Requiem for Ralph - A Spontaneous MMP

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
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Apparently, we had a major T-storm move across the area last night. I heard one humongo crash of thunder, then pretty much fell back to sleep. I did wake at one point to find **FCD ** had gotten up to watch TV, then I crashed again. But by 6:15, I was all slept out. It’s still overcast and windy, but no precip at the moment. From what I can see on weather radar, it’s speeding out of the area and on to the ocean, so I guess today will be sunny. MamaTigs, **tarra ** - did either of you get any of this?

I’ve got a semi-chore-filled day planned. After I empty the van (I was way too tired yesterday) I’m going to clear the garage a bit and start sorting the assorted junk in the 2 guest rooms. By next weekend, we have to have most things stored in the garage so the carpet installers can work unimpeded (and cheaper, since they don’t have to move furniture.) Among the things to be sorted is a box I got from the last White Elephant exchange - it’ll be a good start to a Goodwill box. I can also move some of the smaller furniture out myself.

**FCD ** wanted us to go out to breakfast, but if he doesn’t get up and dressed in about 2 minutes, we’ll be caught in the Mother’s Day Breakfast Crunch, since there aren’t many breakfast-type restaurants around here. I’d be fine with a bowl of cereal, but he loves to eat out. We shall see.

MamaTigs, I’m planning to make bowls for my own canines, so if can tell me approximate sizes, I can do a couple extras for you - I can even put their names on them if you want. Just 'cause I care, and I don’t figure you’ll order something then blow it off. Someone at the show asked if I personalized things and I had to point out that it takes weeks for me to fill a kiln, so a special order can’t happen in a few days. And the last thing I need is to be stuck with a coffee mug for “Morton Alabaster-Ringworm” because the orderer changed his/her mind.

Incidentally - Happy Mother’s Day to all of us MMP moms. :smiley:

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And thanks to all for saying nice things about my stuff. I’m really pleased with some of the pieces and less so about others, but I learned yesterday that my taste is not that of the masses. One lady bought a pot that I was embarrassed to have on the shelf, so I put it on the bottom $1 bargain pile - she loved it! Who woulda thunk it?? :confused: She also bought an ugly, splotchy green and purple dish…

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Happy Mothers Day!!! I will be working all day, so enjoy.

FCM, I get that too, with my cartoons. I think that is why Van Gogh cut his ear off.

Haze, is there any beer left?

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Morning, everyone! Happy Mother’s Day!

FCM, all your stuff is pretty. I especially like the teapot. I have a weakness for pottery. It’s good I can’t visit your shows- I’d be broke.

In about fifteen minutes I’m going to haul Mr. Lissar out of bed and have breakfast. Then it’s off to church. I think there’s a Mother’s Day Brunch after Mass. I’m not sure we’ll be feeling social enough to stay.

I don’t really want to go to work this afternoon. Wahh.

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Woohoo! Check it out: third from the bottom! I’m thinking this will be a much better venue than the last one. I’m also thinking I need to get throwing again. Garage cleaning can wait!

<insert happy dance here>

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Wow! That looks like a GREAT venue! I wish I could go. You’d better get busy! :smiley:

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Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mom’s out there!

Nice work FCM.

I currently have the taters on the boil, along with some eggs for the tater salad. I need to get myself cleaned up along with the house.

The kids made me a HUUUUUUGE breakfast in bed. They’re so sweet! I couldn’t finish it, but it was very nice.

MIL is coming over for BBQ tonight and my mother is hanging out with one of my sisters and her husband for the day.

I guess I better get going.

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I did, in fact, get busy. I cleaned my studio, which was no small task. Not only was the the residual mess from my last firing, but there were woodchips and sawdust from the remodeling work. But I worked hard and it was all clean and nice.

Was. :smiley:

I threw 7 pieces in between 2 loads of laundry - 2 critter kibble dishes, a small bowl, a pot with an interesting rim, 2 kitty bodies, and a support to use when I trim the bottoms of closed or uneven pieces. I also figured out that wetter clay is easier for me to work than the drier stuff. Everything is now drying a bit, and I tidied most of the mess I made.

I am way excited - I have been declared to be an artist! :smiley:

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Happy Mother’s Day to all the MMP Moms!

We just got back from a trip downtown to visit with my cousin, two of her sons and one daughter-in-law, and assorted other young people – they were all there for a wedding. We went to the National Portrait Museum and wandered around and visited and had a lovely time. My cousin got the Donnelly nose which, thank heaven, was not passed on to me – it’s long and sharp and pointed. But even though we haven’t seen each other since 1980, we both recognized each other instantly and, I swear, the family resemblance gets more and more pronounced the older we get. Papa Tigs said he knew she was my relative the moment he saw her! So a nice time was had by all.

FCM, I would LOVE to special order bowls for my idiots. We need bowls that are 9" in diameter and about 3" inches deep – they’re big dogs! – and if you want to personalize them with their names, Rusty and Isaac, I won’t complain! E-mail me about what you want to charge me for them; and I realize it’ll take a while to produce them, so no rush whatsoever. Thanks much!

I need to go do something productive now. What I’d really like to do is go take a nap – it’s a STUNNINGLY beautiful day, 74°, light breeze, clear blue sky – but alas, my goofing-off time was taken up with being a good cousin. So it’s back to work time, Mother’s Day or no – alas, my transcript deadlines don’t care about special days!

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Just a quick drive-by to say “Happy Mother’s Day all!” and “Cool pottery, FCM!” Just in from the garden and now off to get a few groceries and then to get churchified…

GT

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Happy Mother’s Day from the worst MMPer of all time.

Thanks for momming. Whatever “momming” entails.

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**MamaTigs ** - check your email.

I had to close the house up - they’re talking temps in the 40s overnight. dang - weird weather.

I’ve been a bum. We ate cereal for supper. **FCD ** just popped some popcorn, and I’m about to go steal some. I talked to my mom - OK, I listened to my mom - she does like to talk. :smiley:

I need a shower, and an unterrupted night’s sleep. I’ve got training all week that runs till 4:30, so I won’t be getting home till after 5. It’s gonna be a long week. In theory, I could go in later, but I’m going in the regular time and amassing some credit hours. But that means I may not be checking in for the next MMP till late. So don’t fret or nuttin’…

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Cool pottery, FCM!

Happy Mother’s Day to the MMP Moms!

I have just sorted the laundry for tomorrow morning. I have a lot of laundry, having been lazy and just done 2 or 3 loads every other week for months. I want to have my own washer and dryer, or at least one I don’t have to drive to. And A/C. A/C would be nice to have, especially when it hits 100F *inside *my house and stays there for a month. I thought the cats were going to die from heatstroke last year. Neither a window nor floor unit is possible, since the wiring is so antiquated. I’d be flipping the breaker every time the refrigerator came on. And I want a pony, too.

I’ve lined my references up and am grudgingly working on my resume. I can file (alphabetically AND numerically), type, answer phones, take direction (but not dictation, or at least, not very quickly), am teachable, play well with others, show up for work (On time! Every day!), come back after lunch, and can make any MS Office program or piece of office equipment behave. What else do they need to know? I’m an executive assistant, not a rocket scientist. :wink: Oh, and I’m fast. Really fast. I can do most people’s 8 hour day in 3 or 4 hours, sometimes less. If you keep me busy 8 - 10 hours a day, you will need to hire at least 2 people to take my place when I leave. (Or, as happened last time, my replacement will last, oh, 3 days, before filing a worker’s comp claim due to stress. And then *her *replacement did the same thing. Then there was the job where they had to hire 3 people to replace me and farm the rest of the job out to 3 other people. I thought that was hilarious. It would have been cheaper to double my salary.)

roo, you asked a couple of days ago about a substitute for wool? Well, honestly, there isn’t a direct substitute. If wool didn’t exist, it would have to be invented, it’s such an awesome fiber: it’s warm even when wet, it wicks moisture away from you, it’s lightweight, it’s flame resistant, it spins into wonderful yarn, it’s very durable, and properly taken care of, will last for generations. Mmm, wool. Where was I? Oh, yeah. Are you certain it’s not the mohair in the Lamb’s Pride that you’re allergic to? I am allergic to most of the “hairy” yarns: mohair, angora, llama, alpaca. They make me sneeze and itch like crazy. However, if you are allergic to wool, some of those fibers might work for you instead. Bamboo, silk, soy silk, corn silk, and milk fiber all have a wonderful sheen to them. Cotton is quite hefty and warm, and it stretches quite a bit, but is very nice in a mix with modal or nylon to help it keep its shape. I’ve heard great things about Lion Brand Cotton Ease. Hemp and linen make wonderful garments, too, but the yarn can be very hard on your hands. There are some nice acrylics out there as well, but you won’t get that sheen that natural fibers have. The colors can be, um, interesting, too. On the other hand, wool doesn’t usually come in camouflage , either. And that hunter orange? They’re not kidding. It’s orange.

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I’m home, and I remembered to buy beer on the way home. :stuck_out_tongue: The day went, I was shorthanded i the morning, so I did nothing but run register. At least I’m, off tomorrow.

FCM, coo venue. You have a Lucretia there, too. :eek:

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FCM, I’m doing the happy dance for you. I really liked the vase that got sold. Very pretty.
**
Rebo**, congrats on the new puppy. Very cute!

Jahdra, so basically what you’re saying is that I’m asking for a pony too? I did like the cotton ease, but from the picture, it doesn’t look like it has the same sheen as the lion’s pride. Oh well. Thanks for the info.!

LOUNE, you can’t possibly be the worst MMPer. Maybe we should run a contest with a vote. That could be fun. And yes, I have no life. Why do you ask?

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Roo, well, sort of. Your best bet is probably a silk or soy silk blend for the sheen. Unfortunately, they both tend to be paired with wool. Are you allergic to all animal fibers? If not, how about an alpaca/silk blend? That has a lovely sheen to it. The problem is that most wool substitutes are very expensive, compared to wool. I recommend Amy Singer’s No Sheep For You for the discussion on non-wool yarns. I also found a vegan knitting blog, Fake Sheep. Vegan knitters and spinners are a good resource, given that they will not be working with any animal fibers.

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Thanks so much!!

As you noted earlier, I’m not exactly sure what I’m allergic to with the Lion’s pride. It could very well be the mohair. I just know that when I wear that sweater, I sneeze a lot. But I wear wool gabardine and wool flannel fabrics with no problems. So at least the longer fibers in cloth don’t bother me, but I don’t know if it’s the shorter fibers in the yarn or another fiber altogether. I just assumed it was the wool since the major part of the yarn was wool. But maybe I just need to check out different types of wool. Other wool sweaters have made me sneeze also though. Hmm. You’ve given me lots of food for thought.

And thanks for the links! I’ll check those out too. They look like fun.