Crazy Week

Oh, it's been a crazy, crazy week. I usually prefer to post according to topic, what's hot for us that day or few days, but I am so far behind, this posting will relate to the week at large and I will try to use subtitles to break it up.

Work. You've heard on the news that journalism at large is struggling. Several large papers reduced to 5 or even 3 days off, and laid off many staff.
Our little town paper is no different. It relies on wire service for national and international news, and focuses on what no one else can replicate-- local news of our small town. Staff have been advised they have to take 5 days off between now and June -- with no pay. With such a small staff, it will be even harder for the editors to get the paper out. Freelancers like me have capitalized on the short staffing situation until now, stepping in to cover the empty spots. Now we are in the second phase -- cutting back freelancers. My food page is over, for now. I am focusing on education, and writing maybe 5 or so articles a month.
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Little One. All-county band was this week, and she played like a trouper, even though her band Director has had her solely playing the baritone sax for the past 4 months. She qualified for All-County on her flute, and had to play flute Tuesday night. He even told her, "This is all my fault." She practiced a bit and I daresay she lip-synched the rest. But she made it through, 4th chair of 16 flautists.
Her confirmation ceremony is this coming Sunday, and we are having a "do" mostly for family that afternoon. The church had a lovely banquet for the confirmands Saturday night and each one read his or her statement of faith. One of the boys has Down's Syndrome and his dad helped him read his statement. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. All the girls wore new dresses and were so happy. The boys wore suit and tie and looked miserable -- until they had free time and the girls gave them attention. Then they seemed to brighten up.
Youth Sunday was yesterday and all the high school and middle school kids did the whole church service -- sermon, music, prayers, all of it. Well, adults accompanied them but the kids sang. It was amazing. LO has been discovering her voice this year and is, well, she has become quite good. A new choir director has taught them how to harmonize and she is loving it. She had two gfs visit Sunday evening and they sang for hours.
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DH. We had thought electricity was recession-proof, but it seems demand is down what with all the store closures and industry cutbacks. Thankfully his unit did not lay anyone off, but sent them out to other plants with higher demands. This means DH is driving about an hour each way, now, for a while. The good side is, he is off weekends for now. And, he is day-shift only, so we can have family dinners. Yay.
Some of you may know he has suffered with plantar fasciitis since October, when he was running an hour at a go. He has been to doctors and doctors and doctors and has suffered a great deal of pain. Finally a friend told us of someone who had gone to Nearby Town where you put your foot on a computer thing and it tells you which over-the-counter insert you need for your feet. DH called the person and went to the place and amazing! after hundreds of dollars in medical fees, he is seeing relief from a pair of $50 orthotics. Yay.
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Me. I had a terrible cold last week and finally spent a day at home, lying around to try and beat it. I am still all snoggy but feeling much better. At least I can climb the stairs without getting dizzy! It was terrible timing with Planning Board, All-County Band, progressive women's group and a host of other things.
The novel is coming along well. My class ended last Wednesday and we were all sad to say goodbye. It seems if you share your writing with someone, you feel quite intimate. I will not miss the drive -- an hour each way -- but the class was wonderful and I learned so, so much.
This week is crazy as I am heading up the neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday and hosting folks for a luncheon on Sunday, following LO's Confirmation. We're talking major cleaning, folks, and it's crazy.
I went to a nearby bakery with an awesome reputation to order a cake for the luncheon. Chose a lovely "Mad Hatter" cake with tons of fondant icing. One hitch: it came to $400. My co-host (we are having it here and sharing responsibility) looked at me with wide eyes and asked, "Did you buy it?" I had to laugh as I said, "No, I would not do that without talking to you first. I found it a bit steep."
DD. Started a new job last Monday and is happy. She is a mechanic at a local auto shop. Her boss is a Christian and a former Army guy. She trained as a diesel mechanic in the Army and wanted to learn internal-combustion, and he gave her this opportunity.
This allows me to pick up LB from school every day and help her with her schoolwork. DD arrives at 5:30, covered in grease from head to foot. She seems quite happy and fulfilled. We are so thankful she found work, spesh in this economy.

It's Reality season and our family is absorbed in Idol, Amazing Race and The Celebrity Apprentice. Saturday we did not even turn on the TV and it was so refreshing. It's all good. :)