Good news for me!

[Fiddlette]

Hi ladies!

Just thought I'd pop into the off topic gab and share my recent news with y'all!

Some of you may or may not know that I am a violin teacher from September through June. Literally, I'm paid in September for a year's worth of lessons, group workshops, recitals, concerts, and special public appearances, and I fill the contract throughout the year.

In July and August, dh and I and another partner run an enormous Music Camp at Occidental College, Los Angeles. I am the Program Director for this event. We have successfully run this Program for 9 year, this would be our tenth. It actually takes all year to run, but during the late Spring and Summer months it is very demanding, to say the least.

Well, we lost our contract with the College this year! I know, that sounds BAD, because we make A HUGE amount of our yearly income with this job. But, on the other hand, we have slaved over it for NINE YEARS, and both of us are so happy to have a break! And these TWO months are going to feel like DISNEYLAND everyday!

Time to do what I want FINALLY! And I will be celebrating my ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY discovering digital scrapbooking, and learning all things computer related...(yeah, you might as well know what a dork I was before, I really was totally computer illiterate!!)

Less money, but more quality of life! That sounds good to me! We will be able to go with family to a beach house that we rent every year to help us recover from the Institute (music camp) anyway, because we reserve that like a year in advance, but the rest of the summer will be (or at least I hope it will be) filled with quality experiences...that don't cost anything! lol!

Thanks to you if you actually read this ramble of a post, you are sweet! :)

[Fiddlette]

What about you all? What do you have planned for the summer?? :)

[akissling]

Christine,
Great news, you lucky thing!!! I can't imagine what you will start with because I am sure that your list is long like mine! The beach house sounds great too! At least with digital things you don't have to spend a lot (or anything) to create things!
I am working Mon, Wed and TH so the rest of the days you will find me at pool with the girls or in my garden ripping out weeds or moving a lot of earth around!!

[Vania16]

Congratulations on your summer of freedom! Perhaps we should christen it the "Summer of Christine" (sorry, little Seinfeld allusion there :) ) I'm actually very envious - I am in desperate need of a chunk of time off and a beach house sounds fantastic! So far our only summer plans are to visit Alabama in June. That's right. Alabama. June. Seriously, who does that? DH's family is taking their family vacation there because his sister just moved there and everybody wants to go see the new house and all. It'll be fun to see everyone and have the whole family together, I just hope we don't cook to death or get washed away in a hurricane. So, in view of that little adventure, I think DH and I will take our own little personal vacation made up of not leaving the house! My judge is often gone for much of August, so I'm hoping to take some time off then to just relax.

Also, please note how much longer our posts are getting once we've hit (or almost hit) 500 LOL

[AmyK]

I'm glad that you are happy with the decision! Have fun this summer, I feel quite jealous of your time off!

We will probably be moving. My husband is looking for a new job, and we want to just get out of here. He has had his awful job for 4 years and he needs a change, and I need adventure. I am feeling so *stuck* with the little kiddos and no friends in the area. And needless to say, with a 2-year old and 5-month old, there really are no vacations being planned in our household. If I can get one hour to go to the library all by myself, I think I will be quite ecstatic.

[Nevermore]

Ah, Dreamer, what a summer you will have! Lisa and I will have to do a little vicarious living through you!

Lisa, do you clerk for a judge?

Amy, if you were in my neighbourhood I would gladly take the kiddos for a few hours to let you go hang out at Starbucks. Of course, they would have to be able to take being called "wretched child" on the chin but children are so resilient!

As for longer posts, I am staking the high moral ground here! My long rambling verbose posts have remained long rambling and verbose throughout this MAD scramble. I could be trained to break them up but I cannot overcome the 30 second rule and nothing is ever going to give me patience.

[kygirl]

Christine, what wonderful news. I bet you'll be surprised at how quickly the time goes.

Lisa, I know another crazy family. We're heading to Gulf Shores in July with my husband's family. I bet it's 110 degrees in the shade. But, we'll eat and shop and play games and have a great time. We always do.

The big thing that's happening to me this summer is that I'm going to be a grandmother in August! Can't wait. You all are going to get sick of me working pictures of my new grandson into everything I do. :)

[Vania16]

Donna, I'm glad we're not the only crazy ones :) We're gonna go down to the beach at the gulf somewhere too, but in Florida maybe? I'm not sure exactly. I am looking forward to that - I love the ocean :)

Nevermore, I do clerk for a judge - state court of appeals. It's a fantastic job for me - great hours, nothing but reading and research, and no clients LOL I originally signed up for two years, but I've already added a third and I'm thinking about more. I just don't want to pigeon hole myself too much because someday I'll have to go into practice. Honestly, I'm very torn about all that, but I suppose that's a whole separate post LOL.

[Kazadoodle]

Well, as it's heading into Winter here, I'm not planning on doing anything for Summer - LOL - except, possibly, how to avoid it as I hate it with a passion.

Good news/bad news about the camp - enjoy your summer freedom.

[skyescrapz]

We will probably be moving. My husband is looking for a new job, and we want to just get out of here. He has had his awful job for 4 years and he needs a change, and I need adventure. I am feeling so *stuck* with the little kiddos and no friends in the area. And needless to say, with a 2-year old and 5-month old, there really are no vacations being planned in our household. If I can get one hour to go to the library all by myself, I think I will be quite ecstatic.

Hey Amy, if you move to NJ, you could hang with me, Jeanine, Melissa and Robin!!!!! :) We're lots of fun AND we get together for digi crops sometimes too!

Christine, I am so excited that you will have some time to do some things you want to do and just RELAX! YAY!

Lisa and Donna are both insane for heading south during the summer. I lived in Georgia for seven years. I know of what I speak. However, I may be among the crazies because my hubby wants to visit his parents in Florida in AUGUST. UGH! Ugh to the summer Florida weather, not to visiting my in-laws, who are actually really very nice folks.

[CathyRose]

Congratuations on the summer break. Although the music camp sounds fabulous, I can imagine it was a huge undertaking each summer. A break sounds wonderful and I am so happy for you. We went on a cruise in January so we aren't planning to travel much until September when we have a trip to a Disney World resort planned. I think it is going to be a quiet summer for us.

[skyescrapz]

I think it is going to be a quiet summer for us.

Not at all, Cathy, I'll keep you very busy posting photos of everything. Ha ha ha ha ha... I crack myself up sometimes. :D

[Fiddlette]

Just finished reading all you girl's posts! Thank you for your responses and well wishes!!

No doubt whatever we all end up doing this summer, (or whatever season we are in, lol) we will all keep each other filled in here at DAQ!! :)

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

Christine, I'm so happy for you! That is so wonderful that you feel the way you do about living a better quality of life in just enjoying your free time! The beach house sounds awesome too!! :D

Well, my dh & I can't really do too much because unfortunately I am allergic to extreme heat and UV rays. So I mostly stay indoors with the air on...:(
My dh usually will go on the boat with my family. Well I hope everyone has a great time with whatever plans you may have!

[akissling]

How awful to have those darn allergies! I have them here in Cincinnati but it is mainly to mold and ragweed (developed while I lived in Seattle as an adult which is weird). You live in CA right??!! That must make it double-ly difficult because it is nice most of the year!!! Thank goodness for the AC!!!!!
I forgot to add that I plan to catch up on my reading! If anyone wants to get a book that makes you laugh out loud get "A Girl Named Zippy" by Haven Kimmel. It is a memoir of her life at the age of 10 in a small town in Indiana. She also has a follow-up "And she got up off the couch" which is equally funny and poignant. Your local library will have them so it won't cost a thing!!!

[Cre8tvlyYrs]

How awful to have those darn allergies! I have them here in Cincinnati but it is mainly to mold and ragweed (developed while I lived in Seattle as an adult which is weird). You live in CA right??!! That must make it double-ly difficult because it is nice most of the year!!! Thank goodness for the AC!!!!!
I forgot to add that I plan to catch up on my reading! If anyone wants to get a book that makes you laugh out loud get "A Girl Named Zippy" by Haven Kimmel. It is a memoir of her life at the age of 10 in a small town in Indiana. She also has a follow-up "And she got up off the couch" which is equally funny and poignant. Your local library will have them so it won't cost a thing!!!

Yes I'm So. CA...it's a bummer but I've learned to live with it and oh yes thank God for AC or I don't know what I'd do! To top that off...I'm also allergic to sunscreen...so I guess God just didn't want me going out in the sun anymore for some reason!

I actually didn't get this allergy full on until my senior year of hs and had to be homeschooled in my last semester...before that I was like Pocahontas in the summer! At least I can actually go outside at certain times of the day.

*Just a little FYI for you all to consider this summer:
UV rays are strongest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (but I still have to wait till after 5 p.m. sometimes!!) Oh and overcast days are even worse because the clouds sort of filter the UV rays somehow making them stronger! Other than that...have fun in the sun (but not too much sun) for me gals!!

[Chinook]

Congratulations on turning a decision that was made 'for you' into something so positive. I'm sure you will thrive with the time off ... I always look at something like that as a "gift of time". What a wonderful gift.

As for my summer? I have lots of company coming for the first part of the summer. Some of you may know that I am a designer with e-scapeandscrap. Well Julie (in Kansas) and Kay (in Denver) are coming to Calgary to meet me! I am so excited I can hardly stand it. We have been working/playing together since fall ... and now we get to actually meet in person. We are going to cram a lot of fun memories into the time we get to spend together. Neither one has been to Canada before so this is a Big Thing for them too!!!

Cheers

[skyescrapz]

Some of you may know that I am a designer with e-scapeandscrap. Well Julie (in Kansas) and Kay (in Denver) are coming to Calgary to meet me! I am so excited I can hardly stand it. We have been working/playing together since fall ... and now we get to actually meet in person. We are going to cram a lot of fun memories into the time we get to spend together. Neither one has been to Canada before so this is a Big Thing for them too!!!


WOW WOW WOW -- how totally cool! You guys will have a blast!

[Nevermore]

Chinook, I had no idea you designed with Kay and Julie! The site is great but I have always been a fan of those two because they are so darn nice and accessible. I have just been lamenting on a different thread that I can't find some of my old pieces, one of which used a ton of Julie's Black and White kit--I have gotten my money about six times out of that one!

[skyescrapz]

Chinook, I had no idea you designed with Kay and Julie! The site is great but I have always been a fan of those two because they are so darn nice and accessible. I have just been lamenting on a different thread that I can't find some of my old pieces, one of which used a ton of Julie's Black and White kit--I have gotten my money about six times out of that one!

Oh man, Julie's Girly to Grungy collection is such a stand-by for me, it's not even funny. I think Julie already knows she rocks my world!!!! :)

[webchyck]

Sounds like you're really going to make the most of this situation! Good for you!

I have no summer plans yet--aside from carting kids hither and yon for their activities. That's what I do. LOL!

[Ursula]

Lisa, I must but in an say that you and I are crazy because we LIVE in the desert where most of the summer reaches 100 degrees or more. and Chrisitne, how glorious for you. I hope you are able to enjoy every inch of your summer!

[Ursula]

OH yeah, summer plans. My family will be taking off for the week of June 10 -18 to go to Hume Lake in CA. It's camp for the kids and a cabin and time without kids for us. We're excited. Last year was our first time and it was positively glorious! We'll take our boat and go water skiing and camping no doubt. Summer for us is short as the kids start back to school in mid July. I have a wedding to photograph in July, so I'm looking forward to that. We have a young woman, 14, who's living with us for the summer due to family issues so that should be interesting.

[jessica b]

Christine... wow, congratulations!! I imagine it was a hard decision to make, but so well worth it. I hope you enjoy thoroughly enjoy your break (((hugs))) :D

[jessica b]

Congratulations on your summer of freedom! Perhaps we should christen it the "Summer of Christine" (sorry, little Seinfeld allusion there :) ) I'm actually very envious - I am in desperate need of a chunk of time off and a beach house sounds fantastic! So far our only summer plans are to visit Alabama in June. That's right. Alabama. June. Seriously, who does that? DH's family is taking their family vacation there because his sister just moved there and everybody wants to go see the new house and all. It'll be fun to see everyone and have the whole family together, I just hope we don't cook to death or get washed away in a hurricane. So, in view of that little adventure, I think DH and I will take our own little personal vacation made up of not leaving the house! My judge is often gone for much of August, so I'm hoping to take some time off then to just relax.

Also, please note how much longer our posts are getting once we've hit (or almost hit) 500 LOL


I feel your pain. I hope you'll actually be on the gulf coast though. The weather here is pretty similar to Alabama - hot, humid, bug infested (does that count as weather?). We will have a family reunion in the mid-state sometime in August. When will the family ever learn?!?!! If you're going to have a family reunion in Alabama - have it at the beach or in December. :rolleyes:

[jessica b]

I'm glad that you are happy with the decision! Have fun this summer, I feel quite jealous of your time off!

We will probably be moving. My husband is looking for a new job, and we want to just get out of here. He has had his awful job for 4 years and he needs a change, and I need adventure. I am feeling so *stuck* with the little kiddos and no friends in the area. And needless to say, with a 2-year old and 5-month old, there really are no vacations being planned in our household. If I can get one hour to go to the library all by myself, I think I will be quite ecstatic.

Oh, Amy... I know how you feel girlfriend! I, too, would love to take your kiddos for a while to give you a break. We could take turns and alternate with just hanging out together :cool:

Seriously though, what location do you guys have in mind? Ignore me if you've already answered somewhere...I haven't made it all the way through this thread yet.

[jessica b]

*Just a little FYI for you all to consider this summer:
UV rays are strongest from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (but I still have to wait till after 5 p.m. sometimes!!) Oh and overcast days are even worse because the clouds sort of filter the UV rays somehow making them stronger! Other than that...have fun in the sun (but not too much sun) for me gals!!

Oh, man...I am sorry to hear about your allergies, girl! I used to say that my oldest son is allergic to everything under the sun, but he is actually getting better as he gets older.

I knew about the UV rays. I don't like being outside during mid-day during the summer unless I have shade and a body of water nearby. I get to feeling like I can't breathe. Right around 6pm everyday (this time of year) the sun starts glaring into the windows on the backside of our house and it seems to immediately go up about 10 degrees in here, so this is usually when I get in the bulk of my outdoor work and/or play...b/c I can't stand to be inside.

My husband is a professional window film installer so he is planning to tint all the windows on the backside of the house sometime soon (don't understand why personal stuff is always last on his list...grrrr). I will be so glad (and nice and cool :cool: ) when the job is done!

[AmyK]

We are talking about moving south of Seattle a little ways. Hubby's family lives down there, and there *might* be a job opportunity there. Anytime we talk about moving, we always go back to the fact that we love it up here. The only other place we might consider would be Colorado, but as we know nothing about it, we're not even sure where to start thinking. :rolleyes:

[nicole hinrichs]

colorado is beautiful (been there twice) colorado springs, the mountains the nature I thought it was gorgeous, but hey I am a girl from the flat country (holland) no mountains not even hills, way below sea level. lol. good for you you are taking the summer off. have fun