Theory

Been working there for 7.5 days now. 

I've come to a theory.

Some of the natives -

well, you can tell that they aren't really there. 

But there is this one - 

when she looks at me, she LOOKS at me. 

I've heard stories, 

hallucinations.

Issues.
I can see that she is depressed.

But, I am wondering if maybe -

MAYBE

it's paranormal.

I mentioned some things to hubs about this and that was the 1st conclusion he came to as well.

I also talked to my boss about this-

spiritual/paranormal/religious conversation we had last night (she started it).

She entertained my theory and said it was a possibility.

New Chapter in My Life

I thought I was done changing diapers and wiping butts.
When Sprout learned to do it, I thought-
'Never Again!'

  Time for me to get back out there...

I got a job!

(look at previous post)

It's only been 3 nights. 

I am still not sure or confident or know where everything is that I should be doing. 

BUT -

I have to tell you, 

it is rewarding when a resident looks you in the eye and says -

'Thank You'.

It doesn't happen all the time - 

I had 1 person lash out at me..

what do you do?

Stay calm and continue. 

It isn't an 'easy' job. 
It's almost like babysitting x 13
babysitting a 1 or 2 year old at that.

I don't know if this is 'what I am meant to be doing', it is only day 3.
But - it is a job and in this economy, one can't complain too much.

I have a 'new' title...

...employee.

I haven't been called that in YEARS!

It isn't something I ever saw myself doing.
I basically applied to prove to hubs that I was 'trying', 

Who'd a thunk they'd actually hire me!

I mean, I have NO experience in this 'field'.

Well, I have 2 kids -
I guess that's what sold it (me).

It's an old folks home for Dementia and Alzheimer's.
It's gross, but someone has to do it.

It's sad -
the residents often ask 'to go home' or ask for a parent.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM?!?
Calm them down and try to distract them (like you do toddlers).

I've taken a CPR/1st aid class.
I still have to take a 'medication class' - 

There is just SO MUCH to learn.

Oh yeah, and I am working the midnight shift.
SO far it seems to work for 'US'. 
I am somewhat of a night owl anyway-

and the boys are in school all day...
this way I can sleep (UNINTERRUPTED) for a good 7hrs+
It's only 4 days a week.

Fave Author at the Moment

...actually for a while now.  

She is doing a GIVEAWAY for her new series (Lux) 

http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/want-to-read-opal/

This series starts w/ this:

http://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Lux-Novel-Jennifer-Armentrout/dp/1620611155/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353706364&sr=1-4&keywords=opal

I was sad at the end of this and actually mourned a bit. 

She has another series that I Absolutely LOVE!

Starts w/
http://www.amazon.com/Daimon-Half-Blood-Covenant-Jennifer-Armentrout/dp/0983157251/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353706444&sr=1-1&keywords=daimon

Halloween 2012

Broken Doll

Iron Man

Marty McFly

WARNING: May not be suitable for some viewers.

I'm not a morning person. 

My person doesn't love me anymore...

and after hubs came home and I scared him with the comic book makeup

I did this - 

Broken Doll

So, do you wanna...

play?

Boring Thursday Morning

What better way to spend a dreary morning

(clouds/cold/rain/snow) - 

Kids are at school -

I have nowhere to be -

I don't feel like doing anything I should 

(cleaning, etc...)

So, I Reinvented Myself!  

BAM!

Oh SOB.

I love the smell of rain-
how it gives life to plants and animals
I love rain.

I do not like to drive in it
I do not like to drive on the interstate
I do not like driving in it when it pours

I can see in front of me-
WHITEOUT
BRAKES
!!!

My life flashed in front of my eyes.

Pull to side of road
Looks behind
I see big trucks, small trucks
Big cars and little cars all swerve to miss the vehicle in front of them.

I shake.
I kiss the ground when I get home.

I refuse to go back out.

Betty 2 months 1 week part2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw1nzd0Kr-M&feature=youtu.be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4SfcwAr5LwA

She's ALIVE!

A few lil tweaks here and there -

And hubs needing to teach me how to drive a bug

(modern manual cars are different - 

practically let off the clutch before pushing the gas)

It's gunna take some getting used to.

BTW - reverse IS mandatory, IDCare what hubs says -
he is lucky that it does work! 

Betty 2 months and 1 week

She RUNS!!!

Halloween 2012

Am I the only one -

 that 'test drives' Halloween makeup?

*Halloween is still 21 days away
(parties earlier)
so the design could change*

Betty at 2 months

Things were looking up for Betty today: 

Took out and put back in the gas tank (I dont recall the reasoning), 

bulbs, 

other small things. 

Then we set on tightening and replacing lil things on the motor...

1 spark plug didnt want to play nice, 

then this other thingy busted all to pieces - 

went and got other motor from garage - 

messing around w/ replacing this that and other 

just to need a certain size clamp thingy and 

apparently not all auto places will have said size. 

Hmph. 

Really wanted to hear her run today.

Butterfly Kisses

*This happened back in June*

If you read my blog, you've seen my 'new' ink. 

I love it!

IF you don't have a tattoo and you ask someone what they feel like, they might tell you - 

'like a bad sunburn'. 

It's true. 

They do feel like a really bad sunburn. 

*IF you read my blog YOU know that I believe in ghosts 

(always have)

*IF YOU read my blog YOU will know that I have had a few 'reunions' w/ my ma 

(who passed going on 3 years Oct 23).

Ok - it had been sometime since I had a 'reunion' w/ ma. 

The first full night of my new ink.

It BURNED!

My arm was burning!  

My arm was hanging over the side of the bed 

(something I don't usually do - I mean, what if a monster grabbed it!?!)

It was hanging off to keep it cool.  

It. Was. HOT!

I was woken up to two 

(it could have been 3, but I do recall the 2)

Cool, Light feathery touches

(feathery - like if you took a feather and lightly pulled it across the skin w/ it)

 

I knew it was ma.

Her touching my new ink

(she wasn't ever against it, but I don't believe she approved either)

 

I see her as touching it and thinking 

'oh, Amy...what have you done?'

lol 

 

 

Wind

As the wind blows

Leaves quake

Birds glide thru the clear blue sky above
 

As the wind blows

A chill is in the air

Wind chimes sing an endless song
 

As the wind blows

One season turns into the next

Crap -
I'm not ready for $%#!

Betty, wk 6

We are getting closer to having the engine in and hearing her purr.

This weekend-

Cleaned out the 'nests' from the engine area,

Cleaned under the hood,

Replaced brakes,

Replaced seals, 

Adjusted the driver door 

(now opens and closes w/o yanking on her or lifting up and pushing)

Pulled gas tank out, 

Replaced ignition switch

and

stripped / sanded more.

*jus' so ya' kno, yellow sharpie fades in the sun and brown turns purple*

Canning Funnel

Making pear preserves this week. 

Earlier, I was spooning the pears into the jars 

(I don't can often enough to have all the normal supplies on hand). 

So, I was winging it. 

Then it dawned on me! 

Reuse (cut) a milk jug!!! 

Clean it well. 

Then start pouring the preserves into the 'funnel'. 

*I did have to shake the 'funnel' a couple times to get it all to go thru, but it was better than spooning it in*

Betty Wk 5 Day 1

I feel accomplished seeing the grease and dirt on my hands and clothes -

after working on Betty.  

However, I've washed my hands oodles of times 

(I'm kinda OCD like that)  

and the fact that my hands are stained 

(in the cracks and around my cuticles) 

w/ grease -

kinda grosses me out.

*I wiped her down w/ Lysol today

(seats and carpet are out)

Sprayed her w/ bleach

(even though hubs told me not to - some things I just couldn't rag down and feel as though it was truly clean)*

Betty Wk 5

When we got the car, they told us it didn't have a key.

BUMMER.

We've had her 5 weeks.

5 weeks of -

stripping

sanding

playing with engine

taking engine out

cleaning the windows

taking seats out

cleaning seats

removing the backseat

switching over tires/wheels

YOU get the idea...

5 (FIVE) weeks!

Yesterday, hubs vacuumed her out -

what did he find?

KEYS!

We tried the doors.

Someone B.U. (Before Us) changed the ignition switch.

(so key for doors are different from starting her)

We found the original ignition switch in the trunk.

LONG STORY SHORT 

The keys we found yesterday WORK!

SWEET!

(the keys were under lots and lots of rat nests, ew)

Betty wk 4+

Hubs took the engine to a friends house to be cleaned.

A couple hours later he called...

The friend was mistaken and thought this was a different engine -

 that needed to be rebuilt.

Hubs brings the engine back in PIECES! 

It was only spose to be CLEANED.

THEY are looking at this as an opportunity - 

to replace ALL engine seals.

(the thin paper looking pieces that go between 2 pieces of metal)

I'm looking at this as a set back.

Betty wk 4?

We finally parted out the red '66.  

Took some to the crusher and the rest in the back for the boys to play in. 

Moved Betty under the carport to take out her engine.

Haven't been able to do too much to her other than work on her 'look'. 

I didn't like the white paint. 

Hubs started sanding on her in spots last Sat.(Labor Day wkend)-

He showed me how to do it and I went to town! 

8 days later (technically 7, b/c I didn't touch her yesterday).

Stripped her (by hand).

Wet sanded her (still have 1/2 the deck lid to do).

This is how she looks today!

*spent a good 5 hours stripping and sanding, today alone*

She is looking good!

We are still trying to decide on the '2 tone' look we want.

As Is (painting the white eventually).

Stripping her doors and leaving the fenders 'white'. 

Strip her completely?

We don't have to decide today.

She doesn't look like a 'project' the way she looks now, IMO.

A little at a time.

***we also put in her pop-outs today!***

Red '66, 2 weeks

We cut the red '66 in half. 

The boys ALWAYS want to get into cars and push buttons, press pedals and turn the wheel.  A friend mentioned we should get them one to play in.  Well, the red '66 was a parts car and now will also be a 'toy'. 

We plan on putting this over the sandbox (they don't play there anymore anyway).  Gunna push the back of the car up against the garage and they can 'drive' all they want.

Bugs Day 12

Yesterday, hubs and I took out the motor to the red '66. He gave me a chore today, I had to remove 5 parts off the motor (so we can replace/clean and paint). I got all but the back board (is that what it's called? IDK) There are 5 screws/bolts that are hard to get to, unless you take the front of the engine apart (I thought about it).

I tried taking off the bumper braces (?) off last week, but they are 40+years old and STUCK, I broke one and gave up. Today though, I didn't want to just stop (I was in the mood for destruction). Went after them again and this time BROKE off the remaining 3 bolts (2 each side, and I didn't intend to break them) = SWEET! Now to take the back fenders off. Got most the bolts off the right side, minus 3 and I jimmied them off - making sure as to not bend or dent the fender. The left side I wasn't as patient with (it was all beat up anyway and when I tried the bolts they were loose, but wouldn't budge). So, with a very long flat head screw driver, I pried off the fender. LOL it was fun!

Betty and toy/parts bug day 8

Turned Betty on today 

and turns out 

her motor needs to be rebuilt.

Had a buddy over to help w/ the red '66-

Got that one running too, his words 

'that is the best sounding engine out of all 3 bugs you own'

So - 

hubs took it for it's last ride. 

We will switch the motors this week. 

Betty will receive the motor from this here red one. 

:)

Betty wk 1

Gunna attempt to resuscitate Betty today.

Switched over 2 wheels, so they all match now. 

Beer always makes things clearer.  lol 

SHE'S ALIVE!

Took a few hours to figure it out, 

but she is Running!

She sounds nice too, except for 1 lil sound.

Need to figure out what's wrong with the brakes too. 

Parts for Betty

With Hoss' help, I was able to take the pop-outs out and in 1 piece. The rain thingies off the doors and the windshield out (NOT in 1 piece, but it was fun).

Parts for Betty.

*IF you are wondering WHY her name is Betty. We spent Saturday night thinking of names. Things that are 'white'. German names for 'white' things = nothing sounded good/right. Finally hubs googled 'things that are white' and the 1st thing that popped up was 'Betty White'. SOLD! lol

Betty day 2

We went and got another '66 today (strictly parts and the body will become a 'toy' for the boys to play in - they are always wanting to get in the cars and push things).*no worries, gunna take the glass out so they wont break them or get stuck and overheat*

It has pop out windows (will put on Betty).  Hubs already swiped the trim and put on his.  We took the hood trim and put on Betty. Also, rain thingies that will go on Betty (over doors).

Anyway - Betty day 2:

rear view mirror is dn, but it was on w/ double sided tape. crap needs to be cleaned off. screws are out of the glove compartment thx to hubs :)
I washed her today. Need a hazmat suit and bleach to clean the inside.

Mama's 'new' ride

I wanted one as a teen, but I didn't think I would get one now since I have a '54 chevy to work on too. BUT there is a reason - ya see, my Jimmy sucks for gas (around town). We figured we would try a lil experiment and see how well she (Betty) does around town.

She is pretty straight. The floor pans are nice.

I told hubs that he is NOT lowering her (his bug is on the ground). Betty is mine and I am already thinking of ways to girl her out.

Been helping hubs sand his car (to get to the original color). Thinking we will 'try' sanding Betty b/c her original color is 'Sea Sand' (a pretty putty color (same as the inside).

Do It Right the First TIme

Don't do it like I did...do it right the first time, save yourself the trouble of re-doing it. In a previous post - I showed my almost finished penny island. I had used gorilla glue to attach the pennies <~don't do that. I hadn't epoxied it yet (cause it was winter when I had done it and it needed to 'air' out (smell), or so I thought. I took a paint scraper and pried up all the pennies. Cutting myself several times over. Then sanding the island. Cleaning. Repainting black (pennies show so much better against black).

Finally, I used a 2 part clear epoxy (I got it from a craft store because Lowes/Home Depot only sold a large bit). I taped off the edge of the island, I wasn't sure how the epoxy would move around. In the end, that wasn't needed. I pulled it off as soon as I saw that it was a moot point. I used a foam brush to help the epoxy move around and get into every crack/hole/spot and waited 3 days for it to dry hard.

4th of July (pic overload)

Small towns are great, right?

After 8 yrs we are still not used to the 'small town parade'.

We grew up going to Mardi Gras.  

Everyone knows how colorful and loud Mardi Gras can be. 

Big floats.

Music.

LOTS of MUSIC!

Barricades - cause ya know, you don't want people running out in the road. 

NOT small town.

Floats = random car w/ tassels or flags.

Music = whats that?

Barricades = nah, they drive slow enough that they can swerve to miss a random child in the middle of the road. 

Last years 'parade' lasted a whopping 11 (yes, ELEVEN) minutes.

Yesterday tho, 45 minutes.  

Practically every float was election something.

Or a city vehicle (not decorated, not throwing out candy...just driving behind all the others to make it last longer). 

We had a couple w/ vets.

AND

we had our firefighters (who got a BIG 'WooHoo' for putting out a nasty wildfire last week<~ burned 800+acres and 66 structures).  

Ended the night watching fireworks, up at a local church w/ friends. 

All in all it was a long and good day.

 

Number 5

Was looking for a symbol that meant 'creative'.  I couldn't find anything I liked and I am always weary when it comes to symbols and their meanings....I mean, I don't want to get something and then someone ask me why I have a symbol for soap on my _________. 

I love Pinterest. I've been seeing lots of beautiful paintbrush / splatter tattoos. It finally dawned on me: nothing says 'creative' like paintbrush/splatter.  It took me a few weeks to get the colors and design right. I finally did one that hubs liked...FOR ME - it's abstract for Oregon and creative all in 1 tattoo.  I love it.

The original painting and the final.