Shayne's Random Thoughts

Feast

2007-06-25T20:37:00.000-04:00

Appetizer

Name a funny habit you have.

I correct other peoples spelling, although my isn't always right.

Soup

If you could instantly know how to play a musical instrument, which one would you pick?

Violin

Salad

How long is your hair?

Short at the moment

Main Course

When was the last time you forgave someone, and who was it?

It's a secret..lol

Dessert

What is your favorite kitchen appliance?

Mixer!

Renovations!

2007-06-09T19:20:00.000-04:00

Hello all! It's been forever since I've posted anything worthwhile. So........ here's the latest. This afternoon, I decided to clean my sewing room. A much needed cleaning I might add! Check out the before and after pics.

Before...

And After....

As you can see, LOTS of progress! My fabric stash alone, thus far is taking up 2 cardboard bankers boxes, and still lots to put away! Still need to do the other side of the room though. But most of it, is just clothes that need to be put away, and I'm not showing pics of it, because I don't believe in airing my dirty laundry online! LOL

Nothing much

2007-02-17T11:09:00.000-05:00

Hey!

Over 2 months(almost 3 months)have passed, and I haven't posted a thing! Been busy with work, and haven't had much time to post, or basically do anything other than relax when I get home at night. Christmas and New Year's were alright. I've settled into the new job at the post office quite nicely. I'll write a better post later this weekend.

Holiday Getting to Know You

2006-11-19T21:22:00.000-05:00

Since practically everyone in my email address book will probably send this to me, I decided to post it on my blog, and answer the questions there.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?

Hot Chocolate, year round, the creamier the better. Hey, did you know that you can use chocolate milk, and just throw it in the microwave?

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?

Usually wraps the presents under the tree, only the big ones get sat under the tree, and then they'll be wrapped still.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?

Colored lights on the tree, and on the balcony.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?

Nope.

5. When do you put your decorations up?

You mean we have to take them down from year to year? haha Kidding.. I usually put them up about a month before, or the weekend of the Santa Claus Parade. Yesterday, I put a few up, maybe this week, I'll put up the rest. Of course growing up, if certain scrooges had their way, we'd put the tree up on December 24th, and take it down the 26th.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?

Stuffing, and I don't care if it has nuts in it or not.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?

hmmmm...have to think about that one. Christmas was always the same pretty much, toboggan, winter clothes, and hockey sticks, more hockey sticks than you could shake a stick at!(and then when I took my powerskating clinic, could I find one? nooooooo!!!) I guess I don't really have a "favorite" holiday memory, or if I do, it's probably so far repressed, I'll reveal it to my therapist 15 years from now.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?

When Christmas presents started appearing under the tree 2 weeks before Christmas, from Santa. That's usually a good give away.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?

I've been known to. I remember one Christmas, we opened all our gifts on Christmas eve, had to prop Grandma up on the couch, just so she could watch. Remember that Stray Cat Lady?

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?

I try for traditional. But I redecorate it a thousand different ways before Christmas day. That's going to be the title of my first book, "Christmas Trees, 1000 different looks!"

Not too much new happening around here. In the sewing/knitting department, I haven't knit a stitch in so long, I think I forget how. On the sewing front, I've discovered how to make my own jeans. Soon, I'll be able to launch my own line of clothing, between shirts, pants, socks, and underwear. Project Runway, here I come!

New Job for me

2006-10-16T20:35:00.000-04:00

Finally! A new job! Well, a new part time job anyway. I managed to weasel my way into Canada Post as a Term employee, which means I have no set schedule, but it's a foot in the door at least. That's about all that's new and exciting with me. I added, and updated a couple of links today. Thanksgiving was uneventful for us, went and did the Thanksgiving dinner with the inlaws, and I went to Sandy's for turkey on the Saturday. Both were fun. Glad the holiday is over now. It just means that Christmas is that much closer.. I can hardly wait..not really! I used to love Christmas, the last few years, I've grown to hate it, and I don't know why.

Skating is in full swing now, 2 nights per week. As disappointed as I was with it, I knew I had to go back, and put in another year, just to show that I didn't let it lick me. I haven't looked any further into redoing my Level 2 coaching yet. Maybe in the spring, I'll re-evaluate it.

Not sure if Fred has a hangover, or just fixing something. Anyway, the pic is a few months old, but I didn't have anything new to post. So enjoy!

Some Pics

2006-09-30T14:40:00.000-04:00

The title says it all.. Recently the dog has discovered, he likes waffles. I was making waffles one night for a snack, and Charlie decided he'd like to try one. Here's a few pics of him, look how protective he is of his waffle.

Also, found this pic on my phone from another shopping trip with Sandy. This one comes to us, from the good people of Giant Tiger. I really think, that if food is being imported to Canada, from Europe, or the middle east, they should think twice about their labelling practices. This could be just a bit risky! Imagine some little old lady buying groceries, and grabbing a package of this...

mmmmm...sounds tasty! Just thinking out loud on this one, but maybe, just maybe, a better name would have been Chicken soup?

Don't forget the basics

2006-09-30T09:52:00.000-04:00

So, this morning, I'm trying to bind a baby quilt for Sandy's son's girlfriend, I get the bias tape, all pinned onto it, and go to find some white thread, to sew it with. In the 50 zillion spools of thread I have in my collection, can you believe I have NO white? Like WTF is up with that? Has my thread obsession made me neglect buying the basic colors? I searched high and low, but to no avail. Finally, I had a thought. Serger thread!! I must have white serger thread. Go to the box where I keep my serger threads, I see black, I see pink, I see red, I see navy blue, but do I see white? Nope! So, I retrace my steps, back to the drawers of colors, and find something that I think might work, white rayon embroidery thread. I thread the machine up with it, take some practice stitches, and the thread keeps breaking. Of course! Duh! Not using an embroidery needle. As I look for a different needle, in the accessory box for my machine, I spot my prize.. 4 practically full bobbins of white thread! Yay!! So what if I have to stop and change bobbins a couple of times.. this is great. I jump up, do a little happy dance, and get to the task at hand. Start binding, not my favorite thing in the world to do, but who cares at this point. I carefully bind the quilt from hell, only to screw up the last corner. Corners are not my strong point it seems. I clip the threads, rip the quilt from under the machine, and hold it up.. guess what I see sitting on the window ledge directly in front of me. A brand new 1000m spool of white Gutermann thread. Apparently in my search, I neglected to look at the window. Who would have guessed it would be there? Certainly not me!

New Shirt

2006-09-05T21:55:00.000-04:00

As the title suggests, I made another new shirt last week. This one was a breeze. Except for one small problem. I put the interfacing for the under collar, on the outside of the shirt, instead of on the inside. I noticed this, after finishing sewing on the buttons. So, rather than rip the whole thing apart again, I just cut the interfacing off. I don't think it's going to make a huge difference. The collar will just be a little droopy, that's all. I was amazed at how easy this fabric was to work with. It's very lightweight. It reminded me of kleenex when I was cutting it out. But, very easy. I love the colors in it too. It's particularly hard to photograph though, especially against a white background. So, I'm posting a swatch of the fabric up close, hopefully, you'll get the full effect.

This shirt also took me exactly 3 hours to complete. That's cutting, and sewing time combined. I should be able to crank out a few more, to add to my fall wardrobe at this rate.

Back to work tomorrow for me. Also a busy week this week. I had an interview for a coaching job tonight, then tomorrow is work, then registration for skating, thursday, work, then registration again, work friday, then off saturday, but registration at night again. Hopefully something good will come from all these registration dates. Maybe I'll be swamped with skaters this fall, and won't have time to make shirts!

CNE Trip

2006-08-31T18:47:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, my friend Sandy and I, took a day trip the CNE in Toronto. It was my first time there. We had a great time! A much needed break away from the problems of last week. It was fun to go out, and just wander around looking at the different exhibits. I took the digital camera, and I took 5 pics in total. All at Ontario Place(there was free admission with your ticket from the EX). Nothing really worthwile in posting, but I'll post a couple of pics I took of the Chinese Lantern Exhibit. We also got to see a Human Cannonball, that was pretty cool. I was going to try to take a couple of pics of him, but was too busy covering my ears when the cannon went off.

It was also my first time using Go Transit. Which is amazing easy to use! I was impressed! No hesitations on taking it again. Cheap, easy to use, and fast! We left Aldershot at 10:55am by bus for Burlington, then hopped(Read: RAN for our lives, our train was leaving in like 2 minutes) on the train in Burlington, and were walking through the front gates of the CNE at 12:10. Coming home on the other hand, was much longer. First, we weren't sure what time the train left, so we went and waited on the platform, along with about 200 other passengers. When the train rolled up, it was like a 90% off sale, people pushing, shoving, all fighting for seats. Luckily, we managed to get 2 seats, across from each other. Neither one of the people beside us were very friendly. As soon as it started to thin out at the various stops, we moved. Then we were held up at the one stop, due to a passenger having a medical emergency, couldn't have been too serious, we were only stopped about 10 minutes. Oh yeah, very, very friendly GO operator on the way back, he obviously enjoyed his job, you could tell from the sound of his voice. Once we got back to Burlington, we once again, had to bus it back to Aldershot, with a packed bus, at least we were among the first few people to figure out which bus we needed, so we were rewarded with our choice of seats.

All in all, a very fun day, exhausting, but fun. Would I go back again? I'm not sure. It was good, but not spectacular by no means. It was like a bigger version of a country fair, except with a few thousand more people.

Even More Disappointment

2006-08-24T08:24:00.000-04:00

Well yesterday seemed to be the day for disappointments for me. Not only was it the anniversary of Mom's death, but I also had a job interview, for a job that I really, really wanted, and thought I had a chance for, only to be turned down. Then, I come home, and check my email, and I received my confirmation letter from the skating club where I have been teaching for the last 5 years, to find out that they are not renewing my contract for Synchro. Rejection seems to be the in thing for me at the moment. I'm beginning to get the idea that if I want a different job, I'll either have to go back to school, or get out of Brantford. This sucks!! This really, really sucks!!

In other news, found these pics on my phone from a recent trip to the mall with Sandy. The latest in fall footwear. Enjoy!

Like how many animals had to die for these??

Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1983!

Gold vinyl+fur=Designer on a bad acid trip.

Some changes

2006-08-20T10:44:00.000-04:00

Changes have been made to my blog. Now you have to be a member of blogger to post comments. Also added a link to Mom's blog. Soon most of my family will have blogs from the looks of it.

4 Things

2006-08-15T21:17:00.000-04:00

I thought that this would be a good followup to my 100 things about me post. I will get to the 100 more things about me post soon, I promise!

A) Four jobs I have had in my life.
1. Convenience store clerk/postal clerk
2. Postal Clerk
3. Post office Clerk(seeing a pattern here)/Post office Manager
4. Cashier

B) Four places I have lived.

1. Vittoria, Ontario
2. Langton, Ontario
3. Vittoria, Ontario(seeing a pattern here too)
4. Brantford, Ontario

C) Four TV shows I love to watch.

1. Project Runway
2. Survivor
3. Will and Grace
4. House Hunters

D) Four places I have been on vacation.

1. Parry Sound, Ontario
2. Belleville, Ontario
3. Niagara Falls, Ontario
4. Niagara Falls, New York

E) Four websites I visit daily.

1. My blog
2. Ebay
3. The weather network
4. Jobbank

F) Four of my favorite foods.

1. Chocolate Cake
2. BBQ Hotdogs
3. Chicken Fajitas
4. BBQ Chicken

G) Four places I would rather be right now.

1. Shopping someplace
2. Skating
3. Toronto
4. On Vacation

H) 4 people I think will respond

1. StrayCatLady
2. My sisters
3. Sandy maybe
4. Not sure who else.

I thought this was a cool idea, and a good followup to my previous post of 100 things about me.

Disaster

2006-08-10T22:37:00.000-04:00

Well, today was a total disaster for me. Test day for skating, and the last possible chance for me to pass my course, for my level 2 coaching. TOTAL WASTE OF TIME!! Not one of my skaters passed their tests, so now I have to restart my level 2 coaching, from the beginning. Over the next few days, I will be re-evaluating my coaching career, and the direction it's heading in. I have basically made up my mind, that I'm going to quit teaching. This was my last chance.

In other news.. you guys look at my posts, but you don't post comments? WTF??

100 things about me

2006-08-08T20:11:00.000-04:00

1. I'm an aries.
2. I'm the oldest of my siblings.
3. I had the same job for almost 8 years.
4. I could still be working at that job if I really wanted.
5. I have my NCCP level 1 coaching in Figure Skating.
6. I will soon have my NCCP level 2 coaching in Figure Skating.
7. I'm a gold test skater, even though I've never been recognized as one.
8. I didn't leave home until I was 27 years old.
9. I didn't get the chance to go to college.
10. I regret not going to college.
11. I passed my driver's licence on the first try.
12. In High School, I could type 80 words per minute.
13. I can make my own clothes.
14. My hair has a natural wave.
15. I hate my hair.
16. I'm afraid of dentists, and doctors.
17. I'm not real big on pain.
18. I've had my wisdom teeth extracted.
19. I've had the pleasure of a root canal.
20. I have only ran into 2 people I went to school with, and they weren't my friends.
21. I'm a gay man.
22. I'm the only male member in my family to carry on the family name.
23. I was constantly reminded of that when I was younger.
24. I have worked in retail all my life.
25. I hate retail.
26. I enjoy sewing, knitting, quilting, general needlework hobbies.
27. I have too much fabric.
28. I have too much yarn.
29. I buy too much of both at work.
30. I have clothes in my closet that I have had for over 5 years that I don't wear.
31. I'm a packrat. (Big surprise there!)
32. I used to be an organized person.
33. I wish I still was.
34. I still have my first pair of figure skates.
35. I collect anything skating related.
36. I can read the same book over, and over, and never get tired of it.
37. I have a strange sense of humor.
38. Bad grammar, and bad spelling drive me around the bend.
39. I love chocolate.
40. I love ice cream.
41. I love kitchen gadget stores.
42. I love antique dishes, just don't have the space for them.
43. I love old quilts.
44. I own a knitting machine, and I rarely use it.
45. I'm afraid of heights.
46. I'm afraid of all reptiles. (Stray cat lady, remember the pet store incident??)

47. I love history.
48. I like to golf, I'm just not good at it.
49. I can cry easily.
50. I get depressed very easily.
51. I don't handle rejection very well.
52. I'm afraid of water.
53. I will only swim in a pool.
54. I know how to make my own preserves.
55. I love to cook, and bake.
56. I hate my car.
57. I have a dream car.
58. I love to take pictures.
59. I was in the band in high school.
60. I know how to play the piano, clarinet, and flute.
61. I'm not a very good singer.
62. I like vodka.
63. My favorite drink is Strawberry Daiquiri.
64. I hate beer.
65. My favorite color is green.
66. I have had a bone marrow biopsy.
67. I love to watch it snow.
68. I love rain storms.
69. I like rugged looking men.
70. I have never had a girlfriend, or wife.
71. I'm quite happy with my partner of 5 years.
72. I once was involved with a married man, and I'm not proud of it.
73. I'm afraid of violence.
74. I have Crohn's disease.
75. I wish I had accomplished more as a skater.
76. I grew up in a small town, and I miss living there.
77. I hate the city, I like the convenience though.
78. I can watch the same movie over, and over again.
79. My favorite tv show is/was The Facts of Life.
80. My favorite cartoon was Scooby Doo.
81. I have won substantial amounts of money at the casino.
82. I don't play the lottery.
83. I didn't leave the country until I was 29 years old.
84. I had a sheltered life growing up.
85. My best friend is in her 40's. (thank god she doesn't read my blog often)
86. I lost my best friend to suicide.
87. I think about her every day.
88. I have won prizes at the fair for my baking, and needlework.
89. I refuse to vote for politicians.
90. I used to track every penny I spent, I have since lost interest.
91. I love Siamese cats.
92. I don't like seeing movies in a theatre.
93. I have never been arrested.
94. I prefer baths over showers.
95. I believe in love at first sight.
96. I love shopping.
97. My favorite store is Ikea.
98. I love going to markets.
99. I hate grocery shopping.
100. I still have a lot left to write!

Correction time

2006-08-07T21:26:00.000-04:00

I had no idea that I had a grammar error on a previous post, until Paul pointed it out to me today. Imagine, me, who corrects everyone else's spelling, and grammar, made a mistake. What is the world coming to? Yet, another mundane day at work, since it was a holiday here, we had hardly any customers, and for a change, management was around for the holiday, which meant that I had to give the illusion that I was working. Didn't do a lot over the weekend, other than hang out online for a bit, did some chatting with the boys of menwhoknit.com, did a bit of knitting, played with the embroidery machine a bit. See pic below....

I should rephrase that I tried chatting, I got up to get a drink, and came back to this...

Oh, I also updated my links today, and added 2 more blogs, both are family members, I'm wondering who else in the family now, is going to get a blog. Any ideas????

Someone's got a fetish!

2006-08-05T15:13:00.000-04:00

Ok, I'm the first person to admit it..there must be a support group for this type of thing.. I have a thread addiction, fetish, obsession, whatever! I did a quick count of how much thread I actually own lastnight. I was shocked with the results. After 211 spools, I stopped counting. I was afraid to go on. I just knew it wouldn't be good. Yes, I know, I have no excuse now that I can't finish a project because I don't have the right color thread, it's virtually impossible! Some of it was given to me, some of it pilfered from sewing boxes at mom's, but most of it was purchased at low, low prices from work(when it's .10 a spool, you have to stock up, at least that's what I tell myself). And for those of you who think I'm kidding, here's the proof!

I am however, seeking help for this addiction.. this being the current way of organizing it...

This being the future organization of my thread.

It's more compact, semi-light proof, to stop fading, and it actually holds more than the plastic tubs from Ikea. Next, I just have to find a place to put it. I'm thinking of trying to mount it on a wall someplace.

In other news... I decided to try to kill myself this week, by riding my bike from one end of the city, to the other end of the city, in 1000 Degree heat. I managed to make it about half way, before turning around. I thought that I would be ok. But the next day, I thought I was going to die. Between the stomach cramps, major headache, and the feeling that death was near, I concluded, that in hell like temperatures, no more bike riding. Now before you start lecturing me(you people know who you are), I feel completely better now, and I promise I won't do it again. Instead, I can stay home in the air conditioning, and sew something, because I have a pretty heavy inventory of thread to use up!

Finished Socks

2006-07-22T09:29:00.000-04:00

Finally, after almost 2 months, of sitting on the table in my sewing/knitting room, I managed to finish these socks. And it's not like it was a huge job finishing them, just needed to toes grafted, and the ends of the yarn worked in. But honestly, it's 200 degrees outside, it's not like I'll be wearing them anytime soon. Here's a pic of socks on the floor, then one of me modeling the socks.

In other news, my vacation is officially over tomorrow, I was really beginning to like this being at home stuff, but it does put a damper on the spending! I went out yesterday afternoon, with my sisters, shopping at the mall(thought I better put that in there, or I'll never hear the end of it in the comments), didn't buy anything other than an Ice Cap at Timmies. Then went for a bike ride lastnight, the first time I have been on my bike for about 4 years. It was pretty good, I only fell off once! I went through the trails down by the river, across the old rail bridge over the river, in behind the casino, and back again. It took me about 3o min to go that far, my legs don't even hurt today, which is surprising. Today, I'm hoping to go for another one, maybe take the trail a bit further this time, if the rain lets up.

Finished Object

2006-07-19T21:31:00.000-04:00

Finally, a finished object! I've been working on this for about a week and a half, just finished sewing the buttons on tonight. There is one small problem with though, I forgot to wash the fabric before starting the project! I realized after I had cut out the entire garment, that the fabric was still raw. I'm hoping(and praying), that it won't shrink down the size of a piece of doll clothing in the first washing. Maybe I should just skip washing it, and take it to the dry cleaners! Here's a couple of pics of the finished shirt. Front and back.

Comfort it an issue

2006-07-08T12:24:00.000-04:00

As the title suggests.. Comfort is an issue when sitting outside. If you look very closely, you'll see something amazing. This was what I just looked off the balcony and saw in front of the neighbouring building. Yes faithful readers, that is infact a recliner, that someone is sitting on infront of the building. Seems like a lot of extra work, when just a folding lawn chair would do, but hey, who am I to judge! There was also a chesterfield, but it left during the time it took me to come inside and get the camera. This confirms it, we're living in a trailer park in Kentucky.

Friday's Feast

2006-07-08T11:47:00.000-04:00

Didn't have anything worthwhile to write today, so I thought I'd post a friday feast that I likned from another page.
Appetizer
When was the last time you visited a hospital?
As a patient, March 2000, as a visitor, May 2006

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how ambitious are you?
Most days, 7-8, depends on my motiviation

Salad
Make a sentence using the letters of a body part. (Example: (mouth) My other ukelele tings healthily.)

FEET

Flee Evil Emperor Tut

Main Course
If you were to start a club, what would the subject matter be, and what would you name it?
Probably something craft related..Maybe Brantford Male Crafters? I don't know really

Dessert
What color is the carpet/flooring in your home?

UGLY brownish/grey industrial apartment carpeting, that's hard to walk on, but easy to keep clean, and ugly to the eyes.

Keep the comments coming anonymous people. Or, register, and start your own blogs!

Chat soon!

Day off!

2006-07-06T10:46:00.000-04:00

Day off today, away from the oven.. yay!!! So far, I haven't done anything, other than take the dog out for a walk. Going out after lunch with a friend, taking her to do some running around, then I have skating tonight. It's a beautiful day here, not too hot(of course, since I'm off today), sunny, with some cloudy breaks. I should be working on cleaning my sewing room up, when my friend Ang was here last week, helping me organize it, she left me homework to do, and I haven't touched a thing in here. I did however, manage to do some sewing lastnight, despite the clutter. I did some mending for a neighbour, worked some on a shirt, and made a baby dress for Ang's sister's baby, due later this month. At the moment, I'm contemplating my next project, and chatting with my sister on msn.

Another Scorcher!

2006-07-02T22:06:00.000-04:00

Well, I think today was the hottest day we've had so far this summer. Of course, I had to work in the oven today, it was about a billion degrees at work, the fans weren't even helping any. By the end of a 5 hour shift, I was ready to melt. Customers were bitchy, staff was bitchy, everyone was hot, and cranky. I can hardly wait until later this month, and next month when it will be even hotter. Tonight, I went to the driving range, and smacked around some little white balls, in the process, nearly getting eaten alive by mosquitos. I don't know where they even came from. Whoever heard of mosquitos being out in broad daylight, in an open area. Seems pretty fishy to me...I'm just sayin! I think lastnight, when I said I was going to go do some knitting, I knit about 4 rounds, and then came back to the computer, just can't seem to get motivated for some reason. Maybe tonight, or maybe tomorrow.

We have progess!

2006-07-02T00:51:00.000-04:00

Wow, I've had this blog since May, and I haven't written a thing. I'm such a slacker, there's no other excuse except that! Nothing too exciting going on here in Brantford tonight, I can hear the fireworks for Canada Day over at the park, which means the dog and cat are both hiding somewhere, under something. It was a beautiful day here, of course, hotter than hell, and no breeze, until about 4pm, when it started to cloud up, then the breeze started, and we had about 2 seconds of rain, however, the wind was strong enough to knock over my tomato plants, at least it didn't break them, otherwise, I would have been pissed. How boring for a holiday weekend, we didn't do anything except go grab pizza, and walked the dog over to the store to get something cold to drink tonight. What a waste to such a nice day. Oh well, back to work tomorrow. Think I'll go knit on something for a while, or maybe tidy up the sewing room a bit.

Have a great night!