Two years ago I fell in love with the hand made challenge. I didn't take the challenge per say because I knew there where things that I wanted to buy for my family that were made in a factory. Things like socks and underwear and furniture. As much as I would love to buy some custom furniture thats something that's way, way out of my budget. So in 2008, I made all the gifts that I only gave to my friends. For the ladies in my small group I made small purses. They where adorable, I wish I had taken a picture of one so you could see just how cute they turned out. They where square with a single handle that you put your hand through. Just big enough for a wallet, keys and a cell phone. The ladies loved them and I instantly wanted to start an Etsy store selling them but I'm lazy so I never made another one of those bags. There still lives the possibility that one day I'll start that Etsy store.
The other thing I made were small note books. I got that idea from some website that had a tutorial. The lady makes photo wrapped journals and I fell in love with her website, like I do all website that have ideas I wish I came up with. It was my favorite website for about a month and honestly I haven't been back since that Christmas two years ago. So I made these small journals for my friends. I used some of my own photos and others I thought where appropriate. I pick a special picture for each person and on the back I hand wrote a message that said, "Made especially for you by my hands". My signature was signed at the bottom. When I gave them out everyone was surprised. They loved them but I have no idea if any of those books got used. It dawn on me after Christmas that I'm the one who likes journals, I have no idea how my friends feel about them.
That's part of my problem, I get so excited about the idea of the gift and how much I would love it that I don't stop to think if anything else would love it. I think I might have already done that with this year's Christmas gifts. I some how came across Jennifer Strunge's website cottonmonster.com and again I fell in love with her imaginative creations. I wanted a cotton monster for myself. No, I wanted all the cotton monsters. I wanted to fill a ball pit with them and jump into the pit and swim around. I instantly decided I was making everybody I know a little monster. "They will love them!" I told myself. Again reason came knocking and I thought What if no one liked my monsters? What if they just think they are ugly? What if they took my hand made gift for granted and gave it to their dog as a chew toy? Terror gripped my mind.
Then I remembered that I was no longer concerned with meaningless gifts that fill our houses and push out our hearts. We have fallen into the For Sake gift buying, just buying gifts for the sake of buying gifts. I think the only thing worse then forgetting to give someone a birthday present is giving them a thoughtless meaningless gifts. At least when you forget someones birthday you try to make up for it by doing something thoughtful. usually the question, "What do you want to do?" comes into play. When you buy that gift set of potholders because it was on sale and then give it to a single man who doesn't cook, it says you didn't care enough to think about who you where buying the gift for, you just bought a gift and would figure out who you would give it to later. This is one of the side effects of For Sake gift buying, thoughtlessness. Debt is another side effect but that's another post.
So I'm going to make my adorable fish monsters and give them to my friends. If they don't like them, I don't care. What they should thinking about is while I was cutting, pressing and sewing these cuties I was thinking of them. By name. And how much an adorable monster would cheer them up on a rainy day.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
So I can feel accomplished...
I've already forgotten what I wanted to say in this post. After about an 2.5 hours of wanting to write, I've finally sat down at my NEW laptop and started to write. I remember now, I wanted to feel somewhat accomplished so I was going to talk about everything I have done this week to distract me from the mile long list I have to complete by Sunday. Now we are back to the laptop.
After talking about it, thinking about it, researching and waiting for something better to come out, I've finally purchased a laptop. It's one of the things I wanted to do with the finAid money I borrowed. Side note, I hate owning the government money. I feel like i might get called into an Eagle Eye kinda situation and I would end of dying cause I wouldn't jump from a 10 story build. What i discovered in researching laptops is there are two categories, Macs and Not Macs. I didn't have Mac money so I'm in the other category. If you aren't spending $700 or more, the brand really doesn't matter in the Not mac cat. And netbooks are ridiculously over priced for what you get.
What I ending up purchasing was a MSI A6200 blah blah. Truth is, it doesn't matter.What does matter is that it has 3 gigs of ram, 320 hard drive (which they partitioned into two drives?!? Why?!), and a DVD burner. An actual dvd-rom was important to me because so much of what I watch is still in the format. All this for less than $400, not bad. There where netbook twice the price and a third less ram. I did buy the warranty but it's only for two years. I hope i get to use it when it's totally convenient to me and not when I have a major project due that is only located on my laptop. I only plan for this to be my major laptop for that long, two years. I need to buy a mac so I can do video editing. Say what you will, I'm loyal to FCP and Apple. I bought this laptop to replace an EIGHT year old powerbook that couldn't download pdf's from the web anymore. How many windows laptops can run for that long reliably? Most windows desktops don't live eight years let alone a laptop.
Something else I accomplished this week is realizing I never should have taken this Emac6372 class. I won't go into any details, but I will say when you say, "I said my class would be a lot of work" that doesn't excuse you from giving 4 major assignments due in one week. That's just arrogance. Like your class is more important than any other class in the depart because the class is new. I can't wait for this to be over and I might need extra paper for the end of the year course review.
Another task I accomplished, I got to see my grandmother this past weekend. While I was there, I was inspired by Story Corps to interview her and I found out some very interesting family history, none that I will share here. It's not what you think, it's just boring family history.
That's all I have for now. Another Side note, haven't worked out since school started but I hope to get my schedule together soon. I really miss my pool time, my bike time and my weights.
After talking about it, thinking about it, researching and waiting for something better to come out, I've finally purchased a laptop. It's one of the things I wanted to do with the finAid money I borrowed. Side note, I hate owning the government money. I feel like i might get called into an Eagle Eye kinda situation and I would end of dying cause I wouldn't jump from a 10 story build. What i discovered in researching laptops is there are two categories, Macs and Not Macs. I didn't have Mac money so I'm in the other category. If you aren't spending $700 or more, the brand really doesn't matter in the Not mac cat. And netbooks are ridiculously over priced for what you get.
What I ending up purchasing was a MSI A6200 blah blah. Truth is, it doesn't matter.What does matter is that it has 3 gigs of ram, 320 hard drive (which they partitioned into two drives?!? Why?!), and a DVD burner. An actual dvd-rom was important to me because so much of what I watch is still in the format. All this for less than $400, not bad. There where netbook twice the price and a third less ram. I did buy the warranty but it's only for two years. I hope i get to use it when it's totally convenient to me and not when I have a major project due that is only located on my laptop. I only plan for this to be my major laptop for that long, two years. I need to buy a mac so I can do video editing. Say what you will, I'm loyal to FCP and Apple. I bought this laptop to replace an EIGHT year old powerbook that couldn't download pdf's from the web anymore. How many windows laptops can run for that long reliably? Most windows desktops don't live eight years let alone a laptop.
Something else I accomplished this week is realizing I never should have taken this Emac6372 class. I won't go into any details, but I will say when you say, "I said my class would be a lot of work" that doesn't excuse you from giving 4 major assignments due in one week. That's just arrogance. Like your class is more important than any other class in the depart because the class is new. I can't wait for this to be over and I might need extra paper for the end of the year course review.
Another task I accomplished, I got to see my grandmother this past weekend. While I was there, I was inspired by Story Corps to interview her and I found out some very interesting family history, none that I will share here. It's not what you think, it's just boring family history.
That's all I have for now. Another Side note, haven't worked out since school started but I hope to get my schedule together soon. I really miss my pool time, my bike time and my weights.
Friday, September 3, 2010
It's been awhile and a lot has changed
Wow, I've really neglected this blog. Over two years without a post, one might think I didn't care about sharing. That is completely untrue, a fallacy even. The truth is so much has changed in my life in the last two years that this blog got lost in all the changes. I've been fired, held two part-time jobs and started back to school. I've been working out recently and have had some success, to date from my heaviest, I've lost a total of 35 lbs. So that's 10% of my body weight. Not too shabby.
In other news, I quit my second job today. I was supposed to quit about two months ago but got lazy and didn't quit and then needed a summer job. But now that school is in for the kids and school is in for me, I don't have time to do all three. I'm quite aware I'm going to make less money but I don't want to waste the money I do have on trying to keep a job I don't particularly enjoy. I've come to know a few truths these past two years and one of them is knowing how much you handle and not putting too much on your plate. I could have kept the job, not had any weekend time to myself and been miserable but I don't want to do that and frankly, I don't have to.
I have to be at work in the morning so I'll write more later about everything I've learned in the past few years. All of it has been difficult but all if had to be learned.
In other news, I quit my second job today. I was supposed to quit about two months ago but got lazy and didn't quit and then needed a summer job. But now that school is in for the kids and school is in for me, I don't have time to do all three. I'm quite aware I'm going to make less money but I don't want to waste the money I do have on trying to keep a job I don't particularly enjoy. I've come to know a few truths these past two years and one of them is knowing how much you handle and not putting too much on your plate. I could have kept the job, not had any weekend time to myself and been miserable but I don't want to do that and frankly, I don't have to.
I have to be at work in the morning so I'll write more later about everything I've learned in the past few years. All of it has been difficult but all if had to be learned.
Monday, May 5, 2008
When does the world slow down?
It seems like I've been running for the last 5 months. Work is crazy (almost out of control) but it's always like this this time of year. It's hard work putting together two conferences, a festival (don't call it a picnic), the church anniversary and VBS. I can honestly say work is never boring. I think I've said that before. In fact , that's how I would describe it on a regular bases.
Anyway, so my summer plans are totally unknown at this point. ATA going belly up really jack up my plans and my second plan of just paying out of pocket for everything isn't going to work either, BOOOO! My third plan isn't looking like much of a plan either. Plan 3 was to put that money into my car and drive it to Virgina but I don't know now cause I think the bearing are going out, again, for the fifth time. Part of me want to buy another car but I really can't afford that. I'm out of debt, why would I want to put myself back into that pit of darkness and despair ? I think I'm going to become a transient and just take picture and blog for the next year.
Who am I kidding, I can't do that. I need stuff, like a clean bathroom and high speed internet and cable tv. Ok, I could do without tv but I need a bed that has clean, high thread count sheets. I guess you can be a transient and have all that stuff if I have a job that send me to around the world. The real question is how do I get that job and what will I be doing? First things first let me apply for grad school and see if I get in. If I don't, then I'll become a transient. Maybe.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Six Months...
It's been six months since I last posted. I haven't exercised in a month and seem to have gain almost all the weight it took me four months to lose. This is so discouraging but I don't really have a choice. I have to lose this extra person Im carrying around. Honestly, it seems impossible. Like I will never really reach my goal. When I do exrecise, but don't eat just right, I don't lose anything so what's the point of killing myself. But buying and cooking and taking food everyday takes up so much of my time that I don't always want to do it. But I guess I am killing myself by not doing anything.
At work, we had a health fair. They took your blood pressure and then did a blood test to see what your Cholesterol was. Mine was little bit high then it should be but not dangerous. But it made me realize that I have to do something cause in ten years when I'm 2 years away from 40, if I haven't lost this weight I will probably be diabetic, have high pressure (as the old folks say) and will have bad knees, back, feet and anything else that can go wrong if your fat and in your thirties. I have to do something and I need some help. I have thought about weight watchers but I know all that stuff about small meals and eating the correct proportions, eating the right fats, and etc. Most of the time I do eat "right". I really abhor fast food. I rarely eat it but I love bread! I really do so thats part of my problem. I think I need to get a job working on a farm or some other profession that's really physical so I can burn up all the calories I eat. I'm going to work on that.
At work, we had a health fair. They took your blood pressure and then did a blood test to see what your Cholesterol was. Mine was little bit high then it should be but not dangerous. But it made me realize that I have to do something cause in ten years when I'm 2 years away from 40, if I haven't lost this weight I will probably be diabetic, have high pressure (as the old folks say) and will have bad knees, back, feet and anything else that can go wrong if your fat and in your thirties. I have to do something and I need some help. I have thought about weight watchers but I know all that stuff about small meals and eating the correct proportions, eating the right fats, and etc. Most of the time I do eat "right". I really abhor fast food. I rarely eat it but I love bread! I really do so thats part of my problem. I think I need to get a job working on a farm or some other profession that's really physical so I can burn up all the calories I eat. I'm going to work on that.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Some Success!!
So I've been doing this workout think for a little more a month and I have to say, I feel really good. I'm not sure if it's taken this long to get energy from the working out or if it's the amount of water I've been drinking everyday but all of it's working.
It was Labor Day on Monday and we had bar b que of course but I didn't crave a whole bunch of stuff that was bad for me. I did the grilled veggies and added one, asparagus. It would have been better fresh but all we had was frozen. This proved to make the the spears limp. I thought the grill would make them stiffer but alas, we had hot, wilted asparagus. The other veggies where delicious. Also ribs, sausages, chicken and corn. All delicious. I didn't even want to eat a lot. The Taylor boys ate most of the ribs any. I had to tell them to stop so we would have ribs for others guest coming by later in the day.
I even worked out that night. 30 minutes on the gazelle and man did I feel it when I got home. The good thing was this time only my feet felt like concrete instead of the lower half of my body.
The great thing is my clothes are starting to feel bigger. Nothings falling off yet but my pants are definitely loose. I'm 4 pounds lighter too. Yeah! I lost 4 pounds. I know that doesn't sound like much but it's progress. I wish I weighed myself when I started because I don't know what my starting weight was, just what I weight from week to week. I don't think I'll really lose any weight this week because I've had a lot of bread this week, well a lot for what my eating plan calls for. I don't think I'll gain weight, it just won't be the same level of loss.
I started to work weights into my workout but have slacked off for the last two weeks. I've got to figure this thing better if I'm to be successful. 4 pounds off, and a high freshman to go.
It was Labor Day on Monday and we had bar b que of course but I didn't crave a whole bunch of stuff that was bad for me. I did the grilled veggies and added one, asparagus. It would have been better fresh but all we had was frozen. This proved to make the the spears limp. I thought the grill would make them stiffer but alas, we had hot, wilted asparagus. The other veggies where delicious. Also ribs, sausages, chicken and corn. All delicious. I didn't even want to eat a lot. The Taylor boys ate most of the ribs any. I had to tell them to stop so we would have ribs for others guest coming by later in the day.
I even worked out that night. 30 minutes on the gazelle and man did I feel it when I got home. The good thing was this time only my feet felt like concrete instead of the lower half of my body.
The great thing is my clothes are starting to feel bigger. Nothings falling off yet but my pants are definitely loose. I'm 4 pounds lighter too. Yeah! I lost 4 pounds. I know that doesn't sound like much but it's progress. I wish I weighed myself when I started because I don't know what my starting weight was, just what I weight from week to week. I don't think I'll really lose any weight this week because I've had a lot of bread this week, well a lot for what my eating plan calls for. I don't think I'll gain weight, it just won't be the same level of loss.
I started to work weights into my workout but have slacked off for the last two weeks. I've got to figure this thing better if I'm to be successful. 4 pounds off, and a high freshman to go.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Summer almost doesn't live here any more
So summer is winding down and fall is approaching quickly. I have training for football this saturday. I'm kinda excited because they (the district) bought us new equipment. All digital, how cool is that? It'll be cool to see how it's all going to work to give a better product. I like this time of your because it jacket weather. Toward the end of the season I'm ready for it be OVER!! HIgh school kids can work your nerves.
About the picture, i took it this summer at a friends house in chicago. Her backyard is gorgeous. It's so green with this beautiful flowers everywhere. I decided to post it because I think it was one of the best pictures I took this summer.
About my workout, it's been difficult but at least going. I added weights this week. I'm sore all over. I missed my workout last night so I'll have to make it up tonight. I'm up to 30 mins. I was on the gazzel on sunday and it almost killed me. Well, not really but I couldn't walk down the stair when I was finished. I'm doing weights during my lunch my MWF. Todays my second day and I haven't done it yet. It' nice working somewhere that has a workout area available onsite.
As far as weight lose goes, I haven't been on the scale in weeks. I'll do better with that. An next time I'll post a picture of me. I'll try to do that every month to show my progress. Ok, I'm done.
About the picture, i took it this summer at a friends house in chicago. Her backyard is gorgeous. It's so green with this beautiful flowers everywhere. I decided to post it because I think it was one of the best pictures I took this summer.
About my workout, it's been difficult but at least going. I added weights this week. I'm sore all over. I missed my workout last night so I'll have to make it up tonight. I'm up to 30 mins. I was on the gazzel on sunday and it almost killed me. Well, not really but I couldn't walk down the stair when I was finished. I'm doing weights during my lunch my MWF. Todays my second day and I haven't done it yet. It' nice working somewhere that has a workout area available onsite.
As far as weight lose goes, I haven't been on the scale in weeks. I'll do better with that. An next time I'll post a picture of me. I'll try to do that every month to show my progress. Ok, I'm done.
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