Wedesday Hodgepodge

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

1. What is something you'll never forget about the age you are right now?
Honestly, I have no idea. I wanna say that this was the worst winter I can remember, but who knows maybe another winter will be worse (I hope not). Maybe the fact we had to shut down the library for two days due to sickness. As far as I know that's never happened. Last Wednesday over 30 people (which is about half the staff) called in sick with stomach problems, so we didn't open. We had people disinfect the common areas and stayed closed on Thursday. The doctors said if you were sick on Wednesday, you weren't allowed to be at work on Thursday. I got sick the weekend before, so avoided this bout. Let's go with that one, if you'd like to know more about that, check out my last post here.
2. What's a household chore you've never done? How have you managed that???
I'm not entirely sure. But if I've never done it, how do I know it's a household chore? In my parents house we had to clean the ceiling fans every spring, I don't have any fans to clean in my apartment.
3. Does nature shape our personalities more than nurture? Explain?
I think more nurture. It's what you see around you that you suck in and push toward your personality. But, there's also the nature part, they've done studies on twins that were adopted out at birth to different families and when reunited years later learned that certain parts of their life and personalities were so similar, you would think they were raised together. So, I really don't know. 
4. Friday (February 28th) is 'Something on a Stick Day'...funny because Zoanna over at A Penchant for Pens recently sent me an idea for a question relating to this topic. What's your favorite food eaten on a stick?
Ah, food on a stick. That's our state fair, a couple years ago they introduced deep fat fried butter on a stick. There are quite a few things on a stick they serve that I wouldn't go near. Right now, I like cake pops.
5. Which of your five senses do you treasure most, and why?
I think it would taste. When I'm sick, and can't taste things it drives me nuts, especially when I know what it should taste like.
I should also say sight. My dad is legally blind, so I see it a lot. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't read, or do my artwork or be able to notice things. 
6. What's the best music, theatre, or sporting venue you've been to? What made it great?
I don't go to a lot. I don't even remember what the last thing I'd been to is. I do remember a few years ago, my friend won tickets to Big and Rich at the State Fair and I got to go with her. I loved it, I remember losing my voice because I knew most of the songs. The company was great. Bought a cool shirt too. That was awhile ago, and I know I've attended more concerts since then, but I still remember that one and not the others.
7. It's the last week of the month...in five words or less bid adieu to your February.
I survived the Plague.
That goes with the answer to No. 1
 8.  Insert your own random thought here.
My parents told me they were listing the house in March, I was informed this on Sunday. I'm in the middle of a couple art swaps, so I'm trying my hardest to get them done, so I can get my artsy stuff off the floor. I'm wondering if shoving things in closets is an acceptable way to move my stuff out of the way. Are people going to be looking in closets and seeing all my stuff. Of course, I also think of my mother's overstuffed craft room and wonder what her solution for that is, you can't just shut the door when people are looking at your house.
Now, if I could get people not to look at the floor, where a lot of my stuff is piled, it would be great. My surfaces that are decorated aren't bad, its the floor I really need to clean. Oh, and my dishes, maybe I could just stuff them in cupboards.
Along those lines, I also need to get back to searching for apartments. I really don't want to move. I have way too much stuff. My mom suggested renting a storage space for some of my stuff. That was kinda funny cause I had just mentioned not having enough money. There is so much bouncing around in my mind because of this, I'm so stressed. I'd like that easy button to push, so I could just wake up and it was all done already. Good luck with that

Fun stuff

I was getting all excited because it will soon be March, but my mom informed me, they are planning to list the house in March. Now, I'm not so excited.
Awhile ago, I posted I had some big family secret that I couldn't tell anyone. My parents informed me in September that they would be selling their house and moving into a condo. I still can't believe it's true, we've lived in this house for 27 years.
I rent the third floor apartment from them for a reduced price with various stuff around the yard/house that I help out with. That means I have to find a new place as well, and get more money to afford a new apartment. I jumped on the bandwagon in September, looked around for jobs and apartment listings and I told my parents this, and they said I didn't need to do it then, so I quit. I keep reminding myself I need to do this again, but I can't get motivated.
I applied for a couple jobs and one of them I figured would have been an easy one to get into, I didn't get any of them. So, I got frustrated and stopped applying/looking. I guess I need to apply everywhere now. I keep hoping (most likely against hope) that they will hurry up and add the salaried positions they keep promising us at the library and I'll get one of those, but as time goes on, my faith in that keeps falling.
Today, my mother told me they were planning on listing things in March. This is the first time I've heard of it. So, basically I need to start shoving my stuff in boxes and into closets to hide it. I really do need to clean, I have been lazy lately with weather and sickness.

Speaking of sickness, did you hear we made the news? Wednesday, I get a call from the library asking how I was feeling, which I thought was odd. Apparently about 30 people called in sick with the norovirus and we didn't have enough to staff the library, so we closed. And the doctor said anyone who was sick on Wednesday wasn't allowed to come in on Thursday, so we were closed then too. I was fine, I got it the weekend before, that was fun. So, I went in to work my hours on Wednesday, Thursday I went in a little early as we were predicted to have blizzard like conditions. Thankfully, those started later than expected, so I got a few hours work in. If you'd like to read more, here are a few links: channel 13, ISU Daily, channel 5. We kinda decided all being together in the same room for our staff training day on President's Day is what did everyone in. They said the virus lives on hart surfaces, so workers came in and scrubbed down all our hard surfaces on Wednesday. It was kinda weird working when no one was there.

Anyways, back to housing stuff. I really don't want to move, I have a lot of stuff. I know I have too much stuff and I keep telling myself not to buy/acquire more, but it doesn't work. I'm going to work really hard on that from now on, hopefully it will stick this time. Not only do I need to be saving money, but I sure don't have room for more stuff. I did pretty well at sorting my snowmen/winter decorations to get rid of, and I told my mother this, and she said something like I don't need to get rid of things. It's so hard to please her, one minute she says one thing and then turns around and says the exact opposite.
I just wish I could get away from my life for a little while. Where's the easy button I can push to just skip all these things and be in a new place getting on with life?

Valentine's Swaps

****EDIT**** I inadvertantly deleted this post, it was originally posted on February 5th or somewhere in there. My partner has received it and said she loved it. ****EDIT****
I signed up for Borrowed Heaven's Sweetheart Swap, my partner hasn't told me she received it, but according to the USPS website, it was delivered on Monday. She wasn't exactly forthcoming in what she wanted, but she said she loved hearts, so I sent her a box of hearts:

Skittles (she said she liked them), heart hanging decoration, a couple heart ornaments, a heart pillow, heart necklace, heart picture frame, heart candle, heart ice cube tray, and some valentine's day napkins.

I really hope she liked it. I tried to visit local stores as well as the bigger ones to have a nice variety of heart items.

I'm still waiting on my box, but I bet it will be great when it gets here.

I have another box I have to mail out by Saturday, almost done with that. I also have to finish making valentines for my friends, it's a good thing I don't have to mail most of them.

Sweetheart swap

I signed up for a Sweetheart Swap through Meg's blog at Borrowed Heaven, for Valentine's Day.
I received my package a little late, but well worth the wait.
Tami had emailed me saying it was waiting for me, so I went outside, I was expecting a box, and got a little disappointed when I didn't see one on the porch, and then noticed the blob sticking out of my mailbox. It's been very treacherous just making it to my mailbox lately, that I wanted to open it on the porch, obviously, a good a idea not to.
It was wrapped in a paper bag, and inside the bag was a priority mail envelope, here's what I saw when I opened that:

The first thing I saw was that paper rose, and just a bunch of stuff in the envelope, I just had to take a picture of it. If I mailed anything like that, it would rip and pour out in the post office, that's my luck.
And everything after dumping it out on the floor:

I love that everything looked like it was just poured into the envelope, made it so much fun to dump out and look at.
And arranged better:

Now, it's all opened:

some hot chocolate, pumpkin spice chai, chocolate, paper flowers, stickers, paper pads, a cute little phone cozy, and a fuzzy scarf.

Like I said, well worth the wait.

Valentine's Day Box Swap

I signed up for a Valentine's Box Swap through the Domestic Princess. I received my box on Valentine's Day. I did open it that day, but since I was kinda sick all weekend, I'm just now getting these pictures up. I hope the pictures aren't too dark, I opened this at night because like I said, I was sick, and decided I wanted to open it that day. Here's what I saw when I opened the box:

And underneath that, a pile of red shredded paper:

And what was actually in the box:

One pack of canvas pieces and one pack of paper pieces to play with, some washi tape, Dove dark chocolate, Peanut butter M&M's and some Eos tangerine lip gloss
And here's what was in the paper pieces pack:

And the canvas pack:

These are picture frames. I haven't come up with a cool thing to use them for yet, but I will.

Thank you, Ashley.

And here's what I sent my partner:

She said she liked owls, sea salt and dark chocolate, teal, yellow, and grey, she liked to scrapbook and that she used buttons in her scrapbooks.
So, I sent her a couple owls, a Lindt dark chocolate, sea salt, caramel bar, some buttons, chipboard tags, journaling spots, punches, some teal washi tape and a Valentine's candle. There's also a box of chocolates in yellow.
I hope she liked what I sent her.

Some days I hate my body

This is going to be a pretty depressing post, just warning you up front.
I was going to tell you all why I hate Valentine's Day so much, and then I got sick last night and it's totally not helping. Last night I went to bed with a gurgling/upset stomach. I figured maybe if I went to bed it would go away, right? Not so much. Without going into details, I will just say I was up probably every hour getting rid of all the sustenance I consumed yesterday. Today, my stomach is still gurgling, and my body aches. I don't know what I got, I'm guessing a massive bout of food poisoning, but I'm planning on doing nothing today. There might be a trip to the grocery store for 7Up and saltines. I'm kinda scared to eat anything on the chance it will come back up.
When I was younger, I didn't mind Valentine's Day, we always had to trade at school and everyone got one, as I got older, my parents would get me stuff. Then I got a boyfriend, the first year was the best, neither of us had much money. He bought me a cute frog card, and a ring. I loved it, unfortunately he got a better job after that and would spend lavish amounts of money on things I didn't need. I always got 5 or so stuffed frogs, mostly those 3 feet tall ones.
The year he broke up with me, he stopped talking to me in January. I kept hoping there was some reason, and he would finally call me up. I figured, oh he'll do something cool for Valentine's Day. And then it came and nothing, that's when I knew for sure. How much of an ass can someone be to not talk to their girlfriend for 3 months and skip Valentine's Day and then break up (officially) with them in a text message?
That year, I also signed up for 2 or 3 swaps because I kinda knew we were broken up, they totally made my day. So, it's been kind of a tradition to do that every year. I have since learned my 'secret' partner did mail hers last Saturday and the post office said it would be here yesterday, so we can blame them for that. The other one, it looks like I'll have to wait until next week to receive.
I'm over it, it's been 2 or 3 years since that happened. After Valentine's Day, I went shopping for a stuffed animal to ease my pain, and vowed I wouldn't stop myself from buying things I wanted anymore. That's why I love the chocolate that comes out for Valentine's Day. I won't buy the $20 and above hearts, but I will splurge on the cheaper ones. But, I still hate St. V's Day

Ugh

So, I'm thinking I should stop doing swaps where I buy things for other people.
I still haven't received either of my Valentine's Day swaps yet. I know it's not Valentine's Day until tomorrow, but I'm not sure I'll receive them. One of them was supposed to be mailed on the 2nd, and last I heard (last Tuesday) she hadn't mailed it yet. The hostess said she emailed her asking for a tracking number and when she mailed it, but I haven't heard anything from her either.
I received the late swap today, and I have to say, it was a great package.
My word for 2014 is patience, and I'm trying to work on it, really, I just have a hard time waiting for things.

The two swaps I signed up for Christmas were late as well. I didn't receive one until some time in January, the postmark said it was mailed December 30th, this one was supposed to be mailed the week before Christmas.
I really like picking things out for my partners and mailing them, but I feel I keep getting the short end of the stick with late swaps. Part of the reason I sign up for these things is so I can get something cool in the mail (which I do, it's just later than I'm supposed to receive it)

I guess I'm just frustrated. Tomorrow's Valentine's Day and I haven't gotten anything from anybody, not even the people here I've sent Valentine's to.

Wednesday Hodgepoge

Wow, I almost forgot to do this. I was reading my blogs on a different computer and I told myself I'd do it later, and now it's later. Head over to Joyce's blog to see what other people said.

1.What makes love last?
Work, definitely work. You can't just expect to skate through and keep doing things like always, you have to work at it.
2. The Beatles made their US debut fifty years ago this week. Are you a fan? If so, what's your favorite Beatles tune?
That's totally before my time, but I like Yellow Submarine.
3. Valentine's Day-your thoughts? Do you celebrate in any way? Do anything special for the people you love? Expect anything special from the people who love you?
I don't particularly like Valentine's Day, mostly because I'm single. Also, when my ex broke up with me, I figured it out on Valentines Day, but the best chocolate comes out for Valentine's Day, so I love that aspect of it. I mostly just buy myself chocolate. I have made some valentines in the years past and mailed them off to friends, this year I made more. My friends and I are going out to eat because we are single, and I thought it'd be fun to do. They're also getting valentines and chocolate from me. I also have done some Valentine's Day swaps in the past and have done a few more this year, mostly because I'm single and I don't have anyone to buy me something neat, I think it's fun to buy stuff someone else will like. Other than my two swaps coming my way, I don't expect anything
4. Steak or burger...you have to choose. Now that that's settled, how do you like it?
Totally depends on the restaurant and who's paying. If I'm paying, probably, burger with cheese, medium. But, I love steak at Applebee's with loaded mashed potatoes or Red Lobster with the lobster tail, or Texas Roadhouse with their rolls, always medium well.
5. The Hodgepodge lands on the birthdate (February 12th) of Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States of America. Lincoln is quoted as saying, 'Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test his character give him power.'  Do you agree? Why or why not?
Interesting quote. I agree, most people's true character comes out when you give them power. You can always tell what's really in their heart.
6. Honest Abe's image is featured on the US penny (1 cent coin) so I'm wondering...what do you do with your pennies (or your country's equivalent)?  It's been suggested the US stop making the penny, and two bills have been introduced proposing just that, but neither were approved. What say you?
I save all my change in a piggy bank, when it gets filled up, I cash it in. That's kinda funny, because didn't they just change the back of the penny, we no longer have the Lincoln Memorial, we have to see the shield instead. 
I love collecting the wheat back pennies, I have a few steel ones (no, not the ones that are worth a ton), I even have one that's over 100 years old. Very cool, someone used it to pay a fine at the library, and I had to have it (it wasn't 100 then, just a few months shy).
 7.  Do you think pop culture deserves serious study?
That requires more thought than I'm going into tonight, so no.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
And I'm complaining about the weather again. I'm getting used to the cold part, what I wish would go away is the ice. It seems every path from my door to the sidewalk is covered in ice. I can go right, and hope not to slip on the very smooth ice, go left and try to avoid the ice on the driveway, and the bottom of the steps and on the top of the steps on the other side (that's only if I want to pick up my mail, which is on the porch). Most of the time, I choose to walk through the snow to avoid slipping on ice, but there's also ice on the public sidewalks. We keep getting snow, sun on those days, so the snow melts off the roof and then flows out the downspout and on to the sidewalks or driveway, and since the ground is frozen, it can't go anywhere. I can't even do anything about the ice on the south steps, because the steps are wood, so I can't pick at it with the ice scraper, plus I can't throw ice melt on it.
But, hey, it's warming up soon, I will have two boxes of exciting swap stuff, and supper with friends at the end of the week. I'm looking forward to that.

Shopping Trip

Monday, I headed to Target, Walmart and Dollar Tree to find some stuff for a swap I'm in and I had a coupon for chocolate. I was planning to go on Tuesday, but the forecast was snow all day, I did not want to walk around in that. Plus, Monday was kinda nice.

My coupon for chocolate was at Target and that's all I bought:

 Ghiradelli, Russell Stover and Merci. The Russell Stover is gone, it was a very disappointing package. It was labeled as the Private collection and there were pictures of 3 of the things that were inside with names, so I thought maybe, they'd tell me inside what everything was, no such luck. I shouldn't expect that much from them. I had a coupon for $1.50 off a package of the Merci, they're way cheaper at Target than HyVee.

At Walmart, I picked up another package of chocolate: Lindt dark chocolate and strawberry truffles, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles shirt (which for some reason, I was thinking I needed an XL men's size, sometimes I don't know what's going through my head), and some steampunk heart stickers. I keep meaning to make something steampunk-y, but I'm not entirely sure what steampunk is.

At Dollar Tree, I picked up some foam hearts to make valentines with, some flowers for a spring swap I'm in, some patterned hearts (that I completely forgot about), and a dancing devil for a friend.

I did succeed in buying some stuff for my valentine's partner, you'll see those later. I also succeeded in spending way too much money, surprise.

Stuff

So, I got my package together and it's ready to mail out, except I have to make the card. I look at my email to address the envelope and realize my partner lives in Canada. Funny, because right above her address it says: Address *To keep shipping cost fair US residents only*. Now, I feel bad because I took all this time to get stuff for my partner, make up a package I hope she'll like and part of the reason I signed up for this swap is because it was for US residents only. I can't afford to send to Canada. Technically, I shouldn't feel bad because not only did my partner not read the directions, the hostess didn't notice that her address was in Canada either.
I emailed the hostess, but I don't know what to do. I can afford $20 to mail across the US, but not $40 or so to go to Canada. I wonder if maybe I can ask my partner to pay for some of it, but that seems rude too.

I also found out today, my other Valentine's swap partner hasn't mailed my package yet, the one that was supposed to be mailed by last Saturday. There's nothing I can do, I did ask that when she mailed it, she make sure it would be here by Valentine's Day. She said she was planning on it. I'll probably be so busy in-between, I won't notice, but I feel like this happens to me a lot. The last bigger swap (as in medium priority mail box), my partner mailed late too. Of course, she also got rather annoyed when I asked she mail it two day priority, because by the time she informed me she hadn't mailed it, it was after I was supposed to receive it. I'm also a little bothered she hasn't posted about it on her blog yet, but what can you do.
I always try to uphold my end of the swap: get goodies my partner would like, spend as much as we're supposed to, and mail on time. That's all I can really do I guess.

I was wrapping the gifts for this swap, and then I ran out of tape, so some of them have blue tape on them. They're not the prettiest to look at, but I think one of the fun things about a swap is to have to unwrap each gift, it makes the suspense last longer. Plus, I always seem to have tons of tissue paper to use.

I posted on Facebook about making valentines for my friends. Bad idea, cause I have been having the hardest time getting inspired to make them. I had Sunday off, and I totally planned to start on them, and then I got distracted and sat down in front of the TV, and promptly fell asleep. Of course, I also ran out of/lost the rest of my glue sticks, so that's why I was distracted.
Last night, I sat down with my music and all my supplies on the floor, and then decided I'd post about the Valentine swaps I had received already, and then got distracted by something else on the computer, and suddenly it was 10PM.
Today, I have most of the day off, I do have to be at work at 5, but that's plenty of time right? I bought some colored cards yesterday at Jo Ann's and some heart ribbon for the cards. I thought of just cutting the cards in half and making a half card/tag and just writing on the backs of them. I have about 8 done. I'm not exactly sure how many I need, so maybe I could stop?

I'm also supposed to make a chocolate bread pudding for a thing tomorrow night, or at least that was the plan. Then I realized it will be cold when we eat it, I don't know if it will be as good cold. There's no possibility of warming it up, and I will be going right from work, so I can't really do anything about it. I don't know what to do.

I'll probably end up sending that package and eating the extra costs, it's too late to do anything else. I just wish people would pay attention to the rules. And I'll probably end up just making the bread pudding, I don't really have time to find another recipe, buy ingredients and make it. I have to make it tomorrow morning after mailing the package and then run off to work.
What's up in your neck of the woods?

Not so interesting stuff

I went to a Pampered Chef party tonight. I've never been to one of those before, it was pretty fun. I've been to Stampin' Up parties and a Pure Romance party, so I had an idea of what to expect, but I think I enjoyed this one the best. What's not to enjoy when there's food involved?
I knew two people other than the hostess. I wasn't planning to buy anything, but I'm still trying to get myself to do more cooking/baking, and I found something in their catalog I've been wanting for awhile.
Basically, we watched and learned about the products while the made some frozen dinners for the hostess. It was interesting, but I knew I wouldn't use a lot of the products. I already have similar ones at home, or I wouldn't actually use them. And just having them is not going to make me use them, just ask the ice cream maker I got for my birthday that's still sitting in it's box over six months later. She even made one of the meals the whole way through and we got to eat the finished product, plus a dessert. That was good, that sold me on a product.
I also liked that I was spending time with people my age. The people I work out with and hang out with from the library are in their 20's. We get along great, but I don't understand why we always have to have alcohol. That seems to be a central theme with some of them. It was nice to do something different for a change. I wish I had more friends my age. I have a few that work in another department at the library, but we don't really hang out. Like I said, the people I work with in my department are mostly in their twenties. The person I consider my best friend is in her 40's. I think I get along better with people that are in their 30's or 40's.

I've seen people picking words for 2014. That's not something I do. But, the other day, the word patience jumped out at me. So, I figured I'd work on that. I'm not really a patient person. I get rather annoyed with waiting. I don't like it when technology takes longer to do something than it should, or doesn't do something it should.
I'm also trying to downsize, of course that kind of goes with the fact that I'll have to move soon. I keep telling myself, don't buy things you don't need, but then I always fail on that. I tell myself to just use the craft supplies I have (and I have a ton), and then I see something at Hobby Lobby that I want, and I buy it. I will be going to garage sales this summer, but I will try really hard to not buy as much. Part of the reason I'm making myself go, is to get out of the house and get some more exercise. I really need to start walking more.

I have two swaps I need to mail out on Friday. The mail date is actually Saturday, but I have a double header I have to work, so that's not going to happen. One swap, I have to make a tag and a card and send some red destash. I've finished the making part, I just need to get a few things put together and that one's done. The other I have to put together a package, make a valentine and mail. All I have left is to finish the card and mail it out.

I was thinking tonight I should make valentines again this year and give them to people. Mostly my co-workers, but maybe a few friends and family too. Do people really like receiving valentines? Or is it kinda lame?

Wednesday Hodgepodge.

It's time for Hodgepodge again, head over to Joyce's blog to see what other people have said.

1. It's been said that one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. Do you think that's true? Do you find that an easy exercise most mornings? What's something positive you told yourself today? If you missed that boat, what's something positive you could tell yourself tomorrow?
That sounds good. I've taken to having a piece of dark chocolate every morning, it makes my day so much niceer. Otherwise, I really don't think about it that much.
2. There will be karaoke at the next party you attend...are you in? Or will you be faking a sore throat?
I don't do karaoke. It's fun to watch other people though.
3. January 29th is National Puzzle Day...what's something you've found puzzling recently?
That sounds like a great day, I should clean off my kitchen table and pull out a puzzle. There are a few things, but I'm not going to talk about them on here. There's also this thing with the laptop I got for Christmas, sometimes it has a tendency to shut off the monitor, I can hear that it's still on, but it's like it doesn't think I'm using it, and nothing I do wakes it up. The only thing I can do, is shut it off and turn it back on, it's weird.
4. Jigsaw, crossword, acrostic, logic, sudoku, word search...what's your favorite kind of puzzle, and when did you last work one?
Totally jigsaw, unfortunately they take up a lot of space, so I generally just do word searches. I have so many word search books laying around my apartment.
5. Recently a writer by the name of Amy Glass ruffled feathers with a post she wrote saying she looks down on young women with husbands and kids and she's not sorry. Among other things, she says women will be equal with men when we stop saying house work and real work are equally important. You can read the whole piece by clicking here.
What say you? Do you think men and women are equal in the 21st century? Why or why not?
I don't think they will ever be until we get the same job opportunities and pay as men. I've always though it would be cool to be a construction worker, but that's just not something women do. I hate it when I get judged when doing things that seem masculine. I also hate the fact that it's ok for a man not to want children, but when I say that, people always try to convince me some day I will. But that's a whole new post, I could put so much in here about that, but that's not going to happen.
6. What's a product you've noticed in the grocery store that you'd like to try, but haven't yet?
There is this mix that HyVee has in their bakery section, it looks good, kinda like chex mix, but the ingredients say there is cayenne pepper in it, I don't like spicy foods, but every time I walk by, I always get curious, I'll probably buy it next time I'm there.
7. The author, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) was born this week in 1832 (January 27th). Which character from his celebrated novel, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, would you most like to meet, and why? Here's a link to a character list if you need help on this one.
That just isn't something I think about.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I hate the cold. I feel like I'm complaining about this a lot lately, but it has been cold. Every time it gets warm enough to melt anything, it melts a little and then freezes back up. Saturday, it was 16, but with a negative wind chill. Yesterday, the high was 0, with a -31 windchill. Today's high is 10. I am so sick of it, and the ice. I've taken to walking in the grass to avoid it, unfortunately, there's ice there too. We're supposed to get snow Wed through Fri, so it will warm up, but I forsee it freezing again. I am so ready for spring.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. When was the last time you bowled?  Do you like to bowl? Are you any good?
It has been an extremely long time since I bowled. We used to have two bowling allies in town, one of them finally got flooded in our last flood and had to be taken down. The other one is on campus and I rarely get over to it. I like to bowl, but I suck at it.
2.   Should sports stars be role models?
I don't think so, you keep hearing about the bad things they do and they still get to keep playing their sports, plus they get tons of money for it. I think it's wrong. You'd think that money could be spent on other things that need it.
3. January is National Oatmeal month...are you a fan? How do you like your oats?
Totally in cookies, I had a peanut butter cookie the other day, that had oats and Reece's pieces in it, yummy.
4. What is one book on your reading list for 2014?
 Hollow City, it's the sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I read about it on another blog and I loved Miss Peregrine's, so I bet this one will be great as well.
5. What would you like your future self to say to your present self?
It's a good thing you kept doing art, you're great at it and people pay lots of money for it.
 6. When scrolling through the TV guide, what is one movie title that makes you want to stop, grab the popcorn, and watch for a while?
Honestly, I have lots of movies I will do that for. I can't pick a favorite. I only have rabbit ears, but I've gotten spoiled by TV on DVD and hate waiting for the commercials to end, so I haven't even set up my rabbit ears. I just check out movies from the library.
7. What are two style trends you hope never come back into fashion?
I really wish the low rise jeans would go away, I really don't need to see all that skin. It'd also be great if most guys would just learn to pull up their pants.
8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I signed up for a Valentine's Day swap where I had to make ATC's. Here's what I made:

The background is dictionary paper, the hearts are very thin paper, the buttons are vintage, the LOVE is a brad. I had 3 leftover, so I listed them on Etsy, hopefully they'll sell.

I'm trying to figure out what to do with my life with an upcoming reorganization at my job and my have to move. My cousin told me, art was my thing, and I just needed a day job to pay the bills. I always thought that too.

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.