ryenn's talent show

Ryenn had her talent show last week and she ROCKED. she did "mad world". i just had to giggle because my 8 yr old is singing such a sad but beautiful song. the instrumental version my brother made, while i thought was wonderful, she just couldn't keep in time with and the same happened with the "karaoke" version off itunes. so, that afternoon before the talent show as she cried out of frustration and fear of not being able to sing with the music i suggested she sing it acapella (sp?). and that she did. and my lovely talented daughter stays on key the whole time. the video is off izsak's phone so its not the greatest and he wasn't the most still. and he ended up having to delete something real quick to fit the whole song, so there's a pause and it resumes in the second video posted. enjoy!

on the eve of veteran's day

I'm feeling pretty bitter this particular veteran's day eve. the vet we're associated w/ is floudering so badly he's acting extremely out of character the last couple months and has caused turmoil and pain to his wife and children. but this is not the government's fault. it's his. he refuses counseling and drinks to quell the effects of his ptsd. its just easier.

and so here i am, separated from my husband while i desperately look for a job and am told today that even a temp agency isn't able to help me because i haven't worked in the last couple years. "what have you been up to since 2001 then?" and i told her. i was a stay at home mom who got a ba in history and wrote a children's book about ptsd based on my experiences. she was kind enough to suggest some other temp agencies that hire "entry level" clerical positions. it's just sooo frustrating and discouraging and so totally disheartening to the point of tears that the general public just DOESN'T UNDERSTAND the sacrifices made by the SPOUSE of a disabled vet. that when that spouse has to suddenly find herself a job, the fact that she went to school, raised two kids and was a part-time caregiver to a disabled vet doesn't matter. doesn't count as any sort of work. the vets and disabled vets have a nice little box they can check stating they are such things. but there is nothing for the SPOUSE of the disabled vet to check. that she hasn't just been sitting on her ass the last 8 years. there's no special treatment for the spouse. there SHOULD be. yes...i feel there should be! we make ample sacrifices that are completely taken for granted....

done venting for now. but still upset. maybe someday i'll figure out a way to change things.

halloween 2009

So, it was a pretty low-key halloween here...as a disclaimer, the photos were taken w/ cell phones...i thought the length-wise pic of izsak was in focus and megan (ryenn's best friend aiden's mom) has a new phone she's still figuring out, so some of her pics a bit blurry too.

izsak was a post-apocolyptic raider or something like that...that's why he's all dirty w/ dirt and blood. he was invited to go to a halloween party and trick or treating w/ a bunch of friends from school and that's what he did.

miss ryenn was a vampire and she was invited to go trick or treating w/ aiden (that's his little sister ava w/ them) and spend the night.

look at ava copying everything ryenn does. :)

ryenn wore my high-heeled black boots and to my astonishment they didn't seem to look too big on her and upon inspection w/ our feet together found that my big toe is only an inch longer than her's. for heaven's sake that girl has big feet. :)

anyways...the only kids to come to my door were the ones brought by izsak. very slow going on our dark street. so i just got me a couple movies (not scary ones) at blockbuster and enjoyed the time alone. :)

a bite

Received a letter yesterday from a subsidy of the Macmillian publishing company saying they'd like to see a copy of my book for consideration! its been sooo quiet on all the various book fronts i got going on i was feeling discouraged. and right now in my life, this little bit of encouragement is so appreciated! God's timing is perfect. :) and while i know they may decide not to publish it, at least a copy has been requested! so exciting!

sharing

Ah...finally got 3 rolls of film developed because i'm so old school and w/ my old school camera i scored some pretty cool pics when it decided to cooperate, so i'm sharing cause i'm proud. :) (izsak says i should take pics for natl geographic...ah. isn't he sweet?) ps--ryenn just held up the developed film and asked "what's this?" :)

mt pisgah

So. We went to Mt. Pisgah, which i don't think is really a mt. for a hike on sunday w/ our friends carl and michelle and their dogs dakotah and bixie (leo is not as well trained and due to lack of energy lately dealing w/ him and hiking would've been too much for me)

Izsak was given full reign of the camera at one point. just guess which pics are his...

Izsak wanted ryenn to pose like they're throwing spears, she had other ideas. :)

It was a gorgeous fall day and perfect for a hike. So glad we did it.

The following is a pic of ryenn in our bkyd....she has taken to this spot to just sit and look at the sky and feel the native clover underneath her. couldn't resist taking some pics of her one day.. enjoy this one. :)

google!

you can find adjusting w/ daddy website on google now! under my name, the title or "children's book about ptsd" (i'm the last site on the FIRST page!). woo hoo!!!