It's the End of Yet Another Era

Well, apparently, it's the end of yet another era.  I really didn't think I was going to live long enough to see the end of this era. But apparently I have.  What era is that?  Let me start out with saying this:

Hancock Fabrics is closing.  Now that doesn't mean a lot to most people.  But, for someone like me, who has sewn since the age of 4; followed behind her Momma through every imaginable fabric store in every state we visited and every country we lived in and every one we traveled through; drug my children through countless numbers of fabric stores and either rode them in buggies or sat them at the catalogs while I looked through fabrics (or fought with them telling them they couldn't get all the fabrics that they wanted on that trip); drug my first husband begrudgingly through the stores; and have to figure out who's going to find the most fabric to bring home between my me and my second husband in the stores now; having one of the few fabric stores in our area close down is a very big deal. 

We used to have a Jo-Anne Fabric and Craft store as well.  But it closed down a long time ago.  The two stores were less than a mile away from each other.  And you know what?  No one cared!  Because people that were looking for fabric would go to both stores!  We bought from both stores!  People that buy fabric at Hancock's now, also buy at Hobby Lobby across the parking lot. 

But that isn't why they're going out of business.  They have been in bankruptcy court trying to reorganize and searching for a buyer who would keep them open. Has been a long time coming. Like you..., they've been our "go to" fabric store for years. We moved to the  MS Gulf Coast in '77 and I've been a customer ever since. Have friends who went there with their moms as children. Definitely the end of an era. Will keep you posted as I hear. Wish it were better news to share with my sewing friends.

Well I guess we'll be making more trips to Jo-Anne Fabric and Craft Stores in Mobile or Slidell or Metairie. or we'll be spending more at Coastal Sew and Vac and at the Fabric Dock and Block Therapy. I don't mind paying the bigger bucks on quality fabrics after all, Jo-Ann's isn't that much cheaper now days and we certainly have to drive farther, but we certainly don't get the sales we got with Hancock Fabrics!! Fabric.com, e-quilter.com, modafabrics.com, and so many other fabric stores online, I guess you'll be seeing more and more of me and other quilters! As for my costume sewing needs, well, I will continue to head to Jefferson Variety Store in New Orleans!

But you know, you can't FEEL fabric when you buy it online.  You can't PET fabric online.  You don't know the quality and the softness or if light shines through it or if your autistic grandson can touch it without his skin crawling when you buy it online!  Don't get me wrong, I buy LOTS of fabric online.  But you can't see TRUE colors online.  You have to take the word of the people that the colors really go together; or that your colors on your computer are true; or the colors in their pictures.  If you get all the fabrics from one fabric line, then YES you can be assured that fabrics will go together.  but if you shop like I do, well, not too many people shop like me I guess. I shop all over the place.  I grab one or two fabrics from here and there and everywhere and then grab 3 or 4 from across the room and then come back and go back and forth and grab a few more and yes they'll all be  cottons and yes they'll all go together in one way or the other--or will eventually.  But you can't really do that by looking at little swatches on a computer screen.  And you really can't do that looking at a 4 x 6 inch smart phone screen.

So yes, it is the end of an era of being able to go into the big box store of fabrics that are reasonably priced, decent quality fabrics.  Hancock Fabrics may not have always had the high end, top of the line quilting cottons, but I've never gone wrong with them.  They may not have had the highest end velvets, satins and other bridal and specialty fabrics, but I've made some very special prom dresses and bridal gowns and bridesmaids dresses from there.  I couldn't begin to count the number of Halloween costumes I've made over the years for my children and grandchildren and other people's children; and that's not even including costumes for Mardi Gras skits I've made.  I've outfitted numerous church plays, musicals and dinner theaters and banners with fabrics from there.  And how could I even begin to calculate how much I've used to make charity quilts for our guild to give to the NICU and CASA?  How would I begin to calculate how much I've used to make clothing for my own children, my grandchildren, for myself, for others over the last 35-40 years?  

I've become so accustomed to sewing without having everything I need already purchased knowing that Hancock's is just around the corner.  I know I can always just run down and go get what I need. If they liquidate and leave, where will I go to get that thread or zipper pattern or button? I don't want to have to drive the 45-60 minutes to Mobile or Slidell or the 1 1/2 hours to Metairie, LA.  I've  gotten used to going in and just walking in and seeing the new fabrics, talking to the staff and feeling the fabric.  I won't be able to do that anymore.  So yes, it looks like we must say good-bye to yet another era.

Wow, it seems like forever since I've been on my blog--wait it has been forever.  It's been so long since I've been on here, that they've changed it from blogspot to blogger!  I didn't even know how to log into my own blog!  I've had so much happen in the last few years.  More grandchildren born.  Children that have moved out of my house.  Children that have moved in. 

I still sew for our Mardi Gras krewe.  My husband and I  spent a year as king and queen of our krewe. What a great year that was!   My DH and I made almost all the court costumes.  There were only two of them that we didn't make.  We made the collars and trains and capes.  Needless to say, there was a year of planning and sewing and building and constructing in the making of all of this.  Was it worth it?  Yes.  Will we ever do it again?  Not together.  It took a toll on us emotionally, mentally, physically and definitely financially by doing this at the same time.  But we loved our year as King and Queen.

Since the last I've logged in here, I have joined a quilting guild in our area and have once again become and avid fan of quilting and even more, I have fallen in love with quilting and color again.  That doesn't mean I do it any better. But I've had lots more practice.  And for the lovely woman that once just cut me to the core and stopped me in my tracks for what I thought would be forever from quilting with her words of telling me that I was just a "wanna be" quilter.  I have realized (after almost 10 years) that she actually did me a favor! 
All of the capes and trains in these costumes were not done the traditional way of just gluing things on and then gluing sequins on.  Instead Every cape and all 15 feet of my train and 17 feet of DH's train were appliqued and then quilted before gluing sequins and rhinestones to them. 

In addition, I have since then made many crib size quilts and 2 queen size quilts that have been made to completion and quilted.  Now that doesn't include how many tops I've completed that I've never quilted, all  because  that line kept going through my mind--you're just a 'wanna be quilter."  But remember I said it  turned out to be a favor? 

Well, I figured out that EVERY quilter is a "wanna be" quilter.  Why do I say that?  Because every quilter wants to be a better quilter.  They want to learn more, they learn new techniques, they want to learn new ways to do old things, they want to learn the new Modern Quilting and Fiber Arts.  So YES every quilter is a Wanna Be Quilter.  So I'm now proud to say that I'm a Wanna Be Quilter!  Or I should say I'm Proud to Say I'm Proud to Want to Be a Quilter, I'm Proud to Be a Quilter!  I may not be perfect--only LOTS of practice will get me to where I will ever even get close to that.  I may not be great--all quilters consider themselves to be worse than they really are.  Have you ever heard a quilter tell you all the faults in their quilts?  We all do it!  We know where all the faults are, but no one else can see them.  Everyone else sees the beauty of the work, not the mistakes or your oops.  Besides the Navahos and the Amish believe that only God is perfect so no human can make anything perfect, so they cannot make any anything perfect.  So even if anything is considered perfect that they are making, they purposefully put in one mistake so that it won't be a perfect piece of work.
 Here are just a few of the ones I've made in the last 2 years.  This is by no means all that I've made.  I forget to photograph most of them.  Most of the ones I make are for charity quilts that go to infants in our local hospital NICU so that some infant will be wrapped in love or go to CASA children that will be able to have a quilt of their own that can never be taken from them.  It will always be theirs to be able to offer them a small means of love and comfort when they need it.  So yes, I am a wanna be a quilter to be able to make something that can provide love and comfort when there isn't a pair of loving arms that can offer it for them.

Dr. Who Quilt

 

 

How Time Flies!

I just rediscovered my blog.  OK I know that sounds crazy.  But it has been an absolutely wild year around here!  Yes I promised pictures of the duke costume from last year.  Do I have any pictures to show from it?  Hmmmm that's a loaded question.  I'm sure I took them--after all, it was my son-in-law I made the costume for.  Do I know where the pictures are?  Now that's a totally different story.

Yes, those are real shells that have been painted, glittered and hand stitched to the "tunic" (or as we teased him, his dress).  There were over 50 shells on it.  Between the multiple layers of fabric, the two bolts of sequins, and the shells that were on this, I'm REALLY glad I'm not the none that had to wear it!  It was HEAVY!

Austin just loved it when Uncle Mike tried on his costume.  He was totally enthralled with it.

They represented the god Poseidon and goddess Athena.

All in all, they turned out GREAT!

 

This year, my hubby and I have been elected King and Queen of this Mardi Gras krewe.  We have been working what feels like non stop to  make not only our trains, collars, and costumes.  We have also been working on the costumes, capes, collars and headpieces of our court members.  Unfortunately, you'll have to wait until after Mardi Gras to see any of it--as we're not revealing what they'll look like until then.  If you're lucky though, I'll remember to come back and show you! 

I really am not the best blogger!  I get side tracked too easily and just don't remember to come back to it.  And because I don't log into my Google account very often, I don't even see the blog to remind me.  I just seem to have too many distractions in my life.

 

Of course 2 of those distractions are my beautiful grandsons that live with us.  Watching them grow and develop is such a joy.  They are joined by 5 other distractions--their cousins and the remaining grandchildren.  We recently were told that there will be an 8th distraction added to the family.  I haven't been told of when the proposed due date will be, but maybe we'll have more of an idea by Christmas when grandbaby number 8 will make its presence known.

 

Speaking of Christmas, can you believe that it will be upon us so soon?  It is so hard to believe that stores are already fully stocked with Christmas decorations and some are even playing Christmas carols already.  Really???? Whatever happened to November?  Thanksgiving?  Are people really no longer thankful for what they have?  It's a shame that people just take everything they have for granted.  Although, I have to add myself to that mix.  I get so involved with activities or just the daily run of the mill things we all do, that I forget to be thankful.

 

The roof over our head, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, we just take for granted that they'll be there.  We all tend to forget or turn a blind eye to the fact that people around us do not have homes, do not have food to eat, do not have new (or sometimes even clean) clothes to wear.  Our subconscious mind tends to hide that fact from us on a daily basis.  If we don't see it, then it doesn't exist.  But it DOES exist and people all around us are not blessed with the comforts we're all comfortable with.  I'm not just talking about those in third world countries or in foreign lands, I'm talking about the people that walk the same streets, go to the same schools or businesses, live near us.  There is a bridge that is less than 1/2 a mile from my house that is known to "house" people.  Some of them are quite content to live there and chose a life without all the personal comforts that a materialistic society brings upon itself.  But most that come and go from under the bridge are those that were forced out of their homes for one reason or another.  WE, as a society need to learn not to turn a blind eye towards them; to be thankful for what we have; to not take for granted that we'll always live in a house that is furnished with comfortable furniture; we may not always have the ability to have electricity, water, and gas for our comfort; we may not always have a loving friend, spouse, family member who will help us and love us unconditionally that will stand by you no matter what.  Wow, there are so many things that we can be and SHOULD be thankful for.  We just don't think of all that we have that we could lose in an instant.  Someone on facebook started the 30 days of thanks--that each day during the month of November, you write what you're thankful for.  We should be thankful EVERYDAY of the year.  We should remember to not just ask God to help with everything, but to THANK HIM for all that he's given us.

Has It Really Been a Year?

Hello one and all followers--and any lurkers as well!

Has it really been a year since I was last on this blog? I don't know how time flies--and not always when you're having fun. But seems like the older I get the faster time flies by. But what a year it has been! I went great guns on the website--that is until the server would no longer let me in! There were so many new designs that I digitized and put on the site. But alas life got in the way and I have yet to figure out the balancing act of business owner, Mom, Gramma, cook & bottle washer. LOL But that is neither here nor there. I guess the biggest thing I forgot was ME time and this blog is part of that ME time! I will say that I'll be dilligent about getting this back to normal postings. However, I can't say that that will necessarily be the case--no matter how much I want it to be so. I just forget to get to the computer. I can't even claim to have been a loyal follower of the blogs that I follow--can't even claim that I've been lurking! I can honestly say that I haven't looked at anyone's blogs--and for that I apologize. I know that all of you put hard work into your blogs!

All of that being said, let me say that this has been a busy year! My dearest hubby and my best friend went to Walt Disney World for a week then followed that week with a week long cruise on the Disney Fantasy! Oh what a wonderful 2 weeks those were! We had so much fun and met some amazing people--not to mention the wonderful characters that we love to see in the wonderful world of the mouse! Being able to spend those 2 weeks in the fantatiscal world of Walt Disney's visions was awesome. Coming home from such a great trip was rather depressing getting back into the "real world" of having to cook and clean for ourselves!

However that feeling didn't last too long as 3 weeks later we were back on the road again to Myrtle Beach, SC for my All Class Reunion. Now most people would wonder what kind of school would not have a specific class reunion, but an All Class one instead. Well, I am proud to say that I'm a military brat! And our school, Zweibruecken American High School does not limit its class reunions to just one class or to just those that actually physically graduated from there. Every 3 years there is an All Class Reunion held in which anyone that attended the school during its existence is considered an alumni! It was wonderful to meet so many old and new friends that I haven't seen in almost 30 years (or has it been 30 years already?)!! What an amazing weekend with amazing people!

I returned home to prepare myself for yet another back surgery--this time on the upper portion of the spine as opposed to the lower portion. I must say that all has gone exceedingly well with this last surgery and I'm quite pleased with the result. Although I am starting to feel like one of Star Trek's Borg units! :) But so far I have to say it has all been worth it.

In the interim time between the surgery (which was in July) and now our house has felt like a revolving door! One of dear hubby's best bud's and a dear close family friend has retired from the military and has joined our household. We also have had one daughter move in with her 1 year old daughter for a few months until her job was able to be transferred closer to where her she and her husband now live. I have had the joy of welcoming 2 more grandchildren into the world--let's see that makes the grandchild count up to 6 and number 7 is due in July 2013! When the one daughter was moving out with her one year old, we were welcoming our other daughter with her 3 year old and 1 week old sons into the house. I was blessed to be in the room when the 1 week old (he's now almost 2 months old) was born and then helped her drive home from Virginia back to the sunny Gulf Coast! It was so much fun here at Christmas with 3 little ones who are still so much fun to watch open gifts and discover all the surprises that were left for them under the tree.

Since then, the household has been in construction mode! Not consruction on the house; but construction of a duke's costume for Mardi Gras. Our ball is tomorrow night and all the finishing touches have been done (I hope). The centerpieces and table decorations are ready to take with us so that we can have a night of fun and merriment! Our son-in-law is one of the dukes this year in the court for our Mardi Gras Krewe's ball this year. Hence why we have been in total construction mode. Unfortunately, I can't give you any sneak peek pictures of the costume until the ball is over. If I can manage to get back to the computer and remember to get back here to give you an update--I'll be sure to post pictures of our finished handiwork! I'm so blessed that my husband can be part of the creative team that works on things and can help with the cutting and detail work!







That being said, I will close this for now. But I did want to let you know that I haven't forgotten y'all and I'm still alive and kicking!

It's Official, I'm the new owner of Embroodles!

OMG, It has been SOOOO long since I've been on here. So much going on and so much to share with y'all. First of all, I am no longer teaching--after having the second back surgery in 5 years (third major surgery in those same 5 years) I have left the classroom. I've been making my way back to the world of the living slowly but surely.

Second, my partnership with the owner of Embroodles has turned into me OWNING Embroodles and Kim is starting up a new website for her clip art! Of course, we are still partners as far as we are concerned, but legally, now I'm the owner of Embroodles and she will be the owner of her website. So I will be incorporating Embroodles and the work I'm doing there to share with y'all. Of course, any of you that own embroidery machines are more than welcome to come browse the website, join our yahoo group and in general just come be creative with me. Y'all will be the lucky ones to see digitized designs before they are put onto the website. And of course, you know I'll enjoy getting your feedback on any/all the designs that I'm working on or that will be going on the site. So be sure to check out Embroodles website at www.Embroodles.com or by going to our facebook page!

Oh and before I forget, all of you that are my normal blog buddies that already have websites of your own, if you want to give me any helpful hints and advice on how to keep from going crazy or how best to get your site noticed by even more people I won't turn away from listening to you! This is an established site, one that I've been working with the owner and she and I have considered ourselves partners since almost the beginning of the site. So its not like I know nothing about the site--but I've never been the one in charge of RUNNING it. Of course, I'm going to ask Kim to continue helping me for a little while; but I don't turn down suggestions without listening to them first! ;)

I'm sure there is LOTS more to say and to start looking for things to show y'all--been so long since I've been here, maybe I need to reintroduce myself! Maybe y'all forgot me!

Distractions!

I have wondered so many times about being diagnosed as an adult ADD case. Have I ever been diagnosed? Have I ever even seen anyone to diagnose me? No! Do I really think I'm one of those with adult ADD? Not really, I think what happens is that there are too many distractions in life and I apparently don't have enough focus on any one thing to stay on task. I'm sure there are many that will understand this.

It goes along like this: I go to the kitchen to get a drink. I see a stack of unread mail and go to open it---not getting the drink. Take the mail into the office area to read the mail--seeing something on the computer screen blinking. The unread mail gets put down and the computer is checked. Oh great, I have mail. Open the email inbox, see something of interest I go to that web page. That site makes me think, "Ooooh that is so cute, bet Kim and I could come up with directions and digitized design similar to that for the website." Let's check yahoo to see if she's online. Yep, chat for a bit, show her my idea taken from website idea. I have completely forgotten the mail, email, the drink.

Chat a while longer, start testing designs for her. A needle breaks, go get upset at machine, walk out of the room and find a sock the cat that has drug up the hallway. Go down the hall and pick up the remaining laundry and go to laundry room. On the way, see dishes in another room that were never taken to the kitchen, go back to that room to get the dishes. See a new computer game that DH has put onto that computer. Sit down and start playing the game (forgetting the dishes). Get bored with that and head towards the living room. Oh great, one of my favorite shows is on tv. All right, its a marathon. Get totally wrapped up in it.

The dogs come up wagging their tail and woofing. "Do you gotta go outside?" Take the dogs to the back door and let them out. Gee the table never got wiped off last night. Suppose I should do that. Go to kitchen and realize, I'm thirsty. Go to get a glass from the cabinet and there are none there. Empty the dishwasher, reload it. Go look for other dishes. Hmmm, wasn't I in here before to get these? Take them back, finish loading the dishwasher. Take the dirty dish rags to the laundry room. Hmmmm, why didn't I start this load earlier? etc., etc., etc., etc.

Seems like I have this kind of thing happen all the time. I have this "to do" list that is so long it could probably wrap around the house several times. My "I want to try that" or "to be made" or "make or find a pattern for this" list is even longer! I go to "research" or find a tutorial or pattern for something and then I find blog after blog to read through and find fabulous ideas for everything but what I'm looking for. Distraction: fabulous blogs from awesome "normal" people that write about their passions and share their knowledge with others. Is this distraction a bad thing? No, but it does keep me from doing what I intended to do in the first place.

I have an extensive stash of fabric. I decide to straighten up the stash and try to organize it a bit better. While going through the fabric I hit the DISTRACTION! And what exactly would that be? "Oh look, how cute that fabric is!!! That would be so cute as a ______ for ______." Now all I have to do is find the pattern for it. Is that a bad thing? Well, it isn't IF you find the pattern, put it with the fabric and put the rest of the fabric away. But that rarely happens--at least not in an organized fashion.

I start going through the patterns looking for something specific---and DISTRACTION: "Oh this would be cute, I forgot I had this pattern. OMG this is adorable, when did I get this? That would be so cute for.... Oh and this would fit.... I really need to find the right fabric for this." Now when you have so many patterns that you have them sorted by category and then sizes (who cares which company its from) and you have enough to fill an entire filing cabinet PLUS some, its easy to forget patterns that you have. Or when your children haven't been toddlers in 20 years you forget what baby and toddler patterns you have. So you start going pattern by pattern pulling out the ones you think you want to make "NOW." So much for looking for "the" pattern for the particular pattern.

Now I have a ton of fabric on the table because the "other stuff" never got put back up. I have about 10 patterns I want to make "NOW" sitting on the table. I look at the mess and try to figure out what I'm going to do now. I sit down in my sewing chair, swivel around to the computer and DISTRACTION: I see a really cute quilting pattern that would be awesome for..... But I'm not really a quilter. I play around at putting things together. Maybe I can watch the Quilting Quickly section .... and find an easy way to do that quilt. Oh that is awesome. That's so quick and easy. But if I make it will .... really like it? Probably not; but maybe I could make it and if they don't like it I could always give it to someone that really needs it. Now what fabrics would look good put together?

While at the computer, Kim buzzes me and says she has some new designs that she needs tested. Oh what a cute idea for a baby bib or bib and burp set. I've got the diapers already, I think I'll go ahead and test on them. The tests are always almost perfect if not perfect the first time. I'll just find the fabric to make the coordinating bib with. What's this? Is it another DISTRACTION I see coming my way? Ah, yes it is! Now I have cloth diapers and onesies sitting out on the table, too. What was it I started looking for in the first place?

I've forgotten. And there is another full day of not getting anything done--but I have tons of ideas. Guess I need to write some of these ideas down before I forget them altogether. Now where did I put the last "working" notebook? Oh yeah, its on the shelf. Which one is the current book? and OMG its yet another DISTRACTION! I start looking through the ideas books. Oh yeah, I remember when we started working on this embroidery set. I wonder if Kim and I ever got this set of designs finalized and finished? I wonder which hard drive these designs are on?

And I wonder why I never get anything finished. I wonder why I start looking at things a month or two ahead of time for the grandbabies "events" and never get anything completed on time (if at all). My children think I'm a horrible grandparent because of this trait. And I probably am. I procrastinate and then I have all these DISTRACTIONS that get in the way. Oh and we haven't even talked about the daily distractions of doing laundry, dishes, normal housework (oh yeah, that's how this all started) and then of course there's the "One-eyed Monster." What you're not familiar with the one-eyed monster? Sure you are, most people call it the TV! Y'all excuse me while I go find another DISTRACTION to keep me busy again!

The day of OMG's!

Lordy, Lordy, Lordy, what a day! I just don't know where to begin even! The daughter of a friend of mine (her children and my children grew up together) that just had her first grand child--although the baby decided it was time to be born, baby Emma was still premature and mother and baby are in separate hospitals. Poor Rachel had not even seen Emma yet the last I saw on fb. OMG I can't imagine having a baby and not being able to see or hold her.

One of our best and dearest friends from the Krewe of Harlequin died last night and we did not find out until today. What a way to start the day--learning that a dear friend lost the battle of his time on earth. I've cried off and on all day from that. OMG I can't imagine how our krewe will be continue with court costumes as it has for the past 36 years. OMG is this why he kept trying to get DH and I to be there for all the cutting and making of head pieces, and court costumes last year? Did he know that he was possibly training the next ones to be able to continue with this for future years?

Today marks the one week mark of when I had back surgery--with a total of 50+ staples in my back. The three drains are gone--they were gone of course before leaving the hospital. I was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday of last week and released on Saturday--with my trusty muscle relaxers and pain killers in hand. I've actually done quite well. I'm able to walk most of the time without my walker and have gotten to where I'm only taking 1 pain killer in about 12 hours (unless it gets excruciating) as opposed to the 2 every 4-6 hours that they were prescribed. OMG how it hurts to stand or sit; and even more so to lay on my back.

My 21 month old grandson came over and found the tile and grout cleaner that was used to clean the tile and grout in the living room today. Only thing is, he found it by picking it up and spraying it in his face! We spent a panicked 10 minutes with DH standing in the shower completely clothed trying to flush DGS's eyes and skin with water; Trying to find the poison control center phone number--finally had to put poison control center in computer search engine to find a number to call. Why is it that the number that should be most prominent on a chemical is the number not listed ANYWHERE!!! Spent the same time trying to calm DD who thought her son was being drowned--because he was screaming so much with us trying to flush the chemicals off him. Did I mention I just had back surgery 1 week ago and I'm not supposed to be doing anything "normal" like bending, twisting, lifting, etc. and I couldn't think of ANYTHING but making sure this baby was ok. My second DD who is "due any time" was trying to calm the sister down, calm the grandson down, get me to go sit down, trying to find the phone number, and she feels like crap and is so ready to have this baby--but the baby keeps saying she's not ready yet.

I got up this morning and found all the plates that had been stacked up last night and were sitting in the kitchen on the counter were NOW on the floor--upside down with 2 of the 4 plates broken. Thank you animals that think that they are my dishwasher! OMG how am I supposed to get this cleaned up? I HATE having to rely on someone else to do everything that I've been doing all this time. I hate having to wake up DH just to tell him, "um honey, we have a problem, our plates from last night are all over the kitchen floor--can you go clean it up?"

My paperwork from the school office was never submitted for my retirement paperwork to go through! OMG this is like less than a month before my retirement is supposed to be finalized and it was never submitted!?! And of course the people in the office that have control of this are on vacation, out of the office or just ignoring the phone calls. Did I mention I've just had surgery and can't just hop in a car and go take care of this?

It has felt like there were so many more OMGs for today; but I don't know how many more could you fit into one day? I appreciate y'all letting me vent! I will be back (hopefully tomorrow) with all the "stuff" I'm currently working on! Until, hopefully no more OMGs for the day.