1. Perhaps you may have noticed my absence last week. The temp agency called with some work for me (YAY!) and then the snow rolled in and school was canceled (BOO!) so the company allowed me to work from home (BIG YAY!) for three days, which to say I enjoyed that would be a huge understatement. I was also doing work for the radio station, so it was really nice to feel useful again. The temp project was only for a few days, and so I took my time sheet to the office today to get it signed and faxed so I can get paid. I chatted with the project manager, and she said they really enjoyed working with me and were hoping that particular client used them again soon so they could use me again soon!
2. Something that’s come along with this work is a little boost in my confidence. I really feel that the gig with the radio station is the start of something big, and I feel a cautious hope quietly peeking around the corner. I’m almost afraid to hope.
3. Tonight Hunky turned on PBS and there was a show on about polar bears. Listening to him anthropomorphise the animals, and the resulting belly-laughing from the boys, was a joy.
4. I set an old fashion dial kitchen timer on my computer desk for one hour, and when it went off, I closed Google Reader even though it still had (139!) unread. Then I worked on a banner for the station. Too many times I’ve found myself in my jammies after noon with nothing accomplished; or been so tired of sitting in front of the computer reading, I didn’t have the energy to write! I have lots more work with the radio station to complete, I owe Lotus a couple articles, I want to stay on top of the laundry, and twelven bitwoityzillion other things to accomplish, and this was one thing I could do to take control of the situation. P.S. My Linky Love page is auto-updated when my Google Reader is updated, so if you’re on the page, you’re in my reader. If you’re not there, you’re probably bookmarked or just not assigned a folder yet.
5. Usually January is a bad, bad month for The Crazy. February is usually the worst. PMS week in February is most scary. But I’m doing ok. I blame you for this unsuckage. Thank you, mah people. Suck it, The Crazy. Kiss my ass.

Wage a Battle Against Embitterment With Schmutzie’s 365 Days of Grace in Small Things

1. Noo Innernetz frends.
2. Matte finish. I just love what matte finish does to my prints. Oh, and getting prints and mattes to try to sell some of my photography.
3. It’s absolutely amazing how just one thing going right can make all the rest of the crap better.
4. I got some freelance work. I needed this. 
5. That deserves two spots on my list. The place is a local radio station. The work will be ongoing. Can you say networking?

1. I did something today, that yesterday even talking about how scary it was made me literally sob. Today I conquered great big hairy scary FEAR (insert dramatic music interjection here). I introduced myself to a business manager, told them the services I offered, gave them a few of my business cards, and then asked them to pass the spares to anyone they came across needing graphic design services. Much to my own pleasant surprise, I did none of the following: have a massive panic attack, forget essential parts of the English language, or shit myself. I did it. I did it afraid, but I DID IT.
2. I got new specs fo’ FREE! A friend that works at a lens lab hooked me up with a special program their company does to get folks without insurance new glasses.
3. Hunky got new specs fo’ FREE, too!
4. And then aforementioned friend took me out to McDonald’s for lunch.
5. Hunky got me an early birthday present today. I have “I’ve no job but I’ve got great boots!” boots! Black leather, and they’ve got heels. Like, not motorcycle boots’ “I’ll ride my bike OVER you, bitch” heels; like, “Day-um, Tom, quit grabbing my ass! We’re in public, man!” heels. I don’t get it. The male readers reader here probably understands this phenomenon, but I do not get how heels make our asses hotter.

It was a very good day. *sighs contentedly*

One of my personal pet peeves is the erroneous usage of you’re/your, it’s/its, who’s/whose, and they’re/their/there. It’s actually really simple to choose the right one. It’s all about contractions.

The key to this whole thing is contractions. No, not those kinds of contractions. The kind that shorten two words to one word. When you’re wondering whether you’ve picked the correct usage, lengthen the contraction back out in your head and read it back to yourself. If it doesn’t make sense like that, then it’s the other one; the one that’s NOT the contraction.

Watch this: “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.” Lengthen it out in your head and read it back to yourself. You are a mean one, Mr. Grinch. Yep, that makes sense, so the contraction form is the correct choice. Leave the poor thing alone. What did it ever do to you?

Try it again: “You’re mama wears combat boots.” You are mama wears combat boots. Nope, that doesn’t make sense, so ‘your’ is the correct choice, not the contraction form. “Your mama wears combat boots.” is correct.

Let’s try another one with a different pair, it’s/its. Remember, try the contraction first and read it back to yourself. “The cat twitched it’s tail.” The cat twitched it is tail. Nope, that doesn’t make sense, so it’s NOT the contraction form. “The cat twitched its tail.” Beautiful.

Next pair is who’s/whose. This can be a little trickier, because who’s can either equal who is or who has. Try both. If one of those works, it’s the contraction. If neither works, it’s the non-contraction. “Who’s Johnny, she said, and smiled and looked the other way.” Who is Johnny, she said, and smiled and looked the other way. Yep, that makes sense, so it’s the contraction form. Let’s try another. “Do you know who’s coat that is?” Sound it out. Do you know who is coat that is? Nope, it doesn’t make sense so it’s the non-contraction. “Do you know whose coat that is?” is correct.

Last pair is they’re/their/there. This one’s tricky because of the third choice. Just remember ‘their’ is possessive, ‘there’ is not possessive. (‘Their’ is that person you went on a date with and seemed normal enough at first. But once you went out a few times, they asked too many questions as to your whereabouts and who was accompanying you. ‘There’ is everyone else.) “They’re coming to take me away!” They are coming to take me away! Yep, that makes sense, so the contraction form is correct. “They’re tops are made out of rubber.” They are tops are made out of rubber. Nope, that’s not right so it’s ‘their’ because it’s possessive. “Their tops are made out of rubber.” Wonderful.

Remember, first try to lengthen the contraction and read it back to yourself in your head, and if it doesn’t sound right, then it’s the other one, the non-contraction!

Then there’s the contractions that I make up as I go along, like “I’m'a” which lengthens out to “I am gonna.”

All the voices in my head say so. I guess it’s unanimous.

Rip it, roll it, and punch it, dude. It’s certain you’re always going to get these right; they’re not so tricky any more, are they? Who’s yo’ Dory? *two thumbs back at me* This gal.

[Pulled this one out of my ideas folder, I probably wrote it when I was temping at the internet directory job earlier this year. Hey, I cleaned house all day then I had a CMA meeting and didn't get home until 11pm, forgive me.]

One of the tasks I have is to add generic art according to the heading they’re listed under in the book. We have a mondohumongoginormous art library and we search by keyword for what we need. A lot of times the exact heading doesn’t bring any results but you can intelligently guess at a keyword that will get you what you want. You know, like when “sleep disorder” doesn’t get any candidates, try “snore.”

I was working on one listed under Psychotherapists. That keyword didn’t bring any results, so I took off the -therapists and threw just psycho in there. Then I busted out laughing. Guess what came up?

A surgeon with a chainsaw, a zealous football fan with a beer hat, and the funniest I think, a still life of witchcraft paraphernalia– A whisk broom, a burning candle, a big metal pentagram, tarot cards, and a crystal.