One of the things I am looking forward to this year is the Middle School production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." My son got a part after trying out at the urging of his friends who later dropped out. I am proud of him for sticking out the audition process which has to be tough on a 14 year old boy and landing the part of the book voice. He is also going to be in the scene for Brotherhood of Man with a little solo and plenty of song and dance. I am sure this means I will end up painting the entire set but hey I live for this crap.

I have also been considering what I might do with myself now that the kids are pretty self sufficient and I have a lot less volunteer stuff to do than when they were younger. I have been trying to get a job in social work or psychology but having been out of the field for 8 or 9 years hurts on top of entering a weak job market. The money stinks too which is a big drawback. I am considering options such as painting murals and faux finishes since I do get calls for jobs occasionally despite not really marketing myself as an artist. Despite a weak economy, I live in an area that is close to some very wealthy neighborhoods. If I can make this work, I think I would prefer doing the murals. I am still thinking on it though.

I have so much to be grateful for at the end of this year. My daughter is being taken off the immune suppressants to give it a go without drugs to see if she is in a remission of her autoimmune disease as yet still unnamed. She is going to have a minor surgery to clear up some damage to her vocal chords next week but it looks as though she is doing much better. She got all A's and one B+ in her first semester at Penn so that was great too. Hopefully one of these days she'll decide what she wants to do but hey I am still figuring that out so I don't have room to talk there.

( Infringing on Bluestocking's shout outs. See them all behind the cut! )