barry white called, and wants his voice back

I am laughing because I have surprised many a person by actually being me on the phone. Meaning, they call, ask for me and don't believe it when I say that is who is speaking. My voice, deep and sultry right now. Nothing like my normal voice (which is so high pitched and annoying...HA!).

I can't tell you how much better I feel. Okay, I can, but won't bore you with the details. I got invited over for egg dying tonight at my friend Shannon's house. I don't think I'll go, simply because even though I feel a million times better, I don't want to push myself. However, if Kev is home sick still (yup, you guessed it...he got it) I might go for a little while. Cabin fever is huge for me and even though I'm away from the "cabin" now, it still takes over when I get home. Something about not being able to leave for three days makes me crazy.

It's cold and raining here today. Which is being kind of helpful since I have an ad to build for next week and since I'm not getting Thursday off to work on it...and I don't want to work from home (I am salaried so not getting paid for time I work at home ain't cool).

Speaking of which, I better start figuring out what I am going to do for this ad. I think I might have something brewing in my brain...just have to tap into it while it's fresh!

I'm out!

wishing for my hat

Well, I've made it to work. I've gotten a warm pumpkin muffin (the first thing I've craved and eaten and had taste really good) and a chai (not so good actually). I think I might go next door and get a ruby red grapefruit juice. That sounds refreshing.

I wish I would have brought my orange hat. For some reason, it's the only way I can get warm, if I put a hat on my head. I know that is where you lose the majority of your heat so it makes sense, BUT what is weird is my hands are ice blocks until I put on the hat and then they are warm and toasty. That is what I wonder about.

Okay, I'm yawning and feeling sluggish. Must go get some juice.

relax, no fears...no ice cream

Hey all. Don't worry about the craving and the actual eating of ice cream because I only got to the craving part. I know that ice cream and nasty snot stuff don't go hand in hand. I just was craving something smooth that I didn't have to chew that was cool. I ended up eating part of a peanut butter and jelly. Not quite as satisfying, but it gave me protein. I must say, I'm still not really hungry and am having Gatoraide for breakfast.

I am feeling much better and thank you all for the well wishes. Work will possibly still not be all that fun today, but...I will go in for the full day. I only have to work three days this week and next week I have to work on Monday. Ugh. Stoopid jury duty (my Monday guy). However, we hired someone yesterday to work Sunday/Monday so this will eventually free up my Thursdays again. The guy who was working those two days will just have to work one downtown. This makes me ecstatic!

Well, I'm going to go put on a bit of makeup so that my customers today don't think I'm the walking dead like they did yesterday. YAWN! I could still be in bed and that would make me happy...ah well.

craving of the ice cream

I am sooooo craving vanilla ice cream with hot fudge and caramel. I have no clue as to why, but man, it sounds so yummy to me! I don't think Kev will go for it though, at least not for dinner. Rats.

He came home early because he was not feeling all that great, but he doesn't feel as I did by this time on the first day I was feeling icky. I'm feeling a bit better now but sadly I have nothing new in my brain to put into words here. Other than, I sooooo want ice cream!!!

not really ready

But in I go. My coughing fits have slowed down and become a little less frequent, although tell that to my stomach muscles which ache with each one. My nose is dripping a little more, which I suppose is better than being all stuffed up and inside. My body still aches, I'm guessing it's all the coughing I've been doing that has left me feeling like crap.

I am hoping that when I go in, Ahmed will take one look at me and tell me he'll be back later to close for me. He's already opening for me, although I am ready to go in at my normal time and would rather just get in there and start getting this day over with.

Better go grab tp for the ride in (yeah, that fancy pants tissues, only the best for us!).

Ugh, someone kill me. Or call my boss and tell him I'm dying.

sick of being sick

Saturday night we headed out to see our friends new house, about 45 minutes away. We had a lovely evening and all three of the dogs behaved quite well (yep, Josie got to go with). On our drive home I noticed that my sinuses were a bit off and I was feeling a little tickle in my throat.

I've not been out of bed for more than 20 minutes since that night. I'm achy and hot and cold and feeling like a mac truck has rolled over me many, many times.

I've called off of work for tomorrow already, but am planning on being back there on Wednesday. You know, it sucks being sick. You can't go to knit parties, get work done on your tattoo, sit up for more than 20 minutes at a time...ugh.

i swear, it's just a smidge of knit talk

So, here she is. My "damn scarf". I can officially give Kev his back... (CO 31, k2, p2 ribbing, end on a k2, p1, aka known as the "mistake" pattern)

This is the yarn I purchased from Kristin. Perhaps I've mentioned her here before? Funny since even though I've never met her (or many other of you, and you all know who you are) I feel a friendship has been kindled. I'd like to knit with her circle sometime in my life, and since my parents live in that general area, something tells me that might just happen.

Meanwhile, tonight I was planning on weeding the front lawn tonight after getting home. Yeah, I know we probably should have done it prior to all the seed we laid down. (Have I told you about the thermostat?) Anyway, by the time I got home tonight it had chilled down considerably since today's high of 70. And now that I've gotten in, fed everyone, loaded the picture up Iand played with it and others in photoshop) and started posting here, I've given up on the idea of actually changing and going outside. Yeah, something tells me you are all behind me 100%. (except for those of you who don't and then you can all be quiet)

I must figure out dinner and am hoping to get a chance to chat with my friend, Reagan, in Ohio. She called me this morning just as I was going into Coffee Plant to get a latte. We made tentative plans to chat tonight, but sadly she's not answering either of her phones. Since it's already 10:20 there and she works crazy ass hours, she might actually be in bed. (yeah, I'm not really betting on that though)

Okay, Simon is trying to get my attention about something.

the reflective qualities of glass

I love working downtown. There are funny people to watch at just about any given time. Take, for instance, Mr. Gel (hair so done it seems as though there is no getting it to move, even with the strongest water pressure). He just walked in front of my store. Looked to his left, into the glass windows of the shop. Proceeded to suck in his gut and give himself the thumbs up look. Yeah, does Mr. Gel not think that windows are WINDOWS? I mean, really, does he not see me seeing him looking at himself with those come hither eyes? I can guarantee he did not look at me like that, because I'm sitting behind the counter and he had already walked past me.

Don't say, "he probably didn't see you sitting there..." They sometimes do see me looking at them and will either smile big or look embarassed.

People do this type of preening in my window all the time. Women and men will walk by, look at themselves in the reflection in the window and fluff hair, pick crap out of their teeth, and now, suck in their guts. I'm willing to bet that as soon as Mr. Gel walked on by, the gut relaxed again and he'll have to do it all over when he sees himself in the next big picture window he passes.

heh.

root toot toot

I look at the new programmable thermostat and say to myself, "there is no way I am going to do that tonight."

Yeah, that didn't work. I am so proud of myself. You see, we had gone to Home Deephole to buy some grass seed and what not. We had been speaking of wanting a digital thermostat that we could program to turn itself lower at night and when we are gone to work. Done and done. It runs on batteries, so I suppose we'll have to keep an eye on it, and get rechargable batteries.

I think Kev might have felt a bit overwhelmed at the idea of switching our old, mercury bubble, thermostat (anyone know where to take that to dispose of?). And taking stuff apart and putting it back together has always been my way of life (right Dad?)..hence we get me doing it tonight. It's just wonderful already. And I can totally tell a difference. It's on, but not as long each time. Sigh.

I haven't told him yet, since he's still at work and it's right around the end of the busy dinner rush. I think I'm going to wait and see if he notices. He's missed things before so we'll see.

Of course, tomorrow is supposed to be up to 70. :) Ah well, such is life.

diggity dog listener

So I've noticed lately that Josie (the diggity dawg) is avoiding her fish oil pills we give her with breakfast and dinner.

I think I'm going to listen to her and stop giving them to her for a while. I mean, what if (and this is out on a limb here) what if she has developed an allergy to them? These are a different brand than the ones we used to get (and can't find at Cost Co anymore).

The reason I say "listen to her" is because I've not in the past and have ended up cleaning up a mess in the end. You see, she didn't want to eat dinner. I tempted her into it, hand feeding her whole dinner to her. Well, you get the picture.

Just thinking on it.

please, don't break the glass

I'm sitting here calmly at work. All of a sudden I hear this guy freaking out about someone being "effing dead" (although he used the real words). A larger girl grabbed ahold of him and wouldn't let him go, until a thin male friend came to help her. Now they are leaning against the window (which I am praying does not break).

Move along kids...just called Clean and Safe. Joy. I didn't ask them to send anyone, as they have started to calm down and are trying to move on. Again, joy...

I love working downtown, however it seems that there are more and more street kids making downtown not quite as welcoming as it once was. This makes me sad because I really love that downtown Portland has visitors feeling like they are not in a huge, overwhelming city (this goes for my own feelings as well). Now, I just keep an eye on those kids, as they really haven't moved along as far or as fast as I'd like them to.

whole lotta nothin'

I don't think enough of you were hoping for drizzle for us. Nothing yesterday. Today, it might happen...we'll see.

I got off the bus last night to find Kev walking to the car. I call out to him and ask where he's headed. He laughs and says the store to get things to make dinner...oh and that Chuck is coming over. YEA! I haven't seen Chuck in ages (his hair is even now a different style, that's how long it's been).

Tonight I have yoga with Diana and Jill. This makes me happy. I attended a class on Sunday with a dear friend. While I felt great afterwards, it was not a mind freeing class, as yoga often is for me. I kept thinking about things. I think having mirrors along two walls (even though it was really great to see myself in headstand) as well as the doors/windows that were street level so everyone passing could peek in was a bit too much for me. I'm used to a quiet room with candles, music and two of my favorite women. I just didn't "feel" the instructor. Although my body did get worked out.

I am almost done with my Damn scarf, Electric Youth Blue. IT IS SO DAMN PRETTY! I can hardly wait to post pics. (shove it, Russ) I've already got my next project all lined up as well. I tend to do that, start a project and then find the yarn for the next project. Of course it makes it harder to not set project A down and pick up project B, but I don't allow myself to do that. I must finish what I start before I can start anything else. Simple as that. The customer that brought me some black yarn was in this past week. She is going to bring me more, but we'll see when and what. I loved the first batch she gave me. I used one to make a thin scarf/lariat that I ended up giving to Diana. I gave the other to a fellow knitter who needed black yarn but couldn't find any at any of the shops.

Okay, latte is getting cold and I have to gather my lunch items before heading to the bus. I am hoping for a busy day so that time passes quickly. I do have a futures order to write up, joy, but that won't take all that long.

I'm out.

keep yer fingers crossed

Spring is definitely on its way! The sun is peaking out right now, but I'm sure it will make way for drizzle. Drizzle is what we need. Yesterday I was content. I was sitting on the sofa in the living room, soaking up a few of the rays that were still out (after the drizzle had let up). I was knitting up a storm. This scarf, going to be gorgeous!!! It's really doing beautiful things (I'll get pictures up as soon as it is done, which should be in the next day or so...hopefully).

Kev had been playing Tetris on his DS and then he decided it was time to work on the front lawn. I asked if he wanted help, he said that he was fine if I wanted to continue knitting (yea!). After he'd been out there for a while I figured I'd see how he was doing. Yeah, that ended up with a trip to the Home Deephole to get lawn seed and peat moss (among other goodies). We have now laid down good dirt, seed and peat moss. We over-seeded with the hopes of getting a really lush lawn.

There is a house up the street that Kev is envious of. Their lawn is spectacular. I keep telling him if he sees the guy (or gal) out working, he should totally go talk with them. Same area, same dirt. It'd be nice to see what they did to make their plot so much prettier than everyone else's. :)

See, that's just how exciting our world is these days. Whole lot of knitting (yes Russ, it sucks for you all who could not give a care about knitting, but it is MY blog). Whole lot of DS playing (I'm sooooo not writing about it unless it's me playing it). And after yesterday, a whole lot of yard word (which was riveting, no?).

So those are the words I choose to write today. Nothing thrilling, but it clues you into what we did this weekend.

let's hear it for the horns

I am used to hearing (and feeling) the bass of random music streaming from cars as they pass in front of the store. It's not a very nice thing, to actually feel the bass from a passing car. Just a second ago, another loud musical car passed by. This time, big band-y. No bass (yes!) but the horn section.

With the sun shining as it is, it seemed right. It made me smile.

flashes of brilliance

So yesterday Kev and I were speaking on the phone, I was at work he was heading to work. We spoke of Simon and how much we seriously dislike him in the morning. Now, don't get all up in arms about that statement. He's a heathen in the morning. Yesterday he started in at 5:50 for breakfast, which is always served promptly at 7:00. He walks on us, cries as if he's dying of starvation, he clacks the blinds (both above us and across the room), he tries to get under my night stand to play with electrical cords...I could go on but I think you get the picture.

We've tried locking him out of the room. He just shakes the door. We've tried wedging something against the door so it can't move, he gets it moving, and then it hits the item we've wedged, making even more noise.

We were almost out of ideas until Kev said something about wishing he had a glass (of bucket) of water to throw on him. Then it hit me...the spray bottle for when I iron!!! Grabbed it last night and this morning, beautiful. Got to actually squirt the little bugger three times and the rest of the times just brandishing the bottle made him run.

Sweet relief!!! :)

a day in the life

Woke at 7:30 to the quiet. I'd kicked Simon out. He is always quiet for a little while then he starts shaking the door. I push a gallon beer jug filled with coins up against it, but he's one strong little cat. When he's quiet for a little while, after the song and dance and shaking the door, I get up to feed them.

I putzed around the house for a little bit, ate a bagel, drank a latte, and fixed the banner on one of the pages of the site for work. All this before 8:30.

I got ready and took Kev to work. I went to Wallgreens and got the Benadryl we will need for Josie for the next 6 weeks (Dr. M is thinking allergy and will check her in 6 weeks). I stopped by Stumptown for coffee and headed to the kids location to take photos of kids Merrells. Got a few great shots, even one of a cute little boy wearing a frog backpack that we sell (he ended up getting it). Will save that shot for a future ad (since I'll be doing them for the next 18 months!).

Spent some time with Abdul at our shop next door (the regular, "big kids" store). We said our goodbyes (tomorrow is his last day).

I called my friend Linsel and we went to lunch. Lovely little Italian place within walking distance of his house. It was quite nice to get out and walk a bit (even if it was in the rain). I got Kev the same thing I had, Penne Putanesca, and took Linsel to his buddy's house over by where we live.

Ran to Kev's work so he could bring me home and have the car tonight at work.

Built an ad for the magazine. Finished writing up two orders and paring down one other. Have loaded all the images onto the computer for adding more to the site (adding a "limited edition" section to one of the brands).

I've now eaten dinner and just have a couple of things to do on the afore mentioned site. Looking forward to not having to pick up Kev tonight at work and getting to hang in my jammies all night with my trio of animal friends.

Might try getting in touch with my Ohio friend...

please, let her be the one!

So I think I met my new coworker yesterday. We're hiring a part timer to work downtown two days a week, with potential for more hours at other stores. This really sweet, bubbly, cute gal walks in last night and says:

"I saw the sign in the window on my walk to work this morning and had to come by tonight to ask about it..."

She works temp work and is done on Friday. She's looking to work a part time job and hoping to get an internship at a publisher. I might even have a couple of places to send her for that. There was a really great energy to her. She would be perfect in my shop, I don't know how I know, I just do.

Other people whom Ahmed has said, "she'll do really well, people will like her, she's sweet, he's been working in the business for blah blah blah" haven't fared too well. I think he needs to let me do the hiring for my shop. Hell, I would have hired her on the spot if I knew the specifics. She's supposed to drop her resume by today and tomorrow (assuming she has, which I really feel she will) I will call her to set up an interview with Ahmed for next week. I'm convinced she's looking for what we are offering. Also, she had an old, beat up pair of Dansko shoes on, so...

josie

I know it's been a while since I posted about something other than knitting. Sorry kids, it's just really exciting I'm starting AND FINISHING projects left and right.

I digress.

On Monday we were scratching on Josie when we realized that a small spot on her right hip had turned into a large spot on her right hip and small spots on her back. She's losing spots of hair. We're not sure what's going on, other than it's most likely some allergy. We took her in on Monday to the vet to see what's going on. Bloodwork came back fine. Thyroid slightly elevated but nothing to be alarmed by. He has her on 50mg of Benadryl, twice a day. Does it affect dogs as it does me, by knocking them out? Josie is already zonked, but it's our bedtime so who knows? We'll see if tomorrow she's sluggish after her morning dose.

I'll keep you all posted.

a teaser

I have started my "damn" scarf. I am using the Electric Youth blue that I bought from Kristin a while ago. It's lovely to work with. I have to watch myself because I can easily split the yarn. But the color varition is just amazing. (I'm using #9 needles. CO 31 sts. k2/p2)

Meanwhile around my house, Kevin is watching Harold and Kumar Get White Castle (or something like that). Simon is sitting on him looking at him annoyed because he's getting shaken by the laughter. Josie is sleeping in the living room with her stick. Chloe is in the back somewhere sleeping. I'm going to head to bed soon and perhaps knit a bit more.

life without fear!

Well, the black lariat scarf thing is done. It's not mine. I think I wanted it to be, but really, it's Diana's. I will take it to her tomorrow. She has no idea. I just don't wear that much black, especially that close to my face. Just not a good color.

I've now begun on something that WILL look good that close to my face. The Electric Youth scarf!!!!!! I am loving it so far. The pattern, k2/p2 ribbing, isn't as annoying as I remember it. Probably because I've got a few more things under my belt and I'm not fearing the known. Unknown, bejeezers out of me. Known, no fear at all.

I will have to get pictures of the lariat tonight, as well as the beginning of damn scarf, blue. Even though I don't dislike knitting the pattern again, I think it will always be called the Damn pattern/scarf/etc.

Wow, when did this turn into a knit blog? :)

i fear i'm slipping

Towards the world of starting project prior to current project being completed. I'm making that little black, lariat kind of scarf thing. Great, it's going well. But, well, I'm bored by the double drop stitch (at least that's what my friend/guru Jenn calls it...not sure if that is its real name). I crave to use the Electric Youth I purchased from Kristin. After her post of wanting to spin yarn, I'm wanting to use hers to make a gorgeous scarf for myself. I'm going to use the same pattern I used for Kev's scarf, the mistake pattern. I can see myself sitting up front tonight knitting away on it. The beauty of it, I could easily be done with the other if I'd stop typing and start knitting. Not a bad idea.

is that what i think it is?

After picking Kev up from work yesterday (post a random errand day with Jill and Mark) we entered the house to find...a dead mouse. This is the second we have come home to. Well, the second I've come home to, as Kev was privileged enough to miss out on the first one. My friend Reagan got to "be" with me for that one since we were chatting on the phone.

Anyway, we walk in and Kev's going to the bedroom to change out of his work clothes. He stops in the middle of the hallway and starts saying, "Josie, leave it! LEAVE IT!" She does and she comes back to me. He says, "Do you think that's a real dead mouse?" Um, yes.

Chloe is standing soooooo proudly by it, wanting to show off her prize. She was the one last time who basically brought it to me too.

So, we got to talking about it all last night. We never see evidence of having mice, no poop, no ripped open bags of food, etc. The only evidence we ever see is the actual dead mouse.

Life with mousers, should we sleep with one eye open?

in which i talk a lot of knitting

It's really funny once someone learns how to knit. In this story, that someone is ME.

You start asking random people if they made the hat they are wearing because you think it is really cool and want to take notes of what they've done. I could totally tell she did even before she answered because the look of pride that flashed to her face.

Then, they tell you that they will take photos of knit things they like, so that later on, attempts to recreate can happen. The memory of "I brought my camera today!" sprang to mind. So you ask her if she minds...

And she doesn't.

I totally want to try making this with a ball of yarn that has no project. I always thought it'd be a small beanie type hat, but not until I saw that girl's hat did I realize how it'd be done. So cute!!!

Oh, I suppose I should share the mohair creation I have named the *ahem* "Effing" Scarf. I should preface this image with this: mohair is not fun to work with for me (perhaps I have mentioned this before). Little bits of fluff fly through the air and get stuck all over everything. It snags on itself. I could go on. HOWEVER, I love the way this scarf turned out and it was worth every! single! minute!

the girl of a thousand bags

Hello. I would like to speak to you all about a problem that many women, including myself, face each and every day. I call it bagitus. In Laymens terms that means, I have too many damn bags, purses, backpacks, etc. and therefore change bags almost every single day. Here's the thing though, I am always looking for the next "perfect" has everything you could want in a bag, bag.

You'd think that the search could be called off since I have at least 10 hanging in my closet right now. 10. Who needs that many bags?! The only good thing, I suppose, is that I use each one. Each one is perfect for the time I carry it. Today, it's the perfect day to bring out my old backpack. I've got a load of things to carry in with me to work and I don't feel like straining my one shoulder/arm because I'm using the wrong bag. The backpack expands and can fit more in it, right now it's not expanded and doesn't need to be, but knowing that it's possible and I CAN bring more home tonight...priceless.

What confuses me most of the time is when I see women carrying their backpacks (the bus I ride in on picks up many students heading to PSU downtown), anyway, these women are lugging their over stuffed backpacks as well as a purse. I suppose I just answered my confusion there. The backpacks are too stuffed with books and such so they have to carry a purse with the wallet, mobile phone, etc. I suppose I'm just a minimalist girl (hah) and don't like to carry too many bags at once. It's really my belief that you should be able to get through life carrying on bag at a time. Of course, grocery shopping, clothes shopping, etc are the exceptions. But on a day to day basis, really, you want to be lugging around three different bags?

There is a woman on the bus. She usually has two medium sized bags as well as her purse. She's constantly struggling with all the straps and drops stuff as it's her turn to get off the bus. I just want to ask her, "why so many at one time? why not just find one larger bag?" She carries all three on the same arm so before anyone suggests she has the two medium ones so she can balance herself, that's not happening from what I see.

I don't see myself getting rid of any of them soon. I guess I will just be the girl who changes her carrying devices as often as she changes her undies...each and every day.

Can't. Look. Away.

You have got to be kidding me. I happen to have on American Inventor (or whatever it is called). The first guy, I can't even believe he is for real. Let's just say his "invention" had something to do with "farts"...and he didn't go through.

This show is almost as ridiculous as American Idol, but without the painful singing. The judges are all like Simon, from what I've seen thus far.

It's a train wreck, I can't look away. The second guy is a true salesman, but his invention, not so hot. How many people in the world play football? He did put on a little play though. The judges are going to give him a try.

And now there is a naked woman...

Now, what I want to know is, what is the premise? Do they then have to come up with another idea or are they going to then put their invention into motion and see which one is the best in the end.

Okay, blogging and trying to not watch this show is becoming increasingly difficult. I really should work on an ad I need to get in by the 11th of April, but I'm not feeling it tonight. I'll take the computer with me tomorrow so that I can play around while at work.

happy spring

The first day of spring is a beautiful thing. After Kev got back from the afore mentioned "dumb meeting" he, Josie and I went to Waukeena Falls and walked up to the stream head. It's amazing to us to see such a small amount of water at the top and walk back down next to roaring falls almost the whole way down. Josie was in heaven, Kev and I just hiked quietly today (we spoke some, but mainly we felt our bodies responding to movement again).

We stopped at Safeway and grabbed a couple of sandwiches (Best. Sandwiches. Ever.) and then we zipped home to eat before we decided to detail the car. I suppose our form of spring cleaning is a bit different, instead of the house...

Man, it is looking good. Inside and out! Kev vacuumed while I dry dusted everything. Then he washed the exterior and I climbed in and cleaned the interior. Those Clorox wipes work really well to get into the nooks and crannies. The windows even got washed. Never such satisfaction as when I wiped away all the nose prints from Josie's window.

Speaking of Josie, she's zonked. Full out, on the side, barely able to wag her tail, zonked. She'll sleep well tonight, as will we. Well, the laundry just called. Must go flip the comforter around and dry it again (perhaps the third time will be the charm?).

do i have anything in my teeth?

Hello, my name is Shannon and I lack the ability to sleep in past 7:30 am on my weekends.

Even on a morning where Kev has to get up to go to a dumb meeting for his work (meaning HE gets up to feed Simon, Josie and Chloe) I can not stay in bed. It's like an illness or something. I was totally fine, slumbering away and then his alarm went off. Okay, no big deal, I can sleep through his one snooze (btw, I HATE snooze buttons with a passion. I say get up when you have your alarm to set to wake you because those extra 7-9 minutes DON'T. DO. ANYTHING.).

He is up, everyone is fed, Josie's been let out and back in, things are looking positive. Wow, I'm going to totally get a sleep in morning. I get to be the one still in bed with an orange cat and a black dog flanking her. I am the one who gets to roll over to his side of the bed with a triumphant sigh. I am the one...who hears him taking out the trash but not the recycling so I am the one who gets up to drag it to the curb. And then I am the one who is up for her day. I've already got my latte made and my half of an Everything bagel almost consumed (I wish they wouldn't use fennel on Everything bagels...not a huge fan I must say).

I now have a load of laundry going and was even contemplating getting a start on picking up the house (it's amazing how dirty it gets in a week when you have three, make that two since Chloe doesn't really shed as much as the other two, so two animals whom shed simply when you look at them).

I will find a hike for us to take today, since it is just that beautiful here, and I will be dressed and ready to go when Kev gets home (in about two hours we are guessing).

Now excuse me, I must go pick fennel out of my teeth....shudder.

mashed taters

"You're the kind of table we talk about, because you are so cool . . ."

Not to date myself, but ROCK ON! That was said to us tonight while we were eating dinner at one of our favorite spots for comfort food (not that we needed comforting tonight, but since it was slightly cold out, Delta sounded good).

We laughed about it, talked about our coolness and came home to finish up some orders and putz on the net (me) and play tiny Nintendo (him...and I can't remember the name of the machine...DS).

I am going to go to bed soon and you know what? That's cool.

he likes it, he really likes it!

So I have just gotten done showing Ahmed what I've done to the shops site (would that have an 's?). He was really impressed. He suggested a couple of things, one of which I knew he would and am cursing myself for not doing it in the first place...oh well. The rest, he just loves. He is excited about the new banner I am creating for the top of the page. He is just really impressed, from what he told me. I had such a good time, even though I was on the computer for close to 12 hours straight. He was amazed by that. I think he now knows why I wanted to play with the site and trusts me to play even more (I'm probably close to halfway done).

Okay, back to lunch.

search better on acid?

I am sitting here trying NOT to obsess on the things I haven't gotten done at my works website. There was a commercial on for Ask.com. I swear it sounds like the announcer is saying "search better on acid".

Ahhh, after 11 hours (not quite straight, but really close actually), I'm not quite done with all that I want to do. There are a few links that I'm not happy with, but will fix them up tomorrow.

As for now, I'm turning off the computer and watching My Name is Earl.

too funny

what a day. met a really funny woman who was here with some conference. she bought two pairs of shoes then came out with jill and i for drinks. too funny for sure!

am looking forward to a day in my jammies! will be working on website and finalizing our orders for fall 06. yea.

kev is home.

good night.

this is me, turning over a new leaf (for this week at least)

I am constantly amazed by my online cyber world friends who can, and do, post new things each and every day (although weekends often times are taken and it's not until Monday that new things are posted, but hell, everyone deserves time away). I feel as though I've let you all down (I can hear Kev already saying, "Russ says you need to update your blog!").

I am going to do my best to post real things, often.

Right now, for instance, Simon is staring me down, making like he's going to swiftly jump onto the desk where my cereal bowl is sitting (among other stuff). He's all nonchalant about it, looking around (oooh, what's that? something shiny?) trying to allow me time to let my guard down. Let me tell you, it's not going to happen. I have cat like reflexes just like him from all the years of living with the creatures. I can foil even his most diabolical of plans.

Damn, while I was creating the links to the blogs the little shit got up here...oh he's so cute, I suppose it doesn't matter. :)

Today is another day, just like the days past and much like the days to come. I am hoping it does not hold anything horrible, but is just another day. Speaking of that, I must gather cd's to take to make today a nice, smooth day. And I have to get going on the making of my lunch. I know, it's exciting, isn't it?!?

blank

I am trying to think of things that we did this weekend that would intrigue and inspire. Nothing is coming to mind.

The mohair, not as horrible as I make it out to be, but it is hard to work with (the scarf it is turning into is going to be beautiful, and it wants to be the scarf, it's just finding the desire to work on it). I am a believer in finishing things I start. A surprise for many of you since in the past I'd start a project and like a raccoon find something shiny and lose all interest in the original project. I have half finished angel pillows hanging around my craft room. I have sketches for all kinds of pillows I'd love to make. I have fabric waiting to find out what it's going to be.

Knitting has been different though. I've made myself wait to start projects until I'm done with the current project, whatever it is I happen to be working on. However, I always have the next project in mind when I start a new one. Like I know I want to try to make a thin, black scarf type thing in the same "double drop" stitch I am doing with the mohair, just to see what it will do. BUT I have the Electric Youth blue that is asking to be made into a k2/p2 ribbed scarf/cowl prior to that.

Maybe I'll take the mohair with me today and get to work on it at work. I always feel a bit guilty, knitting at work, but when there is nothing left to do...what, I should just sit there? Then again, when is there nothing left to do?

Okay, I'm out.

done and done

And knit day is over. It was a short one this month because people had dinner engagements, Cirque de Soliel dress rehearsals, and life to attend. I got a bit more done on the mohair scarf, I've dubbed it the effing scarf. I HATE mohair (perhaps I've mentioned it before here?).

Anyway, Josie and I have already gone on a walk as well. I am sure Kev was surprised when we spoke and not only was knit day done, but I was out walking the dog without him having to prompt me. Hell, it's beautiful out. I don't need prompting on pretty days.

Kev's heading home. I've got a warmed cider next to me. Simon is all snuggled up in my arms as I type and all is right with my world.

is it 2:30 yet?

The house is clean. The animals, all napping. Food is on its way to being prepared. Chairs are arranged and waiting for my friends/fellow knitters to come and sit. Anticipation has always been hard for me. The party doesn't start for another hour and forty minutes, but I am all ready. Perhaps I inherited this preparation gene from my mom? I think so.

I have the bowls out for the various chips, crackers and cookies. Josie is all aflutter waiting now. She knows to expect people since the living room is all out of order (at least her order) and every time she hears a car door shut she instantly thinks it's someone coming here.

I suppose I can finish making a playlist for today...yeah, that's what I will do.

non stop entertainment!!

Life around my house, if anything, is never dull. Not only do I share my life with Kev (the fabulous husband), but I get to live with three of the most inspiring, entertaining and infuriating creatures. Simon is the leader. He was since the day he moved in. However, I'm getting ahead of myself. I'd like to share with you all the way they came to be in our lives, and where else to start but with our eldest,

Chloe.

Kev and I had just moved in with each other when we discussed the idea of getting a second cat. One that could be "ours" as Bob was really "mine" (although Bob was known to remove himself from my lap when Kev would get home so he could greet him). We ventured to the local Kansan SPCA. We were NOT going to get a younger cat (aka, kitten). I wanted to adopt an older kitty friend. We went to the "wrong" part of the cattery and entered the world of kittens and juvenile cats.

I spotted Chloe from the moment we walked into the room. She didn't really mew too much, but did chirp a little. We took her out of her cage and she sunk into my chest and started purring. Her beautiful green eyes watching mine. She was only four months old so we told her we owed the older kitties to take a look at them, knowing full well she was our kitten. She instantly became Kev's cat. She would crawl all over him, when not tormenting Bob.

She's now 8 years old. She's known every other kitty we have ever had (Bob and Fred...). She took care of Bob when he no longer could keep himself clean and she made Fred her bitch. She's a special gal in my life and when I look at her I still can't help but think, I am the luckiest girl in the world who gets to live and love Chloe.

Simon.


We had just gone through the horrible loss of our Freddie Lumkins. He was a total doll baby. We couldn't watch Chloe pine for him so we decided to go take a look. We entered the new cattery at the Portland SPCA and began the tour. I had previously told Kev that I really wanted an orange boy. We had already agreed on adopting a boy cat (keep the ratio right in the house). There were some very sweet cats there, but none were the ones for us. Until we turned the very last corner.

"Clarence," the sign read, "is four years old, domestic short hair, etc etc." We looked at him and didn't think there was any chance he was 4 years old and aged him at about 4 months, an easy mistake. We asked to visit with ol' Clarence and went to the room and waited. He was tiny. His right buttock was shaved. He was nosy as all hell. Once his nose stopped going overboard he snuggled right between the two of us and started falling asleep. Hook, line and sinker.

From the moment that boy entered the house we knew he would be the house Godfather. The Godfather is four and a half years old...Chloe's still pissed about the whole arrangement.

Josie.

We had been at a party. One where one of you gets totally loaded and the other understands and is the designated driver. Let's just say the drive home was lovely and I remember all of it. :) I hung out with the coolest dog that night. Her name is Sister. Yellow Lab.

On our way to the car Kev calls out, "We can get a dog if she's as cool as Sister." Well, seeing as I was the dd and was going to remember those words, I set to the task of finding Bowzer.

We'd originally said, no dog before Kev got a job and definitely not before my family was coming for the holidays. But when he uttered those very words "we can get a dog..." I could not contain myself. I visited petfinder.com daily. I have no idea how many emails I sent him by the end. All those faces of those in need.

Then I came across Bowzer. She was my dog, our dog, and I knew it. She was the only one he responded with "I would adopt this dog" via email. We sent in the application and heard back that same night. Kev was to meet her the next day and make the decision. She had been fostered for a week with Karen and from the moment he took her leash, two days after that email, she was home.

I remember talking to him on the phone as he was walking with her. The excitement in his voice. He asked me what he should do and I told him to follow his heart because I already knew she was ours. He brought her to the store where I was working late. She still had no name (cuz I was surly NOT calling her Bowzer). So excited about everything, but very cautious. I wanted her to know I was her mom, but she just kind of shrunk back to Kev's side. However, when I got to the car, wiggles all over. And I asked Kev what he thought about Josie, like the outlaw.

Now she greets us each and every morning with wiggles and kisses because "HEY! YOU'RE HERE AND I'M HERE AND YOU'RE AWAKE!" Actually, she's like that every time we leave and enter the house (no different from a few minutes to many hours either, same wiggles and kisses). Even at four years old she's still got all those wiggles.

These three are something else. They are funny and make me laugh each and every day. They also have the ability to drive me batty (insert Dad's phrase, "that's not a drive, that's a short putt") and make me want to bang my head against a rock. But I love them. I love to watch their interactions with each other and with us and our friends.

And trust me when I say, there is never a dull moment...seriously, just trust me.

check

Wow, what an amazing day I had yesterday.

It started with me getting up WITHOUT an alarm at 7:30 (unless you can call the round orange creature we live with an alarm. then i did wake up with one, although i never once hit snooze). I took my time getting ready (well, as much as i could take since i was having to take kev to work). As soon as I dropped Kev at work I realized that the store I was going to go to first didn't open until 11:00 (and he didn't even know i was having thursdays away from my shop downtown so he was a bit perplexed to say the least). I got the photos of the two stores on Hawthorne (which honestly, they are all looking alike now because we have the same set up in each store, the walls are lined with racks of shoes). I then zipped over to the shop on Broadway (and had a lovely time talking with Barbara).

That task taken care of (i even got all the photos loaded straight to my new computer right then and there so no having to do it later when i uploaded the file to the publisher's website) I went to lunch with my friend Linsel. We had a wonderful talk (one in which i tell him everything that is on my mind about recent events, and don't hold anything back...nor does he). We discuss doing this at least once a month (i don't think i could do every week, we took a long lunch). I dropped him off at home and then headed there myself (where the trio was sooooo excited because they think anytime we are away from the house for any amount of time as soon as we get back, they get fed). I told them they were sad, sad creatures if they thought they were getting fed at 2:00 in the afternoon (and they did all settle down as soon as i sat down at the computer in my craft room).

Invoices, ready to send. CHECK

Photos, uploaded to the publisher's site. CHECK

Orders, written up. CHECK

Today I will take the orders in to my boss and get his feedback (which will result with me rewriting a couple, either adding styles or decreasing styles....although i've gotten quite good at knowing what he wants for the shops).

Today I will tell him how wonderful it was to actually get everything done without the stress of having to stop halfway through some project to help someone on their quest to find the shoe that fits their "hard to fit foot."

Today I will be calm.

snow, falling

sigh, big.

day, beautiful.

tasks, complete.

long lost friend

When I was growing up I remember every year during the summer the arrival of the day that was inevitable. You know the day of which I speak. The day boredom moved in with it's sleeping bag for the rest of the summer until school would start again.

I would pine and moan and call out such things as, "Daaaaad. I'm BORED!" To which Dad would reply, "Nothin' wrong with bein' bored. Bein' bored is okay."

I couldn't fathom what he meant by that...until now. What I would give to have a day where I had so little to do that boredom would set in! I flirt with it every so often, but never enough to really say that I was, in fact, bored. I sometimes will write to a friend during work about how bored I am, but when I get to thinking about it, it's just avoiding doing work and not true blissful boredom.

and the back

I will now try to load a picture of the back of the leg, the other part she did today. All I have to say is this, it is so nice to be this excited. People will comment about, "nice ink" and instead of going on and on about how it really is not the best tattoo I now am ecstatic and sharing with them Naomi's name.

Again, don't scroll further if you don't want to see it...

plastic view of the sea

Anyone who is not a fan of the tattoo and what not may want to not read this post (with pics).





Session 3. (sorry didn't update at session two, but it was really ground work and not all that exciting). However, today's session was great. Three and a half hours. The constant sound of that gun. The warm sun on my back (for half of it the sun was out and glowing on me).

And this is what happened as I laid there basking in the sun.
I'm trying to upload the back now, but am having issues with blogger...it runs slower on the laptop for some reason. One more try. No luck. Will publish it later. :)

can you see what's on the screen?

A few weeks ago I began the job of cleaning out my sewing room (well, what I call my sewing room but more it's a catch all of crap). I had one box of random recycling that I had to sort (you know, shred, no shred). No big deal.

As I worked through the boxes of papers I realized I needed something else, other than just clearing the mess. The flow was not working and I knew it would have to be fixed to get the good creative mojo flowing. I got to thinking how nice it would be to have a comfortable chair in the room so I could sit back in the warmest room of the house on the cool winter nights and knit. Although, the room is the size of a postage stamp (read, not even our queen sized bed would fit in it) and I didn't know how I was going to get it to happen. Then, I had an idea...move the bookcase to the closet! I'm not really liking the ties to the left of the door and am thinking those may be coming down shortly. Other than that, I'm really quite pleased with the way it's shaping up. I mean, it's not custom or fancy pants, but it is exactly what I needed to do in order to get my comfortable chair into the room.

I moved the computer/sewing table around to give myself a small corner for the only "comfy" chair in the house (and until I re-stuff the seat cushion it's not quite the most comfortable chair).

I apologized to Chloe (you see, she'd loved running through the house and up the side of that chair when it was in the living room). She just watched me with her big eyes. I carried it back and set it into place.

Perfect.
I can now come back here and spend the evening knitting while listening to music through the world wide web.

Simon and Josie seem to like it (I'm thinking about getting a bed for her while she's in here, you know instead of the hardwood floor). Simon just hangs on the table top with me as I write this entry (although the birds have demanded his attention so now he's staring wide eyed and alert out the window).

I can't wait until Kev gets home to see what I've been up to. He's been waiting for me to tackle the box of ugliness for a while now. I feel rather accomplished.

We are heading to an Oscar party tonight (thankfully not a fancy dress party) and I suppose I should get going...must get ready for my close up. Although it'll be hard to tear myself away from my new computer.

My three favorite machines, computer, sewing machine and serger.

Okay, I'm out.

it's linktastic

I get up and go to the bedroom so I can get ready for bed (what, a girl can put on her pj's at 7:30 at nigh). As I pass the kitchen, where Simon is sitting in a box (what is it with boxes lately?) he jumps out and runs back with me. Josie hears us and decides she needs to see what we are doing. Chloe just sits on her dresser hoping I am going to give her more food (she's really turned begger thing on lately).

I'm grabbing my slippers and Josie is standing watching me. Simon walks up and rubs against her. He stops right under her chin. She looks down at him and starts licking him. I watch with a feeling of love growing inside. As I continue to watch them I notice she's nibbling on him. You know, like they do when they have an itch or are trying to get stuff out of their fur? Simon was just in ecstasy.

I feel lucky to have Josie and her pussycats in my life. The three are really quite special (and very lazy about updating their diaries...).

soon...soon

I have gotten word from the guy who does the schedules that not Thursday the 16th, but the 23rd I will be starting the whole "not going into the actual store to do work, but working from either home or the outlet store on our website" deal that my boss and I determined would be happening. The person who had needed Thursdays off is now able to work them again (yesterday was his last Thursday no work day) so I assumed that we would start this sooner (I was really hoping for next week). I'm a bit perturbed that Mr. Schedule is saying I have to wait. Not sure why.

Oh well, I must be patient. I will continue to take work home with me, shush. I have a few more orders to write up tonight as well as some things to design for Bambuseae. Tomorrow we are going to meet our friends for dinner and a drink after I get off work. Sunday an Oscars party (where we probably won't really watch, but eat much food and drink...water). Monday I'm supposed to have work done on the ink, but it's her partner's birthday so I think I'm going to call and postpone it myself. :) I offered, she declined. She did sound quite appreciative though (damn, I am a multi tasker, no?).

I'm kind of looking forward to a night at home alone. I am debating whether I should even take work home with me (a resounding NO is coming from the commentors I know). But, I have the show on Sunday the 19th. I need to present my reps with the orders at that time AND I need to run them all by Ahmed before I go. IF I were to have next week to work from home, I'd just make myself wait. BUT that's not going to happen. Maybe I'll call Mr. Schedule and see why he can't have the other guy in until the 23rd...

Okay, much to do and half an hour to do it.


**update**

I ended up NOT bringing any work home. And the talk with Mr. Schedule went well. He is even going to try to work something out so it could possibly start next week. Keep your fingers crossed! So much to do on our website...

how you doin?

So the thoughts have been swarming through my head today. I started wondering, how does everyone else go about writing for their blogs? Personally, I don't do any preparation, no notes (although I always have ideas and should really write them down so I don't forget them once I sit in front of the computer and draw a blank as to what I had been thinking about). I usually just sit and let the words exit my brain as they want. But I've been thinking about that lately. Why don't I do some prewriting? Why don't I make notes as the thoughts are fresh in my mind? Am I lazy? Too busy? Both?

you have my socks!

I love working downtown in a large city. There is never a want for good people watching. Usually I can get away with watching and not interacting. Sometimes, they come in. There is one guy who walks by regularly and every once in a while will look in, flash a huge smile and wave like his arm is about to fall off. I can go days without seeing him, sometimes weeks, but then he is back, waving like a maniac. Once he's come in and told me I looked like I could use a hug. Luckily my dear friend Linsel was visiting and I said, "Oh, no, I just got one from my boyfriend." To which the man replied, "Oh, yeah, he's a big guy...next time." That was quite a while ago. Today was the day he decided to walk by right as I was towards the front of the store. He waved, pointed at some pink flip flops in the window and flashed the thumbs up...before walking in.

I said goodbye to the customer who'd just been in and was on her way out when he came in. She flashed me the "good luck" smile. He kept asking how large certain styles went to. "Women's eleven" was always the answer. "Oh, I wish they made them in my size..." Then he found the socks.

him: "Oh you have my socks! It was my birthday not long ago."

me: "Isn't that great. Happy Birthday."

him: "I'm just trying to give my friend ideas as to what she could get me."

me: "Mmhmmm (knowing he was speaking of me)."

him: "You know who I'm talking about, don't you? YOU!"

me: "Well, I can't give socks away for free. I like my job."

him: "You could buy them for me!"

me: "I don't have enough money to, I'm sorry."

him: "Well, I'll be back next....Wednesday. Yeah, I'll see you Wednesday."

I have no doubt that I will not be seeing him next Wednesday. I will probably go weeks again without seeing his big, smiling face walk by my shop.

cat's out of the bag

I'm sitting on the sofa in the cave. I'm fixing up my new tool...my laptop (although I suppose now they are called notebooks). Kev's playing some game on the desktop. I've got music piping through from Giles Peterson. I look to my right and who do I see?

I can't stand how cute those two are together! I mean, look at them...oops, I guess that cat is out of the bag now, but do notice she sits on a blanket. We are training her only on the blanket! Let me tell you, on a cold winter night, she's mighty warm! :)

that dad is a sneaky man!

Well, leave it to my Dad to be sneaky and tag us while we read his latest entry...

So, here it goes:

4 things I need every morning:
1. the sound of Kev's breathing as he sleeps
2. wiggles coming from Josie as I get out of bed to feed the crew
3. a latte
4. a roof over my head

4 things that turn me off:
1. cell phone conversations in which I can hear both parties...even just hearing the person on my end is bad enough
2. inconsiderate people
3. people who are all "I'm right!" even when they are not
4. not playing fair

4 things I believe in:
1. myself
2. the love I feel for my family and friends
3. that we all make the choices that get us where we are today (and future today's)
4. yoga

4 things I am afraid of:
1. not living up to my potential
2. the trillions of icons in my task bar that I have no clue what they are there for
3. drowning
4. inheriting the macular degeneration that has taken my grandmother's sight

4 things I do every day:
1. kiss Kev and tell him I can't stand how much I love him
2. squish on some furry animals and give kisses (cuz in our house, the rules are ANYTIME WE WANT we can kiss those little faces)
3. knit (or I'm trying to every day)
4. obsessively read my friends blogs

4 things I want to do/have:
1. I want to live my life to the fullest
2. I want to always do right by others
3. I want to continue finishing every project I start to knit
4. I want zero debt, what so ever

4 people I want to see:
1. my grandpa
2.
3.
4.

4 numbers that rule my life:
1. 6
2. 14
3. 17
4. 5

4 favorite colors:
1. turquoise (but not the garish color, more subtle)
2. teal (yeah, more like teal)
3. brown (chocolate brown)
4. orange (a burnt orange, or a bright, but no neon!)

back

Well, I arrived home yesterday afternoon after a quick and wonderful trip. Jill and Mark were fantastic travel companions (even though during the actual act of traveling they were on different planes both ways).

The wedding was quite sweet. It was held at the Museum of Photographic Arts. One of my favorite things is that for the guest book they had an old time photo booth where we had to cram ourselves in to have four shots taken...the shots were then glued into a book that people signed. People wrote long bits of advice, "remember whens" and other silly things. We decided to keep ours simple:

live

laugh

love

We felt it really comes down to those things, marriage.

I should really ask Jill and Mark before putting their picture here, the one from the booth. So, instead I'll show you the last of the four taken, that I've amended...They were smooching to my left (the right side of the image). I was missing Kev.

it's good to be home...

spring, sprang, sprung

It has sprung to mind that I am leaving tomorrow to head down to sunny San Diego for my friends wedding. I will be absent from this place so Russ, Reggie, all you guys...don't bug Kev about my lack of updating! I'll say something wonderful and profound, I am sure, upon my return.

Meanwhile, kick through the archives. From what I hear, my writing has gotten much more upbeat and positive (I guess I was a complaining beyotch before?).

Enjoy where you are!

this is our life as we age...

i could...

I could complain...

"Oh woe-s me...I only had one day off this past weekend. I'm so tired"

But I think I'd be slapped silly because you see, I am only here two days this week and then...I'M OFF FOR FIVE STRAIGHT DAYS!!!

It's slowly hitting me that I am going to San Diego Thursday thru Saturday. Slowly. I mean, I've packed almost everything I'm taking (I had to do a bit of laundry because a sweater and a cami were dirty that I wanted to wear while there). The makeup bag is packed (and sitting open so I can use my favorites these next couple of days). The fancy clutch my dear friend Jenn is lending me is nestled in it's protective bag (I refuse to let anything bad happen to the clutch while it's in my care and thus I've used a bag I have for one of my other purses to protect it in the carry on). I just have to pack the knitting and the yoga book, and both those things are currently being used. I suppose I could pack the mohair and the 10.5's I'm going to use for that scarf since I've not officially started it, but will when I'm there. Had thought of packing Electric Youth, but decided that I would wait to do that when I got home...still not sure though. A girl can change her mind.

Even though I only had one day off (yesterday) for my weekend I still packed that day full of wonderful things. Sadly, this did not include a hike with Josie. It was just so darn cold out and I had a closet to clean out in the sewing/knitting/crafty room. And that started me on a grand reorganization kick and we all know what happens then...you want to curl up into a ball and cry.

I got about half done when we realized we needed to start getting ready to meet our friends for dinner. We haven't seen Jess and Bran for quite some time and it was nice to catch up. We didn't stay out late since it was a "school" night for us all and when Kev and I got home we started working on a puzzle his Dad and Kathy sent us. :) We're photo documenting our progress so that we can send them the story of the puzzle. LOL

So, I suppose I could complain, but I'm not really sure where that would get me. I know, it surprises me too! ;)

he's got the mad skillz

A while ago when my dear friend Chaslyn's mother was visiting we all went out to dinner at a place called Equinox in the Northeast part of town. The food was good (slightly overpriced), the drinks were fantastic, service so-so. We were the last group in the place, not really by choice, but rather because we were waiting for our server to pick up our money/cards so we could pay and leave. We waited and waited and finally I took the cards and pile of money to the bar. As I approached this rather exuberant guy says to the woman who is reaching for the money, "WOW! It's her!! She is the best person to buy clogs from! She is really good at her job!!!" I looked at him and tried to remember him, as I am want to do with customers. Blank. Mind absolutely blank.

Two minutes ago that rather exuberant guy walked into my store as I was putting a spoonful of soup in my mouth. I recognize him as the man behind the bar that night with the friends. He says, "HI!" as he enters the store. I try to say hello back, but it's hard with bean and corn soup so I wave instead. He tells me he's got the waiter skills of asking questions as people are just taking a bite to eat. I told him I was impressed with his skills because he wasn't at work this time, I was.

Oh, I found our server that night. She had retreated to the other dining room to eat dinner herself. Um, word of advice to her: If you still have a table that you have just dropped the bill off with, don't go get your dinner and forget about us. We'd like to leave so you all can go home...

cuz THAT was fun

Yeah, just spent the better part of the evening figuring out how the hell I even did all those links before. Now, it seems to be working again. Yea!

We went out for bbq tonight at Clays Smokehouse. I got home after work and needed some comfort food. Nothing bad happened that made me need it, just felt like I wanted it.

I work tomorrow since Charles is on a mini vacation himself this weekend. I am hoping it will be slow enough to actually get some of the boxes put away. We'll see.

Okay, I know this post is lame, but I wanted to update and what not.

not my doing

Yesterday I was playing around with the template. When I noticed if I had hit change, or whatever, my blogging friends wouldn't be in the sidebar I aborted the mission to decide on things later, when I could highlight them and "take them with" to the new template...

So imagine my surprise when I logged in this am to find a different template AND no friends listed in the links. Stoopid blogger...

and jog in place, two three...

I woke this morning with the knowledge that it was going to be a really cold day. I actually fell asleep last night knowing that it was going to be really cold today. I got up to go feed the crew. Mr. Tree Frog (our thermometer) hanging on the sliding door in the kitchen tells me it's 23º out there. WHAT?!?! And, it's windy (Mr. TF didn't tell me that, my keen sense of deduction did...what, there was recycling from the neighbors flitting about). So, there was a wind chill that was not known. All I knew was it was going to be one cold wait for the bus. Josie doesn't seem to mind the cold and wind, she's perfectly content with going outside and staying out there for what seems like a much longer time than normal. Because I don't want to leave her out there when I jump in the shower I am forced to wait until her little booty is ready to come back in. Also, because I want to foster this feeling of "outside is good!" in her, I don't want to call her in. When she finally bounces back to the door I can get my day really going. I had already made the executive decision that I would wear the warmest sweater I own. It's a crazy, chunky turtleneck that at one point was way too warm for me. Now, it's perfect in this weather! I get all cleaned up and dressed, hair done, make up on...and then, I have to say goodbye to the man who is all warm and snug in bed with a dog at one hip and a cat at the other so I can go stand outside in the brutal windy cold morning. Jerks.

I walk outside, my snot...freezes in my nose. Gross, I know, BUT that is the kind of cold it gets in Kansas!!! Not Oregon. WTF?!? I proceed to walk to the bus (against the wind) and when I get to the stop I do a mini calisthenics class all by myself. People are driving by looking at me and mouthing the words, "are you cold?" Gee, no, I'm just multitasking and getting in some cardio as I wait for the bus. Which I guess I kind of was, but not for that reason was I jumping around like a goon. I was cold!!!

Today as people enter the store and I greet them with my normal, "Hi! How are you today?" The answers have all been the same. "COLD!"

Now, I'm not trying to complain, I'm really not. It just caught us off guard. I do have to say that at least it's sunny here! There is that. I can deal with the cold as long as the sun is shining. The wind, that I could live without.

because I'M the problem with today's society...

I was standing at the counter, helping Mary take her new purple clogs home. Ringing her up and ever so happy that we could find them at one of our other stores. There is another woman checking out her size section and a third woman with her daughter who is probably close to 10 years old wandering around as well.

The door slams open.

A "white woman in her thirties" bursts in and sets her plastic bags down with a lovely production. They must have weighed at least thirty pounds each by the sound she emits. She starts rustling around in the bag. She pulls out two pairs of shoes.

I am in the middle of the transaction with Mary so I say, "oh, some repair to drop off?" as they were NOT from our store.

"NO! I have to return these."

"Not here, we don't carry that brand."

"Well," huff, "do you know who does?" she says with another huff.

"No, I don't. Sorry."

"Well, what about these? Did THESE come from here?" she pulls out something else.

"No, they didn't and I don't know where they might have come from either."

Now she gets loud as she starts saying, "WELL DO YOU KNOW WHERE A WHITE WOMAN IN HER THIRTIES WHO IS TRYING TO MAKE MONEY SO SHE CAN HELP WITH GRAMMA'S HEAT MAKE SOME MONEY?"

I suggest she check with the Unemployment office. She asks why. I say that they can help her find work.

"Well, I have a job, but I don't get paid for another three weeks..." and she rambles on and on about the problem with today's society is people like me who abuse the system.

M'kay.

still here

The brain, she is overworked these days.

Many of you dear people have been so supportive and wonderful to me through this really tough time and I thank you. I still haven't heard from the place I applied at, but I only sent in my resume with cover letter on Monday and I figure I will hear within the next week...IF they are interested.

I'm sad to say that yesterday found me wanting to beat myself with a clog because of some of the questions I was getting...

1. These are going to stretch, right? (don't most shoes stretch? yes, yes they do)
2. Do you have them in leather? (as she is looking at a pair of LEATHER clogs)
3. Can you wear these in the rain? (as she is looking at a pair of MESH shoes) i answered this one with "you can, but your feet will probably get wet"
4. Are you ordering boots in still? (after we'd spoken about us getting in sandals for the spring)
5. Do you know if (store X) carries these? (cuz I work where?)

These were only a few. There are days where I want to scoop my customers up in my arms and smoosh on them all because they are fabulous. Then there are days where 6:00 can't get here fast enough so I can go home and smoosh on the critters.

Funny thing...just had a customer in for quite a while. She made a comment that wow, so many people had come and gone and she was still here. I realized, I feel the same way. I'm still here. Customers I've not seen for a year (because they only come in annually) will say to each other, "Look! She's still here!" It's in a great way, the way that tells me they are happy to see me, but that's just it...I'm still here.

am i the grinch?

**Yesterday as everyone wished me a "Happy Valentines Day!" I would look at them and state, "Yeah, I really don't believe in this holiday. I personally think it's better to share that feeling of love throughout the year whenever the fancy strikes you." I got the oddest looks all day. Towards the end I simply said, "Um, yeah, same to you."

So, what did we do for "the big day", you ask...we made fish.

I found a recipe for a parmesan crusted baked fish. Kev's only job yesterday was to find the fish. He went to some Asian market where he was the only 6'3" person there. Everyone looked at him and for a brief moment he thought about bailing. Then he decided that he would stay and find the fish for dinner. He went to the case where there was fish and other things (I am assuming there were other things since I wasn't there and he didn't really tell me) on display. He explained he needed 12 oz (or was it 24 oz) of flounder. The man said to him, "This will do and two fish will be plenty." What Kev didn't realize is that when he said "two fish" he meant TWO WHOLE FISH. So, he got home, unwrapped them and realized he was going to have to gut and clean two fish.

When I rolled in I was smacked in the face by some horrid scent. The first thing I think I asked was what one of the animals did. He just had this look on his face. Then I got the story. He ended up getting rid of the fish he was not successful cleaning or gutting and he went to another store and bought frozen rock fish fillets.

Everything worked out in the end, but there is still the slight scent of dead fish in the air. I'm sure the cats are beside themselves wondering where it is coming from (don't worry, the fish were disposed of outside...which means we will be thankful the temp is dropping to below 30 this weekend and not baking the fish in our trash can).

**Amendment:

The people I said this to were friends or people I have seen on a daily basis for quite some time now. And honestly, most of them didn't only look at me with that odd look, but once I explained why I feel that way, most of them agreed. It's a holiday that has people believing they can get away without doing things for their loved ones throughout the rest of the year, but save up for the one big day. I say let the love show all year round...but then again, that is just my opinion.

yeah, he is a cat

Crazy Simon

In case I've not told you before, Simon likes to be vacuumed...if the video shows up, you'll believe me.

thank the eyes

Thank you to those who have let me know that they support me. I won't tell you what is going on yet, but if/when I hear anything back, you'll be the first to know...okay, maybe not the first.

I will say that I did just hit send and my resume and cover letter were attached. Now, I will wait.

KU basketball is on right now and it's a bit closer than we thought it would be. Perhaps it was Kev's comment of, "this should be a blow out" that is making it closer? Maybe the team is just tired from so many wins? Maybe Oklahoma State feels they have something to prove with their Coach being out of commission, so to speak. Whatever it is we hope they turn it around and start really playing.

The nag is ringing (aka the laundry machine) and I have some knitting to do. Plus, my mind hasn't settled down since Thursday morning...when all this job stuff reared its head.

Much love, namaste.

the world of hypotheticals

Okay, so what would you do?

A job is listed with a company you have felt from the moment you "met" it would be an amazing place to work. The job sound PERFECT for you, according to everyone who knows you and who sees the listing.

The thing holding you back, the deep feeling of fear. Fear that you will hurt your current employer because they are quite possibly the kindest employer EVER. They have been exceptional to you, really above and beyond. However, you are feeling stifled and not challenged at work.

I think I know what I would do, but I'm wondering what the eyes think...

my random orts (what does that word mean?)

1. I have 8 cases of clogs/sandals in the storage room waiting to be unpacked. None of the new sandals look cute on my feet. :(

2. Sun Kil Moon is an amazing band and can make even the most agitated person calm and relaxed.

3. Big pasta lunches make me want to sleep sleep sleep. Think anyone would notice if I took a nap? Think I could rely on people to leave the money on the counter?

4. People can get cranky if/when their credit card company makes the merchant call for verification. Even when it really is the person's card. I try to reassure them that the company has THEIR best interest at heart. Sometimes, it doesn't help.

5. My yogi and her beau are amazing people whom I love dearly and am thrilled to be able to do some design work with/for them and their new business, Bambuseae.

6. The sun, makes people happy in the Pac NW when it comes a knocking during the middle of winter. You don't realize how much you craved it until it shows itself again after being asleep for so many months.

7. People who stand or pace in front of my store while talking up a storm on their phones kind of bug me. I mean, yeah I much prefer them to be outside and not in my store, but 9 times out of 10 the people who are doing the pacing/standing AREN'T coming into the store. They're just leaning on the wall trying to look all coolio with their headsets on and their tussled hair.

juh?

Okay, so my dear Kev and I have spoken about things in the past about women and men and what makes us all different. One topic was the public restroom. Women, we go in packs where we can totally carry on conversations while in the middle of everything. Men, won't even use the urinal next to some other dude.

Here is where that gets skewed.

Today is my dear friend Chaslyn's birthday. We went to Ya Hala for dinner (man, I can still taste the hummus and baba ghanouj). I ran to the restroom because the wine I had with dinner...was talking. Anyway. Both doors have the "occupied" or "vacant" signs and both were pointing to vacant. These restrooms were one toilet per room. The first door I opened was on two men (mind you there was NOTHING FISHY going on) where I kept saying, "the door said vacant" as they tried to reassure me everything was fine. What confuses me, two men, one toilet (not like it was in a stall) and they were peeping in front of each other...well, one peeped in front of the other and then he left as I was stammering my apologies (let's all thank the heavens above for wine RIGHT NOW!). They had been sitting at a large table next to us, I think perhaps father in law/son in law perhaps?!?! But even then, the code. It's gone against the code of the guy.

I think I need to go rock myself to sleep.

update

Simon has made a full recovery without having to go visit the vet. Whatever it was that was blocking him exited later Monday night. There was a bit of nervousness for me yesterday morning as he was straining, but then later when I saw that he did in fact go poop, I could understand why. I think he ate some leaves or something that came in off either our shoes or Josie's toes. We'll have to be better about getting them cleaned up quickly.

it's about kitty constipation

Last night as we were sitting around trying to figure out what we wanted to eat for dinner we heard this sound come from the kitchen. Well, I heard it. Kev was enthralled with some random video/computer game/website/I have no clue what he was looking at, but it involved the computer.

I get up and rush into the kitchen. The only other time we've heard this deep wailing was when we ended up taking poor Simon to the emergency vet to get an enema. Although an unpleasant experience for the little guy the vet said he acted like a champ and wished all cats she saw were like him. Back to last night...

It was Simon again. If you touched him around his head he was fine, as you stroked his back and got towards his bottom, he wailed. Great, he's impacted again and would most likely need to get another enema. I call our regular vet who can hear him in the background. They are just closing up shop, but instruct me to get him to the Southeast Emergency Vet.

I'm there. I'm loading up the car and am halfway there, at least in my mind. My only boy is in pain and I want to make it stop. Kev, a bit more level headed (which I can only say now in hindsight) says we should wait and see if it passes...literally. Simon doesn't look all that thrilled with life and my heart breaks.

We wait around. I clean out the box (for some reason this makes him feel the need to go use it every time I do it!) even though it is clean already. A little while later, after Simon has stopped with the sounds of "damn, I am really uncomfortable here people" I go into the bathroom and see someone has pooped. It's a bit odd. I go in for a closer look. Yep, there is something foreign in there. Almost plant like in it's look.

By this time Simon is acting like himself again and you can pet him without him looking like he really is going to turn and take your arm off. Not that I think he would, but...there was a look he gave that made me nervous.

This morning he's acting a bit better, however when I went into the bathroom to get ready for the day he was squatting in the potty box. He was there almost the entire time I was in the shower. There was evidence of poop, and this time it looked normal. Poor little kitty tushie. I'm sure it can't feel good for the little guy to go now...

Today Kev will keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't have another issue pop up. If he starts the wailing again, I will be putting my foot down and telling Kev we have to get him to the vet so he can have an enema...

it's done it's done it's done!

Well, knit Sunday turned out to be the best thing ever for getting me to finish Kev's scarf. I am quite pleased with it, as he is. When he picked me up from Jenn's I was wearing it, he was tired from work and didn't see it on me until we got home and I made a point to stand in front of him and just blink. Then he realized. :) He put it on and hasn't taken it off yet.

(Note: he isn't pitted out, the sweater just has an odd shadow there)

I was worried it was going to be too short, but it really is the perfect "boy" length. He doesn't wrap his neck, rather he ties it around his neck...

Oh, and the yarn is from Lorna's Laces. It's a shepherd worsted 100% washable wool. I knit it with #9 needles (this is all for my knitty friends).

it's what time?

I'm amazed at how quickly today flew by.

Getting up at 5:45 this morning I didn't feel tired either. Perhaps I was excited about going to a yoga class this morning at 8:00 with Diana? And then after said class hanging at Coffee Plant for an hour knitting and sipping? I'm just now finally starting to feel the effects of getting up before the birds. But I can say in all honesty that I feel great.

Class was really fun. It was basic, as Diana warned me it would be, but it really felt great to become all stretchy and bendy before a full day at the store. Diana is really an amazing instructor. She helps those in need and pushes those who can take it (that would be me). I love the feeling that she's watching me with pride in her heart. I always feel that she is very excited to see Jill and myself practice in larger groups, knowing we get to share a very intimate setting usually. It's like we have our own little secret (that she tells everyone because she's thrilled to have a student she teaches privately out and showing off her skillz...yeah, that's not really true...she's just excited).

I'm getting ready to do some major PR designs for her and since I've been brainstorming I took some preliminary sketches along to show her this morning before we left her house. She was really excited about the one I really was hoping she'd like (because I really like it and think it speaks of who she is, design wise). We will chat on Monday and discuss when we can get together to get photos done (although she's speaking with the photographer who does her headshots to see if he would be interested in taking some). I can hardly wait to have this put together and ready to take to the printers. When I'm done, I'll post it here.

I am ready to head home for a low key night. Kev will get off work a bit later than normal because he's got to pick up a driving shift (not sure what the story is behind that one). We'll probably do dinner and watch the tv shows we dvr'd. Or not, who knows. :)

But, since it is nearing time to go, I should sign off and get my things together (as well as put the desk in order since I hate leaving it a sty for Charles).

~namaste

when the internet makes sense...yeah, right.

The message I received when trying to visit Kristin's page to see if she'd updated...


You are not authorized to view this page
You might not have permission to view this directory or page using the credentials you supplied.
If you believe you should be able to view this directory or page, please try to contact the Web site by using any e-mail address or phone number that may be listed on the spinningathena.blogspot.com home page.
You can click Search to look for information on the Internet.
HTTP Error 403 - Forbidden Internet Explorer


My favorite part is where it tells me I can contact the web site by using any email address or phone number that may be listed on the home page...you mean the page I CAN'T GET TO? :)

kev's scarf...almost

This is Kev's scarf, or at least how much I have done of it thus far. It's probably about 24 inches long right now and I have probably another 24 left in the ball I have to the left. He has been joking about not getting to wear it this winter because it's been taking so damn long. It's a knit 2, purl 2 end on a knit pattern. It's called the "mistake pattern."

The color is camouflage (Jenn, it makes me think of JWo for some reason...).

I have enjoyed this but am ready to move on from this project. The friend who is hosting Knitting Sunday this weekend asked what I was working on these days, the scarf or Jill's hat. I told her I'm a one project at a time kind of girl. I'm beginning to wonder why. I probably should start the hat so that I don't screw this up and hate it more than I kind of already do. Okay, I don't hate it, but I'm ready to be working on something else. So my goal, to be done with this this weekend so he can have a warm neck, stop complaining (he really isn't) and I can move on with my knitting life. :)

wwyd?

I am checking to see what time I'd have to catch a bus to get to Diana's house on Saturday mornings in order to hitch a ride with her to yoga at Lululemon...

These are the two options I was given. I'm thinking option 1 is the way to go, don't you?


Option 1: Your best bet
Walk 0.32 mile west from (the address given) to 82nd & Holgate (Stop ID 7984)
6:36 a.m. Board 72 Killingsworth-82nd Ave to Swan Island-Anchor St
6:42 a.m. Get off at 82nd & Yamhill
Walk northwest to SE Yamhill St & SE 82nd Ave
Travel time: 17 minutes (including 11 minutes walking)
Fares: Adult ($1.65), Youth/Student ($1.30) or Honored Citizen ($0.80) Where to buy
Show this option only Plan return trip

Option 2
Walk east from (the address given) to Holgate & 88th (Stop ID 2768)
5:27 a.m. Board 17 Holgate to Portland
5:53 a.m. Get off at 6th & Jefferson (Stop ID 7765)
6:01 a.m. Board 6 M L King Jr to Vancouver, Washington
6:18 a.m. Get off at M L King & Killingsworth
Go to M L King & Killingsworth (Stop ID 5927)
6:28 a.m. Board 72 Killingsworth-82nd Ave to Clackamas TC
6:53 a.m. Get off at 82nd & Yamhill
Walk north to SE Yamhill St & SE 82nd Ave
Travel time: 89 minutes (including 3 minutes walking and 18 minutes waiting)
Fares: Adult ($1.65), Youth/Student ($1.30) or Honored Citizen ($0.80) Where to buy
Show this option only Plan return trip

it's that time again

...common sense, when does that come into play?

Shoe laces:
"I was wondering, I have a customer who has gone through her laces and tried a 30" and a 36" and the first was too short the second too long. What should she do?"

JUH? I measured the laces from an actual pair of the type of shoe she has. It came to 37" long. I told my coworker to tell the customer to go to Fred Meyer's or some place that sold shoe laces and if she felt that the 30s were too short and the 36s to be too long, look for something in between. Common sense. (this time the customer is also lacking in it to be perfectly honest)


Smoking:
I think I'll stand in front of this business whose door is standing wide open and take my smoke break.

Really? I mean come on boys. It's beautiful out and I want some FRESH air, not stale and gnarly smoke filled air that causes my HEAD TO HURT!!! Shutting the door would solve it, but again, it's lovely out and I really need to cool off the store (the heater works, too well, even when we turn it down/off). They've since moved, but I am not above going out and telling them to move their smoky butts away from my open door. They work upstairs and I see them often so it's not like they are random people. I see them about 10 times a day outside puffing away (ugh, that just makes me sick thinking of it).


Little dogs:
I am going to bring my tiny little dog who loves to run towards the door any and every time it is opened and allow her to run run run all over the store (you know, where people come IN and open the door to do so).

Oy vey! Then when I scramble to pick the damn thing up he tells me to let her run. I have images of this little girl running out into traffic and becoming a Maddie pancake (she's not a customers dog, rather the guy who pays me). So I carry the beast around and get myself all fuzzed up by her fluffy Pomeranian fur.


I am sure there is more, but this will do for now. I must go and sit and shake my head for a little while.