Enough Cards

That was a strange turn of events yesterday. I was convinced not participating in the Boughton Hill show was the right thing to do. But once my friends at work starting talking to me about it, it seemed like I really should do the show. I sincerely found myself feeling very good about the whole thing.

One thing that I really heard them say was that if I keep turning down MJ's offers, she won't ask me anymore. In November she invited me to participate in her first annual home show but no way did I feel ready inventory-wise then besides working extra hours in the store. She's the one that gave me free space in her booth last December at the holiday sale at that school. This Christmas though, I'll definitely participate in her home show, assuming she'll ask me, which she said she would.

So Thursday. At first I figured I could leave work at 4:30 yesterday, then remembered more comp time I had earned earlier in the week so make that 4:00. I would have time to make some more cards and figure out how I would display them. Then Jen suggested I could leave even earlier and you know once someone puts a notion about time off in your head, it's hard to let it go. I realized that yes, I could very easily do that - no meetings or commitments scheduled at work. And that is one of the major perks of our company - we can flex our time and advance notice for time off isn't a big deal either. So I decided to leave at noon. Yay me!

Except then I remembered I had no car - Steve had my car because his car was at the mechanic's, getting the snow tires removed - and he had a mid-day dentist appointment. So I called Dad and he was willing to pick me up at work and give me a ride home. Then he called me right back. Uh-oh, I was afraid he'd remembered a previous commitment and couldn't pick me up. Nope - he asked if we could stop at Steve's Place for lunch on the way home. Sure! And so we did - had a BLT and fries.

I worked my butt off the rest of the day making cards and ended up with about 45 total, including ones I had on hand. No more than 3 of any design but also lots of one of a kind. The organizer called me back and we chatted for a while. We left the consignment thing open because she said she wants to make sure I make money. She said she really just wants to cover her advertising costs. So we'll settle up at the end of the show - I bet she'd be happy with 25%. That's awfully nice of her. She also made a good point, that while she's been holding this show in her home for 8 years now, she welcomes new vendors so her returning customers don't see the same stuff, year after year. She also told me she had space for me in her dining room and extra tables if I need one - so see? I didn't need to worry about display pieces after all - something I was worried about for no reason.

This is the cards all laid out, before I went to bed.

This morning I stamped my logo on the back, printed price tags and put an envelope inside each one. I made a tent sign that says orders and custom work is welcomed. I made sign up sheets for the PTD email newsletter. I printed 30 business cards, punched the pine trees that go on them and assembled them. (Yes, I do get up early, even when I don't have that much to do in the morning. I'm a definite morning person.)

Jen made 5 or 6 cards for me to sell too. When I sold her cards at Celebration Gifts, we had a 25/75 split but I don't think I'll do that anymore. She can keep all the money, less sales tax, which I'll have to pay.

I took them out to Boughton Hill (the road the show is on, her company is called Boughton Hill Studio, I think) - at 9:30 this morning. She was very nice and welcoming, as was another vendor there setting up. There was lots of nice stuff inside and out. It would be wonderful if the weather holds but rain is expected. They usually serve lunch on the patio but cancelled that part this year based on the weather forecast.

She didn't seem to care if I worked at the show or not, but I want to. I'll go out at 9:30 Saturday when it opens. She said she normally runs the cash register but wouldn't mind giving that up. We're using MJ's cash register, which I've used when working for MJ so I'd be happy to do that. I'll stay as long as it looks like I'm needed or I'm having fun.

I'll take pictures tomorrow too. My cards are on a very small table, but I think it's just fine. She gave me this cool hand-painted box to stack the cards in if I wanted - and it worked out perfectly. It's black with flowers painted so it goes well with all my flowery cards. I set cards in both sides of the box, standing on ends so one can sort through them easily. I stood some up around the table and laid out my sign, cards and newsletter sign-up sheet and pen.

As always, I've fluctuated between feeling so confident and happy and wondering what the heck am I thinking? It's weird though because not once in the last 24 hours have I felt truly stressed about this. (Well, except when Simon interrupted me to talk about his car and money. That's a subject I can hardly bare to speak of even when I'm not focused elsewhere!)

Like I said, it's weird to have felt so strongly about not participating in the show, then to turn around and feel so good about it. This is all working so well, that I've got virtually nothing to lose, except 2.75 hours vacation time Thursday - and probably 25% of any money I make. I consider working at the show a positive.

Decisions

I’m meditating on something so I thought I’d throw together an entry about it. It often helps me to write stuff down. The act of organizing my thoughts brings clarity sometimes.

MJ, one of the vendors at Celebration Gifts, called me today. She told me about a home show (art sale in someone’s home) she learned of today and she thought it might be a good venue for my cards. The thing is, it’s the day after tomorrow! It’s Friday, Saturday and Sunday at a woman’s home in Victor.

This woman paints detailed scenery on slate and wood and sells them at quite a high price, MJ says, so presumably the customers on her established mailing list must be accustomed to artsy prices, if you catch my drift. She has stuff at The Wine Trek, so whether or not I do this show, I’ll check out her stuff there.

There’s a $50 entrance fee but MJ inquired if that was negotiable because that would require a whole lot of cards for me to sell just to break even. The woman said she’d consider taking a percentage of my sales, which sounds fair. I would work that percentage out with her directly – so maybe that’s a factor. I’m sure it would be reasonable though.

I’d have to work a few hours of the weekend. Not a problem. My only obligation this weekend is to clear my stuff out of Celebration Gifts at 5:00, Saturday (if that time is convenient with the storeowner; I’ve emailed her to arrange it).

The show starts at noon Friday – when would I be able to get my stuff out there and set up? There are only a total of 4 vendors (not sure if that includes the organizer) – and they’ll probably set up Friday morning, but I have to work. I could arrange to leave work for a short time – as an early lunch hour and use some comp time I’ve put in this week.

Do I have enough cards to display and sell? Maybe. I’d like to have more but it might be okay as is. Damn, I really wish the sale was a week away – this wouldn’t be such a conundrum.

Display? How will I display them? I’m not really set up to do this.

Hmmmm.

When I heard MJ’s voice mail when I came home from work tonight, my first instinct, was no way. As I ate my dinner, I kept thinking of the new rubber stamp I ordered this week.

Leap and the net will appear.

Don’t you love that? It’s obviously reminiscent of one of my very favorite sayings in the whole wide world, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” That’s such a true statement!

I can make an equal case for:

Just do it.

or

Take some time in the near future to fully prepare, should another opportunity like this show up. Have plenty of inventory. Have display pieces ready to go.

No, wait. I can’t make an equal case for both.

I really, really, hate doing things unprepared and half-assed. But this is the perfect lesson – like I said above, I shall take time to prepare for another opportunity. I know more opportunities will show up. I’ll be ready and I’ll feel good about it.

Meanwhile, I want to focus on my two known priorities - The Wine Trek and the Pine Tree Designs website.

Yep, that’s it. I have my answer. I'll call the organizer in the morning and decline the offer but ask to be considered in the future. Then I'll mail her a thank you card so she can see my work.

Background done by using scrunched up plastic wrap as a stamp with two different ink pads.

Cry Me a River

I started taking that Remifemin on Saturday and almost immediately felt better. Probably part placebo effect, partly hormonal. I was sort of feeling like maybe I'd jumped the gun on the medication.

Not so fast, sister.

This morning I cried in the car on the way to work, listening to my very (only) favorite DJ, who is undergoing radiation for a rare nasal type cancer. He and his wife are staying in NYC for 3 months while he is undergoing this treatment, but he's been on the radio every day, for a short period of time - but still, every day. I never get to hear him as early as I drive into work. He only has 7 more treatments but it's hard because, you know, cancer sucks, and he feels like stopping the treatment. His wife, who obviously loves him very much, is torn between not wanting to see her husband in pain and continuing with the treatment. He will continue with the treatment but it's very hard on both of them and you can tell it's hard on the morning crew that remains in Rochester. Anyway, I had myself a little cry.

I didn't think much of that incident, hormone-wise, until I read the newspaper tonight. Our local film critic (who is on the radio weekly with the aforementioned DJ) and who I like and respect, wrote this little human interest article about becoming a grandfather for the first time this month and how surprisingly, deeply meaningful it was for him and his wife. Yep, I was teary by the end of the article.

Oh wait, there's more. Today I was emailing Steve about this fantastic chocolate cake recipe (see yesterday's entry) and somehow got onto the fact that we no longer celebrate the anniversary of the closing on this house, which of course is the anniversary of us living together. For about 3 years, I used to buy Boston Market food for dinner on the anniversary because that was the first meal we ate in this house, with no furniture and one lone lamp. No one else seemed to be into it except me and it hurt my feelings so I quit celebrating and now I can hardly remember what day it was. April 6th, I think. Anyway, Steve said he didn't know where I got that notion, that he was into it and we should celebrate it this Friday. That touched me so I replied what a great idea that was and how much the anniversary means to me and how much I like living with him and having him in my life. Got a lump in my throat typing the email. Yep.

I was planning on continuing with the medication because I know how people are - they start to feel better and discontinue their medication and get wacky again. I'll finish this bottle and decide what to do next. I'll speak with my doctor too. If the mood swing/blues are just going to be a few days, fine, I can get through that. But last week it had been just about a week with no end in sight that I knew of and it was affecting my quality of life.

Interesting stuff, figuring this menopause stuff out.

Steve surprised the heck out of me this weekend when he suggested we start watching Desperate Housewives. I have watched it a couple of times and listen to people at work talk about it. Apparently people at his work talk about it too so we taped it last night and watched it tonight. It was the perfect episode to start with because it recapped each character. There are only 4 more new episodes but it looks like a keeper to us. He surprised me because it doesn't seem like a Steve show but he liked it. Good, now I can be in the know at work even though we'll watch it a day later than everyone else who watches it Sunday night.

This is one of the cards I'm supposed to be making tonight instead of sitting here yakking on this blog. I didn't get it made in time for Gretchen to take to Helen in FL today - with about 3 others, because I ran out of crystals. So I ordered a bunch from Outlines Rubber Stamp Company, one of my favorite stamp companies. I figured as long as I was paying shipping, I might as well slip a new rubber stamp onto the order too!

Doing Better & Better

I made about 20 cards today, some of which are to fulfill an order for Gretchen's friend, Helen, who she will be staying with (for work) in Florida, starting tomorrow. And I thought I was not a procrastinator. Ha! I made 4 of almost every card, to beef up my inventory. You've seen the above card before but probably not in a while. It's stamped with bleach, a technique I want to get into more.

It felt great to be making cards again. It felt even greater making that card in the last entry so I can't wait to get crankin' on some new designs.

Remember just yesterday I said I didn't feel anything about leaving Celebration Gifts, not sad, not happy, nothing? Just needed to wait a day. Steve and I were doing our usual Sunday morning hot tub thing and I was thinking about my week ahead. And next weekend - do I work at the store or not? Not! This is going to feel like I have so much more free time now. I've said this before, it's only 10-1/2 hours per month - and I used to look forward to it. But I prefer to work 3 half shifts so that's 3 out of 4 weekends of every month - it just puts kind of crimp in the day, you know?

Just think, soon you won't have to hear me babble on about this. I suppose I'll find a new topic to babble on about - like The Wine Trek.

~ ~ ~

Dad took Simon to breakfast this morning, as he does from time to time with each of the grandsons, just one on one. Dad stopped back here after breakfast to talk about the NFL Draft with Steve but also to tell us about a special The Log Cabin had - a Tennessee Omelet. It's an omelet with pulled pork inside, mozzarella cheese & barbecue sauce on top. Dad knows how we loves our BBQ pulled pork. After he left, Steve said, "I sure hope they still have that the next time we go." So I said, "Let's go now!" It was 10:30 and we've usually eaten breakfast by then but today we hadn't. So off we went. It was delicious - and I left Dad voice mail when I got home, thanking him for the tip!

~ ~ ~

After our terribly gourmet dinner, Stroganoff Hamburger Helper (it's a favorite of Steve's and Simon's and it's quick & easy when I'm busy - it's just that it's so pedestrian), I felt the need to reclaim my kitchen wizardry status. I have no idea what I'm talking about either. What I'm trying to say is that tonight I'm baking this cake for a work departmental birthday tomorrow. This woman mentioned sometime last year that her favorite cake her mom used to make was a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, with sliced bananas on top. She wasn't dropping hints, a few of us were just talking, yeah - about food, what a shocker. Anyway, I emailed myself at home and put that note on my calendar. I think she'll be surprised. I just hope the bananas are ripe at the store on my way to work tomorrow. Sometimes they are all green - ewww! We have a couple of bananas here - I'll check their ripeness shortly. Hope they aren't too ripe.

~ ~ ~

I did finish my book last night and started my new one. I must go package up 2 orders and then I'll get to bed early - and read. I'm so relieved I'm feeling better. I doubt it's the Remifemin this early. Maybe it's hormones. Maybe it's life. Maybe it's both!

Scannable

At last! I got the scanner working again. (And made this card today, the first in a long time, I'm afraid.) Since the reinstallation of Windows 98, I've been able to scan but the pictures would not appear on the scanner software desktop like they used to. I thought it was maybe putting them somewhere else but I searched all over and couldn't find them. So I uninstalled and reinstalled the software - and it works! I have no idea what's different because at no point did it ask me where to scan the pictures to. I'm just happy to at least have this function back.

I use a Brother Multi-Function Center machine - fax, copier, printer, scanner, all in one. Steve picked it as a prize for a work anniversary gift or something - and gave it to me because he's so kind. It has a place to plug in the CF card from my camera so I thought I maybe had a work-around for the computer no longer recognizing the camera, but I can't get that part to work either! I'll have to dig a little deeper and see if I can figure that out.

~ ~ ~

Enough of this techno-talk for a while.

Today was my last working shift at Celebration Gifts. I don't feel anything - not sad, not happy, nothing. I guess I've already processed that stuff so this was just a technicality, getting the working out of the way. A week from today, Steve and Simon will go with me to the store after closing, to pick up my stuff. That card rack appears to be pretty heavy so I want them to lift it into Steve's Explorer - hope it fits. Suppose I should measure that before the big day, eh?

My check for last week was laughably small (another thing I blamed my blues on) but I sold quite a bit of stuff this past week. Last weekend, I put up signs that said, "Last 2 Weeks, 40% Discount". (The two previous weeks, I offered a 25% discount.) I'm not going any lower than that. And as I said, I took my handcrafted cards out of there before I put any of the wholesale product on sale.

I worked with one of the new vendors today. She's very nice and has nice product, nicely displayed. MJ and Maria both came in to do stuff. It felt like they came in to say good-bye but they didn't, of course, because they didn't know I'd be there. Still the timing was nice. I'll stay in touch with them. In fact, I'm working in MJ's booth on the Saturday of Canal Days, with her husband, while she works at Celebration Gifts. Should be fun and she's paying me. That's the first weekend in June.

~ ~ ~

Remember the other day I said 2 of the books on my hold list at the library were available at the same time? I hadn't finished my current book, plus two stamping magazines arrived in the mail about the same time. I went to the library on Friday to pick up the two - which had turned into 3! So tonight Steve and I are having a "reading date" instead of watching a movie so I'll probably finish my book. I've decided the order of reading the books, based on how many people are waiting for them, based on how long it took me to get them.

Simple Living, One Couple's Search for a Better Life, by Frank Levering & Wanda Urbanska. This is the one I'll finish tonight. I'd give it a 7 or 8, on a scale of 1-10.

The Unmistakable Touch of Grace, which is Cheryl Richardson's new book.

Sight Hound, a Novel - Pam Houston's new book.

Invisible Acts of Power, Personal Choices that Create Miracles - by Caroline Myss, recommended by Gretchen.

And I borrowed a book on CD, The Lake House, by James Patterson. I don't usually listen to scary books but it's the only thing I saw that looked interesting on the shelf and sometimes change is good. I loved listening to Silence of the Lambs, for instance. (Wow, James Patterson has written a shitload of books, according to Amazon.)

All in all, not a bad day, especially considering how I've been feeling lately. Still not much of a voice though. Mary, I bought Remifemin today and I see it takes weeks to take effect. But I'm fairly sensitive to drugs, I think so maybe it won't be so long for me. And I tell ya, I feel better just knowing I have something to blame those stupid blues on. Oh - and I had a good cry on Steve's shoulder, literally, before I went to the store this morning. That's always carthartic.

Questions

I still can't get my computer to recognize my digital camera. I've read the software manual and the camera manual. I'm doing everything the same as I always have. I've uninstalled and reinstalled the camera software. I bought new rechargeable batteries and fully charged them.

Here's my question, two really. This is what it says, in part, in the camera manual under supported software: Only systems pre-installed with Windows 98 . . . are supported. Could this have anything to do with my Windows 98 operating system being recently reinstalled? That pre-installed thing is what I don't understand.

I'm back - I just downloaded new drivers, thus updating the software. Still nada.

Any suggestions as to what I should do? I'm considering taking my camera to the camera shop where I bought it - is that the thing to do? I should also tell you this - there's normally a green light that I'm quite certain stays lit when it's connected to the computer. Now it only flickers when I first turn the camera on, then goes off. That's what makes me think the problem is with the camera.

~ ~ ~

Next question. Is feeling the blues part of menopause? I've been feeling that way all week and mostly attributed it to this stupid laryngitis I still have. (I bought Mucinex today at the suggestion of several people and it seems to be helping even this first day. My cough feels more productive, if you're interested in the details!)

I have several things I could be blue about but none feel big enough to cause this much blueness. I know mood swings are part of it - is that what this is? Seriously, I could just go hibernate for about a month it feels like.

No matter what the reason is, I know what to do about it, it's just hard getting up the gumption to do it, having the blues and all.

1. Snap out of it.

2. Eat properly, including more soy products.

3. Exercise regularly.

I'm open to advice on all fronts.

~ ~ ~

lotus@pixelpusher.co.za

Closing on a happier note, I took this afternoon off to continue painting the bathroom that I started 2 weekends ago, before I got sick. I painted the ceiling a nice shiny white and primed the walls. Tomorrow afternoon - the color goes on! Pictures to follow. Oh shit! Don't mention my camera again!!

Lotsa Links

I didn't know Rosie had a blog. Thanks, Kathy. Ro is the queen of collage, which fascinates me because my brain just doesn't work like that. I saw a woman on Crafters Coast to Coast last week that put together a collage without hesitation - just did it! Maybe that's my problem, I overthink it.

Long-time reader Amy revealed her Ladybug Studio blog recently. Any other readers have blogs I don't know about?

My computer is pretty much back to normal. I haven't had time to install the Palm software yet but I'm not worried about it, now that I have a spare drive on which to ghost my current drive. I'm having some problems with my camera software though - it doesn't see the camera. I hope it's a simple matter of the cable coming unplugged in the back or something. Must check that first. I have pictures of Gretchen's fabulous new living room to show you.

I've been going in to work an hour early every day this week so I can leave at noon on Friday. This is the weekend I finish the bathroom and I want to get a headstart on it Friday afternoon.

I've been a very good girl, going to bed at 9:00 every night, reading until 9:30. I'm sleeping better, thanks to some new cough medicine - and waking up before the alarm goes off even.

I'm enjoying the book I'm reading, Simple Living, One Couple's Search for a Better Life. Maria recommended it. Damn, I just checked the library website and two more books from my hold list are available for pick-up! I know I risk this happening when I reserve several books at once but usually it works out just fine. Guess I better read faster. (I also have two art magazines waiting to be read.) This is why it's easy to go to bed at 9:00 though - designated reading time!

Steve ordered Collateral Damage from Netflix - so we watched it over the last few days. This was my first Arnold Schwarzenegger movie and it was better than I expected it to be. Steve says if I can stand it, I should watch The Terminator with him sometime, the quintessential Ahnold movie. Maybe. I need some time to decompress first. Mystic River is on it's way and I have a documentary about Julia Butterfly Hill to finish first.

Enough links for you? I'm off to work now. . .

A Good Day

I experienced some superior customer service the other day. I stopped at a Mobil station on my way to work last week to buy 2 quarts of oil to put in my car. I drive a 95 Saturn and it's always required the addition of oil between oil changes. I usually buy oil by the case at the warehouse store but we were out and I needed some now. With the 2 quarts of oil, the nice man at the register gave me a paper funnel, a paper towel and 2 moist towelettes! He correctly assumed I was going to add the oil right then and there. No fuss, no muss and I was on my way, with a smile on my face. (You thought I was going to say he offered to add the oil for me, didn't you? If I had experienced any trouble, he probably would have, but it wasn't necessary.)

I brought my computer home last night and started to work on reinstalling programs and putting it back how I like it. Liz (our aforementioned computer guru at work)had reinstalled the operating system. I didn't lose any files, but it just didn't feel like my computer. You know how we all have our own settings just the way we want them? I was so depressed. Ridiculously so.

About 9:00, Steve and I went in the hot tub for a while - and I swear there's no ache or pain, mental or physical, that a good soak in a hot tub won't cure. Afterwards I read for a while, then went to bed. This morning, I woke up with a whole new attitude and commenced fixing up my computer.

The situation is far from dire. The one thing I'm not sure of is if my old mail is somewhere here or if I blew it all away when I downloaded and reinstalled Thunderbird. I fear the worst, but even that's not the end of the world. I do hope she can get my address book back though. Maybe that's lurking somewhere where I can't see it? If it's not, I'll live. Most of the addresses I have elsewhere but I wasn't able to back up the address book when things started crashing because that's what crashed the hardest. Or at least I didn't know how to find it to back it up.

The plan is for me to get everything just how I want it, then on Monday, I'll take the machine back to work. She's going to install a second drive and ghost an image of my entire drive on that second one - before we try installing the Palm Pilot software, which is what started this whole crazy mess. Did I tell this part before - it looked like the Palm software had been installed not in C: Program File but somewhere else and it affected other stuff in a bad way? I'm sure it's something I did wrong, but I don't remember doing that. Of course not.

(This blogger.com part when I write entries doesn't look right, but I can't see how that can be something I've done. Every single setting is the same. I have no way to edit html or change the font or anything. Still, it's readable so I won't worry about it for now.)

I opened all the windows today. I worked at Celebration Gifts for the next to last time. Between customers, I read crafting magazines and catalogs. I went grocery shopping. I grilled steaks on the grill tonight for dinner. I vacuumed the house. Simon worked his first day at Abercrombie Kids successfully. I enjoyed the sunshine.

It was a good day!

Hooray x 2

Can I get a hallelujah, my friends? Simon was offered a job at Abercrombie Kids - starts Sunday. Thankyoujesus. I've never seen a kid so happy. You know how relieved I am, what with his car responsibilities and all.

I felt significantly healthier yesterday, a lot closer to my usual self but I went to the doctor anyway. I just wanted to be sure it wasn't a sinus infection or bronchitis or something and be stuck over the weekend with no antibiotics. I saw a different doctor within the practice, another very nice man, who said I appear to be on the downside of your garden variety cold. He gave me some Allegra samples and told me to keep doing what I'm doing. Now I know. I also like to be able to report at work what the doctor said. The women in my immediate area are as germ-phobic as I am. I'm taking some antibacterial cleanser with me today, the kind you use without water. It's not my favorite thing but it will make me feel better about blowing my nose and not running to the ladies room every time. I wouldn't even pick up a magazine in the doctor's office yesterday - what a germfest those things must be! I only had to wait a couple of minutes anyway. (Von, am I being nutty about this?)

Even though I felt better yesterday, my voice sounded much worse than it had been. As I was leaving work, I started to say goodbye to someone and nothing but squeaks came out. It was so weird! Gretchen called last night and all I could do was whisper. During the middle of dinner I started to say something to Steve, testing my voice, instead of whispering - and my full normal voice came out, just like that. The best I'd sounded all day! I had done some rigorous coughing during dinner so that must have cleared whatever. I frequently get laryngitis with a cough/cold but I don't recall my voice going and coming so fully like that. It was weird.

My computer is still at work - day 3. Our resident guru has been working on it between doing her real job and is making progress. She expects to have it done today and we'll do some testing. I have a peanut butter cake in the oven for her as we speak (started it at 4:30 am!). I usually bake something for her for helping me or Simon out and last year she told me about a peanut butter cake her mom used to make. I doubt this is the exact same recipe but it's as close as I could come from her description. I think it will be a big surprise since it's been so long since she mentioned the cake.

I'm using Steve's computer to check my email and write entries - and you can tell it's not used to a fast typist. :-) It's always lagging about a word behind, which is a little disorienting.

About time to go check the cake. TGIF and we have spectacular weather (sunny and high 60's) predicted for this weekend. I'll work in the store for the next to last time tomorrow morning and grocery shop. Otherwise, it's time to get caught up on things I've neglected while being sick and work on the bathroom some more. (I'm painting it "caramel sundae" - more later on that - complete with before and after pictures.)

Baked Potato & Bacon Soup

I went to work yesterday but was draggin' butt all day. I feel significantly better today but am still considering calling the doctor, just to be sure this isn't a sinus infection. Like everyone, I'm an impatient patient and want to be well now.

A few nights ago I made this soup and ate the leftovers while I was sick.

Baked Potato & Bacon Soup

5-1/4 pounds baking potatoes
7 bacon slices
4-1/2 cups chopped onion
1 tsp salt
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
7-1/2 cups 1% low-fat milk
3/4 tsp black pepper
3 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
1-1/4 cups sliced green onions
1-1/4 cups (5 oz) finely shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Pierce potatoes with fork; bake at 400 degrees for 1 hour or until tender. Cool slightly. Partially mash potatoes, including skins, with a potato masher; set aside.

Cook bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan; crumble. Add onion to bacon drippings in pan; saute 5 minutes. Add salt, garlic and bay leaf; saute 2 minutes. Add potato, milk, pepper and broth; bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Stir in parsley, if desired. Top individual servings with bacon, green onions and cheese.

On the Road to Recovery

Just a quick post to say I'm alive and almost well. I caught Steve's cold/cough so I stayed home from work Mon & Tues. That 102.5 fever Monday night kicked my ass around the block! I'm heading back to work today so it's time to stop whining about how tired I still feel and focus on the 3 day work week ahead of me, knowing each day I'll feel better and better and I'll have a wonderful weekend ahead. I believe in positive thinking - just not quite there yet . . .

Needless to say since I haven't been to work, I haven't taken my sick computer in for repair. I've been checking my email online but only answering the most important email. It's such a slow, tedious way of doing it, I'd just rather wait until I get my precious Thunderbird back up and running.

I did the tiniest bit of cross-stitch yesterday between naps. I balanced my checkbook. Otherwise, I've been a couch potato/bed bug so not a lot to report. My next report shall be full of vim and verve!

It's Colorific

Colorstrology - Check it out – it’s a very nicely done site. (I got this from Maria Sariego.)

My color is Winter Sky. Talented, aesthetic and resourceful.

You were given a rare combination of artistic creativity and financial know-how. It is a wonderful gift to be able to create your dreams while building a financial structure to support them. It is important that you share your talent and your wealth with others because it is the sharing that will bring some of the most worthwhile blessings.

Gretchen, you are Rapture Rose. Sensual, resourceful, dramatic.

There is a combination of strength and sensitivity to this birthday. People born on this day want to live life on the edge. You are charismatic and resourceful. Although you are mate oriented, it is important that you develop a strong sense of self or you may find yourself in some challenging situations that force you to take action and become independent. Your personal color helps you integrate the qualities of assertion with tenderness.

Mom and Dad, I thought yours were right on the money too. Steve’s? Not at all! Isn’t that weird? Simon? Too soon to tell since his life is just beginning, in a way.

~ ~ ~

I’m so darn cranky today. I ordered a new Palm Pilot and it arrived Friday. I installed the Palm software Saturday and that seemed to go okay. I was able to hot sync. I was trying to load a couple of photos into the software on the PC and it caused my computer to crash to blue screen. Hit any key and it came back up. At the moment, I can’t remember what else but I ended up uninstalling the software. Now my Thunderbird email won’t open – crashes every time.

I ran Norton on everything – no viruses or anything. I tried to run Scandisk but it can’t run - says something else is trying to access the disk. I tried reinstalling Thunderbird – still crashes. I tried reinstalling the operating system but that crashed too. I’ll take it into work tomorrow and see if our resident guru can fix it. I mean, I know she can fix – just hope she has time.

It’s not the end of the world – I can check my email online and every other application seems to work. But my computer is my friend and my friend is sick. Actually, it’s more a feeling of betrayal. Silly, isn’t it?

I have more to talk about - just not in the mood tonight. Besides, I'm watching Extreme Makeover Home Edition - gotta get ready for the big cry.

Foggy Mist

I was very excited to find these websites today. I read a number of stationery & paper-related blogs and forums but most seem to be written by women in their 20s and 30s. That's cool because I'm learning this business along with them. But it was nice to find a few sites by women closer to my age. I have a lot of reading to do on all of these sites yet. Just wanted to pass them along. (Ann, I'm looking at you in particular, since this is something we discuss frequently!)

lifestylepreneur - the art of self-employement - this link is to the blog that accompanies Maria Sariego's business site

Believe Street - this is Maria's personal blog.

Carol Ross & Associates - not a blog, but looks like Carol has some great articles on self-employment and life in general.

~ ~ ~

I have recently found myself in a wonderful position, in terms of Pine Tree Designs. One of my business mentors, Allison, of Blue Turtle Studio, has offered to show me a few sample layouts of how I might produce promotional sheets for my cards. I had told her about a wholesale inquiry I received (and have received another one since then – a coffee shop in Iowa!) She asked me what I was doing about catalogs or promo pages. Uh, nothing. So she offered to put something together to show me. She’s so nice. There’s a chance she might go to the National Stationery Show so we might get to meet in May! (Her stuff will be there in a booth anyway, so at the very least I'll get to see more of her cards and jewelry anyway.)

About this same time, I received an email from a local jewelry artist, inquiring if I’d be interested in selling her jewelry on my site. (She included pictures.) I’m not and told her my new focus is going to be just on my cards. But I went on to tell her about Celebration Gifts and The Wine Trek Gift Company as possibilities. She lives in the same town in which The Wine Trek is located so I wasn’t surprised to learn she already has some pieces there. She said she’d check out Celebration Gifts.

For two years I’ve been absorbing every bit of information I could get my hands on – from soaking up the words of the other vendors at Celebrations Gifts, to reading the blogs of other paper artists and studying their sites. I’m finally at a position where I have just enough experience to be able to pass some of that on, with words of encouragement to others. I’m still learning and reading all I can get my hands on too.

This feels so good – and is so much fun!

~ ~ ~

We have had a couple different table top fountains in our living room over the past few years but we’ve been fountain-free for many months. I’ve been passively looking for a new one all along but haven’t found anything just right. I posted a Wanted on Freecycle and had two replies. One was too far to drive and the other, the woman said she’d be in touch when she found all the parts. It turns out Mom and Gretchen both have fountains they no longer want – so I’ve accepted both of those. I picked up the one from Mom the other day, and driving home, I realized the perfect place for it is in our newly redecorated office. (The office and ladies room both need just a couple more finishing touches, then I’ll take pictures.)

I told Steve that I decided to more actively look for a new fountain and of course Mr. eBay had to hop on the eBay site to see what he could find. I’d already looked there, but you can’t keep Steve off of eBay! We were looking for a tallish one but couldn’t find just the right one.

I didn’t even know these misting types existed! This is ours, a glass bowl full of glass ice cubes. The mist is produced by a metal and ceramic disk that vibrates at ultrasonic frequency, which turns the water molecules into vapor mist. Still looks like magic to me. (It looks like dry ice actually.) It arrived today so I set it up tonight to surprise Steve when he gets home from work. It’s not tall but it’s pretty cool!

Good to be Alive

I must say, after the few less-than-stellar days I've had recently (weather-wise and unemployed Simon-wise) - today was just one fine day to be alive. The temperature reached 60 degrees, the sun was bright and warm and a few wispy cirrus clouds danced across the sky. I drove downtown at lunch to drop off a couple of photo albums to a Freecycler's place of employment. She's the same woman who gave me that trunkload of paper last week. She works for a non-profit, so I offered to drop the stuff off, to make her life easier. I'm nice like that. Did you hear me singing in the car on the way back to the office? First number was a little ditty called Young Girl by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (reminding me of the first concert Gretchen and I ever saw - Mom & Dad took us - 1968!). My encore performance was Hush by Deep Purple.

Gary looks decent but don't you think it's about time Paul Revere lost the costume??

~ ~ ~

Our office has a wall of windows which catch the afternoon sun. I sure hate to close the blinds on the beautiful sunshine but it's a matter of self-preservation really. Today I had to break out my 6" pink fan and clip it to my desk to blow right on me. Here's the email I sent to our facilities manager today, even though he won't read it until he returns from vacation next week. He's a good friend and will get a laugh.

We call dibs on a oscillating floor fan for our office, if there's a spare. Pretty please?

Can you say 3 menopausal women?? Okay, 1, maybe 2. (I wish I was kidding!)

Stefani "Is it Warm in Here?" Tadio

Just for the record it wasn't just me - everyone who came in our office commented on how hot it was. Oh well, that's how it goes during these "shoulder months". (Isn't that a cool phrase? Jen's son, who installed our central air conditioning last year used that phrase, meaning the transitional months between seasons.)

~ ~ ~

We had an interesting situation in the basement tonight. Simon went down to get a can of soda and came up to tell us, "You guys know the basement is flooded, right?" Well, no. Steve and Simon investigated while I stayed upstairs and ate my dinner, because it was 7:30 and I have a rule for myself against eating after 7:00. I was hungry, dammit! The water wasn't going anywhere. They thought it was coming from the water heater because water was concentrated around that area.

After dinner, Steve and I went down to look into it. We've never had water in our basement and it was on "both sides". We've had a shit-load of rain in the past few days, so maybe water was leaking in somewhere. (We've had so much rain that there's a pond in the middle of the Christmas tree farm behind us, something I've never seen before.) The parts of the basement that were wet (thankfully not the new carpet under the new pool table), were just puddle-wet. Then I walked over to the laundry side of the basement and back by the Bilco doors, it was fairly deep, like an inch maybe. Then I remembered we have a sump pump but it's never gone on before. And it wasn't on now. Hey, what's this rod do? Oh! It turns the pump on. Seems to be doing a nice job. Thank goodness!

The best part of all this? When I was doing the big basement reorg a few weeks ago, Simon mocked me for insisting that everything be on shelves or the floor stuff be set on pallets.

Simon: Why??

Stefani: Because the bottom of the water heater could rust out and all that water would go everywhere.

Simon: Sure. When has that ever happened?

Stefani: It happened to Gramma and Grampa.

Simon: Just because the Erie Canal broke in that freak accident, once in infinity and they had water in their basement then - like that will ever happen again. (It was about 4" deep, not pretty. I was at college at the time, however.)

Stefani: No, their water heater busted and they had water everywhere.

Steve didn't say anything during this exchange but he probably thought I was nuts too. Tonight, I made them both say how smart and resourceful I was about keeping stuff off the floor. And beautiful. And witty. Okay, not that last part.

Crises averted!

Pushing Up Daisies

I'm not so sure cleaning my studio was a good idea! I had some cards to make yesterday and found myself procrastinating. I think I didn't want to get my studio messy! But I made the cards last night and quickly straightened it back up this morning. I'm still smiling at how nice and neat everything is. (Stephanie and Bonnie - your orders shipped this morning. Doug, you're next!)

I worked at Celebration Gifts yesterday afternoon and definitely have Short-Timer's Disease. (Just two more half-shifts to go!) I did a complete inventory of my product so I can update the website, but otherwise, I pretty much sat on my ass, eating licorice and reading People between customers. I met a new vendor moving in - she makes braided rugs. I didn't seen any of the rugs, they were just putting up shelves. The rugs should be a nice addition to the store, though.

I bought this poster online the last week and ordered the red metal frame, which arrived today so I put it together tonight. I framed it with glass, which is why I took the photo at an angle, trying to reduce the glare. It will hang in our newly painted office at work. Is this such a Stefani picture or what? All the vases lined up just so with exactly the same amount of water in each one? And I love the gradation of the Gerbera daisies. It will go above a bank of filing cabinets. I'll take pictures soon - when our ladies room is done being redecorated. There's a story behind that, that I'll tell you later.

It's Clean!

My studio is finally clean for the first time in months and months. I'm a huge fan of before and after pictures but I never take before pictures of my stuff - too embarrassing! I thought I'd show you around, mostly for the new readers. I have a number of artsy types reading this and that's one of my favorite things, peeking into other artists' studios.

Those reels of ribbons were on two holders that were part of the craft table but I decided to move them to give me more table space. I wish I could let a little tail of each ribbon hang down, aesthetically speaking, but that would be mega-tempting for little kitties.

Moving left around the room, this is a 10 lb cabinet holding 20 lbs of shit. Aren't those 3 wood drawer units on top amazing? Neatly labeled, you'll notice.

That counter top is just a piece of wood laid across two plastic 6-drawer units. That machine to the left is a scanner, printer, fax, copier - one of those all in one machines. Steve gave it to me last year. He picked it out of the company prize catalog, for reaching some milestone anniversary, I think it was. I didn't think I really wanted it all that much - but of course, now I can't live without it. That little crate holds my QuiKutz tool and dies and that's my Xyron machine to the right of that. A Xyron is a non-electric machine that adheres stuff to paper - whatever cartridge you put in - adhesive, laminate, magnetic. Steve gave me that for my birthday a few years ago. He went into the stamp store and asked them what I would want but would never buy for myself. That was back when I was taking lots of classes there. They directed him to this - and, once again, I can't live without it.

That shelf above the counter is one that Gretchen was throwing away. You can see some of my punches on it - and a couple of cards that Simon gave me that are especially meaningful that I like to look at.

This is obviously my desk, not 100% neat at the moment but it will be. I spray painted the filing cabinet with that stone-look spray a few years ago when I painted my studio. (Like the leaves stamped on the walls?) That paper sorter to the left is 3 across and 8 down - and I could probably use another one, but I have no room for it. Next to that is another of those rolling plastic drawer units - this one has 10 drawers, every one of them full. And labeled. On top is my TV/VCR, tuned to my precious HGTV of course.

When I was downloading the first four pictures I found this one from June 2003, showing how the same shot. Notice I bought a new chair. That's the filing cabinet in it's former brown metal life. That flowered wallpaper was over pink paint, I found out. I'm still very happy with my sagey green walls and the stamped leaves.

I'm glad I got this studio cleaned up so I can try to feel like I had a good day. It's been pouring rain all day and I had to go out 3 times today! They were my choice but I'm really, really sick of the wind and the rain. Simon and I bickered most of the day, so that's always fun. I grocery shopped late in the day but by then I was already mad at the world so it was just a stupid chore to get through. (How mad was I? I impulse-purchased People magazine, that's how mad.) I got home and Steve had gone with his daughter to his mom's house to take down her Christmas tree. Simon was out applying for jobs. So I had to bring the groceries into the house all by myself which thoroughly annoyed the snot out of me. I'm the putter-awayer - they schlep the groceries into the house. I took advantage of no one being home and gave the back door a good slam each time I came in with another load. Yeah, that felt good!

Simon came home while I was still putting groceries away - and after we got mad at each other again - he took the downstairs groceries down and put them away. I didn't know when Steve would be home so I ate my sub in front of my computer, reading journals. Screw 'em both, they lost the privilege of eating dinner with me tonight. (I really did that because I thought Steve was going to watch Final Four basketball at 6:30 but he watched a couple of Perry Mason shows with Lizz instead.)

So I finished cleaning and have been hibernating in my nice, clean hidey hole. I'm going to bed shortly since we spring the clocks ahead tonight. I have to work at Celebration Gifts tomorrow afternoon so I want to at least make the most of my morning. After tomorrow, just two more half-shifts to work!

Hey guess what, everybody? Gretchen turned 46 today! (Gretchen, I intended to call you but thought of it at all the wrong times. Sorry, boo-boo!) So please leave your birthday wishes for Gretchen in the comments. I know you all feel like you know her by now, right?

Happy Birthday, Sweet Sister!

2 for 2

I'm two for two in getting the Pine Tree Designs newsletter out on the first of the month! (Sign up over on the right. RoadRunner does such a good job of blocking spam, that I can't sign RR users up for the newsletter - you'll need to go do that yourself so you can confirm your email address, etc.) As you can see in the sidebar, we're celebrating our 2nd anniversary by offering a 20% discount off every item on the website, including items already discounted. Pretty sweet. (Last time I used sweet in front of Simon, complete with pumping fist, he told me that word was so yesterday. As am I, so it all works out.)

Since I won't be selling my wares at Celebration Gifts after April 30, I won't be selling the non-Stefani product either. (Except probably Allison's Blue Turtle Studio cards, because I love them so.) So I'm thinking I need to go to the store tomorrow and do a complete inventory of all those items and list the quantities on the site, like I have done with the Garden Cards. Because when they're gone, they're gone. I'm working at the store Sunday afternoon so maybe I'll do the inventory then. I have grocery shopping and errands to do on Saturday.

As a reminder for the locals, all my stuff at Celebration Gifts is 25% off this month, but I've removed my Stefani cards. I'll get organized this weekend and take them to The Wine Trek Gift Company.

Everything on PTD = 20% discount

Everything at Celebration Gifts = 25% discount, Stefani Cards not available here.

Clear as mud??

Yesterday I picked up this trunkload of paper from a Freecycler. Most of it is sample books with little squares of different weights and colors of paper - mostly neutral colors I think. It's still in my trunk until I can figure out where to put it in my studio. Once I get it organized, I'll split it with Jen.

She and I have received a windfall of free paper lately with our administrative coordinator cleaning out the supply room. Since our company changed names, some of the stuff is becoming obsolete as we phase out the old and phase in the new.

I love paper!