Sock Monkey

I knit one of these several years ago for a friend. I meant to knit a second one for myself, but didn't get around to it until now.

I was knitting on him this morning on the bus, when two ladies got on and admired him. Then the inevitable: "You could totally sell those!"
Me: "I'd have to charge a lot to make it worth my while."
Them: "No, you can actually charge quite a high price!"
etc.
Finally, I do a bit of mental math, based on how long I think I've already spent, how much is left, and at what hourly wage it *might* be worth my while to knit them for profit.
Me: "I'd probably have to charge something like $80 for it to be worth my time."
Them: "Oh. Um. ...but I guess you're using really nice yarn..."
I didn't tell them that I hadn't bothered to factor in the yarn, since it doesn't use much. Or the fact that the pattern might not allow sales for profit. They did stop with the "you could sell those" conversation, though.

(Next time someone suggests I sell the socks I make, I'll let them know they'd be $350. To those I give socks to: "You're welcome. *You* are worth my time.")

Dreaded To-Do List

I have about a month of unpaid leave between terms right now. I have a *long* to-do list. I keep getting pulled in different directions with all the things that need doing, so I thought I'd make a list of all the things that need doing, and break it down into manageable chunks.

Off the top of my head, and in no particular order, here's what I put on the list so far:

• apply for jobs
  
• call dentist
  
• call scope
  
• gardening (inside & out):
  
  • dad's weeds
    
  • dig in soil, (& transplant)
    
  • plant spruce seeds
    
  • transplant vft, amaryllis, (others?)
    
  • dispose of dead plants
    
  • remove stumps
    
  • transplant peonies
    
  • NW garden
    
  • SE garden
    
  • SW garden
    
  • plant crocus bulbs
• format hard drive
  
• art:
  
  • prepare canvases
    
  • paint cat
    
  • prepare demo
    
  • hang art
    
  • frame block print
    
  • frame loon
    
  • finish silk painting
    
  • call to arrange silk painting class details
    
  • order silk painting class supplies
    
  • print cards
    
  • print magnets
    
  • renew membership
• clean apartment
  
  • clutter:
    
    • couch
      
    • coffee table
      
    • chair
      
    • desk (office)
      
    • desk (hall)
      
    • dresser
      
    • drawers
      
    • kitchen table
      
    • front hall
      
    • spinning area
  • bathroom floor
    
  • kitchen floor
    
  • old air conditioner
    
  • ac filters
    
  • fan from basement
    
  • oil (finish?) lr end tables
    
  • deal with boxes
    
  • mail
    
  • dust
    
  • mop
    
  • toilet
• format hard drive
  
• install lion
  
• sew pattern magnets
  
• sew pyjama bottoms
  
• sew t-shirts (pyjama tops)
  
• sew printer dust cover
  
• make stitch markers
  
• finish desk & move it into office
  
• 2140:
  
  • prepare assignments
    
  • prepare midterm
    
  • prepare final
• medical paperwork
  
• scan & send instructions

Scary, huh? Some of the things are fairly quick, it's the length of the list that gets to me. (It doesn't even include regular stuff like laundry, dishes, etc! Or fun stuff!)

For tomorrow, I've chosen the following:

• dad's weeds
  
• dig in soil, (& transplant?)
  
• Laundry
  
• format hard drive
  
• water plants
  
• trash & recycling
  
  
• office desk clutter
  
• scan & send instructions

Tomorrow isn't supposed to be too hot, and isn't calling for rain until later, so is a good day to do at least a little gardening. Laundry needs doing, and the plants are looking wilty again. I bought a new back-up drive today, and so I should check to make sure it's working, and get regular back-ups going again. (The last two items are only if I have time, although setting up the back-up drive will be easier if my desk has less clutter on it.)

I'm tempted to start the drive right now, but, as it's nearly 4 am, I *really* need to get to bed. Good night!

Monday's list so far has the phone calls and applying for jobs.

Sacre Bleu!

I got my "Avis De Cotisation" from Revenue Canada today. Problem is, I don't speak French. I'd much prefer a "Notice of Assessment", or whatever it's called.

Dang tax software. I'm positive I clicked English, but when I checked the PDF it produced, it says French. Grrr. (Why would it walk me through everything in English if my preferred language was French? If I clicked English last year, wouldn't it flag the fact that I was changing my language? What sort of crappy user interface is this? I would of *course* do a much better job, and never make any mistakes in *my* software! ;) And of course it *can't* be user error, if I'm the user. ;) )

Bookmarks, and Magnets, and Cards, oh MY!

Art shows sure take a lot of prep! Even on "vacation", It's taking late nights to get ready.

My display:


5 paintings, 76 cards, 12 card packs, 48 magnets, and 7 bookmarks.

So far I've sold a bunch of cards (including one pack), and some magnets. Looks like I might get a commission for a pet portrait. :) (They came to the show determined to buy a painting on the website... but that one had already been given to my friend K!)

Yay Bike Ride! (And Other Ramblings)

Yay bike ride! My uncle and I managed to get out this morning between rain showers, and the air temperature is *awesome* for biking. :) I could have biked much more, but it was starting to rain, and I have a mountainous pile of dishes waiting for me. *grumble*

These "I can't catch up" piles of dishes seem to occur when I bake... it appears that I can do baking or dishes, but not both. My intention this fall is to come home early (as soon as the help centre hours are over, which is usually 4:00 during the regular terms), cook a proper meal, and not let the dishes pile up.

Of course, this relies on me getting all my class prep done in the mornings. (I'm teaching Computer Usage again this fall, and I don't have Windows on my mac.)

After the bike ride, I took my uncle's car for a short test drive. He wants to get something bigger, and ___________ (more reasons, which I won't go into here, but not actual problems with the car itself, beyond it not being what he wants). It's a VW beetle.

Pros:
- I know my uncle wouldn't hide any problems with the car (like a stranger or used car salesman would).
- I'll want a car when I get a house, and when I get a house, I'll have no money for a new car.
- Excellent gas mileage. (The trip to Flin Flon would cost me half as much.)
- Cool factor. (Although not as cool as a Mini... but then Minis have memories for me.)
- Hatchback.
- Ass heat. (More commonly referred to as "heated seats".)
- AC.
- *Really* adjustable driver positioning.
- It would solve the question of how I'm getting to Flin Flon this year. (Although renting would certainly be cheaper, if this was my only concern.)
- I wouldn't need to borrow my mom's car to go grocery shopping any more.
- Trailer hitch.

Neutral:
- Stick shift. (I don't have strong feelings either way. Especially since I live in the land of flat.)
- Diesel. (I can't drive behind diesels, but I didn't notice anything in the car. Other than that, I have no opinion on the pros & cons of diesel over gas.)

Cons:
- I might be getting my brother's car when he moves to California next year (waiting to hear if his plans with regards to the car have changed), and it's likely cheaper, and has more space.
- My expenses would go up now rather than later. (Insurance, gas, maintenance.)
- No rear windshield wiper.
- Really low to the ground. (Could be a problem in the time between a snowfall and when streets & back lanes get plowed.)
- Two door.
- It would put a dent in my safety padding in my account... although I could recoup most of that if I treat my fall teaching position as a car payment. (The help centre covers the bills, but doesn't provide spending money, so it would be a lean term.)

If I do get it, I think I'll replace the current fake flowers with a nice fake gerbera daisy, or maybe a chrysanthemum. (I'll get a quality one from Michaels, not a cheapo one from Dollarama. Fake flowers vary a lot in quality, and I'd like a nice one if I'm going to have one.)

In other news, I bought a new bathing suit yesterday. (I can still squeeze into the old one, but it doesn't fit like it used to.) The one I ended up with looks quite good on me. R & I amused the store clerk with our giggling and jokes. (One I can remember is "this is an area I don't want to draw attention to, so let's put *sparkly* things right on it!") I told her it was okay if she laughed along with us. I mentioned that she must hear lots of giggling, being the clerk near the bathing suits, but she said that mostly she hears moans of despair. We all agreed that bathing suits were designed by men, not women.

I still don't know how or when I'm going to the lake, and there won't be anyone there to *see* me in my swimsuit, but at least I'll be clothed if someone drives by in a boat.

Miscellany

1. *Finally*. I got an e-mail this morning that my benefits have been sorted out... but I'm to submit my claims through her, to "make sure there's no more problems." (Another friend who deals with the same person figures that it's so that she can have a few more weeks to contact the insurance people.)

2. *ow*. Last night after knitting, I looked at the cookbooks for a bit before leaving McNally Robinson. When I left, it was around 10 pm... when the buses don't run that often. Halfway across the (large) parking lot, I saw my bus. Since it could be quite a while before the next one came, I ran and waved madly. I did catch the bus, but *ow*, my plantar fasciitis *hurts*! My heel feels really bruised. *wah*

3. Mmmm.... pasta!

Long ago and far away, I had a boyfriend who would cook me amazing meals. Many were recipes from the pasta section of The Silver Spoon. It turns out there's now a cookbook called The Silver Spoon: Pasta, that has an expanded version of the pasta section from The Silver Spoon... and instead of being $50+, it was on sale for $10 in the discount section of McNally Robinson. Woo hoo! Of course, I still have to do my own cooking and clean-up... but I guess I can't have everything.

I didn't have the right ingredients for an exact recipe from the book last night, but I did whip up a great meal using inspiration from it's pages. Yum!

4. The other day, Little Blue finally opened up a second flower, so I could try cross-fertilization:

Of course, after I took this photo (and before I got around to blogging it), a third blossom opened up. There doesn't appear to be any pollen on the paintbrush (or on the stamens, for that matter), but I try anyway, just in case. The first blossom has fallen off now, so we'll see if the little nub grows into a pepper, or if it shrivels up and falls off.

Daft!!!!

Note: This post is so I can vent in a way that doesn't involve yelling at actual people. If you aren't in the mood to read a venting rant, feel free to ignore this post.

Aaaaargh! I *still* don't have my benefits straightened out! It's been over a month now that I've been calling them. (I started calling June 14, when my dentist notified me that my coverage has been cancelled.)

I have claims from this spring I want to submit. I can't submit them until they get my benefits retroactively reinstated. (They were fine in the fall when I had my previous dentist appointment. I was slow submitting my spring claims due to a crazy-busy schedule last term.)

The question isn't whether I'm eligible, but whether to call me a sessional or casual employee. (Some of my jobs are in one category, some are in the other.) My total hours clearly give me benefits, and the benefits don't even differ in cost or what I get! The only differences are that one has the year starting in September instead of July, and one front-loads the payments so that benefits continue over the summer when you may or may not be working.

In either case, I would have paid all my benefits by now, so just flipping bill me for whatever I haven't been charged yet, and let me submit my claims!!! Figure out the rest later! I don't *care* which you call me. Sheesh. Grumble.

I politely asked them to expedite my case, since they've dithering for over five weeks now. (Apparently, part of the problem is that they keep going on vacation. Given the current financial state of the university, they are probably somewhat understaffed too.)

I would *not* have paid ~$500 for a decent pair of glasses (including eye exam, frames, lenses), if I had known that I wouldn't be able to claim at least part of it. Pharmacare has decided my income level means I need to pay around $1000 before they start helping me with my prescriptions again. I WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A CLAIM OR TWO, IF YOU PLEASE!!!!

Gah. Ms "We're Working On It" promised me an e-mail by the end of the day. Probably because I asked if I could have her supervisor's information, so I could find out what is going on. Last time she told me that her supervisor is looking at the case, which is why I asked for the information... but she perhaps thought I wanted to complain about her. If it gets things moving, I'm not going to enlighten her as to why I wanted the information. She did offer to have her supervisor call me when she gets out of her meeting... but I'm in an office with no phone.

Grump. Whine.

Sh!t

Gah! I waited 25 minutes downtown for a connection (normal wait is about 10 minutes), and then the construction traffic was worse than usual! I arrived 37 minutes late. :( I talked to my boss, and I'll be staying late for the next few days. *sigh* (So much for getting to pottery faster today!)

Grump.

I talked to Mrs C while waiting for the first bus today. Turns out that the chase the other day started in the back lane, and hit three residents' cars and a tree before speeding away. :P

I need a shower

This afternoon I went biking with my uncle again. (Yay! We're going again tomorrow if it isn't raining. :) ) We biked to The Forks (and a bit past) and back: 12 km. (The part where we lost the bike path added a wee bit to the distance.) It's the last day of the Truth and Reconciliation Event, so we got to see a bit of the pow wow.

After coming back, I started my laundry, and then took my caretaker for a walk. We had a longer walk that last time... about 50 minutes. (I know, because I was timing my laundry so I knew when to flip it.) We don't walk very fast, because he's not a fast walker. The mosquitoes were nuts out, and I have a zillion bites.

So... three reasons I want a shower: sweat, chain grease (not as much as last time, but both legs), and mosquito bites. However, my good towel, bathmat, etc, are all in the wash. *grump* Perhaps I'll figure out dinner while I wait.

While I was walking my caretaker, one of the things he told me is that the daughter of the couple in my building that gets drunk on occasion, who has basically been living here for a while, from what I can tell, works "the oldest profession there is". Ew. And apparently the guys below me have hired her. I'm not sure he knows this for sure, or just strongly suspects it... but still. Ew.

That reminds me... a guy from my credit union called last week, wanting to know if I wanted to invest some of that lump of cash sitting in my account not earning much interest. (He suggested a TFSA, but I've already maxed that out in another account that has higher interest rates.) I said that I wanted to keep that available, because I was hoping to buy a house once I had a higher income. He asked me a few questions... and it looks like I could actually get a house *now*, with my current income! (They can approve a mortgage that's a higher percentage of your income than what the online calculators say.) I still think I would like to have a higher income before buying a house, but it's something to think about...

Chart Magnet costs

Ah ha! I found the receipt for the ribbon. :) (The wind had blown it off my messy desk to a spot between some boxes that I really need to unpack and find permanent "away" spaces for.)

1 spool of ribbon = $3.50 + 12% tax, makes 3 chart magnets
1 strip of magnet = $1 (I think it's $1, and not something that Dollarama increased prices on) + 12% tax, makes 1.5 chart magnets

So, material cost for a single chart magnet (not counting thread, electricity, or miscellaneous) is $2.05. Now I just need to time myself so I can add minimum wage to get the wholesale cost, and then double the wholesale cost to get retail. Whee. (Assuming anyone wants to buy them, of course.)

If I do sell them on commission, I may need to increase the cost a bit to take into account the high (per item) material cost... with the stitch markers, the material cost is quite low (the time is the most significant portion of the cost), and so it doesn't take many sales to cover my initial investment (not counting time). To cover the materials cost for the chart magnets will take quite a few more sales... and I'd rather not *lose* money! ;)

Coping

To combat my rough day, I prescribed chocolate, mind-numbing TV, and knitting.


Two rows of the Divine orange milk chocolate, two thirds (so far) of the Cocoa Camino caramel crunch, and one square of the Denman Island holy mole (fiery!).

TV: CSI NY, Criminal Minds, and Bones (taped, I didn't get home until after 8:30). I also caught the first half of The Daily Show before I turned the TV off.

Knitting: I finished the tip of the thumb on the thrummed mittens I'm making for a neighbour-friend... she saw mine just before Christmas.

Awesome timing, I know. She's old, but in good health. Hopefully she'll get several seasons of wearing out of these.

After weaving in the last two ends on the mittens, I started the toque I'm making for my brother as a birthday present:

It's Trilobite, from Knitty. I bought the yarn in December or January. His birthday was in early April. Awesome timing with this too, huh? At least I'll be able to slip the ribbing onto a circular needle cable, so he can test the size before he heads off to California for the summer.

Oh... and while waiting for the bus on my way home, I wove in the last end of the sweater I've been working on for ages. I present two bad timer photos, without and with flash:

Perhaps I'll find someone to point my camera at me tomorrow in better light.

Now the question is, do I go for eight hours of sleep, or an all-night marking session? (If someone has a spare time-turner they can loan me, I'd love to do both.) Late night marking doesn't produce good progress (ask me how I know), but it's half the problem that's making me feel like crap. (The other half is the reviews that just came back from the fall course.)

On the up-side for today: I helped two students with their problems, and they were both appreciative, and think I'm awesome. (Too bad that's a half-time, temporary, dead-end job.)

Whiny Halleluja

It's down to the wire with taxes, art show prep, and marking... but I just discovered that I have a wee bit of a reprieve with marking: the very last day I can get my marks in *isn't* tomorrow (also the deadline for art show and taxes), but *Tuesday*!!!!

I was up until 5 am working last night. I prepped my magnets and cards, and did the draft version of my taxes. (I *OWE* taxes! Wah! I blame the tutoring, because nothing was withheld for that.)

Allergies are miserable right now... not nearly as bad as when I was living in Chapel Hill, but I need to leave my windows open to make the apartment temperature bearable. That lets in the pollen, and the warm, dry spring has meant there's a lot of pollen floating around. Right now I'm sniffly and itchy-eyed. And whiny and tired. But happy that I won't get yelled at when my marking's not done tomorrow.

Have you seen the "Just Allergies" commercial that Reactine is running right now? I'd link to it or post it, but I can't find it online. (Reactine: you've missed an opportunity! ...even if it's a small one.) Anyway, I love that commercial. That's how I feel.

Miscellany

The retreat was fabulous. It didn't last nearly long enough. I'll post more as I need procrastination from marking, and/or thinking of happy thoughts.

Yesterday I marked my part of the group exam for one course, so I'm basically done with that course. (I'll still need to enter grades, and meet to decide grade cut-points.)

For some reason, yesterday my right foot felt swollen.

Today I'm back to marking the depressing course. I've decided to do exams first, so that I don't need to lug them home. (I finally have them all, and so can actually mark them now. Also, they discourage us from taking them off-campus.)

Yesterday I didn't go to the art club. Today I'm not going to a prof's son's recital. (He's an award winning adult, not some kid.) Anyone want to do my marking? How about my taxes or art show prep?

It's a beautiful day for napping in the sunshine. But I'm not... I'm marking instead. (Earlier I was procrasti-marking, but now I'm actually marking. Well, not at this precise moment.)

This morning never ends

Time was moving along just fine, until about 10:50. Then it slowed to a crawl. My shift ends at 12:00, but I'm not sure it will ever get there.

I think I need more sleep.

Just What I Expected

Latest response from the Union:

Yes, I made a mistake typing out the full address. Sorry about that.

At the last CUPE XXXX Annual General Membership Meeting in April 2009, quorum was lost partway through discussions and voting on the by-law changes (perhaps you remember the event). Some by-laws had been approved and these were forwarded to CUPE National for final authorization in June. It is the remainder of the by-laws that is to be approved by the membership at the January 26 meeting.

Copies of current and previous by-laws were made available at the April 2009 meeting. Both sets were also available on the website -- and the membership was notified of this -- for several months prior to that meeting. A notification of the January 26 by-law vote, including the location of the proposed by-laws on the website, was first issued to the membership by email in November 2009. Yours is the first complaint of its kind.

If you would like to take an active part in helping to improve the administration of this Local's affairs, I encourage you to seek nomination to one of the Executive, or Trustee, positions. There is currently one of each vacant.

So, to summarize:
1. The membership is not involved, as predicted.
2. No one has whined before, so why are you whining now? Didn't you get/keep information from last April?
3. You sound like you're interested in having things run properly... so please step forward, so we can give you lots of work to do.

Yeah, I realize I'm putting a negative spin on things. ;) I figure that if I'm paying for it, I can mock what I'm getting. (Especially if they make it difficult for me to take moderate interest in the goings-on. My choices seem to be all or nothing.)

Union

As a sessional employee of the university, I belong to the CUPE union that also represents student employees. Recently they sent out a meeting notice. Since I seem to be working here a bunch, I thought I'd find out a bit more about my union. (Not that I get much from my union as a sessional employee.)

After reading their e-mail, attached meeting flyer, the web page it directs me to, and their response to my e-mail enquiry about something... I am getting a strong feeling that my union is run by a bunch of baboons. I suspect that participating more in my union will lead to a great deal of frustration, and probably no personal gain unless I wanted to put in the effort to run for office and "fix" everything myself. (I'd rather get a good night's sleep, thank you.)

I suspect that my participation in my union will go right back down to zero. I don't need the additional stress.

Nooooooooooo!!!!!!!

Where have the holidays gone?!? I'm not ready!

I'm being eased in gently, at least. Tomorrow I have an 11:00 appointment. That means I should catch the 9:40 bus, which means I should get up no later than 8:30. The part of my job that requires I get up at 6:30 doesn't start until next week. However, my 3 am bedtimes followed by noon wake-ups have *got* to stop. (The noon wake-ups will get me fired, the 3 am bedtimes will kill my health if not grouped with noon wake-ups.)

I am *not* ready for Wednesday, when teaching starts. *sigh* The clock is ticking. Off to do more prep, and hopefully be in bed by 12:30 to get eight hours of sleep...

Fat Cats

Are CEOs really worth 174 times what the average worker is worth? *I* don't think so. Want an economic boost? Cut that CEO salary in half, use it to double the average wage earner's salary, and watch the spending skyrocket. Whee.

Progress

Another chore done: I have done everything for the silk painting workshop I'm holding that I can do at this point, the rest will have to wait until the supplies arrive.

Hmmm... Okay, not quite everything. Somehow I haven't watched the DVD I borrowed from the club, or read the book. (In case there's material from those that I'd like to include.) However, I have ordered the supplies, and called all the people who said they're interested. (The workshop is now full, two people are on the waiting list, and 3-4 can't make the current dates, but are interested if I hold another workshop.)

Now, if I had a design ready for the workshop, *I* could actually do a painting then too... maybe if I'm lucky, I'll find the time to put something together. :P

The Holidays Have Started!

I'm on "vacation" already, and didn't even know it! My last paid day was last Friday. That means that after my meeting today, and submitting my grades, I can go *home*! I don't have to come in tomorrow!!! (Yeah, just because I'm not being paid at the moment, doesn't mean I don't have to work... I'll be doing a ton of class prep from home. *sigh*)

I think when I get home, I shall ceremonially turn off my alarm clock. :) Ahhhhh!