Don't Be a Crappy Boss

I spent this entire autumn dealing with a crappy decision a certain manager made, which ultimately caused all of the store's non-permanent employees to have to reapply, re-interview, and be re-hired for their jobs. "Stress" doesn't begin to cover what I've been feeling. My job interview happened last week and I spent the rest of the day in bed, feeling like garbage. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. 

And apparently, it was all avoidable, as she was warned in plenty of time that this was coming if she didn't act soon, but the manager in question sat on her hands instead. As a result, not only did we endure this asinine situation, but all the people who APPLIED AND WERE INTERVIEWED FOR OUR JOBS endured a huge waste of their time and energy. And, since (as our supervisors planned) we were all hired back, these folks all got their hopes up for nothing. Just crappy as heck. 

I thought the business owner of Briar was terrible (she was), but I guess if I'm comparing the two situations, I lived that stress every day that I worked there - I had a designated "go be alone and cry" space - and here, it's only been that bad for the last couple of months, and now the end is in sight. 

Life is pretty damn good otherwise. We're getting ready for Christmas and enjoying the activities of the season, along with trying to clear out our clutter (a constant) and do all the usual daily stuff. 

Mormony, More Problems*

 *Dan is to blame for this one. I think it's hilarious so I'm writing it down here. 

The Shithead Won

Time to move to another country. It's on all of our minds this morning - choices are being discussed via the family group text thread. I used to laugh at people who threatened to leave the States after an election didn't go their way, but this is different. This election outcome constitutes a very credible threat to my loved ones. 

It's bad enough that he's such a piece of garbage, but the people who voted for him are predominantly on my shit list. I don't know him personally, but I know some of his voters, and it makes me sick that they would so casually vote for a fascist who WANTS TO HURT MY KIDS and other LGBTQ+ folks. These people either don't know us, or do know us and don't care and voted for him anyway. I don't want to know these people anymore. 

So, I need to start selling stuff, I guess, or at the very least, stop buying stuff. Prior to this week, we were doing some light prepping, so we'll continue to do that along with putting in a garden (the volunteer pumpkin in the front garden bed doesn't count; we need actual food) and start doing all that urban homesteading stuff, since we won't be able to trust the food supply chain (Shithead promised to do away with food safety regulations). We'll be working on getting our passports and paperwork together; saving up money, doing whatever we have to, in order to escape, or move, or whatever we end up doing.

One thing I can unequivocally say is that I'm done with Trumpers. May they all rot in hell for killing our beautiful USA. If he follows through on his plans, we'll be the next Hungary. 

In the words of Lt. Dan, God Damn Bless America. 

Election Day 2024

 We all voted for Vice President Kamala Harris. It's a cool day for me - it's R's first presidential election, and all five of the kids voted. I'm very proud of my civic duty-oriented children. Yesterday, B bought an all-weather US flag to fly for the occasion - our previous flag was only for sunny weather. 

Everyone is anxious about the election. To ward off any workday yuck, Dan and I decided to throw together a potluck. I baked a chocolate cake last night and frosted it with The Frosting this morning. Dan bought doughnuts from the college bakery (delicious) and Heidi baked peanut butter cookies (YUM - normally they're no big deal to me, but hers are slightly saltier than any others I've had and I'm loving them). 

I had a hard time getting to sleep last night, so I'm quite zombie-fied today, and staring down the barrel of a 2:00 ending time. YIKES. Can I make it till then? Only my coffee cup knows for sure. I only fell asleep two or three times during my lunch break. 

Soccer in Centralia Tiger Stadium

Watching our girlie R play

The quizzical spectators

SOCCER on a gloppy morning

 So gloppy. So sloppy. Such is soccer in Puyallup. 

We Love Our Kamala

"Those who came before us, the patriots at Normandy and Selma, Seneca Falls and Stonewall, on farmlands and factory floors: they did not struggle, sacrifice, and lay down their lives only to see us cede our fundamental freedoms. They didn't do that only to see us submit our will to another petty tyrant."

Happy 4th Birthday to Little C!

 

Celebrating our sweet girlie Little C today. She's such a funny, fun, SWEET, beautiful little girl. We love her so much. 

In other news: Unfortunately, and in a shocking turn of events, ballot boxes in Vancouver, at Fishers Landing, and in Portland, were lit on fire early this morning. The ballots were destroyed. 

People are freaks now. 

My blood is boiling

In yesterday's mail, we received a transphobic flyer from the goons at the Washington State Republican Party. Are these fools not aware that they are sending hate mail to people who are trans? Probably not, and if they know, they don't care.

The guy sent it to M, under her deadname. NOT AT MY HOUSE.

I looked up the goon in question - his name rhymes with Flo Spent - and found his campaign headquarters' mailing address, as well as the mailing address of the WA Republican Party HQ. The flyer pictured a young girl in high school, a wrestler on the school wrestling team, who was (according to this flyer) completely flipping out that a "boy" may join her in the locker room and do who knows what to her.

As a mom of two trans folks, I was understandably livid, but also wished to remain anonymous, so I cut up the flyer into strips, drew stupid pirate face markings on the pictures of the girl, and included a note with a few choice F words to the goon. In it I included the hope that they would enjoy the "jigsaw puzzle" (the cut up flyer), and would be able to put it back together. Because they're all stupid, and they're all heartless, and they all suck donkey butt.

Dear transphobes, don't try that shit again with me. 

On Walkabout

Mid October Post

 Yeah, it's a lame but honest title.

Life is good. We're so busy that I hardly have time to catch my breath, feels like. We've entered birthday season (M on 9/30, Hubby and Little R on 10/16, and Little C's will be 10/28), which ushers in holiday season. R's soccer season has been full of ups and downs, and is keeping us traveling on most weekends. It's been quite a full couple of months. 

I'm doing okay, mostly. I really want to declutter the house but it's usually so overwhelming that I have a hard time getting started. Still figuring that challenge out.

Otherwise, things are going well. 

POWER OUTAGE AT WORK

Before the store opened, the lights went out, along with everything else that requires electricity. We on-campus heroes were all excused. It made no sense to be there, since none of our computers were operable, and even our door could not be rolled open for customers. 

I was home and back in my pajamas by 10:30 AM.

Life is rough, folks. 

Back at Evergreen Soccer Field

It was very hard. There was hugging. We're not fans of the way this is going for R.

After the "game", we were driving around Olympia when, suddenly, we spied a cute little hairy black spider hanging out inside the car, near the dashboard. No one was freaked out by it, but no one really wanted a spider in the car, either, so a plan of action was created.

Later: dinner at El Sarape, prompting shouts of "Oh boy, pico de gallo! They sure don't make it like this in Ohio!*). Before we went inside, I captured the spider in a cup and relocated it to a new home in the river rocks in the landscape outside of the restaurant. I bid it goodbye and wished it all the luck in the spider world. 

*no one shouted this ingenious Weird Al lyric, but they should have

Sushi with Brighton

 ...at Sushi Factory. Something was happening Thursday, so we met today instead. 'Twas yummy and enjoyable. Sushi was inhaled, conversation was had. Long live Sushi Church!

Marty McFly: WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?

 

Marty McFly's sister: "Breakfast."

We're at Matt & Mandy's Family Diner in Woodland, Washington - a sweet tiny gem of a restaurant. Sandy discovered it and took me there a time or two before she moved. I decided it was my turn to show it to Hubby. Everything tasted amazing, as always.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the BIRTHDAY TWINS

How we love you both!

HERE COMES MY LIPSTICK

"...BUT IT COULD BEEEEEE.....SOMETHING SPECIALLLLL... JUST FOR MEEEEE"

SOCCER?? I barely know her!

Here we are in Olympia. Dig my cute sneaks.

Important Update

 I am now "order favorite lipstick colors online since stores no longer stock them" years old.

Naughty Plum and Vampire Dream, you will soon be mine. Again. 

Hey, guess what: SOCCER

 This time R's team is playing at Eastside Timbers Soccer Complex in Portland. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our WONDERFUL M

 

Sure love you, you beautiful kid!

Feeling Better and Back To Work

Thank goodness. COVID sucks. I'm sticking with my "wear blue and wear pearls" plan and quite like it - I think my next few shopping trips will include perusing thrift shops for blue tops. I have quite a few navy sweaters, but my blue blouse collection could use some plumping up (not literally). 

Today is the first day of our two-day staff conference (ahem, free coffee and lunch), and I've been tasked with contacting the references for our new hires. I'm done with that for now, so I suppose now I should get busy with the yearly trainings I have to complete online. Laaaaaaaaame. I already know not to embezzle money or pinch people's butts... at least, not at work. 

I ate lunch with B and friends, and quite enjoyed it. Love you, B. 

Blue and Pearls

Just after midnight, I tested negative for COVID a second time. Hubby's was also negative. It's not that we want to have COVID, but the negative test result always makes us wonder - did we conduct the test correctly? Did we shove the thing far enough up our noses? At least with a positive result, we would know one way or the other. 

New developments within our country's political climate have me inspired to adopt a dress code for work: each shift I'll be wearing something blue, and a string of pearls, to show support for Madame Vice President K@mala H@rris. Today I'm wearing the long navy dress I thrifted at the thrift store in Keizer, Oregon, and the pearls I wore when I was Mel's matron of honor. And a mask, of course. 

June's last day was Thursday, August 1, during my vacation. When I arrived at work this morning, I found a gift from them: a package of Plus Plus blocks. So far they've been fun for fidgeting but I haven't had time to create anything cool yet. I texted June to thank them, and they said they're enjoying their first day at the new job. Everyone here is happy for June, but sorry to lose them. 

I'm very much looking forward to our next overnight trip, and making plans to organize all of my new scrap collections and get my Singer and quilting equipment ready to come with me. I've never taken a machine on a trip, so this should be interesting. I keep collecting fabric (thanks, Universe!) and squirreling it away in different parts of the house, so it's time to stop buying it and start sorting it. FUN. 

LATER: Hubby and B have tested positive for COVID. That's it for me, then. 

Sick (?) Day

The last day of my summer vacation was spent in bed, playing Sims and a new game Mel invented where we make up rhyming celebrity names that are butt or poop related (yes, we're 10 years old), like Spurt Russell, Splats Domino, and Betty Shite. Blame Hubby for originating the whole thing by uttering the name "Shat Benatar" the other day, which was and continues to be one of the screamingly-est funny things I've heard in a while (again, 10 years old). 

Also, I took a COVID test, which was negative. I'm glad about that, but the fact that R and Hannah tested positive last night, combined with me feeling a little gross, has me concerned. 

Hubby bought stuff for mini pizzas and fed me dinner. What a good hubby.

I chatted with Mom today. We were supposed to go to Little Cousin K's baby shower this morning, but I'm not taking a possible COVID infection to a baby shower. Sounds like it all went well - Mom filled me in on all the details. 

Will we be working tomorrow? That's the question. 

Leaving Olympia

After an okay night's sleep, I awoke early and cross stitched for a while. Hubby, B and I enjoyed a nice large breakfast at the hotel, then packed and left. We spent some time on Evergreen campus, which B had never seen before, and then visited R and Hannah at R's apartment for a few minutes before heading southwest - the plan was to end up at the beach, but you know how it goes with plans, quite often.

Long story short: Summer road construction took its toll. We spent quite a bit of time parked on Highway 101 along with 500ish of our best travel buds. I mean, it could have been a lot worse. B had to use the restroom the entire time, so that part wasn't fun, but what a gorgeous spot and time of year to be stuck on the highway. 

Eventually we made it to Raymond, Washington, home of C & C Classic Diner - I had half of a turkey sandwich (real roasted turkey, not the sliced stuff) and some boss onion rings that I shared with B. Hubby and B also enjoyed their lunches. Yay, another local gem located! I wasn't feeling great, though, so I popped an allergy pill and figured that would do the trick. 

After lunch, we drove to Astoria, enjoying the beautiful scenery all along the way, Hubby threatening to jump out of the car with his camera at almost every corner. 

In Astoria, we visited a couple of B's favorite haunts, and ended at a quilt shop where I bought five bobbins for the Singer at 25 cents a pop (couldn't pass that up). While we were there, BAD NEWS: R and Hannah tested positive for COVID. My continued sneezing and added coughing, despite the allergy pill, led me down a dark road that could only be brightened by the offer of a bag of scraps (thanks, B). 

Avoiding the terrible traffic on I-5 that we experienced on Wednesday evening, we drove home through Rainier, St. Helens, and Scappoose, Oregon. When we arrived at home, Hubby and I quickly unpacked and flopped into our bed. 

R's Birthday 2024

It's her third birthday spent at college. By now we have a routine down (or we should).

I'm still on vacation, so after running to JoAnn Fabrics, I was able to spend the day at home packing, doing laundry, and messing about and sewing in the sewing nook. By "messing about" I mean moving the old Smith secretary desk into the furnace closet, and creating a teensy office. How much fun will that be! We also moved the old computer and its desk to the wall by the bathroom, and as always, unearthed even more crap that we have to decide what to do with. Slowly but surely, we're getting organized and decluttered. 

For R's birthday, I sewed a throw pillow with a pillow form and some "antique map" fabric she spied in one of my last fabric hauls. She liked the colors. It turned out really cute. I also sewed on the rainbow patch that I had previously ironed onto Hannah's birthday throw pillow - it came off, but NO MORE. I also found a cute plant and pot at our favorite hardware store, to go with her original 2022 plant. 

Around 4:30, I picked up Hubby at the MAX station and then we collected B up at the college, and we were off to Olympia. 

Once there, we stopped at C0stco and Fred Shmeyer for cake and cake-related stuff, and gift cards. We dropped it all off at our hotel, then met R, Hannah, and Kate at the 0live Garden. We enjoyed our dinner, and R blew out a candle on a piece of cake that the server brought. Then we went back to the hotel, where R's "real" cake and gifts were waiting, and had fun celebrating her. The girls left, Hubby and B tried out the hot tub, and I lazed in bed. 

It was a great day. Happy Birthday, Lady Legs!

I could dig this vacation stuff

I spent a nice day at home, working in the basement, clearing out clutter and filling up my Neen@w's dresser drawers, with her old sweaters and some cards and pictures I found in the furnace closet. Little C followed me around everywhere. I loved it. 

I've been a good, good girl

It's been a very productive day so far - dishes, laundry (including washing blankets at the laundromat), cleaning, locating my bag of stationery - and I deserve a treat. 

Gotta love ReT@ils. They know exactly what I like. 

The Haul:

It's a nice mix of fabric weights. Going counterclockwise: the quilting cotton is bottom left (check the cute antique map print), some gray velvety upholstery, a couple of thin silky-feeling prints, some heavy but also silky wovens in three colors, tan denim, light blue flannel, heavier-feeling cotton in white, red, and plaid, and a bit of light brown corduroy. 

Someone took advantage of an emptied (and probably washed afterwards) bag from the Lowe's supermarket deli to store this fabric. FYI, it originally held Virginia ham from 2010:

$1.96 for half a pound of ham isn't a bad deal.