Good Morning World!

It's another bead-related post from yours truly!!! YAY!!! I didn't have anything beady to say yesterday, so I didn't post. I had plenty of OTHER stuff to talk about, but it would bore any beady people to tears, so I skipped my blogging yesterday (but I did THINK about posting something... so I was thinking about you at least!!)

Ok... here's the beady news of the day. I'm going to the glass store tonight! YAY!!! Now that I'm going to try to make beads again, I had to analyze my glass-stock to see what colors I might be lacking in. I have plenty of glass, but there are colors that I tend to use a LOT of, like pale pink and lime green, so I need to go fill in those gaps. No huge shopping trip (because there aren't funds for that), but I need some little basics like bead-release and a few mandrels.

I use the skinniest mandrels when making beads and I tend to bend them up pretty easily with my big beads. When I went to the basement to get supplies together, I couldn't find a lot of usable ones, so I've got to go buy some. I can buy welding-rod and cut it down to size, but I'm on an "immediate" thing and need to just get some that are ready-to-go right now.

I'm planning on making beads on Saturday at the bead store again. I've signed up for torch time and will be there bright and early with my gear ready to make some girly stuff! Hopefully I'll be able to continue the no-shaking trend and have a good day of beadmaking. I haven't been by to pick up the beads I made last week, but according to Gerry (owner of beads by Design) they turned out really nice. YAY!!!

ok... gotta run and do some REAL work.


Coffee Today - Venti 3 pump Cinnamon Dolce Latte - NO WHIP! (but that was accident - guess it was the universe telling me NO MORE WHIPPED CREAM!)

Music today - My playlist called "if I was a radio station" which is WAY too long to list here because it's something like 32 hours worth of music!

So, it looks like I'm a blogger again, huh? I'm not sure why I'm compelled to spill my guts to the internet world, but I think I just need to write every once in a while and this is a good format to do it.

Nothing real beady to say today. I haven't cleaned out my studio from seed-bead mania (more on that in a second), so there were no beads made this weekend.

Seed bead mania - While I was stockpiling beads for my mermaid kits in 2005, I realized that I had almost as many, if not way more seed bead colors than most bead stores. That led to my selling packaged seed beads by the gram on my web-site in addition to the kits I was selling. This was a big venture and I invested more money in it than I probably should have (though I made the money back).

It was VERY time consuming, however and when I took a break from beadmaking, I tried to keep up the seed bead end of things for a little while, but my heart wasn't in it, nor did I have the time, so I closed that portion of my store as well.

The point of this is that when I had stopped making beads a couple of years ago and continued to do the seed bead merchandising, the seed beads took over my studio. So, right now in my studio are BOXES of seed beads and they are all over the place, including in my glass area. In order to make beads again, I have to clear out those seed-beads and get organized. I HATE getting organized, as anyone who knows me well can attest to.

In the past I'd barter with people to come organize for me.... trading classes or beads for cleaning/organizing. Right now I don't have the means to do that since I'm not teaching and I don't have any beads to trade (other than seed beads which I have TONS of), so I'm going to have to get motivated and clean my own studio!!! UGH!!!!

At least I have motivation now... I know I can make beads again. I spent 2 years not knowing if I could or not. I didn't talk about this in my earlier posts, but I had something going 2 years ago that made my hands tremble and shake to the point that I couldn't make even the simplest of beads. It was SO frustrating because they couldn't trace the cause of it. It eventually got a bit better, but at the same time other life events took the forefront, I took a full-time "real job" and beadmaking just became something that I "used" to do.

In the back of my mind I wondered if I could return to beadmaking, if my shaking had subsided enough to try, but I was afraid. I really really didn't want to sit down at the torch and find out that I had lost the ability forever. I had people say "oh, you could make organic beads, things that don't require as much control," but I didn't want to. I wanted to make what I wanted to make... girly, detailed beads. And if I couldn't do that, it was going to be a big disappointment. And I'd had too much disappointment last year. I didn't need something bringing me down, reminding me of my weaknesses when I was fighting so hard to be strong and independant.

So I didn't even try. I hate to say it, because I'd never want my kids to have that attitude, but I didn't want to try something that I wasn't going to be totally successful at. People said "do it because you love it, not because you're perfect at it," but that wasn't working... I WANTED to be perfect or not to do it at all. Thinking of not being able to make beads was depressing, so I didn't think about it at all.

A month or so ago I decided that it was time to try. To at least see if it was a possibility. I'd spent more than 10 years of my life as a beadmaker and I didn't like the idea of just disappearing off the map because of something that wasn't my choice. But I was really afraid of failure. My hands still shake, (not nearly as much though) and I didn't know if I'd be successful or not. I had no idea if I'd be able to make a dot bead, let alone a bead with a lot of embellishment like most of my beads were. I knew I'd have to clean my studio before I tried, so I kept procrastinating.

I finally decided that I'd have to go about it different route. I'd rent studio time through the Southern Flames (local glass bead group) and since I was reserving space and paying for it, it would make me go, the same way that having a trainer at the gym makes me show up. It gives some sort of accountability, no procrastination allowed.

I called and reserved a space and found out that there wasn't torch-time that weekend, but Beads by Design, the beadstore that hosts the torch-time, generously let me use their space for the day and let me try making beads again. YAY!!!!

I tried little beads first... just dots... and I could do it with no problem!!! My dots were as straight as they ever were and even though I was shaking a little, it wasn't really an issue. I moved on and decided to go for it and make a fairy. I got my stringer colors mixed and just went for it! YAY! It worked... no problems!! So then I tried a mermaid... and again, no problems! I was on auto-pilot and was able to do all the same things I used to do.

I didn't try anything huge like one of the mermaid torsos for Splish Splash. Those took SO much time and energy and control, I didn't want to risk it when I'd had such a good day. I can't even begin to tell you (whoever you are) what a big deal it was that I could make beads again! It changed my outlook on life SO much. Not that I was moping around... I definitely haven't had a moping year. BUT I hadn't felt like an artist and this let me see that there was that possibility still out there.

SO, this is what brought me back to my blog. The hopes that I'll be beadmaking again. The accountability of saying it "out loud" with the internet universe listening. I updated my website so that there might be people that looked at this blog and said "so where are the beads??!!" at some point. I'm hoping that saying I'm GOING to make beads will make me clean up my studio and get busy!

I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, I'll just check in and talk about whatever floats my boat and keep everyone informed what coffee I'm drinking and music I'm listening to!

Stay tuned....

Beads Made - Zero
Coffee Today - Venti 3 pump Cinnamon Dolce Latte with Whip (which I really need to give up!)
Music - NOTHING! aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!! I forgot my ipod, so it's way too quiet!

WOW! 2 days in a row??!!!

Maybe I AM blogging again. I've been working on formatting the blog today, so I'm on my way towards it anyways! YAY!!!

A lot of my recent bead-related energy has been directly related to e-mails that I've received from customers/students who were either looking for beads or patterns that they weren't finding on my website OR were asking when I'd be back OR just checking on me. I've put these e-mails into a file on my computer called "fan mail" (which sounds vain and probably is) and when I'm having a down day, I look at those to remind myself that I have (and still can) make things that bring happiness to people... even if just in a little way.

And this brings us to James Taylor...

Mr. Taylor has a song called "That's Why I'm Here" that talks about his doing the same thing (singing Fire and Rain) again and again and again, year after year for people who come to his concerts and "That's Why I'm Here" is his response to this. I totally get it. I'm not an international super-star like James, but at times I felt like I was singing the same song "again and again and again" making my cute-sy girly things, but they DO make people happy (and me too), so maybe "That's Why I'm Here" too.

I think it's "time to make the donuts" again. (I used to refer to this old Dunkin Donuts commercial all the time on days that I didn't really feel like making beads). It might not start because it's something I completely WANT to do right now, but it's something I NEED to do on several levels. I need that positive affirmation that I make something that makes people happy, I need the camaraderie that exists between beaders, I need the ego boost that selling things brings, and there are other positive benefits that come out of it too.

Are you ready for a big teaser???? A certain bracelet which was retired might be making a return... just because it would be an easy way for me to make a "come back." Something I'm used to making and might not have such a challenge conquering. (I guess I'll have to talk more about why I'd have to "conquer" ANYTHING later... but not today.) SO, that might be news to some of you... the return of ___ over ___. But don't tell! It's not a sure thing yet. Just gossip.

The big question now is WHEN can I make beads?? My life is already SO full (as my battered Franklin Planner can attest to) right now. I'm just going to have to find some time to add this element back into my life. I'll keep you posted (excuse the bad pun!) as to how the juggling is going.


Beads Made Today = ZERO
Coffee Consumed Today - Starbucks Cinnamon Dolce Latte (3 pumps with whip)
Music - Sylvie's Long Mellow List (see newly added playlists on the right hand column)

Could it be? Am I ready to blog again? Am I ready to make beads again is the BIGGER question. The title says “the blah blah blah-og of a Beadmaker.” I think that would necessitate my actually BEING a beadmaker to have this blog. Since this was my studio journal, my way to vent about my creative process and keep people up to date on what I was doing in the studio, I abandoned it when I stopped making beads. I wasn’t sure if I’d return to beadmaking, but I didn’t take down the blog. I still get e-mails from people who, who knows how, have found my blog and read the entire thing and want to know “what happened next??!!” (as if my life is so exciting that people would be on the edge of their seats waiting for the next installment.)

I had one friend who told me he read my blog because it was like passing by a car-wreck… he really didn’t want to look, but couldn’t help himself. Thanks a bunch!!!

I have another friend who seems to think that I’m an I Love Lucy episode and that my day to day life would be a great sit-com. I don’t know that I see myself as Lucy, but sometimes I do think I’m sort of like Grace (from Will and Grace) who had some Lucy-esque tendencies, but was a modern girl (and artistic). Maybe people just read for the comedy of errors that I often am. Who knows why, but my silly ramblings seemed to have a following (and apparently, you, if you're reading this had some sort of inclination to read).

So ANYWAYS… here I am again, pondering the idea of blogging and beadmaking.

Am I ready to divulge my every thought to the universe? Hardly. BUT I am sort of ready to talk about my creative process again. I know there were people who really enjoyed reading my day to day ramblings about whatever was going on with me, sometimes bead-related, sometimes just to get new music or coffee ideas.

Without publishing a novel of my past 2 years, let’s just say that my "pseudo-real life" took some REAL LIFE turns and became the forefront for a while. I didn’t really make a choice not to make beads… life made it for me. But, now for various reasons (some of which I might discuss… some of which I won’t), I find myself being pulled back towards beadmaking (and blogging) again.

Since last we spoke, I became a single mom and am now working a full-time REAL job for my family’s business and if that's not enough, I'm in the process of going back to school to get my master's degree. These circumstances will make it very different for me schedule-wise to make beads than it was in the past and I’m not really sure if I can juggle the life I have and want to have, so that will be one of those things to discuss.

If you are reading this and think “cool! I’m going to get to hear all about Sylvie’s new single social life…or the trials and tribulations of being a single mom.” Think again. Though there might be occasional glimpses into real life (including my addiction to starbucks), I’m going to try to keep my blog focused on the creative me. Real life does color the creative process, so I’m not going to pretend that I won’t talk about other stuff from time to time, but I’ll really have to censor myself since this is potentially such a public forum.

There will be times, like there were in the past, when I say something in my blog that makes no sense to anyone but me (or those who know me really well). It will be just to “get it out” and anyone reading this wanting an explanation for my nonsensical sayings will just have to live with that bit curiosity from time to time.

AND if you are reading this and feel a need to correct my grammar… don’t. (and that means you mom!) Even if it drives you completely crazy…don’t do it!!! I never claimed to be grammatically correct and I like over punctuating AND I make up my own words AND I like run-on sentences and fragments… so there! If you leave me comments concerning my writing style, they will be deleted and I will make mean faces at you through the computer (so don’t even think about it!!!)

Ok… so let’s get down to it… Time to make beads again? Time to blog again??? Hopefully. Like I said in February… Stay tuned!


And because I know you're dying to know...today I'm....

Drinking - Chick-fil-A sweet tea w/ 3 lemons
Listening to - My ipod playlist called "Long Mellow List" (I'll add a link to my playlists later) and it's currently playing a James Taylor song.

Testing Testing... 1 2 3.....

Happy Super Wednesday!!!!

(I'm feeling sorry for the other days this week that weren't SUPER like Sunday and Tuesday)

Is it time to return to blogging?

Maybe.

Stay tuned...

Testing Testing... 1 2 3.....

Happy Super Wednesday!!!!

(I'm feeling sorry for the other days this week that weren't SUPER like Sunday and Tuesday)

Is it time to return to blogging?

Maybe.

Stay tuned...

Why is it that when you're ultra ultra busy....you come up with your most creative ideas...ideas you don't have time to develop. Then when you do have the time, you're all bogged down in not being busy and you don't feel creative! Is that irony? Not sure. Wouldn't want to be Alannis Morrisette or anything singing songs about things that are supposed to be ironic when most of them are things that just were bad coincidences. Guess that woulnd't be such a good song...

"isn't it a bad coincidence...don't you think....like rain on your wedding day." That's just not irony, even I know that!

But is the creativity thing? Does it matter if it is or is not? No.

And on a completely different note, I want to know what has happened to Jay who won project runway. I saw a special on him last night, but like life, it didn't really have an ending and i'd like to think he's off somewhere being successful, but the show was all about the struggles of launching his own line, etc. I am rooting for him wherever he is.

I was going to say no coffee today, but then I remembered I DID have Starbucks early a.m....Cinnamon Dolce Latte mmmmmm (but apparently a bit forgettable!)

I guess I'm checking in weekly now rather than daily. Guess it's better than not checking in at all.

I wonder why I am still posting my blog since I'm not really doing posting of pictures very often, if at all, of what i'm making in the studio lately.

What I've been making is mermaid torsos...lots of them. I guess they aren't really a "mermaid torso" until they have fins...they could be just girl torsos too I guess. But I'm making them for the mermaid project and have been trying to get 3 or more made per day. These take such intense concentration that I can't do many more than that. I did do 5 the other day, but by number 5, my hands were shaking I was so tired. It's a little crazy seeing that I can make a whole bunch of regular mermaids per day and they're not all that small. Just one of those hmmmmmm things.

In a quick update for anyone reading this who was worried about my work schedule. My long days are not ALL in the studio. The hours I was talking about include the computer grunt work that I do in the evenings. I am just saying that there are few hours in the day that I'm not doing something that has to do with my business...and that's sad. I've tried, but I get antsy knowing there is stuff that really needs to be done.

Not sure how I am going to be an "empire" of girly-stuff-ness if I have these tendencies. And that's what I want to be. The future Mary Englebreit or something like that with designs based on my glasswork and drawings which have that same feeling. I really loved doing the work I did this fall with the greeting cards. I just don't have time to do everything myself and I don't really know about marketing of such things. For now, my dream is still a dream without a lot behind it.

Ok, I'm off to do work in the office of my father (which is my Wednesday job)...

Starbucks today - Cinnamon Dolce Latte - having it until they discontinue it.
Music - classic rock on the new atlanta station...the river 97.1 (said in my best rock n' roll announcer voice)

Hello world, it's Wednesday.

I have to say after reviewing my earlier happy dance posts that I am TIRED...all that dancing wears a girl out!

No seriously, I'm worn out. Good sales breed tired beadmaker/beadseller/bead enterprise CEO/Bead inventory Foreperson/Bead Website Design Diva and all the other hats I wear. If it wasn't for Marie, I would have collapsed by now.

I am so happy to have a thriving business, but SO SO tired because I've been working constantly since the beginning of January. A couple of nights ago I sat in front of the TV and did absolutely nothing and it felt weird. I'm so used to multi-tasking and almost always working on something that it just felt weird. I've been trying to knit or something else just to keep myself from working 17 hour days, but it's tough.

That sounds horrible, and I truly love what I do. I'm just tired, that's all.

AND my website is pittifully out of date. Must get help with that too I think. I'm going to call someone who might be able to help...just had brain lightbulb thing go off.

starbucks - Venti 3 pump Cinnamon Dulce Latte which is delicious and when they discontinue it (and I know they will since it was a Valentines thing)I'm just going to die a coffe-less death. So until then...Carpe Coffee :)

My last posting sounded pretty ecstatic. It was. The good and bad of that are good...lots of sales, bad lots of tired. So lots of ups and downs since that post. Mostly up, but I'm tired!

I was listening to James Taylor today, though and heard the song "That's why I'm here" and it struck home...mermaids mermaids mermaids. That's why I'm here I think...to make people smile and such with what I do. A nice aha moment for the day.

No big crowds or big bucks like JT, but just an overall happiness with the approval I got from this project.

:)ing

coffee - cinnamon dolce latte which is totally delicious
music - James Taylor

WHOOOPEEEE!

They like me they really like me!!!

(splish splash mermaid is a big success and I'm a happy camper!)

Much more exciting than the Gap selling talls, though that is pretty darn exciting!

off to work,

coffee - no, stomach is sick, so having a coke (and a smile)
music - my playlist on ipod called "if I were a radio station" has TONS of songs with no rhyme or reason that I like. You might hear aerosmith and then carly simon and then beck...you just never know what's going to pop up. very fun

I hate saying "happy dance" again, but it is!

The Gap now sells Talls online!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is huge, (no pun intended) I can buy a t-shirt that's long enough to tuck in!!!!! I love their jeans and their clothes, but had only been able to buy their jeans since they came in long and x-long lengths. Now I can buy shirts and jackets too.

Can you say....BIRTHDAY IDEA?!!!! Yes you can!

Someone tell my husband that I want a jacket! There's a really cute one that comes in black or white and a cute jeans jacket too! Oh my! So many good choices that will actually fit! woo hoo!!!!!

As for beads, which this is supposed to be about. I spent a good part of yesterday beading samples. Will it ever end?! Will I ever be able to MAKE the darn kits?!!

The beads are all here, but I'm trying to get samples and pics done so that I can market the kits. UGH. It's tough being a one-man show!!! Although Marie, the goddess of Beads makes it much less of a one man show than it was before. Three cheers for Marie!!!!!

coffee and tea today.
no music. forgot my headphones. :(

I hate to start the new year with a negative post, but I'm going to. I'm having a really bad day. Today is the anniversary of our fire. All day today I was blue, but I thought it was January 4th. Not that it matters, but when I realized that today was the 5th, I just lost it.

It's not any one thing, just the upheaval and emotion of it all that gets to me. I know it was just stuff and that doesn't really bother me that much. It was the life that had happened in the house that's now gone that bothers me. It's the pets and the kids being sad about the pets and the sentimentality of it all. My kids were crying about it today and they didn't even know it was a day that had anything to do with the date of the fire. They were just in a different part of town than we usually are and said how much they missed where we used to live and maybe we could have a "just like the old days" day. Then my oldest got teary... I started losing it just about then.

So I'm boo hooing all day while I'm trying to be a productive citizen and a "together" Mom. Maybe some day this month I'll be an artist again. I'm just not feeling like it very much right now. :(

And just to say it "out loud" here, I know that my life is better off in this house where we are now and that the fire caused change for the good in a lot of ways. I'm just sort of bogged down in the sadness of it all sometimes.

I feel like I'm spinning my wheels a lot lately in my beadmaking/beading. It's frustrating and I had to vent here.

I have so many balls up in the air right now, that they are bound to all fall on my head and cause a concussion.

coffee - shouldn't have, but did - Mocha
Music - wish I had it, could use it today, but am doing office work sans ipod.

Not necessarily pertinent (sp?) here, but must say that my new favorite thing is My Name is Earl. It cracks me up over and over again. I've been Tivo-ing it so that I can watch it more than once. I have added many Joy-isms to my vocabulary, however I haven't found a way to use "boob glitter" in my every day venacular. LOL


--------
posting number 2 from today.

Am now sure that I am certifiable. Watch out e-bay seed bead sellers, I'm on my way! After visiting a store today who told me "make sure you check out all our seed beads (and they had MAYBE 30 colors...I could be exaggerating, but I think so), I went home and counted mine.....I AM a beadstore times a gazillion! I have 24 columns 10 or more tubs high each...over 250 I'm sure, colors/sizes of seed beads in my very own basement.

So, having thought of this for a while, I went to e-bay tonight and there are only a very few people selling seed beads! wow! I had already decided to add them to my storefront as just an aside for customers who regularly shop with me to pick up a little bit extra of the colors they liked from my kits. Having seen that there is a big void in seed bead land, however, I'm taking my tiny beadies to e-bay! Am in process of photographing the 250 some-odd varieties of japanese seed beads currently residing in my basement and will soon be a bonafide online beadstore! whoa! that's scary!

********happy dance*********

literally!

Dancing (well not this minute because I'm typing) to tunes on our new Bose speakers for ipod!!!!!!!

I had them on my wish list (to the left bottom of this page if you haven't been paying attention) and received them for Christmas from my sister in law. WOW! Was truly surprised, but am now dancing around the house to my groove tunes playlist.

Need to go to the studio and do some work, but want to stay and dance! :)

shake it like a polaroid picture....

off to work (or dance haven't decided which)

hey ya! hey ya!

Sunday of the party weekend. 2 of 3 down, 2 or 3 to go. Wardrobe is extensive for this type of social life! I can't imagine people that do this all year! I don't even have enough fabulous jewelry to wear for 3 parties, let alone 5! It's bad that some of the parties have the same people, so I can't repeat!!!

Have cool cool shoes and that's what matters.

Writing here quickly because I think it's important to keep up with my blog again.

coffee today - mais oui, mocha!
music - lots and lots of Christmas music!

way behind in blogging and in life.

Had a tough month so far, but seem to be returning to normal.

I'm really really hoping that January turns into a much more profitable work month. I've been working so hard designing and making samples that I haven't SOLD anything!! It's the tough part of what I do. If I was a bead maker, pure and simple again, I would just make beads and sell them...voila a business that lasts all the time without starts and stops.

I LOVE doing the seed bead weaving and project designing, though, so I am just going to have to adjust to the ups and downs OR give up that portion of what I do.

So, am done whining and will now return to work. I am so glad to be normal again and wanting to work. It was just a crazy crazy month and I'm glad it's back to some form of sanity.

Coffee today - mais oui! I had a starbucks venti 2%, 2 pump mocha. My drink of choice lately.

No music. Am listening to the Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd on CD (well ipod really), so no music played today.

Off to bead...

Today's post is a rant about Christmas songs...one in particular.

The song that the "we are the world people" did about Christmas...

Do they know it's Christmas-time at all.


Well, here's my view. NO! They don't! They never did. It is not really a holiday that I expect they celebrate, so they don't know it's Christmas and why are you singing those silly lyrics?!!

"There won't be snow in Africa this Christmas time" - well, duh!

So, if it wasn't bad enough that people in the 80s (and I was one of them I guess) thought this song made sense...the Barenaked Ladies have done a remake of it!!! I thought they were witty and intelligent songwriters, but they could have done a better cover...or at least edited the stupid lyrics and put in good ones that made sense.

Every time I hear this song it makes me giggle....They don't know it's Christmas time at all.

(this has been a brief Christmas rant from me)

tea and coffee today - a big caffine day
music - Christmas (could you tell?!)
reading/listening to - The Mermaid Chair
making - small beads
buying- Christmas gifts and shoes for me

still here.

not quite so "funky" today. Coming out of the haze, but still not there. Need to work, but haven't really had the desire to do the work. I think if I had a regular job, it wouldn't be a choice, but this line of work is a bit too accomodating for "feeling in a blue-funkness" and kind of makes it too easy to stay there.

Have been exercising regularly, so that helps, but it also wears me out, so it's a mixed bag.

ok...enough complaining. Kids coming home soon.

watching: Making the Band 3 (I have to admit to this guilty habit here)
eating: too many chocolate chip cookies
drinking: un-sweet tea from Chik fil a
swimming - 1800 yards today!

Blue Funk
Rainy Dark Days
ICK

Getting my hair done tomorrow, so maybe will do something "bright" to help the mood. I don't think I'll do tobasco (sp?) red again...saw those pictures from a few years ago and don't think it was my best look. :)

off to bead (or play solitaire...can't decide)

Another thing...

I read this today written on a forum and it was so poignant and beautifully worded that I wanted to record it here. It is on the subject of bipolar disorder...

snipped from the lampwork etc. forum, a response to the subject of bipolar disorder in an artist...(I've snipped out parts here and there to allow it to make sense in this context)

I am intimately familar with this "problem". I put that in quotations because, ironically, the very fact that some swing low allows them to swing high to places most never see. The low is the payment for the great insights of the high....

However, I just want to add one slightly politically incorrect thing: It might just be that those souls that are blessed/cursed with a free-swinging inner pendulum are the very source of human inspiration and imagination. They pay the price and we stand in the wake of their dynamic experience and say, "Gee, that is really neat! But how sad they..."

More clealy...don't be so quick to process this in the "bad column". You had a life altering experience, you learned, you evolved, and now are better equipped to deal with the inevitabilities of the future. What more can one wish for?

Finally, the emotions are like an ill mannered horse--energetic, uncontrolled, and dynamically beautiful. There is no need to tie the horse down though...only to attach a tiny strap to her snout and lead her in the right direction.

I just thought this was a wonderful way to look at things.

Rainy days and mondays (fill in the rest)

I did make beads today...7 focal beads which was a BIG day for me lately.

I need to get my samples finished, but I think that's do-able in the next 2 days. Could be unrealistic, but I really really really need to.

Bummer du jour - my planet smoothie is closing. sniff sniff. good bye shagadelic smoothies after workouts. (maybe it's a good thing, I don't seem to be losing weight lately and maybe this is the reason!)

swimming 2x a week now...whoo hoo.

making darn good mochas on my own espresso maker, so Starbucks is sort of out of business here. LOL

music today - groove tunes playlist and also "chick flick songs" playlist

Happy Thanksgiving!


food consumed - just enough
cakes baked - one yummy banana chocolate chip one
coffee - home made mocha
music - Christmas :)

Happy Day before Thanksgiving!!!

I worked out extra hard this week preparing for the holiday...not really, but we'll pretend that my workouts had those sort of good intentions. I am just trying to keep a regular workout schedule. I'm swimming again because I think that was the main form of exercise that kept my metabolism at a point where I could eat more of what I wanted without worrying so much about gaining weight.

Ok...that had absolutely nothing to do with my studio work. I am trying to keep my blog on-subject, but I guess it's harder than I thought it would be.

Studio-wise, I've been making samples of mermaids. It's been several weeks of me saying that now, but it's true! I had to make the beads to be the torsos of the sample mermaids...choose the colors for the samples/kits which takes the longest because it's lots of beading and tearing out and re-beading until I find colors I like.

I now have 4 out of ___ samples made. One is Sylvie colors, one dark purples and greens and burgandies (a deeper Sylvie-colors), one vivid florida brights, one hot hot hot Rio reds and pinks. I'm finishing one that's autumn-rich tones. I have plans for a blue mermaid and a turquoise-y hawaiian one. It's just taking way too long to get all the samples made. I want to be able to send out an e-mail and say...They're here! Time to pre-order! I just need to have several more hours in the day to sit and bead!!! Work out time does cut into beading time, but it's necessary to keep my beader's butt in check.

having coffee - mocha (with whip full whole milk whipcream thing...not good girl drink)
no music at moment...

It was a dental day...once more. I am not happy about spending so much $ this year on my darn teeth! I could have had a wonderful vacation somewhere for the price of my teeth!!!

Back to beading. working on samples samples samples. Hoping that this is a project that people will really like and ORDER. Hoping to have something ready to roll into a premiere by the beginning of Dec. and that's not far away!

So...off to bead!

no coffee today, but my sore mouth had a smoothie...mmmmmmm

Exercised until I almost near died....well not really, but my legs feel like Jello after swimming for almost an hour. I hadn't been in the pool in over a year and it was time to get my rear in gear, so I did. Ouch!

Back home now, cking e-mail and other junk. Won't say that I'm being health nut today, because I did have caramel corn after exercising. Guess it would be worse if I had caramel corn and DIDN'T exercise.

Going back to making samples in a few minutes. Have 3 out of 6 finished. Woo Hoo!

music - no
coffee - no, Planet Smoothie - Shagadelic w/ Soy protein and no yogurt...took out the sugar and fat by doing that!

to work I go!

Things seem much more sane today, in my life and those of others.

I have such a great support system of friends and family, I can't imagine the life of one without such a great group of caring people. I am one truly blessed chick!

So, back to normal, back to work today. Am beading samples for the new project...can't order beads for kits until I know what colors I'm ordering. I'm really really excited about getting this launched, but I can only bead SO fast! If someone is e-mailing me (cough cough maybe you?) because they've read this blog and they are waiting anxiously for the kits to be ready.....they will....soon! I'm beading as fast as I can!!! :)

Off to bead and watch t.v. (my son asked me if that's what I do all day...watch t.v. I don't think he understands Mom's job!)

music today - no, as I said above am watching my Tivo
coffee today - no, Planet Smootie - Shag-a-delic w/ added soy protein. mmmmmmm

I blog therefore I am? Probably not, but it sounds really important huh?!

someone blogrolled me and it made me so very happy.

All in all a sort of happier day today (is that vague or what!) Am definitely feeling more up and more in control...leaving things I don't have control over alone as much as possible. Today was all about socialization with normal happy people, so that helped muchly.

I know that everything i'm writing here this week is kind of nonsensical (sp?), but it makes sense to me and that's what matters, huh!?

no coffee today, though I'm jonesin' for a latte right now.

am addicted to poppycock stuff with chocolate on it. must say no to popcorn-drugs.

started my day with a good cry.

now ready to go make beads.

needed to do pta stuff today, but need some quiet torch time more.

ipod and I are off to studio never to return to webpages again.

It's one of those days that I want to rant and rave here, but know better.

think I'll go have some James Taylor with my coffee. :)

Still working on Mermaid samples

spent too much time today reading things that didn't need to be read.

I don't wish to talk about it here, but lots curiosity about things that I shouldn't be curious about. Would hate it if people discussed my own emotional train wrecks (and we all have them to one extent or another) in such public forums. YET...I am lurking waiting for news that everything is ok...really ok, not just "ok".

This makes no sense, but again, it's my blog.

Made my own starbucks latte today. mmmmmmm

no music - should have played music instead of reading stupid computer stuff all day!

It's almost mermaid time!!!!!!!!

I'm really excited about introducing a new project and want to do it with all the fanfare that it deserves. It's like waiting to give a Christmas present that you're really excited about someone opening. I'm trying to make my samples as fast as I can so that people can see all the color varieties.

I'm going to be taking pre-orders for kits and will have a gift with purchase thing (like they do at Clinique!) for all orders placed in the introductory weeks. I think the gift is a fun one too!!!

OOOH! I can't wait can't wait!!

coffee - can you tell? :) Mocha!
music - just radio....nothing special

pattern writing again today.

Nothing big to say other than that. Am trying to keep up with blog...just to keep some structure in my studio life. I did have a good beadmaking day yesterday. Now, I'm trying to get all the quirks worked out of my pattern and actually make it a good pattern.

watching sappy movies on tivo while I do. :)

it's big premiere episode week, so my tivo is very busy. LOST is tonight and I am really anxious to see what happens. So...off to bead more.

coffee today -iced hazlenut latte. mmmmmmmmm

Am busy working on pattern. No beady pictues,etc.

worked hard at gym today.

No coffee, chik fil a.

boring entry, but that's the way it is.

Rhoda Regrets..............


I didn't post this one the day I made it because I was in a bit of a rush. I realized this weekend that I can't keep up this pace. I wish I had the time to make a new girl each day, but I don't. This one was hard. I didn't even have a story until the very last minute and it was a bad one at that. All of a sudden, though, it just spoke to me and the sea monkeys just came out of the blue! I have no idea what warped things happened to me in my childhood to make me come up with these stories. Mom? Anyone?

I double checked with non-beady friends to get a read on whether these were funny to normal people too. They gave me a thumbs up. Now I just need a non-friend/non-bead view of them. Wish I knew how and where to market these! Might need to go do craft shows again or something.

Here's Rhoda.....
(click image to enlarge)




no coffee today, but I need it!
bought lots of seed beads...does that count?
burned over 300 calories on the elliptical, so i bought a chicken biscuit. :)

Wanda Wishes..................................
(click to enlarge)



This is today's funny. At least I think it's funny, and as long as this is my blog, well that's what it's all about...me me me!

I am still not at the torch. Have been on computer all day (other than quick fast food run)

no coffee- though I was totally tempted after writing "yesterday's entry"

I went back to find the original image that I used to do this picture...just to show how way far off I ended up from the original, but i discovered that I had overwritten the old picture with the new one. oh, well. When I have time, I'll post the other pics that go with the earlier girls.

off to work doing something, not sure what yet.

music - allison Kraus, Diana Kraul (I'm just going reverse alphabetically through my music...not!)

No Big Haired Girl today..............

It's not really Wednesday, but I'm going back in time to post about yesterday. I tried to log on and blog, but for some reason the computer wasn't letting me. It was not a day to get to do anything creative. :(

I work at a real job on Wednesdays, so there was no time to play with beads or pictures. NOT THAT I SHOULD BE PLAYING! I have too much real beadwork to do right now to be playing!!! So, with that said, I'm going to pretend that Wednesday is over and go to Thursday, where I will also say that I should be working and not blogging!

coffee - yes, I had coffee on Weds - iced Hazlenut latte...yum, makes me want to get another (but then I wouldn't be working and that wouldn't be good)

music - classical stuff in the office...forgot the ipod.

Vanishing Violet Verjongen
.................................................

Today I edited photo. Notice I said photo and not photos. I am going to have to get with it.

Am watching the newest round of Biggest Loser. I love the inspiration that the show was last summer. I need that kind of motivation. Have been to the gym twice this week already. Goal is 4 times. 2 is a must, but would like to do some sort of workout 4 times.

This is the first time I've done a before and after of the "big haired girl" photo. I'll do the after first.



I'm not quite as happy about this story as I have been others, but I really like the picture. I can't be witty witty every day. :)

Here's the before (well I just realized I didn't upload the before, so I'll have to do that later.

no coffee, but did have chik fil a tea which I love.

Princess Josephine
............................................


Here we are on Monday! Woo hoo! (not...I'm just acting excited about it)

Today's big event...I now have a clothing line! Well, I have a pseudo clothing line. It's not pseudo-clothes, but pseudo-mine. I have a "storefront" at cafe press where they make custom printed items. hooray for Sylviebeads! Buy t-shirts, tote bags, notecards, etc.!!!

I have listed the big haired girls in addition to a "generic" Sylviebead Mermaid/Fairy t-shirts, etc.

Hooray!

here is today's little bit of humor...

music today - not really

Chik Fil A tea instead of starbucks.

Posy Pouts
-----------------------------------


Sunday's funny

Brought to you by the letter P and the number 3

and Starbucks Venti Mocha. :)

Nell Nocturna
...............................................

I'm going back in time to post pictures that I didn't post earlier. This was Saturday's "girl du jour"

Velma Volunteer
..........................................

Another missed posting.

Red Hat Wannabe

.................................................................

I am avoiding work. Hmmm. Not sure why, but I am. I've been having fun doing digital art to go w/ my bead bundles (which are not selling very well). Now I just want to spend time doing that. I think I'm funny and I like the stories I've been writing.

Here's the one from today...



It made me laugh. I'm my own silly audience.

no coffee no music - maybe that's why I'm so wacko today!

Queen Matilda De La Mane

.......................................................................

Ok...I'm way off task this week. Harrison came home sick yesterday, so I didn't go torch. Instead, I doodled around on the computer for HOURS and came up with much silliness. (I also edited photos, so that was productive at least)

Here is my creation from Wednesday...



I said it was silly!

Hopefully today I'll get a little pattern work done because that needed to be done by now! I'm pushing that deadline too much.

coffee today - venti 2 pump mocha
music - John Mayer on the ipod

Queen Matilda De La Mane
................................................



started the day not feeling well. ick. went to dr. ick took way too long and ate up my studio day. double ick.

Now am editing photos (took TONS of pics yesterday) getting ready to post bead bundles for storefront and e-bay. Want to make more of the "big hair girl" prints, but I'm not sure I'll have time.

have not cooked in 3 days...not a good thing. I was on a roll, so I need to get back on it!

coffee today - no chik fil a tea
music - Alison Kraus on ipod

Amelia Overwhelmed
.......................................................

Labor day - laboring in the studio.

I-pod on and I'm listening to "chick tunes" which is my list of songs that could be from the soundtrack of a "chick flick". All different types of songs, but mostly girl tunes. :)

I actually started my day w/ Starbucks!! Woo hoo! Had a mocha and was ready for the day! I'm only doing starbucks about once a week (if that) now and am feeling very in control of my habit (I sound like a heroin addict or something!) "hi my name is sylvie and I'm a starbucksaholic. It's been 7 days since my last cup" :)

I am doing non-beadmaking studio work today...taking pictures, making bead bundles, measuring and naming beads. Hopefully later will make another silly bead picture. I really enjoy doing that and am wondering if it's a sideline business in the making. I can really see some of these as t-shirts or greeting cards. hmmmmmmm. Maybe having a Patience Brewster (see right) card sitting at my desk is pushing me that way. hmmmmmmm (I said that already didn't I)

"hmmm" is the word that my therapis uses frequently. I think it's just when she is getting bored and wants to sound like she's really considering what I'm saying. ..which is actually pretty boring on my end too. LOL

Ok...off to work.

(here is picture of newest bead print...I think I'm quite clever and since this is my very own journal, I can say that and no one can say anything contrary to that and if they do...I'll just delete their comment! - though no one reads or comments anyways!)

Sunday...no beadmaking, lots of beadcleaning. My least favorite part of being a beadmaker. My fingers are pruny....though I dried them off a bit to type. :)

Ebay seems to be a tiny bit better for me. I do have those crazy girl prints and I'm proud of them...even if the beads don't sell for as much as they should, I loved doing the prints, so I'll probably do a few each week. Probably not for every auction, but I do like doing it enough to do several a week.

Need to get down to work this week on mermaids...work Sylvie work! For some reason I just haven't been doing that kind of work that I needed to the past few weeks. Not sure why.

Ok, off to finish cleaning beads.

tv, not music today
no starbucks. :(

3 days in a row!!

But who is counting? really?

Well, I'm cooking each day and posting auctions each day, so you never know...I could even blog each day (well, let's not get carried away!)

Am at present, loading Harry Potter CDs onto computer so that I can listen to book6 on my ipod today. Need to escape reality for a while...That's actually how I started the Harry Potter thing in the first place. After 9/11, I was so down and couldn't listen to the radio w/ out bad news and when I listened to my own music, my mind wandered and I got sad again. So...Stephanie who worked at the bead store (where my studio was at the time) brought me the books on tape and it was a great escape.

I've alread read book 6 (the day it came out and the following day actually...was in Las Vegas, bought the book at the airport, read it on the way home, finished it the next day...am a fast reader), but I love listening to the man who reads the books on tape. It adds so much to the story. Unabridged, so you don't miss any real text, but adding character voices makes it so much fun.

Once ipod is loaded am off to make beads (several days in a row...almost...of that too!). I'm a virtual organized/beadmaker! Not!

Have a new auction up with one of my old-school "paintings" that go with it. Her name is Flora Whodunnit and it is very cute if I do say so myself. The picture is a seek and find of all different elements of a bead set. Very fun to create and will have to do more. Wish I had the ones I'd made in 2001 (fire) because they were fun too and it would be great to see them again.

off to make beads...no starbucks, still saving gas...have iced tea (homemade!) instead.

Thursday morning and I'm actually blogging 2 days in a row.

I spent a little time re-formatting the blog to make it prettier and I'm happy for now with how it turned out.

Am going to make beads next. Not driving today, made kids take the bus (gasp). Am a bit paranoid about all the gas stuff on the news. Of course, I hadn't watched the news for about 4 days and had absolutely no idea how bad the hurricane situation was. I was a bit shocked and freaked out when I did see the news. (I'd been watching tivo stuff instead of actual tv for the past week...old movies, recorded reality stuff...definitely NOT the news)

I was a bit worried last night about all the stuff that might have an effect on me personally (which is totally selfish when you look at the big picture) but my mind went straight to..."oh no, what if we can't get gas...what if groceries can't get to stores...what if I can't afford the new prices that everything will be...I need to plant a garden...) So I got a little carried away and today I am trying to calm down a bit about it all. I am avoiding driving, though for sure. What finally caused me to watch the news was the line I saw at our corner gas station yesterday evening when we went to ball practice. It wrapped around the building at least once. I thought there had been some freak accident that caused everyone to have to detour through Texaco. Once I figured out what was going on, I had to watch the news and see what the heck I'd been missing.

So...I'm going to try to make my 1/2 tank of gas last as long as possible. I'm afraid of driving to the pump only to find they're sold out and then having to drive around to find gas and then running out of gas before I find someplace. See...I panic when I start to think of it all.

Ok...this is my beadmaking journal, not my freak out journal, so I'm going to go make beads now. I have to grab my ipod first, though. I can't make beads w/out music.

Coffee - not right now...no trip to starbucks is in site, but maybe I'll crank up the espresso machine...but NO! I'm out of milk!!! DRAT!
Music - planning to listen to my groove tunes play list, but might have to move to something calmer, depending on the mood.

Still blogging...though not daily, much more consistently!

Have been in a more upbeat mood than last posting which was really pretty dreary. Now am fine and am trying to keep ego at bay...not at e-bay. LOL, I'm pretty funny sometimes (she says to herself knowing that this blog is probably not read and that's just ok w/ me)

Have been busy trying to make beads at least 3 times a week...would like to do more, but it's not real practical to think I will. My life is in flux lately trying to be a balance of Mom, wife and beadmaker... new schedule...

Mondays - grocery shop (I know it shouldn't take all day, but somehow it does for me...don't let non-diagnosed ADD people wander down aisles at store...they don't necessarily buy everything, but are distracted by all those boxes, cans, colors!)- see note later re: groceries. Studio office work - photos, photo editing, auction writing...assistant for beadmaking in the afternoon- hooray for Marie!!!

Tuesdays - gym and beadmaking...fairly consistent day.

Wednesdays - office work for my dad and kids sports (sneak in blog posting while at work)

Thursdays - gym and beadmaking...fairly consistent again - hooray for Marie again, assistant for sanity and shipping (I think that's her new title V.P. of Shipping and Sanity)

Fridays - beadmaking and whatever appointment type things get scheduled usually fall on Fridays, so beadmaking can get bumped.

Saturday - kids sports and maybe a little beadmaking

Sunday - church and family...maybe babysitter and date night!

So, seems like a sane schedule. I have to add "computer work" to all the days with posting auctions, keeping up with e-mails etc...

Here is why all the grocery shopping....I'm cooking at home almost every night. Ok, now to some people, that would be completely normal, but my family has eaten out almost everynight since before I had kids...since about 1992? I know it's ridiculous and I've spent a ton of money doing so, but I've just never had a kitchen I was happy cooking in AND I always had an excuse why not to, etc. BUT while shopping for non-cooking items one day at grocery, happened to talk to someone in veggie section (not normal to talk to shoppers, but I commented on her cute kids or something as my 2 monkeys were terrorizing the produce section) she herself was bursting at the seams to tell someone about her new cooking experience...SIX O'Clock Scramble. something she'd seen on Oprah...fast meals that are interesting but also kid tested. I went online, checked it out and decided that I'd try it. Well, I love it!!! I have to kind of commit to doing it once I'm at the grocery store buying all the items for the week (which come on a nice organized non-ADD grocery list). Once I've bought all those things, I think I HAVE to cook the recipes.

So this is week 3 of Six O'Clock Scramble and I'm LOVING IT (did I already say that?) I do. I really enjoy cooking and these recipes are easy, but really varied and yummy. The kids don't really get to comment on "I want this" or "I want that" it's kind of like this unseen authority of meals has dictated that tonight we have "Coconut Chicken" and they have no say in things...they don't say "oh mom" with a whine or anything...it's just "six o'clock scramble" to blame if they don't like it. And honestly, there have only been a few things they didn't like (and if one didn't like it, the other did).

So I have cooked at home for 3 weeks straight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm still trying to figure out if I'm going to save money or not. I'm sure that I will, but I'm still buying some things each week that normal cooking people would automatically have (flour and sugar, salt and pepper...really, I didn't have any which is very sad) But I'm cooking and I'm good!!! Hooray for me.

Coffee du jour - starbucks venti iced hazlenut latte
Music du jour - listening to classical at the office, but at home have been listening to my ipod playlist called "groove tunes" which is mostly r&b old and new from "Leavin on that Midnight Train to GA" and "Super Freak" to Mary J. Blige and Outkast. Very fun to dance in my chair to. :)

I'm a rollercoaster of beady emotion.

I have been so psyched to be back in the beadmaking/bead selling groove again...

HOWEVER...I do not wish to give my beads away!!!!! I feel like I am just about doing that on e-bay right now. What is it that makes someone hot or not is not really what I'm talking about...it's just...why aren't my beads selling at all???? I don't ask to be the darling of e-bay, just to get a price closer to retail...I'm not even NEAR a wholesale price right now. I've only had a couple of auctions not sell EVER, but I've had at least 3 in the last week not sell. waaaaaah!

I probably shouldn't whine publicly, but that's what I'm doing here. waaaaah!

So...do I quit doing e-bay? I just don't know. I just want to pout.

coffee today - oui! Venti Mocha
music today - my "groove tunes" playlist on my ipod. From Tenderness (old school) to Mary J Blige it's my dance in your seat while beadmaking music

happy dance!!!

Kids back in school!!!!!!!

Been making beads again and actually got to grocery shop on my own (that sounds so trivial, but honestly it was a big deal to me)

Not much to say, but want to make a valiant effort at writing again....we'll see.

starbucks today - new drink for me...iced coffee (was cheaper than a latte, so I'm trying to save...right?!!)
music - no, but listening to a book on tape-ipod by sophie kinsella

Back in the Saddle again.... la la la la la la la.

It's back to semi-normal here. Feeling better...not all the way, but better. Kids are getting ready for school to start next week. I guess I should really change that to I'M getting ready for the kids to go back to school next week.

I've entitled Monday Margarita Monday. I don't think I'll really go out and have a margarita while they're at school, but it's more a symbol of the PARTY I'm going to be having in my head. A few hours a day that I'm all alone....alone alone alone!!!

I love my kids...really! I just love the few hours of quiet too. Making beads is a solitary thing...I'm a solitary person. I need social time too, family time too, but if I don't get a few hours alone, I'm on the edge of crazy. Ok...I'm in the middle of crazy!

So...I am back to work for a few hours a day right now while they're at home and will be full time at work next week when they're at school. 8:30-2:30 I'm working again!!! Hooray!!! I'll have shoe money again! Maid money! Assistant money!

Yes, I have an assistant. Woo hoo!!!!! My life is much happier with someone who is organized doing the organizing!!! The studio is starting to look like a eral workplace rather than an explosion! Hooray for my new assistant...bead goddess!

off to shop for Rob's b-day.

so the big news of the day...

coffee - no, but wonderful sweet tea from Starbucks
music - no, but listening to a new book on ipod. (still in love w/ my ipod!)

Still here

Still not in the studio, so I haven't felt a real need to post what I'm not making.

I haven't felt great since Bead and Button...a whole month of draggy-ness. :(

Hopefully will be able to make beads again soon and thus...make a living!!!

My tivo came home yesterday after being away being fixed. Am very happy to have it safe at home. ;)

music today? - no...just kids and tv and radio in the car

starbucks today - no, I can't go w/ kids or they want something too!!!!

nothing real to say, but need to keep up with blogging since I've been erratic about it in the past year.

Have not made beads in a while. Still not feeling great...better, but not great.

Been beading and thinking of beading more than beadmaking. That's the way things go with me...in cycles of beading/beadmaking/beading/beadmaking....

so...hopefully next week will be beadmaking again.

had starbucks today - mint mocha frappucino (didn't I say it was a one time thing?)

music - no, but listening to book on tape (well, ipod not tape, but it just sounded better to say tape) - Janet Evanovich 11 on Top. Not wild about the narrator and might want to actually read this again instead of listen.

Officially back from Bead and Button
Still sick
No fun
No beadmaking
Some beading
Ick ick ick
not a happy camper. :(

music - not yet, but heading to itunes to see new Jason Mraz
coffee - no, but diet peach tea snapple is a good thing for me today.

Thursday...

First day of part day babysitter so that I can make beads!!! Get another day of it tomorrow too!!! It's a nice balance of work in the morning, play in the afternoon. I think this will help all of us deal with summer better.

Am plugging away at making beads for Bead and Button. Kits are slowly getting put together and I think I'll be ready when the time comes!!!! This is a little more secure than I've felt in prior years about my actually being ready.

Am working on shipping right now and then off to the gym.

starbucks - no and it's a good thing. It's just not good for my weight. I've tried the non fat, the sugar free and I just can't do it. Besides...when you're there you want a pastry too! Must stick to diet snapple and food from home!!

Music - not today, listening to the devil wears prada on the ipod. Weird story so far. A bit depressing more than funny.

making beads like crazy this week. Hooray! Am finding a rythym to the summer and might actually be ready for Bead and Button when it's time to go there! (guess I'm ready no matter what I've finished or not when it's time to go there!)

Not too much time to go online when busy with beadmaking AND kids at home. So far so good though. Have a wonderful assistant making kits for me, so life is a bit more sane than it might have been at this moment.

coffee today - mint chip frappucino - not sure why I ordered that, but the suggestive sell thing at the drive thru got me. I think I can safely say...not going to be my "regular" starbucks order. Kind of like a girl scout cookie frozen on caffine! Way too chocolate-y for me.

music - no, but listening to the Devil Wears Prada on the ipod. Somewhat amusing so far, but not too far into it.

Today is the first real day of summer vacation for the boys...so far so good, but it's just 1 p.m. :)

I'm getting ready to go to the studio for a little while. We'll see how much I get done. Maybe I'll have a grip on some sort of schedule by the end of the week.

I need to go pick up the fairy godmothers that I made at the bead store the other day. They were cute and I want to see them!!!!!

Ok, off to lunch and work.

coffee - nope, trying to abstain, again Diet Snapple to the rescue
music - not yet.

A grey day. Not outside (well, it was early, but now blue skies) but mentally. I even made grey beads! I didn't think of that until I was getting ready to type this, but I did make lots of beads (mostly small) today and they were ALL grey! (It was kind of a theme, so once I made one grey bead, the others went with it, so it's not like I said "I will only make grey beads today")

Just had some weird stuff go down yesterday and it put me into a "grey funk". Hopefully I'll be in a lime green funk next time I make beads! :)

music -ipod mix - music for mermaids and a bunch of Jason Mraz who I just love!
coffee - no, but snapple diet peach tea- yes.

Party or Panic...

That is the question.

It's the last day of school and all though it's fun to think of a relaxed summer with the kids. That is somewhat of an oxymoron...fun and relaxed with kids. :)

So, rather than freak out, I'm trying to go into this next week with a new attitude of happy-mom-ness and not the woman who is the subject of "mother's little helper"

I had a great "last hurrah" day by making beads with Margo at the beadstore. It was very fun to be a social beadmaker and I'm going to have to do it more often....once I don't have kids at home all day.

Coffee today - tried Starbucks Skim Latte with sugarfree vanilla syrup.....ICK!
re-tried Starbucks thanks to generous Margo with Unsweetened Iced Tea. not as fun as my usual sweet stuff, but there are only ___ days till my class reunion.

music today - lots of fun mixes on the ipod, which I took with me to the store and plugged in the speakers while I worked. I love my ipod. Have I stressed that enough lately?

I made beads today!!!

I did go to the honors assembly at Harrison's school AND got to make beads too!!!

Just finished watching apprentice finale and am glad he chose Kendra. What cracks me up is that he says there is going to be an Apprentice musical on Broadway! That's wacko!!!

Just a short entry today...wanted to say hooray that I got to make beads. The oxygen concetrator wasn't shipped until yesterday, so I'm really really glad that Rob brought me 2 new tanks...that way I'll make it until the arrival of hte oxy con.

Tomorrow I'm going to make beads at Beads by Design in Marietta with my friend Margo. It will be the first time I've actually rented torch time! I'm doing it as a fun activity, not because I don't have my own studio, but it gives me a social outlet. :)

no coffee today
diet peach snapple. mmmmmmmmm

watching Lost (way behind and way "lost" myself) and making bead bundles. Cleaned lots of baby beads last night.

Still no oxygen...no concentrator has arrived, so I'm going to have to go on an oxy quest tomorrow...otherwise no more beads until the concentrator arrives. and when will that be????/ not sure yet.

Will be going to Beads by Design on Friday to rent torchtime, just in case no oxy arrives in time.

today - no beadmaking - at work for my Dad
Coffee - Venti Iced Hazlenut Latte (and lemon poundcake for which I feel guilty)
Exercise - no
Children's Honor Asseblies Attended - One, where the same 6 kids got awards over and over and over (and I think you can guess mine wasn't one of those 6...otherwise I'd be thrilled about going to an Honor Assembly! LOL)

IF YOU ARE A BEADMAKER AND READ MY BLOG...Please comment on this posting. thanks!

Another Tuesday posting...

I had a cornucopia of oxygen and made lots of little beads before it ran out. and that is all of the oxygen until either my concentrator arrives OR I go get more tanks. In the meantime I'll work on the book and kits I guess.

Maybe clean beads? I don't know....but I'll find something to do. (doesn't it just figure that when I have the most beads to make, I run out of oxy?!)

Well on to other things...

I had a posting pulled from Wet Canvas today because it was considered a solicitation. I felt bad about that...BUT I still need help!!! I need to figure out if people would rather have a LONG video with lots of demos OR short demos each on one DVD. I like the idea of having an "audience" so that they can ask "frequently asked questions" and have it be more of a class-type video than me just talking step by step. I think it would be more interesting, but I don't know if people would like that or not.

This is why it was considered a solicitation I guess, but I really just want to work on something that is useful and marketable rather than a dud. :)

drinking gatorade at present...was out in sun at swimteam. Am getting very tan :)
exercise today = 1 hour, candy = none (but I really want some!), Days till 20 yr class reunion - 95!

It's Tuesday...I have nothing on my plate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Other than to do what I need to do today. You don't know how huge this is to me. A whole day to work. Now, that said. I'm down to 100 lbs of oxy, so I'm not going to be making beads for very long, but I'm on my way!!!

wooo hoo! And if I run out....I'm making kits or something productive because...

It's Tuesday and I have nothing on my plate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

no Starbucks - more like Slimfast I think (though I don't even know if I have any)
Music? About to plug in the ipod. :)

Monday doesn't go the way I want it to...ever.

Planned to make beads all day. Forgot I had to go help @ Harrison's school. Got home...almost out of oxygen...had to make little beads instead of what I really need to make...in order to keep going on this last 500lbs I have left.

Made 1 vessel (pretty cool one I think), a couple of little faces, one fairy godmother, one weird-test focal...just have to wait and see if it's anything worth trying again, lots of little baby beads, a couple of hearts...I think something else big, but I can't remember. mostly little beads, though, due to oxygen shortage.

I am waiting for my new concentrator to arrive and don't want to go get new tanks of oxy...but I'm probably going to have to. :(

Realized today actually how few days are left until Bead and Button and somewhat freaked out!

In bigger, happier news...I am making a DVD!!!! It's not all finalized yet, but I am making it! After seeing myself on video...the one of the demo I did at the Southern Flames meeting, I was a bit weirded out. I talk like Minnie Mouse, have a double chin, look way more like my sister than I thought I did, but AM A GOOD DEMO and a GOOD BEADMAKER! It's funny to watch myself do what I do every day...but from the other side of the flame.

So, am in discussion with film people (yes, real film people, not just do-it-yourself video) how and in what time frame we're doing this, but I AM MAKING A DVD!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's going to be a DVD version of my class. 8 demos (maybe on 2-3 separate dvds, maybe 1...have yet to decide)

I am going to ask for some feedback, but I think I'm going to actually have an audience to ask questions while I do the demo. It just seemed to flow nicely in the demo with the question/answer patter.

Ok...enough for today.

No coffee (and might have to give up Starbucks until after my 20 yr class reunion in August, as I fear it is a contributor to weight gain)

yes ipod music - today "midnight music for monkeys" - the playlist I made for my kids to go to sleep to. :)

Am posting quickly because Griffin is sitting here jumping up and down waiting to go to Barnes and Noble. (why I don't really know...he just knows we're going, and I'm guessing he's planning to hit me up for something while we're there!)

Am going to head straight to magazine section in a moment of vanity to see if I'm there!!!

Here's a funny funny site that my friend Jan e-mailed me this a.m. I died laughing, so I'm putting the link here. I'll add it to my side bar later...

www.threadbared.com

off to get books and starbucks and hopefully magazine.

no music so far (other than in church)
no beads either!

(update...tea not coffee at Starbucks. They didn't have any Bead Unique Magazines at Barnes and Noble...I will check again in a few days)

Here's a picture of the article though!

Happy Dance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I'm in a magazine, I'm in a magazine!!!!!! (sung in my best Sandra Bullock voice from Miss Congeniality when she "sings" "you know you like me, you want to kiss me...")

I was taking Brad Pearson's class today and Gerry, the owner of the beadstore where the class was asks me "will you sign my magazine?" YOWZA! It was my article!!! I knew that I'd been interviewed and sent pictures, but didn't know when the magazine would publish the "artist spotlight" about me. They did!! It's here!!!

Bead Unique...page 22!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bead Unique Magazine Current Issue
(this link is to the "current issue page" which as of today is not the current issue...hopefully it will change soon!"

happy dance!

And here are some beads from this week. Not my best photos, but they were fun beads!





coffee today - mais oui....iced venti hazlenut light ice latte (that's a mouthful!)

music - thanks to Brad Pearson, lots of fun reggae. I'm going to go find the album he played which was Bob Dylan songs done reggae!

p.s. funny link du jour...a blog (which wasn't what drew me in, rather this page with fortune cookie style quotations. I loved these!)
Fortune Cookie Quotes from Fussy

Oh my word!

I just read the entry that I wrote earlier and it verifies that I am nuts!

I'm going to delete it so that the world doesn't see HOW nuts I am!

I didn't make beads today. :(

I hope I get to tomorrow.

coffee - no, chik fil a sweet tea - mmmmmmmmm good!
music - nope

I tried to post yesterday, but blogger was offline during the window of time I had to type. :)

Swim Team dramas continued yesterday. Hopefully, things will have calmed down a bit today....otherwise this beadmaker might not make it through the summer without a visit to the NUT HUT!

Beadmaking yesterday was wonderful. I made things that I really liked. Hopefully, I can get some pictures here soon. I was exploring striking yellow with enamels and gold leaf (I love gold leaf!!) You would never know that looking at my beads that I even use gold leaf because I tend to melt it in and make the colors richer. The new vase-face beads have windows of gold leaf that are actually gold.

Today, no beadmaking. I have a sick kid. :(

I did clean part of my studio today. All stray glass is off the worktop. If you've ever seen my workplace you would know that is a HUGE thing.

I have tons of glass to be sorted and put into appropriate color drawers...but for now, at least the table top is clear!

I am hoping to get my new tabletops installed soon, and that required getting the old table cleaned off.

I need an assistant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

no starbucks today - snapple diet peach tea
music - more "music for mermaids" I love my ipod!!!!!!!!

Did get to make beads for a little while today. Halo faces...6 made. woo hoo. Several not made, as they were icky bead messes...spinning on the mandrel...no good for anything.

After completing 6 of the "to do list" beads, I made another faces-vases bead. I used completely different colors, so I'm interested to see how it turns out.

Tomorrow is dentist day and hopefully will get to have a little torch time in the afternoon. Swim team started today and so did the drama of making my children do something they don't want to do. I might have to spend my afternoons forcing my children up the street to the pool. You'd think I was forcing them into a child labor camp or something worse...homework camp!!

I'm hoping that the drama wears off soon. I'm enough drama all on my own!!!

Today's music - a new mix of music in the studio today. I'm not sure what to call it, but it's not mermaid music, nor is it really angelic (like the faces I'm supposed to be making), but it sure rocks!

no coffee - Chik Fil A Sweet Tea w/ lemon

Monday!

2 weeks of school left!!! aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!

I think that's the call of mothers heard round the world. Our precious children are about to wreak havoc with our schedules!!!

So, I have to type fast and go make beads while I have a chance to do so!!!

Already worked out, did e-mail checking...so I'm off.

Have ipod, ready to roll. Actually planning to make the beads I'm supposed to be making today...halo beads.

Up and at 'em. Doing shipping (finally...it's been on the to do list for a few days and I'm making myself do it this a.m.).

I really really want to go make beads, but alas I have sold these and must ship them. I won't get to make beads for myself (or to sell, rather) until later tonight...if then.

We have soccer games this noontime, then I'm going to Beads by Design for the Southern Flames - Beadmaking Extraaaaaaaaaaaaaaavaaaganzaaaaa (you have to say that with big Circus voice...holding all the "a" sounds for a long time). Our group volunteered to make all the beads that go on the totebags for this year's Gathering Convention in Louisville. Our party (extravaganza) is so that people can sit and make beads together, using the group's glass/gas instead of their own since the group is making the donation.

So...after that, I come home and might get to make beads then, but probably not...just have to see how things go.

I really need to be getting ready for Bead and Button, but I'm so scattered right now. I've got 3 new seed bead designs that I want to make (and if they're good write patterns for). I've got all these new glass bead ideas in my head that I want to try, AND I'm in the middle of writing my "book". I need to FINISH something! AND I need to make some money at whatever I do finish. Bead and Button is pressing, though, as I have already spent the $ to do the show..the ad $, etc. It's a biggie for me and I HAVE to be ready!!!!

ok...off to ship.
need coffee...need music, but if i go downstairs to the studio, I'll make beads and forget shipping.

Getting ready to head to the studio to continue this new "bend" I'm on. Here's the history of where this is all coming from.

In 2000 (?) I began making these faces with tall hairdos (originally cakes, but they became hair), I then started computer drawings of more girls with "big hair" - example circa 2001 (below left)



Since then, in between mermaids, I keep coming back to this same motif. These beads with taller and taller hair (above right).



So, I was playing with beads earlier this week and did the progression of beads below (a few days ago). After that, I kept thinking of ways to incorporate them into my already existing work. Well, while having my oil changed yesterday, I sketched this big hairdo with embellishment and it became a vessel. I came home and made this bead and here it is...



I am so grooving on this bead. (it cracked a tiny bit because I was distracted while making the bead - long story)

Now, this said, take a look at the art below...am I so on this same page or what? How much more can one have going on in their head or hair (however you see it)???? My therapist (yes I said it here, publicly) said that I might be drawing/making/drawn to these things because they CONTAIN all the stuff that's in their heads/hair. She wonders if it's because I'm always saying that I have so many ideas flying around in my head and I want to keep them contained. Hmmmmm. Interesting....(that's my best therapist-speak) I think I just like big hair. :)

It's just a funny observation, but in looking at all these things (drawing, bead, new bead, the paintings I like below) they all have the following in common - LOTS going on above the face level AND all have serene faces. It's just such an interesting thing. I'm going to have to actually explore the concept now that it's been drawn to my attention.

coffee today - no (and probably shouldn't. I'm zooming already)
Music - not yet, but handy ipod is going to studio with me in a minute. My "music to make mermaids" might have to be changed to "music for big haired girls" and include some B-52s. :)

on a non-related to anything note...I think that I might have some google sponsored ads on this page. Mostly because I think it will be funny to see what key words they pull out of my postings to find things to sell. Will there always be a coffee link? Will Ipods be linked? Hmmmmmmm. I think it would be funny to see. It reminded me of when people found my site because they googled "the ozbornes" with it spelled incorrectly like I did! I also had a lot of hits from people looking for "poison ivy, itches". I always look to see how people get to my site other than the predictable "sylviebead" way. :)

Thursday beadmaking update.....

(I kind of imagine that tickertape/news music here)

I did have some studio time today after the teacher conference. I decided to go with the klimt thing I've been on lately, but with a twist. As I was sitting and having my oil changed today, I was drawing bead pictures. I kept being drawn back to a vessel shape. I first was thinking of a vessel with an angel or something like that on it (similar to the red headed girl from the earlier bead) but then I thought about that big hair thing again. What is it about me and big hair?!!

So she's a vessel with big hair! I can't wait to get her out of the kiln...always is interesting to see if I like things when they've come out of the kiln as much as I liked them when they went in. :)

I recently went to an art show where I bought a really cool print and t-shirt from an artist that paints BIG HAIR! I didn't really notice that it was big hair until later. What is it with me?!!! I'm going to try to find his website and post a link. I loved his work.

Here's a link to his site. At first you don't think of it as hair...I didn't, but the more I thought about it, I realized it's just that same subject matter that I do, only with more chaos and bigger "hair" (and a little less girly girl). :)

Bruce Holwerda

Our Lady of Perpetual Confusion (my favorite!)		The Elusive Ruby Throated Hummingbird

Not a beadmaking day...so far.

Personal Trainer
Oil Change
Lunch (that's right now) and computer catchup
Teacher Conference
Shipping (ick)

Music - not so far.
Coffee - no - Chik Fil A

Funny thing du jour....saw this quiz on another beadmaker's site and had to go take it.

Guess this explains my excellent ipod playlist (mix tapes in the making???)

You are LaFawnduh. Why are you so sweaty?


Which Napoleon Dynamite character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I thought I posted the update to "bad bead day" yesterday, but it looks like I didn't.

Here are some pictures of what I made on my "days off". Definitely off kilter! :)

(I'm watching Dr. Phil. I love it when he says "and how's that workin' for you?")

BIG NEWS!!!!
Ikea is opening sooner than I thought!!!!

didn't make beads today...worked at my dad's office
didn't listen to music (did listen to a book on the ipod while I worked)
Starbucks - Venti 2 pump mocha. mmmmmmm!

for the first time in a long long time I had a day of non-production beadmaking in my studio.

I had a wonderful time and it wasn't long enough. I had the ipod loaded with "chick songs" (hard to describe, but could probably be the soundtrack for a chick flick basically). Sang loud, had fun.

Getting ready to go to a small group thing from church. Babysitter is here, but I just had to take a second and say whoopee for me on my beadmaking day. I'll hopefully post pics tomorrow or later this week. if not here, then on WC.

also...there are fire trucks driving around in my neighborhood with no sirens on. It disturbs me. I am quite different about that since having a house fire. I would never have really blinked before when seeing a fire truck. Now I'm always worried that it has something to do with me. Hopefully, that will pass at some point. I really feel for my kids though. I know they have to feel a similar way, only more scared. Griffin hates the days that firemen come to school. Harrison hates when they ask him in class what kids should do in case of a fire (like he's a pro or something). His answer is "don't be home". Gotta love him!

Anyways. The fire thing put a damper on my good bead day. Hooray again for me!!!

ipods rock by the way. Maybe they're the good vibes I had been needing in the studio. It had been a long time since I had music instead of tv. Maybe I need that music thing instead.

Starbucks a.m. order - Venti Iced Hazlenut Light Ice Latte. Boys had decaf frappucinos. I spoil them. :)

Saturday of Rain.

No little league....yes Krispy Kreme (just made sense on a rainy Saturday morning)

Trying to do Clean Sweep in playroom went over like a lead balloon. Met with tears and frustration, I finally gave up and told them just to find trash and I'd ask their Dad to clean it w/them next week as a Mothers Day present for me. Doubt that it will happen, but you never know.

I'm trying to psych myself up enough to do my own room. Which is pretty scary to say the truth! I could easily be a "Clean Sweep Candidate"

So, off to do what I need to do...laundry and floor finding. :)

no coffee, but it would have been a good idea!
Music - ipod mix called "music to clean a playroom by" (I thought it was a good idea, but didn't seem to help)

It's friday!!!

Today was silent auction day for the school and my class project sold for the most (happy dance!) and in addition...it's going to be the cover of the school directory.

rob says I shouldn't be so happy about this because it just means more people will ask me to do things next year! :)

I'm proud though. I wish I had enough $ to bid as high as the bids went. I am going to go to Cafe Press, though and get myself a poster of it! I took pictures of the painting and I'm going to turn it into a poster for the other parents to buy via cafe press. tres cool n'est pas?

This weekend is "clean sweep" weekend here. We'll see how that goes. I'm not really sure I have the energy to do it, but it needs to be done! After baseball we're doing the keep toss piles!

music today - no books on ipod today. listening to the davinci code.
snapple du jour - diet peach tea...yummy!

Ok...I'm on a roll! More than 2 posts in a row!!!

So, I have nothing really beady to talk about. I'm working on the patterns and am close to presenting them for public consumption. I've done a pretty good job about keeping them secret, but have slipped info a few times, so I might not have the surprise element I hoped for. (ok, remember, i know what I'm talking about here...my journal, my thoughts, doesn't make sense to others, it's ok)

So, today I worked for Dad and didn't do beady things. Tomorrow is 1/2 and 1/2...so probably not much beadmaking, but I'm going to try!!!! I need to!

Here's one of those thoughts for the day. If you are at a restaurant that has a "roving magician" who visits tables as people eat etc. Can you ask for a "no magic" section??? I wish! We went out to dinner and had an obnoxious majician come to our table 3 times during the night. We found out mid-meal that it was "free kids" night. Was that worth the magic? I don't think so.

It's no magic seating for me from now on!

Music today (even w/ out torch, have ipod will travel) - Everything But the Girl
Coffee - Venti 2 Pump Mocha.

I'm back! :)

Ok, here we go again...

I'm in the studio being productive, but not having fun.

I'm on the computer, being productive, but not having fun.

I'm not a happy camper lately and need some sort of fun-injection. I feel work-driven not life-driven and that's a bummer.

Here's what I'm up to...
Writing Patterns
Making beads to go with patterns
Doing internet stuff - updating and restructuring website as well as trying to stay present on WC which I think is important, but is hard to keep up with.
Doing family stuff, miscellaneous dental/medical appointments in addition to working once a week for my father.

My weeks are not really what I want them to be schedule wise. I'm scared about summer because it's just me and the boys unless I find a way to fund summer camps (which are expensive!!!!!).

Ok...music and such. It's been definitely bi-polar music selections in the studio. I've loaded my i-pod and put it on a speaker system in the studio.

First - Southern Rock selections, then Sade!!!! (told you bi-polar music choices)

Today - Maroon 5, Marvin Gaye (because the M's were next to each other in the menu) then Dixie Chicks because I just arrowed up and let it stop wherever and hit play. LOL

no coffee - snapple

right now, getting ready to go to the kids school to read for 30 minutes, which honestly I know is important, but really hate to do AND it cuts up my studio day which I hate. I like having a block of time to work rather than little spurts of work time. Once the boys are home, I don't work on the torch, so it makes my "career" limited to a few hours a day IF THAT. :( Who else can do a career on those kind of hours? I'm not sure that it's "working for me" as Dr. Phil says.

When I get back, I need to change out OXY tanks. I'm ready to buy a concentrator or generator SOON!

I have things to talk about today and feel totally drawn here to do so, but at the same time...this is one of those personal-get your feelings hurt kind of thing and I don't know that I wish to hash it publicly now that I'm here.

So, I'll just write it invisibly and then get over it.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

I hope that helps. I'm really wallowing a bit on this one. It's something that I think I need to discuss, but just not here. I'll call an impartial friend and then move on...hopefully.

I am avoiding work for some reason. I've been working on my written instructions and apparently need to finish them very quickly so that I'm credited for them. It's one of those strike while the iron is hot thing. So...I'm trying to work on that, but probably need to be making beads.

Art/Craft as a living is a difficult thing, but we've been over that before. No news there.

I haven't made beads in my studio in a long time. I need to devote tomorrow to doing that...even if they're not beads to sell, I need to make beads just to get myself moving again.

today there has been no music, but I have a new music player! I got a thing to plug my ipod into so that I can listen to it in the studio. Hopefully that will get my creative juices flowing again.

off to work on my book-ish thing.

no coffee today, no music. Snapple and HGTV

It's been so long since I've been here....

I missed talking to myself so I came to chat today. :)

It seems that sometimes I have time to "play" on the computer and sometimes I don't. It's when I probably shouldn't be playing on the computer that I end up doing so. It is a fine line between playing and working, though. This blog began as a work-related thing where I talked about what I did in my studio each day.

I think I need to focus and return to that. It keeps me honest about working...or not.

I taught 2 classes this past weekend and they totally drained me. I had a wonderful time and hope the students did too, but it takes a toll...teaching glass. It's such a different thing than teaching beadwork. When I'm teaching beadwork, I'm teaching a project...something in particular and everyone is on the same page...working along on that project. It's a very laid back atmosphere.

When I teach glass, students are there to learn pretty much everything I know (and that's because I'm willing to share that much) in the 2 days of the class. After spilling all of my heart/soul/knowledge of glass for the days of the class...it takes just about everything out of me. BUT...I want to be exhausted like this more often. I totally loved teaching these classes and was reminded how much I miss teaching as often. So I'm sending those messages out to the internet...I want to teach more!!!

So happy am I, but I need to take a break before going back to work. In the past, I didn't know that and tried to keep going at full speed...even after teaching a class. Now, I give myself permission to vegetate for a day. So for my resting day (today) I surfed and did computer work on my upcoming project, so I'm not sure that it was all relaxation, but it was definitely low stress, low mobility day.

I hopefully will have work related things to say in the future and maybe I will do my positive thinking things now to do some sort of self-fulfilling profecy that I will work when I should and be successful...

or not. I'm not sure I wish to do all my self-help things on the web for the world to see....sufice it to say that I am positively thinking. :)

And now for the old favorities...
No music, a couple of old movies.
No coffee, just snapple....do you think they'd hire me as the new snapple lady? Might be another career choice....drinking snapple and smiling a lot...answering people's letters, etc. Seems like a sweet job!