Ataraxis

Just a quick update

2005-08-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

It's been longer than I thought. Yep, I got a new job which will start August 29th. My old company is moving so this one is starting just in time (yay!) And no more selling!!!!!!! Can you tell I'm happy about that? I'm training for six weeks when I start so I should be back online regulary come September. Whew! I'll keep you posted periodically and more regularly later on. Sorry for the delay!

25 Most Commonly Asked Stitching Questions

2005-05-28T10:48:00.000-07:00

I ran across this one somewhere - not the original site, however, so I can't give proper credit, but here goes.

25 Most Asked Stitching Questions:

1. How old were you when you started cross stitching? I think I was 13 or so - oh my gosh.....36 years ago. ;)

2. Who taught you to cross stitch? I taught myself. I think the only needlework I didn't teach myself was sewing clothes and knitting.

3. What inspired you to begin cross stitching? Boredom. When I started again (after a long break I picked up TWs The Castle (never finished that but I will eventually).

4. What has been your most difficult cross stitch piece? English Garden Sampler. I'm not looking forward to the cutwork borders.

5. Do you have friends that stitch? Yes. I have a couple. One of my best friends Lynda has done a couple of big pieces in fact.

6. What is your favorite stitched piece? It's hard to decide on one favorite - but I think I'd have to pick one of TWs - Diamonds In Squares or The Castle.

7. What is your favorite fabric? I prefer Lugana with Jobelan a close second. It seems everything lately that I've stitched has been on linen though.

8. What is your favorite fiber? DMC. Of the hand-dyeds I like Weeks Dye Works and and of the Carons.

9. What is your favorite needle? John James petite gold needles. I ran out of the m a couple of months ago and had to use the regular DMC needles from Walmart - almost like learning how to stitch all over again.

10. Do you prefer black & white or colored charts? I like colored charts. I think they're easier to see - and if the symbols happen to be similar at least they're usually a different color so they're easier to differentiate between the two.

11. How many Works In Progress do you have at this time? 3 - not including the Squirrel Fob that just needs to be finished into an ornament.

12. How many UFO's do you have at this time? Do I have to say? I think 3 or 4.

13. How many cross stitch charts/kits/mags do you own? Now I REFUSE to answer this one. lol Too many to count.

14. How much fabric do you have in stock at this time? I don't keep a stock of fabric usually. I like to buy specific fabric for specific projects; but I'm thinking I need a few small cuts of natural colors to have on hand for fobs and ornies.

15. Where is your favorite place to stitch? In the living room on the futon in front of the fireplace.

16. What is your favorite time of day to stitch? Usually after 7pm. I'm done usually playing on the pc by then and dinner's out of the way so I'm free until I feel like falling asleep.

17. How many pieces have you stitched in your lifetime? Not too many actually. 10 or 12. Most of them I've given away, actually.

18. Do you give your stitched pieces away? Yep, see the previous question. lol

19. How many different fibers do you have in stock at this time? Krieniks, Waterlillies for Deep Peace, a couple of milkpaints left over from another project and just regular DMC.

20. How many pairs of scissors do you own? 2 pair of sewing scissors - one regular and one set of pinking shears; a set of kitchen shears and two pair of embroidery scissors. (the el cheapo kind).

21. Do you use stitching enhancers (lights, scroll frames...etc)? QSnaps and a magnifier. I have a regular lamp with a regular softwhite bulb in it.

22. How many pieces that have been stitched but not yet framed or finished off in some other way do you have at this time? All of them.

23. Do you have a craft/stitching room? Heck no.

24. Why do you stitch? I can't draw worth a darn, and this is a creative outlet for me. I dislike regular sewing since I hate cutting the patterns and pinning them to the fabric.

25. What is your most memorable time related to cross stitching? I think discovering the TWBB way back when. That's what really got me started stitching again on a regular basis. I've got some local friends I've met there - and I generally just love the enabling.

It's a Long Weekend!

2005-05-27T15:34:00.000-07:00

AND I get paid for Monday. Woo Hoo! lol

Ok, the news. I still have cable - (I'm slightly behind in paying and they haven't cancelled me yet. The gods of cable are being kind to me this weekend.)

I have an interview Tuesday afternoon for the job I REALLY want

at Bowne in Dallas. Keep good thoughts this weekend. I also have an interview at Bisco Ind. On Thursday - I might just skip that one; I think I can keep it together at NHIC until the 27th (if I'm lucky though, they might be hiring early *AND JUST GOT THE CALL - they are!!! June 20th is my first day at Bowne. Now I have to study for a windows test, a typing test, and an excel test - no problem really. It's just that I do so many things automatically it's hard to remember when they ask a specific question. yay!

Like it's in the bag already. lol

Now, to the grocery store and stitching.

Interesting things...

2005-05-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

.....are happening, I think. I decided to head to the Pitt at lunch (I'll have to take a picture for you guys) just to chill. No mas dinero, but I knew I'd at least get coffee from Debbie (and I did). ;) Anyway, got there, and lunch looked good, actually; homemade mac and cheese, collard greens, cornbread, and carrots. Anyway, the important point. Leda (of all people) looked at me and said (pointedly, I thought) 'he made the carrots the way you like em'. And I said, 'with cinnamon?' And she said, 'yep'. So, how did she know I liked em with cinnamon, unless one, he remembered, or two someone told him and then he made em that way. Weirdness. Not like he thought I'd be there for lunch or anything since I only go there usually at that time on Friday. (Oh, and Leda's the one he left me for, just so you know). Weirdness.

Anyway, I think tomorrow night I'll make up something chocolate and bring it just to see what happens.

As far as stitching goes....I've actually worked some on Celtic Band Sampler. I'm still on the first band, but I think I'm going to like how this one finishes up.

That's about it, except that I might be getting a new job soon; I'll keep you posted on that one too.

Mark your Calendars

2005-05-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

I just want to make it known that Hell has officially frozen over today.

My ex - Norman (no, not the dumbass who moved to Arkansas - the GOOD ex) lol actually shook my hand today after a year and three weeks of being pissed off royally at me. To be honest, it was mutual; and when two Scorpios get pissed off, that's aLOT of pissed offedness. ;) Anyway; keep your fingers crossed that we actually become friends again - see? I KNEW there was a reason I was getting extra bacon.

Reading Meme

2005-05-21T12:32:00.000-07:00

Bold all the titles you have read (list below the fold).

I'm not sure where this one came from originally...

Beowulf
Achebe, Chinua — Things Fall Apart
Agee, James — A Death in the Family
Austen, Jane — Pride and Prejudice
Baldwin, James — Go Tell It on the Mountain
Beckett, Samuel — Waiting for Godot
Bellow, Saul — The Adventures of Augie March
Brontë, Charlotte — Jane Eyre
Brontë, Emily — Wuthering Heights
Camus, Albert — The Stranger
Cather, Willa — Death Comes for the Archbishop
Chaucer, Geoffrey — The Canterbury Tales
Chekhov, Anton — The Cherry Orchard
Chopin, Kate — The Awakening
Conrad, Joseph — Heart of Darkness
Cooper, James Fenimore — The Last of the Mohicans
Crane, Stephen — The Red Badge of Courage
Dante — Inferno
de Cervantes, Miguel — Don Quixote
Defoe, Daniel — Robinson Crusoe
Dickens, Charles — A Tale of Two Cities
Dostoyevsky, Fyodor — Crime and Punishment
Douglass, Frederick — Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Dreiser, Theodore — An American Tragedy
Dumas, Alexandre — The Three Musketeers
Eliot, George — The Mill on the Floss
Ellison, Ralph — Invisible Man
Emerson, Ralph Waldo — Selected Essays
Faulkner, William — As I Lay Dying
Faulkner, William — The Sound and the Fury
Fielding, Henry — Tom Jones
Fitzgerald, F. Scott — The Great Gatsby
Flaubert, Gustave — Madame Bovary
Ford, Ford Madox — The Good Soldier
Goethe, Johann Wolfgang von — Faust
Golding, William — Lord of the Flies
Hardy, Thomas — Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Hawthorne, Nathaniel — The Scarlet Letter
Heller, Joseph — Catch 22
Hemingway, Ernest — A Farewell to Arms
Homer — The Iliad
Homer — The Odyssey
Hugo, Victor — The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Hurston, Zora Neale — Their Eyes Were Watching God
Huxley, Aldous — Brave New World
Ibsen, Henrik — A Doll's House
James, Henry — The Portrait of a Lady
James, Henry — The Turn of the Screw
Joyce, James — A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Kafka, Franz — The Metamorphosis
Kingston, Maxine Hong — The Woman Warrior
Lee, Harper — To Kill a Mockingbird
Lewis, Sinclair — Babbitt
London, Jack — The Call of the Wild
Mann, Thomas — The Magic Mountain
Marquez, Gabriel García — One Hundred Years of Solitude
Melville, Herman — Bartleby the Scrivener
Melville, Herman — Moby Dick
Miller, Arthur — The Crucible
Morrison, Toni — Beloved
O'Connor, Flannery — A Good Man is Hard to Find
O'Neill, Eugene — Long Day's Journey into Night
Orwell, George — Animal Farm
Pasternak, Boris — Doctor Zhivago
Plath, Sylvia — The Bell Jar
Poe, Edgar Allan — Selected Tales
Proust, Marcel — Swann's Way
Pynchon, Thomas — The Crying of Lot 49
Remarque, Erich Maria — All Quiet on the Western Front
Rostand, Edmond — Cyrano de Bergerac
Roth, Henry — Call It Sleep
Salinger, J.D. — The Catcher in the Rye
Shakespeare, William — Hamlet
Shakespeare, William — Macbeth
Shakespeare, William — A Midsummer Night's Dream
Shakespeare, William — Romeo and Juliet
Shaw, George Bernard — Pygmalion
Shelley, Mary — Frankenstein
Silko, Leslie Marmon — Ceremony
Solzhenitsyn, Alexander — One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Sophocles — Antigone
Sophocles — Oedipus Rex
Steinbeck, John — The Grapes of Wrath
Stevenson, Robert Louis — Treasure Island
Stowe, Harriet Beecher — Uncle Tom's Cabin
Swift, Jonathan — Gulliver's Travels
Thackeray, William — Vanity Fair
Thoreau, Henry David — Walden
Tolstoy, Leo — War and Peace
Turgenev, Ivan — Fathers and Sons
Twain, Mark — The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Voltaire — Candide
Vonnegut, Kurt Jr. — Slaughterhouse—Five
Walker, Alice — The Color Purple
Wharton, Edith — The House of Mirth
Welty, Eudora — Collected Stories
Whitman, Walt — Leaves of Grass
Wilde, Oscar — The Picture of Dorian Gray
Williams, Tennessee — The Glass Menagerie
Woolf, Virginia — To the Lighthouse
Wright, Richard — Native Son

It's Friday!

2005-05-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

Some good news - I had a phone interview today with a national company with an office here in Irving, Tx. I have a second interview scheduled for June 2nd, yay! It's still marketing, but a more stable environment, and an actual professional atmosphere. THAT'll be a nice change. ;) So, keep your fingers crossed.

My stepmother's coming a couple of days early. Dad'll be here on the 6th with his friend Rudy, and Deanna will be here the first or second I believe. It'll be fun. Shopping and dinners and all that good stuff.

Now, if I can get everything paid on time, we'll be good to go. I have a feeling everything's going to work out for the best - it generally does.

Oh, almost forgot......got EXTRA bacon last Sunday........or did I mention that already? lol

Nap time, then stitching and catching up on DVR recordings. I have such a tough life.

I'm taking a day off

2005-05-16T04:57:00.000-07:00

Which I shouldn't, but I am, so there it is. I'm still sick and I don't think my voice will last. Besides, I need to go see the doc about something else anyway, right? And they have a clinic after hours which I'll go to cause I'm just to sick to drive right now, right? :) Well.....not that sick.

Got an extension on the electric bill; going to pay part of the cable bill today; everything might work out after all.

I'm thinking stitching today might be a good idea.

And, I'm trying to figure out why he made a point of giving me extra bacon today - he even had Liz bring it over after I got the rest of the order - something about 'counting wrong'. Come on.......stupid boys. lol

I hate getting sick

2005-05-14T17:18:00.000-07:00

I feel like right now, that I just want it over with. If I getting sick, well then, get there already. If it's just a headcold, fine, but if it's the crap that's going around, I just want it over with already. I know, whine, whine, whine. I felt like all day that I had a body full of muscle relaxants anyway, so I just took two. lol Does that make any sense? No, but there it is.

I guess this is all leading up to the fact that I just don't feel like stitching this weekend. Did my usual Pitt Grill thing this morning - might go back and spread some more joy (yes, that's me being sarcastic) this evening - just for coffee and bullshit (what we're all best at there). Can't find anything to watch on TV, haven't listened to music at all today except for the radio while driving; is anyone besides me getting happy that headbanger music is coming back? Death From Above, Slipknot, etc. Yay!

Oh, and got to drive through a flood today. Someone broke a water main at the construction site for the new Walmart (that's all our excitement for the year - that and the new Cowboys stadium. If this post makes any sense at all it's a miracle.

Oh, and we can now buy wine; honest to goodness wine in Arlington now. Arlington's always been dry. You could only buy beer legally within city limits. Now we can buy wine and the local stores are all stocked up. I'm looking for Kendall Jackson's reserve Chardonnay though. Might have to get it at Walmart. No hard liquor though. It's ridiculous. The city is not able to make their budget, yet they won't approve the sale of hard liquor (did I spell that right?). Makes no sense whatsover. Kinda like this post.

Nothing else new, except that I think Stitcher's World is declining. I liked the Catherine Coleman design on the cover this month, nothing last month. It's gotten worse since the new editor took over, IMHO.

Off to find something to watch and give my immune system a workout fighting this head cold.

This Week's Cheddar X

2005-05-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

This week's is all about your tv viewing. If you're not a tv person (like my brother) you can just go and sit and play with this lump of clay.

1. Who's your favorite talk show host? Conan O'Brien. Jimmy Fallon w/CB doing 'In the Year 2000' recently was totally hysterical. And CB w/William Shatner - I'm sure my neighbors are saying 'what the heck is she laughing at?'

2. Late Night talk show? Conan O'Brien - of course.

3. Favorite drama? Law and Order CI or Kojak; Ving Rhames is too cool for words.

4. Favorite comedy? Friends. Still. Even though I didn't really get into it for the first couple of years, I caught up. Might hae to get the DVDs.

5. Least favorite show? Cheaters - exploitation of the worst kind.

6. Most unlikely show you like? Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Unless you know me, of course.

7. Most unlikely show you thought you'd like but really hate? Star Trek Enterprise. I really hoped it would be good.

8. Worst reality show? Contender - even though I used to watch boxing on a regular basis.

9. Best reality show? Big Brother

10. Best tv innovation? DVR/TiVo

11. Who's the hottest person on TV? A tie - Vincent D'Onofrio or Ving Rhames. I have eclectic taste to say the least.

12. Who's got a face for radio? Ray's dad on Everybody Loves Raymond.

13. What major news channel if any do you watch? CNN when I watch any.

14. Bill O'Reilly - thoughts? Where there's smoke there's fire.

The Weather

2005-05-08T17:43:00.000-07:00

Finally - we get thunderstorms. I've been in a weird mood all day and I think mostly because of the weather. It's been changing quite a bit lately and threatening to rain and it never actually does. We got a little sprinkle this morning and I think tonight we'll finally get an actual Thunderstorm with a capital T. Whew - I feel better already. ;)

I ran across this article this weekend

http://www.stjudemedicalcenter.org/healthyliving/
jun02mindbodygoodmoods.htm

(you'll have to copy and paste that to your browser for a link to the article)

and here I thought I was weird or something. I always can catch moods even from people (they have to be someone I'm close to) that aren't nearby. Right now I kind of know who it is (Blake) if I catch a bad one - but there are times I'm not sure - then I'll have to go through the list and call everyone to check on them.
So, I'm not the only one.

On a different note, I'm trying to make friends with a local feral cat (maybe one of these days I'll catch him and take him in for shots). Well anyway, I've been feeding him regularly and I was late the other day and there he was waiting on the patio railing for me. Of course he jumped down immediately and wouldn't eat until after I'd gone back inside, but today I caught him actually testing out the cat bed I made for him - he only stayed for a second, but I think he finally figured out it was for him. I guess this means I have a cat now; not such a bad thing.

Oh I almost forgot - I have a new job starting June 27th in Dallas. Yay! No more selling and I get a steady paycheck which'll be exactly the same EVERY week. (Right now we get six dollars an hour if we don't get two leads an hour - only happened to me once - but that was enough). Can't wait!

I'm starting a new venture...

2005-05-05T17:39:00.000-07:00

....who would've thought you can make money recycling scrap metal? Tomorrow afternoon I'm going to hit all the machine shops in the area and ask em if I can take their scrap metal - should be a bit of a haul - we have quite a few shops in the area. I'll take it to the recycler on Saturday morning to see if it's worthwhile with the price of gas and everything.

So I'm bored, I'm poor (not totally broke, but poor), but AT LEAST I'M NOT STUCK IN ARKANSAS. ROFLMAO.

Will I ever stop finding that incredibly amusing? NOPE!!!!!

(and nothing against Arkansas, it's just that Blake's there and I have to rag on him endlessly because of it).

Y'know, I've been to Bakersfield but I never lived there- BUT ARKANSAS????????

Stitching Goals for May

2005-05-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

I have to admit I stole this idea from Dani (thank you Dani).

Now, let's see if I can come up with some.

Try to do at least 10 squares in the 63 square afghan. (I think my original goal of one square per day was a little too ambitious).

Finish one band (at least) on the Celtic Band Sampler.

Finish one scissor fob.

Finish putting together squirrel fob for Robin.

Start ....You Were Hatched whenever it gets here from Pawprints.

That should do it. Since I'm taking a PTO day today I think (after the emergency room for a UTI (I really need to get a regular md) I'll spend the rest of the day stitching and watching my DVR; I'm way behind.

Scissor Fobs

2005-04-30T14:45:00.000-07:00

I've discovered that I have developed an obsession with scissor fobs. In fact, I'm about to go find Castle Sampler so I can make a fob with the sun and moon design (front and back). I have to admit that's not my original idea, since I did see it recently on someone's webshots album, but it's been nagging at me ever since. On to the obsession. I've searched the net and so far have come up with this list of fob charts I want:

Sweetheart Tree:

Baby Bluebells
Cherry Blossoms
Rhodes Butterfly Stitch
Baby Shamrocks

Lena Rose (I remember wanting this one some time back - before the current obsession):

In the Dark

Lorrie Birmingham:
Pansy Fob

Lavender Wings:
With Thread In Hand
Planted Hearts

Thistle Threads:
Scissor Fob Collection

Shepherd's Bush:
Bee Scissor Fob
Spring Scissor Fob
Snow Scissor Fob

Cat's Cradle:
Asolutely Fobulous Spring Thingies

With My Needle:
Bunnies In the Garden

Just Nan:
Dragonfly Scissor Purse

See what I mean? Obsession. Good thing I'm not all that compulsive though - if I were I'd buy a few of these charts right now. Knowing me though, I'll think on it for a looooooooooooooong time before I start collecting these, and wait an even looooooooooonger time to start stitching them.

The only other thing I obssessed about today was cleaning the fridge-course I didn't clean anything else (mostly it just needs picking up around here). I really do have half-arsed obssessions, don't I? LOL

Ok, Under the Boys Are Stupid Category

2005-04-26T15:15:00.000-07:00

The boy . Ok - he's unhappy, right? So, he thinks he gets what he wants when his girlfriend dumps him - and tada, he's even MORE depressed. Big surprise. So. He can't afford to keep himself in the style to which he has become accustomed so he moves back home. (I don't know this for sure, it's just a theory - but I think he moved back with mom and dad). A year later - he moves to ARKANSAS?????? roflmao Now, one guess, is he going to be happy there? Not - cause first you have to be happy with yourself; once that happens you can be happy anywhere - but moving is NOT going to make you happy; being with someone new is NOT going to make you happy. Nothing is going to make one happy until they decide to be happy. I promise; I won't say I told you so. (I mostly keep my promises). lol

Baseball

2005-04-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

Is the best. I am SO glad it's baseball season again, you don't even know. My two favorite teams? The Yankees and the Dodgers. The Dodgers because they're my hometown team and the Yanks because when they're good they play beautiful baseball. No other way to describe it, it's just beautiful. Now yesterday? Definitely NOT beautiful. ;) You know it's bad when Yankee fans start booing when they play New York, New York. They lost to Texas 10-2 and as I write this they're winning 11-1 in the 8th. Well, it WAS Saturday yesterday - hangover day for them, right? lol

Chan Ho Park actually pitched two good games in a row - it's a miracle (naw, just Orel Herschiser).

Now, stitching. I finished the squirrel fob this week, and found the perfect backing fabric for the ornie - it's ta da.....pinecones. Is that perfect or what? Now I just have to get some pellon fleece or something to sandwich in the middle. Batting is too think I think, and I don't want it too puffy. And this'll be the first time I've made cording....it'll be an adventure. ;) I'll post a pic when it's finished.

I also started Celtic Band Sampler this week. I plan on doing one band a week - hope I can keep that up. I'll keep you posted on the progress for that one. I *might* rechart the saying - I haven't fully decided that one either.

Oh and just a comment. Boys are stupid - even the ones with exceptionally high IQs. That's all I have to say on THAT subject. lol

The Best Salmon Recipe

2005-04-23T08:19:00.000-07:00

I'm putting this here so I don't lose it again. It really is yummy. (From Family Circle magazine).

Teriyaki Salmon

Makes: 4 servings at $3.09 each. Prep: 10 minutes. Marinate: 1 hour. Cook: 6 minutes.

2 tablespoons each soy sauce and sherry
1 tablespoon each sugar, rice-wine vinegar
11/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh ginger
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
4 salmon fillets (about 11/2 pounds total)
8 ounces soba noodles (Japanese buckwheat noodles), cooked and cooled
1/2 cup bottled peanut sauce
3 green onions, sliced

1. Combine soy, sherry, sugar, vinegar, ginger, garlic and spice powder in plastic food-storage bag; squeeze to mix. Remove and reserve half of the marinade. Add salmon to bag; seal and refrigerate 1 hour.
2. Oil grid. Grill salmon, skin side down, over medium- hot coals 6 to 8 minutes, until cooked. Or broil, skin side down, 6 inches from heat 6 minutes, until cooked.
3. Toss noodles, peanut sauce, reserved marinade and onion in bowl. Place equal amount of noodles on 4 plates. Top with salmon.

Nutritional Value Per Serving: 580 calories, 18 g fat (3 g saturated), 48 g protein, 58 g carbohydrates, 870 mg sodium, 111 mg cholesterol.

Cheddar X for the Week

2005-04-22T15:47:00.000-07:00

1. What would you name your boat? I wouldn't have a boat - probably Titanic.

2. What's your "go to" joke? Don't have one.

3. What do the words "family vacation" evoke in you? A feeling of dread followed by a savage bout of nausea.

4. What is the most infectious song you know right now (that song you can't get out of your head once it starts going in there)?

Hmmmmm, Blister In The Sun - Violent Femmes (heard it on the radio this am)

5. Are you safer now than you were five years ago?

I'd say so - I'm living in a better neighborhood for one thing (the neighbors don't have a habit of firing off guns just because they feel like it at least).

6. So, how about the new Pope, better than the old Pope, worse or just more of the same? We'll wait and see. Probably more of the same.

Kind of boring this week, I know - I think I'm even boring myself lately.....what to do about that, what to do.

I'm going to start eating breakfast

2005-04-20T18:17:00.000-07:00

You Will Die at Age 67

67

You're pretty average when it comes to how you live...

And how you'll die as well.

What Age Will You Die?

Good News!

2005-04-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

NO MORE PHYSICAL THERAPY AS OF TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, on to the dentist. I'm just good for the medical field's bottom line this year. lol

An Interesting Meme I ran across today

2005-04-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

If you could have a mythical creature for a pet, what would you want? Pegasus

Here’s a riddle for you: Its the beginning of eternity, the end of time and space, the beginning of every end, and the end of every place. What is it? (Hint: It’s in front of you right now). the letter "e" (too too easy)

If we suddenly developed the ability to colonize the moon, would you want to move there? Only if they have coffee and bacon. Anything else is incidental. (only sort of kidding about the bacon).

If you had to be stuck on a deserted island for 2 months with a Looney Toons character, who would you choose? Bugs - who else?

If you could give your pets the ability to talk, would you? If I had any pets, other than the community cats I would. Although if you know your pets well you can pretty much guess what they're thinking. (Usually it was, 'I can't believe she just did that!')

Do you love Valentines day or hate it? I don't hate it, but I think it's stupid. Best Valentines day present I ever got was a big order of Church's Chicken - and I don't even think he realized it was Valentines day when he got it for me. Just thoughtful cause the fridge was empty at the time.

What’s the first thing the comes to mind when you read these idioms:
Mad As A Hatter: Alice In Wonderland

There’s more than one way to skin a cat: Who would want to skin a cat in the first place or Jennifer Aniston's skinless cat on Friends.

Tongue In Cheek: you don't want to know....
One for the road: one last whatever it may be

Funny Farm: loony bin - to quote someone I know 'Yeah, they taught me how to crochet in the funny farm' (she also kept her dead cat in a box in the fireplace....don't ask).

What do you think about crop circles? drunken Scotsmen should have better things to do with their time.

Couldn't Resist This one

2005-04-17T17:38:00.000-07:00

You Are 45% Normal

(Somewhat Normal)

While some of your behavior is quite normal...

Other things you do are downright strange

You've got a little of your freak going on

But you mostly keep your weirdness to yourself

How Normal Are You?

A Most Exciting Day

2005-04-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

Not. For example, my entertainment for the morning: squirrel ran in front of the truck; made me stop; looked at me for a full minute and then ran back across the street in the same direction from whence he came. Remind you of anything? roflmao

Second, Linda's harmonic balanacer fell off into the street. I'm thinking wouldn't it be a good thing if the human body came with one of those?

And that's it so far. Bills paid, laundry being done, breakfast was excellent - what more could you ask for?

My Weekend So Far - and Stitching Goals

2005-04-09T16:50:00.000-07:00

Checked with my friends at my pool hall re: the shooting last weekend. Everyone's fine - walked in the door and they were watching a Doors documentary. I'll figure these boys out one day - The Doors and soap operas in a hard core mexican bar, go figure. ;)

Grocery shopping - unmemorable.

Stitching Goals

In progress:

Squirrel Fob
Chollerford Owl

Kitted:

Tws Summer Faerie
Tws ....You Were Hatched

The rest of the list:

Celtic Quilt Mystery - chart only
La Clef by Nimue - chart only
Deep Peace - need fabric and some specialty threads
Pheonix by Dracolair - need everything
Bestitched Medieval Miniatures - need everything

and to make it an even ten my wip

Mr. Beagle. ;)

Plans tomorrow? Going to pick up a disposable camera and take pictures of everyone and everywhere I hang out. I'll put 'em on a CD so I can upload 'em. Oh, and breakfast at the Pitt of course. Where else would I be on a Sunday?

I love my bank!

2005-04-08T12:48:00.000-07:00

I asked for a $400 increase for my line of credit and they gave me $500 - this is a good month for it, too. Maybe I'll tempt fate and ask them about refinancing the truck....who knows? The payments will have to be cheaper than what I have now.

Now on to more important things. I play pool oftentimes at a Mexican bar (yep, most of my friends are too scared to go there - went in today and my bartender boy met me at the door with a big hug - they're all softies - they sit around during the day watching soap operas and gossiping - I think it's hysterical). Anyway, they had a shooting last weekend (the excitement of the year) and when I asked him about it he said, 'how did you find out?' I just said, 'I know everything sooner or later'. Too funny.

My stitchig goal for the weekend is to finish the squirrel, so I'd better get started if I'm going to have him done by Sunday night.

I can walk again!

2005-04-06T18:14:00.000-07:00

Well, almost. I walked all the way to the mailboxes WITHOUT MY CRUTCH! Yay! (Yes, it's a figurative as well as a real crutch by now - four months after surgery.) I figured since my PT was going to make me give it up tomorrow I might as well practice today - AND I CAN DO IT! This saga has been going on for two and a half years now - I snapped my tendon and tore the quad muscle that long ago. The doc (Mike Mycowski - if you're in Arlington I can't recommend him enough) did a great job - now I have all sorts of pins and wires in my knee, but at least it's my knee, not a replacement. Yay!
Yep, you can tell I'm happy about it. ;)

And today I finished the tail and butt of the squirrel fob - don't ask me why I started on the back end instead of the front - had to start somewhere. Back to stitching in a minute; I might even stay up past 10pm tonight - for some reason I've been going to bed WAY too early the last couple of months. So anyway, things are going along just fine; work's great this week, I'm going for a new and better job in Dallas as soon as the temp agency calls me back and I have a new truck. Now, if I can just get a certain person to act right (I know, never happen, but I don't give up easily) things'll be perfect. Are things meant to be perfect? I think that's a question for another day.

My Intentions for the Rest of the Year

2005-04-05T17:47:00.000-07:00

Since I have found this board again (The Wagon), I've decided on a few budgetary guidelines. I don't like rules and never did, since once the *r* word is mentioned I tend to break whatever rule is available to be broken.

1. I can only work from the current Pawprints order (I'm waiting on some Silk 'n Colors, I think), and not order anything new for the rest of the year.

2. I can only spend $50/mo on stash.

3. If I spend $100 one month, I have to skip one month of stash expense.

4. I can't buy any new charts, but I can buy all the supplies I need for any chart I have on hand (keeping in mind the budget).

I think that's it. I find that if I write down goals like this I tend to stick to them better.

Oh, one more project with supplies is allowed for the year; it's the 63 square afghan. I'll need the yarn and the crochet hook, but I won't pick those up until May (and yes, that does count toward the $50 budget for the month).

More projects

2005-04-05T04:34:00.000-07:00

This one is ok since it's one that's already kitted up and in my stash (I'd just forgotten about it since last summer.) So, one more, at least. After that I'm going for the 63 square crochet afghan (button on the right) and the knit afghan (another sampler afghan). Why do I only want to knit when it's 80 degrees outside???

Woozle Madness

2005-04-02T11:17:00.000-08:00

Woozle Madness

Just checking out blog this! - but this is an interesting blog - and the ferrets are cuties.

Just an addendum for today...

2005-03-31T18:54:00.000-08:00

.....got my truck! Drove it home and it only took me five minutes to figure out how to turn the headlights on. Well, maybe more like two, but still. ;)

I love it!

And he gave me an extra $1000 off. I got it for $6995, $1200 interest, and I still have to pay $52 for the plates in a couple of weeks, but still. It's mine and I can start fixing it up now. It'll be great by the time I'm done with it.

Finally Feeling Better

2005-03-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

I've had this horrid cold for two weeks now and I'm FINALLY YAY!!!!!! feeling better. I'm actually awake after 8pm; and I haven't coughed in over an hour (uh oh, feel one coming on just cause I said that). It was a terrible day at work (mostly because I felt awful) but I'll make up for it tomorrow.

I might get my truck tomorrow. He got me by saying, 'If I get three more sales by the end of the month I'll bonus.' Since I work for bonus too, I completely understand. Hopefully he'll get two more. Anyway, I was going to get it Saturday, but since he has to have the sale by the end of the month I'll go tomorrow if they preapprove me. It's a black '99 Ford Ranger (single cab) with only 70000 miles on it. Not bad for around here. Let's see if I can find a picture of a black one. Here we go:

(that link wasn't working - I'll see if I can't add an actual picture of the truck itself later on.)

Can't wait. I'd rather have the extended cab, but I don't think I could afford the payments on that one, unfortunately.

So, I'm finally over this cold thing, I think, I might actually have a decent paycheck next week, AND I might have a truck tomorrow. Isn't life great?

Just an addendum.....got my truck AND the one I wanted!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't tried this before....

2005-03-28T17:25:00.001-08:00

....but this is from Cheddar X which can be found here: http://cheddarx.blogspot.com/

1. When did you last get yourself good and lost?

The last time I got 'good and lost' was years ago in Los Angeles of all places. I'd just been to a concert; Springsteen I think, so it must have been in the 80s. So, two o'clock in the morning and I'm trying to find the freeway, and all of a sudden, looming up to my right were the Watts towers. Kind of cool and all that, but it was my first month living in L.A., and I didn't know any better, and got a teensy bit nervous and could NOT find the freeway to save my life. Finally around three I found the 635 I think...yes, I was EXTREMELY lost. Now I'd just have fun with it, but I was MUCH younger then.

2. Did you stop and ask for directions or just drive until you found someplace you knew?

We know the answer to that one....I just drove until I found the freeway.

3. How far out of your way have you gone because you didn't want to stop for directions?

That night.....VERY far out of my way. Now? I'd just go west and hit the 101.

4. What's the best place, person or thing you've found while lost?

The Watts Towers. Even at night they're something to see.

5. Do you ever get yourself lost on purpose, just so you can find your way home?

Yes. After I moved to Texas I used to drive all over the metroplex and get lost on purpose. I figured if I did that it'd be harder to get lost later on.

6. When was the last time you were lost in the woods?

Since I don't EVER go camping.....NEVER. Too many bugs, not enough concrete, and it's dirty. (only sort of kidding).

Love my DVR

2005-03-26T06:16:00.000-08:00

It's storming off and on today with lightning and all - my favorite kind of storm. I'm making a pot of coffee, some pancakes, and sitting down to stitch (after the pancakes are done of course - stitching and syrup do NOT mix well); watch Kojak with Ving Rhames http://www.usanetwork.com/series/kojak/flash.html - plus I have all last week's recordings (I guess you can't call it taping anymore). ;) Ok...pancakes, then squirrel fob - maybe I'll finish it today?

Did some more stitching...

2005-03-24T12:36:00.000-08:00

....on the squirrel fob; if I can find anything to watch right now, I might go back to it. I'm feeling productive again as far as stitching goes - my next one might be one of the Mirabilia freebie cherubs. I've got the floss and the fabric already, so it wouldn't take that much to kit up. Maybe I'm feeling halfway decent after this weeks cold thing, whatever it was. Work sucked though; since I was off Monday without an excuse I get to make a whole.....nope, can't say it. Let's just say I haven't worked for that little amount of money since I was a babysitter in high school. lol Anyway, it was all my fault, so there's no one to blame but me. Oh well, next week I should be up to my regular pay.

Other than that not much is going on except the truck buying thing. I'll keep updating on that, too.

Actually...

2005-03-21T06:53:00.000-08:00

...did some stitching this weekend. Cross stitch even. I worked on the Squirrel Scissor Fob. Got at bit done in the body and on the tail. Since I'm home from work today (laryngitis and fever) once the fever breaks I'll work on it a bit more. I really do have to get a truck. I have Ron (my regular cabbie) delivering some meds. Could have been to the store and back already. Oh well. Next month is truck month. Off to try some chicken broth.....

Since I've decided...

2005-03-19T05:20:00.000-08:00

....to buy one of these http://a904.g.akamai.net/7/904/506/v0003/images.autobytel.com/cyber/182787/i91064_1.jpg

I decided I'd better stock up for the year on cross stitch projects. So, to the list I'm adding the following:

Nimue La Clef http://perso.wanadoo.fr/de.fil.en.idees/Nimue/cadreClef.jpg

The rest of the shttp://www.forgetmenotsinstitches.com/pieces/dep087.htmupplies for Deep Peace

The Phoenix by Dracolair http://dracolair.com/phoenix.html

Dragonknot Bookmark also by Dracolair http://dracolair.com/dragonknotbookmark.html

and three Heaven and Earth Designs which can be found here http://www.heavenandearthdesigns.com

Odalisque
Dolce Far Niente
Journey Never Ends

Also from http://www.pawprintscrossstitch.com

two Just Nans : Beach Roses and Holly Noel

That ought to do it, right? We'll see.

I haven't been stitching much for the the last week to week and a half. I've just been too tired. I think I'm going to make a doctor's appointment just to make sure I'm not having any issues with anemia again. I really do think that's the problem.

But, next month I'll have a truck again, And be legal to drive in the state of Texas, AND actually save money since I won't be spending so much on cab fare. ;)

Never ever buy a computer....

2005-03-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

.....if you're addicted to crossstitch. I was going to be good and NOT buy anything else until I buy a car, but had to (yea had to) get TW's You Were Hatched..... and then I have to order the fabbie for Celtic Quilt Mystery. And get this; just got an email from Silkweaver's and they said 'don't worry, if the fabric doesn't work for your project we'll be happy to exchange it.' I was already a satisfied customer and now they'll be the first ones I go to when I need fabric. You can find them here if you need them:

http://www.silkweaver.com

So anyway, back to shopping! Oh and I discovered this website: (I'd known about her before, but just now found all her new designs:

http://www.heavenandearthdesigns.com

She's great!

Tsunami Relief

2005-01-11T10:29:00.000-08:00

You may donate here (it's just one of the many organizations helping the victims)

http://redcross.org

We donated through work - everyone periodically gets a memo about a 'jeans day'; the minimum donation is $5, but everyone can donate as much as they want and the donations go to whatever charity is designated. This time it's Tsunami Relief. So, if you can't for some reason donate online, try suggesting a donation at work.

Happy Holidays!

2004-12-25T11:35:00.000-08:00

I'm hoping everyone's Christmas is as nice as mine is turning out to be. I'm in Cudjoe Key, Florida; right on the water. I really am spoiled, right? Anyway, dnner's cooking, presents are waiting to be opened (we're waiting on my stepbrother and his son to arrive). Anyway.....I'll write more later, just wanted to say Happy Holidays to everyone.

Last Day Before Vacation!

2004-12-20T09:10:00.000-08:00

Ok, the list of projects I want to do next year has been finalized (as final as I ever get with the caveat that things change ;)). So next year's projects will be (not necessarily in order:

Celtic Band Sampler - Homespun Sampler
Wish Upon A Star Stocking - Birds of a Feather
Dragons by the Fire Stocking - Black Swan Designs
Christmas Ornaments - Teresa Wentzler
Five Cats and a Canary - M Designs

Ok, I know there are more, but I haven't found them yet. :)

I really don't have anything more exciting to share (I'm starting to bore my own self). I'll have more after the holidays (hopefully).

It's Friday!

2004-12-17T05:51:00.000-08:00

Good news yesterday. Knee brace comes off on January 6th and I get to start rehab. I'm definitely saving some vicodins for THAT one. lol

Other than I get to pay the attorney today AND go shopping and to lunch with Lynda, not much is going on. Blade Trinity with Wes probably on Saturday. And Saturday is a BIG cookie baking day. I haven't done that in a looooooooooooooong time. I'm thinking pecan balls, gingerbread people (of course), oatmeal cookies with chocolate covered raisins (for Charlie), sour cream cookies, and ginger cookies. I'll be busy for awhile.

Oh almost forgot...actually getting a DVD player today (my Christmas present for me). ;)

It's going to be a great weekend. Margaritas today with lunch, dinner AND a movie on Saturday (more margaritas), AND popcorn for dessert. Can't beat that, right?

Off to....

2004-12-16T10:53:00.000-08:00

...Dr. Mike's office. Hopefully he won't do anything silly like add more time I have to spend in the knee brace. I think it's fine, I just did too much yesterday so it hurts a bit more than usual. I should be good to go by the end of January.

Had an interesting day yesterday. I have some *ahem* tickets I mean warrants in Dalworthington Gardens. I emailed a few attorneys and while most won't do tickets in that town, one was going to charge me $200 per - he HAD to be kidding. I found one who cut me a deal (don't ask me why) but he's going to handle all four for $125. Yep, total $125. How many referrals is he getting from me? Lots.

Dentist yesterday - big bill on that one coming up, but Ron drove me (my regular cabbie) could have charged me $25 but only asked for $15. Is that nice or what? I think he gets homemade cookies for Christmas as well.

Dragons By The Fire Christmas Stocking

2004-12-14T09:54:00.000-08:00

Dragons By The Fire Christmas Stocking,
originally uploaded by lrblanc.

On my list of projects to kit up.

Untitled

2004-12-14T08:02:00.000-08:00

It appears I'm back in the mood for stitching. I've got my next five (5) count 'em five projects lined up. ;) First in line, a freebie for a friend for Christmas (you can find it here)http://www.theheartscontent.com/THC_Prod_Free.htm . It's REALLY cute. But tell me why there aren't more cross stitch designs of squirrels? This is a Christmas present for my friend Robin who used to raise squirrel babies; too perfect, right?

Next up on the list is from Birds of a Feather the http://www.flocktogether.com/wishuponastarlarge.htm Wish Upon A Star Christmas Stocking. And I'm in the mood for Christmas too.....go figure. On this one I think I'll use the original fabric that the designers call for, the BOFA Sparrow 28 ct. Can't find anything else that looks as good. Now I just have to order all the specialty threads.

The next one on the list is Dragon Dreams Dragons by the Fire stocking. In the mood for Christmas, right? I think I'll use the original fabric on this one too.....the sparklies will be kind of a fun look, I think. And one can't have too many Christmas stockings. (see the above post for a picture of this one).

Ok. Next will be M Designs Five Cats and a Canary which can be found herehttp://hoffmandis.com/detail.cfm?ProductID=01-2641&start=1&image=01-2641.jpg&ProductName=Five%20Cats%20%26%20A%20Canary&DesignerName=M%20Designs&SubcatID=&DesignerID=MD&Keyword=&prodlist=des&desrefine=&CatID=
and this one will also take the original fabbie I think. Who knows where I'll put it when I'm done, but I like it anyway.

I *think* that's it for now (and mostly I posted this as a kind of New Year's Resolution since I only finished two things all last year (It was an interesting year last year to say the least). More on that later. I keep saying that, don't I?

celtic

2004-12-07T10:40:00.000-08:00

celtic,
originally uploaded by lrblanc.

This is the project I'm considering working on next. I've sort of been out of the mood for stitching lately for some reason. Part of the reason is that I wasn't happy where I'd been living (bugs galore - ugh) so I didn't stay home much. Now that I've moved to a really nice apartment (with fireplace - yay!) I have more time to stitch but I've so far knitted a baby blanket for a friend's baby, and I'm working on Chollerford Owl (needlepoint) from Millenia Designs. Now I just have to decide on the fabric for Celtic Band. Decisions, decisions. :)

Flickr

2004-12-07T08:32:00.000-08:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.