And What did you do on your Summer Vacation? Part II

For the first time ever, the Pixeladies took the summer off. If you want to know what a productive summer was like, you’ll have to read Deb’s post. My main goal was to find a part-time job to help pay for our new 2017 fully ELECTRIC Chevy Bolt! I am totally in love with this car! Charging for pennies a day (or for free when Neil takes the car to work), driving in the HOV/carpool lanes when I’m by myself, and feeling like I’m cleaning the air as I drive are just some of the reasons for my exuberance, but I digress. 

I thought it would be very easy to pick up an online editing job, but my job search has been one of the most demoralizing experiences I’ve ever had. There are a lot of jobs out there, but you would think you’d need a Ph.D. (oh, wait, I’ve got one) and family connections (not when they’re all government employees) to land a position. Sigh. The search continues.

When not looking for work, I spent lots of time with family and friends. I went to a small town near Reno, Nevada, to see where my sister is building her new home. In less than four months, she will be a short three-hour drive away instead of fourteen. I can’t wait to have her so close again. As many of you know, I have been tutoring my grand nephew in Spanish. When I found out that his summer reading list included All Quiet on the Western Front, I begged to read it with him. With its seemingly simple and straightforward narrative, it’s no wonder high schools often require their students read it. I think its masterful pointedness gives it a universality that is relevant even today.

I also took trips to the Bay Area and San Francisco, one of my favorite cities. Taking my Precious Pup to see the Summer of Love exhibit at the De Young Museum was simply joyous. On another occasion, Neil and I spent a great day with old friends, Andy and Amy. It’s fun to hang out in this city with people who love discovering the spot where Miles Archer was gunned down by Brigid O’Shaughnessy.

I wasn’t very creative in that artsy way, but I did pick up my knitting needles again to knit washcloths to give away as gifts. It’s a nice activity when I’m watching television. Here are a few I finished. (Shh, the green and blue ones are a surprise for Deb’s new kitchen, so don’t tell her!)

Now that the Pixeladies are back to work, I’ll return to cutting words and phrases out of magazines and newspapers. I think we may need to do this vacation thing again next year. I still haven’t organized my photo collection!