Finally, though,I’ve had a weekend during which I really accomplished something . . . more precisely, more then one “something”! Trimmed my e-mail down from 100+ to 4 by actually reading, responding and/or copying and filing recipes, patterns for miniatures, etc. Accomplished the two-week food shopping with Tom’s help. Gave all the plants a cleanup and hearty drink (still need to feed them!), and even managed to spend a productive period up in my “Tower” workroom! I didn’t create any masterpieces, but it was extremely satisfying to convert three long-stored kits into finished miniatures and solve a visibility problem within my newly remodeled Cabbages & Kings antique shop! I hope this trend lasts a while - I’ve sooo many projects I want to complete!

I spent ten hours at the TCEA convention today; most of them on my feet searching for misplaced awards envelopes, tracking down missing speakers (”His session starts in 25 minutes!!”), magically producing tape, scissors and whatever else was needed, decorating for the evening banquet - - - -the typical activities of a seasoned & unpaid volunteer. I am footsore and weary, but expected that and enjoyed seeing old team-mates. Meant to depart directly after the banquet, but members of the Board urged me to stay for the awards ceremony - “We need the seats to be filled” Well, yeah - been here, done this, valid point - but I should have smelled a conspiracy! Ready to clap enthusiastically for the next award winner, I hear my name announced. Huh?! I now have a “suitable for framing” certificate of The Volunteer Who Never Says NO award! LOL - my fellow Community Educators are a sneaky lot!

Arrived home at 8:30 PM and delivered Tom III to the Sleep Center at 9:30PM for a follow-up test on his CPAP device. I am now seriously tired, but reviewed my e-mail and replied to about 25 messages that shouldn’t wait and prioritized an additional 200 messages for attention tomorrow. OK - Really should sleep now, but should read the news-of-the-day to find out what was happening outside my isolated melieu today. You can see where this is going: it is 12:59 PM, I am still awake, and the alarm will ring at 5:30AM so that I can pick Tom up at the Sleep Center at 6:30AM! 5:30AM is going to hurt!
G’nite, all!

Today definitely did not start out in my “Fun” column; I do not enjoy hearing an alarm clock sound off at 5 AM , knowing it is hollering at me. . . . . .even my cats do not bother to interrupt their slumber to keep company with me at that early hour! Actually, that feline disdain worked to my advantage. . . they weren’t underfoot as I stumbled through the transition from stiff, sore and groggy semi-human to acceptably groomed and lucid registrar of the 2010 Texas Community Education Association convention.
Yes, I retired several years ago, but that doesn’t protect me from being volunteered or drafted for such duties. Quite the opposite; since no one has to worry about salary or comp time, I’m a (hehe) valuable asset:) Early alarm clock aside, I truly enjoy being back in my old milieu and greeting newbies, vendors and the dedicated people I was privileged to work with for 17 years! Tomorrow will be more fun, more work and the South Central Texas version of a Hawaiian luau - a scary concept!

There is only one miniatures shop in San Antonio, and I will not shop there, ever! Since I was fired-up to start creating my new office now/immediately/this very minute, I turned to an alternate possibility for the wallpaper I needed; my local scrapbooking shop! A long-retired room box from my storage closet was pressed into service - by dinner time, the old & discolored wallpaper was stripped, fresh new paper installed and a new carpet measured and installed. A dining table with two wobbly legs and a very dull finish was re-glued and wearing a warm new wood stain, ready to become my workbench. A seriously red-hued mahogany wall cabinet was wearing a fresh coat of pale spring green paint, and I had a large basket full of possible furniture, nick-knacks, throw rugs, fur-kids and craft supplies (all in one-twelfth scale) was waiting for glues and paints to dry. Oh, yes - dragons aplenty were waiting for a shelf, table or a corner to claim also!

Tomorrow, after everything is dry, I will begin creating a properly messy and disorderly office/studio. Let the fun begin!

As a newly-minted member of the “ancient & honorable” order of GSOLFOT, I’ve been mulling over what title and duties I wanted (should I be so fortunate as to be granted either a title or an office in the virtual -castle). Today, my title request was granted, with an acceptable alteration. I’d held a feeble hope that I could be a Princess (every ‘little’ girl’s dream - LOL!), but there’s no room for more royalty. Fair enough - I am now, officially, Contessa of Useful Bits, Bobs & Specks and Protector of Roof Runners! No, I am not kidding. Yes, I am off my rocker. Having a glorious time, thank you!

Hardly able to wander from room to room, I pulled my remaining wits together and attempted to write four separate application letters, each laced with the appropriate amount of irreverence, jocularity and basic facts about myself to secure the coveted membership. It worked - I am now a “Sockee”!
makes no sense? Well, we Sockees often do not attempt to:) Have a fun ramble around the website, and you’ll understand even less! LOL!!!

http://www.gsolfot.com

It’s not the podiatrist’s fault. When years of Rheumatoid Arthritis had dislocated my toes and set them all at weird angles that shoes could no longer encase without severe pain, I sought her out. She was the daughter of a trusted physician, newly set up in practice with her surgery-schooled husband. I received sympathy, custom orthotics to ease my stride (which they didn’t) and, eventually, braces attached to both shoes with knee-cuffs to minimise my spectacular falls (which they did). Pain and mobility were still issues, however, so I kept pushing the young pair for a better fix. At my last visit to their office, I was told that the only solution was “drastic surgery” that “shouldn’t be considered until I was older”. That made little sense to me at the time (it was 2004 or 2005); if it was drastic surgery, shouldn’t we do it when I was younger and better able to recover? They wouldn’t answer that, so I didn’t visit them anymore!

My new feet (the result of bilateral amputation of all ten toes) occurred due to a happy coincidence in July of 2008; I broke the little toe on my right foot (no big deal) and attended an already scheduled appointment with our family physician (who thought it was a huge deal). Due to medical delays (documented in earlier blogs), I didn’t have the “drastic surgery” alluded to in 2004-05 until October 2008. The change in mobility, in balance, in quality-of-life has been so marked that I keep getting a wicked urge to go startle a couple of doctors into a different mind-set! Have they already learned, do you suppose? Somehow, I doubt it!

PS - The forecast for tomorrow night is 18 degrees. This is freakin’ nuts!

I realize parts of the Midwest are experiencing -52 degree weather (and massive snow drifts) - I shouldn’t complain, but this is So. Central Texas (land of several-weeks-over-100 degrees) and our bodies and winter wardrobes just aren’t geared for this frigid blast!

O.K.- through with the weather-whine. . .off my soap box Besides, I have to go swaddle some more plants!

“2010″ - even when I adjusted to entering the 21st century, 2010 seemed somewhat futuristic! It simply sounds like homes a la The Jetsons should have somehow proliferated by now, hydroponic gardens should be the norm in middle-class dwellings and our fuels (and fuel consumption) should be vastly different! Well, of course, none of the above has happened:)

Truth be told, a streamlined house-of-the-future would not be sympathetic to my (or DH’s) collecting-and-creating urges. There are some single-family hydroponic gardening systems available now, but they require a lot of space and our somewhat-new (added 2008) greenhouse is doing quite well at assuring a ready supply of fresh Greek oregano, chives and parsley through the winter, with space left over for my decorative potted plants. Fuel changes? Well, there seems to be more attention being paid to alternative fuels, at least. For now, daughter’s Ford Escape Hybrid and son-in-law’s bicycle commute days remain the family contribution to reducing toxic emissions. Given the current condition of the economy, I’m not willing to take on a new car payment, nor am I willing to give up The Lady - my ‘97 Camaro.

My wishes for all for this new year: good (or improved) health for all, a secure financial base and joy in the daily events, both large and small.

Where did I go wrong? Well, it seems I never received a renewal notice for my driver’s license! Although it is frequently requested as ID, no one has noticed nor commented on its expired status. Personally, I have better things to do with my time than read my driver’s license and attempt to ignore the typically hideous photo All of the above contributed to this morning’s little comedy. UPS lady, “Do you realize you license has expired?” Me “Oh no, I’ve been barreling around since January 12th with an expired license?! UPS lady, “Um, yes. Since January 12th of 2008!!! Oh Good Grief!

Tomorrow, despite the forecast of severe thunderstorms, you will find me sitting, waiting, reading my Kindle and ( after a suitably penitent length of time) trying to explain to the DPS (Department of Public Safety) clerk just how this happened. LOL - I can’t!

Everything’s under control? Apparently not!