| Better or Worse - hard to say |
[Nov. 30th, 2009|08:50 am] |
So - we've been taking the bus to get to work since the car meltdown on Friday - plus relying on the kindness of co-workers to not have to walk/ride the bus after dark. (knock on wood that it'll continue today) This is working - but it's not cheap, and we need to replenish our stock of correct change (1.10 for me, 1.25 for Red).
The place we had the car towed to is apparently out of business. Their number is disconnected, and according to sources, they haven't been there for a week or so. Sigh.
However, there is a 'Discount automotive and transmission' place about 1/4 mile from the first car place (we passed it in the tow truck) - and since we think it's the transmission, this sounds promising. I called them this morning, and they offer free towing if they do the repairwork. They are also willing to drive down there with the technician to see if they can scan the computer and get the car moving enough to avoid the towing service.
But - because the place was closed, we couldn't leave the keys with the car. No problem - they can come by and get my key ... if I could find it! With all the confusion/stress/headache of the weekend, I seem to have misplaced my keys. They are likely at work, but I'm not sure. So - now they have to drive to Red's work to get HIS key for the car. Luckily - it's only about 10 minutes away from there - but still another hassle.
So - hopefully we'll find out this morning/early afternoon what's wrong with the car, and be able to afford the repair bill before Friday. Otherwise, we'll have to keep using the bus until pay-day. If we CAN afford the payment now, it'll likely be at the expense of the mortgage payment. But I don't want to postpone the payment to them until we know the full cost of the car - no sense in risking trouble if we can't take care of at least one our problems.
But - at least we have some action with the car. It's not ideal, but we'll see what happens. If they do adequate work on this (we can't expect perfection - it's a 12 yr old car that was not well maintained before we got it) - we can see if they can fix/offer suggestions for the Explorer engine, when we're ready for that.
I can't wait until we can have both cars running - it'll make the 2 jobs MUCH easier to get to. |
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| Bookchallenge 87 and 88 |
[Nov. 16th, 2009|10:44 am] |
#87: Neptune's Gift: a history of common salt by Robert P. Multhauf (NF)
A history of salt production, along with the history of the science that was discovered about salts in the 17-19th centuries. Not quite as 'in depth' as Salt - but still good. And it had a 20 page bibliography, for more information. A large portion of it was post-period scientific information, but still interesting.
#88: The Iron Hand of Mars by Lindsey Davis (F)
The next Falco book. This one had lots of fascinating information about the German campaigns, which I had heard about from Red. Very interesting and a quick read.
I'm still working on Lucas' Footwear in Ireland, and I am trying to find historical information about bottle gourds, since we have so many growing right now. |
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| Bookchallenge 86 |
[Nov. 8th, 2009|10:27 pm] |
#86: Venus in Copper by Lindsey Davis (F)
The 3rd Marcus Didius Falco book. The series is growing on me - it really helps when I can sit and read a good section at a time. Very 'fluff' - but that's not a bad thing for fiction :) The research tidbits are cool. The next 2 are on order from the library, so I'll probably get those on Thursday (library day).
Next up for 'heavy reading' - Irish shoes. Which starts with a whole section on the Irish going barefoot, strangely enough. I'm about 10 pages into the 80 page article. Nothing interesting so far - but this is THE information about shoe types in the post-Roman, pre-Viking era. So it's got to get more informative farther in (I hope!) |
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| Has the train hit us? Or is that the sun shining bright? |
[Nov. 4th, 2009|07:28 am] |
It's hard to say at this very moment. On Tuesday, our bank account got overdrawn, because of some small purchases done on Friday, followed by one unexpected 'automatic withdrawal' on Monday. Sigh. So, instead of having $20 in reserve - our account is currently sitting at -$194! ($35 for each overdraw, so that cup of coffee is VERY expensive). Red is going to call them/stop in to talk to a banker about it. We've been loyal customers for 11 years - and have had other offers for bank accounts. We'll see. If they don't remove some of the charges - it will REALLY hinder our plan to pay on some of our past-due bills - that's the equivalent to our phone bill and electricity bill in overdraft fees.
Sigh. Just one more thing that is pushing finances to the brink (heck - we're over the brink, technically!) We get paid on Friday - but we need groceries and gas in the car, in addition to the bills that had to be put off. Luckily, our mortgage check went through, so we are current on it and the car payment, which are our 'big' secured debt items.
But - Red got his job offer from OfficeMax! He'll be an Assistant Manager at the store closest to our house (well, closest after the one I work at!) - and he'll be getting paid approx. 2 times what he is making now. So - if he can get hired within a week or so - there should be no break in pay from his current to his new job, and we will have 1/3 more money every 2 weeks. This will REALLY help get us back on track. This is in addition to being eligible for benefits, vacation, etc. AND - everyone he's talked to (3 different managers) are pretty sure that he is VERY MUCH management material, so that after 6 months to a year in the company, he'll be promoted to Store Manager (who they only hire from internal candidates).
So - things are looking good, but we're not out of the woods yet. We'll have to figure out childcare, as well as scheduling - difficult until we can get the other car fixed, but not impossible. There's still all of the unpaid bills to take care of - and hopefully nothing has gone past-due too long that could negatively effect his background check.
But we are surviving, and that light is getting brighter. As Red says - 'It's us against the world' - but it's nice when the world is working on our side. |
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| bookchallenge 85 |
[Nov. 3rd, 2009|12:25 pm] |
#85: Shadows in Bronze by Lindsey Davis (F)
#2 of the Marcus Falco series - and it is getting better. Very funny in parts, and the research is obviously very detailed. There are some 'modernities' that are a bit jarring sometimes - but I think that the attitudes are probably fairly accurate: human nature hasn't changed, so the 'slum' feel is probably just as valid for 1st century Rome as 19th century London or 20th century America. It's a quick read, too. |
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| General update - ugh! |
[Nov. 3rd, 2009|11:40 am] |
We've been sick. First it was Bean, then Aurora, and now me. Luckily, it seems to be the 24 hour variety of bug, nothing more. Empty out the digestive track (whichever way is most inconvenient) and then sleep, and it's over. At least I hope so. Bean is back at school today (kept him home Monday) - and Aurora seems a little slow, but no illness. I'm staying home from work (only scheduled 4 hours as the backup, anyway) and I'm going to take a nap. Red has avoided it so far (knock on wood!) which is good, since he's working a 12 hour shift tonight.
Still no news on the Asst. Manager job for Red. It's been almost 2 months now. But the manager still wants him, which is good. It's being held up in the HR dept. for some reason. So we keep calling and checking on things. It would really be nice if he could make more money and get more sleep. It will mean finding daycare for Aurora and possibly Bean, but the increase in money should more than make up for it.
We're still in the process of modifying our mortgage using the Govt. plan. We've made the second of 3 payments, and the paperwork is being processed. If the modification goes through, we'll be paying about 1/3 less than we were, which will be a really big help.
Right now, we're broke. As in - we've pulled out a $20 to pay for gas in the car, and have another $20 to get more staples, and that is IT until Friday. Things are starting to look up, hopefully - but it's going to take some more bill juggling for the rest of the year, I'm afraid. Luckily - they give warnings before they'll shut off things, and our utilities are actually very low. So we'll see if we can postpone a few more things, and then pay them as we have the funds. We are probably going to end up screwing up our credit scores for awhile, unfortunately - no help for it, since keeping the mortgage and the car are more important than paying off other debt at this point. But since those would be the 'BIG' expenses where a good credit score is essential - it isn't as big a deal.
We have no idea when we'll be able to get the Explorer fixed. We're saving money by driving one car, of course - but if Red gets his new job, that may become problematic. Unfortunately, we have no credit available to 'fix now, pay later', and if we need our cash for living expenses. But it IS on our list of things to get fixed - but again, must keep food in the cupboards and a roof over our heads, first.
Other than that - work is work, but it's going okay. Bean is doing much better in school - only one small altercation in quite awhile, which is NOT uncommon for Kindergarten children. So - we're hopeful that it was just a phase that he's learned to control.
Now it's nap/read time, while trying to figure out something 'soft' for my stomach, in case it's not quite done with this bug. |
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| Bookchallenge 84 |
[Oct. 23rd, 2009|11:18 pm] |
#84: The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davis (F)
This was the first of a mystery series that someone on here was reading (sorry, don't remember). It was an interesting story - although I'm not much into mysteries, usually. Very fast paced, with lots of comedy. I don't think I got into it quite enough, though - but with being so busy, that might not be the book's fault. I'll see what the next one is, and give the series a try. It did remind me a bit of the 'Rome' series (I know, it pre-dates it - but I saw the show first). And it obviously has lots of information about the Roman era/settings, etc. |
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| bookchallenge 83 |
[Oct. 20th, 2009|01:38 pm] |
#83: Conservation of leather and related materials by Marion Kite (NF). EXCELLENT book on details of the creation of leather, along with how to conserve and repair various items of leather, fur, feathers, etc. I WANT this book! Each chapter is written by an expert in the field (mainly, if not all British) - and each chapter has its own bibliography! While many lists have the 'classics' - there are so many new things to explore that I'm not even sure where to start. They showed pictures of the purple Roman shoes - which finally gave me a way to find them on the British Museum site - although not as much information as I'd like (but that's what research is for). The first parts are chemistry descriptions - but they are much clearer than the Leather Chemistry book (at least to me, a non-chemist). It also gives good definitions of the types of leathers and hide dressings (methods of creation that don't 'tan' the leather). Fascinating, interesting, and did I say EXCELLENT? (Can't tell that I want this book, can you?)
Time to start the search on used book sites. It's a new book (2006), so it has some of the most up-to-date information on museum conservation techniques, etc. Unlike some of the books I've ILL'd - this is one I'm DEFINITELY going to own at some point - so it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. |
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| Quick event re-cap - Ursae Lyons III |
[Oct. 18th, 2009|08:06 pm] |
This Saturday was our Baronial Anniversary event - Ursae Lyons. As MoAS, I was in charge of the A&S competition: 2 static pieces, relating to 'Beginnings' and 'Endings', as we were investing new B&B.
The bad: Red had to work until 6 am on Saturday morning :( He had requested Saturday off - but they scheduled him for the Friday night-Saturday morning shift. Sigh. So he was exhausted for most of the day, leaving me to try and wrangle the kids.
Also, due to circumstances and finances (or lack thereof) - we were unable to get our truck completely fixed and inspected, so the loan to the Barony wasn't possible. This was really upsetting, since I -HATE- making an offer and then backing out of it - but paying the mortgage and buying food has to come before fixing a vehicle for a hobby. It does have a new battery, solenoid, and a working speedometer - but there's an electrical issue, so the signals won't work, which will ding it in the inspection. Sigh. Very frustrating all around.
The good: Everyone survived, and it was a good event. The new B&B are invested, officers sworn in, etc. And - I received an Iris of Merit! This is the equivalent to the Lux Caidis (Grant Level Arts award). The Queen mentioned some of my projects, and then had the Baroness mention others - so it was way cool :) Now I get to wear a Rainbow Ribbon on my arm - so I need to figure out a nice brooch or pin so it stays on. Heheh - or as I joked: weave different designs of the rainbow, and then permanently attach them to each dress :)
All in all - a good time was had, with no major issues that I'm aware of. There were several children in the same age range as our kids to play with, which is good, and Red had all day today to catch up on rest before working tonight :)
And - Bjornsborg Rocks! |
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| I think we outran the oncoming train. |
[Oct. 9th, 2009|01:11 pm] |
Here's hoping today is the start of something better: we are filling in the application for 'making homes affordable' - we have to include our paystubs, and today is my first payday :) If things go well, Chase will modify our mortgage payments down by about 1/3, which will be big help. Things are still a bit tight for this month and next, but hopefully, we can get caught up on bills, and then start saving to fix the Explorer. 2 cars will make the double commute much easier, too.
Crossed fingers that they accept the modification. |
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| Bookchallenge 81 and 82 |
[Oct. 2nd, 2009|11:09 pm] |
#81: The Autism and ADHD Diet by Barrie Silberberg (NF)
An interesting look at how going GFCF (gluten-free, casein free) can really help some children with Autism, Aspergers, and other developmental issues. I'm not sure that it would really help Bean - but it is good to know it's out there, and does help some children. There is widespread belief in some quarters that we've adulterated our foods so much without knowing the consequences it might have on our bodies - and that the increased diagnosis of these issues may be a reason for it. This diet ties in well with the Feingold diet, which removes artificial colors/preservatives, along with foods that some people are very sensitive to. I'm not sure if I'd recommend it unless you have a direct need for the information.
#82: Could it be Autism? by Nancy Wiseman (NF)
This is a book about how to tell if your child has a developmental issue, and what steps are necessary for diagnosis, treatment, education, etc. The author is a founder of First Signs, Inc - a group dedicated to early diagnosis of developmental issues. Her own child has a form of developmental issue, and she became a crusader for her daughter and others. It is good to find out there are resources available - but with all of the descriptions and details, it seems pretty clear that Bean does NOT have a developmental issue, based on the info in the book. So - the book is recommended for people who need answers and information, even though the answer to our question is 'more than likely, No, it isn't autism.'
After reading these 2 books (checked out when there was the whole issue at school with Bean) - I am pretty firmly convinced that his problems stem from other issues, not an inherent developmental issue. He doesn't fit the various profiles I've read, and doesn't have the 'red-flag' signals. So - he's going to have a session with a district counselor at the end of the month (either just observation, or observation and Q&A) - and then we find out what the expert thinks. He has had a big improvement at school, and his teacher has said that she has been working on getting him to recognize things that frustrate him, so he can control the frustration - and that he has been doing so, very well. This is a good thing, because all children have to learn that the world doesn't revolve around them, and that there will be small frustrations in life. |
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| Updates - it's been awhile |
[Sep. 25th, 2009|10:07 am] |
Life in September - the condensed version, to date.
( Work, work, Bean, finances, and more! )
So - that's our finances in a nut-shell. We are surviving, and the rain brought us the change we needed. Thank you for all the good wishes and encouragement - 'You like me, you really like me!' and all of that :) |
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| Bookchallenge 80 |
[Sep. 19th, 2009|09:36 pm] |
#80: Men of salt : crossing the Sahara on the caravan of white gold by Michael Benanav (NF). This is a fascinating tale of crossing from Timbuktu to an old sea bed (now just layers of salt underground), traveling with the Tuareg/Malian camel caravans. His reason for going: he had 'heard' that the caravans were going to die out, because of modern trucking to and from the salt-mines. What he found: the truckers, the salt miners, and the camel-drivers all think that the camels are the easiest, most efficient way to transport the salt across the desert, and that they won't be replaced anytime soon by trucks. And despite the decrease in the price of salt, the workers are actually better off than they were, and have a good grasp on how sustainability really can work in their environment. There is very little history involved - but it's neat to see an aspect of the modern salt industry that has survived in basically the same fashion as the Middle Ages. It's also a very easy, quick read. Recommended. |
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| Bookchallenge 78 and 79 |
[Sep. 15th, 2009|07:59 am] |
#78: The Language Instinct by Steven Pinker (NF)
A book read by EowynA - it was very interesting. I had never studied languages or linguistics, but it was a fascinating theory about how we develop language. Having an almost 3 yr old whose language is expanding daily, his points make a lot of sense. Red actually studied language theory and linguistics about the same time this book was written, so we had some very interesting discussions about the experiments and results given in the book.
#79: DoOon Mode by Piers Anthony (F)
This is the last of the Mode series, which was a series I had read when it first came out - but never saw the last book. Found out why - it was published 10 years after the first 3 books. So - it DID end the story, but I'm not sure how satisfying the ending was. I haven't re-read the series in awhile, so that may be part of it. Lots of dark psyche information. It was good to finish the series, but I don't think it's a book I would necessarily purchase, even to finish up the collection. |
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| Idea on how to 'improve' my how-to paper |
[Sep. 14th, 2009|07:27 am] |
So - while I've gotten good comments about my how-to paper on how to make a medieval scabbard (which has been re-written 3 times now!) - there was one part that needed 'attention'.
What would be the equivalent medieval counterpart to a 'duct-tape bodice' pattern? I used something similar to create the knife pattern from the last (and originally from the knife in version 1.0). With a seam down the center back of the knife, it is hard to 'draft' the pattern on paper, even when the knife is symmetrical. For single edged blades with a non-symmetrical blade, it is even harder.
There was no indication in any of my books about what the sheathmaker would use for a pattern - it could have been done all by 'memory', since the knives didn't seem to vary as much as modern ones can. They could have been good enough to just 'drape' the leather around the blade/last, and cut off the approximate shape and then fiddle with it - but leather isn't as easy as fabric, and the fit of a scabbard with a butt-seam doesn't leave much room for fiddling.
This is the only blatantly 'modern' section in the paper, since I didn't have any other method to teach. But - last night, I came up with 2 possible ideas for a substitution: a piece of cloth (linen), or a piece of either wool or wool felt.
Pros for linen cloth: easy to drape around the scabbard, and then do basting stitches to mark the stitch line. Cons: it frays easily, so the pattern wouldn't last very long. It is also not the same thickness as the leather, which could lead to fitting issues when the seam is butted together.
Pros for wool: easy to drape around the scabbard, with basting stitches to mark the line. It doesn't fray as much as linen, esp. if fulled. Cons: Hard to find 100% wool in Texas, and the thickness issue may still be different from the leather.
Pros for felt: won't fray, so it could be a 'long term' pattern material. It also has about the same thickness as the leather, which could make for a better seam. Cons: it doesn't drape as well as the fabric.
Anyone have any other suggestions for something that could have been used for pattern making? I can experiment with linen and felt (handmade or commercial), and I can justify their existence in 1280AD (the date of the scabbard) - but I don't think there is any evidence to prove/disprove use for such a purpose.
I have several of the 'how-to' photos assembled, but none of the cutting/stamping/dyeing the leather (the scabbard is already complete) - but I could start from scratch and experiment with these pattern materials, to see how/if they work. At that point, I could either add this information as an alternative to the modern 'tape' method - or I could change it out entirely, possibly moving the 'modern' method as an appendix.
Suggestions or comments? This may become my 'research paper' for Kingdom A&S (in February) - so there is time, but not an infinite amount. I might also see about submitting it for a TI or something similar. |
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| So - I talk a LOT, I guess - and it gets noticed |
[Sep. 13th, 2009|07:32 pm] |
Yesterday was Laurel's Prize Tourney. Luckily, our lives have cleared up, and there was a working vehicle (that's another story!).
( Laurel's Prize 2009 - my view )
So - that was my day :) I got some neat bling from people, too, and made it home safely through the rain, to a family that had a good day, too. So - it was good :)m |
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| Bookchallenge 77 |
[Sep. 11th, 2009|06:01 pm] |
#77: A little bit Wicked: life, love, and faith in stages by Kristin Chenoweth (NF)
Her autobiography (of sorts), telling about her life as a singer, dancer, pageant star, and small town Oklahoma girl. Very enjoyable and readable. It doesn't cover everything, which is fine - it does give a real sense of her as a nice person, not just a 'personality'. A fun and quick read. Recommended. |
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