Feeling more like Diva again

As I walked to my break (at work) today I was feeling more like myself than I have in awhile. My legs feel strong, I have more energy and the personal routine is helping get "Me" back on track. I looked at my Google Calender and noted that it has been 2 weeks to the day since my last "period". So far I don't feel "the nasty" coming on so YEAH! I even broke out the Crock Pot Monday night. I have not been cooking much but eating frozen meals at work. I wanted to change that so I hit TJ after work for meats, veggies and other assorted things. I made "Steak tip" stew that was delish! Wil dislikes stew beef so I got a better cut of meat for cooking. I got a serving yesterday for work lunch and today but Wil demolished the rest! I also bought chicken, yellow curry sauce and veggies to make a dish to go over rice. Wil might be making that now since the stew is gone. I might even make pizza tomorrow on my day off.

I went biking again today. It was short but I wanted to get out there in the "some" sunshine. It is supposed to be rainy for most of my day off but that is fine. I have home organizing projects to keep me busy. If the rain let's up by the afternoon I will bike. I think I will take my camera with me. I am most excited that I ended up with 5 (working) days AND a weekend! It is supposed to be sunny and 50! I am a happy Diva.

Lucky Sunshine

As I looked out my window this morning I was thrilled! I hoped for minimal rain for my ride but got bursts of sunshine instead! As I started out on my ride this song came into my head. I added some words of my own but it rawks! Enjoy


Oh what a beautiful morning (to take a bike ride in the sunshine),

oh what a beautiful day(to be out in my neighborhood on my bike),

I have a wonderful feeling('cause I am exercising in the fresh air),

everything's going my way! (now that the "big bads" are put in their place and I am not so stressed!)

Bike today and then again tomorrow!

Today I finally got to go on a bike ride. I have not been able to go of late with the pouring rains that caused flooding. Understand that I will ride in the rain (I live in the Pacific NW!) but a driving rain with close to freezing temperature and wind to boot is a no-can-do-situation for this Diva. It is too hard on the body. I have most of the proper gear but not all. I have a good over coat but it does end up soaked through in a good downpour. I don't have a full helmet (has sizable vent holes) or a rain cover for the helmet so my head can get dripping wet. All in all I do pretty well and certainly not complaining. It is my "therapy" of my choice.

Today I was still tired but need to get back with my personal schedule. Biking in the mornings before work and as I can on my days off. The weather has not been the only factor in not being on my biking schedule. Most of January has been family matters, lawyer stuff (which was beyond stressful- jury trial!) , peri-meno making me soooooo tired and having way too many periods in short order! I have been sleeping up to 12 hours-WHAT! I just want to get back to my personal schedule since it also gives me more energy and fights the evil peri-meno! I also have more time and energy for the creative and isn't that what its all about for this Diva?

I am very proud of myself for going on my ride this morning. It was starting to rain lightly but I made myself go. I am so glad I did! I started to head my usual route but a freight train was blocking my path. It was long and at that moment blocking the city street and stopped. I will sometimes ride back and forth (a long route) where I can see "what's the 'haps". This looked like a long dilemma so I headed off towards the industrial area but some what along the river I love. I ducked onto water front paths I have not explored before. I really enjoyed my tour and even went over a street viaduct I had not gone over before. It was the only way to get back on my side of the tracks and get to work. It was a relaxing and happy ride especially with a wandering mind. It was just what I needed.

I look outside now and feel especially smart that I went in the gentle rain earlier. It is raining hard, very wet and blustery. Yeah Me. Here is hoping tomorrow is just as good for a repeat!

same favor with more ideas

I am going to ask a favor (again) of all of you nice folks. Save some items for me for a crafty project I am thinking about doing. I have not completely figured out what I will do but I have some interesting ideas brewing. So, the list:

~Fortunes out of cookies

~Interesting tickets or tokens from mass transit, concerts, amusement rides . . . .

~Inexpensive currency either coin or paper from anywhere

~Labels from wine, soda or beer bottles that you think are cool or interesting

~old vacation photos, postcards, travel brochures . . . or ones that are made to look old

~maps big or small that are cool

~old keys of all sizes

~small to medium boxes wood, card board what ever

~cigar boxes new or older

Anything you can think of that you think is awesome! Contact me with questions and ideas of other items.

Thank you are start looking and contacted me!

Wont break wont shake wont stall wont fall

So the self imposed gag order is over. I was in Civil court (with a jury) the last two days. This was because of the car accident I had in 2008. By "had" I mean that I was hit and injured. The insurance company has never wanted to settle. In 2009 I finally had to get a lawyer because they were harassing me to sign off. Even with that they rejected anything my lawyer said on my behalf. We even had arbitration in October in which I won. I was awarded in that arbitration. They were still not satisfied so they (and their client) took me to civil court in hopes of crushing the Diva. Today I was victorious once again. They have to pay for everything. I hope they get that they suck now.

I would love the good vibes my way

I cant be specific just now but really need all the good vibes you can send my way. Come Thursday I will be in an awkward position I never expected. I will tell you more when I am able but a temporary gag order until the conclusion on Friday or Monday. Wish me good luck, send positive thoughts my way, pray or pass the Karma. Thanks in advance.

Let it . . . snow but don't stick?

I have always loved the snow. When younger and had more money to burn I skied - and was good at it. When my boys were young I was out there with them building snow people, having snow ball fights and would make the hot chocolate at the end. I enjoy watching it fall. There is something calming and romantic watching it fall no matter the speed or density. I truly miss having a wood burning fireplace when I watch it. Anyway, we have had a fair share of snow fall the last couple of days. Here in the valley floor we did not have any sticking but I love watching it. The view of it always makes me insightful.

Some on Facebook have cried at no snowpollza but I do not like to drive in the snow to get to work. I do not trust most of the people that think they know how to drive but seriously don't.

Not so bad

The car news was not so bad. I was told the gasket was to be $75 installed. They found a few more things that go hand in hand with it but I kinda expected that. All in all the total for all the repairs, parts and cleaning up the leaked oil all over the engine is . . . . . $102! It runs soooo much better now! I am so sorry I neglected you Ethyl MeRM! It all took 1 1/2 hours in which I hung out and read my book and made some phone calls.

I took a shortened bike ride when I got back. It is 33 outside and a bit blustery but that did not bother me. It has snowed off and on all day but not sticking. When I was biking a cross between snow/rain and soft ice started coming down. I did not want to get soaked so I turned around. It was nice to get out. Now I am in my flannel jams watching the snow fall and a movie. A better day off than I thought I would have. Looking up!

Friday the 13th

My plans today (on my day off) were many leading up to a family "Christmas Birthday Friday the 13th Party" My Auntie She She from Cali is in town! I have been looking forward to this all week! I have been dragging everyday not getting the things done I want cause all I want is to sit on the couch. That is not the usual me and more importantly not how I want to be. Anyway, I got up and tried to keep moving forward. Did some stuff on the comp and got ready for my day. My comp has been squirrelly of late but got a weird. "You have a threat" on your comp message before I shut it down. I bagged it up to take for my Auntie to check out after the party.

I was most annoyed but it "kind of makes sense" moment when my period started 2 weeks and 4 days after the last one. (that was 2 weeks to the day from the one before that was the same) I really wanted to climb into bed and do nothing but did not allow myself. Maybe I should of. . . . .

I was on my way to Lake Oswego to the New Balance Store. I had to pick up the next pair of shoes Will (the Manager) had on hold for me. They are updating the model I wear and selling out the old one for half off so Will is hoarding 3 (now 2) pairs for me. It's good to be Diva. My oil warning light blinked on while driving to LO but did not stay on. That worried me so I wanted to find an Oil Can Henry's to have it checked. There is one farther down the freeway but I had to go back home to pick up my Wil for the party. He worked the morning shift. I remembered there was one in my 'hood so I finished my shoe biz and headed that way.

There was a line since we have a snow alert in the area. I was 20 minutes from starting my oil change. I went with that option since the last change was early October. I don't drive much so I go by the three month rule not miles. Turns out I was 2 out of 4 quarts low! I have a major oil leak out of my valve gasket - pooh. I called a couple of Volvo shops from my parents house and Swede 1 is the best price by $50! I have (despite snow on the Valley Floor by Sunday into Monday) an appointment for Monday morning (my next day off) to fix my Ethyl MeRM. I also had to get one headlight fixed during the oil change before a cop pulled me over and gave my a hefty ticket.

I suppose that was enough in a day for one Diva. The up side is my Dad's present and card arrived today. A vintage light up stained glass rooster. He loves it.

So as I looked over some of the "years" past to decide the future I realized (what a dork I am :) ) how long I have kept up this wonderful tradition! You don't truly realize how traditions shape you until looking back on them and understand the changes. I have enjoyed reading the past years and seeing the growth I have lived. Here are the years past for your refreshment,

~2008 the Year of Marta
Courage Perseverance Commitment

~2009 is the Year of Leo Moo
Pride Prosperity Patience (YoLM)


~2010 the Year of the Red Roller
Reflation Refocillate Raintly

~2011 the Year of the Creative Moo - the Perfect Brainstorm
obsessive oblectation oligomania

and this year

~"2012 CreaDiva - Hell on Wheels" Hot ideas burning down the road of creativity.
cranking creating collaborating

There were some of the "years" that the three defining words were my mantra to keep my positive rolling. I am glad I started doing this and hope to be doing it until Alzheimer's sets in. According to Wil that happened a bit ago but I don't remember.

I apologize for the wacky color/font action. It was not my intent but sometimes blogger "does" something and wont reverse no matter what you try.

Let it be so

Well, the Diva has pondered then spoken. The year is . . . . "2012 CreaDiva - Hell on Wheels" Hot ideas burning down the road of creativity.
cranking creating collaborating
I like it so there it is.


As for creativity so far this year would be buying a used 35mm film camera. I have missed the ease of an easy to use camera. This is a camera that can be totally a point and shoot but I can learn more of the manual settings to transition me into a more manual camera then maybe a class? I have always wanted to take a class to learn more tricks of the craft. Costco develops film very inexpensively ($3.99) so that is cool. I can also for a bit more ($1.99) get the photos on a disk to load on my comp. I found a good brand of film in a four pack for less than $10. DJ was telling me not to buy it just because I could get it for less than $35. He was saying the cost of film and developing would be greater than saving for a new digital.

I have also started using my digital more for the experimental shots. The bad of that camera is it is 8ish years old and I cant get the software for my much newer laptop. I showed it to a co worker today and he said it is a good camera but a hassle not having the ability to transfer the photos right away. I have to take my camera in and pay to get my photos transferred onto a disk. For now I can work with that. No instant showing of cool photos.

I spent my days off going on a few walk-a-bouts and taking mostly dig photos. I even took my camera on my last bike ride to finally capture some shots I have always wanted to shoot. Usually on a bike ride I don't stop but I really needed to do something artistic. I really enjoyed the time and got some cool photos. I really did not stop much but it was fun.

2012 New Year in My World

On my first bike ride of the New Year I was thinking about what "this year" would be in My World. I really like the year 2011 and what it represented and not sure I wanted to let it go. ("2011 the Year of the Creative Moo - the Perfect Brainstorm" obsessive oblectation oligomania) Ideas were bouncing around as I pedaled along. I have the basic idea of the 2012 "Year" but it is not complete. Maybe I will throw it out there and get your feed back.

"2012 CreaDiva - Hell on Wheels" Hot ideas burning down the road of creativity.
cranking creating collaborating

I do get ideas and solve project problems (and other problems) while "burning down the road". Sometimes I solve them because I went on a ride. I get out of my head but at the same time zone into my thoughts. Anyone who knows me or reads my thoughts (should) know my bike time (on "BBB") is very important to me for many reasons. That is why I am trying to combine the creative, biking and Diva (Me and my sewing machine "DivaDo")

Brain Storm me!

A favor from my readers

I am going to ask a favor of all of you nice folks. Save some items for me for a crafty project I am thinking about doing. I have not completely figured out what I will do but I have some interesting ideas brewing. So, the list:

~Fortunes out of cookies

~Interesting tickets or tokens from mass transit, concerts, amusement rides

~Inexpensive currency either coin or paper

~Labels from wine, soda or beer bottles that you think are cool

~old vacation photos, postcards, travel brochures . . .

Anything you can think of that you think is awesome! Contact me with questions and ideas of other items.

Vacation (like) time is nice

Three days off work in a row is rare in my world. Get real, more than one at a time is rare! Awesome!

New Year . . . oh crap!

Happy New Year to all! I cannot believe a new year has rolled in. I have had a lot going on in the World of Marta and especially a lot in the brain because of it all. I feel like I have gone backwards in my profession since taking my current job. All of that thought process is for another time.

I realized in giving a title to this post that I need to come up with the next "Year of" and what it means. Way to give me a heads up, Awesome! I have not really thought about it at all! More later. . .

I rang in the new year by doing some thing I love to do. I took a camera (film) and walked around taking pictures in my 'hood. I really enjoyed being out in the 'hood and looking through a lens. I am either buying a film camera from a co-worker and buying an external flash from Brooke's camera shop or using the "free" camera from Brooke but buying the flash and a lens. Tonight I used the flash and the "free" camera with the co-workers lens. We shall see how they turn out and what I will be doing. Stay tuned!