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Last Updated 05/22/2008 09:40:59 AM PST Here is the Link about the Italian Master's Class I took. |
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(Tuesday, January 22nd) The hard work of a baby
Giving all cats equal harassment, so none feels too comfy in their spot in the sun. Cat tails need to be pulled and collars yanked. He is not yet inspecting litter boxes, but only because upper management (me) has been swiftly airlifting him to a different work location every time he approaches that area of responsibility.
(Wednesday, January 16th) The Day after New Years day he crawled
And a week and a half later, now at the ripe age of 7 and a half months, he is no longer happy with just crawling, he wants to stand (oh, and in his spare time he makes secret calls [when I'm not watching] on the phone, usually to the last dialed number =:^D)
(Thursday, December 27th) The best thing under the tree...
(Tuesday, December 11th) A little update from babyland....
(Wednesday, October 31st) Happy Halloween....
He's almost 5 months...(on friday) and has been sitting for about a week...every day it is getting better and better. He is so cute as he wobbles about. If you figure out how to view it, here is a little movie clip. [Movie clip of Oliver sitting this morning.] It might take a while to download though....If you don't have time, here are some sitting pictures.
(Monday, October 15th) Post and run....
(Monday, October 1st) Turning a corner....
(Wednesday, September 26th) Delerium ad naseum... Here are some pictures of the peachy-cheeked miracle that's completely stolen my heart. His first "floatie toy"...the empty acid reflux medication bottle...sigh.... we're working on the second bottle. Every time I try to cut back we have a bad night. As much as I dislike meds...they do serve their purpose well sometimes. Here he is in his tub, as he finally outgrew the bathroom sink.
Mama's little laundry helper. It is easier to put him in with the clean laundry than to maneuver him and the basket separately from the garage. He was pretty happy there for a while.
Finally "tummy time" isn't a source of aggravation on his part (or mine) any more. He rolled from his back to his tummy the day before yesterday. He'll be 4 months in a week! Before I can blink (assuming I don't fall asleep while blinking) he'll be walking and talking. I just hope he also learns to sleep for more than 2 hours at a time.
That smile melts my heart and probably contributes significantly to global warming...
Thanks for checking in! (By the way, If you've emailed me to my web-mail the last month I probably didn't get it... the planet-save.com email went through an up-grade that shot my email into cyber-in-existence, the studio@ my domain works however!.)
(Saturday, September 1st) Three months tomorrow... Honestly, it has been really, really hard. Remember what an easy pregnancy I had?... NO nausea, bloating, back aches etc..... Well, the opposite has been true for our first three months with Oliver. But somehow, when he smiles...all that somehow fades away. Here is a separate page with some more pictures. (The picture of the Hibiscus tree is for MOM to see that yes, we are watering until she comes back- hurry back please...we're not great gardeners!... =:^D)
What has been so hard you may wonder??? Well, honestly, pretty much everything...the sleep-deprivation... the crying (we have what they normally call "a colicky baby"- so hours of crying on end every day is the norm), the breastfeeding; (I have seen pretty much every lactation consultant worth their name in the area...) He had what's called "a tight jaw" so feeding him really hurt me...then we had Thrush, a yeast infection in his mouth and in my breast- which made it hurt even more - we got that fixed now. Then we were struggling with "oversupply." Basically too much milk coming too fast, and him having a hard time feeding (picture trying to get a sip of water out of a fire-hose... not easy - especially if your little, very thirsty, very frustrated and un-coordinated. ) Oversupply is sometimes mis-diagnosed as acid reflux, because eating too much too fast would give pretty much anyone reflux. So no, I don't really know why Oliver cries so often, but I keep trying to figure it out to get him some relief- meanwhile I'm hoping that he'll grow out of it....(And I'm of course taking him to the Pediatrician, although they don't always know either....) First they said "it will get better in six weeks", then you hear..."oh, after two months it is easier"...now I'm hanging my hat on the people who say that after "three months most kids grow out of it..." I'm the mom in the "new mom's support groups" that is standing in the back of the room bouncing up and down with Oliver in my arms, not hearing a single word of what is being said because my boy is wailing, while all the other moms sit in a circle with their happy babies cooing on blankets in-front of them... Sometimes I don't even go anywhere because he's having a bad day and I don't want to push him...he's crying so much anyway, I don't want to add to it by pushing my schedule on him. Trying to work is VERY HARD... I try to time it for when he is not crying, and when DH Leo can hold him while I get a few things done in the office. Sounds like I'm complaining?...nope, not really... If I had my choice, I'd to it all over again in a heartbeat. Yep... I would even have another one - EVEN if I knew in advance that it would be just as hard next time. Sucker for punishment? Maybe...but the rewards somehow STILL outweigh all the hard stuff. One smile is all it takes- and you MELT. My neighbor down the street has four (4!!!) kids 21,22 and 17 months apart they are now 11,9,7 and 6 years old. She to me is SUPERWOMAN... But I guess you grow with every task. What seems hard today may seem easy as pie a few months from now...OR you just forget how bad it was... Any advice for anyone pregnant right now? Sleep as much as you can, wake up without an alarm clock and lay in bed just letting yourself wake up slowly. I did it, and I remember thinking " I'll have to remember this feeling..." I'm glad I did. Pamper yourself- get a massage, haircut, manicure, or pedicure (or all of it!).... you may end up with a really mellow baby, but you may not, cherish the time you have to yourself. Breastfeed if you possibly can there is lots of support out there. Even though it seems hard in the beginning (and I really had an uphill road) it is worth it. It does get easier, and the benefits for the baby are great. Read any of Dr. Sears' baby books, stay away from a book called called "Babywise" (The only book the American Pediatrics Association has gone out and WARNED against.) You're going to get more advice than you need or care for. Go with your gut instinct. Well, that's all folks. I'm going to bet WAY later than I should have. It's 11 PM and I'll probably be up again at 12:45, then around 3, and probably at 4:30 and then finally get out of bed by 5:30 or so because he's so awake and "talking up a storm" that there is no reason to try to get him to go back to sleep. Mornings (although I'm tired) are the best. You lean over him and he smiles at you the first thing he does every morning. Somehow nature has it wired so that that morning smile just gives you the juice to keep going. Oh, and I forgot. Today he sat for the first time (with a Boppy pillow that I never really did use very much for nursing, but is great for teaching him how to sit) around him for a while before flopping over. Very fun! G'nite!
(Friday, August 17th) Sleepless in Santa Cruz...
Right now he's asleep in his "peanut shell" (thank heaven's for these different baby slings!) I had a pretty long and sleepless nigh last night, and am (as usually nowadays) deliriously tired. BUT I have been quiet here for so long, I thought I'd give a little update. Oliver has acid reflux, and is therefore not always the happiest baby on the block. I'd be crying too if I hurt five minutes into every time I tried to eat, and I tried to eat about 8-12 times a day! Poor baby! When he's not in pain though, he's just the cutest thing ever! Despite the problems with feeding, he is growing like a little weed, and on Monday at the Dr's office he was 13lbs 3 oz (from 7lbs7oz at birth almost two and a half months ago.) Last night was not one to go down in history as a good night's sleep... DH Leo and I took turns bouncing him on our shoulders, burping and trying to get him to go back to sleep. The reality of life with a baby...They say "it gets better..." but really that is just assuming that it isn't good now! Yes, it is hard but it is just SUCH an incredible journey, and I wouldn't trade it for anything! (Well, if I could magically make his pain disappear, I would...) Ok, instead of pushing my luck and typing until he wakes up... I'm going to try to sneak a nap with him. Thanks for checking in to this "bead" site that is now more a "baby" site... Well, as things go on, I will eventually get back to making beads (I crave it every day) but it might take another while...
(Thursday, August 2nd) Happy 2nd Month Oliver!!! Life is funny... in an instant in changes and you don't even remember what it was like before. What on earth did I do with my (already spread thin) time? Because all I do now is nurse, hold Oliver while he sleeps, console him when he cries, change diapers and play with him when he is awake, and occasionally run down to the office for an hour or so and pay bills with one hand. Shower? Brush my teeth? Go to the bathroom? Keep up with a website? Clean house? Make beads? Make DINNER? Go OUT for dinner??? Hm... did I do all that and more? Seems like an bad trade? Yet, I wouldn't trade it for anything... Gotta go...Thank you for stopping in...
(Thursday, July 5th) Popping my head in...
And here he is on his one month birthday (sleeping on my shoulder)... I thought my cats were cute when they slept...I guess that was until I saw my son sleeping!!! The picture of me is pretty horrible, but oh well, little yellow-belly Oliver (still a little jaundiced) is making up for it in cuteness. He's sweeter than honey in a jar!
And here I'm going to let you in on a secret...this is his favorite sleeping position (although he only gets to sleep like this when I can watch him every second....) yes, I have read the SIDS advisory sleeping position is babies sleeping on their BACKS only... but if I'm there watching him and listening to his every breath for a little daytime nap, I figure he's safe! The other admission is...yes...I do miss making beads... Can you believe it? With this little miracle around, I still sometimes wish I could sneak away for a bead or two while he's asleep, but so-far I haven't managed. His schedule is too unpredictable still, and I'm too tired mostly, so when he naps - I try to nap. My mom is leaving on Sunday. I'm going to MISS her...bless her heart. She's been doing all the housework around here, and have been such an ANGEL helping with all our needs. So after Sunday, I'll start getting a feel for what life is really going to be like. I have also had to go to the office a bit lately, and it is going to be more soon... so my time will be even thinner spread. I at times resent having to be yanked back to the "reality" of business and work life... all I want to do is sit at home and stare at Oliver... Or at least not share any of my waking time with anything that takes my attention away from him... Somehow I'll learn to juggle all the balls, but it will be harder than before... Thanks for checking in- for those of you who still haven't given up on my sporadic updates!
(Thursday, June 21st) I can't believe where they go...
Email is still a challenge, since I haven't gotten down to the office...so I'm sorry for not responding.
(Tuesday, June 12th) Life in the slow lane...
It's amazing how quickly your body can heal itself. Just a little over a week ago I was pretty certain I would never again sit, cough, sneeze, laugh or walk pain-free, or without feeling breathless. It felt like the regions below my belly button had been mangled to pieces and every trip out of bed was an ordeal. Pretty much after the 7th day...just like magic things started turning and I could feel my body getting stronger and pain is going away. I love how great that feels! Not quite all healed up yet, but I can feel progress! (Saturday, June 9th) Typing with one hand... Since it's tricky to do (just guess what the other hand is holding?)... I'll let some pictures speak. Oh...I'm still without email, so sorry about the silence... it might be a while before I'll get to that.
(Monday, June 4th) Oliver Santana...Love overflowing....
Of COURSE ....he IS the most beautiful boy in the world! I will be "incommunicado" for a while...focusing on getting to know Oliver and learning to be a mom. Thank you for checking in!
(Friday, June 1st) 0+8...May-baby is becoming June-baby...
(Wednesday, May 30th) 0+6...Hurry up little one pick your own Birth Day!
Remember I was clearing boxes the other day? They're coming to pick up the recycling tomorrow, and Roosin lost his new favorite sleeping spot! Cats find the strangest sleeping spots comfy! I'm heading back to the couch to try to finish the slippers I started knitting 10 days ago. Have a great evening!
(Tuesday, May 29th) 0+5...Water...
(Monday, May 28th) 0+4...I'm not the only one waiting... Anyway... here's the dove sitting on her eggs in her pot.
I'm gardening vicariously through my Father-In-Law who is great with plants. These Epiphylliums didn't bloom yesterday...they just opened up over-night. They are just gorgeous, and I'm amazed at their beauty every year. So at the risk of being repetitive... here are some of this years flowers!!! Enjoy!
On a more glass-related note... I don't know how many of you saw this auction that just recently ended. Kim Neely is one of the more famous Ebay glass artists (well deserved in my opinon), and more often than not her auction bids run sky-high. Today I checked in on her website and found this posting, and I really couldn't help but emailing her and applauding her for her post. I thought it was so Right ON! I imagine she might get some snide comments for not completely divulging the step by step techniques for getting the colors she does with this glass.... but she is so right. Each one of us have to work at trying to find what techniques works for our out torch setups, and a lot of times, there is much more satisfaction in arriving at the "Aha -moment" on your own, than following a step by step instruction manual... Those are my five cents! Can you tell I'm taking it easy and have a little more time on my hand? I have been so chatty here lately...Well, enjoy it while it lasts...soon enough I'll have my hands full with breastfeeding and diapering I'm sure! Thank you for stopping by today!
(Sunday, May 27th) 0+2...3...Reminiscing of another life...
(Friday, May 25th) 0+1...Taking it easy... It's funny, the phone has began to ring with people just "offering help" ...and..." oh by the way...did the baby arrive yet?" I think it is still kind of amusing. We'll see how long that will last. It's like people are on the edge waiting for me to make a sign that I'm starting to have contractions or something. DH Leo is watching me closely, and if he goes somewhere he always says... "call if there is ANYTHING"!...Ha, like he wouldn't be the first one to know! And I hear "how are you feeling?" like 15 times a day... I think I'm the most relaxed about the whole thing. I just KNOW that sooner or later the baby will arrive... it's a sure thing, and I might as well enjoy a few days of sleeping in, and taking it easy without stressing about "WHEN?" Thanks for checking in!
(Thursday, May 24th) 1...0...No signs yet...
(Tuesday, May 22nd) 2...Well, what do you know...BEADS were probably the LAST thing you expected today! These are absolutely not perfect, I didn't have much luck with the bead press at the torch when I made these, because they just happen to be much more uneven in size than my normal standard. But the mustardish olive green and the violet with the goldstone still makes an interesting combination. I actually see these more as fall beads...but Oh, well...they're Off season. #1 OFF SEASON $45.00 (SOLD THANK YOU!)
These guys are my first foray into TERRA this color-shifting glass from Double-Helix. I haven't worked out how to get matching colors, but just played to see what I would get...and in a weird sort of way they do match in a strand...Approximately 21 mm size lentils, encased in crystal clear glass.
These are sort of my kind of ZEN beads...this is where I start when I haven't made beads in a long time...just encased rounds with and without stringer decoration as practice. (Emerald core with crystal clear encasement, and turquoise stringer) Some are etched for a little variation, a total of 16 beads.
Just a little "candy-strand" of mixed pinkish/peach-ish beads that sort of go together.
This is actually a very fun color combination that I really like, reminds me of a happy little melody. Unfortunately one piece of stringer has chipped off the purplish bead with pink stringer wrapped around it (Far left bead). I think I was just letting them rattle around in my bead jar for too long. That one is a "freebie" because I'm to lazy to remove it from the strand.
These guys I was going to make earrings of, so I wrapped them in pairs on sterling silver headpins, with a few little sterling silver separator beads. I never got around to making the earrings, but they are very fun, and could possibly also make a fun charm bracelet. A total of 8 of charms, (4 matching pairs.)
(Monday, May 21st) 5,4,3...A nice weekend! (Friday, Later) My new favorite song.... (well, it isn't new... I just rediscovered it.) I included a sample of it on YOU Tube.... So I'm finally in the office after a day of pampering, bed-rest and massage...ah, what a hard life! Well, it isn't that often that I goof off, and it felt good! Baby is still in there, it almost feels like she/he's trying to kick his way out...active as ever. Well, baby hasn't found the exit sign yet... a few more days to go! Tomorrows goal is to try to clean some beads I actually made the other day, and photograph them and put them up as a last before- baby sale. I'm not promising anything yet...but that's the GOAL! Thanks for checking in today!
(Friday, May 18th) 6...Woke up feeling great...
(Thursday, May 17th) 7...A-OK...
(Wednesday, May 16th) 8...was going to be a first/last hurrah for saling...
(Tuesday, May 15th) 9...Rested in the middle of the day again... While resting I continued knitting in bed... I'm actually attempting to knit clogs. I found out about them from Donna Mehnert of Blackberry Beads (she's got a great website, wonderful beads and she actually updates her site daily...if you're in bead withdrawal...she's a great resource.) Anyway, she's also a big knitter, and has a bunch of fun projects going... Here are the clogs (halfway down the page) that she's been knitting, and that I'm attempting. Why am I not knitting baby clothes? Hm... not sure...maybe because it is in the middle of summer in California...I don't feel inspired to knit warm stuff. The clogs however we NEED... as we DID end up getting hardwood floors put in. They are oiled and not varnished, so they're quite delicate and black shoe-soles make black marks, so my plan is to make a basket full of fun colorful knit wool clogs with leather soles that people can wear while they're visiting at our house. But so far, I've only finished one clog, the left one is "in process" and that will be MY clogs... after that I'll make Guest-Clogs! (We'll see how many I get to before baby arrives?!)
(Monday, May 14th) 10... Yep it is countdown time... So that's where I am right now... I really doubt there will be any beads in the near future...so I don't really feel that this is a "BEAD SITE" right now...but I might still clear a few old beads (but not spoiled) out for a last little pre-baby sale...we'll see. Thanks for stopping by! (You'll know -almost- as soon as I know!)
(Wednesday, May 9th) Argh...computers...
(Friday, April 27th) Still Pregnant... Tonight DH Leo and I are going up to the 'city' (city meaning San Francisco) for a couple of nights of R&R before the baby arrives. It will be the last "hurrah" of nice dinners and entertainment for a while I bet! I'm sleeping in without an alarm clock for the first time in WEEKS! Yeay! I really need a couple of days off! On Sunday we're picking up MOM at the SF airport, she's coming to stay for a couple of months - so that is great. I'll have some extra support, which is always nice - since having a baby (everyone says) is quite a life-changing event! I'll bring my camera to the city, and I might have something interesting to share when I come back! Thanks for stopping in and have a GREAT weekend you all!
(Thursday, April 12th) Gasping for air...
(Wednesday, April 4th) Clothespins pinching my ears... The breathing only distracted me so much. But it was pretty interesting and fun. Just the thing of "preparing" makes it more real. I do have a few beads to show, but I haven't taken pictures of them yet - so most probably that will be tomorrow. (Same with the drawing.) If the day goes as scheduled, and the weather is cooperating, I'm hoping to go sailing this evening. It will probably be one of the last ones for a while, because I can't imagine sailing with a newborn. We'll see, IF I go tonight, I'll bring my camera! Have a great day you all!
(Tuesday, March 27th) If you only knew... Needless to say that there really are no beads on the horizon for me - at least for a few days...ah, maybe I get to sit down one evening to make some "challenge beads." I have a few lampworking friends, and we meet every so often, usually for lunch, and for each get-together we try to have a "challenge" of sorts, so that we force ourselves try out new things with glass. This time the theme is "shapes" but the restriction is that we can only use a regular masher and a paddle to shape the bead. So no stamps, presses or anything else. So far I only have one bead done for it, but we're not meeting until Tuesday, so hopefully by then I will have at least a few more! (Do you hear the "time optimist" in me speaking?) Tonight is the first baby/birthing class! Now that is going to be exciting! It feels a little bit like a mile-stone. I don't know EXACTLY what we'll learn, but for sure how to breathe...and how to get through labor. It will be 5 or 6 weeks, and I'm sure by the end - I'll know more! What else? Ah...hardwood floors. I know, I know... it is absolutely CRAZY to even attempt something like that on such a tight schedule - especially LIVING IN the house that is going to get it done...but I'm just sick of our carpeting, and it would be so much easier to clean than our yucky carpets. Does anybody know anything about TUNG oil finishes? Does anybody live with oiled wood flooring? Ok, got to run. The class starts in an hour, and I still have to get home first. Thanks for checking in!
(Monday, March 19th) Spring has sprung... I have started getting a little more prepared in the baby department...we did get a stroller and a car-seat, and a bassinette (sp?), and looked at some cribs too. Yesterday I washed all the baby clothes, so that the new stuff gets a little softer and shrinks and gets "our" smell rather than the "new" smell. I feel I have a lot of stuff - but who knows what I really will need?! I'm just going to figure it out as I go. This week I'm 31 weeks, which means 9 weeks left. Down to single digits! Yikes! Still feeling great actually- still lots of energy. My hips which have been bothering me since the 4th month are still making themselves known if I walk too much, but it is actually a little better since I stopped my morning walks along the beach. Ah...I miss those walks! We started to cull our bookshelves for books to give away and get rid of (so we can move the book-cases from the room that's going to be the nursery.) It's HARD to get rid of books...anyway, after much culling and feeling very productive- we got 10 boxes out of the house. They are still in the garage but oh, well...we'll take them to the library and to Goodwill in a few days. Unfortunately there's still PLENTY of books left, but we'll just have to do a second pass sometime later. At least we got rid of the "double rows" on the shelves. Sheesh... So that's a little of what's been going on here lately...a lot in my life, but not much of interest on the bead-front - unfortunately. I've been notoriously slacking in the email department - and I apologize for that.. I read all email and they really do brighten my day, but often I just say..."ok, I'll reply to that one later..." and later never seems to come. So apologies my friends... but thanks so much for checking in!
(Wednesday, March 7th) In the eye of the storm all is calm... I've made beads a couple of times, but mostly gotten frustrated with not being able to focus and concentrate...besides, it is getting pretty uncomfortable to sit there for longer stretches of time... oh, and a confession <blushing> the heart beads are still waiting to be wrapped and sent out... I know, I said end of last week, but somehow "time" is that slippery little sucker running through my fingers. (Or maybe I should call myself the eternal time-optimist, in that I think things take less time than they do, and time moves by faster than I think...) I'll have to work that out! Thanks for checking in!
(Monday, February 26th) And the Oscar goes to...
(Monday, February 26th) The bottom of my desk...
(Thursday, February 22nd) Back Home... Finally I have a picture to post of my sisters little baby girl: Alessia! Here she's 6 days old and cute as a button. (And of course I think she's cuter than all other babies because she's MY little niece... well, at least until I have my baby I'm sure...) She was quite petite since she arrived a little early, but seems to make up for it by nursing like nothing else. (And that's pretty much all she's done since she was born...) ah, yes, she sleeps too - but only for a couple of hours or so at a time, so my sister is probably teetering on sleep depravation in a day or so. But my sister she's deliriously happy and doesn't seem to mind. I haven't really heard Alessia cry though, if she gets to nurse, she seems pretty content! (Note to self: Is it really that simple. Is that the secret???) I'm still catching up on just getting back, so I'll do the drawing for the heart beads (somewhere below on this page) tomorrow afternoon most probably. Until then...have a GREAT rest of your Thursday!
(Tuesday, February 20th) Colder but whiter...
I haven't been able to figure out a way to edit photos, so that will have to wait until I get home. Thanks for checking in!
(Sunday, February 18th) From a dreary cold Sweden...
It's now almost 2 am, and I really need to get to bed... Tomorrow I'm going to visit my sister, and now that I know how to, you might see more updates, and maybe even a picture or two.
(Wednesday, February 14th) DASHING OFF INTO THE COLD We can all plan all we want, but life has a way of taking its own turns. I'm leaving the house at 3 AM, in about 2 hours, so I have to get some sleep. So I apologize to you all, the drawing will have to wait - I'm going to Sweden for a week. I don't think I'll have access to update here, and I won't have email, so it will be quiet here until I'm back. Take care and be nice! =;^) Back with an update and the drawing next Thursday!
(Tuesday, February 13th) HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!! So happy "Heart DAY" to all of you! I've been "threatening" to post some picture of some hearts, and today is finally the day that I'm not all bark and no bite. Below you'll see the next "random drawing prizes." Yep, all of these will be distributed among the people who has voted for me since the last drawing. (Your names are all in the hat, but since I'm so busy tomorrow, I won't have time to do it until Thursday.) So you still have time to get your names in the hat. The winning prizes will be randomly assigned, so you have no choice this time - I'd rather you get a surprise! (And for those of you who wonder, why am I giving all of these away instead of selling them? Well, they are just GREAT hearts, but not perfect enough to sell, so I'd rather give them away than having them collect dust in my studio. Some have a slightly sharp edge here or there, and some have flowers or stringer that is just a tiny bit off, or the color just didn't turn out the way I imagined. So there you have it. Great hearts, but not perfect. I hope with Valentine's and all, they'll still find loving homes with the drawing on Thursday! I won't be checking email tomorrow, just having my hands full with Valentine's preparations at the restaurant! I hope your tomorrow involves some decadent truffles, Champagne or chocolate covered strawberries and maybe a red rose or two! "See you" Thursday!
Much later...Monday still...
(Monday, February 12th) LONG WEEKEND'S JOURNEY TOWARD MONDAY Mooshi got her splint off almost a week ago, and her atrophied little paw was so skinny, and the fur was all wrinkled and fuzzed up - and she was still limping. The vet was talking about maybe putting another splint back on for ANOTHER FOUR WEEKS, but I talked her into giving it a few days to see how it progresses, and sure enough... Her leg is getting stronger and now she's almost not limping at all. So I saved her from another four weeks of bandages. I think it is just the muscle tone that she needs to build back in her leg and she'll be good to go. She's snoring in my lap right now. Not only does she snore, but when she's really relaxed and is being petted she also drools. Funny little cat. One of my goals for today is to put a few of the heart-bead pictures up, but it won't be until later in the day. So with a bit of luck there will be a couple of beads to look at here. Back later! Meanwhile- have a good Monday!
(Saturday, February 10th) CRUNCH-TIME Yesterday I actually had an opportunity to make beads... and wouldn't you know it??? No inspiration... sigh... I wasn't aware my muse had gone on vacation. Well, better luck next time. It's still raining here, and I haven't been inspired to take pictures of the beads in the rain...so I guess it will be another day or two. (If we get a few brighter hours I'll try to photograph the beads - and I maybe even rig some artificial lighting up if I get totally fed up of waiting for the rain to pass. We'll see. Meanwhile, have a nice weekend you all!
(Wednesday, February 7th) AWOL OK, so over to the little mini drawing on the right... It is just a "random day" and everybody who has voted since the last drawing is "in the hat" with one "ticket" per vote. So, today the winner is....
Digging....
and digging... and the winner is....
I'll be posting the new voting prize in a day or so...today is too gray and rainy to photograph any beads. (I MAY even have something for sale too...so check back in a day or so if you're on a bead-hunt.) Have a good day everyone! I'm having an "office catch-up day." It really looks like a tornado came through here... whew...
(Tuesday, February 6th) EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM...
Yesterday's party was fun, even though you don't know the people, I'd thought I'd share some of the pics for fun... We met up at 5 PM, and had 2 Hummer stretch limos pick up the crew. I have in the past sworn that I'd never be caught dead in a Hummer limo, ( I just think they are silly.) But it actually ends up being less expensive to pickup and drop off 46 people in two of these things than to charter a bus. Figures... and besides, the crew LOVES it and it's an easy way to be a hero! So we had one black and one white, and they decided girls in one, and guys in the other (don't ask me why...this is a day the crew gets to call the shots!)
We had dinner, and dancing and a Christmas gift exchange (yep, in February!) And I think everybody had a good time. Below you can see one of our cooks Cesar who got a Chef's hat and some knives in his exchange. He's been with us for 3 years, and he's still a "short timer" many of our staff has double digits in the length of time they've been with us. It is really like family! (Pic's are a little blurry, but it was sort of dark in there.) The dance floor got much more packed later...this group LOVES to shake it up!
Leo and I left the party driving the "big truck", as we call it, back home...It's one of those big flatbeds with removable sides that you can haul everything in, we were transporting the floor cleaning machine, and wax to the other restaurant to continue with the restaurant cleaning this morning, and we also have to take out a tree in front of the restaurant, so the truck will be hauling branches on the way back. Ah...there's nothing like the contrast of going to dinner in a stretch limo, and coming back in a bumpy, noisy, and slightly rusty truck. The realities of restaurant life! Ok, it's almost seven, I've finished my tea, and if I hurry I might get an hour worth of beads in today too - before it is time to drop Mooshi at the vet for the "splint removal." She doesn't know that it is the "big day" yet... hopefully it is ready to come off and she is healed. I'll still try to get to the drawing and such later today when I get to the office (which is where I have my email.) Back later!
(Monday, February 5th) A THREE BEAD DAY Tonight we have the staff Christmas Party for one of the restaurants. It seems strange to have it in February, but for the past 42 years or so, we've closed on Super Bowl Sunday for a few days or a week for our annual cleaning/painting/maintenance. And the timing is great for the employee party (otherwise we're only closed on Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Thanksgiving, and that's time for family not for employee parties.) It's going to be fun, and although I'm not really a "party animal" right now, I enjoy the others dancing up a storm! I feel I "popped" and am finally starting to show... I know, it's pretty late to start showing at 5 1/2 months, but I'm pretty tall and not small boned, so baby's been hiding until now. Just yesterday I got a comment from somebody who said "I don't know WHERE you're hiding that baby of yours." But today and yesterday the pants I'm wearing are starting to feel a bit tight. I figure I have one more week tops in some of my regular clothes. So I'll be shopping for a couple of maternity outfits soon...that feels a little daunting. But not as daunting as trying to pick a stroller.... geez...it's almost more difficult than buying a new car... If I get any good pictures from the party I'll show you tomorrow, and maybe tomorrow I'll have time to do this little random bead drawing too. Ah... why do I think TOMORROW will be less busy than today? A recurring pattern in my life! =:^D Ciao, for now, have a good day you all! (Thursday, February 1st) Happy February everyone! I'm sitting here with a cup of decaf green tea and a cat on my lap, slowly getting my day started. Today I think is the first day I'm 100% well after that @$^%&*# stomach virus I had, and it feels GREAT! Which is good, because today's gonna be a long one. (Thursday's I usually don't get home until 10:30 PM)
Oh, by the way, I did put up a little new voting prize on the right. I'm not sure when the drawing will be, but I'll wait until I have enough votes to make it at least a little bit of a competition, so in a few days hopefully! I'm just keeping things a little random for now, because since I'm so busy, sometimes I don't get to things when I say I will, and that just makes me feel guilty, and I'm done with guilt! Well, it is just about getting light, and I'd better get going! Have a great day everyone! more in the....Chat Archives |
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(Tuesday, March 22nd) Struggling with web server stuff 
It was a LOOONG trip home... it felt longer than going there, and I think it was too. My flight from Chicago to San Francisco was cancelled and then next flight they put me on was an hour delayed, so instead of 2 hours in Chicago I was there for something like 5 or 6 hours.... I lost count with the time difference. But I got home safe and sound about 11:30 last night- albeit exhausted. And now I'm trying to get back into the swing of things!!!
Mooshi still has her splint, and after a check at the vet she told us it's coming off on Tuesday! Yippie for Mooshi! (I can't even imagine how itchy it must be.) But I have to say I thought she was going to be very immobile with it, but she gets around really well. Mostly she does the "knock-knock" routine and I can hear her coming, but when she is in a hurry (like running upstairs for food) she throws her splint out into the air and just runs on three legs. Quite a sight! (Haven't been able to catch that with the camera though.) She's easier to photograph when she's sleeping.