I normally have back ups, I lose jewelry left, right and center. I lose o-rings too. I have hundreds of o-rings in different sizes, usually in my bag with me. I lose those fuckers that much.

You see, I had the back ups in. Actually, I had Michael’s back ups in, because I had lost mine. (It’s really a problem – I even lose jewelry that screws together, at least the o-ring stuff is cheaper.)

So I pick up a pair of 10G single flange eyelets. I get home, ready to put those fuckers in, and they are the wrong size. I didn’t even make it out of the bag. I looked at them and saw. *sigh*

I called Michael, told him not to call me a dumb ass (not that he would anyway) and told him I got the wrong size, and I’d bring 20$ in to buy a new pair (b/c once you buy jewelry it’s non-exchangeable, and I understand this).

I head down around 9 and tell John what I did and can I get a pair of 8G please. He got those for me and was just going to send me home with a taper (b/c he knows I’ll do it myself), but I said I could just do it there, no problem.

Fucking jewelry had been out long enough I couldn’t have fit a 14G in there without a fight. This is odd only because all of my cartilage piercings were punches, and the skin should not close down around them that fast. Crazy. My helix once went from a 2G to 10G (over time, of course, but again, a punch, no cartilage there to shrink).

So I get the taper in, and it takes me three tries to get the eyelet to follow it in. Three fucking tries.

My ear is swollen and red and I can’t wear my glasses right now.

Not exactly one of my better thought out piercings, although when they are healthy and not irritated my glasses don’t bother me at all.

That was my excitement for the day. I popped a couple of advil, as my entire head aches now.

I also bought this twirl skirt pattern from crazy couture boutique. It’s a pretty easy drop skirt that will make Eshiva giddy with it’s twirliness. It’s a word.

Since we put out the sewing machine, I have some ideas. I need to dig through my fabric. Sadly, most of it was purchased to make slings and isn’t really suitable to clothes. I’ll have to see what I really have in those bins though. Might be time to freecycle most of it and hit the sale bins at the fabric store.

I am making a Whole Addiction fan page on FaceBook, and I made a Twitter page the other day. Please check out http://wholeaddictiontattoo.com and check them out (the links are there), especially if you are local, or pass them on if you know locals (local being the world, because we’re so global!)

Hm, I bet this is more, but I mainly wanted to put the two patterns I bought out there and mention the Whole Addiction site.

Whoot, I found out how to delete my MySpace. The deed is done.

Michael gave me an idea for a new tattoo earlier today. I need to think on it. I am in literary lust with Heinlein and his characters. I have a couple of small pieces planned, a TANSTAAFL and a GROK on the insides of my wrists. He mentioned today I could stand to do them more justice and do a big thigh piece revolving around my favourite Heinlein stories/characters. I agree, but I am still getting the smaller ones inside of my wrists. They just belong there. the TANSTAAFL is going to be an a stylized kind of Russian writing and the GROK is the GROK off of Stranger in a Strange Land. The piece would have to include Stranger in a Strange Land, Time Enough for Love, Cat Who Walks Through Walls, Moon is a Hard Mistress, Job: A Comedy of Justice, To Sail Beyond the Sunset, Methuselah’s Children… Oh, this list goes on. I may have to go with a main “cast” of characters. I’ve been thinking on it all afternoon though. Not a bad idea you had there, Fish, not a bad idea at all.

Malachai has his IEP meeting at the end of the month. He has been recommended for second grade. We’ll see what kind of services he’ll get next year.

My half birthday was yesterday. My dreads are about five months old. If December first rolls around and I want to cut them off… off they go! I’ll give them a year I have one in the back, twice as long as the others. The roots are dreaded, and the tip is dreaded, but I could brush everything in between. The rest are all in good shape. I need to get in to see Chrissy to be dyed again, and I need to go see Strawberry for some maintenance. I don’t really want to do either, mainly because I am dandruffy and the dreads just trap it. I’m not so much embarrassed as… ew.

Mothers Day is coming up. I think we should thank the people that mean the most to us everyday (actually, I think we should be happy and pleasant and say please and thank you to everyone every day, and I try to) so I’m not so much looking for breakfast in bed or lavish gifts or anything. I have a picnic in the park planned for the afternoon with (I hope) some other families we like, and then I am going to see if Sara and/or Michael will keep the kids so we can go into the shop for a little bit.

We set up the sewing machine. It may have a permanent home. Maybe we’ll use it more. What a novel idea.

I have a rotting melon in the fridge. Michael brought home/in the tattoo equipment. I just suck. That melon has been in the fridge a month at least. I wonder if I am avoiding it because I feel like I suck, or if I just don’t care as much as I thought I did. Interesting question to ask myself, no? I wanted it so bad… I’d hate to find out I suck. Not that every beginner sucks kind of suck, but really and truly suck at something I love so much. Something that is so important to my life and my well being and the well being of my family. Think I am being overly dramatic? I don’t. Tattoos feed and clothe us. I’d hate to find out that I stink at giving them. There is a total connection in my head.

We bought a new composter at BJs yesterday. As soon as the fence is up we’re going to dump the old compost into the new bin. I think we’ll just use the old compost bin as a trashcan. Speaking of the fence! The permits were denied because we need to add onto the paperwork that if the fence is black we don’t have to landscape (I want to anyway, but at least we wont be on a deadline) and we need to fax the approval from the HOA because we’re fencing in the easement. We’ll take care of that tomorrow.

Sunday we got up early as fuck, Michael got bagels, we ate with the boys before they went to Hebrew school, ate with Pam & Susie, picked up the boys from school, ate lunch, came home, decided not to go to the beach (it was very hot out), hit Target (whoohoo Target! totally warranted, my menfolk needed shoes), ordered pizza and came home to eat. We all hung out outback in between lunch & Target.

Today we went to the post, Michaels, then Festival. Picked up the boys, Michael is at the shop with the two of them so they can get some tattoos and I need to make dinner. Then we need to go *back* to Target so Pam can return something and so she can get something for the boys. We didn’t find anything for her to get them this morning. I say the don’t need more crap, but she gets them stuff and sees them so rarely… at least it’s stuff I don’t have to buy them lol Dor wants those Wolverine claws and Malachai wants a movie. Eshiva got jelly shoes last night (they’re still jellies, right?)

I just want to go to sleep. It takes a lot out of me to be in “company” mode, especially day after day. I crashed in the carpool lane at school and I’d like to go back to sleep.

Ok, my sexy beast of a man decided to get, well, beastly last night, so that didn’t help me in the sleep department (but it was much appreciated) but I still say company mode just drains me.

I am pretty excited about dipping my hair in the ocean though. I haven’t been spraying it down with saltwater, so it’ll be nice to have my dreads tighten up a bit more.

I think we’re heading berry picking tomorrow morning. I joined a new meetup group, mainly because Punky Moms has no local group. What’s funny is, meetup.com has Punkymoms as a freaking interest and nothing we have done has made them remove it. The name is a registered trademark. It’s irritating to say the least. Tangent aside, it looks like a cool group. I wish we didn’t live in suburbanite hell. No one lives around here. They’re all south of here. I’m not bitching. Much.

I think we might try and get into the shop tonight. But we’re going to a water park in a couple of weeks, so I’m undecided right now. Two weeks is long enough to scab over and peel…. tough choices.

Most of them are from 12 – 7 and not conveniently located to me. Did I mention they are from 12 – 7? I am available in the mornings before 12. There are some Saturday hours, but Michael works on Saturday too. Fuckers.

There is one date, two weeks from today, relatively close by and from 4 – 8. Michael is going to head down there while I keep the kids home.

VPK saves us 25$ a week for PreK at the place we’re looking to send Shivie next year.

I am just so angry that we were at the fucking building and they couldn’t take ten minutes to take the goddamn paper that was already filled out and hand me the certificate.

Also, Michael was rear ended last week. He took his car in, but the effing insurance sent him to a body shop. We needed a mechanic. His check engine light is blinking on and off (which is a change from it just being on all the damn time) and the engine isn’t firing the right way. Our ins. was useless, and he’s left a message with the other ins. to call him back, he wants to see a mechanic.

We took the van in for an oil change and brake eval. 600$ later, I will have new brake pads, a new serpentine belt (I have been told that the serpentine belt is near impossible to break or wear down – I’ve replaced it in three different cars, methinks someone is lying to me about that fucking belt), brake fluid, and some other gobbledygook. As it turns out, we have the money this time and don’t have to beg, borrow or steal. Yay!

I am so sick of today already.

The following happened today when I had to go out and grab some groceries for the kids and I. The past couple of months have been a whirlwind for me as most of you know. I ended up giving Kimi a few things and she was happy that she got one of the Gothic Lolita inspired outfits she helped me make/design. I wanted to share this blog with you because it really fucking hit me today… this is going to have an insane impact on so many things. We ALL as parents are going to be affected. Not just those of us that are running businesses. Take some time to read about what is going on with the CPSIA and decide for yourself if you think this law is beneficial. I personally want my kids to always be able to go into libraries, buy handmade goods that are not mass-marketed and appreciate the extra touch of a handmade blanket.

———————

“Your outfit is absolutely adorable!” I heard a woman say behind me and my daughter replied with, “Thank you! My Mommy has a clothing business!” and I sighed. Sighing is not my usual reaction when I get a compliment for my work. The woman and her sister were very polite and had no idea that they had just brought to surface so many terrible feelings with their compliments, “You made her outfit? It’s amazing! You really have talent and I’ve never seen anything so adorable.” They didn’t have kids but talked about how they almost wished their biological clocks started ticking simply to shop for my line of clothes. I was completely flattered but almost muted because of the recent decision to close up my Immature Couture shop. When they asked where I sold my clothes I didn’t have the energy to explain what was going on so I simply said “Online.” thanked them and went back to grocery shopping with the kids.

I want nothing more than to know that the toys my children play with are safe and will not cause them any harm. I understand the urgency to protect the children of this country from high levels of lead and stop the ridiculous recalls. What I do not understand is why these new regulations were passed with such carelessness that it requires testing for products that have virtually NO risk of lead contamination! Products like clothing, blankets, wooden toys and books! The CPSIA is essentially causing many small businesses that make products for children under the age of twelve to close up shop because of their haste in passing regulations that have an insane amount of loopholes. Congress decided that a problem caused by ridiculous and irresponsible mass-market toymakers should be solved with a solution that sucks in various other industries that are completely unrelated to toys!

Later on when the kids and I were checking out the two women approached me and asked for my business card because they wanted to tell their friends about my clothing line. I smiled and tried to explain to them as plainly as possible that as of February 10th I would be officially closing up shop because of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act . Shockingly they were outraged that they hadn’t heard of it. That they felt their rights as consumers were being taken away. That the deadline is so close and there isn’t a media outrage over it. That more small businesses are being shut down and allowing the big companies to triumph. We exchanged information, I gave them my card and they said they would be writing whoever they needed to and be in contact with me. They weren’t business owners who are effected by this nor were they parents but they were as equally outraged as most of us that have to close our shops.

The apathy that I have seen from the general public and even those that own small businesses and are not effected by the new regulations have saddened me until I spoke with these two women. They were absolutely right! This does not just hurt my business. This hurts everyone no matter if they have children or not. No matter if they have a business selling products to children under twelve or selling something that, thankfully for them, does not have to be burdened with the CPSIA. Why don’t more people care?

I loaded up the kids, put my groceries in the trunk and at that moment it finally hit me. Something I started as a side business for extra cash in hand and as a creative outlet was taken from me. Just when my business started to take off it was ripped from my hands, discarded and no real explanation for it. I sell clothes. Not jewelry. Not toys. Not anything that has been manufactured overseas or injected with lead. I design, cut, iron, serge, stitch and package every item of clothing myself. To comply with these regulations each product I made would have to be tested which means each individual component of the garment would have to be tested for lead. A 15$ onesie now costs 400$ to make simply because of the testing fees! I put sleepless nights into marketing plans, helping Etsy teams and writing blogs to help the handmade market. There is no reason for so many of us to be swept out of the way because some major corporations wanted to cut their overhead costs and put MY children in danger. I stood there and cried in the parking lot. There is no reason why so many handmade artists look away at the pain so many of us are going through simply because they are not in the same boat.

Do something. The children in this country need to be protected but by regulations that target only the products that can cause potential harm. If you don’t do it for yourself and your business, or your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews or friend’s kids then do it for the sake of what’s right and stop being silent and a doormat in our society.

http://www.change.org/ideas/view/save_handmade_toys_from_the_cpsia

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/economicimpactsofCPSIA/index.html

http://nationalbankruptcyday.com/

http://www.handmadetoyalliance.org/

We had dinner with my Aunt, Uncle, Gram, Zaide, and the eight of us. My Aunt & Uncle got the kids gifts. Mal got visibly upset because he got a smaller bag than the other two. He is quiet enough and was talking into my neck enough that we passed it off as him being tired. Poor guy. He got over it quick enough (he got a very cool card game, as did Eshiva, but hers was packaged in a bigger box, and Dor got a ball that was not inflated, but it was packaged bigger too) but we felt bad for him. I remember how I felt getting a gift that I thought sucked when everyone else got cool stuff.

We bought boxes today. I am packing up our breakfront full of crap so I can get rid of the breakfront and sub out something much smaller. All the “crap” in there were my folks wedding fits, my moms owl collection, our “Jew” stuff and some misc. tchotchkes. Dad is asking why I am keeping it. I can’t bear to tell him it’s because I’m a girl and I am emotionally attached to anything that I feel still reminds me of mom. It’s getting better, I’m not saving *everything* some of it really is crap.

I told Michael to box up the tattoo stuff and take what he can to work – I haven’t drawn in over six months, and I haven’t set up the machines in almost as long. I went as far as looking through the stencils today and I just wasn’t feeling it.

My uncle is trying to find a cheap way to send me his studio lights, and we’re going to build a backdrop stand from PVC sometime soon after they arrive. I’m pretty excited about that. I also hinted that I’d be happy to take any other old equipment he isn’t using off his hands and give it a good home (he said he’d like to see his lights get some use in a good home) so maybe I’ll get some other surprise goodies too

I think I might branch out into printing some general greeting cards and stuff. Nothing in big batches, little micro batches I can list at my leisure to sell.

Cliff Bar brand put out organic twisted fruit leather things – I picked up a box on impulse today. They worked out to about fifty cents a package and the kids love them. One full fruit serving in there! Score!

I am back on my “mostly raw” raw diet. I put on a pair of size 10s this morning. I got them on, and had disgusting muffin top BUT I got them on and buttoned. I could not do that even last week. I took them off and put on a comfy pair of size 16s that fall off unless I belt them down. A few more weeks, I think, and I can dig out at least six pair of pants that I haven’t been able to wear for longer than I care to admit.

I’ve been food shopping at the WalMart food store. This should go in confess I guess, but I spent 200$ where I’d normally have spent over 300$ so I don’t care that bad. It’s not like they are putting Publix out of business or anything.

I <3 my dreads. I feel bad putting wax and crap in them, but I need them to look good and not like I am wearing a rabid mop on my head. All in all, it’s working and I am pleased with them and have not threatened to brush them out or cut them off. Yay!

I think that’s it. I am feeling restless and I want to be doing all these things and I just can’t pick one to focus on, so I am kind of doing like, 5 – 10 minutes of a lot of things. It sucks.

Thanksgiving was nice – my gram and aunt came over, we had a feast. Ham, roastbeast, brisket, sweet potatoes, acorn squash, green beans, macaroni & cheese, garlic potatoes, party potatoes, and I can’t remember what else. We recently ran out of leftovers (rightovers).

I went in and had my hair done up in dread-twists on this past Monday. These photos are from today. They took 7.5 hours from start to finish (minus a 20 minute break).

Yes, they are small – they will bulk up a bit once the twist lets go a little, and I wanted the smaller ones for better coverage. I have them sort of pinned back in these photos.

I have been busting my ass over at azxureDawn to not only get work done that I have, but bring in more. I can’t win – either I am too idle for my own happiness, or I am too swamped to keep up. I wish I could find a happy medium.

I am going with my dad in two weeks to finish the kids holiday shopping, but most of it is done. I didn’t stand by not spending any money this year, but all told I think we spent under 150$ on all three combined. We got some inexpensive little stuff, and Michael got some good black Friday deals. They each got a metal slinky, a mini gumball machine and legos. We also got a SpeedRacer Wii game, Guess Who, some other Wii game (I can’t rememeber – it was a collection of mini games), the Ladybug Game, Kung Fu Panda (10$ @ CVS!), HotWheels Wii game, a dinosaur game and a sea monster game. Eshiva is getting one more thing picked up this evening, and my dad will get them each two more things (I try very hard to give one thing every night of Channukah, so they each get eight total). Dor asked for more Star Wars books and another Didj game, so there are his two, and I have no clue what to get the other two. I also need to pick up a cord for my brother and one more gift (they’ve outgrown needing eight things… I hope!), and something for my sister, and something for my dad. I am thoroughly stumped on his gift. Michael got a new tattoo machine and a GPS for his holidays gifts (he totally got them both himself, but both were splurges).