Today is the day! yes indeed...although I decided that this particular resignation is a bit like coitus interuptus...it's like I'm almost to the climax and then - uuuuuuuh no - we need you to come in part time to help train the new girl...so....no last day climax for you...it's "anti-climactic" if you will

But, my tummy is full of delicious pumpkin bars that our lovely office manager Vikki made for me (she says they're seasoned with her bitter tears) that must be why they're so yummy! and I got a nice card from all my workmates - and it plays Blondie's Call Me when you open it! Kewl. Needless to say I'm making all of my previously mentioned office mates crazy by opening it and playing it constantly...I also followed my boss down the hall with a balloon, slowly letting the air out so that it would SQQQUUUUEEEEK in a most annoying fashion. I'm doing my best today to make sure they don't miss me too badly.

If you haven't seen this yet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnVJZkDuVBM you must (and then check out the Ben Affleck one) IF by some chance my linky abilities are not what they could be...just YouTube Jimmy Kimmel and watch the Matt Damon, then the Ben Affleck. I have quite painfully snorted coffee out of my nose 5 X today - just thinking about it makes me laugh (Note: it is "adult" in language choice but all the f-bombs are bleeped)

Also, I got a very nice compliment today from a fellow "etsian"

she says You are an amazing artist.Your bottle caps are just unbelievably original.I can only imagine the tedious effort and patience required to make them.I get lots of traffic at my store. I hope more people find you.Bravo"

Isn't that nice? she makes very pretty free-form crochet accessories and sells patterns too...I'll give her an unsolicited plug (for all 3 of my readers...2 of which I think actually crochet!!)

www.crochetbayboutique.etsy.com

that is all for now, gotta go eat another punkin bar!

Yesterday was the big jury day for the grower's market down-south...well, suffice it to say they take the "growing" more seriously than the "crafting" down there, and when I saw the "committee" of blue haired ladies filing in to look at and evaluate the items up for jury my heart sank a little bit. I guess it's a very busy market but their emphasis is definitely on agriculture..and while my stuff is recycled and therefor eco-friendly..I'm not sure it's a great fit...we'll see what happens...in 2 weeks when they make their decisions. My inlaws applied with me and we're teaming up for the booth(s)...Michael makes some really neat-o stained glass (not like anything else I've ever seen out there, very original) and Madalyn is an incredibly talented ceramics artist...she made the cutest "Toad Abode" (I'll try to get a picture on here soon) bird feeders etc.

I think we will do well (hopefully) at the spring fair next month and that'll get our feet wet, then we'll see what happens from there. I'd REALLY like to do the craft fair in Eugene so I think that will be our goal. In the mean time, I'm trying to get the gumption up to take some samples & wholesale packages together to pitch at some boutiqes/shops in Eugene and maybe even Portland...if anyone reading this knows of a shop (even outside of Oregon) that might be interested please let me know!

Ok that is all for now. I am "supposed" to be working (which means stuffing easter eggs...my fingers need a break!) so for now I will say...tomorrow is my "last day" of fulltime employment! (but not if you ask my boss, he seems to be in denial)

and TGIF!

I'm Out

Smoochie Boochies

brought to you by the number

YAY! Busy day today...going to jury today...I'll keep y'all posted!

The following is Max's entry into a LEGO contest...I was quite proud of his initiative, his essay & his creation so I thought I'd share it here: (P.S. He could win an XBOX 360 so cross your fingers for him!)


This is a set of the scene when Anakin and Padme were dining, while hiding on Naboo in Episode 2: Attack of the Clones. It is not an action scene, but I thought it was a VERY pretty building they were in. In this scene, Anakin is levetating a pear with the Force, while Padme stabs it with a fork. Their waiter is standing on the balcony with R2-D2 and a boat is floating by the docks, with the oceans and an island in the background to top it off.
Max (11)

On an outer space adventure..they got hit by cosmic rays....

Day Four! (this countdown is courtesy of and for the benefit of Miss Molly who can't wait for Mom to be home more!)

Tomorrow is the big "jury" day for the grower's market...I'm giddy & nauseus with self-imposed nervousness. This morning I took a proverbial step back and said to myself - "self. It's just a grower's market. It's just a bunch of hippies selling plants and the occasional herbal soap. IF you don't get in it is not a reflection upon your work..." You'd think I was applying to get into the louvre or something!
I guess it's because I've made some changes (as you constant reader (notice the singular) are aware) on the career front with the "assumption" that I'd get into this venue...I need to remember that if I don't, another path will make itself available.
Just gotta take a deep breath and....
Moose-Frah-Bah! (that's my mediatation chant, compliments of Patty)
and of course, special thanks to my big "elf" who made me a groovy display stand overnight.

Anyway, off to work now for an exciting day of paperwork and easter egg stuffing (1,000 down, 9,000 more to go!!) Here's hoping the DJ's at work haven't eaten all the candy!

Peace, love & cherry pits

The Game

According to my office mates there is a "game" that couples sometimes play..it's called the "free game" and you get to say what famous person you would skronk if you could (no strings attached...no guilt etc. etc.) And I got to thinking how much it would suck if you played this game with your S.O and they picked people that looked NOTHING like you...you know, if he picks Angelina Jolie and you say....look a bit more like Janean Garaffallo...I'm quite grateful that LGK has the hots for Tina Fey...and Myrna Loy...

So, I got to thinking and my top choices would be the gents above...all of whom, I think, bear a bit of a resemblance to my schmoopy :) what with the rugged manliness....isn't that nice? (of course, Salma would be an exception but that's another story...tee hee)

Snow Day

Just found these pictures from a month or so back... This is a "lot" of snow for us around here. The town pretty much shuts down 'cause noone knows how to drive. Of course, to this Utah-girl this is "nothing" but I took the snow-day off with pleasure.

Funny thing is on a sunny, nice day you can't drag this little girl outside...but the snow! I had to make her come in when her lips started to turn blue. Max is much more sensible and enjoyed the snow through the window.

Fergie surprisingly loved the snow too (he showed his love by barking at it and calling it an infedel)

the countdown starts

Five days and counting! My last week of full-time employment starts tomorrow (kicking off with a "sales team" breakfast @ IHOP) "allegedly" in my "honor" as a "buh-bye" breakfast - I shall endeavor to be gracious and humble...I may say a few words...

The coming week looks to be a bit hectic...as do the coming weeks (plural) as I get ready for this craft fair...I've been more prolific than ever before these past few weeks. I counted today and I have completed, carded etc. 34 pairs of earrings and 36 pendants....so in other words I'm about 1/6th of the way to where I need to be...So, if you're looking for me, I'm the one at the table furiously beading/painting/carding bottlecap jewelry...or if you can't find me there I'm on the couch with glue covered fingertips, frantically rolling beads (OR I'm the chick you saw at Lowes' heisting all the paint samples)

speaking of which...since I need so much inventory, I am in DESPARATE need of supplies...luckily for me most of my supplies are of the FREE variety, (what with them being recycled) but LGK and I can only drink SO much beer (especially now that we're back on weight watchers) so if anyone out there reading this has twist-off bottlecaps PLEASE feel free to pass them on to me....I'll pay for shipping. I'll make you some jewelry!!!!

"and also...I can kill you with my brain"

Best Show EVER!

We're rediscovering the genius that is Joss Whedon's Firefly...this time with the kidlets (yes, they cover their eyes during the reaver parts) and my little future-space-pirates sure know a good show when they see one...

here's hoping that they don't inherite their mom & dad's curse...you know the curse that dictates that every show we like, gets cancelled!

(Buffy, Angel, Drive, Wonderfalls....the list goes on and on) oh well, thank goodness for dvd's!

Working in a Chain Gang

You kids better put those 100 stickers perfectly centered on those 100 boxes! or your fired!!

So those of you who know me know that I still haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up. I was gonna be an actress (I was gonna be a star...I was gonna shake my ass on the hood of Simon LeBon's car!) Then I got married and had babies. And while that may be the kiss of death for the dreams of some...it fulfilled a lot of mine. But...I've bounced around a bit "career wise" - I've never been a very "career minded" gal...I want to be successful, I do...I want to make my momma proud and live up to my "potential"...I just don't know how I want to go about it...or what I should do....

I thought I wanted to be a nurse for a while (then I realized that I am essentially a selfish person and not nearly saintly enough for that! Goddess bless the folks that have that in them - I do not. no. thank you very much.) I kept the textbooks and the stethescope and said adieu to that little diversion. I was going to open a cafe. A fun, funky, healthy, vegan, crunchy coffee shop cafe. It was going to be called Ya Ya's. I was going to make yummy food, that I would want to eat and I was going to sell it to the dozen hippies in town (oh and maybe the seventh day adventists too) I had a business plan. I had pots & pans and recipes! But then my business partner/best friend/mother in law got sick and we decided it wasn't the "right time" (probably just as well in hindsight)

I've been a waitress, a bartender, a secretary, hell, I even dealt blackjack at a casino. I've been a dj. I'm currently a "promotions director" for a local 5 station cluster of radio stations...and when I say currently, I mean, this week...because...I quit. yes, I did. I've decided to stop making money for the "man" (who in this case happens to be a very pleasant, if aloof millionaire type) Nothing against the company or the industry...I just need to be with the family more...you see, even though I don't know what I want to "do" or "be" I know what I'm good at...and that's being a mommy and a wife...and working 9-5 just aint condusive to that...so...I took my hubby's lead and (with his blessing) am going back to work part time as a waitress and focusing my energies on my burgeoning (?) craft business...I've always been crafty...a regular Martha Stewart if you believe some of my friends...and I've recently been focusing on crocheting and making jewelry out of bottlecaps. So, that's what I'm doing. It's crazy and I can't believe I'm doing the whole "throwing away a good job" thing and putting the proverbial eggs in one basket but I think it's time...Leigh, that's my hubby, has been very inspirational and supportive. He threw himself into his hobby business with great (if occasionally turbulent/unpredictable) success about a year ago and we/I've decided it's my turn...so there you go. My last day of fulltime, legitimate employment is next Friday...and then it's craft-mania time...I've already got a little "sweat shop" going at home. the kids help me card earrings and make beads. Leigh helps me with my pr work (I'm not good at promoting myself I admit it) and, happy news, I've been accepted in to my first jurried craft fair (Spring Fair - last weekend in March - come see me!) so, wish me luck!

Numero Uno

so I hear the kids are all up in this whole blogging thing...and being the chronic conformist that I am I'm jumping on the proverbial bandwagon...not much inspiring to say right now but just you wait....your mind will eventually be blown I'm sure....