#ThisBlows

I felt like an adult today. Spending my days doing whatever I want has a big 'summer vacation' feel to it and I often feel like someone in their college years instead of someone in their mid-thirties. But today I woke-up my grown-up brain cells and used my professionals skills to help a friend build her own photography website. I then ran home and changed quickly to attend a networking event. And if that isn't grown-up enough, I spent the morning getting work done on my car. I know, right?! (She's fine, by the way, just some preventative maintenance.)

You're not reading this to hear me bemoan or cheer my day, though. That's what Facebook is for. In this blog I promised to share random stories and absurdity, so below are a few pictures from the networking event I attended. Our program at Terminal City Glass Co-op included the opportunity to blow our own glass Christmas ornaments... That's right, someone trusted me to wield a giant fireplace poker with molten glass on the end. Suckers.

Spinning the glass so it doesn't drop once it's left the kiln.

Rolling the glass in yellow beads to embed the color.

For the glass to form a sphere you need to blow in the air.

Unfortunately I came away a bit injured after a poor wardrobe choice. That purple shirt I'm wearing has metal buttons along the cuffs... not the best shirt around a kiln. (No permanent harm done)  I pick-up my ornament in a week - pictures forthcoming!

Author's Note: As the majority of people I've ever met find glass blowing interesting, I kept the photo captions descriptive instead of sarcastic. The alternatives I considered are listed below.

"Look Ma! No oven mits!"

"Using molten glass to pick-up beads. There wern't any Ziploc bags around."

"I have less hot air than I thought."

Tonight's event hashtag: #thisblows  (No, seriously, this became the event hashtag.  ...there was wine.) 

Good times all around.