Real Housewife of Casa de Murph

September 28th, 2011 by Kateastrophe

Soooo, um…I sort of am, like, not working anymore?!

It’s a really long story and a whole bunch of explaining/complaining/venting/overworking/undertraining/blah blah blah.  I really thought that this was my dream job and I was going to be there for a really, really long time and it became more apparent every day that it just wasn’t a great fit and the time came to cut ties.  I was working way too much.  I was way too stressed.  I was struggling in some critical areas…also?  I’ve decided Idon’tlikeworkingforwomen.  There, I said it.  Once again, I’ve set the feminist movement back a bazillion years but it’s how I feel.  I could talk forever about why and give examples but it’s really not worth the trouble.  The sum of the parts is that I am currently a housewife.

I have several job opportunities and possibilities in the works, most of which involve more money and what I think is a better fit for me both professionally and for my sanity.  However, there’s a part of me that just wants to chill out for a few months and just (gasp!) stay home.   This last 19 months have been some of the hardest of my life.  I’ve been more stressed, more emotional, more exhausted, more mentally and especially more physically drained than I imagined a human could be.  I really think I could use the break.  With the exception of the three months I spent in Europe in (gulp) 1999, I’ve had never gone more than a few weeks without a job since I was 15.  That means I’ve been working just as long as I was alive before I started working.  I know, waaah, everyone does it and many people work significantly longer but I’m just SAYING, I’ve been running this rat race for a long long time and Mommy (me, though I am keenly aware I’m not a Mommy) might need to sit down.

Now we all know that because it’s me, even if I take a year off, I’ll be busier than ever.  BUT, it will be on MY terms.  I’ve been thinking about trying to teach voice lessons three or four hours a day and have already begun getting back into a hard core workout routine.  I’ve created a cleaning schedule and I have plans with friends at least twice a week.  Tomorrow I have a baby shower, a date to go hang out with my newly pregnant friend AND I’m going to learn how to make sourdough bread and getting my own starter!!  I’m looking at spending a week in Utah and helping my Mom get some of her office technology in order as well as getting some fall leaves, cool weather and time with friends I’ve been missing a ton lately.  I’m making dinner, reorganizing/decorating my house and working on a plan for our completely barren back yard.  See what I mean?  I’m swamped!  Plus, it seems Matt likes to come home and in his most manly voice say “Woman, where’s my food.  Take off my shoes.  Get me a soda.”  Then he laughs for like ten minutes.  He’s hilarious, no?

It’s a definite lifestyle change for us - me particularly.  No more willy-nilly spending and brainless iTunes purchases (SERIOUSLY they shouldn’t make it so EASY!).  Lucky for us we have a lot of cool stuff and were running out of toys to buy and I have a lot of clothes that don’t fit so when I lose a few pounds it will seem like I have a whole new wardrobe!   It will be like shopping in my own closet!  If it weren’t for health insurance (don’t get me started) I probably wouldn’t have to change much of anything.  But here’s the coolest part.  My husband is magical with money.  He somehow manages to make a dollar stretch into two.  He always seems to make whatever money we have enough for the bills, savings, tithing and some fun - no matter how much or how little it is.  Matt supports me either way, we’ll be OK financially and somehow I feel less stressed now than I have in almost two years.  That is a good sign I’m on the right track.

Happy Place

September 1st, 2011 by Kateastrophe

We decided at 4pm today to head to California for the long weekend.  I get to see my Grandma, my soul sister Sheila, and spend some much needed time (in normal human temperatures) playing in the surf and sand with my man-friend.

I think God inspired whoever it was that decided on three day weekends.  They always seem to come right when they’re needed most. Boy oh boy do I need this one.

Wishing you all little or no Labor on this fabulous Labor Day Weekend.  See you suckers next week!