Books

I don't know how many of you are readers, but to say I am an avid reader is an understatement. I got an Amazon Kindle for Christmas, and I couldn't be more in love!!!

When we first moved back to California, I was unemployed for 4 months. We also went about a month with no cable, or internet, and I also had no vehicle for about 2 of those weeks. The only reason I survived was my kindle. Not only could I read non stop, I also had limited access to the internet because I got the one with the 3G network.

I was able to get quite a few classics for free. Books that were written more than a certain amount of years ago are free, because their contract is up. Or something like that :) Anne of Green Gables (the entire series) was the best classic I read, that I had never read before. My favorite is and always will be Little Women. And on the other side of the spectrum is Moby Dick. Talk about PAINFUL. Mr Melville must have been paid by the word!!! I have read about 25% of the book, and he is just barely on the ship! And that 25% took me weeks. Hope I don't offend anyone, but Melville is going in my YUCK pile with Dickens. Love A Christmas Carol (maybe 'cause its a Disney movie) but you can keep the rest of his books.

It also suggests authors to you who are similar to the ones you have already downloaded. Through this I was introduced to Kristin Hannah. Wonderful author! Just can't get enough of her books. The most recent one I finished was Magic Hour. It was absolutely enthralling. I stayed up WAY to late over about 5 days reading it. I'm now reading Angel Falls, and am loving it. Her books are all set in the Pacific Northwest of the US. If I weren't living in CA, this would be my second choice. (as a disclaimer, each of her books contains a couple of sentences that are a bit crude. And totally random and unexpected)

My other favorite authors are Maeve Binchey, Jodi Piccoult, and Nicholas Sparks. Why don't you suggest some of your favorite books/authors so I can check them out!!!

Newest rings

Well, all the rest of my beading/craft supplies are here, and I know where they are!! Yippeeeee

This means I can resume prodution of another line of rings. These are sterling silver, thin, stacking rings. So dainty when you wear 1-3, but can be made bold as you stack more and more. So simple, and versatile. Each day you can change the number of rings to suit your needs. Going to a corporate job? Wear a few. Going out to party??? Pile 'em on baby and make a statement!

Pre/Custom orders ALWAYS accepted :)

My junk has arrived!!!

So finally, after a month and a half, all our belongings have arrived. It wasn't easy, but after the rest of what has occurred, I'm not surprised. About 50% of the boxes were crushed, but in the end only 3 cups and one bowl were broken. Well, and one bookcase was totally ruined. The other is broken, but at least usable. And my kitchen island is stained. So for your enjoyment, and as a reminder to NEVER do business with Sky Moving and Storage, or the guy who contracted to deliver our stuff, Samy Services, here are some pictures of my house!

The completely broken bookcase

The bed frame that's missing a part, making it useless

My stained kitchen island

My living room. Like the island in it??

My kitchen which is now a mess

This used to be my dining room

The futon and exercise bike on the back porch

The dining table and chairs on the back porch

This used to be my craft room!!!

Can you see the little bit of my craft table by the bookcase??

My bedroom

My bedroom

June Update

First update. The movers. Our stuff is STILL missing. It was supposedly on the truck 2 weeks ago, and was going to be here last wednesday thru friday. Hubby called on Wed and he was in New Mexico. Thursday he was in Colorado, and would not get here till this weekend. Now, I stink at geography, but you have to go from Colorado to California via Canada to have it take a week. Seriously this is beyond ridiculous. I dont even know what to do at this point. I want to withhold part of the payment, but I'm afraid of what they will do to me. They do have my credit card info.

Second update. My business. Have gotten 2 small sales online this month. And one of my coworkers has bought 3 pairs of earrings so far, and wants to buy more. So this month hasn't been too bad sales wise. The problem is that I am still spending way more than I make on etsy :)  But it's sooooo fun to shop and buy great quality handmade items.

Third update. I greatly dislike my current traveling job, but my mom and sister have each found a potential job for me, both in the city I live in. One would still be in a Skilled Nursing Facility, which is not my favorite setting. The other would be in an outpatient clinic, dealing with a lot of workers comp patients. Much more the type of setting I love. I love doing hands on, manual therapy. And you really don't get to do that in a nursing home.

So, thats about all thats going on in my life right now. And its more than enough for me!!! I just remember to learn from all my experiences and enjoy the moment, because you wont get it again.

Some of my favorite things

Since my b-day is coming up in a couple of months, here are some items I would love to own.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/49107383/sea-turtle-sun-catcher by windflower.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/listing/71591599/flower-summer-bag-everyday-bag-shoulder by NzLbags.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/listing/58057902/new-paragon-firefly-kiln-fire-pottery by Feedthefires.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/listing/48477414/recycled-glass-bottle-tumblers-from-skyy by bottlehood.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/listing/66372484/stained-glass-jewelry-box-blue by GaleazaGlass.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/listing/74832025/rose-crystal-button-ring-rivoli by Galla15.etsy.com

The moving company to NEVER use

So, as most of you know, my husband and I have recently relocated back to California from North Carolina. And as anyone who has ever moved knows, it is an extremely painful process. We decided to use a moving company, because we weren't sure where we would be located, and our belongings had to be put in storage for awhile. Well, we chose Sky Moving and Storage. (skymovingandstorage.com)

Now, let me tell you all the probems we have had with them. First I asked for an estimate, with an unknown move date. I got the estimate. Then I was harrassed every other day via email or phone calls, about when we were moving. I finaly had to get rude with the lady and tell her not to call again, I woud call her when something was decided. So that was the first red flag.

Then we book them, and the pick up date is moved 2 or 3 times. And then on the day, they are over 5 hours late. Red flag number two. And flag three was when he says, oh you have more stuff that the estimate said, I dont think it will fit. Well, when I called for the estimate I told them it was a 10' by 10' by 8' storage unit, packed FULL. And me being the trusting person I am, made a huge mistake and didn't read the estimate with a fine tooth comb. The rep had put 367 cubic feet. Well, the way I learned math 10x10x8 equals 800 cubic feet. So the first 367 cubic feet were at a rate of 45 cents per cubic foot. Everything over that is charged at 90 cents a cubic foot. DOUBLE!!! So they lied on the estimate, so they could make more money off us!!!

Yesterday I get a call from the mover asking if we want to keep our belongings in storage another month, or set a delivery date. I told him the delivery date had been set for June 3rd. Friday. In 4 days. He tells me he never set a date and there was no way it was getting there on Friday. So we go back and forth, and set this Wednesday to be the date its taken out of storage, and started on its journey to CA. Red flag number four.

Number five comes when he says we still owe almost $900 on the first half before they deliver it. And they cant do it by credit card, because "too many large charges from the same company raise red flags and the banks don't pay us quickly". He gives us a back account number and tells us to deposit the money directly into it. Really???? Who gives out their bank account number????

So, hubby and I decided to do a western union money transfer so there is a record of our payment in case we have to dispute them.

Flag six is the fact that I asked when the delivery date would be. They are unable to give an estimate. But they can give me two days notice. Seriously???? I'm expected to be at their beck and call?? I'm the one paying them over $3000, they should do what I want when I want it!!! I'd already asked for this Friday off to be there when they come. Now I will have to ask for another day off, next week. And that means I have to work another Saturday to make up for it. So again, we are getting screwed.

Finally, red flag number seven is their better business bureau rating. Unfortunately this should have been flag one or two, but I didn't look it up. Their rating is F!!!! So that red flag was my bad. But still, how do you get an F?? Well, see above post.

Now, I wanted to write this post in the hopes of saving just one person. So, if there is anyone who knows anyone who is moving, please let them know about this company. And make sure you do all your homework, thoroughly. Don't go with a company you find on the internet. You may think you are saving money, but they will rip you off in the end. Go with the company that comes to your site and looks at your stuff and gives you a real estimate. Yes, it is a hassle. Yes it takes time out of your busy schedule, and adds more stress to an already stressful time. But in the end it will reduce your stress, and protect your money.

May Update

Well, it's May, and the flowers are definitely blooming around here. And back in North Carolina the pollen is falling like snow, and I got an upper respiratory infection while I was back there getting our stuff loaded on a moving truck. So finally, after over 4 months, I only have to wait a few more weeks until I get all my belongings back. Oh how nice it will be to have pots and pans and non-paper plates and non-plastic silverware. And little things like can openers, more than one towel apiece, potholders, the rest of my jewelry supplies, all my clothes. And soon my car will be here too, so I will have air conditioning in time for the true summer heat.

I have also just started a new job after 4 months of not working. It's nice to be back at work, but also tough to be in a new place that is totally different from what I am used to. The patients have a lot more complex diagnoses than I am used to, and many of them will stay there for the remainder of their lives. Its a hard mental adjustment for me to make, since I am used to working in outpatient clinics and in an inpatient facility where people stayed about a month before they were able to go home. But I still love what I do, and that's the most important part.

As for my jewelry business, all I can say is SLOOOOOOWWWWW. I am no where near reaching my sales goal for the year. I set a goal of 2 sales a week. Well, its been 18 weeks, and I only have 5 sales. I haven't participated in any craft shows yet, but there are a few on the horizon that look interesting. As for working on creating new items, and spending 5 hours a week doing it, I am not succeeding. My motivation waxes and wanes. When I finally learned how to make my flower rings, I was in seventh heaven and spent hours making them.

Siam Red and Crystal AB swarovski flower ring

I have also spent hours working on mothers day presents for my sister and sister in law who are brand new mothers, and my mom. And every now and again I get a spurt of creativity, but nothing consistent.

I hope now that I have started a job, and have a more set schedule, I will be able to devote time to my jewelry business. I seem to do much better when I have set hours and more things to do. The more things I have to do, the more I get done. It seems backwards, but it's what works for me.

Here's to a great May, as well as the months after!