Long Week!!!

Started the week off with a trip 2 hours down I-10. Worked a convention for 2 days at a casino. It was fun. The co-worker I was with is a very good friend and we hung out at the bar and casino afterwards and had some drinks and laughs!!!



At the Jack Daniels Bar enjoying some nachos after a long day!



First, Jenny lost her money.



Then I lost my money.



Then my 2 hour drive home turned into a 4 1/2 hour detour through little town Louisiana! An 18 wheeler overturned on the interstate, closing it in both directions! What did people do before cell phones? I got off at the first exit I could, pulled up google maps and began driving. I had a detour route to take, the problem was the traffic wasn't moving towards that detour. So I made my own detour to get to the detour. At least I kept moving! Even saw a rainbow.

Then it was 3 days in the office playing catch up. I have a convention in 3 weeks and I am so far behind!!! I spent those 3 days glued to the computer, barely coming up for air!!

Dark Shadows

Dark Shadows opened this weekend. Yes, I just had to go see it!!! Love Johnny Depp! And I think he and Tim Burton make great movies. The movie was good. Not as corny as I thought it would be. Definitely not dark enough for my taste. And to be honest, I didn't like the ending. But I didn't feel like I wasted my time or money!!!

50 Shades of Grey

I've been getting questions about the book 50 Shades of Grey. Yes, I have read it. Read the entire trilogy. I was curious about it after seeing an article in People magazine about the book and then several other news sites. I wanted to know what the big deal was. There was no big deal. At least I didn't think so. In a nutshell, it is about sex. A dominant and his subordinate. I didn't really care for it. I read it, I'll probably never read it again. But if you are interested in that kinky sex stuff, let me recommend the Sleeping Beauty series by Anne Rice. It is much better written and an actual story. Or Exit to Eden is a good choice too. Also written by Anne Rice.

Other Stuff

I am still in the hunt for the 20 pounds lost. I hope to obtain that goal by the end of the month. That one wish is within my control. I hope by working hard I can accomplish it because honestly my birthday is not turning out the way I wanted it.

I've been doing some spring cleaning, finally, around the apartment. Finally feeling like I'm in control at home!!! The mess was out of control!! Duke's toys were absolutely spread out everywhere!! But I feel that now I can finally have friends over again without being embarrassed! And now, I have more free time to have fun!

Because I was so industrious with my cleaning, I have been able to sit down and do some stitching.  I've made great progress on Dragon Knot.  I cannot wait to get this one done!!! It has been around for almost 5 years!  Time to be completed.

I am looking forward to the coming week.  Lots of work to be completed at work but also lots to be looking forward to starting next weekend! I hope everyone has a great week!

Working at Convention

So, I am sitting here at the registration desk of the convention.  It is getting near the end of day 2. So far so good.  I've learned two things: 1) librarians are NOT quiet and 2) paint stirring sticks are used as placeholders for books in shelves. 

The convention started on Wednesday, and hopefully not jinxing myself, has been pretty easy.  Monday and Tuesday was a little doubtful as we were putting together materials for the convention.  It took 5 of us working 8 hours a day to get it all done.  That is a total of 80 man hours. We were exhausted. 

Today I am working 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Same for tomorrow.  Most of it is just sitting in front of a computer putting in new registrants and making badges but it is exhausting.  Especially the part of being nice to all these different people.  That is quite a chore for me especially when I do not know someone.  I tend to clam up when presented with new people.  And plus, I'm just generally a very cranky person when I am tired and stressed out!!! Hmmm, I promise that I am not cranky ALL the time.  I do laugh and smile!!!

Only one more day left of convention.  I will hopefully be back in the office on Monday, focusing on my work.  There is another convention next week, my office mate's convention, but I'll just be helping with the putting together of materials and not actually attending the meeting to work it! 

Unfortunately this convention has cut into my stitching time.  Not that I haven't had time in the evening, just that I am so tired that my eyes cross at the sight of 25 count fabric!!!!

I am ready for 6 pm Friday to roll around!  I am looking forward to sleeping, stitching, and gardening this weekend!!!!

Whew!

Ok, so the "big" meeting today turned out to be NOTHING! A week of worrying for nothing! It was basically a pep talk. "We appreciate your working here." "These are the plans we have for the future." "Even though you aren't with us at the main office, we still care." It was FIFTEEN minutes long. That was it!

On other news, I am off to Houston tomorrow to see my niece and nephew! I cannot wait. It's been exactly a year, I think, since I last saw them. I will also be meeting the newest addition to the family! I hope to come back with lots of pics to share! I also plan on making a trip to 3 Stitches, LNS in Spring, Texas! I hope to get some good stuff to share!

No finishes or updates to report. I've had a lot going on personally and did not spend that much time stitching. I know, shame on me!!!! But I hope that once I get back from Houston I can get some progress made!

Cantankerous

Did I spell that correctly? Cantankerous? Yep, I sure did. I looked it up on Dictionary.com. The definition: Ill-tempered and quarrelsome; disagreeable. That would sum me up! That is how I've been acting these days. And who has had the brunt of it? My family and my sailor.

Work is kicking my butt these days. Not getting what I want, to see my sailor, is frustrating me to no end. And this cold weather? Well, what can one say about it other than it needs to end! I've run out of sweaters to wear we've had so many cold days in a row now! I live in the South! I don't have that many sweaters!

Stress + lousy sinuses + hormones = Cantankerous! I have been needy, whiny, brattish, spoiled, completely despicable. It's like I know I'm being that way, but I can't stop. And when I do, the damage is done and there is nothing you can do to take it back. My sailor calls it the "Mel Factor". Yes, isn't that sad? He's named it.

So, I am taking this opportunity to apologize. I'm sorry. I'm working on it! I promise!

On a happier note: Tomorrow is Friday! Yay! As long as my car starts (it's been giving me problems) I will go to work, put in my 8 hours and then head home for a relaxing weekend because the next week I will probably have to be putting in some major overtime to get ready for my convention.

Last night my friend Chris came over and we watched Singin' in the Rain. I'd never seen it before and that is the next production he is working on at the theatre where he is employed. He does set design and wanted to refresh his memory. It was a cute movie. Gene Kelly. Debbie Reynolds. Very bright colors. Not a lot of story but I loved the dancing in it! And they do have some very memorable songs in it!

Did anyone catch Nip/Tuck the other night? Can you believe that Christian and Lizzie did the deed? And how did she not know he was awake? I dislike saying this, but he does deserve everything he is going through for what he has done to others! The writers definitely write you to dislike this man! For as zany, crazy, whacky this show is, I can't stop watching it! It's like when you pass a car accident. You just have to stop and look!