So Far This Week

I'm having a ball on Facebook... quick snippets of catching up with some long lost friends has been pretty cool.

I'm missing singing -- reading The Pitch Pipe (the quarterly magazine of Sweet Adelines Int'l) always makes me want to run back to chorus. Hanging out with C, the bass of my Phoenix quartet and just doing a tiny wee bit of singing with her in the car makes me really really miss it.... *sigh* -- and I waiver between immersing myself in music or spreading myself over the other talents and things I want to do. Focus is a hard concept for me to master.

So much fun to be had!

Himself just got word from his work yesterday that he'll be working from home -- I'm green with envy. There will be a web-cam so he will have to be dressed -- when this concept was mentioned as a possibility a few weeks ago I stipulated he'd still have to shower every day (!). So plans are being made to finish 'his' room and make it really into an office. We'll be adding Cox digital phone to our package, and his company will pay for phone and internet costs... woot!! And with what he'll be saving in gas and lunch, we think that will be around $250 a month.

Yay!!

25 minutes ellipticalling -- with 10 or 15 minutes at incline 4 and 5 -- Killing Me!! Listening to Wicked on my ipod -- I stopped when I got shaky. Yay Me!!

Things I Like

I like...

staying up late, not getting up early
Diet coke over ice, not straight from a can
celery with peanut butter or with hot artichoke dip
gel pens not regular ink pens
things color-coded so I don't have to read everything, I can just look at the color
Mountains over beaches
cold weather over hot weather
fall over summer
milk chocolate not dark chocolate
dogs over cats
listening to christian talk radio, but sometimes the music is a bit same-y
Leno over Letterman (and I like Conan too)
College sports over the pros
Burger King over McDonalds
Mexican over Italian
tulips & daisies over fancier flowers
Bookman's (used bookstore) over Barnes & Noble or the other big bookstore chain
doing nothing
being busy (contradictory, no?)
performing over being in the audience
comfort over style or fashion
hoop earrings that stay in my ear as part of a continuous loop (they don't have removable backs that fall off and get lost)
wearing silver most of the times
pearls over diamonds
interesting angles over straight walls (attics & basements vs regular rooms)
hardwood floors
mushy indoor-outdoor carpet
light wood over dark wood (except I love cherry wood)
binders, not hanging files
journal books over blogging (but I've blogged more than I've journalled)
Facebook over My Space
that I don't have a 'style' -- I like so much of everything - bold, soft, eclectic, traditional...
Beatles over Stones

visiting with family & friends in California, coming home, The theme song from "The Greatest American Hero", Pie a la mode, foot rubs & pedicures, Bill Cosby, Hee-Haw, corny jokes, bad puns, silly conversations, writing, cleaning the bathroom & kitchen (which seems odd since my kitchen isn't clean very often), floating in the pool looking up at the stars, how I feel when I'm done exercising, singing a cappella, singing harmony parts, being casual not dressy, Harrison Ford movies, Friends re-runs, that first drink of coffee in the morning, organizing and labelling and figuring out how something will fit, sticky notes, talking to people about their past and hearing their stories, getting people together who haven't seen each other in a long time...

being quiet and contemplating how very blessed I am.

My Life.

Making Soap

How much fun did I have this weekend?!

First -- Saturday morning worked -- two more girls auditioned for the Tucson Girls Chorus before we have camp this weekend...

Then -- Taught the craft class in the afternoon -- we did Puzzle Frames, and they turned out really really cute -- and the ladies had a good time. My friend T and I are still finding puzzle pieces all over ( my carport, her dining room floor...). She was a star and fed me for three nights, and allowed all our stuff to be spread out all over her dining room -- it is a good thing we started this craft early!

Saturday Night - the bass of my former quartet was in Tucson and we had a fabby time -- dinner at the Blue Willow, she came over and met my dog - saw my house, which himself had spent a considerable amount of time making look more presentable than when I'd left that morning!

Sunday afternoon -- Making Soap!! 4 of my favorite people who are connected to the TGC all went to the treasurer of the board's house and helped make soap: pumpkin, lavendar & luxury mint. It was cold processed and was extremely fun and informative.

Yes, of course I want to start making soap now -- and it takes up a whole closet in her house, so I've decided I need another house/apartment/condo to do my business. Cheaper to buy a "Condo" (former apartment) for $45,000 than rent for $400 a month... of course I investigated!

But before I can formally investigate, I need to put together the binder of 2 years worth of craft projects; the business plan; and probably book a class at at least one other property, and have saved $1,000 for a down payment. How much fun would it be to have a craft space that is big enough to have over 6 to 12 people, be able to have a full kitchen for crafting and eating, and enough space for music in one bedroom and supplies in the other??

Ahhh... nothing like pie in the sky.... pipe dreams... hey -- If I Can Dream It, I Can Achieve It!! :D

Ow OwwOwwOwww....

Yep, workout today kicked my be-hind!

Killer aerobic and weight workout (the first half of which I was queen of the whinebabies...!), I finished with 40 minutes on the elliptical and then about 30 minutes of stretching.

I then got home and fixed killer stir fry with brown rice -- watched a couple "Friends" and then floated in the pool for about 30 minutes -- and even did some leg lifts in the water, and some waist twists -- not sure if they do any good, but it felt great.

My good friend and former bass of my Phoenix quartet will be here Saturday, so will be fixing killer stir fry & tofu again after my craft class that afternoon.

We're doing puzzle frames and that is basically what T & I did all weekend... yes, we're seeing puzzle pieces in our sleep (!)

got to sleep now!

Making a Living Without a Job

~ By Barbara J. Winter
(Winning Ways For Creating Work That You Love)

A book I bought over 10 years ago... to create a job around something you love doing is basically the premise of the book. It has lists of personality traits that make doing this kind of thing easier, and what to work on if those traits do not come naturally.

It has been my goal since forever (my mid to late 20's) to start and run my own business -- the flexibility that can come with it, the ability to work whatever hours suit me (usually from 6pm until 2 or 3am is my best creative time) and make lots of fun creative decisions (name of business, logo, how will I market and advertise, websites... communication --not to mention the actual business product, etc...), the sense of real accomplishment... that truly all the experience(s) I've had will have led to this soul-satisfying, constantly-recharged and re-charging of my creative sensibilities yet is a solid, real and "IT MATTERS" way to spend my energy.

So my friend T mentioned kinda casually - but with all seriousness - that we should put together a book of the crafts that we have been doing for the seniors. Crafts for the seasons ~ 14 ~ A Crafter's Dozen (because more is always better for those times when you don't have enough ;-).

Well, I started a binder for my crafts classes - the intent of which is/was to put together by month the supplies I used, do a write up on the level of success of the project by my audience (indpendent seniors), and have photos of the 'demo' of the project, as well as pictures with the class members and their creations.

Progress -- pages done (but not journalled)

I went to a crop last night and actually put down 6 pages!! I've not been that productive in my own album for a loonnggg time.

It was a fun crowd -- much laughter, some awesome food... good times!

The hostess of the crop has been out of town a lot in the past year -- and had to come home because their house was broken into and the thieves got sooo much stuff! She lost most of her Creative Memories tools - antique and sentimental jewelry, safe boxes with passports, social security cards etc..., two complete silver services (her mom's and her MIL's), along with the every day stainless steel (except for the 5 pieces in the dishwasher).

It is horrible what has been taken, let alone the feeling of violation. We all bought stuff from our CM consultant because then the hostess would get credit and can start re-building her stuff... and 4 of us chipped in to buy her a tool tote as she starts re-acquiring supplies.

Nothing Like Old Friends

So -- on Facebook I've caught up with one of my favorite theatre buddies from Pepperdine -- he was Fagin when we did Oliver, he was in the light booth for Quilters, and we went to Edinburgh for the Festival one summer, putting on a modern adaptation of the old morality play "Everyman" with music... weird and special -- very very funny guy whom I'll call "T" and shortly after we were friends on Facebook, another mutual friend ("S") asked me about another guy -- who played Bill Sykes in Oliver, was an absolutely unspeakably amazing King in 'The Lion in Winter' -- seriously amazing amazing... and fabulous voice too... and he also went to Edinburgh -- then after graduation from Pep went to France and become a Priest... we'll call him "D".

*sigh* we all had little crushes on "D."

Anyhoo -- "S" writes me a message on Facebook that do I know what happened to "D" -- if anyone would know, *I* would... and it just happens that in June there was a 20-year reunion of Pepperdine Year-In-Europe folks -- which I chickened out from going, despite being in Southern California (planned my trip around the reunion but didn't go... another post). The organizers (not an official Pepperdine planned gathering, for sure) had an amazing list of email addresses and were awesome in that they let everyone see everyone else... it happens that "D" went to Florence, and while he wasn't at the reunion (still living in France), he did do an update page and there were current pictures and an address.

So yeah, I had the email and the address... so I put "T" in touch with "D" and gave the info to "S" because she was "Baby Doe" when "S" & "D" did that opera with "D" as the husband. I was originally cast as the not-very-sympathetic wife, but ended up dropping out because it was one too many things going on that semester -- one of them being Quilters.

I love getting people together... especially people who impacted me and my life -- 2010 will be my twenty year college reunion, which boggles my mind. I like keeping in touch, keeping track of people... and there are a number of people in my life that while I don't talk to them every month, or even every year -- I could call them and we'd catch up to the last time we'd seen each other without any kind of awkward.

I'm incredibly blessed having these kinds of friends -- and in this busy busy (unimportant non-urgent unessential busy-ness) world, taking an extra 10 minutes to call someone you've not talked to in a coon's age... well, connections and relationships are what carry us through.

"The best mirror is an old friend" ~ George Herbert

"The best way to keep your friends is not to give them away." ~ Wilson Mizner

"Life is partly what we make it, and partly what is made by the friends whom we choose." ~ Teyhi Hsieh

The Cost of Everything...!

Our Cable bill is increasing - $2 for basic and $3 for expanded... so today I'll be calling and just go back to basic.

I'll miss HGTV... but that's about all I watch. And himself and I watch reruns of Friends & a lot of Two and-a-half Men. Really we'll just be missing a lot of reruns.

So now I'm thinking I *REALLY* need to get to the gym more so I can watch those shows I'll miss on the 4 Dish Network tv's there...

30 minutes yesterday on the elliptical -- just happy I got there!

I went later than usual and while it was still light outside, it is a lot creepier than when there are more people in the gym. I like the gym less crowded inside, but appreciate the crowd when I go to leave and get in my car.

*** *** *** ***
One of my local friends who is also an awesome blogger (and yes, you have an inspiring ministry!) is moving :-( If I ever get to North Carolina, however, I'll have a ton of people I can catch up with (Hi SadTomato!!), some relatives, and this caffeinated singer-dancer-sewing gal!

--- --- --- --- ---
The weather has been a lot cooler (more humid, but I don't mind 85 degrees and humidity!), so I've been in a better mental state... cooling down at night is such a huge thing that helps my whole state of mind.

The pool has been FULL of bugs, and the flying ants aka termites have been mating like crazy... lots of them dead in my pool, but some of them were at work inside my office... atop the curtain rod... yeah -- little tiny winged insects squirming and wriggling... just disgusting... so we sprayed RAID flying insect bug spray, and the next day my desk was full of dead winged insects.

Lovely.

Some More Bragging...

So... on Thursday I did 60 minutes a t o n e t i m e on the elliptical!!!
10 minutes incline:3 resistance:15
20 minutes incline:4 resistance:35
15 minutes incline:2 resistance:25
15 minutes incline:2 resistance:15

I actually did 60 minutes and 30 seconds because when I checked how many calories I'd burned it said 399 -- so I did another 30 seconds so I could say I burned 400 calories.

I am so proud!! And I'm not even counting the 10 minute warm-up I did *before* my weight training session.

Oh Yeah... did I mention I did the 60 minutes AFTER my 30 kick-my-patootie weight-training??!!

And yesterday I went in and did 30 minutes elliptical only -- making it three times this week... and I'm thinking I may even go in today just because ;-)

I have to say my calves are quite sore.... I'm trying to stretch after each session so the muscles don't cramp up.

I'm trying to slowly increase the incline, because that is what makes my heart really start working harder... I'm really strong, but my cardio fitness is way behind.... yes, I am in the "cardio zone" for heart rate the entire time I'm doing it -- my stride is right around 70... but I really really hate going fast -- I like slow and resistance, not fast and I-can't-breathe... if that makes sense.

I've been working out with just two weeks "off" since mid-april, and when I started on the elliptical I could only do 3 minutes. My trick was increase by a minute each time... and if I was really tired or wasn't hacking it -- I'd take a break and then go back for another 3 minutes... just telling myself "only 3 more minutes" and eventually it got to 30 minutes. Some days I just do the 10 minute warm up before working out with weights, and then the 20 minutes required. Pushing myself just makes me angry and whiny, so I'm taking the 'slow and steady' approach and now am feeling really proud of myself.

I took my ipod with me the day I did the 60 minutes -- and it totally helped... of course I "rock out" to Scottsdale Chorus singing barbershop -- but hey, whatever floats yer boat! Or keeps the elliptical rotating... ;-)

Now it is time to get serious about the eating habit change. I'll be making up the menus etc... today... and I think counting Weight Watchers points is a good way to start ~ remembering portion control and I'll be back to 40 days with no meat (fish, eggs and a bit of dairy in the form of mozzarella cheese & low-fat yogurt)... I had to start over after the 4th of July :D

What's on your TiVo?

Currently:

Carol Duvall Show (7 shows, all reruns)

Law & Order: SVU (5 shows, some old, some new - it is set to only keep 5 at a time and they're back up for when we are really desperate for something to watch.)

Law & Order: Criminal Intent (my favorite of the L&O franchise)

Friends (we watch reruns all the time... the only show we agree on)

Family Guy (himself's pick -- ugh)

Divine Design (Canadian designer is really good!!)

Inside the Actor's Studio (2 shows I've had saved for over a year... need to watch them, eh?)

Stargate Atlantis (Himself's show, but I do enjoy it most of the time)

Gardening By The Yard (5 shows -- I like the host, he's a goof ;-)

Kinda pathetic, actually...

Italian Ice

YUM!! There's a new/old place in town - Zona Ice that has Italian Ice, Frozen Custard & Gelato (all of which are fewer calories than DQ ;-). Last night I met my friend (see "Hijacked!" post) and had a large Cappuccino Cream Ice for dinner. It was delish :D

We set our craft class schedule... we gabbed about the new management at my old workplace... we discussed me being the director/leader of the senior living community chorus...
* * * * * *
I've decided that I'm not going to be going back to barbershop for awhile -- still gonna keep my membership and I still love it blah blah blah... but too many other things that I want to do, and I just have a hard time going to just sing -- I want to get highly involved, and then I say "yes" to too many things and then nothing I am doing gets done to any kind of standard and I feel bad all the time.

I think I have found a voice teacher -- just need to give her a call and set up a time, because I do want to stay 'in voice.' And I'm planning to join a less-intense singing group of ladies in September. And, if next year I'm the director of this senior chorus, I will definitely have my hand in musical adventures!
* * * * * *
We now have a scale that works. I'm so delighted. I am really -- but it has gone up 10 lbs since I started working out ~ which I know is a normal thing when you start building muscle, but still... so in the next couple weeks I'll be getting serious about working our aerobically at my gym 5 days a week, rather than once a week, and making better eating choices. I kinda dropped the ball over the 4th of July weekend and now I'm in chocolate mode!

Question

So.... anyone out there ever owned a franchise and wanna share some information with me?

Pros & Cons... Lifestyle while you ran the business... income during that time... did you enjoy what you were doing... what would you do differently... what are the strengths and weaknesses of the franchise business you were in...?

Curious Minds Want To Know!

Hijacked!

I met a friend/ex-boss for dinner tonight.... there was a socializing/networking thing going on with an organization I belong to... my friend and I were to meet at 5:15pm -- eat & discuss upcoming projects -- then network. I thought my friend could get some good networking going with these other folks.

My friend was 35 minutes late. I, however, know that she usually runs late and had ordered chips & guacamole... and had brought my work evaluation form to start doing while waiting... meanwhile, the networking thing starts... my friend arrives, we eat and finish eating and are having a lively and interesting time... and the networking table folks finish and all come over to our table to make fun of me and how glad they were I could come and hang out with them all for the evening.... one of them stayed for another hour and a-1/2 and we had a super time - she's really nice!!

After closing the restaurant and being the last ones to leave... still chat in the parking lot for 20 minutes... I call my friend...we laugh... and make plans to meet tomorrow after we work out.

Fest

Yesterday and the day before I watched Gilmore Girls -- ALL DAY. Marathon-like. Two 12+ hour days doing nothing but catching up on a tv series. Slothful to the max!

I have two more CD's to go before I've seen every episode. ABC Family doesn't ever seem to show the last season -- I've seen the penultimate last episode (WAY out of order of the season I'd been tivo-ing) -- but yesterday afternoon I started watching the 7th and final season of this awesome series.

Himself made Donner Kebab (flavor) beef -- which was awesome. One of the things we miss about the UK... traditionally made with lamb, the beef did a nice replacement job! I had a hot-dog on Friday because, you know, it is American and it was in the spirit of Independence Day.

It is traditional monsoon season -- hot, with afternoon and evening storms and lightning. Very cool...but the weather zaps me.

Rascal has been digging up bones he must have buried 6+ months ago, because one of them appeared to have roots sticking out from it. His nose gets covered in dirt and mud, and his paws... well, himself and I laughed and laughed about what a mess he is and how he'll try to sneak the nasty bone (with roots and bugs and mud) through the kitchen, down the hall, and if not stopped, will re-bury it in our bed, most likely. With the dirt being softer (i.e., being mud), Rascal re-buries and checks on his stash of rawhides so carefully buried in the yard.

He is such a great dog. He drops the bone when we catch him, trots over, allows me to wipe the first layers of dirt and mud off his nose, then one paw at a time allows me to try to get the mud out from between the pads & crevices of his front paws. Complacent, resigned... knowing that he was taking a chance bringing it inside, that there was slim to none odds that he'd get the bone in the house without being noticed and caught... he makes us laugh and is overall just a great great dog!!

Happy Independence Day Holiday Weekend!

working like you don't need the money

If you had all the resources in the world, and didn't need to work for money -- what would you do?

I'd draw, paint, sing, sew, act... and somehow help people by doing it. Help them see a sunnier side of life, of themselves... that it is okay to be silly, and humor doesn't have to dig at someone else to be funny. To share a part of themselves and be vulnerable in a safe environment. And to feel the joy of applause, of making someone laugh, of overcoming fear.

I'd get people together. I love planning reunions.... reconnecting with friends I've not heard from or seen for years -- and would love to be that kind of event planner.

I'd learn constantly -- new skills, discover new authors, new musicians, how to build things. Just be in school or classes all the time.

Why didn't someone tell me during high school when I was thinking about college to not listen to that inner voice that was saying "Get a real major -- art isn't a real major... and okay, you'll get a music scholarship, but really -- what is THAT all about?"

I'm really in a bad mental space right now -- can't seem to shake the negative. I'm blaming PMS and the heat. I'm zapped. Today was better than yesterday... but that ain't sayin' much. Trying hard to get out of myself a bit, but I'm so miserable I can't stay focused. Praying constantly. I'm snapping and grouchy, and tired.

I am extremely thankful for a/c, my pool, and ice cream.

Whiny & Grumpy

When it is hot, I am grumpy. Night before last at 8:30 pm it was 90 degrees. (We got an outside temp thermometer). The pool was 86. Divine!! :D

If I am tired, I am whiny. I was up at 5:30 am two mornings in a row and by 2pm I'm just done.

If I am hungry, then I'm just grumpy but don't really know it.

Yesterday I worked out with the trainer for the first time since being back from my trip -- and my knee hurt from, er, rough-housing in the pool. So it was all upper body. And dang it was all heavy. I did 10 minutes 2.5 mph on the treadmill, weights, 10 minutes on the elliptical at incline 2 and resistance 25; then a break (I was tired!); then another 20 minutes on the elliptical at incline 2 and resistance 28.

Last week when I did the elliptical 3 days in a row my calves hurt so bad... today they don't seem too bad. And I'm not sore from the weights, so it probably wasn't as bad as I was whining about.

- - - - - - -
Conversation Monday --

her: do you have a sunburn?

me: no.... I just don't do heat and have bad skin.

This is at least the 2nd or 3rd time I've been asked about my skin (when I'm not wearing makeup) and not responded all that nicely. Which is how I know I'm one of the above: hot, tired, grumpy or a combination of the three.

Funny how when I don't wear makeup how more people notice how red I am. And I don't sit in the sun, but when it is over 70 degrees inside and out, I get red. Rosacea doesn't help, and while I'm not having an outbreak at the moment, it does give me a lovely year-round ruddy appearance. [note sarcasm]

Wearing makeup in this weather -- why bother... it just slides off. And I wear minerals, which don't slide off the other 10 months of the year.

It isn't high blood pressure (well, it could be, but I've been looking this red since we moved to freakin' Arizona when I was 11). It isn't even that I'm working out all that hard. I just --

do. not. handle. heat. well.

period. full stop.

yes, I'm a little grumpy.