26 September 2006

CSI - Las Vegas

CSI LasVegas weekend.

Not me; C went with friends. No job for her yet. I have a job.

All I got from her trip was this crummy coffee mug, and a screen saver.

So I will savor the sights until my trip to Las Vegas, planned for November.

Actually, I love the mug. And C as well, living outside the box.

Moving on out, to a shared house in San Jose.

20 September 2006

LLUXE! - My new Etsy store for Spa therapy products

Circumstances permitting, I plan to sell my house and move to the Oregon coast. One of the legs supporting this move is my newly developed product line of handmade Lavender Luxury Spa Products for hot/cold therapy and aromatherapy. "LLUXE!"

I set up an Etsy shop: LLUXE! - Lavender Luxury Spa Therapy by IrisDragon

All made from sensuous silk-blend brocade fabrics in various weights.
Here is a Flickr set of product shots: LLUXE!

So far, I've given away many samples to friends, and they in turn have helped me make refinements and enhancements. I'm ready to sell the established line of products, if anyone wants to buy them. I started pricing them very low, almost at cost. I sold one on EBAY, but the profit margin was just one dollar. They are expensive to ship because the rice is heavy.

I have many fabrics and colors; many sewed and ready to fill to order. I purchased incredibly fragrant bulk lavender flowers from Watsonville. Is there a business model here? I'm pushing the price higher and higher. Looking for folks with disposable income and mega$$$ who enjoy luxury and appreciate unique, handmade, sensuous products. Where are you Oprah?
Stay tuned!

17 September 2006

So now we cry

Be careful what you wish for. My friend Jan often warned me about that. My house is quiet and peaceful. There is a chance that it will still be clean tomorrow. There is no reason not to get a good night's sleep tonight. Rave is sleeping over at her new owner's house. And now we cry ourselves to sleep.

11 September 2006

8ULL$H!7


This is what the video Ipod was made for:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=penn+and+teller



Penn and Teller

Question Authority!

Happy, happy, joy, joy!

This post is about John Kricfalusi and the "happy happy joy joy" song from the "Ren & Stimpy" show. I sing it because my teen aged daughter is looking for a place to live. It is possible I may get my life back soon, if she succeeds in moving out. I will help her. Oh yes, I will gladly help her!

I love her but we are going in opposite directions. She and I do not make good house mates. Yahoo! off she goes! I will miss her but that will feel good. I will be so happy to see her when she comes to visit! That will feel good.

John has an excellent blog. I knew I loved Ren and Stimpy from the first time I saw the cartoon and literally ROFLOL'd. Partly because I was living with a neurotic chihuahua, who peed inside my stereo cabinet and bit me when I tried to save him from being eaten by large ferocious Real Dog.

(more about FrogHopper)

08 September 2006

Sleeping with my clothes on


In order to remain sane. I have taken on PJs. Not my preferred flimsy gowns or diaphanous negligees, but substantial cotton lounging pants and sport weight T shirts. There are two reasons.

One: The dog often needs to get walked between 12-1 AM, when I am in my deepest sleep. It seems I am capable of rolling out of bed, creeping downstairs, and exploding out the front door with the dog in tow, or the dog towing me.

But only if I am already dressed and ready for public viewing.

Two: my daughter's boyfriend is sleeping over most nights and I should not be sprawled on the bed with my door open...which is my usual sleeping scenario.

Now I sprawl with a light cover, and fall into bed as if I were camping. Only time I used to sleep in my clothes was camping, enabling me to crawl out of the tent and stumble through the dark to the designated tree or nearby loo.

06 September 2006

Website Usability Review and SEO Audit

*:-:¦:-·:*Website Usability Review and SEO Audit*:-:¦:-·:*

posted on Craigslist:

"Does your Website need attention? I'll audit your site first for Usability issues, and then for Search Engine Optimization. I'll examine your site's Information Architecture and coding. The product you will receive is a report with general advice and specific recommendations.

I charge $50/hour, minimum $100.00 per site. We can talk SEM in general terms. I'm building a portfolio of successfully transformed customer sites, so my rate is low right now. My audit is neutral, objective, and based on the most current info and established best practices. I take a very green, natural, thoughtful approach.

Why hire me? I am an experienced "bug magnet"! I have no agenda other than improving your Web presence. I'll review your meta tags, examine your copy, and be all over your navigation. If I cannot find anything to improve, I'll tell you that. I'm happy to share a sample report, so you can preview what you might expect.

Prelim evaluation and estimate provided."

The question is, is this a business model that could sustain me if I move to Oregon?
hummmm