this woman’s work

I’m way too busy (and behind) to do anything else and I just got another assignment/job last night. Ack. (That’s a happy “ack” by the way.)

1. I was at a meeting last night sponsored by the Greater Columbus Arts Council about bringing an ArtSpace to Columbus. This is an organization that takes a run-down building and (usually) turns it into a multi-use site with live/work apartments for artists. Because they are subsidized housing there are income limits, which allows artists to find affordable housing within an arts community where they can have their dance or painting studios. As a writer I don’t need special space (I can make do with any flat surface) but the idea of living in a community of creative types does sound lovely. Until I remember what an introvert I am. But this is a great program and right now the folks in charge are looking to see whether or not it would serve the Columbus arts community and whether or not the Powers that Be would support it. I would really love to see it happen because I think it would be a boon to our community. And the lofts they make? Gorgeous!!!
2. I have been thinking more and more about how to get Madison more casual access to the African American community and am anxious for preschool to start. I was also thinking about school. At this point I’m still leaning strongly towards homeschooling for her but I think she will want to go to school at some point and I don’t think our district has enough black people to be a good fit for her. We moved here for a lot of reasons — proximity to family, our homeschooling people and my long-time friends, and the presence of an alternative high school that seems like a good fit for Noah. But by the time Noah is out of high school Madison will just be looking at middle school and so even if Noah does decide to go to high school, we could think about moving then. The walkability of this neighborhood is so terrific that I would be loathe to move someplace without it but I think this will be do-able. The city is changing a lot and I’m not sure where it will be in the next five to seven years (so much of school stuff depends on the next presidential administration, too, and what they do with No Child Left Behind). But I’m definitely thinking that we will need to look elsewhere to give Madison more opportunity.
3. I’m spending about 50% of my time on business work and 50% of my time on creative work. This suits me. Obviously some days are more one than the other but I kept track of my hours recently and that’s about what I’m doing. Together it adds up to a little less than full-time. This suits me, too. But I miss housewife-ing. I miss taking as much care of the kids as I’d like and baking muffins and making my own hummus but now is the time for work so work I will do. I wish Brett didn’t rely on take-out quite so much but otherwise I’d say he’s doing a pretty fabulous job with the kids. It turns out he doesn’t clean anymore often than I did (drat — I did so hope one of us would be a good housekeeper!) but he’s much more active with the kids. I personally like sticking to home but he takes the kids to parks and activities and things and Madison adores all the action.
4. Noah is becoming independently wealthy with his paper route. Remind me to hit the kid up for a loan.
5. I’m having very mixed feelings about this virtual school gig we’ve got going on with Noah. His stuff is winging its way to us now and I feel like the cage doors are closing. I’m pretty sure Noah will love virtual school otherwise I’d call the whole thing off. Dealing with the bureaucracy reminded me of the many, many reasons I don’t like the system and I can only hope that we’ll make it our own. At least we won’t be giving up our family flexibility. It’s the best thing about homeschooling — living our lives on our own schedule. With Brett home I feel like we could up and run at any time, which is appealing. When the off-season starts and everyone else is at their desks I think we might take a vacation.

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