Just getting preparred for Dickens-that's what I'm looking forward to the most. That and Winter Solstice! I can't explain why I love that particular day-but I do and it's as much as Summer Solstice. I think because it marks a change: a change in the angle of the earth in relation to the sun, beginning changes in the season or a marker of the season itself. Knowing that from that day of Winter Solstice, the days will become incrementally longer leading back up to Summer! What ever it is, it is special to me.

Dickens has been elusive thus far, I haven't had an opportunity to make it to get costume appoval or for sign off or even to help with the build up. This bothers me-I feel like a slacker even if my reason is because I'm working. I can't help it though. On a brighter note regarding Dickens~I ordered a wonderful new dress!!! I am so excited to get it but I fear that it won't arrive in time for costume approval. However I feel very confident that it would pass. Partly because I pay attention to my peers at Dickens and I do some research. I know the dress falls into the latter-part of the time line. Posted above is a lovely sneak peak at the lovely dress, which matches my hat and shawl btw!

I found the dress on ebay in the "reinactment" option for clothing. It is exactly the dress I have wanted-colors are perfect! The dress is made from a small group that make dresses (for sale) for the Civil War Reinactment groups in the South. (Another reason why I believe this dress would pass muster). The lady that helped me when I called actually went and measured the hem on the dress to let me know how long it was. She offered to do this-that is good customer service-and the hem was more than long enough so she said she would hold the dress and get it ready to ship out directly as soon as my payment went through (which was pretty inexpensive-considering). There is another company on ebay that sells period dresses-there is a day dress I have my eye on (a pretty yellow calico-I like yellow cause it's cheery) I will save up for it but it's only around $87 or 89 dollars so it won't take long!

The thing about the dress I bought-I had cashed out one of my vacation days because I was a little short on my usual paycheck (missed part of a "long day" and a Saturday cause the doc was out). So I figured I could get it pretty quick. I thought wrong. For the last weeks my birds have been mimicing the new neighbor's tiny dog in their songs. Charming. Paco the mini Macaw was doing a pretty good job just barking like the terrier but the smaller birds are adding it in their songs.

My Cockatiel Mike is pretty vocal and likes to talk and sing a lot-but he does get a little sullen when I am doing a lot of fair because I'm not home to entertain and talk back to him. I took his behavior as that. He talked a bit but not much. A week ago he started sneezing-a lot. I thought he was trying to bark like the dog-but it ended up being his voice. It seems he has caught some type of respiratory infection.

So there I was with just enough money to buy the dress but not have any left over...OR...spend a chunk of the money on medication for Mike. Obviously, I chose the meds for Mike. Poor little fella. I knew I couldn't wait much longer to treat it and since I have treated other birds for similiar symptoms before I knew which meds to pick up for him. I have been treating him now for several days and already his breathing has improved, sneezing has decreased and his voice sounds more like him with an increase in playing. Seeing him happy and healthy is worth more to me than any dress. So with not enough money, I had to wait until I got my pay check and paid all my bills before I knew for certain if I could get my dress. I could and did.

Of course this leaves me with a minimal amount of dinero till next period but I am used to living with barely nothing so it's not like a real stretch for me. Then there is the knowledge that I need to have money to pay for my fair pass and an oil change. It looks like I will have to cash out some more vacation days. It's not like I have ever had time to take a vacation anyway. Although I would love to be able to someday when I can truly afford it. Yeah, that would be super nice! I will still have a couple days left after I cash them out so If I need some emergency time there will be some there. I have some sick days too. I won't paint the devil on the wall so.... Fortunately my "anniversary is coming up so my vacation days will be replenished soon. So that's good. I also covered for my coworker while he took some time to himself so that gave me some extra time-again helping make up the spending of the dress although I need the mula for the pass and oil changer sooner rather than two weeks from now.

Ah well, things have a way of working themselves out and I will have faith in that knowledge as well as knowing that my favorite time of year is here and I am looking forward to spending it with wonderful people that I enjoy hanging out with. So much to prepar and just not enough time :-)!

Have a great week!
*Cheers!*

Current mood: animated

Today is Halloween. I do love this particular holiday. Not because I can dress up-I can do that any time really-but because Everybody can dress up! People that are afraid of expressing themselves get a chance to. Most want to be sexy or scary. Some are "store-bought" and some are extrememly imaginative. I give kudos to them all-don't be afraid to embrace your imagination, you should "hug it every day".

I also enjoy this holiday because although the Autumnal equinox has already occured-Halloween (Samhain) marks the season. I can't explain it but I believe one can "feel" it. It's in the air and it's all around us. That and it also triggers the upcoming holidays and festivities that will ensue. Pumkin Pie! Roasted turkey, Mulled wine, roasted nuts, and warmth of the heart and hearth. This season has a foot in each door between fall and winter. I adore this time of year!

Besides working Dickens again, I need to decide what I'm going to do for the holidays. I think I might do the "hats for the homeless" thing again. I made about thirty and gave them all away. This year might be a bit more cold-I think the hats might be a bit more welcome this year. I better start to knitting but first I need to purchase some yarn :-). Or more yarn anyway...any excuse to go into arts and crafts stores!

I know I would like to do some more baking this year, besides my favorite (pumkin pie!) I am seriously thinking about pecan pie. I haven't baked any pies in quite some time and I think it's about time. During this time of year, all I want to do is just spend time at home cooking and nesting for the winter. Heck I might even venture up to the snow-because it's been a couple years since I have played in that as well. Lot's of things I would like to do-let's see how many of them I am able to accomplish LOL!

On to other things~
I seem to not be able to keep my focus lately-every thing is shiney! My attention span is that of a freak'n rock. I feel slightly scattered-not in some negative way but like something is coming and I'm just reacting to the inevitable change. Maybe? Hell, I can't say for certain-it's just speculative self analysis. But one thing is for certain-my mind is wandering every where else but on work. Maybe it's simply that I need a change. I need to focus my energy in a different direction-but where? Well, maybe time will tell but until then I must try to focus and just work. Working is what I do. Hell, it's all I do.

On to something completely different~
One of the things I read for my own amusement and sometimes inspiration from the creativity or absurdity is Craig List-as some of you already know! However, I know this might sound silly and I'm hoping I'm wrong but a couple of the posts smack of my ex-husband and they sound similiar to my personal experience with him. The posts were regarding this holiday and our meeting/and getting married during this holiday. The marriage it'self was something I never wanted but felt forced into....it's a long stupid story and I know many of you never knew I was married. It's alright, there are many things about myself I dont' talk about. But in regards to the postings, well they are about this individual missing thier missed connection and blah blah blah. It has disturbed me in a couple different ways and none of them positive. My exhusband is a narcissistic personality with sociopathic tendencies and is a closet mysogonist. He emotionally abused me for years but he did some horrible things to other women after I finally got away from him. I want him as far away from me as humanly possible. I swear-if that is him he would be doing himself a favor by staying the hell away from me. It won't end well. Seriously.

However I know I am certainly not the only person who has had a really bad ex experience and I know many have their anniversary on Halloween so there is a very good chance that this post aren't about me but somebody else. I sincerely hope that's the case. Having that jack-ass bust his way into my business is something I don't need or want.

What I do need is good energy and plan on making sure that is what I keep in my life. With my favorite season come up, it's hard not to feel the good energy! That is what I plan on carrying and putting out there-good energy. Now if I could manifest the good, now that would be something. Of course that would require me being able to focus and like I said before-I am just super distractible lately. Something for me to work on, I suppose! All I can say is I think this will be an interesting season, I can feel it in my bones.