The tandem has survived surgery and now fits me! I have plans to take it on it's maiden voyage with Stefanie on Tuesday! We will try to keep wobbling, cussing and barked shins to a minimum.
Anybody else want a ride??
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Busy Week!
I've been having a busy and interesting week. On Monday, I got a tandem bike! I had been thinking of getting one for a while. I have a bunch of friends that either don't know how to ride a bike or, for one reason or another, are not super confident riders, especially on the street. Also, it is much more fun to ride a tandem than two bikes because it's much easier to chat. Now, this tandem is great but with one small problem. The front seat didn't go down far enough for me to ride it. The handlebars for the stoker (person in the back) are attached to the stem of the captain's (person in the front) seat post so it won't go very far down. I was able to ride the bike when we switched the captain's and stoker's seats. That was how I was able to figure out that the bike did actually fit me. Fortunately, the seat post tube is about 7" high and can be shortened about 3". It is up at Quadcycles having that done by the owner right now. Nobody else would touch it. You want to see a bunch of bike repair guys twitch? Ask them to cut part of your bike frame off! Hopefully, I will be able to pick it up tomorrow. I can't wait to go for a ride!
Tuesday, I took Darien to the beach. Can I just say WHAT HAPPENED TO AUGUST??!? I had thought I would have taken him to the beach a lot this summer but it just never happened. I think it is because we has so much bad weather. Anyway, I realized over the weekend that Tuesday was literally, my last chance to take him to the beach this summer! Fortunately, that weather was gorgeous. Unfortunately, I was a little cavalier about the sunscreen and got a hell of a burn on my shins and feet. Fortunately, it is almost all healed up and I even got a bit of a tan.
The rest of the week has been work, work, work. This was the last week that I have Tuesday off. Next week, we start the new regular winter hours with me working Tues-Sat and Annie doing Sunday and Monday. Weird.
Tuesday, I took Darien to the beach. Can I just say WHAT HAPPENED TO AUGUST??!? I had thought I would have taken him to the beach a lot this summer but it just never happened. I think it is because we has so much bad weather. Anyway, I realized over the weekend that Tuesday was literally, my last chance to take him to the beach this summer! Fortunately, that weather was gorgeous. Unfortunately, I was a little cavalier about the sunscreen and got a hell of a burn on my shins and feet. Fortunately, it is almost all healed up and I even got a bit of a tan.
The rest of the week has been work, work, work. This was the last week that I have Tuesday off. Next week, we start the new regular winter hours with me working Tues-Sat and Annie doing Sunday and Monday. Weird.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Zen and Creepy Crawlies, Part 2
I just got back from a one day retreat at the Open Meadow Zen Center in Lexington. It is a beautiful place to sit and I really like it there except for one small thing. Whenever I go there, all this bug karma rises up! The last time I was there I came back from the long walk out in the Conservation Lands (aka the Pestilent Swamp) with not one but three wood ticks on me. Read here for the creep crawly details.
This time, I thought, I just won't go on the long walk and I'll be fine. Tells you how much good the thinking does ya'. As I was walking along during the first walking meditation (we alternate sitting and walking), I heard the click of beads as something brushed my head. I look around and figured my friend Maria, who was walking behind me, had brushed a mosquito away. I didn't think much more about it until we came around the room again and there's Maria with a couple of paper towels trying to catch a coin sized SPIDER! Apparently, it had been decending from the ceiling and was just about to land on MY HEAD when she brushed it away (the beads I heard was the mala in her hand). Later, she said, all she could think of was Miss Muffet as the thing came dangling down. Thank goodness she saw it!
I still plan to do other retreats at OMZ. We'll see what other creepy crawlies come my way. I shudder to think!
This time, I thought, I just won't go on the long walk and I'll be fine. Tells you how much good the thinking does ya'. As I was walking along during the first walking meditation (we alternate sitting and walking), I heard the click of beads as something brushed my head. I look around and figured my friend Maria, who was walking behind me, had brushed a mosquito away. I didn't think much more about it until we came around the room again and there's Maria with a couple of paper towels trying to catch a coin sized SPIDER! Apparently, it had been decending from the ceiling and was just about to land on MY HEAD when she brushed it away (the beads I heard was the mala in her hand). Later, she said, all she could think of was Miss Muffet as the thing came dangling down. Thank goodness she saw it!
I still plan to do other retreats at OMZ. We'll see what other creepy crawlies come my way. I shudder to think!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Something Funny
I recently realized something pretty funny. My dog is not a morning person! 
For years, I've been used to dogs that wake me up at the crack of dawn. Since I've had Wanda, that just isn't happening. What's more, I have to wake her up, usually by pulling the covers off her which she's burrowed under in the night. She yawns and stretches and eventually ambles her way to the door. When she comes back in, she makes a beeline for the bed and spends the rest of the morning as you see.
I'll remind you what she's like later in the day:
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I tell you, this dog leads a tortured life.
For years, I've been used to dogs that wake me up at the crack of dawn. Since I've had Wanda, that just isn't happening. What's more, I have to wake her up, usually by pulling the covers off her which she's burrowed under in the night. She yawns and stretches and eventually ambles her way to the door. When she comes back in, she makes a beeline for the bed and spends the rest of the morning as you see.I'll remind you what she's like later in the day:
This is how she prefers to sleep anytime the temperature is below 75 degrees. See just the nose and paws sticking out?
I tell you, this dog leads a tortured life.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Congratulations!
Two of my favorite people just got engaged!!
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Balissa and her beloved Andy
Hurry up and set a date you guys. I want to go to a wedding!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Mind's Eye Yarns, 2.0
Sorry for not posting for so long but this time I have an excuse. I have been trying to change over from using paper bookkeeping to computer bookkeeping. It is a noble endeavor but all that data entry is sucking the life out of me. 
Not very tidy and not the best use of space. So, I went out and got these. These are two seven foot high by two foot wide shelving units.
Now, one can't just get shelves this tall and narrow without securing them to the wall. So, I got all DIY with it! Any excuse to use my electric drill is a good one!
Then I mounted the power strip to the side of the shelves. 
I was smart enough to measure it this time so that I only had to screw things in once. She can be taught!
All that was left was to take the mountain of yarn in the middle of the floor
Changing to computerized bookkeeping is only the start. This seems to be the year that I'm going to be upgrading the shop in a lot of ways. My next project is adding some more shelves. This is the area of the shop right by the counter. It has looked like this since I opened.
Not very tidy and not the best use of space. So, I went out and got these. These are two seven foot high by two foot wide shelving units.Now, one can't just get shelves this tall and narrow without securing them to the wall. So, I got all DIY with it! Any excuse to use my electric drill is a good one!First, I attached some strapping to the wall.
Then I realized that it might have been a good idea to measure how high it was.
I didn't want to block off one of the only accessable outlets in the room so I got myself a power strip. 
It actually took me two tries to get one with a flat plug. The first one had a sticky-outy plug and that wouldn't do at all.
Then I mounted the power strip to the side of the shelves. I was smart enough to measure it this time so that I only had to screw things in once. She can be taught!All that was left was to take the mountain of yarn in the middle of the floor
all
away.
Wouldn't you know, as soon as I get ahead of that batch, more shows up!
By, hey, I'm not mad.
That done, the next big upgrade is coming after Labor Day. I've hired the lovely and talented Annie, knitter, spinner and veteran of many stints of covering the shop. 
That's right folks, after eleven years in business, I'm hiring my first employee! With Annie's help, the shop will be open seven days a week starting after Labor Day!
More upgrades are coming but may take longer. I'll keep you posted!
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