Ninjas don't wear cowbells

Robby and Drake, first day of 3rd and 1st grade.

School is back in session and this is a whole new world to me.  For the first time in over 8 years I have no children home with me during the day.  What did I do with my first day of freedom?  I had early coffee with a great friend, followed by grocery shopping, followed by my very first day of work and earning a wage in 12+ years.  *sigh*

I had the day off today and it started out fantastic!  Coffee, pedicure, couple of errands, time with Gen, a little cleaning, donation drop off and all before 1pm!  Off to pick up my cherubs from school.  

Robby is LOVING his class and teacher.  No problems settling back in at all.  Drake is learning a whole new side to school not to mention trying to make it through a long day.

Drake's teacher meets them in the morning in the commons (a.k.a. lunchroom) so he has about 20 minutes of sitting in the lunch room with other kids as they eat breakfast.  Do you see where this is going?  Are we all clear on Drake's favorite pastime?  The first day of school he managed to score a free breakfast.  Today he tried again but Robby caught him and couldn't get Drake to leave the food line so he had to tell a teacher.  This resulted in a 8:23am call to me (they were dropped off at 8:10am) letting me know that I need to have a chat with Drake about how the food services works and when he is allow to use his code.  I thought it was no big deal because I was NEVER going to give Drake the code.  That would just asking for trouble.  Unfortunately a well meaning para educator taught Drake to memorize his code.  ARGH!

Fast forward, another Drake incident, fast forward, headache starting, fast forward, I fell again, fast forward, playing at the park after school.  STOP!

I had a wonderful time chatting with the Moms at our usual picnic table and then I see Drake walking across the grass with a small, green, biodegradable bag.  

Me:  "Drake, where did you get the green bag?"

Drake:  "Over by the sign with the dog on it."

Me:  "Where are you going and why do you have the green doggy bag?"

Drake:  "I need to find someplace private."

Me:  O.o  "Why?"

Drake:  "I have to poop."

Me:  "In the doggy poo bag?  Right here at the park?!"

Drake:  "Yeah."

Me:  "How about we walk over to the bathrooms instead?"

Drake:  "Okay, but this would have been faster." (clearly exasperated)

For this and every other time I am mere seconds away from a disaster, I am thankful for my Drake-dar.

*"Ninjas don't wear cowbells" is courtesy of Michelle.  It was her reply to my plea to have the boys wear cowbells so they would stop sneaking up behind me and scaring me senseless.

Dear Za Za...

Perhaps I am snarky because it is too bleedin' early in the morning for a day "off" but I must rant.

We are down to one car right now while Bob's mustang is getting some much needed TLC at the mechanics.  This means that I have been driving him to the park & ride before 6am to catch his bus.  Granted it has been 12 years since I commuted to work but a few things haven't changed.  Basic dress code for a downtown office job is one of them.  Here we go...

This morning as I drop Bob off for the bus I a needed to stop for a young "lady" who was walking rather slowly and reminiscent of a robot.  Then I saw her shoes.  They looked very similar to the pair in the photo only not as nice.

Advice from Za Za.  Honey, if you are wearing shoes like this at 6 in the morning, then you are headed in the wrong direction.  These shoes are meant to be headed home at 6 in morning, NOT to an office job.  Very few woman can pull off walking gracefully in 5" heels and when they do, they are not rushing anywhere.  These shoes have a purpose, a theme, a mission if you will.  Commuting to a downtown office job isn't it.  Try something lower, easier to walk in and that doesn't scream your intentions for getting to the top at work. Save them for special occasions, evenings out where you are able to walk slowly or stand and show off your legs and appear graceful.

Also, to the other gal I saw walking is flip flops and micro shorts.  IT'S 32*F OUTSIDE!  PUT SOME CLOTHES ON BEFORE YOU CATCH YOUR DEATH OF COLD!!!

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

Or as Drake likes to call it, Leprechaun day!

A friend of mine on facebook shared this photo today and I just can't stop smiling when I look at it.  Drake thinks this a real live leprechaun.

Looking outside I see the cold and dripping wet morning but I know that spring really will follow.  It is early in the morning and quiet and I have a wonderful cup of coffee.  The weekend is wide open with nothing scheduled, oh the possibilities!  And today is the Feast of Saint Patrick.  I have corned beef with cabbage, carrots and potatoes ready for the crockpot.  I am so content in my life right now and I am surrounded by blessings.  

This Saint Patrick's Day I will post all of my favorite Irish Blessings and saying to share.   Slainte!  To your health!

"God invented whiskey so the Irish wouldn't rule the world!"

"May you always have 

Walls for the wind, 

A roof  for the rain,

Tea beside the fire,

Laughter to cheer you,

Those you love near you,

And all your heart may desire!"

"May you live to be a hundred years 

With one extra year to repent."

"May you have warm words on a cold evening,

A full moon on a dark night,

And the road downhill all the way to your front door."

"May your blessings outnumber

the shamrocks that grow,

And may trouble avoid you,

Wherever you go."

"There are many good reasons for drinking,

One has just entered my head.

If a man doesn't drink when he's living,

How in the hell can he drink when he is dead?"

"May the best day of your past,

Be the worst day of your future."

Zenanigans

I have been very remiss in updating the blog but I have a very GOOD reason.  I am now officially a small business owner!  The last 4 weeks have been a whirlwind for me with making jewelry, learning what is needed to create this business, keeping up with orders and just being a wife/mom.  Baby steps.

Zenanigans now has it's own Facebook page!  facebook.com/Zenanigans

I will eventually get a website set up for it but that is out of my league so I will be haunting some friends for help with that.  We do have a blogspot for Zenanigans and I will do my best to keep on top of that with new projects and techniques I am working on.  Here is our blogspot:  http://zenanigans.blogspot.com/

If you see something that you LOVE and must have (YAY!!), please go over to the facebook page and send Zenanigans a message or shoot me a message here.

I want to end this post with my deepest most heartfelt thanks to all of you who have been so supportive and encouraging.  I wouldn't have had the courage to forge ahead if it hadn't been for you.  I also want to thank my parents Herb & Trish for pushing me and cheering me on to find a talent and build on it.  Dad wanted me to start a business years ago and although he isn't here to toast to it, I know that he is still cheering me on and proud of me.

Much love,
Jessica (Za Za)

P.S.  If you go check out the Zenanigans page on Facebook and you like what you see, please like our page!

I have been a busy bee this week working on jewelry sets, gathering tools and supplies and trying to sort out all the questions being thrown at me.  One thing has become clear and that is I need a name for this jewelry venture and I need it fast.  All the pictures of my pieces and sets are on my personal facebook page so I can't just direct people to them without opening that up to the public.  That I won't do so time for a new plan.  Come up with a name and then create another blogspot and/or facebook page.

Still needing to figure out the best way for packaging, shipping, etc.  Not to mention software for tracking, inventory, tax, etc.  I know a certain someone that is champing at the bit for me to get business cards and pretty bags.  One thing at a time.  

You should start a business!

My Dad has been saying that to me for years.  Well that and that I should write a book.     I have decided to take on the first one, so one step at a time, Pop!

I am making jewelry now, working with wire, beads, etc.  Going to try my hand at chain maille jewelry here pretty soon.  I was having a blast when I started making the pieces (still am) but then someone suggested that I sell them (thanks Michelle!).  I got so excited about the idea because that would be a great way to bring in income and still let me have my time to take care of the family and work around the boys school schedule.  Sick days alone would be great for me!  Them home watching TV or napping would allow me to make tons of stuff while I looked after them.

I talked to Bob about the possibility of starting my own business and he was supportive but suggested that I work at it a little longer and see what the demand would be.  So far I have had great feed back on my pieces and today I sold my very first set!!!  HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ME!!!  Thank you, MO!!!

I LOVE this piece and it took me a couple days before I convinced myself that I could part with it and sell.  Pretty silly of me considering I could just make another one for myself.  This is an 18" gunmetal double infinity link with dyed pink jade.

Since I tend to have a problem with "MINE!" and "SQUIRREL!", I decided that I needed to lay down some rules.  1)  I promise to make something new and different everyday for the first few weeks.  Originally, I was only wanting to make things that I would want to keep but that isn't practical or business smart.  So instead I am going to make pieces that I like, that intrigue me, that require a skill I need to learn or one that seems challenging.  I am not a big hearts gal and really not a Valentine groupie (except when it comes to my menfolk) but yesterday I made this.  I think this turned out great!  My poor fingers are raw and beat up but it was well worth it.  This is an 18" chain of hearts made out of antique brass wire.

So now reality sets it and I will have to rely heavily on the left brainers that I love because SQUIRREL!  You get the idea.  I was up until 2 am the other day because I couldn't turn off my brain trying to think of a design name.  Now I have people asking me about PayPal accounts, shipping methods, inventory by count or weight, packaging, fairs/shows.  *head exploding*

It very well may require my entire village to help this idiot but I can do it!  I foresee many awkward moments  when it makes perfect sense to me and Bob is just shaking his head.

Wish me luck!  Better yet, order your own "precious"...

Note:  I only listed 1 rule?  See?!

Which-craft

I have been playing with beading off and on forever.  I enjoy so many different types of crafts/sewing but I have been focusing on quilting more than anything else the last 10 years.  One thing I always wanted to try my hand at was wire jewelry.  I found this book yesterday while shopping at JoAnn's.  Needless to say I had no choice, it required that I bring it home.

I bought a few supplies to begin one of the patterns and attempted to make it today.  My technique isn't perfect to say the least but I have the basics down and I don't think anyone would really notice my mistakes other than someone already experienced with wire jewelry.  I hit a bit of a road block in that I don't have a couple tools they want you to have.  So I finished all that I could except the "chasing" steps.  I also took some time to fiddle with wire flowers.  Here is what I have to show for my play time today.

The little pieces that look like old fashion spectacles need to be "chased" or flattened to harden the metal and then joined with jump rings.  I also bought jade chips and a pretty lime chip to make variations of this set and possibly bracelets to compliment them.  Here is what the finished product is supposed to look like.

A friend has offered to help teach me and spend some time learning other techniques.  I googled a couple that she mentioned and WOWSA!  Yeah, Bob isn't going to be happy unless I find a way to pay for this new "habit".  I am thinking about renting the Boblings out as birth control.  Serious bank right there.

"Inner peace... Inner peace..." Master Shifu

I have been trying to spend more time slowing down and making my life less complicated overall.  Going through the list of "have-to/gotta's" and paring it down to only the things that really make a positive impact for myself and my family.  Taking care of me and making time for myself is a hard one so I thought adding meditation back into my day would help.  Not sure it is working.

So I bought a book on meditation 4 years ago and I have yet to get past the 2nd chapter.  To be honest, it is "technically" the 1st chapter but I DID read the intro so I am calling the 1st chapter the 2nd chapter so that I seem less pathetic.  Anyway...

Quiet room: check. (6am: Bob gone to work, boys still asleep) Close your eyes, focus your attention about 2 or 3" in front of your 3rd eye: Umm...okay...check.

Now, breathe deeply, clear your mind.  *sigh* I can hear the furnace.  Stop!  Focus...block out the hum of the furnace, breathe in, exhale.  Shoot, I just heard one of the boys cough so they will be up soon, better hurry and get this meditation thing done!  Focus!

Clear.  Your.  Mind.   Breathe.  Okay, here we go, I can totally do this.  I'm breathing, I am focusing my attention in front of m 3rd eye...  What is a 3rd eye anyway?  That's probably covered in chapter 2, I mean 3!  I think my forehead is getting hot right where that 3rd eye is supposed to be.

Seriously, FOCUS!  None of this matters!  Relax, take some time for you!  Now, breathe...

Success!  I did it! For like an hour! *peek at clock*  1 minute?  Really?!  Ugh!

I have an itch.  I have to pee.  Did we take the garbage to the street?

Not quitting!  Shake out the wiggles, center, focus.  "Mom, I just peed in my bed and stepped in cat puke and I think Robby is throwing up".

Right.

Whoever thought this was a good idea?

I have been feeling bad about not keeping up my blog, it's been 3 months since my last post.  I have been trying to think about what I would like to write and then yesterday it became clear.

I was driving to get the boys after school and I saw something very similar to this.

Honestly, this is one of my pet peeves.  How does this seem like a good idea?!

First, let's look at this from the viewpoint of a new perspective owner.  I see this couch and my skin crawls, I immediately start to take a mental inventory of all the disgusting, flesh eroding viruses, crusty scabby critters and general doggy bag left overs that are most likely fighting for control of this couch.  Just how bad does life get or how stoned to you have to be to think that lugging this beast home to sit/lay on is better than, oh, I don't know, LAYING ON THE FLOOR OF A PUBLIC RESTROOM AT A TRAIN STATION?!?!  Seriously?!  I would rather lick the mat in the wrestling room than get anywhere near this.

One moment...I am feeling erpy...

Now, the person donating this positively outstanding specimen (a.k.a.  POS).  Have you no pride?  No sense of value?  I will just say it... Not even the basic understanding of hygiene?!  Take pride in your possession, maintain them, CLEAN them.  The only logical reason I can fathom for you to have a couch in this condition is that you yourself found it, while stoned, and decided it was too damn heavy to carry home!

Granted, not all street sofas are in this condition but dragging it to the street and leaving it there, even under the guise of  "helping those less fortunate" makes you the poster child for LAZY!  There are charities that handle this and they pick up...for free!  Instead you drag it out, probably after bribing a couple of your other stoned friends to help you schlep it.  Now what?  Think it through?  Its been a week, maybe two?  We live in Seattle where there is a pretty darn good chance of rain.  If I didn't want your positively outstanding specimen before, what makes you think that adding 20lb of rainwater and mold will up the "curbside appeal".  So it sits and eventually you will still have to take care of removing it.  However, the only place left to take it to is the dump so this "donation" is now costing you a dump fee.

Although I am not a MENSA member, I  can clearly see that THIS is a horrible idea.

Just say NO to curbside positively outstanding specimens.  The CDC will thank you for it.