Now I know why the Murphys stay up late

This week was one of the busiest work week I've had this year. AND, I had to take an actual day off from school because my son was sick, so I was down one obligation.

Let me say that grant writing is quite a process. It involves so much research, knowledge of your organization and well-planned ideas that you can convey in a simple writing style. I've been successful with four out of five of my grants this year and yeah, I'll toot my own horn about it because I am happy for a good track record. This week, three major grants were due on Thursday. I spent several hours on the phone with the artistic director to shore up details, giving her lists of things to do and sign. Then, more hours writing and revising and re-revising. All the grants had to entered electronically with specific word counts, font size, with several uploaded documents and hey, you can only submit once in the system. So, it has to be right before you click submit, there's no retrieving it for changes once it is out there.

I ended up working until 2 and 3am a few nights this week. I even managed to outlast Thomas and that is hard to do! But I discovered that working in the evening has its distinct advantages-the boys are asleep and Thomas is usually playing his video game, so he isn't a factor of distraction either. It was quiet and I could think clearly and uninterrupted, especially after a Starbucks run one evening and a few Diet Pepsis on another. Now, on one night I only managed three hours of sleep because the exact moment I slipped into bed, a certain little infant began a coughing fit. (a double ear infection was clogging him up) At most points, I was consumed with completing these grants, resorting to repeated episodes of Diego and Backyardigans, and even dropped the boys off at daycare for a few hours of work. Sleep seemed secondary.

The grants are in. Now we just wait and see what the panelists say. I have a distinct feeling that one may not get through. The other two have a really great shot at approval.

I spoke with my father-in-law on Thursday night (once the grants were in and I could relax) and he shared his own upcoming possibilities for teaching over the next few weeks, which I hope come to fruition for him. I also had a chance to tell him about the grant writing and the non-profit work I have been involved with over the last few months. How I felt I was trying to create focus and organization for the artistic directors, which can be quite a challenge. He told me a story about his aunt and how she changed careers following her retirement from education. She moved into office work and became very successful. He mentioned how some people can change career focus with a great deal of success. I have to say that I felt very encouraged just by talking with him. It motivated me to push through my fear of failure and starting focusing on getting the experience to move forward. Thomas and I always say that his dad and I have some cosmic connection.

I have also started a class about non-profit management, where I am learning so much. There are a series of grant writing and other non-profit management courses that I intend to complete over the next six months. It fulfills a basic need for writing, which I love to do. It's organized and I love organized, especially as having children who have unraveled any semblance of personal organization. It's leadership without being the ideas person. I've never been a great ideas person, but I can carry out a plan.

One of the grants I wrote this week was for a local music teacher. She and I had a phone conversation earlier in the week so I could finalize details. Late last year, I wrote a successful grant for her school to have musicians come for a 10 day residency and she enlisted my help again for another residency grant. She told me that she had referred me to several music teachers for grant writing assistance and was hoping I would have a card to give out soon. Wow.

Finally, I got a lead on another non-profit job as a part time coordinator for another arts organization. It has a lot of similar duties to the chorale position, with the addition of grant writing. I spoke with the president of the organization, who requested my resume. We'll see if she decides to call for an interview.

Life outside of work is also keeping us on our toes. The washing machine quit this week, which will need to be looked at ASAP. Apparently, it stopped agitating, which is funny, because I feel extremely agitated by it.

Ian has discovered a new phrase, which has been driving us up a wall. If I tell him no,that he cannot do or have something, he turns around and says, "Mommy, I said YES." This comes in several variations, as in "I said it's time for bed." "No, Mommy, it's not time for bed, I said no!" and so on. I believe that phrase "terrible twos" should be revised to "terrible threes". Connor has discovered how to pester his big brother effectively. And when he isn't pestering Ian, he is attached to my legs like glue. Fun.

Thomas is busy doing a solo steel pan gig, which he is gaging to see if he wants to invest more time and money into this type of work. I am looking forward to seeing how things went. He has been practicing in the garage with a sound system and it sounds like a block party at our house. I told him I'd like to hire him to play at my son's birthday party.

Well, I am off to read another lesson for class, figure out what's for dinner and wrap my friend's son's birthday present which is a Diego megablok center. Ian was a little put out that the Diego megablock toy wasn't for him, so it is in a safe hiding spot in the garage. He was also disappointed that we didn't take home several other (enormous) toys from the toy store. Note to self: Do not bring your child to the toy store to buy toys for other children. Lesson learned.

And tonight, I plan to stay up late and enjoy the peace and quiet once the boys are in bed even though I don't have pressing work. No wonder most of the Murphys are up late.