Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Beautiful Victorian For Sale

Looking to relocate to West Central Indiana? I have the perfect house for you!

This fabulous home is in great shape and can be seen at the following web address:
Pearls End
Some information about the home:
Turn of the century 4bd victorian just 20min from Zionsville and 35miles from Indy. Wonderful small town amenities, right across street from park with elementary school 1 block away. Home features beautiful quarter sewn oak woodd floors, beveled glass windows, new kitchen, front/back stairway. 3rd floor easily convertible to finished living area. Just the perfect quiet location! Home inside is in great shape, new kitchen features vaulted ceiling & skylight. Living, dining & parlor are beautiful. Great opportunity!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Great bumper sticker!

I had to find something suitably irritating at cafe press for John. I think everyone should have this on their car.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Off bike riding- haiku

Jim's been off to Bloomington area since Friday night riding the Hilly Hundred. I am starting to miss him.

He calls often enough,
to be sure that I haven't left for parts unknown.
I am always here,
to answer the phone.

I just decided that it could be a Haiku with a little work on the second line... I think.. I can never remember the sentence structure. I think it's 7,5,7,7?
whatever. It was something to do for a while.

I start back to work in the morning. Stopped by the JR on Friday afternoon to see what was up with my paycheck as there was nothing deposited. You see, before short term disability starts, I am to use up all available vacation time and sick time. So, last check had a full week of worked ours, a full week of vaction time, hence a full paycheck.

This one should have had at least my remaining 3 days of paid sick time.
NO such thing. My visit with Betty was unproductive as usual- this was my 3rd trip in to get answers about insurance. I asked about the sick days. She refered to some huge hand written manual that said I indeed had 3 days coming to me. And since she didn't submit that sick pay on pay roll for that pay period, It would be 2 weeks, (the next pay period) before I would see the money. (a Month later!!!) So, does that mean I will never get that 2 weeks of short term disablity pay that was coming to me since I 'never' used my paid sick time due to our payroll/HR/Insurance guru not doing her job?

I asked about the short term disability pay, when it would start, what percentage of my wage it would be, etc.... She was clueless. I mean really CLUE-LESS! She asked where I had sent the paperwork to. DUH I gave it to HER! She is my insurance/ HR representative with this company. I am now starting to question if my insurance paperwork was even submitted to the mysterious insurance company.

I asked if there was a phone number, address for the company to contact them to be sure the claim was filed... She looked at me as if i were an addict demanding crack. (oh my, question her ability??? so sorry)
I asked where she sent the paper work for the claim... she says, 'I sent it to the disablity benefits place.' and I asked if we could call them. She says, 'I have a call in to Debbie, (Debbie- mysterious insurance question answer giver) about another matter, I'll ask her about it then.'

ACCKK! I'm just giving up on the JR, those INCOMPETENT BUNCH OF SILLY PEOPLE!

It's little wonder I have updated my resume on Monster, and on Journalism Jobs.com.

I have already accepted some freelance work to get the ball rolling, not to mention to get a start on the payment of THOUSANDS of dollars in medical bills that need a serious cash influx. (which the JR will never accomplish)
I will start the freelance after Monday, so my 'disablity' will be officially discharged- so I won't be committing insurance fraud by working while disabled. I could have started before the surgery, but I wanted to be sure it was a done deal first.

But if my short term disability claim was never filed, I might not have to worry about it anyway.

Ack. Thanks for listening.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

2 more necklaces to go

I finished 2 more necklaces yesterday evening after I had shot the pictures below. One that I hand made all of the findings and links out of copper. An unusual piece that I like for it's earthy quality. The second is a turquois center piece with gold and red jasper spheres. Bright and somewhat southwest in feel. I'll post pics as I get a chance.

the old lady pink rhinestones



yes! I finally got around to posting a pic of these. The necklace when worn has the bling off to one side and it does drape well. It's a heavy ornament, so the triple strands offset and balance the design when on. I really like how it came together and I will definately re-use the stuff in old jewelry boxes more often. I had to keep myself from buying tons of stuff at the covered bridge fleamarkets last weekend... Maybe this weekend instead?
The companion piece bracelet is shown below.

red jasper and red agate/ carnelian

This is probably my favorite necklace so far. Red jasper donut and red agate/ or red carnilian rectangles spaced with red jasper spheres and gold seed beads. It just feels nice on and is a warm luxurious complement to most of my wardrobe. Feels heavy when you pick it up but it fits nicely and nestles just above the cleavage!

abalone disk necklace


This was a fun necklace to make, my neighbor really liked it. Abalone disk is featured- about 3 bucks at Mall-Wart. (yeah I know spelled wrong...)
some freshwater peacock colored pearls and glass beads.

simple 2 strand necklace

This was an easy 2 strand necklace with mostly glass beads and red ocher seed beads.
One red japer bead for accent.

Black and white agate necklace


This necklace I gave to my neighbor after she admired my abalone shell necklace at a cookout she was having last weekend. I couldn't give her my necklace, so I made her one. The agate pendant I got at the strawberry festival this summer and had been saving it for something like this. I overlaid a few black coin glass beads on a strand that drapes over the top of the pendant. Remainder of the necklace is made up of black glass beads, white freshwater pearls and red glass beads spaced with silver lined red seed beads.
The bottom black spot on the pendant is what inspired me to make this in the first place, It is predominently a white agate rectangle, and had this one dense black spot at the bottom.

periodot jewelry set

These were the first pieces that I worked up from a combination of beads that my co-workers gave me to keep me from going insane while off work, and my own vast collection. These were fun pieces and easy to make. earrings, necklace and bracelet.


bored and glittery beads

Well, as you may know, I have been off work on medical leave for about 2.5 weeks now... And I am bored, bored, bored. I understand that I should keep myself intertained, and often do... but even I have reached my limit and relish the idea of getting back to work. I have been making jewelry for freinds/coworkers and family for the last few weeks to keep my hands busy and so my mind doesn't atrophy. I went to the gym in town this morning for the first time in like, 3 months. Doctor's orders contained my workout to a strict walk for at least another 2 months.I figured I better get off my duff and at least do that until weightlifting can be back in the picture.
While in town, I am again taking advantage of the free library wi-fi so I will start loading some pictures of what I've been working on. Even I am amazed at how well some of the pieces have turned out. I hope you enjoy them as well and take inspiration for your own jewelry pieces if your inclinded to do so.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Hanging at the library

It's Friday. Jim had the day off and helps get the boys on the bus. I take the time to read for about a half hour and decide to get motivated and get clean. Jim's goes to the gym this morning so I tag along and tell him I am not, in fact, going to the gym to get all buff n' stuff, but will instead go to the libarary to cabbage onto their high speed internet connection!
I finished my 'old lady rhinestone' bacelet yesterday. So that makes a set for someone. I will have to find a box that will hold that much pink bling in, and not blind the postman. I had a generous offer from a good citizen to mail me some more old lady rhinestones for my jewelry making pleasure.
I say, "Bring it on"!
In fact, I challenge you all to an old lady rhinestone repurposing/ recycling effort!
Don't let that much shine go to waste in a dusty, funky, old-lady-smelling jewelry box, NO- make something Kewl out of it!

Let's just see who can make the most Bling-er-iffic thing!

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Beading wonderland

I have finished the amethyst/pink rhinstone necklace that I started a few days ago. It is a wonderful asymmetrical, organic piece. I will try to include some pictures of it after it's in the mail. (don't want to spoil the surprise!) I am going to start on the companion piece this morning - a matching bracelet of similar design.
I went to Jacob's award presentation this morning at the elementary school. He received awards for: perfect attendance, homework and high honor roll. All A's this 6 weeks! for a kid that gets sent to the principals office about every grading period- he is doing fine academically, if not socially.

Headlines from Crawfordsville today: (Original article by Chris Barsotti, Journal Review and improvised by me- as I know someone who knows someone on campus there---)
A Wabash student was found dead in his bed after homecoming. Alcohol considered a factor in his death, Hazing incident suspected at the Delta Tau delta Fraternity house were he was pledging. This is the second death on campus in a year. A student fell to his death from the roof of Goodrich Hall in October of 2007. Students were declining interviews on Monday, saying Wabash college public information department told them not to talk of the incendent.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Monday Monday

Monday has come again to my little home world. This is the first day I have 'to myself' really, since the surgery. Jim is at work, the boys are at school, and I'm home alone. I plan on working on a jewelry design I started 2 days ago. I found an article in the fall 2008 edition of Stringing Making jewelry, bead by bead. A magazine that inspired my to use some of my more dramatic, old costume jewelry in a new way.
So, in my box of dusty hand me down jewelry, I found a pair of beautiful, clip on, pink rhinestone earrings that were missing one back. Still useable for a necklace or a bracelet, just not earrings.
The 50's were apparently a great time for huge, heavy, round earrings. Those ladies could put up with extraordinary amounts of squeezing in order to appear like the perfect housewife hostess! I am incorporating a lot of amber-golds and amethyst in this design. Since I have to focal pieces, (the old earrings) I am going for a necklace, bracelet set. So far I have removed twice the amount of beads and wire than I have left, but I am excited about the outcome.
This piece is 'earmarked' for some one special. Can't wait to put it in the mail!

I have been healing rather well, all things considered. I am really amazed that I don't have more pain. I suppose that I have a good pain tolorance. This surgery, which was completed vaginally, doesn't hurt nearly like a C-section does. I am finding that I can tell when one of the disolving stitches decides to 'pop'. there is a sharp pain, like a sudden twitch and then a 'Ohh' moment. I hope they all give up soon so I can not remember it after a while.
I am so tired around 2pm in the afternoon. I have been trying to keep up on my iron and vitamin tablets to keep me on the path to healing. I forget tho- being busy doing nothing. I remember why I went back to work in 2005, being a 'housewife' is fun for about 6.5 days, after that I am bored to death. Sure I could do housework, but I am limited on my weightlifting to 10lbs. Laundry is a small load at a time going up and down the stairs takes 4 trips/load. Stairmasters- BAH!

My follow up visit for the super specialist in Indy is on November 6th. I will be going back to work on the 20th of October. Just in time to put out a great special section before the end of the month, I'm sure.

Now I need to get ready to go to the elementary school. The boys earned they stardard 6 week awards for homework/ attendance etc. So there is an awards ceremony in the gym. Jacob made high honor roll! He's a great student, but not so nice to his recess buddies. Fighting and throwing rocks gets you not as much allowance, he is learning.

I'm trying to keep you posted as time allows. Have a great day!