A Glimpse Into My World
A blog of commentary, stories and events

Check out the most amazing video clip! It’s a tribute to motherhood that is unsurpassed!

It was a wonderful night last night! Our friend, Amber, who is also my step-daughters BFF and lives in one of the houses here on the ranch, delivered a wonderful baby boy, Aedan! I was on hand, helping, supporting, breathing and even taking pictures when possible.

The delivery was excellent - Amber did a terrific job. We got the call at about 1:30, and after changing cars because of a flat tier, arrived at the hospital at about 2:30. Aedan arrived at 3:30, not too long after Dr. Roesel (who, by the way, is my doctor as well and I adore him!).

Every possible attempt was made to make it a silent birth. To quote the website that explains about that:

The idea of silent birth is based on L. Ron Hubbard’s research into the mind and spirit. He found that words spoken during moments of pain and unconsciousness can have adverse effects on an individual later in life. What has been said during traumatic experiences such as birth records in a part of the mind called the reactive mind. These recordings store and have the power to influence a person by dictating thoughts, emotions and psychosomatic ills not under his control. Anyone can read about this in the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.

The nurses and doctor were very understanding, and I think worked well together with this new concept. Amber made a lot of noise (especially at the end!), but didn’t say any words that might later adversely affect Aedan.

The birth was witnessed by Amber was also assisted and supported by her two sons (15 and 10), my setp-dayghter (Amber’s BFF), and the baby’s father.

I didn’t get much sleep last night — but it was certainly worth every minute!!

My labeling book got another positive review!

David Fisher, the About.com Guide for Candle and Soap Making reviewed my book, Soap and Cosmetic Labeling, and gave it a very positive review. I’m just jazzed about the positive response it’s getting! Looks like a reprint will be in the near future!

I have to say I am just tickled with the review that Beth Byrne wrote about my book in the on-line soapmakers magazine, The Saponifier. When they said they were going to review the book I was happy, but I never expected such a glowing (and long) discussion of the book!

You can read the entire review of Soap and Cosmetic Labeling (reprinted with permission, of course).

I’ve always been a fan of the The Saponifier. I subscribed to the print version way back when (that was when I first started soaping) and loved getting it. It was a sad thing when it was discontinued for a while.

But now it’s back! Kathy Tarbox, Beth Byrne (and no doubt others) are doing a bang-up job on getting a very professional e-mag delivered bi-monthly. It’s a real asset to the soapmaking community.

From the police report for July 30 - August 5th.

At the top of the news was a report of five or six cows in the reporting party’s yard on Spruce Street; unknown owner. Police moved the cows. Then the next day, another report of cows in the yard on Spruce Street; owner moved the cows and we haven’t heard since. Spruce Street is fairly long, but goes right through the center of town. In fact, my shop is on Spruce Street … but we didn’t actually see the cows.

In other top stories, there was a report that kids were skateboarding on the roof of Myrtle Crest School. Turns out they weren’t actually on the roof (at least at the time the officers arrived), but given the ingenuity (and boredom levels) of the skateboarders here during the summer, I wouldn’t be surprised!

Only in a place like Myrtle Point will these be the top stories in the police report! I do so love living here!!

We have new baby ducks!

Momma duck laid her eggs in the barn so we put them in a safe place (a very large, low cage) until they hatched.

They arrived, happy and healthy on July 10th. Momma took them down to the pond immediately and they’ve been cruising around the yard already.

They’re mallards, basically wild but living here, so we’re hoping they stay when winter comes.

Donna Maria Coles Johnson, CEO of the Indie Beauty Network just interviewed me about my book. Check out the online interview!

I’ve been a member of the Indie Beauty Network (formerly the Handmade Beauty Network) for years and have recently had the pleasure to work with Donna Maria in several collaborations, including a joint project to get product and general liability insurance for both the IBN and the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild.

In the beginning of June I went to Burlington, Vermont. My trip back, on June 8th was probably the absolutely WORST travel experience I’ve ever had. It wasn’t because my flights were delayed by weather, or because I ended up having to spend the night in the Chicago airport, or even because my luggage was slightly misplaced in Portland. It was my trip from hell because of really, really, REALLY lousy customer service.

I understand weather is sometimes unpredictable and planes can be late because the weather is terrible somewhere else and that screws up the whole system. When that happens, I expect the airlines to be understanding, informative and, if necessary, provide at least blankets and pillows for those who end up stranded in the airport.

However, on this June day, the United Airlines staff were uninformative, unhelpful and apparently didn’t give a damn about the passengers. We were ignored, blatently lied to and treated like cattle. I spent about 4 hours in line, routed from one place to the next, without EVER talking to a customer service person. And when I finally did, I ended up with someone who didn’t know anything at 1:30 in the morning and unable to get back through security … so I slept in baggage claim!

After I got home (very, very pissed off), I submitted a customer service complaint online and wrote a detailed letter (read the full letter ). Tried faxing that to the Customer Service fax number, but it was disconnected. When I called, I spoke to someone in India who gave me a different fax number - also disconnected. So I mailed the letter United’s President and CEO, Vice-President and COO, Senior Vice President, and Customer Service Manager.

In response to my on-line complaint, I received a form letter saying “we are currently experiencing a high volume of emails, so please accept my apology for not being able to respond with a more personalized reply.”

On June 21st I received a letter from “Customer Relations” with a $150 coupon towards a United Flight. I still haven’t decided if I will ever fly on United again … even with the coupon.

In all my years living here, one of my favorite parts of the local weekly paper is the police report.

This week (besides the usual driving without a license, speeding, no insurance and minor drug possession) we had the following incidents of note:

June 12 - Suspicious Conditions. Motorist reports seven-year-old child walking west on Highway 42 with a green jeep following him. The occupants advised [the police officer] that he was just mad and wouldn’t get back in the car.

I remember when I was about 7 getting that mad , storming off and walking home (about 4 miles). To add insult to injury, my parents offered my some carrots as they drove by on the way home. It wasn’t until years later that I found out they were watching me the whole time!

June 13 - Report of loud music at residence on Roseburg Road. Dog at that location has been loose and is attempting to bite people. Music turned down; dog inside residence.

Wednesday night partying. Better get that dog to bed!

June 13 - Report of a woman who is threatening another woman with a baseball bat. Situation resolved; not as reported.

Good thing it wasn’t as reported. Maybe they were playing softball?

June 15 - Two girls are riding skateboards down Spruce Street on their backs shortly after 7 pm. Handled by police.

On their backs!? I only wish there had been a picture of that one.

I do so love reading the local Police Report. It makes me feel considerably more safe when these are the issues the police need to address.

We just got a new puppy! I’d been talking about getting a little dog as a friend for Max, but never got around to actually looking for one. Yesterday a cute little girl puppy fell into our laps and is now a member of the family.

As you can see from the picture, she’s pretty little. (That’s Jere’s size 11 shoe beside her.) I’m told her daddy was a purebread doxie and her mama was a mix of chihuahua, pomeranian and terrier. I suspect mama was at least half terrier, based on the way the likes to be in and under things (like in a den).

So far everything is going well. She’s eating, trying to get outside to do her business, although when she wakes up from a nap sometimes it’s too far to the door so we have had a couple of piddle puddles. Slept by herself last night without too much whining (she did wake me up to go outside though, so that’s a good sign).

Max isn’t quite sure what to think of her yet. Truth be told, I think he’s a little bit scared of her!