Out With a Coolness

This last day of August is almost feeling like a crisp day of autumn.

I love this coming season. I'm ready for it to get here.

For some reason, whenever I think of the changing of the seasons, I always want to play a game of Harvest Moon. The funny part is that it's an RPG, you really can't play "a game." I've been too busy for games lately anyway.

In other news, I would like people to stop trying to remember my birthday because no one seems to be getting it right. I'm not that important. I get it.

Finding My Way

So, in case you missed it, the Maryland Renaissance Festival opened yesterday. It was a much better day after I took care of the wardrobe malfunction.

Today, I was charged with visiting a friend who lives a good hour south of me. I'm still learning my way around this strange country of Virginny, but I did find it! Yay! My mom offered for me to take their GPS with me. I declined, but I think I will invest in one of my own. Just in case.

It was so fun to spend an evening with my friend over yummy pasta! [And thanks for dinner (and lunch, and dinner, and probably lunch again too!)]

In The Beginning

In the beginning there was a bodice. And it was. And it was painful, but supportive.

Then, a stay poked through the seam. "Ack!" said I, even and, "Ow!"

By the grace of the wallet, a new bodice was purchased, and the old bodice was hung up for later mending.

As time when on, the bodice did not get mended.

"I needeth that color," said I one day. "Perhaps the pokey stay won't hurt so today."

It was, and it was so. The pokey stay was staying in place.

But, the strength of the seams were weak. And the sharpness of the steel was sharp. And the stays at the bottom poked through to stab in the sensitive flesh of the abdomen.

Alas! The wallet was not prepared to grace us with yet another new bodice! What is a poor, poked person to do!

"Appeal to the grace of the wallet anyway," a wise voice said, "for painful pokey stays are not fun."

And the wallet did open, and from it issued forth the magic of the credit card. And the bodice was replaced with one shiny and new.

Down to oblivion with pokey stays!

And yet, it was only hung up for later mending. Again.

Nothing Going

Well, I did finish that one I had been working on as I wanted, and it's awesome! There's a part of me that hopes no one will buy it, because I know I will not be able to duplicate it. But, there's an equal part of me that hopes the person who does buy will will love and cherish all the hard work that went into it. That is what would really make me happy.

But, I didn't get to bed early like I wanted. I got to bed late, actually. It wasn't because I was working, but that the guy I've been seeing (I still don't have a name for him....) decided to come over and harass me. Because of our schedules, and adding that the Renaissance Festival opens tomorrow, I didn't really mind.

But, I didn't get to bed early. Hopefully that won't lead to a yucky Friday.

Late Nights

Some of the late nights I've been having have been my own fault. I've been working hard on Halloween designs (wait till you see them!) and have been staying up late to finish that last little bit. I've been working on one in particular for the past three days that I've been able to work. I'm going to finish it tonight. I say so.

Hopefully, I'll be able to finish it rather quickly, as it is very close to done, and get to bed early.

Better Than a Town Crier

Is it sad when I get my news from the state of the flags in front of the office building?

Walking through the big open mezzanine in front of the elevators, I glanced out the window as I usually do. I had to back up because my brain vaguely noticed the flags were at half-mast. The double-take confirmed, so I had to go find out what happened in the world that I had missed.

It makes me wonder how many people here don't even notice the state of the flags. OBC's company flag has been at half-mast for a while because we recently lost a valued long-time employee, but that was just our flag. This morning, it was all three: country, state, and company. When the country flag is at half-mast, something happened.

I often quote Paul Simon "I can gather all the news I need on the weather report" when talking of my take on news. While that's true, it seems I also get news from the position of the flag.

Another Visit

I went to Pat's house again today. We swam and played some games and it was great.

I have a lot of work to still do, though. And sleep. There needs to be time for that too.

Aloha!

Happy 50th anniversary for the 50th state's statehood!

I used to have a friend who was from Hawaii. I often hope she and hers fare well.

My aunt and uncle are planning a trip to Hawaii this January. They want my parents and another couple to go and visit my second cousin who lives in an awesome home on the big island. Though I would love to go to, it would fall to me to take care of Callie. The best way to do that would be to stay at the house for those ten or so days. That's not a difficult thing to do. I would still be close to home if I had to take care of something, I might be able to take off of work so I won't have to make that horrid drive, and I could crochet to my heart's content. Oh, and I might be able to meet up with Fox and Fae during that time.

I think my mother is against the idea, but I want her to take the opportunity. I spent a day in Paris because I didn't know when I would get another chance. We've all talked about visiting our cousin since he moved out there. I think they need to go. I'll hold down the fort!

It Can Happen

That is, getting really really sore hands and wrists when you spend two days crocheting constantly. But, I've got to get my holiday designs done! And then photographed, and then posted to the shop. Whew!

The Life of a Business Owner

Work, work, work! And when that work is yarn and hooks.... Well, at least it's fun work!

Where Did it Go

I wrote up something for today, but I lost it. Lost!! I sure don't remember what I wanted to talk about. Ah, well!

Not Much Going On

That is, outside of still being up to my eyeballs in yarn.

I got another order last weekend from a friend who wants a Gnome, and a basket, and a cape. She's got three color choices (for Gnome clothes, the basket, and the cape) and simply told me "I like jewel tones, surprise me!" I'm seriously fretting about picking colors for her! Her husband mentioned teal. Teal and amethyst purple look great together, but I can't come up with a third color to match it (the Gnome hat is burgundy). I'm just at a loss!

It will come to me, I know it. Eventually.

Other than that, I've been working hard on Halloween designs. I'm filling my evenings with them. I couldn't do much work yesterday (though I did a little) because of Phoenix's birthday dinner, and I couldn't work Tuesday because I was visiting Pat.

I think that's the joy of a busy life, full of creative hobbies and lots of friends!

Not a Rebirth

Just the anniversary of a birth.

Happy Birthday, Phoenix!

More Friend Time

I went to Pat's house today. I love his little house. One day, I will have a house of my own. There are few things I want more.

We went swimming and then he took me out to dinner. It was a great evening. We enjoyed it so much, we might do it again on Thursday.

Still Out of Energy

They said that we'll still be feeling the effects of the Sweat Lodge for a week. I'm certainly still feeling the soreness from all the work we did building it!

I Had a Visitor

Fox came to visit today. We went shopping, and had lunch, and did some simple hanging out. It was great that my friend finally got a chance to visit. And that he didn't mind that I was utterly exhausted from yesterday and didn't have the energy for half the stuff I had planned. That's for next time.

Blood Sweat and Rocks

I'm going to a sweat lodge today. Time to work in the sun and heat, and then sit in the heat.

I'm really excited about this.

Five Words

Michael Vick. Eagles. EPIC FAIL!!!

Audio Books

They're great. They allow me to get into the world of a good book while exercising, crocheting, driving, and making dinner. How great is that?!

But, when the files are titled all weird and my mp3 player or CD player doesn't know what to do with them, that's not so neat.

I or We

I am I. But, sometimes a Gnome or two has to help me out with product testing. In those cases, it is we. Gnomes work hard too!

...my crochet critters work with me....

Hmm...what's the point when I need help?

The World of an Idiot

Apparently, there was a fairly recent incident of a person (or persons) buying handmade items from various sources and selling for a profit. This is normally an ok thing to do in a capitalist society, except this person (or persons) was passing off this work as their own.

As my information goes, this person was found out, called out, and removed from the venues they were selling from. Yay! A triumph for handmade artists everywhere!

The party has now started to attack those who got them removed from such venues (ie, the artists whose work was stolen). They have a blog which they update with personal information and indicate that a seller or artist has been reported to their state tax authority. It's an amusing read, actually, because it looks like they're taking the date that a seller signed up for the venue and comparing it to the date that public records indicate they registered to collect sales tax in their current state.

This is laughable to me, because those dates have nothing to do with each other.

For example, I registered on Etsy in April of 2008. I registered to collect sales tax this month. By this person's reason, I have been evading my state taxes for more than a year. What the public information doesn't state is that I did not live in this state at the time I registered for the site, and I did not open the shop until May of 2009. If they had this bit of information, they could further try to say I was evading my state tax for three months. Again, the information not available is that I have made no state taxable sales in that time. I admit that part is sheer luck, but it's the truth. If I don't sell in the state, I don't have to pay state sales tax. I haven't had an in-state sale yet, so I'm perfectly legal.

I just find it interesting that this self-righteous party is so quick to accuse others because they were found out, but their accusations are not based on facts. They're based on unrelated dates with a lot of assumption thrown in. Granted, it causes trouble for the people they attack, but it also wastes the time of investigators and the money of the tax payers (which includes the accusing party, does it not?).

The things idiots will do boggles the mind.

Still Burried in Yarn

But, I'm ok with this.

I've finished 1/6 of a commission project. I finished a commission project. New items are on the way. Who could ask for more?

Well, I could.

Good night!

Like No Other

Today was kayaking, but not like what we usually do (that is, going from point A to B and back again). We pitched a tent, put up some tables and camping chairs, spread out some picnic blankets, and knocked about Spa Creek.

There were nine of us and, while most of us had Hobies, enough variety that we could try other kayaks too. The initial plan was even to get some friends who didn't own kayaks to come out and try ours and have some fun. All of them cancelled on us, though.

But it really was a great way to spend a day. We all had a picnic lunch and even played a few games. It was very different than how we usually kayak. And great fun!

It was also very hot. My mother and I were worn out sooner than everyone else and retreated to the comfort of her air-conditioned home to get some energy back before I drove back to VA. Still, a fun day!

All Over The Place

It feels like it, anyway.

I came to my old home last night. I didn't sleep very well (surprise). Today, I went shopping with my mother, went with my parents to the Ren Faire grounds to pick up my participant pass, had lunch with them, then visited my grandmother. Oh, and topped it all off by watching the Nats win another home game. (Yay!)

And I'm still awake now to tell you so. Tomorrow, Fox carefully planned a big kayak and picnic day. It should be lots of fun and maybe a bit more restful than our regular kayak outings. We'll see. Goodnight!

Still So Tired

Way beyond tired of this.

Worn

I'm tired of being tired.

And sneezing. Real tired of sneezing.

Wonders

So, the story is that the Internet service has been down at home since Sunday. (I honestly don't know if it was back up and running yesterday, too busy to turn on the computer.)

But, seriously! Two days with no Internet is bad! I run an Internet business! I need my connection!! The things I can do from here at work are very very limited (because, you know, I'm supposed to be working and all). Here and there is ok, but I certainly can't run my business from the 'other' office.

If things aren't back to neat today, I'm going to have to take my laptop to Panera or something and get my work done there.

Hmm...I might do that anyway. Yum!

Name Calling

Frustration, thy name is Comcast.