I couldn’t bring you anything back from my trip, so you’ll have to accept cyber-goodies that I found right before I went.

http://www.GiveawayOfTheDay.com has commercial software for free! Something new every day. It’s not time-limited or in any other way crippled… it’s just free! Only catch is that you have to download and activate whatever it is within that day.

And then today I found a secondary site- http://game.GiveawayOfTheDay.com Same thing!

My guess is that the publishers are trying to get your attention, and get you to buy their other products. Nothing wrong with that! Gotta appreciate a company who believes in their products so much that they’ll give you a sample for free.

Then again, so do crack dealers.

Oh well, too late now. I’m already addicted

It’s just 2 more days until my first vacation ever!!!

Of course, my DH will not take kindly to that statement because for our honeymoon we drove through Indiana and Kentucky, then through Tennessee, West Virginia and Ohio on our way back to Michigan. But other than stopping at “budget” hotels for the night, that’s all we did. Of course, it was a spur-of-the-moment thing so a little impossible to plan something, or find it open on the way through town (unfortunately Sea World was closed at the beginning of December lol). So while it was nice to see mountains up close and personal, and even drive through one via a tunnel, it just can’t count as “going” anywhere. You tell anyone “Yes, I’ve been to (insert state name here)” and the first thing they ask is “What did you see/do?” or “Did you see/do (insert activity here)?”. “Uh, no. We just drove through and observed from the interstate.” And then they look at you funny.

So with all due respect, and as nice as it was to take an impromptu road trip and ‘get away’ for a couple days, this will be my first vacation. Yep. I’m losing my vacation virginity after all these years. It’s a trip with about 6 families from our congregation. And apparently someone decided to sponsor my clan!!! Umm, thank you!

So in approximately 48 hours I will be several hours north, in the town of Traverse City. I’ve heard of it lots and apparently it’s a pretty touristy-friendly place with lots to do, so I’m excited. I hear they’ve got indoor, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf! Now if that doesn’t sound fun, I don’t know what does LOL. I wonder if I could convince anyone to go out for a couple of margaritas first. That could only make it even more fun lol. I looked up a site online tonight for visitors and found they’ve also got horse-drawn sleigh rides! Uh, can you say even cooler than glow-in-the-dark putt-putt golf after a few margaritas??? Methinks me better find me scarf and gloves. And the kids’ too, for that matter.

We will be there all weekend and through xmas. Coming back on Tuesday (aka the 26th, aka the day after xmas). I’m glad to be away. I already came to hate xmas and dreaded being forced to celebrate it because of DH’s parents. And then even more-so when I left DH. And while I’d go on the trip anyway, it is a bonus that it gets me out of the pagan-with-a-Christian-sticker-on-it holiday.

In 24 hours I will be at a “holiday” party for DH’s office. And my office too, now, I guess. Though I’ve got no employees. I’m just not used to calling it “my” office yet. But we’re having a party. It was originally called a “Christmas” party because the receptionist organized it, but it was magically changed when I threatened to DH that I wouldn’t come to an xmas party.

In about 1 hour I will be doing laundry to get ready for this weekend. My van is in the shop now since last night, so DH will be picking us up to take it all back to the house. While there I’ll do a haircut for someone else in the office (a friend that I met DH through) and make a few bucks. Woo-hoo!

I went and worked at the office for a while yesterday (Tuesday), after which DH helped me drop off the van by giving me a ride home. Though he did take me out to dinner first. It was pretty perfect. Have I mentioned he’s done, like, a complete ‘180′? We’re kind-of working on things… very slowly. It takes a while for me to trust in the first place. Add 12 years of baggage into the mix and now I’ve got a 6 month lease. So plenty of time to wait-and-see. Or if still not enough the lease can always be renewed, eh? But so far so good, it seems.

Day before yesterday (Monday) I started officially working out of the office. My computer is at home now, but there’s one for me to use there. This was because I had to quit my job at the HFS. They sucked!!! They didn’t stick to anything that they promised, and on top of that I was going through hell just to stick to my promise to them! Basically showing up and working hard, which I did. Which doesn’t sound like much, but when my Nanny disappeared on me the weekend before I was to start… it really was a lot! I called, she wouldn’t answer. I left mesages, she wouldn’t return the calls. By Sunday night, I resolved myself to the fact that she was deserting me without notice, and not just “away for the weekend” or something. So between Sunday night and Monday, I was sweating trying to find someone. Everyone I know was busy. Finally I ended up taking the kids to a loose acquaintance’s house, 25 minutes away. So I ended up driving more than 1.5 hours every day, for 2 days, for a job that is 1 minute from my house. Argh. For people who weren’t following through on their commitments to me. (And no, there was no confusion. It was addressed in both interviews I had, including with the store manager.) Now the state is giving me shit about it, threatening to give me a “penalty” to my “benefits” if it’s found I quit a job without good cause. Which I wouldn’t care about… I was put into an extremely unreasonable situation and had great cause for leaving. But seeing as how they were already dishonest… who even knows how this will turn out. And I was told that AFTER I had already explained the whole situation to the caseworker. I’m so ticked. They better be honest. I sure to God hope they don’t think I’m gonna lie down and take it just because I’m a Christian. Jesus wasn’t no sucker, and they sure better not expect I’ll be!

Well, anyway, I did find a new nanny at the end of last week. Thanking God for that! We’ll just have like a co-pay of less than $1.50/hr for all 3 kids. No having to get them up in the morning really early, no missing out on field trips because of a daycare situation, no exposure to other kids’ sicknesses (or other problems), no fussing over that my kids “have” to have all their shots to be enrolled (because a provider is not aware of or understanding of exemptions), and the list goes on.

DH is still coming to church every week and liking it a lot. He also went out on a double-date with my friend and her DH last Saturday night. This is big news because he never, ever, wanted anything to do with my people (friends or family) before. And then he didn’t even bat an eye when I was informed about 1 hour before we were to meet that the DH’s brother and wife were coming along too, so a triple-date! Turns out that was for the best. The two brothers were cutting up and it really helped DH to join in rather than feel pressure to get to know someone, I think. We all had a great time, including DH. He officially invited my friend and her DH to the Holiday Party tomorrow. It’s short notice, but hopefully they’ll make it.

I think I’ve mentioned how much we owe his dad, monetarily and ethically… and how important xmas is to his dad. What I may not have mentioned is that DH’s brother re-upped for military service and got stationed in Kentucky. But since they just moved a couple months ago after short notice, and it was their year to host xmas, they have rented a house up here in town to follow through on that and spend it with the family. WELL……

DH is blowing them ALL off! He would rather be with me and my people, and is even coming around about the whole xmas thing. And making little statements here and there about being Jewish (within the context of celebrating Channakuh vs. xmas at least, though there might be more that I’m just not recalling right now). Also, his brother will already be gone by the time we get back. So it all ads up to a really huge thing on at least a few levels. Still, I wasn’t sure whether I was comfortable with him coming or not from an emotional standpoint. But if we’re at the stage of giving him time to prove himself, I guess I can’t really say “no, you can’t come” and deny him the chance to prove himself! So I made the decision to have him come too. So far I’m still glad for that decision. LOL. I’m just kidding. I don’t anticipate him disappointing me or giving me a hard time about anything.

Well, I guess I’ve taken way to long to write this out. He should be calling any minute to say he’s on his way and I still haven’t had a shower yet. Which I wouldn’t care about, except I already “didn’t care” yesterday, IYKWIM. So while I don’t plan to ‘get pretty’ or anything, I should probably at least not stink. Especially if I’m gonna be all up-close-and-personal with our friend while I’m cutting his hair LOL.

Gotta go! Will post again when I get back!

So I’m officially back online, in my own apartment after a stint at the local Safe Shelter. The apartment is small but nice enough. And it has a washer/dryer hookup, because the last thing I wanted to do after working all day is to take three kids and a bunch of laundry down an (outside) flight of stairs, drag it all out somewhere else, drag it around inside the laundromat, then drag it back out and up the flight of stairs. And then still not be done, having to put it away, hang it up, etc.

I don’t think so!

So I got one with W/D hookup. The only one cheaper I found was $30 cheaper but did not have a hookup. I’m sure I’d spend at least $30 in quarters at the laundromat anyway, so already a bonus. Plus this one is closer to town and also brighter inside. There were several I looked at which were $35 more than the one I’m in, but none of them seemed quite as nice still, even the one that was slightly bigger (a whole separate utility room off a separate kitchen instead of inside of a bedroom closet and a kitchen that is open to the living room). I’m happy with my choice. Maybe I’ll take pics when I get around to it.

I moved in on Sunday and went back for the TV and dishes and stuff on Tuesday. Have been trying to settle in and take care of everything else that needs taking care of, and my to do list is still lots longer than my done list. But so it goes. I was happy when my cable and internet were to be hooked up on Wednesday, but then there was an outage. Blah. So two very long days later it got done yesterday. Not that I was able to do anything with it then, but at least it’s here. I can download my mail and know that there are no fires that are going untended.

Monday I start a part-time job which will provide a little bit of regular income while building up the web design business. I still don’t have a daycare. UGH. I talked to someone about watching them here, she says she usually gets $10/hr for nannying. Uh… there’s no way I could *possibly* do more than $8, and that’s with the state covering $6 and DH picking up the other $2. She said she’d call back that night… that was Thursday night. It’s now Saturday afternoon. I was too scared to call her yesterday, but I’ll have to call her today sometime. I have to know how big of a mess I’m in here. Or more accurately- exactly what the mess is that I need to clean up.

Thursday I got an exciting surprise. There was a knock on my door and when I opened it the man flipped open his ID wallet and said “Federal Agent whatever-his-name-was. Is -whoever- here?” Nope, I just moved in on Sunday. And from what the electric company told me it sounds like this place had been empty for a while. But I gave the name and number of the landlord, and also directions to his office. They won’t be getting me for Obstruction of Justice! LOL I’m such a nark.

DH came to church for the second week in a row today. I overheard him telling someone he’d be there next week too. He’s made some major changes in the past couple weeks, and I have no doubt he’s sincere, but he’s been sincere before too. So I can only wonder how long it’s going to last. I’m hopeful that if he’s in it for the long haul that God will give me the ability to trust him again. At the same time, I’m trying to be careful not to slip into comfortability with him, and check my brain at the door again. And at the same time as all of that, I know God needs to be in control of it all and I’m worried about interfering in the process either way. But I guess I wouldn’t be so afraid of that if I were spending time in the word and just with Him in general: I’d be led by the Spirit more (and more easily) and those things would then not be an issue.

The kids have really missed watching their Saturday night show with him. We saw it over there last week while I was doing laundry or something, and now that the TV is here I invited him over so that they could still keep watching it together. It means a lot to them. So he’ll be coming over.

Well, Mr. Man (that would be X, pushing 2 now) just fell asleep for his nap, and I’m going to go do the same.

I’ve still got a heck of a lot to do, but as I said- I’m officially back online now so if you email me I should be able to get back to you sooner than later now.

Sorry it’s been so long, but I’ve got a good excuse this time. I’ve been homeless, jobless, and pretty-much helpless and useless (*snicker*). Seriously, though. I left my husband on November 16th (15 days ago) and really have been homeless and jobless. Got a job and an apartment today. Will move in on Sunday. I’m excited. Never lived alone before. DH is being a dream… now! Oh well. At least he’s not making this any harder than it has to be. So anyway, I’m officially back online, though not every day yet. Hopefully within the next couple weeks, when I can get settled into the apartment and cable (/internet) installed there. The job is part-time so I can still pursue web design in the mornings. Because I could make a lot more at that, and DH is being good about still sharing office space. It’ll get me off state aid a lot quicker and generally be better all around, so let’s hope things take off quickly!

Speaking of which, I’ve got to take off quickly too. I can’t say where I’m staying until after I’m moved into the apartment, but suffice it to say there’s a curfew. So I’ve got to scoot!

TTYS

After a long year of waiting, my web design venture is finally becoming a ‘real’ business.

I finally got my ad placed for the yellow pages. The Yellow Pages! I paid extra to have an ‘ad’ of sorts. Just a few lines (amounting to 1″) of text, in line with the rest of the listings, including bold text. I had wanted a couple parts of the bold text to also be red in color, but due to a mix-up in pricing that was quoted it was going to be several dollars more than we thought. Since I was already not-exactly-comfortable with the price we thought it was ($45/month), adding $15 was definitely out of the question. So we took $7 off instead, and I now have a $38 ad and I’m a good bit more comfortable. The new phone books should be delivered everywhere in about a month. I can’t wait!!

Whether I’ll be in the business section of the white pages is yet to be seen. There was a mess-up with my phone company, and by the time they got it worked out it was supposed to be too late. But then later the yellow pages people said they had the info. Soooo, it’s a great mystery whether my name will be in there, or DH’s old business, who I adopted the number from. But IMO the yellow pages are more important anyway, so I won’t sweat it if it’s not there. Though I’ll be really glad if it is! And I’m also listed in “Information” (when you call to get phone numbers).

I also took the liberty of creating a listing in Google’s business directory

After hanging onto it for a week, DH finally got my answering machine installed. Voice mail would have been much better, or even forwarding the calls to my Skype number, but because of technical issues that was not possible. So the answering machine came to the rescue, and just this morning I finally got the electronic guy off there and a real message on. I’ve got a sinus infection so my voice is funny. But I usually sound nasal anyway, so I’m not sure if this is better to leave, or if I should record something new when I’m feeling better lol. But it’s me!!

I also got a new version of Quickbooks. My old one was REALLY old (2003), and I started using it without knowing what I was doing at all. So not only was it hard to use, being that the interface was less-than-intuitive and given my absolute lack of knowledge about the program itself, I really needed a whole new fresh start anyway. So I’ve got everything set up there, and let me tell you- Quickbooks 2007 (Pro) is NICE!!! I also got a ‘Basic Training’ CD which helped me figure out what I hadn’t yet from previous experience, and just a couple days ago I found a free copy of QB for Dummies. It was for QB 2006, but not much has changed for the 2007 version so I look forward to digging back into that as time allows. Which it’s going to have to soon! But I’ve got all my invoices and statements and whatnot customized, and ‘products’ and a few clients put in, so I’ve got a good head start there.

One big thing I’ve really dropped the ball on is getting business cards! Yikes! I just can’t decide! I need them desperately, though. I have to get them ordered this week. Of course, I said that 3 weeks ago, but I really do. I’ve always gotten cards from Vista Print before, but then recently realized that they are a tad bit smaller than any other business cards. And I really did not want to ever pay prices that local guys charge, or any more than Vista, really, but I can’t have defective-looking cards. So I’m gonna have to bite the bullet and spend 4-5x as much. Branding and Identity is not something that a business can skimp on when that business is built around Branding and Identity. Bite the bullet, already, Jeannie. And envelopes, too. Need to get envelopes too.

And a sign for… well, for the sign. I might be forced to compromise there, in a way that I just don’t know if I can. Having it done by someone who neither me or my husband should be in contact anyway, because of… issues that don’t have anything to do with hard feelings, but… just extremely valid issues, IYKWIM. But I also don’t know that I’ll have a choice. Still trying to figure out options on that one. Money is in very short supply to get all these things done. Hopefully I’ll be surprised and get a couple projects quickly, even if they’re small, so that I can get all these things accomplished ethically. (Ethically = particularly the sign. I mean, not that there’d be anything illegal or anything going on, but just that it would require us to have further contact with someone who should be completely out of our lives.)

And then there’s the matter of actually acquiring space in the office. DH still hasn’t rearranged anything. Now he says we’ll have to go in there together and decide how things should be. Hmm. A stalling tactic? He hasn’t said anything about it since, let alone suggested a time to do so. Hmmmm…

Well, I’ve got tons and tons to do. Last weekend I got another bookcase, which really helped me to get things a little more organized… except I didn’t quite finish that project. And then during the week several more came up, and then this weekend more yet. My room has become a mess again, even though it was pretty close to done a week ago. So I should probably go get to work on that.

Thanks for reading!