This month is nearly over....finally!
I know a number of you who love the month of May. And to all those lovely May babies out there, please don't take offense, but I am simply tired of May 2013. Tired of it I tell ya! Lord help me, but it has seemed to go on forever this year, and enough is enough already!
I suppose my bah-humbuggedness is mostly due to the weather, but sheesh! What a mess this May has been - and ending on a warmer-than-necessary steamy note has really taken its toll. It really has.
So, good riddance, May. Hit the bricks. Start walking. Make tracks. Am-scray already! See ya in 2014, when I hope you are ready to play by spring rules.
- - - - - - - - -
Oh yeah.
PS - it's raining a-g-a-i-n.
5.31.2013
5.29.2013
"Too"
Too warm too early in the day.
Too humid, which means it's -
Too muggy. Ugh, uck, eh-ehhhhewww.
Too tired of sitting in this chair...already.
Too-oh-tally going to find something else to do for a bit.
[ ^ too bad if you didn't like the liberties I took with that last one]
;)
Too humid, which means it's -
Too muggy. Ugh, uck, eh-ehhhhewww.
Too tired of sitting in this chair...already.
Too-oh-tally going to find something else to do for a bit.
[ ^ too bad if you didn't like the liberties I took with that last one]
;)
5.27.2013
For those of you "in the know"
And there aren't many of you regarding this topic, but -
Bud was having an issue getting from his home improvement employer his first full paycheck. I know!!
The run-around he received from the HR/Payroll person on site was ridiculous, to say the least. The crux of the matter left him with this decision (per that Payroll/HR bimbo): Brian could pay a $25 stop pay fee to have them re-issue his paycheck.
Yup, you read that right. HE would have to pick up the tab for their stupidity and carelessness. So, after two days of sporadic discussion here and there, he went in this morning to speak with the store manager before his shift began, and to question this awfully strange pay protocol for employees.
Why would the employee have to pay for a check they never touched, never saw, never had a chance to misplace?
I know, I hear you - "What!?? What's the other option? Where's the decision making?"
The "or" in all of this was to wait and see if and when the check ever materialized at some time in the future.
Well, the long and the short of it is that Lowe's will eat the fee to stop pay, and will immediately issue a paycheck, which I trust will now be direct deposit instead. My only concern is that Bud check the online system available to see his hours and to be certain the payroll amount shows up with the correct tax amounts withheld and no other surprise gaps equalling $25.
This mistrust has a firm foundation.
Anyhow, yea, Brian! Way to confront the BS!
Bud was having an issue getting from his home improvement employer his first full paycheck. I know!!
The run-around he received from the HR/Payroll person on site was ridiculous, to say the least. The crux of the matter left him with this decision (per that Payroll/HR bimbo): Brian could pay a $25 stop pay fee to have them re-issue his paycheck.
Yup, you read that right. HE would have to pick up the tab for their stupidity and carelessness. So, after two days of sporadic discussion here and there, he went in this morning to speak with the store manager before his shift began, and to question this awfully strange pay protocol for employees.
Why would the employee have to pay for a check they never touched, never saw, never had a chance to misplace?
I know, I hear you - "What!?? What's the other option? Where's the decision making?"
The "or" in all of this was to wait and see if and when the check ever materialized at some time in the future.
Well, the long and the short of it is that Lowe's will eat the fee to stop pay, and will immediately issue a paycheck, which I trust will now be direct deposit instead. My only concern is that Bud check the online system available to see his hours and to be certain the payroll amount shows up with the correct tax amounts withheld and no other surprise gaps equalling $25.
This mistrust has a firm foundation.
Anyhow, yea, Brian! Way to confront the BS!
5.26.2013
Little expeditions
As my friends and I try to re-invent and re-purpose ourselves for employment, we manage to take time to insert a little creative juice and activity into our schedules to keep from going mad. I am an artist who prefers to turn her energy and talents towards fabric arts (quilting) and photography (and silk screening - although, admittedly not so much s/s as I once did).
My best friends are also into quilting, which is where I direct most of my non-job-searching time, and every once in a while we allow our little vises to take control of our minds and pocketbooks, and we have fun "shop-hopping" on a private basis. Well, Maria has had the fun of a true organized shop hop - an organized and chauffeured tour, put on by multiple quilt shop destinations - but Jean and I haven't gone that route, yet.
One of these days, though....you just wait!
At any rate, Jean and I squoze in a mini hop Friday - visiting five different quilt stores - and we were terribly impressed with two of the target stores and not so impressed with two others. The fifth store was a charming mix of antiques, chachki and material, but the setting was disappointingly short of material offerings and decent light to shop by. Still, FUN to walk through, and a possible go-to spot for a re-visit at some time in the deep future.
If you want to read more about each of our new quilt shop finds, please find the reviews at: www.truenorthquilter.blogspot.com. I'll be writing them out this afternoon (or tonight). Otherwise......
Work progresses on the large 16+K piece art quilt;
Karl's persevering in his new advanced math class;
Brian continues to work his two part time jobs while looking for something full time and stable, and;
the cats are still fuzzy and demanding as ever.
How's it by you?
My best friends are also into quilting, which is where I direct most of my non-job-searching time, and every once in a while we allow our little vises to take control of our minds and pocketbooks, and we have fun "shop-hopping" on a private basis. Well, Maria has had the fun of a true organized shop hop - an organized and chauffeured tour, put on by multiple quilt shop destinations - but Jean and I haven't gone that route, yet.
One of these days, though....you just wait!
At any rate, Jean and I squoze in a mini hop Friday - visiting five different quilt stores - and we were terribly impressed with two of the target stores and not so impressed with two others. The fifth store was a charming mix of antiques, chachki and material, but the setting was disappointingly short of material offerings and decent light to shop by. Still, FUN to walk through, and a possible go-to spot for a re-visit at some time in the deep future.
If you want to read more about each of our new quilt shop finds, please find the reviews at: www.truenorthquilter.blogspot.com. I'll be writing them out this afternoon (or tonight). Otherwise......
Work progresses on the large 16+K piece art quilt;
Karl's persevering in his new advanced math class;
Brian continues to work his two part time jobs while looking for something full time and stable, and;
the cats are still fuzzy and demanding as ever.
How's it by you?
5.23.2013
Anonymity and 'whatev'
When I see from indicators on this blogsite that a comment has arrived, I don't allow myself to become excited any longer. Most of the comments I receive are SPAM - over 95%, in fact.
Sad.
However, I am heartened by the advent of the more English-correct, almost correctly punctuated, somewhat coherent (and less bungle-y gooped) tripe showing up, rather than all of the absolute stupid twaddle most SPAMming morons have tried to pollute the blog with. But it's all just so sad and pathetic. Sometimes funny (as in mock amusement), but truly sad.
What I find most amusing are the taunts from incredibly asinine, "anonymous" commenters, that go something like this:
"You don't need to post videos to get your point across. WRITE MORE, you're good at it!"
This (abbr) message was posted to an entry which had no video associated with it. What's more ludicrous is that I haven't posted a video on this blog in such a long while, I don't even understand why someone would attempt to have me approve some smarmy butt-kissing just to get their Trojan horse, spyware-laden ads in my blog. Seriously, do you folks understand I am slightly more intelligent than the average shrub?!?
Somehow, I don't think that you do.
What's more disheartening, though, is that I'll probably end up receiving more glossy, suck-up BS in response to this post, suggesting I know what I'm saying and that they can't understand why I am not more well read by others. But, if I'll approve their comment to add their penis-enlarging-site comment to my blog arena, they can guarantee I will garner more readership (and a chance to get a free trial supply of 4-6 extra inches of' please-her-with-more-of-your-manhood' pills for free!).
What am I waiting for, right?!?
Oh, I dunno. Maybe it's that I DON'T HAVE A PENIS!!!
Also, if you're going to send me an anonymous ego-stroking comment, loaded with spyware to a sh*t website, you're going to have to rethink a good portion of your game. [wagging no-no finger in your direction] I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday.
Sad.
However, I am heartened by the advent of the more English-correct, almost correctly punctuated, somewhat coherent (and less bungle-y gooped) tripe showing up, rather than all of the absolute stupid twaddle most SPAMming morons have tried to pollute the blog with. But it's all just so sad and pathetic. Sometimes funny (as in mock amusement), but truly sad.
What I find most amusing are the taunts from incredibly asinine, "anonymous" commenters, that go something like this:
"You don't need to post videos to get your point across. WRITE MORE, you're good at it!"
This (abbr) message was posted to an entry which had no video associated with it. What's more ludicrous is that I haven't posted a video on this blog in such a long while, I don't even understand why someone would attempt to have me approve some smarmy butt-kissing just to get their Trojan horse, spyware-laden ads in my blog. Seriously, do you folks understand I am slightly more intelligent than the average shrub?!?
Somehow, I don't think that you do.
What's more disheartening, though, is that I'll probably end up receiving more glossy, suck-up BS in response to this post, suggesting I know what I'm saying and that they can't understand why I am not more well read by others. But, if I'll approve their comment to add their penis-enlarging-site comment to my blog arena, they can guarantee I will garner more readership (and a chance to get a free trial supply of 4-6 extra inches of' please-her-with-more-of-your-manhood' pills for free!).
What am I waiting for, right?!?
Oh, I dunno. Maybe it's that I DON'T HAVE A PENIS!!!
Also, if you're going to send me an anonymous ego-stroking comment, loaded with spyware to a sh*t website, you're going to have to rethink a good portion of your game. [wagging no-no finger in your direction] I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday.
5.21.2013
Dear Moore, OK -
My thoughts and prayers, and those of my family, are with you all throughout this time.
God be with you -
Beth
God be with you -
Beth
5.18.2013
Huh
Is been a week already....really? A whole week since the last entry?
Huh.
[scratch, scratch, flick]
Heading upstairs to take advantage of the tremendous daylight - and the comfortable height of the kitchen counter - to cut something in the line of one thousand new pieces for the quilt in process (QIP). Maybe more. As the remaining requirement is something like 13,500 ('cuz I already have another thousand or so cut and at the ready), perhaps I should aim at cutting a 'few' more than a grand today.
New row = new additions to the color palette. Many, many new additions.
Let's see how the day goes, shall we?
Huh.
[scratch, scratch, flick]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Heading upstairs to take advantage of the tremendous daylight - and the comfortable height of the kitchen counter - to cut something in the line of one thousand new pieces for the quilt in process (QIP). Maybe more. As the remaining requirement is something like 13,500 ('cuz I already have another thousand or so cut and at the ready), perhaps I should aim at cutting a 'few' more than a grand today.
New row = new additions to the color palette. Many, many new additions.
Let's see how the day goes, shall we?
5.12.2013
R-r-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ght
Rose quickly to the sounds of a cat puke in process, only to witness hurf two (yes, they always happen in twos) and the sad, quick, guilty trot of the fuzzy culprit away from the newly spewn mess.
I created "spewn" because it sounds funny. Also, because I like the sound of the word "hewn", but it wouldn't have been appropriate here, in this context, and there isn't another gurk-related word that conjours up (for me) the descriptive quality I was searching for....so "spewn" it is!
Dammit, Flop!
The first ninja hurl was on the chair - the camel-colored, upholstered armchair - and a slight bit on its accompanying throw pillow. The rest of her special delivery lay in a liquid-y puddle on the hardwood, but a smidge too close to the carpet.
I cleaned up the mess toot sweet, amidst the baying food request of deaf cat Hobbes. Every time I made for additional paper towel, or deposited a messy load of used towel in the garbage, 'Foghorn Leghorncat' bellowed louder - as if I couldn't hear her!
Cleaning mission complete, I fed the kitty hoard and proceeded to the cat box, which also required a backhoe and lead-lined baggie. Actually, that wouldn't have been so bad, but two feline masterminds had missed the box throughout the night/early morning hours, and my unfinished LL bathroom floor looked more like the men's room in a Greyhound bus terminal!
Bleaching, rinsing, drying, skreeting complete, I washed up and began a load of laundry, only to witness Flop's mismatched peeing efforts with the side of the box, and whoops - ANOTHER puddle ON THE FLOOR! After terrifying her out of the box and up the stairs (oh, and I'm certain she still has to go), I set about cleaning this new mess.
I think I've had enough Mother's Day, thanks.
That's it, nobody gets to go the bathroom the rest of the day!!! Except me.
R-r-i-i-i-i-i-ght.
I created "spewn" because it sounds funny. Also, because I like the sound of the word "hewn", but it wouldn't have been appropriate here, in this context, and there isn't another gurk-related word that conjours up (for me) the descriptive quality I was searching for....so "spewn" it is!
Dammit, Flop!
The first ninja hurl was on the chair - the camel-colored, upholstered armchair - and a slight bit on its accompanying throw pillow. The rest of her special delivery lay in a liquid-y puddle on the hardwood, but a smidge too close to the carpet.
I cleaned up the mess toot sweet, amidst the baying food request of deaf cat Hobbes. Every time I made for additional paper towel, or deposited a messy load of used towel in the garbage, 'Foghorn Leghorncat' bellowed louder - as if I couldn't hear her!
Cleaning mission complete, I fed the kitty hoard and proceeded to the cat box, which also required a backhoe and lead-lined baggie. Actually, that wouldn't have been so bad, but two feline masterminds had missed the box throughout the night/early morning hours, and my unfinished LL bathroom floor looked more like the men's room in a Greyhound bus terminal!
Bleaching, rinsing, drying, skreeting complete, I washed up and began a load of laundry, only to witness Flop's mismatched peeing efforts with the side of the box, and whoops - ANOTHER puddle ON THE FLOOR! After terrifying her out of the box and up the stairs (oh, and I'm certain she still has to go), I set about cleaning this new mess.
I think I've had enough Mother's Day, thanks.
That's it, nobody gets to go the bathroom the rest of the day!!! Except me.
R-r-i-i-i-i-i-ght.
5.11.2013
How'dya do, Maria?
About two weeks ago you wrote that you had "just about two weeks to go" before the end of your semester.
Well...it's been just about two days past your two week forecast, and I'm a-wondering how it went?
How'dya do?
What's the word?
Are you pleased with your final grades?
Oh, and how was your birthday?
In another very short while Jean's travails of her first 'year' of radiology studies will be over with, too, so the two of you each have something to celebrate! I have two incredibly bright friends!
:^)
It's (they're) not even my accomplishment(s), and I'm so proud!
Well...it's been just about two days past your two week forecast, and I'm a-wondering how it went?
How'dya do?
What's the word?
Are you pleased with your final grades?
Oh, and how was your birthday?
In another very short while Jean's travails of her first 'year' of radiology studies will be over with, too, so the two of you each have something to celebrate! I have two incredibly bright friends!
:^)
It's (they're) not even my accomplishment(s), and I'm so proud!
5.08.2013
Not as expected
My day did not begin OR proceed as expected yesterday.
- Two-out-of-three cats vomited early on;
- Brian, and his tremendously upbeat attitude, [dripping sarcasm] awoke and departed for
parttime job #2 with little-to-no time to spend chatting beforehand;
- found another of my preferred classes was cancelled due to low enrollment;
- got very little accomplished on the VG 'selfie';
- desired to - but managed to not - wash some of the mounting laundry;
- found the birthday card I wanted to mail to Maria still wedged in with bills I intended to pay.
So, all in all, not a great day. A pretty day, but not a worthwhile one.
Let's see what happens today, shall we? [fingers crossed, hopes high]
- Two-out-of-three cats vomited early on;
- Brian, and his tremendously upbeat attitude, [dripping sarcasm] awoke and departed for
parttime job #2 with little-to-no time to spend chatting beforehand;
- found another of my preferred classes was cancelled due to low enrollment;
- got very little accomplished on the VG 'selfie';
- desired to - but managed to not - wash some of the mounting laundry;
- found the birthday card I wanted to mail to Maria still wedged in with bills I intended to pay.
So, all in all, not a great day. A pretty day, but not a worthwhile one.
Let's see what happens today, shall we? [fingers crossed, hopes high]
5.07.2013
Happy birthday to my lovely friend, MARIA!
I hope your birthday is every bit as wonderful as you are ~
Maria and I met several years ago while we attempted to infuse our later years with more learning, and a chance at starting our lives (and flagging careers) anew. She has been such an inspiration and a joyful addition to my meager collection of friends.
God has truly blessed me with such a lovely woman, and I hope to be more like her as the years pass.
Happy, HAPPY birthday, Maria!!
Maria and I met several years ago while we attempted to infuse our later years with more learning, and a chance at starting our lives (and flagging careers) anew. She has been such an inspiration and a joyful addition to my meager collection of friends.
God has truly blessed me with such a lovely woman, and I hope to be more like her as the years pass.
Happy, HAPPY birthday, Maria!!
5.06.2013
5.05.2013
Another bright, lovely spring day
Will there be a piper to pay in the near future for all of this delightful weather?
It could stay exactly like it has been for the remainder of the year for all I care. Not hot (except for the upper 70s Tuesday or Wednesday of last week) and not too cool. Perfectly pleasant!
I dislike hot temperatures, and I grew exceedingly weary this past winter of grey, doldrum-y frigidiness. Something warmer than 55*F and cooler than 74*F is optimal; add sunshine, a drizzle here and there and you have the best weather pattern EVER! Why can't that be the norm? Where can a gal find such happiness?
Yesterday was picture-perfect, and I spent it with friends in Grand Ledge for a community concert, then at lunch, then in a quilt shop, and on the road. By the time I returned home there was dinner to make for 'boy junior' and jobs to look over for a bit. Then I capped the day with a smidge of daydreaming over what is to come on the large new quilt project (which I had a small angsty guilting session over, not having touched at all yesterday).
This morning, I settled in to watch Joel Osteen's sermon. Once done, I began cleaning up the latest mountains of 'decision' I had created since last weekend; all the materials pondered over, cut from, discarded, etc., etc., in the pursuit of finishing up row one.
I found I had somehow succeeded in amassing three separate groupings of material in different areas around the sewing area (and in it, too). I really needed to get it back under control...and locate everything I had formally had in some sort of order. I found things I knew I had but couldn't locate when I wanted it, so I now know I must be even more diligent about maintaining order whilst laying out the blocks.
There was a lot to put back in order, too. Too much, in fact.
On the plus side, the color pool is expanding by leaps and bounds, and I have worked my way over into the upper right-hand corner which contains a vast amount of blues, and several muddy reddish bits. So my little one-inch-square spectrum continues to grow!
I have decided my aim shall be to stay pro-actively ahead of the color curve requirements (if that's at all possible with this monster), and to scope out the next 100 pieces to see if I have cut and at the ready most of what will be needed. If not, then I will get to work ironing, measuring and cutting dozens upon dozens of little squares of what looks right and stacking them into little towers in my 'color palette.'
It's all good intentions on my part, mind you, so we shall see if I can keep up with it for the next thousand pieces. The cutting is tedious, and I most decidedly would rather be assembling the silly squares than cutting, cutting, cutting. But it has to be done at some point, right? 16,000+ pieces don't make themselves.
Yeesh!
Enjoy your day, whatever you will be doing. Revel in the wonderful weather!
It could stay exactly like it has been for the remainder of the year for all I care. Not hot (except for the upper 70s Tuesday or Wednesday of last week) and not too cool. Perfectly pleasant!
I dislike hot temperatures, and I grew exceedingly weary this past winter of grey, doldrum-y frigidiness. Something warmer than 55*F and cooler than 74*F is optimal; add sunshine, a drizzle here and there and you have the best weather pattern EVER! Why can't that be the norm? Where can a gal find such happiness?
Yesterday was picture-perfect, and I spent it with friends in Grand Ledge for a community concert, then at lunch, then in a quilt shop, and on the road. By the time I returned home there was dinner to make for 'boy junior' and jobs to look over for a bit. Then I capped the day with a smidge of daydreaming over what is to come on the large new quilt project (which I had a small angsty guilting session over, not having touched at all yesterday).
This morning, I settled in to watch Joel Osteen's sermon. Once done, I began cleaning up the latest mountains of 'decision' I had created since last weekend; all the materials pondered over, cut from, discarded, etc., etc., in the pursuit of finishing up row one.
I found I had somehow succeeded in amassing three separate groupings of material in different areas around the sewing area (and in it, too). I really needed to get it back under control...and locate everything I had formally had in some sort of order. I found things I knew I had but couldn't locate when I wanted it, so I now know I must be even more diligent about maintaining order whilst laying out the blocks.
There was a lot to put back in order, too. Too much, in fact.
On the plus side, the color pool is expanding by leaps and bounds, and I have worked my way over into the upper right-hand corner which contains a vast amount of blues, and several muddy reddish bits. So my little one-inch-square spectrum continues to grow!
I have decided my aim shall be to stay pro-actively ahead of the color curve requirements (if that's at all possible with this monster), and to scope out the next 100 pieces to see if I have cut and at the ready most of what will be needed. If not, then I will get to work ironing, measuring and cutting dozens upon dozens of little squares of what looks right and stacking them into little towers in my 'color palette.'
It's all good intentions on my part, mind you, so we shall see if I can keep up with it for the next thousand pieces. The cutting is tedious, and I most decidedly would rather be assembling the silly squares than cutting, cutting, cutting. But it has to be done at some point, right? 16,000+ pieces don't make themselves.
Yeesh!
Enjoy your day, whatever you will be doing. Revel in the wonderful weather!
5.02.2013
6:33AM
Again!?
I awoke yesterday at 6:33 for no good reason, and there I was again this morning lolling around in that fairly goofy state between awake and asleep, willing myself to return to sleep.
It didn't work, and once the girls realized my breathing pattern had changed, the jig was up!
Next comes the "feed me" noises, the raucous purring and circling of kitty-sharks at the trough, and then a few hours of attention seeking and snacky treat demands.
I really need a job.
I awoke yesterday at 6:33 for no good reason, and there I was again this morning lolling around in that fairly goofy state between awake and asleep, willing myself to return to sleep.
It didn't work, and once the girls realized my breathing pattern had changed, the jig was up!
Next comes the "feed me" noises, the raucous purring and circling of kitty-sharks at the trough, and then a few hours of attention seeking and snacky treat demands.
I really need a job.
5.01.2013
April showers bring...
...well, May, anyway.
May follows April, regardless of whether it rains or not. And May has its own showers, so it's not really dependent upon April's rainfall at all for flower production.
I'm just sayin'.
This weather warm-up also has the wasps and flying, sting-y things out and about, and that alone is torture for Karl. The allergies are a nasty extra bit of discomfort for him. Lousy luck.
Oh, and before I forget, the boy did land the job at a somewhat-local home improvement store - so now he has two part time jobs. Oddly enough this turn of events makes him happier than the thought of a full-time position with the large chain store. ?!?
I know, right?
Well, if nothing else, I hope this incentivizes him in some way to do a better job of buckling down and looking for work in a much more determined and meaningful way. Although-----I know----it won't.
Karl passed his math class with a 95%! He was telling me he had no need to take the final because of the rest of his work throughout the semester. If he failed (or receives a low grade on) the final, that'd be the lowest score his instructor would 'throw out' before calculating his final grade.
It's the little battles won that make it all worthwhile.
May follows April, regardless of whether it rains or not. And May has its own showers, so it's not really dependent upon April's rainfall at all for flower production.
I'm just sayin'.
This weather warm-up also has the wasps and flying, sting-y things out and about, and that alone is torture for Karl. The allergies are a nasty extra bit of discomfort for him. Lousy luck.
Oh, and before I forget, the boy did land the job at a somewhat-local home improvement store - so now he has two part time jobs. Oddly enough this turn of events makes him happier than the thought of a full-time position with the large chain store. ?!?
I know, right?
Well, if nothing else, I hope this incentivizes him in some way to do a better job of buckling down and looking for work in a much more determined and meaningful way. Although-----I know----it won't.
Karl passed his math class with a 95%! He was telling me he had no need to take the final because of the rest of his work throughout the semester. If he failed (or receives a low grade on) the final, that'd be the lowest score his instructor would 'throw out' before calculating his final grade.
It's the little battles won that make it all worthwhile.
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