Allie's Random Life: A Busy, Busy Fall...

It seems like it's been forever since I've posted. Probably because it has been forever. I haven't forgotten, it's just been busy, busy, busy... or at least that is what it feels like..

Returning to school was a big deal and very exciting around our house... but left me with little to do. I could have thrown myself into my house and finally finished unpacking the boxes that are still in my garage from a year and a half ago... (does that mean I don't need that stuff anymore?) but truthfully, what fun is that? Besides, it's become apparent that the Good Fairy is not going to be dropping a basket full of $20 bills on our doorstep each month (naughty fairy!) so I needed to think about getting my lazy butt back to work. First I put together my resume.. Have you ever had to put together a resume from scratch? It's horrible and sort of stressful and definitely not fun at all... I have worked at the exact same desk for 15 years, but had numerous positions, more bosses than titles, and the company names take up at least half a sheet. I ended up just putting a disclaimer at the bottom that said... "Look, there was so much change I don't really remember it all so I might be making some of it up, but I can do most anything, just take my word for it." I think that might have been part of my problem in not finding work right away. Either that or the 12% unemployment rate in Oregon. I'm telling you, I answered every add I could find that didn't require flying an airplane or laying pavement (because I wouldn't like that job very much).. I wrote so many letters and e-mails I could probably compile a book of cover letter templates... "How to make one skill sound like ten", But then again, I'm still out of work, so probably nobody would buy it.. Oh, I did go on a few interviews.. met some nice people... but I think everyone can read between the line when you tell them your kid is being followed up by BOTH Transplant and Oncology.. I might as well wear a big flashing neon sign that says "I will call in sick... ALOT"... It's discouraging to say the least.. If someone see's my Good Fairy, could you tell her I've been looking for her? We need to talk.

And that explains why my blog time has been limited...

But.. I have decided to get a little creative and start my own business from home. I'm starting a pet sitting business... go ahead, laugh... Animals are big business here in Oregon, and pet sitting is big too.. I'm sort of excited about it and ready to really dig in and get my paws dirty.. you can check out what I've been doing at www.apurrfectpetservice.com. Thanks to my friends the Lee's and the Soran's for being the people I talk about when I say... "I know a lot of people who use pet sitters and they really like them..." Anyway... My hope is that it will be good and flexible and allow me to take Jesse sometimes and work as a family on the weekends.. we'll see what happens..

Jesse has been loving his golf clubs.. He is actually very interested in golf and wants to play all the time. He can hit balls and putt all day long at the driving range and he's still begging to get out on the course. I'm proud of him and excited that he really likes it, and I have to say surprised that he seems to be able to maintain his focus with it.. Of course, if we try to encourage him to hit the balls in the back yard, he's not interested.. he only likes $10 a bucket balls and flags to aim at... sounds like a real golfer, no? I'm sure the winter will put a damper on his practice, but we'll try to get some in once in a while..

On another note, my mother moved to town. She has been living in Pennsylvania for the past 20+ years. She decided it was time to pack up and move clear across the country. She misses Jesse and wanted to be close to family. She bought a townhouse here in Newberg and has been working feverishly to get it fixed up and looking good. She's done an amazing job, the place looks great and I think she's finally settled. The best part of the whole deal is that she brought a dog! Jesse has been lonely since Heidi moved and took her dog PJ, so Darcy makes Jesse very happy..

More recently, we have all been down with theH1N1 virus.. It's true. Swine Flue at the Fontenot's. I'm tellin' ya, it was miserable. I'm still feeling tired and cranky about it.. hopefully by the end of the weekend we will completely plague free. Since Jesse is in the "risk" group, I'll admit I've been a bit irrationally freaked out about the whole thing.. so, as soon as he started coughing and sporting a temp.. I called the doc right away. Of course my doctor got him right in, determined it was probably the flu and decided we needed to go to the hospital and get some blood work done and a dose of IV antibiotic's just to be safe. The hospital here in Newberg (which is not our normal hospital) was not interested in having a "N1H1" patient wandering their corridors. They required us to have a very special type of mask before entering the hospital... When the doctor said he didn't have that kind in his office, they agreed to meet us at the front door. Here's where it get's good.. When we arrived at the hospital and walked up to the front doors, THREE people met us... One to stop the flow of traffic out of the hospital, another to stop people from entering the hospital, and the third to help me get the (rather normal) mask on Jesse's face. Then, as if Jesse were Barack himself, all three suits, not nurses, escorted us through the hospital, using wide arms to direct people around us saying "please move to the other side of the hall"... Picture Jesse, with his pajama's and slippers, very messy hair, big green mask on his face, his mom, and THREE bodyguards all walking directly from the front door of the hospital to his room, without stopping once to check in or give them our name or anything... I was trying hard not to crack up... It was sort of funny. I expected the CDC, or the EPA, or at least the 10 o'clock news to be there when we left.. We've had some special treatment before, but never like that.. Everyone at the new hospital was very nice and attentive.. but wait, it get's better.. when we were done, they just said.. "Okay, bye, feel better"... no special escort out of the hospital.. we could have wandered around and checked out the gift shop and spread the swine flu all over the place and nobody would have notice or cared... I'm thinking the chief had gone home for the day by then... He was pretty sick for a couple of days, then he was fine and went back to school on Thursday and Friday... He's great now!!

Well... I've wasted enough time for sure.. It's been good to catch up. Halloween is coming, Jesse wants to be a shark.. a shark? okay, whatever. I'm spending the next few days looking for a great costume so he will be both cute and scary.. watch for pictures.

Happy Haunting to you all!!