My Chaotic Realm

OK, I have come out the other side of the whole Christmas holiday intact... and even pleasantly recharged from all the hulabaloo that seems to be the norm this time of year. A lovely Solstice was followed by working the following Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday AND Saturday but I have 15 hours of overtime this week, 10 hours of overtime last week... should be enough extra to get my check engine light on the Escape checked out & maybe even fixed. We did get a work bonus for the holiday but after 32% was taken out in taxes (OMG! & WTF?) there was not anything really left to play with. Speaking of work, last night was the daVita holiday party... not bad. Food was good,in spite of the lack of veggies. Music (DJ) was good. Was nice to see some folks outside of work. Today I have discovered and caught up somewhat on the TV show "Almost Human" but have had to stop watching it in order to work on some art projects, one that will be due soon. Also need to go get my holid...

Winter Solstice Blessings to all my friends as I look to the coming of the Sun and the returning of the Light of the world... may you all find that which you seek within. Today was lovely... I went to the Gulfport Gem & Mineral Society's holiday party...home for a quick break then went to look at a ahouse and then attended John's farewell concert as he is moving to Atlanta next week... busy busy day! And fun! Now off to bed because I have work in the morning.. we bumped patients up a day so they, too, could have off for Christmas Day.

So.. if you have been following at all, you will recall I was feeling a bit under the weather Thursday and by the time Friday morning rolled around I was sick sick sick. Sigh. I tried to find someone to cover my Saturday shift but was unsuccessful. So Friday was spent visiting my primary care provider & then returning to bed and trying to feel human and hoping not to puke up my insides every hour. So, :am I awoke and crawled off to work. One of my coworkers volunteered to close for me AND my RN gave me a shot of Zofran. The day got better from there. And I actually made it home at a reasonable hour to get back into bed. Today dawned much better!! I awoke a few minutes before choir practice was to start, made it late but hey... sang like a bullfrog but again, hey. Then off to a fantastic lunch at a hole in the wall called The Ole Biloxi Fillin' Station for an OMG burger. Then got to listen to the Gulf Coast Civic Chorale at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin ...

Well, I see that the day count IS indeed accurate. Walking the dog I saw the neighbors are counting down to Christmas (yard decoration does it for them) and we only have 16 days left until "The Event". OMG. Then that means only 22 days left in the year 2013. WTF happened to the year? Where did it all go? And how did I get to here, then end of it, so fast? I still have 2 projects on my "DO THIS YEAR" board. I have books I meant to read this year (real & Nook). I have not made full use of my gym membership. ARGH. Looking on the bright side... I made it through a lot of things this year, and I made it through them with some semblance of grace. I learned some new things, both relating to the mundane work like and the fun craft life. I joined a couple of new groups and became the newsletter editor for the Gulf Coast Gem & Mineral Society . I met some new people, made some new friends. I even started teaching (mostly) monthly art classes again, which I haven...

Well, I am awake... and late to the Gem Society's crafting workshop. Every third Saturday is the meeting and it is in 2 parts: 9-noon is crafting part of the event & 1-2 is the business part. As the newsletter chair I must attend second part. As the crafting person I am I like attending the first part. But I got called in to work yesterday for someone and closed so was a wee bit tired and have only just now awakened and am sipping my first cup of coffee. Will get there in just a bit, after coffee, breakfast & clothing. Don't think my jammies are appropriate attire, really. Have completed week 2 of the new OS @ work... still sucking. Enough said. On the bright side I had Tuesday off so I created a swing card (several, actually) and created a tutorial for it... will post soon. Would post a picture of one but it is a Birthday card for a co-worker so not going to do that just yet. Have to decide what all I will be taking to Dad's when I go... light packing will incl...

Ok, got the email list and the letter from Gem & Mineral Society of Gulfport this last week so I have completed my first edition of the Gulfport Gems newsletter and emailed it to those I had email addresses for. Only one person gets a snail copy so will print that when I get home from library & get in the mail to lucky recipient. First attempt at the new scheduling being implemented at work (against the better ideas of PCTs but who cares) did not go off as bad as it could have, all things considered. We began tweaking it even before 8am, that should tell you something. But the end result is that I survived... we all did. But doing so this coming Weds, Thurs & Fri will require new tunes, so... acquired some new music (Black Sabbath 13 & Mumford & Sons Babel deluxe CD). Also, hoping me & the BF will get to watch Gravity this week... I am a fan of Sandra Bullock's. Now, off I go to make some paper art!

Well, Laureli helped me get tables set up for today's art gathering and then scampered off to work. I got started then cooking my breakfasts and lunches to take to work for the 4 days I work this week. All set for work so I made roasted red pepper & garlic hummus for something to munch on while we played with our art projects. I got 6 cards made, demonstrated some techniques and watched one gal do wood burning, which was terrific! Another gal made some really cool birthday cards. And of course Mr Buoy was in the middle of things, right up until he discovered the door was ajar and the sun was shining... outside he went. He'd been out once already (with all the rest) but found the wet grass not at ALL to his liking, poor beast. Also uploaded my ATC for this months lottery (is WTA-winner take all) posted so I could be entered before the 10/31 deadline. Got ATCs for 2 current swaps (Fantastic Fish & Snow) completed and ready to be mailed. AND, got a ma...