I've been Tagged !

I have been Tagged ! I've seen this before, but this is my first time. Now I have to reveal 7 things about myself, which could be hard as I have already revealed so much and want to give you things you haven't already heard about.







Well here are the rules:







1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.




2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.




3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.




4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.











So, I was tagged by a dear friend who I admire and respect - Amanda at http://pomomama.blogspot.com/ Please check out the cool things she does in her spare time while raising a cute kid !







Seven Facts :







1) As seen in the above photo, I wasn't always Blonde. I started turning gray at 25 and brown just didn't cover it well, so by the age of 30 I started dying it Blonde. It gets lighter every year - even though I am using the SAME COLOR ! :P







2) Also as referenced by the above photo, I was once a friend's Maid of Honor for her wedding. I hated it ! It was a stressful job and I had no idea what the protocols were. I had written a poem and she asked if she could have a friend set it to music and then have me sing it at the wedding. At the last minute, she confessed to me that she told her husband-to-be that SHE wrote it ! OOPS ! So it was very awkward as this was announced at the wedding :P We have since drifted apart.







3) I have a Pituitary Tumor. It's nothing really, now that I am on medication for it. But it explains a lot about the years between age 16 and 37, when I was basically in menopause because of it :P







4) Once in college I dressed up as a Drunken Clown and went out with my friends to a bar. I made a production by throwing some change on the floor and going through all kinds of stunts to pick it up. Patrons of the bar started throwing their change down for me to pick up. I made enough money to drink for free that night :>)







5) I was big into Karate in my 20's I went to New Orleans for a National AAU Karate Championship and ended up placing 2nd in Sparring in the brown belt division ! I was days away from testing for my Black Belt when I went into Nursing School and got buried in course work for that. I never went back to it after I started nursing full time.







6) I love Mountains and Rivers and Whitewater ! I have Kayaked many New England rivers and also the Ottawa in Canada. The Ottawa is BIG, raging Whitewater and I was really nervous, but lived through it :D







7) I HATE wearing shoes :P






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Now to TAG 7 friends - weeeeeeeeeee !





1) Amanda at http://beadnfiberbabe.blogspot.com/ She makes Jewelry, knits wonderful socks and tiny sweaters and is responsible for introducing me to Blythes :D





2) Amber at http://trollflings.blogspot.com/ She is a truly inspiring Mommy of 5 by day and a master clay artist by night, chugging away on our mutual addiction - COFFEE !





3) Ouissi at http://memoryisart.blogspot.com/ She is as sweet as her nickname " Cupcake " and has a great eye for color and texture. She creates beautiful three dimensional cards.





4) Nico at http://nicoletirona.blogspot.com/ She is a driven, outspoken and honest girl who has a flair for style and a thriving jewelry business.





5) Simone at http://www.blog.simonewalsh.com/ My friends and I love and respect her so much, we call her "god" :D She is very smart, independent and creative. She makes beautiful things out of metal.





6) Andy at http://www.andymathis.blogspot.com/ A fun, smart and handsome fellow who helps animals and paints !





7) Starry at http://starrydesigns.blogspot.com/ Just one of the sweetest Jewelry makers on the web !











Boy, that was hard to pick JUST 7 people !!! There are a few people I would have loved to include, but I know their lives are too hectic right now to participate and I didn't want to put more pressure on them :P





Writing this has made me realize I need to update my " friend's link " list !!!





Bye for now ! Off to TAG the above peeps ~ :D

Update on Kitty and the life of B.Z.

Gosh ! It's been over two months since I have updated my blog ! It was such a busy holiday season for me even though I did absolutely nothing with my Jewelry business :P



First, about the most important change in my life ... my Miss Pawly, or as I have come to call her " Sweet P "


A lot has happened since the night of December 1 st when Pawly came inside and decided to stay ... she has only been outside once for a few hours to play in some new fallen snow. I thought it only fair to give her that opportunity, as she had not yet experienced snow. Her only other outings have been to the vet.


Pawly had gone into heat the week of Christmas, and that was a curious thing for me, having never owned a cat before, as she would go downstairs and call for a mate. It kept us awake at night, but she was even cute doing that. I swear, she was shouting " HELLO ! " and would have loved to share an audio of it, but every time I got out of bed to tape her ... she stopped.



Her second week long episode of calling for a boyfriend came immediately after the holidays. She gave us only 9 days of rest ! I had been putting off getting her spayed, as I didn't even know if I could catch her to put her in a carrier, but our lack of sleep was becoming a reason to push forward. I started to pick her up when she would present herself, elevating her bottom toward me in hopes of some "action". She was much harder to catch when she was not actively in heat, as she was not used to human contact. I scheduled the vet appointment and hoped for the best.



Meanwhile, it was obvious that Pawly was attached to me. She followed my every move like a toddler underfoot. But I could only pet her while she was eating. So on the morning of her first vet visit, I fed her and picked her up just before she was finish ... plopped her into the carrier and we were off. I was amazed how well she did at the vet's. In her anxiety, she allowed me to hold her while she was examined and all went well. We scheduled the spay for two days later.



It was hard for me to leave Pawly alone at the vet. She peed in her carrier due to fright and watched me as I went out the door. I worried all day, but was told to call ANY time to check on her. All went well and my kitty recovered very quickly. You can see her on my Youtube just 2 days after surgery - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxMLQQSLwTM


Now she is tearing around the house as if she never had surgery. I am on a mission to get her used to being picked up and cuddled. At this point she tolerates it, but doesn't seem to enjoy it ( YET ) but she seems to have explored every inch of the house now, and calls it her own. She has several favorite spots and sleeps on the bed with us occasionally. She comes calling on us in the mornings, impatient to have someone to play with. She is spoiled in every sense of the word ... and I don't know how I ever got along with out her :D

As for the Jewelry business, I am at a crossroads with that and will update at a later time. I need to think about where I want to go with it. I haven't created a thing since being banned from the Etsy forums. I have followed the goings on through friends still on Etsy, and it seems like a tumultuous time over there, still. My website and Mintd provide a platform for selling my jewelry, but I need to re-evaluate what I want out of the whole venture.

Lately my time has been divided between my new furry family member and some projects with Jer that have been on the back burner. I have also spent more time on the guitar, as I have a Memorial Service to do in a few days. I play my flute and guitar and sing for this event annually, and still get nervous about it every time :P I'll report on that in a few days.

And finally, I have a new hobby ! One that has me a bit befuddled, as I never played with dolls as a youth, nor did I have interest in them. I am fully smitten with Blythe and Pullip dolls. I think part of the attraction is the photography of the dolls and the option to customize them into little works of art and personalized "buddies".

Here is a photo of my girl Sandi

http://www.flickr.com/photos/blondezilla/2211713168/

So I have been very busy with new things and old commitments, but have not forgotten all my good friends from Etsy ! I hope everyone is doing well and I will be more diligent with keeping my blog current now that the holiday madness is over ;>)

Miss Pawly Purface found a home

This kitty first showed up early this summer as a baby kitten often seen in our yard. She was a bit thin and often dirty.
We have several neighbors who have cats ... a certain apartment rental across the street is the home of many ... the turn over in that apartment complex is outrageous, some folks are gone again before the month is up. Not sure if this kitty was one of theirs that got abandoned, or if it was dropped off.

We finally realized that kitty doesn't have a home, but has managed O. K. with help from our kinder neighbors .... but now it's getting cold, so we provided a nice place for kitty and a guaranteed food source. She has spent the last several nights in her little box on the back porch and seldom strays too far now. I think she has adopted us !

I was a bit concerned that she had owners and was just visiting us .... but after several cold nights spent in her box on the back porch, I am convinced now she has no other owner. So it was time for us to give her a name.

Jer and I were brainstorming one night and giggling at the ridiculous names we were coming up with, when Jer says, " She seems like a Lee to me ... Paw Lee " .... giggles ensued, and we decided Pawly was her name .... Purface came naturally because she's such a purry kitteh ... she purs ALL THE TIME !
Some of my friends know the story of Jer and his cats. Several years before we met, Jer was a typical " Cat lady " His previous home was on a main road headed out of town that had a huge field behind it. He started with two domestic cats, but began to feed strays that came along.

Soon he had well over 20 cats of various temperaments. Some were feral, some were indoor/outdoor and some were new babies from the mix. His crew blossomed and began to overwhelm him. Then he had the tragedy of a flood and had to move, but couldn't take the cats with him. He called the humane society for help. In his mind, they just stole his cats.

He managed to find a friend to take in a handful of his most domesticated fur balls, and she still cares for a few of them today. He swore he would never own another kitty, because it was too heart breaking.

But here we are ..... and "Daddy" is hopelessly attached already. I came home from work Friday to this note -

Jer had gone to a gig after fretting about Kitty ALL DAY ! He got home at 1130 PM and I had still not seen Miss Pawly Purface, even though I had called for her multiple times throughout the evening. About a half hour after Jer got home, he went downstairs to get a drink, and Miss Pawly was in her snuggle box on the back porch. We got her some wet food and she gave us some love and then got all playful and ran around the back yard all happy. She can jump straight up into the air about two feet to catch a snowflake !
I finally had to come inside, because it was only 30 degrees out, but I am happy to report that Miss Pawly is home after prowling around all day ! She slept over night in her box and was still there this morning until after we fed her. Now she is out and about again ... just like her Daddy ;>)

We have tried to lure Miss Pawly into the house, but she is too skittish yet and she seems to enjoy being outdoors .... we'll see how it goes.




See Kitteh Live on Youtube

BEE VERY AFRAID !

Some days my job is VERY stressfull. Today was a crazy day, we had a heavy load and we worked hard, but it was also EXTREMELY FUN !

Every year on Halloween we bring in cookies and candy and snacks for our patients to munch on while in the waiting room, and MOST of us dress up. In years past I have been a kayaker, a pumpkin, a skunk, a witch, etc etc ... Some of our fellas have dressed up as pregnant ladies, sexy Maids and even a PINK Ballarina, complete with pink shoes, lace and Tutu !

This year I had a few ideas I was toying with, but finally decided to dress up as Bee Zee !

I made a video this morning while my make-up was still fresh .....

My wings were a bit unruly and I had to take care not to poke anyone with them, but I got through the day without smudging my make-up too badly. But oh the itchy face ! We had a few patients who came in dressed up and even two babies - one was in a pumpkin suit and the other was in a Santa suit. Every time I walked by the older baby, she made an " OH! " face, like this {:O I think I scared the poor child.

Oh, and I must add, horizontal stripes just do NOT flatter my figure, but it was worth all the fun !

Good Day Sunshine !

It's a beautiful Sunday afternoon ! Days like these bring my spirits up and remind me to count my blessings.

It's 4 P.M. and it's 77 degrees F. outside, a rare October day here in the Northern most section of New York State.

Everything is sun shiny and bright, and my window is aglow with brillianltly colored figures from my friend who sells stained glass over on Mintd. I was compelled to complete a Look book for her that I had been putting off. I called it Everyday Sunshine - go take a look !

I've had a very productive day. I have actually enjoyed doing the laundry and hanging it out in the sun to dry. My clothes will smell so good after !

In between loads of laundry, I have been playing my guitar and learning a song by David Gates, founder of the 1970's soft rock band Bread. I am at the point where it is fun, not frustrating, and it has been nice to lay back after working through a very busy month at my day job.

As I enjoy the day, my thoughts drift to the many friends who help me through hard times. I want to shout out to "Hurbanski" who has a wonderful sense of humor, a creative style that is all her own, and who is one of a handful of close interweb friends that helps to keep me smiling. She is indeed an Everyday Angel !

The centerpiece in the necklace at the top of this post is a creation of Hurb's that I used in a necklace I made for myself. It makes a statement, and it makes me very happy to own it. Thanks Hurb !

I LOVE Fall !

Upstate New york is gorgeous in the Fall !

This is my favorite time of year. I love it when the temperatures only get to about 60 in the day and fall into the 40s over night. The leaves are starting to turn and the air is crisp, but the sun is still warm on your back. The squirrels are scurrying to gather enough nuts to get through the winter and the geese are flying south.

There is much to be done before the first frost arrives, and soon enough Winter will have it's long slumber. Halloween decorations adorn many a neighbor's doorstep and the first fallen leaves swirl in the October winds. I hung my laundry out today and it smells so fresh now. It was a beautiful clear day with gentle winds.

I have two more weeks of a busy work schedule to get through. We have been giving flu shots in the clinic, and the extra few minutes it takes for each patient has made the days fast and furious. But soon many of our patients will fly south with the geese and winter in their southern homes, leaving a slightly lighter schedule through the winter.

I look forward to working only a few days per week again. I haven't made a new jewelry piece in days ! Plus I need some spare time to start playing guitar again, in preparation for the annual memorial service I play in. I have completed my new website ( at least in it's basic form ) and have even sold one of Jer's CDs off the site !

I'm looking forward to the changing season and the refocusing of my energy on creating both music and jewelry. Watch for new items to be ripe for the picking in my shops in the next few weeks. They shall be bursting in Fall colors !

I would like you to meet my ROCK

Above is one of my favorite photos of my Jer. This was taken about 20 years ago, but is the essence of Jer and how I see him everyday, even though he has more wrinkles and his hair is mostly grey now.

The story of how we met is like something from the script of a soap opera, but with serendipity sprinkled on top. Someday I may write about it. Suffice to say, when we met, it was like I finally found someone who spoke my language, or as Jer would say, " You must come from my home planet ! " What started out as guitar lessons quickly blossomed into the love of my life.

I am blessed to have this man in my life. He brings me coffee every morning before I get out of bed. He makes me laugh when I am sad. He always greets me when I come home from work with , " How was your day ? " and actually listens to my blow by blow, then suggests I take a nice hot bath while he fixes supper.

Jer is a professional musician. He's not famous, but he has made a life of it and done quite well for himself over the years. He spent many years on the road, but has decided to try to work locally and help with his 94 year old Dad. While I'm off to work during the day, he is playing " Mr. Mom " at home, running errands for Dad and keeping up the house chores. He works playing guitar a few nights per week at local restaurants. Sometimes he gets frustrated when work is slow, but I don't want him out there on the road at this point in his life, and he is grateful that he can choose to stay home now.

Our goals together are to learn the world of computer home recording and get his music out there on the Internet. Recently, I have started to build a website that we can share. I call it Jazz and Jewelry by B.Z. and Jer. It is still in it's infancy, and I will more than likely update and improve it over time, but it is finally ready to go live.

Jer and I share the love of music, the love of creativity and the love of laughter. He inspires me everyday with his optimism and energy and he comforts me every night with his rock steady support of my endeavors. I am truly blessed to have found the haven of his arms.

Please take a moment to listen to his music here : https://www.bzjewelry.com/Jazz.html