Brixey Banter

"I wanna have a good time and enjoy my Jack"

Stupid pollen. I have been sneezing like crazy with a runny nose and a stuffy head. Poor Coco also had doggy allergies. Her eyes are watery and she just doesn't feel very good. She sunbathed for a while on the back porch today.

I tried to sunbathe after my run in the front yard. Gabby came and huddled under my bent knees - her favorite spot when we're outside. But then, both doggies came and lick attacked us, so I had to get up. Plus, Grace got excited and started chasing Gabby which is never a good thing. She starts nipping on her and Gabs has to hide under the car.

Mom and I have been doing really well on our diet. Although I just cheated and ate an extra 50 calories in the form of jalapeno pistachios. I was really hungry tonight! We have both lost 2.4 lbs since Monday. How strange. We seem to be be losing at the exact same rate. I wonder how long that will last?

I've also been running, if you can even call it that. It's about a mile and I have to walk a little bit in the middle, but at least I'm doing it. Next week, I should be worked up to 1.5 miles without walking - by the end of the week but still better than nothing!

I'm waiting to hear back from a couple of job prospects. The wait is killing me. Although sewing  has kept me busy. I have 19 bibs ready to just add the final trim to (2 minutes each) and I will be done!! Well, with the first wave - most of which are boy bibs. They are far from perfect but they are cute and should serve their purpose - catching baby puke and food. Yum. Pictures to come when I finish!

Yay for Mom being so awesome too.

I guess I'll start busting out some aprons at some point. We're going to offer matching mom and daughter aprons - sold in sets. Only because we make cute aprons and you always see aprons but rarely kids aprons. We have a few other things up our sleeves so hang around - I know you're on the edge of your seat with anticipation!!

House Wednesdays on Sleuth! Gotta get back to it!!

"This indecision's got me climbing up the walls"

Mom and I are busy bees driving Charles crazy around the house. He asked us the other night if the dining room was now a sewing room and didn't we already have one of those in the house. I had to assure him that Mom's machine was in use and I needed my own for my projects. Poor Charles :(

Mom and I also started the Slim Fast diet today. I had a strawberry shake (gross), a banana, 1/2 apple with 2 Tbs. peanut butter, a Slim Fast chocolate caramel peanut meal bar, 100 calories of cheese and for dinner grilled Caribbean jerk chicken with sweet potato crisps and green beans. I'm not starving so that's good. I also ran a mile today. I know it's not a huge thing and I probably needed to do some extra strength training but sewing sure gets in the way. When I ran (down the road) there would be the occasional scattering of leaves when something (bird, rabbit, squirrel, snake?) ran away from the road. Kind of frightening. It sure didn't make me run any faster though!! Ha!

Mom has officially finished 4 Easter baskets and I have yet to finish an actual bib. Nice. Plus, I'm going to have her close my seams because my patience is null while hers is abundant. So it seems. (seams)

Not much going on other than mad sewing. And mad attempts at weight loss.

Ugh. A colon flow commercial is on. Their graphics are kind of gross. The contents of your stomach being flushed into your colon. *gag*

We took Gabby to town with the dogs today. Only because she ran out to the garage when Mom went back inside for something. She did really well. She was a little excited at first and looking out the window but after about 5 minutes, her kitty lids got heavy and she just layed down and slept. She was standing on the console when we came back out from Walmart but fell asleep (on top of our bags) as soon as the car started moving again.

I told you that I didn't have much going on lately.

Ciao.

"On a hippie trail, head full of zombie"

Dear Wii Fit -

Thank you for giving me a good workout. You reminded me that it has been 565 days since I last used you for my physical health routine. You then proceeded to suggest to me that since I haven't been using you for working out that you hoped I had been keeping up an active routine. When you found out how much weight I have gained in the past 565 days, you were amazed...and you told me so. Although, you were excited that my weight was under overweight...just barely. 

I'm not sure that I feel better after my workout. I felt like you were telling me that I've been lazy, which is true. However, I don't need to be reminded by a machine. As a matter of fact, I realize it every single day that I look in the mirror.

565 days ago, I told you that my goal was to lose 5 - 10 lbs. Today, my weight loss goal is 15 lbs, which doesn't even get me to my weight 565 days ago. You told me that I have gained 16.5 lbs since I last used you. That's not very nice. You could have just told me that I need to make better goals for myself. Thanks.

One good thing that did come about from your cruel remarks is that I am now more motivated to lose that 10 lbs in 2 months. That is 2.5 lbs every 2 weeks. I think that isn't a bad goal.  I can do it. Especially now that I know tomorrow will be better when it comes to your verbal abuse. You will be proud of me for working out twice in one week. That's a nice feeling.

The reason I'm writing this letter to you, Wii Fit, is because I know that I can reach my goal...with or without you. It's getting warmer and that means I can ride my bike more. I can also run on the dirt road, not just on the treadmill (which is how I run when I use you to run - very clever isn't it? Better than running in place. I sure tricked you). On cool days, I will still use you to Hula Hoop and for Boxing. I might even use you for abs and yoga (I do enjoy your yoga moves). Do not fear, I will be back to use you.

Thanks Wii Fit.

Sincerely,

Carrie

"So raise your glass if you are wrong in all the right ways"

It's nearly the end of the week. Already.

This week's accomplishments seem to be a little less than last week's projects. However, we got the Murphy bed hardware in the mail. That means we have a lot of work in our future. Here's a list of our next couple of weeks:

• Find fabric for curtains
• Choose paint for room that matches new fabric
• Empty room, including finding a place to put the sofa until we get my crap out of the shop apartment
• Paint room
• Make cabinet for bed
• Make shelves on either side of the bed

It doesn't seem like a lot, but it will be our first major woodworking project. A pretty big undertaking for us!

So I went to Springfield yesterday and visited a couple of friends. It was a good time. Very laid back and fun. Adie and I went to the Farmers Gastropub for lunch today and it was fantastic! I also picked up some makeup, Atlas Shrugged and the cutest Hello Kitty compact. My Chococat compact was getting pretty ragged looking.

Gabby seems to be feeling a little better today. She ate (i.e. picked up her food with her paw and threw it all over the bathroom floor) and even got up on the loveseat with me tonight. She hasn't laid by me since Sunday. Poor kitty. She's been either laying on the chair under the dining room table or under the desk in the den. We forced some of Stinky's antibiotics down her throat tonight. Mom said she threw up a bunch of times last night.

Can you believe the Season Finale of V is next week? Geez. January, February and March have flown by!!

Well, not much going on. I'll take some pics of my most recent paintings and post them.

Ciao.

"I could really use a wish right now"

You know, there are just days that life looks exceptionally better than other days. Your life, my life, whoever's life. I've had a little trouble sleeping this week and that just stinks.

I try to live life to the fullest and with that, I have been taking this whole new approach to life. Instead of waiting for things to happen to me, I make executive decisions and try to act aggressively. I don't think it's really been working out for me, but I figured it's better to take a chance at things than to wonder what would have happened if I had...

That's what I did Sunday night. I couldn't sleep and I stayed up writing "I wish I..." over and over and the weird part is that I couldn't finish the sentence. I could either write all the things I wish I had done actively in my life's decisions or I could change that sentence to "I will..."

And I did. I made a choice and it was an aggressive choice. Not very befitting of a lady, but come on people, what do I really have to lose? I mean, I'm already unemployed. I don't have a place to live. I lost my kitty a year and a half ago. Why not lose my dignity in the process? (Trust me, that's not what I really thought because I know how much I have to lose that goes beyond a job and a home...family is first and my friends are second...well, they are right there next to my kitties).

So my dignity has officially left the Miller household. Along with a painting I did for a friend. I'll post it here. I might as well. I mean, it's not like it's a secret. I've been working on a bunch of little art pieces.

This fish is from Charley Harper's ginormous coffee table book that I thank Christie for (maybe not to her email address but as a general thought) everytime I look at it. It was a gift she gave me for helping her move. A gift that I wanted very badly and she knew, but I would never buy myself. It was a little pricey. And I love it. Anyway, the fish is an image in there and I just repainted it on a canvas for a friend of mine whom I thought would get a kick out of it.

Yes, I am a dork. But I really enjoy doing things for others - until it kicks me in the ass of course.

The only reason for this post is because I feel like I teased you for a few days and needed to give you a little fluff in between the boring moments of my life. Which is, like, every single day of my life because we all know I don't hardly do anything exciting or really worth writing about...I just like to write and this is my get out of jail free card for writing.

And I needed to write about the big ass mistake I made in sending out a letter that I should probably have never written. But, as you all know, my favorite place for my foot is in my mouth.

Also, I realize that I have used the post title lyrics before, but I used them in conjunction with the whole quote...not on their own so I'm good to go.

"Sometimes I felt that I'd lost my mind"

Sunday! Oscar evening!

We watched part of it and then had to watch our newest favorite show, Shameless. Now we're back!

I went to Springfield on Friday night to visit a high school friend of mine, Adam. We had dinner and just hung out. It's nice to see people you haven't seen in ages! I might try to go see Rusty this weekend if he turns out to be not so busy! Of course, it's been a lot less time since I saw Rusty than since I saw Adam!

Mom and I have tackled several more projects. We've painted 4 frames in preparation for a project in her basement. I painted 3 frames for a project for Mema. I also am painting at least one more canvas, if not two.

Tomorrow is a trip to WP to my favorite unemployment career center. Woo. I also need to pick up a couple more canvases at Big Lots (cheap!) and run to the bank. What an exciting day!!

Gabby has been keeping Mom and I thoroughly entertained. She has been continually carrying her toy on the end of a stick to me. Then, when she gets tired, she just lays down and rolls over, legs and fur splayed out everywhere. She's so silly!

OMG. Helena Bonham Carter's hair should win its own award for Best Costume - it's wild!

Ugh. I've been working on a model for Mom's den. Randy saw me working on it last night and went and downloaded SketchUp onto his computer. I think I've created a monster! He is love with it! It IS very fun!! Images when I finish the model.

Okie dokie. My belly has been killing me all night long so I had better get going.

Good night internet'rs.

"I think you know I'm damn precious and hell yeah I'm the m***er f***ing princess"

Yo.

Thought I was going to miss a day, didn't you? Well, I fooled you! 1 hour and 7 minutes left until tomorrow! Ha!

Gabby is helping me compose this post. More like she's just sitting on my left arm (very hard to move it) while I type and she either licks my left thumb...and fingers...or stares at the screen. She loves watching me type. Or rather, the motion of the letters moving on the screen.

Have I ever mentioned how she's really hot natured? She will only be on my arm for about another 5 minutes and then she'll get hot and flop onto the floor or Mom's coffee table. If she sleeps with me at night, she sleeps at the end of the bed at my feet.

Anywho, today was a BORING day. It was raining and I woke up late. More like, I woke up and stayed cuddled in bed (Farrah and Gus' guest room has the bestest bedding in the world - easy to snuggle in) and faked sleep while Taffy came to check on me every 15 minutes or so. She would tick tick tick into the room, look around and waddle back to "work" with Gus. For those of you who don't know, Taffy is my niece...who happens to be a Corgy (that's a dog, y'all).

After I got up and toodled around on the computer (oh sh*t...Gabby's going in to bug Charles!!!), I went to get a haircut. If I have not mentioned it before, I want to take the time to send a big ole kudos out to my hairstylist, Kelsey. Not only is she the sweetest and most fun gal ever, she can do the most amazing things to hair! She did Fe's hair for the wedding and cuts (trims) mine and I am just happy as a lark to go to her. She rocks. Big time.

Speaking of rocks...ha ha. A rock star friend of mine texted me that he was going to be in town last week but alas...I no longer live in KC. Thank goodness. A night out with him damages my liver in ways that I can not even speak of...I got the text and immediately my liver starting spazzing. Whew. Close call. Although, I will admit, we ALWAYS have a super fabulous time when we hang out.

In other rock star news, the Scissor Sisters are coming to CoMo. Dudes. I heart the Scissor Sisters. As a matter of fact, yesterday's post quote came from Kylie Minogue's dialogue on "Any Which Way." I think I love Kylie more, but whatever...back to the SS. It's the only night that they are NOT playing with Lady Gaga (they are on tour with her). I kind of doubt she would make a surprise appearance at the Blue Note, but who knows? I think I should go! Trying to talk Colleen into making the trip...we'd have a blast!!!

Oh. So after the haircut (awesome!!!), I packed up the last of my junk being stored in Fe's garage and headed home. When I left for my haircut, it was sleeting tiny little balls of ice. When I left Headlines after my cut, it was snowing big chunks. I had to go by my old place to get mail and it felt like I was driving through a Sonic slushy - if that were at all possible (only in my dreams...with a little vodka). By the time I left for WS, it was just super duper cold rain. Yeck. It was POURING. I drove like a granny (not my granny - she drives fast - her friend drives even faster!) because there was so much standing water on the highway! But I made it safe and sound.

When I got home, I napped. I have no idea why, but that particular trip exhausts me.

When I woke up, Mom and I discussed her den that we plan on redoing and I had a brilliant idea! She wants to put a sofa bed in there and I suggested a  Murphy bed (Gabby just moved to the coffee table)!! I saw an article in the Winter 2010 of BHG's Do It Yourself magazine and that's what we're going to do! Mom needs more storage for her crafting and sewing and it would be a perfect addition to that room. Even after buying the hardware and making the cabinet, it will be much cheaper than a new sofa bed! Woo us!

I'm going to start working on a model of it tomorrow so we can space plan! Exciting!!!

Urgh.

It's time for bed. I have lots of things to do tomorrow!! Woot woot!

"I'm gonna find that man who has the right shade of bottled tan"

Why hello there! It's your trusty narrator here to tell you more useless facts about her day.

After you get over your initial shock from me posting two days in a row that is...

Today is Tuesday. Many things happened today. Many of those many things were not really very exciting.

First, I got up. I know, right? Exciting!!!!

Then, I took a shower...then...wait for it...wait for it...

I blow dried my hair AND I straightened it! Woah.

I better slow down on the details. I might be exciting you too much!

Anyway, la la la...the rest of the day went on by...I left for Jeff City around 11:40 but then forgot my coat and left at noon. I think.

So I got to town and dropped by the ole Hobby Lobby in seach of a 1/2" heart punch (why no...I am NOT a heart person. Thank you for asking. However, a future project involves hearts and my 1/4" heart punch is too small and the 3/4" is too big - I feel like freakin' Goldilocks.). There was none to be found. Then I went to not Kinkos and made some copies (makin' some copies).

I raced home ("home" referring to the Wagner-Fite abode) and changed clothes in lightning speed, applied makeup and went to my interview. At a real architecture firm. Like, with computers and plotters and people who draw buildings and stuff.

They liked me. I think.

I came back HOME and changed and went shopping because I wanted to and also because my closet is full of dingies. Lots and lots of dingies. And a girl needs to shop after a good interview, right?

So I bought some things that I can wear...like I said, I needed things to wear that aren't dingies. Then I toodled around until Farrah was done playing volleyball and met her for sushi. Yum yum! Tonight I had the Heartattack Roll and it was a spicy good time. Fire in my mouth! Yum! And a beer. Not an import beer though.

Then we came home and I showed off my new clothes and we watched the doggies pee and terrorize the neighbors yards. It was all good fun.

Tomorrow I'm leaving here...but not before my NOON haircut!! Woo!

Alright, enough happiness and typing. I'm sleepy.

"What do you do with the left over you and how do you know, when to let go"

It's been a trying couple of weeks. Nothing that I really want to get into again, but let's just say decisions were made and changed with a heavy heart at the last moment. However, I believe that I have made the right choices when it comes to myself.

I guess that's sound selfish, but as I have said before

"self-preservation is a full-time occupation"

Thank you, Ani DiFranco. Yet again you inspire and save my getting bigger by the day a**.

So life is as back to normal as can possibly be when I still don't have a job. Or a home at this point.

My new digs are now located in my mother's house. Okay. That's the cool way of saying that I have moved back in with my mommy. Awesome, right? Of course, her cooking is pretty awesome. So that's a plus. No rent...another plus. Living with your mommy at age 33, nearly 34? Not so much in an awesome category.

Gabby is loving life at her grandma's house. She gets to go outside and be crazy kitty. Her favorite place to play is in the rafters of the garage. To get up there, she has to jump on Mom's new MKX. She really loves jumping up on the garage door when it's open. She's not very car smart though.

In good news, I have a job interview with a bonafide architecture firm in Jefferson City tomorrow. Holy crap, right? Wow! Cross yor fingers!!

Moving on with my life includes a plethera of projects. Let's see...I painted a triple canvas for my Mama...got one planned for my Mema too. I'm going to set up my Missouri Loves Company etsy store and make some little felt critters in anticipation of mobiles...also I would like to showcase some of my graphic design stuff in hopes of doing some wedding work around Springfield or Jeff City. We'll see. I need to make some business cards for MoLovesCo...I need to design them first! I have a ton of other little projects: start/finish Christie's bday present, work on WPHS '95 addresses, lose 20 lbs, refinish some furniture pieces...

That just reminded me that I need to finish my cd for tomorrow's drive to JC! I have no cds in my car and it is BORING.

Mom's dogs either rolled or ran through a skunk stench because mom had to give them baths today. Grace smelled the worst, even after her bath. Those two have been into a lot of bad news bears lately. They've had to have several baths after rolling in cow poo, eating cow poo, rolling in something horribly dead (it might have been cow afterbirth) and other bad doggy things. Grace is so much healthier now. She's almost FAT! Hmmm...scrawny, hairless, starving dog to nearly fat, shiny coat dog.

Okay. I'm going to GO. I have to make a couple of musak cds for my drive! Woot!!

"I love to wear my work inside of my head"

Hi.

So it was pointed out to me via Schuyler tonight that it has been a very long time since I have updated the ole Brixey Banter.

My excuses are as follows:

1. My internet rarely, if ever, works at my lame ass apartment.
2. I have been working intensely on Gus and Farrah's wedding stuff.
3. I have been putting any extra time I have into a certain fella that I have been seeing for a few months now.
4. I'm a lazy ass who hasn't felt like posting.

Okay. Four excuses for the time being. There are more, I assure you. However, I'm going to divert the focus of this post from my slacker-ness to other, possibly more interesting, subjects.

Gus and Fe's wedding was a big hit. Everyone had a great time. Lots of dancing was done. My hair was curly and my dress was cute. Plus, Fe looked spectacular, as per her usual. :) You can view my pics on Facebook until I decide to load them to the bloggity blog.

I also did their signage at the wedding. It was an art deco inspired wedding, so we had signs for the Guestbook (a poster designed by Miss Stephanie Reed), Buffet, Dessert Bar, Signature Drinks and the photo booth. I also designed the wedding program. Inside the wedding program, stolen idea from someone else's wedding, is the bride and groom's story, which I believe turned out really fun and fabulous. But that's just me. I will say, it took a whole lotta of fonts to make the project look awesome! Fonts! A designer's BFF!!!

(Please note that I TRIED to upload the pics of my graphic wedding stuff (not graphic as in dirty but graphic as in visual pieces) and it didn't work. Stupid internet.)

In the relationship news, Sky and I are still dating. We're pretty into each other so I guess that's a good thing! I've been helping him with his house. Currently, it looks like the bachelor pad it is. However, with my fabulousity, it will soon be up to par with Designed To Sell houses and will hopefully sell by the end of 2011. He's going to take it off the market for a bit so we can work on it. So far, I (with Mom's help) painted the extra bedroom and made curtains (okay...Mom made the curtains). I made a template for the window seat pillows I will be sewing together this week.

I also painted the master bedroom and gorgeous shade of blue. It came out more blue than slate like I wanted but it still looks great! I just need to finish up the window trim painting and make some curtains and it will look even better. My next projects include the bathrooms and the laundry room. I'm really looking forward to the laundry room. I'm going to make it a little cutesy. Not TOO cutesy but somewhat cutesy.

Also, Sky is opening up his own LAW FIRM in the next month so I'll be putting some effort into the new office and the furniture. Also his letterhead, etc. Mr. Gus Wagner at The Rocket Group will be working on the new website!!

With that said, I will also state that some big changes are coming up in my life in the next few weeks. It's too early to tell the world, but things are happening. Including an interview tomorrow for a drafter job at a local steel fabricator, my final interview with Frito Lay and results of a state exam I took for a Contributions Examiner (that's the person you talk to when you call MO unemployment) on Saturday.

I recently started up Missouri Loves Company at Etsy and will be offering the world some of my graphic design and felt critters to make a little money. Yes, the name of my company is Missouri Loves Company. I know it's silly but it makes sense for me and my little critters. I mean the critters I hand stitch of course.

OMG.

I totally just realized that SO MUCH CRAP has happened since my December 1st post.

Here's the low down:

• Fe's Bachelorette Party: A complete success.
• Carrie's Boudoir Shots: Just got them a few days ago...cute. Not dirty at all.
• A gazillion dates with Sky, formerly known as T.M.A.G.

• One preview interview with Frito Lay. One ride on a route with Frito Lay. One actual interview with Frito Lay. One more interview to come: the final interview. How would YOU feel if I delivered Salty Snacks?
• Surviving Christmas without Sky but with my family :) It was fun actually. Presents included a new camera (again), shoes for the wedding (ouch but cute!), indoor grill and a ginkgo leaf necklace. I have wanted that necklace forever and now that I have it, I love it even more!!!

• Farrah's wedding!!!!
• Farrah's wedding ON New Year's Eve. Without Sky, who thought Puerto Rico with his family was more awesome than me in my super cute horizontal stripe dress. With curly hair. Can't forget the curly hair, of course.

Actually, that's about all that's been going on. Gabby is getting bigger. I can hear her in the kitchen as I write this doing something that has the potential to be bad. Guaranteed to be bad.

So, when I get my business going, are you going to get married and hire me to do your graphics? You better!!!! I will need money!

Okay. I'm supposed to be cleaning and getting ready for tomorrow's interview. But I'm not. I'm going to go work on that!!! Ciao.

I promise to update sooner next time!!