Vacation!
Friday, June 30, 2006
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Remembering Milwaukee
Now that I have had time to go through all my bead purchases at the Bead and Button Show, it is time to take stock of all the memories. I had a great time with my friend Vonna, and it is a miracle that we met online, hit it off over the phone, and now talk almost every day. She and I are like getting something extra--like two cherries on top of a sundae. We have a lot of fun. I laughed so hard the first night in our hotel over our antics on the computer that I had tears running down my cheeks. Laughter like that is good for the soul.
My beads are organized, and put away in baggies, with their description, the date, the cost, and the names of the gemstones. I bought four strands of real garnets! That amazes me, since garnets are not cheap and I got such a good price on these. I can't wait to use them. I have a large box of all the goodies I bought there, but the best goody of all, by a long shot, is having a new friend!
Have a great day.
My beads are organized, and put away in baggies, with their description, the date, the cost, and the names of the gemstones. I bought four strands of real garnets! That amazes me, since garnets are not cheap and I got such a good price on these. I can't wait to use them. I have a large box of all the goodies I bought there, but the best goody of all, by a long shot, is having a new friend!
Have a great day.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Goodbye CASPAR. It's been a great 15 years.
After 15 years at the same organization, my job ends tomorrow. I am going to turn my attention to a few other ideas for the near future. First, I have two weeks of vacation to look forward to: a week-long stay at the cabin, and a trip to the Airforce Museum in Dayton punctuated by four nights with Michael and Michelle at their new house. Then, I am going to add exercise into my daily schedule, and no matter what, take a nice long walk each day. I'm going to build up my jewelry business now that I have more time, and I have lots of ideas for improving my Ebay Store, sending out newsletters, and I will have lots more time to make beautiful jewelry. I have a lot of ideas for jewelry, and not enough time to make them all happen. It is a big light in my life to have happy customers. What a great way to meet new people, and hopefully spread some "glitter" around.
Change is good. I look forward to changes. Maybe it is because I am older than I was (aren't we all?) but I am not afraid of the unknown anymore. I know that somehow I will land in a job that I enjoy, and that my path will take me to new places and new friends. I am an optimist, happy to say.
Have a great day, and enjoy the open roads.
Change is good. I look forward to changes. Maybe it is because I am older than I was (aren't we all?) but I am not afraid of the unknown anymore. I know that somehow I will land in a job that I enjoy, and that my path will take me to new places and new friends. I am an optimist, happy to say.
Have a great day, and enjoy the open roads.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Pre-vacation vacation
This coming week is the week before the 4th of July holiday, and everyoe walks around in holiday mood. One year, before I met George, I lived in a condo not far from a small lake. The lake is usually the place where hundreds of people go each day to do their daily walk. It is not crowded, but there are always people around. That year, I had the whole four days of the 4th of July holiday to spend by myself. I took a book and my lawnchair and sat down at the lake, and there was NO ONE around. It was as if I was up in the netherlands of Maine rather than a small lake very near Boston. It was rather lonely in fact. Life changes had brought me there, and life changes brought me away from there, and I have never had a 4th of July holiday alone since!
This year George and I are going to First Connecticut Lake, way up at the tip of New Hampshire for our annual week at the cabin. It is a lovely place, very serene and quiet, and we love it there. We can take a boat out to fish, but mostly we do a lot of loon watching with our binoculars at the ready. One year we actually caught a fish in that deep lake, but it is hard, and that was a real fluke. We fish off the dock and have more luck there, but never keep what we catch. It is a beautiful place, and fun to read, cook, hike around a bit, take drives to see the countryside, and every night we go on the "moose tour", where you drive 10 miles an hour at the most up and down the local road, and see the moose that come out every night. Every night they are there, but you never know where exactly, so it is always exciting.
After that vacation, we are going to take another week and sandwich visits to the Washington DC area to visit son Michael's new house, and drive to Dayton, Ohio to the air museum. Vacation, vacation, vacation. Say yes to vacation. I'm ready!
Have a great day.
This year George and I are going to First Connecticut Lake, way up at the tip of New Hampshire for our annual week at the cabin. It is a lovely place, very serene and quiet, and we love it there. We can take a boat out to fish, but mostly we do a lot of loon watching with our binoculars at the ready. One year we actually caught a fish in that deep lake, but it is hard, and that was a real fluke. We fish off the dock and have more luck there, but never keep what we catch. It is a beautiful place, and fun to read, cook, hike around a bit, take drives to see the countryside, and every night we go on the "moose tour", where you drive 10 miles an hour at the most up and down the local road, and see the moose that come out every night. Every night they are there, but you never know where exactly, so it is always exciting.
After that vacation, we are going to take another week and sandwich visits to the Washington DC area to visit son Michael's new house, and drive to Dayton, Ohio to the air museum. Vacation, vacation, vacation. Say yes to vacation. I'm ready!
Have a great day.
Monday, June 19, 2006
A wonderful trip
I just got back from the Bead and Button Show in Milwaukee. It was fantastic. On Thursday night, which was wholesalers night, when I walked into that whole huge carpeted and air-conditioned room of fabulous glass artists and bead sellers, I almost cried with excitement. I actually found myself standing there with my mouth open! It was a wonderful show, a wonderful time, and I was exhausted when I got home.
The Bead and Button Show is one of the largest in the country, and I hope I get to go every year. I am committed to growing my business so I can make that happen. I bought a lot of gemstone beads and beautiful pearls, and a lot of artist made lampwork beads. I met some wonderful people, and it was a joy to be with so many people who are in love with beads and glass.
I got to spend time with new friends, the weather was glorious and the whole long weekend was just splendid. Yesterday my flight was scheduled with a three hour layover in Detroit. I had dreaded that long 3 hours at the end of my trip for days. When I got to Milwaukee, I couldn't get the automated check-in to work. I was afraid my flight had been cancelled. The agent told me that they had an overbooked flight to Detroit and they had changed me to a Midwest Airlines flight NON-STOP to Boston, leaving at the same time. I believe I said, "Thank the Lord". I arrived 4 hours earlier than expected. The flight had two seats across, big roomy leather seats, and a wonderful fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. I was so relieved and comfortable, I said a little prayer of thanksgiving and almost cried again!
Today is back to work with dreams of beautiful beads still floating in my head. Oh what a wonderful time I had!
Have a good day.
The Bead and Button Show is one of the largest in the country, and I hope I get to go every year. I am committed to growing my business so I can make that happen. I bought a lot of gemstone beads and beautiful pearls, and a lot of artist made lampwork beads. I met some wonderful people, and it was a joy to be with so many people who are in love with beads and glass.
I got to spend time with new friends, the weather was glorious and the whole long weekend was just splendid. Yesterday my flight was scheduled with a three hour layover in Detroit. I had dreaded that long 3 hours at the end of my trip for days. When I got to Milwaukee, I couldn't get the automated check-in to work. I was afraid my flight had been cancelled. The agent told me that they had an overbooked flight to Detroit and they had changed me to a Midwest Airlines flight NON-STOP to Boston, leaving at the same time. I believe I said, "Thank the Lord". I arrived 4 hours earlier than expected. The flight had two seats across, big roomy leather seats, and a wonderful fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. I was so relieved and comfortable, I said a little prayer of thanksgiving and almost cried again!
Today is back to work with dreams of beautiful beads still floating in my head. Oh what a wonderful time I had!
Have a good day.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Milwaukee Bound
On Thursday I leave for Milwaukee to attend the huge Bead and Button show with my friend Vonna. Vonna and I met through Ebay, and have become fast friends. I can't wait to spend a whole long weekend with her. I have only physically met her once, at the airport in Chicago, but we talk at least once a day on the phone and share a lot of online conversations too.
The Bead and Button Show is so large that I am scared! There are hundreds and hundreds of exhibitors and all the fine glass artists and jewelry sellers are there. Many are there this week taking classes and the full marketplace opens on Thursday. I managed to swim through the muddy waters of Massachusetts licensing and got my tax ID and my wholesalers number. That means that at some places, I get all the goods at 50% off. See why I'm scared? I will take pictures and post them here.
Vonna and I will spend all Friday at the show, have a nice dinner or two, and spend some time making jewelry together. I owe her a pair of earrings, and she is going to repair a three strand bracelet for me. We also plan to do a little lampwork bead sharing. I am one of the few people who get to see first-hand how she makes her beautiful art bracelets. I'm so excited.
So, I'm counting the hours, packing and repacking the little suitcase so I don't take too much, and making some cool jewelry to wear when I meet lots of other beaders who love this stuff as much as I do.
I can't wait.
The Bead and Button Show is so large that I am scared! There are hundreds and hundreds of exhibitors and all the fine glass artists and jewelry sellers are there. Many are there this week taking classes and the full marketplace opens on Thursday. I managed to swim through the muddy waters of Massachusetts licensing and got my tax ID and my wholesalers number. That means that at some places, I get all the goods at 50% off. See why I'm scared? I will take pictures and post them here.
Vonna and I will spend all Friday at the show, have a nice dinner or two, and spend some time making jewelry together. I owe her a pair of earrings, and she is going to repair a three strand bracelet for me. We also plan to do a little lampwork bead sharing. I am one of the few people who get to see first-hand how she makes her beautiful art bracelets. I'm so excited.
So, I'm counting the hours, packing and repacking the little suitcase so I don't take too much, and making some cool jewelry to wear when I meet lots of other beaders who love this stuff as much as I do.
I can't wait.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Bi Bim Bap
George and I found another Korean restaurant tonight to have our favorite dish--Bi Bim Bap. I was shocked to see the dish when it was served to me. This version of Bi Bim Bap was made with shaved beef, little pockets of carrots and bean shoots, and...lettuce! No rice? Well, with all the little dishes of savory Korean kim chee, and other things I don't know the names of, I had plenty of food on my side of the table, but still...lettuce? It was a healthy meal and fun to see someone else's version of this Korean classic. I know that I have turned Mike and Michelle onto this healthy dish, and we never tire of it.
Have a great evening.
Have a great evening.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
A trip to Kittery
George and I made a little trip to Kittery, Maine yesterday to go to the fashion outlets. Fashion? Most of what we shop for is at Corning, and we always hit the Villeroy and Boch "clearance closet", Pfaltzgraf outlet, Crate and Barrell and Lenox. Yesterday we bought a new pie plate. That may not seem like a big deal, but all my old reliable pie plates are big, and I wanted this one because I can make pie for two...and because it is pretty. It wasn't even on sale.
Villeroy and Boch is my favorite store, and my favorite line of china. I wish I was doing it all over again, and I would get a set of their beautiful French provincial. Everything in that store just suits me fine. It is expensive and worth every penny.
I dropped into the Coach store to lust after the handbags. Even on sale, they are way above my budget. The sales clerks were very attentive, if not intrusive. I was looking at a small wallet, to find the price. The young lady came up to me and said that it was now $99, but that originally it was $287.00. I told her, rather sweetly I thought, that originally it was overpriced. There was a beautiful straw bag marked down to $180 that really wanted me to take it home, but I decided that ... I needed to run away.
Today is church, the last day of Sunday School, and then another day of finding out what kind of trouble we can get into. I know I need to work on more jewelry and am going to make some crocheted necklaces for my Ebay Store. I hear the customers clamoring for more. I hope.
Have a great day.
Villeroy and Boch is my favorite store, and my favorite line of china. I wish I was doing it all over again, and I would get a set of their beautiful French provincial. Everything in that store just suits me fine. It is expensive and worth every penny.
I dropped into the Coach store to lust after the handbags. Even on sale, they are way above my budget. The sales clerks were very attentive, if not intrusive. I was looking at a small wallet, to find the price. The young lady came up to me and said that it was now $99, but that originally it was $287.00. I told her, rather sweetly I thought, that originally it was overpriced. There was a beautiful straw bag marked down to $180 that really wanted me to take it home, but I decided that ... I needed to run away.
Today is church, the last day of Sunday School, and then another day of finding out what kind of trouble we can get into. I know I need to work on more jewelry and am going to make some crocheted necklaces for my Ebay Store. I hear the customers clamoring for more. I hope.
Have a great day.
Friday, May 26, 2006
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Sunny and Cool.
It is hard for me to imagine living in Oklahoma, where it is in the 90's most of the time. I was there in the beginning of April to see my mom, and already it was shorts and sandals weather. Here in Massachusetts I still have my electric blanket out. Not on, exactly, but at the ready. It is in the 50's this week, and I'm wearing a sweater in the office. Hard to believe how warm most of the rest of the country is today. I believe the northeast has a cooler spring than almost anywhere. May is usually a rainy month here, and this month we got nailed! 15" of rain in places. The grass is green and high and every blessed growing thing has grown a foot--even the weeds and poison ivy along side the roadways.
When I was a kid, we used to go on a fishing trip vacation to northern Minnesota every July. The weather was always fresh and cool and sometimes sunny. I only remember one rather dull week when it rained every day and we never saw the sun once. That was a dud of a vacation week. Yet we never caught more fish that we did that week. They were flinging themselves into the boat.
This year, in the middle of July, George and I will be at the cabin in Northern New Hampshire, praying for sunny days and laughing through the raindrops. It is a lovely place no matter what the weather.
Sometimes summers in the northeast remind me of Minnesota summers. We have our hot days, but usually the weather is mild and nice. Peoople who complain about the weather here have never lived in Chicago!
Have a great day.
When I was a kid, we used to go on a fishing trip vacation to northern Minnesota every July. The weather was always fresh and cool and sometimes sunny. I only remember one rather dull week when it rained every day and we never saw the sun once. That was a dud of a vacation week. Yet we never caught more fish that we did that week. They were flinging themselves into the boat.
This year, in the middle of July, George and I will be at the cabin in Northern New Hampshire, praying for sunny days and laughing through the raindrops. It is a lovely place no matter what the weather.
Sometimes summers in the northeast remind me of Minnesota summers. We have our hot days, but usually the weather is mild and nice. Peoople who complain about the weather here have never lived in Chicago!
Have a great day.
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