911 and How I got stuck

For those of you that have never used a large floor loom I will try to be as explicit as I can with out boring you. Somewhere along the line my arse got big...there, that is pretty much it. Now I know mirrors don't lie but what the hell was I thinking. So my dear sweet loom, has all of the warp wound on the back beam....this is a usual process, Ok this is the first time I am weaving on this loom and it is a beauty and a beast, it is heavy!! All of my other floor looms had wingnuts that you undo and the front beam came off or down or out of the way. You get a comfy stool and sit in the middle of your loom and thread the heddles. Now besides being big, my arms are rather short, so now I have to figure out how to thread the heddles???? This way, uuhhmm no , this way...not....??? So I look at the front beam and there are hex head bolts on it?? Kind of recessed too? This is pretty permanent? Ok so I take a look at the distance between the harness's and the beater bar and think in my drug induced stupor, Alice drink this? ....that I could possibly fit in there, not just me but sitting on a swivel chair besides. Oh yeah my mirror has been lying to me. So I sit on the chair and try to bend my short fat neck under the beater bar and front beam....picture this like an elephant trying to get into a box, a small box, first of all my neck doesn't bend that much because my chins are in the way, so I wack my glasses out of alignment and try to get out. Ok my thinking is the chair is what is so big? don't ask....so Timba gets on her hands and knees and trys to weasel her way into the little area....hhhmmmphhh.....meanwhile the thought did pass my mind how was I going to get out? I had my cell phone with me just in case, I did get stuck....ehhh 911, Hi, I am stuck in my loom? no not on a boom, inside my loom, I am a weaver and I crawled into my loom and can't get out....yeah bring a hoist!!!
So I start to wiggle and the only thing going in this space is my head?? Where or when did I ever think first off that I was agile, and small? I was the kid that couldn't tuck her head and do a somersault? But I could beat you up for laughing at me?? So now I back out of this spot gingerly I might add? I am on all fours and Iggy is smirking at me...I put one hand on the chair that was too big for this job and then try to ummph my way up on my bad knees and now everything hurts including my head. I call Dawn, the go to girl for looms....after she stops laughing at me hysterically she says "Oh I keep a ratchet wrench right on the side to undo those bolts that look really permanent....Thanks Dawn....today, without kneeling and bending like a contortionist, my loom is threaded and I am weaving....now I need a nap!!!

Things to make you be thankful!!!

Thursday night while I was watching water run into my basement, I am thankful it was clean water. When I went to bed Thursday night and the cable was out, I was thankful that the electric was still on. Friday morning when I was digging through wet stuff, I was thankful that it was not contaminated with feces. When I watched the news I was thankful, it was my basement and not my whole living area. If someone doesn't declare Milwaukee a disaster area there is something wrong. Watching videos of the flooding makes me so thankful all I lost was nothing. A few boxes of things that I should have taken care of years ago. Yes they were antiques but, they must not have been that great because I forgot I had them. It is Sunday and I waited till all the rain moved out of here and will go move stuff around today to avoid mold growing under totes and things. All the rubber matting is up and dried and if I do stuff a little at a time it will be OK. I think I need to consider getting a generator. Living in Wisconsin the main concern would be no heat in Winter. Not that I don't have family to go to but, if a storm is bad enough you won't get there either. Today I am dressing my loom, not in a suit or tutu or anything like that but with the warp I have been winding. It is a long process but I love this part, almost as much as I love weaving. My worst part is over, thanks to a few encouraging customers that kept prodding me on to finish the 178 ends of warp. I will take some photos of the process so you can enjoy the beauty that developes, oh I am not being conceited, the pattern I am following was written by someone else. It is a black and white semi houndstooth check scarf, well three to be exact. In Fall I am going to have a class on Warping on a shoelace, it is a great way to learn to warp your loom if you never tried it. Oh I am sitting on my deck, my secret little spot, with flowers and herbs, a breeze and no bugs. I have a second cup of coffee and Iggy is patroling the area. First time out here in two weeks other than to water the flowers, which by the way are blooming like crazy!!! I love my little corner of the World. I am counting my blessings today!!!!
Video of the flooding

Sign up now for Iron Woman triathalon alias Viking knitting

So it started out as a regular event/class. The woman were all preparing for the long haul of knitting on their dowels...it was intense. Suddenly event #2 went into effect, the (tornado) alarms went off and the sprint began to the basement (tornado shelter) Dowels in hand, cutters and purses of course purses...then a road block..."Hey there is a guy at the door?" Leave him there and then I saw it was Chris the jeweler, not a robber, "I don't have a TV and heard the sirens...come on join the sprinters to the basement. We are all getting chairs and setting up class in the basement/studio/shelter....cell pnones are ringing, some lose the signal, the sump pump is humming and we are making comments on "wow the sump pump is running non stop and I am getting that pit of the stomach feeling we are in for flooding. Since the last flood I do have things properly raised off of the floor to allow a free flowing stream instead of ponding. Another thing why is every time woman need to be somewhere important does a potty break become a matter of life and death....I think we all had to pee....!!
So some participants/students decided it was clear enough to go upstairs and me being the freak stayed in the basement, the teacher was upstairs I was just a helper and race director. I just said,"you may want to take your purses off the floor it may start getting wet" no sooner did I say that and we had the next phase to our triathalon, the wading....through water that was ponding. Then I am in a frantic hurry trying to siphon the crock, up steps a volunteer and you heard that right a volunteer to suck on the hose. The other two of us, were bumping into each other trying to look busy and not interested in the "sucking" job? This heroine went right to it and we had success for about ......a minute?? Water was flowing quite freely all around. I said "let's just get out of here before one of us ends up with curly hair. So then the sprint to the finish line. phones again were ringing and yes we were all OK....getting home was going to be a problem for many!!! What a class!!! I want to thank all of the participants in the first Viking Knitting Triathalon ....you were all great sports and all did well, hey we were finished by 10pm World record for a class at Just 4 Ewe.....and I am hoping everyone got home safe!!! No pictures we were all too concerned with our projects...

What have I been eating?

Pornless Porn???

So for months, actually almost after I opened, this nice sounding black man called and was asking me questions, like, "I am interested in knitting and want to find a store that sells nice yarns and things"
Me- Well you have found the place and I am more than willing to show you...
He- I am in a local Reggae band and in between, I thought I could do this stuff
Me- That is a great idea
He-Can you tell me where you are located
Me-Well where are you coming from
He-Germantown
Me-Oh that will take a while and I close soon..so I give directions
He-I come pretty quick
Me-silence...more silence and then say well I close soon
click
Me alone in the shop, no vicious dog, is nervous now. Will he show up? was it just a prank? Am I going to be alone when this guy walks in knife in hand, telling me to do bad stuff, stealing my yarn while he sings Bob Marley tunes??? Poking me with knitting needles...oh man what should I do??? Ok, I have hornet spray strategically located all over the shop, yeah I know it's inconspicuous and sprays 20 feet and you will be blind till you go to the ER. I get one can closer to me. I am loaded and ready and I get to thinking.....I haven't had sex in umpteen years, if that is what he is after I may kill him??? He may say, I'm going to tie you up and I'm going to say "Oh baby bring it on" It's been a long time...put the knife away I am ready and willing ....are you? He may end up calling the police..Help me she is killing me."
Ok so my mind went on a tangent there...and please don't miss understand me there is nothing funny about rape or abuse, but if you know me, he should be afraid, very afraid.
Instead I call Chris the jeweler, and he sits with me till I close. He never showed, but I continue to get the calls periodically and sometimes he doesn't block his phone number, so I have it.
After about 20 calls, I finally recognize his voice and hang up or say something snide, he called yesterday and I told him one more call and I am reporting him to the police. Now in reality what can I say to the cops, "this guy calls me and asks for directions? " I have hornet spray...
I do hope if a black man ever calls and asks about knitting stuff and is legitimate, I don't start screaming obscene things in the phone.....that is not good for public relations???

By the way...

The internet has become somewhat of a shark feeding frenzy for people that have nothing better to do than sit in front of a computer/phone and write comments about other people. Take Ravelry for example, it is one of the greatest resources for yarners that exists. It is a useful tool and reference tool, it is a great way to meet other kindred spirit, it is also a place where if you slip up just a little and say/write something someone doesn't agree with ....bam...you are swarmed with comments and remarks and ripped apart, by who??? We really need to make note that when you write something, depending on your style, it may not come out how you would say the same thing, it is kind of like listening to kids talk.."my bad?" "that is the bomb" Now depending on how you perceive these statements, you can take what I write two different ways good or bad. When I was growing up bad was not good and the bomb meant it was a failure??? Sending emails to someone you don't know can be a trick if you are trying to be funny. If I were talking to someone I knew and said "Look Bitch" we would all laugh and carry on and then someone would call me bitch and so on, but write that ...Hey Bitches....if you knew me it would be fine and funny, but if you didn't you would be typing a nasty remark and I would be back paddling trying to explain it was in fun. I love Ravelry for the same reasons I love the internet, it is a great tool, but it too can be abused by people with nothing better to do but make nasty comments, some of them may lead boring lives and this is their entertainment. There are a zillion creative people working hard to offer non creative people patterns and fibers to use in their lives and then there is the one disgruntled person, waiting to pounce, waiting to smear someone's name. I like to read on Ravelry but just have to shake my head when somebody has worked hard to accomplish something and the shark feeding frenzy begins...Steve Jobs said it all here

"By the way, what have you done that's so great? do you create anything, or just criticize others work and belittle their motivations? " Steve Jobs

I love this quote, it says it all..what have you done that is sooo great?? Everyone is a critic..and so quick to criticize. What happend to sending a personal message first to address the situation? Everyone makes mistakes so let them know off line!!! Instead of running a smear campaign and being pleased that you brought it to the Worlds attention.
I am an Apple fan....I have all Mac stuff and have little to no complaints about any of it. I have a third generation Iphone and love it, I dislike the carrier, but love my phone. Apple put out the Ipad, I own it...it has changed my life, seriously changed my life, I am reading again, like a fiend....I use it to take credit cards in the shop. It is a thing of beauty and I sincerely love it. Now the new I phone came out and it has a glitch....feeding frenzy, utube videos, rants...I have faith that Apple will make good on this, it is a glitch...relax......sit back a bit, and think about it before you get on the band wagon, "what have you created that is so great, what have you contributed to the technical world? " Give someone a break, let's be kind, that is of course until you don't get a response then " Unleash the menopausal bitch" LOL
disclaimer
"this is just an observation from reading the internet/ravelry, this is not a personal situation" LOL

What age would you be?

While driving Iggy to daycare, the radio had a contest and this woman won and added, I wish I was 39 again. I don't, I like my age, to go back and do it all over again is a tiring thought. Furthermore soon enough I will be crapping my pants and drooling, so it goes full circle. But really, what age would you love to be again? The best years of my life started at 40, I think when a woman hits 40 her life is at it's peak. A mother is pretty much done raising children, your life is, or should be rather settled. You will know by then if you will be a millionaire or averagaire. You become either comfortable in your skin or do something about it. I love my age now, my motto when people comment on my hair is (for those of you that don't know me, is pink, turquiose and purple) For years I have done what I "had"to, now I do what I want to. I get tattoos, because I love art and I get them where I can see them and enjoy them, to me putting a tattoo on my back would require a mirror to see it and there is nothing about a mirror that I am impressed with let alone purposely to look at my backside? No I wouldn't go back, it has been a great journey, i have met so many people and friends, I am happy!!! There is a saying, "Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, and loudly proclaiming, "Wow!!! What a ride!!"

hhhmmm how long????

So we all know about fighting with the loom, and we all know the heat is high here in Wisconsin, but, do you know how long I was walking around with the butt of my pants blown out????? Tuesday morning I put on some old clothes to do this sweaty fighting routine with the loom, pants crack intact. Two young men come to help move the loom, I am assisting with an emphasis on the first three letters of that word. I can only think of one time and that was when I went to bend down and my pants stuck due to excessive sweating, to the top of my legs increasing the stress on my arse. I then went on like nothing was wrong, well let me put it this way, I didn't know my big girl panties were exposed to the World. So I go upstairs after all of this lugging and pulling and that was just the guys doing it. I started running bath water and took of my pants and hung them on the hook....hhhmm, a 12" rip on the seam of my pants, now something had to be exposed??? I feel a bit of red rush over my face, how long was I walking around like that???? Did I sear those boys eyes with my arse hanging out???? So I retrace my steps....no they were ahead of me on the steps, thank God, hmmmm, did I bend down at all in front of them??? Did I scare them for life??? What a nice way to start the day...

My affair

I have a confession to you. I am in love, I have been in love before, but this is different. I have been sleeping with him for a few months now and some of you know about him and some don't. I am not ashamed, he has changed my life. I really mean that, not like my exhusbands did, but in a good way. He is broadening my horizons. I hold him at night and always comment on how much I love him. I would like you to meet Paul, Paul is my ipad. God how I love my ipad. I am reading books at a pace I have never done before. First of all he is a beauty, he is sleek and dark and so wonderful to hold. I had to name him because I sleep with him and I like to know someone's name before they are in bed with me. just a little formality. I take him to bed every night and I can read without glasses, and a light. What this means is, I go to bed, like I am going to bed. I read on the ipad, which is backlit and has a font that gets huge!!! When I get tired, I turn it off, I do not have to get up, turn off the light, take off my glasses, readjust myself, no mo, I just go to bed. It also has a great knitting app, that has lots of stitches and ideas and then there is Angry birds, a game that you fling birds at pigs, don't ask. anyway if you are deciding between all of the readers out there, check out the ipad, seriously beautiful....I have had it since it came out and my love keeps growing. I just thought of something, for it's screensavor I should download a photo of Paul Newman....how great would that be....not a bad face to see before drifting off to sleep.....Ok this is so out of character for me....I will just call him Paul.

Moving a loom

So I am at the mercy of two young men that will assist me to move the loom from the basement studio to the upstairs. I am probably going to make these young men sterile (their parents can thank me later) This is a Kessenich 32" 8 harness loom and it weighs more than I can imagine. They stopped by yesterday and I had cleared a way to walk the loom out of the basement. This is a folding loom, or supposed to be. One guy on one side and me on the other directing them to do something they have no clue what they are working with. I am trying to be explicit and yet patient, so I don't scare them off, they are really hard working kids. We are both on a side and grab the beams and try to fold the loom, nope it ain't moving??? Well I am sure you should just have to push together this isn't rocket science??? So we try jiggling it, sweet talking it and then swearing at it, well I was, I haven't heard them swear ever??? One of the guys had to leave, so Dan came back later, his arm span is as wide as I am tall and it starts to fold and then binds up. hhhhmmmmmmmm I called the only woman I know that moves looms for a living, '"well you need two people and then you just lift and push it should fold up?" nope......uhm, have you loosened all the wing nuts...oh yeah. So I have a stubborn loom and it is waiting for us to challenge it this morning. My plan of attack, we will try to fold it one last time, maybe a little more forceful, then out comes the tools and I will take it apart. The LOOM will be upstairs today!!! and no I don't have the spot cleared out for it, but with the added incentive I will.
That little coil of cashmere/wool in the picture is a start to something really cool.

Whew, so the strong men came and with three heads, theirs lifting and mine trying to see the issue, we found it....the treadles were jamming the whole operation. Tied them up and off they went. Let me tell you for these guys it was a heavy mother. All done, I just need to clear the center island and let the weaving begin....So, the shop, my shop is a mess, not just my desk.

New Religion

I warned you if you see me with my new sheer burka, I am safely behind a screen of mesh. After spending an hour at Gander Mountain fashionalby trying on different mosquito nets to see what suits my needs, I bought the above. I have a big head and am clostraphobic. The first one was too tight and had elastic at the neck...oh no that will not work, second had a spring ring, that sprang out and flew across the floor with this little yamaka, (I know that is not how you spell it but it sounds right) on the top, that made me look like a flying saucer. The rang in price was $2.99 to 30.00. Then there was the beekeeper style, but it still had elastic on the neck. I tried one on that made it look like a nylon stocking on my face and looking to rob a bank it was so tight, then I read after if was a kids net...duh!!!! I settled for this hangmans bag, it is just a bag with a drawstring bottom, it has enough slack to cover my neck and upper shoulders, $5.98....sold. So I proudly wore my bag on my head....oh God that is so dangerously close to the double bagger joke, but not ever having been a fashion plate, and hating those darn mosquitos, I will wear this bag. Mind you I walk on a busy highway, I can just imagine the comment in the commuters cars. Guess what it works great, either that or the squeetos quit biting and buzzing?? just my luck. Iggy isnt quite sure what to make of it? He looks at me like "who are you?" I respond with "Just Pee will you?" I feel rather Holy wearing this attire....in an odd way, like Sister Mary Francis. Like I should bless the runner, speeding past me. Really speeding past me, secretly hoping I don't hold him up!!! I could be in mourning the veil is black, and for some odd reason you have a tendancy to bow your head a tad. I think the drawstring may weight it down. So beware the black bagged babe....she must be some kind of fanatic.
Day of rest, I am participating in Tour de Fleece...we spin on the days the bikers ride and today is a day of rest. Each person kind of sets their own goals and mine is to spin a bobbin a day or more. I am doing pretty good with that goal, I did miss Thursday because I traveled that day and spinning and driving don't mix. So I am not taking a day of rest today, I am spinning the last of three bobbins to ply together.

Why is it??

Why is it when you are told not to do something the urge to do it is so strong, it becomes something you want even more than ever. Such as, we did our morning mosquito walk, it has cooled down a tad, so I shut off the air and opened windows for new air. About this time, after all of the hot days, we need to refresh, so I longly wanted to sit on my deck, it is calling to me. The flowers, the swing, the solitude and the mosquitos. I probably have over 20 bites as of yesterday and they keep cropping up. I confess I am a scratcher, picker and itcher. I could never wear shorts in the summer because I looked like I had chicken pox on my body. It is not an attractive thing. I made a cup of coffee and longingly look out on my deck.....it is calling me, the birds the fountain, the cool air. Maybe I should see if the plants need watering? So bravely in my nightgown, I push aside the screen curtain, all that is separating me from the wild. After a little St Vitus dance, hands and feet flailing, and enough exercise for the day, I came back in, no I can't go out on the deck. but what if......
What if, so this is where we need to learn appreciation. Sometimes we run through life, go to work, come home, go to sleep. We miss the little things that make us so happy, moments not hours. I remember a few weeks back sitting on my deck with coffee in hand and thinking this time is so limited, enjoy the moment....I was right. One time I read a book and it must have been some inspirational book, these words are something I live by. "be where you are when you are there"
Now that alone doesn't sound so life changing but try it. An excellent example is when you are having your hair done. When I put my head back to have it washed, I make the most of that moment, the pleasure I feel when someone else is washing my hair, massaging my head, I savor every minute. I stop my mind, no thinking of the shop, or family or what to eat, I take the moment and enjoy where I am...the touch, the water running over my head the smell of the shampoos, which by the way never smell like that at home. The first time I practiced "being where I am when I am there" was at the hair salon. Don't let your mind wander to other things...It was life changing, try it you will see, concentrate on the moment you are doing something. It isn't as easy as it sounds, we tend to multi task without thinking...you will see when you start trying this, just how easy we slip into the " I need to.... and do this" mode.
Eatting a meal, with a friend...really enjoy the conversation, listen to what your friend is saying, enjoy the food, bite by bite, look at it and revel in it's presentation. Sip your drink like you never had a taste like that. Listen to the sounds around you, do not think about the bills you need to pay, the wash that you need to do. This small habit can change how you feel about so many things and make the simple things filled with pleasure.
This is how I enjoy my first cup of coffee....oh how I love the smell when it is brewing, and the way it fills my favorite cup and foams on top. I love to hold that cup and wrap my hand around the outside...then the first sip, which is the best.
Just try it once and you will you see, try it twice and you will be hooked, make it a new habit.

Aliens are landing

If you see me walking Iggy and you have to do a double take, I am resorting to hunting tactics. Tonight after I close I will be at Gander Mountain purchasing a mosquito net hat!!! I am done!!! There were less mosquitos in Necedah woods than there are here. I have this light black zipper t-shirt jacket that I have doused in mosquito repellent and I put that on and the buggers go for my neck, ears and eyes, forehead and cheeks....I look like I had those bumps that kids have injected under their skin on purpose. The back of my legs have so many and if I start itching it sends me into a frenzy of itching. The worst yet was the death defying squeeto that bit me in my butt crack?????? Had to be when I was sleeping and yes I do have undies on and a nightshirt, like that matters. I have one on the back of my armpit, but my arms are too short to scratch it so that resorts to an old aluminum knitting needle, see needles are not just for knitting. So if you see me walking Iggy with a hunters hat on and squeeto netting but a huge smile, you know it's me. Oh I even bought a squeeto stop, app on my phone. They loved it they were riding my cell phone like a rodeo??? Now remind me again what good they are, besides spreading some kind of disease. These things are ruthless, I killed three with one swat yesterday. When I pull up to my spot with the car, they attack the car waiting for a hot lunch. It is almost scary to get out and that is when Iggy will do his little trick of running to the back seat and playing a "catch me game" as my butt is outside the door of the car and I am inside trying to grab him. So shopping I will go tonight!!! Don't be afraid

Red Rover, Red Rover....

When I was a kid in grade school, we played Red Rover, we picked sides and held hands and called for the opposite team to come running into our hands and we would hold tight and hope the opponent would not break thru, if they did they could pick one of our team to bring back to their side, if they didn't we won that member. I remember Rita, Rita had a bad eye, I don't know what was wrong with it but, because of it she was shy and quiet and thinking back I think she may have been a little slow, but she was nice. When picking sides, no one picked Rita, I remember her standing there as the awkward lone person, it magnified her bad eye and her overweight body, she would look down and kick her large saddle shoes (they were not in style when I was young). My heart went out to her, determined this would not happen when I picked, I would pick her first, and then no one wanted to be on my team. I would rally them and when we would win, I would try to make Rita feel really important, I would tell her she was the strong one that saved our game. I really thought that we as people would move on from those days of picking sides and saying hurtful things and lifting ourselves up by putting someone else down. I am so foolish, I guess it is what I want to believe, but there are people out there that just can't wait to plant nasty seeds about someone. They sneer and make snide comments, my feeling on that is they are either extremely jealous or very insecure, to resort to those tactics. To go around bashing someone else's work or being, and then getting people to pick sides is so stinking juvenile, it makes me sick. Grow up!!!! Karma is a bitch and what you put out there you will get back and you will. No person on earth can monitor you at all times, but Karma will.....be nasty, you will get nasty back. Then you will wonder why your life sucks so badly.....We are all in this game together, you don't have to like what anyone does, or doesn't do, you don't have to even pretend to like someone, but, you don't have to go around bashing people because you feel so bad about your life and self that it will make you feel better to put someone down. Funny thing is word travels fast and what you say comes back to who you say it about, really quick. If you have a bone of contention, bring it to the one that you have that issue with!! Gang mentality if for the weak and insecure. Lifting yourself up by making someone else look bad only makes you look really ugly!!!!! Lying about someone, or their children or their animals, also counts, if you have something to say, face up!!!!!! This is a public service announcement from the "stop the gang mentality, and grow up !!" LOL

I am back!!!

Three days of total solitude, Iggy doesn't count and a few days with my brother and sister in law. In the woods, in the quiet, one with nature, I went to my church. I needed to renew my spirit and I always can count on nature to do that for me. I am doing the Tour de Fleece, which to me requires me to spin fiber every day, I am trying to do at least one project a day but today after 5 days of spinning I am slacking, I came home and it was hot in here and I slept and had to put stuff away, (because if I don't do it asap it will not get done) It is always great to go but it is so good to come home. I was in the woods and the mosquitos were no where as bad as they are here. They flocked on the windows of the car when I pulled up and when I went to walk Iggy later, I killed two at one time. I downloaded an app on my phone to keep squeetos away, we will see how it works in a few minutes. When I turned it on Iggy was looking around so it makes some sort of sound??? LOL
I spun lots and finished 5 different projects and am on 1/3 of a 3 part spinning, meaning I have one bobbin spun and am going to 3 ply this roving.
Tomorrow the shop will be open and plans will resume to bring the loom upstairs so I am moving yarn around to make room. It is a good thing. I love photography and some of the great photos come from the Great Depression, I have been searching for photos that would capture our Depression. For sale signs?? I went past a village up north and four houses in a row were for sale, this could mean no work or widening the road so I opted not to take that photo. I will keep thinking about this
Eileen Hendrickson a Fiber friend got hit by that tornado in Cambria, no one was hurt but the farm is badly damaged. I know she has been working hard to get a Spinning Mill set up and I am not sure how far she has got on that plan, only to be scorned by this. Her and her family have had a bad 5 years, with health issues and what not, she really deserves a break. She was at Sheep in the City , Coed Mauwer, she used to be Elaines Carding. Please keep her and her family in your prayers, I am going to see if we can help some way.

If it walks like a duck

Not that I am some financial analyst or anything, but, I blogged a while ago about the empty business's all around this area. Not to mention big companies with big names. Then we have the huge companies that Americans have stood behind for just that reason, threatening to move out of the Country HD comes to mind and Miller always were threatening it's workers. I and all small business's have been taking the hit. Thanks to Knit picks where you can buy lots of cheap stuff from India, a Country where labor is cheap and they don't care if a 6 year old is working 12 hours or not, hey but it's cheap. Or you can go a less concious less route and buy off of someone on the Internet that is doing the same thing but you don't hear about it, so it makes it easier.
I had a woman come into the shop and pick up a yarn and say "I found this online for this price, I want to come to you first...what can you do for me?" 1. I can thank you for the generous insult 2. Tell you this isn't rummagarama 3. Tell you I have overhead to pay and they will look at me like so????
I am not alone, this is happening all over the Country. We will be sorry when the little business's are gone. Remember full service gas stations, you pull up a person comes out fills your tank with gas, washes your windows, checks your oil. You pay and pull away. Lots of us didn't know how to use a gas pump, but the big companies offered cheaper gas if you went to them and look where we are now. I do not know of any full service stations.
Now you can buy yarn on line, well you can go to your LYS and visit to see if it is what you like, then go home, and order on line. If you get stuck on a project you can go to "you tube" they will help you. You don't need us? The yarners that will miss us will be the ones that buy yarn from Big Box stores and come in and ask for help on that yarn....so what does that mean? Those big box stores do not have a "service".
It's like buying a part from Menards, those people have little to no clue, but go to an independent hardware store and they will cut it grind it and glue it for you. Wake up America.....we are in a depression....look around....how many people are out of work? Oh I love this one, the unemployment rate is down.....no it isn't.....the people are out of unemployment....!!!! Soon we will be like India, your kids and grandkids will be working to help out the family....to make ends almost meet. Parents are working two jobs because no one pays enough to be able to live off of one job. Who are raising our children? I know things locally can be more expensive, it is only because we are used to importing from third world countries that is seems more expensive. If you read this you are more than likely some kind of fiber person, you know the work entailed in making something, should you just give it away?? Or sell if for just above your cost?? How long will you last doing that??? How long could you pay the rent/mortgage selling a couple of dollars over cost? I am by no means a wealthy person, I am rich in many ways but money has never been one of them, it isn't a priority for me, but paying my bills is.
A trucking company here in Milwaukee, let go of their billing staff and sent it overseas, because they work cheaper. We use these trucks to ship across America, in America and they let go of Americans to use a Foreign company to do the billing. We as Americans should not use this company or any other company that is doing this. We should also let them know why, we won't use them. One of the telephone companies did that with their service calls or maybe it was a computer company anyway, people couldn't understand them and they complained bitterly that they were not getting proper service and were going to switch plans, and the company switched back.....!!! We have the power to change things!!! You have the power to change things, it starts with you and me. Next time you got to click "Check out" on your computer think about the fact the next job loss may be you or your spouse. We need to think that Americans that wave flags are true Americans, anyone can be a flag waver, but to be a true American we need to support Americans!!!! We need to pay that extra dollar to keep America working. We are in a recession/depression....just look around...if it walks like a duck...it is a duck.

The times they are a changin.....

So, I will be closed from Thursday to Thursday this week coming up, for the Holiday, for sanity, for fun, for awhile. I am going up north to my brother and SILs place, they will leave and I will stay for a little longer, unless of course the bugs are so bad. I am looking forward to some spinning. You will begin to see some changes coming in the shop, the loom is coming up. I will never weave in the basement, weaving needs light and energy. The loom is coming up, I am going into my Artist mode, a feeling I have been missing for a long time. I want to start creating, using my gift, I am not one to write patterns and keep track of what I do, it is very hard for me to do that, it is pigeon holing me, I am spontaneous, a free spirit and I have been craving creativity....oozing, it has become overbearing and like a dragon inside me it is not content sleeping any more. I want to do something. So I am going to bring up the loom, I have a bunch of weaving ideas, freeing the dragon....I also am spinning more, my love, my fiber love. So if you see changes know that I am feeding the dragon...I am smiling just thinking about it.

Storm runner

Yes I am a runner, I run away from storms...I am a certified freak. I spend pretty much of my time in the Summer in the little shelter I have made for me and Iggy. If you are in the shop I will cram you in there too. I do not take chances when it comes to storms. It is under a beam, and below the steps. Last night Eagle Wi got hit by a tornado and the sirens didn't go off, luckily no one was hurt. I can't believe it when i hear about people that stand outside daring it to come their way!!!! When I was a kid we didn't have a basement, this was a very major concern for me, we also had no rooms with out windows, another thing against this house. I also had no idea what direction we were supposed to hide in, I kept forgetting. We had a laundry area when you walked in the back door which was on the east side of the house that we would go to, not that I remember ever going there. My dad was one of those that would stand outside and keep a lookout, he was a tornado expert, or so I thought, he wouldn't let anything happen to us. False hope? One time when I was visiting over there with my baby, the sirens went off, I took Mikey and wrapped him in a wool afghan and sat by the washer and dryer, my thinking was I would protect him from flying glass. My dad was outside as usual and I was pleading for him to come in to safety, so the washer/dryer and refrigerator could fall on us for a quick and sudden death as opposed to becoming a flying person torpedo. He walked into the house and almost stumbled over Mikey and I huddled on the floor, Mike was wrapped up and sweating profusely and dad says "What the hell are you doing? " taking cover, "I mean with that baby, he is suffocating, it 's hot, take that crap off of him?" But, but...you'll be OK, he could see my freak coming out and he said, "Keep it close but don't put it on him right now, it's too hot"
I am still a freak, I have two rechargeable lanterns, a small battery TV, a crank radio, flashlight, comfy chair, knitting, and a jug of water, because we all know how long I would be down there??? Last night I went down as soon as I heard the sirens, I figure earshot is close enough to me, but I didn't stop to pee before I got down there, then it hit me?? I started looking for a place to go, against my better judgement, I went back upstairs to get rid of some nervous water. She's a very freaky girl...

Father's Day

My dad has been gone for over 20 years, but let me tell you something about him. He was the best father ever....I know you are saying you had a great dad, but my dad was better. He was a teacher, he was an inventor, he loved to play, he always loved his family and we did things together all the time. He was an explorer, a woodsmen, he was smart. He was gentle and had a big heart, he was slow to anger, but when he did it was over, he held no grudges. I loved him so much and thought if anything happened to him, my life would end, he died and my life went on. He would have wanted it that way. He was proud of us kids, and we were proud of him. Did I mention I miss him. He loved getting together on Sundays for dinner, watching movies and coffee, pie and a smoke. I have no regrets with my dad, I loved him, he knew it, we were never afraid to say it. When I see other dad's I know how lucky I was, my own son's dad was a absentee father, my dad stepped in and helped raise Mike, did the man things with him, I am glad Mike got to know him. So on this day, I want to let you know I had the best dad ever!!!! It's hard for me to think of him without smiling. Love you dad!!!

It's here!!!

The lusted after machine has come.....first off, I worked up a sweat just trying to get the blasted and those aren't the words that I was using machine out of the box. I am now covered with the tiniest little styrofoam balls, that are attached to my sweating brow/head/neck. I threw the boxes out instantly because that is a bad omen right from the start. First off when I was reading the reviews, I was laughing at some dope that cut his finger on the blender blade....duh no kidding. So as I was getting all of the foam paper, duct tape, insulation tape, scotch tape, surgical tape and every other darn tape out of this machine, I reached into the cutting blades to remove paper that was in there and sliced my finger wide open....I'm not laughing at that guy anymore. I open the directions which are 160 pages long and written in every language but where is the English?? Ok so I find the English and do what it says, but, no I am an expert at drink mixing, I am going to use Watermelon that I have to eat to make a slushy....so I clean all of the food parts, quickly, how badly can you get sick from blood on the blade and oil?? I place a bunch of watermelon in the holder, ice in the hopper, after a little coercing I got the blender properly seated into the machine and turn it on....shaved ice is shooting out of the top, oh baby this is gonna be sweet!! Then like it is supposed to do the blender kicks on and nothing is moving???? Hey TV shows it moves????? No blending action going on here. So I stop it, what now??? I am still sweating profusely and in dire need of this smoothy. I shake it up a bit and while I am trying to once again persuade it to sit properly onto the machine , unbeknown to me I am unscrewing the bottom and now watermelon juice is flowing out of it. I am a pipefitter and we all know righty tighty, but this is a left handed thread, see where this is going?? I now am wringing wet and have sticky stinky watermelon juice cascading down my counter front onto the floor. I am grabbing paper towel to wipe me and the counter off. The machine has a death grip on the now leaking blender and I can't get it out.....Please no don't have a fit right now, you have waited two years to get this machine, don't break it now.....relax, wipe the stinging sweat out of your eyes and be gentle. all I needed was for the phone to ring. Ok we got it out and threw it all out, let's start over, let's look for a recipe that they give you...hhhmmmm one, tequilla, margerita mix and lime juice. there is adding involved it comes to 13 oz. total. I grab lime juice, gingerale and look for the mint?? no mint, oh well this will be just a wet iced drink!!!! Voila, now I wish I had tequilla!!! So I guess you need to buy the special 4,000 drinks book to make the rest of them....I need a shower and a drink!!!!!

Pretty Sad State...

I have been doing some serious shop watching. Not sure how the areas where you live are but around here there are lots of empty shops and business's. I was on Layton Ave a busy area and right by the airport here in Milwaukee, there were lots of empty business's. It looks rundown and depleted. You go further east and into areas that are well established communities and there are storefronts with Lease signs in them. Faded Lease signs. You pass strip malls and they are empty. Small business's are shutting down at a rapid pace. We need "Change" that change that was the key word in the last election. I listened to Our President say he was going to help the business's in Florida that the tourists are staying away from on the gulf. Business's all over the Country are in need of help. We are all in competition with the internet. We have to compete with prices from someone that sits in their basement or garage and sells over the web. Minimum overhead zero service calls. I remember a nice yarn shop in the area selling yarn that the big box stores sell, every color and it was a unique idea, she sold a service. If you needed help she could help you. She didn't have 40% off coupons, but she taught how to make a project and fix things and if you had a question you could ask? Who do you ask at the 40% off shops??? She had open project nights and had a great following, but service just didn't keep her in business? It is hard for small business's. Look around there are no small little candy shops, ceramic shops, the little shop that was a dream of someone, the shops we grew up with. Quality Candies are closing shops around the area, (that may kill me) So when you go to hit the Check out button on your computer, rethink that decision, can you get that product closer to home??? I am comparing this to the Superhighways that went through our Country. On my last trip to Yarn School we took all back roads through the Midwest. We were disappointed in the lack of sightseeing tourist traps and how many rundown empty business's, we did see what Real America is about. On our way home we took the Freeway, it makes sense I guess, there were all the signs of a tourist haven and trap all along the Superhighway.....sounds like small business's, the Internet is coming through and gone will be all of the quaint little business's that knew your name when you walked in. That when you showed them a broken part on an old piece of equipment, they would go in the back room and come out with another one just like it, but not broken!!! Where you can sit and chat about your kids, life and feel a personal connection. I know you maybe paying a little more for this service but let me tell you something, "you're gonna miss it when it's gone" .

Weirdest thing happened on the way to ....

I went out to dinner tonight, I had a hunger for Mexican food, this after vowing to never eat again only this morning. Hey I ate a walnut burger on the grill for lunch and that was it. So I thought I would give this one Mexican restaurant another try. It is huge and runs like a well oiled machine. The workers are all polite and know very little English. So I am eating the chips they serve and watching them clean off tables. As I was watching I quickly removed my eating utensils from the table and put them on my napkin. They were washing off the tables...fine....then they washed off the seats of the chairs, I was impressed and then they went back and wiped off the table again...Oh no you didn't!!!! I am not a germaphobe but come on, they say they find the most fecal matter on seats in a movie theater, what about a restaurant??? Well it get's better, I am eating and the guy next to me but across the table from me is looking at me and I looked and he said, Sorry I am looking at the desserts....now at one time I would have said "just call me sugar" but that was once upon a time and now I was confused when all of a sudden Broomhilda his wife says, why do you keep looking at her, you don' t have to talk to her. Now I look over my shoulder and the huge dessert display is right there and he HAD to look past me to see it and I wanted to shove a tamale in that witches mouth. So she gets louder, "Instead of looking at her, go walk over there and look, you idiot!!!" wow, and mind you this is loud. I wanted to just back hand her but she was bigger than me, and really scary!!! She carried on for what seemed like a long time and I was embarrassed for him, why is beyond me but I was. So her little girl starts dancing right next to me staring at me. It wasn't her fault her mom was an inbred beast, so I say, "Oh what pretty shoes you have on!!!" Have you ever heard of nursemaids elbow where people grab their kids by the hands and dislocate the elbow from a yank....well this poor little girl got yanked off of her feet while Mama Cass started dragging her out. Good bye and go take a chill pill, so I too pay my check and leave thinking they would be long gone....au contraire, she is right ahead of me walking while the little child is dawdling behind her, I cut across the parking lot and I hear the most fowl mouthed language coming from Broomhilda way across the parking lot. She was hollering at her dear hubby for something, not sure what but about that time I would have put the car in reverse and used her for a speedbump.

I ate my way through Monday?

It all started with breakfast and while I was eating breakfast, I read on FB that the Miller's Ladie's retirement lunch was at 11:00am, Oh I want to see everyone. I did some stuff in the morning and had to repair some stuff in the morning and then got gussied up and went to lunch, of course I was there early. I found these ladies are all late, except two....so we sat and waited till 12:30...Ok I did have a list of thing to do, nothing serious. We finally ordered and I got some shrimp Maison swimming in grease, not Oil slick grease but it could have been..I looked at the plate with great hesitation. I was to have dinner later that evening with my cousins and family for their 35th anniversary, I had cake and decorations and this didn't look good. Sometimes when you look at something you know it just may not be the best choice, if you want to be able to leave home??? In a few hours or days??? I looked for a napkin to soak up some of the grease, I actually thought of calling BP and seeing what would work most effectively but obviously they wouldn't know either. I ate it, it was OK tasting, I ate the shrimp first and picked at the soggy sliced potatoes. Round two, it didn't make me sick but now I have to go to dinner again six hours later, I looked at the menu and nothing looked good, but salad and rattlesnake bites???? Then we had cake....ugh, I am toast, I am done, I drank a cup of coffee this morning and have vowed to never eat again. I am excited because my Aunt from Michigan and cousins are coming to see the shop today. Iggy and I had our usual battle with the vacuum cleaner, I vacuum he barks and bites at it and he just never gets used to it...I am sure my neighbors enjoyed the barking and vacuuming going on in the wee morning hours. I am getting hungry from all of this work....did I just say that???

Are you serious???

I am one of those people that loves to walk on the beach and collect smooth or odd stones. Honestly I have a fetish for sea glass, but on Lake Michigan it is not always an easy find. I also have had an eye out for Witch rocks, all my looking for most of my adult years has been to find a Witch rock. So after WWKIP day, Angela and I took Iggy to the lakefront thinking we may catch a glimpse of the Air show going on downtown. There was no airshow because of a low hanging ceiling of fog/clouds so we walked along the beach. I said to her outloud, "oh I hope to find a Witch rock!!" I always have hopes of finding a witch rock and she bends over and says "Hey look this rock it has a hole in it" Seriously????? She found a Witch rock?? 2 minutes of walking and SHE didn't even know what a witch rock was??? I was supposed to find it!!! I am looking for one...how come she found it??? I am going to the beach today and looking till I find one!!!!

Graduation sadness

Is it me or have you noticed, every year at Graduation time, there are about 3 or more deaths of young students that either are or are going to graduate? Is it that they are preoccupied with the parties or the grades or what is it? We just lost an Oak Creek high school student yesterday, he was to graduate tomorrow. I don't know if he was at fault or the other guy and it was at noonish so I hardly think alcohol played a part on either side. Not saying it couldn't have but not likely. How sad it is any time for this to happen but then add the graduation to it. "yes we have to cancel the party, we lost our child yesterday" Yes we are planning a funeral instead, so keep your gifts and send flowers. I can't imagine the terrible ripping out of your heart and soul when you lose a child. How awful it must be, no matter what the tragedy of how they were taken, a loss is a loss. I guess in the pecking order of things we don't want to lose anyone but we know our grandparents are old, our parents are old, it is the "normal" progress. But when we loose a young life and of course it is always the good kid, it isn't the serial killer to be...not that that would make any difference to a parent, it is still their child. How would you cope with this? I don't want to experience it, my heart goes out to anyone that has. Are these parents of this young man going to attend graduation? Will his friends stop by and sooth the parents or will this cause a hint of jealousy that it was him and not you. What do you say to someone? I worked with a guy on third shift and he got THE call. Your son has been in an accident, we are here to take you to the hospital. Not a good sign when the cops pick you up at work. His son died and I believe he had just graduated. It shook us all to the core. I remember my own son was in Jr. high, at that moment, I so wanted to hold him in my arms to know he was alright. We were all scared, it could have been one of us, it could have been our child. And then the sigh of relief, it wasn't....is that mean??? Is that wrong to think you dodged the bullet? I feel so bad for these parents and the kids friends, it is a hard lesson in life. We have to remember to give our kids a hug when we can. My mother used to say "always kiss each other goodbye you never know if it the last time you'll see someone?" sounds gruesome but the last time I saw my dad, I kissed him goodbye and was walking them to the car, when I turned and said "Hey where's my kiss?" he said "you already kissed me!" I kissed his other cheek and said "Oh this is to even it out!!" he died a day later, but I remember my kissing him on both cheeks, to even it out!!!

I wanted to add that there was another victim in this accident, it was a 53 year old man. I wasn't being unsympathetic in his families loss. It was just the fact that this young life was lost on his graduation. My heart goes out to both families.

Revenge of the Hot Flashes

Never speak too soon. I should know this, you go on a diet and say "I will never gain that weight back again" and poof, you get zapped with the fat stick and an extra 10# to boot. Never laugh at someone that has a pimple, "snap" you will have one twice as ugly. Never ever say you are over menopause....hear me never NEVER!!!!
I have a theory, if you went through life getting your period and never having any issues, menopause is going to kick your butt. I have had every and I mean every symptom or whatever of menopause that was ever written on paper. I never had a problem with my period, I got it and that was it, I had friends that would wince in pain for days before and days after, not me, I breezed through it. I was the commercial of swimming, running, riding horses, I didn't miss a beat, then came menopause. At first I laughed at it, it was kind of funny I could feel the heat rise up in me like a cartoon thermometer, whoosh up it came and just as fast it receded. Then I was working under a brew kettle the size of a room, did I mention it was at boiling temp, and then it came the hot flash from hell, that almost killed me, hot outside and hot inside, I almost passed out. I sat on the grating and thought to myself I am not going to die here. I went asap to the Dr and Premarin became my friend, I loved it, I worshipped it, I felt great!!! But when I got a bad batch from Caremark, a batch that didn't even look right, I decided it was time to quit taking fake third World pills. Cold Turkey I went through the withdrawels the red face flushes, the being hot all the time, I also got a streak of curly hair in the back of my head, lovely. I thought last Fall i was pretty much done....Winter is a woman in menopauses friend. The only symptom I didn't get was night sweats, well now I can add that to my list. I wake up hot, not sweating but so darn hot I can't breath. My hot flashes by the way were dibilitating, I could throw up hot, pass out hot, weak in the knees hot, and now they are back. Chocolate is not my friend in this situation, it causes hot flashes. I want Winter back, cold on my face. I think this may be my 5th year without Premarin. Like the little train that could, I will do this I will do this...when you are going through hell keep going.

Attack of the box

So this morning started out like any other Monday morning, I took Iggy to daycare, stopped for a cup of great Panera coffee, came home. I went right to the basement/studio that I am in the endless process of cleaning and organizing and straightening. Of course I dug out my easel and paints because now that shiny thing ran past and I am a painter.....so on my way up from the basement to do some Monday Money runs, this is where I spend money like water, the whole day!!! Money here, there and just a little but it sure adds up. Some of you may know I am a tad clostaphobic, not real bad but if I get stuck in a situation I panic and start throwing a fit, fist flying kicking fits. This happens so rarely, but it happens, once I got stuck in an elevator at work, it was shortly after 9 11 and I was with another worker and he could see the panic rising on my face. I said we have to get out of here...NOW!!! He said calmly we'll be OK, I said NO WE WON"T and starting to have darting eyes looking for an escape route. I said use your screwdriver and pry the door open I saw it on TV and hurry....so he does and my mind goes to being caught between floors and as I am halfway through the door the elevator starts up and cuts me in half and he prys open the door and lo and behold it never left the floor. Ok color me red, but back to my little fit. I am leaving the basement and have a garbage bag in hand and huge empty box that is as tall as I am and as square. Instead of taking two trips, I would rather struggle and juggle this whole mess. So I get to the top of the stairs and the box is stuck in the door, mind you the ONLY way out of the basement, well the only easy way..so this is now a perfect storm for a fit. I push it a little it pushes back, my hand is on the garbage bag and I can see light on the other side but I am stuck and I will die down here and the air is thin and I push again and it won't move, something is pushing back from the other side (not really) Something is going to push me down the steps, I am going to die....da ta da daaaaa on goes the red cape and I start gritting my teeth and push the box through the hole and almost out the front door. I can breath, I can also see it was a large staple hooked on the rug that is now ripped that made me panic. Was it really that horrible that I couldn't put the garbage bag down and just analyze the situation???? Hell to the NO!!!!! Panic Panic red button panic...

What a concept?

Did you know if you don't pay your phone bill they cut it off??? Isn't that a new concept?? I have apparantly everything on auto pay but my shop phone....guess I never got around to putting it on auto pay. I guess a few months ago I knew to pay the bill but suddenly I had a brain fart. Indeed I got a bill which I somehow thought odd, because I was sure I had autopay, so just ignore them and they will...yes shut off your phone, overnight, no dial tone, and the phone doesn't ring, just the answering comes on. My punishment was also to crawl under the counter in the shop and find the modem and reboot it. 20 times, before it dawned on me to call and maybe I am not on autopay???? Did you know your account is overdue???? Well I do now!!! Sometimes I just get hit with the stupid stick one too many times. I am now paid and up and running. I think I have some phone calls to make to get on real auto pay not just "in my mind" and it was working so well, till today.

As the sands of time....fill in...

Why is it when I clean, I get more stuff? i am once again organizing the basement and instead of opening up a dance hall area, I have managed to create little pathways. I have my tornado shelter all fixed neatly under the stairwell. I need to get some fresh water, in case I get stuck under there for days?? don't ask. So with new shelving units and more shelving all I did was move stuff from one area to another on wheels???? I need some young legs down there with me to haul stuff out to the car and then to the dump!!!! Goodwill or somewhere....other than my basement. It is like moving sand, it just fills in around and it never seems to be cleaned up??? I did get the wash almost done, not that I will carry it upstairs anytime soon. By the way I did this all in about 2 hours....I took Iggy to daycare this morning because it was closed yesterday and got this all done. I think I use him for an excuse why I can't do stuff down there, when in fact he could care less!!! Oh Oh I friend told me that at Blockbuster they had lifesize cutouts of the Mad Hatter, which I am going to go get in a minute. So guess what I have, but this has a function, for my birthday this year I am having a teaparty, with the Mad Hatter and we will all wear knit hats or wristlets and socks too. Zany ones and we will party in the Village area, but no walking on the table...sorry!!!

Graduation Days

Today I am going to a graduation party. I wanted to make a card, something special that would include money. I hate to just give money. I have been mulling this over and nothing was coming to me, no ideas, no flashes, no great interventions. So here I sit, I decided to look up some sayings and came across this one.

During my second year of nursing school our professor gave us a quiz. I breezed through the questions until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"Surely this was a joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times, but how would I know her name I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before the class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our grade. "Absolutely," the professor said. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello. "I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.
Joann C. Jones

It is so true, we walk/run through life and never even engage in conversation with people. You see people walking together, each on their cell phones?? Dining out and checking emails, FB and Farmville. We are losing sight of things. My parents told me that you regard everyone as an equal, and NO job is demeaning, wether you clean toilets or are a Dr. you are working and that is to your credit. You are a human being and deserve that respect, say Hi, just be nice. You are no better than them, added to this was my dad saying, in his crude but true wisdom, "They shit just like you do" Think about that though, we are all the same, really. We all have the same bodily functions even if we are Dr.s , Lawyers, the President, when it comes down to it, we are no better, bottom line. Take away all of your store bought items and standing naked, no one would be able to tell if you have money or not, well now adays someone might have a tighter face, bigger boobs and no cellulite it's true. Why then do we feel we can't say hi to the bathroom attendant, the kid busing tables at a restaurant. I remember working in office buildings downtown, I was cleaning the air handling units in some office buildings and these were room size air units. I knew what I was in for so I wore a bandana on my hair and long sleeves to climb into these units to clean out the black dirt. We had to wear safety glasses to keep your eyes protected. I crawled out and into the hall and my partner started laughing at me, I took off my glasses and that was the ONLY white part, I was filthy dirty and all sooty. I went to use the restroom and an office worker came in while I was washing my hands and said "they couldn't pay me enough to get THAT dirty" I am a woman......I replied with," you don't get paid as much as I do and for the money I am making I can buy a lot of soap. " I looked around and in this beautiful office high up mucky muck bathroom, some High paid woman took wet wads of toilet paper and threw them on the ceiling. I never saw that kind of filth in the port a potties we used on construction sights. Why did she think she was better than me? To this day it makes me giggle, besides I like to get dirty. Take time to acknowledge someone...in a positive way.

Just Beautiful

I am not a green thumb, I don't know why unless the dirt in front of the shop is super growing soil, my flowers are superb!!! They are growing like crazy, my clematis is huge and beautiful and I keep taking photos of them and they all of course look alike but I love looking into their faces and really seeing what is inside of the flower. Lisa has Iris's that are just gorgeous, that is another intriguing flower to me, it is like looking into a tunnel of tissue paper. I am in love with them all. I just like to look at them and photograph them....natural beauty. I never was too fond of geraniums till I went to Quebec, and they looked so quaint in the window boxes and pots everywhere, I had to have them.....I love flowers. I love this weather too!!! Have a great weekend.

Viking Knitting

Wow, I had Sandy Bulgrin teach a class on Viking Knitting....she is an awesome teacher and thought of everything to bring including a garbage bin. It was a great class and I am excited for the next one, we made the bracelet above. It is easy and you finish the project and wear it home. Everyone was admiring their wrists as they left the shop. What is so cool is even if it looks kind of funky on the dowel it looks great after you draw it. Those my friends are all Viking terms....Thanks Sandy!!!! She is going to teach two more of the classes with one almost full already!!! She is also planning a beaded Kumihimo class on a Saturday, I need to get a photo of this. So not much new here, I have been spinning quite a bit, and eating fuzz too.

Turn on the lights

I know timers can be great, for putting a TV to sleep shortly after you go to sleep, for turning off lights and lots of things but tell me one reason you would use a timer for shutting off the air conditioning??? I went to bed kind of early after a day of doing nothing, but painting my nails/toenails, uhm that's pretty much it, oh watching all of this seasons Tudors...uhhhh, getting a few groceries. I guess that kind of day makes me tired. So I have the air on but I am hot, sweating hot, so in the dark I find the remote for the airconditioner and start pushing buttons till I find the one lowering the temp, this wall unit has Cool, Dry, Air, fan speed, and a timer I found out. I sleepily crawl back into bed and just start dozing off with the comforter pulled to my chin and it quits??? The air quits, I first check the clock to see if we lost electricity but it was still solid and bright? I get up and turn it back on again, go back into bed and fall sound asleep, only to wake up to sweatfest, no air. I get up crabby now as ever grab the remote and hello Jan turn on the lights to see what the heck I was doing, sure enough it was on timer??? Now please what reason would you have to turn on the air, to make it nice and cool and then turn it off in the midst of sleeping??? If it were cool enough to do that I wouldn't have turned it on????? Now I learned to turn on the lights before I pull that one again. I am going to take a nap.

Beware checks in the Mail

Does the government try to make you crazy??? Every month I pay my use tax, this is the tax you give me when I sell you something. State of Wisconsin wants their money and they have a website to do this. If you have ever done anything on a Wisconsin State website you will know that it is a bumbling mess. I try to navigate through it without pulling my hair out, but I guess I am a nimrod? I got two checks in the mail from the State of Wisconsin??? It was for Use tax, this should not be...I call and wait a reasonable 20 minutes, with the parrot, our first available representative will take care of you in order of calls.......Hi my name is Carrie, can I help you??? uh yeah I was sent money and I don't think I am supposed to get this money...Ok.....
So I guess, I filed but missed putting my name as the preparer and then when you get to the bottom you have to click on approve and I forgot when I get to the bottom I have to go back to the top of the page and reenter my password and then scroll to the bottom of the page and click OK and then ....so they sent me the money I paid back and now I have to pay again and send the money back so they can credit my account and pay me back again????? Yeah....I will not forget to play ping pong with my mouse again and bounce up and down on a page, entering here and then here and then here and kill me now...I already hate bookwork.

Bucket Lists and Old friends

I didn't know what you call it when you are 14 years old but I had a list of things I wanted to do in my life. One was ride a bike and deliver newspapers throwing them on porches, the other was to pump gas at a station. Those were two outstanding things on my list and I did both of them. The first one I did in Illinois helping my cousin deliver papers, it was fun and I wasn't a bad throw either. The second I did when my best friend wanted to get laid by her boyfriend that worked at a Martin station. At the time I didn't quite get that term and I don't know how much she really did, I was rather naive about that. I was a great excuse, she could do anything as long as she was with me, she was pretty, sexy and I was .....me. I was the excuse, not that she was ever under any curfew, and I didn't know what she was doing. My dad called her a slut, but she wasn't like that around me, but knowing what a bad judge of character I am and how good of one my dad was, I am now sure he was right. She always had boyfriends, I always got her car. She had a Road Runner, gold with a white roof, she would go with her boyfriend and I got her car?? Sounded good to me, so I must have been 16 and we had to meet this guy at the gas station where he worked, he was a cutie and he really liked Julie, so much so he left me in charge of the station while they went " somewhere" I probably thought they were just riding around??? duh!!! He had a friend Al that they kept trying to set me up with, Al had frizzy hair and black glasses and the farthest thing from my ideal date. I had excuses for that one too. So while they were out "riding around" gas stations at the time were full service, so I got to be a gas jocky for a few hours, it was always something I wanted to do. So time after time I think of Julie, and I did see her a time or two after graduation and she always had elaborate stories of driving a semi truck across country??? I think what she meant was driving to truck stops across Country and another time she stopped at my house, I was kind of shocked, she had two kids and I may have been having a rummage sale or just moving in??? Today I saw her and her mom, she still looks the same, now she raises horses and either owns or keeps 30 of them on their farm. She is married and all she said about her kids is they are grown and she has two grandchildren. I didn't have much to say to her, but my mind floated back to high school and our friendship, she had a nice car!!!!!!

Going to miss you Uncle Ray

If you had ever wanted to be entertained and laugh till your sides hurt, you should have met my Uncle Ray. He is my dad's brother and they were two opposites. My dad was more reserved and quiet while my Uncle was the center of attention. He could tell stories and make you laugh really hard. If by chance you made him laugh, he would start knee slapping and you could get caught in the slapping action and or mugging if you sat too close to him. He ran a campground in Rome, Wisconsin for years and worked for the City of West Allis for many more before that. Everybody liked him, everybody knew him, he was that kind of guy. He lived life to the fullest, and when his diabetes started getting out of control his legs bothered him the most. He wanted to go fishing in the pond where he was living in a Senior home, so off he went with his scooter and fishing pole and set off some sort of alarm and the employess thought he was escaping??? He thought that was quite a story. I could always count on a hug from him after my dad died. Somewhere I have recordings of him and dad talking about their childhood, I am going to have to find them and make some copies, besides it would be great to hear my dad talking after all of these years. I'm going to miss you Uncle Ray!!

Great Weekend!!!

What a great weekend!!! The weather held out for our Mothers Day Art show and we had a huge turnout!!! Chris the jeweler did an awesome job of setting it up and getting some good vendors in here. Saturday, I had a little visitor to the shop and he and his sister take great pride in rearranging the sheep in the shop, but funnier yet was one of the sheep, has rockers on it, and I found this!!! He is so cute and right after I took this shot, Iggy of course had to sit right in front of him for his shot. So I planned on taking my mom out for Mothers day dinner and I had called her and told her that early in the day, at 4pm when I closed I left to go pick her up and tried to call her....and call her and call her every five minutes till I gave up...and went home. She called at 5 and asked what we were going to do???? I asked her where she was??? Oh I went to get the mail....really mom, what did you do all day??? nothing?? and you had to get the mail at 4pm when I was going to pick you up???? We cancelled and will go this week sometime unless she has to get the mail....LOL

Memories

Sometime we only have memories and the strangest things sometimes set them off. My dad's favorite brother is dying, my dad has been dead for over 20 years, I miss him, and when I would see or talk to my Uncle it gave me a reassurance of my dad. They were two very different men, my dad was always doing stuff with us kids and was very much a family man, my Uncle liked doing stuff with his friends and was more selfish that way. My Uncle was an extrovert and my dad was shy, and quiet, he was slow to anger but then it would be over, he never held a grudge. I used to love when my Aunt and Uncle would stop over, my Aunt wore high heels and Uncle Ray would wear a suit, it was very 50's ish. I would gaze upon them in envy of being an adult. My Aunt has passed quite a few years ago, she was my favorite Aunt, and now my Uncle is dying. Diabetes runs rampant in my dad's side of the family. All of my Uncles, and one Aunt have diabetes and four of them dyed because of complications of it. My grandparents were literally taken piece by piece by diabetes, a foot, a calf and leg, treatment has come a long way but it is still a devastating disease. They are not doing dialysis on my Uncle any more and he should die within the week, it is plain as that, a fact, a week. Now we wait. All the calls have been made, but nothing will prepare the family for the final call. My dad came to visit Uncle Ray about a week ago, my dad and my Aunt Marian, my Uncle told his daughter they were there, they are waiting, maybe this is a premonition. My dad had told me his Mom and dad came to visit him about a week before he died. Maybe this is the way to make dying less scary, fear of the unknown. Being reunited with loved ones that left ahead of you. So we wait...I am sad, it will hurt it is our loss, but he will be out of misery, and with his family. He will be telling jokes and making stupid balloon animals, riding some sort of motorized ATV or cycle or hunting, fishing. He will be home.

Finger Aerobics

At noon today is or was sign up for SOAR, which is a spinning retreat and it will be in Delavan this year. I was talked into taking a class by a friend. Being a Judith McKenzie junkie, I signed up for her class. I had the fastest fingers you can imagine and after wading through the "do you want to's and the would you likes" I am signed up. It is in October so it is something to look forward to of course. So if you plan on taking a Workshop you better hurry and register

Daily Laugh

This morning on our walk, we pass the light sign which has removable letters on it. From time to time the letters get rearranged which amazes me that these kids can be so creative in a timely manner. So this morning our sign read " Mother's Day Fart Air" it made me laugh, uhm yes it should say Mother's day Art Fair!!!!! Then along the way is a row of Apple trees and they are in full bloom, they smell and look so beautiful I always take a moment to just soak up their beauty and study their Artwork. Meanwhile my furry friend is sniffing the treemail and leaving his notes. I had a great two days off, Sunday I watched old movies, and Monday I got the errands done for the week. I am taking an online photography class and it has assignments which I actually look forward to. I sent them in and am awaiting my final results. I love having homework, (only when I love what I am doing do I love homework) It makes me do something I may not have done otherwise. It challenges our brain and who doesn't need some brain arousal. Well I am off to do some spinning so I can send it off for sale. Enjoy this beautiful day!!!

I need to vent!!

I was watching the protests on TV for illegal immigration....Ok, first off, it is called ILLEGAL immigration, there a millions of immigrants here legally. I understand you have to do paperwork and wait to get a green card but so did the people on Ellis Island, they were subjected to body searches, if they coughed they were sent back. They were scrutinized and questioned and quaranteend. I am watching these people protesting in Spanish??? How can we be educated on their protests if I can't understand what they are saying???? I have a pet peeve with the fact that they have a sign saying in plain English "Drivers License for All" really?????? Why???? Yes I had drivers education in school but my son had to earn enough money to pay for his Drivers Ed outside of school. If he couldn't afford the education he certainly could not afford a car or gas money let alone insurance. Driving is a Priviledge not a right, where do people get off having every darn thing handed to them and then to say you are here illegally???? A man came on and said through a translater that he is a welder and got hurt on the job and the Workers Comp called immigration because he is illegal. His family will suffer if they deport him. What were you thinking????? Of course they will suffer, you are doing something ILLEGAL. File your paperwork, learn English follow the rules of a Country, or go back to the Country you are calling home. I do understand racial profiling and that is not an acceptable process, but saying that, I have seen many blond haired Spanish speaking people. I believe if, like the welder you are busted then you should be deported, not breaking down doors and seeing if "your papers are in order" My grandfather came here from Yugoslavia, he had to learn English, even more interesting was when he married my grandmother a native in this Country she lost her citizenship and she too had to apply to become a citizen. They were proud of being in America, they did what they had to do to become American Citizens. They were embarrassed that they spoke a foreign language and worked hard to speak English. There were no road signs and advertising in any other language but English. If I travel 5 miles from me to a specific area I cannot read the ads on billboards, if I go into the stores in that area, they play Music in a language I can't understand???? When did I cross the border??? Why am I a natural born citizen shut out in my own Country. I am miffed at these going ons. I can think of a list of things I would like to do that are illegal, if I do them should I be punished???? Why? It would hurt my family?? Why do I have to follow the law??? Why do any of us have to follow the rules??? I say we all protest the fact that Illegal is a stupid word and we should be able to do whatever we want!!! A free for all , no rules no prisons,
Things I want to do illegally
Speed, I want to go as fast as I can anywhere I want
Shoot my gun, up in the air, at squirrels off of my back porch,
Rob a bank so I have lots of money
Park my car anywhere I want
Have no insurance on anything sucking my accounts dry
Drink and Drive
Shoplift, If I want something why can't I just take it?
Live in a camper on the beach, what you think it would disrupt the beauty of a beach???? a trailer park?
When does being illegal stop??? Go get your papers and then you avoid the problem. Many millions of people have followed the rules and are living here and enjoying America.....I am not just speaking of Hispanic people either, it was just that they were on TV, it is all immigrants, from all Countries.
Ok I'm done, is it just me???