sweater hat

A friend of mine is having a clothing swap party next week. I won't be attending because I have recently given any worthwhile clothes that I don't need/wear to the Salvation Army, so I don't have anything to swap. But while talking to her today about her party, and thinking about how cold it's going to be this week, I remembered my favorite pink wool sweater. I got it at Old Navy for about $5 on sale. I shrunk it, but was still able to wear it for a while without looking silly. But it's just too small now. I had cut the sleeves off thinking I could wear it as a hooded vest while in my cold studio; and, I sewed the cuffs of the sleeves to use as long wool fingerless gloves. Today I thought, 'why am I not making a hat out of that sweater?'
Of course, I didn't think to get pictures until I had already started on the hat, but here are the sleeves, 'vest', and the hood cut and pinned and ready to sew.

So, in just a couple minutes, I turned the hood into a hat. So cute...so warm. Now I want to decorate it all cute.

I'm also planning on making mittens from the rest of the sweater, but that may take a little more for my mind to wrap around. (Plus, it's Sunday and I generally get doubly lazy!)

...Plus, I still have a little studying to do...

Week's end

Well, I made my first etsy sale of 2010. Two of my journals sold this week. Two of my favorites, actually. I made a few extra journals and all the bowls I have listed now for a craft show this past fall/winter. I was surprised when they didn't sell, because I really did think they were sweet. But that is the hard part about arts and crafts, I guess...it's all subjective.
Anyway, I was excited to make my first sale of the new year, especially since, creatively speaking, I've been having a dry spell.

My first week of the new job is over. It's exhausting not really knowing what I am supposed to be doing. I get a project, finish it, then have to track down the person who is to tell me what to do next. I thought I would fit in better, but there are so many people working there, I am still meeting new people and can't remember the name of the guy who went through all the first day paperwork with me! Getting used to late nights will be tricky. And the main reason for taking this job was really the fact that I could get good health insurance while working part time. But so far, they scheduled me 2 days next week (I really need to average 20 hours a week for benefits, so I'd need at least 3, 7-hour days/week) and one day is Monday...one of the days I can not work. So I have only one day of work next week (at the new job) and it's a 3-10 pm shift. That will be a test for sure. At least now I know I can get the dog to the vet this week.

I'm really starting to get into my class...learning about bloods and stuff, and then moving onto the tests and cultures. Very interesting. I think I should've been a scientist, but now I don't want to put in the schooling...too old and lazy!

But, today is Sunday and I get to spend the day with hubby. Last night was cute. He had gone out Friday night to support our friend and his band, but I had to work late and didn't want to drive out afterwards. So, that meant no pizza night...sad. But yesterday, he came by work and I took my break so we could do our grocery shopping (oh, yeah, the discount is a nice perk of this job, too). Some of our friends were going out last night, too, but I really wanted to a)not go out, and b)not spend the money since my hours have not picked up at the new job yet.
When I got home from work, I walked in the door and was handed a glass of whiskey (my fav) and greeted with a smile, a hug, and the smell of homemade pizza! What a guy!

Happy

Okay, so since my blog is titled 'the little things that make me happy', I'm going to share some happy thoughts today. Of course, they are personal, but they are happy.
1. I'm working again, full-time, and I believe (though it's only been one day) that I have finally found a place that will relieve some of the stress of 'getting older' and needing a plan for the future. The company I am working for is very good to it's employees, and thought I have had jobs in the past that I enjoyed, none ever made me feel like working there was in any way preparing me for the future. Can you say 'nest egg'? I believe I can finally start to picture mine!
2. I am working on another blog. Sort of with my sister, but mostly it's me right now. It is just record of our experiences restoring a 1967 Plymouth Barracuda. We haven't actually been able to start working on it, but I was eager to get the blog up. I've been posting little tidbits on it just to keep it 'alive' until spring comes and we can begin work. I was excited to get our first 'official' follower a few weeks into the blog. BUT today, I can barely contain my excitement over our first comment!! It is very strange how it never gets old...getting comments, seeing that people 'out there' are living there lives, but can so easily become a part of yours. It makes the world a little smaller...a little cozier.
3. I'm not a political person by any means. Often I have no idea what anybody is talking about, but our President makes me want to believe that we can fix what's broken and we don't just have to sit around and wait for the world to blow itself up. And that's as far as I go with political discussions.
4. I have today off!!!
5. I am planning on getting back into the studio today. I was going to try to get together with Steph and maybe clean up the car a bit, but I feel like I need today. I have some studying to do, and I actually am feeling the urge to be creative today, so I don't dare waste it!
6. I went out after work last night for beer and wings, with a friend from the job I recently left. It was so nice to get out...because it would've been so like me to say, 'you know, I'm just really tired from work. Let's reschedule.' It was nice to catch up...she's happy, and that makes me happy. We talked about crafting, too, since she had taken a paper making class while in her first years of college and feels like giving it another go. She also said her mother is 'obsessed' with my etsy shop and tells all of her friends to check it out. She's so sweet!
7. I got a nice little gift bag from a co-worker this week. I picked something up for her at a store that was totally out of her way. It normally wouldn't be convenient for me either, but I had to go that way for my dad, so it wasn't a big deal. But she wanted to do something nice for me in return, so Monday morning there was a bag with 3 kinds of those International Coffees, a coffee mug, and some white chocolate macadamia nut cookies! Really sweet...the cookies didn't last long!
8. Getting through the Veterinary Terminology text is proving to be very difficult for me. But I am enjoying the frustration of learning again. I believe it will keep my brain from turning to mush, at least.
9. I have been clipping more nails, helping with more x-rays, and helping a little more with fluids and pre-surgery type tasks at work...it still makes me a little nervous, but the technicians I work with are ALL great.
10. I am off to get coffee with Hubby before he shuffles of to work...a job he finally enjoys!

I hope everybody has a GREAT day!

IT'S WEDNESDAY!

I honestly thought this day would never arrive! What a long week I seemed to have last week...phew!
Today I start my new job. I am excited about it, but I don't know how late I will actually be there. A friend from my last job wants to meet up tonight, but since I don't know how late I am working, it's kind of ...unsettling, for me. I am the kind of girl who needs plans, so I was happy to have set up a get together a week in advance. But, it's not really 'set up' in my mind because it's just 'whenever I get out of work'. Then, I don't even know if I work tomorrow. I know, 'what the hell is she complaining about!?'
Getting on, I'll live. I just prefer more structure in my old age (well, all my life really...this isn't new).

Moving on...
I realize my blog has become less 'craft projects with some personal shit thrown in' and more 'personal...and that's it'.
My paper making has come to a screeching halt. I had planned on using my time 'off' to throw myself into it, but I think I had too much time to think about it and never did anything. Sadly, all the paper pulp I had just sat in the studio...wet and gross. It will have to become part of my compost now, as it is smelly and useless. So now do I go back to it, fresh? Or do I scrap the whole thing? It is definitely a therapeutic activity for me, but so is working out. I have put back on all the weight I had lost and am feeling rather sluggish and monstrous these days, so maybe my time would be better spent exercising?
Of course, I could do both. Now I have this car project coming up in the spring, so there goes a little more of my free time (a lot more, actually). And then there is the issue of the results being worth the effort. Working out will give me results and inspiration to do more. Making paper will keep me busy for a few hours, but then I'm just left with more stuff.
I guess only time will tell what ends up on my plate and what goes in the trash.

Hair!

No, not the musical. Just mine...

As I said yesterday...still on the fence with my new 'do. I had decided since I no longer work in food service that I would try a fun new hair style. Since it had grown out a bit, I wanted to keep some length in front, but cut it short in back. I like the inverted bobs on some people, but I feel I've out grown the bob cut...not sure why, but I think it is probably because it takes me back to 6th grade and that will just make me feel old.

So here's how bad I let it get before actually doing something about it. (To really emphasize my laziness)

It tends to grow out rather puffy and unless I put my 'anit-frizz serum' in it...well, you can see, it's frizzy.

My hairdresser asked what I wanted to do. So I said, 'I feel terrible about the short notice' and I was so glad she rescheduled on what I am sure was her day off. 'I'll just go with the usual Natalie Portman short cut.' She asked if that's really what I wanted and then she grabbed some magazines and we decided on something different.

The basics: short in the back, keep the bangs long, and some cute little wispy side curls for a little depth.

It was really cute. Yes, 'WAS'. I have never been a 'styled' girl. I am completely ignorant when it comes to hair product. I told her what I had, and she showed me how to use it to make my hair flip out a bit.
Kind of like what's going on here (only not as long past the ears, and not a bit more subtle):

And she did a great job, as usual. But I just couldn't get it to flip out on the right side. So, then, of course, I hated it. I don't want to have to play with my hair for hours in the morning. And while trying to get it to do it's thing, I realized...I am always getting 'roughed up' at the kennel! My hair is always just getting pushed behind my ears...it won't look styled for more than 20 minutes once I get to work! What's the point? I almost thought about calling her up to make an appointment to just go back to my original hair cut. But after playing with it this morning, I think I've figured out how to wear it for work. And, then I still have the option of styling it more on days off or nights out.

So, here is my 'new' hair:

Okay, I'm sorry, but while putting this silly blog about my hair together, it has dried and I'm actually quite pleased with it. It's just funky enough for an old gal like me...short in the back with a little bit of edgy bangs and sides. I guess you can't really tell from this picture, but it looks better dry, for sure:

(Mug shots courtesy my own out-stretched hand. I hate taking my own picture...it's HARD!)

the days go by...

...and the little things just seem to melt away.
I had a very nice day with Hubby today. After all of the heightened emotions of the past couple weeks, I feel great today.
Last night, we went out for a lovely dinner with friends for a birthday. Sister's bf turned 27 yesterday. He decided on a nice Japanese/Korean/Thai restaurant that conveniently sits about mid-way between us. I had already decided before going that i would go the soup and sushi route, and it was all delicious.
Hubby was actually the one to feel tired after his work week. For me, and all the running around, this has been a very long week. Each morning I reach in for the soy milk for my cereal and think, 'back to work tomorrow', but for once in my life, Monday just never seems to arrive! It's a bizarre feeling, I have to say. Anyway, we went in to town early and did some clothes shopping since I don't really have any plain bottoms or long-sleeve tees (Hubby's suggestion since it gets cold at my new place of employment). I got a pair of chinos for $8 and 2 shirts at $4 each.
My hair was supposed to get cut Friday, but was re-scheduled for today as my hairdresser ended up having to take her son to the doctor yesterday. That threw a wrench in our plans to get off-Cape and spend the day in Newport, but I didn't dare say no to the new appointment. So, after my hair cut, we just took a nice scenic drive, ate lunch at a nice restaurant, stopped at a bookstore, and picked up a bottle of wine and the rest of the essentials for our homemade pizza.
Now we're getting ready to watch some movies, drink some wine, and enjoy each others company. I love days like these!
I'll post pics of my new hair tomorrow, maybe. I decided to take advantage of it having grown out a bit and kept some length in the front. I'm still not sure how I feel about it, yet. But this happens even when I get the same haircut every time.

my news to round out the week

Carting Dad around the past couple of weeks has ended. He had to spend the night at the hospital Wednesday night, so I ended up with an extra trip out to pick him up the next day. When I dropped him back at home he handed me his Cd collection so that I could snag his Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, Black Sabbath, and other such non-related music that I had wanted. I am in the process of copying the Cd's now (don't tell...) and figured I could use the time to write another uninteresting blog about my boring little world (which I am happy to live in!).

WARNING: the rest of this blog ended up being me crying about personal issues...continue reading at your own risk...
I was happy to take care of Dad for a few days lately. It's not like I was doing anything else and it was probably nice for Steph to get a break (though, I was doing it because she was working). But now that I have been thrown into it a little, I am riddled with emotion. For one, I hate seeing my father confined to a wheelchair and not being able to sign his name properly due to his poor vision and crinkled up arthritic hand. Secondly, he and my mother are rubbish with finances and now he is stuck in a financially sticky situation. I think that alimony is the biggest scam going, and I hate that he has to pay any. I love my mother, don't get me wrong. We are great friends and I miss her since she has moved back to Michigan. However, she works, gets pension checks from a past job, and has a considerably lower cost of living than Dad. Yet she still takes his money every month. But, it's none of my business...until Dad needs hundreds of dollars worth of medications due to his surgery which is not covered by his VA stuff (I'm not clear on all that goes on in the medical world...I also am not a fan of the health cars system) because it was done by a 'civilian' doctor instead of a VA doctor! So who pays for that when he has no money in his account until his check comes at the end of the month? Yep, me. Not that I minded doing it, and he was definitely grateful that i was able to help, but I shouldn't have had to. I thought maybe my mother would be kind hearted and give up her alimony check this month to help. She said of course she would send me some money...but maybe have dad up the alimony check until she gets her money back!! Never mind, if Dad's gonna have to pay me back, then I guess that's how it will go. I really thought she'd be nice about this, but I was wrong.

Of course none of this matters in the grand scope of things. I was able to help. I'll get my money back. Mom will get her money back. And that's just the way it will be, I guess.

(sorry about the personal info...)

I actually had a super fulfilling experience while hanging out at Dad's waiting for the call to pick him up. He has a cutie pie shelter dog that is part Pekingese and who knows what else. His name is Mr. Chin due to his adorably ugly under bite.

He has very long hair and very long nails.

I brought my doggy nail trimmers to see if he would let me trim his nails. Not really sure how he would react I was pleasantly surprised when he just stood there letting my do my thing. On the very last foot, he gave me the tiniest little growl. I stopped, patted his head, and tried again...with no more protest from him. As if that wasn't enough to make me proud of myself and the skills I have taken from my job, I also got him to eat a dog treat! He eats nothing. And is very picky about dog food. But I made it a little game and he ate it up. I fell in love with him!

And speaking of my job and new skills...I have already started to learn new things in my online class. We don't see a lot of rabbits and small 'exotics' so I don't really know how to handle them, but my lesson today will tell me!

So, now that my Cd's are done, I'm going to sit back with my 'school' work and start learning!!

Wednesday's bits of nonsense and unimportance

A few silly tidbits for today...
I'm off to take Dad to an appointment today. That means I will not be home (or with my computer) when my very first lesson for my online Veterinary course is released this afternoon. Sad.
I am excited that I now have my tiny little music machine (iPod shuffle) to keep me from having to listen to 'Dr. Handsome to the nurses station, STAT' all day (it's been awhile since I've been at a hospital, do they still say that?).
I DO have my textbook now, which should keep me occupied. I have been trying to understand the first few pages this whole week but can't seem to concentrate while on my lunch break.
I GOT MY NEW JOB. Yippee...I start a week from today.
A friend of mine invited me to a clothes swap next month. I would love to go, but my wardrobe is not 'swap worthy'. I actually broke down and bought a new shirt at Old Navy during their clearance event. An additional 50% off all clearance. Of course, all I could find in that mass of clothing was a short sleeved striped polo shirt. It rang up 98 CENTS!!
Now with the new job, I definitely need more jeans or plain slacks to wear to work. I see a 'thrift shop crawl' in the near future. I would love it if I could get my sister to come along. We'll see. Then maybe celebratory drinks afterwards...hhmm...this plan is coming together.
Well, better run. Dad specifically asked that I don't forget to pick him up...guess it's happened in the past?!

new blog...

I managed to get the Barracuda blog up yesterday. It's pretty puny right now, as it just has the one post, but it's there. So if anyone is interested in following two girls, with no mechanical experience, try to restore a classic car...stop by. The more the merrier!

http://www.barracudadiaries.blogspot.com/

I'm not sure how it's going to go, especially with all the other stuff I have my hands into...and then if I can actually find another job...phew, life does get full of nonsense sometimes. But, I can honestly say, I am excited. About my class starting. About this car project. About maybe finding a job I can enjoy (pleasepleaseplease). Even about spending some time with my dad...and having my sister there as a buffer. The good news, which it sadly took me awhile to realize, is that my class only runs 6 weeks so it will be over in plenty of time so that I can MOVE ON to the next thing this spring, instead of having everything going at once.

I have not gone so crazy as to buy a bride mag or really start looking into our 'vow renewal' trip, but I do know I LOVE this dress.

Since I didn't wear a dress at our wedding, I have decided this time I would. It's a great length and if I make it not so puffy, and not white, I think it would be perfect. Or maybe I'll leave it puffy...and maybe a light blue or pink or champagne? I just love the neckline and the fitted bodice. A cute pair of white flats or tiny heel and I'm good to go. And I can bring some class back to Vegas amidst all the track suit wearing grannies and kids with sticky hands and faces!

what to do?

I hope I get the job I interviewed for. Plain and simple. If I have to go out and find another option, I just don't know what I'll find. For now, I guess I just cross my fingers and hope for the best, as the rest is up to the decision makers.
Yesterday, we had a beautiful weather day. The frosty windows were already starting to thaw before Hubby even got out of bed at 8-ish. While he showered and got ready for work, I decided to dress appropriately to walk home from the coffee shop. So, I grabbed my shiny new iPod Shuffle, clipped it onto my down vest, put on my walking shoes, and I was ready for the 3 mile walk home. Now, it wasn't a power walk by any means. I was wearing jeans and fairly bulky tops, because it is still January...just a slightly warmer version of it. And, we were headed out for coffee...I wanted to enjoy my hot beverage AS I walked. It is interesting walking with music in your ears. No one else has any idea, but you have your little soundtrack going and you're at peace. It took quite a bit of my energy to not dance my way home. I was lip-synching, so I am sure I looked as if I was talking to myself. I have not had a personal music player since my Walkman CASSETTE player. I never even got one with a CD player. I walked in time with the music starting with a little Frank Sinatra, then I got some Bowie and Decemberists in there. And since I just filled my iPod with music Hubby had on his computer (since I just fixed mine 2 days ago) I got to hear some old stuff I had forgotten about...Dylan and Jonatha Brooke (formerly of the Story).
Basically, I just soaked in the music, the cool but not cold air, and the pleasure of being alone. When I rounded the corner to my neighborhood, a huge red-tailed hawk flew overhead and landed in a tree. It was followed by a crow, who was followed by another huge hawk. While the hawks sit in the new tree, several crows flew around and then away. Very cool...I love to see those big birds of prey flying so close overheard...unless I am walking Moxie, then I am afraid they will try to snatch her up!
Almost home, one more turn...that smell...the horses! I love the smell of farm life in the winter. There's just something soothing and warm about it.
After that, I decided to make miso soup for dinner, since I still had stuff from Christmastime. As the day went on, I started to get stomach cramps. I wanted to make dinner for Hubby, though. I made the soup. I made cupcakes and chocolate frosting. Then it dawned on me...Hubby was going out with a friend to see a movie and I couldn't remember when. He called just before coming home to say they were meeting up for Thai food before the movie and I should come. I just didn't feel good. I had a tiny bowl of my homemade soup and went to bed. Still not 100% this morning, but I also can't think of what I ate to make me ill. Oh well, it's Saturday...who cares!
I am going to start working on the blog my sister and I will be doing. Well, actually, the last I talked to her about it, she seemed a little weird. Then she came clean and said she wasn't sure about writing for the blog. She thought I would be upset if she didn't have anything to write. Of course I wouldn't. I am excited about trying (yes, 'trying') to fix this car with her. But I am also excited to share the experience with anyone who is curious. Especially since the car is kind of far away from me, and so the blog will be a way for me to keep in touch with my mechanic side, when I'm away!
Still on the fence about cutting my hair. I'll probably end up just going super short again within the next week or so.
Sorry, no pretty pictures to look at...blogs are fairly dull with no pictures, aren't they? Well, at least I can get my thoughts out and move on.

Need to kill more time

Only working 2 days a week has been interesting, to say the least. Each week I wonder how on Earth I will fill 5 days of non-work. And so far it has gone...well, it has gone. The first week was taken up by several days glued to my heating pad and high on ibuprofen (and, I'm not gonna lie, a bit of wine) due to a very sore neck and back.
The next week I suffered a day of 'I don't want to clean the house or do chores' so I did some basic stuff that couldn't be put off. Then a trip to Rhode Island for my dad was thrown in. A trip into town to see about a job I had applied for AND a trip further out for a different job. That one didn't quite go as planned. I drove 30 minutes, couldn't find the place, and drove back home. But that's okay, as I was told my first choice job was going to be calling me this week.
Which brings me to THIS week. Tuesday I got a call to set up an interview. I was also asked by my current boss if I could work Thursday this week. I had already made plans to help my dad with his appointment, since my sister is having a procedure done that will make her unable to lift dad's wheelchair for a couple days. Today, I was supposed to take dad to another appointment, but that one was thankfully postponed, so I have set my interview for this afternoon. Which leaves me now with only Friday to fill...maybe I will be able to celebrate a new job?
Today, since I have to keep busy until 1 or so (interview at 2), I have cleaned the kitchen and bathroom (again), took an extra long shower, fixed my computer (my CD/DVD drive has been missing from my computer for months...I finally figured out how to get it back!), and, yes, watched a bit of TV while eating my pancakes. Now I'm typing up this pointless blog post to kill a little more time. And I'd like to clip Moxie's nails but I hate to wake her for that...she hates it so.
Maybe I'll copy some of my old Cd's to my computer. Or maybe I should figure out what to wear to my interview...I hate interviews and I can't wait for this to be over!

It's Sunday, again...

I have had some time to think about my days and how I fill them. Or, rather, how I SHOULD fill them! There are some things I need to do. I need to lose 10lbs by March and then I'd love to lose another 10 by June. My wardrobe consists of random tops that I have either gotten as gifts or hand-me-downs from friends MANY years ago; or, that I bought in a moment of weakness and actually allowed money to leave my pocketbook for a $5 top (also MANY years ago). My daily look is either one of my 2 pairs of jeans (one pair I bought, one pair I got from my much taller sister who could not wear them as they are to short for her...though they still drag the ground when I wear them) or the cargo pants from the same sister (same story on the length). My tops are your basic tees, long-sleeved tees, and generally these days I throw one of my sweaters over for warmth. Luckily I got a bunch of socks for Christmas, too, since every pair I own is in need of repair or way beyond any point of repair.
The point? Well, I have been trying to shake the last 20 pounds I'd like to not carry around anymore and don't want to waste money on new clothes until said day. So, once I lose the weight, I would love some new clothes. Of course, I don't mean, 'shiny and new, straight from the manufacturer'...I have always been a second-hand store girl. In high school I would buy $3 suits from the local thrift shop and split the slacks to make a skirt. Thinking back...I never dressed as the other girls at my tiny school (125 in my graduating class...3500 people in my town); but, not one of them EVER made fun of me for it. I often got comments like, 'you're style is so unique'. I actually feel like being an overweight child helped me in finding my own style,since I wasn't able to fit into the 'popular' styles at the time. (Plus, money was always a factor in school shopping.) WOW...I'm off topic AGAIN!
What this all means, of course, is that I need to start working out again. No more excuses. I will just have to be careful of my shoulder and neck...and I have a feeling it will get worked out in the process.
We are also planning on a Las Vegas trip for Thanksgiving this year. At our wedding, I wore lace up black suede pants (trousers for the European readers out there), silvery tank top, and sparkly black heels. This time, for our vow renewal, I would like to wear a pretty dress. It is strange...I feel like Hubby is more into the vow renewal thing, but I feel like this is my chance to have a more normal wedding. I LOVED our wedding, don't get me wrong. It was super fun, and so low key. But, I have not been wearing my engagement ring for weeks because one of the stones came loose and I didn't want to lose it. Yesterday, I finally took it to the jeweler and am wearing it again. It was almost like getting engaged again, since Hubby keeps talking about Vegas. I am such a wacko, that I want to go buy a bride magazine so I can pick out a dress and start planning this trip. Dumb, I know, but sometimes, when you are just plugging along in your life, it gets stale and you need a reminder that it's not just about work and paying bills and getting by. And, since this is our life, we can make our own rules about what is normal, right!?

I did manage to list two new items in my Etsy shop in the last couple days.
This really cute card I made out of my handmade paper.
And, this journal. I am in the process of using some of my paper pulp to make some beads. What I will do with them (sell them as supplies or make jewelry), I'm not sure yet.

This week, I PROMISE MYSELF, I get crackin' on ...well, anything other than sitting around doing nothing!!

this has to stop

I have been doing so little these last two weeks. Despite only having to work Mondays and Tuesdays since after Christmas Weekend, I have gotten absolutely nothing done!

How is it that I can't pull myself together to make things? Or workout? Or even do a complete top to bottom, scrub-a-dub type cleaning of my house? I was going to use my extra time to 'get it together', but instead, I have been doing the bare minimum, as usual.

The house is clean, but I could do more.

I do some serious physical labor at my job, but that's just 2 days a week.

My regular errands (bank, shopping, dump runs) are getting done, but with all this extra time I could've completely cleaned out my basement.

Of course, I have had a few random things thrown in: the infamous neck issue (which gets better then worse...still not gone) that had me practically bedridden for the first week (oh, maybe that was the problem?); New Year's Eve; sister's birthday party; dad's trip to Rhode Island. And I also drove out to my Plan B job prospect, drove up and down the road and never was able to find the place...so I just went about my other errands and went home. I guess I am hoping the other job comes through. If not, then I'll really have to hit the streets.

Mother-in-law sent us some extra money she had at the end of the year (she does this so that she can give us a gift while also avoiding tax payments on her inheritance). Hubby and I have not had a fun trip in a long time. We don't do a lot, but we are not the type to just work to pay the bills and regret our lives, so we are planning a 10th Wedding Anniversary trip to Las Vegas this year. MIL's gift goes right into that fund.

Still waiting on my Veterinary books I ordered. My class starts in about a week and a half. Going back and forth with whether or not I want to take the next step in this 'career', I have to say that signing up for the class and getting positive feedback from my boss has pushed me closer to wanting to go the next step and being excited about it.

Sis and I are moving forward with the car but having a hell of a time deciding on a name for the blog. We are hoping to meet up next week to discuss it. Luckily we have until the spring thaw to begin work. Unfortunately we have to wait til the spring thaw to begin work!

Well, Hubby is stirring so it is time to get dressed for our Saturday morning coffee and walk in the snow...to the beach. Life on Cape Cod really is amazing sometimes. I'm not like Hubby in that I 'need' to be near the water; but, being able to go to the beach whenever I feel like it...and no matter what time of year, it is always beautiful...is a true gift.

Long day doing nothing

Well, it seemed like nothing since all I basically did was drive all day. Not that I minded! I am a good half-hour drive from my ailing dad, so I don't help out much; but, Steph asked me to drive him to an appointment in the neighboring state yesterday. I am, as we all know, partially unemployed and therefore doing nothing else really, so I was happy to oblige. The appointment was at 2:00 p.m. and she and I wanted to take a look at the Barracuda and see if the tarp would work, so we met at Dad's at 10 a.m.

After taking the dog out for a bit, cleaning most of the snow off the car, taking a few shots, and getting the tarp on, we set out for our little adventure.

I don't drive off-Cape much...well, pretty much never. When Hubby and I go on trips, he drives. I am crap with directions and grateful to have Steph telling me where to go. Dad tried to help, but can barely see, so minus the comment of 'Oh, there's the coffee shop' to let us know we were at least in the right place, we weren't really counting on him. The hardest part of the trip was once we actually got to the Medical Center and drove around the building twice trying to find a) the proper building and entrance, and b) an open parking space in a lot NOT labeled 'Employee Parking Only'.

The trip, according to Google Maps, was going to be about an hour and a half. We stopped at IHOP for food (I could eat breakfast at every meal!) before we left for Rhode Island.

It wasn't a bad trip...kinda fun considering we were driving our wheelchair-bound, legally blind father to a Veterans Medical Center to make sure he could still get assistance. I had my Dean Martin, Patsy Cline, and Frank Sinatra cds with me, so we were able to have some music for the drive, too.

After a quick stop for some Ice Melt for his ramp at home which had become a sheet of ice, we dropped him off, and then I was back on the road for one more 30 minute drive home.

Hubby made dinner, though, so I just relaxed for the rest of the evening. After all the sitting and driving, my neck and shoulder were not feeling great, so I took 4 ibuprofen and fell asleep around 9:30 again.

On the job front, we were doing a little light shopping at the grocery store I applied to several weeks ago (where Hubby was working for awhile) and the manager happened to be stocking shelves and asked how our new year was going so far. I said, 'well, I'm still looking for a job, if anything opens up.' To which he replied, 'we are actually going to be calling a few people beginning next week, so you should hear from us.' GREAT!

In the meantime, I am also putting a plan B into motion, just in case. It is very hard to get a job at Trader Joe's here. Everybody wants to work for them, but it's a very small store, so it's terribly competitive, I think. A friend of ours has been working there for years. Another friend has been applying for about 3 years and JUST started working there about a month ago!

Anyway, Plan B may not work out, but I've got to cover my bases.

There's an Edible Arrangements in a town near my dad...so about 30 minutes away. They are having an open house today to hire 'kitchen/production help'. I have had some experience working in a flower shop, and MANY years working in kitchens, so I think it would be a fun job, too. But, the pay would have to make the drive worth it...so we shall see. The super frustrating part of it all is that we are getting more snow today! It should end by midday, though.

still being lazy

I have been down right non-existent in the outside world since leaving my job. It is both fulfilling and dreadful. A strange mix, to be sure; but, that is the constant duality of my life and personality.

I am in a place in my life where I need to find a part-time job, but in a place in the world (like many others!) where there are few jobs to snatch up. Our local paper has approximately 3 new job listings each Sunday. These generally replace the 3 from the week before, so there are rarely more than a handful of jobs from which to choose. Lately, they are not even jobs in our area, but instead they are for one of the neighboring islands...for summer help at the inns and restaurants. I feel like I am just biding my time until our fav grocery store calls me for an interview, but that could be weeks...if they even decide to call. I am hoping to stop in sometime this week to 'check in' and remind them of my face.

In the meantime, I am almost completely free of my past back/neck/shoulder 'kinks'. A friend at work said, 'it's been a week now!' to which another friend said, '2 ibuprofen will do nothing. you need to take 800mg for relief.' That's FOUR pills!! I went through my youth with terrible headaches which I made manageable by popping aspirin constantly, until I was taking 4 at a time and barely getting any relief. As an adult I tried to eat better and fell in love with exercise. For years since that point, I have not had to take anything. And now 1 aspirin will usually do the trick for a headache. I couldn't imagine taking 4!! But the pain was so bad, Monday after work I took her advice. This was at about 6:30pm. I ate dinner and by 7:30 I was struggling to stay awake and was fast asleep by 7:45!! However, the next morning, I was virtually pain free!! So how long did that last? Well, until I bent down to get a puppy out of her cage, stood up, hit my head and wrenched my neck again from the surprise of the knock. I didn't want to take a bunch of pills first thing, so I just took 2 here and 2 there during the day.

Yesterday was my sister's 28th birthday. I was planning on going over to celebrate. So, I loaded my flask with some Jim Beam and headed over. Today, I have some lingering pain in my shoulder blade area, but I'm mostly better. Hubby had the poker gang over last night, too, so it wasn't like staying home was an option, since I wouldn't have been able to relax. So, instead, I got to have fun playing Rock Band and hanging with the sisters!

My partial unemployment is coming in handing tomorrow, too. Steph has tomorrow off and we are going to take a closer look at how we're going to get this Barracuda project going. That was the plan, anyway. Now it looks like we are going to be taking a trip to Rhode Island to take Dad to an appointment. I am glad she is able to go with me, though. I am NOT a traveler. Hubby is always the driver on trips and I rarely go anywhere. I often feel like going places but then decide that staying home is really what I'd rather do. Now if I can just get my a** moving on some art projects!! Especially since 2 weeks from now I will be back to studying. And once spring has sprung, there is the car project and back to gardening, and I REALLY need to get back on the workout wagon if I plan on dropping down a size by March! See, resolutions are so easy to figure out...it's the follow through that really throws me for a loop!

I've been wondering if I should get my hair cut. I mean, it needs it. It grows out very puffy and it's turning into a mullet! Cash flow is an issue, and I've been thinking about growing it out again. But I really like it short! Usually I go with the basic short cut:

But, then again, I feel like something different is in order after having the same cut for several years. Maybe a LITTLE different but still easy to take care of?

Why am I spending the day looking at hairstyles? I don't know!

foiled again

This week has been...well, less than exciting. Mostly due to the fact that I have been in serious pain due to, what I can only guess is, a pinched nerve somewhere in the area of my right shoulder/neck/back. This morning I was able to get out of bed with little pain, so that's a plus. However, I still have some pain into my right arm. I'm not complaining about the pain! I know going to the doctor would be an easy and quick way to figure out the cause and solution, and that I now have health insurance, but I am not a doctor person. I am far more comfortable with the pain than the thought of going to a doctor. I am sure there are plenty of you who go for regular check-ups and all of that (and may even be doctors yourself), but I have never been ill/sore enough to think a trip to the doctor would make me happy.
Regardless of my thoughts on doctors, though, I have been unable to really do much. I really noticed the pain getting worse by the end of my workday, Tuesday. So, this past week, I have been doing what NEEDED to be done, and that is it. I've taken advantage of not having to do all the daily tasks of home ownership/adulthood AND working 45 hours a week by relaxing between chores. I cozied up to the heating pad (which didn't really help, which is why I suspect it's a nerve and not muscles) and watched old movies and some of a 3 Stooges Marathon on New Year's Eve.
But, by the end of the week, I needed some fun. Sister Steph had the day off Saturday, too. I decided to go to her place to play Beatles Rock Band, even though I knew it was probably a bad idea. Sure, my back and shoulders were sore by the end, because I've been babying them all week, but it was a blast.
I was also planning on going over to Dad's and checking out the Barracuda and throw a tarp on it, but we had another winter storm while I was at Steph's and decided to just get myself home.
I want it to be spring. I don't usually look forward to the warm weather, but I am excited for this project to start. I am sure it will take a long time due to scheduling, skills, and MONEY, but I think it will be fun. My father thinks it is hilarious that she and I are going to do this, but he seems pretty excited about it.

I guess I just feel like I am just sitting around waiting for all of my 'projects' to start. In the meantime, I need to get serious about my job search, too.

It's here

Day one of the new year.

Our night out was fun. We had a delicious dinner and cocktails with friends. We listened to some fun live music of our friends' band. And we left for home around 12:30 this morning.

I don't have much in the way of 'nightlife clothes', but I do like to dress for special occasions. Normally, I'm a jeans and t-shirt girl, but sometimes I get the urge to 'show a little leg'. I also have my cute fuzzy jacket that has a small window in which I can wear it. This year, I have worn it often, but it's so damn cute, I can't help it. So I just wore my same ol' black dress with the pink swirly flowers over my new 3/4 sleeve black tee with ruffled collar that my mother-in-law sent me for Hanuka this year, my fuzzy jacket and my ass-kickin' boots. And here's how sad my wardrobe really is: the jacket I snagged when we were getting rid of a bunch of my grandmother's things and I was the only one narrow enough in the shoulders to wear it; the dress I bought at a discount clothing store so long ago, I can even remember the occasion for which I got it; and the boots were a 'gift' from Hubby that he bought for me I think before we were married (9 years??) after I said how badly I wanted them but did not want to spend $65. I have certainly gotten my money's worth of those bits!!

Anyway, as I said, dinner with friends was fun, but I had planned on having more 'fun'. It ended up me and 'the boys' while our friend Terri danced with her daughter. I wasn't feelin' the groove thing last night. I didn't have nearly enough to drink, or for some reason it wasn't having it's usual affect, and it wasn't really a 'dance floor' type venue. I even had a couple pre-outing cocktails at home! There was one woman who I'm pretty sure would've just hit me eventually anyway, the way she was spinning and flailing. I did see a girl I used to work with and Hubby saw some of his co-workers from the job he just left, so it was nice to be a part of the community while ringing in the new year.

My one major complaint...by the time midnight rolled around, Hubby and I were drinking coffee. We toasted the new year with coffee...I just feel like there wasn't enough of the 'celebration' aspect of a year end party. Today: I look for a bottle of champagne!

I am EAGER to get this year going, now. I want to start my class, start working on the car (maybe I can even figure out how to fix my own!), make some more paper, and really focus on doing more to make me happy.