Once I get home there is so much to do.
Lots of lost time to make up in clearing out, cleaning up and rearranging the rest of the lower level. My deadline is self-initiated and self-imposed, but I want to begin the new year better than I did the last, er....uh. That is to say, I wish to end twenty-twelve on a more positive....
OK. Let's just admit I've allowed the last [good long while] to get away from me.
And then I allowed the overflow of that mess (and disappointment) to run my life and get the best of my outlook and demeanor.
And on top of all that chaos, I allowed myself to be lead away from my own plans and time lines in order to help out extended family, instead of concentrating on my life, my plans and directions, my little family.
I really am quite the middle child prototype.
Brian had time off from work that I had wanted to utilize in positive ways - trying to finish moving the heaviest pieces of furniture around and then get the large sewing table relocated to the lower level. His muscle combined with Karl's is critical, since I can no longer be trusted with heavy objects and a weak peritoneal lining.
Being at Gran's instead of home on Bud's days off has been a letdown, since so much progress had been made up to this point in time. Everything I wanted to accomplish is at a standstill again - rats!
And of course, now that it's snowed so heavily, it will be a while before the trestle table can be carried 'round to the backside of the house - the hill will be treacherous until the grass is much drier.
Let's put it this way:
One of my new ongoing tasks will be to stop making certain everyone else is happy and content before I am -- unless, of course, they pay really well and provide health care benefits at a reasonable cost.
12.28.2012
12.27.2012
It's almost over
Oh, I know most of you think I am referring to 2012...but I am not.
Nope. I am talking about my stay with Gran.
Yup. I am here for two overnights and the surrounding days (generally the half day before, the full day in between night one and night two, and then the early half of the next day).
If you didn't get that, trust me...it doesn't matter.
And you might think that at 101 years of age she's a bit "feisty," but I am telling you she's been just pure cranky from the word "go." Yeah, there's a difference between feisty and cantankerous - and she did not blur the line in the least.
Mean.
Spiteful, even.
Well, I have just a little over 31 hours to go, so I am simply keeping this stupid grin plastered on my face until it's over. I will be getting a little relief around noon tomorrow, when an aunt, uncle, and cousin come to call on Gran midday.
Thank you, Lord, for small gifts!
Nope. I am talking about my stay with Gran.
Yup. I am here for two overnights and the surrounding days (generally the half day before, the full day in between night one and night two, and then the early half of the next day).
If you didn't get that, trust me...it doesn't matter.
And you might think that at 101 years of age she's a bit "feisty," but I am telling you she's been just pure cranky from the word "go." Yeah, there's a difference between feisty and cantankerous - and she did not blur the line in the least.
Mean.
Spiteful, even.
Well, I have just a little over 31 hours to go, so I am simply keeping this stupid grin plastered on my face until it's over. I will be getting a little relief around noon tomorrow, when an aunt, uncle, and cousin come to call on Gran midday.
Thank you, Lord, for small gifts!
12.26.2012
Which one of you....
....ordered this stuff?
Seriously!
All of it....all at once! ? ! ?
Are you crazy?!
You take some of this back at once - do you hear me?
*Sheesh.*
Seriously!
All of it....all at once! ? ! ?
Are you crazy?!
You take some of this back at once - do you hear me?
*Sheesh.*
12.25.2012
Merry Christmas!
Thanks for looking in from time to time and reading my posts.
Here's wishing you and yours a very wonderful holiday season, and a new year filled with peace, happiness, health, and prosperity!
- From my family to yours
Here's wishing you and yours a very wonderful holiday season, and a new year filled with peace, happiness, health, and prosperity!
- From my family to yours
12.24.2012
Timing is everything
Wanted to get my hair cut, and I figured today may be the day for it. So I hot-footed it to our local shop only to find they closed the doors and turned out the lights by three o'clock this afternoon.
Three!
What time did I arrive, you may be wondering.
3:12 PM!
Yup, timing is everything.
Three!
What time did I arrive, you may be wondering.
3:12 PM!
Yup, timing is everything.
12.22.2012
Weird
We had a garbage collection service for a while, but only because they bought out our first choice collection service. And this (usurper) service we subscribed to was a large 'pain in the rubbish' from the very beginning.
They were problematic. They were sporadic. They were hit or miss. They were sub-standard. They were non-responsive. They were messy. They were Waste Management.
At some point - at least one full month AFTER I told them to take a hike; that I wasn't going to pay their exorbitant and outrageous rate hike (PLUS an additional rate to cover a fuel bill for their collection trucks) - I had to call them again to let them know their container was still sitting in front of my home, and that I expected they would retrieve it in short order.
Well, that second call was in early NOVEMBER!
It wasn't until mid-December that a truck stopped out in front of the house a finally snagged the recycling bucket from the yard. The wind was having a pretty fabulous time knocking it about up until that time.
We had a second (dark green, square-ish) container up near the front porch which we used to toss the cat doot bags into, from which we would collect them all into another larger bag that would go out to the curb on trash collection day. It was a system which worked for us.
This second dark green box sat against the front porch, behind the stairs, and was usually shielded further from view by my car - the Duke. So imagine my surprise this morning when I opened the front door to quickly pitch the bag of freshly harvested cat bombs into our green bucket, only to find - - - NO GREEN RECEPTACLE!
That's right, you guessed it. Someone help themselves to our bucket full of feces baggies!
But I think I am more upset that they didn't take the two larger offerings of complete cat box changes away with it all! I mean, those were neatly bagged and ready to go.
;)
Some people, right?
They were problematic. They were sporadic. They were hit or miss. They were sub-standard. They were non-responsive. They were messy. They were Waste Management.
At some point - at least one full month AFTER I told them to take a hike; that I wasn't going to pay their exorbitant and outrageous rate hike (PLUS an additional rate to cover a fuel bill for their collection trucks) - I had to call them again to let them know their container was still sitting in front of my home, and that I expected they would retrieve it in short order.
Well, that second call was in early NOVEMBER!
It wasn't until mid-December that a truck stopped out in front of the house a finally snagged the recycling bucket from the yard. The wind was having a pretty fabulous time knocking it about up until that time.
We had a second (dark green, square-ish) container up near the front porch which we used to toss the cat doot bags into, from which we would collect them all into another larger bag that would go out to the curb on trash collection day. It was a system which worked for us.
This second dark green box sat against the front porch, behind the stairs, and was usually shielded further from view by my car - the Duke. So imagine my surprise this morning when I opened the front door to quickly pitch the bag of freshly harvested cat bombs into our green bucket, only to find - - - NO GREEN RECEPTACLE!
That's right, you guessed it. Someone help themselves to our bucket full of feces baggies!
But I think I am more upset that they didn't take the two larger offerings of complete cat box changes away with it all! I mean, those were neatly bagged and ready to go.
;)
Some people, right?
12.21.2012
Love me some Michael Buble'
Let's face it, who doesn't love Michael Buble'?
Oh, sit down, you, and keep your raspberries to yourself.
I absolutely enjoy crooner tunes, and Michael Buble' covers so many of my favorites that I fell in love with him years ago as he started out singing songs from the tail end of the big band and swing era through Dean Martin and the Rat Pack, Bobby Darin (yum), Tony Bennet, Rosemary Clooney, Satchmo, etc. The GOOD stuff.
Well, last year I happened to see MB's televised Christmas special, and boy! - was it a stinker. Trust me, I'm not asking you....I'm telling you. The writers and producer should have been shot....it wasn't pretty. So I really didn't hold out much hope for this year's efforts, but I watched all the same - cuz I loves me that pretty, pretty, Michael Buble'.
Oh, those Canadians (they had me at Nathan Fillion).
Anyway, I caught the MB second telecast tonight, but darn if I didn't start watching at the exact same point as two weeks ago! So, I don't know how the opening went, nor do I know what songs I missed during the first fifteen minutes! However, I did catch the Rod Stewart portion - and that man cannot lip sync to save his life. Boo!
Does he at least perform live when he's in concert? I was even more non-plussed watching him lip sync the second time around, and it was so obvious and disingenuine that I found myself becoming angry. That's not a good thing (becoming angry over a Christmas special), so I found something else to do while Mr. Stewart faked his way through a solo musical number. Then, I simply ignored him while he and Micheal sang a duet.
At some point Michael sang a duet cover (re-worded for the holiday season) with a country singer, (Blake somebody'r-other) and vocally, it was a horrible pairing.
So, after Brian heads to work tomorrow, I am going to erase the bad taste in my ears and play a wealth of Christmas music.....sung beautifully by my boys (and gals).
[sigh]
Oh, sit down, you, and keep your raspberries to yourself.
I absolutely enjoy crooner tunes, and Michael Buble' covers so many of my favorites that I fell in love with him years ago as he started out singing songs from the tail end of the big band and swing era through Dean Martin and the Rat Pack, Bobby Darin (yum), Tony Bennet, Rosemary Clooney, Satchmo, etc. The GOOD stuff.
Well, last year I happened to see MB's televised Christmas special, and boy! - was it a stinker. Trust me, I'm not asking you....I'm telling you. The writers and producer should have been shot....it wasn't pretty. So I really didn't hold out much hope for this year's efforts, but I watched all the same - cuz I loves me that pretty, pretty, Michael Buble'.
Oh, those Canadians (they had me at Nathan Fillion).
Anyway, I caught the MB second telecast tonight, but darn if I didn't start watching at the exact same point as two weeks ago! So, I don't know how the opening went, nor do I know what songs I missed during the first fifteen minutes! However, I did catch the Rod Stewart portion - and that man cannot lip sync to save his life. Boo!
Does he at least perform live when he's in concert? I was even more non-plussed watching him lip sync the second time around, and it was so obvious and disingenuine that I found myself becoming angry. That's not a good thing (becoming angry over a Christmas special), so I found something else to do while Mr. Stewart faked his way through a solo musical number. Then, I simply ignored him while he and Micheal sang a duet.
At some point Michael sang a duet cover (re-worded for the holiday season) with a country singer, (Blake somebody'r-other) and vocally, it was a horrible pairing.
So, after Brian heads to work tomorrow, I am going to erase the bad taste in my ears and play a wealth of Christmas music.....sung beautifully by my boys (and gals).
[sigh]
12.18.2012
Un-freakin-believable
On the road taking care of business, on my way to a destination (with a time line to stick to), and I am stuck in the "fast lane" (you know, the far left, passing lane) southbound on Telegraph, and people are moving frustratingly s-l-o-w.
Why are they moving slow? you would ask yourself. Well, I did.
I know others were.
When given the opportunity, I moved to the right - out of the passing lane - and proceeded to pass the obstruction, which had been about seven cars ahead of me. There, at the head of the line of traffic, blithely unaware of the plight of everyone behind her, drove a woman in a black minivan.....having a conversation with one (or more) of the three young people in the back of the vehicle!
"People can have conversations with others in the car and still drive," you counter.
Well, for the most part I would tend to agree with you. But NOT this broad.
Her conversation kept her oblivious to the fact that she was impeding traffic in several ways - mostly by moving along at the blistering speed of thirty-seven to forty-miles-per-hour, when the speed limit is a posted fifty - and most folks clip along at roughly fifty-five to sixty through much of Bloomfield Hills and far western B'ham, etc.
Her conversation was a clear distraction.
Her conversation was with her hands!
No, I don't mean she was 'Italian-talking.' I mean this chic was having a conversation using ASL, for crying out loud! A full blown, American Sign Language, Helen Keller, I-can-see-you-but-I-can't-hear-you kind of dialogue with a passenger in the back of the vehicle, so her attention clearly was not on her driving.
"HEY! Hang up and drive, you loon!" I wanted to yell. But she wouldn't have heard me if I had.
She wasn't paying attention to what was going on around her - AND SHE WAS DRIVING!!!
Why are they moving slow? you would ask yourself. Well, I did.
I know others were.
When given the opportunity, I moved to the right - out of the passing lane - and proceeded to pass the obstruction, which had been about seven cars ahead of me. There, at the head of the line of traffic, blithely unaware of the plight of everyone behind her, drove a woman in a black minivan.....having a conversation with one (or more) of the three young people in the back of the vehicle!
"People can have conversations with others in the car and still drive," you counter.
Well, for the most part I would tend to agree with you. But NOT this broad.
Her conversation kept her oblivious to the fact that she was impeding traffic in several ways - mostly by moving along at the blistering speed of thirty-seven to forty-miles-per-hour, when the speed limit is a posted fifty - and most folks clip along at roughly fifty-five to sixty through much of Bloomfield Hills and far western B'ham, etc.
Her conversation was a clear distraction.
Her conversation was with her hands!
No, I don't mean she was 'Italian-talking.' I mean this chic was having a conversation using ASL, for crying out loud! A full blown, American Sign Language, Helen Keller, I-can-see-you-but-I-can't-hear-you kind of dialogue with a passenger in the back of the vehicle, so her attention clearly was not on her driving.
"HEY! Hang up and drive, you loon!" I wanted to yell. But she wouldn't have heard me if I had.
She wasn't paying attention to what was going on around her - AND SHE WAS DRIVING!!!
12.16.2012
Really?
Is there such a thing as "adult onset premenstrual migraines"?
[internet research and reading]
Yes, apparently there is such a thing, and it is less likely to occur in perimenopausal women, but it has been known to happen.
Well, crap!
[internet research and reading]
Yes, apparently there is such a thing, and it is less likely to occur in perimenopausal women, but it has been known to happen.
Well, crap!
Half done with the month
Yup, December is now on the downward side of the proverbial 'hill.' One good push and the month is done, and the year is over!
Hallelujah.
What a craptastic year it's been, too.
On the plus side, Karl took a photography class, attended all but one session, AND turned in ALL assignments either by or before the due dates! Phew....but YEA! Grade point average slides up a notch. :)
What's more, his instructor will be happy to write him letters of reference in order to find possible employment with a photography studio - to do retouching, mending of old photos, etc. If not direct employment, then as a contracted or referred commodity to get one-off jobs from people looking for a service the studios don't do themselves. :)
Furthermore, Karl has also decided (on his own) to take an "educational" class. That is to say, he decided it was time to throw an academic course into his studies, in order to begin rounding out his requirements to complete his AA degree! This is PROGRESS!
Thank you, God, for little (big) nudges.
Hallelujah.
What a craptastic year it's been, too.
On the plus side, Karl took a photography class, attended all but one session, AND turned in ALL assignments either by or before the due dates! Phew....but YEA! Grade point average slides up a notch. :)
What's more, his instructor will be happy to write him letters of reference in order to find possible employment with a photography studio - to do retouching, mending of old photos, etc. If not direct employment, then as a contracted or referred commodity to get one-off jobs from people looking for a service the studios don't do themselves. :)
Furthermore, Karl has also decided (on his own) to take an "educational" class. That is to say, he decided it was time to throw an academic course into his studies, in order to begin rounding out his requirements to complete his AA degree! This is PROGRESS!
Thank you, God, for little (big) nudges.
12.15.2012
I do not want to rehash yesterday's tragedy of Newtown, CT.
Stupid people are saying that if there had been more permissive gun laws, this wouldn't have happened.
Jack asses!
Think on this: The mother of the young man who committed this horror was the owner of those weapons! Not only that, she purchased them in order to protect herself from her son.
Huh.
Stupid people are saying that if there had been more permissive gun laws, this wouldn't have happened.
Jack asses!
Think on this: The mother of the young man who committed this horror was the owner of those weapons! Not only that, she purchased them in order to protect herself from her son.
Huh.
12.12.2012
Wouldn't you know it
The one day where I have nothing to piece and no need for such beautiful, full sunshine flooding through the window, and it's a sunshine downpour!
Good day, sunshine. [doffs her hat]
Good day, sunshine. [doffs her hat]
More yumminess
Cranked up the ol' crock pot for another round last night.
Made my usual barbeque-like sauce and filled the pot with 4-5 pounds of country-style ribs. Very lean, but lots of it. It took a little jostling before everything could be worked into the bottom of the pot, so that every piece made contact with the heated ceramic for the first few hours.
I figured to 'let it crock' until it literally fell apart...which it did (for the most part). But that meant overnight - which I have never done before.
Covered the mound of meat with enough water to be certain nothing would dry out as the liquid cooked down, and went to bed.
The smell was intoxicating.
This morning it took just a little time to pull apart the remaining chunks of meat, but it fell to pieces at the merest provocation with two forks. The boys have had a decent repast for brunch, and the cats have all had their fill, as well.
So, what's next? There's plenty to get done around here, I simply need to pick a direction and go.
Made my usual barbeque-like sauce and filled the pot with 4-5 pounds of country-style ribs. Very lean, but lots of it. It took a little jostling before everything could be worked into the bottom of the pot, so that every piece made contact with the heated ceramic for the first few hours.
I figured to 'let it crock' until it literally fell apart...which it did (for the most part). But that meant overnight - which I have never done before.
Covered the mound of meat with enough water to be certain nothing would dry out as the liquid cooked down, and went to bed.
The smell was intoxicating.
This morning it took just a little time to pull apart the remaining chunks of meat, but it fell to pieces at the merest provocation with two forks. The boys have had a decent repast for brunch, and the cats have all had their fill, as well.
So, what's next? There's plenty to get done around here, I simply need to pick a direction and go.
12.11.2012
Today - a little better
The bathroom sink faucet is fixed, and the water is back on. Hooray!
After scouring two local hardware shops for the PF washers I needed (I hoped was all I needed to fix the major leak), I managed to get directions from an empathetic (and wiser) sales associate to a plumbing specialist/business the next town over; and they happened to have the correct washer for my sink!
The kid behind the counter asked if I was certain I only needed the washers and not the entire replacement cartridge. So I inquired after the cost of the cartridge, just in case the leak could not be managed with swapping the rubber washers.
"$30," muttered the sales boy.
"OK," I said. "Just the 2 washers, please."
"Really?" he questioned.
Hmmm, I thought to myself. Perhaps I should buy the cartridges, and pay for them with my fictitious money......from my fictitious job.
"Is it 'buy one, get one free' today?"
"No," he said, unappreciative of my wit and sparkling personality.
Back at the ranch - after purchasing two new washers at just over $2 each, and a set of inexpensive but perfectly utilitarian wrenches ($8+ tax), the drip is gone and the water is back on! Well worth the gas and mileage....and the self-satisfaction.
After scouring two local hardware shops for the PF washers I needed (I hoped was all I needed to fix the major leak), I managed to get directions from an empathetic (and wiser) sales associate to a plumbing specialist/business the next town over; and they happened to have the correct washer for my sink!
The kid behind the counter asked if I was certain I only needed the washers and not the entire replacement cartridge. So I inquired after the cost of the cartridge, just in case the leak could not be managed with swapping the rubber washers.
"$30," muttered the sales boy.
"OK," I said. "Just the 2 washers, please."
"Really?" he questioned.
Hmmm, I thought to myself. Perhaps I should buy the cartridges, and pay for them with my fictitious money......from my fictitious job.
"Is it 'buy one, get one free' today?"
"No," he said, unappreciative of my wit and sparkling personality.
Back at the ranch - after purchasing two new washers at just over $2 each, and a set of inexpensive but perfectly utilitarian wrenches ($8+ tax), the drip is gone and the water is back on! Well worth the gas and mileage....and the self-satisfaction.
12.10.2012
Efforts
In an effort to make myself feel better, I spent the last two hours peeling, chopping, sauteing, seasoning, and crafting a magnificent crock pot full of chicken and vegetable soup.
The debate is on over whether it will be served with noodles, dumplings, or wild rice.
Hope it helps to heal my psyche - it's pretty bruised.
The debate is on over whether it will be served with noodles, dumplings, or wild rice.
Hope it helps to heal my psyche - it's pretty bruised.
By the way
No, the person with whom I wanted to speak at the local shop (where I found out they are looking for a quilt instructor) was not in today.
Possibly tomorrow.
[sigh]
Possibly tomorrow.
[sigh]
Geez
What an absolute fool I am, thinking I could just waltz out to my neatly assembled tool bag and find my assortment of wrenches waiting for me!
I clearly remember repacking it after the fiasco of finding my tools scattered hither and yon from various uses over the year - mostly on the part of Brian and his handy do-it-yourself art projects; chainmaile, boffer equipment, etc.; a bicycle repair (not really, but it was a good thought on his part); crude chipmunk-trapping attempts.
As I cleaned out the garage in fits of....in fits of - what? Well, just in fits, really. I cleaned the garage in phases over the spring and summer, but never really finished for all of the sidetracking that occurred - like in finding my errantly placed tools, and so on. I would then set about collecting everything and get my tool collection back in its rightful place.
Seems I should have placed it under lock and key afterward.
Now that I am earnestly attempting to fix the bathroom faucet leak (stream, really), and have finally managed to locate the stupidly placed shutoff valves for the bathroom sink (basement ceiling joists), and have broken a wrist getting them to turn off, I can't go the next step to disassemble the handles because I no longer have the correctly sized wrench with which to proceed.
NOW, I must dress and head out to the local hardware store to first buy a wrench (which hopefully will fit -- something a smidgen larger than 9/16ths), then come back home to open Pandora's plumbing 'box' to reveal the specific washer/screw configuration, then head back out to the hardware conglomerate in hopes they have the pieces I need (in stock), so that I can once again return home to finish off the plumbing issue.
I'm thinking matches and a little accelerant might be easier. Can you have a "pre-fire" fire sale?
I clearly remember repacking it after the fiasco of finding my tools scattered hither and yon from various uses over the year - mostly on the part of Brian and his handy do-it-yourself art projects; chainmaile, boffer equipment, etc.; a bicycle repair (not really, but it was a good thought on his part); crude chipmunk-trapping attempts.
As I cleaned out the garage in fits of....in fits of - what? Well, just in fits, really. I cleaned the garage in phases over the spring and summer, but never really finished for all of the sidetracking that occurred - like in finding my errantly placed tools, and so on. I would then set about collecting everything and get my tool collection back in its rightful place.
Seems I should have placed it under lock and key afterward.
Now that I am earnestly attempting to fix the bathroom faucet leak (stream, really), and have finally managed to locate the stupidly placed shutoff valves for the bathroom sink (basement ceiling joists), and have broken a wrist getting them to turn off, I can't go the next step to disassemble the handles because I no longer have the correctly sized wrench with which to proceed.
NOW, I must dress and head out to the local hardware store to first buy a wrench (which hopefully will fit -- something a smidgen larger than 9/16ths), then come back home to open Pandora's plumbing 'box' to reveal the specific washer/screw configuration, then head back out to the hardware conglomerate in hopes they have the pieces I need (in stock), so that I can once again return home to finish off the plumbing issue.
I'm thinking matches and a little accelerant might be easier. Can you have a "pre-fire" fire sale?
12.07.2012
Shopping list
Toilet paper
Kleenex
Pasta
Cat box liners
Crushed canned tomatoes
Printer cartridge
Canned cat food
Packing tape (clear)
Christmas gifts for the boys
Trash can liners
Airborne tablets
Windscreen squeegee
Where do you keep your lists?
Kleenex
Pasta
Cat box liners
Crushed canned tomatoes
Printer cartridge
Canned cat food
Packing tape (clear)
Christmas gifts for the boys
Trash can liners
Airborne tablets
Windscreen squeegee
Where do you keep your lists?
Just curious, Maria
Have you had a chance to experience Craig Ferguson, yet?
Try it at least a couple of times. ;)
Are you signed up for classes for the coming semester?
We really do need to catch up.....SOON.
Try it at least a couple of times. ;)
Are you signed up for classes for the coming semester?
We really do need to catch up.....SOON.
12.05.2012
Long day
Long day.
Sunny day.
Semi-busy day.
Worthless day.
Feels like wasted day.
One more day.
Day of loss.
Day of threats.
Lost day.
Wednesday.
Tomorrow is another day.
G'night, day.
Sunny day.
Semi-busy day.
Worthless day.
Feels like wasted day.
One more day.
Day of loss.
Day of threats.
Lost day.
Wednesday.
Tomorrow is another day.
G'night, day.
I know, right?
Weird is when your blog readership spikes 300 views in one day, presumably because of one three-year-old post that mentioned Craig Ferguson in the title.
The man is a demi-god, I grant you. Attractive, intelligent, funny as the month is long, tall, sexy [wiping chin drool]....and that brogue!
But honestly, 300 views because of a title?
You people are funny.
Sadly, the link included in that particular post was lost when the business hosting it went "belly up" about two years ago. Sad, because the book review/interview with Mr. Ferguson was comic genius.
Thanks for visiting, and have a great day. :) A great, great day. [insert heavy Scottish brogue]
The man is a demi-god, I grant you. Attractive, intelligent, funny as the month is long, tall, sexy [wiping chin drool]....and that brogue!
But honestly, 300 views because of a title?
You people are funny.
Sadly, the link included in that particular post was lost when the business hosting it went "belly up" about two years ago. Sad, because the book review/interview with Mr. Ferguson was comic genius.
Thanks for visiting, and have a great day. :) A great, great day. [insert heavy Scottish brogue]
12.04.2012
The time has come
I am excited to say the time has finally arrived for the first entry of my lovely PQ1 into a competition!
Deadlines were missed late last year/early this year because of film jobs and a number of classes butting in during what would have been prime finish-that-quilt time.
So I sat expectantly on my precious "egg", waiting for JoAnn Fabric to start the entry period for their third annual "Quilt Your Colors" contest. Since their requirements were that every scrap of material used in the creation of your entry HAD to be purchased from them, I was limited to what colors I used to build my beautiful quilt.
When I couldn't finish in time for the 2011 contest, I consoled myself with the thought that it would be ready (and so would I) for the following year...I just had to keep it under wraps until then. NOT an easy thing to do given how proud I am of the way it turned out.
Patiently I waited for the end of summer for the first announcements to appear - and the sign-up period - but it didn't come. I called and emailed their corporate office to ask the question again and again. "When will the contest be announced?"
As it turned out, the answer was "never."
They could have said that MONTHS ago! If they had, I could have been teaching and drawing an income all summer/fall/now!
You see, employees cannot enter their contest, and I am certain PQ1 is a winner. I thought that once it won, then I could teach at JAF and enter the quilt in other competitions around the US, or internationally.
Sadly, now they are no longer in need of quilt instructors at the three closest stores, so here I am at square one - BUT....
The deadline for entry into the AQS competition is literally around the corner, so I am earnestly readying my paperwork and photos, and trying to finish up a secondary piece to enter at the same time. Monetarily it is the best thing to do. If I can't get the second offering done by the 15th, I am OK with only entering PQ1 this time around.
Yes, normally this would have been the sort of thing I post at www.truenorthquilter.blogspot.com , however, since it is a cross of mild ranting, a bit of a daily update, and of interest to me (my life, my blog, etc.), this is where I chose to post it.
Photos of the secondary quilt entry can be seen on the quilt blog (listed above), but photos of PQ1 won't be made available until March. When you see it you'll understand why.
;)
Deadlines were missed late last year/early this year because of film jobs and a number of classes butting in during what would have been prime finish-that-quilt time.
So I sat expectantly on my precious "egg", waiting for JoAnn Fabric to start the entry period for their third annual "Quilt Your Colors" contest. Since their requirements were that every scrap of material used in the creation of your entry HAD to be purchased from them, I was limited to what colors I used to build my beautiful quilt.
When I couldn't finish in time for the 2011 contest, I consoled myself with the thought that it would be ready (and so would I) for the following year...I just had to keep it under wraps until then. NOT an easy thing to do given how proud I am of the way it turned out.
Patiently I waited for the end of summer for the first announcements to appear - and the sign-up period - but it didn't come. I called and emailed their corporate office to ask the question again and again. "When will the contest be announced?"
As it turned out, the answer was "never."
They could have said that MONTHS ago! If they had, I could have been teaching and drawing an income all summer/fall/now!
You see, employees cannot enter their contest, and I am certain PQ1 is a winner. I thought that once it won, then I could teach at JAF and enter the quilt in other competitions around the US, or internationally.
Sadly, now they are no longer in need of quilt instructors at the three closest stores, so here I am at square one - BUT....
The deadline for entry into the AQS competition is literally around the corner, so I am earnestly readying my paperwork and photos, and trying to finish up a secondary piece to enter at the same time. Monetarily it is the best thing to do. If I can't get the second offering done by the 15th, I am OK with only entering PQ1 this time around.
Yes, normally this would have been the sort of thing I post at www.truenorthquilter.blogspot.com , however, since it is a cross of mild ranting, a bit of a daily update, and of interest to me (my life, my blog, etc.), this is where I chose to post it.
Photos of the secondary quilt entry can be seen on the quilt blog (listed above), but photos of PQ1 won't be made available until March. When you see it you'll understand why.
;)
12.03.2012
Sad thought
The person who sits somewhere thinking I spelled "commentary" incorrectly.
Their way: "commontery"
[sigh]
Their way: "commontery"
[sigh]
12.02.2012
Silly lil' thought
The best place for a nun to get a tattoo:
"My Habit Tats"
Think about it for a while...you'll get it.
Eventually.
...two, three, four.
"My Habit Tats"
Think about it for a while...you'll get it.
Eventually.
...two, three, four.
Volunteers?
Anyone want to come on over tomorrow and help me clean the leaves outta my eaves?
Too bad it's been raining the last two days (those leaves are now good 'n soggy), but it'll be pleasant enough tomorrow (temperature-wise) to get the dirty deed done. And done it must get!
So it is written, so let it be done.
Too bad it's been raining the last two days (those leaves are now good 'n soggy), but it'll be pleasant enough tomorrow (temperature-wise) to get the dirty deed done. And done it must get!
So it is written, so let it be done.
Seriously?!
[fill this space with expletives - lots and LOTS of expletives]
What is the matter with someone who finds it necessary to make somebody elses life a rich source of amusement by screwing with their online connectivity? Why steal email accounts?
Why?!?!?!?!?
Day 2.75 and counting in working with gmail services (slower than sh*t), to retrieve command of my own darned accounts. Yes - "accounts." I have proven who I am sufficiently, now return me my ship (to quote a MI band). I have spent the better portion of the past two+ days emailing with "Ricky" to fix the situation. And when I haven't been chit-chatting with Ricky, I've spent a good deal more time changing passwords for all of my remaining email accounts AND online payment options.
Sheesh! (and that's as polite as I can be for the time being)
Seriously, people?!?! Get a freaking job if you're that good at something, and try to add to humanity/society instead of tearing it down!!
What is the matter with someone who finds it necessary to make somebody elses life a rich source of amusement by screwing with their online connectivity? Why steal email accounts?
Why?!?!?!?!?
Day 2.75 and counting in working with gmail services (slower than sh*t), to retrieve command of my own darned accounts. Yes - "accounts." I have proven who I am sufficiently, now return me my ship (to quote a MI band). I have spent the better portion of the past two+ days emailing with "Ricky" to fix the situation. And when I haven't been chit-chatting with Ricky, I've spent a good deal more time changing passwords for all of my remaining email accounts AND online payment options.
Sheesh! (and that's as polite as I can be for the time being)
Seriously, people?!?! Get a freaking job if you're that good at something, and try to add to humanity/society instead of tearing it down!!
12.01.2012
If...
If a man gives you his number and doesn't make a huge deal about it....and you don't find it 'til (much) later (on a note he gave you), is it safe to assume he wants (or wanted) you to call?
How long is 'too long' to wait?
How long is 'too long' to wait?
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