Black Friday is complete madness

Today I started the craft show in Parowan. I had a good time and sold a bunch while seeing some friends I haven't seen in a while. My only complaint is that it was COLD! Tom had to drive up because I forgot something I needed. His buddy was there and the two of them started in on the, "have to come rescue the wife cause she didn't check to make sure everything is there," bit. His wife is a friend of mine and a crafter too and for the moment we took it. Just wait, we will get back at em. Then they sat at my booth and talked guns. I finally kicked them out cause it was becoming a gathering for guys to discuss their weapons. As interesting as it was, it didn't mesh well with the ideals of Stampin' Up! and paper crafts.

There was a lady that I am familiar with selling antiques and refurbished old western style items in the booth next to mine. I don't know where it came from but she kept coming up to me and talking about Obama. I just let her talk for most of the day. But it was getting annoying. She is overall a nice woman, but I finally had to say something when she started in about Obama being a Muslim and wanting to swear on the Koran. I knew what she was getting at but said, "So?" She stared at me with astonishment. She said, "What do you mean 'so?'" I said, "Last time I checked freedom of Religion was still in the Constitution." "So you are OK with him being a Muslim?" I said, "First of all, he attends a Christian Church, Second, I could care less if he really IS a Muslim. I have taken an Islamic Studies class and all you ever hear about are the radicals. Most Muslims are not that way." That shut her up. FINALLY! She did keep talking to me, but mostly about generic things such as what we have been up to over the year, how we spent the Holidays, etc. Other than that, it was a fun day. Problem is that there is a candle booth across from mine. I have to keep reminding myself I am there to make money, not spend it!

College Daze

Ever since I took that glance at my transcript from college, I have been thinking A LOT about my college career. It seems so long ago, but then again, it doesn't. College came easy for me. It was a lot of fun too. Well the activities outside of the classroom were fun. Too much fun. I can't believe some of the things I did....corn silk joints anyone? :) Classes were mind numbing and seemed to take forever to complete. I have no desire to go back. I can't count how many times I have been asked if I am going to go back to get my masters degree. I always follow it up with an emphatic NO!!!! This is the truth, I have nightmares about college. The idea of going back makes me somewhat ill. I have dreams where I am either failing, missing class, missing assignments or whatever and wake up in a panic wondering where I put that 20 page term paper on Karl Marx. Then I glance at that degree on my piano, remember and an overwhelming feeling of relief comes over me. Until these dreams go away, I have no desire to re-enter the world of University student life. I am content that I have a BS (BS, that always makes me laugh.) I had the opportunity to use that degree when I recently applied for a job. I wondered if it would ever have leverage for a position and I learned quickly that it did. It was for a part time position at my kids' school in the literacy center. I didn't get the job, but that is OK, I was just prideful that They had interviewed 6 people out of over 200 applicants. I talked to the principal while waiting for school to get out. I didn't bring it up but he did. He said that the final decision was between me and the lady who got the job. I thought that was pretty cool. Turns out the final decision was made because her degree was in education. I felt good that I had unknowingly been quite a contender for it.

I remember a conversation with my statistics professor once. He told me that I play the "dumb blond" act well. At first I was offended. He realized what I was thinking and quickly said, "no! no! I mean, you act like you are this ditzy blond who couldn't make it. I thought you wouldn't be able to handle this class, but you are managing to grasp it and consistently coming in the top of the curve! You play the dumb blond, but you definitely aren't!" OK, I guess that is better. Yea the class was quite difficult, for some, but stress and competitive environments always have driven me. But try as I may, I couldn't beat that damn brainiac that I kept coming in second to! At the end of this conversation he proceeded to ask me if I wanted to meet him in Mesquite so he could apply the statistics I am learning to craps. I politely declined and got the hell out of there.

I am very glad that I finished my bachelors. It was my goal. I could care less what my degree was in, as long as I got one. It is quite cool to tell people that I have a BS *snort!* Some people are surprised by that. "You have a degree? Really?" As their eyes get wide. Now my children can't seem to understand the point of college. Dylan thinks that I should be designing video games. "Mom, you went to that grown-up school, where they teach people that, so why can't you make a game for the PlayStation? It shouldn't take that long!" I just tell him that if he works hard, he can go to college and make the video games himself. He seems happy with that.

I also think about how hard I worked to get thru school. I worked two jobs during the summer and every weekend to pay for it. Yea my folks helped me, but only when I had paid everything I could. My summers were get up and go to work at 6 am making pies. I would work there til about two in the afternoon, go home shower and go to work at Rite-Aid at three until 9:30. Go home, and of course as a young gal, I wanted to have fun, so out with my friends doing God only knows what until the wee hours of the morning, home for 3-4 hours of sleep and then start over again. I don't' think I could do that now. I just remember waking up for my first job thinking....what the hell was I thinking, I am staying in tonight, I don't care who comes over! But then, I was out at the sand dunes, at a party or whatever it is I used to do. Some things I don't think I will ever tell hehe!

K so there is my blog for today. I am trying to write at least once a day for a week so that I can get into a habit of consistently writing here. Now I am off to make some pies for turkey day tomorrow. I know shocking ain't it that I am making pies? And some more projects. Here are two more that I make, they are my most popular sellers.

wth?!?!?

I am sitting here watching the Broncos get their asses handed to them. Again. Doesn't really matter cause I am a true fan. It is still very painful to watch them go from a 6-0 winning streak to now losing 4 games in a row. I catch so much hell from people, but that is ok, I can take it. My second team is the Vikings who are doing much better. If I need to pin my hopes on a superbowl game, they are apparently my only chance. I am just waiting for the onslaught of texts, emails and posts that are surely coming my way giving me a ton of grief. Some people are surprised that I like the Vikings. It is nostalgic for me. My Grandfather was from Minnesota and I remember him telling me that he liked them. He even showed me a Vikings jacket. I have always in secret cheered for them, I have decided that it was dumb to hide it and while Broncos will ALWAYS be my number one, I have no shame showing my purple side. Back to the Broncos, I have grown up in a family of fanatics. Anyone that knows me and my family will not be surprised by this. We even buried my Uncle Jeff in a Broncos jersey. (and a Broncos Bad Call Brick). I had a John Elway poster on my wall and we have enough Bronco stuff to open a souvenier shop. I still love them, and I want to get my hands on a Eddie Royal jersey, just haven't been able to buy one....yet.

Yesterday was the two year "death"iversary of Jeff. I am not sad like I was. I still miss him a ton, but my memories bring a smile to my face. He was a hard headed ornery guy, with a heart of gold. We had a great relationship especially after I got married and had a family. I just wish he would pull some strings up there and do something about these Broncos!!!!!

And to end this post, I am going to start showing off some of my card work. I have been busy making projects, mostly cards for a craft show in parowan. I sell a lot, and I do enjoy it. So here are a few of my projects. If you would like to know what I used to make something, let me know and I will give you the "recipe" as we call it.