Whaz Up?

OK, so Becky (webchyck) reminded me that I have not posted in my blog since I got the new job. Point taken. I haven’t done much since I got the new job. It’s not that I’m working lots of hours (I’m not); I’m just EXHAUSTED at the end of the day. I forgot what it feels like to put in a full day at the office! It’s a great job: The people I work with are super nice. The work is interesting. I’m more a Project Manager now. Before I was your everyday support person for Oracle Financials. Now I’m running an implementation project in Aberdeen, Scotland. YES! I get to travel! I’ve made one trip to Aberdeen already, and I’m going back again right after Easter (for 2 weeks!). Then, about every 2 months, I’ll be making a trip over there for 2 weeks at time. Dan is pretty cool with this. I mean, this is a HUGE opportunity for me professionally. But it is also a HUGE change in routine for all of us – Dan, me, the boys. Fortunately, through the power of the Internet, we were able to chat on IM over the weekend I was gone. I was also able to send pictures home to the boys, which seemed to help. The funny thing is what they wanted to see pictures of – my hotel room! They really didn’t care about seeing me in front of an old church; they wanted to see my hotel and my room



OMG! Let me tell you how COLD it was there! This poor little southern girl just didn’t have the wardrobe for this type of trip. Fortunately, my wonderful, beautiful, ever-practical mother-in-law had a wool coat from when she used to live in Connecticut that she let me borrow. It was perfect! So, armed with her coat, a hat I’ve had since forever and a pair of gloves, I made it through a week of snow. There was 18” of snow on the ground and it snowed the first 5 days we were there. The locals swore that it was the worst winter they’d had in 3 years – I DON’T BELIEVE THEM!





One of the things I realized when I took this job is that I don’t have the right kind of wardrobe. Here in the States, we’re Business Casual. But in the UK, they are much more formal. Plus, it’s so much colder than it is here in Texas. So, my trusty Bernina has started to hum. For the first trip, I made 1 Navy jacket, 1 pair of Navy Wool Crepe pants and 1 Dark Gray top. They don’t necessarily coordinate with each other; they just filled in some missing pieces so I didn’t have to pack an enormous amount of clothing! I also have 1 jacket and 1 pair of pants that are almost completed for the next trip and 1 lighter weight coat cut out and ready to assemble. I’ve got fabric picked out for some new wardrobe pieces. Not all of this will get made before I leave – there just isn’t enough time. But it gives me a good plan for the rest of the year. I’ve also got some great inspiration for a couple skirts I want to make for later in the year (to wear here in Houston, not in the UK)


I saw the whole collection in Foley’s when I went in to get new makeup (another story). This is why I sew – I can’t justify spending $150 for a skirt, no matter how cute it is, if I then have to take the time to alter it because it’s too long. And, the amount I would have to alter it would ruin the proportion of the skirts. So I can make these with 2 patterns in my stash, adding the ruffle--for about $50 in fabric. Pretty good deal, if you ask me!

OK, so I haven’t scrapped in FOREVER! I haven’t even been on scrapbook-bytes, scrapartist or any of my other favs. SHAMEFUL! I haven’t even read all the blogs I used to read! So first thing I did was look around and see what’s going on! Wow! The things in the stores are just amazing! Plus all the new layouts on Susan’s DigiScraplift blog, the All About Me and Heritage Challenges at Scrapartist. Whew! Great stuff going on! Go check it out! So now, I’m started to feel the urge to scrap again. That and Dan asked me for the page that I made of him and the boys modeling together. Hmm? What’s that you say? You’re right! I never got around to doing that page for him. What kind of person am I? J So now I’m back checking out the stores at all my favorite places to see if I can find something PERFECT to use for this long overdue layout for my boys! Wish me luck!

WooHoo! I'm Employed!

Whew! I got a job offer today from the company I had hoped would offer me a job. I interviewed with them on Monday and it felt so comfortable and meant for me. Today, they offered me a very generous offer! I'm so relieved. Of course, this means I have to give up my lady's life of leisure (LOL!) I think the thing I'll miss the most is the whole SAHM thing. I never thought I would enjoy that lifestyle, but in a way I do. I enjoyed the quality time I had with my oldest son, Geary. I got to help him with his homework everyday when he came home from school. But, he misses being at the daycare after school. His little brother Adam is there and they miss seeing each other in the afternoon. I miss the independence of having my own money...asking dh for money is not something I'm used to doing. Well...

In NASCAR news, my boy DJ was fastest in morning drafting practice on Wednesday! Go 88! We want you to race the truck! We LOVE the truck! LOL! Maybe this will be his year to win his 4th Daytona 500. The surprise of testing, to me, has to be Sterling Marlin. He's in an under-funded team. Maybe that's not entirely fair. He's not racing for one of the Super-Mega teams, so he doesn't have the funding he may be used to. Although he's not the "fastest", he's been consistently at the top of the speed charts during testing. Might be a good sleeper pick to win his 3rd 500. And what about Smoke? Will he have good luck at the 500 this year. Tony doesn't normally have good luck at Daytona in February. All I can say is it's 30 days until the Daytona 500 (and my wedding anniversary). BTW, where did I spend my honeymoon? At the Daytona 500 baby!

Photo taken in the backstretch (superstretch) hospitality area). My best friend worked for Square D at the time, so she was able to get us into the hospitality area for the Busch and Cup races.


And in scrapping news...I did finish my latest addition to the Simply You Challenge at Scrapartist. I used Kim's 2-page sketch to do this layout.




Everything from Kim Christensen's Casablanca kit (alpha's re-papered)
Photos from the Internet (some from the Italian Tourist Board)
Font - Albermarle Swash, McGanahan
Layout based on Kim Christensen's 2-page sketch 1-18-06

Oh, and doesn't Kim have the cutest stuff in the sbb store? As soon as my first paycheck comes in, I'm gonna be buying more of her stuff!

It's been a little crazy the last couple days. Looking for a job does that to a person! I had a wonderful interview with a local company on Monday and I am on pins and needles waiting to hear if they want to hire me. I don't want to get too excited about it, because of the disappointment that would follow if they decide to hire someone else. But, it seems like a good fit. Besides, one of the people I interviewed with followed a similar path to me...working in accounting for many years, then switching to IT. We also have several acquaintances in common. Talk about a Small World. I have a couple other leads, but nothing that sounds as promising as this job. Besides, it's very close to my house - I wouldn't even have to get on the Freeway to go to work. How cool is that? Well, I'm leaving it in God's (and the CIO's) hands and letting go of the worry. Can't do anything else about it, right?!? Any prayers you want to send my way would be greatly appreciated!

I went to 2 crops last night at sbb. I haven't done any crops in a Looooooong time! It was a total blast. If you get a chance, you need to stop by the 2006 Autumn Leaves Calendar Challenge. The women who host are a total blast! It's not a speed crop, either. You have until Saturday to post your layout, which leaves more time for chatting :) After the AL crop, I stayed for Kim's 2-page sketch crop. Another really fun, non-stressful crop. Kim gives you a 2-page sketch and you have a week to post a layout. More time for chatting and getting to know your fellow digital scrappers. Come on by next week and say "Hi!"

Although I didn't get any scrapping done during the crops last night, I have done a couple new layouts. I combined challenges for this first one. I've been following the Heritage Challenge over at Scrapartist. Robyn posts a new challenge each week. And of course, my current fancy with Susan's Digi Scraplift. So Voila! My parents wedding photo from 1961:


Stitching - Shabby Princess, Background Papers, Brushes - Lighter Shades of Pale Michelle Coleman @ scrapartist, Lace - Roundabout Traci Simms @ scrapbook-elements, Fonts - Jeana, President, McGanahan, Filter - Virtual Photographer Radiant


And I had this layout I did last week of my parents at Christmas:


Papers - Signature 01 (jenwilsondesigns.com), Schmootzy Frame #2 - Nancie Rowe Janitz scrapartist.com, Fonts - MA Sexy (Title), High Strung, Scraplift of Jen Wilson's Layout, I am your sister, brother and friends at sbb.


So, my plan for the AL Challenge for this week is to combine the photos into one layout. I'll probably head over to Scrap-Maps to see what Bree has on her site for sketches.

I also participated in the current Photography Challenge at sbb. It's titled Reflections. I took this photo back in 1997..specifically going for the reflection because I had seen something similar in a Travel Book. The other interesting thing about this photo is that it was one of the few views where you couldn't see the construction going on around the Chateau. Many of the Chateaux in the Loire Valley were undergoing repairs in 1997.


Chateau Azay le Rideau, Loire Valley France
I used a Pentax K-1000 35mm, 200 speed film. Sorry, I don't remember any of the other settings.


That's it for now...I've got my "Honey-Do" list to try and tackle, especially if I want to scrap later before my oldest gets home from school

A Scrapping Fool

I've been a scrapping fool the last couple days. It probably comes from me trying to get over not getting a call for SS5 or a Creative Team I thought I wanted to be on. (But that's a discussion for another time). Instead, I decided to put my energy to much better use (thanks to blog entries by Becky (webchyck) and various links from there. )
During my blurfing (thanks for coining that wonderful phrase, Becky), I have found a WONDERFUL site called Digi-Scraplift. The wonderful Susan started this blog with a different lift most days. She puts the challenge up for herself, but has invited anyone who cares to to join in the fun. I've done two challenges so far:

Merry Christmas from the Family:


So how many of you know that HYSTERICAL Robert Earle Keene song? If not, you should check it out. He's a local legend here in Texas. And a total blast in concert. Credits: Papers, Ribbbons, Tag, Brad: Dianne Rigdon at scrapartist
Clippie: Michelle Coleman at scrapartist
Metal Alpha: Jen Wilson at scrapbook-bytes.
Fonts are Pharmacy & President


Peek-A-Boo:


My youngest was playing around with me when I snapped this picture. I really didn't know what to do with it until I saw Susan's lift challenge. It's a lift of Sarah's Love that Grin layout at 2peas. Check it out! Credits: Papers, Vellum Tag - Gina Miller's Joy of Scrapping MudPie Kit (sbbytes)
Book Plate, rivet - Jen Wilson's Grass Stains Elements (sbbytes)
Stitching - Katie Pertiet's Messy Stitching (re-colored) DesignerDigitals
Fonts - Stamp Act Jumbled (Title), President (Date)

Hooray for Testing!

Well, I'm thankful that NASCAR testing has begun. It means that there are only 33 days until the Daytona 500! Man, it just can't happen soon enough! So, from last week's testing, the fastest by manufacturer:
Jeff Gordon (Chevy) 188.466
Elliott Sadler (Ford) 187.594
Jeremy Mayfield (Dodge) 186.521

Other notables: Smoke did not test his own car, Mike McLaughlin did (could it be because of Smoke's injured wrist?). Bobby Labonte was lighting up the track in the King's car. Ken Schrader wasn't too bad in the Wood Brothers' Car and poor Kenny Wallace just didn't get his car up to speed during practice.

There was practice today for the other half of the field with Sterling Marlin, Scott Riggs & Jamie McMurray fastest of the Chevy, Dodge and Ford drivers. We'll see how things go the rest of the week.

If you want to keep up with this a little more closely, Jayski has links with up-to-date stats on testing.

Welcome!

Welcome to Mel's Mutterings. I just thought I'd get on the blogging band wagon. This will be my little spot to muse on my crafts: scrapbooking, sewing, photography. Plus other things of interest: books, music, politics and, of course, NASCAR. I hope you'll stop by and say hello and give me your comments!