Writing, Endo, & Moving

I've been awarded a great job writing for companies! It's a lot of fun, and it really challenges my writing speed, research skills, and creativity. Of course, writing for a living means that my typing bone has been re-energized, so I'll be back here more often as well. Heck, I already have several posts just ready to go, so stay tuned! I won't be posting every day any time soon, but I will be posting at least once a week, if nothing else, just to keep you posted on current happenings and so forth. *smile*

In other news, I've started having some of the symptoms of Endo again, so I'm afraid the doctor might not have gotten it all, even though all of my girly innards are gone. Luckily the discomfort is mostly just an annoyance at this point, but I'm going to set another doctor's appointment soon anyway, just to be safe.

We moved again, this time into a new place that's just beautiful. A friend of ours is letting us stay in his home while he's not using it. This will allow us to save up money to get our own place, or, *hope hope* to make a down payment on a place of our very own. It would be so nice to finally own a place! *smiles wistfully*

Anywho, I have to get back to work, so I'll talk to you later. Thanks for hanging in there with me!

.

Barataria: The Festival Season Begins

And let me tell you, it started with a bang!

Not that I broke even, but I had a lot of fun, and there's good news on the horizion for Barataria being even better next year. Seeing as this was the first year of the festival, no vendor worth their salt was actually expecting to make a lot of money, but rather, we put on a good showing, so that the attendees would be excited about it and tell all their friends. Of course, that makes for a bigger event in future years, more people coming, and bigger profits for the vendors.

Working festivals for fun and profit: All it takes is a little patience! *grin*

But I digress... The costumes of the players (pirate and faerie courts) were simply breathtaking, the events and performers were professional and fun, and all ages attended and had an absolute blast. Barataria would have been hard pressed to do better as a first year faire than they did, and that's saying a lot! I've seen established events that weren't anywhere near the quality that Barataria was in it's first year.

The tale of how Barataria, the mythical aisle of the pirate king, Captain Black, came to be moved by the faeries into the current day is well told in numerous "journal entries" by the various characters of the faire, and is a great read, even if it was not associated with such a beautifully put-together event. You can find the tale on the Barataria website.

I already have a few of the unseelie court in love with my Vita-FizZ. It was really amusing that they gave my candy yet another nickname "crushed baby Seelie in a tube". I'll tell ya, they all played their parts well, stayed in character, and were creative to boot! *smile* In the heat of the day, I was fanning people on my break, and I fanned the fire faerie, another of the unseelie, and she thanked me by saying something along the lines of "oh that's lovely, I just might not kill you" *chuckle* Simply beautifully done, really, on all counts.

To see some of what I am talking about, photos, videos, and commentary on the first year, check out Barataria Pirate and Fairy Faire on Facebook.

And Now We know

What is it we know, you may ask yourself? Well we now know exactly how long it is between when I feel good enough to blog and do a few other small things in my life, and when I tackles everything head-on again after a major surgery! *laugh*

As evidenced by my recent disappearance from the blog, I've been exceedingly active as of late. This coming weekend is Barataria Faire, Springfield's very own pirate and fairy festival. I have to finish my costume, I'm impatiently awaiting the delivery of some of my components, I'm trying to get out of sewing as much as I can manage, and since the great data loss a few months ago, I've also been completely reworking my product labels! *pant pant*

But that's not all! Oh no, of course not! I still have to make a new batch of every product I sell, adfter, that is, I say, AFTER! I find my danged recipe book! *pulls out hair*

And I have to get a whole lot more volunteers to paint on before the event so that I can make a paint example book that will be not only worthy of the event, but also worthy of my artistry. These next few days are going to be a TON of fun, let me tell ya!

Actually, they will be. I've been having a blast creating the little finishing touches for our costumes, and I'm planning a sew & show party for Wednesday. I finally found both my canera and the charger for it's battery, so the photos are coming as quickly as I can find models willing to be immortalized in my paint book. Three down, about 40 to go! LOL

And of course, everyone is welcome to attend Barataria Faire The tickets and attractions are inexpensive, and it's going to be a fabulously fun time! Bring yourself, bring the kids, and come frolic with the faeries and pirates in the first Barataria Faire ever, on the square, in Springfield, MO! *grin*

Wish me luck!

Another Day

Things are busying up again in my little part of the world.

I went camping again last weekend, and ended up helping to set up three tents, walking over 3 miles in two days, and going swimming in the river. It was GREAT, but my legs and back sure were sore when I got back home because I didn't have a camp mattress! LOL No hyster-pain though, so I thought I was in the clear until a friend's dog decided he wanted to step onto my stomach while I was sitting down. That wasn't pretty for a few hours, but I'm all better from that now too. :D

It's getting ready to fold into the busy season for my business now, and I think I'll be able to handle it pretty well if R holds up his part of the bargain.

In hormone news, I still haven't taken the dive into HRT, even though my DR really wants me to. I've been weighing the pros and cons, and I still can't decide on whether it is a good idea for me. Even this long after the surgery, I'm not having any truly bothersome issues from the lack of hormones. A few warm flashes near the beginning, and a little bit of fatigue , but that was all. I've been staying up later and getting a couple hours less sleep per night, but I don't feel any the worse for it because 8 hours sure beats the 10-12 I was sleeping before the surgery. My acne has even cleared up a lot! I really feel like my body is now where it was actually meant to be.

Now I know all of that reads that I don't need HRT, but I am 34 years old, and my DR and I are concerned about the risk of heart problems, obesity, and osteoporosis. It would be nice to have more energy again, and be able to just up and go when I want to, but I don't know if that is fully hormonal, or that I've been inactive for so long. I'm also worried about my skin becoming thinner and early aging.

That said, if I take any form of HRT, I run the risk of gaining weight anyway, having mood imbalances, menopausal symptoms, nausea, increased acne, and, most worrisome, increased cancer risk, and possibly having my Endo come back.

I really don't know what I should do at all.

I laughed when they said I'd have to set time aside to sign a stack of checks each week...

So, for a quick update, business is going great and parties are pumping!

I lost my pocket schedule book again, but I had everything backed up on my calendar at home, and it's time to buy a new pocket-one anyway, so all is well.

Picked up the orders for a fundraiser, and they're doing great! (it's been extended, if you want to place an order from the exclusive fund-raising catalog, visit this site now!)

I've been working on helping other folks to live their dreams through Tupperware as well, and let me tell you, it's going great! Already, I have helped two people start on the path to their dreams, and they're making strides on that path every day. I'm so proud of them!

I've been having a series of public parties recently, and I plan on continuing those, with different topics and specialties featured, until I run out of really interesting ideas. *chuckle*

So far I've done the tightwad party, the eco-party, the bizarre foods dinner party, party in the park, and a holiday gatherings party. If you have any ideas for a party you'd like to see, just drop a line in the comments, and I'l, see what I can do. *smile* They're so much fun, and I get to keep all the free host gifts for myself, so why the heck wouldn't I, right?

When I was told that some day, I'd be sitting around signing my name to a pile of checks, I thought they were kidding! Boy, Let me tell you, I was SO wrong!

And that day came so quickly too!

Life is good.

Bizarre Foods Party

Well, it's coming up, this Sunday is the Bizarre foods party!

6:30pm, Downtown Springfield

A fantastic pre-Halloween adventure.

Call 631-2986 for more information and to RSVP.

Upcoming Events

I have been having an absolute blast micro-blogging via Twitter, and been so busy that it's all I've had time for! *chuckle*

What has been keeping me so busy, you may ask?

Well, here's the short list.

I have been really enjoying painting faces at birthday parties and MSU's Bearfest Village with ArtFoodFun.com.

Tupperware parties and fabulously fun meetings have held shining spots in my weekly calendar.

Unpacking and setting up the new apartment is coming along steadily.

The kids are adjusting to the new ways our household is run quite nicely, and they have decided that our more-rigid scheduling is a comfort in our daily lives instead of an inconvenience. *chuckle*

I've even managed to spend a bit more time with my friends than I was the previous couple of months!

Life is great, and getting better all the time!

You're Invited!

You are cordially invited to my Tupperware Online Party!

I am hosting this Online Party to tell you about all of the new great products Tupperware has to offer to simplify your kitchen, home, and life GET FREE TUPPERWARE!

Tupperware is the only lifetime guaranteed, environmentally sound, green solution to saving food and money.

Please click this link to begin browsing through the geat products and special offers available only through my online party.

The best part of hosting or attending a party online is that you never have to leave your house, or even get dressed! Browse and order from home, and get your new Tupperware delivered right to your door, no matter where you live in the U.S.!

Press play on any of the videos below to learn more about the product from consultants worldwide and watch Tupperware in action!

Quick Chef, Spatula, Chef Series Knives, Measuring Spoons, & Southwest Chipotle Seasoning Blend; Let's make Mango-Pineapple Salsa!

Microfiber Cloths and Towels

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With 111 items under $20, and the best space-saving colander in the universe (the Flat Out colander) at only $10, Tupperware is a great way to save time, space, and money in your kitchen, and your life!

Kids & Their Tupperware: Ice Prism Sparkly Bowl

Ergonomic Corkscrew - Never Pry a Cork out of the Bottle Again!

FlatOut Colander

~Flat Out colander unavailable after August 28th, so get it quick!~

Bored Brits & FlatOut Bowls - Lighthearted Fun

Blooming Teas, Loose Leaf Teas, Tea Infuser, & Scones

(White China items not available at this time, feel free to skip that portion of this video)

Fridge Storage

Kitchen Shears

Kids & Their Tupperware: Shape-O-Ball = Hours of Fun!

Modular Mates: Dry Goods Storage

Cake & Cupcake Transport & Storage. Works great for Jello shots too!

Twistable Peeler

How sturdy is Tupperware? They towed a car with it!

Be sure to click on the link above to ensure that you're participating in my Tupperware Online Party. My Party will last until Aug. 31, 2009 (EST). If you have any questions, please call this toll-free number: 1-888-693-6372.

Thanks for participating in my Tupperware Online Party!

Feel free to tell all your family and friends too, and let them in on the great goodies and special deals that you can only get at an online party! Everyone's invited!

Imagine life on your terms; more time for family, friends and fun, more flexibility and true financial freedom.

Stop asking yourself why you don't have the time, happiness, health, and money you desire. Instead, ask yourself; "Why not? Invest two minutes of your time; call toll free 1-866-376-7518 to hear about the Tupperware opportunity, then call a consultant toll free at 1-888-693-6372. They'll be happy to answer any questions you may have, and help you get started on the path to your dreams!

The lifestyle of Tupperware leaders is nothing less than wonderful! Trips, diamonds, cars and cash bonuses are just a few of the perks you can find in Tupperware.

* Consultants and/or websites advertised in some of the videos are not a part of my Tupperware party. Only the links provided here will let you join my party. Videos used with permission from their respective owners.

Tupper-Tastic!

Hello, my name is Kryistina, and I'm a Tupperware addict.

One of my favorite toys as a child was my precious Tupperware rolling pin and pie-crust sizing mat. I used it all the time in my little toy kitchen that my mother had set up in the alcove just off of our real kitchen when I was five years old. I used that little set long after the toy kitchen was sold at a yard sale. Into my late childhood, I used that rolling pin, mat, my mother's orange peeler, and the adorable little cookie-cutters to augment my only piece of Play-Dough equipment, the creative press. You remember, that thing you could make real pasta in if you honestly wanted to? Yeah, I loved my sculpting tools, even at an early age.

I was also in love with my mother's Tupperware pitcher. A relatively ugly textured thing in some odd shade of powdered gold nearing to off-white, and a strange frilly design stamped in the side and painted that iconic color of the 1970's, harvest gold. Most people these days call that "baby poop yellow", but the rich brown, avacado green, harvest gold, and nearly neon orange were the shades of the era, and since Tupperware lasts forever... She had that pitcher for a long, long time. It never spilled when it was closed, it held your drinks fresh for what seemed like forever, and it was easy to spot in the fridge as always containing some treat that I was allowed to have without asking permission first.

I used that pitcher in my very first-ever business venture too. A Kool-Aide stand at the edge of the road. Now, my stand was different than everyone else's by far. Not just because I had more than one flavor of beverage, but because I had to pay for my own overhead like a real business. Now, my mom mixed the drinks for me and made the ice cubes, but I had to pay for the sugar and packet of fruity flavor out of my gross income. At 6 years old, I knew the basics of running a business, and at fifteen cents a glass, my profits were impressive. The income really soared, however, when I hired my best friend, a petite blonde girl, to wear her frilliest dress and stand by my little table curtsying at the passing cars. We had a profit-sharing deal, and she earned five cents for every cup of drink i sold while she was working with me... I've got business in my very genetic structure.

Which all explains why I am now your Tupperware lady. Not only do I get to make really good money having fun, meeting new people, and sharing my passion and love for Tupperware, I also get to give away FREE Tupperware and get great discounts on it myself for my own kitchen.

And boy how Tupperware has changed over the years! Just the other day, I had a party where we made mixed alcoholic drinks and cracked jokes. There are all sorts of Tupperware party formats these days, and if there isn't one that appeals to you personally, I can work with you to create something that is truly original and all your own.

Even joining our happy Tupperware family is customized! To start with, there are two kits you can pick from when joining the Tupperware family of independent consultants. One is a very basic set with some of the necessary goodies to get you started and a few pieces so you can have your first couple of parties, and the more executive set is much lovelier, containing about $500 in Tupperware alone (not counting the cost of all the promotional materials that come with the kit). And you can join the team for any reason, from wanting a discount on your own Tupperware, to being serious about building a thriving business of your own. it's fun,, easy, and the perfect fit for anyone who loves Tupperware! *grin*

Can you guess which kit I bought? Can you guess why?

It's probably not the reason you might think, knowing me as well as you do.

It wasn't because it is the better deal, or because it saves me money in the long run. Both are true, but not the real, deep-down reason I picked it.

Nope, the pure and simple fact is that the executive kit is the one that had the pitcher that I loved so dearly as a child.

And I just HAD to have that pitcher.

So go check out my Tupperware website, see how things have changed, and contact me to schedule a party so I can give you free Tupperware too!

Oh, and that lifetime guarantee? It's still in effect, and still covers everything that has ever been sold since the company started. If you have something broken, cracked, or melted due to over-love and constant use through generations contact me about that too, and I'll get you a free replacement.

And when you decide you want to join the Tupperware family and achieve your dreams with the Tupperware business opportunity.... Well I can help with that too. *smile*

Clearing Out & Slimming Down

We're getting down to the wire for moving, and very serious about getting rid of all the things we no longer need or want. The pets also have to go due to space constraints.

We're shopoing around for a flea market booth to sell most of the goodies in, and have located a storage unit for the few small things that we plan to keep.

Come have a look at a small selection of what we are selling!

View my listings on

Springfield (MO) Free Classifieds

Tell your friends, prices are negotiable, make an offer!

More stuff is being added constantly. I'll save you money on neat things you want, and you'll help us move, okay? Let's help eachother out. *grin*

See You on the Flip Side!

Well, we're headed to Vision Con today, and we won't be back until sometime Sunday afternoon, when we will be sleeping the sleep of the dead until about noon on Monday if not later.

Remember, entrance into the convention is FREE if you plan on only visiting the dealer's room, which is open from noon to about 4pm on Friday, then again from 8am to about 8pm on Saturday and 8am to 2pm on Sunday. Come and see me, and check out the other fantastic vendors! If you've never been before, you'll be amazed at the selection and quality available.

I hope to see you there!

Wish us luck and large profits. *grin*

Early Mornings... Sort-Of

We've been staying up until about 7am for the last few days in an attempt to get everything done in time for the convention next weekend.

We still haven't received the ingredients for the Snake Oil, but we maintain high hopes that it will arrive in time for the convention.

All of our other supplies are coming in nicely, and yesterday, we even managed to get to bed at the more reasonable hour of 2am. *laugh*

We had planned to get to bed before midnight tonight (didn't want to be unreasonable), but when a friend offered to come help make convention wares, I couldn't pass up the chance to work faster, and have more fun doing it, with friends to help.

So here I am, writing to you at nearly 5am, and preparing for bed, for tomorrow looks to be another very busy day.

Gettin' Busy

I'm almost done ordering all the things I need for the convention, and only a couple of snags remain firmly embedded in my plans.

I can't seem to find two of the containers I need for my products anywhere. It seems that my original suppliers stopped carrying them, and I'm really playing heck locating them elsewhere. I really don't want to switch container types, but that may indeed be what I end up needing to do if I cant find the proper packaging soon.

In other news, I finally located my distributor for the quality organic hemp oil I prefer to use, and though their website is down, I have been able to place an order. Unfortunately, there's not a huge demand for good (read both organic and well-filtered) hemp oil in their experience, so they don't normally carry it in their regular stock, and it may take a good week for them to get it in, which even with the fastest possible shipping, is going to run my production right down to the line.

It's not something I enjoy, but I've done it before, and we should be alright, with a little bit of luck, as it says in the song. *smile*

Money is really tight, and I've placed my hold on the convention room, but there's a new agreement with the hotel and the convention that con-goers must pay for their rooms in advance, when they check in, so I won't be able to wait until I make some money back before I pay my "rent" for the two days of the convention, yet another snafu, but one that, again, we will persevere. *sigh*

On the other hand, I will have all of my profits available when I get home, and not have to count everything there at the convention in order to get the budgeting and paperwork completed correctly. Trust me when I say that's a really happy bonus when you haven't slept in nearly 36 hours.

I have visiting to attend to, work to do, shopping to finish, and house clearing to complete before the convention, all while taking care of (and educating) the kids and trying desperately to find a way to allocate time to do my laundry at a public facility since my washing machine is busted.

Hey, at least life is finally returning to "normal", right? *chuckle*

And I managed to find the time to tell you about it, too! *grin*

Vision Con is a GO!

In case you didn't catch it in a recent post, Vision Con is a go this year! After skipping a year due to the hotel being sold, this year's convention is scheduled for a little earlier than usual, on January 23rd-25th.

Preparation is already in full swing at our house, and the place smells like a warm summer fruit basket. I sure missed that smell. *smile*

Anyone know someone with a bit of time on their hands who is willing to customize an OSCommerce website? It won't take long, I promise. *grin* I pay in barter, and my trades are awesome!

To get tickets and room information, please visit VisionCon.net.

Holiday Shopping & Buy Nothing Day 2008

As you well know, our family celebrates Buy Nothing Day. That is the holiday of anti-consumerism that takes place on the day after Thanksgiving, called by eager shoppers; "Black Friday" or "Blitz Day", and marketed as the biggest shopping day of the year. Businesses have taken advantage of this, and in an attempt to boost their sales on the unholy grail of shopping days, offer huge discounts in order to entice customers to come buy from their store instead of all of the others.

Of course items that usually cost $400 dropping in price to a mere $100 is terribly tempting, and this entices people so much that they awake at 3am so they can fight for parking places, jostle for a place in line, and wait in the freeing cold for hours, just so they can have a chance (yes, that's right, a chance, there's no guarantee here folks), of getting the one thing they want most. Some people even go so far as to bring a sleeping bag and camp outside of the store with friends, sleeping in shifts to be assured one of thes magical and elusive first spots in line, and thus, first dibs on spending money. This past year it was so bad that there were several injuries and even a death as customers stormed into the store in a rush to get to the gifts they most coveted.

This lunacy is brought to you by the idea that spending lots of money and getting really fancy gifts for your friends and family around the holidays is the best way to let them know you care. Of course it is also helped by the advertising industry, and people who seem to think that teaching their children the joy of giving is not an important part of the season, which leads to excessive cases of the gimmies, and creates the vicious circle of consumerism.

Some businesses are cluing into the fact that there are a lot of people refusing to buy on "Black Friday", and have created new ways to take advantage of the consumerist rush, and many internet companies have made the day after black Friday another big shopping day, in the hopes that more people can be drawn to shop at online retailers.

Amazon.com for example offered special deals and sales, with all the pricing of the unholy shopping day, but starting on Nov 27th, and going on for several days of special deals, with one deal each day. It's the same concept, but a little more innovative. I have to give them credit for thinking outside the box like that, and I'm sure that their creativity got some of those who celebrate Buy Nothing Day to indulge in a little extra shopping too.

With the bad economy, and the prevalence of gift cards as presents in recent years, other retailers have tried to get people out on December 26th as well, to spend those gift cards, and get what they really wanted from the cash they got back after returning their unwanted gifts.

This last year was extra-special!

This year, we attended our very first zombie walk!

At the Battlefield Mall at 1pm, zombies invaded Springfield, trudging through the mall and mumbling things like "consume" and "buy" instead of the typical "brains", then when they were kicked off of mall property, moved over to the dark lord WaldeMart for a bit more fun before shambling back to their dens to sleep out the cold. Little known fact, zombies really dislike cold weather.



The zombie walk was an open event, and all were welcome to join in the fun. Shredded clothes and special effect makeup were not necessary, but they did make things a lot more amusing.

Texting My Way To A Richer Life

I have a great new job I can do from anywhere, that's fun, exciting, and pays really well, and I just can't keep it to myself anymore.

I work from my computer, searching the web for great answers to interesting and varied questions with the help of specialized search tools, and have no set schedule or hours, which is great with kids, homeschooling, and running a busy house. Heck, with the laptop, I can do it from anywhere!

Just last week, I was making money while watching the kids play in the park.

I'm a ChaCha guide, and I make 10-20 cents for every question I answer from people who text one in by dialing 242242 from their mobile phones. Have unlimited texting on your phone and want to give it a try? Go for it, ask your guide anything, it's free! Answers usually come back within 4 minutes. Want a joke, or just to chat, text to ChaCha, and get a different guide every time, but still have a decent conversation! Your answers will even have a link to the site where the answer was found, if you want to read more about it!

Sometimes, I'll use ChaCha to teach my kids something an infoseeker has asked about, so it even helps with our homeschooling! I can take breaks whenever I want, for however long I want, so this is easy too. I can go for days without working a lick, but I wouldn't want to, it's too much fun!

I'm making better money being a guide than I have at any of the other things I've done online, and at a quicker pace also. I can get paid whenever I want to my own use-it-anywhere debit card, or just monthly as a direct deposit to my bank account, whichever I prefer. Most questions take me under two minutes to answer, and that adds up really quickly. ChaCha is a great way to prove true the old saying "If you take care of the nickles and dimes, the dollars will take care of themselves", that's for sure. *chuckle*

To become a guide, you simply sign up online, learn a little from their online resources, pass their easy simulator test, and then you're ready to go. Work as much or as little as you want. Complete 200 or more answers in a week with 95% accuracy (SO easy!), and your pay raises to 20 cents a question from 10 or 15 cents!

There's a lot of fun in being a guide, and it's not all in just answering the questions. There are positions for voice transcribers (type what you hear), and expediters (categorize the question and sent it to the guide). There's also a great forum for the members to chat and share information and tips, an area where you can have your own ChaCha blog, and more! I know some moms (with toddlers even!) who have quit their jobs because ChaCha pays them more than their other employment did!

ChaCha guides are specially trained to be able to find the answers to any and all questions. What other search engine has real people, with real feelings, who take real bathroom breaks?

Are you curious, professional, and Internet-savvy? Do you enjoy learning new things, sharing your knowledge with others, and being part of a fun, diverse community?

ChaCha could be your ideal job too!

On behalf of ChaCha HQ & all 15,000+ guides, you are hereby formally invited to earn extra cash having fun!

To sign up, visit http://www.chacha.com, and when it asks for who sent you, type (cut and paste somehow doesn't count the referral) my email address into the box. That's
.

Heck, I love ya so much, join up now and get approved as a guide on my team, and I'll send you all my best hints and tips to get you started on the right track, with the best possible speed and accuracy rating!

Do the ChaCha!

Houseless Home-Mates & More

These last couple of weeks have been a doosey to say the least.

A friend of mine became homeless and is now sleeping on our living room floor with her husband while they await his next paycheck so they can move into an apartment of their own, and it's been a lot of fun staying up late at night after he gets off of work chatting, telling stories, and playing games, but it has cut my productivity down to nill.

Ladybug's birthday party went well, and we all had a lot of fun, even if the invitations to our homeschool groups didn't go through for some odd reason. Of course, this means that there are a LOT of party bags left over, but we'll be taking them to the free homeschool clothes, toys, & food exchange this weekend and they will all find nice new homes there, while we will hopefully find some new-to-them clothes and shoes for the girls.

The garden is growing well, and the cuttings we've taken are rooting nicely. As usual around this time of year, we are at a loss for planters, and have need of many more than we currently own. We've trimmed back some of the trees lining the parking area so that we can plant something there, and already begun beautifying the neighborhood with flowering edible plants. I'm sure the neighbors won't mind.

We still haven't gotten an answer from the landlord as to whether we can garden the back lot, but we decided we didn't need permission to put up a small retractable clothesline, so we went on ahead, and that's helping to save us a lot of money on at least drying the laundry, since my mother still refuses to give up our washing machine.

If we don't get an answer on the gardening thing by next week, we're going to set up a load of planters back there and garden that way. Nobody has ever said no to a container garden, only to digging up their precious (yet poorly-tended) grass. At least there are edibles in the yard. *grin*

One of the local coffee shops has agreed to save their used coffee grounds for us if we provide the container, so the pickle buckets will soon be on parade yet again, and our wait for garden soil, both for our own garden, and The Radish's many projects, will soon be over, or at least significantly reduced. Today, I deliver their first empty pickle bucket.

The Radish's community garden is coming along nicely, and we've donated a few plants over there, as well as continued to contribute to their compost heap with our un-wormable compostables.

I've taken lots and lots of photos of pretty much everything, but as the battery on the camera is now dead, and with me not knowing the charger's location, showing them off is kind of on hold for now.

The house continues to pull into shape, and we've decided that we need a lot of shelving all over the walls of the house to be able to have enough storage space. This place doesn't have nearly enough closets to store the things we need. Looks like it was made for college students, with three small closets, and only enough kitchen cabinets to store a couple of pots, some spices, random boxed foods, and a set of dishes. We really miss our old house.

There have been some pleasant dumpster scores as of late as well. Not that we've been out hunting, really, but when a shelving unit looms up out of the trash as you drive by, you just have to go pick it up, no matter if you have no place to put it back at the house. *chuckle* Of course, shelving is one of those things that not having space for isn't a problem, what with the average shelving unit itself being able to provide at least twice the space it takes up.

We've been requested to teach a class on sushi preparation, and two people want to come over and have me either create or upkeep their dreadlocks for them.

Now, I know where the time goes, but why the heck can't I somehow barter time from those that have extra lying around that they're not using?

Artsfest 2008

It was a great event, and a ton of fun for all involved. Feel free to check out the other photos of those who chose to share a part of the fabulous weekend with us.

As usual, we had a few folks set forth a challenge with first-time designs. I love a good artistic challenge, and ArtsFest didn't disappoint. *smile*

ArtsFest always has a plethora of other people's pets to love on, mostly dogs, but the furry highlight to my weekend was this adorable little rex agouti ratty boy that I was allowed to snuggle on for a few minutes towards the end of the day on Saturday.

What a perfect joy he was, and a great way to end the festival!

Campaigns, Learning, & Coding, oh my.

I think I've finally figured out how to make the template work for my campaign site, after much angst over such questions as "what is this", "how does it work", "why do I have to learn PHP and CSS to build a website", and more. Due to not having the time to wait for anyone to have free time to do it for me, I've been forced to do it myself. Spring is an exceedingly busy time for most people, and this spring has brought graduations, moving, marriages and more to those around me. Like I've always said, if something needs done immediately, the only person you can really rely on to get it done is yourself, and you'd better make the time to do it in. Needless to say, I'm learning new computer languages again. *chuckle* The only problem is that my server is having some sort of trouble translating the template I've modified, and the customer service for my exceedingly inexpensive hosting company is nigh-on nonexistent, so I can't really rely on them to help me fix things.

Kind of on my own, and without the basic knowledges needed to to the job, but as long as I have the internet and my beloved Google, I can learn anything. I've done what was declared impossible before, and I'm on my way to doing it again. Three days to a website, with three new programming languages I know very little about, and major editing in store. Let's see how it goes, shall we? Of course, getting the content in there properly so I can go live with the site and show it off to you will be another matter entirely, but hopefully that will only add another two days or so to the projected time line. *chuckle*

Wish me luck!

The Saint Patrick's Day Parade

You can go see a lot of the art created by visiting my face painting blog here.