This is a two-fer today since I need to get my behind in gear to hang out with my cousins later for some birthday love and I need to leave Brick City tomorrow at the crack of dawn (literally) to get to Manhattan, meet my friend at Penn Station so we could go to Rhinebeck tomorrow!   So without further ado … here’s the loot:

For Creativity:

my first Quince loot.  From Kev ❤

(although I know his mother helped him) 😛

my own treat: (l to r) Araucania Toconao Solid in color 502, Tosh Chunky in Magnolia Leaf, Tosh Chunky in Tart.  Perched on top is Debbie Bliss Sublime (Baby Cashmere) in Shade 301.  The reds and pinks are colors I don’t typically buy, but I’m trying to get out of my comfort zone this birth year, so I figured I could start here.

For my body:

For my mind and leisure:

For getting out of my comfort zone (aka becoming more social)

Creating a Garden Inside Your Apt.  Class at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

From Asha — The Pattern: Happy Triangles

source

Because my mother loves me

(although she doesn’t understand my fibre addiction):

My new Ashford Kiwi 2.

I just have to finish her (probably next weekend) then I’ll introduce you all to Olga formally.

42/52:

This week I’m grateful for:

• honest introspection and self-assessment.  I’m not a saint, but even if I don’t admit out loud, I know and take responsibility for when I’ve not acted the way I know I should have. I NEVER intentionally set out to malign or sabotage anyone.  If I don’t like a person, I withdraw socially, but I never try to set them up or block them in any way. Even with her departure, my nemesis tried to create negative attention directed towards me.  While I was on vacation, she told my supervisor that she was leaving because I would try to block her from progressing, that I would be upset if she left the department, that I would do what I need to do to stop her from moving forward.  I just could not wrap my head around that.  With her resignation, I’ve been patient, courteous, I personally got her a really nice parting gift  but yet … always drama with her.  She resigned two weeks ago and did not tell any of the staff except for four people that she was leaving.  And of those four people, she alternated between her son having special needs and that I would prevent her from leaving the dept or I would be mad if she applied for any other position there as her reason for resigning.  Yesterday, as she left the building, whoever she met on her way out, she gave them the impression that she quit suddenly, leaving a storm of questions and gossip-mongering coming to me.  I had to nip that in the bud by informing all staff via email that she formally resigned two weeks ago, (so they would know that it was not sudden and hopefully see that she chose not to let them know she was leaving) and what the department functions/changes would be until we found a replacement.  I was made to understand that once she got outside the building, whoever she met, she told them that there were “people” who were happy to see her go.  “People” who didn’t like her.  That nobody there liked her anyway.  It was a very surreal, distressing, frustrating and hurtful situation.  So much so, it was on my mind this morning when I got up.  I’ve never had this kind of experience at any other job.  I’ve always gotten along with everyone and I’ve always left jobs in great standing.  The destruction she tried to do to my professional reputation last week and this week wouldn’t be forgotten but I’ll continue to pray that she finds mental health, positive self worth and every imaginable success.  But God helping me, I NEVER want to supervise anyone again.  I am happy being responsible for my own work; I don’t feel the need to be a manager or supervisor to validate that I have a great work ethic.  I don’t need to be a head-honcho to be successful; I don’t need that kind of validation.  Some people are great at it, but I’m not — at least with personalities like hers.  I’ve supervised 9 people since I’ve been at this job and she’s the only one who I had that type of distressing relationship with.  It’s tiring physically and emotionally and I NEVER want to have to do it again.  I’m glad I got my Quince birthday loot yesterday because I definitely needed a pick-me up. Le sigh.
• being able to enjoy simple things.
• getting hugs and love from my neighbor’s 2 year old grand-daughter.  ❤
• a lunch treat yesterday from the new Benefits Assistant
• being able to see/feel the benefits of a more plant based diet in just one week.
• Having my super finally finish some of the work they left off in June.  I was too grateful to complain at how long it took for him to come back.

I hope each of you had a great week and cheers for an upcoming week.  😀

Overwhelming in many ways, week 41 has been pivotal for me in ways I can’t even begin to describe.  Enjoy this week’s collection of words and pictures:

• Words:  I can’t thank you enough for your feedback on my birthday post.  Sometimes, I’m still overwhelmed at the support, space and graciousness I’ve received on this blog from you.  Each of you are in my prayers always.  Words can’t convey how much you’ve each come to mean to me.
• Home made chicken enchiladas!  Can you say yum, yum?!!!!   They were awesome.
• Birthday cupcakes from my co-workers.   The rain and tornado crushed them a little bit but that’s alright … I ate those things like I just got released from jail!!!  LOLOL!   My friend Chris organized everything. With the contributions he collected and what he put in, he got me my favourite cupcakes — red velvet and the middle one is chocolate with purple (my favourite colour) frosting.  The frosting was shaped like a rose.  Added to that, I got birthday balloons, a small tigress (a stuffed toy I named Elisa) since Chris said that my loyalty, friendship and style were fierce.  LOLOL!  He’s so kind to me.  He also added a bottle of  Hennessy Black (from him) (source) and a pen with a purple diamond at the top.  Couldn’t have asked for a better birthday package.
• A beautiful sunset.  Reminded me of God’s amazing colour combo skills.  This was all kinds of awesome and it was a joy to capture in my urban jungle.
• Being able to use my skills to help Andi help someone in need.  My square is late getting to her but I’m sending it anyway.
• Getting the stitches out of my arm.  The swelling is lessening more and more every day.  I’m grateful that I can craft without discomfort now.
• Being able to start my Fall home de-cluttering.  I finished my linen closet and all my makeup.  The makeup is huge since I have a … errr … large stash of eyeshadow, nail polish and lip gloss.
• Getting the news that my friend and Rhinebeck partner in crime was able to exchange a work-day with a co-worker so we’ll be able to go Rhinebeck next Sunday.  Yay!!!!

And yes, there is birthday yarn loot and other yummies, but I’ll do a post on those sometime this week. LOLOL!  😀  And I’ll also post my review of the Dr.Oz experience.

Hope you all had a great week last week and cheers to a wonderful upcoming one!!!  😀