Shaking things up a bit

I'm moaning about the eternal American school holidays over at Pond Parleys. I know the 6 weeks that some British schools get is a little on the paltry side, but 3 months?? My kids broke up on June 9th and don't go back till September 10th. Shall we just say that I'm craving some solitude?

Unfortunately, back-to-school time doesn't always make me feel any happier. Apart from the fact that I positively loathe Chicago winters, I also confess to getting a little bored with the endless routine that is term time. You know - yelling at the kids about homework, sports equipment, music practice, or going to bed before midnight. The endless laundry, thinking up dinners that don't threaten the outbreak of WW3, and all that.

Yes, I - along with a few others I'm sure, - am experiencing a bit of ennui.- synonyms include listlessness, tedium, lassitude, languor. Pick one.

Don't worry though - I have plans to shake things up a bit around here. ("Oh no, here she goes with one of her lists."   I can hear you, you know.)

Apart from the threat of removing the Man-Child from his expensive private school if he doesn't get his nose to the grindstone text books, (boot camp perhaps?), the other regime changes for this school year will include:

- every member of the family who ever asked for a dog, taking shared responsibility for its physical and emotional well-being. And poops.

- that will include the Ball & Chain, even though he never actually asked for said dog. However, if dog is purchased for children's enjoyment, it becomes the responsibility of both parents.

- all personal items being taken upstairs every single night. The bench at the front door is not a repository for anything other than baseball caps in the summer, and scarves and gloves in the winter.

- no one eating food outside of the kitchen or the dining room (when we have company). I know it sounds like a draconian measure, but food left on the floor attracts ants, and juice secretly spilled tends to become hard and sticky on the rugs.

- asking permission before borrowing anything of mine (I-phone chargers, tweezers, sneakers/trainers) and PUTTING IT BACK.

There. I feel better already!

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What's Not to Love?

I think I've been conned, or made a very poor decision. Possibly both.

I started a Twitter account and after less than 48 hours I think I regret it. I can't delete it just yet; that would make me look like a complete loser. 

Why did I do this if it's such a burden? you ask.  Well, as a writer, I'm supposed to have a platform. I think my platform is coming along nicely, what with all the expatty stuff I write and 'do'. Apparently however, I need thousands upon thousands of Twitter and Facebook followers to attract a publisher. They aren't content with a damn good book, a previously published author with oddles of presence and a solid platform these days. Oh no. They're ten a penny. What you have to bring now, is a ready made audience.

I can't be bothered with the FB thing. I'm quite familiar with all that and people don't just stumble upon your page. It's a lot of work for questionable reward.  I was, however, assured by at least a thousand people that Twitter was wonderful, I would soon get the hang of it, and it was positively essential for my writer cred.

Trouble is, I can't think of a single thing to say. In just a few words anyway. She who hasn't met a silence she coldn't fill, a comment box she could ignore, is struggling to Tweet.

People - I need reassurance.

Oh yes, and what's the # thing anyway?

(You can find me as @ToniHargis on Twitter, since the ExpatMum name was already taken.)

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Phew - that went quickly.

Arrived back in Chicago last night after a whirlwind few weeks in England. Didn't get to do much as time meant that it was mostly taken up with family, which is fine with me. I'm not going to complain any more about the weather as we did have a few glorious days in the second week.

One of those days involved a gathering of extended family members. My mother has somewhere around fifty first cousins (I know), and I know a lot of their children although I have never actually counted how many second cousins there are. Anyway, on my 2nd weekend we met up with one branch of my mum's cousins and a few of their children, who are my age.

Don't know if you remember me mentioning that Trish at Mum's Gone To... turns out to be one of said second cousins, but here we are at her mum's house enjoying good food and great company. And if you look at the tips of our noses, you can see the family resemblance!

Then, the day before I left, I did the first ever podcast interview for the Expat Focus web site where I am a columnist.

You can listen to this here.  (Don't worry, it lasts about 5 minutes tops.)

Right, - I have three suitcases to unpack.  Groan.

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