Mayan God - progress picture

Well, you can see what I have been doing in my spare time. Laundry? Housework? Walking the dogs? This is extremely enjoyable, and very relaxing. I like having fun with these pieces!!!!

When did vehicle turn signals become optional equipment?

Gods, this burns my butt! Why don't people use the turn signals anymore? And from what I saw this morning, it's men - usually in big-ass trucks or SUV's*. Oh, is a turn signal too girly for you to use? Or can't you hold the "Big Gulp" from 7-11, steer, talk on your cell phone and flip me off while using your turn signal? Of course that's it - men truly can't do more than one thing at a time. And don't get me started on the "Big men in big trucks equals a tiny penis" theory. I haven't done research, but it does appear to be true when I mention it. At least, that's what I assume when I tell men my theory. They haven't shown me anything to indicate that it's wrong......

And when did speed limits become a suggestion rather than the law? I don't drive super fast because I am never going someplace that I really am that much of a hurry to get to, but I drive 5-7 miles over the speed limit most of the time (mostly to keep up with traffic). But these monster trucks come flying up on me and zip around me like I wasn't even moving.

When did defensive driving because offensive driving?

* This was from my own survey from driving in yesterday morning and today. Men don't buy trucks with turn signals any more. It's sad - the passing of an era.

Stalled but not giving up.

I finished it!! The "Phases of the Moose" is completed. And I love it!! This piece measures 7.5 x 8 inches and weighs about 1/3 of a pound. I finished it while I was on my Bead Cruise - which I just added to my blog.
My next piece is even larger! I worked on it several hours while waiting for my flight in Houston after the cruise. I wasn't certain if it was Incan, Mayan or Aztec in design when a woman asked me (who was also happy to see that "young" people still do handwork. I was just happy to be called "young"). A gentleman on the airplane told me it was Mayan. I might have to do some search for verification, but it sounded good to me.

Bead Cruise!!!

If you like cruising the high seas and you like beads; then perhaps the vacation of your dreams might be a BEAD CRUISE. I just returned from a 5 day/4 night cruise from Galveston, TX to Cozumel, Mexico on a cruise ship. Classes were arranged and booked with instructors such as Dona Anderson, Judith Bertoglio-Giffin, Beverly Herman and Heather Powers.

Classes ranged from 2 hour open beading sessions with informal instruction on bead crochet to a full day of beading classes. Every participant received a bag full of gifts from the different sponsors, including a jewelry folio from Bead Girl Bags, lampwork bead from Lori Greenberg, beaded bottle kit from Foxden Designs, and much, much more.

I thoroughly enjoyed my first cruise – and with the added thrill of hanging out with about 45 beaders, adult cocktails on ship, a bead vendor on-board and a stop in Mexico? Does a vacation break get any better? I think not!

Our first evening on the ship was spent with dinner in the main dining room and our tables were arranged together. We could talk with beaders that we had only met “on-line” or were just meeting for the first time. There was open beading that evening, with door prizes, a bracelet swap and snacks available.

The next day was our full day class, and I was lucky to be in Dona Anderson’s “Marrakesh” bracelet class – a herringbone pattern with beaded dangles on it – it will be stunning when I finish it.

The highlight of the trip for me was the full day that we had docked in Cozumel. I joined up with two women that I met during the open beading sessions (one was a woman that I met in Milwaukee during the Bead and Button Show 2004) and we explored the town! When you walk into a jewelry show and the clerks ask you if you would like a margarita while shopping, that is civilization (I do know that the goal is to get you a little intoxicated so that you make decisions that you would never make at home)!

This was a fun cruise; the people that I met were wonderful, including my roommate Sue, from Vermont who I had never met before; the food was great and it was just a relaxing time. I am waiting for the details for next year’s cruise as I hope to be able to attend the 2nd Annual Bead Cruise!!