Good With Deadlines

I'm good with deadlines. Great, actually. I work best when I have a deadline, in fact.

I feel like I'm never going to be ready. I have too much crap.

Working

Roomie and I turned in our paperwork and deposit. She wants to move in by the end of the month. I have a mere two weeks to get my crap in order.

Thankfully, it's not like I'm leaving an apartment and have to take everything with me. I can leave some things here for a while. I just need to make sure the essentials are with me.

I've also been downsizing. I told LDS she can have some of my Star Wars LEGO and Dot's daughter is still getting a bunch of my Barbie things. I even plan to downsize my substantial collection of dolls, but I'll be totally honest and say I don't know how well that plan will work out. The truth is, dolls make me happy. Sometimes, I'm such a girl. Part of it is artistic inspiration for my own dolls. And a good bit of my doll collection are dolls that will eventually become something unique. Most of those will probably stay here for a while.

I've had to cancel plans we everyone to get going on this. That's just the way it works sometimes. I wish I could take the next two weeks off of work, but it's just not that simple. Hopefully, I'll be far enough along next week that I can still kayak on Memorial Day. We'll see!

Happy News!

I'm going to be an aunt!!

Have to Comment

Dear Margo answered a letter that appeared in her column on Yahoo! today. The letter was someone misreading a previous answer that she is wrong for encouraging parents to lie to their children about the existence of Santa Clause and the Tooth Fairy, et al. First of all, I remember that letter and the belief of such beings was never part of the question.

I used to be one of those people. I used to say I would never teach my children to believe in those beings. I don't remember being devastated about finding out that Santa was really mom and dad; I think it was something that I just realized I knew. I was talking to Monty about this some time ago, and he told me a story that made me think.

He agreed about Santa, he was one of those kids who was crushed to find out it was all a fluke, but he had proof that there was a Tooth Fairy. His father passed away when he was young. One time, while Monty was staying with his father, he lost a tooth. His father told him to put it under his pillow for the Tooth Fairy and he did, knowing full well that his father had terrible palsy and his hands never stopped violently shaking. Monty was sure, and even expecting, that he would wake up when his dad tried to put something under his pillow because he could not stop from shaking. In the morning, Monty woke to find money and no tooth, and that he did not wake up in the night. Maybe there was some ethereal being making the switch, or maybe his dad was able to still his hands to please his son when it really mattered. There's something magical at work there.

Some time after Monty told me his tale, the question again came up, I think on an online forum. Someone was talking about how she does teach her children about Santa and the Tooth Fairy, et al. and she did that because it taught them to believe in magic. It teaches children to know there are unseen forces in the world who help them and do things for them. If nothing else, it teaches them how to have faith. Even if the illusion is broken down the way, if done right, no harm is done. Do you stop watching the trick just because you know how the magician does it? Some people might, but I still like to be entertained by it.

I've changed my opinion about the those beings. I don't have any children to teach, but if it did, they would know them. They would be exposed to the magic of the Tooth Fairy, and told to have faith in Santa Clause. I would want them to believe in magic.

Fullness

So, it looks like Roomie and I have five places to look at today. We were able to narrow down the thirty-nine properties that the realtor sent to a list of seven, and two of those are no longer available. I did remember my camera. I don't know when I'm going to eat dinner, though!

I've promised to work overtime, but certainly not on the weekends. Maybe someday that won't be so impossible.

I have a lot of projects going on right now. I'm currently working on a crocheted dragon to be my fire elemental; it just made more sense to me than trying to make a salamander-type creature. However, this little guy is proving quite challenging, so I have a feeling I won't make too many of them, which may mean I'll have to revisit what makes a good fire elemental. It's definitely not a simple pattern like the gnomes. As it is, he's been placed on the back burner for other things I need to get out of the way. Some of the things I'm working on that I'm not yet going to tell you about are new and I'm quite excited about them. One of the joys about new crafts is finding the history behind them too. As you might imagine, I've been in research mode for a while, and I so love to research.

One of the projects I will mention is a baby blanket for LDS. I think I forgot to tell you that she asked me to be her child's godmother. You know that old cliché: always a bridesmaid, never a bride? Well, first of all, that never applies to me because I'm not even bridesmaid material, let alone bride material, but I have a new one. Always a godmother, never a mother! But it's ok. I'll be perfectly honest that I tend to find myself quite jealous of my friends who become parents, which leads me to not liking their babies very much, but I'm not feeling that way about LDS and her parasitic bundle of joy (her adjective, not mine!). I do wish she would stop being so negative about everything, though. I gave her something today that I hope will help with that.

So much to do! And I won't be able to touch any of my projects today. I'm not upset about it, just saying!

A Short Dilemma

I have a Q-Link pendant that I bought more than two years ago and have worn every day since. It's supposed to balance your personal energy, in part by disbursing the electromagnetic waves that run through your body every day in this world of computers and cell phones. It's look is distinctive, some of the pendants almost have a steam punk flair. There are skeptics, and there are people who swear by what it does for them. I must have been getting some benefit if I wore the thing for two years.

I bought mine from an authorized seller on e-Bay. At the time, it was the simplest (and most affordable) model. They made others: black, titanium, sterling silver, and even gold. I went with the snazzy white one, though I love silver and would have bought that. I wasn't so sure about the device to spend that kind of money! The seller recently offered limited edition sterling silver Q-Links at nearly half the price. I jumped at the chance to upgrade to the silver one I had wanted, and this one has a nifty Om symbol on it.

Now that I have my new Q-Link, I'm feeling a little nostalgic about the old one. I've worn it for two years, after all. I've charged it with Reiki. I've adjusted it to show when it worked with any given outfit, and to hide when it didn't. The only times I haven't worn it was while coloring my hair (and then, it wasn't that far away from me). It's nothing crazy; I don't think I'm going to drop dead if I take this off. Really, I want it to get some use still. It seems a sad end to just put it in my jewelry box because I have a new shiny one. That might be the way it has to be. But, I've asked the manufacturer and the authorized dealer if they have any ideas/suggestions/recommendations for my old Q-Link. We'll see.

I know it's a silly thing, but this pendant became a constant; it was always with me. Whether it works or not is not the point!

Because You Know You Want to Know

It is very likely that I'll be moving to Northern Virginia in a month or so. I met a young lady on my camping weekend who suddenly found herself in need of a new place to live and a new roommate. I don't even know how it came up, but she asked if I was willing, and anyone who knows me knows that I'm ready to be out of here.

She's an EMT and I think is studying further in the medical field. She currently lives a bit northwest of me. We decided that we can find a midpoint to where she needs to be everyday and where I need to be in NoVA. On the recommendation of some friends, she consulted with a realtor, who sent us some options and we're going to try to look at them later this week.

We're both about the same income-wise or, at least, in what we're willing to spend on rent. She has two cats and I have two cats; that should be interesting. We also think we can work something out so that when the mobile opportunity opens back up, I'll be able to take it. (I'm not holding my breath there, the sales lady didn't give me an eta the last time we talked.) Sure, I was hoping to avoid needing a roommate, actually I was hoping to avoid needing to rent, altogether, but it’s just not possible to do that and stay in this area where most of the things and people I love are.

Pat is exceptionally excited because I'll be closer to him and we can hang out more. I'm happy that I'll be closer to work, and not living with my parents, and living with someone who I think I will get along with famously, and not living with my parents. Did I mention that I'm happy about not living with my parents? Don't get me wrong, I'm ever so grateful for what they've done for me, but I'm starving for some clean air. Pat mentioned just the other day how extremely detached I've been lately. And he's right. The fact that the mobile didn't work out for me sent me into some of the lowest moments I've ever been in. Even now, I'm thoroughly resisting the urge to turn this into a "why do things never work out for me?" rant. Though I very well could bore you for hours with those thoughts.

This is a much-needed opportunity, and I need it to work out. I can't take another life failure. Stop there, I said I wasn't going in that direction. And I need it to work out. I need to be out on my own, to live a little, to express that I am an adult and no longer mommy and daddy's little girl, or the shield they use between each other. I still know it won't be perfect, but I see many great things happening when I leave here: living with a new friend who is on a similar spiritual wavelength as I, being closer to other friends and the opportunities that will come with that, and being further away from my parents will make my time with them more special. I'm tired of feeling like I'm sixteen and have to clear everything I do with mom and dad. It's time.

If nothing else, it's time.

Smiles

I was still in bed when mom went to church this morning. As soon as she left, I jumped up (maybe not literally) got myself together and sat among a pile of yarn. In the past, I've ran out to the store to get some flowers on Mother's Day. Yes, it's last minute, but I wouldn't be able to surprise her otherwise. This morning, while I was lying in bed before she left, inspiration for an alternative to my usual quick run to the store struck.

I surly don't have a picture yet, but I crocheted mom a smiling flower with blue petals and a yellow center. I put a pin back on it, stuck it on a floral stick, and found a vase. When mom got home, she put her smiling flower on the mantle.

Mom did express some regret that she couldn't really do what she wanted today. Fox and Fae had offered "whatever she wanted to do" today, but we were stuck cooking dinner to take to my grandmother's. I know mom was frustrated with a) having to cook and b) going to my grandmother's where she always gets stuck cleaning too. My aunt and I were able to help a little (it's hard in my grandmother's small kitchen).

There was one point when my grandmother asked my mother to do something, and I could tell she was really annoyed at having been asked where my uncle, who was right in front of the thing, was not asked to do it. My grandmother relies on her eldest more than anyone and it's hard for mom not to feel overburdened with it. Hopefully, grandmom will continue to entertain the assisted living idea and relieve some of that stress. She needs more help than she admits to needing, and we just can't do it all for her.

Mom took off work for the next two days. I hope she finds some time in there to rest. She needs it. She deserves it.

Better About It

Mom and I made the trek to see Aunt Betty today.

We had both expected her to be rather feeble, but she was spry and energetic as ever. She told us she had been ordered to not use her left arm (but mentioned in a sneaky tone that she does anyway) and is only a little frustrated that she can't yet put weight on her hip.

Her daughter had taken her dog to New Mexico, something we were all worried about, and we learned she made the trip just fine. Aunt Betty will be moving when she's back on her feet. We'll all be sorry to see her go, but it is for the best.

We might be getting my grandmother to entertain the idea of moving out. Her home was burglarized on Monday when she and my aunt were at a doctor's office. My grandmother has been very lucky for all the years she's lived there and never had a problem. She did get an alarm system several years ago, but it went off in the middle of the night and she stopped using it. She had a new system put in yesterday. Hopefully this one is less sensitive and she'll actually use it. I must say that I'm thankful that my aunt didn't just take the car and go somewhere because then my grandmother would have been home when they broke in. When one thing passes, something else happens.

I'm taking mom to see Iron Man. How's that for Mother's Day?

Unexpected Things

I bought some puppets on Etsy and expected them to arrive by yesterday or today. Sure enough, there they were yesterday. They're wonderful, and someday I'll have pictures. What I didn't expect was another package from a friend who lives far away.

In the nondescript envelope was an awesome pair of earrings and a truly unique matching necklace. Surprises are always so nice! Thank you, dear one.

I finished another garden gnome with a different style of hair and hat. At first, I wasn't too fond of it, but now I think it works pretty well. I'll get pictures soon. I'm hoping to finish the other two elementals before I take more pictures, though. I'm waiting for some new eyes, and I'm confident they will arrive today (or possibly tomorrow). My eye supplier is usually very quick to get orders in the mail, and she's actually not that far from me. I don't think I mentioned, this seller had a whole set of those soft crochet hooks like the one I bought a week ago. They're fabulous! And have really saved my hands.

Oh, to be home with my yarn.