(such a) Fickle Stitcher

The first workday of the month always goes by quickly, generally due to spending most of my morning preparing a monthly report. Today was no exception. Additionally, I began a different kind of waiting game.

For nearly a year, I’ve been playing the wait-for-appealing-job-announcement-for-which-I’m-qualified, wait-for-phone-call-and-or-interview, wait-for-thanks-no-thanks-letters-if-I’m-lucky-to-hear-anything-at-all, rinse-and-repeat games. Now it’s the pending-approval waiting game.

Along the way today were nice and not-so-nice surprises : learning a co-worker is getting married ; comraderie-building with future – knock-on-wood – boss ; eating left-over Halloween cake ; changing my Tibetan photos calendar to a new page ; not freezing at work ; learning son had a work-related accident. You can decide which was which.

The Luxor capelet is almost finished. I completed the end ties while watching DVR’d Criminal Minds episodes tonight. Then, because I have so much left-over yarn, I frogged the bind-off and will continue knitting the body of the capelet until I run out. I’m like that : hate bits of leftover yarn of which there’s not enough with which to do anything else. It’s like hot dogs and buns … I like things to come out even.

Photos when the ends are woven.

[Brownie points if you can spot the tell-tale signs of a cataloger in the above paragraphs.]

Once again, I will try to successfully complete NaBloPoMo…

Today is, of course, also All Saints Day, a day my mother loved… based on the idea that all the righteous were honored on this day.

And it is the Día de los Inocentes – or Día de los Angelitos – the first day of the Día de los Muertos. I hope someday I can be in Mexico for this celebration. 

This year I’ve spent the day with the younger generation of my family, celebrating a little of my own private joy, and knitting a beautiful capelet with Lana Grossa Luxor, a yarn I purchases last January (or maybe December).

And now to sleep ( … perchance to dream). I wish good, restful sleep to all those dear to me who are struggling for the same.

 

Pardon another post with non-stitching content.

Since I finally found a countdown code to fit my sidebars here, today seemed a good day to put up the countdown to commencement… because I received notice from the Graduate Studies office that my application is processed and everything in order for this point in time. All that’s left are my comprehensive exam and the last six hours of my coursework! Definitely a needed smile for the day.

I am camped on the sofa today, too groggy to read or sew or anything but nap and watch TV.  Thank goodness for DVR’s and DVD’s!

After a less than appealing “complimentary hot buffet breakfast” at the hotel, I at least had a good coffee from the JavaWerks bus before dropping DH off at the Mississippi Forge Council meeting. Then, finding Ross’s not yet open I wandered in Kohl’s for a bit — pricier than I was willing to indulge for new clothes. Fortunately Ross’s provided much better prices and I found good deals.

I am notoriously slow at shopping for clothes. I don’t really like shopping for clothes in the first place. I was so long at it this morning, I had to leave my cart, go pick up DH and return to look through the suits. My goal was to begin to establish a more professional wardrobe for myself. I did find one black pantsuit, and another black & white tweedy skirt and jacket. The skirt has to be altered, as do a pair of black slacks. I want, however, to find a navy suit, also something gray, and maybe brown.

Also I snagged two more pair of the Bill Blass blue jeans, which I love. A few more shirts and sweaters and I’d done quite a bit of damage to my bank account. All for a good cause though.

I manged to be *just* in time for our EGA chapter meeting, and delighted to find four members already at the library when I arrived. We had no planned program, but a fun afternoon of stitching and chatting! Cass worked on a beautiful cross-stitched sunflower design; Ann was stitching a canvas geometric, while Gloria and Cathy continued to stitch the silk ribbon design Rissa taught a few months ago. We were all pretty surprised how quickly 3:30 arrived, and we had to put away our stitching. Oh, I was knitting a dog sweater which is becoming sized for a very large dog!

What then? Well, I felt good enough for that Mexican dinner tonight: carne asada y camarones diablo — a large meal which DH and I share. Then, of course, a trip to Hudson’s where I found a few more shirts/blouses and sundry other goodies.

We were late heading home, but DH didn’t want me to spend the money for another night at a hotel. Thanks, hon! I even managed to stay awake for most of the trip home.

~~written on the road; posted at first Internet opportunity~~

I believe I may have written before (but probably on my other blog) about how I often feel like a different person in the EGA enviroment than I do at work or school enviroments, or even at home. It’s very difficult to describe, but I left Birmingham following the region meeting with that same feeling. I guess it just comes down to taking on a different role in each situation.

Tennesse Valley Region is the third EGA region in which I have participated in regional meetings, the other two being Mid-Atlantic and South Central. It is interesting to see how even with the same goals and functions, each have their own unique character. I’m glad I volunteered to chair the SAS 30 seminar committee; I am enjoying being part of the regional “machine” again… and making the new friends that come along with that level of involvement.

So, we have a working budget, our seed money, a theme, a logo (pending National approval), and a full committee for SAS 30, and are looking forward to faculty selection in early 2009.

Tonight DH & I are back in Jackson, again driving Interstate 20 in the afternoon and enjoying the fall color. My lunch did not settle well, and so tonight instead of a rich supper at our favorite Mexican restaurant in town, we had a light supper of salad, soup, and sandwich — and delicious pumpkin cheescake — at McAlisters. It was close to the hotel, quick, and quiet. I was feeling better, so we stopped at the bookstore for DH to get his magazines. I was sorely tempted to get a copy of Gregory Maguire’s new book, A Lion Among Men (3rd volume in his Wicked Years series), but I will just wait for a library copy to finish it (I read the first portion online at browse.harpercollins.com where one can also read the full-text of the first volume, Wicked).  For now I’ll just have to be content with my current reads.

I’ve stayed up way too late watching the election returns… I’d say more, but this is supposed to be a stitching blog.

Looking forward to the Tennesse Valley Regional meeting in Birmingham on Friday, though I’m nervous that I’ve still not seen even a draft idea of the logo for Share-A-Stitch 30, our theme being “Gathering Pearls” (in honor of the 30th anniversary of the event).  Chairing a seminar committee with members strewn all over the region, with varying comfort zones in e-communications is challenging. But, I have every confidencen in those with whom I have already interacted, and know that no matter what it will all get done and in the end it will be worthwhile. I look forward, as well, to my master’s program ending and being able to put SAS 30 in the main portion of my “plate.”

~~ fighting the urge to sing “bye, bye, Miss American Pie…”

A while ago friends were posting about their EGA “bling.” I took some photos, but never got around to posting.

Lower right-hand corner of this nametag is the EGA President’s pin with the bar below engraved with the dates I was president of the Hagerstown (MD) Chapter (1993-95). Clock-wise is a Red Dress pin, Mid-Atlantic Region pin  (new design), 1988 Mid-Atlantic Region Mini-seminar (hosted by Hagerstown Chapter), 2007 National Seminar (Chicago), EGA 40th Anniversary pin (1998), 1994 National Seminar (Williamsburg), 1993 National Seminar (Des Moines), 2000 National Seminar (Orlando), a gold-wire pin of my name, 1991 National Seminar (Greensboro), 1996 National Seminar (San Francisco), EGA 50th Anniversary pin, Cyberstitchers Chapter pin, Golden Gala (50th anniversary seminar fund-raising pin), 1989 National Seminar (Newport Beach), 2006 National Seminar (Williamsburg), 1997 National Seminar (New Orleans). Along the side is a large golden needle pin with a disc engraved “5″ — purchased at the 1993 National Seminar when I’d been in EGA for five years; I obviously need to order a new disc from National.

Not pictured above are: Heartland Region pin; old design Mid-Atlantic Region pin, EGA Past president’s pin, Counted Thread Society pin, SAS XXVIII (2008 Tennesse Valley Region seminar (Memphis) — see left photo below. What’s missing: EGA Group Correspondence pin, Muchos Manos Chapter pin, Louisiana Lagniappe Chapter pin, Hagerstown Chapter pin (traded or given to someone/sometime/somewhere), some Mid-Atlantic Region seminar pins, and my 1998 National Seminar (Louisville) pin, apparently, and so sadly, lost!

Shortly after this year’s National Seminar in Louisville (September), I moved most, including the 2008 seminar pin, to a new chatelaine (left), and a few to my old one:

I enjoy looking at the pins now and then; they bring back lots of memories, memories of  roommates, traveling companions, teachers, and classes… and unfinished projects!

I’m trying something to gain sponsorship for the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi’s Walk for Diabetes to be held October 26th, 2008: using Paypal’s donation button. You’ll see it there to the right in the sidebar. For every $5.00 donation, I will enter my sponsors in a drawing for two skeins of sock yarn (see center of photo below). I’m also gathering other yarn prizes, as well as beads/beading projects, and/or other needlework prizes than knitting.

click photo for larger imageThe two skeins of sock yarn (center) are ArtYarns UltramMerino4, 50g each in color 132. Also pictured are three additional yarn prizes:
Classic Elite Yarns’ Alpaca Sox Hand Dyes, 100g in color Peacock (top)
Trekking XXL, 100g in color 100 (left)
Brown Sheep Company’s Wildefoote Luxury Sock Yarn, 50g in color Columbine, SY-16 (bottom)
… more prizes to come!I am lucky. Though I have Type II Diabetus Mellitus, at this point in my life I am able to control it with diet, exercise, and oral medication. It may not always be so. More to the point, I have excellent insurance which provides my medication at no cost and my testing supplies for a small co-pay. Many, in fact, I should probably say most diabetics are not so fortunate, and supplies are expensive! Testing strips are about $1.00 each, and many people must test multiple times a day!

The Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi’s goal for the Hattiesburg walk this year is $50,000.00. Here’s some information from a DFM flyer about how donation monies are used:

Insulin for patients in need ($25)

Educational information for parents of newly diagnosed children with diabetes ($25)

Blood glucose testing strips for patients in need ($50)

Sending a family to Camp Kandu ($75)

Diabetic shoes for adult patients in need ($100)

WE Care 2 backpack for newly diagnosed child and family ($125)

Diabetes emergency box for a school ($150)

Screening supplies for 100 people ($250)

Diabetes Camp for one child ($400)

“Here’s how your donations from Walk 2007 made a difference in many Mississippians lives:

518 patients have received meters/strips, insulin, oral medication
98 schools and school districts received the teacher education training and emergency boxes
45 children received camp scholarships to attend summer diabetes camp

“Putting your donations to work. Our patient assistance program is our largest program in the state. Children and adults alike have benefited from timely donations of lifesaving insulin, oral medications, insulin pump and blood glucose testing supplies.

“It is so important to have immediate help available when you or a family member has diabetes. Things happen–emergencies spring up when you least expect them; someone gets laid off from work or has a visit to the ER, and bills start piling up. The $200 pharmacy bill that the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi pays for a child or adult with diabetes means a family can get through a month without missing their insulin or test strips. Or the $400 that we give to the two summer camps in Mississippi means a child can have a carefree week at summer camp without breaking the family bank. Many families in Mississippi are just making it every month with no room for added expenses. Every dollar counts–all donations stay in Mississippi to help Mississippians live with diabetes here and now!”

I feel very strongly that because I am able to treat my condition easily that I have a responsibility to help those who are not so fortunate economically. And really, it doesn’t matter whether you help me do so or you help in your own state, or even if you don’t donate at all… my primary goal is to raise awareness of diabetes epidemic occurring in our country.

Online nicks are fun. Some are straight forward, some have obvious meanings, others are obscure or only meaningful to those to whom they belong and perhaps their friends.

I’ve been LadyCynthy online in various places for many years, but I thought it was time to change more completely back to my favorite online nick, Cynclair. I’ve been sucessful everywhere on Yahoo! to make the change, but not on AIM. I recall that I’ve tried several times over the years to do this, but it belongs to someone else (or did and once owned always owned, I guess).  So, it seemed perfectly fine to change to FickleStitcher on AIM, to match up with this blog and my Ravelry ID.

So, “old friends,” if you are missing LadyCynthy, I’m still around, just wearing a new label…. actually, just trying to consolidat identities, maybe!

OH! and a very happy 31st anniversary to my dear friends, Mary & Dave!