Off and On

Frank started a job on the slope in July. He's still a mechanic. He has the typical 2-week on, 2-week off shift.

The pay doesn't seem to be any different right now, there are still some struggles; but, we are paying debt and not using more, so I guess that's good.

Speaking of the good: 2 weeks home. It goes by fast! Projects at home (although nothing major right now) and school. Me not having to take the kids to school, but seems I still do. We talk twice a day, and the kids talk to him 3 times a week or more. We have only used skype once.

We went to Kasilof this summer, in the middle of the week :)

He was home for Thanksgiving and will be for one week of the winter break, plus Christmas. If I did it right, he may also be home for those two next year! And maybe for the 6th grade camp trip in May!!

The bad: 2 weeks gone. It goes by. It's not fun handling the evening stuff on my own, but manage (seems I was the only one doing it anyway). What I really don't like is when I have meetings at school in the evenings; I'd rather they were home because I can't watch them while I'm in my meeting. He travels on Sundays, which takes away one day of the weekend.

He missed my birthday (eh) and Joey's. Jessie and Joey were sick on their actual birth days, and Frank was at the tail end of his R&R, so we had to wait another 2 weeks before we could have their parties. And now, a month after Joey's birthday, we still haven't had it. He didn't know what he wanted to do while Frank was home - plus he was still kind of sick (and is again, UGH).

The ugly: adjusting to the day time life. He has the night shift - which isn't so bad up there. What else is there to do besides sleep, eat and work? However, back on shift is hard, and so is end of shift. Adjusting from night to day every two weeks has to be hard; from waking at 4PM, working from 6pm-6am, breakfast, short nap, get ready to board plane at 10am, arrive in ANC at 2pm. He will have been awake 22 hours. It takes about 3 days to get back to the day life. It's the flip side going back up to work; get up at 8ish, board plane at 2pm, arrive in Prudhoe at 4pm, rest/settle in, eat, on shift at 6pm.

I can't say it's affected our relationship in either good or bad, it's still kind of new. And I have my own routines and schedules and such; I know how to keep busy! I just have to fit him into my day when he's here - I do make an effort to stay away from school while he's home. With Elizabeth on maternity leave, it's been easy. He has stuff of his own to deal with when he's home, too. Wyatt's teacher seems to think it affects him, but I don't let him think that way - almost as if he's allowed because Frank is gone. I think it will be much different when summer comes; how we'll deal with the kids being home all day and him not (though we've dealt with it before), but also how we'll be able to do more stuff when he is...hopefully. Even during the winter break, maybe go snowmachining. Or he can take Joey snowboarding. We'd certainly love to be able to travel while he's on R&R.

Right now Frank is in the middle of his shift; he returns in a week. Today the Anchorage Unangax Dancers are performing at 12:30 and tomorrow the school choir and dancers are performing at the museum (the dancers are also performing, but at the same time as AUD).

Sweet 16

Our 16th anniversary is approaching - whoa! Maybe I'll/he'll get a car :)

I wonder what the gift theme for #16 is.

Frank is working at AK Sales as a mechanic..."damn Chevy cars". I am still unemployed (that's what I was called when I made an appt at the hospital yesterday). Yet as many SAHM's know, I'm always working...24/7. My "work" hasn't changed much, though: still on the PTSA and APC. As Treasurer and President, respectively. Good work being done, but much still needs to be done. I am still a consultant with PartyLite and renewed Heritage Maker. The latter keeps me more busy than the first, mainly because I'm making my projects, not running a successful business. I think I'm not cut out for sales. And Frank probably shouldn't be working for places that only pay him when there's work...especially when he can't help when work comes in or not. Not being the more well known word in the last 2 years. He's tried finding work in building maintenance, but no luck since it's been too long since he's done it.

Wyatt may be in a part time preschool in the fall; I think I'm ready to hang up my apron and turn in my dust pan and mop. I'm not ready for anything full time, though. If I could work at home, that would be ideal. The fall of 2012, Wyatt will be in half day preschool at ANCCS. I'm counting the days!

What's in store for the next 16 years!?

Burnt Towel

If you follow me on Facebook, you know the story, but why not preserve it here, too??

Frank does little things of love every so often <3

Maybe onces a month when I take a shower, I am greeted by a warm towel. I don't have to explain how awesome this is, but I am always cold, so it's very appreciated.

There's never been a mishap until now. I got out of the shower and smelled something burnt. It wasn't until I grabbed the towel on the sink that I knew what it was :(. Yuck.

I asked him what happened, and like 90% of the time, gave me the obvious answer: I burned it. Um, ok, well HOW!?

I still don't know how...

Presents!

I don't always know what to get Frank for birthdays, anniversaries or Christmas. Nor do I think he always knows what to get me!

For his 30th birthday, he got a motorcycle in pieces. Maybe for his 40th (next year, gasp!) it'll be running.

One year Frank got me a home stereo system. Woo. Obviously he was thinking of himself when he bought that one.

One Christmas he got me a kitchen cart with a marble slab on it. I think he had me confused with Mrs. Crocker.

We've gifted electronics: MP3's, cameras (one year instead of stuff for his bike, he bought me a camera <3); last year I got him a flat screen for the computer. For my 30th, I got this laptop. Which means it's 5 years old....sigh...

For my birthday this year, I got an iTouch, which is a very meaningful gift to me, LOL!! I was very surprised, though I'm still figuring it out...I'm a PC, it's a Mac. 'nuff said. Still, having mobile internet is pretty cool - I don't have a mobile internet plan, so I get internet where it's free.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder...

Frank and I haven't spent much time apart.

I bring this up now because we are apart. He's moose hunting in Nome with his brothers and my brother; after 5 days, they still hadn't killed anything and there are now 2 full days left.

Our first vacation after we got married was a "honeymoon" road trip from Portland to Disneyland. We took another trip to Oregon during the holidays, then a few more to Oregon after the kids were born.

The first trip I took without Frank was July 2001 to St. Louis for PartyLite's conference; I was gone about a week. Jessie was with my dad in Portland, I was pregnant with Joey. I was 5 months pregnant, the first time I had ever been in humidity and was away from Jessie and Frank for the first time - I was hormonal!

I did not go to conference the next summer, but did in 2003 and both kids spent a few weeks in Oregon; Frank stayed home, drove to the slope and back. In 2004 we took seperate trips again when I went to Atlanta and Frank took the kids to Nome.

2005 was our 10th anniversary and we spent it in DC and Pocono, because of the NASCAR race I told Frank we would go to if he remembered when our 10th was :). DC because of PartyLite's conference, which ended the day before the race, so we drove up to Pocono. I was not impressed. It was hot and long and pretty boring, lol.

I attended conference in 2006. Frank went to Nome because it was the first anniversary of his fathers death, he took the kids again.

I haven't been back to conference since 2006. I went to Oregon with Jon in late 2007 because our grandfather was ill; he passed away not long after Wyatt was born.

I'm about to take the kids to Oregon again. Jessie's getting a huge surprise for her 10th birthday, which is part of the trip, but all the kids are going. Frank can't take any more time off from work (it would be unpaid).

We've taken more vacations apart then together now that I put them all together...

How We Make Money

Frank is an auto mechanic, though he was doing carpentry when we first started dating (I say "dating", but we didn't really go out on dates). When that job ended, he got a job at Johnson's Tire Service and stayed for 5 long years. He went to Budget (Stanley Motors) when a buddy got a job there. By now, I was pregnant on purpose, lol. Jessie was born in Sept 99 and I had 3 months of maternity leave. Frank decided to stay home when I went back to work!!!

However, that didn't last long, but there was a job opening at my work that allowed us to both work part-time at different hours, so Frank became a courier for 9 months when he was ready to go back to working with his hands. He started working for Stepp Bros Lincoln/Mercury, but left 3 years later when the work was too slow. Somehow he knew someone at Lady's Auto and started work on March 22nd, which was the day Jessie was admitted to the hospital for what would be bronchiolitis!

The work at Lady's was not real busy, and Frank was working on all kinds of vehicles, which was not enjoyable. However, the prospect of us buying the shop AND the house on the lot was brought up. We needed $100k down, though. It put a thought in our heads about someday buying a shop.

When Chuck decided he might be closing because of overhead costs, Frank went back to Stepp Bros, who was now owned by Nye Lincoln/Mercury. This is April 2005. Two years pass and Frank is still not busy, but his buddy Jeremy from JTS is working at a busy shop: L&M Motors. Frank works there for a year and a half before moving along after not being treated fairly and yet again: lack of work.

Frank is back a dealership, which is where he feels comfortable. Lincoln/Mercury was bought by Kendall of Oregon, but after 8 months, they closed L/M and Frank becomes an employee of Toyota in their "options" department, installing post-factory add ons. It's fairly simple work for a guy with his experience. One plus, since he's also working on traded in vehicles, they have to be stripped of post-factory add ons (ironic, huh) and he keeps what he wants. He was one course away from being a master mechanic, a course that was scheduled within 2 weeks after L/M was closed.

When I moved to Anchorage, I was going to go to UAA, majoring in Accounting. After I got pregnant with the baby that was not to be, I decided I wasn't interested in college. I found a job at a credit union where my parents had been account holders and I still had an account that was set up when I was about 6 months old: Frontier Alaska State Credit Union, a teachers CU. I started as a part-time teller in August 1993. I became full time, did many other jobs from answering the phone, to member services, quasi teller trainer. I landed a job in the accounting department, handling member phone calls, ATM cards, running checks, ACH postings, Fedline activity. I really enjoyed this position. In Sept 95, FASCU merged with FedAlaska Federal CU and became Credit Union 1. I was lucky enough to keep my job in the member accounting department. I eventually became the Asst Manager of the Member Service/Automated Services Dept.

Then I got pregnant with Jessie. I was able to take 3 months off of paid leave, but I had no idea what was going to happen after that. My mom was working and I hadn't researched daycares, but didn't really want to go with a daycare. When January 2000 came around, Frank had decided to stay home and I went back to work, but as Financial Analyst!! This was probably my dream job, mainly because it took me away from member problems, lol. I was still a resource, though, for the auto serv guys. While I was gone, my dept had 3 people taking over my seat, which was pretty cool because it allowed three people to see what it took :) (each took one month), but gave them a chance to see from the other side.

Frank was eager to go back to work after two short months, but by that time, I was not feeling as useful as before. A part-time courier job opened (3-8PM), and I asked if my job could be part time, which they generously allowed. So, I worked 8-2, Frank worked 3-8 (mine was a higher paid job). Jessie wasn't in daycare! Frank was ready to go back to working with his hands. He is not a desk person anyway. So, I reluctantly resigned gave notice and my last day was December 29, 2000. I let CU1 know that if I ever wanted to go back to work, they'd be the first place I looked.

That same month, I attended a PartyLite party for a co-worker, with another co-working being the consultant. Knowing I was leaving, she asked about my financial prospects, which were none. I held my own party, which was successful, but my starter party was not. PartyLite received my agreement on February 14, 2001!

I was not a very good consultant, because I wanted easy money and had no friends. It took probably 3 years before I really found a comfort in doing sales. I became a leader, earned $500+ a month, but eventually I became lazy.

Joey started preschool at Anchorage Coop in the fall of 2005. I was led to this preschool because of it's volunteer obligations. I was the Fundraising Chair. He "graduated" in 2006 and I chose to stay on as their volunteer Bookkeeper because their Treasurer/Bookkeeper was moving on.

When I got pregnant with Wyatt, I really had not been doing PartyLite actively and it was an easy excuse to put it on the back burner. I was nauseous and tired. I done one home show in probably 2 years! But, I still have a website (online ordering is available) and the newsletter is sent to my list.

Now, other than during the summer, I don't know when I could have parties. I am on the board of the PTSA, APC and ACP, positions I don't always enjoy, but am proud to serve on.

Once Wyatt is in school, I may look for something that I can fill the day with partially, but I will probably spend a good chunk of time at school! I have thought about going back to school myself, but haven't looked into it.

Because of the preschool and PartyLite, I have ventured into web design, but nothing special. I have my own family website and have assisted with the preschool website.

Jamie introduced me to scrapbooking, which has become a hobby.

When Wyatt was born, we chose to use cloth diapers, and I found out how to make covers from recycled wool sweaters and bought my first sewing machine, having never used one. I have made about a dozen kuspuks as well :)

PS - I actually had to look up my dates for all of Frank's jobs. I kept a log because creditors always ask for employment history and the memory just wasn't keep track!

What I Love...

Just to be fair, I shouldn't always complain, I guess ;)

Frank is a jack of all trades, of which I think sometimes I take for granted. I assume that if it's broken, Frank can fix it. And 60% of the time he can fix it with what he already has, 30% of the time he has to buy something, the other 10% it's just not salvageable.

Even if he can fix it, doesn't mean he does...