Bits of Random Blather

Abandonment Issues

2008-12-28T14:59:00.001-08:00

I don't like this blog. It doesn't feel like home. So without even waiting for the new year, I'm going to quit.

Well, not quit so much as just not plan to post regularly.

Feel free to check back periodically for pictures and irregular updates of important things. For the stuff in my head that rattles around and isn't comfortable sharing a venue with the known masses, I'm going home.

Sorry if that's a disappointment to anyone.

Oh, Hello. I Didn't See You There.

2008-12-04T13:07:00.001-08:00

It's been so quiet in here, I thought I was all alone. I hope I didn't step on your toes.

So... have I mentioned that our studio sale last weekend was tremendously successful? No?! Hmph. How could I have made such a gross oversight.

Well, let me rectify that now. Not only did we sell a bunch of pre-made inventory, but we also got a bunch of special orders for Christmas (perhaps we should start our sale a couple weeks early next year).

Among the special orders was a request for 2 matching baby sweaters for a new grandma of 2 boys (one from her daughter, one from her son, born a month apart). For this proud grandma, I’m making two of these:

(Sorry for the quality—I took the picture on my cell phone. And no, it won't be short sleeved, it's just not done yet.)

And more stuff, but mostly for blog readers, so I’m not going to ruin anyone’s Christmas by posting more pictures.

We’ve also received a number of special orders for ornaments. They are So Cute! I don’t have any pictures of them yet, but I’ll try to get some up in the next few days.

As you no doubt recall from my last post, the sale is not over yet. Oh no—we’re open THIS weekend, too!

From 10:00-3:00 on Saturday and Sunday, everything that’s left in our inventory will be on sale: hats, crowns, Kissy Monsters, kids' clothes; and the Christmas ornaments bragged about above.

Please join us if you can—if you’re already done with your holiday shopping, just stop in to say hi.

Email me for the address and directions: aimee@littlebirdshops.com.

I hope to see you this weekend!

Join Us This Weekend

2008-11-26T07:02:00.000-08:00

For the next two weekends, we are hosting our First Annual Studio Sale!

Little Bird Studios and XO Studios will be open to the public from 10:00-3:00 on November 29 & 30 then again December 6 & 7.

Everything in our inventory will be on sale: hats, crowns, Kissy Monsters, kids' clothes; and a bunch of never-before-seen things, like hand-made Christmas ornaments and new pop-up puppets.

Please join us if you can!

Email for the address and directions: aimee@littlebirdshops.com.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Symphony

2008-11-24T08:39:00.001-08:00

I had such a restless night—it was filled with loud people in my dreams. One part I remember vividly was climbing down a ladder into a cold pool of water. I was apprehensive about being underwater, but the water felt so cool. And I could breathe the water. It was filled with bubbles and I could breathe under water.

I was awake for a few hours in the middle of the night, after the swimming dream, and as I was trying to go back to sleep I realized the sounds of a house at night are a little bit like a symphony. I was listening to our own unique music. No other house sounds like ours. I imagined that I could hear the night noises of all three small people, all three other adults, and both dogs; and if I was very still, I could even hear my own breathing. I think there is something magical about the midnight hours.

Today, however, I am just very tired.

Uhhh...

2008-11-12T19:15:00.000-08:00

I had one of the best trips to California that I've had in a long time. I can't say why or what was different about it, but it was just marvelous.

I don't really have much else to say. Just popping in to say hi.

Nervewracking

2008-11-06T10:15:00.000-08:00

There are approximately 40 people who work in this building.

About 25 were called by the CEO into a conference room this morning and laid off.

I was one of them.

I asked if I had to listen to the spiel about COBRA, etc. since I'm a temp. They said no, so I left the room, went to my desk, and packed my box.

As I was getting ready to leave, I headed into the office of my (former) boss to tell her my passwords and my status with various agreements. There was a very tall good-looking man in there--he said, "Are you Aimee?"

When I nodded, he motioned me in, offered me a chair, closed the door and said, "You were not supposed to be in that room. You hit the ground running and we need you.
The Engineering teams were affected today, Sales was reorganized last month, and our group was reorganized a couple months ago--bringing you in was a product of that re-org, so please accept my apologies. You should not have been in that room."

Oh.My.Fucking.God. This day... it's only 10:00 and it has already been nerve-wracking to the nth degree. I think I want to barf.

But I'm still employed. :)

And tomorrow, I'm going to California.

And BARACK OBAMA is gonna be our PRESIDENT!!!

One Down

2008-11-04T13:30:00.000-08:00

I arrived at the specified location 10 minutes early—I didn’t know I was at the specified location though because the street number the guy gave me wasn’t the same as the street number on the building. But he said last building on the left, and the mud path extending beyond the driveway led me to the inevitable conclusion that I was at the last building on the left.

I called the guy to make sure I was at the right place. He looked through his window, confirmed I was, and waited for me in the lobby, safely out of the rain. He was older than I expected, and the person I was supposed to meet with wasn’t back from lunch yet.

So I went upstairs with the guy and sat in his office while he looked for a travel itinerary. We chatted informally for about 10 minutes before he headed off to search for the Other Guy. As I sat alone in his office for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 minutes, I looked around. He had a window at least, though the view wasn’t much to speak of.

Even though it was the day before a national election, I was surprised to see campaign signs on the grass strip outside the office building. It’s unusual for a company to make its political affiliations public knowledge unless they are very small or very large. As I squinted, I realized they were McCain/Palin signs.

The first guy came back finally and escorted me to the Other Guy’s office. We shook hands, I sat down, and he asked me about myself. I gave him a brief overview of my work history, we talked about his needs and expectations, talked about what I was looking for and my expectations as well, and after a while he asked the usual, “Do you have any questions for me?”

So I asked my standard questions—tell me what a typical day looks like for this employee; how long have you been with the company; when and why did the previous person leave; stuff like that.

And then he asked again, “Do you have any other question for me?”

You betcha I do, Joe! **wink**

I said, “I noticed a flyer on the wall for a standing bible study at lunchtime on Mondays. Can you tell me about the corporate culture?”

He responded by saying, “Well, we’re a conservative company. If you look at our history you’ll see…” (and then proceeded to tell me the history of the company).

To which I replied, “Actually, I have looked at your company’s history and was aware of most of what you just told me. But I’m curious about the company’s culture. What do you mean when you say ‘conservative’? Do you mean fiscally conservative, politically conservative…?”

He said, “Probably both.”

(Probably? You’re not sure?!)

“…any other questions?”

“Well.” I said, “as I understand it, there are six separate companies which all report up to the same holding company as its umbrella or ultimate parent company, correct?”

“Yes.”

“And do these six separate companies share in each other’s profits and losses, or are the finances and accounting kept separate?”

“No, they all share in each other’s profits.”

“Ah,” I replied. “That could be problematic for me. My understanding is that one of the companies does repair work, among other things, for helicopters that are flying in and out of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan on a fairly regular basis, so it seems to me it would behoove the company to keep the country at war.”

His face turned to stone as he said, “All Americans—all TRUE Americans—should support their troops and provide for them the best services available!”

I told him he’d get no argument from me on that count, “…I agree completely that as long as our brave men and women are out there giving their lives for our country they should have top of the line equipment kept in immaculate order, but that’s not what I said. What I said was it seems that it’s in this company’s best interest to stay at war so you can continue to have that lucrative contract from the Federal Government.”

At that point, he turned beet red, stood up, and started stammering about how we’re still fighting WWII, did I know that?! That we’re still sending people and planes every day into countries where we fought WWII to protect America’s interests, etc., etc., etc.

I looked at my watch (more to regain my composure than to actually find out the time), stood up slowly, put my coat on, reached out my hand to shake his hand, said to him as kindly as I could, “I’m sorry I didn’t ask the question at the beginning of the hour. I hope you find the right person for this position”, and walked out of his office.

My hands were in my pockets so he couldn’t see them shaking. I’ve never been so bold in all my life. It was invigorating and exhilarating and terrifying and ohmygod I just walked away from a job that pays more money than I’ve ever seen in my whole life!

*********
Then I sat in my car and cried. I did not barf, even though I wanted to.

So, that’s that.

VOTE

2008-11-01T12:35:00.000-07:00

I'm heading to the Obama campaign phone banks to call people today.

Do me a favor--do yourselves a favor--protect your rights and interests and VOTE. Whether you agree with my politics or not, just be sure you GET OUT THERE AND VOTE! If you don't raise your voice to have it heard, you will lose it.

VOTE!

Raining and Pouring

2008-10-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

Firstly, the CT scan came out totally clean. No, it wasn't EMPTY--thankyouverymuch--it was just CLEAN!

Secondly, I started my new job on Monday. Two days in I can say I think I like it. The work is good and the level of responsibility is fabulous, but I hate the "new job" weirdness of not knowing people and being lonely at lunchtime. I especially miss my friends at the City.

Thirdly, I just interviewed for another, different job. When it rains, it pours. Though at this point, I have to say, I'm glad I already have a job because I've been sick with a horrible sort throat and cold since Sunday and I think I blew the interview. On the other hand, every time I've interviewed for a job when I already have one, no matter how poorly I think I did, I usually get offered the new one. So... well... whatever. They're not going to make a decision for another month and by then I'll probably not want to leave this new place anyway, and blah, blah, blah. How many run-on sentences do you think I can fit into one post?

Fourthly (is there a fourthly? It looks odd), I just finished packing my Little Bird's suitcase and backpack--she's heading down to her dad's house for about 5 days to have an extra-long weekend with him. They were originally looking at going to Disneyland, but there were some travel complications that just sounded like a huge pain in the ass, so now they're going to do stay-cation types of things--stuff within an hour or so drive from home--one of those things includes a 49er game with her dad and grandpa on Sunday. She is OVER THE MOON excited about that! I'm sure she's going to have a great time, because in addition to the Niner game, both of her cousins are taking Thursday and Friday off school as well so they can play with her. Yay for Kids at Play!

Finally (yes, I know that one's real), since I'm childless tonight, my mom and I are going to the Westside Wednesday knitting group and I CAN'T WAIT to see some of my favorite friends there and to introduce them to my mom after all this time! On that note, I'm heading out now... gotta get my kid to the airport.

Meow

2008-10-16T15:25:00.000-07:00

I'm going to get a CT scan on my head tomorrow afternoon.

I'm a little bit nervous about it.

Tall Guy

2008-10-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

I had a dream that my right eye socket was gushing blood—my brain was bleeding out of my eye. Yeuch! I woke up, felt my eye (wet with sweat and tears, but no blood), and vomited from the pain.

I’ve reached a new chapter in my life. This one includes migraines. All my life, I rarely get headaches. When I do, it’s always a sign of something else pretty major (like the onset of diabetes). Now it’s just a sign of another weekday. I’m not loving this.

In better news, however, I start my new job on Monday. I’ve LOVED working with the folks at the City and I wish I could have parlayed this into a full-time “regular” position (that is, not as a contractor), but since that hasn’t happened, I’m trying to be more excited about the new job than I am sad to leave my old one. Certainly the level of responsibility and the corresponding level of pay are enticements to that excitement. Seriously! It’s going to rock, I think.

What’s that? You want details? Oh my... I forgot I haven’t given any details yet. Ok, well, here’s what I’m willing to share on my very public blog: I’m going to be the Senior Contract Administrator at a company on the outskirts of town who develops wireline and wireless network management services software. So YAY—I’m going back to telecom! Right now, their CFO and VP of Customer Services are doing all the contracts. That’s obviously not sustainable. They can’t have time to do contracts and all their other work, at least not without something suffering.

In other news and observations, I saw a guy on the bus yesterday morning who was SO TALL he had to bend his neck in order not to bump his head on the ceiling of the bus. Oh.My.God. It was very, very strange. I, who am only 5'4" and sometimes have to ask strangers to reach things on the grocery store shelves for me, I had to work extra hard not to stare.

I know there’s plenty of other stuff I’ve been thinking of and wanting to write about, but I’m drawing a blank right now. Later, later. You’ll get more later.

Important Update

2008-10-10T20:35:00.000-07:00

As told by Emily (using my point of view):

My daughter, Emily, was playing with her friend Annika in the back yard trying to catch a purple chicken in a blackberry bush-cave with only a metal net! :)

Dude!

2008-10-08T15:55:00.000-07:00

I got a new job.

I GOT A NEW JOB!

I'll be back soon with details.

Moving Around

2008-10-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed how it seems to take 2 or 3 years to fully move into a new place?

We have 2 bedrooms on the main floor. I started out in one (with Emily) and my mom was in the other. Then my mom and I traded so Em and I could have more space. Then we converted the family room down stairs into a bedroom and a play room for me and Em to share (it's large and no one used it as a family room) and made the smaller main-floor room into the computer area. Now we're gearing up to make one more move... I hope it's the last one. Em is moving into her own bedroom on the main floor, I'll move into the room next to hers, and my mom is moving down to what will effectively become the largest bedroom in the house. And maybe after that no one will have to change rooms again for a while!

We have also rearranged the living room in a number of different ways. But as of last night, I think we have finally (finally!) found the configuration that works best for us. It still feels spacious, we can easily seat 9 people without anyone on the floor (yay!), there's no glare from any source onto the TV when we want to watch a movie or a show, there's room for both dog beds on the floor (without having to worry about anyone stepping on them), and when Em moves into her new room, there will be space to put the computer in the living room, too.

So I watched Jeff and Kate and my mom do all this moving yesterday as I made Snickerdoodles. I wasn't in the way. We all got cookies. Sounds win/win to me!

This morning, I googled the original intro theme to George of the Jungle (you know-- the good one from way back in the day). Em wasn't impressed. The girls are no longer called Fella and Ursula, and they are no longer indistinguishable twins. The new GotJ lacks subtlety. It's disappointing.

Anyway... on we go.

On Thursday, while I was at home nursing the meanest headache of all time, I got a call from a headhunter in Seattle. He has a client in Beaverton (for those of you who are not local, that's just in the outskirts of the Portland metro area) who is looking for someone with my skills, blah, blah, blah. He emailed me the job description, I tweaked my resume, he submitted on my behalf... less than 24 hours later, they were calling and asking for an interview.

They didn't want to wait until next week. (Wow!) So I did a phone interview on Friday. It went fabulously well and I have a second interview scheduled already for 10:00 Monday morning.

I know most of you slackers don't blog on weekends and won't even see this until Monday, but it's never too late to think good thoughts.

Go on. I'll wait...

Thanks.

Today I'm going to choir practice again. In a couple weeks, Kimya Dawson (the singer on the Juno soundtrack) is giving a benefit concert for our school; we're going to sing at the show as well, so we're practicing every week. It's fun, but I'm ready to have my weekends back now.

I'll post more details about the show soon so all you locals can come see her perform and support our school. Yay! For now though, I must have breakfast and get dressed.

Buh bye!

Last Minute

2008-10-03T13:02:00.001-07:00

Interview in one hour.

Cross your fingers.

D'Oh!

2008-10-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

Ok, so when I wrote a recent pattern, the publisher asked for the first draft in a particular size. All the other sizes on the pattern are extrapolated by basic arithmetic, based on the swatch gauge.

And while that may be the acceptable way to do it, there’s something in me that’s distrustful of the process, so I am making some of the other sizes now… yeah, to check the pattern. That’s it.

I’m nearly done with one of my “trials” (actually a birthday present for my HLP*, Jessica). Last night, I got to within 3 rows of finalizing the second sleeve. Now all I have to do is finish the left front and I’m good to go. Woo Hoo!

(*HLP = Heterosexual Life Partner. AKA: My former roommate.)

This morning, I decided not to bring the sleeve AND the fronts with me on the bus. Too much bulk. So I left the sleeve at home and just grabbed the stuff for the left front. Got on the bus, pulled out the already-completed lace repeats that make up the cast-on edge, and discovered (drum-roll please…) I PUT IT ON A STITCH HOLDER! I have two sets of size 5 circular needles, one slightly shorter than the other. I was so certain I had the sleeve on one and the left front on the other.

Suh.

So I’m stuck on the bus with no knitting needles. Plenty of love for the project, an intense desire to FINISH IT! and no flippin’ needles.

Today kind of sucks I think.

On the plus side, I invested in a monthly bus pass last night. First time ever. If I don’t have any days off in October (and if I don't lose my job before the end of the month), I’ll end up saving almost $20.00 this month over the cost of bus tickets.

New Address, Same Furniture

2008-09-30T08:10:00.000-07:00

Blogging is such a strange and personal thing. We all approach it differently, and I think after spending some time with it some of us change our approaches. I know when I started I never had any intention of sharing this with “real life” people other than my big sister, Kate.

Over the years, though, as you folks have become more than phantom/fantasy personalities, as you’ve become “real life” people for me, I find my writings have morphed to reflect the difference in relationships.

When I received a direct request from a family member last week for my blog address, I had to sit with it for a while. Do I want to share everything I’ve written for the last 4 years? Will feelings be stepped on? Will old hurts come back to light? (No, Probably, and Certainly)

Then early this week, I received a message from a Ravelry editor—it seems that one of the patterns I’ve shared with the community is posted improperly. It has to be a link to an outside source (hosted pdf or blog or something else). I don’t want to pull my shared knitting patterns, so I had to come up with a place I could put them.

These decisions, among others that you don’t need to know about, are what has led me to this new space.

So… I’ll likely begin by posting some knitting patterns so I can get myself compliant with my FAVORITE KNITTING WEBSITE OF ALL TIME: RAVELRY!

and then I’ll probably post a bunch of Emily/family pictures many of you have already seen. But some family hasn’t seen them yet, so deal with it, ‘cause this includes family now. Oh, and speaking of family, keep it PG-rated, wouldja please?

Hi

2008-09-29T14:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks for coming back.

New post soon.