I finally found a weekend to add items to Etsy. I must say- I am a bit intimidated by shipping, pricing, and other details. I don't know if I will actually sell anything, but I figured I would give Etsy a try! Check out my Etsy shop here:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/PhysicksAlchemy
Let me know what you think. I am open to feedback. J helped me buy a domain name, so I am going to make a website to accompany the Etsy shop eventually. I already have a Twitter Account for the store too: @PhysicksAlchemy.
***
In other news, I know I need to add a blog post about what has been going on in Miami, but one thing at a time...! :)
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Hungry Hunger Games
This is just a really brief update from my post this past weekend. I didn't end up getting things on Etsy because I got distracted by doing other stuff- like going to see The Hunger Games. J and I thought the movie was so-so. We agreed that we both liked Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson as Katniss and Peeta, respectively but that some of the other actors were okay. Haymitch, Rue, and Cinna were more characters we thought were acted well. All in all, I think the movie wasn't as dark as the books. I am one of the people who think these books are inappropriate for young children. I wouldn't censor a child from reading the books, but I don't think that children can understand the full impact of the messages. In the end, people who have not read the books will miss the finer points of the story. I was interested to see how they would explain the unique things like tracker jackers and mocking jays, but they could have done more with the sheer horror that was the muttations. If you read the books, you will understand these comments. This being said, it was pretty good and it was the first big blockbuster I've been to in a long time. (The theatre was full! Once, down here, J and I were the only people in a theatre for the latest Morgan Spurlock movie.) J and I had a much more in depth discussion regarding our feelings on the film's interpretation of the book, but this is just my quick blurb.
After we saw the movie, J really wanted Nacho Mama's Nachos from Lime. For $7 you get the largest serving of nachos with the works. As we don't eat meat, we have ordered it with black beans and sauteed onions in the past for added protein (I didn't like it), but the extra beans is so excessive that I cannot imagine loading ground beef, chicken, or steak onto them. I didn't eat much of the nachos, but I ordered sopapillas for the first time, and they were simply amazing. They were also really cheap. For about three dollars you get enough little pastries for you and a friend. I could have eaten them all by myself though, they were really delicious. The only thing was, I felt bad for going up to a counter and ordering food after watching these kids battle to the death for basic supplies. If I was a tribute, I'd probably be the first to die in the Hunger Games because my survival skills are outdated (although I have some OLS lessons in the back of my head somewhere) and I couldn't outrun a turtle. And they don't have sopapillas out in the wild.
After we saw the movie, J really wanted Nacho Mama's Nachos from Lime. For $7 you get the largest serving of nachos with the works. As we don't eat meat, we have ordered it with black beans and sauteed onions in the past for added protein (I didn't like it), but the extra beans is so excessive that I cannot imagine loading ground beef, chicken, or steak onto them. I didn't eat much of the nachos, but I ordered sopapillas for the first time, and they were simply amazing. They were also really cheap. For about three dollars you get enough little pastries for you and a friend. I could have eaten them all by myself though, they were really delicious. The only thing was, I felt bad for going up to a counter and ordering food after watching these kids battle to the death for basic supplies. If I was a tribute, I'd probably be the first to die in the Hunger Games because my survival skills are outdated (although I have some OLS lessons in the back of my head somewhere) and I couldn't outrun a turtle. And they don't have sopapillas out in the wild.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Moment in March
For the last month, work has been reasonable. (The co-workers are another story...) I was able to meet deadlines with ease in February, but things are picking up again. I wrote all of my deadlines on my calendar for April and it is going to be a doozy of a month. On top of the work itself, registration will begin on the 2nd, and it will be back to desperate students scrambling to get into their classes. J's family will be visiting right in the thick of it, so I won't get to take any time off of work. I'll have the evenings to spend with them, though.
School for J has picked up considerably as well. I would say he's in the final stretch, but his final stretch is less of a sprint and more of an intense marathon. He's a runner, so I'm sure he appreciates this analogy. I honestly do not know how he does it. He still tries to make time for me and Ruby, he finds time to work out, he completes his school work, and he does a lot to build his resume.
Despite not having friends to hang out with, I'm still plenty busy. I took three baby steps towards selling crafts. I ordered my business cards, purchased a domain name for a website, and I laid out the Etsy page. I hope to list a couple of items tomorrow. If I do, I'll let people know. I've scaled back a bit with volunteering. It is hard to do it every week (J needs me home for the furry baby), but I'm still doing that and my craft night. I've hit a crafting plateau... There are things I like to do, but don't have the money for. There are things I have the supplies to do, but don't have the patience for. And there are things that I've tried to do, but I don't really enjoy. Having something to work towards- like gifts- helps my motivation, but sometimes I just need a break.
I have been using my usual crafting time for reading. I finished five books in March. I don't know if I'll start another right away. I caved and read The Hunger Games trilogy. I finished the three books in 48 hours. I read them quickly because I just wanted to be done with them. I thought they were good. I didn't love them and I found the story line exceedingly disturbing, but at least the violence wasn't as detailed as I thought it would be. That said, it still gave me nightmares. I appreciate the message that the author tried to convey and I thought the social commentary was scathingly brutal, yet truthful. It was also good to be able to discuss books with J. We rarely read the same things. He is much more cerebral in his free reading choices, where I tend to read books for entertainment. I still read plenty of non-fiction, but you won't find me reading history books about hurricanes. :) I also read the book because J kept bringing up seeing the movie. He doesn't usually get to pick what we see (well- we barely go to movies), and since he kept talking about it, I figured I'd see what all of the hullabaloo was about.
The only other notable thing that has happened in the last couple of weeks is that we found a great dessert place. It is called Atelier Monnier and they serve traditional French desserts that are presented in a more modern way. The individual serving desserts run about $5, but you will NOT be hungry when you leave. The first time we went I had a berry tart. It was excellent. The second time we went I tried their eclair. It was very beautiful and even had a small gold leaf detail. I was expecting a regular cream filling, but it was chocolate cream. It was good, but a little rich for my taste. I'm one of the few women who doesn't go gaga over chocolate. I prefer fruity, tart flavors. Still, the eclair was good. J had sorbet both times and it was amazing. They have macaroons. I've never had one and I'm looking forward to trying. They also make bread and sell wine. It's a pretty cool shop. We'll be back.
Well, I figured I'd take this moment to post, because I know things will get busy in April. Here's hoping I have the energy to keep up!
School for J has picked up considerably as well. I would say he's in the final stretch, but his final stretch is less of a sprint and more of an intense marathon. He's a runner, so I'm sure he appreciates this analogy. I honestly do not know how he does it. He still tries to make time for me and Ruby, he finds time to work out, he completes his school work, and he does a lot to build his resume.
Despite not having friends to hang out with, I'm still plenty busy. I took three baby steps towards selling crafts. I ordered my business cards, purchased a domain name for a website, and I laid out the Etsy page. I hope to list a couple of items tomorrow. If I do, I'll let people know. I've scaled back a bit with volunteering. It is hard to do it every week (J needs me home for the furry baby), but I'm still doing that and my craft night. I've hit a crafting plateau... There are things I like to do, but don't have the money for. There are things I have the supplies to do, but don't have the patience for. And there are things that I've tried to do, but I don't really enjoy. Having something to work towards- like gifts- helps my motivation, but sometimes I just need a break.
I have been using my usual crafting time for reading. I finished five books in March. I don't know if I'll start another right away. I caved and read The Hunger Games trilogy. I finished the three books in 48 hours. I read them quickly because I just wanted to be done with them. I thought they were good. I didn't love them and I found the story line exceedingly disturbing, but at least the violence wasn't as detailed as I thought it would be. That said, it still gave me nightmares. I appreciate the message that the author tried to convey and I thought the social commentary was scathingly brutal, yet truthful. It was also good to be able to discuss books with J. We rarely read the same things. He is much more cerebral in his free reading choices, where I tend to read books for entertainment. I still read plenty of non-fiction, but you won't find me reading history books about hurricanes. :) I also read the book because J kept bringing up seeing the movie. He doesn't usually get to pick what we see (well- we barely go to movies), and since he kept talking about it, I figured I'd see what all of the hullabaloo was about.
The only other notable thing that has happened in the last couple of weeks is that we found a great dessert place. It is called Atelier Monnier and they serve traditional French desserts that are presented in a more modern way. The individual serving desserts run about $5, but you will NOT be hungry when you leave. The first time we went I had a berry tart. It was excellent. The second time we went I tried their eclair. It was very beautiful and even had a small gold leaf detail. I was expecting a regular cream filling, but it was chocolate cream. It was good, but a little rich for my taste. I'm one of the few women who doesn't go gaga over chocolate. I prefer fruity, tart flavors. Still, the eclair was good. J had sorbet both times and it was amazing. They have macaroons. I've never had one and I'm looking forward to trying. They also make bread and sell wine. It's a pretty cool shop. We'll be back.
Well, I figured I'd take this moment to post, because I know things will get busy in April. Here's hoping I have the energy to keep up!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Leapin' Lizards- February's Almost Gone
Happy Leap Year (one day early)!
I haven't been posting much because there has been very little worthy of posting. I hate having my time wasted, so I won't waste yours, dear readers. All two of you, mom and dad. :)
Work has been very soul-sucking lately. I'd recount some tales for you if I thought they were particularly funny. I started walking on my lunch break a couple of days a week. I'm not sure why I started that. It has very little to do with fitness and more to do with wanting to walk straight off the premises and out of Miami.
I have been reading up a storm lately. If you are on Shelfari, you can see what I've been reading. I read mostly fiction and I vary it between some more serious stuff (New York Bestsellers) and action/fantasy novels that are pure drivel and for entertainment purposes only. I recently read a New York Times article about falling in love with "Airport Literature." Those would be the sort of books you find in the airport kiosks. The journalist was well-read in the Classics and wanted to continue to read more cerebral work but found that when she picked up "Airport Lit" she enjoyed traveling a lot more. Personally, I try not to be condescending towards what people read because at least they are reading! Most Americans read a pitiful number of books a year. On my "down" months I read at least two books. In February I finished five. I'm low on cash lately, so I've been using the library way more than my Kindle (still love it). I live very close to my library, but the only problem is they organize books like yum-yums. Seriously, I have to look in THREE places to find New Arrivals. Young Adult books are half on their own and half mixed in with Adult Fiction. I cannot find a lot of the books I am looking for- I'm going to have to figure out the loaning system (not as easy as Madison's was)... At least there is always the option to try to check the books out from J's student library.
Let's see, what else can I tell you? Well, Ruby has been a doll and a terror. Simultaneously. She REFUSED to go potty outside. She has a more stubborn personality than I do! She'll hold it until we put her down for quiet time and then she goes on her potty pad IMMEDIATELY. We don't like to scoop her up to take her out because that scares her and then she won't go outside and then she won't go in front of us (which means secret diddles under the couch). BUT, I must say this, I would gladly deal with her going on a potty pad for the rest of her life because she is just such a good dog all around. She's calming down a bit now that she is getting older. She's pretty good with her tricks and commands (we are proud parents of a Puppy Dog 2 class graduate). She is so precious to us. When I come home late (which I do about two days a week), she greets me at the door and will not stop staring at me or following me until I pick her up for a hug. Petting her while she's on the floor won't do, she wants to be up in your arms for a solid six seconds before it is back down to play. She likes to be greeted properly. She's also funny when it comes to cuddling. If I am on the couch, working on my laptop, she'll stick her nose underneath one of my typing hands so I have to stop and hold her. But as much as she's a dear, she grumbles A TON. I've never known a dog to be so grouchy about car rides. It makes me laugh because it shows so much of her personality: playful, energetic child mixed with crotchety old-man.
There hasn't been too much to look forward to/work towards lately. I cannot wait for June because one of my dear friends from college is spending a long weekend with me. J might be gone to a conference so I'd get a girl weekend! I haven't had one of those since July. Thus far, the only trip I have planned for Milwaukee will be for my second cousin's wedding in October. I hope I get home before then, but the flies coming out of my empty wallet are buzzing another tune. Sometimes I think about getting a second job, but it would be unfair to J and unfair to Ruby (J is so busy with school right now). I'm already pretty tired from work, craft night, and volunteering... and I get very little time with J as it is, so I want my weekends to be flexible so I can sneak a couple of hours of his time, if possible. In college if I needed more money I just worked more. I don't have that option at my job. I've never been on a fixed income before this job and there is talk of more money being taken out for the retirement plans (so less money that I take home now). Sigh. It is my goal to start selling stuff on Etsy soon, so hopefully I can set aside a little sum to get myself started with that.
Well, that's it for now. It's been a pretty quiet thus far. Hopefully I'll have wonderful things to report for March. In the meantime, do something fun with your extra day of 2012!
I haven't been posting much because there has been very little worthy of posting. I hate having my time wasted, so I won't waste yours, dear readers. All two of you, mom and dad. :)
Work has been very soul-sucking lately. I'd recount some tales for you if I thought they were particularly funny. I started walking on my lunch break a couple of days a week. I'm not sure why I started that. It has very little to do with fitness and more to do with wanting to walk straight off the premises and out of Miami.
I have been reading up a storm lately. If you are on Shelfari, you can see what I've been reading. I read mostly fiction and I vary it between some more serious stuff (New York Bestsellers) and action/fantasy novels that are pure drivel and for entertainment purposes only. I recently read a New York Times article about falling in love with "Airport Literature." Those would be the sort of books you find in the airport kiosks. The journalist was well-read in the Classics and wanted to continue to read more cerebral work but found that when she picked up "Airport Lit" she enjoyed traveling a lot more. Personally, I try not to be condescending towards what people read because at least they are reading! Most Americans read a pitiful number of books a year. On my "down" months I read at least two books. In February I finished five. I'm low on cash lately, so I've been using the library way more than my Kindle (still love it). I live very close to my library, but the only problem is they organize books like yum-yums. Seriously, I have to look in THREE places to find New Arrivals. Young Adult books are half on their own and half mixed in with Adult Fiction. I cannot find a lot of the books I am looking for- I'm going to have to figure out the loaning system (not as easy as Madison's was)... At least there is always the option to try to check the books out from J's student library.
Let's see, what else can I tell you? Well, Ruby has been a doll and a terror. Simultaneously. She REFUSED to go potty outside. She has a more stubborn personality than I do! She'll hold it until we put her down for quiet time and then she goes on her potty pad IMMEDIATELY. We don't like to scoop her up to take her out because that scares her and then she won't go outside and then she won't go in front of us (which means secret diddles under the couch). BUT, I must say this, I would gladly deal with her going on a potty pad for the rest of her life because she is just such a good dog all around. She's calming down a bit now that she is getting older. She's pretty good with her tricks and commands (we are proud parents of a Puppy Dog 2 class graduate). She is so precious to us. When I come home late (which I do about two days a week), she greets me at the door and will not stop staring at me or following me until I pick her up for a hug. Petting her while she's on the floor won't do, she wants to be up in your arms for a solid six seconds before it is back down to play. She likes to be greeted properly. She's also funny when it comes to cuddling. If I am on the couch, working on my laptop, she'll stick her nose underneath one of my typing hands so I have to stop and hold her. But as much as she's a dear, she grumbles A TON. I've never known a dog to be so grouchy about car rides. It makes me laugh because it shows so much of her personality: playful, energetic child mixed with crotchety old-man.
There hasn't been too much to look forward to/work towards lately. I cannot wait for June because one of my dear friends from college is spending a long weekend with me. J might be gone to a conference so I'd get a girl weekend! I haven't had one of those since July. Thus far, the only trip I have planned for Milwaukee will be for my second cousin's wedding in October. I hope I get home before then, but the flies coming out of my empty wallet are buzzing another tune. Sometimes I think about getting a second job, but it would be unfair to J and unfair to Ruby (J is so busy with school right now). I'm already pretty tired from work, craft night, and volunteering... and I get very little time with J as it is, so I want my weekends to be flexible so I can sneak a couple of hours of his time, if possible. In college if I needed more money I just worked more. I don't have that option at my job. I've never been on a fixed income before this job and there is talk of more money being taken out for the retirement plans (so less money that I take home now). Sigh. It is my goal to start selling stuff on Etsy soon, so hopefully I can set aside a little sum to get myself started with that.
Well, that's it for now. It's been a pretty quiet thus far. Hopefully I'll have wonderful things to report for March. In the meantime, do something fun with your extra day of 2012!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Food for Thought: Brimming with Ideas
I'm back in good old Miami. Well, I've been back for awhile. Sorry about the delay in posting. I had a very good holiday break in Milwaukee. It was nice to recharge my batteries in the real world. There are things I don't miss about living in Wisconsin, but all in all, I love being with basically decent people. While we may not see eye-to-eye on some things, me and those Wisconsinites, I can count on them to hold open the door for me. And they can count on me to extend the same, basic human courtesy. Because- after all, we all get boogies and have gas. We all laugh and we all cry. And we all know that cheese is supreme.
I was able to see a couple of my girlfriends. I missed you Violet, Tini, and Airbud! I know I'm sort of a solitary person, but I miss those friends that slugged through college with me. Most importantly, I was able to spend time with my family. I got to take a couple of trips to the Hobby Shop to stock up on my reading supplies (Stuffed, Art Doll Quarterly, Art Journaling, Sommerset Studios, etc...) and take a peek at the comic books. Yes, I'm a secret nerd. But I'm a broke secret nerd, so I don't buy them. I only own one issue of Batman and it was a righteous birthday gift from one of my aunties. (Ask J, I'm a sucker for almost all super-hero movies. I've even seen the bad ones. And he is an odd boy because he hates them. To torture my husband I don't make him watch chick-flicks, I make him take me to X-Men: First Class.) I got my time in at the Hobby Shop and then me and my mom went shopping for her upcoming cruise. We also made the ever-so-necessary stop to Archiver's in Madison. Do not ask me how much I spent. Do. Not. Ask. But- unlike my love for comics, I can turn those crafty purchases into gifts for people.
I also indulged in a lot of food. I gained weight. But I didn't care! No. No one will stop this gal from getting her cheese fix. As an end of the year "HUZZAH" in dining I had a lot of good eats. I went to the Comet Cafe. It's a favorite for me and J. He got his usual: the meatloaf sandwich. I got my usual: the B.E.L.T. We enjoyed Old Fashioneds (his sweet, mine sour) and I also had a screwdriver. I couldn't help myself! I haven't seen such an awesome and reasonably priced drinks menu in ages!! And they were DELICIOUS! (J was the D.D.) The New Glarus gods also smiled upon me with their Apple Ale. They only make this stuff once in a blue moon and I just so happened to be home when they had some. They say on the bottle: we may never make this again. So I got two cases. J's dad bought one for us to share and I bought one all for myself. Yum. I had cheese curds at Culver's a couple of times. And butter burgers. But those seriously pale in comparison to the glory that is Dotty Dumplings Dowry. I attempted to go once with J and Violet, but they were closing- the turds!! So we hung out at The Vintage where they were having $1 Wisconsin beer (Heeeelllo PBR!). We all split some yummy fried foods and J and I enjoyed our first Bloody Marys. HOW ON EARTH did I go through college at Madison and never have one of these?! They are delicious. I also got my favorite Ooey Gooey Pasta when J and I met up with Airbud. (Airbud isn't her real name, obviously. My friends all have super secret identities that I have to protect.) Ooey Gooey Pasta is to die for: chicken, peas, noodles, all smothered in an amazing sauce. I drool just thinking about it. And the portion is ridiculous. I also had my first deviled egg, and second, third, and forth on Christmas Eve. My grandma made her yummy strawberries, bananas, and cream dessert for Christmas Day. It is so simple, and yet so divine. Let's see, what else? Ooh, I had some really great hard goat cheese. Darn, I wish I knew the brand name. It was perfectly salty, yet not overpowering. I got Ann's pizza- my parents spoiled me. They are the best pizza in Milwaukee. Oh yes- I almost forgot: I HAD MY KOPP'S RED RASPBERRY FROZEN CUSTARD. Two scoops. I don't care if I look like a piggy when everyone else only orders one scoop. I can't get any of these things in Miami. (Well, I could make myself drinks and deviled eggs, but it wouldn't be the same.)
Now I am back to eating organic produce and sensible meals. My clothes are still a little mad at me, but it was worth it. :) The biggest change in my diet is my New Year's Resolution: no meat. I didn't really think I was going to go complete vegetarian, but I read Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer after getting back, and I am livid with the practices of factory farms and slaughterhouses across this country. Over 95% of our meat comes from them, and I- the ardent steak lover- have put down my fork and kept my dollar when it comes to supporting them. Now, I'm not going to say anything more, other than that if J and I could find a great farmer and a reliable butcher, we'd be eating meat. We both like it. The reason we first went to eating less meat was environmental, and because we have a little dog who, when added with all of the other doggies, can make a huge environmental impact. So, we started for that reason, but we're ending up doing it for another. I hope I haven't offended anyone. My choice is for me alone, but I wanted to explain myself because I've often said how much I love a good steak or burger on this blog, and for me to go vegetarian is almost a one-eighty. I never want to get preachy, and I won't criticize how others live. J and I have made a decision that is best for us that we hope will have a positive (albeit, slight) impact. Anything is something.
So, that mini-food tour of Wisconsin was also a little farewell tour. We've been back for a couple of weeks now and a lot has already happened. I got the sinus infection of a decade. I was miserable. I don't know how I made it to work. The only time I took off was to go to the doctor at the tail end of it and I wasn't going to take the full day, but after a three hour visit- time in Miami is measured by the hours you have to wait for things- my boss suggested I just stay home. I've been dealing with some hearing loss- no nerve damage thank goodness- and major pressure in my sinuses and ears. I have had that pressure in my ears for awhile, but it was so bad on Friday that I had to call my doctor and beg for something more helpful than nasal spray. So far, I seem to be getting better.
Right in the middle of that nasty sinus infection we had a visitor. I wish I could have been my usual self- and I'm sure I sent the impression that I loaf around on the couch watching television all of the time. I tried to keep up and spend time with J and his friend on South Beach (NOT partying, just sight-seeing), but I think I may have pushed myself a little too hard. Oh well, I've only had a sinus infection like that since middle school, so hopefully I'm not due for another one for a looooong time. I especially hope I'll feel 110% when Abe comes to visit me in the summer. I am dying to see her because we missed each other over Christmas. And I'm going to beg E to come back and bring her special someone too!
Even though I was super sicky and busy with getting back into the swing of things in the office, I managed to keep myself even busier with ideas. I've been brimming with them! I think those magazines I got at the Hobby Shop really help: I love admiring the artwork of other people, even if I do something that is nothing like that (Art Dolls, for instance). I've been toying with ideas and learning new things. Volunteering at the gardens ensures that I'm never bored. I just learned how to do some basic knitting last week and I'm currently working on a funky scarf made from some recycled t-shirts and interesting yarn. Tomorrow night I will learn how to make felt flowers. I've been mass producing some little projects (secret stuff: some people are getting them in my Pay-It-Forward craft project for 2012). I cannot wait to share my work with others and I hope they like it as much as I enjoyed making it. I would like my kitchen table back, though. I'm sure J would too. These projects take up a lot of space!
I'm slowly pulling elements of the life I want into the life I have. I'm working on character development for a story idea. I'm also reworking old stories in my head. I take time everyday to browse the internet for fun projects or to see what amazing things creative folks are up to now. Hopefully I can find a niche for myself in one of those communities. In the meantime, I'm enjoying my time with J (I missed him over the break- he stayed with his folks) and I'm loving my little Ruby. She's in Adult Training classes now, so hopefully that little chickadee will learn how to walk nicely. I may not be where I want to be right now, but I'm excited for the future and I'm trying to make the most of the present. .:Insert super mushy stuff about hubby here:.
Have a good week! Stay warm my Wisconsin friends! (I'm sweating.)
I was able to see a couple of my girlfriends. I missed you Violet, Tini, and Airbud! I know I'm sort of a solitary person, but I miss those friends that slugged through college with me. Most importantly, I was able to spend time with my family. I got to take a couple of trips to the Hobby Shop to stock up on my reading supplies (Stuffed, Art Doll Quarterly, Art Journaling, Sommerset Studios, etc...) and take a peek at the comic books. Yes, I'm a secret nerd. But I'm a broke secret nerd, so I don't buy them. I only own one issue of Batman and it was a righteous birthday gift from one of my aunties. (Ask J, I'm a sucker for almost all super-hero movies. I've even seen the bad ones. And he is an odd boy because he hates them. To torture my husband I don't make him watch chick-flicks, I make him take me to X-Men: First Class.) I got my time in at the Hobby Shop and then me and my mom went shopping for her upcoming cruise. We also made the ever-so-necessary stop to Archiver's in Madison. Do not ask me how much I spent. Do. Not. Ask. But- unlike my love for comics, I can turn those crafty purchases into gifts for people.
I also indulged in a lot of food. I gained weight. But I didn't care! No. No one will stop this gal from getting her cheese fix. As an end of the year "HUZZAH" in dining I had a lot of good eats. I went to the Comet Cafe. It's a favorite for me and J. He got his usual: the meatloaf sandwich. I got my usual: the B.E.L.T. We enjoyed Old Fashioneds (his sweet, mine sour) and I also had a screwdriver. I couldn't help myself! I haven't seen such an awesome and reasonably priced drinks menu in ages!! And they were DELICIOUS! (J was the D.D.) The New Glarus gods also smiled upon me with their Apple Ale. They only make this stuff once in a blue moon and I just so happened to be home when they had some. They say on the bottle: we may never make this again. So I got two cases. J's dad bought one for us to share and I bought one all for myself. Yum. I had cheese curds at Culver's a couple of times. And butter burgers. But those seriously pale in comparison to the glory that is Dotty Dumplings Dowry. I attempted to go once with J and Violet, but they were closing- the turds!! So we hung out at The Vintage where they were having $1 Wisconsin beer (Heeeelllo PBR!). We all split some yummy fried foods and J and I enjoyed our first Bloody Marys. HOW ON EARTH did I go through college at Madison and never have one of these?! They are delicious. I also got my favorite Ooey Gooey Pasta when J and I met up with Airbud. (Airbud isn't her real name, obviously. My friends all have super secret identities that I have to protect.) Ooey Gooey Pasta is to die for: chicken, peas, noodles, all smothered in an amazing sauce. I drool just thinking about it. And the portion is ridiculous. I also had my first deviled egg, and second, third, and forth on Christmas Eve. My grandma made her yummy strawberries, bananas, and cream dessert for Christmas Day. It is so simple, and yet so divine. Let's see, what else? Ooh, I had some really great hard goat cheese. Darn, I wish I knew the brand name. It was perfectly salty, yet not overpowering. I got Ann's pizza- my parents spoiled me. They are the best pizza in Milwaukee. Oh yes- I almost forgot: I HAD MY KOPP'S RED RASPBERRY FROZEN CUSTARD. Two scoops. I don't care if I look like a piggy when everyone else only orders one scoop. I can't get any of these things in Miami. (Well, I could make myself drinks and deviled eggs, but it wouldn't be the same.)
Now I am back to eating organic produce and sensible meals. My clothes are still a little mad at me, but it was worth it. :) The biggest change in my diet is my New Year's Resolution: no meat. I didn't really think I was going to go complete vegetarian, but I read Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer after getting back, and I am livid with the practices of factory farms and slaughterhouses across this country. Over 95% of our meat comes from them, and I- the ardent steak lover- have put down my fork and kept my dollar when it comes to supporting them. Now, I'm not going to say anything more, other than that if J and I could find a great farmer and a reliable butcher, we'd be eating meat. We both like it. The reason we first went to eating less meat was environmental, and because we have a little dog who, when added with all of the other doggies, can make a huge environmental impact. So, we started for that reason, but we're ending up doing it for another. I hope I haven't offended anyone. My choice is for me alone, but I wanted to explain myself because I've often said how much I love a good steak or burger on this blog, and for me to go vegetarian is almost a one-eighty. I never want to get preachy, and I won't criticize how others live. J and I have made a decision that is best for us that we hope will have a positive (albeit, slight) impact. Anything is something.
So, that mini-food tour of Wisconsin was also a little farewell tour. We've been back for a couple of weeks now and a lot has already happened. I got the sinus infection of a decade. I was miserable. I don't know how I made it to work. The only time I took off was to go to the doctor at the tail end of it and I wasn't going to take the full day, but after a three hour visit- time in Miami is measured by the hours you have to wait for things- my boss suggested I just stay home. I've been dealing with some hearing loss- no nerve damage thank goodness- and major pressure in my sinuses and ears. I have had that pressure in my ears for awhile, but it was so bad on Friday that I had to call my doctor and beg for something more helpful than nasal spray. So far, I seem to be getting better.
Right in the middle of that nasty sinus infection we had a visitor. I wish I could have been my usual self- and I'm sure I sent the impression that I loaf around on the couch watching television all of the time. I tried to keep up and spend time with J and his friend on South Beach (NOT partying, just sight-seeing), but I think I may have pushed myself a little too hard. Oh well, I've only had a sinus infection like that since middle school, so hopefully I'm not due for another one for a looooong time. I especially hope I'll feel 110% when Abe comes to visit me in the summer. I am dying to see her because we missed each other over Christmas. And I'm going to beg E to come back and bring her special someone too!
Even though I was super sicky and busy with getting back into the swing of things in the office, I managed to keep myself even busier with ideas. I've been brimming with them! I think those magazines I got at the Hobby Shop really help: I love admiring the artwork of other people, even if I do something that is nothing like that (Art Dolls, for instance). I've been toying with ideas and learning new things. Volunteering at the gardens ensures that I'm never bored. I just learned how to do some basic knitting last week and I'm currently working on a funky scarf made from some recycled t-shirts and interesting yarn. Tomorrow night I will learn how to make felt flowers. I've been mass producing some little projects (secret stuff: some people are getting them in my Pay-It-Forward craft project for 2012). I cannot wait to share my work with others and I hope they like it as much as I enjoyed making it. I would like my kitchen table back, though. I'm sure J would too. These projects take up a lot of space!
I'm slowly pulling elements of the life I want into the life I have. I'm working on character development for a story idea. I'm also reworking old stories in my head. I take time everyday to browse the internet for fun projects or to see what amazing things creative folks are up to now. Hopefully I can find a niche for myself in one of those communities. In the meantime, I'm enjoying my time with J (I missed him over the break- he stayed with his folks) and I'm loving my little Ruby. She's in Adult Training classes now, so hopefully that little chickadee will learn how to walk nicely. I may not be where I want to be right now, but I'm excited for the future and I'm trying to make the most of the present. .:Insert super mushy stuff about hubby here:.
Have a good week! Stay warm my Wisconsin friends! (I'm sweating.)
Monday, December 19, 2011
Art and Life Goals
It has been a very busy holiday season. And the holidays have barely started. Work has been incredibly busy, tedious, and complicated. I worked really hard to finish the schedule that is due next. Fall of 2012. I had just finished Summer 2012. With finals, helping students and instructors, and scheduling, it was a crazy couple of weeks. However, we did throw a nice holiday party for our staff and we were treated to a lot of great food. We have a diverse group of people, so they all brought dishes they specialize in: real fried rice, pot stickers, dumplings, jerk chicken, Polish cheesecake, and more. There was so much food! So much. I made the only dish that I can make with confidence: rhubarb raspberry pi pie. The people I worked with thought it was funny. And tasty. They thanked us for all of our hard work, and it was very nice to be recognized, even though I get shy at those moments.
One of the instructors invited me and J to Art Walk Miami. We have been trying to coordinate this for a few months now, but it has rained, or she or I have been sick. We finally were able to go and I am so glad we did. It happens on 2nd Avenue in the Wynwood Art District. It is an event where shops, restaurants, and the artists' studios are open to the public. It was one of the first times I felt like I belonged down here.
I may not dress like it, but I have the soul of a blue haired, artsy, hipster. The day I don't need a 9 to 5 job is the day I do something fun with my hair... I might be sixty when this happens, but it will happen. Seeing all of those artistic people made me feel like part of a community. They enjoy and appreciate something other than spray tans. I see them and I feel okay for being me in a city full of superficial men and women. I saw this one guy, he was a tall African American with beautiful skin, a crazy mohawk, and the fiercest jacket I've ever seen. Lady Gaga would have wanted it. He had to walk down the street sideways so he didn't poke someone in the eye. My first thought was, "Oh my gosh. He is so cool." And my second thought was, "How considerate! He is nicer than all of the jerks who bump into me at the mall."
The people watching was worth the trip alone. But the art was the reason we went. It was definitely interesting. We saw the Time and Place gallery show by Susy Igligki. It was interesting commentary on life in third world Latin America and the disparity between the rich and the poor. It can be argued that there are similarities to Miami. In the same gallery I also enjoyed the Titans show by Magaly Barnola-Otaola. Her work was kinetic drawings of man and machinery. It has a sketchy, draftsman style that I found intriguing. We stopped in at EVL World owned by Erni Vales. The work was street style and juxtaposed sweet and dark. I liked some of the paintings, and I liked that the artist provided a thought-process blurb next to his pieces. He is currently working on a project of 13 paintings a month for 13 months. He was near Kawaii Universe, a sticker shop that was cute and very kawaii (Japanese style- think Hello Kitty). I like some of the stickers, and I might buy some from their Etsy shop in the future. Another really cool shop was Plant the Future by Paloma Teppa featuring some pieces by Chu Teppa. It was a store filled with terrariums, orchids, desert gardens, bonsai, airplants, and cacti. J and I really liked that store. The style was more modern than we are usually drawn to, but we both appreciated living art. The best art, to me, though, was the graffiti on the Wynwood Walls. I nearly hyperventilated when I saw the Space Invader piece. SPACE INVADER. And Shepard Fairey! (He did the famous Obama poster.) These are some of the most famous living artists of our generation! I would have fainted if there was a Banksy piece. I have some qualms about street art, even though I appreciate the art form a lot, I still feel badly about people being inconvenienced and their property being vandalized. So I particularly enjoyed the graffiti on the Wynwood Walls because it was commissioned.
We stopped in more studios and saw a lot of interesting things, but I'll spare you all of the details. We also enjoyed some yummy food. You know me- not a blog post goes by where I don't describe something wonderful that I enjoyed. The food trucks were at the Art Walk and we were particularly excited because we haven't gone in months. The friend we went with had never had Ms.Cheezious before. J and I believe so highly in the power of grilled cheese that we've taken all of our visitors to Ms.Cheezious. And unless our friends and family have been lying to us- they have had life changing experiences with grilled cheese. I stand by the prosciutto goat cheese number with french fries. The cheese fries in particular are also yummy. After partaking in silence inducing food (so good you just shut up and eat) we stopped at the Coolhaus truck for the best ice cream sandwich I've ever had. J and I shared a chocolate chip cookie and Oreo coffee ice cream sandwich. The paper they give you is edible and for a good reason- you'll end up eating it they give you so much ice cream. The cookies were perfect: soft and chewy. That is the right vehicle for ice cream. Crunchy cookies simply don't work. It was one of my best food nights in a long time.
It was also one of the best nights in general. I love art. I have always said, "If I die and go to heaven, I hope it is either an art museum or a library." I have had some life changing moments in both places. They also symbolize the things I love to do most: create, enjoy the creation of others, write, and read. I have been struggling for a long time now with the quarter-life crisis question: WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE? I have had to put a lot on hold to move here. But when we leave, I am ready to dive, head first, into my calling. I kept going back and forth: do I do what I would be good at, that could make me money, but that would be less enjoyable? Or do I do what I love and live a more simple life? I've tossed around Human Resources, Adult Education, Law, Psychology, Child Life Specialist, Art Therapist, and a few more. I can say, quite honestly- and maybe I'm being full of myself, that I think I would do well at any of those fields. Each of those careers builds off of one of my strengths.
But after months of being unhappy with Miami and unhappy with what I do for 40 hours a week, I have come to the conclusion that I have to really like (if not totally love) what I do. Maybe I will fail, but I have to at least try, right? And I'm very lucky to have J. He supports me and wants me to be happy in whatever I do. So, I asked myself some questions and I asked J to help me (and an article in O Magazine helped a lot). I want to honor my talents. I think I can have a positive impact on the world. And I think doing what I am meant to do will bring more joy to my life than a sizable income ever could.
I listed my top 5 passions as:
1. making art
2. writing
3. being in nature
4. performing/speaking publicly
5. organizing
I asked J to name three of my strengths and he said that I was organized, creative, and empathetic. I also asked him to tell me a story about my passion. He said that I have a clean, organized art studio where I do drawings or paintings and I donate some of my profits to charity. I liked where he was headed with that story. It exemplifies a lot of the things that are important to me. We went back and forth with the story and tweaked it so that I also run a small, online business and I write full-time and do art/crafts part time. We agreed that where I am currently with my art/crafts I could start an online business in the near future, but that the writing would require some further training/polishing. It scares me to consider a possibility where I do not have a steady income with reliable benefits. Organization and preparedness is huge for me. I'm the biggest worrier I know, so letting go and taking care of things on my own is terrifying. The article included a quiz that determined what I am motivated by. I am mostly motivated by Enlightenment (hence, the desire to be happy over the desire to be rich). I am also motivated by Security (the fear of not meeting the needs of my family) and Accomplishment. Interestingly enough, I am least motivated by my Connection to others. I run hot and cold with people and I find I'm only consistent in wanting to be with J and Ruby. :) If I pursued this, it would allow us to live anywhere (unlike Art Therapy) which would benefit J's career and passion. I have spent a lot of time thinking about what it is that will make me feel "whole." The Art Walk was the reminder I needed: this is who I am. This is where I feel great. This is where I feel appropriately challenged. I want my life to have meaning.
I have a lot working against me: I lack training, I fear an unstable income, I'm not good at selling myself or my work, it is not a good time to be making poor financial decisions, and I lack a good "creative space." I do know that I have a lot of people who would support me in this endeavor. And some who would question me. But I want to give it a try. I know I won't succeed at the first go around. But this is what I love doing: I'm sitting up late to write this out. I've sat up late and got up at 5:45 in the morning to make scarves for people, or to finish my homemade gifts that I am excited to give out on the 25th.
I think it is possible to bring a little of my "dream heaven" into my world. These are the things in life that bring life to me.
One of the instructors invited me and J to Art Walk Miami. We have been trying to coordinate this for a few months now, but it has rained, or she or I have been sick. We finally were able to go and I am so glad we did. It happens on 2nd Avenue in the Wynwood Art District. It is an event where shops, restaurants, and the artists' studios are open to the public. It was one of the first times I felt like I belonged down here.
I may not dress like it, but I have the soul of a blue haired, artsy, hipster. The day I don't need a 9 to 5 job is the day I do something fun with my hair... I might be sixty when this happens, but it will happen. Seeing all of those artistic people made me feel like part of a community. They enjoy and appreciate something other than spray tans. I see them and I feel okay for being me in a city full of superficial men and women. I saw this one guy, he was a tall African American with beautiful skin, a crazy mohawk, and the fiercest jacket I've ever seen. Lady Gaga would have wanted it. He had to walk down the street sideways so he didn't poke someone in the eye. My first thought was, "Oh my gosh. He is so cool." And my second thought was, "How considerate! He is nicer than all of the jerks who bump into me at the mall."
The people watching was worth the trip alone. But the art was the reason we went. It was definitely interesting. We saw the Time and Place gallery show by Susy Igligki. It was interesting commentary on life in third world Latin America and the disparity between the rich and the poor. It can be argued that there are similarities to Miami. In the same gallery I also enjoyed the Titans show by Magaly Barnola-Otaola. Her work was kinetic drawings of man and machinery. It has a sketchy, draftsman style that I found intriguing. We stopped in at EVL World owned by Erni Vales. The work was street style and juxtaposed sweet and dark. I liked some of the paintings, and I liked that the artist provided a thought-process blurb next to his pieces. He is currently working on a project of 13 paintings a month for 13 months. He was near Kawaii Universe, a sticker shop that was cute and very kawaii (Japanese style- think Hello Kitty). I like some of the stickers, and I might buy some from their Etsy shop in the future. Another really cool shop was Plant the Future by Paloma Teppa featuring some pieces by Chu Teppa. It was a store filled with terrariums, orchids, desert gardens, bonsai, airplants, and cacti. J and I really liked that store. The style was more modern than we are usually drawn to, but we both appreciated living art. The best art, to me, though, was the graffiti on the Wynwood Walls. I nearly hyperventilated when I saw the Space Invader piece. SPACE INVADER. And Shepard Fairey! (He did the famous Obama poster.) These are some of the most famous living artists of our generation! I would have fainted if there was a Banksy piece. I have some qualms about street art, even though I appreciate the art form a lot, I still feel badly about people being inconvenienced and their property being vandalized. So I particularly enjoyed the graffiti on the Wynwood Walls because it was commissioned.
We stopped in more studios and saw a lot of interesting things, but I'll spare you all of the details. We also enjoyed some yummy food. You know me- not a blog post goes by where I don't describe something wonderful that I enjoyed. The food trucks were at the Art Walk and we were particularly excited because we haven't gone in months. The friend we went with had never had Ms.Cheezious before. J and I believe so highly in the power of grilled cheese that we've taken all of our visitors to Ms.Cheezious. And unless our friends and family have been lying to us- they have had life changing experiences with grilled cheese. I stand by the prosciutto goat cheese number with french fries. The cheese fries in particular are also yummy. After partaking in silence inducing food (so good you just shut up and eat) we stopped at the Coolhaus truck for the best ice cream sandwich I've ever had. J and I shared a chocolate chip cookie and Oreo coffee ice cream sandwich. The paper they give you is edible and for a good reason- you'll end up eating it they give you so much ice cream. The cookies were perfect: soft and chewy. That is the right vehicle for ice cream. Crunchy cookies simply don't work. It was one of my best food nights in a long time.
It was also one of the best nights in general. I love art. I have always said, "If I die and go to heaven, I hope it is either an art museum or a library." I have had some life changing moments in both places. They also symbolize the things I love to do most: create, enjoy the creation of others, write, and read. I have been struggling for a long time now with the quarter-life crisis question: WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE? I have had to put a lot on hold to move here. But when we leave, I am ready to dive, head first, into my calling. I kept going back and forth: do I do what I would be good at, that could make me money, but that would be less enjoyable? Or do I do what I love and live a more simple life? I've tossed around Human Resources, Adult Education, Law, Psychology, Child Life Specialist, Art Therapist, and a few more. I can say, quite honestly- and maybe I'm being full of myself, that I think I would do well at any of those fields. Each of those careers builds off of one of my strengths.
But after months of being unhappy with Miami and unhappy with what I do for 40 hours a week, I have come to the conclusion that I have to really like (if not totally love) what I do. Maybe I will fail, but I have to at least try, right? And I'm very lucky to have J. He supports me and wants me to be happy in whatever I do. So, I asked myself some questions and I asked J to help me (and an article in O Magazine helped a lot). I want to honor my talents. I think I can have a positive impact on the world. And I think doing what I am meant to do will bring more joy to my life than a sizable income ever could.
- When I was a kid, I dreamed of: stories, adventure, and art.
- I can't pass up a book or movie about: fantasy, humor, or quirky characters.
- If I played hooky from work for a week, I'd spend the time: making stuff, sightseeing, and writing about it all.
- Most people don't know this about me, but I really enjoy: writing and experiencing the outdoors.
- I am the go-to person when my friends need help with: organization, advice, and crafts.
- If I could star in my own how-to TV show, it would be about: organizing, crafts, or advice.
- If I were to make a homemade gift, it would involve: ANYTHING! (Paint, yarn, glitter, pencils, wood, paper, recycled and found material, cloth...)
- I've tried only once or twice, but I really enjoy: rock climbing and skiing.
- The closest I came to a runner's high is when I'm: performing on stage or making art.
- If I won first prize in a talent show, it would be for: art or public speaking.
I listed my top 5 passions as:
1. making art
2. writing
3. being in nature
4. performing/speaking publicly
5. organizing
I asked J to name three of my strengths and he said that I was organized, creative, and empathetic. I also asked him to tell me a story about my passion. He said that I have a clean, organized art studio where I do drawings or paintings and I donate some of my profits to charity. I liked where he was headed with that story. It exemplifies a lot of the things that are important to me. We went back and forth with the story and tweaked it so that I also run a small, online business and I write full-time and do art/crafts part time. We agreed that where I am currently with my art/crafts I could start an online business in the near future, but that the writing would require some further training/polishing. It scares me to consider a possibility where I do not have a steady income with reliable benefits. Organization and preparedness is huge for me. I'm the biggest worrier I know, so letting go and taking care of things on my own is terrifying. The article included a quiz that determined what I am motivated by. I am mostly motivated by Enlightenment (hence, the desire to be happy over the desire to be rich). I am also motivated by Security (the fear of not meeting the needs of my family) and Accomplishment. Interestingly enough, I am least motivated by my Connection to others. I run hot and cold with people and I find I'm only consistent in wanting to be with J and Ruby. :) If I pursued this, it would allow us to live anywhere (unlike Art Therapy) which would benefit J's career and passion. I have spent a lot of time thinking about what it is that will make me feel "whole." The Art Walk was the reminder I needed: this is who I am. This is where I feel great. This is where I feel appropriately challenged. I want my life to have meaning.
I have a lot working against me: I lack training, I fear an unstable income, I'm not good at selling myself or my work, it is not a good time to be making poor financial decisions, and I lack a good "creative space." I do know that I have a lot of people who would support me in this endeavor. And some who would question me. But I want to give it a try. I know I won't succeed at the first go around. But this is what I love doing: I'm sitting up late to write this out. I've sat up late and got up at 5:45 in the morning to make scarves for people, or to finish my homemade gifts that I am excited to give out on the 25th.
I think it is possible to bring a little of my "dream heaven" into my world. These are the things in life that bring life to me.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
November's Nearly Done
It is official. Holiday season is upon us. I'm a slight scrooge, so I do not acknowledge the upcoming holidays until the Thanksgiving meal has started digesting. (To me, Christmas music anytime before the week of Christmas is just annoying.) This year I'm slightly more festive than last. Last Thanksgiving, J and I had Chinese food and went to the beach. I was unemployed and less than thrilled about my current city. This year, things have changed: I'm employed. :) We were invited to a traditional dinner hosted by my co-worker's mom. (We do crafts together once a week.) I love Chinese food and I had a great Thanksgiving with J last year, but I love Thanksgiving food even more. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, so it was nice to spend it in a more traditional way this year. It was also nice to be around a family, even if it wasn't mine.
The food was amazing, and I wouldn't expect any less from my crafting guru. She makes awesome brownies, but even better stuffing and mashed potatoes. The turkey was good and the gravy was made from scratch. There were croissants and green beans and baked ziti. (Ziti is their family tradition, but I held off in order to maximize the space in my stomach for stuffing and potatoes. Starch, starch, carbs- I love starches and carbs!!!) Dessert was pumpkin pie and brownies. J and I were happy campers.
After dinner, J and I kept our tradition by going to the beach. We looked for shells and enjoyed the cooler weather. Once we got home, we did a big clean up and then set about decorating. J and I had purchased some ornaments from Target for a couple of bucks (literally, these things were twenty five cents) last year, so up they went. Instead of a tree, we did a garland. The cats and Ruby would have had too much fun with a tree and since we will be home for the holidays, we didn't want to bother. The theme this year was snowflakes, navy, and silver. J and I don't agree on much, but we agree that we hate red and green. Getting the garland up was actually pretty tricky. We admired our handiwork with beer and hard lemonade.
Also keeping us busy is our adorable four legged baby. (That conjures up a funny image.) Ruby is everything we could have hoped for and more. We are simply mad about her and I understand now why people get so obsessed with their dogs. She's my Best Thing Ever. She knows to be calm when I'm upset/sad about something. She knows the sound of my car and when I come home later than J, she is anxious to greet me at the door. She's happy to see me in the morning- and in the middle of the afternoon when I've been home for hours. Ruby's smart... and a little stubborn. We're still diligently working on potty training (the dog attack and broken leg were huge set backs for us). She can be a little sneaky sometimes and she likes to eat fuzz. But she's great at her tricks and commands: sit, stay, wait, come, paw, high five, spin, twirl, drop it, leave it, and lie down. The only one in her repertoire that she is really missing is: "POTTY. Now, please?" She just got fixed last week. She was miserable the first day. She couldn't sit, so she'd just lean on me. And she was drugged, so her puppy eyes were especially sad. But the next morning she was already full of her signature joie de vivire. She's my bounce-back kid. I love her tenacious, precocious, sweet mannerisms. She gets car sick, just like me. And although she's not very vocal, she's got a fierce little growl when playing tug and she makes the funniest whimpers and grunts in protest of having to ride in the car.
Ruby's been spoiled with the company of a friend for the last week. We're puppy sitting for a friend's dog. It's a toy poodle that J and I have sat for before. This dog is such a sweetie. She's so well mannered and loving. The only problem is that she's a couple of years old, so she can find Ruby to be annoying. It is sort of like sisters, except one is a "too-cool" teenager and the other is a sticky-fingered two year old. They still play nicely, and once in awhile J and I can get them to both calm down and rest on the couch at the same time. We will all be sad when her owner comes to pick her up. (It has helped with the potty training a bit. J and I are consistent with the older dog- and it's a good model for Ruby, even though there still have been accidents...)
Work has been surprisingly difficult. I thought it would calm down. Even though the pace is not as frantic, the work seems to multiply and I find every minute of every day occupied with helping students, helping co-workers, answering e-mails, fixing the copier, unjamming the printer, getting more paper for the copier or the printer, etc etc. I have a hard time just making it to the bathroom. And the scary thing is: there are now four of us in the office who are doing this ALL DAY LONG. I'm looking forward to December because after the second week the semester ends. So, aside from being a puppy parent and working hard, I've also been working towards the holidays. Just because I'm a scrooge doesn't mean I hate Christmas. My favorite part of the holiday is giving gifts. I have a "token of appreciation" problem. I like to give people stuff. Mostly small stuff. Sometimes hand-made stuff. But I'm a stuff-giver. So Christmas is a great time for a stuff-giver. And even though the holidays don't start for me until after Thanksgiving, I still anticipate gift giving long before hand. When purchasing gifts, I start in September. This year I had a goal of making 50% of my gifts, so I started in July. I upped the goal to making 90% of my gifts. I will only buy things for J, since he does not want beaded jewelry or dyed silk scarves. :) I'm still making him little things though. It is a challenge to think of what people could possibly appreciate- and I have a feeling my brother(s) would rather have something spiffy, like an xBox Kinect- but I'm on a budget, people- and a mission to fight corporate America. Even if I am one person. So I've been a good little elf- toiling away at my kitchen table/workbench, trying to beat the clock.
And there is a homecoming to prepare for. My dog is basically naked (if you want a dog that doesn't shed, get an Italian Greyhound). But she's a wimp when it comes to anything below fifty degrees. She already has a sweater (its a black and white striped number with a skull and crossbones) and she actually likes wearing it. I know, I know. I sound like one of those crazy ladies with the monkey for a pet, "He likes dressing up. Don't you? See, he's chewing my face with his teeth, that means he likes it." But when I say, "Sweater?" She runs immediately to me and practically barrels her head in the neck hole. She also has a hard time parting with it. I don't blame her- it's nice to be warm, and to be warm and stylish. But a wimpy sweater that only covers her chest and back isn't going to cut it in a Wisconsin winter. So we ordered her fleece, hand-made dog jammies (from Etsy). They have little monsters on them. Because she's my monster- nothing too girly for my baby girl. (If my dog was named Lola, she'd be decked in pink, but Ruby's signature color is red, and she's too rough and tumble for tutus.) ;) She also has long skinny legs, so we got her booties. And a hat for her thin ears. She's going to be more layered than me! I'll have to get a picture of her in full Wisconsin weather regalia. (The hat she hates- so that might not last. But I'd rather have a warm dog than a frozen one.)
Whew- this post was far longer than I intended. I'm just so excited about going home. And for my family to meet the apple of my eye. I'm looking forward to family, friends, and food. (Speaking of food, J and I went back twice to Rancho Grande- their burritos are the best I've had down here. We also tried Taco Rico- service was super fast but food was so-so. The price for the portion is great, but I'd rather have Rancho Grande.) I don't know if I'll carve out the time to post before home, but if I don't:
HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!! Stay warm, my Sconnies, and travel safe.
The food was amazing, and I wouldn't expect any less from my crafting guru. She makes awesome brownies, but even better stuffing and mashed potatoes. The turkey was good and the gravy was made from scratch. There were croissants and green beans and baked ziti. (Ziti is their family tradition, but I held off in order to maximize the space in my stomach for stuffing and potatoes. Starch, starch, carbs- I love starches and carbs!!!) Dessert was pumpkin pie and brownies. J and I were happy campers.
After dinner, J and I kept our tradition by going to the beach. We looked for shells and enjoyed the cooler weather. Once we got home, we did a big clean up and then set about decorating. J and I had purchased some ornaments from Target for a couple of bucks (literally, these things were twenty five cents) last year, so up they went. Instead of a tree, we did a garland. The cats and Ruby would have had too much fun with a tree and since we will be home for the holidays, we didn't want to bother. The theme this year was snowflakes, navy, and silver. J and I don't agree on much, but we agree that we hate red and green. Getting the garland up was actually pretty tricky. We admired our handiwork with beer and hard lemonade.
Also keeping us busy is our adorable four legged baby. (That conjures up a funny image.) Ruby is everything we could have hoped for and more. We are simply mad about her and I understand now why people get so obsessed with their dogs. She's my Best Thing Ever. She knows to be calm when I'm upset/sad about something. She knows the sound of my car and when I come home later than J, she is anxious to greet me at the door. She's happy to see me in the morning- and in the middle of the afternoon when I've been home for hours. Ruby's smart... and a little stubborn. We're still diligently working on potty training (the dog attack and broken leg were huge set backs for us). She can be a little sneaky sometimes and she likes to eat fuzz. But she's great at her tricks and commands: sit, stay, wait, come, paw, high five, spin, twirl, drop it, leave it, and lie down. The only one in her repertoire that she is really missing is: "POTTY. Now, please?" She just got fixed last week. She was miserable the first day. She couldn't sit, so she'd just lean on me. And she was drugged, so her puppy eyes were especially sad. But the next morning she was already full of her signature joie de vivire. She's my bounce-back kid. I love her tenacious, precocious, sweet mannerisms. She gets car sick, just like me. And although she's not very vocal, she's got a fierce little growl when playing tug and she makes the funniest whimpers and grunts in protest of having to ride in the car.
Ruby's been spoiled with the company of a friend for the last week. We're puppy sitting for a friend's dog. It's a toy poodle that J and I have sat for before. This dog is such a sweetie. She's so well mannered and loving. The only problem is that she's a couple of years old, so she can find Ruby to be annoying. It is sort of like sisters, except one is a "too-cool" teenager and the other is a sticky-fingered two year old. They still play nicely, and once in awhile J and I can get them to both calm down and rest on the couch at the same time. We will all be sad when her owner comes to pick her up. (It has helped with the potty training a bit. J and I are consistent with the older dog- and it's a good model for Ruby, even though there still have been accidents...)
Work has been surprisingly difficult. I thought it would calm down. Even though the pace is not as frantic, the work seems to multiply and I find every minute of every day occupied with helping students, helping co-workers, answering e-mails, fixing the copier, unjamming the printer, getting more paper for the copier or the printer, etc etc. I have a hard time just making it to the bathroom. And the scary thing is: there are now four of us in the office who are doing this ALL DAY LONG. I'm looking forward to December because after the second week the semester ends. So, aside from being a puppy parent and working hard, I've also been working towards the holidays. Just because I'm a scrooge doesn't mean I hate Christmas. My favorite part of the holiday is giving gifts. I have a "token of appreciation" problem. I like to give people stuff. Mostly small stuff. Sometimes hand-made stuff. But I'm a stuff-giver. So Christmas is a great time for a stuff-giver. And even though the holidays don't start for me until after Thanksgiving, I still anticipate gift giving long before hand. When purchasing gifts, I start in September. This year I had a goal of making 50% of my gifts, so I started in July. I upped the goal to making 90% of my gifts. I will only buy things for J, since he does not want beaded jewelry or dyed silk scarves. :) I'm still making him little things though. It is a challenge to think of what people could possibly appreciate- and I have a feeling my brother(s) would rather have something spiffy, like an xBox Kinect- but I'm on a budget, people- and a mission to fight corporate America. Even if I am one person. So I've been a good little elf- toiling away at my kitchen table/workbench, trying to beat the clock.
And there is a homecoming to prepare for. My dog is basically naked (if you want a dog that doesn't shed, get an Italian Greyhound). But she's a wimp when it comes to anything below fifty degrees. She already has a sweater (its a black and white striped number with a skull and crossbones) and she actually likes wearing it. I know, I know. I sound like one of those crazy ladies with the monkey for a pet, "He likes dressing up. Don't you? See, he's chewing my face with his teeth, that means he likes it." But when I say, "Sweater?" She runs immediately to me and practically barrels her head in the neck hole. She also has a hard time parting with it. I don't blame her- it's nice to be warm, and to be warm and stylish. But a wimpy sweater that only covers her chest and back isn't going to cut it in a Wisconsin winter. So we ordered her fleece, hand-made dog jammies (from Etsy). They have little monsters on them. Because she's my monster- nothing too girly for my baby girl. (If my dog was named Lola, she'd be decked in pink, but Ruby's signature color is red, and she's too rough and tumble for tutus.) ;) She also has long skinny legs, so we got her booties. And a hat for her thin ears. She's going to be more layered than me! I'll have to get a picture of her in full Wisconsin weather regalia. (The hat she hates- so that might not last. But I'd rather have a warm dog than a frozen one.)
Whew- this post was far longer than I intended. I'm just so excited about going home. And for my family to meet the apple of my eye. I'm looking forward to family, friends, and food. (Speaking of food, J and I went back twice to Rancho Grande- their burritos are the best I've had down here. We also tried Taco Rico- service was super fast but food was so-so. The price for the portion is great, but I'd rather have Rancho Grande.) I don't know if I'll carve out the time to post before home, but if I don't:
HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES!! Stay warm, my Sconnies, and travel safe.
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