Wednesday, November 15, 2006


So. Nate let me buy a new coat for this winter, which, trust me, is a good thing. My old one was getting rather worn.
Anyway, I decided while there, to make a crocheted handbag. So I picked up some really cool bulky weight wool yarn. I have no pattern, no formal idea of how this is going to turn out, just a neat basketweave stitch I recently taught myself. It will be interesting to see how this turns out.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Bored

I just have to say, the ability to download movies to my iPod to listen to at work has to be the coolest thing ever.

The only downside: The download time.

*sigh*

But I will get to listen to the Three Musketeers tomorrow. :o)

Besides, I can deal with anything right now. I am happy because Nate let me buy a new coat for this winter. Its cool and I was able to find a really nice yarn to make a matching beanie and scarf. New clothes, new prodjects and I got to drive the Explorer through an automated car wash today. I am content.

Thursday, November 9, 2006

Frustration

It has always bothered me that I dont know how to knit. I know how to sew, crochet, bead, scrapbook, all kinds of things, but I cant knit to save my life.

So it was time to solve this problem. I went out, bought myself an instruction cd and a pair of needles.

Well.....

yeah....

um....

I still cant knit.

Over two evenings of work, I learned how to cast three different types of starter stitches and I can even read the instructions now, but there is something about the whole knitting part that I just dont get. I need to find someone who can help me....

Thursday, November 2, 2006

Its official. As of February 9th. the Woodland branch of Blue Shield will no longer exist.

They decision was passed down last year in September '05, when they informed us that they were moving all branches of the Woodland departments out to other locations and that the company would be letting their lease with the owner of our building expire in March of '07. Their ultimate goal is to have all BSC branches located in BSC owned buildings.

Since that date, my specific job and team has been designated to be relocated to the Eldorado Hills location. The bummer of it all is that the EDH location is one of the best of the BSC owned locations and has many interesting amenities, including a cyper cafe, a HUGE cafeteria and an onsite gym. Unfortunately for me, and many others, the EDH site is too far of a drive. I have a new car, but my 'new' car is an '97 Explorer with 80,000 + miles on her and driving to EDH every day is too much wear on an older vehicle, not to mention the fact that I would literally have to sell an arm or leg to pay for the gas.

Also since that date, the first wave of people were given their 60 day notices and have left. The building is so empty and reminds me of a sad, derelict graveyard.

Yesterday was the official announcement for those remaining.

I appreciate the fact that they were up front and honest with us about the closing so far in advance of the actual closure date, but my biggest irritation over the last year has been my numerous attempts to locate another job, but so far, God has closed every door. So here I am, three months before we close and I still cannot find a job. All I can believe is that God has a reason and obviously I am supposed to wait until He shows me the right one.

Its weird. I am sad about the closing because I have been at Blue Shield for almost 7 years, which for a 26 year old, is quite a long time. Its practically a career. But at the same time, I have had innumerable issues and drama over the years that were beyond my control and should have caused me to leave sooner. Which, in my defense, I did attempt, (again, closed doors), so there is a very large part of me that is excited about a new opportunity and knowing that this monumental change in my life is so close at hand. All I can hope in the meantime is that an opportunity does come up and that I am paying attention when it does.

So I take the news of the closing with a little sadness and a little joy.

The fact that I get a fat severance and retirement/vested check also helps.

**evil grin**

Wednesday, November 1, 2006

So I havent had much of a chance to write. Its been rather busy. We went camping two weekends ago with some friends and Sunday, we carved pumpkins. Its been six years (or more) since my last artistic decimation of a helpless gourd, so I decided to try my hand at it again. I actually found a book of Disney character designs online, bought it and I finally receieved it Friday. Sunday I took the patterns and my pumpkins to my friends house and we had a carving party on the living room floor. The aftermath looked a little like a CSI Crime scene, all that was missing was the evidence tags and some crime scene tape. "Four gourds brutally murdered by unknown suspects and a Pumpkin Masters carving set".

I didnt get any shots of the actual carvings but this was the aftermath:
(Photo pending)

and this was my finished product: