fittzwm: (strong)
I can stamp my Adult Card good for the next ten years.
fittzwm: (Default)
After prolonged illness, my father-in-law slipped this mortal coil Monday morning. In all honesty, I am surprised he hung on this long. He may have done so for the sake of my mother-in-law. Her memory is pretty much gone. As is her hearing. FIL have been wheelchair bound for a while now. He'd fall and be unable to get up. He'd call out to MIL for help. If she actually heard him, unlikely as it is, she'd forget what she'd doing as soon as she stood up. He would lay on the floor for hours. I know they were raised in a different time. MIL has long term care insurance, which will soon be enacted. My FIL's long term care plan was his wife would care for him. She is 17 years younger, but cannot care for herself. When she was told her husband had passed, she was momentarily confused, then stated she had to go back to work so she 'could take care of things'. She's been retired for 10-ish years. Dan will be headed to Phoenix Friday morning for the service. They boys and I will not be going. I feel a little guilty that I don't feel guilty. Stupid, I know. Dan, nor any of his brothers, were particularly close with their father. Again, a different mind-set. Mother is the nurturer, father the provider. end of story. I hope my father-in-law has found peace and comfort in death that he could not in life.
fittzwm: (Default)
It seems I have survived the mass exodus from livejournal and its new regime. I do hope Dreamwidth will be a kinder platform. Quite honestly, those politics and lack of privacy and security are the primary reasons I had not posted on LJ for eons. And the hacking. And the troll-bots. I will endeavor to post more of my sewing, crafting, cooking, and embroidery adventures here.
fittzwm: (shaun the sheep)
With the loss of live journal as a platform for free speech and secure means to do so, I am porting all my journal entries to here on Dreamwidth. As evidenced buy the length of time my content is sitting in the queue, damned near everyone else not in the Soviet Union, sorry, Russian Federation is doing the same thing. Call me crazy, but I truly believe in equality. Gender identification is FAR more complicated than 'boy or girl'. Privacy is a right of a free society.

remember?

Nov. 9th, 2014 04:31 am
fittzwm: (haring)

Twenty-five years ago, I was in the middle of basic training, listening to world events on my 'illegal' radio (small AM/FM transistor!). Even then, I was a news junkie. I tracked the Nicaragua news. I tried really hard to contain my reaction when I heard the Gates had opened, and held back tears as I heard The Wall was coming down, uncontested.  I remember being aware of the Berlin Wall even as a smallish child,  as we lived in Europe in the 70s. We would hear stories of people getting shot as they tried to leave East Germany, by any means possible.

Even after The Wall came down, Eastern Europe was still living under Soviet rule. My first duty assignment was in Bavaria, so I saw quite close-up and personal the dissolution of the Soviet Regime. Artificially formed countries like Yugoslavia and the Caucasus regions crumbled into anarchy and revolution. Many of the borders the Stalin so diligently tried to blur and form to his whims reverted to their former political, pre-Soviet state. Some, like Armenia & Azerbaijan, may never fully recover. (Nogorna-Karabakh ring any bells?)

The countries of Central Asia are still littered with the evidence of Soviet occupation, some of which will take centuries to repair. Read the highlights here, starting on page 33 : http://books.google.com/books?id=7RJEAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=soviet+debris+in+central+asia&source=bl&ots=HsyB9srgR7&sig=xEKvrXb3b4RPO3AvQMdDyxNQ_cs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=k0RfVPCZB5f6oQSPkIGYAw&ved=0CC0Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=soviet%20debris%20in%20central%20asia&f=false

All in all, that one commander of the guard in Berlin changed the shape of Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Danke schon, Herr Harald Jager. Even though your opening of the gate, allowing unhindered crossings was called a 'mistake', your move was a bold one. Families were reunited. Freedom rang.

fittzwm: (thread)
Pictures onmy facebook. Lots, so far.

QUINN!

Jul. 2nd, 2013 12:36 pm
fittzwm: (haring)
That is the name of our new adoptee. He's a year & a half old smooth coat border collie of more normal proportions (45 pounds as opposed to Malcolm's ginormous 60 pounds). We adopted him through the Pacific Northwest BC Rescue group. He is ridiculously cute and quite the snuggle-bunny. Pictures later, I promise.
fittzwm: (haring)
Happy Birthday, [livejournal.com profile] tudorlady ! May you get the chance to indulge in some frivolity :)
fittzwm: (butters)
Why, oh why do I do this to myself? I, like so many others, am making something new for 12th Night. Stepping a tiny bit out side of my comfort zone and making something I have never before attempted. So far, I seem to have most of my wits left. Also making a doublet for The Biscuit...

I have to be done in a week...

GAH!
fittzwm: (cinderella)
from [livejournal.com profile] gwen_the_potter. An interesting opportunity for introspection. :)

Take the following list, and: Bold items you have, and use at least once a year. Italicize the ones you have, but don't use. Strike through the ones you had, but have gotten rid of. I am supposing plain type means 'don't have now or ever'.

pasta machines, breadmakers, juicers (mine is manual), blenders, deep fat fryers (sorta one with the crock-pot), egg boilers, melon ballers, sandwich makers, pastry brushes, cheese knives, electric woks, miniature salad spinners, griddle pans, jam funnels (canning funnel?), meat thermometers, filleting knives, egg poachers, cake stands, garlic crushers, martini glasses, tea strainers, bamboo steamers, pizza stones, coffee grinders, milk frothers, piping bags, banana stands, fluted pastry wheels, tagine dishes, conical strainers, rice cookers, steam cookers, pressure cookers, slow cookers, spaetzle makers, cookie presses, gravy strainers, double boilers (bains marie), sukiyaki stoves, food processors, ice cream makers, takoyaki makers, and fondue sets

tired

Aug. 7th, 2012 10:00 pm
fittzwm: (Default)
will post CoCo pics on facebook. Later. Have Red Carpet shots and garment district frivolity.
fittzwm: (Malcolm)
Boosting the signal - it's all about puppy love!

Originally posted by [livejournal.com profile] kass_rants at Greyhounds in Texas
If you've been looking for a wonderfully sweet, loving animal companion and you live near Austin, Texas, here's your chance:

Zoe is a chocolate female greyhound
Easy is a fawn male greyhound
Shiner is a tan and white male greyhound (like our Preston!)
Gomer is a tuxedo greyhound (like our Fred and the late Leopold!)

These four lovely hounds are neutered/spayed and their $75 adoption fee includes vaccinations, a pet license, a microchip, a collar and tags.

They're currently at:
Town Lake Animal Center
1156 W. Cesar Chavez
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 972-0500
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/tlac

Please repost to your own LJ, Facebook, Twitter wherever else and spread the word. You can save a life and bring home a wonderful new furry friend.
fittzwm: (device)
So I went to my first ever Estrella War. I'll sum it briefly:

The Good:
  1. It was sunny every day and did not rain.
  2. I got to hand over my kingdom largesse in person, as well as a gift for Her Majesty. Both were well received.
  3. Had very little personal obligations during the event and could do as I pleased, mostly.
  4. The Biscuit was mostly well-behaved; always with everyone else in the encampment. Even received a compliment on what a gentleman he was.
  5. The trip to Phoenix went without a hitch.
  6. Visited with Husband's family Friday evening in Mesa.

The Bad:
  1. Three quarters of my husband's driving companions bailed; two with very good reason, the third to probable spousal pressure.
  2. I knew practically no one there. My husband seems to forget how few people I know and did not introduce me to anyone. Spent a large portion of the event feeling quite on the outside of everything.
  3. I heard much muttering about how low the turn-out was. Merchants' Row had slightly more than half the merchants they had last year. Being the week after Gulf Wars was probably a big factor. ETA: last year there were 89 merchants, not including food (12); this year there were 61 merchants & 8 food vendors.
  4. It was freakin' hot! At least 85F every day. Sure, there was a slight breaaze, but it functioned much like the fan in a convection oven, ensuring it was hot everywhere.
  5. My in-laws visited the event on Saturday. Husband was on warfield most of the day, therefore I was expected to play host. Couldn't introduce them around camp, as I knew pretty much no one. My FIL really drives me batty... Him playing with his dentures during lunch was repulsive priceless.
  6. Slept on the ground for three nights.
The Ugly:
  1. Truck threw out a heliocoil as my husband was going to park it after unloading. Picked him up Thursday on my way in. Thank goodness for AAA. Expensive repair...
  2. Did I mentioned how fucking hot it was?
  3. Trip home was beyond awful. Sure, I got home, but only after five delays and being stuck in Sacramento for an extra 90 minutes. That completely threw off the plan of taking Sound Transit home, at least without a very long wait. Dealt with petulant Eldest and his reluctance to fetch us at SeaTac. (Hello... how many times did I drag him & his girlfriend all over Puget Sound?) Once we were on the flight, had screaming children in quadraphonic sound. Gads.
  4. Came home to a trashed house only marginally picked up. Eldest claims the DOG broke the TV... Yes, the new 47" plasma TV is now garbage. There is a possibility of truth, but I am skeptical. Can a tennis ball tossed by a dog break a plasma TV? ETA: This doubt in the veracity of Eldest's statement is based solely on the massive damage he has done to the walls and doors in his room, not to mention the number of holes he has slammed into walls in other parts of the house. I speculate he brought his game system down to the big TV and threw the controller in a losing/frustrating moment.

I am glad to be home. I will try to focus on the positive aspects of the trip.

Now to prepare for NorWesCon...

fittzwm: (Malcolm)
[Error: unknown template qotd]With overly intelligent animals, namely a Border Collie... What WOULDN'T it do?

Blech

Feb. 28th, 2012 04:37 pm
fittzwm: (Default)
I am having to do probably the worst portion of my employee review - the self evaluation. I hate this! I really suck at it, to be quite honest. What are the things I do well? Things to do better? What's my plan for doing them better? Timeline? I think I would rather eat beets than do this... (BTW, I dislike beets and think they taste like dirt)

What makes some of this difficult is my job description is rather fluid. Support the CEO and the leadership team, ensuring the success of the mission.  Not the exact words, but not far off.

And it's due probably tomorrow.

GAAAAAhhhhhhhhHHHhh

I now return you to your day.

ow

Feb. 23rd, 2012 08:48 pm
fittzwm: (butters)
I feel as though I have been run over by a thresher. Or maybe a combine. At least I don't go to the job on Fridays.

gaahhhhh

Feb. 22nd, 2012 01:30 pm
fittzwm: (Give-a-damn)
Oh, Motivational Muse, you bitch... why have you forsaken me??

Really, I am a decent person. I just can't seem to get motivated to do much. So MANY projects looming and have been requested to help with more. Work, home and hobby all want a piece of me, so much so that there's not much left for me.

87 hours of sleep should do it...
fittzwm: (strong)
Not really, but I sure can put up a good front. Yesterday was quite an industrious day for us. After a delightful breakfast of center cut bacon and buttermilk apple pie pancakes (and the newspaper reading), we set to work. For me, it was run four loads of laundry through the washer & dryer, vacuum and mop downstairs, CLEAN the litter box & litter box cover then wash the dog.

For Hunny, it was some vehicle maintenance then rebuild half a garden box. Not so bad, you say... he had to replace the BOTTOM level of boards. This involved moving all the dirt in the 4' X12' bed into the middle and pulling away the bottom boards, one at a time. Even though they were cedar, they'd been in place for six years and were decaying. Now they are shiny and new! HOORAY!! As a side benefit, all the dirt got turned in the bed, turning under the winter vetch.

After all the was done, together we tackled the back room. We re-arranged our pantry & storage shelves a bit and added some new space, clearing quite a bit of space from crap treasures that were stashed willy-nilly. I now have probably double the shelving available and stuffed that was packed in a bit too tightly has room to breathe. I, also, have room to breathe. I can see the top of my craft table!!

Today, it is waiting on the various Sears tech to visit and do maintenance on our appliances. Warranties run out next month, so better get all those little things covered whilst we're covered.

After all that is done, I will venture out for a few errands. JoAnn's is having a sale & I need a few things...

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