No Strings Attached

Posted By Kathleen David on June 30, 2014

My coffee maker has been dying by inches. Until today I was able to work around the various problems that it had created. But this morning the heating element went and that was that.

I can’t complain really. I had that coffee maker for over 17 years. And 17 years is a really good run for a coffee maker. I think my parents went through two or three in that time.

No coffee maker means no coffee means I am back in scary headache land if I don’t solve this.

I figured this one was going to be pretty simple. Go out and find something comparable to what I had.

*Sound of a large Buzzer* Nope.

The one I had ground my beans and then brewed the coffee. Well that is the higher end of coffee makers but the new trend is these coffee brewing packet monstrosities. I don’t like those with a passion. The ones I did find that did both didn’t strike my fancy. The grinding section was not well made. I could see so many ways that a part might break off or something wouldn’t fit right every time.

I ended up with a slightly smaller Cuisinart coffee maker and a grinder. The coffee maker carafe is metal so I can’t see when it is done. But I won’t live in fear of dropping it.

First cup is a little strong but I can adjust the brew very easily.

Now let’s see if it can last as long as my old coffee maker.

I am grateful for coffee makers that work.

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Posted By Kathleen David on June 27, 2014

Caroline’s first full day of summer vacation. Last night she informed us that she would be sleeping in. Apparently getting up at her usual 6:30 is sleeping in.

I did a puppet/doll/costume count and the number of days I won’t be able to work on the puppets/dolls/costumes and calculated my daily output to get it all done. I then had a good laugh and a good cry and worked out how I am going to do this project. However if I can’t find my pattern bag with all my patterns, this is going to be for naught. I have one puppet cut out and that one has to go out the door Monday to make it to its new home by the deadline.

Speaking of Dragon Con, I need some help from my musical buddies to get something ready for my puppet slam piece. Usual places to find me for details.

Getting ready for Florida SuperCon next weekend. Then going to visit some friends in Florida. Caroline is going to go visit her sister Shana for 10 days. I am going back to Florida to spend some time with my family and pick up Caroline. Three days after we get back from that, we are off to Shoreleave. Caroline will be spending six days in New York the month of July and the rest in Florida.

What is it about cats and laundry? Millie only sleeps in the dirty laundry and Figgy only sleeps on the clean laundry.

I can lift weights if I am careful with my left arm. Been doing a lot of legwork because of it and whatever my arm will bear.

I declare today a doing day rather than a thinking day.

It amazes me how fast a clean surface around here picks up stuff. I had the coffee table clear yesterday so we could play a board game and this morning it is covered in comics, Caroline’s school work, puppet parts and toys. Ah well off to clean it up.

On the docket for today is restocking the larder, finishing up the commissioned puppet piece and finding those all important patterns.

I am grateful for things that get done.

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Posted By Kathleen David on June 26, 2014

It is Caroline’s last day in Elementary School. Next year she will be in Middle School aka Junior High.

Here is a photo from her first day

And here is one from Today

I am in awe of all that she had learned in that amount of time. She has all the basics down for the rest of her education. She is responsible for doing her homework. I think I had to remind her about it once this year and I never got a note from the teacher that she was slacking. She has a good grasp of the fundamentals in so many subjects.

And she has grown from a little girl to a young lady. She has enjoyed being a bus buddy this year and helping the kindergarten kids get on the right bus. She enjoyed her role of Mrs. Peterson in Bye Bye Birdy. She got to sing in the all district show choir. She has been given responsibilities and proven that she can do those and more.

I am so proud of her.

I am grateful for all that she has learned and done during her time at Elementary school.

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Posted By Kathleen David on June 25, 2014

I had one of those headaches that I could feel in my teeth and my neck. Focus wasn’t happening so it was good that it really struck after I made dinner.

I get a variety of headaches. I have for more years than I care count. I occasionally have migraines that send me to a dark quiet room for a time. I get sinus headaches especially during allergy season. Tension headaches are not unusual.

This one is a bit unusual. My tinnitus is at full ring which means I really have to focus to hear what people are saying. I’m not down to practically lip reading yet. And the pounding pain in my head is such that it is hard to focus. Sleeping last night was an adventure but eventually I did finally do so. I awoke this morning still with a headache but nothing as sever as it was last night, which I don’t care to repeat ever again. So going to take today kind of slow and see if there is something over the counter that can counteract this pain. I am wondering if it has anything to do with the pressure change in the weather.

Caroline had her moving up to middle school ceremony on Monday. She earned a Presidential Educational Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement that came with a certificate and a neat pin. I am very proud of her. She has worked very hard at her schoolwork. She gets her homework done in a timely fashion and I rarely have to prod her to do so. Her habit is get home from school, play for about half an hour to unwind and then homework that she gets done before dinner. She had proven that she is really good at memorization and is a good essay writer. She has the tools she needs already in place to help her with her future in school. I would like to also thank all her teachers who helped her to achieve these skills through all their hard work with the children. She was at the perfect school for her.

I have been watching the World Cup and there have been some good games and some real head scratchers. The jokes about the bets and the outcomes almost seem like reality. It is interesting to see that when the World Cup is in South America, those teams do better and when in Europe those teams do better. Best joke I have heard so far is
Q: What’s the difference between a tea bag and England?
A: A tea bag stays longer in the cup
(Said with apologies to England who had some weird calls made against them and other calls not made when they should have been.)

That the Mets are 5 games out of first just tells you how much of a mess that division is.

I am grateful for peace.

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Posted By Kathleen David on June 24, 2014

And I have to have my sheet in by the 15th of July.

I have three projects that need to be done before Shoreleave.

I have possibly a week less of working time due to crazy plan A.

Plus there are 2 weeks that are out of the picture.

If I add all this together I have 30 working days to get done what I want to get done.

I think this time there will be some hand puppet sets in the mix.

I have a wacky doll idea.

I still want to do make Nick Furry.

And then there is the puppet slam, which might lead to other work in a sideways fashion.

So brain in overdrive and have to reign it in.

Might do some of the ladies of OUTA as puppets.

Just working out what is striking my fancy.

Whatever it is, I am going to have to put pedal to the metal to get it done.

I am grateful for inspiration.

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