Where We Stand

So I haven't written much about our situation, because really, what do you say? Living in the Land of Economic Downturns is stressful and it sucks, and the best thing we've figured out to do is just soldier on. And so far, that's worked. We are raising a beautiful, happy, compassionate little girl, and growing a second one, and concentrating on the joy that they bring.

But the last few weeks have been hard. We've all been sick, particularly Jim and I, which makes always makes things more difficult. But Jim's been working towards a job that would be perfect for him, and that he'd be perfect for. It would even lets him use his physics background to a greater extent than he ever has before. The hiring process started in early October and was going great guns, everybody loved him, he was champing at the bit, and then things. just. ground. to. a. halt. while the VP reconsidered the position and his organization.

From the VP's perspective, I'm sure it looks as if he's doing the right thing, being responsible to his company, all that. From ours, it's as if he threw a giant brick wall in the middle of our freeway lane, and we keep crashing right into it. It's hard to see around it, hard to know where we go from here. Because it's the holidays again, and we've no other prospects, nothing new is going to break open before the New Year, and there's a baby waiting to be born.

But here's the ray of sunshine. The recruiter called Jim yesterday, and the VP wants to meet with Jim on Monday, to discuss salary histories among other things. So maybe, just maybe, things are going to start moving again. And I'm asking anyone who can to throw some energy behind that idea, because we need need need this job.

In the meantime, Gwen has rediscovered her gorilla puppet, who has morphed into Baby G'illa, and she brings him to her daddy several times a day, asking him to put his hand inside her baby "so he can play with his mama." He was more than a little disturbed when that play involved nursing her ape-baby. This morning was a little easier, because she just wanted Baby G'illa to brush his mama's hair.

There will be a Thanksgiving post soon, but here are a couple of shots to tide you over.

Gwennie and Adessa (her Dora-friend. Dunno what that is, exactly, but Adessa is it) at the pumpkin patch.

Up Up and Away!