Peppy's Dream Moving Adventure Blog

A few days ago Eric threw away the San Diego Mountain Biking book he had purchased when we first got here.  He just got very frustrated and said it was a total waste of time.  I saw it in the recycling bin and thought about taking it out and hiding it, but I don’t think he’s really wrong about the book and the mountain bicycling here, so I let it lie there.  Turns out, he took it out himself, and used it to go on a ride today.

Last night, right before he fell asleep, he said he was going to take a long drive with the car today to find some place to go mountain biking, since I was going to be busy decoupaging with my friends and wouldn’t need the car all day.

I asked him where he was going and he said he didn’t know.  I said I didn’t think he would head south, since he’d be in Mexico in a half hour, and he couldn’t very well drive West, so it was either North or East.  He said he would probably drive Northeast.

This morning he actually got up before me and woke me up to tell me he was leaving.  He was all geared up and had his big bag of mountain biking paraphernalia and one of his bikes.  He said he’d probably be back very soon, because I guess he didn’t expect to find much riding out there, but I was pleased that at least he made the effort.

After he left I got up, tidied up the apartment and got everything ready for the class.  There are a lot of tools and supplies needed to do decoupage – Mod Podge (the glue you use), scissors, a sponge brush, paper (to glue), drop cloths to protect the chairs, table and carpet, and old magazines, which you use as a work space to glue.

I decided to put on some music, so I put on a DIXIE CHICKS CD and was enjoying listening to it.  Since I was doing a lot around the apartment, it was getting hot (it’s really warm out this weekend), so I opened up the front door.  I like to play the music pretty loud, but it was about 11:00am, so I didn’t think I would be disturbing anyone.

About 20 minutes later, the manager was at my door, asking me to lower the music.  That’s apartment life!  In Whitestone we were very close to our neighbors and Eric and I would BLAST our music, but no one ever complained.  I don’t know if anyone complained here, or if he just heard it (since his apartment is pretty close to mine) and he thought it was too loud.

Anyway, I opened the window in the bedroom, to get more cross circulation, and I could hear someone’s TV so loud in an apartment behind mine.  They must have had their front door open, too.  I could actually hear exactly what kind of show they were watching.  It was a cooking show and they were baking a chocolate something or other.  I was a little frustrated and felt like ringing Bret’s bell and telling him if my music was too loud, then this TV was definitely too loud, but I resisted.  After all, you don’t want to be labeled a “trouble maker.”  Better just to listen, learn how to bake a chocolate cake, and go on with my life.

My hand was really hurting me today.  I don’t know if it’s the bicycling.  Eric and I were both worried about that, but I didn’t really need to grip the bicycle handlebar.  I just held on tightly with my right hand and kind of leaned my left palm against the bar.  I guess it was more of a strain than I thought, because I’m paying today, and I was working with my hands all afternoon, so I took a few Advil to help me get through it and it felt much better.

The girls arrived at around 1:30pm and we got right to work.  Bonnie was decoupaging the top of two stools and Nicole had a small box.  I showed them the techniques and they both did a beautiful job.  Nicole is only 9-½, but she’s very artistic.  I had a big white plastic tray which I covered with pictures of clocks.  I thought the round on round look would be pretty and I think it came out great!

Nicole and her beautiful trinket box!

Eric came back around 4:00pm.  He said the ride was hot, because it was really warm out and there was no shade on the whole ride, but he did ride and I’m glad about that.

After the girls were finished they took some pictures with their digital camera and sent them to me so I can show their work.  They did a great job and we had a really fun day!

Bonnie's fabulous stool!

After they left Eric and I had a snack and then we watched TV together.  At around 8:00pm I made us both a bowl of soup and then we watched more TV.  Eric has to go to work tomorrow, but he’s not even sure he’s actually going to work.  The guy just told him to come there and he’d see if he had someplace to send him.  It seems pretty stupid to me to drive 25 miles just to see if there’s work, but that’s what he’s going to do tomorrow.  We’ll see how that turns out!

Here's my tray!

I have my acupuncture appointment tomorrow night at 6:00pm in Hillcrest.  I’m excited to see what it’s all about and how it will help me.  I’ll keep you informed!

I was up before 7:00am this morning, which is pretty sad considering I could have slept until 9:00am.  I guess it’s because we both went to sleep before 11:00pm last night.  I was just exhausted, and Eric was tired, too.

I wanted to write about something that happened last night, which I forgot to mention yesterday.  Eric received another paycheck in the mail yesterday.  It was for the one day he worked last week – Valentine’s Day.  It had been a long day (11 hours), but it still should have been a pretty small check, since he’s not making as much as he used to.

When he opened it, he was pleasantly surprised at how much it was.  Then, he started doing calculations in his head, looking at the stub, and he realized that they made a mistake.  They paid him 2x what he should have been paid.

I’m ashamed to say that I told him he should deposit it anyway.  I felt that he has been abused a lot in the past month, and made many a trip there for nothing, waited around hours, and I felt that he deserved the money.

Eric said he couldn’t steal.  I said it wasn’t stealing.  It was their mistake.  He could deposit it and if they noticed he could say he didn’t even look at it – that he just gave it to me and I wouldn’t know.

Eric immediately dismissed the idea.  He said even though he had been abused in the last month, the boss didn’t steal from him, and he couldn’t steal from the boss.  He insisted that he was going to bring the check back to work and give it to his boss, explaining the mistake.

I told Eric that down the road the boss might really do something mean and he would feel bad that he had been so honorable.  Eric said he would never feel bad, because he had to do what he thought was right.

I consider myself a very honest person, but I’ve had such resentment for this man, who I feel doesn’t appreciate Eric the way he should, and is so disorganized and such a bad businessman that it’s a miracle he can even keep a company open.  This is just another example of the slip-shod way they do things!

Here’s an example of what Eric has to go through WHEN he works, IF he works:  He was sent to buy a 21’ (yes twenty-one foot) piece of pipe to replace a piece that was leaking in a building downtown.  They went to the store (Pipes R US?) and he and some kid bought it, lugged it to the truck, put it on top, and drove downtown.  When they got to the building, they lugged it up to the floor and got to work.

The first thing that happened is that Eric saw that the piece of pipe that needed work was less than 2’ long (yes two feet).  He couldn’t believe the boss didn’t even know how long the piece was!  He examined it and realized that it was sloppy installation, and NOT the pipe, that was the cause.  He took the whole thing apart.  Cleaned each piece and put it back together properly and the problem was solved.  No money spent.

He though the boss would be happy, when he told him what he had done.  Instead, the boss started yelling at him, saying that he had told the building they were REPLACING pipe, and that he should have REPLACED the piece.  Eric reiterated that there was NOTHING wrong with the pipe – that it just needed to be installed properly.

He also explained that all they had was a 21’ foot piece of pipe, which could be returned for a refund (which Eric estimated was probably over $200), since they didn’t need it.  He couldn’t imagine cutting a 2 foot piece off a 21’ foot pipe to replace a pipe that was perfectly good.  The boss wasn’t happy.  He kept complaining that Eric didn’t do what he asked him to do.

So, after Eric tells me this whole story, and I shake my head and wonder why he doesn’t quit, can you blame me for wanting to deposit the check?  It’s just that I don’t think this guy deserves Eric, or his skills, honesty and honorable nature.  But, that’s my Eric – he’s bringing the check back the next time he works.

Anyway, back to today!  Soon after I awoke this morning, Eric got up, too.  I was starting my commissioned mirror – all pinks – and I was a little nervous about it, because I really didn’t have that much material to work with that was ALL pink.  I had pinks – mixed with purples, or blues, or greens.  I thought it would be kind of boring to have an ALL pink mirror anyway, so I just started working with what I had.

Eric started working on his bicycle, to prepare for today’s ride.  I felt bad that he had to take the RV, but I really need the car on Saturdays so I can run all my errands.

While I was working on the mirror, I also varnished my “clock tray.”  I just put it outside  on the balcony sitting on top of a vase and I sprayed it.  Then, I sprayed the other side.  It dries so fast here.  It’s the perfect temperature and not very windy, so it’s easy to do.  In NY, sometimes I’d be standing outside the back of the shop in the winter, spraying a piece.  Or it would be 90 degrees outside, which also isn’t the best situation.  San Diego has perfect varnishing weather!

Eric finished what he had to do with the bicycle and left around 8:30am.  I finished a little after 9:00am.  I decided to watch THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE, which I had recorded the other day, before I jumped in the shower.  I just had to make it to the post office by noon, and had all day to run all my other errands.  I watched that show (Marilu Henner got fired) and then got ready to go out.  I left the house at 11:00am.

My first stop was the post office, then CITIBANK to deposit my check (wheee!).  Then, I headed to La Jolla to bring the pink mirror (which turned out great) to GILI ANNA.  Unfortunately, she wasn’t working.  Her friend was working for her, so that Gili could have a day off.  She works seven days a week, so she really needs some time to herself every once in a while.  I know working six days a week was hard for me, so it must be really hard to do seven!

I showed her the mirror and she called Gili and I told her I would leave it there and she would see it on Sunday.  I trust her to leave work without a receipt, and I will just get it from her next time.  I had my new camera with me, so I tried to photograph all my mirrors she has all around the shop, but I couldn’t get the camera to work right!  I told the woman and she said she had the same camera and set it up for me.  She showed me how to turn off the flash, and fixed something else that I had messed up, trying to turn off the flash!  I still haven’t read the user guide – that’s my homework for tomorrow!

After I left her I wandered further down the little “street” where GILI ANNA’S shop is.  I put street in quotation marks, because it’s not a real street, but I don’t know what word you would use to describe it.  Instead of being RIGHT on Prospect Street, it’s in an alleyway that stretches from Prospect to the street parallel to it.  But no cars can go down it – it’s just a walking path.  There are shops, restaurants and art galleries on either side.  I went into a boutique and looked around.  I found a sweater I liked and looked at it $230.  I got out of there fast.

Then I went into another boutique.  They had really cute purse holders.  Don’t know if you are all familiar with these items, which were very popular in the 50s.  I used to have them in the shop and sell them (vintage ones, mind you) for about $8.  When my nieces were visiting, we saw them in a shop and they loved them.  They were new, but really cute.  I asked the price and they were $25.  The ones in the boutique today were starting at $30 and went up to $50 (if they had Swarovski crystals). 

I told the girls I would get them nicer ones for less money and I did!  I found gorgeous black enamel and rhinestone purse holders (one shaped like a butterfly, which my niece Jessica loves) for less than $10 each on ebay!  There are THOUSANDS of them on ebay.  Even though you pay shipping and handling it’s still MUCH cheaper than these boutiques!

I did some more window shopping, including an art gallery that has a collection of DR. SEUSS artwork.  That’s MY kind of exhibit!  I always loved DR. SEUSS (who didn’t) and it was fun to look at.  Then, I went to STARBUCKS, got my usual, and got back in the car to head back to Clairemont.

I went to the shoe repair, which is in the same shopping center as KEILS and gave him two pair of shoes to “revitalize.”  They’re shoes I’ve been wearing for a few years, but love and are very comfy, and thought it worthwhile to fix them up, rather than throw them out.  In the same shopping center I found a dry cleaner, so I went there and brought my rain coat, which really needed a good cleaning.

Then, I went to RITE AID, because I’m still looking for a small duffle bag for my Eric.  No luck.

By now it was almost 2:00pm and I was starving, so I thought it a bad idea to go food shopping.  I went home and made myself a NUTRISYSTEM lunch with some grapes and THEN I went to KEILS.  I finally remembered to bring plastic bags with me, because they’ll re-use their bags if you bring them.  We have a lifetime supply and it irks me to keep collecting them. 

I’m really into recycling, so if I can keep using the same bags (until they rip, since they’re so darn thin), then I will feel better about using them at all!  I see lots of people at the supermarket with big canvas totes that have flat bottoms for packing groceries and I think they’re fabulous!  They sell them at KEILS, but they’re so small I’d need 5 or 6 and I just think it’s better to recycle, then spend money for supermarket bags!

I went a little nuts with the vegetables and beans for my soup (which I’ll also be making tomorrow).  I got frozen cauliflower, fresh broccoli, cilantro, snap peas, 2 cans of corn with no salt added, pinto beans, black beans, 2 cans of stewed tomatoes (with jalapenos to add some spice!), mushrooms, a big red onion, peeled baby carrots, celery, and 2 boxes of organic vegetable broth.

Eric and I have really been enjoying the soup.  I also bought everything to make salads, so we switch off.  I have a salad with my meal almost every day at lunch, and I’m supposed to have a salad every night, too, but sometimes you get sick of salad!  I enjoy the soup and I know it’s more calories, but I think it’s healthy and filling and there’s worse we could eat!

Eric just got back from his ride when I got home, so he helped me with all the packages.  He said his ride was good, and he even hooked up with some guys to ride with.  The situation at HARBISON is it’s a seven mile ride up a big hill (unless you have someone to drive you up there).  It took them an hour and a half.  Then it’s a half-hour downhill ride to the bottom.  Sometimes you’re lucky enough to see a car going up and hitch a ride with them, but otherwise you have to do the uphill.

I told Eric I thought it must have been great exercise, and he agreed.  I guess it just wasn’t that much fun, since the downhill part was so fast!  Anyway, he had a good time and I think he’ll do it again.  He would have gone tomorrow, but they were predicting rain, so he had to go today – with the RV, instead of the PT.  I told him I will not always need the car on Saturday, I just had to go to the post office and shoe repair, which is only open on Saturdays, so he couldn’t take the car.

I can do food shopping on Sundays, and I wouldn’t mind doing that at all.  It’s just week to week seeing what I have to do and then figuring out when he can take the PT.  Since HARBISON is only about 20 minutes away, it wasn’t a bad ride with the RV and he said it was fine.  I just want to make things as easy as possible for him.

I unpacked all the groceries and then we watched Friday night’s part two episode of MONK – the season finale.  It was great.  Then, I took a nap and Eric came out to work on his bicycle more.

He woke me at 6:00pm and I came out and did some work on the computer.  Then, I made us a NUTRISYSTEM entrée and the rest of my latest batch of soup.  I tell you it’s really good and hearty and healthy and it’s so easy to make.  There’s just a lot of chopping involved – and I sauté the veggies in a little olive oil before adding all the canned veggies and broth.  It takes about an hour, but then you just stir and stir and simmer and simmer and I make so much that it lasts a whole week.  You could also freeze a lot of it, and just heat it up a little at a time, but we just keep eating it until it’s gone!

Eric watched a basketball game and I decided to do another project.  I don’t really have the energy to do it during the week, after work, but weekends are great for crafting!  I had found a nice vanity tray that looked like a gold-framed mirror on little gold ball feet.  It was a little chipped on the edges, so I got it really cheap at BIG LOTS.

I painted the edges so they were all gold again and then covered the entire top of the frame (surrounding the mirror where you would put perfume bottles) with jewelry.  It was a challenging project, because the surface wasn’t flat, and that’s the easiest surface to work with.  I had some great pieces that wouldn’t work because they just wouldn’t fit into the curve of the frame.  I finished it around 11:15pm and then got ready for bed.  I wanted to watch SNL, not only because it was the first live show since the writer’s strike, but also because TINA FEY was hosting, and I’m a huge fan.

Eric stirred and said he wanted to watch it but he was too tired, and I told him not to worry, because I was recording it and probably wouldn’t stay up until the end either.  I did manage to stay up to hear CARRIE UNDERWOOD sing her first song.  I love her, too.  I follow AMERICAN IDOL very closely, so I was a fan of hers and now she’s doing very well and I love her music.  I don’t have any of her CDs, but I love her songs when I hear them on the radio!  She was wearing the CUTEST vintage-looking dress that was tight to the waist and then flared out in a huge pleated skirt.  She’s gorgeous!

I turned the TV off at 12:30am and fell asleep.  It was only as I was drifting off that I realized I didn’t post my blog, which is why I’m doing it this morning.  Most of it was written, I just didn’t finish it! You’d think after 200 days (yes, today is my 200th posting.  It has been 200 days since we left NYC!) that I would be in the habit of blogging every night, but I guess I just had a long day.  I guess you could also say I’m getting old!

I forgot to show you a picture I took with my cell phone the other day, when I went to get my seller’s permit.  Since I was in a government building, there was a lovely picture of our governor (or should I say the governator) Arnold Schwarzenegger.  I almost had to laugh, because it just struck me as so funny.

So, I really didn’t have anyplace to go today until I received an email from the CRAFT MAFIA saying that we could pick up flyers today at 2:30pm at a STARBUCKS in the Hazard Center.  Isn’t that a weird name for a place to shop?  It’s also the same place where the Latino Film Festival is being held at the Ultrastar Cinemas, and John Leguizamo and Cheech Marin are set to appear!

So, this morning, before I left to go pick up the flyers, I watched TV and just did stuff around the apartment with Eric.  We watched an episode of MONK from season two, which is one of my favorites.  Monk has to act in a play in order to try to figure out who murdered an actor.  Amy Sederis guest stars as his assistant’s sister, and Betty Buckley played their mother.  It was so funny!

We both spoke to our friend, Larry, whose birthday is tomorrow, and I spoke to Geri for a long time, too.  Unfortunately, they were having a bad thunderstorm in NYC and they lost their power!

I jumped in the shower and then my friend Susan called and we spoke for a while, too.  Then, I finally got out of the house just in time to drive to the mall to meet the girls and get the flyers and posters.  It’s weird, because most of the malls here are really just shopping centers.  They’re all outdoors.  It’s not like the big buildings in NY where you can go from store to store and never go outside.  Here you just go from shop to shop but you are walking outside as you do it.

I got the flyers, which are really professional and beautiful.  I was so impressed.  They’re made to look like an old-fashioned WANTED poster and they came out great!  I got a bunch and then left to run more errands.

First, I went to HILLCREST, because I had a few pairs of screw-on and clip-on earrings that I thought might be worth selling.  I figured if I could sell them and get a credit, I could buy myself something pretty!  I went to FLASHBACKS and I only sold 2 pair, but I got $13.50 and ended up getting a fabulous vintage purple Asian jacket with the frog closings.  It fits perfectly, but it’s much too long for me, so I am going to have it shortened to above the knee and then have the extra fabric made into a purse!  I love it!

Next, I went to a card store, because I wanted to buy my Mom a birthday card.  Her birthday is March 14th!

When I got back to Clairemont I did our food shopping and then got home just as Eric was coming back from a ride.  He helped me with all the bundles and I put everything away and made us a late lunch.  I knew it was a big mistake, because Eric decided we had just eaten at 5:30pm and it was dumb to go out and have sushi, so we stayed home AGAIN.  I mean it, he’s really getting away with murder!

We watched another episode of MONK and then we both came out to the living room.  Eric watched a special about John Lennon with old video and interviews, pictures and music.  I just listened, while I worked on a few projects.

I finally finished and I’m exhausted from working for almost 4 hours without stopping!  Tomorrow I have some yucky tax work to finish (adding up all my expenses for the year) and then I can play some more and make more stuff to sell at the craft fair.  After seeing the girls today, I am more inspired than ever!

If you'd like to see the full line-up of more than 60 vendors who will be selling at the CRAFT FAIR on Sunday, March 30th, just click on this link (and you'll see the picture that they choose to go with MY link!):  http://sandiegonorthparkcraftmafia.com/SpringLineUp/SLUVendors.html

So, I heard from the fabric lady, and she insisted that all her fabrics were 58”.  I took out the fabric to measure it again, and Eric helped me.  Of course she was right!  I don’t know how I misread it last time.  Eric said the measuring tape he gave me is a little confusing, but still!  I wrote her back apologizing and told her “I’m usually not this stupid!”

So, problem solved and I can bedazzle tonight!  I DID get something great accomplished, because I worked on the metal file box and worked on it some more this morning when I woke up.  I’m decoupaging it with pictures from Victorian calendars, which are so pretty.

Eric got up and we had NUTRISYSTEM breakfasts (he cereal; me oatmeal).  Then, I watched TRADING SPACES, which had an Elvis impersonator and a Cher impersonator from Las Vegas trading houses.  They did an office in each room.  Her room was fabulous.  His room was awful.  Heidi was the designer and she’s crazy.  She made them glue shredded paper all over the walls.  Elvis and his wife hated it, and it’s going to be some job for them to get it all down!

At a little before 1:00pm Eric left to go for a ride.  He couldn’t have been less enthusiastic, but he didn’t ride yesterday, since he was working on the RV all day, so I guess he figured he might as well get a ride in.  He asked me if I had any suggestions as to where he should ride, but I didn’t.  He hates every place, so what’s the difference?  It’s really just about him getting out in the fresh air, getting his legs moving, getting his heart pumping a little.  That’s it.  It’s about getting in shape so he can really ride in North Carolina.

I left the house a little after 2:00pm and headed for CIRCUIT CITY.  It was relatively painless this time.  I just showed them the camera case I had and exchanged it for one that fit.  I actually LOVE this one.  It looks like a small purse, and it’s a brown Asian fabric.  It has a shoulder strap, that you can take off, and a wrist strap, separate from the wrist strap on the camera.  I’m so happy!

My friend Susan had called when I was in CIRCUIT CITY, so when I got back in the car, I called her back and talked to her all the way to South Park.  It’s always great to talk to her!  When I got there we hung up and I went to the WHISTLE STOP BAR.

The CRAFT MAFIA asked for donations to be raffled off at the CRAFT SHOW on Sunday, March 30th, so I picked two pieces and brought them to the WHISTLE STOP BAR, because Stephanie Hilsted of MADE WITH LUV was going to be collecting items there.

It was such a gorgeous afternoon -- perfect for a drive to South Park!  The WHISTLE STOP is a cute place with a pool table, a separate room with formica-topped bar tables and stools, away from the bar, and a stage for bands, which play there regularly.

When I went in, I was immediately greeted by some girls who were there to attend the KNITTING CLUB that gets together there some Sundays to teach, learn and just knit in the company of friends.  They asked if I was there to knit, since I was carrying a bag with me, which looked like it could have held yarn and needles, but I explained that it was craft stuff to give to Stefanie.  They were so nice and welcoming.  I told them I've always wanted to learn to knit, but never had an opportunity.  My Aunt Evelyn was an amazing knitter and my sisters and I wore sweaters when we were young that she had made for each of us.  There was nothing she couldn't knit!

A girl named Jen came over and introduced herself and then, as we were talking, Stef came in.  Stephanie had told me that the WHISTLE STOP was going to have a craft show on the 29th, the day before the one at the SPRING LINE UP.  I told her I'd love to participate, but she said they were fully booked.

Stephanie explained to Jen that I was interested in the craft show on the 29th, and Jen said that there had been a cancellation, but she had to know what I did, because she wasn't interested in certain crafts that had already committed to the show.

I told her that not only could I tell her what I did, but I could show her what I did, since I had two pieces with me!  I showed them the small decoupaged box I had made, and a tiny silver frame bejeweled with vintage jewelry.  She went nuts!  She said there was no one else who did anything like what I did, and that people would go crazy for my stuff!  I was so happy -- and flattered!

She said their price point was lower than it would be at the SPRING LINE UP on the 30th, but also explained that since the show was free, it was possible to lower your prices, since you didn't have any expenses.  I told her that I'd just bring a small table (the folding table that we use as a dining room/work table) and just my smaller pieces.

I had a few more errands to run this afternoon, so I left soon after and when I got home I got to work right away.

Now, I have to work TWICE as hard, because I really want to have a lot of inventory for both shows! 

When I got back I made myself a tamale.  Ah, tamales!   I watched some TV and then started bedazzling the red satin, since I now know it’s the right size!  It is not the easiest machine to work with, but I managed to put a bunch of clear rhinestones on the fabric and it looks SO pretty!  Wheee!  Thanks, Jimmy!

After I finished (and my back was ready to give out from working on the floor and leaning over), I went back inside to watch more TV.  Eric came home soon after.  He was SO sweaty and had gone all the way to OCEAN BEACH on his bicycle.  It’s at least 15 miles each way, so he really had a great ride today.  His t-shirt was soaked and he was all sweaty – just how I like him!  I was so happy to see him after 4 hours, and he really had a good, long ride!

He went into the shower and I decided to take a nap.  He woke me at 7:00pm and I made us a big salad.  It had everything in it!  He had an entrée, too, but I just had the salad.  It was more than enough for me!

After dinner I worked on my CRAFTS BLOG (I just wrote about my trip to Whistle Stop Bar).  Then, I watched EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION and an episode of PSYCH.

This is a short work-week for me, because the firm has a half day on Thursday and is closed on Friday, so I can REALLY get a lot accomplished.  I'm glad that I can work on Friday, because  Saturday Eric and I are going to spend the day with our cousins, Ilene, Kyle, Taylor, Evan and Elise.  We’re going to the SAN DIEGO WILD ANIMAL PARK.  We can’t wait.  We’re really looking forward to seeing our cousins again, but we’ve never been to the Wild Animal Aark, so it should be really fun!

My boss didn’t come in again today.  Still sick, I guess.  So, I finished my book (in less than 4 days – and, again, I only read at work!).  I didn’t do much else, and then it was 12:30pm and time to go home!  It’s so nice to work a half day and then have Friday off.  I love a long weekend!

When I got home Eric was just leaving to go for a ride.   After he left, I finished the Victorian File Box, which came out great, and did a couple of other small projects.  I painted and put feet on another box I already had, which I am going to sell (I need to gather as much inventory as possible!).  I painted a small 4x6 wooden frame with a mirror that I got at MICHAEL’S for $1.00.  It was plain unfinished wood and I painted it a reddish brown with acrylic paint I have in small tubes.  Then, I decorated it with tiny seashells I also bought at MICHAEL’S.

Gili had asked me if I ever decorated a frame with seashells and I told her I had done that in the past, but I didn’t have any more (I sold them all, before I closed the shop!).  They had a great bag of various small seashells for $2 at MICHAEL’S so, I got it and the frame and I only used about ¼ of the shells, so the whole thing only cost me $1.50!  It came out nice.  I think it looks very sweet and I think people around here like a beachy theme!  I also incorporated pearls because, after all, pearls come from shells, don’t they?  It’s a natural combination and it’s lovely!  My darling friend, Elizabeth, who is a wonderful artist, is the first person who suggested that to me.  She used to cover boxes with seashells and pearls and they were fabulous.

I watched the elimination show of AMERICAN IDOL and was happy that “Skunk Girl” (as I called her) was eliminated.  She was just a one-trick pony and always screamed.  At first, I thought she was interesting and different, but week after week she sounded and looked exactly the same and it got boring.  You have to be versatile.  You have to be able to change it up!  No one wants to listen to an entire album (or CD) if every single song sounds the same!

At 9:00pm, Eric and I watched DON’T FORGET THE LYRICS.  We like Wayne Brady, the host, and we love to see if we know the lyrics to the different songs.  It’s a fun show!

On a serious note, Eric’s medical benefits through the union are up on March 31st and we were offered the COBRA benefits, but they are SO expensive!  We need to use a company that is nationally accepted, since we’re here now, but may be moving.  We also don’t need dental or vision, because we just took care of that and this is just temporary – until I get a permanent job with benefits.

Actually, we really only need hospitalization, in case one of us gets very sick or is in an accident (God forbid!).  If there’s anyone out there who can recommend a good benefit plan for hospitalization, we would greatly appreciate it!

Tomorrow I am looking forward to more crafting and then a cut and color at HAIRSPRAY at 6:00pm.  I REALLY need it.  My roots are bad and my hair is bushy!

We both went to bed late last night, but for some reason I was up at 7:00am!  I started thinking about a project I wanted to start today, so I got up and got to work!  I had purchased a pink plastic tissue box cover (the kind that covers the tall tissue boxes) and I was going to decoupage it (I’ve done that before, and it comes out great).  I started thinking last night and decided I would do a jewelry mosaic.  It would be challenging, because I’d have to use a LOT of jewelry, and it would be hard because there were lots of corners and edges, which are harder to work with.

I worked until Eric got up, and then I stopped to have a NUTRISYSTEM muffin for breakfast and we watched an episode of MONK.  After MONK, Eric went in the shower and I went back to work.
He left soon after to go for a ride and I kept on working.  I knew I had to go in the shower by 3:00pm, because I wanted to pick up my check, go to MICHAEL’S and get a pedicure, before heading to Hillcrest for my cut and color by John at HAIRSPRAY.

I got everything accomplished with time to spare, stopped at STARBUCKS and then decided to stop at the bank and deposit my check, before heading to Hillcrest.  I went inside the lobby.  The bank was still open, but there was a big line, so I decided to just use the ATM.  There was an older woman standing at the “counter” (where the deposit slips and the pen on the chain are) and a woman with her teen-age daughter.  I took off my sunglasses, so I could see better, signed the back of the check, put it in the envelope and went over to the ATM to make the deposit.

I must have been standing there doing the transaction for 60-90 seconds.  When I was done, I turned around to get my sunglasses and leave.  They were gone!  I felt my head, and my chest, because sometimes I put them on top of my head or hang them on the front of my shirt, but they weren’t there.  I kind of knew I left them on the counter, but I couldn’t believe someone would steal them, so I started looking on the floor.  They weren’t anywhere to be seen.

I started to doubt my own memory, and thought maybe I had left them in the car, so I went back to the car.  I searched the car, and my purse, but I KNEW I wore them into the bank and I KNEW I left them on the counter.  So, either the old lady or the woman or her daughter stole my sunglasses.  Can you believe it?

I remembered there was a SUNGLASS HUT a few blocks away from HAIRSPRAY, so I drove to Hillcrest, parked in the HAIRSPRAY parking lot and walked to the store.  All the sunglasses were $10.99.  I tried on a few pair, picked out a nice pair of black ones, and purchased them.  I will miss my stolen sunglasses, as they had a leopard pattern I really liked and I liked the way they fit my face.  I had them for about 5 years!  I still can’t believe someone stole them.  It’s just a weird thing to steal, don’t you think?  I guess if I really wanted to make a fuss, I could have the bank look at the security tape (they always have them where the ATMs are) and I can find out who did it, but since the glasses were also probably worth $10.99, I guess I’ll just let it go.

I got my hair cut and colored and then raced back home to Eric.  It was about 8:00pm and we were going out for pizza.  We received a coupon in the mail from VOLTERO’S PIZZA on Balboa Avenue, welcoming us to the neighborhood and offering us a free 16” pizza – dine in or take out!  We thought we’d take advantage, since we haven’t had pizza in months, so we drove over there, had a Caesar salad and 2 slices each and left stuffed and happy.  We brought home about 1/3 of the salad and 4 slices of the pizza.  It was REALLY good pizza and I enjoyed every single bite.

When we got home I finished the tissue box.  I really think it’s spectacular.  Now, I have to hope that someone’s willing to pay a pretty penny for a box to hold their tissues!  I figure if I can’t sell it on Sunday I can always give it to Gili Anna.  Someone in La Jolla can afford a bejeweled tissue box cover!

I passed out postcards for the CRAFT SHOW at the employment agency and the hair salon.  I also put three up at STARBUCKS.  I really hope we get a great turnout.

I have to get to bed early, because we are meeting our cousins at the SAN DIEGO ANIMAL PARK at 10:00am.  I can’t wait.  I’m bringing my new camera and will get gorgeous pictures of everyone – and the animals!

It’s supposed to be a gorgeous weekend (it was spectacular today), so it should be a perfect day to spend with family!

I woke up at 8:00am this morning.  As soon as I woke up, I started thinking about how much I had to do, so I got out of bed and decided the first thing I had to do was work on my CRAFTS BLOG.  I had a LOT of new projects and I wanted to get them all up on the blog and also talk about the two shows coming up.  I worked for TWO hours.  I was just about done, and I had been saving my work all along, because I know how things can go wrong.

As I was finishing and saved my work for the last time, when it was done I went to look at the blog and there was just one picture.  I had loaded at least 20-30 pictures and they were gone!  I freaked.  Eric was still sleeping, so I didn’t want to wake him, but I was actually sitting here saying, “Oh, no.  Oh, no.  Oh, no.”  I couldn’t imagine doing what I had just done for TWO hours ALL OVER AGAIN!

I decided to go all the way out and then go back to the website and go back into the entry.  I saw that there were TWO new entries.  Don’t ask me how, but somehow I must have clicked on “create new entry” because there was an entry with the one picture, and then the other entry with everything else.  I was SO relieved!  If you’d like to see all my latest creations, which I will try to sell this weekend, click here: CRAFTS BLOG.

Eric woke up a little after 10:00am.  We had cereal and watched an episode of MONK.  Then, he went into the shower and geared up for a ride.  I got to work on some decoupaged frames.

I had found three square wooden frames in a thrift shop in SOUTH PARK for $1 each.  They are about 10” square and have a very wide flat frame and a small square mirror in the center.  I decided that I would do a specific theme for all three, so if someone liked all three they could purchase them together and use them to make an arrangement on a wall.

I looked at the subject matter of all my cuttings and considered an Asian theme, leopard or stained glass, but I settled on a “maps and travel” theme.  I decided that it would be nice to have something a guy might be interested in, considering 99% of my product is definitely for the diva!

I did the first frame with lots of globes, world maps and antique-looking maps.  For the second, I used maps of the USA and also reproductions of classic vintage state postcards, which were actually made into postage stamps a few years ago.  Remember?  I always loved those and had copies of those stamps.

After I completed the second frame I decided to go food shopping before starting on the third.  I jumped in the shower, got dressed and was out the door in a half hour.  I did my food shopping, came back, unpacked the groceries, and then decided to do a load of laundry.  As I was coming back I saw Eric returning from his ride.

I started on the third frame and made that one more about specific places – New York, London, Paris, Havana, Monte Carlo, etc.  They all came out great and are different, but with a specific theme that ties them together.  Eric is going to varnish them for me this week.

I had one more project I wanted to complete today, and I really had the time, but I was exhausted, so I’m hoping to get it done this week.  I have about 30 pieces to sell over the weekend.  I’m only bringing about 12 pieces with me on Saturday, because my table will be smaller and the price point is lower, so I’m not bringing the higher-end items.

If I sell all of them (which would be nice), I’ll still have almost 20 pieces for Sunday.  If not, I’ll have more for Sunday, which would be great, because I can charge more for my items at that show.

Eric and I had NUTRISYSTEM entrées for dinner and then we had WEIGHT WATCHERS ice cream for dessert.  Oh, I forgot to mention – my bad eating over the last couple of days has really shown on the scale.  I weighed 127.2 this morning.  I had BETTER get my act together, because I was down to almost 124 and now I’m up three pounds!  Bad Peppy!  Bad, bad Peppy!

Tomorrow I have the acupuncturist after work.  I’m only going two more times, because Eric’s benefits will be done and I’m going away after that anyway, so I told the guy that I would not be coming back after that and he understood.  I think it’s helped me somewhat, but not enough for me to pay out-of-pocket.

So, I have to really work hard the rest of the week every night, so I can be ready for the weekend.  I still have to print out my price tags and tag everything, finish my tablecloth, and gather all the materials I’m going to need for the shows.  The CRAFT MAFIA gave us a list of things to bring, which is so helpful, so I’m going to use that to pack a box, so I won’t be without anything at the show.

I’m really looking forward to the shows, I’m just not looking forward to all the work it’s going to take to get there!

I woke up at 7:30am, which was much too early, considering I went to bed at 1:00pm.  So, I just made myself fall back to sleep.  Every time I thought about anything (like the sale today, and everything I needed to do today), I tried to make my mind blank.  I eventually fell back to sleep and woke up again at 10:30am.  Eric woke up, too.  I made him breakfast – scrambled egg whites with a wedge of avocado on the slice, and a slice of toast.  I had a NUTRISYSTEM bar. 

We relaxed and watched an episode of PSYCH, and then I went into the shower and got dressed.  Eric showered and got dressed, too.  Then, he helped me pack up the car and we left at 2:00pm.  First, I deposited my check in Citibank, and then we went to STARBUCKS where I got a decaf venti Frappucino.  We got to the WHISTLE STOP BAR at around 3:00pm and Eric helped me unload everything, then left.  I waited for the woman in charge of the event to show up and a few other girls were there to set up, too.  When she came she told us where our tables should go.  I thought there would be lots of vendors, but there were just 7 inside and 5 outside.

We were all set up and ready to go by 3:30pm, but I was a little disappointed.  The place was pretty dark and there were no windows in the area where we were.  There were some spotlights around, but none of them were shining on my table!  Thank goodness Svea, from the CRAFT MAFIA had little battery-operated lights and she gave me one for my table.  It was perfect, because it made all the jewelry sparkle, but my decoupaged items were in shadow and you could hardly see them!

It didn’t really matter much, because no one even walked into our area until after 6:30pm!  We were just sitting around, talking, eating, and drinking.  It was really fun and I got to know some of the other vendors, but we were all disappointed by the lack of foot traffic.  Someone mentioned that the WALKABOUT really didn’t begin until 6:00pm, so we all wondered why we set up at 3:30pm, but it was too late to worry about it.

At around 7:00pm a lot of people started coming into the bar, but it seemed they were there to drink, or to meet their friends.  Hardly anybody came over to our area.  I noticed a few of the girls sold something, but most didn’t sell a thing – including me!  A few women came by and looked, and a few touched, but the music and talking was so loud, you could hardly communicate with customers.  Also, it was so dark in there that my stuff really wasn’t shown to its best advantage.  I was disappointed, but kept telling myself that this was just the “dress rehearsal” and tomorrow was the “big event.”

I just hope that tomorrow’s crowd is more into shopping, and less into drinking!

At 8:00pm, Eric came to pick me up.  I was almost completely packed and he brought the car around and I put everything in the back.  We found a spot right down the block, and Eric was hungry and I was starving, so we went across the street to a little Mexican restaurant, had a fast dinner, and then walked down the block to THE DAILY SCOOP, a fabulous home-made ice cream shop.  I had taken Jessica and April there when we visited South Park while they were on vacation here.

The woman who owns the place remembered me – after 10 weeks – and asked us how we were doing.  She asked how life in Clairemont was going, and I couldn’t believe that she even remembered where I lived!  Eric got a Brownie Sundae and I got a small scoop of Chocolate Peanut Butter (what else) and we drove home.

I was going to leave everything in the car, but Eric was afraid to do that, so we brought everything upstairs.  I only have a few things to pack for tomorrow, but I’m too tired to do it tonight, so I’ll do it tomorrow morning.  I have to be in North Park at 10:45am, so it’s a much earlier day!

I am glad that I did this event today.  It didn’t cost anything, I made some new acquaintances, and did some networking.  I just wish I had sold something!  I will be putting a lot of pictures on my CRAFTS BLOG, but I’m just too tired to do it tonight, so I’ll let you know on this blog, when I’ve put the entry on the other blog!  This is confusing, eh?

Well, I woke up at 8:00am to the sun shining brightly.  It’s 9:00am now, and I haven’t even gotten dressed yet, but I thought I’d write the first part of today’s blog BEFORE the show, and then continue AFTER.

They had predicted rain for today, which would be bad – very bad – so I was glad to see the sun.  At least for now, one less thing to worry about!  It was raining last night, when we went to dinner and drove home, so maybe that 1/10th of an inch was all we’re getting for the weekend.  I really hope so, because I am sure that rain would put a damper on our attendance.  Get it?  Damper?  That’s a pun, folks!

So, I got all my stuff together.  There’s really a lot to pack into the car, including the screen.  I may have to ride in the back seat, behind Eric, because I’m pretty sure he’s going to have to put the front passenger seat down in order to fit the screen in.  I’m so undecided about the screen.  I really want to sell it, because I have more perfume cards (but only white) and could make another one, but it’s SO useful to hide anything you don’t want company to see (in our case, a couple of tall boxes holding lamps and posters), so I wouldn’t mind bringing it home again.  I just figured it would be a fabulous backdrop for my booth!

I kept thinking about how badly the “Craftabout” when yesterday.  I think the main reason is that it was held in a bar.  I talked to the bartender about the lighting, because I was the first one there, and he said, “Well, it’s a bar!”  I knew that, but I figured maybe they’d have some extra lighting brought in.  Wrong.  It was so dark in there, it was really hard to see the crafts!

Then, I thought about how loud the music was.  I mean, it was BAR loud.  So, people couldn’t really talk to me.  They would just smile and move on.  A few talked, but one commented on how loud the music was, so I knew it was making it hard for people to shop.

Then, there was the fact that we were in the back of the bar, so people were coming in and sitting down at tables, or buying drinks and hanging by the bar, so they didn’t even come near us!  The good thing was, there was a back door, and my table was right inside the back door, so some people DID come through the back door and walk to the front.  Those people actually got to walk by my table!  Wheee!

I know there are going to be bands there today, and I already mentioned my worries to Teresa, the woman in charge of the CRAFT SHOW.  She said they have a sound guy, so they can make the music lower if they want to.  At the bar, I guess they didn’t feel they had the right to tell the DJ to lower the music.  Also, the bands won’t be playing all day.  They will be taking breaks and only doing ½ hour sets.  I told her if she could put me as far from the bands as possible, I’d be happy.  I’m like the old lady at the wedding who complains to the bride that she doesn’t want to be near the band. Oy!

Eric’s in the shower and I just had a NUTRISYSTEM bar.  I don’t have to stop at STARBUCKS today, because THE OTHER SIDE COFFEE HOUSE will have a coffee bar at the show and I had their coffee when I visited their lovely shop to see the Craft Mafia Debutante Coming Out Craft Show a few weeks ago.  The guy makes a mean mocha latte!

North Park is only about 10 minutes away, and we’re supposed to be there at 10:45am, but we’ll probably leave here at 10:00am, because we have to pack the car first.

Well, I better go get dressed and “put on my face.”  I hope I have LOVELY news to report later.  If I don’t sell anything, will you all still love me?

I’m back!  It’s 8:00pm and we just got home.  I had a fabulous day, but I only sold five items!  That’s less than one an hour (the show was six hours – noon to 6:00pm).

We got there early – 10:30am, and there were lots of vendors outside waiting to go inside, but they didn’t let anyone in until 10:45am.  Eric helped me unload the PT and then he helped me set up my whole table.  He’s SO good.   I was lucky, because they put me way in the back, against a wall, so I was away from the bands and was able to display my screen up against the wall.  I had a great spot and was very happy.

When I was all set, and everything was on display, Eric left.  The tablecloth worked out beautifully.  It sparkled, the border with the large version of my business card looked cute, and I had room for everything. 

It was early, so I walked around and took a lot of pictures of other vendors whose tables were all set up.  I was lucky, it only took me about 20 minutes to set (and to strike).  There are some who have so much merchandise, or such elaborate displays, that it takes them over an hour!  I was very impressed with the beautiful displays, and all the wonderful merchandise people were selling.  Everything was gorgeous, so I knew I had a lot of competition!

At a little after noon they opened the doors.  They had done LOTS of advertising, and there were free swag bags for the first 100 people, so there was a huge line outside!  The minute the doors opened, the place was PACKED!  It turned out to be a gorgeous day, and there were big windows lining both walls and there was great overhead lighting, so the place was nice and bright.  They had fans on the walls in-between each window, so there was a nice breeze.

There was so much foot traffic that people were actually forced to stand in front of your table for a few minutes, which gave them a chance to look – whether they wanted to or not!

I sold a decoupaged mirror in the first ten minutes and thought, “This is going to be great!”  Unfortunately it was another hour before I sold another piece.  I ended up selling two of my travel-themed decoupaged mirrors, a small silver frame that was bejeweled, a small bejeweled compact and my seashell and pearl mirror.  Five pieces in all.  The higher-end items didn’t sell, although people really admired them and spent a lot of time looking.  A lot of people took my business cards, so I guess I’ll be getting a lot of visitors to my website!

I spoke to some of the other vendors and they said they didn’t sell much either.  Eric told me not to be surprised if I didn’t sell a lot, because money is tight for a lot of people these days, what with gas prices, people getting laid off from their jobs, etc.  I think if I had more inexpensive items I might have done better, but a lot of my stuff is over $50.

A woman across from me was selling home made soaps (which smelled SO good) and she seemed to do very well.  The woman next to me was selling paper-doll fairies that you cut out yourself and attach the knees and elbows and waist with fasteners that allow them to bend and dance.  They were absolutely beautiful, and a sheet cost $4.50, so she sold a LOT of them.  She also had bookmarks and coloring books, so they were pretty popular, and had a low price-point, too.

I took a lot of pictures, but my camera died right after I photographed some sushi dessert that our friend, David, made for us at HAIKU SUSHI, where we went for a quick bite after the craft show.  He created these masterpieces with mango, kiwi, rice and made a little belt of seaweed.  It looked SO cute!

I am charging the battery, so I’ll try to upload all the pictures tomorrow (but it will be on my CRAFTS BLOG, not here!).

At 6:00pm sharp I started packing all my stuff up.  When I went outside with as much as I could carry, Eric was there, waiting for me.  We loaded up the car and drove to HAIKU and then came home and unloaded the car.  I’m SO exhausted.  I told Eric it’s amazing how tired you can get sitting and standing around all afternoon!

One of the highlights of the afternoon was that I got to hold Stella, a gorgeous 8-week-old baby whose aunt is one of the other vendors – Lisa, a fabulous artist whose work I have shown on my CRAFTS BLOG before.  I love this baby.  The first time I ever saw her she was just 3 weeks old, and she’s already gotten so much bigger.  I held her for like 15 minutes and we made eye contact almost the entire time.  Her mom, Laura, said she really liked me!  I told her if she ever needs a babysitter, she should call on me.  I told her that the first time we met, but I think after meeting me three times now, she may take me up on it!

I know it’s going to be VERY hard to get out of bed tomorrow, so I’m going to get undressed, washed up, into my PJs and get into bed!  Today was a great day.  I wouldn’t say it was a huge success, but I met a lot of great, creative, crafty, artistic people, saw some great bellydancing, heard some great bands, and saw some beautiful artwork, so even though I didn’t make much money, I still had a lot of fun!

Last night we watched MONK and were SO surprised and happy to see our friend, Greg Jbara in a featured role!  He’s the guy whose house we went to in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve!  We first met Greg when we went to see DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS on Broadway.  He played the French “bodyguard/ assistant” Andre, the third male lead.  I knew of him, because in 1986 he starred in a campy musical our late friend, Dick Gallagher, wrote called “Have I Got A Girl For You! The Frankenstein Musical.”

Yes, there were several Frankenstein musicals before YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN.  It was really funny, too!  Greg played Frankenstein’s monster and he has always said it was the first big break he got and he was eternally grateful to Dick.

If you’d like to read more about how Mary Shelley’s character has inspired stage and musical versions, click here: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/111747.html

Anyway, Greg was great in MONK!  He’s also starring in a long commercial for some medication where he’s wearing a blue shirt and he dances with a woman.  I’m sure you’ve seen it – it’s for cholesterol medication, I think.

After MONK, we watched the rest of LAST COMIC STANDING to see which 5 would be at the finale next week.  I’ve been voting for ILIZA SCHLESINGER, because I thought she was really great, but all five of the comics really have something special.  MARCUS is great, because he does a lot of impressions, which really adds to his humor.  I also like his delivery.  Anyway, we’re looking forward to another big Reality TV Show Finale next week!

We started watching LENO, but we were both tired, so we shut off the TV.  I was really looking forward to sleeping in this morning, so you can imagine my disappointment when I woke up and it was only 6:00am.  I went to the bathroom and tried to fall back to sleep, but it was just impossible (as usual), so I got up and started reading my book, and then working on the computer.

I’m also working on another “arts and crafts” project for my ex-boss at the firm.  He likes the way I make labels for file folders and pendaflex for him and has asked me several times to do folders for his personal folders at home.  Now, he told me his partner likes them so much he’d like me to do them for him, too.  I really don’t mind.  He was very good to me at the end of my run there, because he spoke to HR to make sure they would keep me busy at the firm and I appreciated that.  It’s always nice to have a “big wig” in your corner!

At 8:00am I went back to bed.  Eric was not really sleeping, but was dozing on and off.  We both fell asleep for a while and then we woke up, had breakfast and watched a little TV until I jumped in the shower.

I left the house around noon and ran a few errands before hitting STARBUCKS and then HAPPY NAILS for my pedicure by Tina.  She’s adorable and does a great job.  After my pedicure I ran a few more errands and then drove to HILLCREST to get my cut and color by John.  I was out of there in an hour.  It’s a Hillcrest Miracle!  I think he had a long day and was exhausted so, for once, he did more coloring and cutting and less talking!

When I got home, Eric was out riding his bicycle, so I took a shower and read some of my book.  Then, I made a big salad and was just finishing when Eric got home.  We had a late lunch of salad and American cheese on Triscuit crackers!   Then, I took a nap while Eric watched TV in the living room.

When I got up he helped me set up the dining area for decoupage, which means putting drop cloths everywhere.  He had cut up a delicious ripe cantelope and that’s what I had for dinner – a bowl of cantelope.  I was pretty full from our salad anyway.  He told me he had a NUTRISYSTEM entrée while I was sleeping, so he had already eaten.

I finally worked on Laura’s vase.  She had asked for a theme of flowers and I brought in my folder filled with cuttings and let her pick out her favorites.  I used about half of what she choose (I always use much less than I think I’ll need) and it came out great.

While I was working, Eric brought in Conrad in his cage on the snack try and put it in the kitchen, so he could keep me company while I worked.  He seemed to be intrigued by what I was doing and was staring at me with his little beady eye.  Do you know when birds are really looking at you they look at you with one eye, rather than straight on?

Anyway, I wanted to talk more about Conrad, because I’ve had him almost two months now, and he’s the strangest bird I’ve ever seen.  He sleeps in a really strange position, which I’ve talked about before, and he never sings.  I mean I heard him sing ONCE – when a bird outside was chirping, he chirped a few times, too.  That’s it.  He doesn’t play.  In fact, he seems deathly afraid of the toy I bought him, which was a favorite of every other bird I ever had.  It’s different colored small plastic rings that hang from the top of the cage and have a bell at the bottom.

He will let me pet him.  He will come on my finger or on a perch I hold out.  He will come out of the cage and fly around if I let him, and fly back to his cage.  Other than that, he just kind of sits there, or moves from one perch to another, or eats.  That’s it.  No playing.  No singing.  Nothing.

I know he’s healthy, because he’s always preening and keeping his feathers looking beautiful, and he eats well (although all he’ll eat is seed – nothing else), but he seems depressed.  I told Eric maybe he’s unhappy because he hasn’t been in the most joyful environment in the world, but I always have a happy voice when I talk to him, which I do a lot, and it’s peaceful all day long with the windows open and the sun shining.  I just don’t get it!

Anyway, the vase is pretty much finished, but I always have to let it dry overnight and then look at it again with a different eye.  I think it looks great.  Eric and I will go buy a can of spray varnish tomorrow at MICHAEL’S and then he’ll do it for me during the week.

Eric’s better at varnishing than I am, because I tend to have a heavy hand.  He’s very patient and will do 10 light coats, whereas I tend to do 5 or 6 heavier coats, which really isn’t as good.  I’m just always impatient and want to get things done fast.  Sometimes, that’s not the best way!

The whole time I was working, Eric was watching TV in his chair.  He watched hours of SHARK ATTACKS, because it’s SHARK WEEK on the Discovery Channel. I don’t know why he likes that stuff – he won’t go in the water at ALL – but he likes to watch stories of other people getting attacked by sharks.  Go figure.

When I was finished, he took a shower and then watched TV in the bedroom while I blogged.  I was tempted to leave it for tomorrow, but we already have a lot to do tomorrow.  I want to clean Conrad’s cage completely.  I clean the bottom, because there’s a tray that pulls out.  I also clean his food and water dish daily, but I like to clean the whole cage and the only way to do that is to let him fly around a little while I do it.  He doesn’t seem to like the process, but I guess he just has to get used to it.  It’s not something I need to do every week, which is a good thing, because it seems to make him nervous.

We are also going food shopping tomorrow.  I like to wait until Sunday, if I have enough food for the weekend, because that way everything is fresher for the week.

Eric and I had a really nice weekend so far.  We had a great dinner at STUDIO DINER on Friday night with our new friends, Marianne and Allan, and a nice day today – with me running errands and getting things done, and Eric riding his bicycle down by the beach.  Then, we spent an enjoyable evening together and I got my decoupage project pretty much completed.  I hope tomorrow is as productive and pleasant!

So, since I woke up at 11:00pm last night after my nap, you can imagine how late I stayed up!  I didn’t turn off the TV until almost 4:00am!!!!  NOT a great way to schedule your sleep!  So, I was up after just 4-½ hours, at about 8:30am.

The first thing I did was call Eric.  We talked for a little while and then I got started on my day.  I was determined to work on my jewelry mosaic mirror.  I am doing three pieces for this woman, Marlene – three different hand mirrors – and two would be very easy, because it was just decoupage, so I figured I’d conquer the hardest challenge first.

I worked for several hours while listening to THE FULL MONTY and SPRING AWAKENING – two of my favorite contemporary musicals.  The work was fun – as always – and I think it’s coming out great.  I always say, “it’s not finished until it’s finished,” because I can go back and add and add and add until I finally say, “Now, it’s done!”

Marlene had requested a lot of purple and gold, but I also have touches of green, red, black and pink.  I think it’s looking magnificent, and I can’t wait to photograph it and put it on my www.peppysdream.com/craftsblog.

At one point I felt the need to stop for a while, so I made myself some PROGRESSO “Light” Weight Watcher’s Soup and watched an episode of GHOST WHISPERER.  I enjoy that show.  I love Jennifer Love Hewitt and now she’s got Jamie Kennedy playing the part of a guy who can hear ghosts, rather than see AND hear them – as she does.  I’m used to seeing him play crazy characters, or doing his “candid camera” type brand of comedy, where he’ll wear a fake nose and play a joke on some unknowing person, so this is a total switch.

Then, I watched an episode of DR. PHIL, and some decorating shows, and then I worked some more.  At 5:30pm I took a nap and slept until 7:00pm.  It was really gorgeous out today, really breezy, and it was so pleasant to sleep with the breeze coming through the window.

At 7:00pm I woke up and started working on the mirror again.  It’s really done, but – like I said…

Then, I made myself a salad for dinner (and for work tomorrow) and watched last Sunday’s episode of DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.  I wanted to watch tonight’s so I had to watch last week’s first, didn’t I?  Then, I watched EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION.  They were in Charlotte, North Carolina this week, which is where Eric and I visited last April!  It’s really a beautiful place and we may end up there yet!  Finally, I watched this week's DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES.

I had a really great weekend.  Having a visit from Rich was so great.  Our dinner with his friends on Friday night in La Jolla was wonderful, and breakfast at THE BIG KITCHEN on Saturday morning was so much fun.  My day in Julian with Rosemary was exactly what I needed.  Spending some quality time with my new friend was so enjoyable and I look forward to more outings.

Today, I got to relax, but also did some crafting, which always makes me happy.  I’m looking forward to a great week -- and I’m praying that all goes well with the sale of the RV and it is finally picked up on Saturday.  That will be a HUGE load off my mind and I know Eric will be relieved, too.  When I think about it, we started trying to sell the RV at the end of August, and when Eric left on September 16th we thought we were close.  I never dreamed it would be over a month before I was able to close the sale.  This is something I am really looking forward to putting behind us!

I slept until 10:00am.  That’s pretty amazing, considering I am usually up by 7:00am.  I DID wake up once during the night, because Conrad was making some sounds.  He never does that, and I don’t know what was going on, but I did manage to fall back to sleep.

The first thing I did when I woke up was call Eric, because I figured he was wondering where I was.  I usually call him on Saturday mornings by 8:00am, since I’m up pretty early and it’s 3 hours ahead in NY.  Unfortunately, he didn’t answer the phone.  I had no idea where he was, but I just turned on the TV and watched some shows I had recorded.  I watched BOSTON LEGAL and KITCHEN NIGHTMARES.  Then, I called Eric again.  This time he answered.

He had been mountain biking with his friend Jay and our niece’s boyfriend, Hashem.  Eric rode with Hashem when he first got to NY, but I don’t think he’s been mountain biking since.  They took a trip to Saxon Woods, which I think is in Conneticut, where Jay lives.  Eric said it was really wet, but they had a great ride anyway.  He said Hashem is really enjoying the mountain biking, and he did, too.

I was so thrilled to hear that Eric had been riding, because I knew that meant he was definitely feeling better.  After riding, he and Hashem went to his sister Rachel’s (Hashem is Rachel's daughter, April's boyfriend), and Hashem set up an email account for Eric.  Eric doesn’t even have a computer, but Hashem thought he should have an email address.  Eric sent me an email, and I wrote him back.  It was pretty thrilling!

Eric told me he wanted to buy me a new computer for my birthday, because he knows my computer is an “antique.”  I told him I just ordered one and that Andrew is going to be setting it up for me.  He was so happy for me!  I told him my plan was to bring the old one to NY, have Andrew transfer all my documents to the new computer and then give the old one to Eric, so he can learn how to use it and get used to it.  I was teaching him last year, when we were traveling in the RV, and he was doing really well, but if you don’t practice, you forget everything.

I know Hashem will help him get set up and will show him how to send emails, so we can communicate in a way we never have before.  Eric said, “Hey, I’m 52 and I managed to live this long without a computer.”  I said I understood, and it wasn’t important that he learn now, but wouldn’t it be fun to send emails back and forth?  He agreed that it would, so he’s excited about having my computer.

After I hung up with Eric I did some stuff around the apartment, talked to my cousin Ilene for a while, and then finally got out into the beautiful sunshine.  It was amazingly warm today – I think it must have been close to 80 degrees!  It felt so great.

I went to the dry cleaners, then to my dressmaker.  I bought three new jackets for work and they all need to have some alterations.  Then, I went to Michael’s to buy some craft supplies.  Then, I stopped into Burlington Coat Factory to look at suitcases, but Rosemary called and said not to buy one, because she has one for me.  I told her they were all $50, but I’d rather borrow hers and take her out for more sushi.  I’d rather spend the $50 on a great meal than on a suitcase I’ll probably never use again!

So, now I’m set for my trip.  I have my little pink carry-on suitcase on wheels and I’ll borrow Rosemary’s to check in at the airport.  I’m glad I’ll have room for all the clothes I need to bring.  After all, we’re having a party, so I need an outfit for that, we’re going to the theatre on Monday night to see BILLY ELLIOT, so I need an outfit for that, then we’re going to the wedding, so I need an outfit for that.  I also need clothes for every other day I’ll be there, although I’m sure I’ll be repeating a lot.

I was walking around Burlington Coat Factory for the first time.  I had been in there a few times before, but never really walked around the whole store.  I saw that they have a Petites section, so I decided to look at clothes.  I saw they had Petite jeans, and I haven’t bought a pair of jeans in about 15 years, so I decided to try some on.  I actually found a pair that fit great and I bought them.  I know – it’s amazing!  They’re from a company called JEANSTAR and they’re called “Elle” – stretch mid-rise classic bootcut jeans.  They’re so dark they really look black, and they fit great and don’t even need a hem.  The best part is – they’re a size 6.  I really never dreamed I’d be a size 6.  I’m so thrilled!

Now, I have a pair of pants to wear around the city when I’m on vacation.  I’m actually going to go back to Burlington Coat Factory to see if they have the same size in a different color.  I also got a black silky blouse in the Petite section, which I can wear with the jeans, or my black slacks, or some skirts I have, too.

When I finished there I went food shopping at KEIL’S and then came home and started two loads of laundry.  I started crafting at around 8:30pm and worked straight until 11:00pm.  I worked on the yoga hand mirror and tray that I’m creating for Marlene’s daughter.  She owns a yoga studio in Fresno and Marlene thought it would be a fabulous gift for her.  I think they’re both coming out really great, but neither is finished yet.

When I was finished I watched some TV and worked on the computer.  I am creating place cards for the dinner party in New York.  I’m not going to give away what they are, but they’re useful and decorative – and I’m embellishing each with decoupage.  There will be about 40 people at the party, so I’ve got my work cut out for me!

I’m starting to get really excited about the trip to NY.  I can’t wait to see Eric, to see all our friends, to see my family at Thanksgiving, and to see Eric’s family at the wedding.  It’s really going to be a great holiday and a sweet reunion with my darling husband!

I DID get up early this morning and got out early enough to hit STARBUCKS before work.

My allergies were really bad today and my nose was running – a lot.  I was blowing and sneezing again.  I expressed my dismay and one of the girls said it was the Santa Anna winds.  Everything that ever happens in San Diego is blamed on the Santa Anna winds!  It’s suddenly very cold – it’s the Santa Anna winds.  It’s turns very hot – it’s the Santa Anna Winds.  It’s very foggy – it’s the Santa Anna winds.  I have a stomach ache – it’s the Santa Anna winds.  I got a flat tire -- it's the Santa Anna winds.  Well, I don’t know if it really IS the Santa Anna winds, but I wasn’t having much fun this morning.

I stayed pretty busy all day – working on projects for almost every girl in the group.  I did some filing for the girl in payroll.  I put together some Recruiting Packets for Elsa.  I did more shredding for one of the other girls and made two WORD documents “look pretty.”  I’m really good at that.  You give me the text and I’ll make the page look like a million bucks.  I did two documents and they both looked great!

The day went by very quickly and, before I knew it, it was 4:30pm.  I left with Rosemary, because she brought me a big black suitcase on wheels, which will be perfect for me to check at the airport.  I’m so glad I didn’t have to buy one!  I walked with her to her car and she drove me to mine and gave me the suitcase.

I brought my GPS, Betty, with me, because from my appointment tonight I was planning to go to La Jolla to see Gili Anna and I wasn't sure how to get there from the north, since I'm usually coming from the south.  Marlene, who is coming tomorrow to pick up her yoga hand mirror and tray and butterfly hand mirror, also wants to buy my bejeweled tissue box and the bejeweled mirrored vanity tray I made months ago, so I needed to pick it up.

Unfortunately, something was going on in La Jolla and the traffic was NUTS.  There was a lot of police activity.   It’s a good thing I had Betty with me, because they had streets closed and made us detour and without Betty I never would have known where the hell I was or how to find Prospect Street, where Gili Anna’s shop is located.

I finally got there after about 40 minutes of traffic. The good news is I found a great spot right away.  It was great to see Gili Anna.  She’s so sweet and beautiful and her shop is always a treat for the eyes.

Besides giving me my tissue box, she gave me a check (because she sold one of my small mirrors) and gave me back the rest of the items.  She said maybe this woman will buy more (and she probably will) and she said she’s moving a lot of things around.  She has had them for more than 6 months, which is longer than I ever held anything on consignment, so I didn’t mind at all.  I took back two compacts, two small mirrors and the tissue box, which is all she had left.  She sold 4 of my pieces, which is pretty good!

I asked her if she was busy after she closed the shop, because I saw a sushi place right down the block and I offered to take her out to dinner.  She said she already ate (a late lunch of pasta) and was not hungry, but she’d have some Miso soup with me.  We sat down and she got Miso soup and a small bowl of rice and I got Miso soup and a spicy tuna roll.  The place was pretty empty, which is unusual for a Thursday night in La Jolla, but it was after 8:00pm by now.

AFter we finished our meal, the waiter came over with another plate.  The two Mexican sushi chefs (yes, they were Mexican!) made us a roll with tuna and salmon, but it was so artistic and beautiful.  The waiter presented it to us as a gift from the chefs!  We both thought it was so sweet of them – and it was so delicious!  What a treat!  The check came with two Andes Candies (which we both love!).  I left them an extra big tip.  It was my first time at this place, but I would definitely go back.  The food was great and they went that extra mile to make a great impression.

Unfortunately (again) there was just as much traffic heading out of La Jolla as there was heading in and a 10-minute trip took me another half hour.

When I got home, I set up all the pieces I brought home on my chest/coffee table, so it’s all on display for Marlene tomorrow.  It really looks beautiful!  I took some pictures, but it’s too late to upload them tonight.  Maybe tomorrow!

I had just gotten home when my Mom called.  She’s really the cutest thing and I love talking to her.  When I hung up with her I watched UGLY BETTY.  Ralph Macchio is a new love interest for Betty’s sister.  He’s not young anymore, but he’s still cute.  Speaking of Ralph Macchio, I read that Will Smith’s son, Jaden, will be making a remake of THE KARATE KID!

So, tomorrow is Friday already.  This week really flew by.  I can’t believe I’m flying to NY one week from tomorrow.  To my New York contingent – I will see you soon!!!!!!!!!

I barely got out of the apartment on time this morning.  I got so used to leaving on my own schedule that I forget to look at the clock and tend to dally a little in the mornings.  When we got to the office, Elsa bought me coffee.  She’s so sweet!  I had bought her coffee the other day, to welcome her back to the office, and she reciprocated this morning.

I was very busy all day long.  I’m working on a big file job – sorting resumes from 1999 through 2007.  Everything prior to 2006 gets shredded.  2006 and 2007 are being boxed up (by me) and sent to storage.  2008 stays in the files.  It’s a huge job, but I love this sort of thing.

I also worked on projects for a few other girls, along with my regular responsibilities  So, the day flew by quickly.  I spoke to Eric at lunchtime, and then again when I got home.  Then, I took a nap because I knew Marlene was coming with her boyfriend and wouldn’t get to San Diego until about 9:30pm.

I woke up at 8:00pm, cleaned up the apartment and got ready for their arrival.  She was right on time at 9:30pm.  She LOVED the tissue box, which she had previously only seen on my blog.  She also bought the mirrored tray with the jewelry mosaic border, and two of my small bejeweled mirrors that stand on a table.

She and her boyfriend both flipped from the yoga mirror and tray and the butterfly mirror.  They were so impressed with how I had customized the pieces for her daughter and just couldn’t get over it.  I was pleased with how they came out, and was so glad they were, too.

We had a great time talking and getting to know each other.  She’s really a great girl and I enjoy her company.  Her boyfriend is very sweet and he is very patient with her, because I’m sure he’s not interested in jewelry mosaics, but he drives her almost two hours each way just to see me and pick up her merchandise!

They left a little after 11:00pm and then I watched GHOST WHISPERER, which was so sad that I cried through the entire episode.

Tomorrow I am working on my place cards for the Greenberg Soiree.  I’m very excited.  It’s something I’m crafting myself, but it’s small enough that I can make one for everyone and take it to New York without worrying about it breaking, or taking up a lot of room!

I also have to go food shopping, pick up clothes I had altered at the dressmaker, and do a lot of laundry.  I am going to start packing, too – at least figuring out what I’m going to take!

I’m so excited about my trip and can’t believe that in one week I’ll be on a plane flying to New York!

I don’t know WHAT was going on, but I woke up to the loud voices of the people who live downstairs.  I never heard them so loud before – and I’ve been year a year!  (It’s actually exactly a year that we moved in on the 26th, which – last year – was the Monday after Thanksgiving).

Anyway, I kept my eyes closed and refused to look at the clock, trying to fall back to sleep.  They were SO noisy, so loud, talking and laughing.  Finally, when I realized it wasn’t going to stop and I wasn’t going to fall back to sleep, I looked at the clock.  It was 6:58am!  What?  Are you kidding me?  What the hell are they doing up so early on a Sunday?  What are they being so noisy about at 6:30am on a Sunday?

I decided to call Eric.  He was just leaving to go on a ride, so we hung up quickly.  He said it’s been raining a lot, so he couldn’t ride the woods, but he was going out for a nice long road ride.  I was so happy.  He’s really back, my Eric.  He’s got the fire again – riding whenever he can.  I guess he needed the New York weather and the New York woods to get him back, but he’s finally there!

I decided it was much too early to get out of bed, so I watched SNL again.  I watched the whole thing last night (Oh, I forgot to mention – I didn’t shut the TV off until 2:00am, so I only got about 5 hours sleep).  Last night’s show was SO funny that I had to watch certain parts again.  It was also great because Beyonce did two numbers and I LOVE her.  She is SUCH a great performer, with a fabulous stage presence, a gorgeous body, beautiful clothes, and an amazing voice.

Her band is all women and they’re fantastic.  Justin Timberlake made a guest appearance on the show.  He was supposed to host next Saturday, but he had to cancel, and I guess he was available this week (along with the real host – Paul Rudd), so he was in two sketches.

Paul Rudd was funny, too.  I really enjoyed the show and still didn’t delete it, because I just might watch it again!

I finally got out of bed, but I just did some stuff around the apartment, including folding clothes from my clean laundry and putting stuff away.  I wanted to go food shopping, but I wasn’t motivated to get out of the apartment.  I just hung around and then decided to start working on my special decoupage project for the Greenberg Soirée.  I worked for a few hours and then felt tired, so I decided to lie down and take a nap.  Unfortunately, it was the middle of a hot afternoon in San Diego and everyone and their brother was out and about, so it was pretty noisy.

When I got up I finally took a shower and went food shopping.  It was 83 degrees out, which is unusually warm for this time of year.  It’s usually around 70 degrees in the fall.  It really didn’t feel bad, even though I walked to the supermarket with my old lady cart.  I wore my pedometer and I am happy to report that walking there, going up and down the aisles and walking back was over 2,000 steps.

I guess it’s not as hard as I thought to do 10,000 steps, but 2,187 steps only burned 48 calories (are you kidding me?) and was only .79 miles.  I knew I wasn’t walking MILES, but I honestly thought I burned more than 48 calories doing that.  Anyway, at least I’m aware of how many steps, how many miles and how many calories, so I can work on increasing that and decreasing my caloric intake.

I spoke to Eric a few times today – after his ride, while he was at his sister’s house for dinner, and then when he got home.  He’s such a pleasure to talk to these days.  His attitude is positive, he’s in a great mood, he’s excited about my visit, and he’s looking forward to the party, too.  It’s all good!

I had some organic vegetable broth with some rice and almond cracker snacks (which are a healthy alternative to potato chips).  They’re from Blue Diamond and they’re really good.  They’re pretty low calorie, too, because a serving is 16 crackers and it’s only 130 calories, with only 35 calories from fat.  They’re called Nut-Thins, which of course I was saying out loud to myself all afternoon.  I love plays on words – like the restaurant Eric and I used to go to called the Garden of Eating.  I used to love to say it – The Garden of Eating.

Anyway, I worked for many more hours, but still have about 10 of my decoupage projects left.  I put in another 5 CDs and listened to a lot of them, then turned it off to go food shopping and then listened to them all over again until they stopped.  This time I had all groups, but with female lead singers – The Pretenders (the singles), Fleetwood Mac (greatest hits), Dixie Chicks, and a double Blondie Greatest Hits.

I stopped to eat dinner (more organic vegetable broth with some tuna) and watched EXTREME MAKEOVER: HOME EDITION.  It was a particularly touching story about a mother and father with three boys who adopted 8 more boys – 5 brothers from Haiti and three more at-risk kids from the inner city of their neighborhood – Toledo, Ohio.  They were all squished into this little house.  The father is a hero firefighter and the mother is fighting a serious illness, which could end up killing her.

These boys were all so close – from such different backgrounds, different countries even, different colors, but they all loved each other and were so close.  It was a beautiful thing to see.
After EM I worked on the project some more.  I had been varnishing each one as they were finished and kept varnishing into the night.  I hope to complete them tomorrow night, and get crackin’ on some packin’!  I really haven’t done more than make some piles of clothes on my bed, on a chair, and on the couch in the living room.  It’s funny, because having the borrowed big black suitcase gives me the freedom to overpack, which I will definitely do.  If I have to take this thing to NY, I might as well take it full!

I know this week is going to fly by.  I only have tomorrow and Wednesday to get things done at home, because Tuesday I’m getting my hair cut and colored and then going to yoga and Thursday I have my regular appointment, although I do get home at 6:30pm.  I also need to fit in a manicure and pedicure (after I’m done with the decoupage!).  If I don’t get a chance to do it this week, I’ll have to do it Saturday in New York and I’d rather not waste the time, if I can avoid it.

I’m a little worried about work.  Things have slowed down considerably and I know they may not be able to keep me in HR much longer.  If they can find another position in which to place me, that would be great.  Otherwise, they’ll have to let me go and I’ll have to let the agency know that I am looking for work again.  That would stink, but – hey – I have to be grateful that I had this steady gig for 10 months – and I am!

Wow!  I can’t believe it’s been 500 days since Eric and I drove off Leggett Place and changed our lives forever!  If you would have told me that 500 days later Eric would be back in Whitestone, steamfitting, and I would be sitting here in San Diego, typing on my new laptop, I’d have thought you were nuts.  Yet, that’s exactly where we stand, 500 days later.  Life is a constant surprise, don’t you think?  You never know what tomorrow will bring.  I think it’s kind of what makes life worth living – what makes each day exciting.  If you really did know exactly what would happen, it would get very boring very fast, at least I think so!

Anyway, my 500th blog entry will have many photographs, because I finally had a chance to download all the fabulous wedding photos my niece Melissa gave me on a CD.  So, you will get to see the gorgeous bride, Jessica, the handsome groom, Ken, the fabulous maid-of-honor, April, and all the rest.  You can reminisce about Peppy with her curly hair, because it’s all gone now!

I had a fun day today.  I got up at my usual time – 9:00am – and called Eric.  I was pretty tired, because I didn’t go to sleep last night until after 1:00pm.  It took me a LONG time to get all those pictures from DANCING WITH THE STARS uploaded, but I think it was worth it!  Do you know 2 people found my blog, because they were googling DANCING WITH THE STARS?  They loved my photos and both wrote to say they couldn’t wait to go see the show when it reached their town!  Very cool!

I had to run a few errands, but first I picked Tifney up at the office and we drove about a mile to SOUP PLANTATION for lunch.  We both had salads, and then I had chicken broth and a few noodles, some pasta, and a chocolate muffin.  It was all really good.  The place is a bargain if you can eat a lot, because it’s all you can eat and it’s about $12 a person, including a drink.

We had a great time.  Tifney is really fun and I enjoy her company a lot.  We made plans to get together for lunch again in a few weeks – after all the holidays.  She invited me over to her house for Christmas Eve dinner, which I thought was SO sweet, but she has two pugs and I know I couldn’t stay at her house for more than 10-15 minutes without getting sick.  Too bad.  I’ll bet it will be lots of fun.

After lunch, I dropped her off and headed back to Clairemont.  Ever since I got back from NY, I have been unable to access the internet on my old laptop.  Isn’t that ironic?  I get a new laptop, with internet access, and my old one konks out.  I brought it to CIRCUIT CITY, because that’s where I bought my VERIZON modem.  Unfortunately, the guy who checked it out showed me that it wasn’t the modem, but a piece inside my computer that was broken.  I told him this thing is an antique and I refuse to put one penny into it, so I just canceled my contract.  The good news is, I’ll save $60 a month!  The bad news is, that computer isn’t good for much anymore.

If I gave it to someone, they could get internet access the “old fashioned” way – through the phone or cable company, but not the kind I have – Wi-Fi – which means you can go anywhere and have internet access without being hooked up with wires.

It DID cost me $95 to cancel my contract, but they said you pay $60 in advance, so I really only have to pay $35 to cancel and I’ll start saving in January.  My contract was up in August, so if I DID keep it I would have spent an additional $420!

After CIRCUIT CITY, I went to the shoemaker, because the shoes I want to wear to the Bar Mitzvah needed new leather soles.  They’re dressy black mules from VIA SPIGA and I love them.  I wore them when Eric and I went to see BILLY ELLIOT and walking along the streets of Manhattan did a number on them.  This guy is good, so I’m confident they will be as good as new.  I told him I need to pick them up tomorrow morning and he said they’d be ready!

After running my errands, I came back to the apartment to hang out until it was time for my Thursday appointment.  I have been working diligently on the mirror for Marlene and I figured if I could finish it by tonight I could actually deliver it to her in Costa Mesa on my way to Los Angeles tomorrow and save her and her boyfriend the trip down here.  I know it’s a pain for them to come, because he works all day and then drives her down in Friday night traffic.  By the time they get home it must be after midnight.  This way, I can deliver it, and then be on my way.  She was absolutely thrilled!

This is the fastest I’ve ever completed such a large project, but since I wasn’t working this week I was able to put 4-5 hours each day into it.  That’s much more than I could if I was working.

I went to my appointment and couldn’t believe how cold it had gotten.  During the day, when the sun is shining, it’s so warm out, but in the late afternoon, as the sun was setting, it felt very chilly.  The temperature was only about 53 degrees, which is very cold for San Diego!  It gets cold in the apartment at night and I’ve been sleeping in my flannels under a few cotton blankets with the heat on every night!

I had a Birthday coupon for a free ice cream at COLD STONE CREAMERY, so I stopped by on my way home.  It felt too cold for ice cream, but I figured I’d take it home and have it for dessert while wearing my fluffy fleece robe!

Turns out, this particular COLD STONE CREAMERY is combining with ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATE FACTORY and will now be selling chocolates by the pound, and caramel and chocolate-dipped apples.  A young man put a tray of something chocolatey on the counter and I said, “What is that?”  Turns out it was three chocolate covered marshmallows on a stick.  He offered me one and I couldn’t refuse.  I swear, I’m going straight to hell!  Between the ice cream, the marshmallows, and my lunch today with Tifney, I probably gained two pounds in one day.  Anyway, the marshmallows were TO DIE FOR!  I offered to tip them, because they gave me the ice cream and marshmallows free, but they just said, “Just come back and see us again!”  I promised I would and hope I get invited to a party, so I can bring some of their fabulous chocolates!

I had my leftover eggplant parmigiana and the rest of my vegetable soup (yes, it’s finally gone) for dinner. 

I don’t know if I mentioned this previously, but I have a friend who occasionally gives me typing work.  I haven’t done anything for him since last December (which came in very handy, because I wasn’t working last December either!).  He emailed me last week and asked if I’d be available for some typing.  I told him it was perfect timing because, once again, I was out of work!  I received the work today and will get started when I get back from Los Angeles.  The money from the mirror and this typing won’t exactly pay my rent, but it will keep me in groceries, gas and STARBUCKS!!!!  I’m lucky Eric is working, because he’ll be paying my rent this month!

Since my mirror is finished (and I’m delivering it tomorrow!), I just relaxed and watched TV.  I am REALLY tired, so I’m going to try to get to bed at a decent time, because I have to pick up my shoes at the shoemaker, get my mani/pedi and drive to Costa Mesa before heading up to Los Angeles.  I have a busy day ahead of me.

Enjoy these wedding photos!

The lovely maid of honor -- Jessica's sister, April!

My beautiful nieces -- Melissa and Stephanie (sisters):

Four of my beautiful nieces: Ashley, Michele, Stephanie and Melissa.

Brother and sisters -- Jason, Stephanie and Melissa.  Yes, that is a mohawk and bow tie Jason is sporting.  Like his grandfather and his Uncle Eric, Jason is also a steamfitter!

Here we are!

Jessica and Ken Mejia:

I wish there were pictures of all my nieces and nephews, but there just weren't!  I'm sure when Jessica sends out pictures I'll be able to show all 11 that were there!

The first thing I did this morning, after I spoke to Eric, was call Susan to see how she was doing.  She is in a lot of pain, but resting comfortably and of course her husband Andrew is taking good care of her.  I had to NOT be funny, because she told me that laughing hurt a lot.  It’s funny, but the harder you try not to be funny, the funnier you seem to be!

I finally finished my typing project today.  Hooray!  It felt like I was working on it for months, but it was really just about 3 weeks.

I got busy typing this morning, finished the job, emailed it to my friend, and then got dressed to go out.  I wanted to get a flat on my bicycle fixed, so I can ride my bike.  Eric took the wheel off before he left for NY in September and I just got the flat fixed today.  Okay, so I’m not the most ambitious exerciser in the world!

I just figured that walking 3 miles to Starbucks was do-able, but I didn’t think I could make the 6 miles to and from the shopping center, but I knew I could easily ride it on my bicycle, because I already did it with Eric.  It’s pretty flat all the way, so it’s a very easy ride.

The bicycle shop fixed the flat for $12.  Eric told me to ask the guy to show me how to put the wheel back on and hook up the brake, and then he would talk me through it on the phone when I got home, which he did.  Eric is a great teacher and even over the phone he was able to explain it all, so that I could figure it out and get everything put together.

The memory box I am making will feature ticket stubs, invitations, photos, maps, and other memorabilia, but the girl told me her décor is red/white/and black in the room where she will keep the box, so I wanted to find some interesting papers to use.  I went to MICHAELS, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything.  The good news is I DID find some great stuff going through all my decoupage cuttings when I got home.  I have enough papers cut from magazines, catalogs, etc., to decoupage about 100 projects and still would have enough for more!  I have them all divided into categories – Animals, Asian, Art, Butterflies, Cats & Dogs, Flowers, Maps and Travel, Movie Stars, Cosmetics and Perfume, etc., etc., etc.

After I had all my materials together, I put down my drop cloths, put on my apron, and started to work.  I worked for about 2 hours and then had a bowl of SPECIAL K CHOCOLATEY DELIGHT for dinner while I watched UGLY BETTY.  It was SO great tonight.  It made me laugh out loud several times.  I love that show.  It’s funny, fashionable, and sweet – all at the same time!  I had tears in my eyes at the end.  If you watched, you know why!  If you didn’t, there’s no need to explain!

I’m planning to go for a ride on my bicycle tomorrow.  I hope I don’t poop out.  I’m very good at planning things and then pooping out.  I want to work on the box some more, and I’m having a sushi dinner with Elsa at HAIKU tomorrow night, but I should be able to fit in a fast bicycle ride in between.  At least I hope I can!

I had a pretty busy day today, except I didn’t get a chance to ride my bicycle!  I had to bring two packages to the post office and I knew I had to make a trip to MICHAEL’S (more on that later), so I decided to go in the car.

I stopped at STARBUCKS, then mailed my packages at the post office, then went to MICHAEL’S and then came home and did two loads of laundry and went to the bank.  I got my first unemployment check today.  Wheeee!  I haven’t been on unemployment since a six-week period from 1982-1983 and I worked steadily until 2002, when I opened my shop (which was still working, of course, but I wasn’t paying into unemployment).  So, I think I’m entitled, don’t you?  It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing!

I went to the website at which they require you to register, and I looked at all the job openings.  Unfortunately, there was nothing that fit me, so I have to hope the temp agencies come up with something, although I’ve heard they’re doing REALLY bad and no one is using temps right now.

After running all my errands, I cleaned a little, and then relaxed and watched a few decorating shows and ended up falling asleep for an hour.  When I woke up I took a shower, got dressed and waited for Elsa to pick me up for our sushi dinner at HAIKU.  I was very excited, because I haven’t seen Elsa since the holiday party and I really miss her.

We had a conversation going back and forth on FACEBOOK between a few girls in the office.  I told Elsa that I missed going to work with her, so she should pick me up in the morning and I’d just wait in the car until she got out of work, and then she could drive me home.  She said she thought she could sneak me into the office and I could hang out in the file room.  This went back and forth with Stacie saying no one would find me in there, because no one goes in there anymore, and me saying they could bring me lunch and a coffee from the coffee cart (which I really miss, by the way).  Then, I said it would be just like Anne Frank, but without the Nazis!  They really got a kick out of that!

Anyway, Elsa said things at work are very slow and they’re not hiring permanent, temp, consultants, etc.  Everyone’s cutting back wherever they can.  It’s not a good time to be unemployed, that’s for sure.

When Elsa came to pick me up she came up to the apartment.  It was the first time she’d ever been inside.  I’ve never been to her house either, but she has two dogs and a cat, so there’s a reason.  I told her I felt bad that she had never been to the apartment, after being friends for almost a year, but it’s just that when Eric was here he wasn’t really up for company, and once he was gone I just never had the opportunity to invite her.  I was embarrassed, because my laundry was all hanging on the line, but she said she was glad she got to see it, because she got a kick out of seeing all my pajamas hanging on the line – Betty Boop, records, and cereal boxes!

She drove to Haiku and we had the most delicious dinner.  We started with Miso Soup, Shumai and a Coma, which is deep fried jalapeno with cream cheese and spicy salmon.  It is SO delicious.  We also got a Spicy Crunchy Shrimp Roll and a spicy tuna roll.  We couldn’t even finish the last roll.  We were stuffed, but it was SO good!  We talked a lot and filled each other in on what's happening in our lives.  Elsa is a sweet, beautiful girl and I feel so lucky that I got the job I did, because I met her and we became friends.  She's smart, and funny, and a pleasure to be with.

When I got home I called Jimmy and we talked for a while.  I told him I was wishing I had some STARBUCKS and was tempted to go out and drive there.  He said, “Go for it!”  So, I did! 

As I walked to the parking lot I looked up and noticed that the moon was SO bright it was like a spotlight in the sky.  I stared and stared, because I just couldn’t believe how bright it was.  Then, a few minutes ago I read on YAHOO! that tomorrow is the “biggest, brightest full moon of the whole year.”  Wow!  Tonight’s was already REALLY big, full and bright, but be sure to look up at the sky Saturday night! You don't want to miss it!

I was through the drive-through and back to the apartment in 15 minutes and then had a great drink while I worked on my decoupage project for the next 3 hours.

So, as you know, I started my decoupage project last night and I was very enthusiastic about the results so far.  This morning, I woke up at 8:00am and was just lying in bed thinking about it.  Suddenly, something came to me.  I’m an idiot!

Last night, I started with the bottom of the box (which is like a shoe box) and put the lid aside, so it wouldn’t get dirty, or get glue on it.  All of a sudden this morning, I realized that I forgot to take into account the lid closing over the top of the box.  The lid covers the top inch-and-a-half, so everything I put at the top would be covered when the lid was on!  If the lid was off most of the time, or if the box would be displayed open, it wouldn’t be so bad, but she would only open it to put something in or get something out and it would almost always have the lid on, which means you’d see the middle of a picture and the top would be cut off!  Also, when I tried it, I found that having the pictures go all the way to the top made the box lid hard to get on and off.  That would never do!

I decided the only thing to do was start over.  I took some of the pictures and memorabilia that I had reproduced in color and made more color copies.  Then, I went to MICHAEL’S and bought another box.

This time, I put the lid on and drew a pencil line all around on the box, so I’d know where to start my pictures.  Then, I put blue painter’s tape all around the top, so it would stay clean.  The first box was all white, but this one was red, so at least the exposed, un-decoupaged top would be decorative.

So, tonight I completed the whole bottom of the box and just need to do the lid and the very bottom of the box (which you won't really see, but I decoupage anyway!).  Two things happened.

First, when I removed the painter’s tape (which I had already experimented with on the old box and seemed fine), the red paper on the box ripped in two places.  Then, when I put the lid on, some of the red was visible.  I realized that when I made my pencil mark I put my hand on the top, to make sure it was steady and I probably was pushing it down harder than it normally sits.  Oy!

I decoupaged a few pictures over the rips (which – fortunately are on the back of the box) and still haven’t figured out what I’m going to do about the red parts that show on the one side.  It’s weird, because on three sides it’s perfect and you can’t see any red, it’s just one long side of the box where the red shows.

I’m such a perfectionist, so it REALLY bothers me.  I’ll have to be very clever.  I hope I’m up to it!

Tomorrow I’m going to have lunch with Rosemary at a great Chinese restaurant on Convoy Street.  I know I’ve mentioned Convoy Street before.  It’s off Balboa and just about 3 or 4 miles from the apartment.  It should be called “Asia Town,” because every kind of Asian food you can imagine can be found on Convoy Street – Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese.  It's a really fun neighborhood.

Eric and I went to two Vietnamese restaurants on Convoy and I think I went to another restaurant with someone else, but I can’t remember who or where (I'm really getting old!).  Anyway, we’re going to a place called IMPERIAL HOUSE, which she highly recommends.

I’ve only had Chinese food about 3-4 times in the last year-and-a-half, so I’m really looking forward to it!

So, I’ve been working on my project pretty much non-stop for the past few days.  Jimmy says I'm "DecouCrazy!"  He's so clever!  Anyway, it’s coming along fine, and I've pretty much resolved all the problems.  The only thing I have left to decoupage is the bottom of the box.  Then, I need to paint the ball feet black and attach them to the bottom, varnish the whole thing, then line the whole inside of the box with padding and black velvet, so it’s as lovely inside as out!

I didn’t do much else today, until 3:30pm I left the apartment to go to MICHAEL’s (third time this week) to buy black spray paint for the ball feet.  Unfortunately they didn’t have high gloss, just satin, and I want high-gloss, since the finish on the box is going to be high-gloss.

Then, I met Rosemary for dinner at IMPERIAL MANDARIN on Convoy Street.  We shared fried cream cheese and crabmeet wontons (amazing) and she had Kung Pao Chicken, while I had Kung Pao Shrimp.

Rosemary and I never run out of conversation, and we had a great time talking and laughing.  When it was time to go, we walked outside and looked up at the moon.  It was, indeed, even brighter than I remembered last night.  You almost needed sunglasses to look at it!

I drove through STARBUCKS and pointed it out to the girl at the drive-through window.  I told her to tell everyone inside to come look at the moon, because it was the biggest, fullest, brightest moon we’d see all year!

I pulled into a spot and called my parents in Florida.  They said they noticed the moon when they went out at 6:00pm, but they went outside (it was almost 10:00pm in FL) and they couldn’t believe how bright it was.  I said it was just amazing to me that it could be so bright in Florida AND in San Diego, but I guess I’m not very smart.

When I got home I called Eric and told him to look at the moon, but he said it was snowing hard and there were clouds all over.  I told him the moon was SO bright that you would probably be able to see it through the clouds, but he said I was crazy and went back to watching his football game!  He’s such a romantic!

After working on the computer for a while I was going to start working on the box again, but decided to wait until tomorrow.  I was pretty exhausted and figured I’d just wash up, get in my pjs, put on my fluffy robe and watch TV.  After all, it’s Saturday night!  There was a MONK marathon on all day today and I DVR’d all of them, so I can pick and choose some to watch.  There are some that I’ve only seen once – the first time they aired – and others that I love so much I can watch over and over.

I have absolutely no plans for tomorrow.  I need to do a food shopping, and I need to go to COSTCO to get gas and I also have a $3.50 coupon for KLEENEX tissues and you know I’ve gone through about 5 boxes in the last few weeks, so I really need them!

Before I tell you about my day, I must show you what I consider to be the best and worst at the Golden Globes last night.  I looked online at the best and worst and my favorite dress of the whole night was actually on one of the WORST lists, so it’s all according to taste, obviously.

Anyway, my favorite dress of the whole evening was worn by Miss Golden Globes herself – Rumer Willis.  The color was dramatic -- a deep purple -- and so much nicer than black, the fit was perfect, and the detailing was extraordinary.  It had that little bit of bling and sparkle at the waist, which of course you know I loved.

My worst was worn by someone I do not know.  All I know is the color was horrendous (a mustard yellow) and the shape was ridiculous.  If I told you that I whipped this thing up, you’d have no problem believing me – and I’m not a designer and I don’t sew!  Not only is the color bad, but it doesn’t fit well, isn’t flattering, and doesn’t make any sense.   There's actually a line goint from her crotch down the center of the gown, which looks like it needs a good ironing.  PLEASE correct me if I’m wrong!

There were many great gowns on the red carpet last night, but those are my very best and worst.  I won’t bore you with the rest!

So, on to my day.  I cannot believe how warm it was in San Diego today.  They say it’s the Santa Anna winds.  I know I’ve mentioned before that everything that happens in San Diego is blamed on the Santa Anna winds – allergies, warmth, cold, rain, wind, sun, fire, mudslide, etc.  It’s the catch-all for whatever happens here!

Anyway, I woke up and the sun was just beaming in the windows.  I opened the door and it felt remarkably warm.  I don’t want to rub it in, especially for those of you who are in New York or thereabouts and suffering through the cold and snow, but this IS my last winter here, so forgive me if I am REALLY enjoying it!

I met my friend Stacie for lunch.  We went to Soup Plantation, which is very popular with the firm I was working for, because it’s just 5 minutes away.  We had a delicious lunch of soup and salad.  Stacie is working on something creative and I’m helping her.  That’s all I can say right now, not only because I don’t want to jinx it, but because she doesn’t know about my blog, and I don’t think it’s fair to say.  I will give more details when it’s appropriate!

After lunch we drove back to the office and I got a coffee from the coffee cart for the first time since November.  It was as good as I remembered!  It’s not STARBUCKS, but it’s made fresh by the sweetest girl (who is getting married in May) and it’s still very yummy!

After I left Stacie I drove to La Jolla to do a little shopping.  I didn’t buy much – just some cute black and white folders in STAPLES.  It’s not that I need them, I just couldn’t resist!

After that I went to the bicycle shop near me, because I owed $1.31.  I know, why bother?  It’s just that they were very nice to me and I felt bad, because I didn’t have enough money with me when I went there yesterday on my bicycle, so I thought it was only right that I give them what I owed.
Then, I headed to COSTCO, just so I could fill up with gas.  It cost me exactly $20.02.  The price has gone up a little, but it’s still MUCH better than last year!

After that I headed home and spent the rest of the afternoon working on my project.  I varnished several sides of the lid and box and painted the ball feet black.  I was going to use spray paint, but they didn’t have any at MICHAEL’S and I had black acrylic paint in a tube, so I just painted them using a brush.  It took all of 10 minutes and they came out GREAT!

I have more varnishing to do tomorrow and I also have to varnish the feet.  Then, I am going to bring the box and feet to ACE HARDWARE, because a young man there told me he’d be happy to put the feet on for me, for a few bucks.  If Eric was here, of course he’d do it for me, but he’s not, so I’ve got to count on a handyman at ACE!

I spent another hour on the phone with my friend, Robin, who is coming to visit for a week in February.  We are both SO excited, we’re like silly little girls.  I keep telling her all the fabulous places I’m going to take her, and we keep talking about how great it’s going to be.  Robin and I can talk for 5 hours without stopping, so I told her we’re both going to be hoarse after all the talking we’ll be doing for a whole week!

I meant to go food shopping today, but I just never left the apartment again, so I really must go tomorrow.  I don’t have much in the house at all.  I will definitely do that, and try to get a lot more done on my decoupaged box.  I can’t wait to give it to Kristin.  She’s going to flip!

Vote for Stacie (the Top 10 will be decided this Friday!!!): MY GRAMMY MOMENT. 

I started working at my first (and last) temp job last year on January 28th.  I was hoping I’d still be working there now, but – hey – things don’t always work out the way you planned (and I should know!).  At least I had lunch with Stacie and Elsa today, although I forgot to mention this fact to them when I was with them!

We had a fun lunch today.  I picked them up at the office and we went to a place called RED ROBIN in a nearby shopping center.  They couldn’t believe I had never eaten at a RED ROBIN before.  I told them I never even HEARD of a RED ROBIN before!  I guess you could compare it to APPLEBEES or TGIF, or CHILIS, or RUBY TUESDAY, or any of a thousand other boilerplate restaurants with the same menu, décor and appealing, young, friendly wait staff.

Elsa and I had an APPLE HARVEST CHICKEN SALAD – “Fresh field greens tossed with juicy grilled chicken, diced apples, candied walnuts and Goat cheese. Topped with sliced apples and a dijon vinaigrette. It’s sophisticatedly fun. Better than the Farmer’s Market.”

Hers had chicken, mine didn’t.  I’ll tell you one thing, they don’t cater to the vegetarian or pescetarian, because I don’t think they had one seafood dish and every single one of their salads had chicken in it, but I guess with a name like RED ROBIN Gourmet Burgers, I should have known.  I had to order my salad without chicken, but at least I saved $2!  I don’t know if it was better than the Farmer’s Market, but I did enjoy it!

Stacie got some kind of chicken wrap.  After lunch we went to pick up Elsa’s driver’s license at a nearby 24 HOUR FITNESS.  Someone had found it in the parking lot and she didn’t even know she lost it, so she was pretty lucky!  And after that, we drove to STARBUCKS and Stacie treated us all.  It was really fun and a nice outing.

After I dropped them back at work, I came back to the apartment and finally started working on Elsa’s decoupage project.  She had given me more memorabilia and I thought I finally had enough to start working.

It was a really easy and fun project, because all I was doing was covering a board, which would then go into a frame with glass in front.  So, there were no lids, no hinges, no ball feet to attach, and no complicated corners.  I had photos, business cards, maps, and ticket stubs from their trip to Germany, Spain and Italy.  I also added other little pictures I had cut from magazines and catalogs to help decorate.

I am pretty sure it’s done, but I always have to walk away and come back again to be sure.  There’s usually one or two little things I need to add, but I’m letting it dry overnight and will give it the final once-over tomorrow.  Then, all I need to do is varnish it and it’s done!

I spent a lot of time voting for Stacie today, too.  I voted all morning (except when I was applying for a job online at a MARRIOTT HOTEL), until it was time to go pick up the girls, and I voted a lot when I got home, too.  I voted after I was done decoupaging, and before, during, and after dinner and TV!

We were all talking at lunch about how this voting has become an obsession, but the truth is there’s only now to vote.  If we don’t vote now, she won’t get into the Top 10, and then we won’t be able to continue voting to get her into the Top 3.  I told Stacie that I’m SO hopeful that she will make it all the way, but if she doesn’t at least I know I’ve done all that I can.  She is so appreciative of my love and support and this has really created a bond between us that definitely did not exist before.

Before this competition she was my superior at work and a friend, too, but this has taken it to the next level – maybe two or three levels.  We always had fun at work and would enjoy having lunch together occasionally, or going to the coffee cart together.  Doing something creative with someone, getting together with Stacie and Elsa to rehearse, to record the video, and now emailing and talking on FACEBOOK about it, has definitely brought us a lot closer.

I already have a great bond with Elsa, because we commuted together almost every day for 10 months, and then worked together in the same department, and socialized a lot outside the office, too, including with our husbands.

I have developed a strong bond with Rosemary, because we have been socializing and spending lots of quality time together and also sat near each other at work, so our hours at work were spent talking all day.

I now have a bond with Kristin, because having created that box for her and her fiancé brought us closer together, and she, Liz and Stacie were the only girls who I could actually see all day as we sat at our desks.  Everyone else was either behind a cubicle wall or in an office, but Stacie’s office looked right at my cubicle and Kristin’s desk was right across from mine.  Rosemary was within hearing distance, but I couldn't actually see her.

I didn’t think I’d have people to miss when I returned to New York, but I find now that I definitely will.  It makes me sad, because I almost didn’t WANT to make friends here.  I knew I wouldn’t be staying and tried to keep myself in a shell and make sure I didn’t put down any roots.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t help myself, because these girls are so sweet and beautiful, so friendly and supportive, and so much fun to be with.

Eric is always so happy when I tell him I’m going to be with Rosemary, or Elsa, or Stacie, because he knows how much I loved working with them, and he’s so glad that I have friends here to keep me company until I come home.  He knows he is surrounded by family, and has many friends who are there for him if he reaches out, so he appreciates that I have a small support group here, too.

I watched AMERICAN IDOL tonight.  They were in Salt Lake City and there was some great talent tonight, including the son of Alan Osmond – the oldest Osmond in the group. David Archuletta, the runner up from last season, is from Salt Lake City, so we know they grow great singers there!

Last night when I spoke to Kaja at length, she gave me the phone number of a long-time friend of hers who lives in San Diego.  I don’t know why she never mentioned him before over the last few years, but I called him today and he called me back tonight.  We talked for almost a half hour.  He and his partner live in La Jolla and they both work in the medical profession.  I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and I think he did, too, because he said he’d be calling me soon to make plans to get together.  He is just getting over the flu (so many people here are sick!), and he sounded terrible, but I could see we would have a lot to talk about, and have a lot in common.

Tomorrow I will finish Elsa’s project and varnish it, too.  I am seeing Tifney for lunch on Friday and if it’s done I can bring it to Elsa at work and present it to her there.  That would be fun!

Fridahy night I’m going furniture shopping with Rosemary.  When we went to the movies on Sunday she took me to WORLD MARKET to check out a dining room set she had her eye on.  I fell in love with it, so she was going to measure the room and we’re going back on Friday night to see if it’s going to work in her house.  I’m so excited, because she’s lived in this house for almost a year and hasn’t really started decorating many rooms yet.  Her living room is done and it’s great, but the dining room is completely empty.  I told her I would help her months ago, and I’d like to know she’s on her way before I leave San Diego!

VOTE FOR STACIE!!!!!
In the “MY GRAMMY MOMENT” VIDEO CONTEST
http://www.cbs.com/specials/grammys/moment/

If I told you there are probably 4 or 5 people in the United States who care less about the Super Bowl than me, would you believe me?  Okay, I would have liked to have seen Jennifer Hudson lip sync to herself singing the National Anthem, and I would have laughed at a few of the commercials, I’m sure, but – other than that – no interest at ALL.  I don’t even care about Bruce Springstein (not a fan!).

So, I made sure I was out and about today doing things with other non-super bowl people.
I spoke to Eric and was happy to hear he was invited to our friends’ house to watch the game.  Eric’s a BIG football fan, so I knew that would make him happy!  It’s no fun to watch the game alone (or watch it with me either).

I watched some TV, worked on the computer, and got out of the apartment at around 1:00pm.  It was a gorgeous day and I was headed to North Park to attend a craft show run by the SAN DIEGO CRAFT MAFIA at FILTER, a local coffee bar.

It was great to see all the CRAFT MAFIA girls again.  I haven’t been to one of their shows in a while and I probably won’t see them again before I leave, so I’m glad I got a chance to say goodbye.

I bought another CRAFT MAFIA t-shirt ($10), because I wear my other one ALL the time and I love it.  The one I have is black with the logo in pink.  I got another black one with the logo in bright green.  The t-shirt is such good quality.  It’s really small (most t-shirts go down to my knees, but this “small” is really small!  I’ve worn and washed the one I have at least 50 times and it still looks brand new (I don’t put it in the dryer!), and I figure I’ll be able to still support them even after I move back to NYC!

I hung out there and looked at all the crafts and talked to the Mafia girls for at least an hour and then headed to see a free choir concert at San Diego State University.  Unfortunately, I got so frustrated, because no one could tell me where to park and where exactly the concert was.  There were lots, but they said you had to have a permit and, as far as I could see, no one was working there.

I saw a Campus Security guy in a car, so I pulled up next to him and rolled down my window, so I could ask him where to park.  He was on his cell phone and didn’t even look to see who was pulled up next to him, so I honked my horn.  He didn’t miss a beat and kept talking, and not looking my way!  I honked my horn again.  He TOTALLY ignored me and continued his cell phone conversation, which I could tell was non-business related.

I got SO mad that I just left.  I guess I didn’t want to go to the free concert THAT badly, but I just wish they had some signs posted, or that someone knew what the story was!  I wish I could report that idiot, too, because I might have been trying to get his attention with an emergency or something and he was just totally irresponsible and unprofessional.

I stopped at Keil’s on my way home and got a six-piece sushi to have for lunch.  I guess maybe that’s why I left, too – I was STARVING!  Maybe that's what made me so cranky and impatient!  I had only had cereal for breakfast and it was now 3:30pm, so I clearly hadn’t thought this out very well!

When I got home I had my sushi (yum!) and worked on the computer, voting for Stacie, talking on FACEBOOK and answering emails.  I also posted some old pictures today that I found while looking through some boxes.  Here's a few.

Our first Halloween together in 1982 was at a party with all my theatre friends.  Eric fit right in.  He was a gangster and I was his gun moll.  I had that platinum wig for YEARS until it finally fell apart!

These pictures were taken at ADVENTURER'S INN, a local amusement park in Flushing, NY in November 1982.  My hair was pretty much the same length it is now!

This picture was taken before I met Eric.  It was some kind of Seidman Family Circle function with all the cousins, probably late '70s/early '80s.  In case you can't find me, I'm all the way on the right, seated.

Then, I took a nap.  I was telling Jimmy this morning that my sleep pattern has become completely insane.  I had the same thing going when I was out of work in NY.  I got into a VERY bad habit, after we put the house up for sale, of taking a nap every afternoon.  It’s funny, because my 78-year-old mother does that every day, but I’m only 51.  What’s UP with that? 

When I’m working I hardly EVER get that afternoon slump where you need a sugar fix or a coffee pick-me-up.  I am up and at ’em all day long.  But, when I don’t have anything else to do, my bed just calls to me and a mid-afternoon nap is HEAVEN!

I have always loved naps.  I can remember when I still lived at home (which means I was under 21) taking a nap in my bedroom with the shade up and the sun blaring into the room.  To me, there was something so luxurious about sleeping while the sun was shining.  I loved it then, and I love it now.  So, almost every single day I’ve taken to my bed in the afternoon for at least an hour or two.  I’ve read a lot on napping and apparently it’s very healty.  If so, I should live to be 100!

After my nap I got busy around the apartment.  Robin’s coming next Friday and I will be cleaning and organizing all week, so that everything is perfect for her!  I  cleaned the kitchen, and was happy I found the Brita filters, so I can make sure the water is perfectly filtered and fresh (I don’t believe in bottled water – too much waste).

I put away all the laundry that had been hanging on the line and organized my desk.  My desk gets so messy so fast.  I need to leave things out all the time, because if I put anything away I forget about it, so I have notes to myself everywhere, and papers I need to follow-up on right in front of my face.

I started watching THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA on one of the cable channels and did something during every commercial.  I enjoy the cast and of course the clothes are fabulous, but it kind of annoys me in the same way UGLY BETTY has been annoying me (and Jimmy) for the past few episodes.  Everyone gets so mad at Andrea (and Betty) for pursuing her career and devoting herself completely to it, but that’s really what you need to do in this world to succeed.  We must all decide when we want to work and when we want to play. 

For most of my life, I had jobs with very little responsibility, because I always had so much going on outside of my job.  I was either performing in a musical somewhere, singing in a band, having fun with Eric and our wide circle of friends, or working in cabarets and nightclubs.  I very rarely did any overtime, and didn’t really have to worry about my job once I left the building.  That’s the way I preferred it for a long time.  I had lots of jobs, but they were not a career.  They were just JOBS.

Before I quit PricewaterhouseCoopers, I had one of those jobs that became a career, where you devote your life to your boss.  I worked for a partner for three years.  Towards the end, I was putting in 12 hour days, because that’s what it took to stay on top of things.  Eric didn’t mind, he was very understanding and supportive.  The truth is – I didn’t have a choice.  If I wanted to stay in that job, do well, succeed and help my boss succeed, I had to work like a dog, which meant calling in while I was on vacation, and putting in lots of overtime (which I got paid very well for, by the way).

I made a choice – for a while – that I wasn’t going to have much of a life outside of work.  It was MY choice and I was lucky I had the support of my husband.  When I decided I wanted to run my own business I worked six or seven days a week and didn’t have much of a life outside the shop.  I didn’t do anything that didn’t in some way connect with my business, except for my after-shop social life with Eric.  Even that was impacted by my business.  We could never have dinner before 7:30pm.

Oh, I could occasionally close a few hours early and make it into the city to see friends, or catch a Broadway musical, and I had late dinners with friends all the time, but I didn’t do anything on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon for 5 years.  I missed a lot of barbecues, wedding and baby showers, and other afternoon engagements.  In five years in the shop I closed for the day about 5 times.

That’s because I decided, when I opened my business, that I was going to devote my life to that shop.  It is the only way to succeed -- and I DID succeed.  Again, I was lucky that Eric supported me completely.  He had his own hobbies (mountain biking) and kept very busy without me!

There is no career that works from 9-5.  If you’re working 9-5, you have a job.  When you’re working 7 days a week, or 12 hours a day, if you’re calling in to work constantly when you’re sick, or checking your work emails at all hours when you’re home – you have a career.  We all have to decide what we want to have in life.  Do you want to have a job or a career?

There’s nothing wrong with JUST having a job, but it better be because your after-work life is so great that you just can’t bear to devote any more time to a job.  If you’ve got an active social life, many hobbies and passions, and people you love to be with, then if you decide you just want to have a job, I say, “More power to you!”

We each have to make that choice at some point in our lives.  It’s a lot easier to have a career when you’re young and can exist on 4 or 5 hours of sleep a night, and don’t have the responsibilities of marriage and children.

I’m at the stage now where I am happy just having a job.  I have a lot going on outside work, with my crafting, and other hobbies, and I just want a paycheck.  Working is just a necessary evil at this point.  If I didn’t HAVE to work – ever again – I don’t think I’d have a problem with it, although I WOULD get extremely fat and lazy!  I think having a routine, having someplace to go every day, and socializing every day is actually healthy.

So, when I get back to NY, I look forward to temping and working in an office again, but it definitely won’t be a career.  It will just be a way to make money and keep busy (and stop napping!) until I figure out what comes next!

That’s a take-off on Katy Perry’s hit song, “I KISSED A GIRL (and I liked it).  Today I finished decoupaging a loose-leaf binder for Stacie to hold all the memorabilia from her entry in the MY GRAMMY MOMENT contest, especially all the positive emails she received.  It came out SO great!  I will be varnishing tomorrow, so I’ll photograph and post pictures very soon!

It was really a challenging project, because I had never done any kind of book before, and this was a cheaper binder, so it was just a layer of thin plastic on top of thick cardboard, rather than a solid plastic.  That made it harder, because the thin plastic would move away from the cardboard and was almost like working on fabric.  Difficult, but not impossible!  I like working on new surfaces, because every time I’m able to accomplish something new I add more versatility and variety to my repertoire!

When I woke up this morning, my nose was completely clear.  It was such a strange feeling.  I have been spraying my Rhinocort Aqua more than usual, because I was hoping it would help me breath better and blow my nose less.  So, I was ecstatic when I awoke and didn’t have to blow my nose immediately.

The ecstacy only lasted about 10 minutes.  After being up for a few minutes, while I was talking on the phone to Eric, I started to sneeze.  I sneezed about 6 times in a row and the sneezes were so intense that my throat hurt afterwards!  I actually hurt myself sneezing!  Then, my nose started running.  It was such short-lived relief and then it was the same old story.

The good news today was that it subsided relatively quickly and I haven’t taken any DAYQUIL or NYQUIL in a few days.  I’ll never know what sets my allergies off, what makes them worse, and what more I can possibly do to make it stop, but everyone I talk to says their allergies are bad, too, so I know I’m not the only one, and you know what they – misery loves company!

I never left the apartment today.  I had planned to finish my project and then take a shower and go out, but after I finished my project (and spoke to Eric) I took a nap.  BIG SURPRISE!  When I woke up I thought maybe NOW I should take a shower and go out, but instead I made myself a fast dinner of cottage cheese on WASA crisps (which are thick rectangular crackers that taste like cardboard unless you have something good on them – like cottage cheese or hummus.

I also intended to go food shopping today, but I never did that either.  I definitely have to do that tomorrow, because the cupboards are bare (and so is the fridge!).

I will be doing the majority of cleaning and organizing tomorrow for Artie’s visit on Monday night, because I have plans to be with Rosemary for most of the afternoon on Sunday.

I don’t have much to do – just the usual dusting and vacuuming, cleaning Conrad’s cage (my sweet darling – I do adore him), and cleaning my desk, which always manages to get filled with papers.

I did go out for a few seconds (literally), because I wanted to pick up my mail.  I just put my fluffy bathrobe over my pajamas and walked 100 feet to the mail boxes.  It was dark and I didn’t see anyone (although I really wouldn’t have cared if I did).  I did have plenty of mail, so I was glad I walked out there!

My niece Jessica – the newlywed – called me tonight.  She’s so sweet.  She just wanted to see how I’m doing and to tell me that she’s anxious for me to come back.  I’ve always been so close to “my girls” as I call them.  They’re really my nieces through marriage, as they are all the daughters of Eric’s sisters, but I have known them since they were babies, and I adore them all (as well as my nephews!).

All my nieces and nephews, including the ones on "my side" of the family, have brought me such joy and I have always told all my nieces and nephews that they are the only children we will ever have, so that makes them extra special to us.  I know all aunts love their nieces and nephews, but those aunts that don’t have their own children are extra special aunts.

I know my Aunt Evelyn, my mother’s sister, was like a second mother to me and my sisters, even though we sometimes resented it.  She was always there—our whole lives, until she died in 1987.  She always lived within a few miles of us, and was there for every special occasion, and was a major part of our lives.  Because she never had children of her own, she was completely devoted to me and my two sisters.

I always feel a connection to my Aunt Evelyn, although I never got a chance to tell her, because I now know how much we meant to her, because that is what “my kids” mean to me.  They may not be my own, but I love them and care about them with an intensity that goes beyond the normal aunt and I know they all feel that.

Well, as I sit here blogging, Conrad is singing his, “please come back in the bedroom” song.  You may not believe it, but he is SO loud when I am hanging with him and then go out of the room.  I call out to him “I’ll be there in a minute,” and then he’ll quiet down for about 20 seconds.  If I don’t go in by then, he starts up again.  It’s hysterical.

I am so nervous about the flight home, because he’s so delicate and skittish and I have a feeling he’ll be traumatized by the flight for months when we get to NY.  I SO want Eric to see how he’s grown and all the wonderful things he does, but it took him almost 2 months after I went to NY to get back to his “old self” so I’ll be very surprised if the same thing doesn’t happen again.

That’s something I really do have to investigate, because I’m still not sure exactly what I need to do to bring Conrad to NY with me.  I know I have to get some kind of clearance from a vet, and then have a special travel cage that will fit under the seat in front of me.  Can you imagine the stress of not only packing, shipping, having my car picked up and leaving San Diego permanently, but I also have to worry about my darling Conrad?  Oy!  The stress!