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October 2005 - Archives
(Monday October 31st) I'll be in Mexico for the next 5 days and I doubt I'll have access to update this page, or email... I'll hopefully return with fun stories and pictures, and inspiration for some cool beads! Happy Halloween you all! (Sunday much later) I'm still at the office trying to get ready for the trip...it is only 5 days, but it is month end here...argh... I still need to pack some more too.... anyway...as promised... Ta da.... Here is the (somewhat premature) drawing for the month of October...(insert suspenseful music here!) And now once again...I'm standing here with my hat in the hand...the votes are October Voting Beads! ....drumroll....and the winner is.....
It kills me every time...as much as I'm excited for the winner...I'm sad for all the non-winners...
(imagine me slowly pulling a name out of the hat...)
(Sunday October 30th) I hope you are all in the correct time zone by now (FALL)... I have mixed feelings about setting the clock back in the fall. On one hand, I love that the mornings are bright again, but I really don't like the dark evenings...(But at least it isn't as dark as it gets in Sweden in December, when the sun sets around 3:30 PM or even earlier. )
Speaking of the kitchen, it is not DONE, but stage one is finished (the tile)...the guys are here today to hook up the appliances and clean up the last of the grout on the (re-tiled for the second time) stairs. (The first time the tiles cracked.) I STILL have to paint the cabinets and the walls - but first I'm getting the ceiling height lifted, and recessed lighting installed. Unfortunately there is about a 2 week or so gap between the tile and the ceiling - so we're in a "sort of moving back-but get ready to move out for another week" stage. I'll probably do the monthly drawing this evening, a day early, so that I can announce it before I leave. So I will check in one more time today. (Saturday October 29th) Sorry for the silence, just needed a few days to catch up. Here are some pictures of the marathon. (Not very many...) most of them were too blurry. Full day today....leaving for Mexico on Monday.... (Wednesday October 26th) Thanks so much for all the votes, and the patience. I just needed some time off! (The tiling nightmare continues, but I won't bore you with that right now.... I'll talk about the run!) The Marathon was GREAT! (I still haven't gotten the pictures out of DH Leo's camera yet.) But the first 11 or so miles went incredibly fast. I felt great, and the mile markers just clicked by. I even PASSED people on the up hills ( I guess the hill training around my neighborhood paid off!) The halfway point wasn't a big deal either. I started to get tired around mile 20, when we were running around a lake, and there were less people cheering, there was a gradual uphill that felt longer than it probably was, and I swore over that loop around the lake more than once. (Which was only about 4 miles but it felt much longer.) Then around mile 23 the "homestretch" started. It was very tough. I realized that if I pushed myself I would probably make it under 6 hours, but because your brain is pretty foggy at that point, I couldn't calculate exactly HOW MUCH to push myself. So I just ran as hard as I could. When I got in, I had the ware withal to grab the turquoise blue Tiffany box with the white ribbon around it (containing the "medal" finisher's pendant.) But then they whisked me off into the first-aid tent where they made me lay down on the little stretchers, wrapped me in those aluminum foil looking thermal blankets and took all my vitals (blood pressure, pulse etc.) I was fine they determined after a few minutes, I had just pushed myself really hard at the end. So after about 10 minutes I felt fine and they let me go to find my little "support crew". I got something to eat, and decided not to stand in line for a massage (I booked myself one at the local spa the next day!) but to drive home right away. And that was pretty much it! My legs felt really stiff that evening and I could hardly walk, and we ordered Chinese takeout (no kitchen remember?) and I just couldn't stop eating. I was ravenous. The next day, after my massage I felt pretty much fine. I did a light workout, and today I felt ready to run again, and I would have done it if it wasn't for that my feet are swollen almost twice their size and bright red and blistery and itchy. (This actually started the night before the marathon, and I was afraid it was going to prevent me from finishing, but I pushed through) Yesterday I went to get my feet checked out. The doctor took one look at my feet and said: "You've got poison oak!" (I've never had it before, so that's why I didn't know what it was!) So I actually unknowingly ran my marathon with the top of both my feet covered in poison oak blisters! I've got to rush off and pick up some more tile (don't ask...it's a nightmare!) and tonight I'm going to hide from the world and make some beads I hope! I really, really appreciate all the votes and the congratulation wishes! Your votes are in the hat, but I just can't confirm each and every one right now! Hopefully next month I'll be better off with time! (Saturday October
23rd) I
FINISHED! (38 (!)MINUTES FASTER THAN MY FIRST MARATHON 5 YEARS AGO!) (Friday October 21st) Eeek! I just made a GIANT discovery! See that little counter up top?!? In a second it jumped 6 days (I adjusted it!) For the past 5 months I have had the wrong date in my head...!!! THE MARATHON is THIS SUNDAY (not next)!!! Holy crap! I wasn't ready for THAT...!!! I normally don't make mistakes like this...but sometime has to be the first. I remember snickering way back when I read Corina's website, one time when she told a story about getting the wrong travel date, and ending up at the airport the wrong day. Well that's what you get for laughing. It has now happened to me! I wasn't ready for a marathon at all THIS WEEKEND! Realistically, I know that physically I'm just about as ready as I would be next Friday...but this is a GIANT mental adjustment I have to make! I'm busy, I thought I had a week to get caught up! I'll let you know tomorrow whether I'll attempt to do it on Sunday or not! Here's the website to the Marathon info by the way! Now I don't even know which weekend I booked the hotel-room for! I have some phone calls to make! (Thursday October 20th) Another great day is reaching it's end! The
sun is almost down, and I'm still working away. Just like a little busy
bee... I did make some beads last night, but mostly re-doing some beads
that weren't right. So nothing to show. Those of you who are waiting for
beads (like the prizes etc), I PROMISE they will go out in the mail on
Saturday...well, maybe even tomorrow, but it is already getting a little
booked up...SATURDAY FOR SURE! In the mornings, I'm home schooling
my stepson for a few hours, then payroll and Accounts Payable checks to
stamp and put together, banks to count, a meeting with a contractor,
allergy shots and trying to deal with the general MESS on my desk.
Sometimes I'm actually really surprised that things are still working,
lights are on and bills are getting paid on time. I'm VERY surprised
when I'm looking for a piece of paper and I actually FILED it where it was
supposed to be, most of the time. ( DH doesn't share this surprise, he
just says, I wouldn't expect anything less, you're so organized!...ah,
what flattering confidence!) You really wouldn't believe it if you
took a look at my desk. Behind me, what you don't see, and under the desk are plenty of file cabinets, shelves for business records. I LOVE it when my desk is clean, and I always work toward it, but the last couple of weeks has turned it into this horrific mess. Tomorrow I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that the kitchen sink and the faucet arrive, because the guys are ready for it. I spent quite a bit of time trying to track them down, and I'm just hoping that the UPS guy shows up early with the faucet, and the trucking company that delivers the sink find their way! It is starting to look really lovely on the floors, but the cabinets I haven't had time to start paining. (I want to wait until I see the tile finished, before picking a color.) The front hallway steps are done, but it is too dark to take a picture when I get home tonight, so I'll keep you in suspense a little longer! I had another great run this morning, 45 minutes right after sunrise, when the mist is still laying in the valley but the sun is peeking through, and you look straight up, and the sky is blue. You know it is going to be one of those crisp but clear days. Ah, I do love fall here (even though we don't get the pretty change of color as some of you up north-east get)!!! DH Leo was bicycling next to me, and the up hills I hardly noticed today ( I was so engulfed in discussing home remodeling with him!) I kid you not, if it weren't for these morning runs, I'd probably have a nervous breakdown ending up in fetal position in bed refusing to get up... The running really keeps me sane these days!!! (Wenesday October 19th) I think I'm getting used to the dust - or just learning how to deal with it, because I'm now having fantasies (delusions?) about ripping out the inner ceiling and raise the ceiling height to the rafters in the kitchen and dining room. Am I off my rocker? Probably, but I have this horrid popcorn ceiling in the dining room that has been bugging me ever since we moved in, and for some reason, the ceiling is a tad lower than standard, so it feels really cramped. We'll see... Meanwhile, the tile guys are struggling, because they've discovered something that I've suspected...there isn't really a true right angle in my house! What is it about the 70's? Did everybody smoke so much dope that everything turned out a little askew??? Or maybe our house settled on the hill ? Not sure, at any rate, I do feel for them, trying to tile my counter when it is off about 3/4 inch per every 5 or 6 feet. I got past the running "hump" this morning. I went for a nice 45 minute run, and the up hills didn't feel as bad as I thought they would. I'm a little encouraged, and hope that I get my running mojo back by next Saturday. I put up this little counter upt top, to count the days to Race day! Today I'm having a little ME-time... I'm going to get my hair done! Yeay! (It really isn't convenient right now, and since my hair have been un-styled in a pony-tail for a couple of weeks now I feel it really doesn't matter, but my dear hair dresser is scheduling 6 weeks out, so if I miss this one, I'm out of luck for a while. (Monday October 17th) I have a confession to make...I didn't run my 11 miles I was supposed to on Saturday... I kept pushing it off, until Sunday, and then to this Morning. This morning I actually got dressed into running gear, drove over to the State Park where I normally do some of my long runs... I sat in the car for about 10 minutes... not really wanting to go. Reluctantly I got on the road and started jogging. It didn't feel good. I'm not sure what's going on. Maybe the stress from the kitchen remodel, my stepson coming to live with us, home schooling him, and keeping up with the office is all getting jumbled up with "have to's" and it doesn't feel like fun to run. My energy is kind of low, and I ran for about a mile, then I turned around and walked back. Hm... it wasn't even that I was tired from running, I just didn't want to... Wondering silently if I'm having pre-marathon jitters and am sabotaging myself??? Not sure...12 days to go until race day... But the good thing with not running for 3 hours was that after I stopped by the restaurant to check in, and then got back home, the tile guys were rallying up my neighbors trying to find an alternate phone number to find me. (Grout-width questions!!!) While I was discussing grout with them, the phone rang and it was the alarm company. The fire alarm had gone off in my FIL's house which is also my office. I rush down there and find the hellish noise, my niece on the phone trying to get a hold of me, another phone line ringing with the alarm company calling, and the fire department pulling up in the driveway, all the while the dog is going nuts. So maybe the universe was telling me that the timing for my run sucked, and that I really need to be available for life's little emergencies this morning. I feel more inspired to run after getting this off my chest. Well, it's gotta' get
worse before it gets better i guess! (I haven't even showed you the living
room, where we try to LIVE...not fun!) But all the ugly tile is gone, and
the "hardibacker" cement-board is in, and I can start seeing the
light. I tried to strip some cabinet doors yesterday - (instead of making
beads -sorry guys!) But after doing 6 of them, I realized that I'll never
get the natural wood-look I was after, so I'm back to the "painting
cabinets"-plan. Oh, and thank you for all the votes you wonderful people! I'm a few days behind in the replies and confirmations, and at this point I think I will just put them all "in the hat" without confirming them, ya'll are just going to have to trust me!!! Eeek, gotta run...need to get refinancing papers faxed! (Saturday October 15th) Just popping my head in here to say HI... the house is now knee-deep in dust, but luckily all the old tile is out, and they have started prepping for the new tile. (They will start laying it on Monday.) We had an impromptu picnic on the living room table with fruitsalad and take away roast chicken for dinner the other night. Today I'm going to see if I can't start stripping some cabinets. We'll see. Beads?? I'm hoping to get some done tomorrow! (later) Oh-my-gosh!!! The tile guys are here! I can't believe I signed up for this!!!
(Thursday October 13th) I'm glad it's not FRIDAY today, because it would have been Friday the 13th, and not that I'm very superstitious at all, I just think with everything I have going on... I don't need bad luck! Here is my BEFORE kitchen...hideous huh?
The tile will make a big difference, the horrid cabinets will stay, but I will strip and stain or paint them later. New lights, paint and fridge and dishwasher will make it a nice bright space. So...the three-sink story... Well, contrary to what you may think, my kitchen is not one of those HUGE modern kitchens with two of at least every appliance...nope... I don't really NEED three sinks at all... I just ended up with three... After many confusing trips to Home Depot, various plumbing and hardware stores, Lowe's and the Home Expo center (and driving 70 miles looking for one) I ended up at one of those stores right before 6 PM, and I just felt I really needed to get a sink because the tile-guys are coming today, and I wanted to get it cleared that what I bought would be fine to install... Well, at 6PM with my blood sugar rapidly falling, I just couldn't really think anymore. DH Leo was unavailable for advice (and I'm currently cellphone-less anyway) so I picked out two sinks...One stainless steel, two hole... I'm kind of liking the stainless steel look - but wasn't really sure, since I've never seen a stainless sink TILED in... Then I bought a large one hole sink (I like being able to wash large turkey pans and pots comfortably in the sink, and Thanksgiving IS coming up...so I thought why not?!) I figured I could discuss it with DH Leo, and ask the tile guy for advice, and then return the one I don't want. Well, mid-day yesterday I was almost set that I was going to install white one hole sink, but I was still ambivalent, because it is from some material called Americast, and I had never really heard about it. So I got on the internet and found a few discussion boards on home repair. Well, turns out that pretty much everybody hates their Americast sink... Big sigh... I now knew that I wanted a large white/cream one hole sink, but not the one I had, and not the stainless one either. Eeek...Tile guys coming and I don't have a sink...! I got on the internet, the Kohler site and started looking around. I found one that I think I can live with...large, one hole, but cast iron/enamel and not this new material. Figure out where to get it, and order it online. (I know, without having seen it in real life...scary!) So at this point I have 2 sinks at the house (that I don't want- and need to return), and one on its way, that I really HOPE I'll like, and keeping my fingers crossed that It will get here in time, so it doesn't hold up the project. (By the way, that meant that the faucet I had picked out didn't work either, so I'll have to return it too!) The joys of home remodel. I didn't get any beads done yesterday because of "schtuff." I actually ended up cooking at my Father-in-laws house and we had a fun family dinner! (Beats micro waved lasagna with disposable silveware.)
(October 12th - Wednesday) I know it took a while...but here's the winner of the inspirational story bead prize: <<<Laura>>>>... I'm quoting the whole letter, because it just reads better that way, and how could I not send her some beads?! "
Hi Patricia! I adore your beads they are beautiful! love and sparkles Laura xxxx" Thank you for that Laura, Email me your address and the beads will be on their way!!! To all of you others...thanks so much for entering, and I'm sorry it took a while to post the winner...It seems like everything is slowing down around here...(it's the "eye of the hurricane" syndrome I bet!)
(October 11th - Tuesday)
Well, I really did it to myself...! There is now an official
hour-shortage in my days! (Where can I buy some time??? - got any great
sources?) So, we're in the middle of getting the kitchen and dining room
(and the counters) tiled...the tile guys are coming tomorrow or the day
after. Yesterday evening DH Leo, Joaquin and I made a concerted effort to
get the cabinets emptied and the contents packed up. (The place is a mess!
) Some of the removable china cabinets have been moved to our bedroom, the
dining room chairs piled up in part of the living room, and rows and rows
of boxes stacked up in the living room with the contents of all the
kitchen cabinets! It's like moving all over, you'll just be unpacking into
the same cabinets! ( When you see my kitchen - I'll have to snap a pic.
later...you'll see why I'm willing to go through this nightmare. Hideous
dark brown 4 inch tiles with 1/2 inch wide grout lines- straight out of
the mid 70's.) Anyway, things are a bit overwhelming right now... Living
in boxes, home schooling my stepson, running the restaurant office without
an assistant. Yesterday we got 3 carloads of tile home (yes, that meant 3
trips across town...DH Leo saved me from the last 2 trips! What a hero!!!)
And I just know that when the new tile is in...I'll want to paint the
cabinets, and the walls...whew!!! Oh, and please forgive me for not responding to all the votes...I AM getting them, (THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!) but I have to cut corners to find some time somewhere! Stay calm, be well, and take care of yourselves! I'm curiously calm myself...kind of like the eye of a hurricane. Maybe more "before" pictures of my hideous kitchen later - or maybe tomorrow. (October 8th - Saturday) Just a quick hello...I'm coming up for air! I just got back from my long run - a slightly disappointing event... I was supposed to do 23 miles (the last long run before the marathon October 29th.) I only managed to do 21 miles, and I walked almost 5 of the last miles... It took me 10 minutes longer than the last 21 miler. It is strange how things (our bodies) work. THEORETICALLY I should have done better, because I have been really good about running during the weeks - and in theory, it should have been a "been there done that" aire over it...but oh no! I tried everything - focusing on other things, pretending I was Lance Armstrong fighting against cancer AND physical exertion...watching falling leaves, smiling and waving energetically to fellow runners (sometimes you manage to feed off their energy.) I tried ignoring my feet, and legs that were talking to my head: "hey you! Up there, you head...what's up with this, why do we get all the pounding and you just bob on up there with a great view?!?!" nothing worked... the legs won over the head this time.... I feel a little bit defeated, but still very optimistic. I KNOW that I can do the marathon, and although the last 6 miles will be excruciating, there will be more runners, fun energy to feed off. And I bet some of the views will be great (Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach....) So I just see this as a minor blip on the radar of running... I'll still make it! Ok, now it's time to hop in the shower and get the even "salt & sunscreen crust" rinsed off. Then back to the office for a TINY bit of work. Tonight I WANT to make BEADS!!!! Hopefully I'll be able to stay awake in-front of the torch! Have a great weekend you all!
(October 6th - Thursday)
The sun is just about to rise here on the west coast... I can still see
the lights of Monterey on the horizon, and the pink in the east is just
starting to show... My day has started... Get up, run half hour, give cat a shot (she's diabetic), feed them, shower get ready for the day, oatmeal for breakfast, pickup timecards at the restaurant, go to the office, do payroll. Reconcile the waiters banks, deposit at the banks. Complete the "month end" reporting - a few days late... get tickets for Mexico. Pay some restaurant bills, do some filing (my least favorite thing.) Figure out insurance for Joqauin for the time he's here. Make the next ad for the monthly advertising. Order some shelves for the new storage shed behind the restaurant. Have lunch (probably some soup at my desk.). Go and get allergy shots. Make the boxes that we had stored in Joaquin's room (that are now moved to the den) disappear. Get sheets out and make up his bed. Fold the laundry from the dryer, start a new load. Vacuum and clear off the dining room table. Get the tile samples that have been riding around in my car inside the house (gotta make a decision about the kitchen tile by tomorrow.) Figure out what to have for dinner. Go shopping. Pickup Joaquin at airport. Come home, have dinner. Feed cats, give cat a shot. Socialize a bit until he probably very jetlagged falls asleep. ...Make beads? Maybe- if I still have energy.
It's has gotten almost light while I've been typing this...gotta run. If I don't respond to your emails or confirm your votes for a day or so...you have a pretty good idea what I'm doing... Have a wonderful day you all!!! (October 5th - wendnesday) I made some beads last night...but these aren't it... Again, I only got 4 made (didn't leave the office until closer to 8 PM) but anyway... THIS special I made for "Corina's Frits'n Shit"-Challenge and they are absolutely gorgeous in real life... It is the first (and so far only) time I have gotten something neat from the ever famous Raku frit. If you like bluish hues and transparency...these beads are for you! I wasn't going to sell them, but they are just laying around, and they really deserve to catch the light on someone's wrist as a bracelet (at least that's what I would make)! They are $75.00 including first class shipping, and the first person to ask gets them, they are already wrapped up and ready to go to the post office! (SOLD! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!)
(October 4th - Tuesday)
My father in Sweden has a friend who is an amateur macro-photographer over
there.... Fall is coming with giant steps and it is getting cold
fast...but here he caught one of the last bees for the season finding a
little nourishment in a flower that hasn't quite given up yet. He kindly
let me share this beautiful photograph with you all... Isn't it
gorgeous??? You can even see the fuzz on the back of the bee!
That might even inspire some beads! What do you think? I just wish I had time to make some! (October 3th - Monday) I'm having an "un-chatty" day today... I did my morning run (only 30 minutes) we're cutting back to "rest" for the 23-miler coming up this Saturday. And I did a short "long run" this Sunday. It was only 8 miles, and I have to admit, I felt quite refreshed after it!!! (Never thought I'd say that either!) Anyway, Sunday afternoon, look at who I caught red-handed taking a cat-nap?!? Spinner... Now doesn't that look like the perfect Sunday afternoon activity? (I think I wouldn't want to be so close to the deck railing, but it doesn't seem to bother her! I actually missed the cutest photo op when her right paw was stretched out over her head. But this is cute enough!
The other cat, Mooshi, went to the vet on Saturday...something wrong with her eye...she goes in for more tests on Tuesday...but until then, I give here eye drops every 12 hours. (Much easier that giving a cat a pill!) This morning I pulled a paltry 4 beads out of the kiln...nothing to write home about.... I've been a little stressed lately which curbed my creativity. I'll tell you more about it later, but the short end of it is that my wonderful assistant that I hired in the spring got a better job, we're right before remodeling the house a bit (new windows and siding, and tile in the kitchen and dining room- because when we bought this "fixer" 3 years ago, they had painted over all the water damage which now is becoming glaringly evident, and the kitties ruined the carpet in the dining area) and we'll see if/when we get to the leaky garage roof..., it looks like I'm going to Mexico they day after I complete my Marathon to assist my father-in-law with an art exhibit (there's no-one else that can go with him at this point, and I guess it IS a good idea that someone who runs 2 Mexican restaurants should have visited Mexico at least once!) My stepson is coming to live with us starting Friday, and my mom is arriving the first week in November to stay for six months... Oh, and we're re-financing... Hm...I need a break just READING about this!
Anyway, for your viewing pleasure I've also photographed my FIL's goldfish. They are HUGE (at least 6 inches long, not including the fan-tails) and two of them are actually my "babies" because I "raised" them from fish-roe when the parents spawned 2 years ago. I had to feed them 5 times a day for the first 2 weeks... anyway...that's all from the Dr. Dolittle (or maybe I need to say Domuch) family...(at least for now...) Onward and upward, to catch up on some office work, de-worm 4 kitties, and check the Discount Tile Outlet if I can find a better deal that the pricey stuff I fell in love with...Oh, yeah, and then make some beads! Teresa chose her winning prize...I'll be making her a "Flirtations with Fall" set and I'm still waiting for Jaime to pick her set.
Ok, I know I said I didn't feel chatty...but you sure got an eyeful! Well, maybe I just needed to vent a bit. Oh, and the Inspirational story .... I'll get to that later. If you still want to send me one before I pick the winner, I guess it would be ok. (October 1st - Saturday) It's a fresh month...brand new! How fun....I'm about to do the drawing for the September voting prize....Which is a bead-spree of 10 beads from any of my past styles.... As usual, you get to imagine me with hat in hand...mixing the little folded up pieces of paper....closing my eyes and pulling a name out of the hat....
Drumroll....
And the winner is.....
argh...we have a problem...there are 2 pieces stuck together....
Ok...here we go.... this month we have 2 winners...(I didn't have the heart to put one of the two pieces of paper stuck together back...so I'll make 2 people winners!)
The little "inspirational tale"contest is still going...(read below)...you have until Monday morning!
(September 29th - Thursday) I got an email today from someone who told me her legs were sore from running...( I guess reading my running tales here had inspired her to start running!) She wasn't complaining or anything, and I responded to her that I actually LIKE being a little sore, because it is a nice reminder all day that you did something good for your body! Your outlook really depends on the angle which you look at things from... I mean, I've known that for a long time, but I recently really GOT IT from this very personal example...let me tell you the story.... BEFORE I started getting healthy
(running and losing weight...) I was pretty miserable with how I looked
and felt... (for those of you who are new here: ... I had a scare after a
Dr's visit this past spring...he wanted to put me on cholesterol and blood pressure
medication, and sent me to a cardiologist- everything turned out to be
fine, but I begged him to let me try on my own without getting put on the
meds. He rolled his eyes but humored me...four months, 40 cholesterol
points, and an equal number of pounds later...I've got a clear bill of
health much to the Dr's surprise!) ...anyway.. Now, I've lost about 40 lbs
(since April or so) and I feel GREAT, and I am much happier with how I
look. I know I'm no string-bean... and still carry some excess
weight...but what the heck, Rome wasn't built in a day... and neither was
I! So anyway, back to the point.... I REMEMBER very clearly...back when I
was gaining all this weight (on my way up, passing the same
weight I am now) how exceptionally fat and miserable I felt. I
didn't really want to go out and meet people, I thought I was too fat to
exercise, and all in all, I was outright depressed... NOW, I am at the
SAME WEIGHT...just on the way down from a number 40 digits higher than
this. (NO -- I am NOT ready to tell the world via internet what I actually
weigh... - maybe one day!) I feel fit, healthy, happy in my body, and I
don't Tell me an story (about any topic) -that could inspire someone, (I would would like to share it here- for people to benefit from) - and I'll pick my favorite story which will get this little "mini-set" of beads. Please put "Inspirational Tale" in the subject line so I don't mix'em up with the votes. Deadline?? What about Monday morning?
more in the....Chat Archives |
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The
running is actually the LEAST of the problems right now! After the 21
miler on Saturday, my digestive tract shut down and I couldn't really
handle dinner, so when it (dinner) returned (to put it nicely), the
exertion burst some blood vessels in my eyes and my face...So ON TOP of
it, I'm looking like a monster! The blood shot eyes and the burst blood
vessels in my face will take care of themselves in a week - I just avoid
the mirror and feel sorry for the people that have to look at me. It
actually looks worse than the picture, but anyway...you get the idea- it
doesn't hurt at all though, just looks frightful. It sounds like I'm
all whiney...but I'm not really...just venting -and my spirits are still
high, and I feel like I've got a handle on things (so far!) I did manage
to make a few beads. It's a work in progress and I'm just showing you for
the eyecandy factor. They are supposed to be a remake of "flirtations
with fall" as the Voting prize for September, but I'm not quite happy
with how the colors came out, and I'll be re-working this set a bit before
it goes out the door. I didn't want to copy the first set so I just kept
it in mind while making the new beads, so it is a little different. Very
nice, but not quite like the past set.
It's
been a CRAZY week so far...maybe you can tell from my sparse updates. I'm
just working like crazy, trying to keep up with things. But I'm
staying positive, working out...and things are pretty good!!! (I made some
beads last night -but the kiln was too hot when I left this morning - so
we'll see later. I don't think there is anything to "sell" in
there...but maybe a little "show off".)
really worry very much about how I look - because I FEEL great, I'm proud
that I've lowered my cholesterol a bunch, and that my blood pressure is
normal (which it wasn't before) and that I'm about to run a marathon in a
month. But the point is - I'm weighing the same -still overweight...but
I'm just looking at it from a different direction! And it also shows to
prove that exercise will make you FEEL good about yourself, even if you
are not at your ideal weight... So get out there and make me proud today-
move your body a bit! Anyway, I'm off my soap-box. Now is your glass half
full or half empty?