Archive 2007
Musings of
My Mind
Observation
and Commentary from Marcia L. Bilbrey
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January
9, 2008
Taking a break . . . I'll be back eventually.
Know anyone who wants to buy a website? Check it out here!
December 5, 2007
It's Snowing!!
And I've received my first "Safe at Work" call from Brian. Unfortunately, there are other drivers who don't know or remember how to drive in the snow that will be making another phone call this morning-- to their insurance company. Brian reports seeing a LOT of accidents on the short commute to work. Oh, well, they'll be used to the snow by March-- when it ends!!
November 16, 2007
It's A Boy!!
But then we knew that, didn't we? On Monday, November 12, Jordan Christopher was born to my nephew, Joel's wife, Lynne. He was 12 days early but that's because he was causing complications in the pregnancy as babies are sometimes likely to do. The good news is that when he was born, the complications went away and all are home and not sleeping as I write. Lovely.
Shower Invitations
My sister, Susan and I are giving my niece, Faye, a wedding shower in late December. I'm going to fly in for less than 24 hours (why, oh, why do I do this to myself?!?!?) and we'll have the shower. The invitations are in process of being prepared and I'll eventually get around to mailing them out at some point before the first of December.
Big Changes
Big changes are happening in the work place-- I'll tell you when I can but, suffice it to say that I am a happy camper. That should suffice, eh?
November 6, 2007
Fair's Fair!!
No, this isn't going to become poliblog here either but, since Brian got to give to his candidate, RuPaul, I gave to my candidate as well. After all, fair is fair!! (Libertarians as Republicans-- sends a chill down my spine!)
No, we don't talk politics in this house-- we're smarter than that!! Thankfully, that also applies to house guests/friends as well. I've long since stopped talking politics with the Thompsons.
Showers in December
As I had mentioned another time, my niece Faye is getting married. My sister Sue and I are going to give her a shower in December. It was originally thought that Sue would be the actual hostess and I would give from a distance but, over the weekend, she begged me to come and I conceded. After checking with my boss (after all that is the last week of the end of the quarter), I decided that "my weekends are my own" for the most part and will be flying out to Michigan in the wee hours on Saturday morning, arriving with an hour or so to spare before the shower and then, leaving on Sunday morning to get back home at a decent hour to finish off any work that comes in over the weekend. Whew!! Another one of those quickie trips-- less than 24 hours on the ground!! Well, at least I won't have to lug suitcases around with me!!
November 2, 2007
Boring Is As Boring Does
I would write here but, I figure George W. has a little more time in office and he can be the one to help you fall asleep at night.
I've been reading-- one of the freebies I picked up at Malice. Now I know why there were so many copies of it on the trade-in table . . . By the same token, I also know why Sandra Parshall won the Agatha-- well deserved, indeed. But then I like psychological thrillers-- can't write them but I like to read them. She now ranks third and, for a new comer, she's in good company:
Laura Lippman
Edna Buchanan
Sandra Parshall
Good company, indeed.
The children in the neighborhood are not stupid-- they know what it means when the porchlights are out at a house on Hallowe'en. I heard some teenages but I never did see any kids in costume-- maybe they went elsewhere this year? Whatever . . .
Work continues . . . <sigh> . . . long story there. Maybe some day. Does anyone know how to bring Judy out of retirement? If you do, please email today!! (Who knows, I could come up with a prize for you!)
That's all for now-- have a good 'un!
October 16, 2007
Umpteen Gazillion
Yup, this should've been my parent's wedding anniversary and they would've been married umpteen gazillion years ago. It's funny how you remember dates, even those not used anymore, isn't it? Oh, well . . . as if I need another reason, I'll think of them today and remember them as always.
Memorial
My husband had mentioned a sister-in-law passing last month. Jewl Ann Spoelhof was my brother-in-law's sister and I was proud and pleased to have known her. Jewl was a . . . gem-- it sounds trite but believe me, she really was a gem of a person. At this site, the ABWE, for whom she worked for many years before developing ovarian cancer, has posted a memorial of her career in their service. It is interesting reading and, as I said, she is a wonderful person who will be missed.
My Baby
(Busy day here, huh?)
In case
you've been wondering, here's a picture of my "Baby" (aka, "Lorenna",
when she's giving directions, and "Red", when she's gotta get me
through traffic and "Ticket Magnet", when she's gotta get me through
traffic UNdetected). Click on the picture and it gets bigger, of
course.
Needless to say, it looks better when I've got the top down and am sitting in it, driving down the road but, ya can't have everyting all the time-- gotta pay for the darned thing, too!!
That about covers it! See ya!
October 10, 2007
Yes, Yes!!
I'm over the bronchitis with only a bit of a cough left, now and then-- more like normal people cough from time to time. Mostly I'm suffering from computer burn-out from the end of the quarter. Bear with me-- it can only get better, right?
September 23, 2007
Hmmm . . .
As Barbara Thompson often says of Bob Thompson, "He doesn't get out much," and neither do I which is why I'm curious as to how I got . . . BRONCHITIS?!?!?!? I get out even less than Bob does so what does that say about me??
Okay, so it starts out as a cold but I didn't really even have all that much of cold . . . Monday I had a fever and a scratchy throat, Tuesday a fever, Wednesday a fever, Thursday a fever, Friday a fever, Saturday a fever and a trip to the hospital's ER room to find out what was going on. Even I know that fever's don't last more than five days normally. YEESH!!
So I'm resting yesterday (after getting back from the hospital) and today but still doing laundry as it will be less strenuous to do from the first floor living room than from the second floor office.
I hate being sick . . .
September 9, 2007
What did I miss??
Wow-- it feels like a long time from the 28th to the 9th!! Okay, so it was but, YEESH, it would be nice if it didn't feel like that, ya know?
As usual, we had a great time at the Thompsons. Barbara was diplomatic enough not to mention our golf game. Sunday morning we played the back nine at one of the golf courses that she and her dad play. Since it had been ten years since I last played, nine years since I'd been on a driving range and my clubs had been sitting in North Carolina for the last nearly two years, I played horribly!! No doubt about that! Barbara is as good as golf as she doesn't say she is-- quite impressive as a matter of fact. And Dutch? Yes, he was there and well, Dutch was lots of fun, coaching me on the putting greens and he, too, can really wallop a tiny golf ball.
Lesson not learned however and as of today, I'm a Class C member of the Bowie Country Club. That gets me some discounts and eligibility for greens but mostly, it gets me out there practicing cuz I really do ENJOY golfing! So between that and all of the other hobbies I have, yes, I will be kept busy and from napping on weekends anymore.
I just returned, as a matter of fact, from the driving range-- irons only-- and the only thing I can say is that I'm already much improved over last weekend. Play with Barbara again? No way!! She's TOO good!! Actually, since Brian has expressed a DISinterest in golfing, I probably will go out by myself from time to time and, frankly, that's enough for me. I just like to hit the ball around and see how far it goes.
The drapes for the bedroom didn't turn out the way I'd hoped-- I ran a quick panel yesterday afternoon and both Brian and I disliked them immensely. So, it'll be back to the drawing board in a way-- in the next weekend or two, we'll go and see if we can find read made drapes we like or fabric we like for me to make drapes. We've had naked windows for six months now so we'll survive a bit longer.
That about catches me up for awhile-- I'll be back soon-ish.
August 28, 2007
My Job??
So, I had a sales rep call me today: "Why are you asking for all of those documents?" he asked in response to emails saying that I had all of the Parent Company's documents and would begin review of them ASAP. At first I wasn't sure what he meant so I asked him, "What do you mean why am I reviewing the documents? That's what I do to make sure that there aren't any 'future effect' clauses that will affect our revenue recognition."
He paused significantly at this point, "I don't have a quote worked up yet. How did you know about the deal?"
"Oh, that," I responded, "Your boss mentioned the customer in the Ops Call on Monday of last week so I thought I'd round up the documents BEFORE we get to the end of the quarter next month."
"Oh," he replied, "Why?"
"Oh, you know-- just being PROactive."
"Wow, I'm not used to that in contracts and legal," he told me.
"That's why you left our competitor anymore-- you couldn't get deals done and we do." Of course, the competitor's stock is tanking too so it's kinda fun for me. I like looking good at my job!! :)
August 25, 2007
BIG NEWS!!!
My niece, Faye (the one who was here back in June), is
Are we happy?? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kurt is a great guy and will be a fun addition to the family-- great sense of humor (yes, especially when it comes to the "appropriate" length of courtships!) and will be a good husband, provider and yes, eventually FATHER of their children!!
They're aiming for a late February wedding so more as things develop!!
August 22, 2007
Friends
The nice thing about having friends in other time zones is that they catch things like . . . other time zones and/or months, as it were. Apparently, I was feeling how long it really took to make the bedspread pictured below and labeled the date as "April 21, 2007". Thanks to David Peacock, my friend in the UK, I've now corrected that-- thanks, David!! Hello to Jenny and the Kids!!
If I didn't have to work to support my "habits" (quilting, sewing, machine embroidering, mystery reading/buying), I probably could've gotten it done in a month but that, in real life, is wishful thinking!!
Thanks for the compliments on the bedspread-- I do appreciate it and, I have to admit it looks really, REALLY nice on the bed!
August 21, 2007
As Brian mentioned on his site on Sunday, I have finished THE BEDSPREAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was a lot of work but with the long arm quilting machine, it went a lot faster than it would have with my regular sewing machines!!
Below are two images: the first shows the whole thing and the second shows a little of the detail on the quilting and cording.
<Still breathing sighs of relief . . . >
August 16, 2007
Harry Potter - 5
We went to see the Harry Potter movie ("Order of the Phoenix") last night! Yes, indeedy, my hubby came home and asked me out on a date!! Rather than play coy and put him off claiming to have other plans, I accepted. I really enjoyed the movie a lot as did Brian-- after reading the books, it's nice to see the people in person, along with all of the mystical creatures. Seeing the movie last night also helped clear up the fact that "Kingsley" had been in Book 5 as well as 7 and for all I know, 6. With as many books as I read, it's hard to keep them all straight which is why I've decided that I'm going to re-read the series next.
My recent reads have all been mysteries, of course-- everything from Janet Evanovich's "Lean Mean Thirteen" (which contains NOTHING about the title, I must warn you) to Jan Burke's "Kidnapped", along with some lesser-known authors. After reading some of the heavier mysteries (such as "Kidnapped"), I thought it was time for something a little lighter so I read the continuation of Jennifer Chiaverini's quilting series, "The Quilter's Homecoming". As always, her writing is vivid and delightful! I'll save it for Barbara Thompson to read before I send it to my cousin who will hang onto it for several months before returning it.
"Kidnapped" by the way is a part of the Irene Kelly series that Burke writes. I hadn't read any of her books before but, again, this is one that I obtained via the freebies from Malice Domestic. I'm really glad they give out freebies as I've found several new authors that I am enjoying reading!
Anyway, the bedspread is almost finished and with a long weekend coming up, I thought reading the Potter series would be a good thing. That I can think of, there's only one or two things I _have_ to do over the Labor Day weekend so I'll be able to relax quite a bit.
August 13, 2007
Calmer Waters
Yes, I have calmed down-- the weekend went fabulously with the shower and dinner out on Saturday. In church on Sunday morning, in addition to hearing my lovely niece, Faye, sing for the first time (SHE HAS A _**FABULOUS**_ VOICE!!!!), I got to SEE one of my cousins for the first time in 25 years. We've emailed back-n-forth but Carol and I haven't seen each other since 1983 or so (okay, so that's 24 years-- big deal!!) Faye pointed her out to me and I made a dash for her after church-- we screamed, we hugged, we cried but we couldn't talk long since the rest of us had to catch lunch and get me to the airport. Still it was great to SEE her!!
Back to work today but I'm dragging-- I'd love to go to sleep instead of working, let me tell ya!!
August 8, 2007
I'm VERY Angry Right Now!!
I have had people in the house, in the yard, in the house, in the yard, on the roof, in the yard and yet again, in the yard for the last month and I am SICK TO DEATH OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want the landlord to start taking care of things because I'm VERY sick of doing it myself!!!!
This morning will hopefully be the last straw for a very, VERY, VERRYYYY long time: The people that Verizon sent to DIG and BURY the NEW line, DUG UP the OLD line and BROKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had NO (as in NONE, ZERO, ZILCH and NILLO) internet or phone for over two hours!!!!!!!!!!! I called the smart Verizon service guy first and left him a message and then I called his boss and left her a message and, needless to say, I wasn't very happy with Verizon this morning for hiring an IDIOT company to do the work!!!
Just last week, Verizon PROMISED me that there would be a <little> interruption of service when they switched the lines but, as I'm sure they NOW know, they were not aware that they had IDIOTS working for them who dug up, untaped and BROKE the FiOS lines entirely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Someday, I hope to calm down but this is tough-- the good news is that I'm going away this weekend for three days for my nephew's wife's baby shower and, when I come back, I hope to find that I will BE ALONE DURING THE DAY NEXT WEEK, except for Lucy and Molly and Brian if he gets sick or the end of the world happens outside of our yard-- it feels like it's already happened inside our yard (and house and roof) so now we only have to worry about the elements we don't WANT to control!!!!!!!!!!
July 27, 2007
We Asked For This, Right??
Cripes!! We _*PAID*_ for it!! Yes, folks, the roofing has begun. The main part of the roof is this morning and, between the nailing, pounding, scraping, shaking of the house and my nerves, and the people up-n-down ladders, my nerves are completely frazzled, my monitors are shaking, and of course, I'm getting a headache!! What a shock, eh?
Call the Landlord!!!
July 26, 2007
No Spoilers Here!!
What can I say? I laughed, I cried . . . having finished the EPIC of J. K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" last night. Good stuff-- she can write, can't she? 'Nuf said. I've purposely been avoiding all of the Harry Hooplah on the web news stuff because I didn't want to know what happened. Now I'll go check that out.
Other than that, work continues, roofing is afoot-- someplace-- but at least the dogs won't be held in the basement prinson until the roofers actually DO show up!! They didn't like waiting around yesterday so I still haven't put them in the basement today. It's nearly eleven am as I write this and, although Brian and I have both made several calls, we have shingles but no one to rip up the old and lay down the new.
Hopefully . . . soon.
July 21, 2007
What Can I Say?
Not much, actually. Just busy as usual with work and reading and sewing and, did I mention I have a new boss/supervisor/manager? No? Well, he's an attorney. 'Nuf said? Good, I thought it might be sufficient.
President Bush had his five year colonoscopy yesterday. They found five polyps but can't figure out where his head could've lodged itself. While he was under, Cheney was "In Charge". Did you notice that gas went $.05 a gallon or was that just me-- yeah, a Retirement Tax for Dick. Don't even get me started!
Reading
I've read a couple of books by Cynthia Baxter of late. She does a fabulous job with descriptions and dialogue. The current two books I have were purchased used but I'll switch to buying from a bookstore now that I know she's worth the money for her to get a royalty.
Speaking of Good Books, James R. Benn has a book out called "Billy Boyle". It's part of a series that he'll be writing with the next book entitled "The First Wave". Based in World War II, I expected this to be a snoozer of a book (it was in the "FREE" books given out in a bag at Malice Domestic). I was DEAD WRONG!!
This book is well written and keeps pace with current trends, i.e., early 40s speech, dialogue and attitudes. MANY were the FOOLS who put this book on the trade-in table-- they're missing a GREAT story!!
Anyway, that's about all for me-- I'm still quilting the bedspread and,currently, eating lunch so I need to finish that and get back to it. I'd like to have the bedspread done by September, at the latest-- and PREFERABLY _*much*_ earlier!!
July 9, 2007 - Update at 12:00pm
Ketchup Time
No, not the condiment-- I was being funny. Okay, don't laugh-- it's up to you! I do, however, want to explain my absence which has been justified, I assure you.
Monday, June 25, started out with a roar and ended with a bang-- I think. I spent around 13 hours working on various and sundry contracts. Tuesday, January 26, started out with a bang and ended with a thump-- me, falling over after yet another 13-plus hour day. Wednesday, June 27, started wtih a thump (me, falling out of bed) and ended with a burst of contract requirements but I finally threw in the towel at 9pm. Thursday, June 28, started out with a burst of energy and ended with a clash-n-clatter that I can only describe as horrendous!! Friday, June 29, started out with . . . nothing! I don't know why but there was virtually nothing for me to deal with on Friday. Talk about weird!! Most of the things that were worked on earlier in the week were finished and waiting for execution by the customers which leaves me wondering why the sales reps, most of whom are from the "Parent Company", can't be better prepared.
Yes, I hate to say it but I am prejudiced toward my own sales reps. They are prepared and planned-through on their presentations and are usually proactive at getting me involved in the earlier stages of the sales process. Parent Company's sales reps don't seem to work that way though and, needless to say, it is exceedingly frustrating. The Good News is that the frustration is shared with my job counterparts at Parent Company.
I spent June 30 and July 1 walking around as though I was practicing my deer-in-the-headlights look for Halloween. Okay, I also did some sewing but shell-shocked is the only way to describe the emotional feeling you're left with after the work-week I had-- maybe I should put in for PTSD and see what I can get for benefits.
Last week being the first week of the quarter felt like more of the same from the previous week. Monday was bad but I actually worked a 13 hour day on Tuesday! I couldn't believe it! (Excluding time taken out at the dealership for my car which has been explained to you already) (Wednesday, the Holiday, I sewed and I'll tell you more about that in a minute.) Thursday and Friday were much the same again with nutso sales reps from Parent Company ("Oh, you mean, I have to give them that document-- no choice, huh?" "Not unless you'd like to hear from the Company's general counsel and, I don't think you want to hear from her.") My new boss is out this week on vacation-- he'd been with Parent Company for three years before transferring over-- so it should be lots of fun for me, huh? Yeah, I can hardly wait, too-- NOT!!!
Getting back to the sewing . . . I may have mentioned that my sister in Maine, Nancy, had asked me to make an awning for her pontoon boat. Well, she sent the existing awning (what there was left of it) to me for use as my example and, using the Sunbrella fabric that had been an intentional "left over" from my furniture cushion days, I made her a new awning. The size? Approximately 10'x13' . . . yes, I won't be making anything for her again soon! She's worn out her sewing machine welcome for awhile-- okay, not really but I sure don't want to talk awnings with her!! I finished it on Wednesday and sent it off to her on Thursday. It's going by ground shipment so she probably won't get it until today or tomorrow so we'll all have to wait for pictures of it on her boat.
I told her that if anyone asked if I would make them an awning to tell them it would cost at least a $1,000 PLUS materials so they should re-think and go to the new style of awning and frame (which run about the same price).
I love her, she's my sister but WHEW!!!
On Friday this past week, to add to the bedlam, by the way, I went to the nearest Parent Company office and had my computer upgraded. What was supposed to take about 1-2 hours ended up taking nearly 4 hours so I wasn't a happy camper who was made even more unhappy because the guy who insisted on installing a new Office update didn't know how to operate/set-up/fix the Office update. Oh, Joy! Yes, I'm married to a former reluctant Microsoft systems administrator but, his weekend was a bit too busy to worry about my computer problems. What I don't figure out today during the day, I'll ask him about tonight . . . hopefully, I can remember and am not a blithering idiot by the time he gets home.
Guess that's all for now-- the deer-in-the-headlights look is beginning to ease from my face so I may be back posting here more frequently . . . ya never know!!
12:00pm
Guess what? Someone threw a bottle rocket or firecracker in our mailbox mulch area last night or early this morning and I put the fire out!! I called Brian to let him know and then thought I should report it to the County Police. I called the non-emergency line, reported that I put out the fire and thought they'd send a cop over to take the left-over bottle rocket/firecracker remains for fingerprinting-- if that was still possible. NO, NO, NO, NOPE!! They sent a FIRETRUCK which is always almost immediately followed thereby an ambulance!!! YEESH!!
Turns out I hadn't put it out completely so they pressure-hosed it (with an extinguisher-sized pressure thingy) some more and put more water on it!! Then we all stood around talking for awhile-- turns out the chief-guy in the truck lives in the neighborhood so he was really friendly and very helpful.
When I updated Brian, we agreed that I would continue to water down the area all afternoon, just to be on the safe side. As the fire folk said, if he hadn't been watering that area regularly, who knows how far the fire could've spread!! Double-YEESH!!!
June 20, 2007
Quarter End Gears Up
As may be expected, between work gearing up and visiting sister/niece last week and weekend, I again didn't post for awhile. Some things I have found interesting:
1. My niece (Faye) is beautiful, intelligent and much more financially stable than I was at her age.
Now, that can be seen as good or bad. I had the looks then and most of the intelligence but she definitely is more together financially than I was then so I guess that part is good.
2. I now know how to treat in-grown toenails, having learned the hard way.
Not FUN!!
3. There's a reason that I have my pills set up for morning, with breakfast and night time, before bed.
I can't remember if I've taken the antibiotic the doctor gave me for my infected toenail during the day!!
4. When they say "Allow 4 to 6 weeks for deliver . . . " it really means it'll probably get there next week but we want our butts covered.
Brian got his truck financed through Toyota and my car was financed through them as well. In fact, probably because he went through Toyota I got my car also financed through Toyota. They gave us a reward for financing two vehicles with them-- I suppose it's to make up for the exorbitant (it seems like anyway) interest rates. Last week, I chose a JVC Portable DVD player which was supposed to take 4 to 6 weeks to be received but, I got it today. Cool!! [If nothing else, Brian gets a new toy to play with!]
June 8, 2007
I Did Not Know That
Mary Chervenak is a fabulous writer!! I've met Mary a couple of times when visiting the Thompsons in North Carolina and, yes, she has a sparkling personality to go with her sparkling eyes but I've just been reading her blog from the Blue Planet Run and she's fabulous!! What fun and, yes, I have to admit that I'm a little jealous, even if she is running, to be in Ireland. I would love to go for a two week jaunt with my hubby to the British Isles-- I'm really REALLY jealous!!
Been Busy
As you may have heard by reading Brian's page, our friends, Pat & Nathan were here visiting last weekend. Much fun was had by Pat & I as we went shopping in Bowie Town Center, despite the rain coming down as we walked from store to store. Shopping was our shared hobby in California and we found out Sunday that we hadn't lost our ability to do it in Maryland in an accomplished manner, as well. While Brian worked, the three of us went to Baltimore's Inner Harbor and walking around the area, grabbing a late lunch and then visiting her childhood home when we left downtown.
Busy Busy Busy!!!
I realized last night that I'm booked for every weekend through the end of the month-- thankfully, the last weekend, I'll have a respite from socializing!! This weekend is the gambling trip for Linda Rose's birthday on the 15th; next weekend my sister Karen returns with her daughter to take the oak cabinets back to Michigan; and the following weekend, my friend, Jennifer, visits from Atlanta overnight before going into Virginia on Sunday for business on Monday. WHEW!!
Nary a dull moment here!!
May 29, 2007
You'll Know
If you ever get to see the bedspread I'm making, hopefully you'll never be able to tell which was Side 1 and which was Side 2 by looking at it. Hopefully, eventually, I'll forget myself. Yeesh!! The second side, obviously, Side 2, is going much easier than the first side did with the smaller panel's quilting.
So far (cross your fingers and knock on wood) I haven't had to rip anything out and I'm almost finished with this panel!!
Then, only one panel to go and, oh, yes, the sides of the bed spred . . . and then . . . sewing it together, complete with trim and then, hemming what will seem like MILES of hem on it.
Yes, someday it will be finished . . . SOMEDAY.
May 26, 2007
News!!
Our friends, Pat & Nathan, who have not visited us EVER since we've lived in Maryland are coming to visit next weekend!!! YAYYYY!!!!!! I am, needless to say, very excited about that!!! My email response to her the first time she told me of their visit read something like "OH BOY!!!" repeated about a 100 to 1,000 times-- yes, I'm excited!!
In other news, I've also been reading (beside quilting and working and ripping out the quilting and . . . ). I've already finished Laura Lippman's latest as well as Nancy Martin's-- good stuff, both of 'em!! Now I'll probably start in alphabetical order from my To Be Read shelf otherwise I've got too many to choose from to figure out who should be read next!!
More as things develop-- time for another round of quilting!
May 22, 2007
SOOOOO Boring!!
What am I doing? Well, I'm quilting the bedspread and I'm working and I'm ripping out the quilting on the bedspread and I'm working and then I'm reading some and then I'm quilting the bedspread and I'm working and then I'm ripping out the quillting on the bedspread and then . . .
You get why I haven't posted now, right? Good!!
May 16, 2007
Huh?
What's going on? In the last fifteen minutes, I've had at least 10 flyovers of military aircraft!! I hate that!! This is one of the most disturbing things about living in this area-- any moment could be the beginning of World War III.
Yeesh!!!
Other than that, nothing new and exciting is happening-- oh, there is one thing that I can tell you: I'm going to be a Great Aunt!! Yes, I know-- I'm already a GREAT Aunt but now my nephew, Joel and his wife, Lynne, are expecting their first baby, due in November. YAYYYY!!! I can't wait to find out if it's a boy or a girl so I can start making boy-things or girl-things (especially RUFFLES!!)!!
May 14, 2007
Just Another Day
Nothing new and exciting really. I did forget to mention that, after I get off of work, I go back to my fabric room and quilt the bedspread for an hour on the frame and "Big Bertha" machine. So far, I'm pretty sure I've got two-thirds of the top of the bedspread finished. FINALLY!! (I'm sure Brian's yelling that from his office as he reads this!)
Next big step is quilt the "side" fabric on the big machine and then I'll just have the panel inserts to do on the top part of the spread. Then, of course, comes the really hard part-- sewing ALL of those pieces together, including cord trim. Oh, yeah, that'll be fun. (EEK!!)
Other than that, there's not much happening but I said I'd try to write every day-- here I am and there you are. SEE YA!!
May 13, 2007
Not to Worry!!
Just a minor break in the action-- nothing major.
Yesterday, I was hit with a cleaning bug-- first, I was Red Lorenna and then I started on my office. It occurred to me that I haven't cleaned out the shelves of my office since the day I moved my stuff into the furniture that Brian built for me THREE YEARS AGO!!! Needless to say, there's been a lot of crap built up and I've been cleaning it out. In between there, I took a nap-- something I don't do very often anymore.
Today, after groceries, I rested . . . remember I washed my car yesterday? Yeah, well, it's been a long time since I washed a car. The back of my legs hurt but my back hurts quite a bit. In between comfortable spells brought on because of Ibuprophen, I've made tuna salad, chicken salad, lettuce salad, blueberry sauce and a couple of other things for food this week. Should be a tasty week!!
Now that all the chores are done and my back's feeling okay, I'm going to try to finish up my office-- I only got about half way yesterday before I gave up. I've got to finished so I can find somewhere to display my Mother's Day card from Lucy and Molly-- such good dogters!!
May 11, 2007
Guilt
Nothing major to report but I have this feeling that if I don't post SOMETHING, I'll get yelled at by someone . . . who could that be? Hmm . . . there's probably a line going down the block at this point.
So it appears to be doctor appointment season here this week, last week, next week. I felt so guilty about the time out of the "office" that I took a sick day today, figuratively speaking, to compensate the company for the time off. My new boss, Paul, said I didn't need to but there comes a point when my conscience won't let me sleep if I'm out of the office too much.
Yes, I've got a new boss. A replacement for Judy, after a month and a half. Nice guy or so he appears and he's an attorney which, despite some people's thoughts, I like to work for because I can learn stuff from them. Never too old to learn, as I've heard said. When I get old, I'll be sure to remember it.
Kickin' and screamin' into old age (as evidenced by Lorenna), I'm never going to get there.
May 10, 2007
Oh, ARGH!!!!
I didn't realize it has been THAT long since I've posted!! Yeesh, no wonder even Bob Thompson chided me the other day!!
Okay, where to start?
Well, first since the last time I posted, I went through a quarter/fiscal year end. TONS of work to do but still not enough to make me incredibly happy. I love being busy but it seems that I'm just not as busy as I'd like to be, even at the end of the quarter.
Yes, I've mentioned this to my management and I think they're working on it. For four hours each day, I have the entire U.S. as my territory now. The other four hours, there is coverage of the Western Region but, as our "direct" work slows down, I'm pretty sure I'll end up bieng the lone survivor, especially since the other person is a contractor.
There are always other irons in the fire, as I'm sure you understand.
In mid-April, I went to New York (Islandia, on Long Island) for three days of training at the home offices. Of course, I got sick again but that was because I'd insisted on putting the top down on my new CONVERTIBLE when we drove it home on Saturday!!
Yes, I have a beauty of a car-- my dream car, really. I have always wanted a convertible and I've finally got one!! I wanted a convertible in ANY color other than silver, too, and got that-- it's RED!!! Beautiful!! "We" (in the collective sense) have fun tooling down the highway but I do try to stay within the speed limit as I realize that I'm driving a "Ticket Magnet".
Linda Rose and I drove to Paducah in it along with Lorenna (as in Lorenna McKennitt), the voice from the navigation system. My sister in Brasil told me I couldn't have a car and just name it "Red" but had to go with something that seemed more fitting, i.e., she's red so she must be Irish, therefore her name is . . .
Oh, well, it worked for us in the conversation at the time. Most often, I end up calling her "Red" but occasionally, I remember to call her "Lorenna". Either name fits her beautifully and I enjoy riding around in it!!
Moving on . . . after Paducah came Malice Domestic. I'd never been and became so excited last year when I signed up that I emailed Barbara immediately and thus, we went to it together this weekend. Tons of fun and lots of stuff learned that will help with my own writing . . . mystery writing, that is. (Yes! Yes! I know-- I know!!! I'll do better here or at least try REALLY hard to write here more often, okay? Okay!!)
My usual shelf and a half of To Be Read books has grown to THREE shelves!! Also, I volunteered to be a "reader" for the Agatha awards-- gotta make sure the books nominated are really cozies!!
This pretty much brings me up to date. Hubby is home for the week. He's been working so hard that last night he: 1. Forgot to turn on the alarm. 2. Didn't lock the door to the garage. 3. Didn't put water in the coffee pot. 4. Left his camera out over night (!!). I told him he should take the day off but, you know him . . . he's still out plant shopping!!
Gotta go and get some work done-- I'll post again . . . soonish, I swear!!
March 19, 2007
Not Much
There's
nothing much to "report" except that Brian got busy the moment he got
home (well, okay, it was Saturday but . . . ) and finished up my
frame-- see picture to the left and right (hopefully, if I can figure
out how to put it up there).
Then,
the next picture is the bedspread top for our new bed-- gorgeous, isn't
it?
March 16, 2007
He's Back!!!
Well, almost . . . his plane landed in Newark, just barely from what he tells me. There was snow on the ground and theirs was the last flight that landed. His connector to BWI is NOT flying out soooooo, you put eight engineers into that situation, what do they do? (No, silly, they don't build giant heater to melt the snow!!) They rent a car and drive home. He'll call later with a rendezvous spot for me to get him but at least, HE'S ALMOST HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 15, 2007
Internet and Timing Issues
On Tuesday evening, Brian and I chatted for a bit but he was sooooo tired that the internet decided that we'd talked long enough. We got disconnected and so he went to sleep and I went back to what I was doing, in addition to feeling sorry for him.
For Wednesday, the only time he had to "call" me was when I was on a business conference call. Then he had dinner with a bunch of people, again, at the house of one of their vice presidents in Tel Aviv. Must be NICE to have a house suitable for entertaining 60+ people!! Yeesh!! I can't imagine!!
I got an email from him this morning letting me know he was alive, going to have a busy day and then hit the planes for a ride home, arriving tomorrow morning. I know _I_ can't wait for him to get home!!
Whew!! It's been a long week for both of us!
March 12, 2007
Tired and Whacked!!
Brian and I were able to connect yesterday!! I happened to think, around 11am, that it was 5pm in Tel Aviv and maybe his meetings were finished and/or taking a break so I logged onto Skype. There he was-- beeping me, too!! YEAHHHHH!!!!! I could hear him, not see him but at least it was him. He's tired-- I could hear it in his voice-- between not sleeping on the plane and having his brain assaulted with facts and HR propaganda, he's gonna be a tired puppy once he gets home.
Speaking of puppies, Lucy and Molly are good. When I was on Skype with Brian yesterday, they barked "Hello" to him.
12:05pm - Just spoke with Brian again. It is GOOD to see his face!! The camera on me is off to the side so he just sees the side of my face cuz I'm always looking at him.
All is good and all is well-- even if I miss him terribly.
March 11, 2007
A Bit of Frustration!!
Unlike when I go on business trips and can call Brian from my cell phone, he is in Israel on this business trip and his cell phone (neither personal nor business) will work there. NOT GOOD!! We set up Skype but I'm beginning to think that isn't going to work either!! I'll be home more today than I was yesterday however and will be close enough that FULL VOLUME on the ring will make it audible (hopefully) from any room upstairs.
To that end, I'm going to start cutting and sewing the bedspread today. I bought some foam for wrapping around a wood box-like design that I finally decided I wanted to do with the windows in the bedroom. I picked up some different fabric to use for one of the strips on the bedspread. The more I looked at the existing piece of fabric that we had, the more I decided it was too heavy a piece of fabric. We'll find good use for it, I'm sure but I like the fake suede that I bought.
Well, I'm going to go take Lucy for a walk so I'd better get dressed! (Molly will get a walk tonight!)
I'll let you know if Brian and I are able to hook up!
March 8, 2007
Not bad, eh?
Twice in one week!! Yeah, possibly a new record for me-- at least for the new year!
New Worst Customer
I had a negotiation yesterday with the new record and title holder of "Worst Customer in Negotiations". Yeesh, the guy was a REAL JERK (as opposed to the fake kind)! Even the area director agreed with me on that one!
New Bedroom!
New Paint, New Carpet (already initiated, thanks to Molly) and New Bed. Same hubby and a new bedmate-- Molly!! LOTS of room.
March 3, 2007
Sorry 'Bout That
Between traveling and assorted and sundry other things, not the least of which is WORK, I've been otherwise distracted from writing and posting here in general. Such is life . . .
On a happier note, I'm absolutely BLASTED at work-- I'm so busy that one night, I worked from 8:30am to 9:30pm with a small break around 7pm! I was covering all regions except Europe but including Singapore. I had a call with a contracts person in Singapore at 9pm on Tuesday and then signed off-- FINALLY!!
This month it's just going to be more of the same so your patience is appreciated. Thanks!
February 9, 2007
Lost Interest
I guess J.J. Abrams, as far as I'm concerned anyway, screwed up. I didn't watch "Lost" on Wednesday night, nor do I intend to watch it for the rest of the season. I got sick of waiting for it-- I have better things to do. I'll wait until it comes out on DVD (probably July or August) and watch all the episodes at one sitting. Then I'll be done with it for another year.
Stupid Is As Stupid Does
Yesterday morning, I took my morning pills. An hour later, I looked at my morning pill box set up and my morning pills were still in the box.
Ooops, I guess that explains my dizziness! I'd taken my night time pills, including the AmbienCR sleeping pill.
Through bleary eyes, I wrote a "sick" message to my boss and went to sleep for a few hours-- how stupid can I be?!? That's the first time I've ever done that and, obviously, I am feeling particularly stupid about it, too!
Yeesh!
Speaking of 'Da Boss
She quit-- well, is retiring actually. Judy will probably work part-time during our rushed end-o-quarter times but for the rest of it, I'm in the batter's box and ready to rock!
February 1, 2007
Wrong-O!
It turned out not to be a cold but a 24-hour bug. I know this because I became nauseated in the afternoon. I had a flu shot this year so it minimized the symptoms for me however and today, I feel fine, including no cold-like symptoms. I hate being the victim of these things repeatedly-- I'm not good at being sick (but I am better than MOST men, my husband excluded, of course). (When Brian's sick, he shuts himself in his office or lays on the bed and says nothing-- at all. Doctor? Go to a DOCTOR? Are you nuts? He is MALE, after all!!) Anyway, all's better today, thanks.
Nine and Counting
Today is the ninth anniversary of my first date with Brian. Considering that we're still on the second date, not bad, huh? :>) ILY, B
January 31, 2007
ARGH!!!!
I have symptoms of another cold!!!!!!!!!!!! I telecommute-- how can I get a cold??? Colds are spread by viruses and Brian doesn't have a cold-- he's the only person who could GIVE me this!!!!!!!!!
ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 26, 2007
Well . . .
Not much, that's why you haven't heard from me. It snowed Sunday (COOL!!) and it snowed yesterday, late afternoon. Brian came home during the day yesterday cuz of stinking atmosphere at work, and yes, I am only speaking of the ventilation at his office. (His co-workers and boss are very nice-- I've at least spoken on the phone to most of them.)
Work has been work, writing has been writing and Buffy has been Buffy. I'm going to regret being done with the series but I do believe that we're more than half way through the sixth season. I can't believe I've really enjoyed this series as much as I have! I'm sure that Bob Thompson is gloating to himself as I write.
My long-arm quilting machine has been received today-- Yippee!! All the more reason that I'm working as fast as I can on the sunflower quilt-- I want to use the new machine to quilt it!!
Anyway, there hasn't been much to write about lately-- not bad considering.
January 22, 2007
What Happened to The Weekend?
I don't know-- I coulda swore it was here? I think on Saturday I played a lot of computer games and did some button straightening along with launching the "Buttons For Sale" part of "Marcia's Makings". As I mentioned last week, I bought buttons on a close-out-like sale and now I'm trying to sell some of them, not so much to turn a profit but so that I can get to the top of my fabric table again! Although I currently have the buttons in plastic tubs that have lids, there are a LOT of buttons and I don't know where to put them until they're sold. PLEASE BUY BUTTONS!!!! They are set at really good prices and are very interesting buttons. If you need a closer look at one or more, let me know-- I'll accommodate any request!
Yesterday was spent doing the usual, although I am reading Janet Evanovich's latest "Plum Lovin'". A VERY easy read as I spent about two hours reading it and am almost finished. It's okay but not particularly great.
I actually haven't been reading much lately, except for my class. I have to tell you, I'm a little disappointed in our instructor for the first class. Last week I struggled through a poorly pieced together "short story" with broken sentences and a lot of "telling" us the story without showing the characters or even introducing the "narrator". I thought it was the WORST thing I'd ever read and that the woman must have submitted her first draft.
Yesterday, the instructor's comments came out and he praised it-- I must really be missing something-- he said she did as he had told her in previous classes with the story but that it still needed polishing. NEEDED POLISHING??? It needs major scraping FIRST and then some polishing MIGHT help!!!
I will turn in several chapters of my book next week but, I will not take to heart anything that anyone has to offer about it. I feel like I've been tricked as to the construction of the class so far. Hopefully, it'll improve.
Guess that's all for now-- BUY BUTTONS!!!
January 18, 2007
That Answers That!
I've been sleeping like crapola lately. Obviously, not good because when I toss-n-turn, Brian tosses-n-turns. Bad sleep is contagious, needless to say. I found out why I'm not sleeping well-- one of the medications I'm taking on a temporary basis has a "side effect" of sleeping disorders. Oh, yeah, that's it!!
To solve the problem, I've tried taking muscle relaxers and OTC sleeping pills. If I take either pill, I can't wake up in the morning. If I take a half pill, I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. Tonight, I'm going to try a quarter of a pill and see if that helps. Maybe I won't wake up too groggy but yet be able to get a restful night's sleep.
News on Bedroom Update
As has been mentioned on both Brian's and my Musings, we're going to paint, carpet and redecorate our bedroom. Working with a corn yellow (similar to the background on this page) and an off-white and gray palette, I'm going to make the bedspread (not a quilt, except that it will be quilted as in "tufts"), throw pillows and curtains.
A couple of weeks ago, I went online and ordered the pillow forms,bolster rolls, and trims. Now that all of that has been received, I can start to make the pillows, etc. I have to wait until we have a bed (I think) to make the spread. The new bed will be a California King (to accommodate Brian's height and Molly joining us on the bed) and, although I know the measurements for it, I'd rather wait until the bed is here to start sewing-- Maybe.
To help with the quilting, I recently purchased a long-arm quilt machine from WOW Quilts. I got many good and positive reactions from people on my Yahoo! Groups that had used it or knew someone who did. Plus, the gentleman at the "store" answered all of my questions yesterday in a phone call with him. I ordered the Model V, with the higher neck and longer arm-- useful for BIG quilts and bedspreads.
It makes sense to have a long-arm quilting machine for all of the quilting that I do. Brian's going to adjust and engineer a clamp-like system for my Flynn Frame for use with the machine. I shouldn't need to buy a separate quilt table for it, if all goes as planned.
Yes, that's all good stuff and all there is for now. More as appropriate.
January 17, 2007
Where Have I Been?
My friend, Pat in California, knowing how bad I am at responding to email, wrote to Brian asking why I hadn't been posting. Well, just so much to do and so little time to do it in!!
Since January 1, much has been happening but in many other ways, not much has been happening.
Having caught up from the end-o-quarter rush of December, I spent the week before last just catching my breath during the day. I've also started to sew a quilt for the first time in a long time during the evening hours.
Last week, I went to Long Island, New York for business. Of course, as could be expected, I caught a cold-- a telecommuter should never be required to travel on public thoroughfares.
I went to Mood while I was in New York City and, yes, bought a couple of pieces of fabric-- more as a souvenir than anything else. I needed both pieces, don't get me wrong, but now I can say that they came from Mood which is even more impressive.
At the corner of 37th and 8th (I think), there was another store that I bought a plaid fabric. This fabric is suitable for a suit and looks comfy. I also bought about 3-4,000 buttons (I kid you NOT!) for $40 plus shipping. He wanted to get rid of a box of buttons so I bought them. They were there and I was there-- it made sense at the time. I'll sell them on my website to all of the embroiderers and seamstresses I know, once I get them organized.
My cold actually abated while I was in New York City and, by the time I came home, most of the sneezing, coughing and runny nose had stopped. The girls and Brian were very happy to see me as was I to see them. It had been a long time since I'd traveled on business (and hopefully, it'll be a long time before I travel again!).
There was an open house at the Writer's Center on Saturday along with it being the first day of one of my classes for the term. Should be interesting this term, indeed.
Jennifer, from Atlanta, came up over the weekend and spent Sunday afternoon/night and Monday morning/afternoon with us. We, of course, had a good time laughing and talking and just plain catching up. It's always good to see her.
That about catches you up for now. Good, Pat? Hope so and I hope to write back to you today or tomorrow-- PROMISE!!
Taking a break . . . I'll be back eventually.
Know anyone who wants to buy a website? Check it out here!
December 5, 2007
It's Snowing!!
And I've received my first "Safe at Work" call from Brian. Unfortunately, there are other drivers who don't know or remember how to drive in the snow that will be making another phone call this morning-- to their insurance company. Brian reports seeing a LOT of accidents on the short commute to work. Oh, well, they'll be used to the snow by March-- when it ends!!
November 16, 2007
It's A Boy!!
But then we knew that, didn't we? On Monday, November 12, Jordan Christopher was born to my nephew, Joel's wife, Lynne. He was 12 days early but that's because he was causing complications in the pregnancy as babies are sometimes likely to do. The good news is that when he was born, the complications went away and all are home and not sleeping as I write. Lovely.
Shower Invitations
My sister, Susan and I are giving my niece, Faye, a wedding shower in late December. I'm going to fly in for less than 24 hours (why, oh, why do I do this to myself?!?!?) and we'll have the shower. The invitations are in process of being prepared and I'll eventually get around to mailing them out at some point before the first of December.
Big Changes
Big changes are happening in the work place-- I'll tell you when I can but, suffice it to say that I am a happy camper. That should suffice, eh?
November 6, 2007
Fair's Fair!!
No, this isn't going to become poliblog here either but, since Brian got to give to his candidate, RuPaul, I gave to my candidate as well. After all, fair is fair!! (Libertarians as Republicans-- sends a chill down my spine!)
No, we don't talk politics in this house-- we're smarter than that!! Thankfully, that also applies to house guests/friends as well. I've long since stopped talking politics with the Thompsons.
Showers in December
As I had mentioned another time, my niece Faye is getting married. My sister Sue and I are going to give her a shower in December. It was originally thought that Sue would be the actual hostess and I would give from a distance but, over the weekend, she begged me to come and I conceded. After checking with my boss (after all that is the last week of the end of the quarter), I decided that "my weekends are my own" for the most part and will be flying out to Michigan in the wee hours on Saturday morning, arriving with an hour or so to spare before the shower and then, leaving on Sunday morning to get back home at a decent hour to finish off any work that comes in over the weekend. Whew!! Another one of those quickie trips-- less than 24 hours on the ground!! Well, at least I won't have to lug suitcases around with me!!
November 2, 2007
Boring Is As Boring Does
I would write here but, I figure George W. has a little more time in office and he can be the one to help you fall asleep at night.
I've been reading-- one of the freebies I picked up at Malice. Now I know why there were so many copies of it on the trade-in table . . . By the same token, I also know why Sandra Parshall won the Agatha-- well deserved, indeed. But then I like psychological thrillers-- can't write them but I like to read them. She now ranks third and, for a new comer, she's in good company:
Laura Lippman
Edna Buchanan
Sandra Parshall
Good company, indeed.
The children in the neighborhood are not stupid-- they know what it means when the porchlights are out at a house on Hallowe'en. I heard some teenages but I never did see any kids in costume-- maybe they went elsewhere this year? Whatever . . .
Work continues . . . <sigh> . . . long story there. Maybe some day. Does anyone know how to bring Judy out of retirement? If you do, please email today!! (Who knows, I could come up with a prize for you!)
That's all for now-- have a good 'un!
October 16, 2007
Umpteen Gazillion
Yup, this should've been my parent's wedding anniversary and they would've been married umpteen gazillion years ago. It's funny how you remember dates, even those not used anymore, isn't it? Oh, well . . . as if I need another reason, I'll think of them today and remember them as always.
Memorial
My husband had mentioned a sister-in-law passing last month. Jewl Ann Spoelhof was my brother-in-law's sister and I was proud and pleased to have known her. Jewl was a . . . gem-- it sounds trite but believe me, she really was a gem of a person. At this site, the ABWE, for whom she worked for many years before developing ovarian cancer, has posted a memorial of her career in their service. It is interesting reading and, as I said, she is a wonderful person who will be missed.
My Baby
(Busy day here, huh?)
In case
you've been wondering, here's a picture of my "Baby" (aka, "Lorenna",
when she's giving directions, and "Red", when she's gotta get me
through traffic and "Ticket Magnet", when she's gotta get me through
traffic UNdetected). Click on the picture and it gets bigger, of
course.Needless to say, it looks better when I've got the top down and am sitting in it, driving down the road but, ya can't have everyting all the time-- gotta pay for the darned thing, too!!
That about covers it! See ya!
October 10, 2007
Yes, Yes!!
I'm over the bronchitis with only a bit of a cough left, now and then-- more like normal people cough from time to time. Mostly I'm suffering from computer burn-out from the end of the quarter. Bear with me-- it can only get better, right?
September 23, 2007
Hmmm . . .
As Barbara Thompson often says of Bob Thompson, "He doesn't get out much," and neither do I which is why I'm curious as to how I got . . . BRONCHITIS?!?!?!? I get out even less than Bob does so what does that say about me??
Okay, so it starts out as a cold but I didn't really even have all that much of cold . . . Monday I had a fever and a scratchy throat, Tuesday a fever, Wednesday a fever, Thursday a fever, Friday a fever, Saturday a fever and a trip to the hospital's ER room to find out what was going on. Even I know that fever's don't last more than five days normally. YEESH!!
So I'm resting yesterday (after getting back from the hospital) and today but still doing laundry as it will be less strenuous to do from the first floor living room than from the second floor office.
I hate being sick . . .
September 9, 2007
What did I miss??
Wow-- it feels like a long time from the 28th to the 9th!! Okay, so it was but, YEESH, it would be nice if it didn't feel like that, ya know?
As usual, we had a great time at the Thompsons. Barbara was diplomatic enough not to mention our golf game. Sunday morning we played the back nine at one of the golf courses that she and her dad play. Since it had been ten years since I last played, nine years since I'd been on a driving range and my clubs had been sitting in North Carolina for the last nearly two years, I played horribly!! No doubt about that! Barbara is as good as golf as she doesn't say she is-- quite impressive as a matter of fact. And Dutch? Yes, he was there and well, Dutch was lots of fun, coaching me on the putting greens and he, too, can really wallop a tiny golf ball.
Lesson not learned however and as of today, I'm a Class C member of the Bowie Country Club. That gets me some discounts and eligibility for greens but mostly, it gets me out there practicing cuz I really do ENJOY golfing! So between that and all of the other hobbies I have, yes, I will be kept busy and from napping on weekends anymore.
I just returned, as a matter of fact, from the driving range-- irons only-- and the only thing I can say is that I'm already much improved over last weekend. Play with Barbara again? No way!! She's TOO good!! Actually, since Brian has expressed a DISinterest in golfing, I probably will go out by myself from time to time and, frankly, that's enough for me. I just like to hit the ball around and see how far it goes.
The drapes for the bedroom didn't turn out the way I'd hoped-- I ran a quick panel yesterday afternoon and both Brian and I disliked them immensely. So, it'll be back to the drawing board in a way-- in the next weekend or two, we'll go and see if we can find read made drapes we like or fabric we like for me to make drapes. We've had naked windows for six months now so we'll survive a bit longer.
That about catches me up for awhile-- I'll be back soon-ish.
August 28, 2007
My Job??
So, I had a sales rep call me today: "Why are you asking for all of those documents?" he asked in response to emails saying that I had all of the Parent Company's documents and would begin review of them ASAP. At first I wasn't sure what he meant so I asked him, "What do you mean why am I reviewing the documents? That's what I do to make sure that there aren't any 'future effect' clauses that will affect our revenue recognition."
He paused significantly at this point, "I don't have a quote worked up yet. How did you know about the deal?"
"Oh, that," I responded, "Your boss mentioned the customer in the Ops Call on Monday of last week so I thought I'd round up the documents BEFORE we get to the end of the quarter next month."
"Oh," he replied, "Why?"
"Oh, you know-- just being PROactive."
"Wow, I'm not used to that in contracts and legal," he told me.
"That's why you left our competitor anymore-- you couldn't get deals done and we do." Of course, the competitor's stock is tanking too so it's kinda fun for me. I like looking good at my job!! :)
August 25, 2007
BIG NEWS!!!
My niece, Faye (the one who was here back in June), is
ENGAGED!!!!!!!!
Faye and Kurt have been dating for MORE THAN 9 years (they've been
dating two weeks longer than Brian and I have been married!!!) and he
FINALLY popped the question on a fishing expedition (literally, in this
case) on Wednesday!!Are we happy?? YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kurt is a great guy and will be a fun addition to the family-- great sense of humor (yes, especially when it comes to the "appropriate" length of courtships!) and will be a good husband, provider and yes, eventually FATHER of their children!!
They're aiming for a late February wedding so more as things develop!!
August 22, 2007
Friends
The nice thing about having friends in other time zones is that they catch things like . . . other time zones and/or months, as it were. Apparently, I was feeling how long it really took to make the bedspread pictured below and labeled the date as "April 21, 2007". Thanks to David Peacock, my friend in the UK, I've now corrected that-- thanks, David!! Hello to Jenny and the Kids!!
If I didn't have to work to support my "habits" (quilting, sewing, machine embroidering, mystery reading/buying), I probably could've gotten it done in a month but that, in real life, is wishful thinking!!
Thanks for the compliments on the bedspread-- I do appreciate it and, I have to admit it looks really, REALLY nice on the bed!
August 21, 2007
As Brian mentioned on his site on Sunday, I have finished THE BEDSPREAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It was a lot of work but with the long arm quilting machine, it went a lot faster than it would have with my regular sewing machines!!
Below are two images: the first shows the whole thing and the second shows a little of the detail on the quilting and cording.
<Still breathing sighs of relief . . . >
August 16, 2007
Harry Potter - 5
We went to see the Harry Potter movie ("Order of the Phoenix") last night! Yes, indeedy, my hubby came home and asked me out on a date!! Rather than play coy and put him off claiming to have other plans, I accepted. I really enjoyed the movie a lot as did Brian-- after reading the books, it's nice to see the people in person, along with all of the mystical creatures. Seeing the movie last night also helped clear up the fact that "Kingsley" had been in Book 5 as well as 7 and for all I know, 6. With as many books as I read, it's hard to keep them all straight which is why I've decided that I'm going to re-read the series next.
My recent reads have all been mysteries, of course-- everything from Janet Evanovich's "Lean Mean Thirteen" (which contains NOTHING about the title, I must warn you) to Jan Burke's "Kidnapped", along with some lesser-known authors. After reading some of the heavier mysteries (such as "Kidnapped"), I thought it was time for something a little lighter so I read the continuation of Jennifer Chiaverini's quilting series, "The Quilter's Homecoming". As always, her writing is vivid and delightful! I'll save it for Barbara Thompson to read before I send it to my cousin who will hang onto it for several months before returning it.
"Kidnapped" by the way is a part of the Irene Kelly series that Burke writes. I hadn't read any of her books before but, again, this is one that I obtained via the freebies from Malice Domestic. I'm really glad they give out freebies as I've found several new authors that I am enjoying reading!
Anyway, the bedspread is almost finished and with a long weekend coming up, I thought reading the Potter series would be a good thing. That I can think of, there's only one or two things I _have_ to do over the Labor Day weekend so I'll be able to relax quite a bit.
August 13, 2007
Calmer Waters
Yes, I have calmed down-- the weekend went fabulously with the shower and dinner out on Saturday. In church on Sunday morning, in addition to hearing my lovely niece, Faye, sing for the first time (SHE HAS A _**FABULOUS**_ VOICE!!!!), I got to SEE one of my cousins for the first time in 25 years. We've emailed back-n-forth but Carol and I haven't seen each other since 1983 or so (okay, so that's 24 years-- big deal!!) Faye pointed her out to me and I made a dash for her after church-- we screamed, we hugged, we cried but we couldn't talk long since the rest of us had to catch lunch and get me to the airport. Still it was great to SEE her!!
Back to work today but I'm dragging-- I'd love to go to sleep instead of working, let me tell ya!!
August 8, 2007
I'm VERY Angry Right Now!!
I have had people in the house, in the yard, in the house, in the yard, on the roof, in the yard and yet again, in the yard for the last month and I am SICK TO DEATH OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want the landlord to start taking care of things because I'm VERY sick of doing it myself!!!!
This morning will hopefully be the last straw for a very, VERY, VERRYYYY long time: The people that Verizon sent to DIG and BURY the NEW line, DUG UP the OLD line and BROKE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I had NO (as in NONE, ZERO, ZILCH and NILLO) internet or phone for over two hours!!!!!!!!!!! I called the smart Verizon service guy first and left him a message and then I called his boss and left her a message and, needless to say, I wasn't very happy with Verizon this morning for hiring an IDIOT company to do the work!!!
Just last week, Verizon PROMISED me that there would be a <little> interruption of service when they switched the lines but, as I'm sure they NOW know, they were not aware that they had IDIOTS working for them who dug up, untaped and BROKE the FiOS lines entirely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Someday, I hope to calm down but this is tough-- the good news is that I'm going away this weekend for three days for my nephew's wife's baby shower and, when I come back, I hope to find that I will BE ALONE DURING THE DAY NEXT WEEK, except for Lucy and Molly and Brian if he gets sick or the end of the world happens outside of our yard-- it feels like it's already happened inside our yard (and house and roof) so now we only have to worry about the elements we don't WANT to control!!!!!!!!!!
July 27, 2007
We Asked For This, Right??
Cripes!! We _*PAID*_ for it!! Yes, folks, the roofing has begun. The main part of the roof is this morning and, between the nailing, pounding, scraping, shaking of the house and my nerves, and the people up-n-down ladders, my nerves are completely frazzled, my monitors are shaking, and of course, I'm getting a headache!! What a shock, eh?
Call the Landlord!!!
July 26, 2007
No Spoilers Here!!
What can I say? I laughed, I cried . . . having finished the EPIC of J. K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" last night. Good stuff-- she can write, can't she? 'Nuf said. I've purposely been avoiding all of the Harry Hooplah on the web news stuff because I didn't want to know what happened. Now I'll go check that out.
Other than that, work continues, roofing is afoot-- someplace-- but at least the dogs won't be held in the basement prinson until the roofers actually DO show up!! They didn't like waiting around yesterday so I still haven't put them in the basement today. It's nearly eleven am as I write this and, although Brian and I have both made several calls, we have shingles but no one to rip up the old and lay down the new.
Hopefully . . . soon.
July 21, 2007
What Can I Say?
Not much, actually. Just busy as usual with work and reading and sewing and, did I mention I have a new boss/supervisor/manager? No? Well, he's an attorney. 'Nuf said? Good, I thought it might be sufficient.
President Bush had his five year colonoscopy yesterday. They found five polyps but can't figure out where his head could've lodged itself. While he was under, Cheney was "In Charge". Did you notice that gas went $.05 a gallon or was that just me-- yeah, a Retirement Tax for Dick. Don't even get me started!
Reading
I've read a couple of books by Cynthia Baxter of late. She does a fabulous job with descriptions and dialogue. The current two books I have were purchased used but I'll switch to buying from a bookstore now that I know she's worth the money for her to get a royalty.
Speaking of Good Books, James R. Benn has a book out called "Billy Boyle". It's part of a series that he'll be writing with the next book entitled "The First Wave". Based in World War II, I expected this to be a snoozer of a book (it was in the "FREE" books given out in a bag at Malice Domestic). I was DEAD WRONG!!
This book is well written and keeps pace with current trends, i.e., early 40s speech, dialogue and attitudes. MANY were the FOOLS who put this book on the trade-in table-- they're missing a GREAT story!!
Anyway, that's about all for me-- I'm still quilting the bedspread and,currently, eating lunch so I need to finish that and get back to it. I'd like to have the bedspread done by September, at the latest-- and PREFERABLY _*much*_ earlier!!
July 9, 2007 - Update at 12:00pm
Ketchup Time
No, not the condiment-- I was being funny. Okay, don't laugh-- it's up to you! I do, however, want to explain my absence which has been justified, I assure you.
Monday, June 25, started out with a roar and ended with a bang-- I think. I spent around 13 hours working on various and sundry contracts. Tuesday, January 26, started out with a bang and ended with a thump-- me, falling over after yet another 13-plus hour day. Wednesday, June 27, started wtih a thump (me, falling out of bed) and ended with a burst of contract requirements but I finally threw in the towel at 9pm. Thursday, June 28, started out with a burst of energy and ended with a clash-n-clatter that I can only describe as horrendous!! Friday, June 29, started out with . . . nothing! I don't know why but there was virtually nothing for me to deal with on Friday. Talk about weird!! Most of the things that were worked on earlier in the week were finished and waiting for execution by the customers which leaves me wondering why the sales reps, most of whom are from the "Parent Company", can't be better prepared.
Yes, I hate to say it but I am prejudiced toward my own sales reps. They are prepared and planned-through on their presentations and are usually proactive at getting me involved in the earlier stages of the sales process. Parent Company's sales reps don't seem to work that way though and, needless to say, it is exceedingly frustrating. The Good News is that the frustration is shared with my job counterparts at Parent Company.
I spent June 30 and July 1 walking around as though I was practicing my deer-in-the-headlights look for Halloween. Okay, I also did some sewing but shell-shocked is the only way to describe the emotional feeling you're left with after the work-week I had-- maybe I should put in for PTSD and see what I can get for benefits.
Last week being the first week of the quarter felt like more of the same from the previous week. Monday was bad but I actually worked a 13 hour day on Tuesday! I couldn't believe it! (Excluding time taken out at the dealership for my car which has been explained to you already) (Wednesday, the Holiday, I sewed and I'll tell you more about that in a minute.) Thursday and Friday were much the same again with nutso sales reps from Parent Company ("Oh, you mean, I have to give them that document-- no choice, huh?" "Not unless you'd like to hear from the Company's general counsel and, I don't think you want to hear from her.") My new boss is out this week on vacation-- he'd been with Parent Company for three years before transferring over-- so it should be lots of fun for me, huh? Yeah, I can hardly wait, too-- NOT!!!
Getting back to the sewing . . . I may have mentioned that my sister in Maine, Nancy, had asked me to make an awning for her pontoon boat. Well, she sent the existing awning (what there was left of it) to me for use as my example and, using the Sunbrella fabric that had been an intentional "left over" from my furniture cushion days, I made her a new awning. The size? Approximately 10'x13' . . . yes, I won't be making anything for her again soon! She's worn out her sewing machine welcome for awhile-- okay, not really but I sure don't want to talk awnings with her!! I finished it on Wednesday and sent it off to her on Thursday. It's going by ground shipment so she probably won't get it until today or tomorrow so we'll all have to wait for pictures of it on her boat.
I told her that if anyone asked if I would make them an awning to tell them it would cost at least a $1,000 PLUS materials so they should re-think and go to the new style of awning and frame (which run about the same price).
I love her, she's my sister but WHEW!!!
On Friday this past week, to add to the bedlam, by the way, I went to the nearest Parent Company office and had my computer upgraded. What was supposed to take about 1-2 hours ended up taking nearly 4 hours so I wasn't a happy camper who was made even more unhappy because the guy who insisted on installing a new Office update didn't know how to operate/set-up/fix the Office update. Oh, Joy! Yes, I'm married to a former reluctant Microsoft systems administrator but, his weekend was a bit too busy to worry about my computer problems. What I don't figure out today during the day, I'll ask him about tonight . . . hopefully, I can remember and am not a blithering idiot by the time he gets home.
Guess that's all for now-- the deer-in-the-headlights look is beginning to ease from my face so I may be back posting here more frequently . . . ya never know!!
12:00pm
Guess what? Someone threw a bottle rocket or firecracker in our mailbox mulch area last night or early this morning and I put the fire out!! I called Brian to let him know and then thought I should report it to the County Police. I called the non-emergency line, reported that I put out the fire and thought they'd send a cop over to take the left-over bottle rocket/firecracker remains for fingerprinting-- if that was still possible. NO, NO, NO, NOPE!! They sent a FIRETRUCK which is always almost immediately followed thereby an ambulance!!! YEESH!!
Turns out I hadn't put it out completely so they pressure-hosed it (with an extinguisher-sized pressure thingy) some more and put more water on it!! Then we all stood around talking for awhile-- turns out the chief-guy in the truck lives in the neighborhood so he was really friendly and very helpful.
When I updated Brian, we agreed that I would continue to water down the area all afternoon, just to be on the safe side. As the fire folk said, if he hadn't been watering that area regularly, who knows how far the fire could've spread!! Double-YEESH!!!
June 20, 2007
Quarter End Gears Up
As may be expected, between work gearing up and visiting sister/niece last week and weekend, I again didn't post for awhile. Some things I have found interesting:
1. My niece (Faye) is beautiful, intelligent and much more financially stable than I was at her age.
Now, that can be seen as good or bad. I had the looks then and most of the intelligence but she definitely is more together financially than I was then so I guess that part is good.
2. I now know how to treat in-grown toenails, having learned the hard way.
Not FUN!!
3. There's a reason that I have my pills set up for morning, with breakfast and night time, before bed.
I can't remember if I've taken the antibiotic the doctor gave me for my infected toenail during the day!!
4. When they say "Allow 4 to 6 weeks for deliver . . . " it really means it'll probably get there next week but we want our butts covered.
Brian got his truck financed through Toyota and my car was financed through them as well. In fact, probably because he went through Toyota I got my car also financed through Toyota. They gave us a reward for financing two vehicles with them-- I suppose it's to make up for the exorbitant (it seems like anyway) interest rates. Last week, I chose a JVC Portable DVD player which was supposed to take 4 to 6 weeks to be received but, I got it today. Cool!! [If nothing else, Brian gets a new toy to play with!]
June 8, 2007
I Did Not Know That
Mary Chervenak is a fabulous writer!! I've met Mary a couple of times when visiting the Thompsons in North Carolina and, yes, she has a sparkling personality to go with her sparkling eyes but I've just been reading her blog from the Blue Planet Run and she's fabulous!! What fun and, yes, I have to admit that I'm a little jealous, even if she is running, to be in Ireland. I would love to go for a two week jaunt with my hubby to the British Isles-- I'm really REALLY jealous!!
Been Busy
As you may have heard by reading Brian's page, our friends, Pat & Nathan were here visiting last weekend. Much fun was had by Pat & I as we went shopping in Bowie Town Center, despite the rain coming down as we walked from store to store. Shopping was our shared hobby in California and we found out Sunday that we hadn't lost our ability to do it in Maryland in an accomplished manner, as well. While Brian worked, the three of us went to Baltimore's Inner Harbor and walking around the area, grabbing a late lunch and then visiting her childhood home when we left downtown.
Busy Busy Busy!!!
I realized last night that I'm booked for every weekend through the end of the month-- thankfully, the last weekend, I'll have a respite from socializing!! This weekend is the gambling trip for Linda Rose's birthday on the 15th; next weekend my sister Karen returns with her daughter to take the oak cabinets back to Michigan; and the following weekend, my friend, Jennifer, visits from Atlanta overnight before going into Virginia on Sunday for business on Monday. WHEW!!
Nary a dull moment here!!
May 29, 2007
You'll Know
If you ever get to see the bedspread I'm making, hopefully you'll never be able to tell which was Side 1 and which was Side 2 by looking at it. Hopefully, eventually, I'll forget myself. Yeesh!! The second side, obviously, Side 2, is going much easier than the first side did with the smaller panel's quilting.
So far (cross your fingers and knock on wood) I haven't had to rip anything out and I'm almost finished with this panel!!
Then, only one panel to go and, oh, yes, the sides of the bed spred . . . and then . . . sewing it together, complete with trim and then, hemming what will seem like MILES of hem on it.
Yes, someday it will be finished . . . SOMEDAY.
May 26, 2007
News!!
Our friends, Pat & Nathan, who have not visited us EVER since we've lived in Maryland are coming to visit next weekend!!! YAYYYY!!!!!! I am, needless to say, very excited about that!!! My email response to her the first time she told me of their visit read something like "OH BOY!!!" repeated about a 100 to 1,000 times-- yes, I'm excited!!
In other news, I've also been reading (beside quilting and working and ripping out the quilting and . . . ). I've already finished Laura Lippman's latest as well as Nancy Martin's-- good stuff, both of 'em!! Now I'll probably start in alphabetical order from my To Be Read shelf otherwise I've got too many to choose from to figure out who should be read next!!
More as things develop-- time for another round of quilting!
May 22, 2007
SOOOOO Boring!!
What am I doing? Well, I'm quilting the bedspread and I'm working and I'm ripping out the quilting on the bedspread and I'm working and then I'm reading some and then I'm quilting the bedspread and I'm working and then I'm ripping out the quillting on the bedspread and then . . .
You get why I haven't posted now, right? Good!!
May 16, 2007
Huh?
What's going on? In the last fifteen minutes, I've had at least 10 flyovers of military aircraft!! I hate that!! This is one of the most disturbing things about living in this area-- any moment could be the beginning of World War III.
Yeesh!!!
Other than that, nothing new and exciting is happening-- oh, there is one thing that I can tell you: I'm going to be a Great Aunt!! Yes, I know-- I'm already a GREAT Aunt but now my nephew, Joel and his wife, Lynne, are expecting their first baby, due in November. YAYYYY!!! I can't wait to find out if it's a boy or a girl so I can start making boy-things or girl-things (especially RUFFLES!!)!!
May 14, 2007
Just Another Day
Nothing new and exciting really. I did forget to mention that, after I get off of work, I go back to my fabric room and quilt the bedspread for an hour on the frame and "Big Bertha" machine. So far, I'm pretty sure I've got two-thirds of the top of the bedspread finished. FINALLY!! (I'm sure Brian's yelling that from his office as he reads this!)
Next big step is quilt the "side" fabric on the big machine and then I'll just have the panel inserts to do on the top part of the spread. Then, of course, comes the really hard part-- sewing ALL of those pieces together, including cord trim. Oh, yeah, that'll be fun. (EEK!!)
Other than that, there's not much happening but I said I'd try to write every day-- here I am and there you are. SEE YA!!
May 13, 2007
Not to Worry!!
Just a minor break in the action-- nothing major.
Yesterday, I was hit with a cleaning bug-- first, I was Red Lorenna and then I started on my office. It occurred to me that I haven't cleaned out the shelves of my office since the day I moved my stuff into the furniture that Brian built for me THREE YEARS AGO!!! Needless to say, there's been a lot of crap built up and I've been cleaning it out. In between there, I took a nap-- something I don't do very often anymore.
Today, after groceries, I rested . . . remember I washed my car yesterday? Yeah, well, it's been a long time since I washed a car. The back of my legs hurt but my back hurts quite a bit. In between comfortable spells brought on because of Ibuprophen, I've made tuna salad, chicken salad, lettuce salad, blueberry sauce and a couple of other things for food this week. Should be a tasty week!!
Now that all the chores are done and my back's feeling okay, I'm going to try to finish up my office-- I only got about half way yesterday before I gave up. I've got to finished so I can find somewhere to display my Mother's Day card from Lucy and Molly-- such good dogters!!
May 11, 2007
Guilt
Nothing major to report but I have this feeling that if I don't post SOMETHING, I'll get yelled at by someone . . . who could that be? Hmm . . . there's probably a line going down the block at this point.
So it appears to be doctor appointment season here this week, last week, next week. I felt so guilty about the time out of the "office" that I took a sick day today, figuratively speaking, to compensate the company for the time off. My new boss, Paul, said I didn't need to but there comes a point when my conscience won't let me sleep if I'm out of the office too much.
Yes, I've got a new boss. A replacement for Judy, after a month and a half. Nice guy or so he appears and he's an attorney which, despite some people's thoughts, I like to work for because I can learn stuff from them. Never too old to learn, as I've heard said. When I get old, I'll be sure to remember it.
Kickin' and screamin' into old age (as evidenced by Lorenna), I'm never going to get there.
May 10, 2007
Oh, ARGH!!!!
I didn't realize it has been THAT long since I've posted!! Yeesh, no wonder even Bob Thompson chided me the other day!!
Okay, where to start?
Well, first since the last time I posted, I went through a quarter/fiscal year end. TONS of work to do but still not enough to make me incredibly happy. I love being busy but it seems that I'm just not as busy as I'd like to be, even at the end of the quarter.
Yes, I've mentioned this to my management and I think they're working on it. For four hours each day, I have the entire U.S. as my territory now. The other four hours, there is coverage of the Western Region but, as our "direct" work slows down, I'm pretty sure I'll end up bieng the lone survivor, especially since the other person is a contractor.
There are always other irons in the fire, as I'm sure you understand.
In mid-April, I went to New York (Islandia, on Long Island) for three days of training at the home offices. Of course, I got sick again but that was because I'd insisted on putting the top down on my new CONVERTIBLE when we drove it home on Saturday!!
Yes, I have a beauty of a car-- my dream car, really. I have always wanted a convertible and I've finally got one!! I wanted a convertible in ANY color other than silver, too, and got that-- it's RED!!! Beautiful!! "We" (in the collective sense) have fun tooling down the highway but I do try to stay within the speed limit as I realize that I'm driving a "Ticket Magnet".
Linda Rose and I drove to Paducah in it along with Lorenna (as in Lorenna McKennitt), the voice from the navigation system. My sister in Brasil told me I couldn't have a car and just name it "Red" but had to go with something that seemed more fitting, i.e., she's red so she must be Irish, therefore her name is . . .
Oh, well, it worked for us in the conversation at the time. Most often, I end up calling her "Red" but occasionally, I remember to call her "Lorenna". Either name fits her beautifully and I enjoy riding around in it!!
Moving on . . . after Paducah came Malice Domestic. I'd never been and became so excited last year when I signed up that I emailed Barbara immediately and thus, we went to it together this weekend. Tons of fun and lots of stuff learned that will help with my own writing . . . mystery writing, that is. (Yes! Yes! I know-- I know!!! I'll do better here or at least try REALLY hard to write here more often, okay? Okay!!)
My usual shelf and a half of To Be Read books has grown to THREE shelves!! Also, I volunteered to be a "reader" for the Agatha awards-- gotta make sure the books nominated are really cozies!!
This pretty much brings me up to date. Hubby is home for the week. He's been working so hard that last night he: 1. Forgot to turn on the alarm. 2. Didn't lock the door to the garage. 3. Didn't put water in the coffee pot. 4. Left his camera out over night (!!). I told him he should take the day off but, you know him . . . he's still out plant shopping!!
Gotta go and get some work done-- I'll post again . . . soonish, I swear!!
March 19, 2007
Not Much
There's
nothing much to "report" except that Brian got busy the moment he got
home (well, okay, it was Saturday but . . . ) and finished up my
frame-- see picture to the left and right (hopefully, if I can figure
out how to put it up there).
Then,
the next picture is the bedspread top for our new bed-- gorgeous, isn't
it?March 16, 2007
He's Back!!!
Well, almost . . . his plane landed in Newark, just barely from what he tells me. There was snow on the ground and theirs was the last flight that landed. His connector to BWI is NOT flying out soooooo, you put eight engineers into that situation, what do they do? (No, silly, they don't build giant heater to melt the snow!!) They rent a car and drive home. He'll call later with a rendezvous spot for me to get him but at least, HE'S ALMOST HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 15, 2007
Internet and Timing Issues
On Tuesday evening, Brian and I chatted for a bit but he was sooooo tired that the internet decided that we'd talked long enough. We got disconnected and so he went to sleep and I went back to what I was doing, in addition to feeling sorry for him.
For Wednesday, the only time he had to "call" me was when I was on a business conference call. Then he had dinner with a bunch of people, again, at the house of one of their vice presidents in Tel Aviv. Must be NICE to have a house suitable for entertaining 60+ people!! Yeesh!! I can't imagine!!
I got an email from him this morning letting me know he was alive, going to have a busy day and then hit the planes for a ride home, arriving tomorrow morning. I know _I_ can't wait for him to get home!!
Whew!! It's been a long week for both of us!
March 12, 2007
Tired and Whacked!!
Brian and I were able to connect yesterday!! I happened to think, around 11am, that it was 5pm in Tel Aviv and maybe his meetings were finished and/or taking a break so I logged onto Skype. There he was-- beeping me, too!! YEAHHHHH!!!!! I could hear him, not see him but at least it was him. He's tired-- I could hear it in his voice-- between not sleeping on the plane and having his brain assaulted with facts and HR propaganda, he's gonna be a tired puppy once he gets home.
Speaking of puppies, Lucy and Molly are good. When I was on Skype with Brian yesterday, they barked "Hello" to him.
12:05pm - Just spoke with Brian again. It is GOOD to see his face!! The camera on me is off to the side so he just sees the side of my face cuz I'm always looking at him.
All is good and all is well-- even if I miss him terribly.
March 11, 2007
A Bit of Frustration!!
Unlike when I go on business trips and can call Brian from my cell phone, he is in Israel on this business trip and his cell phone (neither personal nor business) will work there. NOT GOOD!! We set up Skype but I'm beginning to think that isn't going to work either!! I'll be home more today than I was yesterday however and will be close enough that FULL VOLUME on the ring will make it audible (hopefully) from any room upstairs.
To that end, I'm going to start cutting and sewing the bedspread today. I bought some foam for wrapping around a wood box-like design that I finally decided I wanted to do with the windows in the bedroom. I picked up some different fabric to use for one of the strips on the bedspread. The more I looked at the existing piece of fabric that we had, the more I decided it was too heavy a piece of fabric. We'll find good use for it, I'm sure but I like the fake suede that I bought.
Well, I'm going to go take Lucy for a walk so I'd better get dressed! (Molly will get a walk tonight!)
I'll let you know if Brian and I are able to hook up!
March 8, 2007
Not bad, eh?
Twice in one week!! Yeah, possibly a new record for me-- at least for the new year!
New Worst Customer
I had a negotiation yesterday with the new record and title holder of "Worst Customer in Negotiations". Yeesh, the guy was a REAL JERK (as opposed to the fake kind)! Even the area director agreed with me on that one!
New Bedroom!
New Paint, New Carpet (already initiated, thanks to Molly) and New Bed. Same hubby and a new bedmate-- Molly!! LOTS of room.
March 3, 2007
Sorry 'Bout That
Between traveling and assorted and sundry other things, not the least of which is WORK, I've been otherwise distracted from writing and posting here in general. Such is life . . .
On a happier note, I'm absolutely BLASTED at work-- I'm so busy that one night, I worked from 8:30am to 9:30pm with a small break around 7pm! I was covering all regions except Europe but including Singapore. I had a call with a contracts person in Singapore at 9pm on Tuesday and then signed off-- FINALLY!!
This month it's just going to be more of the same so your patience is appreciated. Thanks!
February 9, 2007
Lost Interest
I guess J.J. Abrams, as far as I'm concerned anyway, screwed up. I didn't watch "Lost" on Wednesday night, nor do I intend to watch it for the rest of the season. I got sick of waiting for it-- I have better things to do. I'll wait until it comes out on DVD (probably July or August) and watch all the episodes at one sitting. Then I'll be done with it for another year.
Stupid Is As Stupid Does
Yesterday morning, I took my morning pills. An hour later, I looked at my morning pill box set up and my morning pills were still in the box.
Ooops, I guess that explains my dizziness! I'd taken my night time pills, including the AmbienCR sleeping pill.
Through bleary eyes, I wrote a "sick" message to my boss and went to sleep for a few hours-- how stupid can I be?!? That's the first time I've ever done that and, obviously, I am feeling particularly stupid about it, too!
Yeesh!
Speaking of 'Da Boss
She quit-- well, is retiring actually. Judy will probably work part-time during our rushed end-o-quarter times but for the rest of it, I'm in the batter's box and ready to rock!
February 1, 2007
Wrong-O!
It turned out not to be a cold but a 24-hour bug. I know this because I became nauseated in the afternoon. I had a flu shot this year so it minimized the symptoms for me however and today, I feel fine, including no cold-like symptoms. I hate being the victim of these things repeatedly-- I'm not good at being sick (but I am better than MOST men, my husband excluded, of course). (When Brian's sick, he shuts himself in his office or lays on the bed and says nothing-- at all. Doctor? Go to a DOCTOR? Are you nuts? He is MALE, after all!!) Anyway, all's better today, thanks.
Nine and Counting
Today is the ninth anniversary of my first date with Brian. Considering that we're still on the second date, not bad, huh? :>) ILY, B
January 31, 2007
ARGH!!!!
I have symptoms of another cold!!!!!!!!!!!! I telecommute-- how can I get a cold??? Colds are spread by viruses and Brian doesn't have a cold-- he's the only person who could GIVE me this!!!!!!!!!
ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 26, 2007
Well . . .
Not much, that's why you haven't heard from me. It snowed Sunday (COOL!!) and it snowed yesterday, late afternoon. Brian came home during the day yesterday cuz of stinking atmosphere at work, and yes, I am only speaking of the ventilation at his office. (His co-workers and boss are very nice-- I've at least spoken on the phone to most of them.)
Work has been work, writing has been writing and Buffy has been Buffy. I'm going to regret being done with the series but I do believe that we're more than half way through the sixth season. I can't believe I've really enjoyed this series as much as I have! I'm sure that Bob Thompson is gloating to himself as I write.
My long-arm quilting machine has been received today-- Yippee!! All the more reason that I'm working as fast as I can on the sunflower quilt-- I want to use the new machine to quilt it!!
Anyway, there hasn't been much to write about lately-- not bad considering.
January 22, 2007
What Happened to The Weekend?
I don't know-- I coulda swore it was here? I think on Saturday I played a lot of computer games and did some button straightening along with launching the "Buttons For Sale" part of "Marcia's Makings". As I mentioned last week, I bought buttons on a close-out-like sale and now I'm trying to sell some of them, not so much to turn a profit but so that I can get to the top of my fabric table again! Although I currently have the buttons in plastic tubs that have lids, there are a LOT of buttons and I don't know where to put them until they're sold. PLEASE BUY BUTTONS!!!! They are set at really good prices and are very interesting buttons. If you need a closer look at one or more, let me know-- I'll accommodate any request!
Yesterday was spent doing the usual, although I am reading Janet Evanovich's latest "Plum Lovin'". A VERY easy read as I spent about two hours reading it and am almost finished. It's okay but not particularly great.
I actually haven't been reading much lately, except for my class. I have to tell you, I'm a little disappointed in our instructor for the first class. Last week I struggled through a poorly pieced together "short story" with broken sentences and a lot of "telling" us the story without showing the characters or even introducing the "narrator". I thought it was the WORST thing I'd ever read and that the woman must have submitted her first draft.
Yesterday, the instructor's comments came out and he praised it-- I must really be missing something-- he said she did as he had told her in previous classes with the story but that it still needed polishing. NEEDED POLISHING??? It needs major scraping FIRST and then some polishing MIGHT help!!!
I will turn in several chapters of my book next week but, I will not take to heart anything that anyone has to offer about it. I feel like I've been tricked as to the construction of the class so far. Hopefully, it'll improve.
Guess that's all for now-- BUY BUTTONS!!!
January 18, 2007
That Answers That!
I've been sleeping like crapola lately. Obviously, not good because when I toss-n-turn, Brian tosses-n-turns. Bad sleep is contagious, needless to say. I found out why I'm not sleeping well-- one of the medications I'm taking on a temporary basis has a "side effect" of sleeping disorders. Oh, yeah, that's it!!
To solve the problem, I've tried taking muscle relaxers and OTC sleeping pills. If I take either pill, I can't wake up in the morning. If I take a half pill, I have a hard time getting out of bed in the morning. Tonight, I'm going to try a quarter of a pill and see if that helps. Maybe I won't wake up too groggy but yet be able to get a restful night's sleep.
News on Bedroom Update
As has been mentioned on both Brian's and my Musings, we're going to paint, carpet and redecorate our bedroom. Working with a corn yellow (similar to the background on this page) and an off-white and gray palette, I'm going to make the bedspread (not a quilt, except that it will be quilted as in "tufts"), throw pillows and curtains.
A couple of weeks ago, I went online and ordered the pillow forms,bolster rolls, and trims. Now that all of that has been received, I can start to make the pillows, etc. I have to wait until we have a bed (I think) to make the spread. The new bed will be a California King (to accommodate Brian's height and Molly joining us on the bed) and, although I know the measurements for it, I'd rather wait until the bed is here to start sewing-- Maybe.
To help with the quilting, I recently purchased a long-arm quilt machine from WOW Quilts. I got many good and positive reactions from people on my Yahoo! Groups that had used it or knew someone who did. Plus, the gentleman at the "store" answered all of my questions yesterday in a phone call with him. I ordered the Model V, with the higher neck and longer arm-- useful for BIG quilts and bedspreads.
It makes sense to have a long-arm quilting machine for all of the quilting that I do. Brian's going to adjust and engineer a clamp-like system for my Flynn Frame for use with the machine. I shouldn't need to buy a separate quilt table for it, if all goes as planned.
Yes, that's all good stuff and all there is for now. More as appropriate.
January 17, 2007
Where Have I Been?
My friend, Pat in California, knowing how bad I am at responding to email, wrote to Brian asking why I hadn't been posting. Well, just so much to do and so little time to do it in!!
Since January 1, much has been happening but in many other ways, not much has been happening.
Having caught up from the end-o-quarter rush of December, I spent the week before last just catching my breath during the day. I've also started to sew a quilt for the first time in a long time during the evening hours.
Last week, I went to Long Island, New York for business. Of course, as could be expected, I caught a cold-- a telecommuter should never be required to travel on public thoroughfares.
I went to Mood while I was in New York City and, yes, bought a couple of pieces of fabric-- more as a souvenir than anything else. I needed both pieces, don't get me wrong, but now I can say that they came from Mood which is even more impressive.
At the corner of 37th and 8th (I think), there was another store that I bought a plaid fabric. This fabric is suitable for a suit and looks comfy. I also bought about 3-4,000 buttons (I kid you NOT!) for $40 plus shipping. He wanted to get rid of a box of buttons so I bought them. They were there and I was there-- it made sense at the time. I'll sell them on my website to all of the embroiderers and seamstresses I know, once I get them organized.
My cold actually abated while I was in New York City and, by the time I came home, most of the sneezing, coughing and runny nose had stopped. The girls and Brian were very happy to see me as was I to see them. It had been a long time since I'd traveled on business (and hopefully, it'll be a long time before I travel again!).
There was an open house at the Writer's Center on Saturday along with it being the first day of one of my classes for the term. Should be interesting this term, indeed.
Jennifer, from Atlanta, came up over the weekend and spent Sunday afternoon/night and Monday morning/afternoon with us. We, of course, had a good time laughing and talking and just plain catching up. It's always good to see her.
That about catches you up for now. Good, Pat? Hope so and I hope to write back to you today or tomorrow-- PROMISE!!
This journal was started many
(nearly nine-- that's "many", right?) years ago.
The opinions stated herein are my own,
much to the chagrin of my husband, at times.
(nearly nine-- that's "many", right?) years ago.
The opinions stated herein are my own,
much to the chagrin of my husband, at times.