for now that's enough.

On fostering dogs:

I suck at it.  Really.  I'm good for the dogs and I love doing it.  I'm not good, though, at letting them go once they're here.  I get attached and no other home is going to be as good as mine.  So, I officially retire.  With a new dog.

On work:

I'm working.  Daily.  It's annoying.  I usually enjoy it, lately I've found it a hassle.  I'm hoping that as school gets going and we get our patterns back to "normal" I'll go back to enjoying it.  I'm also praying that it won't interfere with my daughter's education.  It was hard juggling my son's problems with school with work and making sure my daughter didn't fall through in the process.  So, we'll see how it works this school year and go from there.

On school:

My daughter will return to Gwinnett Online Campus this year.  They've moved the campus out off of Hi-Hope at 316.  That will make our twice weekly commute a bit longer, but with a new school hopefully it will work out for the better.

My son will be off to Meadowcreek High School next year.  It was a family decision based on what we determined would best fit his needs.  Now, to decide if he'll ride the bus in the morning or if hubs will give him a ride to school.  Hubs is more against the 5a wake up call than my son is, which is funny.  It's him that'll decide the bus thing just so he can get another hour sleep in the morning.

On Social Media & Blogging:

My son and some of his friends are working on a blog for teens.  I came up with the idea, he recruited his friends to join.  The concept is that it's a site primarily FOR teens and ABOUT teens.  It does have some parental contributions in there, but the teens are working on articles for it on their own.  Please take the time to check it out, give them a follow and leave (nice/clean) suggestions on things you'd like to see them write about.  The site is My Georgia Teens and does have a facebook page and twitter.  Please note that it's summer and it's moving at teen speed.. which for now means little to not at all.  I'm hoping to get them to pick it up a bit more in the next month or so.

Monday Musings

To Virtual School or to Brick & Mortar-
The deadline is upon me. I must decide whether or not I'm sending my daughter back to Gwinnett Online Campus in the next couple of days. I plan on trying the drive out to the new school location tomorrow. On a good day, the drive will be about 30 minutes. On a bad day, well, it's Atlanta. I also have to figure out what I'd do with myself while she's there. I will still be working, so I'll have to find somewhere to hole up and work. I don't see me driving out there and then back twice in a day twice a week. I know there are a few places I can probably set up, so I'll scout those out while I'm out that way tomorrow. I know my daughter's preference and I know WHY she has her preference. Honestly, I'm not sure it's enough to use yet.

Going to Church-
I'll be honest, I haven't been to church in several years. I was on a roll when the kids were younger until they got sick back to back and broke the streak. From there, I tried to convince my husband to go with me but he's generally a homebody after his work week. My kids see him and would rather stay home. I'd rather stay home with family, just because it's not often we're all together. I'm thinking this summer, though, that I may try visiting a new church. I'm thinking my kids are old enough to make that decision for themselves and come with me or not. I made some new friends when helping out at the Easter carnival at Luxomni Baptist and they were highly encouraging for me to visit. So, I may make that a summer goal.

Spring Break etc -
I'm on spring break this week, my kids go on spring break next week. So, I'm going to try to use this time to catch up on a few things around the house. My daughter and I have to prepare for the Color Run this weekend too. I'm excited to be able to go do it again. This year we're running with some fellow mom bloggers, which should make it that much more fun. Hopefully, I'll have lots of pictures to share on this one next week.

Monday Musings

Several questions I've had floating around in my brain and a few observations.

1 - Where does a teen boy's brains go? We aren't suffering the 'fumes around here (at least, not the car type, can't vouch for the other), so I haven't totally figured this one out.

2 - Why does my fitbit not give me credit for cleaning house? I have to have burned lots of calories steam cleaning carpet, cleaning dryer vent, replacing dryer vent, sealing holes, cleaning bathroom, etc.

3 - My daughter will page at the Capitol for the first time this week. She's looking forward to earning her $10. She'll fit right in with the others that are financially motivated for the day.

4 - Why is it when de-cluttering a room that I only seem to be chasing the clutter from one room to another? Or do I just have that much clutter?

5 - Why does it seem that I'm busier on the weekend than during the week?

6 - I know I'm doing my job at work when I finally get a parent's attention long enough to have them report me to admin.