And a new week is beginning...

I've been pretty much absent on the blogosphere the last couple of weeks. Life has been very busy around here, what with packing and all. I can say that my kitchen is down to just the barest of essentials. I have packed more things (and tossed more things) and sorted to donate and sell more things than I remembered owning! I've even down-sized over the past few years. It's amazing how this stuff just multiplies!!! Amy still has a bunch of stuff here so next weekend (or the next) she has to come and get some stuff.

I walked into the downstairs utility room (which is also our storage room) and just said "not today" and turned around and walked out. A lot of the stuff in there is either going to the garage sale or to her house - or to her garage sale. Some of it is Christmas decorations that will go straight to the storage room at the "villa" (that's my new name for it since the location is referred to as "The Villa" by the locals). Many of the Christmas decorations will be sorted and shipped to the various children they belong to. LOL - except for Keith, they have more storage room than I have so they should store their own ornaments. Even if they don't know they own them (yet).

Today, I finished the last cards and projects I'm going to do until after we move. I packed up all of my scrapbook and card making supplies. My room looks "nekkid" now. I had an order for a new baby card (for triplets) so I did that today.

I also finished the Easter cards for Isaiah, Alexander, Kaitlyn, and Zachary.

I also spent all of last week trying to keep my job. I'm a nervous wreck and know that I cannot "walk on water" so my days are numbered. It's a terrible feeling to get written up for things that are so minuscule that it's amazing they even bothered and to be warned that if things don't improve that you're subject to further disciplinary action - up to and including termination. It's apparent what the plan is and this is the natural order of how they have to do it. Honestly, I wish it would just happen and get it over with. The stress is causing me so much anxiety. They've taken away my voice, my confidence, and my will. I am truly just a shell of myself. I'm afraid to speak up, voice an opinion, or make a suggestion. Co-workers are supposed to report to the supervisor any conversations/emails and I'm supposed to CC her on all correspondence. That is no way to live. If I had made some horrendous mistakes that caused customer impact, I could see the cause for concern. But, I have not and did not. In fact, the three things brought up were taken totally out of context and because I'm not one to CC everyone about everything, she had only seen one side of the conversations and actions.

I'm not saying that mistakes weren't made. Absolutely, I made a couple of errors. But they were minor things that were corrected because I caught them and redid them. One other item had to do with someones interpretation of a document and things she brought up I had discussed with the designer and what I had written was correct - not what she had thought. So what she shared with our supervisor about how I hadn't addressed this issue was shared before I verified that I was correct. In the last instance, the person who disagreed with what I had written came back later and said that my approach was probably better in this instance after all. Our supervisor did not see those pieces of the conversation. Once you're given an "oral" or "written" warning, they aren't retracted, even if you can show they were not 100% correct. Any comments are deemed as "defensive" and more cause for their concern. So, I just agreed that yes, I'd made some mistakes (one in January, one in February, and one in March) and there as room for improvement but the rest of the story was not something they were aware of. Because I've always been of the mind that conversations back and forth between people should be kept to just the people involved; adding management names to the "to" or "cc" list just makes it look like you're trying to get someone else into trouble or that you're trying to prove something. I've never been a "C.Y.A" sort of person. I'm becoming one...

On top of that, someone else made a big mistake on Thursday and while I hate that it happened to her, I am so relieved that it did not happen to me. It was something that could have happened to anybody. We have a lot on our plate and a lot of responsibilities. Files disappeared off of one of the servers. She doesn't know how it happened and no one else does either. But, as sorry as I am that it happened - I am so glad it was her and not me. I think it would have been the death knell for me. Instead, for her, they were all sympathetic and so sorry that this had happened.

I'm stressed to the max. I've got vertigo all of the time. It's so bad sometimes that I'm sick to my stomach. Changing positions makes it worse. I am being referred to a oto-neurotologist for further studies. Until then, I'm taking meclizine three times a day (which makes me sleepy). It helps, but it's not great.

The bright spot in my life right now is that I'm going to be a grandma again. Amy and Rex are expecting in November. She's due 11/10/11 and I say that she'll probably have an 11/11/11 baby. We're all hoping for a girl. Healthy is most important and God knows that we'll love and cherish any baby that comes along. It's just time in the family for a girl. Rex's family hasn't had one yet (counting Isaiah, 5 grandsons) and I've only got Kaitlyn and the three boys.

We're moving May 7th and I'm very thankful for that. I'm looking forward to it.

Ron is getting a new leg. I'm really worried about his "residual limb" right now though. He wore the new leg briefly Friday and Saturday and he has a big, deep blister on the end of the tibia. It's bad enough that I won't let him put the leg back on until he sees the prosthetist. I honestly just can't go through this again.

I just can't...

Triple Easel Card

I try to not post exactly the same thing on both of my blogs, and when I do post parts of the same thing I try to change it up a bit so people who follow both blogs don't have to read the same thing word-for-word.

I'm making an exception here...

I have to say this may be my most favorite card yet. I can see so much potential in future projects.

This is for a set of four year old triplet girls. I work with their father and they are just as cute as they can be. The littlest one was only 1 pound 1 oz when she was born. Her "big" sisters were 2 pounds 9 oz each. You can read all about them at Wilson Triplets.

James doesn't know I'm making the girls a card. I decided to use them as a practice audience. If it goes over well, then I'll know I'm on to something.

What do you think?

See that knife?

You know, the one firmly buried in my back. Up to the hilt.

I'm so naive. I actually believe people when they say I can trust them. I should be a contestant on Survivor.

One of these days, I'll realize that Corporate America is not my friend. "I got your back" means "let me see how far I can bury my knife in it."

Good thing I have a good attitude about things. I'll be done with all this when "I" decide I'm done with it. No one else. I am in charge. No one else. I can smile with the best of them. I have dealt with much deeper things and kept my cool. I have integrity.

Wow! Part II

On to Part II...

Also up for grabs yesterday were fantastic items in a silent auction. These items are also donated by various vendors, so the amount of money taken in goes right to the foundation. Included in the auctions were things from Ott lighting (a PINK light! how cool - but I didn't try to buy it although I truly want one), about $170 worth of stuff from Martha Stewart Living crafts (I donated some colored pencils to this one), several card making sketch books (I did bid on this one but lost it), hand-made jewelry, digital portrait package (valued over $150), "American Girl" gift basket, and a couple of other things. The was only interested in the Ott light but by the time I thought I might bid, it was already over my limit. So, I decided that I could really use some card sketch ideas so I bid $25 on those. Sadly, it sold for $35 but I had a $25 limit so didn't go over (Skippy - aren't you proud of me for that? LOL!).

K and Company donates a lot of stuff every year that are items from previous years and maybe just some excess they have left over. You can pick up paper 12 pieces for $1.00 (and that includes glitter paper; if it has glitter, I love it). Embellishments are $1.00 each, or less. Stamps are usually $2.00 for the larger ones and cheaper for the smaller one. I got some great button packages (love to use them on my cards) and a few other things, plus 24 pieces of paper specific to things that I have planned. Glitter paper is usually from $.85 each to $2.00 each (if it's double-sided).

I had several projects that I wanted to get done yesterday and I did very well. I made a couple of journals for people I know. The Hello Kitty one is going to one of Keith's friends who will be home on leave next week (she's in the Navy) and the other is going to one of my friends as a surprise gift.

Next, I wanted to make a card for the daughter of one of our on-line friends. You might have read her post here about her daughter being accepted into the Tri Beta sorority. So, I had her email me some images and I set about creating a congratulations card for her. She can't post it on her blog yet because I want it to be a surprise, but I can post it on MY blog for you all to see.

This is a "swivel easel" card that I saw the instructions for on YouTube when I was searching "easel card" instructions. When it is folded flat, it looks like the image is on there upside down. You can't tell on the big image, but it's done like the key. I printed it twice and cut one out very closely to the lines. The other image is left flat on the card stock. Then, I align the pieces and "pop dot" the cut out image over the flat image to give it dimension. The sentiment is stamped along the edge in an unusual spot. I wanted this card to be as unique as the recipient. I think I did it. BTW, the 'spot' on the card is from my camera, not the card.

Next, I had an order from my friend at work for some Easter cards for her to send to her parents and her grandparents. I had a definite theme in mind for those and set about coloring and cutting out my images.  I am totally sure that she's going to love them.

The eggs are all cut out individually and also "popped" off the page, as is the sentiment. The bunnies tails are glittery and I traced the sentiment with clear glitter as well.

I also wanted to make a card for me to just have around in case I needed something to send to someone on the fly. I didn't know how this image would look colored so it's a good thing it was for me. Now that it's made, I'm sure I can duplicate it again if someone wanted to buy one. It would make a great sympathy card or even just a "hello" or "'I'm thinking about you" card

I used a clear glitter pen to highlight the flowers and the butterfly's trail. It's really quite cute. The only thing I can't exactly duplicate is the flower button in the corner. That was a special find and I only had one of those.

I also worked on a scrapbook for a special lady who gives so much of herself to others. I felt like I wanted to do something special for her in return. It's only partially finished because I didn't print enough pictures and because of the pictures I did print, I forgot what order some of them went in. So... I will be working on that this week and hope to have it in the mail within the next week or so. Once it's received, I'll post pictures of it.

Last, but certainly not least, I have to share what I won. I said in Part I how I'd been telling the girls at my table that the grand prize was going home with me. Frankly, I'd never heard of Pink Paislee stuff until last week. I had to ask the lady at the scrapbook store just what that company sold. She showed me the items that she carried and I thought they were cute. I didn't buy anything - just looked and admired.

The drawing for the grand prize was at 8:45 and you had to be present to win. About 6:00 or so, I went up to Megan and said, "OK, I've told everyone around me that I'm winning the grand prize. I'm speaking positives into the universe so it's aware. You need to think 'Teresa' 'Teresa' 'Teresa' for the rest of the evening." She laughed and said that would be her new mantra. The time for the drawing comes around and the first name drawn out of the bucket (by someone else) is NOT my name. I just laughed because, well - as much as I joked about the grand prize, it's still just chance and the luck of the draw. The recipient is not in the building; someone said she'd gone home. So, the person doing the drawing goes in for another name. She pulls it out. She reads it. It's MY NAME! My friends just started clapping and hooting for me. Megan (who did not do the drawing) was stunned. She was so excited for me, almost as excited as she would have been if it had been her name. She took pictures of me coming up to get the stuff and pictures of me with the stuff. I'm betting those pictures will be up on Kyrie's blog in the near future.

My friend Michelle took a picture of me with my phone, too. I don't usually post full pictures of myself, but I'll make an exception here in all my (fat) excited self.

This doesn't look like nearly as much stuff as it really is, so I've laid it all out at home for you to see and be amazed. Each "pile" is one theme in the collection.


Most of the items (minus a photo album)



Old School



Sweetness

  

Hocus Pocus



Parisian Anthology


I'm in love with the Parisian Anthology theme. It has that Old World, Vintage feel to it.  The Old School stuff I can see in a variety of ways. Sweetness... I do know some girls so that's good. The only theme that's not my style is Hocus Pocus so some of that will probably be gifted or traded. I put all of the embellishments in a plastic tub and it' so full, I can't close the lid. The black box in the picture is an alphabet set and it's on top of another alphabet set. The jewels in the Parisian set are beautiful.

All in all, it was a very good day.

Wow! What a weekend! PART I

And, it isn't even over yet. Today was supposed to be packing day, but I'm out of packing tape and haven't been to the store - and I'm sore from my big day yesterday. It's hard to believe how badly sitting in a metal folding chair for 12 hours can make you feel the next day! I even had a chair cushion and I did get up frequently, but I feel like a train wreck this morning. I also slept 12 hours, which is absolutely unheard of for me. I rarely sleep 7 or 8, so 12 was a total luxury and my body must have needed it.

I went to a fundraiser yesterday for an amazing organization called The Kyrie Foundation. Kyrie Dawn Thome was a little girl I never met and didn't know her parents or the circumstances surrounding her life - and death - until two years ago. She was born in September 2006 and passed away April 7, 2007. Such a short life, but one that has impacted so many lives with her passing. How this amazing family did not implode is an amazing story in faith. Instead of imploding, they took their grief and used it to help improve the lives of other children who are diagnosed with pediatric brain tumors. Kyrie was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive tumor in February 2007 and was gone just nine short weeks later. In their grief, the family started The Kyrie Foundation, a non-profit organization, to help raise awareness and funds for pediatric brain cancer research. So far, the foundation has raised over $50,000 from people just like you and me through various fundraising events and word-of-mouth. I urge you to consider donating to this worthwhile foundation. We're working on our next $50,000!

Yesterday was their 4th annual Kyrie Crop in Wichita. I missed the first one, made it to the second one, missed last year's, and attended this one. That sounds like a theme, but I plan on making it to all of them in the future, God willing. The crop is held at Family Worship Center in Wichita, who donates the space for the crop. All of the food is donated by local businesses, big (and little) scrapbooking companies donate awesome door prizes, and  variety of vendors and companies donate items for goodie bags. The cost for a chair for the event is $45 and every single dime raised goes to the foundation. All of the set-up and tear-down of the tables and chairs are done by volunteers (I was one of those this year - probably another reason I'm in pain today, but it's a good-feeling kind of pain). There is usually at least one person (usually Megan Thome, Kyrie's aunt and the person who started the foundation - with her husband) who brings tools to share and a 6" Cricut for the scrappers to use. I also took my 12" Cricut and cartridges to share and I know it was a big hit because I had a couple of people come up and thank me for donating the use of my things. Honestly, I was glad to do it; it was such a small thing to do to help others.

I sat with my friend Michelle (who used to own the local scrapbook store here in town and where I bought all of my supplies after Isaiah was born in 2003 and for the next several years until she closed) and her mom and sister. Amy and I had sat with them two years ago and they're great fun to hang around with. Michelle's "table" has been pretty lucky because out of FOUR annual events, someone from that table has won the grand prize THREE times in a row. She won one year, her mom won last year and.... I WON THIS YEAR! Michelle and I were bantering back and forth all day about the grand prize and I said that I was "due" so it was coming home with me. Her sister, Shanda, said that it was her turn since Michelle and their mom had won each of the previous two years. I just smiled and said that I had been saying all day - talking to the universe - that it needed to come home with me. All in good fun...

Everyone goes home with a door prize. They range in value; some are donated by others and some are donated by vendors and others are donated by various companies such as K and Company (where Megan works), Pink Paislee, Zig Markers, Martha Stewart, Die Cuts With a View, Provo Craft, local companies, etc. Pink Paislee donated the grand prize this year, valued at over $200. I won a $15 gift card to a local BBQ eatery called Pig In Pig Out. I've seen it advertised on TV but have never been there. It'll be something to look forward to.

The crop is held from 9 am until 9 pm and includes snacks, drinks (coffee, tea, water, soda), and two meals - all donated items.

~TO BE CONTINUED~

Boxes, Legs, and Monday Mornings...

Boxes:
Although my stack of packed boxes is not nearly as impressive as Bouncin Barb's, I got a good handle on the stuff. This picture does not take into consideration the boxes in Ron's closet or the boxes in the garage which hold either stuff for the sale, stuff to be donated, or stuff to take to the storage unit.

There are 18 boxes on my wall and 3 in Ron's closet. I ran out of packing tape or I would have gotten more done. I will get some more tape this week and get the kitchen packed up this weekend (probably Sunday; I'm going scrapbooking on Saturday).

Legs:
Ron went for his initial visit for his permanent leg. The prosthetist will make his foot articulating so he should be able to drive again (there are other conditions that play into this, but if he could get his legs working, then maybe the other stuff will level out and driving won't be that big of an issue - especially in the little town we're moving to). He's also going to make the lower leg and foot look REAL so when he's wearing shorts (which he does mostly), the casual observer won't realize the leg is fake. That is pretty cool.

Monday Morning:
I was up and about early today and the morning did not feel like a "Monday" at all. Even though it was icky outside (and not any better tonight), I really had a great day. Finally got my body used to the daylight savings time change of a couple of weeks ago and I was really ready to go today. Ron and I had about 30 minutes of just sitting and visiting before I had to get ready to leave. It was pretty nice.

What about you all??? How was your Monday?

Sunday cards

Last week, when I was sick, a friend called in pizza and wings delivery for us. That was awesome all by itself, but she lives in HOUSTON and we live in KANSAS! How's that for friendship? A simple "thank you" just didn't seem like enough for that, so I made her a card.

I was really happy with how it turned out.

In addition, I had seen a stair-step card pattern a week or so ago (over at My Creative Exposure) that I wanted to try. I'd like to do Isaiah's birthday card (Star Wars, of course) and Easter cards for the grandkids in WA so I thought I'd better get started practicing. I have a friend who is going to have a baby girl in June, so I thought this was the perfect theme to practice with.

The images were cut with the Special Delivery Cricut cartridge at 2.25 inches, except for the baby, which is 2.5 inches, and the b-a-b-y letters, which were cut at 1 inch. It's a bit hard to tell in the picture but I also used a clear glitter gel pen to do some outlining on the items. The baby's cheeks have a rosy flush compliments of a Q-tip and a little bit of pink stamping ink. The "hair" on top - same, but with brown ink. The baby's eyes are colored with a blue pencil. I think it's cute. Not great, but definitely cute for a first attempt. Now, I have to figure out what size envelope this baby will take. The overall dimensions are approximately 6.25 x 4.5.

I look at lots of cards and card ideas and I think how beautiful they are - wishing I could create such beautiful objects. Part of the reason (I believe) that my cards are not as beautiful is the amount of supplies that I have on hand, and the amount of supplies others have on hand. Plus, some of what I look it is done by people who do this for a living. They work for companies who provide the materials and then they create the works of art. I will get better with what I have to work with. I can see a gradual evolution of the cards that I've made in the past year. They are getting better.

Packing should be a dirty 4-letter word

Well, "pack" is, so I guess that works!

I've been packing this morning. Ick, yuck, blech!

Keith was going to help today but he had to work. We still don't have an official move date, but I don't want to get the phone call and have it be just days later and be unprepared. I'm a planner. I have to have this all laid out in neat little rows. Pack the boxes of stuff we're not using. Line them up along the wall, clearly labeled.

Sort the stuff that is truly junk and is going into the trash. Sort the stuff that can be donated to charity because I don't want to bother with trying to sell it. Sort the stuff that is going to be part of the moving sale. That's a boat load! Some things I look at and think, "what were you thinking when you bought this?" Other things, I am surrendering with fond memories but I'm sure someone else will also love to have. Sort the stuff I'm going to offer to the kids to see if they want it before it goes into one of the aforementioned piles.

I'm trying to find a small, drop-leaf table that is suitable for a kitchenette and those things are practically non-existent. My in-laws had one in their kitchen and it was great. It butted right up against the wall and when the leaf was down, it was perfect for my FIL to pull up to the side in his wheelchair. I want to do the same in our new kitchen so Ron can get to the microwave, his medicines, and his grill. I only have about 36 inches of wall space to work with so it can't be too big. For the life of me, I cannot find something.

This house has a built-in desk so I have to make a new location for a desk. That will be the dining room table that I'm getting from Amy. I think it will be perfect for my laptop and printer. My books (which are currently on the built-in bookcase) will find a new home in the 2nd bedroom. I have a couple of Wal-mart bookcases that will work out perfectly in there. I've pared down my books but there a few I just can't bare to part with. Eugenia Price, Jean Auel, Victoria Holt, my inspirational books, etc. I re-read my books so it's not like they don't get used. Keith is taking the Zane Grey books.

I put a couple of things for Amy on Craigslist and a couple of things of my own. Miche' bags anyone?

As much as I'd like to relax today, I better get back to work. It is rainy and dreary today so it's a nice day to stay inside. Trouble is, I have to go get more tape and some book boxes.

blech.

Have a great weekend!

Happy Quiz

Once I felt well enough Wednesday to open my eyes for any length of time, I watched Oprah. She had Goldie Hawn as her guest and I've been one of her fans for a long time. LOL - it could be because she's connected to my most favorite actor, Kurt Russell {grin}. Man, did I do I have a school-girl crush on him!

Back to the show... The topic of discussion was happiness and how we as a society no longer instinctively know how to be happy. We are constantly being bombarded with things and external influences that tell us we need this or we need that in order to be happy. As such, many people have to be taught how to be happy and that the choice to be happy is within themselves, not because of things they do or do not have. Goldie has a program to teach children how to be happy and even has a foundation to help children thrive and be happy.

That's all well and good, but where down the road did we lose the ability to be happy within ourselves without someone telling us how to do it? What happened to normal childhood and the joy of just "being" that made us happy? I don't know. Studies have shown that some people have a higher happiness quotient than others and that some people are born with more ability to be happy than others. I know of people who have every reason to moan and whine about the circumstances of their lives, and they're still some of the happiest people I know. I know others who have so much to be happy about and they can't see beyond the right now to embrace the future. To test myself, I took the Happiness Quiz. I've always considered myself pretty resilient and able to maintain my happiness in most situations. Yes, I sometimes fall off the wagon, but I don't let myself stay down too long before I give myself a swift kick in the rear and get back going.

Goldie advocates meditation and deep breathing. I can't say that I'm a "meditative" person but I do enjoy having quiet time and just letting my mind relax. Sometimes that is more difficult than others. Letting it wander to pleasant thoughts is almost as beneficial to me as emptying it completely (and easier to accomplish). She said that we should give ourselves 1-2 minutes several times a day to just be still and relax - close our eyes and deep breathe. She said when she needs a timeout, she'll take herself to the bathroom and just hide from the world and "chill" until she's ready to resume what she was doing. I've done that myself so I do know that it is very beneficial. There is no private place at work and sometimes no private place at home so the bathroom can become your sanctuary (if you need it to be).



I'm happy to say that I'm a happy person. I passed the quiz. Happiness is a choice and each day you have to decide to find something to be happy about. It could be anything, however minute to massively important. Even negative situations can have a happiness part to them. It's there - you just have to be willing to look for it.

The rest of the story

I should probably clarify... most of what I say has a twist of wry, dry, sarcastic humor - usually directed at myself. Sometimes, it's directed at others but if I'm pointing one finger their direction, I've got four more pointing right back at me.
I don't mind if you don't agree with what I have to say. What I don't say is "the rest of the story" and sometimes I probably should just so what I do say makes sense.

LOL - make sense?

Have a great evening!