Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Hodgepodge Time

Here we go-

From this Side of the Pond

1. Expect the unexpected on From This Side of the Pond. Here's my x-ray question...when was the last time you felt like Superman? I don't think I've ever felt like Superman, I don't fly much, or even go up to high heights. I can't see through things. I've never felt bullet-proof. What's your superpower? Not sure I'd call it a super power, but I notice details. Explain. Everyone at work always says I'm really good at noticing details on everything.

2. Are you a fan of the 'superhero' type movies? If so what's your favorite? Is this because today (Tuesday) was superhero day? I like anything that the chick is the superhero or is the fighter. I've always been a big fan of Wonder Woman, the 70's TV show with Lynda Carter and the 2017 movie with Gal Gadot. I liked Black Widow (though I admit my favorite character in the Avengers movie was Hawkeye. I like the X-Men movies, but mostly because I vaguely remember reading the comics when I was a kid, my favorites were Rogue and Wolverine.

3. Have you postponed or cancelled a trip to the dentist in recent weeks, and if so when do you think you'll feel comfortable going back? Nope. My dentist sends me a thing to come every 6 months, but because my insurance isn't that great, I go once a year, which will be sometime this fall. How about other routine medical procedures? I had to go for birth control last week (not really a procedure), they just had me wear a mask. And then they screwed up on dates, so I had to come back the next day. There was next to no one in the clinic.

4. What's something that makes you feel youthful? My clothes, I like my minion shirt and my Kirby shirt and my Toy Story Aliens shirt. I love acquiring cool toys, I'm really into blind bags right now. Something that makes you feel 'not so youthful'? Moving. Some days I'm just walking down the street and my body freaks out and my muscles spasm and my knee pops or my toe hits in the wrong way and I'm in pain. Tell us why. Also it's not a day of work at the library, if I'm not crawling on the floor for something and the floor seems to be so much further away these days. I'm not that old.

5. I feel compelled to include some sort of corona related question in the HP these days. What's the strangest thing you've seen in relation to the virus? Something that really struck you as odd, made you stop and think, 'Dorothy we're not in Kansas anymore?' When I was at the clinic last week, they asked if I experienced losing my sense of taste or smell. That was kinda weird, apparently it's a new symptom. I also read that in a part of New York, they were seeing 30 and 40 year olds dyeing of strokes. They get the virus, very mildly, and it did something to their blood and gave them strokes. I feel like every time it seems they have a handle on it, it changes and they find out something else that's an indication you have it. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. Our governor (and others) are telling us to re-open. She said we could open libraries on Friday. We're not opening on Friday. I know we're looking into opening in steps, because we know people love to leave their kids at the library when they can't go to school. We also know people won't social distance unless you make them, I don't know what exactly we're going to do to make people, it's so different than when we moved into our new building 5 years ago, it's a whole different thing. I'm excited to re-open, I miss my people, I miss people in general, apparently I really need the social interaction.

Saturday, April 25, 2020

Giant Websters Pages purchase

Wednesday: We had machine issues, we decided if we were going to have issues, now was a better time than during a week we were open. I had a routine dr appointment, only they screwed up when I made the appointment and scheduled me too far out. I got there and they told me that, and basically made me feel like an idiot. I had planned to go on a walk when I got done, but I had worn a skirt and it was a bit too windy for it and a walk and I was upset with the drs office, so I went home instead. And for the fourth week in a row I didn't get any mail on Wednesday.
I wore one of my masks to the drs office because I knew I'd be in closer contact with people, plus you never know what's going on there.
I'm really not a fan of the masks. The longer I wore it, the more it bothered me. I found it kinda hard to breathe in it, it was really hot and at one point I had a hard time regulating my breathing. I haven't worn one much, I usually just keep my distance or don't go out. At work, we don't get that close, I go to work, the post office (where they wear masks and have plexiglass barriers), and the grocery store (where they also wear masks) and of course my one shopping trip last week where I kept my distance.
Thursday: I went back to the dr and got my stuff figured out, this time someone did apologize about the mix-up I did not tell them it was ok. I was not happy with them making me feel like an idiot, probably having to pay for something extra I wouldn't have had to if they didn't mess up and having to go back a 2nd day for them to fix it all. Also, I got up much earlier than I wanted to to get it over and done with before going in to work. We had a big thunderstorm that was mostly a giant hailstorm, I feel like it lasted 10 or so minutes. The ground was just covered when it ended: 
 Friday: I got to sleep in until about 9, that felt good after being up before 7 the last two days. I received my You Matter box in the mail:
I'm not that impressed with it. The shirt is fluorescent yellow with white words, who's gonna wear a fluorescent yellow shirt, plus the words aren't that easy to read. I like the black die at the side, mostly because it's a 12 sided die. I don't know what most of the exercise moves are that are listed on it, and there was no explanation sheet.
This is the Huggy Box:
 You're supposed to put a message in it and send it to someone, it's strange.
Here's a size reference for the die:
 It's about 5 inches tall.
A booklet comes with it that tells you what's in the package, and has a couple activities. There was a word search, I really enjoyed that. I realize it's aimed at high school students, I just thought since I don't act my age, it would be fun. I have 5 more boxes to see if it changes my mind.
I also received a postcard from an old penpal, I figured I'd write her back, why not.
Saturday: I put together a RAK:
 Made some spring cards:
 I really wanted to use book paper and this hydrangea stamp. I ended up using up some scraps and watercoloring the hydrangea.
Made an owl card:
 And created an ATC:
 with the scraps from the cards.
I received some fun mail, some cards from Hallmark:
And my GIANT Webster's Pages grab bag from Peachy Cheap:
 There's 3 sets of journaling cards, 3 packages of paper clips, a couple packages of charms, a couple packages of sticky notes, a package of cameos and frames to go with them and a folio to keep embellishments in.
Close-ups of the journaling cards:
 They are double-sided and come with 8 square cards (2 of each), and 10 rectangular cards (2 of each).
 They come in these cute little plastic cases that remind me of CD jewel cases.
 More goodies:
 two packages of twine and buttons, a package of fabric tapes, a package of mini bags, a package of fabric tickets, 3 notebooks, 2 sheets of alpha stickers. In the description, I was supposed to get 3 packs of mini bags with a total of 75 bags.
Stickers:
 I'm passing the alphas on to someone else.
 More stickers. The description said 12 sticker sheets, I only received 11.
Acetate:
 I got two sheets of all of them except the cut aparts, which are a very thick plastic.
 Acetate cut aparts, I got two of each of these. The description said I was supposed to get 12 12x12 vellums, I got 11 12x12 acetate pieces instead.
 There are 6 12x12 papers here, all double sided, so I put them so you could see both sides.
 All the cut aparts
 And more cutaparts.
 More.
Last one. I did get the correct number of 12x12 papers.
The description: $225 worth of retail. A Giant Websters Pages clearance pack features a 1 purple folio (X), 12 sticker sheets (received 11), 3 packs of mini bags, 75 total (received one pack, 8 total), 3 packs of paperclips, 2 bulk 40 pieces & 1 assorted 10 pieces (X), 2 packs of cameos 14 total (X), 2 packs of charms (X), 2 packs of sticky notes (X), 2 packs of fabrics (X), 2 style button & twine stickers (X), 3 styles of journaling cards (X), 3 standard notebooks (X), 20 12x12 double sided papers (X), and 12 12x12 vellums (received 11 12x12 acetate). *Limited quantities available and may vary slightly.
I ended up with 63 packs of things (counting each paper as a single pack) for $42 (or $47 with shipping), which comes to 67 cents per package (or 72 cents with shipping). I'm loving most of it, there's a few things that I won't use, but will be passed on in my groups. I think it's a great deal. After I purchased it, I was thinking Websters Pages is mostly planner related, maybe I don't want this, so I went to their website and looked up the items. I'm happy I got it, but it reminds me I shouldn't be spending more money on crafting stuff.

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Happy Library Workers Day

 Saturday: I put together a Dollar Store and ATC tag.
 I had tagged the same person for both, so figured I'd tuck them in the same envelope.
I received my Once Upon a Book Club box:
 It had a huge gift in it this time.
All the gifts:
 This month the book was Wildland, it was a paperback. I realized after looking at this one, they send you new books as well as the gifts. It's really worth the money, I just don't really have a use for the gifts.
I signed up for a scavenger hunt swap and got it mostly put together:
 Alphabet stickers, Brads, Clouds, Doily, Embossed 4x6 paper, Flowers, Greeting card with envelope, Hearts, Iridescent, Junk Mail, Key, Map, Lace.
 Napkin, Ombre, Puzzle Piece, Quilted, Receipt, Stars, Tissue Paper, Unicorn, Vellum 4x6 paper, Washi, X: your choice I went with some stickers. I still have to do Y: note about you, and Z: zigzag stitch.
I started my bookclub book about 8 and proceeded to finish it. The gifts:
 A grouping of bangle bracelets, a backpack and a cute hat.
I really liked this book. I'm not sure why. It's the third book this year, they seem to pick books where each chapter is in a different viewpoint. This one had two viewpoints a lady, and a man. One chapter was the lady, the next was the man. The other two books, the viewpoints weren't on the same timeline, this time they were. It was set in a national park, the lady takes care of a couple kids, one being the man's adopted child and ends up stuck in the path of a wildfire, it was mostly the two of them trying to save themselves and the kids. I really liked the gifts this time. They are all useful (not really to me), and a great value. It costs $32.50 a month, you get a new book published in that year, this one was published Feb this year. The backpack alone is worth the $32. Last month we got a hardcover book, that's probably worth the $32 alone. I wonder if they alternate hardcover and paperback.
I'm not much of a fiction person, but I might actually keep this book.
Sunday: I didn't do much, laundry. At least I can always say I get my laundry done on Sundays.
Monday: Worked about 5.5 hours, not too much exciting, there never is lately.
I received a letter D:
 The D itself was broken. This is the second time this person has sent me something wooden on one stamp and weirdly it's arrived broken. It's non machineable, it's going to arrive broken. This time they included something else with it, so they were covered and didn't have to send again. I do like the rainbow decals.
A RAK:
 Every time I get a RAK, I pass one on to someone else, I consider it a pay it forward.
And my Peachy Cheap purchase of an Amy Tangerine Stay Sweet kit:
 I usually don't buy anything but the grab bags, but this kit was too cute.
Die cuts:
 Sticker pack:
 I even used some of the items when I got them. I usually just hoard them. I think it's a nice summery kit, hopefully I'll use more of them soon.
Tuesday: I finished my monster card for a swap:
 I love monsters, sadly I don't seem to have many to use in crafting. I had the hardest time finding one in all my stuff. The stickers I wanted to use, I'm not sure where they are, even after sorting a bunch of stuff for a destash swap. I like how it turned out.
I also put together a RAK/Pay it forward:
 It turned out to be a little heavy and I had to pay an extra 15 cents to send it. I slept in and went in to work later. It was National Library Workers Day, we were treated to lunch and some nice balloons:
 And this is on the sidewalk in front of the library:
 And we're still having story times, at least this bear is:
 Worked a few hours. I'm still trying to figure out my work week. I have three days with set hours, but I don't know how to get the rest of my hours in, don't know when I want to work.
I found another RAK when I got home:
 The die cuts:
I finally figured out they were die cuts, I thought they were sticker flakes, but they're printed on regular paper and not sticker paper, it's too bad, they'd be easier to use if they were sticker flakes.
This means I'll have to send out another RAK soon, I'm ok with that.

Happy Hodgepodge

It's Hodgepodge time again. Here we go-

From this Side of the Pond


1. What's something you resolved to do this year? Have you done it? I don't do resolutions. I have a few goals, I'm sure one was read 100 books, I'm at 25, in the 4th month of the year, so I'm on the right track
2. Where do you go to find quietude? These days, I don't really have a lot of quiet. I live under a 6 year old. They aren't very quiet. Work is more or less quiet, there's way less of us there, no public. I guess I could pick a corner, but I'm there to work, not to hang out in the quiet. I did read my mail on the porch today and that was relatively quiet.
3. A friend asked this question on her Facebook page and said I could borrow it for the Hodgepodge...you're only allowed to buy 5 things at the grocery store, and all must start with the first letter of your first name. Whatcha' buying? watermelon, water chestnuts, waffles, wieners, wontons
4. The television show Survivor, the Gloria Gaynor song 'I Will Survive', survival mode, survival of the fittest...pick one and discuss. I used to watch Survivor, at least for a few seasons. It was fun to see them go through all the challenges, what I found most amusing was that at the end people were so upset that someone tricked them. That's the whole point of the game, do whatever you have to, to win. It stopped being fun to watch one day, I don't remember what changed, but I haven't watched it in years.
5. Share a favorite quote or saying about strength. What doesn't kill you makes you tronger.
6. Insert your own random thought here. It's National Library Week. Today was National Library Workers Day (4/21), our director bought us lunch and balloons. It's nice to be appreciated.


Friday, April 17, 2020

Shopping

Friday: Woke up to snow on the ground, I almost talked myself out of shopping. I again tried Target's website and couldn't find what I wanted, so I just left. I was afraid the world was wondering what I was doing out walking, I was afraid they'd wonder why I was sweaty in the store (it was too warm for the coat I was wearing, the store is about a mile from my house), I was afraid they'd wonder why I didn't just get essentials and leave (I got what I needed, but since I was there, I thought I'd look at some other stuff, and I didn't know when I'd be shopping again). I didn't spend near as much time as I usually would, for me it was a quick trip. I didn't go to Walmart as I usually would as I visit all the stores when I go down there.
I found these cool stickers in the store:
 They're larger, I believe 20 stickers to a package for $5, I'm not sure if they were worth it, I was just excited to see them.
What I bought:
 blind bags, candy, antacids, stickers, toothbrush heads.
I totally splurged on the giant box of blind bags, one of the YouTube channels I watch opened one. I touched the sour gummies, felt bad and decided to buy it, and then it turned out more expensive than it was priced, glad to know that's still happening (SARCASTIC). I needed the toothbrush heads and the antacids. When I got to the toys, I saw there was a bunch of Easter candy still left over, so I picked up some.
My next stop was Dollar Tree.
 bag tags, snacks, stickers, toothpaste, batteries
90% of these purchases are for me, I admit it. I needed the toothpaste and batteries.
 puzzle, more snacks, more blind bags, faux moss, sloth.
I needed the puzzle for a swap (actually I needed a puzzle piece, but figured it was cheaper to buy a puzzle at the dollar tree). I was excited to find the brownie batter M&Ms. I received a fairy house for a fairy tag awhile ago, I keep thinking it would look better with moss on the top, so I picked some up. I was on the lookout for sloths for another swap, and I kept finding ones that weren't crafty. I couldn't pass this one up, I think it's going to work with me.
 bling, ziploc bags, blind bags, toys, batteries, tape.
I needed the ziploc bags for a swap, I couldn't pass up the blind bags and I needed the batteries. I found a crafty sloth.
Normally I use cash at the Dollar Tree, but I keep hearing that cash is really dirty, so I didn't.
All the blind bags I picked up.
the giant box, a could mini boos, some Jurassic Park dinosaurs, some mini genies and a monster. I opened one of the dinosaurs mostly because it popped open on my way home. I really just want to open all of these right now.
I found another postage due parcel delivered to me. Again from overseas when I opened it and no return address, so it had to be delivered and I will pay again, this is getting annoying. Someone said I was rude for asking people to put proper postage on the stuff they mailed out.
 It was a junk journal tag.
I like it, just annoyed that I have to keep paying postage for my mail, and the way people are getting around it, is by not putting their return address on items. Again, if you can't afford the postage, maybe you shouldn't sign up.