New Rule!

There is a new rule in the Bowler house. No eating. EVER!! This is the only place I have left to trim the budget. I know, I'm being silly. Still, IF we could just eliminate the need for food, we could do things. You know like, get caught up on our bills. Maybe even put a little money away for a rainy day. For some of us, FINALLY getting down to where we can wear most of the clothes we have taking up space in our closets! We'd save money on dish soap too! This is a great idea! Well, except for the whole starving to death part. There always a catch, isn't there?

SO Many Experts Out There!....gee, thanks.

Sorry folks, but this one isn't going to be all sunshine and rainbows. Not angry either. Just kind of tired and frustrated. Having moved 4 times in the past 7 years, we have gotten used to the ups and downs that it involves. First the upside (see how I'm choosing to look at the positives first?). It gives us the opportunity to truly clear out the clutter. This happens twice. The first is when you're packing up your belongings and either toss out or donate to charity those things that you haven't used or seen in years and are pretty sure no one in the family is ever going to miss. The second half of clearing the clutter happens after you move into your new home, start unpacking boxes and ask yourself, "What was I thinking, bringing this or that along?" Second, if you word it the right way to your kids, you can convince them that the move counts as a family vacation. If you stay in a hotel while traveling to your new home, this definitely helps in the convincing! Third, you can convince yourself that it's OK to go out to dinner for at least the first night or two after you've moved because you haven't unpacked the dishes or cookware yet! Fourth, you get all kinds of "Welcome to The Neighborhood" coupons in the mail. Fifth, if you're moving someplace where no one knows you, you can start with a clean slate. In one sense, this is a good thing. People don't know you, so they don't expect much. The longer you can stay mysterious in this way, the longer you have to actually FIND places in the house to put all of your stuff! On the other hand, if you have a special needs child. Especially if this particular child is LOUD! You have to educate an entire new set of folks on "Why my kid acts the way he/she does". You try to prepare people by telling them that you have a 16 year old, 6 foot, 260 lb. son who is autistic, has bipolar disorder and intermittent explosive disorder, whose maturity level topped out at the age of about 9. Still, the inevitability of at least one person or more being offended, outraged and convinced that THEY know exactly what to do to "fix" your kid, never ceases to amaze me! When someone approaches the bishop saying that my son shouldn't be permitted to bless, pass or prepare the sacrament because of the things that come out of his mouth, and word gets back to me. I think to myself. "You big CHICKEN! You can pass judgment on my son, but you don't have the guts to come and talk to his parents? Yeah, I KNOW my son has struggles. I KNOW that he blurts out inappropriate comments. I also KNOW even though it is not obvious to the "world", he IS trying to act "normal", he IS trying to be a good person. And it takes every bit of strength he has to hold it together in trying to "ape" like "normal people". Especially in settings like school and church, where we all try to put our best face on. NEWSFLASH! I KNOW what you see and hear PLUS a whole lot more. I see him cry himself to sleep because he wants to be good and have friends and can't understand why he's so angry all the time and wonders what is wrong with himself! I hear him pour his heart out to God in prayer, begging for forgiveness for the things that come out of his mouth when he gets frustrated." These are things that his Dad and I can share with anyone who is truly concerned. However, there are those who are content to sit back and pass judgment on something that they have no clue about. Well gee, thanks a bunch.

I FORGOT I HAD A BLOG

Has this happened to ANYONE ELSE? I have gotten so wrapped up in Facebook that I've seriously neglected my blog. Oh the shame of it!!! Oh woe is me!!! Yadda, yadda, yadda....... OK, enough of beating myself up over this one.

Let's see. Scott stared his new job with Direct TV in Missoula, Montana Sept. 22nd. Richard, Jason, Caroline and myself joined him here Oct. 25th. Aubree flew up here Oct. 29th and now our family is complete! This was the first time Aubree has ever flown by herself. Her Uncle Brian said he felt awful for leaving her at the airport in Vegas. She got lost for a few minutes at the airport in Vegas, but managed to get to the right gate and she arrived here safe and sound, wearing a shirt that her friend Tyrell had decorated for her with fabric paint. He spelled her name wrong, like most people do. I imagine I'll be apologizing for my oh so unique way of spelling her name for the rest of my earthly life.:o) The kids are all registered in school. Jason and Caroline are adjusting great! Richard is having a hard time. No surprise there, since autistics thrive on routine and sameness. Aubree is having a hard time, well, because she a teenage girl, I guess is reason enough. We all got here just before Halloween and a family from church invited us to a friend of theirs home for dinner and then the kids all went trick or treating together and had a fun time aside from some sore feet from all of the walking. I haven't taken many pictures since we got here. I'm just too tired. I need to see a doctor. That's just sad when you're too tired to pick up a camera and click! I like the house we're renting for now. The neighborhood is very quiet. Nice. Goodness! This is getting lengthy! See what happens when you forget you have a blog? Ugh.

When it Rains it Pours....Even in Vegas!

Well after about a 3 month dry spell, Scott is finally getting some action in the job search. Trying to keep all of the companies matched up with the right locations has been a little bit of a challenge for me. Tribeca Oven is a company in Carlstadt, NJ that makes artisan breads. They flew Scott to their plant last week and he said that it went well. He just wasn't too jazzed about the salary they were offering. He's also had several phone interviews with Direct TV. This job is located in Missoula, Montana. One of the perks with them is that we would have free Direct TV! Woo Hoo! We haven't had cable or anything like it in over 4 years. He's flying there this Wednesday and will interview and tour their place on Thursday. Speaking of Thursday! This Thursday, Aug. 27th will be the 18 anniversary of our first date together!! Anyhow, back to the subject. The week AFTER next week he is supposed to fly to further interview with Ebay. THIS job is in Timonium, Maryland. Oh and remember T-Mobile? The company who strung Scott along for MONTHS, offered him the job and then took it away?! Well they want to talk to Scott on the phone Monday morning about interviewing him for a job they need filled in Fort Lauderdale, Florida! Then there's a computer software company who also wants to interview Scott further. This job is in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I'm not to crazy about living in Louisiana OR Florida. That's hurricane country, you know!! But I've made up my mind to "be happy" wherever we end up living. Just as long as Scott has a job that will enable him to support our family and that it's a job he'll be happy with and we won't have to move anymore. I've enjoyed seeing different parts of the country. But I'm feeling like I've had enough adventure to last me a while.

Enough Drama Already!!

Aubree is at camp this week. Caroline doesn't have activity days this week. It's not my turn to be at the church for primary this week. So naturally, I was looking forward to spending a quiet evening at home with Caroline while Scott and the boys were at the church for Young Men's. Those plans had a slight damper put on them when Scott informed me that he needed me to sub for their pianist. The youth are singing in sacrament meeting sometime next month and since the girls are at camp this week, Scott was anxious to have the young men practice just their parts. Apparently, the NEED it. OK no biggie, I met him at the church and played piano for the young men to practice. After that, I took Caroline with me and went home. About 2 hours later while I was on facebook and watching Wipeout with Caroline, I get a phone call from Scott asking if Richard had shown up at the house because they couldn't find him anywhere. I told him no, it was just Caroline and myself at home. Scott was not positive, but estimated that Richard had been missing for about 30 minutes by then. Fortunately, a ward member saw him walking home (he wasn't far from the house) and picked him up. By the time we found him, it had been over an hour since anyone had seen him and I was giving a description of Richard to the police. He had done this before when we lived in CA. But we lived in a very small town compared to Las Vegas. Once we all got back home, Scott and I had a long, serious talk with Richard about how dangerous it is to go walking by yourself, after dark in N. Las Vegas. Richard explained that some of the boys at the church had hurt his feelings and so he removed himself from the situation instead of getting into a fight. We explained that removing himself was good, but next time he needs to find his Dad or another adult who is in charge and talk about it. However, I AM impressed that he actually WALKED the two miles from the church to our neighborhood. I need a nap!

Oh the joy!!!

No, Scott doesn't have a job yet. However, we DO have internet on our computer at my Dad's house now. Family and friends have been very generous about letting us use their computers to look for jobs and such, but it's nice to have access to the internet at my fingertips again. As I write this I'm enjoying the sound of of the clicking of the keyboard and the hum of the computer. Sounds that I'm not generally used to hearing due to the loudness of my wonderful family. I've been really sick the past 5 days and Scott decided that today would be a good day for him to take the kids on a short road trip somewhere. He mentioned going to the dam, but I asked him for my own piece of mind not to. He says that Hoover Dam is perfectly safe, but I don't buy it. I suggested the library or going to the park. I'm sure that Scott will take my concerns and ideas into consideration.................and then the when they come back, the children will tell me how much fun that had visiting Hoover Dam. I have started writing my book. I had to put my cookbook on hold until we can finally unpack and I can access my recipes. So I've decided to write another book. The working title for right now is "This is SO NOT how I planned my life". I get joy from making others feel good. Whether that be with a yummy homemade treat or a belly laugh. Maybe I could combine the two books? Hmmmm, something to think about.

When the going gets tough, the tough go to the temple.

I'm so thankful that Scott and I are able to get to the temple so often. It's a sanctuary away from all things worldly and I always feel better after I've been there. Today's visit was a chance for Scott and I to contemplate what to do next in our lives. A week and a half ago Scott got the phone call with the news we had been waiting for. "You've got the job!" However, he got a phone call yesterday afternoon from the hiring manager saying that they're reconsidering the offer made to Scott. Apparently there is another candidate that they think would be a better fit for the job. UGH!!! This is especially frustrating because Scott has already withdrawn his candidacy for a job in Seattle. It was a really good job too, but we were hoping for the one in Oregon, and he GOT IT! Or so we THOUGHT. Anyhoo, that's the story for now. So the saga of the Bowler Clan continues.

Happy Go Lucky Me!

After allowing my kids to become human pin cushions, the school district has seen fit to let my children attend school. With that out of the way, I need to focus my attention on making sure that they honor Richard's current IEP. My hope when we left California, was that Vegas would just be a quick little trip to visit family and friends, then we'd be off to Oregon. Unfortunately for us, that wasn't the case. Scott had his job interview in Oregon on Mar. 3rd and we're hoping that we hear good news within the next week or so. Scott said that he felt really good about it and that he could definitely see us living in Oregon. Something that he could NOT see while he was in Missouri. Scott said that the scripture that keeps coming to his mind is one from the Doctrine and Covenants (I can't remember exactly where) that says "Be still and know that I am God." In other words, Heavenly Father is mindful of our situation and everything will work out fine. I guess that means that I need to quit stressing about it. OK then, hmmmmm, hmmmm, hummm dee dummm, laaa dee daahh, dee dahh dee dooo....nope, still stressed. Guess I need to work on that patience thing. Anyhow, Scott has an interview tomorrow in Las Vegas, but for a job in Seattle, Washington. Then he has another one on Monday for MGM Mirage's City Center here in Vegas. What's that you ask? Me, worry? Nah, I'm just a happy go lucky, go with the flow kind of girl. That is of course until my supply of chocolate runs out!

It's The Final Countdown!!!

Does anyone else remember that song? I mean as something more than a jingle from a commercial? Anyhow, that song keeps going through my head lately. "We're heading for Venus!" Or Vegas! Or Oregon! Or SOMEPLACE!!! Scott hasn't received his itinerary yet, but he's supposed to fly to Oregon this Thursday or Friday for his Face To Face Interview! His phone interview lasted for well over an hour and they sound pretty sold on him. Scott and Richard are still in Vegas and the rest of us are still staying with the Carter family in Upland, CA. My last day of work was Feb.12th and I miss my kids there already. I'm hoping that I can find another job working with special needs kids wherever it is we end up living. Even if it turns out to be Las Vegas. ugh. I'm totally serious when I say the ONLY reason we ever visit Las Vegas is because we have family and friends there. But I've made up my mind to be happy wherever we end up. I'm getting better at that. For years I used to say that you couldn't pay me to live in California. My bluff was called on that remark and we ended up living here for 3 1/2 years because of Scott's job. And believe it or not, I'm actually going to miss it! I'm going to miss Upland and my ward and all of the many friends I've made here. I'm also going to miss being so well connected in Upland's School District. My involvement in the PTA and working here has been very beneficial in getting Richard the resources he's needed. Now I'll have to start from square one again. So I ask you to join me in song, "IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWWWN!"

Any Time Now.

OK, so Scott did NOT get the job with T-Mobile in Springfield, MO. Very disappointing. I had already decided that I wanted to live in a cute little country town called Ash Grove. The thing is, I SHOULD have been prepared for him not to get the job. Every time I prayed asking if Scott would get the job in MO. The answer I would get was, No, but everything will be fine. I didn't like that answer, so I stopped asking that question in my personal prayers to our Father. Instead, I figured that if I just had a positive attitude I could WILL things to go the way I wanted. When will I ever learn? Never mind, DON'T answer that. So anyhow, no Missouri for. At least not now. There is some good news though. T-Mobile were very impressed with Scott and are considering him for a position in their office in Salem, Oregon. I'm almost afraid to pray about this one. I think I'll just take comfort in the knowledge that I received an answer from our Father in Heaven reassuring me that everything will work out fine. Can I get an AMEN?!?!

Waiting To Land

We have never I repeat NEVER been up in the air for this long. People ask me what our plan is and I just have to shrug. I feel like saying, "I don't know? You tell ME." I know that's lame, but that's all I've got right now. Scott went on his job interview with T-Mobile in Missouri last Friday. He says that he feels good about it and that they will let him know within the next 30 days. Seems like a long time to me, but what do I know? I'll tell you what I know. I know that Scott needs a job. I know that we need health insurance. I know that we have to be out of the house by then end of January. After some serious thinking, I've decided to encourage my boys to become plumbers. I've never heard of an unemployed plumber. I've come to the conclusion that the corporate thing is WAY too unstable. On the bright side......oh come on, there's GOT to be something positive in my life......hmmmmmm, Oh yeah! My knees still bend the right Way! So there we go!