Where nowhere seems safe

One of our local malls was the scene of a "shooting rampage" today that killed three and wounded a handful of others. It's the mall where The Banker and I used to go and see movies while we dated in high school. And it's the very mall where we took Becca just last weekend for a quick trip into Target. We almost went there again yesterday for diapers, but she started to get cranky and we cut our trip short. It's so disheartening that no place seems safe anymore.

Rule of Nature #6

When you feel like crap and want nothing more than an hour or two of sleep, it will be the one day your infant refuses to nap. And for kicks and grins, the weather will suddenly get cold and all your pets will act like shitheads.

Work + Baby = ?

I'm taking Peanut into work today to show her off to all the lovely ladies I work with in cubicle land. Today is fitting for several reasons: it's Becca's sixth week out and about and it's also the final day of my paid maternity leave.

While visiting The Really Big Company, I hope to catch up with my new boss and steal a minute of his time, or at least set up a time to come in next week and speak with him. I'm going to dare to inquire about any part-time opportunities...yet again. If there are no openings, I'll give my two week's notice. Or at least I think I will. Maybe.

What am I doing?!? People work for years to get into The Really Big Company and I've found success there. On the other hand, I don't think I could leave our Peanut to be raised by strangers all week long. And I know The Banker would prefer for me to remain home, though he's in no way pressuring me one way or the other. Would I go out of my mind, or could I find enough freelance to keep me engaged should I stay home?

This is one of those major life decisions, and I wish I had an easy answer.

Rule of Nature #32

When you first attempt to take your colicky infant out to dinner, she will scream like a banshee and you will run into not one but two people you knew from high school...all while looking like crap and babbling incoherently from a lack of sleep.