Hodgepodge

So, it's Tuesday, doesn't feel like it, feels like Thursday or Friday. I'm back at my temporary full-time job, I was there last week, but it was pretty slow. Yesterday when I walked in, there were about 30+ people in line, and the line stayed like that until probably about 5pm. It was a little weird, every time I looked up, I couldn't see the end of the line. By the end of the day, I had to slow down and make sure I did everything I had too, I was also having a hard time saying all I had to. It felt like my tongue had swelled from too much talking, is that possible? And of course, when I got home, my feet just hurt.
I was making my sandwich this morning, and I realized I run out of all my fixings when I make Thursday's sandwich. Obviously I'm supposed to buy something from the food court on Friday. Oh, well a little splurge at the end of a busy, tiring week will be a nice bonus.

OK, on to what you came here for:

1.  Are you a force to be reckoned with? In what way? It depends on what we're talking about. If it's something I believe in, sure. But I try not to get worked up over things, I'm trying to lower my stress level.
2. What are two things you love about the wintertime? Or, if love feels like too strong a word, what are two things you 'like' about winter? I love seeing the trees when they look like they were just dipped in the snow. Unfortunately, that comes with not so nice weather sometimes. Like last week, we got a little ice, the trees were beautiful, but it took me so much longer to get where I was going.
Two things may be a stretch, I'll add another if I think of it.
 3. Pomegranate, kumquat, persimmon, kiwi, and guava are all fruits said to have health benefits, particularly during the winter months. Do you have a favorite on the list? Are there any on the list you haven't tried? Considering, I've only heard of pomegranate and kiwi, and I've only tasted kiwi, no I don't eat those. I'm not a huge fruit person, if I don't eat them soon enough, or I forget they're there, they go bad.
4. I passed a local church yesterday and noticed they had this on their outdoor sign- 'When all else fails, do the right thing.' Your thoughts? Shouldn't you have done the right thing, first?
5. Do you ski? According to one list I've seen, the top 5 ski destinations for 2014 are-St. Anton Austria, Whistler Canada, Cortina Italy, Tahoe USA, and Zermatt Switzerland.  Of the five listed, which would you most like to visit? We can make skiing optional if that helps the non-skiers with their answer. Not so much. We had a ski trip back in high school and I vaguely remember sliding down the bunny hill on my butt, so I spent the rest of the day in the lodge.
6.  What's the last thing you looked for online? (Besides my blog!) Godiva chocolate, my brother gave us all these truffle flights for Christmas, and I had finished mine, I was looking to see how much another one cost. Unfortunately, I decided $16 is too much to spend on a box of five chocolates, plus I'd have to pay shipping.
I was also on Etsy, looking at buttons, I'm still looking for something cool.
 7. What saying, slogan, quote, or motto have you seen lately that inspires you for the new year? I haven't really thought about it. But, I keep seeing people picking words for the new year. I was reading someone's blog the other day she had a list of words and, patient jumped out at me. I'm really not a patient person, granted I'm very good at keeping myself composed if I'm out and about, but I'm not patient. I thought I'd work on that this year.
8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I'm a little worried. During the month of November, Target had it's credit/debit card numbers compromised. Basically everyone who used a card between I believe the end of the month and early December, they're numbers were taken by someone. So, my bank is reissuing debit cards and deactivating old ones. The old cards are supposed to be deactivated tomorrow, and I haven't received my new one yet, so yes I'm a little worried. I've decided I should just get some cash, it's coming from the same account anyway, it should tide me over until the new card comes. I'm trying not to use my credit card and pay it off/down, so I won't be using that.
It's funny a few years ago, I didn't have a debit card, and now I'm extra worried about not having one again.

I've also been on a spending spree lately. I don't mean to be, but I think it's from Christmas, after spending all the money on other people, I want to spend some money on myself. After Christmas, I went to a local flower shop and bought some stuff I didn't get for Christmas:

an owl, a cute little tree, a multi-colored ornament and a glass heart box ornament. And then I went to another store downtown and bought some of their stuff: an angel candleholder, a stocking, a snowman wallhanging, a winter scrapbook, a Coca Cola bottle opener, and some salt and pepper shakers. And then I had to buy myself some chocolate and a cute little angel ornament.
Last week at the bookstore, I bought some shirts, a calendar and a cute owl gift bag. I'm doing poorly on saving money.
I just want to buy things. I'm not sure why, because I don't need more things.

Wednesday Hodpodge

It's time for Wednesday Hodgepodge. Go over to Joyce's blog to see other answers.

1. Every January 1st since 1976 Lake Superior University has published a list of words they'd like to see banished from the Queen's English.  Words may be banished due to misuse, overuse or just general uselessness (go here to read more about how the words were chosen).  Here are the words/phrases they'd like to see banished in 2014-selfie, twerk/twerking, hashtag, Twittersphere, Mr. Mom, T-bone, ____on steroids, the suffixes-ageddon, and -pocalypse added to anything and everything, from the world of politics the words-intellectually/morally bankrupt and Obamacare, and from the world of sports the words-adversity and fan base Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word not on the list you'd like to add? How about twerk, it sounds like a strange word. I'll admit I don't really think of words to get rid of, that just sounds wrong. It reminds me of 1984 by George Orwell, where they're creating a new language, Newspeak, and they are getting rid of words:
"It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words. Of course the great wastage is in the verbs and adjectives, but there are hundreds of nouns that can be got rid of as well. It isn't only the synonyms; there are also the antonyms. After all, what justification is there for a word which is simply the opposite of some other word? A word contains its opposite in itself. Take 'good', for instance, If you have a word like 'good', what need is there for a word like 'bad'? 'Ungood' will do just as well--better, because it's an exact opposite, which the other is not. Or again, if you want a stronger version of 'good', what sense is there in having a whole string of vague useless words like 'excellent' and 'splendid' and all the rest of them? 'Plusgood' covers the meaning, or 'doublegood' if you want something stronger still. Of course we use those forms already, but in the final version of Newspeak there'll be nothing else. In the end the whole notion of goodness and badness will be covered by only six words -- in reality, only one word. Don't you see the beauty of that, Winston?"
Wow, that was kinda out there, sorry that's just what popped in my head when I read the question.
 2. What one unfinished project nags at you begging to be completed in this new year? Cleaning out/downsizing my apartment/getting another job/new apartment. I'm going to have to move this year. I'm trying to get my head around it. Unfortunately, to afford an apartment, I will need to find another job. I hope to get one that works around my library schedule, but I don't think that's feasible. I'm trying to sort through my stuff and get closer to getting rid of things. I'd really like to bury my head in the sand and ignore it, but that won't make anything better.
That was way more than one, but that's what's sitting on my mind right now.
3. When did you last have a bowl of soup? What kind? Homemade or from a can? What's your favorite soup? My brother made soup for Christmas dinner. It was something I wouldn't have tried in a restaurant. There were leeks, artichoke hearts, and potatoes. After it cooked for awhile, he got out a stick blender and mixed it up. It was very good. I like chowders, I like the thickness of them, I feel I'm getting more out of them because of the thickness.
4. Snowed in, snowed under, snow job...which one most applies to your life in recent days, figuratively speaking. None of the above. How about something along the lines of being blown away? Monday the high was -11 with a wind chill of -40. Normally, I'd take the cold over snow, but the wind chill lately has been well into the negatives with temperatures barely above zero and I'm getting quite sick of it. My forecast says we'll be into the 30's by the end of the week, but I'm not sure I believe it.
5. What's the funniest movie you've ever seen, or at least one of the funniest? Movies seem to be so funny the first time I watch them, but every subsequent viewing is not as good, but I love Planes, Trains and Automobiles, that one never gets old. We watch it every Thanksgiving, and it never fails to entertain. Come to think of it, any movie with John Candy always hits the spot.
6.  In general, would you say you're clumsy? Not in general, I'm really good at misjudging spaces. If there's a small space between something, I seem to run into things, but otherwise, not so much. Of course, I bruised my finger yesterday, opening a roll of quarters, so maybe I am.
7. Elvis Presley was born on Hodgepodge Day (January 8th) back in 1935.  Are you an Elvis fan?  What's your favorite Elvis tune? If that's too hard, which Elvis tune do you dislike the least?  Click here for a list of his songs. No
8. Insert your own random thought here. My mom and I were supposed to go to an antique store on Sunday, but because it was very cold, we didn't go. I know I'm supposed to be downsizing/not buying new things, but I really want some vintage buttons. I also want to just get away to an antique store and get lost in it. But, I'm going to be working every day until the 18th, so that's not going to happen.

Holiday Swap

I signed up for a Holiday Swap through Good Vibrations. Here's what I sent to my partner:

 

a couple word searches, some lip gloss, a bath set, and some chocolate. There was also a scarf I stuffed in the top for some extra padding.

 

I received my package today, here's what I got:

A scarf, hat, some French vanilla hot chocolate, a bag of chocolate coins, a bunch of Jolly Rancher candies, a plastic dinosaur and some perfume.

It's cold

Bother. I'm not liking Iowa right now. It seems every day when I open my curtains, there's frost on my windows, some days it doesn't even melt, just sits there all day. I love not being able to see out my windows. And it's windy, lately the highs have been in the teens or below with very cold wind chills. Today, it was in the 20's, but the wind chill was -2 degrees F. Tomorrow, the high is 3 with wind chills in the -30's. Monday will be wicked cold. The high is -11 with wind chills in the -40's. My boss said if you are outside for 10 minutes, you'll have hypothermia. She was waiting to see if we could be closed.

Tomorrow, my mom and I were supposed to go to a couple antique stores in nearby towns, but she said tonight, that it will be too cold to drive outside of town. Is that a thing, or is she just giving me an excuse?

This is what the national weather service says: There is a wind chill warning January 5th through January 7th. Extreme life threatening cold expected late tonight through Tuesday morning...an extremely cold arctic airmass will arrive overnight and persist through Tuesday. Combined with strong northwest winds through much of the period...life threatening cold and wind chills will occur...especially Sunday night and Monday. These wind chill values will be the coldest values in nearly 20 years over much of the area.

I'm so excited.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Times Square is the setting for the infamous ball drop signaling a brand new year....when did you last 'drop the ball' on something? That is a very good question, most likely anything I say I'm not going to do anymore. My last probably being I wasn't going to drink pop anymore.
 2. What is one thing you resolved to do in 2013 that you actually did? I don't do resolutions.
3. Jack London is quoted as saying, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." Agree or disagree? Why? Sometimes. Sometimes, inspiration just hits me, sometimes I have to push myself to do things.
 4. What was the best thing you ate in 2013? Probably something to do with chocolate.
5.  Share an anti-resolution...that is, something you plan to keep on doing in the new year. Eating whatever I want, drinking pop, being messy, buying stuff. That was more than one.
 6. The Pantone color of the year for 2014 is radiant orchid.  Like or no like? Would I find this color anywhere in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in this shade to either? Sounds pretty. Honestly I don't care what the color of the year is, I'll still wear what I want.
 7. In three words or less sum up your 2013. Lots of change.
8.  Insert your own random thought here. I'm ready for a vacation. I won't go on one anytime soon and I sure can't afford not to work, but I'm ready for one. I feel I've been working a lot and now that it's January, I'll be at the bookstore and working more. 

Thoughts

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and survived their families. Tuesday, we went food shopping and I learned I can never be right with my mother. She kept asking me questions and whatever I answered, she wasn't happy with. My brother and his girlfriend arrived later that evening and we had soup for supper. Afterwards, mom, Ross (my brother), Lisa (my brother's girlfriend) and I played a game called Bonkers, then we played Uno. It was amazing that I got them to play games, I generally have to ask a million times before they agree.

I must be losing my childhood wonderment, I slept through Tuesday night just fine. Christmas morning I awoke and wandered downstairs to find my mother making chocolate star cookies. After everyone else woke up, we had caramel rolls for breakfast and finally we got to open presents. Here's some of mine:

snowmen and owls. I also received some chocolate, a laptop, and Pitch Black. Lunch was prime rib, which I found out, I don't really like, I guess I like my meat cooked all the way. We also had some couscous, that was pretty good. Everyone else started watching TV, so I wandered back upstairs and did the same, and promptly fell asleep.
For supper we had some kind of soup, it had artichoke hearts, leeks and potatoes in it, after it cooked for awhile, you use a stick blender and blend it up. It was very good.

Thursday, I had a dr's appointment in the morning and went to an after Christmas sale at a local store and bought some items I wanted, but didn't get.

Another owl, a metal tree, a cute ornament, and a glass heart box/ornament.

I signed up to work the afternoon and night, since I lost my regular long day to Christmas.

 

Friday, we went to lunch at a local pizza place, then my brother headed back to Chicago. Mom and I continued to do more after Christmas shopping. I spent way too much money, but I got some great gifts for next year.

How was everyone else's Christmas?

 

When we went to the local pizza shop, I bought my boss a cookie. She had said some time ago, she used to go to this place and get the cookies, so I thought next time I was there, I'd get her one. When I gave it to her, she seemed very overwhelmed. She made it seem like I did something very extraordinary, I just did something I would do for anyone.

When people tell me they like something, or I see something I think someone would like, I get it for them. It's just what I do. I still see things that my ex would like and think about buying them for him, and then I remember I can't. Is that too much, is it over the top?

Maybe that's why I don't have any money.

12 Days Of Christmas Swap Reveal

Today's the day to show you what I got in 12 Days of Christmas Swap. Here's how cool it looked when I opened the box:

 It arrived a few days late, so I got to open the first two days when it arrived. Day #1:

 An owl wax burner, you plug him into the wall and stick a piece of wax on his head.
Day #2:

 Some wax for my owl.
It arrived on December 15th, my first thought was to open each gift at night, so I had to something exciting to look forward to at the end of the day, but I am not very patient when it comes to gifts. So I opened Day #3 as well:

 A cute flower ornament.
It was a great idea to open my presents in the morning, it made the days start off much better.
Day #4:

 A pad of paper and pen with my initial.
Day #5:

 A cute owl, you can't see it in the picture, but he's really sparkly.
Day #6:

 A sparkly green ornament.
Day #7:

 More owls. I told my partner I collected owls, she came through great with that.
Day #8:

 A very cute key holder. On the package she said it was vintage, I love it.
Day #9:

 A t-shirt from her neck of the woods. I said I loved things that I can't get anywhere else.
Day #10:

 Her favorite holiday candy, I really like mint too.
Day 11:

 A cute Cubs sled. She lives in IL, so another something from her neck of the woods.
Day #12:

Dove peppermint bark. I'm so excited about this one. I told her this was my favorite holiday candy. Last night I was mentioning to my mother that I couldn't find it anywhere this year. It totally makes my day.

Thank you to my swap partner, and to the swap hostesses, this was such a fun swap. I hope Tarra likes what I sent her and I'd love to participate in this swap in the future.

Here's what I sent my swap partner:

Some dog bones (she has dogs), some candles (she said she loved the holiday scents), some picture frames (she said she collects those), a bag of peanut M&M's (she said those were her favorite), a camera ornament (she said she was trying to go into the photography business), a purple star ornament and purple shower pouf (she said purple was her favorite color) and a nest and bird figurine (she said she was re-doing her bedroom with birds).
I hope she liked what I sent her.

Merry Christmas

Here's hoping you have the childhood wonderment of Garfield:

Merry Christmas Everybody!!!

Friday Confessional

It's Friday Confessional Time

• I'm still waiting on one Christmas swap package, I can't wait to see what's in it.
• My aunt sent me Christmas goodies the other day and I had to share them with my father.
• I know it's the Christmas season, but I still don't want to share my goodies.
• I got to tour the new library last night, it was so cool. The upstairs is so much bigger than I thought it would be.
• I bought some paper monsters last night, they weren't as cool as I thought they'd be when I opened the box, but they make me happy, that's all that matters.
• I'm a little perturbed with the upcoming weather, we're supposed to get a few inches of snow this weekend and Monday's high is 6.
• I'm so excited about Christmas, my parents have added presents, and the stockings are almost full.
• My apartment's a mess but I really don't want to deal with it, anyone have some Christmas elves I can borrow?
• I haven't posted on my art blog since early November, I haven't been creative at all.
• The most creative thing I've done is stamp paper to use as wrapping paper.
• I have created a couple things for a swap, but I haven's sent them out, so I don't want to ruin the surprise.
• I gave one of my supervisors a present on Wednesday, and I was half hoping for a present in return, I'm a little bummed.
• I'm so not in the mood to watch movies or read the books I have checked out from the library, I should, but I just don't care.

I'm Back

It's Wednesday Hodgepodge time again, if you'd like to read other people's answers, head on over to Joyce's blog.

1. Do you believe in miracles? I do. 

2. What's a recent fad you admit to trying? I don't recall any. I don't do fads.
3. Peppermint-are you a fan? If so, what's your favorite food or beverage containing peppermint? I'm not a huge fan of peppermint. I do like Dove peppermint bark. Only Dove, mostly because they're tiny pieces and they have half peppermint bark and half dark chocolate. Unfortunately, I haven't found any this year.
4. Break the ice, on thin ice, as cold as ice (emotionally, not literally)...which phrase have you run into most recently? Explain. On thin ice, maybe. There's this secret in my family, and I may have mentioned to a couple people after they did something in public relating to this secret and told some of their family. And then I was chewed out for mentioning it. Maybe if I understood why it was such a huge secret, I wouldn't have told anyone, but since this thing involves me and things in my life that will change and I need to deal with right now, other people seeing me dealing with these things, know something is up and ask my why I'm doing certain things. How's that for confusing? But, I didn't tell you the secret, so it's ok.

5. Have you ever broken or spilled something in someone else's home? Still friends? I did dent my ex's truck once. I didn't see the big deal because you could hardly see it, but he was pissed. We broke up because of him being an ass about something else, years later, so he got over it.
6.  'Tis the week before Christmas...are you feeling more like Buddy the Elf or theGrinch before his heart grew? I don't know who Buddy the Elf is, but I am so ready for Christmas. I sent my last swap package out today, I have one gift left to wrap, I'm almost finished with my cards for co-workers (not sure if I'm just doing regular cards, or something more handmade as well). I'm so ready. 
7. Share a favorite quote relating to Christmas. I like what Linus quotes in A Charlie Brown Christmas : : "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."
8.  Insert your own random thought here. Good news about my teeth. I had a dentist appointment today, I was pretty worried about what my dentist would say. A couple years ago, I had to have my back molars removed because I drank a LOT of pop in college and never brushed my teeth. So, I've been waiting on the holes to fill in, one of them I was poking at the other day and realized there wasn't something stuck in it, that was actually one of my wisdom teeth. I realized the one on the other side was poking out too. I mentioned this to the dental hygienest, and she said I should just get them taken out, it would be $700 to $1000. I don't have that kind of money and I don't have dental insurance, so I was thinking 'that's not going to happen'. Then the dentist walks in and he said leave them alone unless they're bothering me. I did a little happy dance in my mind. He also said, my teeth looked great except for some tartar build up where I would probably always have some. Major happy dance. 

Now, I can focus on worrying about other things. Like those things about that giant secret that affect me.

I'm ready

I got my 12 Days of Christmas Swap package today. The good thing about getting it late is you get to open more than one gift. And I want to open them all. Thank you so much, Tarra.

I am not a patient person, especially when gifts are involved, for me or me to other person.

I'm so ready for Christmas. I'm almost done wrapping gifts, one is too big to wrap and will appear Christmas morning, the other one's waiting for the right size box. I just reused 2 boxes from the 12 Days of Christmas swap, so maybe the right size is waiting for me to open it.
I have another swap that I get the information for in the next couple days, my box is ready to go out when I get it. And then I get more presents.
Unfortunately, my presents to others are the only ones under the tree. I guess others are not quite as ready as I am.

I have work through Thursday, and then a few days off and work through next Tuesday and then it's Christmas.

I'm going to a celebration party tonight, my neighbors are celebrating their marriage, I'm so excited for them.

I really just want to keep typing because I'm on the laptop again, still trying it out, and still loving typing on the keyboard, but I have to be at work in an hour, meaning I have to get ready now.
Also, when I'm on the laptop, I've been using Chrome, but it has this annoying habit of allowing pop-ups and random annoying ads, does anyone know how to turn that off?

Is it Christmas yet?

Friday (or not) Confessional

• I really don't want to go to my friend's party tonight. It's cold out, I've been out in the cold the last two nights and I'd really like to stay home in the warmth.
• I'm really excited to get my 12 Days of Christmas package in the mail. I can't wait to see what my partner sent me.
• I must have needed a time out from the world. The game was late last night, so I didn't know what to do with myself before I had to be there. I plugged in my Ipod, turned on a color changing snow globe and just sat, it was very relaxing.
• It never fails, when I sit down with my craft supplies and I have to be somewhere later, I can create.
• I'm afraid Christmas will let me down again. I get so excited for holidays and then they come and I'm let down.
• I'm worried about my dentist appointment next week. I had a couple teeth pulled last year and my wisdom teeth are moving into those holes. They don't hurt, but I'm not sure what my dentist will recommend.
• I'm worried about my job and where it will take me next year.
• It's not Friday, but I really wanted to participate in this.

Interesting week, so far

Well, it's been a fun week. I woke up tired this morning, and I'm planning on just lazing around today.
Monday, I woke up to snow on the ground, and had to go out and shovel, and as I was shoveling, Dad informs me the asbestos removal guys are coming and that I should 'move in' downstairs until I had to go to work as I may not be able to get out my door. That really annoyed me, if I was a regular tenant, they wouldn't have said that, they would have made some kind of arrangements so I could get in and out of my apartment. So, after finishing shoveling, I hurried through a shower, got dressed for work and took some stuff downstairs. Then the asbestos guys came and it wasn't going to be a problem, but since I already had all my stuff, I just stayed downstairs, plus Dad had promised me Jimmie Johns for lunch.
About 11, we call Jimmie Johns and Dad said they'd be there very soon. They showed up at 11:20, at that time I had already fixed myself something else. I decided I' better just go to work and eat my sandwich there. That worked out, but so much for the 'subs so fast you'll freak' thing.
Work was busy, but it always is on Mondays, we have a tiny crew and lots of things come back on Mondays, so it goes by fast.
When it's this cold out (temperatures below freezing and windchill in the negatives), I wear my cuddleduds as leggings and a skirt over top of them. That way, I don't have to change when I get to work. Unfortunately, I do have to wear flats all day, and my shifts are not less than 5 hours, they aren't very comfortable for that long of a time.
I also started to get a little worried about my 12 Days of Christmas swap package. We were supposed to mail them last Friday or Saturday, I did. Last I heard, mine was going out Monday or Tuesday. I haven't heard anything since and am starting to accept the fact that I may not get a package. I'm very disappointed. I've signed up for quite a few swaps over the years, I don't know how many. I have had a couple partners not send me anything, have had a few 'get lost in the mail' (thought I'm not sure I believe that), and people delaying sending them for some reason or another, but I don't let those bad experiences stop me from signing up for more. I'm really hoping my partner sent my package and got so busy she forgot to tell me, but I don't know. We're supposed to start opening our gifts on Friday, we'll see if I get to.
Tuesday was a nice lazy day. I did my laundry. I didn't go out of the house all day. And then I heard we were supposed to get another couple of inches of snow that night and the high on Wednesday was 10.
And yesterday was just tiring. I get up and it's -1, I start shoveling, figuring my dad will be out to help me because it's so cold. One hour later, I'm done and no one's come to help. When I shovel, I do the public sidewalks first and then the driveway. To me, the public sidewalks are a little more important, no one else will care if you don't get your driveway or your personal sidewalks done. By the time I make it to the driveway, I've slowed down and I'm tired. So, I do it slowly, I take my time, I have my own way of doing it, which works well. Unfortunately, it was -1 with a windchill of -15, so I shouldn't have been so slow.
After I got done, I had to warm up before I took my shower, and then get ready for work. My hair was still wet, so I stuck it in a French braid, expecting it to fall out later in the day. It stayed in all day, I even took another shower last night and slept in it, it's still in the braid, I'm surprised. Once again, I dressed in a skirt and headed off to work. Because I was so cold, I just left my boots on and found out they are more comfortable than the flats, though after about 6 hours, my feet started hurting, but I kept them on all day.
Wednesday is my 8 hour, which I look forward to, but I'm so tired at the end of the night. And, we had people keep going home with some stomach thing, so we had a little more work to do. And we also had to call the cops. It's kinda funny, the Info people who called, said it might be awhile, because they could hear phones ringing in the background, but probably about 10 minutes later they showed up. I think we've all gotten used to the fact that when we call them, someone's either being escorted out or arrested. That's not a good thing to get used to.
I pretty much collapsed in bed after my shower last night, and then I woke up tired this morning. I was able to sleep in, but my body decided I was getting up at 7:30. It will be a relaxing day, I still have a few presents to wrap, and then I'll head out to work the basketball game tonight.

lots of questions

I'm going to fail on Wednesday Hodgepodge this week. None of the questions seem that interesting to me. I'll post them here, but I'm not going to link up to Joyce.

1. Are you doing anything special to mark this season of Advent? If so please share. No
2. Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen...and of course you recall, the most famous reindeer of all...so, which reindeer name best describes you this week? Not a clue
3. What's worse-too quiet or too loud? Which have you had more of lately? Too loud. I have had too loud lately.
4. When you are administratively gifted, how often do you find yourself not trusting less gifted people to do what they've committed to do? If you are not so gifted that way, but are reliable, how do you feel when the stronger person (in that area) goes ahead and covers it before giving you a chance to come through? I've read this question twice, and I'm still confused as to what it's asking.
5. What is your most dreaded task relating to the holidays? Your most looked forward to holiday task? I don't really have a dreaded task, maybe putting away all my regular decor to make room for my snowmen. I love buying presents for people.
6. Facebook has released its list of the 'most talked about' topics of 2013. Pope Francis took the number one spot. Does that surprise you? He was followed by election, royal baby, typhoon, and Harlem Shake. Your thoughts? What was your most talked about topic in 2013? (Facebook, around the kitchen table, or wherever it is you talk) Honestly, I don't know.
7. What's something you consider a necessity that others might view as a luxury? I have no idea.
8. Insert your own random thought here. I don't really have one, but I did find something else to fill out that sounded more interesting:
Question 1: Do you have any pets ? No
Question 2: Name three things that are physically close to you: my computer, printer, everything on my desk.
Question 3: What’s the weather like right now ? Cold. The high is 8 today with windchills at -15
Questions 4: Do you drive ? If so, have you crashed? No
Question 5: What time did you wake up this morning? I'm not entirely sure, sometime between 7 and 8
Question 6: When was the last time you showered ? last night
Question 7: What was the last movie that you saw ? Thor, the new one, only if you mean in theaters, the last movie I watched was called The Wall, it was kinda disappointing.
Question 8: What does you last text message say? 25 miles
Question 9: What is your ringtone ? my phone is always on vibrate
Question 10: Have you ever been to a different country? no
Question 11: Do you like sushi? No
Question 12: Where do you buy your groceries? A local store, Fareway
Question 13: Have you ever taken any medication to help you fall asleep faster? No
Question 14: How many siblings do you have ? One
Question 15: Do you have a desktop computer or a laptop? Both, the laptop I actually own, doesn't work. The one I have on loan works, I'm test-driving it.
Question 16: How old will you be turning on your next birthday? 31 UGH.
Question 17: Do you wear contacts or glasses ? glasses
Question 18: Do you color your hair? No
Question 19: Tell me something you are planing to do today: I should really get off my butt and eat
Question 20: When was the last time you cried? probably during a movie, I'm not sure
Question 21: What is your perfect pizza topping? mushrooms
Question 22: Which do you prefer, hamburger or cheeseburger? cheeseburger
Question 23: Have you ever had an all-nighter? yes, I was taking a summer class in college and I had a paper and a final the next day. There's no way I could do that now.
Question 24: What is your eye color? hazel
Question 25: Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke? yes

That was it? I like these questions.

New Toy and other stuff

So, I'm having issues with Microsoft Word and I'd really like a new version, my brother said it would cost just about as much to just buy Microsoft Office. The other day we were sitting at the table discussing this, and he and my father said I should just take one of their old computers, which has been upgraded to Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010, as Microsoft will not be supporting Vista that much longer.
So, Tuesday, Dad gives me mom's laptop (by way of my brother) to try out while she's trying out my brother's Windows tablet. I don't like it, I've only had it for a couple days, but other than how fun it is to type on it, I really don't like it. There's no battery power, OK, I take that back, there's about 10 minutes when it's fully charged and then it dies. So, I can use it while I'm sitting on my bed, but then I can't do anything on the internet, because the wireless signal isn't that strong. Right now, it's plugged into my power strip, and I moved my keyboard out of the way so I could sit it on my desk. It also hums, which I just cover up with music, so easy fix. It also keeps telling me the security isn't turned on, and then magically it's turned on and working fine. And sometimes the screen brightens and fades a little, not a ton, just enough to be annoying.
A few years ago, I asked for a new laptop, so I wouldn't have to sit in my somewhat uncomfortable desk chair so much, I got a Kindle Fire, which isn't bad, but I can't post on my blog, I can't do anything with pictures, and I can't browse Etsy like I want to. I thought having a laptop (this hand me down twice one), would solve those problems, that would be great. But, when does the world work like I'd like it too?
So, I signed up for a few Holiday gift swaps. I have to mail one tomorrow, so I was wrapping the presents and then thought I'd just keep going with other presents I have around. I'm getting so close. Why does Christmas have to be 20 days away? I want it now. I'm always ready way too early, after watching my parents wait and get stressed over the holidays, I try not to do that. Sometimes, I start shopping in January (there are some great sales then), especially when my mother collects Santas, and my brother reindeer, Christmas time is about the only time those come out. I also get way too excited about Christmas, and then it lets me down. I do that with my birthday too. I don't know if I still have a little kid living in me or what.
I'm sorry I don't have any cool pictures to show you. I'm on the laptop, I have to download Picasa before I can do anything with pictures, and I'm not too excited about this computer, so I probably won't keep it.
If only they could just buy me a new laptop, instead of giving me hand me downs. But we don't always get what we want in life. At least I have a working computer, I technically have two, so I have way more than I need, I am grateful for that.

Wednessday Hodgepodge

1. According to Oxford Dictionaries, the 2013 word of the year is 'selfie'. Your thoughts? When did you last take a selfie? Do you post them online somewhere?  Do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind the lens? I like seeing other people's selfies, it's fun to see what they come up with. I only take selfies when I want opinions on new clothes, so maybe last January. They get posted on Facebook. I'd rather be behind the camera.
2. Will you send out Christmas cards this year? If so, are they ready to go? If not, are you glad or sad about leaving that tradition behind? I don't usually send out cards. I give them to friends and co-workers. Last year, Hy-Vee gave me a free box of Christmas cards to get rid of them after the holidays, so I need to find those and use them. I actually may send a card to my aunt, she's so great about sending cards out on birthdays, and I'm not, so a Christmas card would be a nice surprise for her.
3. Do you trust easily? I want to, but it takes me a long time to trust someone. I want to trust them right away, but then they usually let me down.
4. Pine-cinnamon-peppermint-vanilla (as in sugar cookie)...of those listed, which one is your favorite December scent? I'm not much of a holiday smelly person, but if I had to choose, it would probably be pine. I really don't like the foody ones because then I want to eat that food.
5. Did you do more talking or more listening yesterday? Was that by choice or necessity? I probably did more talking. The Monday afternoon crew at the library consists of very few people, and I get along with my other two workers great on that day, so we tend to chat a bit. Plus, I also get to chat with the patrons.
6. What's the last song that got stuck in your head? Sorry if it's back there now :  ) This has now changed since I wrote down my answers this morning. I had a Christmas song stuck in my head when I was shopping at Target. I have no idea what it was, but when I was in the Christmas section, there was music playing and then when I left that section, it was stuck in my head.
7. Which world explorer (in the whole history of the world) would you most like to have traveled with, and why? I still don't have an answer for this one. I wanted to say Galileo, but he didn't actually 'explore' the solar system, he just let us know we weren't the center of it.
8.  Insert your own random thought here. Again this was going to be something totally different, but then I got to playing with this new to me toy. So, my computer's old, probably 5 or so years. It has Windows Vista, which I like, and a very old version of Microsoft word (2003), and I'm having issues with Word. I keep asking for someone to buy me a new version of Word, but my brother (my computer guru) told me it would make more sense to just buy the new version of Office, as it will cost about the same, I don't use anything else in Office. So, Friday, we were talking about it more, and my dad suggested I take his old laptop, which has Windows 8 and Office 2010 on it instead. I'm really picky, and OCD about a few things. I have too many blogs to really keep up with. I generally look at pictures, and don't really read in depth the more reading posts, so at the end of each month, I copy all the posts from the past month (like I just did for November) and paste them in Word, so I can read them in depth. And then, like I said I'm a little weird, I find it easier to read them if I go through and delete words while reading (don't ask me why, I'm weird). That's all I really do in word, I do have a few files with recipes in them, but I really don't do a lot. Today, my dad gave me an old laptop of my brother's, which he gave to my mother, and now I'm playing with it. So, far it's ok. I've logged on to Facebook, my email, and blogger here. I've tried my weirdness in Word, and it doesn't work near as well as a desktop keyboard. I may have to become less weird and just read the posts on the blogs.
A couple years ago, I was asking for a laptop for Christmas, so I could sit on my couch and do things, rather in my more uncomfortable desk chair. My brother got me a Kindle Fire instead, which is nice, but I still have to boot up my desktop for certain things. I can't do anything with pictures on the Kindle, I can't check my work email on it (not a big deal), and I can't do anything in blogger on it. Right now, I'm typing this post on the laptop, so I love that. I'd have to download something on here before doing anything with pictures. I don't know how much memory or whatever I need to have all my photos and music on here. So, far I like it. I forgot how fun it is to type on a laptop keyboard. My dad did say this was just for trial, my mother's trying out my brother's Windows tablet, and I guess if she likes that, I'll probably get to keep this. I LOVE typing on this, I just want to keep typing til the end of time.
OK, that became a long post, thanks for reading.

Thanksgiving Hodgepodge

It's time for Hodgepodge, head on over to Joyce's blog to see other answers

1. Are you settling for something?
Sometimes I think I'm settling in life. But, then I realize I don't know what I want out of life, so how can I be settling?
2.   This year many will be open all day Thursday, giving shoppers a jump start on 'Black Friday'. In your opinion is this a good thing or a not so good thing? Will you be shopping on Thanksgiving Day?
I don't think it's a good idea. What do you really need to go and get on Thanksgiving. Having said that, I have gone shopping on Thanksgiving. A couple of years ago, when my grandma and aunts came to our house, we did go to K-Mart, to get my grandma some shirts. There's not a K-Mart in my grandma's town, and my mother wanted to make sure the shirts fit her before buying them and everyone could give their opinion on them.
I've worked in retail and probably will again in the future. I don't think it's nice for the workers to have to give up their Thanksgiving to work, I think it's rude.
3. saw a recent article on the twelve best shopping cities in the world. In order they are-New York, Tokyo, London, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Dubai, Madrid, Milan, and Seoul. Ever shopped in any of the cities listed? In which city would you most like to pull out the plastic or cold hard cash?
I've been to New York, none of the others. I'd love to shop in Paris, I'd totally check out the bakeries and their flea markets (or whatever they call them over there).
4. When did you last dine by candlelight?
No idea.
5. What do you have too much of?
Stuff. As I was looking at my decorations and tiny figurines and other things decorating my apartment recently and thinking about moving, I was wishing I could have a sale and just have people come through and buy things right now. I'm trying not to accumulate more decorations/knick knacks/stuff.
6. The Hunger Games...are you a fan? Did you read the book(s)? Will you/have you seen the movie? Will you/have you seen Catching Fire? No spoilers please!
I am a fan. I wasn't until we had a showing of The Hunger Games at a staff movie night, and then I had to read the other two books. I've been waiting to see how they adapt the other two books into movies. I won't actually see Catching Fire until it comes out on DVD and we have it at the library.
7. Share your plans for Thanksgiving Day. The who, the where, the what...especially the what! As in what's for dinner? 
My brother has already arrived and he will be making dinner. It will only be the four of us this year. After dinner we're going to play Amesopoly (see my previous Hodgepodge to learn about this) and then finish the night watching Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I told my mother I was going to make a side dish for Thursday, but I am so not in the mood to make anything. I was thinking about making a corn dish I made a few years ago, but I have no idea where that recipe is. Anyone got any easy ideas for me?

Exciting Swap

So, I've been rather bummed lately, I'm not entirely sure why, it might be because I haven't found any swaps to join this holiday season. I've barely participated in any swaps since summer. Tuesday, I found the one below:


I have to send 12 individually wrapped gifts, containing a minimum of $30 but not more than $40 worth of gifts before shipping, sending something I would like to receive but put together to cater to my partners tastes, and post my gifts and link up on their reveal post after Christmas.
I love this idea. I'm so excited to have something to do. I don't do much of anything when I'm not at work and I have so much fun buying/finding gifts for other people. I can't wait to get the info on my partner. I think this will be great fun.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's time for Hodgepodge again. Go to Joyce's blog to see what other's have answersed and to join in.

1. What lesson has failure taught you?

Usually to keep trying. But, lately, I just keep running into walls, so it's getting harder to keep picking myself up and keep trying.

2. What decision are you glad you made?
Not a huge decision, but I bought a Minion shirt recently, and it's become my new favorite shirt, it puts me in a good mood everytime I wear it, and lots of people comment on it. So, good decision, even though I'm trying not to spend money on clothes.
3. I've been a little bit surprised to see fully lit and decorated Christmas trees popping up for the past several weeks in friend's Instagram feeds. So tell the truth-is your tree up and decorated, and if so when did that happen? If not, when will you be decking the halls?
Yes, my decorations are up. I got sick of staring at my Halloween decorations, so last Friday, I pulled out my boxes of snowmen decorations. But, most of them are snowmen, so it's not as bad as Christmas. Of course the few more Christmasy decorations I have are in the same boxes, so those came out too.

4. Solitaire-Poker-Rummy-Hearts-Go Fish-Old Maid...which game of cards would you most like to join?

I like solitaire, but you can't really join solitaire. I do enjoy Uno too, but trying to get my family to play games is so hard. I did see an Amesopoly (My high school made this when I was in high school as a fundraiser, it's Monopoly, but with places around my town instead, pretty cool) on sale in the library bookstore, so I told my mom we were playing our copy at Thanksgiving, I'm making them do it too.
5. This question comes to you courtesy of a Facebook friend, who once upon a time had a blog...When you're feeling stressed do you snack a lot or are you more the 'can't eat' type?
I like to eat. I generally end of watching movies and eating. Though lately, I've tried not snacking as much, I don't buy as many snacky items at the store when I'm there. I should really go for a walk, because those endorphins that you get when walking helps to put you in a good mood.

6. Have you ever reviewed a product or service on line? Was your review favorable or less than favorable?

No

7. What was the best conversation you had yesterday?

My co-worker and I talked about work.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I was going to tell you all how bummed I was that my plans this week got cancelled, but then as I was making my way to my blog to put up this post, I saw some holiday swaps posted to other blogs on my blog list. I'm so excited, I signed up for them, and hopefully, I'll have two swaps that I'm now a part of and get to send some people gifts.

As I was typing the above, I was thinking, maybe I'm more bummed because I have already finished most of my holiday shopping. I LOVE buying/making gifts for people. I LOVE sending gifts to people and with my closer people seeing their reaction when they open what I've sent. Apparently I just need more people to give gifts too.

First Snow

It's time for Wednesday Hodgepodge, head over to Joyce's blog to see everyone else's answers.

1. Describe a typical Sunday from your childhood.
We didn't do anything different on Sundays, basically the big thing was reading the Sunday comics.
2. How comfortable are you with uncertainty? Explain.
I like to plan ahead. I think I got that from watching my mother as a kid. I like to plan so nothing comes as a surprise. There's some uncertainty about my job next year and the only way I know to deal with it is to stick my head in the sand. I can't really plan for it. If I plan for something I know I'll have everything I need when I need it. I always make sure I have everything in place before going places, that I don't have to worry about needing something I don't have.Granted I can't do that with all uncertainty, I can't do that medically. I have something I noticed this morning that I really can't do much about except go to the dentist and see how much money I have to spend on it. I really like to be self-sufficient and not depend on other people. I think I may have gone off topic somewhere in there.3. What have you accomplished recently that might be described as crafty, as in 'arts and crafts' crafty? If crafty doesn't work for you, how about handy? Or both?

This is the last thing I created. It was a 6x6 piece of artwork for a Halloween swap. Other than that, I haven't been creative at all lately. I really need to get back into my artwork, it really helps to calm me down. I don't have any swaps coming up (ok, I have one, I'm not too worried about it), and I do better with a deadline. I've been meaning to take my vintage hankies and make a stocking (or several, I have a lot) with them, but I haven't sat down to do it yet. I really should, then I could try to sell them on my Etsy shop, and make a little money off them.
4. Have you ever worked in a 'food place'? What did you take away from the experience?
No. My brother worked at KFC when I was younger and he would come home reeking of grease, his car, his clothes, he had to hang his winter coat on the back porch because it smelled so bad. I'm not sure I could. My nose is so sensitive that I get sick walking by several fast food places on my way to work.
5. Cold turkey, talk turkey, what a turkey...in recent days, which turkey phrase or idiom best applies to you and why? Click on the word turkey if you need to read more about the meaning behind each phrase.
I don't know, I don't pay attention to those.
6. If you could have any one guest join your Thanksgiving dinner table, who would it be?
Not a clue
7. What is one thing you must accomplish today?
Today (Tuesday, when I'm filling this out), I need to do my laundry. Nothing huge.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping. I usually try to have it done by Thanksgiving, I like to shop throughout the year, sometimes the best deals are right after Christmas. I was going to pick up some Dove peppermint bark the other day, but I told myself to wait, that was weird.
Last year, I spent way more than I should have/or could afford and told my family, I wouldn't be spending as much money on them this year. Whether or not they believed that, I'm not sure. I try to pick up gently used items at garage sales a lot. My mother collects Santas, my brother reindeer, so they're pretty easy to shop for. Though, I find it harder to find reindeer my brother would actually like. I have a few more items to pick up for them, I figured I'd hit downtown soon, and Target. My father is the hardest to shop for, he doesn't collect anything, he's legally blind, so I can't buy him books or movies. He told me earlier he had a couple more expensive things he wanted and I should just add money to those from my mother or brother.

I'm sorry, you can all hate me for my shopping habits.

On another note, we had our first snow yesterday, or at least our first sticking snow. We did have a tiny snow a few weeks back, but nothing stuck. I forgot about the snow until I opened my curtains this morning. It's not actually stuck to sidewalks or streets. I've seen people post on facebook that they didn't know where it came from, but if they were paying attention, they had been forecasting it since end of last week. I'm actually surprised we haven't had any until now, it's just that time of year.

It's Wednesday

I meant to post this yesterday, but I had to go vote before I had to work, and then I only had a couple hours between my jobs and more important things came first, so here's a little later Wednesday Hodgepodge:

1. What's one way you're like your siblings? If you don't have siblings how are you like your lifelong best friend or cousin?
I'm not sure how I'm like my brother, I think we're very different. I do know we like to give things that makes other people happy. We always try to find some new and different Santa for my mother for Christmas. We both like Garfield, we both love Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi.
2. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of yourself at age eighteen?
High school.
3. Sculptor-actor-painter-dancer...if you could excel in one of these arts, which would you choose and why?
I do consider myself a mixed media artist, I used to do more paper arts, but I love sewing things as well:

 I made this stocking last year for a swap, but my partner wanted something else, so I got to keep it. It's a sheer green fabric with a couple trims on the top and a sticker I sewed on for decoration.

 This is an altered candy box for a swap. I covered the top with dictionary pages, layered some doilies and buttons on top. I also added some pink shimmery spray on it.

 This was for a hatbox swap. I covered this one in dictionary paper as well. The top is layered with sewing trim, a doily and some wooden roses. The sides have some buttons and some flowers from an old dishtowel.

 This was for a needlebook swap. I used purple felt as a base and added vintage trims, a doily and buttons to it.

This is a cute tag I found. I covered a tag with decorative paper, some stickers, a paper flower that I colored with alcohol inks and a chipboard squiggly.
If you'd like to see more of my work, check out my other blog: The Frog Palace.
If I had to choose from the ones in the question, I'd love to be a painter.
4. What's a scent that takes you back in time, and where does it take you?
Fireplaces. My ex's parents had a fireplace we'd curl up in front of around Christmas time. I'm not big on scent memories.
5. November is for Peanut Butter Lovers (National Peanut Butter Lovers Month). Are you a lover or a hater? What's your favorite dish/recipe that calls for peanut butter?
I love peanut butter, though it doesn't seem as good lately. I used to love Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby ice cream with chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzels but the last time I had it, it wasn't so good. I love making peanut butter cookies.
6. What do people thank you personally for most often?
My job at the library, my mother also thanks me for scanning pictures for her.
7. What event this year are you most thankful for?
The building of our new library. Technically it started last year and it won't finish until next year, but I'm so excited for when it is finished. Every time I go over there, I see more new things.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
After what seemed like a good interview last week, I didn't get that job. I think I may have failed the online test I had to take. There were a lot of questions about things I had to give my opinions for. I was telling this to a co-worker, and she said they used to have them at her other job too. Apparently it's not that easy to pass it, which kinda makes me feel better, but I'm really bummed out about not getting that job. I was hoping to get it and not have to worry about anything else. Now, it's time to contact one of my other jobs about hours in January, and I don't know if I can work anything else into my schedule until after that seasonal one is over.
Someone should just give me money.

Halloween at the library

Yesterday, I dressed up as lost and found:

There is a stuffed animal, a bookmark, a scarf, one earring (we never get a set), a button, a toy lizard (our prize for the summer reading program was toy lizards), a ring, a piece of artwork, a pin, a photo, a keychain, a toy car, a sock, a key and a bag.
I got lots of laughs when I explained my closet and was told how creative it was. A few people I work with asked if anything had come out of our actual lost and found. Nothing did, everything I had at home, but we have most or all of these kinds of things in our lost and found.