I know it's been forever . . .

. . . but I'm going to resurrect this blog. I've had a lot of life changes very recently, and maybe I can use this forum to figure out what I want to do now.

May 10th I was laid off from my job of over 9 1/2 years. That really hurts. And I haven't looked for work since 1996, so I have no idea what I'm doing. I don't even know how to write a resume. I haven't been unemployed since 1994, so this is really weird.

It feels good to write about this. I don't care if no one ever reads it. It's just good to get it out. I feel lighter. I've only told a few people. The idea of calling my friends and family and telling them I've lost my job is just not something I can handle.

I've done some things in the last couple of weeks I can feel good about: I've been working out at least at three times a week at the gym at the pool, trying to get in better shape. I can feel the difference. My son and I went to the beach Saturday, and I climbed to the top of the sand dune at Cape Kiwanda; I've never done that before. The only other time I even tried, I only made it 2/3 of the way (or less) before I was too beat to climb another step. I'm really proud of my accomplishment. It's a big deal for me. If I can do that, I can find a new job.

Just for fun . . .

Your IQ Is 125

Your Logical Intelligence is Below Average Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius Your Mathematical Intelligence is Exceptional Your General Knowledge is Exceptional

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

I've always known I was a goody-two-shoes, but really?

You Are 18% Evil

You are good. So good, that you make evil people squirm. Just remember, you may need to turn to the dark side to get what you want!

How Evil Are You?

Maybe I need to exercise my dark side a little more. . .

Timing . . .

Do we have our timing right?
Will it work this time?
I trust him, but will others?
Will they let me? Or will they try to erode my trust in him?

He doesn't trust so easily anymore.
He now knows how I feel.
He admits he was bad and wrong.
That means the world.

He trusts me because he knows I never lied to him.
He says he'll never lie to me again.
And I trust him.
Will others support me?

I know what I want.
I want him to be only mine. Forever.
I want to hold his hand in public.
And not worry what others think.
I want to know him again.
Better than before.

Do we have our timing right?

English Genius You scored 100% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 100% Advanced, and 86% Expert!

You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go! Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it! For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 61% on Beginner You scored higher than 44% on Intermediate You scored higher than 71% on Advanced You scored higher than 70% on Expert

Link: The Commonly Confused Words Test written by shortredhead78 on Ok Cupid

The card shark

I came home from my bellydance class tonight and my son and mom were playing Go Fish. They finished their game so I played with him. He won the first game, but I got the pair of Jokers. He wanted them.

So, the next game, he cheated. I knew from the look on his face that he was up to something. (He tries to lie to me, but is rarely very good at it. He was looking way too smug this time.) He lost that game. (He had put a card up his sleeve.)

We played one more game. That time, he stacked the deck so that we would get the pair of Jokers dealt to him. He lost that game, too.

Then he told me that he had cheated both times. He was pretty smug, thinking he'd gotten away with something. Until I pointed out that he lost both of the games when he cheated. The look on his face was priceless when he understood what had happened.

We didn't play again.

Have the aliens landed?

Very shortly after I got home from work today I began to wonder if aliens had taken over my son's body. Either that, or if he was ill.

You see, Tuesday is the day the week's homework comes home. It's due on Friday (or, in this case, Thursday, as there is no school here Friday). Homework completion is usually NOT one of the high points in my relationship with my son. He won't do it at all without my help. Usually. All last year, and the start of this year, homework often involved tears (his), frustration (ours), bad language (his), etc.

Today I got home and took the Tuesday folder out of his backpack. I was just starting to look at some of the papers when my mom said, "Oh, you've found it already." I thought I was looking at some classwork he'd brought home. Come to find out, no, I was looking at his completed homework for the week! He stopped at his great-grandmother's (next door) after school because Mom had to take Dad to the Orthoticist and they weren't home yet. While he was there, he did every page in his homework packet!

If the aliens haven't landed, then I think he should go see his great-grandma every Tuesday after school. . .

Word verification. . .

As many of my friends seem to have lately, I have now encountered "comment spam" and am joining the word verification world. I suppose it was inevitable, even though I've hardly posted anything here.

Celebrate Banned Books Week!

It's too bad I have to say this. At least I'm lucky enough to live in a place where I can say it!

The American Library Association's Banned Books Week 2005 is Sept. 24 - Oct. 1. Read a banned book to celebrate. For more info check out "Banned Books Week." American Library Association. 2005.http://www.ala.org/bbooks

Where to begin . . .

So much has happened since I last got around to writing much on here. Swankette and TRP got married in Seattle the end of last month, and Kaphine and RealSuperGirl got married last Sunday in Cambridge, MA. I'm so happy for my friends. I'm also glad for their timing, because in years past, I may not have been able to make either of the two trips.

I have more to say, probably lots more, but it will have to wait for another time. Stay tuned. . .