Thursday, September 28, 2006

Busy Busy Busy

Life has been somewhat of a whirlwind of busy-ness since last Wednesday:

1. Passed my test and got my full "G" licence. It's only been thirteen years since I first passed my learner's permit test in grade 10 driver's ed class. (The 13 years is not because I was a bad driver or anything, I just never got around to taking my actual driving tests).
2. Got all four wisdom teeth out. The first day was awful, after that it was okay-ish. Didn't hurt as much as I think I was expecting. I got a check up yesterday and they said it is healign well. But my mouth still tastes weird. I can't wait for that to go away.
3. Big windstorm Sunday morning, bazillions of trees down, electricity was out at my house until Monday at 11am, at work it was out until Tuesday at 12noon. I heard on the radio this morning (Thursday) that 11 000 people still don't have any power.
4. Busy at work. Busy finishing things up.
5. Busy packing. Still a bit more to do.

I'm officially moving Saturday. Uhaul truck is booked. I start my new job at my old camp (WSC) on Monday. But for a little while I'll also be working a couple of days here at my "old" job (OPC) while they continue searching for my replacement.

Lots to do. Gotta jet. :)

Busy Busy Busy

Life has been somewhat of a whirlwind of busy-ness since last Wednesday:

1. Passed my test and got my full "G" licence. It's only been thirteen years since I first passed my learner's permit test in grade 10 driver's ed class. (The 13 years is not because I was a bad driver or anything, I just never got around to taking my actual driving tests).
2. Got all four wisdom teeth out. The first day was awful, after that it was okay-ish. Didn't hurt as much as I think I was expecting. I got a check up yesterday and they said it is healign well. But my mouth still tastes weird. I can't wait for that to go away.
3. Big windstorm Sunday morning, bazillions of trees down, electricity was out at my house until Monday at 11am, at work it was out until Tuesday at 12noon. I heard on the radio this morning (Thursday) that 11 000 people still don't have any power.
4. Busy at work. Busy finishing things up.
5. Busy packing. Still a bit more to do.

I'm officially moving Saturday. Uhaul truck is booked. I start my new job at my old camp (WSC) on Monday. But for a little while I'll also be working a couple of days here at my "old" job (OPC) while they continue searching for my replacement.

Lots to do. Gotta jet. :)

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Packing it All In

Tomorrow morning at 9:15am, because this is Ontario and Ontario has graduated licensing, I am taking my Level Two Road Test... and hopefully I shall be done with driver testing forever! I didn't realize when I was 15 and a half and taking my first learner's permit written test that it would be a thirteen year process.

Then, I'm driving an hour and fifteen minutes to another appointment. At 12:15, I'm having four "complicated tooth extractions"... a.k.a. my wisdom teeth are being removed. I assume I'll be out of commission for a couple of days. Hopefully I get a sticker after the surgery and I wake up. Remember the good ol' days when you got a sticker from the dentist? I think they should bring those back for all, not just for kids.

Those stickers seriously crack me up.

Virtual Tour

Since I'm moving at the end of the month, I thought I'd like to take some pictures of my bedroom in the apartment I'm leaving behind. This weekend I started packing. Technically, I had started packing previously, but one or two boxes doesn't really count.

And, although I'm not nearly the lovely room decorator/dresser upper that Megan is, I'm posting the pics here for everyone to see:
I had to go back in my archives to remember that the name of the paint colour is Blue Haze, and I still love it every bit as much as the day I moved in. This bed I got for free dollars from a friend who was moving back home, and thank goodness... because I had been sleeping on a cot mattress on the floor for 4 months and I couldn't afford a real bed or mattress or take the floor any more. The quilt I made the year after high school, with mostly a whole lot of fat quarters that I had bought at a quilting store in my junior high and high school years when I was really into making doll clothes and they had the perfect little patterns. The quilt is actually twin size, but I put it the wrong direction on this fullsize bed. I love those white and red "snowflake" pillowcases, I got them at Dollarama. Sometimes you canget good stuff there. The jean throw pillows I made over Christmas break in 99-00. The teddybear my parents' cat Blackey sent me my last summer working at WSC. The curtain I made last year out of fabric I got for $3 a metre at Fabricland. I love the green, but it doesn't really match anything else. In the window you can see the outline of a wooden sheep puzzle piece I found for 25 cents at a thrift store. Sometimes I wonder what happened to the rest of the puzzle. You didn't notice the grocery bag wrapped around the bottom of the bedframe did you? Good. It was a quick solution to not gashing my feet all the time on the sharp metal. I've just never gotten around to fixing it or putting something a little more appealing than a plastic bag. The bedskirt is supposed to hide it, but does a poor job.

Close up of the photos and painting on my wall... the two barn pictures are from my Gramma's, the sheep and Jenny the dog are at my parents, the Laundromat sign is from Caronport (the town I went to college in). My friend Mike has that sign now that they've done away with the rules, and I want it. The painting is of Glasgow roses, I did it for a community art show in college, in I think 2001 or 2002. The hanging lamp I bought at the grocery store for $7 or $8 I believe.
The white "box" bedside table is actually a cube, the top lifts off to store whatever you want. I keep bedding in it. I bought it for $10 on sale at the grocery store (excellent place to buy furniture!)... it was one of those "assemble yourself" kind of deals. The rice-paper shade star lamp I bought when I worked in Illinois for the summer in 2001... I think I'm actually going to get rid of it soon because I don't like it so much any more. It's getting a tad faded and dated. The alarm clock I was trying to remember how long exactly I had had it a little while ago because it's been everywhere with me... then I flipped it over and noticed it has the date "1993" written on the bottom. The little guy has hit his teen years!
This is where I do pretty much all my sewing. And a lot of crafts. The table was the first thing I ever bought for my room and my "permanent" Ontario life. Coming from 3500km away, I didn't have any furnishings. So, I got my priorities straight and after a couple of days of living here, I went to Ikea with my sister who was visiting, and bought this table (it was cheaper than a desk and I didn't have much money) I also go the chair and the lamp. The table came unfinished, so I varnished it with a plain satin varnish. I wish Ikea hadn't discontinued those chairs, as now I need to get some "kitchen" chairs and I really would like those. My sewing machine is a Kenmore, from Sears. It works fabulously for everything I do, except the foot always falls off, but you just have to tighten the screw again. I have a ton of glasses and containers of paint brushes, markers, pens, pencils, pencil crayons, watercolour pencils, rulers, etc. etc. on top of my table. On the left above the table is an unframed paint-by-number (I always think I should get a frame for it but I've yet to find one that will fit well). The leaf painting I did when I was a counsellor at this camp in Maine in 1999. The photo below it is one I took of some poplar trees in winter on my parents' farm in 2002. Pretend all that junk isn't under the table. Nope. Nothing to see there. Move along. ;)
On top of the dresser on the right you'll notice: tablecloth I bought at Value Village back in my college days on a trip to Regina with the lovely Sarah Perkonig, Ikea man with handknitted red wool sweater and matching toque, Caboodles case from my friend Joanne for seminary graduation (who didn't want a Caboodles back in junior high?), cedar jewelry box I refinished in high school, photo frame Cory Loeppky got me one year for my birthday in college from the Pilgrim Restaurant's gift shop, and assorted tins from Ikea and garage sales. On the wall above the dresser you'll notice a picture of me and my Gramma from when I was 2, a photo of trees at my parents farm, a photo of my Great Grandfather's horses in 1916, and a photo of a daylily I took at the camp I used to work at (and will again in 2 weeks). The wire cat my friend Jodi's dad made me. And the little Chinese-style dress I bought at a dollar store a couple of years ago.
I bought this dresser at a local antique store, and at the time, I really liked it. Since then, one of the "original brass vintage chic" drawer pulls has broken, and I don't like it quite so much any more. Not because the pull broke, but because all of the drawers are warped and are hard to pull out and push back in too far, and I think the colour is barfo. I often think about painting the whole thing white, or a nice shade of ivory or ecru, but then I think maybe it would be too much effort. You didn't notice the dangling extension cords did you? Good. But I'll tell you that this is an old farm-style house... the wiring is crappo. There are only two outlets in the whole room, one is behind the fan, one is behind the bed.
This chair was one of the first purchases I made to furnish this room when I first moved in... it cost $20 on sale and I got it at a grocery store (totally logical). Most of the time I like the way it looks (clean lines, nice pine), but it's not actually very comfortable. I almost never sit in it. Usually I just drop stuff on it when I get home from work(purse, jacket or sweater, etc.) and it stays there until I pick it up again the next morning. Beside the chair you'll notice the magazine/yarn rack I redid a while ago, full of all this. Above the chair is a series of mixed-media pieces I did while in college, and a plastic bath turtle, and a wooden motorcyle that you can buy pre-painted at Michael's craftstores. Oh yeah, and back there in the hall you can sort of see a couple of my favourite tree paint-by-number paintings from a local thrift store. The fan is leftover from the hideously hot summer days. It's ugly, but essential, on such days.
Final corner shot... the armoire I inherited from an apartment-mate that only lasted 2 months. It holds all my fabric and some other crafty-kind-of-stuff. On top it holds my stereo and assorted loveable knick-knacks from various places that I particularly love (the knick-knacks, and sometimes the places too, and most often the people/cats that have given them to me). The frame I found in a thrift shop with a super ugly and badly painted picture of a water-mill and what I think were supposed to be mountains, but I threw the painting out. At some point almost 2 years ago I put some embossed snowflake paper into it, and I've always meant to actually paint a nice painting for it, or frame something normal in it... but I've just never gotten around to it.
The carpet. Up close. Click to BIGGIE SIZE! Isn't it... bizarre? Every other carpeted room in this apartment has this sort of dark minty-green carpet of the early-90s variety. Except my room lucked out and got the oldschool snowflake carpet. When I first moved in I decided to do this sort of snowflake themed room, and I had a snowflake curtain and hanging snowflakes on the wall and in the window, etc. But it looked weird in the spring and summer, so I got rid of allmost of the snowflakes and made a new curtain that was more flowery-fun.

Now that I've finished this post, I realize I have bought too much furniture at the grocery store.

Don't Cry

Jim and Pam. Seriously. Makes me a bit teary eyed. And it's a COMMERCIAL. I don't even cry at movies.

Sheesh, I don't even cry at real life!

Friday, September 15, 2006

Dear Jessica Simpson

I was all pumped to see on Hotmail today the advertisment to get your own personalized Jessica Simpson Ringtone. Not that I have a cellphone, but hey, usually you can preview it, right?

But, I just wanted to let you know that my name is pronounced "mih-shell", not "mish-shoe."

And oh yeah, I also wanted to tell you about last week when I watched MMMTopTen (for the very first time in my life, mostly because I thought the videos were disturbingly hilarious) and they played your video for "Public Affair" at #6, and then at #5 they played Nick's video for "What's Left of Me". It was gloriously well placed.

Squirrel Messenger, and Photoshopping

I had had a few requests for more "messenger bag size" bags, so here one is, finally. If you clicky click here you can purchase your very own.

Someone had asked a while ago how I make the photos with that kind of edge... and I can't remember if I ever replied (sorry!). But now, for everyone's benefit, here is how it is done. :)

I scanned an old black and white photo on an ecru background, and then deleted the actual photo from the middle. I saved it and I call this creation "Blank Base". Then I just take a new photo and resize it, or make new photo collage and ta dah.... turn it into something like this or this or this or this.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Winter Blossoms


I finally started to pack the other day... seeing how I am planning on moving the 30th... hopefully I can find a couple of people to help load furniture, etc. that day. When I came here two years ago I had bedding and a suitcase. I've gained a few of the essentials since then, but in the past couple of weeks I've also boughten a microwave and a telephone. A cordless telephone. One with an answering machine on the stand. And it even has an 11-number directory. 11 seems like an odd number to me.

Other nights when I should have been packing I made some more jewelry instead, it's up at my Etsy shop. My sewing is on hold for the moment as I pack up my life and move 2 hours south... not sure when I'll get back to it or if the shop will be able to continue (lack of computer, lack of internet access, etc.)... so we'll see how things go.

More some other time, at the moment I should get back to work. Blah.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Mikao Jewelry Design

FYI, I've been working on a few jewelry designs as of late, and have posted a few things in my Etsy shop.

I never really know how to price things... I like to price lower hoping it will encourage more buyers, but then I wonder if people really think it's worth it to buy something for a lower price and think they're getting lower quality? (It's not low quality, it's good quality at reasonable prices! :) ) What do you think?

Monday, September 11, 2006

Valerie Silver Ellis

This post is part of the project 2,996: A Tribute to the Victims of 9/11.

MISSING: Valerie Silver Ellis
Valerie Silver Ellis, 46, had made plans with her husband, Sam, to visit her mother in Rehoboth sometime this past weekend. On Monday evening the couple of 18 years discussed his work as a theater production manager. On Tuesday, they both left early. She was headed to her desk at the World Trade Center. Sam has not heard from her since.

"I spoke with someone from her office in California," her husband said with a touch of a laugh, "who was on the phone with her at the time. All he could assure me was when the plane hit him and her were concocting a scheme to react to a humorous e-mail that was from another coworker. She's a real practical joker."

When asked what she loves about New York, Sam responded, "She hated the World Trade Center ever since 1993 and was like the canary in a coal mine. The first time she walked 104 flights of stairs, and that night we had a party. I hope we can have another one. I'll even invite you."
-from The Village Voice, Sept 19-25, 2001

Like so many others, I wasn't really sure how to go about this project. How would I get information? Should I try to contact those who knew her? What was she really like?

In the end, I decided to simply share here what others had already shared. There are snippets of Val around the internet... facts, memories, a tribute quilt block. She was a woman loved by those who knew her. She was full of humour and laughter and success. Valerie Silver Ellis, we remember you.

Valerie Silver Ellis, age 46, was a resident of New York; a partner, Institutional Equities Trader, in the ESpeed division of Cantor Fitzgerald. She joined the firm in 1981, and for 18 years worked in the World Trade Center. September 11, 2001, she was working on the 104th floor of the north tower.

Valerie was the first female senior class president at Takoma Academy in Maryland. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland.

She was married to Sam Ellis, a production manager working with the New York theater community.
- from Newsday.com

From those who knew her, as posted on 9-11 Heroes:

Like so many others I've read comments from, I only knew Val for a little over a year, but the impression she left on me was deep -- and grand. She was a hoot! We had fun, fun, fun, after long weeks of work, work, work. She was such an inspiration to me, and I know I let her down with my own foolish choices then and later, but she, of course, went on to become only more successful -- professionally and personally. That's just how she was. I wish I could call her today and ask her advice (I'm even in her same business now!). What a crime. - Cary, 2006-07-14

My name is Dan and I knew Val from the Hamptons in the mid 80's when I was a kid. I met her in the summer of 84 when she and Sam shared a summer rental in the Springs with my mom Pam. Even though I was only 10, we hit it off immmediately; she had such a great sense of humor and we both had a passion for music. Val was one of the coolest and kindest people I've ever known - she kind of felt to me like that hip young aunt who buys you tickets to a Grateful Dead show against your mother's wishes. There weren't many kids around the block we stayed on, so Val and Sam became my best friends for those summer weekends, and I have fond memories of going to the beach, riding bikes, and just hanging out listening to 80's pop and rock tunes and joking around with the two of them. They turned what could have been a boring summer into a good time filled with laughs. The next summer in 85, Val and Sam bought a house out there and I would ride my bike the 2 miles from my mom's rental and pop in unannounced, and Val never made me feel like I wasn't wanted even if I had come at a bad time. Unfortunately, I didn't see very much of her after that summer - the last time I saw her was at her place in the Village in 1991 I think it was. I didn't know she worked at Cantor Fitzgerald, all I knew was she worked somewhere as a trader, so on 9/11 I had no idea she was in the building. I found out later that night from my mother that Val worked at the top of the north tower and I was stunned and deeply saddened. I'll never forget Val, she was a great friend for the short time I knew her and a truly remarkable spirit. - Dan, 2004

I am Val's mother and as the 9/11 anniversary nears agqain my thoughts go to her. I should say many of my thoughts each day are of her. She was a wonderful daughter who loved to do things for her family. I am so thankful that I spent Labor day weekend with her in 2001 and that was the last time I saw her. We had such a wonderful time. She cooked my favorite foods and took me on "adventures". Things were never dull when Val was around. I was blessed to have her and Steve and Beth. God has been good to us and I thank all our friends who have loved and comforted us. - Joan Silver on 2003-09-06
One of the best Valerie Silver Ellis stories takes place in the early '80's when she was starting out at Cantor Fitzgerald. A senior trader asked her to take his shoes to be repaired, so Ms. Ellis had taps put on the toes and the heels extended to four inches. When the senior trader ordered the upstart young trader to redo the job, Ms. Ellis had the shoes bronzed.

"They ended up being friends," said Brian Hull, a friend and former client of Ms. Ellis. "She refused to be insulted, she refused to be intimidated. She just worked as hard as she could and she won."

Ms. Ellis, a 46-year-old equities trader, worked at Cantor Fitzergerald for 20 years, 18 of those at the World Trade Center.

"Someone said at her memorial that Val collected people," her husband, Sam Ellis, said. "She also loved to collect art. We had a place in the Hamptons and she liked the artists in the area. She loved the beach; she loved her dog Spudley. She also loved the theater and we'd often entertain clients by taking them to theater and dinner."

Mr. Hull said, "You never had to see her to know that she was in a room. You just knew her laugh. She always found a reason to laugh."
Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on October 16, 2001.
-from legacy.com
On September 11, 2002, one year after Val's death, her brother Stephen Silver wrote this tribute.
"Val understood people. She could talk with a homeless person or the chairman of the board. She would empty her purse to someone in need. Despite her professional and financial success, she never lost touch with what mattered - relationships and people, not money."
"I am honored to have known Val and to have witnessed her strong spirit, vibrancy and love of life. "
-Tracy Steinman, Friend, wife of co-worker

"Last Spring while Jeff's mother was dying of cancer Valerie gave him a book from Hospice which she had read and found useful during her mother's illness.He told me that they would talk and both would sob as they shared their sorrow. Jeff's quote was:"I have to stop talking to Val; the two of us stand sobbing in the hallway and I am a mess!" Those of us who were blessed to know Val and Jeff will forever miss their gracious presence in our lives. I offer my sympathy to Sam and the rest of Val's family.
-Chris LeVeen,wife of Jeff LeVeen(coworker), and friend. "
"Born of the 4th of July, she lived the "American Dream." She was "Auntie Val" to her family and lots of others. A quick mind and quicker tongue, there was no fear she could not overcome, no height she could not reach and no joke she would not entertain. Val created laughter and shared that laughter. You could always expect the unexpected from her. (Funny, poignant and bawdy stories upon request.) Val found a way to share tears as well and turn them into smiles that grew to laughter. She improved on what she found and created what she could not find. She created herself and her own world. She succeeded in that world and generously shared that success. She was direct, creative, exacting and very smart and she always knew just what to say and no one, no one got in her way.

Was she a saint? I think not, she didn't try to be. Was she real? I think so, and that is what we should all strive to be. No longer can we "Ask Val" but instead we must ask, "What would Val have done?" Then...........just do it!!!!! " -Sam Ellis, Husband

Friday, September 08, 2006

Flashback Friday: September 2004

Now, I totally know what you're all thinking. "That is a flippin' awesome Photoshopping job!" It's circa September 2004, when I first got my current job and I was trying to make it look like there was a really big painting behind me and Susie instead of just a little painting. This was my first "real job" after finishing college and then my masters degree, and I think originally this photo was taken to put in the camp newsletter in the "new staff" section. Somewhere I still have that shirt but I never wear it. I think this photo day was the last time I actually did wear it. I probably just keep it around because it's Tommy Hilfiger (like my glasses) and hey, they're brand name! (unlike pretty much everything else I own).

And today/yesterday, almost two exact years after I started here (September 13, 2004), I handed in my resignation.

I'm done at the end of the month.

On to "new" things.

Hurrah!

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

The Random Interview Project 3: Barclee

In honour of today, Barclee's perfect day, I bring you this installment of The Random Interview Project Part Three. Barclee was a freshman my last year living in dorm at Briercrest:

1. What are three things you still have on your life's list of to do before you die? take a road trip to California, spend a day in the studio with Adam Durst (lead singer of Counting Crows) writing songs...or Eminem, I would also appreciate that, and the last things is to get over it

2. If you could live anywhere, where would you live and why?
i would live somewhere in a log cabin, on the lake..probably somewhere warm..so you can wake up in the morning and taste the fresh air and see the water...

3. What is the best thing about being married?
the security that someone is always there

4. If you could change anything about your high school years, what would you change and why?
i would change most of my decisions, some of my haircolors but none of my friends

5. Imagine that tomorrow you won $100 000 and you only had 24 hours to spend it. What would you spend it on?
i would pay off my stupid student loans and all my debt, i would than fly me and all my friends somewhere warm and fun, where we would party for days and drink as many vodka/red bulls that i want...

6. What celebrity would you most like to meet and why?
i hate celebrities but if i had to pick, Tupac Shakur (no he is not dead)

7. If you could pick your neighbours on each side of where you now live, who would you choose and why?
i would choose kathleen and mike on one side and joanne and ryan mcleod to live on the other side

8. What are you looking forward to most about 2007?
"a long december and there is reason to believe that maybe this next year will be better than the last...i guess the winter makes you laugh a little slower, makes you talk a little lower about the things you could not show her...."

9. What ten songs would you put on the perfect mix CD?
1. Gunnin - Hedley "i hate the way you look at me, as if i was broken, and im gunnin for you"
2. Better Days - GooGoo Dolls "because everyone is forgiven now"
3. Lips of an Angels - Hinder "its really good to hear your voice, saying my name, it sounds so sweet"
4. Slip out the Back - Fort Minor "this is what he said, slip out the back before they know you were there and at the worst you'll see nobody cares, cause you don't wanna be around when it all goes down, even heros know when to be scared"
5. Where'd You Go - Fort Minor "she said somedays i feel like shit, somedays i wanna quit and just be normal for a bit"
6. Hands Up - Llyod Banks w/ 50 cent - "you know when you party with crooks you gotta learn to respect"
7. Gallery - Mario Vasquez - "God broke the mold when he made this one i know, she walks in the room your lungs close making you never wanna breathe again"
8. Who Knew - Pink - "that last kiss, i'll cherish until we meet again and time makes it harder, i wish i could remember but i'll keep your memory, you visit me in my sleep..my darling, who knew."
9. California - OC theme - "we've been on the run, driving in the sun, looking out for number one California here we come"
10. Break Stuff - Limp Bizkitt - "I hope you know I pack a chainsaw, I'll skin your a** raw and if my day keeps going this way I just break your f*cking face tonight"

10. Describe your perfect day.
September 6th 2006

*Today Barclee flies to BC to drive to California with Joanne for the roadtrip they've always dreamed of. Here's to some good times! :)

Friday, September 01, 2006

Flashback Friday: March 1982

The back of this photo has my Mom's writing on it and says:
Michelle March/82 - almost 4
playing detective in one of her many "dress-ups". Note the feet!

What you probably should actually notice are:
a) Very large cowboy on the television. What were we watching?
b) Gold carpet. I remember it being green though.
c) Furry brown blanket on the floor that all the siblings always rolled around on as babies.
d) My younger sister rolling around on said furry blanket.
e) My younger sister covered up by her blanket. Where's her head?
f) General hodgepodge of blankets on couch (the granny square one in yellow was one of my sister's "baby blankies", I had an identical one in green).
g) Sticker on my face. Maybe it was supposed to be a tatoo?
h) Pablum baby formula scoop in my mouth, which was of course the pipe that all good detectives need.
i) My tractor. I wish I still had it.
j) Touque. Essential for any good dress-up.
k) My crocheted faux ballerina slippers, in moss green, with yellow duck buttons. Technically you can barely see them because they're in the wooden shoes (logically), but they're there. Two Christmases ago I asked my Mom if she could please crochet me some new ones (in moss green, with duck buttons of course) but I have yet to see them.
l) Wooden shoes, from my great aunt, who went to Holland some time around then and brought them back for my older sister. I remember at some point in later years I found an old squishy tomato in one of them and I don't think I wore them too much after that.