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Wednesday, March 21

Back in the Saddle

I dropped my in laws off at the airport this morning on my way to work.  As much as I struggle while they are visiting, it is again proof that about the time I adjust to having people in the house is when it is time for them to go.  In some ways I wish they stayed longer so that the time that they are here doesn't feel so precious I can't go off and do my own thing when I need a break and I can have time to adjust and just enjoy having dinner made.  I have a great time while we're playing cards or out and about.  Well, maybe less so at Bass Pro, Toronto Sportsman's Show or Canada Computers.  Not much that really appeals to me at any of those places.  Particularly the TSS, it was too big to hang out by the live fish tanks or falcon exhibit and find them again because they didn't know what was going to catch their eye next and none of us really knew the layout. 

The queen bed arrived on Monday afternoon, some trading was done to max out the guest room bed.  We have kept the frame and box spring from that room but moved our mattress over.  I didn't sleep all that well the first night on our new bed.  I guess because it has independent support or whatever the term is (like the bowling ball commercial) there is a little ridge down the middle.  I woke up a few times in the night not sure where Mr. Lina was and feeling an uphill battle to find him.  Last night was a more solid sleep.  I will say that bed is super quiet.  This also helps in ah, dealing with um, various forms of stress while having guests in the house.  ;)

The weather has been absolutely beautiful the past week.  However... my Tues/Wed client has horrible air circulation.  In fact their air conditioner is broken and so old that a part has to be made for them because no one makes air conditioners like theirs anymore.  That won't be fixed until mid-April apparently.  Yesterday was 22C outside, 28C in someones office (not that hot at my cubicle, but hot enough).  They set up 6' fans all over our area so it's like working with a plane taking off in the cubicle beside me.  I saw this coming from past summers here so I dressed accordingly.  Yesterday I wore Kwik Sew 1595.  I don't wear it with this tie belt, I have an elastic belt I made but I don't have a picture of the outfit together.  Anyhoo, I like that although this dress is polyester knit (similar in weight to my Renfrews), there is no sleeve (the cap is just a wide shoulder, there is  no under arm seam).  With air flow at the arm pits and a loose fit, it works well in summer without hose and winter with tights/boots.


And today it's Lekala 5432 in a really light rayon if I remember right.  That sweater will be coming off this afternoon.


Jeez, that reminds me how long it's been since I got my hair cut, it's in a pony tail today.  I really should do something about that.

Warm weather has me digging out summer shoes.  Those cute red flats above?  I can only find one.  I'm sure I had a pair of open toed black heels for work, can't find them.  I wanted to wear some super casual sandals to bowling, I could only find one.  Is our hall closet like the dryer with socks?  Eating one shoe at a time?

I think purchasing a dress form will be put on hold for a bit.  My car has a whine when moving that I have been trying to pretend is not there but it's past ignoring now.  Add oil change, tire rotation and I found out Monday the A/C doesn't work.  This will not be a small bill.  Also, the FET will likely run about $1,000 depending on how the clinic discounts or prices have changed, how much medication is covered and added transportation costs.  We can cope with both bills, but I don't want a dress form enough to shoulder debt for it so we'll see how those bills go first.  I suspect my savings will go to one of those two and I'll start setting aside money again.  I've managed just fine so far and if I really want it, there is always the duct/paper tape options.

Tonight, I get to enjoy some Shepard's Pie my MIL made for dinner and a quiet house.  A former coworker is going to call me up.  She's leaving a place I'd like to work so I'm getting the inside scoop as to what is going on over there and if I really would like to go there.  Location isn't everything if the environment has changed from what it was.  Lots of movement creates positions I could move to but it also may change what I liked about it. 

Perhaps I can move some of the crap we hid in my sewing room and start planning my next projects.  It was mom's birthday on March 10th and while I had a long talk with her on her birthday, I didn't have a gift ready.  I think Renfrew would suit her well so I offered to make one and let her pick from a few suitable fabrics I had in stash.  That will be the next project.  Then a summer weight Renfrew for me because that polyester 3/4 sleeve will not work as summer approaches.  Then a return to pants.  Or the Tanit-Isis blogiversary top.  I have some lovely plumb bamboo that would work well.  Or the Blank Canvas Tee.  Or I did buy Pendrell when I bought Renfew and silk was in the fabric order from my parents earmarked for Pendrell.  So many plans, so little time...

13 comments:

  1. Your comment about the jeweled crocs cracked me up!!! No I'm definitely not the type!

    You've been a very busy lady, and as for bass Pro, do they have the toy gun shooting range at yours because I find that very entertaining!!!!!

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    1. My mental image did seem a little... twee.

      I don't know. They do have a shooting range but I thought it was for bows/cross bows. I can at least find the camping section interesting and they do sell womens clothing... Not enough to keep me entertained while they look at, well, everything else in store, but it works for the first 45 minutes or so.

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  2. I forget to mention I like your dress and the way the shoulder seam extends instead of sleeves, it's sitting beautifully!

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    1. It's a nice illusion of sleeve, isn't it? I get the work appropriate shoulder coverage but air flow. Win-win.

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  3. Our Bass Pro has a toy-gun, arcade-style range, (plus the archery room upstairs) but I probably prefer looking at the fish. /sigh. I wouldn't mind it so much except it's on the FAR SIDE OF TOWN and I hate driving an hour to go to a mall. Ugh. Fortunately we only go when my husband's step-dad is in town, as he's a hunting/fishing type. My husband likes to fish, but is content to fulfill it much closer to home, thankfully. Falcon exhibit would be COOL!

    Good luck getting used to the new bed---I felt pretty lonely the first night or two in our Queen, too. I think the bump in the middle dividing the two halves would irk me, though, since we rarely divide the bed exactly down the middle.

    And good luck getting back to your sewing room---I think a Renfrew for your mom would be awesome! And I love cap-sleeves, too. :)

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    1. I like the fish tank too. They are rather calming.

      I'm hoping that the middle smooths out a bit with us being snuggly sleepers. We do sleep in the middle rather than each to our own sides. Tonight will be the real test. The more often we have guests the more I realize I don't sleep as well with people in the house - it's not bad sleep, just I wake up worrying I've missed something.

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  4. I love those sleeves as well. I'm the one who is warm when everyone else is comfy. Finding clothes that meet the criteria but keep me from melting is tricky!

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  5. I am not crazy warm, but I think tshirts are year round wear. I have no clue how people in my bowling league wear long sleeves or sweaters or one person often wears a turtle neck. Insane I tell you.

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  6. I totally understand how stressful it is to have people in my home. I'm a basket case of anxiety. You seem to have handled things with aplomb!

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  7. Congratulations on surviving the in-law visit! I'm convinced I get along so well with my in-laws because they have always lived five minutes from me and therefore do not SLEEP OVER. I am the world's most jittery hostess and my favorite time period to entertain people is less than 12 hours.

    The ridge in the middle of your bed would drive me crazy. The Hubs and I regularly sprawl all over. In fact, we moved to a California King because we were constantly smacking each other in the Queen. Even then, sometimes one of us ends up on the wrong side....what can I say, we're active sleepers!

    The car is a bummer but if you get it all out of the way at once, hopefully that will take care of it for a good long time. I traded in my last car about the time it started costing the same in repairs every month as a new car payment.

    Adorable dresses in your photos! Hopefully you'll be able to get back to sewing soon. Another Renfrew sounds nice and easy....

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    1. I could see the non-sleep over rule working. I'd also just adjust and she would have her own kitchen.

      Active sleepers is right. I can't even find Mr. Lina in a king never mind smacking him!

      Yeah.. I'm sort of thinking the same thing. One big bill and then they won't see me for a while. It's 10 years old this April and 280,000 km (174,000 miles), she's showing her age. Our other car is paid off this summer, I'd like a little time prior to entering car payment territory again.

      Renfrew is a pretty easy pattern to work with. After finishing up my bra I could use a little less technical sewing.

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  8. I know exactly what you mean by disliking having people in your house. I try to avoid it whenever possible since I'm always forgetting the towels or burning the pot roast.

    And I'm also bad about having more ideas than time. Especially if you have more than one hobby.

    Congrats on the new mattress. We bought one of those memory foam ones last year, and after the first couple of nights we fell in serious love. So now we still get to snuggle, but we're snuggling clouds. ;-)

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    1. I do love hosting and I like having people staying over, but it is tiring. Fun, but tiring. And most house guests don't require me to give up my kitchen.

      I have specifically passed up opportunities to learn other hobbies because I feel I don't have enough time to do what I love. Why pick up something like scrap booking if I'm just going to feel guilty I'm not doing that either?

      Snuggling clouds... oh I like that thought.

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