optimisticYesterday was Walpurgis Eve and we celebrated, as we usually do, with our friends Mats & Annelott at a bonfire held in their overgrown back acre, with several other couples and 3 dogs, one a new puppy, much to my children's (and my) delight. Mats & Annelott's previous dog, Zazz, died suddenly of an apparent stroke last year and they have just acquired the most darling puppy. She's a 9-week-old black & gold German Hovawart and her name is Tizzla. The kids couldn't keep away from her, and I don't blame them: she was SO darling. We immediately offered our services as excellent dogsitters. This isn't her, but it could be her twin.
We didn't get home until long after midnight and I slept in like a fiend this morning. Woke up somewhere around 8:30 and promptly fell back asleep. My family's habit of shutting my bedroom door and being quiet in the rest of the house on weekend mornings is a habit I think ALL mothers should encourage their families to practice.
I've had rather a dilemma the last week at work. See, my boss told us that he is reorganizing our department and we will be getting a manager between him and the 4 of us who are currently in our group. I know that several people at work are surprised that I'm not applying for the position and I had more than one person tell me that I would do a good job at it. But there were several factors that decided me...even if it is probably the only way I could get a substantial hike in pay these days...the thing is I am not particularly interested in moving up the corporate ladder. I LIKE what I do. In fact, I love it. I have found what I want to do for a living and I honestly don't want to make a change that would gradually but definitely pull me away from it. In addition, I am not really gung-ho to have personnel responsibilities, to manage people or to have to deal with a budget.
I have rather mixed feelings about all this, because part of me definitely feels that I SHOULD be applying for this job and that it is really the only logical next step for a job like mine. But I'm really sure that I wouldn't, ultimately, be happy there. I have no desire to be the boss. I'm good at what I do and what I really want to do is get better at it, not move above it. Does that make sense?
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In other news that really makes me happy, Christina has reached her funding goal. A huge, heartfelt thanks to any of my friends and readers who have pledged to help her book become reality. Thank you from me! (and PS, you can still pledge :)
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I did 4 loads of laundry today and as I followed Martin into his room to kiss him goodnight just now, we had the following conversation:
Liz: *pointing at the jeans Martin is holding* Those should have gone in the wash today, Martin.
Martin: Yeah, yeah.
Liz: You DO have more than one pair of pants, regardless of whether or not you like any of them.
Martin: *sounding astounded* Can you read minds??
Liz: Of course, I can. I'm a mother.
Martin: Riiight. What am I thinking right now?
Liz: That I'm full of shit.
Martin: *mouth drops open, gapes at me*
Liz: *giggles madly*
