Is nothing easy?

I got to work this morning bright and early, ready to take on the world...and that's about what I feel like I'm doing. First I open up e-mail, which actually worked today horray...and found a "your order has shipped", so I take a look and it says that the refrigerator that was ordered 10/9/2009 has shipped to the tune of $1700, and my credit card has been charged. So I'm freaking....10/9/2010 and you've shipped July 2010. Believe me, if I said I needed a refrigerator I couldn't wait 9 months to get it....I mean the snow and ice would have kept things cold in January-March, but with the summer we've had, well I just couldn't have waited. First I don't remember ordering a refrigerator off the internet, but I'm not going to swear I didn't look at them, but in October...hell that's around the Jamboree...believe me I'm too busy at that time to even think about it. Anyway, Sara gets home from wherever and I meet her with, "Sara, I'm freakin and don't know what to do." Her response..."I just love when I walk through the door and you hit me with I'm freakin'. Calm down and let me see it." So I show her we go on-line get the # of the company and call it and this guy says, "This was just an e-mail reminder that we are still here (like who gives a crap) and we haven't shipped anything out to you, and we haven't charged your card." Sara questioned why he send an e-mail saying he had charged the card and he just said, he hadn't it was a reminder only that he was there. After all was said and done Sara said "Mom go in and see if your card has been charged." It was at that point that I realized it was a card I had cancelled as there was suspicious activity on it last year. If I had only remembered that it would have saved us a whole lot of time. Anyway, just another freak-out on my part...they seem to be coming closer together, much like hot flashes...in this heat I'm just one steady long hot flash. And according to the weather report we're in for at least 7 more days of this. I know I complained about the cold, but I swear I'll never bitch again about it...at least I think I won't. Oh, yes, we're experiencing something in the shop that I can't stand. Yesterday Renee found what use to be a kit, however, now it's just the fabric and charms as someone opened the Lizzie Kate kit and stole the directions. I found 2 kits a couple of weeks ago with the same thing happening. Now what I want to say is this...for God's sake don't go to the trouble of opening the kits and stealing the directions...I can't do anything with what's left so take the whole damn thing and let me live in ignorance. I'll realize soon enough when I take inventory that things are stolen, I don't need a reminder every day. Yes, it sure is fun owning a little needlework shop on the ocean. Every day is a holiday! Oh, a woman came into the shop last night and Sara was standing there, took one look at her and eyeballed me about it so I could get a good look and let me just say this ladies, Just because something fits....doesn't mean you should wear it. The woman was wearing what looked like a Lilly Pulitzer skirt with a coordinating top...gorgeous..if she was the size person who could wear a short short skirt, but unfortunately she wasn't. She had a little size to her...not obese, and in a pair of loose fitting Lilly Pulitzer slacks and the same top things would have been good, but the short short skirt on anyone who is a little larger than a twig...While it may look alright to you in the front (and that's questionable) from the back where it lifts a little because of our butts...well this woman's business will be out there for all to see if she so much as bends over to pick up a penny. So before leaving your house, turn around in front of a mirror and pick up something off the floor...if you can see your VaJaJa...it's time to retire the skirt. FYI...the Prairie Schooler 2010 Santa is out and it's being delivered as I type along with 4 new Prairie Schooler leaflets. Along with that is the new Shepherd's Bush kits and their new chart...I'll have them up on the website today so take a look.

oops.....I forgot the pictures last night...

Honestly, I can't remember anything at this point. Last night I hit send without adding the pictures of the ladies. And since we made them sit there in that heat so I could have a picture...well, it was necessary that I actually post it. But first I wanted you to see the purse Janet sent me. Do you love the fabric? I've shown you some of the inside as well...so you could see that she added pockets on both sides inside and the girls on the fabric, aren't they fabulous. Look closely and you will see that each of them is dressed as a fruit. Love It!!!! I do believe I'm the pineapple, although the butts of the ladies as pears sure reminds me of my butt...so perhaps there's a little of me in each of the ladies. Anyway, I carry it as my purse and absolutely love showing it off. Thanks so much Janet. The next 2 pictures are the "ladies from New York"...the lobby at this point had to be close to 90 degrees (at least in my mind) but you would never know it looking at these girls....heat just didn't seem to bother them...at least in the lobby...outside yesterday just about did them in. As I'm looking at these pictures I'm really missing the ladies. I'm hoping they find their way back to us. Wouldn't it be great if we just had stitchers at the hotel....a retreat every day. My God, I'd never get anything done! Sara still lives her dream of turning the hotel into a needlework academy so who knows...one day. Isn't it nice to have a dream? Well on the weather front today it's just more of the same, 90 degrees with chances of showers. But then I see the flash floods etc., that are wiping out homes and I think O.K., sitting in a/c during 90 degrees days is just not that bad! My heart aches for those folks who are struggling with all sorts of bad situations...I can't imagine losing my home and all the memories contained within. Last week was a real good week as we had stitchers in the house...along with the ladies from New York we also had Mary Porter here for a few days, and Debbie Brotzman and her family were here for a week....2 weeks ago. So there is some sanity in my life...Always nice to catch up to what's happening in Mary and Tom's life, as well as Debbie's. This time last year Debbie was getting ready for her daughter's wedding and was stitching like a madman trying to get everything finished before the big event. And to have real stitchers in the shop is an absolute treat. People who know what floss is really called. Anyway, that's it for this morning (it's only 8:24 a.m.) and I have to get ready for another day so I'm sending this on....have a great day~!

What a day.....and it's still not over...

My day started much like so many others....I walk out of the house and hit the wall of heat....I dash for my car where I ride the big 2 blocks to work in the a/c....yes, I rode to work...shoot me! At my weight and with this heat...well you do the math...I wouldn't last to 9th street and they can't replace me yet, I'm still irreplaceable (or so I tell myself). Anyway, I get to work, put tickets on the table in Salty Yarns for the worker bees to tag the merchandise and I sit ignorant of all that's going on or not going on. I was busy with Jamboree confirmations which did go out finally so expect yours if you sent in a deposit, everyone except Nelsa. Yours is coming Nelsa, but each time I did a letter further down in the pile I'd find another letter from you so after 2 times I decided to wait until I got to the end of the pile. So tomorrow Nelsa your confirmation will go out, I promise. I thought I had Jamboree contained until Diane Austin called to make sure I got her fax....from May....which was a follow-up to her call when she spoke to Mary. Well, needless to say that made Sara and Mary both say I needed to let someone take care of Jamboree, which made me kick my own ass and get it in gear. So I'm now on top of it once again. O.K. Sara went behind my back and go the brochures out, but I did put them in the shop, I'm not completely worthless. Anyway, I get a call telling me 19 cases of Lang have arrived so I went into the shop to direct traffic only to find that the tickets are still sitting on the table. So I get Blake back on ticket duty (16 years old..brain is mush...no wonder it wasn't done.) Mary had told one of the boys from the laundry room to come help me so he arrived and he began moving boxes where Connie told him to move them only she wasn't watching him and he moved them into the storeroom instead. Of course after he had moved half of them I came through and asked where the boxes were, Connie said where we always put them, and then I notice the storeroom door open. Again, miscommunication and poor "Sharker" the young man from the laundry room then had to move the boxes again. After opening 19 cartons we found no packing slip...so then I couldn't even ticket the stuff. Honestly, it fries me that companies ship stuff without invoices or packing slips with prices on them. Between that and Trollbeads, I swear I'm going to kill someone. I placed an order with them on 6/21. They usually have a one day turnaround and yet I went into the 4th beadless. So I called them 6/30 and inquired about the order...I received an order but not the right one. It's this sort of crap that makes me furious. And of course when you call the company it's never their fault...computer glitch, bad day, hair giving the computer person a fit and she can't concentrate...always an excuse. But by the 2nd week in July we got the beads...and boy did we get beads. So our new troll display is up and running. It really is beautiful and shows off the beads much better than the old display case. Good purchase! I started this blog way back in the beginning of July, and today is the 18th. I seriously don't know where the time is going. It's almost over for us since business drops way off the third week of August.... Anyway, since I last blogged we've become somewhat of a water park...unfortunately we didn't want to. Last Sunday, I was asleep on my sofa, when at 4:30 a.m. (always never 10:00 a.m.) I was awaken to a pounding on my door. Once I stopped cussing I got up and opened to door to find a young man standing there and the first words out of his mouth were, "You aren't going to believe this..." and all I'm thinking is, "I can't believe you knocked on my door at 4:30 a.m.) Anyway, he started talking so fast I couldn't believe it...and I kept looking outside to see what water he was talking about. I finally asked him where the hell he came from, and he said, "The Lodge." Then I couldn't function because I was wondering how the hell does a tenant from the Lodge know where I live. But after about 5 minutes I started to focus on what he was talking about and apparently there was a flood happening in his apartment on the first level of the lodge. Water just coming down the wall. Knowing I didn't know crap about the water I called Vernon...after all why should I be the only one awake. After getting Vernon up I just laid back down and went back to sleep...I had handed the problem off to Vernon and I was satisfied I had done my job. I was a little concerned that Vernon might just fall back asleep, but not enough to actually get up and go to the Lodge to see what was happening. But when I arrived at the hotel in the morning I found that apparently in a room upstairs on the 3rd floor (of course...never the first floor units) which was unoccupied that night...a toilet cracked....no one there...and the water went through the room occupied on the 2nd level and then through the ceiling to the apartment on the first level. The tenants in the first level use to stay in the building where I am so they knew where they could find me. They tried Vernon and even said his door was open, his computer on, but no one would answer the door. (Thanks Vernon!) Anyway, when it was all said and done, because Mrs Sobnosky wouldn't give up until she found someone we got away with very little damage and in 24 hours we had it cleaned up and folks back where they started. Then a few days ago I got to the hotel and there's a look you get when there has been a problem...don't even bother to say Good Morning, because you just know it's not good. I'm not sure why Sara went to the basement ... but apparently needed something and found herself walking through water.
One of our 3 hot water heaters sprung a leak and flooded the basement which meant our paper supplies located there were ruined. I'm telling you this isn't as much fun as it use to be. I'm smiling less and less. Anyway, Vernon and Mike put a band aid on that so once again...nothing major (I have a feeling that band aid isn't going to last forever...but if we can just get through the summer.) But the sun shone on us this week with the arrival of the "ladies from New York, and Virginia". They had contacted Sara on facebook (if you recall she is now handling that while I handle the blog...she's posting pictures as much as she can)...anyway, she had mentioned that a group of stitchers had contacted her but told me little else. They arrived a few days ago and were so kind and gracious and didn't seem to mind my joining them each evening. I just love these ladies...several of them were knitting socks which I was fascinated with and so now, of course, I'm back on the sock trail. So I want to thank, Norma, Tina (or little Tina as she was know by me), Cindy, Janice, Kristin, Ruth, Caroline and Jeanne for being gracious enough to welcome me into your group. I had fun and learned so much...I can't wait until you return to show you the pair of socks, or perhaps pairs of socks you inspired. They should all get "A"s as well, for using the lobby as their stitching room. It must have been 100 in that place...honestly I thought I was going to die and yet they didn't even break a sweat...amazing...am I the only one who feels the heat? My word, I feel like a fish out of water with this heat. I was sad to see them leave today. I was hoping that a couple of the retired ladies would stay down here and help me run the shop and knit socks, I'm telling you right now, you will see a pair of socks from me in the near future. I know I said this a few years ago, but now I really mean it. If you aren't part of a regular stitch group you really should join. These ladies were having the best time just being together and you could tell they really enjoyed each other's company. And the tips you get from others...invaluable. For instance, using a plastic sandwich package holder as a bobbin. It was so small and there was yarn wrapped around it so I thought it was a cute little thread bobbin and then they informed me that it was the piece that goes around the twisted neck of a sandwich bag...now folks that's recyling at it's finest. Anyway, Norma, Tiny, Cindy, Janice, Kristin, Ruth, Caroline and Jeanne...we miss you already! Of course this being Sunday, Greg, Linda and Candi stopped by to stitch and bitch...as usual a good time was had by all. Linda has almost completed her Blue Ribbon project.."Schoolgirl Samplings" and it is beautiful. I can't wait to see this one finished. Candi spent the day pulling her painted fingernails off her fingers so not too much was getting done there. And Greg is trying to redesign a piece which meant he spent part of his time here taking stitches back out. Me, well I did what I do best, I sat and talked them through their stitching...somebody has to do it. And now..here I sit waiting...which I don't do well. I tried grabbing a little nap, but my head kept snapping as it fell backward...plus the last time I fell asleep like that...in the shop...I got caught and there's just nothing I can come up with to explain what I'm doing...the woman actually apologized for waking me up...(if I was the boss I'd fire myself).

Help...I'm falling asleep and I can't wake up!

OH, My God....I spent the day in the shop playing with Greg, Connie and Pat and now I'm suppose to be on the 4-10 shift and I'm so tired my eyes keep closing and I keep nodding off. But before I get started let me say, "Happy 4th of July!" O.K. now I can complain. I got to work today with the news that someone broke a pane in the front door at 4:00 a.m. and Vernon and Sara had them escorted off the property by the police. It was exactly this weekend last year when we had to deal with the crack whore...so Sara and Vernon were not about to put up with any crap from this couple...lessons learned! The town is a mad house from everyone coming in for the 4th...I'm telling you it's nuts down here. And we all know tonight is going to be awful...crowds of people and firecrackers going off day and night...oh, no I wish I was at your house! The weather has taken a turn...it's forecasted to be in the mid 90's. Oh my God, I almost choked saying that. I did turn on the a/c before I left home today, but to tell you the truth there's a breeze and it just didn't feel like it was in the 90's today. (now it's Monday...apparently I didn't post yesterday as was planned). Things are really quiet in here, you wouldn't know the season had finally started...I'm just sitting here putting up with the occasional, "Oh, it's a craft store!" And you know how livid that makes me! But I'm working on my attitude this year so I'm smiling and thanking everyone for coming in and waiting until they get on the other side of the door to say what I'm really thinking. You want to come in and look, I'm cool with that but when you have to make remarks...well I'm not cool with that. So if you are in my neighborhood, please feel free to walk in and look around, or just walk through, but please wait until you are on the other side of the door to make any remark about craft stores...because that is not what we are. We are a needleart shop and there's a difference....at least to us! Oh, my God, I just had someone ask for "string" meaning DMC and at the same time bought Belle Soie for a project? I don't understand that...surely she knows it's floss...oh, my..this is perplexing. Don't know what to think about that one. This past week was a tough one for us. We had to go to the attorney's office for depositions on the freight lift accident that took place last year. While I have tried to put this on the back burner, it was impossible since I had to be there. I was in the hot seat for 3 hours....and sitting in the office for 4 hours. Poor Sara and Vernon were there from 9:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. Vernon was on the hot seat for an hour and Sara never got there. She has to go back to give her deposition. Considering the fact that I knew nothing...3 hours seems a little excessive don't you think? His attorney grilled me for 10 minutes on my name alone. Now that is excessive. Never wanting to make anything easy, I have gone through 62 years apparently signing anyway I wanted...using my given name, my nickname, leaving off my middle name once married and using my maiden name as my middle name and his attorney couldn't understand any of it. He treated it like it was a conspiracy to fool everyone, instead of me just expressing myself at the moment. Now I realize that legally I had to use my given name and usually do, however, when MOSHA took my statement I used my nickname, and you would have thought I committed a crime. Add to that Sara Rutka is my daughter's name, well his head was about to explode...I'm just sorry it didn't. That might have kept us all awake. And of course since he thought I was an idiot he just kept asking the same questions in different ways. Unfortunately for him, I have watched enough legal shows on T.V. to be able to see through what he was doing. With each new question however, I was getting madder and madder at the waste of everyone's time. Then my attorney objected to a question he asked, and said not to answer, so he asked me the same question in a different way....sixteen times. O.K., I digress but some idiot is in here talking to me about stabbing needles in fabric to get out aggression. She always brings her friend in to show her the embroidery (which we don't sell by the way...another none needleworker). O.K., so after that attorney gets done with me...I get the attorney for the freight lift who has taken a picture of a wooden box in our attic which has a return address of Tehran on it. He gives me the picture and asks me to explain what the writing means. I think at that point I should have said this was a conspiracy by the terrorist to kill us one by one...but I was so shocked I just looked at the picture and said, "my brother served in the peace corps during the Vietnam War and he sent items home from Tehran so since his name is on the return on the box I'm assuming (genius that I am) that the box belonged to him and my father put it in the attic...but that's just a guess (something I said often during that deposition). I though heresay was no good, but apparently my guesses were.I spent an awful lot of time saying, I don't know, I don't remember and No. Maybe that's why it took 3 hours. O.K., once again someone asked me what the "string" costs...and when I said 54 they then asked, 54 cents. Just once I'd like to say no, 54 dollars. What the hell would be it other than cents for God's sake, it's 5 yds of floss, not even silk costs $54.00. Oh, mercy it must be time to close...oops..it's 8:30...it's going to be another long night..at least I had the foresight to turn on the a/c before I left home...thank God! But if I think I have it bad, Nelsa Knight called today about her order and informed me she's going back to work tomorrow in a place without a/c. How is it possible that with 94 degrees you have no a/c? There was a time when we didn't have it here in Ocean City, but those days are long gone. There are days when a breeze is non-existent....you could die without a/c. I'm too old for this...I have to have it. I have been walking to work though, part of my new regimen to get somewhat healthy. Start walking and by fall I'll start walking further. In this heat walking to work is all I can manage. Debbie Brotzman is down this week with her family so sanity has returned to the shop. Love it when stitchers are in house, and know the difference between string and floss. Anyway, now I'm just babbling and bitching so I'll end here. Have a great week, in spite of the heat...stay cool and dry. Hope to see you down here during the summer.