Goodbye 2008- Don't Write; Don't Call; Don't Ever Come Back!!!

End of Year Meme:

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? I took up jewelry-making.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't keep them at all. I already have a laundry list of resolutions for next year, but let's see if my lazy ass actually complies.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No.

5. What countries did you visit? None. *sigh*

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Money

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? 6/06/08- I was let go from my job of 5 years.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I actually sold quite a few pieces of jewelry.

9. What was your biggest failure? I didn't lose any weight at all. If anything, I only gained more.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I got sick a few times, mostly because my tonsils are crap.

11. What was the best thing you bought? My black suede boots and my jewelry making tools.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My husband's.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My own.

14. Where did most of your money go? bills

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? A little weekend getaway to Tampa in September.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Disturbia by Rihanna

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? sadder
b) thinner or fatter? fatter
c) richer or poorer? poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Work to fix the potholes in my life.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Eat.

20. How did you spend Christmas? With family, playing Monopoly.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Yes, with Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson).

22. What was your favorite TV program? The Office

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? No.

24. What was the best book you read? I wouldn't say Twilight series was amazing, but I enjoyed the first one.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette soundtrack; I rediscovered New Order & The Cure; I rediscovered Big Band music; the Twilight soundtrack.

26. What did you want and get? My boots & the complete Calvin & Hobbes collection.

27. What did you want and not get? A lot of things.

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Well, it wasn't a new film- Marie Antoinette. I watched it obsessively.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 24, and I can't remember what I did, even though it was just a month ago.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Winning the lotto.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Frump Girl

32. What kept you sane? my hobbies and music

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Robert Pattinson & Taylor Lautner

34. What political issue stirred you the most? The Presidential Election

35. Who did you miss? An old friend or two.

36. Who was the best new person you met? No one blew me away, to be honest.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Don't expect so much from life. You'll end up disappointed.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. "Why don't you go get a job?!" by Offspring.

Where's that Damned Energizer Bunny When You Need It?!

Ok, so I have four days left to wrap presents, and it doesn't look pretty, as I work every single day, including Christmas Eve. *sigh*

I need to go hunt down a time machine. Be right back.

On A Roll

Yesterday I managed to make yet another sale on Etsy, and I sold two necklaces to a friend of my brother's.

I am delirious with joy over the fact that my business is taking off so quickly. I expected to see months pass before anyone bought anything at all. This is definitely encouraging and inspiring.

My goal is to create truly unique pieces that draw attention, as well as comments of surprise and awe. I want my pieces to amuse; shock; tongue-tie...all that.

My best friend has decided to become my partner in crime and we are planning to buy supplies in bulk (by splitting the costs) to get busy on our many projects.

:::

I have to photograph these funky earrings I made out of spare Christmas lights. I found a pack of them outside by a neighbor's door and decided "Finders Keepers." I pulled off the plastic white caps and used the light bulbs as charms/pendants. They're simple, but cute. Will post pictures tomorrow.

Anyway, short, crappy blog entry- I know. I just don't have much to say today.

Bye.

Mad, Mad Wonderland

I decided to open up a separate Etsy shop for my jewelry. I titled it Mad, Mad Wonderland.

Amazingly, the very next morning after I opened it, I made a sale. I was so happy. I guess having the jewelry mixed in with all of the other items I make by hand made the jewelry seem crowded in, or lackluster. Now, it all looks so much shinier and awesome, because the shop only contains jewelry.

Please visit and tell me what you think. I need feedback on my pieces for sale and on the prices. I try to price everything fairly.

Here's the link again: Mad Mad Wonderland

And here are some photos of the newest pieces up for sale:

Thanks

The theme for December on Nablopomo.ning.com is "Thanks."

So, what do I have to give thanks for this year? Let's see:

*My wonderful, loving husband.
*My two adorable, affectionate pets.
*My giving, loving family- especially my saintly, selfless parents and my hilarious brother.
*My best friend, Mel, who always lends an ear when I want to spout bull crap, and who will willingly sniff my ass to tell me if I sat on something smelly.
*My cousin, who is like my sister. We share laughs and wisdom daily.
*God, for always granting my wishes and helping me get through everything life pitches at me.

I truly am a very fortunate person, to have all that I do. I'm even more fortunate in that I recognize the fact that I am so, because many people I know have a lot that many others wish they had, and all they do is bitch and moan.

Thanks, Life. You rock. Even though you get tough sometimes, you still rock.

What are you thankful for?

Random Third Grade Memory

I remember the incident as if it were yesterday (*names have been changed):

My third grade class had just left the classroom, and we were headed to P.E.. We all walked in our semi-straight line, following the line leader, who followed the teacher. I was near the back of the line, quietly walking along. A very chatty, animated girl, named Hannah*, was blabbing away in the middle of the line, when it happened: "I wish I could get a knife and kill myself," she said, giggling.

Several students turned to look at her, confused. Then, the worst part came: "I wish I could get a knife and kill Mrs. Bradshaw*!" Again with the disturbing giggle.

I remember gasping and hearing several gasps all at once. Mrs. Bradshaw, our teacher, was as sweet as a peach; would never harm a fly. Every one of her students loved her. Imagine how that statement sounded to a bunch of 8-year-olds. Of course, someone immediately ran to the teacher's side and ratted Hannah out.

Even then, as an 8-year-old child, I understood that the look in my teacher's eyes was a mixture of shock, fear, horror and confusion. I am pretty sure she had never dealt with a situation such as that before. She didn't seem to really know what to do. Hannah went into a rage, insisting that the tattle-tale was lying. Mrs. Bradshaw stared at Hannah wearily, as we all stood outside on the path leading to our P.E. field. The sunshine was blinding.

"How many of you heard Hannah say those ugly things?" Mrs. Bradshaw called to us all. Several hands went up, including my own. She then asked all of the witnesses to come forward.

Our poor teacher didn't know what to do. She was literally wrenching the hem of her blouse in her hands, staring at Hannah with a frightened expression. Hannah burst into tears, knowing that she was in a lot of trouble. There had been absolutely no rational reason for her statements in the hallway.

After that, the memory gets a little hazy, but I remember that all of the children who were witnesses were told to write down what they saw and heard. I was among the group. Mrs. Bradshaw sent Hannah to the principal's office and called her parents. They had a very intense conference with the principal and the school counselor.

Hannah missed a lot of school after all of the mayhem. Rumors started going around that her parents had gotten her a shrink. On Parent Night, they actually showed up, their daughter in tow. Hannah's eyes were red and her face splotchy, which meant her parents had forced her to go. Her mother and father's faces were grave and solemn. They never smiled once and didn't look at anyone. I remember whispering to my mom, "That's her," and then pointing her out. My mom had been shocked when I had told her the story. Several parents stared at Hannah and her parents with judgmental eyes.

Mrs. Bradshaw never interacted with Hannah again in class. She avoided looking at her whenever possible. We all guessed that she was afraid of the little girl who had always seemed harmless before that day.

Hannah's grades began to drop. She would cry a lot, because no one wanted to be her friend. Everyone was afraid of her. Eventually, her parents pulled her from school and we never saw her again. I have always wondered what became of her.

Looking back now, I think she had just said those things for attention. Perhaps she thought people would find it amusing? It certainly wasn't amusing in the least, of course. Who knows what was going through her 8-year-old mind? I don't believe she ever meant what she said. I think she was just looking to shock people for, again, attention. She had always been a very loud, rambunctious girl. She must have regretted ever opening her mouth when she realized she'd gotten way more than she'd bargained for.

What do you think?

Good Bye NaBloPoMo...See You Next Year...

So, I failed NaBloPoMo. *sigh*

Things got carried away with my work situation. Yesterday was my birthday, and I barely enjoyed it. I worked two shifts at the mall, and I had but a handful of hours at home with my husband and pets. Also, I am now sick, as I got rained on last night while walking to my car. Yuck. I feel like crap.

:::

I finished the Twilight series a couple of days ago and I was so disappointed with the last book! The first three were amazing, but I feel that the author just butchered the story at its end. She added too much excess that was really unnecessary and took the story in a direction I didn't like. Oh well. *another sigh*