Jewelry Class

OK, so we've got a class full of chattering and eating seniors for drawing...and an oversold class full for jewelry...the class was designed for 25 students and there are about 35-40 of us in the class. The teacher ran out of handouts, seats, you name it. I think the next 5 classes will be much better tho as she'll be much better prepared - and she's bringing more assistants to help her out. She only had one today.

But I still like both classes as I am learning quite a bit!

Today in Jewelry Class, I made a very pretty bracelet. I immediately came home and ordered the supplies from my fav online jewelry supply store for next week's class. What I don't use for class, I'll definitely use to make more pieces for my "jewelry collection" to sell online. I am glad that I don't have to buy any beads right now as I have quite the collection! Have all the tools I need as well. I have most of the findings I need, I just needed some clasps (as I have yet to make any bracelets or necklaces) and some stringing wire and some curved tube metal beads. Oh, is that all?!? hee hee. Actually, it's not that much at all. And I am uber excited to use some of my larger beads that aren't quite right for stitch markers or earrings. YAY!!!!

Time to do homework. This weekend I will do some drawing. For jewelry class, all I really need to do is go thru what I have now and break it down into a smaller kit for class - and then find something clever around here to put it all in that will survive an hour round trip on the bike. And then wait for my online order to arrive. YAY!!!!

I'm very excited to finally understand some techniques that I've known and read about but could not really get my head around. Seeing others do it and then trying it myself immediately after really helps.

And at some point this weekend, I will post a photo of the bracelet and scan in my first drawings. I was quite excited about it all and showed Spencer what I've done so far. He of course said it was all awesome...but he's biased...and was waiting on me to cook dinner...so he could have just been telling me that so he wouldn't starve! hahahahahahaha

In other news...I'm back on the creating wagon - and not just for class! I've finally picked up the knitting again and am working a little bit every night on the Stitches on the Bridge scarf I'm making. You know, the double knit scarf with a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge on it. Yeah, I frakking crazy!!!

And in the "awwwwwwwww" category...Sammie is sleeping on the bed with me again and sitting close by purring while I knit away. I can't tell you how happy I am about that. I've missed her so much!!!

Getting ready for Friday...

Last night, as I entered in months worth of bike rides and swimming to MapMyFitness.com, I remembered to check the trails and see what was available to get me across to the other side of town to my Jewelry Class on Friday. With all this entering, I still have a few weeks of entering to do...I REALLY need to keep up with that - gah.

Lo and behold...the trail that goes in that direction just happens to go *almost* right past the school where my Jewelry Class is!!! I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was to see that. Now I don't have to leave uber early to get there and then sit and wait for 45 min after class to catch the bus home. Stupid bus schedules totally suck when it comes to being convenient for anyone but the bus company. grrr.

Today I packed up Ms Cow and the bag of supplies I will be taking, along with my locks and cables and headed out to try out the route. Was mostly looking for how hilly it would be, as it goes round the foothills and even a part way up into them. I was also looking for a travel time.

I am happy to say that the trail is totally doable for me, some slight hills, but nothing I can't handle. The trail pops out at a main street that has a marked bike lane - one block later, I'm in the parking lot. Time? 25 minutes. Only 5 min longer than my trip to Drawing Class. This is indeed good news as I don't do well with hills - altho it would technically help me get better if I had to ride up one at least once a week. Oh darn. Another good thing about this route is that it's not all windy. Only the first part is windy, the rest is nice and calm. Heaven.

No bus! Hardly any wind! *Almost* door-to-door trail. YAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!

I'm all set...just need to give Sgt Puff a mini-checkup and make sure she's all set. I've been riding her a lot lately. Think Spence and I should probably go back to the Bike Kitchen on Saturday and give her a really good look-see.

About Balls....

Conversation in the elevator yesterday while going up to do laundry...

Little Girl: I like your balls lady!

Me: Why thank you!

Little Girls Mom: snicker snicker snicker snicker...

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Seen floating in the canal while riding the trail this morning...

• One pink ball about the size of a basketball
• 3 baseballs
• One football

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Seen *on* the trail....3 piles of doggy poop

• One very large as in "does a bear shit on the trail" large
• One very small
• And one very smooshed (luckily not by me)

(I know, I know, not technically balls...more like torpedoes...landmines...work with me here...had to tell about the poops!!!)

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For those looking for artsy type stuff...

First Drawing Class today...I LOVE IT! I am very glad I signed up for this class. Once I get past the fact that I'm the youngest person in the class...it's not so bad!

Today we learned about the basic shapes used in drawing and about highlighting and shadowing. Someday when I get over being a lazy ass, I'll post a scan of some of my work. I'm doing pretty good for a beginner, even if I do say so myself. hee hee

Oh, and I TOTALLY love that I can ride from door to door and lock up my bike right outside the classroom door. Really wish it wasn't so windy sometimes, but it does give me a good workout!

Drawing Class tomorrow!!!

YAY!!!

I'm hoping to have a fun time with the class and not sit there like a bump on a log.

The two, giant, tunisian crocheted blankets have not done their job. I am still blocked.

I have figured out that there are many reasons why:

1. I've been very lazy. Very easy to be very lazy when you don't have to get up and go someplace where people have promised to pay you if you show up and do stuff.

2. My apt is a chaotic mess. Result of the laziness, of course. I have promised myself today is chore day - going to get all the basic stuff done, pack for class and then work a bit more on getting my crafting supplies in order. Ooooh...it's lunch time! Chores will have to wait - can't do chores if I'm hungry!

3. I have no idea where to even begin being creative. I have many lists of ideas. I have many ideas in my head. I look at the lists and it's as if they are in a foreign language. I go to pull ideas out of my head and they are no longer there...they return when I decide to leave them alone.

4. I'm feeling rather lonely lately. Lonely equals woe-is-me, pity parties that totally block out any desire to do anything but park my ass on the couch and watch nonsense on TV. Which then ends up with me in bed with a book or magazine cos there is nothing but crap on TV. And then I can't even concentrate on what I'm reading.

I do get out with my friend Antonella, I chat daily with my Honey, Spence and I spend lots of quality time together when we get the chance, I still call the family and chit chat, and I have actually been dragging my ass out on the bike and have been swimming once. My blood pressure is down and so is my weight - 4 more lbs actually.

I should be happy. I think about it all and go "meh - whatever".

Trying not to put too many high hopes on these classes I'm taking and I think I'm doing pretty good with that. Stepping out of my creative box with the drawing is something different which I think I will really enjoy. The jewelry class can only help me as I have had lots of ideas for new pieces but I have no idea how to bring them into reality.

The classes are what they are and my chaos is what it is...hopefully being in contact with more people will get me back to whatever it is I was before I lost my job - ironically, I don't even know what that is, really.

Meh - whatever!

Sigh...

Was feeling quite clever before...now? Not so much...

so there will be no clever and entertaining post...

Honestly, I'm tired of hearing about an impending BART strike, and both sides saying basically "it's all *their* fault".

...the State of CA's budget woes and them all pointing fingers saying "it's all *their* fault".

JUST GET OVER YOURSELVES AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA

oh and BART and BART unions? I just wanna slap both sides silly. How dare the unions whine about paying more for benefits when I just bet that at least 1/3 of their riders are paying out their asses for the sorry excuses of health benefits they have - not to mention all the riders who have NONE AT ALL cos they CAN'T AFFORD IT cos THEY ARE UNEMPLOYED.

BART management? Stop airing the dirty laundry of your business. Keep it behind closed doors and fucking work it out already!!!!

Oh, and PLEASE NO MORE MICHAEL JACKSON STUFF ALREADY!!! HE'S DEAD, LET HIM REST!!! Do all your fucking investigations and then splatter your shit all over the news. I'm tired of hearing it all RIGHT NOW... BREAKING NEWS!!!

ENOUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ahem...

Feel a little bit better now...but not much. When you are not working, you have more time to pay attention to what's going on around you. Quite frankly, it's freakin' depressing.

I'm feeling sorry enough for myself without all this other crap. Can't we all just get along?!?

Now if you'll excuse me, my table for one is ready for my nightly pity party. Time to go whine to myself (i'm the only one who is around to listen) about how annoyed I am at the world, how much I miss my Honey, and how fast California is going to shit.

I really can't wait until Tuesday. First drawing class! I need something "new" and "exciting" to break up my "woe is me" attitude.

Oh, and I've finished MY big, giant, humongous green blankie. When I get around to taking photos, I'll post them here and on Ravelry. Right now, I'm sick and tired of looking at the damn thing.

Time to go have a hot dog and get ready to watch the SF Giants game tonight. I know, you don't usually hear me talking sports...but Antonella and a friend are going to be at the game sitting in primo seats and I'm going to play Spot the Wop - until I get totally bored with watching baseball. This would be a great drinking game if someone else was here with me.

Ciao-ciao!!

It's Center of the Earth Hot....

Yes, it really seems like it is...

Here in the Chaos, we've managed to not have the A/C on for most of the day. Once the highest heat of the day passed (I think we topped out at 106F maybe higher), I turned it on so as to cool the place off so we could sleep comfortably.

People always ask...but don't you waste energy or whatever by waiting? Not really. Either I have it on all day - where it's pretty much running all day, or I wait until around 6pm ish, turn it on, let it run for a few hours and that's that.

We don't really need it on all day - we are lucky. We are on the first floor immediately above the underground parking. The underground parking that pretty much stays cool year round. The concrete ceiling is basically our floor, only covered with a pathetic excuse for a pad and carpet.

In the winter, we're always cold. But in winter, it's very easy to put on layers of lovingly hand knit items to keep us warm...and those giant blankies I've just made will definitely come in handy once the mercury dips this winter!

In the summer, we are comfortable...only turning on the A/C at night - even during the hottest of heat waves.

In that we are lucky, cos there are only so many clothes you can take off when you are not the only one at home...and it's quite expensive to run our A/C all day long. This place is not well insulated - at all.

Little Princess Sammie has found a nice cool nook to hide in all day...only coming out for drinks of water and snackage. Spencer has been playing on his Xbox most of the day. I've been reading, playing addictive games on the laptop, or having a quick lie down. It's been pretty quiet round here as I suspect it's been for anyone else who is experiencing hot temps today. It's just the best thing to do.

Once dinner settles a bit more (we just had home made turkey burgers - YUM), Spencer and I will head out to swim. It was too hot to go to the pool today when it was in full sun.

I even hand washed the few items he'll need for his next week of being a Junior Counselor. There was no way I was going to trot up to the HOT laundry room and deal with laundry just for a t-shirt and a pair of shorts. I just did them here in the plastic tub thingy and hung them up - they are pretty much dried already.

So much for today. Not much exciting but I did manage to blab a lot, didn't I?

I am so excited for tomorrow. Claudia is doing her drawing tonight and will post about her ride and who won what from her prize basket tomorrow. I not only find out if I won anything (oh please let me win one of the AWESOME prizes!!!), I also find out who won the 3 items I donated.

One week until my classes start!

I'm going crazy - the wait is killing me.

Celebrating in the Chaos Today!

Happy B-day Oh Favored Son!

Spencer is 15 today. Goodness gracious where have the years gone?

One day he's Mommy's sweet widdle bundle of wuv...





The next day he's big and tall...and whining about having his picture taken...




and bossing around other kids! He's a Junior Counselor (JC) at a local Science Camp for a few weeks this summer.




Happy B-day Spencer! I love you and wish all the best for you. I'd better stop before I get all mushy and teary eyed and start blabbering...sigh...