Happy Halloween, Happy Pay Day and Happy Friday!

Triple whammy "Happy Day"! There is even more happy in Marta's World. I sold my old table, love my new one and I pick up the chairs I found already stained tomorrow! We (my mom and I) even got to pick out fabric! They have fabric remnants they get from the Woolen Mills that they include in the price. We will recover the chairs Sunday. There is even enough fabric to make a runner and some table cloths!

Ask and you shall Haul

I was on Stand by Sunday. I went to bed early Saturday night. It was not very hard as I was beat! I did manage to get three loads of laundry washed and one all the way dry before crashing. I have a dryer but not a washer. It is nice that the laundry room is on my floor.

Sunday I started out slow. I was going to go to my parents house to work on a project of my own and help them with a few things. I cruised through Craigs List to see if there were any DP dining sets. I found a table without chairs. I e-mailed right away but did not hear back. By 11am I called and caught them as they arrived home from church. We made arrangements to meet in an hour after I showered. I had to take work stuff with me in case I got called in. I had a lot of things to take over to my parents. I loaded the car up and set off.

The table was just what I have wanted. It was sturdy and in fantastic shape! I got a bargain on it too! I need to find chairs now but I have some ideas where to go. I'm one happy Marta. I need to sell the old table and chairs. I asked if I could put the old set in the community room while I try to sell it. The manager said that was no problem. I moved it all in there and cleaned it up before work. I even go the pics taken. I wrote the ad in my e-mail during lunch so when I get home I can post it! I love when good things happen and fall into place.

Nick scanned

Nick was not two yet when this was taken. We were at a Fourth of July picnic. He was being goofy on this play structure. I had been trying to get a photo of him for a bit. I asked him to let me take his picute so this is what I got. He was very silly.

Sun Light feels Nice

I have been pretty busy both at work and at home. Since I got wonderful Carly art I wanted the rest of the room to look better. I was typing an e-mail and calculated up my hours for the pay period. When I finish my shift tonight and tomorrow day I will have worked over 100 hours this 2 week pay period. Whoa.

I have been re-arranging the Living room a bit. I am slowly eliminating my Ikea furniture. Mostly I'm replacing my "starter" furniture and getting what I want. It's not ex Mother-in-law hand me down's or ex life partner's obsession with Ikea. I can pick the antique pieces that I enjoy. I want to get a Duncan Phyfe Dining room table and possibly buffet or side board.

Duncan Phyfe Furniture

A New York cabinetmaker, Duncan Phyfe (1795-1856) made fashionable furniture for the carriage trade of his day. His finest work was done from 1800 to 1820. Phyfe made much furniture, but not nearly as much as has been attributed to him. No one man could have possibly made that much.

There is no actual "Duncan Phyfe" in itself, although his fine interpretations of what was currently popular gave rise to the erroneous calling of all furniture done in those styles by his name.

The styles he did make were late Sheraton and Directoire. There was so much similarity and overlapping of styles during that time that it is simpler and less confusing to class these various designs together and call them Early Empire, as is often done.

A fine cabinetmaker, Phyfe's well-constructed, tastefully executed furniture declined in artistry as the later Empire styles became fashionable. His earlier pieces in Sheraton and Directoire styles were in much better taste.

I'm also going through stuff on the bookcases and eliminating things I don't want or need. I don't feel like I have to keep things anymore because I may not be able to get what I really want if I give it up. That is really a great feeling. I have kept paper backs I didn't want to read but held onto in case I had nothing else to read. It has been a long road but I am in the sunlight now.

Happy National Pharmacy Technician Day!

This is a photo I took on our last Urban hike. We mostly took pics of the cool building details on our way to the bank. The bank is not that far away but it took us over two hours to get there. We really had a lot of fun. I got some great photos that I really like. I'm going to get 5x7 prints and group them in my place. I have always loved the wonderful architecture of the neighborhood. Many of the apartment buildings have wonderful details. I grew up in an old Victorian in a neighborhood not far from here. They may not be photos to sell but mean something to me. I will post a few more. Let me know what you think.

Today is my day off and the only one this week. I picked up a sixth day to help out the same co-worker that I helped last week. She is going back to Seattle for the funeral. Saturday is a day shift. That will be all OT as it will be the sixth day. Sunday I am Stand By. I hope not to get called but I get paid $3.50 an hour for 24 hours. Time and a half does get addictive . . . . Only time and co-workers will tell.

Wil and I are off to do food shopping and whatnot.

I just got this e-card from the PTCB for National Pharmacy Technician Day

Click on the following link:

e-card

For your security, if you'd prefer not to click on links within this email:

1. Go to AmericanGreetings.com

2. Locate the eCard pickup link in the upper right-hand corner of the page

3. Enter the following code --> 4735446581379

Scanning is fun

We used to go to the Beach a lot. My in-laws had a house in Gerhart. While the crab pods hung off the 12th Street Bridge I would fish. Most of the others would sit in chairs and drink but I really like fishing. Unfortunately mostly I caught Bull Heads. I enjoyed myself. This was taken 1988 before we went to Stanford.

Torera

This is the bull fighter painting I want to get. It is called "Torera" Yes, another Carly Bodnar original. Go to her site and get some for yourself before I own it all!

My Lovelies

Here are the photographs of my wonderful art by Carly Bodnar. She does amazing work. The first is called "Appliance Apocalypse" Notice the three holes at the top? She painted this on a washer part that she ripped up when it stopped working. Cool.

The second one is called "Nazareno". The photos at the bottom were taken at the Nuestro Festival in Spain. Again the photos do not do these pieces justice but I had to share. I am very happy to be a Patron of the Arts. Carly is very talented.

I am currently at work pulling a double-back. That means I am working two shifts today/evening and then coming back tomorrow morning for another shift. I just did this Thursday into Friday but I wanted to help out. There was a death in the family of a co-worker. There are several people out using vacation time. That left me. At least I will be able to pay for my lovely art.

Well, I'm into the second shift. Feeling it but pressing on. (do I have a choice?) I'm hoping to leave around 10pm instead of 11:15 so I can get some sleep. I did take a nap in my car a lunch. That 40 mins did help.

More later

Fortunes rise

Today I came to work a bit tired after my two fun filled days off. It's hard to go to bed early after nights. There was already a sick call on "the board" for tonight. Guess who is working a double. It will be tough near the end but the good news is I am the packager again so I can come in a bit later tomorrow. That is going to help to make this do-able. Lets face it I want to pay for my lovely new art as quickly as possible as she is already tempting me with more! She has one that she did after a photo assignment watching a female bull fighter. It is very cool. Damn you, Carly!

We went to lunch after I picked out my pieces of art yesterday. While we were waiting for our food we were talking about selling, framing and enlargements of photographs. I'm very excited to start this adventure. I still have more questions but got started by using the site Carly suggested and getting some of the recent pictures enlarged. They should arrive Saturday or Monday. I will have a better idea what kind of frames to use after I see them. She also has photography she does as a biz too.


When we got to her house we changed the frame of the "Appliance Apocalypse" from silver to copper. I am really done with silver and stainless anywhere but the kitchen. Long ago in another lifetime I had a collection of unique copper pieces. Most of them were vintage. Decorative bowls, platters, assorted cups and boxes. They were left behind. I am slowly replacing the old collection with lovely new-to-me pieces.

This is an e-mail I got from a CSz Farm Team member. If you want to support the Arts this is another way.
Hello Friends,

This is a SPECIAL show because it is the 2008 FunRaiser!! It’s going to be Tournament style; which means that each team will totally change players at half time, so you’ll see much Farm Team talent! It’s like seeing 2 shows in 1! Really! That’s a whole lot of funny for just $5!!!

This SPECIAL Comedy Sportz Farm Team show, is this Sunday, October 19th, 7pm.

As always, I would love to share this fun evening with you (& yours!) and to have your support and laughs there!
Please bring your significant other, husband/wife, children, & friends!! The more the merry, truly!
Reminder, the show is family friendly!

SO, please come if you’d like, bring friends, join my husband, come for part, stay for all!


Thanks in advance!
See you Sunday!?!? PLEASE COME!!!!!!

Warmly,
Karin


DETAILS:
Below are the show details and directions.
Web address: http://www.portlandcomedy.com/shows/farmteam.html
Phone # (503) 236-8888.

Please remember to save your fortunes from fortune cookies for Carly. She has an art project in mind. Support the Arts.

Patron of the Arts

I had a great day. I got up and sorted the laundry after a cup of coffee. After I started the laundry I saw it was not windy so I prepared to finish the locker. I wanted to protect the cool paint job I did so I wanted to finish with a matte lacquer finish. I was meeting Carly at her place to look at the screen but also to view her other art. I had seen one piece I really liked and wanted to see again. I also saw another I had to have. That one called "Nazareno" They are both hanging on my wall as I type. Layaway but I own at the same time. I feel lucky. I will take pictures in the daylight. You can go to her site and see one I got. It's called "Appliance Apocalypse". My other lovely art is not even on her site. You will see.

Support the Arts, People! carly bodnar

Much to do about Me

I have not been writing much this last week as I have been busy! I worked a 90+ hour pay period that kept me guessing since some was evening and the rest days. I also have a few tasks in the works that keep me shuffling things in the apartment.

We had to give up one storage unit that had e-bay/craigs list and garage sale items in it. There was also a few seasonal boxes. I can probably fit them in the other storage with some work but the main concern was move it out before the manager cut the lock. We had to mark on our storage who it belonged to. My parents were going to have a sale this summer but things kept coming up. As I went through things in trying to organize the apartment I kept some things for a garage sale. Most has been dispersed but I still have a few boxes in the hall that leads to the bedrooms.

The other project has been spray painting the green Ikea locker. It was bought originally when I had the vending machine biz. I kept the cookies and candies locked up so they weren't consumed! When I moved to the Baker Apts. I still had the biz so that was fine. When we moved to our current place the Boys used it in their room. Now it is in the entry of the apartment and the color is not working for me. I chose a wonderful deep red as the main color to start. I wasn't going to do all over coverage. I wanted depth to the piece. The second coat was swirling the red and a hammered copper. The green got mostly covered but adds interest. I love the way it turned out! It took over two hours to finish! It was a calm day when I took it all down (by myself) to work on it in the parking lot. After I started the wind picked up a bit. I spent a lot of time standing around in the chill waiting to spray. There are cars in close proximity so . . . I finally got done. I just need to do the matte finish lacquer spray and done! Hopefully Monday or Tuesday so I can put things away.

In doing the spray paint stand - off I got the cold going around the Pharmacy. I cant afford to get sick so as soon as I got to work I consulted one of the Pharmacist to see if I could take cold ease with my blood thinner. She researched it and said it should be fine. I felt a lot worse yesterday. I'm better today and doing what I usually do when I am feeling sick. I slept in and took it easy today. I even took a nap before work. Still don't feel well but could be a lot worse.

The scanning project has been put on hold for a bit. I had to put the box of pictures away to make room for storage room stuff. I will have time to work on it this winter, I'm sure. Some of the pictures brought out wonderful memories forgotten.

Scan of Me and Pops

My Pop has always been a Snappy Dresser. The jacket was the hype of the 80's. We were on a ferry in Washington State on our way to a fancy Sunday Brunch. I think I was 18 in this photo. I remember we had a great brunch and Sunday drive.

Grams and the Kids

This was taken at the farm house we lived in when the boys were young. I had worked a flyer counting job so I could buy the kids a used play structure that my brother installed. They were showing it to Grams for the first time.

Lost Treasure!

I am sooooo excited right now! I am at work. (that is not the exciting part. I was on Stand By and got called in for the evening shift) I forgot my book so I was watching a podcast on my iPod. When it was over and I was getting ready to change to another episode I saw I had photos on my iPod. I clicked on it to see and there it was. ALL my missing photos that are trapped on my dead computer are on my iPod!!!!!!!!!! I thought I had lost 5 years of photos! I just need my friend to come over and fix my iPod to be interactive on my laptop. I can charge my iPod but not send or recieve things. I am SOOO f'ing excited!

Scan o the Day (run in the hood)

This is the neighborhood I grew up in. I am almost to our house. You can see the columns of the porch next door. I'm not sure why my mom took this pic.

The house on the hill behind me was the lawn my oldest brother Mike used to mow. It does not look like much in this picture but it was a couple of stories tall. My brother bought a gas lawn mower. He then took lots of ropes, pulleys and bolts and built a special mower for the job. He got hired by most of that block to do the front lawn.

We also used to combine our hot wheels tracks down the hill and race. Okay, we did not think that one through since the hot wheel would be destroyed after going down the hill and hitting the asphalt of the street. It was still fun.

I think I'm 18 or 19 in the pic. Running was my passion at the time. My mom liked how my hair swung when I ran.

Sanning is Memories (today's scan is . . )

This is a picture taken at the beach. It was cousin Sarah's Birthday. Grammy got candy necklaces for all the older kids at the party but not Nick. She thought he would choke or ? He did not understand why he did not get one too! Wil was extremely distracted by the present Sarah was unwrapping. Wil was used to his brother hanging on him and generally bugging him so he did not even realize Nick was stealing his candy! My mom loved this photo so much painted this picture for me. My ex kept it along with many other things. Another story another time.

I am enjoying posting these photos and remembering about them. I hope you are enjoying the glimse into the Diva's past.

The scan of the day is . . . .

A photo I took in 1987. This is coming toward sundown. We took the dogs for a final romp of the day at the beach. The lighter colored Golden was my puppy. Sammy is what I called her but her official name was Secret Agent Mutt. When we left for Stanford for John to go into the Education Program I had to give her up. It was heart breaking for me. We really bonded.I actually sat on the kitchen floor and cried so hard I thought I would throw up.

The other dog is Lucy. She was John's dog that his mom bought for him when he was in college. He had nothing to do with the sale. She was really Marty's dog but when we got a house she became ours. In hind sight John didn't really like dogs. He was around them his whole life but never really cared for them.

Marty was so impressed with another photo I took at the same time she got it enlarged and framed for John's birthday. It is a better color photo with reflections in the wet sand but John is in it.

More Scanning

My niece Katie at 11 months old enjoying the family label.

You coulda had Me

Recently an old boyfriend popped back into my thoughts. Tom was my first serious boyfriend my Junior year in high school.


The weird thing is he wasn't the one I call my "First Love". I'm not sure why that is. He was an amazing guy. He was creative, had a great attitude and marvelous natural manners. The reason I suddenly remembered him was while watching an episode of "Scrubs" with Wil. The characters in the show were remembering kisses and kissers that turned them to jelly. The "kisser" that came instantly to my mind was Tom. He never pushed to get in my pants. In fact that wasn't even a factor. His kisses were the best I've ever had. His kisses turned me to jelly. It's hard to explain but Tom's kisses just took me out of this world. They were soft, slow and deep. I think the thing is while we were really into each other it was innocent. It never was meant to be sexual. That is why the kisses were so heady. We weren't trying to get to the next level. The kisses and how they made us feel were all we cared about. The innocence of the 70's.



While we did keep PDA's at school to a minim when we were away from school we were very cuddly but not in a typical gropy teenage way. He had a very reassuring presence and touch and very attentive but not smothering. He was thoughtful and kind and a great smile. Geez, I'm getting turned on thinking about it! I have to believe he is a fabulous lover.I would sure like to find out.

Things that turn me on and capture my attention are a great smile that goes to the eyes, hands (Tom had very nice strong {sexy} hands) voice, (esp whispering) honesty and a sense of humor. I am a chest, leg/thigh/butt gal. He had it going for him. Why didn't I lose my virginity to him? Beats me cause with all that and those kisses he could have me anytime. I went weak in the knees and blank headed. Amazing what you can remember after so many years.

I also remember that we didn't go on typical teen dates yet we had a great time. The only fight I really remember us having is how we would get to the Prom. It was held (nostalgia) on the Portland State Campus were our High School was originally located. I had a Drivers License but he did not. He wanted to pick me up vs the other way around. I was a Women's Libber but he was almost old fashion in his thinking on this point. In the end he and his brother came to my house to pick me up. We went back to his house for pictures and "drinks" with his parents then a limo. Classy guy.

I actually would like to find Tom now to see how he turned out. I have not had any luck but I am not good at this kind of thing. . I saw his Brother about 6 years ago and he said Tom lived in Portland. I'm curious. Any ideas?

So Pleased with Me!

I finally figured out how to scan pictures into my laptop! I knew how on my old PC using my printer and a USB cord but it didn't work the same on this laptop. Deeg was going to come over and help me but as usual he was late, time was short and he had to go do something else. Don't get me wrong - we had good times on our urban hike and project but ran out of time. Anyway, I did it! Be prepared to see more of a Diva's life than the average person can stand!

This is Diva's First Christmas. I was 4 1/2 months old. How cute but where is the Tiara?