Chip the Canadian Beaver
Can you handle him? I can't.
Check out this link to see his tail - it's the best ever.
The stars were aligned. My buddy Rawbean made Chip a few months ago and I saw him right after she made him, he's always been my favourite creature in her shop.
Then Rawbean was asked to be in a craft fair and of course she took Chip to sell him. It didn't really cross my mind that someone else would buy him, even though he had been in her Etsy shop all this time. Check out her table at the craft fair - so cute!
She did really well at the craft fair and sold lots of creatures, but Chip remained! Phew!! When I learned that he didn't sell I immediately got on the computer and bought him - actually I bought him while I was having a conversation with Rawbean on the phone about something else.I love him, every time I see him I smile. If you haven't visited Rawbean's shop - DO. IT. NOW.
I've been busy sewing these days. 
I decided to put my perfectionism aside and finished up the bag from this post. If anyone has a good idea for what I should name this bag, I would really appreciate it. I'm at a complete loss.
I made a market bag for my Mom to give away as a gift - it's the green one in the photo - I think she picked some great fabric!
And of course the Buttercup Bags for my Etsy shop, always so satisfying and super cute. It's interesting putting colours together that I wouldn't necessarily choose for myself. As I'm sewing it up I'm wondering if anyone will like it, then when the project is complete I always consider keeping it for myself - even the pink one.
All right, I've been at my new job for a little while now. Enough time to notice a few things and compare with my last job. There are a few things that are standing out.
1. Start Times
When I worked for a yacht manufacturer (no, really) we started at 7:15 am and it was in the burbs. I had no car, I turned into an early riser. So at my last job in Vancouver I was starting at 7:30. When I walked into the office in the mornings, there were people. Lights were on.
In my new office I'm sometimes the first one in. I'm the one opening the door and turning the alarm off. And I'm starting at 8:00 am. Um......where is everyone?! It's EIGHT!
I think it's an island thing.
2. Late Openings
The front door to the building and the elvator is locked until 8:00 am.
Really?
The building I used to work in was open long before 7:30 am.
I think it's an island thing.
3. Printing
I'm so used to using an out-of-house printer for large scale stuff that I never thought I'd have to deal with plotters again. no such luck. We use our in-house plotter a lot. It's so slow and I hate loading the paper.
I used to use Dominion Blue and they were fantastic. The Victoria equivalent is called Island Blue. I thought my work mates were pulling my leg when they warned me to call ahead to make sure I could get one full size set in two days. Seriously, Dominion Blue would turn stuff around for me in an HOUR. Delivered.
I think it's an island thing.
Obviously since I wasn't working I wasn't spending money - on anything. I've been rationing my contacts lenses (I hate wearing glasses), wearing clothes that are starting to come apart, shaving my legs with soap (I normally wax) and worst of all wearing pants that are all 2-3 sizes too big.
See, in the last year or so I've lost a ton of weight - we're talking 20 pounds off a butt that was already not overweight at all. So my pants just don't fit. Brad would look at me and say "just put a belt on", which I would do, but when you're cinching that much fabric.....yeah, it just doesn't work. Not to mention how uncomfortable too-big-pants feel.
So last weekend I finally went out and bought new jeans. Ohmigod how good does it feel to wear jeans that fit?! And thanks to Sarah, I found a great little store downtown that has a great selection!
In other randomness that I'm sure you're interested in - it's football season. Brad has gotten into this sport (no really, he even watches college football) and I'm sorry to offend anyone out there but I just. Don't. Get. It.
Seriously. When I watch it, it looks like complete chaos. It's totally complicated and the games seem to go on forever. He's in the living room right now and I can hear him "Let's go boys!" Yeah...so I'm spending the day working on some new bags for my Etsy shop.
I've saved the best news for last. I've finally brought wheat back into my diet.* Yesterday we made hamburgers from scratch, I ate pie and had toast with jam for breakfast for the first time in 9 months and last week I ate a cinnamon bun.
*This ties back into my first piece of randomness - honestly - eliminate wheat and dairy from you life and you will lose weight.
Man, I have the worst luck. Remember the super uncomfortable teleconferencing experience I had a couple weeks ago?
Today our whole office gathered together for a big announcement. We were all drinking wine and sitting in the board room together. I chose my seat carefully near the back because of the camera. So, we teleconferenced into the Vancouver and Kelowna offices like before, but this time everyone in all three offices was watching.
So they make a great announcement about a project! Suddenly the guy sitting next to me started to talk about it. Then my boss picked up a remote control and made the camera zoom in on him while he was talking - but I was sitting right next to him.
So the camera is totally zoomed in on the two of us. Me in the background looking like an extreme dork and the guy talking.
This time I KNOW the ENTIRE company was watching. Seriously, this kind of crap could only happen to me.
The craziest thing happened today!
I was sitting at my desk working away when I swore I heard my old boss laughing. I shook my head, had thoughts about my sanity for a moment and kept working. A couple hours later, I heard it again! This time it was accompanied by a completely familiar voice of another partner from my old company.
I got up and walked around the corner - smack into my old boss!!
We were both totally shocked and super happy to see each other. He had just finished meeting with my two new bosses about a project that is just starting up.
He couldn't believe it when he saw me, because he had no idea that I was working there! We quickly caught up, shook each others hands warmly and then he totally complimented me. All of this right in front of my new boss, who then threw another compliment about me right back.
It was a fabulous moment and carried me through the rest of my day.
Hmph. Well, compared to Halloweens of the past this one was super mellow.
I guess it's not a surprise though, since we don't know many people in Victoria and there was no big party planned like other years. This is why I was completely uninspired to make costumes and lost my Halloween spirit. We didn't even decorate until Halloween night, and even then Brad had to practically force me!
But we had a great night. We carved a pumpkin, roasted the seeds and watched a horror movie while we were at it. April Fool's Day which is one of my favourites.
We also scared the crap out of The Bad Room Mate. To begin with, he didn't appreciate the giant flies, spiders and tombstone I set up next to his food bowl. Then I dug out this super hilarious, incredibly lame decoration that an old buddy gave me a few years ago. It's a cheesy plastic skull with black garbage bag hair. It makes the most mental noise and it's eyes light up with little red lights when you touch it. Obviously I put it next to Ziggy's bowl and then gave him his dinner.
After that we curled up with some rum and watched another great horror movie called Teeth. Ohmigod, this is worth watching.
Chip the Canadian Beaver
She did really well at the craft fair and sold lots of creatures, but Chip remained! Phew!! When I learned that he didn't sell I immediately got on the computer and bought him - actually I bought him while I was having a conversation with Rawbean on the phone about something else.
