A trip to the food bank

The other day I got really tired of always scrounging around in the fridge for Tara's leftovers, so I looked up the food banks in the area. There is a Helping Hands food bank just about ten minutes away, so I called them. They said I can come in any day between 11:30 and 12:30 and pick up a bag of groceries. I got directions, and the lady told me to "look for the line".

I thought that meant there would be a long wait, so I brought my current bead project and got there about 10:30. There was no line yet, so I sat in the shade under a tree and did my beading. The "line" didn't even begin forming until about 11:15, and by 12:00 there was no more line, so that's one lesson learned for next time.

The lady told me they'd give me a grocery bag today, and I have to go back on the 28th with my bills and stuff to qualify. I actually got two bags, because there is one bag already made up by the bank, and then there is lots of fresh produce to go through and fill up a second bag. You also get a hot lunch served on the day that you are there.

I was really happy with it. The produce was great; grapes, strawberries, broccoli, carrots, tomatoes. And the pre-packed grocery bag had all kinds of canned veggies, tuna fish, those Lipton noodles side dishes, granola bars, instant oatmeal, tomato sauce, spaghetti and bread. The kinds of things I would actually buy. And I think they had a freezer with meat in it too, because I heard a lady asking about it.

I wonder how often I can go? I guess they'll tell me that at my interview on the 28th. And I'll ask about the meat on that day too. I'll let you know how the interview goes.

Cat

Monday Blues

I should have known it was going to be a crappy day from the start. When I woke up, the TV was still on with the same channel from last night, and it was showing the MDA Telethon. I have nothing against Jerry's kids, but the speaker at that moment was an ALS patient. The guy's speech was slurred so bad that I could barely understand a word he was saying, and he had absolutely no control over his emotions (another byproduct of the disease). It was pathetic and sad to watch, and I don't know why I just couldn't turn it off. Some kind of morbid curiosity?

So now I've been crying off and on all day long, and I want to get out to Seattle and spend some time with Lori before there is no more such thing as "quality time" with her. The catch-22 is that now, while I have no job so I have plenty of time to go, I don't have a penny to my name to buy a plane ticket with. I know that her disease is progressing, and who knows how much time I have to make this trip?

So, now I'm wrestling with myself about asking her for the money to buy the plane ticket, but is that really right? I keep picking up the phone, then putting it down, then taking another Xanax so I won't cry on the phone with her, because that will really wreck all my chances of getting the money. She won't want me to feel sorry for her.

I will have to decide something, maybe figure out another way to get the money, over the next few days. Please, if anybody still reads this blog anymore, wish good thoughts for me.

Cat

Hangin' Around

I'm still hanging around the house, no job. I have gotten a lot of beading done, though. Now if only I could find somewhere to sell some of it. Here is the latest pendant I made. It's from a pattern in the August 2009 issue of Bead and Button magazine. (Yes, they have magazines just for beaders, LOL)

Cat

I can't win for losing

Got a car registration form in the mail today. It said the prices are going up (WAY UP) to register the car, and if I do it right now online I can still get the old prices. Well, $56 for a two-year registration sounded much better than $70 for a one-year registration, so I immediately went to the website, signed in with MY social security number, and renewed for a two-year registration.

As soon as I finished, of course, I realized that I was holding Tara's registration renewal in my hand. I'd opened it by mistake. So, now I don't know whose registration I paid. I guess I will find out when the tags come in the mail.

Anyway, I thought I had paid Tara's, so I went downstairs and told her, and I said "When you get back from Seattle (she is going for 10 days to see MY baby) you can just give me the money." So, she gives me some talk to the hand bullshit and I come upstairs and cry.

I really hope I did my own registration, and she can pay the $70 for hers (or $142 for two years). If I did hers, I saved her a considerable amount of money, you'd think she'd be happy. But no, not her. I can't do shit correctly.

Cat

Open Hex Earrings

This open hexagon shape is from Diane Fitzgerald's book, Shaped Beadwork. I made two hexagons in different sizes linked together to make a pair of earrings.

Tara already tried to take possession of them, so I guess they came out okay.

Cat

Scalloped Bracelet

I didn't bead for a couple of days, but now I'm back. This cute little bracelet is from a pattern by Jane Tyson. She uses size 8 beads in hers, but I don't like the look of those, so I used size 11's. I think I'll make a few more in different colors.

I also finished a necklace that I started a while ago and never finished. It just needed a clasp, so I put that on.

Cat

More Patriotic Earrings

Today I made these open ovals from a pattern by Diane Fitzgerald. I used the same silver-lined blue and red Delicas, then embellished with white pearl Japanese seed beads.

I think that's enough 4th of July stuff. I'll start again on regular jewelry tomorrow.

Cat

Patriotic Brick Dangles

I'm still working on my July 4th theme. Hopefully I will sell some of these before the holiday. I've got about ten pairs of earrings made in different designs. Today I made these dangly ones, of my own design. I love the way they swing when you wear them.

They are made from red, white and blue silver-lined Delica beads, silver bugle beads, and blue and red fire-polished crystals. The bottom dangles are Czech glass.

Cat

Another one for Today

I am on a patriotic roll now. These are Uncle Sam Earrings, also made from a pattern, this time from Starr Design.

Cat

Dragtonfly Pendant

The jewelry item I made yesterday is a dragonfly pendant. I made it from a pattern by Jaycee Designs. I tried to make it in red, white and blue for 4th of July, but it didn't really come out very patriotic looking. Anway, here it is.

I'll try to post another piece of jewelry for today.

Cat