Big News, but Not Yet

Me: So, you're feeling less stressed, at least?
Katherine: Maybe, maybe not.

Over the past two weeks or so, Katherine's been very tense. Basically: a big decision's being made at the university which is all hush-hush and such. So, Katherine mentions that she's stressed about an upcoming meeting, then when I ask what it's about, she says she can't say. Like that's fair. Then, via a grapevine source, I find out what's going on.

The big meeting was last Wednesday. Katherine knows the decision, but she's keeping her best poker face on. "I can't tell you until they make the announcement." Now, while part of me can understand and appreciate her discretion, the other part just wants to KNOW already. Though, I have a good hunch as to the outcome.

Of course, she assures me that I'll be among the first to know. But she knows now, I want to know now. Alas, I cannot. *Sigh*

Buttons & Omens

It's only "Monday" and I've already lost a button on my new shirt. This does not bode well.

Then again, yesterday, on real Monday, I made the best Rouladen ever. Hrm, you think they balance each other out?

I'll Be Watching You

A couple of years ago I went through a watch phase. It all started when I found a silver watch abandoned in a drawer at the Raptor Center. This watch was great because the band was solid and I could attach it to my belt loop so I didn't need to wear it on my wrist. Then I made belt-loop watch, then I made a couple of watch necklaces. This is one, Camii has another. I liked the whole functional jewelry idea, though I've since stopped wearing watches of any variety and now rely on my cell phone as a time keeper. Though, now that I'm talking about my belt-loop watch, I kind of want to take it out of retirement.

Anyhow, this necklace was made when I bought a watch, then butchered it for the face. They do sell watch faces by themselves, specifically for beaders, but cannibalism was cheaper and I was able to find a watch face I liked better than what the bead shop offered. I added seed beads and semi-precious chips to make a wrist watch into a neck watch.

Water

Movie Review: Water. Set in 1930's India, this film addresses the status of widows at the time. There's a lot of interesting social commentary, though not a lot of emotion from the characters. Even when there's a death, the actors remain stoic. I struggled with that, but in the end the story came to a potent climax and I was sold on the film. I like it. The plot makes me think of how I want to write stories that do what this movie did. Anything I wish I could write gets my vote as something that should be watched. Go check it out.

Today I Met an Alpaca Rancher

"You just click with the people you click with." (Places too, I'll add)
-Constance

Constance, a friend from school, had a party today at her home in Wetmore. No one else from the university made it, save one person who had come and gone by the time I got there, so I got to meet lots of new folk, including a gal who raises Alpaca for their wool. I also got to get to know Constance & Jim's kids a bit more (they're between six and twelvish) and meet the newfoundland dog, Tzar.

Constance & Jim's house is old and has a lot of little rooms and it seems to double back on itself a few times. It's also filled with wonderful antique furniture, including a woodstove, and unexpected artifacts. The house sits on a few acres which are partly overrun with oak trees, which accounts for the acorns everywhere, and it has a lovely patio where we spent a good portion of the party.

I think that at some point, I would like a house just like it, except maybe smaller. Wetmore's total population is about five hundred people, and it's about half an hour from either of the two nearest cities. Not too bad, but out where you can be quiet. Perfect for having a monstrous dog, like Tzar, and sitting on a swing that looks out over lots of landscape and few houses.

Imagine it: I'll have my rural house where sometimes the snow's too bad to get out so I have to stay at home in front of my wood burning fireplace and drink hot chocolate while I read a book, write a story, watch a movie, or just take a long bath and watch the snow come down past the window. In the summer, the trees will get green and shade the patio to keep it cool. The monstrous dog and I (or maybe the horse and I) will wander about and see what's growing. In the fall, the color show of changing leaves will be right out my window. It's an idea I've had in my mind for a while - not just since today - but going up to Wetmore brought it out vividly.

Tonight I came home smelling of woodsmoke and with the sound of acorns crunching underfoot still fresh in my mind.

New Stuff of the Week Feature

In honor of this being the blog's 300th post, I'm going to introduce a new weekly feature: Bar quotes. People seemed entertained by my recent post about memorable conversations I've had with drunks, so I'm going to give a shot at making it a regular addition. So, my plan is to continue with the jewelry of the week on Mondays and have Bar stories/quotes of the week on the weekends, while it's all still fresh in my mind and still sticky on my shoes. Here are this week's contributions:

Guy: (Just after I took his buddy's order) And let's get some love for Alex! (I still don't know whether the guy or the buddy is Alex - I opted not to ask)

Elderly guy: (Giving me a tip) This is for you, little girl. (I guess it's all relative, right?)

A regular: These guys go to bars looking for women, but they've got it wrong. You go to the bar to avoid the women.

There are a lot of nights I don't mind working at the bar. Nights like Wednesday when people are pleasant and it never gets so slow I start going crazy. Then there are nights like the one I just got home from. Busy, busy around happy hour. Everyone and their dog wanted food. Pain in the ass, needy tables galore. Then, as soon as reinforcements arrive (i.e. Brandi) it dies.

In anticipation of a midnight rush when Oktoberfest ends, I stick around for two hideously boring hours just to realize that there will be no midnight rush and that, had I left hours ago, Brandi would have been totally fine without me and I wouldn't have the headache I have from the jukebox being turned up so damn loud because when Julia gets bored, she likes lots of noise. The next couple are from tonight.

Guy from the other night who thinks I need to smile at him: (Walks half way across the bar just to stand next to me until I'm forced to look at him so he can say something "cute" which I've since forgotten, save that it was annoying)
Me: (Something noncommittal, reflexive smart-ass upturn of corners of mouth)
Guy: (Looking very pleased with himself) See? There's that smile. (Walks half way back across the bar to sit down and order a drink)
I try to give people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to obnoxious behavior, but the fact that he's intentionally going out of his way to make me pay attention to him is getting on my nerves in a major way. Not only is there no way I'm going to flirt with him due to the fact that he's a regular, but there's also no way that I'm going to flirt with him thanks to the fact that he's not only old enough to be my father, but he is in fact older than my father. Okay, and there's the annoying the hell out of me factor too.

There's a guy who wanders into the bar from time to time. He speaks in such a way that he's incoherent half the time, and he just has a certain off-ness to him. Once, he asked me my name three times in two hours and told me, "You have a good peace in your heart," while holding onto my hand and repeating himself a dozen times. Tonight he seemed a bit more off than usual. I walked up to the computer, he was standing in front of it.
Me: Excuse me.
Crazy guy: (nothing)
Me: (Louder) Pardon me.
Crazy guy:
Me: (Tap on the shoulder) Excuse me, I have to get in here.
Crazy guy:
Me: (A more forceful tap on the shoulder, louder voice) Excuse me.
Crazy guy: (Turns around, notices me) You're pretty.

Later, I wandered to the front and chatted with our doorguy K.C. for a while. I mentioned the crazy guy.
K.C.: Yeah, if I had recognized him I wouldn't have let him in.
Me: Oh yeah?
K.C.: Yeah. The other night I found him peeing against the door over there.
Me: Crazy people. We do have a bathroom after all.
K.C.: Tell me about it. Next time, I won't let him in, and if he asks me why, I'll beat him down and pee on him.
Me: Let me know before you do it so I can watch.
K.C.: Of course.

Girl: We wanna get some chips and salsa.
Me: Sorry, the kitchen's closed.
Girl: (Snotty) We just want chips and salsa.
Me: The kitchen's closed.
Girl: (higher pitched) Even for chips and salsa?
Me: There's no one to make it, 'cause the kitchen's closed.
Girl: But it's just chips and salsa!
Me: How are you guys doing on your drinks?
Group: (ignores the question)
Me: (walking away)

And last, but not least, from the big table in the front who caused me more than their fair share of frustration.

Guy: Do you have kids menus?
Me: No.
Would you believe it? I work at a place with Tavern in the name and we still get asked for children's menus and booster seats. No, we do not have kid's menus. It's way too hard to find martini glasses that small.

Guy 1: We're ready to order dinner.
Me: Okay, what'll you have?
Guy 1: I'll have... (looks at menu) the soup and sandwich. What are your sandwiches?
Me: They're right here (point)
Guy 1: Hrm... What kind of bread are your sandwiches on?
Me: Baguette. (just like it says in the menu)
Guy 1: All right... I'll have ham and cheddar.
Me: (turning to Guy 2) What would you like?
Guy 2: (points to menu) Which of these three would you recommend?
Me: Fish and chips.
Guy 2: Hrm...
Me: (to girl sitting in guy's lap, to give guy some time to decide) And how about you?
Girl: (confers with guy) I want a BLT.
Me: And what do you want for your side? (I rattle off the sides)
Girl: Potato chips.
Me: (turning back to guy) What've you decided?
Guy 2: I want the Shepherd's pie.
Okay, I won't go through the rest because I think you get the idea. The highlight was when I got to the gal who, while I waited, read the menu to the two boys next to her and asked what they wanted to share. This is not what "ready to order" means. It really isn't. Especially not when I've got two other tables I know are waiting on me and three others that I really ought to check on.

The best part - at the end of their visit, and all the many trips they sent me on, back and forth, for one item at a time, like another wine glass because one of the kids claimed one for their soda, then how about a glass of water, oh yeah and another - they left me a 10% tip.

I try not to whine about tips all the time (really, I try) but sometimes it's hard not to get frustrated. Even harder when, fifteen minutes later, another table (with a $50 ticket) leaves no tip at all. Yup, it was one of those nights. They are good, however, for reassuring me that going to college was probably a good idea.

Why Aren't You Smiling?

Guy: (Because I wasn't smiling) Why are you so unhappy?
Me: I'm just not a naturally smiley person.

I wish that people would pay me money when they ask this question. It'd make me less irritated and help pay my bills. Apparently, part of my job as bar wench is to be so ecstatically happy during my whole shift that I smile hugely for 6-10 hours straight. I continuously get some wise-ass or another asking me why I'm not smiling. Granted, this has decreased since I began the practice of having my "bar face" wherein I've conditioned myself to look happy all the damn time (or, at least try).

There's one regular, in particular, who is very concerned with my state of facial expression. Last night may have shut him up (one can only hope) but I doubt it. He's even made these comments to Dave who is one of the most perpetually upbeat people I know.

Last night, I mentioned the comment to Dave, who said something interesting. The general idea of what he said is that when people ask why you're not smiling they're trying to put you on the defensive. It's a power game whereby you have to justify yourself to said person. When asked this question, you can either respond with an explanation of your unhappiness, or assert that yes, you are in fact chipper as hell. Either way, you're called upon to explain your emotional state. Those bastards. I oughtn't need to justify my emotional state to most people, let alone some random guy in a bar.

Besides, I'd like to see him smile every day, the whole day, when he's at his job just to keep people from asking why he's unhappy. It's harder than it looks, bub.

Phone Calls Are Funny

Me, answering phone: Southern Colorado Writing Project.
Male voice: Yeah, I'm calling about the racket ball club.

I'm entertained.

What to Call It?

Now that I've built the etsy.com shop, I find the hardest part of it all is the prose. I make the jewelry. I take pictures of the jewelry, but then I have to describe the jewelry. Not only that, but I have to use descriptive, enticing language when I do. Talking up one's own work is kind of awkward. I have no problem saying, "I love these beads, they're gorgeous," but saying, "I made a gorgeous necklace" is tougher. It's been an exercise in un-humility. Definitely a learning experience.

This brings us to the necklace below. I'd like to offer a couple of this design in my shop, but I'm struggling with what to call it. I need a word that denotes a variety of different elements coming together, and that connotates positive things. So, while I love "goulash" I fear it lacks a bit in terms of class. The best I've come up with so far is "collage." Anyone else have ideas?


Ok, so the necklace itself: A short one, and very dense. I think I have nine strands on it, but don't quote me. It's chock full of blue, gold, and white/clear seed beads with a tad of red, green, and whatever else thrown in. The larger glass beads are blue and blue/green.

Sex Changes, Outlaws, and Murderers

Good movies sometimes run in streaks, and I've been on one lately. Here are the latest, though, I admit my reviews may not be quite as coherent as I usually try for. Hey, it's one o'clock in the morning, cut me some slack.

Orlando: When I read the description of this one, I thought it sounded like it might be interesting. It also sounded like it might be too slow and overly artsy. But, hey, with Netflix's new instant viewing feature, there was no committment whatsoever, so no harm in trying. A bit slow, yes. A bit artsy, yes. There are some scenes which are quite surreal, not even counting the one where Lord Orlando becomes Lady Orlando. A handful of times Tilda Swinton looks directly at the camera in a way that could've been hokey, but they manage to pull it off to great effect. They're these moments of her saying, "Okay, you're with me now, right?" when things get odd. I also am impressed by the premise of immortality as a result of royal decree. That's one I hadn't heard of before. Kudos to Virginia Woolf. Definitely an interesting story. Luckily, Billy Zane's part is very small. Dunno what exactly it is, but he just looks overly strange to me, to the point of distracting. Bonus: Queen Elizabeth being played by a man.

3:10 to Yuma: I've been looking forward to this one for a while now, ever since I saw that it not only was a neat looking western, but it also featured Russell Crowe. Then Ebert & Roeper actually liked it, too. I was totally set up to be let down, but it didn't happen. Christian Bale does a good job as a rancher down on his luck who takes the job of escorting the outlaw Ben Wade (Crowe) to meet the train featured in the title. Crowe does a fantastic job as said outlaw. A lot of westerns tend to glamorize the outlaws, they're really good guys, they just rob banks/trains - I mean, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is one of the prime examples. However, in this one, Russell Crowe plays a genuinely ruthless, manipulative, merciless killer. Well, except it's not quite so cut and dry. This flick is one of my favorite Crowe performances ever, the ways he plays with the character impressed me to no end, and I don't know if anyone else could have pulled off the ending so well. Man, he was at the top of his game. Even if you're not a fan of westerns, this is a great movie to see for pure character value. Bonus: an appearance by Alan Tudyk as the doctor.

Perfume: Story of a Murderer: It says right in the title what you're getting yourself into, so it's no surprise that Ben Whishaw's character turns out to be a serial killer. What is a surprise is how well the film makers create sympathy/empathy for him despite the fact. Yes, he's killing people, but... Great acting jobs all round, and Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman make appearances as supporting characters. I heard there was a twist ending, and I kept trying to figure out what, but still ended up surprised. Not all that common, so they get extra points for that. Also wonderfully done was the twisted, macabre humor that snuck in here and there, and the visual experience itself. Talk about using shadows to their fullest extent, seeing Whishaw's face slowly emerge into the light is a truly creepy experience. It's not the fasted moving film, nor the most action packed, but for story and character development, it's among one of the top movies I've seen lately.

Other Wildlife

Early Fall Walk: Bugs

There are a few spots where the trail splits, and today I went right instead of left. I'd never been that way before and felt like seeing what I could see.

When the trail was being built, the concrete didn't stay pristine, so you can find imprints along the path.

As it turns out, it was also a good day for bug sighting.

Grand Junction Necklace

Sorry I've been slacking on the weekly necklaces. Etsy has been my main focus as far as jewelry goes, and I'm slowly but steadily working my way through picking pieces, photographing them, editing the picturs, and posting them in my shop. Whew, much more time consuming than I would've guessed.

Here's the scoop on this nifty necklace: Each bead (except for the silver spacers) in the necklace is from my visit to Camii in July. It started with the wonderful pendant and went from there. I love the colors, and the way it came together. A pendant and the seed beads at one store, the lava rock and goldstone from another, and the goldstone because it was left over from Camii's ankle bracelets. I keep getting compliments on this one, and I love the story behind it.

Attack of the No Energy Having

"The worst part isn't even the cough, it's feeling so run down."
-Dave, on being sick

I'm supposed to be getting over this cold, and in some ways I am. However, I still feel like bed would be the nicest place to be, or curled up in front of the TV watching X-files. Gah, I have no energy and two papers to write before class tonight, thus requiring energy. I have other things to do, too, but find myself sitting here thinking, "But, I don't wanna."

Maybe, if I get up and get moving, get some momentum behind me, I'll be okay. An object in motion, right? Right. Now, just gotta work on that getting up part...

At the moment, the prospect of going to class tonight is almost more than I can take. I've been up and accomplishing things since 8:30 a.m. The last thing I want to do is be in class until 8:30 p.m. Even funnier - Katherine's in high-stress-mode and distracted & worn out, so today she says, "I don't want to talk a lot tonight. You talk a lot tonight." Ha!

Thank George for other people in the class, especially when one is Rick and the other is Sarah. Betwixt the two of them, I don't think we'll have to worry too much about lags in the talking.

This is Neat

As I was making my rounds, checking out my favorite blogs, I found this. Very cool.
http://polymerclaydaily.com/2007/09/06/grouping/

Being Hit On/Drunkards

Jenny: So, have you ever been asked out in a suave manner?
Me: Nope.

Last night when the rogue writers group gathered at the coffee shop, the conversation at some point hit on being hit on. We did a round question, which revealed that none of the gals in question have ever encountered a "good" pick up line. It begs the question: is there any such thing? For my part, I'd say nope.

Think on that, then think on me working at a bar where random guys come to find girlies. Unlike said girlies, I do not go to the bar to be bought drinks or find random guys. I go there so I can make money to pay for stuff.

Granted, some of my coworkers aren't opposed to meeting random guys, and young Dave is currently dating a gal he met when she came in for drinks, so I'm not saying that it's impossible, or even unlikely that things could work out that way. I'm just saying - not with me. The last place I would be interested in meeting a guy is at a bar, especially the one where I work.

Anyhow, last night Jenny made the comment that I probably have some funny being hit on stories. I thought I would share some of my favorites. While not exactly verbatim, here are the jist of some incidents which exemplify my no-bar-guys policy.

Foosball guy (who I loathe): Hey, you single?
Me: Nope.
Foosball guy: You were last week.
Me: Actually, I haven't been single for a couple years now.
Foosball guy: Nuh uh.
Me: Yuh huh. I keep track, really.

Guy: You have a great name. Wanna marry me?
Me: No, I'm good.
Guy: Seriously. If I weren't already married, I'd marry you.
Me: Best of luck with that having a wife thing.
Guy: I mean it, if it doesn't work out with your boyfriend...
Me: Yeah, sure I'll give you a call.
Guy: Awesome. High five!
(Left me a shit tip, too)

This one needs a bit of preface. One night way back when I was still in the kitchen, i.e. done at nine, I clocked out and headed downstairs where trivia was going on. I figured I'd chat with Julia (who was bartending) and talk with Marianne about something. A while later...
Julia: Uh oh watch out.
Andy: (who comes right up to me) Hi, I'm Andy. What's your name?
Me: Ali.
Andy: You waiting for someone?
Me: (who answered too fast, and thus, truthfully) No.
Andy: Can I buy you a drink?
Me: No, I'm alright.
Now, fast forward five minutes later when he's still trying to chat me up even though I repeatedly give monosyllabic answers, focus on talking with Julia, and do my best to completely ignore him.
Andy: Blah blah blah.
Me: Look, I'm not here to meet people.
Andy: Blah, blah, blah.
Me: I'm just waiting to talk to my boss before I go home.
Andy: Blah, blah, blah.
Me: Seriously, just leave me alone.
At which point he finally leaves. Dumbass. He's now one of the foosball guys and one of the biggest reasons I love that Katherine's class is on foosball night.

This next one is the abbreviated version, I think said guy was trying to chat me up for maybe fifteen minutes all together.
Guy sitting right next to my work station: Working hard? (Or some similar annoying small talk)
Me: Yup. (I put something in the computer and walk away, so he waits until I come back)
Guy: You've been working here long?
Me: Yup. (Pick up drinks, drop them off, come back)
Guy: Hey, why don't you want to talk to me?
Me: I'm busy.
Guy: (Obviously frustrated) Well, I don't think you're very nice.
Me: Nope, I'm not.
Guy: (Finally shuts up, leaves shortly thereafter).

Now, technically these next ones aren't exactly me getting hit on. But, they're funny.

Metal guy: You know, you should totally listen to some metal.
Me: No, I'm okay.
Metal guy: Really. It'll like totally free your mind.
Me: I've listened to metal. I don't care for it.
Metal guy: Metal is awesome. You'd like it.
Me: Actually, my boyfriend likes it. Anytime I go somewhere with him, I'm forced to listen to it. I loathe metal. Honestly.
Metal guy: No, it's great. You'd like it, I promise.

Andy (same one as before, on a foosball night): Hey, can I get an Arrogant Bastard?
Me: The bartender stepped outside for a minute.
Andy: (waits a bit, looks at me again) Can you get me an Arrogant Bastard?
Me: Just wait a sec. the bartender will be right back.
Andy: I'll give you a dollar if you get me an Arrogant Bastard and bring it down to me.
Me: You'll have to wait for the bartender.
Note: By this point I've given up on all foosballers because they piss me off and never tip, so I found his offer to tip me, as if it's a big ol' favor, particularly hilarious. The [expletive] can keep his dollar. Probably has diseases on it anyway.

To preface this next one - this was last thing on a Wednesday night, as Dave was closing the place down and I was closing out my bank, etc. There are only three of us in the bar.
Bob(who's in his sixties, an old friend of Dave's and who's had a few by now): I haven't been laid in a long time.
Dave: Sorry to hear that.
Bob: (to me) Have you been laid lately?
Me: I'm not going to answer that.
Bob: Man, I need to get laid. When's the last time you got laid?
Me: I'm still not answering.
Dave: Hey, cut it out.
Bob. I mean it, when's the last time you got laid?
Dave: (to me) Don't answer that. (to Bob) That's totally inappropriate. Stop it.
Bob: I just wanna know the last time she got laid.
Dave: You need to stop it right now.
Bob: I'm just asking a question.

Etsy Shop

If you build it, they will come. Right? Well, it's built.

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5284452

Thank Gosh for Vases

I started thinking about vases, about how handy they are for jewelry pictures. Then I remembered the vase I got, filled with roses, for my birthday. It's got a big wide shape and I thought, "Hrm... could it work?" Take one wide vase, add a natural light desk lamp and a gray shirt, and this is what you get.

Testing 1-2-3

In preparation for setting up an etsy.com shop, I've been playing with my camera and various ways of photographing my jewelry. I've got earrings down just fine, now if only I can figure out something that works as well for necklaces. Of the batch I did, only one necklace came out a way I like.




Here are two earring photos, with two different backgrounds (tan stationary and the blank wall of my office).

An added plus with using a tall vase for the earrings is that it gets them right up near the light, which helps the finished picture quality.

There are a Few Ups

"Wow, you sound bad."
-Mom

Being sick is by and large something I like to do as little as possible. Because, seriously, feeling crummy and having a hard time breathing through my nose is not the high point of my week. However, all obvious negatives aside, there are some good things about being sick.

For starters it gets you out of everything, like work, and it means you get to stay home all day and do superfun things like take a three hour nap and watch oodles of TV without feeling the least bit guilty. There's also soup, though thanks to my fun congestion I can't actually taste much right now. It's so weird to eat and drink when the only kind of taste information you're getting is vague notions of salty or sweet and nill in between. A great time to take in those foods that are good for you, but that you don't really like. Now, if only I had some fresh tomatoes and onions. Whoo-boy, we'd be in business.

Ah well, time to go back to reading the http://www.questionablecontent.net/ archives while feeling absolutely no remorse about putting off the gobs of homework I've already got from my classes. Right now is time for self-indulgence, not essays. Besides, given my level of mental functioning right now, it's really for the best if I wait until I'm less muzzy-headed (Ha ha! Like that Deb? That's right, I said "muzzy")

See what I mean about the mental state?