Day 5 of No Hot Water

It's not so bad. I am getting used to every orifice on my body puckering up at the first touch of ice cold water early in the morning. Really.

So we may have our gas back sometime this week. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at the latest. Turns out the gas company is requiring us to replace the gas line. The "kid" who came out on Saturday will be the person doing it. Good news is that they won't be digging a trench. There is a procedure where they drill into the soil in selected spots and slide the pipe in. After seeing all the landscaping (including a fence) that they would have to dismantle to dig the trench, the "kid" favored this technique because it is less destructive and I'm sure much less work for him. He actually has been very good. Apologetic about the fact that we have no gas. The whole procedure is going to cost $3,200. The insurance that we were carrying will cover $2,000 of it. Guess that $5 per month turned out to be worth it.

I bought a tent for my very first outdoor show. It came....with no canopy in the box. I called the company. After waiting 30 minutes for a customer service agent...she told me since this is a new design...they have no replacement parts for it yet. I told her I had an art show on the 19th and that pretty well meant I was screwed. She took pity on me and told me to hold on while she contacted her manager....then she disconnected me. Back on the phone for another 10 mintues of waiting. She must have a computerized phone system...cause she picked up the phone an immediately apologized. She refered me to the Inventory Supervisor...who wasn't in the office. So I left a voice message. They arent' getting it that I don't want a replacement part....I just want the original part that I was suppose to get. We'll see what happens. In the meantime I need to call the show promoter to see if they can help me out with getting a tent for show day.

"Well, Jane, it just goes to show you, it's always something." ..... Gilda Radner as Roseanne Roseannadanna.

What Next?

What an awful week. At work we installed the computer upgrade from hell. Some of the big boys were threatened with their jobs so they rammed this upgrade down our throats. They then proceeded to send e-mails out congratulating everyone on the successful go-live. None of the adminstrators could access their accounts on the first day, most of the end-users in the labs couldn't log on...turns out they reset all the passwords and didn't tell anyone. Then in the conversion, some of the accounts that people should have had access to were lost. How does that happen??? And the congratulatory e-mails kept coming. Never being one to keep my mouth shut...my family will attest to that...I take after my mother...I e-mail one of the big boys to tell him the upgrade was less than successful. I didn't hear back from him. He knows me too well...he's ignoring me. If it weren't for the wonderful Gretchen and Lila...I wouldn't have survived the week. They are consultants from the software company and came to my rescue all week long. They are amazing, beautiful, and do it all on 3-4" heels. These two were born on heels. They even went to a baseball game in heels. I guess I am too old...my feet won't tolerate anything more than a kitten heel anymore.

Then...on Thursday...Lou calls to tell me he is at home and the gas company has shut the gas off. Seems someone in the neighborhood smelled gas and they narrowed it down to our house. They shut off the gas. So I can't cook...no big deal...I don't cook that much and I can use the grill and microwave to get us through. I have to wash dishes and clothes in cold water... that's OK too. But I can't dry the clothes cause I have a gas dryer. My living room has become a makeshift laundry line. I have shirts and pants hanging anywhere I can drape them...underwear hanging from the chandelier...hope company doesn't stop by...it will look like Lou and I have been having an orgy. But that's not the worst of it...we have to shower in cold water...oh my god....you can hear my screams down the block. So I am heating up water in the microwave and putting it into a kettle and using that in the shower to lessen the sting of the cold water. Good news is we have some type of insurance that we pay for in our monthly gas bill....Lou thinks I am brilliant for doing this...I didn't know that we were paying for it...don't tell him...I like it when he thinks I'm brilliant. So the plumbing company that holds the insurance sends a "kid" out on Saturday to measure the pressure He confirmed that we have a leak..NSS..he tells us that normally they fix this by puttng some type of sleeve down the line to seal the leak...fairly easy. But...because our pipe is 1.5"...he doesn't know if the gas company will approve it being sleeved and we might have to have the gas line dug up and replaced. Not so bad except it is on the property line where we have a nice wooden fence, a beautiful moss rock wall and all types of wonderful flowers. If this is the route we have to go...all that will be ripped up...as well as a patio that we have on the side of the house. They will be ripping up not only our landscaping...but our neighbors as well. And...there is a question of whether the gas line is on our property or the neighbors...and the "kid" tells us he may not be able to replace the gas line because it might be on our neighbors property. OK...so what the hell are we suppose to do???? Go without gas??? THANKFULLY...our neighbor is so wonderful. She was outside and we called her over to discuss this...she said we should do what we have to do. If this is what it comes to...I am just going to hire a landscaper to rebuild the rock wall and redo the landscaping on both sides of the fence.

So it's back to work on Monday..today since it's 1 AM... where I have to meet a moving truck from California that is delivering the contents of lab that is transferring here, deal with the on-going upgrade from hell, get my budget package for 2008 which is due in 3 weeks and integrate a new center into our department.

There is light at the end of the tunnel and I am running towards it no matter what.....that light..no it's not an on-coming train...it's 45 days until we leave for PARIS.

Can you say...Sexy French Firefighter....

I am obsessed with reading French Blogs in preparation for our trip there in September. But this pic really gives me something to be obsessed about. Oh Yeah....I salivate just looking at this guy...I'm speechless. Apparently on the eve of Bastille day, certain firestations open up and host parties...all for charity of course. The event is called Bals des Pompiers. Note to self...plan a trip to Paris aournd Bastille Day!!!

Lest we think they are nothing but pretty faces.... here is a shot showing them in action. If you ask me...firemen and policemen are the severely underpaid.

I have a fireman story...when I was in my late 20's, I went skiing in Vail with 3 girlfriends. Our week consisted of skiing all day, partying all night and very little to eat. After a week of this we were ready to leave and rushing around trying to get to our shuttle stop which was just downstairs from our condo. Sitting there waiting for the shuttle, I passed out. And I mean OUT. One of the girls ran to call 911. I didn't regain consiousness until the firetruck and paramedics arrived and they pulled out the smelling salts. I woke up looking at 2 gorgeous guys. One was holding my hand and the other was shielding the sunlight from my eyes. I looked up and asked...."Am I in Heaven?". They sent my friends off to buy me something sugary to eat. By this time the shuttle pulled up and they were nice enough to wait for a few minutes while the guys checked me out. They didn't want to let me go. They weren't sure I was OK. I told my friends..."Go on...go without me...I'll be OK" They wouldn't leave without me...DAMN. So we all got on the shuttle to Denver and home. I love firemen :))

Warehouse District Street Festival

I just found out that I will be exhibiting at the 4th Annual Warehouse District Street Festival in Cleveland. My first outdoor summer show. It is August 19th from Noon-8PM. Save the date. There is food and drinks, enertainment on 2 stages, open houses from the lofts and condos downtown and much more. Should be interesting. It's making me take that step into the outdoor arean. So I bought a tent and 4 bags that will hold 40lbs. of sand each so it doesn't blow away. I told Lou that he has to come with me. I need the moral support and the muscles.

We're headed down to the Indians game tonight. They play Kansas City. Hopefully it won't rain. We haven't been to a game in a couple of years.

Indians lost. But what a great night. The weather was perfect except for about 2 minutes of rain.

What is it about a new hair cut?

What is it about getting a great hair cut that makes you feel so good?? Everything else on you can look like crap....you know your hair kicks ass. My hair stylist does amazing cuts. I walked in feeling blah and walked out feeling great. My hair is shorter and it swings. I can spike it up or let it go flat and straight. I love a good haircut. I posted a new pic of me to the right that shows the cut.

To Boring to Blog?

I think my life is to boring to blog. I get up...usually late....dash off to work...spend the day catering to all my scientists needs....wait what seems like an eternity to go home....run errands....get home and feed the cat...feed myself...collapse in my chair...talk to Lou for a few minutes when he gets home....go to bed...usually late...and get up and do it all over again. Weekends are spent doing housework or yardwork and trying to squeeze in time to make some jewelry. So there it is. I should change the name of my blog to TO BORING TO BLOG.

I'm in a mood. I've been in one for a while. I'm tried of being the go to person at work....I just want to be the stupid one that nobody asks questions of because they are too stupid to know anything. I'm tired of the feeding frenzy that work seems to have become. It's a feeding frenzy and I'm the main course. I said that to one of the other Admins at work and she laughed and said....Well that's cause you're so delicious. That has had me giggling for days

Where has June gone

OMG...where did the month go?? Why does time go much faster when your older than when you were young. I remember being about 8 years old and thinking that I was never going to grow up fast enough. Now I just want to put the brakes on. Days disappear into weeks and months and I wonder where it all went to. I did manage to take some pics of the beads I got at B&B.

Michele Goldstein beads...love the skeletons and bones!!!! She's so cool!!!



Gail Crossman Moore...great bead...bad picture. This is the one Michele says needs Viagra.


Larry Brickman Bead...this thing is the size of a tennis ball.....about a pound of glass in this. This will be a showpiece in my studio.




Stephanie Sersich Bead

I finished a bracelet for a customer using these beads by the fabulous Donna Mehnert. Missed her at B&B this year.

Time to go...I cleaned the garage after I got home from work and I am beat. Everything on me aches. Time for some ibuprofen and to crawl into bed for a long night's sleep. Besides...there is a really bad Jean-Claude Van Damme movie on (that's redundant isn't it). I'm losing brain cells.

What a week...at Bead and Button

I spent 8 days in Milwaukee for Bead and Button. I'm exhausted. Classes were for the most part good to great. Celie's PMC class was awesome. It was such a kick-ass project and we learned a lot of new techniques. The class was so good that everything after that was anti-climactic. I reunited with Cris, who I met last year. She is like my twin sister. I feel so comfortable around her. We both got manic during class because we were out of our own comfortable workshops. Somehow we named the frenzy.....manic monkey.....monkey manic. Works both ways. I think we finally settled down a little on the second day. Although we got chastised on the third day for making noise. We also hooked up with Gigi in that class. What a sweetie!. We all want to take classes together next year. My other classes were wire work and a chain mail class.

I worked for Michele on opening night. It was fun to be on the other side of the vendor exhibit. She is sweet and funny and makes great beads. Check out her website. She is also a talented photographer. I was so busy the entire week that I feel like I didn't get enough time to talk to her. Next year I think fewer classes. I met Amy, Cynthia and Jill from Toronto. They had the booth space next to Michele. I have a girl crush on Cynthia. I ran into Susan Kazmer a number of times. She has such a high energy level. I don't know how she does it. I which I had a small percentage of her wattage.

I didn't buy many beads. Although I did get a large collector's bead from Larry Brickman, a cool dagger bead from Stephanie Sersich, a great botanical bead from Gail Crossman Moore (which Michele thinks needs Viagra), and some skulls from Michele. I'll post some photos when I get a chance. But that's not alot...I usually buy bags full of beads. I bought some Thai silver and a couple of kits and that's it.

Saturday I had an all day class, but decided to cut out after lunch and drive home. I was so fried I couldn't look at another beads or even think about it. Once I made the decision to drive home early...I was really charged up. It was good to get home. I will miss all my B&B girl pals and look forward to seeing them again next year.

Bead and Button---Day 2

I'm taking a class with Celie Fago called Polymer Inlay PMC Pendant. It's a great class and the pendant ROCKS!!! It started yesterday and goes until Monday. She is such a fantastic teacher. Chris (who I met last year) is also in the class with me. I ran into Kristin who was in one of my classes last year. I stopped in to say "Hello" to Susan Lenart Kazmer. She is teaching right next to my classroom. She is so much fun.

Chris, Paul (her husband) and I helped Anne Mitchell and Kate McKinnon set up their classroom last night and then went out for dinner. It was nice to catch up with everyone. Michele Goldstein comes in tonight and I will catch up with her tomorrow.

I am always so amazed at the teachers who are willing to share their knowledge....like Celie, Susan, Anne, Kate. I have run into so many of the other kind. Usually the better the artist...the more willing they are to share. All those on my favorite teacher list are the best!!

Monumental Week

This was a big one for me. I turned 50 on the 24th. I keep saying it "50". Although mentally I think I am still 35. The day started out with penguins on my front yard along with a banner that said "Happy Birthday Sweetie". Lou wisely decided not to put my age on the banner. I had to give a computer demo first thing when I got to work and the Admins surprised me with 12 pink roses and a ballon. Then 2 other friends at work called to take me out to lunch. Dinner was with Lou at a local Mexican restaurant complete with Tequila shots. It was a good day.

I can't belive that Bead and Button is here already. I am driving to Milwaukee next Saturday. I have classes from Sunday to the following Saturday. One class is a 3-day PMC class, some wireworking, and a chain maille class. This year I will be helping Michele Goldstein in her booth on opening night of the exhibitors. She is really cool and makes great beads. The flower bracelet at the bottom of the blog are her beads. If I take my computer with me I will try to update while I am there.

The Colors of My World

I love springtime and all the flowers. These are some pics of my flowers. We have 2 hot pink azalea bushes in the front of the house. On the side of the driveway we have a rock retaining wall with this great purple creeper. It's not creeping phlox, but very similar. And in the back...sweet woodruff. This stuff is sooo invasive. I rip it out by the handfuls in the spring. We almost have the springtime clean-up done in the front of the house. The lawn and one of my flower beds had been ripped up last fall to replace a sewer tile so we had to restore all of that and then just the normal sprucing up and mulching of the beds. Then we move to the back of the house. It's mostly shade. I have tried to grow flowers back there, but they don't do very well. I am just going to give in to mother nature and plant hostas. They love it in my backyard.

New Picture of Me on the Blog

One of my friends at work said I needed a picture of me smiling. I have no good pictures of me. I usually have my eyes closed. This picture to the right was taken last year in Amsterdam. Lou had just stopped into a pipe shop. What's in the pipe you ask???? Please it was Amsterdam....what do you think??

Diana

I took my mom and her friend to the Diana exhibit at the Western Reserve Historical Society. They had a number of her dresses, some tiarra's and her wedding gown on display. There were also films of both the wedding and her funeral and films from her childhood. It was interesting and sad to watch the video of her funeral. We went to lunch and then on to Coldwater Creek for some shpping. After that to Pettiti's Garden Center.

The rest of the weekend was spent working in the front yard. Cleaning out flower beds and re-landscaping the area that got dug up last September to replace a sewer tile. Next week we have to finish the front by mulching and putting down some flat stones to create a 2-tiered planting area. Plus I have some hostas to replant.

Tonight I finished 2 custom necklaces for a wedding. They matched some earrings that I has sold last October. The buyer wants the necklaces and earrings for the bridesmaids. I also reworked a couple of bracelets. The trick this time of year is to find the time to design while you keeping up with the yard work.

Faux Bone

I took an amazing class with Robert Dancik this weekend. What a great teacher. Check out his web site www.robertdancik.com The pic is Robert, Vanessa, and Jennifer. Jennifer made the most amazing piece of jewelry with the Faux Bone and placed it in a bezel that she designed herself. It's a stunner. It's always such a treat to spend an entire weekend doing nothing but art. Stress drains away, the heart slows down, and the brain sighs. If you're lucky you can reconnect with your creativity and do things you can't on a normal day....at least my normal day....deadlines, finances, HR problems, "Why can't I do this?", "Can you get me that?", too much to do, too little time....AHHH. That is why I take classes every chance I get...to disengage from my rat race and find some peace of mind.

Home Improvements

A new greenhouse opened up in Avon. It's fantastic. They have this gorgeous patio furntiture which costs a fortune...$350 a chair. But it's beautiful to look at. They has some beaded creatures. I had to buy one for my workroom. I bought a red iguana and a small jade plant. I think everyone has had a jade plant in their life. I had one in college. Lou and I went back on Saturday and bought some shrubs. They were 50% off. We got a few forsythia and some low growing shrubs for the front of the house.

Last Monday we put on a new roof. That was step two of our ~100 step process of improving our home. Step one was last year when we had it sided. The next step is putting cultured stone on the chimney and other concrete block parts of our house. The chimney is huge and takes up 1/3 of the front of our house. I just have to find a contractor to do this. After that....a new furnace, knocking out an interior wall, paint, new carpeting, a new patio......this should take a few years or more at the rate we move.

I thought my cat was going to die Friday night. She didn't like the food I put out for her, but it was Friday night and I wasn't going to go out to buy her something different. Lou walked into the kitchen and started laughing telling me the cat was staggering around from lack of food. The he stopped laughing and told me I' d better come quick that there was something wrong. She was staggering around and leaning on things. I sat on the floor and she dragged herself over to me. I tried to comfort her as I sat there and bawled my eyes out. A few mintues later she got up and walked away like nothing was wrong. So either she had some type of episode...or she was gettng back at me for not going out to get the food she likes. She has been fine since. We think her back hip locked up. She's 20 years old...which is ancient in cat years. She's at the age where she just wants to be near me and loved. She sits in my big chair with me and smiles....yes, she smiles. She looks at me and her eyes squint. If you don't believe me...look in the mirror and smile big....you eyes squint don't they.

I'm packing up jewelry today to send to the photographer. I'm getting slides and digital photos on some select pieces. Maybe then I will be able to get into the higher end shows. I'll post pics when I get them back. Should be a few weeks.

Welcome to My Blog

My first blog. God, what do I write about. I hope to fill this site with my experiences as a artisan jewerly designer. Last Sunday our PMC guild met to view a demo of glass bead making. Francine and Mary Ann made it look very easy...but it is obviously something you need training and talent to do. That is why I am so impressed by those that can do it well. If you want some examples, go to the website of the glass bead artists that I have listed. They have amazing beads. Me...I like working in PMC and designing jewelry. It's what I long to do all day long, but working full time at the hospital only allows me limited time. Why don't I quit and do jewerly full time??....golden handcuffs...the hopital pays me a very nice wage...one that I couldn't make doing jewelry full time. So for right now I will do this obession of mine part-time.