I started a new swap on Swap-bot.com
I'm as addicted to Etsy as I am to knitting/blogging/reading blogs/swap-bot.
Anyway....
My new swap is called "I Love Etsy" and you can sign up here.
If you don't know Etsy... well, if you're a knitter and read blogs and don't know about it, I'd be shocked.
Go to Etsy and discover your newest time-suck. But, man, what a way to go!
Loving the Etsy, Ruth!
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Simplify
Yea. I can't even say that word with a straight face.
If I can't simplify, I can at least make it look a little more organized. My closet...
Before....
After....
I love bins. The two on the bottom (right and center) are all yarn. That's yarn from this year. Someday, I'll show you the bins and bags in my basement.
The ebay yarn store I have is a failed experiment (one of many) and I'll be shutting it down soon and just putting stuff on my blog from time to time. It seems like I'd sell just enough each month to cover the cost of having an ebay store. Anyway, all that yarn is in the basement, along with my already substantial stash. And I discovered hand-dyed sock yarn this year. sigh. I not only have S.A.B.L.E., I have S.A.B.A.L.E. (Stash Acquisition Beyond Anyone's Life Expectancy).
I am organizing a de-stashing (I know, I keep saying that, but it really is in the works).
Any good ideas on where to stash more yarn?
Just kidding, Ruth!
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
J. O. B.
Awhile back, La asked how my new business was going. This is what I told her....
"No money yet. It's recruiting for a Medical Device Sales company. I feel like I've walked into the middle of a conversation. There were 12 open searches when I got it and now there's only 6 (happens all the time). None of our candidates were picked for the ones that closed. There's 2 that I'm fairly certain our people will be picked but the entire interview processes takes 60-90 days. It's a waiting game.
But it's very cool to wake up and a) have something to do during my day (something that makes money, anyway) and b) have something I'm excited about!"
The "middle of a conversation part" is so true. Imagine walking into a room and there's a man talking on his cell phone. You've got to not only decipher what the person on the other line is saying, you've also got to speak as though you know what they are talking about and then you've got to go and find 5 other people who know what he's talking about and add them to the conversation. Now multiply that by the number of open searches. Currently, there are 7. sigh.
My Blogless Rachel H. clued me in to the fact that I haven't posted in almost a week! That's so unlike me. Usually it's about 4 times a week. I miss you guys! Tomorrow there will be more posting and a clean(ish) closet.
Buried in resumes, Ruth!
"No money yet. It's recruiting for a Medical Device Sales company. I feel like I've walked into the middle of a conversation. There were 12 open searches when I got it and now there's only 6 (happens all the time). None of our candidates were picked for the ones that closed. There's 2 that I'm fairly certain our people will be picked but the entire interview processes takes 60-90 days. It's a waiting game.
But it's very cool to wake up and a) have something to do during my day (something that makes money, anyway) and b) have something I'm excited about!"
The "middle of a conversation part" is so true. Imagine walking into a room and there's a man talking on his cell phone. You've got to not only decipher what the person on the other line is saying, you've also got to speak as though you know what they are talking about and then you've got to go and find 5 other people who know what he's talking about and add them to the conversation. Now multiply that by the number of open searches. Currently, there are 7. sigh.
My Blogless Rachel H. clued me in to the fact that I haven't posted in almost a week! That's so unlike me. Usually it's about 4 times a week. I miss you guys! Tomorrow there will be more posting and a clean(ish) closet.
Buried in resumes, Ruth!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Dream A Little Dream
Hey, Marly! I had a dream about you this morning. It was so lovely!
I dreamed I was walking up to this huge yarn shop and there was a field behind it and a little to the left (or was it right?). Anyway. You were sitting in the field surrounded by about 50 knitted and crocheted purses. You were beckoning to me, "C'mon Ruth, we're about to get started!" You had this huge smile on your face (do you have any other kind?) and I couldn't wait to get over there!
That was it. Short but perfect! I took it to mean your Etsy store is going to be a booming success. Of course, I didn't know about your store til this morning.
I've always had these incredibly vivid dreams (in color, even) that I remember in great detail. When I read The Hundred Secret Senses, the older sister teaches the younger how to remember her dreams. She asks what the girl dreamed about. And what happened before that? And before that? That's what I've always done. Ever since I can remember.
I've had some recurring dreams too...
a) Nightmares from VeryBadThings that stopped with therapy and a good life.
b) I used to dream a lot about having to save people. We were always trapped in a big warehouse type building and someone bad was trying to find us. The people I was with were always panicked and paralyzed with fear and I had to be the one to get them out. Sometimes it was just one person, sometimes a group. Often it was a small child I was trying to protect. After Dave and I moved in together, these dreams stopped. Weird.
c) There was this dream I used to have when I was 5 years old and younger. I had this dream All. The. Time. I mean, at least 3 or 4 times a week.
I'd dream I was in this big square tunnel. There was this giant cotton ball blocking the tunnel. On one side of the tunnel, it was filthy - the walls were smeared with grungy dirt - and there were these creatures that looked suspiciously like the Cavity Creeps, only brown and rockier-looking. (Anyone remember the Cavity Creeps?)
On the other side was me. Tiny, under-5-years-old me. My side of the tunnel was white and clean. In the dream, I had to push the cotton ball and the Creeps were on the other side pushing back. There was only one of me and, like, 5 of them. It was really hard to push the cotton ball because, well, it's a cotton ball and it's soft and squishy - my hands would sink in to the elbows. Behind me was a giant, guardian angel being (this was before I ever went to any kind of church, so it wasn't any kind of religious being. I'm not sure where it came from). Some nights I was able to push the creeps, some nights they'd gain ground. The ground they gained would turn grungy and the ground I claimed would turn clean. The angel thing would never help me but would say soothing, comforting, helpful words. Some nights, when I was really losing, I'd beg it to help me. I'd be crying and my arms were like lead. The creature would tell me it couldn't help me but it was OK, because it knew I could do it. So I'd suck it up and try harder.
I'm not sure when that dreamed stopped. But whenever my life would suck or something would be really difficult for me, I'd always remember that dream. I'd remember the comfort I got from that winged being and I'd suck it up and keep going.
Do you guys ever have any recurring dreams? Do you dream at all? Do you remember them? Black and white or color?
Still crazy after all these years, Ruth!
I dreamed I was walking up to this huge yarn shop and there was a field behind it and a little to the left (or was it right?). Anyway. You were sitting in the field surrounded by about 50 knitted and crocheted purses. You were beckoning to me, "C'mon Ruth, we're about to get started!" You had this huge smile on your face (do you have any other kind?) and I couldn't wait to get over there!
That was it. Short but perfect! I took it to mean your Etsy store is going to be a booming success. Of course, I didn't know about your store til this morning.
I've always had these incredibly vivid dreams (in color, even) that I remember in great detail. When I read The Hundred Secret Senses, the older sister teaches the younger how to remember her dreams. She asks what the girl dreamed about. And what happened before that? And before that? That's what I've always done. Ever since I can remember.
I've had some recurring dreams too...
a) Nightmares from VeryBadThings that stopped with therapy and a good life.
b) I used to dream a lot about having to save people. We were always trapped in a big warehouse type building and someone bad was trying to find us. The people I was with were always panicked and paralyzed with fear and I had to be the one to get them out. Sometimes it was just one person, sometimes a group. Often it was a small child I was trying to protect. After Dave and I moved in together, these dreams stopped. Weird.
c) There was this dream I used to have when I was 5 years old and younger. I had this dream All. The. Time. I mean, at least 3 or 4 times a week.
I'd dream I was in this big square tunnel. There was this giant cotton ball blocking the tunnel. On one side of the tunnel, it was filthy - the walls were smeared with grungy dirt - and there were these creatures that looked suspiciously like the Cavity Creeps, only brown and rockier-looking. (Anyone remember the Cavity Creeps?)
On the other side was me. Tiny, under-5-years-old me. My side of the tunnel was white and clean. In the dream, I had to push the cotton ball and the Creeps were on the other side pushing back. There was only one of me and, like, 5 of them. It was really hard to push the cotton ball because, well, it's a cotton ball and it's soft and squishy - my hands would sink in to the elbows. Behind me was a giant, guardian angel being (this was before I ever went to any kind of church, so it wasn't any kind of religious being. I'm not sure where it came from). Some nights I was able to push the creeps, some nights they'd gain ground. The ground they gained would turn grungy and the ground I claimed would turn clean. The angel thing would never help me but would say soothing, comforting, helpful words. Some nights, when I was really losing, I'd beg it to help me. I'd be crying and my arms were like lead. The creature would tell me it couldn't help me but it was OK, because it knew I could do it. So I'd suck it up and try harder.
I'm not sure when that dreamed stopped. But whenever my life would suck or something would be really difficult for me, I'd always remember that dream. I'd remember the comfort I got from that winged being and I'd suck it up and keep going.
Do you guys ever have any recurring dreams? Do you dream at all? Do you remember them? Black and white or color?
Still crazy after all these years, Ruth!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Hello? Are You There??
How to Get a Massage - Part 3
[Part 1] [Part 2]
Be Present
If you aren't present during your massage, you can't properly communicate your needs to the therapist. This is very important, friends. Contrary to popular belief, there is no psychic class in massage school.
I always begin a massage by saying, "If you get too hot or too cold, let me know. If you need more or less pressure, feel free to tell me. If you have any questions, comments or stories, feel free to share. If you fall asleep, I'll wake you when we're done." This lets the client know that it's OK to communicate. They can talk or not, it's up to them.
It's very difficult to communicate if you're plastered.
If you are going to have a celebratory Margarita lunch. If you are going to indulge in illicit (and/or illegal) recreational drugs. If you are on heavy painkillers....
Schedule your massage for another time!
Here's why:
If you've been drinking, massage is going to make you drunker, quicker. The increased blood flow that occurs during massage sends the alcohol through your system faster. Some may think this is a good thing, they don't need to drink as much to feel high. I can guarantee no legitimate therapist will agree.
The same goes with drugs. Even painkillers. I know if people are in pain, they're going to think massage will be helpful in relieving that pain. They are right. However, if they've just taken painkillers before their massage, they are not going to be able to feel the pressure properly, they are going to ask for more pressure then they need and they are going to feel like crap later. Sore and miserable. Usually the therapist gets blamed for this.
Another part of being present is being relatively healthy. If your therapist came into the room sniffly and sneezing or with a hacking cough that makes you think they should call a Dr., you'd be horrified. Again, like the unclean, it happens. All. The. Time. Being trapped in a small room with someone who is obviously ill (and possibly still contagious) is never a good thing.
I've had a few clients that I had to deny service to because they were obviously drunk. I had one guy who was actually imbibing while he was on the table! This was during the Gem show in Tucson. It happens every February, this Gem show. It's a huge deal and it's also a huge party for those who attend. This guy came for his treatment and obviously didn't want to be there (his girlfriend had booked them). He comes down the hall with a big plastic cup of soda, sipping through the straw. Once he's in the room, he looks at the radio and asks if we can get the game on it. Fine with me! It was the NFL Pro Bowl game and I was kinda bummed I had to be at work and missing it.
I left the room so he could get on the table and when I came back in, the cup was gone. I thought he'd thrown it out. When I finished with his back and started on his legs, I saw him reach under the table and heard him drinking something. He'd put the cup under the table and was drinking with the straw through the face cradle! I asked, "What are we drinking?" He said, "Long Islands." (plural, I might point out) To myself, I thought, "Drinking during the massage, well that's a first." The guy wasn't being inappropriate in any other way, so I let it go.
My friend, Grace, had a client that same weekend who was so wasted...
We didn't realize until too late. She wasn't slurring or anything strange, just a little glassy eyed. But she'd just had a facial and that's relaxing, too. Chalked it up to that. About halfway through the massage, Grace knocks on my door (it was ajar, I had that hour unbooked). Seems her client has passed out so hard, we weren't sure she was even breathing! She was. But, we couldn't wake her and we had to call security and an ambulance. Scary! This client was somewhat of a regular there. She was a drug rep and it seems she'd been secretly sampling her wares for quite some time. We had to call the police, too.
We eventually got the woman to wake up. We had to help her get dressed and the cops had to take care of her. The ambulance cleared her (the EMT told us, "She's not hurt, just a junkie") and the cops were calling a cousin of hers that lived in Tucson. They were telling him if he came to get her, they wouldn't take her in. I could hear the man on the phone asking, begging really, for the cops to take her to a rehab center. The cops explained how that would be a family matter and they, as police officers, had no authority to make that decision for her. It would amount to unlawful imprisonment and kidnapping if the cops took her to a rehab center.
Sad, really. Scary, too. She said she needed to get something out of her car, so I helped her walk out there. Her big-ass SUV was parked sideways across four spaces. Driving wasted. Fantastic.
In short, you want to be here for your massage. I mean, you paid for it, right? Why not be present enough to enjoy it!
More next week, Ruth!
[Part 1] [Part 2]
Be Present
If you aren't present during your massage, you can't properly communicate your needs to the therapist. This is very important, friends. Contrary to popular belief, there is no psychic class in massage school.
I always begin a massage by saying, "If you get too hot or too cold, let me know. If you need more or less pressure, feel free to tell me. If you have any questions, comments or stories, feel free to share. If you fall asleep, I'll wake you when we're done." This lets the client know that it's OK to communicate. They can talk or not, it's up to them.
It's very difficult to communicate if you're plastered.
If you are going to have a celebratory Margarita lunch. If you are going to indulge in illicit (and/or illegal) recreational drugs. If you are on heavy painkillers....
Schedule your massage for another time!
Here's why:
If you've been drinking, massage is going to make you drunker, quicker. The increased blood flow that occurs during massage sends the alcohol through your system faster. Some may think this is a good thing, they don't need to drink as much to feel high. I can guarantee no legitimate therapist will agree.
The same goes with drugs. Even painkillers. I know if people are in pain, they're going to think massage will be helpful in relieving that pain. They are right. However, if they've just taken painkillers before their massage, they are not going to be able to feel the pressure properly, they are going to ask for more pressure then they need and they are going to feel like crap later. Sore and miserable. Usually the therapist gets blamed for this.
Another part of being present is being relatively healthy. If your therapist came into the room sniffly and sneezing or with a hacking cough that makes you think they should call a Dr., you'd be horrified. Again, like the unclean, it happens. All. The. Time. Being trapped in a small room with someone who is obviously ill (and possibly still contagious) is never a good thing.
I've had a few clients that I had to deny service to because they were obviously drunk. I had one guy who was actually imbibing while he was on the table! This was during the Gem show in Tucson. It happens every February, this Gem show. It's a huge deal and it's also a huge party for those who attend. This guy came for his treatment and obviously didn't want to be there (his girlfriend had booked them). He comes down the hall with a big plastic cup of soda, sipping through the straw. Once he's in the room, he looks at the radio and asks if we can get the game on it. Fine with me! It was the NFL Pro Bowl game and I was kinda bummed I had to be at work and missing it.
I left the room so he could get on the table and when I came back in, the cup was gone. I thought he'd thrown it out. When I finished with his back and started on his legs, I saw him reach under the table and heard him drinking something. He'd put the cup under the table and was drinking with the straw through the face cradle! I asked, "What are we drinking?" He said, "Long Islands." (plural, I might point out) To myself, I thought, "Drinking during the massage, well that's a first." The guy wasn't being inappropriate in any other way, so I let it go.
My friend, Grace, had a client that same weekend who was so wasted...
We didn't realize until too late. She wasn't slurring or anything strange, just a little glassy eyed. But she'd just had a facial and that's relaxing, too. Chalked it up to that. About halfway through the massage, Grace knocks on my door (it was ajar, I had that hour unbooked). Seems her client has passed out so hard, we weren't sure she was even breathing! She was. But, we couldn't wake her and we had to call security and an ambulance. Scary! This client was somewhat of a regular there. She was a drug rep and it seems she'd been secretly sampling her wares for quite some time. We had to call the police, too.
We eventually got the woman to wake up. We had to help her get dressed and the cops had to take care of her. The ambulance cleared her (the EMT told us, "She's not hurt, just a junkie") and the cops were calling a cousin of hers that lived in Tucson. They were telling him if he came to get her, they wouldn't take her in. I could hear the man on the phone asking, begging really, for the cops to take her to a rehab center. The cops explained how that would be a family matter and they, as police officers, had no authority to make that decision for her. It would amount to unlawful imprisonment and kidnapping if the cops took her to a rehab center.
Sad, really. Scary, too. She said she needed to get something out of her car, so I helped her walk out there. Her big-ass SUV was parked sideways across four spaces. Driving wasted. Fantastic.
In short, you want to be here for your massage. I mean, you paid for it, right? Why not be present enough to enjoy it!
More next week, Ruth!
Friday, September 14, 2007
Are You Still Here?!
What are you doing here???
The new knitty.com is out!
Have I explained my love affair with knitty? I know some people don't care about it but I can't get enough.
When I first learned to knit in June '04, I read about knitty somewhere and went to the site. I clicked over there and this is the first issue I read. What a great idea! I was hooked. I immediately went and read all the back issues, starting with the first one. And I've got this weird, stupid ritual about it. (I know, so unlike me to be weird and stupid, right?) I have to read every word of every article before I can look at the patterns. This has caused me to discover some speed reading skills.
I submitted my first article to knitty a few months ago. Rejected.
That's OK, I ain't hurt. Much. Anyway, knitty's still top 6 in my list of fave mags.
Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, knitty.com, magknits.com (love that they are monthly), the Anticraft (which has some really cute stuff up right now) and Family Circle (what? they've got great recipes!).
Someday, I'll put the article up here somewhere. Throws Like a Girl told me that someone made blog buttons: Rejected by Knitty, Rejected by Interweave, etc. That's a cute idea, but who needs that daily reminder on their site??
Btw, I have a new knitting sighting:
Hitcher 2 - Kari is washing up behind some desert truck stop and the woman at the counter inside is knitting. As Kari leaves, she thanks the woman but the woman doesn't respond so Kari just walks out. Camera pans to front of woman with knitting needles now sticking out of her chest. (Wish I could find needles that pointy!) Also, I think this is one of the few movies where Kari doesn't show her bewbs. But I've never seen the whole thing so I can't be sure.
Off to pick my new projects from the internets, Ruth!
The new knitty.com is out!
Have I explained my love affair with knitty? I know some people don't care about it but I can't get enough.
When I first learned to knit in June '04, I read about knitty somewhere and went to the site. I clicked over there and this is the first issue I read. What a great idea! I was hooked. I immediately went and read all the back issues, starting with the first one. And I've got this weird, stupid ritual about it. (I know, so unlike me to be weird and stupid, right?) I have to read every word of every article before I can look at the patterns. This has caused me to discover some speed reading skills.
I submitted my first article to knitty a few months ago. Rejected.
That's OK, I ain't hurt. Much. Anyway, knitty's still top 6 in my list of fave mags.
Interweave Knits, Vogue Knitting, knitty.com, magknits.com (love that they are monthly), the Anticraft (which has some really cute stuff up right now) and Family Circle (what? they've got great recipes!).
Someday, I'll put the article up here somewhere. Throws Like a Girl told me that someone made blog buttons: Rejected by Knitty, Rejected by Interweave, etc. That's a cute idea, but who needs that daily reminder on their site??
Btw, I have a new knitting sighting:
Hitcher 2 - Kari is washing up behind some desert truck stop and the woman at the counter inside is knitting. As Kari leaves, she thanks the woman but the woman doesn't respond so Kari just walks out. Camera pans to front of woman with knitting needles now sticking out of her chest. (Wish I could find needles that pointy!) Also, I think this is one of the few movies where Kari doesn't show her bewbs. But I've never seen the whole thing so I can't be sure.
Off to pick my new projects from the internets, Ruth!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
The Amazing T-Man
Trev drew a picture on the dry erase board a few days ago. I kept looking at it but yesterday, I really looked at it....
The man on the left is saying, "I see the chair."
The chair is saying, "Not exactly, you see the light."
Trev explained that the black squiggles on the chair are light rays bouncing off. This is something he remembered reading in a book 4 months ago.
Here he is, posing with his latest creation...
Also, in January, I got a free trial of a computer game called Bookworm Adventures. This bookworm has to travel around and fight different mythological creatures to save the princess. He beats the creatures by making words. He gets a square of nine blocks and each block has a letter. When you use a letter it's replaced by a new letter. You don't have to use "connecting" letters, you get to use from all nine. The trial was supposed to be a two hour trial but I discovered you get to play until you turn it off. We played for about 6 hours. We made it all the way through the first map. Then of course, when you get to the princess, she gets whisked off by a villain to a new map. By then, it was 9p and Davie was asleep on the couch and we made them go upstairs to bed.
Anyway, during the game, Trev started helping me. Here's some words he came up with....
Flight, Treasure, Quest, Pillow, Singing (also, when I'd come up with a word, he'd remember to add an 's' or 'ing'). He was 5 at the time.
He keeps blowing my mind, Ruth!
P. S. Love that game. Dave and I played for another hour and a half after the boys went to bed! It's about $30 to buy it. Someday....
The man on the left is saying, "I see the chair."
The chair is saying, "Not exactly, you see the light."
Trev explained that the black squiggles on the chair are light rays bouncing off. This is something he remembered reading in a book 4 months ago.
Here he is, posing with his latest creation...
Also, in January, I got a free trial of a computer game called Bookworm Adventures. This bookworm has to travel around and fight different mythological creatures to save the princess. He beats the creatures by making words. He gets a square of nine blocks and each block has a letter. When you use a letter it's replaced by a new letter. You don't have to use "connecting" letters, you get to use from all nine. The trial was supposed to be a two hour trial but I discovered you get to play until you turn it off. We played for about 6 hours. We made it all the way through the first map. Then of course, when you get to the princess, she gets whisked off by a villain to a new map. By then, it was 9p and Davie was asleep on the couch and we made them go upstairs to bed.
Anyway, during the game, Trev started helping me. Here's some words he came up with....
Flight, Treasure, Quest, Pillow, Singing (also, when I'd come up with a word, he'd remember to add an 's' or 'ing'). He was 5 at the time.
He keeps blowing my mind, Ruth!
P. S. Love that game. Dave and I played for another hour and a half after the boys went to bed! It's about $30 to buy it. Someday....
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