As you may or may not know, my partner is studying for the Bar exam. Studying for the bar is 60+ hours a week studying, and for the rest of time you’re anxious about it. This leaves everything else that needs to happen in our house and family to me. Every crisis, every errand, every deadline, every appointment, every meal, every load of laundry… You get the idea. I’m basically a single parent of three until August.

I’m feeling very overwhelmed.

So I need help. Based on the last week or so, and what’s coming up in the foreseeable future, I think I have an idea of things that will help me out:

• A short list of people I can call to handle small timely errands: eg. someone who can do something like go to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription, go to the Post Office, etc… Things that happen during business hours. Things that need to happen in a day or two.
• People who can pick up my kid from school and take him home for the next month. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 3:30pm, in Center City Philadelphia (near 19th and Market).
• People who can make dinner for us periodically. Two people have said they would. Neither have actually followed through. Ideally, I’d like some notice so I can know dinner is taken care of and not have to think about it all day.
  Food requirements: I am vegan. Miles is picky, he likes mostly beige food (pasta with very little sauce, tofu, rice, crackers etc…), cheese, and fruit. Please don’t let Miles’ taste dictate what you make, but his consideration would be appreciated - I like it when he eats. Also, we’re a family of four.
• People to help me do normal everyday things; laundry, grocery shop, clean the goddamn toilet, other house-hold chores…
• People to do random acts of kindness (come by and hang out with my kids, or take one to the park or a movie - I’ll fucking pay for it; dark chocolate is awesome, so is vegan ice cream; there’s always a load of laundry to be done and folded - we have washer and dryer, you can do your laundry while you take my kid to the park or make us dinner; or whatever else you think would be nice).
• A person I can complain to, about how busy I feel, or how tired I am.
• Please don’t ask me what you can do to help. Instead, TELL me what you will do to help. (Really, I can’t emphasis this enough.)
• Understand that I don’t feel like I can take on anything new right now. Please don’t ask me to make a decision, don’t ask me what I want. Please just do whatever it is that needs to be done. If you want my presence at some event, tell me when and where to show up and what I need to bring (if anything). I’ll let you know if I can make it. Understand if I back out last minute.
• And possibly most important, if you tell me you’re going to do something, know that I’m counting on you to do it, and please, please, PLEASE follow through to the very end (eg: If you come over and cook, wash the dishes you used too. Please don’t create more work for me with your act of kindness).

Thank you, for anything you can do. Thanks for understanding.

Oh, and to top it off, my computer at home is overheating. I get 20 minutes use at best… I think I need to re-seat the heat-sink, and possibly install a new fan. If you have experience with such things, your insight and help would be much appreciated.

solarcult:

ulrikemeanchoff:

1. No bullying.
2. Stay hydrated.
3. Dressing in a chicken suit will get you kicked in the head by Black Witchery.

You forgot. “woah, we didn’t die and people still dig Eyehategod”

and “check your instrument cables or you’ll get shut down by the cops.”