On the Road

After over a month of dedicated blogging, I realize I took a sudden hiatus! The reason is simple - at least to me!

Last Thursday, we went to Cheyenne for a night. It was our first time there and we enjoyed it (more than going to Salt Lake). It is an hour further, but much smaller and easier to get around, while still having all the stores we like to go to. Friday, we watched my Uncle be commissioned by the Supreme Court of Wyoming as a Wyoming Highway Patrolman (or "Trooper").


We returned to spend Saturday unpacking from Cheyenne and then repacking for new trips. On Sunday, Tom flew out to Ohio (for training for work... and yes, he's off of Worker's Comp). After dropping him off, the boys and I headed South. We spent yesterday in Vernal, Utah with my sister (waiting out a storm) and today found us back on the road. Tonight we are in Panguitch, Utah.


Tomorrow, we shall arrive at my Aunt's in Pine, where we will spend a few days before heading down to The Valley of The Sun for some visiting there.

Now, you know where I've been and why you're not likely to "see me" online again for a bit. :D

I'm Wanted!

Basically, lately, wherever I go and whatever I do, people want me or are advising me of what I “should” do… in a good way. It seems every time I turn around, people are telling me “you’re great at…” or “you’re really good at…” and then they follow it up with how I could profit from my skills. This is very flattering and exciting.

Most exciting is that I’m being propositioned by the owners and managers of Quilt Shops to teach, design, and generally work for them.

It’s so intriguing to me. I’ve been working with The Law of Attraction since January 2007. I understand the principles, but putting them into action and then seeing them work is still… well… it puts me at a loss for words.

Right now, I’ve talked with the owners of two quilt shops. With the second one, I ask about whether they expected their teachers to “be exclusive” to their shop. (They do.) I’m not sure how I feel about that… what is the “standard” out there? When you teach at one shop, how far away must you travel before it’s “acceptable” to teach at another? Also… what’s the norm for pay? Do you get paid a standard rate? Is the rate per class, per hour, per student or some combination? Do you simply collect the class fee from the students and the shop sells merchandise?

This is all very exciting to me. It’s always pleasant to be approached and ask for you your ideas. I just have to choose what is going to continue to brings me the most joy. I really want to keep working on my goal of publishing my own designs… perhaps teaching will help propel me towards that, by giving me goals to have patterns completed for and students to teach too.

If you’ve “been there”, I’d love to hear your input! In the meantime, I’m going to have a busy day tomorrow at the dentist and lube shop and ice rink, then, Thursday we’re going to take a little mini-vacation to Cheyenne to support my Uncle as he is commissioned into the Wyoming Highway Patrol.

Life in Wyoming - Kohl's Oddity

I was just researching Cheyenne because we are taking a trip there this week (Thursday through Friday). I was pleased to discover they have a Kohl's. I was puzzled to review their hours... take a look... I mean, I've heard of businesses being closed on Sunday or even Monday, but have you ever heard of it on Thursday? Just plain weird if you ask me!

Anyway, they open at 4 AM on Friday, so, I should still be able to visit them (if I want) while we are there).

Tom Update – Staples Out, Healing Continues

Healing

Tom's staples were removed on Thursday, February 7^th. Since then, we’ve seen a rapid (almost immediate) decrease in prescription pain killers. The past few days Tom has had many hours “pain-free”. He’s still in his boot (which means he can wash, stretch, and scratch his ankle at will, but protect it too). This week he should be able to start putting weight on the foot again… although I’ve seen him doing it for the past few days.

Worker’s Comp and Pay

Tom’s company pays for their own private Worker’s Comp Insurance, and they were processing him just fine, until the State of Wyoming , came and took the file. This was last on February 4^th. They didn’t call him or anything, so, when he called the private company on the 7^th, that’s when he learned that ANY work related injury happening in Wyoming MUST be processed by the state. It’s “the only state in the Union” that requires State Worker’s Comp to be used. Luckily I’d ask Tom to make sure we’d have a paycheck (mid-month) and he called and found out about the change well before payday. He was able to work something out... his work generously paid him another full paycheck, even though he’s been out the whole time… it was their mistake to not file the paperwork properly, so, they paid him… very nice!

Back to Work

After he gets back on his feet, but if he’s not able to drive yet, Tom’s going to talk to his boss about going to Ohio for some corporate training. Even when he was there for three weeks at a time, he never had a rental car, they just shuttled the students between the hotel and the training facility each day. So, he has some classes he’s been needing to take and this might be an “acceptable” way to get him pack on the payroll. So. There’s the update on what’s happening with Tom’s healing.

How I’m Handling It

I’m getting along much better with Tom being hurt and home. Actually, last week he finished doing the illustrations for the quilt pattern I’ve designed… now to get some extra time to publish it!

Mommy's Martini

I was just reading some old posts on the Mommy's Martini Blog. This one about Green Cleaners caught my eye, while this one with illustrated baby pointers had me laughing harder and longer than I remember laughing in a long time. Enjoy!

Update on Casey’s New Life

So, this evening, I saw and talked with the Mom from the family that took Casey. She’s been there exactly one week, and SHE’S LOVIN’ IT!!! She’s playful with everyone (including the big, family dog). She "talks" a lot. She’s out and about in their home. She sleeps on Nicole’s pillow at night, curled up to her head, and wakes her up licking her nose. The way she sleeps on her and cleans her sounds just like what she use to do with and to her kitten, Zoom Zoom.

Zoom Zoom has gone around “looking” for her Momma a few times, but all-in-all, she’s doing well too.

It was good to hear that Casey has settled in so well and so quickly… even with a dog! I guess she plays with the dog’s tail (I think the dog is like 15 years old, and Casey’s only 18 months, so, that could explain a lot!)

Just wanted to share that we made a good choice with placing Casey there… oh yeah, Nicole was going to call her “Pancakes” but has decided "it didn't fit" and to name her “Isabella”… which oddly enough, was a top contender “girl’s name” when we were pregnant with Jack.

It’s Been A Great Day!

I’ve had a great day today. I’ve visited. Crossed 4 out of 5 things off my list. Had a tasty and super-simple homemade meal. Relaxed. Finished some projects. And now, for some reason, I’m just wiped out and can barely keep my eyes open or focused. And so. I’ll tell you about my super-simple dinner and then I’m “over and out!”

A few days ago, I made The Best Ever Lasagna from The Pioneer Woman. I made one modification to the recipe… I made fresh pasta, which made it AMAZING! I don’t know about you, but I’ve never had homemade pasta in lasagna before… it was very interesting. You didn’t really “notice” the pasta while you were chewing (like, it wasn’t all rubbery and chewy). Also, the denser, fresh pasta seemed to “hold” the whole thing together. As in, when you put a piece on your plate, it all stayed together (instead of sliding apart into separate pieces). Using fresh pasta also allowed me to fit the pieces just right into my dishes (including an Oval Shaped Pampered Chef Stone). I cooked one pan immediately and froze another (which is why my dinner was so easy tonight, just heat (for 90 minutes) and eat! ) The ONLY thing we would have changed, was the sodium… between the pasta, the sauce, and the cheese, the lasagna had THREE TEASPOONS of SALT… a bit much for our tastes (although we didn’t notice it so much on the reheats). By the way, this lasagna was equally good fresh, leftover, or frozen… all of which were cooked in stoneware in the oven or toaster oven. We will MOST DEFINITLEY be making this again and again!