Lately I've been...

Inspired by the lovely and talented Jessica of Chronically Vintage, I thought I'd give this a quick try... :)

Things that have been filling my thoughts and days lately (besides work *groan*!):


Dreaming of:  

        

Autumn!  Although I must admit we've had an easy Summer this year, not stinking hot for long periods of time, decent rainfall, and the humidity hasn't really been that bad this year, comparatively speaking. 

Also, it would be really nice if I could wear my vintage much more than I do.  At the very least, I'd love to get the gumption to get cracking at all those amazing vintage sewing patterns I've been hoarding.

Travelling.  There are so many far-flung places I'd love to see.  I'm hoping to do the Alaskan cruise with some family members next year, but mostly I need to be a tourist in my own country for a while.  With side trips to the USA.  Oh, and one trip to Fiji in my lifetime! :)


Moving back to:
        

Once again, you get to hear about the struggle of work / life balance.  Why is it so hard?  Or is it a female thing?  in this day and age do we really still feel like failures if we cannot always have a clean and orderly home, well behaved children, and be possibly one of the best employees ever?  Ok, I don't own a home, and I certainly do not have children (still missing the other half of the equation that helps make those children *ha ha*), but why is it after my workday I still feel more like crashing on the couch than trying to at least get a little housework done every evening so my weekends are guilt-free?  Why do I so rarely feel like helping out in the kitchen at home (poor Mum) and cooking even 2 meals a week?  *sigh*  Will have to work on that one, and stop making my work my life!


Reading:

     

Just finished "Roots" (yes, that miniseries from ages ago), and it's a fantastic read!  It goes so much deeper into Kunta Kinte's history before he was kidnapped and sold into slavery, and it's fascinating to learn more about his culture and religion.  Also, working my way through another Stephen King novel (well, actually two), "Revival" and "Finder's Keeper's".  Also, "The Women of the Bible".  Not happy unless I'm reading a few books at once.  Short attention span?  Not really, at least not that I know of...  ;)


Watching:
             

Well, right now for television it's repeats...or on demand.  Catching up on "Extant", "Making the Mob", "Under the Dome", and "The Astronaut Wives Club".  As far as movies are concerned, you'll more likely see me parked on Turner Classic Movies (TCM).  ;)


Eating:

        

Well, not much to say about that, except too much junk.  ;)  But not to worry, I've been also trying to add more of a "real food" or even "clean eating" approach to my diet (all gluten-free, of course - damn you, Celiac!).  Wish me luck...but I admit I am feeling better already...  :)  However, if you think of one minute I'm totally giving up my caffeine (you know, coffee and such, great for headache treatment for me) and my alcohol (giver of headaches, but what a fun way to get them), you're whacko! Ha, ha, ha!!  


Creating: 

        

Not much of anything right now, except for a mess...  :)


Photographing:


Arrgh, I can't get the pics off of my phone!  Ok, so you'll have a pic of a phone like mine for now...and yes, I LOVE my BlackBerry and will be getting another one someday.  So there! ;)


Wearing lots of:




OK, so I don't take outfit pics.  Perhaps I should start in case this question ever comes up again.

Writing:


In my diary, and that's private.  Sorry ;)


Listening to:


Not much music anymore :(  Really should start again...


Painting my nails:



Not too often, but mainly so I can keep what little length I allow myself.  Hey, I pound a keyboard for the majority of my job! :)  No, those are not my nails but it's generally what I've been doing lately, variations of a French Manicure.


Loving:

          

That feeling of the breeze in my hair as I leave the office at the end of the day (the pic is a guy, I couldn't find one of a woman.  I guess we're not supposed to run out of the office at the end of the day.  Right.  Look!  There goes another winged Sus scrofa domesticus.).  Quickly.  And almost everything else out there in the world.  Except ignorance, I HATE that!  Oh, and I love gin.  ;)


Wishing I had a...:


You figure it out...  ;)


Planning:



Notice a theme here?


Thinking about:
       

Just kidding with that first pic...or am I?  No, I am!  Thinking about what my job situation will be come October - employed with the same company, I hope.  How to spice up my life a little, and getting a little more active and healthier.




Thanks to Jessica for the blog inspiration!  She's a super gal with a super Etsy shop (plug!!).

I hope you enjoyed all the pics, too.  Thank you Firefox!  I was naughty and downloaded it at the office, as my IE8 is SO outdated it's like trying to get on the internet with a typewriter.  Seriously ;)

Hope you all have a marvelous weekend! :) 

TTFN

Why so long between posts?

Actually, I don't really have an answer for that one. I really need to focus more on updating this blog at least once a week, even if I think I have not much to say - hell, I'm creative, I'd like to think I could drum up something from the old brain cells! *lol*

We had company from B.C. this past week - my Dad's friend from work, well, actually he's a family friend we've known since almost forever. Always great seeing him, but always sad when he leaves. We do keep in touch via phone and e-mail, but even I have to admit it's just not the same...am I right?

Dad's R.A. still flares up occasionally, especially during the strange and wet weather we've been having lately. He does have Osteoarthritis in his hands so it should come as no surprise, but I know it really bothers him physically and mentally. He still has that awful cough, partly due to quitting smoking after almost a lifetime of it, as well as the R.A. meds, but it had tamed down quite a bit in the past week - the curative effects of having an old friend around, perhaps? His stomach was doing better over the past couple of weeks or so (bad indigestion), but that flared up again yesterday. Mum and I figure it might be the different kind of eggs he had for breakfast, but we're really not sure. Of course, today (Monday) is Methotrexate day and he's really feeling it today - hopefully it doesn't spill over into tomorrow as it can do more often than not...

Mum is good, just needs to stop trying to hurt her knee more - she's clipped the ACL ligament more than once and is in a lot of pain at times. She's seriously considering going back for more physiotherapy which always helps.

Me? Same old, same old. Looking actively for another job at the same company as word finally came down from above - as of November 1st, my little group will be "streamlined" from 4 to 2. So long and thanks for all the fish! *lol* This came as no real surprise, I must admit, as I figured it was a matter of time ever since our physical move was announced over a year ago...but it still stings in any case. oh well, I'm hoping that with all the help that senior staff is offering to help us get a new job (yeah, right), this will help me finally move on to bigger and better things. At least, that's what I'm hoping, because after 10 years with this company (as of this coming September, and I am NOT throwing this little bit of seniority away!) I'd like to think all my work counts for something - even if it's a handshake goodbye ;) Wow, 10 years. 44 years of age. I never thought I'd have been here so long, or had such a difficult time getting out of the position I currently hold. That's the problem with being a good worker - they like you and the work you do so they hang onto you for as long as possible. Not that one should not aim for being a good worker - in a slightly higher starting position than mine (I'm pretty much at the bottom of the pond), it really does take you places! And I'm not being sarcastic...it's true. So be a good worker, learn everythign you can about your job, the company, and other jobs within that company to see where you'd like to go next. Take advantage of any and every training facility or opportunity they offer, it's well worth it.

Anywho, healthwise doing OK, iron still appears to be acceptable so no "top-ups" yet. Growing out the purple to give my hair a break, then I'll try something new. The bangs / fringe are working out well, especially once I had them trimmed so they weren't constantly in my eyes making me feel like Cousin It (thank you for the correction, Diamondback!). Still spending too much money - especially now that I'm in the vortex of "What do you mean 2 of us will become redundant??" - but having fun doing it (unfortunately). Still thinking of opening my Etsy shop to sell off some stuff - after all, why not make a couple of bucks rather than donate it (note: Canadians do not get tax breaks for donations of goods unlike most U.S. states. Something we should seriously consider, frankly speaking)?

Well, must get back to work to get un-buried from last week's offloading of nearly everything from everyone's desk. REALLY looking forward to my little bit of vacation time, but it can't come soon enough...you know what I mean? :)


TTFN

Woot!

Red Dwarf is coming back!! Two more seasons of Rimmer and the gang!! Can you tell I'm a bit of a fan? Red Dwarf Was the series that kept me alive during a bad time in my life, and really made me fall in love with Britcoms in general. Can't wait!

Say, any UK readers out there? I'm trying to find an online friend of mine by the name of James Scargill - used to be on Nordinho.net (I'm mugsy_358) and would like to "find" him to see how's he's doing. We didn't keep in touch much over the years I admit, but the last mssages from him last October makes me want to look him up and see how he's doing. I've seen he has a twitter account, a youtube channel, and a linked-in profile, but nothing is very active... Thanks to anyone for at least looking at this. :)

*sigh* Still SSDD so far. Still applying for other jobs within the company, still buying hats and such from etsy (really have to stop that, I need to save money, not spend! *lol*), and looking forward to Mother's Day. Mum has stated she's taking the day off and doing whatever she feels like. Good for her! :) Anyone else have plans for that day?

Anywho, just super thrilled to be able to see Red Dwarf once again and wanted to share with y'all! Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

TTFN

*cough, cough* A little dusty around here...

Ahem. Anywho... *lol*

It's so windy out there today! "How windy is it?" you ask? Windy enough that poor Toto from the Wizard of OZ just bounced off of one of our office windows. And we're up on the 11th floor!

Well, it wasn't Toto, but something certainly smacked into one of the windows up here - bird? Umbrella? A very confused (and now banged up) Superman? We'll never know for sure...no window damage to speak of, but I'm pretty sure that the occupant of that cubicle might need a fresh pair of skivvies! *LOL*

Yep, still alive. Been busy with the departmental move, but thank goodness that's all over with now. I'm back to carrying the workload of one person (YAY!!), with an extra department added on (but I've been the one doing their work all along anyways so it's no change in my workload). Still, it's like a vacation of sorts, for sure. But there's always work there for those that look for it, right? Currently going through my letter grouping of files and "splitting" them (read: shredding old information and getting slowly prepared for storage already by culling the new paperwork into a new, thinner, folder) Might as well, as this is work that got abandoned during my co-worker's MAT leave so there's plenty to do. Do NOT get me started on my co-worker ;)...Although, my new attitude of "What they choose to do with their day is up to them, as long as it doesn't directly impact my workload" is really serving me well. Look, Ma, I finally grew up and got over myself!! It's such a load off of my shoulders - now all I have to do is watch for the knives in my back...

And yes I have been sewing - to a degree. I've been trying to mend and generally repair a lovely 1940's dress taht a friend of mine was sogenerous in giving me - she thought it wasn't in terrific selling shape, and as her shop has a certain reputation of carrying good quality items Icertainly can't blame her. It's been coming along nicely (where's the pics you ask? On my camera at home while I'm here at the office updating my blog instead oif working hard), but I really need more practice at darning (what can I say, there were a few scattered moth holes - tiny - but I wanted to try and fix them)! I found the perfect colour thread (plum, BTW), but didn't really notice the grey weft in the plum-coloured warp (or did I just get that back-ass-wards?). In any case, the holes are so small you don't really notice my (yucky) darning jobs, but I'm such a perfectionist I hate the fact that they show as much as they do. The shoulder pad osrting out will have to wait until I can post pics of the before and after. And praying I figured them out correctly, as they were quite twisted about and scrunched up. No, I did not remove them as it would destroy the lines of the dress (and the terrific period look).

I also appear to have a vintage hat fetish, sadly. Why so sad? They're costing me money, that's why! *lol* But they're so fantastic (to me, anyways)...yes, pics for them will come too.

Well, must sign off and actually get some work done around the office. Thanks to those that have been patient enough to actually check in from time to time to see if I'm still alive! :)

TTFN