New Stuff

Several years ago, about the time I started considering dating again (2007), I made a New Year's Resolution: THIS will be the year I do things I have never done before! It was a rousing success that lead me to some mighty adventures. That year I:

• Rode on a mondo-huge roller coaster (I hate roller coasters.. riding on one did not change my opinion).
• Went to Jamaica.
• Rode on the back of a motorcycle.
• Fell in love with Peter.
• Spent a week in jail (kidding!!).

But this year.. We're talking seriously "never done it before" stuff!


Today alone I moved irrigation pipe, prepped a field for planting a vineyard, had a chicken round-up and got stabbed in the backside by a hawthorne tree. It was all so much more fun that the roller-coaster!

Go to College!

I've lost my job. I still go to work. I still get paid. But I have no work. About two weeks ago the work I was doing no longer exists. I go to work. I do my best to look like I'm working hard. It's brutal. Faking it is hard. I've asked my boss for work - but there is none to be had.

• 15 years ago I was an awesome Novell Network Administrator.. Since then things have changed (welcome Active Directory) and those skills are now antiquated.
• 15 years ago I could get into DOS and re-write .bat files and make all sorts of cool and awesome things happen on a desktop pc. Since then things have changed and those skills are now antiquated.. (DOS...what's DOS??)
• 5 years ago I could make html sing and dance. Hello asp, cf, js, and more. bye bye html.
• 3 years ago I was the technical trainer. On-line training and another employee has taken over.
• 2 years ago I could write code like nobody's business in our Web Content Management Software. That software is now at end of life and being replaced - and handed over to another division.
• I was once the GroupWise expert. GroupWise was replaced by Outlook about 18 months ago.
• 6 months ago I was neck deep in Microsoft SharePoint creating sites and wikis and blogs and more. My agency has now scrapped that project.

Yesterday my employer started the process of figuring out what skills I have so that they can find a new place for me. The process involved defining my "desires" as far as a job goes. The concept is so alien to me. I'm 50 years old and find myself with no marketable skills, no degree and very worried.

If anyone knows of a job where they value socializing, knitting and drinking coffee, please send them my way! Of course, in a little over a year, I think I'll find my bliss...

- oh.. I've started a lovely hot pink beret for Jill. I'll show it to you soon. I'm almost done.

"The Bag"

Before felting it looked like this:

After one run through the felting process it looked like this (not so pretty):

A second trip through made it look like this (better.. but not right):
A third felting brought us this (getting very close..but I think I can do better):

We sent it through one more time and ended up with:
All we have to do is add the button and it'll be perfect!

Now.. on to the next project!

The weekend

Every year, for the last 19 (with the exception of one or two), my family has gone to the beach with another family for a long weekend in the spring. Usually over Easter, but sometimes spring break. This past weekend was the annual trip.

When we first began the tradi-tion our oldest children, were just infants. Over the years our families have grown and changed. This was the first year "the big boys" didn't join us. We missed them but managed to have a rocking good time just the same.

The weather was such a treat. It was beautiful during the day. Stormy and exciting at night. At night the winds howled. It hailed and rained ferociously. During the day we built fires and walked on the beach. We explored some lovely tide pools containing starfish, mussels, hermit crabs and all kinds of fascinating tide pool creatures. We experienced two late-afternoon minus tides that made an otherwise hidden beach accessible - if you were brave enough to scramble up and over some huge rocks and outcroppings. The beach was filled with agates. You could actually sit down and within arms reach gather more agates than your hands could hold. We brought back a couple pockets full. It's much like gold fever and I can't wait to go back!

The house we rented had a hot tub. We rented THIS house, in part, specifically because it had one, but only one of us brought a suit. Not very good planning.

On the way to the outlet mall to acquire cheap and ugly swim suits I spied a yarn store. I tell you.. I'm a bit obsessed. I have so much yarn already and projects stacked up for months, but I had to stop. I found unspun wool. Beautiful, hand-dyed merino wool ready for the spindle. And this yarn store is offering a class in hand-spinning in April. Mid-week, mid-day. cough cough.. I think I feel a sick day coming on...