I went to my movie theatre job a few weekends ago. I wore my usual "outfit"....they call it the 4 Blacks: Black slacks, black socks, black belt, black shoes. Then depending on which department you work in, you get to wear a purple polo tee, purple button down, black apron, black hat, or a black vest. No earrings larger than a nickel, no piercings, no bracelets etc. The idea is to blend in, not to stand out on your own, to conform to the uniform look, it gives the guest the feeling you are there for them. It also gives you the power to at least look like and make them feel like you know what you are doing. And when they need help, you are easy to recognize.
The concessions...pop corn and drinks & the food court (that's where I started) they get to wear the hat, polo tee and apron. They are definately the hardest workers in the place. I was going to give notice, because it is SO physical it was killing me off every night when I went home....I was DEAD!
So, instead of letting me go, they put me in the box office which I was originally hired for, but there were no openings at the time....What a relief in more ways than one. Now I have the privilege of wearing the purple button down shirt and the black vest....I can have my hair free, NOT pulled back and stuffed under a hat. I am clean when I get home, I don't have shake spray across my front.....I feel a bit more cleaned up shall we say. I felt like possibly I might look a bit better, more human....than the food court area.
We also are the first impression that the guests gets when they come in. We greet, find out what they want, answer questions to where things are. It is great, I even get a stool to sit upon during the slow points of the day.....I LOVE this job now....it is fun...I love the people....I love to visit quickly and send them off to a movie.
It was a Sunday, not my favorite thing to do on the Sabbath, but it is part of the job....just like the hospital, firemen, police, pharmacy.....some places need employees on Sundays, and my boss schedules around my church times, and it's only every third, so not too bad.
Well, it is also a different type of crowd that comes on Sundays.....there is the larger sized crowd who come out cause it is slower not so many people to deal with, the weekend Dads with their kids, the tatoo people, and people who shall we say have "their own style of dressing/and or undressing", vacationers/out of towners, families, people who smell of hangovers, shy folks, the loners/singles, not so much of the dating folks, and the wheel chair people and those who have worked the manual laboring jobs and Sunday is their only day off. Personally I love this crowd, they are more appreciative of a kind word and a happy smile, I want them to feel like they are having a good experience and a fun time out spending hard earned money.
This one particular Sunday a Harley Dude/Biker guy came up, I started with my usual chatter, finding out which movie he wanted to see. He blurted out to me "Do you purposefully dress this way to look unattractive?" I was stunned, hurt, I didn't know what to say? Then he said "Do you do it to turn people off, so no one will hit on you?" I just stood there with my mouth hanging open.....then I said "I'm not sure whether you are insulting me, or giving me a compliment?" Thinking he would say something to set me straight one way or the other. Then he said "You remind me of myself" and he guestured his hands from his shoulders to the floor. I guess I just wasn't getting it? I couldn't tell what he was meaning...I was so dumb founded....so I just said "well what movie do you want to see?" Got his ticket printed out and sent him on his way. After he walked away I felt very verklempt....I had to blink back the tears.....I was working with the two married box office guys, I asked them what they thought, one said he was probably on something. They tried to be kind.
I had taken care of a very cute little family earlier that same evening, the movie they picked wasn't really something a toddler could be entertained by, so later the Mom came back out into the lobby to let her little boy run around. He had waved to me bye-bye when they got the tickets. He saw me again, so I put my arms out to him and he ran up and his Mom lifted him up to me, he gave me a big hug and high fived the other two guys I was working the box office with. I gotta say I REALLY NEEDED THAT! He held on to me for a lovely moment and then back to Mom he went. I was so grateful for the love of that little child to make me feel better about my biker's comment. I gotta say it was very humbling, and I felt horrible for quite a few days later. But, that cute little toddler definately made up for the hurt I was feeling right at that moment when I needed it most!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Where the Sew Sew came from
When I was a kid my Mom thought it would be great if all 6 of us kids learned to play an instrument. Being the oldest I wanted to learn something that I could do right now! I started with the piano...it was kinda fun at first, but I hated the practicing. And, then I was informed that it would take years and years of practicing and performing at piano recitals. (I actually still remember my first piece.) So, then I decided to try the violin. I think the piano has 88 keys, the violin only has 4 strings....this seemed to look easier.
My Mom is a wonderful violinist and played 2nd violin until just this year in the Utah Valley Symphony. Every Wednesday night was her symphony night. This was her get-a-way from the 6 kids. If we ever complained, Dad said "this is Mom's night out and she needs the break, NO complaining."
Then, I tried the violin, I was sent up the hill to a lovely home with an actual music room....my teacher was so nice and professional, and I was in the school orchestra...oh ugh, just NOT for me either. The trama, stage fright, sweating bullets....this wasn't something that I was looking forward to for the next 20 years!
One day my Mom had her sewing machine out on the kitchen table, I asked to use it....she showed me the different levers, how to use the foot pedal. Interesting part was, although not perfect, I could sew immediately. I was making clothes for my Barbie, and she was such a good model. Darts were one of the first techniques I figured out fast with Barbie's busty shape.
I had found my "instrument". The machine and I were a perfect fit. I was 5' 11" tall in 7th grade and the mini skirt was very "in" at the time. I just didn't want to show that much of my body for public consumption. The middie and maxi skirts were also popular, but due to my height I couldn't find those styles in proportion to my body, but using the sewing machine I could make my own. I had found my niche in my life....my instrument, and a way to make a good living in later years to come.
I would NEVER be in the orchestra, but I did make my Mom's black orchestra dress for her concerts. So, that was as close to my musical performance as I would ever be. And gotta say Mom looked pretty great.
I think my first paid sewing job was in high school. I was in sewing classes and tailoring also. One of the ladies in my neighborhood/church hired me to make her a red flowered pant suit. I wish I could remember what I was paid for that job....it was probably around $20. and I wish that I had taken photos back then.....but it was sure alot better pay than babysitting @ 50 cents per hour.
In high school there was a cute girl that was crafty, we crafted these little dogs made out of felt that we sold to our friends in school, I have had my hand in a bit of this and that ever since. This includes: "Cindy's Futon Factory"I learned how to do this by visiting a lady next door to my apartment in Albuquerque New Mexico....I went to see her one day after watching her make them outside my window. She was doing it on a tarp on the grass in her yard. When I moved to St. George Utah I needed a job to make extra money, and actually made my own futons and sold them to a design/decor store in Salt Lake City called Domus. I created a table to do it on, so I could do it standing up at my own tall height.
I later had a clothing company called "Buffalo Tie Clothing Company" I went on the road and sold ties, boxers, jumpers, bags and tee shirts at arts and crafts festivals. It all started because I had created a handmade tie for my husband one very meager Christmas. Everywhere he went the guys wanted to buy that tie right off of him. It was during the 1990's floral cotton tie phase. I went to Arts and Craft festivals all over the western states. Sometimes I would make up to $4,000. in one 3 day show. It started out as just ties, but I made this cute floursack jumper to wear in my booth with my logo silk screened on the muslin fabric, all the ladies wanted my jumper, so it evolved into clothing, tees, bags, baby hats and boxers which were very popular at the time.
I have been sewing for "sew" many years. This talent has blessed my life in more ways than I can count. And now I do custom drapes, pillows, decor items, and I sew for Colcasacs.com. I even made Sage a backpack for high school out of a plastic movie poster. Sewing at home has created a situation where I can stay home with my daughter and be an at home Mom which brings me the greatest joy of all.
My Mom is a wonderful violinist and played 2nd violin until just this year in the Utah Valley Symphony. Every Wednesday night was her symphony night. This was her get-a-way from the 6 kids. If we ever complained, Dad said "this is Mom's night out and she needs the break, NO complaining."
Then, I tried the violin, I was sent up the hill to a lovely home with an actual music room....my teacher was so nice and professional, and I was in the school orchestra...oh ugh, just NOT for me either. The trama, stage fright, sweating bullets....this wasn't something that I was looking forward to for the next 20 years!
One day my Mom had her sewing machine out on the kitchen table, I asked to use it....she showed me the different levers, how to use the foot pedal. Interesting part was, although not perfect, I could sew immediately. I was making clothes for my Barbie, and she was such a good model. Darts were one of the first techniques I figured out fast with Barbie's busty shape.
I had found my "instrument". The machine and I were a perfect fit. I was 5' 11" tall in 7th grade and the mini skirt was very "in" at the time. I just didn't want to show that much of my body for public consumption. The middie and maxi skirts were also popular, but due to my height I couldn't find those styles in proportion to my body, but using the sewing machine I could make my own. I had found my niche in my life....my instrument, and a way to make a good living in later years to come.
I would NEVER be in the orchestra, but I did make my Mom's black orchestra dress for her concerts. So, that was as close to my musical performance as I would ever be. And gotta say Mom looked pretty great.
I think my first paid sewing job was in high school. I was in sewing classes and tailoring also. One of the ladies in my neighborhood/church hired me to make her a red flowered pant suit. I wish I could remember what I was paid for that job....it was probably around $20. and I wish that I had taken photos back then.....but it was sure alot better pay than babysitting @ 50 cents per hour.
In high school there was a cute girl that was crafty, we crafted these little dogs made out of felt that we sold to our friends in school, I have had my hand in a bit of this and that ever since. This includes: "Cindy's Futon Factory"I learned how to do this by visiting a lady next door to my apartment in Albuquerque New Mexico....I went to see her one day after watching her make them outside my window. She was doing it on a tarp on the grass in her yard. When I moved to St. George Utah I needed a job to make extra money, and actually made my own futons and sold them to a design/decor store in Salt Lake City called Domus. I created a table to do it on, so I could do it standing up at my own tall height.
I later had a clothing company called "Buffalo Tie Clothing Company" I went on the road and sold ties, boxers, jumpers, bags and tee shirts at arts and crafts festivals. It all started because I had created a handmade tie for my husband one very meager Christmas. Everywhere he went the guys wanted to buy that tie right off of him. It was during the 1990's floral cotton tie phase. I went to Arts and Craft festivals all over the western states. Sometimes I would make up to $4,000. in one 3 day show. It started out as just ties, but I made this cute floursack jumper to wear in my booth with my logo silk screened on the muslin fabric, all the ladies wanted my jumper, so it evolved into clothing, tees, bags, baby hats and boxers which were very popular at the time.
I have been sewing for "sew" many years. This talent has blessed my life in more ways than I can count. And now I do custom drapes, pillows, decor items, and I sew for Colcasacs.com. I even made Sage a backpack for high school out of a plastic movie poster. Sewing at home has created a situation where I can stay home with my daughter and be an at home Mom which brings me the greatest joy of all.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Organizing Tiny Unused Spaces
I have had to move into a teenie tiny apartment. I have gone from a 3,200 square foot home into a 900 square foot apartment. Reasons why not worth talking about.....happiness quotient amazing!!! It is brand new, it is closer to my movie theatre job, it is closer to the freeway, 5 minutes from the stores, next door to my daughter's school. The brand new pool opened yesterday.....Hey....life is good again!
BUT, it is tiny....and.... I have many years of collecting....I want my stuff around me. I want organization, I want things easy to get to. So, it has taken much thinking, stacking and re-stacking to get things to work in the most efficient and pretty IF possible manner. IKEA has been a great source of ideas and inspiration....and they have their model homes on the store display floors.....they are lovely, but, where is all the stuff of real life.
I was doing O.K. except in my spice storage..... having a huge box tucked under my cutting table all the way down the hall, was NOT working when it comes time to prepare food. I went to all the stores like IKEA and others and no one had a solution.
I wanted to use the 6"wide by 70"tall by 25" deep space to store my spices. I used to have them in a huge deep cupboard that I built with an antique screen door attached to the front. This time I knew it would have to fit there and be unattached since it isn't my property, some day I will take it with me. No one had anything like what I needed. I also didn't have any huge amount of $$$ to spend. I came home discouraged. I was sitting on the couch looking out the window to my porch and there stacked against the wall was the answer to my dilemma. Scrap wood, shelf boards, and fiber board for the back wall of my contraption. I began to sketch out an idea. I have built things before and I do have some nice tools.
I have this cool Dewalt brand screw gun and saw.....which I love, love love! I measured, cut, sawed the boards and built my contraption. I spent $9.99 on wheels two spinning and one non-spin. This created a better way to have movement without getting jammed against the wall. I also bought a long drawer handle to pull it out and push it back in. That was about $2.99. So, for a total of $12.98 I had a clever hidden way to have my spices handy when needed and hidden when not. I also attached some larger felt dots on the back side, so that when it is pulled back and forth leaning against the wall it doesn't scrape off the wall paint.
I used the same concept as a shopping cart, with my moving wheels close to the front and the one non-moving wheel at the back. I put in as many shelves as possible to give me the most usage. I needed to get it done and finished so I could use the cutting table space for sewing storage. In about 1 1/2 hours it was done.
Got it all installed and loaded and pushed it back into place....big mistake.....I couldn't open the fridge, it was heart breaking.....now.... what to do, empty it, cut the end off...oh ugh!!! Then, a thought popped into my head, pull the fridge forward a bit, so the doors could open all the way....it worked! I was so happy!
BUT, it is tiny....and.... I have many years of collecting....I want my stuff around me. I want organization, I want things easy to get to. So, it has taken much thinking, stacking and re-stacking to get things to work in the most efficient and pretty IF possible manner. IKEA has been a great source of ideas and inspiration....and they have their model homes on the store display floors.....they are lovely, but, where is all the stuff of real life.
I was doing O.K. except in my spice storage..... having a huge box tucked under my cutting table all the way down the hall, was NOT working when it comes time to prepare food. I went to all the stores like IKEA and others and no one had a solution.
I wanted to use the 6"wide by 70"tall by 25" deep space to store my spices. I used to have them in a huge deep cupboard that I built with an antique screen door attached to the front. This time I knew it would have to fit there and be unattached since it isn't my property, some day I will take it with me. No one had anything like what I needed. I also didn't have any huge amount of $$$ to spend. I came home discouraged. I was sitting on the couch looking out the window to my porch and there stacked against the wall was the answer to my dilemma. Scrap wood, shelf boards, and fiber board for the back wall of my contraption. I began to sketch out an idea. I have built things before and I do have some nice tools.
I have this cool Dewalt brand screw gun and saw.....which I love, love love! I measured, cut, sawed the boards and built my contraption. I spent $9.99 on wheels two spinning and one non-spin. This created a better way to have movement without getting jammed against the wall. I also bought a long drawer handle to pull it out and push it back in. That was about $2.99. So, for a total of $12.98 I had a clever hidden way to have my spices handy when needed and hidden when not. I also attached some larger felt dots on the back side, so that when it is pulled back and forth leaning against the wall it doesn't scrape off the wall paint.
I used the same concept as a shopping cart, with my moving wheels close to the front and the one non-moving wheel at the back. I put in as many shelves as possible to give me the most usage. I needed to get it done and finished so I could use the cutting table space for sewing storage. In about 1 1/2 hours it was done.
Got it all installed and loaded and pushed it back into place....big mistake.....I couldn't open the fridge, it was heart breaking.....now.... what to do, empty it, cut the end off...oh ugh!!! Then, a thought popped into my head, pull the fridge forward a bit, so the doors could open all the way....it worked! I was so happy!
I think I will call it my: Secret Spice Slider. It is NOT pretty, but it works and here are some photos of the finished project:
I hope this helps inspire you with another way to organize and improve your own lives....let me know what you think!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
LaMar Elwin Garrard....Father, Friend, Traveler, Teacher
My Dad just passed away last month, so I keep having these little vinettes of his life pass through my mind alot....here's one that came to me recently.
Dad was a religion professor at BYU....his specialty was Church History and New Testament. When I was in my first year of high school we took a summer trip to Vermont so that he could research and find out more information about Joseph Smith Sr. Along the way driving there we were able to see all the American history and Church history in our travels.
He went to triple AAA and got this cool flip chart road map made up....with our destination...he taught me how to read the map and give him directions and watch the road signage telling him which way to go. It was quite the adventure, we had a new green ford truck and a used camper on that and pulled an old trailer behind us. It held all of us quite comfortably, He, Mom, Grandma Garrard, myself, and 5 of my other siblings.....yes that would be 9 people total. So, when we stopped for gas, potty, groceries, it was quite the sight to see us ALL pile out of the Garrard Caravan. Having Utah plates didn't help either....most people knew Mormons were from Utah, so they would stop in their tracks and stare....after a while, I just got used to it.
Well we headed to NewYork City, NY. It was so exciting, my first impression was the smell, it smelled like the sewer as we crossed the bridge going onto the Island of New York. We rairly stopped for a motel, but this one night my parents decided to get a room, so that it would be nice for Grandma to sleep in a bed for a change. I gotta admit I was kinda scared, never having been to the big city, and all the traffic and sirens, and people up and going 24 hours.
The next morning Dad decided to go exploring, mine you we have this whole truck/camper/trailer/Utah plates thing happening....so we are driving along, myself and two other sibs are up in the top of the camper, looking out the front window as Dad drives along. Soon, all we see are African Americans everywhere, there are NO white people anywhere, we are lost in Harlem. The more we drive to find our way out, the harder it gets, many of the street signs aren't even posted, they are missing....I'm thinking we will never get outta here. Dad pulls over and gets out of the truck to ask directions. A very nice man gives him directions.....and believe me, when he pulls over, the people on the street are staring at us, as much as we are staring at them, they point to our license plate, they point to us in the top window.....we wonder if Dad will make it back. But, he isn't worried at all, he gets the directions, we go around a few city blocks and head back to where the tour buses are in another section of the city.
(Today when I hear about the Harlem Ballet and other programs and exciting things happening there, I can say to myself.....Wow I was there once, and can envision it in my mind forever.)
He drives to one of the areas of NYC that has bus tours. I am so excited to see everything. Dad buys tickets for 9 of us to take the big city tour. We have to wait for a while for it to all get organized. The man in charge of getting all of us on the bus is being very rude to us.....the fam....he is saying obsene things and geturing and pointing to all of us kids, mom, dad and grandma. It is getting embarrasing, he is making a point of making sure that everyone else knows it too. Dad has always been a very kind, never swearing type of person. I know when he was in the military, he heard and knew all the phrasing...shall we say of the crude military types. Well, this is the way the man was speaking about us.
Dad leaves us and goes up to the man and asks to have a word with him. We/the fam are all watching, he walks him up the street a ways out of hearing range and faces him. I see Dad not yelling, but speaking assertively, I can't hear what he is saying but, I see his finger come up and shaking it at the man's face, Dad talks for what seemed like a few minutes....the man is nodding his head....yes, yes, yes. They walk back to our group. I don't know what was said, but the man apologizes to Grandma and he has a change of heart, he is respectful and makes sure we all get on the bus with the other passengers, he makes sure that Grandma has a VERY good seat, he gets the rest of the passengers loaded, and hands it off to the driver and a wonderful and informative tour guide, and we are off to have one of the most fun interesting days of our lives, that I will always remember in more ways than one.
Dad was a religion professor at BYU....his specialty was Church History and New Testament. When I was in my first year of high school we took a summer trip to Vermont so that he could research and find out more information about Joseph Smith Sr. Along the way driving there we were able to see all the American history and Church history in our travels.
He went to triple AAA and got this cool flip chart road map made up....with our destination...he taught me how to read the map and give him directions and watch the road signage telling him which way to go. It was quite the adventure, we had a new green ford truck and a used camper on that and pulled an old trailer behind us. It held all of us quite comfortably, He, Mom, Grandma Garrard, myself, and 5 of my other siblings.....yes that would be 9 people total. So, when we stopped for gas, potty, groceries, it was quite the sight to see us ALL pile out of the Garrard Caravan. Having Utah plates didn't help either....most people knew Mormons were from Utah, so they would stop in their tracks and stare....after a while, I just got used to it.
Well we headed to NewYork City, NY. It was so exciting, my first impression was the smell, it smelled like the sewer as we crossed the bridge going onto the Island of New York. We rairly stopped for a motel, but this one night my parents decided to get a room, so that it would be nice for Grandma to sleep in a bed for a change. I gotta admit I was kinda scared, never having been to the big city, and all the traffic and sirens, and people up and going 24 hours.
The next morning Dad decided to go exploring, mine you we have this whole truck/camper/trailer/Utah plates thing happening....so we are driving along, myself and two other sibs are up in the top of the camper, looking out the front window as Dad drives along. Soon, all we see are African Americans everywhere, there are NO white people anywhere, we are lost in Harlem. The more we drive to find our way out, the harder it gets, many of the street signs aren't even posted, they are missing....I'm thinking we will never get outta here. Dad pulls over and gets out of the truck to ask directions. A very nice man gives him directions.....and believe me, when he pulls over, the people on the street are staring at us, as much as we are staring at them, they point to our license plate, they point to us in the top window.....we wonder if Dad will make it back. But, he isn't worried at all, he gets the directions, we go around a few city blocks and head back to where the tour buses are in another section of the city.
(Today when I hear about the Harlem Ballet and other programs and exciting things happening there, I can say to myself.....Wow I was there once, and can envision it in my mind forever.)
He drives to one of the areas of NYC that has bus tours. I am so excited to see everything. Dad buys tickets for 9 of us to take the big city tour. We have to wait for a while for it to all get organized. The man in charge of getting all of us on the bus is being very rude to us.....the fam....he is saying obsene things and geturing and pointing to all of us kids, mom, dad and grandma. It is getting embarrasing, he is making a point of making sure that everyone else knows it too. Dad has always been a very kind, never swearing type of person. I know when he was in the military, he heard and knew all the phrasing...shall we say of the crude military types. Well, this is the way the man was speaking about us.
Dad leaves us and goes up to the man and asks to have a word with him. We/the fam are all watching, he walks him up the street a ways out of hearing range and faces him. I see Dad not yelling, but speaking assertively, I can't hear what he is saying but, I see his finger come up and shaking it at the man's face, Dad talks for what seemed like a few minutes....the man is nodding his head....yes, yes, yes. They walk back to our group. I don't know what was said, but the man apologizes to Grandma and he has a change of heart, he is respectful and makes sure we all get on the bus with the other passengers, he makes sure that Grandma has a VERY good seat, he gets the rest of the passengers loaded, and hands it off to the driver and a wonderful and informative tour guide, and we are off to have one of the most fun interesting days of our lives, that I will always remember in more ways than one.
Patio Mouse still resides at our House
Ugh I hate the little varmit. Went outside to the patio to check on our little mouse......he (I will call him a "HE" because it is easier to kill a "him", then to think of doing it to a mother and children.) Anyway, the whole brick of rat bait had been pulled to the side behind my Dad's military trunk. I looked around the corner of that and he had eaten all of the brick....I'm pretty sure there is only one mouse.....hence my "he" thought. So, I moved the furniture around and checked all the corners, looked in the igloo dog house, nada nada, nada. Where did he go????
Later during the week I was sitting at the sewing machine in front of the patio window.....and I saw the flicker of a mousie tail jumping from the military trunk (which was under my enamel topped table) up under the table and into the drawer....I was so digusted, why hadn't he died by now. What was keeping this super mouse from biting the dust....when I had used this same poison in St. George.....I saw the mouse running acrosss the room in broad daylight and keel over mid-step right before my eyes. I wanted the same thing to happen again...but NO, he is still alive running around, pooping in my drawer, and all over my patio.
I told Sage "grab your camera" as we ran out there and tried to get him, once I pulled out the drawer, he jumped down behind the trunk, which I tried pulling out and smashing him....we are screaming, laughing, documenting on film as he tucked himself under the wall edging, just making himself small enough to miss the slam....mean while Sage has her video camera, trying to film the whole event....he must have known 'cause he kept going back and forth on both sides of the trunk peeking his head out and smiling for his 20 minutes of fame. HA!
Well, we finally gave up, I did pull the drawer out, so I could clean it out, and keep it from more mousie residue....we will keep an eye on the situation and keep you informed of HOPEFULLY his timely death.
Later during the week I was sitting at the sewing machine in front of the patio window.....and I saw the flicker of a mousie tail jumping from the military trunk (which was under my enamel topped table) up under the table and into the drawer....I was so digusted, why hadn't he died by now. What was keeping this super mouse from biting the dust....when I had used this same poison in St. George.....I saw the mouse running acrosss the room in broad daylight and keel over mid-step right before my eyes. I wanted the same thing to happen again...but NO, he is still alive running around, pooping in my drawer, and all over my patio.
I told Sage "grab your camera" as we ran out there and tried to get him, once I pulled out the drawer, he jumped down behind the trunk, which I tried pulling out and smashing him....we are screaming, laughing, documenting on film as he tucked himself under the wall edging, just making himself small enough to miss the slam....mean while Sage has her video camera, trying to film the whole event....he must have known 'cause he kept going back and forth on both sides of the trunk peeking his head out and smiling for his 20 minutes of fame. HA!
Well, we finally gave up, I did pull the drawer out, so I could clean it out, and keep it from more mousie residue....we will keep an eye on the situation and keep you informed of HOPEFULLY his timely death.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Ode to Erma Bombeck
For you younger crowd..Erma Bombeck was a newspaper columist quite a few years ago. She just wrote of her wife/mother life and she was hilarious. She was a stay at home Mom with two sons and a daughter. She had the best sense of humor.....and some best seller humorous books about her life, she was syndicated in the newspapers and even had a tv show. I owned her paperback collection of funny books....I read them in high school. I admire her sense of humor in everyday life....I'm NOT poetic but I want to live my life with the same enthusiasm as she did....up until the end when she passed away due to cancer.
Going thru a second divorce....I could get all depressed and whine all day "poor me".....but in the example of Erma, I will look for the humor in all I do, work and live. I sew for a living at home and I work at the movie theatres....and I find life rewarding again. My daughter Sage and my dog Bowzer live with me, and my son Daniel lives with the ex very close by, and I get to see him at work, he works at the movie theatre too.
We went from a huge home to a tiny little apartment, but we find the joy and humor in that each and every day......I feel like I have started a new clean chapter in life.....a do-over shall we say, and this time I will make better choices in everything.....my goal is to serve others and be happy each and every day!
Good things about that apartment life style:
1. No housepayment/mortgage.
2. Easy to clean.
3. No one telling us what to do, how and when.
4. Happy feeling when you walk in the door.
5. Can find things easily...it's all within reach.
6. Fun neighbors....we all have dogs, cause they are allowed here.
7. I know my neighbors by their dog names....Lulu, Figi, Bowzer upstairs, Wallie, Juno, and more.
8. Pooping the dog is a social event.
9. Our apartment complex is brand new with a beautiful pool/hot tub opening soon!!!!
10. Grocery, movies, Target, Hobby Lobby, gas station & Trax.... all literally 5 minutes away....and church around the corner.
So, as I tell of my ins and outs or everyday life....it will be with a sense of humor and an appreciation for life in general....thanks again Erma Bombeck.
Going thru a second divorce....I could get all depressed and whine all day "poor me".....but in the example of Erma, I will look for the humor in all I do, work and live. I sew for a living at home and I work at the movie theatres....and I find life rewarding again. My daughter Sage and my dog Bowzer live with me, and my son Daniel lives with the ex very close by, and I get to see him at work, he works at the movie theatre too.
We went from a huge home to a tiny little apartment, but we find the joy and humor in that each and every day......I feel like I have started a new clean chapter in life.....a do-over shall we say, and this time I will make better choices in everything.....my goal is to serve others and be happy each and every day!
Good things about that apartment life style:
1. No housepayment/mortgage.
2. Easy to clean.
3. No one telling us what to do, how and when.
4. Happy feeling when you walk in the door.
5. Can find things easily...it's all within reach.
6. Fun neighbors....we all have dogs, cause they are allowed here.
7. I know my neighbors by their dog names....Lulu, Figi, Bowzer upstairs, Wallie, Juno, and more.
8. Pooping the dog is a social event.
9. Our apartment complex is brand new with a beautiful pool/hot tub opening soon!!!!
10. Grocery, movies, Target, Hobby Lobby, gas station & Trax.... all literally 5 minutes away....and church around the corner.
So, as I tell of my ins and outs or everyday life....it will be with a sense of humor and an appreciation for life in general....thanks again Erma Bombeck.
Monday, August 9, 2010
My Daughter the Queen of Hearts
I have a lovely 17 year old daughter....Sage, she is the joy of my life. She actually loves to hang out with me. We like to eat, shop, go to movies and local events. Sometimes we go with the Moms and Daughters together.....she has great friends and they have great Moms!
She and I went to the midnight opening of "Alice in Wonderland" in full costume....wigs and all. Last year when she heard the movie was coming out, she decided she wanted to be the Queen at her big Halloween party that we hold every year for the kids.
We went to the store and she picked out the pattern and all the fabrics, it was quite the costume, her taste is amazing. I even sewed horse hair into the hem to make it flounce out. Two months later I got a job at the Megaplex Movie Theatres and got to see the previews for the movie, over and over again. I decided to make the Mad Hatter costume for myself.
Sage bought the premier party tickets with her own money...we were so excited to go. In our theatre chain we have a very cool location that has a restaurant called "The Mayan". It has mexican food, and a pool with divers that dive two stories down into the water while you eat. The theatre at that location has an IMAX 3D theatre where we watched the Alice movie. It was so amazing...when we arrived, we were one of the first to get there, they had: posters with one of the artists signing them: Seth Hippin, Alice movie buttons, little vials of "drink me" liquids, dancing, a bull to ride, games and prizes...and all the popcorn and pop we could eat.
We each won in our catagory, Sage won one of the two Queen prizes and I won one of the Mad Hatter prizes. It was pretty close. The judge was the sponsor/owner of a costume store.....so she appreciated that the costumes we had were hand made and accurate to the movie....hopefully Sage can post the movie she made....here's the post for her movie:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=402497974777&saved
She is the one in the red wig.....so much fun, to stay up til midnight to have an adventure! We are getting ready to go to the Anime Convention this October.....more sewing ahead!
She and I went to the midnight opening of "Alice in Wonderland" in full costume....wigs and all. Last year when she heard the movie was coming out, she decided she wanted to be the Queen at her big Halloween party that we hold every year for the kids.
We went to the store and she picked out the pattern and all the fabrics, it was quite the costume, her taste is amazing. I even sewed horse hair into the hem to make it flounce out. Two months later I got a job at the Megaplex Movie Theatres and got to see the previews for the movie, over and over again. I decided to make the Mad Hatter costume for myself.
Sage bought the premier party tickets with her own money...we were so excited to go. In our theatre chain we have a very cool location that has a restaurant called "The Mayan". It has mexican food, and a pool with divers that dive two stories down into the water while you eat. The theatre at that location has an IMAX 3D theatre where we watched the Alice movie. It was so amazing...when we arrived, we were one of the first to get there, they had: posters with one of the artists signing them: Seth Hippin, Alice movie buttons, little vials of "drink me" liquids, dancing, a bull to ride, games and prizes...and all the popcorn and pop we could eat.
We each won in our catagory, Sage won one of the two Queen prizes and I won one of the Mad Hatter prizes. It was pretty close. The judge was the sponsor/owner of a costume store.....so she appreciated that the costumes we had were hand made and accurate to the movie....hopefully Sage can post the movie she made....here's the post for her movie:
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=402497974777&saved
She is the one in the red wig.....so much fun, to stay up til midnight to have an adventure! We are getting ready to go to the Anime Convention this October.....more sewing ahead!
Cindy's Sew Sew Life: Mouse in the house...oh my!
Cindy's Sew Sew Life: Mouse in the house...oh my!: "Something caught my eye out on the porch....a brief brown item running by....I looked and there was a mouse! EEEEK!!!! I hate mice, they..."
Mouse in the house...oh my!
Something caught my eye out on the porch....a brief brown item running by....I looked and there was a mouse! EEEEK!!!!
I hate mice, they are cute in movie, books and cages...but out in the open leaving a trail of pee and pooh....not my favorite "varmit". Did you know if you get a black light you can see where they have been and where they are going??? Isn't that a lovely un-sanitary thought.
I went to my storage unit and got one of the extra rat bait bricks and left it out in the middle of the porch where I could watch the progression of the brick's disapperance bite by bite.
o.k. it has only been 12 minutes, I look out the window and the brick is completely gone....silly mouse has dragged his prize to a safe place for a mid day snack. This is going down quicker than I thought! Will keep us all updated on the outcome.....and before you think me a terrible person, remember they carry disease, pee and pooh everywhere they go....I'm possibly saving the world one small varmit at a time.
I hate mice, they are cute in movie, books and cages...but out in the open leaving a trail of pee and pooh....not my favorite "varmit". Did you know if you get a black light you can see where they have been and where they are going??? Isn't that a lovely un-sanitary thought.
I went to my storage unit and got one of the extra rat bait bricks and left it out in the middle of the porch where I could watch the progression of the brick's disapperance bite by bite.
o.k. it has only been 12 minutes, I look out the window and the brick is completely gone....silly mouse has dragged his prize to a safe place for a mid day snack. This is going down quicker than I thought! Will keep us all updated on the outcome.....and before you think me a terrible person, remember they carry disease, pee and pooh everywhere they go....I'm possibly saving the world one small varmit at a time.
Electrical Outage and a Temple Visit
I was sewing along for my Colcasac client, all of a sudden the electricity went out.....I called the electricity company...they said it would be out for most of the day.....o.k. so, now what to do....sew myself a dress I had cut out last month, but didn't have time to sew...NO, cook something....NO, watch a favorite movie...NO....I was amazed how dependendant I was on electricity to do most anything.
I called the Megaplex Theatre to see if they were out, the phone rang forever...so that was out too. I'm a doer, I like to be busy...I took the Bowzer outside to do his thing, and had that great view of the temple across the fields....so after Bowzer finished his business I went in and called the temple.....they were open.
I jumped in the shower and got all ready to go in the dark, just as I was ready to walk out the door on came the lights....I figured that I might as well go. I got there and it was about a 45 minute wait, I decided to get some sealing work done...no waiting. When we were about ready to start the lady next to me said she wasn't feeling very well, so I walked her down stairs, we got her names, went back up, had her wait in the waiting room....I went in got them done and took them back out to her...and we walked down again to the dressing room. She had driven up from Kanosh for an MRI and was just getting well from major spleen surgery....so I guess my electrical outage was a blessing for her to get some extra help as needed.
I called the Megaplex Theatre to see if they were out, the phone rang forever...so that was out too. I'm a doer, I like to be busy...I took the Bowzer outside to do his thing, and had that great view of the temple across the fields....so after Bowzer finished his business I went in and called the temple.....they were open.
I jumped in the shower and got all ready to go in the dark, just as I was ready to walk out the door on came the lights....I figured that I might as well go. I got there and it was about a 45 minute wait, I decided to get some sealing work done...no waiting. When we were about ready to start the lady next to me said she wasn't feeling very well, so I walked her down stairs, we got her names, went back up, had her wait in the waiting room....I went in got them done and took them back out to her...and we walked down again to the dressing room. She had driven up from Kanosh for an MRI and was just getting well from major spleen surgery....so I guess my electrical outage was a blessing for her to get some extra help as needed.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Pooping the Dog
O.K. .......poop happens, but to make it all come out as planned.....you gotta dress the part. And, this is in regards to my dog. When I hear him rattle his dog collar in the morning that is the definate signal that he is awake and ready. I only have a few more collar rattles before he starts barking. This usually happens around 5:15-6am in the mornings. So, I roll outta bed, throw on whatever and take him out the door. This is when it is early, very early before the neighbors can check out what I'm wearing....who cares...Bowzer doesn't, thats for sure! Poop happens and my day has it's start. This all happens within 15 minutes tops.
Now when my daughter takes him out, it happens like this: Bowzer rattles his collar, nothing....he rattles again....nothing, he rattles again...nothing.....he BARKS a sharp ear piercing bark, (he learned this from my previous neighbors dog her name was Bonita.) Finally daughter rolls out of bed, she fixes her hair, she selects a lovely outfit, she brushes her teeth, Bowzer is panicking, he keeps watching and hopes she will follow him to the door. No, now she is picking the right shoes, jacket etc. By now he is in a deep panic.....he is waiting by the door, he comes and finds me hoping I will take him out, She is still selecting her outfit....I say "take out the dog, it has been an hour....NOW!" She takes him out and poop happens. Poor Bowzer! But at least he gets to do his business. And Sage does look great when she comes back into the house.
Now when my daughter takes him out, it happens like this: Bowzer rattles his collar, nothing....he rattles again....nothing, he rattles again...nothing.....he BARKS a sharp ear piercing bark, (he learned this from my previous neighbors dog her name was Bonita.) Finally daughter rolls out of bed, she fixes her hair, she selects a lovely outfit, she brushes her teeth, Bowzer is panicking, he keeps watching and hopes she will follow him to the door. No, now she is picking the right shoes, jacket etc. By now he is in a deep panic.....he is waiting by the door, he comes and finds me hoping I will take him out, She is still selecting her outfit....I say "take out the dog, it has been an hour....NOW!" She takes him out and poop happens. Poor Bowzer! But at least he gets to do his business. And Sage does look great when she comes back into the house.
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