New normal

Two months ago my dear husband was released from job without further ado. Since then we've been in survival mode. After the initial shock and the feeling of despair and wanting to cry I became calm. Weird but true. Then I needed continue trying to figure out what my new normal was going to be when it finally unveiled itself.
So I the first thing I did was make sure my family had food. My husband made sure we had a roof over our heads. These actions took quit a swallowing of pride which can be very bitter. I called the local food bank and looked into food stamps. My husband contacted relatives to secure our home. 
Secondly we began to look for employment. Oddly enough, because of the season, I got a job fairly quickly. Not great job but a job. And we continue to look for better more sustainable positions.
Survival mode is a strange way of being. You act as if everything is normal and its not. You cut all the things you can and wish the holidays weren't just around the corner. But as I stated earlier I have a odd sense of calm. I have hope. I don't have answers but I have hope.

I think we're gonna need...

So the economy has not been on its best behavior for years. It seems that no matter what is done it keeps spiralling the drain. In the last six years I've seen long term employees cut loose to restart their lives. We were blessed for a while (we've been blessed always but that's not where I'm going right now) to not only keep my husband's career going at the same company but he even got promoted. This promotion moved us across the states and it was good. In all actuality it was too good to be true. Both my husband and I though truly thankful for the opportunity felt as if the bottom was going to fall out at any moment. Then it did. He was laid off and given a severance package. Stressed out over the previous 18 months of work he needed a change. That change came two fold, first he trained and became an over the road truck driver and then we moved back to Colorado. These decisions were filled with difficulty. First DH would be away for long periods of time leaving me to parent alone. Secondly the monetary compensation wasn't going to be enough although trucking companies brag that it's great and wonderful and rewarding.
The biggest issue with changing fields for a time is getting back into the previous career once your blood pressure has resumed regular levels. Plus the economy isn't what it used to be in Denver. Although DH began looking into IT jobs in Denver about nine months into trucking nothing came to fruition. Nothing. No calls. No interviews. Nothing. Then he changed trucking jobs and came home. On many very important levels this was fabulous. I had my husband back. My boys had their father. We were together again. The biggest problem with the new job is to get paid the most money for his time he is on call six days a week. A tough life even with having him a home. Thus we continue the search.
Recently we decided to cast a wider net for jobs. We started looking in Seattle. So far we've had better results than the previous 15 months. Nothing in life is certain. I hear the weather is much more damp and even wet in the Northwest. I think we're gonna need better shoes. Rainboots....

In the meantime

Whether you're waiting for the second coming of Christ or the zombie apocalypse, what are you doing in the meantime? How are you spending your days and how are you preparing for the future?

Best happy hour

The Exchange Tavern is my happiest find last year. Since moving back to Broomfield I've been there twice. Not a lot but great both times.
Not only do they have awesome deals on drinks but their small plates and appetizers are phenomenal. I especially like the guacamole and plantain chips. There's a lot of things I won't eat on their menu because of gluten. They have lots of clearly marked gluten free and or dairy free items.
The atmosphere is wonderfully pub like. We often sit near the pizza oven and watch the guy make flatbread creations.

My second happiest happy hour is ...

Things I started in my forties

Running. Technically I started running in my late thirties. I took a while to get hooked and now I am. Crazy ideas like running a marathon. Okay maybe first a half marathon.

Makeup. I wore a lot of make in my teens. Not much in my twenties or thirties. Even when I was a Mary Kay lady I only wore it occasionally. My goal lately is to not look like I've just got off the couch and into the car. So foundation and mascara are the usual with a frequent eye shadow excursion.

Diet. I have the hardest time losing weight with my whacky thyroid. I finally went gluten free. And frequently try to go paleo. I have paleo days but allow for sensible indulgences. Sometimes not sensible but almost always gluten free. I have lost weight finally. Recently I fallen off the so called wagon and need to work a bit harder on the input and output of energy into this finely tuned machine I call me.

Since 40 is the new 30 I'm going to make the most of it.

I cry on cue

This is the honest truth. I cry on cue. Commercials, television shows, movies, etc. The music swells, the actors looks sad and I follow right along.
I used to try not to cry but it gave me a headache. I used to try to hide the tears from my boys and now I just let it go. Crying, even induced by sappiness, is rather cathartic. I would rather my boys know it's okay to be moved to tears.