Do you ever wonder...

...if maybe you're not living your best life?  Like maybe you have so much potential for things you could be doing, and you don't even realize it?  Or maybe you do but you're too afraid to do anything about it or you don't know where to start?  That's kind-of where my head is right now.
Every so often, I think about this subject.  Usually it's spurred by something that's said by someone much more influential than I'm fairly certain I could ever hope to be.  Most recently, it came by way of a Q&A session with one of my currently favorite actors that was livestreamed from Comic Con a few weeks ago via YouTube (don't even get me started on him, I could talk about him for hours about all of the dorky things he does that somehow make me wish I could know him personally that much more.  I mean, really...who knew a velociraptor impression would be so intriguing and attractive?  Ahem...and I digress).  It was a quote that I believe goes something like this: We all have two lives, the second one begins when you realize you only have one.
Ever since I heard that, it's been on my mind.  I like my job, and I'm good at it.  But sometimes I long to do something that I'm great at.  That I love.  That I would never tire of.  My main struggle: what would that be?  And once I figure that out, if I ever figure that out, how do I even begin to steer myself in the right direction?
I suppose that the best place to start would be to think about some of the things that I love, and then go from there.  So, here goes...

I love to read, I think I always have.  My mom says that I was in kindergarten when she found me reading a book to one of our kittens, who was passed out on my lap.  Until then, she hadn't had any idea that I even knew how to read.  My sister would read books to me, and I think that I had heard the stories so many times that I had the words memorized and I figured out on my own what all those strange little symbols were and how they each sounded and how they related to each other.  I think what I love most about reading is the level of description the author provides to the reader that allows the reader to form a clear picture of the location, of the action, of the characters and their interactions (unless the author goes too far into detail with their description...sorry, J.R.R. Tolkien, I tried to read The Hobbit, but after several pages, there was still no introduction of any of the characters, and I lost interest).  As a friend once eloquently said, I don't just read books...I inhale them.  As soon as I finish one book in a series, often within just a few hours, I crave more.  There is this inexplicable need to immerse myself in the next one.  How amazing is it when one book can make you feel, really feel...can make you cry one minute and laugh the next.  When you can have tears running down your face from having your heart destroyed, and a smile on your face from the humor the characters display.
So I love to read, but what do I do with that?  I've thought, often, about trying my hand at writing.  I took a writing class in college, and I was intrigued by the concept I chose for, if memory serves, my final assignment.  It focused on a character who may not have been who he seemed, or who he wanted everyone to believe he was (I only just realized today that this is, in some ways, similar to The Great Gatsby.  But first, I make no claims to be even close to as good a writer as F. Scott Fitzgerald.  I know I'm not.  And second, I've never even read The Great Gatsby.  The movies?  Yes, seen them.  Really, though, Tobey Maguire?  Bad casting choice, in my opinion.  Anyway...).  The topic interested my professor (or teacher's aide?  It was so long ago that I don't even remember anymore), but there were so many questions he posed that I couldn't even begin to answer.  Who was the narrator?  How was he/she related to the character?  Why did he/she want to expose the character? Did he/she hold some sort of a grudge against the character, and as a result, was he/she even someone the reader could trust?  It was in my head that the character was formed, yet even I couldn't figure out the complete picture.
Since then, I've dabbled here and there in private.  Mostly it's because I often tell myself stories at night when I'm trying to sleep.  I write my stories down or type them up if I get stuck, it helps me to move the story along.  Sometimes it works, sometimes I give up and start over.  There's never been a story I've been able to see through to the end, but I've never figured out why, whether I've just decided that it's not good enough to continue, or I don't have the creativity to formulate a decent ending, besides "and they lived happily ever after."  I've considered, with some storylines, asking someone to read what I've written, in order to gain some feedback.  Is it good?  Is it original?  Is it interesting?  But I've never gone through with it.  Am I holding myself back?  I don't know, maybe one day I'll just go for it.  We'll see.

And then there's music.  I love music.  I love that there is at least one song for every situation, every feeling, every emotion.  I love that when I'm in a bad mood, I can listen to angry music to help get it out of my system.  I love that when I'm feeling sad, there is an entire list of songs that feel the same way, even if it's not for the same reasons.  And I absolutely love that there's that one song that always cheers me up or makes me happy, and I can't help but move to the beat.  Currently, that song is You Make My Dreams Come True by Hall & Oates.  Don't judge, you listen to the song and tell me it doesn't make you want to dance.
I legitimately enjoy putting together playlists for friends, full of music they've never heard of but I know, or at least hope, that they'll come to love as I do.  As a result, I have a few friends that call me Rocker Gina, or \m/ Gina (please don't make me explain that one to you...just revel in its awesomeness).  Unfortunately, more often than not, I get distracted halfway through creating some of my playlists and they never get finished or shared.  And then I get reminded, and I tell them, "Oh yeah, sure, I'm working on it."  And most of the time it's true.
But anyway, my dream job, out of all dream jobs that could ever be, would definitely have something to do with music.  I watch TV shows that I love, and there's just such great music on the show that I can't get enough of.  It just sets the scene so well, makes you feel like you're a part of the show.  And I think, I would LOVE to do something like that, to choose what songs are played when.  But then, could I really do that?  There are songs that I never would have heard of if not for the fact that someone else chose them and did all the work involved for getting the song lists approved.  I've looked into it, and they do so much work.  They watch a scene, and then they pick a song and they propose the use of that song to a director or producer, and then they contact the powers that be for permission to use that song, or at least a piece of that song, and that doesn't even include payment negotiations with the artist or record company and so many other things they do (yes, I've looked into it). 
And then there's the vast musical knowledge a person would need to have for a job like that.  I have, I think, a fairly wide (random, at times) taste in music.  I mean, I've got some pretty weird stuff on my iPod, just ask some of those that have seen it.  But my goodness, there is so much music out there that I've never heard!  And then there's the stuff that I hated at first listen but now I can't stop listening to it.  And those are the songs that I end up listening to over and over and over again while telling myself I'll never get sick of them, until one day I can't stand to listen to even one more time, and then I give myself a few days or weeks or months or years and I can listen to them over and over and over again.

I also love staring at men I think are handsome and watching them in movies and TV shows and stuff, but what could come from that?   I could become a professional stalker and get arrested and go to jail...yeah, maybe not.

I know I've been rambling on about these things for far too long, and I probably should go back and cut out a few things, but books and music are really the two things I'm most passionate about.  This is how I really feel about them.  And if you've read this entire post, you are a trooper and there's not a whole lot for me to offer.  If you were hoping I would have revealed the perfect solution, then you are sorely mistaken, because I am just as confused about my future as you are.  Guess I'll just have to continue evaluating and pondering my life until I figure out whatever it is that I am great at and that I love.

Ideas

I have so many other things I should be working on right now (like cleaning my room so the painters that are coming tomorrow morning don't think I'm a slob, eating dinner, or exercising), yet here I am updating my blog.
I've come up with a few ideas for some possible extra income. With gas prices on the rise again, I could really use the dinero. I have intentions to take the necessary steps to take the train to work a few days a week, but that can only help so much. I'd also like to be able to work from home occasionally, but in order to do that, I would need a new laptop (the one I have is at least 6 or 7 years old and is only in one piece because of the bright orange duct tape holding parts together), which requires money that I don't currently have. So here I propose my current ideas:
A few weeks ago, my friend had several friends and acquaintances at her house selling homemade goods. One of the things that someone had made was headbands using ribbon. Normally, I don't bother too much with any kind of headbands as my head is a funny shape and they just end up slipping right off. But these headbands had a handy little addition: small pieces of velcro to keep the ribbon from sliding off one's head. Easy peasy! I'm very tempted to make all sorts of different kinds of similar headbands now, with a few modifications, like using spare fabric. I also want to make fabric watchbands that could be used with the same type of watch face that people use for the beaded watchbands. I just haven't put any together yet as samples. Maybe someday soon...
The other idea is to make diaper cakes. We're throwing a baby shower for a girl at work, and we're using as decorations things she can take home and use for the baby. For example, instead of using tablecloths, you use receiving blankets. Instead of (or in addition to) napkins, baby wipes. We also decided that the centerpiece would be a diaper cake. Shortly after we decided what we were going to do for the shower, I found a super cute picture of a diaper creation: a tricycle! Then I realized, you could make all sorts of fun things out of diapers! I found a few other ideas online...a train, a car, a fire truck, a castle...and a guitar! Who knew??? I'm so excited to play around and see what I can create! And....I've also seen ideas for cakes made out of kitchen or bath towels, used for a wedding or bridal shower gift. So if you know of anyone that's looking for a fun gift, send them my way and we can see what we can come up with!

Who Says You Have To Leave To Have An Adventure?

Two blog posts in one week??? Who are you and what have you done with the real Gina? I know, I know...I'm awful with actually posting here, but I'm hoping to get better. I've even got plans for at least one more post that may or may not be written in the next few days.

Anyway, today I thought I'd share my little adventure this afternoon. Don't worry, it's completely okay to laugh at my stupidity. I flip-flopped between wanting to burst out laughing and feeling like the tears might start flowing. So here goes:

The day started out like pretty much any other day, except for the fact that it had snowed a few inches so the roads had a tendency to be fairly slick. But I managed to arrive at my destination not too long after I was supposed to be there. I pulled into my usual parking spot, but because of some snow that hadn't quite been plowed, I misjudged the location of the curb. Not wanting to be that close, I backed up and tried to straighten myself out. Well, that didn't really work, so I tried again. Unfortunately, this time, my car didn't budge. Oh well, I thought to myself. Hopefully the snow/ice will melt enough that I won't have a problem getting out of my parking spot.

Well, imagine my frustration when, at shortly after 4 pm this afternoon, my car still did not and would not budge. I keep a container of kitty litter in my trunk as I had been told years earlier that it's really good for traction in case you ever get stuck (this is completely false, and when it gets saturated, looks less like kitty litter and more like kitty regurgitation...anyone need half a container of unused kitty litter for Fluffy? It's yours!).

Luckily for me, my coworker (we call her Midge) who had left the same time as me, drove by and saw my unfortunate situation. She stopped her car to watch the circus of me trying to get my unstuck. She even made an effort to try to push my car out of the ice and sludge. And then I had my bright idea: I'll put my car in neutral, and both of us can push it! Neutral: go! And then I closed the door. "No, you have to leave it open, see?" Midge said as she grabbed the door handle...but the door wouldn't open. Apparently, I had forgotten the small detail that when I put my car in gear, the doors lock. So now my car is A. locked, B. stuck, C. running, oh...and D. almost out of gas. Great.

Then I remembered something: (at the risk of undesirable events taking place...) One of my windows is not functioning properly and is cracked open a bit. Perfect! I should be able to pull it down with not much effort, and I can get into my car, and that'll be one less problem. Pull, pull, pull...think, think, think...pull, pull, pull....post on Facebook in case someone has a more brilliant idea than me...pull, pull, pull...crap, that didn't work...pull, pull, pull...at some point, this has to work, right?...pull, pull, pull. In the meantime, Midge called our supervisor to see if someone there had, with any luck, a wire hanger. So we waited and waited, and hopped into Midge's warm car, and waited some more, and then out came another co-worker with two wooden rulers taped together with the taped ends wrapped in paper and a binder clip taped to the end. So I stuck one of the rulers through the slightly open window and...well, one of the rulers is now in my backseat. Someone, remind me to return it to her, please. And that is how one idea, which was great in theory, failed miserably.

Just as co-worker was headed to her car to see if she possibly had anything that might help, she passed three of the guys on the IT team. Great, as if I didn't feel stupid enough for getting stuck in the snow and locking myself out of my running car...Their suggestion? Call campus security. Sigh. Alright, guess we'll give that a try. Now, what's the phone number? Midge and I both went on a search (using our phones, of course) for the number. Finally, I found it and had to swallow my pride as I explained my dilemma to the guy on the other end of the line. Luckily, he didn't ridicule me for my brainless act(s) (let's be honest, they probably encounter this type of thing all the time, year round...maybe not getting stuck in the snow, but...) and let me know that someone should be contacting me within 5-10 minutes. Sure enough, I received a call so that I could give the security officer my exact location.

Within minutes (MINUTES!!!) of the security officer arriving, he had my front driver's side window rolled down. "There you go, have a nice day." No, wait! My car's stuck, too! This was my original problem, and I was NOT letting him get away without fixing this for me, too! I know, I know...sometimes I can be so needy. So he called for backup because this was not going to be remedied without a little extra help, and then I told him why I was not surprised that I was stuck.

It seams like at least once a year for the past five years, I have gotten myself stuck in the snow. Mostly, it was when I was backing out of a driveway and just didn't go fast enough. And then I would learn from that so it was much less likely that I would let that happen again. Until the next year. Well, apparently I have a hard time shutting down illogical thoughts in my brain and figured that since we've had a fairly mild winter this year with only a few snowstorms with a majority of the snow melting within a day or so, this would be the year that I did not get stuck. And I started getting a little confident about that because it's now March. Spring (and warmer weather) should be coming soon, right? Right.

Anyway, I explained to him that without fail, I get stuck in the snow once a year. Then I told him I even tried kitty litter for traction, but obviously, that didn't help. He walked over to his truck and pulled a bag of bright blue rock salt out of the back, and started throwing the stuff both in front of and behind my front tires. Then he started directing me to push on the gas while turning the steering wheel either direction. Well, whaddaya know??? TRACTION!!! Keep going, keep going....Success! All four tires solidly on pavement! And then off I was to make the final rescue of my poor car: fill it with gas before it dies a sad and pathetic death.

Moral of the story: So many options. Don't assume that if something that tends to happen annually hasn't occurred yet, you're home free? Don't pull into the parking spot so close to the curb when snow is involved? Don't leave your keys in the ignition (or anywhere else in the car) when your car is in gear or in neutral and then close the door because you will inevitably be locked out? Never trust a Sicilian when death is on the line? (Points to whomever can tell me what that's from) I don't know, you be the judge.

Thanks again to Midge for chilling out with me and witnessing my manifested stupidity and providing a warm place for both of us while we waited for my rescue. And a huge thanks to the security officer for helping me into my car and out of my rut. And thanks to whomever reads this blog post, for hopefully reading this entire story and enjoying at least a chuckle or two.

Time flies...

Wow. Looks like it's been quite a while since I posted last, and it's amazing how much has happened. I'd like to say that Jenny's quilt has been completed, as well as the one for Andrea that I purchased the fabric for, but alas, 'tis not true. And now she's entering the MTC on Wednesday, so it looks like I've got about 18 months to get it finished up. Let's hope I can do that and get Andrea's done as well, and maybe I can get the disappearing 4-patch quilt in black, white and orange for myself finished. Wishful thinking? Maybe. I suppose time will tell. I'll be sure to post when I complete a project.
I also have plans to refurbish a sewing table I purchased at the DI this summer for a whopping $4.00. It opens up on both sides, and there's a big ol' hole in the middle where a sewing machine used to be. I had gone on a search for a piece of wood that I could have cut down to replace the middle section, but I would have had to purchase an entire sheet and have it cut down, and I would have had to take the rest of it home. Not something I wanted to do.
Luckily, there was a man in the lumber section that was buying supplies for himself who had overheard my conversation with the employee at the store who was being quite difficult to deal with. The man said he might have something at his shop that might work for me, and to give him a call a bit later after he'd gotten back to his shop. Sure enough, he had something that would be perfect for my project. He had even cut it down and sanded it for me. I asked him what I owed him for the wood, and he basically said it was a gift. Really? Sweet! Current tally: $4.00!
My next item to replace: hardware. Up until this point, I hadn't really decided exactly what I wanted to do with my sewing table. All I knew was that I wanted it to be functional and cute. So off I trekked to Hobby Lobby where I perused the drawer pulls. I looked and looked, not really finding anything I wanted. And then I saw something that caught my eye: zebra-striped drawer pulls. Oh yeah. And then it all came together. Here's the plan: the table will be black, but when it's closed, it will have a zebra-striped top, with zebra-striped drawer pulls. I'm so ridiculously excited for the finished product! Pictures hopefully to follow soon.

Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It...

My materials:

• Fabric
• Thread
• Ribbon

My supplies:

• Sewing Machine
• Scissors
• Pins

My mission:

• To make a wearable Easter skirt in a few hours or less without using a pattern.

Mission: Accomplished

The Cat's Out of the Bag!

Okay, so it's been over a month since I posted a picture of the fabric for my project, so I'm a little slow. But I managed to finish sewing the top of this awesome quilt together and present it to my friend Jenny for her birthday! I would have liked to have the whole thing done, but, well...I didn't. Fail. BUT...She said she really liked it, which is bittersweet for me. I'm so happy that she likes it, but I'm also sad that I'll have to let it go forever once it's finished. I suppose I can see it when I visit her. But first I have to figure out how to back it without having to buy a lot of additional fabric.
I also have a couple of other projects in the works...Okay, the truth is that fabric has been purchased, but has not been cut into yet. I'm making another quilt in some fun colors for another friend (I'll post pictures later since she has probably figured out that she's getting a quilt for her birthday, as well...if not, she knows now!) and once both of these are done, it's a quilt for me! I'm using the same pattern as the one in the picture to the left for both, and I'll let you in on the secret for the color theme for my quilt...the bricks are black and white fabric, and the "neutral" color for the squares is orange. I know, I know...it sounds Halloween-ish, but hopefully it doesn't turn out that way. If it does, oh well. I'm excited to see how it'll turn out. I'm already plotting to bind it in the extra black fabric, and I'll probably back it in orange. As my seester says, it'll probably be so bright it'll keep me up at night, but at least I'll be warm! Hopefully pictures are to come soon.

Surprise!

100_2219 a photo by froggy_miss on Flickr.

I'm super excited about this fabric and what I plan on doing with it. It's a surprise, and the great part about it is that the person it's for probably has no idea whatsoever that it's for them! So I can post pictures all over the place and they'll never know! I'm super excited to sew it up, although I nearly had a panic attack when I started cutting into the fabric. My seester and my mom are the seamstresses of the family. I, unfortunately, did not get the sewing genes. Or if I did, they're stunted. The point is, I don't do nearly as much sewing as either one of them do. But I'm not letting that stop me from making something really cute! Speaking of, I should probably start cutting up the green fabric in the middle of the picture so I can get on with the actual sewing! I'll try to post more when I get more of my project completed.