If this hasn't already been invented I hereby claim the non-official copyright! Wouldn't it be cool to have a modern keyboard, with retro round keys instead of the boring square black ones? I've drawn a stunning example for you with my mad art skills. Ha ha. If this exists out there, I want one! If it doesn't, then I'd better get busy creating it.

My niece has been really interested in cooking over the last year. She loves to bake and make dinner for her family. She's 11 years old. This year for Christmas, she really wants and apron and a chef's hat. But she wants them to be in yellow or a yellow print. I think I can make a yellow apron, but I don't know where to find a yellow chef's hat in a child's size. Any ideas?

I just found this old post on my Facebook page.  And since you guys aren't on Facebook with me, I thought I'd copy it over.  So here are some extremely random things about lil' ol' me.  :)

1. Ok, warning...this is weird, but I'm weird.  So just deal, accept, and move on. If I'm driving and I'm bored, I will speak out loud in pretend foreign languages. I actually know a little bit of Russian, one phrase of Italian and a few sentences in French. So I just make similar sounds and hold animated mock conversations. I'm just practicing in case any of those countries take us over! Da. Si. Oui.

2. My friends and I made a mock-slasher movie called "Balzak Attack" just after we graduated High School. I don't want to spoil the suspense or anything , but I die three quarters of the way into the story. The laughable thing is that I was cast as the "Bad Girl". It's a hoot watching my attempt at being "Bad". (I still have a copy. Maybe if your super nice, I'll humiliate myself and let you watch it someday....maybe.)

( To read #3 - #20, click here... )

I had a dream last night, that a Lebanese woman knocked on my door and gave me a doll and some cookies.  In my dream, she was my neighbor and she was just reaching out in kindness.  When I woke up, I couldn't get my mind off of it, and I started remembering some of my favorite neighbors.

The first apartment I lived in on my own without a roommate was in Clackamas.  I was in my early 20's.  The neighbors who lived under me were Russian.  They didn't speak any English, and I only know about 4 sentences in Russian.  But every time I would pass them, I'd say hello to them in their native tounge.  One day, the mom knocked on my door and handed me a plate of homemade treats.  Cookies, some delicate lace and coffee in a tiny teacup with flowers on it.  When I was finished, I tried to return the teacup, but she held her hands up as if to indicate that I was to keep it.  It touched me so much.  At Christmas, I returned their kindness by making them a plate of goodies as well.  We were never able to communicate in words, but a bond had been struck.  

( Read more... )

I'm slowly trying to feel "Moved In" at my new place and I still have a few walls that are completely bare!  Little bit by little bit, I'm getting stuff put up.  For one of them, I'm going to do a collage of vinyl records, 45's.  But so far I'm not finding any at the thrift stores.  I know I can get them on-line, but I HATE shopping on-line.  So I'm going to wait and do it old-school style and find some at a discount store.

Tonight I got one more wall filled up.  See pic below.


My mom also graciously gave me these two awesome chairs!  They go wonderfully in my living room, and since I love polka-dots, all the better.  They go great with the polka-dotted pillows on my couch.
 
So basically a long way to go yet, but I'm making some progress.
 

I don't know about you, but I've always named my cars.  There was "The Duck" which was my 1976 Toyota Corolla.  So named for the duck-like triage of colors; army green, primer gray and rust.  The floorboards were rusted out, and as an unconsciousness teenager, if you felt so inclined, you could toss your cigarette buts right out through the floor.  On rainy Oregon afternoons, there was never a need to bathe, because the water from the roads would splash upward onto your legs for a refreshing shower! 

And I'll never forget "Low Rider".  This was a brown El-Camino which some friends graciously loaned to me, AND which I was forced to drive around for several months becuase my car had broken down.  I slunk so low in the velor bench seat, that only my poofy bangs were visible above the steering wheel.

I've had many cars with many names, but my current rig is a black Jeep Liberty named "Pepper".  My friend has the identical car in silver.  Hers is named "Salt".  "S..s..salt n' peppa's here and we're in a fix..."  But I digress.  So I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that my inanimate vehicle takes on human like personalities. 

For instance, Pepper apparently has musical preferences.  Last week, I put "Les Miserables" into the CD player.  I enjoyed "One Day More", "On My Own", "Bring Him Home", "I Dreamed a Dream" and all the great performances from the musical.  But when I was ready to move on to my Chris Tomlin CD, Pepper was NOT.  The next day, Pepper was still not ready to relinquish "Les Miserables".  In fact, Pepper wouldn't release the CD to me until just this evening.  I guess she was ready for something new.  I however, have chosen not to put another CD into her player yet.  Should I give her "Third Day"?  How about "Need To Breathe" or "U2" or "Jennifer Knapp"?  Decisions, decisions.  What if she likes the CD and holds onto it for a month??  What then?  

I think the only possible solution, is to put a mix in the player.  I mean the mix-iest mix I can possibly come up with.  That way, if Pepper holds onto the CD for weeks on end, I at least won't be locked into listening to just one artist from here to eternity!  Ah, Pepper....at least you don't like elevator jazz.  I'd most certainly have to disown you.
 

I desperately need to 'keep my cool' tonight!!   And no, that's not a slip of the tongue.  I do mean 'keep my cool' as well as 'keep cool.  Because I'm about to admit a serious character flaw here.  When we have day after day of hot weather, and if I can't find a place to cool down, I start to get grouchy.  Downright cranky even.  Like a little child.  My office has floor to ceiling windows so even with the blinds closed, it's been rather toasty.  My apartment has a window air conditioner, but it can't quite keep up with multiple days of 106 degree weather.  An icy shower has been my only refuge.  
So this evening, I hauled all the cushions off of the couch, threw them on the floor, and I'm going to sleep in the living room in front of the A/C with a fan on me.  Ahhh, it's working already.  Nice Stacey is returning.  Grouchy Stacey is slowly retreating into the recesses of my personality.  Thank you for the blessing of a roof over my head, electricity, cold water, and ice cream. I need to remember how easy I have it compared to so many others.  

So that's how I'm keeping my cool this evening.  How about you?  Are you getting creative as well?

Does this watering can look magical to you?  Well, it didn't to me either, but it must be.  Here is why...


Yesterday I found a sweet deal on a planter of flowers.  When I priced it out, buying them individually would have added up to much more, so I thought, "Awesome" and brought it home.  I didn't have time last night to plant them, so I just set the planter on top of the pot, watered them and went inside.


I woke up this morning, went outside to water them, and what to my wondering eyes did appear but more flowers!  


They multiplied in the night!  Isn't that so cool?  Someone gave us more flowers.  I have no idea who it could be so I've written a thank you note that I'm hanging on the flower pot this morning.  I hope everyone else out there wakes up to a wonderful surprise like I have today.  It just made my day! 

I just had an interesting day.  It started with me driving out to Newberg to watch the State of Oregon's High School Choral Competition at 9:30am.  Genee was performing with Aloha and I wanted to watch.  I got there, went to the ticket booth and found out that they don't take debit cards.  Did I have cash?  That would be negatory.  
The down side:  I couldn't get into the competition.  
The up side:  Aloha's choir happened to walk by me just after I arrived, so I got to see Genee and wish her luck before she went in.  Also they were playing the performances on a big screen in the lobby, so I still got to hear her sing.

Next, I went apartment hunting.  This was normal and fine until I missed an exit and ended up on a stretch of freeway with no exits to turn around for miles.
The down side:  I had to unexpectedly take the LONG route home.
The up side:  It was a BEAUTIFUL day for a drive with the tunes turned up and the windows down.

Then in the evening, my friend Ginger and I met up to see the Star Trek movie at Bridgeport Village.  About half way through the movie, emergency lights start flashing, the movie screen goes black and and an announcer states over the loudspeaker that an emergency has occurred in the building and tells us all to leave through the nearest emergency exit. 
The down side:  The movie stopped at a highly tense moment, it was a little nerve-racking not knowing what was going on, we had to stand outside with at least 1500 other people and we weren't sure if we'd get our money back or if we'd get to see the rest of the movie.
The up side:  It gave everyone a long bathroom break, we met some nice people to chat with while standing in the mass exodus, and we got to go back in the building after about 30 minutes to finish the rest of the movie.  (which I had already seen.)  :)

And finally on my way home, I wanted to stop somewhere for food because all I'd eaten today was a sandwich at lunch.  It was now 10:30pm and I was hungry.  But due to the delay with the movie theater emergency, restaurants were now closed.  So I pulled into a drivethru, and asked for a cob salad.  The gal tells me that they had a disaster with their salad refrigerator, and that all of their salads were frozen.
The down side:  I didn't get anything to eat.  
The up side:  I really didn't need to eat anything at 10:30pm anyway.  (although I think my tummy is still protesting, but too bad!)

So that was my weird day.  I'm really happy that I'm in bed now, and I'm hoping that the last half hour of my day will be normal and uncomplicated. 

Yeah...it was awesome.  And I couldn't help but remember my dad as I was sitting in the theater.  It was his love of the Star Trek franchise which drew me in years ago.  So dad, this one's for you.  I think you would have really liked it. 

Is it weird that I just spent the last 45 minutes designing a wedding cake.....and I'm not getting married?    This came about as a result of my watching 'Ace of Cakes'.  Those crazy artistic folks just got me inspired.  I thought to myself "I must design a cake, and I must do it now!!"  So here it is.  Idea #1 out of about 3 kazillion floating around in my head. 

Tomorrow is Earth Day.  And although there is no correlation,  I decided to change some of the accents in my bedroom to lime green.  ( Click here to see the visual transformation... )

How would you feel if I sat here and typed the same letter over and over and over again....for the next 55 minutes? ggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg.  Not very exciting?  Well, that's how I felt yesterday morning as I was listening to "All Things Considered" on NPR.  They were reviewing a new album by Christine Balfa.  It's a cajun album of pure, unadulterated solo triangle performances.  Cajun.  Triangle.  Don't believe me?  Check out this link.  www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php and click on the two songs "The Balfa Waltz" and "Cheres Joues Roses" to hear for yourself. 

Now I like to think that I have a wide variety of musical tastes.  I like a little of everything.  And the triangle, when part of a group of instruments, really enhances a musical number.  However, my horizons were not broadened as I listed to the solo triangle.  

First of all, two of the songs they played (both listed above) sounded identical to me.  They kept assuring the listeners that a trained ear can hear the subtle nuances and differences between the pieces.  I'm not so sure.  That just sounds like something they say when someone records an album, puts 2 identical songs on it and sticks different names in front of them.  

Second, there was absolutely no variation throughout each song.  For instance, she just repeated the same pattern for the entire duration of the song.  ABC, ABC, ABC, ABC.  If she'd mixed it up even a little bit, ABC, 12Q, ABC, 12Q I might have been able to stand it. 

So in summary, to each their own.  If listening to 55 minutes of repetitive triangle is an exciting concept to you, then run out there and grab a copy of Christine Balfa Plays the Triangle.  Me, well, I guess I'll stick with the cowbell.  

I love making CD mixes for people.  But what's even more fun, is making album covers for the mixes I make.  So I thought I'd post one for you.  Cuz once I give them away, I tend to forget what they look like.  Here's one I just made that I'm giving to a friend at work tomorrow.  If you haven't heard of some of the artists, check them out.  They are awesome.  (Click to enlarge.)

Here for your reading pleasure, is the first ever "Procrasti-Girl" comic strip.  I have drawn inspiration from my own life for this first installment.  Double click to enlarge the pic.

While shopping the other day, I decide to try on a couple of shirts.  I go into the dressing room, try on my selections and everything is proceeding normally.  That is, until I try to leave the dressing room. 

I pull the door inward.  It seems the door was born as an "outie" not an "inie".  The door decides it likes this new  position, and stubbornly refuses to go back to its former state of being.  No amount of coaxing can convince it otherwise.  Unfortunately the hinges disagree.  They are not happy with being forced into an unnatural position, and complain immediately as I try to pull the door further inward.  Door is more than willing to comply as it's never seen the inside of the dressing room, but hinges win out.  

I meekly ask for assistance.  Employees pull.  I smile.  Employees push.  I giggle.  Employees start to freak out.  I laugh and reassure them that I'm not in a hurry, I'm not angry, and no, I will not sue them.  Employees frantically place walkie talkie calls for back up.  "I need you NOW!!  Customer is in, I repeat IN the dressing room".  I find the situation funny, and slightly embarrassing at the same time.  After all, it is my own miscalculation of the door which put me here in the first place.  

6 Employees later, 13 minutes of waiting, 2 shirts on hangers, one angry hinge removed, and I am squeezed out of the dressing room. 

Door, I'm told is facing retirement.  Apparently, he had trapped one customer too many.  I feel sad for door, and hope he can retire as the entrance to a child's tree house, so he has a nice view and a chance to experience the world.  I can't say I wish the same nice things for hinge. 

I receive a gift card out of the ordeal even though I assure them I am completely fine and don't need anything.  More beneficial than the gift card, is the good laugh I receive at my own expense.  Priceless.

That's it!  I'm trading in my patent leather pumps for a pair of tennies!  No more feminine skirts at work for me.  No sir!  I'm going to stop making the effort to shave my legs, and will start wearing pants from this day forward!!  Why you ask?  Well let me tell you. 

Last week I bought a pair of new tights.  Textured.  Cute.  One day later....huge run from knee to shining knee.  So I buy a pair of nylons.  2 days later... "a doo run run run, a doo run run".  

Sunday, I buy yet another pair of tights.  As I'm putting them on this morning there is a PRE-EXISTING hole in them.  Manufacturing defect.  Just below the skirt line.  I spent the better part of my morning hugging cubicle walls as I shimmied around the office keeping my leg to the wall.  So....at 10am I go to the store to buy 2 pairs of back up of nylons.  I put them one of them on and two hours later, what do I see?  Yeah, you guessed it.  A series of runs.  NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!  

The worst part is the math.  $12.50 + $8.50 + $4.99 + $9.00 +$9.00.  That's a lot of dough for a lot of runs.  It's almost as if I've been renting nylons by the hour.  "Here, spend ten bucks and get silky legs for 2 hours.  But then, ha ha.  You can't ever use them again!" 

I know what you're thinking.  "What could she be doing wrong?  Is she wearing a prop from 'Edward Scissor Hands' while she puts her nylons on?"  No my friends.  I am a pro.  I've been working in an office setting for over 12 years and am quite adept at nylon wearing.  I can't figure it out. 

But here's what I do know.  I shouldn't have laughed 10 years ago, when I saw a the cart in the middle of the mall advertising indestructible nylons for $30 each.  I think they were on to something.  And if you've done the math like I have, those $30 indestructible nylons would have been a bargain over the $43.99 that I've spent in the last week.  I'm tired of the "run around".

Live and learn.

This past  couple of weeks money has been a little tight.  Well, really tight.  But there are great lessons to be learned during these seasons of my life.  Here's one that I've been shown over and over again. 

Every Saturday I dog sit a little pug while his mommy and daddy are up at the mountain being ski instructors.  They always pay me $20 for doing this.  I would actually do it for free, because I love hanging out with him and his little kitty brothers and sisters.  But they insist.  So it becomes an extra $20 that I've come to expect weekly.  

Well on Friday, they notified me that they wouldn't need me to dog sit this week because they had relatives in town.  So the very week I needed the $20 the most I would not be getting it.  If I didn't have that $20, I wouldn't have enough gas money to get me through the week. 

But I wasn't worried.  In fact, as I read the cancellation email, I kind of let out a laugh.  Because I already knew that I was putting too much trust in that $20 bill I was expecting to receive.  So now, I told my roommate I was looking forward to seeing how God would provide for my needs as he always does.

The very next day, I'm at my Great Aunt's house, helping her move from one apartment to another in her retirement home.  I recently designed wedding invitations for her, and out of the blue she asks me how much the cards had cost.  Then she hands me $20!  "It's to pay for the materials you bought" she said.  I hadn't asked her to.  I wasn't expecting her to.  In fact, I told her not to pay me for anything back when I agreed to do it.  

ONE DAY after I hadn't received the $20 I really needed, The Lord gave it right back to me.  Even though it was a surprise in that I didn't know HOW the provision would come, it wasn't a surprise that the provision CAME.

During these tough economic times, God's reminded me that it's not my paycheck that will sustain me.  It's not my 401K that will sustain me.  It's not scrimping and saving pennies in the bank ,or clipping coupons that will sustain me.   I think it's really easy to turn on the news and turn on the pity for ourselves.  But we really are blessed.  If you have a roof over your head, food in your stomach and clothes on your back, your wealthier than most of the world.  I needed that reminder this week.

Jehovah-Jireh is Hebrew for "The Lord Will Provide". 

Philippians 4:19 "And my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

My Great Aunt asked if I would design her wedding invitations.  I was stoked and of course said yes!  I felt honored to have been asked to contribute to her special day in some way.  But from the moment of acceptance to today has been an uphill battle.  And with one week left until my deadline, I've been starting to freak out a little bit.  Here's the situation.  (If you don't want to read the entire story, just read the last paragraph, because that's where the payoff is.)

Problem #1:  I have two computers right now.  My old un-portable computer that has the office package downloaded on it.  Publisher, Excel, Powerpoint, Word etc.  Then my new laptop which is way better, but for which I have not yet paid the several hundred dollars to get an operating package yet.   So for blogging, internet usage, watching movies etc. I am on the laptop.  But for work projects or when I want to design something, I still have to use the old computer.  Well, the computer with the design program on it, was having internet issues and wouldn't connect.  So I wasn't able to access graphics online  to start designing the invites. 

Problem #2:  My printer was out of color toner.  Easy right?  Go to my local office supply store and get some more.  First Staples.  They didn't have the right toner number, but they looked one up in the computer and said it would work.  Got it home installed it, an nope.  Totally wrong.  It only had 3 color portals and mine has 6.  So I took it back.  But guess what?  They don't sell my color toner any longer.  Not even on their internet store.  But I do have to say on a positive note, that their customer service department was super nice and very accommodating, so kudos to Staples even though they did send me home with the wrong toner in the first place.  Then on to Office Max.  They also do not sell my toner any longer.  Now I'm getting nervous. 

 

Problem #3:  Remote printing.  My roommate worked tirelessly to set me up with remote printing so I could print to her printer.  Well, she got it working for my laptop (but remember, I don't have the design program on my laptop.) but for the old computer, after she spent literally HOURS, no luck.  Can't remote print.  Bummer.  And after all the effort she put in.  I also had a wonderful friend from work who offered to lend me her printer (thank you 'K'!!) but I didn't want to deprive her of her printing ability for a week while I worked on the invites. 

SOLUTION!!!!:  My roomie walks in to the house this evening carrying a huge box.  She sets it on the floor of my room.  It's a brand new printer AND scanner. Yup.  A brand new EPSON color printer and scanner.  I'm in shock.  She said that she had some extra money right now and that the Lord told her it was ok to use it to bless me.  Well my socks were blessed right off!  I am so humbled that the Lord has given me such dear and wonderful friends.  I have the type of friends who would relinquish a kidney if I needed it, and I try to remind myself every day that not everyone has it as good as I do.  

So thank you Andrea for just listening to the Lord's leading and for humbling me beyond words.  Thank you 'K' for being willing to share your printer with me.  Thank you serenity_valley for always listening and offering techincal support.  Thanks to all my friends who are wonderful just by being who they are. 
 

I just realized that I am single.  How did I come to this realization?  I shall tell you.  Today is Valentine's Day.  While at the grocery store, I noticed that everyone else was buying chocolates, balloons, flowers, stuffed animals etc.  And what did I have in my little cart?  A can of refried beans.  Yep.  That's when it dawned on me that I am in fact...single.  :)  

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!!