January 2008 Archives
Where Have I Been?
I’m still here, mostly. I’m still trying to climb up the side of this pit of depression that I’m stuck in. I’m not at the bottom of the pit, but I’m definitely not at the top, either. I’m somewhere in the middle, perhaps.
I sleep all the time now. I think I use it as an escape, honestly. I sleep pretty much when I’m not at work. Work is slowly getting better, with more to do in my new position and recently a bit of work to do in my old position, as well.
I’m fighting a UTI, trying to flush lots of water through my system during the day (you know, when I’m not asleep). That does seem to be doing the trick, so hopefully no doctor visit or antibiotics will be needed. Yay!
I haven’t stitched in over a week (see above reference to my sleeping patterns). In fact, I sometimes sleep from the time we get home until it’s time to go to bed. I even miss dinner at times. It’s just a difficult place for me to be right now. I really wish there would be more sunshine, but that only helps so much. I know I’m supposed to be exercising and that’s supposed to help, according to my therapist (and it actually does), but if I can’t even motivate myself to stay awake, how the heck am I going to motivate myself to exercise?
Ahhhh… the vicious cycle in all its glory.
SBQ: Stitching Accompaniment
This SBQ was suggested by Outi and is:
What is your favorite past time while stitching? Do you just enjoy silence, listen to music/audiobooks or do you “watch” TV/movies? Do you have specific favorites you listen to/watch while stitching?
I enjoy stitching in silence, especially on a quiet and bright morning. I also like to stitch while watching TV. Particularly reruns of things like Law & Order or CSI. Shows or movies that I don’t have to concentrate on; more background noise than anything, I suppose.
Which Beautiful Vampiress Are You?
The Haunted One
You are the haunted beauty whose life is marred by
sadness. You are dreamy, delicate, gentle and
melancholy. As tragically beautiful as any
Shakespearean heroine, you possess a doe-eyed
fragility that is strangely enchanting.
What’s so scary about you: There is something
rather unsettling about your fragile beauty.
You are like a dream that no one can grasp.
Your gemstone: Moonstone
Your Moon: Ice Moon (January)
Which Beautiful Vampiress are You? (For Girls! – Gothic Anime Pics!)
brought to you by Quizilla
Finally, Some Progress!
Yes, I finally have some progress to show on Pretty Posies. I finished the bottom third of the design on Saturday night, sans beads and paillettes. Now I’m working on the middle section and should have something to show later this week, I hope.
SBQ: Favorite Finish
This week’s SBQ is:
What was your favorite finish of 2007?
I think my favorite is the biscornu that I made for myself using a design from The Sweetheart Tree called Renaissance Romance. I stitched it in my own color palette and it just turned out so nicely with the beaded border and all!
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SBQ – Guilt-Free January
This SBQ is:
Are you starting something new to celebrate the New Year or participating in “Guilt Free January?” If so, what are you planning on starting?
There is no such thing as guilt-free for me, especially with all of the projects that I have on the go, so the answer to this is no. If I start a new project, it will be a little one to help jumpstart me back into the stitching groove. However, since I already seem to be getting my mojo back, albeit slowly, I don’t think that it will be necessary.
Still No Picture
I’m determined not to take a photo until the bottom half of Pretty Posies is done. At this rate, that may not be until sometime next week. I did manage to put a few stitches into it last night, but only used one length of thread before I stopped.
I was so tired that I pretty much passed out after dinner, going up to bed at 9 PM again. I would say that I’ll do better tonight, but I’m feeling awfully tired already, so it doesn’t look good. At this pace, I won’t have anything to show until next week or so!
Also, some of you may notice comments on older posts or a flood of comments from me all of a sudden. I’m trying to catch up from before Christmas! Yesterday, I got the number of unread posts down to under 200. Today, I will aim for under 100. I’ll be caught up soon.
SBQ – Stitching Gifts
This SBQ is:
Did you receive any stitching-related gifts for the holidays?
Yes, actually, I did, and not from Terry or my mom. I actually received two kits from Nancy, Terry’s dad’s new wife. She got me a needlepoint kit of a lovely lighthouse scene and a stamped cross stitch with the four seasons on it. Both are beautiful kits. I’ve done basic needlepoint before when I stitched Phoebe’s stocking several years ago, but I’ve never done stamped cross stitch. Wait, I think I tried it once and got frustrated because there were no holes and no easy way to keep your stitches looking nice and regular. I’ve decided that I’m going to be a good sport and give it a shot, though, just for Nancy. 
I also received some lovely stash from Sharon as part of my Christmas exchange gift. I just feel so lucky!
No Stitching Monday
Well, I thought that I might finish the bottom half of Pretty Posies last night, but it turned into a wierd afternoon/evening. We had a power outage at work that, for various reasons I really can’t go into, caused everyone to go home. Unfortunately for me, Terry was in a meeting at another building nearly 30 minutes away. So, thankfully, I was able to hitch a ride with a friend back to his house and hang out until Terry was out of his meeting and able to pick me up. We ended up staying there for dinner, which was very nice of our friends. It was a nice little visit and I really appreciate them allowing me to impose on their daily life so unexpectedly.
Anyway, when we got home, I suddenly became very sleepy and actually went up to bed around 9 PM with nary a stitch to be seen. I slept in a couple of hours this morning, too, so I think I’m fighting off some bug; probably the one Terry still has that doesn’t want to go away. I would have worked from home today, but my laptop was still at work due to the power outage and not being able to go back in for it. Oh well!
SBQ – Teaching Stitching
This SBQ was suggested by Kathryn and is:
Have you ever helped anyone else learn to stitch? Have you ever helped anyone learn a new stitch or technique?
I have not helped anyone else learn to stitch… yet. I am a DMC mentor and would dearly love to show someone how to stitch. I have young cousins who are twins and live in Canada that showed interest when I was up there for Terry’s Dad’s wedding. If we get back up there sometime and have time, I’d like to teach them.
I also like to encourage people to try hardanger, as it’s not quite as tough as it looks. I helped Cathy learn a little bit; enough to help her through a Lorri Birmingham piece and not be too afraid to cut the fabric. I would love to teach someone(s) hardanger, since it is definitely one of my passions and not a series of techniques that most people know.
