Near, and yet so far .....

I arrived in Virginia, and to my surprise (and pleasure) look at what I found waiting for me. A laptop of my very own compliments of Roger ! WHY you ask ? Well I'll tell ya.

While visiting Roger ... I sit at the dining room table with the laptop.

Roger has his computer in his bedroom, which is 25 feet directly in front of me.

Mike is in the den, with his laptop, approx six feet to the right of Roger's room.

Now imagine this: The three of us able to speak in normal conversation voice, and doing so, but also emailing, Facebooking, and sending YouTubes to each other - while only feet apart from each other. FOR SHAME ~~

Multi-tasking ~ talking AND typing conversation.
Technology is making us farther apart ... even when we are so close.

NEAR, AND YET SO FAR .....





See Roger's room directly ahead (in between the laptop & the glass of wine)


















(This is a view of the den from Roger's room)

Mail Call ...

This is Tia ... my friend's 15 year old Golden who is more proficient than USPS is making sure your letters are delivered.

Love Ya Tia ... long time no see <3<3<3

Pets ....

What a wonderful gift to have friends and family who love our pets almost as much as we do.

Thanks to those who have put my mind at ease by caring for Spike and Duri when I am away ....

Unions .... are under attack

Wisconsin ... the first state to allow collective bargaining for the public sector, is now attemtping to severely limit the power of Unions.

The labor landscape in America is in a precarious situation. American jobs are being outsourced to foreign countries. American jobs are being filled by illegal immigrants. American jobs are in danger.

Pay attention ... and Solidarity for the Union cause.

You Are Gonna What ?????

This post is merely an outlet to vent ... because if I vent elsewhere .."I may offend someone.." and Lord knows that is one way to get into a heap of trouble. SO~

Dear Diary,
My co-worker, who just happenes to occupy the workspace next to me, informed me this afternoon that she is bringing her 11 year old niece into the office tomorrow.

GREEEEEAAAAT !!

The office is a place to work ... not entertain kids.

The office should be conducive for work ...'sans' children proclaiming their boredom.

Just because schools are closed this week ... the office does not suddenly become a place to "dump the kids."

Is wine allowed in the office for medicinal purposes ... namely keeping one's sanity ??

I will spare the details, but let it suffice to say ... I am already in BITCH mode.

Night All

UPDATE: 02/23/11
YIPEE ! The niece refused to come to the office when she found out she was not getting paid. Happy Endings ~~

A Lazy Weekend and Raisin Bran ..

On a lazy three day weekend, there is nothing like Raisin Bran to get me through ...
Breakfast ~ Lunch ~ Dinner ... just add milk.

My ode to my favorite cereal.

A Day for Shopping Vintage ....

Today I was invited by two dear friends to go browsing some antique, salvage, and vintage shops. I went along expecting to get dusty ... instead I got my groove on !

I spent a little cash...but had soooo much fun ~~ ENJOY

Retirement ....

This evening I attended a retirement celebration for a dear kind woman I have worked with for 5 years. She has been retired for only 5 days .. and already she looks at peace, rested, and happy.

Congratulations Laurie ... the best to you always.

Winter Doldrums

TEACHING MYSELF HOW TO WATERCOLOR ... PROJECT #1
I went to Michaels with my 50% off coupon in tow and purchased $20 worth of water color supplies. A watercolor palette .. a glitter watercolor palette .. watercolor pencils .. set of 25 cheapo brushes .. a watercolor pad. TA DA .. my first attempt at watercolor(ing) .. self-taught.











SEWING AWAY THE WINTER DOLDRUMS
I made pretty aprons, cloth grocery bags (ex. parrot fabric ... very "green") and a bag full of 8 shiny soft blue chenille scarves. My co-workers found home-sewn treats at their desk on Valentine's Day. <3<3<3<3 (my attempt at hearts)






My cures for the Winter Doldrums ~~~

Procrastination is EXPENSIVE !!

Darn ... damn ... poooooo

I have been tossing and turning in my head if I have the time and re$our$e$ to make a trip back to VA to see my son .... still recovering from major back surgery.

WELL WELL ... today I decided today was the day to commit ... but what the HECK ... train fares went up $30+ !! Poo....

I was/am trying to find a cat-sitter ... and now it is getting costly.

Enough grumping and griping ...

TOMORROW - I will make my reservations (in hopes the fares have gone back down $30) and hopefully I will have found a cat-sitter.

Any volunteers ??

UPDATE: Wednesday Feb 16th
On my lunch hour at work ... I checked AMTRAK fares ... YIPEE ! The fare is back down to $147 ROUND-TRIP from NY to VA ... so off I go ~~ WHO SAYS PROCRASTINATION DOES NOT PAY-OFF

Valentine's Day

It was a very very quiet Valentine's Day ... maybe a sign of the economic times ... quiet.

The office was not filled with the usual colorful displays of roses and candy and balloons. Quiet.

May the coming years be more eventful ... not for the roses and candy and balloons ... but as a sign that people have food on the table, a roof over their heads and jobs to go to. I hope ....

FABRIC ~ FLOWERS ~ FUN

Spent an evening with fabric, glue gun and beads ....

Another Piece of Wood ....

Anyone that knows me ..knows I am a junky for sturdy, well made old wood furniture. One friend .. who knows me well .. sent me a photo of an old wood sofa frame they are getting rid of soon.

Not one to allow vintage pieces to be hauled off to the dump .. I lay claim to this wooden frame ... and just happen to have six nice cushions ... all ready to cover ... to turn this wood frame into a gorgeous piece of bungalow furniture.

Thanks Kate .. Thanks Bob .... YES I WANT IT (famous last words)

Nifty Fifty Baby Sister ***** Fit ~ Free ~ Fabulous

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA





You are about to enter the BEST part of your life.
Enjoy, Embrace, Excell
Ummm .. seems like you are doing that already = )

Love Ya Lisa ... and
PeeWee Herman said today's secret word is "BERKSHIRE"



PS: Happy Birthday Dad .... You woulda been 81 years young, but you left me here with a bunch of people who "just don't get it." Love Ya and Miss Ya

Ally McBeel ... I kinda like ya

Many years ago my friend/co-worker, Chris Marr, talked about patiently waiting, week to week, for the drama of Ally McBeel.

Now dear Chris ... about 10 years later ... on "pirated access" via a friend's hulu.com account ........ I started with the Pilot of Ally McBeel and I'm hooked !! Love every episode AND unlike you ...INSTANT GRATIFICATION ~~ I can watch as many episodes I want - in any order I want. But of course - I am watching "in order"

Took your advice ... FINALLY ... watching Ally McBeall.

Hug Hug Kiss Kiss ...love ya old friend

What's She Singing About ...?

I was browsing blogs and found mention of this artist.... pianist/vocalist:
Coeur de Pirate ("Pirate Heart")




After checking her out on YouTube, I understand the appeal.

These two selections stood out ...

C'était Salement Romantique

Printemps

Béatrice Martin, the birth name of this talented young lady, could potentially become a new muse during my creative time at home.

Who says you have to understand the words to enjoy the message ??

Solitary ~ Sanctuary ~ Sewing ~ Space

This is one of two 7 foot picture windows looking out from my sewing room .... now let's take a look INSIDE my sewing room. Well, bits of it anyway.

FABRIC

FABRIC

AND MORE FABRIC ......

This is my newest (circa 2008) sewing machine that still challenges me ... but I love it. It stays covered to keep curious cats from tangling the thread.... a game Duri thoroughly enjoys.

And here it is ... momentarily exposed. Up to 5 cones of thread and 7 needles ....

When I need inspiration for a project ... I drape out my fabric and top it with items I like .... then wait for an idea to evolve.

One of my "road kill" dressers that holds many of my notions. I have three .. amazing what folks toss to the side of the road. Their trash is my treasure ~~

I waited 20 years to buy this machine. I FINALLY bought it when celebrating my divorce. Let's hope the machine lasts longer than the marriage =0

A sewing room is not complete without a sleeping cat. Duri has claimed the cast iron daybed piled high with down featherbeds and comforters ... as his own. And I let him ... because it keeps him out of my fabric and thread.

One of five 100+ year old heavy stained glass windows from England that grace the walls (RED walls) of my room. Thanks eBay. Toted them around for years unsure of where to display them. Where I spend most of my time seemed like the perfect spot.

And last (for today anyway) is the floor to ceiling cast iron ladder that I use to hang artwork, unfinished sewing projects, finished sewing projects and whatever else needs to be hung. Love my ladder ...

FINAL NOTE: As you may have noticed ... there is no photo of "my sewing room" ... which was deliberate. For you would have been shocked and overwhelmed by piles of fabric and buttons and zippers and patterns and spools of thread and more fabric and more fabric and ....... so for now, please just use your imagination.
Thanks ... hope you enjoyed the snippets and now know why I love my sewing room.