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Luke Skywalker: (via Hologram) “Greetings, Exalted One. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight and friend to Captain Solo. I know that you are powerful, mighty Jabba, and that your anger with Solo must be equally powerful. I seek an audience with Your Greatness to bargain for Solo’s life.”
(Jabba’s crowd laughs)
Luke Skywalker: “With your wisdom, I’m sure that we can work out an arrangement which will be mutually beneficial and enable us to avoid any unpleasant confrontation.”
Hurrah! I’m back to part-time – that which I originally applied for last May. My part-time co-worker and occasional partner in mischief, Hermione Bagwa, was looking for a full-time position now that her classes are over, so we decided to swap out spots. We’re going to do a graduated switch over for the next six months while she gets a feel for running the store, managing the staff, overseeing the volunteers, processing donations, and taking care of the building’s regular maintenance tasks, but at least now I’m home in the afternoons and we will both have a long weekend every other week.
Of course, because I have finally passed a much longed for cross in this road, I have come down with a massive cold to compliment my sudden-onset seasonal allergies. What can I say, it’s what I do.
My to do list now that I’ll have more free time is growing by the day. First up though, get back to my Dutch language lessons. I want to be speaking it, writing it, reading it, and understanding it on a conversational basis by New Year’s Day. Not fluency, not perfectly, not like a native – but good enough to read a newspaper, listen to the radio, hold a casual conversation, and send/receive emails in Dutch without the other person feeling like they need to switch to English (a rather large problem when communicating with the Dutch). Yes, I know it’s only 6 months, but I have a decent head start and (hopefully) the motivation to put the time in.
“No! Stop, Chewie, stop! Chewie! Chewie this won’t help me! Hey! Save your strength. There’ll be another time. The Princess. You have to take care of her. You hear me? Huh?” – Han Solo, Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back
I would like to take this moment (as I sit ignoring and being ignored by Dad Windu as we play with our new iPhones at Mullets) to tell you all how much I am enjoying my 3 day weekend.
Not being on my feet – glorious.
Not getting up at the crack of dawn to drag a sleeping teen out of bed – fabulous.
Not making my own coffee or breakfast – decadent.
I am completely looking forward to doing this again next weekend.
OBI-WAN: “Well, you’ve lost him.”
ANAKIN: “I’m deeply sorry, Master.”
Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones
While I was off in MN last weekend, my 2nd in command was so ill she was debating on whether or not to go to the ER. She sent a text to me saying as much… Which I received about an hour after the store was supposed to open.
After much fan-dangling from afar, the store opened 1.5 hours late. You’d have thought the world was going to stop selling all clothing at noon that day. Our neighbors have informed us that our customers were banging on their doors wanting to know, “WHERE ARE THEY?”
It’s nice to be loved.
“What could possibly have come over Master Luke? Is it something I did? He never expressed any unhappiness with my work.” - C-3PO, Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi
I fight the good fight. I want, no demand, equal rights for women. I expect women to be taken seriously in the workplace - even (especially) if that workplace is the home. I hate doing it, but I make myself speak up every.single.time someone (be it dentist, hairdresser, or family member) makes a comment about the fact that I don’t work. “Would you have said that if I was volunteering at the Art Museum?” Because I do work, I just don’t get a paycheck for my physical and mental labors. I may go back into the labor force at some point, but it will be my and Dad Windu’s choice – we make all our important and family-affecting decisions jointly – and not my dermatologist’s misgivings.
Maybe I don’t look the part of the traditional housewife (whatever that is). Maybe it’s because I don’t have a gaggle of small children following me everywhere I go. Maybe it’s because I hold an advanced degree. Maybe it’s just assumed that people at home are just scratching at the walls or bemoaning a lost income.
This is the reality and explanation of my current non-employment status.
No, I have no plan to get a job at present. I did have a very successful career for many years, doing important work, and I made decent money doing it. I was very good at what I did, was in high demand with vendors because I got results, and I hated every minute of it. It is always a stressful job working with people at their worst physically and emotionally. I was the middle man in ongoing contentious legal situations every minute I worked, while trying to do right by the clients receiving services and the funding sources paying the bills. Money was, not surprisingly, the root of the conflict, as it so often is.
These days, I make my family’s life better and easier by staying home. I save us money in a variety of ways to keep us living comfortably and well on one income. I budget, cook, clean, comparison shop, and as often as possible take care of our things rather than sourcing out their care. I still get results. Additionally, by not entering the labor force, I free-up a job opening for someone who absolutely must work in these tough economic times. All in all, this isn’t a bad way to spend my time.
Anakin Skywalker: (eyes closed) “Don’t go.”
Padme Amidala: “I don’t want to disturb you.”
Anakin Skywalker: “Your presence is soothing.”
Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones
We were all a little nervous about Dad Windu getting laid-off and being home all.the.time. Rightfully so, I think.
- Were we going to get on each other’s nerves?
- Would DW start channeling his inner professional and start managing the way I ran the house and our homeschooling?
- Would Padawan Learner get distracted having someone else walking around, talking, and moving in and out of our ‘school’ space during the day?
- Would I begin to chafe at having to share the computer, the kitchen, and the teapot more than a few hours each night?
It has, thankfully, worked out very well this past month and a half. Dad Windu has his own routine going for large parts of the day, and he and I are getting out for a daily walk nearly each afternoon. PL has benefited from having Dad Windu right there for some of the math questions that I would normally have to go look up. I’ve enjoyed having another adult around to talk with during the day. DW helps with the house picking up, meal prep and chauffeuring tasks, freeing me from having to do all the day-to-day boring tasks myself.
In the end, we’re enjoying each other’s company on a day-in, day-out basis, and truth be told, I’m going to be a little sad to see him go away for 9 hours each day once he’s back working someplace.
“Anakin did not take to his new assignment with much enthusiasm.” – Obi-Wan Kenobi, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith
I just can not muster up the enthusiasm to care about my (I’m.a.successful.career.woman.hear.me.roar) very-part-time consulting job today. I don’t care if this guy gets a job, gets Social Security benefits, gets a fair trial, or gets a dog. It is warm, sunny, and a Friday. These three factors have conspired to send my Give-a-Damn gene on holiday.
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