Automatic traction control is amazing.
Driving down the middle of the highway, straddling the runway lines, going 45 MPH to avoid spinning out is awesome.
And these guys are fantastic:
The second video was filmed 10 years after the first. Totally wonderful.
Love!
~g
Monday, December 21, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Christmas is so not in the air
I was working on the whole having Christmas spirit thing this year. I'm hoping it's not completely gone, but seriously, a job in retail this time of year kind of zaps one of all Christmas spirit.
I think the real spirit-killer is the parking lots. Why is it that, with a tad of snow and obscure parking stall markings, the general population feels it is acceptable to park willy-nilly, without any sense of maintaining straight lines or proper spacing between vehicles? Also, why do people suddenly feel is it alright to walk down the middle of the lane with their tiny, rambunctious children, ignoring the fact that a car's stopping time is greatly reduced on the slick surface of the snow?
Retail this time of year is not for the faint-hearted. The days are long, the customers stressed, and the sales plans ambitious and difficult to attain. Make sure you are nice to those serving you as you are buying your Christmas presents this year.
I'm learning many lessons about values and treatment of others through this job. I feel sorry for those customers who are harried and ragged and seemingly only at the mall and in our store because of some undesired obligation. I love working with those customers who are relaxed and happy and truly giving. Money can be spent and items can be bought and given, but all that really matters is the spirit in which all of this happens. So endeth the lesson of my retail job.
In other news, my car has a name. The name just came to me one day when I was coaxing my car to find some traction and start moving on the slick slush that followed the blizzard, and since then I have been referring to my car by the same name without thought. I figure the right name came to me at the right time and that I shouldn't argue or question. Henceforth, my forest green 1999 Chrysler LHS shall be known as Roxy.
Roxy's got a lot of weight to her but it doesn't hold her back. She's got amazing get-up-and-go and once she settles in and starts cruising she doesn't want to stop. She's got some attitude to her and will let you know if she's unhappy with something, but if you treat her right she'll do all that you ask of her. She's long and wide and stable and comfortable. She's definitely a Roxy.
I have a few cards left to send and a few small things to pick up sometime in the next week, but the majority of the cards and letters have been sent and two packages mailed off to opposite sides of the country. I am scheduled to close the store on Christmas Eve and open it the day after Christmas, but I get New Years Eve off, as well as a full weekend the first weekend of January. I'm looking forward to a few days off in a row.
I have yet to do the level of research that I typically do when it comes to a large purchase like a camera or a car or, in the case currently pending with me, a new laptop. I was very happy with my Toshiba until it unexpectedly died, but part of me wonders if a Mac might be a smart investment given I primarily use my computer for media. I have never been a fan of the Mac interface, but now that Windows and the Microsoft suite is compatible with Mac I think I need to do a lot more research. I have actually come to somewhat enjoy my lack of a computer, but I know in this day and age, and especially given my ongoing hunt for full-time employment, a computer is less of a luxury and more of a necessity.
I still have some work to do on this blog, which really means I have to get Justin to sit down and take another look at the HTML coding, but the small tweaks and personalizations are coming along.
This post has officially reached the point of rambling, so I think it may be time to wrap it up and say:
Love!
~g
I think the real spirit-killer is the parking lots. Why is it that, with a tad of snow and obscure parking stall markings, the general population feels it is acceptable to park willy-nilly, without any sense of maintaining straight lines or proper spacing between vehicles? Also, why do people suddenly feel is it alright to walk down the middle of the lane with their tiny, rambunctious children, ignoring the fact that a car's stopping time is greatly reduced on the slick surface of the snow?
Retail this time of year is not for the faint-hearted. The days are long, the customers stressed, and the sales plans ambitious and difficult to attain. Make sure you are nice to those serving you as you are buying your Christmas presents this year.
I'm learning many lessons about values and treatment of others through this job. I feel sorry for those customers who are harried and ragged and seemingly only at the mall and in our store because of some undesired obligation. I love working with those customers who are relaxed and happy and truly giving. Money can be spent and items can be bought and given, but all that really matters is the spirit in which all of this happens. So endeth the lesson of my retail job.
In other news, my car has a name. The name just came to me one day when I was coaxing my car to find some traction and start moving on the slick slush that followed the blizzard, and since then I have been referring to my car by the same name without thought. I figure the right name came to me at the right time and that I shouldn't argue or question. Henceforth, my forest green 1999 Chrysler LHS shall be known as Roxy.
Roxy's got a lot of weight to her but it doesn't hold her back. She's got amazing get-up-and-go and once she settles in and starts cruising she doesn't want to stop. She's got some attitude to her and will let you know if she's unhappy with something, but if you treat her right she'll do all that you ask of her. She's long and wide and stable and comfortable. She's definitely a Roxy.
I have a few cards left to send and a few small things to pick up sometime in the next week, but the majority of the cards and letters have been sent and two packages mailed off to opposite sides of the country. I am scheduled to close the store on Christmas Eve and open it the day after Christmas, but I get New Years Eve off, as well as a full weekend the first weekend of January. I'm looking forward to a few days off in a row.
I have yet to do the level of research that I typically do when it comes to a large purchase like a camera or a car or, in the case currently pending with me, a new laptop. I was very happy with my Toshiba until it unexpectedly died, but part of me wonders if a Mac might be a smart investment given I primarily use my computer for media. I have never been a fan of the Mac interface, but now that Windows and the Microsoft suite is compatible with Mac I think I need to do a lot more research. I have actually come to somewhat enjoy my lack of a computer, but I know in this day and age, and especially given my ongoing hunt for full-time employment, a computer is less of a luxury and more of a necessity.
I still have some work to do on this blog, which really means I have to get Justin to sit down and take another look at the HTML coding, but the small tweaks and personalizations are coming along.
This post has officially reached the point of rambling, so I think it may be time to wrap it up and say:
Love!
~g
Friday, December 18, 2009
New look
So, as you can see, things are a bit different around here.
In short, I got bored with my old template. I kept everything simple with the new look, but I like the colors and the subtle designs. And thanks to Justin's help with the HTML coding, my blog actually looks like what I want it to.
I'm sure there will be more to come as I continue to tweak, but for now, enjoy the prettiness.
Love!
~g
In short, I got bored with my old template. I kept everything simple with the new look, but I like the colors and the subtle designs. And thanks to Justin's help with the HTML coding, my blog actually looks like what I want it to.
I'm sure there will be more to come as I continue to tweak, but for now, enjoy the prettiness.
Love!
~g
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Wicked Winter Weather Whips White With Wrath
Whoa. Massive alliteration Batman. Apparently blizzards are good for my vocabulary and word usage.
So, there's a blizzard. Yeah. Just in case you didn't know. :)
At 11pm at night, after only a few hours of heavy snow and wind, there is a drift outside our door that is roughly waist-high on me. I doubt any of us will make it to work tomorrow, although my manager called tonight to ask me to make a full-faith effort to get in tomorrow, but not to risk my life. The snow and wind are supposed to continue well into the day tomorrow, so we'll see how things look in the morning. In the meantime, we have three of the four cars in the driveway, bumper to bumper, and we are all snug and warm in the house.
Winter has arrived. With a grand entrance, if I do say so myself.
In other news, things have been busy for me of late with the job. I have now taken on nearly all aspects of my position and have really settled in. While I am still looking for a permanent position in my field, I am making some money in the meantime and trying not to loose faith in the human race.
For clarification, I have always been a weird person attractor. I don't know what it is, but people seem to feel they can be their strangest and often worst selves to me and around me. I don't think I am overstating the level to which I attract the crazies. Actually, I know I'm not, because when I recount my stories to people who have a similar perspective as I do the stories are typically followed by, "Something like that has never happened to me! Weird!"
Some of my favorites from Chicago were the police officer giving me the bird and the panhandler calling me a bitch for telling him to let go of me and stop hitting me up for money with an obviously fake story about having just come from his mother's funeral and his new mission in life of raising enough money to find the cure to breast cancer.
And now I can add Christopher and Banks stories to my crazy list. This past Sunday I got, in one day:
I finished my Christmas letter today and I have my cards, so be watching your mail in the next few weeks.
That's the latest from my world. It's an exciting life.
Much love!
~g
So, there's a blizzard. Yeah. Just in case you didn't know. :)
At 11pm at night, after only a few hours of heavy snow and wind, there is a drift outside our door that is roughly waist-high on me. I doubt any of us will make it to work tomorrow, although my manager called tonight to ask me to make a full-faith effort to get in tomorrow, but not to risk my life. The snow and wind are supposed to continue well into the day tomorrow, so we'll see how things look in the morning. In the meantime, we have three of the four cars in the driveway, bumper to bumper, and we are all snug and warm in the house.
Winter has arrived. With a grand entrance, if I do say so myself.
In other news, things have been busy for me of late with the job. I have now taken on nearly all aspects of my position and have really settled in. While I am still looking for a permanent position in my field, I am making some money in the meantime and trying not to loose faith in the human race.
For clarification, I have always been a weird person attractor. I don't know what it is, but people seem to feel they can be their strangest and often worst selves to me and around me. I don't think I am overstating the level to which I attract the crazies. Actually, I know I'm not, because when I recount my stories to people who have a similar perspective as I do the stories are typically followed by, "Something like that has never happened to me! Weird!"
Some of my favorites from Chicago were the police officer giving me the bird and the panhandler calling me a bitch for telling him to let go of me and stop hitting me up for money with an obviously fake story about having just come from his mother's funeral and his new mission in life of raising enough money to find the cure to breast cancer.
And now I can add Christopher and Banks stories to my crazy list. This past Sunday I got, in one day:
- Middle-aged sisters screaming at each other about our shitty clothes
- A husband who called his wife fat and lazy after telling me his wife's size
- A woman who's beautiful scarf (which she had bought from C&B 4 years earlier) was ruined when the gas overflowed at the gas station and got on her coat, scarf, pants, shoes, hands, etc. Of course, she knew we wouldn't have the same scarf, but what scarves did we have and what were the fabric compositions because really, just look at her hands, she can't wear just any type of fabric (because the corrosive gasoline, cold weather, and advanced age couldn't have had anything to do with her dry, chapped hands). On a side note, after tying up nearly an hour of my day, she bought a scarf, only to return it, TRIPLE BAGGED, the next day because she got home and her nose was running and she couldn't figure out why until she saw the scarf on the back of the couch and figured out it was the fabric or the dyes. So she triple bagged the scarf, left it in the garage all night, and drove it back to us the next day to return our poison to us because she wasn't going to be responsible for it any longer.
I finished my Christmas letter today and I have my cards, so be watching your mail in the next few weeks.
That's the latest from my world. It's an exciting life.
Much love!
~g
Sunday, November 29, 2009
From behind the register
Black Friday. A day known in the United States for mass consumerism consisting of door-buster deals, fanatical shoppers, elusive products, and general greed and rudeness. A true American tradition that ranks right up there with baseball and Grandma's Apple Pie.
This year I had the rather unfortunate opportunity to experience Black Friday not as a shopper but as an employee of a retail store. As a member of the management team AND the newest employee, I was given the responsibility of opening the store at 6:00 AM CST, which meant arriving at 5:30 to get the registers ready and do some paperwork. There were several women outside the store, waiting for me to put up the gate. As six drew near they started moving in closer, one even going so far as to knock on the window of the store to get my attention.
I ignored them and waited until 6:00 sharp to open the gate. There was no reason they needed to be in the store early and I knew if I didn't get the paperwork done before I opened it wouldn't get completed until much later in the day. I finished everything exactly at six and moved to open the gate.
I had the gate at shoulder height when I stopped to get a better grip so I could push it upward with the needed force to have it open completely when the women waiting in front of the store started ducking under the gate and around me to get in the store. Seriously, a sweater is not worth the haste... and patience is a virtue people.
I rung my first sale only a few minutes after six. It was two women who, I discovered, had been out since 11 pm the previous evening. I was their last stop before they headed home to fall down and not move. I understand wanting to get a deal. I understand trying to be a savvy shopper and taking advantage of sales. I don't understand staying out all night, standing in the freezing cold, competing with other people, and overall being an idiot.
I was alone in the store from 6-8 am. When the schedule was done it was felt that, based on last year, one person would be enough. That ended up being a poor assumption. I was incredibly busy and had lines of disgruntled women upset with me. I wasn't moving fast enough. I was taking too long to fold the clothes. There should be more than one person working ("Are you even aware it is BLACK FRIDAY?!"). I didn't need any information about them to take their money. They have a plan and a schedule and I am messing it up.
All told, in the two hours I worked alone, I think only 2 or 3 people said a civil word to me. When my help came in at eight I was ready to take a break. I only succeeded in trying to stay away from the cash registers for a few hours until the next help arrived and I could take an actual break and get out of the store.
It was an experience I hope to never repeat.
I have a few rules I would like to share with the world regarding Black Friday:
1. It is not worth it.
2.If you choose it is worth it, be nice.
3. You will have to stand in lines.
4. Your schedule will change.
5. You will not get everything you want.
6. Be courteous to the retail employees - they are simply trying to do their job and follow what is typically corporate-determined protocol for processing a transaction.
7. Being mean to the employees will not suddenly make the employees want to help you.
8. Look for ways you can help make things go smoother. Take items off the hangers. Fold items with the price tag clearly visible.
9. Don't get caught up in where you are going and where you have been - focus on where you are.
10. Ask yourself if your mother and grandmother would approve of the way you are acting.
11. It is not worth it.
I highly doubt I will ever go out on Black Friday after this experience. The nicest thing I can do for anyone working in retail on that particular day is stay home.
Love!
~g
This year I had the rather unfortunate opportunity to experience Black Friday not as a shopper but as an employee of a retail store. As a member of the management team AND the newest employee, I was given the responsibility of opening the store at 6:00 AM CST, which meant arriving at 5:30 to get the registers ready and do some paperwork. There were several women outside the store, waiting for me to put up the gate. As six drew near they started moving in closer, one even going so far as to knock on the window of the store to get my attention.
I ignored them and waited until 6:00 sharp to open the gate. There was no reason they needed to be in the store early and I knew if I didn't get the paperwork done before I opened it wouldn't get completed until much later in the day. I finished everything exactly at six and moved to open the gate.
I had the gate at shoulder height when I stopped to get a better grip so I could push it upward with the needed force to have it open completely when the women waiting in front of the store started ducking under the gate and around me to get in the store. Seriously, a sweater is not worth the haste... and patience is a virtue people.
I rung my first sale only a few minutes after six. It was two women who, I discovered, had been out since 11 pm the previous evening. I was their last stop before they headed home to fall down and not move. I understand wanting to get a deal. I understand trying to be a savvy shopper and taking advantage of sales. I don't understand staying out all night, standing in the freezing cold, competing with other people, and overall being an idiot.
I was alone in the store from 6-8 am. When the schedule was done it was felt that, based on last year, one person would be enough. That ended up being a poor assumption. I was incredibly busy and had lines of disgruntled women upset with me. I wasn't moving fast enough. I was taking too long to fold the clothes. There should be more than one person working ("Are you even aware it is BLACK FRIDAY?!"). I didn't need any information about them to take their money. They have a plan and a schedule and I am messing it up.
All told, in the two hours I worked alone, I think only 2 or 3 people said a civil word to me. When my help came in at eight I was ready to take a break. I only succeeded in trying to stay away from the cash registers for a few hours until the next help arrived and I could take an actual break and get out of the store.
It was an experience I hope to never repeat.
I have a few rules I would like to share with the world regarding Black Friday:
1. It is not worth it.
2.If you choose it is worth it, be nice.
3. You will have to stand in lines.
4. Your schedule will change.
5. You will not get everything you want.
6. Be courteous to the retail employees - they are simply trying to do their job and follow what is typically corporate-determined protocol for processing a transaction.
7. Being mean to the employees will not suddenly make the employees want to help you.
8. Look for ways you can help make things go smoother. Take items off the hangers. Fold items with the price tag clearly visible.
9. Don't get caught up in where you are going and where you have been - focus on where you are.
10. Ask yourself if your mother and grandmother would approve of the way you are acting.
11. It is not worth it.
I highly doubt I will ever go out on Black Friday after this experience. The nicest thing I can do for anyone working in retail on that particular day is stay home.
Love!
~g
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Paychecks and Bills
It's amazing how these things seem to go together. Like peanut butter and jelly. Cereal and milk. Naps and rainy days.
I received my first paycheck last Friday. Last Thursday I had my oil changed and my transmission fluid flushed and changed. While necessary maintenance, the oil and transmission fluid changes weren't exactly cheap. So it goes with car ownership.
The job is going well. It's nothing to difficult. I am having a blast getting to know one of my coworkers, Connie. We worked together closing this past Saturday, then went out with her roommate and had some fun away from the store! She's a total sweetie and I am so grateful that I am making new friends.
For the most part I have the job down. I am currently going through my CARE training (Christopher & Banks' selling policy) and have begun to create legacy documents of the things I am learning. I cannot believe that the opening and closing processes are not written down in the form of checklists. More than that, given all the paperwork looks the same, I cannot believe that the order of the paperwork piles is not listed anywhere. Stores like this must have a lot of turnover and I find it a bit ridiculous that the training of new employees is trusted to institutional memory. I have been taking notes throughout my training and have created some documents that will serve as reminders to me and training mechanisms for future employees. Of course, in my insane mind, creating lists and flowcharts is fun. I think it's that whole creative energy thing.
As of yesterday all Christopher and Banks and CJ Banks stores were to be decorated for the holidays. Connie and I did the decorating for our store on Saturday since my manager assigned the decorating to me and I didn't work Sunday or yesterday. It really wasn't difficult to decorate since corporate sent every store a 23-page decorating guide that explained what to put where and how to make it look (yes, the guide was illustrated). All of the decorations in the stores were sent from corporate so every store will look exactly the same. Head to your nearest C&B to see my work!
I am happy to be working and to feel as if I am being productive and doing something with my days, but I'm not really that pleased with my current circumstances. I had thought my discontent was due to the fact that I was not working, but now I have a job and the discontent is still there. I had some very specific ideas about where I would be personally and professionally at this stage in my life and my reality is nothing like my expectations. I do feel a bit happier and at peace since I started working, but I don't really feel that settled or like I am in the right place. I still have that holding-pattern feel rather than a grounded feel. I just wish I knew what I was waiting for.
The weather continues to be crazy. I'm going to be super sad if we don't have a white Christmas but I am starting to wonder if I am going to have to come to terms with a brown Christmas. I am a big fan of distinct seasons. Moreover, I think those seasons should happen at their proper times. Fall and winter aren't cooperating with my desires this year.
I have been horribly negligent of my 101 blog. I know I am long overdue of for updates and will make an effort to get to them soon. The lack of my own computer is definitely part of the reason I am not updating my blogs regularly but I am holding off on replacing my laptop until after the holiday season. I am not fully sure of what type of computer I want and I have noticed that most laptops have been marked up several hundred dollars since I looked at some options this past summer. Go capitalism!
That's about it. I really don't feel like I have much to report these days. I will, however, try to be a bit more consistent with updating my blogs, even if it is only to say there's nothing to say.
Love!
~g
I received my first paycheck last Friday. Last Thursday I had my oil changed and my transmission fluid flushed and changed. While necessary maintenance, the oil and transmission fluid changes weren't exactly cheap. So it goes with car ownership.
The job is going well. It's nothing to difficult. I am having a blast getting to know one of my coworkers, Connie. We worked together closing this past Saturday, then went out with her roommate and had some fun away from the store! She's a total sweetie and I am so grateful that I am making new friends.
For the most part I have the job down. I am currently going through my CARE training (Christopher & Banks' selling policy) and have begun to create legacy documents of the things I am learning. I cannot believe that the opening and closing processes are not written down in the form of checklists. More than that, given all the paperwork looks the same, I cannot believe that the order of the paperwork piles is not listed anywhere. Stores like this must have a lot of turnover and I find it a bit ridiculous that the training of new employees is trusted to institutional memory. I have been taking notes throughout my training and have created some documents that will serve as reminders to me and training mechanisms for future employees. Of course, in my insane mind, creating lists and flowcharts is fun. I think it's that whole creative energy thing.
As of yesterday all Christopher and Banks and CJ Banks stores were to be decorated for the holidays. Connie and I did the decorating for our store on Saturday since my manager assigned the decorating to me and I didn't work Sunday or yesterday. It really wasn't difficult to decorate since corporate sent every store a 23-page decorating guide that explained what to put where and how to make it look (yes, the guide was illustrated). All of the decorations in the stores were sent from corporate so every store will look exactly the same. Head to your nearest C&B to see my work!
I am happy to be working and to feel as if I am being productive and doing something with my days, but I'm not really that pleased with my current circumstances. I had thought my discontent was due to the fact that I was not working, but now I have a job and the discontent is still there. I had some very specific ideas about where I would be personally and professionally at this stage in my life and my reality is nothing like my expectations. I do feel a bit happier and at peace since I started working, but I don't really feel that settled or like I am in the right place. I still have that holding-pattern feel rather than a grounded feel. I just wish I knew what I was waiting for.
The weather continues to be crazy. I'm going to be super sad if we don't have a white Christmas but I am starting to wonder if I am going to have to come to terms with a brown Christmas. I am a big fan of distinct seasons. Moreover, I think those seasons should happen at their proper times. Fall and winter aren't cooperating with my desires this year.
I have been horribly negligent of my 101 blog. I know I am long overdue of for updates and will make an effort to get to them soon. The lack of my own computer is definitely part of the reason I am not updating my blogs regularly but I am holding off on replacing my laptop until after the holiday season. I am not fully sure of what type of computer I want and I have noticed that most laptops have been marked up several hundred dollars since I looked at some options this past summer. Go capitalism!
That's about it. I really don't feel like I have much to report these days. I will, however, try to be a bit more consistent with updating my blogs, even if it is only to say there's nothing to say.
Love!
~g
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Customer Care
The job is going well. The most difficult thing is the standing for a full shift, but I picked up some good shoes that will hopefully help with the foot and leg pain. Until I get used to it, though, I'll be popping the Ibuprofen with some regularity.
I figured out the register on my first day, returns and nonmerchandise items on my second. The only thing I still need to figure out is the order of the closing paperwork. There's about 20 different printouts and they all have to be in a specific order. I get the daily math stuff, although I'm a bit slow at it and double check myself a lot. Once I get the formulas and locations of the proper numbers memorized the math won't be a problem.
I have met most of the staff and think I will get along fine with all of them. Some of them will simply be coworkers, but there's at least one whom I think I will be friends with. Overall the job is nothing too difficult and I am doing well at it. Yayy for gainful employment!
It seems like I should have more to say about it, but I really don't. There's a whole bunch of specifics about the store and the job, but those are boring. Basically, it's everything that is handed down from the corporate office in an effort to make every store uniform. There's a certain way to hang and fold the clothes, to where the racks are placed in the store, to what clothes are grouped together (color stories), etc. At the store level we get color "how to" sheets for everything, and it's our job to make our store look like the pictures. We do have some creative discretion when it comes to layering and displays and such, but it all has to be from the same color story. On Sunday I learned, via color pictures, 23 different ways to tie a scarf. An hour later I had a lady who liked a scarf but didn't know how to wear it. I could help her!
I had yesterday and today off. Tomorrow I go back for a 6 day stretch that includes the largest promotion event the company offers. It should be a fun time.
In other news, our washer seems to be broken. We have a laundromat in town, but we also have two homes of close relatives between 2 and 7 miles from us, and they won't charge a dollar to wash and a dollar to dry per load. It will be at least a week before we can get a service call, so laundry is going to be fun for awhile.
November seems to be giving us the weather we should have had in October. Things are seriously messed up in the weather department. I'm not complaining overly much since it means I don't have to scrape my windows when I get off at 9 pm, but I will not be happy if December and Christmas are brown. That would just be wrong.
Since I don't have a computer I am now spending significantly less time online. I only get on the computer about twice a day now. I guess this change in my computer habits is good for me, but I am grateful that I something like a job to fill my hours now. I'll probably seriously start looking for a replacement to my laptop after the holidays. By then I should have some money in the bank and things won't be marked up for additional profit.
That's about all that's going on in my life. Pretty boring, but at least I'm being productive again.
Love!
~gk
I figured out the register on my first day, returns and nonmerchandise items on my second. The only thing I still need to figure out is the order of the closing paperwork. There's about 20 different printouts and they all have to be in a specific order. I get the daily math stuff, although I'm a bit slow at it and double check myself a lot. Once I get the formulas and locations of the proper numbers memorized the math won't be a problem.
I have met most of the staff and think I will get along fine with all of them. Some of them will simply be coworkers, but there's at least one whom I think I will be friends with. Overall the job is nothing too difficult and I am doing well at it. Yayy for gainful employment!
It seems like I should have more to say about it, but I really don't. There's a whole bunch of specifics about the store and the job, but those are boring. Basically, it's everything that is handed down from the corporate office in an effort to make every store uniform. There's a certain way to hang and fold the clothes, to where the racks are placed in the store, to what clothes are grouped together (color stories), etc. At the store level we get color "how to" sheets for everything, and it's our job to make our store look like the pictures. We do have some creative discretion when it comes to layering and displays and such, but it all has to be from the same color story. On Sunday I learned, via color pictures, 23 different ways to tie a scarf. An hour later I had a lady who liked a scarf but didn't know how to wear it. I could help her!
I had yesterday and today off. Tomorrow I go back for a 6 day stretch that includes the largest promotion event the company offers. It should be a fun time.
In other news, our washer seems to be broken. We have a laundromat in town, but we also have two homes of close relatives between 2 and 7 miles from us, and they won't charge a dollar to wash and a dollar to dry per load. It will be at least a week before we can get a service call, so laundry is going to be fun for awhile.
November seems to be giving us the weather we should have had in October. Things are seriously messed up in the weather department. I'm not complaining overly much since it means I don't have to scrape my windows when I get off at 9 pm, but I will not be happy if December and Christmas are brown. That would just be wrong.
Since I don't have a computer I am now spending significantly less time online. I only get on the computer about twice a day now. I guess this change in my computer habits is good for me, but I am grateful that I something like a job to fill my hours now. I'll probably seriously start looking for a replacement to my laptop after the holidays. By then I should have some money in the bank and things won't be marked up for additional profit.
That's about all that's going on in my life. Pretty boring, but at least I'm being productive again.
Love!
~gk
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Job alert!
I have a job!
I am the new Assistant Manager for a local women's clothing store. I am viewing my position as temporary but expect to be at the store throughout the winter at the very least.
I have a sneaking suspicion this job will either make me love or hate humanity. What I really hope is that it will teach me to find the good in everyone.
On a more practical note, this job will be a good place for me to work on my conversation skills, practice the theoretical management stuff I have in my head courtesy of my graduate work, and overall be a good place for me to get my feet wet without an insane amount of pressure.
So yeah. That's about all that has happened in my life since my last post.
Wait, that's not true. My laptop died. It's totally dead. No more. Gone from me forever. Sadness.
But hold on there just one minute! I have a new job and an upcoming steady income. I should be able to replace my laptop in a few months. Until then, I can use Justin and Carrie's computer to access the internet. Funny how that all worked out.
Now I think that's all. I am a thoroughly unexciting person.
Love!
~g
I am the new Assistant Manager for a local women's clothing store. I am viewing my position as temporary but expect to be at the store throughout the winter at the very least.
I have a sneaking suspicion this job will either make me love or hate humanity. What I really hope is that it will teach me to find the good in everyone.
On a more practical note, this job will be a good place for me to work on my conversation skills, practice the theoretical management stuff I have in my head courtesy of my graduate work, and overall be a good place for me to get my feet wet without an insane amount of pressure.
So yeah. That's about all that has happened in my life since my last post.
Wait, that's not true. My laptop died. It's totally dead. No more. Gone from me forever. Sadness.
But hold on there just one minute! I have a new job and an upcoming steady income. I should be able to replace my laptop in a few months. Until then, I can use Justin and Carrie's computer to access the internet. Funny how that all worked out.
Now I think that's all. I am a thoroughly unexciting person.
Love!
~g
Friday, October 16, 2009
Creative impulses
Lately I have been feeling the need to be creative and expressive. I think it's the lack of a job and therefore lack of outlet for these impulses.
While I was in Hobby Lobby dropping off an application earlier this week I picked up an inexpensive drawing pad with heavy-weight paper and some colored pencils. My method of outlet has been to turn to a random page in my new sketch book and do whatever I feel like doing on it. Some of the stuff is kind of silly and/or strange and at first I felt embarrassed, but then I decided it's my darn sketch book and I can do whatever I want with it.
Pretty much anything that involves color looks like a 5-year-old drew it. Some of my pencil sketches are actually alright. I'm much better at abstract or geometrical things than I am at trying to portray an actual item or creature. Marshall and Justin most definitely got the artistic talent in the family. Still, it's fun for me and a way to channel some energy.
This week I applied for jobs at Bed Bath & Beyond, Hobby Lobby, Walden Books, Christopher & Banks, and Pet Smart. All are obviously not super long-term options for me, but it would a paycheck and something to do. BB&B and Christopher & Banks are the most promising. We'll see if anything comes of it.
Everything went well with my car. Along with the radiator flush and fill they adjusted the headlights (per my request. Apparently it was a good request as the headlights were horribly positioned.) and did an overall inspection of the car since it's new to both them and me. The only thing that came up with the inspection was the need for a transmission flush and fill, but that will come in about 1000 miles when the oil is done.
The high school football team is still doing well. They lost for the first time last week to a team that is ranked better in the state. I guess it was an absolutely brutal game that included one player getting his leg broken, and although Denver lost they did manage to score on the other team several times. Up until that point in the season the other team had not been scored on at all. Next week is the last regular season game, after which playoffs will start. Denver has already secured a place in the playoffs, so the town is guaranteed to get even more excited about and behind the team. Ahh, small towns and what's considered important.
One of my favorite seasonal websites is back online. There's a guy in Colorado that decorates his house for both Halloween and Christmas and broadcasts his display around the world via several webcams. He has all of the lights and inflatables hooked up to X10 controls so visitors to his website can turn his decorations on and off with a click of the mouse. The website is admittedly gaudy, but that's part of what makes it so good. Make sure to check it out and have some fun!
Marcus, can we look forward to another Christmas album this year?
That's about it for new stuff from me. Love!
~g
While I was in Hobby Lobby dropping off an application earlier this week I picked up an inexpensive drawing pad with heavy-weight paper and some colored pencils. My method of outlet has been to turn to a random page in my new sketch book and do whatever I feel like doing on it. Some of the stuff is kind of silly and/or strange and at first I felt embarrassed, but then I decided it's my darn sketch book and I can do whatever I want with it.
Pretty much anything that involves color looks like a 5-year-old drew it. Some of my pencil sketches are actually alright. I'm much better at abstract or geometrical things than I am at trying to portray an actual item or creature. Marshall and Justin most definitely got the artistic talent in the family. Still, it's fun for me and a way to channel some energy.
This week I applied for jobs at Bed Bath & Beyond, Hobby Lobby, Walden Books, Christopher & Banks, and Pet Smart. All are obviously not super long-term options for me, but it would a paycheck and something to do. BB&B and Christopher & Banks are the most promising. We'll see if anything comes of it.
Everything went well with my car. Along with the radiator flush and fill they adjusted the headlights (per my request. Apparently it was a good request as the headlights were horribly positioned.) and did an overall inspection of the car since it's new to both them and me. The only thing that came up with the inspection was the need for a transmission flush and fill, but that will come in about 1000 miles when the oil is done.
The high school football team is still doing well. They lost for the first time last week to a team that is ranked better in the state. I guess it was an absolutely brutal game that included one player getting his leg broken, and although Denver lost they did manage to score on the other team several times. Up until that point in the season the other team had not been scored on at all. Next week is the last regular season game, after which playoffs will start. Denver has already secured a place in the playoffs, so the town is guaranteed to get even more excited about and behind the team. Ahh, small towns and what's considered important.
One of my favorite seasonal websites is back online. There's a guy in Colorado that decorates his house for both Halloween and Christmas and broadcasts his display around the world via several webcams. He has all of the lights and inflatables hooked up to X10 controls so visitors to his website can turn his decorations on and off with a click of the mouse. The website is admittedly gaudy, but that's part of what makes it so good. Make sure to check it out and have some fun!
Marcus, can we look forward to another Christmas album this year?
That's about it for new stuff from me. Love!
~g
Sunday, October 11, 2009
So ready
We winterized today and are now totally ready should snow decide to fall and stay.
Yesterday my brother's father-in-law woke to a solid layer of snow. Somehow that snow missed us here in Northern Iowa, but made it to Southern Iowa and created a perfect blanket. Weather patterns are odd things. Not to be outdone, today I awoke to a perfect layer of leaves in our front yard area. It seems overnight the main tree that borders our driveway decided to drop well over half of its leaves. The front yard, half of the driveway, and half of the street were coated. It was actually rather impressive... see:
That's a lot of foliage. I mean, a lot. Notice how all of the yards around us are devoid of leaves. That is not because those homeowners are all on the ball, it's just that we happen to have a tree with tons of foliage that decided to strip overnight.
I have never been a fan of yard work. I don't really care for gardening (although getting vegetables out of my own garden this year was a lot of fun), I can't stand weeding, and I'm more than happy to let the grass grow tall and pretend I live on the prairie just like Laura Ingalls. I do, however, thoroughly enjoy raking up leaves and cleaning up the yard for winter. I also enjoy shoveling snow. I'm a strange one.
My life of late has been fairly inactive and sedentary, so when I saw all the leaves this morning I was rather excited to get out and take care of them. I waited until about 1 p.m. so it would be a tad warmer, then dressed myself in layers and went out to get my rake on. It took me about 45 minutes to make several giant piles out of everything. When no more piles could be created I headed into the house to break open a can of tuna for a stray kitten that I had scared away from its hiding place in our front yard and to yell for mom to come out and help me take care of the leaves. I figured we would be putting the leaves in bags or into our small trailer to take to the landfill. Either way, the job would be easier with two people.
When Mom came out she informed me that the leaves are her winter mulch for all of the flower beds that line the house and the garage. While I went about the task of scattering the piles of leaves six inches thick over the beds, Mom cut back and generally cleaned up everything and then began mowing, with the grass clippings going down on top of the leaves in the beds. That is some well-mulched dirt!
About the time I finished getting the leaf piles taken care of (I even got the stuff off the street since it would blow back at our house and yard anyway) Justin came out to help. He and I worked together to clean out the gutters, check the heat tape on the roof (some is still working great, some it not working...boo!), and cut back the honeysuckle and other trees and vine plants around the perimeters of our yard. We filled our trailer to brimming three separate times. Grandpa Mabon was kind enough to come up with his truck and be our runner with the trailer. He took everything to the local landfill and disposed of it for us, then came back for more. When he dropped the trailer off for the last time we were able to fit all remaining branches in the bed of his truck, which he dropped off at the landfill on his way home. He was a great help in making sure everything got taken care of today!
The last step was to cover the air conditioner for the winter and move the snow shovels to the front of the garage. The weather is calling for snow showers tonight and tomorrow, but we'll see how much of that actually happens. We'll probably have to clean out the gutters one more time and we may replace the heat tape that is not working, but that's for the next clear, somewhat decent day!
When everything was finished it amounted to exactly 5 hours of work for me. It was really nice to be outside and active and productive and I am the happy type of tired tonight. I feel good that something that needed to get done did get done and that we were able to take care of so much. And I am also incredibly happy we were on the ball this year with outdoor winterizing! A lot of times it's early November before we take care of the gutters and leaves and then it's a miserably cold job. Today was not the warmest day (we worked in high 30s) but while we were out the weather didn't seem too bad. I only started to feel cold after we came in and I realized how red my legs and arms and hands were, despite having had everything covered properly. A warm shower, hot supper, and several blankets have taken away the chill. I would cite a snugly cat as well, but he's been banned from my room for having the audacity to throw up on my ivory carpet only 6 inches from the open door and easy-to-clean hardwood floor.
This coming week I will, as always, be looking for and applying for jobs, but I am also going to learn about my car and proper fluid maintenance. I have popped the hood and taken a look at everything. I have referred to my owner's manual. I have asked Mom and Justin questions. And I still have a few things I don't know. I have been planning on taking the car into the shop soon since there is a chip in the windshield that I want to make sure is sealed before the frigid temperatures cause it spread, and while it is there I will be asking the mechanics some questions. I think, per Mom's suggestion, I'll also have the antifreeze flushed and refilled since it is on minimum now and I have no clue what kind of antifreeze is currently being used or how long ago it was added. I'm not due for an oil change for another 600 miles or so, but I do not want to wait on that chip in the windshield. Look at me be a responsible automobile owner. :)
As it has gotten colder (especially considering how early it is for cold weather) I have been reminded of how grateful I am for a warm home, plenty of weather-appropriate clothing, and good food. I may not have all that I want right now, but I have more than enough to make me happy.
Tucker's really happy the heat is back on as well. He loves to lay along the register in my room when the heat is running. I am always a bit concerned since I know how hot the register metal gets, but he doesn't seem to mind. I guess all of that fur is good for something. The below was taken before I banned him from my room.
Love!
~g
Yesterday my brother's father-in-law woke to a solid layer of snow. Somehow that snow missed us here in Northern Iowa, but made it to Southern Iowa and created a perfect blanket. Weather patterns are odd things. Not to be outdone, today I awoke to a perfect layer of leaves in our front yard area. It seems overnight the main tree that borders our driveway decided to drop well over half of its leaves. The front yard, half of the driveway, and half of the street were coated. It was actually rather impressive... see:
That's a lot of foliage. I mean, a lot. Notice how all of the yards around us are devoid of leaves. That is not because those homeowners are all on the ball, it's just that we happen to have a tree with tons of foliage that decided to strip overnight.
I have never been a fan of yard work. I don't really care for gardening (although getting vegetables out of my own garden this year was a lot of fun), I can't stand weeding, and I'm more than happy to let the grass grow tall and pretend I live on the prairie just like Laura Ingalls. I do, however, thoroughly enjoy raking up leaves and cleaning up the yard for winter. I also enjoy shoveling snow. I'm a strange one.
My life of late has been fairly inactive and sedentary, so when I saw all the leaves this morning I was rather excited to get out and take care of them. I waited until about 1 p.m. so it would be a tad warmer, then dressed myself in layers and went out to get my rake on. It took me about 45 minutes to make several giant piles out of everything. When no more piles could be created I headed into the house to break open a can of tuna for a stray kitten that I had scared away from its hiding place in our front yard and to yell for mom to come out and help me take care of the leaves. I figured we would be putting the leaves in bags or into our small trailer to take to the landfill. Either way, the job would be easier with two people.
When Mom came out she informed me that the leaves are her winter mulch for all of the flower beds that line the house and the garage. While I went about the task of scattering the piles of leaves six inches thick over the beds, Mom cut back and generally cleaned up everything and then began mowing, with the grass clippings going down on top of the leaves in the beds. That is some well-mulched dirt!
About the time I finished getting the leaf piles taken care of (I even got the stuff off the street since it would blow back at our house and yard anyway) Justin came out to help. He and I worked together to clean out the gutters, check the heat tape on the roof (some is still working great, some it not working...boo!), and cut back the honeysuckle and other trees and vine plants around the perimeters of our yard. We filled our trailer to brimming three separate times. Grandpa Mabon was kind enough to come up with his truck and be our runner with the trailer. He took everything to the local landfill and disposed of it for us, then came back for more. When he dropped the trailer off for the last time we were able to fit all remaining branches in the bed of his truck, which he dropped off at the landfill on his way home. He was a great help in making sure everything got taken care of today!
The last step was to cover the air conditioner for the winter and move the snow shovels to the front of the garage. The weather is calling for snow showers tonight and tomorrow, but we'll see how much of that actually happens. We'll probably have to clean out the gutters one more time and we may replace the heat tape that is not working, but that's for the next clear, somewhat decent day!
When everything was finished it amounted to exactly 5 hours of work for me. It was really nice to be outside and active and productive and I am the happy type of tired tonight. I feel good that something that needed to get done did get done and that we were able to take care of so much. And I am also incredibly happy we were on the ball this year with outdoor winterizing! A lot of times it's early November before we take care of the gutters and leaves and then it's a miserably cold job. Today was not the warmest day (we worked in high 30s) but while we were out the weather didn't seem too bad. I only started to feel cold after we came in and I realized how red my legs and arms and hands were, despite having had everything covered properly. A warm shower, hot supper, and several blankets have taken away the chill. I would cite a snugly cat as well, but he's been banned from my room for having the audacity to throw up on my ivory carpet only 6 inches from the open door and easy-to-clean hardwood floor.
This coming week I will, as always, be looking for and applying for jobs, but I am also going to learn about my car and proper fluid maintenance. I have popped the hood and taken a look at everything. I have referred to my owner's manual. I have asked Mom and Justin questions. And I still have a few things I don't know. I have been planning on taking the car into the shop soon since there is a chip in the windshield that I want to make sure is sealed before the frigid temperatures cause it spread, and while it is there I will be asking the mechanics some questions. I think, per Mom's suggestion, I'll also have the antifreeze flushed and refilled since it is on minimum now and I have no clue what kind of antifreeze is currently being used or how long ago it was added. I'm not due for an oil change for another 600 miles or so, but I do not want to wait on that chip in the windshield. Look at me be a responsible automobile owner. :)
As it has gotten colder (especially considering how early it is for cold weather) I have been reminded of how grateful I am for a warm home, plenty of weather-appropriate clothing, and good food. I may not have all that I want right now, but I have more than enough to make me happy.
Tucker's really happy the heat is back on as well. He loves to lay along the register in my room when the heat is running. I am always a bit concerned since I know how hot the register metal gets, but he doesn't seem to mind. I guess all of that fur is good for something. The below was taken before I banned him from my room.
Love!
~g
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Winter is early this year
We are having our first hard freeze tonight and tomorrow's forecast calls for snow. While we can't really mark this as the beginning of winter I am fairly certain we aren't too far off. Time for me to find my winter coat and boots again. Everything of mine got sent/brought home from Chicago this past year in waves and I am still uncertain as to where some of the items landed.
Justin and I picked the last tomatoes of the season today. The tomato plants are still loaded down with a bunch of green fruits, but the freeze tonight will most definitely kill everything off. It seems like such a waste and yet I didn't know what to do with green tomatoes, if anything. Justin recommended frying them.
I don't have much to report these days. Life is pretty quiet. I spend my days looking for and apply for jobs but as of yet have not had one nibble. It's frustrating and a bit depressing. I knew finding a job, especially in this economy, would not be a cake walk, but I was not prepared for the difficulties I've encountered thus far. I just try to keep reminding myself that the right thing will come along at the right time, and until then I just need to keep looking and applying. I cannot believe I had the chance to get an excellent education without there being some way for me to use it.
Tucker is spending his days, as always, sleeping. He has developed a favorite new nap spot on the love seat in the addition and can be found there beginning most afternoons. He's always enjoyed being covered up while sleeping but until recently only wanted to tuck himself in. I apparently have gotten better at the whole tucking in thing, as he now allows me to cover him several times a day. He's a crazy cat.
And with paragraphs like that I am concerned I am becoming a crazy cat lady. I need a job and a man, stat!
Our little town's football team is performing phenomenally well this season, much to everyone's surprise. There is a good chance Denver will make a serious run for a state title. The town is really starting to come alive and get behind the team. Driving around town you'll see cars with the team's record painted on them and signs/words of encouragement. It's a lot of fun to see a community united behind something like this and I hope the team continues to perform well.
That's about it from my little part of the world.
Love!
~g
Justin and I picked the last tomatoes of the season today. The tomato plants are still loaded down with a bunch of green fruits, but the freeze tonight will most definitely kill everything off. It seems like such a waste and yet I didn't know what to do with green tomatoes, if anything. Justin recommended frying them.
I don't have much to report these days. Life is pretty quiet. I spend my days looking for and apply for jobs but as of yet have not had one nibble. It's frustrating and a bit depressing. I knew finding a job, especially in this economy, would not be a cake walk, but I was not prepared for the difficulties I've encountered thus far. I just try to keep reminding myself that the right thing will come along at the right time, and until then I just need to keep looking and applying. I cannot believe I had the chance to get an excellent education without there being some way for me to use it.
Tucker is spending his days, as always, sleeping. He has developed a favorite new nap spot on the love seat in the addition and can be found there beginning most afternoons. He's always enjoyed being covered up while sleeping but until recently only wanted to tuck himself in. I apparently have gotten better at the whole tucking in thing, as he now allows me to cover him several times a day. He's a crazy cat.
And with paragraphs like that I am concerned I am becoming a crazy cat lady. I need a job and a man, stat!
Our little town's football team is performing phenomenally well this season, much to everyone's surprise. There is a good chance Denver will make a serious run for a state title. The town is really starting to come alive and get behind the team. Driving around town you'll see cars with the team's record painted on them and signs/words of encouragement. It's a lot of fun to see a community united behind something like this and I hope the team continues to perform well.
That's about it from my little part of the world.
Love!
~g
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Frosty the Frost Man
You ever think that Jack Frost would have enjoyed the nickname "Frosty"? How come that snowman with the Abraham Lincoln hat got to steal the good nickname?
We are under a frost advisory tonight, which means it was time to go through the tomato plants and pull anything that was even close to being ready. Mom put in the tomato plants a bit later in the season, so the fruit is still coming forth. I pulled TONS of grape tomatoes and about a dozen Roma tomatoes today. Too bad I don't really care for tomatoes.
Whenever I have looked out into the backyard for the past week I have noticed a light green plant in what was my garden space, surrounded by the dark green weeds that invariably took over the minute I ripped out my garden. Given the frost advisory I walked back to check it out today. My garden has been removed for a month, but apparently after I removed everything one lone lettuce plant decided it was its time time grow. Yayy for surprise fresh lettuce!
I cannot believe it will be October in a few days. Where in the world does the time go?!
Love!
~g
We are under a frost advisory tonight, which means it was time to go through the tomato plants and pull anything that was even close to being ready. Mom put in the tomato plants a bit later in the season, so the fruit is still coming forth. I pulled TONS of grape tomatoes and about a dozen Roma tomatoes today. Too bad I don't really care for tomatoes.
Whenever I have looked out into the backyard for the past week I have noticed a light green plant in what was my garden space, surrounded by the dark green weeds that invariably took over the minute I ripped out my garden. Given the frost advisory I walked back to check it out today. My garden has been removed for a month, but apparently after I removed everything one lone lettuce plant decided it was its time time grow. Yayy for surprise fresh lettuce!
I cannot believe it will be October in a few days. Where in the world does the time go?!
Love!
~g
Monday, September 28, 2009
Escapade
So, I get up yesterday morning to a weather forecast of sunshine and 75 degrees. Woot!!
It has been RAINY here for the last week or so. This is so totally not the time of year we want lots of rain, but lots of rain we had. I am a fan of rainy days, but not 7 or 8 consecutive rainy days. Plus, the farmers really need it to be sunny and warm and even a bit windy so the crops will dry and be ready for harvest. Hence, yayy for 75 and sunny!
It was too good of a day to waste but I didn't have a clue as to how I wanted to take advantage. All I knew was we needed to get out of the house and enjoy the sunshine. Mom was feeling as I was, so we got in the car, put all the windows down, and started driving towards the Mississippi.
Eastern Iowa is really quite pretty, filled with hills and bluffs and overall gorgeousness. We ended up Marquette/Prairie du Chien area. We kicked around both towns for a bit but the destination was not really the purpose. Just being out in the day was the point of the drive.
In Prairie du Chien we did spend a good amount of time at a place called The Cannery. This place is, surprise, surprise, an old cannery! The building now houses a whole lot of home decor items on the definite country end of the scale. I love home stores and like to visualize and plan rooms (which, to date, I have not had come to fruition - such is the life of a renter) so places like The Cannery are a lot of fun for me.
The building was stuffed full of things and I don't think it would be possible to really see each and every item even if you spent the whole day wandering. Mom and I were able to spot things that appealed to us and both of us ended up buying an item. Hers is a present for someone, so I'm not telling what she got. I got a bowl. It looks like this. I am already regretting only getting one.
You see, I am a dork. A big dork. Some of my favorite things include dinnerware and glassware. I particularly like bowls. I like bowls that are big enough for a hearty salad or serving of soup, with plenty of room so there is no threat of sloppage or spillage. I have tested my new bowl (soup!) and fully approve of it's design. It's plenty big enough, yet the size of the bottom and the curves make it easy to hold if I feel like curling up in my Lay-Z-Boy while I eat. The bowl has some heft to it yet is still rather light given its size and material. This is not a flimsy bowl but rather something that is sturdy while being easy and enjoyable to use. It is a good bowl.
We headed home in time to make it before it got too dark and as such, we drove into a setting sun most of the way home. I had grabbed my camera right before leaving the house and ended up getting some decent shots of the sun. I also made Mom pull off onto the shoulder somewhere between Elkader and Strawberry Point so I could get some pictures of a building by the side of the road. The best of the best are below. I have got to say, my camera is amazing. All of the photos I took yesterday, minus the building photos, were taken as the car was doing 55-60 down the highway. The pictures still came out amazingly clear.
Overall it was a good day! Now bring on the fall!
Love!
~g
It has been RAINY here for the last week or so. This is so totally not the time of year we want lots of rain, but lots of rain we had. I am a fan of rainy days, but not 7 or 8 consecutive rainy days. Plus, the farmers really need it to be sunny and warm and even a bit windy so the crops will dry and be ready for harvest. Hence, yayy for 75 and sunny!
It was too good of a day to waste but I didn't have a clue as to how I wanted to take advantage. All I knew was we needed to get out of the house and enjoy the sunshine. Mom was feeling as I was, so we got in the car, put all the windows down, and started driving towards the Mississippi.
Eastern Iowa is really quite pretty, filled with hills and bluffs and overall gorgeousness. We ended up Marquette/Prairie du Chien area. We kicked around both towns for a bit but the destination was not really the purpose. Just being out in the day was the point of the drive.
In Prairie du Chien we did spend a good amount of time at a place called The Cannery. This place is, surprise, surprise, an old cannery! The building now houses a whole lot of home decor items on the definite country end of the scale. I love home stores and like to visualize and plan rooms (which, to date, I have not had come to fruition - such is the life of a renter) so places like The Cannery are a lot of fun for me.
The building was stuffed full of things and I don't think it would be possible to really see each and every item even if you spent the whole day wandering. Mom and I were able to spot things that appealed to us and both of us ended up buying an item. Hers is a present for someone, so I'm not telling what she got. I got a bowl. It looks like this. I am already regretting only getting one.
You see, I am a dork. A big dork. Some of my favorite things include dinnerware and glassware. I particularly like bowls. I like bowls that are big enough for a hearty salad or serving of soup, with plenty of room so there is no threat of sloppage or spillage. I have tested my new bowl (soup!) and fully approve of it's design. It's plenty big enough, yet the size of the bottom and the curves make it easy to hold if I feel like curling up in my Lay-Z-Boy while I eat. The bowl has some heft to it yet is still rather light given its size and material. This is not a flimsy bowl but rather something that is sturdy while being easy and enjoyable to use. It is a good bowl.
We headed home in time to make it before it got too dark and as such, we drove into a setting sun most of the way home. I had grabbed my camera right before leaving the house and ended up getting some decent shots of the sun. I also made Mom pull off onto the shoulder somewhere between Elkader and Strawberry Point so I could get some pictures of a building by the side of the road. The best of the best are below. I have got to say, my camera is amazing. All of the photos I took yesterday, minus the building photos, were taken as the car was doing 55-60 down the highway. The pictures still came out amazingly clear.
Overall it was a good day! Now bring on the fall!
Love!
~g
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Silence is golden
I don't know if silence is really golden, but in thinking about what I am going to write in this post certain song lyrics started running through my head, in particular:
"Silence is golden,
I have been broken.
Safe in my own skin,
so nobody wins."
~Garbage, "Silence is Golden"
The first line is really the only part that applies to my current situation, but I figured I would give you the whole chorus for your reading pleasure.
Things have been rather silent on my blog(s) lately. There really has been nothing of import to write about, save for a trip to Nebraska and a visit by Sarah and Norah, both events of which the majority of those who read this blog already know about.
Frankly, I have just been feeling rather subdued and mellow. My life right now is fairly purposeless and uneventful, which my actions and (lack of) voice reflect. Here's to hoping that changes some time in the near future. Until it does, though, things are going to be pretty quiet.
It was wonderful to see everyone recently! I hope those of you who got my pickles are enjoying them. We've certainly had a wonderful time trying all of the KPE bounty.
Love!
~g
"Silence is golden,
I have been broken.
Safe in my own skin,
so nobody wins."
~Garbage, "Silence is Golden"
The first line is really the only part that applies to my current situation, but I figured I would give you the whole chorus for your reading pleasure.
Things have been rather silent on my blog(s) lately. There really has been nothing of import to write about, save for a trip to Nebraska and a visit by Sarah and Norah, both events of which the majority of those who read this blog already know about.
Frankly, I have just been feeling rather subdued and mellow. My life right now is fairly purposeless and uneventful, which my actions and (lack of) voice reflect. Here's to hoping that changes some time in the near future. Until it does, though, things are going to be pretty quiet.
It was wonderful to see everyone recently! I hope those of you who got my pickles are enjoying them. We've certainly had a wonderful time trying all of the KPE bounty.
Love!
~g
Saturday, September 19, 2009
For the record
Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Nighttime liquid medication is an amazing invention.
I have a cold. Justin was getting a cold as well, but thus far seems to be fighting it off. I, on the other hand, woke up Wednesday morning with a nasty sore throat and kept developing symptoms of a hard core head cold over the next 48 hours. Last night I reached the point where fighting the symptoms was more exhausting than just letting go and being sick. So I gave myself permission for sweats and cough drops and, best of all, Tylenol cold medicine.
Tucker is appreciating all the lying around I am doing, and he seems to have a liking for the smell of my cough drops. He may be the only one who likes it when I get sick. Since this is relatively minor sickness, I'm a bit whiny. When it's major sickness I'm quiet and reclusive.
The time with the family last weekend and the first part of this last week was a lot of fun. Marcus and Amy were great hosts, Grandma Kole is a fun bunk mate, and Norah is getting big so quickly! I do have pictures and such and will be posting them at some point.
The purpose of this post was mainly to share the gloriousness that is Tylenol Cold medication and to update everyone's sidebars with a new post. I'm fun like that.
Love!
~g
I have a cold. Justin was getting a cold as well, but thus far seems to be fighting it off. I, on the other hand, woke up Wednesday morning with a nasty sore throat and kept developing symptoms of a hard core head cold over the next 48 hours. Last night I reached the point where fighting the symptoms was more exhausting than just letting go and being sick. So I gave myself permission for sweats and cough drops and, best of all, Tylenol cold medicine.
Tucker is appreciating all the lying around I am doing, and he seems to have a liking for the smell of my cough drops. He may be the only one who likes it when I get sick. Since this is relatively minor sickness, I'm a bit whiny. When it's major sickness I'm quiet and reclusive.
The time with the family last weekend and the first part of this last week was a lot of fun. Marcus and Amy were great hosts, Grandma Kole is a fun bunk mate, and Norah is getting big so quickly! I do have pictures and such and will be posting them at some point.
The purpose of this post was mainly to share the gloriousness that is Tylenol Cold medication and to update everyone's sidebars with a new post. I'm fun like that.
Love!
~g
Saturday, September 5, 2009
About time again
For another blog post, although really, there's not much to report. In the time since my last post:
I applied for a few more jobs.
I received a rejection letter for a job I applied for.
I ripped the garden out completely.
I looked for more jobs to apply for.
I discovered the amazingness that was the show "Firefly", and subsequently, the movie "Serenity".
I spent a day learning to sew a simple dress, start to finish.
I learned I do not have a genetic aptitude for sewing, although I believe I did better than when I was in 7th grade home economics.
I figured out how to use the site Shutterfly.com and fell in love with it.
I tried vegan brownies and reaffirmed my love for the creaminess that is milk and eggs in baked goods.
I worked on more of my 101 goals, including a list of things that make me happy and drinking lots of water.
I succumbed to a wicked caffeine headache when I tried to quit drinking pop cold-turkey.
I decided to try to wean myself off of pop.
I actually emailed friends and family back in a timely manner, versus my usual "I'll get to that later" attitude that inevitably leads to me realizing the email is still in my Inbox and unanswered weeks after I received it.
I irritated an Icing employee when I brought to her attention three different cards of earrings that had either damaged earrings or were missing earrings entirely.
I watched the Broncos get their butts kicked in a nationally televised pre-season game by no other than da' Bears and their new (whiny, childish, and ridiculous) quarterback Cutler.
I developed a really poor sleeping schedule, which led to the purchase of a $3 alarm clock and an occasional desire to use it.
I coordinated with family for the upcoming visit to Nebraska and the exchange of preserved food items that will occur.
That's about it.
Looking forward to seeing some of you very soon!
Love!
~g
I applied for a few more jobs.
I received a rejection letter for a job I applied for.
I ripped the garden out completely.
I looked for more jobs to apply for.
I discovered the amazingness that was the show "Firefly", and subsequently, the movie "Serenity".
I spent a day learning to sew a simple dress, start to finish.
I learned I do not have a genetic aptitude for sewing, although I believe I did better than when I was in 7th grade home economics.
I figured out how to use the site Shutterfly.com and fell in love with it.
I tried vegan brownies and reaffirmed my love for the creaminess that is milk and eggs in baked goods.
I worked on more of my 101 goals, including a list of things that make me happy and drinking lots of water.
I succumbed to a wicked caffeine headache when I tried to quit drinking pop cold-turkey.
I decided to try to wean myself off of pop.
I actually emailed friends and family back in a timely manner, versus my usual "I'll get to that later" attitude that inevitably leads to me realizing the email is still in my Inbox and unanswered weeks after I received it.
I irritated an Icing employee when I brought to her attention three different cards of earrings that had either damaged earrings or were missing earrings entirely.
I watched the Broncos get their butts kicked in a nationally televised pre-season game by no other than da' Bears and their new (whiny, childish, and ridiculous) quarterback Cutler.
I developed a really poor sleeping schedule, which led to the purchase of a $3 alarm clock and an occasional desire to use it.
I coordinated with family for the upcoming visit to Nebraska and the exchange of preserved food items that will occur.
That's about it.
Looking forward to seeing some of you very soon!
Love!
~g
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Oh Democracy
"America isn't easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's going to put up a fight. It's gonna say, "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.""
(The American President)
Boy howdy did I learned this lesson firsthand today. Before I go any further with my story, I need to acknowledge the genius of Aaron Sorkin, who wrote the movie "The American President", including the speech above. He was also the creator and lead writer on the NBC show "The West Wing" for its first 4 seasons. He clearly understands democracy and America and if he were ever to run for office I would support him 100%.
Ok, back to story. I went to a health care town hall meeting in Waverly today that was being conducted by the U.S. House of Representatives Congressman from the 1st District of Iowa (into which my hometown falls). The room was already packed and seats filled when I arrived (40 minutes early) and I ended up standing the entire time in the back and to the side. The Congressman arrived relatively on time, which was shocking to me since I knew he had done another forum in Parkersburg 2 hours earlier.
Before the Congressman arrived, one of his District Directors explained to all of those in attendance how the event would go, greatly detailing how the question and answer segment would take place. Basically, he was reiterating the rules of civility and respect, i.e. don't talk over one another, keep your questions short and concise, don't try to engage the Congressman in debate, give everyone the chance to ask their question and get an answer, and so forth.
The Congressman arrived and began the town hall meeting with a short(ish) Power Point presentation. He was strategically dressed as the common man in khakis and a polo and used his uninterrupted presentation time to give the highlights of the House's health care reform bill, as well as acknowledge a few myths that are floating around. Then he opened it up to questions.
There were two aides roaming the room with microphones, and the District Director was up front serving as the MC. It was his job to keep things moving along and to switch between the sides of the room where the questions were coming from. A few feet from where I was standing was a Waverly police officer, assigned to crowd control and protection duties.
The very first person to be handed the microphone was an older gentleman, probably mid-seventies, who was wearing a Navy veteran cap. The second he opened his mouth it became obvious he was there not to get information, but because he is angry. He is angry with his country and with his government. He is angry with spending and with any system in which the government has a role. He is angry that he feels he has been betrayed by and can no longer trust his government. He is just angry.
His rant lasted perhaps just over one minute, during which time he grew increasingly loud and forceful. I do not remember the exact words he spoke, but do know most of the statements he made were prefaced with, "How the hell..." or "We can't trust the damn government...". He said he believes health care reform will be the straw that breaks the camel's back and that, "the streets will run red with blood before everything is said and done."
It was this final sentiment that caused the room to erupt into cheers and applause, caused the police officer to step forward so everyone had a clear view of him, and caused the reporters present to simultaneously try to take notes and photograph the Congressman's reaction. It was also this final sentiment that caused the Congressman to step forward into the anger.
The Congressman began his response by thanking the man for his naval service. He also thanked him for sharing his beliefs so passionately. The Congressman then began to truly respond, first by expressing his concern at the streets running red with blood comment, and then his concern with the man's anger. He explained his position clearly and the beliefs that led him to his position not just on health care reform, but on the role of government in general. It was quite a display of diplomacy that seemed to be lost not only on the angry man, but on the room in general, because the rest of the meeting went roughly the same way as the first "question". In general, the Congressman did not dodge questions but instead gave diplomatic answers. In some cases, he called out a few people on their "facts", flat out telling at least two people today that they were just plain wrong. I appreciated that from the Congressman. He seemed willing to accept that not everyone would believe as he does, but he was not willing to accept beliefs based on untruths. I figure that is a pretty fair way of looking at things.
For the most part it seemed the attendees at the town hall meeting were not there to gather information and ask questions, but to voice opinions based largely on the incomplete or biased tidbits that could be garnered from Fox News or ideological websites. While I cannot say I was wholly surprised by the general mood of the crowd, I did find myself more saddened than I expected. It was hard to listen to those that got a chance to speak; I felt myself wanting to ask them to reach beyond their comfort zone and to accept that America is in a time of intense, difficult, dramatic change. I wanted to ask everyone there to practice advanced citizenship, rather than the sound-byte repetition I was hearing.
I did not get a chance to ask my questions to the Congressman directly, but I did as the District Director requested and turned in my questions, with my contact information, for someone in the Congressman's office to respond to. That being said, I did talk to the Congressman after the meeting.
I waited around until everyone had left, chatting with the District Director a bit while the Congressman finished a television interview, then stopped the Congressman as he was getting ready to head out the door. I told him I had a very short question that was completely unrelated to health care. He looked a bit wary but encouraged me to continue. I looked him straight in the eyes and asked, "Are you hiring?"
Holy cow was he not expecting that question. While he stuttered a bit I gave a rundown of my education and interests, after which he congratulated me on my degree and told me I could send a resume to his district office. I told him there was no need for me to send it, since I had copies with me. I ended up handing out several copies of my resume to different officials within his administration and will be following up with a few of them very soon.
I talked a bit more with the District Director and then headed home. All in all, not a bad afternoon's work.
I'm totally impressed with myself that I hit up a Congressman for a job. Either I have no tact, or I'm braver than I think. Maybe it's a bit of both.
Love!
~g
(The American President)
Boy howdy did I learned this lesson firsthand today. Before I go any further with my story, I need to acknowledge the genius of Aaron Sorkin, who wrote the movie "The American President", including the speech above. He was also the creator and lead writer on the NBC show "The West Wing" for its first 4 seasons. He clearly understands democracy and America and if he were ever to run for office I would support him 100%.
Ok, back to story. I went to a health care town hall meeting in Waverly today that was being conducted by the U.S. House of Representatives Congressman from the 1st District of Iowa (into which my hometown falls). The room was already packed and seats filled when I arrived (40 minutes early) and I ended up standing the entire time in the back and to the side. The Congressman arrived relatively on time, which was shocking to me since I knew he had done another forum in Parkersburg 2 hours earlier.
Before the Congressman arrived, one of his District Directors explained to all of those in attendance how the event would go, greatly detailing how the question and answer segment would take place. Basically, he was reiterating the rules of civility and respect, i.e. don't talk over one another, keep your questions short and concise, don't try to engage the Congressman in debate, give everyone the chance to ask their question and get an answer, and so forth.
The Congressman arrived and began the town hall meeting with a short(ish) Power Point presentation. He was strategically dressed as the common man in khakis and a polo and used his uninterrupted presentation time to give the highlights of the House's health care reform bill, as well as acknowledge a few myths that are floating around. Then he opened it up to questions.
There were two aides roaming the room with microphones, and the District Director was up front serving as the MC. It was his job to keep things moving along and to switch between the sides of the room where the questions were coming from. A few feet from where I was standing was a Waverly police officer, assigned to crowd control and protection duties.
The very first person to be handed the microphone was an older gentleman, probably mid-seventies, who was wearing a Navy veteran cap. The second he opened his mouth it became obvious he was there not to get information, but because he is angry. He is angry with his country and with his government. He is angry with spending and with any system in which the government has a role. He is angry that he feels he has been betrayed by and can no longer trust his government. He is just angry.
His rant lasted perhaps just over one minute, during which time he grew increasingly loud and forceful. I do not remember the exact words he spoke, but do know most of the statements he made were prefaced with, "How the hell..." or "We can't trust the damn government...". He said he believes health care reform will be the straw that breaks the camel's back and that, "the streets will run red with blood before everything is said and done."
It was this final sentiment that caused the room to erupt into cheers and applause, caused the police officer to step forward so everyone had a clear view of him, and caused the reporters present to simultaneously try to take notes and photograph the Congressman's reaction. It was also this final sentiment that caused the Congressman to step forward into the anger.
The Congressman began his response by thanking the man for his naval service. He also thanked him for sharing his beliefs so passionately. The Congressman then began to truly respond, first by expressing his concern at the streets running red with blood comment, and then his concern with the man's anger. He explained his position clearly and the beliefs that led him to his position not just on health care reform, but on the role of government in general. It was quite a display of diplomacy that seemed to be lost not only on the angry man, but on the room in general, because the rest of the meeting went roughly the same way as the first "question". In general, the Congressman did not dodge questions but instead gave diplomatic answers. In some cases, he called out a few people on their "facts", flat out telling at least two people today that they were just plain wrong. I appreciated that from the Congressman. He seemed willing to accept that not everyone would believe as he does, but he was not willing to accept beliefs based on untruths. I figure that is a pretty fair way of looking at things.
For the most part it seemed the attendees at the town hall meeting were not there to gather information and ask questions, but to voice opinions based largely on the incomplete or biased tidbits that could be garnered from Fox News or ideological websites. While I cannot say I was wholly surprised by the general mood of the crowd, I did find myself more saddened than I expected. It was hard to listen to those that got a chance to speak; I felt myself wanting to ask them to reach beyond their comfort zone and to accept that America is in a time of intense, difficult, dramatic change. I wanted to ask everyone there to practice advanced citizenship, rather than the sound-byte repetition I was hearing.
I did not get a chance to ask my questions to the Congressman directly, but I did as the District Director requested and turned in my questions, with my contact information, for someone in the Congressman's office to respond to. That being said, I did talk to the Congressman after the meeting.
I waited around until everyone had left, chatting with the District Director a bit while the Congressman finished a television interview, then stopped the Congressman as he was getting ready to head out the door. I told him I had a very short question that was completely unrelated to health care. He looked a bit wary but encouraged me to continue. I looked him straight in the eyes and asked, "Are you hiring?"
Holy cow was he not expecting that question. While he stuttered a bit I gave a rundown of my education and interests, after which he congratulated me on my degree and told me I could send a resume to his district office. I told him there was no need for me to send it, since I had copies with me. I ended up handing out several copies of my resume to different officials within his administration and will be following up with a few of them very soon.
I talked a bit more with the District Director and then headed home. All in all, not a bad afternoon's work.
I'm totally impressed with myself that I hit up a Congressman for a job. Either I have no tact, or I'm braver than I think. Maybe it's a bit of both.
Love!
~g
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Melty goodness
I have become a big fan of melts lately.
Due to Justin's new dietary lifestyle choice, as well as simply not taking the time, we have not been as diligent with developing meal plans as we were during the months of June and July. Given this, sandwiches have become a regular fallback for both Carrie and I. But sammies get boring pretty quickly.
Boredom with my food has led me to present it to myself in different fashions. In the end, I'm still eating a sandwich, but they taste so good as melts! I'm mostly doing turkey and provolone melts (dipped in BBQ sauce.. so good!), but I did come up with a not-so-normal melt. Playing around with what we had on hand one day, I developed this for my lunch:
Pizza Melt
2 slices bread
1 slice provolone cheese
Mozzarella cheese
Pepperoni
Butter
Garlic Salt
Italian Seasoning
Pizza or pasta sauce
1. Coat one side of each bread slice with butter
2. Sprinkle garlic salt on buttered sides
3. Stack slices of bread, buttered side together
4. On top of non-buttered side of the top slice of bread place mozzarella, pepperoni, Italian seasoning, and provolone (in that order)
5. Heat non-stick pan to medium/medium high heat
6. Lift top slice of bread, with sandwich fillings, and place in hot pan butter side down.
7. Place remaining slice of bread on top of sandwich, butter side out
8. Cook until bread is browned and cheese is melted
9. Flip sandwich. Cook until bread is browned and cheese is melted
10. Remove from pan and let cool slightly
Heat pizza/pasta sauce in small dish in microwave. Cut sandwich in half. Serve sandwich with sauce for dipping. Enjoy!
I'm sure there's probably already a melt out there like this, but this one is at least my own creation. I think the addition of the garlic salt and Italian seasoning spices everything up and makes the whole thing even more yummy!
Stacking the filling ingredients in the order I listed puts the cheeses against each slice of bread, which helps melt the cheese without having to leave the bread on the heat too long, which, of course, would burn it. Since all we had on hand was shredded mozzarella, putting it on the sandwich first will allow it to melt together before you have to flip the sandwich. Flipping the sandwich when the mozzarella is still loose can create a mess!
I also tried this as a quesadilla and enjoyed it, but I like it better as a melt.
I am cleaning and organizing and getting my room and life back in some semblance of order today. I have somewhat just making do with my room and limited storage space since I moved home, but I have been feeling a little like a short-term visitor (you know, that feeling you get in a hotel when you put your clothes in the dresser or armoire but you know it's temporary and not your own space?). I asked Mom for a dresser, and she kindly emptied one of hers for me to use. Now that I have a space to put my things and a way to really organize my clothes and other possessions I think I will feel much more comfortable and settled.
Once I finish my room I'll spend some time working on some cover letters. Oh, how I love searching for a job.
Yesterday I took my car down to the car wash and got it cleaned up all nice. I then took some pictures, which are posted below. The tree the car was parked under created some interesting shadows, but I think the pictures are still clear enough that you can get a good idea of what my car looks like. I still need name suggestions!
Also, Rochelle, State Farm is awesome! The underwriters found me ANOTHER (I think this makes 3 or 4) discount after I had written my check for the next 6 months of coverage. I'll be getting a refund in the mail about the same time I get my official cards. I'm super happy with any place that continues to look for discounts for their customers even after the customer has paid.
Love!
~g
Due to Justin's new dietary lifestyle choice, as well as simply not taking the time, we have not been as diligent with developing meal plans as we were during the months of June and July. Given this, sandwiches have become a regular fallback for both Carrie and I. But sammies get boring pretty quickly.
Boredom with my food has led me to present it to myself in different fashions. In the end, I'm still eating a sandwich, but they taste so good as melts! I'm mostly doing turkey and provolone melts (dipped in BBQ sauce.. so good!), but I did come up with a not-so-normal melt. Playing around with what we had on hand one day, I developed this for my lunch:
Pizza Melt
2 slices bread
1 slice provolone cheese
Mozzarella cheese
Pepperoni
Butter
Garlic Salt
Italian Seasoning
Pizza or pasta sauce
1. Coat one side of each bread slice with butter
2. Sprinkle garlic salt on buttered sides
3. Stack slices of bread, buttered side together
4. On top of non-buttered side of the top slice of bread place mozzarella, pepperoni, Italian seasoning, and provolone (in that order)
5. Heat non-stick pan to medium/medium high heat
6. Lift top slice of bread, with sandwich fillings, and place in hot pan butter side down.
7. Place remaining slice of bread on top of sandwich, butter side out
8. Cook until bread is browned and cheese is melted
9. Flip sandwich. Cook until bread is browned and cheese is melted
10. Remove from pan and let cool slightly
Heat pizza/pasta sauce in small dish in microwave. Cut sandwich in half. Serve sandwich with sauce for dipping. Enjoy!
I'm sure there's probably already a melt out there like this, but this one is at least my own creation. I think the addition of the garlic salt and Italian seasoning spices everything up and makes the whole thing even more yummy!
Stacking the filling ingredients in the order I listed puts the cheeses against each slice of bread, which helps melt the cheese without having to leave the bread on the heat too long, which, of course, would burn it. Since all we had on hand was shredded mozzarella, putting it on the sandwich first will allow it to melt together before you have to flip the sandwich. Flipping the sandwich when the mozzarella is still loose can create a mess!
I also tried this as a quesadilla and enjoyed it, but I like it better as a melt.
I am cleaning and organizing and getting my room and life back in some semblance of order today. I have somewhat just making do with my room and limited storage space since I moved home, but I have been feeling a little like a short-term visitor (you know, that feeling you get in a hotel when you put your clothes in the dresser or armoire but you know it's temporary and not your own space?). I asked Mom for a dresser, and she kindly emptied one of hers for me to use. Now that I have a space to put my things and a way to really organize my clothes and other possessions I think I will feel much more comfortable and settled.
Once I finish my room I'll spend some time working on some cover letters. Oh, how I love searching for a job.
Yesterday I took my car down to the car wash and got it cleaned up all nice. I then took some pictures, which are posted below. The tree the car was parked under created some interesting shadows, but I think the pictures are still clear enough that you can get a good idea of what my car looks like. I still need name suggestions!
Also, Rochelle, State Farm is awesome! The underwriters found me ANOTHER (I think this makes 3 or 4) discount after I had written my check for the next 6 months of coverage. I'll be getting a refund in the mail about the same time I get my official cards. I'm super happy with any place that continues to look for discounts for their customers even after the customer has paid.
Love!
~g
Friday, August 21, 2009
Yeah, I saw this
So you know how I mentioned Grandpa and I were dodging tornadoes when we went to pick up my car? This was one of them.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
101 project
I am slowly but surely chipping away at my 101 goals that I developed a few months ago. I have completed three goals, am currently working on 24 more, and have altered 10. I consider these numbers not bad for the first 3 months or so of this project.
I have been growing increasingly dissatisfied with the Google website I set up to track my goals and progress. I am a big fan of Google, but their website interface is just a bit too simplistic of what I wanted the site to accomplish. Yesterday I decided to move everything to a blog. A blog will allow visitors to comment and gives me more options in regards to arranging and posting of information and pictures.
Justin sent me to the site where he gets most of his blog templates and, after playing around with a few, I settled on one to at least get the blog started. I spent a good portion of last night and the early morning hours creating a post for each goal, as well as generic posts. I also, with a bit of help from Justin, make (at least in my estimation) a lot of changes to the HTML code of the template itself. I figured out some of that on my own and Justin walked me through the rest. I felt massive proud of myself for making the blog look like I wanted it to and getting everything linked properly via HTML.
I am sure there will be more changes to come, perhaps even a whole new template in the future, but from now on you'll need to go here if you are interested in seeing how I'm doing on my goals!
In other news, pictures of my new car will be coming soon. It has rained darn near constantly since I picked the car up, and I'd like to get it washed and cleaned up before I take its picture. I do need suggestions for names! I know pictures will help but be thinking on names anyway. If you come up with any leave a comment!
I am getting serious about finding a job. I had been hoping to hear from a place out East and called yesterday to get an update on their search. I'm still waiting for them to call me back. :) Oh well. That's the way it goes. I know not take it personally, but it is a bit discouraging.
That's my life to date. I'm getting excited to see some family soon!
Love!
~g
I have been growing increasingly dissatisfied with the Google website I set up to track my goals and progress. I am a big fan of Google, but their website interface is just a bit too simplistic of what I wanted the site to accomplish. Yesterday I decided to move everything to a blog. A blog will allow visitors to comment and gives me more options in regards to arranging and posting of information and pictures.
Justin sent me to the site where he gets most of his blog templates and, after playing around with a few, I settled on one to at least get the blog started. I spent a good portion of last night and the early morning hours creating a post for each goal, as well as generic posts. I also, with a bit of help from Justin, make (at least in my estimation) a lot of changes to the HTML code of the template itself. I figured out some of that on my own and Justin walked me through the rest. I felt massive proud of myself for making the blog look like I wanted it to and getting everything linked properly via HTML.
I am sure there will be more changes to come, perhaps even a whole new template in the future, but from now on you'll need to go here if you are interested in seeing how I'm doing on my goals!
In other news, pictures of my new car will be coming soon. It has rained darn near constantly since I picked the car up, and I'd like to get it washed and cleaned up before I take its picture. I do need suggestions for names! I know pictures will help but be thinking on names anyway. If you come up with any leave a comment!
I am getting serious about finding a job. I had been hoping to hear from a place out East and called yesterday to get an update on their search. I'm still waiting for them to call me back. :) Oh well. That's the way it goes. I know not take it personally, but it is a bit discouraging.
That's my life to date. I'm getting excited to see some family soon!
Love!
~g
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Growing up
I own my first car!
As I have somewhat hinted at in past posts, I have been looking for a car recently. It was just time in my life that I had one, and with Grandma Mabon's help I am able to afford a car now. It will certainly make finding and keeping a job much easier!
I looked for about 2 weeks, did some test drives, did a lot of internet research, and finally decided on a vehicle - a dark green 1999 Chrysler LHS. It has 87,500 miles on it, is in nearly perfect condition, and I was able to get a full service record and talk to the prior owners. It's a luxury sedan, with all-leather interior, all-power, and is overall totally sweet. And the trunk is large enough to stash 5 or 6 bodies. That could come in handy.
This is the car I negotiated the deal on this past Monday, and so Grandpa knew I might be getting a car this week. When he called yesterday to see if I needed him to run me anywhere I said yes. I had him take me to the nearest State Farm agent so I could line up insurance. I worked out with the agents what coverage I would need, and told them to wait for my call. As soon as I wrote the check for the car I called the agent and she activated the insurance. Perhaps I am a worry-wort, but I was not driving that car off the lot without it being fully covered. The actual process of buying the car was easy. The process of getting to the town where the car was is quite another story.
The car was in a town to the Northeast of me, a place called West Union. There is a town about 10 miles to the West of West Union called Hawkeye. My grandma and grandpa grew up in the Hawkeye area, and Grandma's brothers and sister are still there on adjoining farms, two of which are the original family farms. On our way to West Union we stopped at one of the brother's places (not the brother with the corn) to check in and say hello. As we sat talking a large storm front moved through, producing lots of thunder and rain. When the rain slackened we ran back to the truck to keep going to West Union, via Hawkeye.
I checked my phone when we got in the truck and noticed I had missed a call from Mom, so as Grandpa was driving toward Hawkeye I was listening to Mom's message. "Grace, there's a tornado warning for Hawkeye. The storm is supposed to hit there at 3:45. Call me." Hmm.. it's 3:44... I looked out my window as Grandpa's phone started ringing, and as I grabbed it to answer I watched a funnel cloud come down roughly two miles from us.
Holy shit.
We kept driving, getting into the town of Hawkeye itself. As we hit the city limits another funnel formed, this one a little over a mile away. The storm was moving toward West Union, which meant we held tight in Hawkeye for a bit. Grandpa made some calls to the family in the area, some of whom were most likely outside working. After he finished his calls we drove a bit further into Hawkeye and passed the fire station. The doors were wide open and the trucks were missing. There were firefighters standing outside the station, getting reports from spotters on hand-held radios. Grandpa whipped the truck around and pulled into the station to get the scoop from the firemen.
While he was talking to the firemen I got out of the truck so I could see the sky better and I called mom to get the latest radar reading. I don't think I have ever seen a storm move as quickly as those clouds were moving yesterday. Mom informed me that a cell was just finishing passing over Hawkeye and was headed straight for West Union. She also told me that there was another storm cell about 20 miles behind the one that were were currently under that was also headed to Hawkeye and West Union.
We waited at the fire station until the 'all clear' was given for Hawkeye, at which point Gramps was saying "Lets go get you a car!" We got out to the highway that would take us into West Union when I told him I wanted him to stop for a few minutes so the storm had time to pass over West Union and we wouldn't drive into in. From talking to Mom I knew we had a short window of clear skies, but I also felt we had the time to wait out the first cell.
Grandpa stopped on the side of the road for a few minutes and we just sat and watched the sky. When it looked a bit clearer up ahead we continued on, passing a storm spotter every half-mile or so. By simply looking behind we could see the next front coming in really quickly. We made it to the dealership with hardly any time to spare before the rain started again in earnest.
I had called the dealer a few hours earlier to let him know I was coming to get the car, but I think once the storms started he decided I wasn't coming (if I had known how bad it would get I wouldn't have gone). He looked a little surprised when Grandpa and I blew through the doors of the dealership, but he was ready to finalize the transaction.
We got set up and he was entering all the purchase information into the computer when the tornado sirens started blaring. They lasted about 45 seconds before shutting off. The dealer determined the sirens were a false alarm and kept going on the paperwork, taking about 20 minutes to finalize everything. Just like that, I became the owner of a car.
As Grandpa and I waited for the dealer to bring the car around we were looking out the front window of the dealership and watched as a tornado came down a few miles up the road. While watching that, out of the corner of my eye, I caught some movement and turned to see what it was. Not half a mile from where we were standing a tornado was forming from the ground up. Spookiest darn thing I've seen in a long time.
Both tornadoes quickly dissipated and the Western horizon was looking less threatening - white skies versus the rolling black and green above our heads. The minute the car was brought around I was out the door. I barely took the time to shake the dealer's hand and say thanks before jumping in my new car and heading due West. I wanted to get the hell out of Dodge.
I went directly back to State Farm to get my final insurance paperwork and pay for the next 6 months, and then it was straight home. My afternoon and evening had been long enough and I was ready to be in and done!
And that is the story of how I purchased my first car. :)
Pictures to come. I promise!
Love!
~g
As I have somewhat hinted at in past posts, I have been looking for a car recently. It was just time in my life that I had one, and with Grandma Mabon's help I am able to afford a car now. It will certainly make finding and keeping a job much easier!
I looked for about 2 weeks, did some test drives, did a lot of internet research, and finally decided on a vehicle - a dark green 1999 Chrysler LHS. It has 87,500 miles on it, is in nearly perfect condition, and I was able to get a full service record and talk to the prior owners. It's a luxury sedan, with all-leather interior, all-power, and is overall totally sweet. And the trunk is large enough to stash 5 or 6 bodies. That could come in handy.
This is the car I negotiated the deal on this past Monday, and so Grandpa knew I might be getting a car this week. When he called yesterday to see if I needed him to run me anywhere I said yes. I had him take me to the nearest State Farm agent so I could line up insurance. I worked out with the agents what coverage I would need, and told them to wait for my call. As soon as I wrote the check for the car I called the agent and she activated the insurance. Perhaps I am a worry-wort, but I was not driving that car off the lot without it being fully covered. The actual process of buying the car was easy. The process of getting to the town where the car was is quite another story.
The car was in a town to the Northeast of me, a place called West Union. There is a town about 10 miles to the West of West Union called Hawkeye. My grandma and grandpa grew up in the Hawkeye area, and Grandma's brothers and sister are still there on adjoining farms, two of which are the original family farms. On our way to West Union we stopped at one of the brother's places (not the brother with the corn) to check in and say hello. As we sat talking a large storm front moved through, producing lots of thunder and rain. When the rain slackened we ran back to the truck to keep going to West Union, via Hawkeye.
I checked my phone when we got in the truck and noticed I had missed a call from Mom, so as Grandpa was driving toward Hawkeye I was listening to Mom's message. "Grace, there's a tornado warning for Hawkeye. The storm is supposed to hit there at 3:45. Call me." Hmm.. it's 3:44... I looked out my window as Grandpa's phone started ringing, and as I grabbed it to answer I watched a funnel cloud come down roughly two miles from us.
Holy shit.
We kept driving, getting into the town of Hawkeye itself. As we hit the city limits another funnel formed, this one a little over a mile away. The storm was moving toward West Union, which meant we held tight in Hawkeye for a bit. Grandpa made some calls to the family in the area, some of whom were most likely outside working. After he finished his calls we drove a bit further into Hawkeye and passed the fire station. The doors were wide open and the trucks were missing. There were firefighters standing outside the station, getting reports from spotters on hand-held radios. Grandpa whipped the truck around and pulled into the station to get the scoop from the firemen.
While he was talking to the firemen I got out of the truck so I could see the sky better and I called mom to get the latest radar reading. I don't think I have ever seen a storm move as quickly as those clouds were moving yesterday. Mom informed me that a cell was just finishing passing over Hawkeye and was headed straight for West Union. She also told me that there was another storm cell about 20 miles behind the one that were were currently under that was also headed to Hawkeye and West Union.
We waited at the fire station until the 'all clear' was given for Hawkeye, at which point Gramps was saying "Lets go get you a car!" We got out to the highway that would take us into West Union when I told him I wanted him to stop for a few minutes so the storm had time to pass over West Union and we wouldn't drive into in. From talking to Mom I knew we had a short window of clear skies, but I also felt we had the time to wait out the first cell.
Grandpa stopped on the side of the road for a few minutes and we just sat and watched the sky. When it looked a bit clearer up ahead we continued on, passing a storm spotter every half-mile or so. By simply looking behind we could see the next front coming in really quickly. We made it to the dealership with hardly any time to spare before the rain started again in earnest.
I had called the dealer a few hours earlier to let him know I was coming to get the car, but I think once the storms started he decided I wasn't coming (if I had known how bad it would get I wouldn't have gone). He looked a little surprised when Grandpa and I blew through the doors of the dealership, but he was ready to finalize the transaction.
We got set up and he was entering all the purchase information into the computer when the tornado sirens started blaring. They lasted about 45 seconds before shutting off. The dealer determined the sirens were a false alarm and kept going on the paperwork, taking about 20 minutes to finalize everything. Just like that, I became the owner of a car.
As Grandpa and I waited for the dealer to bring the car around we were looking out the front window of the dealership and watched as a tornado came down a few miles up the road. While watching that, out of the corner of my eye, I caught some movement and turned to see what it was. Not half a mile from where we were standing a tornado was forming from the ground up. Spookiest darn thing I've seen in a long time.
Both tornadoes quickly dissipated and the Western horizon was looking less threatening - white skies versus the rolling black and green above our heads. The minute the car was brought around I was out the door. I barely took the time to shake the dealer's hand and say thanks before jumping in my new car and heading due West. I wanted to get the hell out of Dodge.
I went directly back to State Farm to get my final insurance paperwork and pay for the next 6 months, and then it was straight home. My afternoon and evening had been long enough and I was ready to be in and done!
And that is the story of how I purchased my first car. :)
Pictures to come. I promise!
Love!
~g
Monday, August 17, 2009
So much corn!
Grandma Mabon and I picked sweet corn at her brother's farm this morning. We cooked and froze it this afternoon.
Before today, I had never been cut by a corn plant, although I was well aware of how sharp the plant can be. In the process of breaking and removing the shank (the end part that connects the ear to the stalk) on an ear this morning, I got cut very badly on my right index finger. The cut is about half of the width of my finger, and roughly an inch deep. Think of the worst paper cut you have ever had, and multiply it by the a ridiculously large number of your choice. That is what a serious corn cut feels and looks like.
It took about an hour of solid pressure to get the bleeding to stop, during which time Grandma and I looked at a car I am considering buying. No official deal was made today, but the dealer and I did talk pricing. Apparently I am a ballsy negotiator. I was in the room dealing with the guy by myself, but Grandma was outside the door and heard a good portion of the conversation. I told Tony (the dealer) that I am seriously considering the car and that I wanted to talk conditions and pricing. I laid out for him what has to happen before I would even think of giving him a check. He then said that, with my conditions in place, the lowest he could go was $X.
This is the point where I asked him how he arrives at his asking price. I don't think Tony gets asked this much. He stuttered a bit, then told me his prices are based on the expected market value for the car, given its condition, years, and mileage, as well as regional trends in pricing for similar cars.
I told him that method made sense to me. I also told him that I, too, had priced out the car using several different sources, and that the asking price from the two most well-known sources was considerably lower than his price. I mentioned I had looked at the Blue Book value, which was $1000 below his price, as well as Edmunds Market Value calculations. He wanted to know what Edmunds price was. I told him I wasn't going to tell him because it would make him cry (about $2000 lower than his price).
It was at this point he started crunching the numbers, figuring final cost with tax, title, and license. I sat back and let him, because he was giving me a lot of information that I needed, and I didn't have to ask for it. Once he finished he asked me what I thought of the final number. I purposefully hesitated, looking at my own notes and taking some time to see what he would do next. When I took awhile to answer, he changed his question to, "What were you thinking for price?"
I told him that I could afford $X, cash. He said he couldn't go that low. I pointed out it was straight cash - immediate money in his pocket. He thought about it and told me he could sell me the car for $100 more than the offer I had given. I said I could live with that.
When it was all said and done I brought him down nearly $1000. Nothing has been signed for this deal and his mechanics still have some work to do so my questions and concerns are addressed, but overall it was a good day at the dealer's.
Grandma and I left the car place and headed back to Waterloo to her house. We got in and started shucking corn, with Grandpa and Uncle Joel's help, around 2 p.m. We finished all of the corn a little after 4, at which point the work became just Grandma's and mine.
Given my large cut had broken open and started bleeding during the shucking process, Grandma took on the job of cleaning the corn. Then it was my job to cook it and cool it. Grandma cut it off the ears, at which point I packaged it in quart-size freezer bags. We kept up this system the whole night, finally finishing around 9:30 p.m.
We ended up with 60 bags of corn. Grandma kept 20, we sent 20 to my aunt Sherre's house, and 20 came home with me. Grandma's brother still has corn that needs something done with it, but we are not volunteering for that task again!
I am starting to wonder if employment is overrated. Here I am, unemployed, and I'm learning and doing something new practically every week. This week I have learned how to pick and freeze corn and how to navigate a car deal. And this is only Monday!
Love!
~g
Before today, I had never been cut by a corn plant, although I was well aware of how sharp the plant can be. In the process of breaking and removing the shank (the end part that connects the ear to the stalk) on an ear this morning, I got cut very badly on my right index finger. The cut is about half of the width of my finger, and roughly an inch deep. Think of the worst paper cut you have ever had, and multiply it by the a ridiculously large number of your choice. That is what a serious corn cut feels and looks like.
It took about an hour of solid pressure to get the bleeding to stop, during which time Grandma and I looked at a car I am considering buying. No official deal was made today, but the dealer and I did talk pricing. Apparently I am a ballsy negotiator. I was in the room dealing with the guy by myself, but Grandma was outside the door and heard a good portion of the conversation. I told Tony (the dealer) that I am seriously considering the car and that I wanted to talk conditions and pricing. I laid out for him what has to happen before I would even think of giving him a check. He then said that, with my conditions in place, the lowest he could go was $X.
This is the point where I asked him how he arrives at his asking price. I don't think Tony gets asked this much. He stuttered a bit, then told me his prices are based on the expected market value for the car, given its condition, years, and mileage, as well as regional trends in pricing for similar cars.
I told him that method made sense to me. I also told him that I, too, had priced out the car using several different sources, and that the asking price from the two most well-known sources was considerably lower than his price. I mentioned I had looked at the Blue Book value, which was $1000 below his price, as well as Edmunds Market Value calculations. He wanted to know what Edmunds price was. I told him I wasn't going to tell him because it would make him cry (about $2000 lower than his price).
It was at this point he started crunching the numbers, figuring final cost with tax, title, and license. I sat back and let him, because he was giving me a lot of information that I needed, and I didn't have to ask for it. Once he finished he asked me what I thought of the final number. I purposefully hesitated, looking at my own notes and taking some time to see what he would do next. When I took awhile to answer, he changed his question to, "What were you thinking for price?"
I told him that I could afford $X, cash. He said he couldn't go that low. I pointed out it was straight cash - immediate money in his pocket. He thought about it and told me he could sell me the car for $100 more than the offer I had given. I said I could live with that.
When it was all said and done I brought him down nearly $1000. Nothing has been signed for this deal and his mechanics still have some work to do so my questions and concerns are addressed, but overall it was a good day at the dealer's.
Grandma and I left the car place and headed back to Waterloo to her house. We got in and started shucking corn, with Grandpa and Uncle Joel's help, around 2 p.m. We finished all of the corn a little after 4, at which point the work became just Grandma's and mine.
Given my large cut had broken open and started bleeding during the shucking process, Grandma took on the job of cleaning the corn. Then it was my job to cook it and cool it. Grandma cut it off the ears, at which point I packaged it in quart-size freezer bags. We kept up this system the whole night, finally finishing around 9:30 p.m.
We ended up with 60 bags of corn. Grandma kept 20, we sent 20 to my aunt Sherre's house, and 20 came home with me. Grandma's brother still has corn that needs something done with it, but we are not volunteering for that task again!
I am starting to wonder if employment is overrated. Here I am, unemployed, and I'm learning and doing something new practically every week. This week I have learned how to pick and freeze corn and how to navigate a car deal. And this is only Monday!
Love!
~g
Friday, August 7, 2009
Silence
I have not found much to write about in the last week. There was a birthday run to Minnesota to rescue stranded travelers, more canning of pickles with Justin's help, and a massive "Big Bang Theory" marathon (hilarious show - totally check it out!).
Saturday night Mom received a call from Justin letting her know that their flight from Minneapolis into Waterloo was canceled. The earliest flight they could get on was 24 hours later. Being only 3 hours from home, it was decided Mom and I would drive up Sunday morning to the hotel that the airline put them up in and bring them home. We executed the rescue mission flawlessly and are now Justin and Carrie's heroes forever and ever.
Monday Justin went out to check on the garden. I asked him to go ahead and pull any cucumbers that were ready while he was out there, which he was happy to do. He ended up pulling 35, making our total cucumber harvest thus far 125. I still had one package of pickle brine seasoning, so Tuesday Justin and I canned yet more pickles. We got 12 pints and 2 quarts of plain old dill before the brine ran out. I am now done with pickles! I don't care how many more cucumbers come out of the garden. I'm grateful Justin was helping with the pickling, given I seemed to be having an unbelievably stupid day. I managed to burn myself 3 times, including when I put my thumb directly on the hot burner, never once making the connection that it was hot and would burn me. That was a nice immediate blister.
Yesterday I did a lot of laundry. Clothes and sheets and towels and whatever else needed to be done. I also watched the first season of "The Big Bang Theory" online. I've seen clips and an occasional episode every now and again, and decided it was time to actually watch the shows in order. The show is hilarious and I highly recommend checking it out.
Hopefully this coming week I will be hearing about an application I submitted for a job that is ideal. Keep your fingers crossed.
That's about it. Boring life right now!
Love!
~g
Saturday night Mom received a call from Justin letting her know that their flight from Minneapolis into Waterloo was canceled. The earliest flight they could get on was 24 hours later. Being only 3 hours from home, it was decided Mom and I would drive up Sunday morning to the hotel that the airline put them up in and bring them home. We executed the rescue mission flawlessly and are now Justin and Carrie's heroes forever and ever.
Monday Justin went out to check on the garden. I asked him to go ahead and pull any cucumbers that were ready while he was out there, which he was happy to do. He ended up pulling 35, making our total cucumber harvest thus far 125. I still had one package of pickle brine seasoning, so Tuesday Justin and I canned yet more pickles. We got 12 pints and 2 quarts of plain old dill before the brine ran out. I am now done with pickles! I don't care how many more cucumbers come out of the garden. I'm grateful Justin was helping with the pickling, given I seemed to be having an unbelievably stupid day. I managed to burn myself 3 times, including when I put my thumb directly on the hot burner, never once making the connection that it was hot and would burn me. That was a nice immediate blister.
Yesterday I did a lot of laundry. Clothes and sheets and towels and whatever else needed to be done. I also watched the first season of "The Big Bang Theory" online. I've seen clips and an occasional episode every now and again, and decided it was time to actually watch the shows in order. The show is hilarious and I highly recommend checking it out.
Hopefully this coming week I will be hearing about an application I submitted for a job that is ideal. Keep your fingers crossed.
That's about it. Boring life right now!
Love!
~g
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Holy crap, canning!
Anyone passing by my house sometime between 4:20 and 4:30 pm CST today was treated to an incredibly loud, angry, and surprised expletive. I don't know exactly when I yelled, but I know it was sometime in those 10 minutes.
Let me explain. I was being stupid, and my stupidity resulted in the predictable outcome that occurs when one engages in stupid behavior... I got a little hurt and learned the lesson I already knew and yet was not adhering to.
I was filling a jar of pickles with brine and, rather than having the jar setting on a stable surface, I was holding it by the threads over the pan of brine (so as to catch brine spillage as I was pouring it in). I had already filled several jars this way and everything was going fine, but with this particular jar a bit of the just-below-boiling brine splashed onto the hand that was holding the jar. Of course, as is instinctual, my hand jerked and I let go of the jar, which then fell into the pot of just-below-boiling brine. BIG slash of very hot liquid! The splash covered the stove, the wall, the floor, and (big surprise), ME!
Hence the very loud, angry, and surprised expletive.
After that I filled the jars while they were sitting on a flat surface, despite the spillage issue.
Bytheway, I made pickles today. Lots and lots of pickles.
I knew I would get a lot of cucumbers out of the garden today and I'm busy the next few days, so something had to be done with them right away. I wasn't exactly planning on pulling out as many cucumbers as I did this morning. I was thinking I'd get maybe 20 or 30 today, which would have made for an easy day of canning and would have given me a chance to get my feet wet. I have canned before (albeit it has been many years), but never pickles and never by myself. I had hoped to start on the easier side to get comfortable and then do more next week.
I headed out to the garden about 10 am this morning and starting searching for cucumbers. I picked 10, then 20, then 30, then I lost count. It took me quite awhile to go through everything and haul them up to the house. I washed the cucumbers, not even bothering to count them until they were all done and laid out on a towel. At that point I took stock and found out I had picked 60. All laid out they looked something like this:
Well, there went the idea of starting out small. I had been planning on making the brine from scratch, but with the massive amounts of cucumbers and my inexperience with pickling and canning in general, it was at that point I decided a packaged spice mixture would most likely be the best route. I headed over to Waverly to WalMart, thinking I would find what I needed there. I called Dad while on the way to Waverly to confirm a packaged spice mixture would be just as good as putting everything together myself, and then headed into the store. Two complete turns around WalMart later, I still hadn't found what I needed. I stopped an employee to ask where the canning items were and was informed that particular store had not ordered any canning items this year. None. No lids, no rings, no jars, and no spice mixtures.
You've got to be freakin' kidding me!
Ok, go across the street the Farm and Fleet store. They had a canner and jar grabber, which I picked up, but no spice mixtures. Double are you freakin' kidding me?!
Alright. Head to Fareway. A turn around the store and nothing, so I once again approached an employee. He was a kind older gentleman who didn't seem to have a clue what I wanted, but he went to ask someone else and in the process found what I needed. Yayy Fareway for having Mrs. Wages canning mixes! I called Dad again to ask what the difference is between Kosher and regular dill (I know now), but got no answer. I tried standing in the pickle aisle with a package of each spice mix to see what the difference was, but that didn't work too well. I finally just decided to go with the kosher dill, which Dad later confirmed was the right choice.
Back home to start a very long afternoon and evening. I had mostly pint jars to work with which meant short spears and lots of chips. I learned today that 60 cucumbers takes a toll on the hand holding the knife. After cutting about half of the cucumbers I had developed a blister on my finger. Canning battle scars!
Canning is a process regardless, but having only one person to do it makes the whole project even more difficult. I was quite glad when Mom got home and was willing to help me. With two people the process was sped up quite a bit. Despite this, after making it through all of the kosher dill seasoning we still had half of the cucumbers to go. The process in process looked like this:
As I finished the last of the dills Mom ran to Waverly to get more seasoning and to pick up a pizza for supper. We decided that we had more than enough kosher dill pickles so the next batch when Mom got home was bread and butter. With so many jars of pickles we are invariably going to be giving away a lot and therefore wanted to have a variety of pickles available. Some people will like the sharp dills, and some will like the sweeter bread and butter.
By the time the last can was sealed and the dishes all done it was 10:30 pm. I had started the process around 2 pm. All told, 60 cucumbers yielded:
* 29 pints of kosher dill
* 1 quart of kosher dill
* 8 pints of bread and butter
* 5 quarts of bread and butter
(The white stuff on top of the lids is hard water deposits. Nothing we can do about that!)
In the process of canning pickles today I:
* Nearly severely cut myself 5 times (actual number of cuts = 0!)
* Was hit by boiling hot spitting water more times than I can count
* Broke one jar (coincidentally, not the one I dropped. That one came through unscathed)
* Perfected my cucumber slicing technique
As of last check, all but one jar has fully sealed. The one that hasn't sealed is really no surprise... it's not really a canning jar but rather a jelly jar on which lids and rims fit. I'm more than happy with the sealing rate, and the one that is open will give me a chance to test out the final product.
Per Dad's suggestion, I will be using today as one of my 101 goals. It was quite an arduous undertaking and certainly something I have never done before, so "Can pickles from cucumbers grown in my own garden" is a goal I now consider achieved. Woo!!!
There are still lots of cucumbers in the garden, but today was definitely the largest single-time harvest I will get. I am not sure what I will do with the cucumbers to come, but I still have one package of pickle seasoning that I can use. We'll see.
Tomorrow I am helping out with a Habitat volunteer event in the morning and early afternoon, then heading to Davenport with Gramps and Gram to help them set up a show on Friday. This is their last full season with their square dance store (WOOT!) and the work is really too much for two people. They don't need me to help during the actual show, but when the shows are close to home I go to help with unloading and set-up. After we finish setting up on Friday I'll drive home.
Saturday Justin and Carrie get back, and Sunday I turn 25. These will be a crazy few days!
My feet hurt and I am exhausted, so I'm going to bed now.
Love!
~g
P.S. Anyone want some pickles?
Let me explain. I was being stupid, and my stupidity resulted in the predictable outcome that occurs when one engages in stupid behavior... I got a little hurt and learned the lesson I already knew and yet was not adhering to.
I was filling a jar of pickles with brine and, rather than having the jar setting on a stable surface, I was holding it by the threads over the pan of brine (so as to catch brine spillage as I was pouring it in). I had already filled several jars this way and everything was going fine, but with this particular jar a bit of the just-below-boiling brine splashed onto the hand that was holding the jar. Of course, as is instinctual, my hand jerked and I let go of the jar, which then fell into the pot of just-below-boiling brine. BIG slash of very hot liquid! The splash covered the stove, the wall, the floor, and (big surprise), ME!
Hence the very loud, angry, and surprised expletive.
After that I filled the jars while they were sitting on a flat surface, despite the spillage issue.
Bytheway, I made pickles today. Lots and lots of pickles.
I knew I would get a lot of cucumbers out of the garden today and I'm busy the next few days, so something had to be done with them right away. I wasn't exactly planning on pulling out as many cucumbers as I did this morning. I was thinking I'd get maybe 20 or 30 today, which would have made for an easy day of canning and would have given me a chance to get my feet wet. I have canned before (albeit it has been many years), but never pickles and never by myself. I had hoped to start on the easier side to get comfortable and then do more next week.
I headed out to the garden about 10 am this morning and starting searching for cucumbers. I picked 10, then 20, then 30, then I lost count. It took me quite awhile to go through everything and haul them up to the house. I washed the cucumbers, not even bothering to count them until they were all done and laid out on a towel. At that point I took stock and found out I had picked 60. All laid out they looked something like this:
Well, there went the idea of starting out small. I had been planning on making the brine from scratch, but with the massive amounts of cucumbers and my inexperience with pickling and canning in general, it was at that point I decided a packaged spice mixture would most likely be the best route. I headed over to Waverly to WalMart, thinking I would find what I needed there. I called Dad while on the way to Waverly to confirm a packaged spice mixture would be just as good as putting everything together myself, and then headed into the store. Two complete turns around WalMart later, I still hadn't found what I needed. I stopped an employee to ask where the canning items were and was informed that particular store had not ordered any canning items this year. None. No lids, no rings, no jars, and no spice mixtures.
You've got to be freakin' kidding me!
Ok, go across the street the Farm and Fleet store. They had a canner and jar grabber, which I picked up, but no spice mixtures. Double are you freakin' kidding me?!
Alright. Head to Fareway. A turn around the store and nothing, so I once again approached an employee. He was a kind older gentleman who didn't seem to have a clue what I wanted, but he went to ask someone else and in the process found what I needed. Yayy Fareway for having Mrs. Wages canning mixes! I called Dad again to ask what the difference is between Kosher and regular dill (I know now), but got no answer. I tried standing in the pickle aisle with a package of each spice mix to see what the difference was, but that didn't work too well. I finally just decided to go with the kosher dill, which Dad later confirmed was the right choice.
Back home to start a very long afternoon and evening. I had mostly pint jars to work with which meant short spears and lots of chips. I learned today that 60 cucumbers takes a toll on the hand holding the knife. After cutting about half of the cucumbers I had developed a blister on my finger. Canning battle scars!
Canning is a process regardless, but having only one person to do it makes the whole project even more difficult. I was quite glad when Mom got home and was willing to help me. With two people the process was sped up quite a bit. Despite this, after making it through all of the kosher dill seasoning we still had half of the cucumbers to go. The process in process looked like this:
As I finished the last of the dills Mom ran to Waverly to get more seasoning and to pick up a pizza for supper. We decided that we had more than enough kosher dill pickles so the next batch when Mom got home was bread and butter. With so many jars of pickles we are invariably going to be giving away a lot and therefore wanted to have a variety of pickles available. Some people will like the sharp dills, and some will like the sweeter bread and butter.
By the time the last can was sealed and the dishes all done it was 10:30 pm. I had started the process around 2 pm. All told, 60 cucumbers yielded:
* 29 pints of kosher dill
* 1 quart of kosher dill
* 8 pints of bread and butter
* 5 quarts of bread and butter
(The white stuff on top of the lids is hard water deposits. Nothing we can do about that!)
In the process of canning pickles today I:
* Nearly severely cut myself 5 times (actual number of cuts = 0!)
* Was hit by boiling hot spitting water more times than I can count
* Broke one jar (coincidentally, not the one I dropped. That one came through unscathed)
* Perfected my cucumber slicing technique
As of last check, all but one jar has fully sealed. The one that hasn't sealed is really no surprise... it's not really a canning jar but rather a jelly jar on which lids and rims fit. I'm more than happy with the sealing rate, and the one that is open will give me a chance to test out the final product.
Per Dad's suggestion, I will be using today as one of my 101 goals. It was quite an arduous undertaking and certainly something I have never done before, so "Can pickles from cucumbers grown in my own garden" is a goal I now consider achieved. Woo!!!
There are still lots of cucumbers in the garden, but today was definitely the largest single-time harvest I will get. I am not sure what I will do with the cucumbers to come, but I still have one package of pickle seasoning that I can use. We'll see.
Tomorrow I am helping out with a Habitat volunteer event in the morning and early afternoon, then heading to Davenport with Gramps and Gram to help them set up a show on Friday. This is their last full season with their square dance store (WOOT!) and the work is really too much for two people. They don't need me to help during the actual show, but when the shows are close to home I go to help with unloading and set-up. After we finish setting up on Friday I'll drive home.
Saturday Justin and Carrie get back, and Sunday I turn 25. These will be a crazy few days!
My feet hurt and I am exhausted, so I'm going to bed now.
Love!
~g
P.S. Anyone want some pickles?
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Bugging Eyes
I decided to capitalize on this sudden productive mood and therefore spent another day in front of the computer. Today was all about my music files... getting albums in one folder, single songs into another (by artist), a file for Christmas, and a file for Soundtracks. As of tonight's stopping point (my eyes are freaking out and need a rest), I have:
209 Albums
82 Christmas songs (singles... this does not take into account the Christmas albums)
1,442 Singles
5 Soundtracks
57 Singles by unknown artists (figuring these out should be fun!)
All told, about 4,000 files I went through one-by-one and KEPT. This does not take into account the duplicates I deleted, which easily totaled over 1,000, nor does it take into account those files I just no longer wanted. I think I am about 1/2 way through everything, if not a little more, so hopefully I can finish this project tomorrow and then raid Justin's files! Most of my music collection is courtesy of my brothers. I love a family that shares. :)
I've been listening to a lot of different files today, particularly my Christmas collection. I am one of those people that loves Christmas music year-round... the message that is found in practically every song is applicable all year, and the music is just classic and beautiful. I really bring out the Christmas tunes around the first or second week in November, much to the chagrin of most of my past roommates.
I have also been looking up different pickle recipes today (thanks for the link, Cary!) because I am going to have to do something with all of these cucumbers. It would be a real waste for them to rot. I'll probably stop out to Grandma's tomorrow to see what she has for canning items, as well as get her advice. Maybe she and I can work together some day this week to put up pickles. If it works out you all know what you are getting for Christmas presents! I was just planning on dill pickles, but if anyone has suggestions for others, I'm open to it!
On a side note, thank you to those of you who leave comments on my blog. It's always fun and nice to see what people have to say. Plus, it just lets me know that people do read this craziness that I put out there on a semi-regular basis. Welcome, MercyScoop, to the blogging world and thanks for your thoughtful comment! I love it (usually) when I am given something to think on! I have been reading your blog and have found quite a lot that provokes me to think. Thanks for that.
Not much else to report. All is quiet on the home front. Time to remove myself from the computer and give my eyes and head a rest.
Love!
~g
209 Albums
82 Christmas songs (singles... this does not take into account the Christmas albums)
1,442 Singles
5 Soundtracks
57 Singles by unknown artists (figuring these out should be fun!)
All told, about 4,000 files I went through one-by-one and KEPT. This does not take into account the duplicates I deleted, which easily totaled over 1,000, nor does it take into account those files I just no longer wanted. I think I am about 1/2 way through everything, if not a little more, so hopefully I can finish this project tomorrow and then raid Justin's files! Most of my music collection is courtesy of my brothers. I love a family that shares. :)
I've been listening to a lot of different files today, particularly my Christmas collection. I am one of those people that loves Christmas music year-round... the message that is found in practically every song is applicable all year, and the music is just classic and beautiful. I really bring out the Christmas tunes around the first or second week in November, much to the chagrin of most of my past roommates.
I have also been looking up different pickle recipes today (thanks for the link, Cary!) because I am going to have to do something with all of these cucumbers. It would be a real waste for them to rot. I'll probably stop out to Grandma's tomorrow to see what she has for canning items, as well as get her advice. Maybe she and I can work together some day this week to put up pickles. If it works out you all know what you are getting for Christmas presents! I was just planning on dill pickles, but if anyone has suggestions for others, I'm open to it!
On a side note, thank you to those of you who leave comments on my blog. It's always fun and nice to see what people have to say. Plus, it just lets me know that people do read this craziness that I put out there on a semi-regular basis. Welcome, MercyScoop, to the blogging world and thanks for your thoughtful comment! I love it (usually) when I am given something to think on! I have been reading your blog and have found quite a lot that provokes me to think. Thanks for that.
Not much else to report. All is quiet on the home front. Time to remove myself from the computer and give my eyes and head a rest.
Love!
~g
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)