Project Updates:

I have been really busy this week. I don't have pictures of my awesome, super huge, plaid pants yet but here is something to keep you entertained
http://www.asgaustin.org/index1.htm
There is a small problem with IE (as always). The menu is not supposed to split appart like that.

Thanks to Jordan I now have an awesome text editor called Jedit.
I made a bunch of fixes and ran everything through the W3C validators for HTML and CSS.

I hope that all of this works a little better for you.

Chris- you were right about the missing "/div" in a few spots. Another thing that was throwing stuff off was a "/SCRIPT" (XML no like all caps).

This week was actually national engineers week but I felt that wasn't a very good title for what occurred last week.

What did I learn?

• It pays to write stuff down. Its hard to stay on track when emotions have taken control. I am not saying that you need to write out the entire script, bullets/key points are enough, maybe ellaborate on a few if you think you won't be able to remember specific examples.
• No matter how long its been since you've spoken to a close friend, they will always come running when you need them. THANK YOU :)
• Volunteer, it does a body good. I went to an Austin Sewing Guild meeting with my mom a few weekends ago. I had a blast hanging out with these amazing women who were all around my mom's age but have kept themselves extremely productive. They were looking for someone to create a web site for them and I volunteered. I got a call last night and they want me to do it. Austin Sewing Guild is a non-profit organization so they don't really have the cash to pay someone to design the standard $300 web site so I figure that I can work out a deal. #1 I can design the site and just write it off on my taxes. #2 I could barter with them (they make some really awesome stuff) #3 I can get a few paying jobs out of this because many of them sell their merchandise.

• Website- I have done some tweaking here and there to my site. Nothing to exciting. Most of my web skills were put to use cleaning up this albatross at work last week. It was so sad.
  
• More web stuff- I am going to through together a rough draft of the Austin Sewing Guild Web site this week. I plan on keeping it simple (unlike some of the other Chapters of the American Sewing Guild who are using Frontpage templates)
• Even more web stuff - Paula Effle Attorney at Law is about to get web representation, Congratulations Paula for getting it even more together
• Sewing- I finally got around to making something for myself. I am working on a new work bag and a pair of pants. After that it is back to making stuff for other people. I am trading Megan a pair of pants for a knitted scarf.
  

I decided to finally look up the nutritional value of Portobello Mushrooms since I eat them so often and a non-vegetarian friend of mine inquired as to whether the veggie people are being cheated nutrients when meat is often subbed out for this tasty fungi.

So here is the scoop

If you love someone set them free.
-Sting

Normally I don't delve very far into my personal life but seeing that this website is devoted to personal growth and jumping beyond myself I feel that my recent experience is totally relevent. There's also the fact that writing is known to be theraputic.

I was just in a relationship for two and a half years and it came to an end. No fight, no yelling, just came to an end. When all was said and done, it came to me feeling that I deserved more and him knowing that I deserved more.

Why should this matter?
He was my first boyfriend. I learned a lot with him. I learned a lot about myself. About sharing my thoughts and feelings. Good days and bad days. I learned that its ok to show your insecurities and fears.

Most importantly learned that its one thing to know that you want more and its another to actually ask for it.

Thank you loving me enough to let me go out and experience the world for myself.

I discovered a pretty cool show on PBS today called Rough Science
You should check it out if you have a chance. Its about a team of scientists who specialize in different areas (but all have a thing for outdoor/adventur-y stuff). They go out in the middle of nowhere with random stuff and they are supposed to figure out various challenges. Tonight they were supposed to figure out how fast a glacier was travelling and how quickly it retreats.

Once again I make my PSA to all of you to dress appropriately for EVERY occasion.

What did I learn?

• As part of my New Year's resolution I decided to be a little more selfish. I think I need to revise that because sometimes selfishness can lead to some serious problems.
• Unless you are dying or on fire you shouldn't go to the emergency room at St. Davids.
• Once again I can earn more productivity points on an angry day than a happy one.
• You can put 7 people on a standard size futon.
• Bellybutton piercings hurt way less than cartillage (Although my cartillage piercing was done at Claire's Boutique. Never again)

Projects, projects, projects...

• Website- Chris emailled me some fixes for the footer issue. I will incorporate them soon. I also added pictures this past week.
• Sewing- I made an apron for my dad and Pajama bottoms for Karen.

A little treat for everyone ...
More PICTURES!!!!!!!

There are still some missing from Christmas and I hope to have a few more up later today.

Well that time of year is upon us where florists, jewlers, and lingerie stores are raking in the big bucks. Someone out there decided to declare the week before Valentine's Day "Rejection Awareness Week." I guess that's to give you an opportunity to cancel any V-Day plans should your relationship not work out.

What did I learn this week?

• That perhaps I should become a fashion designer. Paula's Carnaval outfit turned out great. I finished on time as well.
• Brushing after every meal has stopped my dentist from nagging me about flossing (either that or my hygienist was spacing out last week).
• If you come up with an improvement on an existing design, you can patent it. Paula thinks that I should patent my diaper bag design. We shall see. I think that the patent process involves $$$.
• The little orange cat was really upset about the increased security at my house.

Projects, projects, projects...

• I wrapped up all of my existing sewing projects on Saturday. I even managed to add some elastic to Jeremy's scuba helmety-thingy. I finished the baby gifts and Paula came over for a final fitting before Carnaval. I will put up pictures as soon as they are unloaded from various cameras.
• Webdesign is on hold for a little while.
• GIS- I took an online course on Map Projections and Coordinate systems. As always the US had to come up with their own funky way of doing things.

I got home on Sunday to find that my cat (Louis) was not alone. There was a little orange kitty in the living room. The same little orange kitty who had been spotted once before in the office a few months ago and frequently in the garage. Not cool. I don't need another cat in the house. Especially if that cat could bring in fleas, or spray, or shred stuff in the house.

I did some investigating online and I decided to go with one of those magnetic id cat doors. Only cats that have the magnetic collar id will be able to get into the house. So, if Louis loses his collar, he is out of luck. Or, should Louis find other cats with the magnetic collar, he will be able to party in the house once again.

Installation wasn't too difficult. The hard part was removing he old pet door that was between the house and the garage and making the hole wider to fit the new door.

I am still working on Louis getting in and out smoothly. He was a little afraid of the the door. This one is clear and nice and the other one was really nasty and covered with paint.

What did I learn this week?

• It is ok to clean a stainless steel iron with brillo pads. I managed to get the strange crusty stuff off of it last week and used the waxed paper trick to make it nice and slick.
• Temporary spray adheasive is great. This week's sewing project involved taffeta and a sheer overlayer.
  

• Web site: I fixed the picture viewing problem in IE on my website. I realized that for some reason the pictures weren't showing up.
• Sewing: I can see the finish line. I think that I may have all of my projects done on Saturday.