Well Fooey!

I am so tired, I just really want a day to stay home and sleep!

I ended up not sailing last night for that very reason. It was nice to get a little rest, but it barely made a dent in the sleep deficit that I have. As it turns out, it was a good night to miss. A storm came through and we didn't finish the race for it anyway.

Tomorrow is a short day because of Monday's holiday. Maybe I'll be able to go home and nap.

ZZZzzzZZZzzzZZZ

This means I'm tired!

There is so much that I want to do with my time, and not nearly enough time to do it in. If I could save time in a bottle, since I have no one special to spend it with, I would save about a week, and then sleep and read and sleep and do some housecleaning and sleep some more. And if I had a box just for wishes and dreams that had never come true... ok, well you don't need to know about that part! (but isn't that one of the greatest songs ever!?!)

Yesterday, I was working on my mask for the Ball on Saturday. It's not quite done yet, but I have a Friday afternoon deadline. I'll probably be able to finish tomorrow while I'm on Everquest (multitasking!). I'll try really hard to not stay up past 9:00, but no promises! (unfortunately).

I hate to say it (but I will) if I ... nope, changed my mind, not going to say it after all.

Oh, So Much YAY!

Last night, I met up with a friend who I've not seen in 2 years (and many years before that!). We went to Bennigan's for dinner and were there for a good 2 hours or more. Our waiter was funny, he kept approaching like he didn't want to interrupt us! We gave him a pretty decent tip for letting us stay at the table for a while, even after we were long done.

So, how can you get two years of catching up in two hours? Pretty well, actually! She told me about hiking with her boyfriend, I told her about kayaking, she talked about her townhome, I talked about my website. We did another exchange of address/e-mail/etc so we can start adding to our piles of letters (that we both still have, lol!). It was so so great to catch up with her. And she's not very far away, really, she lives in Richmond and her parents are in Woodbridge. Maybe we can do better at making get-together plans.

It was a really great evening!

By the way, I discovered that I already had a quartz cluster that I didn't know about! That's ok, though. Who says I can't have two?

Beautiful Two Miles

First, I'm going to start by yelling at my friend who kept my bank card when we stopped for gas on Saturday. Because, when am I going to get the chance to go to his place and get it?! At the very moment I was walking past the front door, there was a knock. I said "Oh no!" and opened the door to find my friend, with my bank card and his kayak! Apparently, my dad had asked him last week to come with us, and they all (and I mean his wife and my mother too) decided to keep it a secret from me. It's my dad's birthday, he's supposed to get the surprise. While I'm very glad that our friend could join us (don't get me wrong, I really am, not to mention that I didn't have to worry about getting my bank card) there's a small part of me that was expecting the day to be a 'dad and me' day, so it would have been nice to have some warning that my expectations were off. I recognize that it was dad's birthday, and therefore his party, and therefore he says who comes with us or not. But a little bit of prior information would have been nice in this case.

So, on to the creek! It was grand! We put in around 1130 at Selby's Landing. We were going along the mudflats of the Patuxent River (south end of Jug Bay, if you want to know) and there was an opening in the vegitation. None of us had looked at the map that morning, so we weren't sure if that was Mataponi Creek, but we went that way anyway! There are some landmarks along the way that would tell us if we were on the right creek (it couldn't have been the wrong creek, even if it wasn't Mataponi, it was great to be out there). We passed a landing on the south side into Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary (Mataponi Creek is the border between that and Patuxent River Park to the north, so we did find the right creek), and an old beaver lodge, and then a bridge that combines the two parks (you can only drive across the bridge between 1200 and 1600 on Sundays), to where the creek ends at a massive beaver dam with a little waterfall. We went back and landed at the bridge and had lunch in the shade of the observation tower. It was here that I used the last shot on my camera!

We then went back to Selby's Landing where there is some manner of personal facilities, and then back on the water going up the bay. It was about halfway up when we decided we were tired and that it was time to head back (so we can shower and get the wives and go to dinner). All totaled, we were out for 5 hours! You can imagine, I'm beat! Oh, it was so fun!

I Called It!

We didn't get home until 0200 or so!

Lets see.... We didn't look at any shows, but wandered around all the shops. I had a few things on my list; a quartz cluster (check), possibly a pendulum (check), a circlet (my dad got one, but I haven't found one that I like yet), and something unique that will make people stop and ask me where it came from (kinda check).

So, I found a very pretty quartz cluster that creates a sort of three point stand. It is small, but what I was trying to find. The pendulum is a point of flourite, mostly purple with clear bands to the point. My current pendulum is wood so a stone one is pretty neat. The unique thing is two-fold. I bought a little toy dragon that is very cute (he's all shiney like he has scales). The other one is a feather rose. See, the MD Renaissance Festival has rose sellers, they walk around selling real roses. Here, the roses were made out of dyed feathers (buds, blooms, leaves, all), and they were very pretty. I think I'll have to put that in a hat.

Today, my Dad and I are kayaking for his birthday. We plan to go down that creek that I've been wanting to paddle. It's going to be fun!

Hoo Ra!

I am off to Celtic Fling, on the site of the PA Renaissance Faire! I am certain we will be back late, so I'll tell you all about it tomorrow!

Why Me?

Remember the kayak mishap of Sunday? That's right, I have to take my car in for work again.

Have you ever been driving on a dirt road behind a tractor, with your car bouncing in the grooves made by the tractor's wheels? That's the sound that my front right break makes when I press on the pedal. I was really hoping I didn't damage something when that s hook spun around the wheel, but I think I did.

It's not fair, when I paid off my loan in March, I was supposed to be adding to my savings account, not drawing from it!

We're still working out the kinks of to work or not to work on Monday, but I'll let you know then how my poor car is doing. =( I guess this is number three. This had better be it for a long time!!

Yippie!

Story time! (short version)

Years and years ago (like 14 or 15), I met this wonderful girl in school and we developed a great friendship together. In the years as we grew, she moved. First out of state, then down the street from there, at one point out of the country altogether!

We tried being pen pals (both of us had said that we always wanted one) and for a few years, it worked. I remember, when she was out of the country, she sent me a letter and stated what college she would be attending. Then for a very long time after that, there was no communication. One day, I had enough, so I went through her college's student directory and came across an e-mail that might have been hers (it helps to have a bit of a unique name, but don't couple that with a super common name, I'll talk more on that later!). As it turns out, I was right! And our contact was renewed!

Of course, she's got the benefit that my address and phone number hasn't changed in years, but hey!

This story gets told because she called while I was sailing last night. She'll be in the area again next week and we're going to try to meet at least for dinner or something! She's really not that far away, but these things are always easier when someone doesn't have to go 100 miles or so. Happy happy joy joy! This fantastic person has the distinction of being my oldest friend (in terms of years of friendship). In all honesty, it's mostly my fault for being lax in my replies. I am going to work on that, I promise!

In other news, I was taking the things out of my bag that I would need durning the day at work. I moved them to the right side of my desk. While sitting there, I realized I didn't have my cell phone and thought I should get it out of my bag and turn it on. (You know, it's always when you don't have it that someone wants to call you). All morning, I'm thinking about it, and then I decide to get it and slide back from the desk to find it sitting on the left! (NOT on the right where I put everything!) And, there was a voicemail (friend wanted me to know he took the 'yak out, calling each other is a safety thing we do). At least the phone hasn't learned to turn itself on, but it is taking itself out of the bag! =D

Been Working My Fingers Off!

There's a lot of work coming in, and I'm super behind!

When they say get up and walk around every hour, DO IT! I haven't been up in a while and my legs and bum are telling me about it!

I've had three Friday's in a row. While that's usually a good thing, that also means I've bypassed weekends and had 3 Monday's in a row. Why is it not Friday yet?

On the happy side, you guessed it! Sailing night!

Happy Summer Solstice!

Or Midsummer, or Litha, or First Day of Summer (though, meteorologically, that's not really accurate) or whatever!

I hope everyone is covered in Sunshiney Blessings today!

Ugh

I still feel full!!

There was so much food! And it was all so tasty! I went to sleep feeling full, I woke up feeling full. I've re-gained the 7 pounds that I lost in May with one meal!! (You can imagine, it's a little frustrating.)

I feel a little sick today. It's really because my stomach told me I was done, but my mouth kept telling me what to try next! Next time, I'll just go with cheese and chocolate (and maybe salad). The meat, while yummy, isn't the best part of a meal for me anyway. Oh, but it was good! Ugh, but I feel so full! I swear I ate enough for a week!

Kayak and Fondu

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

My dad wanted to kayak (yay!). We had dinner reservations at 1600. We loaded up the cars, and off we went.

Well, on the way, my front right line swung around the front of the car and took a spin around the wheel well. The S-hook was wrenched from the tow hole (this is why we use the metal parts of the car!) with a terrible sound. It's now more of an L-hook.

Don't panic: my sunshiney kayak is undamaged! We were able to take the hook from the back of the car to use in front, while looping the back through the wide tow hitch. It worked, and we got to the dock (and back home again, if you want to know) just fine after that.

We had a nice paddle, 1.5 hours or so. I rode tandem with my friend and my mother used my kayak. In hindsight, we could have left my kayak at home and she could have used my friend's Hobie, but this worked fine. (We weren't sure if his wife would be coming, she's been ordered by MD to stay away for a month! Poor thing!)

After our paddle, we met my brother and his wife at a place called The Melting Pot for a huge 3-hour, 4-course fondu meal. The cheese was the best part. I think if I were to go again, I'd just want a cheese pot and a chocolate pot. It was so much food, I had to get up and walk around [not to mention my back was bruised from the boat beating me up yesterday (yes that means I was hit with more than the boom!), so it hurt to sit for so long.]. I won't be going to bed anytime soon, I think!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

New Boat To Learn

Today is my friend's birthday. She wants to go sailing. Given my dead battery situation, this will only work if she picks me up. I will now be learning how to sail a new boat!

The race started at 1730. We had until 2400 to hit the finish line. It started from Harrington Harbor, and went to R82, a red bell marker on the other side of the shipping channel near Sharps Island. We had about 2 knots of wind, and it took us 3 hours to round the mark! While rounding the second and last mark, and about an hour from the finish line at that wind speed, the wind suddenly and without warning picked up to 15 knots. This made for an active finish crossing.

I learned what the topping lift does! The topping lift is the line at the end of the boom that holds the boom up to the mast. When we dropped sail, so did the boom drop because the topping lift had, for reasons unknown, become unclamped. That means the triangle of the sail was holding up the boom. With the sail down, nothing was holding the boom. So, down it came at a rapid rate of descent... right on top of my head. (It wasn't as bad as it sounds, really!)

To make a long story short, I will only say that everytime I am on a boat for the first time, the boat beats me up. I think they are testing me to see if I am worthy of them. After the first time, I still go back, so the boats must approve!

Hedwig is Sick Again

Who wants to know what is wrong? "I do!" I knew someone out there did! It's the battery. Wednesday, there was no problem. Wednesday night and Thursday, it hesitated before turning over. This morning, it clicked.

I tell you if there is ever a time when everything goes wrong, it's this time! I also learned that my friend's car was hit in the appartment parking lot! I hope that's the third (you know how they say everything comes in threes) because I can't take something else happening to my car! His counts as number three, right?

Have you been to my store? It'll have some new things in it tonight!

By the way, the Nationals play the Rangers at 2000 tonight! The Nats must win, it proves a point! GO NATS!

As Predicted

It was a fantastic night to be on the water! We had a feast of many cheese, crackers, chips, dip, strawberries, watermelon, grapes, wine, and finished it all off with a few chocolate cookies. YUM!

That's about all I can say! I'm looking at a very busy weekend; three friends want my presence on Saturday night. One because he's in a production of the Scottish Play, one because I had agreed to do something and thought it was Friday, and the last one because it is her birthday and she wants to go sailing! Obviously, I'll happily sacrifice the other two things to be with my friend on her birthday.

I will admit, however, that of all my Saturday choices, I really want to go kayaking. It's been a while because of the Potomac Celtic Festival and I miss my sunshiney little boat. I should have time to do some in the morning, and we plan to go out on Sunday too, so I can be patient.

New items are being added to my store frequently! Go and look!

666

That's how many dollars it took to fix my car. (No joke, $666.35) I'm so glad Friday is payday so I can cover this. The good news is that I could stop on a dime! It won't last too long, but it's nice right now.

Tonight, we are the race committee. Every week, one boat in the fleet is responsible for keeping official race time, starting the race, setting the course, and taking finishing times (not in that order!). It's a bit of a drag because we don't sail ourselves, but it's fun because we hang out on the boat and have a little party. Here's hoping for a long race and lots of time to relax!

I may have mentioned that, by the nature of my job, I see all the mistakes that the people in my department make. After bringing them to my supervisor, who did nothing with them, it was decided to bring them to my manager instead. She's been doing great, except she almost told me to bring them to the rep whom she designates to 're-train' the people who make these mistakes. We'll call this person Sam. I don't like Sam very much. Sam is arrogant and seems to think that they are better than everyone else. All of management sings Sam's praises. (what Sam really does is recruit other people to do the work while Sam gets all the credit.) It's out of my hands after I bring mistakes to the manager, but I do not want to bring them to Sam. I feel Sam really shouldn't be the one who knows about everyone's mistakes. Thankfully, my manager said to continue to bring them to her before I could say that I would rather do so. We'll keep our eye on that.

Have you been to my store yet? Link to the right --->

In Other News

I have a brand new web store! www.cafepress.com/burninglakearts

It's full of useful and fun things covered in my digital artwork, drawings, and original photography. Go check it out! Go buy stuff!

They got the price of my car to below $700, but I'm just adding it to the list of "Why I Want to Leave My Job." I've got another new item, they're monitoring our phone calls today because no one was signed on to take incoming calls yesterday. They're getting mad over a 5 minute 'how's your car?' conversation. It's a matter of people not doing their job, so the people who do can be punished for it. I think I need to publish that list....

Go shop! Go! Do it now!

Poor Sick Hedwig

Dear boss, I write these words to you to tell you of my plight.
For at the time of writing this, I am not a pretty sight.
My body is all black and bruised, my face a ghastly gray
So I hope you'll understand why I am not at work today.


My poor purple Saturn is very very sick. Her drums need replacing, her rotors are worn out, her break pads are gone, and she's overdue for an oil change.

Now, I know my car has made that sound before, and I was right. It was last April, when the front rotors were replaced. The good news is they were under warranty. The bad news is that it was a one-year warranty. That's right, it's been up for 2 months. With everything, the estimate is about $750.

The place where we take our cars is owned by a family who used to babysit my brother and I as children. I trust their work, and I know they will give me the best price possible. They're going to talk to the supplier if they can work out a deal on the warranty or something. Here's hoping!

All Hot Day

Hot, humid, sticky. Good day to spend at the Potomac Celtic Festival!

I only bought one thing for myself, so I didn't go overboard this time at all. (I know, that's an amazing feat!)

There was a vendor who had these adorable 'freshly caught faries' in jars. They were so cute! I think I can make some myself, so I've got something new to play with!

I'm really tired, and I won't be going to work tomorrow because my dad is still working with the festival and I'm not driving my car 100 miles before I can have someone look at it.

Kidnapped!

My mother and I spent the day shopping. We had to take her car because my breaks were making scraping noises.

When we got back, my friend called and insisted we go swimming, or out to dinner or something. I didn't really want to go, but he's the type (just like all my other friends, it seems) who won't allow me to say no. So I reluctantly agreed and took a nap.

When my friend showed up to pick me up, he said I could strangle him, and then that instead of swimming, we were going to see Tinsmith and Gaelic Storm at the Potomac Celtic Night Fest in Leesburg. I did not plan on going to Leesburg! But I thought it might be fun, and the ticket was already bought.

Tinsmith was great, Gaelic Storm does not live up to the hype around them, if anyone wants to know. We're going back to the Celtic Festival tomorrow, so I better get to bed before I drop!

I Called It

Yup, tough day. Through all of my day, I felt like the kid who had to stay inside durning recess while everyone else was outside playing. I'm just a little tired.

So tired, in fact, that I needed actual food. The Slim-Fast shakes that I've been having for the past month and a half just wasn't giving me any energy today. (Mind you, I think they work, combined with my exercise, but somedays you just need something with substance!)

I found a website that will print a design on an object (t-shirt, sticker, tote bag, mug, mouse pad, etc) and sell it to people. They also print books. And yes, I get profits, if anyone wants to know. Look for the link to come up on the right soon! This is what I did when I could have been more productive at work today.

I mentioned a reader account and my Secure section yesterday. I was going to post my stories there for those who are interested (but I have to give you permission to view them!), but you could always buy the self-published book when I'm done with it! Let me know which you would want to do (even both!) and I'll be happy to get it up and running!

I'm going to bed! Good night!

I Need to Stop Staying Up Late!

My mother had a craving for coffee at 2000 this evening. We both seem to have forgotten that we go to bed at 2100. Needless to say, I'm just a little wired.

I was just going to tell you what I did today, but then I thought about who might read this, and decided it would be best if I didn't!

Ok, if you create a reader account, I can give you access to the Secured page and I'll tell you all about it there! I'm very excited and I'm not afraid of the commitment.

Tomorrow's going to be awful, I'm going to try to sleep! Coffee bad.... 8-

Wednesday, Wednesday!

Yup, I like Wednesday! Gonna spend the evening on the bay, with the wind in the sails and the spray in our faces!

But first I have to deal with work.

You know things are bad when the supervisor goes to an employee to talk about the other employees, then bypasses the manager and goes to the head of the department to complain about the situation.

I have to say, I think my situation will be better if my supervisor were someone else. And I've never had a problem with this person, so that means I've met another one of those two-faced people who really irk me. It's not a job that I want, though.

I want to be on the boat now!! *whine*

Mid-Week Paddle

Tonight, my dad and I put our 'yaks in the water at Patuxent Wetlands Park. We were out for a bit more than an hour, going up the river and back.

It was so lovely, a handfull of anglers on shore and one in an Ocean Kayak with us. The water was still and the birds were chirping and the turtles poked their heads up every now and then. It was so calm that we didn't want to put the paddle in the water, like breaking the silence was an affront to nature around us. We think we saw a muskrat swim by too.

I have got to spend more time there. And it makes me that much more excited to go down Mattaponi Creek too.

On a very angering note, there were some teenagers horsing around in the parking lot. I cleaned up the garbage they left on the ground, but I couldn't get the crap they threw into the river. Some people need to be drug out by the hair and have things done to them that I'm not going to talk about here, because I love the Goddess and all Her people and I know She will punish those who do not respect Her life.

What's Worse

Ok, everyone remembers how I and a couple of my co-workers were chided for talking about other employees (except that we really didn't do such a thing!), right?

It has now been brought to our attention that my supervisor (we'll say Rud is the name) has been doing just that! Rud has spoken about employees in the department that Rud does not like, in earshot of some of these employees (guess what, I'm one of them on the list, but haven't heard these words myself).

I find it ironic that our supervisor doesn't like the people who do most of the work, are reliable, and do what is asked of them without complaint.

I think this might be a sign of worse things to come....

Day of Mishaps!

I love the first Sunday of the month. It's the day that our little circle of friends from the Renaissance Festival decided to get together at the same place in Annapolis at 1200 for brunch and off-season catching up. We say it every year that we're going to do *something* in the off-season, and we never do. This year it was a reality! I know it is a day that many of us look forward to.

My friend, who keeps my kayak and his two on the rack at his apartment complex, asked my dad to bring his kayak so we could go out after brunch, because we have enough kayaks for the 5 of us (two of them on a tandem, and then one each for my parents and I). This is a fine idea, except we can't seem to work out how to get dad's kayak, which lives at home, up to Back Creek (it won't fit on top of the car in the parking garage, you see). To complicate things more, my dad was officiating a soccer game at 1030 that morning.

We decided dad would take his kayak to the game, then bring it to my friend's apartment, then they would drive to brunch together. So the group would know we were coming, my mother and I would pick up my friend's wife while he waited for dad. Sounds good, right?

Mom and I didn't leave quite early enough to pick up our friend and get to brunch at 1200, so we were a little late. As it turns out, no one was there! We're wondering if the excitement of off-season meeting has worn off for the rest of them. If we had known no one would be there, we would have started our day earlier (for more water time). Of course, my dad and our friend arrived not long after we did. It was a wonderful brunch.

Now, the real fun part! We're suiting up to get on the water. My friend forgot she had an adverse reaction to the sunscreen if she put it on her face. Yup, she put it on her face! My dad was getting his kayak off the car, and I went down to fix a bungee on mine (I didn't tell you that I broke it last week!), while my friend washed off the old sunscreen and put on a different kind. You're right, that wasn't a good move either.

Her husband came down to the water and unlocked one kayak so we could get it ready. He dropped his keys in the grass and picked them back up before returning to the apartment. (she was now putting aloe on her face, and that wasn't helping!) My parents and I got our kayaks put in when they approached. And that's when my friend noticed he didn't have the lock key! We searched all over the area, but found no key. Back to the apartment he goes to get the spare. And we're finally heading up the creek! Yahoo!

And as a final point, my poor friend fell in as she was situating herself to get back in the kayak and go solo for a bit. But then we went to the pool and had a VERY late dinner and all was well! (Nope, not in bed by 2100, not even home by then!)

LL Bean First Annual Paddle Festival

And, hu-rah, was it fun!

It was just like the kayak demo days that my friend brought me to, except in addition to trying a whole bunch of kayaks, they also had some lessons, touring tips, fish painting, and food! And to top it all off, it was all free (well, not the food, but everything else)!

They had us park our cars at a local park (that usually charges a fee to do so, but not for this event!) and then they shuttled us over to the site (the shuttle was free too).

There were a lot of manufacturers there. I got to try the Prowler 13 (angler edition) that I had been looking at. It takes on more water than my Hobie, and is harder to turn because it's longer, but it's a very nice little boat. Filed for the future since I'm happy with my Sunshiney Kayak. I put my mother in a Perception Sundance, and she really liked it. I've tried that one also, so I was sure it would be good for her.

The fish painting I will have to explain. They had big rubber fish and other nautical stamps. You paint the fish or stamp, then flip it over and slap it on a t-shirt. Viola! Fish-painted t-shirt! My mother and I both made one (and, you guessed it, free!).

Then we went shopping and I bought a water resistant bag and a kayaking shirt and some kayaking shoes. It was a long day! :-*

I Was Right

Yes, I know, it doesn't happen often. I've got to work harder at going to bed on time!

My office had a summer BBQ for lunch today, but it was outside, and in the rain! I didn't go because I only get 30 minutes for lunch (and yes, even though it's a company sponsored thing, my department has to use our lunch time to participate) and I'd rather use that time not standing in line.

Three cheers for Friday!

Hip hip HUZZAH! Hip hip HUZZAH! Hip hip HUZZAH!!

Too Many Late Nights

My bedtime is 2100, so I can get plenty of sleep to wake up at 0400. In the morning, I exercise, wash, make breakfast and lunch, and am out the door by 0545 to be at work by 0700. It is a very specific schedule that needs to be upheld!

You can understand that when I go to bed at 2200 or later, my mornings are pretty rotten. Well, I'm up past bedtime tonight, and I was last night too. I predict I won't be waking up to exercise in the morning. On the bright side, since I started my diet on May 1st, I've lost 7 lbs! =D

Yippie!!

The Wonders of Wednesday

We had a wonderfully short race this evening! We got back to the dock around 2015, which is real nice! Of course, a smart person would have gone home and made it in bed by her 2100 bed time. But no, I had to join the crew in the bar for a drink. Most of us don't take the time to do that, and I think our captain is very happy when we can.

There's nothing like being on a sailboat to make you forget about your day!