Friday!

Dear Friends and Family,

It's Friday! Oh, I'm so glad!

Lots of random things that need to get done today, but there's no beating Friday. I have my list highlighted. And, I've got my fingers crossed that I get through it.

I'm also excited because P and I are starting what is hopefully a new tradition going forward. We're going to cook dinner together tonight. We'll come home after school and plan the menu. Then, we'll go shopping. And, after a little bit of play time, we're going to cook dinner. I'm curious what she comes up with for the menu.

This all started when P asked why I only "cook" using the microwave and the toaster oven. And, it's true, I tend to heat up leftovers rather than cook a new meal because our fridge is usually full of leftovers. But, I want her to learn to cook, on a stove, with fresh ingredients. So, tonight we'll make dinner together.


Cheers!
mouse

Free Day

Dear Friends and Family,

P's back in school. And, my one employee is on vacation. So, I have a free day all to myself. Glorious free time.

I'm going to try and be productive this morning. So far, I figured out how to pay my business credit card from my business bank account. And, I got laundry started.

Now, I can either write two emails soliciting clients or I can tackle 2013 taxes. I think I'll tackle the taxes.


Cheers!
mouse

And We Stayed In

Dear Friends and Family,

I gave P the option of going out and she declined, opting to stay home and enjoy the day with moms.

We:

1. woke up
2. got dressed
3. ate breakfast
4. brushed teeth with new toothbrush
5. put away laundry
6. started our science experiment
7. ate lunch
8. cleared a bookcase for P
9. finished our sheets
10. played a game of LIFE
11. napped
12. ate dinner
13. made cookie dough

It was a fun day. My only twinge of guilt is I fell asleep before P during nap. I'm not sure if she was bored or lonely or sad or just quiet in that period before she fell asleep.

In the grand scheme of things, it's a minor thing. I just hope she enjoyed the day as much as I did.


Cheers!
mouse

01.27.14: Polar Vortex II

Dear Friends and Family,

Any weekend I get to nap is a good weekend. By that definition it was a good weekend. And, now we're headed into ANOTHER cold spell. This winter has been one mother of a winter. You know it's cold when you start looking forward to 20 degree weather. Yep. It's been that kind of a winter.

Saturday, we went to school. We practiced dribbling at home. P went to the library and shopping with Mr. mouse. I napped. Sunday, we went to church. We dribbled some more. P's gotten quite good. P napped. P had a play date.

P's school got cancelled today so I've got some time with P today. I'm looking forward to it. We may go shopping. We may go to a play area. We may have pajama day. We'll see.

For now, I'm just relaxing while P sleeps.


Cheers!
mouse

Long Day at the Office

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm still in catch up mode from winter break. So, I'm headed into the office today for a boatload of hours, hopefully. Then, it's off to Mom's night. Should be good. And, on a plus note, we're not over scheduled for the weekend.


Cheers!
mouse

Time to Make the Donuts

Dear Friends and Family,

Things that needed to happen yesterday didn't happen. P didn't have her bath last night. And, I didn't get an invoice out that I needed to get out. But, the sun will still rise today and hopefully we will make a little more progress today than we did yesterday.

I've got a list of things for new work. But, for now, I need to jump in the shower and get ready to face the day.


Cheers!
mouse

01.21.14: Party, Check

Dear Friends and Family,

We had a long weekend compliments of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. And, as usual, we used it to host our annual New Year's party. This year's party was on the smaller side, which is nice, because I have a decent shot at talking to my guests. When we used to have 50+ people, I used to throw in the towel and assume the guests could entertain themselves. I was, literally, the door, coat, shoes, process person.

I need to wrap my head around today. I've got work. I've got yearbook follow-up. If I can make it through emails, that'll be an absolute win. The only complication in all of this is that I've got parent duty tonight. Mr. mouse is nearing a deadline at work so he'll be bringing work home all week. So, in addition to work, yearbook follow-up and emails, I have dinner, bath, and getting P to bed tonight.

Feeling overwhelmed. Time to breathe and remember that tomorrow is another day.


Cheers!
mouse

Friday with a Hiccup

Dear Friends and Family,

Well. It's Friday and so far there are no bodies to report this week. Phew.

I got most everything done. And, the things that didn't get done didn't results in any harm to anybody. I'll consider that a raging success.

Today, P has a play date at 10. Before the play date, we need to make ice cream and bathe P because she was too tired for a bath last night. After the play date, we have party prep for tomorrow. I desperately need a manicure, but that'll just have to wait. It's a ticking time bomb so I've got my fingers crossed I make it until whenever I have the time to go get them done.

The hiccup? A 30 minute conference call today for old work scheduled at the last minute. I'm tempted to skip it. I really am. I just may. We'll see.


Cheers!
mouse

Three Down, Two to Go

Dear Friends and Family,

I made it through the day yesterday.

Today is a calmer, more rational day. (famous last words) I've got work. I've got dance. I've got time with P. I've got an eyebrow appointment. I've got time to revisit my to do list.

I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.


Cheers!
mouse

Hump Day

Dear Friends and Family,

I'll be honest. I'm a little overwhelmed.

Today, I have time to work on my new idea. I have a doctor's appointment. I have the afternoon with P which is the highlight of my day. I have a meeting with some parents to work on P's yearbook. Then, I get a little time with Mr. mouse and P and then I need to work on old work for about two hours.

I'll be honest. I'm thinking about leaving old work again. It's just plain stupid. I went in yesterday and my work exploded. All of a sudden everyone cares. This would be awesome if I still worked there and cared. But, given that I'm a part-time employee looking to start my own business, it's not awesome. Now, it just feels like a lot of work when I've got a lot more interested stuff to focus on.

Ask me why I'm there? I'll be honest. It's part mercenary, it's part prostitution, both of which are against my religion. In other words, it's for the money. I'm selling my time for money. There's little emotional fulfillment and what emotional fulfillment there is is derived from friendships, not from work.

It'll all come to a crux in the summer because I'll want to spend more time with P. Something will have to budge. But, that's the summer. I just need to get through today.


Cheers!
mouse

01.13.14: Over-Scheduled

Dear Friends and Family,

We had a lot going on this weekend.

Saturday, P started her new class. Then, we got mail, ate lunch, and went to a birthday party. P napped on the car ride home and we had friends over for dinner.

Sunday, I went to church with a friend, then we had a play date while Mr. mouse had lunch with a friend. P napped when she got home. And, we had a second play date that evening.

We were definitely over-scheduled.

I'd say this week looks better, but it doesn't. Tomorrow night I have a meeting with a prospective client. Wednesday night I'm meeting with a group about P's yearbook. And, Friday, P's off from school and we have a play date. Sooner or later I will learn not to do this to myself.

Oh, and I have a doctor's appointment on Wednesday. Sigh.

And, I still need to do the prelim layout for the yearbook. I don't even want to think about it. Perhaps this is one of those weeks that I take one day at a time.

Sigh.


Cheers!
mouse

Top "3"

Dear Friends and Family,

Seems like a good moment for a new Top 3.

I'm excited to say, I have a new one. My idea. I'm ready to spend the time now on it. It's real and I feel like I have this year to either prove it works or understand why it doesn't. So, I'm motivated to make it a top 3.

I think this one was on my last list. If not, I'll add it to my list now - spending time with family. P's going to be five soon. And, in the imminent future she's not going to want to play with Mr. mouse and me. She's not doing to want to read with us. She's going to be even more independent than she is now. I'd like to live in the moment and savor the time with her.

Not sure what my last top 3 is. Perhaps with the introduction of a big new one, I should moderate myself and keep to only two.


Cheers!
mouse

New Day

Dear Friends and Family,

My life is just a little more organized. The house is just a little more clean. Why? Because I hired a personal assistant! I figured if I need time to focus on my new business, I would need help to keep my current life from becoming a train wreck.

We spent about two hours together yesterday. My assistant put away my laundry. She cleared through my mail. She sorted through a pile of papers on my kitchen counter. And, she took down half of my Christmas lights. Progress. And, the best part is, I think she'll be able to do even more once she gets used to the house and where everything goes.

So excited.


Cheers!
mouse

Big Bang

Dear Friends and Family,

After two years of dabbling in entrepreneurship, today's the big day. My first employee starts today. She starts at 9 this morning in 40 minutes. So, I need to go shower soon.

Needless to say, I'm super excited. I'm also a little exhausted. Mr. mouse and I were up until three in the morning talking about summer camp. But, now, we have a strategy and we're in frenzied application mode. We submitted the first of the applications this morning. We log on tomorrow morning for the second of three. Wish us luck.

Back to today. I'm super excited. We have five hours to knock out things like W4 and W9 forms, talking about establishing a cell phone policy and a dress code, and actually doing two hours of work. Hooray!


Cheers!
mouse

Mouse Takes Time Off

Dear Friends and Family,

So, what'd we do with 17 days off? That's an excellent question.

• Days 1 and 2: we spent the weekend at home doing nothing of note outside of the normal weekend routine
• Day 3: we opened Christmas presents, as a family, and took lots of photos with our tree
• Day 4: we spent with Mr. mouse's folks
• Day 5: we spent with my family
• Day 6: we spent with my cousins who are a riot
• Day 7: we spent with my mom's friends who are in love with P
• Days 8 and 9: we tackled all of the to dos that had built up over the week
• Day 10: we cleaned house and packed
• Day 11: we spent in San Francisco due to a cancelled flight
• Days 12, 13, 14, and 15: we frolicked in sunny Hawaii
• Day 16: we went sledding
• Day 17: I spent the day with P, in the evening, exhausted, she told me she enjoyed none of it
• Day 18: an unplanned day, Mr. mouse is staying home with P

And, that, my friends is where 17 days went. I'm glad I've got the flexibility to spend that much time with P. She's going to be four and a half for only another month or so. Then, she's almost five.

I enjoyed the day, yesterday, until about 5. Then, P got tired and I got tired of repeating myself. Then, by 5:45, Mr. mouse came home and rescued me. I napped for an hour while they ate dinner together.


Cheers!
mouse

01.06.14: Happy New Year

Dear Friends and Family,

We're back. It's day 17 of Winter Break for P. She hasn't had 17 consecutive days off from school since she was 12 weeks old, when she started daycare and I went back to work. We have today and tomorrow off before P returns to school and I kick off my new work.

Fortunately or unfortunately, it's too cold to contemplate doing anything outdoors today. Otherwise, I'd be tempted to take P sledding. And, that just seems like a lot to tackle on our day off. We went yesterday. P went down the hill seven times before calling it quits. Her cheeks were pink. She was covered in a layer of snow and ice. Her hands were cold. And, she had little icicles forming on her eyelashes. Today is even colder. So, we'll stay home.

What to do with the day? Not sure. I'll let P sleep in. Then we'll figure it out from there. I'll write more tomorrow. Today, I feel like I need to jump into the shower and get the day started.


Cheers!
mouse