People Are Rude

We saw a wonderful national touring company production last evening of Kiss Me, Kate. Cole Porter was such a genius. And the voices in the cast were amazing.

But. Some people. I could not believe that people would start getting up to leave as the last notes of the show are sounding. No consideration for the performers. No consideration for the people around them. Just plain rude and selfish. It's all about "me" getting out of here and not having to wait in traffic. Did not show an ounce of appreciation for the hard work that goes into a show like this. Argh.

Results of Today's To Do List

I did get off the computer
Of course I'm back on now...
Shower -check
Laundry - oops
Cleaning the kitchen - as soon as I get off here
Radiology - they wanted to see her right away
Not to worry -benign cyst and now we know it's there
So add - Got to see into Daughter's Brain
Lunch - sandwiches at home
Big Trimming = 14 inch donation to Locks of Love and a cute haircut
Decide what's for supper - check
No grocery store - I've got it all!
Tea - soon, very soon

And oh yeah Go, Patriots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today's To Do List

Get off the computer
Take a shower
Do a load of laundry
Finish cleaning up kitchen
Call radiology to make appt for DD to have an MRI
Take DD to hair salon for a big trimming
Lunch out???
Decide what's for supper
Assemble ingredients - this means go to grocery store
Make a pot of green tea
Pull out Celtic Christmas
Stitch away
Make supper
Eat
Clean up
DH off to hockey game
DD staying home
DS and I off to see "Kiss Me Kate"
oh yeah
check DD shot record
she's had a tetanus shot in the past ?? years???

Good Intentions Derailed

I just had the pleasure an ambulance ride and nearly 3 hours in the emergency room thanks to my darling daughter. She went face first into a concrete block while sledding.

She's got a major laceration on her forehead - seven stitches to close it. A bruised, but not broken nose, and various facial abrasions.

She's currently feeling very stupid.

No more laying on the stomach head first sledding for anyone in my family.

She's got a headache. But she should be alright.

La La

Can hardly believe we're using another snow day. Pretty soon, kids will be using their spring vacation time...But the world outside my window looks all white and wonderful. I've already been out and shovelled the driveway and created access for the sanitation specialists to reach our garbage and recycling cans. But they hadn't yet plowed when I was out there. Came through around 10:00a.m. So now I'm sending kiddos out there to remove what the plows piled up. They're young. They can handle it.

Fixed our AOL problem. Thanks, Art.

Now I had every intention yesterday of stitching on my Celtic Christmas for UFO week. But. But. Oh my. Where did I put the threads and beads and chart? I remember cleaning up before my sis arrived in November. Never separate the actual stitching from the supplies. The stuff is in a green bag. Must be some place out of the way, or I would have run into it by now. Think. Think. I hate when I do this. You would think I would know better by now...

Rant

It's times like this that make me think I'll unplug AOL altogether. I mean, you can go for months, bopping along just fine, then wham. And here you sit unable to connect to the web, but fortunately able to read your mail. Unable to follow any links anywhere, but can still read my message boards. Nice guy (in India of course) thought he'd helped me. But I guess I'll be calling back. Think I'll finish my coffee and take a shower first.

Research on coffee pots led us to a Cuisinart model. We were just going to replace the Braun, but couldn't find the model we wanted. It was funny how suddenly our lives revolved around coffee. I was using the French press that we take camping. DH was making espresso. We also bought a new electric kettle by Melita. Whiz bang. That thing boils water fast!!!

For fun and edification, we went into NYC on Sunday and experienced the James Rosenquist exhibit at the Guggenheim. I love that building. And the Rosenquist stuff. Ah, pop art at its finest. How absolutely lovely.

close call

Nearly got beaned in the head last night by a flying hockey puck.
Fortunately my peripheral vision was working and I started moving forward. Puck hit my hair. Got caught and dropped in DH's lap. I was sure surprised to turn to him and see that he had it. I thought it had kept on going. Normally one of my children would have been in this seat, but they had moved up to sit with a friend. LOL

Little time to stitch yesterday. Had to attend a luncheon that DH and colleagues were giving. DH and two others passed their Professional Engineering exam, and a third person completed his PhD. So they decided to treat their coworkers to a free lunch. They even remembered to get flowers for their wives. What a sweet bunch of guys!

But I did fit in a few minutes on my scissor case. Nearly finished. Just need to sew up the sides now and insert the fabric. Not an easy task as I recall from my first one of these.

Success

I managed to create a new account at Webshots. Now I need to scan photos into this computer. DH thought he transferred everything from old computer to new computer. But somehow managed to forgot all the photos. No comment.

Listening to Jackpot "Tattoos." I really like this song. Maybe because they mention San Luis Obispo. What I wouldn't give to be on the Central Coast right now...

Managed to frame one piece yesterday and finished off a cute little teacup pincushion thing from Stitchworks.

Today's mission. Find a replacement coffee maker. I was just telling DH that ours is old and I didn't think it was getting as hot as it used to. Then while washing the carafe yesterday, I noticed a crack. So it's $15 to replace the carafe, or buy a new unit. Hmmm. Time for some research.

Frustrated

I had every intention yesterday of putting together my first album on stitching online. But for some reason Webshots refused to acknowledge my existence. Same thing today. I even reregistered. Argh.

I know I should do some housework, but...please can't I sit and stitch?
As soon as I get offline, I am deleting Freecell from this computer. I wasted valuable time yesterday. Kind of becomes a form of meditation. Never know where my mind is going to go while mindlessly placing cards. Very soothing. But time could be better spent.

A Great Big Happy Happy

Yesterday's mail brought me a wonderful online purchase. Betty Ring's Girlhood Embroidery. Finally. After years of trying to obtain these books, I have finally succeeded. Perfect condition. Don't even look like anyone has paged through them. Yippeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

I Voted Already

Thanks to absentee ballots, I've already voted in New Hampshire's primary. Interesting outcome in the Iowa caucuses. I'm not a policitical junkie or anything, but I do appreciate the NH primary season.

Yesterday I made my DH a belated birthday cake - we were not at home for his birthday. A from scratch Black Forest Cake. I even impressed myself. Somehow that evolved into an entire meal that included schnitzel and brat kartofellen. Was very good.

Did some searching through my fabric stash, knowing that somewhere I have the perfect autumnal fabric to finish off a band sampler. Of course, it's not in any of 3 large Rubbermaid containers.
I know I have this fabric because I bought it to make another piece into a pillow, which I haven't done. Ah. Well.

And lastly. The Patiots. Can't believe the football season is over except for the Super Bowl. That went fast. Now what am I going to stitch to on Sundays??? Congrats to the Pats. You guys are awesome.

How I Spent Yesterday

Stitching. Yup. From 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. With a short break for a shower and lunch.

I took my own advice and stitched up a small project instead of working on Agnes Scott. Did Bent Creek's Zippie "Ladybird." 18ct Dublin linen over two. I think I'm allergic to this linen. After working on it for about 1/2 hour, my eyes were watering and my nose was itching. First time this has happened to me.

Totally enjoyed watching Army Hockey beat Air Force. Rematch tonight. Go, Black Knights!

Way Too Cold and Windy

Kids are off another day today. See title above.

I did finish the stitching on my scissor case yesterday - 18ct black canvas, Wildflowers "Forest Fire" and assorted Weeks Dye Workes threads. Now I need to find some material and ribbon to do the finishing work. And when I'm done, maybe I'll even buy a new pair of scissors to go inside.

If my fabric stash wasn't out in the garage, I would be rummaging through today to find some material to match a small band sampler I finished a few years ago. I bought a book last fall on flat fold finishing and I think this little project would be perfect for this finishing technique. But it's way too cold to be out in the garage.

But it's not too cold to attend the Army/Air Force hockey game tonight. Go, Black Knights!

Way Too Cold

EGA meeting was postponed last evening. It was way too cold and had started snowing. It's amazing that it could snow at all, it was so cold. Those were the smallest snowflakes I've ever seen.

Of course the kids have today off. If it's really 10 below tomorrow they might have tomorrow off too. And yes I need to go the grocery store today. I've already gone out there with a broom and done snow removal. I was all warm and toasty bundled up, except I wore my gloves instead of mittens. Nearly froze my fingers off. I should know better.

Other than my quick trip out for milk, eggs, etc. I can stay home and stitch. Kids are plotting to watch Titanic with a friend who has never seen it. I may just sit on it as I've only seen the movie once.

It's Deceptive

It looks like a beautiful, sunny winter day out there. A snow squall swept through yesterday in the afternoon and dropped a little more white stuff. It looks inviting. But I know the temperature is 2 degrees. And I'm not going out there...

Oldest child is home sick today. Sore throat, no fever, and feels dizzy when she stands. How lovely. Please don't share that with the rest of us.

Yesterday when the poor cable guy showed up, he was visibly shaken. He had just come from an elderly lady's home where the conditions were filthy - flies, maggots, and an unbelievable stench. I tried finding a local phone number for aid to seniors, but in the end he decided to stop in the Town Hall.

I am grateful I know where my loved ones are and how they are doing.

Waiting for the Cable Guy

I wonder what could happen while I wait for the cable guy to show?
Our audio is all distorted. Has been since we returned home. Can watch tapes and DVD's with no distortion so we are hoping it's simply the box. And our remote needs to be replaced. We've killed the channel up and channel down buttons. Only took 18 months. Not bad.

I should go do laundry. Make bread. (The healthy kind - high fiber, etc.) Finish packing away the Christmas decorations before we go back into the deep freeze here. Having to lug stuff across the street to the garage means you don't want to do while it's snowing or it's zero degrees outside (farenheit, not centigrade.) We could be down to minus 10 soon, but this morning it's a balmy 33 degrees. I guess my goals for today are simple.

Need to remember to find some doodling cloth, fibers, and a hoop before my EGA meeting tomorrow night. Can hardly believe I'd almost forgotton this meeting. For some reason I didn't put it on my calendar. Bad.

A House Full of Slugs

Yesterday none of us accomplished anything. All four of us were big, fat vegetables lazing about the living room watching Looney Tunes and football. My teenage son never even got dressed. Just lounged about in his sleep pants and tee shirt. I guess we all needed some down time.

Kids were grateful to have a two hour delay this morning. Just enough snow fell to make things slippery. That meant I got to sleep in also.

Now I need to go create a marvelous birthday for my grandmother who will 95 this weekend. She's not your normal 95 year old. Doesn't take any medication. Rides her 3 wheel bike a couple miles a day. Had to give up walking because of her knee. Finally stopped driving last fall. Still works in her community club kitchen. Plays cards like a demon. She's totally marvelous and wonderful.

A Tolkien Thank You

Yesterday DH and I took our two teenagers and two of their friends off to the mall for lunch and a return engagement at ROTK. So the kids ate lunch, and DH and I were left looking at each other at a now very quiet table in the Chinese restaurant. We had more than five hours to kill at the mall. So we started out together. Bought a desk calendar for the computer table. Bought Titantic and Muppet show DVD. Then decided to separate, 'cause Best Buy was enough for me. I didn't want to get dragged through Circuit City and Comp USA, too!

This meant I got to browse through JoAnne's. Bought more OPI nail polish at the beauty supply store (Cha-Ching Cherry and Italian Love Affair). Browsed through all the cooking stores. Met back up with DH and we bought the 4 DVD set of Looney Tunes. Then we decided we had plenty of time so we went and sat at a bar and had a few drinks and some lovely grilled tuna appetizers. In the midst of all those people, we still felt cozy and alone in our own little world. After 19 years of marriage, there is still no one I'd rather spend my time with.

And we still made it home in time for the beginning of Patriots/Titans game. Had some wonderful football junk food - cheese stuffed hotdogs wrapped in crescent rolls, etc. What a lovely day. And the Patriots won!

Again Again

Another afternoon yesterday with stitching time! Three in a row. Feels good.

Though I have spent 3 afternoons putting in time on Agnes Scott, I may have to move on to a smaller project. Working on her border is depressing me. It's so big.

I have been debating about putting her on scroll rods, as right now I'm working in hand. As I have top quarter finished, I can see that moving lower is going to get difficult. I do love the portability of stitching in hand, but she'd get less wrinkled on rods.

Enough stitching. It's freezing here. No, wait, it's way below freezing here. Woke up to minus 3. Three hours later, we've climbed up to zero. Not a good day to spend time outside.

Which is why I have total sympathy for all the die-hard fans who are willing to risk their skin attending tonight's Patriots-Titans game in Foxborough, MA. Go, Pats!!!!!!

Yes Again

Three cheers for me!
For two days in a row I've managed to sit and stitch in the afternoon.

Because I have sunlight issues, as in I love to stitch in natural sunlight, I've decided my living room is not the ideal place to stitch in the afternoon. So I've moved to the kitchen table. If I turn on the overhead lighting and the fluorescent under the cupboard lighting, the kitchen is plenty bright.

It has been so long since I've stitched on the border of Agnes Scott that it took me a while to develop a rhythm. But eventually I found it.

The pizza dough was rising, so even though DH came home while I was stitching, supper didn't take that long to put together. I can see that I should make this my new habit 'cause it's working!

YES

I did manage to stitch yesterday on my Agnes Scott sampler. I hope to find some time this afternoon for more, but this morning is reserved for a quick shopping trip to return something that did not quite fit DH.

DD spent all last evening bugging me about the weekend. She apparently needs to go and see ROTK again and was trying to pin me down as to when I would take her, DS, and friends. I say anytime as long as it does not interfere with my watching the Patriots play football.

Right before Christmas I was going through my spare needlework tote trying to figure out what I had done with a particular pattern. I guess it has been nearly two years since I opened this case. Inside I found a lovely finished object that I know I stitched, but I basically have no memories of stitching it or finishing it. Must have done it during a very busy period of stitching I had in 98-00 while living in Colorado Springs. Somehow it never made its way into my finished objects box. The design is JBW Designs href="http://www.hoffmandis.com/detail.cfm?ProductID=00-1118&start=1&image=00-1118.jpg&ProductName=Bon%20Appetit&DesignerName=JBW%20Designs&SubcatID=&DesignerID=JBW&Keyword=&prodlist=des&desrefine=&CatID=">

Entering the Deep Freeze Zone

I can be glad that I have no reason for leaving the house today as we are entering frozen zone. Teenagers were grumbling this morning as I made sure they had gloves and hats on. Why they feel it's okay to walk outside in the winter in tee shirts, etc. is beyond my figuring out.

To combat the cold I will make homemade chicken soup and whole wheat bread today. Yummm.

To combat the dust bunnies that accumulated while we were gone, I will dust and vacuum downstairs.

And to prevent my sampler from turning into a UFO, I will stitch on it for at least one hour today.

Shoot!!!!

Okay.
I was just here and posted and published, etc.
But it has all disappeared.

Nearly as frustrating as not having access to computer since Saturday.

So back to my main point!!!!

I was supposed to have my annual mammogram today but hospital just called and they need to reschedule me.

But for the rest of you who have either never had a mammogram (and are of a certain age) or haven't had one recently, you need to do this.
It's important for you and for your family.
Go get your boobs squeezed.
It's not so bad.

Okay.
It's not exactly pleasant.
But then again, neither is breast cancer.

Now let's try this again.

On DH's Birthday

In August, we lost our "adopted" son to heat stroke. An amazing nineteen year old full of goals and plans and abilities and possibilites suddenly gone. DH and I spent yesterday visiting with his parents.

The most difficult thing we can do in this life must be dealing with the loss of a child.

We shared both tears and laughter.

Todd, our family will always remember you. And we will do our best to live up to your high standards.

Happy New Years 2004`

First, a wish for health and happiness in the New Year. May your needles fly swiftly and your linen never wrinkle...

We all survived the surprise 70th birthday party for my FIL. And he truly was surprised. Tomorrow is DH's birthday and even though we weren't going to be buying him any big presents on account of the new computer, he managed to find new boots and new leather jacket when we went to the Outlets in Kittery, Maine. That must be why he didn't want us to go shopping without him...

We're expecting a quiet day here. The beast is roasting and the children are still sleeping. I am planning on stitching as soon as I finish up here. Yesterday we made time for a trip to the ocean. It was cold and windy and we didn't stay as long as we had planned. Instead ran off in search of pizza. Found a place in Portsmouth, NH that serves a wonderful New York style crust. Came home and played cards and socialized. But DH and I went to bed before midnight. Time passes and its passing is noted.

The resolution thing is not something I usually do. Reflecting on what needs to be resolved is a good thing. But making promises to yourself only to break them seems futile. I guess I have goal-making issues.

In a perfect world, I would be nice. Exercise more. Eat more better food. Appreciate what I have all the time. Drive slower. Tell people I love them every day.

Happy New Year to all!