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

Blogs and shopping and job hunting

Oh my! *lol*

Looking for a new position within the company...not being given a choice as I have an end-of-October deadline. Knew this was coming, but it's still a kick in the head when it does, am I right? Watching my back for knives... ;)

Been looking up smoothie recipes on my fave site AllRecipes A totally fun place to hang out and make yourself hungry! Considering the switch from solid-food lunch (or would dinner be better?) to semi-liquid...not just for dieting (and I could stand to lose about 20lbs give or take), but from a health factor. Slowly trying to cut back on my obvious sugar intake and incorporate more "real foods" into my diet. The less procesed the better to my thinking, so this should be interesting. Trying to get a little more exercise in my day as well. I'm pretty good about taking stairs as opposed to escalators (sometimes even elevators), walking instead of transit, and getting enough wlaking time while at work (broken up into small intervals), but I certainly ned more. I'm going to try and get back into my weight routine - just basics with hand weights at home - and more walking. Due to being an arthritic old fart I need more low-impact routines than anything else, so I'm also thinking of trying some form of yoga as well. Flexibility is a good thing! *lol* I wonder if my eventual goal should be belly-dancing? Meh, let's just fit in more exercise and move on from there, shall we? Anyone familiar with my sewing promises and picture posting promises knows how much of a procrastinator I can be! :)

Shopping too much on Etsy...however, any of you with a leaning towards 1950s hats should take a look at a shop run by a friend of mine in New Jersey, Jan, at Briony Lodge Vintage on Etsy. She does sell from other eras (mainly the 1930s to the 1940s), but she is currently holding a "Closeout" sale of her more modern hats from the 1950s and 1960s, so hurry in and take a look around before the sale ends - and it will by the end of the month (July), if not before. Use her coupon code "TAKE10" (without the quotes) for an extra 10% off your purchase, and tell her I sent you! :)

Must get back to work now - I'd hate to get caught blogging in the office, especially now *lol* Have a terrific day y'all!!

TTFN

Short update...

What is it with me getting sick? Sheesh, just getting over a 2-day migraine with stomach troubles. This after that darned Christmas flu and such. I'm blaming it on the Celiac *lol* BTW, I'll be going for iron infusions once every 3 months after I get my February top-up. If my levels get too low, he'll switch it to every 2 months, if they're good or even a bit high (god forbid,the last thing I'll need is Chromatosis), he'll switch it to every 4 months. At least that's srtaightened out.

Dad is OK, but experiencing some joint stiffness (internal swelling?) in his hands and so forth. Still on the 3 Methotrexate on Mondays, so we rarely plan anything for Mondays and Tuesdays sometimes. He's noticed more indigestion / acid reflux over the past couple of months...medication-related? Any ideas? He can take something like Tums for it, but I'd like him to talk to the Doc about something like Zantac (more of an acid inhibitor). Then again, the Zantac would probably affect the meds somehow... At least there's still no visible swelling. I'm assuming that the stiffness is both a part of him "lying around" on Mondays due to the effects of the Methotrexate (sometimes Tuesday too) - let's just say he doesn't feel like being very active on those days - and the rather cold and damp Wimter weather we get here in Toronto. Which seems to be colder and damper than normal this year, or is it just me?

I'm OK, just busy at the office with our departmental move (LOVE how part of that word is "mental" *lol*). Still have the dark purple hair (actually, badly in need of a touch-up still). Still window-shopping on Etsy too much (but made a neat new friend who runs Briony Lodge Vintage there - if you need a vintage hat (mainly 1930s -1940's, with a few from other decades when she can find them) she's your "man"! Her prices are reasonable, and she strives to give the most accurate description she can. And on that note...yours truly will be trying to open a shop there soon! Nothing listed yet, but I thought it might be something fun to try, and why not get a few dollars fr items I'm no longer using or need. Only on a part-time basi, however, as I still have my "regular" job (and plan to keep it, especially in this economy). Not to worry, I'll be making that very clear to any possible patrons (in my main shop description, actually). It's like running a small business, so there are tax implications I need to sort out to my satisfaction. I'm also brewing up a couple of ideas to make my business sustainable - I need to keep posting new things or my shop will get old and stale in no time *lol* There are no real "niche" markets anymore, but I'm hoping to glean some ideas from simple observation of what sells and what I can get the most impact out of (buy low sell high, after all - actually, that should read "buy low, much elbow grease and imagination-using, sell higher than the cost of my work"). Fun times ahead, I guarantee! :)

I certainly post here when I finally get this shop up and running - I'm calling it "Mugsy's Occasional Shop", as I'll only be listing items occasionally to sell. Yep, that's what we call a "groan-er", but it's just kitschy-cute enough to make people take a short look at the shop, I hope... Need to be losing a few pounds (like, 20) to get back into fighting trim. Along with my iron problems, I seem to be lacking in various vitamins and minerals which is apparently fairly common in Celiacs - even after being on the "diet" for a while. Looking into suppliments, but would really rather do it with food somehow. Smoothies perhaps? I don't mean the all fruit types, the sweet ones, but more so veggies and nuts and so forth. Will be looking into that to see what information I can find out there - any Celiacs are more than welcome to comment! :)



Must be off and get back to work - ya'll take care, be well, and enjoy the rest of your day! :)

TTFN

Back home...

...and hating it already - when can I go back?? *LOL*

Ah, home sweet home (and back to my own bed - amazing how much one misses their own bed while away). Still sorting stuff out, trying to get caught up on e-mail, trying to get back into a work routine...and having a heck of a time getting back into my own time zone! I realise that going East is worse than going West as far as jet-lag, but wow! I slept until 2:00 p.m. (?!) my time on my first night back - and I had gone to bed at about 10 p.m. my time in an effort to get back on track asap. Sheesh! :)

Not many pics as I'm updating this while on lunch at work, but I do have some cell phone shots. My folks have my camera as it was smaller, but they'll be back later so I don't have everything with me just yet.

Let's see, some funny things that happened...

1) Flew out with a Catholic priest on the plane. That was either a really good sign or a really bad one - thankfully a really good one - this time... *lol*

2) I think I surprised my cousins that I was able to handle a rifle during target shooting rather well for a first-time city gal. I had a terrific teacher (thanks Bill!!), and had a really good laugh at myself when I couldn't cock the .410 shotgun (I think that was the one). I laughed more than the guys did! But they were teasing my cousin's husband when I appeared to out-shoot him on my first try with his 300 (I called the big guns the "boom sticks", as you could feel the shot more than hear it) - but it was already painstakingly set up by him, as well as him taking a couple of shots first himself, so I put it down to strictly "beginner's luck". I honestly don't think I could have hit the broad side of a barn door if he hadn't set everything up so well himself...even if I did hit the outermost edge of one of the bullseyes with another rifle (the 7mm, if I remember rightly - the second "boom stick" we were using that day)- freehand... *ahem* *LOL* Honestly, I was more paranoid about either breaking my collarbone or dislocating my shoulder more than anything else, so most of my time was ensuring the butt was snugged against my shoulder joint / collar bone area properly. Super fun, and a sport I'm actually considering. Like I need a reason to spend more money... *rolls eyes at self* One cousin (who shall forever remain Shawn) said I "got all redneck" out there! *LOL*

3) Continued to bug the heck out of my Uncle in Adam's Lake (you won't find a town by that name, it's too small for mapping purposes) by calling him by his nickname (a really cutesy one for such a "manly man" if his breed). Either that, or I kept telling him when he was upset or grumpy about something that he was "...so cute when you act all Neanderthal". Thankfully he still laughs at that one...

4) Got to share a bed with my Mother for a week, something I haven't done before. She snores. And when I kick the covers off through the night she steals them. Guess what I'm probably not doing again unless I have to? :) Sorry Mum, couldn't resist telling that one... And Dad was so cute falling asleep at the drop of a hat watching TV out there. We liked to call it his "Introspective time" as he looked deep in thought propping his chin up and looking so serious...while lightly snoring... ;)

5) Flew back with the VP of our department - small world or what? They were coming back to Toronto after a conference in B.C. - just sheer shit luck that we were on the same flight. Which was a good thing, I like to think - at least if the plane crashed more effort would be put into looking for them, so better chance that I'd be found, too! *LOL* Just kidding, but I do think like that occasionally for humour's sake...

6) While not terribly funny, I'm glad I came home when I did as everyone out there is sick with a darned good cold. Fighting it a little myself, but not near as bad as everyone else sounds out there. Mwa ha, ha, ha - I've spread my disease and fled the town!! Seriously, it wasn't me, though...who cares who it was, I hope everyone gets better soon!

All in all, a great trip, and fantastic getting caught up with various cousins and Aunts and Uncles. Both Uncles have sucessfully beaten Cancer, so it was even better seeing them. And it was wonderful as always to get caught up with Hugh (I think he's a cousin of some sort, but I tend to get a little confused there). Re-connecting with my cousins is always terrific - they're a great bunch, and a lot of fun. We even got connected over the subject of Zombies (Shawn...of the Dead?)! Funny enough, we all like joking about being prepared for the Zombie apocolypse, and it was fun talking about the Walking Dead and Z Nation TV programs - Z Nation has the funniest deaths / re-animations IMO, especially the toddler that became a zombie (yep, it's been noted that my sense of humour frequently crosses over into "sick puppy" territory), and I even learned how to (implosibly) kill a zombie using a hand-held mixer or beater watching that show. See? Hilarious!!

Oh, and two Thanksgiving dinners while out there. Oy vey! Double the turkey, double the food comas - and double the "wind", shall we say... When you consider how much gas the average turkey gives a person (well, me in any case), that part of it was not fun - I kept stepping outside with my Mum when she went for her smoke to release the pressure valve a little. Thank goodness I didn't get too close to her or I might have gone up in flames! See, I did funny things out there, too, I don't just tell stories on my Mum and Dad! ;)


TTFN