Handy Website

Today I discovered another helpful website courtesy of Worldstart.com.  It's called Driving Route Planner.com and it helps you map out a route when you have multiple errands or destinations.  You begin by entering your start and finish locations.  Many times that will be the same spot, like home.  Then you add the stops on your route, choose fastest, shortest, etc. and it gives you the route you need to take.  This can be loaded to your GPS and off you go!  I think this is something Kevin could really use when he's planning appointments with prospective customers.  Could also be useful for planning shop hops or journeys to Torch Lake or Chicago or....

Off to Guild

I'm off to my quilt guild meeting tonight so I've got a quick post.

You might have noticed something new in my right sidebar.  If you're a fan of Jane Austen then you'll enjoy taking the quick test to find out which female character you're most like.  As you can see, I am Elizabeth Bennet, one of my favorites.

The other new thing in my left sidebar is a recipe website that is full of great ideas.  It's called Recipe Gold Mine -- for a very good reason.  Just looking at the items on their home page makes my mouth water.  Enjoy!!

More Produce

Yesterday's delivery from Door to Door Organics included some things I don't normally buy.

I can't tell you the last time I bought a Butternut Squash.  What the heck is Rapini or a Pinova Apple or a Concorde Pear?  I'll just have to investigate on the web and find a good way to use everything up.

Having fresh produce dropped on your porch is the easiest way to make eating healthy a habit.

Fussing for nothing

Yesterday I was fussing and fretting about a payroll export file that just wouldn't get picked up on the FTP site (sorry if I'm losing you here -- hang on, I promise).  I was having a meltdown.  Nearly in tears when I called someone for help. I kept thinking it was something I had done wrong.  Maybe I messed up the layout, didn't use the right naming convention, or some other stupid mistake.

NOT!  It wasn't me at all.  I tossed and turned last night for nothing.  Apparently the problem was on the tech side, not me.  When I got in to the office today I had a total of 21 fail messages before the file finally got picked up, nearly 12 hours after I had placed it on the FTP site.

There was some vindication involved here but never an explanation from the tech people so I may never know what was the cause of my consternation.

All's well that ends well....

Messed Up

How many different things can be messed up at the same time?  My new Vizio TV won't work, my newly replaced windshield is whistling Dixie while the stripping whacks the roof of the car, and I created an export file that just wouldn't go today at work.  Ugh.

The Vizio people will have to come to the house to fix the TV, the Belle Tire windshield guy will have to come to the office tomorrow to fix my car, and I will spend countless hours tomorrow figuring out just exactly which data field is wrong on the export file.  

Ugh.

On the positive side, I've found two good Spanish wines from Trader Joe's:

I had to buy the Syrah with the chicken on the label and the Tempranillo/Garnacha with the zebra on its label was too crazy looking to pass up.

Absolutely no blood was lost in the creation of this felted and beaded flower, even if I was listening to Kevin talk to the Costco customer service agent about the crazy ass TV while I worked on it.  Ah-hem.

It's hard to hold the hat on one hand and try to photograph it with the other.  I'm shocked you would suggest that I might have tested that wine a bit too thoroughly.  I wouldn't want to serve something less than stellar to my stitch group next week................

Too Cute

After a hectic but relatively successful week I picked up my Mom and drove out to see Holly & Mike and their puppies.  Everyone was doing fine and 8 of the 13 puppies will have a home, so far.  Two different couples came out to pick out 'their puppy' while we were there.  

Aren't they just precious??  Sure wish I could find peaceful moments like that.................

Busy, Busy Day

I knew I put a lot on my plate for today.  I got a lot of things done but still have a bunch of things to do on my 'to do' list.

My windshield wipers are working fine after starting the day at Belle Tire.  From there I went to Costco to get gas for the Montana.  Good thing I was there early -- the price was only $2.83/gallon where it was over $3/gallon every where else.

I picked up a new super-duper telescoping snow brush while I was there, plus sweets for tomorrow, beer, a ham, some insulated cooler bags, and a small flat panel TV (giving Kevin the old one so I don't have to listen to him smack his when it acts up).  Together we got the TV running but needed help from Costco support as well at AT&T and VIZIO eventually.  It looks great but it's about 1/2" too wide for my entertainment center so it's on an angle. No, I didn't even consider buying a new entertainment center -- I know how one purchase can snowball into a bunch more!

I dropped off some more EBay sales at the Post Office, deposited checks in the bank for the quilt guild, stopped at Right off the Sheep to see the gals and look for some yarn (NO COMMENTS!), and finally went to the fire department to pick up the extra key to the Montana.  As luck would have it, I was walking up to the fire hall when a truck left on a run, with the fireman I was supposed to see on it.  I got my key anyway and came home.

I made the ham today along with some vegetables and I'll take a plate to my Mom for her to have one day this week.  Tomorrow I'm heading out to see her and take her out to Holly & Mike's to see their puppies and wish Mike an early Happy Birthday.

I put a lot more yarn for sale today on my Ravelry stash page.  If you're on Ravelry check it out.

It's a good thing we get an extra hour of sleep tonight -- I need it!