Thursday, November 29, 2012
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Mini Vacation
Today is the last day of my mini vacation. I took Wednesday before Thanksgiving off, and we went to stay in a rented cabin for Thanksgiving.
We put aside a little of our tax refund to do this. It's very affordable, and by the time Thanksgiving gets here, it's VERY needed. At least for me. Any time I can get away from my job is good.
Dave gets oodles more time off than I do, and he can take it at a whim, so he took all of last week off.
Bastard.
Anyway, the weather was very warm on Wednesday and Thursday, so we spent a lot of time on this big front porch. Ate our meals out there, spent time well into the evening playing dominoes out there.
Inside, there is no table, just a breakfast bar/counter with room for your knees on just one side, so the table on the porch is really great.
Friday, though, was really cold and windy, so we went over into Muskogee and visited an Indian museum...the museum of the Five Civilized Tribes. It was very interesting, and the art on display on the upper level was stunning.
This was our fire on Wednesday night. We took enough firewood along so that on that cold day, Friday, we were able to keep the fire going extra long, and it heated the main room of the cabin quite nicely.
We spread out the extra blankets and comforter on the floor, and sipped wine, and played dominoes in the cozy firelight.
Headed back home yesterday, and found the house unmolested.
In other news, a package I had coming of holiday gifts for my family was sent to the wrong state, and for some reason, has never been heard of again. Barnes and Noble uses a hybridized shipping method that starts out with UPS and then transfers to USPS in the destination state.
According to tracking records, UPS brought the package to Oklahoma City, where it was given to the USPS for delivery, and they sent it to some shipping dock in Texas instead of bringing it to my house.
And it has never moved from there.
I contacted Barnes and Noble, I contacted UPS, and I contacted USPS. No one knows where it is.
Barnes and Noble offered to refund my money, and I accepted their offer....but they never confirmed if they did that or not, so I have to wait for my next statement to come in the mail.
And now I am at square one, when I was done with my shopping with that order.
Bastards.
In still other news, there may be some good changes happening at work.
Most of my readers probably know that I do not like my boss, and this is the main reason that I do not like my job.
She's ignorant, blatantly favoritist, and a HORRIBLE supervisor. She promotes people based upon ONLY their ability to suck up to her. She revels in the brown nose.
In addition, she doesn't answer emails, but is never at her desk, because she's out shopping, or at a restaurant, or on a smoke break.....so what are we supposed to do?
Well, my team at work was recently called into the operations manager's office, and were told that we are being moved to be with a different supervisor. We were told our supervisor is "overwhelmed," and that we "were the easiest to get rid of."
They think she's overwhelmed, but we know she's out having a pack of cigarettes.
Anyway, after realizing that we were not being fired (our operations manager is also not very good with the English language).....we realized that this is potentially VERY GOOD NEWS.
We were told that the change was effective immediately.
However, in the interim, it seems that the operations manager and our former boss did not communicate the details very clearly.
During that meeting, we were told NOT TO GO to the staff meeting that was scheduled for later that same morning, because we were no longer on our original supervisor's staff.
In fact, the operations manager seemingly kept us in her office past the time of the other meeting so that we could not go. She regaled us with tales of her daughter. Yawn.
Later, when our now-ex supervisor came over to ask us why we didn't come to her staff meeting, we told her that we had been behind closed doors with the operations manager at that time, and that we were specifically instructed not to go to the staff meeting because we were now under a different supervisor, she got outwardly mad AT US.
She said the change was not effective until 12/1, and she stormed off while we were still trying to talk to her.
She's now very short with any of us to go to her with a question,and has altogether stopped coming over to our area to speak to us. She prefers to call us on speaker phone, and hang up as soon as we give her an answer, or as soon as she feels that the conversation is over.
BUT, she continues to behave as though we are still on her team until 12/1, as well. She had her "team leader" come over to us and tell us what time we needed to clock out a week ago Friday, so that we wouldn't have any overtime.
She usually does this herself....so she clearly sent her lackey to do it because she didn't want to have to talk to us.
However, we are already turning in our work logs to our new supervisor, and if anyone needed to tell us what time to clock out, it would be our new supervisor or team leader.
Ugh.
So my team is stuck in a very uncomfortable, awkward place. The tension is palpable when we have to have anything at all to do with our former boss.
It doesn't help that our new supervisor was off all of Thanksgiving week, so we had no choice but to go to our original boss if we needed anything this past week.
Fortunately, I had a very short week, and didn't need anything. But I DID have the joy of my original boss ignoring me in the hallway, giving me a dirty look as we passed inside the office, and of her hanging up on me on the phone.
So, this coming week, our new supervisor will be in the office, and either way, it's the last week that our old supervisor seems to think she's over us....so let's get this week DONE, and see how things improve after that.
Sigh....
We put aside a little of our tax refund to do this. It's very affordable, and by the time Thanksgiving gets here, it's VERY needed. At least for me. Any time I can get away from my job is good.
Bastard.
Anyway, the weather was very warm on Wednesday and Thursday, so we spent a lot of time on this big front porch. Ate our meals out there, spent time well into the evening playing dominoes out there.
Inside, there is no table, just a breakfast bar/counter with room for your knees on just one side, so the table on the porch is really great.
Friday, though, was really cold and windy, so we went over into Muskogee and visited an Indian museum...the museum of the Five Civilized Tribes. It was very interesting, and the art on display on the upper level was stunning.
This was our fire on Wednesday night. We took enough firewood along so that on that cold day, Friday, we were able to keep the fire going extra long, and it heated the main room of the cabin quite nicely.
We spread out the extra blankets and comforter on the floor, and sipped wine, and played dominoes in the cozy firelight.
Headed back home yesterday, and found the house unmolested.
In other news, a package I had coming of holiday gifts for my family was sent to the wrong state, and for some reason, has never been heard of again. Barnes and Noble uses a hybridized shipping method that starts out with UPS and then transfers to USPS in the destination state.
According to tracking records, UPS brought the package to Oklahoma City, where it was given to the USPS for delivery, and they sent it to some shipping dock in Texas instead of bringing it to my house.
And it has never moved from there.
I contacted Barnes and Noble, I contacted UPS, and I contacted USPS. No one knows where it is.
Barnes and Noble offered to refund my money, and I accepted their offer....but they never confirmed if they did that or not, so I have to wait for my next statement to come in the mail.
And now I am at square one, when I was done with my shopping with that order.
Bastards.
In still other news, there may be some good changes happening at work.
Most of my readers probably know that I do not like my boss, and this is the main reason that I do not like my job.
She's ignorant, blatantly favoritist, and a HORRIBLE supervisor. She promotes people based upon ONLY their ability to suck up to her. She revels in the brown nose.
In addition, she doesn't answer emails, but is never at her desk, because she's out shopping, or at a restaurant, or on a smoke break.....so what are we supposed to do?
Well, my team at work was recently called into the operations manager's office, and were told that we are being moved to be with a different supervisor. We were told our supervisor is "overwhelmed," and that we "were the easiest to get rid of."
They think she's overwhelmed, but we know she's out having a pack of cigarettes.
Anyway, after realizing that we were not being fired (our operations manager is also not very good with the English language).....we realized that this is potentially VERY GOOD NEWS.
We were told that the change was effective immediately.
However, in the interim, it seems that the operations manager and our former boss did not communicate the details very clearly.
During that meeting, we were told NOT TO GO to the staff meeting that was scheduled for later that same morning, because we were no longer on our original supervisor's staff.
In fact, the operations manager seemingly kept us in her office past the time of the other meeting so that we could not go. She regaled us with tales of her daughter. Yawn.
Later, when our now-ex supervisor came over to ask us why we didn't come to her staff meeting, we told her that we had been behind closed doors with the operations manager at that time, and that we were specifically instructed not to go to the staff meeting because we were now under a different supervisor, she got outwardly mad AT US.
She said the change was not effective until 12/1, and she stormed off while we were still trying to talk to her.
She's now very short with any of us to go to her with a question,and has altogether stopped coming over to our area to speak to us. She prefers to call us on speaker phone, and hang up as soon as we give her an answer, or as soon as she feels that the conversation is over.
BUT, she continues to behave as though we are still on her team until 12/1, as well. She had her "team leader" come over to us and tell us what time we needed to clock out a week ago Friday, so that we wouldn't have any overtime.
She usually does this herself....so she clearly sent her lackey to do it because she didn't want to have to talk to us.
However, we are already turning in our work logs to our new supervisor, and if anyone needed to tell us what time to clock out, it would be our new supervisor or team leader.
Ugh.
So my team is stuck in a very uncomfortable, awkward place. The tension is palpable when we have to have anything at all to do with our former boss.
It doesn't help that our new supervisor was off all of Thanksgiving week, so we had no choice but to go to our original boss if we needed anything this past week.
Fortunately, I had a very short week, and didn't need anything. But I DID have the joy of my original boss ignoring me in the hallway, giving me a dirty look as we passed inside the office, and of her hanging up on me on the phone.
So, this coming week, our new supervisor will be in the office, and either way, it's the last week that our old supervisor seems to think she's over us....so let's get this week DONE, and see how things improve after that.
Sigh....
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Saturday, November 10, 2012
dish pics!
Franciscan Pottery Starburst
Small plates, platter, serving bowls, oil carafe
Temporama Duragloss Atomic bowls
Fiestaware
Jadeite, no brands
Demitasse just say "made in France" on the bottom
Close up of the jadeite demitasse cups and saucers, which are from the 1930's
(date according to the antique mall where we purchased them)
The Syracuse pottery plates from 1950's Denny's that started my passion
for really cool, vintage dishes!!!
Vintage
So one of the things I've been into over the past several years, ever since my dear family friend Deborah Farrell gave me some REALLY COOL dishes that were once used in a Denny's restaurant in the 50's, is looking for vintage dishes.
I especially like the ones that have cool patterns, like Franciscan pottery "Starburst!" I have a few little plates in that pattern, as well as 2 serving bowls, a small platter, and a little oil carafe.
My interest in these types of items has helped me to find and purchase some pretty cool items, like the same manufacturer and color platter as the one we had when I was growing up. It's like the one that my mom always served our birthday cakes on.
We had a full set of Russel Wright dishware when I was a kid. In fact, there may at some point have been two sets, because we had items that were in different colors. I recall that the platter and the sugar bowl and lots of the dishes were coral color, but there was a gravy boat and coffee cups and saucers that were dark gray.
As far as I know, my dad sold all of the Wright before he died, wanting to leave us money instead of "things."
Since moving here, along with the Starburst stuff and the Wright platter, I've also acquired a Wright sugar bowl in a different color than either of the ones we had at home.
When I first moved here, my very first find was a full set of 60 dishes in a Wright-esque copy pattern called "Holiday" for $30. Yes. $30. We use those for our every day. The only drawback is that they are from the 1950's and can't be microwaved! So any reheating in the nuker has to be done on a different plate!
I've also enjoyed adding a few pieces of Fiesta ware to my collection. I have their large platter in yellow, to match the kitchen in my house, a purple pitcher for that summertime sweet tea, and a couple of bowls, one turquoise and one cinnabar red.
It's fun to hunt for these treasures, and I am VERY frugal when I come across something that interests me. If the price isn't right, or the seller isn't into haggling, I will walk away and live to hunt another day!
Today, I found a set of 6 bowls in a pattern I'd seen before, but hadn't purchased any of. 6 bowls from the 1950's for $15. Looking on line, there is nothing out there that's that cheap for this pattern.
They're Canonsburg pottery, "Atomic" pattern, and they're in perfect condition. They're really cool...look it up, and you'll see! (or maybe I'll get some pictures taken of all of the different stuff I have and make that a different post)
Now, if only I could find some of the Marcrest Swiss Alpine/Swiss Chalet stuff we also had! I have one bowl from home....and I love it!
My other love? Jadeite. Oh. My. I LOVE THOSE PALE GREEN DISHES! So far, I've found a set of demitasse cups, a mixing bowl with pouring spout, and one small soup bowl. THAT stuff is a bit pricier and harder to come by, dammit.
Must continue to hunt the dark corners and bottom shelves of the antique malls!
But today, I am VERY happy with my find!
Now....must start to make more friends to I can have folks over to use these great dishes!
I especially like the ones that have cool patterns, like Franciscan pottery "Starburst!" I have a few little plates in that pattern, as well as 2 serving bowls, a small platter, and a little oil carafe.
My interest in these types of items has helped me to find and purchase some pretty cool items, like the same manufacturer and color platter as the one we had when I was growing up. It's like the one that my mom always served our birthday cakes on.
We had a full set of Russel Wright dishware when I was a kid. In fact, there may at some point have been two sets, because we had items that were in different colors. I recall that the platter and the sugar bowl and lots of the dishes were coral color, but there was a gravy boat and coffee cups and saucers that were dark gray.
As far as I know, my dad sold all of the Wright before he died, wanting to leave us money instead of "things."
Since moving here, along with the Starburst stuff and the Wright platter, I've also acquired a Wright sugar bowl in a different color than either of the ones we had at home.
When I first moved here, my very first find was a full set of 60 dishes in a Wright-esque copy pattern called "Holiday" for $30. Yes. $30. We use those for our every day. The only drawback is that they are from the 1950's and can't be microwaved! So any reheating in the nuker has to be done on a different plate!
I've also enjoyed adding a few pieces of Fiesta ware to my collection. I have their large platter in yellow, to match the kitchen in my house, a purple pitcher for that summertime sweet tea, and a couple of bowls, one turquoise and one cinnabar red.
It's fun to hunt for these treasures, and I am VERY frugal when I come across something that interests me. If the price isn't right, or the seller isn't into haggling, I will walk away and live to hunt another day!
Today, I found a set of 6 bowls in a pattern I'd seen before, but hadn't purchased any of. 6 bowls from the 1950's for $15. Looking on line, there is nothing out there that's that cheap for this pattern.
They're Canonsburg pottery, "Atomic" pattern, and they're in perfect condition. They're really cool...look it up, and you'll see! (or maybe I'll get some pictures taken of all of the different stuff I have and make that a different post)
Now, if only I could find some of the Marcrest Swiss Alpine/Swiss Chalet stuff we also had! I have one bowl from home....and I love it!
My other love? Jadeite. Oh. My. I LOVE THOSE PALE GREEN DISHES! So far, I've found a set of demitasse cups, a mixing bowl with pouring spout, and one small soup bowl. THAT stuff is a bit pricier and harder to come by, dammit.
Must continue to hunt the dark corners and bottom shelves of the antique malls!
But today, I am VERY happy with my find!
Now....must start to make more friends to I can have folks over to use these great dishes!
Saturday, November 3, 2012
holiday gift ideas....
SO...in case someone reading this out there needs some ideas...the season quickly approacheth!
I'm FINALLY almost out of those IKEA tea lights that come in a brick of 100. You know, like you gave me almost what, 5 years ago?
I use a lot of tea lights--- our mantle has 6 tealight holders on it, and our faux fireplace holds 5 at a time when we light the candelabra that's in there with the mirror behind it.
Plus, we don't have an IKEA store here. So....
Another thing we want is place mats and cloth napkins. Cool, funky, bizarre patterns would be best.
Specific favorite items from Trader Joes = artichoke antipasto, green olive tapenade, yellow thai curry sauce, dried blue berries, that 3 pepper blend, and, of course, chocolate covered pretzels, and actually any of their chocolate covered dried fruits.....it's CHRISTMAS, after all.
And TASSOS brand Greek olives that they sell at Binny's. The garlic stuffed.
Plus, there's always the WXRT live from the archives for the year, the Grateful Dead Calendar, and the Amazon wish lists!
I got started with shopping for all y'all already, so GET BUSY! *giggle*
I'm FINALLY almost out of those IKEA tea lights that come in a brick of 100. You know, like you gave me almost what, 5 years ago?
I use a lot of tea lights--- our mantle has 6 tealight holders on it, and our faux fireplace holds 5 at a time when we light the candelabra that's in there with the mirror behind it.
Plus, we don't have an IKEA store here. So....
Another thing we want is place mats and cloth napkins. Cool, funky, bizarre patterns would be best.
Specific favorite items from Trader Joes = artichoke antipasto, green olive tapenade, yellow thai curry sauce, dried blue berries, that 3 pepper blend, and, of course, chocolate covered pretzels, and actually any of their chocolate covered dried fruits.....it's CHRISTMAS, after all.
And TASSOS brand Greek olives that they sell at Binny's. The garlic stuffed.
Plus, there's always the WXRT live from the archives for the year, the Grateful Dead Calendar, and the Amazon wish lists!
I got started with shopping for all y'all already, so GET BUSY! *giggle*
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)