2.26.2008

February 17-23, 2008

In college (and even now) one of my favorite poets is Edna St.Vincent Millay. I have read her biography and besides being a great poet, she was one, well, eccentric, lady. I don’t think now her life would be all that shocking, but in her day, well, let’s just say she had a knack at going for the unconventional. My favorite (short) poem is "First Fig" from A Few Figs from Thistles (first published in 1920), and many people know this one, even if they don’t know the author.
My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends--
It gives a lovely light!

My point being is that I feel this poem this week. I feel as though I am close to burning out. I am tired, and I am cold, and I can’t seem to get going. C says I am like this every year and this year is no worse or better than others, but I just feel cranky and tired. I am glad that I work from home because there isn’t one iota of me that wants to leave the house, for anything.

Monday: I paid bills (dad’s not mine, mine are piling up, ignored). I got some fragrances up on ebay, blogged, chose the new fragrances for 2008, did my 2008 catalog and order form, made soap, and cleaned up my shop that keeps getting more and more cluttered the more I try and keep it uncluttered.

Tuesday: I answered e-mails, ordered yarn for a baby afghan (not my baby), did laundry, painted the new office, washed shop towels, made soap, and mailed out an order.

Wednesday: made soap (surprise!), did dishes, and did accounting (finally caught up on 2007)

Thursday: emails, post office, bank, show applications, and taught an art class to a great bunch of kids- we made bath fizzys!

Friday: Snow day- shoveled twice, knit, had lunch with my friend B.S. Started feeling icky- maybe the flu?

Saturday: C and I started to move the office from one room to another, this means bringing desks and everything up a few short flights of stairs. I quickly stood up into one of the desk legs, knocking myself silly and giving myself a huge egg on my head, not to mention a big headache.

2.18.2008

Another one yet again...

Two Names You Go By
1. Hedge
2. Baby


Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. my bathrobe
2.black fuzzy socks


Two Things You Would Want (or have) in a relationship:
1. Honesty
2. Friendship


Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment:
1. To make my "to do" list go away
2. For spring to arrive

Two things you did last night:
1. watched TV (season 1 of Rescue Me)
2 Knit

Two things you ate yesterday
1. Hershey's Kisses
2. Pasta & Chicken

Two people you last talked to:
1. my Dad
2. Jacque

Two Things you're doing tomorrow:
1. Working on my web page
2. Ordering supplies


Two longest car rides:
1.Las Vegas to NY (flew back)
2. Florida to NY to Ohio (& then back)


Favorite Holidays or Vacations
1. New Years
2. a cruise

Two favorite beverages:
1. Tea (herbal)
2. Water

February 10-16, 2008

What is hard for me is that I like to be home. I am a creature of habit; some would say in a rut, others say that as long as your rut is comfortable, who cares. I love to go out, to see new things, and to have fun, but when it comes down to it, when given a choice, I would choose to be home more often than not. And I stress when I am away from home. I worry about the cats, the house, and the business. This week I went away thinking we were almost out of heating oil, so that stressed me, and there was a storm coming, so that stressed me, and I had things to do, so that stressed me. Somehow in all of that I figured a way to have myself a bit of fun.

Sunday C was gone (in Haarlem, the Netherlands) and he called me early in the morning (my time, a 6 hour difference) to tell me he was there and safe. I spent the day doing show applications, laundry, and blogging. I also went and explored Wegmans for gluten free food- of which I found quite a bit, but it is all so expensive.

Monday I got quite a bit done before I left- emails, orders, blog, exercise, shower/shave, pack clothes, cat food, cat water, clean the kitchen, eat breakfast, and pack knitting. Around noon B picked me up and we started down to Atlantic City. On the way we stopped at one of her favorite bead shops, which just happens to be in the same complex as one of my favorite yarn shops, and right next to a quilting shop (I don’t quilt, but I know people who do). I picked up some yarn for a project I am working on for a swap (So I can’t say much about it just in case my swap partner is reading this) and a gift for the swap recipient as well. We made it to AC and had linner (lunch/dinner) and lost some $.

Tuesday: Casino hopping, eating, losing more $

Wednesday: the morning was raining something fierce so we left after lunch and stopped at a new bead shop and a new yarn shop that neither of us had been to before. Unfortunately, B didn’t like her bead shop as much as I was in love with the yarn shop. I found some sock yarn that I never can find, and spent way too much $ there in it. Later that night my dad came to visit and he had to fix something in his truck so it was off to Home Depot, then dinner, and then shoveling the snow before it turned to ice.

Thursday I treated like it was Friday but got even less accomplished. I answered emails, went over to Stone Soup Studios to talk about an event in March (more info later), watched the NASCAR Duels and knit.

Friday C came home in the early evening so I spent the morning doing laundry, and dishes, and changing sheet, bringing out garbage, answering e-mails, making copies of some patterns in some magazines, put stuff where it belonged (the house was a wreck), had brunch, emptied the van, did a little soaping stuff, and sent out two orders.

Saturday ended up being a lazy day. C was tired from his trip and I feel like I am fighting off some sort of cold. Just achy all over and cold in my joints, a sore kind of cold, like after you shiver for a long time. So I painted the office some (almost done) and napped, and knit. See, lazy day.

2.10.2008

February 3-9, 2008

This week I really got things done. It was busy, yet rewarding, and not overwhelming. I think that I am finally back on my game and ready to work. This of course means I have had to figure out a schedule and how long I think it will take me to get everything done, so now I have something to stress me out as I try and adhere to it.

Sunday we painted the walls/ baseboards of the spare bedroom that will soon become our office. While the first coat dried, we went shopping- getting a much needed new bedspread, picking up some crafty stuff I needed, and getting some electronics to replace some dying electronics. Then we did the second coat of paint, I fixed my dad’s play lists on his I-Pod and downloaded some new audio books for him, and read and answered some e-mails.

Monday I out some orders, mailed a box of stuff for my dad, blogged, paid some bills, did laundry, and yes, more e-mails….

Tuesday- my first day of making soap this year! Oatmeal Milk & Honey was the firstto get done. In between batches I got the shop cleaned up from last weeks foray into bath fizzys- there was as dusting of cornstarch everywhere. I got the last of those fizzys wrapped too.

Wednesday was Mango Fiesta soap. The new crock pots seem to be making a few more bars than the old ones, and I forgot how much faster the soap heats up when the crocks are new too. I also switched to oval ones. It makes stirring easier because the crock part doesn’t spin, so now I can stir with one hand. I got soap milled, started arranging some things in the shop- like my boxes of ribbon, and started working on the samples of fragrances for the weekend’s event.

Thursday I finished getting my fragrance samples done. Everything got labeled, logged into the spreadsheet, and boxed. I got all the fragrances for the weekend event complete and got fragrances that need to go on e-bay labeled and ready. I vacuumed the house and went to the post office. B and I met for our bi-weekly meeting and had lunch at Pickles. I still feel like this gluten free diet leaves me eating salads for lunch every time I go out, but I am getting used to that and it isn’t as annoying as before.

Friday Grocery, bank, drycleaner, mail order, block knitting, update Ravelry, work on paperwork for the next day’s “Sniffing” and knit a mitten.

Saturday the “sniffing” went well. I got quite a few of my loyal customers to come in, and some new people as well. It was a good broad demographic, from kids, to men, so I think I have a good idea of what to make next year. I’ll get that paperwork done in a few days and then announce the winners. In the morning before the event I had to run and pick up a few last minute things I needed, print out some voting forms, pack up the stuff for the event, etc. After it was done, C left to go on a trip for work, till Friday. I ate dinner, started knitting a hat, and watched the NASCAR race till I fell asleep.

2.04.2008

January 27- February 2, 2008

This week was all about bath fizzys and forcing yourself to do something you don’t want to do. I think that is one of the biggest problems with America- the procrastination, the inability to make ourselves do what we don’t want to do. I mean look at it, think about illegal immigration, and how many illegal immigrants do you know that are bankers, and lawyers, not too many. They fill the jobs that we as Americans don’t want to do- mostly labor intensive fields like landscaping, and jobs at restaurants, etc... Now I am not a guru on this subject, this is just how I feel. My point is, as a nation, we are obese because we don’t “feel” like exercising, we are stupid because we don’t “feel: like studying, we are lazy because we don’t “feel” like working. We need to kick ourselves in the pants and get going- on anything (other than watching TV and playing video games), even if we don’t “feel” like doing it.

This week J visited and we made over 2100 bath fizzys. There were many times I didn’t “feel” like making them. I was tired, I had a headache, I would rather be doing something else, but I pressed on and we got done over ½ of what I project to need for the year’s inventory. In 4 days. Pretty good if you ask me.

Over the weekend C and I finally kicked it into high gear and did things we didn’t “feel” like doing- namely painting. But this, when done, will let us move our office from the lower level to the upper one, so I can stop freezing to death all winter and so we can use the family room for video games and watching DVD’s. I can say, I “feel” accomplished. Maybe this feeling will translate into other things I haven’t felt like doing and I can kick this procrastination bug once and for all.

Feb 1st weigh in: 159 lbs. With my lack of exercise and the wedding, not to mention the extra holiday candy I am still finishing and switching my diet all around to go gluten free- I am pretty happy with 1 lb. My goal for the month: 2 lbs.

Sunday: We cleaned out the closets- the coat closet, the linen closet, and C cleaned the office closet. Things are where they belong and we got rid of tons of old, unused, crappy looking linens. I swept, mopped, vacuumed, cleaned off the glass surfaces (like tables) and generally just made the house look 100% better. And then I knit.

Monday: I went and picked up supplies in the morning and then cleaned and organized the shop. J came in the afternoon and we made a batch of fizzys (150).

Tuesday: Blogged, filled orders, measured out ingredients for fizzys, made fizzys (4 batches).

Wednesday: Answer e-mails, measure more ingredients, wrap fizzys, make fizzys (5 batches), knit

Thursday: Fill orders, make fizzys (4 batches), chill with J.

Friday: J to airport, laundry, cat pan, put books on half.com, work on house notebook, put laundry away, chems in hot tub, start to block knitting, take pics of knitting for Ravelry and post.

Saturday: Work on arranging playlists on dad’s I-pod, CVS, grocery, post office, drycleaner, buy cat pan liners. Nap.

2.03.2008

Another one....

I get these sometimes from my friends.. I've decided to start to post some of them here. Feel free to comment and tell me some stuff about you.

Place an X by all the things you've done, or remove the X from the ones you have not, answer the questions at the bottom. This is for your entire life!

x Smoked a cigarette.
x Drank so much you threw up (in public, no less)
x Had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
x Gone on a blind date
x Been to Canada
x Been to Mexico
x Been to Florida
x Been on a plane
x Been lost
x Been on the opposite side of the country
x Gone to Washington , DC
x Swam in the ocean
x Cried yourself to sleep
Nope! Sang karaoke
Nope! Paid for a meal with only coins.
x Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
Nope! Made prank phone calls...
x Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
x Caught a snowflake on your tongue and made snow angels too
x Danced in the rain
X Written a letter to Santa Claus
X Been kissed under the mistletoe
x Watched the sunrise with someone you care about
x Blown bubbles...
Made a bonfire on the beach
x Crashed a party
x Gone ice-skating
x Been skinny dipping?
x Kissed a dog? (both the human kind and the canine kind

1. Any nickname? Privet
2, Mother's name? Michele
3. Favorite Drinks? Vodka Tonic w/ Lime
4.Favorite TV Show? House
5. Body piercing? Not anymore
6. How much do you love your job? Love it!
7. Birthplace: Saratoga Springs, NY
8. Favorite vacation spot? Maine
9. Ever been to Africa? No
10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? yes
11. Ever been on TV? Yes
12. Ever steal any traffic signs? No signs, I think there is still a cone in my mom’s garage
13. Ever been in a car accident? yes
14. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 5 if you count the hatch
15. Favorite salad dressing? Oil & vinegar
17. Favorite number? 10
18. Favorite movie? Fight Club (Just because Brad Pitt makes soap)
19. Favorite holiday? My Birthday
20. Favorite dessert? Ice Cream
21. Favorite food? Sushi
22. Favorite day of the week? Friday
23. Favorite brand of body wash? I’m a soap person
24. Favorite smells? Fruit
25. Favorite hamburger topping? Ketchup
26. What do you do to relax? Knit
27. Do you have a message to your friends reading this? Did ya learn anything?
28. How do you see yourself in 10 years? Thinner, greyer, and wiser

Q & A

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Yes. Hedge Capers, from the band Hedge & Donna
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Just a few days ago
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yes
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SANDWICH ? Going gluten free so none for me thanks!
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? No, and if I am lucky that will be never
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I think so
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? My favorite form of humor
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Yes
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Once again, that gluten free thing- but it used to be Lucky Charms
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM
OFF? No
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? No
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Phish Food
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT
PEOPLE? Teeth
15. RED OR PINK? Red
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT
YOURSELF? being out of shape
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My friend N, we haven’t talked in years
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? PJ bottoms with frogs on them and red fuzzy socks
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Chili & Potato Chips w. some chocolate for dessert
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Super Bowl is on the TV upstairs
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Burnt Sienna
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Fruits
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE
PHONE? My dad
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Oh yes!
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? NASCAR
27. HAIR COLOR? Brown, going gray
28. EYE COLOR? blue
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? yes
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Sushi
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Happy Endings
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Fantastic 4
33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Blue
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
35. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Tembleque
39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Austere Academy
40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Giraffes
41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Rescue Me, Season 1 on DVD
42. FAVORITE SOUND? Thunder storms
43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
44. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? The Caribbean
45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? Not that I can think of
46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Saratoga Springs, NY