There's a change on the horizon....

Yes, I went into the office yesterday and found Mary knee deep in dust and trash bags. While for some this may have caused alarm, for me it was a wonderful moment. My office honestly looked and in some places still looks like a paper bomb went off. My desk looked like the homes on hoarders really, but that is changing now. Mary had mentioned that she was going to start cleaning up the office and I said, "Go on...I'm fine with that." I really didn't care if she threw everything away....I was sick of looking at the mess, but couldn't get around to going through every item. But Mary has taken a lot of that decision away from me, which I really don't mind. By the time I got into the office she had cleared off and dusted the shelves and the top of my old roll top (which is so huge it's impossible to move which is what I'd really like to do...move it the hell out of the office and get a new desk without all the cubbies)...and I was thrilled. She did save everything and ask if I wanted to go through it, but I'm so sick of it I said to just trash it, even the stitching magazines that have be housed there for 20 years. Yes, folks, I'm cleaning out.....and organizing. We even put my stamps in a little stamp holder...oh, yes, organization is the way to go...I feel like I'm on hoarders. Anyway, after a few more days in the office we should have this job finished...whoppee!!!! And the finds....found a Walmart gift certificate that I lost around 10 years ago....2 address books, which we were going to go buy since I didn't remember they were there...yes, everything but a body and I'm thankful for that, because I've never been sure what was up on the top of the desk or on the shelves since I can't reach any of it. So it looks like we're getting it together at work....plus the girls are trying to take all jobs away from me (and they aren't getting any fight out of me over that either). They took the control of events away from me last year....Thank you!! Sara has taken over the mail orders...oh, my I can hear my retirement coming... ah, to get up every morning and try to decide which project to work on...yes, that's my dream. Anyway, it's a good feeling to know that my office will be clutter free...O.K., perhaps that's too much to ask, but at least we're getting closer. I came from a family who recycled everything. My father never threw out a piece of paper unless he had used every conceivable space, back front and sideways, and I got that from him. I save all paper and to throw it away just feels wrong. But if someone else throws it away I really don't have a problem with it. Well, Mary doesn't throw it away, she's very "green" so she's hauling all of it over to the recycling bins at Walmart. I'm just so grateful....I've wanted to be paper free but couldn't do it myself. Well, let's face it hauling to Walmart just isn't me...I'm more hauling home from Walmart...but I sure don't mind someone else doing the heavy lifting. So now I'll be proceding in a better space. This means that both home and office are getting organized. Well, home is organized...although I'm still going through closets...so my life is getting a whole lot better. Now I come home everyday and stitch until I fall asleep, and then get up and stitch some more. I've got several projects in rotation. I'm always changing this system but for now I've got a birthday gift for someone that I work on one day a week (it should be done next month).., the Cricket Collection "Spring" which is worked on one day a week (and should be done this week) and then I get to pick out a new project .. whoppee!!!). Part of the week is dedicated to a small shop sample...something that can be completed in just a few days and then usually I have 1 day to work on anything I want to work on like the Betsy Morgan Toy Chest, and I try to make sure I'm working on something that has been started in the past and stuck in a bag. That means that every week I get to pick out a new project...always a thrill....and some weeks I get to pick out another large project (Like next week when Spring will be completed). I've really never had so much fun with stitching. You simply cannot get bored when you have so many projects in the works. Soon I will start working on Christmas gifts...this will be a first starting this early....all part of my new organizational effort... Now, aggravation...I had it the other day with Verizon...an old nemesis....before leaving for Nashville market I received a new phone bill that instead of reading the normal $33.00 for Salty Yarns it said, $180.00. I trying to decipher what created the jump I saw internet charges, call waiting, etc, all kinds of things I didn't have on the shop phone, so today I decided to call them and get this matter in hand. After punching several buttons in answer to their automatic answering system (which I hate) I got the wrong department and just started punching "0" which always gets a person...and explained my problem. Now I called number on the statement, however after giving the person my account name and number I was informed that my account did exist. So while trying to stay calm, I said, "well I've got a bill that says I do have an account so I'd appreciate service." So she asked me to hold on and she'd transfer me as she obviously didn't have the authority to look at the account. (not sure why she would be answering phones listed when she couldn't answer questions because she didn't have authority, but well, it's verizon). So I start explaining the problem to the next person and she asks for the number and name on account and then comes back with...these don't look like our numbers...and after assuring her that it was the number on the bill she asked where I was located. Apparently in trying to just get me off her phone, the first woman tranferred me to New York. So now I get transferred again and after explaining the problem to the 3rd person, I am thrilled when she informs me that she has my account and goes back 3 months to see that my bill was normally $33.00 and explains that someone authorized the additions to the account but she would delete them. Whoppee....after 20 minutes the problem is possibly solved...won't know definitely until the next bill comes out...so this may be a premature Whoppee!!!! Anyway, my life goes on. Must get back to stitching so I'll end now...have a great day.

Whew.....I'm definitely getting too old for the computer age...

While at the Nashville market I tried, as I always do, to blog and let you know what was going on....but was unable to connect to the internet. When I called the front desk to get instruction they just said, "use this password" which I did and still couldn't get on. Unlike prior years I simply just gave up. I no longer have the energy to deal with this computer age. And everyday I'm reminded that I'm racing into old age. Friday C.J. came to me and said his Blackberry no longer worked. I had told him when I gave it to him to come to me when and if anything happened to it as I took out insurance on it. So I explained to him that I was going to Salisbury on Tuesday and would take care of it then. So yesterday I traveled to Salisbury, went into Verizon where I was told I needed to take care of this myself. What the hell happened to customer service? These are the things I can't stand. I have been paying for the insurance monthly since getting the phone. Insurance to me means when you have a claim, you let the company know and then they take care of everything else. But no more...I had a number to call, and when called I'm told by a machine that the wait time is going to be long and I should go on the internet to file the claim. I was in the store where I could have purchased a new Blackberry, because repairing phones is apparently no longer being done. But no...that's not the way it works...I had to go on line, answer the questions after which they assure me they are sending me a phone overnight and then with the deductible I still have to pay $100. And the final screen tells me if I don't return the other phone I will be charged another $100. O.K., I was standing in the friggin store with the old phone in hand, you could have taken the phone then, had me pay for the new phone then and this would have been a done deal. Honestly, why can't common sense ever enter the reality of my world. But I digress...I was speaking about the Nashville market. First, we got the 2nd teacher confirmed for Jamboree...Theresa from Shakespeare Peddler, so we are thrilled we now have 2 confirmed...Blue Ribbon and Shakespeare Peddler. Thank God!!!! Now we have 1 more to go and I'll keep you posted. I also have Sherri Jones confirmed for April 2013 so again, whoppee....we are so thrilled she is going to be here...we already have 2 signed up for her class and we haven't even posted it yet. But Crystal and Cynthia were having a mini retreat here this past weekend and were standing beside me when I read the e-mail. Anyway, Crystal and Cynthia arrived Friday afternoon and we had such a nice time with them last weekend. I use to only see them at Jamboree but last year they decided to take a mini retreat and now make it an annual event. Coming right after Nashville market allowed them first look at all the new "stuff" we brought back. I always love to see what stitchers are purchasing...and find that many of us love the same things. So they went home with plenty of stash to hold them until we see them again. Thanks ladies...we had fun with you and really appreciate your spending time with us. Sara and I have worked hard to get all the Nashville market items out on the racks and I believe we finished the last bags on Monday...always a good feeling. I love buying the stuff and love actually going through it again when we get home. Needless to say I pulled a few things to stitch....what a surprise. I've been stitching like a mad person since the holidays, well even before the holidays so I'll have plenty of new models in the shop. Took 5 things over to the framer yesterday...can't wait to get them back. And I have a few more ready to make into pillows or whatever....yes I've been really productive on the stitching front. As for the market...I'll start getting things up on the web site today. I finally switched out the computers so I can work from home on the days the shop is closed. And finally, the weather down here. Did you have winter, because we've yet to see it. While I was doing mail orders on Monday Sara called me in the office and said, "It's snowing!" And yes, there were fat snowflakes falling....for about 1 hour and then it turned to rain....so I suppose that was our winter. It was short and sweet. Today it's suppose to go up to 60....yes, this is my idea of winter. I've only worn a winter coat one time this winter....but my fear is that we'll have 32 degree weather and snow at Easter. Frankly by this time of year I expect winter to be over, so since we haven't seen it yet....well there is reason for concern. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed that winter has come and gone while I was sleeping....which gives it plenty of time since I seem to nap a lot now. Nap and stitch..oh yeah, and eat...that sums up my day.