Pass the Torch Tuesday

Kelly over at Pass the Torch started a meme to celebrate kids being good. I guess that's a positive way to look at things, so I thought I'd join in this week. Here are the -> guidelines <- if you want to join the meme.

I know of some kids that volunteer at the local animal shelter. They ride their bikes there throughout the summer and sometimes after school during the school year. They help the shelter staff care for the animals and give them attention. It's pretty cool.

I think the kids get as much out of the experience as the dogs do.

If you're participating, please leave your link in comments. Thanks.

Grumpy Smurf

If you haven't read my family's current state of madness, please read my posts about the move and the job change. You can start with yesterday's post, but most of the past month has been riddled with chaos

While treading water on a bicycle with a fruit basket on my head, I'm also contributing to the AW Blogger Chain. I've listed the chain in the sidebar, but it's probably not the right order, as it changes sometimes.

Gillian tagged me from her sweet post about birthday gifts, and the really thoughtful book she got for her mother.

Now, I'm supposed to build my post off of this, but all I can think about is all the birthdays I HAVEN'T given gifts for. I used to be Ms. Sappy, Phd with personalized poems and decoupaged photo clocks and surprise parties.

But that lady seriously flunked out.

Don't get me wrong, every holiday in my calendar gets hijacked by someone, so there's plenty of spending. And sure, I actually enjoy shopping for the people that live with me (even though it's usually the day before -- on eBay -- to be shipped within 48 hours.) But I'm pretty Bah Humbug about everything else.

I know the birthday month of most of my extended family members, but that's the extent of it. If I happen to see someone during their birthday month, the greeting might go something like this:

"Didn't you just have a birthday?"

"No, it's not 'til next week."

"Oh, well happy almost-birthday."

"Thanks?"

So now that we've established the fact that I'm a completely lame sibling, niece, aunt and cousin, I should let you know that I don't buy gifts for friends either. My rationale is that if I buy her a gift, she'll think she needs to buy me one. There's all the score-keeping, etc.

Cripes, I can't even remember to brush my hair, how could I ever keep track of what kind of gift Sally gave me last year. Or was that the year before and she skipped my last birthday? Or did Gertrude give me that? OMG - maybe they're trying to tell me to stop the cycle...

Forget it.

And I'm not sending one of those hand-made, stamp-it-up, origami-works-of-art thank you cards either. The verbal one from my honest lips is all you get.

Sorry, Grumpy Smurf has been edgy lately.

Simran is up next in the chain. She's a lovely lady who writes about Everything Indian. I'm sure she'll pull the chain back from my depths of snarkdom.

Here's every post in the chain:
Forbidden Snowflake
Fireflies in the Cloud
Mad Scientist Matt's Lair
Youth - Our Greatest Natural Resource - aka Pass the Torch
The Road Less Traveled
Jennifer Sando
Peregrinas
Flying Shoes
Southern Expressions
Organized Chaos
Kappa no He
Tiffany's Smorgasbord
Even in a Little Thing
Liv's Life
Everything Indian

AW Chain gifts snark

Options

A couple weeks ago I explained the madness of the process of my hubby's applying for and interviewing for a new job. We get all hyped up about an opportunity, check out the school, look at houses...and then he get's runner up.

Thanks for the pink ribbon.

Well, he got the trophy last time. Great job, nice area -- just "okay" schools -- but worth the move, because it's way better than what he's got. We stick a sign in our yard to try and sell our house, but at one month away from the start of school, still have no idea where we'll be living.

Then he gets the phone call we waited for a week ago. An interview for the job he really wanted where the schools are excellent.

OMG

Could this process be any slower-than-molasses-in-Siberia? Who calls to schedule an interview a week away? And he'll feel like a total heel if he backs out on the contract he just signed....but it would be sooooooo great. The options are making us sick.

Maybe we should just move into a fifth-wheel.

Oscar Mayer Wiener song

You HAVE to listen to this video of a little boy singing the Oscar Mayer wiener jingle over at Pass the Torch. It's hilarious!

What a hit!

He slugged it clear to the outfield, the crowd cheered and the team watched with hope.

Til an internal candidate caught the ball.

He's OUT!

Interview Day

This is a continuation of Pros and Cons.

He steps up to the plate, silk tie in place. He kicks his toe in the dirt and taps the bat on the plate.

He spits, nods to the pitcher, rests the bat on his shoulder...

and swings...

Weighing the pro's and con's

This is a continuation of Part 2 - the Move

This week our "should we move?" debate is in full-swing, as hubby's interview is on Wednesday. There's so much to consider.

On the plus side to moving:

* significantly better schools
* significantly better job
* larger community with more opportunity

On the minus side to moving:

* moving (duh)
* commute to lake only on weekends, split life
* expensive second home
* complicated business move (phone, fax, internet, inventory)

Of course, he hasn't interviewed yet...

The next episode to our saga is: Interview Day.

Your comments are appreciated!

Progress

My house usually exists just above organized chaos, somewhere in the realm of "not gross", and "where did I put that?" But in the summertime, we seem to dip even below our normal standard.

My mother has very strict and outspoken opinions about my level of organization, which caused an earthshattering blowout between us a few months ago.

It was bad enough that I thought our relationship might actually be "over".

But mothers and daughters are funny that way. It seems no matter how much you emotionally beat up on each other, the band still binds.

Yesterday, she dropped in for a visit - unannounced, unplanned. And although there was no mistaking our household disorder, she said not a word, showed no disdain, made not a single non-verbal comment.

Progress.

Lucky

Lucky
Originally uploaded by Liv's Photos.

Allow me to introduce you to Lucky, our 13-year-old rat terrier, who's acted like a two-year-old since moving to the lake.

Lucky has a strong opinion about where we live:

Wherever there are chipmunks.

Liv's Life Review

I'll keep you posted about the potential move, as we get closer to having to make real decisions. In the meantime, please weigh in with your thoughts!

Thanks to Ted Gross at Cobwebs of the Mind for listing Liv's Life and offering a review as "A blog to watch."

Ted is generous in offering advice about all-things-technical and he has a great deal of experience on the Web. If you're trying to have an impact with your web presence, it's worthwhile to read what he has to say. Click through to his other sites as well.