Have I ever mentioned how great my current job is? Not only do I get to pick my own hours, and there is no pressure whatsoever to work a specific number of hours, ever... but I also have the best management I've ever worked for in my life. They understand exactly what we worker bees are doing and are very supportive and positive.
Now they have won my heart again, in this way: we are organizing a small silent auction to run at work for a week in mid-November. All those who are participating as vendors voted and chose a charity that the sales will support. I guess I'm in charge, as it was my idea, and I'm doing the behind-the-scenes organizing. So... my bosses offered to give me a half hour, paid, for the work I do at set-up time and another paid half hour for the work I do cleaning up afterwards. What do you think of that?? I thought it was wonderful.
Here are a couple of the items we'll be offering at our auction:
A friend made these crocheted dish cloths, and I decided to make a matching pot holder to make these sets.
I have a couple other projects-in-progress that will be for the auction, but no pictures of them as yet.
Last weekend I finally studied the instructions for the use of my new sewing machine. Now I'm in the groove and can use it for anything. I'm having lots of fun with it. I may have shown something earlier that I made on my new machine, but this block is the official "first" made with my new machine and with me being aware of what I was doing.
I hate reading directions, but being aware is worth the trouble.
(American readers: did you vote today? I did. Exercise your privilege and right to vote!)
in which I write about quilts, dreams, everyday life, and almost nothing about giraffes
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Showing posts with label work. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 04, 2014
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Successful Auction
Here are my two silent auction items at work, the smallest silent auction in the history of humankind:
But don't bash Small! It did well.. $15 for the blanket and onesie on the right, and $12 for the table topper on the right. That's $27 for a food shelf collection our office is doing. Not bad, eh?? Next year, if I get my act together, I can see if other people want to contribute, and we could do a bigger one! Fun!
Here's a hat I recently knitted. I'm starting a scarf to go with it, and hopefully some mittens, too. I got lots of this pretty yarn at a sale when a knitting store went out of business.
Here's our humble little tree. It's a fake one that I got at a garage sale for $10. I love bargains!
But don't bash Small! It did well.. $15 for the blanket and onesie on the right, and $12 for the table topper on the right. That's $27 for a food shelf collection our office is doing. Not bad, eh?? Next year, if I get my act together, I can see if other people want to contribute, and we could do a bigger one! Fun!
Here's a hat I recently knitted. I'm starting a scarf to go with it, and hopefully some mittens, too. I got lots of this pretty yarn at a sale when a knitting store went out of business.
Here's our humble little tree. It's a fake one that I got at a garage sale for $10. I love bargains!
Thursday, October 17, 2013
After the Vacation -- Back to Business
Our trip to Europe has come and gone. We returned home and found it hard to get our brains back to the mundane stuff we have to do on a daily basis. First, we suffered from jet lag for a couple of days. Second, I guess you could almost call it culture shock. I know after only 10 or 11 days it's hard to believe we'd experience culture shock, but it was almost like that.. it was nice to be back at our own home, but not as nice to give up all the daily adventures and excitement we'd had going for the previous couple of weeks.
I had not been at my job for over two weeks and was afraid I'd forgotten how to do it. I have to do a lot of manipulating of computer/techy stuff to do my job, and I thought I'd be like a newbie all over again. Thankfully, I wasn't. It all came back to me as soon as I sat down at my station. It was even fun to get back to work, but in the evenings I found myself feeling a little blue. I just couldn't find my "direction," and have barely even done any sewing since before our trip.
Hubby, on the other hand, was a little more jet-lagged than I, but has been happily working on his online business, which is selling add-ons to Revit programs (used by architects and engineers). This only went live very recently, and so even having a customer at all is exciting. He now has sold several and is happy that he's off to a good start. One customer does Revit trainings where he works, and he You-Tubes his trainings. This recent one is highlighting an add-on made by Hubby, and gives Hubby some great kudos for how well the program works.
If you're curious, take a look at it, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk3CRSnI68I ... to me it didn't mean a whole lot, as I'm not an architect or an engineer, except that he praises my hubby's work, which is very fun to hear.
I have managed to make these blocks, which are for Margaret's Hope Chest. I hope to get my sewing mojo back very soon. After all, I'm slowly getting back to my American self and realizing that I'm not European any more.
I had not been at my job for over two weeks and was afraid I'd forgotten how to do it. I have to do a lot of manipulating of computer/techy stuff to do my job, and I thought I'd be like a newbie all over again. Thankfully, I wasn't. It all came back to me as soon as I sat down at my station. It was even fun to get back to work, but in the evenings I found myself feeling a little blue. I just couldn't find my "direction," and have barely even done any sewing since before our trip.
Hubby, on the other hand, was a little more jet-lagged than I, but has been happily working on his online business, which is selling add-ons to Revit programs (used by architects and engineers). This only went live very recently, and so even having a customer at all is exciting. He now has sold several and is happy that he's off to a good start. One customer does Revit trainings where he works, and he You-Tubes his trainings. This recent one is highlighting an add-on made by Hubby, and gives Hubby some great kudos for how well the program works.
If you're curious, take a look at it, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk3CRSnI68I ... to me it didn't mean a whole lot, as I'm not an architect or an engineer, except that he praises my hubby's work, which is very fun to hear.
I have managed to make these blocks, which are for Margaret's Hope Chest. I hope to get my sewing mojo back very soon. After all, I'm slowly getting back to my American self and realizing that I'm not European any more.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Last Weekend I ...
... went to an all-day meeting on Saturday, at the campus which includes this awesome chapel. Was really tired, because I had not slept well Friday night. The morning meeting was interesting and informative. The afternoon was boring, and I may have taken a short snooze during that one. Hope I didn't snore!
... enjoyed the beautiful flowers on the college campus!
... photographed this house (above) which I loved. It looks like the wonky houses we bloggers love to make in quilts. It's on the entrance road into the college campus I visited.
... Saturday evening drove on to my destination. On the way, the sky was AWESOME! The sun was shining through the clouds and making long sunbeams from clouds to earth. Just beautiful. I kept trying to photograph it, difficult while driving, and the photos didn't do it justice. I pulled off the road into the little town where Victoria Findlay Wolfe grew up (name-dropping. [See one of her blogs here.] Took some sky pics (below) but couldn't get them to depict the beauty I was enjoying. I call this one "Window to Heaven."
... got to friend's house. Had fun chatting and spending time in her home. It has been a long time since we just hung out! Had a good sleep next to her long-arm quilting machine. No, I did not do any sewing while there, but it was tempting!
... took pics of her estate, animals, etc.
... went on to visit my mom in time for lunch on Sunday. We have quiet times together. We talk, read, watch some TV, eat, I knit, and that's about it. I help take her garbage and recycling to their appropriate places.
... drove back, on Monday morning, to the town where I attended the Saturday meetings. I was able to do my Monday work hours in our Sister Center. Nice that I didn't have to rush all the way back home.
... happily arrived back home Monday evening. Caught up with husband. Watched some TV. Had a good night's sleep in my own bed! It was a good weekend, except I didn't get one minute to sew!
... enjoyed the beautiful flowers on the college campus!
... photographed this house (above) which I loved. It looks like the wonky houses we bloggers love to make in quilts. It's on the entrance road into the college campus I visited.
... Saturday evening drove on to my destination. On the way, the sky was AWESOME! The sun was shining through the clouds and making long sunbeams from clouds to earth. Just beautiful. I kept trying to photograph it, difficult while driving, and the photos didn't do it justice. I pulled off the road into the little town where Victoria Findlay Wolfe grew up (name-dropping. [See one of her blogs here.] Took some sky pics (below) but couldn't get them to depict the beauty I was enjoying. I call this one "Window to Heaven."
... got to friend's house. Had fun chatting and spending time in her home. It has been a long time since we just hung out! Had a good sleep next to her long-arm quilting machine. No, I did not do any sewing while there, but it was tempting!
... took pics of her estate, animals, etc.
... went on to visit my mom in time for lunch on Sunday. We have quiet times together. We talk, read, watch some TV, eat, I knit, and that's about it. I help take her garbage and recycling to their appropriate places.
... drove back, on Monday morning, to the town where I attended the Saturday meetings. I was able to do my Monday work hours in our Sister Center. Nice that I didn't have to rush all the way back home.
... happily arrived back home Monday evening. Caught up with husband. Watched some TV. Had a good night's sleep in my own bed! It was a good weekend, except I didn't get one minute to sew!
Sunday, June 09, 2013
Great to be Alive!
The weekend flew by. On Friday I actually got some cleaning done, AND I weeded in the garden. (Not done yet, but I got a good start on it.) Saturday was a gorgeous day, but I was stuck inside at an all-day workshop. However, I am glad I went; it was one of the best workshops I've ever been to! It was work-related, thought-provoking, and I earned CEUs, so all is hunky-dory.
The rest of the weekend it rained, of course. Today, Sunday, I slept in. Didn't wake up 'til almost 9:30 AM! That surprised me as I have not been sleeping that late in recent weeks. Too late to get ready for church, so I stayed home and sewed.
I got a binding on this quilt, which was quilted by Diane.
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And I assembled, quilted and bound this one. I really like just plain squares in quilts. They're simple and interesting, I think.. kind of homey and comfortable without looking like a person would be afraid to use it.
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Both of these will go to Quilts Beyond Borders and probably to their initiative for orphanages in Russia.
So the weekend has come to an end, and they say it is finally going to stop raining. It might even be summer around here pretty soon! I'm in a really good mood, and just feeling happy. Isn't it grand to be alive??
The rest of the weekend it rained, of course. Today, Sunday, I slept in. Didn't wake up 'til almost 9:30 AM! That surprised me as I have not been sleeping that late in recent weeks. Too late to get ready for church, so I stayed home and sewed.
I got a binding on this quilt, which was quilted by Diane.
And I assembled, quilted and bound this one. I really like just plain squares in quilts. They're simple and interesting, I think.. kind of homey and comfortable without looking like a person would be afraid to use it.
Both of these will go to Quilts Beyond Borders and probably to their initiative for orphanages in Russia.
So the weekend has come to an end, and they say it is finally going to stop raining. It might even be summer around here pretty soon! I'm in a really good mood, and just feeling happy. Isn't it grand to be alive??
Labels:
quilting,
quilts,
Quilts Beyond Borders,
weekend,
work
Monday, May 20, 2013
Earning CEUs
In my profession I am required to earn CEUs in order to keep my certification current. Even though I'm retired, I still work part-time and need to keep up with the changes in the field. Last weekend I went to a conference to earn some CEUs. It was worthwhile, and lots of fun. I had surprising connections with some of the other students and also with some of the workshop staff. I've been in the field so long that I know stuff about some of them when they were babies! Small world. And lots of fun.
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Here's the whole crazy bunch.. I'll give you a dollar if you can find me
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some of the workshops required putting our whole selves in
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couldn't be more fun
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Here's the whole crazy bunch.. I'll give you a dollar if you can find me
some of the workshops required putting our whole selves in
couldn't be more fun
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
I am Six and Eating Noodles
This morning when my husband left for work, I was still in bed. He came to say goodbye, and I told him, "I'm six, and I'm eating noodles with butter and crinkle-cut carrots." I was so excited about it, too! I remember telling him that, but don't remember much else. About an hour and a half later I woke up, and I was soooo groggy! It took me a long time to fully wake up. Why are some mornings like that?
I'm so lucky that I'm retired and can have mornings like that. I didn't force myself to wake up, just went with it. Had a lazy morning. I had intended to go to the gym, but I was too groggy for that. So by about 11:00 AM I was finally awake and got ready for work.
Worked a nice 3-hour shift; the time went very quickly today. Then I went to the gym after work instead of before. I am trying hard to be a regular at the gym. There is no reason to NOT go. I'm feeling good, and the work-out (mostly the treadmill, once in a while the elliptical) feels just about right, with an occasional increase in distance or time. I guess it's working out OK for me. In answer to some previous questions, the gym I go to is so convenient, and it's not full of skinny, tight-clothed aerobic princesses. It's a nice variety of regular people -- my neighbors. I fit right in, especially because I can go during the day, there are other oldies like me there as well.
Lately I have not been in a sewing mood, so I have been knitting instead. I have nothing new to show, however, since I showed you my funny mitten. I have not yet started Mitten #2. I have also been reading.. started a book yesterday and finished it today. It was short.
One reason I'm not in a sewing mood is the state of my sewing room. It's a mess! Yesterday, to add to it, Mr. Cat decided to jump up onto my sewing table when I was in the middle of something. I was telling him "no! no!" but he insisted on coming to "help." I tried to shoo him out of the way, he tried to run in the opposite direction, chaos ensued, and several boxes and piles of things went flying. I just didn't have it in me to clean it all up. So it's even worse now. I know once I attack it and get things put away I will once again feel motivated to sew.
I desperately need a haircut! I could go tomorrow, but a storm is coming, and they are predicting a foot of snow. Can you believe it?? Happy April, everyone. The good news is, April snows never last long. It'll melt soon, and we need the moisture.
I bought a few zillion balls of cotton yarn on sale at Michael's .. only 99 cents through this Saturday .. perfect for home-made dish cloths.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Report on Me
I thought I'd just talk about myself for a while. I hope you don't nod off from boredom.
The adult: my cousin. The baby: my great-niece at age 2 months. She is now 7 months old.
My life has been more of the usual: a little work, a lot of everything else. I am working about 6-8 hours per week, and that feels like the perfect amount. Sometimes I work an extra couple of hours here and there, especially if I'm feeling like we need more cash flow. Cash still seems to flow out lots faster than it trickles in. One of these years we'll get some big debts paid off, and then we can breathe easy. (Student loans: the bain of budgets in the 21st century.)
I tutor once a week, and I am lucky. I work with the nicest kid in the whole school. There's another tutor, a young college student, who has to steel herself for the challenge she's going to face every time she tutors. Poor thing. I have it easy. My student has two tutors per week: me on Tuesdays and another tutor on Thursdays. I found out the Thursday tutor and I share the same name! Funny. I made the student memorize my name, which was finally accomplished. It was funny to learn that the student didn't have to learn a new name along with the new tutor.
The extended fam are all doing fine, as far as I know. My mother will be 92 years old next week! The youngest is a happy and very cute 7 months old already. Time flies, and babies grow.
This is my fam in 1977. I think I might have posted this not too long ago. I am on the right end of this bunch. My little niece, in the middle, wearing a dress made of the same fabric as mine, is aunt and god-mother to the baby pictured above. The baby's mother wasn't even born yet in this picture. LOL.. as I already said, time flies.
I'm still trying to get to the gym frequently. Last week I didn't do so well, got there only twice, and then I attended the quilt retreat and ate like there was no tomorrow. Since I'm being honest, I will confess that I gained back 2 of the 3 lbs I had lost. Oh, well. I actually was happy that's all I gained.
This week I am going back for Attempt Two at Zumba Gold. We'll see... you know I wimp out easily. Zumba is a lot of dang work! Since I started at the gym, though, I have increased my distance and my time on the treadmill, so I seem to be doing something right.
Today I spent a long time working on church stuff again.. typing some things, copying them, making little reminder cards, and I still have to make a poster. The fun never ends.
The book I'm reading this week is by Stephen King, and there is time travel involved. Funny that I have gone years without reading anything about time travel, and now I'm on my second time travel book in a month.
I'd sure like to experience what this character in the novel is experiencing: 1958 prices with a 2008 level of income. He bought a nice car for cash! (I bet student loans weren't such monsters back then, if they were even necessary!)
Since returning from the quilt retreat I have not touched any sewing projects. My sewing machine is not even back in its cabinet/table. Soon I'll get the itch to sew again. Never fear. I have umpteen projects to entice me back into the sewing room.
Here's a question for you: if you could travel in time, what do you think might surprise you or especially please or disgust you about a time in the past you choose to visit - something you maybe had forgotten about, something about which our sensibilities now are so different?
P.S. Yesterday I saw the movie "Silver Linings Playbook" which I really liked, and I loved Jennifer Lawrence in it. In fact, I loved several of the characters/actors' portrayals. A good movie.
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My life has been more of the usual: a little work, a lot of everything else. I am working about 6-8 hours per week, and that feels like the perfect amount. Sometimes I work an extra couple of hours here and there, especially if I'm feeling like we need more cash flow. Cash still seems to flow out lots faster than it trickles in. One of these years we'll get some big debts paid off, and then we can breathe easy. (Student loans: the bain of budgets in the 21st century.)
I tutor once a week, and I am lucky. I work with the nicest kid in the whole school. There's another tutor, a young college student, who has to steel herself for the challenge she's going to face every time she tutors. Poor thing. I have it easy. My student has two tutors per week: me on Tuesdays and another tutor on Thursdays. I found out the Thursday tutor and I share the same name! Funny. I made the student memorize my name, which was finally accomplished. It was funny to learn that the student didn't have to learn a new name along with the new tutor.
The extended fam are all doing fine, as far as I know. My mother will be 92 years old next week! The youngest is a happy and very cute 7 months old already. Time flies, and babies grow.
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I'm still trying to get to the gym frequently. Last week I didn't do so well, got there only twice, and then I attended the quilt retreat and ate like there was no tomorrow. Since I'm being honest, I will confess that I gained back 2 of the 3 lbs I had lost. Oh, well. I actually was happy that's all I gained.
This week I am going back for Attempt Two at Zumba Gold. We'll see... you know I wimp out easily. Zumba is a lot of dang work! Since I started at the gym, though, I have increased my distance and my time on the treadmill, so I seem to be doing something right.
Today I spent a long time working on church stuff again.. typing some things, copying them, making little reminder cards, and I still have to make a poster. The fun never ends.
The book I'm reading this week is by Stephen King, and there is time travel involved. Funny that I have gone years without reading anything about time travel, and now I'm on my second time travel book in a month.
I'd sure like to experience what this character in the novel is experiencing: 1958 prices with a 2008 level of income. He bought a nice car for cash! (I bet student loans weren't such monsters back then, if they were even necessary!)
Since returning from the quilt retreat I have not touched any sewing projects. My sewing machine is not even back in its cabinet/table. Soon I'll get the itch to sew again. Never fear. I have umpteen projects to entice me back into the sewing room.
Here's a question for you: if you could travel in time, what do you think might surprise you or especially please or disgust you about a time in the past you choose to visit - something you maybe had forgotten about, something about which our sensibilities now are so different?
P.S. Yesterday I saw the movie "Silver Linings Playbook" which I really liked, and I loved Jennifer Lawrence in it. In fact, I loved several of the characters/actors' portrayals. A good movie.
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Filling My Hours
My daughter and "son-in-law"
My faux son-in-law asked me what fills my hours, and I'm sure my answer sounded pretty lame. To a non-retired person, it doesn't make sense. But my days sure do fill up, and I'm busy as ever.
Yesterday, for example, I spent the whole morning on the computer doing some church work (emailing, writing articles for church newsletter, etc). Some of that I took on at retirement time, knowing I would finally have time to do it. Then I had to run errands such as mail a package and drop off some things at church, and pick up the donated groceries for the food shelf. Also hit the gym, as I'm trying to do regularly... forcing myself to go.
When I came home I finally had some time to sew, and before you know it, it was dinner time. There went my day.
Today I got up and did some sewing, then went to the gym, and soon it will be time to do my once-a-week tutoring assignment. After that I'm attending a lecture on quilting and attending our guild's quilt show. Another day "shot."
I'm still busy, and the time flies, but it's no longer busy with work duties, with life crammed into the short evening hours. Now I'm busy with things I choose to do such as deliver food to the food shelf, various other church duties, sew, and read, and do my regular life (I still have to do laundry, after all.. that never ends.)
Time is a funny thing. When one is young, there is never enough of it. Now that I'm semi-retired, time works more on my side. I get to finagle it a lot more. And now I'm wondering... when I'm super old, will time weigh heavily on my days? Will I be lonely? I hope not! But there's always that possibility. As long as I can still walk around and can still read books when I'm old, I think my days will be full.
Meanwhile, I'm having fun putting things I want to do into my time. And things I should do, such as go to the gym. I have lost 3 pounds! Seems like a good use of my time, don't you think?
My faux son-in-law asked me what fills my hours, and I'm sure my answer sounded pretty lame. To a non-retired person, it doesn't make sense. But my days sure do fill up, and I'm busy as ever.
Yesterday, for example, I spent the whole morning on the computer doing some church work (emailing, writing articles for church newsletter, etc). Some of that I took on at retirement time, knowing I would finally have time to do it. Then I had to run errands such as mail a package and drop off some things at church, and pick up the donated groceries for the food shelf. Also hit the gym, as I'm trying to do regularly... forcing myself to go.
When I came home I finally had some time to sew, and before you know it, it was dinner time. There went my day.
Today I got up and did some sewing, then went to the gym, and soon it will be time to do my once-a-week tutoring assignment. After that I'm attending a lecture on quilting and attending our guild's quilt show. Another day "shot."
I'm still busy, and the time flies, but it's no longer busy with work duties, with life crammed into the short evening hours. Now I'm busy with things I choose to do such as deliver food to the food shelf, various other church duties, sew, and read, and do my regular life (I still have to do laundry, after all.. that never ends.)
Time is a funny thing. When one is young, there is never enough of it. Now that I'm semi-retired, time works more on my side. I get to finagle it a lot more. And now I'm wondering... when I'm super old, will time weigh heavily on my days? Will I be lonely? I hope not! But there's always that possibility. As long as I can still walk around and can still read books when I'm old, I think my days will be full.
Meanwhile, I'm having fun putting things I want to do into my time. And things I should do, such as go to the gym. I have lost 3 pounds! Seems like a good use of my time, don't you think?
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Who Made My Barbie Doll Clothes?
I am wondering if you smart readers have answers for my question.
Am I buying the services of slaves?
About a week ago, more or less, I caught an episode of Katie Couric's talk show. Her guests were discussing the problem of trafficking of girls and women (and sometimes boys). Often they are forced into a sex slave nightmare. Sometimes it is a work slave situation. For example, girls are removed from home, passports and IDs are taken, they are locked up with no access to and no contact with the outside world, and they are forced to do whatever the prisoner dictates.
I know this goes on. Sadly, the trafficking happens even in my own state. One thing the show talked about was the consumption we do and whether it encourages the existence of work slaves. Children are often forced to do labor in fields or mines, for example, and not allowed to go to school. If we buy the products of that field or mine, we are economically supporting slavery. Sadly, they said that the cosmetic industry is a big culprit.. some of the chemicals used in cosmetics are typically produced by child slaves. (There's another topic -- how to make purchases wisely so that we don't support slave labor. Where is the transparency?)
Now here is my question. Recently I started buying home-made Barbie doll clothes on e-Bay. One of the vendors I have purchased from sends me the doll clothes from China. At first I thought, "oh, how nice. I'm helping a fledgling entrepreneur in China make a cottage industry for herself." Then I began to wonder -- do these products come from a child labor/slave situation where the kids are made to work for pennies so that I can buy Barbie doll clothes on the cheap?
Some of these nice dresses go for as cheap as 99 cents. The exchange has gone very smoothly. I have purchased several of these fancy doll dresses (for various kids I know or as gifts for other kids). They come in the mail promptly and are well made and look cute on the Barbie dolls.
Is there a way I can find out -- reliably -- who is making these dresses? I don't want to support slave labor, but I do want to support someone trying to make an honest living and finding an easy way to work from home.
What do you think? What would you guess, when buying a dress for 99 cents from China? Remember it's on e-Bay where sometimes it has to go cheap so it'll sell, because of the glut of sellers... how can I research this to put my mind at ease?
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Am I buying the services of slaves?
About a week ago, more or less, I caught an episode of Katie Couric's talk show. Her guests were discussing the problem of trafficking of girls and women (and sometimes boys). Often they are forced into a sex slave nightmare. Sometimes it is a work slave situation. For example, girls are removed from home, passports and IDs are taken, they are locked up with no access to and no contact with the outside world, and they are forced to do whatever the prisoner dictates.
I know this goes on. Sadly, the trafficking happens even in my own state. One thing the show talked about was the consumption we do and whether it encourages the existence of work slaves. Children are often forced to do labor in fields or mines, for example, and not allowed to go to school. If we buy the products of that field or mine, we are economically supporting slavery. Sadly, they said that the cosmetic industry is a big culprit.. some of the chemicals used in cosmetics are typically produced by child slaves. (There's another topic -- how to make purchases wisely so that we don't support slave labor. Where is the transparency?)
Now here is my question. Recently I started buying home-made Barbie doll clothes on e-Bay. One of the vendors I have purchased from sends me the doll clothes from China. At first I thought, "oh, how nice. I'm helping a fledgling entrepreneur in China make a cottage industry for herself." Then I began to wonder -- do these products come from a child labor/slave situation where the kids are made to work for pennies so that I can buy Barbie doll clothes on the cheap?
Some of these nice dresses go for as cheap as 99 cents. The exchange has gone very smoothly. I have purchased several of these fancy doll dresses (for various kids I know or as gifts for other kids). They come in the mail promptly and are well made and look cute on the Barbie dolls.
Is there a way I can find out -- reliably -- who is making these dresses? I don't want to support slave labor, but I do want to support someone trying to make an honest living and finding an easy way to work from home.
What do you think? What would you guess, when buying a dress for 99 cents from China? Remember it's on e-Bay where sometimes it has to go cheap so it'll sell, because of the glut of sellers... how can I research this to put my mind at ease?
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
My Job: Wow, I'm Doing It!
I realize with some surprise that I have already been at my new job for nine months. This was a job I never thought I'd be able to do. You have to be good to do this job. I just didn't think I measured up. To my surprise and pleasure, I found out that I can do it, and I'm even good at it! (The trainer told me that I'm a "kick-ass interpreter.")
I don't know why I have struggled for so long with my inferiority complex. You would think after all these years I would have realized that I'm OK, and I don't need to constantly compare myself to others (usually building them up and me down). It's a life-long trait that I need to constantly work on. Just having an intellectual understanding of this isn't enough. It's deep-seated enough so that it is just part of my persona. It affects every part of me, no matter how hard I try to cure myself of it.
After nine months of learning and practicing and doing my job, I finally am at a point where I'm pretty much comfortable with it and confident that I can do it. I'll still have my bad days, like everyone does, but I finally feel like I belong there.
I work in short shifts, 8-10 hours per week. Nothing too taxing, but just enough to keep my toes in the field, keep my skills up, and have a little pocket change. I'm in a great stage of life and loving it!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Puking Hurts!
For two days in a row this week at work, we had fabulous, free food spread out for our taking. There were some Big Shots having meetings, and after they ate, there was enough left for us peons. Both days the food was plentiful and delicious... from two area restaurants that I happen to know and love.
On both days I ate happily, and on the evening of the second day, at home, I became very sick. Yuck!! Everything I had eaten came back up, and I felt miserable. It was, I assume, some sort of food poisoning... I have had this before and know what it feels like. The puking is violent! Sorry for the grossology. I felt much better by the next day and am mostly over it. The one remaining after-effect is very sore ribs! Who knew puking could be that much of a work-out?? I am shocked. And quite sore.
one fabric shows how to make a newspaper hat, and another one shows used car classified ads
Yesterday I stopped at a fabric store and bought some beauties. Fabric is really changing these days, and one could be tempted to buy loads of it to "catch up" to the new trends. I'm resisting, except in little bits. I bought some pastels for the Block Lotto in April which calls for pastels.
Today, Saturday, I plan to let my ribs heal, do some non-boisterous activities such as reading and sewing, and just have a quiet, fun day at home. I am currently reading Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son by Anne Lamott. I love her! The book is charming and wise, and I'm laughing out loud...just not any belly laughs, because that would hurt too much.
On both days I ate happily, and on the evening of the second day, at home, I became very sick. Yuck!! Everything I had eaten came back up, and I felt miserable. It was, I assume, some sort of food poisoning... I have had this before and know what it feels like. The puking is violent! Sorry for the grossology. I felt much better by the next day and am mostly over it. The one remaining after-effect is very sore ribs! Who knew puking could be that much of a work-out?? I am shocked. And quite sore.
Yesterday I stopped at a fabric store and bought some beauties. Fabric is really changing these days, and one could be tempted to buy loads of it to "catch up" to the new trends. I'm resisting, except in little bits. I bought some pastels for the Block Lotto in April which calls for pastels.
Today, Saturday, I plan to let my ribs heal, do some non-boisterous activities such as reading and sewing, and just have a quiet, fun day at home. I am currently reading Some Assembly Required: A Journal of My Son's First Son by Anne Lamott. I love her! The book is charming and wise, and I'm laughing out loud...just not any belly laughs, because that would hurt too much.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Adjusting to My Life
December has been a busy month. I found that I gave myself too many work hours. Managing my new job is still a work in progress. I really love my new job!! But I need to figure out what will work best for me in my semi-retired life. It is still, and may always be, a high-intensity job. I have found that I can work four straight hours, but anything more than that is too strenuous for my brain and my body. Also, I don't like going in every day. So I'm making some alterations in the hours I request for future weeks and months.
Charles is working hard at his two contract jobs. He feels that his job at one of them is to do the best he can so that they love his work and want him to stay on permanently. So far they love his work, but he doesn't know if the wheels are in motion to keep him on. We sure hope so!
His paychecks are on a super-lag basis, so he has some good income stored up somewhere, just not yet in our bank. It's tough waiting, especially at this time of year! Eventually we'll catch up.
Last Sunday I went to a concert of the Twin Cities Womens Choir. It was beautiful! I know several people in the choir, including my ex-DIL. I thought I'd be OK, but the minute I saw her walk in I started to cry! I guess my wound is still too raw. I'll have to take care not to put myself in that sort of situation for a while, 'til I know I'm better healed.
Son's divorce was final in mid-November. Sad, sad, sad. I still feel like it's not real and is unbelievable. He's content so I use that to help me feel OK about it all.
Are you done Christmas shopping? I am! Just waiting for a couple of items to arrive in the mail, and then I'll be ready to get everything wrapped and under the tree. Happy Holidays, everyone!
cuties at our church Christmas pageant
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Long Ramblings from Me
1. Today Charles and I were talking about how long we have lived in our current location. We realized that today is the actual anniversary of the day we moved in, 18 years ago. It doesn't seem possible it has been 18 years. On the other hand, it seems like a whole lifetime ago that we moved in here. Our son was 7 and daughter was 13. Now they are both adults. Think of all the things we experienced together in the last 18 years. It's mind blowing.
But then anyone in my age range knows that 18 years is but a pittance. It feels like two shakes of a leg.
2. Thanks for the kudos on my previous post, the picture of my masterpiece quilt. Yes, I love it love it love it, but I really don't feel sad about giving it away. I have my memories and photos of it, and I have the satisfaction of having made it.
3. The bed quilt that was mine (two posts ago) was number 6. Almost everyone knew that instantly. I guess my style came shouting through. It was obvious to those who have seen a few of my quilts or if they had previously seen my pillows which say "sleep" and "tight."
4. I'm posting a few pictures. Comments about them -- first you see a strange quilt. I made the stitching experimentation piece several years ago, and this week I made it into a quilt. I added various weird pieces of things I had around the house and that I picked up at a thrift store recently (more experimentation). The key says "Buick door key" on it. And the slide is a Kodachrome photo of some place in Europe, I am guessing, taking in April 1973. Then I used three old wooden spools on the hanging dowel. One still has thread on it.
I call this piece "patterns" and used things that make me think of patterns that have come and gone, or patterns that we can use today. (Come and gone: the Buick door key, Kodachrome [they don't even make it any more], wooden spools. Use today: the patterns made on my sewing machine and the modern buttons.) I think I might remove Santa Claus. He doesn't belong there. Up in the left corner is a pin that says Pilsner Urquell. My Czech pen pal sent me that years ago. (Pen pals ... another 'pattern' from the old days.) I hung this in the window so that light shows through the slide. And yes, you are seeing white stuff in my front yard. It snowed enough today that we (or, Charles) had to shovel the driveway! And p.s., I'm not sure yet what I think of my experimentation with weird stuff. It's fun to play, anyway.
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This one is a tiny baby quilt I am making for Rosebud. I used nine patches made by my friend, SM. She gave me a bunch of her extra blocks.
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This doll and her quilt were a gift for a shoe-box Christmas collection we did at church. Some 2-4 year old girl somewhere on this earth will receive this doll and blankie for Christmas.
The quilt was made with more blocks from SM.
5. My job. I thought I should give you an update. It was stressful and difficult to learn. It was scary at first. The first few weeks I worked, I felt terrified every time I started a new shift. Now I'm enjoying it. I got over the scariness and have figured out that I can survive, and I'm actually enjoying the challenge. It's still a challenging job and stressful. But I like doing it, which surprises me a lot! And I love that I can pretty much pick my own days and hours to work. It's perfect for retirement!
But then anyone in my age range knows that 18 years is but a pittance. It feels like two shakes of a leg.
2. Thanks for the kudos on my previous post, the picture of my masterpiece quilt. Yes, I love it love it love it, but I really don't feel sad about giving it away. I have my memories and photos of it, and I have the satisfaction of having made it.
3. The bed quilt that was mine (two posts ago) was number 6. Almost everyone knew that instantly. I guess my style came shouting through. It was obvious to those who have seen a few of my quilts or if they had previously seen my pillows which say "sleep" and "tight."
4. I'm posting a few pictures. Comments about them -- first you see a strange quilt. I made the stitching experimentation piece several years ago, and this week I made it into a quilt. I added various weird pieces of things I had around the house and that I picked up at a thrift store recently (more experimentation). The key says "Buick door key" on it. And the slide is a Kodachrome photo of some place in Europe, I am guessing, taking in April 1973. Then I used three old wooden spools on the hanging dowel. One still has thread on it.
I call this piece "patterns" and used things that make me think of patterns that have come and gone, or patterns that we can use today. (Come and gone: the Buick door key, Kodachrome [they don't even make it any more], wooden spools. Use today: the patterns made on my sewing machine and the modern buttons.) I think I might remove Santa Claus. He doesn't belong there. Up in the left corner is a pin that says Pilsner Urquell. My Czech pen pal sent me that years ago. (Pen pals ... another 'pattern' from the old days.) I hung this in the window so that light shows through the slide. And yes, you are seeing white stuff in my front yard. It snowed enough today that we (or, Charles) had to shovel the driveway! And p.s., I'm not sure yet what I think of my experimentation with weird stuff. It's fun to play, anyway.
This one is a tiny baby quilt I am making for Rosebud. I used nine patches made by my friend, SM. She gave me a bunch of her extra blocks.
This doll and her quilt were a gift for a shoe-box Christmas collection we did at church. Some 2-4 year old girl somewhere on this earth will receive this doll and blankie for Christmas.
5. My job. I thought I should give you an update. It was stressful and difficult to learn. It was scary at first. The first few weeks I worked, I felt terrified every time I started a new shift. Now I'm enjoying it. I got over the scariness and have figured out that I can survive, and I'm actually enjoying the challenge. It's still a challenging job and stressful. But I like doing it, which surprises me a lot! And I love that I can pretty much pick my own days and hours to work. It's perfect for retirement!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Need a Bag, Lady?
I finished a couple more tote bags. I’m eager for our church bazaar to happen (it’s next week)! I’m tired of sewing for it. I don’t even know if my items will sell. Probably a lot of them won’t… which is OK, but if I’m wasting my time, I’d rather be sewing some other stuff.
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Oh, well… the bazaar will have come and gone before I know it. It's a fund-raiser for our mission work; maybe I will have helped raise a good amount of money for the causes we support. Some of them are life-altering for the women involved, so I’m happy to support them.
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My new job, you ask? Why, yes, it is going quite well. After I completed my training and had to work solo for the first couple of times, I relaxed and became much more confident. I still feel some little fluttery heart palpitations at times, but I guess that goes with the territory. The job is inherently stressful in a few ways, but it’s fun, too. I’m glad I’m there. Life is good!
Oh, well… the bazaar will have come and gone before I know it. It's a fund-raiser for our mission work; maybe I will have helped raise a good amount of money for the causes we support. Some of them are life-altering for the women involved, so I’m happy to support them.
My new job, you ask? Why, yes, it is going quite well. After I completed my training and had to work solo for the first couple of times, I relaxed and became much more confident. I still feel some little fluttery heart palpitations at times, but I guess that goes with the territory. The job is inherently stressful in a few ways, but it’s fun, too. I’m glad I’m there. Life is good!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The State of My Life
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I want to talk about the photo I recently posted in my blog header... giraffe and ostrich enjoying a good confab. Isn't that a great photo?! I did not take it. I recently re-discovered it in my saved photos. Unfortunately, I did not record who took it and where it came from. I would love to give the photographer credit. I'm sorry I didn't keep better records.
Today was my Big Day: I started my new job! I'm now a video-interpreter. I'm a sign language interpreter connecting a user of sign language with a user of spoken English via video/voice telephones. I have 30 hours of training to work through before I can be put out there on my own. So far I have only observed, but soon I'll do my first "in the hot seat" experience. I'm nervous and excited! I'm looking forward to this new chapter in my career. I expect to be working up to about 15 hours a week, so I'll still have plenty of time to enjoy being retired.... with just enough work to fill in my days and keep me connected to other adults and the outside world.
Charles has a job interview later this week. He has been working one day/week and is getting his own consultant business plan firmed up. We're hoping that soon his job leads will materialize into more days of work. Paying bills is kind of a priority!
Son now has an official date for his move to another state: Oct 17. Woe is me! I'm going to miss him! But as he says, we will have an interesting place to visit.
Daughter is doing well, and her birthday is coming up soon. Her birthday is always a gorgeous day!
I've been having fun doing a lot of reading and sewing, with time for fun family time and outside activities. So the state of my life is pretty good... things are going well, I'm happy, and have a lot to look forward to, as well. Can't ask for much more than that.
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