Laura

This morning I went into work, and then discovered that lo, the medicine was not knocking back the sinus stuffiness and my head remained wool-clouded. So I came home early. Still a bit stuff, not as bad as that - a nap helped. I don't know if it's the office crud (which I would really rather not share with my parents) or allergies. I'm betting on the latter, because frankly, that's what it's turned out to be every time so far. Perhaps I should take a prednisone. If that knocks it back, it was almost certainly the allergies. On the other hand, I'm not terribly miserable, so I hate to take one for that. Hrrm.

I think I could learn to like this fudge recipe. Cooking real meals is hard. Cooking fudge isn't that hard - yes, I blew it the first time (well, not entirely, it tastes fine, it's just a bit gritty). I think I got it right this time, though - it seems to have the right consistency, and the sample from the spatula I used to help empty the pot into the pan was sure right. Must remember to ask Mom if it doubles okay, since that would make it easier still (largely by removing the need to measure the cream at all - doubled it works out to 'about 1 pint' and call it done - it would also spare me trying to halve the 4-ounce containers of semi-sweet chocolate that I can get). Mom made so much fudge over my childhood that I am betting she knows whether it can be doubled. If she has no idea, I'll give it a shot and see what results. It seems like it should double okay, other than the potential for a rather sore arm from trying to beat that volume of ingredients together, anyway. And I'm willing to live with that.

While I was making the fudge, I needed a small amount of salt for the recipe. I got the salt out and then - why not - figured I would refill the salt shaker. I almost poured the container into the pan instead, because I was distracted. (That wouldn't have been a disaster: I was pre-measuring and there was nothing IN the pan yet. But it would have been a nuisance.)

Also, still going through old boxes we've hauled with us every move. I found photos from my childhood again! I knew I had kept them, but not where they got to. I'm not sure I've found all of them but I have found a big shopping bag full of photo envelopes. Oh boy do I have a lot of scanning ahead of me.... I found one full of pictures from the high school graduation after-party, and photos from a trip to the Grand Canyon, and I'm sure there's lots more neat stuff in there. I haven't gone through it yet. Also, a lot of cats we had, some of which I can name, and some I'm at a loss....

I need to find a copper chain to go with my medallions. It doesn't need to be expensive or fancy or anything, just the right color. This may take some doing, though - even costume jewelry goes silver and gold.

I also found the original CD I was given of my parents' trip to Ireland. This is the 'show' CD and not the original photos, but I think it has some additional photos that Dad wasn't able to retrieve from his stuff when he was trying to get them - at any rate, I didn't recognize all of them.

(World of Warcraft babble) Jihae, my gnomish mage on the Windrunner server, made 40 on Thursday - along with terram's character (named Terram, of course). I am proud of myself: I was able to buy all my level 40 spells and my mount, as soon as I got back to the city, without borrowing money from the guild. I had some gold left, too (I forget how much but I am back up to about 35 now, I think, between Jihae and my mule).

Also, I got one of those online voice player thingies just because I saw it on a blog I read and it was vaguely neat. Unfortunately I can't put it in here as LJ eats it, so I'm just linking to it.

I am trying to switch to diet soda. It's that or switch to just water and tea, and I like soda (yes, I do get plenty of water, even so). So far, so good. I tried various light sodas in diet first, then the A&W Root Beer I really wanted to switch to (as I like the non-diet drink). It seems to have helped. Last time I tried this I thought it was horrid. Now, after some desensitizing from the other drinks, it's just slightly odd. Maybe I can get used to it.

My hands are very dry lately. I love winter, but I don't love what it does to my hands every year. I am slathering on the Eucerin and being very grateful that, as long as I don't have huge gouge-ish cracks in my hands, it doesn't hurt. Several other creams I can use work fine...until the first minute cracks appear, and then they burn like fire. I like fire. On candles, not on my knuckles, thanks very much.

Ah well. Off to ... I'm not sure what. Maybe scan photos. Maybe do something else. I gotta figure that part out.

Today's been interesting, at least. More good than not, so I'll take that.

I. The weather. It started out with a forecast of lots of rain. I like rain. I got to work and it wasn't raining, so I went in. At about, oh, 1:00 or so it started pouring rain. My umbrella? In the car. Uh-oh. I'd arrived early so I could leave at 3:30, too. However, at 3:30 it was brilliantly sunny with dark clouds on every side. I dashed to the car, and went to JoAnn's as I'd planned. By the time I got back out, it was back to doing its "almost midnight" impression and I drove from Tigard down to Wilsonville in pouring (I mean, wipers on high, doing 45, and passing most people) rain, occasionally intermixed with sleet (and possibly hail, but I'm still doubting that one as it was supposedly about 45 degrees out...).

II. JoAnn's Superstore just opened. Well, I got a 49 cent candleholder that is really pretty. I used my 40% off coupon on it, to get that price. This tells you how many other items I bought, right? Yeah. It's like a Michael's, only with more fabric, and a crappier layout. As I don't sew, I'm less than impressed. It's better than the standard JoAnn's. But I prefer the Michael's and that one is on my way home anyway.

III. Deliria. I have been waiting for the Everyday Heroes book to come out. Then I have been waiting for it to arrive once I heard they were shipping and people were getting them. I went to get the mail - no sign of it. Went into the house - aha! They shipped it Fedex. I now know I want nothing more shipped Fedex to the house, either. They left it on the front step leaning against the door.

That's actually fairly visible from the street at this time of year, but more importantly it's not that far under the shelter of the porch (only a few feet), in a day of driving wind and rain. The box had rain spattered on it. The OPEN-SIDED box through which I could clearly see the book, which had no protective plastic cover. (Cheap, guys, really cheap - a plastic bag would have been good, if the box wasn't going to completely cover - a file folder doesn't quite substitute.)

BUT. The rain had not gotten to the book, although it certainly could have. The book is unmarred (the packaging was fairly protective from most forms of mangling, just not the rain). And thus, I have my copy of Everyday Heroes, even if I did about have a heart attack worrying it'd have water damage before I confirmed it didn't.

I am not reading it yet. Must eat dinner. Then must put together at least five announcements. Then can dive into the book in more detail than I had a chance for at Gencon. Then can write characters, notes, other things that have been percolating in back of head.

Overall? Overall this is a pretty good day, as the bad was either nuisances, or things that didn't happen. I passed a couple car accidents (one involving four cars, but none majorly damaged) and wasn't in any of them. The weather is lovely. And I'm home and can have my dinner now. And book.

*grins* I saw mother for lunch today. She stopped by at about 11 and we went to Quackers (the restaurant with the Pair-a-Dux pub - I'm sure you wanted to know that, right?). It was a nice lunch; and I got to hear about Mom's experience with the Telemarketers From Hell. Basically, she got a recorded phone message (more than once) from these people wanting to help her with her (perfectly fine) credit. When she called their 800 number to be asked to put on their do-not-call list, they said they could not do that unless she gave them her name and address....

And they persisted in saying this. Mom started calling the FCC with questions and has a complaint form on the way. As she put it, if they call one more time, she's filling out the complaint form. Good for her!

We headed up to Bi-Mart to see if they had the pet carrier she wanted, but they didn't; her local store is having a sale on them, so presumably they'll have them. She has a mama cat with kittens less than a month old...and the mama cat is cautiously (at best) domesticated and has an abscess on her cheek. Not a terrible one; my mom's been able to keep it drained with gentle care; but all the same. So, probably time for a vet visit. Regardless, they always try to have a pet carrier, because they do have cats that live outdoors; and the old one is somewhat damaged.

Then we were coming back and I was describing to Mom how I can, making only right turns, also take the most efficient path from my house to the library to Bi-Mart and home...and I realized, the bead shop is now on that route.

And it was between us and my place. So I suggested we stop in so Mom could see all the pretty stuff. She doesn't bead, but she seems to enjoy the fact that I do; and she liked it. She enjoyed looking at the stuff in cases, and looking over the beads. After a thorough look around, we left without buying anything, and she dropped me off at home.

I had a great deal of fun. I love my mother; I love the fact that we get along so well, and talk so much. She said they think they're not moving to Ireland, but that if they manage their money right, they'll be able to visit for a month each year. That's not bad at all.

I have begun beading a necklace. Simple, but time-consuming: square-stitch. Yes, square-stitch. Silly me.

I'm having fun. It's slow, and I sat wrong, so I have a few stiff spots. And I have the beginnings of a necklace. I'm pleased.

To be specific, I have four inches of this, in seed beads in two colors, two wide, blocks of 2x2 in colors alternating (matte peach and a red-brown lined transparent, if you're curious).

I. Am. Nuts.

And this is way, way too much fun.

I love my new beading cart, even though I haven't set everything up. I found most of what I wanted for a necklace and put it in the tray, and I thought to grab it and start it after reading all my favorites, and just a bit before bed.

Which is when I noticed that I haven't got any scissors in the tray. Not only do I need them to cut thread, but frankly, industrial-strength shipping tape is holding two of the boxes shut, and I would like access to their contents.

Guess I better find some scissors.

Okay, I found the beads again. See, I went to get them this morning (actually, mostly charms) and I couldn't find the bag from yesterday. I distinctly remembered dropping it in one of the other bags (but not which one) and then bringing them all in. It should be here.

It wasn't. Or rather, I was dead sure it was, but I could not FIND it. Note that I only got $10 or so worth of beads. As anyone who beads can tell you - unless you're buying seed beads (I wasn't), that's not a lot of bulk. If you're buying really fancy stuff (I also wasn't) it might be just a single item or two.

And I had to find it. Aie. It was in the bag from bimart, under the dental gum, when I tracked it down. Geesh.

I need to set up a storage center for my beads, again. A better one than I have now. If I'm going to take it up again...well, disorganized beading supplies are NOT a happy thing. As I have just AMPLY proved.

Well. Well, well, well. I can still sew a button on. And even manage not to lose my mind.

For those of you who know how easily I grow restless with a task that doesn't give me some form of mental distraction, this may be surprising news. Don't worry. I still don't have the patience for cross-stitch, and any attempt I make at sewing beyond button-attachment is still a joke. :)

I have a blouse, which I got used, which was a medium blue with silvery buttons. Alas, this is a cowboy look, and I don't care for such; and far more important, the silvery buttons were plastic with a painted-on silver color. Which flakes after a while.

Why, then, did I get this blouse? Why, because even I can sew on a button. All those have been removed, and replaced with dark blue plastic buttons, very understated. I like it. I tried it on before I applied the fabric glue to the knots, don't worry, it is not permanently adhered to my skin. Hee.

So next weekend when we do the laundry, the glue will have cured for the required five days, I will snip off the trailing threads a bit closer (after tucking them in), and I will have a newly-redone shirt.

Did I mention that I did this without scissors or wirecutters or pliers? The latter two are relevant because the buttons were wired to their paper backings. The wire is supposed to flex, allowing you to pull the buttons off; alas, paper is far more yielding. Only two of the ten buttons I sewed came off as prescribed. The rest came off with the wire still in, because the paper tore.

Fortunately a small screwdriver (flat) can be inserted and used to pry the wire up and get it out of there. :)

And an exacto knife is great for cutting thread....

Ack. Yes, this is about par for the course around me, I'm afraid. At least it worked!

It's time to clean my closet out, too. I have too much crap, and should donate what I won't use, and use the rest.