1 Crafty Bitch

Hurrah for Cla!!

2008-06-20T16:08:00.006-05:00

I got a call back about my interview yesterday. I was offered the job at the Optometrist's office! I went by there to check out their scrubs so I would know what to purchase, then I went into town and got my new uniforms! SH will be so happy because on Tuesdays, we wear BAMA scrubs. hehe. The place is really pretty and everone on staff there seems really sweet. During my interview yesterday, the doctor had some patients to see so I spent an hour or so hanging out with the other employees. They showed me around and let me sit in with a few patients. That is the most computerized office I have seen in some time. It sure beat the crap of the other eye place I recently worked at. We will not mention the name, but you can find it if you read through some other posts. Anyway, I start Monday and am pumped. I won't be teching, I will be working in the Optical dispensary for now. I don't have much experience with glasses but I do know some basics so I am sure it will come easily to me. YAY JOB!!!

On Monday, I decided to go into town and do a little shopping. I had to make a pit stop at the yarn store to see and touch all the yummy yarns. While I was there I made the decision (Mother of Purl, you are gonna love this) to try knitting. The owner suggested I start with a thick yarn and a simple scarf to get me going. I guess I had delusions of grandeur when I said "how hard would it be to go from crocheting to knitting socks?" I was a little disappointed that they didn't have ANYTHING in the way of crochet books. I got everything home (after a long wait downtown because the battery in the truck died, another long story) and tried to figure this knitting stuff out. I am still quite confused, but I have done several rows on something that could actually end up being a scarf. At this point I am having trouble keeping the thread high enough up on the needle for the next stitch. I think I have the cast on, knit stitch and purl stitch down though. I have got to get a library card sometime soon so I can see what the TTown library has in the way of knitting/crocheting books. I just hope my crochet stuff doesn't get too jealous!!

Here is the yarn I got.

This is my progress so far.

On a bit of a sad note, SH's parents went out of town for a few days and when they returned, Noah wasn't there. This was on Monday. Still no Noah as of last night. Yesterday morning I was standing in the kitchen and something caught my eye outside. I saw a black cat with white feet playing on the hill. It was chasing a butterfly. It looked exactly like Noah. I had to think to myself, you did see that right? I went outside for a better look but couldn't see it through all the tall grass. I kept looking and after a little while, I saw the grass move and eventually saw the cat. I whistled and called for it, but it acted as if it didn't hear me. It then turned and walked away. I am still wondering, did I see that cat? Was it Noah? Why didn't it respond to my calls? Was it his spirit saying goodbye? Or was it simply a cat that looked a lot like Noah?

Northport Lapghan

2008-06-15T13:33:00.004-05:00

I started a blanket for us to use in our new house. I did one similar to this for a friend's wedding gift. She absolutely loved it. I used LionBrand Homespun in Meadow.

Pattern:

With a N hook, make a chain as long as you want the blanket to be. Hdc in the 2nd chain from hook. Hdc across. Turn, ch 2, hdc across in back loops only. At the end of each row, I hdc'd in both loops for the last stitch. Continue rows of hdc in back loops until lapghan is as long as you want. I finished the first blanket with 2 rows of dc around. I love the ridge effect hdc'ing in the back loop creates.

Lazy Blogger

2008-06-13T21:06:00.006-05:00

I have been pretty slack in my Blog upkeep lately. I am still getting adjusted to the new house and a different way of doing things. I haven't spent much time on my caveman laptop lately. This computer seems to get slower and slower every day. I don't have the patience to wait for things to load.

I finally took a few pictures of the house as well as a few pictures of what I did with our front windows. We have two sidelights around the front door. They are simple glass windows that allow everyone who drives or walks by a complete and unobstructed view inside our house. I do not like that one bit. I originally wanted sidelight curtains but we were unable to find them. Then I wanted to do a glass treatment that made them look like stained glass, Gallery Glass. We finally found the Gallery Glass stuff at Michaels and I pondered the pattern to use. After thinking about numbers, measurements and other mind numbing things, I decided to freehand. Nothing had to be exact. I went with a vine pattern. It turned out so good! If you don't know anything about Gallery Glass, it is a "paint" that when dry, looks like stained glass. They even have "leading" strips that you can peel and stick, or you can make your own lines with the liquid version. I used the leading as the vine and the outer edges of leaves. I filled in the leaves with clear. When the clear dried, it looks like wavy glass. I intended on "etching" the remaining glass to make the panels completely opaque, but liked the look of just the vines. Immediately following the start of the Gallery Glass, my mil offered to make sidelight curtains if we sent her the fabric and measurements. Now we have the vine pattern with pretty green curtains to further obstruct prying eyes. We absolutely love the way it turned out.

Our new little house!!

Sidelight

Sidelight curtains (thanks S!!)

We saw The Happening this afternoon. Meh. It was a good movie but wasn't as scary as I anticipated. It also didn't have the usual M. Night Shyamalan twist like I expected.

We are planning on having a garage sale tomorrow in the hopes of unloading lots of useless stuff we have acquired over our last 15 years. I wish we had done this before the move! I just hope it doesn't rain. It is already drizzling out....fingers crossed! Once we clean out the garage from the garage sale, I will be able to park in it. Pretty cool. SH built shelves to put all our garagey stuff on and they look great. The rest of the house has pretty much fallen into place.

I have been sending in resumes on a daily basis. Hurry up people, I am waiting on your calls for interviews!!! I think a lot of these places won't give me a second look since they know I have a college education. Apparently this means they will have to pay me more. Ummmmm, hello. I wouldn't have sent in a resume to apply for the job if I wasn't interested.

Home Sweet Home

2008-05-26T15:54:00.003-05:00

We are finally in Northport! We packed up the UHaul last Wednesday and left Troy Thursday at the crack of dawn. We made it here safe and sound and had everything unloaded by 2 in the afternoon. SH's parents were a BIG help. We have spent the past few days unpacking, arranging and getting stuff together for a yard sale. We had so much stuff that we never used! I really don't want to have to do a yard sale, but I want the cash. :) Our first night here was quite eventful. After spending hours unpacking boxes and putting things away, we decided to go out back and hang out for a while. SH decided to step inside for a minute, but he couldn't get inside. The door had locked! Apparently we didn't know the trick for the door. DOH! We were both locked out in our pjs at midnight. Oh joy. We remembered that earlier in the day, SH's parents met one of our new neighbors. This guy had locked himself out and was waiting on a locksmith. Remembering this, SH went down to neighbor's house (in his pjs) to use his phone. Neighbor called the locksmith and as SH waited with the neighbor, I stayed in the garage and broke down boxes and straightened up. While we were all waiting for the locksmith, neighbor locked himself out of his house AGAIN. DOH!! The locksmith finally arrived and we told him that although we were in our pajamas, it could have been worse. He said that he had picked a few locks for people in worse predicaments than us. I couldn't imagine how embarrasing that would be. We finally got back in the house and crashed. First thing the next day we had keys made.

Our other event happened earlier in the day. I went out in the garage and heard rain. I looked out the side door expecting to see rain, but it was completely dry. The dripping was coming from a pipe in the ceiling of the garage. The water was landing right on the hood of SH's truck. I yelled into the house that SH may want to come out and see this. We had just moved the washer/dryer a little while before so we thought maybe we had done something with a pipe. We couldn't figure out why there was water coming from a pipe in the ceiling. While SH was at neighbor's house waiting on the locksmith, he asked about it. Neighbor said that it was an emergency relief valve to the AC unit. Apparently our house had been closed up since winter and when we turned the AC on, the unit froze up and this dripping was from that. I turned the AC to a non-freezing temperature and the dripping eventually stopped. Whew, disaster averted.

We are returning to Troy tomorrow to clean the house and ready it for showing. Not fun. I hope it sells soon.

Now that we officially moved, working out is going to have to become a priority again. It had fallen to the wayside while preparing for the move. Both SH and I are going to board the workout wagon and get back into shape. I have taken almost a month off and can feel it.

Moving

2008-04-29T17:09:00.004-05:00

We have finally decided to make the change and move! SH has been offered a job in Tuscaloosa and we are getting out of Dodge!! This weekend we will meet with realtors in the hopes of finding a rental house in our price range that ALSO allows pets. We likely won't be able to take all five, just the dogs. The cats will probably have to live with SH's parents until we can purchase a house in the next year to year and a half.

All of our friends give the same response when we tell them we are moving. First they are excited about it, they all know it is something we want. Then they realize that this means we will be far away from them and not be seeing them as often, and they are sad. It is so bittersweet. We have known many of these people since we were in college and have watched several of them grow up. We just hope all the advice and love we have given out over the years sticks with them.

We have been boxing up all the crap we have managed to accumulate over the 12 years we have lived here. It is amazing how much we have! We had to clean out our storage shed to make room for our packed boxes since we don't have room in the house to store them.
It is going to be expensive to move and I worry about it every day, but we will make it....somehow. I have been looking for jobs in the area every day and have sent in several applications, but it is more difficult when you live 3 hours away! I pray I can find something quickly. I am going to get in touch with some of the boutiques and wedding planners there in town to see if they would like to carry my jewelry or use me as a vendor for custom orders. That would be wonderful. I am going to wait until we get there so I can discuss this in person with the owners.

I haven't been crocheting much since we found out we are moving. I had finished several small projects for friends. I am trying to deplete my stash so we won't have to move it. I am doing my best to resist the urge to buy more until we move. There are 3, count em THREE places I can buy yarn in Tuscaloosa, as opposed to 1 here in town. We are moving up in the world!

I tried my hand at a few more batches of jelly, half worked, half didn't. I think the first batch was a case of beginners luck. The ones that didn't work never set. They were the consistency of honey. I was so mad. I wasn't about to rebatch it. In all I have made Habanero, Jalapeno and Triple Pepper Jellies. The Habanero was spicy but not too hot, the jalapeno was very mild and a little smokey. The Triple Pepper Jelly hasn't been tasted yet, but I know it will be yummy.

Habanero Jelly!!!

2008-04-08T17:03:00.005-05:00

Yesterday marked my first attempt at canning. I made Habanero Jelly! A friend gave us a bag of Habanero peppers and I knew that we wouldn't possibly be able to consume them all. I thought about it for a bit and remembered tasting Habanero jelly a few years ago. It was hot but still sweet, perfect for cream cheese and crackers. I bought all the necessary accoutrement and after reading and rereading everything I could get my hands on, decided to give it a whirl. I remembered visiting my Oma as a child and seeing her basement filled with canned veggies. They had a large garden and she canned almost everything that came out of it. I just don't remember ever watching the process. I was worried that my little experiment wouldn't work out but it seems that all the jars have sealed. That means I have done something right! I am ~~patiently~~ impatiently waiting for SH to get home so we can taste test the inagural batch.

Taste test results:

The jelly turned out to be delicious. YAY ME!!! I am so pleased with my first attempt. I should have made more than 6 jars! I think I have a new idea for gifts this year. :)

Here, have a bite.

Its a zoo around here

2008-04-03T13:20:00.007-05:00

I recently started making amigurumi animals for all the babies in my life. Here is the lineup. They are so cute and most are fast to create. I am still having some trouble with attaching limbs and such, but each one shows improvement in my ability.

Sara Tonin. Pattern here.

Gobbles the Bear. Pattern here.

Betty the Bunny. Pattern here.

Angel Fish. Pattern here.

Ellie the Elephant. Pattern here.

Todd the turtle. Pattern here.

What happened to your ear?

2008-03-17T10:55:00.005-05:00

SH had Friday off since the University was closed for spring break. He ended up going to the off-campus office to work with the work-study student. I didn't think anything of it until after 5:30, SH should have called or at least been home by then. I called him several times with no answer. It got to be about 6:30 and still no word. The office is only a few miles from the house and I decided to drive over there. I thought he may have fallen asleep since he is still adjusting to a new prescription. I ended up passing him on a back road. I called his cell phone. When he answered, he was not really coherent, but I thought he just woke up and was groggy. He said something about his ear, but I had no idea what he meant. When we got home, SH asked me if his ear was ok. When I looked, his ear had a horizontal split on the outer edge and was swelling. He had blood all over his face and hands. I told him that his ear was not ok and he was going to the emergency room. He did not want to go but I insisted. I tried to get him to the truck, he stumbled and staggered and eventually got in. His eyes rolled back into his head a few times as he told me he was ok and didn't need to go to the hospital. I told him he was going period.

At the ER, they did a catscan and bloodwork. They did absolutely nothing to his cut ear, not even clean it up!!! After waiting for a few hours, I decided to drive over to the lab where he hurt himself to see if I could CSI the scene. We were both under the assumption that there would be blood puddles and likely SH's broken glasses. When I got there, things looked normal. I found one dried drop of blood near the door. I found his new glasses on a chair and they were fine. I couldn't figure out what on earth happened to give him a split ear. I returned to the hospital with his glasses, which he was happy to know made it through ok.

After waiting a few hours, they told us the results of both tests. Catscan was clear, bloodwork......... alcohol level was .24. WHAT!!!????

The doctor said that it was possible that the medication SH is taking may be slowing down his metabolism of alcohol. SH had several drinks the day before and one drink Friday at lunch. He was not drunk when he left the house early that afternoon. I wouldn't have let him!!

The only thing we can figure out is that the work study student left around 4:15. Apparently SH was closing up and getting ready to leave himself. Something happened to cause SH to fall/trip/stumble/pass out and he likely split his ear on the flooring tiles. We don't know exactly what time this happened, but it was sometime after 4:15. I tried calling him 4 times and sent him a text message until 6:30, so he could have been out for almost 2 hours. Then when he finally woke up, he drove home. He has no memory of the accident itself, driving home, arriving home or getting in the truck to go to the hospital. I can't believe he actually made it home safely, now knowing that he was actually drunk.

Needless to say, he is going to stop taking that medication. If it causes things like this to happen, he doesn't need to be on it. He also says he doesn't feel like himself and has a hard time remembering things.

That certainly made for a scary Friday evening.

Mini VaKay and a few newbies

2008-03-11T17:19:00.007-05:00

SH and I did a bit of work out of town at the end of last week, then made a side trip to visit some friends. We haven't seen them in almost a year and a lot has gone on in their lives. It was great to catch up. We also managed to eat like pigs! Everyone knows that there are no diets on vacation.

I finished up a few more crochet pieces, but since several are presents, I can't show them all.

This adorable halter top is for a friend's daughter who will be celebrating her 8th birthday next month. Nothing like starting a present early!! I saw the pattern and knew she would love it. You can find it here. I love the colors!!

This sweater will be going to my husbands cousin who is expecting a little girl soon. I figured that since I been making stuff for every other pregnant person on the planet, she should get some things too!! This pattern can be found here. (about halfway down the page)

I finished a shawl for myself but it is so large I haven't taken a photo of it yet. Maybe I will get SH to help with that.

I have an interview at the end of the month for a state job and am expecting a call for another job as a leasing agent. I am not holding my breath, but am still hopeful. I don't know how much longer I can be a SAHW and not be pulling in a paycheck!

Mo' baby stuff!!!

2008-02-21T10:06:00.006-06:00

Lordy, the last 12 months have been the most baby-having 12 months in my life! It seems like almost everyone I know is having or has just had a baby. I finally finished most of the baby goodies and am working on a shawl for ME!!! Here are pics of the most recently finished pieces. These are for SH's cousin's baby. Now I hear you saying "Wait, I saw that one a few weeks ago?!?" It isn't. I did a second set with the leftover yarn from the first set. The stripe pattern is different on the second version. I had no idea how far those 3 5 oz. skeins of yarn would go! I still have some in the purple and white left over!! I even did the braid as shown in the instructions. The first few blanket I simply finished with 3 rows of sc.

I.love.this.blanket. I used a pattern I have done before but it looked so boring. Nothing jazzes up a blanket like a few rows of super soft fuschia yarn and a GIANT bloom in shades of pink. :)

That is all the new baby stuff. I have spent the last week working on my shawl. I had no idea how long it would take to complete. I think I am about 75% done. The pattern was kinda difficult to get started, the instructions were a little unclear and inconsistent, but I have tweaked them to make it work. It will be so very pretty. Pics to come soon.

Saw a cool movie the other night...The Invisible. I swear the main character looks familiar. I IMDB'd him but he hasn't been in anything significant. I really liked this movie. It was done by some fo the same people who worked on The Sixth Sense. This one is about death and the line between life and death. It left me a little confused about some things, but most good movies do.

Baby Blankets Galore

2008-02-12T19:01:00.000-06:00

I have busy making baby blankets for several mommies and mommies to be. I can't post pics of all of them since some are surprises, but I will share the others. I also have a few more in the planning stages. Here goes.

First, Etta's stroller set. The colors remind me of Neopolitan ice cream....chocolate brown, strawberry pink and vanilla white. YUM.

Next is Connor's "Big Boy" blanket. I made him a baby blanket when he was born. He will be able to "grow into" this one.

Last isn't a baby blanket, it is a shawl made for the most adorable 6 year old I know. I used an adult pattern and shortened it to about 3/4 of the length. I also added braided ties so little Miss Rambunctious will be able to keep it on.

Mobile

2008-02-11T12:21:00.000-06:00

The SH and I made a trip to Mobile last week. We were doing some field work nearby and decided to spend the rest of our time in Mobile. A friend told us about the Riverview Renaissance Hotel downtown and we decided to stay there. Boy howdy was it posh! We both felt completely out of place when we arrived in our dirty field clothes. This hotel is geared to the business suit crowd, but was so beautiful and comfortable. If you have the chance and the cash, the Riverview is a beautiful hotel within walking distance of lots of fun stuff. That afternoon, we made the long walk (maybe 50 steps) over to the Mobile Exploreum to check out the exhibit "Our Body". It has been in the news for several years and was amazing. To read more about the exhibit, follow the Exploreum link. It may be too graphic for some. We decided to make the trek to Wintzells Oyster House for dinner. We have heard nothing but good things about it and it has even been featured on the food channel. It was definately worth the walk!! Good thing we had a nice walk back to the hotel to burn off some extra calories!! The trip, although work related, was a much needed break for us.

Ho Hum

2008-02-03T13:51:00.000-06:00

After a long month of battling with the Unemployment people, my claim to collect unemployment was denied. I was so very angry and upset about it. I don't want to dwell on it, it makes me even angrier. I don't have enough bad words in my vocabulary to say exactly how I feel about the staff at Montgomery Eye Physicians. I will NEVER recommend them to anyone seeking ophthalmic/optometric help. I feel they are more worried about the almighty dollar than their staff or patients. Rant over. :)

I had a second interview for a job here in town, but they found someone better suited. I am not mad, if they thought someone else was a better match, no problem.

On a brighter note, I finished our taxes and we will be getting a nice refund. YAY!!! Bills can get paid off!!! I have also started a new crochet project. A friend's son was gifted with a baby blanket from me when he was born and he is now getting a Big Boy Blanket that he will be able to grow into. I was told that the original blanket is his Woobie. I was so very excited to hear that. The father says the blanket goes EVERYWHERE the baby does. For the new blanket, SH picked out the colors, Crimson and White for a favorite football team. The baby's mom won't like it since she is a fan of other team colors. Oh well.

Here is a recipe I found a few months ago and we absolutely LOVE IT.

Veggie Pizza

Y.U.M.

1 (8 oz.) & 1 (4 oz.) crescent rolls

1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, room temperature

1 c. mayonnaise

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. dill weed

Mix cream cheese, mayo, garlic powder, onion powder and dill weed until thoroughly combined. Press rolls in an 11 x 13 inch cookie sheet to form one large crust and bake until done or golden brown. Cool thoroughly. Top with cream cheese mixture, spreading evenly. Top with diced veggies, pressed on cheese. I used finely chopped cauliflower, broccoli, green peppers, roasted corn and carrots. Use whatever veggies you like. Refrigerate overnight for best flavor.

Baby Stuff Pics!

2008-01-18T13:35:00.000-06:00

Here are two of the items I have finished for the fetus to be! This first is a stroller/hat set. I think the colors are fairly unisex. The blankie has a neat slit in it so a carseat seatbelt will fit through it. The pattern was from one of my favorite books: Stitch N' Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker. I am working on two other versions of the same blanket pattern, just in different colors. The little hat is so freaking adorable!

This was the ripple blanket on day one. It has since been finished and is so very pretty. When I started I was a little worried about the turquoise color being too loud, but I think it looks great with the chocolate brown.

Oh Baby!!

2008-01-14T19:29:00.000-06:00

I found out earlier in the week that a dear friend of mine is expecting! I told her before she got knocked up that whenever she was with child, I would make her whatever she wanted. She has requested blankets. I had previously started a Hooded Blanket and finally found the yarn I needed and finished it this afternoon. I also have made a Afghan and Hat set that are ADORABLE. The blanket has a hole in it so it can be attached to a car seat. Too cool. I am currently working on a rippled blanket and have a few more ideas up my sleeve. I don't know whether or not to post pics. Mommy-to-be, do you want to see your baby items or do you want them to be surprises?

I finally applied for unemployment last week. I really should have done this ages ago but I seriously thought I would have a job by now. I should know in another week or so if they will accept my application.

I am still working out like a madwoman. I am doing at least 30 minutes on the treadmill 5 days a week and 20-40 minutes of cardio/yoga/pilates 5 days a week. WHEW. I have only lost 3 lbs. but I guess you have to start somewhere. must.keep.at.it.

We get to puppy-sit this weekend!! Disco is super excited about having a playmate. We will be keeping a friends puppy while they are in Florida at DisneyWorld. I only hope Baraka doesn't think we are adding another dog to our family. He had such a hard time when we got his sister!!

A typical holiday happening

2007-12-31T09:09:00.000-06:00

Last night SH and I were in bed and I got up several times throughout the night to turn off the heat. I never really noticed that it wasn't actually turning off each time. This morning when I got up, I realized it was STIFLING in the house. I went yet again to turn off the heat. It wouldn't turn off. It was about 80 degrees in the house. SH got out the toolbox and did what he could to figure out the problem. Finally he just turned off the circut breaker. Whew...a little relief. I had to turn on all the ceiling fans to get the temperature somewhat comfortable. Everything SH tried didn't work so it was time to call in the repairman. He is currently working in the laundry room trying to get our problem fixed. I only hope it isn't too expensive. Why is it that on almost every big holiday, something major breaks at our house? Not just a blown bulb or a toilet that doesn't stop running. It is always something BIG. I know we have had similar problems with the heater/AC unit and I only hope it has a few years of life left in it. Fingers crossed!!! LOL, Before the repairman arrived, I scrambled around (in usual Cla fashion) cleaning and straightening up. SH even joined in.

possibly the last post of the year

2007-12-30T16:18:00.000-06:00

Seems like it has been ages since I blogged......

Following that wreck in front of the house, I have been kind of in a slump. I have been so sad thinking about the family of the driver. She didn't get to be at home for the holidays. I assume following the funeral/memorial service, the family drove up to see the accident site. There were flower arrangements and a funeral wreath placed at the scene. There are orange/white DOT barrels on the median warning drivers that the pavement is pitted and uneven from the extreme heat.

I had pretty much fallen off of the exercise wagon after quitting my job. Recently I have slowly gotten off my arse and climbed back on. I started doing two workouts in the day. I have been doing at least 30 minutes on the treadmill, walking and running. I usually burn about 200 calories or more. Yesterday I went almost an hour and made up for two cinnamon rolls I ate. It felt so good to feel like I never even ate them!! I try to treadmill earlier in the day, then at 6 pm I do my regular workout. I have all kinds of workout videos, but I am trying to stick to cardio for the time being. I am also back to counting calories. UGH. I read somewhere online about a way to start cutting calories that is a little easier to stick with as opposed to immediately slashing your intake by several hundred calories. It suggested cutting 100 calories per day and sticking with that for 4 days. On day five, cut another 100 calories and stick with that for 4 days. You will eventually be down to the calorie limit you should sustain.

This has been on my mind and I want to bring up a question to see how others feel. Say you want to add a pet to your family. Specifically a puppy. You already have a very sweet 5 year old dog. Do you get rid of the first pet to add a new pet to the family? I have a friend who is "retiring" pet #1 for pet #2. Pet #1 will be going to live at the parent's house. I could never get rid of a pet for the sake of adding another! You certainly couldn't do that with children!!

Xmas was great this year. I didn't have many wants this time around. Normally I have all kinds of wishes and "needs". I felt bad asking for things since I was not working and bringing in a paycheck. I did get one of my big wants....an iPod!! SH got it for me for my birthday and all the accessories came for xmas. I even got a really cool cover for it. It is hard plastic with a chrome-type finish on it. When the ipod is on, the screen is visible through the cover only to the user. It rocks. I have since become a Podcast nerd. I have all kinds of podcasts and have actually been BUYING music. I hadn't purchased music in ages. I have used the ipod while treadmilling and it makes the time go by much faster than staring at the walls or the tv.

I have still been crocheting blankets. I ended up making one for SH's mother that I finished in record time. I completely forgot that SH mentioned that his mother would love to have one of my blankets until 10 days before we were to visit them. We made a mad dash to pick out yarn and I got to crocheting. I thought a pattern utilizing squares instead of a full-on blanket would be fastest. In all the rush of holiday-ness, I forgot to take a pic of it!!! I found the pattern at Bernat. The site is running v.e.r.y s.l.o.w. today so I couldn't link the pattern but here is a pic. I went with a similar color pattern too. It looks so much prettier in person.

The current wip (below) is a lapghan using leftovers from the MIL blanket.

I am working on another blanket for a certain someone when they get knocked up.......*wink-wink* you know who you are. It just needs one more skein to be finished. I also have plans to re-start a blanket I intended on making about 5 years ago for my nephews. I had all the best intentions when the boys were babies to make them a blanket, but since I was looming it (waaaay before learning crochet) I couldn't figure out how to attach the squares correctly. I had 70% of the squares done when I completely trashed it. I am now going to make good on the promise I made myself and get their blanket in the works. :) Only now it will need to be much bigger!!!

P.S. I need this and/or this. Mother of Purl, you need this.

A Donnie Darko moment

2007-12-19T07:10:00.000-06:00

A little after 6 this morning, an explosion woke me from a sound sleep. I sat straight up in bed. Was it a propane tank? Was it an airplane crash? The airport is directly behind our house. It was a total Donnie Darko moment for SH and me. We jumped out of bed and looked out the front and back doors. Nothing unusual. I looked out the front door again and saw our neighbor running down the street. He yelled "call the fire department! We heard several smaller explosions and were confused as to what they were. We dressed and while I was waiting for SH, I saw smoke rising from the front of the neighborhood near the highway. We started walking that direction. I was scared about what we were going to see, but human nature made me need to see what was going on. I was just hoping everyone involved was alright. As we crested the hill, we saw flames. Huge flames and billowing black smoke. It wasn't someones house. It was an 18 wheeler on fire. The story is that the 18 wheeler rear ended a loaded log truck that had just started moving after pulling out of a driveway. The "bangs" we kept hearing were unfilled propane tanks that the 18 wheeler was carrying. The driver of the log truck was taken to the hospital and we hear he may have a broken neck. The driver of the propane truck never made it out of his rig. They are saying that he was likely asleep on impact. Through the grapevine, we heard the parents of the log truck driver say that their son saw the propane truck driver coming down the hill in his side mirror. He said to himself "you are gonna slow down buddy aren't you?" He never did. The propane truck hit the log truck and they both slid several hundred feet. The parents also said that all the controls in the cab of the log truck were shaken loose. Once the fire department put out the fire, what was left of the propane truck was shocking. The rear end of the trailer shell was crumpled and blackened. The cab was gone. It was like it was never there. You could see the frame and front driver side wheel, but no cab. There was empty space where the cab would have been. I couldn't believe my eyes. It made me so sad to realize that someone isn't coming home tonight.

The family of the log truck driver kept talking about how their trailer is totaled. Wah-Wah. I know that sucks and they will need to buy a new trailer. Isn't that what we have insurance? Big deal. True it will be inconvenient, but it can be remedied. For another family, their father/husband/son won't be home tonight.

Update: The only remains they have been able to recover of the driver is a few bones. The local news is saying that the family hasn't been notified yet. I don't know how on earth they can figure out who the driver was with nothing left of a truck. I just hate to think that somewhere there is a family who still thinks their family member(s) is on the road hauling their shipment, expected to be home for Christmas.

At least I don't have a tum-ah!!!

2007-12-18T09:52:00.000-06:00

I have been having headaches and migranes for quite some time now. There is really no rhyme or reason when they hit, they seem random. I finally saw a doctor about them. She sent me off for an MRI and bloodwork. In the process of taking my blood, the nurse gave me a major crack bruise. LOVELY! During the MRI I also was gifted with yet another crack bruise when they added the contrast. I have been doing my best to keep that arm covered when I leave the house. :) My results from the bloodwork and the MRI were both normal. I have been given a Rx for a medicine to take at the onset of a migrane. I haven't taken one yet and am a little anxious about taking one. I was informed that about 30 minutes after taking the pill I will experience some interesting side effects. My heart will start to race and I will get flushed. This is the medicine getting into my bloodstream and starting to take effect. She told me that she just wanted to let me know so that I won't freak out when I start to feel the side effects. These pills aren't cheap either! Six of them were $120.00!!! I sure hope they work.

Still no word about jobs. I found out some crappy news about one of the jobs on campus. I was their first choice for the job. BUT, a higher up involved in the hiring process didn't like the way the other administrators were interviewing. He went over their heads and hired a friend of a friends wife who needed a job. Now let me add that this woman knows absolutely nothing about computers and the university system. They will have to train her from the ground up. ARGH!!! I do know that they will be opening yet another position, basically to take up the slack from this lady. I will have to reapply and reinterview. That should be a barrel of monkeys.
I have registered for another test so that I can be eligible for another state job. I would much rather prefer a kush state job over one on campus, but I am not going to be picky at this point.

In all my down time, I am still working on blankets. Most recently I started working on ablanket for the MIL. SH mentioned last week that his mother would LOVE a blanket for Christmas. We went to get the yarn and I started working immediately. I had 14 days to get it done since we will be doing family christmas Saturday. I had 80 squares to create, attach them into strips 8 squares long, attach the strips together, then finish the entire blanket in 5 rows of stitches. I finished the last 14 squares yesterday since I ran out of 2 colors of yarn. While waiting for more yarn, I managed to get most of the strips done. Today I have 6 major connections to sew and will hopefully get started on the finishing. I have never done a blanket of this caliber in this amount of time. WHEW. I will be glad when it is finished. Will get pics soon.

Ingenious!!!

2007-12-10T18:18:00.000-06:00

A fellow blogger (who I am completely enamoured with) has released a product that has been in the works for about a year now. I have been patiently waiting to see her Trash Ties and learn exactly how they work. Check out her site if you are interested!!! http://www.trashties.com/ I am gonna have to order some soon.

Still unemployed

2007-12-05T22:12:00.000-06:00

SH and I finished up our x-mas shopping this morning. It felt so good to have that chore complete! I picked up the mail on our way in and there was a letter from Troy in the stack. Oh goodie!! News about the jobs!!! Wait a minute sister. Not so fast. I had to read the letter twice to make sense of it. The position I interviewed for last week has been filled. SHIT. Oh well, still no word yet about the interview yesterday....until I checked my voicemail. YUP, they filled that job too. DOUBLE SHIT. What gets me is that I had two friends associated with each of these jobs who were pulling for me. I am seriously at my wits end. I had a little mini breakdown after getting the double thumbs down today. Why is it that the only place that was interested in me treated me like crap and paid me even less? Why will nobody hire me? I am at a complete loss.

One month and counting

2007-12-04T15:02:00.000-06:00

I have been unemployed for over a month now. I am really getting anxious about finding a new job. I have made several charity blankets and am almost at the end of my rope...no pun intended. I took a trash bag full of blankets to a local charity last week. I am working on another one right now. This one is a round blanket. I have seen several patterns for round blankets and wondered why one would want a round one. It just seems that it wouldn't cover the body well. Anyway, I wanted to give it a try, nothing wrong with learning a new pattern. I had an interview today for a job at the University. I had another interview last week for a different job at the University. Lord knows I have applied for almost every job they have open. Surely something will pan out...right???!!!???

On a positive note, Christmas shopping is almost finished. We managed in record time this year. We started actually purchasing gifts last week and have 2 more small gifts to buy. We also managed to buy while sticking to a budget. We should do it this way every year!! I didn't get to do my usual "home/handmade gifts" this year. I didn't really have the time/money/desire to think about that kind of gift anyway. Maybe next year. I thought about compiling recpies for a cookbook as the homemade gift. When I started looking at publishing, I realized that I should have started a few months ago. I think I am going to do that for next years X-mas. I sent out a mass email entitled "call for recipes" to all my friends and family and have the highest of hopes that they will reply with their family favorite recipes to add. I am pondering the title for the cookbook now. It wouldn't be anything super fancy, just a collection of recipes from people I love. :)

Charity Lapghan Finished!!!

2007-11-19T18:19:00.000-06:00

I drove myself crazy with this lapghan. I don't even want to think about how many rows in all I had to frog to get the pattern correct. I think the first frogging was about 7 rows.... eek. It made me so sad when I realized I had to, but to see it finished makes it all worth it. I really like how the edging turned out too. Note to self, don't watch movies while working on this pattern!!!! This lapghan took less than 4 skeins of Simply Soft and is amazingly thick and warm. The original pattern can be found here. I tweaked the pattern for size and added an extra row of edging. The photo in the link above highlights the texture better than my picture.

My lovely assistant always has to be center stage when the camera comes out.

Music is my king sized bed

2007-11-17T20:34:00.000-06:00

I cannot get the song from this commercial out of my head. Therefore I am sharing it with all of you. :)

Exploding Pyrex

2007-11-10T18:36:00.001-06:00

Since I have been sick, the types of food I am able to eat numbers about 12. I cannot eat anything with a real texture. It bothers my throat and sends me into one of my coughing fits. I have been on a soup/pudding/jello diet since Tuesday. I bought a few acorn squash the other day and decided that would be something that I would be able to tolerate. I decided to prepare them like my mother always did. Baked in the oven, halved with a spoonful brown sugar and a pat of butter in the cored out center. I lovingly prepared the little squash and even made them a little nest of aluminum foil to prevent them from rolling around in the baking dish. They had been in the oven about 20 minutes and I went to check their progress. The oven door was open and I pulled out the rack just a bit so I could see them better. At that point, SH decided to step outside and opened the back door. Our back door is about 10 feet directly behind our oven. I don't remember what the exact temperature was outside, but it was COLD. A few seconds after he opened the door, the pyrex dish shattered. Glass went everywhere. I think I screamed since I was standing about a foot away from the oven. I was standing there dumbfounded. I thought Pyrex was some kind of superhuman material. Then I realized that this was the second piece of Pyrex broken in our house in less than 2 months. The first was a measuring cup that I broke while putting away dishes. Standing there with scalding hot glass fragments melting into the floor, I was at a complete loss. Where on earth do we start this daunting clean-up? SH decided to first be sure the glass didn't stick to the floor and did a preliminary sweep. We waited for the glass and the oven to cool before we started the main clean up. This of course happened at dinnertime and neither of us could use the oven for food prep. SH took out the oven drawer and took it outside to clean up this am. I just now finished cleaning up the interior of the oven. I am still a bit scared to use it for fear of microscopic glass particles getting into my foods. I decided to check the internet to see if this is a regular occurrence. Apparently it is and it mainly happens with the size dish I was using!!! 13x9!! Those of you with older Pyrex dishes, be careful!! I found out that over time, the Pyrex develops tiny cracks and if it experiences an extreme temperature change, it could shatter.

Charity Blankets and a Cold

2007-11-06T14:52:00.000-06:00

I finished the Mile A Minute charity blanket late Saturday evening! It turned out so pretty!! I even found a blanket I did earlier in the year that never was sent off to a charity, so I will be delivering two blankets this time.

Mile a Minute Afghan

Rippled lapghan

While at a friend's house Saturday, I ended up smoking several cigarettes while watching the Bama game. I woke up Sunday with a hell of a cough. I was under the assumption that it was just the cigarettes. It wasnt. I coughed all day yesterday, had a runny nose and my throat has been sore to boot. Lucky me! I have a cold! I spent all morning in bed and have been drinking water like it is going out of style. It has been ages since I have been sick so I have forgotten exactly how it feels. I am going to do everything in my power to prevent this cold from turning into a sinus infection. The last one I had was the worst one ever. I remember sitting in the waiting room at the doctors office with a terrible cough. I really thought I was going to cough up a lung. I know everyone else in there was getting p'od because I couldn't stop the coughing, but I was a sick girl. They ended up giving me two shots in the heinie. One was an antibiotic, the other was a steriod. Needless to say I am trying to nip this one in the bud before it turns. I have a dentist appointment AND a job interview Thursday morning, so I need to be as close to 100% as I can by then. SH went and bought me some chicken soup and meds to help me heal. Wierd but I have been craving oodles of noodles soup. mmmmmm. Warm brothy goodness.

Charity blanket and a Chicken

2007-11-01T10:59:00.000-05:00

With a week off, I have almost finished the charity blanket. I have 2 more strips to make before I can stitch them all together. Maybe that project will be finished over the weekend. I wanted to share a recipe we made for dinner last night. It was absolutely fabulous. It came from an episode of Good Eats on Food TV. The host, Alton Brown is one of my all time favorite TV chefs. His shows are so informative and his recipes are wonderful. This one is super easy and well worth the hour and a half cooking time. Peeling the garlic takes some effort, but you will enjoy the end result.

40 Cloves and a Chicken
1 whole chicken (broiler/fryer) cut into 8 pieces
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 sprigs fresh thyme
40 peeled cloves garlic
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil and brown on both sides in a wide fry pan or skillet over high heat. Remove from heat, add oil, thyme, and garlic cloves. Cover and bake for 1 1/2 hours.
Remove chicken from the oven, let rest for 5 to 10 minutes, carve, and serve.

When I started fixing my plate, my chicken fell off the bone it was so tender. The cooked garlic cloves are wonderful smooshed onto bread. This dish is going to be a regular fixture at our dinner table.

My latest crochet

2007-10-28T16:02:00.000-05:00

I finally got around to taking pictures of my newest pieces this afternoon. I even updated the ole' resume and got together a cover letter for another job. I have almost finished the 4th strip of the Charity blanket. I have attempted two different designs. One is the Annies Attic Mile A Minute variety and the other is a Make it Quick. Both style are made with several strips that are created seperately, then stitched together to create the blanket. I like both versions, but I will most likely stick with Mile A Minute since I have more strips completed.

Version 2 - Mile A Minute

Version 3 - Make it Quick

This is the Spiral Simplicity Doily I finished weeks ago. I blocked it but since it has been stored on top of some other stuff, it isn't flat anymore.

I QUIT

2007-10-27T19:16:00.000-05:00

I decided earlier in the week that I would quit my job on Friday. I realized that with an "end in sight", work was much easier. I wrote a letter of resignation Wednesday afternoon. I decided (with a little help from Mother of Purl) to go ahead and just finish out Friday and leave the letter and all my stuff on the Supervisor's desk after I clocked out. I knew that if I told her Friday morning, one of two things would happen. Either they would be rude and mean to me all day, or she would try to talk me out of leaving. I am not very good with confrontation like that and I knew I wouldn't be able to deal with a conversation like that. Luckily we were slammed yesterday afternoon, so when I clocked out, the supervisor was still in the main office. I didn't have to deal with her. I hated that I had to leave my new work buddy, but she understood my decision. She is really in the same boat I was in except she had an even longer commute! We exchanged email addresses and I hope to keep in touch with her. It certainly feels good to be away from that place now. I feel so free!!!
BUT, I am jobless again. I applied for a job here in town Wednesday and am going to keep my eyes peeled. I don't expect to find anything right away, but I hate being the unemployed member of the household. We are just gonna have to tighten our belts for a little bit.

The charity blanket should move along quicker now. I started another strip this afternoon and have made quite a bit of progress on it. I keep forgetting to take pictures!!! Must do tomorrow.

Charity Blanket #2

2007-10-22T18:44:00.001-05:00

Since it is the time of year that it starts getting cold, I decided to get started on another charity blanket. I started a little late last year and only got one finished. This year I am doing a "Mile a Minute" version of a blanket and hope to have it finished before it gets too cold out. I am also going to donate the blue/white ripple blanket I did last year that I never "turned in".

On a sidenote, does anyone here use Ravelry to keep up with their projects? I have seen other blogs where their ravelry "project progress" is added and can be viewed on the blog. Anyone know how to do that?

Happy Anniversary to me and the SH

2007-10-16T19:36:00.000-05:00

Well folks, three years ago today, SH and I tied the knot. It seems like we have been married for eons though. I guess that has something to do with the fact that we dated for about 10 years before deciding to stop living "in sin". It really only seems like yesterday that I was knee deep in wedding planning, choosing what kind of flower arrangements to have, what to use as favors and all the other necessary wedding vomit taking up housekeeping in a corner of the office. The wedding was beautiful and I couldn't have been happier with the way everything turned out. Thanks SH for sticking by me through the thick and thin of our lives together. We have plenty more to come. :)

Almost holiday time!

2007-10-12T20:46:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it is already The 2nd week in October. Normally by this time, I would have already figured out what I will be doing for Christmas gifts. I haven't even thought about it yet. I tend to do things that I can make and buy my supplies in bulk. I don't remember what I did last year, but the year before I did solid perfume lotions for all my girlfriends. A few years before that I did a trio of herb mixes in little aluminum tins. I am drawing a blank for this year. I have absolutely no idea what to get family either. The only gifts I have are the two wraps for the mothers. Looks like I need to get pondering!

My MIL has asked me to make some beaded ornaments for her. I don't know if they will be gifts or if they will be for her own tree. I made about 24 of them last year to sell at a craft fair. I thought for sure I had pictures of them, but can't seem to put my finger on em. Anyway, they were a huge hit. Many were purchased to give as teacher gifts. That will be another fun project to get started on.

Faboo news on the home front!!!

2007-10-02T18:42:00.000-05:00

I called SH while I was on my way home from work and he was out shopping for steaks and Champagne for dinner. I asked why on earth were we eating so high on the hog on a Tuesday evening. He told me the good news. He has finally been hired on as a full time employee (WITH BENEFITS) at Troy. We both worked there for ages and they never really wanted to hire us on full time. Lord knows, that would have taken away from their football budget!! Apparently with a few threats that would have meant closing the department, they agreed to hire him!! I am so happy this finally worked out. This makes me a little happier about keeping my crummy job. This week has been bearable at work and I know I can soldier through if I really want to. I am still going to look for other job opportunities though! I would love to be making more money for the work I am putting out.

HIP HIP HOORAY SH!!!!!!

My latest doilies

2007-09-29T11:08:00.000-05:00

Here are my two latest doilies. Both are done in a light light pink. The color looks very washed out, but I promise they are pink. :)

This one is quite large, maybe 9 inches across.

This one is small, maybe 5 inches across.

One not so crafty bitch

2007-09-20T19:19:00.001-05:00

The past few weeks have been very un-creative for me. I no longer have the time to devote to what I really love to do, create things. My work has become all I think about from the time I rise to the time I got to sleep. It has even made its way into my dreams...nightmares actually. I feel I am doing my best to learn everything they are throwing my way, but it is just so much. When did I start college again???!!!

I started a new doily earlier in the week and made it through several rounds but as I started another round, I found a boo-boo at the beginning of the previous round so I ripped it all out to start that round again. I haven't started back. Maybe I will work on it this weekend.

I now think that the toe is really broken. After two weeks, it is still swollen and tender. I can move it, but the motion is very limited and painful. I feel at times that it is a "ghost toe". It seems to not want to follow the movement of the rest of the toes. When I take my work shoes off, I find it kind of overlapping the toe next to it. Very odd. I have tried to spend any "free" time I have with the foot up but that hasn't helped one iota. About 97% of my workday is spent standing and running around, and I know that doesn't help. I have never had a broken bone, let alone a bad sprain, so all this discomfort, pain and immobility is new to me.

I even think I am developing some kind of arthritis or tendon issue in my right hand. This morning I had trouble grasping things. Mainly with my thumb and forefinger. When I tried to pick up something or turn my wrist, a dull pain would radiate through those fingers towards the wrist. Simple things such as picking up the Brita filter or turnng on a faucet makes it hurt. I am going to do my best to not over-exert and over-use the hand but that going to be a difficult task for me. I guess I will does up on ibuprofins. That should help both the toe and the wrist.

I got some sad news Monday evening. I knew it was coming and it was only a matter of time before it happened. My Oma died Monday morning. She has been in hospice for a few months and her health has been declining over the last 4 years. She has had several other problems over the past few months that actually should have killed her. She developed sepsis following a UTI and bladder infection that went unnoticed for a while. Somehow they got those problems under control with some hella-high dose antibiotic and she made it through. I think she just didn't wake up this time. I take comfort knowing that she isn't in pain anymore and is now with her beloved husband, my Opa, who died in 2002. SH and I are leaving for North Carolina tomorrow for the funeral.

*Oma is the german word for Grandmother. Opa is the german word for Grandfather. My brother and I started calling our grandparents this since we lived in Germany as children.

overworked, overwhelmed and underpaid

2007-09-15T18:46:00.001-05:00

comic from: http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/

The past week at the new job has been exceptionally trying and exhausting. I have been thrown into the pit to so to speak and have been extremely overwhelmed. I don't have a problem working with the patients, I just am still not familiar with exactly what tests to do when and things like that. They are teaching us stuff but everyone does things differently and certain docs prefer certain forms/tests/ways of stating things. I really feel like Peterman from Office Space. I have found that the technicians that work alongside me do all the work and basically bring in all the money, but we don't get jack in return. We have those stupid morale/teamwork building meetings too. BOOOORRRIIINNNGGG. We even have our own Lumberg except there are two of them. Chris and Barbara. One is the gum nazi and the other is just a bitch. Neither of them works "the floor" or deals with patients. They are basically paper shufflers. They both work upstairs, wear suits, have nice offices and drive nice cars. They are the ones making all the money that should be ours. I found out yesterday that we have to stay late 3 times a month and have to come in EARLY too. Come on folks, I have to get up at 5:30 just to get there by 8. I seriously doubt I can get up much earlier and keep my sanity. Conversely, I get home at 6 even though I get off work at 5. Just what I want is to stay another hour at work!!! The pay seems virtually non existent once I fill my gas tank. I haven't made this kind of pay in over 10 years. I also didn't have nearly the workload, commute or stress. I think I am going to continue looking for jobs elsewhere. One of the new girls that started the same day as me shared some interesting news. Apparently "the test" to move up one notch on the ladder, will max out our pay at 12.50 an hour. Again, really not a lot of pay for all that the responsibilities and drama. She and I both had been at jobs that paid quite a bit more than now and we both are making commutes of at least an hour. It is funny how when I interviewed they made the job sound so much better. Enough griping about work...it is the weekend.

Back to the toe-lio, The bruising has oddly migrated to other areas of the foot through the week. After a full week on my feet, yesterday morning I noticed that toe was itching. I took off my sock and was shocked to realize it had swollen and looked like a vienna sausage. I vowed to stay off it as much as possible and keep it iced all weekend. Of course my new health insurance policy won't kick in until I am "off my probationary period" at work, which could be up to 90 days depending on how they think I am doing. Unfortunately because of this, I can't go to the doctor and have it looked at. I was supposed to go watch the Bama game today at a friends house but backed out to spend time with my foot up.

I even attempted to do some exercising this afternoon and realized how bad I am out of shape YET AGAIN. I am now only able to workout 3 days a week and with toe issue it makes it more difficult and I can only do pilates in the floor. I guess I will go back to being a lard ass.

On the crafty side, I haven't made much of anything lately. I did make a pair of earrings the other day to wear to work, but I have been so tired after work I have just want to eat and go to bed when I get home. I am contemplating pulling out some crochet yarn and get to hooking. :)

I noticed this morning that "little" Disco (aka Gigantor) grew overnight! We were weighing her on our bathroom scale. The last time we weighed her (with SH holding her in his arms), the scale wouldn't register. I assume it topped out. At last weight, she was 80 lbs. She is only 8 months and I think she will go through one more growth spurt. I can only imagine what the rest of her litter weigh since she was the runt.

Toe-lio

2007-09-09T20:04:00.000-05:00

I don't think the toe is broken but I have one hell of a bruise. My old boss would say I have Toelio. :)

After the swelling went down a bit, the bruise started forming. I was then able to move things around a little and could tell where the initial injury was. The boo-boo is on the inside of the pinkie toe where it joins the foot. The skin isn't broken, I think somehow I pulled the toe away from the rest of the foot by getting it stuck in the wheel mechanism of the shopping cart. The bruise runs down the medial side of the toe and extends about 3 inches into the anterior side of the foot. (Nice use of medical jargon huh?) It looks like a puddle of purple on the top of my foot. It seems to get more purple every hour and I imagine it will molt into a lovely shade of greenish yellow, reminiscent of my lipo bruises. I have been doing my best to stay off it and keep it iced, but with weekend chores it has been difficult. I am going to see if there is something I can do tomorrow at work that will allow me to sit. Visual field tests maybe...... Walking hurts and I waddle when I do. That sucks. I really hate this happened within my first week of work!! I would show yall a picture but I don't want to scare you off. I don't mind my feet, I just hate the pinkie toenail. Sometimes I wish we didn't even have a nail on that toe because it is always misshapen and wierd looking. I have NEVER seen a pinkie toenail that was pretty.

The new job

2007-09-08T14:56:00.000-05:00

I have been completely overwhelmed with oculary learning this week. It has been AGES since I dealt with eyes and eye related stuff. Even then it wasn't nearly as in depth as now because I worked with an Optometerist instead of an Opthamologist. I have been given a stack of handouts to read/study/learn. I will eventually take written tests on this information, in the event I want to get certified. I have taken pages and pages of notes and just this morning retyped them into a somewhat legible document. I have even gone so far as to get definitions for all the bolded words in my study guides. Retyping my notes has helped me become more familiar with the info too. As far as dealing with patients goes, I have been given the ok to start taking basic histories (Hx), acuities (VA) and such. We were in training all day yesterday and I really think my brain stopped working at about 3 o'clock. Too much information for one day!!!! I really hope that I learn as quickly as they want me to, and learn how to follow their procedures correctly. The staff is very friendly and almost all the girls on the floor with me are nice and easy to get along with.

Another good thing happened last week....SH got a call back from a job he applied for. He has an interview next thursday. I really hope he gets the job!!!!!!

I think I broke my toe!!!

2007-09-08T14:51:00.000-05:00

I was walking through the parking lot at the grocery store when somehow I got my pinkie toe hung up in the wheel mechanism of the shopping cart. YOW!!! I still had more errands to run so I hobbled around to get everything done before going home. Walking on the foot is excruciating. I have been trying to bear weight more on the instep of that foot to help. I got home and iced the toe and checked it out a little better. It is very swollen and is starting to show bruising. Great. Just what I need right now. I don't even think my insurance at the new job has gone in yet. I just hope that I twisted/wrenched/sprained/pulled it instead of actually breaking it. I am on my feet ALL DAY LONG at this new job and a broken toe would be very bad news. NOOOOOOOOOO.

Less than 12 hours to go

2007-09-03T19:52:00.000-05:00

before I start my new job! I am so anxious about it and obsessing about things that don't really matter. For example...which door do I go in?...front or back? Where do I park?...out front or on the side? Will I have a locker or will I have to leave my personal stuff in a drawer somewhere? I know everything will be ok and I will do well at the job. It is just the anticipation of the unknown, and my Worry-wart acting up.

I doubt I will have time (or access) to a computer at work so chances are good I won't be able to post during the week. Lord knows by the time I get home I won't want to do anything but eat dinner, relax and get ready for the next day. I really hope SH can find a job soon so we will be able to move closer to our work. It would save several hundred dollars a month in gas money and would return a couple of hours to my day. :)
I also have to take a test for a state job this weekend. I took another one last week and should have the results back sometime this week. Ya never know, something better may roll my way.

Square doily....almost done

2007-08-31T13:51:00.000-05:00

I have been trying to keep busy on another crochet project until I start my new job next Tuesday. I am doing a fairly large rectangluar doily made up of lots of smaller square doilies. This is yet another of my doily projects I am hoping to eventually frame and have hanging on the wall of my craftin' room. I think it is going to be quite pretty when it is finished, assuming I can figure out the instructions on how to join the squares! I'll picture it when I am finished!

Update: I can't seem to make sense of the finishing instructions so as of now I am stuck with the nine squares. I have put this project away and finished another small doily last night while watching a movie and started yet another one. I will block the small one sometime today. Pic coming soon.

Ever hear of the Diva Cup?

2007-08-30T17:28:00.000-05:00

I am seriously considering ordering one of these. I saw it mentioned in a friends blog and was completely fascinated.

One year ago...

2007-08-30T13:58:00.000-05:00

One year ago this weekend, one of my best friends was given some very bad news. She found out she had breast cancer. She has always said she "felt" something like this would eventually happen to her. SH and I had already planned on a visit to see her and her SH that weekend, we always visited them for Labor Day. When we arrived at their house, she was already home and was outside with her neighbor. We thought it odd that she was already home from work, but didn't really think much else...until we saw her face. Something was not quite right. We all went inside and she sat us down at the table as if we were her children and delivered the news. We spent the entire weekend researching on the internet and doing as much as we could to learn about what she would be going through in the months to come. The doctors weren't 100% sure yet, an MRI, genetic testing and a biopsy still needed to be done, but they were pretty sure of what the diagnosis would be. She had noticed a lump months ago and went for a mammogram when she turned 35 and her insurance would cover it. Her doctor basically dismissed it saying she had "fiberous breasts". FF to last Labor Day weekend. The lump had continued to grow (it was roughly the size of an egg at this point) and she decided she better get a second opinion. When all the test results came in and were read, the findings were clear. She did have a cancerous mass in one breast, had another small mass in the other, was a carrier of the "cancer gene" and would possibly have additional cancers come up in the future. Because of this, she opted to have a hysterectomy along with a double mastoctomy. She soldiered on through several months of draining chemotherapy. SH and I were only able to visit a few times during this period and seeing her soo weak and frail was extremely difficult. Her physical strength was diminished, but her inner strength was stronger than ever. Her SH and family were always there to tend to the house and her. She finished her Chemo in February and has been slowly recuperating from that. Her hair is slowly growing back and she is starting to look more like herself. She is scheduled for breast reconstruction breast next week. Because of the double mastectomy, she was left with virtually no skin on her chest to hold implants. Over the past coupla months, she has been undergoing a procedure that creates extra skin to hold the implants by means of ballon expanders. From what I understand, they placed balloons under her skin that are slowly "inflated" with fluid. I think every few days/weeks they put more fluid in until the pocket is large enough to accommodate the new mams. They will tattoo new nipples on the skin too. How crazy is that?

I am so happy she has finally made it through to the other side. It is amazing what can transpire in a year. She has soldiered on knowing that things had to be dealt with only to move forward. She has kept her sense of humor and almost the entire time she has had a positive outlook. I am sure she has had some moments of negativity and dejection, but who wouldn't? D, you are a superhero to me. I love you and can't wait to see you...and the new tits!!!

Disaster averted

2007-08-29T10:02:00.000-05:00

I ordered scrubs last week for my new job. I told the woman at the store when I was checking out that I would need them BEFORE September 4th. She assured me that wouldn't be a problem. I was hoping they would be in by today so I called them a little while ago to check the status. I was told they wouldn't be in until late next week. WHAT!??! I told her of the conversation I had where I was assured they would be here in time since I will also need them hemmed. She gave me a "oooohhhh" and couldn't offer me any help since they didn't have what I needed there in the store. I called the other uniform shop in town and they didn't have what I needed either. Okay, starting to panic. My only other options were to order online and pay for rush shipping, or try calling around. I called the next closest place that carries the brand I need. They have the style and the size I need!!!! WHEW. I have to take off work this afternoon and make an hour drive to buy yet another pair of scrubs, but at least I will have the proper attire for work. ARGH!!!!!!

Ants and Bookworms

2007-08-29T08:25:00.000-05:00

Sugar ants. Everywhere!!!! I made a trip to the big city Friday to take a test for a state job. I decided to stop at the local Chick-fil-a drive through at lunch to get a bite to eat. This was the most unusual drive through I have ever been through. It made a spiral around the building! The only problem with it was that when you got your food at the window, you had to go through the outer line of cars in the drive through line AND try not to get creamed by outgoing traffic. Anyway, back to the ant story. I was in the drive through line that wasn't moving. My temp gauge in the truck was slowly rising, so I turned on the heater for a few minutes in an attempt to bring the temp down. Lord knows I don't want that stupid thing to strand me in a drive-thru line!!! When I turned the heat on, lots of crud and dust came flying out of the vents, covering me. I shook it off and went about my business ordering lunch. I ate my chik'n sammich and made it to my test early. When I was done with the test, I got back in the truck for the ride home and the console was COVERED in ants. GROSS!! Some were alive but most were dead. Nooo, not in a locked up car in this heat!?!?! There must have been 2 lbs of ants covering the console and carpet. Being a neat freak, I had serious issues with this. I felt so gross driving home with ants all over the place. Bright and early Saturday morning, I got up and started the de-antification process. Needless to say the truck hasn't been vacuumed or cleaned in months. I spent about 3 hours vacuuming, armor alling, windexing and leather cleaning. That should last her a few more months!

Now on to the bookworm section of this post. SH finished reading Marley and Me and passed it on to me. I won't give away any of the story, but if you are a pet owner and/or a labrador retriever owner, you will certainly be able to relate to the author and Marley. It was a wonderful read. I finished it in two readings. I couldn't bring myself to stop. The last time I did that with a book was when DaVinci Code came out. I read from the time I woke up to the time I fell asleep. I even read it in the car whilst we were traveling through Atlanta. Anyone who knows me knows how much I loathe the trip through Atlanta. I normally pop a Valium and recline the seat back for that drive. Anyway, if you are looking for a great book, give Marley and Me a try. I am willing to bet you will love it. Prior to Marley and Me, I read We're Just Like You, Only Prettier: Confessions of a Tarnished Southern Belle. It was absolute hilarity. I have to get some of her other books. In between bookworming, I watched Shindler's List. I saw parts of it several years ago but never really knew the story. I knew I was in for a long ride since it arrived on two DVDs. I had been holding off for when I knew I had three hours to commit to it. I have always been fascinated/horrified with the Holocaust. I remember watching some documentaries as a child about concentration camps and for some reason I was under the impression that that is how everyone died. I think that is why I used to fear death so much. I almost had to turn the movie off at one point, I didn't think I could take it anymore. It made me so sad. I figured I needed to trudge through it. Of course at the very end of the movie I was bawling yet again. Whew.

OMG IS IT SOOO HOT

2007-08-22T13:42:00.000-05:00

The heat here in the south can be pretty oppressive at times, but this year definately takes the cake. By 8 am, it is already blazing. Opening a door to let a dog go potty will result in immediate face sweating. The heat continues until about 9 at night where it may let off a tad. It has also been exceptionally still out. At least with a breeze you feel a bit cooler. The simple act of walking outside to your car will leave you with googly-moo. What's that you ask? What is googly-moo? Googly-moo is the sweat you get in between the "twins" and underneath your cleavage. It is a big problem in the summer round here.

SH and I have to run some errands this afternoon and we will close the day with a fancy shmancy dinner, where we will use a gift certificate we got last x-mas. YUM!! My question, can we run our errands in our underpants? It would be soo much cooler!!!!

Rant rant rant rant

2007-08-22T13:09:00.000-05:00

I have been fuming about this all day, so I will rant a bit about the parking situation at my part time job and the general issues I have with this place that I want to expose. I wish there was a way to get this information out where there would be ramifications for the university, but that will never happen. It would get covered up somehow.

I returned to work in the Archaeology Department at a local university (Troy University at Troy to be exact). They have been doing everything in their power to become a major player in football over the past few years. This spring, they built 4 new dorms on campus and moved our department to another building so they could have our old building for some other random purpose (that is a completely different rant). Well since the school has been expanding, they have increased student enrollment. What they have failed to do is increase parking to accommodate these new students. I heard through the grapevine that the university sold twice as many parking permits as they have available parking spots. As a result, students are parking in our assigned faculty spots, the grass and even right in the middle of the freaking road! On the first day of school, SH and I were on our way in to campus and saw a tow truck towing away several cars that had parked in the road. Not on the curb but in THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!! I understand parking is at a premium, but what makes you decide to just stop where you are and park?!?! Anyway, this morning SH and I drove around for 30 minutes looking for a parking spot. He finally dropped me off at our building so I could go ahead and go inside. I was LIVID. It so pisses me off that the place is only interested in how they are viewed by outsiders. They don't give a rats ass how their faculty is treated, or the conditions in several of the buildings. The commercials for the school make me want to blow chunks. I have been told over the years that some of the practice fields that are used by the band and the intermural sports teams are basically made of sod on top of barrels of toxic waste from the lead plant nearby. I have also been told that Troy has an extremely high lead content in the city water (we never drink water straight from the tap 'round here). I have also been told that the building we were moved from contained asbestos. If you were to ask someone in a high position about this matter, it would be denied. One of our maids was so concerned about it she went so far as to take a sample and have it tested at her cost. Guess what, ASBESTOS!!! SH and I worked in that building for years. The repairs that we asked to be fixed were never done, the handicapped doors worked 15% of the time, you could see sky through the brand new roof, AND we didn't have a working bathroom. All we had was "the dungeon" which was never cleaned and looked like a bathroom from a horror movie. We were the department time forgot. But in the meantime, there was a brand new shiny football stadium going up across the road. There were new wrought iron signs put up at all the buildings, the quad was completely renovated and several of the buildings were refaced, but we couldn't take a pee in a clean facility. Now, during this move of our department, we were split so that our wet lab would be located off campus (in a building almost as crummy as the one we just left). This presented yet another challenge since we previously had access to all our equipment for the field as well as laboratory. We now have to schlepp stuff from one place to another and each place isn't very well equipped for our needs. Imagine that! This location off campus is a mixture of offices and two what look like airport hangers. This is where they put all the "trash" from the university like marble gateways, surplus and other stuff. SH told me that another employee at that location was told that her office area used to have a mold problem. You know how the university fixed it? Well they just covered it up with sheetrock and slapped a new coat of paint on it. Problem solved! The things that go on here just chap my hide and I am so glad that I will be leaving it for good soon. SH is still looking for a different job so hopefully my little family will soon be clear of this place forever.

I got the job!

2007-08-20T10:42:00.000-05:00

I returned a call to the Opthamologists office this morning and was offered a job! I was given first choice of three jobs they had open. I took the one with the most possibility for growth. I start on September 4th!!!!! YAY!!!

Banana Chocolate Crepes

2007-08-19T21:22:00.000-05:00

I was watching a show on Food TV that featured Banana Chocolate crepes. I decided I needed to give them a test run. Here is the recipe.

Crepes:
1 beaten egg
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
1 t. oil
1 T sugar

Caramelized Bananas:
3 bananas, sliced on the bias
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
cinnamon to taste

Nutella

Mix all crepe ingredients together. I used a whisk to make the mixture very smooth. Heat a small skillet over medium heat and lightly coat with oil/Pam. Remove skillet from heat and add 1/4 cup of mixture. Swirl the skillet to evenly coat with crepe mixture. Put back on heat for 2 minutes, flip crepe gently and allow to cook for another minute. Continue with remaining crepe mixture. I set the finished crepes aside until ready to assemble.

For the bananas, melt butter in large skillet. Add brown sugar and mix thoroughly. When combined, add bananas and cook for a few minutes. They will become very soft. Add cinnamon and mix to coat.

To assemble, coat 1/2 of crepe with a little Nutella. Add your bananas and flip the other half over to cover. Top with some of the banana juice if desired.

These are DELICIOUS.

Doily #2

2007-08-15T22:36:00.001-05:00

Doily #2, blocked and ready for framing.

Job Offer!

2007-08-15T17:45:00.000-05:00

I finally returned calls this morning to the Opthamologists office and the Insurance company. I had been unable to get in touch with both those contacts for days now. I have scheduled an interview with the Insurance place tomorrow a.m. The job sounds like an absolute no brainer, but I will find out more tomorrow. The woman at the Opthamologist told me that they were goinng to offer me the job. I told her that they were still #1 on my list, but I did have another interview to go to. I told her I could come by there after my interview. I guess we will talk logistics like pay and insurance in the event I accept. I am on the fence about which job is going to be best and the most lucrative. I will have to think this through over the weekend before making a decision. I am excited and scared all at the same time. I guess everyone gets that way when it comes to a making a big life change like this. At lunch today, my fortune in the fortune cookie said: You will take a chance in something in the near future. Interesting.

Hmmm, maybe I need to something to take my mind off the job hunt. :)

Why the British accent?

2007-08-14T20:53:00.000-05:00

I watched 300 this past weekend and it lead me to a question. Have you noticed that in movies like 300 and Clash of the Titans most of the acting is done with a british accent? Most movies that are mythologically based are. Why is this? Could it have something to do with the fact that many of these stories were originally plays done in Europe? Ponder that one.

I may be re-employed soon!

2007-08-14T20:32:00.000-05:00

I got another call from the Opthamologist's office today. I didn't recognize the number so I didn't answer it. I will call them back tomorrow. I am really hoping they offer me the job. I remembered something in the job description about a sign-on bonus. I will be sure to ask about that tomorrow. It would kick much ass if the bonus could pay off my surgery loan. Then I would be able to go ahead with a new vehicle purchase. ROCK!! I have also been involved in a a rousing game of phone tag with another job possibility. This is an HR position. I know I could do it but I don't know if I would really enjoy it.

On the crochet front, I have finished mom's wrap and it looks great. I ended up with 2 1/2 extra skeins of yarn since the yarn I chose didn't have the weight listed on it and I am still kinda ignorant as to weight/length in skeins. I am gonna use the leftover to make another wrap for SH's mom. Doily #2 is completed and is being blocked at this very moment.

Classes start back at the college tomorrow and I am sooo not excited about that. I am so tired with dealing with college students. The best time in this podunk town is summer, when all the students are gone. I have refused to buy a parking permit since chances are prety good that I won't be able to find a parking spot. They continue to build dorms and increase enrollment but can't figure out that they will need more parking. Go figure. If it ain't football or elementary school teachers (aka sorority girls) it don't matter.

Finished projects

2007-08-11T14:07:00.000-05:00

Here are pics of the two projects I recently finished. The pics actually are kinda crappy, but you will get the jist. Now, without further adieu, I present to you the fruits of my unemployed hands.

Doily #1, freshly blocked and starched.

Pink and red loopy belt.

This will have to go to someone with a smaller waist than me. I doubt I will list it on Etsy, I will probably give it away. It fits me but I am not one of those fortunate souls that can pull off a viewable belt. I hide mine under a shirt.

I have been working on Mom's wrap since last night and it is going VERY quickly. The pattern called for an N hook but I couldn't get gauge so I am using a R hook. I am about 3/4 of the way done with the wrap, the pockets should take no time flat.

This is the wrap. Pretty cute huh?

My first doily is done!!

2007-08-10T17:51:00.000-05:00

I finished my first doily last night!!! I was so excited to get it finished. I blocked it earlier this afternoon and will photograph it tomorrow when it is dry. I even finished the loopy belt that was at a standstill. I had stopped working on it since I couldn't remember how to finish it off UNTILLLLL, I was at Michael's this morning and they had the book that belt pattern came from. I flipped to the instructions to see exactly how the ends were done and jotted a few notes in my notebook. When I got home, I finishsed it up. It will be pictured tomorrow as well. The main reason I went to Michael's was to get yarn for mom's pocket wrap Christmas present. I got some chunky variegated Homespun yarn in a deep blue/purple. Really pretty and soft. She is gonna love it! SH said that his mom would probably like one as well, so hers will be next in line. Yeaaaaaa crochet!!!!!

I found it!!!

2007-08-10T17:38:00.000-05:00

Back in the 90's a friend let me borrow a video tape of a Mr. Bean special. I have been looking for the video for ages just for this one clip. Mr. Bean plays a teacher who is going through the roll of all his students who have very unusual names. I FOUND IT and it is hilarious!!!!! Enjoy!!

*Warning - contains sexual references

Get the walker ready, Cla is OLD.

2007-08-09T13:39:00.000-05:00

I started a project yesterday in an attempt to keep my mind off the one vice I am trying to quit. I had thought about this project months ago. When I have the ClaDesigns crafty room I have been dreaming of, I hope to use these as decoration. I had thought about making several doilies in bright colors, frame them and use them as wall art. Now I know, I sound like an old lady when I say doily. I never contemplated that my crocheting would lead me to them, but oddly enough it has. IMO if they are in pretty colors and framed, they aren't nearly as Old Ladyesque as if they were under lamps and on coffee tables. BUT, if I ever, ever mention wanting to crochet a TP cozy, please just shoot me in the face and put me (and SH) out of my misery.

With the doily idea in hand and antsy fingers, I started Doily #1 yesterday afternoon. I am doing an "easy" pattern in a light purply-lilac. I have attempted doilies before but have always managed to screw them up at about round 5. I would rip out my progress only to start again. Inevitably I would mess up again and rip it out again. To date, I have still not completed a single doily. Hopefully this will be the first. I am up to round 8 of 12. I got to round 9 last night but realized I frucked up and ripped back to round 8. I decided to put it away before I did any more damage. Hopefully I can finish #1 up tonite and get it blocked and ready for the crafty room.

In the bag

2007-08-08T11:51:00.000-05:00

After a sleepless night last night (i'll tell ya about that in a minute), I rose dark and early for my interview at 8. I arrived at the office and was rudely greeted by a teenage receptionist. She gave me a dirty look, then proceeded to give her teenage cohort deskmate another look like "what does this old lady want?" Whatever little beotches. I have been menstruating longer than you have been alive so take your dirty looks and shove 'em up your ass. Insert snide smile here. Beotch #1 called "S" and I was instructed to start filling out the job application, she would be by shortly to talk with me. That sucker must have been 8 pages long. I wasn't quite finished when S showed up and took me back to another room where we could chat. We talked jobby-job stuff and then she offered to show me around and let me shadow some of the technicians. I dazzled her with all my answers and she seemed really happy with all the experience I have. Seriously, I think I blew this interview out of the water and feel very positive I will be getting a job offer soon. She said she was going to check my references, do a background search (no problem since I am a perfect angel) and would then get back with me.
The job itself isn't too much different that what I did previously at Dr. McA's. There are several more instruments to learn how to work since this is an Opthamologist instead of an Optometerist, but I really think I would do great at it. I did mention to S that everything was a little overwhelming, but of course with any new job it will be. She laughed and reassured me. Get this, they even get to wear SCRUBS. That is so freaking great. You have no idea how much I love the idea of wearing PJ's to work every day! No need to buy fancyshmancy work outfits. No need to plan the night before what you will wear the next day. In this case it would be a choice between the blue scrubs the blue scrubs or the blue scrubs. The office has a yearly allowance THEY PAY for your scrubs. ROCK. S also mentioned that Wednesdays are only half days. That gives the employees time to do doctors appointments and errands. Also Rock!
Nedless to say, I shot my interview out of the park.

Lets see how SH's interview goes. He is taking a power nap now and will be getting ready for his in the next few hours. *Spoken like Tony Little in the Gazelle commercial* You can do itttttttttttt!!!

Oh yea, I completely forgot to elaborate about the sleepless night. I tried going to bed early to get my beauty rest. LOL. What a crock. I went to bed around 10. I tossed and turned for a while and as soon as I was almost asleep, Baraka decided that he needed to go out. This seriously went on for HOURS. When he wasn't asking to go outside he was panting. He wasn't hot, he does this for attention and it is extremely annoying. At 2:30 I had had enough. I jumped out of bed ready to beat his heinie and I slipped on the carpet and busted my ass. I let him out and he ran directly to the woods. He had to poop. OK. FINE. SH heard the commotion, woke up and offered to watch for Baraka and let me get back in bed. He closed off the bedroom so Baraka would'nt bother me. Instead, Baraka tap-danced on the linoleum outside the bedroom the rest of the night. He really isn't a dancer, We call it tap-dancing because that is what it sounds like he is doing. Sooooo, neither I or SH got much sleep last night and we are exhausted. Maybe I need a nap toooooo. :)

j-o-b interview!!!

2007-08-07T09:06:00.000-05:00

I got a call yesterday afternoon about a job I had applied ONLINE for on Sunday. I called the woman back a few minutes ago and I am meeting with her bright and early tomorrow morning. I am actually kind of excited about the possibility that I can work in the eye-related field again. The job is for an opthalmic technician at a large surgical center. I think I could do it easy cheesy. I am also excited about the possibility of getting to wear scrubs to work instead of dressy clothes. Ahhhh, dressing that requires no thinking. I like that! I am keeping my fingers crossed but not holding my breath.

UPDATE: SH has an interview tomorrow too!!! I am preparing a celebratory dinner of s'ghetti and vino to ready us for our interviewin'. mmmmm.

A serious world o' hurt

2007-08-05T15:28:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I had one of the worst headaches I have ever had. It was seriously like #2 of all the bad headaches I have survived. At one point I thought I may have had an aneurysm. They say that an aneurysm feels like the worst headache in the world. Part of the time I felt that my head might actually explode, the other part of the time I thought that killing myself would hurt less. (not really) The remainder of the time I was either sweaty with chills, unable to get comfortable or nauseous. I couldn't strip down, I was at a friends house. Getting comfortable simply wasn't gonna happen. I knew that puking wouldn't help, it would merely increase the throb-ocity. Those of you who get headaches know what I am talking about. Any movement that lowers your head over about 30 degrees make it throb even harder. I medicated with Ibuprofin early on trying to stop it before it progressed into a monster. I was too late. I went from leaning against the bed to sitting in a rocking chair to sitting on the toilet in the bathroom. Sometimes splashing cold water on my hands and face would help. SH had a pow-wow with the lady of house concerning my condition. She brought me real meds. I took 2 pills, one to make the pain stop and one to make me sleep. I took half of the sleep pill. This made me almost unable to stand/lean anymore. I spent what felt like an eternity sitting on the floor in a bedroom, eyes closed overhead fan on full blast. The coolness of the fan felt good but on the flipside the cold air hurt my skin and made me even more nauseous. There I sat, eyes covered, sometimes I rocked, sometimes I sat still. Always rubbing my forehead. Everything above my neck hurt. I did my best not to concentrate on the pain and just breathe. *Insert annoying yoga instructor here* Focus your breath. Long, slow breath in. Long slow breath out. Long, slow breath in. Long slow breath out. This did help and has always helped me when I have this kind of headache. The SH finally decided we should head home and he very sweetly packed up all my stuff, the DiscoGirl, and a to-go plate the lady of the house had prepared for me. We started the trip home. At first the headache got worse and I started to worry. I eventually calmed down and settled in for the quiet ride home. We got home and I felt a bit better. SH made me some soup and I got in bed. Blinds closed, lights off. I stayed there for about 30 minutes and felt loads better. I took it easy the rest of the evening and am back at 100% today.

I think the headache was from too much sun. I had been drinking water all day, and I had eaten. I think I just got too damn hot. :(

My hook is a smokin'!!!

2007-08-03T15:15:00.000-05:00

I have finally finished the charity rectangles! I have 4 done in each color in a shell pattern, 2 granny rectangles and 2 done in a tunisian stitch. Twelve 'tangles total. The newest ones are getting blocked right now and I will post pics when they are finished. I used up all my leftovers in three shades of blue! Sweet.

Mother of purl has kindly offered to take all the other leftovers off my hands too. I will now have room to make a NEW YARN PURCHASE to get Mom's shawl started. I am still unsure and debating colors. I am leaning heavily towards a variagated blue or purple or green. I guess once I see them in person I will have an easier time choosing. I know that she cannot wear certain olivey-yellows or else she looks like death warned (warmed?) over. I will opt for something bright and cheery. I just know she will love this shawl.

Werk?

2007-08-02T13:05:00.000-05:00

toothpastefordinner.com

This is how I felt at my job. :)

Charity squares

2007-08-02T12:58:00.001-05:00

I have gotten another 2 squares, I mean rectangles done for the charity blanket. I think I can get another 3 out of the remaining skein. Hopefully I will be able to get them all finished and blocked sometime this weekend. YAY for a good cause!

I also have lots of odds and ends of yarn that I seriously doubt I will ever use. Anyone want it? Mother of Purl? This means you. I bought several small skeins of baby eyelash yarn ages ago that I cannot stand working with. I wish I would have kept the receipt!!!

Black Bean Salsa

2007-08-02T12:45:00.000-05:00

I absolutely LOVE black beans. I was recently served a Black Bean salsa at a friends house and have been looking for a recipe to recreate it. I hear that Publix has a ready made BB salsa, but I prefer to make my own. Here is a recipe I found and made last night. The result is pure salsa-ey goodness.

3 15 ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 11 ounce can of Mexicorn, drained
2 10 ounce cans Rotel, partially drained
2 tomatoes, diced
2 bunches green onion, chopped
Cilantro leaves for garnish (The SH and I HATE cilantro so I omitted it)

Mix everything together in a large bowl. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight before serving. I took it out of the fridge every few hours to stir and remix the ingredients.

I forgot to mention, this makes a LOT of salsa. The container I put it in is 13 cups.

You know you want some. ta-ta-ta-tastey-tastey.

Back on the workout wagon

2007-08-01T21:10:00.000-05:00

Since I had my "procedure", I have been kind of slow to get back in to my workout routine. I am still in the healing process, but each day I feel less tender and have a larger range of motion. It had been difficult to stick to my schedule since I got my job in December because of my hour commute home. By the time I get home, I want to eat, hang out for a little bit, get ready for the next day, then go to bed. Exercising is the LAST THING I want to do. Since today was my first day at home I did a bit more of a workout than usual. My goal is to get back to 45 minutes of cardio at least 4 days a week. I am also going to have to go back to the stricter portion sizes. I went to a nutritionist last year just because I needed more help with my eating habits. I was rudely awakened as to the portion sizes we are eating. I knew we were often eating more than we needed, but I had no idea. The nutritionist and I came up with a nutrition plan that was doable for me. For the first few months, SH and I stuck to it. Portion sizes were carefully measured for each meal. Calories were recorded BEFORE I even consumed them. I recorded the amount of time I exercised and what kind of workout I did. That regimine stopped around the holidays. Imagine that.
I gotta get back into it. I paid, correction, am still paying for the procedure to help me lose my biggest problem areas. I can't just regrow them now. It would be a waste of my investment. I feel pumped about getting back into my workout schedule. I can't wait to start seeing the results of a good, sweaty, muscle burning workout.

Another blog

2007-08-01T16:52:00.001-05:00

I have made another blog to house all my favorite words. It can be found here.

Last day

2007-07-31T08:20:00.001-05:00

Today is the big day. The last day at my job. I have already cleaned off my desk and taken the last plant down to the truck. As I was leaving last night, my supervisor's supervisor stopped me and invited me to lunch with her today. Kinda scary! I have no idea what we will talk about since I usually do best in a crowd. Oh well. I can do it. I keep in the back of my mind a glimmer of hope that she will be extending my position another few months, but I am not holding my breath. I don't want to have a big hoopla surrounding my leaving today either. I hope I can slowly and quietly slip out the door. I hate goodbyes. I just hope a new job rolls my way soon. I don't know how long I will be able to stand it at my old job. I would rather stick forks in my eyes than deal with college students again.

Heres to one more day at the office!!! :)

The last Monday at work

2007-07-30T09:21:00.000-05:00

Today is my last Monday at work! Tomorrow is my last official day. When I arrived at my office this morning, I was shocked at how empty it looked. I had kindaaa forgotten that I had slowly been taking stuff home to make for an easier last day. I still have a few plants a calendar and an oil lamp to schlepp home. I contemplated not even coming in today since I have enough leave, but I had a chiropractor appointment at 8. I knew I would feel much better once he cracked, twisted and electroshocked me. I got my sleepy ass out of the bed and got moving. Unfortunately last night was YET ANOTHER sleepless Sunday night. Sounds like a Bangles song. I tossed and turned until at least 1:30, then once I fell asleep I proceeded to wake back up every 30 minutes. The dog had to go out sometime around asscrack thirty. He doesn't do this on weekend nights, only weeknights when all the adults have to go to work the next day. ARGH. Soooo annoying.

Anyhoo, enough bitching. I worked on my charity squares this weekend and even did a few in Tunisian stitch. I think I will have a nice variety when they are all finished. I ended up leaving my yarn at the office over the weekend so I ended up using up some leftovers from other projects I did in the same colors! Yea for destashing!!!

A very merry unbirthday to the SH

2007-07-27T15:46:00.000-05:00

The SH's birthday is coming up in 2 weeks. I ordered his gift online wednesday. I was expecting it to arrive next week, plenty of time before his day. I got the email shipping confirmation at 10 this morning.
At around 2 SH answered the door. The UPS man had come a callin'. The gift had been delivered early! Cool! Wrapped in the manufacturers box. Not cool. Labeled with exactly what was inside. Also not cool. I think the labeling even went so far to tell him the person who put the monitor in the box. I was the dumbass that did not check the "this item is a gift" option during the checkout pro-cess. I was under the ASSUMPTION that if I checked that box, I would be charged another 5 Simoleons for gift wrap. I didn't realize that it meant that the gift would ship discreetly. Double DOH!

SupaHubby is currently at CrapMart buying new speakers to go with his early birthday present. A 19 inch widescreen LCD monitor.

New project idears

2007-07-25T12:55:00.000-05:00

I think my next project will be a wrap/shawl with hand pockets or a lapghan with a footie pocket for my mother. She is always so cold and either of these would keep her nice and toasty.

I also found this through the annies attic website. I am sooooo gonna make something.

I am finished with square #4 for the group charity blanket. I think I am gonna wait until I have a few more squares before I finish blocking. I have 1 skein of yarn left in dark blue so I guess I will do another 4 squares. They are actually rectangles so I don't know why they are called squares. Discuss amongst yourselves.

Is there such a think as a granny rectangle? I have a bit of leftover light blue yarn and I assume I will have the same amount of dark blue. I guess I could do a 9th square, I mean rectangle in a grannyesque pattern.
Update: There IS such an animal. Mash here

New post

2007-07-24T18:35:00.000-05:00

Mother of Purl told me I needed to update my blog. Done. :)

Seriously though, my time at work has almost come to an end and I am none too pleased. I started gathering my officey stuff together and have taken an armload of it down to the truck each evening. I had no idea how much stuff I had amassed over the past 7 months. It consists of four plants, two blankets, a desk lamp, toiletries, tchotchkies, magazines, books, training binders, crochet supplies, a RioGrande catalog and a plethora of work related paperwork. Where on earth am I gonna put this stuff now?!?! ARGH.
Dont.want.to.go.

Another thing. I need a neeeeewwww crochet project.

Rescued puppy update

2007-07-21T14:38:00.001-05:00

We picked up the puppy (Domino is what I have been calling her) from the veterinarian this morning and took her to the Montgomery Humane Society. Every other shelter we called wasn't accepting animals at this time because they were at capacity. I sure am glad we called ahead! She is there now and we hope that she will be adopted soon. We had to sign away all rights to her, which means we won't be able to find out if and when she gets adopted. That made me sad, but the most important thing is that she finds a good home.

If you are interested in adopting her or any of the animals, the shelter is located at 1150 John Overton Drive, Montgomery.
phone: 334-409-0622

Their website (link above) has a "featured pet". I am going to keep an eye out to see if she becomes one, she definately has potential. I am also curious to see if she will be featured on the local news. Every (I think) Thursday, they feature a few adoptable pets from the shelter. She is gonna be a supastar!!!!

One last pic before leaving her.

All hail the squaremakers!!!

2007-07-20T14:52:00.000-05:00

A few of the crafty ladies at work have decided to create squares for a charity blanket. This is a project right up my alley. I have done charity blankets before and feel it is something I can do to help a person in need. We got the idea here. I purchased two skeins of Caron Simply Soft in Country Blue and Dark Country Blue (for those who would like to coordinate colors). The yarn is inexpensive, easy to care for and as the name implies, soft. Perfect qualities for a charity blanket! I started on my first square and imagine I will continue to crochet squares until I cannot make another dc in sc. lol, I am such a crochet nerd. :)

Off to a shell start!

How can people be so cruel?

2007-07-19T19:47:00.001-05:00

This morning on my way to work, I saw a dog on the side of the road. It looked to be a pit bull puppy chained to a fence. I had seen the dog in the same place earlier in the week. She looked a little thin but there were people working in a field nearby so I assumed she was theirs. I continued on my way to work but thought about her the entire drive. I called SH to see if he would do me a favor and drive over to where I saw her, just to see if she was still there and whether or not she was chained. He called me back and said he drove through several times, but no dog.

On my way home, I slowed down when I approached that area and rolled down the window to get a better look. There she was. Hiding under some overgrown bushes she cowered. I called "puppy puppy" and she lit up. She knew I was trying to be sweet but was still completelly afraid of me. I told her I would return and continued home. The SH had just arrived home with our 2 dogbabies and I told him that I found her and had to do something for her. We rounded up the dogbabes and off we went. Now I might add that we didn't really have a plan. We were just going to see if she was still there. She was. She responded to sweet talk and crawled out from under the bush she was hiding under. She seemed friendly but still very skittish. SH started checking her out and aside from being obviously underfed, her ears were INFESTED with ticks. One of her ears had an abcess somewhere deep. SH would pull out a tick and she would yelp and yelp. She eventually understood that SH was helping her and you could see the appreciation in her eyes. Ok, so we know where a starving, tick-encrusted, black and white lab mix puppy is located. Now what? We can't take another animal. We are bursting at the seams as it is. What do we do? We decided to bring her home (getting her there was another story altogether), put her in the pen and see what we can figure out. If anything, she will have a nice meal and plenty of water. SH has arranged for her to visit our veterinarian tomorrow. I guess her fate will be decided then. She may be too far gone. She may just need some medication. There isn't a pound here in Podunk, Alabama so I may have to take her to where I know there is a no-kill shelter.

What pisses me the fuck off is why on earth would someone do this to an animal? Just dump it out of a car like a bag of trash. It broke my heart to see her there KNOWING she wouldn't survive too much longer. There is no telling how long she has been there. How long ago it was that some douchebag decided to throw away a 5 month old dog. This dog is so adorable I couldn't imagine anyone not liking her. She is a sweetheart and I know a little boy would adore her. If only we can find that right little boy.

Update: She made it through the night! We took her to the vet a little while ago. They are going to clean her up, check her out and if possible give her all her immunizations. If they can't find a home for her, I have offered to take her to the nearest no-kill shelter. Here are a few pics of her. Again, if anyone in the Montgomery or surrounding area is interested in her,let me know and we may be able to arrange something.

Going Away Lunch

2007-07-19T16:00:00.000-05:00

The Going Away Lunch today was scrum-diddly-umptious!! We went to a local bistro, Nancy Pattersons. Upon looking at the menu, I was totally unsure of what to order, everything sounded wonderful. I decided to go out on a limb and ordered their Beef Tenderloin Sandwich. It was wonderful. Lots of lean beefy goodness covered in Provolone, grilled peppers and onions. MMMMM. I decided to only eat half in order to save room for dessert. I have every intention of taking the other half to SupaHubby for him to try. He loves a beefy sammich!!! With almost half a tummys worth of room for dessert, I chose Chocolate Peanut Butter pie. You can NEVER GO WRONG with chocolate and peanut butter. It was delicious and very rich. This was the first case of me not finishing a dessert. I almost couldn't believe it. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals and I enjoyed the comradery.

I am so sad to be leaving, but I am also glad I was given the opportunity to work with everyone...and make new friends. I only hope that the chance will arise where I can return.

Want to read a review of Nancy Pattersons? Mash here

Black Belt Treasures

2007-07-18T09:11:00.001-05:00

A coworker pointed me to the website of a shop nearby that carries art made by local artists. I am going to see about the possibility of them carrying my jewelry! I looked over their webshop and their jewelry selection is very minimal. Maybe they will want my stuff for a change of pace.
Here is the site if you want to take a looksee: www.blackbelttreasures.com

Going away party

2007-07-17T15:35:00.000-05:00

My office supervisor has decided that since I will be leaving at the end of the month, I should be given a party. I didn't want a party to celebrate the fact I was given the boot! I envision everyone cheering "thank god she is leaving us!!!" I decided a simple lunch would be best. Everyone in our division will be attending and even the big bossman wanted to attend but (fortunately) he has a prior engagement at that time. WHEW. It was very sweet of him to want to be there, but we all wouldn't be able to cut up and act like we normally do in our building. :)

Only 10 more work days to go! I think the number may actually be 9 since I am pondering taking Friday off.

On a lighter note, a friend has passed my resume on to her old boss who is looking for a replacement for a position in his office.

why would you?

2007-07-17T08:03:00.000-05:00

While driving to work this morning, I passed a truck that was covered entirely, with the exception of the glass and tires, in a camoflauge print. Now I know hunting is big here in the south but why on earth would you camo-fy your vehicle? If you took it hunting, chances are you would lose it! You won't blend in with traffic on the interstate since you now stick out like a sore thumb. The boy driving this truck looked happy as a hog in mud. He looked ready to have some good ole boy fun! His mandatory 4 wheeler was on the back of the truck, his hunters orange hat was hanging on the gun rack in the cab and the mandatory Browning and John Deere stickers were plastered all over the back glass.

That leads me to yet another vehicle I see almost every morning. It is a truck that has bull horns on the front where the hood ornament would normally be located. Think Boss Hogg from the Dukes of Hazzard. What is the significance of that? Will his cows follow him when he drives into the pasture? Will it scare the cows when he drives into the pasture? Will it scare other cars and motorists into thinking his truck is actually a bull? I would be interested to hear his reasoning behind this.

Am I really wierd?

2007-07-13T08:42:00.000-05:00

The other day at work, several of my coworkers were in my office and we were all chit-chatting. I have a bird feeder outside my window that I keep filled and the birds that visit it keep us entertained. I mentioned that several baby birds have been visiting the feeder with their parents when I saw two of them on the porch below the feeder. I then said "hello little babies" through the window to the birds. Two of the three coworkers started laughing at me. I was a bit taken aback. Why are they laughing at me? I always talk to animals like that.

I asked the SupaHubby later in the night if he thought I was wierd for doing that. He replied "yep, you are wierd, but that is why I married you." I guess my normal is other peoples wierd, but I don't give a shit. Yea, I make up words sometimes. So what. I also talk to animals and inanimate objects. You got a problem with that? I guess I follow the beat of a different drummer. That drummer might have Tourette's, but I don't mind. :)

Randomness

2007-07-13T08:38:00.000-05:00

Since we were out of normal breakfast items this morning, I resorted to toast and jelly. I noticed when I put the bread into the toaster oven, the top of the loaf had a hole in in from the rising process. Nothing unusual, just observed. Once the toasting process started the edges around this open area burned before any other part of the toast. Why is that?

My first sale at a boutique!!!

2007-07-11T17:11:00.000-05:00

I had my appointment with the boutique owner today in town. She bought 9 pieces!! I gave her a nice discount in the hopes she would buy today and continue to buy in the future. I am so excited. Her store is already overflowing with jewelry of all varieties, cheap costume to expensive gold and stones. I think my pieces will do just fine there. Yay Cla!!

Just keep on using me, until you use me up

2007-07-11T08:55:00.001-05:00

This morning, I finished up a bottle of shampoo AND a giant bottle of lotion. I am almost finished with a tube of toothpaste that will likely see the trash can tonite or tomorrow. I love it when I finish a bottle/tube/vial of my bath and body products. I have been slowly going through my stash of products trying to use up stuff that has been sitting there taking up space. I tend to amass those little samples of lotion, deodorant and perfume until my bathroom is OVERFLOWING in teeny tiny containers. When this happens, I make myself use them until the stash is manageable and almost nonexistent. It is then time to sign up for more free samples!

The lifespan of body products reminds me of the lifespan of lightbulbs. I noticed that when I finish a bottle of shampoo, the conditioner is usually close behind. This reminds me of lightbulbs because they all seem to blow within a few days of each other. Is it just me or do you get startled when a bulb blows as you flick the switch? My heart always skips a beat when I do that.

It takes so little to amuse me. :)

ETA- the toothpaste tube has been finished too!!

Stoopid drivers

2007-07-10T08:09:00.000-05:00

Why is it when you pull to the median, other drivers feel the need to crowd up behind you? Do they think this will make you pull out faster? They ALWAYS block your view of oncoming traffic thus preventing you from moving into traffic.

Why are people who are talking on their cellphones ALWAYS driving slower than the rest of traffic in the PASSING LANE?

Why must other drivers get .2 inches from my back bumper at a traffic light? It isn't going to make the light turn green any faster. It also isn't going to make me go any faster once it does. PERSONAL SPACE FOLKS!!

Blinkers are not options on any vehicle. USE 'EM. They are there for a reason.

My number one problem with bad drivers......
Those who feel that the passing lane is theirs and theirs alone. If you get behind them to pass, they don't get right. They keep driving, blocking traffic for miles. The passing lane is called that for a reason. Get right and I'll pass you. Then you can get back left and impede traffic until you get to your destination.

GEESH!!!

Daily Word from Rev Run

2007-07-09T14:23:00.000-05:00

I have been a fan of the show Runs House on MTV for a while now. At the end of each episode, Rev Run is shown taking a bubble bath and comes up with his Daily Word that he send out to his readers. These are basically positive thoughts for you to carry throughout the day. I found the website where you can sign up to get the Daily Word in your email. The website says it is a 14 day trial, but I have been getting them for months now. This was todays:

Good morning. Are you a spell caster or a spell catcher. Take control ofyour week! Cast your love spell. Cast your kindness spell. Cast your happy spell! You're in charge of the vibration that is around you! Don't let anybody hold you down! Let love, happiness and good vibrations rule your circle! Cast your spell today! :) :)
God is Love
Rev Run

How very Apropos

2007-07-07T13:32:00.000-05:00

I called the owner of a local boutique who wanted to see my jewelry. I originally spoke to her last month but she wasn't ready to purchase new since she just got back from market. I set up an appointment for a viewing on Wednesday afternoon! I seriously hope she wants to buy some (or all) of my stuff. I am even willing to give her a wholesale price in order to get some inventory off my hands. She mentioned wanting to find new artists that she would regularly stock and I am hoping that she likes my stuff enough to stock them!

I also faxed my resume out for five jobs yesterday afternoon. Hopefully I will hear something back from them. Again, fingers crossed!!!

Go on, pull that rug out from under my feet

2007-07-06T10:28:00.000-05:00

I was just notified, much to my dismay, that my job here will end at the end of the month, even after I was told that my stay would be extended another 3 months. Could this have come at a worse time?!? Seriously. My truck is dead and we need to purchase another vehicle and I have just started to pay off the loan for my surgery. Let's add to that, getting my own insurance plan again. If you have never paid your own premiums, they are HELLA expensive. I am still reeling right now and am in complete shock. I have spent the last few minutes looking at jobs online in my area and NONE are anything I can do. *cla pitching a temper tantrum* I Wanna Go Home!!!! :(

Riddle me this

2007-07-06T09:50:00.000-05:00

So, since the Jimmy is pretty much now a deathtrap, I am no longer driving it. We have taken it yet again to the dealership for them to see if they can diagnose the problem. They kept it all day yesterday and drove it all over town with no problems. One of their employees drove it home last night and had no problems. They can't put their finger on exactly what is wrong with it. It is making me CRAZY! I feel like it is all in my head or maybe something is off with my chi that the truck doesn't like so it ONLY DIES ON ME. The SupaHubby is taking his chances and driving it to play golf one hour away from home. I only hope that if it does give him trouble, he can safely get to the median or shoulder. I just spoke with him and he did indeed make it safely to the golf course. Hurrah!! I just hope he can also make it home safe and sound.

Tha-tha-tha-that's all folks!

2007-07-03T19:49:00.000-05:00

It's official. For all practical purposes, the Jimmy is dead. It died on me yet again as I was halfway up the exit ramp of the Interstate on my way home. I called the SupaHubby as instructed in the event of another breakdown. He told me to drive to a friends house who lived nearby. I knew it would be at least 45 minutes before SupaHubby could get to me and I didn't want to impose on the friends, so I sat in the truck and almost finished a book I had been reading. The truck died another 2 times while I was sitting there idling. Apparently the SupaHubby called the friends and told them to come out and get me. I was so mad though, I didn't want to bother anyone with my emotions/issues. SupaHubby finally arrived and we swapped vehicles. The friends wished us luck and we proceeded to make the journey home. Just as predicted, the Jimmy gave him absolutely no problems. Imagine that. ARGH!!! Stupid effing truck. I have always had a love-hate relationship with that vehicle. I love it and have always taken exceptional care of it, but it is always messing up and needing expensive repair work. As I followed SupaHubby, I realized that that may have been my last time driving it. That made me kind of sad, but on the same hand, a bit relieved. Never again would she (yep, the Jimmy is a girl, her name is Red) leave me stranded. Never again would she die at a traffic light. Never again would I have to do that magic trick with the hazard lights. Never again would I have to spend 45.00 to fill up her behemoth tank. I shed a few tears over the loss, but losing her means I get a NEEEWWWWW car to play with now. And a new loan.

For sale: 1995 GMC Jimmy 4x4. Looks great, well taken care of, may or may put you in a ditch. All power options, leather, Panasonic CD, 141K. Best offer!!! :)

BEOTCH

2007-07-03T14:33:00.000-05:00

Why is it that the receptionists at swanky salons feel the need to be complete beotchs? I just had my first cut at a salon I have never been to. I was referred by my friend/cohort Shmanda. I absolutely adored the stylist, Shmanda said I would, my gripe was with the receptionist. As I waited to "check in" she felt it was unnecessary to look me in the eye. Automatic red flag. When she finally asked me "can I help you", I told her that my appointment was at 1 with MJ. She told me to have a seat and still couldn't manage to look at me. Come on, I am not THAT hard on the eyes. Fast forward to the "check out" procedure. I went back up to the desk hoping that the other receptionist would deal with me. No such luck. The beotch receptionist asked me "can I help you?", again not even looking in my direction. I know she said "can I help you?" but what I heard was "what the fuck do you want?". I told her I needed to pay for my cut. As she swiped my credit card, I asked about adding a tip. She told me, again without looking in my direction, I could write a check or pay cash. I proceeded to write a check and thought, "I sure am glad she isn't getting any of this tip". She was one of the biggest "see you next tuesdays" (read between the lines) I have encountered in quite some time. I mean seriously, you are a receptionist at a salon. I could do that job with my eyes tied behind my back. Fucking get over yourself and be nice to people.

There, rant over.

Wanna be a Simpsons character?

2007-06-29T10:13:00.001-05:00

Mash here and you can create your own Simpsons avatar!!

The Jimmy is on its last legs....

2007-06-28T10:02:00.000-05:00

So as you may or may not know if you read my "100 things", my truck is a LEMON. Yesterday afternoon was yet another flash of that fact ringing true. It died on me TWICE on my 48 mile commute home. The first time I was able to steer safely to the side of the road. I managed to get it cranked and made it another 5 miles when it died again. Only this time, I lost all steering AND brakes. I came within 2 inches of a deep culvert. I kind of wish it did make it into the culvert. Maybe it would have been totaled and I could get $5.00 for it. I really love the truck and it looks great because I have taken excellent care of it while I have been its owner. It just runs like shit. The SupaHubby took it to the shop this morning, the 4th trip in less than 2 months, to see how much more cashola we can blow out of our asses to get it repaired. SupaHubby did mention getting me a newer car instead of spending money on constant repairs, but I really don't think we can afford it. Of course I want a newer convertible of the Volvo variety, but that would mos def be out of our price range. I refuse to drive an Echo, Geo, or any of the "roller skate" cars out there right now. I have decided that I will never ever again own another GM product. THEY SUCK!!!! I am all for being patriotic and buying US made vehicles, but it isn't gonna happen. I refuse to spend my hard earned money on an unreliable, poorly designed vehicle. I don't like Fords and have owned 2 Chryslers with similar results. They were all crap. I am considering a plain old ambiguous sedan (when did I turn into a mom?). I want something safe that gets good gas mileage and doesn't cost an arm and a leg to repair. Any suggestions people? I would love another SUV but don't want to spend all my extra money filling up the tank!!

Cruisin for a bruisin

2007-06-28T09:57:00.000-05:00

This is my almost 1 week post procedure update. Most of the bruising on the upper half of my torso is slowly fading out. I noticed yesterday that the bruising below my belly button has gotten worse! It was kind of yellow yesterday afternoon. Last night it turned purpley-black and is sooooo very tender. This morning, I noticed the lap part of the seatbelt was really pushing on my belly bruise and was quite uncomfortable. I will try to remember to take a picture of my grody tummy bruise to show off! I can't believe that tomorrow will be 1 week!

Instead of posting the gross pic, here is a link to the picture so you can view it at your own risk. The pic is quite blurry since I took it myself, but I think you can get the jist.

Back in the saddle

2007-06-26T10:09:00.000-05:00

I am back at work today! I am feeling much better but am still somewhat bruised and tender in places. I was pleasantly surprised once I took off the device o' torture that I wasn't bruised in more places! I will have to take a picture of the tummy bruises. My wounds have stopped oozing and a few are already scabbed up. YAY!! I can tell a slight difference in my hips already. I don't have "armrests" anymore and my pants are fitting much better.....actually, I now need a belt to keep them in the right place! I will have to wait up to 6 months to see the complete results, but I can imagine I will be pleased. :)

Oozing the day away - Sunday

2007-06-25T14:16:00.001-05:00

Today will be the third day since my my upgrade. I am able to move around easier and am not as sore. Another good thing, I have 3 hours and 43 minutes left before I can take this mf'ing compression garment off! I know I have to wear it for a reason, but it is just so damn uncomfortable! The velcro that covers the zippers on the inside, presumeable to prevent the zippers from digging into your swollen flesh, is digging into my swollen flesh. It is also really hurting my back. In the morning when I wake, my back feels all knotted up and tight from having zero mobility throught the night. I easily fix that problem with the painkillers. :)

I will admit, I had a bit of a freakout Saturday afternoon. The SupaHubby had come in to change my bandages. He removed one of the band-aids from the side of my abdomen and the wound started oozing. Now I didn't know the extent of the oozing because I couldn't see over my ginormous boob. My only gauge was SupaHubby's face. I saw fear on his face. The floodgates opened and I started crying. I wasn't scared that I was oozing. I was scared because reality had finally caught up with me. I had undergone a procedure much bigger than anything I have had in the past and it just hit me.

Cladeeclucla, V2.0 now available!!

2007-06-22T20:02:00.000-05:00

Well folks, I just got back from my procedure! It wasn't as scary as I had anticipated. They started the procedure around 3 and finished up a tad bit before 6. I took a brief look at myself after they finished up and I can already tell a difference. They now have me in a VERY constrictive compression thing (like biking shorts from back in the day) that I will have to wear for a few days. The interesting thing, it is crotchless! tee-hee I found it very difficult to pee with it on. My brain kept telling my pee "noo, not yet, she still has clothes on", but I eventually got a good stream. I am also oozing at the holes they went in through. I feel good now but I think the pain will be setting in overnight. I am already noticing some soreness in my abdominal area.
The doctor and his staff were extremely personable and easygoing. I prefer that much better than the old stuffy doctors with absolutely no bedside manner. We all cut up and the doctor ended up singing several of the Pink Floyd songs we listened to throughout the procedure.
I am so happy today has finally come and gone. The anticipation and the desire to rid myself of those problem areas was overwhelming. I know that my results from the procedure could take at least 6 months to really show themselves, but I already feel more confident in my skin.

Props to my SupaHubby for being so attentive and helpful. I <3 you baby.

Saturday update: I feel like a freaking sausage in these short things. My upper thighs are so swollen they have smooshed out into the crotchless area. My cash and prizes are almost not visible because of this. My main method of movement is now waddling. I just hope that when the swelling goes down, I don't keep walking like this!! One other funny thing I didn't notice last night. This compression garment has lace along the bottom of the leg so it is SUPER sexy!!

I have also figured out that it is best to stay in a reclining position. It is difficult to breathe while sitting due to the extremely constrictive nature of this garment. Now I know what it was like to wear a corset back in the day! I am also scared to eat too much, no room for expansion!

The oozing was really bad last night and continues today. I am having to replace the gauze pads every few hours and am sleeping on a towel so I don't stain the sheets. The abdominal pain is setting in now, but that is nothing a painkiller won't fix! Tylenol 3, here I come!!!

The Disco incident

2007-06-20T09:36:00.001-05:00

Last night, the SupaHubby and I were discussing possible vacation plans in our back office. He suddenly realized that the dogs were entirely too quiet in the living room. We knew Baraka (the camera shy older brother) wouldn't be misbehaving, sleep is one of his favorite pastime these days. We also knew of Disco's love of all things ropey, twiney and thread-ish. SupaHubby jumped up and went into the living room, catching our precious baby girl in the act. She was rolling around in the floor with market bag #2 and it's attached skein of yarn. Yipee, what fun! She managed to unravel about half of the skein and everything was goey. ewww. This bag was suppposed to be for Shmanda, and I pondered giving her bag #1, leaving me with drooley bag #2. She declined and will accept the drooley bag, as long as I wash it first. Come on, the doggie drool would be an added bonus! Consider it a form of Scotchguard! I just finished untangling the now crunchy yarn and will get back to work on the bag. I think we are gonna have to take away all ropey forms of entertainment for the little Disco and go back to regular toys. I am also going to have to find a secret unreachable hiding place for all my crochet and crochet accessories.

Disco and Baraka, doing tricks for treats.

100 Things

2007-06-19T16:38:00.000-05:00

I have been working on this list for a few weeks now. This is 100 miscellaneous things about ME!!

1. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. :)
2. I collect seltzer bottles.
3. I have the hots for Dane Cook.
4. I hate bad drivers.
5. As a child I wanted to be a veterinarian.
6. I have never been fired from a job.
7. I do my best thinking in the shower.
8. I love to sleep.
9. I have been bitten on the ass by a dog.
10. I got chicken pox on the last day of school of 5th grade.
11. I never had a Sit-n-spin as a child.
12. I am a visual learner.
13. I love the smell of coffee, but hate the taste.
14. I love useless trivia.
15. Two of my pets were rescued from animal shelters, two were strays.
16. I have seen dolphins "do it."
17. I like steaks cooked rare/medium rare.
18. I have never cheated on a boyfriend or my husband.
19. I passed out in health class in high school.
20. I love stand-up comedy.
21. I was in the marching band in high school. I did NOT play the flute.
22. My favorite soft drink is Root Beer.
23. My favorite board game is Apples to Apples.
24. I am a reality TV show junkie.
25. I organize my DVD's alphabetically. nooo, really?
26. I prefer to print rather than write in cursive.
27. I don't wear mascara.
28. I would prefer to be cold than hot.
29. My truck is a LEMON.
30. My Oma used to pat my heinie to help me fall asleep.
31. I have 3 nephews and 1 niece.
32. I love scary/gory movies.
33. I have never had a perm.
34. I like burned hot dogs.
35. My favorite dessert is tiramisu.
36. Sedona AZ is my favorite place in the world.
37. I have never broken a bone.
38. Drowining is a fear of mine.
39. Bird ears freak me out.
40. I am an excellent cook and have the badonkadonk butt to prove it.
41. Growing up I had more guy friends than girl friends.
42. I hate driving in the rain.
43. I have a handful of friends and I love them dearly.
44. I am a military brat.
45. I love the smell of horses.
46. I was a world traveler by the age of 8.
47. I was born on the Winter solstice.
48. I was adopted.
49. My favorite flower is a Gerber daisy.
50. Seeing homeless people makes me sad.
51. I am terrified of sharks.
52. I have a dog that can yodel.
53. I love anything chocolate.
54. I hate country music.
55. I used to tickle my little brother until he peed his pants.
56. I love the color red.
57. I have elf ears.
58. I do not litter.
59. I am tooky about my writing pens.
60. I have been in 3 car accidents, none serious, one was my fault.
61. I have had a recurrent nightmare once in my life.
62. I have had my urethra stretched. ewwww.
63. I love to make jewelry.
64. I floss until it hurts. And I love it.
65. I have 3 tattoos.
66. I have a bad case of potty mouth.
67. I hated History class in high school.
68. I would spontaneously combust if I met Madonna.
69. I have a love/hate relationship with working out.
70. I love a British accent. Think Jude Law.
71. I am slowly growing to like eating fish.
72. I love list of any sort.
73. My mom is always proud of me.
74. I can't stay away from gossip.
75. I love real Margaritas. No flourescent mixer for me!!
76. I was named after a friend of my parents.
77. Orchestral music gives me goose bumps.
78. I have always wanted to learn how to fence.
79. I really don't like lima beans/field peas/butter beans. gross.
80. I am a very open minded person.
81. My next crafting foray will be silversmithing.
82. I grit my teeth while I sleep. Bad-bad Cla!!
83. I L-O-V-E getting cracked by the Chiropractor.
84. I used to prefer sleeping without a pillow.
85. I enjoy cleaning my house. It is so cathartic.
86. I like to play simulation games like Zoo Tycoon, The SIMS and RollerCoaster Tycoon.
87. I opened and closed a business in 3 months. Too much paperwork.
88. I have 3 friends who have won their battles with cancer.
89. I am pro-choice.
90. I hate stupid people.
91. I color my hair to cover those pesky grays.
92. I am a follower.
93. I love all things tekkie. Not trekkie, tekkie.
94. I loved Land of the Lost and Dr. Who as a child.
95. I could live in a Hobby Lobby or Michaels store.
96. I love old houses.
97. I am NOT a morning person.
98. I planned the majority of my wedding.
99. I hate Cilantro.
100. I used to bite my nails to within a millimeter of their life.

Jobby-job

2007-06-19T16:24:00.000-05:00

I had a meeting with my supervisors today regarding my job. Everyone at the office has been vying for weeks to get me hired on permanently. To my surprise, I was told that I would be able to stay another 3 months, possibly 6 months. Apparently money have been moved from one fund to another and since it is all Katrina related, my pay can still be factored in. This will be enough to pay my wages for another 3 months, possibly 6! I am so friggin happy. It will now entail a little more architectural background, but I am always willing to learn. Everyone knows I love old buildings! What a weight off my shoulders (and the SupaHubby's shoulders). Thanks ereeebody who crossed their fingers for me!!!

SH and Noah react to my good news.

*no kitty cats were harmed during the creation of this post.*

Market bag & Fathers Day....complete.

2007-06-18T09:01:00.000-05:00

It fascinates me how crochet is basically one giant "knot" that will unravel if you pull the right thread. Whenever I rip out previous work, I love to watch the pattern disappear as if it were some kind of magic trick. Mesmerizing.

So, my father's birthday is the day after Father's day. I baked him a cake for this occassion as opposed to buying a gift. He already has everything he could want or need and everyone loves food!! This was the cake. In my haste, I decided to go ahead and bake the cake rounds,then get the rest of the recipe together. Big mistake. I re-read the instructions after putting the rounds in the oven and realized that I was supposed to add other ingredients to the cake mix BEFORE baking!! DOH!! After a few expletives and a bit of huffing and puffing around the kitchen, I decided to make do with what I had and make a version of this. I used the mandarin oranges from the Citrus Cake in place of the pineapples in the Lush Cake.

We took the cake and the dogs to Enterprise for the visit with the family. It just so happens that my nephews were there for a visit! After Disco was introduced to everyone, I decided we all needed to sample the cake. It actually was quite tasty!! After our little cakey snack, we visited and my two nephews rolled around in the floor with Disco. The boys LOVED her.
Disco and her wicked stepsister, Fatty-Boombalattie.

Now, back to crochetland....
I finished the bag Sunday afternoon. I only used 1 3/4 of my 4 skeins so I am making ANOTHER bag. This one will most likely be given to a friend. Like most new patterns, it takes me a few tries to get the instructions down pat. I think I got through row 8 before I had to rip it all out and start over. I hate to do that, but due to my OCD-ness, I want the piece to be as perfect as possible. I think the second bag is gonna turn out even better than the first.

before:

after:

LYS going out of business

2007-06-15T16:23:00.000-05:00

The local yarn shop in town is going out of business and they have all yarn marked 50% off! I have never been in a yarn store before. Since we would be losing money if we did not invest in the 1/2 off yarn, my partner in fibery-crime and I made a quick trip there this afternoon. I was overwhelmed to see all the different colors and textures available for my crafty little hands. I have always picked up my yarn at craft stores and *gasp* Wal-Mart. I ended up getting 4 small skeins of a pinky-orange-purple variagated cotton yarn and 2 shades of a bright pink yarn from Greece. I am planning on using them in a netted "market" bag. There are several patterns for this type of bag online, but the bag I will be crocheting came from this book. I can't wait to get home and get my craft on!!!