All the employees are back today, because kids start school next Tuesday.  I have to work a few hours on Saturday, and then I’m back to only my salaried work for my day gig.  I’m kinda unclear on what my paycheck will be at the very end of this month, but in September, I start getting paid for my fall class.  It was an incredibly busy summer, but I didn’t make quite as much money as I was counting on–yesterday, I went to the grants office and got a timecard and chatted with our manager of the grant, which I hope leads to an impetus for his getting our stuff over to payroll.

My son had his first concert at the best venue in the world on Wednesday night.  I guess it just became an historical landmark too.  We had a wonderful time.  I also took him out to a locally owned and operated grill last night–because little boys need a sandwich from time to time–and we had incredible service and fare.  It was 15-minutes from the venue too, so it was also convenient.  I want to patronize it again when we go hiking, and have already picked a spot for our next family hike.  We actually hike every Saturday until mid-October, and then we start again in May.  There are ample hikes around our area, so we are very lucky.

I have to do some outdoor plumbing on Sunday, and I’m NOT excited.  I may do it on Saturday night.  We have gotten to the point that we want to learn all the home maintenance stuff on our own.  I get NO joy out of taking off a toilet or the like, but I can do it.  I’m glad that my partner is much more handy than I am, and she is willing to learn more about repairs and such too.  I remember that it took me an hour or so to assemble and put on the after market generic grass catch on my ancient mower about 7-years ago, so I mean it when I say that home repair stuff is really not my thing.

I love to cook, garden, and generally be outside.  I’m not a motor head or handy with things around the house.  I have done some drywall, cement work, and also some wooden trim and painting, but again, it’s not a drive or passion.  I think that part of the sentiment at least comes from the fact that when I made small mistakes with work that my Dad was always ready to kill me.  Or at least just physically threaten me. That certainly gives you a different tenor when you approach work around the house.

People ask me if I can turn off my work, and I’ve come to that my “work” brain doesn’t trip on unless someone really needs therapy.  Typically, because I have a super stable group of friends, and I have for many years, if someone new to my life (under 5-years of friendship) starts acting bizarre, I just disengage. I keep my intimate circle small.  I have grown ups in my life for friends, because I worked mostly with kids for the past 18-years, and also need energy to raise the one who I grew and birthed.