When a stay at home dad goes back to work does that count as a vacation? A leave of absence? On Hiatus? Whatever one chooses to call it, I've gone back into the workforce. I wouldn't say I've joined the rat race, but I'm meandering about amidst the runners.

For those of you not caught up, let me enlighten you with some of background information. Two weeks ago I was a stay at home dad, as you should already know if you didn't start reading this in the middle of the second paragraph. Money was tight due to rent, mortgage, bills, food, some unexpected expenses, ventures I won't get into, and the massive rise in fuel costs. We live off my wife's salary and get by, fairly well I think, but there's been some tense moments. Gas has definitely been a contributing factor. But I digress. Two weeks ago an old colleague emailed me asking if I'd be interested in some contract work, SQL programming. Now I've been doing computer work for a long time, roughly 15 years, and when I quit my last job in order to stay home and take care of Peanut I swore I didn't want to work in IT again unless I had to. Well this isn't a have to situation but they made me an offer I couldn't say not to, and it couldn't have come at a better time.

After some thorough background checks I started the job last Monday, June 9. Once again I commute to a different city for a job that really has no purpose other than making rich people and corporations richer. I don't even really like the concept of commuting, but the situation requires it for now. At east they compensate me well for it, and I like the people I work with.

So now I commute.

Elsewhere on the home front...

Renovations on my house have been a little stalled due to the new job, luckily a major chunk of the work is done and the house has been listed for sale for about a month now. Hopefully the house is sold soon so I can get rid of some debt that's been hanging over my head for a while now. Our vehicles have also seen better days, but at least they're serviceable, working, and completely ours.

I've put together some inverted tomato planters, hung them up from the ceiling by a window and planted four cherry tomato seedlings. Unfortunately one didn't make it through the transplant shock phase and has perished. The deceased is survived by its three siblings who, although in mourning, are doing quite well. Hopefully we'll have some tomatoes within the next month. I also planted some morning glories in a balcony box, which will look very nice if I can get them to climb all along the balcony railing. I just planted those though, so we must wait and see.

The apartment compost experiment I started some months ago has actually produced some half decent, although very wet, results. I started the compost indoors, on the counter, in an old slow cooker pot we no longer use. Most of the input was coffee grinds and filters, tea bags, and crushed up egg shells. Although it was breaking down it could be faster. The pot was getting full so I split its contents between two large coffee cans, added some dirt and moss from the yard, closed the lids, and left them on the balcony to heat up. To the little that was left in the slow cooker pot I added some dirt and moss from the yard to get the compost party started and left it on the counter. One day Peanut and I came home to find an earthworm crawling across the counter by the pot. I must have accidentally grabbed it with the dirt, and it escaped the pot, so back in the pot it went. Well the pot was getting quite full again, so Saturday was, among other things, compost relocation day! Woohaw! Using an old five gallon bucket, Peanut and I tore up some cardboard and newspaper for the base. Then I dumped in the contents of the slow cooker pot, finding not one, but half a dozen earthworms! Sneaky little buggers! I just dumped them into the bucket. The worms seemed to be helping the slow cooker compost along so they won't do any harm. More earthworms in the bucket would undoubtedly be very helpful. The contents of the coffee cans were dumped in next. The coffee can mixes hadn't done as well as the slow cooker mix, probably due to lack of air, but they were breaking down. The empty cans were dumped into the recycling box. Fresh dirt was added on top of everything in the bucket, a loose lid placed on top, and left on the balcony to cook. Mmmm.....composty.
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This weekend was incredible! A great Friday night, followed by the pillow fight in gorgeous weather in Nathan Phillips Square, and our amazingly fun event, BRITE!

Unfortunately, our stated goal of raising enough money for a lightsaber battle at BRITE! was not met. In fact, our goal of making enough money to pay *for* BRITE! was not met, either. Apparently our model of using parties like this for fundraising purposes was not airtight.

Therefore, this summer's lightsaber battle is postponed until further notice.

And so, dear friends, we humbly request your online donations as we come up with a new plan to make this summer's events happen.

http://www.newmindspace.com/donate.php

*** Bubble Battle June 14th ! ***

We are excited to be bringing this year's Bubble Battle to Luminat'eau, the portion of Luminato that is taking place at Harbourfront Centre! Bring a bubble toy, bubble solution and plenty of AA batteries to Harbourfront Centre on June 14th and let the bubbles soar!

BUBBLE BATTLE
JUNE 14th 2008 @ 5pm
Harbourfront Centre
235 Queens Quay W

http://www.newmindspace.com/luminateau.php
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=29857913136

Followed by POP!, a free, all ages/19+ afterparty under a massive tent by the water! Lineup to be announced shortly. Begins at 10pm.

*** Much love, send pillow fight photos! ***

Lori * Kevin
Newmindspace
http://www.newmindspace.com
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