Monday, December 31, 2012

Monday-10:15am: New Year's Eve

What an odd dark morning we had yesterday.
Yes, that's the early morning sun looking more like a moon. 
Kind of creepy, but cool! 
But this morning we have bright sunlight on our white world... 
...and it is New Year's Eve!!  Today I will clear off the craft table and gather all my "stuff" (once a year it all gets cleaned and dusted--LOL!).  I'll do the burning bowl, pick an Angelic Messenger Card, maybe get out the Healing Rune Stones, say goodbye to 2012 and greet the new year!
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I love New Year's Eve!!
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This weekend I made up some super simple Thank You cards and when I took these pictures I realized just how off the color is on my camera.  
These are actually pale yellow! 
Was some cards and envelopes I ordered a few years ago.  The card stock is so thin that you can't really do much with it as far as layering or anything, so I kept it really simple.  These are all off in the mail today.
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And I am saying goodbye to the red suede leather holder I told you about that I have used since 1999 for my calendars. 
Camera again.  It really doesn't look this good--LOL! 
It is really grungy and dirty... 
...with shiny worn areas.  But I didn't get rid of it.  I tucked it away in a box in the closet because I may find something that fits it again...or I can just keep it as a memento. 
Speaking of--I am greatly disappointed already with the new desk calendar.  The paper is cheaper.  I already found out that the paper is so absorbent that I can't use my Triplus Fineliners or my LePens because they bleed right through the paper!
 But now I found out that I can't even use my Boss Highlighters!
 Can you see them tucked under the little drawers there on my desk? 
 My Boss Highlighters!  
I can't use my Boss Highlighters!
 I bought this set in late 1997 or early 1998 when I got the job in the office at Lee Square (senior condos) in Minneapolis.  I color-coded everything because I had actually had five jobs (plus) there: receptionist, activities director, marketing director, social worker (illegally per demand of my boss), and I was also the live-in emergency services person.  No wonder I got mono averaging 117 hours a week, but I loved that job--loved those people!  I still get a call every December from Betty. :)  
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Anyways, I left and came up here to Fargo to go to college in the fall of 1999 (still recovering from mono) and bought my red leather calendar holder for school...and still color-coded with my Boss Highlighters for classes, appointments, calls, presentation meetings, tests, etc.
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When I was forced to quit school in 2004 because my health continued to decline...I still used the desk calendar and color-coded with my Boss Highlighters: calls, appointments, people coming over, Sacred Circle (which we haven't done for such a long time--kind of what I am going to do tonight alone), Caroline's days...
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I have used these Boss Highlighters for fifteen years and not one of them has dried up.  I mentioned them once on the blog a few years ago, thinking they couldn't possibly last much longer, right?  They're  magical, I tell you!
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Now, I know I can use my Sharpie Pens...
...because they won't bleed through the paper...but I can't use my highlighters!  :(  Sure...I can color code with the Sharpie Pens because they came in a color set, but my Boss Highlighters--my calendar buddies for the last fifteen years--will feel unwanted.  They may lose their magic and dry up!!
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I am honestly not sure what to do.  
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I might have to buy another desk calendar.
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I know this may seem frivolous and insignificant to most people (Dagan and Leah would just smile and shake their heads, but they tolerate me because they're used to me and they love me)...but I know there are a few other office supply freaks out there, like myself, who would understand my sad dilemma.  ;) 
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Oh, and I realized that I had a few things I had forgotten to show you that I got in Christmas cards!  They were small and I immediately put them over on my end table by my spot (do I sound like Sheldon?) and forgot to take pictures.
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From Florida, I got this four-leaf-clover card...
...that Laura made for me!!  How cool is this?!  
And then, from Australia, Cindy sent these tiny pieces of her beautiful artwork!
I believe these are ATCs.  I have known about them for years--Artist Trading Cards--but have never tried making any, myself.  I can just see those fish in my bathroom...somehow...hummm?  
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Thanks so much, ladies!  I obviously glommed onto them all so quickly that my normal camera thoughts didn't have time to click in--LOL!
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What a year!!  What a year!!
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I'll take pictures tonight.  Even though any of you who have been following the blog for over a year have already seen my New Year's Eve ceremony pics...I love this night so much that I can't not take pictures--LOL!
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Oh, Dagan and Leah's car was totaled...not a surprise when the engine and radiator were pushed back like that.  They are waiting for the check from the insurance company so they can go car hunting.  This Thursday they are picking me up after work and we are heading over to Tochi's!  You can see a post here about this local natural foods store I absolutely adore!  (I even posted videos!)  And then we're heading over to their place and Leah is going to cut my hair for me.  I forgot to ask if we were having "our" Christmas.  No matter.  Going to be fun!  :)
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Well, I need to get moving here.  Got to switch loads of clothes and start gathering up all my "stuff" from various nooks and crannies all over the apartment--LOL!
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Happy New Year!!  
See you Friday!  :)
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"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year."
Ralph Waldo Emerson   

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

What wonderful cards and I love that Emerson quote!

Sherry Ellis said...

Happy New Year! Best wishes for 2013!

Furry Bottoms said...

I LOVE those sharpies pictured above. I use it for everything!

Dana said...

Such a strange yet beautiful sky...

Happy New Year, Rita!

TexWisGirl said...

you and your office supply dilemma made me smile. :) have fun tonight! blessings, rita!

SandeeNC said...


Happy New Year to you and Karma!~ waving hi and counting down in the hills of North Carolina :)

Zue said...

I have no organisational skills at all these days, but I admire very much those
Iucky people who always know where everything is and can find things cos they are colour coded.
Have a fun NYE
Xxxx

Janie Junebug said...

If you can't use your highlighters then the world might as well come to an end, and I sincerely mean that. I know how you feel about things that have been with you forever. My mom gave me a manicure set with a leather cover when I was in high school. It's starting to look sad. I don't know how I'll carry on when it bites the dust. The handle of the nail file broke in half several years ago but I've carried on with filing in spite of it.

Love,
Janie

laurak/ForestWalkArt :) said...

you always make me smile rita!!

i LOVE sharpies!! i use them for EVERYTHING!! in fact i need to get that set they have of the pastel shades!! and replace some of the ones that are getting used up!!

love the thank you cards...you're always so creative & an inspiration!

i kinda like those dark clouds...

anyway...busy night...cooking...just wanted to try to do a little more catch up here and i saw you posted!!

you and karma...and fish...and 'the kids' have a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

xoxo

Beth said...

Gotta love Sheldon!!!
Happy New Year Rita to you and Karma!

Neesie said...

Just diving in here Rita to wish you and Karma the best for the New Year. Everyone else has had there celebrations...so let's go...Let's party!!!
Let's hope 2013 will be the best one yet with health, wealth, happiness and lots of creativity thrown in! ;D

Good Luck to you and yours
Hugs Neesie ♥x♥x

p.s. I actually saw a black squirrel today! He was gorgeous and I'm so happy to have seen him.

DJan said...

Happy New Year to you and Karma. In a way getting to go new car hunting is a treat, but not that way! Glad everybody is all right, though. Sending you lots of cyber hugs and cyber pets for Karma. :-)

Deanna said...

It sounds like you rang in the New Year in style. Here's to a wonderful 2013!

Felicia said...

Happy New Year you too!! May 2013 bring you all the arting and cat nipping you can stand! LOL

(((SUPER BIG HUGS)))

Serena Lewis said...

A very happy and blessed 2013 to you, Rita. May it be filled with good health, love, light, and peace. xo

I'll look forward to seeing your post on your New Year's eve ceremony.

Yes, I DO understand your dilemma re. the desktop calendar. Cheap and nasty paper can be such a pain.

Love gift cards!

I kinda thought their car may have been totalled when you told me the engine and radiator were pushed back.

Have a lovely day, my friend.

Love and hugs ~ xo

Far Side of Fifty said...

Happy New Year! You could always put a piece of paper behind your calendar..bleed through drives me nuts too. Loved the story of your special markers..if they ever dry up you will have to have a Wake for them..LOL:)

Far Side of Fifty said...

Did I say Happy New Year? I meant to! :)

Gloria j Zucaro said...

Hi Rita, It is always a pleasure to read your posts. A little bit of everything. I am so impressed with your lovely Thank You cards and the fact that you have them all done already. I plan on writing mine tomorrow, but they may not be as lovely as yours. Your NYE celebration sounds very calming and welcoming to the good spirits of the world. I hope you can find a better quality of calendar to work with, so your favorite markers don't get left behind. Have a good week,
Gloria

Dave said...

Hi Rita. I hope you had a Happy New year and best wishes for 2013 - Dave

carol l mckenna said...

Happy New Year to you and Karma ~

Always great to have you 'stop by' ~ lots of New Year Hugs from:

(A Creative Harbor aka ArtMuseDog and Carol ^_^)

Karen Smithey said...

Okay, so I am hanging my head in embarrassment here. Your Christmas card has been riding around in Richard's truck...

I am going to mail it tomorrow, but I am so so so sad that it didn't get mailed on time!

I have to go back and read about Dagan and Leah's accident. Sounds like they're okay, which is what's really important...

AliceKay said...

We've had days like that lately where the sun is peeking thru the overcast skies like a moon in the night. Stormy weather skies.

I know what you mean about losing the use of something you've used for a long time. A favorite pen, a marker, a notebook. They all have "places" in our lives.

Sorry to hear Dagan and Leah's car was totaled. :(

Intense Guy said...

Wow. They got a new car for Christmas!!

..and shoot, you can't use your Boss Highlighters!!! gotta be something that can be done - maybe just a separator sheet of cardboard or still paper inserted between the sheets ala carbon paper?

Harvest Moon by Hand said...

I use to work at Aveda and one of the things they *strongly* encouraged us to do was keep a to-do list. When we had completed an item on our to-do list, we were supposed to highlight in any color (the more colors used - the better). It was supposed to give us a visual sense of accomplishment to see things marked off that way. For some reason, it worked for me. Still use highlighters to mark off things I've completed.

I understand how frustrating that would be to have the highlighters show through your calendar. That would drive me crazy too!

Hope you've found a solution that works well!