Exhaustion Sets In

Well, after working at Chico's for 5 days, the exhaustion has finally sank in. My back and feet are killing me, and I'm at the point that I don't want to do ANYTHING! That includes email, blogging, and even crocheting. I just want to sit in the bath and go to sleep. Two more days of this and I have two days off. Woohoo!

I did have some good things happen this week, though. I went to my neighbors Mary Kay meeting on Wednesday night and won a $200.00 drawing. I was so incredibly excited! I never, and I mean NEVER, win anything! That money is going straight into savings for Aruba (well, actually, it bought me some new clothes - but daddy was sending me money for new clothes so THAT is going into savings for Aruba lol). Go me! I also got a call last night from TCEQ (Texas Center for Environmental Quality - or something like that) wanting me to interview for a position with them on May 30. Of course, I accepted! They're the regulators of the consulting firms. And it's a government job so that means excellent benefits! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I get it. Sad that I would have to give up Chico's though. Maybe they'll work with me and let me bump down to part time... Let's see, what else? Oh yeah. I FINALLY got 1 of my 2 medical reimbursements in the mail today, so I'm another $250 richer! woohoo! Debating whether or not I want to put that in savings for Aruba too, or treat myself to a pair of MTBs (http://www.mbt-uk.com/) for work. They're really expensive, but if they make the foot and back pain go away, they'll be worth it! Of course, I really should wait and see if I get that TCEQ job first - because that would entail a lot of sitting...

Anyways, that's all I know for now! Kyle should be getting off work any minute and I'm going to need to start making dinner. And pay attention to the doggies. And maybe work a bit on my serepina shawl that I'm doing in a laceweight wool yarn. Insane? Yes, I know.

Exchange Bag

Well, the Exchange Bag from The Happy Hooker is done! It was hard to get a good picture of it do to the coloration of the cord, though. These are the best I got. Now, to find my next project.

When Good Dogs Go Bad

You know how I just told you about working on that Exchange Bag? Well, I was making decent progress for the amount of time working on it, and I was working on it some more downstairs with the dogs running around while Kyle was upstairs playing his game. Well, I decided I needed to do something real quick upstairs, so I left the dogs downstairs alone. Mistake. Should have locked them outside, but I thought "it's only going to be a few minutes, and they're eating - they'll be good." Couldn't have been more wrong. Kyle went downstairs before I did - he finally decided to go get his Texas drivers license (we've only been here for a year and a half) so he was going to shower. All of a sudden I heard him yell at Smudge. Uh oh. Then he told me I better get downstairs - oh, and bring the camera. BIG uh oh. This is what I found...

Wait, is that my Exchange bag?


It sure is! And look, the cord goes out the doggie door...








And all around the porch...













And in the grass...









And back on the porch... And apparently I can't upload any more pictures, but it went from there, back into the doggie door, back out the doggie door, and then around the post. I had to laugh. Then, it turns out that Kyle was yelling at Smudge because she was chewing on my wooden crochet hook. The one his grandmother gave me. Rendering it now useless :( The good news through all this was my project itself didn't get unravelled. The bad news is I had to unravel it myself because my aluminum crochet hook was 0.25 mm smaller than my wood one. And while it doesn't sound like a big difference, it actually is. I could have killed those dogs. Still hoping to have the bag done this weekend though! Guess I better get to work for that to happen.

Stitch N Bitch

So, I finally broke down and bought "Stitch N Bitch, The Happy Hooker" the other day. I had a 30% off one item coupon and a 10% off entire order all day shopping spree from Borders. I couldn't resist. I wanted it only for the Sweet Pea shawl that everyone else was making, but by the time I sat down to look through the rest of it, I had a million and one projects that I wanted to do! And the book itself is hilarious. Now all I need is Stitch N Bitch Nation and my collection is complete! But, I digress. Kyle got a new computer game that day too - Civilization 4 - so after we got home, he sat in front of his computer, trying to figure out the game, and I sat in front of my stash with my book, trying to find enough yarn to do a project. But, unfortunately, most of my stash is Red Heart for making afghans. I do have quite a bit of homespun I received from my MIL (mother-in-law), but that's going to be an afghan too. Oh, and I had enough wool to make some stuff, but I'm saving that for Elizabeth's Lucinda Bag once she finally sells the pattern! So, I'm thinking I'm going to be SOL until I see the Exchange Bag, and realize that I have exactly two rolls of that cord (I forget the name of the stuff off the top of my head, and it's already downstairs)! Now, I gotta say, I can't remember when I bought it, or why. It's been just sitting there for years - like, at least 4. Guess I knew 4 years ago that I wanted to make this bag! That stuff is a pain in the you know where to work with though... Hoping to have it done this weekend.

Curiosity Killed the Cat

...or tried to, at least. I have begun brushing Boog Boogs on a daily basis and collecting his hair for spinning. I had a convenient Hobby Lobby bag and put it in there. About 10 minutes after I hear a weird rustling noise. I turned around and saw this...

Notice the "Help me momma" plea in his eyes? Or is that a "Leave me the hell alone" look?

Yes, that Hobby Lobby bag was wrapped nicely around his neck. Gotta wonder how he got himself into that situation! Good thing I was in the room. That boy sheds a lot and I would hate to have had to run around the house trying to pick up all the hair I had collected!

Ugh, cats...

Pet Hair

So, after trying so very hard to keep all the pet hair off of my project for Lani, without success, i spent a good couple of hours trying to get it off. I'm pretty sure that I didn't get it all though, and for that, I apologize.

Anyways, I was wondering around on the web today and saw articles about people spinning the hair from their pets into yarn, and I got to thinking... The dog hairs are too short, but Boog Boogs hair (which is everywhere) would be perfect for the task! So, I got out the kitty brush and sat with him for about an hour. It's amazing how much hair I got! By the time I can afford to buy the carding paddles and drop spindle (want to buy a spinning wheel, but too expensive) to make some yarn, I will have enough hairs for a sweater! Well, I won't be making a sweater, but will have plenty to make something. Maybe some slippers? I've been wanting to spin for a while now, and this gives me the reason to do it. I learned at Rennaissance Faire when I worked there years ago, so I think I'll be able to do it again without too many problems, right? What do you think? Would Boog Boogs make a cute pair of slippers?

Well, I did it...

I called Chico's today to tell them that I wasn't able to take the job, and now, I start Monday! Can someone tell me how that works? Actually, I asked her some more questions about the bonuses and incentives, and possible overtime, and she pretty much gave me all the right answers. One of them being that if her current full time cashier was having a bad month, she was walking away with an addition $400. Not too shabby eh? And they're changing some things around as well where if they have three cashiers on, and only need 2 to be open, then the full timer (which would be me) would go out to the sales floor - which means more bonuses. Not to mention training in sales. I told Kyle about it and he seems really excited. And who knows, maybe in 6 months I'll be a manager. Or, maybe I will finally find a job in my field now that I'm actually working again! Wouldn't that be nice?

Kyle also mentioned that he's going to start training for floor manager. Which means an increase in pay for. That would be nice too. Plus, their floor managers still qualify for the bonuses as well. Even better. And, his store manager anticipates them getting their full bonuses this year. So, maybe we'll be ok. Maybe I can just enjoy working at Chico's, go back to school, do something new. I was getting tired of what I was doing anyways. My ego is just killing me - having a college degree and working retail. Oh well. I'm sure I'll get over it.

Ugh

Ok, so I just sat down and figured out bills and the budget and stuff, and if I were to take this job, it would leave us $750 short. Yikes! If we were to get all the bonuses Kyle and I are eligible for, we'd be fine, with money leftover to spare. BUT, there's no guarentees on those bonuses. And if we have a month without them, we're screwed. Grrrr. I so want to take this job! If only to help keep my sanity in check! Unfortunately, it doesn't look like that's going to happen for me. :(

To Work? or not to Work?

Well, Chico's offered me a full time cashiers position this morning and has given me til tomorrow afternoon to decide if I want to take it or not. I don't know what to do. The pay would be equal to my unemployment, minus taxes. 50% discount off clothing, full benefits after 90 days... It would get me out of the house, and help me emotionally, BUT, would have to pay for gas and leave us short on bills. What should I do?

Good News!

Well, I don't have a job yet, but have heard a vicious rumor that someone is going to call me for an interview. Yeah!

I also have a finished project. Finally! Only took a couple of months, and an entire weekend of weaving in ends and sewing pieces together, but it's done. And in the mail on it's way to my secret pal. I hope she likes it! What do you think?





It was hard for me to let go.