Stuff done-stuff to do-it never ends

We are short handed at work, so I've been working 10 hour shifts and beading, too. Got a gorgeous cherrywood burl cab beaded. Now I just need to get it on it's way to get sold. I think I'm done with the ornament drapes, too. That all depends on if I get grabbed by a color combo next time I'm going through my beads. I had a helper the day I was taking pics of the drapes. This is Skits-he was Red's cat. He has decided that he will be a photographers assistant when he grows up. He works cheap-a few pats and the occasional belly rub and he's happy. Here are a couple of drapes actually hanging on an ornament. It's not a good pic of the cherrywood cab, but it gets the idea across. I'm going to make a necklace for me next-out of a gorgeous turquoise teardrop that was a gift from a friend. I just have to figure out the details-that's the hardest part.

Don't stereotype my just because I'm southern

These are replies I wish I could have given to guest who asked me these questions.
Yes, I am a southerner, born and bred. I am not a hick and even got farther than a H.S. education. Our lives are like yours-not a continous Dukes of Hazzard movie. No, my accent isn't any cuter than your N.J. one, which actually sounds rather harsh to my ears. No, not everybody in the south likes dog fighting. In fact, I bet 95% of us find it appalling. Yes, there is still racism in the south-witness the Jena 6. Things like that make my blood boil. No, I am not in the klan and nobody in my family has ever worn one of those hideous robes. No, we are not lazy. When you see us sitting on the front porch with a cool glass of iced tea about 11a.m., it's because we are waiting for it to cool off. We have probably already done several hours work while it was still cool. We have enough sense to get out of the heat in the middle of the day. Yes, native Floridians used to have southern accents. Just so you know, native Floridians should be on the endangered species list. We can't afford it and a lot of us no longer want to live in our paved over home state. No, Disneyworld is not the best thing to ever happen in that state-it was the worst. If you can find a native Floridian from Orlando, just ask them. Yes, I have picked cotton. My Grandfather had a small patch of it growing along with his vegetable garden. I have picked and shelled peas with the best of them-my aunts and learned a lot about life while doing it. Yes, I have seen snow. I don't find anything about it particularly appealing, except for being briefly pretty. No, I don't consider Gone With the Wind a true picture of southern women. You want true southern women, go rent Steel Magnolias. Yes, I have eaten gator-it's good, but it doesn't taste like chicken-tastes like gator. No, I don't know anybody crazy enough to wrestle the things. Down here, we think that's nuts. Besides, we were raised not to play with our food.

Goodbye to a great dog

Our dog, Red, died yesterday at 14 years old. He was 6 months old when we rescued (stole) him from his abusive owners. He looked like his mom, who was a golden retriever, but had jaws like his pit bull dad. The people we took him from had the whole litter of puppies because they owned the dad and he escaped from their house and attacked the mom's owner to get to the mom. They would give the puppies alcohol and drugs and laugh when they staggered around and acted stupid, just like them. They didn't miss him for 2 weeks-and didn't care that he was gone. He was really sweet and loved the cats to pieces. They knew he would protect them from things in the woods that wanted to eat cats. He did accidentally kill a kitten once and you knew by the look on his face he was sooo soorry. He was about 8 months old then and just played with it too rough. When an angry me got out there and told him that he had killed it, I think he understood-he knew he messed up-his little buddy wasn't moving and Mom was scolding him. He was a great watchdog and if you were crazy enough to come the drive and get out of the car without one of us tellng him it was ok, he would snarl at you. He liked basic dog stuff, riding in the car, and getting treats. He also liked Skits-that was his cat. They would pile up together in the winter. Skits was crying all morning yesterday-even before Red died. I'm conviced he knew what was happening with his old friend. We buried him in his favorite spot in the yard and Skits was there, too. So rest well, my friend-you were the best dog ever. I'm gonna miss you.

Gotta love those firefighters

While I was watching the fires in Ca. last week, it reminded me of this spring when the south Ga. and N.E.Fla. area was burning-especially the Okefenokee Swamp. It was scary and incredible. There were many days that ash would rain on the whole county. The smell of smoke was everywhere. We lost more land, but Ca. lost many more houses. Firefighters came from all over the country to help. Some of the teams stayed at our motel. These guys were putting in 16-18 hour days. One of the teams that was here came from Oregon. This team was mostly young-in their 20's, maybe. They had never seen a swamp like the Okefenokee. It amazed them. One of them came in one night and said, "Miss Sue, I saw an alligator-a big one". I asked him how big it was and he said at least 5 feet. I just busted out laughing and when I could breathe again, told him that he saw a baby. His eyes got big and round and he wanted to know how big they got. I told him that over in the swamp, they used to have some that were about 14 feet long. Before he choked on his tongue, I told him the average size was about 6-8 feet. They talked about how much easier it was to fight a fire here than out west because the land is flat and they weren't packing 80lbs. of gear uphill and down into valleys. One guy left early because his wife had their firstborn 3 weeks before schedule. The sacrifices these guys make to tame these fires just amaze me. While I was watching the news last week, I wondered if any of the firefighters I saw were ones that had stayed here. We also had crews form Ca.,Colorado, Idaho and Montana. I tried to let them all know that we were so appreciative of them being here. I know the people in Ca. feel the same way. So if you are a firefighter, thanks again and stay safe.

I Am a Front Desk Clerk

This supposedly originated from the Fairfiled Inn in Des Moines, Ia. It pretty much sums up what I do.
I am a Front Desk Clerk
I have degress in accounting, public relatons, marketing, business, computer science, civil engneering and Swahili. Of course I have the reservation that you booked 6 years ago even though you do not have a confirmation number and you think it was made under a name that starts with "x". It is not a problem for me to get connecting, non-smoking, poolside, downstairs/outside suites (with 2 king size beds in each), four rollaways, and yes, I would be happy to install and stock a wet bar at no extra charge. Oh yes, I know it is my fault that we do not have a helicopter landing pad. I am a front desk clerk. I am expected to speak all languages. It is obvious to me that when you booked your reservation for Friday, you really meant Saturday. My computer has entrusted me with all your financal information and descisions. And yes, I can tell you from memory that your bill from March 16, 1989 contained a 24 cent phone charge because obviously, you never pay your phone charges. I understand that "McGillergerty's Manufacturing"is a vast empre that will make or break our hotel. Yes, I am lying to you when I say we have no more rooms available. It is not a problem for me to quickly construct several more guest rooms. This time I will remember the helicopter landing pad.I am a front desk clerk. I am quite capable of checking 3 people in, 2 people out ,taking 5 reservations, answering 15 incoming calls and plunge the toilet in room 121, all at the same time. I always know where the best vegetarian, kosher, Mongolan, and BBQ restaurants are. I know exactly what to see and do in this city in under 15 minutes without spending any money. I take personal blame for airline delays, traffic jams, rental car flat tires (and the national debt as well.). I realize that you meant to book your reservation here; people often confuse us with the "Galaxy Delight Hotel". Of course I can "fit you in"and yes, I would be happy to honor that special "one dollar rate" because you are affiliated with the Accounting and Bagel Club of North Africa.Yes, I will be happy to cash your "Japan Traveler's Cheque" for real American dollars, even though it is for 10,000 yen. Of course I know the exchange rates, after all, I am a front desk clerk. We are expeced to smile, empathize, console, psell, downsell (and know when to do which),perform, sing, dance and fix the priters (all at the same time). I am a front desk clerk, I can do all thngs....(and try to look busy when the boss is around).
This will be especially true this weekend since it's the Fla.-Ga. football game in Jacksonville. Since we are only about 40 miles from the stadium, we get very busy. It's fun, though since I'm a Gator fan and most of the guests are Ga. fans. I love ribbing them when they lose. GO GATORS!!!!!!!

The Christmas muse needs a vacation

There are some shops in the area who want some of the beaded ornament drapes I make. I've been working on them and have about a dozen made and have about 6 weeks before I need to have them all finished. My Cmas. muse won't leave me alone. I have a beautiful cherry burl wood cabachon (cab) that I got from a friend on a beading forum. I want to make a necklace out of this cab, but Cmas. muse keeps running through my head like the freakin' sugar plum fairy. All I need is about 3 days to do the necklace-once I get it figured out what beads I'll use. Anybody want to take a holiday muse to the Bahamas for a long weekend?

Introducing myself

My name is Sue, a.k.a. subeeds and I'm a jewelry designer who creates with seed beads. I have a job that helps pay the bills-I'm a desk clerk in a small economy priced motel by the interstate. I have done desk clerk work for years. When you come from Fla. you deal with tourists in one form or another.I like my job because it has let me meet people from all over the world. I've worked in 500+ room resorts, places with fancy golf courses and now here. I have lots of stories to tell in the days to come. When you work with the travelling public, life is usually not dull. I want to get my jewelry business, Dancing Wind Designs, going well and then I hope to weave beads full time. I think that covers it for now. See you later in the week.