Just for you, Sonja V. ~~~ "Hello Kitty"

Let me know if you want more lil pink bows.

"Shut the Duct Up" is off to a good start!

Our first paying customer (and friend) ordered three totes in the color of her grandson's football team.  (Thank you sooooo much!)   Pray to God she likes them!

BTW ~ We are in the middle of setting up a website, http://www.shuttheductup.com/.  In the meantime, if anyone wants to order something, let me know here.   Don't forget, there is duct tape available in tons of sports teams.  Plus I can likely find any combination of school colors too.

In Iris and Joe news (speaking of which, Happy Rosh Hashanah), Robin just hung up with Iris.  She got mad at Joe earlier and destroyed a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle he had almost completed.  Took her arm and in one fell swoop knocked it to the floor. 

Happy Holidays!!!!

Breast Cancer Awareness Tote (not to be confused with bag)

The lighting in my kitchen does not do these bags/totes justice, trust me.

Well, I have done it again.  All my eggs are in one duct taped basket with this duct tape thing.  The good news is, I do have a meeting scheduled tomorrow with a rizty boutique owner on Main Street.  I know who this lady is because I've been in her store and I also recognize her from my nail salon.  The bad news is, I took my nails off in order to make these bags and consequently, my fingers are back to Jimmy Deans with remnants of pink polish.  Robin says she won't notice.  Being a nail person myself, I know she will.  Maybe I can whip up some duct tape gloves between now and then.

And even more positive news (the best news) is that people are starting to ask for certain things.  A blog follower wanted to know if I can do more subdued colors.  If it comes in duct tape, I can do it.  (Still working on finding it in gold, Robbie.)   Depending on tomorrow's meeting, I will make more Breast Cancer bags or move on to   ...   wait for it   ...   DOG BAGS!!!!!!  I have so many ideas.

Believe it or not, making these bags is a little physical.  My back and shoulders are killing me right now.

Breast Cancer Awareness Bag

There's actually a pink ribbon in the middle of the bag, but it barely shows up in the picture.  If you click on the picture, you get a much closer look.   Thinking a black and white bag like this would look good. 

TRICK OR TREAT!

Trick or treat!
This bag is complete.
Who wants to buy it
So my dogs can eat?????

Our first custom made order!!!!

So what if it's to a non-paying client named Iris.  She offered to pay but obviously we wouldn't let her. 

Told you we're a little OCD .....

Robin made the yellow and orange purse yesterday and the Cookie Monster wallet this morning.  I started my first one, the black & white and pink today, but she had to help me.  If we mean business, somebody's  gonna need to not have long nails. 

The bad part of this production is that Buddy is mad that we have taken over his couch.  Poor Buddy. 

Make room, Betsey Johnson ~ There's a new team in town!

I LOVE PURSES!

I always have. It probably started around the time I was in 9th grade. I remember saving my money and buying my first "Etienne Aigner" purse. I can see that thing like it was yesterday. I loved the way it looked, felt and smelled. I may have even tasted it too.

In a former life (ie: Miami, the past eight years), I spent more money on purses than I would EVER admit to anyone. And I'm not just talking about the expensive ones either. I bought a purse at Walgreen's once. If I liked it, I'd get it.

(FYI: Most of those expensive purses are long gone. Sold them on Ebay to make money when we first came up here.)

Then I discovered Betsey Johnson. In addition to fun clothes and jewelry, she designs very funky purses. I have several. One is based on a NYC yellow cab, one is covered in cherries, one is based on Marilyn Monroe. A mall in Miami had a Betsey Johnson boutique, but another great place to find her bags is TJ Maxx.

Robin and I used to go to TJ Maxx and think nothing about splitting up, each with our own carts, and meeting at the checkout counter. We'd buy pretty much what we felt like and didn't bat an eye. It was TJ Maxx, afterall, not Neiman Marcus.

Until last Friday, we hadn't been to TJ Maxx since we moved to NC. Until I get a job (which, BTW, I did not get the last job I wanted - that's why I've been quiet, Cybermatic. Cybermatic wants to know WTH I do all day and why haven't I been here), shopping sprees are off limits to us. We did, however, go to TJ Maxx last week. I needed a winter coat. Hadn't gone there planning on finding a coat - we just wanted to look. Well I did find a coat. It was exactly what I had in mind and I got it. No buyers' remorse. It's a coat. It gets cold up here. I needed it. (Then, when I was about to pay back my mother some money I owed her, she insisted I keep it and consider the coat a gift. Thank you again, HMQoB!!! {HOT MAMA ~ QUEEN of BEAUTY - she's insisted I call her that ever since I can recall.}).

While at TJ Maxx, I couldn't help look at the purses, just like Robin couldn't help look at the watches. That's her thing. Both of us recognized the difference in us and how although it would have been great to get a new purse for me and a new watch for her, we'd live without them.

When we went to the Coon Dog Festival a few months ago, she bought a wallet made out of lime green duct tape. It's held up perfectly. The other night she was focused on the computer and come to find out, she was googling how to make things out of duct tape. She came home yesterday with a Walmart bag full of different colored duct tape - pink, green, orange, yellow, black and white check, and camouflage. By the time I made dinner, she made the above pictured purse for me. I designed it as far as the shape and colors, but she made it. I absolutely love it!

So, being the obsessive complusive couple we are, guess what we'll be doing this weekend?   We are giving serious consideration to trying to sell these and I thought of a website name:  "SHUT THE DUCT UP!" Need to research that. Tape comes in all kinds of sports teams too. Going to Michael's today to get some, if we decide there's a market for it. I know many Gator fans and I'm sure there's Gator tape out there. Maybe not in NC, but surely we could order it online. (I know, I know. I have many Seminole friends too. Wouldn't leave you out, Melissa and Robbie!)

Now, if only I could learn how to make a watch for her.

Ahhhhhh ~ Autumn!!!!

I did not take this picture, but I could have. It's a pretty common scene around here. In fact, I know of a barn not too far away that I think I will go take a picture of later, just to prove my point.

I love the fall! I always have, and really missed it during all the years I lived in Florida, especially Miami. We were here in NC last year, but didn't thoroughly enjoy the fall becase I think we were getting used to this new lifestyle. It really was like a culture shock. This year I plan on enjoying every single second of the season. It's my reward for not living near the ocean. I miss the ocean and beach with all my heart, but am very thankful that when the pangs get really bad, my folks are just a road trip away.

Although the new season is technically about a week away, our forecast is calling for highs of 59 tomorrow and a blustery weekend. Love the word "blustery". As much as I love being outside in the sun, I also love being nice and cozy in my house. Especially when I'm in a cooking mood. Nothing better than the smell of something good cooking and the dogs (and Robin) lounging around the house.

I've been pretty much glued to my phone and computer ever since I had a telephone interview two days ago. I am hopeful (what's beyond hopeful, because that's really what I am) that I will be asked for an in person interview soon. While I was interviewing the other day, I had a lightbulb moment and realized what a perfect fit I would be for this job. I was asked to send a cover letter to the manager and in it I explained to her that between my life experience, work experience and personality, I really would be an excellent match.

So until I get that email or phonecall, I am going to savor the cooler temperatures and watch the leaves change. Robin's ankle did not really heal properly, but she assures me she's up for hiking. Better take her up on that soon because it won't be long until it'll be too chilly for her.

Speaking of which! For those of you who are not on Facebook, I found the best thrift store treasure ever! Rode to Asheville with Robin the other day because she had a meeting. While I waited I shopped at Goodwill. I need a few things that I didn't have last winter, and one of those things is a pair of boots. The color pink always catches my eye and from afar, I saw them. A pink pair of winter boots!! Brand spanking new, to boot! Pun intended. I didn't care what size they were, I'd make them fit. I gasped when I saw they were exactly my size. They're too pretty to hike in, so I'll have to figure something out.

Off to check my email...

Are we good mommies or what?

Frosty Paws Dog Ice Cream Recipe


32 oz. plain yogurt

1 mashed banana

2 T p'nut butter

2 T honey



It’s true dairy products aren’t good for dogs, but yogurt contains much less lactase than regular milk and the live cultures are great for your dog’s digestive system. This dog ice cream recipe is delicious and good for your pet!

1. Mix all these ingredients in your blender, then dump into ice cube trays, paper cups, or even a kong toy to freeze and serve.

2. If you want to go all out for your mutt you can freeze these homemade frosty paws just like you would homemade ice cream. A salt-less automatic ice cream maker makes this as easy as using any other appliance in your home and the frosty paws will be ready to serve in 10 minutes.

For the ultimate treat, appropriate for desert at a doggy birthday party, follow steps one and two, then take the mostly frozen dog ice cream product of number two and spread it 1” to 1½” thick on wax paper. Freeze for five minutes and thenremove dog ice cream from freezer. Next, use a paw shaped cookie cutter to cut a paw shaped “frosty paws”, remove ice cream around edges, and return paw shapes to the freezer to freeze solid.

This kid was at the grocery store yesterday.

I don't have kids, so maybe I have no business writing about brats.

Sure my heathens are brats.  Right now they are wildly barking at a older man walking his cocker spaniel down the street.  The weather is gorgeous (sorry, Florida) so the windows are open and it's exceptionally embarassing.  The man pointed at my house and said someting to his dog.  Probably something like, "That's how not to act."

Whatever.  They're dogs.  Dogs bark.

But I would like to think that if I did have a kid, that he or she (OK - she) would be smart, funny, kind, beautiful and talented.  Those are things not really in our control though.  I do know that I would teach my kid to have manners.  And she'd use them.  Or else.  I have never spanked an animal but I'm pretty sure that as a mother, I'd be an advocate of the spankings.  There's a difference between spanking and beating.  Wouldn't be a beater.  (I don't think.)

Also my heathens are gonna be my heathens for all of their lives.  I don't have to worry about them becoming decent, well adjusted members of society.  Although, it would be nice if they'd get jobs.   

I pulled into the grocery store parking lot yesterday.  I drive like an old lady according to Robin, so it was to my surprise that I almost hit a toddler.  He was with his mother and two other babies.  He darted out of the car and ran right in front of me.  The mother didn't even see it.  She was busy adjusting a baby to her chest and plunking another one in the cart. 

They all entered the store just before me, so I was stuck behind them.  Tried to get around them and the boy jumped on the end of my cart.  I looked at his mother and she just said "Seth.  No."  Got around them finally and Seth took off like a bat outta hell.  His mother didn't even notice.  He ran up and down every single isle and his mom was oblivious.  A few ladies and I made eye contact and shook our heads in disgust.  He ran by his mother and she didn't say a word.  I was afraid someone would kidnap him, but then again, who would kidnap a child like that?  He ran around the entire store a few more times, then I guess he ran out of steam for a minute.  Went back to his mom and demanded ice cream.  She literally said, "Be a good boy and you'll get a present."  He took off running again. 

We checked out at around the same time and sure enough, there was ice cream in the cart.  Unbelievable. 

We were at the beach recently and a mother couldn't get her kid out of the lake.  Major temper tantrum.  He finally came out and she thanked him for listening to her.  What about smacking his bottom for not coming out the first 37 times she asked him to?

Now my heathens are lying on the back of the couch (Bodi), the coffee table (Brady), my chair (Buddy)  and Baxter is asleep on the floor by my feet.  Maxx is asleep in the bedroom.  Until the next walker by.  Or squirrel.  Or rabbit.  Or leaf.

I can only imagine how difficult raising one kid is, let alone three little ones at a grocery store.  But come on, lady.  Letting your kid run willy nilly in a parking and not even noticing?  Not good.

It's true ~ When God closes a door, he opens a window.

Remember the job that I wrote about on Thursday?  The one where I'd put all my eggs in one basket?  The one where I called the lady and she told me they were still interviewing, but I'd hear something early this week?  That very day I received a thanks but no thanks letter in the mail.  Guess she didn't have the gonads to tell me herself.

I was bummed out, but not to the point of crying or anything.  I really don't want to spend one and a half to two hours per day in my car if I can avoid it.  Still, those 23 days per year of paid time off - well, that's just kind of unheard of these days. 

This is obviously a holiday weekend and I was planning on just putting my worries behind me until tomorrow.  We had plans to go to the Apple Festival, a cook out on Saturday at a friend's house, friends over Sunday night, and the inevitable get together with Iris and Joe today.  We made it to the festival on Saturday and then something hit me lke a brick.  I instantly came down with flu like symptoms and have been under the weather ever since.  It's kinda OK though because it's a dark rainy day and if I have to be sick, this is perfect weather for it.  Robin now has it too. 

We actually went to the festival twice on Saturday.  It was the second go round, the one where we went back just to get a sausage dog, that I felt ill.  After we got home from the morning visit, we decided to go to Iris' pool.  Robin got a text from her boss asking if they could park in our driveway.  Parking is a challenge to say the least at these events.

We didn't know when they were gonna show up, but it didn't really matter.  They weren't coming to see us;  they were headed to the festival.  We got ready for the pool and were about to leave when Buddy decided he needed some sun.  Buddy takes after me.  He LOVES to lie out in the sun.  And once he gets comfortable, you can't budge him.  So as we were sweetly saying, "Come on, Buddy" and then not so sweetly saying, "Buddy, get in here right now", they showed up.  It was her boss, his wife and two kids in one car and his sister, her husband and daughter in another car.  Since we were about to head out, we offered them a ride to the festival.  Nine people in my car!  We looked like circus clowns when everyone got out!

They all live in Asheville.  We drove by a very popular restaurant and his sister said, "In all the years I've worked in Hendersonville, I've never eaten there."  I asked her where she works, she told me, and then said, "Why?  Do you know someone who's looking for a job?"

I told her my background and Robin said her face lit up!!!!  It was kinda surreal, really.  Surreally, if you will.

Anywho...best not to share the name just yet, but she said she'd hook me up.  Everyone has heard of this establishment and it will never ever go out of business. 

I know what you're thinking, because I feel it too.  "Poor Kim.  She gets her hopes up so high so quickly.  She's like the girl who thinks she finally met "the one" and he never calls her."

Part of me does feel like that, but a bigger part of me knows that something perfect is waiting for me right around the corner.  I have to keep a positive attitude.

We left the pool as they were leaving the festival so we picked them up.  She brought up the subject again and took my email address.  She said she'll be in touch this week and will personally walk my resume to the head of HR.

Get this.  She said that one of the best things is the benefits:  25 DAYS OF PTO PER YEAR PLUS SIX HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!

If it wasn't for Buddy needing his tanning fix and completely ignoring my demand to come inside, I would have missed meeting her.

So here I sit, praying that this is the one........please???????

Where did August go?

I have no idea.

I haven't written anything (here) in a while because there really hasn't been much to write.  My mom had hand surgery and is recovering from that.  She was on good drugs for a while, so those conversations were fun.  I have been chasing after a job in Asheville that I really want.  Applied online, they called and sent me an application and a personality test, which I must have passed thank you very much because next was a phone interview, then an in person interview.  I called to follow up this morning and the lady thought I was a friend of hers and started talking to me as such.  Pretty funny!  I'll hear something early next week. 

Yesterday Robin hosted a luncheon for some successful ex-con stories, her bosses, parole officers and potential employers.  She was scared nobody would show up, so I went and so did Iris and Joe.  Robin is an excellent public speaker.  She really hams it up well.  She was funny, informative and really drew the people in.  There were about 40 people in attendance and I was really proud of her.  Until she went too far.  I know her better than anyone and I doubt even Iris and Joe picked up on the BS when Robin was finishing up her speech.  When she was talking about the re-entry program (prisoners re-entering society) and how there needs to be so much more than just giving them $40 and dropping them off on the side of the road.  It was all making sense and going smoothly.  Then she put her hand on her chest and so sincerely (NOT) said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I hate to sound like a cliche, but....it really does take a village."    I must have blacked out for a few seconds at that one because I don't remember what came next.

During the whole thing, there was a nice looking man making sure everyone had seats, drinks, the pamphlets, stuff like that.  I knew who he was because Robin introduced me.  She has talked about him a lot and thinks the world of him.  He, however, is one of the success stories and spent a very long time in jail.  She forbids me to go into detail about these people so I can't say what he did.  Anywho, Iris mentioned how nice he seemed.  I told her what he did and she fake shuddered.  Next thing I knew, she was standing next to him, lightly rubbing his arm and telling him, "I was watching you.  You are a very attentive and compassionate man."  Then she came back to me and in true Betty White fashion from "Hot in Cleveland", she whispered, "Yeah, I flirted.  So what?"

(BTW - this past weekend I discovered "Hot in Cleveland".  There was a marathon.  Cannot tell you how much I friggen LOVE this show!!!!)

Speaking of Iris, I ran into her at the bank on Monday.  We stood in the parking lot for an hour.  If I get this Asheville job, Robin and I have already decided to trade cars.  I have a gas guzzler and she has a gas efficient car.  On Monday, Iris asked me if I ever considered trading in my car.  Told her no, that it's good to have a big car, and plus I happen to love my car.  Yesterday, after the lunch and the seduction of the ex-con, we stood in the parking lot and chatted (of course - no quick get aways with Iris).  Joe was complimenting my car and telling me how good it looks.  There is one boo boo with my car that I can't ignore and fix with duct tape forever.  The car is 10 years old and lived 9 of those years in the hot Florida sun.  I have a few rust spots on the roof that leak.  So far, the classy duct tape trick has been sufficient.  Mentioned it to Joe and he said that it could be fixed.  Out of nowhere, Iris said, "Well Joe?  Why would she spend money to fix it when she's gonna get a new car?" 

WHAT?  Why all of a sudden does Iris hate my car? 

As we were about to say goodbye for real, Iris took me aside a little.  Joe's hearing aid is broken and he'd have to go to Asheville to get it fixed.  They're old and old people don't like Asheville I've discovered.  I have volunteered repeatedly to take Joe to Asheville to get it fixed.  Iris discreetly thanked me for the offer, but she's decided to wait until they go back to Florida in November.  "He can be deaf for a few more months."

She was on my nerves a little, so I was happy to say bye.  Surely we'll see them this weekend.  A)  It's a holiday weekend, and B)  It's the Apple Festival, which is a big deal around here.   Iris asked, "Where are you going now?"  "Home."  Really I was going to go home and change my clothes, then meet Robin at Goodwill when she got off work.  I have totally put all my eggs in one basket with this job, and if I get it, I need a few things.  Goodwill is hit and miss.  Well yesterday was all hit for me.  Was super excited to find an expensive skirt and pair of pants.  Had some other things in the cart and so did Robin.  Turned the corner and who did we run in to?  Iris and Joe.  When she started rummaging through my finds (and looking at the sizes, I'm sure), I quickly grabbed them up and went to the dressing room.  Then they all stood there and expected me to model for them.  Joe yelled, "Kimi?  You need some help getting undressed?"  "No, I'm good Joe.  Thanks."

So now it's September, which is one of my favorite months.  Fall is right around the corner and I am fighting the urge to decorate.  Those scarecrows sure are calling my name though.