column a column b column uhhgggblawhhh

Two more days of working from home and I've gone all cross eyed from all the data entry holy cow all this will be much easier on the second go around!

My back hurts too. Yard work did it in. It is feeling much better today but still, waaah! I don't like being in pain. My flesh is weak from the inactivity. I'll say that about being a screenprinter: I was sturdy in Santa Cruz.

Ate left over chili. Had some udon. Drank tea and coffee and hydrated and took a hot soak.

I offered to work on the weekend just so we can really knock out this store stuff. And since I asked for Wednesday off (well off from working on site) I want to get the hours in now, so that come Friendsgiving I can really go for it. Whoo.

Also I'm meeting someone tomorrow after work. An online date someone. A geologist of sorts. So if I vanish, that's where you should start investigating.

chill clear days

Ma and Pa didn't make me breakfast! Boo! I had to make my own oatmeal and coffee. We dropped off my recycling up in Dosewallips, and trash as well. Then walked out to where the clams are, but they were safe under the water and protected by the end of the season. Alas. It was a nice clear day. Ma and Pa left around noon and I worked on work stuff at home.

Today I worked on more work stuff, and was able to overcome some formatting issues! We are trucking along and it is going so well. I also got out the rake and scraped the leaves and twigs out of the ditched up to the Y. I took the scrapings and tossed those to the not ditch side. No flooding here!

It's crisp and cold and I'm working from home again tomorrow. Going to listen to hella podcasts, it'll be great.

OKC but not the city with the cool museum

I rejoined OKCupid and I'm already over it. Well besides two guys that initially don't seem like sociopaths.

Yesterday I made a food run while hungry and bought some junk food, but not too much. I got chili fixings and bread fixings. Made the bread, which took all day. Time to make and knead. Time in front of the fire. I found the bread pans after it was baked (they were behind the crock pot). It was denser than I'd like it. Next time maybe I'll do one loaf...or rise it properly.

Today Ma & Pa came over! I made chili in the afternoon and it was well crockpotted by dinner. It was a bit spicy and meaty for Mom's tastes. We played Uno and Dabble and Ma, Pa, and Celia watched Casino Royale. I hovered for some of the better scenes but wow that is a long movie!

I don't really know what else to say. Mellowed at the house. Got food. Ate food. Now it is 9pm and Ma and Pa are in bed and my computer is up here so I guess I have to go to bed too??

Amanda got Friday off!!

Wednesday I went to Bainbridge and worked on a chalk board sign and some display items for the Poulsbo store. Redoing the display all Christmas like. And I had time to price a few items, then I picked up the comics I ordered at Liberty Bay Books (Seconds and Tomboy! Two I've had my eye on for a while) and did a massive Trader Joe's run. The beer I like, Ninkasi's Sleigh'r, is back on the shelf! I should make a chili with it. Mmm.

Back home and oh boy it got cold real fast. Seems like it was in the 50's a week ago, now it's closer to the 20's.

Thursday I was in Poulsbo helping with the display. Hauling boxes, setting things up, doing more design work, and we popped into Bainbridge to pick up more stuff. Holiday rush! I bought a doughnut at Stuy's as a treat to myself. A doughnut shaped like a man. I bit his head off first.

Today I did a bit of design work. Got some stuff to work on over the next few days, but I'm not on site again till Tuesday.

Ahhh I'm so excited for Friendsgiving! Company and food and all this good stuff. I'll task myself to really hunker down on the menu and looking up recipes this weekend. Get a sense of what I need to buy.

gotta make a to do list because I've got some stuff to do

Captioned a few images and priced some dish sets from home. Slept in a moderate amount. Didn't go food shopping. Needa go food shopping. I'm going to do that tomorrow after work. Going to go to Trader Joe's and get the GOOD STUFF. Lit a fire. Read in front of the fire. Ate left overs.

Mellow day. Did some work. It was very windy but not rainy, so I guess I'll take that.

This black thing washed up on the shore. It looks like the black plastic of a shellfish tank/bed. Like, big and thin with holes for pipes?

Salvador went missing in the night. Poor kitty.

Working on site tomorrow!

Oh! I heard back from the hotel job, and while it was a positive call I declined due to having a job, but I did so in a way that if I no longer get hours at this job later on, I can call up and see if they are hiring because they said they'd be down to interview me again. So holla for that.

the price of things

Spent these past two days plugging away at pricing for shipping. Learned a lot about different rates, and I think I got a hang of it! I printed out the complete USPS pricing chart, though I did four pages a legal size paper sheet, so the type was VERY small but I could read it with a bit of a squint. It's proved useful. So I got the chart all filled up with shipping. But over time I'll add more to it. So much data! But oh I feel victorious, and my boss gave me enthusiastic feedback. I just hope it is right!

Yesterday I went into Port Townsend for a little movie date. We were going to see My Old Lady, but it was sold out, but two of Celia's friends (Jan and Jill??) mentioned seeing Birdman at the Uptown, which is a theater I hadn't even been paying attention to! We got our seats right as the trailers were rolling, so excellent timing. And what a relentless film! It never lets up but in a good way. Visionary, well performed, just all around great. Really happy I was finally able to see it, as it has been on my list for a good long while. Now to watch the calendar for Laggies, Whiplash, and Force Majeure.

We both had Elevated Ice Cream afterwards, and we both went with the delicious Mexican Chocolate flavor. So absolutely good!

Went to bed early, as I was feeling exhausted. But I was called to work from home, so that was a bonus. I've been feeling so worn out these past couple days, and now I'm feeling like my old self again. Now to tuck into bed. I'll set my alarm but there is nothing pressing on the docket.

Really wanna try making the New Orleans chickory style iced coffee. I had that in San Francisco at Blue Bottle with Robin, and it was SO GOOD. You make a vat of cold brew and dilute it. I need to figure out the Thanksgiving menu and practice the things I plan to make (cranberry sauce, bread, green beans...oh mashed taters). Some things I'm not taking care of, but some things I am. Did I mention I'm having a Friendsgiving? Friends for Thanksgiving! It'll be awesome, I'm sure.

shiny sinks and dolla dolla bills

Whoops I fell behind again!

Wednesday I priced from home. I got through a heap of belts and scarfs and gloves and other bits and bobs. It was nice to work from home. Thursday I worked on site again. Weighed. Priced. And got a raise! How awesome is that? Good to be considered so highly so immediately. Dig my boss, yes I do!

Friday I met Ma and Pa in Poulsbo. I deposited my paycheck and went and snapped up Clariel at Liberty Bay Books and put Seconds and Tomboy on order. We had a quick lunch. Pasta and pizza and a sandwich. Today actually had good weather! Bright but also chilly. Ma and Pa went to see some art studios and I went to get my tires changed...and it took two goddamn hours! I sat and read and bought some bath stuff in the store. But still, it took a while. But two new tires for my hoopty, that's good! Traction is good! I drove on to Port Townsend and got a great seat for the 7:40 showing of Interstellar. It had phenomenal effects, really nice wonderful great...wowza effects. But the story was also a bit too clean and meh it didn't really...strike a chord with me.

Worth seeing in theaters for the pretty but I'm not really eager to rewatch it. And I love me some time travel sci fi.

Today I loafed around the house. Ordered a third comic. Scrubbed the sink. Tried cleaning and seasoning the cast iron. Did laundry. Lit a hella good fire. Watched Doctor Who. Tomorrow Celia and I are going to the movies, and I've got some at home work to do. I'm feeling tired right now so I think I'll tuck in early. But yay for a cleaner home!

stop and go and stop

More pricing! This time old camera cases and fishing things. Scored an Eddie Bauer bag because it was a bit old and musty and dirty and not really resellable. So I washed it in my sink and I'm hoping it dries nice. I think it'd make a great bag for hiking art supplies.

I had leftover soup and it was delicious!

I got caught in horrible traffic on the way back. Took an hour to go the distance that takes 20 going in.

Tomorrow I am pricing from home! I'm excited about that. Just going to listen to audio things and google away! Nice to break up all the driving, because the commute days, wah! So much commute! But it's just to go through Poulsbo in case of movies or groceries or other errands. I could be commuting out nowhere.

Now I am very tired.

the 3rd

Look! No apologies! Got up, threw on tights, my orange palladiums, a skirt, a shirt, my hoody, my patch vest, a smudgey eyeliner/shadow in the crease eyemakeup look, and off I went! (with food to eat during the day of course).

Had a pretty good day. Priced a lot of plates and train stuff and odds and ends. Getting through boxes. Trying to keep to a 5 minute/item rate of pricing, but some things just don't come up. It's hard when brands and makers are not readily apparent. Still, trucking along! And I dig it. I work on site again tomorrow and once more on Thursday. I don't think I could do 5 days a week commuting (it is rather long even with audiobooks) but it breaks up nicely.

Celia made oyster and chantrelle bisque which we mixed in with this veggie broth and that was dinner and it was amazing and hearty and delicious. I plopped bread into it and ate two bowls then sat in front of my computers magnificently sated. And auntie gave me two servings for my own left overs!! I think that was the first time I ate oysters, but I dug it. I'm a more daring eater, and I'm all the better for it.

I'm feeling good about November. I'm working. I have a friend visiting this weekend. I've got a Friendsgiving in the works for the 27th. I've voted. Things are good, and I like it.

quadruple

I feel like I'm starting every entry with an apology being slack in my posts!

Thursday:

Worked on site pricing antiques. I wore tights and a red dress under my gray sweater, and I looked super cute. And I volunteered to help hand out candy on Halloween. It was rainy and dark. I saw Nightcrawler afterwords, and it was awesome! So dark and psychopathic and filmed so wonderfully. Jake Gyllenhaal was awesome. Got home late. Had some udon. Tucked into bed.

Friday:

The rain has let up a bit, but not exceptionally so. I got up early and did full vavavoom makeup. Brows, eyeliner, blush, tons of stuff. And I packed my vintage dress so that I matched the shop for handing out candy. I priced more antiques and stamps, and at 3:15 I left to hand out candy in Poulsbo. It was rainy but the parents had umbrellas and the kids had raincoats, so all was good! Tons of kids going up and down old town Poulsbo. Little babies, teens, I denied no one candy! At first not many came down the alley to Red Plantation, so I was being very generous. But we ran out at 5:45 (the hand outs went from 4-6) so it's all good! Saw several Boxtrolls. Many princesses and superheroes and Gryffindors. There was a cute Harry Potter across the street at Cups. A good time all around, and the Boss treated me to hot cocoa.

Got home and got a fire going and warmed up and texted another Homeaween celebrator.

Saturday:

Slept in! Hurray! Had coffee and my signature scramble and helped Celia un-wedge her boat off the beach and lift it onto the seawall.

Later on, Ma and Pa came over with food and fun. We hung out with Celia and friend of the family Linda, then dinner was salad and garlic chicken and garlic bread. I showed Dad my Aero Press. After food and conversation, we three relaxed and watched Chef. That movie needed less of a first and second act, and the third act should have been the movie. Not enough food truck or editing.

Sunday:

Ma and Pa and Celia showed me some hikes in the area. Hikes to take my visiting friends on. It was a nice damp day to hike and see some waterfalls. We got some clams at Hama Hama and that was dinner (with salad and broccoli). Ma and Pa picked 4 pounds of chanterelles in the morning. Their gluttony and greed knows no bounds! But dang did I like the fritata that Dad made. And I made coffee. And had dad make coffee in the Aero Press. A very nice day. Nice to tromp in the woods.

Oh! And we saw tons of elk! 30? Plenty. Big critters. And we visited Grandma and Grandpa's grave and cleaned it up.

And we told a few grim jokes through the day.

Now I'm painting my nails gray to match the weather.

midweek working

Two days of working from home. The learning curve is steep and it's hard to Google some things exactly. Got up early today (Wednesday) and drank cuppa coffee and worked. And I finished Darkplaces by Gillian Flynn. Reading reading, isn't it nice!

My pumpkin is due for the compost now. It didn't last long.

I made a grocery run. So ridiculous that it takes 2 hours just to make a simple grocery run, but I've got the time right now. And any commuting job I can double dip on errands.

I don't know what else to write. I listen to podcasts, I google, I collate data, I read, I try different coffee combos with my Aeropress (but not late in the day).

Anyway, gotta tuck into bed early. Working on site tomorrow.

a welcome break in the storm

Sunday! A day off! A day to sleep in, use the aeropress to make tasty coffee drink. I added honey and ice and the rest of my milk and it was so good. And it's so easy to use! Easy gadgets are my bag. Didn't want to bother with a pot or some of the more complex mechanisms. I hung out with Celia in the evening. Got lots of kitty cuddles. Had pizza and frank and beans. And then gradual cat allergies caught up with me, so I returned to my side of the beach and blew my nose copiously.

Monday! I had more of my tasty aeropress coffee. I'm using this "moka java blend" from World Market. I'm digging it! Iced espresso is my jaw. Today was spent taking data and throwing it into a spreadsheet for work. Took some time, but it's good to have. Well I say took some time, it was still less than an 8 hour shift at anywhere, and I could do it from the comfort of my own home. Tomorrow I was supposed to work on site, but the schedule was changed so I'm at home again. But I'll still probably leave the house as I need to get groceries.

Uhg, food. Gotta eat. Oh and I carved my pumpkin. I did one big standard pumpkin eye, but it was too big to add a mouth and stuff, so I just did a pattern of eyes. It's already a bit moldy and the house smells of old pumpkin. I put it outside and burned incense. Hopefully the smell dissipates.

The weather has finally eased up. More clear, less rain. And when it does rain it's gentle. The howling has reduced.

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.

tappa tappa tappa

Proper keyboard! Thanks Dad! It goes clack clack clack and all the keys work, though now I have to adjust to a raised keyboard, because the one on my laptop has flatter keys. And I have to relearn proper key uses, because some of my keys haven't worked for many many months. Ha!

Tuesday I edited the brochure and got my duties for the next two days. Pretty big responsibilities! It's a steep learning curve but it'll be good to know how to list things on websites and stuff. I also spent a lot of the day sitting in front of the fire while it burned. I read and snacked and drank tea.

I was woken up by the septic system high water alarm. I shut off the alarm, double checked the code, called Dad to be like "what the hell why would this go off, I haven't been running a 10 hour shower??". It's still a bit of a mystery because when he arrived the tank was very low. Dad dug out some ditches, and together we stretched out some drainage tubeing. I whipped up a little egg & bacon snack with my special Trill mocha as an afternoon snack for Dad the hard worker. And I resumed doing my work from home regarding finding a printer for the approved brochure designs, and then worked on setting up accounts and research and just reading through pages of stuff.

Then Dad & I went to the Geoduck Tavern for lunch. I had beef dip and tea, he had a burger and coke. We ate a bunch of fries, but he also got a salad. Healthy eating papa!

Work resumed, with a break for tea and laundry and inktober. I think I'll tuck into bed now, and start early tomorrow. Such a steep learning curve, but once I figure it out, whoo! I just wish some of these sites had upload tests.

I'm going to have a Friendsgiving at my place! Got a few confirmed guests. Can't wait! Something to look forward to.

good.

Oopsie whoopsie, I'm behind again. Left off Friday and now it's Monday. And my N key is out as well as my H key, so now I'm supplementing with an onscreen keyboard, which actually seems to go a bit faster. I hope I don't lose more keys though.

Ma and Pa came over on Saturday and brought food and Seabeck whiskey and their company! Dad gave me some tips on chopping wood, and I helped chop and stack. We had salad and salmon and played Skip-Bo (Mom won) and watched Hot Fuzz. Nice day. They also helped fix the leaking toilet. All it needed was a new seal. And for it to be removed and replaced...not the easiest task but Dad is super helpful! And he makes a mean mini omlette with local chanterelles. I was up early on Sunday, and so I got to work on my brochure for work! Did a few hours, got some feedback, then edited, then more feedback on Monday and more editing. After I slept way in....good to get the lethargic out.

Scanned family photos too. Lots of cute ones of me as a blonde wee baby.

So yeah, not a bad couple days. Good to have company. Good to have work.

pricing ties and plates

Another day working in the antiques business! I went to Christa's office, aka her house, on Bainbridge Island, and working looking up things on eBay for the prices the item has previously sold at. Checking dates and conditions and similar items. And entering the info into a spreadsheet. I priced quite a few really nice ties. Made me wish I wore ties. I ate apple pie for lunch. Apples are healthy!

It was nice to work with Seattle in my view, all engulfed in rain and gray.

The drive in was uncomplicated. I hit a bit of traffic getting to Poulsbo but it was fine for the rest of the drive. I have some at home design work to do this weekend. Only 5-6 budgeted hours. I like this job thus far. It's fun, it's varied, I'm learning new things, and seeing so many cute antiques!

And it feels good to come home and to relax from a day of work because there isn't the anxiety and guilt of unemployed relaxing. I'm only half employed, but once I find out about the hotel job, then things will go one way or another.

And Ma and Pa are visiting tomorrow! Though I have seen them many times in the past week so I don't know what we'll talk about. A tree came down and I don't know if I can deal with that on my own.

There is a moth at my window

Worked a from home 6 hour shift researching consignment companies. Lots of Googling. I worked the hours not till completion, because dang there was more I could have done! Some stores have really awful names, Google wise, for searching. Too generic.

Scramble for breakfast, coffee, then a pot of tea throughout the work day, and then a sandwich and a bath at the end. Working on site tomorrow!

Working and doing new stuff is so exciting and fun! I'm keeping my eye out for a butter holder because I know Mel wants one. And an apothecary cabinet, because I want one and Dad won't build one for me. Sob sob.

Whooo! It all came through!

Welp! I got a job! A tidbit part time gig, but it's flexible and nice and supplementary, and it gets the lead out while I look for something more long term and sustaining. It may not continue past Christmas, but for now I am stoked!

Met Christa at Ciups in Poulsbo for a chat and then she showed me the two antiques areas she rents, and set me to pricing and organizing. I'll be helping price and research and maybe do some design work as well. I've got six hours of computer work tomorrow, and I did four today. I'll fill out some W2's as well. So awesome. After work (I'm working!) I went to Seabeck and checked out the home renovations and Ma treated me to pizza. She took Salvador to the vet because Dad had conveniently made an appointment at the same time. Dad just can't be the bad guy in Sal's eyes!

Nice to see the changes. My childhood home is getting a much needed makeover.

Back home I relaxed, because all I can do now is enjoy the evening, get some rest, get up and put in six hours tomorrow, and wait to see about the hotel job,

jobly

Yesterday I drove in to turn in an application at a resort (front desk) and they apologized for being so busy and asked if I could come in for an interview tomorrow (today), to which I was like "yeah!". I opted out of turning in an application for pizza delivery. And the other job, well I'm set to have a sort of trial run tomorrow and see whats what. It's some sort of social media helper type thing. My interview went well enough today. Nothing confirmed, but I think I left with a good feeling? I just need to get my Port Townsend concierge skills up, if I get the job. I can do directions, I just need advice. So with an interview and a trial tucked away, I spent the rest of today (Tuesday) relaxing. I got a fire going, and read and drew a bit in front of it. I ate pasta and ice cream. I internetted. I generally took it easy. Nice to have a currently high application : interview ratio.

Yeah! So that is good. Need to get new front tires. And it would be nice if Dad, the auto guru, could drive my car a bit, because I'm not sure what might be a potential difficulty and what is just "uhg you're making me go up all these hills so early in the morning!"

The resort job comes with opportunities for advancement within the company, as well as the potential to relocate to other resorts, so hey travel! That appeals to me. I like learning and new challenges and stuff.

get a jeorb

Trying to use the internet. It's really bad and sluggish. Blugh. Applied to a sort of social mediay job. Pulled up a few "apply in persons" which I'll see about doing tomorrow. Pizza delivery? Could be fun. Get around the area. Though it is up in Sequim...but if it is only a few days a week? I can't be picky, I gotta get a job. Then I can work towards getting a better, closer job. And other stuff. I'm a good employee. I train well.

Anyway, worked on weeding through job postings. And turned the skull pendant I got in South Dakota into a cool big necklace. And chatted with Celia. And brought down some glasses. No fire stoking today.

I really liked today's Inktober drawing. See if you can find it because my internet is loading too slow for me to be bothered to find and download and copy it into here. I need to spend more time sitting and drawing landscapes and making art. Not having great internet is getting me away from the computer, so that helps.