can you say STRESSED!?!

I really don't want to use this blog to vent all of the stresses and negativity in my life. I want to use this blog for just the opposite and to keep myself motivated to continue my crafting endeavors. But, today I need to rant.

I'm finally moving on from my job. This job was supposed to be a temporary job until I found something better. Then the economy took a dump and I've been stuck here for almost 3 1/2 years. It hasn't been terrible. I would actually LOVE my job if it weren't for the greedy, rude, disgusting, insensitive, controlling pig of a boss. (Man do I have stories to go with all of the words I just described him) I am the store manager, but with very limited control of the function of the store. I have many years in retail, but have not once been treated like I know what I'm talking about. I am a person that will give my all to do my job as best possible and try to make sure that the business improves because of it, even if the person I'm working for doesn't deserve it. I bust my ass and get no reward. No "thank you" or "good job" have been uttered, let alone a bonus or incentive to do my job and keep improving. I make less today than the horrid job I quit 3 1/2 years ago, and drive farther to get there. Sure I get paid, and can usually pay my bills on time, but I could prob be managing a McDonald's and be making more, with benefits and paid time off.

With all of that said, I finally got a new job, that could actually turn into a career. I will be managing a Phoenix Coffee in downtown Cleveland. I've already been working there part-time as a barista and I love it. The people are great, the hours are awesome, the company has their shit together and works like a real business should. I never knew how much I took some things for granted working for a small business owner. Phoenix is still a small business that is growing and functioning like a real corporation, minus the bullshit. The best part for me is that everyone in the company is respected and has a voice. Every employee matters. That, and I'll have nights and weekends off. I've never had that. I'll actually have time to work in my sewing room again and focus on my business! (And hopefully this blog)

In leaving this job though, there's a lot of stress. The owner is out of the country on a buying trip. So the timing isn't great. I hate to leave while he's gone, but I know that the current assistant manager will be just fine running the store while I'm gone. I'm just a phone call away. That doesn't mean though that the owner has been easy to deal with. All I know is that I hope I can get through this next couple of weeks.

Things I want to do in 2011

- make more time for crafting
- start and maintain a new exercise routine
- put together a recipe book of all of my favorite recipes
- go bowling more often
- go roller skating
- go ice skating
- ride my bike more often
- make a financial plan so we can one day buy a house
- take advantage of living close to the lake
- read more books
- have a 30th birthday party at Cinema Wasteland
- organize my office
- finish decorating my bedroom
- de-clutter the house
- take my Etsy store more seriously
- learn how to take better photographs
- make and wear more dresses
- drink more water
- learn to knit
- take a real vacation with my husband
- go camping
- get contacts
- try more vegetables
- learn how to master my wok
- finish a project once I’ve started it, every time
- write in this blog more often

Etsy

I've been working 7 days straight and finally have a day off! I haven't had time for anything worth posting about.

I just made a treasury on Etsy with a zombie theme.


http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4cb495c9b5fb6d91b735d96a/ill-swallow-your-soul?index=0"
(I couldn't get the clickable link to work. Sorry guys, you'll have to copy and paste.)


I hope to get the sewing room cleaned up today. I'll be posting before and after pics so you can see how bad it was. Then it's on to more crafting!

So to start on a new path of blogging, I thought I'd share what I picked up at Borders using my Gift Card from my lovely sister:
I don't know why it's sideways, I can't figure out how to fix it.
I can't wait to start making these little guys! I'm not sure that it would be legal, or even morally right to make and sell them, but I may make some similar ones that I can sell. Zombies are hot right now! I've always loved zombies. In a way I'm glad that they are popular. I sold a pair of my zombie severed hand earrings yesterday as a result! And I was able to pick up that rad book. But I've always had places to get zombie stuff.

Which brings me to re-cap my birthday weekend. Friday I worked and then we went to my husbands co-workers house for a fire. It was nice to be outside in from of the fire on a chilly night. The fire pit was in the middle of the hanging branches of a weeping willow. It was beautiful. It felt like being in a secret garden, with fire and beer.
Saturday I had to work 11am to 9pm so that was crappy, but my employees/friends surprised me with a birthday cheese danish and fresh roasted coffee from Phoenix! They even had candles and sang! I couldn't ask for better people to work with! When I got home my husband surprised me with a card and gift. He wasn't supposed to get me anything since he bought me a pair of boots for an early present a month ago. The card is hilarious I got (kinda as a joke):

My first real concert was Weird Al back when I was a kid. The first song on it is Eat It. Awesome.
Anyways I pretty much crashed on the couch after that. It was a long day and I couldn't muster up the energy to go out. Which was good because then I woke up early and sober to go to Cinema Wasteland! I love this horror movie convention so much. I started going on the very first one and this show marked the 10 year anniversary! I can't believe it's been that long! I haven't gone to all of them, and I don't have all good memories of going either. I've had some really great times at this show and my husband and I intend on making more memories there for years to come. I may even have my 30Th b-day party there next year since it always falls on my birthday weekend. We got some pretty cool stuff too:

To put on our wall of Signs.

Signed by Tom Sullivan who did the special effects for the first Evil Dead. He also signed my Evil Dead back patch.
After the convention, we headed to the nearby mall to get some lunch and then wandered around the mall for a bit. We didn't go into a single store. It's been a long time I went to the mall and that trip reminded me why. AND, the bookstore is gone! What the hell! Do people in Strongsville not read?
Later that night we walked to Now That's Class to see Agnostic Front. We stopped by Amanda's on the way to say hi to her and Layla. It was good to see them if even only for a few minutes. At the show I drank too much beer and almost got my glasses broken, but it was a good time. I woke up around noon the next day (my birthday) a little hung over. I played around on the computer, drank coffee, ate some scrambled eggs and showered around 3. It was great. My husband came home early but needed a nap. He was coming down with a cold, so I went out to get some food to make dinner and stopped by the bookstore. I got another book as well as the felties book.

All in all it was a great weekend!

Back from the dead.....

It's been so long that I've wanted to post anything, I was thinking of deleteing my blog. I'm not much of a writer like the bloggers that I read. Some days I worry about privacy and putting all my business out there. Then again do I really put too much info out there? Not really. I originally started this blog with the intentions of promoting my business www.TheDrunkenGnome.etsy.com Then I didn't have anything to sell anyways because life was just getting in the way. Well, I've listed some items in my shop, and have even had some sales! It's time to get back on the saddle and get crafting!

P.S.- I didn't get accepted to Craftin Outlaws or Bazaar Bizarre this year, which also means I'm out $20 ($10 each non-refundable application fee) Grr. I'm thinking of organizing my own show for the spring.

Stay tuned......

I know people have bigger problems but I feel like venting.

So today is sucking big time. I've only been up for 45 minutes, too. It's my day off and I should be happy. It was one of the craziest weeks at work I've ever had. It was a good crazy, but I'm burned out. I was really looking forward to hanging out in bed and on the couch with my hubby on the only day we have off together. We have the season finale of Bones and Fringe to watch and new books to crack open. BUT, he got called into work which almost never happens on the weekend. He didn't really have a choice and we need the money desperately, but we both need our snuggle time just as much. As well of a vacation. A real one. Where we go somewhere out of Ohio and do fun things. We've never been on a real trip together since we've become a couple. We didn't get a honeymoon since we became man and wife. We've been poor and working as hard as we can for the past 3 1/2 years. Don't get me wrong, we have a lot of things to be thankful for. We have an awesome apartment full of a lot of cool stuff (most of which we don't really need). We have an awesome dog, great friends and great family. That's all we really need in life. But we need some real down time too. Time away were work doesn't call us on our days off reminding you of all of the responsibilities we have to go back to. Unfortunately even if we do get some time off this summer, I'm not sure we'll be able to afford to go anywhere. Not anywhere out of state that isn't camping anyways. We love camping but we've done that.

I need to stop whining. I usually feel better after venting but it didn't work this time. I'm gonna go shower and drink more coffee and hope it doesn't rain for my sisters commencement tonight.

Stalling...

So my last post was lame. I hadn't felt like writing much lately, mostly because not much is going on. Work, gym , chores, sleep. Repeat
My husband finally went back to work after being laid off since x-mas eve, and then the company gave everyone a huge pay cut. Yay for going backwards. I thought we'd be able to catch up and also put money away for the future but I guess not. Not yet anyways.
There was also some drama with a friend that I shouldn't really talk about. We'll see what happens with all that but for now I'm staying away from the drama. I don't like it. I'm not in high school anymore. We're all adults and have to deal with real life so therefore I don't have time for all that crap.
I did lose 15 lbs sine Feb 23rd! I'm feeling good, though going to the gym takes away the free time I barely had. I'm going to have to give up sleep if I want to be ready for the show on July 31st. I bought some things to make my table display. I haven't worked it all out yet but it should be awesome. Now I just have to make more stuff to put on said table. I'm sticking with only 4 types of items. Stuffed monsters both crocheted and sewn, purses, and either laptop sleeves or wallets. I have a lot of work to do. Plus I just got business cards and need to post some items on my Etsy page. Can we add some hours on to each day? I need more time!