So Ends Another Month/Week

Is it Friday - already?....Really?

Pooh.

All those days off I had this week got eaten up by visits to the doctor, laundry, visiting teaching, and nursing a sick dog. No fair!

I started another painting, but I didn't get very far...

I've been craving some gooseflesh-raising entertainment, so my daughter obliged me last night, and we watched "The Changeling."
Maybe in another decade it would have scared the bejeevers out of me, but for some reason, all I could do was critique it.

*Why did the ghost wait so long to get his revenge?
*Why didn't he haunt the dad who killed him instead of the innocent stranger who was suffering from his own tragic loss?
*Why did he kill off his replacement/brother when he was an old man and would have croaked soon anyway - and who was as much a victim in the situation as he was?

(It's an old movie, but sorry for the spoilers if you haven't seen it.)

Have I become so blah that I can't even enjoy a decent scare any more?

~*~

I mentioned nursing the sick dog - he is in his hundreds in dog years, and his mortality is inevitable, but my family is so not ready for that. The creature is so beloved that I think he will be mourned more (and longer) than I would.
- Hoping it's just a tummy thing that will pass. (Literally - ha!)

Meanwhile, he is about the worst patient I have had to take care of in decades. He whimpered and whined, and if I got up and left him even for a minute - he howled and had panic attacks.

Hubby thinks he's milking it.

~*~

Worked on November's music for church yesterday - Oy, I did not realize I had four weeks to fill with musical numbers.
That is definitely the only part about my job I don't enjoy - having to find, call, and beg people to do intermediate musical things.
Call me a chicken, but I have issues with that. Not only that, but now it's going to be really short notice.

Buggar.

Do you want to come and sing for me? Just let me know.

It's back to work today - not looking forward to the last minute costume making frenzy. Hoping that's over by now.

Happy Weekend.
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Scary...

The weather has taken a turn for the somber lately - stormy and overcast - rain, and even in some areas, SNOW.
I kinda love it in a way...

The gray cloudy skies bring everything in closer, and makes the colors seem brighter and sharper.
Makes you want to hunker down indoors and be cozy.

My daughter wants to start a petition that humans should be able to hibernate.
I'm all for that.

This time of year also makes me want to plant my nose in a scary ghost story.
...As Tigger would say, "I want to scare myself, and everyone else."

So, I've been on the search for some good stories - but they have to fit my criteria, which makes it difficult.

a) No blood, guts or gore
b) No demons or evil
c) no psychological thrillers (they make me feel crazy)

...See my problem - what else is there? Ha.
(My kids have to sensor movies for me - they see them first, and tell me if I can handle them or not. Shouldn't that work the other way around?
Yeah, I know. *Sigh*)

I guess I'll have to be content to watch movies with the grand kids. They are on my level. :-)

Other Frightening Things...

I went to the hospital for an MRI today.
- Sheesh - if you want to be scared, just spend a few hours there!
It took them half an hour just to get me signed in, because the lady couldn't get anyone on the phone who could tell her if the test had to be pre-approved for my insurance or not.

Then, I got to Radiology and found that the test that the doctor ordered was the wrong one, and wouldn't give them the information that was needed.
Of course, my doctor was out of the office today, so I sat there for a good half hour trying to get that issue ironed out.

Luckily, I had taken my happy pill (I'm very claustrophobic, so had the prescribed sedative), so by then I was beyond caring.

I had a lovely nap while they shoved me up the tube.

No idea what the results are - you know how doctors are - they order every expensive test in the books, then treat you like the results are none of your business.

Who knows when they'll let me in on it.

*Shudder*

What else is scary?

This past weekend, I had a day out with my girls.
We had plans to go to Witches Night Out at a local shopping center, so first we drove to the Halloween store to get all decked out, but as we turned in to the parking lot, they saw that their favorite media store was having a HUGE sale, so we had to go there first. (Give. me. strength.)

That place is so overwhelming to me. Acres and acres of CD's, video games, and DVD's - The place gives me panic attacks.
We spent at least 2 hours there. I swear the kids are giving me paybacks for dragging them to the craft store when they were small...

*Tremble*

We spent a similar amount of time at the Halloween store. I kept losing them, and they kept losing me - just when I'd think they were done, they'd see something else...
By the time we came out of there, it was pouring rain! ...And since the event we were planning to go to was mostly outside, we decided not to go.
(Too bad too, seeing as how there was a full moon :) )
...So we went to lunch, and then to Pier 1. (A place we all enjoyed.)

~*~

We celebrated hubby's birthday on Sunday because my youngest won't be here next weekend. (She has a date aboard a pirate ship - can't wait to hear about that!)
Anyway, had a nice little party and got him all celebrated.

Three whole days off this week - I'm lovin' it.

Going to go sleep off the meds now...

Meanwhile, if you know of any good ghost stories that fit my criteria - let me know!

BOO!
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...Almost Over

Boy, it's been a long week.

Had a schedule change & worked every day. Today was the worst - an early morning shift [gasp].
I had to get up at 5:30 to be ready in time. (FYI - I am NOT a morning person.)
Hubby was complaining all over the place tonight - he didn't like it either I woke him up too early.

Poor baby.

The up-side is that I finally get the weekend off like normal people!
It will be my first whole weekend off in months. Trying to think of something wild and crazy to do...

This weekend is "Witches Night Out" at Gardeners Village. It would be fun to have a mother/daughter night there...
It's even going to be a full moon!

...Or, if the girls have plans, I could always catch a movie - alone... (It's hubby's night to spend with his dad.)

Or maybe just go to Borders and read - they're open till midnight...

*Sigh* I'll probably be here, doing laundry, but it's nice to dream.

Since I'm in griping/complaining/issues mode...

I'm going in for an MRI on Tuesday.

I noticed something growing in my throat a few months ago, and have been pursuing that with my doctor. No insurance when hubby loses his job, so I need things taken care of.

This one makes me nervous - halfway between the heart and the brain.

Good thoughts would be appreciated.

...Just one last thing -

Why do work uniforms have to be shapeless, colorless and devoid of style?
Do people enjoy being served by amorphous blobs?

I don't enjoy being one.

Hrmph.
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Measuring Up

Know where college drop outs end up? ...I do.

RETAIL.

That's where I've been for the last 20-some-odd years.
I've bounced around from Craft store, to Scrapbook store, fabrics to baked goods, and back again, but other than a couple of short stints as a receptionist, it's been a lifetime of hawking ...whatever.

It's not all bad. It's hard work, but it's honest labor, and at the end of the day I feel like I've accomplished something.
(Although, the older I get, the more I wish I had gotten that degree.)

I've gone full circle and am back at a fabric store at present.
I've been there over a year now, and am just barely beginning to feel that I have a niche there.
I applied there as much to find a new circle of friends as much as for a regular pay-check, but that part hasn't materialized. (Pun intended - ha.)
They're not really unfriendly, they're more I'll-say-hi-and-be-cordial-but-beyond-that-I-don't-care-so-don't-tell-me.

Eh. It's only four hours a day, so I can live with that.
(Because, luckily, the customers are more friendly than the staff.)

Measuring fabric day in and day out must be a boring job, you say?

Oh, not so.

No two days are ever alike (other than the screaming kids, that is,) and no two sales are alike.
We have been trained to ask each customer what they are making, (you know - feigned interest) but if you are in my line and I don't ask you that, here's why...

*I had a couple come in one day, who brought up several bolts of white satin.
I smiled at them and asked, "Is this for a wedding dress?"
The couple gave me a strange look, and said: "No, we're lining a coffin."

"Oh." Was all I could muster - no more questions. Did they work for a funeral home - or were they building their own to save money? ...I don't want to know.

*On another occasion, the lady with the big black hair, gobs of make-up and black sparkly fingernails out to here came to the table carrying black fabrics with swirls and stars. (We're not talking Halloween time here - it was like - March.)
I smiled and asked her what she was making. She gave a wilting look and a cackle and said: "....Uh, ...an, ah ...apron..."
That woman was a witch, or my name ain't Granny!

So, if you show up in my line, like the old farmer who ordered 5 yards of powder blue satin, and I don't ask what you want to do with it - and just smile and ask; "How much?" (Loving grandpa, or Prom time for the cows?)
...It's not that I don't care, it just that I'm afraid of the answer!

Ha.

- And then there are the math skills!
If you don't think you'll ever use those in real life, don't work at a fabric store.
There's always the person who comes in and says things like; "If my table is x-long and y-wide, and I want it to drape 12 inches on all sides, how much fabric do I need? Or the quilter who wants to know how much they'll need to make a bias binding for a 108 x 98 blanket.

There are rare days I can come up with those answers off the top of my head, (or at least refer to the cheat sheet under the counter,) but there are more days when it takes me 20 minutes or more just to formulate the problem to punch in to the calculator.

Meanwhile, it is Halloween sewing time now, and I have cut enough tulle in the last two weeks to outfit an entire village with tu-tus.
If a tornado should strike on Halloween night, the whole county will be taken up and fill the sky with multi-colored fluff just like a breeze over a dandelion field.

*Poof*

Other than that, our customers are basically 3 types: a) the high school sewing class student, b) the avid quilter, or c) the maniac crafter making fabric flowers.

That latter person is a frightening breed. They bring their carts to the table packed to the gills with silky floaty fabrics and say cheerfully, "1/8 of a yard of everything, please."

Oy. Have you ever tried cutting a straight line on fabrics that are as fluid as water? Small cuts like that are especially daunting, because if you do a crappy cut - you've basically ruined their piece.
The other thing that gets me about these ladies is that they are usually making them to sell somewhere.
Makes you wonder...

If every lady in the county is selling them, who are they selling them to?

Folks here are interesting...

Anyway, enough talk about work - time to get dressed and go there.

Later.
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Solitary Confinement

...That's what it feels like around here most days.

Hubby is either at one of his two jobs, or on duty taking care of his dad. My oldest goes in her room and shuts the door when she gets home. If he ever does show up for an evening, I have to ask him - who are you, and what are you doing here?
(Joking, but it feels like I haven't seen him all year...)
It's pretty much me and the dog 24/7.
I've actually tried talking to the dog, but he just looks confused, then gets up and slinks away.

I check my email box once a day - delete all the junk and move on - never any signs of human life there.

Even facebook has become a place where people just come to do their business (gaming) and move on.

I'm forgetting what my voice sounds like.

Had a surprise visit from my sister this week. That was awesome! Wish I could have held on to her longer, but I know full well how scary that road can be when it starts getting dark.

Working more - longer shifts and more days. Financially it's great - but it sure wears me out. It's truly a physical work-out.
No worries, I'll survive.
Biggest problem there? ...I don't have enough white shirts to work 5 days a week. Ha.

Haven't given up on the crafting - I finished the gothic birdie villiage this week. Just need to embellish a couple of the houses to fill in negative spaces.
I'm pleased with how they turned out. I just need to photograph them now and get them up on the web.

The painting is coming along too - baby steps.

I still haven't figured out the puzzle of my computer, so I'm going to have to have the photos downloaded to a disc and go that route. What a pain, but you do what you gotta do...

Won't be making the trip to pick up Jenny from college this weekend. She got asked to Homecoming, so she'll be staying there.

Hope she can let herself have a good time.

That's it from my isolated corner...

:-)

~ Comfort ~

One of the things I love about fall is the return of comfort food.
Warm, stick-to-your-ribs dishes that warm you to your toes and make you feel all cozy inside.

My daughter bought me Taste of Home's Ultimate Halloween issue which is full of those types of recipes.
I've been trying out a few of them, and am adding to my family's favorites.

This one [Sweet Potatoes and Apples Au Gratin] was especially yummy.
I had to fight the temptation to throw a handful of brown sugar on top, because that's how I usually cook sweet potatoes, but with the apples in the mix, you really don't need it - they sweeten them up just fine.
(And it's healthier too!)

Yesterday we had an honest to goodness thunderstorm.
It's been so long since it's rained here - my poor lawn shows it.

I love thunderstorms.

As I listened to the thunder, and opened the windows wide to let the rain smell in, the lights flickered and I wondered if the power would go off.

That made me think of my oldest brother.

Back when I was a kid, when the lights would go off, he would find a candle or some other form of light, and he would sit and tell us stories, or play his guitar and sing silly songs. He made it fun, and even exciting!
Because of him, I've never been afraid of thunderstorms.

He was such an awesome big brother. He gave me so many happy memories - I really need to write and tell him that.


Conference weekend is another comfort around here.
It's a bit of a mini vacation from having to get dressed up and go to church (ha ha), but it's also 2 days of being taught and instructed by our church leaders via television.
Always gives me warm feelings of hope and encouragement - which we so need right now.
It's a time to gather the family, and hunker down in the family room to listen together.

Nice.
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* PooF *

Another week has come and gone, and - by golly - the month has too.

Been busy in a different kind of way. All those work hours that I've been wanting all year finally materialized, just like that.
It's so odd to have nothing but free time one week - and none whatsoever the next. I'm going to have to learn to budget my time so that I can get the household chores done, but also those projects that I've been wanting to do.

It's a balancing act.

Interesting coincidences - this week, I've been thinking about old acquaintances, and within a day or two - guess who shows up at my store? It's happened twice this week, and I'm loving it. I love seeing old friends!
...Is this a new power I have? I'm going to test it out and see - who knows, you could be next. :-)

~*~

On top of everything hubby's been going through with his family, Thursday they dropped the bomb at work that everyone will be losing their jobs.
The company that he works for is going to move all their operations back East, and closing up shop here.

Hubby has seen this coming for a while, but now it's official.
Talk about a bummer.
He does have a couple of options already, but he's going to have to take some time and weigh them out to find which one is right for us. His last day at the present job will be Dec. 23rd.

This may sound odd, but in a way, we almost look forward to him being jobless. He will be getting a fairly decent severance package, so we could actually take some time to take the trailer to the desert, and/or go visit the son in Seattle.
The kids are all out of the public schools now, so there's nothing to keep us here in this little town.
It will probably never happen, but it's kind of nice to imagine that we could live somewhere else, and have a different kind of life...

Switching in gears -

I finally finished that Einstein book, and actually enjoyed it more than I thought I could.
In fact, as I prepared to make that long drive to pick up my daughter yesterday, I found myself at a loss, because for the past month I've had that to listen to as I make the drive, and I couldn't find anything to replace it.
..Not really into music right now.
Luckily, hubby made it home in time, and we drove together - and talked.

Kind of a morbid ending to the book - I learned that after he died, as they were preparing his body to be cremated, one of the attendants decided that it would be cool to remove his brain.
He later shared bits and pieces of it with various friends and institutions of learning to study.

Is that even legal? How rude.

I've been enjoying my reading lately. Opens up lots more things I want to learn about.
I sure wish I had better retention though. My brain cells seem to be greased - knowledge just skims the surface and slides right off...
Example, my sister and I have often enjoyed the same books - a year later, she can still quote it word for word, and I'm lucky if I remember reading the book.

*Sigh* such is life. What are ya gonna do?

Had a Skype session with the son last night.
I so enjoy hearing about what he is learning (and my daughter who was doing most of the talking here.)
He was even able to show us some of the projects that he's working on.
He's become such an awesome big brother. He was so encouraging to her (she's struggling to adjust to college.) I so enjoyed watching their interaction.

I love Skype. It's awesome!

...The day has begun, and I'm in demand already -

Some other time, some other place...

Enjoy your weekend.
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