Ouch

Ten bucks. That's all I made at the last two craft fairs. That's right, two craft fairs, $5 each. The first was 4 miles from home, and it was a social event to spend time with Sis3 and see people from the area picking up their apple pies. This past Saturday was a different matter. More than a 50 mile round trip added a dent to my gasoline budget, and the extra travel time took a little larger bite out of my weekend. Although I've had a table at this fair for eight or nine years, I've made a few friendships with some of the others who also have tables on a regular basis, but otherwise I know no one there so it's not the same social event for me as the ones closer to home. A few people sold some things, but the crowds aren't as large this year, and people are more carefully considering each purchase. When the decision comes down to earrings vs. cough medicine, or a necklace vs. topping off their gas tank, the jewelry loses out much more often. I'm tempted to work on some cheaper items just to capture some business, but doing that would go against the standards I've set for myself and my products. I'll just hope that, now that gas prices seem to be dropping daily, people will feel they have a little more cash to spend on some pretty things for themselves and for gifts.

Sis3 has a new puppy, one rescued from Georgia, a 3 month old terrier/poodle mix who looks cute as a button. Just like a new mama, she's begun taking photos and sharing them with family. I'm glad she's found a new companion, one that will give her unconditional love and who will thrive on the love she'll give.

The poor Red Sox didn't make it to the World Series again this time. They just didn't have the heart that they did last year. It had nothing to do with Manny migrating to the west coast, but the difficulties that the mainstays had this season - Big Papi, Varitek and Ellsbury with their lack of hits, Lowell's hip troubles - all chipped away at their confidence. They did well to hang in there through the American League Championship Series as far as they did. In upcoming days I'll watch and hope that the Phillies win so my friend Jack will be happy, and so Tampa Bay is still left hungry for the big trophy.

My student teacher will be observed again tomorrow without any notice to me from her observer. It seems so slap-dash the way things are done. I'm supposed to fill out two lengthy evaluation sheets on my student teacher and to take part in a conference with the two of them.....but that won't be happening tomorrow because the observer has someone else to go visit right after she observes Gina. Okay. So when will we get to talk about the class that was observed? Wouldn't it make sense to discuss it on the same day? The observer told Gina that any other day would be fine...oh, but not Mondays or Wednesdays. Huh. So I guess it's Thursday? I'm just glad that Gina's doing a good job so the forms will be easy to complete, and because she's certainly not getting much support from her college so it's a good thing she's a natural and we're on the same page.

The good point for the day was looking at the price of gas on the way home to see that it had dropped 30¢ a gallon in one day. Of course that means they've been gouging us until today, and I wonder how much lower it'll go before it's truly a reasonable price representing less of a profit for the middle men, but I'll take the lower prices without complaint.