Selling Out for Crazy: April 2014

I'm not ignoring you. I have so much stuff going on. A summary of my weekend:
Friday - Scholarship planning meeting. So glad she's got a few. The airfare alone is like tuition!
Saturday - The Senior with PRT at 7 am. The Senior with Prom. AND the kidlet with First Eucharist. Hair had to be done. Oh, and there was a party involved. Food, drink and everything. (If you know anything about Filipino parties, this is no joke. Even the smallest one will have food for eons. As it stands, we tried to give most of it away. I'm working on the finishing off the garlic fried chicken tomorrow. Pancit is gone. We do have 3 more lumpia, but that's for snack time tomorrow.)
Sunday - Show property for 3 hours. This is how I plan to pay for those airline tickets. Last Faith Formation class at church to say goodbye to my senior class. The night ended on a high: GAME OF THRONES!

In a few words, I'm screwed for May June, July, and August. There's only so much "planning-ahead" a person can do. Believe it or not, this is actually a light year for me. Just ask anyone. I have dropped a few other duties that fit better when I was younger. This can't continue as I muddle through my 40s!!!

Here is what's on my plate for the next month:
~ Work - It's never ending and it's a given.
~ Landlord walkthrough - Remember how my landlord was kind enough to lower my rent $250/mo? We get to sign the lease tomorrow, but they also get to do a walk-through. Recall what I said about my house: HOARDERS. I am still cleaning at 9:00 pm.
~ Hem two band dresses for band performances on Wednesday night and for San Francisco Festival - Let me do that tomorrow after the walkthrough!
~ Chaperoning the middle school band-kid and 100 others at a competition in San Francisco - This needs no explanation. Prayers are welcome.
~ Preparing for my time away from the Hoosband and other kidlets - this means, making sure the tot has a way to and from school and making sure the kidlet and the Senior make it to the overnight event with the troop. Hopefully they'll feed themselves.
~ On top of this, I have 3 events (one work related and 2 fundraisers for 2 separate boards that I participate with) 2 BACK TO BACK, Fri/Sat and the other the following week - Expectations are HIGH for each. I have to beg for the next week and I have 4 days when I'm MIA locally. That really puts a kink into the plans.
~ On the backburner for May until I can get thru the fundraisers: Announcements, Grad party planning, mission trip planning for the Mid-Kid, Summer Bridge for the Grad, what to do with the kidlet for the summer while inhouse babysitting is away, Sending off the firstborn to the world. Don't get me started with that. I'm getting choked up just typing it.
~ DG's Pasadena signing - Arrangements have been made, but I have a feeling my mother will throw a wrench into the whole thing. More on that later.
~ Outlander at SDCC - This. Will. Be. EPIC.
~ OUTLANDER SOMETIME BEFORE SEPTEMBER (my guess is 1st wk of August, but who the hell knows).

I think Mother's Day is in there somewhere. Remind me, would ya?

I know I need to exercise, too. My job, if I'm not in the field, involves sitting on my ass. This is where I KNOW the extra 20 lbs came from. I just need to move the ass and eat better. That's another post.

Despite it all, my bitching and moaning, the headaches and sleepless nights, I know there's purpose. If I take a moment, just a small moment, mind you, I can feel the happiness of everyone around me. It's what I crave. In my mind, my success is measured by the satisfaction I feel when someone tells me how great a job I did for them. It makes the pains all worth it for me. Crazy? Probably. Would I do it all again? Absolutely! What would make it perfect? MORE TIME TO FANGIRL.

How many times can I say things start as a joke? Somehow the best ideas are borne from poking fun at everything around you. From time to time some GREAT ideas are hatched and in the end you're left shaking your head at HOW things came about. I have quite a few. Some of my friends will remember my utter disgust at how we were asking for donations for items and/or $$$ for a fundraising basket at school. Typically we'd solicit everyone alive for stuff to create and out-do the next group. It was somewhat of an annual tradition, however that particular year the requests were going on just days after the devastating earthquake in Japan, where thousands died, even more were homeless and destitute. IMO, there was NO WAY I was planning to solicit anything for some gaudy basket just for praise and notoriety. Our class was NOT going to do it at all! Needless to say, I was coerced by many other parents and the instructor to plan this basket. I was furious. In my mind, IF this was going to happen, then the requests would be for provisions since WE live in California -Earthquake country! Hell, we were just going to ask for rations of water and candles. *sigh* Wouldn't you know that the basket was the biggest draw that year? Our Earthquake Preparedness kit was a HIT... And spiteful me put all our raffle tickets into that particular basket. And won.

Again, I have many similar stories. We jokingly consider doing things all the time. Inevitably once the wheels start turning the end result is something to behold!

My latest and greatest is tied to another "good idea."

Let me preface by saying, while I love and admire DG, the production team, the writing team, the entire cast, any of the crew, and even craft services, I do not hold myself to any one group. You might find me on a board or two, but I choose not to fall into quite a few fan groups for a gazillion reasons that are my own. Those are definitely on a need to know basis. Your feelings are spared just by not knowing. Seriously. Don't worry. I like most of you.

Let me also say I tend to not like doing things the way everyone else does. Originality goes a long way in my book. While I'm not a prude, I do feel that there's a level of taste that one can subscribe to while making your presence known out here in cyberspace. Toss in an original clever thought or two and it's just golden.

Having said that, @onapinandneedle and I were up late one night chatting about what "gift" should be given to any of the cast/crew we should happen to meet. I also wanted something I could make to give to my new found fangirl friends. In this case, we were talking about the LA Fan Event in January. EVERYTHING has been done: earrings, necklaces, t-shirts, pins, posters, books, thank you cards, birthday cards, food items (store bought and home made {eep}) charity donation requests, you name it. It would be like re-inventing the wheel. We joked all night about it, but @onapinandneedle just had to say that she would love a wristband/cuff with rivets. From that ONE idea, I came up with what would be my little side gig and I absolutely LOVE IT.

Incidentally, Sam and company did get their gifts. He indulged me for those few moments and even had me put it on his wrist (YES, I HELD HIS HAND FOR MORE THAN A FEW MOMENTS). No way Cait would wear it with Dolce, but she did admire the craftsmanship. It definitely wasn't going near DG's diamond tennis bracelet, but being the gracious woman that she is, she thanked me and put it with her other treasures from the fans. Ron was nice and held onto it. Maril was even sweeter, had me put it on her wrist, and said it was her favorite gift. She even tweeted it the next day. *sigh*

All this reminiscing brings me back to the idea borne from a joke. It's now a fun, fun way for me to contribute to the fandom. As a side bene, I make some pin money! I have the best time burning and staining each unique piece. Ok, the words might be the same, but each and every item is different. No two are alike in design. What I love the most is that nothing about it is kitschy, nor are they part of a bling-y trend. It just looks good. A bit rustic and boho enough for everyday, but still stylish to wear with a great outfit. (Oh, yeah, I wear mine everyday. Even today with my Easter outfit!!!)