2010--the Year of Change.

Yep, that's what I'm going to call this year. You never know where things are going and what will happen. Change is the only constant.

Welcome 2010. 2009--don't forget your hat on the way out.

When will this year be over? Yeah, ok, I know, December 31...a few days from now. Sigh. 2009 has been full of challenges and I can't wait to see the back end of it. One of the ladies at work told me that in her household they take the tree down before the New Year. The idea is not to bring any of the bad vibes and 'old issues' from the past into a fresh new year. I like the thought of that...so the tree will be coming down before the New Year starts. Why take chances?

I had a wonderful Christmas day and so did my family. I am enjoying the videos my sister took (post more) and can't wait to see the rest of the photos. Here's an interesting fact...my parent's have had a digital camera for about a year now and I have yet to see a photo that they have taken and if I was to ask the question of if they took any photos on Xmas day the answer will likely be no. Hey guys 'use it or lose it'. Moving on....

I have been mulling over a number of thoughts lately. My brain hurts sometimes from the mulling. Seasons and people come and go in our lives. Destinations are not always known. What is your definition of happy? Where will we all be this time next year and who will be in our lives?

Where will we all be this time next year and who will be in our lives? And that my friends is the biggest question at the moment. But one I am not going to try and answer until after my trip to Italy. Oh, and funds are getting tight on the once in a lifetime trip so if anyone out there has won the lottery recently and would like to donate some cash I'm happy to accept it. ;)

I made a list of 10 things I wanted to do over the holidays. The list was originally meant for the 4 day weekend but I have decided to extend it into the next long weekend as well. It isn't big or important so no worries but a few things I'd like to get done. One of the items is sew on buttons. The pile of buttons and things that need buttons isn't towering over me but it is starting to inhibit my wardrobe selections. A couple of items I managed to cross off the list--hang new shower curtain, finish pink necklace. Yep, its a tough list.

The necklace is actually a project that I originally started in mid-August. I haven't worked on it the past few months so it didn't actually take me 4.5 months to finish. The necklace is what actually prompted a trip to Ikea and the purchase of the desk/table for crafting. Which lead to the re-arranging of the living room the hurting of my back and the list goes on. But with a 4 day weekend ahead of me and a feeling of relaxation I decided to tackle the necklace again and I'm glad I did. I am very happy with the results. Now to start the next one. LOL. The next one has a much simpler design and now that I know a little bit more about what I am doing it should go much faster. Oh, and I purchased a proper crimping tool over the weekend which makes one portion of the projects much easier and faster. Isn't it amazing what the proper tools can do?

Here's a few photos from this weekends work...and the finished product.


Seed beads are very messy. They come on strings but when removed from the string have a tendency to roam all over the house.


I need a lamp. This is my bedside lamp and doesn't produce enough light to see the tiny holes in the beads unless I am holding everything right under the shade. I have looked at Ikea but they are all energy saving lamps and don't seem to have enough sparkle to see. Maybe I should look at the craft stores...hmmm...good idea.
Detail of necklace.



The finished product. The large piece of rose quartz in the centre was not wrapped by me. The lady at the craft store made the cage. That was one part of the necklace I knew needed to be done correctly or I would regret it later on...when the rock fell out and broke. It isn't quite what I had envisioned and I can add more to it if I want...but I'm happy with the results when I wear it. I might just wear it to the office tomorrow and see if I get any comments on it.

In the background is my apartment building.


Just a few shots as I wandered around the neighborhood this afternoon.



Christmas day photos...

Happy Merry Christmas Eve!

It has been a relaxing afternoon. I watched some tv, arranged my Christmas flowers and prepared homes for my new fish. Yep, I decided it was time to get a couple of new fish. I picked their names and am just about to inform them...and you.

Zorba (will be the orange one)
Live each day.

Ferdinand (will be the blue one)
Adventurous in life.

I think their names reflect the way we should live our lives. There is a poem that floats around email now and again. I heard it the other day and it served as a reminder to me...hopefully it will be a reminder to you as well...

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave
with the intention of arriving safely
in an attractive and well preserved body,
But rather to skid in sideways,
chocolate in one hand,
wine in the other,
body thoroughly used up,
totally worn out and screaming
"WOO HOO what a ride!"

I received a couple of additional gifts today, one from a co-worker and one from the 'boss'. They were quite unexpected and very nice. I have also received a few Christmas cards from you lovely folks in cyber space. Thanks.

I had thought about doing laundry tonight, but someone already has the machine and they put a very large comforter inside which led to water all over the floor. Perhaps I will wait and just head to the laundromat over the weekend. My other thought for the evening was going out to view the lights. Now that I am settled into the apartment for the evening I have decided to wait on that and just simply enjoy an evening of peace and relaxation.

Merry Christmas.

We've passed out of the darkness and into the light! That may be a slight exaggeration but the days are getting longer.This of course is fantastic news for those living farther North of me...for those in the South maybe not such a big change.

I was looking up those large generally white boxes that you put food in on the internet yesterday. We need one for our new office. Apparently I have been misspelling the word for years.... but look at this both are correct.....
refrigerator fridge

I have been spelling refridgerator with a D for years. Whoops.

I mailed exactly 5 Christmas cards this year. They are a hit and miss thing in my house. Some years everyone gets one the next few years no one. I found a few cards in my decorations and decided to send them out...then I wanted to send out a few more but had run out of cards and stamps. For those of you who get cards...Merry Christmas. For those of you who didn't get cards....Merry Christmas. I love you all equally.

Everyone seems to be settling into the new office nicely. We are about 85% unpacked. The contractors put the final touches on yesterday and have vacated the board room we had built. There is still some furniture to order but for now everyone has a desk and a place to work. I have been staring at my artwork the past few nights trying to pick the one or two pieces that will grace the walls at the office. One lady asked why I would want to bring in art from home to look at. "I want to see it at my house," is what she said. "I spend most of my time at the office it makes sense to me to have it there." She finally agreed that indeed there may actually be more viewing time at the office than at home. Think about it. 8 full hours a day, 5 days a week. I average 5 hours of OT a week. I am home between 6:30pm and 7:30am M-F and sleeping for at least 8 hours of that. Take out the odd night at the movies, shopping time, walking, etc...and the time actually spent at home awake is minimal. So I continue to look around the apartment and think about the pieces that will follow me to the office.

Have a great day!

The tree is trimmed.

I think it turned out much better than last year. The blue is definitely what was needed. The topper though I will change next year...I think something different is required...not sure what. Maybe I will find something at the boxing day sales.





I have a ton of other decorations including the travel tree...but I don't think I'm putting anything else up...not this year.

Well the week is finally over. Thank goodness.

It was a very emotional week for me and the tiniest of things set me off into tears. Obviously it wasn't the events, it was the loss of my friend, but I am feeling--not happier maybe more accepting of the past week and am ready to remember the good times and not dwell on the terrible end to a wonderful persons life.

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The office move has gone smooth. Very smooth. I spent most of Friday directing movers and re-arranging the things I mis-directed. The telephone lines were moved, the internet and network re-connected, all the furniture was carried up a flight of stairs and nothing is broken or missing. Imagine that. Today a few of us headed in to continue the rearranging. On Monday morning everyone has a desk and computer to use. And a ton of boxes to unpack. We borrowed 105 totes from the movers and 40 of them were unpacked by the time I left tonight. I plan to head in tomorrow for a brief visit to unpack my desk. I hope to do some purging of papers during the remainder of this year. There is lots to re-do and lots that can be sent to long term storage instead of left hanging around our current office. I do prefer to live without clutter....not that you would know that from the state of my apartment tonight.

I also hope to hang up some things on my walls and assume the other folks in the office would prefer I do my hammering when they are not next door. I am hanging up my two degrees, my Inuit art calendar, a white board, maybe a bulletin board if I can find one and a nice framed print or two from my walls at home.

Unofficially I won the office decorating contest. I say unofficially because everyone voted but the winner was never announced. I asked...I had to ask....and was told that I had won but there was no prize purchased yet. Maybe next week when we do the Secret Santa gift exchange...I don't care about the prize I just want the bragging rights.

Here's a couple pictures of my office...

My Tree of Travels. Most of the decorations have been collected from my travels around the globe. Mexico, Labrador, and London are the predominate locations for ornaments. A large number were also made by my niece and nephew.


Snowflakes....