...I have some VERY AWESOME friends.
OK, you can be jealous if you want to.
6.30.2013
6.28.2013
Raucous storms yesterday
Yar, those be some fairly horrendous wind/rain combinations we had, and apparently our region is not out of the mix, yet.
Two large branches were taken down - one from the backyard apple tree, and one in the front out of the spreading maple. Somehow I missed seeing the apple limb until a few moments ago. Fortunately no damage was done to any power lines or the house, there's just a mess to contend with.
Somewhere around eight o'clock or so, the power blinked off in a nasty way, and Karl and I set about lighting candles. It wasn't but a few moments later the power was back on and we were 'in business' again, but we left the candles lit until we were certain how the evening was to progress.
Here we are in the light of a new day, and we're finding enough to do around the place to keep us busy for a little while - at least until the next set of storms races through today. Hope all is well at your end of the pond.
Two large branches were taken down - one from the backyard apple tree, and one in the front out of the spreading maple. Somehow I missed seeing the apple limb until a few moments ago. Fortunately no damage was done to any power lines or the house, there's just a mess to contend with.
Somewhere around eight o'clock or so, the power blinked off in a nasty way, and Karl and I set about lighting candles. It wasn't but a few moments later the power was back on and we were 'in business' again, but we left the candles lit until we were certain how the evening was to progress.
Here we are in the light of a new day, and we're finding enough to do around the place to keep us busy for a little while - at least until the next set of storms races through today. Hope all is well at your end of the pond.
6.26.2013
May as well
Two days ago I received notification that my PQ1 had been juried in to a quilt competition! Although I have already blogged about it on the other page (www.truenorthquilter.blogspot.com), I felt I may as well add a word here, too.
I totally expected to see another "no thanks, but good luck in the future" letter in the mailbox, as happened earlier this year. That rejection note appeared on the day the AQS stated they would begin mailing out notification letters...so I was prepared to see the early bird envelope in my mailbox last week. I truly was.
Not that I was being a fatalist, mind you, but I suspected the minds behind the jurying of quilts into/out of competition for the AQS were skewed in regards to PQ1. In fact, I had already begun accumulating a list of new shows to enter it into in hopes of having it seen further afield than my own backyard.
So it was with some curiosity (and major trepidation) that I checked the mailbox (some six hours after the delivery truck drove off), only to find absolutely nothing in regards to the quilt show. Same thing on Saturday - so I went through the weekend trying really hard to not think of it in any way, shape, or form. Then Monday arrived.
Brian snagged the mail and brought it to the house saying, "You have something from AQS."
My heart skipped.
"Is it thick or thin?" I asked him.
"It's neither, sort of. It's a large flat envelope," he answered, and I flew up the stairs.
It was a strange way to send a "no thank you" note, so I let myself become a little excited.
"CONGRATULATIONS! The jury has accepted your entry, [PQ1]: Let It Begin With Me, for further consideration in the 2013 AQS Quilt Week contest in Grand Rapids, MI....Your contestant name badge and ribbon are enclosed," the top page read. Yippee!
OK, so after receiving hugs from Bud, and crying a bit, I poured over everything in the packet - over and over and over. Later, I sent out a quick text to family and friends to let them know it's finally happened, and then began receiving texts and calls of congratulations. It was a good day.
I now need to completely remove ALL signs of cat hair from the quilt, check it over and clip stray threads, then make a small adjustment to the sleeve I have been thinking of making (to make the corners and sides hang without waving at all). Once that's done there are other items to deal with...and a small mound of paperwork to immediately fill out and send back before the quilt is packed up and shipped to AQS.
Holy Moses! Guess I may as well get back to work then, eh? :)
Anyhow, that's my week so far, hope your week is going well. More another time.
I totally expected to see another "no thanks, but good luck in the future" letter in the mailbox, as happened earlier this year. That rejection note appeared on the day the AQS stated they would begin mailing out notification letters...so I was prepared to see the early bird envelope in my mailbox last week. I truly was.
Not that I was being a fatalist, mind you, but I suspected the minds behind the jurying of quilts into/out of competition for the AQS were skewed in regards to PQ1. In fact, I had already begun accumulating a list of new shows to enter it into in hopes of having it seen further afield than my own backyard.
So it was with some curiosity (and major trepidation) that I checked the mailbox (some six hours after the delivery truck drove off), only to find absolutely nothing in regards to the quilt show. Same thing on Saturday - so I went through the weekend trying really hard to not think of it in any way, shape, or form. Then Monday arrived.
Brian snagged the mail and brought it to the house saying, "You have something from AQS."
My heart skipped.
"Is it thick or thin?" I asked him.
"It's neither, sort of. It's a large flat envelope," he answered, and I flew up the stairs.
It was a strange way to send a "no thank you" note, so I let myself become a little excited.
"CONGRATULATIONS! The jury has accepted your entry, [PQ1]: Let It Begin With Me, for further consideration in the 2013 AQS Quilt Week contest in Grand Rapids, MI....Your contestant name badge and ribbon are enclosed," the top page read. Yippee!
OK, so after receiving hugs from Bud, and crying a bit, I poured over everything in the packet - over and over and over. Later, I sent out a quick text to family and friends to let them know it's finally happened, and then began receiving texts and calls of congratulations. It was a good day.
I now need to completely remove ALL signs of cat hair from the quilt, check it over and clip stray threads, then make a small adjustment to the sleeve I have been thinking of making (to make the corners and sides hang without waving at all). Once that's done there are other items to deal with...and a small mound of paperwork to immediately fill out and send back before the quilt is packed up and shipped to AQS.
Holy Moses! Guess I may as well get back to work then, eh? :)
Anyhow, that's my week so far, hope your week is going well. More another time.
6.24.2013
Nuts!
"Nuts!", I say, to frying an egg on the pavement. That's an oldie - and no longer a goodie.
I'm going to bake a few potatoes...they're much healthier for you - and I can make 'tater salad when they're 'baked'!
Yes, I'm trying to say it's still hot ! ! !
I'm going to bake a few potatoes...they're much healthier for you - and I can make 'tater salad when they're 'baked'!
Yes, I'm trying to say it's still hot ! ! !
6.23.2013
Stifling heat
Oh, how I hate it.....just HATE it!
Masterpiece Theater is coming on, so I will console myself with lovely BBC offerings to take my mind off of this heat and transport myself to a better place.
Inspector Lewis, take me away!
Masterpiece Theater is coming on, so I will console myself with lovely BBC offerings to take my mind off of this heat and transport myself to a better place.
Inspector Lewis, take me away!
6.22.2013
Yeesh!
Now I know how it feels to be a candybar...
...on the dashboard of car
...on a sunny day
...with the windows rolled up.
I'm melting....melting.
...on the dashboard of car
...on a sunny day
...with the windows rolled up.
I'm melting....melting.
Too darned hot, people!
It's too darned hot. HOT I tell ya! [ugh]
I do not enjoy (OR appreciate) warm weather - well, anything hotter than 72*F. Anything north of that in the temperature game is abhorred and unnecessary.
Don't look at me like that, we all know it's true. I'm just the only sane person brave enough to post it out loud.
Sheeeezzz-z-z-z-ah! And now, to add insult (and humidity) to injury, we are going to have rain, too.
Mind you, I love a good rain, but when it's coupled with high heat...no good can come of it. Absolutely none. You can't quilt in that sort of humidity, can't paint walls, can't relax, sleep, breath, get comfy, stay comfy, stay dry, be happy. When things become saturated in humidity, it's just miserable.
Pardon me while I wring out my sofa.
I do not enjoy (OR appreciate) warm weather - well, anything hotter than 72*F. Anything north of that in the temperature game is abhorred and unnecessary.
Don't look at me like that, we all know it's true. I'm just the only sane person brave enough to post it out loud.
Sheeeezzz-z-z-z-ah! And now, to add insult (and humidity) to injury, we are going to have rain, too.
Mind you, I love a good rain, but when it's coupled with high heat...no good can come of it. Absolutely none. You can't quilt in that sort of humidity, can't paint walls, can't relax, sleep, breath, get comfy, stay comfy, stay dry, be happy. When things become saturated in humidity, it's just miserable.
Pardon me while I wring out my sofa.
6.21.2013
And the winner is.....
..."Polished Leather."
Yup. The paint color preferred this time for the long south wall is a very dark (but not black), deep purple-to-brown. The difference being: THIS time, the entire length of the wall will be all one dark, rich, gorgeous color, and will be completed all at the same time.
*Crap*
I just managed to burst my own happiness bubble by remembering I also have to paint the ceiling in the dining area - as well as the living room - before I can call it 'done.'
Ah, well. One step at a time, I guess. One step at a time.
Polished Leather is going to look snappy with a quilt and several wonderful enlarged photographs, by yours truly, hanging all over it. But I have to hurry along, now. If I'm not quick about it, the coming heatwave is going to zap my momentum, I just know it, and this little project could sit undone for another [name the time frame].
Finger's crossed, photos later.
Yup. The paint color preferred this time for the long south wall is a very dark (but not black), deep purple-to-brown. The difference being: THIS time, the entire length of the wall will be all one dark, rich, gorgeous color, and will be completed all at the same time.
*Crap*
I just managed to burst my own happiness bubble by remembering I also have to paint the ceiling in the dining area - as well as the living room - before I can call it 'done.'
Ah, well. One step at a time, I guess. One step at a time.
Polished Leather is going to look snappy with a quilt and several wonderful enlarged photographs, by yours truly, hanging all over it. But I have to hurry along, now. If I'm not quick about it, the coming heatwave is going to zap my momentum, I just know it, and this little project could sit undone for another [name the time frame].
Finger's crossed, photos later.
6.17.2013
Goliath
Moved a lot of stuff yesterday afternoon in order to get to the wall I wanted to fix (and ultimately paint). Another crack had developed around the framing of the window which once existed in the south wall, so besides the fact that the color was wrong, I also couldn't get past seeing that darned crack reappear!
In all honesty, I noticed the crack a few years back, but had turned a blind eye to it for a lot of reasons, but all of that has changed recently. I won't go into it now, just trust me when I say I've hit my limit.
I have been ruing the day I ever began rehabbing/remodeling this typical 1950's ranch-style house. Oh, for lots of reasons, but mainly because of all of the rotten people who I ended up trusting and hiring, and who ultimately let me down. I am a fairly poor judge of character it appears.
All of that a n d it seems repairing one item seems to make another two or three issues come to light.
But this morning, I awoke feeling a bit more hopeful after yesterday's burst of renewed energy.
I moved all of the boxes of stored dinnerware (which still cannot go "home" because that space is nowhere near ready for it), began the drywall repair in a fairly big way, and pared down the color choices to paint that expanse of wall, the adjoining joist-into-hallway wall (and the living room ceiling) to no more than five colors! Two for the overall wall, two possibles for the ceiling and maybe two for the joist (but one of those is a very strong contender)!
"That's six!", you yell.
Hey, I can count. Don't worry, my math is sound - two of those are the same color for different purposes...so it's all good.
Trust me, this is a big change. It's a BIG commitment. I've had it with the 'someday' attitude I've fallen into! I want my house back!
At any rate, with all of the moving, vacuuming, and prep cleaning, I disturbed a spider. A wolf spider. Hey, it was bound to happen.
In fact, it was a very large wolf spider.
I didn't see anything of him all day yesterday, but I had my suspicions we would meet one day when I found a lot of cobweb-y stuff.
"How large?" you wonder.
Let me just say when I caught sight of him running an Olympic sprint across the half wall very early this morning - and he was pulling a VW Beetle behind him at the time - he was astounding! He was booking, baby!
I mean to say he was one of the largest I had ever seen indoors or out, and superfast. Why he stopped moving when I approached him with a shoe is beyond me; except, maybe because he has been living in this house for an apparently good long time, he was most likely used to the noises and comings and goings. Nothing was going to faze this Godzilla arachnid, least of all a freaked out fat woman with a sneaker.
And I truly believe this spider was also probably the one who moved the frig away from the wall one night!
Yes, THAT large! I'm telling you........even Flop wouldn't approach it, and she loves chasing down bugs and spiders when she spies one. LOVES it!
My big fear right now is that this eight-legged behemoth may have been a mommy and not a dude. So, do I need to worry about revenge from a hoard of angry gargantuan babies any time in the near future?
In all honesty, I noticed the crack a few years back, but had turned a blind eye to it for a lot of reasons, but all of that has changed recently. I won't go into it now, just trust me when I say I've hit my limit.
I have been ruing the day I ever began rehabbing/remodeling this typical 1950's ranch-style house. Oh, for lots of reasons, but mainly because of all of the rotten people who I ended up trusting and hiring, and who ultimately let me down. I am a fairly poor judge of character it appears.
All of that a n d it seems repairing one item seems to make another two or three issues come to light.
But this morning, I awoke feeling a bit more hopeful after yesterday's burst of renewed energy.
I moved all of the boxes of stored dinnerware (which still cannot go "home" because that space is nowhere near ready for it), began the drywall repair in a fairly big way, and pared down the color choices to paint that expanse of wall, the adjoining joist-into-hallway wall (and the living room ceiling) to no more than five colors! Two for the overall wall, two possibles for the ceiling and maybe two for the joist (but one of those is a very strong contender)!
"That's six!", you yell.
Hey, I can count. Don't worry, my math is sound - two of those are the same color for different purposes...so it's all good.
Trust me, this is a big change. It's a BIG commitment. I've had it with the 'someday' attitude I've fallen into! I want my house back!
At any rate, with all of the moving, vacuuming, and prep cleaning, I disturbed a spider. A wolf spider. Hey, it was bound to happen.
In fact, it was a very large wolf spider.
I didn't see anything of him all day yesterday, but I had my suspicions we would meet one day when I found a lot of cobweb-y stuff.
"How large?" you wonder.
Let me just say when I caught sight of him running an Olympic sprint across the half wall very early this morning - and he was pulling a VW Beetle behind him at the time - he was astounding! He was booking, baby!
I mean to say he was one of the largest I had ever seen indoors or out, and superfast. Why he stopped moving when I approached him with a shoe is beyond me; except, maybe because he has been living in this house for an apparently good long time, he was most likely used to the noises and comings and goings. Nothing was going to faze this Godzilla arachnid, least of all a freaked out fat woman with a sneaker.
And I truly believe this spider was also probably the one who moved the frig away from the wall one night!
Yes, THAT large! I'm telling you........even Flop wouldn't approach it, and she loves chasing down bugs and spiders when she spies one. LOVES it!
My big fear right now is that this eight-legged behemoth may have been a mommy and not a dude. So, do I need to worry about revenge from a hoard of angry gargantuan babies any time in the near future?
6.16.2013
One thing more
I looked into the frig this morning to grab the milk and an English muffin to begin my day, and was amused to find that, besides the dinner/foodstuffs I had prepared for the boys to feed on while I was away, there was also a can of Red Bull and remainder of a four-pack of chocolate pudding.
? ? ?
Really? Is this some sort of new diet thing kids are doing now? Energy drinks and pudding?
I don't wanna know..........I think.
Weird.
? ? ?
Really? Is this some sort of new diet thing kids are doing now? Energy drinks and pudding?
I don't wanna know..........I think.
Weird.
Physical pursuits
Well, well. Midway through the month of June already. Bwah!
Spent the early part of this weekend engaged in physical acts of sweatiness and grunting. Oh, for Heaven's sake...get your minds out of the gutter!
After correcting another egregious attack on my meager financial holdings at the bank (which took forever, by the way), I headed north to help a friend begin the nitty-gritty cleaning chores of a property she hopes to sell. Because of the long line of loan customers (who receive preferential attention AND can make appointments, which supersede those of us already in line waiting to speak with someone regarding our account issues), I was later arriving than I wanted to be.
And, I was not the happiest camper.
When I arrived, Jean was hard at work in the bathroom and had already mopped the breezeway floor to within an inch of its life. I cleaned out a portion of dishes from the cupboard and whatnot, then suggested that maybe a fresh pair of muscles and aggravation should set to work on the stubborn stains in the tub. That seemed to do the trick.
After annihilating the country rust, we divided and conquered other areas of the house. The wood living room walls and ceiling are dust- (and spiderweb-) free, thank you very much, and I managed to irritate (then kill) a few residents of the creepy crawly sort along the way. SCORE!
It wasn't long before we called it a day and headed for a more lazy posture.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jean showed me all of the surg hats she managed to create on her school break; an astounding number of really cute hats that will sell quickly at the hospital! We ordered a pizza and watched a little TV before turning in for the night.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Saturday morning found us bushy-tailed (if not bright-eyed), and we readied ourselves for a long day of driving and moving furniture. Her lovely doctor daughter (or, is it daughter doctor?) was moving from her groovy residency residence to Maine for work, so we were heading to K'zoo to help her get rid of the items not traveling with her to lobster-land.
Had the chance to meet her boyfriend and a sweet doctor friend - both very wonderful people, much like Carrie (doctor daughter)...so no surprise there. We actually kibitzed our way through lunch at a great GREEK diner in K'zoo before getting started on the heavy stuff. Too much laughing - more so than eating - but no complaints.
We all loaded a small moving van; chit-chatted a bit; said our goodbyes and parting 'nice-to-have-met-yous,' then; off we went one more time. The road was our mistress yesterday, without a doubt.
Once back on the expressway, we headed first for Lansing to drop off a heavy piece of furniture, then proceeded to Jean's home to unload the rest into storage.
~ I want to thank Dr. Carrie for the dining table and chairs. They are going to fit perfectly in my dining space at the end of the kitchen! I simply need to paint the walls before making that happen - but I am more than incentivized!! Currently scheming of the perfect design for your wall hanging, girlie. ;)
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
This morning I am stiff but very eager to remain in any non-sitting positions as much as possible. Don't know what the day has in store exactly, but I'm thinking it'll be something to do with finishing priming the dining area walls and hanging the planned art for the arrival of the 'new' table and chairs! It's supposed to rain later this afternoon, so I will have to work somewhat quickly.
So, I guess....more physical pursuits.
Thanks, again, Carrie and Jean!
More later. Photos when I can. :)
Spent the early part of this weekend engaged in physical acts of sweatiness and grunting. Oh, for Heaven's sake...get your minds out of the gutter!
After correcting another egregious attack on my meager financial holdings at the bank (which took forever, by the way), I headed north to help a friend begin the nitty-gritty cleaning chores of a property she hopes to sell. Because of the long line of loan customers (who receive preferential attention AND can make appointments, which supersede those of us already in line waiting to speak with someone regarding our account issues), I was later arriving than I wanted to be.
And, I was not the happiest camper.
When I arrived, Jean was hard at work in the bathroom and had already mopped the breezeway floor to within an inch of its life. I cleaned out a portion of dishes from the cupboard and whatnot, then suggested that maybe a fresh pair of muscles and aggravation should set to work on the stubborn stains in the tub. That seemed to do the trick.
After annihilating the country rust, we divided and conquered other areas of the house. The wood living room walls and ceiling are dust- (and spiderweb-) free, thank you very much, and I managed to irritate (then kill) a few residents of the creepy crawly sort along the way. SCORE!
It wasn't long before we called it a day and headed for a more lazy posture.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Jean showed me all of the surg hats she managed to create on her school break; an astounding number of really cute hats that will sell quickly at the hospital! We ordered a pizza and watched a little TV before turning in for the night.
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
Saturday morning found us bushy-tailed (if not bright-eyed), and we readied ourselves for a long day of driving and moving furniture. Her lovely doctor daughter (or, is it daughter doctor?) was moving from her groovy residency residence to Maine for work, so we were heading to K'zoo to help her get rid of the items not traveling with her to lobster-land.
Had the chance to meet her boyfriend and a sweet doctor friend - both very wonderful people, much like Carrie (doctor daughter)...so no surprise there. We actually kibitzed our way through lunch at a great GREEK diner in K'zoo before getting started on the heavy stuff. Too much laughing - more so than eating - but no complaints.
We all loaded a small moving van; chit-chatted a bit; said our goodbyes and parting 'nice-to-have-met-yous,' then; off we went one more time. The road was our mistress yesterday, without a doubt.
Once back on the expressway, we headed first for Lansing to drop off a heavy piece of furniture, then proceeded to Jean's home to unload the rest into storage.
~ I want to thank Dr. Carrie for the dining table and chairs. They are going to fit perfectly in my dining space at the end of the kitchen! I simply need to paint the walls before making that happen - but I am more than incentivized!! Currently scheming of the perfect design for your wall hanging, girlie. ;)
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
This morning I am stiff but very eager to remain in any non-sitting positions as much as possible. Don't know what the day has in store exactly, but I'm thinking it'll be something to do with finishing priming the dining area walls and hanging the planned art for the arrival of the 'new' table and chairs! It's supposed to rain later this afternoon, so I will have to work somewhat quickly.
So, I guess....more physical pursuits.
Thanks, again, Carrie and Jean!
More later. Photos when I can. :)
6.13.2013
Ugh....humidity
Can't quilt.
Can't write on paper.
Can't handle sitting on damp-feeling furniture. Ick!
We've finally crossed that weather line-in-the-sand from winter-to-spring, but it seems as though we crossed right over spring and landed smack dab in the throes of summer. The temperatures never really settled on anything too seasonally springlike here in the northern mid-west, and it hasn't been any too normal in other weather-related ways, either.
But the whole weather powerstruggle of winter/summer/winter/spring/winter/winter/something/summer has finally erupted into (apparently) summer. [heavy sad sighing]
There's been an abundance of rain, which could be a good thing if it fell over a period of time instead of all at once. But, our waterways are in desperate need of recouping what has been lost over time, so here in MI we'll take what we can get.
P.S. - if somebody reading this knows the person in charge of the heavenly earth thermostat, please pass on the word that I wouldn't be opposed to having the temperatures set on the low end of the summer spectrum for the remainder of June, July, August and September. Too much heat with all this rain is just sticky, tacky, icky in a house with no AC. Thanks!
Can't write on paper.
Can't handle sitting on damp-feeling furniture. Ick!
We've finally crossed that weather line-in-the-sand from winter-to-spring, but it seems as though we crossed right over spring and landed smack dab in the throes of summer. The temperatures never really settled on anything too seasonally springlike here in the northern mid-west, and it hasn't been any too normal in other weather-related ways, either.
But the whole weather powerstruggle of winter/summer/winter/spring/winter/winter/something/summer has finally erupted into (apparently) summer. [heavy sad sighing]
There's been an abundance of rain, which could be a good thing if it fell over a period of time instead of all at once. But, our waterways are in desperate need of recouping what has been lost over time, so here in MI we'll take what we can get.
P.S. - if somebody reading this knows the person in charge of the heavenly earth thermostat, please pass on the word that I wouldn't be opposed to having the temperatures set on the low end of the summer spectrum for the remainder of June, July, August and September. Too much heat with all this rain is just sticky, tacky, icky in a house with no AC. Thanks!
"E-cigarettes" - c'mon!
Electronic cigarettes!?!
Seriously. Looky, world - a different way to enjoy your addiction to nicotine.
Yes, it may be a somewhat 'healthier' way to imbibe in a tobacco-less smoke, but it still isn't sexy, nor has it been determined to be a totally safe alternative.
Try chewing gum and willpower, people!
Seriously. Looky, world - a different way to enjoy your addiction to nicotine.
Yes, it may be a somewhat 'healthier' way to imbibe in a tobacco-less smoke, but it still isn't sexy, nor has it been determined to be a totally safe alternative.
Try chewing gum and willpower, people!
6.12.2013
One month and counting
I've made it well over a month already without visiting facebook. That's right - one month and counting!
For my birthday I gave myself one month "off" for good behavior.
Well, what does "good behavior" have to do with it? Not a thing, actually. I simply decided to stay off of the disappointing treadmill of FB BS for a month to see if my attitude improved, my expectations mellowed, or my reactions to perceived slights and outright rudeness abated a bit.
I highly doubt any of that would be the case, so I am still sans the ol' fb for a while longer. Tell me, has any of the self-aggrandizing twaddle (or the ignoring others' announcements and whatnot) calmed a bit? I doubt that much as well.
It's been nearly seven weeks...and I'm still counting. AND I'm still standing.
Take that, FB!
For my birthday I gave myself one month "off" for good behavior.
Well, what does "good behavior" have to do with it? Not a thing, actually. I simply decided to stay off of the disappointing treadmill of FB BS for a month to see if my attitude improved, my expectations mellowed, or my reactions to perceived slights and outright rudeness abated a bit.
I highly doubt any of that would be the case, so I am still sans the ol' fb for a while longer. Tell me, has any of the self-aggrandizing twaddle (or the ignoring others' announcements and whatnot) calmed a bit? I doubt that much as well.
It's been nearly seven weeks...and I'm still counting. AND I'm still standing.
Take that, FB!
I've had it with the world -- you load of jackasses!!!!!
Neighbors.
Lying ex-husbands.
Cheating ex-husbands.
Philandering bosses.
Diddling uncles.
Contractors of ALL sorts who take your money & don't accomplish half of what they're paid for.
Hospitals that add charges for services not rendered & that allow doctors to roam the halls signing patient charts without ever seeing the patient. And let's not forget double billing for ER docs.
Men who are fathers who don't act like it. Losers who duck out on their parental responsibility and are absent for much of the formative years. Snip, snip, fellas.
Would-be employers who tell you that they were looking for a younger person during the interview process.
Those who drive someones car with a handicap plate or sign, and then park in handicap spots because they think it's OK. LAZINESS IS NOT A HANDICAP!
People who smoke on campus despite all the signage saying it's a COMPLETELY smoke-free zone.
Judges who dismiss your work as a copy of something else without checking facts or dates.
Cats that whiz outside the box when the damned thing is fresh.
People who throw their cigarette butts out a car window. YOU HAVE ASHTRAYS IN YOUR CARS!!!
People who use the race card...right off the bat - for e v e r y encounter. Hey, if you're stupid it really has nothing to do with your color or ethnicity. Stupid is stupid - deal with it and fix yourself!
I'm certain there are more, but I am tired...and I'm pretty sure you get the idea.
Maybe tomorrow I will feel better, but you will all still be here. So. . . . . . . . .the effing world can eat my shorts!
Neighbors.
Lying ex-husbands.
Cheating ex-husbands.
Philandering bosses.
Diddling uncles.
Contractors of ALL sorts who take your money & don't accomplish half of what they're paid for.
Hospitals that add charges for services not rendered & that allow doctors to roam the halls signing patient charts without ever seeing the patient. And let's not forget double billing for ER docs.
Men who are fathers who don't act like it. Losers who duck out on their parental responsibility and are absent for much of the formative years. Snip, snip, fellas.
Would-be employers who tell you that they were looking for a younger person during the interview process.
Those who drive someones car with a handicap plate or sign, and then park in handicap spots because they think it's OK. LAZINESS IS NOT A HANDICAP!
People who smoke on campus despite all the signage saying it's a COMPLETELY smoke-free zone.
Judges who dismiss your work as a copy of something else without checking facts or dates.
Cats that whiz outside the box when the damned thing is fresh.
People who throw their cigarette butts out a car window. YOU HAVE ASHTRAYS IN YOUR CARS!!!
People who use the race card...right off the bat - for e v e r y encounter. Hey, if you're stupid it really has nothing to do with your color or ethnicity. Stupid is stupid - deal with it and fix yourself!
I'm certain there are more, but I am tired...and I'm pretty sure you get the idea.
Maybe tomorrow I will feel better, but you will all still be here. So. . . . . . . . .the effing world can eat my shorts!
6.10.2013
Lost and found
I spent a good deal of yesterday lost in the ordeal of finding the surface of my sewing table. By the end of the day I had struck gold...but felt miserable when I finally put the lid on the large storage container, and said goodbye to something I was looking forward to really making progress on over the next few months.
The process of totally putting away one project while it's under construction is not a simple act. Especially at the scale of VGS, but it needed doing.
By the end of the day I had only piles of pieces to cut, and those I sorted into gallon zipbags. Over time I will work on cutting the chunks and strips in those bags into 1"x1" pieces, neatly sorted by color and ready for use when I uncrate the beast within. 'Til then, I will have to console myself with losing time on my treasured quilt project and find someplace to store the large blue box!
In the meanwhile, I intend to pick up lost projects and finish them before allowing myself to find time to invest in such a lofty quilt project.
The process of totally putting away one project while it's under construction is not a simple act. Especially at the scale of VGS, but it needed doing.
By the end of the day I had only piles of pieces to cut, and those I sorted into gallon zipbags. Over time I will work on cutting the chunks and strips in those bags into 1"x1" pieces, neatly sorted by color and ready for use when I uncrate the beast within. 'Til then, I will have to console myself with losing time on my treasured quilt project and find someplace to store the large blue box!
In the meanwhile, I intend to pick up lost projects and finish them before allowing myself to find time to invest in such a lofty quilt project.
6.07.2013
My bad
It dawned on me last night that I had forgotten to report Karl's progress in his advanced math class.
Yes - he passed his first test! Initially, he had a C+ grade, but seemed dissatisfied with that grade. He was looking forward to averaging the same sort of grades as he had in the first math class, but since this is advanced (and therefore more complicated) algebra, it makes sense that it might not come as easily, or with the same results for the lad.
At any rate, I suggested he take his test and the math notes - and work leading up to it - in to his next tutoring session to see where his issue may lie, to see if Justin (his tutor) can help Karl over his hurdles, thereby making it easier to pass the next test. You know, get Karl (and keep him) par with what was coming at him in class.
My thought is if you have working knowledge of the sequence of formulation, factoring and figuring for algebra, then you should be able to move through the more complicated problems. But, if you have a hiccup early on, then getting the more complicated stuff will be, well....more complicated.
So, Karl went in to tutoring armed to the teeth to review his test and see where he needed a little help grasping whatever it was that had eluded him.
The two boys found two problems which had been answered correctly, but which the instructor had incorrectly marked wrong! Karl finished his tutoring session having mastered a concept (with Justin's help) that stumped him, AND with the knowledge that he could perhaps raise his grade for the test a little by asking the instructor to review those two problems the boys found to be graded wrong.
Guess what?! She did see the issues with the two problems in question, and re-graded Karl's test accordingly, which bumped his grade from that C+ to a B- !!! This made Karl very proud - and rightly so!
Need I say I am proud, too? Well, I am!
- - - - - - - - - - - -
On to Brian news. Arrived home the other day to find Bud with an impressive bandage on his left forearm.
"A bandage!", you gasp.
Yes, and here's the story. He cut his forearm on a poorly stored blade he found "the hard way," while searching for something he had dropped on the floor under his desk. Yes, he placed the blade (some time ago) into the flap of a cardboard box, then stacked the box with something else, then, well.....you get the picture, right? He forgot completely about the blade, then made contact with it while prowling around under his desk.
The "contact" made was with his forearm, and the results were a fairly deep sub-q cut (but not to the muscle) which required something in the order of 10 stitches to close.
Wheeee!! Oh, and yes, I did do the mommy-thing and suggest (strongly) to Brian I thought this might be a good time to clean his room.
So, it's been slightly eventful here. How's things at your end of the swamp?
Yes - he passed his first test! Initially, he had a C+ grade, but seemed dissatisfied with that grade. He was looking forward to averaging the same sort of grades as he had in the first math class, but since this is advanced (and therefore more complicated) algebra, it makes sense that it might not come as easily, or with the same results for the lad.
At any rate, I suggested he take his test and the math notes - and work leading up to it - in to his next tutoring session to see where his issue may lie, to see if Justin (his tutor) can help Karl over his hurdles, thereby making it easier to pass the next test. You know, get Karl (and keep him) par with what was coming at him in class.
My thought is if you have working knowledge of the sequence of formulation, factoring and figuring for algebra, then you should be able to move through the more complicated problems. But, if you have a hiccup early on, then getting the more complicated stuff will be, well....more complicated.
So, Karl went in to tutoring armed to the teeth to review his test and see where he needed a little help grasping whatever it was that had eluded him.
The two boys found two problems which had been answered correctly, but which the instructor had incorrectly marked wrong! Karl finished his tutoring session having mastered a concept (with Justin's help) that stumped him, AND with the knowledge that he could perhaps raise his grade for the test a little by asking the instructor to review those two problems the boys found to be graded wrong.
Guess what?! She did see the issues with the two problems in question, and re-graded Karl's test accordingly, which bumped his grade from that C+ to a B- !!! This made Karl very proud - and rightly so!
Need I say I am proud, too? Well, I am!
- - - - - - - - - - - -
On to Brian news. Arrived home the other day to find Bud with an impressive bandage on his left forearm.
"A bandage!", you gasp.
Yes, and here's the story. He cut his forearm on a poorly stored blade he found "the hard way," while searching for something he had dropped on the floor under his desk. Yes, he placed the blade (some time ago) into the flap of a cardboard box, then stacked the box with something else, then, well.....you get the picture, right? He forgot completely about the blade, then made contact with it while prowling around under his desk.
The "contact" made was with his forearm, and the results were a fairly deep sub-q cut (but not to the muscle) which required something in the order of 10 stitches to close.
Wheeee!! Oh, and yes, I did do the mommy-thing and suggest (strongly) to Brian I thought this might be a good time to clean his room.
So, it's been slightly eventful here. How's things at your end of the swamp?
6.05.2013
People. Go figure.
Somewhere over the last 48 hours I received a comment on the ol' blog (which wasn't your ordinary, everyday SPAM, and which I haven't approved), and it had nothing to do with the posting 'commented' on.
Nothing to do with me.
No questions; no suggestions (terse or otherwise) regarding a previous issue I may have posted; no "how-do-you-do" or similar pleasantries.
Just an invitation. Yes, I am aware Stevie Nicks said: "Just an invitation would have been just fine," but in this case....it wasn't.
Woo me! Yes, I used the word "woo."
- - - - Sorry, I seem to have wandered off topic.
Wait, I think I may have misspoken, too. In fact, this annoying 'comment' was a suggestion - after a fashion.
The non-comment comment said simply: "you are invited to follow my blog" (Yes, I included the punctuation he used.)
Well, I am pretty certain if I wanted to follow a blog I wouldn't have to wait for an invitation. Most folks would be happy to have others flock to their blog and click on the old "follow" button without having to ask. But to troll the blogways and willy-nilly tell people "you are invited to follow my blog" without the thoughtfulness of the act of reciprocity, well.....[sputtering and harrumphing].
Where's the rationale'? Where's the touch of friendliness....the human interaction of the suggested transaction?
See, here's the thing -
If you are already counting several hundred (or thousand) people who 'follow' your blog, and you are inviting someone else to join in, try an email invitation as opposed to a fake comment. Start a 'conversation' instead of employing the Jehovah's witness tactics and methodology, Steve, and allow those new acquaintances to make their own decisions based on other factors over the course of a few emails.
Personally, I tend to respond better to a straightforward and honest approach.
Of course, if you tip-toe and pussyfoot around a subject I tend to 'get' that sort of thing too, but I prefer to get to know someone using a variety of information, and I make my decisions based on a lot of external data. I shy away from overt BS and those using overt BS. I make exceptions for friends because, by the time they are friends, you have come to know and understand all of the cues and subtleties (and not-so subtleties) of the friendship dynamic.
By the way, when your reply to my "no thank you" response to your (initial) 'comment' arrived from an alter-email-ego named "Steve Player".....I thought to myself, "case closed!"
Steve PLAYER. Such an anything-but-Christian nom de plume.
Yes, by all means, share the word of God, but try introducing yourself in a different way. Hammers and caveman clubs don't get it for me. Maybe it works on those more simpleminded or less cynical.
Nothing to do with me.
No questions; no suggestions (terse or otherwise) regarding a previous issue I may have posted; no "how-do-you-do" or similar pleasantries.
Just an invitation. Yes, I am aware Stevie Nicks said: "Just an invitation would have been just fine," but in this case....it wasn't.
Woo me! Yes, I used the word "woo."
- - - - Sorry, I seem to have wandered off topic.
Wait, I think I may have misspoken, too. In fact, this annoying 'comment' was a suggestion - after a fashion.
The non-comment comment said simply: "you are invited to follow my blog" (Yes, I included the punctuation he used.)
Well, I am pretty certain if I wanted to follow a blog I wouldn't have to wait for an invitation. Most folks would be happy to have others flock to their blog and click on the old "follow" button without having to ask. But to troll the blogways and willy-nilly tell people "you are invited to follow my blog" without the thoughtfulness of the act of reciprocity, well.....[sputtering and harrumphing].
Where's the rationale'? Where's the touch of friendliness....the human interaction of the suggested transaction?
See, here's the thing -
If you are already counting several hundred (or thousand) people who 'follow' your blog, and you are inviting someone else to join in, try an email invitation as opposed to a fake comment. Start a 'conversation' instead of employing the Jehovah's witness tactics and methodology, Steve, and allow those new acquaintances to make their own decisions based on other factors over the course of a few emails.
Personally, I tend to respond better to a straightforward and honest approach.
Of course, if you tip-toe and pussyfoot around a subject I tend to 'get' that sort of thing too, but I prefer to get to know someone using a variety of information, and I make my decisions based on a lot of external data. I shy away from overt BS and those using overt BS. I make exceptions for friends because, by the time they are friends, you have come to know and understand all of the cues and subtleties (and not-so subtleties) of the friendship dynamic.
By the way, when your reply to my "no thank you" response to your (initial) 'comment' arrived from an alter-email-ego named "Steve Player".....I thought to myself, "case closed!"
Steve PLAYER. Such an anything-but-Christian nom de plume.
Yes, by all means, share the word of God, but try introducing yourself in a different way. Hammers and caveman clubs don't get it for me. Maybe it works on those more simpleminded or less cynical.
6.03.2013
6.01.2013
So it's June, is it?
A number of years ago, this would have been the day I would wish stepmom number one "a very happy birthday," but she passed away a few years back so we don't do that any more. Oddly, I feel more sadness about that than I do about not being able to wish my dad a happy birthday.
Oh, it's not because he too has passed, but because he chooses to not recognise me as his daughter. Consequently, I don't have a father to send cards to and mark holidays and milestones with any longer.
His choice.
His loss.
I do believe I have a new friend or two celebrating a birthday today, so I will instead focus my thoughts and best wishes in their direction - that oughtta fill the void.
And if that doesn't work, I can always keep cleaning. The cats have seen fit this morning to keep my day full of activity and mess. God bless 'em. It began with Flop spewing upstairs. I was awakened by the undeniable gurking sounds of a feline making hairball pudding.
After cleaning mess one; parts one and two, I was reminded that feeding was the next order of the day - and why hadn't I gotten to it, yet? Loud insistent meowing (Hobbes-style - she knows one word) drove me to the kitchen, where cat food was distributed to the hungry throng.
Having completed that chore, I followed my 'downstairs nose' to the cat box. Someone had tinkled over the edge (per usual, at least one time per week), and most of a bladderful load of urine sat precariously in the fold of the liner's edge. Deftly, I sopped up most of it with a paper towel before carefully rolling the bag liner up and over into itself, finding -- you guessed it....another bladder of pee on the other side!
This explained the odor that usually doesn't live in the house.
New liner installed and fresh litter in place, I felt disaster had been averted.
Walking away to wash my hands I was met by a sweetly curious Cleo, who was making her way quickly to the bathroom. I felt good about treating her to the first use of a fresh litter box. She had beaten the other two to first use privileges!
Mounting the stairs I heard a curious (and bone-chilling sound). I turned on my heals and rushed to see Cleo standing in the box but too close to the side, and she wasn't squatting to urinate. Yup. She was now a fuzzy fountain, shooting a healthy stream of endless cat pee over the edge and onto the dry floor!!!
Back to the drawing board and paper towel (and bleach). Apparently she had held her bladder since 1979, because there were flood level waters there to clean.
So....Happy Birthday to all of you June first-ers out there. You go have fun, I'll man the cat box for the day.
Oh, it's not because he too has passed, but because he chooses to not recognise me as his daughter. Consequently, I don't have a father to send cards to and mark holidays and milestones with any longer.
His choice.
His loss.
I do believe I have a new friend or two celebrating a birthday today, so I will instead focus my thoughts and best wishes in their direction - that oughtta fill the void.
And if that doesn't work, I can always keep cleaning. The cats have seen fit this morning to keep my day full of activity and mess. God bless 'em. It began with Flop spewing upstairs. I was awakened by the undeniable gurking sounds of a feline making hairball pudding.
After cleaning mess one; parts one and two, I was reminded that feeding was the next order of the day - and why hadn't I gotten to it, yet? Loud insistent meowing (Hobbes-style - she knows one word) drove me to the kitchen, where cat food was distributed to the hungry throng.
Having completed that chore, I followed my 'downstairs nose' to the cat box. Someone had tinkled over the edge (per usual, at least one time per week), and most of a bladderful load of urine sat precariously in the fold of the liner's edge. Deftly, I sopped up most of it with a paper towel before carefully rolling the bag liner up and over into itself, finding -- you guessed it....another bladder of pee on the other side!
This explained the odor that usually doesn't live in the house.
New liner installed and fresh litter in place, I felt disaster had been averted.
Walking away to wash my hands I was met by a sweetly curious Cleo, who was making her way quickly to the bathroom. I felt good about treating her to the first use of a fresh litter box. She had beaten the other two to first use privileges!
Mounting the stairs I heard a curious (and bone-chilling sound). I turned on my heals and rushed to see Cleo standing in the box but too close to the side, and she wasn't squatting to urinate. Yup. She was now a fuzzy fountain, shooting a healthy stream of endless cat pee over the edge and onto the dry floor!!!
Back to the drawing board and paper towel (and bleach). Apparently she had held her bladder since 1979, because there were flood level waters there to clean.
So....Happy Birthday to all of you June first-ers out there. You go have fun, I'll man the cat box for the day.
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