N-N-OOOoooooOOOooOOoOoooOoooo

A fortune cookie said: "You could prosper in the field of medicine."

Yeah, right. As a test subject, maybe. [hic] Another green pill, please.

Hey, is hair supposed to be growing there?

Holy smokes!

How is it that we are nearly half way through the year already? I swear I didn't blink, and yet....here we are!

May is all but over and June is standing at the alter like a groom. We're over halfway to Thanksgiving and I haven't even begun my Christmas shopping! [yikes] What's more, we've just had the first horrid heat snap for this year and we still have SUMMER to get to - let alone through!

Finished with (I am almost certain) the piecing on the secret quilt, but I still need to wash, cut and attach the borders, then assemble the backing. I had hoped to take it with me this weekend to roll the extra backing over the raw edges and baste that in place for the quilting process, but I still have a lot to do before I can even get it to the stretching phase! So, I am a little behind on that project. [ultra sad face]

I am taking the new commissioned quilt with me to get started on it - that is to say, the material for the commissioned quilt - to rinse out the bleeders and cut the pieces. In a week or so I can begin assembling the blocks, and it will be nice to have everything ready to go.

Karl's in-home counseling has begun - thankfully! He likes the therapist, and they have enough in common (interests-wise) that Daniel (the therapist) can start a conversation with K when it gets quiet, and somehow morph it into something productive.

There have been so many starts and stops for Karl, it's been heartbreaking. And I think he feels deep inside why even bother if nothing ever progresses past a certain point. I know I would tend to feel a little hopeless.

Changing the subject.

Went out to the garage to bring in a new container of Nesquik so I could make some chocolate milk. I bought the large econo-sized container at Costco months ago (last visit) so that it would be here when the old one finally ran out. Can't believe the mouse in the garage chewed a hole (three, in fact) through the container!! Had to throw out an entire $7 jar of drink mix!!!!!

All mice must now die!!

Guess it's time to head back to the big "C" and get more Nesquik. That's OK, we need more TP, too.

Holy smokes, things is gettin' strange.

I'll be back a little later, for now I think I should get some things done around here.

To fan or not to fan

Good morning to Mexico and Nigeria! This is perhaps the second time I have found viewers from either of your countries. Welcome!

Well, if you've been keeping score you'll know, I am no fan of the warm weather. Anything past seventy-five degrees and I am a wreck. Over eighty and I am melting. Beyond that....well, I am literally 'toast.'

I don't mind working on something and getting sweaty. Sticky, icky, dirty. Don't mind it one bit if there's a reason behind the sweat.

But when you take a shower, and you're getting ready to leave the house, I see no reason for becoming a puddling mess simply because the weather is intemperate. C'mon, I mean...you shouldn't need a shower just because you toweled off vigorously after taking a shower, right?

I know...I know. I can hear some of you. You readers in warmer climes must think me a real marshmallow.

:^6

;^)

My house was built in the fifties, so besides forced air heat, there is no central AC; and despite several owners, it was never retro-fitted with air conditioning. It is now something I wish I had done FIRST when I had a job and had begun my remodel all those years ago. But there's no looking back or what-iffing, right? - because none of that really does any good.

The boys and I have learned how to endure and whatnot when the heat becomes unbearable, but over the last five years it's gotten so warm during the summer months that I broke down and bought a portable room AC (which really adds as much heat to the room as it cools and dehumidifies).

Still, there have been those summers where you just sit, sweaty and uncomfortable, wishing for November and hating the daylight! You beg for the days to pass quickly and for night to arrive just so the sun will stop beating down for a few hours.

On those torturously hot days we assume the nights will allow the house to cool off, and we use the attic fan to pull the air through the space, hoping to lower the temperature. Of course, that doesn't really work - part of the reason being the fool who installed the horridly loud attic fan never vented it to the outdoors, so the fan simply draws the air into the attic space, where it swirls and eddies, but never leaves!

See!? You don't have these issues in the spring and fall and winter.

We blissfully dodged a heat bullet yesterday. Somehow the completely unnecessary four-day-heatwave that was supposed to envelope us (beginning yesterday) dipped a little to our south and blessedly kept us in the delightful mid-seventies.

Yes, I called the mid-seventies "delightful", because given the choice of upper eighties and nineties or the seventies....guess which one I'd rather. Go ahead, guess. [grump]

However, today......

Well, today is a new day, and our breeze is all but gone - and the day began with the sun rising and the thermometer reading 75*F indoors already.

Summer? Feh! Still not a fan.

RNT (Redneck Theatre)

Redneck Theatre is a neighborhood thing. To be more precise, it's my neighborhood thing.

I know what you're thinking: "How come she's so uber trendy and lives in such a cool urban setting? I want to live in the theatre district, too!"

Well, you can turn off that whining valley girl faucet this instant!

While I am uber cool - it's true - my neighborhood isn't in some eclectic, funky, uptown urbania. Nope. I live in a stuck-up, sleepy little community, way north of "the D," where the people honestly think everyone secretly wants to be them.

We are surrounded by several sad, decaying towns, where crime and blight could easily overrun our quaint adorable streets, and yet most of the socialite yokels walk around like Thurston Howell the third and his doe-eyed wife, "Love-y."

But I digress.

In the big city you would call it 'everyday life.' But we aren't in the big city, and here, the neighbors' shenanigans are an excuse to grab a tub of buttered popcorn and get comfy. The only sad part is that you can't turn up the volume - and screaming "Louder!" only tends to end the performance prematurely. So, we stopped doing that.

Over the past several years our neighbors across the street have provided us with a great deal of high drama and hilarity...and I have never once sent them a thank you for the ringside seats. They have been very entertaining.

The narcotics sales, the parties, the smoking of illegal substances while having children stand in the front yard to watch for the approach of parental cars and/or the cops. Oh, and the family fights, the destruction of property, the high numbers of police vehicles....and on and on.

Most recently, Mama allowed a couple of her offspring to move back into the nest (with girlfriends/baby mamas in tow), but realized months later the error in that decision. After a rather sporadic set of afternoon matinees with the older boy and his drunky-drawer GF this week, Mama returned home from a few days absence and quickly pitched their belongings neatly onto the front porch! (This week has been an eye-opener for the new neighbors on either side of her.)

Late, late this afternoon, the mother of the drunky GF showed up for the second time in two days - and she had the hapless couple with her. They popped by to collect their impromptu yard sale items - once again, giving one of the newer neighbors something to ogle.

For many minutes after the last of the items had been loaded, the boy attempted to get his mother to come to a front bedroom window, or to the front door, or to at least answer the phone. But mom would not be budged!

Ah, RNT, I am going to miss you.

One down...?? more to go

Yesterday we purchased an industrial-sized mouse trap for our rodent problem. Sad but true....and very necessary.

Early in the day, it was loaded with a piece of apple and placed directly in front of the entrance/exit to their chippy little residence. Somehow, the little varmint(s) managed to extract the apple wedge from the trap without setting it off! - which made me wonder if the trap was going to be effective.

This morning we found a rather corpulent victim 'riggered' in place under the sprung trap - again, sad but true....and very necessary.

Don't know how many more there are to go, but we will reset it tonight (and over the next few days), and then proceed to seal up the gap in the foundation mid-week.

Yes. One down, but how many more to go?

Happy

Happy with the beautiful cool breeze (cuz I know we most likely won't have one tomorrow).

Happy with the progress on the quilt - could be happier/further along - but it is progress!

Happy with the thought I do not have to go into that classroom tonight for a test, or a final exam, or a lecture!!

Happy that the boy and girl are talking once again.

Happy with the new shower head! It actually propels water in a forceful downward spray - through all of the holes - without "peeing."

Happy that Brian can set and 'take care of' the rat traps once the chipmunk(s) are no more. [ominous music]

Happy, happy, happy!

Oh, and a little P.S.

This was the first Tuesday I didn't have to study for in a very long time. The first Tuesday I had no tests and no lectures to sit through - the first since beginning the two medical classes in February!

Feels good to have passed them so successfully, to be done with them and to move on!

A little bit

Today was a-little-bit-of-a-lot-of-stuff-kinda-day.

Worked on piecing the quilt in process; more rinsing, ironing, cutting, pairing, sewing, hanging - the tedious stuff. I managed to get very little 'actual sewing' done. Two sets of hexes, to be exact. M-m-m-aybe three. There was very little sunlight to work with, so I'm thinking my mood was somewhat affected.

Paid some bills (the littlest ones).

Listened to the radio....until the commercials drove me to distraction. That didn't take long.

Ultimately ended up in the garage, intending to get some books together for the upcoming flea market. I ended up cleaning out some stuff and making room! Felt good, but I only managed to get a little stack of books set aside for the sale in all of that time.

In the grand scheme of things, I truly only managed to get a little cleaning/purging done, too, but hey....it is more space opened up and crap out to the curb, so-o-o-o-o....

Now, if I could only manage to get Brian to take his old, bald tires to a station to have them taken off of the rims, and get them out of the middle of the garage!! That would be a little victory!

Hope you made little dents in your needful chores.

Disco must REALLY be dead

With the very recent passing of Robin Gibb and Donna Summer - both from cancer - I can only surmise the obvious:

The universe is trying to tell us "disco is dead."

Don't get me wrong, I'm not being glib about the passing of the Gibb (number three, if you're keeping score), it's just glaringly obvious any more.

Rest in peace, Ms. Summer and Mr. Gibb.

What a relief!

Thank God!

Since my present line of unemployment was growing pretty boring.

Phwew! That's a load off.

Next interview I go to I'll just make myself at home, and when they ask why I am so confident I'll just smile and tell them: "My fortune cookie said so!"

One down, one to go

Well, I had the last of my classes - and tests - for the Anatomy and Med Vocab class. Passed it!

Passed that class, and now the only bump in my road is the remaining night of HUC testing.

I am having the WORST time making myself sit and read and study, so I am thinking I will relax and goof off today (and do housework and some quilting), read the chapters tonight before bed (and then again tomorrow), and if I don't do well....it's no biggie.

Anyway, the instructor throws out our lowest score, and I have accumulated twelve weeks of scores at 98% or better (mostly better), and one test at 91%, so I will not sweat the last test.

NO STRESS!!!!

Tra-la-la.

It's a beautiful morning!

Have a great day, everyone!

This begins my last week of studying, of classes, of test-taking, of stressing and worrying.

Wait. Scratch that. The stress and concern remain, but on a narrower scope. I now will only need to worry about finding a job....again....still.

LOL

My search pool has widened. LOL

Let's concentrate on what a beautiful morning it is!

Life lessons

Who teaches that course?

Brian very recently learned a valuable lesson in lost time/wasting time/bearing grudges/growing up and letting go, [YEA!] and even he admitted 'it was about time.'

I am very proud of him. [hearts and stars and happiness]

It's a tough lesson to learn, but a necessary step in growing up and moving forward. And I think we can all agree that moving forward is so very important - so very necessary.

At the same time I hate to think it is one of those skills which, once learned, is something one will have to keep utilizing as people come and go into and out of your life. It can be heartbreaking

I suppose it is ultimately better to filter your friends and acquaintances right from the get-go; to evaluate their worthiness for inclusion into your circle (trusted, inner, outer, cursory) on a continual basis, and then feel free to heave-ho the foul ones without guilt or remorse the minute they act against you or your family or friends, your sense of decency, etc.

That isn't to say that everyone you know (and like) should be your exact equal in morals and values, in intelligence and talent, in drive and determination, in status....no! But I am getting off the point.

What's new, right?

My delight in Bud finally letting go of his anger and letting this person move back into his life as a friend, to move past the pain of break up status and determine his life would be better having her in it in whatever capacity they figure out (other than sweethearts) is going to make him a better and happier person. That particular chip on his shoulder has been removed.

[sigh of deep happiness]

Happy Mother's Day, you mommys out there!

OK, people, time to take her to breakfast, treat her to a yummy, healthful lunch, then spoil the crap outta her at dinner!

In between, you can rub her feet, give her a decent neck massage (unless you are one of those dudes who thinks digging their thumbs into her neck and shoulder muscles feels good....then don't! Get her a gift certificate - I mean it!), or go see a movie she wants to see.

Be happy, people! PS - Happy Mom's Day, MOM. I love you, and am ever so grateful for you and everything you have done for me!

Nothing much to report

I've been working on that quilt project, and studying for (and attending) class; passing the tests and becoming quite bored. I hate to say that, but it's true.

I spent Friday vacillating between tasks, and so it feels as though I never really made any progress anywhere!

Very, very soon, I will need to assemble the bulk of the books I want to take to the Genesee County Literary Coalition Flea Market and Sale, happening Saturday, June 9, at John's Pizzeria (9013 Davison Road), Davison, MI. If you know of anyone who likes to shop early for Christmas, now (well, June 9th) would be the time to buy NEW CHILDREN'S BOOKS and plush literary critters, puzzles, etc., to stock away for future summer birthdays....and the holidays to follow! Prices will be 50% to 60% off the cover price, and I will be making deals to assure the books go home with people other than me!

I will even bring along a large quantity of wonderful quilting books - hard cover and paperback - packaged with fat quarter bundles!! If you wanted to begin quilting, or if there's a quilting-curious youngster in your circle, this will be the chance to get them moving in the right direction.

Oh, yeah, and I didn't take the opportunity to correctly seal off the varmint hole after our first house pest moved along, and now there's another furry interloper who's taken up residence under the porch slabs. Totally upset with myself. Argh!

Otherwise, I told you I have nothing to talk about, so this will be it for the day. Maybe I'll go clean the cat box then vacuum.

Hey! North Carolina!

How come there's no law on the books to cane business owners for opening up shop and working on the Sabbath?

Hello!!!!

You can't be arbitrary hypocrites. If you are going to control people's lives, then you have to go ALL THE WAY.

Snap to it, Hickville! Faith and religion are being trampled on here.

[mocking sarcasm fully intended]

If I had a million dollars

I keep hearing this song run through my head, and more often than not it's this particular line.

First, if I "had a million dollars" it most assuredly wouldn't be one million I would have. Once glutenous Uncle Sam and greedy Michigan reach in and take 'theirs' (or rather, mine), the remaining amount would be significantly less than two-thirds the starting figure. Sooooo......it begs the question:

If I had a million dollars, would it be one million after taxes?

Let's just say that it is. It's one million after taxes.

I already like this math better. A lot better!

Beth has one million dollars and some intentions.

First, she pays off her house and tells the bank to go do some rude things to itself in a corner - with a rake.

Second, she establishes some sort of high-yield fund to continuously pay the taxes and water bills so she doesn't have to deal with the township weenies - they're idiots. She's so smart.

Next, Beth pays off her car so her mom can relax and have some fun of her own (she loves her mommy).

Somewhere in here Beth hires a production team and produces her first short (low budget but quality - AND all of the PAs and interns are paid, too).

A vacation is taken with her family.

Oooo! And she buys that Nikon D90 she has always wanted, WITH the appropriate and necessary lenses.

Oh wait. Flip-flop those last two, because she would very much love to take the camera on vacation (she's a bit of a shutterbug).

She would have her house finished and the furniture cleaned and still have money in the bank - or somewhere earning a high rate of interest - and be putting some away in her retirement account.

Hey! What about helping out some down-and-outs, or a starving nation? Yeah, yeah...I hear you, don't get your shorts in a knot.

Beth would most definitely give to a charity, but it most likely would be to an animal charity, since animals can't help themselves and humans are cruel. And let's face it, animals in shelters are there because of humans, so why help the humans - especially in my neck of the woods?

Yes, if Beth "had a million dollars" she wouldn't be rich, but she would be happy for a while, and relaxed, and be on her way to winning her first Oscar for a screenplay!

Oh yeah, baby!

Nice day

We had a very nice visit with my mom and great grandma Schaffer (she's my grandmother, but my sons' great gran), and mom, as usual, made a very delicious dinner. We had stuffed peppers and gigantic pork steaks, with cherry and/or apple pie for dessert! Always yummy.

Always leftovers to bring home.

Thank you, mom! <3

Oh, and thank you for the new slippers, too! Now I can't wait for colder weather to pad around the house in them. Well......actually, I can wait for colder weather, but now I have some wonderfully cushie slippers for my tootsies! Whee!

Happy Birthday, Maria!

I am most certain the card will not be to you on time for your day, but it shouldn't diminish the thought behind it - not one bit!

Happy, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope the day is as perfect as you are!

Lazy Sundays

We had plans to go a-visiting' today, but as the world turns....plans change. You know how that goes, right.

S'ok, though, the boys used a little portion of their day to groom the front yard (the backyard has once again turned into a mini-jungle), and I managed to get a bit of sewing accomplished. So the day was a good one! (~we just won't think about how much I wanted - and needed - to get a load or two of laundry washed~)

Early in the afternoon, Bud was standing at the kitchen sink when I pointed out the song we could hear from a nearby bird; this warbling champion has been serenading me all week, and I hate to say it, but I was unfamiliar with the feathered crooner.

As it happened, Bud pinpointed the song coming from our apple tree - and then he spotted the culprit!

He called me over to the window and we both stood there, mesmerized by a very talkative Boston Oriole. I couldn't believe it, but there he was!

I am familiar with their look but I have never heard one vocalize - so seeing it in the tree a mere twenty feet from the kitchen window (bouncing from branch to branch and having it sing out the entire time) was a great experience!

Not only that, but we heard a second oriole somewhere in the distance answering our little chap! What a conversation!

Our little oriole has spent the remainder of the afternoon flitting from backyard to front yard, all the while calling out his 11-note song. The mourning doves appear to be nesting in the crab apple in the front, and our usual line-up of blue jays and joyful cardinals are joining in the chirp fest!

This has been a good weekend, but now I need to stop cavorting and get back to studying.

[heavy sigh]

Schmarty pants

Early on in April, when I was feeling overwhelmed by the classwork and the studying, and underwhelmed by the lack of jobs available - and the even more ignorant hiring practices of employers - I wrote a two word entry in the blog one day.

"I quit!"

Some schmarty-McFarty out there decided I meant to write: "I QUILT!"

"What a typo," they went on to write.

You know something? They were right - they are right.

I QUILT!

Thank you, wherever you are. : )

Never ask

When your friend sends you an email, and the subject line is: "My fingers are so sore".....

.....never ask. Just keep 'walkin'.

It all means nothing

Going back to bed.

Have a good day, everybody.

April evaporates

I really should be studying at this very moment, but I wanted to slip in and bid April a fond farewell for another year, and welcome May to 2012.

As ever, the Beatles said it best:

"Hello, hello! I don't know why you say 'goodbye', I say 'hello.' "

More later; for now there is a plethora of free-range information I need to suck up in my spongey brain.