Lost in a Ball of Yarn

I have discovered the love for my slow cooker again!

It is great when you can through together a meal, in the morning and let the aroma spread through the house while you spend the rest of the day lounging on the couch with a ball of yarn and your fur babies!

Life doesn't get much better than this!

Lazy Sunday

Usually on the weekend I am dying to get out and go anywhere!
But this Sunday is a bit overcast and I am feeling a bit lazy. I just want to climb back into bed and do some crocheting.

So after the laundry is done, the groceries are bought I am going to do just that get nice and comfy in bed, put on a good movie and work on my blanket!

This blanket was to be a baby blanket however it was too big so I have decided to make it a lap blanket. I am not sure how I feel about the colors, I used Bernat Baby Sport in Candy Baby. When it was on the roll it looked fabulous but now I am unsure, and still need to decide on a color to finish the edges, any suggestions?

So Many Things So Little Time.

Funny how you can buy just about anything these days. Too bad there was not a way to purchase time.
I have so many things that I want to do unfortunately there is never enough hours in the day, week, month or year.
Here is my growing list of things I would love to accomplish this life time. I would love to hear what you have on your list.

• Travel to Italy.
• Travel to France.
• Finish all the Cross Stitch Patterns in my stash.
• I know how to Crochet (sort of lol) but want to learn how to Knit.
• Paint a masterpiece (after I learn how)
• Make a fabulous quilt for my daughter, son and future grandchildren (God forbid I am not here to meet them)
• Volunteer more.
• Learn how to play the piano.
• Relearn how to play the guitar.
• Learn to stress less and live more.
• Go on a girls vacation!
• Conquer my fears.
• Host a massive Christmas Party and a cookie exchange.
• Declutter my home.
• Re paint my home again and put in hardwood flooring.
• Take a cruise.
• Visit Prince Edward Island, the East Coast of Canada, California, Southern United States.
• Read all the books I own and all the ones on my reading wish list.
• Be able to do something extravagant for my parents and MIL.
• Doing something fabulous for all the people who have impacted my life.
• Buy a new camera, do a road trip across the country, camping in many different places and taking amazing  pictures of people, places and things I have seen.
• Fall asleep beneath the stars on the beach watching the sunset and wake up to the sun rising.

These are just a few of the things on my in this lifetime to do list. As I said it is always growing and changing.
Happy Sunday everyone!

I just wanna stay in bed all day!

I love my job I honestly do!!
But today I am just exhausted and I would rather hide under the covers all day with my fur baby rather than face the world!

Unfortuantely work calls and the bills need to be paid.

Hope everyone has a fantastic day.

Happy Mother's Day

 I almost forgot I would like to wish my Mom, and all the other Mom's out there 

a spectacular Mother's Day!!!

Finally Found the Light! Goodbye My Dear Friends!

Well yesterday the day I have been dreaming of for several months finally arrived!
I got a call for a new job.

I will be honest say it felt like I was fighting a loosing battle and that I would be stuck at this job I disliked for many years to come, so it was truly an amazing feeling giving my notice.

I have made some wonderful friends along the way and hope that we will continue our friendship for many years to come.

Sometimes it's the people and not the paycheck that makes the days more bearable and to each one of you I truly thank you for making the days a little easier. I wish you all nothing but the best and I will miss each and everyone of you.

Miss A. I will miss how sweet you come off and how you would flip the customers the bird even though they could not see it and the time when out of no where you shocked us all by loosing your cool and giving attitude back to that evil woman! You made me laugh many times and we shared so many "I thought it was just me moments."
Miss A. I know you have so much going on in your life and I hope that one day soon you are able to take some time for yourself to just breathe!

Miss J. don't be scared! Just because we have been there for several months it does not mean job security, starting a new job is scary but you know that if that new job was there first you would have taken that no questions asked.

Miss L you are a rude little bitch! Your mamma must not have taught you any manners. We tolerate you to be polite, but people do not need you bossing them around!!  I am going to tell you something very shocking so you better sit down........YOU DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING! I know hard to believe but you don't!!

Lastly, to my wonderful supervisor thanks for nothing!! SERIOUSLY!! After all these months you still don't know who I am!!! I am sure in some ways that is a good thing.
Unbelievable that it took you and two other supervisors to find me the other day and I was sitting 6 people down from you! I guess I won't have to worry about you missing me hahaha!

Best things about quitting my job no more weekends! And that's right I can pee whenever I want!!!!!!!!

Why People Should be Banned From the Library!

Saturday I had my whole day planned I was so excited to get to the library and get my books. In order to get the books I wanted I needed to make a trip to 2 different libraries in the big city.

As I was checking out the one book I was extremely excited about getting I noticed by the bar code there was a sticker stating it was missing pages 81 to 86.
I was a bit disappointed but figured oh well I will take it anyway. All the way home the curiosity was killing me to find out what was missing in the darn book.

I walked in the door and without even taking my shoes off, walked into the living room and dropped my pile of books on the coffee table. I dove into my pile of books to find the book in question Get Hooked Again by Kim Werker opened it up only to find that main reason I picked up this book the "Ruby Slippers" by Vashti Braha belonged on those missing pages!! I was so disappointed!

After going through a few of the other books I noticed that in another book "Crochet Bags! 15 Hip Projects for Carrying Your Stuff."  By Candi Jensen was also missing pages 83 and 84 which had the instructions for her "Flower Power" pattern.
If this was in the age prior to photocopiers, digital cameras or scanners I could certainly understand why someone would be inclined to rip pages out of a book. But come on people do not ruin the book for others!!! It's a crochet pattern write it down it's not that difficult!!

 I recently took out another book from the library and was disappointed to find that someone had written all over the pages of the book. I loaned the book to a friend who returned it to the library. Upon returning it to the library my friend mentioned all the markings in the book to the librian as to not have either of us accused of vandalizing the book. The librarian acted so casual about the whole thing and this book has a list price of $77. I guess they are so used to people ruining books it comes as no surprise to them anymore.

It is one thing you expect that children's books may be vandalized but adults should really know better!!

Have a great Monday!!

It's all about the yarn baby!

So it is finally the weekend! My first whole weekend off in forever and I am so looking forward to it.

Unfortunately it seems I am never able to sleep in! I wish those damn batteries in my internal clock would just hurry up and die already.
Sure it is great waking up and watching the sunrise, however by 2 in the afternoon you are ready for a nap.

This morning I woke up to snow on the ground, it was like someone had played a cruel practical joke on me!

Although this is not the weather I would have liked for my weekend off, and it has put a damper in my original plans it is a perfect weekend for snuggling up on the couch with a ball of yarn and my favourite boys (my dogs) and a nice cup of tea.

Those of you with cats know the challenges of crocheting or knitting with frisky critters, well small dogs are  the same. My boys like to fight over the ball of yarn and like to run all over the living room with it while I am trying to crochet. The ball starts on the couch beside me, then knocked to the floor inconspicuously, they jump off the couch and look up at me with their big brown eyes as if to say so innocently "how did that happen?"then as I reach down to pick up the ball of yarn that is when the real fun begins!! and they think it is time to play a game of chase through the living room! And really how could you get mad when they look at you so content and lovingly. You just smile retrieve your yarn and start all over again!

The worse part is not the steal my yarn or make me chase them all through the living room. It's the getting up from your nice comfy spot, the spot that you took the time to make sure everything was just right, tea in arms reach blanket on your lap just right the cushions perfectly fluffed.

I bought a plastic container from the Dollar Store, it came with a lid and I cut a whole in the top. I think I need something bigger because the yarn does not roll smoothy so I kind of gave up using it.

So on this cold dreary day I am going to head off to the public library and pick up a couple of books on crocheting and work on the project I started for my daughter. She recently bought herself a couple of end tables for her bedroom and asked me to make her something to put on them to protect them. So this is my WIP

I bought some amazing Bernat cottontots in Earth Child yarn from MacPherson's Arts in Crafts in St. Marys Ontario you can check out their website here . If you are in the area I suggest you check out their store. They have some many unique yarns that are not featured on their website.

I hope everyone has a fabulous Saturday !

                            

What's so Fabulous about Forty?

So I can't help but notice this new epidemic going on around me it seems that everyone around me has either turned or on the verge of turning the big 4-0!

Recently my guy and I attended the Surprise 40th Birthday party for a mutual friend. She was happy, shocked and thankful. I am all for surprise parties on the condition they are not rubbing a milestone birthday in your face.

I was lucky enough to have a surprise party thrown for me at the beach when I was 17 (one of the perks of being a summer baby) and another in the big city at 22 and I loved both. However, had my dear friends surprised me with a party at 30 I would have been less than thrilled!

On the way home my guy says  to me "when you turn 40 I am going to through you an awesome party we will invite all our friends and family, we can have a big party in the backyard, bbq fire and we can get our friends band to play it will be the best party ever!!"
Now he was so proud of himself for coming up with this "terrific idea".
That is when I turned and hissed at him not to bother not only do I tell him not to bother I also warned him if he did that would be the end of our relationship and sternly state...."I AM NOT JOKING IF YOU DO IT IS OVER.... O-V-E-R.... OVER!! do you understand!!!! "
And what does he do....he breaks out into hearty laughter at the "ridiculous" comment I had just made and tells me that I am "so cute"
CUTE!!!!!!!!!.......So not the answer I was looking for!!! I wanted no needed him to say it is ok I will not do that to you but instead I get a "you are so cute" and a "just you wait and see it is going to be an awesome party"........ that is when I broke out in tears!

I know you all may think that is a bit of an over reaction! I would have agreed with you if it were someone else turning 40.

Looking back I have realized that I have always lied about being younger.
I never really looked forward to getting older.
I think this started very early in life thanks to my dear childhood friend. 

We would constantly have the same conversation and it would go something like this......

Childhood Friend... "no matter how old I get you will always be older than me"
Me..."I am only a year older than you"
Childhood Friend..."no you are 16 months and 14 days older than me"
Me..."well those extra four months and 14 days don't really count, I am only a year older than you"
Childhood Friend...."so really you are almost 2 years older than me"
Me..."I AM NOT"
Then  we would argue back and forth over those extra 4 months and 14 days until the point one of us would walk away and we would not speak for the rest of the day!!
To me there is nothing great about turning 40, it only depresses me into thinking of how fast my life has gone up until this point. My grandmother died in her 40's my dear aunt became very sick in her 40's so I guess to me everything about 40 is depressing! As women we get to look forward to menopause, arthritis, mammograms, weight gain, cataracts and hot flashes just off the top of my head!!

I am told that I do not look like I am in my "mid to late 30's". I however see things differently. I see all the wrinkles, the age spots the grey hair. I wish there was a way we could see ourselves through the eyes of others!!

When I was younger I was the type of girl who always planned on growing old gracefully. You know let my hair turn completely grey and not worry about it, not waste my money on beauty products or cosmetic procedures. But my plan has changed I really open to some good old botulism so bring on the "Botox" and let's "Keep them guessing with Oil of Olay" and of coure top it off with some "Nice N Easy"!!

So a few days after my melt down I tell my guy if you want to do something "special" for my birthday he should get me botox or microdermabrasion.
He says that is the silliest thing and that I do not need it. I argue the fact that I do and he is just to "cheap" to spend the money and he argues he is not too cheap, and if he was would he want spend a bunch of money on a surprise party. I come up with a brilliant plan and tell him he can through a big party if  he also gives the gift of botulism that way we both win he can have his "party" and while he is throwing his party I will be off at some spa getting my botox and feeling sorry for myself . So it truly will be a surprise party because I won't be there so..."SURPRISE" (of course I leave that part out of my bargaining)
So this is what I have decided. I will stay 38 forever (only because 39 is so cliche and really who believes someone who says they are 39 anyway?) 
To all you lovely ladies who rang in the big 4-0 with open arms you truly are my heroes!!
I wish I was brave enough to embrace the moment but as you can see I will be celebrating it by having my own pity party as if I am the only woman in the world who has ever had to wake up and face the fact that she is now 40!!

So not that I have rambled on about the latest epidemic surrounding my life, I would sure love some insight and words of wisdom on getting older and surviving life after 40!

I hope you have a wonderful day!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Sunday!

Today is a glorious day as I have the day to myself. Why is it the days you go to work drag on and on forever and yet your days off are over before you know it.

It is funny that you can buy almost anything except for time. I wish I could find a way bottle it up and market it because I am sure I could make a killing!

Well it looks as though the sun is shining!! I sure hope it is as warm as it looks outside today.

I have a big day planned have to give the bf a haircut (in a past life I was a beauty school drop out..a story for another day), groceries, bathing the dogs, and spending the afternoon in the park with the boys, and my camera then visiting some old friends after dinner.

So.....yesterday I commented on all the reasons I hated my job and I am sure you all have your own list as well. So today being Sunday and all I thought I would make a list of all things I like about my job.

The Things I like about my job

• The fact that I am actually fortunate enough to have a job.
• Payday (even if the pay sucks!)
• The people I work with, I have met a bunch of great guys and dolls some have turned into lifelong friends.
• Some of my customers who call in and make my day with utterly ridiculous questions. (You know how they say there is no such thing as a stupid question...well that is a lie!!)
• We deal with mostly Americans so I love speaking with those customers with the strong accents those from the Southern States, Boston and New York.
• You know when you read a book and they describe the character in the book and you get this visual image of how you preceive that character. Well that is what I think about when I am talking to my customers. I create this image of them in my imagination.
• Not to bash Canadians here but I find that Americans are more patriotic, spiritual and religious than us. I have so many Americans calling in and wishing me a "blessed day" a "blessed life" and so many times I have been told may "God Bless you and your family", perhaps the Canadians would like to say that too but we have become so politically correct that it is unbelievable!
• I love the customers who call in with a great sense of humor and understand that I am only the poor sucker answering the phone. The customers who think that all the "scripting" we are required to say is so stupid and that we should talk like a real person instead of a robot!
• I love the ederly customers who call in with a story of the "good old days" or say to me " you may think I am a fuddy duddy but I like to do things the old fashioned way".

Sure I do get my fair share of rude and irrate customers but all in all yesterday was a good day. Those customers who call in and understand that I am doing all I can for them, and that I am doing my job to the best of my ability they really make my day.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful day and that each of you spend it doing the things you love with the people you love!!

It's Saturday and I have to work :(

So it is Saturday and instead of sleeping in (which I never do anyway) I am stuck going to work.
It is one thing to have to work on a Saturday but when you HATE your job it is even worse.

The reasons I hate my job

• Being chained to a desk for 8-10 hrs a day and not being able to get up and walk to the ladies room when you please.
• Getting yelled at by stupid people who decided not to pay their bill on time and now have no service or have been charged late fees. Then listening to them rant on how their service is overpriced and how I must love charging them all this extra money that goes into my pocket...Hello I make MIN WAGE so I am getting screwed as much as you!
• Having complete strangers telling me that I am an idiot and need to get my calculator out as if I am the person who created their bill in the first place.
• People yelling at me because I cannot discuss account information to them as it is not their account then having them say to me "I do not need any account information I just want to know......."
• Sitting there watching people pick their noses or chew food with their mouths wide open!
• Payday, when I get my paycheque and they have deducted the $40 every two weeks off my cheque that I have to pay to actually go to work in the first place and knowing that I am making almost $250 less a month on unemployment.
• Listening to the depressing stories of why people cannot pay their bills, examples are due to loss of job, illness, terminal illness and death of spouse or other family members. I just do not have the heart to deal with these tales of woe. I truly do feel sorry for some of the people who do call in they do not realize that there is only so much we can do for them. I agree that in most cases they do get screwed over unfortunately if I told them that I would loose my job.
• Having your boss yelling at you for not Selling enough products each day, spending too much time on a phone call and for giving the call to a supervisor instead of handling it yourself.

So yes I know I should be grateful that I do have a job and I am. I know this is a temporary bump in the road. But the next time you make that call to complain about your bill or service please think of that other person on the other end of the line it could be me :)

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Happy Easter

Just thought I would take the time to wish everyone a Happy Easter.

The weather here is beautiful today, just waiting on my daughter so we can take our boys for a walk in the park.