treat yo self monthly

 Tired! But now it's my weekend and I plan to barely leave the house for the next two days. I might go get a library card from the bookmobile. Maybe.

Anyway. I deep cleaned another room at work. Did bioclean in the drains which is a natural septic system thing. Our establishment is very green. Just listened to a lot of podcasts and worked. Then hauled over to Stedman's but they were closed due to illness. Went to Seabeck. Was tired and a bit snippy but I apologized. Dad did have a good idea and was most generous about buying the bee veil. I'll reimburse when I see them on Saturday. I just realized I have five days off in a row, not four! Five on, five off. Whoo. Where was I? Oh right, Seabeck. I got my mail and had some dinner and closed my eyes for a bit. With tea I was energized again for the final bee class. I passed all my bee tests 100% by the way. Go me! I'm excited for the hands on seminar this Saturday. Got home. Did the second to last litter. Went to bed.

A shorter day. We are ahead of schedule with three days next week that only look like they'll be two days of work (the inn is closed so it's been a lot of cleaning). So we both finished a bit early. I'll do the remaining vacuuming on Tuesday. The weather was just too nice. I went to see about getting a Jefferson County Library Card, but I need to get a mailing address. I've already planned to get a PO Box so that'll be no problemo. I got a PO box in Quilcene. And it was a nerdy referencing number. So I'm excited to get mail nearby, instead of having it go through Ma & Pa. Quilcene is technically further away from the house, but it is on the way to and from work.

Got home with plenty of time to chill. I made key chains for my PO Box keys. I drew a comic. I put my feet up. I had some noodles. I signed up for a couple little treat-yo-self things (ipsy and birchbox) to treat myself and see if I like 'em. They are those subscription boxes. These are makeup focused. I looked at a few reviews of previous boxes, and what came in the boxes pretty much all appealed to me and was a killer deal. So I'll see if I actually like them. I can cancel at any time, which is nice. It's good to be good to yourself in little ways. Little treats. And with the job I've been wearing more makeup. Breakfast shifts have a little note of "look presentable". Which honestly probably just means no sweatpants and flipflops.

Yeah!

Helped Celia for the last litter. It was pretty obvious I was done and she said I'd done my duty. I said Panda and Teddy and Sam had done their doody. Hehehe.

Nighty night!

two tiring days, but at least I have goodies

Back to back long shifts at work! But long, good on site days. Lots of activity but WOW am I bad at basic math and generally being a cashier.

So Thursday was the preview & pricing day. Worked 10:30ish till 8ish? Boss bought dinner, so that was nice. Sellers on our list were able to come in and preview the sale and get things. Not many people came, but the few that did got a decent amount of stuff. Karen was also on the list, because perks, and she got the wicker ladder/shelf and black end table, and the horseshoe crab sculpture which matches the one I bought (part of a semi-matching set). Nice to have a friend over and to show them my bizz and to get them in on the inside with my insider perks. I priced up a whirlwind and noted things and put it in the spreadsheet. Michela put up the directional signs. I ... well I guess I mostly priced and organized. It takes a while. OH! I also helped assemble the signs with Jeremy. Taping paper to signs and taping up the paper so it doesn't get water damaged. That's what I did at the start of that shift. Yeah.

There's so good stuff in the sale. The "I hope no one buys it so I can get the uber discount" item is this medicine bag. It would be really good for weekend trips, and would replace that black bag that I'm just kinda meh about. I like having a bag for each size I need.

Got home late. Got into bed. Alarm went off early. I was like UHG but I showered, threw cereal in a bowl to eat on the way in, and I had left over dinner on site to eat for lunch, so it's all good.

Got it at 8:45amish and I had to hit the ground running. Sale started at 9 but people, plenty of people, were there already! I only flubbed one charge (by a couple bucks) and got into bartering and things. Of COURSE people find what wasn't priced first, but wrinkles got sorted out. There was a speaker that was converted from a cigar box that made noise when turned on, and thankfully someone bought it early in the day before it got annoying. The gumball dispense sold. And a TON of other stuff too! All the rugs, big pieces of furniture, expensive pieces, like...it went really well! There's still some stuff there, but apparently Friday 9-noon is the deal hunter hours. The globe is still there, the medicine bag is still there. I grabbed this nice velvet Haida pattern shawl that had a $50 sticker and was in the $5 range, before boss decided to price it up. Now I have a nice shawl.

Mom and Dad stopped by too!! That was sweet and it was nice to see them. Caught up a little bit. Mom bought some books. Dad asked Boss where Bodi was, like I suspected he would. It's been a while because they've been off motorhoming. We'll get a good catch up soon.

It slowed down after 1pm, but rarely were we just by ourselves. I had some good conversations with people. Lots of interesting sorts came in and bought things. I gave big discounts on records to encourage moving of product, as well as discounts on DVD sets missing DVDs.

Arghghhh that medicine bag. It has a metal opening so it stays rigid when opened, and it's leather. Oh it's so cool.

After work I swung by Liberty Bay Books but they didn't have Step Aside Pops by Kate Beaton, so I went to Barnes & Noble and picked it up. Yay, new Kate Beaton collection! And I swung by Target and picked up a few things like my staple night face lotion that ran out a week ago and my skin has spiraled into a breakout because other lotions mess up my skin. Hope this goop I smear on my face does it some good in the long run. Got some earring sets that were marked way down. Got a scarf that looks a bit like the carpet in the Overlook Hotel. I bit too much treating myself, but my hours have been good lately.

What's coming up in terms of bills...rent, insurance, electricity. Argh. Bills are such a downer. But at least I can pay them while wearing a cute scarf. And gas is cheap right now.

good things

Two days of work! Two nice full days of looking out at Bainbridge Island and pricing antiques and reporting in on account specifications for different sites. I bartered a gorgeous Okuyama woodblock print. And a few wool sweaters. Job perks! My Santa Cruz wardrobe was all tee shirts all the time, so I don't really have any good professional warm layers.

It's be raining so much! Unusually much! The house hasn't washed away and the power hasn't cut out, so that is good.

A varied thrush hit my window and died. I can't even identify a dead bird. Rachel Higara is the one who was able to identify it. In my defense, the guide books picture the bird as more orange in color, while this one was more yellow. I gave it back to the woods to join the circle of life.

I met mom and dad at Origami Sushi in Silverdale after work today. That was really nice! Got to chat and catch up, even though I did just see Dad. I guess this is the time in my life where I am really social with my family. And get free meals and left overs.

My paycheck (I'm getting paid!!) cleared, so I treated myself to an aero press, because I like gadgets and it seems relatively easy to use compared to other coffee making things. Also I can make a cup at a time, which suits me. Coffee takes me back to  my time on the road. I'm really looking forward to making myself a cuppa, running a bath, and drinking coffee in the bath and reading in the bath. Basically bath time.

I did a drawing of the actor Justice Leak (in his Halt and Catch Fire role) for inktober and he saw it! Someone @'ed him on Instagram and he saw the drawing and said "holy shit that's awesome!". Which is just too cool!

So, it's been a pretty good couple days.

happy fun time

Friday:

The weather is giving us the run around! It was super hot outside, but we kept the garage door cold so the concrete of the studio radiated mostly cold from the night. It sucks when it gets really cold, because it is pretty much just one big cold seeping upwards.

Ran jobs. Jeff and I listened to the Hardcore History podcast about Ghengis Khan. That was super intense, and a bit multi parter! Can't wait to listen to more. The latter chunk of the day was spent reclaiming, cutting stickers, and then coating those newly dry screens. Nice to have lots of screens to work with! Though we are going to run up short on 305s. Busy times are coming! I could probably pull a few extra shifts and count them during my holiday week.

At home Justen and Tara were all, "lets go out and do something!" Justen's friend Michael came over to join in the downtown fun. Girlmode was activated and Tara did her hair and I did my makeup. We went to 99 Bottles first, because I was hungry. Knocked another number off my card! Then we went to Blue Lagoon, where there was dancing and a few more drinks. I think I pulled my neck muscles head bangin' to Nirvana (which is apparently dance music now). This guy Alex knew Michael, and this Alex looked SO MUCH like an Alex. When he arrived at the table, like I thought I knew him because I knew his name was Alex...he just permeated Alex-ness. But the night was fun! I danced and chatted and had a good time. Got back at 2ish and went to bed content.

Saturday:

In the early afternoon, I went to the Bixby house for what will be the last time. I scrubbed the stove and cleaned the fridge inside and out. And there were last tidbits to pick up. It was so...empty. No chairs or tables or brickabrack or piano or art. It was just...empty. And really sad to walk around, but I couldn't even begin to understand Janet's feelings! 15 years of living somewhere...packed up!

Joey was so happy to see me. She came running and thwapped me with her tail and got so many pets.

I returned home and had some lunch. Then began the first trip of what would be an uber day for shopping!

Palace Arts for supplies for my new Reddit gift exchange (Joss Whedon themed, I'm going to do a portrait of Mal). Then I went to the thrift shop downtown that is always 50% off. I didn't find any good pants to turn into work pants. Nothing near my size...THOUGH I did find two pairs of shorts that fit really well. So that is awesome.

Returned home and snacked, then looked up the closest Old Navy. Just going to get work pants from where I know there'll be something in my size. So I headed up north. I walked through the Nordstrom Rack entrance, and then WOW! The bra selection! I have such a hard time finding ones that are 1) in my size 2) not ridiculously expensive 3) not a beige monster. And NR delivered! I actually had choices! I picked up three Betsey Johnson (cute designer) ones that were all half off. And I got some sale makeup. Nordstrom Rack is awesome, how have I not been to one? And if I have, it has been years. Then I went to Old Navy and tried on tons of pants. Some styles fit in one size, others did not, and some fit almost the same between two different sizes. Annoying, but I found some pants that were not tight. Maybe a bit more loose then I am actually sized at, but it is good to my comfy. All in all, a very successful clothing shopping trip! Normally clothing shopping frustrates me. Now I'm psyched for all my new buys.

Oh! And my sunglasses arrived!

A very good day! At home I cleaned my room and put away a bunch of stuff, and organized other things. And did some laundry. 

Now to contemplate tomorrow's crock pot meal. Hmmm.

all hands on hands

It has been a rainy day in Santa Cruz. Hopefully it doesn't rain when I'm working, because I need to be outside to reclaim the screens, and if it is raining, well I'll get every kind of wet. But that is a few days away.

Some people looking for volunteers came to the door, so I gave them my number and said I am available on the weekends. It seems like a good cause, helping small business people and whatnot, and volunteering seems a good way to get out and meet people and help out and stuff.

I made a necklace today. The bead store is going out of business (oh nooo, but there is Let It Bead on Pacific (or Front...err the other street), so all was 50% off. But despite the deals, I just got what I needed. Didn't want to go crazy on beads and not use them. I used this charm that Morgaine made, and accompanied it with red square beads and blue circular beads. It's my little birthday prezzie to myself. I quite dig it. I like being able to just make what interests me, jewelry wise. I should get my other ear pierced, so I can make myself some earrings!

It was misting when I left to walk to the bead store, and heavier misting when I was getting back, and had gone into raining in the last couple blocks. But it wasn't that cold, and it was rather nice to walk in the rain. A man offered me his umbrella, but I declined.

It rained. I stayed out of the rain. At Last, the third book I ordered from Amazon with my gift card, arrived. WHooo! Now to just read Some Hope and Mother's Milk and then read At Last and then I'm done with the Patrick Melrose cycle! Good books. Great sense of words. I simply must read more. Sure I listen to oodles of audiobooks, but it isn't quite the same.