V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N! and... Stashy mail, part II

Actually my first ever full length summer vacation starts on Monday, but I took asked for few days off before it and therefore I am off starting from today until 29th of August!

Maybe I actually have some time to stitch during this month. *grin*

Stash p0rn

I have got some lovely mail from States during this week, one of my 1-2-3 Stitch! orders and one Clearance haul from Stitching Bits & Bobs (Good G-d, they have summer sale! Must control myself (vacation compensation is paid tomorrow and we are planning to buy some furniture with some of it (and after Augusth 15th's payday my next pay will come in the end of September) so I must be good..)! O.o).

Pretty pictures under the LJ cut:

I bought To Get To Heaven just because I found it cute, though if I start to think about the etymology any deeper it becomes kind of disturbing... still, I don't think it any deeper, hence it is cute.
Though the chart, even being made in 2007, is dreadfully small print and the symbols are much too alike to my liking so in future I have to avoid the charts made by this designer unless they are *must* haves - unless someone tells me this one is an exception.

My brain is asleep (didn't take my thyroxine in the evening, long story, and then took whole 125µg when I woke up... my body doesn't like it as such high doses, even less just after waking up, at least not yet) so... until next entry: behave!

2 days stitched, 19 to go

... thanks to this.

On Saturday evening I slipped on icy ground on my way from work, heard something snap in my left leg and was in tremendous pain. My co-worker called an ambulance (my first ambulance ride \o/) and I was rushed to a surgical ER close by. Preliminary diagnoses were broken ("ripped") achilles tendon or leg bone.

Hour later I was out of the hospital, with a sprained ankle, crutches, prescription for pain killers and three weeks of stitching time sick leave (paid, of course) - thank G-d I have strong bones and tendons.
The funny thing is that even it happened less than two days ago I don't need almost any pain killers and I can actually put weight on my ankle normally as long as I keep my ankle stiff and don't put the weight on my heel - otherwise all movement and weight on my ankle hurts (the injury is close to my achilles tendon based on the pain).
My old me would say something about sounding incoherent, but I know that Mr. Wonderful has been praying a lot because of my injury and I am quite prone to believe He has good relations to upstairs because the way my ankle has started healing is... not of this world.

I have once had sprained ankle before and it took several days before I was able to put weight on it and stop the pain killers (compared to today's, second day of my sick leave, "huge" dose of paracetamol: 500 mg i.e. one tablet, back then it was several times 600 mg ibuprofen). That was 20 years ago, so you could imagine that 10 year old would have started recover quicker than 30 year old... and I can tell this was worse injury than the one I had as a kid.

And anyway, anything that reduces the pain and helps rehabilitiation is good, whether it was incoherent or not. And this is good time for awkward transition to...

Madonna!

No, not *that* Madonna, but the one in the garden.

Stitching has also proved to be a great pain killer and even though I have been tediously slow (even the basic daily things take surprising amount of time with just one working leg as you have to change the way you do everything, which reduces stitching time) and had to frog over half a fruit because I had chosen wrong shade for it yesterday (I was drowsy because of the pain shock, pain killers and sleeping poorly) there is some progress! (Shocking.)

To make it fun I lack few of the colours, and most of them seem to be used on the ground and fruits (and the dress and her petticoat). Luckily 1-2-3 Stitch! does sell DMC to EU area with their regular price so my missing flosses are on their way. Yay!

There has also been one cat related accident when Masa spilled tea over the fabric... Luckily it doesn't seem to have stained the fabric as I ran to the toilet with it (ok, "ran") as soon as I could and I rinsed it.

Bits and pieces

1.

I am still alive. Just tired, or bored, or have nothing much to say. Or just plain sick. (I am not going to get started, but: sinusitis and bronchitis, simultaneously... during pre-asthma life I never had sinusitis and only had had one bronchitis within my life... ah well.)

2.

I have recently realised that I have never stayed in one job as long as I have been in this one - truth to be told, I haven't been working much for various reasons.

3.

I happened to catch Wolfie online the other day and I have to say that certain things tend to amaze me: like the things I learn about him regarding me - or rather confirm. Which as such does not actually surprise me, but it's freaky to be right all the time. If I weren't me I would be afraid of myself.

Blogging, what is that?

I think it's related to another familiar sounding word, which is "stitching" and which I remember only remotely (today is the first day in TOO long time when I have done any stitching), but I guess that all that has been happening in my life (frequent illnesses, work, work and more work and Dear Common-Law-Husband (DCLH from now on) moving to Finland) are a good excuse(s) (at least).

Today I had a day off and I have been helping DCLH applying for jobs (I filled the blanks and he provided me information - all the things I learned!) as he really needs one for several reasons, main ones being that he needs to get out of the house (because I have noticed that he is much more wonderful when he does ) and we really need the income (we can't look for a bigger apartment (which we need) from socially better (which he does) area until we both have some income).

And, despite of all the information given it is very possible that he won't get his EU citizen registration approved unless he has a permanent job... despite being EU citizen and despite that being much easier in other EU countries...

Yes, I am kind of getting mentally prepared for plan B (moving somewhere else).)

Still alive

As you may have guessed I have spent my days lately by working and sleeping and sleeping and working. And haven't got much stitching done, less surprisingly.
To make it much more depressing I hadn't realised that tomorrow's pay is still affected by my long leave so I won't get much which means that I don't have enough money to pay my rent, which is already late. So, either someone borrows me loads of money or I have to beg my landlord for a delay until 27th, when I will get huge wage (92 hours/ 2 weeks plus evening pay plus saturday evening pay plus overtime).
Maybe not huge, but around that sum I have gotten used to get, which would be enough to pay rent and bills etc..

But on the good news I heard ages ago that Linda has received my little pat on the back: it took less than two whole days to travel from here to there (of course it was insured!) so everyone is happy (Linda has already started her Noah's Ark kit and I am eagerly waiting for images ).

Mr. Wonderful still thinks that I am amazing (and that I will make a good wife when that time comes (no, we are not engaged or anything, but I think that reveals quite much about his intentions),  and we actually have our six months anniversary in Saturday.
No official celebration as I am at work and he's not here anyway. Bummer.

Alive, sick and waiting for January

I have suffered from mild URI from last week and being work-a-holic I have been working as I had no fever. Few days ago I jokingly said to one of my co-workers that I will surely get sick when I have my days off...
Well, unfortunately that was true and yesterday morning I went to see a doctor as I was coughing quite badly.

Result of that visit was sick leave to 22nd for viral upper and lower respiratory infections and course of antibiotics because I am asthmatic and in greater risk to catch bacterial infection, and because I was already coughing yellow sputum (sign of bacterial infection).

Getting suitable antibiotics was a quest itself: it took half an hour for the pharmacist and my doctor to find suitable one for me because of my allergies...

So, finally I have some time for finer things of life, but not the energy because those antibiotics make me sleepy.

Anyway, I am glad to announce you that I will be off from 9th to 12th (rather 13th as I come back late) of January because I go to Malaga to see Mr.Wonderful.

Yes, only for a weekend, but we thought it's better than not seeing at all for G-d knows how long period.

Signs of life

I have been wondering for few days what has gone wrong with the world: all the sudden it seems to me that news are even worse than before and that individuals go crazy in their personal lives.

Firstly there is the person from the auction site, then I heard day before yesterday that Dan's and his SO have break up and she took their daughter with her and claims that Dan has been giving medication to the kid - he may be odd and even stupid sometimes, but he is not that stupid (I lived with him almost six years, I can tell).

Luckily there are good things coming through too (and Mr. Wonderful has been behaving very well - as usual), so my confusion levels stay relatively tolerable, but still... Is it in the Moon or is there spots in the Sun?

At least I may have found a job for my brother - taking that he emails to our area manager.

I didn't have two days off as store manager called me in Friday and asked could I come to work... and to work I went. I was working whole weekend and my first day off this week may be tomorrow, or may not, it really depends. One thing is certain: I will have day off in Saturday as it's Independence Day.

I have noticed interesting thing though: it seems that my grocery bill will get smaller. Not because I get discount (5% is not much), but because I simply don't have time or energy to eat as often as I should. On the bright side I also eat much less sugary stuff, which has to be good thing.

Few wishlist additions...

Well, I was looking for a design for Frosty Friends exchange (oh yes, yet another exchange) and made few notes while at it (I found the design, and the hand-dyed I want to use, but I won't probably order them before 15th - or before I have paid all my eBay purchases (shop-a-holic, me?!)):

• Snowman Medley
• Love Keeps Us Warm
• I Made a Snowman
• Hey Mr. Snowman
• Wish Upon a Star
• Love Keeps Us Warm
• Let It Snow II
• Three Hearts
• Winter Wonderland
• Forest Snowfall
• Winter Whites
• Parson Brown
• Christmas Tea
• Snow
• Magic
• That's What Snowmen are Made of
• Snowman Button Sampler
• Let There Be Peace
• Snowman Love Story
• Winter's Night
• Mother's Wisdom: Dress Warm
• Celebration Winter

So, all is well in my neck of the woods, I am just busy as heck.

Exchange goodies and belated birthday gift ^^

I actually received Cathy's exchange some time ago, but it has been insane at work so it took this long for me to post pictures for you to admire...

Cathy stitched me gorgeous pinkeep using a design on my wishlist and she made it even more perfect as the colours match the pinkeep I received in Here's to Ewe!
She also added some lovely goodies so I was really pampered to bits!

Thank you Cathy!

With stitching friends you can have your birthday more than once every year

For aforementioned reason I haven't blogged about belated birthday gift I got from Leena either...

Leena stitched me cute little Halloweeny ornaments and sent me magazine where the designs are from and skein of Pomme de Pin hand-dyed, which is completely new brand to me (the colour is much better in person, flash just does things to colours) and looks absolutely yummy.

Thank you Leena!

Life in general

There has been annoyance and good things in my life lately, but just to end this entry with positive things a little rant:

I sold some stuff at local auction site in last month and one of the winners has been a nuisance... I sent her win to her about three weeks ago and accidentally found out that she had complaints about the postages (which she accepted and paid when requested) - her claim is that she paid more than the postage was (she should try eBay some day: that is SO common). Accidentally because she had left, excuse my French, paranoia filled rant in my feedback (and of course she gave me negative) without trying to contact me in ANY way before that (she knew my email, of course). Of course I got annoyed and left her negative feedback in return just because she obviously is not a good customer even though she paid quickly... after this she started to harass me in quite threatening way and sent me an SMS threatening to come behind my door (she lives on the other side of the country...) if I don't answer to her call right now...
I sent her courteously chilly SMS that she should read her email and that I do not answer to personal calls while I am at work (it's very common for people to be at work around 8:30 in the morning).

At the moment I am intentionally communicating slowly with her through email trying to help her to see the plain stupidity of her claim: if she had contacted me right after she got the item and asked me for a refund I would have said yes without thinking twice, but after coping with her ignorance, plain stupidity, harassment and obvious lack of sense of reality I am not very fond of the idea. Eventually I may refund her as a charitable action (if her finances depend on those three euros she needs charity!), but she will never get the other things she wants from me: positive feedback. Why would I give to her? She's real pain in my behind and I don't want that anyone else has to suffer from her...

On brighter side of things: I have lately begun to receive my purchases from eBay so I have had lovely stash filled days and pile of new and new/ used stuff waiting for to be blogged about.

But, great things last: first of all I have two whole days off starting tomorrow!
Secondly I have been praised today by our area manager and SALO (our branch's quality control/ improvement and work effectivity program) trainer, which feels good for several reasons. ^^

But now I must run: I just got an email from Mr. Wonderful. ^^

Actually I am alive and well, but...

... lately I have just spent all my days at work or sleeping and have barely had energy to do anything in addition of working because of the anaphylaxis and the cortisone treatment.
Luckily the symptoms have vanished (mostly, at least) and I have noticed an interesting additional benefit of high dose of cortisone: my leg hairs haven't been growing since I started the medication.

Admittedly I know that I am just asking for trouble by working this much and sacrificing my days off when I am asked to come to work: my plan is to actually have next two days off I have in the end of coming week - I need to as I am planning to get influenza vaccination and I may get slight cold from it and it's better that I am off when the side effects strike.
But, on the other hand I know why I am so willing to be the one who saves the day by coming to work when needed: it's not that much about the money, but about not having to be at home when Mr. Wonderful is not here as more or less surprisingly I find it quite confusing not to have him here close to me at all times.

What makes it even more difficult is that because of the news he received when he arrived back to Europe we won't probably see before I go there (hopefully in the beginning of January) as at the moment he just simply can't take that time off. (Which makes the situation probably even more stressfull for both of us as we miss each other and I know that he would need me there more than usual at this moment. If we could spend some time together he would have a possibility to forget about his stress for a minute, relax a bit and concentrate on finer things of life: us.)
So, it's easier for me to spend my days working as I can distract myself and concentrate on customers and my duties - and of course being paid for it is an additional bonus (it pays my newly found eBay addiction (which probably is partially caused by missing Mr. W. - though admittedly I have been justifying postages and bid on things I might sell on a local auction site ($1 leaflets/ booklets will very likely pay themselves back through there) and some items for couple of friends)).

But, as we always remind each other: there will be a day when this phase passes and we are together on daily basis. And that day is worth waiting for.

And something completely diferent...

I have lost my eBay seller virginity and placed few mags on sale just out of curiosity:

• CS 165; Margaret Sherry's "12 Days of Christmas", part I
• CS 166; Margaret Sherry's "12 Days of Christmas", part II
• CS 167; Margaret Sherry's "12 Days of Christmas", part III

More stitchy content coming to a blog near you one of these days... hopefully tomorrow.

I am still on the face of Earth

My week just has been "wake up - get to work - come home - go to bed" kind, even in Wednesday as greedy me worked in Wednesday too. And I have just realised that I haven't even started one exchange item which needs to be sent out soon... o.O
At least I know what I do in my days off in coming week.

The job is otherwise nice, but I think that our soon-to-be-former store manager has no foreman skills whatsoever. He doesn't seem to understand that I can't simply know everything yet and doesn't bother to actually show and explain how things are done, he just does them and apparently thinks that I should be able to do things after that...
Luckily my other co-workers are way better tutors and we have a new store manager already in training at work so soon the only issue with work will go away. (I am just dreading couple of evening shifts as I have to work with the soon-to-be-ex store manager - I am not saying that he's that bad of a person, but he is not a even close to be a good foreman and that is why I have come to dread working with him.)

I may be evil, but I have to say that I am pleased when he's gone as I can finally concentrate on the finer sides of working life.

So, today I have a day off. I should have had day off in Wednesday, but I am greedy and do an evening shift (few extra euros/ hour are very inspiring) so my next day off is Sunday - but next week I have three days off (unless someone gets sick) - and I spend my precious day off doing household chores.

I know that I promised to blog about my new stash, but I haven't had time - or rather energy - to do it, but let's see, maybe I get it done later today.

Y-A-W-N

At least I can say that I get enough hours: today I will be working 9 hours (why wouldn't I, I get 19,20 €/h because it is Sunday), get back home very late, get to sleep about 5 hours before I have to wake up and head back to work again.

Admittedly I am a bit tired, but I am slowly getting used to this pace so some day I will have energy to stitch again. Now I just hope that no one gets sick before/ at Wednesday so I can have my day off then, sleep late (9 am is late, right? ) and concentrate on household chores and stitching. (I haven't blogged about my new, lovely stash either so it's time for that too then!)

Cats

Masa has found a new hobby this week: hunting birds.
As it's getting cold I have started winter feeding local birds and even the fat balls are hanging high some seeds fall on the balcony floor and some birds eat the seeds from the floor... and Masa, when he's out, can attack them.
I managed to save one bird from Masa when he brought it inside alive (it was able to fly so I let it go), but yesterday he brought a dead bird in.

Of course I let him to eat it, even at first he didn't seem to be too interested of his snack: I had to put boys outside and throw the bird with them, after some playing with the corpse Masa did the right thing and ate it.

Nowadays Masa has a collar with a little jingle bell in order to warn the birds about him.

Well II

The basic training is now over and today I will head to my official work place and spend good bit of the day learning post office duties - I may be cashier in the contract, but there's so much more to it than you can imagine.
The hourly pay is better than I expected and I am guaranteed average minimum of 30 h/ week (at least 120h/ 4 weeks) which means that I know that there is enough coming each month to pay the necessities and everything over that (Sundays, evenings, Saturday evenings etc.) is just nice addition.

Though the minus side at this moment is that I don't have enough energy to even think of stitching when I get back home as I have headed to bed almost right away when I have come home, but that will change when I get into the rhythm.

Mr. Wonderful

My poor dear called yesterday and he sounds so tired... I just hate it that I can't be there making his life a bit less stressful as it is not good for his health to work that much - though, when he comes here I will pamper him to bits (though I think he may do that too as I am working when he's here - I anticipate some yummy home cooking from his side).

24 days to go until he returns to Europe, and few more until he comes, HOPEFULLY!, here! (I am still not sure does he actually get the time off - I am not sure does he know it officially either, but you need something to hang on.)
That is a wonderful thought, to have my sweetheart here again. ^^

Well...

The interview went well.

In other words I am getting prepared for work, starting with two days of training (I have been working in the conglomerate before so their system is basically familiar to me, it just has been few years since so I need to be re-trained) before being assigned to my actual location.
Based on what I have heard there will be enough™ work to do even my contract will be signed for 30 h/ week (overtime pay is a wonderful thing - as are evening, Saturday and Sunday (2x 9,30€/ h, guess who is more than willing to work in Sundays?) pays). 30h/ week contract secures those 30 hours so I am able to actually plan my finances.

Guess why I like over one so much?

As I may have mentioned I was indifferent with this design at first, but during the months it grew in me and Linda and I planned a little miniature stitch-a-long of it, which eventually evolved to be Ellen's Rose Sampler for Late Bloomers at EMS Cross Stitch Board.

Since the very first time I saw this design I knew that if I ever stitch it I will stitch it multi-coloured on black fabric and here is how the first take looks like.

Doesn't it look so intricate stitched on one? I am really pleased with my decision to stitch this over one, it will be gorgeous when finished.

And by looking at the colour choices you could almost think that I have certain signature colour scheme...

Yeah, I know I am sick...

• Creepy Crawly
• Flamingo Sunset
• Baby Sleeping
• Card Purse (Quaker Pocket Needfuls)
• Checkbook Keeper (Quaker Pocket Needfuls)
• Spectacles Pocket (Quaker Pocket Needfuls)
• #55 Samplers III
• Elephants
• Four Seasons Cats #114
• Pair of Cats
• Lenny (Snowballz)
• Love You (Snowballz)
• Meri Mistletoe (Snowballz)
• Twinkles (Snowballz)
• Perfect Snowman
• Snowman Love Story
• Fun Flakes
• More Fun Flakes
• Snowmen Thru The Year
• Be You To Others Sampler
• Cat In Snowman's Clothing
• Virtue Sampler
• Reindeer Yule
• Sweet Baby
• Whimsical Heart
• Primitive Heart
• Primitive Sunflower
• Curious Visitor
• Dance of the Swans
• Dragonfly Dreams

Did I tell you that I placed an order at 1-2-3 Stitch! last week? My excuse is that I wanted to get the JCS ornament issue - and I happened to find few Schooler Santas from the clearance bin... and then couple of designs just kind of stuck... honestly the order was under 30 euros!

Work

It seems to me that I am riddled with lousy luck regarding employment at this moment: the job was told to be 5 days a week from this week forward. B*llocks, I say. I found out in Sunday that there's nothing for this week.

Luckily I had applied to my old employer last week when I met an old work mate of mine and he told they need more staff - today I received a call from the company and I have an interview tomorrow morning.
I know that he has a place thought for me already so unless I screw up the interview very badly I should get a new job.

O.o

From tomorrow I have a good reason to slack from blogging: I have signed a job contract today starting from tomorrow.

This week is light, only two days, but from next week forward it's regular working week with early mornings and varying hours (because I am doing inventories and the time spent depends on the size of the store).
The wage is quite good, 10€/h + possible increase for a job well done, and days off are negotiable so I can take time off to go to see Mr. Wonderful when I feel like it and when it's financially possible.

I admit having difficulties to believe that it was this easy, as they just called me six hours ago for the first time and I signed the contract over an hour ago... The reality will sink in next week, I guess.

I just hope it doesn't look better than it is.

Time's running...

...and so am I.
It was a busy day: I had an interview, I had to renew my job application at employment services - just to hear that even though I had told them in July that I am working from 16th of July to 1st of August that hadn't been noted and my status was still "at work"... and this affects to my financial situation because SII won't pay me before employment services fix my status and they couldn't fix it today as they have changed their system and the officials are available for meetings only between 9-10.30 ... I love bureaucrasy - and in between I managed to spend three hours sitting and getting bored and got a STD check done (not that I have any doubts of having anything, but we decided to get the checks done before we meet again (in November if everything goes well (i.e. if he gets time off)!)) - three hours because for some reason they didn't take patients in for almost two hours between 11:00 and 13:00. But now it's done and I can go and get the results next week.

I have another interview tomorrow and one in Thursday after a recruiting event where I am also planning to go. I am obviously keeping myself occupied while Mr.Wonderful is traveling.

"And why are you having interviews, didn't you get a job?", you may ask... I did "get" a job, but since then neither the agency or I haven't heard from the company and I have decided to continue my search.

And I haven't been stitching because my shoulder has been acting up: at its worst I could barely move my arm, now it's getting better, slowly, but it does get tired and sore easily - and I get bored, bored, bored.
And because I am bored I have difficulties to fall asleep - though, last night Mr.Wonderful called me and after the call, after me humming insanely for a while, I just dozed off and slept like a baby. This just proves something I noticed when Mr.Wonderful was here: I sleep much better when he's around, his voice in particular is very soothing (you know, one of those people who you could just listen for hours).

But, lady needs to eat to stay fit, so, until next time.