Drawings year 2, week 52

 Oh my word, that's two full years of doing a drawing every day. Next time we'll be in year 3.

On the road again.

 One day on my way home from work I was sitting at a red light and spotted this old truck. I couldn't help snapping some pictures as it drove through the intersection. Of course the are in backwards order but you get the picture.

Pet peeves on the road.

 I probably should just stay off the roads altogether because way too many things annoy me when I'm behind the wheel.

In no particular order

• People who drive UNDER the speed limit. I admit that I have a bit of a lead foot when I drive but I'll tolerate going the speed limit. I find it so annoying to be behind someone who drives slower than that.
• Staying in the left land on the highway. The left lane is for passing and faster traffic. More and more I encounter slower drivers in the left lane with a string of cars behind them. Once you pass me, unless there is another car close, move over into the right lane. 
• People who get annoyed with slow drivers in the left lane so pass on the right. The other day, someone passed me on the left followed by another car. The second car was going faster but the first didn't move over so the second moved into the right lane at the same time the slower first car moved over. Thankfully the second car was paying attention and avoided the collision. 
• On ramp speed. I was always taught that you use the on ramp to get up to speed before mergin into traffic on the highway. I encounter more and more people who drive slowly down the ramp and don't start getting up to speed until they are on the highway.
• Last one, Roundabouts. There are just too many issues here to even try and list them all. People are just not catching on to the concept. 

Last Thursday

 When I had my heart stent put in I was told that I should stop taking the meloxicam that was prescribed for my arthritis. I did but that just made the arthritis pain worse. I called both the cardiologist and the primary and got no response. I finally just made an appointment with my primary and I went last Thursday.

That I know of, I have arthritis in my hands, neck, knees and hip. Currently my neck isn't bothering me, the pain in my hands is manageable, the knees are hit or miss but the hip pain has been awful.

After seeing my primary, she thinks that there is something more than just arthritis going on. By the time this posts I will have gone for x-rays and hopefully know more of what the problem is and maybe a solution.

I can't take any anti-inflammatory meds but she did prescribe an gel that is much safer. It also comes in an over the counter strength and is called Voltarin. 

I am so tired of not being able to do things I used to do. I know with age we have more issues but it's just been bringing me down. Even simple tasks like house work or grocery shopping. 

Spa day

 Gibbs was due for a spa day. He wasn't the worst he's ever looked but he was getting a bit shaggy. I didn't have a before picture of him. I did take one of him when we were back home.

He'll be much cooler through the summer without all the fur all over him. He smells good too.

While we were watching tv that evening I couldn't help taking a paw and snout close up.

Drawings, year 2 week 51

 Oh and I did order 2 more sketch books. So it looks like I'm at least going to attempt to keep doing this

Hobby Lobby and Boscovs

 Those were our other stops for the day. First was Hobby Lobby. None of the 4th of July stuff was reduced which seemed odd. Amanda still found some good things to buy though. They had lots of fall stuff out already. It's way too early to be looking at fall. 

Amanda spotted this scarecrow and as I pulled out my phone she said "I'm not sticking my face in there"

I took her picture, handed her my phone and said "I will"

I didn't take many pictures in Boscov's. Amanda found a pair of flip flops, I bought 2 pairs of sunglasses that were marked $2.99 ea and 2 tops. As we were walking out I spotted this guy.

This guy had nothing on the guy we spotted in Hobby Lobby though. Amanda was checking out and I had gone to the restroom. On my way back a man came in to the store wearing a low and obviously a woman's shirt. He was also wearing a beaded necklace. I don't recall the rest of his outfit but I can tell you that he was turning every head he passed. Most were trying to stifle a laugh. Amanda and I walked out of the store and couldn't stop laughing.

A birthday lunch

 The Saturday before Amanda's birthday we went out to lunch and did some shopping. Lunch was at our usual place. Cracker Barrel. We got done eating and were getting ready to leave when I realized I hadn't taken a picture of our food. Amanda said here take a picture of both our take out boxes.

After we paid, we browsed in the gift shop for a little bit. Amanda liked this mug.

This towel speaks the truth

This swan was really pretty.

I only have a few more pictures from the day but I think I'll show those to you tomorrow.

Birthday cards.

 I recently made two birthday cards. One for my son and one for my daughter. I used the same basic design but each one has a different look.

First up is the one for my son. 

I actually made 3 exactly the same. I'll use this card to send to Wade's two sons on their birthdays. Inside there is a tan oval shape the same size as the blue oval. That's where you would write your message. I sealed the one for my son before I took the picture and this one doesn't have that oval inside yet.

Next is the one I made for my daughter.

Same design, different papers and different focal piece on the front. I designed the cat in Cricut Design Space using mostly circles and triangles for the ears. I thought he came out pretty cute.

And here is a look at the inside. Again, there is a circle the same size as the outside circle for writing your message.

Because I think the cat is so cute. Here's a close up of him. The only thing I wasn't happy with was the nose. I cut the circle by hand so far from perfect. I couldn't find anything else to use that looked good. I tried a leftover gem from a diamond art project but it was way too small. 

They bloomed.

 My peonies finally started blooming.

Assorted stuff.

 I was relaxing in the cave one day and looked out the window. The iris and all those green leaves made me happy.

At work I was sitting at my desk and saw the shadow on the wall. It transferred the words on the door perfectly in shadow.

I am making an effort to improve my eating habits. I've stopped my daily diet coke, I'm watching things like saturated fat and sodium content. I eat my breakfast at work because if I eat it at home, by the time I get to work I'm starving. Imagine my horror when I microwaved this breakfast bowl and read the box. Not only was the saturated fat very high but the sodium content was through the roof. I won't be buying those any more. 

The one thing that I refuse to give up is my morning cup of coffee with a splash of flavored creamer. I tried to drink it black and it just didn't cut it. 

Happy Birthday Amanda

 Another repost. Today is Amanda's birthday. 

Happy birthday Amanda

We may not have always gotten along and we butted heads so many times over the years but I will be forever in awe of the amazing person she is.

She has the brightest smile and a heart of gold.

Growing up she had a abundance of energy.

Happy Birthday to the best daughter a mother could have.

Rewards and waiting.

 This is sort of a mismatched post but here goes.

First up the reward. At work they sent an employee survey for everyone to do. In order to get higher participation they offered an incentive. If they got a certain percentage they would draw 10 names to get an extra day of PTO. If they got a little higher they would pull 25 names. Then they came back with an offer that if they reached 95% participation everyone across all divisions would get an extra day off.

We got this email on Wednesday May 27th

I went to Walmart on a Saturday morning. I had a prescription to pick up and I needed to do a little grocery shopping. All I wanted was some strawberries and some blackberries. I stood and waited for this woman who was totally oblivious to anyone around her while she checked every single package of strawberries. I think she even checked some twice. I had to have stood there for a good 10 minutes waiting for her.