2.24.2010

whatnow?



If, in your opinion, the integration is started too early or if the peak end is delayed too much, use the parameter Fronting Sensitivity Factor for the peak start and the Tailing Sensitivity Factor for the peak end. The entered value multiplied with the left or right peak width determines the peak start or the peak end. Depending on the chromatogram type different values may make sense. Therefore, you should try which value is best for your chromatograms. Often, the value 2 is an appropriate starting point for finding the best fronting/tailing sensitivity factor.

SOMETIMES WORK MAKES MY BRAIN SQUISHY
(and I don't even get to analyze cool stuff like beer.)
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2.15.2010

Valentine's Sale



Saturday was a ton of fun and I can't for the next show. My table looked gorgeous and was set up super fast thanks to all my pre-show preparations and that amazing husband of mine who helped me lug heavy stuff and set it all up.


"i loved this stuff and she was sooo nice" - written on a facebook photo post of my table!!

It was busier than I expected and I sold a lot as well as traded for a few amazing items from other artists at the show.
check out mooncat:


and the coolest dogs at the bbq:


I also got three pairs of beautiful earrings from other sellers who were also at GLAM last fall. One whom I bought a necklace from (one of two things I bought that day) and the other two from the same woman Collin had found those sweet pink skull earrings at. She ended up as my table neighbor and it was great to talk with her about shows and local craft fairs. She's done the Atomic Holiday Bazaar since the beginning so it will be great to see a friendly face there if I should make it into the show. She also encouraged me to do the O'Connell Center holiday sale - a two day mega sale in the UF basketball stadium. It's an expensive entry fee but could be really really worth it if I work all summer to build an inventory for the holiday shows that are all back-to-back-to-back.
So far it looks like it's gonna be a killer year.
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2.09.2010

Bullet List

The days are moving fast and on this rainy afternoon my brain is being pulled in opposite directions.

Stresses in my life are prompting some thinking on optimism, patience and timing.
Three things I usually think I handle well but about which am frequently reminded I need practice. One day it's like you wake up and realize that every single thing is a shade of gray - that for every bad thing in your life there is a good side. I suppose it has to be true in reverse.

So. Let's start with the good, yeah?

good

  • The show this weekend is coming up so fast! I ordered supplies from my favorite Etsy.com seller and they were here like lightning - now to get to work!
  • My folding table came in at Wal-Mart and now I have to actually put it together and do a mock setup before this Saturday.
  • Free rides in the AM with my co-worker means I can save more vacation days for vacations.
  • Collin dug out those savings bonds from his grandparents and we're finally going through the steps to deposit them.
  • More subpoenas for Collin are in the mail along with the TurboTax cd from his dad.
  • Charting says my potential monthly lady-woes should arrive the day before the craft show. Perfect.
bad
  • I ordered the wrong jump rings. And I still have no car. No car to get me to the craft store that is all the way out here by work so I can purchase those jump rings I need to make any more finished pieces of jewelry.
  • Setup for the show on Saturday is only about half an hour. This is a very short window and I'm worried about getting everything done in time.
  • I've been waking up early because I can't sleep in the early morning due to the cat (as usual) and anxiety over sleeping late and holding up my friend.
  • Guilt is creeping in a little over putting Collin's savings bonds that his grandparents set up for him towards my our car, my our dental bills and my our credit card debt.
  • Collin's car is driving sluggish getting into first gear (after $1500 in recent repairs) and subpoenas mean extended driving.
  • I hope the work Collin has done for his dad this year won't screw us up with self-employment taxes.
  • Thanks to stress, potential monthly lady-woes might arrive the day of the craft show. Crap.
  • Potential monthly lady-woes might not arrive for the craft show at all. Ugh.

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2.06.2010

What a Week



I've been working my little butt off enameling every day in preparation for the Valentine's Craft Sale at Boca Fiesta next weekend. This is sadly only due to the fact that I've been home Wednesday, Thursday and Friday thanks to my car being in the shop.

I'm not sure if I can really write about that now. I always feel conflicted with cars. I'm just not knowledgeable but at the same time I know enough and I research what to do. No matter what though, there will be things to find and mis-diagnose and cause me stress.

I am thankful for two things the most:
1) The extended warranty my parents purchased for my car when I bought it. They are covering thousands of dollars in repairs.
2) The nice service associate at Ford for talking with them on the phone for hours to try and make sure I am fully awarded for my eligible claims.

I am having a terribly hard time though, thinking about our trying to get out of debt and the constant setbacks we have had in the last few months. After that first month where it was a breeze to put 1000 in the emergency fund and live comfortably paying our debts as planned we've since not been able to fill it up yet.
Oh. And that emergency root canal ended up being $600 more than the insurance allotted amount for the procedure and was performed by a non-affiliated dentist so it's only covered 20% of that allotted amount. That bill is sitting on our desk, too.

I don't mean to sound like a bummer and get all woe-is-me about our financials but it's hard not to let serious car repairs affect the psyche.

I have tried to have a good week despite all the crap. Part of me wanted to cancel all these plans we'd made that involve spending money but I let it go and decided to focus on the rest of the month instead. Tuesday Cindy and Eve and I got together for ladies night at 101 finally and it was a nice couple hours to chill and eat fancy food on the cheap. It was also pretty great to see the newly remodeled interior and sit on buttery leather benches. After, I went home for a while and met up with Jon to see an outdoor screening of Groundhog's Day at Boca Fiesta for free (minus snacks and drinks). I only wish I'd worn a much bigger coat. Friday Collin was home all day so we walked some bikes down to the shop for trade-in credit towards our own bikes (finally). Saw an old friend there who is about to get married and has a baby boy! We went out to see the Shitty Beatles at Common Grounds later that night and ate up some Big Uli's burgers to close it out. This afternoon we opened up the house and worked in the garden it was just that beautiful.

I know it won't make up for all the car repairs and the dental bill and everything, but maybe just maybe I'll make a killing at the sale next weekend and take a nice chunk out of the 2010 total so far.

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