Helpful Home Improvement Hint Number 1

So that I can continue to consider this a Home Improvement Blog, without feeling guilty about the lack of progress, I'm going to post a weekly helpful tip that is based on my vast knowledge of fixing stuff (when I actually do real work). Here's the first one:When using an extension cord with your power tools, tie the end in a knot like this. That way, if you move the tool around and pull on

Photo Hunters Theme: Sweet

I thought this was a very sweet moment. My little niece walking with her big brother and her grandpa. It was one of the many nature walks we take my sister's children on, and you can tell by this picture that this little girl is the princess of the family. Being the only girl, you would expect that, wouldn't you?

another rough day

Yes, it was another rough day in my life. I am so happy it's the weekend because I can really use some rest. People are now asking me if I've been getting enough sleep. One lady in my office even asked me if I was anemic. I'm fairly certain I'm not, but that says something about the way I look, doesn't it? Maybe I need to lie in the sun or something, get some fresh air and a little color.

Tomorrow is the lighting workshop and I'm really looking forward to it! I'll find out what I'm doing for Hamlet tomorrow too, which is very exciting.

First square complete!

Finally, I finished my first square! I know, I know... at this rate, I'll never finish the blanket. Seriously, I've got to start knitting faster! The pictures are not the best, sorry about that! I used my little camera and the flash tends to wash out colors, so it's actually a lot brighter and prettier in person. One thing that sort of shocked me about this blanket is that it's a lot thinner than I expected. I guess I thought it would be a little more blankety. I know that's not actually a word, but oh well! So the first picture is of all the four miters and how I think I'll arrange them for the blanket and the second picture was my attempt to be a little artistic. Yeah, I know... it didn't work!

Work was rough today. I had to work with a budget today, which always gives me a headache. It's not difficult for me and I know it's something that has to be done, but it always gives me a headache. I have about 16 projects going on right now and while I don't have any problems juggling all of them, I think I'm internalizing everything too much. I keep having this odd dream during which I drive my car into a flooded area and drown because I can't get out of the car. Obviously, this dream is my brain telling me I'm stressing about things. I should stop doing that.

I checked out some freelance job sites (thanks, Devon!) today and am really excited about the prospect of possibly starting a freelance career. I've been thinking about it so much lately, and I have so much to do in order to get things started. I think I'll redesign my web site to make it look more professional. It's very pretty right now and I like it a lot, but I don't think it says what I want it to say. Not at this stage, anyway. It's a tough decision, though, because my best friend designed it and we're currently not in contact with each other (I'm not sure why) so I don't want to change it and have her thinking I did it because I'm upset with her or something. That's not the case at all and I'm probably being paranoid, so maybe I should just forget it and start looking into alternate designs. I'll do some research and see what I can come up with on my own. I did this blog, so hopefully a site won't be too difficult. Of course, the site will be a lot more professional than this blog!

Have I mentioned my recent obsession with beading? I really want to learn how to make jewelry. I blame all my trips to Michael's for knitting and mosaic materials. I kept walking through the bead aisle and going "ooo" and "ahhh" at the pretty beads. I can never find necklaces and earrings that I like, so I think it would be fun to try to make my own. At some point, I'm going to buy a book about making beaded jewelry so I can I'm so craft-obsessed lately! It's odd. I feel like I'm starving, you know? Like I haven't eaten in weeks and the only way to satisfy the hunger is to create something. Writing, knitting, creating mosaics... these things fill me and get rid of the starved feeling. I want to find more and more ways to satisfy that hunger. I know that sounds odd, but it's just how I'm feeling right now. I'm doing more writing these days than I ever have, and it's all because I need to create. I like it. It makes me more productive! I think this whole starving for creative activities has something to do with how not creative my job is right now. Or maybe it's something else. I don't know...

This week, I've been working on a few short stories. I didn't put them on the sidebar because they are mainly an experiment. I haven't written a short story in awhile. I thought I might write a few so I can enter them in several different contests that are coming up. There's a writing conference in my area in October and I'm finally going to go to it. They always have a short story contest associated with the conference. This year will be the third annual and I've never been able to go. This year, I'm making my reservations as soon as they announce the dates!

Wow, this was a long post! I'd better go now... time for bed!

Close the Curtain

I am ending my involvement with Script Frenzy. It's just not working right now. I think I'd like to go back to it sometime later, but I don't think a marathon writing contest is the best way to learn the complexities of writing a script. I didn't write my first novel with NaNo, so why did I think I could write my first script with Script Frenzy? Anyway, it was a learning experience.

Here's something interesting... I submitted bids on some freelance grant projects. I could really use some extra income right now and there's no time like the present to start working on that freelance dream! I eventually want to do other types of freelance projects, but I found so many grant proposals that I had to bid on a few of them. Don't worry, I didn't overdo it. I looked at my time and figured out how many I could do even if I got all of them. I only submitted 3 bids because I know that even if I get all of them I can do it! I think this will be a good test (on a small scale, of course) to see if I can cope with freelance writing. If I don't get any of these, I'll bid on some other projects. I'll keep bidding until I get something! I'm really excited about this!

Work has been okay lately. I'll be sending a grant off Friday and then I'll start on a new one Monday. I'm seriously averaging about one a week these days. Anyway, I'm still training the guy who is going to be doing my job in Florida. It's interesting, almost like training a replacement, only he's not replacing me.

Anyway, that's enough of that! It turns out that I'll be on the other side of the stage for Hamlet and I couldn't be happier! I'll either be assistant stage manager or I'll be in the light booth. I honestly don't care where they put me, I'm just excited to do it. I'm participating in a lighting workshop on Saturday, so I'll be prepared for either job.

Speaking of Saturday, I'm doing an anti-rain dance because I want to do some outdoor photography after the workshop. Keep your fingers crossed that it's a pretty afternoon!

Photos from Vacation

Finally, I'm posting some photos from my vacation! There are just a few here, but I thought I'd share.

Escape From NY: I Rub a Bull's Balls

Impressions of New YorkWell, my NYC trip was eventful. I don't think I'll get that job at the investment bank, but I did get a call from a different headhunter on friday about a different investment bank, for which I am less qualified, so I got that going for me.I'm trying to decide whether I would want to go to NYC at all. Walking around there, reminded me of the things I hate about New York: