Inspiration Alley

Trying to Keep Up

Just trying to keep up here ....

I've got a sick hubby (going on two weeks now), but he's on the mend after forcing him to go to the doctor on Tuesday, It's the end of the month at work (always a crazy time), I'm working behind the scenes with Jackie in Tampa on the MSCrop4Hope, plus I'm shopping for and putting the final plans in place for my trip to Phoenix for Creative Escape.

Let's see ... I fly out at 6AM (which means to the airport at 4:30A), take a 6 hour tour on Wednesday, a jeep tour on Thursday, meet up with the yahoogroup girls for some swaps, classes on Friday and Saturday, then fly home on Sunday.  (I begged off of flying to one of our companies in CA because I didn't want to be toting all the stuff from CE). 

I'm very excited and all I can say is It won't be long now!

It's A Beautiful Thing

I won the lottery for the tour and warehouse sale at Bazzill while I'm at Creative Escape.  I'm on the last bus 11AM.  I rearranged my flights so I arrive at 9:24A and then I'll grab my luggage and make a mad dash to the hotel.  Either check in (if they'll let me) or leave my bags with the bellman, and hop on the tour. 

So many people were unable to go because the tour was on Wednesday and even though they were picked for the tour their travel times didn't allow them to go.  I was lucky to be able to change my flight, and hopefully, I'll be able to arrive in time.  I'm giving it my best shot anyway.

Unconscious Mutterings #

Free association is described as a "psychonanalytic procedure in which a person is encouraged to give free rein to his or her thoughts and feelings, verbalizing whatever comes into the mind without monitoring its content." Over time, this technique is supposed to help bring forth repressed thoughts and feelings that the person can then work through to gain a better sense of self.

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Uneven :: Crooked
2. Wonder :: Woman
3. Spider :: Man (it's a superhero thing)
4. Emma :: Jane Austin
5. Swing:: Low Sweet Chariot
6. Orbit :: Moon
7. Flirt :: Beginning of Romance
8. Donation :: Charity
9. Veil :: Wedding
10. Atmosphere :: Space

To play along visit here.

Restocked On Books

Went today to the used book store and traded in some books and came home with quite a few for my TBR (to be read) pile.  Needed to have some for airport reading since I'll be traveling to Phoenix soon.  I picked out the following:

The Killing Hour (Lisa Gardner); Guilty As Sin (Tami Hoag); Gone (Lisa Gardner); Kill The Messenger (Tami Hoag); Still Waters (Tami Hoag); Lucky's Lady (Tami Hoag); and Promise Me (Harlan Coben)

I was looking for some more of the Harlan Coben books, but Promise Me was all they had on hand.  I'll probably drop by one of the other used book stores in the area to check out what they have. 

Some of these I can't wait to start reading.

My New Luggage

My suitcase was in some serious need of repairs.  The rubber part of the wheels fell apart at last years Crop 4 Hope.  The suitcase still rolled, just not very smoothly.  Then this summer when we were in Boston, the handle on my suitcase pulled apart.  It was still usable, but with my upcoming trip to CE in Phoenix, I decided that I would either repair it or replace it.

I called around to several luggage repair stores and had my suitcase in the trunk, when I found a whole set online at Bed Bath and Beyond.  I dragged hubby to the store and took a look and it was a great set.  Four pieces in total - a 28", a 25", and a 21" upright as well as a carry bag.  All the bags fit inside each other (which will come in handy for CE because I wanted to take an extra suitcase).  All this for a list price of only $99.00  Then I used one of their 20% off coupons.  Even though I receive two a month in the mail, of course when I need one I could only find an expired one - but no matter, they accept the expired one too.  So the 4 pieces only cost $79.00.  Great deal!  I'm very happy and my old suitcase will go in the dumpster at work on Monday.

Missing Thursday Thirteen

I worked on my Thursday Thirteen last night, and clicked send at around 3:30AM.  I then signed off and went to bed.  I thought I was on time (for once) but to my surprise not so ... apparently it didn't save properly so it didn't get posted.  It was a good one too -- with lots of links.  I won't tell you the theme, because I'll post it again next week, and next week I'll check my work and make sure the post got saved.

Tonight I'm at work and FPL is working on the lines.  Yesterday, we lost part of the lines so while we had phones and computers, and lights, we had no air conditioning.  Now, I'm in an office without a window, and no real cross through of ventilation so it was crazy hot.  Sweating at work is not in my job description.  Tonight they worked on the lines, and I had to power down the building and the main computer servers so that FPL could reconnect the new temporary line.  Everything went well and there is a now a chill in the air again.  Computers came up fine, so I guess I didn't foul things up too much.

As Seen On the Bathroom Wall

While at the local Pizza Joint, I found this on the bathroom stall door. I know ... you're thinking what is she doing with her camera in a public bathroom - well, as it happens my camera is in my purse at all times, so when I saw this on the stall door it captured my attention.  So much so that after I took the picture I then visited the second stall to see if it was a different ad, and when I got home, I went online to the website to see what it's all about.  It's from the ad council and is promoting resistering to vote.  I have to say that the ad really worked for me.  I'm already a registered voter, but the ad was off the wall enough for me to want to learn more.  The website links you to information about candidates and voting in your state, as well as information on how to register to vote.

This is so cool ...

I received a package today from Fed Ex and it was a welcome package for Creative Escape (the scrapbooking event I'm going to the beginning of September).  Man this just gets me revved up for the trip. 

They sent a travel journal and some luggage tags plus polka dot ribbon so your luggage stands out, a little fedx airplane keyring, some fireballs to remind us how hot Pheonix is (and to pack a swimsuit), a button, and an edge distresser, plus it came with a nice letter explaining the contents and why they were sent.

All I can say is "top notch".  This just sets the scene for the spoiling I anticipate at the event.  Way cool!

I'm thinking maybe I'll decorate the travel journal before I go.

Unconscious Mutterings (#4/327)

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Darling :: Husband
2. Majesty :: Purple Mountains
3. Pebble :: Rock
4. Fate :: Destiny
5. Instant :: Message
6. Screen :: Name
7. Unplugged :: Out of Touch
8. Dairy :: Ice Cream
9. Benefactor :: Sponsor
10. Market :: Stock Exchange

If you wish to play along visit here

Just over 2 weeks left ...

and I will be on my way to Creative Escape.  I can't believe it's finally here!  Man o' Man I am excited.  All I can think about is planning for CE.  I'm heading there with several of my friends from the Tampa area and I'm bunking with Linda and Mary who were my roomates for the first CKU Orlando I attended.  We had a blast then, and I expect we will on this trip as well.

Today I went to the local stamp store.  I was going to buy a pink flat pack type thing for my tools.  The flat pack was by EK and came with all the tools -- now I don't need all the tools but it is pink so I decided that I'd get it anyway and give the stuff I don't need to someone who does.  I got to the store and they had something a little more to my liking and less expensive too.  This is a shoulder tote (also by EK and also pink) which holds tools and paper plus whatever else you need.  It will work perfectly. 

So of course I bought it.