It's been awhile!!

It's been awhile since I've been here. There's been a lot of reasons...I don't have anything really new to report, it's been way to hot to sit at the computer and with Billy home there has been lots of other things to do then the computer.

Still nothing new on the job front. He has had several meetings and talks with a company about him coming in and managing their shop for them. We(or I should say *I*) had hoped to hear something on Friday but nothing. They do want him to come back in on Monday to look over their network and work on a laptop for the owner. Maybe then they will make up their mind!! I think it would be a good situation for Billy. It's very similar to what he was doing at Color Production and they seemed really impressed with how well rounded of an employee he is. He did give him his references and they are excellent. I think the company is jut waiting to see if they really want to give up that much control and if they really need him. Rationally I know it's better that they all take their times but I can't help but be anxious.

Due to some careful money management and some odd jobs I've been doing for some of the Lodge members(I suspect the word has spread about Billy's lay off) we will just barely eek out our August house payment and keep the utilities going for another month. We've spoken to all our other creditors and most are being pretty decent. My one card though is having a computer call me on almost a daily basis. Even though I've spoken twice to a rep and explained the situation she did admit the calls will continue. It's super scary how much they say I "owe" them now with late fee's, over limit fee's etc. I swear I will never, ever use my CC again, EVER in my life!! It's been a costly lesson but one I have learned....And then some.

Yesterday I GTG with a few of the Michigan Stitchers. Misty and Brat couldn't make it. Carmen and her mom thought about coming from Canada but had to babysat at the last minute so it was just 4 of us, Ruth, Shannon, Delphine and I. Delphine was kind enough to open her apartment to us. We did a potluck kind of lunch/dinner and had lots of goodies to snack on(cookies, chocolate cake, chips).

I also got to cuddle her newest addition, a new kitty named Jelly. Well, actually he's not "new", he's 9, but belonged to her roommates sister. They got a puppy and Jelly and the dog did not get along. They took him in and he is in heaven there. He's such a sweet kitty that took a liking to me. He just snuggled on my chest most of the day. It was nice and much needed stress reducer.

We all brought something to stitch on but most of the day was really spent chatting and laughing and eating...As usual!! I did work some more on Christmas Flourishes which has been severely neglected lately. It was heavenly to sit in her nicely air conditioned apartment and not sweat while I stitched.

The day was made even nicer by me taking the "long" way to her house. I skipped the expressway and took surface roads there and most of the way back. I brought a couple of my favorite Jason concerts, cranked up the music and enjoyed some much needed solitude. As much as I love have Billy home, I do miss having time to myself.

Billy is doing great with his forced "vacation". Much better than I thought he would. He looks so rested and he's in such a good mood. It reminded me of the guy I fell in love and married. He's joking and happy and being so good with the kids. Every time I feel worried or anxious I just remind myself how desperately Billy needed this down time. He's also shared a few stories of what it was like at his last job. It was really horrid and he is not one bit sorry to no longer be there.

We've also been spending a lot of time with our friend Mary. She has taken me and the boys to the pool several times in the last few weeks. I've developed a very nice tan and have been enjoying swimming. I forgot how much I liked to do it!! The boys have had a blast as well. Last week we were there literally all day and the boys barely left the pool. 10 minutes out of every hour they have an "adult" only swim(mainly to give the life guards a rest I think) and that is the only time they got out. The chorline(sp) from the pool has dulled the colors of both their suits. I swear I thought it would take days for their hands/feet to become un-pruned. I've been trying to teach them to swim or to float but they just would rather splash around. I discovered that the pool has swim lessons for non-residents so next year I'm going to sign them both up.

We've also been just trying to survive this heat wave we've been having in Michigan. I hate to complain because I know it's been hotter elsewhere but it's just downright nasty. We've had several days in the 90's or near 90. Factor in the humidity and well, I feel like I'm about to melt into a puddle. I've been trying to do my cleaning and stuff early because once noon or so rolls around it's just too hot to move. We've broken down twice and turned on our a/c, mainly to just dispel the humidity in the house. One day it was as hot/humid in the basement which is rare for our house. The kids haven't minded too much though because we've relaxed the rules regarding TV/computer time. It's been too hot to send them out in the afternoon so we've been letting them stay in during the hottest parts of the day. The kids have started to developed an appreciation for old movies. Last weekend we watched a bunch of Laurel and Hardy movies, on Monday it was Red Skelton with some Abbot and Costello right before bed. This morning we all watched Cary Grant in "Mr. Blanding Builds his Dream Home".

I thought we might get some relief today weather wise because when we woke up it was rainy and cool. It rained for 3 hours and then the sun came out...All I can say is UGH!!!!

All of our schedules are completely out of whack. We keep going to bed later and later and sleeping later and later. I've been feeling out of sorts because of it. I'm so use to "early to bed, early to rise" and it's weird trying to get used to a new schedule. This morning I forced myself out of bed as soon as I woke up. I needed to get the laundry done and I wanted it done early. I was up by 6:30am and I have to say once I got moving I actually felt better and more energentic then the mornings when I haven't gotten up until 8am or so.

Next week looks to be more of the same ole same ole. I am looking forward to the arrival of my Mr. A-Z. Some on his fan board that paid the $12 express shipping have already received it, even though it's not hitting stores until Tuesday. Mine was shipped out on the 19th so I hope to have it mid-week. I'm anxious to hear it though I have to say I haven't read a single good review of it yet. Some have highlighted a couple of songs(one I've heard live and loved, one I've yet to hear)as winners but most places have given him a C rating(or the equivalent). Maxim magazine was particularly harsh...But what do they know but half naked women. Still it makes me nervous. I want it to be a hit, not a huge hit, because like I've said before I like having him as my little "secret".

He's gotten a lot of press with lots of articles in big magazines, and he's also in this week's Best Buy ad. Next Saturday he will be on the weekend Today show along with a few other TV appearances(conan and kimmel but I forget the exact dates). He posted a recent journal entry where he talked about rehearsing for the upcoming "exploitation". I sometime sense he doesn't want to be a HUGE mega-star either. I think he would be happy to just plug along the country, playing what he wants, the way he wants. I think he realizes a certain amount of "selling out" is required.

I'm also perplexed when I read some of the critics who talk about him lacking substance and one guy chided him for using too many words. It's better to just incessantly repeat the same phrase over and over and over?Or better yet sample someone else's music? Or lip synch to a song someone else wrote? I love that Jason writes from his heart and I love his use of words and phrases. I *like* that you aren't always sure *exactly* what he's talking about but hey, I'm not his target audience.

But I will admit to being concerned about the album. I really don't like the single "Wordplay", I think it's too poppy, too cocky and most annoying, but it does stick in the head. Even Jason sounded surprised that the record company went for it. He said he wrote it as a whim, a spoof on having to write a single for the album and the company liked it.

A couple of songs I loved live have been changed around for the album. One had a really cool hall and oaths kind of r/b vibe baseline that seems to be missing in the little 30 second preview they had on his website(they had 30 second clips of each song, one per week, along with a little blurb from Jason on the song, either where/how it was written etc). There are also a couple of songs he did on his tour last year that I didn't like that are on the album. Unless they improved them greatly I know there are at least two songs I won't like. He also has another two songs that he did on the tour and in several other venues since then that didn't make it(one you did get as a free download when you pre-ordered the ablum)

The one good thing I can say from the preview clips they had on his site over the last few weeks was his voice sounds awesome. Not that he has ever sounded bad but his voice sounds more mature and richer and fuller. I'm looking forward to hearing more of that. He has also started doing some super yummy pictures too. He is one hot geek!!

Still I will have to wait and hear it for myself. I'm purposely avoiding all the "fan" reviews of the songs so I can form my own opinions. Ok, I guess that is enough Jason gushing for now!!

Hopefully I will be back here about this time tomorrow with super good news on the job front!! I'm not sure how much more I can take.....