What would your IDEAL job be?

Someone asked me that question this past week.  Made me think ... and THAT was painful!  I can certainly say what the WORST job I ever had was ... in fact, I can quickly say what the TWO WORST jobs I ever had were. 

#1 was making up cardboard boxes in a fruit packing plant.  I was about 15 years old.  Flip, fold, tuck, glue, stack on pallet, then repeat 9,997 X for the rest of the day.  AARRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!  This was all done in some isolated corner out of sight of other human beings.  I used to BEG the forklift operator who came every hour or so to pick up full pallets of finished boxes to stay and talk to me for just a minute or two cuz I was so desperately lonely and bored!  I don't remember which particular fruit was being processed, but I lasted the entire run.  I guess I really wanted the $! 

#2 was selling shoes.  I lasted 3 whole days, but to this day I don't know how I managed to hang in there that long!  First, I don't like other people's feet.  They gross me out.  Second, I don't like trying on shoes myself.  One pair, okay.  Two pairs, well maybe ... if I'm having a very patient day.  Third pair?  Forget it, I didn't need/want new shoes that bad!  Did you know that some "customers" will try on 97 pairs of shoes?  And then LEAVE WITHOUT BUYING ANYTHING???  Which means the poor shoe sales person has to repackage and reshelve all those shoes?????  Even worse than that ... did you know some "customers" will only try on size 6 shoes when they are clearly size 10s??????????  So you KNOW they aren't going to be happy with the next 96 pairs they try on!  I hated that job SO MUCH!

But that still didn't answer the question.  Hmm.  I'll have to do some more thinking.  I suspect my answer will have something to do with being creative cuz I love being creative ... THIS DISCUSSION TO BE CONTINUED ...

Speaking of being creative, I don't believe I have shared photos of my latest tote/bag (sewn last August).

 My "scrap bin" was overflowing, so I used up a bunch of little pieces of fabrics.  The scrap bin seems to have miraculous properties cuz it's STILL overflowing, and I'm STILL devising ways to use up little pieces.  At the moment, I'm working on a quilted wall hanging of hearts and cats.

 I really enjoy hand-sewing and hand-quilting, although it's quite a challenge now with this annoying limp hand and thumb!  The cats will have bows and bells stitched under their chins eventually.

Minus 10 degrees C and snowing lightly outside at the moment.  Good time to curl up in the rocking chair with my stitching.  Perhaps THAT is my ideal job???

My new best friend

So I have a new best friend. 

After considerable deliberation -- over a year's worth of careful thought, actually! -- I had arrived at a list of necessary qualities one's BF should have.  Armed with that list, I set out deliberately last week to find her. 

So what qualities would YOU look for if YOU were shopping for a new BF?  I had decided appearances wouldn't be everything ... but I wouldn't mind if she was ... well ... INTERESTING.  I had also decided that practicality and sensibility wouldn't be everything ... although anyone elevated to BF status HAD TO BE strong enough to be leaned on when really needed.  Finally, I had decided that a sense of humor ... even a bit of quirkiness ... was a definate asset.  AND I FOUND EXACTLY WHO I WAS LOOKING FOR!

Her name is Maide.

That's Irish Gaelic for "stick".  Of course, Maide is not just a stick ... she's my new BF!  My balance is not getting any better, and I'm tired of falling.  Isn't she a beauty?

I found her at our biggest local Christmas craft fair.  I also bought myself some lovely natural beeswax candles ...

They smell SO delicious!  (Okay, the glass of wine smelled ... er ... tasted pretty good too!)

DO NOT read this book by candlelight ...

... and it's probably best not to read it late at night or while you're alone either!  SPOOKY!  (Dean Koontz is very descriptive.)

Missing in action

Or maybe missing from action?  Had STUFF going on.  Did you know human bodies break down / fall apart?  NOBODY WARNED ME ABOUT THAT!  Am now trying to get back into the swing of things despite new challenges. 

October slid out on a great big snow bank ...

Monday morning October 29 2012.  ICK!

Struggling with knitting needles again.  You know what they say ... "I'm all thumbs!"?  Would be nice to have a FUNCTIONING thumb here!

More soon!