Giving Thanks

Today, on this day of reflecting and giving thanks, I thought I would depart from the usual kvetching and moaning and make a list of the things I am truly grateful for.

Spellcheck
wheels on luggage
fabreeze...well any order eliminating device
thera-flu
social media that has brought back to me so many friends, created new ones and gave me an entire new outlet for tasteless jokes
cheap hair dye
gas station cappuccino
BBC America
the Internet
opi nail polish, especially nail envy
the cheap carpet in my office, so I don't have to freak out every time I see the dogs do the butt-scoot boogie on it
Baileys
Terry Pratchett and his entire alternative universe
oldies stations
Orange Milano cookies
those teeny-tiny packs of toothpicks you get at some restaurants
the Amish, for making me feel better about my life
my pets
NPR
deep discount stores like "Tuesday Morning" and "Big-Lots"
McDonalds Ice Coffee
doughnuts
dental floss
not wearing panti hose
my teachers who didn't expect much ~ I lived up to your expectations
E600
garage sales. estate sales, 2nd hand stores and rummage sales
stores that carry big giant bras
the cooking channels
audio.com
microwave popcorn
my big-gass truck and my itty-bitty barbie car
tylenol pm
the hubs's work...well, hell the HUBS too!
digital cameras...(I still have rolls of film in the fridge to use up)
friends, friends of friends and their friends who 'like' me on face book
coffee pots with only one button
living in the boon-docks
my customers, fans and people who generally 'get' what I am trying to do
family...mostly
people who work for the good of others...nurses, police, firefighters, volunteer staff at shelters (people and animal) nursing assistants, vets and their staff, and anyone who can put aside common sense and let their heart rule.

This is just a partial list of all the things I am truly grateful for, and throughout the day I will be thinking of things I should have added...but for now I will wander around looking for another cup of coffee and be really grateful for going to a restaurant on this thanksgiving day!

Grouchy old lady rant for the day #1

Its been a while since I went off on a rampage about life, the universe and everything. So naturally, spending the morning shopping at my local K-mart my grouchy inclinations swept over me and I dang near laid some truth on the unsuspecting public.

All y'all here are the suspecting public, so there should be no surprises.

General rants associated with personal hygiene:

Ladies, when you get dressed in the morning, and you decide to rock that thong, please take a millisecond to check out your posterior. No one want to see that, not now, not when your were a hot 19 year during prohibition, not ever. Adding the generic Uggs, stained Michigan Sweats, and scrunchy is not helping.

No amount of aftershave is a replacement for deodorant...I don't care if this is your 'good stuff' you got from Avon, its not working...

Hard truth folks, if you smoke...you stink. There I said it! And when you smoke and that interesting smell sits for a while...like oh~say 8 months in your closet then you yank out that winter coat you are going to smell like a shrimp boat Captain's Jockey shorts. Considered yourself told. (fabreeze, Isle 5)

Parenting 101 according to the Queen:

If your kid is having a melt down, no amount of bribing, begging or ignoring your little precious jewel will work. You can wander down the isles looking all around and trying not to make eye contact, but that kid knows you too well and whatever lame-ass promise you made is happening...so happy meal that kid up and get out of the store!

Allowing your children to run free in any store will result in me handing little Jr. some extra strength benydryl...I carry it, its in bright appealing colors and works like a charm.

Taking your children to the toy department is cruel and unusual punishment for the others that have to hear you little bundle of joy loose his damn mind when you want to look at towels.

Christmas rant:

Oh holy crap...its way to dang early, and I know times are hard and you got to allow people to get prepared, but the music, the decorations...before Halloween...
(if only there were some way to actually predict when Christmas is coming...)I am already sick of it...

When shopping with your little special person, and you find the store all Cristmased up, using Santa and presents to threaten the kid is just stupid. I overheard one parent yesterday...(YESTERDAY) say to his 3 year old who was in the middle of a grand mal melt down...'OK, I am just telling Santa to not bring you any presents'
yeah, right, you betcha...does this every work?

And finally:

To store personnel...if I am wandering all around looking lost and forlorn, go ahead and ask if I need help...90% of the time I don't but I always appreciate you noticing me with out me having to resort to lighting my hair on fire.

yeah, its going to be a long holiday season...

Keeping ahead.

Back when I had a job and was in the public I felt this way about every day. Deadlines, meetings, approval of designs, communications, misunderstandings, failures and outright screw-ups...I was barely (heehehe) keeping ahead of the curve. Add in airports, carrier strikes, power outages, jacked up weather, jacked up bosses and general mayhem ~ it all added to the stress of a corporate living.

People didn't know what they wanted but would 'know it when they saw it'...especially if another company was very successful with the same item. Making something similar without crossing the copyright line was a challenge at best. Trade shows, product development meetings, and a healthy amount of schmoozing that went on only added to the mix.

Gawd, I miss it...

Now, I get up...tend the dogs, dink around and generally try to say busy.

Relevant, not so much~

Leaving the corporate mainstream (not by choice I might add) has gave me some perks though:

It allows me to pursue other forms of revenue generating opportunities (yeahsureyoubetcha)

My laundry day is cut in half

I can't remember the last time I wore real shoes

Shopping has gone from high end malls to local thrift shops

I get to experience the excitement of the social media phenomenon

I can finally stop glowing in the dark from all the excess radiation I was getting at airports

I get to cook...yippee

and clean...yippee Skippie

and enjoy day time judge shows...(go Judge Judy!)

I finally unpacked the last of my luggage and have used up all the teeny-tiny bottles of shampoo stolen from hotels all across the world.

Yeah, I am a home bound crafter with 2 online shops and spend my days gluing stuff to stuff...don't get me wrong, I love what I am doing, but just for old times sake, I would love the make that mad dash through the Atlanta airport diving into the train just as the doors close and feel the rush of the deadline again.

One mans trash...

I love my Goodwill challenges...
and this one turned out pretty good, talking the frosted glass leaves, hearts and other assorted shapes from this cast off candle holder and hanging them on various styles, sizes and shapes of silver chains.

trash into treasures (hopefully)

So while watching 'Project accessory' last night I was more than amused as the challenge was to make a necklace, belt and one other accessory from junk found in a storage unit...piece of cake.

Some were confused, some jumped right in, some melted down, some did the basic, some over shot the mark by a mile. The girl that won the challenge completely transformed the paper umbrella into a lovely necklace that was wearable and interesting.
One guy took the springs from a couch and transformed them into a very funky necklace...one girl just re purposed luggage...yawn.

I would have loved to be on that show...unfortunately, from the looks of the contestants, I am far too old, too middle class, not nearly tattooed up enough or hip enough to fit into the group. So, I will just watch, try not to throw the remote at the TV and take a lot of notes.

more junk!

So the guy say's to me...'hey, I got a box of my mom's old broken jewelry and I don't know what to do with it, do you want it...?

and I say 'yeah' I'll take it off your hands

holy cats!

To most people this is garage sale cast offs, but to me, its the basis of my shop...and this was the mother load!

And the stuff I made from it...it's pretty dang cool, if I must say so myself.

Old watch faces, cigar bands, buttons and drawer pulls...for me, better than any trip to Michaels.

Afraid of the unknown

This is Lily standing at the top of the basement stairs...she is afraid to come down them. She runs up and down the stair to go upstairs, but can't seem to grasp that this is the exact same process except in reverse.

You can call her, beg her, help her put her foot down, and she just might make an attempt, but generally she will sit at the top of the stairs while we are all down there making heavy sighs and generally being afraid.

Just like me.

I sit in the parking lot of my GP not wanting to go in...getting on that damn scale, knowing the lecture I am about to get...

Avoiding restaurants that are too fancy, foreign, or busy.

Trying a new hair style, fashion statement or makeup technique.

Trying new food to cook (how does one eat an artichoke?)

Sampling new perfume, music, tv shows...

I'm stuck at the top of my stairs too...

So, Lily and I are both going to conquer our fears, I am going to try Ethiopian food, green eye liner, techno music...

and she is getting down them damn stairs!

My Bear, my self

This is my bear, stolen from my brother when he decided he didn't need it any more. My bear doesn't have a name, never did. My bear has had his eyes and nose loved right off and can't seem to sit up straight any more. My bear is full of holes and his fur is almost all gone.

Beside my bear is a poem I cut from a "woman's Day' magazine when I was 12 years old. They look pretty good together.

My bear has been rescued from the garbage more times than I can count. Whenever a new hole would spring up my mom would try to toss him out...she refused to fix it. So, I basically taught myself how to sew using the biggest needles I could get my hands on (and one time using a curved mattress needle) with thread that never matched. He was counting on me to rescue him.

My bear never cared that I could go years without touching him, yet he always came with me with every move, every apartment, and in every house. My bear has witnessed floods, tornadoes, tragedy and loss and never came up missing. He is the best secret keeper and knows how to keep his mouth shut.

He doesn't mind cat hair, the fact that I never ever make my bed or need me to wash his drawers...he doesn't need batteries, an instruction manual or accessories. He's just a bear.

He sits all slumped in the corner of my room in a rocking chair that was my Grandfathers...both need some major overhauling. He never cares how fat I get, if my roots show or if I am currently employed. He 'gets' me.

And the poem...words I hope I live my life by:

If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
or cool one pain,
or help a fainting robin
unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
Emily Dickinson

So here's to all our favorite blankies, woobies, bears and bunnies...may your comforting spirit never leave.