Forgetful 40--Bah!

Once again, idiot 40-year-old me forgets my camera at the most inopportune moment. Vivian had her commercial photo shoot yesterday and I would have loved to capture the fun on my own film (or, memory card!!) but alas, I left it at home. Bah! Of course I couldn't reveal to you any hints about what this is for since it's all still so secretive at this point....but the behind-the -scenes shots wouldn't have given anything away. I did get this photo of Viv when we got home, basically this is exactly what she looked like in the photos....just my Vivian! :-) No make-up, just lookin' like the 10 year old girl that she is. That's a good thing.

I have to say, being there yesterday was just a blast. Everyone working on this project is so nice and fun to be around. Being involved in that sort of production is totally something I could see myself doing, I just felt like I was in my element there. With a smidgen of film experience, band/theater experience and just overall creative energy I wonder if it's something I could get myself into?? It's definitely a thought....and thinking I continue to do, as I try to come up with what I will do when I grow up. Being an at-home Metal Mommy has been the best job in the world I could ever do and I wouldn't have it any other way whilst the kids are young...but the quest for the perfect Me Job is always in the back of my mind, for when Sullivan hits school full-time next year. Of course I want the dream job that all stay-at-home Mommies want when they return to the work force...something fun, (and for me, creative!) challenging, feeling like you're making a difference, and done by 4:00 when the kids get home from school. sigh. It's a tall order.

Bah Humbug Already?!

Usually, I am the Christmas Queen. I LOVE Christmas. Even before it has a right to be there--like before Halloween--I get excited to see all of the stuff going up on the shelves in the stores. I love the decorations, the preparation, the food, the cookies, the music, the shopping...everything about it. It's the only thing that makes flu season worthwhile. But this year...I don't know. For some reason I was feeling cluttered even as I was pulling the Nutcrackers out of their storage container. What is up with that?? We have the tree up, it looks beautiful (despite the fact that it is sort of a Charlie Brown tree, being crooked and all...this is what you get when your husband insists on the cheapest tree...!)--and the house is decorated with all of the stuff I love...but yet I already find myself looking forward to the day I can put it all away. I wonder if that has anything to do with 40? When you're 40, you just want to simplify? You've dealt with so much clutter and crap in your life, at 40 you sort of feel like you are ready to cast it all aside and not let it box you in so much anymore? Of course that is a good thing, but it's not so good at Christmas time when your kids want to put every single ornament you have on an already over-stocked tree, or they think you're a fuddy-duddy because this year you'd really rather have just white lights instead of the chaotic feeling multi-colored ones. Kids definitely get used to what they see every year, and if you change something on them, it's not a good thing. Especially their Christmas. At least they don't mind if I ADD stuff, like the lovely menorah that Stephanie got me as a gift last year. A tree and a menorah! Ham and challah! Yeah. We cover all the bases here.

So anyway, I'll just deal with the clutter, I guess...what else can I do? But seeing the kids' faces light up at the magic is definitely worth it, I have to say. I suppose I'll just concentrate on trying to clean up my own inner clutter instead. Merry Christmas! Or whatever cram-packed holiday it is that you celebrate...