Friday Five

1. ForEVER, we wanted the 4-year-old to use the potty. She wanted nothing to do with it. Suddenly, in the last week, she's decided she wants to go every few minutes. It's a game to her now. Be careful what you wish for, but hey, at least she's going. I just wish we could find a happy medium! Eventually, I suppose. 2. We're a week unto Summer break, buy it feels like the last day of school just happened. I hope the rest of the break doesn't go by this fast, but it probably will. 3. It's finally starting to look like we might actually be able to make the trip we have been planning for months - to see Bruno Mars play. Fingers crossed. I've been unsure if we'd actually get to go for various reasons. Here's hoping... Our seats are really, really good too. So, there's that. I do not want to miss him yet again. 4. Next week is when we go back to Disney for Star Wars Weekends. Can't wait! 5. The kids were invited to a friend's 6th birthday party tomorrow. They are supposed to wear bathing suits and have had theirs picked out for days. I'm kinda excited to watch them splash around. Plus, well...cake.

Friday Five

1. I was asked to be in a TV commercial for one of our local stations.  I'm pretty excited about it, especially since the anchors suggested me specifically as someone who should be included.  They know me well from social media. We tape next week, and the ad is supposed to start running in May.

2. My 6-year-old has been on Spring Break this week, and it's been so wonderful to have her with me all day and to not have to do the school routine.  I'm already dreading having to get back into all that next week.

3. The work project I've been talking about starts next week too, but I am now sitting out the first part of it because of the commercial. No way I want to miss out on the chance to be in the commercial, and with the sort of project I'm doing, you can't miss any time or you forfeit the entire job. Thankfully, there's another project that starts the next week and runs longer, so I'm still signed up for that one.

4. We had our Magic Kingdom visit last weekend. So much fun!  Even though it rained part of the time, it didn't stop us from doing anything we wanted to do.  We had a great time, as usual. Next, we'll be going to MGM (Hollywood Studios) in a few weeks. That will be the last day we have on our 3-day deal.

5. My husband and I are having a rare date night tonight.  He's a big Steve Hackett fan, and a while back, I was able to score 6th row seats for us to see him tonight in Orlando.  A trusted friend who will pretty much be our nanny when I start the work thing will be watching the kids. Should be fun!

Dear Diary, 12.21.13

1. Four days ‘til Christmas, and then it will be 2014 soon after that! I’m not in the habit of making New Year’s resolutions, but I do have one primary goal for next year, and that is to finally be in the same room with Bruno Mars. Somehow, I have got to get somewhere to see that man perform live. It’s long overdue.

2. I have been done with the Christmas shopping for a while but have yet to wrap anything. That’s what I plan to do sometime this weekend - lock myself in a room away from the family and have a marathon gift wrapping session. I can’t wait for my husband and kids to see their presents.

3. It’s the first day of winter, but our temps are in the 80s here in Florida. I’ll take this over freezing anytime. The one day I do like it to be at least a little cold is Christmas Day, and I think I might get my wish.

4. So many people I know are going through things that make my own troubles seem small. I guess it’s true what they say, that if we knew other people’s problems, we’d ask for own back. The more I think about that, the less I feel like complaining about anything. For the most part, and in the ways that matter the most, my life is good, and I’m thankful for that. On the hard days, remembering that is what keeps me going.

Thank You Much, Janelle Monáe

We never know what's going to happen in the course of a day, and I certainly didn't expect that I'd wind up at a Janelle Monáe concert tonight when I woke up this morning, but that's exactly what happened!  I'd known for weeks that she was coming to Orlando (actually to a venue where I used to work), but I wasn't holding my breath that my husband and I would get to go because concert tickets are not really in the budget these days, and then there's always the issue of finding a babysitter.  Still, for some reason, I kind of had a feeling we'd get to see her, and we did.

My old boss offered a spot on the guest list, and I responded that we'd take 2 tickets before I even knew if we had anyone to watch the kids.  I guess you could say I stepped out on faith.  Thankfully, a friend of ours was able to watch them on short notice, and she was actually excited about it!  It turns out that she might also be our solution to the childcare issue if I start working in a few weeks, as it looks I likely will be.

The show was amazing, though.  I really can't even describe it except to say it was exactly what my soul needed.  As I've said before, music in general sustains me, but live music in particular gives me life like nothing else.  I have serious withdrawals from not being able to get to as many shows as I used to, and this one was right on time.  There don't seem to be many artists these days who sound even better live than on record, but she's one of them.  And such energy... All over the stage without missing a beat or a note.  Janelle was all I expected and more.  A true talent.  I'm an even bigger fan than I was when we went in.

And now, it's 1:30 in the morning.  Officially the next day, and way past my bedtime. I'm exhausted beyond belief, but I'm going to bed really happy tonight.