Baby BJ

Here is a tiny little Blue Jay that was sitting under a pine tree in my yard this morning.  I am afraid I scared him while taking his picture, but he did manage a smile for the camera.  He is gone now.  I am hoping his Mama came for him.  I do not want to think about a gruesome alternative.

But there is good news here.  I am sort of functioning on my new computer.  I did manage to upload this picture on it.  I am having a hard time locating things after I put them on the computer.  I am sure there will be alot of aha moments when I get myself into class.  My main challenge today is to get a printer hooked up and functioning.

Normal Girl

Brand Spanking New

Just look at that beauty...my new computer....no finger prints...no crumbs between the keys. ....no scratches. Right now it is great as a paper weight or door stop...it weighs 50 pounds. Don't you hate the new computer set up junk? I worked an hour on it today and I don't have all the right parts. SIGH!

I am going to be so happy when it actually works!

Normal (computer moron) Girl

Quick Thought

I just realized that in our last blog poll where I asked you what you would like me to send you, there were equal votes for chocolate and a tape of me singing. A bracelet got less points. Of course, I am thinking through that. Considering that you have probably not heard me sing, does that tell us:

• you are not big chocolate fans?
• you have a fascination with the unknown, scary as it may be?
• I need to do a little work on my jewelry design skills?
• you have heard me sing and are looking for a tape to play to keep the critters out of your yard?

Normal Girl

List of Lists

While sitting in the hotel this morning avoiding doing my homework, I saw a story on tv about magazines doing articles on lists. You know: 21 ways to save money at the gas pump. I started thinking about lists and I am making a list of lists I need. Join in please!

• 10 ways to travel painlessly without going to an airport

Yeah, I am not home yet, still in Milwaukee hanging out at the airport. Now there are thunderstorms in Detroit, can you stand it?

• 5 ways to find the perfect job that makes you cry you are so happy


• 12 ways to stay young


• 21 ways to get a honey do list done without being married


• 1 easy way to lose weight without even trying


• 24 ways to find more than 24 hours in a day


• 30 ways to take decent pictures


• 10 ideas for best selling books


• 100 right things to say at the perfect time

Guess you can tell what is going on in my life. What about you?

Won't you be glad when I am home so I can stop talking about airports?

Normal Girl

Lotsa Ladies Lotsa Beads Lotsa Buttons

Who came to the bead show?? I saw two men walking down the aisle shaking their heads and one mumbling,"There's lotsa ladies, lotsa beads and lotsa buttons." The bead show is a most excellent place for people watching:

Lotsa ladies!

Here's Pam, editor of Bead Unique Magazine.

No, this guy was not at the beads show, but he made me laugh.

Cool guy working in a booth.

I loved this lady with different socks and shoes and three colors in her hair!

Bead selling is so stimulating!

tutu wearing lampwork bead maker....

Zoot suit man.

The Diplomat and I spent most of the afternoon and evening in the airport trying to go home. My flight was cancelled and NW airlines handled it like champions. They closed the airport an hour later and so neither of us could get out. The Diplomat was on Midwest. They did not return the bags on the luggage carousel. They hauled them into the ticket counter and called off people's names to come get their bags. Several flights worth. We sat in this mess waiting for two hours for her bag. Meantime, I got us a hotel room nearby, and that was a very happy thing because before we left the airport, they announced on the PA that all hotels in the city were full. I have a flight at 6am but the weather channel says it is supposed to thunderstorm all night and all morning. So, we will see!

Normal (but tired) Girl

Delay Entertainment Manual

I am stuck in Milwaukee waiting for yet more bad weather to roll on by, and could be here for hours. Being usually pretty good at entertaining myself in these situations, even I have my limit. My heinie is tired of sitting on the floor because they will not even let us in the gate in case the tornado wants to come in the window. Can you detect a little whining?

When I realized I was making up stories about why the girl sitting across from me is wearing orange lace undewear under white pants, I knew I needed your input. Let's start the airport delay self-entertainment delay manual. Leave your ideas, please..... Please don't say write my paper for school.

Normal (weather magnet) Girl

P.S. The Department of Homeland Security has declared us at level orange. Anyone know exactly what that means?

Bead & Button Show

The Diplomat and I had a great time at the Bead & Button Show today. I am sharing pictures of the award winning designs in the annual contest. All of these projects were in a glass case, and all are hours of work and really amazing. Very inspiring! Click on the pics to make them larger.

These beads are polymer clay.

Also polymer.

These are polymer made by our friend Barbara McGuire.

Seed bead work on this necklace.

Seed beads here too.

Polymer Clay

Lampwork Glass Beads

Beaded beads, big and beautiful.

Wedding bouquet...Best in Show!! This is all seed beads.

Pearls

We worked the show in a split shift today. We came home mid day to ride out a tornado that was coming. The sirens were blaring. After the tornado moved on, we went back to the show. It was great, there were not many people there and it was easy to shop in the booths and chat with the vendors. We have part of the day tomorrow to finalize out lists and the list HPB gave us. I am really motivated to go home, make some beads, and put them into jewelry pieces.

Can't wait!

Normal Girl