In These Shoes? I Don't Think So...

2011-11-14T05:04:00.005-05:00

All week, I count down to Friday afternoon. Friday afternoons are the adult version of the last day of school for kids. Friday comes, and I have a list of things that need done over the weekend.

When the list includes housework related items, 90% of the time they don't get done.

Such was the case this past weekend. Simple things like replace the shower curtain, buy birdseed, take out the freakin' air conditioner (hello, it's November) were ignored. Again. The house is filthy, and there's a wholesale jewelry order to fill. The yard needs cleaned up for winter. The summer stuff on the porch needs put away, replaced by the snow shovel and ice melt. Oh wait, the ice melt and snow shovel never got removed last year. (We must have been busy)

Nice.

Hunny's time is spent laying on the couch snoring. He's tired. He's always tired. Not tired enough to stay up half the night on Friday and Saturday watching old movies, but tired, oh SO tired, when it comes to chores. You know how it goes.

So it's up to me to make sure everything gets done right. If I start the chore, he'll get off the couch, (with an audible sigh) to 'help', which is my cue to say, "no, no I'll do it" and he'll either happily go back to the couch, half ass a chore he likes.

It was all too much trouble for me to play that game this weekend. Saturday we visited two local farmer's markets, and came home in time to catch the Penn State/Nebraska game.

I'm not an alumni of PSU, but by virtue of living in Central PA, one gets pulled into the whole PSU thing. I do feel they treated Paterno unfairly by firing him by phone after half a century of service, and countless MILLIONS of dollars donated to the school. Tacky, tacky. However, there was a tone that needed to be set, and the Big Blue Machine had to show their donors that they were taking all the necessary steps to make the problem right. I say just execute that pedophile jackass Sandusky in front of Old Main and be done with it. The repercussions have just started, and Oh Boy will THIS be interesting. (Media driven draaaama!)

I digress. So we watched the game, I shed a tear or three (yay premenopause!) and that was that. The Former Chef had asked if we wanted to meet in Ship for beers and laughs, and was actually going to show up for a change. We trucked down there and waited on her for an hour, and she showed up with her new work buddy (I guess the moaning about 'forced socializing' does not apply to this one) and we spent several hours there eating, drinking and generally being a loud table full of people who should be avoided.

Sunday came, and the list was still unlined. I suggested we go to the Pa Guild of Craftsmen show in Lancaster. Hunny wasn't wild about the idea, but it was better than mowing the grass. Off we went. I'm a Guild member so it didn't cost me 9 bucks to get in, but Hunny isn't and he was less than pleased about having to pay to look at FINE CRAFT. I figured this little exercise would take about 3 hours all told, and we'd have plenty of time for the list when we got back. Oh no, wrong again. After plodding thru the show, and looking at some very nice things, (but some very surly artists, whats up with having no booth presence at a major show?) we decided to walk around Lancaster. Lancaster sucks. That's all I have to say. Nice bead store, though. She had some funky colors of seed beads, but I didn't purchase any. I have way too much stuff now, and I just wasn't shoppy. We headed home.

By now, he was starving so we stopped at the dysfunctional Bob Evans near the house for lunch. I like Bob's. For a chain restaurant, they're pretty good. However, the local one must be where all idiot waitresses and inept managers go before they're drummed out of food service. The glass my tea came in was filthy. The waitress was really dumb ("Huh? Dirty? I guess I'll bring you a new one...duh...) and just all around a poor excuse for a lunch. Again. That's two strikes on them. Every time Hunny wants to go there, I remind him of the last experience. But yet we still end up there. I can't tell you why.

Once we got home, I checked my email, and he hit the couch and promptly grew roots. I did my laundry, and puttered around and he slept. I did manage some chores, but not everything I needed, but oh well. Monday's another day.

And back we are to Monday, to start the countdown all over again. Is it spring yet?

2011-10-25T05:03:00.002-05:00

Good grief! More than a year has passed since I blogged here.

That's kind of sad, considering how much it had been. That witch from work pretty sucked all the joy OUT of blogging (thank you, witch & her minions) While she's a constant pain in my ass, it's gratifying to know that my very existence irritates her. Yay for existing!!

The jewelry biz, or expensive hobby, is going along swimmingly. We've had some really good shows this year. Last year I joined some local organizations that I may or may not actually benefit from. Since I'm not a meeting going person, I tend to miss alot, but frankly Monday night meetings aren't my thing, as I'm brain dead after the first day back to work, and the Sunday meeting infringe on my 'me' time. So I read the minutes, and that seems to work.

In other news, I still work where I worked when I started this blog (see above re the witch) and it is what it is. I was asked what are my goals, and frankly I couldn't come up with anything that didn't sound shitty. "I would like to be able to retire without an ulcer or having a heart attack" THAT wouldn't go over well at all. As I've said, I like what I do, but it's just difficult to do a good job with all the stipulations and constraints. Just leave me alone to do my work, and I'll be fine. If I have to concern myself with petty things, it just gets in the way of productivity. But, as I've been told, there's the right way and the wrong way. It's cool though, because we are busier than ever. And that's a good thing.

Carry on and all that, maybe I won't wait another 18 months to blog again...

2010-06-20T19:27:00.002-05:00

Back from the short mini beach vacation.

Obbie's birthday is celebrated at Lewes Delaware. This is the 4th year (I think) for it. It's always a shame that it takes so long to get here but goes by so fast. We had a good time, good food, and some laughs.

Now it's back to work. Yay.

2010-06-02T04:55:00.002-05:00

Wow...it's still here! The ole' blog hasn't disappeared. While I can't promise a daily update, I do believe I'd like to get back to blogging. Facebook is getting a little stale these days. I don't play the games anymore, and sometimes I've got more to say than just a few lines.

It's Spring Craft Show season. We've done two already, with moderate success. The big big one is next weekend, the Great Tastes of PA Food & Wine Festival at the Split Rock Resort in the Poconos. Of course I will work myself into a majah snit getting ready, but that's what I do.

Day Job is busier than ever. Lots of rush jobs. I could go on and on, but the bigs have taken to the internets, and while this blog has been fallow awhile, it doesn't mean it stopped being observed.

There's a garden again this year. The usual suspects, tomatoes, peppers and weeds. A few experiments-broccoli, brussels sprouts and one lone squash. I haven't decided if squash need friends. Never grew it before. But I'm almost out of space already.

And more kittens. They're getting packed off to someplace soon. I just can't figure out how to disperse them short of taking them to the vets under cover of darkness in a box with a $50 bill attached, "Please take care of these babies, I can't"

Carry on!

2009-10-18T09:09:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was the last outside show of the year. Alas, Mother Nature decided that perhaps we should rethink the plan. It had been raining and cold for several days. Cold meaning high 30's.
With some nice wind as a bonus. Not good for an outdoor craft event. Or any event for that matter. We went to the site at about six am, in the rain and wind. The director was there, and she basically said, "It's up to you, but it's not going to be a good day for a show. We are promoting it as 'rain or shine', but it's your call. No refunds." Fine with me, I counted my boof fee as a donation, and we went home.

Later we went to a bead show, and bought a few things, nothing major, came home and napped the day away. Had grilled cheese & tomato soup for dinner while the wind blew and the rains rained.

Today the rain has stopped, but it's pretty chilly. Nice day to stay inside and clean, and catch up on all the things I don't do enough. There's a nice beef stew in the crockpot for the second football game later.

I sent Obbie to the store for 'good' bagels. Shall we take bets that the bagels will be out of a plastic bag and not the store bakery? Hey, I'm just sayin.....

2009-10-06T04:46:00.004-05:00

On Saturday, we had another show. Small Town, USA. We did okay, sold a few things other than kid necklaces & rocks, for which I'm always grateful. After the show we went to a friends house and had dinner, drinks and a bunch of laughs. That was great fun. The not so fun part was driving home, although it does make me switch to drinking water about an hour or so before we leave. I think the drive is only 37 miles, but it feels like 137, especially the last 16. I was a little noddy, but for once, Obbie stayed awake and kept talking.

The next day we went to the Fells Point Fun Fest. If you ever have an opportunity to visit, I highly recommend it! Lots of vendors, everything from African Art to flea market wares to Sham Wows to high dollar ART. Then there's food vendors of every stripe, rides for kiddies, non-profit information booths, bands, beer, bars, and did I mention the food? We visited my favorite beading person in the world, sat in her booth for awhile and people watched. It was a beautiful day on the pier, with the boats coming & going. All the bars had their doors wide open and the football watchers were whooping it up. We ate a mozzarella filled arepa, which was surprisingly good, an empanada (a first for both Obbie & I) and watched a vendor who had a big wrought iron tee pee over an open fire. On the teepee were steaks, stretched out on hooks, so the fire would cook them from the inside out. This was very cool, and we ended up with some of the sliced steak to go. (We ate it in the car, so it didn't get very far) We came home with full bellies and sore feet (the cobblestones are KILLER on the feet) and I ended up falling asleep very early 'watching' the Steelers.

And back to Monday. Work is awful lately. The Big is miserable, going around finding fault with everything and everyone, putting all of us in terrible moods right off the bat, since we're never sure if we're going to be next to have something we do picked apart. It makes for a stressful work environment for everyone, including upper management. Because of course, they get THEIR asses bitched at if there's a problem with us peons. Oh well. Suck it up. Five o'clock is our mantra.

And that's it for now. Another show this weekend. Work, work work....

2009-10-01T14:14:00.002-05:00

I'm home early today. The landlady's husband died, so I went to the 'visitation'. And took the rest of the afternoon off. I did some errands, then came back to the house.

I've got some projects in the works, and I really should be working on them. I'll get there eventually. My bead guru is making a ring for me, and I'm making her some chain maille in trade.
We have a show on Saturday, and Sunday we're heading to Baltimore for the Fells Point Festival.
Apparently, it's a big festival, so we'll have a good time strolling around people watching. The bead guru is there selling, so we'll stop by and visit with her and her hubby awhile. That's always a good time.

Until then, I'm making more stuff for the show on Saturday. I never think I have enough stuff!!

2009-09-28T05:08:00.002-05:00

Last night I dreamed we were at a big craft show and it rained.

Probably because on Saturday we were at a big craft show and it rained. Again. I see a theme developing here.

The big Townfest was surprisingly successful even though it rained off and on all day. The day started off poorly before we even left, as Obbie decided to be a pissy bitch, and I wasn't in the mood. He took a half day on Friday under the pretense of fixing the earring display. He basically ran around all day, then worked until about 9:00 outside trying to redo the earring rack. It looks a little better, but he half assed it. He has all good intentions to start with, then, works himself into a froth because it's not working like he's envisioned it, then just goes through the motions. So, he was out on the 'patio' (a crumbling pad of concrete that the landlady feels is good enough NOT to fix) hammering and cutting and grumbling, IN the damp, IN the chill, with an attitude. I'm up at 4:45 on Saturday, to clean cat boxes, feed the cats, and to do the general panic that I do before every show. He gets up at 5:15, and is feeling poorly. This time of year kills him with his allergies. So it's the Honk and Tweet show every hour of every day. Which is the cat's faults too, you know. So he's pissy about that. And he dosen't feel good. And the earring rack is a big let down. And the flyers he printed are crooked and uncut, which pissed ME off, because I asked him to do it last week, and he did it half way. When I asked him WHY they were uncut and crooked and on white paper (colors, people COLORS) he said they were busy at work, and he couldn't get any better than that. Then WHY for Gods sakes didn't you call me and say, "They're busy, can you take them to the printer and get some made?" But no, it's easier to ignore it. So THAT pissed me off.

And we weren't even in the car yet.

After a couple miles of bitching it was all worked out, we got coffee and yogurt and headed to the show.

Set up, no problem, same spot at the past umpteen years (good) and as soon as I hung the last earring, it started to sprinkle. We moved displays inward, so only one table was not under the tent, and carried on.

It rained. It poured. It sprinkled. And the people came out. We made a fair amount of money, much to my amazement. But by 3:00 we were cold and damp and ready to go home. Moms was there, and we had dinner with her and beat feet (in the rain) to get home and get the chill off.

Another show this weekend, I wonder if No Rain Please is too much to ask?

We'll see about that!

2009-09-23T18:03:00.002-05:00

Hi there!

Long time no see.

It's been that kind of summer. We didn't do anything, it seemed, but it also seemed like summer was over so fast.

I beaded a wedding bag for a friend's daughter's wedding. That was in August. I heard from my Mom that she got an email saying the friend's daughter liked it. I've heard nothing. I spent a very, very long time building this damn thing. oh well.

The fall craft show season is in full swing. Two down, seven or eight to go. I'm spent too much time pondering why I'm doing this, and what I hope to gain. But on the upside, I was interviewed by the local newspaper, and the story was on the front page, then last night, my picture was on the front page of the former hometown newspaper. Too funny. But that still leaves me with, "Why am I making jewelry and where am I going with it?"

There are a huge number of cats at my house now, and my landlady has taken a sudden interest in 'her' house. She claims I have too many cats, and need to get rid of some or she's going to evict me. Well then. One would think after 7 years of rent, I'd have a little leeway. And it's not like we're living in filth, for goodness sakes. But, I'm at the mercy of the landlady. And her weird nephew who lives up the road, and while I'm told he's an engineer or something, he seems to spent a lot of time mowing the grass across the road, and skulking around. He gives me the creeps.

So I'd like $20,000 for a downpayment on a house, so I can keep my cats and not be worried about being stalked by an 85 year old control freak. Shall I put the Paypal button on the sidebar now or later....? How many pairs of earrings make $20,000? (between 2,000 and 5,000 I think) So anyway.

What's new with you? Does anyone even come here anymore? Probably not. That's what I get for dropping out of the blogosphere. I basically have fallen into Facebook and can't get out. Mafia Wars and Breaking Bricks have been the death of creativity here. Mom and I went on vacation, and it rained, so I spent a week in the hotel making jewelry, so I've got a pretty good stock o'stuff built up. But as always, more, I need more.

And the day job makes my head explode one way or another every day. But I'm getting to the point where my head exploding is just another thing to check off on the to do list. "Okay, head exploded, check! Next!!" But at 5:01 it's all behind me.

And that's been the last couple weeks in a nutshell. I'll try to write more often.

2009-08-05T18:33:00.002-05:00

Mrs Cat is alive and well. She's crooked. Crooked as in looking at you sideways, but aside from that, she's cool. Eating well, using the litterbox (unlike some of the 'normal' cats).

She's going outside daily, strolling around, checking out bugs & birds and the general outside vibe. Last night I looked out the kitchen window, and she was sitting on the picnic table like the Sphinx, looking all around. I opened the back door and asked if she wanted in. She jumped off the picnic table, and trotted up the back steps into the house.

I'm glad I didn't have her put down. She's quite tenacious, and it's been interesting to watch her adapt to whatever happened to her.

2009-08-02T16:03:00.002-05:00

Fish tacos are all the rage now. Well, they've come to fast food outlets, anyway.

I like fish tacos, but they're not supposed to be FRIED. Grilled fish on a soft corn tortilla. With shredded cabbage. THAT is a fish taco. Not fried with 'crumbles' on a fried tortilla. Ack.

Of course, of all the grilled fish to pick from, my favorite is tuna.

Alas, I won't ever order one in public, for I can't order a Tuna Taco without smirking.

Some days I feel like I'm perpetually channeling a 12 year old boy.

2009-07-28T19:57:00.002-05:00

A couple years ago, prior to Obbie, this orange and white cat started coming by the house. She wasn't into being petted, but very much enjoyed the crunchies I left for her.

Two kittens showed up prior to me going to visit Oklahoma, and I think they were hers. She never owned up to them, though. She kept coming by for crunchies, but didn't stay long, then wouldn't come back for weeks. She was a passerby.

Last summer, she came and stayed, outside, and had kittens. I heard them before I saw them. One day, while I was sitting out back on the stoop, she brought me her kittens one at a time.
That's how I met Grunt, Sissy, Reggie and Fraidy. They all hung out as a big happy family, coming and going as they pleased. Except for Grunt, who I brought inside because he was tiny and scrawny, and just puny, and I was afraid he'd be snatched away by one of the big hawks that hang out around here. Poor Fraidy was very beautiful, but dumb as a box of rocks, and eventually ran out in front of a truck and got killed. He's buried behind the house.

This past winter, Mrs. Cat and the remaining kittens (now pretty grown) came in and stayed in. It was cold. They'd go out a little, but would scurry in when Obbie and I left for work, to find a warm place to sleep.

Time passed, everyone has been happily going in and out, and all was right with the world. On Thursday, when I got home from work, Mrs. Cat was sitting on the floor by my computer, curled into a ball, napping. I didn't think much of it. Later, she got up and went out in the hall. I heard thrashing around, and went to investigate. She was having a seizure. It was a terrible flashback to Pete back in January. She ran up the stairs, and fell back down all of them. It was horrible.
She curled up in a ball in the dining room, and didn't move. I went to work Friday thinking I was going to come home to take her to the vet to be put to sleep. When I got home, she was sitting up, and looked a little better. Ok. I thought we'd see what would happen. On Saturday, she looked about the same, so we left to go to Philly, making sure she had food and water if she wanted. I actually prayed that she'd die, so I wouldn't have to take her to be killed. When we got home on Sunday, she was gone. We searched everywhere for her. EVERYWHERE. I couldn't find her. I figured she'd gone someplace to die, and prepared myself to start looking for her body before the hot weather got really bad, and smell of death permeated my house.

Last night I was poking around in the laundry room, and there she was. Quite alive, and not really willing to come out of her hiding spot. She was either dying or healing. I didn't know which. I figured I'd find out soon.

Sure enough, tonight she was out here in the living room, laying on the floor. She can walk, but it's very very unsteady, with a definate tilt to the left. She went out to the kitchen and chowed down on a bunch of crunchies and water. The vet told me, when Pete stroked, that sometimes the cat will overcome it. Not be 100 percent, but recover from it.

Am I being cruel by letting her live? Am I just prolonging her agony? She's not crying or anything. She's just 'here'. What kind of life is she going to have? Or should I suck it up, and take this cat, who has done nothing but fight her whole life, to the vet for a shot to end her life?

2009-07-15T19:18:00.002-05:00

So hi. What's new? Not much here. The same old thing, pretty much. No shows coming up, so I'm just wasting time online. Doing 'research'. Yeah right.

I'm tired today. Work is amping up pretty good. Which I'm grateful for. Having not a whole lot to do leads to dumb web surfing, and that is not allowed. And while I'm not totally sure we are spied upon, I'm not totally sure we DON'T. Therefore I err on the side of caution. My etsy and ebay browsing takes place at home. And since some people couldn't stay off facebook and myspays, those are actually blocked. Which is fine with me. I hate myspays and I don't even think I have a space there anymore. Facebook, that's a different story. There's your place for time wasting. Even though I don't love them like I used to, I still spend stupid amounts of time there. So anyway, my internet surfing mostly takes place at home because I'm too paranoid, and lately too busy at work. I do check my emails rather obsessively, but I'm really positive there are other people there who do the same. Not mentioning any names.

Most of the forums I used to visit are either dead or should be. I check on a few once in awhile, only because I'm fond of some of the people. The jewelry forums I do check more than the regular chatty ones, for inspiration and general knowledge. They actually have merit, unlike the other ones, most of which are chock full of stupid commentary (not unlike this blog...) hatefulness and internet balls. (Meaning people talking big shit, who wouldn't ordinarily be like that in life) I'm just tired of the nasty comments I read on lots of forums. The ones run by local newspapers are notoriously rotten. I just can't get over how ignorant people are when they think they're anonymous. (HA, there's some irony, huh?)

And thats what I have for now. I should walk my mile and get it out of the way, maybe it'll wake me up a little too.

2009-07-12T18:50:00.006-05:00

We had two shows this weekend. Yesterday, was a full blown arts & crafts show during the Summer festival Obbie is a state worker, his paycheck is limbo, since the asshats haven't passed a budget yet. He needed to work as many hours as he could, so he helped me set up in the AM, then split to the car show to work that gig. I had a good day by myself, with plenty of customers, and LOTS of folks stopping by to chat and admire my stuff. Holy Cow! I sold the chain maille watch!! Geez Louise, I thought I'd never sell that thing!

Thunderstorms started blowing up around 2:00, with dire warnings and dark clouds. Obbie came over about 3:00 to help me tear down, and as soon as I got the car in position to load, it started to rain. We were both exhausted after all these, but went for dinner and a couple drinks anyway. I got home, and went to bed at 6:30.

This morning I was up at 4:30, and putzed around til 8:00, when we left to set up at small car show, which was thought to be a good idea, but really wasn't. Obbie helped set up, then was off to the big car show for a couple hours. I only spent $10 on the space, which was made back easily. There were lots of nice cars to see, and some good food. But sales were slow, and the wind kept blowing over the necklace boards. We left at 2:30, and came back here and relaxed.

As of right now, there are no shows on my schedule until September! SEPTEMBER?!!! Whatever am I going to do with my time? (clean the house, weed the garden, cut the grass, make more jewelry, go to the beach...there's a long list) After I get back from the Mom trip to the beach, it's going to be full tilt boogie for two and a half months. So I better enjoy it while I have it.

2009-07-06T20:42:00.002-05:00

Happy 6th of July!

We had a crap show on the 4th of July, which had much drama first thing in the am. To the point where Obbie was ready to just go home. The 'person in charge' (henceforth known as Tee Hee) was nowhere to be found when we finally got to the show on Saturday. After driving in circles looking for someone in charge (or with a clipboard) Obbie got out of the car and went off in search for Tee Hee on foot. When he found her, she informed him that our location had changed, since THE TUPPERWARE LADY pitched a fit the night before because SHE didn't like HER spot, so of course, Tee Hee gave her OURS. SHE wanted the end spot. So she giggled (hence Tee Hee) and said, "I guess that's okay with you right?" and then went on to inform Obbie that the other jewelry seller she put us next to COMPLAINED that we were their neighbors (whatthefuck?) So we had the spot that Tupperware didn't want, beside a jewelry seller, across from another jewelry seller, and Tupperware got her way. I then got the car stuck trying to get up the hill to our space. I was ready to just go home and write off the whole damn day. But we pressed on. Unloading the car and walking all five tubs AND the tent up the side of this hill because some asscrack couldn't move their vehicles (while that fat bitch Tupperware stood and watched) As the last tub was hauled out of the car, a big 80's Caddy came belching in and pulled BETWEEN my car and the other car....with about six inches to spare. WHAT THE FUCK! I yelled (classy) The caddy belonged to the king lion of the Lions Club some 86 year old fart who looked like Colonel Sanders.

We're setting up the tent, and Obbie says, "Do you want to go home?" Well hell no at that point, the damn tent was already up. Geez. So we continued setting up. The day wasn't a total loss, we did end up making our expenses back, and actually made some money, but it was damn hard.
My mother showed up at 2:45 with her old lady posse and wanted to hang and chat, but we were trying like hell to get out of there. I did sell a couple necklaces, and Obbie sold a bunch of rocks, but again, it was the hard way to make money.

Afterwards, we went to my best buddy from high school, and had dinner and talked shit for hours. Then I drove home (Obbie went to sleep as soon as I pulled onto 81) We got home about midnight, whereupon I crashed hard until the next day.

We went to an auction in Maryland and bought a whole bunch of assorted rocks. I spent more money than I should have, but that's auctions for you. I have no self control....

So it's back to work today. The PA in my office is out all week, so I'm all things to all people. One day of it, and I'm sick to death of it already. It's going to be a long week. Then Saturday, another show, this time in town, it'll take a hot 5 minutes to get there, and Sunday another show, at the other end of town, it'll take a hot 8 minutes to get there. So I'm allegedly making stuff right now. Or not. Wasting time again is more like it. I'm crabby and bloaty and feeling rather crappy, so I'm NOT making stuff tonight. I'll start again tomorrow.

Peas out.

2009-06-28T18:04:00.003-05:00

Dear Facebook-

I still love you, but the honeymoon is over.

Mob Wars, I love you, but thrill of making a billion dollars a day is over. You won't let me buy into another city until I go up rankings. Well that's nice, but I'm not badgering people to join my mob.

Mafia Wars, I love you too, but the people who fight me all the time, take my money, and damage my properties are pissing me off. I don't have any more people in my mafia because I'm not badgering people to join me.

The Hatchings, Easter eggs, numerous causes, drink requests, and endless other requests drive me insane. I ignore a fair number of them.

What Twilight character am I? What color crayon am I? What's my redneck name? Who give a rats ass, anyway, you dipshits that write a lot of these quizzes can't spell for shit. Dictionary. Look it up.

The people from high school who didn't deal with me then are now my 'friends' oh, cool.

I spend too much time on you just looking around. A quick hit after work, and maybe later in the evenings, but not like before.

I still love you though, but not as much.

Thanx

Love

Amy

PS-

2009-06-27T06:40:00.002-05:00

Obbie is working all day today at the car show, and I have an entire day to do anything I want.

Which is not entirely true.

The house is horrible. A pigsty of EPIC proportions. Since the kittens have taken over the place (they're everywhere) the whole house is their playground. I came home from work on Tuesday and there were newspapers scattered and shredded all over the living room, all the books and 'stuff' knocked off the side table, and a piece of pottery was broken. Not to mention the random poops and yakked up hairballs. It's like living in a frat house.

So I should clean today. And Obbie can't cut the grass of the whole yard at one time, so THAT needs done. I'm kind of weird about the grass. Half assed grass cutting pisses me off, I think I talked about that one time. And he REALLY half-asses it, and it looks like hell. If you want something done right, you do it yourself. Which I think is kind of unfair, even though I did take care of everything when I lived alone here, there's no reason I should have to do that now. Especially since there's more dishes to be done, more laundry needing washed and at least twice as much clutter that needs removed. I can count the number of times he's vacuumed since he's lived here. But vacuuming kicks up his allergies he says. Even though the bathroom is FULL of his prescriptions....oh now I'm turning this into bitching about Obbie. I'll stop that part now.

Between cleaning the house and cutting the grass, I'm not thinking there's going to be a bunch of ME time at all. I wanted to start a couple major bead projects (weaving not stringing) and get some other stuff ready for the shows in July (4th & 11th)

Yeah good luck with that.

2009-06-22T06:08:00.003-05:00

We're back from the beach.

Early.

The mornings were clear, but within an hour or so, it'd cloud up and rain. Screw that. It wasn't worth staying there one more day in the rain. The beaches were deserted because of the wind and rain.

We spent Saturday bar hopping, but that became old fast too. So here we are.

Friday was beautiful, of course. We went into Rehoboth and had dinner at Dogfish Head Brewery. I had a very good grilled tuna ceasar salad, and Obbie had a grilled salmon ceasar. The food made us happy. Too bad freaking yuppies don't know how to keep their kids in line. We had one crew behind us, with two smaller kids and a baby. Mommy and Daddy remained blissfully unaware while their kids jumped up and down in the booth. The folks behind Obbie had two small boys, who also spent the evening jumping up and down. Or running around the restaurant, while Mommy was glued to her I-phone and Daddy kept saying, "Now Cody don't do that." Blah. I think a letter should be sent to Dogfish Head suggesting that a cage should be installed in one corner of the restaurant so asshole parents and their raving kids can eat and not bother the rest of the guests.

Then we walked around town, had an ice cream cone and shopped a little. We went back to camp and decided that we'll just stay out of town from now on, away from the hoardes.

That decision was short lived, for on Saturday morning, after visiting the ever fantastic Lewes Farmers Market, we went back into town, and I reserved the room for Mom & I for the September vacation. She, of course, was as ungrateful as ever, and I didn't even get a thank you. I got a snotty comment about "Not knowing about reality" Excuse me, I'm more reality based than most people. And the more I think about it, the more annoyed I get. That's all I'm going to say about that, because I'm really irritated about the whole thing. Anyway. While we were there, it started POURING, and that was that. No beach on Saturday.

We went to the Pickled Pig Pub, and had great Bloody Marys, fish tacos and steamed mussels. After that, we went next door, where I bought some butt ugly Birkenstocks, which were clearance shoes, and cannot be returned. But, OMG are they ugly. Not to self, don't shop after two bloody marys. We went to a locals bar after that, and I had one beer and two seltzers. Obbie had a couple beers and handled over the car keys to me. We went back to camp, where, yes, it was raining again. The chairs had big pools of water in them, so with nothing else to do, I took to the tent for a nap. Obbie joined me later. And this was how the rest of the evening went.

Sunday we go up and it was beautiful, but then the clouds and rain and wind rolled in. We went to the beach to see what was up, and it was even colder and windier down there. The executive decision was made to come home. So we did. By way of Philadelphia. We visited LUSH only to find out that they're discontinuing our favorite shampoo bar, so we bought six of them. We then went to Marra's pizza on E. Passyunk Avenue, since 1927. Great pizza! Wood fired oven, crunchy crust...oh man! It's great. I highly recommend it. I can't wait until we go again!

So today I'm home. I was going in to work, but I think I'd rather stay home. Obbie's off too, so we're going to have coffee and pizza, and decide what's going to happen today.

2009-06-17T18:29:00.002-05:00

Have you missed me? I know I have.

Since we last chatted, I've done two shows. One even for two whole days.

It's been nuts. The art festival in Maryland was a whomping success. It helped that the weather was beautiful. Last year we almost died of heat stroke, this year we were under some trees, the sun was shining and it was lovely and cool. And the people shopped. Again.

Last weekend we had a two day show, locally. We made the expenses on the first day, the long and painful way, like a dollar at a time it seemed. The show was heading towards the Endangered Species list in a quick way. But Sunday was a complete turnaround. They came, they ate, they shopped. We got invites to two shows later this year. Very cool.

This weekend we're heading to the beach for an extended holiday. We deserve it. There will be beer drinking and cooking over the fire. There will be swimming in the ocean and sleeping in the new tent. I'll tell you all about it when we get back. Maybe with pictures. Whoot! Pictures!!

2009-05-25T07:06:00.004-05:00

Indulge me. I have things to grumble about.

Grumble Number One: Jon & Kate Plus 8. GO AWAY ALREADY. Jon, grow a spine, Kate, shut the fuck up. You're an attention whore, and while I'm not for anyone smacking anyone around, you need smacked. If Jon screwed around on you, no wonder. You're a nasty, nasty woman. You've made yourself into a media sensation, and now you hate it. Too bad. This quit being about your kids a long time ago. This is all about YOU and your quest for stardom. Karma's a bitch. I'm not alone in my judging of you, some of America is judging you. And apparently a fair number of them aren't quite happy with what they see. GO AWAY.

Grumble Number Two: Art. There's an art festival in The Big City this weekend. Artists from all over the country are here, displaying their wares. Art shows are a pain in the ass. There's a lot of hard work that goes into them, set up at the crack of dawn, sit for days smiling and talking to half interested people about your passion, listening to comments about whats good or bad about your work, watching people gasp at your prices, or hear the inevitable, "Oh I can do that!"

It's not easy. And to be successful, you have to get out there and do it. So our local newspaper, a sponsor of the art festival no less, ran a story in Sunday's paper about a local artist and her struggles with her art. She's edgy, she's not mainstream, and she makes very interesting, statement pieces. The article could have played up all this in a positive light. But no, the article had her speaking how she had recently been to a show in NYC, and how for the $50 admission, as was fed 'Crap' instead of a real meal. The jist of that was the fact that Central PA is actually a very art-friendly place. But the article comes across very negatively. The article touched on how the economy is hurting her as well, but again, that was lost (to me) in the negativity.

Back to the artists at the Art Festival, two of the three news channels and two local papers wrote about how the economy is affecting artists. They interviewed several who spoke at length about how they're hurting because of the economy. People simply don't have the disposable income to buy a $400 'architectural ring', no matter how beautiful it is. But they will buy the smaller priced items. So why does the media obsess on the "OH MY GOD NOBODY IS BUYING", but not saying "OH MY GOD NOBODY IS BUYING EXPENSIVE STUFF but boy are the shopping the hell out of the lower cost items"

I had the biggest show of my life last weekend. No kidding. Nothing on my booth is higher than $75. I keep my prices reasonable, because if I don't sell it, I don't get any money. The Beadwhisperer is supposed to be a money making operation. If I mark my stuff according to the 'wisdom' of the 'experts' online, I'd be hauling the same stuff around show after show after show. Being able to say I sold one bracelet for $25 does not seem as good (to me) as being able to say I sold eight of my bracelets for $18 each. So maybe making some less expensive things to sell isn't such a bad idea.
Again, it's my opinion. It's none of my business who sells what for how much, all I need to do is make and sell MY items, not anyone elses.

That's it for ranting. Thank you to all our veterans, and thank you to those who have given their all so we can be free. Thank you. I'm humbled and honored to know soldiers and sailors. Take time out from your picnics, races, cocktails, yard work today, and think of how and why we are able to do whatever we do here in America. Thank a veteran today.

2009-05-22T21:20:00.002-05:00

I took an order for a chain maille necklace at the garden show a couple weeks ago. It's blue byzantine, with drop beads woven in and out of it. My customer saw the bracelet and requested a necklace. She then said she'd get in touch with me. And she never did.

Until tonight.

Of course she still wants it.

So I better get going on it.

So I did.

I'm halfway finished with the chain part of it, which is a good thing. Tomorrow I'll finish the rest of it, and all the sparkly little beadies that the woman was so fond of. Then I'll take a picture of it and send it off for her approval.

Meanwhile, I have a cold, which annoys me greatly. I hadn't been sick all year long, and now I'm sick for the second time in a month. Yes, mom, I'm taking my cod liver oil pills.

I can't smell or taste (again) and that's rather annoying too.

This too shall pass. I have maille to make.

2009-05-18T19:32:00.002-05:00

So that reel mower I bought last year has languished in the dining room.

My evil gas powered mower is currently a POS. It needs tuned up, and last year (or two years ago) SOMEONE put a new blade on it, and it's not cut right since.

My persnickity Virgo nature kicks in with the grass. I abhor crooked lines, uncut areas, or just an overall sloppy job.

So tonight, Obbie was cutting the grass (poorly) and I just couldn't stand it anymore. I trotted out the super cool-green-hipster reel mower and thought I'd help. I have discovered the secret of the reel mower. YOU HAVE TO GO OVER THE SAME SPOT THREE OR MORE TIMES.

I got about a quarter of the yard cut. It actually looks pretty good, but I have a feeling I won't be able to raise my arms above my head tomorrow.

2009-05-17T20:11:00.002-05:00

We're back from the wine festival.

What a blast! Even though the US Weather Service was predicting all kinds of nasty weather, we lucked out with only scattered showers through out the day. The big bad storm, with lightning, thunder, high winds and torrential rains waited until after we were packed up and back at the hotel.

What a great day! People were drinking wine, dancing to the band, visting with friends, making new friends, and BUYING. Good gravy were they BUYING.

I started the day with seven large necklaces, and now there are two. TWO. Same with earrings, I started with thirty or so, there's a dozen left. I had six bird nests made, and now there are three, ditto on the chain maille anklets (with bells, dear Lord put bells on something, they'll sell)

And the next show is in two weeks. I guess I better get working, eh?

HOLY COW!! I BETTER GET WORKING!!

We stayed in the new Holiday Inn at Front Royal, VA. I highly recommend it. The rooms are great, and the staff is wonderful. There's a Houlihan's restaurant attached to the hotel. You know how I am about chain restaurants, but let me tell you, this one is GREAT. I recommend the 'three's company' dessert option, where you get three 'small' (ha!) desserts on one long tray.

I'm in love with Creme Brulee. I shall be Mrs. Creme Brulee. Oh. My. God.

Friday night, we went into Front Royal, and had dinner at a new place in town. The Lucky Star Lounge. Great beer list, very nice food, and live music every night. Check out their website, it's quite fun. If you're ever in Front Royal, I suggest the Lucky Star for dinner and drinks. Four Stars for the Lucky Star.

With that, I'm out of here. I think I'm going to be bed soon.

HOLY COW I BETTER GET WORKING!!

2009-05-13T18:58:00.002-05:00

So the fridge is dead. Well, maybe not dead, exactly, but in a coma.

The freezer will freeze, but the fridge part will not go under 40 degrees. The 'major system' is morte. So now we've got to save pennies for a new fridge. Dammit.

Here's today's thought:

Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic.

Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery - celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from - it’s where you take them to.

- Jim Jarmusch

2009-05-12T20:04:00.002-05:00

I'm cold. And bored. And not remotely interested in any of the projects I should be doing. All day I wish I was home, so I can do stuff, then I get here, and it's blaaaah....I don't wanna do anything.

Which is rather annoying.

Speaking of annoying, this old movie, "Tortilla Flats" is on. And it's really bloody annoying. But certain people are enjoying watching it, so until I go upstairs, I'm stuck with it. A really dumb plot and even worse accents. Steinbeck or not, I just don't like it.

The show last weekend in Hometown USA was pretty good. We sold lots of inexpensive stuff, which is good for the boof. This weekend is the Wine Festival in Front Royal, VA. Last year we had a good time, even though we were way off the beaten path. I believe the space we have this year is pretty good, in 'traffic', so I'm anticipating a fun day with lots of sales. I hope so, there's a hotel room to pay for and gas, plus a rather salty booth fee. But as I've said many times, craft shows are like gambling, sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. But playing is the fun part.

I have a plan for this one, so we'll see if it works. My market research indicates that people are spending money at craft shows. But not BIG money. They still want to purchase something, but they're not purchasing big ticket things. So, I shall entice them with reasonably priced, unique items. There's a method to the madness. At least I think so.

Speaking of spending money, the refrigerator decided it does not want to keep things frozen any more. The fridge part is cool, not cold. The freezer is cold, not freezing. So the repairman will be coming by tomorrow to see what is the matter with it. I'm afraid what it may be. Obbie will be here to greet him, and find out what the matter is. Let's hope it's a part and not a fridge. Not only the whole money aspect of buying a new one, but the whole hassle of getting rid of the old one, and getting the new one in. Not that I'd buy a brand new one, mind you, but the hassle remains. Again. Stay tuned.

So I joined Twitter, and started following different people I 'know'. Actually I joined to get all the Dead updates while they were East Coast touring, but now that they've moved on, I'm not finding many reasons to keep Tweets coming in on my phone. Facebook will have to do for 'microblogging' (another term I don't much care for.)

And with that, I'm going to bed. I'm cold.

2009-05-08T18:17:00.000-05:00

And here's the schedule until fall, when more are added:

May:

Mercersburg Home & Garden Festival - May 9th
Virginia Arts & Wine Festival - May 16th

June:

Middletown Fair June 13 & 14
Westminster, MD Arts in the Park June 6th

July:

Waynesboro, PA July 4th Jubilee July 4th
Carlisle, PA Summerfest July 11th

August:

Off for now

September:

Mount Holly Springs Holly Days September 19th
Mercersburg Townfest September 26th

October:

Thurmont Colorfest October 10 & 11th (Pending acceptance)
Dillsburg Farmers Fair October 17th

2009-05-03T13:33:00.004-05:00

Yes, I did go to the Dead show.

No, I did not have tickets.

Yes, from all reports, the show was fantastic.

No, I did not get in, and as a matter of fact I spent the better part of yesterday asleep. Asleep in the car, asleep in the hotel room. We went out to two cool places to eat, and while they were very cool, I was so medicated it was like having an out of body experience.

I cannot even begin to tell you how pissed off I am about this.

In lieu of a Dead show recap, tomorrow I may do the "Philly on Meds" recap aka "The Swine & Dine Flu, but not Dead Yet Trip"..

2009-04-30T20:15:00.003-05:00

Pardon while I get a little ranty.

I tried to get a friend to go with Obbie & I to Philly this weekend. It was all a big GO until her ex husband (who for some reason hangs out more now than he did when they were married) said some shitty thing about 'jerry being dead' and guess what? That was that. Now, my ''friend" has come up with three different ways to say, "No, I am not interested in going" without actually using the word NO.

Which leads me to her (and my) problem. If you don't want to, just tell me no. Don't use some bullshit excuse that you don't have any money (because I offered to pay for EVERYTHING as a birthday gift) or that you have a BIG EVENT at work next week, and need to work really hard to get ready for the event. (Guess what, I have two craft shows in next two consecutive weekends, AND I'm doing my day job too. Cry me a river about being busy with "a" big event.)

DO. NOT. BULLSHIT ME.

I am a big girl, and if you say "NO" then no it is. But be a fucking adult and just say the word. Don't use your passive aggressive bullshit with me. "NO" is a complete sentence. This fucking mealy mouthed shit annoys me HIGHLY. And also, do not log into Facebook and make the only entry in WEEKS saying some shit about 'being responsible isn't fun'. I know smoke and mirrors when I see it.

The reason I told you at the beginning of the week that this offer was good until Midnight on April 30th? Because I knew you'd punk out. I knew you would. Because you've done it to me in the past. I will not be inviting you to anything ever again. I will not invite you to visit us at craft shows, so you don't have to ever make up another bullshit excuse (I forgot) I will not invite you to the shore (sure, you didn't know your car was out of inspection until the day of the trip) and I will no longer invite you to meet us somewhere for drinks. Be miserable. Sit in your house and bemoan your fates to the universe. It's not my problem anymore, 'friend'. You can't be straight with me because you can't be straight with anyone......not even yourself. And THAT, I cannot help.

2009-04-26T17:34:00.002-05:00

The Dead show was a blast. I had forgotten how much fun the whole scene is. Yeah, yeah, SOME people say, "But Jerry's dead" to which I say, "Pigpen's dead, Keith's dead and Brent's dead, so what's your point?" Sure Jerry Garcia was THE man with the guitar, but being at a show is more than one guy and one guitar. It's about the thousands of people who are part of the scene. It's about the music. It's about that great feeling you get when you realize you're in the middle of something pretty cool. Obbie had never seen the Grateful Dead. He and I saw The Dead last Wednesday. He had such a great time. He was dancing and screaming right along with the rest of us 'Heads, like he'd been going to shows forever. So this "But Jerry's dead" shit no longer flies with me. Warren Haynes is one hell of a musician. He's not trying to be Jerry, or replace him in any way. He's singing. He's playing. He's having a good time. And he's sharing his abilities with us. And we thank him for it. Go Warren. You rock.

And that's it for now. I'm debating if we should go to Philly and see them on Saturday night. In the past, a Saturday night Grateful Dead show in Philadelphia has been a stellar-rock your world experience, and the boys always ripped the roof off the Spectrum. I'd like that to be the case on Saturday. Should we? Or just go to the beach. (I'm leaning towards the Dead, but what do I know, I'm a little biased, and Dead shows, Jerry or no, are like potato chips, you can't eat (or see) just one.)

2009-04-21T18:10:00.003-05:00

I don't believe in violence. I haven't hit anyone since the Good Friday Brawl of 1998 (I'll tell you about it someday) but sometimes, honest to God, there are people that just need smacked.
And smacked hard. Upside the head. While yelling, "What the hell is wrong with you?!!!!"

The list of such folks is a mile long this week. But I have highlights:

The lady parked next to me in the grocery store parking lot. She opened both car doors on the side facing me, and proceeded to load her groceries in a leisurely fashion. In the rain. "Smack"

The company who want fifteen different things coming from fifteen different points across the country to deliver on the same day. "Smack"

The State of Pennsylvania. "Smack" at least twice.

Limbaugh - "Smack" (And shut up, you blowhole)

The Government. All of them. "Smack"

Oh hell, then there's the 21 polo ponies!! Maaan. That's bad, bad, bad and very wrong.

I'm going to see The Dead tomorrow. Stay Tuned.

2009-04-19T05:47:00.003-05:00

The Beadwhisperer Event schedule will be finalized this week. I'll warn you, it's kind of nuts. We have two shows a month (except August, we're 'off') until fall, when the real madness starts. Heh.

I do not plan on getting sick again. It's not worth it! The day job gives me enough anxiety, the Beadwhisperer gig is the fun one. (Although, by God if I could make the same money doing beads as Day Jobbing, I'd be there in a hot minute, but that's a different story for a different economy.)

Please stand by.

2009-04-19T05:40:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was FINALLY a nice enough day to do some yardwork. Obbie and I made a cold frame for the multitudes of tomato and basil seedlings. I think I need another one, since I'm starting the peppers today.

2009-04-05T20:10:00.004-05:00

This is what I did last week. 23 inches long. 20 gauge, 1/8" Anodized Aluminum rings, with some nifty crackled glass beads, (the light blue) and some very vintage Czech glass (dark blue) I'd say it took about 7 hours to complete. Those are little rings, and that's a pretty dense Foxtail chain. I like it, but it's for sale.

2009-04-05T19:30:00.002-05:00

We had a little craft show thing on Saturday. Little - meaning 200 vendors and about 5,000 peeps.

We've done that show before, with little success. This time the space was better, and people actually knew we were there (imagine!!) The day was far, far better than the last time, and not only did we make a little money, we had some fun too.

Our neighbor was a doggie biscuit lady, but her doggy stuff was cool...petit fours, cupcakes, 'brownies' and bone shaped cookies-nice things that actually had personality! She was fun too, she got into baking dog treats because she's good at baking, but didn't want to jump thru the hoops that the gubbmint insists upon if you're feeding people (unless you're making baby formula in China or peanut butter...) She was very much enjoying herself, and it showed in her products. People really loved her stuff too, and she pretty much sold everything by the end of the day. Good for her!

The next stop on the Spring tour is in May at the Hometown. I'm wracking my brain to come up with something different from what we sell at the Fall Festival. The space is only 20 bucks, and twice as big. We're probably selling plants too, but not entirely. We'll see. I have three weeks to procrastinate it and a week to panic. Let's not get panicky too early, shall we?

2009-04-01T17:50:00.002-05:00

I'm supposed to be making stuff but I'm hanging around here looking at stuff online.

The internets ate my brain.

I'm off sugar this week. I'm supposed to be off sugar and bread, but alas, the beer and fries and tortilla last night kind of did THAT in. But no sugar for me is big.

But I can't NOT have my coffee. Keep your damn sugar, just let me have my coffee.

It's springy craft show season, so we're springily crafting, or at least supposed to. I decided after last week's fiasco that my stuff sucks and is boring, so it's revamp time. Rip things apart and re do them. Sometimes it works. Other times, you just rip stuff apart. Whatever happens, it's an useful exercise.

I'm off to rip stuff apart.

2009-03-30T19:40:00.002-05:00

You say you're supposed to post to a blog daily? Or at the very least weekly?
Oh. Sorry 'bout that.

There really hasn't been much to report. Craft show season started last weekend. It sucked, but we knew it would going into it. The church show, we love the folks there, and the food is good, but they don't buy anything (but dog biscuits) which is okay. We did manage to make booth back, which is always a plus, I guess.

I'm supposed to be making some new good stuff for the show this weekend, alas, I'm not being very good at that right now. But the cat litter is clean. Yay me.

Eh.

Groundhog sitting in my garden when I got home tonight. Fucker. Guess the porch guy didn't seal up the burrow, like he said he did. This year I might just shoot it. I'll probably feel bad, but let's see how much garden he decides he's going to eat. THEN I'll shoot him.

Again, eh. See? Told you I have nothing to report.

2009-03-14T17:35:00.002-05:00

Twas a nice Saturday. (yeah,I'll say Twas but not teh, go figure) We went to the farmers/flea market and found some guy selling books for fifty cents, had some good coffee, watched some equipment auction, wandered aimlessly, and oh, I ate a piece of chocolate covered bacon. I won't have to do that again. But at least I can say I tried it.

Then we went to a local gallery and wandered around that, and I met some neat bead ladies, and bought a couple beadies from them. And spent too much money, but it's art. Later we went to the Big K for new mini blinds (four dollars each is better than cleaning the ones I have) and stopped at the new bead store that opened without telling anyone earlier in the week. With their prices, I wouldn't tell anyone I'm open either. It's a nice store though, they've done a lot of work to make it purdy.

Now we're deciding what we'd like to do. Since C-lisle is a cultural wasteland for music, we're stuck for local ideas, for now.

2009-03-11T18:04:00.004-05:00

Teh-WTF?

So I've been seeing "Teh" around a lot lately on the interwebs. At first I thought it was a typo, then maybe lots of dyslexic folks post online. But it became apparent that it was not a typo. So I went to the handy Wikipedia to see if they could shed light on the subject. Or Teh subject.

Indeed:

".....In English, the can be used as an intensifier for the superlative form of adjectives; compare "that is best" and "that is the best". Teh has a similar use as an intensifier for unmodified adjectives, generally marking a sarcastic tone. For example, "that is teh lame" translates as "that is the lamest". This is similar to the use of the definite article el in Spanish. For example, "Soy el mejor" (I am the best) and "I am teh good". This contrasts with the use of the in English to construct mass nouns (substantives) from adjectives, as in "blessed are the meek", where the meek denotes a class of people who are meek. On the other hand, "blessed are teh humble" would refer to an intensified group or individual who is "the most humble"......"

Well. Who knew? I believe, however, that I'm not teh fond of this. I spent far too many nights with my Mom and flashcards to learn to spell the the proper way. My dyslexia got in the way of simple shit like THE and GIRL. Why? Who knows. Anyway, I think I won't be using it in everyday conversation.

I should go, the litter boxes are teh stinky.

2009-03-09T04:27:00.003-05:00

We spent the day near DC yesterday, at the much hyped DC BIG FLEA. I wasn't really sure what to expect. When something is advertised as a Big Flea, one would imagine there'd be the typical lots of flea market junque, with a smattering of antiques. Reverse that. Lots of antiques, which generally I don't have a problem with, and some flea stuff thrown in. Two very large buildings full. There was lots of cool stuff, the vintage rhinestones were out of hand, lots and lots of them. I do like the sparkly, shiny stuff, but most were pretty spendy. I did not bring home any rhinestone jewelry.

If I had wads of cash to fling about, I would have been in heaven. For there was LOTS of stuff to fling cash at, however, while I did take (for me) a generous amount of cash, there was minimal flinging. I did buy some overpriced glass beads, some bottle caps from Moxie soda (originals) a small baggie of shredded cash, and some neat little keys. They're all for the pendants I've been making. There were several vendors selling 'paper'-meaning all sorts of plates/prints from old books, old magazines, newspapers, that kind of thing, but I didn't see anything that I really wanted. We got there at 10:15, and wait until the doors opened at 11:00, did most of the first building until about 1:30 or so, had lunch at a close by BBQ place (not bad for 'chain' BBQ) and went back for more. By the time we reached the second building, it all started to look alike, and we were both ready to go. I did see something that made both Obbie & I stop in our tracks and laugh like fools:

The vendor had an original of the poster, and it was 150 bucks. We both thought posting on my bulletin board at work would be a capital idea, since some people get off on gossiping and sniping (oh get over yourself already, geez) Tweaking that person isn't really worth 150 bucks. But it's a suitable poster, since we are at war...

Anyway, we left without the "Squawk Squawk" poster, darn it, but I did find it online this morning, as a repro for $20. Now THATS worth it for the tweak. I'll mull it over awhile, and see how I feel about it later.

There are several more Big Fleas coming up in the next couple months. I don't think we were that impressed with this one to seek the others out. All the vendors were bitching too, most were reading, talking on the phone or doing Suduko puzzles, and I feel for them. I've been at shows like that before. And the ones I asked "How's it going" mostly said, "SLOW" I did talk to a few who were having a good time, but they were in the minority. I guess when people are as freaked out about the economy as they are now, their antique/junkque buying is one of the first things to go. One other thing I noticed was that this was a White Person's antique/junque sale. Any other time I've been to DC or the surrounds, it's always be been a great melange of all sorts of people of all colors, shapes and sizes. Not yesterday. It was very weird. Mostly middle aged women, with short, chic haircuts, and fitted vests, charging about looking tense. Followed by the wives towing their bored husbands, the serious collectors (with their paperboy bags slung across their bodies like their on junkque safari) and the various undefinable people like Obbie and myself. Another sign of the economy, I suppose, not many people willing to shell out ten bucks (nine with the coupon from the paper) to look at (and buy) other people's things. I questioned that myself, but hey, chalk it up to an experience.

2009-03-06T05:52:00.002-05:00

Here's a couple things I've been fiddling with.

This started last fall. I made the rings from 14 gauge copper, hammered them, then added all the doo-dads. There's some nifty glass beads from a very cool lady in the Midwest, some copper spirals, some crystals, and just bits and pieces that made me say Oh. Too bad the picture is out of focus. I'll fix that and put a better one up someday.

This pendant is just hours old. For some odd reason, I was up at 3:30 this morning, so I made this. It's an old stamp I found at a junk store (I have lots...ten for a quarter) Since it's about steel, I cut Pittsburgh out of an old atlas I have here, and used it as the back. I used silver black on the solder to give it a tougher appearance. And look! The hanging ring is on! Yay me. (Yay clamps and solder)
I cut the glass too, without hassle. Maybe I should get up at 3:30 more often.....or not.

2009-03-03T21:17:00.001-05:00

Like the new fish? I found them today, and thought they'd liven up the place a little bit. If you want them for your blog, just click on them, they'll take you there.

On Sunday, I tried to change the template, but every time I tried to view it, there was a blank space with a couple letters. Uh no. Made me nervous. So it's back to the drawing board again later. I'm throughly sick of this template, and I have found numerous places for new ones, it's just finding the right one.

I woke up very creative this morning. Lots of ideas went into my little book, and while driving into work, I was scribbling notes in the notebook in the car. I stopped at the craft store tonight on the way home, and bought a couple things for the ideas. Those damn glass ice cubes are killing me. I found tonight that they MAGNIFY whatever you put behind them. Hmmmm. The soldered pendant class I took (from my Aunt) last month has really helped, but I'm having a hellish time getting the jump ring soldered properly on top of the pendant. Right now there are 8 pendants with no way to connect them to anything because I'm lacking that one basic skill. It's VERY irritating. I'll keep trying though. It's only solder, a hot iron, and a damn ring for goodness sakes. It shouldn't be giving me such fits.

Don't tell the boss, but I almost turned around and came home this morning. I was feeling that creative. I just didn't want to waste all that juice sitting in the office typing and making files. Alas, this girl isn't dumb like she used to be, so I went to work. Mind you, I do have a piece of paper with doodles of what I want to make....What can I say?

With that, I have to go break up a cat squabble.

2009-03-01T17:09:00.003-05:00

Yesterday's beadworld cleaning led to cleaning out some of the kitchen cabinets. How many lids without bottoms or bottoms without lids does any person need? That little tirade resulted in a full recycling bin, AND a full trash bag. Take that. Now both crockpots, the foreman grill, three casserole dishes and all the metal bowls fit in the cupboards. I got to fold up and put away the Gawdawful stepstool that was in Obbie's apartment, and is gross as hell. (it's handy to get to things on the top shelf, but if it's up all the time, it becomes a collection zone)

Today I put all the metal beads and clasps in the little snap top containers that Obbie got me for Christmas two years ago. I'm still sorting but doing it in my poky little way.

I hear the rest of the East Coast is getting snow. We are not. The sky looks like it could snow, but we're not getting anything. Overnight we got about an inch (OHMYGODANINCHOFSNOW) which wasn't even shovel-worthy.

We watched The Dark Knight again last night, and Obbie was less than impressed. He slept thru most of it, and didn't understand it. Okay, whatever. I liked it and that's what matters.

I just came back from the Dollar Store. I forgot about all the crafty stuff they have there. I got glue sticks (because I can't find the one I thought I had) some cool glass things that look like ice cubes, but they're for plants. They scream "Make something with me!" and more flat glass marbles. I love the Dollar Store for stuff like that.

And that's that. This weekend I've seen the commerical for T-Mobile and phone calling butt many times, but it amuses me. But none of the hateful McDonalds talking Filet-O-Fish sandwich commericals. I really hate that one. And it sticks in my head. Bah!!

2009-02-28T16:44:00.002-05:00

I finally watched The Dark Knight last night. Oh, it was dark to say the least, but I very much enjoyed it. Yes, Heath Ledger was pretty awesome. I was concerned I'd be missing something by not seeing the previous Batman, but happily, it was just fine. Target has it on sale for ten bucks, so I might have to trekking down there later and get a copy. Just because.

In other news, I'm in the process of cleaning out Beadworld I. HOLE-LEE CRAP. I forgot I bought most of this stuff. Which is kind of shameful, considering the amount of beads I've found. And we won't even get into the whole 'inventory' end of it. No comment there. But it's like Christmas all over again. Last summer I bought this drawer thing which is metal pipes and colored plastic drawers. Beads are in the drawers that closest match their color. Blue, purple, red, orange and green. So I've been just chucking the bead strands into the drawers. I do have a whole different area for metal beads, it used to be a small cigar box (I like cigar boxes) but the metal bead accumulation has outgrown that, and will be transferred to something bigger. And this is just Beadworld I. Beadworld II is the rest of the living room, which is my workbench, and the coffee table. There is a lot of freakin' stuff. Add to that, two four drawer rubbermaid cabinets full of stuff, two plastic tubs of stuff, and various and sundry shoeboxes full of stuff.

With that being said, I could almost made an entire year's worth of stuff without buying a single bead.

'Scoff', yeah like I would do that....HA

Stay tuned. Maybe there will be pictures after the madness is organized.

2009-02-25T18:50:00.002-05:00

It was a good mail day. New shoes and a book from Amazon. I'm still deciding if the shoes fit right, or if they should go back. Some funky maryjanes from Teva. They're really cool, but a tad too big. I'm debating.

The book is about finding your creativity. Actually we are all creative, it's just a matter of acknowledging it and letting it do it's thing. That's what I'm working on.

After I posted the last time, I did finish the chain maille bracelet, and started working a little more on this other seedy beady piece.

Work today was exhausting. We are shipping some equipment to the mideast,and there are TONS of regs and stipulations, and reams of reading material. All the while doing the other things that come my way. It's interesting to say the least. Exhausting, but interesting. Of course, if I'd complain less and keep my opinions to myself, it might not be as exhausting. But fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly, and I've got to complain. Or explode into a big mass of tie dyed beaded technicolor goo.

I'll leave you with THAT visual. Ta!

2009-02-24T18:52:00.002-05:00

Hi, it's me. I'm procrastinating. I have stuff to do, but I really don't feel like doing them. Pretzel logic says all day at work I HAVE to do all these things, and when I'm home, I don't HAVE to do anything. Nobody will yell at me or send the company teetering on the edge of disaster if I don't clean the litter boxes. The worst thing that'll happen will be a pile of poop in the bedroom as a friendly reminder.

So here I am, surfing, reading blogs, and making the usual running commentary at the news. I have all kinds of things I SHOULD be doing, like the aforementioned cat boxes, some chain maille, some seed beading, and a few pendants. But I'd prefer not to do any of it right now.

So there.

2009-02-23T06:04:00.002-05:00

Hello! There's really nothing of note going on right now. At least at this very minute.

My latest complaint is people who wear pajama bottoms and slippers out in the world. How lazy are you that you can't even put on a pair of jeans and sneakers? In a tacky world, that's at the top of my list right now. I don't care how 'cute' the pajamas are, they're still pajamas. They're for lounging around the house or being in bed. It makes it even worse when they LOOK like you've been wearing them for a couple days. Yuck.

The more I see the trend the more I hate it. Bunch of damn slobs.

Get off my lawn you damn kids!!

(and a pox on the new furnace guys (hired by my landlady) who badmouthed the previous furnace guy.. he serviced the furnace for years and it never shut off randomly-this is twice now I've woken to a freezing house, and oil in the tank but no running furnace. What is up with that, douchebags?)

2009-02-13T20:38:00.002-05:00

It's just Friday, and I'm quite happy about that.

Nothing more has been thrown out. Nothing has been brought in either. Although I did put two pair of great shoes in my shopping cart at Amazon today, but bailed before I completed the sale. If I still desire them on Monday, I'll just buy the damn things.

I'm also planning on getting rid of this gawdawful template. I can't stand it anymore. I'm bored to tears with it. Stay tuned.

We're going to DC tomorrow. Nothing says I Love You like a trip to the Smithsonian. No really.

And I finally got my hair cut. Really REALLY cut. The bangs were down to my nose, now they're not even an inch long. Spike me baby. Now I should change the color some more just to mix things up a bit.

That's it Fort Pitt.

2009-02-11T05:48:00.002-05:00

I've been throwing things out.

Yes, me. The queen Packrat. It's kind of liberating. I have accumulated so much stuff here since Obbie moved in (I'll blame him) and I just have no space. It's a sobering thought not to have any more space in an eight room farmhouse.

So I'm giving away a massive amount of books to the library. Mom and I buy at least four books a year when we go to the beach. Thats not mentioning all the other books I've gotten during the rest of the year. Some are worth keeping to read again, or for reference, most are not. So they're going to the library for their book sale. Last month we took an overflowing box to them, and this month we'll do the same. It makes me feel good to give them to someone who might put them to good use AND NOT THROW THEM IN THE TRASH. (trashing books...the HORROR)

Monday, I cleaned out the shelves (I could reach) in the bathroom. Another fine feature of this old house is the built in shelves in the bath. They go clear up to the ceiling, and are quite deep. One shelf is all towels, nicely folded and stacked, one shelf is Obbie's stuff, one is cleaning supplies, and the other two are full of 'sundries'. Which have gotten out of control. Eight year old bottles of lotion (trash) half full travel size bottles of shampoo and lotion, you know, that kind of thing. Trash a roonie, baby. Also stinky bath gifts that I have never used and never will. (It amuses me that when people don't know what else to get as a gift, they give the gift of bath products) and for the record, most of the commerically available gifty bath products make me itch.
So there. It's trash.

Every day this week, I'm throwing out one more bag of stuff from one more room. Could be a full size trash bag, or it could be a plastic grocery sack, but whatever the vessel, it's containing something that I haven't used, apparently don't need, and certainly do not want. Begone with the clutter.

Damn!

2009-02-09T18:35:00.006-05:00

***POOF***

So how was YOUR Monday??

Not new but cool

2009-02-08T17:45:00.008-05:00

These are flat backed marbles from a flea market find. I coiled the copper wire for fringe. (I hate making fringe with beads) I also made the earwires.

A copper/turquoise bracelet inspired by the "Bead on a Wire' book. It got sold even though it was not for sale. I was playing around with it at a show, and a lady had to have it. Who am I to argue with that?

Back to basics. Square stitch earrings were one of the first things I learned to make. I had gotten some blue lined clear seed beads in a bead swap, and they just came together as these. The glass bubbles on the fringe were just for fun. Handmade sterling earwires. Again, they're sold. A pre-teen girl (or as Obbie would say, "A tween") had to have them. She was working a booth with her family, and she brought her dad to see them. He promised he'd buy them for her if she worked hard that day. Apparently she did, as he came back for them later. I'd never say 'tween' seriously, because I think my head would implode.

Grunt

2009-02-08T17:34:00.000-05:00

Hi

2009-02-07T20:26:00.002-05:00

I'm back.

Mostly.

We're out of oil, again. The 100 gallons didn't last the month. They'll deliver more on Thursday.
At least it's not -2 anymore. We're just keeping the kero heater going, it's fine for now.

I'm trying to drag myself out of my funk. It sucks here in the hole. But I think I can see the way out. At least I think that light is the way out. I hope so, because I'm heading there.

I have to start making stuff again, as crap show season is a month away. There is a lot of uncertainty, but my arty friends tell me that it's going to be okay. We'll see. We've decided to just keep the overhead costs down, and keep doing what we've been doing.

And that's about it. My Mom says I should get a new haircut I'll feel better. A new haircut and a winning Lotto ticket maybe. But hey, I'm game for just about anything at this point.

2009-02-03T20:05:00.002-05:00

The animal hospital called tonight. Pete's 'cremains' are there and ready to be picked up. At my convienence.

Oh. Thanks.

And they sent a sympathy card yesterday. Signed by the staff.

Rip my heart open again, why don't you.

It's a nice gesture, but still it hurts.

But then again, it still hurts when I see my Dad's Pitt sweatshirt in the drawer. Or when I see his handwriting on a note on my fridge.

I'm tired of hurting.

I'm tired of being bored too. That's another thing that is bothering me. I'm bored. At work, I do my job, but I'm bored. I come home, and I'm surrounded by all my art supplies, I could make nearly anything I want, but I'm bored. I get online, surf around, and I'm bored. Some of the bloggers I read regularly are boring me. Some of the forums I visit really bore me. I don't quite know what to do with all this.

Hurt and bored. That's no way to go thru life.

Meh

2009-02-02T19:10:00.001-05:00

I really have nothing of interest to report. January ended badly, and February has sneaked up on me. I'm not the happiest of campers right now. Sooner or later this funk will break and I'll get back to being me again.

I just wish it'd hurry up.

2009-01-27T21:13:00.001-05:00

Pete the Cat was put to sleep tonight.

He suffered another seizure this morning, and we went to the vet. Who told me that Pete's heart murmur is probably the cause of the strokes, and there wasn't much to do. We left and came home.

When I got home tonight, Pete fell over and dragged himself across the floor, totally paralyzed on one side. We rushed him to the vet, who said that the best thing to do was to put him to sleep.

And now he sleeps.

I miss my big chill orange buddy already.

2009-01-25T21:09:00.002-05:00

Stolen from Kid:

Four places that I go to over and over:

Work
Giant
AC Moore
Michaels

Four people who e-mail me (regularly):

Mom
Obbie
Stevil
Potter

Four of my favorite places to eat:

N Hanover Grill
Amy's Thai
Red Hot and Blue
The Diner

Four places I would rather be right now:
The Beach (any beach)
A pub
the mountains
on the couch (Obbie's there)

Four TV shows I watch over and over:
CSI
Antiques Roadshow (Hope springs eternal)
iCarly (ssh!!)
MASH

Four unusual things in the room I’m in:
all the cats
a box of solder & stained glass supplies
me
three different bottles of water (why I say?)

Four concerts I’ve been to:
Grateful Dead
Bonnie Raitt
Bob Dylan
Dave Matthews

Four things on my calendar:
Craft shows

Four fears:
Mom becoming senile but healthy
me becoming senile but healthy
spiders
getting fired

Four unusual things in my purse or wallet:
winchester buck knife
small flashlight
handful of rocks
foil from some candies

Four chores I hate doing:
I hate doing all of them, come see my house

Four favorite animals:
cats
horses
goats
chickens

Four speed dials on my cell phone:
obbie
stevil
mom
glitter wench

Four places I have called home:
mercersburg
harrisburg
mechanicsburg
carlisle

Four websites (not blogs) I visit:
etsy
artfire
deviantart
cnn.com

Four people who have been in my car:
obbie
stevil
jerry
Mom

Four things I am wearing:
jeans
socks
sparkly gray thermal shirt
slippers

Four things I am looking forward to:
Friday
Payday
The first craft show of the year
lunch tomorrow

Four favorite types of candy:
dark chocolate kisses
Zero bar
skittles
gummy bears

Four sports teams you like:
Steelers
Phillies
Stewart/Haas Racing (Tony's new team)

Four things found in your fridge:
bleu cheese
salad in a sack
leftover meatloaf
feta cheese

Four rituals (not just a task) you do every day:
check email
check facebook
read newspaper
check etsy

Four things currently within reach:
water bottle
John Doe (sitting on my lap)
beads
coffee cup

Four things you know how to cook (not bake or grill):
soup (from scratch)
lasagne
real mac and cheese
killer omelets

2009-01-25T19:45:00.002-05:00

This has been an odd weekend.

Which ends an odd week.

Since Wednesday, Pete the Cat has not been 'right'. He's been hiding, looking ill, sleeping more than usual, and just generally giving me all indications that he's about ready to take a trip to the Rainbow Bridge. I've resigned myself to the fact that he'll be going to the vet for The Shot very soon. After laying in the cat tower all day, he met me in the kitchen tonight, with his tail held high, chirping and asking for treats.

WTF cat?!! He's still going to the vet this week, but I imagine he'll be coming home with me. I don't know what to make of all this.

Yesterday we walked around two local antique malls. I spent three whole bucks on some neat stamps (postage) to use in my newest projects. There wasn't a lot of cool stuff to be had, even if we had the money. After that, we came home and just vegged. Obbie has the whole weekend off, which is still a relative oddity. At least for now.

Today I did three loads of laundry (all my clothes from last week, plus the comforter cover, towels and sheets) Baked cookies for a friend. (I promised him Christmas cookies, and never followed through, so I felt bad) and made meatloaf muffins and roasted veggies for dinner. The meatloaf muffins are really yummy, and are great for lunches during the week. Plus I managed a nap.

Alas, I did nothing jewelry related, except move some applications around on my desk. I'll have to start working on stuff this week, to avoid the inevitable panic attacks that precede craft shows. There are also a couple special projects that look good on paper that I need to make real, to enter in two contests. More on those later.

Aside from Pete the Cat's drama, I guess it hasn't been that odd of a weekend.

2009-01-19T05:28:00.002-05:00

It was good of the Steelers to show up and play their game last night.

The Eagles, not so much.

Same as it ever was, I guess.

Now that we're over THAT, it's time to move on.

Two craft show apps approved and back, the check has been cashed for the third, so that can be considered approved as well. I got another in my email this morning.

I made a couple pendants yesterday, but one I'm not happy with at all, and the second I didn't get it totally completed. The jump ring needs soldered on, but it reduced me to yelling and carrying on yesterday. So I put it all away. I needed to save my yelling and carrying on for football.

Anyway. It' Monday. Yay.

Randumb

2009-01-16T20:32:00.002-05:00

I hate this time of year. All the colors are the same. Stinking cold colors. Gray. White. Drab and cold. Hate it. Almost all the Christmas lights have been taken down, so there's no spark of random color in the night. Hate it.

The furnace is happily chugging along. Oil has gone up 25 cents since I got it a month ago. I'm sure there's a logical explanation. Riiiight.

COLD COLD COLD. Not as cold as Wisconsin (-25) but cold enough (11) Eff this. Is it spring yet?

Three craft show applications approved, and spaces have been assigned. Yikes. I better get to work.

Seed catalogues- They're such teases. It almost is painful to read them. Bright & shiny with promise of warm summer days and bounty beyond compare. Right now, I'd even be happy pulling weeds.

That's all for now.

2009-01-13T20:22:00.002-05:00

Ninety five dollars. Times two.

Plus six dollars and twenty five cents. Times two.

Plus eight dollars.

What is that? Bout what, $216?

That, my friends, is the price of two 'Dead' tickets.

That is also a little less than 100 gallons of fuel oil.

Half that would be groceries for the month.

A trip to the beach. With a hotel room.

Gas for the car for two months maybe?

Guess what, we are not going to see The Dead. Unless the tickets are free.

And maybe not even then.

Greedy bastards.

2009-01-12T05:59:00.002-05:00

Happy Monday.

The fuel oil ran out overnight.

But of course.

Delivery....Thursday?

Yes indeed.

Still not impressed.

2009-01-11T17:45:00.003-05:00

I didn't get out of my PJ's yesterday.

Because I didn't have to. I only played Florence Nightshade to Obbie's sickyboy and played around online. I did manage to whip up a really nice chicken 'fried' rice from all the leftovers in the fridge.

But I was grossing myself out by last night.

So today I showered, dressed and got actually presentable. Cleaned cat boxes, took out the trash, rearranged the craft show tubs in the hallway (just so we can get by them without knocking them down, I can't put them away away, because the 2009 show season starts in March) and started a bead project.

So here it is, Sunday night. Back to the daily grind tomorrow. At least I'll be getting my car back soon.

No other episodes of weirdness from Pete the Cat.

And thats it.

Really.

(Go Steelers)

2009-Must you be so trying?

2009-01-10T07:33:00.003-05:00

It's the 10th day of the new year.

And I can't say that I'm impressed.

Last Sunday I discovered the car was leaking coolant. Bah I say, it's a leak in the radiator. Off I went to Auto Zone, bought coolant and anti-leak stuff. As I was checking out, the nice man said he'd not recommend the anti leak stuff, as he's seen it do bad things to car's heating systems. ORLY I say. But purchased it anyway. But it got me thinking.

So on Monday I call the garage and 'splain the situation. The garage guy said the stop leak stuff would fix it, but how about I bring it down just to make sure it's not a hose or something.

As it turns out, 'or something' has now set me back a substantial sum of money. (Which I don't have of course) The water pump went out, and to get to the water pump, one removes the timing belt, which is apparently a beotch to remove, so they replaced THAT and the thermostat and various gaskets as well.

Oh.

I trust my mechanics. They've been keeping my Volvos alive for many, many years now.

The car is still at the garage, because I've been spending money like a drunken sailor on other stuff (silly things like bills) and I don't feel like draining all three of my meager bank accounts to retrieve it. Especially since Obbie's car is perfectly fine (now that the brakes have FINALLY been replaced)

At least I still have the receipt for the stop leak junk and can take that back. Hey five bucks is five bucks, right?

Anyway.

Obbie's got a miserable cold, which is entering the third big day. He hasn't done much of anything besides eat and sleep and honk. He was off work yesterday, and spent the day napping and honking and drinking tea. He says it's "NOT THE FLU" because he got a flu shot. (Although I've been having a fine time teasing him, 'do you want me to get the Tylenol cold and flu stuff? Never mind, you had a flu shot, I'll just get Tylenol Cold") At least he's got a sense of humor still.

Here's the freaky scary thing that happened.

Last night Obbie went to bed, and I'm down here. The cats are all sleeping in their various places. Pete cat comes strolling in to the living room. Sits down and starts grooming himself. He looks up like there's a fly buzzing around the room. Faster and faster he's turning his head all around like someone is spinning something around him. He gets up, and walks to behind the cat tower, still 'looking' for the fly, his eyes are huge, and he starts going in circles. His tail is puffed up to epic proportions, and then he kind of falls over. At this point, I'm down on my knees beside him petting him, and he's just looking at me like, Who are you lady? I run upstairs and wake up Obbie, and change into shoes and jeans, when I get back downstairs, Pete is standing up looking at me like "WTF?" and purring. He walks over to me looking a little weirded out, but fine. Obbie started petting him, and he was being Pete, smiling and loving the attention. Obbie went back to bed, and since I was only just a little freaked out (only a little, cough cough) I took my blanket and pillow and came downstairs. Pete jumped up on me and we all went to sleep.

At some point I went to bed, and when I came down this morning, Pete was first in line for breakfast, and acting like nothing happened last night.

I did a search for cat seizures this morning, it could be a number of things or it could be nothing. A lot of folks wrote on a cat forum that similar things had happened to them, and they rushed to the vet, and many, many dollars later the vet told them the cat had nothing unusual in their blood tests, and to monitor them. They also prescribe phenobarbitol to the kitties to keep the seizures in check.

Well. I think for now we'll monitor the Pete for any other weirdness. The last time he had to go to the vet it was in the neighborhood of $800 (or more) for that little problem. And as much as I love my cats, I can't really swing that kind of money.

I wonder if vets read these forums online. I wonder if they realize that lots of people simply cannot afford to shell out huge amounts of money, even though they love their animals very much. I wonder if they care that many people are foregoing vet care altogether because they simply cannot afford everything. The rescue people are on TV once a week now, wringing their hands about people just dumping their animals because they can't afford them anymore. Don't you think that vets should look into their fees and perhaps modify things so people can afford to take care of their animals? Or just because you can't afford a hundred bucks to walk into a vet clinic, you don't deserve to own pets?

Yep. Happy New Year to you too.

Oh, and Amy who commented but left no email link in the comments. Thanks but not thanks. My blog has been ad free for it's entire life, and I plan on keeping it that way.

WHOT?!

2009-01-07T20:02:00.003-05:00

The Dead are going to start touring again for a short Spring thing.

Holy crap.

Obbie's more excited than me, and he's never ever been. Show number two on the tour is in his home town.

Holy crap.

We're going. Come hell or high water.

I figure it'll either make me very, very happy or make me even more of a cranky curmudgeon.

Holy crap.

Better start getting in shape for four hours of dancing. Wheee!!

Holy crap.

2009-01-02T08:35:00.003-05:00

New Year's Eve was just fine. We went to the family friend's house, ate good food, drank a little beer, talked A LOT, and just generally had a good time.

Yesterday I didn't do a whole lot. I roasted a pork loin and added saurkraut at the end, and served it over mashed potatoes. The meal was pretty good. Too bad Penn State didn't bother to show up for the first half of their game last night. At least I don't bleed blue & white like some people around here.

I'm home again today, which is good and bad. Good because I'm home and there are all kinds of things I could do. Bad because I'm using the last vacation day until MAY. Oh well. Let's hope I don't get sick, or nobody I love gets sick or I'll be taking off days without pay. I have a job, which is more than some people can say. So there is no bitching.

I don't know what I'm going to do today. Obbie goes to the P/T job at 2:00, so I've got the whole evening for doing whatever. I might do some beading. Or some chain maille. Maybe this year I'll promise myself that I'll make a piece a week. Some people are making a piece a day, but since I favor the more intricate pieces, I'm not going to do that to myself. I think the people who do the 'one piece a day' thing don't have day jobs, and make jewelry for a living. I still don't think I want to do that yet.

Yesterday I found some cool ribbon and paper at Target in the dollar aisle. It's really neat, even though I don't know exactly WHAT I'm going to do with them yet, but they are cool. Maybe I can use them with some of the 300 microscope slides I have. (Yes, 300....) Stay tuned for that.

Obbie got two small sample bags of Starbucks coffee for Christmas. I have to say that I am NOT impressed with Starbucks coffee. For the money, I'd rather buy coffee from the nice lady at the farmer's market.

I guess every blog has their New Year's resolution list posted this week. Mine (in no particular order) are as follows:

(1) Lose weight (as always)
(2) Clean the cat boxes weekly instead of bi-weekly.
(3) Be kinder to people. Regardless of how stupid they are acting.
(4) Not worry so much about my work. Leave it there. It's not worth another trip to the ER.
(5) Care less about what people think (or say) about me.
(6) Stop saying the F-word so much.
(7) Create more, and be less constricted in my creative thinking.
(8) Don't be so afraid of change.
(9) Spend more time with my Mom.
(10) Exercise 4x a week & take better care of myself-a pot of coffee is not a substitute for sleep.
(11) Turn off the TV and listen to more music.
(12) Read more books that DON'T relate to jewelry.

I'll stop at 12. I like that number. I'm sure if I think about it, I could come up with more, but I don't like saying things I can't follow through with.

And that's it for today. Take care!

Umm, Brr

2008-12-31T18:48:00.002-05:00

We were going out tonight. "First night Carlisle" They are going to have multiple (alcohol free) venues in town with music, dance, theatre, ice carving, magic, and they're going to drop a car. "Drop a car?" you say.

Oh yes, here in Pennsyltucky, we are fond of dropping all SORTS of things on New Years Eve. Here they are dropping a car (CAR lisle-get it? Town of CAR shows-get it?) In the big city across the river, they're dropping a giant strawberry (I still don't get that), up the road the small town of Mechanicsburg is dropping a wrench (Mechanics-burg-wrench-ha) There's a red rose and a white rose, a giant Hershey Kiss (In Hershey of course) , a big bologna (12 feet long, 150 pounds), a goat (not alive, silly), A giant screw (don't think we haven't had fun making wise about THAT), a cow, a dill pickle (Dillsburg), and a giant spring.

Google it. Seriously. It's all true.

The wind chill is about 5 degrees. All the outside cats were hurling themselves against the doors and howling. Poor babies. They're all inside now, bad manners and all. I've already locked up the catnip so they don't get really radical when we're not here.

We have tickets to go to the big show in town, but the prospect of standing around waiting for a car to drop from a crane loses any appeal it had when it's five degrees. So instead, Obbie and I are going to our friend's house, have some good food (I made a caramel pecan cheesecake) a couple drinks and will be home early.

Whatever you drop, have a good time tonight, and be safe.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Kennedy Center Honors

2008-12-31T05:53:00.002-05:00

I'm not one for awards shows, but when I found out Roger Daltry & Pete Townshend were being honored, I had to watch. I don' t think Rob Thomas has the strong vocals to do this song justice, but DAMMIT they killed me at the end. Good job.

Veg-O-Matic

2008-12-28T15:17:00.002-05:00

The cleaning fell by the wayside yesterday. We went out to do errands, but ended up at a local bar, drinking beer. Which led to more beer drinking, cheese fry and cheeseburger eating.

Lightweights that we are, I ended up in bed by 8:30 (this all transpired in the afternoon) And no cleaning took place.

Oh well. Tomorrow is another day. We're just laying around today, being a proper Sunday veg out day. Obbie is under the weather, and I'm just here. Which isn't a bad way to be, given how punky I was feeling last week.

Oh crap. Back to work tomorrow. Repeat after me, it's good to have a job in this economy. It's good to have a job in this economy.

You're damn skippy. Now I'm going back to vegging on the couch.

And then it was done

2008-12-27T10:07:00.004-05:00

Thank goodness. Don't get me wrong, I like Christmas all right. But it's just tiring. All the running and stepping and fetching and stressing is just a little much for me. My mystery ailment has pretty much gone away, for which I'm VERY grateful. The house is just completely hosed. Filthy, full of stuff....wrapping paper, plastic bags, boxes, bit and pieces...just STUFF. Obbie is allegedly cleaning, but he keeps getting distracted by things he's found, and very little cleaning is being done. Of course, I'm not helping much by surfing around, getting caught up on my internet reading.

The cats got me a new, big toolbox for all my chain maille stuff. But I might put beads in it. Beadworld is a whole 'nother mess that's taken over at least half of my living room. When I'm in 'create' mode, I just pull strands, and components and don't put them back. To say it's in disarray would be an understatement. Hosed is probably closer to the truth. Then there's the workbench, which is so full of stuff, there's no place to work. Nobody ever said the creative process was pretty.

So that's what I've got to do today. Rearrange my universe a little bit, so it's not so noisy. Maybe later I'll vacuum. MAYBE.

And the package I sent to Canada, FED EX is not getting there until 12/30. Which really, REALLY pisses me off!! It sat in in the Fed Ex box for TWO DAYS until it was picked up. What the hell?!?!! I guess it was too hard for the Fed Ex person to stop at all the boxes. I'm mad, because I wanted my secret santa to get it sooner than later, which is apparently not going to be the case. Bass turds.

And thanks to Blogger for finally removing that annoying box at the bottom that I had to type and retype the codes to publish. I TOLD you I'm not spam! Not high in intellectual content, but not spam.

I hope everyone's Christmas has been wonderful, enjoy your weekend!

Secret Santa

2008-12-24T06:16:00.004-05:00

The Secret Santa gift was mailed (FED EXED) earlier this week. Thank goodness! It turned out nicely, I think. I'm working on one in gold next. Just because.

Now I only have six kinds of cookies to bake, gifts to wrap, and a little more shopping!

MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIENDS!!

Whew

2008-12-21T16:21:00.005-05:00

I'm back. I'm not 100%, but I'm back. Damn did I feel shitty. Beyond shitty. Whatever that is, I was.

After work on Thursday and Friday, I fell asleep on the couch by 8:00 each night, and slept until morning. Yesterday I slept in til 7:00 (a late morning for me) and dragged around like a wet dishrag all day. We did do some Christmas things, but I just was weak and felt like I was standing outside my body watching things happen all day. There are a couple stories from yesterday, but I'll get to them at another time.

We came home and took naps, then ordered pizza and watched "Holiday Inn". Obbie went upstairs after the movie, and I stretched out on the couch for more down time. Eventually I went upstairs and slept clear thru until 7:30 (oh yes, the cats were freaking out) This morning I woke up with no dizziness, not much aching and I felt TONS stronger than yesterday.

So today, I've finished, wrapped and packaged for sending, the secret Santa gift, made six dozen (SIX DOZEN, PEOPLE) White chocolate-cranberry-oatmeal cookies, and made several trips to finish some shopping. As soon as the last batch of cookies comes out, I'll be putting in a pork roast to make pulled pork, biscuits and cole slaw for dinner. I better be careful I don't hit that wall again.

Obbie has busied himself with making like Clark Griswold for the front porch, when it's done, there will be photos. It's QUITE a production. I'm not allowed to help, hence the cookies. That's okay, I don't mind.

And there you have it. I'm back! YAY!

Missing: Mojo

2008-12-17T18:59:00.001-05:00

Oh Lord. I'm just a mess right now.

Everything I touch is going to crap. I ruined the aforementioned Secret Santa thing, and haven't had the gut to start it again.

The Christmas cookies haven't even been started.

The day job is just draining me. I'm so grateful for having a job in the first place, and I'm trying so hard there but it feels like I'm up against the gossips and snitches all day long. I shouldn't be letting them bother me, but it's a distraction I do not need. It's hard.

And I feel like hell. Yesterday I felt like I was going to pass out all day, now today's ailment is a sinus headache from hell. I just want to go to bed and sleep for days. But alas, that isn't going to happen anytime soon.

Ho. Ho. Ho. I don't even have a tree!!

I made a casserole for dinner last night, and the GLASS LID exploded into three big pieces and some shards. Bye bye casserole.

I'm just so tired.

Hi!!

2008-12-09T21:12:00.000-05:00

Hey! Hi! Remember me? I used to write this blog. But lately, I've been a tad preoccupied with daily life.

There's the Secret Santa gift that I've started over three times, and it's still not right. It was supposed to be mailed today.

There's the Etsy shop that I've been trying to stock.

The day job that sucks the life out of me, but pays the bills (I'm grateful for the day job, really)

There's the new pictures of my jewelry to print for the 2009 show applications.

Cookies.

The Day Job.

Christmas shopping.

20 questions with my Mom about what she wants for Christmas.

And so it goes.

So forgive me if I'm not blogging as frequently as I was.

I'll be back.

That is, if I keep my sanity (as it were) intact.

Ta!

Happy Turkey

2008-11-26T19:47:00.000-05:00

Somewhere I read that Thanksgiving Eve is the biggest pizza delivery night of the whole year. Imagine. I guess since people's kitchens are full of Turkey Day food, nobody wants to cook. I'm not cooking, but I ordered pizza anyway. Obbie and I are off to Big Momma's tomorrow for the Thanksgiving Dinner Without Potatoes and Gravy. They're the enemy you know. No worries though. We're cooking a dinner this weekend, with the free turkey I got from the grocery.

Today wore on very slowly, as the Bosses had to wring every last ounce of work out of us minions. No work on Friday. Not like I'm going shopping or anything, oh hell no.
But it'll be good to sloth around. This weekend will be the first one that I don't have to DO ANYTHING. I do have to make a Christmas present for my online beady Secret Santa, but that's no big deal. The spectre of 24 bracelets, four sets, six epics and two dozen earrings is not looming largely over me, so it's OH KAY.

So what are you guys doing for Thanksgiving? Do you go shopping on Friday? Then what? Tell me of your customs and traditions. I always like hearing about what people do.

Whatever it is that you do, have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. Think of me when the smashed potatoes and gravy come around.

Oh, and I signed up for Facebook. It's a foreign concept to me, and I still don't have any friends. I just can't stand MySpace. Too sparkly, too weird. But that's just me. Look me up and add me as a friend.

The Last Post Mortem of the Year

2008-11-24T19:10:00.000-05:00

Hi I'm back.

No more shows this year. I'm FINISHED. Actually, there might be one more, but I'm not really into it. We'll see how I feel closer to the time.

The weekend was interesting. We've been in big craft shows before, but this was a GIFT AND CRAFT SHOW. Which meant shitloads of Kountry Krafts...snowmen and Santas on sticks, 'handpainted' winter scenes on shingles, wreaths, swags, and any manner of faux vegetation to spiff up your home for the holidays. And Kountry style gingham quilts, patchwork this, primitive that, oh goodness there was a lot of stuff there.

I'm so freaking glad it's over.

We didn't do badly, considering. Nobody seemed to be doing very well. The man next to us (who was caught sleeping, and spent a long time talking on his little Blootooth headset every day) did not make his booth space. The lady next door (with a huge selection of patchwork quilts, and other textile-ish goodness) had a hotel room for two nights, and two spaces, did not make booth either. So by our unerring cheapness (I drove back home Saturday night instead of hoteling it) and rocks, we managed to make a few bucks.

The promoter for this show is big time, and she's a large, loud lady who takes no shit. Considering that this thing broke down like this: 230 vendors, 6,000 shoppers, dozens of volunteers, three charity groups, eight golf carts (to ferry shoppers from the lots to the hall) fifty thousand flyers printed and handed out (yes, fifty thousand) sixteen different newspaper ads, radio and TV ads,and a big ass space that nobody has ever been to. She can be a little loud, and takes no shit. On Saturday, a woman vendor had issue with the fact that this show was touted as "Handmade" but there were LOTS of buy/sell stuff (Buy/sell is the thorn in the side of us hand crafters, but sometimes it's for the better) Anyway, this lady was PISSED, and had a big yelling match with the promoter. Eventually she calmed down, and went on about her business.

The promoter was already at DefCon 3, because some vendors had dropped their trailers in parking areas meant for shoppers. The rules were clear, and there were LOTS of signs directing us where to park. She announced several times that they had to move their rigs, but the rigs were not moved, and the promotor was not amused. So Sunday morning, she did the parking announcement again, sounding VERY pissed. After 25 minutes, they were still parked in the spots, and she came on the PA again and stated that she was not going to open the doors to the show until the offending trailers were moved. Which was uncool, and pissed off a whole BUNCH of vendors. Much grumbling and whining ensued, and eventually all but one trailer was moved. The shoppers were let in, and the event went on.

You must understand that there was 230 vendors in this hall, and for the most part we were all bored out of our skulls, so any kind of information passed thru the hall like wildfire. The word came back to us that the promoter and another vendor were jawing at each other, and the vendor was really up in the promoter's face. The promoter shut him down. Literally. Dragged six folding chairs and set them up in front of his booth with big yellow signs 'THIS BOOTH IS CLOSED', and stood over the guy as he packed his shit up and left. Ugly, ugly.

A couple hours later, down the row from us there was a disturbance, and wonder of wonders, there was the promoter AND the EMT's AND the Campus cops AND the local cops.
Apparently, the lady from the previous day took this opportunity to give the Promoter hell all over again about the buy/sell and then claimed the Promoter wacked her with her cane.

WHOT?!!

Weeping and wailing, this broad was taken out by the EMT's on a stretcher, while the EMT's rolled their eyes and snickered. Apparently this lady's cheese had slid off the cracker awhile back. Even though she was screaming at the top of her lungs that she was filing assault charges against the promoter for the alleged cane wacking.

This story strikes me as odd. Why would a person who had this whole show (and the 25 years of history with it) at stake smack some woman with her cane over something like buy/sell issues? Stooopid. But this was the talk of the day. More buzzing from booth to booth about what had gone down.

At the end of the day, the promoter got on the PA for the last time, and gave some long and winding speech thanking everyone who got her this far, and who was responsible for the success of the show. It was a long speech. The guy next to us kept saying, "Get the hook!!" She finished up her ramble by saying, "I might be in jail tomorrow, but I'll be back next year, I'm not taking anyone's crap!" At which we all cheered, partly because we were glad she was done.

Obbie was tickled because he saw the real life, live human version of this guy:

Crossed arms and all. "Git your shit and git out!" The guy was Walters real life twin. He didn't get a picture though, but this guy probably wouldn't have been happy about that either.

So all in all it was a good weekend. We had dinner with big Momma on Saturday, and I was delirous. TGIFridays is an armpit of a restaurant, and I will NEVER EVER go into one again. Awful, horrible food. Never again.

Besides that, I was so tired and delirous on Saturday that I was going to faint, and Obbie went thru the same thing on Sunday. Weirdness. But overall we had a good weekend. I'm glad we did this show, and I thank GOD that I'm smart enough to keep my day job, and not make krafting my kareer. Oh. Hell. No.

Oh, and the Pro Pay credit card thing works pretty cool. I'll let you know more on the 27th if the money is in my account like it's supposed to.

Yes.

2008-11-20T20:23:00.000-05:00

Yes, still moving along here. Truth be told, I've got nothing to report.

All the stuff I ordered has arrived. Yay.
Not all the stuff I need to make is made. Boo.
I'm off work tomorrow to catch up on stuff. Yay.

And that's about it. I'll be glad when this thing is over with and I can return to normal. Whatever normal is.

Forward Motion-Sort Of

2008-11-11T20:03:00.000-05:00

Happy Veterans Day to all you veterans. Thank you for your sacrifices for our freedoms. Veterans Day is doubley sad for me, for I think about my Dad more than usual today. There's an ache in my heart that I never thought I'd have.

In other news:

The preparations for the rilly big shew are coming along nicely.

At least in the Display department. Obbie made me a new earring rack AND new signage for the kiddie area. Tonight we went out to THE BIG K, and found two red and one green tablecloth for the booth tables. As if that wasn't good enough, they were ON SALE. If you recall, I gnashed my teeth and grumbled greatly about the last go-round of tablecloth hell back in the Spring. For the Juried Show that wasn't. (Unless the Three Stooges were the jury.) ANYWAY.

I guess it's all up to me now, the Production Department has to kick into full swing now. A lovely earring display is useless without EARRINGS to display. And all the rest.

I have a great idea which involves copper sheet and polymer clay. If anyone knows, please comment...I want to make a very thin sheet of polymer clay, and sandwich it between two pieces of copper, which I'd have to solder together. The copper always gets hot during the process, do you think it'll do something to baked polymer clay?
Thanks for your help. I get too many weird hits when I put that phrase into Mr. Googley, and I honestly don't feel like joining another jewelry making forum for the answer. It's bad enough the beloved one has crashed and burned, and we're left with a smoking crater of NOTHING, which is horrible, because it's been such a great source of information and research for a couple years now.

Stay tuned.

Pete and G.R. Unt

2008-11-09T12:13:00.000-05:00

This is one of the outside cats. Since he's so little, I let him in more than the other guys. G.R. Unt. Or Grunt. He's a snuggler, and will curl up and nap with just the slightest invitation. Yesterday he wasn't even invited, but just snuggled right up with the Pete, and they both napped the afternoon away.

And now for our next trick...

2008-11-05T20:02:00.000-05:00

We're going to go full tilt boogie to get a bunch of stuff made for the last show of the year at the end of the month.

I also need to clean my house. It's filthy and awful.

But first things first. The show is three weeks away, and I've got zip for stock.
I should stop reading the forums (for they're starting to piss me off) and shut off the computer and start creating.

Easier said than done.

At least I didn't sign up for NaNoBlogMo. Jeeeezus, that's all I'd need.

Carry on.

The Day After

2008-11-05T05:21:00.000-05:00

I guess it'll be days before ALL the votes are tallied. But my goodness what overwhelming numbers. (93% of the black vote in PA? White suburban women? Goodness)

And didn't I just get a little weepy at the crowds in Chicago? Just a little.

Mr. Obama has a lot on his shoulders.

I hope he can do it. Change is good.

But now I won't have to see Sarah Palin again for awhile. And that's REALLY GOOD.

I'm Back

2008-11-03T20:56:00.000-05:00

Everyone was smiling in Philadelphia on Saturday! I like Philly, but I LOVED Philly on Saturday. Everyone was upbeat and happy, and chatty. It was just great!

We went to the Italian Market, and proceeded directly to butcher for the turducken, then to the spice store for (duh) some spices, then the cheese shoppe, and along the way got some coffee and cannoli (I heart me some cannoli) With a stop in between at the dive bar for some $2 mimosas (yeah!!) After the shopping we headed to Nick's for a roast beef sandwich and gravy fries. (My last meal, if I ever have to choose)and went to Independence Mall to walk off all that food. We visited the Liberty Bell and Ben Franklin's grave.

We headed to the hotel in Jersey when everything started to close, and I got my chocolate vodka, and we spent more money on frivolous foodstuffs at Trader Joes.

What a great weekend. The damn 'fall back' thing has royally messed me up. And the cats didn't set their clocks back, so they were waking me up at 4:00 am. Charming.

Don't forget to vote tomorrow. Let's see if we can get this right this time, huh?

Blank

2008-10-30T18:06:00.000-05:00

I'm drawing a blank here. Let me just riff a little.

It's a little warmer tonight, and MUCH quieter. The five visiting heathens are back outside. Actually, it's only four, since Grunt most likely will be totally an inside cat. He's so small, so I worry more about him than the others. He's pretty fearless though.

We're going to Philly on Saturday. We made the hotel reservation before the Phillies were even in the playoffs. It's nice to know that all Philly fans are NOT window smashing, car toppling, drunken hooligans. (Unlike the student Penn State fans in State College. Sorry, did I say student? I meant STUP-ENTS) I would like some clarification why joy and pride in your team and city means tearing the place apart. And no, I'm not just bashing Philly, I watch the same news you do, there's always some kind of alcohol fueled sports induced riot SOMEWHERE. I just don't get it.

I like Philadelphia. I would not want to live there, but I like it. I have fond memories of the week long Grateful Dead shows at the Spectrum. Something supremely weird always happened when I was at the Spectrum. I'm sure there are several dozen stories about Dead Show shenanigans. I think I only remember about half of them. The biggest crowd I was ever in-Bob Dylan and the Dead at JFK Stadium on July 7, 1989, somehow I was on the very topmost row of seats with a bunch of other nuts. We just sat and watched the people and the colors (ooh lookit the colors) swirling around below us. Phil opened the second set with Box of Rain, and the whole freakin' place lost their collective shit.

Heh. Sorry. I went away for awhile.

The Philly trip is in celebration of finishing out the brutal 6 shows in 6 weeks program. There is one more show, but that's three weeks out. Poo. I don't have to start really freaking out about that for a week or two yet. Give me credit though, I am making my lists to orchestrate a full on meltdown. I'll have a plan to follow. Give the Day Job kudos for at least instilling in me the need for A WRITTEN PLAN. (And phone notes)

It seems the trip is revolving around food, as we are talking about going to Reading Terminal Market, The Italian Market, Penzey's Spices, Trader Joes, and Nick's for a roast beef sandwich. There's also a bead show near the hotel where we're staying, but when I mentioned it to Obbie he made a face. I guess we won't make that one. I suppose I'll survive.

I love it when I start out with a blank screen, and as I plod along a semi coherent post comes together. Yay semi-coherent! Now I must go do the dishes.

Carry on

It was a dark & stormy night

2008-10-28T18:33:00.000-05:00

And the house is full of cats.

Ten cats are now in my house.

Why yes, I'm quite insane.

They were cold, and it's windy and wet. They'll go back out later. It's not like they're staying.

But they're having fun with all the cat toys, and are currently running up and down the stairs. I guess there are no flights of stairs out in the wild.

Fraidy won't come into the living room, for the TV has alarmed her greatly. Mrs. Cat (The mother) is curled up in a little ball sleeping on the couch. Mrs. Brown and Mr. White are out in the kitchen making sure there isn't any stray cat chow, and Grunt is waiting for me to move so he can sit on my shoulder and watch me type.

Yes, I've named them. So?? Sheesh.

The Last One in the Series

2008-10-27T19:44:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I wonder why I do what I do for fun.

This weekend was not a total bust. But it could have been. At least we made booth on day one, and day two was 'gravy'. Not thick, rich yummy gravy, but watery thin gravy. S'okay. Some people didn't sell anything.

The most trying part of the weekend (besides trying to keep Joe from sleeping in the chair) was the two lovely ladies down from us. I know them, and they MAKE JEWELRY TOO. (as does everyone and their dog it seems) Anyway. They spent the whole weekend trotting back and forth between our booths asking if we sold anything. This annoys me because it's nobody's damn business WHAT we sold or what we made.

Alas. The situation lends itself to some exaggeration sometimes. So Obbie exaggerated.

Then there was the financial advisor guy next to us. With the personality of a carp, and the people skills of an iron skillet. Cutting up egg cartons with scissors to make 'planes' for the kiddies while he tried to talk their parents about 401Ks and investments. The planes didn't fly, and neither did his pitch.

There were clowns too. And you know how I like clowns. I tried to keep Obbie between them and me at all times. And the dance school selling udder cream. (Teat for Tap, you know) This was the Fellini Craft Show. Seriously.

Three weeks off, then the big one. I can flip out about that closer to the date. I have a To Do List, and I plan on ticking things off the list as I go along. But there will be crisis. There always is. We have to find new tablecloths (Christmas colors) fix the rock mats (glue baby glue) conjure up a new earring display, and oh yeah, make stuff. Ahhh.

We're going to Philly for some culture (and smoked Provolone, AND a Nicks Roast Beef) this weekend. If there's any Philly left after they win the Series tonight.

Carry on.

2008-10-24T18:39:00.000-05:00

I turned the furnace on tonight.

And even though oil is a little cheaper than it was, it still chaps my ass.

I've mentioned my relationship with that furnace. I feel like Darren McGavin in the Christmas Story. Swearing and muttering, and the big belch of smoke.

It's chugging along nicely now. But I still see dollar signs when it kicks on.

Oh well. Enough of that.

There's another show tomorrow. But I'm on the fence about it. Certainly not looking forward to it, that's for sure. My inventory is way down, and I've got no ambition to make more. I did make a chain maille ankle bracelet (with bells) last night. But one ankle bracelet does not a restock make.

I should get cracking.

And Praise the Lord when the election is finally over!! I'm tired of all the bullshit stories and accusing tv ads. It's time to be done now.

And that's it. I'm off.

Is it?

2008-10-20T19:32:00.000-05:00

Monday already? Yikes.

Yesterday we went for a drive. Out West a way. To Somerset, PA, just because. We decided to take Route 30 back. Just because.

Along the way, we stopped at the Flight 97 Memorial in Shenksville, PA. There's a gut wrencher for you. An amazing story, yet so terribly sad. I'll add that to my list of things I saw, was glad I saw, but won't go again. All the memorials left by people were touching, as well as the three ring binders with the transcripts from the flight data recorder. The local folks take turns being the guides of this memorial, and they tell the story of Flight 97. My black, cold heart was breaking into a million pieces when we left.

After a very short, very silent ride, we saw the big wind turbines that are on the one mountain out there. Obbie knows that I'm totally nuts for the damn things, so he drove us up to within a couple feet of them. There was security there, which prevented me from going up and standing beside one. They are just so cool. So breathtaking, so graceful, so utterly AMAZING. Yes, they make noise, but not much.
I'm sure there are lots of opinions on them, (Go to You tube and check out all the turbine videos, the one crashing is particularly impressive) It's just my opinion, but I think they are part of our future freedom from foreign oil.

After my waxing all poetic over the wind turbines, we headed home. Largely uneventfully. It was good to be out and about and not HAVE to do anything, and it was good to come home. As it always is.

I made a big pot of Buffalo Chicken Chili tonight. Maybe if you're good, I'll post the recipe tomorrow.

Whew

2008-10-18T18:35:00.000-05:00

Oh my I'm tired. And cold to the bone.

Another show today, and the weatherman lied. Mid sixties? I think not. Mid fifties more like it. Brrr.

Oh the upside, we were crazy busy.

The purple ice necklace..sold. The Kermit necklace...sold. Black & Red chain maille bracelet...sold..earrings..sold...bracelets...sold...even the Elephant Jasper set is GONE.

Multiple repeat customers too. That's always exciting. "I bought something here last year! You have such interesting jewelry!" Nice. I love that.

Guess if there's a show next week, I better get moving. The boof is bare. GOOD. Maybe I'll use as my excuse to get out of the show I don't want to do next week. We'll see how I feel later in the week.

But I have to get warmed up first. I have feeling I'm going to bed very early tonight.

We went to the Greek Festival at the Orthodox Church tonight. They usually have it in the Spring, so it was a thrill to get real GOOD Greek food now. Obbie won dinner tickets, so he got to have his lamb shank (ick) and I had Greek Chicken. And baklava for dessert. Of course.

I keep smelling Sharpie, and I do not know why. All mine are put away, and I can't remember using them lately. Maybe the cats are tapping in to their inner creative beings while I'm out.

OH!! The title of worse thing I had seen at a craft show has been held by wax dipped stuffed animals for a long time. No longer. The wax dipped stuffed animals have lost their Worst Ever title. The new champion? Wax dipped toilet paper rolls. With pine cones and cinnamon sticks affixed to them. USE FOR AN AIR FRESHENER. Of course there was lots of snarking. I told Obbie I'd get him some for Christmas. Too bad the ladies who were selling them were kind of annoyed at the end of the day, or I would have taken pictures.

Okay, this Sharpie smell is really bugging me. I better go find it.

And then go to bed. Yeah so what that it's 7:45??

A Little Chilly on the Willy

2008-10-17T04:44:00.000-05:00

If I had a Willy that is.

It's a tad brisk here this morning. A far cry from the balmy upper 70's that the temp had been for days. I'm afraid perhaps the summer (Indian and otherwise) is now officially gone, and we're heading into the cold, bleak days of winter. I hate me some winter.

I will console myself with thoughts of much creativity and forward motion over the coming months. The encounter with the copycat lady last week has caused me to do some thinking. Thinking about what I'm actually trying to accomplish here. Thinking about moving up in the world of art and craft, and what exactly I'm going to do with it. I would like to take it to the next level, but I don't really want to be another face in the jewelry crowd at shows. That means the creative juices have to flow, and the whole process needs to be kicked up a notch. The idiot voice in my head says, "Hah, yeah right, you'll never make it with the big dogs. You're better off sticking to the crafty shows where booth fees are cheap, and you get set up next to the plastic canvas cross stitch people. At least you can sell rocks and kid necklaces to the younger set, and you'll make your expenses back."

As you can see, it'll be kind of noisy in my head for awhile. Meanwhile the silver price is diving, I should strike while the iron is hot, and buy up some sheet and wire and good things. Invest the kid necklace/rock money into something worthwhile.

In other news, I bought a cute little rice cooker at Target the other night. It's a Rival, red in color, and makes six cups of rice. You say, "A rice cooker? What the hell?! You cook all this stuff and you buy a rice cooker?!!" It's like this peeps, I can't cook rice to save my life. So I've been forced to make instant brown rice for years now. Which isn't bad, but it's not nearly as good a nice 'real' brown rice. I tested the little Red Rival out last night, and I'm happy to report that it cooks rice very well. Perfect brown basmati! I'm quite pleased, and if the thing lasts a year or so, I'll have gotten my 12.99 worth out of it. (A number of consumer reports on Amazon say while they love their Red Rival, it craps out after awhile, so we'll see)

And that's all. I'm off to research this charley horse in my red leg. It woke me up last night, and is very tight this morning. Besides bananas, I guess I need more potassium in my diet. I'm not wild about bananas. Ick.

Four Down

2008-10-13T18:40:00.001-05:00

And so it goes.

The fourth one was last weekend, and it wasn't bad. It wasn't great, but it wasn't bad. There were several things that irritated me, but so it goes. We made back our expenses, but the booth was cheap, and the venue was right up the road. The beer was cold on Saturday night, though, and that's a good thing.

Last March I sold a chain maille set to a nice lady. Well, the nice lady showed up at my booth on Saturday with chain maille SHE'S made and announced that she has taught herself how to do this, and wouldn't I like to share a booth with her sometime? I'm kind of pissed about it, because that particular style is like a signature for me, and I'm the only one who sells it at the local shows. My answer to this is to up the ante, so to speak, and do better shows, and more elaborate pieces. But I was very, VERY pissed for most of the weekend.

But I got this cool hat, so all is well. It's lined with fleece, and very warm. And no, it's not full of my head, it's just a very LARGE hat.

Hey Kid...would this be Gerben approved??

But now I'm done, and I have to get my head together for the next one that's coming up on Saturday.

GRAND

2008-10-10T18:38:00.000-05:00

This is Post Number One Thousand.

Imagine that!

Who knew, back in July of 2004, that I'd actually stick with this crazy thing long enough to post 1,000 posts. I suppose, since I don't blog daily anymore, I could have been here long ago, but hey. I'm here now.

It's been a lot of fun thus far. Some days not as fun as others (especially in light of the whole business of being blog-outed at work, and the backsplash from THAT)

I've had loads of fun telling you (all three of you) stories about things that have happened. They're true. And I have more. Many, many more.

I've also got lots more recipes.

You've read my bitching and complaining. Thank you.

When my father died, the outpouring of support from my you folks kept me from going mad. (We're coming up on that sad anniversary too) For this I thank you. More than you know, thank you.

Thanks for everything. I think I may stick around for awhile, if you don't mind. Maybe I'll actually change the template. What do you think?

Blogger, would you be so kind as to remove the farking word verification? 1000 posts does not spam make.

Would it kill you to comment??

Love,

Amy

Are We There Yet?

2008-10-09T18:52:00.000-05:00

The world is scaring me lately. Really, really scaring me.

The only good thing I can find is that gas is 2.83 today. I'm calling for more oil next week. Might as well take advantage of this crazy shit while I can. God knows it'll be the only freaking break I'm going to get. I'm not planning on opening my retirement account statements any time soon, either.

Let me get this straight.

I work like a dog.

Yet, I can't own my own home.

BUT.

My taxes are going up because a bunch of jackass bankers, mortgage pirates, and sleazy realtors talked a huge bunch of stupid, greedy assholes into buying homes that they knew were out of their price range. The stupid greedy assholes, who are not only mortgaged to the hilt, have car payments and credit card debt out their collective stupid greedy asses. They can't pay the car payments, credit card payments AND mortgages, so I get to. And the poor, jackass bankers, mortgage pirates and sleazy realtors are losing money hand over fist, so I'm also bailing out the greedy assholes, so they don't have to trade in their Hummers for Honda Civics.

Yet I can't own my own home, and apparently, unless I fall ass first into a pot of money, I won't be owning one any time soon.

Sometimes life's little ironies are just a little too much to stomach.

We have met the enemy and it is us. Weep for the middle class because we will cease to exist in a couple years.

Three Down

2008-10-05T04:57:00.000-05:00

Show three in the series. Everything ran rather smoothly, as we had the car packed early, and left with a proper amount of time for check in yesterday. No rain. I wasn't sick. We thought we were pretty darn cool.

When we got there we found a bunch of vendors standing around looking at each other, and no direction. When we got our confirmations last week, they just put a street address of where our booth would be located. And the famous line, "Volunteers will be available to help." IF you could find them, that is.

After some hemming and hawing, we found the volunteer. And she confirmed our space was where we thought it was. Which is good, since Obbie had unloaded the car in the time it took to get the information.

When asked, the staff told me to put the booth 'wherever', and yes, it could go out in the street 'a little'. What they hell? They CLOSED the street for the festival. So after much grumbling, we put the whole thing in the street. It was too difficult to put it on the sidewalk between the trash can and street signs. I feel they should have just said put it in the street. I felt like a rookie.

So we set up, la, la, la. And sat down to wait for the first customer. I did the mental inventory, and said, "Hey, where's the bank?" Obbie said he didn't see the cashbox when he unloaded the car. Oh shit. I hiked back to the car, and looked. Nope. No cashbox. DAMMIT.

Luckily, I had a whole bunch of singles, and some other folding money in my bag, and he had some folding money in his pocket. We were able to have a makeshift bank, with the help of a cool cigar box I bought from the tobacco store up the way. I can't believe I made such a rookie mistake though! And the cash box was sitting where I left it, after I made sure all the change, pens, and pads were there. Duh.

Again, another day of three buck kids necklaces and rocks. It seems that in this economy, people still want to have a good day, and buy the kids a little something, without breaking the bank. The Jewelry Artists I know will take great issue to the fact that I'm selling kid necklaces alongside chain maille, and sterling & semi-precious gemstone earrings and bracelets. But honestly, and I hate to say this, the kid stuff is what is selling. We've made our expenses PLUS at all three shows because of that. It is what it is. I'm just happy I'm selling. The people next to us (electric candles and the famous wax dipped teddy bears) hardly sold anything. They spent the afternoon giving us the piss eye.

Mind you, the kid stuff isn't the only thing selling. Bracelets, earrings, and some of my special necklaces left yesterday too. People are buying for Christmas already.
Obbie has a theory that folks are fed up with mass produced crap from China, and are shopping handcrafted. Plus the whole 'street fair/harvest festival' thing is not just shopping, but visiting friends, hearing music, eating food, and having the whole experience, not just another trip to the maul. I like that thought, and am fully going with it.

Next weekend is a two day event, just up the road. We did that one last year, and did pretty okay. Our booth is in a shitty location this year (in my opinion) but we're going to make the best of it. The booth fee was reasonable for two days, and when it's 9 miles from home, it's hard to beat. I just have to amp up the restock and put a BUNCH of stuff out there for the peeps to choose from. More choices = more sales.

Oh did I mention the great big show at the end of November? The promoter met us at Mercersburg last week and gave me an application. It seemed like a lot of money at the time, however, the show is 10 miles from Mom's house, and that will certainly cut down on the expenses. Last year, according to the promoter, they had 10,000 people thru the doors. We'll see. We'll need to do a pretty big number daily to clear the booth fee, but this is is billed as a Christmas Gift Show. Therefore, people will be coming out for Christmas shopping. The blog for the one will be interesting.

Churn, Churn and a Photo

2008-10-02T19:09:00.000-05:00

I'm just plugging along. I'm not longer sick, but the snot lingers on. So much honking. The geese will be landing in my yard shortly to see whos here too.

Working toward the next Saturday show. Lather rinse repeat for the month of October. I wish I would actually see a profit from this madness instead of just paying expenses. Oh well.

And here's a picture of my sweetie, Big Pete. I love this guy. He's 13 pounds of big orange kitty love. My homie. We've done a lot of stuff together. The sad thing is, he's got a tumor on his side, and I really doubt that I can afford the surgery to remove it, and since he's got a major heart murmur, he might not survive it anyway. So I'll love him as much as I can for as long as I can. We've been buddies for ten years now.

Recap

2008-09-28T17:39:00.000-05:00

Now the second show of the year is one for the books.

We had a RECORD day, despite monsoon conditions, and me being heavily medicated.

Apparently, in my work related snits and making 'stuff' for the shows, I ignored the fact that a cold was sneaking up on me.

It sneaked up and kicked my ass. I've been sneezing, my eyes have been itching, my throat was sore, and I feel like I've been beaten with hammers and shovels.

So I set up the craft show tent in the rain yesterday. Cool, huh? Hopefully I'll be feeling better this week. I can't possibly imagine dealing with this shit for another week. Extra orange juice, fish oil caps, and B12, anything I can think of do make the cold cease and desist. We did go for Pho for breakfast this morning, and Pho will at least make you feel better for awhile.

Anyway, the show yesterday was steller, but it helps that I'm the hometime girl jewelry 'designer', and many of my Mom's friends came by for goodies. Hey, I'll take it where I can get it. There's a lot of empty space on the booth, and I better get moving and make things to fill in the blanks.

The show was well run, and very organized. I'm quite impressed with the Townfest committee, they did a nice job on keeping a variety of events going on throughout the day, and they didn't clump all the vendors together. Plus we were in the same spot for the fourth year in a row. Works for us, because people know we're there!

With that I'm off. My cold meds are wearing off, and I'm feeling rather punky.

The Reel Deal

2008-09-23T19:19:00.002-05:00

At least the grass is cut.

The front grass, anyway.

Oh, and by the way - the much hyped Reel mower is a giant pain in the ass. My yard is not designed for the Reel mower. Or is it the other way around? Anyway, the dips, ditches, hills, vole holes and horse chestnuts do not make the Reel mower happy.

A twig from the horse chestnut tree will stop the Reel in it's tracks and impale
me on the handle. Not to mention the odd mixture of grass, weeds, and hay(?) that grow in my yard. (what are those awful 'flowers' that have really woody stems, and a a blue-purple daisy flower? They are the devils weed...awful things) The Reel is prone to just bending the tall grass down, leaving many, many blades upcut, and springing upright after I pass. Which does not work with my compulsion to cut everything evenly and cleanly and STRAIGHT.

Then there's the workout factor. Cutting the quarter acre with the evil smoke belching gas mower from hell is enough of a workout, but holy damn! Mowing with the Reel ups the burn tenfold. It's bad enough that traffic slows to see the fat lady with the blue face cutting grass when I'm using the evil gas mower, but I draw the line when the paramedics park across the street when I trot out the Reel.

So the Reel is living in my dining room. Maxx has used it more than me. He's very fond of eating grass, so for weeks now, he's dined on the weeds that didn't get cut, but wrapped around the reel. How he gets his enormous head in between the blades (of the mower) to eat the weeds I'll never know. But the mower is clean as a whistle now. Not a weed stalk to be had. At least someone has gotten something out of the Reel.

Anyone want to buy a very low mileage Reel mower? I'm suppose I'm not true enough to the cause, because it's just too damn hard. Recycle everything? Sure. Take my own bags to the grocery? But of course. Buy local? Naturally. But it's insanity for me to attempt to mow my obstacle course of a yard with a Reel mower.

One Down

2008-09-20T19:10:00.000-05:00

Shoot, it's not 6 shows in 6 weeks, it's 7 shows in 7 weeks. Duh, get it right!

One down, and one to go. Today was moderately successful. We didn't set the world on fire, but we didn't go down in flames.

But we did come home and take a big nap. We crock potted some ribs before we left, so there was BBQ ribs when we got home. Nice.

Now Obbie has taken to the couch, for a follow up nap for his earlier nap.

I might follow suit.

And HEEERE WE GO

2008-09-19T19:05:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow starts the 2nd annual '6 Craft Shows in 6 Weeks Blitz'.

Yeah, nothing like adding a little more manic into the mix, eh? Sometimes I wonder if I don't thrive on it. Crisis Motivated is the term I like. There are a lot of things that should be done before tomorrow's show, but I'm not sweating it. The big show is on the 27th. I got a call from the local newspaper tonight, and gave them a nice ten minute interview with a historical overview of chain maille, and what kind of things I do. That should be interesting when it makes it to print. I'm working on a couple things right now, and with any luck, they'll be done by next week. The car is packed for tomorrow, and I've got about as much stuff as I think I'll need.

Sometime in that six week time frame, I'll also be adding some online coursework into the fray. I've decided that I've got to improve my education, at least a little bit.

So by 'a little bit' I mean, seriously, a little bit. One online course towards being a certified gemologist. There are several courses in the series, but one at a time should suit me just fine. It's a better way to spend time online than watching cat videos on YouTube, and watching the political arguments on the forums.

It's my semi-secret project, nobody close knows about it, for now. And since most of the blog hits here are hit and runs, nobody still is going to know. Heh.

And with that, I'm off to make ear wires with the beloved torch and sterling wire. It's fun. I recommend melting and hammering metal to anyone who has hidden stresses.
(Or not so hidden stresses!)

Cranky in my Pants

2008-09-17T19:51:00.000-05:00

I got up this morning in an okay mood. But by the time I landed at the day job, I was highly annoyed. Nothing really sparked this, but I was rancid by the time I got there.

Tell me this....why would someone stand in front of a fat person (me) and go on and on at length why they HATE flying because they always get stuck between some stinky person or some fat person? And by on and on, I mean FAT PERSON (or PEOPLE) was mentioned loudly and scornfully several times. I don't ask for any special things because I've eaten myself into a blob like condition (oddly the blood pressure, heart rate and other things seem to be fine) and I'm not a militant fat person (PERSON OF SIZE!!) but damn. I wonder if they'd rant and rave about retards in front of a mentally retarded person?

Anyway, rant over. Some would spin this by saying, "That person doesen't think of you as a fat person, that's why they felt comfortable talking about that." Uh huh. I'm not inclined to accept that, but that's just me. (A week with my mom, shopping for clothes and having every morsel of food noted and commented upon makes one very highly aware of their largeness.)

If I wanted to, I could rant about two faced people as well, but I've been beating my head against that wall for years, and it's not going to change any time soon. When I have a true friend (YES...A TRUE FRIEND) I don't talk about them behind their backs. I believe that friends accept each other, and their differences, and that's why they are friends. Alas, some people feel they can talk shit about their 'friends' but are astonished when the tables are turned on them. Well, DUH. And this rant isn't even about that, it's just about people who smile to your face, but fifteen minutes later, are talking about you to their other 'real friends' and you realize they're just on a fact finding mission when they're talking to you.

Sounds like I have some issues, doesn't it? I sure do. I'm just really getting sick of a lot of shit that's swirling around me lately. It's really no different than earlier swirling shit, but I guess my armor kind of softened while I was lolling around at the beach.

Sucks to be me, but in reality, I'm a lucky duck. I'm more worried about the folks in Texas who have nothing....no friends, no family, no house, no work, no car, no stuff, no thing. I'm just surrounded by cretins. I have a comfortable world otherwise.

It can always be worse.

I Scream!

2008-09-16T21:02:00.000-05:00

So what else is new, right?

Nay, nay....I scream = ICE CREAM.

There's good ice cream, and then there's GREAT ice cream.

Great ice cream comes from The Berkey Creamery at Penn State.

Yes, THE Penn State, in State College, PA. They've had a creamery program on campus for years and years.

Lots of famous folk have taken the course, most notably, Ben & Jerry.

Obbie had a conference in State College today, and because he's a dear, he brought back a half gallon of Peachy Paterno AND a half gallon of Death By Chocolate.

They're a class operation up there. The ice cream was packaged nicely in a cold pack with dry ice to keep it happy on it's ride South.

Of course, we're playing with the dry ice now, making a bubbling witches cauldron out of my crab pot. Children must play.

I don't own any PSU merchandise. And don't plan to. However, I do know good ice cream when I taste it, so I'll just be a PSU Creamery fan. Check them out:

http://www.creamery.psu.edu/

And it's all available online.

Hah. Who knew?

Back

2008-09-13T18:18:00.000-05:00

So I'm back. The vacation was just fine. If Mom hadn't picked open a old wound just for her own sport on Thursday night, it would have been perfect. But no, she can't let the fucking thing ALONE. As if the subject doesn't cause me pain too. Which is why it should be left alone. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Second verse same as the first.

The house is filthy, and the air is humid, so it's pointless to mop or wash any floors or woodwork, for it'll take an eternity to dry.

The car is fixed and will cost $760. Nice, huh? Yeah, I thought so too.

Hey but other than that, I always have Monday to look forward to! Yippee, fresh hell!

I wish I was back at the beach. ALONE. (or at least with Obbie)