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April 1, 2008
I hope it's worth it
The Make Work Grants were due yesterday. Yesterday at 5pm that is. I leisurely got my copies done, made my CD with images, planned my lesson for art class, and hung out with friends on Saturday. Yesterday I left with 2 hours to spare before class to go to Office Depot and get folders to look professional. I can't believe how un-helpful their staff was. They had no idea where I could find a plain, black, two pocket folder with no brackets that didn't have Five Star or kitties splashed across the front. I searched for 30 minutes, probably neglecting my children a bit too much, for those blasted folders. I found them, no help from the staff.
I taught class with about half a brain, I was thinking I needed to assemble my applications and that would ease my mind. I did it during the high school class all the while sharing with them the process. Shouldn't every artistic venture be a learning experience? I left school around 3:20 with the plan to make a B-line for Create Here's office to get that application dropped off. I was so nervous. I didn't want to be, but I knew I had to get that application out my hands to feel better. I also had too much caffiene yesterday, that doesn't help the old nerves. I parked, left the kids in car right outside. I ran into Laura Murray from AVA and gave her a hug. I was handed a check list, "Do you want to run down this list and make sure you have all of these things?" I looked at it and noticed there were things on that checklist that I didn't make 6 copies of. Some things they had not asked for. I felt my temperature rise. I was pissed. Don't they know I have my KIDS in the car?? I can't just "run to copy place". "Hopefully we'll see you before 5?" "You probably won't" I said. I drove home because I had to make 5 more copies of my CD. It took me all afternoon Saturday to figure out how to make CD's on this new laptop. I grabbed my laptop and my stack of CD's and told the kids, "we're going to Grandma's house". Dad has a printer that copies, and the kids would be happy. They wouldn't nap, but they'd be pleasantly distracted. So for the 3 miles between my house and Mom's I called her and said, "I'm so sorry, I didn't want to do this but I'm desperate." I copied 5 more copies of my signature page, W-9, and letters of Reccomendation. My dad copies CD's of his old music all the time and without his help I would never have had a chance. He made 5 more copies for me without a hitch. I was fussing the whole time how I HATED procrastinating and how I know Create Here is new and is fumbling through this process just like me but ARGH! If I had made my copies Sunday night I would have been able to trouble shoot BEFORE 4pm.
Yesterday was my Mom's birthday and we were going to have dinner with them anyway. Two hours early didn't seem too bad. I just know how Mom works, especially when she's making dinner. But really, it could not have been an easier problem fixer. Mom had dinner ready to pop in the oven, the kids changed into dress-ups and helped put candles in the birthday cake. Monday is Dad's day off so he was spending his afternoon trying to fix the doorbell, he was glad to stop and make copies. I was able to snatch my purse at 4:40 and say, "I'm leaving, I'll be back!" I ran into Mia (a wonderful portrait painter) as I hustled back into Create Here. She said she finished her application ina weekend. It took me 2 weeks. It's a different timeline when you have little kids to care for. I told the receptionist, "Next time, put this checklist in your PDF file". She said she made it up this morning because of the confusion. Ugh. We're all newbies.
I was frazzled beyond belief. I needed a drink. This morning I'm nursing soreness from being so rushed. I don't think I"ve been that nervous in a long time. The thing is, I hope it's worth it. I told myself I wouldn't kill myself over this thing. I hope disappointment isn't around the corner. But I've been praying that this experience helps me try again and again. It would be awesome to get money. We'll have to wait a month and see.
fine art | By | 9:26 AM
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Comments
Aren't parents wonderful? Congrats on getting it in on time. As a fellow procrastinator I understand your frustrations. :)
Posted by: Emma at April 2, 2008 8:18 AM
Oh, thanks for sharing. I'll be praying for your peace. A month of waiting! That's the hard part now!
Posted by: lynnp at April 1, 2008 9:15 PM
Great story, Kate! Oh, by the way, you left some CDs and marker and envelope here. :) We loved that we could help!
Posted by: Dad at April 1, 2008 6:23 PM
i believe its worth it, no matter what! love you much and wish i could have helped watch the kids or something...see you soon.
Posted by: may you have peace at April 1, 2008 12:25 PM
i know that this might sound like me being a nosy neighbor, but i noticed that you guys were gone all day and nearly called to make sure that you were not stranded somewhere with a broken-down van...
sorry that your day was so stressful. mark was scrambling to get his application put together as well. good luck!
Posted by: amber at April 1, 2008 10:19 AM
