inanera's Xanga

phone my phone.

Sun, 18 May 2008 12:11:56 GMT

I just knew it was only years before this service would be created. Eek!

Friday, February 15, 2008

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:29:02 GMT

It's 5:30 am and this definition lies on my Google homepage:
ennui: a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction arising from lack of interest.

I totally read the last word as 'internet.'

Obsessed?

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:03:11 GMT

I did it! DFM's first e-zine issue is complete. Download it; it's free and chock full of inspiration.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:58:31 GMT

Freaky? Oh, yes.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 18:46:13 GMT

I went to the bank today, where the line was tremendously long. Really long. Like Sony PSP release morning long. So I took a deep breath and filled out my deposit slip, dropping it on the electronic deposit box on my way out.

And then I saw her. A blonde, middle-aged overweight woman who was fanning herself and sighing uncontrollably. As if it was too hot for her to stand in line anymore. As if the masses of people were making her brain explode into claustrophobic madness.

As if the SINGLE check she was fanning herself with would bring her boiling blood back to room temperature.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:05:03 GMT

I sold my first Treeting. My sister bought it, which may or may not offend a real artist, but since I'm not a real one, I find it incredibly endearing.

I have pretty much the best sisters in the world. And if you don't have one, you should really get one. You know, adopt or something. Can you adopt a sister?

Anyway, I am now $6.79 richer, and I'm SO framing the receipt. Because if my sister loves it, then I love it, too.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:31:36 GMT

Xyron it is. I turned down the job, thanks to some great advice from some very wise people, both in and out of Xanga, and I've been making Treetings all weekend. I've forgotten how fun it is to craft things, even if they turn out bad (which believe me, is a stark possibility).

I don't know if they'll sell, but I like having my name attached to something I'm proud of, and something that helps the environment. Ok the last part was a big lie, I'm not a greenie. But if I was, I'd give 5% of my Treeting proceeds to some sort of Green project.

It's the intentions that matter, yes? :)

And of course, if any Xanga gal of gent wants a Treeting, I'll send one to you. B/c I love you, and I'm nice.

Friday, December 28, 2007

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 12:15:52 GMT

I'm up early this morning (yes, 8am is early for me), contemplating an internal dilemma that has been going on in my head for FAR too long. I coined the phrase 'internal dilemma' for Ken, so he knows that when I say 'dilemma', it's nothing serious. Just me, my thoughts, and my other thoughts.

So. For those of you that know me and know me well, I've been sort of not working for around six months. I've had a few freelance jobs here and there, and took on an interior design assignment, plus started a FANTASTICALLLY-fun design blog, but other than that, everyday has pretty much been a non-paying day. Meanwhile, Ken's been picking up my slack at Lucky, which has just been angelic of him. We're both stressballs at work, so it really means a lot that he's ventured back into the world of full-time employment so we can afford to pay our mortgage and buy dog food. Especially when he made like, the GREATEST freelance husband ever.

Anyway. Here's my internal dilemma. I've been offered a position with a local ad firm, and it's supposed to start on January 2nd. But I'm kind of having second thoughts, for a lot of reasons, mainly vehicular and canine-related. And now, I've received my offer letter and it's for less money than was originally agreed upon. Which upsets me for two reasons: (1). a handshake/verbal agreement means nothing to the Pres. of the company, and (2). it's less money.

So. Should I suck it up, deal with it and do the responsible/middle American duty that is hate your job-but love your income?

OR. Should I make a full time job out of my little project, start an Etsy shop for stationary and play with my Xyron 900 all day?

last christmas, i gave you my heart...

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 19:51:11 GMT

Oh, George Michael. Sing it, you WHAM! frontrunner-gone-bad, you.

I really have no words, other than that fact that I had a smashing whirlwind of a Christmas. There was snow, food, parents, friends and family and a WHOLE lotta games.

Anyway, how CUTE is my wrapping paper this year?

That's really all I'm posting for. B/c it's really cute. And I love it. And last Christmas, my themed paper was this, and this Christmas, it's this. And I think I loved this year's theme enough to run with it for two years straight, which, if you know me at all, is NOT a standard reaction.

End scene.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:53:35 GMT

This has been quite possibly the most Martha Stewart-esque weekend of my entire life. I'm exhausted, with more paper cuts than a Xyron 900, and more Wilson Phillips lyrics in my head than Carnie herself. I'm not exactly proud of the latter, but hey, you don't choose music. It chooses you.

Which is exactly why I'm listening to that bad 90's Robin Hood song by the trio of Rod Stewart, Sting and Bryan Adams. When Bryan's involved, you know we're talking cassette era here.

Anyway, this was a long weekend, filled with over thirty boxes of handmade stationary for various friends and family. I made the good-intentioned mistake of pledging handmade this year, and now I'm reluctantly accepting the consequences. Because I can't bear to quit anything I've started (that may be a lie), I made the promise to myself that each and every gift this year would be handmade in some way, shape, or form. And the hands that would make them would be me. And if you know anything about me, it's that craftiness is not in my genes. My mother's bathroom is peach, which should be evidence enough that this whole handmade thing? Not my cup of latte.

But I tried, and I tried, and I tried, and with Ken's incredible expertise, we are finished with over fifty handmade presents for the year. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Sure, I had to pull some resources from the four corners of the world (and my wrapping station downstairs), but I'm so proud of the results.

My good friend Anna and I made postcards from a well-designed series entitled 'Anatomy of a Correspondence.' They're pretty fabulous, and even though they took a good 12-hour-straight chunk of time, the recipients were enamored with the result. And so were we:

And of course, the annual Loechner Lowdown has been compiled and is awaiting mailing labels for the big reveal. Ken and I started the Loechner Lowdown the year we married, and it's been an ongoing tradition every year, getting more and more intense as the months passed. Last year, Ken created a logo for the newsletter, and this year... well. It's a biggie. Nine pages of color and hi-def pictures, recipes and how-to's and just everything you can imagine. It's ridiculous.

If you want a copy, send me your addy, unless you're one of three of my favorite people, and in that case, don't worry, you're already on the list.

This is probably my last post before I ring in the holidays with a trip to Indiana to see snow!family!friends!

I couldn't be more excited...

Happy holidays, and love to you all.