getting my second wind

2009 – the year I figured out how to sew.

Let’s see – I finished 2 quilts, 10 bags, 1 skirt, 1 shirt, and 1 much-beloved jacket.  And I’m starting the year with 2 quilts to finish (late Christmas gifts) and lots of plans.

I don’t normally “do” resolutions – but this year, I”m setting up goals.  First, I”ve added a new page called WIP (Works in Progress) which is where I intend to put my projects as I start them – and hopefully as I complete them. I want to document this learning process and also to become a little more accountable.  I also need to figure out a better work/personal balance.  I’m a happier person and more productive when I do things outside of work that’s not more work. With all of that being said – here are my 2010 goals:

1. stop wasting so much time on my beloved Bejeweled Blitz, Mafia Wars and Facebook.  Oh,how I’ll miss thee – but really, time is too precious.
2. work at home less than 3 nights a week and limit those work hours to less than 4 hours a night.
3. increase my organization in my office so that i can snatch snippets of time to work on projects.
4. find a tried and true (TNT) skirt pattern – I have high hopes that this one will be it.  But if not, perhaps this one.
5. Make a dress to wear to work and out of work.  I’m thinking perhaps this one (the one with the stand up collar) or this one.
6. make this jacket
7. make this shirt
8. make 4 new quilts – including one for dominic.
9. use my walking foot and quilt at least one of the quilts myself
10. make myself a new messenger bag

so, let’s get going on 2010!

I know it’s a lame excuse – so we’ll just skip right over where I’ve been the past month and move into what I’ve done this week…

Randomness

1. eaten the same meal for dinner since Sunday. mind you not leftovers, just the same meal because i’m too lazy to think of something new to make and I have those ingredients on hand.

2. written 2 grants – total pages submitted 1,268 (yep – that’s not a typo)

3. started thinking about this quilt

which really is just code for I-looked-at-the-fabric-for-a-long-time-marveling-at-how-much-I-like-it-but-did-nothing-productive-with-it. And then thought about buying some new fabric – just ’cause

4. realized that July 10 is coming sooner then i think, so started this quilt late Monday night

forgot how many squares i needed- so i just kept cutting thinking that it’s big – it can handle it..

(Yes, I remembered how many and will be back to work on it tonight… i hope.)

5. finished the shirt I’ve been working on for … oh … ever - realized it’s too scratchy and needs some neck adjustments – so put in my WIP pile.

6. went to a training on why development people fail and realized that their idea of failure in no way met mine.

7. ate lots of raspberries lately – wished they were from the bushes I planted, but realized the birds probably liked them more than me… next year it will be a different story.

8. keep thinking that it’s the end of the month – even wrote that on a grant report today – it’s sad to have vacation-brain 3 weeks before you actually take a vacation.

So, i think that’s it… tonight, I’m celebrating that I finished all of my to-do’s today (mind you the grants were the biggest part of the to-dos) and while I have a huge list waiting for me tomorrow, I’m going to enjoy watching trash TV (So You Think You Can Dance? anyone?) and working on the quilt.  And maybe, just maybe finishing the scratchy shirt.

Next sewing skill to learn – sewing with knits – nice, soft knits.

thanks C for this little bit of fun… and may I add that I rock?!

There Are 0 Gaps in Your Knowledge

Where you have gaps in your knowledge: No Gaps! Where you don’t have gaps in your knowledge: Philosophy Religion Economics Literature History Science Art

last night, my stepson, his wife, my sister-in-law, and hubby’s dad came over to help hubby bbq for his other sister’s wedding. (I was the designated photog and hubby was the dedicated “bbq chef”.) Now there’s nothing like smoking enough meat to feed 100 people (which for those of you who are not bbq’ers – takes roughly from 6 pm to 4 pm the next day) to bring people together. anyway, the talk oddly turned to politics. i’ve never had that sort of talk with hubby’s family before – maybe it’s because i traditionally shy away from infringing my political rabidness on other people. but there we were talking about politics. it started off interesting – i like it when people question my thoughts and ask me to justify them and when they have responses. i love, love, love that give and take. but then … well, it’s been a long time since i felt like beating my head against a wall rather than talk about politics – but with one of them, well, i wanted to last night.

Congrats John McCain – you’ve managed to convince some people to vote for you out of fear. And how right you are – it is so much better to have people vote for you because they fear the unknown, then heaven forbid, have people vote for you for your beliefs, policies and stances on important issues. No, let’s make sure it’s about obama’s funny name, which of course, ties him to the big bad muslim world. (all, i can think of to say is “really” we’re that rigid?)

Please, please, please people – i don’t care who you vote for – but for goodness sake, educate yourself. Educate yourself about Palin. Educate yourself about Obama and his stance on guns, taxes and the economy.  But for god’s sake – vote for what you believe in - not for what you don’t.