Since when did our evening hours shrink from a size 12 or so to a supermodel-spare size 0? Between getting J ready for bed with food, play and bath therapy; working on something for a business client; and uploading a few 365 shots between answering the phone and writing “talking points” for my elective classes, I had, like TWO SECONDS to gather my thoughts before falling on the bed, lifeless.

My friends have reported the same phenomenon, and I’m not sure if it’s that our work/school life is getting busier (that’s what we’d like to believe) or if it’s the kids we all have or if reality is warping in some impossible-for-this-dolt-to-describe physics sort of way. How it can get any worse, I’m not exactly sure, but I’m telling you, if I have to continue this way until June when I get the real break during which I don’t have to be locked in the house while hell literally freezes over, I’m going to cry.

OK. Deep breath. Think happy thoughts. It’s just the morning. You’ll be fine.

Now–as a reward for anyone who’s actually read through all of the whining, I’ll be posting tonight…or maybe tomorrow morning…about a couple of cool things. First, I’ll be having a little contest for a $20 Amazon gift certificate. Second, I’ll be doing a nice little pay-it-forward thingie, and there will be a sign up for that. So, , internet-peeps, stay tuned for something a little less whiny.

Sidenote, unrelated to upcoming post: BSM to left, and lots more BSM goodies at Mother May I!———–I love weekends. Love them. Adore them. Fixate on them.Sunday evenings, then are the times I look back longingly on what I’ll be missing during the week, namely time spent communing with a book during naps and recliner-lounging with silly movies like this weekend’s chick flick, Bridget Jones’ Diary. (Am I the only one who still gets a little flutter-flutter when Bridget kisses Mark Darcy in her cruddy leopard-print undies in the middle of a snowy sidewalk?)And, of course, there are the child-based antics of my main toddler, J, especially his dramatic work in scream-based tantrums. Yesterday afternoon while the main man in my life, T, tried to clean the living room, J insisted his toys were just fine where they were, thank-you-very-much and emphasized his point with a loud shrillness only rivaled by a car alarm.He was much happier after we spent fifteen minutes stuffing his feet, clad with thick socks, into suddenly too-small books and the rest of him into snow pants, mittens, hats, scarves and jacket sleeves. Well, actually, he was happier after I took him outside and set him in the snow.I’m not so sure why, since he can’t walk in the stuff. He was happy to try to explore the yellow snow, though. I was grossed out enough to walk through three-foot-high drifts in mules, dragging the child with me, just so we could go play on the nice deck.Until I realized that T had disposed of a box filled with the dog’s accident from a month ago on the deck. Can I not be free of the dog’s number one or number two anywhere? I disposed of the box via a shovel in an area T will NOT be happy about. Oh, well.

Can you see why weekends are so special and cherished for me? I have re-runs, trashy hand-me-down novels, dog elimination and tantrums to deal with the entire time—the entire time! How wonderful!I can’t wait for Saturday!

It’s not fair that now that I’ve been back at school for only one day, and I’m already hopelessly behind on my Bloglines subscriptions. When I could read avidly, not many posts were made. Now that I can’t (because I’m monitored at work, so I avoid blogland completely), EVERYONE is posting.

It’s not fair that there’s so little light! Project365 is still on track, but taking shots at home is not nearly as fun without natural light.

It’s not fair that poor J cried for an hour when I left him at daycare until his playmate showed up. I almost cried myself when he gave me his best shattered look today as I walked out the door.

Notice how this all has to do with going back to work? Yeah, I’m a wimp. I can’t wait for the weekend, though :)

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By the way, speaking of work–if you’re looking for a unique valentine card, stop by Bohtieque, read how it works and then drop me an email. I’m scheduling for valentine designs right now, and I’ve got a small special going right now. Hey, I’ll even do this–let me know you came from this blog, and I’ll give you a better deal–$5 off the a custom design.

So, I’m beginning to wonder if I could make enough money at home doing design full time to make up for lost income if I decided to quit my job.  Even better would be the distant dream of just running around with my camera all day.  How fun would that be?

It would be a horribly irresponsible thing to do, but, man, I’m beginning to feel paranoid.  If I’m tied to my desk with a phone call during passing time, I’m worried I’ll be hearing from one of the bosses about it because I wasn’t in the hallway.  When I get calls about students who have failed my class, I get knots in my stomach wondering if someone will deny that I sent home a letter to warn the parents of the possibility.

Things are kind of weird right now.  What I’d love would be to stay in my room all day and not worry about what’s going on outside of that room.  Life would be so much easier.

Ahhh.  After hours of editing code, I can finally say that Bohtieque Design is, kind of, back up and really running.

What am I talking about?  Most of you regulars have seen that I post pictures of the photo invites and cards I’ve made for J.  Most of you probably don’t realize that I spent several years doing graphic design on a freelance basis for a variety of small businesses–mostly logos and identity design and (if I was lucky) postcard or flyer design.  My biggest account had me doing some web design (shudder).  Somewhere, it seems, I picked up a knack for that kind of thing.

Once I started getting ready for the baby that would be J, I let Bohtieque go a bit.  I knew I couldn’t keep up with projects that were always urgent and requiring hours of staring at a computer screen without break.

I love design, though.  I sometimes itch to dig in and create something beautiful.  So, I’m back.  This time, though, the projects are going to be smaller and much more fulfilling.

I’m offering custom design of photo cards–mostly announcements and invitations. I design, the client and I work on the design until she or he is happy, and then I send them a file to be printed anywhere they want. The site is still a little rough around the edges, but we’ll get there.  For now, I’m happy just to get the ball rolling.

Feel free to browse, if you like.  The template section is lacking, but as I have more time, I’ll add more.

I must go give my eyes a break.  Have a great Thursday!

Let’s get down to it–the schedule almost rocks, or at least that’s what most people think when they think about teaching.

Yes, I get two and a half months “off” during the summer; four day weekends in October, November and whenever Easter falls; and anywhere between a week and two over Christmas/New Years.  I really do enjoy having extra time over Christmas to wind down and relax a bit, and if I weren’t such a schmuck, summer could be nice.

There is a dark side.  Summers are endless.  We’re not vacation people, first of all…and who can vacation for that long, anyway?  Lots of people say they’d love the time to get fix-ups done around the house.  Eh.  There are only so many things you can do around the house with limited cash, aside from the constant cleaning that I do my best to avoid.

Instead, I despair over the unending mess of sand on the floor and the teeny-tiny kitchen that looks messy with only a couple of empty bottles sitting on the counter.

Yeah, I’m painting a bleak picture here when I’m supposed to be talking about how awse our schedule is.  That’s the interesting part.  I don’t actually prize the length of time I have off…it’s the definite start and end of each year.

I can’t imagine not having that time without a huge inbox staring at me during which I reflect on the year behind me and plan for the year ahead.  Yes, I’m f-ing tired by June and moan and groan about getting up each and every morning when the 5:30, school day alarm sounds.  But by September, I’ve been scheming about new methods and curriculum for two months, and I’m excited and hopeful for the year we’re starting.

That’s the best part–every year I have a fresh start with new kids and new challenges, but without the anxiety of starting over at a new job.

There you have it–reason #2 I love my job.