Throwing my hat into the ring...ring of the the alarm clock that is!

PROS

• Cool job - not many people can say they hand deliver a report to the Prime Minister of Canada every day!
• Nifty work - I get paid to watch the news! Oh, and write an overview
• Do not need childcare
• Allows me to be home during the day
• Full time pay
• Permanent federal government position with all the benefits
• Will allow us to save more, faster - you know, to pay off mortgages, van payments and even take a fun vacation or do home renovations
• New ability to do some of the work from home

CONS

• I will basically be working a full day, BEFORE some people even get up!
• I will have to adjust my bed time - getting to work for 3am sucks!
• Saturday hours - YUK!
• Not having human interaction since most of my team are not in yet, or work form home

So, after much thought and discussion with hubby - WE decided that applying for the new position at work was the right thing to do. Yes, the hours are STUUUUUUPID crazy, and I have to work 6 days a week - but with David's job being so unstable, the economy so rocky, and the possibility this job will open new doors - the right thing to do was to apply.

Here is the lovely scoop: I use to work 4am-8am- then our project started to get a higher profile and we had quality issues - so, to solve the issue they decided to "go to competition". So, I was "invited" to apply for the new full time position. Instead of contract and part time - the new position is full time and permanent - a huge deciding point for us. I know I am going to be tired (who is NOT tired when they have young kids??) and I know the weekend hours will make for a long week. But David and I will work together to make it work.

So, I have entered the competition for my own-old-new job. Wish me luck...with getting it, and with staying awake AFTER I get it! Who knows? There are currently 3 of us on contract and only 2 permanent positions will be staffed...I may not even win the competition...and that would be ok too!

I am tired

I am tired.

I am tired of of my new hours at work.

I am tired of the being sympathetic to other working parents, who claim to be so tired.

I am tired of not falling asleep in the arms of the man I love.

I am tired of little, coughing, scratchy, kicking, bodies climbing into my bed at 1am and waking me up an hour before I have to get up.

I am tired of my house being a mess. Ok, let's be honest, I am tired of my house being a disaster.

I am tired of washing dishes.

I am tired of doing laundry.

I am tired of stepping over things.

I am tired of three children trying to gravely injure each other by wrestling, hitting, biting, and pushing.

I am tired of listening to three whiny voices at lunch time and then again at dinner time.

I am tired of the toy room looking like a tornado hit it.

I am tired of beating myself up for BLTs (Bites, Licks and Tastes).

I am tired of loosing and gaining the same friggin' pound, over and over again.

I am tired of all junk food in a 7km radius of my location calling my name - screaming my name!

I am tired of feeling like I have no energy to blog or comment on blogs.

I am tired of not being the type of mom I really am, when I am not tired.

I am tired of worrying if my hubby will still have a job at the end of the day.

I am tired of people thinking I have everything under control. I do not.

I am tired of feeling out of control.

I am tired of being tired.

This week

This week has been long and tiring.

I started a post detailing my tri last week...but never completed or posted it.

I started a cute story about each of the kiddies...but never completed or posted it.

I started a heartfelt post about my weight loss journey and some of my current struggles...but never completed or posted it.

I started a post about my ambitious gardening adventure...but never completed or posted it.

I started a post about the wonderful wedding of two wonderful friends...but never completed or posted it.

I started a post on my first outdoor soccer game, the one where everyone sees the "new me" for the first time...but never completed or posted it.

I started a post on how much I hate my new work hours (3am-9am)...but never completed or posted it.

I started a post on how I now work a 7 hour shift on Saturdays, which now means by working early hours, six days a week, I am now working FULL time, BEFORE most people wake up - then I am home with the kiddies ALL DAY...but never completed or posted it.

I started a post on how I really need to catch up on the laundry and general household chores...but never completed or posted it.

Let's hope tomorrow, I start a post on how I STARTED and COMPLETED and SURVIVED a brilliant 10k race. Yep. Let's hope.

This week has been long and tiring.

Telling time

I have to be at work at 3AM.

I usually wake up around 2:30AM and make a mad dash to the office.

I usually wake up on my own, before the alarm.

This morning I woke up, glanced at the clock: 2:28AM.

2 minutes before the alarm.

I gently asked David to turn off the alarm.

I got up.

I showered.

I did my hair.

I got dressed.

I grabbed my coat.

I glanced at the clock: 12:42AM.

12:42AM.

Damit! I misread the clock!

Back to bed for less than 2 hours, and then off to work I went.

Yep. It is going to be a long, long, long day!

Just call me LOSER LAURA!!!!

Yawn.

DESPERATE for some AMAZING sleep

Dear Programming Executives at CTV,

As you are probably aware of - how could you not be - my fortieth birthday is in sixteen days. It is guaranteed to be a huge celebration.

I am a huge fan of Desperate Housewives, The Amazing race and Dancing with the Stars. They are my escape from reality. My escape from the chaos of having three young children, an odd-hour work schedule, a new hard-core focus on getting into shape and well, life in general.

But here lies my problem. I am addicted to these show, on real-time. No, I cannot grasp the idea of pvr-ing or taping the airing of each and then watching after their original showing. I have tried, but I lay in bed thinking, wondering, pondering what could be happening? Nope. No can do...so, instead, I stay up late to watch these shows. Yep. I do...and then Monday morning and Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning come WAY too early. Heck, raising at 3AM is too friggin' early no matter what way you look at it. But, after staying up till 10PM mornings are crazy-hard!

Anyways, I was thinking, you know, since my birthday is coming up, and I am sure you are all trying to decide on the perfect gift for me...well, how about putting Desperate Housewives, The Amazing Race and Dancing with the Stars all at 7PM...that way I could be in bed and asleep way before 9PM. This would mean more than my regular 4-6 hours of sleep. Oh, that would be SWEEEEET!!!!

Ya. I knew you would understand. And, heck, no need to thank me for the great birthday gift suggestion!

Thanks in advance!

The birthday girl,

laura

Feeling tired, looking good and eating well!

Check out more Menu Plan Monday entries at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

I'm tired. I had a great March Break with the kids. I had a fabulous weekend. And I have been lacking in the sleep department! In addition, I am full swing into my training for a 10K race and for a "try-a-thon", each a week apart in May! Top that off with working extra hours and the fact that Madigan's 2 year old molars seem to be taking the friggin' scenic route...late nights, lots of crying and early mornings are a combination for disaster!

When you are dog-tired and have three youngsters at home, how do you cope?

Does Dora or Barney seem to take over babysitting duties? Do you read 4 million books - or, one book 4 million times? Do you make popcorn and pull out the sofa bed and play snuggle-bed movie? Do you make an enormous fort in the front room and claim to be resting? Do you play hide and seek and can always be found under the covers in the bed? Do you bake fool-amounts (especially when considering you are on Weight Watchers) of cookies and goodies? Do you have day-time bath time where all three kids slash and soak the bathroom while you sit in the corner and read a novel? Do you guarantee a long bath by declaring that by exiting the tub fun, each child is agreeing to a haircut? Do you allow wrestling attacks while you "do some blog-work"? Do you try to post a Monday Menu list while three kids are asking for their 15th cookie?

You don't???

Oh...

Um, I do! (and that was just today!)

Is that wrong????

Well, at least I have a cool fort in the front room, the downstairs sofa bed has fresh sheets, there are lots of yummy cookies, the kids are clean and the boys are sporting cute crew cuts!!!! But, alas, my Monday Menu is not done, and I'm tired. (I seriously think I am expelling ALL my energy trying to generate enough motivation to get dressed and out the door to my running clinic!)

So, without further delay, here are the dinners I am planning for this week:

Monday - Tuna casserole with long green beans

Tuesday - Chickpea curry and chicken - I stole this recipe from Feebeez, a Monday Menu participant. I hope it is as good and as easy as it seems!

Wednesday - Daddy and kids pizza night since I have boot camp followed by Weight Watchers

Thursday - Pork tenderloin with baby carrots and wilted spinach

Friday - Not sure as we are dropping the kids off at my parents and taking off to Mont Tremblant for a wonderful Saturday of skiing and fun!

Saturday and Sunday - well, honestly, Saturday and Sunday just seem way too far away to even think about...

OK - off to pull the casserole out of the oven, throw on my running gear and walk 1.7km to the running clinic, do my run, walk home, and collapse into bed!