Now What??

For the last 2 1/2 weeks, I have been planning on getting "the husband" an iphone for Christmas. I have had to wait, because if I would of purchased it 2 1/2 weeks ago the cell phone service company would of sent his phone a text saying "Thanks for purchasing your new iphone", or of course I could of just deactivated his current phone because he won't notice, right?

Yesterday I decided that I can't wait any longer, I did not want the cell phone service company to sell out. After waiting for 45 minutes, I am finally helped. The clerk gets the iphone and then terror strikes with a single piece of paper..................the monthly plans.....$90.00 a month is the basic of all basic plans! If "the husband" wants to actually have access to all the features of the phone (which costs $200, and is "locked" so we couldn't take this phone to another company), the monthly plan is $130! This price outrages me. I left the store empty handed and very stressed out.

From the store I drove straight home, walked in the house, didn't say a word to "the husband", didn't greet the dogs, opened up the freezer, grabbed my bottle of Bacardi, took one good swig straight from the bottle.....and then one more, then greeted my family.

It is now Christmas Eve, the present I was going to get "the husband" is not going to happen, the other presents I would of purchased for him I had to get online and I don't think I can get someone to expedite something to a remote island in Alaska on Christmas Eve...I feel defeated.



One more thing, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Wait...Wait...Wait!

I woke up at three thirty in the morning with a terrible toothache, and tried to fall back asleep quickly with no avail. Four o'clock I was still awake in pain so to the pain killers I went. Unfortunately the pain killers took what felt like a lifetime to kick in, but I was finally able to fall back asleep (no idea when that was), and I received a little bit more sleep before JACK FM woke me up at six.

The achy tooth has given me problems off and on, but with no insurance and expensive living (food, gas, etc) I have tried to put off doing something about it. With the little episode last night I decided I can no longer put it off, daily doses of Tylenol isn't going to fix the problem. So I called my dentist this morning to schedule an appointment.

The receptionist, "Well, let me see...the earliest appointment...I can get you in January 29th..."

JANUARY 29TH!!! Are you kidding me?? My tooth hurts and the earliest I can get in is over a month from now!!

I called around to other dentists and received the same response. I am beginning to learn living here that you do not wait to schedule things other wise you will be waiting even longer.

$3.04

On the extremely long drive to work today, (mile and a half, come on I know you feel sorry for me), I did as I always do and looked at the price of gas as I passed the gas station...$3.04!!

Some of you may laugh at that price, or even gasp at it being so high. I, on the other hand am thrilled, that on this remote island by the time I need gas again I may pay even less than that...I have 1/4 tank left. When gas spiked to such high prices all over the US, the highest price here hit $3.94. At that price I seriously thought about commuting on my bike.

Snowboarding in a Tank Top and Shorts

As of yet my quiet little town hasn't seen much snow. At least not any that has stayed on the ground for a long length of time, the rain has washed it all away. Excited to get out and snowboard for the first time since I moved to the island, I waxed my board right before we received a huge rain storm. I am brilliant like that! In order for me to go snowboarding now, I have to hike up to the top of a mountain.

The solution...Shawn Whites Snowboarding Road Trip on the Wii!!!

I have been waiting for the local WalMart or game shop to have the game for some time now. It hit the stores everywhere else in the middle of November, unfortunately things on this island take a lot longer or never arrive (Internet shopping is a must, but watch out for shipping charges). Our local Blockbuster actually had it in stock, so last Friday I rented the game as something to do while the guys played cards. To play the game you ride the Wii board. It is placed sideways, as if you are on a snowboard. In order to turn, you lean forward and backwards...to jump, you bend down and then stand up straight (as if to jump, but don't jump on the board...it gets mad at you), you also preform tricks, carve, ride rails etc...loads and loads of fun.

Friday night I played for 4 1/2 hours.
aturday, I convinced my husband to play it with me and we played for 5 hours.
unday we played for another 5 hours.

We are hooked and almost finished with the game, who needs snow to snowboard anyway!

Unfortunately after 15 hours of "snowboarding" I can barely walk up and down the stairs to work. I thought video games where supposed to make me lazy and fat..?

"Don't be Sad, I love you all!"

At any given time I have at the very least 4 or 5 unfinished projects just sitting around the house waiting for the next time I will pay attention to them. I imagine they may even cry a little at night, my sad unfinished, pushed aside projects. This past week I have been dedicated to work on two of these sad unfinished projects.

The shrug!! At first glance a funny piece of clothing...sleeves but no body. I am very fond of the shrug. Bought my first one 5 years ago when they were not in style and everyone really couldn't decide if they liked it or not. "Oh....that is...cute! Keeps your arms warm I bet?" More or less they were trying to say, "You look cute in it, but that's because your weird anyway, and we expect you to wear weird things. You'll never catch me in that thing. I sure hope you didn't spend a lot of money on that thing!" The shrug I am working on now, is black and crocheted worked in a shell stitch. I am finished with the body and now just need to decide how I want the cuffs.

Next is the crocheted cotton skirt. Why I decided to take on a big project like a skirt after crocheting my wedding dress is beyond me. Don't ask cause I have no answers. I would like to say it is a third done. Each night I try to at least work on 3-5 rows. I am working the body in the same multi-color yarn and will be adding strips of solid colors toward the middle and bottom of the skirt. And Let me tell you, I am more than ready to change colors and stitches.

Maybe by next week I will have two happy finished projects.

It's 25 degrees out there

Last weekend I ventured out of the house and milled around downtown. This happens to be a dangerous thing for me to do. I found myself in the locally owned yarn and fiber shop, in a sea of yarn of all colors, textures, and thickness. I had to hold myself back from buying one of every skein. At one point I actually had 10 different skeins in my arms, but in the end settled on just two...

The yarn on the left is what is left of the skein. I started on a project with that yarn as soon as I was home and my shoes were off. Here is the finished project, a combo knitting/crochet scarfett. I think I will make it longer or at least put some fringe on it, but until then I will wear it like it is.

I am not sure what I will make with the multi colored yarn, but it has to be something extra special. That yarn is handspun and hand dyed, and a little on the pricey side, but hey it is beautiful. Any suggestions of what I should make with it?

Gimmie a H....gimmie a O-C-K-E-Y!

Sunday morning I woke up at 7:30am to give myself time to wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and eat some toast before I would have to exert all of my energy on the rink. Last Tuesday I did not make it to Hockey, I was feeling sick and did not think it would be a good idea to play. So Sunday was my first skate of the season.

I arrived at the rink, with a few butterflies in my tummy, wondering if I would still remember how to play and if I would even still be any good?! I was greeted by name, by all the regulars. They were surprised and happy to see me, which made me feel warm inside that during my little hiatus last year, I was missed.

I skated good enough, even managed to make a goal. I remembered why I love to play hockey! The cold air touching my cheeks, the sound of my blades as they dig into the ice and the welcoming friends that greet you with smiles on their face.

But I'm Not Ready?!?!

I got to work today, and start my morning routine, check the back up system, check the voicemail, restart the computer, open programs and check my yahoo mail. Junk, junk and more junk. Then...I see it...in the subject line.....GAME ON! I knew it meant that the rink was ready for hockey, and it is, in fact today is the first day of practice!

Now you would think that I am extremely thrilled about this and I am but I have done a very poor job at getting ready. In the beginning of October I tried to put myself on a exercise routine and failed miserably. I tried to get in the swing of things again in the beginning of this month, again I failed.

I WILL go tonight to the first night of practice for the season, sweat my butt off, huffing and puffing for 2 gruesome hours and enjoy every minute. The pain tomorrow will be another story.

When in doubt...Make it!

I have had my eye on this $140 jacket for sometime now, yet I haven't been able to justify spending that amount of money on a jacket that won't be warm, is white so it will get dirty, and hard to wash. (it is though, a beautiful jacket)

My solution: I went to the store and thumbed thru a couple sewing pattern catalogues in search for a jacket pattern. I wanted something unique, and maybe something I change up or add to later. I found McCalls DIY Style pattern #M5714, purchased some fleece and with excitement headed home. All in all it took me 3 nights (an hour or 2 each night), deciding how I wanted my jacket to look like, cutting out the pattern, laying out the pieces, figuring out the directions and finally having a finished project that I am proud of.....

Still needs a few extra decorative touches, but for now DONE!! (and the total spent, $30 including the pattern.)

It's coming...snow has dusted the tops of all the mountains, like powered sugar sprinkled atop a sweet brownie. I may be one of ten individuals on this island that is actually excited to see the snow, and here's I say to the others, "it will fall whether you complain about it or not, so you mine as well see the beauty in it!"

This winter I am looking forward to hockey, snowboarding and having a 4 wheeler fling me around on a frozen pond while clinging to an inner tube. Good times...good times!

Winter crafting??? I plan to conquer mittens/gloves and hopefully teach myself how to knit socks.

I Survived!!!!!

I have officially survived my first tax season, working at the accounting agency!! Oh big deal you may say...but there were days I did not think I would make it. Stress makes people crazy! I have learned though, I am not a stressful person. And in this world of accounting, it helps not to be just another crazy log on the fire.

Here are some goodies from this last week...

Finger food...This is a grilled ham and cheese biscuit sandwich.













Because everything deserves their own sweater...I hand knit a cozy for my external hard-drive.














And my new favorite dish, Bob's Red Mill Vegi Soup. Add carrots, celery, cherry tomatoes, onion and spices...throw in the crock pot for 8 hours on low heat...dinner is served!

Movie Night

I have decided that since I am part of the "married couple" club now, I better start doing married couple things right? So I have organized movie night!! Where all of our friends, married or not, (cause I am not going to discriminate) can enjoy comfortable seating, cheaper snacks, booze and the wonderful pause button...oh and I can't forget the 42" LCD flat screen and blue ray movies.

I plan to host movie night the first Saturday of every month, and the first one was this past Saturday. It was a little unorganized and only one couple showed up. I had fun regardless, watching Hitman, drinking wine, and eating oreos. I am hopeful that more of our friends will join in, making it something to look forward to during the long cold and dark months of winter. (I should mention that it snowed yesterday, just slight flurries) My thoughts...even if I can't get one person to join in, my husband and I can still enjoy movie night!!

Side Note:
The recycled jeans chair....still where I left it, UNFINISHED! Maybe for the next movie night it will be finished?

AN ALIEN!!!...oh it's just a chair?!

The "Alien" has been sitting out of the way, and untouched. I had made great progress on it, till well I stuffed it with Polyfil and determined something had gone terribly wrong. I had in fact done nothing wrong, just hadn't finished it. Last night, after my husband went to bed I decided I would take another look at the thing and see what I needed to do to finish it. I still don't believe that I am done with my recycled jeans chair....but I am close.....

It may not be ready for the hippie van....but at least it looks like a chair.

Someone New

I am officially a new person! At least according to the gov't. July 3rd of this year I married my "person" (the one who truly knows me and loves me just the same), and this last week I have finally received my new social security card and now I carry his last name. Unfortunately as a new person I am not 20 lbs thinner with less grey hair. Same old me...different name. Case in point...I am still in a creative funk and having such a hard time finishing projects. Last Friday I started work on the recycled jeans pillow chair. As of right now it looks like an alien and nothing like a chair, which needs to look like one by next Saturday, for my very first movie night. I had to use 5 pairs of jeans and an entire box of Polyfil. It is in the final stage and as of right now I am not sure if I really even like it all that much. I plan to embellish it with some pockets and maybe a decal/patch or something. Who knows I may end up ripping it all apart and making something else...I am rebellious like that!

Mii Fit?...need Wii Fit!

I kept seeing, hearing and reading about the Wii fit board. Well seeing as I am a huge Wii junkie I "NEEDED" one. Which I actually I didn't think I needed one till I saw it at the store, then my addiction kicked in. I grabbed the box, held it up, then quietly yelled across the aisle, "HONEY, HONEY LOOK!! CAN I HAVE IT?" By the time he turned to look at me I was already hugging the box and giving him my best puppy dog eyes. Like my hubby would ever say NO to me!


The box was opened and set up as soon as I got home. I find it very fun way to get your booty off the couch, my favorite is the yoga and the way it shows your balance. I must warn you though, this thing is brutally honesty.

The first step you need to do when you start off is tell it your age, height and step on it to get weighted. I did this, knowing I am no where close to 105 lbs or even what one would consider my ideal weight. I stood on the board, it tells me to relax and not to fidget...analysing...please wait...I stand there stiff as a board, nervous as heck to find out what it will tell me. Finally the BMI (Body Mass Index) result, I watch as the indicator bar goes up and up, obese (which means I am about 20-30 lbs more than I should be). Then I look at my mii on the screen, she's a cartoon version of me with piggy tail braids and freckles and now about 30lbs larger then she was, yes this thing actually made my mii....well look like me, not the fantasy version I had designed her to be.

The next step is to do a balance test. Yeah with my clumsy self this should be fun right. During both the tests my hubby sits on the couch laughing (out loud) and saying "wow, I knew you were a little clumsy...just not that much". Ha Ha thanks hubby. Luckily I can laugh at myself and was laughing just as much as he was. Then to make my self esteem weaken just a little more, my favorite toy speaks to me....

You are very unbalanced...do you trip on your own feet.

Pass the Concealer Please!

The deadline has come and gone...and I am wore out. Insert your biggest exclamation point here!

Working a full day last Saturday and the insanely busy day on Monday has left me with no energy and is killing my perfect housewife image. It's just not the same when your serving homemade quiche with dark circles under your eyes and your hair is all over the place. At least it was made with love.

I have managed to slowly make progress on a few craft projects. The crocheted skirt is now 3 rows bigger....I can officially use it as a belt now. My stuffed pillow chair is designed (drawn out on newspaper and drafted in my head) and I am in the process of cutting up the jeans into neat squares and rectangles. I am excited to start sewing the pieces together and having the chair take shape. It's always an amazing moment when something I think up in my head comes to life, I just can't wait!

Taking a Smoke Break

Please excuse my short post. I work in an accounting office and we are running toward the Corp Tax deadline. My desk is loaded with paperwork, so at least until September 15th, posting will be light.

Scheduling Creativity

I think it has been about 2 weeks since I've picked up a crochet hook, plugged in the sewing machine or even glued two pieces of paper together. I MUST BE LOSING MY MIND. My main excuse....I have been sick, wicked cold, head congestion, cough, and no energy. The other excuse.............the wii, shhh don't tell anyone of my addiction or they'll take it away.

Projects on the agenda...
Bean Bag chair for my hippie van.
Mohawk hat for friends new baby.
Black and Gray Cotton and Lace Skirt.
Crocheted Skirt.

Taco Bell/KFC Update

I swore that we wouldn't do it!!!!!! But on opening day my hubby and I decided to wait in the lines, and stand with the crowds for chulupa's, cheesy gordita crunches and Mexican pizza's. He left work early in hopes the line wouldn't be that long, he waited 30 minutes in line, ordered and they informed him that it would be around 1 to 1 1/2 hours for his food. Just in case you think I miss typed that...1 to 1 1/2 hours for Taco Bell. He went home to wait, as most people did after ordering.

We both went back after a little over an hour had passed. And waited the rest of the time in the crowded, newly remodeled Taco Bell/KFC. It was quite the social hour, it seems that everyone was at Taco Bell/KFC!!

In the end we waited a total of 2 1/2 hours! Half hour in line before ordering and 2 hours for food......and it was totally worth it. I was surprised that no one got frustrated waiting, it was expected and everyone was just happy that it is finally OPEN!

Crunch-A-Weesey

I am sure everyone who lives on this island (and blogs) will write about this, but it's huge news in my small town, and I have to write about it too.......WE HAVE A TACO BELL....and KFC!!!!!!! It's a dual Taco Bell/KFC store.

It may not sound that exciting to those of you who have a Taco Bell, McDonalds, Carl Jr., Arbys, Dairy Queen, etc, on every corner....on this island it is the talk of the town. Up until today as far as fast food we had McDonalds and Subway. Being a vegetarian those two places aren't very accommodating. At Mc D's I can eat.....um....french fries, and french fries and...oh...a fruit parfait, at Subway a veggie sub. Now don't get me wrong I do really love those two places, I just need a little more variety sometimes, and Taco Bell will give it to me. Just substitute beans for meat and I can eat everything on the menu.

Look out bean burrito....here I come!!!

And Little Red Berries Danced In Her Head.....

Since I have lived on this island I have been more in tune with nature and the simple life. And with the direction this country is moving, we all better start!

My recent adventures have included tromping through thorny bushes, slippery hills, bees, spider webs and the occasional slug. Because it's that time of year again, time for Salmonberries!!! Actually we should of been gathering them a month and a half ago, but better late than never (like last year, not one berry). I found a great spot and have three gallons already...would like at least 3 more gallons. It may sound like a lot to you, but I have berry fever and need to make enough jam to get me through the winter. Now I just need to learn to make peanut butter!!

Things I make with Salmonberries....

• Jam
• Dog Treats
• Barbecue Sauce

What do you do with an old sub woofer?

Every Friday night the guys get together and play cards at my house. I usually play the sweet house wife...cook and serve food, make sure everyone has drinks, etc. After everyone is all settled I usually venture to my bedroom and watch a movie...boring!!! The solution, transform the guest bedroom/office/storage/dog room into my movie/gaming room. I turned the bed into a couch bed by shifting the already over-sized futon mattress to create a back cushion...the desk into an entertainment center by detaching the top shelving...I could go on but I don't want to bore you too much with the details.

Through all this rearranging, there was lots of throwing things away, including a sub woofer. When I looked at the room the next day, it was missing something...a table...so without further ado the Sub Woofer Undertaker table....

The sub woofer is the base (and still fully functional). The top is boards from the desk I took apart. With a little black spray paint, E600 glue, Mod Podge and an Undertaker poster......we have the coolest movie/gaming room table!!!

Why Wrist Warmers?

Every now and then I think, I should of listened to my mom and placed my tattoos better...spider and flames on the back of my calf, flames on my wrist....shoot who knew I would leave the world of radio and end up working for accountants?

Working in a professional office, the flame tattoo on my wrist has become the biggest inconvenience...needless to say, I wear a lot of long sleeves! I have though come up with a great solution, WRIST WARMERS!!







Not only are they fun and simple to make, they are cute to wear and even better allow me to wear short sleeves, hello freedom.

Where to Begin???

I don't quite know how to start this blog, so I guess I will just dive in with a little about me. I like to believe I am a free spirit. I moved to this wonderful island a few years ago and it was the best decision of my life. Without the stress of the busy city I moved from, I can spend time being creative with my crafts and relaxing in the quiet outdoors (inbetween calling for my dog and watching for bears). I have a wonderful husband, two pit bulls and a cat.