Because work decided it would be a good idea to move me back to the boob line last night for most of the night. So now I'm overtired and sore, and naturally, my tenonitis has flared up again. I may have to go the urgent care clinic, since I don't have a regular doctor, and see about getting a note for restrictions on not doing some of the crap they want me doing. It would mean putting paid to any hope of ever getting back on the cone liine and making over $13 an hour, but money is not important when you hurt too much making it. Kind of takes the fun out of earning money. Which is why getting the store together is so important. The sooner I have that up and running, the sooner I can start making some dough, the sooner I can quit the plant and let myself heal as completely as possible. News at the plant is that we are still having a shutdown for retooling. When and for how long, nobody seems to know for sure.
Needlework is coming along nicely, and I am extremely happy about that. I should soon have more stuff in my Hulu queue, so I can "watch tv" whilst doing some needlework. If the shutdown does happen, that's a lot of needlework and work on the webstore and SLEEP. That would be rather nice, I think. Speaking of sleep, I want a nap, so I'm going back to bed before I have to get together and head to work. SNXXX.
*****
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Starting to make progress!!!
The webstore is progressing! In the respect that I'm getting more crafts projects together to put in it to start, that is. I still have to go through things with a couple more suppliers to get photos and descriptions and such, and eventually set up the webstore and all that goes into that, which is going to take even MORE hours, but it's coming along in bits and pieces. I figure even a few minutes a day on things is better than nothing, so no matter how long it takes, it is going to happen. I wish I'd started this ages ago instead of waiting this long, though! Still have to take photos of some things that I have made to put up, too, and that's time-consuming, because I have to not only set up the items, but take the photos and edit them, and that's the annoying part.
Hubby was so funny with "his" kitten last night when we got home. Picks up Junior, looks at him and starts coooing, "Oh my God! It's so cute! He just blinked at me!!!" He's like a little kid over it. Funny as all heck. We did move the litter out of the box onto the bed for a couple minutes last night. The floors are a bit chillier than I'd like, and with only two layers of toweling under the babies, I don't want them getting cold, so we moved them long enough to a couple more towels in there for extra padding and warmth for them. By the time they're a few weeks older, it will be warmer and I can take out the extra towels. They are starting to learn to walk, in a rather wobbly way, and when they are awake and not eating, they are starting to explore the nesting box. It's their whole world for now.
This week is supposed to be nice, in the 50s all week, so I might be able to get out before work a little bit and cut some more wood. After hubby sold two loads of it, the wood pile is looking a bit scarce. Not that we NEED it right now, since we don't have a wood stove yet, but the wood pile spot looks a bit bare now. But at least we are making a bit of extra cash and he is working on the loads to trade for those tires he got from a buddy at work. Three more loads and they are traded for. Goodness knows, there's a ton of downed trees around here that can be cut up for wood, and more scrub that can be cut down and cut up for kindling, so there's plenty to get done.
*****
Hubby was so funny with "his" kitten last night when we got home. Picks up Junior, looks at him and starts coooing, "Oh my God! It's so cute! He just blinked at me!!!" He's like a little kid over it. Funny as all heck. We did move the litter out of the box onto the bed for a couple minutes last night. The floors are a bit chillier than I'd like, and with only two layers of toweling under the babies, I don't want them getting cold, so we moved them long enough to a couple more towels in there for extra padding and warmth for them. By the time they're a few weeks older, it will be warmer and I can take out the extra towels. They are starting to learn to walk, in a rather wobbly way, and when they are awake and not eating, they are starting to explore the nesting box. It's their whole world for now.
This week is supposed to be nice, in the 50s all week, so I might be able to get out before work a little bit and cut some more wood. After hubby sold two loads of it, the wood pile is looking a bit scarce. Not that we NEED it right now, since we don't have a wood stove yet, but the wood pile spot looks a bit bare now. But at least we are making a bit of extra cash and he is working on the loads to trade for those tires he got from a buddy at work. Three more loads and they are traded for. Goodness knows, there's a ton of downed trees around here that can be cut up for wood, and more scrub that can be cut down and cut up for kindling, so there's plenty to get done.
*****
Monday, February 2, 2015
Internet woes for me
My internet has been a butt today. I actually had to call tech support, which is highly unusual for me. I've been using computers since DOS, so I can save tech support loads of time trying all the usual crap. This had the tech guy in giggles, since he didn't have to do anything other than have his stuff check their equipment before telling me what to do. Being able to explain that you've already tried restarting the modem, you're connected directly to it, you've done this, that and the other and it ain't working saves a lot of hassle for me and them. But it is working again, so that's a blessing, because no internet means I can't work on my eventual storefront.
On the other hand, I did sort of watch football last night. Found a series on youtube from Frontline about the NFL and the whole concussion denial thing, and watched that while doing some crocheting on the MAM afghan. Three more strips to start so I can then do all the round twos, threes, fours, and joining rounds so it's done. There won't be a lot of drape to it along the sides of the bed, but considering I sleep more in the middle anyhow, it doesn't matter. I may take the time to work on a border for it, but I'm still debating that.
Back to work today, which isn't going to be fun, but has to be done. Honestly, I'm having more fun working on the business than I have working at my J.O.B.!!! I know there are a whole heck of a lot of people who have regular jobs and absolutely love theirs, or who at least can tolerate them without wishing they were doing something else (maybe the same thing, just not where they are doing it), but I've got entrepreneurs up the wazoo in my family, and other successful people who are happy doing what they do. My Mom had her own business for 26 years until she retired last year, and loved it. I have a cousin who works for McDonald's, and loves his job. So I've got both ends of the spetrum. But I am the type more like Mom. I'll work for someone else to pay the bills, but once I have a chance to really work on my passion, watch out because once it's rolling that's what I'll do for the rest of my life.
And kittens are all eyes opened and ears opening. They are so darned fluffy and cute. Tink doesn't even care that I handle them. If they start squeaking, she just comes over to watch and make sure they aren't hurt or anything and then just watches. Put the kitten back, and she gives it a quick wash.
If you are in the Wild White North, where there is currently a crapton of snow, please be extremely careful if you have to go out and about. I've seen photos, and read updates, and it's not pretty. Okay, the snow is pretty, but the amount of it is not. This is getting long, and I have stuff to do, haha. My day is behind schedule as it is with the internet problem. So it's off to be busy with things that need doing. Hugs all!!!
*****
On the other hand, I did sort of watch football last night. Found a series on youtube from Frontline about the NFL and the whole concussion denial thing, and watched that while doing some crocheting on the MAM afghan. Three more strips to start so I can then do all the round twos, threes, fours, and joining rounds so it's done. There won't be a lot of drape to it along the sides of the bed, but considering I sleep more in the middle anyhow, it doesn't matter. I may take the time to work on a border for it, but I'm still debating that.
Back to work today, which isn't going to be fun, but has to be done. Honestly, I'm having more fun working on the business than I have working at my J.O.B.!!! I know there are a whole heck of a lot of people who have regular jobs and absolutely love theirs, or who at least can tolerate them without wishing they were doing something else (maybe the same thing, just not where they are doing it), but I've got entrepreneurs up the wazoo in my family, and other successful people who are happy doing what they do. My Mom had her own business for 26 years until she retired last year, and loved it. I have a cousin who works for McDonald's, and loves his job. So I've got both ends of the spetrum. But I am the type more like Mom. I'll work for someone else to pay the bills, but once I have a chance to really work on my passion, watch out because once it's rolling that's what I'll do for the rest of my life.
And kittens are all eyes opened and ears opening. They are so darned fluffy and cute. Tink doesn't even care that I handle them. If they start squeaking, she just comes over to watch and make sure they aren't hurt or anything and then just watches. Put the kitten back, and she gives it a quick wash.
If you are in the Wild White North, where there is currently a crapton of snow, please be extremely careful if you have to go out and about. I've seen photos, and read updates, and it's not pretty. Okay, the snow is pretty, but the amount of it is not. This is getting long, and I have stuff to do, haha. My day is behind schedule as it is with the internet problem. So it's off to be busy with things that need doing. Hugs all!!!
*****
Sunday, February 1, 2015
Windy weather
We're getting some really gusty winds of 30 to 40 mph here today. So of course, hubby decides to head to Wally World to find a stylus for his phone. I told him he needed one because he's a guy and his fingers are just too big to accurately hit the buttons. Seems the gal at the store said the same thing and got him hooked up with a nice little cheapy one that works great for him. He was so happy that we (meaning mostly me) finally got his new phone working the way he wants it, and that my recommendation of a stylus is so helpful, that he bought me a king size reese's peanut butter cups as a present. At least he's happier now, and has quit griping about not being able to have a flip phone anymore. I can't help that he likes them and they are obsolete. I can't help that he's computer illiterate, and a smart phone is really more phone than he needs. But when he allows me to do so, I can help that his phone is working in a way that maximizes his fun and minimizes his frustration with it.
On to happier notes. Quilting on Mom's lap quilt is almost done, and I think I will invest the time and effort to put the binding on the edge, just to pretty it up a bit. Raffles has gotten extremely interested in the kittens, and keeps coming in to put her paws on the edge of the nesting box, sticking her head out as far as she can towards them, and sniffing up a storm. She hasn't gotten any nearer them yet though. Smudge continues to ignore them. Bouncer has quit climbing in the box, but still comes around to sniff at the kittens, especially if we pull one out to hold and pet it. Tink just lets me hold them, just sits and watches, knowing that as soon as it starts to let out distressed mews, I'll put it back in the box. Their eyes and ears are starting to open just a tiny bit, now that they are a week old, and have all been given names so we can differentiate them other than "the big one" or "mini-Tink" or "mini-Bouncer" or "the other ginger" or "the calico." So they are:
First-born, black and white male - Trouble. Mainly because the little snot has been everywhere BUT where Tink thinks he belongs ever since he was born. He constantly has to be hauled back to the group with the rest of them, because even blind and deaf, he's off exploring the world he has access to.
Second, ginger tabby male, very little white - Butterscotch, because reminds me of butterscotch pudding in color.
Third, mostly black calico female - Stars. I wanted something nighttime-sounding, and which also didn't sound like your average cat name. So that put out Midnight, Black, Coalie, and the rest of them. She is mostly black, some small dark copper patches, and only a few tiny white hairs here and there that are difficult to see.
Fourth, the Bouncer look-a-like ginger tabby male - I vote for Marmalade, hubby wants Bouncer Junior. We're compromising ... he gets both.
Fifth and last, classic calico female - Kizzy. She beautifully marked, almost half white, and the rest a fairly equal mix of black and copper. The name comes from having been re-reading Alex Haley's "Roots" for the umpteenth time. The African, Kunta Kinte, had one child, a daughter he named Kizzy in his native Mandinka. The word means "you stay put," and the only other name for this little lady is Sloth, because she's the one who's the slightly runty good girl for Momma Tinkerbell. Moves around plenty, but always first at the milk bar, and while she doesn't seem much interested in going about and exploring, she does seem to absorb the world around her. So, since she stays put a lot, Kizzy seems to fit, and yes, she's my favorite. If I can talk hubby into keeping two of the kittens instead of just the min-Bouncer, I'm keeping her.
*****
On to happier notes. Quilting on Mom's lap quilt is almost done, and I think I will invest the time and effort to put the binding on the edge, just to pretty it up a bit. Raffles has gotten extremely interested in the kittens, and keeps coming in to put her paws on the edge of the nesting box, sticking her head out as far as she can towards them, and sniffing up a storm. She hasn't gotten any nearer them yet though. Smudge continues to ignore them. Bouncer has quit climbing in the box, but still comes around to sniff at the kittens, especially if we pull one out to hold and pet it. Tink just lets me hold them, just sits and watches, knowing that as soon as it starts to let out distressed mews, I'll put it back in the box. Their eyes and ears are starting to open just a tiny bit, now that they are a week old, and have all been given names so we can differentiate them other than "the big one" or "mini-Tink" or "mini-Bouncer" or "the other ginger" or "the calico." So they are:
First-born, black and white male - Trouble. Mainly because the little snot has been everywhere BUT where Tink thinks he belongs ever since he was born. He constantly has to be hauled back to the group with the rest of them, because even blind and deaf, he's off exploring the world he has access to.
Second, ginger tabby male, very little white - Butterscotch, because reminds me of butterscotch pudding in color.
Third, mostly black calico female - Stars. I wanted something nighttime-sounding, and which also didn't sound like your average cat name. So that put out Midnight, Black, Coalie, and the rest of them. She is mostly black, some small dark copper patches, and only a few tiny white hairs here and there that are difficult to see.
Fourth, the Bouncer look-a-like ginger tabby male - I vote for Marmalade, hubby wants Bouncer Junior. We're compromising ... he gets both.
Fifth and last, classic calico female - Kizzy. She beautifully marked, almost half white, and the rest a fairly equal mix of black and copper. The name comes from having been re-reading Alex Haley's "Roots" for the umpteenth time. The African, Kunta Kinte, had one child, a daughter he named Kizzy in his native Mandinka. The word means "you stay put," and the only other name for this little lady is Sloth, because she's the one who's the slightly runty good girl for Momma Tinkerbell. Moves around plenty, but always first at the milk bar, and while she doesn't seem much interested in going about and exploring, she does seem to absorb the world around her. So, since she stays put a lot, Kizzy seems to fit, and yes, she's my favorite. If I can talk hubby into keeping two of the kittens instead of just the min-Bouncer, I'm keeping her.
*****
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Frustrated
So highly frustrated. Hubby decided he needs a new phone, and the cheapest one he could get is a touchscreen. We use Straight Talk, which is fine. So does he let me set it up first, before he starts messing with it? Of COURSE NOT! Now he's got things going with it that I have no clue, and if I ask him to hand me the phone so I can see what's going on, he gets mad. ARGH! So I finally got him to hand it to me so I can go through all the stupid screens and got that done and ended up calling on mine to get it to transfer everything. So yeah, I'm annoyed. I think we finally got it straightened out. At least we got it to activate, though the old phone still shows the correct number of days left on it, and we can use the new one to call. Dunno about texting yet because he hasn't quit playing with it so I can see what all is on the darn thing and put his settings together the way he likes. I know - he needs to do it, but he gets so frustrated with it all that he wants to throw things, and ends up handing new phones to me to deal with anyhow.
But at least errands and chores for the day are done, so I can relax a little bit. As soon as I quit tearing my hair out. TWO HOURS at this and it's not done. ARGH!
*****
But at least errands and chores for the day are done, so I can relax a little bit. As soon as I quit tearing my hair out. TWO HOURS at this and it's not done. ARGH!
*****
Friday, January 30, 2015
Can I cry now?
This is so frustrating!!!!!! Michigan makes it much easier to get a business started. There, it's fill out a form, pay a dollar, and poof - resale license, aka Sales, Use and Withholding Certificate. Here, I have to fill out a form, which is fine, but there's a FIFTY DOLLAR non-refundable fee that has to go with it, and since I'll be working from home, there's also a trip to make to Green Forest to check with the city about whether or not I need a license from THEM. If I do, I have to get THAT, and if not, I need a statement to that respect, because either way, a copy has to go with the SUW application and that whacking fee.
On the other hand, there is a place online I can get stuff at a bit of a discount, resell that stuff in the webstore at full price for a bit until I get all the freaking paperwork taken care of, and go that way. It won't make as much profit as buying wholesale, goodness knows, but at least I'd have a shot at getting going. And there are a couple craft kit supply places I can go through to buy stuff in kits and make to sell as well. Anybody up for foam ornaments and decorations for the holidays? They are not super-great, looking much like kiddie crafts, though the one place also has some neat but easy to make jewelry kits I can get to make and sell as well. Though I have to admit, the foam ornament stuff sold pretty well a few years ago when I was able to do a lot of craft shows simply because they were cheap. (I sold LOTS of the tacky little darlings.) Only problem is, it means my shipping time will likely end up being about ten business days, as I can't afford a lot of inventory right now, so things are going to have to be bought as they sell for the time being. ARGH! I am just so ready to cry from frustration from all the hurry up and wait. When this gets going, it better be bleeding well worth it all.
Ah, well. I've had more frustrating days. Like Thursday. I woke up feeling okay but ended up with a blinding headache before I could leave for work, so I had to call in. Hubby went in, but ended up taking an emergency vacation day because he got sick. We are talking major sick, and not the kind of two-for-one special on his lunch that he really wanted. Apparently, they ended up having to clear up the bathroom floor, and he went to the nurse, who said he should go home. So he found his supervisor and the GPM on the production floor (and nearly did another two-fer right there), and after consult, they sent him home. I guess they're putting it down as a vacation day and will do the paperwork on Friday. (I hope so or else he'll end up losing his job for "abandoning" it when his supervisor TOLD him it would go down as a vacation day in front of the GPM!) I'm typing this up Thursday evening and hubby hasn't eaten since he got home. Point of fact, he's done nothing but sleep for the most part. Awake here and there a few minutes at a stretch, but mostly zonked. Hopefully, this is a twenty-four hour bug and he'll feel better tomorrow.
(Update just before I head to bed at 530AM ... made him some chicken noodle soup which he couldn't even get up the oomph to try, so I'll have to see about shoving it down him before work later today. Nothing solid in him since he got home; he's basically just slept. But it's good for him. I always say sleep is the best medicine. If they want to sleep that much, let 'em. A missed meal or two isn't going to kill someone who's been sick. It will just mean they take it easy on the first food they put down afterwards.)
But at least I got caught up on some of the stuff I need to do for the store, and got quite a bit of quilting done. And if I use PayPal and Pay With Amazon for payment gateways, and go month to month on the hosting, I may be able to swing a start to the webstore ... we shall see. That's going to be a few weeks yet, what with all that's got to be done first in the way of getting graphics and descriptions and such together from about three different places. Yay, my life.
*****
On the other hand, there is a place online I can get stuff at a bit of a discount, resell that stuff in the webstore at full price for a bit until I get all the freaking paperwork taken care of, and go that way. It won't make as much profit as buying wholesale, goodness knows, but at least I'd have a shot at getting going. And there are a couple craft kit supply places I can go through to buy stuff in kits and make to sell as well. Anybody up for foam ornaments and decorations for the holidays? They are not super-great, looking much like kiddie crafts, though the one place also has some neat but easy to make jewelry kits I can get to make and sell as well. Though I have to admit, the foam ornament stuff sold pretty well a few years ago when I was able to do a lot of craft shows simply because they were cheap. (I sold LOTS of the tacky little darlings.) Only problem is, it means my shipping time will likely end up being about ten business days, as I can't afford a lot of inventory right now, so things are going to have to be bought as they sell for the time being. ARGH! I am just so ready to cry from frustration from all the hurry up and wait. When this gets going, it better be bleeding well worth it all.
Ah, well. I've had more frustrating days. Like Thursday. I woke up feeling okay but ended up with a blinding headache before I could leave for work, so I had to call in. Hubby went in, but ended up taking an emergency vacation day because he got sick. We are talking major sick, and not the kind of two-for-one special on his lunch that he really wanted. Apparently, they ended up having to clear up the bathroom floor, and he went to the nurse, who said he should go home. So he found his supervisor and the GPM on the production floor (and nearly did another two-fer right there), and after consult, they sent him home. I guess they're putting it down as a vacation day and will do the paperwork on Friday. (I hope so or else he'll end up losing his job for "abandoning" it when his supervisor TOLD him it would go down as a vacation day in front of the GPM!) I'm typing this up Thursday evening and hubby hasn't eaten since he got home. Point of fact, he's done nothing but sleep for the most part. Awake here and there a few minutes at a stretch, but mostly zonked. Hopefully, this is a twenty-four hour bug and he'll feel better tomorrow.
(Update just before I head to bed at 530AM ... made him some chicken noodle soup which he couldn't even get up the oomph to try, so I'll have to see about shoving it down him before work later today. Nothing solid in him since he got home; he's basically just slept. But it's good for him. I always say sleep is the best medicine. If they want to sleep that much, let 'em. A missed meal or two isn't going to kill someone who's been sick. It will just mean they take it easy on the first food they put down afterwards.)
But at least I got caught up on some of the stuff I need to do for the store, and got quite a bit of quilting done. And if I use PayPal and Pay With Amazon for payment gateways, and go month to month on the hosting, I may be able to swing a start to the webstore ... we shall see. That's going to be a few weeks yet, what with all that's got to be done first in the way of getting graphics and descriptions and such together from about three different places. Yay, my life.
*****
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Talking things over
Talking things out with the hubby, he was wondering where I am with the webstore, because he knows I'm working my butt off on it, and he's wondering where it's at as far as being ready to rock. I know a lot of you are, as well. I'm busy lining up suppliers, I have a host picked out, I have business cards picked out, I know where to go for a SSL certificate, I have a merchant picked out so I can accept credit/debit cards, and I'm working up the categories for the store (which won't shot if there's nothing in them). Hubby had the idea of magnetic signs on the truck and car, which wouldn't be expensive as I can get those through VistaPrint same as the business cards. I want to have three or four suppliers lined up prior to doing all the other stuff. So it's cranking along quite nicely, it's just on hold while lining up suppliers. With any luck, it will be going by late spring, and I can hopefully start making some extra cash that way. Mind, I won't be able to quit the plant right off, because it's going to take time to build the business, and there's a lot of general competition out there for needlework and yarn and suck online and in retail. But what I can't beat in price, I can beat in customer service and quality and stock. Seriously, if I can get to a place where I have a retail shop as well, I can't say there will be a lot there, but there will be more than what places like Wal-Mart and Michaels and JoAnns carry in the way of needlework and yarn carry. Plus being able to special order for free will be a nice touch.
However, once things are up and running, it also means taking some of my own crafts, which I'll also have in the store, and getting my butt up super-early on Saturdays or going without sleep till after everything's done at the farmer's market and errands. so that I can get the word out locally as well. It also means carrying business cards with me everywhere to pass out and put up on every corkboard in the area where I can. I'm going to wallpaper Green Forest and Harrison with business cards if I have to, to get the word out locally, haha.
Other than that, all I can say is, kittens are cute, Tink is snuggling more now that she knows she is safe, Smudge is interested, Raffles could care less, and Bouncer is fascinted. Mom's lap quilt is moving along, and I have about 2/3 of the quilting done, so a bit longer and it's off the WIP pile and into the finished pile (and in the mail to her). The house is clean, life is good, and I'm generally pretty happy. Not happy-happy, but the not discontent kind of happy. Off to work!!
For those interested, photos of Tink and the kittens:
*****
However, once things are up and running, it also means taking some of my own crafts, which I'll also have in the store, and getting my butt up super-early on Saturdays or going without sleep till after everything's done at the farmer's market and errands. so that I can get the word out locally as well. It also means carrying business cards with me everywhere to pass out and put up on every corkboard in the area where I can. I'm going to wallpaper Green Forest and Harrison with business cards if I have to, to get the word out locally, haha.
Other than that, all I can say is, kittens are cute, Tink is snuggling more now that she knows she is safe, Smudge is interested, Raffles could care less, and Bouncer is fascinted. Mom's lap quilt is moving along, and I have about 2/3 of the quilting done, so a bit longer and it's off the WIP pile and into the finished pile (and in the mail to her). The house is clean, life is good, and I'm generally pretty happy. Not happy-happy, but the not discontent kind of happy. Off to work!!
For those interested, photos of Tink and the kittens:
*****
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