Tag: gifts

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by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life, Writing

With Ken gone, I had a couple days to myself at home.  I enjoyed the time on my own.  At one point I realized nothing had been said.  I was playing a game and cursed the game out loud.  It startled me which also made me laugh.

I’ve finished the projects for my sister and now I’m turning my attention to my own projects.  I have the student worker gifts done and now am prepping to make for the faculty.  This weekend I hope to gather the items and do any shopping I need to so I can settle into getting the items made.

At the same time, I need to finish an article and get it submitted.  I also have a crochet pattern which is going to be published which I need to make up again.  Once it’s made up, I’ll send it off to the publisher for pictures.  These are the three most urgent things on my radar.

I think the gifts will take me through most of November and then I’ll be going back to writing and crocheting in more balance I think.

I’m looking forward and thinking – it isn’t that long until we are in the holiday craziness.  My middle daughter is already talking about where we are going on Black Friday – i.e. which JoAnn’s store we will go to.

My day job will get busy – crazy busy – in November.  I’m hoping with the changes we’ve made it won’t be horrible.  Registration always is stressful with a heavy influx of emails.  I’m hoping for a lighter year as we’ve been steadily making improvements.

From now until the end of the year, I’m going to be busy both at my day job and at home working on projects.  I still have my two bigger projects I’ve been working on and I’m hoping to have those done before the end of the year as well.

Updates

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting, Life

Finished a number of gifts last night.  This morning Ken helped me get them packaged up for distribution.  I have two more to finish by Friday and then two more to finish the following week.  Then I’ll be moving on to clearing up some of the other crochet projects on my list including some for when Vicki comes home to visit.

I’ve been anti-computers lately.  I think I’ve gotten an overload at my day job so when I come home the last thing I want to do is be on the computer some more.

Having said that, on the drive to visit Vicki my mind wandered to stories and where I was, what I want to do with them, and progress.  I’ve been creating a bunch of patterns so I’m going to put them on my to publish list though they probably won’t make it out this year.  I’ve got writing ideas I want to work on but a big part of my brain wants to crochet.

Since I need to keep my stress level lower, I am crocheting.  Stephanie asked me for cat toys so I’m making them during my lunch hour.  People who come in while I’m working on them are just amazed which surprises me.  These are simple little things which are easy enough to make.  Yet they all exclaim over them – go figure.

I’ve got time off coming up – starting the 23rd.  I can’t wait.  Vicki will be home.  I wish I could get Virginia and Stephanie home as well but it isn’t possible this year.  My plan is to spend time with her and crochet.  I’ll post pictures when I can on what I get done for her.  I have a number of projects which are experimental.  I’m hoping they turn out nicely but we will see.  Plus I’d like to clear out some of the bins she has of yarn in my craft room.

Once she goes home, I’m going back to working on other projects – a skirt, two afghans and a few smaller projects.  I’m also going back to writing after the holidays.  I have several patterns to publish, a novel to edit, and two novels to finish.  After I’m done with those writing projects, I have a non-fiction book I want to work on.  This will take more in depth research and writing but we will see how it turns out.

Christmas is always a difficult time of the year for me.  It stresses me out and annoys me.  Yes, my kids call me Grinch.  This year I feel even more Grinch-like than ever.  Normally I like the lights.  They are bright, shiny, and fun.  This year – I just want to tell all the people who have them out to stop it.  Turn them off and stop wasting money.  I said I was the Grinch.

To be fair, the sun in the morning as I’m driving to work has been annoying me.  I’d prefer the darkness, the cocoon of darkness always feels so much better to me.  It’s like if I can’t see the rest of the world, I’m wrapped in a comfortable blanket of safety.  I guess my morning grump and my holiday grump are showing.

Two Down

by eileentroemel, posted in Crochet and crafting

I started listening to Cast in Peril last night and just wasn’t into it.  I changed over to Immortal in Death and was instantly involved and engaged.  At the same time I worked on two of the gifts I need to get done. 

I managed to get the two gifts done.  Tonight will be starting a new gift.  It was fun to listen to a book and crochet.  I enjoyed the time and it passed quickly.  After I was done crocheting, I lay in the dark listening to the story until I forced myself to stop. 

This is one of the reasons I don’t read at night because when I’m involved in a book I don’t want to put the book down.  However, I was good last night and turned the book off around ten.  If this continues to engage me then I see no problem getting gifts done. 

It was this morning before I realized I hadn’t missed writing last night.  I’m working on a story that I’d lost the two scenes on and thought I’d be antsy about not writing but I wasn’t.  I guess that shows how a good story can distract you.

Asking for Money?

by eileentroemel, posted in Life
If you are calling me to ask for money, you should at the very least have all your information together.  I got a call from a university to make a donation.  I told the person three times I had no funds for donating.  She said they weren’t asking for a donation but a gift.  If it is a gift, I’ll be happy to crochet a few things for you to do what you want with.  Those are the types of gifts I give. 
In addition to not having her information correct, she was very unprofessional.  She said um more than she said anything else.  She asked me three or four times if I was still there.  Yet the conversation was such that she didn’t require a response from me. 
It is early in the semester and I’m trying to be patient with this person, hoping it is her first night of work.  (It was as I called to chat with the people in charge.) At the same time, I’m feeling like she is taking no interest in what I’m saying to her. 
Tips for those who call me to ask for money.  Take an interest, don’t say um more than anything else, and when I say no be aware that I mean it.  

Four More Days

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

I have four work days, one final exam, and a lot to get done this week.  Then I’m on vacation.  I cannot wait. 

It has been a busy hectic weekend.  Our friend came over and we celebrated Christmas with the girls in Georgia via video chat.  It was fun if a bit awkward.  I need to figure out how to put the computer on the tv so we can all see.  It was amazing to be able to share our holiday gift giving with each other even though they are nearly a thousand miles away. 

I spent my weekend working on different things.  Mostly it was busy work.  I did, however, get some submissions done.  I also got my stuff organized for my final exam.  I’m still waiting to see if I get feedback on the journal for the one class.  I’m pretty sure I’ll be getting an A in that class.  I also think I’ll be getting max a B in the other class. 

I have once again been proven wrong about people.  I made a deal with the professor that he would give points back to the class if I proved my point in my formal project.  I worked my ass off and did a great job on it.  I proved my argument and still he isn’t giving any points back.  I am disgusted with him.  I am disappointed in people.  I trusted that he would have integrity and stand by what he said.  Instead, he didn’t.  If I think about it too much – I get exceedingly angry.  The cynic inside of me is saying of course this is just how people are. 

The girls gave me a gift certificate for Amazon.  I bought As Time Goes By – it is my favorite BBC comedy.  It is HILARIOUS.  I don’t care how many times I’ve seen the episodes they always make me laugh.  It was on sale for about half off.  So I snapped it up and am excited that I was able to get it.  There is one movie to go with it and I can’t wait to be able to afford that too.  I’ll keep my eye on it.

It was a good exchange of gifts with everyone.  Our friend was very surprised by the AMAZING quilt Stephanie made her.  It was beautiful and detailed.  It was definitely gorgeous and everyone wanted it.  Virginia also made her matching pillow cases which were incredibly beautiful too.  We tried to steal both from our friend but she wasn’t letting them out of her sight. 

I’m looking forward to my vacation and hope I’ll be able to get a book prepped for publishing on the kindle.  The book is done.  I am very happy with the result.  Initial response from a couple of readers seems to indicate that it should go over well.  I just need to walk through the steps of getting it prepped and published on the kindle.  As usual I have a long list of things to do during my vacation but this is my top priority.  I hope the next four days goes by quickly

Back to Work

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

It’s time to go back to work.  Normally I’m a bit cranky in the morning (okay more than a bit).  This morning though I am feeling pretty darn good.  The weekend was very productive.  I got a lot of stuff done. 

My to do list got a lot of stuff crossed off.  From the crocheting to writing things I wanted done.  They almost all got done.  I have only two things left on my list.  I always have more than is possible to do on my lists so the fact that I got it down to just two left, that is impressive. 

Friday I got a goodie in the mail.  A friend took a trip to England and sent me a dragon and some shells she got from there.  I have to find a home for the dragon.  It is a wonderful piece.  The shells are wonderful.  A bit ago she shared some pictures from one of her trips.  I fell in love with one of them.  She also shared a poem and I thought the two should go together.  She very kindly allowed me to have the picture blown up and place the poem on top of it.  This picture hangs in my office at home.  The shells she sent me were from the place in the picture.  I have to find a special place for them.  They are two tiny perfect specimens and are beautiful. 

All in all, the weekend was a good one.  Lot’s done, goodies from friends, good Mother’s day – I couldn’t ask for a better time.  Something rare has happened – I woke up in a good mood and ready to face my day without having to wake up for hours.  Odd but nice…