T13: Reasons I’m Working for the Weekend

It’s been one long spring and I’m ready for summer. The past ten weeks have been one of the longest shows I’ve worked on since I left college. We started a week early and this production company likes to run for four weeks instead of the usual three. No biggie, but at this point we’re all looking at each other thinking “done.” Luckily, this one ends on Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. I’ll have two glorious days where I have no commitments that I don’t make myself. So here’s a list of why I’m counting the minutes to the weekend.

13 Reasons I’m Working for the Weekend

1. Three Day Weekend! Three whole days where I don’t have to go to my little cubicle and listen to other people have conversations I’m not supposed to hear right outside my wall.
2. Closing night Always a great time to reach that point in a show, where you can all look at each other and say “we made it!” This one culminates with a party at Spice Street.
3. Spice Street on a Saturday Throughout this show, we’ve tried to have a drink over at Spice Street and routinely been blocked out by some chickie in some scantily clad yet oh-so-stylish outfit saying “it’s a private party” Once was the annual Latino thing, another time was a white party, and still another was just some odd event where we got no explanation. It’s nice to be on the guest list this time and tell them off.
4. Brunch The world stopped turning and the Bald One and Five Diamond (T) have Sunday and Monday off. This means we’re getting the long awaited brunch. Hopefully with cheese biscuits.
5. 5 hours of BBC I acquired the 5 hour version of Pride and Prejudice recently. Part of brunch is going to involve curling up with the hubby and our friends and watching this epic.
6. Gardening! With both of us off, we might actually finish mulching our front flower beds. Will wonders never cease?!?
7. Lazy Monday The other benefit of having both days off with the Bald One, we can be lazy and sleep in on Monday until the indecent hour of 10am.
8. new iPhone (maybe) Mercury went into retrograde and took out my cell phone. This means I lost connection with the world. Today (well, Thursday is almost weekend…) I go to the Genius Bar and if they can’t fix it, I get a new one. Woohoo!
9. new tattoo? I’m hoping to go visit the tattoo parlor and get the one that has been in my head for a while put on my body. It’s going to be a garland of gerber daisies around my ankle.
10. Ez Clean House Having had a “professional” come do the place last weekend means I should be able to rock through cleaning the house this weekend.
11. No more quiet office Things supposedly start to get interesting here after Memorial Day. Growing season kicks in and people start doing things fun.
12. Cheese Biscuits Have I mentioned these enough???
13. Sleep I miss it so. I’m looking forward to spending quality time with my bed.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
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WW: Environment

Environment April 1, 2008

Do you feel that pagans/neo-pagans as a whole have a responsibility to the environment? Do you incorporate eco-conscious decisions in your spiritual work? Or do you feel that the two subjects should remain separate and have no interest in the environment as a whole?

I think that a pagan’s responsibility to the environment depends on how nature fits into their personal beliefs. I wouldn’t expect a follower a Kali to be terribly involved in saving the ecosystems of the world, for example. Diana’s folowers better though, or she might get a little pissed off.

For those of us without a particular patron, it becomes a question of how do you work. I’m mostly a practicing kitchen witch (which, is funny of late with my lack of cooking). I try to grow my own herbs and use them when cooking. I try to have sustainable methods of working in my own yard and do what I can outside in the greater community (even though my day job is with an agrochemical company and this may seem backwards).

I try to work, when I do something, outside as much as possible. But sometimes the world doesn’t want to make it easy on me and I’d rather do something than do nothing because the conditions weren’t perfect.

I guess where I’m going is that pagans as a whole have no more responsibility to the environment than any other inhabitant of this globe. Past that, it is up to you. But as a society, we’re lacking in meeting our responsibility to the world and we need to fix that, first.

 

no, not really

Thanks to Ms. Elanova, I had my laugh for the evening. Anybody who knows me should know that this is not remotely tru, or rather, I hsould say…not remotely accurate for how or when I start my day. As I left work this evening, I stopped by my boss’ office and asked if he was going to the meeting in the morning. It starts at 8am. I don’t do 8am too well, so he’s taking the projector to the room so that it isn’t there overnight for people to play with.

My alarm goes off during the week around 6am. I hit the snooze repeatedly so that it goes off again between 6:25 and 6:35. If I’m feeling like it, I stretch and think about the day and what I need to do. More often than not, the snooze goes off again until 7am or so. Then I drag myself around a bit and go about the business of starting my day. Between 8 & 8:30 I’m hitting the morning traffic in order to get to work by 9am.

But weekends…weekends I enjoy my mornings. I get up in the quiet, read the paper and enjoy my coffee. So I like mornings…when they start at a reasonable time.

 

T13: Crafty Nook Needs

A recent purchase of a stackable washer/dryer has made our laundry room a much more open space. It means that I can have a small crafty nook that I can customize in there. But first, I need to figure out what exactly I need in the 24″x35.5″ space.

13 Things I’m Hoping for in my Nook

 

MeMe: 2007 year in review

Nothing like starting a new year by looking at how you got here. So as we figured out where the heck we’re going, I’m trying to remember how we got here. And, it’s fun to be a lemming sometimes.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?

Bought a house, was fired from a job and found a new one, had a Christmas holiday for family - his parents came to dinner on Christmas Eve and Christmas Brunch. I think those are pretty big deals. On a different note - I did lighting design for my first professional show. And finally seeing a TransSiberian Orchestra concert.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don’t think I bothered last year. Bad me.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

No. At least I don’t think so…

4. Did anyone close to you die?

I lost two aunts back to back in August. That was an odd event.

5. What countries did you visit?

None. My traveling was done with Spala gals to Charleston and family visiting in Cleveland and Maryland. I’m plotting purchasing a passport now so that my crazy best friend and I can plot a visit to Niagra on the Lake. Maybe. But I need a passport now. Sigh.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?

A fun, challenging job that has good coworkers and a boss who understands that I have an exterior life. Maybe trying that whole pregnancy thing.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

June 7th - my last day physically working at the Center. August 20th - starting work with my paranoid Germans.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Moving into our first house. We’ve successfully entertained here, had a holiday celebration with family, and started figuring out how to make it all ours.
9. What was your biggest failure?

I almost want to say that getting fired was my biggest failure. The reason for my departure was billed to me as being that I wasn’t working out in the position. Which I want to feel like means I wasn’t doing my job. Which may or may not be the case when you ask people, however it is quite possible that the whole reasoning comes down to personality. Not having the right answers drives me crazy, but (with the exception of questions like this) I’ve given up wondering.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No - I’ve been getting better.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Tough call - either the grill or the washer/dryer combo. The grill has made the world of cooking and entertaining a more fabulous world. However, the W/D has made me very happy for cleaning clothes and allowed me to start plotting moving my crafty self out of a closet and into a workspace. It’s on our renovation list for 2008.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

The Bald One - because he’s taken all of the insanity I’ve thrown at him (moving, lifestyle changes, my job changes, his job change) and just run with it. On a more world/national scale…I have no clue. There have been great people doing crazy things…but nothing worth celebrating stands out.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Journalists - between overhyping the Presidential possibilities, the misdeeds of insane celebrities, celebrating people who have no purpose being celebrated and not paying a darn bit of attention to world events that should matter.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Our house. The house was fairly move-in ready with being vacant and mostly fresh paint, but we needed to change paint in two rooms before we could move in - the master and the guest room changed from blue and pink to green and purple respectively. Then there was the grill, the W/D and working hard on getting things set for outside. The outside was horribly neglected in our opinion, which meant some major sweat equity in things like fixing the front island and raking the decades of leaf debris in the back. We keep realizing we need to get it up and keep it up…but the leaves keep falling and the drought didn’t help.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Playing in our house. Painting. Discussing possibilities of major changes. Planning a deck.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

Possibly One of these Mornings by Moby. No idea why

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? even - happy because I’m feeling settled. sadder because this was a hard year.

b) thinner or fatter? chubby. Sigh.

c) richer or poorer? Moving in the right direction.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

More outside. I have my bike all fixed up, which means that I should be able to get around better…but I haven’t been. Bad me.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

sitting. I have so much to do, that I often end up spazzing.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

Here in our house with his parents. I’m wondering when we’ll get mine here.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?

no…already have my heart sent.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
Nothing really stands out…We still have the same recording list but nothing is my favorite.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

No.

24. What was the best book you read?

Damn. No idea. Too many to pick a fave.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

A Fine Frenzy.

26. What did you want and get?

To be able to play guitar with my hubby…we played about two bars of Carol of the Bells on the 26th…me with my leftie and him all normal.

27. What did you want and not get?

A Deck

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

None screamed as stunning, but I have loved Netflix.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 29…I think we did something…oh - barbequed.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

If I could just work in theater related  stuff. No such luck.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Comfy business-casual. No suits, but dress slacks & skirts with professional-ish blouses and sweaters.

32. What kept you sane?

Sleep.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Gerard Butler.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

Everyone needing the STFU about the upcoming election. I do NOT need this much ramp-up.

35. Who did you miss?

my dear friend Elanova.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

a Spala gal - Beej.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.

Value yourself and others might follow.

 

Christmas meme

A Christmas meme stolen from Red over at Dr. Pepper is Good for the Soul

1. Wrapping or gift bags?
I prefer wrapping. Because I’m crazy crafty chick and I have to wrap so I can play with ribbon and tags. Yes, I’m that girl.

2. Real or artificial tree?
Real!!!!!! Seriously, this is our first real tree and I was giddy for days. I have pictures, which as soon as I put on my computer, edit and upload to picasa, I’ll direct your attention over there.

3. When do you put up the tree?
It was a few day process - we bought the tree late on Saturday the 8th, put the lights up on Sunday and then decorated with ornaments on Wednesday. Since it was our first real tree - and a first in a while for all the cats who had only been briefly exposed before - we wanted to see how it would work with them. Oddly, they all took it quite well. I grew up in a house where the tree went up the Saturday before Christmas though, so I was early. But I had to be, to take pictures with the tree and presents before they were shipped.

4. When do you take the tree down?
Good question. It’ll be a process involving both of us - so maybe New Years day if we* aren’t hungover as hell.

5. Do you like eggnog?
Not my favorite, but I usually have a small glass at some point.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?
The unicorn music box that’s on the shelf in the purple room. I think my dad is credited with finding it.

7. Do you have a nativity scene?
Nope.

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?
Hard to say - probably the coffee mug with the child-like drawing of a unicorn on it from my grandmother. I’d give the award for strangest to my MIL, for the foot tall porcelain bunny figure. He’s outside, guarding our burning bush.

9. Mail or email Christmas cards?
Mail all the way. This year I actually made all the cards - so if it looks a little screwy, that’s why!

10. Favorite Christmas Movie?
Muppet Christmas Carol - even after doing several shows a year of Night before Christmas Carol you’d think I’d have my fix. Nope.

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas?
Probably start thinking that way in October, oddly at the State Fair. My mom is actually getting a present with a decoration on the outside that I picked up at the State Fair from my favorite silversmith.

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?
German Rock Cookies. But that’s a whole post on its own…they’re actually called anise cookies, and any Eastern European grandmother will make them for you…just come with coffee and lots of time.

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree?
Clear is the way to go, imo. You can see the lit up tree with ornaments instead of going “wow, lights on a tree.” Colored lights are for outside.

14. Favorite Christmas song?
Hard to pick just one…Dar Williams Christians and the Pagans.

 

NaNoWriMo

For those curious, I did get a late start. Very late start. But I’m going to see how much damage I can do for the next fourteen days anyway. You might have noticed an entry below called Last tango at Paris hotel. I have no idea why that has stuck with me…but I’m using it as a proceeding event. For the curious…here’s my start:

Rain dripped drearily against the window. The sound, on any weekend morning would be a soothing balm against whatever plans she originally might have sketched for the day. Can’t do yard work, it’s raining outside. Those errands here and there would have to wait as well since nobody in their right mind goes slogging packages to and from the stores when rain could drip into them and make your car smell like wet dog for weeks afterward. No, the rain would herald a chance to roll over and cuddle deeper into the down comforter and reach for the book and glasses sitting on the nightstand. A few hours later and she would emerge from the realms whatever was on top of her stack had taken her and she’d stretch to start her day with whatever could be accomplished around the weather.

            But this rain dripped down as if to further her misery. Instead of being a gateway to staying in her little haven it made leaving it that much worse. There would be fewer cabs available for the harrowing trip to the airport. Flights would be delayed once she got there. And the outfit she had carefully figured out was not meant for puddle jumping. This was probably the worst start to her trip that could possibly be imagined.

If anyone has any comments, please feel free to leave them here. If I do manage to get more done, I don’t know where I’ll post them but I can send the Nov 30th version to anyone curious.

 

T13: Happy November

Welcome to November. I’m blissfully thinking that I’ll be able to take a deep breath and participate in the world at large. But I should know better - holding pattern opens in a week, the Bald One goes to 6 day work weeks, it’s the middle of fourth quarter and tour season is right around the corner. But still…

Why I love November…

1. Fall Unlike the rest of the year, November is when North Carolina pretends to be fall. For a day or two, but it’s there - crisp mornings, cool nights and color changing leaves

2. NaNoWriMo This is where I fool myself into trying to write 50,000 words in thirty days with some loose concept of plot. I’ll be tagging things, if I ever get there.

3. Thanksgiving On odd years (like, say, 2007) the Bald One and I cross our fingers that he’s opening on Wednesday so we’re not driving ten hours in one day. If we’re lucky, we drive up to Anne Arundel County for turkey dinner and all the trimmings at my aunt & uncle’s home. My parents drive down from Cleveland, my cousin & her husband drive up from Florida and we all have a fantastic time. It’s wonderful.

4. Show Break I often try to block out November & December for tour season. Not that we’ve had any times on the road in November, but we have had our brush up rehearsal during it. Which means that usually I have a little bit of a lull here before we jump on the road. This one will be exceptionally nice since it will come after my week stint with Warrior Theater and co-designing lights with both hands.

5. Post Halloween quiet Halloween is a big party week with our friends. The weekend before involves a party at a house - this year was ours and until 4am (before some folks relocated). Then there is the actual day of candy-ing. S&M have been slowly building there house to the point where they had children actually avoid there house with the blood, hanging body parts, spooky music and fog. There was also an evening viewing of the Great Pumpkin. But now….it’s quiet. Blissfully quiet.

6. 4th Quarter I’m working for a Corporation, which means end-of-year wrap-up. November, however, is that nice moment after the “OMG! 4th Quarter!” and before the “December Deadline Doom”

7. Candy Halloween Candy on dirt cheap, Christmas chocolate hitting the shelves…time to get a little well padded for winter. And test your resolve.

8. Sweaters Remember how I mentioned the chilly goodness? THat means I get to break out the big fuzzy sweaters. Cashmere, wool, woven cottons…all piled together in my closet so much of the year get to come out of the cedar and wrap me in their love

9. Snuggling I have a heat-generating hubby - which means that cuddling is banned most of the year unless I want to cuddle a wet sheet. But now with the cold coming and my lack of body-heat means that he can use that heat to keep me warm and I get to snuggle.

10. Fires It’s also cool enough to light the fire in our living room fireplace. Haven’t been able to do that for many many months.

11. Movie Releases Getting ready for the holiday buying spree, a lot of the summer movies hit DVD in November. This means I can finally get to see some of the things I had no intention of spending $8/head to see.

12. Not Christmas Yes, not Christmas. The music has started, the theater shows have kicked in, Trans-Siberian tickets are on sale…yet I don’t have to think too hard about where I’m going to be on the 25th or who is getting what. Sure, I’ll shop during November, but there isn’t the OMG! panic that will start on December First.

13. Fall Back With the longer Daylight Savings, this month gets an extra hour of sleep come Sunday - and I’ll love every second of it.

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

 

Desktop meme

The game:

1. Go to your desktop and press the Print Scrn key (to the right of F12)
2. If you get a “save” window, save it. Otherwise, open a graphics program (like Paint, Picture Manager, Gimp, Photoshop) and paste it (ctrl-v). If you wish, you can edit before saving. But don’t, okay?
3. Post the screenshot on your blog. Describe and explain if you wish, such as why you chose that look, what your background is, or why you have so many/so few icons.

The background is the fish sculpture hanging above the mini-bar at Barefootn’ - the beach house we rented as part of the wedding shindigs last summer. First off, having the mini bar was excellent. The sculpture was just awesome, so when I was taking pictures of the place for my SIL, I made sure to grab a shot of this one. (If you’re curious, you can find more photos of the place on my Picasa web album.)

The right hand column thingy is the Google Desktop application. I like having it up because I get a constant feed of news & blogs along with a snapshot of my calendar that can pop-out when someone asks what my availability might be. The weather & moon are just nice to keep track of what’s going on outside.

I love lack of icons on my desktop. I greatly dislike icons, because it’s easier for me to type Start > Programs > Office > Word to open something than to look for an icon on my desktop. The stuff that’s left are things that have to stay there or are there because I want the quick. The “Mean Kitty” song is there to just amuse me at the drop of a hat.

 

Revvin’ up

It’s getting to be that time of year again…where you lock your doors, swear off your family and try to write a novel. I got the notification from the NaNoWriMo folks that they were making some web improvements and things should look pretty and new. I’m hoping, do to lack of show and insanity and a low-key job, to be able to participate more this year.

Speaking of writing - go check out It’s Write Now. They’re crazy enough to put up a “win an iPod Nano” post to celebrate being up for three months.

It looks like a neat site though, so I might have to check it out more often. Thanks Red, for the tip-off.