Gifts

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This is the package I received today in trade for the Lioness perfume I didn’t like. A full bottle of Muse that I will be giving to Hazel as a surprise, along with a necklace, a ring, a witch broom pen, a sample of Practical Magic bath salts (by Sage Goddess), a green adventure crescent moon pendant, and samples of Hither, Sacred Space, Magica Luna and Pax perfumes (also, all by Sage Goddess). I feel kind of bad because I only put the perfume in the package to mail to Amber. I didn’t even think of putting other little trinkets in there. I just hope she doesn’t feel jipped.

And then I found this little wing feather from a Sharp-shinned Hawk while on the evening walk with Josey. I love the little Sharpies – such swift and agile little predators.

 

Today went smoother in some regards and more insane in others than the previous two days. BUT I did get most of the families signed into ProCare (the software we are now using at work). Hopefully this will give me a brief respite and the rest of the people will trickle in slowly over the next month. Some kids have up to 8 people authorized to pick them up, but I doubt all 8 will be utilized over the year. And even if they are, I can easily handle one or two a day. It’s just that today, trying to get the bulk of the parents signed in was an utter BEAST. But, like I said, the bulk of it is done. So now it’s all about catching the stragglers. ::chuckles::

The parents are NOT overly pleased. Previously, with the paper sign-out sheets, all they had to do was sign their name and put the time and they could take their kid home. NOW they have to punch in a 4 to 8-digit PIN and THEN punch in a 4 to 8-digit password. Well, ya can’t make everyone happy. And there will ALWAYS be those who only seem happy when they are belly-aching and bitching. ::shakes her head:: Yeah, well, they are more than happy to take that up with my bosses if they are so inclined. ::chuckles::

Brutal...

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Scaly/fluffy mushroom I spotted in the neighborhood.

Second day is always the craziest. Why do I always forget that? Holy hell. Brutal day. And the random asshole people didn’t make things any easier. ::shakes her head:: Today apparently was thunder cunt day. I was so ready to punch some people in the damn throat.

Yeah, so apparently the office didn’t buy enough rights to the software program we’re supposed to be using, for all of us to be on it at the same time. Yeah, so that was fun. Wasn’t able to log into the system for quite some time. Luckily, none of my new students’ parents showed up in that time frame. I wouldn’t have been able to verify that they were able to pick up their children. ::shakes her head:: BUT, they claim they will have that “issue” fixed tomorrow. I am not holding my breath though.

Gifts, Swaps, & Hell No

written: August 28th

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A wonderful surprise from a dear friend, JoAnn. She’d seen me post on Facebook about this “Wipeboard” kickstarter – it’s a notebook that has white board style pages inside of it. So you can write all on it and then wipe it clean. I am hoping to get in on that kickstarter once I get a good pay check. BUT, JoAnn had two of these “Boogie Boards” that she wasn’t using and they work very similar to a white board, so she figured she’d pass it along to me. SWEET! I’m using it up at work already.

So I hopped on the SG Perfume Trading group, letting them know I had a full bottle of Lioness for trade. That I was HOPING for a bottle of Muse, but was open to other perfumes. Seriously, within 15 minutes, I had FOUR offers – one with a full bottle of Muse. Sweet! So Lioness is getting mailed off tomorrow and Muse is getting mailed to me. I’m going to surprise Hazel with it. ::grins:: She’s going to flip her lid. That perfume is normally $42 – and I’m getting it in a trade for a perfume I don’t like. Lioness is a bit cheaper than Muse, but hey, I’m happy to part ways with it.

So yeah, first day of school. Wheeee! Holy crap, Kindergarteners are some lost lil sheep. ::shakes her head:: Like wow. Since it was the first day, I opted NOT to start trying to convert the parents over to the new electronic system. Yeah, I already have a SHIT TON of insanity on my place, I REFUSE to toss that in as well. FUCK NO. Yeah, we’ll do that on the third day…when the parents have MOST of a clue as to what’s going on. ::chuckles::

Knees & Perfumes

written:  August 27th

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These little yellowish mushrooms have sprung up all over the neighborhood overnight. Thanks Hurricane Harvey!

I’m starting to suspect I’ve really screwed up my right knee, though I’m not sure HOW. But holy fuck, it’s hurt ALL DAMN WEEK. It catches when I try to straighten it out and it seriously feels like I’m tearing something when I do manage to straighten out. Most of the pain from that is centered directly under the knee cap. And then I have random shooting, red hot pain in the top of the knee cap area, where the knee joint joins the thigh bone. I’m too tired to look up all the technical terms. This pain has even woken me up twice this week because when I sleep on my side, I slightly bend my knees. When I roll over, I straighten my knees out and it seriously is burning pain in that damn knee. And the crazy thing? This is my GOOD knee. The other one I tore the meniscus about 7 years ago (I think?). And it’s usually the misbehaving knee.

Enough about the crazy ass old lady knee. I finally got around to making up some sample roller ball jars of the various scented oils I have to share with Hazel. I gave her samples of Muse, Goddess, Transition, Shield Maiden, and Lioness – all by Sage Goddess – and some of the Sekhmet Anointing Oil I purchased from the Sekhmet Temple in Nevada. Lioness was a total impulse buy, and I’m reminded now why I don’t impulse buy expensive scented oils without trying a sample of it FIRST. Lioness is NOTHING like I thought it would be. The gardenia note is just overpowering and nauseating in this perfume. And gardenia isn’t something that comes to mind when I think of the Lioness. But then again, I’ve been dedicated to Sekhmet since 1997, so maybe I’m a little biased when it comes to lionesses. But I just don’t understand why GARDENIA is used. It just smells like old woman to me. ::shakes her head:: I’m completely baffled. And pissed, because those scented oils by Sage Goddess AIN’T cheap. I’ll hop onto the Sage Goddess perfume swap group and see about swapping it for something different.

Calm Now & Harpies

written: August 26th

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Bottle of Calm Now that I got completely free. I saw an ad on Facebook claiming I could get a free bottle. Sounded like a total gimmick, but I figured I would give it a try. Turns out, it was legit and here’s the proof in my hands.

So Hurricane Harvey has made landfall as a category 4 Hurricane. Brother and family have elected to stay in Houston and ride out the storm. I made a point to make offerings to the Harpies on their behalf. Harpies are originally storm spirits and are very protective, which makes them ideal for requesting their aid in keeping my Brother, his family, and their property safe. I need to find some incense that they really like. Thus far, the ones I’ve tried, they’ve been rather “meh” about. And I would really like to have something to offer them that they enjoy, rather than feeling like I still owe them. I’ve learned my lesson on owing the Harpies anything. ::laughs::

Roses & Rain

written: August 25th

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These are some STUNNING roses I saw today. And if they weren’t friggin’ $20, I would have bought them for myself in a heartbeat. Honestly, now that I think about it more….I will probably go back and get them anyways. They are just GORGEOUS. And I’m not even a huge rose fan, to be honestly. But I REALLY like the gorgeous, unusual ones.

Today, we snagged our laptops and found out that the secondary laptop we are supposed to have….yeah, they aren’t quite ready just yet. ::shakes her head:: I am so NOT surprised. So we will be using paper rosters for the week as we slowly convert the parents over to the electronic system. Honestly, I’m glad, because it just seems like it’s going to be a MAJOR hassle for the first two weeks as we slowly convert over to the electronic system. But once we DO get everyone converted over and get most of the kinks worked out…it should prove to be a LOT easier. It’s just the growing pains to GET to that point are going to majorly suck.

Hurricane Harvey is making landfall later on tonight. Luckily, I live far enough north that at worst, we’ll get some rain. My brother and his family live down in Houston, and thus are in the path of Hurricane Harvey. They’ve elected to hunker down and wait the storm out. Mostly, they are just concerned about flooding. I’ve lit incense offerings to the Harpies to watch over and protect my brother, his family, and their belongings – the Harpies originally were storm spirits/goddesses.

Thankful Thursday #34

written: August 24th

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BUNNY!!!! Yep, our little cottontail rabbit was chilling by the front door of the house when I came home for lunch. I got some really nice shots with my good camera that I’ll have to upload soon.

Onto the Thankful Thursday list!

I am thankful for….
1. Finally getting to meet all of my staff. I’ve got really good feelings about my two new aides.
2. That Jess has returned to my campus for a 3rd year now. I would be so lost without her help. And I’m glad that when the bosses inquired if she wanted to be a supervisor floater/sub, she turned it down so she could stay on my campus. Seriously, I am DEEPLY grateful for that.
3. That Orientation week is almost over. This has been such a grueling, exhausting week. These definitely cater to extroverts, and I’ve left each day utterly drained and usually with a borderline migraine. So ready for this to be over.
4. Getting to see the solar eclipse on Monday – even if it completely wiped my energies OUT. I’ve never reacted that badly to astrological phenomena.
5. The Harpies suggesting a specific gemstone necklace for me to make and wear during all eclipses (covering lunar ones as well, just in case) to shield and balance my energy a bit better.
6. That I was able to snag some GORGEOUS rainbow moonstone chip beads (for the above mentioned necklace) on eBay for an AMAZING price. And that the seller shipped them super-fast. I’m hoping the seller as similar sized gemstone chip beads for the other two gemstones I’m needing – gold Sunstone and black Tourmaline.
7. That two of the high schooler aides in the after school program (there are a TON) brought in doughnuts for EVERYONE this morning…and that one of those two high schoolers is MY aide! ::grins::
8. Rain and overcast days this week…even if it means my knee is KILLING me. I like the cooler temperatures and crazy early morning rain means good sleeping weather!
9. That I’ve gotten to “sleep in” all this week – naturally waking up around 8:20 am. Which IS sleeping in, because the Tech Job started at 7:30 am…so I’m enjoying the “extra” rest I’m getting.
10. That school will start soon. I’m ready to see my students once again.

P.S. These are the rainbow moonstone chip beads I got: