Feels like full time work ....

Wow. I've written before about my desire to get a part time job to supplement my retirement income, to pay for the fun stuff I like to do. You know, like pay for those jaunts to tropical climes for sun,warmth, diving and relaxing.

I guess one should be careful what they wish for. I got the part time job at Home Depot. I had told them when I interviewed that I really wanted between 20 and 30 hours per week. My availability was really wide open though, that's what happens when you have no life.

Home Depot, being a typical corporation with thousands of employees has decided that open availability means as many hours as they can have me work without paying any overtime. Therefore my part time job is feeling an awful lot like a full time job. And not to seem ungrateful but they really don't pay that well.

My first paycheck was for only about 21 hours, some of my training time. I almost laughed when I opened the check. But again, this is extra money. I truly don't know how people are able to live on that kind of wage, I think it would be impossible. I applaud those who find a way to make it work and do so with little or no complaints. So it does seem stupid that I am complaining but I am exhausted.

It isn't like I "do" that much while I'm there, I"m a cashier, but by the end of 9 hours I am completely wiped out.

Having said all that, the writing as been pretty sporadic. A little here, a little there, concentrating mostly on the revisioins, clearly not writing a lot on my blog.

I had the last two days off. One might assume I would knuckle down and write a blog post or two, get lots done on the memoir. Nope, I spent time instead doing some things I just can't seem to find time for these days, including some shopping, errands, and time for me. Also, I got to spend a little bit of time with my daughter Caitlin. She is a photographer. She is working on trying to make photography her career.

I am only her mom, so you won't be surprised that I think her photography is incredible. She has always been good I think, she has an eye for a good photo, for good composition etc. I am excited for her that she is really putting some effort into her photography and maybe working it into a job that will support her.

She is working on building her portfolio. She has taken some photos of friends and family, she started a blog, and she is now advertising that she is going to do some portraits for people for free in order to build her portfolio. She put an ad on craigslist and has already had several responses, it looks like things are definitely headed in the right direction.

I have wanted some pictures of myself for a while, I was using the same old photo for all the social networking sites I am part of and wanted something different. But, I hate having my picture taken. I am very self conscious, usually end up with a forced smile or an odd look on my face. So Kate decided to take some photos of me. I was more than pleasantly surprised, I think they turned out really good. Everything she is shooting these days is in natural light, she just upgraded her camera but  again, I see what she does with just one camera, one lens and natural light and very little or no editing afterwards. I think she has a very bright future ahead of her.

Added bonus, I think I might have a picture that can be my book jacket photo ... now all I have to do is get the book finished and published that can go inside that jacket.

Here are a few examples of the pics Kate took of me. You can see more of her pictures of me and the others she has taken recently by visiting her blog at Snapshots and Photographs
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I'm thinking of making myself a little less "available" for work and getting back to my writing, including this blog. In the meantime, if you are looking for a photographer, I know a good one. And ignoring my writing to spend a little bit of time with my daughter was worth it.