Living Anomaly

Stuff I've been busy making...

2011-09-11T13:24:00.000-05:00

This isn't a real post, per se, rather, a few pictures of things I've been doing. I don't quite know what's gotten into me, but it's a little terrifying. Among things not pictured: a full size quilt and a batch of jam I "put up" while the berries were in season. Yes, a quilt. I super cute quilt, if I do say so myself. It's off being quilted on a long arm machine as I write this. I'll post pictures as soon as it's done. Loving this book for awesome quilt (and easy) quilt patterns. I did the tree pattern, but I use that term loosely. I changed the size, colors, and branches. And yes, I did put up jam. Strawberry Banana Split jam. We've eaten 6 jars, and wishing we had more. Anyway, pictures and explanations:

The framed letter says:

Dear Fork,

I understand that we haven't spoken since I ran away with Dish, but I thought you should know that you have a son. His name is Spork. He has your hair.

Sincerely,

Spoon

It's on an aged linen paper and in a solid brass antique picture frame I scored a couple of weeks ago. I loved the contrast. It's now one of my absolute favorite things in the house. That may include Shelby.

The owl is a piece that I hand cut using the German technique, Scherenschnitte. He's on a background of old book pages. I call him Francis.

The make up holder in the bathroom is actually pretty cool. I got one of those metal oil drip pans from the automotive department and cut it up into 8 x 10" segments with tin snips. One pan will make about 6 of these. Then I covered it in a fabric that matched my bathroom and framed it. I glued magnet dots to the back of my make up and now it sticks right on the fabric.

The purse is my new pride and joy. It's definitely the hardest sewing project I've tried to date. I think it turned out well, especially for the first time, but I can't wait to try it again and make it perfect. There are pictures of the front (with the pleat and the bow), the back, and the interior. Yes, I lined it too. With a coordinating fabric. And pockets. See the tag that's sticking out beside the pocket on the inside? It is a professionally printed tag that says Made by Caroline. A friend of mine got me a whole roll of these tags as a gift. The purse is made of cotton fabric and incredibly stiff interfacing so that it will hold it's shape.

The black flower wax art is also a new favorite. The pictures don't do it justice. The background is really a grey/silver that is darker in person. The whole piece is dark and I love it. I melted black, grey, and silver crayons onto the canvas I painted grey. I melted them in such a way that I could use them as flower stems. Then I made origami flowers from book pages that I'd painted red. It's not done yet, I plan on adding a couple more flowers of varying sizes, but I thought I'd share. I absolutely love it.

The afghan is self explanatory. It's warm, chunky and makes me want hot chocolate.

The other wax art is just melted crayons dripping across the top. I love the colors. It's bright and cheery, and makes me smile each time I look at it. It took me hours, several canvases, and one possibly second degree burn for me to figure out how to get them all to melt in a straight line like that. I love it, and it makes me think of "New York int he fall. It makes me want to buy school supplies."

I'm working on a few other things, but these are my most completed pieces.

2011-05-10T12:39:00.002-05:00

Begin Scene: Shelby and I were home on Saturday, doing absolutely nothing. She was coloring/creating/painting my carpet and I was reading/dozing on the couch. We were watching some Disney movie, one of the newer, pre-teen angst things. It was something about a boy turning into a merman when he turned 13. Anyhoo. I finally liven up enough to think about dinner and Shelby pulls herself out of her what I call "process" mode. I call it this because if she's really involved in something artistic and I start talking to her, she'll gripe that I'm interrupting her "process."

Shelby: Wow. I was just thinking.

Me: (apprehensively) Okay... (I'm thinking she's got a body stashed somewhere).

Shelby: Can I skip puberty?

Me: Only in Neverland.

Shelby: Oh. Well, I guess if it HAS to happen to me, I hope it happens on a weekend.

Me: (choking on a laugh) I'm not sure it works that way.

Shelby: Am I gonna grow boobs?

Me: Not if you have your grandmas genes.

Shelby: Oh. Can we order pizza?

2011-03-28T19:42:00.002-05:00

Opening scene: Shelby sleeps with me during most of the winter. I know that sounds dramatic, but it's kind of a necessity during the winter up here. My house is old and ineffecient, so I usually close off her room during the winter to cut heating costs. Plus, it's not like I'm sleeping with anybody else, and I like the cuddles and snuggles. Most of the time. Other times she kicks like a freaking mule. Anyway.

We're laying in bed listening to the alarm go off and hitting snooze about 15 times. I obviously am running incredibly late, and because we're both children I slammed her out of the bathroom first. When I came back out to do my "Ahahah, I got the hot water and I may not have used your toothbrush because I couldn't find mine" dance, she was still in bed with her arm thrown dramatically over her face.

Shelby: Mom. I'm really suffering here. I can't possibly go to school today.

Me: Why? Are you sick?

Shelby: Yes, terribly. I think I have scurvy...

And so begins my Monday... My daughter is a pirate and I'm using an Ironman toothbrush. I love my life. :o)

2011-03-01T21:09:00.003-05:00

Today I was forced to give Shelby one of my famous, overtold yet still witty "as long as you're a minor and under my roof" speeches. Yes, I did actually use that phrase. I think I'll be retiring it now. She looked up at me with those baby blues and said, full on serious,

"But, Mommy, I don't want to work in the mines!"

2011-02-28T20:00:00.002-05:00

So I got dressed for work in a huge hurry this morning. You know, shoved stockings in my purse because I didn't have time to put them on, ran out the door with wet hair, brushing it on the way, had to drink crappy office coffee because I didn't have time to make my own, etc. Soon after I got to work and regained some semblance of professionalerability, I noticed a weird smell. I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I'd just get a whiff every now and again. I finally get home, and in my hurry to slide into sweatpants, I started stripping as I was coming through the door.Then I identified that horrible smell. That smell of sour laundry that I forgot I had in the dryer (everything was still barely damp) all weekend. The smell I didn't zone on this morning as I grabbed the shirt and pulled it on while I was starting my car. I went all day smelling like a horses ass. Stellar.

You know I love you, Tricia!!!

2011-02-08T21:08:00.004-05:00

You know when you get a god awful cold that may in fact be some kind of crazy killer monkey virus and you spend a day or two honest to god wishing you'd die? The kind that comes with brightly colored snot and a fever so high your eyes burn? I'm so there. I'm also a little tipsy, and basking in the new found knowledge that the combination of wine, alkaseltzer and cough drops make things a little better. I'm loving that I found "grown-up" nail polish that is scented. I may be a little stoned, actually. Shelby painted my nails to make me feel better, and now they're a lovely shade of lavender and smell like grape. I. can't. get. enough. Anyhoo. I'm laughing hysterically at this week's Dirty Jobs. The thought of some poor scientist so dedicated to finding flavors for the worlds best jelly beans that he eats his own ear wax is just ludicrous. I don't think I could like my job that much. Just sayin. Now, laughing so hard has made my throat hurt even worse. So I'm going to bed.

2011-02-07T21:43:00.002-05:00

I've been feeling pretty left out lately. All of my friends (and I mean ALL) of my friends either just had a baby, are pregnant or are currently in labor. Ahhh, what's that smell? Its the sweet smell of afterbirth. Anyhoo, I may be feeling left out, but I am absolutely okay with that I do not now or ever want another kid. My telling you this is just a precursor to mine and Shelby's dinner conversation tonight:

Shelby: Guess what. Mrs. L is gonna have a baby.

Me: That's nice.

Shelby: It's kind of nice, I guess. But Mrs. H and Mrs. S just
had babies. Isn't enough, enough?

Me: Well, I guess they're happy about it, so you should be
happy for them.

Shelby: I guess so. But it's like everybody's having babies.
Maybe you should too. Aren't you worried about your biological clock?
(editors note: WHAT?!?!?!??!) You are getting kinda old, you
know. Maybe you should freeze yourself like Walt Disney. That way you'll be
fresh when you want another baby.

2011-01-23T19:17:00.002-05:00

Shelby: Mom, I think you washed your chapstick in your jeans pocket again.

Me: Why do you think that?

Shelby: 'Cause I just put on undies from the dryer and now my butt smells like mint.

2011-01-11T22:56:00.006-05:00

I realize that Valentines Day is coming up, but that realization came after I'd already started on this... Can anyone guess what I'm doing with this freezer paper stencil? Yep. A Love Actually themed onsie. I have tiny letter stamps that I'm going to use to write up the side "Love is actually all around." I think Nica will appreciate that, as she loves the movie. Plus, I wanted to shoot for some kind of grown up reference. I've done alot of freezer paper stenciling, and I love it, but this is an "experimental onsie" I guess. We shall see how it turns out. I covered the letters with Tulip Fashion Glitter, which is FANTASTIC. If you heat set the glitter when you're done, you can't even feel it and it doesn't shed. It looks like it had been screen printed. Anyhoo. Here we are. I'm making another hat to go with this onsie. I have a gorgeous pink yarn, maybe white roses to go with it?

Did I Mention...

2011-01-11T22:06:00.006-05:00

I found my card reader! So, without further ado, pictures of the most important people in my life...

That is Sarah helping me prepare a batch of Swedish Glogg and Shelby hamming it up at my parents on Christmas. I do believe that if Shelby had a thought bubble, it would say something like: "Sweet! The biggest present under the tree is mine! And it's from Graham Cracker (her nickname for my mom) and Dana, so it's got to be good!"

"Mwahahahaha!!!!! I will make my mom's life a very loud, rhythmic hell that she will have to live with and support because she believes in furthering my horizons and music education!"

"And Dana, the best grandpa in the history of ever, is going to teach me! He put in Van Halen DVDs and taught me how to beat the drums and head bang like the main dude!"

And now I come to the interactive part of my blog post. The following are my in-progress pictures of Nica's baby shower presents. I love the yarn I used for the hat. It is some kind of bamboo yarn, so it is super soft and light. Odd, I know as we're expecting 84364 inches of snow tonight, but this hat is made more as a fashion accessory as opposed to functionality. It's how I roll. How do you think the hat looks best? I made some flowers to cover up a dropped stitch, but I can't decide which, if either or both, I like. Help! What do you think?

*Note: Blogger isn't letting me upload any more pics to this post. Boo. So you all will wind up with about three blog posts tonight. So, please be patient and leave your feedback about the hat... I'm just not sure if I'm loving the flowers.

2011-01-10T23:21:00.003-05:00

I FOUND MY CARD READER!!!!! But, alas, I am tired... I'll think about that tomorrow (she said in true Scarlett fashion).

Pictures of the awesome closet Barbie would be jealous of will come tomorrow. I'm also hoping to have some pictures of stuff I've been making for Nica's baby shower. And my new throw pillows. And maybe one of my weird kid. She's currently asleep in my bed, under three comforters, in my ankle length (on me) bathrobe, a hat and gloves. I think she may be trying to tell me something. But I'm kind of hoping she continues to say it awhile. It's nice to have someone to cuddle with. Plus, she looks like a great white wookie (isn't that what those little robed things are in Star Wars?) in my robe. It's awesome.

Totally Blank

2011-01-06T21:28:00.002-05:00

Okay, so thank you for reading my post last week. I still can't talk about what is weighing so heavily on me right now, but it is definitely a comfort to know that there are people out there who care, and are thinking of me. So thank you. Please continue, I'm still not okay and still actively have to catch myself from completely shutting down throughout the day. I'm barely hanging on up here...

In the meantime, I'm hoping that someone can help with inspiration. Nica, one of my best friends, is preggers and due on February 6th. She has a shower coming up and I have no idea what to do for/get her. I have a few ideas for some cute sleepers/onsies, but not quite sure how to execute them. Do any of you have experience with Heat and Bond? Or something like it? I'm fairly adept now at freezer paper transfers, but I'd like to use some cute patterned paper instead of paint. How about using embroidery floss to "write" with?

Nica is a Jane Austin freak, and I've been trying to find cute quotes about girls. I'm coming up empty. She is a huge girly girl, and the baby's name is going to be Elinor, called Ellie. I'm kind of worried about giving her clothes, but it's been so long since I've had a baby, I'm not sure what else to get. Anybody have any lightning strikes of inspiration?

I'm still in the process of looking for the card reader for my camera. It is not going well. I'm pretty sure that the same fairy that steals one sock from each pair has now extended his area of expertise to electronics. It may also be behind the couch, somewhere in the vast array of crap that I've tossed back there to hide when company comes. Tomato, To-mah-to. Maybe tomorrow...

2011-01-01T15:38:00.003-05:00

I need to heal. My heart and soul has been ripped in half and I hurt. Everything that I've wanted, wished, hoped and worked so hard for is gone. Every single cell in me is in so much pain. I can't breathe, I can't cry, I can't think, and what's worse, I don't want to. Maybe it's fitting that this is the start of a new year. Maybe I've had to be so visiously broken to be able to achieve something worthwhile in this next year. I'm hurting, and right now, even thought I know it's there, I can't see the light. I need help healing. I don't know what to do. I can't speak of the details, and I know there are precious few who read this, but please, be thinking of me over the next couple of days. Please keep me in your thoughts and don't let me go.... Please.

End of year...

2010-12-31T16:56:00.003-05:00

Hi!

My name is Caroline and I beat my New Year's Resolutions all to hell with a fire poker. Nice to meet you! As I sit back and reflect on the epic train wreck that 2010 was, I realize that I didn't keep any resolutions. As such, I've decided to be okay with it. Moving on...

I made an effort to take pictures of my glorious new pink closet. I also took pictures of the new throw pillows I made. Just because I've been quiet doesn't mean I haven't been productive. I'm just boring and only blog once a year. Anyhoo. I took pictures. I know I have a card reader here somewhere, but for the life of me, I can't find it. So pictures will have to wait another day. Or year.

A couple of weeks ago, I was staking Tricias blog again and thought that the "foofs" she made for Megans baby shower were too cute for words. I have a huge blank space above my bed that needs to be filled up with something. I thought that 3-4 foofs at varying heights would work great, especially against the dark purple wall. Let me just say ha. haha. hahahahahahaha! That was one project that did not turn out well. I've used half of a huge pack of coffee filters from Sams, and I'm probably not even halfway done. And it took forever to get that far. I took pictures of the pretty side, and of it's naked butt. Though I don't like to admit it, it will probably not get finished. Who would have thought that a 6 inch ball would take so long to cover?

And now, I'm pretty sure it is officially January 1st in Istanbul, so I think it's time to break out the bubbly and celebrate! With another bottle to celebrate New Years in my time zone, of course. Happy New Year!

What I've been doing...

2010-09-26T19:22:00.009-05:00

My life is way too boring and uneventful to blog regularly about. I could blog about projects I do, but that would be the extent of my blogging. Between work and soccer, I never do anything. I'm only a little resentful. Anyway.

Everybody I know is incredibly talented. Yes, that means you girls. I hate growing up with such talented people because absolutely none of it rubbed off on me. Unlike most people I know, however, I love working with yarn. I can knit and crochet and I like doing it. I'm working on an baby blanket for a friend of mine, and I'm almost done with it, so I'll post pictures of it as soon as I finish it. Luckily, she just found out she is having a girl. I was hoping that was going to be the case, otherwise the next girlfriend to get knocked up would get it. :o) Back to the topic at hand... I found an amazing new way to make yarn out of those huge piles of t-shirts I have that were destined for Goodwill. I'm really excited about this project. I love large, colorful, bulky and unusual blankets, which is what these yummy balls of yarn are going to be turned into. Aren't they gorgeous??? I apologize for the crappy pictures, but my camera is on the fritz and these were taken on my phone.

I found a sliver of blank wall space that was driving me batty, so I decided to break out the Mod Podge and packing tape to see what I can do with it. I didn't take pictures of how I came up with this, primarily because it was one big, huge accident that turned out fairly well. I had a canvas that I put book pages on. Our library has a section of free books and I grabbed one on Primative Mythology, which is right up my alley (I minored in Mythology in college). I loved the book because the pages were already yellowing and they were actually paper, not glossy magazine pages. One of the pages happened to have a cute sketch on it and I decided to keep it. Because I liked it, that's why. Then I grabbed metallic paints in colors I liked and mixed them half and half with Mod Podge. I did that so it would make the paints translucent and you can still read the pages beneath the paint. I just kinda closed my eyes and let the paint go where it would. Then this is the cool part. Have you ever done the packing tape transfers? I love them, they're awesome. You take packing tape and put it over an image (from a book, newspaper, ink jet printer, whatever). You overlap the tape a little if it's too narrow for your image. Take something straight and make sure there are no wrinkles or air bubbles and to make sure it's on there good. Then soak it in water for five minutes and rub off the paper. Then you get the coolest transparent image. Except for the black outlines, you can see through the whole thing. I chose to do a lobster, again, because I like them. Then I covered the whole thing in Mod Podge and called it done. Cool, no? Now that I have a basic idea of what I'm doing, I plan on doing an African series for my sister for Christmas. She maintains she was born on the wrong continent. Anyway, the lobster one was the one I intended to do, and th other one was a sheet I ripped out to test colors on. I added the elephant just to see how it worked. I love it and it's going up somewhere as well.

And that's all, folks. I could probably eke a little more out of my mundane life to blog about, but I am way too excited about my new yarn to not blog about that. :o) Now I'm after everybody I know for their old t-shirts. They're getting sick of me. And now I'm going to bed. G'night!

2009-12-17T08:18:00.003-05:00

Okay, I know my blogging has been slacking, but I'm okay with it. I have nothing to report. Until lately, when I'm dying to post pictures of some stuff and can't find my stupid camera cord. I was feeling particularly crafty last weekend and I managed to finish the projects I started. One was a huge jewelry board. I got tired of staring at all my jewelry on my dresser and bathroom counter so I got a piece of plywood and some moulding and went to town on this sucker. I absolutely love it, and I did it in a very (what I think) is a Tricia-esque style. I will post pic. I will find that cord. I also did a pearl and ribbon bracelet that Tricia put up on her blog. It turned out great. I did make a few modifications, though. I added a snap so that I would be able to put it on by myself and I also sewed a bow on it, so it will never come untied and will always be pretty. Plus, it hides the snap. Very, very pretty.
I also am dying to post pictures of the concert I went to last night. Mom and I went to go see the Trans Siberian Orchestra in Pittsburgh. It was an amazing show, and of course, amazing music. I have all of their CD's anyway, but a live show just kicked ass. The show incorporated lasers, light shows, hydraulics, smoke, fireworks, etc. It was just a good show. And I could go on for ages, but I won't, because it's not like I can show you. Because I can't find my cord! But I will post pix soon.
In other news, my phone broke and I'm pissed. I'm going to have to go get another one today. There goes my mad last minute christmas money. But the upshot is that the phone I'm getting is a smart phone and will post pix and videos without my stupid computer cord. :o) Right now I'm on my sisters old phone, which is a flip phone that won't stay open, is held together with tape and won't access the internet. Which sucks because I don't have the internet at my house. I do everything on my phone. So I'll be glad to get my new one.
Okay, I'm updated now. I have to go get to work. At least for now. I had a second interview at Davis again yesterday and I've been told that with one or two more people to interview, I have an 85% chance of getting the position. But more on that later. I just think it's time for a change. And the $3000 per year tuition reimbursement. Yes, you read that right. So hi-ho, it's off to work I go. Mock tax returns and energy funds, oh my!

2009-10-28T15:09:00.002-05:00

I have not quit blogging. I was just saving my words for something important. But I haven't figured out what that my be yet. Anyhoo. My life in bullet points:

DC was the single most awful event that I have endured in recent memory. It was so unbelievably awkward and just skin crawling awful. I got there Friday afternoon and left Saturday, there by achieving self actualization.
I achieved self actualization. Two years ago I would have just stayed in DC because I wouldn't want to be rude and leave. I got over that. I couldn't stay there another minute, so I made my excuses (Shelby got sick) and left.
I visited Gettysburg. Because I was so ticked off that I didn't get to see anything fun while in DC, I detoured on my way home to see Gettysburg. I'd never been there, so I went. By myself. And it was great. The best part was the BYOB strip joint I saw on my way there. I HATE that I didn't get pictures, but I swear it was there.

That's about it. Pretty darn boring. I know that one may ask why I had such a crappy time in our nations capital, and I will tell you that there is no good reason. The guy I was hanging out with was just skeezy. Yes, skeezy. There is no other way to describe it. Like the hair on the back of my neck stood up skeezy. And he wore way too much cologne. Now I have some kind of knowledge of what Tricia deals with every day. I nearly asphyxiated, and I have no sensitivity toward anything of that nature. And he was rude. I'm not from DC so it would be nice if you would just check to see if I'm behind you when you make a running leap onto the metro.

So now I'm back home doing my normal stuff. Working and sleeping. With a good chunk of time carved out for eating. And for doing homework. Good God, does Shelby come home with inordinate amounts of homework. Work is actually doing very well. I think my red-headed fire breathing broom riding excuse for a boss got herself in a position to quit, which makes me happy. I've been put in charge of several programs and even found a new one this agency hasn't dealt with before. Some of it is daunting, but I'm happy. But I'm still poor. Poor enough to have to pick up a second job just to pay the heating bill. Grrrr.

I never did hear back from that bakery in Alabama, but I'm okay with that. I would have loved to have had a chance to interview with them, but oh well. I still hope something along those lines comes up again, I really would like to explore that line of work. I love doing it, and I'm fairly good at it, so.....

Life this weekend: Trick or treating on Friday night (pix to come, I'm sure), then Costume Swing Dance with my girlfriend, Nica and her husband. I'm slightly excited about that. I'm going as a swing dancing pirate. Definitely going to have lots of pictures.

In other news, JESSICA IS PREGNANT!!!! I'm so excited! It'll be practically a year old by the time I get to see this new addition, but I'm still overly excited about it. Can't wait to see her all pregnant when I come down again.

And that's all folks. More to come later, but that is a mentally stimulating account of the life of Caroline.

2009-10-06T09:06:00.002-05:00

I am so bored. Just sayin. There isn't too much to blog about unless you want to hear me gripe that I had to scrape frost off of my car this morning. Yes, you heard it right ladies and gentlemen. Frost touched down today in Buckhannon. Its a tad chilly out.
I do have a mini-trip this weekend that I'm pretty excited about. I'm heading over to DC to visit a friend I graduated college with. I'm really looking forward to it, actually. I haven't been to DC in years, so I'm really excited about seeing some of the new things like the Holocaust Museum, the WWII memorial and the 9/11 memorial. I haven't seen any of that. Cory works "on the Hill" for an OH Representative and as such an employee, we get to do the "important people" tours of the Capitol and the Library of Congress. I'm heading down there on Friday and I'll be back on Monday morning, so it'll be a nice little trip to break up the monotony of life in the thriving metropolis of Buckhannon. Next month, Thanksgiving (CAN NOT believe that this is coming up so fast!) with dad in Huntsville.
Speakng of Huntsville, I emailed that bakery to ask if I could do a phone interview at first, as opposed to making the twenty hour drive down there, especially if they can't pay what I would need to be paid to move down there. I haven't heard back yet though. Fingers crossed that I hear from them soon!

Detour Ahead!

2009-09-28T07:59:00.003-05:00

Well, I had my interview at Davis on Friday, but have decided not to take the job if it is offered. The schedule was rotating shifts, which would be mostly nights and weekends since I would be the low man on the totem pole. I just can't be gone nights and weekends. If it had been rotating weekends and holidays, I could have handled it, but not every weekend and four nights a week. The money would have been about the same, so it was not even a lateral move. So right now, I'm still in the same job with every intention of staying here until something better comes along. I found out that my current job isn't in danger, and that my title will undergo a change for the better and I will be able to move into our satellite office and have a new supervisor. Mainly all of the things that were making me suicidal will be fixed. Yay!

In other news, there is a bakery in Huntsville that wants to interview me!!!! This is actually a funny story. The week before last was so unbelievably awful that I googled a list of Huntsville bakeries and started emailing to see if any of them were hiring. This is the only bakery that got back to me and asked that I send my resume and pictures of things I've done. I did so, but also let her know that I have absolutely no professional baking experience, that I just bake because I love it. She loved my pictures and asked if we could set up an interview, and to also send her an availability date and my salary requirements! I'm not convinced that this will go anywhere, simply because I don't think they could pay me enough to warrant moving, but I'm still tickled. I'm going to email them again today to see if we can interview on the phone to see if there is a mutual interest before making the 10 hour one way trip down there.

And as a side happy tune, a girlfriend of mine is getting married next summer. She just hired her photographer, who recommended me for the wedding cake! This was the shock of this still very young century as I hardly know the photographer from Adam, but she said she had seen some of my cakes for events that she's photographed and my pictures on facebook and that the bride to be needs to give me a call. How fun is that?

Now it is officially fall. It never got above 63 degrees yesterday and it's rainy and damp and the leaves are changing. So in celebration, I made pumpkin scones with sweet cranberry butter yesterday. That, in addition to the fact that I am wearing a sweater today, means that it's fall.

2009-09-24T10:25:00.009-05:00

So here are a couple of pictures of the cake I made for the baby shower. They actually are worse than the one I took with my phone, but oh, well. Actually, it was Shelby who took these pix. I was too powdery to use my camera and it was fast approaching midnight and I just didn't care about taking pictures of the damn thing. :o) But here we are. The mom-to-be thought it was cute, so I guess that's all that counts. During the baby shower the little fondant balls started getting used as projectiles, so now I know to not do that anymore.

In other news, I won a bottle of Saucy Mama's Lime Chipotle Marinade from Megan! That made me very very happy. The news that I will be getting a package in the mail soon makes me very excited. I found out about this right after I had come from a presentation that I completely bombed. Lets just say that if anyone there had wanted to be a child advocate, they probably don't now. ;o)

Anyway, I'm going to lunch now. I love it when my good buddy Jackie comes to town (she works for the same company in a different county). Heading out for Mexican!

CAKE!

2009-09-23T07:57:00.003-05:00

The baby shower is today, and it occurred to me that I forgot to post a picture. I took good pictures with my camera last night but forgot to bring it today. I'll get them up tomorrow. So here is a crappy one I took with my phone. Shelby saw fit to add the plastic tigers and foxes from her toybox, and I wasn't about to tell her no. It is a jungle theme, after all. But the monkey on top is fondant. The cake started to fall last night, thus the buckling near the bottom. I do believe this is the crappiest looking cake I have ever made, but here you have it...

Flipping and figuring

2009-09-23T07:30:00.002-05:00

I love how I can completely stress over something for so long, and then it gets magically fixed. Not only does it get fixed, but I actually have options as to how to fix it. Go flipping figure.

At this particular juncture, I'm referring to my employment situation. I had a long talk with our new Executive Director on Monday and she told me definitively that I do not have to worry about my job. She said that I bring more to the organization that I have been led to believe and not only do I not have to worry about my job, but I will no longer have to report to the boss that is currently making my life suck. All of this is good.

Then I find out that I will be receiving a job offer for our Child Advocacy Directors position. I interviewed for that position last week. I also got called (yesterday) for yet another interview (this one makes #7) with Davis Health Systems. Now, as it is my eleventeenth interview and now I don't actively have to look for a job, it just make sense to someone in the universe to make sure I get this job offered to me.

So now I face decision time. It is so unbelievably reassuring to know that I'm not going to be unemployed. However, do I want to move into child advocacy? That answer is a very loud and resounding no, but I do think it would add to my resume in a very good way. The position deals with law enforcement, medical personnel, lawyers, families and victims. Plus, the word director is always happy to add to a resume. And I'd like my boss a lot better. I wouldn't lose any benefits that I currently have (sick/vacation time) and since I was hired forever ago, my medical benefits are crazy awesome.

For a long time, I have been convinced that getting a job with Davis would be my best bet. They have an academy where I can take classes for free and get certified with medical terminology, medical coding and billing, phlebotomy, and transcription. Not only is the academy free, but upon finishing each class, I am eligible for a cash bonus. Also, I know that when you get into a hospital, it makes it hellsa easier to move to another hospital in another location. As that is my goal, maybe I should consider it. And the certificates are all transferable as well. My stepdad works for Davis and has never had anything but good things to say. Their turnover rate is almost nonexistent. People like the atmosphere so much they simply stay until they retire. And this ties into my Huntsville fixation. Huntsville Hospital Systems is Huntsville's number one employer and I would like to try to get in there if I can, this being made much easier with a certificate in something medical. I know I'm being slightly premature here, but I know the HR department at Davis has seen my application so many times and now knows who I am. I know staff have been pushing to get me hired there, as I would be an asset to the company, and I have a good feeling about this position (which, by the way, is insurance billing stuff). If nothing else, it would just be classically ironic for me to get this job offer simply because I no longer need the job. Major drawbacks: not as much annual leave, 40 minute drive one way, less pay (but better medical).

So as I take the next week or two to make some decisions, please be sending happy thoughts my way. I'm completely lost as to what I want/need to do at this point. I'm leaning toward Davis at this point. I blogged earlier about feeling like I've taken my position within this organization as far as I can, and that opinion has not changed. If I stay, I'm just going to be cooling my heels until I can move. Spinning my wheels, so to speak. I can't move up here. At least with Davis, I'd be doing something to further my education and increasing the chances that I'll get a job somewhere else. Any thoughts?

Aruba, Bahama....

2009-09-21T10:42:00.002-05:00

So I'm sitting here at my desk and I'm thinking about vacation. This year was the first time I have ever taken Shelby on a real vacation. It was just the two of us, and it was wonderful. We got to spend so much time together and we talked about so many things. I haven't taken her anywhere before because I wanted her to be able to remember the trip.

I would like to take her somewhere again over spring break. Where should we go? My idea of a vacation is sitting on a beach somewhere, but her idea is completely different. She's an adventurous child. I've been daydreaming and checking rates for things online and there are so many good deals out there. Where should we go? I'd like to take her somewhere that she'll remember, where she may never go again, where she'll get the adventures that she doesn't get here.

Back in April, it was a test run. I wasn't sure the two of us could go for a week in cramped quarters without killing each other. However, we did. And it was awesome. This particular adventure included swimming with dolphins, so that was pretty cool. I'd like to find something comparable to that for her to do.

Travelling for me is a priority. I found a lot of people were judging me for taking Shelby on a vacation when I still have student loans/the economy is bad/I don't own a home/etc. My attitude has been to pretty much ignore them. I want to give Shelby these memories. That is very important to me. Especially while it's just the two of us. I know that sooner or later she is going to hit adolescence and start hating me. We're not there yet and I'd like to take advantage of that fact. So I would like to use my tax refund to take her somewhere special. I overpay in taxes through the year for specifically this purpose. I realize that my tax refund my chage with the current administration and all, but right now I'm still playing with ideas.

So I was thinking of where we could go. Part of me wants to go see Sky in Korea. If we stayed on base, it would be the same cost as what our trip to Orlando was. That may be a little much for an 8 year old though. But she loves animals and since I'm definitely not doing an African safari, I need ideas. I'm mulling right now. I'm nowhere close to booking anything or even telling Shelby anything. I'm mulling. And I needed to write and this is what's on my mind at the moment. :o)

Let them eat cake...

2009-09-17T07:55:00.004-05:00

So I got asked to make a baby shower cake for one of the girls in the office next week. I love making cakes and I can't wait to get started. I'm planning on making a practice cake this weekend, to make sure that the recipies for everything mesh. They are all new recipes for me, so am anxious to try them. I'm going to do a fudgy chocolate cake with banana cream filling and peanut butter frosting. Of course I'm using fondant, but I found a recipe for a marshmellow fondant that I want to try instead of the god awful stuff you buy at the store. I think I'm going to pattern off of the cake below. It's going to be a small shower, so I can't go too overboard. And the nursery is a jungle theme, so I thought this was perfect. And that's what I'm excited about this morning... :o)

I need directions. My compass is broken.

2009-09-16T08:32:00.003-05:00

I'm trying to move. This is not news. I've been trying to move for over a year now. I'm not trying to move to another location in this area, I'm trying to move out of state. It is not going well. Grr.

I've been thinking about this for a very long time now. I feel that this is not where I need to be at this point in my life. I want more than what this area can offer myself and Shelby. I am not from a small town, and I don't particularly want to stay in a small town. Buckhannon has been okay, don't get me wrong. I've met some great people. Work was great for me when I started, too. I met some great people and had some great experiences, but I think I've taken it as far as I can. It's time to move on. The people in my life (and office) have helped get me on my feet, have provided experience, and have provided advice and life lessons that will never be forgotten. But it's time for me to go.

I've been informed that I may not have a job next month. This is a purely political move on the part of my boss and I am not happy about that and I do not agree with it. But there isn't a thing I can do about it. As a side note, I've talked to several people that are more important than my boss, who seem to think I don't have anything to worry about. Be that as it may, I feel that this is a starting over point. This provides me the opportunity to look for another job in another field elsewhere.

Unfortunately, it's not working. I have applied for over six hundred jobs in Huntsville, Alabama. This is the area that I had kind of decided that I wanted to go to. I have a support system there with my father and his family, which is great. The schools are amazing, unemployment is still only 6%, it's a wonderful, clean, family friendly area. There are things for someone my age to do, there are concerts and art shows, shopping, a young professionals group, restaurants, etc. Even the community sports for kids is insane. Its a new and exciting place and sounded absolutely perfect for me. It's been listed in Forbes as one of Americas best cities several times, and the cost of living is not astronomical. I've done the research. I can tell you where the DMV is, where the best supermarket is, I've found an apartment, I can tell you what YMCA I'd become a member of and which ones Shelby could get after school care at. But I've not gotten a single call back from any of the places I put in applications at. I'm so frustrated.

Now, I'm not having in luck with Huntsville despite the connections my dad has made down there. So I'm thinking maybe I should look somewhere else. The problem is, I don't know where I'd want to go. I have a support system in Florida, what with all the Welch girls (you will always be Welch girls even though two out of three have different last names now) and my aunt Judy and an old neighbor I have reconnected with. There are people I can talk to there. I'm just not sure I want to live in Florida. I was thinking maybe Atlanta. I have no reason for thinking this, but I've always liked it. I have two cousins that live there, one of which I talk to more frequently than the other, but they both seem quite content there. Maybe it's the accents I like so much.

Anyway, I'm making a point, I promise. Actually, a couple. One: I'm venting and griping and just getting it out. Two: any suggestions? I'm young and unattached, and I can take this opportunity to go where I want to and do what I want to. Of course I have Shelby to think about, but that is the extent of my family. The two of us are pretty portable. So... it's wide open. That's how I'm trying to look at it. Not that I have no direction in my life and that I'm probably going to be unemployed next month.

It's wide open and I can go anywhere. Where do I go? And how do I go about getting a job. Kind of important. By the way, that is not a hypothetical question. If you have suggestions, please share them!!!

Now I Know.

2009-09-15T11:56:00.003-05:00

I'm morphing into my mother. It is not a pleasant process. But now I know why I never blog. It's because I spend half my life at work which is not going well. And since it's not going well, I choose not to blog about it. And really, it's an all consuming thing these days. I don't have anything else to blog about simply because I'm constantly stressed about work. I'd really like to just find a really big kitchen where I could bake until my little hearts content and people would leave me alone. I think my new career goal is to open a bakery version of Dicks. I'd call it Caroline's Cupcakery. I like that word.

Anyhoo. Last night I had a freak out worthy of Elliot Reed. It was actually kind of funny in retrospect. After a crappy day at work I get home and open Shelby's backpack to look at her homework assignments. Poor kid has three tests this week and the study guide for her science test is four pages long. After wading through definitions of words like erosion and weathering, I finally sent her to bed and called my stepmother in tears. Being the good Southern woman that she is, she calmed me down with that wonderful accent that she has. She also told me to quit freaking out because it appeared that the teacher had given all the homework for the week on Monday so that the parents could better help their children for their tests at the end of the week. Then she told me to go have a beer and read something mindless and go to bed.

Which is exactly what I did. I did get a phone call from a guy I graduated college with that I haven't talked to in a good four years. That was a surprise. I'm still trying to decide if it was a pleasant one or not. :o) Then my sister called me and we remotely mourned the death of Johnny (Patrick Swayze). Then I finally got to sleep. Had some strange dreams, dreams that were strange enough to warrent writing about, but now I can't remember what they were. Go figure. I'm going to finish up some data entry and then I'm going to head home with my borrowed steam cleaner. Yes, Penny, dear dog that she is, decided that my ivory carpet looks like grass. Precious dog.

So...

2009-09-14T15:50:00.003-05:00

So here I am. In light of the fact that I just had a birthday (thanks for the thoughts) and feel older than I have any right to, I thought I'd recommit to blogging. Not that I have anything interesting to say, but hell, if I find it interesting, than everybody else should to. At least, those who are bored or desperate enough to read this.

Now I've sat here all day at work trying to spare a moment to blog, and now I finally have. Unfortunately, it is now 4:52 PM and time for me to go home. Since I'm still to cheap to actually add Internet service to my cable package, I have to rely on my neighbors Internet, which is actually quite unreliable. And I'm sure that will only last as long as it takes them to figure out that I'm piggybacking.

Anyway, in a nutshell, nothing has changed. I may be 25 now, but I still have an utter lack of direction in my life regarding everything important: life, love and career. I'm working on this though. But now you all can read about it. And by you all, I'm referring to the two people who may read this blog, not out of interest, but out of a feeling of obligation because they've known me since I was acid washed jeans and headbands. And now.... Me at 25. Well, the week before anyway. I didn't have any pix taken since then.

My Brilliant Daughter

2009-02-24T14:11:00.003-05:00

Hey Everybody... Check this out. I found this woman on etsy, and got a couple of Shelby's art pieces put blown up and put on canvas. Stephanie liked one of them so well that she is using it as advertising on her website: http://www.geezees.com/.

Here is what they look like. Stephanie blurred and extended the edges a little bit to go around the edge, but you get the idea. How cute? Shelby was six years old and in first grade when she did these, and they're still my favorites...

This is Steve...

2008-08-19T11:33:00.003-05:00

Shelby's birthday present from Mom and Dana. Don't ask me why they got her a donkey. Don't ask me why they got her a miniature donkey of all things. But Shelby loves him. And, after grappling with the names Skittles, Josh, and Jack, she announced that his name is Steve. They gave him to her on Saturday, more than a week before her birthday. They decided they couldn't hide him anymore. I just think it was mom that couldn't wait to give it to her. Dana seems to like the little guy too. You can see just how much they were able to bond...