The itch

[Enchantra]

OK, so it's been four weeks now since I had a really good opportunity to work in my studio for any length of time.  It's starting to drive me nuts.  It's like an itch you can't reach on your back to scratch and you're sitting there wanting to dig your skin off to get rid of it.

My two jobs currently have me working 7 days a week and some of those days are 12 hour days.  I'm tired, aching, and in serious need of a vacation.  I'm getting so stressed with both jobs that I'm getting physically ill on a regular basis over and above what my food allergies cause.

I just really NEED to get into my studio...

But...
1) We have contractors coming in to shore up two basement walls tomorrow and Tuesday.  This meant I had to cover my whole work area with tarps.  No way I can work down there.

2) Dad is going in for a Cardiac Catheterization on Tuesday morning.  He was smart and went to the doctor last Friday when he felt short of breath and mild chest pains, yet the doctor couldn't find anything wrong since his cholesterol levels are under 120, and his triglycerides are low, and his bloodpressure was 100/65.    So because he was short of breath they could not run a stress test, so the Doctor ordered the cardiac catheterization so she can look around and get to the root of the problem.

3) My Uncle Don, Mom's oldest brother who is a Korean War Vet, is in the hospital dying.  They give him tops a month.  He has Parkinson's, COPD, pneumonia, and they discovered that the Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma he had kicked in the rear five years ago is back - and it returned in his lungs.  He's 80.

4) My Aunt Jean (She's actually a family friend) is going in for surgery at the end of the month to have a mass surrounded by a fluid filled sack removed from her abdomen.  She's going to be 80 this Summer.

Yeah I could use some studio time, boy could I use some....
It would be relaxing to sit there and bead again.  I really need to do it. 

*grabs her back scratcher and digs into her back a bit*

OK that didn't help much...

[Helene]

Amanda:

It looks like you are having to take care of many people and two jobs has got to be stressful, as well as tiring.  If you don't take time for yourself and do things that fill you up, you will be empty and no help to others.   Ladies, are caregivers by nature and we forget to take care of ourselves, so please do that!  I tell you this because a total stranger did the same for me today and I thank her.  You take care and only take one day at a time.

Your work is beautiful and show how much you enjoy it.

[Bentiron]

Gosh, I know what you mean about studio time! With my back situation I miss forging steel so bad, the next best thing is forging some copper and brass(3/16" stock not the big iron I used to do), it's that urge to beat the living crap out of someone that gets out of my system for a few days. I bet sitting there doing a few projects in the studio would help you feel better. My mother used to crochet to relieve stress and man did she do a lot of it and my mother-in-law made bread, so she would keep from punch my f-i-l. We all need a release activity and place to it.
I hope that your dad is OK, I just went through a bunch of those heart tests and all was fine, it was all because of an EKG that a bit off so I hope he just had an off day and not any real problems.

[Enchantra]

Thanks you guys.
The problem is even trying to make the time to get down there.  I get home from work and I physically drop.  May is almost half over - I think I can make it another two weeks - I hope.  Then I'll be back to six day work weeks between both jobs.

[Enchantra]

I really could use that studio time tonight...

So I had a couple incidents at work today that ticked me off.

First I had this guy come up to me.  This is about how the conversation went:

Guy:  What is the blueberry collection?  *pointing at a rack of green one gallon potted blueberries and assorted fruit shrubs*

Me: It's these blueberry shrubs here Sir.  *gesturing at three rows of blueberries.*

Guy: Why are they a collection, have to buy them together?

Me: No, what it means is they are different varieties.

Guy: The sign says blueberry collection $14.99

Me:  Yes it does.

Guy:  They were on sale a few weeks ago for $10

Me:  They probably were.  They run sales on them this time of the year.

Guy: What's the price now?

Me: $14.99 *Gestures to the sign*

Guy:  They're not on sale still?

Me:  They might be but that previous sale ended a couple weeks ago.  The girls at the register can check it for you if you wish.

Guy:  OK.  *He walks into the building*

A moment passes...

Guy:  She said they were $13.00.

Me:  Then that is what they are on sale for then currently.  The original price was $14.99.

Guy: That's Bullsh*t, what a racket you run here!

Me: Sir $13.00 is the sale price.

Guy:  It's bullsh*t.

He walks away, climbs into a beat up old truck that was probably as old as him that I was surprised made it down the road and takes off.  I glared at him as he drove off and seriously if my looks could kill...

For one, I don't determine the prices, but most of these nuts have never worked retail a day in their life so they think anyone can just change a price on a whim.  It doesn't happen that way.  Two, don't come into my nursery and swear at me.  It's disrespectful AND it shows that you're not exactly high on the intellectual ladder.  I give my utmost respect to my customers, I expect respect back.

So onto tonight.  It's about an hour before close and I am walking through my nursery straightening out a few things.  All the sudden I hear a very loud, obnoxious screaming male voice, "You F***ing C***!  You Stupid F***ing C***!"  OK now that has my attention.  I wander over the vegetable racks by the parking lot where I can observe the parking lot without really being seen unless I make myself seen.  This guy is verbally abusing his wife who is in the driver's seat.  I heard some language I'm not going to repeat here.  And what I picked up from the conversation she had made a comment about him losing his wallet and he got upset about it and started getting on her case about how she's had to phone in a lost debit card twice and how she's a stupid dumb B*tch.  By this time I had enough and I made myself visible.  He was still yelling at her till I moved and let it be known he had an audience.  He shut up and went inside and apparently needed a propane tank filled as I heard a page for propane.  I went over to propane and he went to his car and he must have thought I didn't hear him because he uttered to his wife, "Oh so you're a lazy C*** too and couldn't take the tank over to the fill station?"  I felt my hair on my back bristling. 

He brings the tank over to me at the station and I fill it.  As I'm starting to fill it he tries to talk to me like nothing ever happened.  I just simply nod at him to acknowledge I'm listening because frankly if I open my mouth I'm going to lose my job.  It took every ounce of my composure and control not to deck the bastard, or worse yet unleash frozen liquid propane on the union where his legs meet.    Ever had -120 Farenheit liquid hit your skin?  Trust me, it's not something you want to experience.  It's why I wear rubberized gloves when I fill tanks.  Then again Castration by frozen propane might have been to good for him.

He takes his tank and puts it into the trunk of the car.  I go back behind my vegetable racks and listen.  He's pointing at her, saying something to her, a bit softer now but I can tell by his gestures that whatever he is saying isn't pleasant.  I say to myself, "OK prick, you hit her, I'm dialing 911."  At about that moment  she put the car into gear and backed out of the parking spot and they left.

If he treats her with that much disrespect in public, I shiver to think of how he treats her in private. 

And the doctor wondered why my blood pressure was 134/85 today when it's normally 110/70...

[lithicbeads]

Offers still open.

[Enchantra]

Offers still open.

I'm aware of that.
See your PM.   

[drocknut]

Ok you two, keeping secrets from us huh?  Well I hope they are good ones. 

Seriously, that guy needs his bumpy hoojits kicked and kicked hard.  I applaud you being able to keep your composure.  Glad he didn't know what you were thinking.  As for that other man, sounds like he needed a bumpy hoojits broken over his head to maybe soften him up.  I hate it when people are rude, obnoxious, and downright crude. 
I'm so sorry all that happened to you.   Here, have a hug from me:    I know it's not shop time or even in person but it's the thought that counts right?
Try to take care of yourself, like Helene said.  Sage advice for sure.

[carlos peixoto]

Keep calm, everything will follow the path with ease.
 Nothing will fix you also get sick, so it depends on you, keep your love for life and people.
 I recomendop you seek natural ways, here there is a fruit which is called "Maracujá" She has a calming effect, you have great chance to meet the trade of tropical fruits.

 A hug here direct from Brazil
 Carlos.

[asianfire]

Yikes, those things seem to really like you. 

Make sure to get some down-time.
Money is fine and good, but remember there is no income at all in being physically or mentally ruined by life, as it comes.

In the meantime, wish you all the best 

[Enchantra]

As of tomorrow I have one more week and I will finally be back down to working six days a week again instead of seven.  I may actually get studio time in finally.

I keep planning in my head how I want to wire wrap the resulting cab I will have made from the preform I bought from Philip.  I'm going to have to pull out all my wire wrapping tricks on this one.

Now that it is semi-cooler outside I'm going to go and attempt to finish hoeing up some weeds in one of the raised beds out back while I still have light to work by.

[Bentiron]

By the first week of June my tomatoes are usually finished for the season but we get a small reprieve this year, it is supposed to be cool this weekend so perhaps some more will set and be ready before the really brutal June temps cook the vines. Then in late September I can try for a fall crop and then in late January or early February I can try again. Good fortune with your garden and your jewelry projects.

[ScarlettoSara]

I am excited about seeing what you do with that cab of Morrisonite:)

[drocknut]

I'm looking forward to seeing the wire wrap too.  Bet it will be another fantastic one.

[Enchantra]

I'm looking forward to seeing the wire wrap too.  Bet it will be another fantastic one.

We'll see.
I have a huge ton of Nickel silver wire and I also have a considerable amount of silver-filled wire to work with.  I'm leaning toward the silver-filled at this point.  I had thought about using the bronze wire but thought the picture of the stone showed enough colors that would look better in silver.  I'll make the final decision when I have the finished stone in hand and it speaks up and tells me what it wants done to it!     I've had pictures of stones tell me wire and then the stone itself in hand screamed bead embroidery.