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| Today was a "Friday" because I worked my last day this week. Not only did I work a full day, but I went back at 9:30 p.m. and worked until midnight. I had to finish a few important tasks.
I have thought a lot lately about how important much of my job is, but when I leave it, it won't be important to me at all. Is that just a reflection of a responsible employee (now) and a healthy attitude (later) in thinking I can leave it behind?
My DH wants me to retire three years after he does--that would mean that I'd retire in less than 5 1/2 years, when I turn 57 (he would be 65).That sounds young. Some days, I'd rather retire now. But that would be too expensive, and we need my salary and insurance, as I am the high-wage earner in this family.
So I can entertain myself by thinking about what I want to do with myself then. I know I will need to work, and that I don't want to stop living. Both of my parents will turn 80 in a few months, and they are as active as they can be. Both are fully functional, intellectually, and very interesting! I want to be like that!
GTG--It's after 1 a.m. and I'm leaving for a long weekend in the Colorado mountains in the morning! Tomorrow evening I will go to a gallery opening, "MicroCosmos: Little Worlds" at Ricky Tims' Art Quilt Studio & Gallery in La Veta, CO. A member of the art quilting group to which I belong had a group of postcard-size quilts juried into the show. I'm going to go buy a couple of pieces, I hope!
Sleep well, friends.
Pam | | |
| How come Mondays are so exhausting? Could it be that I went to bed too late last night because I was reading a novel (the first in several months!) and just wanted to extend my weekend as long as I could?
Could it be that I wish I had gotten more done at work today? Since I'll be away from work for 8 days (yeah!), I need to get way more accomplished before COB on Thursday that I can at this [slow] rate. I know I wasted time today that I can't get back!
Could it be because I didn't do the dishes tonight OR quilt, although I have to get lots of handwork together for two back-to-back trips I start this coming Friday? I stared at the TV for a whole hour--not my usual activity, but I guess I needed to veg...
Could it be that I didn't eat very well today, although I prepared a slow-cooker African Chicken (thank you, LeeAnne Ely!)? My DH brought home roast beef sandwiches from Arby's (not my favorite, to say the least) and I ate one for dinner; we'll have the chicken tomorrow.
Could it be that since I cut down my steroids after 8 weeks, to start weaning myself (per doctor's orders, of course), the inflammation in my system is kicking up again?
I don't know. Does it even matter? I just need to respect my body's (and mind's) needs and go to bed. Now. Yeah, right...
I am taking my first Quilt University class online, Hexagon Stars, with Bethany Reynolds. Yesterday, I started putting my blocks together. Wow! Stack N Whack really is magic! Here is one of them:
I used a psychedelic paisley that I bought at JoAnn's a few months ago for this purpose. But I was planning to follow the instructions in Bethany's "Magic Stack n Whack Quilts" book. Let me just say that I learn better from a person demonstrating a technique--even online--than from a book. I'm the student who sat in the front and paid attention during class so that I wouldn't have to spend a lot of time studying (so that's why ...).
I will be taking more Quilt University courses...
I'd better go. I cheered myself up, just mentioning quilting. I need to remember that!
Best to all.
Pam | | |
| My life is probably much like everyone else's. Ups and downs, often at the same time. I understand that my attitude has everything to do with whether I perceive it all as positive or negative. I'm not a neutral kind of person, so that's not usually an option. I feel passionate about everything. But I resist any urge to look at life's happenings negatively!
An example would be this weekend. I save up lots of must-do activities because the weekdays are so wild and fast--Too much work (min. 45 hrs/wk). Teenager finishing 9th grade. Husband recovering from pneumonia and a bad period of asthma. Mom needs care. There's more, but I don't want to whine! I've actually had a terrific weekend...
I finished all but the binding on a small quilt, cleaned the carpet in my living room, helped my daughter study and had "Mommy-Daughter time" with her last night (we went to dinner at Outback Steakhouse). I also made a healthy dinner tonight, and I just took tomorrow's dinner out of the slow cooker and put it in the refrigerator. And I have almost finished the laundry. Now I'm going to read for a little while before going to sleep.
What I haven't done is wash the dishes (by hand--no automatic dishwasher), clear the papers off of my dresser, sort through the old clothes and give away those I don't wear anymore, clean out my closet, sort all of the cosmetic and health care detritus in our bathroom cabinet, find a place to put all of my fabric away in an organized manner, brush my kitties, and I'm sure there's more. Now all I need to do is be satisfied with my accomplishments and be happy that I won't be bored if I have any free time tomorrow!
Best to all of my friends and family. I wish you positive thoughts, too.
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| The Ogallala Quilt Festival was fabulous, but working to help put the show on was exhausting! The saving grace was the two landscape embellishment classes taken from two different member teachers. Now all I have to do is complete the two projects...
The projects from last year's classes haven't been completed yet, either.
I'm into April, have worked on a total of nine quilts this year and have completed only one. And why is that? Because I am (1) easily distracted, (2) work way too much, (3) have to clean up my messes, and (4) recovering from a lupus flare.
Can you imagine feeling too exhausted to quilt? That's what this chronic illness can cause. Rarely (not since 1992) do I spend several evenings in front of the TV, doing nothing but watching. It's not like me to be still.
My favorite current project is a Piece 'O Cake sampler, as I want to improve my hand applique. It's cute, but I can't post a photo because my digital equipment isn't working and I need to take it in for a checkup with the camera doctor. Hope the bill isn't too high...
Love from PammyMia
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| Long time no update. Sorry about that! I have been slow at everything lately, because I have been ill. And working.
I'm working still on the Ogallala Quilt Society Challenge, due next week. I don't know how I can finish it, but I'll try! This will be an intensive sewing weekend.
It is all polka dots, and I agonized for a year about how to do the design I wanted. Then I changed my mind a couple of times. Now I'm inspired by my teenager; the wall quilt will be called "Teenagers Nightmare," a set of faces with lots of spots. Let's see how I do on timing...
I'm contemplating my retirement. Rather, I'm thinking about the work I will do when I retire from my job in approximately 6 1/2 years. My DH will retire in 2 1/2 years, at 62. He doesn't want me to work more than 4 years after that--we have to get our daughter through a couple of her college years first! I'll be 58.
So I'm starting to read for certification. I don't know that I will actually get certified to judge and appraise quilts, but I am exploring that possibility. I have bought a few books to get me started. Just putting this in writing is terrifying--almost a commitment but not quite. Wish me luck! | | |
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