Mullet?

So, I just noticed something funny. There is this dark "band" of something behind my head in my profile picture that almost makes me look like I have a mullet! Ha-ha-ha-ha! For the record, NO, I do not have a mullet-- my hair would have to be a lot longer for that (and that's implying that I would actually be going for the mullet-look). If any of you actually came to that conclusion, SHAME on you (you know me better than that!) :)

Mommy's Little Summer "Vacation"

While the boys' last day of school is this Friday, I am officially starting my summer vacation today. After what has been a very busy Spring, with work, I finally have all of my photography jobs wrapped-up. I still have orders to process, but I have all of my on-site and editing work completed-- that is, until the next job hits my calendar. For now, however, I'm free and clear to focus on things other than work.

Not that I'm not grateful for the jobs-- I am, but I'd just rather they didn't come in huge waves all the time. This past week alone, I had two huge jobs to finish up in a much shorter period of time than I usually allow myself. So, to not have that hanging over my head is quite a relief, and although I appreciate the extra income, I am looking forward to a little break.

I know you're thinking, "What break? Aren't your kids going to be home full time after this week?" Yes, they are, but I am actually looking foward to it. The time I spend each week, driving them to and from school, getting them ready for school, helping with homework, and ironing their clothes, will get to be spent on much more enjoyable things, and I am SO looking foward to it! Not only will I get to spend more time with the kids, but I'll finally get to start getting caught-up on all those "projects" I've been meaning to do around the house! Yippee!

So, between a lull at work, and the kids' summer vacation, I'm getting my own "vacation". Maybe this means I'll have more time to blog. Hmmm.... that's an idea!

I Get It.

So, tonight I made a point to sit down and watch the season premiere of "Jon & Kate Plus Eight". I've never been a hardcore follower of the show-- it's always been the sort of thing where, if I was sitting in bed at night flipping channels, and it was on, I would stop on that channel to watch it. Call me a dork, but it's fascinating to watch, and I actually, in some ways, identify with some of their chaos.

So there I was, watching tonight's show, knowing good and well (according to all the hooplah and commericals) that they were going to discuss all of the issues that are being splashed all over the tabloids. However, those of you who know me pretty well, know that I wasn't tuned-in to gawk (or to roll my eyes at Kate's hair). I was watching because I "get it", and sometimes it helps to know you're not the only one.

Before Kate every discussed her personal life during her interview, and they were just showing her preparing for the kids' birthday party, I recognized the look on her face, her body language, all of it, and I found it to be completely heart-breaking. Those viewers who just tuned-in to gawk probably wouldn't even notice, but I saw it all as plain as day-- the "I'm trying" look, and it sucks.

Jon and Kate's joint interview was hauntingly familiar, as was Kate's solo confessional. Is this sort of thing really that common? It seems to be happening everywhere I look, and I guess I feel foolish for being so blind to it before. It isn't that you want more people to walk in your incredibly overwhelmed shoes, because you don't, but when you realize that there are swarms of people out there, going through the exact same thing, I guess it at least helps you feel more "normal", if that makes any sense at all. Plus, it's just good to know that there are other people out there who "get it".

Why I Nearly Choked On My Breakfast

Okay, so we've all heard and/or read about all of the personal drama with Jon and Kate Gosselin, of "Jon & Kate Plus 8". I totally love that show, although sometimes I think Kate can turn into the dragon lady. Not that I blame her-- she has eight kids and a busy life, and the stress must be overwhelming. Not placing judgement on Kate's personality-- to each their own. I'm sure she does the best she can.

She is not, however, doing the best she can when it comes to her hair. I'm sorry people, but it's so bad that it actually makes me comment out-loud to myself about how bad it is every time I see it. I actually mumble, "Oh God, her hair. What the hell is wrong with her?" It's like someone chopped out the back of what would've been a cute bob with a chainsaw. I'm not proclaiming myself to be a hair expert, but c'mon. I even usually like asymmetrical hairstyles, but her exaggerated long bangs on one side of her head just leave me scratching mine.

I know, you're thinking, "Seriously, Hill? You have nothing better to blog about?"

Well, normally I would've kept my feelings to myself, but the Yahoo! entertainment website OMG! posted an article today, entitled, "Kate Gosselin: Everybody Wants My Hairstyle". I nearly choked on my breakfast. Is she out of her mommy mind? If you don't believe me, check it out yourself: http://omg.yahoo.com/news/kate-gosselin-everybody-wants-my-hairstyle/22520

It was comforting to find out that there are others out there in the world who share my opinion of her 'do. It's a shame, because she's an attractive woman. Unfortunately, I'm only going to be tortured by more pictures of this atrocious coif the more she and her husband are in the media. Selfish, I know. Honestly, though (hair aside), I really do hope that they take their focus away from celebrity and wealth, and place it on repairing their family life. This has got to be a nightmare for their kids.

Bloggity-Blog-Blog-Blog

So, I kinda fell off the ol' bloggin' wagon, huh? I go in spurts, I guess. Maybe one of these days I can get into habitual blogging, but as of right now, I find it hard to believe that I can actually, consistently, make it part of my routine. Hats off to all of you who can!

What's new? Well, my photography "career" is blossoming, which is exciting and nerve-wracking all at the same time. Lotsa pressure-- lotsa, lotsa pressure. Deadlines. Expectations. The tough thing is that there are no "do-overs". You get what you get, so you gotta get it right the first time. Pressure. Still, I can't complain, especially in this crappy economy-- I have an income, however small, and I like what I do. As soon as I bulk up my gallery website, I'll put out a blog about it, but that's next on my online agenda.

The kids are great-- evil, but great. We've had this bout of non-stop rain lately, so the kiddos have been cooped-up indoors, and we have all had about enough of that. Lots of tantrums and back-talk, which makes me want to go jump off the roof, but I guess that's all part of it. The boys are wrapping up their first year of school, which I can hardly wrap my head around, and Quincy will be venturing off to The Land Of The Potty once the boys are on summer vacation. Yay!-- More laundry! Just what I always wanted!

In more exciting news, Amanda and I scored tickets to U2 in October-- WOO! On the field, all that energy-- so stinkin' cool! I can hardly wait, can't you tell? Even if I fall off the bloggin' wagon again, I'll be sure to at least blog about that.

What else? Oh yes, the movie festival. I totally dropped the ball on that, huh? Anyway, that's a whole separate blog in and of itself (on my to-do list), but long-story-short, I wound up puking my guts out Saturday night, and was unable to view the final two films. Sooooo, I get to break the tie between Chuck Norris and Steven Seagal, as to who is worse. I've watched the Chuck Norris selection, but haven't had time to put myself the Steven Seagal cheese factor, just yet. To be continued...

Man, there are so many things that I want to blog about, but they really require their own, separate blog, so I'll have to get better about this. Anyway, just wanted to at least touch base and rejoin the land of blogging before jumping in head-first. 'Til next time.