So I have bit the bullet. I have paid off my Sears Card in one gigantic lump sum. This was an account that they had closed on me almost 5 years ago, for no real apparent reason. I was paying and on time each month. Jerks. So glad to be done with this card. I don't shop at Sears either after their attitude, and especially not at their gouging interest rate at the end (you know, the Credit Card company scramble to raise interest rates before the Gov't deadline to lock everything in.)

So glad to be done with this.

Next, I need to work on Bankof###Hattery (America) with their gouging 27 percent interest on an account /I/ closed over a year ago because they'd raised it to 25 percent interest. Jerks. Will be glad to be done with that one too when all is said and done, but may take me a long while before that happens. Did I mention they were jerks? No really, they are.

But, today, I'll bask in my very small sense of accomplishment.

One down, 4 more to go and a car payment.

1. Send critique notes to stephdray for her novel. I finished reading it this weekend, and I'm a few days behind on my deadline.

2. Finish the border for bluekitsune's wedding quilt topper. I had hoped to get that done before this weekend, but was unable to do so.

3. Write at least 5,000 new words for my own novel, and plan to set this as a goal each week so there is at least some forward motion, if not a ton.

4. Schedule an RP scene with Ojitar.

5. Schedule an RP scene with Torianos - long, long overdue.

6. Some much needed combat time on World of Warcraft.

And many other possible things I cannot think of at the moment - and in this exact order, so the important stuff gets done first, and I can play and do other things later.

So to speak...

I have one of my cards down to to about $1k - and there is an extra pay period this month. I have enough money saved right now that if something goes wrong, I'll be fine if I take the other half of what I need out to pay the card. This means - this card will be gone, forever gone, and I will be greatly pleased by this.

It will be paid off in its entirety - a year past my original deadline - on Wednesday.

This is a muchly pleasing thing.

One down. Four more and a car to go.

Had a great weekend this weekend. I went to stephdray and adamdray's house to celebrate. My celebrations, however, began on Friday to meet up with Steph, and help her cook for the 4th, and then together we went to bluekitsune's SSB is in Town Partay!! Because, SSB was back from NOLA for a visit (yay!). Had a grand time there, meeting her varied and sundry family members, and talking about Romance novels, etc. Then Steph and whisked ourselves back to her house, getting lost maybe once or twice going through Bethesda because her Garmin was deliberately putting on a show that it could get itself lost for my benefit (I had been dubious about the GPS machine from the beginning.)

Saturday was the party at Steph's house, where I had good food, and spent time with great people. It was a bit overwhelming, so as per usual I was trying to find a quiet corner to hide in a bit - but noticed the crowds kept following me in. Pure coincidence, but I at least did manage to find some quiet moments.

Had an absolutely fantastic weekend, and am looking forward to many more.

One of my friends is getting married in the coming months, and she is putting together a wedding quilt, whereby many different people contribute to her quilt. I finished the majority of my personal square today, though it is smallish and it seems like I'm going to have to put a border around it to fit the 12.5 x 12.5 parameters.

Here is a picture of my work:



There's at least one spot I need to patch up to make sure it doesn't come undone, but otherwise it looks like it'll be okay. Here's to keeping my fingers crossed!

My next project is to work on a wall hanging quilt (complete with cloth and pattern) that I purchased a month or so ago. Ideally, I am using this to learn how to complete something other than just toppers. Here's to crossing my fingers that I don't screw it up too much, like I almost did this one. In actuality, the pattern goes in the opposite direction for the one above than the direction I ended up with - however it all worked out well and that's what counts.

It is the middle of June already and I am wondering where the time has gone. Things have been pretty busy, and they do not look like they are going to be getting any less busy for the foreseeable future - which is not something I am complaining about. In fact, I've been enjoying myself immensely, which is a good thing. It's good to be getting out of the house, seeing people and doing things in general.

Yesterday, at work, we had a visitor. Or, rather, outside of work we had a visitor. A very pretty doe decided to come out of the woods and down by the embankment where the cars are parked. I looked up from the front desk, where I sit, and saw her eating the leaves off fo some of the trees and bushes there. She was so very content, and didn't seem to care about the people around her at all. It was nice to see a creature of nature, despite the construction that is going on in the area (they are expanding Tischer Acura to the field across from us), just being out and about and uncaring of the world around her. She eventually wondered around the side of the building, and started munching on the grass there, out in the open.

I made the mistake of looking at my finances this weekend. Generally, I don't look at them over the weekend because I often stress about my financial situation. But, Sunday morning I decided to take a peak to see where my credit cards were, and then I got the shocking surprise that all of my cards jumped between 6 to 12 points, up, in interest rates. You cannot imagine how upsetting this was for me, since I pay my bills faithfully and on time every month.

The worst was Bank of America, which I had cancelled last year because they hiked my interest rate to 25 percent. I told them they could take their card and shove it, cancelled it, and started paying off the balance. Eventually, they lowered my rate to 19 precent. I checked my balance and my interest rate yesterday and they hiked it back up.... to 27 percent. I swear to you, if I had not already cancelled the card, I would have called to cancel it again. In fact, I'm almost thinking about calling them to cancel a second time, even if it is already canceled, that's how frustrated I am with them.

I realize there are government incentives coming up to put a freeze on what companies can do with interest rates, but does that really mean that credit companies have to scramble to screw the little guy over in the end? Seriously? This is no way to fix the economy.

Very, very frustrated.

Lisa, who will definitely one day get all of her debt paid off even if it kills her.

Sergio was Nancy and Scott's miniature Italian greyhound. He was very sick this week, not eating, throwing up what he did eat, etc. On Wednesday, Nancy took him to the vet and it was discovered that he had cancer in his lungs and that he had some fluid in his kidneys that should not have been there. The vet predicted he wouldn't have long, so he came back home.

He was sluggish the rest of Wednesday night and all of Thursday. Friday, he finally passed away. I don't typically like dogs - though I did as a kid. Sergio had his good days, and his bad days. I often complained about his barking - because anytime Nancy and Scott left the house, he would bark himself hoarse and then fall asleep. The barking drove me absolutely crazy. He also got himself into a lot of trouble and often stole chocolate. Those were his bad days.

On his good days he was often seeking attention and very affectionate. He'd wiggle himself under your hands so he could scratch his back. Or, he'd wiggle himself into a space nearby, plop himself down and go to sleep. He'd also try and trick you into giving him treats, even if he shouldn't be getting them, a trick that he learned from his long passed brother, Dexter. He'd also try to valiantly protect me when I had visitors coming to the house, which I halfheartedly tried to get him to stop doing. Eventually he'd settle, set himself on my bed, and watch over me protectively as I entertained my guest.

All said, he was a good dog, and he'll be missed by everyone in the family. I'm just glad, for once, a beloved pet did not pass away on a Holiday weekend, as the trend usually tends to be with those I know who have pets. Thank goodness for small things, and may he find peace and happiness in dog heaven.

It is over. I am through with you. You need to see this and understand this. I want nothing more to do with you. It is /over/. Please, get that through your miniscule mind, and dislodge yourself from my person. You are unwelcome. GO AWAY. Three weeks of this nonsense is enough. I really do not want to be engaged for another three.

Sincerely,

Me.

We have officially been informed at work that we are getting July 3rd as a paid day off to observe the July 4th holiday since it falls on a Saturday. This is a happy making thing, as I was not expecting to get a three day weekend. Have I mentioned how much I love my job?

(Thank you Fichtner Services for letting me go.)

I might actually, for once in the 5 or 6 years I've had my phone, come close to starting to touch my roll over minutes.

This amuses me.

It is a rainy, gross Friday. Fridays are not supposed to be rainy or gross. Enough to be depressing, and it is certainly affecting my mood in that manner.

Would like to be curled up in bed, sleeping or reading a book rather than watching a disgustingly dreary day pass me by.

Absolutely, MEH!

This is my rant for the day.

Does anyone have any good recommendations on tips and tricks to sleep through a cough? I'm using the stuff the Dr gave me vs getting something like Robitussin or Nyquil - but it is not doing its job. At all.

Help.

Desperately want a good night's sleep (or any sleep for that matter.)

Woke up to a sore throat this morning. That sucks. Will still try to enjoy my weekend anyway.

Right before the foreclosure of the house, Nancy decided that she wanted to start up a jewelry business and asked if I would help her with it (after she saw the necklace I made for my costume for FiranCon one year - which I have seemed to have misplaced yet again, but I have enough materials to make it again if I must. Loved that necklace!!) I said I would, as time allowed. We went shopping, got beads of all sorts (spending an enormous amount of money) backings, string, wire, etc - and all of the other odds and ends we might need and some books for ideas.

We each started working on a piece, but I don't think either of us actually finished one. It'd been a few years since I made my original necklace, so I had forgotten the time required to put such things together, which was also a factor in my having only done one piece. We were moving at the time, and it was more important for me to pack up my stuff for the movie than it was to be making glittery shinies.

Cut to after the move. Nancy once again suggested she wanted to start working on this again. Again, I'm amenable to doing it, since I've already invested money in buying beads, and other things that I think will work well together. And, I'm pretty sure I can make the time required for this activity. However, I realized something else. When working on the original necklace we were doing it at the kitchen table, which means at dinner time, everything needed to be moved and whatever design you were working on could get messed up. I think if I do this, I'm going to require a dedicated work area. I work better when I have a specific spot where I can just do my crafting. This has always been the case for me.

As a child/teenager, I used to do paint by numbers, paint ceramics, draw (though I suck), latch hook rugs and work on cross stitching. Each of these activities required a spot that was 'mine' for me to complete them. The painting took place in the kitchen, but had the same annoyance as the beadwork presently has - it always had to be moved around. When I did my rugs (I've only done 2), and my cross stitching/embroidery (of which I've done many), I always had the recliner chair in the living room (which was my designated chair since my mother had the swivel rocker and my father had the sofa) to do my work on. It was "my" space.

I sorta have a space again now, with the addition of my sofa and my coffee table in my bedroom, however it is not a space that works well for beadwork. But, it is a good space for stitchery, and I've used it a few times for that already while working on the cross stitch I have yet to finish (though will, hopefully, in the next 2 years - *shuffles feet*).

That said... after this rather long-winded introduction... I wanted to ask this of the crafty people who read my LJ - what are the best places that you've found to display and sell your work once you've completed it? And, are there limits for the number of items you must keep in stock in order to sell it? Right now, I'm just looking at crafted necklaces/earrings/bracelets - with some other possible additions later, if we decide to go that route (like barrettes and hair combs).

I've been thinking about Etsy.com - since Nancy asked where good storefronts would be and I've been hearing a lot about it lately, but other opinions are welcome. I'd consider Cafepress, but that seems more geared towards having things printed or imprinted than other types of store fronts.

It's days like today, bright, sunny, beautiful, that make me wish I was out on a very large boat sailing in the Caribbean.

I am often a patient person, but sometimes that patience wears thin. I am wishing it is already 2010, and the cruise plans were well under way with some of the bestest people I have ever had the priviledge of knowing in my life (that includes the Hubler Family who we met on Cruise 2007 and who were our dinner table partners).

In the meantime, I continue to work on putting a little bit of money away with each pay check so that I am able to actually go on this trip (hence why 2010 was chosen as a date - so I can save money for it) and try my best to be ever so patient about not being on the boat.

Boat = Good Happy Fun Times and Fantastically Happy Memories

It is one of the few places my head goes when I am in need of a pick me up (not that I need one today - just making an observation.)

This is Lisa's random thought for the day, brought to you by the letter R and the number 7.

Special thanks to mnfiddledragon for posting this originally.

Skip down to the part in the blog where Gaiman responds to a letter sent to him about G.R.R. Martin. All I have to say is, amen.

http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2009/05/entitlement-issues.html

Aside from going stir crazy, I did the following things:

I read three books, cover to cover, in less than 3 days.

Melissa Marr's latest book, Fragile Eternity - which delves into the land of the Fae.
Patricia Brigg's latest book in the Mercy Thompson Series: Bone Crossed
L. J. Smith's latest book, after about 12 years, in the Vampire Diaries Series: Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall.

All very good reads, and L.J. Smith managed to captivate me now, as much as she did then, with her series. (She was also the reason why I gained an interest in the occult for awhile, as witnessed by my dusty bookshelf with various witchery and pagan books sitting there.) I am glad to see a familiar teenage series being continued. (Sorry Steph, I love her books even if they are vampy!)

I started Neil Gaimon's: The Graveyard Book.

I caught up on various television shows I was behind on.

I caught up on sleep.

I moved my furniture around in my bedroom, which has been waiting almost a month to get completed after I got my new bed.

I reorganized my home office book shelves, which have been waiting since November to be completed, and cleaned

I started writing on my own novel again.

I started brainstorming an idea for a second book - completely separate from the current one I am writing.

I bought new sheets - consuming the last of my gift card for Bed, Bath & Beyond.

I picked up DDR Hottest Party 2 for the Wii, consuming the last of my gift card for Best Buy. (Now I just need to find my controller wands since the Wii has not been out of the box since I moved in November.)

Had an absolutely, wonderfully distracting day with a good friend on Sunday who spoiled me rotten. (Even if I didn't give him the photos he wanted.)

Altogether, even though I was completely stir crazy last week, I still managed to get quite a bit of stuff accomplished - which likely would have taken longer for me to accomplish if I had internet. Still. It's never allowed to go down again. Or, if it does, it'll have to be next year when I go on Cruise 2010.

I have an idea for a new book that I think will be quite interesting. I have not given up on my old idea, and indeed I intend to continue writing it, but it helps to be able to set it aside and mull it (not that I have been doing anything but that lately) while working on a new idea.

Now to