Archive of Marcia's March 4-10, 2002
Sunday, March 10, 2002
Lots of Happenings!!
There've been a lot of things going on around here lately!! Brian got busy yesterday and made me a wonderful table for my sewing!! Then today, he did the finishing touches and man, you should see this puppy!!! It is huge and it is extremely functional!!! I've got more pictures of it over on my quilting page.
I finished the runners that match the wall-hanging, too. They're gorgeous!! Brian took some pictures of those for me that are also over on my quilting page-- too cool!!
After re-designing the lay-out of the quilting page, I updated my sister's webpage today, too, as well as doing the laundry. I've still got dinner to make and pills to sort for my vitamin container for the week. Oh, the lovely tasks at hand.
Hand Quilting
This afternoon, I tried something new: I tried to sew a heart shape for quilting using my sewing machine. I found something out: unless you are very, very good at it, you can't do it! I'm not very, very good at it so I picked up a needle and thread and hand-quilted the heart shape. It didn't take long and, it looked really nice. It did pucker a bit so I went and bought a hoop and some leather tips for my finger. This is going to be easier to do than I thought although it will still be a lot of work. I'm thrilled that it is going to go as smoothly as it appears to want to go at this point!! My cousin, Barb, the culprit that got me into this, and I were talking just last night about how the machine-quilting part is our least favorite things to do. So far, I'm liking hand-quilting even though it will take longer than machine-quilting the whole thing. I will however, get the design that I want on the quilt so that's the best part!!
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Short-n-sweet but I've got dinner to make-- Brian's worked so hard, I'm trying to give him a break on the cooking this weekend! Crocheting to follow after dinner as I'm almost finished with the afghan-- I'll be glad to be finished with it as it seems like it has taken a long time to "finish".
Have a nice evening!
Saturday, March 9, 2002Missing in Action . . .
Friday, March 8, 2002Every Now and Then . . .
I started my day reading the Usual Suspects about a half hour before Brian did this morning. When he got into reading it, he turned around from his office and said-- "Guess who's got a web log?" He was surprised when I said: "William Shatner?" Well, he hadn't gotten around to Dan Bowman's page yet but the "blogger" was mentioned on another site that Brian frequents, too. Brian had a good chuckle over the fact that it was "Bill" and related a story in his post today about what was actually our first phone conversation.
Every now and then, he surprises me. I suppose that's the point: a memory, triggered by something distant and unimagined at the time. Kinda cool, huh? <Sigh>
Productive Day
I worked from home today-- yes, I was successful in cleaning off my desk last night-- and had a productive day. The RFP has been reviewed and discussed with the sales rep. I've got details to write up on Monday but I didn't have the information available to me from home today. That's the disadvantage to working from home-- not everything I need is where I need it when I need it to be wherever I need it to be.
After my work day was finished, Brian and I left to find me a table. We ended up at Home Depot and, well, let's just say . . . Tim the Tool Man Taylor is in the 'hood tomorrow!! He is going to make me A Table and, yes, as big as it is and as sturdy as it will be, it deserves capital letters!! I'm sure he'll grant pictures at some point during or after construction. It should be an interesting day.
The purpose of making this Table for me, by the way, is so that my sewing can move out of the dining room. Of course, in order to fit the table in my office, the futon has to go away but, for the next three months, we are aware that there is no one visiting us and, if someone does, the Table can be moved and tipped on its side to accommodate the futon going back into place for use. Terribly easy, really. I'm tired of not having my dining room table and of seeing the sewing out in the dining room. This will make us somewhat "normal" (to what degree, let's not push it, okay?) but, you'll have to give us notice for any kinda visit so we can move stuff back into place, okay? Okay then!!
On to it for the night-- no idea what is on the agenda!
Have a nice spontaneous evening yourself!!
Thursday, March 7, 2002Not a Good Day
Yeesh!! Long story, not enough patience in my fingers to type it all out-- you'll just have to trust me on this one, okay? Thanks.
Tomorrow, I'm going to be working from home. I have a 30 page RFP to review which will take concentration and a lack of interruption in order to concentrate. I've arranged a conference call with the sales rep at 8:30amPST; hopefully he can be on it. There are things to review and discuss before a response can be submitted. Looks pretty complicated because of the way that it is laid out. We'll have to see how that one goes. That's the most pressing issue on my plate.
I do expect to have a conference call with a customer tomorrow about a Professional Services Agreement that I sent out yesterday but I don't know that it'll be a long complicated call. The deal is for $4,000 and they insisted on using their paper. They did say that we could make changes as needed so I kept it to a minimum but there were modifications. I sent our base form along with the redline so she could see why I made the changes that I made.
Feeling Better
Tonight I did more time on the bike and took Sally for a walk-- I feel better tonight than I did last night but, I have to admit, I had to have a power nap at about 5pm. I was worn out but I do feel better now and, fortunately, it won't affect my sleeping tonight. Thankfully, naps don't-- that must be an indication that I'm not getting enough rest. Sally watched me on the bike as I watched traffic and "Miss Congeniality". We were very smart to get a TV for the garage (where my bike is) that included a VCR. I usually like to watch the news but there wasn't any on at the time that I was bicycling today.
All Work . . .
There's a new advertisement for California-- very cool-- features Clint Eastwood and Jack Nicholson amongst other "common folk". Anyway, I digress . . . That reminds me: last night, I ended up crocheting all night instead of quilting so tonight I'm going to quilt. I have finally finished cleaning my office. If I don't clean my office, I can't work from home because that's the only way I'm going to see the top of my desk to be able to work with it!! SOOO, now that that is finished, I can go have some fun, quilting-- to each their own, dearie, to each their own.
And on that note, have a nice evening!
Wednesday, March 6, 2002What a Workout!!
Sally watched me on my bicycle today-- man, she was really tired after that!! We have a leash attached to the stationary bicycle and, when I came home from work, I attached her to it and opened the garage door. She sat on her blanket while I bicycled-- between watching the traffic and the mailman and me, she was just plain ol' tuckered out by the end of it!!! Rough life being a dog, ya know?
Speaking of Tuckered Out . . .
I don't know how frequently she does it but, last night, Sally woke up and wandered out to the kitchen, drank a little water and then that was all I heard. It woke me up enough that I suggested to Brian that I would get up to see what she was up to and if she needed to go out. It was nearly 4am but, as I got out of bed, there she was in the door, wagging her tail at me and turning around to go walk to the patio door. Obviously, I was right-- she wanted out and that's why she woke up. I let her out but it took her a good 30 to 45 seconds to find someplace "suitable" (girl dogs are a bit more picky than boy dogs, I suspect) to relieve herself. Upon completion of that step of the process, she headed across the concrete part of the patio and, I thought, toward the bark which is another "facility" she sometimes uses. I waited and waited and waited. I couldn't figure out what was taking her so long!! I went over to the window on the back of the house, raised the blind and looked out to see where she was-- no Sally!
I was a little confused (in my semi-unconscious state)-- all I could think of is "How could she run away in the middle of the night when our yard is completely fenced in?" I decided, in my slipper-less state, to go see if I could find her outside. I stepped out on the step of the patio door where there is a piece of carpet to warm the pavement a bit. I leaned over and saw what I thought was Sally-- laying on the cement like it was 2 in the afternoon with a warm sun bathing her!! I called her name and her reaction was like, "Oh, okay, we can go in now-- didn't know you were waiting on me."
What a crazy dog!! Does anyone know if dogs sleep walk? I swear she was acting dopey enough that I would believe it is possible. Why was she laying down on the cement in the middle of the night?!?!?!?!? Crazy dog!! See how well she fits in here?
As a result, however, when I went back to bed, I lay there listening for her for a long time and stirring every time she moved (the licenses clink in the night). Needless to say, I'm fairly tuckered out myself right about now!!
Politics
I have to admit something: I didn't vote yesterday. I don't like voting in off-year elections-- I think that's how you get called for jury duty. The county courts look at who voted and figure that they don't have anything better to do with their time than vote and sit on juries. Anyway, that theory aside, I chose a couple of weeks ago, not to exercise one of my inalienable rights. Brian was shocked, of course, but if the theory turns out wrong, next time I'll stand next to him and vote the same way that he does-- off-year elections don't mean anything.
Most years they don't. This year is different but for others in the State of California. Well, I figure its safe for Chandra Levy to come on home-- I had one theory that her disappearance was a plot to smear and de-office Gary Condit. Well, if it was, it worked now that he won't be going back to Congress next fall. The slimeball has tasted his first defeat in a California election-- hah!!
Bill Simon is going to be running as the Republican Governor candidate. This guy is really, REALLY, REALLY far right conservative. He's one of the guys most people in California consider to be really scary-- how he got the nomination is beyond me. Oh, well, come November, when it is an off-year election but a gubernatorial election, I will be voting. If nothing else but to make sure that this guy doesn't get anywhere near Sacramento!!
Prayers, Happy Thoughts and Whatevers
I don't ask for this very often but I'd appreciate Prayers, Happy Thoughts and Whatevers for my sister. She's been having some increasing health problems and, while they have the professionals looking into it in Brazil, it is still scary for the rest of us who are waiting "with" her only being updated by emails. Next Monday, she finds out about the biopsy that she had today-- many cysts but we're all hoping, praying, happy-thoughting and whatevering for a "benign" diagnosis.
I'll keep you posted of what I hear, when I hear it and, in the meantime, thanks.
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Well, I did finish one of the runners last night as far as the quilting part. Tonight, I'll run the other one through the quilting process and probably attach the binding. The bigger of the two, which is the one that I quilted last night, needs more binding to be made up so I'll probably get that finished tonight and move on to the sewing of the binding. Will keep you posted with pictures when it is finished, of course.In the meantime, have a great evening!
Tuesday, March 5, 2002Definitely "One of Those Days"
Today was really rough-- I had two negotiation calls with people who don't understand the meaning of compromise and, frankly, that bothers me. The first guy will say one thing and then, when the document comes back, we get a different thing showing up. As an example, he agreed to a limited amount of transferability within the State of Georgia. I inserted the language on the document and when we got his revision back, it was removed. Hmmm, me thinks he speaks with forked tongue!! Anyway, as we went through things on the call today, we would agree to something and John would repeat to him what it was that he had just agreed to in the conversation to get him to confirm it. That way, if he changes it again, we can say that we all agreed to it and he confirmed his agreement. Of course, that and a quarter won't get us a cup of coffee at the courthouse but, hey, its a gentlemen's thing, right? Riiiiiiiiight!!!
The other customer just plain enjoys arguments. When all was said and done on that one, the agreement is no longer for any other purchases outside of the purchase that is currently taking place. They cannot buy future product on the agreement that is in place as of the execution today. Makes perfect sense, right? They spend days and who knows how much money on "of counsel" attorneys fees for this contract and they can't use it again!! Brilliant!!
Loss of Inspiration??
I seem to be in a holding pattern since returning to the Weight Watchers Program after the first of the year (and, yes, I realize that is now two months ago!!!). I'm disappointed as can be expected, needless to say. So, I am trying to find my muse, as they say again-- my inspiration to keep on the Program and, I know I will find it but the determination and persistence has to be there on my part. I've got to make myself start riding my bike after work-- taking the dog for a walk, especially an old dog, is not as challenging as it could be or as challenging as a bicycle ride is at speed for me. Even if I do the stationary bike, I'm doing better than just walking the dog. But, the biggie is to make myself ride either bicycle immediately after coming home from work. That's the kicker for me-- the part that's hard to do!! Once again, however, I am going to persist and maintain the good fight . . . again!!
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I ended up crocheting last night for as long as my eyes would stay uncrossed. Tonight I might actually be able to make it to the quilting of at least one of the runners-- if I'm lucky!!
Anyway, as usual, thanks for coming by and have a nice evening!
Monday, March 4, 2002Is it Friday yet?
Brian and I took Sally for her walk this afternoon after we got home from work. We went on the same walk that we have gone on a dozen times, in the last two weeks. Right now, I'm exhausted. My eyes feel fogged over and sleepy and...how am I going to make it until 10pm? ARGH!!!
I was thinking of doing some quilting-- yes, I got the runners both laid out along with the quilt-- but I think my eyes are too far gone for that. I'm looking at probably doing some crocheting-- I've got four of the border colors done with only two or three left. Then, I'll have to block it and it'll be off in the mail to my nephew!! Okay, so I'll probably end up about a week late for his birthday (which is today-- Happy Birthday, Joel!!) but I tried!!
The important thing is the legacy and that's what counts.
Deep in Thought
I also appear to be deep in thought-- not sure about what but it seems like that's how I feel. Hmmm, there are a lot of things happening right now so maybe that's part of it. We'll have to see how everything shakes out, eh?
I've got some things to work on for myself over the next few months. That's one of the reasons that I quilt and crochet: it gives me a chance to think, really hard, about stuff that I need to decide or think about really hard. Interesting developments, that's for sure-- nary a dull moment at our house. I would welcome it, however, I think if I had a chance to try a dull moment for say a week or so. Not necessarily permanent, really.
Deal-Breakers
Well, I've got a negotiation going-- badly. The customer doesn't want to provide us any assurances for how and to whom they are planning to disclose our confidential information. I don't like that-- its my job not to like that, needless to say. They don't like that I don't like that-- whoops, sorry-- whose "Confidential Information" is it again? Oh, yeah, that's right: OUR Confidential Information. So, between that clause and the "Limitation of Liability", their of counsel attorney has decided that he is going to relay to me that these two issues are the deal-breakers for his clients. Amazing, isn't it? Those are our deal-breakers, too!! Cool!!! We agree on something!!!
Yeah, I know-- this deal is supposed to be finished by tomorrow but we have made all of the concessions that we can make on those particular issues. We'll have to see how that one shakes out, too, eh?
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I'm off to try to hold my eyes open-- have a nice evening!
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