A Saturday Spent with Karyn

I awoke this morning to the cheerful voice of Karyn, our daughter. She and I had planned a day of bonding over a project. She wanted to make some things from our grape vines. I thought that sounded better than the Huskies vs Standford at the UW, so told hubby to ask someone else and he could have a fun time and so could I. It was a wonderful day of sunshine and moderate temperatures; so we began by trimming about 65% of the vines we have. It took us several hours. Then we stripped off the leaves and began working on making shapes. I wanted to make a pumpkin shape. I wrapped the vines into a circle, then squashed the circle down to look more like a pumpkin. It was a great day. You know the kind, where you are together long enough to naturally bring up topics. We talk casually of many things and nothing at all. It was such a perfect day.

I vacuumed out my kiln. I need to fire my "coral" piece once more. It is called coral because the strips of glass are placed randomly across each other; they're fired once; then you add more where they seem to need it and fire again— this is the step I'm on. The last step is to slump it over a form. The form I've decided on is a stainless steel salad bowl I've had for 45 years.

Renewing My Efforts at Blogging

I was reading up on warm glass tips. One of the contributors to the tips is a wonderful artist, named Cynthia. Cynthia wrote a blog for a long time. Now she isn't, but after reading what she wrote, I'm back to try it again. She said that blogging is a good way to keep studio notes. That your photos and descriptions of your steps and work makes a great way to reference your work. So I plan to write about my glass ventures and other things that I experience in life. It will probably have a lot to do with owning rentals and working at them. Family and gatherings of same and of travel. I do love to travel.

Stay tuned for my sentential blog on my life and times.

In Like a Lion Out Like a Dog

It was hard to come home and immediately get into the swing of things, "Tacoma Style" after 20 weeks working in Spenard. I was used to doing what I had to do and answering to no one. Now at home there was my hubby, as loving as he is, it is someone else to consider in making plans. Alaska was a lot like being in the military. You know your job and do it. Get up work ; go to bed and do it all again. I had a wonderful time, because I love my sister and enjoyed what we were doing; but at home I had a social schedule that I didn't make; I had to think of someone else's schedule when planning when to eat; I needed to "communicate" ideas, finances, etc. It took a full month and then some to wear the harness of a "team" player. Thanksgiving came quickly and Christmas time was one me before I knew it. One of best things was I hadn't put away my Christmas dishes before I left and so it was great to use them longer. After Christmas 2011 I got the dishes put away in early March. But I didn't get the tree, garlands, candles, and other decorations put away until late March. I did manage to take on a few challenges in my artistic life.

I signed up for a magnet exchange through the Warm Glass Board. Every person who participates makes a magnet for everyone else. I chose to make mine glass that looks like rocks in the water. They turned out nicely and then I wrote up the description and made it on a card that fit the glass and tied it with red mizuhiki. It was a nice presentation, if I do say so myself. The other thing I did was sign up for "I am an artist" class held by the Artist Trust. It was a workshop where I gave an elevator speech about what I do in 2 min. I worked on my portfolio and am still working on that. But it gave me a big push and I got business cards printed and did some design work. Gathered ideas for packaging and worked out more of my goals. I have people who like the magnets and want to purchase them, so hope to sell some. I'm never sure how to price things like that. I was developing how to do it for the exchange, and now I have folks interested; how much do I need to charge for my time? That almost always stumps me. I need to keep the price low enough that people will want them, but enough to cover costs.

I spent this past week working at a rental with my helper, Todd. He's a nice man, who is really a wonderful cook/chef. He is conflicted with his profession because he has had issues with managing vs being the one who cooks. He likes the money of managing, but the misses the kitchen work. So he has not found a good fit yet. That has been my gain. He is a very likable person, positive, upbeat, capable, honest and prompt. All things I value in someone who helps me. He helped me to replace a toilet and refrigerator. First I had to find one that would fit the small space; finally found one, and after a trip across the toll bridge to Gig Harbor found it was too tall; so then had to shorten the cabinet to put in the too tall fridge, which necessitated cutting down the cupboard doors, shortening the cabinet by 4 inches and then putting it all back together. Meanwhile we took the toilet out, replaced it with a tall toilet that's non-clogging; however the floor around the toilet is a bit uneven and it has a bit of play. So we had to shim under the edges to help it not rock at all. The tenants are very large, 400 plus pounds each and there have been a number of issues with the toilet, which I believe relate to their weight. We got it in with little issue; then the water feed line was too short and the tank sat almost 4" from the wall. With the weight of the tenant compromising the water chamber seal was not an issue, so I had to build a support for the tank to the wall which I did with a 4" x 4" piece of pressure treated wood screwed to the wall and capped with a smooth board that would act like a shelf that spare toilet paper could be put on, or other products. I was never so happy to leave there as when we finished. Why? Because the nicotine is so thick in there the water supply line to the old toilet which I used to size the fittings, was so brown it made the silver wrapped line look bronze. The refrigerator was the same thing. When talking to them I began to cough, and had a hard time stopping as the smoke was so thick. This apartment would be charming if they didn't have a potty chair, wheelchair and layers of stuff around the living room. It was pretty gross. But I can understand the wheelchair that you had to walk around, but the potty could have been draped with a cover and that would have seemed better. There were options that would have made it seem much more attractive. But I'm not living there. So I'll fix it up when they leave, but until then... it is how they live. Not me.

The weather creates a lot of discussion, since it is always raining. We have had only one day, the news caster said, that could be classified as mostly sunny. It is hard to get excited for spring when it feels like winter. The high was 49°F when normal is 58°F. Then the wind starts up and it feels like 32°F! There will be a lot to do when the weather does improve. I have a deck to build on a duplex and I need to get the same building painted.

No rest for the weary. But I suppose that doing projects is what makes having rentals viable. If we had to hire all the work done, we couldn't afford them. I don't know how much longer I can last doing it though and without Todd's help, when he goes back to managing a kitchen, I'll be back to square one... trying to find someone to help me who is honest, reliable, and capable. Not easy to find.

Tomorrow the month is over. I am very happy that I have rowed 5,000 meters for 25 of March's 31 days. I posted them on the Concept2's website. I also signed up for the challenge of rowing from March 15 to April 15. I plan to continue rowing at 5,000 m/day. There are days when it is all I can do to get them in, but when I'm done I feel better about myself. I need to keep at it and building up my resolve. It is good for my health and mental wellbeing to continue. I have met a woman, named Karen Upright, who is a rowing buddy to me. She's younger, but has some health issues right now with her rotator cuff. So I'm actually rowing more than she. The motivation provided by Concept2 has been a boon to me, too. Which was a surprise to me. I didn't think I would be motivated by a certificate, but I was. When I began my rowing I was a few pounds heavier than now, but now I believe I'm more toned and have more muscle. I'll see how I feel on April 15, when I finish this next challenge. On ward, and I hope, down ward.

Well, the title was "In Like a Lion, Out Like a Dog". I chose to make the analogy to the oft quoted spring ditty because the weather we have had has been so awful. Windy. Cold, Rainy. And because I've worked hard at rowing. Hard with rentals. Hard on my glass... like a dog. Woof.

The Lost Summer 2011

I left to help my sister a couple of months after my last posting. I helped her make her mobile home into a more livable space. We had building permits and moved waterlines, electrical, gas, structural walls, cabinets and all the fixtures. I've covered this in several other posts and don't want to rehash it here. What I want to say here is that when I left I thought I was going for three weeks and it turned into 20 weeks. It was time I had not planned to use how I did.

In life we can make a lot of plans, but how they turn out can be far different that what we think they'll be. I thought I was helping my sister. (And I was) I didn't think much of it when we didn't finish— in construction things rarely get done on time. So when I had to make various extensions (5 in all) it was done light heartedly. We'd joke about whether or not I'd get home before it snowed.

Down deep in my soul I knew that my sister needed someone as an advocate for her. If she did not have one there would not be rhyme nor reason to how the project was approached. So while we worked on it every day, except three, we had time together to share and to talk. It was the most time we'd spent together since we were children. We see life differently. Even though we were both brought up by the same parents our lives are colored by our experiences and in that our lives differ quite a bit.

I have felt resentful and protective of my younger sister. When we were children I would think that she got all of our father's attention. She was snappy with verbal skills and clever. I felt that she was so "lucky". As we got older her bond with our dad was strong, but with our mother she was always at odds. This put Mom more in my camp. Pam, my sister, would give our mom a run for her money. She'd not call in when late, she'd forget to tell her where she was going, she'd argue about things. I know it was hard for Mom, but you know when you want something you don't have you start to obsess about getting it. Mom was clearly fond of my even temperament and willingness to please; but I craved Dad's admiration and what I usually got was a two hour lecture on being more responsible.

It might help if you knew that our dad was loath to spank (tho he would). He would lecture us. It wasn't over quickly like a spanking. No. We had to listen to him pontificate on topics like being responsible. IF you were not showing enough deference he would start on that topic. How we needed to be more mindful of why he was taking this time to instruct us, and it was our responsibility to listen attentively and reply with the right responses. There were times I'd want to laugh, sometimes I'd feel like crying, but mostly after about 45 minutes I'd be bored out of my skull. It is hard to fein interest when you want to have your dad just leave you alone to brood. There were times that I told him a lickin' would be a lot less bother for both of us. But I think perhaps that's why he did it his way. He knew it hurt more to have to listen.

All my time with my father was not spent listening to lectures about how I should behave. Sometimes he'd tell tall tales. He was a wonderful storyteller. He taught me to use his table saw when I was about 9 or 10. I'd tie flies with him at his bench in the basement. We'd work on his car together. We even went on a back country fishing trip together with a bunch of men. It was so memorable for me. He told me from the time I was old enough to understand that I could do or be anything I wanted. In 6th grade he even went to my teacher and said that he wanted me to have the opportunity to be in the architectural drafting class and not the shorthand class (I had cried that I didn't get drafting). Then he took me to get an engineering scale, made me an aluminum T-Square, and made me my own drafting board. Yes, he was empowering — long before many men were open to the idea. I felt that I could do anything, and do it as well as anyone of either gender. So I've always wondered why Pam didn't feel this same way. Maybe Dad treated us differently. Maybe I got the "tuff love" and she got "laughs". What I used to think of as being on the outs was perhaps for me building my character in being independent. Because I think I am fairly independent. My sister is still funnier than most people I know. She can make me laugh very easily. I don't feel jealous of her any more. I believe our father gave us each what we needed. Pam is thoughtful to a fault, caring, funny and a bit on the quirky side. I am independent, curious, self motived and content in my life and also perhaps a bit quirky.

So when I went to Alaska I went to do work that I knew I could do, for sister I love, with skills acquired from an early age onward, with the support and blessings of my husband. It is so good to feel that he supports me in the things that I do. Even when unplanned. Even when it costs more money. Even when it means more time away.

The summer was lost, in that I wasn't home experiencing it with my husband and daughters and friends, but I found my sister. It was such a blessing.

27 February 2011

Today I worked pushing a heavy ball up hill. The "ball" was cleaning my basement carpet, which got wet when the washtub the washing machine drains into overflowed, flooding the basement carpet. I feel like I spend a lot of my life making up for things that should not have gone wrong, if I'd been paying attention... like the wet carpet. There is a lot to pay attention to in life.

I'm not saying that I'd change my issues for yours, but that they exist is the complaint that I have. Why didn't I notice that the rags from cleaning the duplex had been used to wipe up the plaster spills? The plaster clogged the drain. I had thought the towels had only been used with paint and clean up. My failure to shake them out while putting them in the washer was critical. I doubt the next time, I have cleaning rags from working at a rental, I'll simply put them in the washer.

Now I have a meeting tomorrow for AWE. Handing out the promotional pieces. And then Wednesday I'll be working on an "international costume" for Rotary 8's Auction next weekend. They have chosen an international theme. It is semi formal or wear clothing from another country. My grandmother is from near Sand, in Rogaland, Norway. While the bunad I'm putting together is not authentic, it will do the job of representing my nationalist roots on my mother's side. (My father's side is not so clear and is rumored to even have Nez Perce). Mom's family is very clearly Norge. My sister, Pam, and I visited there in the summer of 2009. It was a wonderful experience to meet our cousins and to see where our grandmother was born, lived and worked. We loved the stories of her and the times she lived in. Very hard life… which is why she immigrated to the USA. She indentured herself to a wealthy family in Minnesota and worked as a housekeeper to pay off the ticket they paid for. Then she married my grandfather, who came from around Oslo. His family name had been Petersen, but he changed it to Strom because he was told there were too many Petersens! For that matter Grandmother changed her name from Aas to Larsen… because she was told Aas was too much like ass, and in America that was not a good thing. Too bad she just didn't change the spelling as her cousins did who went to the east coast. They changed the spelling to Awes. I thought that was very interesting.

February Ends 27 Feb 2011

February started ordinary enough, but now it's been snowing and very cold. The trees were starting to bud and this cold isn't good for them after they start to bud. My trees were not that far along, but for those that were early this could be bad news.

Todd helped me prune the pear, apple and cherry tree and cut back a vine maple that I allow my westeria to use as a living trellis.

I have cleaned up a bit in the garage from working at our rentals. And this weekend and until I feel I'm done I will be steam cleaning the basement rugs. It's only two weeks until my beading weekend with friends, so I need to get the place squared away.

We will set up our temporary studio in the basement. We will be five for sure and perhaps two or three "drop ins". I have 8 foot long tables that we will use. Two to a table with all the beading tools, gear, supplies, lights, books, etc. It can be a bit cool, but with all of us down there it should be pleasant enough. We'll listen to music and do wire working. I made a byzantine bracelet two years ago and last year a jens pend pattern, both in sterling. The price of wire is getting so expensive, so I won't even be able to work in silver.

Winter 2011

The winter has been wet. I've not been working on the deck or my house in general, instead I'm working at our rentals. I spent October, November and December renovating and making ready three places for renters. I had to some extensive work at one... the tenant had four cats and a dog! We had allowed the dog and a cat, but one cat became four... heaven only knows where they came from. So the apartment had been used hard, but more than that it stank! Ever had a bad smell you needed to get rid of? I ripped out all the carpets and padding.I had to use every trick I knew to get the odors out: used vinegar to neutralize the urine. Then later sealed the wood with an oil-based sealant. Together they all worked. It took weeks to get the place cleaned up... but it sure looks nice now and it doesn't smell. (Thank goodness) I also removed some of the old dark paneling and then replastered the walls. Replaced the florescent light in the kitchen with a curving track light with 6 halogen fixtures. It helped update the kitchen. I also had to replace the old appliances, so I got all black ones. That also helped the kitchen look more current. I can't afford stainless steel for my rentals, but the black really looks good. So it's onward...

For the first time in over 7 months all the rentals are filled. I am pleased that they are not just filled, but filled with really great tenants. Now I hope a few months go by without emergencies.

I did have to replace a doorknob at one rental, because someone tried to break in and they trashed the knob set. I like all locks in a residence to have one key, so I had to take the lock in to be keyed. As I had purchased a set of locks from Home Depot and it was one of them, and new, I took it in and they rekeyed it for free. Good thing cuz money is tight with all the expenses of getting three places ready.