KatyRenee

Eric’s birthday is Thursday so we treated him to beer at the grocery. He got Guinness for him and Blue Moon with an orange for me!

For dinner we had Dijion Tofu! I’ve never done it with tofu before. I don’t think I’ve ever cooked with tofu. This recipe originally called for pork. I prefer the pork. The flavors get in the meat really well!

You brown the onions in Pam or Olive oil. I like to cut them big, maybe that is because in college my roommate preferred no onions! Next you remove the onions from the pan and put in the meat. Cook the meat 25% done then cover in a mixture of Dijon Mustard and Italian Salad Dressing (depending on what you use this can be quite healthy). Add the onions back to the pot, cover it, and continue to cook the meat, turning as necessary. I threw in some spinach for some additional veggies. Serve and enjoy!

Here is the small produce section growing on our counter.
The lemon is from a tree on our driveway and the cucumber was given to me at school today. The tomatoes are from another person at the church. She sent them with homemade chicken, noodle, and vegetable soup last week. Yum!

Here’s Eric displaying a shirt I worked on this weekend. I picked up the kit from Alabama Chanin when I was at their workshop in March. It was fun. I also have a kit for an organic cotton duster. That’ll take a bit more work!

I got a “No” from the company I interviewed with last week. It was a big bummer. With all these shut doors, I’m thinking more and more, I may start something on my own. I have a lot of vintage patterns–800 to be exact–to sell. Then I can use the money from that to do something else. It’ll be fun to see how it turns out.

Peace,

^_^

Sake “helping” as usual. And yes, we didn’t make our bed today. I’d blame Eric since he was the last to get up, but I helped with my after school nap!

Here’s my buddy.

I’ve had my violin since 6th grade. In 7th grade, I became an orchestra drop-out. I was terrified of the music my teacher gave me for a competition. Now, that I’m researching getting lessons–and $50 for 30 minutes is a steal–I’m kicking myself. Looks like I’ll be self-taught.

One of my violin’s cutest features is where it was made.

In a country that doesn’t exist today.

The hope was I could help with a song at church. The new schedule messed me up so much I chose not to practice. I’m practicing now and hoping to be ready the next time the song comes up.

Keep in mind I haven’t picked up much since 7th grade. I’m a bit screetchy, but man is it fun when the notes come out right.

Helping as a teacher’s aide has been really fun. Everything but the alarm clock waking me up. The class has so many unique personalities. I love it!

We decided to get our driver’s licenses today. When we left the house, the wait time was 17 minutes according to the DMV website. How does that explain that we spent three and a half hours there and walked out with one paper license (Eric didn’t have his passport with us) and a partial car registration? Whew. Busy, busy.

In other news. Since I’m realizing that I do not have as much time as I originally thought, I will have to cut back on the goal. Only doing one of my book plans or scrapping the books and coming up with my own plan. I’m not sure what I’ll do yet but will keep you posted.

Eric has had kidney stones for 5 or 6 weeks now. He called the doctor to get in again and see if they can be removed. The doctor’s first appointment isn’t until September 29th!! He left a message with the nurse (it was lunchtime) so we are hoping that they can squeeze him in somehow. Poor guy.

In other news, I went to the Long Beach Quilt Show at the end of July with Eric’s aunt and grandma. We did one of the crafty sessions and I won! Here’s a link on another blog about it. You have to scroll all the way down it was 70s Style Surviving the Runway. My idea was the spinning record. She says second in the blog, but really I got first. Fun times!

So. I spent the better part of the afternoon reading and asking myself hard questions. I’m feeling a lot better and not so serious. Still planning on my goals, though. When I returned to the computer, I had a potential employer in San Francisco asking me to an interview. Yippee.

Here’s what I’ve been sewing lately. It is going to a friend that just moved back to St. Louis. She’s pregnant, hence the stuffing in the middle.

Peace,
Katy^_^

I spent one and a half hours making lunch. I’m not quite sure why it took so long, but it did. I was making Gazpacho thanks to this post. Ironically, the post is called Something Other Than Sauce. I used waaaaay to much onion and after lunch Eric and I decided it would be a great pasta sauce because it’d cut the spiciness of the onion.

I even used canned tomatoes because they were waaaaaay cheaper than fresh and easier. How in the world did that take me so long? Clearly I was day-dreaming in the process. Day dreaming or stalling. Why? Read on.

I took a job as a part-time aide for the third grade teacher at the church where Eric works. I’m extremely bummed about the lack of a job situation with this move. I am taking it really hard. The aide position will be good for me because I’ll get to hang out with people for a bit during the day. But I’m not sure it is something I want long term. That being said, I’m not sure if anything will make me happy. Sigh.

I took the Myers-Briggs test again–I forgot my previous results. I am ENFJ. It totally describes me perfectly. I know very well how to do for others but I’m terrible at taking care of myself. Why do I find so much importance in “being employeed?”

I definitely have time now–I will only work for 3.5 hours in the mornings when there is school as an aide. So I am forging onward in an effort to get better at self-care with out losing humility. You should have seen the responses to a fellow blogger’s comments on humility!

Anyway, my goals are to complete Body for Life and The Artist’s Way in the next few months. These are my only to do list items. If you’ve ever seen my to do lists–you’ll understand why that is such a big deal. Amazingly, first thing I wanted to do when I got up this morning was to get the title changed on the car and get my driver’s license. Things that need to get done, but that if I focused on first would prevent me from accomplishing my goals and ultimately caring for me.

Anyway, I know this will be a tough thing for me. I’ve made it most of the way through the The Artist’s Way before, but didn’t do half of the questions or projects. I purchased the Body for Life book when I was a freshman in college. Eight years ago! I got a week and a half through the program last fall. Then I quit.

I’d love for any or all of you to come along, I could sure use the support.

Peace and Success,

Katy ^_^

There you have it. If you knew how much time and thought and shopping went into that table you’d probably be a lot more excited like I am. Let’s just say we’ve easily spent 5 or 6 hours in the last two days, and 3 separate trips to the store.

Things I love about it. The table is counter height so I can work standing up or sitting down. There are two chairs so Eric can work there with me, if I’m not using the entire table, that is.

I have two ideas of things to make. Which means drafting a pattern and sewing. A pleated shirt and a strapless dress to wear like a jumper over a crisp white button-up. Problem is I don’t have a block for my size and I’m kind of hard to fit. Thank goodness for trial-round muslins.

After seeing it all together, I am already figuring out changes. I think that I need to put some things on the walls. I have a big cork board and want to do something fun and girly like painting alphabet letters or something. Seems like a task to be done when my mom visits in September.

Also, I’m thinking it may be time to purge some things. Or at least use up my stash. I seem to love fabric shopping, but then it hides in a plastic tub. I’m sure the fabrics would much rather be styling on my bod. Another purge would be my rickety old first dress form. It was one of my last pre-marriage splurges, so it is definitely more sentimental than anything. I will definitely sleep on it.

In job news, I finished my application. Eric helped with my IT question–seems they didn’t support the web browser I was using. I have a meet and greet with a representative for a master’s program tomorrow. At any given time, there are 5 or 6 master’s programs I am interested in, so seeing as this is the only one I’ve asked for a tour on I think it is at the top of my list.

Peace,
^_^ Katy

I got notification I didn’t get a job this morning. Actually they sent me a letter in the mail that I never received. Hmph. Usually I cry a bit when this happens. Especially when I’ve been looking for a California job since March.

Today, instead, I started applying for another job. At first I tried with a sister company to the job that I didn’t get. Their website was messed up. I’d click on Career and it’d just refresh. It felt like every other link worked, but that one. Just my luck.

So then I went to another company. There was a posting for a technical designer. I had all the experience-pattern making and all. I wrote a fantastic cover letter, and worked through the electronic application. The page where I’m supposed to upload my most recent resume (updated with new address) and my perfect cover letter comes. It doesn’t work. I log off and log back on. It still doesn’t work. I call the corporate office. After being on hold for 10 minutes, I get a representative. I was polite and concise. He can’t help me he says. There is an e-mail address you are supposed to write to he says. I tell him that I have not seen an e-mail address, and can he please just give it to me over the phone. No, he cannot. Why, I wonder. I ask him where to locate the e-mail address. He is silent for several minutes. I think maybe he has hung up. Finally he tells me to go to the “contact us” tab. By then a lump the size of California has formed in my throat.

Look, I’m not an idiot, I think. That is how I found this number. The only e-mail addresses on that page are for customers, not potential employees. I thank him and hang up.

A tear falls. Then another. I am so angry/mad/frustrated/discouraged/lonely/annoyed I don’t know what to do. So I do what any self-loving girl does.

I pull out my Fresh jar of wax. I kid you not. And I go to town prepping my skin while the wax melts in the microwave. And in a few minutes I have the best groomed eyebrows on the street.

I realize it is silly. But it was a great distraction to the frustration I was experiencing. And it hurt less because I was so annoyed.

Plus, one can’t help but smile when they see our green tiled bathroom–right?

Since then, I’ve e-mailed my request to the customer service e-mail the guy on the phone suggested. We’ll see.

In other news, Scotch got shut in the linen closet. Eric was rummaging in there for his biking gear and Scotch wondered in. It is cute, because he rubs on the door. Usually this is done after he’s shut himself in somewhere. When we finally let him out, he just sat there. He wouldn’t get out. I’m wondering if our cats have mental issues.

Peace,

Katy

We moved in. Here is Eric eating mac and cheese on our dresser. We had to use measuring cups because the silverware was still packed.

Sake wasn’t too sure about our new place yet and used the dresser as a fort. She’d hide under it and peek out every once in a while. She’s settled in nicely now though. Silly cat.

Peace,

Katy

So it feels like I’ve been on a vacation since June 4th when we drove out of St. Louis. Since we’ve been in California we’ve been bunking in a relative’s pool house. We’re being spoiled silly and I’m not about to complain.

What a sweet treat after all the hurdles graduate school sent our way: Eric’s cancer, a close friend’s electrocution/death, unfulfilling work environment for the first 2 years for me, a broken arm, a car wreck and back pain that continues until today, our two-year-old cat dying in front of us–even with Eric’s kitty CPR–for some undiagnosed reason, Papa’s death, MIL’s melanoma, other Papa’s fall off a ten-foot extension ladder, all our buddies leaving for their internships last fall, etc. 

That is not to say we didn’t have some great times in graduate school. Our Tuesday night brewery church group–miss y’all, adopting two great new kitties, volunteering to help other kittens get adopted, 3 Team in Training events raising over $13,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!!!, finding a great job in the fashion industry, never needing to borrow money for medical bills or other bills–thanks to everyone for al y’all’s generosity, Eric’s “remission” (he’ll never be cured, but his levels are undetectable at the moment), the city itself-Grant’s Farm, Farmer’s Market,  the zoo, wineries close by, our upstairs neighbor and her dog Junior–Scotch’s crush, countless trips to CA (4 I think), Sasha’s Wine Bar, $3 buck chuck, etc.

This is culminating in my one “issue” with vacations. I eat whatever I want. My triathlon was right before we left. After that working out has been sparse. My clothes still seem to fit, but man do I feel it. Like I’m doing laundry and wearing my hubby’s shorts. Shorts that would probably be easy to pants him and they are fitting a little tighter than that on me! Thankfully, I have gym access and have been able to work out a bit the last two weeks!

I’m not sure what my next “event” will be. There is a Napa Valley Marathon in March which looks beautiful. Also, as part of the Big Sur Marathon is this 6 mile Mud Run. Watch the video and tell me that doesn’t look awesome. For now, I feel like yoga is a great focus. I was just gifted a new mat–since ours in on a truck somewhere in Oakland and it is great. Even my sweaty hands and feet don’t slip! 

Since we’re talking about vacations, let’s talk about work. As in, I’m unemployed. I’m more worried about what other people think and how the lapse will look on my resume than I am about a job right now. We only have one car, and we live 30-35 miles south of where our apartment is, so any commute would quite possibly be killer. That being said, how do I respond when the umpteenth parishioner asks me about my job hunt? I know they mean well, and we don’t know each other yet, so there isn’t much else to talk about, but still… It makes me feel awkward about being so okay with my unemployment. Probably because in the past, I took some jobs that were pretty terrible because I HAD to work, and now that Eric’s being paid, I’m taking my time to find a job I really want.

So there you have it. My never-ending vacation still has no end in sight, and I’m quite okay with that!

Peace,

Katy