Huge wave of homesickness today. Caught me by surprise as it’s a very rare occurrence. Oh well…just gotta keep plugging away. Went to a quilt show at a local church today. It was nice to let the brain relax with something other than my prime crafting medium (paper). Reminded me of what I like/dislike in color, patterns, and textures. I definitely have a few UFO’s that I’d like to see finished before this year is out. One is a crib size Irish Chain and the other is a twin size star sampler, called Starry Night, I think. They both just need the binding put on…if I can find the fabric I set aside to bind them with. Maybe that’s what started the homesick thing…Mom’s working on a quilt and I’d sent her a note with some suggestions. Not the same though, as being there and showing/telling in such a visual medium. Anyway. Think I’ll shake out the 2 quilts mentioned above (wouldn’t it be cool if the binding fabric was folded up in the quilts, like they’re supposed to be?!) and take a couple photos to share.
Stay warm, wherever you are. It’s supposed to be down in the 30’s tonight where I am. Here’s what happened the last time it got this cold here:
How to you get through to and knock some sense into your teens? Especially boys. Things they know, things they’ve been told, even smacked up side the head with (figuratively, not literally)? It’s frustrating for sure. And why do some kids sail through life seemingly “getting it” just by being told or some just by seeing and learning from other people’s mistakes, and yet others have to keep sticking their fingers into the light socket, electrocuting themselves until their own internal light bulb goes on? Besides being frustrating, it’s not a fun emotional roller coaster ride…you hurt deeply for them because you love them so much. Even in their own stupidity! Yikes. I’m hoping to survive with some sanity and my sense of humor intact. It might help if there were 2 parents in this equation, sadly I am the only one in the game. Not a big surprise.
A new friend - Nikki, who lives in Australia (I can’t wait to go there!) talks on her blog of the amazing stories we often hear (though maybe not often enough?) like the pilot safely ditching the plane in the Hudson River saving everyone or a soldier saving a truckload of people…how sometimes it can seem overwhelming - yet these are the miracles we pray about - not the cool new iPhone or the dream job, but the miracle we find in ourselves. And she sums it up like this…which I love… “I want to see it all! Coz, how can I really appreciate the triumphs, when I allow the tragedy to be of no consequence?” Fully experiencing both ends of the spectrum.
Hmmm, kind of like parenting. At least I certainly hope so, especially the miracle part. Here’s to the future, one day at a time! Pe@ce…
Been there, done that…not only have the t-shirt, but have lots of material for a book one day! LOL…seriously, great song and a great band.
Oh, and here are those truly amazing 3″ x 5″ index cards that are about to change my life…no seriously. Well, maybe not. But they will make me more stylish. And organized. Gotta love that!
More nonsense over on Unscripted - okay, not nonsense…funsense. Go check it out and you’ll have even more insight as to maybe why I NEED these cards to keep me sane, I mean on task. And you’ll see the video there too. Yes, I like it that much. (What’s YOUR favorite song these days?)
Pe@ce…. Love ya. Mean it!
Sh@Ron
P.S. - I’m looking for the Martha Stewart border punch that was used on this beautiful card. I’m told it was a Christmas only release (at Michael’s I believe) and is no longer available. It punches and embosses the scalloped part. I’m checking the other M’s store in the area tomorrow…but in case I don’t find it can you keep an eye out/pick it up for me (pay ya back)?! Thanks!!
But the necessities. Work. Cooking. Eating. Sleeping.
It’s been a long day, I may get to bed at a reasonable hour tonight. Early even.
Okay, couldn’t find a picture on-line but I have to tell you about these great 3″ x 5″ index cards I found at Staples today - their “M” brand. They are vertical/portrait style - lines on one side and a grid on the reverse!! $2.49 for a pack of 100. Awesome, awesome!
Hot Cream of Wheat (click on the name/link to request a FREE sample - you pick the flavor) cereal and milk has got to be just about the best snack before bed. You can even get it in a rice version - glutein free! Think about it…warm, cozy, mmmmm. (But if you don’t like CoW - please don’t think about it…move on) Oh, and with this - another favorite is perfect for breakfast!
Have moved beyond thinking about doing the Artist’s Way after 4 years and have decided that I’m going to do it. Starting this weekend. Preparing myself, reading ahead. I can already feel my inner child/artist jumping up and down, wanting to play. This is a good thing. A very good thing. Looking for the workbook I misplaced. I have another book that’s supposed to be good too, but I think it’s more along the lines of reconciling the artist with the business person you need to be to do your art full time and thrive.
Inquiries about doing a web site w/ shopping cart for someone. As well as helping Mom with hers and setting up my own. Wondering if this might possibly be turning into something viable? Wondering if I “want” it to. It’s a love-hate thing…challenging on one hand, supremely satisfying when it all works on the other hand. The photography is getting some inquiries too…I don’t really have all the gear I need or know my *new* camera as well as I’d like yet…but $500 and a weekend shooting in different situations and I’d be fine. We’ll see… would be nice to make my own hours, charge my own fees, work from home (or Panera, as the case may be!) or shoot on location.
Three more days left in the work week. Need some rest, so I’m going to grab a book and head off to bed.
Sweet Dreams!
5h@R0n —> how many different characters can she substitute in her name for the real thing and have it still be readable?!
Outside my window…not-so-cold (finally!) and dark
I am thinking…that my beading supplies will be going up on eBay tomorrow
I am thankful for…technology
From the kitchen…pasta fagioli and warm tuscan boule bread
I am wearing…jeans and long sleeve running shirt
I am creating…a slideshow of photos from line dancing at the church Friday night
I am going…to go to the store and get ice cream in a bit
I am reading…The Artist’s Way
I am hoping…my son finishes cleaning his room, Soon.
I am hearing…the TV - Mythbuster’s (Ace is home)
Around the house…”keep, donate, or toss?”
One of my favorite things…my camera
A few plans for the rest of the weekend…nothing exciting, just trying to maintain, save money and relax. Some scrapbooking (project due tomorrow), a bit of reading, a quick run/training session and I plan on drinking a pot of tea and writing all afternoon tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes… YOU?
And just for fun…I created this after seeing Jenny’s (yeah, sometimes I’m a follower!)
I actually sat in front of the TV for 2 hours…watching TV (Lost…which I was for quite some time). Vegging out. I guess I just needed to do nothing and unwind.
I work for a small architectural firm (7 of us, total) and yesterday 2-week notices were given out to 3 people. Two of which I consider friends…one a best friend. Due to the economy, construction slow down and clients not paying. I’m sad for them. Furious that things are this bad. Worried for my own situation. Waiting and watching - payroll to payroll - what’s going to happen next?! Of course, I’m being proactive and counting on my tendency to always land on my feet. But it’s still difficult. Especially since there are so many others that I know personally also going through this…no one is immune.
Now, back to this tv show Lost…who is the older, bald Sean Connery looking guy, and that kind of psychotic dude trying to get everyone back to the island? What’s that relationship? The Dr., Jack somebody, now he’s worth coming back for every week. And Daniel, the physicist…he is more of what’s going on and knows more than he’s letting on. The time jumping back and forth is confusing but when they’re going back, are they experiencing the same events that they did the first time…like being shot at with flaming arrows…I assume that has already happened - haven’t the seasoned veteran Lost fans already seen this? Were/Are they bored with it? Or is it just turning everything they thought they knew/saw in previous season, upside down? Is that the point? These have become my burning questions.
Beats worrying about the economy and how Obama is going to “save us”.
Boy has time flown by! I’ve been trying to get some things done around here, but it seems like all I’ve accomplished is to create a bigger mess. I’ve reorganized the studio but have re-discovered (I always knew it - I was just in denial over it) that I have way too much stuff. No, really. It’s true. And that some of my organizational methods aren’t very efficient. Thus begins my heart wrenching journey to part with some of my dearly beloved supplies. See the problem there? I’m actually having emotions about paring down to just what I need and use. Hmmm. Time to get over that nonsense! Eyelets anyone? Craft wire? And seriously, do you think 6 0r 7 portable paper trimmers are too many for one person?! Uh, yeah. I don’t teach like I used to anymore, so this is totally unnecessary. I do have thoughts of starting a card making club/program/ministry at church. But only if I get to donate this stuff to them AND they keep it there at the church. No givebacks.
And why is it the cats always want to be in your stuff, where you are at? I moved the laptop, printers, etc. into the studio as well…so now, guess what…cats. Walking across my keyboard, trying to get up in the window, napping on shelves, snoping through bags. Ugh. I’m so tired of long-haired kitty fur everywhere. For my birthday, a case of lint brushes please…you absolutely can not wear black in this house for very long!
Another cold front coming through and the winds have really picked up. Someone told me we could have snow in the morning! Something that hasn’t happened here for a really long time (she said 1977, but I remember waking up to a dusting of the stuff since I’ve been down here - almost 20 years?!) - either way. Brrrr. Time to make some dinner and see how much I can clear out the living room to watch a movie later. Then it’s back to work for me in the morning…have a great evening!
It wasn’t so bad. Yes, it was bitterly cold - for Florida anyway, at 37 degrees - but we (my g-friend “C”) dressed appropriately and in layers. I slept through my alarm at 5am, but immediately awoke at 6:00am when my phone vibrated…go figure It was “C” asking if I was on my way. Okay, I amend my statement earlier - THAT is about the only thing that makes me leap out of bed, wide awake and ready to go! LOL…it was all good though as there was very little traffic out at that hour, especially at the beach when it’s 37 degrees out. We survived it - walking some, running some but always trying to stay warm. Met some neat people at the after-party. Ate garlic shrimp over rice for breakfast…tasted much better than it sounds at 8am! And they served beer afterwards- Michelob Ultra - but still. Kind of odd to see “athletes” guzzling free beer at 9am in the morning after a race. We passed and just huddled around the heater while they gave out awards to the winners (first 5 in age divisions m/f). There were quite a few from our group that won…no, not “C” and I…but we’re hoping some of it rubs off! The best was this guy Greg (a Physical Therapist) who’s running alias is Chi Chi Bonsoir (which they mispronounced as Bone-sawyer and had us laughing hysterically).
Here we are after the race, “C”’s sweet hubby obligingly took a photo of us to scrap. “C” has on the race shirt we got…with her 10K number (they put her in the wrong category…trust me, we only did the 5K)!
Well, much to do. I’m already awake…so I’ll get to it and catch y’all later!
Sh@Ron
(PS - shoulder = pulled some ligaments stretching, now I know not to stretch THAT way again! It’s all better now - thanks!)
Because I will be heading to bed early tonight. I will not stay up late into the night blogging, playing in Photoshop, chatting on IM or Facebook, downloading music or other such activities. The first 5K of the year is tomorrow. And it starts, yes, the gun goes off at 7:30AM! Which means you have to be there 30 minutes prior to sign in and get your race packet. And since it’s on the beach, parking is limited. And St. Pete beach is about 45 minutes from my house. So, this is earlier-than-the-crack-of-dawn for me to get up. Plan is to go to bed early…and have everything ready tonight so I can just leap out of bed and go. Ha ha ha! Those of you who really know me are laughing hysterically. I *never* leap out of bed, ready for the day or anything else for that matter. Even if it’s 10am. Just ain’t going to happen. Anyway, they never answered my email about postponing the start time to something more civilized, so I’m stuck.
A much better idea is the 4th of July Midnight Run off Dunedin Beach. Right in my backyard and midnight is perfect. I’m already up!
Here’s hoping we have warmer weather in the morning! And I will check back in just so you know I survived. <wink>
