What's the German word for 'Headache'?

Because I can feel one developing even as I attempt to keep my cool.

Just once I'd like the world to operate in a sane and logical manner.

Apparently, I was supposed to work last night.....only no one told me, and no one thought to call me either. So my co-worker had to work a double, and I felt terrible and torqued all at once. I could really have used those hours. Plus, why did no one tell me? All my supervisor said when I told her I was available to work that day was "ok", which is what she normally says to acknowledge that I said something. She didn't say, "Ok, I'll put you on the schedule" or anything.

On top of that, her supervisor apparently didn't tell her about my time-off notice for my trip to see my dad, because she brought the schedule for the next two weeks and had me scheduled to work the day I fly out and the day after that! Now, I did as she told me to, she told me to inform him of the days I'd need off, so why didn't he let her know? Since she's the one that does the scheduling?

Plus, he's supposedly hired two new people, which is mental when we already have to double up on one shift at one of the locations!

More and more I think I really need to get a new job. I had planned on holding off until I could drop the application for the job in Germany, but I'm not sure if things will work out that way. Especially since, even if I get that job, I won't be over there until May or June. Of course, my frustration is based largely off how little people care about their employees, but hey, there's nothing I can do about that, is there?

As long as I'm making a half-way decent pay-check here, I'll stick with it. It's not a terrible job, and it pays the few bills I have (although, let's be honest, if I didn't live with my Granma, I'd literally have to choose between utilities and food, and that's if I was working a full 40hrs a week).

Sorry, I know you guys aren't on here to read my ranting.

So, I'm almost finished with Granma's shawl. I'd have finished it last week except I can't knit at work anymore. After that, I have to get my step-mother's cowl on the needles so I can get if finished. I'd rather work on my shawl, or mom's socks, but mom understands that I might not get it done in time. I really need to get some more stuff put up on Etsy, but I just haven't felt like making anything. I've got the stuff and the ideas, and I want nothing to do with any of it right now.

It's that massive headache I mentioned at the top of the post.

But, all hope is not lost! Starting January, I'll starting knitting for next Christmas, that way, by the time Christmas rolls around, I'll have everything ready. And my headache will be cut in half.

Hopefully, next year I'll be posting from Germany. Say a prayer for me, please? Hopefully everything works out.

Anyway, thanks for reading, and feel free to drop me a message!

Yours always,
Tara

What do you do when your job hits a new low?

Okay, so we recently got a new supervisor and this one is apparently a hands-on, ex-military, 20-something years of experience kind of guy.....and he's going to kill us all through boredom and insufficient hours. Apparently, I can't knit while at work. Go figure! I mean, it's not like I can knit without looking at my yarn or needles, it's not like it's a quiet activity, it's not like people don't ignore me anyway, it's not like I have absolutely nothing to do during an 8 hr shift besides surf the web, knit, and answer phones (which, actually, that last one isn't even part of my job description.

And I do understand why this could be a problem, really, I do. But it's not a problem, and unless it becomes a problem, I see no reason why I shouldn't be able to knit in between my rounds and such. It's not like I'm making rosaries, or anything like that. I'd have expected him to tell me I couldn't have my mini-saints before expecting him to say "No knitting." Like, really?

What's really funny is that, for all this guy is hands-on, I've actually only heard from him twice, both times he came here. I mean, really? You don't think to call and say "Hey, I'm your new supervisor."

What gets me is how everyone freaks out over my "crochet" (knitting!!!!) and not over a computer or smart-phone. Now how does that work? Apparently, I can watch movies and play video games on my phone or computer but I can't knit!

I get that some people have a problem with the knitting, but nobody at this location does. In fact, most of them are really cool about it. So like I said, if it's not a problem, why make it into one? Just because someone might get their panties in a bunch? So now I have to find a new way to entertain myself for 8hrs in between my rounds when there is nothing at all to do.

Shouldn't be too hard.

I can read a book, watch a movie, play a game....and look for a new job, because while the knitting thing is irritating, it's got nothing on the hours cut. Plus, I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure we don't get holiday pay.

Wishing people cared more about each other and less about "getting the better deal",

Yours always,
Tara

Wishy-washy weather, yarn purchases, and knitters fatigue

Do you ever just get burned out on a project? I'm almost done with this blanket I've been working on! I've got one last panel to do....and I want to work on it about as much as I want to wear a miniskirt (which is to say, not at all). I mean, I'm so close to being finished it isn't funny, but I don't want to work on it.

Actually, what I want to do right now is go home and have a glass of wine, but that's not an option at this current moment.

The point that I'm trying to make is that I'm in a bit of a bind because I've got a scarf, two pairs of socks, a cowl, two shawls, a dress, a stocking, and a hat to make before Christmas and I'm still stuck on this blanket! I mean, really! Plus, I have a few tentative ideas for patterns rattling around (along with every thing else) that I'd like to test knit before I write them up.

I also have a necklace, two rosaries, and several pairs of earrings to get done.

I bought some yarn from knitpicks recently for the two shawls I've got planned, and I finally got the yarn for the bottom of the dress and the wings. The pattern calls for eyelash yarn, but they didn't have any, so I bought boa yarn instead, in a nice white color. It'll look good with the burgundy, and should have a nice effect for the wings.

The weather here refuses to make up it's mind. November 1st was frigid and windy. Since then, it has begun to warm up again. At this rate, I won't get to make use of my sweaters until I go to visit my dad. Of course, I'm still alternately freezing and roasting at work, so we see that nothing has changed there.

Anyway, that's what new, or on-going. I'll talk to you later.

Yours always,
Tara

A tiny Irish apparition and the dramatics that can come with my job

I've recently added a few new things to my little ( for now) collection of Catholic odds and ends. I've bought a small statue of Our Lady of Grace, the Shining Lights doll version of Our Lady of Knock, and tomorrow or Monday (depending on when I make it over there) I'm going to pick up a small statue of St. Patrick from Saints and Shamrocks. I'm actually kind of hoping they'll have St. Barbara as well, but if not, that's fine.

I also bought a second Shining Lights St. Nicholas. I figured it would be a good gift for Little Bird, while not being too Catholic, which would bother my mom. St. Nicholas and St. Patrick, she could probably live with. Maybe even St. Francis, though I'm not willing to bet on it. But um....any one else? Especially one of the Apparition dolls (Marian apparitions from around the world)....yeah, no. That's just a little too Catholic for my mother, I'm sure.

She gave away Christmas ornaments from Ettal Abbey because they had the Madonna and Child on them! I mean, okay, so they went to a friend whose family is Catholic, but still! Simple gold colored ornaments with the Madonna and Child. They were a set, two royal blue ones with the Abbey on them, two gold ones with the Madonna and Child. Explain to me why the Abbey is acceptable but the Madonna and Child is not?

Anyway, my huffing and puffing aside, I'm hoping that I didn't make a mistake and misjudge it....but mom knows I like the more traditional St. Nicholas figure (and always have) so hopefully it won't be a problem.

Oh! The drama of my job! So, first off, I'm not a secretary, but, for some reason, the wisdom of the people here says I am to answer the phone. Keep in mind, I don't know half of what we offer here, and I have trouble finding everything for the other half. So, I had a lady call wanting information I didn't have, and instead of someone taking and picking up the phone to take the call, I'm given a convoluted set of instructions on how to get to the information. Needless to say, it didn't work. And then! Not to long ago, I had a lady call her ride, loudly, asking where where they and didn't they realize she needed to be picked up 40 minutes ago, and they know that's when she needed to be picked up!

Ah, such fun.

I'll be honest, I like my job, even if the climate control leaves something to be desired and the communication breakdown is of epic proportions. I do still like my job, but some days.....some days would be better with something stronger than coffee.

Yours always,
Tara

Almost ready to open shop and parish social events as a non-social person

I've started getting things ready to open my etsy shop soon. Getting pictures taken, figuring out what to make next, and adding other little details to the mix. This isn't the most difficult thing I've done, but it's not easy, especially since I'm not all that good at pricing things. I don't want to price it too low, but at the same time, I definitely don't want to price it too high either.

So far I have several pairs of guitar pick earrings, a necklace and earrings set, a St. Patrick chaplet, and the Pieta Rosary. The rosary was a struggle to make because the wire didn't always want to do what I wanted it too. I'm actually thinking about taking and re-doing a one whole decade because it's a little too long. Don't get me wrong, I loved making it, and it turned out really well, all things considered, but it was a little difficult.

The chaplet also caused me a little trouble because the only St. Patrick medal that I had available was a double sided St. Patrick/St. Brigid medal. Still, I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

Oh, and I finally made my book music box.

I went a little overboard with the stickers, but I don't think it turned out badly. I've also got a few things in mind for the background on future boxes. The cross statue is actually for those little fairy gardens, I just cut the stake that held in up in the ground off and it was perfect. No lights on this one, just a lot of stickers and a music box movement hidden under that green fabric. It plays When Irish Eyes are Smiling.

I'd like to be able to make some for the store as well, later on. I'm hoping I've just about figured out what I'm doing with them, but you never know.

It's been cooler here the past few days, although the forecast promises that this lovely fall weather won't last. I'm not upset about the nights warming up, but I like wearing long sleeves and jackets so the days warming back up does bother me slightly.

I have a follow up appointment with the doctor tomorrow, which promises to be lots of fun. Actually, it shouldn't be too bad, I just have to whine about it as a principle. At least this time they shouldn't need to stick me with needles.....I hope.

Another thing I'm doing tomorrow is baking. I'm making three batches of Chocolate pumpkin muffins to (hopefully) take to my RCIA class to share. Food sort of acts as a conversation starter, which means I can socialize without feeling awkward.

Speaking of feeling awkward! Last night was the parish Stewardship Appreciation dinner in the park by the cathedral. I went. Thankfully, Aunt D showed up before I could get so uncomfortable as to leave, but it was a close thing. I'm not a social person by nature. I mean, I love people, I like being around people, if I didn't work second shift (and was Catholic instead of "becoming Catholic") I'd be trying to do a lot more. Unfortunately I also have a really hard time socializing.

I'm not comfortable starting conversations, I'm not comfortable taking point, as it were. I need to get to know people....then I never shut up, so be fore-warned, I'm bad about talking too much with people I'm comfortable with.

It makes things like the dinner really hard to enjoy because I'm literally just standing out there in limbo! I knew exactly three people there, and two of them were priests! (Not that that's a bad thing, quite the opposite, it's good to know one's parish's priests.) I managed to relax when Aunt D arrived, but still. It's absolutely terrible.

I'm hoping to visit my Dad this year at Christmas time. It's kind of hard because I have to figure out when I can go, how much it'll cost, and how long I can stay. I looks like I'd really only be able to be there for 5 days, not including travel time. I also would need to get a carry on bag to go for my stuff. Working takes the fun out of travel because if you take time off, you lose pay, and then what? I don't get paid enough as it is, which is why I'm so grateful that I live with my Granma. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't be able to afford a place to live.

Anyway, that's all for now. I'll talk to ya'll again tomorrow.

Yours always,
Tara

Long days, poor internet connections, and disappointing schedules

I've been up since this 6 this morning, which I'm sure to many of you is hardly worth note, but given that I usually don't get to bed until midnight/1am, it's a bit of a thing to me. Truthfully, I need to start getting up earlier. I like watching sunrises, though I prefer to be inside to watch during the winter months, but that's not the point here!

Anyway, I was up early today, and I'll be up early tomorrow as well, because I'm going to swing by my mom's and make sure my brothers get off to school while mom takes Little Bird to her first doctor's appointment. Little Bird is doing quite well, especially given that she was just over three weeks early entering the world. She's tiny though, just a few ounces shy of six pounds, and no fat whatsoever on her tiny body. We had to buy some preemie clothes, because all mom had was newborn size. She's really sweet though, and the boys love her.

In other news, the internet connection on my personal computer here at work is continually mercurial and difficult. I can't listen to Catholic Answers Live, or watch EWTN without skipping, pausing, and glitching. Youtube works fine. Oh! And tonight I tried to watch Catholic TV (a new discovery, which is brilliant) and had worse luck with it than I do EWTN! This is getting ridiculous!

My work schedule is more than a little disappointing this week. I guess that's what happens when you can't work a full week, they cut your hours even more, but I'm hoping it's just a temporary thing. I'm going to talk to my supervisor this week and see what's going on with the schedule. The good news here, I guess, is that I'll be opening the shop a bit sooner than I originally planned. A friend of mine is coming over to help me take pictures of the items I'll be listing. I need to finish the Pieta rosary and the St. Patrick chaplet.

I've also got beads coming for the St. Francis of Assisi/Pope Francis rosary coming soon. I ordered some lovely dark wood beads for it. I've got my eye on some other items, including some resin for jewelry making and some drill bits for bottle lamps, but everything is due time. No rush.

I'm hoping, since my last few plans have fallen through, that I'll be able to make my trip to St. Augustine on the 11th. I don't really want to go alone though, and that looks increasingly like it might be the case. I'm used to this, truthfully, my parents, though they tried, were never very good at planning trips like that (hence, why we never went to Paris, Rome, Whittenburg, or the Medieval jousting in Worms despite living in Germany for 6 years.) Even with the trip to Disney we took before my Papa died. That was me planning that, thanks, and if Papa and Granma hadn't been the primary monetary force behind it, we still would never have made it.

Anyway, all of that aside, I'm looking forward to the week. I'm basically broke, and tired, but I think this week will be a good week.

Yours always,
Tara

Heat, walking shoes, and mail

Once again the chiller is out, which means that it is hot at work again. I can't say I'm to terribly surprised, but it's getting ridiculous. It makes me a little nervous about winter, because I heard they close the building when it gets really cold, which means that I probably wouldn't be working, which, of course, means no paycheck. It's enough to make you sick.

In other news, my dad decided to ask the sales rep at the Nike store near where he lives about walking shoes for women, since I mentioned I needed to get a good pair of walking shoes for Tuesday mornings. Did I mention that I have issues with paying more than $40 for shoes? Even my Doc Martens! I bought them off ebay for $35! And he's talking about $80 walking shoes!

Not that I can't see the value, it's just something I struggle with.

I got a package in the mail today from catholicprayercards.org. It was great! I ordered several saint medals, a St. Brigid's Cross charm, a small Pope Francis pectoral cross, and several rosary centers and crucifixes. I'm most excited about the two rosary centers and the crucifixes I picked to go with them though. I've got some beads in mind for the Pope Francis rosary, but I haven't decided on the beads for the Pieta one.

There were two things I really loved about ordering with catholicprayercards.org. First was interaction. Originally, I had ordered a St. Bernadette/Our Lady of Lourdes medal, but they didn't have it in stock. I received an email letting me know and offering me the choice of any equal priced medal. Second, I loved how fast it shipped. As soon as I had let them know which medal I'd like, they shipped the package and it arrived four days later. Everything was in excellent condition and like I said, I'm really excited about the rosaries.

Another thing that I liked was the prayer cards that came with it for free. I thought that was a nice little touch to make the experience that much more memorable.

Good night for now!

Yours always,
Tara

Snakes, Roses, Stars, and lot's of bread

 

Hiss! I'll bite you!

So, I'm trying something a little different with my pictures today. Bear with me, dear readers.


It's day 4 with no AC and a balmy 89*F, when last I checked the thermostat. We have all the doors thrown open and with that comes the risk of snakes. Which, wouldn't be a huge problem, except that we are in South Georgia, dear readers, and the last time we had a snake in the building it was a juvenile water moccasin. Not what you want to find in your place of employment, I assure you.


On a more pleasant note, I got a new rosary today.

Much better than the last one I bought, I don't feel like this one will break apart in my hands. The beads are wood, with little swirls carved into the sides (they're supposed to look like roses) and the entire thing smells like roses....or rather, like rose water. I've never found roses to be very fragrant, but if distilled in water there is a very distinctive scent. The weight of it is nice, and while it's certainly not my favorite rosary ever, I think it'll do nicely for everyday use.

I finally finished my hat. The pattern is called the Star of County Down and it took me two days of sporadic knitting to finish it. It didn't turn out exactly like the pictures. There's supposed to be small "holes" all around the outside edges, in between the points of the star. The holes are actually there, but for some reason you can't tell. I wet blocked it last night (on a dinner plate, as per their instructions) and wore it part of today (since I can't wear hats at work).

And yes, I did giggle like an idiot when The Star of County Down started playing on my iPod.

I love "Celtic" music. The High Kings, The Dubliners, The Young Dubliners, The Bollox, Gaelic Storm, you name it. I even like Dropkick Murphys, which has a bad habit of being unintelligible.

I did some baking this morning before work, as well as scratch making some mashed potatoes to make boxty with tomorrow.

And mash! two, three, four!

First off, let's give a round of applause to everyone who came before who had to cook. Scratch made mashed potatoes are brilliant....except when you have to mash them with an old potato masher such as the one seen here.

Great upper body work out though! Burn off the calories of those potatoes before you even get the chance to eat them! Of course we have a food processor.....somewhere. It was given to my granma by my mom and has never once been taken out of the box. I however have no idea where it is, and did not feel like trying to find it when the more *ahem* traditional tool was right there.

The entire point of making mashed potatoes from scratch, after all, was the clumpy texture that instant potatoes just don't have.

I'm pleased to report that, though I lack stamina and upper-body strength, I did manage to successfully mash the potatoes into the absolutely perfect looking product you see to the right!

Totally worth the extra effort! Nothing beats scratch made mashed potatoes, though I fully admit that I have no problem using instant and will continue to do so most of the time because, as much as I love scratch made potatoes they are incredible time consuming.

Of course, adding to the amount of time it took was the fact that I was also up to my wrists with a loaf of Old-fashioned Spiced Gingerbread and a loaf of Classic Irish Soda Bread.






In the mix



Getting hot in here

 



Ta-da!

 

 

 The Gingerbread is brilliant. Well, I say that, I haven't actually been able to cut into any of my new creations (which sucks) because they hadn't finished cooling when I left. So they're all sitting on the counter, wrapped in clean dish towels.  Based off the batter (and yes, I did lick the beaters like a small child) the gingerbread is really good, but also really heavy on the ginger. I just followed the recipe.


Dry ingredients first



Hot hot hot!



tad to dark on top, but still perfect!

The Soda bread looks really good to. My mom gave me a bag of the stone-ground whole wheat flour, so I didn't have to buy it. Apparently it's been taking up space in her cabinet for a while now. It only took 30 minutes to bake, so I might try baking a loaf every few days if it's good. I  bet it'd go really well with the recipe I have for Beef and Guinness stew I have. Last time I made the stew it was a little greasy from where I didn't drain the meat well enough, but this time I'll be better prepared. Of course, I have to cut the recipe in third because of how much is makes! But I'm sure it'll be great. 

I've decided to go to morning mass tomorrow because I have so much to get done. I'm going over to my mom's to make egg-rolls, and I'll take the stuff for the boxty so I can get those done to. When I get home I've got cleaning to do, and then I'm going to wash two of my new pint jars and make Onion marmalade. Unlike the stew recipe, which makes enough to feed a small army, the marmalade recipe makes enough for two little jars, which are then stored in the fridge. If I like it, I can always multiply the recipe and make a proper batch to be stored on the shelf until opened.

Anyway, I'm back to baby knitting, so I'd best get to it. A quick break for dinner, and then to work!

I'll talk to ya'll tomorrow!
Yours always,
Tara



Our Lady Star of the Sea chaplet and day 3 with no AC

I got the center and the crucifix for the Our Lady Star of the Sea chaplet I wanted to make today. It did indeed turn out to be a chaplet, and not a rosary, though it was sort of up in the air for a while, but given how long it would have been, judging off ten of the pearls strung together, it would have been highly impractical as a rosary.

The crucifix and center are both bronze, the chain and pins are iron that's been treated to look like bronze. It's not an exact match, but it's close enough. The 12 beads of the main section are fresh-water pearls, and the three beads connecting the center and the crucifix are mother-of-pearl. It's all nice and appropriately nautical, so I'm happy with it, even if I do think the mother-of-pearl beads might be a bit big. Besides, I kind of like the way it looks. Now I have to figure out who it's for.

Sometimes, I make things, just to make them, and I don't know who it's for or if it's for any one at all! Sometimes, the item becomes mine, sometimes, I figure out who the owner is, and sometimes I'm left with a funny feeling that it isn't mine.....but I don't know who it's for. Very frustrating. 

I'm still knitting away at my hat. I've got about 15 rows or so left, so I should be able to finish it before I leave tonight. Then tomorrow it's back to booties and mittens. *sigh*

In the spirit of today's episode of Mother Angelica Classics (yes, I have been watching Mother Angelica, and I LOVE her!) I have decided to treat my current frustration (i.e. knitting the same three baby patterns over and over) as a gift towards sanctification. This is not nearly as spiritual as it sounds, and is based primarily off the fact that if I don't think of it in those terms, I'll be tempted to strangle Shawna with the yarn!

Hey, I never said I was a good Christian, just that I'm trying my best.

It's really cool though, because I didn't even know we got EWTN at the house! I mean, I listen to the radio all the time on my computer, but we actually get the tv channel and it's kind of nice! I sat and worked on my hat for an hour earlier while watching Mother Angelica. Very enjoyable.

Friday promises to be busy. I plan on making Vietnamese egg rolls, going to mid-day mass, and making boxty and ginger-bread. Oh! and soda bread. I might do the soda bread and ginger bread tomorrow, along with the mashed potatoes for the boxty. Oh! And onion marmalade! I have a fantastic cook book of Irish recipes.

Buy it! I promise it's good!

 

I have no idea who David Bowers is, but I will forever adore him for writing this cookbook. It has the best recipe for shepherd's pie ever! And that's coming from me! I love shepherd's pie! It's like the ultimate comfort food (tied with Granma's spaghetti) and I could literally eat it every day of the week with no guilt. The first time I made the recipe from this book, I was sick with a small cold. First bite was pure heaven!

 

I pretty much just want to make every recipe in this cook book.

 

Except the oysters. I'm not very fond of oysters.

 

Anyway! Wow, that was off-subject. Sorry. I just really love to cook. I'll try to post pictures of my dishes, but I make no promises as to the quality of those photos. I'm not a photographer.

 

It's day three with no AC at work, but today I've got a fan, so it's not quiet as miserable. It'll probably be November before they get it fixed, and then the heater will go out! Ah well, such is life.

 

I might be back on again later this evening, but I don't know yet. Until later!

 

Yours always,

Tara



Baby hats, tattoo rough drafts, and the blessing of rain

First things first, yesterday I promised you a picture of the cabbage patch baby hat.

It is, quite frankly, a terrible picture. I've got it sitting on a pencil holder and the lighting isn't the best. Hindsight says I attached the pigtails too far up, and I should have made them longer, but I'm not fond of the pigtails at all anyway. The ribbons are light green with two-toned green shamrocks.

You can see my little St. Patrick smiling from where he sits over by my yarn.

I finally got a half-way decent draft of my tattoo design. Being unable to draw is terrible when you have a vivid mind because I know what I want it to look like, but I can't draw worth fish-sticks.

Like I said, rough draft. I'm hoping to put it on my back, just below the mid-point. I think they could probably lay the top line right on top of my scar, which would be nice. I plan on doing most of my tattoos in a cobalt blue, with a little red and maybe some green tossed in. I don't want it to be too big, either.

Our AC is still out at work, which makes the recent rainfall an even larger blessing than usual, having cooled the building enough to avoid heat stroke. I think it's about 80*F in here, which isn't really comfortable, but is cool enough that I'm not sweating like a pig.

I'm not very fond of the guy I'm working with this week. There's nothing really wrong with him, but he's a little condescending and is very knowledgeable about the world. He also likes to poke fun at my knitting, my little St. Patrick, and anything I say that seems naïve to him....which is probably 95% of what I say. Like I said, he's not really a bad guy, but he's not someone I'd choose to hang out with.

I'm supposed to be working on baby knitting for Shawna, but I don't feel like it at all. So tonight I'm working on a hat that I wanted to try. Hopefully I'll finish it tonight, and then I'll start on baby booties tomorrow.  Truthfully, I'm so sick of making the same three patterns over and over that I'm about ready to scream, but I really want to finish that soon.

The building is pretty empty because of the temperature and it's nice and quiet. Ms. L (the lady who cleans the building) is really happy that she got a new carpet cleaner. The other one hurt her back to use. Tomorrow I'll call my boss and verify my schedule this week, give what's going on here this week. I'd love to pick up a couple of extra hours if at all possible.

Anyway, I'll talk to you later!
Yours always,
Tara

A finished chaplet, and a truck load of books

Starting with the first thing, I finally finished the chaplet of St. Dymphna that I was making for my sister.

 

The picture quality isn't the best, but you can still see it fairly well. I wasn't sure what to use as the center, since the only St. Dymphna center I could find was more than I could afford, so I ended up using a Sacred Heart center. The book My Treasury of Chaplets says "This  chaplet in honor of St. Dymphna is made up of 17 beads, 15 for the 15 years of her life and 2 for the Holy Father's intentions. This chaplet comes in red, white, or green. The red chaplet is recited in honor of her martyrdom, the white in honor of her virginity, and the green for the hope of relief of emotional disorders." 

I'm really hoping it helps her. I mean, I know it's too much to expect her to magically get better because of it, but still. Maybe it can help ground her when she's overwhelmed, you know?

I ordered a bunch of books from Amazon earlier. I think the final count was 7 or 8, not including the four Let Us Keep the Feast books that I bought in the Kindle section (a purchase I lay square at the feet of the Catholic Librarian). Most of the books were Catholic lifestyle and apologetics, though I'm pretty sure I bought a knitting book too. Yeah, I know, it's terrible that I can't remember.

I also made another purchase from knitpicks, but this time it's all pre-wound into handy little balls. Does anyone know if they'll do that for you? Because the best I can do at home it stretch the hank of yarn across two chairs and pray. 

I'm just about done with the baby knitting for Shawna. She wants me to make two extra pair of booties that are a little bit longer, so that they last a couple of months. I feel like a terrible person, but I kind of wanted to toss the yarn at her when she said that. I mean, I know those booties aren't huge or anything, but baby feet aren't that big! They probably will last two or three months, but oh well. What's one more pair of booties, right? At least until I can get started on the angel dress for little bird, that has booties with it too. Hopefully by then I won't hate knitting little shoes.

It's Monday, and so far, I still haven't heard from the Priest. I did call the Cathedral to find out when RCIA classes started. I'd really rather not go that route because I hate causing trouble for other people (i.e. my boss) but at the same time, maybe the difficulty I've been having is God's way of telling me to go to the classes. 

Anyway, that's it for right now, I'll be back on later, as usual.

Yours always,

Tara

A slow night

I am so bored! It's a slow night here, and it's driving me nuts!  The good side of it is that I can turn the volume up on the computer and listen to Catholic Answers Live, which is nice, but there's usually more going on at this time.

Really, I can't complain, I do enjoy the quiet. It's just a little disconcerting when you aren't expecting, or even hoping for it. (In fact, if you spend more than a day around small children, unexpected silence quickly becomes something dreaded, something I haven't yet gotten over)

Either way, I'm still bored, so that's no help. Idle hands, so to speak. I could knit. I'm less than halfway through a pair of baby booties, but truthfully, I just don't feel like working on them. I have to, I want them done by Sunday so I can give her the booties and the mittens I made earlier this week, I just don't want to work on them.

I've still been attending the evening Sunday school at my mother's church, even while attending mass on Sunday mornings. Part of this is just to see my mother, part of it is because, as much as I think I'm going to swim the Tiber, so to speak, I can't definitively say just yet. And part of it, dear readers, I shamefully, and shamelessly, confess, is because they feed me dinner.

Yep, free food.

My friend Cas has two boys, and the youngest of them apparently thinks it's awesome that his mom can repay me (for picking him up or other such things) with food.

The way I see it, free food is good food. There are a few notable exceptions, and I am careful of where I fix my plate, but generally, if you tell me there will be free food, I will go. I might not listen (several school functions come to mind) but I will eat.

This may, of course, be the wrong thing to do, but I'm 21, almost 22, food is a big priority.

Of course, H would glare at me. For all that I often think with my stomach (even going so far as to navigate by restaurants), I still don't eat as much, or as fast, as she does.

It's actually terribly funny, because we'll go out to eat at this Mexican joint, and they will all order the lunch specials, and I'll have one little chicken enchilada and some chips. Afterwards, as we leave, I'll mention how stuffed I am, and she just glares at me. I'm also usually one of the last ones to finish eating, which I imagine helps.

I also really need to work on my room. It's a bit....well, a lot, of a mess, and it's long since passed ridiculousness.

I guess tonight is just going to be a slow night. Just a short post. I can't promise I'll be back tomorrow morning, but I will definitely post tomorrow night. I have to tell you how mass with L goes!

Yours always,
Tara

Punctured balloons and the importance of positive thought

My day started off really good. An early start to the day, mass, coffee with a friend, and my copy of Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn arrived! All in all, a good and profitable morning. This trend continued on into the evening. Until about an hour ago when my boss informed me that he was cutting a full day off of my work week, taking my time for the week, starting next pay-period, from 42hrs to 32 hrs.

Now, my paycheck will still be sufficient for my needs, thank God, but that's still a roughly $200 dollar pay cut. I've already canceled my ancestry.com account, so that'll help, and once I fix the front end alignment on my truck, I really don't have any major purchases. I have decided to start looking for a new job, and who knows? Maybe I'll be able to get a job that will allow me to take part in RCIA classes, which would be nice.

With all of this said, I have decided that I am NOT! going to let this destroy the good mood I've had since mass this morning, and I'm thinking I might go to mass tomorrow morning too! I think I might be able to finish my book by tomorrow too!

It's so interesting to read how Mr. Hahn and his wife went from being die-hard Protestants, to being Catholic. Honestly, the more I read and research, the more it looks like the right way. Jury is still out though. I'll keep you posted.

In other news, I'm considering applying for a temp job overseas. I've decided that I'll do some research, ask some questions, and if it's a good deal, I'll apply. I'll hold off until at least January, longer if I do decide the road to Rome is right, and then if it's all good, I'll go for it.

The job's in Germany, which is great, because I lived there for six years and I loved it. I'm not very fluent in German, but I can work on building my fluency better in Germany than I can here in the States, and language fluency at level 3 or 4 would look good on a resume, right? I'd like to eventually achieve level 5 fluency, but I'm not even sure I'm level 5 fluent in English so I'm not holding my breath.

It's also pretty close to the area I lived in before, so I've got a pretty good idea of what to expect. They'll pay airfare and provide lodging. I'm actually hoping, if I do go, that my sister will go with me and we can room together, because that'll be pretty awesome!

All in all, I guess the best thing I can do is ask, dear readers, that you pray for me. Pray I find my way, and pray for open doors, and if I can not have open doors, pray for open windows!

Yours always,
Tara

Some one ought to open up a window!

It is hot! Wasn't I just talking about it cooling off some? Well, it has, but that doesn't change the fact that it is HOT!

Not ten minutes after I published my morning post, people started showing up! A hither-to unheard of occurrence, that I have been assured will happen more frequently! Never fear, Saturdays with the Saints will continue, mostly because there's no reason for it not to. Still, it'd be nice if they gave me a little heads up on what to expect.

I've been considering a move up North. Not because I particularly want to live in an area that gets snow fall every single year, or live with the higher cost of living (last time I was there, gas cost a whole $1 more a gallon, ouch!), but more because my sister is there, and I'd like to be able to get there quickly if she needs me. She describes depression as being like a bad sprain. Most of the time, it just aches, but every now and then, for no reason at all, it flares up and hurts like crazy.

I try my best to help her, but I'm emotionally challenged, so I don't really understand. Depression makes sense to me only in the abstract, the reality is another matter entirely.

It's moved the chaplet up on my list of things to do though. I don't know how much it would help, but I think it might help some.

Strangely, that seems to be my answer for every problem. Make something. Bake cookies, knit a scarf, string a necklace, make something because that will help somehow. I don't know if it does or not, really, but that seems to be my default way of dealing with things.

I've also broken my self-imposed regulation today. In an effort to cut back on soda, I've instituted a rule that says that for every soda I drink I have to drink a 20oz bottle of something else (usually tea, since I'm very finicky about my water). I'll probably get back to it later on, but right now, I just want to enjoy my cold Cherry Coke.

I'm a little excited. The church I had wanted to go to Sunday does have mass on weekdays. It's just before I drove by, and for some reason, not posted outside. I still have to meet with the priest of the other parish (Did I mention how nervous I am?), but it's still nice to know that the other place is an option as well. It's a really pretty little church, from what I could see, and it had a little Marian grotto, which is something I haven't seen in person since I was in Germany.

Of course, I know nothing about Marian grottoes besides what they look like, but hey! That's what I'm trying to learn, right? Well, that, and about 50 million other little things. I'll be honest, the (long-ish) list of blogs I've been following have been quite helpful, even if they don't know it. Many of them are research nerds, which is a great help to little ole me.

The down side is that my book list (which is already very large) has gotten quite a bit longer.

I finished (well, mostly finished) my first sock about an hour ago. I still have to block it (which is something I've never done before) but I'll finish it's partner up first, then worry about blocking it. It turned out pretty well, although I had to alter the pattern slightly, otherwise the sock would have been way too long!

On the whole though, I'm pretty happy with how today has been going.

Also, I'm implementing a new rule right now, so there's no problem down the road. Simply put, no post on Sundays! In an effort to minimize my time spent on the computer and to devote proper attention where it's due, I will not be blogging on Sundays.

So I will see you all again on Monday, dear readers!

Yours always,
Tara

I think I need more beads, don't you?

It's Saturday morning and I'm already at work. It's going to be a long, dull day. With any luck, I'll finish my first sock, and be able to move swiftly into working on the next one.

I'm also hoping some of my books will arrive. We've already discussed how impatient I can be.

I need to get some white cloisonne beads for a rosary I've got planned. I also need to get the center piece and the crucifix while I'm at it.

Which reminds me, I'm making a St. Dymphna chaplet for my sister. She's been struggling with depression for several years now. I wish I could be there to help her more, but she lives in Maryland, and I do not. I was thinking that the chaplet might help, if only by serving as a reminder that some one loves her. I've got the beads all ready, I just need to get the medal and possibly a center piece. Does any one have any suggestions?

The weather has started to cool off here, for which I am incredibly grateful. I'm not a fan of extreme temperatures, which makes summer and winter both fairly miserable. Thankfully, autumn is coming up soon, and it'll be cool enough for sweaters with out being cold enough for three sweater (people up North are laughing at me, I'm sure) and there will be pumpkin flavored everything! I love autumn.

Spring is good too, of course, but autumn is coming up, and spring is a ways off.

I'm honestly a bit nervous about meeting with the priest on Tuesday. I know I shouldn't be, logically, but meeting new people isn't really my forte. I mean, you should have seen me the one time I went to a counselor about the tension between my mother and I! I was fidgeting like Batty from Fern Gully! Well, okay, maybe not that bad, but still!

About lunch time I'll post today's randomly generated saint. You'll have to let me know what you think of it, dear readers.

Anyway, until then I remain,
Sincerely yours,
Tara

Enjoy the silence

This, I will admit without guilt, is one of the best times of my day.

Almost everybody has left and the building is quiet. The only sounds are my keyboard, the music on low in the background (today's pick, a collection of Gregorian chants), and the occasional squeak of the wheels on the Ms. L's cart. (Ms. L cleans the building that I work at.) Here in a few minutes, I'll trade the chants for EWTN to listen to Catholic Answers Live. I'll listen, and knit, and maybe I'll finish this sock tonight, though I won't hold my breath.

After these socks, I have to get back to baby knitting for a while, at least until I finish the stuff for Shawna. I've already accepted that I won't have Little Bird's blanket done before she arrives, even if it was the only thing I was working on, so I'm shooting to have it finished by her first birthday.

I'd shoot for Easter, but with the dresses I want to make her for Christmas and Easter, plus the rest of my Christmas knitting, I figure it's best if I shoot for her birthday. Especially since I also have plans for a Barbar the Elephant King plush toy on my list of knits. Sara Elizabeth Kellner over on Ravelry has a number of gorgeous patterns, including the afore mentioned Elephant King. It even comes with instructions for his suit, bowler hat, royal cape, and crown! How cool is that?

I was thinking about adding a little fun to my Saturdays, boring as they are, by doing a little research into a random saint each Saturday. I have a site that will randomly generate a saint, and if you click the link it tells you more about them. I've always loved the saints stories, even before I considered the Catholic church, so it should be fun.

I also have an enormous knitting list, and a few things on my crochet list. I'm not as fond of crochet, mainly because I'm not as comfortable with it. Probably because I struggle not to crochet too tightly.

It's also a little intimidating because I'm not as familiar with it as I am with knitting. I get so confused with crochet. Especially the really delicate stuff, like fine lace. Knitted lace I can do. Crochet is a different story.

For all that I love my job, there are a number of things about it that drive me nuts! It's like these people have no idea exactly what information is actually needed for me to do my job! I'm not asking for much, but it'd be nice to know what's going on at any given time! And none of what I'd like to make my job easier is hard! Most of it is common sense!

Which makes it all the more obvious why I love the quiet time of day. None of my usual worries, just how best to kill time until I can go home.

Let me know what you think about my idea for Saturdays.

Yours always,
Tara

Because no one needs to find the right room

Oh I love my job.

You might have caught the sarcasm there.

Here's the thing though, if you're going to have me sit at the front desk, the least you can do is actually let me know there's something going on, and what room it will be in, that way, I don't have to hunt some one down (after everybody else has left!) in order to find out the answer to this person's question! It's not rocket science by any means!

This, of course, is not the first time this has happened, but these classes are generally held before everyone leaves, so I don't have to spend 15 minutes looking for some one!

The good news is that I did get to listen to Catholic Answers Live tonight. I also bought some yarn. I'll probably need to buy a second skein of it, so I can make socks, but it's this really nice yellow ochre with a little orange and khaki subtly mixed in. I've got an awesome pattern off of Ravelry that has a nice cable pattern.

I'm really excited about the Irish Ale socks that I'm planning on. I bought the yarn from knitpicks, so as soon as it comes in, I'll be ready to go. I'm nervous too though. I've been knitting ten years and never made socks. It's not all that surprising though. It's not like I had any one to teach me how to do it. My mother, bless her heart, can't knit or crochet. Counting stitches causes her blood-pressure to rise.

I crochet a little, but it's been a long time. I need to start again though. I have my heart set on this sweater I saw. I've got the pattern, and hopefully enough yarn (I think they discontinued the color) to make it, so maybe.....I'm shooting to finish it by St. Pat's, but considering I haven't even started.....

I also have a flurry of knitting to do in preparation for Little Bird's (I call my sister 'Little Bird') birth, and the fast approaching holiday season. Socks, socks for everyone. Well, not every one.

Just the men.

If they're going to make my life harder than it has to be by answering my yearly question (What do you want for Christmas?) with the standard male "I don't know." Then they get socks!

Plain, ordinary, dull (except the littlest, he get's neons)no-nonsense socks! I can get a little more creative with Dad's, he will appreciate cables or more vibrant colors (still staying with a neutral color palette). But Step-daddy is very much Mr. Old-timey cowboy. Grey socks (black are for Sundays or other dressy occasions) no fun stitches, and thick.

This is the man I nearly poured hot coffee on because he had the nerve to look at a fresh, full pot of coffee that I had just made and say "Is this plain? I don't want the froo-froo stuff." (This when he and my mother were just dating.) You are in mine and my mother's house, you will drink what we have and damn well say "Thank you" after!

I, thankfully, no longer live at home with them, but the man does still get on my nerves with his cow boy thing. He's good with the boys though, and if he and my mother can stop butting heads for two minutes, he might be a good husband. He's going to spoil Little Bird though, I just know it. Mom's already told him that she'll jerk a knot in his tail if he turns their daughter into a brat.

Picture! A 6'3" tall man (skinny as a bean pole, though) with grey hair, shaking in his cowboy boots as his 5'1" tall curly brunette wife (Pregnant!) tells him in no-uncertain terms that he will not spoil their child to ruin. Just thinking about it makes me snicker.

I'm still amazed that my mother has taken the news that I'm considering converting so well. I can't help but wonder if maybe Granma tipped her off. Of course, she knew I had been attending Mass, so maybe that tipped her off enough. Either way, still incredibly thankful that the conversation went well.

The best news I've had thus far, though, is the slightly cooler temperatures that we can expect. I'm not big on hot and humid, and I hate cold and wet. What I really need is some place where the temperature stays between 60-80F all year round. Maybe a few days a little colder, maybe a few days a little warmer, but for the most part it stays right in that comfortable range where I can wear longer sleeves, and pants all the time without dying from the heat.

It's not so bad in the mid-west where my dad lives, where it's hot, but not as humid, because then your clothes don't glue themselves to your body within 2 minutes of walking out your door. Here? Even people like me who do *NOT* like wearing shorts or skirts without leggings underneath are forced to ditch layers or DIE!

So the temperature drop into the 80s is well worth the impending showers.

I have nothing planned for the next two weeks besides work anyhow.

Yours always,
Tara