The New Shoe Chronicles: Day 2

The shoes went to a pool party yesterday. They did not swim.



The shoes spent a good portion of the afternoon alone under the desk as the owner sat cross-legged in her chair. It was dark under there.

The owner wore the shoes without socks for a while, and while they looked good they were not very comfortable.

The New Shoe Chronicles: Day One

New Shoe Log: Day One

The owner needed new shoes, what with the fall approaching. It was the first pair of "real" shoes she had worn in several months, as during the summer she wears sandals, flip flops, and sneakers exclusively. The new shoes were found at Payless for about thirty dollars. These are their stories.

The new shoes are brown, mary-jane style with cut outs on the top, thick soles and stitching around the top where the sole and upper meet, sort of like Doc Martins. Truth be told, these shoes were chosen for that quality, and the fond memories of the 1990's that they evoked. Indeed, their owner had several similar pairs throughout high school.

They feel stiff, foreign. The owner almost feels like she is tripping with each step. The sole is so thick, she cannot feel the terrain beneath her.

Interesting observation: either the owner drags the outside of her heels when she walks, or that part of the sole is a little thicker than the rest, for it seems to catch with each step and feel like a small lump or bump. Can't tell.

The shoes look silly with the blue trouser socks the owner paired them with. In all honesty, it does not pay to choose your socks in the dark, for you will surely end up with a blue pair when you assumed they were black. At least the socks match each other. Her pants are long--she will make sure they cover the socks.

No one has noticed the new shoes, or the extra inch of height the owner gains from wearing them.

Check back for more exciting installments of "The New Shoe Chronicles"

What's Your Favorite Book?

I am asking people about their favorite books--I am trying to encourage the youth I work with to read more, and read a variety of books. It is great that they, for instance, love the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyers, or the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling, but it is so important to read other types of books, other genres. Here are some of the favorite books that have come up:

Like Water For Chocolate—Laura Esquivel
The Bearded Lady—Sharlee Dieguez
Rose Madder—Stephen King
Where the Sidewalk Ends—Shel Silverstein
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil—John Berendt
Prozac Nation—Elizabeth Wurtzel
A Midsummer Nights Dream—William Shakespeare

It has been fun remembering the great books I've read along the way, and some of the not-so-greats (I'm SORRY, but I don't get Hemingway). Please, if you have favorite books, leave me a comment. I would love to recommend your favorite book to the youth.

A tremendous, NATIONAL honor

One of our programs, the Tehama Co. Mentoring Program, just received the 2008 National Award for Innovative Substance Abuse Prevention Programs. This award is one of only six in the nation, and the only one in California.

I spent about two weeks in the beginning of this summer writing the application for this award, and along with my supervisor, and the mentoring program coordinator, will be going to Indianapolis, Indiana to accept the award. I am so stoked! What a great honor!

Ripped jeans to cute purse in one evening

So, my favorite jeans were finally unfit to wear in public anymore. The lower legs were still in really good shape, so I decided to utilize my pathetic sewing skills to make something out of them. I also had some scraps of pink lace, table covering from our Prevention Project 80's night. I decided to make a little clutch purse out of them.

I bought a zipper the same color as the lace, and matching thread. I cut a leg off at about the knee, and sliced it along one seam and trimmed off the bottom hem. I saved that to create a strap. I cut a piece of lace about a half inch larger than the denim on each side, lined it up over the outside of the jean and then folded it inside-out. I hand sewed both sides with a running stitch, then doubled back to make sure that it was strong. I then turned it right side out to reveal a rectangular bag. I then create a gusset by turning the corners up about an inch and tacking them into place. This helps the bag to stand up and to retain its shape once I cram all my stuff in it. I folded the excess lace over each side of the top and sewed that down.

Next came the really tricky part--the zipper. I used fabric glue to stick it onto the first side. Once that dried, I sewed over it with a running stitch. I then glued the other side in, carefully lining it up. That dried and I sewed that too. (Note: The zipper was originally too long for my project. I followed the package directions to shorten it).

The strap was made by fashioning the jeans hem into a loop and sewing it in. It seemed a little weak, so I added some glue to strengthen it. I then cut the button off the jeans and sewed it to the outside of the bag for decoration.

I love how it turned out. It is so roomy for its size and very cute. I am now using the other leg of the jeans to create a bigger bag--and using the back pockets and the change pocket as inside pockets for the inside of the bag. If it turns out well, I will let you know!

Bagel Lunch Box

Okay, so this isn't a craft so much as a clever use of an item that I have always thought shouldn't be thrown away--the plastic container that blank cd's come in. You know, the thing with a spindle in the center and a plastic lid. I saw this done on another blog, so I am not the inventor, merely the girl sharing the love with you...

These things are about the same size as a bagel...and bagels have holes in them...and bagels are great for sandwiches...do you see where I'm going with this?

To protect your bagel, first make your sandwich (I'm partial to turkey, cream cheese and sprouts, but use your imagination), then skewer it onto the cd spindle (please, wash the box first!). Lock down the lid and there you go--crush proof storage for your lunch! Mine had a plastic cd shaped divider that I placed on top of the sandwich, then piled chips on top of to keep them separate. Just make sure to open the box upside down to avoid spilling the chips.

This will be GREAT on my next flight--and can be used for other items I'm sure. Donuts also have holes...

Did I mention how much of a nerd I am?

I just wanted to add a disclaimer about the countdown that you will be seeing here for the next few months--I am a giant Harry Potter nerd. I've said it before. I am not proud of it, but it is true. I can have hours long philosophical discussions about the wizarding world, argue intelligently about the merits of specific types of wands or the value of different spells over others. I am intimately familiar with the characters' lives. It is a sickness.

I had only watched two of the movies until last summer, when I started reading the books. I finished #6 at about the time that #7 (a masterpiece) was released. I am actually glad that I came to Potter late in the game--I can't imagine how painful it would have been to wait years for the next installment.

I was sort of disappointed in the 5th movie. I can give you a long diatribe as to why, but if you really want to know, you'll have to just ask. I am really looking forward to the next movie.

Thus the countdown banner.

Career Opportunities in IT from Cisco

I work with youth who are preparing for the future, planning to go to college, trade schools or right into the workplace. I always encourage youth to try higher education, and discuss career paths that are well suited to a young person's interests. There are several careers that I highly recommend to the youth that I work with, as they are growth industries and bound to fetch a good living. One such career is in IT. What is really great is that Cisco Systems, a company widely known and respected in computer systems and technical support, offers IT certification.

Cisco certification

This certification is offered in three professional levels, associate, professional and expert, and in six different paths; Routing and Switching,for professionals who install and support Cisco technology-based networks in which LAN and WAN routers and switches reside; Design, aimed at professionals who design Cisco technology-based networks in which LAN and WAN routers and switches reside; Network Security, directed toward network professionals who design and implement Cisco Secure networks;
Service Provider, aimed at professionals working with infrastructure or access solutions in a Cisco end-to-end environment primarily within the telecommunications arena; Storage Networking, for professionals who implement storage solutions over extended network infrastructure using multiple transport options; Voice, directed toward network professionals who install and maintain Voice solutions over IP networks.

Employees at companies such as Budweiser and DreamWorks have taken part in Cisco training. And with academies in dozens of cities throughout California, any area my youth plan to move should have one nearby.

Blue Sky!

It was pleasant, clear and nice outside for the first time in a month. There has been a delta breeze which has blown the smoke out of our part of the valley. I was pleased to see blue sky out the window today.

Over the weekend there were two firefighters killed, both from Washington state. One guy was 18 years old and on his first wildfire. Very sad.

Walk for Alzheimers Awareness

As you may know, my mom works for the Red Bluff Adult Day Respite Center, a day care of sorts for folks with brain impairments, including Alzheimer's Disease. My great grandmother also suffered from this disease, one that literally robs you of your self. The people mom works with and my gramma truly lost what made them, them. And from their point of view, they lose their spouse, loved ones, friends and home because they don't remember them. It is so painful to see mom's clients, from week to week, fade out. One woman begs for her husband to come pick her up, only to cry and panic because she doesn't recognize the man who arrives--she remembers him as a 30 year old.

Alzheimer's Memory Walk

The Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk® is the nation's largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research – and it calls on volunteers of all ages to become champions in the fight against Alzheimer's. There are walks in more than 600 communities. A typical Memory Walk is a 2-3 mile walk held on a weekend morning in the fall.



By teaming up with the Alzheimer's Association, you can walk with a purpose – and move us closer to a world without Alzheimer's. Together, we can MOVE a nation.

Bravo, Firefighters

After a month of wildfires raging throughout the north state, we are finally reaching levels of containment. Our firefighters, and those from other areas (I've seen guys from Chicago, and heard that we have some from Greece!), have done a marvelous job, and should be commended. There were very few structures involved, and people were moved out of harms way. We even had a fireman rescue a baby bear cub. How great is that?

I am more than a little annoyed at the enormous waste of money the Prez and Gov's fly-over cost. It was not necessary, and the funds it took to pull off could have been used to buy more firefighting equipment, add to the firefighter's pay, or whatever have you.

I am so proud of my little brother for working for the fire department here, and for aspiring to be a firefighter. He is brave and strong, and will be a great one. Plus, chicks dig firemen!

Happy Bastille Day!

Bastille Day is an independence day in France, marked with celebrations and parades...

July 14th is also very near and dear to my heart because it is my birthday! I am 31 today. Funny, doesn't seem like I am a "thirty-something" but here we go. I had always held 30 up as the point where you become a grown up, but now I think maybe the magic age might be 40. I mean, come on, I am nowhere near grown-up. I like Harry Potter more than any one person should be allowed, I live to color (though I can justify it by calling it "art"), I bought a car because it was a "pretty pretty Mustang" etc. I am so not grown up.

My dad says that 40 wasn't it, nor 50, so maybe we are grown ups at 60? Who knows.

My very cool coworkers are taking me out to lunch today--Thai food. I never get to eat Thai because no one in my family likes it. I also could have gone for Mexican food, but the Mexican place that I like puts a hat on your head and sings to you on you birthday. I am so not feeling the hat.

I guess the only thing that I would really like for my birthday this year would be for my dad to come home and cook dinner--swiss steak. But not this year. I guess I'll have to go to Hawaii for lucky number 32.

More about Zenni Optical!

I told you earlier in the week about Zenni Optical, an online prescription glasses company. They've been featured on Fox News:
http://www.myfoxwghp.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=EBE608CA931F2CA78F3EC273FF9A8D8C?contentId=5835241&version=3&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1

With prices like theirs, with glasses starting at $8, what a great choice if you need new glasses.

I checked out their site:ZenniOptical.com, and found a huge selection of frames, with single vision lens, sunsensor (potochromic)lens, tinted sunglasses lens, bifocal lens and progressive lens. The Secret to Zenni’s Low Prices is that they sell only their own manufactured frames direct to the customer, with no middlemen and virtually no advertising budget. Check them out--I'm sure you will find what you are looking for. And check out their spot on Fox News.

A sense of humor about death

I am completely nutso about a show called Dead Like Me. It is a dark (very dark) comedy about Georgia (George) Lass, an 18 year old girl who was hit and killed by a toilet seat dropped from Mir space station. Instead of "moving on" she was chosen to stay behind as a reaper, in her old home town. She is part of a little gang of reapers, and basically her afterlife is all about assignments, paperwork, deadlines, generally the business of taking souls. Oh yeah, then she has a day job as a temp. That's right, even in death you must work to eat and live.

She visits her family, which is falling apart after her death. Her mom and dad divorce, and her little sister knows that George is still around, is obsessed with toilet seats, and is generally having trouble coping, which leads the parents to seek psychiatric help for her.

George's appearance has changed, so she is unrecognizable to the living, and that means she can interact with family without being detected. She takes a job at the temp agency that she worked at for all of a couple hours before her death. She makes a family of the misfits of reapers that she works with. And she has to deal with the moral issues surrounding the taking of souls.

This show is great, a masterpiece. But Showtime (the network it originated from), in its infinite wisdom, pulled the plug after just two seasons. Now the makers are teasing all of us with an upcoming movie, which has had so many canceled opening dates, I am beginning to wonder if it is all a lie. Wouldn't it be great if networks actually saw the value of great shows in time to save them, rather than axing them and pissing off the myriad of fans? Anyway, check it out. Box sets are available, it is playing on Mondays on HD Net, and had run on the CW and SciFi. It is sure to pop up on a network near you. Then you can be one of us, that mourn the death of Dead Like Me.

Binoculars, anyone?

I live in some beautiful country. I do. Northern California, when it is not choking in smoke, is lovely, with our mountains, rivers, lakes, stunning views. I am in the market for some binoculars, and I am excited about the Nikon Monarch ATB from Optics Planet. They are sleek and high quality--what more would you expect from the Nikon brand?

These lenses are 100% Waterproof/Fogproof/Shockproof Ultra-rugged, rubber-armored, with a roof-prism design. They feature extended eye relief and central focus for viewing convenience and are fully Multicoated lenses for bright, clear images.

Optics Planet offers the full line of Waterproof Nikon Binoculars. You can receive a $50.00 gift card with purchase of any Monarch Binocular.