Good Lord, I didn't post at all last month. Okay, so blogging is one thing I am not accomplishing every day. I sewed a bridesmaids dress yesterday. I made another sample bodice to send to Leann, (the first was too small). I sewed Lil an Easter dress last Saturday from an old pattern of mine. So I am definitely sewing and enjoying it.
This past week I had a week off. We took an actual spring break trip which is a first for me. We went to Chicago and I enjoyed it and would go back. Maybe fewer museums next time, although I would go back to the Art Institute in a heartbeat. One of my favorite moments of this trip was climbing the staircase to the Impressionist galleries and seeing "Paris Street; Rainy Day" ahead. I was so thrilled I almost cried. Everywhere we went in that museum were paintings and artwork I was familiar with. It wasn't until we got home that I realized that the game "Masterpiece" used only artwork from the Art Institute of Chicago. I used these paintings to decorate my Barbie houses! (Apparently Al had this game too)
Just a word about the Shedd Aquarium's dolphin show. No, one word won't do it. Dissapointing? Hokey? Over-produced? Stupid? Yes, all of the above. The show is called Fantasea and pretends to pull a random girl out of the audience and about three seconds into that you realize that this girl is a plant. The trainers are dressed in these hideous costumes, they bring these panicked penguins down in front of the audience where hardly anyone can see them, they ask do you like Belugas? Do you like sea lions? And then there are neither sea lions or Belugas in the show. We really wanted to see the belugas and the new calf and his Mother were not on display...which I understand, but you couldn't provide a video camera for people to view them? After paying 30 bucks a person to get in? I really left the Shedd feeling ripped off. The whole audience was like..."That was it? We paid extra for that?" I wonder if Second City does a parody of this show...they should, it was so terrible.
I needed Friday as a mental health day (read: totally lazy do nothing day) and then I felt like sewing again. I have to wake up early if I'm going to sew. If I sleep past nine, the day is shot and I've lost all motivation. I am definitely an early morning type of person.
So tomorrow is back to work and I am sort of motivated to get my butt in gear for Summer Reading Program. Oh so much to do. And oh so much to do at home. It will get done.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
When you are not being too active, you tend to think more about TV
I have to say that I am finding the Olympics fairly interesting so far. Sports I didn't care for so much are now more interesting, or is it just better coverage? The woman's slalom last night kicked butt, especially the finals runs when the women really went for it. The wipeouts were just awesome. One comment I have about slalom though is that all these women are future knee replacement candidates...oof. Short track skating was absolutely tense too. At one point I wouldn't let Al leave the room because the last time he left the room a bunch of skaters wiped out. (yeah, sorry Canada, that was Al's fault)
The opening ceremonies were pretty good too. A lot of dancing which doesn't translate well to TV, but the special effects could be pretty spectacular. The moment where the whales swam across the floor of the stadium was a big highlight for me. I also liked the aerialist above the prairies where the music was "Both Sides Now"...that was lovely. K.D. Lang went a little long for me though I liked her song. I've just heard better versions. I felt sorry for the person who didn't get to help light the torch when her pillar didn't go up. I thought maybe one of the other "chosen" could've shared their pillar with her. But no, they were all like, "This is my pillar and I'm going to light it all by myself." Think if someone would've shared, that would've have been a much nicer Olympic moment that people would've remembered.
A couple weeks ago I remember sort of sighing and saying to myself that this was just not going to be a very snowy winter. So ha to me. I will be perfectly fine if I don't have to shovel for awhile. Last week I had a very sore shoulder and neck from moving that heavy snow around. I also had a snow day though which was pretty nice. I made oatmeal/raisin cookies so Al would come home safe in the bad weather...it worked!
Tomorrow night is the first night of the Westminster Dog Show...another TV favorite. I don't have a dog and don't ever plan to have one, but I sure like this annual show. Its the dog Olympics . Actually its more like the canine Miss Universe, but dogs are so much more interesting.
Okay. I'm out of things to say.
The opening ceremonies were pretty good too. A lot of dancing which doesn't translate well to TV, but the special effects could be pretty spectacular. The moment where the whales swam across the floor of the stadium was a big highlight for me. I also liked the aerialist above the prairies where the music was "Both Sides Now"...that was lovely. K.D. Lang went a little long for me though I liked her song. I've just heard better versions. I felt sorry for the person who didn't get to help light the torch when her pillar didn't go up. I thought maybe one of the other "chosen" could've shared their pillar with her. But no, they were all like, "This is my pillar and I'm going to light it all by myself." Think if someone would've shared, that would've have been a much nicer Olympic moment that people would've remembered.
A couple weeks ago I remember sort of sighing and saying to myself that this was just not going to be a very snowy winter. So ha to me. I will be perfectly fine if I don't have to shovel for awhile. Last week I had a very sore shoulder and neck from moving that heavy snow around. I also had a snow day though which was pretty nice. I made oatmeal/raisin cookies so Al would come home safe in the bad weather...it worked!
Tomorrow night is the first night of the Westminster Dog Show...another TV favorite. I don't have a dog and don't ever plan to have one, but I sure like this annual show. Its the dog Olympics . Actually its more like the canine Miss Universe, but dogs are so much more interesting.
Okay. I'm out of things to say.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
On break...but not broken
The home computer is being oh so slow lately, and since I am as impatient as ever, I have been staying off of it. So, I am actually at work right now, but on break, which is funny considering I have been here since 11:00 am, and it is now 7:37 pm. Oops.
We just had someone in here who was making nose-blowing sounds, without the aid of a tissue. I did not look at him, but it sounded like he was making snot-rockets near the DVDs. Susan reports he was actually picking his nose and eating it. I washed my hands with hand sanitizer after he left and after Susan told me that delightful news I wished I could wash my eyes with hand sanitizer too. The pain of that might make me forget the visual I now have. Bleagh.
I am about done with my first Bridesmaids dress and I think Jess's will be next. Although I have to say, I think Kelly should come over and get the measurements thing over with. I am pretty happy with how it looks and it was not too difficult either. 4 pattern pieces!
Also, I am happy sewing in my finished sewing room. The blue is a very tranquil color. And for those of you who have been around me while I sew, you know that tranquil is a good thing. The only problem is that it is supposed to be a cat-free zone, but the cats seem to find their way in to hang out with me while I sew. I need a good lint brush. And a white wastebasket.
Okay, short post...time to close here.
By the way, I forgot to celebrate national footbreaking month. Both Jane and Janet have broken their feet and apparently forgot to invite me to join them. So I am snubbing them both and refuse to participate. So there.
p.s. Kristin says there are 3 ladies at her school with broken feet. And one of them has a daughter with a broken foot.
We just had someone in here who was making nose-blowing sounds, without the aid of a tissue. I did not look at him, but it sounded like he was making snot-rockets near the DVDs. Susan reports he was actually picking his nose and eating it. I washed my hands with hand sanitizer after he left and after Susan told me that delightful news I wished I could wash my eyes with hand sanitizer too. The pain of that might make me forget the visual I now have. Bleagh.
I am about done with my first Bridesmaids dress and I think Jess's will be next. Although I have to say, I think Kelly should come over and get the measurements thing over with. I am pretty happy with how it looks and it was not too difficult either. 4 pattern pieces!
Also, I am happy sewing in my finished sewing room. The blue is a very tranquil color. And for those of you who have been around me while I sew, you know that tranquil is a good thing. The only problem is that it is supposed to be a cat-free zone, but the cats seem to find their way in to hang out with me while I sew. I need a good lint brush. And a white wastebasket.
Okay, short post...time to close here.
By the way, I forgot to celebrate national footbreaking month. Both Jane and Janet have broken their feet and apparently forgot to invite me to join them. So I am snubbing them both and refuse to participate. So there.
p.s. Kristin says there are 3 ladies at her school with broken feet. And one of them has a daughter with a broken foot.
Friday, January 8, 2010
There's this flaky white stuff falling from the sky...
Oh, how lame. I am talking about the weather. That is what I talk about with patrons I don't know very well. Scuse me please. Its just that you never quite get over the thrill of a snow day. Schools are shut here. I really get no benefit from that though (aside from hearing Lilly yell YEAH! when the school called to notify - good thing it was an automated call) considering that my workplace is shut on Fridays anyway. Still, it is sort of pretty out there.
I assembled my dress forms or mannequins or whatever you would call them. One is red and one is grey and even though they are headless, I sort of feel that they should have names. Ruby would be an obvious one for the red one, but then I thought of a beloved childhood book, "Ann Likes Red" ( A blue dress Ann? No, said Ann, "I like red". A red dress instead.) So the bigger is probably Ann. Scarlett is another possibility. I'm sort of leaning towards Charlotte for the smaller grey one. Maybe I should consider famous headless people? Marie Antoinette, Ann Boleyn, Jayne Mansfield? Ick. Maybe not.
I finally sent my Christmas cards yesterday. I know its late, but I didn't want to not send them. The problem is that I found ones I liked just the week of Christmas and I was already too busy then. I sent my thank you notes in the morning along with bills, and then wrote the rest of the cards during my lunch break at work and mailed them on the way home.
There was a lot of snow on the way home and I found that my scraper had completely broken off my snow brush. I did find a squeegee in the car that sort of took care of the ice. I drove home slowly, but it was definitely not the worst drive I've ever had. The bad ones are at night when its snowing so hard that all you can see is the huge white flakes coming towards you...its sort of hypnotizing.
We may go to Home Depot to get some easy shelf making materials. Easy means laminated boards and crates. I also want to go to Joanne Fabrics and look for more $1.99 patterns. Oh Joanne Fabrics, why are you leaving us? Now, when I need you more than ever? I may break down and buy the aisle runner at 40% off today. Or maybe I will be lucky and it will be 50% off. Or maybe they will be all gone. It's a crap shoot.
Waiting for Miss Kristin to come home from her first job interview. Drive carefully Kitten. Drive carefully Kari the-already-employed. Lilly's got her eye on the sledding hill today...Weeeeeee!
I see hot cocoa in her future.
I assembled my dress forms or mannequins or whatever you would call them. One is red and one is grey and even though they are headless, I sort of feel that they should have names. Ruby would be an obvious one for the red one, but then I thought of a beloved childhood book, "Ann Likes Red" ( A blue dress Ann? No, said Ann, "I like red". A red dress instead.) So the bigger is probably Ann. Scarlett is another possibility. I'm sort of leaning towards Charlotte for the smaller grey one. Maybe I should consider famous headless people? Marie Antoinette, Ann Boleyn, Jayne Mansfield? Ick. Maybe not.
I finally sent my Christmas cards yesterday. I know its late, but I didn't want to not send them. The problem is that I found ones I liked just the week of Christmas and I was already too busy then. I sent my thank you notes in the morning along with bills, and then wrote the rest of the cards during my lunch break at work and mailed them on the way home.
There was a lot of snow on the way home and I found that my scraper had completely broken off my snow brush. I did find a squeegee in the car that sort of took care of the ice. I drove home slowly, but it was definitely not the worst drive I've ever had. The bad ones are at night when its snowing so hard that all you can see is the huge white flakes coming towards you...its sort of hypnotizing.
We may go to Home Depot to get some easy shelf making materials. Easy means laminated boards and crates. I also want to go to Joanne Fabrics and look for more $1.99 patterns. Oh Joanne Fabrics, why are you leaving us? Now, when I need you more than ever? I may break down and buy the aisle runner at 40% off today. Or maybe I will be lucky and it will be 50% off. Or maybe they will be all gone. It's a crap shoot.
Waiting for Miss Kristin to come home from her first job interview. Drive carefully Kitten. Drive carefully Kari the-already-employed. Lilly's got her eye on the sledding hill today...Weeeeeee!
I see hot cocoa in her future.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Save me New Year's Resolutions!
I think the reason that people are enthusiastic about resolutions this time of year is that we are sort of self-indulgent this time of year. Like yesterday when my parents were here we sort of had a cookie buffet for breakfast. We may have fooled ourselves temporarily saying that we were testing the cookies for their "dunk-ability" with the coffee, but really we were just eating a whole lot of cookies. I vowed not to do that today and started off right with Raisin Bran, but after eating sweet potatoes and spinach for lunch ( and believe me, the spinach was au gratin and not healthy either) we another "cookie episode". Anyways, I feel all full (awful) and sort of bloated again. I will be glad to get past all this cookie eating and focus on something healthy again. Like sewing dresses.
I have really gotten lots of things done this month. For example, I put up two grab bars in the downstairs bathroom on Wednesday. I more or less finished the sewing room and we have the majority of my sewing stuff down there. It still needs to be organized, but the room is useable now. My possibly psychic Sister-in-law Rosie sent me a label maker for Christmas that will be an absolute godsend for that room...way to go Rose!
The one thing I didn't do was send my Christmas cards, in part because I had such a hard time finding ones that I liked. I finally found them, and it was the week of Christmas and I was too busy to send them. I think they will make acceptable thank you cards. Or late Christmas cards, depending on who you are.
I did have a lovely Christmas though. I was a little stressy leading up to it, but it wasn't too bad. People were helpful and cheerful. The house looked okay, as long as you didn't go upstairs to wrapping and storage central. The weather was fine for traveling. It was nice to be with our families, which is all too rare an occasion anymore.
One last thing...go to youtube and type in Super Library Lady to see the video that Lilly made me for Christmas. Lilly, you and it are awesome.
(At this point I am contractually obligated to say that Kari and Kristin are awesome too)
I have really gotten lots of things done this month. For example, I put up two grab bars in the downstairs bathroom on Wednesday. I more or less finished the sewing room and we have the majority of my sewing stuff down there. It still needs to be organized, but the room is useable now. My possibly psychic Sister-in-law Rosie sent me a label maker for Christmas that will be an absolute godsend for that room...way to go Rose!
The one thing I didn't do was send my Christmas cards, in part because I had such a hard time finding ones that I liked. I finally found them, and it was the week of Christmas and I was too busy to send them. I think they will make acceptable thank you cards. Or late Christmas cards, depending on who you are.
I did have a lovely Christmas though. I was a little stressy leading up to it, but it wasn't too bad. People were helpful and cheerful. The house looked okay, as long as you didn't go upstairs to wrapping and storage central. The weather was fine for traveling. It was nice to be with our families, which is all too rare an occasion anymore.
One last thing...go to youtube and type in Super Library Lady to see the video that Lilly made me for Christmas. Lilly, you and it are awesome.
(At this point I am contractually obligated to say that Kari and Kristin are awesome too)
Friday, December 4, 2009
It's December, it must be time for another post
I should probably feel guilty about not posting more often, but I don't even have time to feel guilt this week. My day yesterday started at 6:00 a.m. doing some retouching and painting on the room downstairs that was having carpet installed at 9:00. I just couldn't paint in there with new carpet...I just know I would do something like drop a quart of paint all over the new carpet, that is such a me thing to do. So I painted the white trim, took out the garbage, came in and touched up the blue paint where I left some white blotches, made Lil's lunch, got her off to enrichment, folded several loads of laundry, showered, started making soup for dinner, let the carpet layers in, ran to Krogers for onions and tomatoes, finished making soup and stuck it in the crock pot, left for workat 10:30, checked in the deliveries, called the patrons who's books came in, worked on decorating the trees while attending the desk now and then, left for the branch at 5:00 where we did a 2 hour ornament workshop for 16 kids ( at least they were not so noisy as the 20+ kids the night before!), came home, folded another load of laundry, changed, went to the rec center, came home at 9:00 p.m. and ate dinner and watched the Office.
Almost all my tv shows are coming to an end! Dexter and Top Chef are about to end. Project Runway and ANTM are over...geez, I will have to read a book or something if there is nothing to watch! Or maybe I can even sew!!
Speaking of sewing...the new carpet went into the guest room/sewing room yesterday and I love it and I love Kirians! They are the best. I have not bought flooring from them for about 4/5 years and Mrs. Kirian still remembered my name when I went in. They give great customer service and they are just the nicest friendliest people...makes me want to install new flooring in every room. (no, they are not sponsoring this blog post)
Tonite Al and I have to go to Home Depot and get some baseboard for me to prime and paint so we can get that installed and move some furniture back in that room. I am moving all my sewing stuff down there, and some of the stuff that was in that closet is going upstairs. Fun, fun, fun.
This is Kristin's last day of student teaching and I bet she gets all emo. I can't believe 2 of my kids have graduated from college. Of course I had a Senior in high school helping me at the workshop last night, and I realized that I had her in preschool storytime many years ago and she used to insist that I call her Goofy. Hehe. I reminded her of this and then I said, Wow, I'm old!
I had such good dreams last night. I went to a big garage sale where everything was vintage-y and cool, and not outrageously priced either. Although I did reject some things as too expensive. Yes, I am sensible even in my dreams. I was really wondering if it was a wise thing to reject a black Patty Playpal in perfect condition at 79.99. Hmmmm. I will have to look on Ebay and see if I made a good dream decision.
Almost all my tv shows are coming to an end! Dexter and Top Chef are about to end. Project Runway and ANTM are over...geez, I will have to read a book or something if there is nothing to watch! Or maybe I can even sew!!
Speaking of sewing...the new carpet went into the guest room/sewing room yesterday and I love it and I love Kirians! They are the best. I have not bought flooring from them for about 4/5 years and Mrs. Kirian still remembered my name when I went in. They give great customer service and they are just the nicest friendliest people...makes me want to install new flooring in every room. (no, they are not sponsoring this blog post)
Tonite Al and I have to go to Home Depot and get some baseboard for me to prime and paint so we can get that installed and move some furniture back in that room. I am moving all my sewing stuff down there, and some of the stuff that was in that closet is going upstairs. Fun, fun, fun.
This is Kristin's last day of student teaching and I bet she gets all emo. I can't believe 2 of my kids have graduated from college. Of course I had a Senior in high school helping me at the workshop last night, and I realized that I had her in preschool storytime many years ago and she used to insist that I call her Goofy. Hehe. I reminded her of this and then I said, Wow, I'm old!
I had such good dreams last night. I went to a big garage sale where everything was vintage-y and cool, and not outrageously priced either. Although I did reject some things as too expensive. Yes, I am sensible even in my dreams. I was really wondering if it was a wise thing to reject a black Patty Playpal in perfect condition at 79.99. Hmmmm. I will have to look on Ebay and see if I made a good dream decision.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The Days are Noticeably Shorter
I have to say that when I think of November, I think of grey skies and cold. (sorry Kristin) Its sort of like February in that respect. So imagine my happiness that this has been such a lovely November so far. Two weekends in a row of 60+ temperatures and sunshine. On. a. weekend.
So yeah, I've been accomplishin'. This week I painted the downstairs bedroom in Benjamin Moore's "Glass Slipper"...a soft grey blue. Its the kind of blue, that when you open the can, you say, "Hey, this is white". It does dry blue though, and I think its a nice peaceful color and much better than the unhappy beige color. I wonder who gets to name paint colors? I mean, I was deciding between "Glass Slipper" and "Sweet Dreams". I don't remember what the Beige color was, probably "Mucky Road Beige". I think its probably too easy to go wrong with brown shades. On the other hand, I love the Beige in my entry. (Benjamin Moore "Bleeker Beige".) Don't ask bleeker than what.
I brought carpet samples home and am trying hard to decide...which is very very difficult when the samples are only about six by six. I am getting a berber for this room so I can sew in there and not lose pins in the carpeting. Ya know what would work best for this? Hardwood!
Once I decide which carpet, we will order it and then I will be racing to get the wood trim up and painted. Or painted and up. No wait, Painted, and up, and then re-touched. That's more like it. Then the furniture can be put back and the sewing machine brought down. And the sewing can begin. At least, thats the plan. It would be nice to have at least one bridesmaids dress done before Christmas.
I packaged up some presents to send to Kristin for her birthday, and now I have to go and make this weeks Christmas cookies to freeze. Tonite...Lemon Crinkles...my favs. Best cookies for dipping in your coffee ever. Yum.
Just an observation before I close...there are times lately when Lilly seems so grown up. And then there are times like the other night when following a dinner of spaghetti I went to the bathroom and there on my formerly clean white handtowel was a mouth-sized orange stain. Or I was watching a video she had made on Youtube and I discovered that the Kleenex from my bathroom had disappeared because she made her Webkinz a couch out of the box, and the actual Kleenex was now a bed for her Webkinz dog. (the video was a tour of her dog's house)
At least she has stopped spilling cups of water and breaking glasses.
So yeah, I've been accomplishin'. This week I painted the downstairs bedroom in Benjamin Moore's "Glass Slipper"...a soft grey blue. Its the kind of blue, that when you open the can, you say, "Hey, this is white". It does dry blue though, and I think its a nice peaceful color and much better than the unhappy beige color. I wonder who gets to name paint colors? I mean, I was deciding between "Glass Slipper" and "Sweet Dreams". I don't remember what the Beige color was, probably "Mucky Road Beige". I think its probably too easy to go wrong with brown shades. On the other hand, I love the Beige in my entry. (Benjamin Moore "Bleeker Beige".) Don't ask bleeker than what.
I brought carpet samples home and am trying hard to decide...which is very very difficult when the samples are only about six by six. I am getting a berber for this room so I can sew in there and not lose pins in the carpeting. Ya know what would work best for this? Hardwood!
Once I decide which carpet, we will order it and then I will be racing to get the wood trim up and painted. Or painted and up. No wait, Painted, and up, and then re-touched. That's more like it. Then the furniture can be put back and the sewing machine brought down. And the sewing can begin. At least, thats the plan. It would be nice to have at least one bridesmaids dress done before Christmas.
I packaged up some presents to send to Kristin for her birthday, and now I have to go and make this weeks Christmas cookies to freeze. Tonite...Lemon Crinkles...my favs. Best cookies for dipping in your coffee ever. Yum.
Just an observation before I close...there are times lately when Lilly seems so grown up. And then there are times like the other night when following a dinner of spaghetti I went to the bathroom and there on my formerly clean white handtowel was a mouth-sized orange stain. Or I was watching a video she had made on Youtube and I discovered that the Kleenex from my bathroom had disappeared because she made her Webkinz a couch out of the box, and the actual Kleenex was now a bed for her Webkinz dog. (the video was a tour of her dog's house)
At least she has stopped spilling cups of water and breaking glasses.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)