Good Pickles.

I realize that title is a total oxymoron. But I'm OK with that. This is the current state of my life. Its filled with good problems. Well, maybe problem isn't the word, but stuff, and life, and yeah, wow, how is it possible for a person's head to hold so many different thoughts at once? Seriously, sometimes I wonder how I function when I'm thinking about 20 different things at once. And well, sometimes one might not call what I do "functioning."

So I thought I might hash out some of my problems/dilemmas/thoughts. Thesaurus.com was kind enough to include the word pickle in this list. That makes me happy. I'm now going to change the title of this post from Good Problems, to Good Pickles. Much more fitting...

So some of my current pickles...

Have I mentioned that my bursary was renewed for another year? This really is excellent news. This allows me one more year to continue with my studies (cost free). I can do the equivalent of 6 courses, or $6000 worth of tuition. This also includes my textbook costs. Great hey? I was fairly thrilled to get this news two weeks ago.

I'm pretty sure we all knew that I've been accepted to UVIC's Bachelor of Social Work Program, starting this Sept. 2010. Again, great news.

Not sure that I've mentioned that I'm starting a Political Science course tonight? Things like, will there be parking? Will my textbook arrive from Amazon in time? Will I be able to stomach a political science course in the middle of summer? Will I be able to maintain my high grades? These all come to mind. Not terribly important thoughts, but thoughts nonetheless.

Its a first-year course. It will give me my final batch of credits before I start the BSW program. I will go into the BSW program with 33 credits, and "only" have 27 credits to complete. Those 27 credits will "only" take me 3 years to complete, doing roughly two courses per semester (including a summer term). So mark my words, in the summer of 2013, the plan is that I will have my Bachelor of Social Work! But am I the only person who finds thinking about their life in 3 years (especially in regards to schooling) kind of makes their head hurt?

We also have the neighbor girl coming over tonight to watch the kids for the hour between when I leave and when Rob gets home. It will technically be more like 45 minutes. But this will be the first time she's watched the kids. And while I think she is a lovely girl and gets on well with the kids, there are still many thoughts that go with this new development.

Tonight I also have to register for my UVIC courses at 6:45pm. I'm fairly sure its pretty tight competition with some pretty serious wait lists. But remember, I start my POLI course...TONIGHT at 6pm! So I'm thinking I'll just get there early and tell the teacher what's up and I need to sneak out. But then that puts me in the library, for who knows how long, working with a program that I don't really get, and registering for courses for the next YEAR! No pressure really. So I think during nap/quiet time I will be trying to figure it out and decide on what I'm doing. I might be suffering from a touch of commitment phobia today.

Another pickle in my head is Abbi's birthday party. Supposed to take place this Friday. I'm thinking I need low key this year. So the splash park is a perfect solution to this dilemma. But then things like the weather are a major thing to consider. So far we've had two families say they won't be able to attend (with a total of 5 kids between them). So we are currently sitting at a total of 3 kids, possibly 4. Not like its about the number, but do more kids mean more effort? Do I relish in the fact that there are fewer kids and actually get to relax about it? And did I mention Friday is only 4 days away?

Thankfully Abbi is quite particular about what she wants for her party. Or more specifically, her cake. Every time we go to Safeway she oohs and aahs at the cake catalogue. So I'm glad she is going to be the child who does not care that her Mother stayed up into all hours of the night decorating a cake. Not like I don't appreciate the work of all you mothers, and I'm sure your children do too, but this year, I'm quite fine with the fact that my hand will not touch a drop of icing. So this is not a "problem" but a 4 year old birthday party requires a lot of consideration. Although I am quite pleased to report I picked up part of her birthday present for $10 at a garage sale this weekend. I'm still on the hunt for the second portion, a jewelry box with a twirling ballerina. Every time we go to our friends house, she heads straight for the oldest girl's room and sits and plays with that box for a very, very long time. A little girl must-have, I say! Wal-Mart? Toys R Us?

More thoughts. Our basement. Did I mention we got so much done this weekend? All the doors have been purchased and are in my basement. Two have been hung. All the casing and baseboards are there, although I didn't get to painting them. I'm trying to find another can of the same paint we used for the upstairs baseboards. An organized home decorator-type person would have this written down somewhere or stored it in a tidy little compartment in their head. Currently most of my compartments are full.

So now I consider the furniture for the basement. All weekend I was scouring kijiji trying to find something like a hideabed or futon, a couch and a new desk. I nearly scored quite a few deals. Nearly is not good enough though. And today apparently I may have found a love seat & a futon, but did I mention we had the rental truck on Saturday/Sunday? So now my husband will be moving couches in his Geo Metro hatchback. Ahem, believe me, this is one of his most favorite things in the world to do (severe sarcasm there). Hopefully these work out. The price is definitely right!

Also for the basement, we had our friend's brother stop by who is a stair guy. He came over earlier in the year to advise us on the stairs going into the basement. So last night we came up with a plan, and now we have a little shopping list (which is terribly exciting). We buy the materials, he installs it. Great. Awesome. But when and where do I go to get the parts? How much do stair parts even cost? Single fluted spindles or double? What type of wood for the railing/handle part? What stain?

And if you didn't see my last post that we came in as runners up in the Shandro Photography contest. So that means we won a free photo shoot and a free 11"x14" photo. I'm thrilled with our prize. But now I start to think, when should we book it for? I think of what we will wear. Hairstyles. Will we actually manage it without some ghastly bruise or scrape on Gabe's head?

This Saturday I got to spend a few hours in my garden. It was lovely. It was sunny. I was in a ridiculously puffy skirt (totally impractical for gardening). I got a tan. I got my garden organized. Moved a few plants. Then I got to thinking about a little garden spruce up. So there is now a garden wish list. Not really at all a pricey one (probably less than $50), but when do I find the time to find these things.

I'm thinking about dinner. About what I will wear today (yes, I'm still rocking the pajamas). I'm thinking about my book that I'm 2/3 rds done (its soo good). I'm thinking I should make a loaf of bread. I'm thinking I should probably get off of here and actually do some of this...

Anyway, can all you ladies relate to this? We just think and think and then think some more. In many ways I think this is a gift. I can process many different things at a time, but sometimes, just sometimes I would like to turn off like 5 of the thoughts.