Schoolin'

It's been a month of acclimatization...getting back into work routines and schedules. The hardest part has been getting up so early when it's so difficult to drop off at a decent time at night. 


My last visit to Dr. R led to a change in sleep medication, which seems to be helping. I can go without it on the weekends, when no one cares what time I show up, but during the week, there's no way--I'm back on the Deficit Train unless I have help.




This morning I was bright-eyed after the second decent night's sleep. Of course, I now feel like it's the middle of the night at 8 pm, but at least I'm getting acclimated to the early work schedule again.

Today is all-day class at the local National Safety Council. I'm going to get my Advanced Safety Certification before the end of next year so I have credentials to go along with my abilities. Occupational Safety is near and dear to my heart, and if I'm going to do any kind of certification program, this makes the most sense.

There's another class in December (and, I hope, one in November), and then I'll need to take 2 four-day courses and at least one more one-day course next year. Then I can take the exams. The information from these classes will make me more effective at my job, and the certification may provide the means for advancement.

It was nice to be able to sleep in (until 7 am!). The class doesn't start until 9 am, and its location is only about 5 miles away from home, so it won't take long to get there.

Thank you, Dear Kenna, for your kind words and understanding. I just want to feel "all better, right now".  You're right, it will take time.

So I did WATP 30 Minute Walk, and I'm all sweaty, but drinking hot coffee (DECAF!) anyway, and eating a nectarine. Yesterday, I changed a couple of light bulbs, vacuumed the living room, family room and dining room, and ran a duster over things. That, and my post here, plus a marathon of Bejeweled Blitz on facebook were my grand accomplishments for the day.

Today, I'd like to get some more jewelry made. I was trying a new design last weekend that just wouldn't work. It's laying forlornly on my work table, patiently waiting for me to transform it into something beautiful. Maybe I'll be able to do that after a bit more coffee.

Sorry, Blog.

I've been avoiding and neglecting you. If you were a pet, you could be dead by now. If you were a plant, maybe dead, maybe straggling along on your last legs. But you're electrons, and live on in the Great Out There until I come back to visit you again.

I think I've let up on writing because of the return to full-time work. The jewelry making has fallen behind, too. It will be interesting to find out whether time will help acclimate me to the work schedule, then let me phase the other activities back in, or whether I'll go back to feeling tired all the time. The former would be preferable to the latter.

It's a good thing I don't own a dog.

Where did the week go?

The last time I was here was last Saturday, when I was reporting on Thursday...

Now, it's Friday, and there's no way I'll catch up on everything in detail. That's why they call it a "diary", Sue; you're supposed to do it every day.

Grandma Lee's ashes left yesterday with her granddaughter, who will spread them in Cuba, NM, in a wild, green place. Lee would have loved it. I have a little bit here that I will take up to the Flagstaff area next weekend (the 12th). I don't think Lee's looking down on me or anything. It's just that I promised her the mountains, and I need to know that at least some of her goes there. I need to do it, and see it with my own eyes. It's not that I think her granddaughter's lying to me. This is something I have to do for my own head. It will be part of closing out any unfinished business.

Other than that, all that remains is to wait for the nursing home to settle out any of their charges that hadn't hit Lee's trust account before she died. There should be a check from them by late October with all the money that's left. I have some expenses that haven't been reimbursed, yet. Once those are squared away, I'll go get the savings bonds for Lee's great-grandsons, et c'est finis.

Return to work is scheduled for Tuesday, finally. I thought it would have been Wednesday of this week, but it's just as well. It turned out there was household and business stuff to clear out of the way, not to mention the cobwebs between my ears. Half days Tuesday through Friday, then back to a regular schedule the following week. Boss has promised they won't dump on me all at once when I walk through the door. There were some information gaps that became apparent while I was gone. The first task will be to look at those (along with about 3 million emails, I'm sure) and figure out how to fix them.

The jewelry making effort slacked off just before, during and after GL's passing, but I've made up for it with a vengeance yesterday and today. Today alone, I made nine necklaces and five pairs of earrings, two of which are chandelier-style and were somewhat fussy to make.

Yesterday, I made four necklaces, and just a couple pairs of earrings. There was one with a skull that I made as a joke for my friend, but I set up my display at karaoke last night, and that was the first item to go! Who knew?? Guess I'd better go buy more skulls.

skull necklace - 19" - $10 SOLD

The bone skull was strung with glass beads on tiger tail and a s/p barrel clasp. It measured 19"

I tell people some of my pieces have bone in them, and they always ask, "What kind of bone?" I don't know what kind of bone. Horse? Cow? Water buffalo? They aren't human, bird, or fish...anything else? Who knows...

Necklace and earring - $10 for the set

17 1/2" necklace w/black bead and cut crystal earrings

This is a pretty set: cut red and clear crystal strung on tiger tail with silver bugle beads. Black and silver bead earrings are included in the set for $10.

 I made up a few quickies that can be sold at a low price point. They use inexpensive, common glass beads, and silver-plate hooks and eyes. They're easy to whip up in a hurry while watching TV, and can sell for $5.

Earrings that match cost $4 unless they're purchased as a set. Then, I knock off a dollar.

It seems simple to price all basic earrings at $4 per pair, then give a discount if they're purchased to create a matching set. People don't always want all the pieces.

#48 - 19" - $12

 This froggy gets a lot of attention. He looks like he's made out of jasper, and there are chips of obsidian, goldstone, green glass beads, and has a silver-plated toggle closure.

#49 - 18" - $12

 This is a combination of chip obsidian, goldstone, and silver and green glass beads. It has a silver-plate toggle clasp.

#51 - 20" - $12

Snowflake Obsidian frog focal piece

Another frog - this time made from snowflake obsidian. It's strung on tiger tail with jasper in flat ovals and 6 mm snowflake obsidian round beads, along with glass bugle and seed beeds.

#54 - 21 1/2" - $15

This piece is made of blue sodalite, s/p drum beads, chip and nugget obsidian, and black glass seed beeds.

It's heavy enough that it could be worn by a man or a woman.

#54 focal piece

One of my friends has been asking if I would make some pieces with cloisonne. Lucky for both of us, I found one of the big bead stores here in town carries them at a cost I can manage.

#62 - 19 1/2" - $12

Blue ovals and cut clear crystal.

They aren't high-quality beads, but do have nice color and patterns

These chandelier earring go well with #62. The dangle measures 2" in length, and they cost $8 for the pair

#63 - 18" - $12

The red cloisonne necklace has the same basic pattern as the blue. Aside from the color difference, the blue has textured s/p toggle closure, and the red has a s/p barrel clasp.

Chandelier earrings #63 - 2" dangle - $8 pair

#55 - 23 - $16

It's difficult to get a photo that does this justice. There are rich browns, lavender, blood red, creams...the nuggets are marked "mookaite", the large focal piece may be jasper.

#55 pendant

This close-up gives a better idea of the richness and variety of colors in the stones.

#57 - 19 1/2" - $12

This the second set I made with one of these bone turtles. The first was given as a gift to Grandma Lee's caseworker at Plaza del Rio Care Center. The woman made things happen when they were needed, and ran interference when I was on a roll. I'd be tempted to go back and do volunteer work once in a while just to get to see and talk to her again.

Earrings #57 - $4
Bone and silver-plated findings

#58

#58 - Millifiori - 18" - $10

This 18" necklace has rectangular millifiori and Indian flat cut beads strung on tiger tail with glass bugle beads and 2mm silver-plate rounds. It closes with a silver-plate barrel clasp.

#58 Earrings - 1 1/2" long overall - $4

#59 - 20" - $16

 This adorable turtle with beautiful stone inlay on its shell is strung on tiger tail with black onyx round beads and glass seed and bugle beads. It closes with a simple silver-plate toggle clasp.

It's one of my current favorites, and I'm sure it will sell on Sunday at Karaoke.

#66 - 18" - $12

Pewter rounded rectangles, Indian table-polished deep cobalt beads

This one is a close second to the inlaid turtle on my current favorites list.

It's difficult to see the deep cobalt color of the flat table-polished beads, and it goes so well with the flat silver-plated pewter beads that separate them, and make up the earrings.

The rest of the necklace is made of silver glass bugle beads and a simple, silver-plated toggle clasp. I love the classic style--there are so many outfits this would work with.

Earrings 66 - 1" overall from top of round bead - $5

#65 - 18" - $10

Red coral turtle and nuggets on silver bugle beads

Another critter--a red coral turtle this time, strung on tiger tail with coral nuggets, silver bugle beads and a silver-plated barrel clasp.

Thursday

A man from the funeral home called me early yesterday morning; they needed papers signed to authorize the cremation and get the insurance company to pay for the services.

After I got there, it turns out there was one piece of paper that she'd filled out in 2004 when she prepaid the services that had never been shown to me. That named her son as the person who could sign to authorize the cremation. Ugh. We thought we had it all covered so he wouldn't need to be involved in the "business side" of all this.

Called Grand-daughter, she got him moving, and they both showed up within a half hour. I hadn't seen this man for more than 10 years. At one time, I had loved him madly. He looked so different; old and tired. He's only a year and a half older than I, but he has not been kind to himself.

I guess because of the unpleasantness that triggered my involvement in the whole Grandma Lee situation, he didn't know how I was going to treat him. He wouldn't look at  me as they walked toward the building from his truck. I just held out my arms to him and said, "Come on...hug me." And he did. We went inside, and the papers were all signed, including verifying the information to go on the death certificate.

We all drove over to the nursing home, where we very quickly went through Lee's things, donating clothing, shampoo and stuff, and packing up the rest.  Lee's son took most of it in his truck, and Grand-Daughter and I headed down to a mall in Tempe to see if we could find something she could use as an urn without having to shell out hundreds of dollars.

We shopped and talked, found some items we needed personally, and then finally found a lovely ceramic container to hold Lee's ashes until her grand-daughter is ready to spread them in the mountains. Once again, we realized that neither of us had eaten all day, and hit Joe's Crab Shack before I dropped her off back at her father's house.

Because he lives fairly close to our karaoke hangout, I stopped by to say hello to my friends for a little while. Drank water and didn't sing--it just felt good to be around friends.

Slept very well on Thursday night.