Sunday, December 11, 2011

My Shiny Balls

These balls actually do not belong to me.  I was trying to explain to Cookie what a small, boring town I live in by telling her about the big "haps" here in Holland, MI. 

It is a HUGE deal right now that the City of Holland spent approximately 50k on new holiday decorations for our downtown.  Now the very first thought when I saw these planters was "kids are gonna start stealing those immediately".  I don't think it's a malicious thing, but we're a college town (and a resort town really) and there are drunken young adults roaming the streets pretty much at any given time after dark.



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Don't get me wrong, I totally love them.  In my book, there are very few things more fantastical than a big bucket of super shiny, colorful balls.  About the only thing that could ever make them better would be glitter and sequins.

Oh but you don't want to miss the hanging balls.  These are on every light pole.


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Anyway, about a week later, FRONT PAGE NEWS:  People are stealing this shit.  And I am not even joking.  That was really front page, not like a figurative, metaphorical front page thing.

Well, no duh.  So because they are like magical, weather-proof, glass from the moon, blah blah or something, they had to spend something like another 2k to replace the stolen big balls.

This is really the big news where I live.  Now there are a lot of people who are PISSED about this money being spent on decor, and I do get it, but I also get that we live in a town where this area actually draws in dollars from outside.  On the Lakeshore, there is some seriously stiff competition for tourist dollars and if we look like we decorated out of your Grandma's basement, people will go elsewhere, truly.

Plus, it really is kinda pretty right?

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*Next time we put wallpaper in our bathroom, it'll knock this off the front page.  

**Sorry about the tipped view.  The boy took the photo in order to make up for the accidental deletion!




Saturday, December 10, 2011

Second Place is Still First Loser

And that's me apparently. I made it to the top two for the job. On Monday I had a second interview.

Let's just say; they didn't pick me.  So although I made it to the top two, it was a little bit of a disappointment.  I really REALLY hate one of my jobs (yeah, I have two), and I was really hoping to leave, but it'll happen eventually.

Also, if you came to see my shiny balls, come back tomorrow.  we got photos (the boy and I) but he accidentally deleted them on the way to his haircut.  I think we can do better anyway. 

In the absence of those balls, look at the silver Romney batts I dyed and carded last week for sock yarn.

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I tried to fix the colors and ended up making the photos look weird.  I suck at this!


On another note, I did take a picture of some of that washed fleece I bought last Friday.  


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It's love.  It's shiny and soft, but so fine I really can't drum card it. I guess hand combing will. be in order.  That is SOOOOOOOOO SLOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW, but hey what else would I be doing?  Working one of my two part time jobs?  Cooking or cleaning for my family?  Laundry? Shopping for holiday gifts and baking and dinners?  Trying not to freak out at the job I hate?

Oh right, I will be doing all those things.  



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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Ollie's Skater Sweater

So, I'm supposed to find out about the job today.  We'll see.  I had a second interview yesterday.

And I was going to show this baby sweater I made.  I have been crap at photographing finished projects lately.  I've actually been cranking out lots of fun stuff, but not taking pictures.

John's great-niece had a baby about two weeks before Thanksgiving.  He is absolutely darling and his name is Oliver (which i love).  Anyway, she is young (17) and the baby daddy is a skater, so I thought the typical baby sweater I would make might be too cutesy.  Instead, I grabbed some schematics and designed him this little guy.




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I had to put the buttons on in the car and weave in ends. I had blocked the evening before and it was barely even dry. Didn't it turn out cute? They actually loved it and the Zach (baby daddy) thanked me like three times. Kinda makes you think they might be ok even if Ollie wasn't planned.

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Been dying and washing around here. Maybe I'll take pics soon (but don't hold your breath or anything).

Friday, December 2, 2011

I've Always Thought Cookie Was Magic

Because I have a second interview Monday morning!  And, apparently they are down to two candidates.

One interesting thing that happens to me is that every time I think I'm going to get a job offer, the job I have starts going swimmingly.  Until I have an option, it sucks.  It's a little bit like the haircut appointment phenomenon.  You know the one:  you schedule a haircut and day of the appointment, you wake up and your hair is perfect.  Then comes the big question, cancel?  Or keep the appointment?  And we all know what your hair looks like the next day if you decide to cancel.

It does make it hard to make decisions though.

Hey guess what I did yesterday!
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I went to visit a sheeplady.  I bought three BEAUTIFUL (but small to those who think my stash is way too large) fleeces.  In fact one is already washed.  She had lots more.

And, when I was driving to work yesterday, this is what I saw.

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It's tough to be pissed off about driving to work when you get to do it under that.  But I managed.