chatter

I don’t seem to have the energy to keep updated on my text blog. The photo blog and Flickr stuff still remains a daily thing.

I think I finally might get my 50mm 1.4 lens. Everytime I can justify the cost ($300) some other unexpected expense comes up.

Yesterday was the Admin Services picnic and ASE awards. They have the awards every 6 months and for the last several months Deb nominated me for an award, bless her. I never win. This time I was nominated as part of a group for the Travel website (not by Deb) and actually won it. It is worth $250 for me. Close enough, I am getting my lens before something else comes up and if I think hard enough, I am sure there is already something waiting.

Today I had a free evalation at Positive Changes which is a hypnosis center that specializes in weightloss. I thought maybe the $250 would go to that but but that is one expensive program. It is two times a week for a full year at $2700. Uh, I think I will go back and try self-hypnosis again.

Sounds like a really good program that should work, I was impressed but I can’t justify the cost yet. Maybe I will get desparate enough someday.

Work was much better this week though I am getting slow again.

Hollace started school this week. I guess she likes it ok. You wouldn’t know it from the picture I took of her at the front door.

Lately work has been sucking. I got this cool project, one I have been waiting to do all year and it finally comes 2-3 weeks before it is due. Last week the art director and project manager were out in training and I took the initiative to get me some help as I know that I can’t single handedly put in all of the content in 3 days. The job was due Friday and the voiceover and videos are getting to me, well they were suppose to be in today but after events that I will get to in a minute, didn’t happen. There is absolutely no time to test this CD out before it goes to duplication. Last week I felt I was being sold down the river by failing the imposible timeline.

Anyway I got a freelancer in and had Rob read the script in the shape it is and get me something to time to.

Monday Adam found out how much time I have spent on it and freaked out. I guess this big budget he keeps bragging to me about isn’t that big. I guess he didn’t think I had anything to do on this project to get ready. I feel justified on the hours I spent so far but now we have a freelancer to pay with that budget as well.

I have been stressing about this job all week so far bringing my trouble home worried that Adam won’t ever trust me to do a job like this again.

The freelancer is a senior programmer at our competion on the outside and he is great. He pretty much redid everything I did to make it smart. That didn’t help my mood but I appreciate all that I am learning from him.

Adam told me to stop what I am doing until we get the voiceover so this morning I had nothing to do while the freelancer works.

Funny thing happened today. A big bad virus took down all the computers. We were not allowed to turn on our computers until after lunch today. For some reason this event made things better for me. I am not sure. I caught up on my trade magazine reading and went out to lunch. When I came back we were close to being able to work.

A couple hours later we had to turn off the computers again. I just went home.

Tomorrow is suppose to be a busy, busy day. I wonder if the computers will be up?

I haven’t checked in here lately have I? Ooh, I just checked it has been 2 weeks hasn’t it?

Let see what is going on. The last week of July Hollace spent with her cousins in Appleton. That meant that RAW had the week off so he went to Indiana. That left me and Cloudy. I of course had a long list of things I could do but as usual I didn’t get to it.

On Thursday RAW came home so we went to the county fair. I think I took a lot of good photos from there. I plan on putting together an iPhoto book.

That Saturday I had a baby shower to go to then I headed off from there to Appleton to pick up Hollace. I am happily driving along when I realized I was on the wrong road up. I was heading up to Door County and not Appleton. I just added an hour to my time.

When I finally got to Appleton I entered a mad house. Along with Hollace and Cindy’s 4 kids, her sister-in-law has been staying there with her 4 kids. Needless to say Hollace seeked out a little alone time away from all of those kids.

Work is a still bit goofy. We are still trying to get use to the re-org. It is a sure thing that multimedia is moving back to J28. When is the question. They are so not close to finding space for us over there.

While July was slow for me work-wise, August will probably kill me. I have a big fancy nice budget job that for the most part has to be done in 2 weeks (more like 2 months of work condenced) I have known about this job since the begining of the year, so nice of them to be ready for it a few weeks before it is due.

The new guy was a bit too eagar when the branding group needed emergency help for a couple months. He piped up that sure we can do it. Well now he has been shipped off to sibera. We just labor loaned him to that department. Oh is he pissed and I am not thrilled either since we are so busy and I could really use his help even if he drives me crazy. His personality grates on me like Kathy’s did everyone elses. LOL

My Flickr addiction is cooling down just a bit when they implemented a new feature that is really a popularity contest. Actually the photos featured are usually pretty good but they are from the popular photographers. I feel inadequate. So now I have to revisit exactly why I am doing this in the first place. It isn’t to be popular is it? I have never been popular or with the in crowd and if I can’t do it with the photography crowd then I can’t do it with anyone. Oh waaaa, get over it.

Tomorrow we were suppose to go to Sherry’s for Nate’s HS grad openhouse. When RAW called her at work to ask about glasses and he found out she was in the hospital. I tried calling all day yesterday at home, her hospital room and Amy’s to no avail. I finally heard from her today. I guess her problems started after eating fried veggies at the fair. Her gall bladder went bad on her. She had surgery on it yesterday and is at home today. The open house is postponed until next week but I am not sure if I can go because I am planning on working all weekend to get that big job done.

Today I had the story teller that performs at ArtWorks come over for an emergency freelance job. He is putting out a CD and needed someone to layout the CD cover. Here is me to the rescue.

Monday I took the day off (the content of that big job doesn’t come in until Wednesday) for Hollace’s half birthday. We started a tradition last year where we have a special day to buy school clothes or in this years case, after school clothes since she has to wear a uniform. Lunch, shopping, a movie (seeing the Penguin movie) and maybe a haircut are all on the agenda for Monday.

Well I suppose that is it for an update

Haley has been around off and on this summer. They are suppose to be moving to Tennesse but are spending time at their trailer by the Wisconsin Dells. After a couple weeks she shows up.

On our agenda one day was for me and Hollace to go through all her old toys and clean out her room. I tell Haley that Hollace has to come now. Then I realize this was her last day so we change our plans and go over there so they can play one last time.

Haley mentions that I promised to throw her a party when she leaves. I didn’t promise anyting but I remmeber her telling me that I should throw her a party. Anyway, we have an impromptu party. I put on the Sponge Bob soundtrack, brought out some anglefood cake and the girls had a good time dancing on some bubble wrap. I brought out balloons that kept drifting up on the roof and over the house. It was fun.

Haley was back the next day so I guess it wasn’t her last day but she did dissappear.

A couple weeks later she came back and has been around, as usual, always. She said she isnt’ moving.

Yesterday her mother comes over and is in a chatty mood. What I found out from her…

Yes they are definately moving. Some of her family are going to Tennesse next week to find a place to live and jobs and such. I stand corrected on Haley’s mom being a teenage mom. She said she is 28 which means she was 22 when she had Haley.

She is 4 months pregnant and hiding a cigarette behind her back while she talks. She tells me she has to quit smoking now that she is pregnant but it is really easy. Uh, yeah sure

She is giving this baby to her sister who has had numerous miscarriages. She thinks her sister’s problems may stem from the fact her husband is old….40 years old. I get her weight for all her pregnancies. She was going to get her tubes tied right after having Haley’s little brother but I guess he stopped breating for a bit and she changed her mind. Her mom who just lost her husband wanted to keep her son but she wanted him. She will probably get them tied after this baby is born.

That was the gist of our conversation but I can sort of see now where Haley gets her gift of gab

self-portrait-truck-mirror

Originally uploaded by swardraws.

Here is me and my new glasses while on vacation in Door County while waiting for RAW to get back to the honkin huge diesel dually

I have a lot that I have been meaning to write but haven’t gotten around to it so more than likely it is lost. Lets see…

Last weekend we went camping with the camping club in Door County. It was too hot as I was reminded why we don’t camp in the middle of summer (fall campers mostly). It was Christmas in July and everyone camping in the woods had all their Xmas lights a glow. We were camping where there were no trees, ug.

On Sunday we went up to one of the state parks to visit JoAnn, the main admin at work. Her family was tenting it for 2 weeks up there.

For the last week or so my left ear has been plugged up. Often i would put in ear wax softner drops in and enjoy the fizz but to no avail. It was making me cranky that it felt like I had a 5 lb brick in my ear. I finally went to the doctor on Monday and she flushed it out. Awww so nice. She said my other ear was pretty bad too but didn’t’ flush it out so it is drops for me. The thing is that I get no fizz on that side. Jim at work had the exact same problem this week. He bought a waterpick to flush his out.

While I was at the doctor i was going to ask her about the bump on my arm (dermatofibroma), the one that has been there for years but disturbs people cause it is so ugly. I went to a dermatologiest last year but he gave me every excuse in the book as to why I should just ignore it. Before I could mention it to this doctor she brought it up. She said while the size and shape looks ok, she thought it had an uneven coloration and she was a bit alarmed even though she was sure it was nothing. She told me to schedule something with the main doctor to get it removed. From what I read ignoring it is often recommended. Maybe i won’t get it removed cause i guess these puppies are deep but maybe get it freezed flat.

Tomorrow RAW takes off for his vacation and tomorrow evening I drive Hollace half way up to her cousins for her vacation. It will just be me and Cloudy. I better get my list set on all I want to accomplish. I will probably spend too much time on Flickr as usual. Man, do i kill a lot of time over there.

Let’s see, anything else? I got new glasses. Sherry was so sure that they would look so different that everyone would notice. No one noticed. Most people don’t look at glasses like Sherry does.

Edited to add, just so you know that I am on Flickr too much. The title of this post should be “Catching Up”. I tag quite a few of my photos on Flickr as “Catchy Colors” which is one of my groups… catchy, catchy, catchy

jillian-in-the-pool04

Originally uploaded by swardraws.

Just testing Flickr’s blogging ability. Here is 5 month old Jillian, Sherry’s granddaughter. Ain’t she cute? 😉

Focus, focus. I am still having problems keep focus. So in another procrastination attempt, I am blogging instead.

This past weekend was 4th of July in Crown Point. Fairly typical with both Pam and Cindy with their 4 kids each, us camping in the front yard. I found it my personal goal to get nearly 2 year old Joshua to smile. That boy trusts no one. I think most of it is the age but a lot probably has to do with his daddy being gone. Shelby was a stay at home dad that is now in Iraq. Michael on the other hand is my smily happy little guy. And talk, talk, talk. He hugged my knees when he seen me.

On Saturday I drove to Indiana alone. Hollace was already there and RAW was in Fort Wayne where he would eventually bring his mom over. I took Sarah and Will and Hollace and Emma over to Sherry’s to swim in her pool. Amy had the baby over so I took a handful of photos.

The next day Hollace and I, Sherry and Andrea went to the mall. I need some new walking shoes. I bought a funky watch as well as the shoes that i will be taking back tomorrow. While in the elevator in the mall I noticed there was a mirror on the ceiling. You know I can’t resist a reflection shot so I shot up. Unfortunately Hollace and Andrea already got out of the elevator and the door shut again before I could get my shot. The family waiting from where we came from was wondering if we rode the elevator for fun. Sherry and I had a good laugh –Elevator– our daughters were embarrassed.

After that we walked around Crown Point to look at the bulldogs on display around town. I guess every town seems to be doing this these days after Chicago had their cows. Fort Wayne has elephants, Highland has ducks, Louisville has horses and Baltimore had fish. I have yet to upload my bulldog shots yet.

The next day was 4th of July. Went to the parade, had our picnic then off to the fireworks where it started raining.

Tuesday me and RAW had eye appointments with the doctor Sherry works for. They dilated our eyes so I couldn’t really see the frames for new glasses after the appointment. I eventually went back and picked out something different. I should rephrase that, I didn’t pick anything out, I was going by Sherry’s expertise. We will see, she called today saying they are in and she is anxious to get them to me.

All the kids went to the beach but because of my dilated eyes I thought it wasn’t a good idea to go alone.

That evening, I drove home alone. RAW was back in Fort Wayne taking his mom home and Hollace, with the kids at my mom’s. RAW picked Hollace up on Wednesday morning as I went back to work.

I got to figure out how to focus and quit procrastinating. I have some ArtWorks website stuff to do and a freelance job that actually happened. Instead of actually doing the job I am spending the money I got from it. I just bought a Epson PictureMate portable 4×6 printer. It is too cute and it prints good too.

Catherine Jamison is like a rock star in the photoblogging community. I joined in one of her Flickr groups and every picture I submit, she selects as a FAVE of hers. That alone makes me all warm and fuzzy to have this talented photographer like something of mine. Catherine has been commissioned to write a book on photoblogs so she started another photoblog site where she draws from Flickr. I decided to check in on that blog the other day and was shocked to see one of my photos front and center with a little blurb based on what I wrote as a comment about that particular picture. Too cool

My Flickr addiction is still raging. Last weekend I took a few photos of the kids Monika’s graduation party (wife of Jim from work) so I have been feeding my blog and flickr with people pictures for a change. Getting lots of nice feedback.

Yesterday at work, there was meeting for the webcommitee of the Women’s Leaders in Action that I am part of. There was a new girl joining up. She works in AI doing label design but is fresh out of school with a passion for multimedia. We talked a few minutes after the meeting. I think this meeting gave me the fire to get my focus back on track and to quit wasting so much time. She is stuck in AI for the next 9 months but after that she could give me a run for my money. I sent her a link to my website as she did hers. After initially meeting her I was a little threaten that she will be after my job but after seeing her site which wasn’t horrible by any means, it did ease my mind a bit.

She sent me an email after I sent her my link with a lot of exclaimation marks. I think it was sincere (I could see her passion showing) and not just a brown nose note. We will be getting together soon to talk about all things multimedia and art. At the very least she will keep me on my toes.

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My feet hurt; in 3 different ways. On the left foot is my suspected heel spur that really only gives me problems first thing in the morning. On the right foot I have ankle pain. 15 years ago I fell down a stair in my old Chicago apartment and I suspected I cracked the bone. I never went to a doctor for it (couldn’t have a cast on my driving foot).

On and off since then I get sharp ankle pain. While it might be connected to that old break, I really suspect (there I go suspecting again) that this is gout I am experiencing. The third problem is the ball of my foot on my right side. I suspect bad shoes and obesity are to blame there.

RAW has been complaining about foot problems too so now I have to find a podiatrist for both of us so I can quit “suspecting”

Quick history of Haley.

Last year I was wishing Hollace had a playmate that lived nearby her age. The next day Haley showed up. And showed up and showed up. Her mother and grama don’t keep tabs on Haley and last winter she would be at our house all day with no one checking on her. Then all of a sudden they seemed to keep track of her walking her over and then back home.

Now that it is summer she is running amuck again. She is coming over numerous times during the day and won’t leave when we ask her to. We tried to take a family walk and she tagged along on her bike. We spent the entire walk telling Haley to watch out for traffic or not to run us over. It is summer and Haley’s mom isn’t doing anything to help her with boredom so she just wanders around. When Hollace isn’t home or can’t play I see Haley hanging around the teenagers at the basketball court.

Then we hear Haley may be moving to Tennessee. While Haley was quite the pest, Hollace and her played pretty good together.

Enter Haley number 2. A five year old girl named Haley moved in on the other side, a replacement Haley so to speak. She seemed to be pretty outgoing as well but her parents kept tabs on her.

Haley #1 quickly started hanging out at their house. Haley #2’s mom asked us if anyone is watching out for Haley #1.

Haley #2’s dad came over the other night. He wanted to let us know that while Haley #1 was playing with his daughter and her friend, she tried “kissing on them” and touching inappropriately. I talked to Hollace and am pretty sure nothing like that was happening when she played with Haley #1. Haley #2’s mom work in daycare and went to talk to Haley #1’s mom. Don’t know what happen there. Needless to say Haley #1 isn’t allow over at Haley #2’s house anymore.

You got to wonder what is going on. I sure hope it was inappropriate tv watching that gave her the idea to play that way and not someone acting inappropriate with her. I don’t know what to think.

The very next day I guess there was commotion at Haley #1’s house. Barb next door tells us that Haley was playing rough with her little brother (2 or 3 years old) and knocked him unconscious to the point that he actually quit breathing. She almost killed her brother! I don’t know the whole story and I am sure it was an accident but poor Haley, a lot of dramatic things are happening to her lately. I wonder if this will get her mother to pay attention to her now.