Well, the bad news is sheesh! I can’t believe I haven’t blogged since last July – wow, that’s bad. I guess all I can say is that I’ve been keeping veeery busy. And I’m home sick right now – so I thought I’d take advantage of that and catch you all up. This is the 2nd time I’ve had pneumonia since December 08. *sigh* My lungs are definitely upset with my place of business – the windows are sealed and the air is probably as old as the building – and the dust (which is high on my list of allergies) is totally out of control. I don’t think my floors have been mopped in a year – and nothing has ever been dusted since I’ve been working there – ever! And it’s not just me – there are many people working there who have developed lung ailments. It’s a sick building that’s making people sick, but try to get management to admit it! Eh, they’re all a bunch you know whats anyway. The good news is that I’m still alive and fighting the good fight, and so is Baby.
SO. Here’s the news – since July, that I can remember -
I’ve been published !!!! (artwork – more on that tomorrow, I want to do a proper write up on it)
and I’ve been assaulted at my place of business by a subordinate who has been nothing but heartache for me since she started working in my unit ten years ago. (Again, here is the sad story of an escalating problem of disrespect towards me as a supervisor that has gone on and on without any intervention by my boss. I have him to thank for this. If he had stood behind me, his supposedly next in line, and reprimanded this person, it would not have progressed to this nastiness.)
Baby, my little miracle bird, is still with me and showing no signs of going to that great nest in the sky. All this after his vet told me he had a tumor in his nether regions last April ‘08. The vet said I’d be lucky to have another 3 months of his antics if I were lucky, but miracles do happen and I still pray every day that the tumor was just a smudge on the xray plate. Not that I’m complaining! God, I am so praying that’s all it was. And that’s all I will say about that, for fear of jinxing him.
Hmmm, what else…..oh, yeah, I think I’ve finally narrowed my relocation search to Delaware, close to Dover, though this is not yet written in stone but it looks very promising. I’ll be spending a few days there in early May to check out some of the communities I’m interested in.
I am booked and going again to Art & Soul in Hampton, VA from 4/29 to 5/4, and I can’t wait! I’m completely psyched! I am going to be exhausted at the end of it – I’ve booked 3 more classes than last year, but I still have one whole day off in the middle to recoup.
I’ve also finally at long last found a local altered art group not far from home, and we meet 4-5 times a month and do various projects – you can see some of them at my Flickr site – http://www.flickr.com/photos/cookala if you look at the workshops set.
And soon now I will be starting my own line of jewelry! I plan to make lampwork bead charm bracelets, pandora bracelets and necklaces and Steampunk genre necklaces, bracelets and maybe pins and earrings. I’ll also be using semi-precious stones and swvorski crystals in my creations to add some bling. I’ll be learning how to solder and make my own custom bezels at Art & Soul, andthen I will also start to offer altered art/found object jewelry. I know the economy is hurting, but jewelry always seems to sell. So I’m keeping my toes and fingers crossed that this will eventually become a lucrative way to make some mad money after I’ve retired -
and speaking of retirement – Oct 21 will be here before I know it! YAY! *does a happy dance* On that day, I will finally be emancipated from a job that has become a true torture for me in every way – and that is so sad, especially because I do like what I do. Unfortunately, it’s the people I have to work with, and the local politics and invitation only clicks that have done me in. Gosh, I SO cannot wait for 10/21!!
So, that’s all for today. I’m feeling the fatigue from the pneumonia and the fever in a big way suddenly and I think I should get into bed for a little while, perchance to dream…
but more tomorrow on the publication! YAY!
Welcome back, Cookie! Congrats on the publication — look forward to hearing about it. Nic
Heya, Nic! I can’t tell you how nice it is to see you here! It’s so nice to know you’re still watching out for me! Stay tuned – will be writing something up tomorrow. HUGS!
cooks
Pneumonia sux. I wouldn’t whish that on anybody!
Hi, Mark – and welcome! Yes, peumonia sure does suck! But at least I’m starting to feel like the antibiotics are doing something – it only took 4 days…but I shouldn’t complain, it’s a sign I’m starting to heal. Still, I so hate the meds they gave me (Biaxin) because of the metallic taste in your mouth and extreme drying out. I keep drinking gallons of liquids and still my lips feel dry. *sigh* being sick is not fun! But on the other hand, it’s given me some time to play catch-up with so many things that I’ve been neglecting (like this blog!). I guess that’s the silver lining part – that, and I don’t have to deal with the A*%#&#( at work!
Sorry to hear about the pneumonia and the assault at work, but as you say, you’ll be retiring soon, so you won’t have to put up with that crap any more.
Any particular reason for Delaware? (just curious – what about the area appeals to you?)
Steampunk jewelry, eh? I know a few people who might like some of that – I’ll be keeping an eye out – will you have displays here on the blog or something?
Take care.
*ribbit*
Heya, Scotty! thanks for commenting – I think Delaware because it’s so cheap to live there – 36% less than NY according to “Where To Retire” magazine. I’ve done alot of research, and there is no sales tax. I’m looking at homes in retirement communities – you can get almost 2000 sq ft of house (3 BR, 2Bath, sunroom, great room w/fireplace, dining room, gourmet kitchen, 2 car garage with walk up storage above it, hardwood floors, master bath and large walk-in closet – and lots of other goodies) for anywhere from $250,000 to 350,000 depending on what location/community and options. (these are brand new homes and the price includes a 100×100 lot or so). And there are clubhouses with full-time social directors and activities, and indoor/outdoor pools to swim in year round. Utilities are about half of what they are here. Land tax, housing association fee and other taxes will cost me less than half of house taxes alone that I pay now in NY. And it’s only a 4 hr drive from where I live now so it would be easy to visit with family/friends pretty regularly. And it’s maybe 1/2 hr ride to the beach, and 15 min to Dover (which has everything you could want and remiinds me alot of where I live now) but once you get 10 miin out of Dover it’s mostly flat farmland – very green, lots of trees and water bodies. What’s not to like? I plan to live there and rent for at least 6 mos before I buy, just to make sure. If that don’t work, I’ll be trying out Cape Cod. If that don’t work, maybe So Carolina. Nothing is written in stone yet.
Steampunk is very hot right now – and yes, I’ll be posting pics here. I’ll also be opening a new Etsy store as soon as I have some stock made, and I also plan to sell on eBay. It’s a gamble right now with the economy, but it’s not going to cost alot alot to get started, and jewelry is always a good seller. So we’ll see. It’s an idea I thought I’d try now to see if it can preclude having to find part-time work after I retire. I’d rather sit at home or the beach and make bling than punch a clock and deal with the personalities of mentally challenged co-workers. I’ve had enough of that crap. I also plan to sell pandora bracelets and necklaces, lampwork bead and charm bracelets and eventually (after I learn to solder in May at Art&Soul) foiund object/altered art jewelry. I’m just about done bidding on autions for supplies and will probably start making stuff as soon as I meet all my art/swap obligations, so it will be soon, probably a month or so. Pandora jewelry will come first because it’s the fastest to put together. Steampunk will come right after that, then the charm bracelets. I’ll be making an announcement here when the new store opens.
Oh, and btw, the admins still haven’t done anything to resolve that attack. I had to give a taped deposition back in Nov, and I haven’t heard a word since. *sigh* I don’t think they have a clue as to how awkward a position they put me in. Meanwhile, that bitch that attacked me still works here, and I do pass her occasionally in the hall or she comes unescorted into my work area. I send emails to my supervisors, but she still enters my area unescorted. And once they finally do make a decision about discipline or whatever she may return to her office that’s right next to mine. Since the incident last Nov. she’s been moved to another area of the building. If that happens I intend to work with my door shut. So, retirement cannot come fast enough for me!
So that’s the news! Hope all is well in your world sweetie. Stay in touch, and thnk you for stopping in so faithfully – I am so bad about making entires and visiting blogs – I just don’t have time anymore. Hopefully, that will change after i retire!
hugs & blessings
cooks