Going, Going, Gone?

Been up since 6a and not at work.

Last week I was meant to be on vacation for a couple of days to get ready for Christmas. The trees have been standing tall in a dark living room for weeks. No ornaments. But I FORGOT I was on vacation because I am so preoccupied with a big project at work and school final. Forgot. My own vacation.

I decided to transfer that vacation to this week ... but because of that previously mentioned big project, had to cut it short a day.

Here is the sad bit. Yesterday, during a meeting someone mentioned Christmas being next week. I sat stunned. "Is that possible?" my mind was asking myself while I tried to conjure up a monthly calendar in my head to see the relationship between that day and the next week. So, yes I am losing it.

In panic mode now. I will be dressing the trees today but with less ornaments than usual. We are going to call this the "scanty Christmas" and get on with it. Try to produce some sort of Christmas card. Some shopping? Some cleaning? Some holiday-making? I have 4 days.

Group of three

Group of three by House Of Ceramics on Etsy or Group of five ceramic spheres. The speak to me.

Thank You!

I can't say thank you enough for making me feel so special! And not so unique in my quirkiness. But a part of a larger group of women just like me! It is so satisfying and such a relief.

I presented my final project tonight, it wasn't perfectly done. But it was so near complete. More importantly ... I finished this semester. And now, I fear, I am hooked on being a student again. Then I finished off the perfect, busy day by finding a site where I can buy Adobe CS 4, very affordable on my student status. I am so excited. I feel like I might be getting back into this century with my new computer and some updated software. Honestly, I have been so afraid to spend any money on non-essential expenses because of the economy but I decided the other day to bite the bullet. So, Merry Christmas to myself.

Antithesis

I guess I shouldn't have "woo hoo-d" so loudly the other day when I finished my project. I tried to validate it and came up with 50 errors. I have gotten that down to 14 errors since last night but I present it today in class after work. We are never too old to learn? Right?

Something occurred to me the other day when I was driving home. I am the antithesis to all of those blogs belonging to the perfectly coiffed, home-cooking, crocheting mom and wife. There are many of those out there, I see them and think, can those people be real? How do they do it? Of course, they are all attractive, even on the internet, beauty=popularity. And then they are usually talented and of course, they cook a wicked meal. Do they worked a full-time job? As Dee mentioned ... could they have their own hair dresser?

For me, I struggle to get up at 430a every morning. Drag myself to work and come up with good, creative ideas. Try not to work 10 hour days but usually fail at that. Rush home to think I might be creative - and that usually doesn't happen either. I don't cook. My mom makes all of those wonderful meals we eat. I occassionaly make a dessert, brownies from a box. I have given up wearing make-up and now you all know I have a bad hair day, every day. I hate all fashions of the day and would prefer to wear the same jeans day-in, day-out, than to be seen in anything I see in the Macy's catalog. I have never really been the organized mom and since I began working this early shift have gotten any worse at it. I am, in short, a terrible mom, except for the fact that I love my son to pieces. So, yes, I am the opposite of most of the blogs I use to read back when I had the time.

The Christmas trees have been standing in a dark living room, with no ornaments for a week. I was thinking this week was going to be my decorating, having fun for Christmas, creating Christmas cards. I am suppose to have a couple of days off but that might have happen since I have a big project at work that keeps changing. I did manage to stick some Narcissus in some bowls last. Right now I am thinking, Bah Humbug. ;)

Lost art of proofreading

My friend Susan sent me this in email today ... gave me a chuckle.

Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
No crap, really? Ya think?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Now that's taking things a bit far!
-----------------------------------------------------------
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
What a guy!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-so's!
------------------------------------------------------
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
See if that works any better than a fair trial!
----------------------------------------------------------
War Dims Hope for Peace
I can see where it might have that effect!
----------------------------------------------------------------
If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Ya think?!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Who would have thought!
----------------------------------------------------------------
Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
They may be on to something!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?
----------------------------------------------------------
Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge
He probably IS the battery charge!
----------------------------------------------
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Weren't they fat enough?!
-----------------------------------------------
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
That's what he gets for eating those beans!
-------------------------------------------------
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Do they taste like chicken?
-------------------------------------------------
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Chainsaw Massacre all over again!

My lesson to myself

later that night.

So tonight when we were laughing about me posting my terrible hair-do photo online, my son was telling me he had written his English paper about just that. Last week he "interviewed" me for a paper for English. So horrified, I said, I hope you didn't tell your English class I never shower and have really bad hair days. He said no. But he said in his paper that when I was happiest in my paint pants, a polar fleece jacket and my hair was always in a mess. That I didn't really care what people wore. That I didn't judge people by what they wore, but by their character. Wow. My son said that! And my son recognizes that. That is huge for me! Maybe we did do something right. ;)

Ordering online

I found something for D online this year. I couldn't decide whether to order it because it was a little expensive and ask him to tell me if he wanted some special tool or something more specific. But I loved it so much, that I just did it. Tonight. Can't tell you what it is exactly ... although ... D never reads my blog. But I think it is something below on the page I linked to ;) Can you guess what it is? xoxox

Done!

My final project for school, Jonah's website is almost done! I wish you all could see me now. I didn't realize my hair could stick up in such weird ways. I haven't bathed in days and my hips hurts from sitting in this uncomfortable wooden chair. But no matter, I accomplished what I set out to do, even if it isn't perfect. And that makes me very happy.

I miss blogging and doing fun things. Now it is on to work on the Christmas trees. Although, I did take a break yesterday and had what is suppose to be a monthly bunch (and a little Christmas stocking gift shopping) with my friends, Bo and Joel . We actually only manage to get together every couple of months. I love seeing them and always feel so energized after spending a couple of hours together. But it was all cut short because of my looming final project that needed to be finished.

I was laughing with my friend at work the other day. Instead of actually sending out Christmas cards instead I am going to email or blog about the great idea I had for my Christmas card and didn't have time to do (didn't I did that last year). It could save some time and postage.

Only because I know you all know me so well, I will share my hair today. Although my mom is saying in the background ... don't let anyone see the way you look. ;) Looks like a cats been sucking on my hair! Please ignore the wrinkles! xoxoxoxoxo!

Photo finish

Botanical Blueprint - Carnations by depuis

Many Muse Studio

Berry Fine by kmsitko

Christmas shopping seems so easy on esty!

Happyville

Perry Houses' Happyville series. Why do I love them? Color? Geometry?

Eric Daigh

Pushpin artist Eric Daigh using optical blending. (I saw him on a Sunday Morning segment in the last month).

MAD architects: urban forest

Can you imagine this wonderful building by MAD architects called urban forest. Can't you imagine this building? (It reminds me of rings that I would love to wear).

Human Art

Human art by Keith Perelli and his amazing collection on Flickr. Faces you can fall into. I would love to see him work in person.

Faux Museum

Faux Museum, mat board pop-up art frames via Surroundings.

Duane Hoffmann

Yes, he is a genius, always has the perfect concept for the most difficult illustrations.

Facebook Snafus

Facebook Snafus. I felt bad reading and laughing ... but ...

Jamie Poole

UK artist Jamie Poole's landscapes are full of movement and color. Loving them. And this East Haddon Landscape experiment is lovely, part of Text Landscapes.

Hbox

I know, I know, I am repeating myself. I have blogged this before. Your personal history and heirlooms built into an Hbox by Kathy Thomas.

Stories From The Ground

"The Stories From The Ground shadow puppetry collective are: Stephen Mushin, Raku Pitt, Amadis Lacheta, Emily Smith, Saita Ryan, Myfanwy Auldersun, Anna Nilsson and friends. We specialise in 'Micro-theatre' shadow performances... although some of our recent performances have become a little more grand. In 2008 we performed two seasons of 'The Baron in the trees', a shadow adaption of Italo Calvino's classic novel in Melbourne and Brisbane." Via Pia Jane Bijkerk.

Free Printable: Gift Tags by Kristina

Free Printable: Gift Tags by Kristina on Creature Comforts, lots more goodies over there right now!