Back, but not to The Screen Savers

Nearly every day I receive an email asking when I plan to come back to The Screen Savers. I've been vague in my responses, because I didn't know what would happen until today.

Before I left for maternity leave I made every effort to organize in-house daycare, even at my own expense. But for liability reasons, TechTV made it clear that that wasn't possible. Before I left I also inquired about coming back part time, but I was given vague answers. ("I'm not going to say yes and I'm not going to say no.") I hoped that meant that when the time came they would allow me to come back for reduced hours at reduced pay. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, even temporarily. The Screen Savers wanted me back "in the chair" 5 days a week as soon as my legal maternity leave ran out, or not at all.

I won't say I wasn't hurt by their decision. I know I was asking a lot, but I also felt that I had given a lot to the show throughout the years. I thought I was going to have to leave TechTV until they mentioned an open position for a web associate producer for Call for Help. They offered me the job on Friday and I accepted today. For those of you who are keeping track, this is the position on The Screen Savers that I started with at TechTV three years ago. The difference is that my new bosses Tom and Nicole are allowing me to work 2 days of the week at home. I will still need care for Annabella, but I won't need to waste all that additional commuting time for those two days.

I loved working on The Screen Savers website and I think I'll enjoy working on The Call for Help website even more. I am incredibly thankful to Tom and Nicole for offering me the position and for being so flexible. The Call for Help time slot isn't the best, but I think the show has always been a little more my style.

As you know I've been working freelance for Peachpit Press since my maternity leave pay ran out last month. I need to finish up there and get adjusted to Annabella being in day care, so I plan to take all my saved vacation time and sick time and return to Call for Help on July 31st.

Back, but not to The Screen Savers

Nearly every day I receive an email asking when I plan to come back to The Screen Savers. I've been vague in my responses, because I didn't know what would happen until today.

Before I left for maternity leave I made every effort to organize in-house daycare, even at my own expense. But for liability reasons, TechTV made it clear that that wasn't possible. Before I left I also inquired about coming back part time, but I was given vague answers. ("I'm not going to say yes and I'm not going to say no.") I hoped that meant that when the time came they would allow me to come back for reduced hours at reduced pay. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case, even temporarily. The Screen Savers wanted me back "in the chair" 5 days a week as soon as my legal maternity leave ran out, or not at all.

I won't say I wasn't hurt by their decision. I know I was asking a lot, but I also felt that I had given a lot to the show throughout the years. I thought I was going to have to leave TechTV until they mentioned an open position for a web associate producer for Call for Help. They offered me the job on Friday and I accepted today. For those of you who are keeping track, this is the position on The Screen Savers that I started with at TechTV three years ago. The difference is that my new bosses Tom and Nicole are allowing me to work 2 days of the week at home. I will still need care for Annabella, but I won't need to waste all that additional commuting time for those two days.

I loved working on The Screen Savers website and I think I'll enjoy working on The Call for Help website even more. I am incredibly thankful to Tom and Nicole for offering me the position and for being so flexible. The Call for Help time slot isn't the best, but I think the show has always been a little more my style.

As you know I've been working freelance for Peachpit Press since my maternity leave pay ran out last month. I need to finish up there and get adjusted to Annabella being in day care, so I plan to take all my saved vacation time and sick time and return to Call for Help on July 31st.

Annabella & Rosie

Post face-licking:

Annabella & Rosie

Post face-licking:

Naked Matrix Baby

Here is Trinitybella doing her naked Matrix routine while her leather outfit is at the cleaners.

It helps that she has her foot in her daddy's pocket.

Naked Matrix Baby

Here is Trinitybella doing her naked Matrix routine while her leather outfit is at the cleaners.

It helps that she has her foot in her daddy's pocket.

Road Trip

We just got back yesterday from our summer road trip to Bozeman, Montana to visit Marco's family. It was many hours in the car and much nursing at gas stations in the desert, but it was worth it to celebrate Marco's dad's 70th birthday.

Annabella got to a chance to meet all her cousins on her dad's side - Henry, Rosie, Vincent and Frank. Vincent ran from her when she started to cry, Rosie licked her, Frank was more interested in her grandmother's shoes and Henry barked a lot. She was thrilled to meet all of them, but is also looking forward to meeting her cousin Hayes in a few weeks since he is neither a cat nor a dog, but a real baby like she is.

The almanac has come back from the editor and so I am furiously making many needed changes, but I will try to post some pictures of our trip soon.

Have you heard how hot it is here?

Road Trip

We just got back yesterday from our summer road trip to Bozeman, Montana to visit Marco's family. It was many hours in the car and much nursing at gas stations in the desert, but it was worth it to celebrate Marco's dad's 70th birthday.

Annabella got to a chance to meet all her cousins on her dad's side - Henry, Rosie, Vincent and Frank. Vincent ran from her when she started to cry, Rosie licked her, Frank was more interested in her grandmother's shoes and Henry barked a lot. She was thrilled to meet all of them, but is also looking forward to meeting her cousin Hayes in a few weeks since he is neither a cat nor a dog, but a real baby like she is.

The almanac has come back from the editor and so I am furiously making many needed changes, but I will try to post some pictures of our trip soon.

Have you heard how hot it is here?

I loosened it for you

You know when you're trying to open a stuck jar? You try and try and put all your strength into it and finally someone who is not nearly as strong and mighty as you are walks by and says, "here, let me try." You say, "Fine. Good luck," sarcastically, with the emphasis on the "good" and the "luck." You know what happens next. The jar pops open with ease and the person who is not as strong and mighty as you looks smug. And you know in your heart that the only reason they opened it so easily is that you loosened it for them.

The same thing happens with crying babies. You can hold them and rock them and swing them and sing to them and they'll just keep on screaming. Then someone who is not as good at being this baby's mother as you are, comes by and says, "here, let me try." If the baby stops crying you should always reassure yourself that babies are just like jars.

I loosened it for you

You know when you're trying to open a stuck jar? You try and try and put all your strength into it and finally someone who is not nearly as strong and mighty as you are walks by and says, "here, let me try." You say, "Fine. Good luck," sarcastically, with the emphasis on the "good" and the "luck." You know what happens next. The jar pops open with ease and the person who is not as strong and mighty as you looks smug. And you know in your heart that the only reason they opened it so easily is that you loosened it for them.

The same thing happens with crying babies. You can hold them and rock them and swing them and sing to them and they'll just keep on screaming. Then someone who is not as good at being this baby's mother as you are, comes by and says, "here, let me try." If the baby stops crying you should always reassure yourself that babies are just like jars.