Holiday Card

I didn't send cards to too many people this year. I did one though. It's a bit different. I capitalized on their likes: Isaak art and Mica listening to music. 

Did you send out cards this year?

Got That Holiday Feelin'?

The last few years have been difficult holiday wise. 

We used to get together with my aunts, uncles, cousins, cousin's kids, siblings, grandparents, and so on. It's kind of come to an end sort of. Some of my family is careful, while some is not. When you have one relative that has 2 kids that have compromised immune systems, non careful families do not sit well with them. I now have a job that works with individuals that have compromised immune systems, so we talk daily in my team about restrictions. Yes, my sister chose to have five kids when she knew she had the chance of having Trisomy 18 individuals; I care about them so I'm more of an advocate for them than not. 

Plans:

We used to have Christmas Eve at my parent's house. Packed in like sardines to eat a nice meal of soups, cheeses, crackers, dips, and shrimp, open gifts, and eat cookies. Now we're having a quiet evening to ourselves, where we're making New Orlean's meal and eating junk. The boys have never had jambalaya and that kind of food.

We used to have Christmas Day with the cousins, aunts... But now we're having a get together at my sisters, where we play games with masks on and eat snacks (with distancing). 

We haven't decided when we're opening our own presents. I suggested 1/2 on Christmas Eve and the other 1/2 Christmas Day. 

Mica didn't tell me what he wanted, and Isaak pretty much picked out all his gifts. Teenagers sure do change things. 

Gone are these days, where Mica rattles stuff off that he wants:

I got Mica a foot spa. He always gets ingrown toenails, and has to do food soaks. Why not enjoy those soaks a bit more? LOL I got him a book about deep thinking about life and another one on world religions. he also got clothes. 

Isaak picked out some things he wanted at World Market. A mini tool kit. I snagged that when he wasn't looking, so something would be a surprise. He's big into pineapples, last year it was lemons and limes. I got a pop fidget pineapple and pineapple shirt. He got mostly things for his room: Pillow, a lamp...

Jobs:

Mica got a job at Freddy's. It's walking distance. I am sort of bummed because when we went their food area was closed because of covid. They were one of the last places to open up. I was hoping it was still closed. Oh well. He gets paid a lot for just starting out. $11.50! Travis said, "WOW I need a raise!" 

Mosaic is still going well for me. Only two struggles: 

1. They throw vacay, sick and time-off all in one pot. So I only have 6 hours of PTO. I feel like I have to work on these holidays. It amounts to 3 weeks off, but is annoying right now. Especially when I started. If I started in August I'd have some PTO built up. Nope! I started right before Thanksgiving. It will get better. They are so willing to work with me on picking up Isaak from school...stuff like that. 

2. The other struggle is I got a project no one wanted. I thought I had a great idea, but nope it's sitting on neutral and not in drive. It's for a medical supplier. Their stuff is really dated. 

What they had Yuck!:

They want a fresh look. I did a lady in a wheel chair by the trees. Headline, "Go Places Do Things". My supervisor doesn't think it fits our market enough. They sell stuff to people that work for Mosaic Homes. DSP help their clients buy the stuff like wheel chairs, lifts, hospital beds, adult diapers and so on. I thought the catcher image could go on the front, and the noise (type) could go on the back. I'm not married to the type. I thought each background could fit with the location they serve. This is Colorado. They deliver right to the home, so that's something. I thought about maybe having an older person at the door with their product. But I want it to look pleasing, and have a story to it. Help! LOL

I don't disagree with my supervisor, but I also don't know what to do. I spent all day cutting out medical supplies in Photoshop knowing I'd use some. But now what...I'm stuck!  

It's a Wonderful Life @RoseTheaterCo Review

It was really great to visit The Rose Theater again! It's been awhile, since we've gone there. Too long! Their shows are geared towards kids, and my boys are 13 and 16. BUT their latest show is wonderful for my boy's ages. 

We all enjoyed the show It's a Wonderful Life. It's their first show that they had at The Rose Theater in 1995. 

Overall Thoughts:

Travis said he felt like he could relate to the dad in the play. He seriously can be a Scrooge during this time of year. All holiday things fall in my lap. Santa Claus in our house is not a guy. It's a girl all the way. LOL

Isaak just liked being there. He misses going places, and doing things. It kept his attention all the way through. 

Mica liked that it wasn't a musical. They typically do have mostly musicals at The Rose Theater. A play is great to go to as well. he now gets all the hidden humor that only adults catch. 

I liked that it was less draggy than the movie. The movie just kind of goes on and on. The play didn't seem to do that. It was entertaining throughout. I did feel a bit sad because I thought about how kids missed so much with live performances that places like The Rose Theater offers. 

Safety First:

I have to be honest, we really don't go very many places, since covid became a thing. I'm vaccinate and boosted, I still wear a mask, and I still feel like other people do not care; they either get it or don't. I have to really want to go somewhere to venture out to do things. At this show masks were required. Overall people were respectful of that. The actors didn't wear masks while they were performing. They had less people in the venue to help stop the spread as well. It was also available for online streaming. 

About:

Meet George Bailey, whose guardian angel has to descend on Christmas Eve to save him from despair and to remind him that his has been, after all, a wonderful life. George always wanted to get out of the town he lived in, but one thing lead to another and he was stuck. It's about George realizing that his town and life were not as bad as he thought. Featuring live music from the era and a virtuosic cast playing multiple roles, this production is the perfect homage to the power of community. 

The Set

The set was really pretty with things from the town and decked out with Christmas stuff. I liked seeing old things like the phone, and radio. 

Show Dates:

The show is at The Rose Theater in Omaha, Nebraska from December 5-20, 2021. There are online shows.

It's 75 minutes.   

It is for all ages. 

Cast and Crew:

Actor 1 (Clarence) – Wayne Hudson II 

Actor 2 (Joseph) – Stella Clark-Kaczmarek 

Actor 3 (George Bailey) – Marcel Daly 

Actor 4 (Peter/Mary) – Delaney Jackson 

Actor 5 (Billy/Harry) – Zhomontee Watson 

Actor 6 (Potter/Burt/Others) – Matthew Olsen 

Actor 7 (Pete/Sam/Others) – Natalie Hanson 

Actor 8 (Violet/Erin/others) – Carina Dumarce 

Actor 9 (Janie/others) – Maddie Smith 

Actor 10 (Zuzu/others) – Anina Frey 

Actor 11 (Understudy 3 & 6) – Kevin Ehrhart 

Actor 12 (Understudy 4, 5, 7, 8) – Caulene Hudson-Pace 

Actor 13 (Understudy 1, 2, 9, 10) – Grace Garrigan 

Artistic/Production Credits Director – Sarah Brown 

Assistant Director – LaDareon ‘LD’ Copeland 

Music Director – Jerry Brabec 

Choreographer – Sue Gillespie Booton 

Stage Manager – Lisa Krabbenhoft 

Scenic Designer – Lindsey Purvis Lighting Designer – Matt Benes 

Sound Designer/Engineer – Christy Hernandez 

Costume Designer – Sherri Geerdes 

Hair & Makeup Designer – Zach Kloppenborg 

Director of Production – Erin M. Solemsaas 

Technical Director – Hunter Andrews Props Mistress – Devon Denn-Young 

Scenic Charge Artist – Savannah Savick Master Carpenter – Jackson Curtright Stitchers – Sherri Geerdes, Zach Kloppenborg, Audio Helkuik

Contact The Rose Box Office: 

• 402.345.4849 for more information

• Tickets for play are $20 Main Floor 

• Members of The Rose receive discounted tickets to the production

Disclaimer: I received tickets from The Rose Theater to see It's a Wonderful Life. I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Farm Days

This last weekend we took the 3 hour trip to one of Travis' old coworker's family farm. He was begging for us to join him. It was good to get away, for a bit.

Is it mandatory for all farms to have 1 red barn? I'm not complaining, I love the color red!

The farm didn’t have animals, but they did have a lot of old things to look at, history, and squash to pick. 

If you lived on a farm what animals would you wish you could have? I'd love horses, goats, chickens, alpacas, a few farm cats, and a few farm dogs. Mrs Allergy sufferer can have animals if they are outside. Right?

I did ask Tom, our friend if he had his wife and son hidden in his trunk. I was bummed that they didn’t come along. His wife is from Russia. Since she wasn’t there to define herself I made jokes about how he’s really married to a spy. I’ve watched too many episodes of The Americans. We made Tom watch the first episode during breakfast. Not typically a show one would watch with children, but hey it's given us more reasons to talk about sex more openly. Really Tom's wife was back home with their dog and their son is only 11. He had a friend thing to do. 

I guess these go unused on their farm:

I think this is my favorite shot:

It was in Iowa, and one thing is for sure, all farms in Nebraska and Iowa are usually full of corn. 

What made this farm special is that it was owned by the same family, for many generations, they had relatives that owned areas all around it, and that it was right by the lake. What water hobbies would you take up if you lived there? I'd like to fish, and go paddle boating. 

 

They rent out their land for other farmers to grow things. At this time pumpkins and other squashes were there. Tom said after Halloween they sit there and rot. We could take what we wanted. I took too much. Fully intending on canning pumpkin puree, but I found out that it's not a good idea to do that. Ya learn something new everyday. Reason? Every squash has a different water content. Pumpkin puree in the store has all the water content removed practically. It's best to cook, puree, and put it in ice cube trays to freeze. 

Tom drove us around to show us all his family's property, and let Travis take Mica and Isaak down to see a special spot I never did see. Mica's driving. I'd like to say he learned how to drive a stick shift, but I don't think he drove it long enough to learn the standard H. 

Isaak's big about wearing these coveralls. Funny because he hated them when I bought him a one when he was about the age of 5. He thinks they are artsy. Kids say he looks like Michael Meyers or a farmer. I think he looks like one in the Blue Man Group (without the make-up), or an auto mechanic. 

Travis with Mica. They took one of me, but I look so out of it and I'm not posting it. 

We found a few of these caterpillars. I heard they mean either we have a long winter ahead, or a short one. I don't know that I believe such tales, but if you do we found them. 

We got to stay in their old farm house. Lots of cool things, but I like the door handles the most. 

Have you been to a farm lately? 

Job to Job

I know it's been forever, since I posted. Sorry! I've been stressed, tired, and busy. 

I started yet another job, and stopped that job. I'd laugh if it wasn't sad. 

It went like this: I was let go of my job as a design instructor for nearly 20 years because the school was going to close their doors, when Covid started up - May 2020. 

I got a job at Fresh Thyme as a front end supervisor because unemployment thought I'd go back to teaching in the fall, so they weren't going to cover me, and I had to get something fast! Right as I was getting good at what I did there I found out they were closing their doors in October of 2020. 

Marketing and design jobs still were not opening up, so I got a job at Williams Sonoma as a key manager and merchandiser.

I started one class, one night a week at Midland College. 

All along I had been applying for design and marketing jobs, so AIM a tech non profit fell into my lap. I loved the work I did there, but the turn over is high, and there are a lot of bosses that can't form final decisions. I wanted their look to be as powerful as their mission. They loved my work, but didn't want to jump outside that box. I quit knowing that the HR lady that had been there for years was leaving, and they weren't getting a replacement. I was worried I wouldn't get a pay check. 

I kept doing some freelance with AIM, but the person that gave it to me gave me too much along with my full time job, and my one class. Bosses kept changing things, so I stopped doing freelance for them. 

I started working for Schemmer an engineering and architecture firm. My boss knew my lack of experience in that field. He kind of just went over folders, but didn't go over proposals, which I would have to work on. I found out what I don't like doing there. 

I got a job at RD Industries as a marketing coordinator | designer. They didn't know my password to my computer, wanted me to have a phone, but didn't know how to get into that, didn't know usernames or passwords to social media accounts, and had two Adobe Creative accounts, but only one me. My training existed of: Files you need are on SharePoint. I had never used SharePoint, but figured that out. All the files were flattened, so I couldn't use any of them. My supervisor kept signing off on projects. Then a few days later I'd have to redo the same project. It was nerve racking. He had me do 40 sales sheets, and found out the patent numbers were wrong that he gave me on nearly all of them. They had the role as needing someone that's highly creative, but the job wasn't all that creative. I enjoyed some of it. I really think as much as the owner is picky about their branding (as she should be), she should have had a few meetings with me to talk about it. 

I handed in my notice because I got a job at Mosaic as a graphic designer. My supervisor at RD Industries said I could stay on as a consultant. Once the owner found out I was leaving she told me to leave. No going back to my desk, no goodbyes, and no backing up my files. I think they thought I'd mess with the files. I for certain didn't want to make who comes in after me - their life difficult. I'm not that kind of person. 

Mosaic is a non profit that helps individuals that have special needs transition into group homes. The position is new. I applied there three times over the pandemic. Third time is a charm. The role is much more me. I like design over marketing. 

Medical anything must have been on my radar because I also applied to Children's Hospital as a designer, and Clarkson College as a brand | graphic designer. I would have been excited with those places as well. My family has 10 people in the medical field. I'd like to merge design with that. 

Here I am, 2 1/2 weeks without pay. I would have called Mosaic to see if I could have started early, but the computer they ordered for me hadn't come in yet, and I made a dentist appointment for the boys in between jobs. 

I still am teaching one class for Midland. That's almost up. I'm not going back. They just have very little organization. I taught a Design and Illustration course, yet they've had no design, illustration, typography... at all. I have students that didn't even have Adobe. Midland is not a design college, and the students take those classes because they think they will be easy. I'm just more than done with extras in my life. 

Isaak happened to bring me a gift of a head cold between Schemmer and RD Industries, and now again between RD Industries and Mosaic. 

Hey each job has been a step up in pay, I'm here, not sick with covid, so I have a lot to be thankful for. 

Warhol Went on a Trip

I play with our gecko Warhol almost every evening. He started doing this thing where he comes to the door if he sees me. He's like a dog that wants to be played with. 

If I open the door, he's right there.

Cute: Yes, but I messed up and left his front doors open on his tank. 

I fell asleep, and woke up to Isaak freaking out. "Mom! What did you do? Warhol's tank is open, and I can't find him anywhere! Where is he?" 

I was half out of it. 

Mica was looking all over the living room for him. Isaak was looking in the kitchen. 

Mica said, "Isaak why in the heck are you looking in there. He couldn't of gone too far!"

Isaak thank goodness found him. He was under Mica's chair in the kitchen. My little gecko wanted to travel. Who can blame him? So do I. 

I'm so glad he was found!

Sunny's tank has been left open as well, but he has a top tank. Leopard geckos climb, but not up on the glass. Sunny couldn't get up to the top of his tank even if he wanted to. 

Have you ever lost a pet? Did you find him or her?  

Have You Ever Felt Judged for What You Felt Was Right?

A place I was at on Friday - I made a comment about a guy that was whistling. I said happily, "I always wish I could whistle like you can. I tried so much when I was little, and I just never could put together a tune." His response, "Maybe if you take that mask off you could." One person nearby started laughing and said, "That was good!" 

Here's the thing...they don't know me. I have two relatives that have compromised immune systems from Trisomy 18, I have parts of my nose that is missing from a nose surgery, asthma, allergies, a close friend that just passed away from Covid leaving a 14 and 17 year old behind, and many family members that were or in some cases are nurses that stand with science. I'm wearing that mask for others really more than myself. 

I'm not a Karen that says things like, "You know you really should wear a mask." I just walk around with mine on. I know I can be a carrier no matter what. If my kids have to wear a mask to school, Travis has to wear a mask at the dental lab he works at, I feel that I should do the right thing and wear one too. 

So far I haven't had to get a Covid test at all. I hope to stay that way, for as long as I can. 

I can't shake this feeling that I'm being judged for wearing a mask. Was that comment, or the giggles after necessary? Am I just being too sensitive? To me jokes can be funny, but that didn't humor me. It made me feel bad, for doing what I feel is right all weekend long. 

I found this campaign. I thought it was pretty good concept wise. Even if you aren't a masker. It still has a great idea that's taken in to more than one piece in the campaign. The client is Mucinex. 

Have You Started Holiday Shopping?

 On the news I heard that one should start their holiday shopping now. Why? Because there is going to be a lot of shortages this year. I typically shop year round anyhow. 

I found the perfect  stocking stuffer for one of my teen boys! It’s a nail manicure set. I think it’s going to Mica because he takes out preferred nail set all the time. He gets ingrown toe nails a lot. So…time for his own. Plus Isaak got a gold one a few years back. 

It comes with 16 nail tools. I love that it folds up to make it travel size. We’re not going anywhere now, but will in the future. 

There’s also pockets on the inside to store things like q-tips, cotton balls, or a cleaning cloth comes to mind. 

It’s also great that some of the sharp tools have plastic covers on them. I’m all about safety, when it comes to Mica. He’s a big kid, that’s awkward. Ha! 

Where to get this set: 

You can pick up this set on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SM1FTYC. It is $13.99. Right now it’s marked to have one day shipping. 

What kind of things do you typically purchase for stocking stuffers? 

Disclaimer: I got this product for free or a discounted price in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Pandemic Life Be Like...

Travis said the pandemic life hit me harder than anyone he knows. I think he's probably wrong. There's people that hide that they've had covid, or had people they know that have passed away in their life because of covid. For some reason it's like a secret illness. People don't want to confess that they've had it because that may show their thoughts on not getting the vaccine. It's so odd. I can't even process how separated we all are. 

Travis is right that there's been frustrations for me with jobs, starting menopause, our car's check engine light went off right when covid started up and we can't get the light off. I hardly blog because don't go anywhere, and now I'm at a job where I'm on the computer all day. I really don't want to be on all the more.  

I've started and stopped so many jobs it's crazy. BUT my older sister said that I just need to land that one where I feel a part of the team. 

This is about how I feel about the pandemic: 

We had a friend we've known for 20 years pass away last week. His wife said he had pneumonia to everyone online. It was covid. He was in the hospital for months. He got put on an ECMO machine to recycle his blood. In the end there were lacerations all over his lungs, and they just had to say goodbye. He left behind a wife, a 14 year old and a 17 year old. His wife is still against getting vaccinated, and masking up. All I can think of is those poor boys that didn't get a chance to make a decision about any of it. Now they won't have a dad. I know their family isn't alone. There are many like theirs. It's sad. I wish I could magically bring him back for his kids. 

An illness apparently brought out secrecy, people feeling that their rights are being taken away, and a whole lot of "I do my own research." I see our freedom, and with that freedom comes a cost. The cost of lives lost.