Vacation Ending?

Everything happens for a reason, right?  I found out today that I didn't get the job I thought I wanted.  Maybe I didn't really want it after all.  As I sat through the gruelling interview with six different team leaders, all from various departments, I did have a slight inkling that it wasn't for me.  I liked the people in the room but wondered if I really had what they were searching for.  One gal in particular seemed to come at me full force and it was at that precise moment that I decided it wasn't meant to be.

I would have taken the job had they offered it to me but would I really have been happy?  Maybe not.  I think there are other positions in the company I would have preferred and hopefully, if it's meant to be, they'll realize I am a better fit for those and it will come to be.

Maybe they didn't like that I pointed out that the link in their website career page did not point back to the page it said it would.  I dunno......

Anyhow, I might be starting my new contract position or not tomorrow morning with another company.  The recruiter called today to say I would start today but the email she sent later in the day said my first day is next Monday.  Confused??  Me too!  I'm fine if I start next Monday - I've got plenty of stitching to do before my niece's bridal shower on Sunday and could use a few more days of 'vacation'.

New Phone

I was having problems with the Samsung Galaxy S III that I got back in August at Costco.  I tried getting it 'adjusted' at the store on Saturday and finally gave up on it Sunday.  The keyboard kept crapping out on me and it was making me nuts!

So thank goodness I was able to find my receipt, box, etc. and I hauled it all over to the store and got a replacement.  Unfortunately I lost all of my calendar entries except for birthdays.  Darn, darn, darn.  At least the keyboard is functioning properly, so far, and I'm no longer yelling at my phone!  Now I have to reload my apps and ringtones.  It's hard to remember all that I had.  At least when I was getting a new computer at work I would take a screenshot of the desktop and programs pages so I would be able to remember!  And no, I didn't have the kind of backup software on my phone to help with that.  But now I do!!

The winds are howling tonight -- hoping all my family and friends are safe in the path of Hurricane Sandy.......

Is it me??

I'm telling you one thing, this looking for a job stuff is very labor intensive!  Who knew??!!  At the risk of sounding like a braggart I can hardly keep track of all the emails and phone calls.  I must have the kind of résumé that people are looking for right now.

Aside from Quicken Loans, all of the potential jobs are coming to me from staffing agencies/recruiters/job boards.  Unfortunately some of the same jobs are coming to me from different sources.  It's like some sort of game, like Concentration - trying to remember who said what and which descriptions sound remarkably similar.

While running errands today I got a call from the agency that is placing me at Ally Financial next week for a four month assignment.  They said they needed my W2 forms from 2005-2010 before I could start on Monday.  MONDAY???? I said.  I'm supposed to start on 11/1.  Oh, she said, the contract said on or about 11/1.  Hmmmmmm.  They had asked when I wanted to start and I said 11/1 -- what's so complicated about that?

After a little go-round, I told them the earliest I could start would be 10/31, but I'd prefer 11/1.  I've got things lined up to do every day until then.  Jeez.  I've got an in-person interview with Quicken Loans on Tuesday -- keep your fingers crossed that I like them and they like me.

All this stress is leading to one thing:

Nothing like a delicious treat to cure what ails ya!  Oh, and maybe a glass of good Ripasso to down it with!

St. Anthony......

....please help me!!  I have misplaced several items and need help finding them ASAP!  Please send out a prayer to St. Anthony that these items show up tomorrow!!

1. Receipt for cell phone

2. Finished quilt top for niece

3. My mind!

Thank you.

UPDATE:  I said a prayer and boom -- I found the quilt top, border fabric, backing fabric, and binding fabric -- YEAH!!!.  Now I just need to find the other items.  At least I will be able to sleep a bit better.

I have a difficult decision to make tomorrow and need some warm thoughts about that too, if you're so inclined.

P.S. -- Found my phone receipt and now I just have to find my mind!

Keep on Keepin' On

I'm still searching for a new job even though I've been offered a contract position that should last 4 months.  It could go longer but since there are no benefits and it's not permanent, I'm keeping my options open.  Once I sort through the 2 dozen forms I need to complete and send back on Monday, I need to schedule my drug test.  I've never taken a drug test before.  Back in 1984 when I hired in with MetLife it wasn't even dreamed of.

Tomorrow I'm getting together with my Chicken friends to make charity quilts.  We're following the Jelly Roll Race technique as demonstrated so well by the Missouri Star Quilt Company.

It will a lot of fun and we hope to be very productive!

Gyleen's Workshops

Friday's workshop got off to a bumpy start when I realized I had forgotten to bring the ironing boards, irons, extension cords, and power strips -- yikes!  Thank goodness Joyce thought to call Diane who was on her way and able to swing by the church where they were stored and haul them over to the church where the workshop was being held.  I was so grateful!!!

Gyleen's workshops were well attended and everyone learned so much while enjoying themselves at the same time. 

Gyleen's Pineapple Tool really helped make the blocks, as demonstrated by our guild president Sandy:

Gitta and Joyce were among the hard-workers putting together their pineapple blocks:

As you can see, piles of scraps were the name of the game for Friday's Trash to Treasure Pineapple workshop:

The blocks that everyone made were so wonderful:

Our enjoyable day was topped off by a delicious dinner at a nearby new-to-me restaurant, 'The Hills City Grille'.  Pumpkin Pie Martinis were the drink of the day -- woohoo!

Saturday's workshop, which I actually participated in, was 'The Quilt of the Century' and used primarily 6 1/2" squares combined with 3" squares to make a fabulous design.  I didn't take as many pictures because I was too busy cutting and sewing!

Fran's auditioning pile:

Sue got pretty far on her quilt top:

Fran and Jo brought their portable tables, which work great because you can adjust the height and face each other!

This is as far as I got with my quilt top.  I have a long way to go to finish it but I really enjoyed learning the Butterfly seaming technique and will complete it and use it to make another quilt - black, white, and red next time.

Too Darn Busy!

I wish I could take the time to tell you everything that's been going on over the last several days but it would make your head spin!!  Between the Guild, my Mom and her crazy phones, job searching -- I'm completely swamped!

I have an interview tomorrow morning for a job I probably don't want.  I'm waiting to hear back on a couple of jobs I DO want.  Running to the post office to return some speaker materials tomorrow too.  Then there's the matter of having paid for someone else's lunches at Café Muse last Thursday -- ARGHH!

Hopefully I can catch my breath after tomorrow's interview and get my blog caught up too!  

I've loaded the company's address into my Sync, printed off copies of my résumé and the job posting, and now I'm off to bed!

Workshop Today!

I'm off to class with Gyleen Fitzgerald today to learn how to do the Butterfly Seam, aka the dreaded Y seam.  I'll have pictures and details for you later.  I'm taking my Featherweight out for the first time.  Woohoo!

Gyleen is Coming Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is our monthly meeting for the Great Lakes Heritage Quilters.  I'm in charge of programs this year and I'm soooooo busy.  I'm picking up our speaker at the airport tomorrow morning after I drop off five bags of wool yarn to an organization that makes items for homeless people.

Gyleen Fitzgerald is a wonderful quilter/teacher and I'm looking forward to hearing her speak and taking her workshop on Saturday.  She's also teaching on Friday and I have openings for both days so let me know if you'd like to join in the fun.

All the details of the lecture and workshops can be found on the guild's website, www.glhq.org.  I'd love to see you there!

Friday morning I have a phone interview for a position with Ally Financial -- wish me luck!

Time for a Change

Today I did something I don't usually do until my roommate nags me enough.  I purchased a new furnace filter.  I know, big deal!  It's the sort of thing I just never think about and then when I change it -- ewwwww!  My air cleaner takes the large 16" x 25" x 4" filters.  I'm always forgetting which size it is so today I put it on my smartphone so there are no excuses going forward!  

Here's the old one.  Guess it DID need replacing after all:

Close up:

Brand spanking new filter:

You can tell the difference, right?!

So let that be a lesson to you -- if you've just turned your heat on, like me, get yourself a new filter!

Great Day

A while back I decided that I could no longer enjoy my hobby of rug hooking due to the damage to my thumbs and forefingers.  Both appendages are essential for proper wool strip manipulation and I couldn't envision ever being able to do that craft again.

Yesterday I sorted out my frames, tools, patterns, wool cutter, and wool yardage and today I packed it into my car.  My friend Kris over at Spruce Ridge Studios had messaged me on Facebook that she might be interested in taking it off my hands.  Kris is an extremely talented rug hooker and fabric dyer and has a thriving business, teaching and vending all over the country.

So with my packed Focus and my friend Sue, I headed out to Kris's home in Howell.  After unloading my goods, Kris introduced us to her critters and we had a chance to take a few pictures.

She's got some beautiful Angora goats....

They love to eat the pine needles from the nearby tree -- a real treat for them!

Kris took virtually everything I brought off my hands -- so very thankful!  I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me.  I just knew I was never going to hook rugs again and felt bad about storing all of my supplies.  I'm sure they will find a good home through Kris.  She knows a lot of ruggers and I know someone else will be able to put the supplies to good use.

This worked out very well for me too, because yesterday I bought a new kitchen table at the Birmingham Farmers' Market:

It doesn't look new does it??  It's re-purposed barn wood furniture made by Larry Hall in Hartland, MI.  I've been wanting to get new furniture, specifically furniture made in the USA and I hit the jackpot here since it also appeals to my recycling side.  Larry explained that he tore down the barn, removed the nails and then pieced the furniture using the old-fashioned mortise and tenon method.  I positively love it!

Believe it or not (those who know me will believe it!) this was the first time I had sat down to dinner at the dining table in YEARS!  Clutter has ruled my life but I'm slowly mastering the art of de-cluttering and I feel so much better.  It has certainly been a challenge for me and I'm working at taking emotion out of the equation and trying hard to reduce my irrational ties to things.  I'm getting there!

African American Quilt Show

Yesterday I attended the Great Lakes African American Quilters Network show in Livonia with my Chicken friend Mary.  I think Mary was looking for a diversion from homework from her college courses and I was looking for an excuse not to cut out the wide border for my niece Erica's quilt.  The show continues through 4:30 pm today so head out there if you live in the Detroit area!

There were many decorated doors like the one below, which were also for sale:

I loved these pieces of furniture:

When I first looked at this quilt I saw chalices.  Duh, they're dresses for the 32 members of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

The peacock in the wall hanging below was full of beading but my close up picture was terrible so you'll have to take my word for it that they were there!

This photo quilt was the result of another Aniko Feher workshop.  It was the artist's first attempt - isn't it wonderful?!

This unique crazy patch quilt was made from flannel!

I knew the history of Malcom X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Harriet Tubman but I have to admit, neither Mary nor I could recall Ida B. Wells.  So I did what most people do - I Googled her!  Read more about her on Wikipedia.

Marcia Derse was vending at this show -- I'm beginning to feel like a stalker!  I wore my new quilted jacket and she was floored!  She couldn't believe I had made it so quickly after just buying the fabric the previous Friday when I saw her at the American Sewing Expo in Novi.  Hmmm, maybe I need to start making samples for her????

Fun Times

Yesterday I picked up my Chicken friend Sue and surprised her with an eastside roadtrip.  We headed to the Side Street Diner and had a delightful lunch.  We did some window shopping afterwards.  As we headed down the sidewalk we could smell pipe smoke long before we caught sight of the smoker:

Notice the mint colored trousers?  Yep, we did too.  Striped shirt, suit coat - love the top-sider shoes too.  What's going on in Grosse Pointe?  Since when did they start wearing socks with their shoes???

We stopped at Chico's where we both found something to buy.  I also spotted this pin with an interesting warning:

WOW!  Sue bought a similar pin -- thank goodness she doesn't have a pacemaker!!

Here are few more photos from our visit:

A beautiful archway with a clock over Kercheval Road:

Here's an interesting sign with the hours for the diner:

What do you suppose happens at 8:00 pm on Fridays????

Tonight I popped open a new bottle of wine.  Notice the Braille on the label?????

Without a doubt, I've never seen that before on a label.