Etsy Store & Such

I just opened an etsy store to sell some of my handmade items. I plan to add more stock in the future, including crochet cat toys.

You can visit my store through the link at the right of my blog.

If you have any recommendations or comments about my store or items, please feel free to let me know!

I am still healing from surgery. I can sit up a little in the day but it amazes me how fast I get tired after being in the bed so many weeks after these past few surgeries.

This weekend I went out and enjoyed the weather and had so much fun but I laid down upon returning home and crashed immediately and slept until late evening. I could not believe how tired I got. When I woke up from my nap, my face, neck, hands and arms had big red itchy spots/whelps. I am having major allergy issues and don't know for sure what is causing the rash. I took a benadryl and it helped the itching.

I also went to my Aunt's house and saw her flowers (after the benadryl) that she had planted in her yard. I threatened to steal some of her snowballs from her bush for a flower arrangement but I did not because it was dark by the time I left. They were very pretty with big white blooms. I saw a frog in my Aunt's grass and I could not remember when the last time was that I had seen a frog just hopping around.

That reminds me that I need to replant some of my succulents that have seeding and started new shoots.

My husband is in Austin, Texas now. I miss him but am hoping things work out well there.

I am just trying to make myself stay in bed until everything heals and then I can go full force again.

I hope you have a good week.
Enjoy the Spring!

C-town

Armando and I had an enjoyable evening at Cullman.

We mailed the wheelchair back (to be returned) through UPS. Then, we went to the office store and I got a nice black and white journal.

We stopped by the bookstore and browsed a while. We got “The Elements of Style” and a Podcast book. We both want to write some for enjoyment and have been learning more about it and The Elements of Style is supposed to be helpful. The podcast book explained many things that I haven’t been quite sure about. I am new at podcasting so I needed all the help I can get!

When we arrived home, I cleaned house a little while and sorted through magazines. I like magazines too much. I don’t know why... I like to browse the magazines and look at rooms decorated with color combinations that I find appealing. I also like to tear out recipes and projects. I guess magazines are my little bit of dreamland and they inspire me . Maybe I will never do the projects in the magazines but I would like to think that I will get to some of them!

After cleaning house, Armando made us soup. Soup is so delicious in the winter! We watched Citizen Cane tonight and ate pizza. I love old movies and that is a good movie. We only watched half of it though. We plan to watch the other half another night because it is getting late.

Now I will get ready for bed. Chochi is curled up on my lap already asleep. Our other cat Cookie is in her favorite place, laying on the back of Armando's computer chair sleeping.

Until Tomorrow… :)

Coffee and Go

I've been feeling lazy lately. Is it the cold weather? I don't know. I slept too late today so it's make coffee, grab coffee and go to work.

 

Have a good day!

Thanks for the sweet comments on my picture.

Good Morning

We arrived home from work at around 4 a.m.

(Big load of car parts to be delivered, etc.)

The normal Alabama and Mississippi run but most

every store we had to stop at tonight.

It was a long night and morning for us.

 

I came home and recorded an ending (with Armando’s help)

for the podcast and posted today’s Spanish word of the day.

 

It’s so cold this morning. Brrr!

I am looking forward to getting into bed underneath the covers.

 

It would be nice if people could get by on less sleep. Say, 4 hours or 2 or 3. ;)

 

Just a quick post to say Hi

                  and

New microphone

Armando and I had an enjoyable evening out in Huntsville. We went to Best Buy and Office Depot and then to Nothing But Noodles for supper. I had Thai Beef Curry and Armando had Shrimp Scampi. It was delicious!

We both splurged and bought ourselves computer microphones. Sadly, Armando's Microsoft Bluetooth headphones did not sound well, the quality was awful and very disappointing. He tested it with his friend on Skype and he ended up going back to his old headset which lately has not been working well either.

I plugged up my new headset and microphone, a Plantronics Audio 650 and I kept doing the initial setup test and it did not hear my voice and I thought, OH NO! Not again. I have a bad history with microphones not working for me. I called Armando over feeling a bit silly because I could not figure out how to make it work. He suggested updating a driver and we did and I rebooted and it worked. I was so happy! I haven't ever owned a computer microphone that worked and made my voice sound clear.

So, I guess that is why I am up at 3:30 a.m. after testing audio programs out and learning how to use them and working on audio sessions for my Spanish learning blog. Armando will do parts of the recordings and I will do parts so there will be a native speaker and of course, me, an American learning Spanish.

But, I have to admit, this is all very new for me. I am really critical of my own voice when I hear it played back. Maybe that will go away when I get more comfortable with doing audio lessons.

Starting Monday I will have a Word of the Day/ Palabra del dia with audio lessons and text lessons on my Spanish blog.

Click here to visit Viaje Español

Hi again!

Sorry for the break in posts. Here is a quick update on what has happened around here.

As some of you know, Armando and I live in our little apartment, three rooms attached to my parent’s home. We have our own entrance but share a kitchen. Actually, this apartment was built wheelchair accessible for me before I met Armando but it works nicely for us right now as we face our new life together. It is our landing space before we get settled more permanently into our own home. These rooms originally were planned to have a kitchen but cost-wise and accessibility wise, the plan did not quite work out to make a kitchen in here too. So, that is why you often here of my parents in my conversations because they are in essence, our close neighbors!

My Dad’s two goats had four baby goats. We were all out in the pasture and Dad and Armando were building a warm goat house for the Moms and babes when we witnessed the birth of two of the babies. It was amazing to see it. I will share a picture of two of the babies at the end of this entry.

It has turned much colder outside and I’ve been wearing my boots. Boots are one of my favorite shoes to wear.

My wheelchair front tire (or caster) has broken causing a little apprehension about it breaking to the point of not being able to enjoy accessibility. It will be about 10 days or more before a new wheelchair arrives. Can you believe it was cheaper to buy a new wheelchair than replace all wheels on my current one? Silly.

Sunday Armando and I went out for sushi at our favorite restaurant. We had not done that in a long time. I tried sake for the first time. It had an “interesting” flavor. I sat there a few moments trying to figure out what it tasted like, if it was like anything I had tasted before. Nope! We also went to the bookstore and I bought a little book journal and My Antonia to read.

I was like a kid at Christmas because I got several book gifts this week. I love reading.

Armando bought me “The Morning of The Magicians”.

My sister sent me these books for my Birthday.

Junque Du Jour,

I will crochet another fish and post a picture here soon.

My sister is coming to visit on Friday and my little nephew Ryan. He is two years old. I am looking forward to the visit. My sister and I don’t get to spend much time together anymore except by telephone and email. So I plan to make a meal and we can catch up on each others lives.

I have to say bye for now and go make a quick supper before work.

Here are two of the new baby goats asleep.

Until soon!

Update

It has been a few days since I have posted here. Sorry about that. It's been a bit busy for me lately.

Yesterday was just one of those days where all you can say is "Yikes!" The plan was to go early to see my Grandmother who lives several hours away. My Mom and I left and on the way, we went through the car wash. It is one of those drive through carwashes but two people spray the car down first before you go through the rinse. Well, something happened and our car just stalled. I guess the track stopped or something. I don't know, but there we were, stuck beneath the endless "waterfall" and moving nowhere. Mom sounded her horn and the guy ran forward and did something with the machine and let us drive out.

About an hour into our trip, we are going up a mountain and get a flat tire. Sheesh! We couldn't stop on the mountain, so had to drive on with the car vibrating and hoping a lot that our tire did not blow out before we got to the nearest area to pull off the road. It didn't blow out, but we definitely ruined the tire. Nothing to be done about that.

Sadly, Mom's spare tire was without sufficient air and we had to call my Dad and take a leisurely 2 1/2 break in the car awaiting his arrival and then for him to run to the nearest town to get the stuff we needed.

Below this entry is a photo from our little break beside the road. (Yes, I took a picture to show you) What else can you do for 2 1/2 hours? :P (Note to self: Put something fun to do in my purse in case disaster strikes again.)

Armando is selling his HP computer on Ebay. He is selling it reasonably if you are interested you can go HERE

Conquering

I decided last night that I was tired of feeling tired or ahem… lazy. Since we work early a.m. and odd hours, it can be really difficult at times to get your sleep patterns right and to feel well. Sometimes you come in from work tired and sleepy and other times you come in from work wired and awake. I’ve been feeling without energy and tired lately.

So, I decided today I was getting up at a decent hour no matter what I initially felt like. I also decided I was going to start exercising. Being a T2/T3 paraplegic rather limits the fun of workout options but I lifted weights and wheeled down our long gravel driveway with the steep incline. Oh My God, I am so out of shape! Today is the start of more energy, I hope.

I am off to the kitchen with Armando to make baked salmon with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and oregano.

Have a great day!

Shop 'til you drop

My Mom and I went shopping today. It was fun but I am tired. I bought four new dresses, a sweater and a shirt. All for $56.00! They were having a super sale and my sweater was only $2.50! Since three of the dresses are more for summer, they were marked down. It is excellent timing because this winter, Armando and I are escaping to Chile to spend a few months in summer weather. It is the first time I have ever got to escape the cold weather and go somewhere warmer and I am tickled pink!

I know I really didn’t need those clothes but … What girl doesn’t like new clothes? J

As a side note, I may (or maybe not depending on how motivated I am)… be away a few days from posting on my blog. I am about to give my Father (after we format it) my faithful desktop and make the switch totally to my Vista Dell notebook. I am a wee bit nervous about that ‘cos so far, Vista and I get along so-so, since USUALLY easy as pie windows tasks turn into a hunt and search nightmare with vista. But, I am also happy to give Dad lessons and get him enjoying computers and the internet.

Since we have decided to prolong building me a custom desk, I am switching desks. I am going back to a desk I had used previously that has more storage space. If you could see what a disaster my current computer area looks like, you would understand why I may be away a few days trying to assemble my things into some kind of order and as we make Dad a comfortable computer area. Speaking of my computer area currently, let’s just say, I have magazines and books and dvd’s and all my yarn and crafting stuff scattered all haphazardly into what I “wish” to soon be a cozy, organized, Inspiring, fun to be in, computer area.

See you back here as soon as I can. ;)

Morning in the afternoon

With a cup of coffee in hand at this noonday hour I sit and read blogs. Although it might seem an unusual “morning hour” it is my usual awakening moment after working early a.m. shifts.

Part of today’s agenda is taking Cookie to the veterinarian to have her stitches removed.

It is amazing how much Cookie has grown since we first found her sitting lonely on top of a stack of batteries at a auto shop which we do deliveries to most every night. The owner of the shop happened to be there that night and told us she had been there for quite some time. Of course, we had to take her home. She was beautiful and sweet and did not deserve to be a street kitten huddled so lonely and away from people which she so loves. She does not like to be alone even to this day. If a door is between you, she finds ways to jump up and paw the door to get your attention and she meows or she opens the door. She has learned how to open our bedroom door which is a pocket door that slides back into the wall.

You can see a video of Cookie when she was little here so you can see how much she has grown and also see Armando’s new blog.

Have a good day!

Today's Treats

Hershey's Special Dark and Alison Krauss 100 Miles or More CD.

Sweet Savings

A new fashion line by Sarah Jessica Parker.

Everything is under $20. YAY!

http://www.bittensjp.com/

Drawing in Perspective and other sh-tuff

While I had drawing classes in college, I still was not good when it comes to drawing some things in perspective. Armando is good at drawing in perspective. He gave me some lessons tonight so I could draw some ideas for a computer desk that we want to design and build in the future.

I need some storage and this computer desk that I have had for years, which is wheelchair accessible is not exactly making me feel happy when I look at it and see everything out in the open! It’s the way it is designed with no closed storage.

I’ve had this desk since after graduating high school and have always been reluctant to get rid of it, for fear I wouldn’t find anything else that would work well. Sadly, there are just not many options when I go to office stores and try to find something ready to take home. It’s a bit annoying really to find a great desk and then go to pull my wheelchair underneath it and find my knees bang and you don’t fit! When I look online there are “wheelchair accessible desks with big price tags. I cannot see paying such a big price for height only. The good thing is that we can build a desk and make it just like we want it and it will be cheaper and rewarding to make it ourselves.

You don’t have to draw to perfection. Grabbing a notebook and creating some sample sketches can really let you visualize an idea and unleash your creativity and even come up with new ideas.

Tonight, the eraser was my friend though! :p

Catwoman

As if I did not have enough cats already, I have taken in some abandoned kittens. The poor things were in bad shape and so hungry and they needed a lot of love and care as well as several baths!

They like the milk a lot and are doing great! They are gaining weight. So, in case you wonder why I haven’t been posting and where I have been, I’ve been bottle feeding kittens mostly, it seems like they’re hungry every two hours or so!

Let’s hope they continue to do well and that I can find homes for them all (or I can keep one… maybe) but the rest must go when they are old enough.

This is the second set of kittens I have bottle fed. The first were Pollyanna and her brother Cotton Jim who lost their Mom as babies. (A car ran over their Mom and I adopted them.) Pollyanna is doing great and has been Mom several times herself. Cotton Jim is in cat heaven. I miss him.

I will try to post a video or some pictures of the kittens later.

Friday Night

November 18, 2006

After getting off work, Armando and I went to eat sushi at Miyako Japanese Restaurant. The sushi was delicious but the restaurant was so busy that it took us quite a while to get sushi. We ate soup while waiting. It was a nice treat. I have been so tired after work that we haven’t went anywhere the past few weeks but I felt good Friday evening.

Afterwards, we went to a Tattoo place and got prices on a new tattoo that Armando would like to get. He wants to find his own design first and then get it done. Right next door to the tattoo store was a "Naughty store" and I couldn't help laughing at some of the shoes on display in the window and outfits. They had some sparkly red Dorothy in the wizard of Oz shoes with huge heels! Hehehe They were hilarious. I wish I had thought to snap a picture of them to show.

Later, we bought a few Christmas gifts. We needed to get them soon to send a package off to Chile before the deadline. Right now, I still have no idea when the Christmas deadline is for mailing packages overseas but hopefully it will be ok. Then, we looked at Best Buy and went to Barnes and Nobles bookstore. I fell asleep on the way home and woke up a few minutes before we turned into the driveway!

At a few stores we looked at the Sansa mp3 player that Armando has been telling me about. I like it a lot. It is really nice because you can watch windows media player videos on it and listen to mp3's. I have wanted something to listen to music at my desk at work when the phone calls slow down. They don't usually slow down that much but now and then they do and it makes me feel happy to listen to some good music lightly during those times I am doing paperwork and orders, etc. Armando has been a sweetheart and allowing me to take his palm to work and listen to music. My palm doesn't have a speaker or way to listen to music.

I have been thinking about that little Sansa too much since we saw it. It sure is cool. Well, we will see...

Sorry I have not posted in so long. I've been at the new job three weeks and everybody tells me it will take me six months to feel comfortable. I am starting to believe them! The new job is stressful and there are many things to learn. I use a lot of programs every day and this is a whole new field for me. The last few weeks have been rough for me and I have been tired and just have not felt like doing much else besides resting when I get home. I worked overtime several days also. I think this job is always going to be stressful because you have many angry customers calling and yelling at you, etc and then you have a lot of multi-tasking to do and you absolutely have to be organized. I have had to learn to not take those customers personally. I am normally a sensitive person so that has been a learning experience.

I have heard a lot of stories about this new job from my co-workers. I've heard that they have a high turnover rate and many people take anti-depressants etc. I am trying to keep positive and motivate myself and find healthy ways to deal with the stress. I don't want to work at a job that makes me be on anti-depressants. If it gets to that point, I will be looking for a new job.