January 2007 Archives

Yeah, I have sworn of New Year's resolutions, but I'm determined t at least get myself organized. Ibought a day planner before Christmas and amd trying my best to keep up with it. I write down what I want to do for the day, every day. Granted, I don't always do those things, but the habit of writing it down is a start, I think.

The only thing I'm really determined about right now, other than my day planner, is to get a new job. Every job has it's bullshit, but man, this department I'm in is special. It's too much for me to deal with anymore. There is a knot in my right shoulder from the stress, and it's been there for two months. I would ask Mimi's WP to borrow that beautiful gun but he may not want to know what I want to use it for. A little "natural selection," maybe? Yeah, I know. I'm not relaly that violent and would never do that. However, I wouldn't mind hitting a few people over the head with roll up newspapers. There are people in this world who definitely need to be trained. Unfortunately, I think I work with all of them.

Yep. Time to move on.

Todd helped me with my resume tonight. I didn't know that resume styles changed and what-have-you making my resume completely obsolete and probably laughable. It makes me feel kind of stupid because it might be why I haven't been able to get interviews, but at least I know now. Anyway, it's better. I'm going to go over it again tomorrow.

That's why I've been kind of scarce. I'm trying to find a new job and find some new habits that will help adjust a few things in my life. There is so much I want to do this year, and I simply can't do it without some planning. I'm too easily distracted otherwise. So, I'm starting small and working my way up to Organized.

We all have our hopes.

And, considering I'm a complete and utter video game whore and there is all these neat games coming out...it could be difficult. I want to be distracted. I want to see the pretty graphics and blinking lights and the much killing of things with graphic violence. Ooooooh...

Let's add to this the fact our busy season for the SCA in this part of the country has begun.

Ew.

I'm glad I at least got to be mostly a bum this last weekend. Granted, I at least cleaned house and my reward was "Pan's Labyrinth"* but still, it was mostly bum-like. I dug that immensely.


---------------
* It's still a wonderful movie, but I have to warn everyone again, it's dark as hell and doesn't exactly have a happy ending. It's right up my alley, but if anyone is expecting a happy kid's tale, you might want to skip this one. On another note, Rome has started it's second and final season on HBO. I haven't seen it, but I'm hearing wonderful things. Not for kids either, but definitely worth the look-see if you're any sort of history/drama buff.

I cleaned.

That's about it.

Okay, I saw "Pan's Labyrinth".

Ya'll...

It was WONDERFUL.

However, it was also very disturbing, dark, and not for kids...

Let me repeat that. It's Not For Kids. When they say it's a "fairy tale for adults," they aren't kidding. In fact, if you know the history of your average fairy tales, they were never for children. It was only later they were adapted for kids. Orginially, they were for the adults in the court. This movie is very much like those original tales of fairy and darkness and horror and spirit and laughter and destiny and death. Not For Kids.

Just saying.

Other than that. It is definitely worth checking out. But, then again, I'm biased. I studied myths and fairy tales in college. I tend to lean a little towards out-of-the-real-world anyway.

I will probably have more to say about it later, but not tonight. I must go to bed now.

Sleep well.

Dream of fairies and princesses who battle mud-encrusted toads and humans with no sense of mercy.

It's been another one of those days.

You know, it's a wonder I'm not a bloody alcoholic.

I keep thinking that it might be a good idea to become an alcoholic. At least I won't care so much when the Idiot Co-worker convinces the boss for the fourth time that we don't need another person hired because she "likes having work" just before we promptly start having issues with our systems that increases our workload by three-fold which doesn't go away after said issues are fixed and we fall behind by three days when I take one day off which is only made worse by an apparent new hire/untrained amphibian mail delivery person who loses half of our reports which puts us even farther behind to which Idiot Co-worker responds, "We need another person. I thought they were going to hire another person."

A margarita machine by the coffee-maker, that's all I ask...

So, yeah, it's been that kind of day...again.

You know, I have a feeling I wouldn't have so many of These Days if I didn't work with troglodytes.

Look, I'm sorry if that's an insult to troglodytes, but the people I work with are a special breed, folks, and while I try to remain compassionate, understanding, and without homicidal tendencies, the willful ignorance and general lack of common sense makes it very hard to not want to send them to obedience classes at Pet Smart.

I had a brief moment when I thought the day would be rescued when an unknown number attached to a voice mail was left on my phone. Normally, I wouldn't care, but I've been applying to various jobs, you see, and I hoped, hoped, hoped it was a call back.

You know, I figure the universe has a sense of humor when it times wrong numbers the way it does. Someone out there is laughing at me, and so help me, I'm going to file a complaint.

I was going to attempt to rescue the day myself by posting pictures of me working on mom's socks, along with a sock pattern, and maybe some fun pictures from Christmas.

I blame Todd for putting the picture on the non-networked harddrive then going to bed. I haven't a clue where in the vast memory of his computer he hid the things, and there's just something about going through my boyfriend's computer like a nosy little hound that feels ooky to me. It's like reading a diary or something. Ew. So, the pictures aren't there, and I've given up too much to write the sock pattern. Sorry again. I swear it will happen. I'm just trying to get myself organized.

On the upside, I did have a Stitch-that-wasn't-a-Stitch with Lara (Freddi's baby was very sick, so she couldn't make it.) We brought stitching stuff, but it was mostly us sitting around a table at the bookstore ranting about our weeks. It felt nice, and I felt good because she helped me see that the little things I've done this past week (organizing my day planner and learning to monitor what I eat and checking every day for new jobs to apply for) really are big steps even if they seem small. She helped me see that things will calm down and get into the kind of routine I want soon and that new habits, like keeping up with a day planner, take 21 days to learn.

Then, she offered to help me get rid of junk and get my laundry under control.

I thought I might cry with joy. I have such wonderful friends!

I just hope I was just as helpful to her.

So, the day wasn't a total loss despite the rampant idiocy surrounding me, and to sound like someone way more bubbly than I, tomorrow is another day. Another day to begin again and another day closer to better habits than the ones I had before.

Now, if I can only find the time to take down that damned Christmas tree before the cats think it's a piece of furniture and use it as they're on personal jungle gym.

No one said it would be easy.

I have a confession.

It's a deep, horrible confession, but a confession nonetheless.

I think it has a lot to do with the pressures of the holidays and subsequent holiday projects.

I think...

I don't know if I can say it...

I think...

I might be tired of knitting/crocheting for a while...

I KNOW! I know.

Please, if you faint, fall somewhere soft and cushy. I understand your horror.

I can't help it, really. I never really cycled into knitting/crocheting. I just sort of did it for the holidays. Now, I look at my table and see all of those paper mache projects calling to me. They have homes to go to, those projects, and they desperately need to be finished. I feel the urge to finish them.

I understand some of you may not understand how I can put something else above yarn, but sometimes, I must. It's why I'm considering changing the name of Ye Olde Blog, after all.

(I still like Art Tart.)

The socks for my mom are coming along and will be finished, by all that is holy, by tomorrow ( my birthday), and I will take pictures. I will also put up the Sort-of Pattern I follow. (Seriously, are you sure you guys want it?)

But, still...I think...I want to get messy with paper mache.

I know you'll find it in your hearts to forgive me.

Especially when I show you what I plan to do with the silver alpaca...



I knew that would get you.

Okay, so the Christmas crunch isn't over.

You heard me. Not. Over.

No, this isn't that nightmare where the Christmas Crunch goes on and on...

This is my mother is flying in for a week on Thursday. My birthday. Because she is flying in so close to the holidays, we've decided to have a belated Christmas with her over the weekend.

This is great except I opted to make her socks as a Christmas present. There are two problems with this. One, Todd and I allotted a certain amount of money per person this year because we couldn't afford more. My mother managed to go nuts once again and sent a gigantic box of gifts to us to be opened when she gets here. I look at her one gift of unfinished socks and have this incredible urge to hit the mall. I know it's just Mom's way to Over Do it, but still I still can't help but feel a little guilty.

That's the other problem: the socks aren't finished. I got a little distracted by the holidays and took a break. That was bad. I just couldn't help myself. There were Chistmas movies and presents and fires in the fireplace...I mean, ya'll, how could I resist a snuggle with my Todd?

I'd like to say that not all hope is lost, but I have one sock finished and the other has to be done by tomorrow because By The Gods I am not doing anything constructive on my birthday other than adding to my hips by eating a lot of cake.

So, yes, I'm in full panic mode.

I also need to go to bed.

But, I need to knit those socks.

But, I need to go to bed.

Bed will win, but I won't feel good about it.

Wish me luck, ya'll.