666; Neighbourly love; whining

How suitable entry for little whining...

Why don't parents raise their kids? Back in stone age when I was kid (in eighties, that is) we were taught to behave in front of people. To respect others even they were different than we are. Or at least keep our mouths shut if it wasn't so.
Though, I think I shouldn't blame those kids, I should blame their parents who believe in hands-off parenting. Freedom just doesn't bring happiness. And children don't born fully programmed, they're tabula rasas when they born. Human beings need social programming, and I don't even dare to think how those kids will be when they grow up... if they're verbally abusive against others in mature age of ~5-7.

Yes, I know, it's easy for me to say as I don't have any of my own. But I have had time to think how I want to raise my future children. And my way is to love them and give them borders, not abandon them.

Ok, to sound completely paranoid, I've knew it long time that there are gossips about me in this neighbourhood, I know that some of my neighbours can't tolerate me as I'm so... me. (I could use word different, but I'm not. I'm just me. Though comparing...) I don't drink with them, I'm not social (yes, I admit I'm not. Should I change against my own will? Exactly), and apparently some of them are bit bitter that it was Dan who moved out two years ago, and not me. They liked him, see. (He knows how to smile, and be nice, to people he don't care that much or who he may even despise. It's a talent I admire in certain sense, I have to admit.)
Introverted little me is not suitable for a drinking buddy or good conspirator.

And maybe I'm dangerous, only Heaven knows why, as I've survived alone, without man by my side.
Only man they've seen with me, after Dan moved away, has been Abhi and it's ancient history. (Not to mention how they behaved when I was with him. They made it very clear that we're purely Finnish here (for clarity, A. is NRI). I've to admit their skill though, they never said it directly, but let us notice it. (One reason why we concentrated to meet at his place when we were together))
Actually one possibility is that hey think that I'm just too [something negative] to be good enough to any man in his right mind (So, this means that Wolfie is man in his left mind? If so, he has great left-mind.)... Which suits me very well, thank you very much.

Though I don't understand why I'm so intimidating. I'm quiet, well-behaving person. I don't harass anyone, I mind my own business and let people mind their own businesses...

I don't fit in here - but then, home is where the heart is and my heart is in Bangkok.

665

It's odd. 13th day of my cycle and my ovaries are pinching. Which could mean... yes, little egg cell leaving home. Though I don't believe in it, even I'd like to. Or more like, part of me believes in it, but part of me doesn't want to live in possible false hopes.
It's not first time in past few months, but it's still as odd phenomenon. Could it really be so? Am I really becoming more fertile? If so, I'm not complaining.

Fact is that my cycle has never been this normal... and according to one gynecologist I met few years back there's no hope for ovulation in case your cycle isn't ~28-33 days. Which wasn't the case back then (it was more like what cycle?). And back then the obvious reason for my inability to conceive was lack of ovulation.
I'm just wondering why my body is acting nicely nowadays? I'm not that old, even PCOs should get easier with age 26 isn't that old yet, I haven't lost any weight in... ermmm... long time. Though I haven't gained any either.
Wolfie? He came into my life after my cycle begun to normalize. Though happiness is good for my PCOs, so he has some effect on my health. ^^
Low-carb diet? That's only thing which can explain it by itself, even it's not recommended by nutritionists... but hey, if I can keep this syndrome behaving with it guess do I believe them?

One good thing in this syndrome: never a dull moment.

Snaps from blogs

Do you love quotes? Check Frances' 13 quotes for Thursday Thirteen. After it, check Undercover Angel's Thirteen Reasons Why Blog Friends Are Better Than Real Life Friends, also for Thursday Thirteen.

Naah, goal check

I know it's not end of the month yet, but changes in routines can be refreshing. (And anyway, insecurity attacks need some cross stitching to be cured - though those I love yous helped a lot, actually very much (Needy? Me?) - even it's not actually cross stitching, just gridding.)

First, what did I say about May?

• Actually I think it's better for me not to have any for this month. You all know why. (And those non-stitching goals for Jenna. )

Well, it was good not to have more goals, though my non-stitching goals have been moved to be June goals.
So, what I intend to do?

June goals

1. One medal from Stitching World Cup with Alter Echo (though AE will be part of July goals also).
2. Stitch Recipe Exchange item.
3. Fulfill my non-stitching goals.

   And in case I've time/ inspiration

4. Jaffa from Silhouettes
5. The Greatest Treasure

Music, anyone?

Miasmah.com, music under Creative Commons License.

MAB; Sunny Delight

mondaysabitch

1. Do you concentrate more on fitness around summertime in hopes of looking more attractive in less clothing?

   No. First of all I'm not driven by looking good to occasional bystander. I want to like myself, and I want that my loved one likes how I look like.
   Though, I also happen to be person who likes to have company when exercising so at this moment my share of it is mostly based on walking (saves money and keeps my butt in shape) because my inspiration (in other words: one who goes to gym with me) is on other side of the globe.
   Other problems in my case are:

   1. High insulin and testosterone levels (for 46 XX) which means that my muscles tend to grow too easily when I exercise in any way (for example I've bigger biceps than many males who do weight-training in some extent... and I don't. They just are like that. *sigh*)
   2. Sensitive heart combined with muscles who want to be tortured with exercise... My heart can't take it if my body enjoys straining itself.
   
   In general my reason to exercise is firstly my health, and then my looks. You should also notice that I don't want to look muscular or be very skinny. I've my own views of how women look like and they're far away from beauty ideal of this day. (Someone very dear said to me: Women are build for comfort, not for speed. )

2. Tanning:Necessary and beautiful, or unattractive and potentially cancerous?

   I see it like this: if you're born pink/ white it's best skin tone for you. If you're born with darker tone, it's best for you.
   Therefore, I don't believe in tanning. I don't find tanned skin beautiful if it's made. If you're naturally tanned then tanned skin is beautiful.
   Sunbathing is health risk and melanoma is not nicest cancer to cope with, I've heard. Though sun is also good thing sometimes. I should sunbathe because of my atopic skin (it'd make it smoother and less dry for a while), but I love my paleness, and I tend to burn easily (red-haired genes). Therefore I protect my skin from sun. (That's also why I wear black: creates lovely contrast with my skin, and makes me look paler. )

3. You're lying on a beautiful, sandy beach. What drink do you picture in your hand?

   See previous answer. I don't lay on sandy beaches. Next!

4. Do you have a cabin you go to every year, or a regular campsite perhaps? Do you love the outdoors, or does summer for you involve a close personal relationship with an air conditioner?

   No, I don't have. And I'd love outdoors without gnats (I'm 'allergic' to gnat bites) and all that pollen out there. Finnish summer is beautiful season, even it may be bit cold sometimes.

5. Were your childhood summers full of memorable family vacations? Was this a good thing or a bad thing? Describe your most interesting one.

   Noup. So, I wont answer to two other subquestions...

Could I live With A Siamese?

Siamese Servant

You scored 81 Feline Friendly!

- - -

You got between 75 and 100%, you a cat lover! You would do just fine with a pair (or more) of Siamese.

The Could You Live With a Siamese Test

...been living with one four years.

Stitching World Cup!

9th of June - 9th of July 2006

First chanda_m organised Stitching Olympics in cross_stitch, and now... we'll have Stitching World Cup!

I'll participate with Alter Echo, which is long planned SAL with chanda_m (it seems that eternalism will join us).

And because World Cup begins 9th of June it might be good idea to grid my fabric in one of these days - for example tonight.

Another exchange in sight

Again! I think someone should find cure for my exchange-a-holism...

This time it's Crazy Cat Lady Exchange at The Robin's Nest, and as name says it's all about cats and their 'crazy' (or should we say sanity impaired?) female owners.
Deadline is in September though, so I think I wont be overwhelmed with exchanges - even my list seems to get longer on daily basis.

Taj Mahal

I finally checked how big piece of fabric I need for Taj Mahal, and now it seems to me that I've fabric for it: Victorian Red 28 count Jubilee. It'd look quite good as Taj is worked on shades of grey and white - effects are made with specialty stitches.
Now I need only that cream #8 pearl cotton...

And I think I need to get to bed soon... (It must be old age. *grin*)

Stash!

This is me at the moment ->

I've to say that even I knew what I'll get from SB&B opening that parcel was still moment of excessive drooling... Just to repeat myself, this is what I got from Christine (who's my Adopt-A-Stitcher 'mommy'):

Caron Collection Wildflowers; 0021 Peach Melba

Caron Collection Soie Cristale; 2001 Cherry

Crescent Colours; Apple Fritter

Dragon Floss Saying it with Thread; Love & Laughter (Dedicated to someone, maybe? )

In addition to those lovely, lovely flosses I got Berry Power chart by Full Circle Designs. ^^

Headless wizard and oddities of brains

It's dark and grey outside (read: it rains) so following picture isn't best one ever, but it shows my progress.

You may notice that table and chair are stitched with overdyed - and if you left it unnoticed, now you know.

I also heard few days back that my 'kid' Sabine (Adopt-A-Stitcher adoptée) received her parcel - just in time to cheer her up after a cold. My timing is impeccable (as 'certain someone' has told me), it seems.

Brainsss....

Last month I had problems because my brains adjusted to live in Thailand time (GMT+7) and now... Wolfie is in Singapore few days and my brains tweaked their time settings. Therefore my body lives in GMT+3 and mind lives in GMT+8.

Angela, actually he hasn't stole me from you guys, I've just been suffering from asociality attack (you may have noticed that I haven't been around in forums/ blogs that much either). Wolfie has been about only person I've been in contact with.
Though, I may be much more social in Sunday. I've been invited (it seems to me that bits_2_whole may be coming too) to spend an evening with, well, friends in Saturday and if I enjoy my time as much I enjoyed in those house warmings...

SBQ; Today's Special...

Today's

Stitching Bloggers Question

was suggested by Nancy and is:

"What is your favorite specialty stitch? Which one is your least favorite? Why?"

I haven't tried that many specialty stitches, but those (very) few I've tried (rhodes heart, hem stitch, lazy daisies... something else maybe, can't remember) have been into my liking so I'm not sure can I actually say anything about this issue.

Health-related blabber

It seems to me that I should reduce my coffee consumption drastically, and preferably try to survive few days without it (dreadful thought). My poor heart is erratic again, and even it bothers me to feel my heart beating what bothers me more is being tired.
It happens every time when I've any sign of arrhythmia. Natural reaction of course, my body tries to recover, but I have to run some errands today, so it bothers me.
And I foresee migraine because my blood pressure may be bit high at this moment (though when I had those bad arrhythmias some years back my BP was actually only slightly risen) - and having irregular sleeping rhythm doesn't make it any less likely to have another migraine attack, nor it helps with my heart.
And I'm quite sure that my heart doesn't like my anemia very much - though lower hemoglobin levels are one reason why females have less heart problems than males.

I've nothing against having body which actually seems to work like it's supposed to, hormone wise, but I've noticed that it causes problems for my activity levels... when you bleed twice-thrice as often you used to only about year or two ago it does affect and it affects so much you can really notice it.
I should try some extra iron, but then... I should get enough from my daily multivitamin pill(s), and as I eat meat nowadays I should have no problems what-so-ever with my iron levels (or so they say..).
But as said, I am not complaining in the end. On the contrary.

On other things, I'd like to thank for encouraging comments considering my SAT, and, of course, congratulations for our ESC success.
I meant to say this before, but you can't always remember everything, can you?

Peek-A-Boo!

Can you believe it? Nothing to say in two days?! Oh mi gosh!
Anyway, more memes for your reading pleasure, snatched from Zohrah:

1. What is your occupation?
   Depends on the aspect of occupation. Unemployed (artisan of textile designing and manufacturing - sounds much fancier than it is).

2. What colour are your socks right now?
   Socks? Do they bite? None at the moment, and usually I don't wear socks at home. (Never actually in case I can affect to that, though local climate etc. do affect to that...)

3. What are you listening now?
   np: Billy Crystal - I Hate When That Happens (from Dr. Demento 30th Anniversary Collection - Dementia 2000!)

4. What was the last thing you ate?
   Some 'unleavened bread' with cheese. And coffee (yes, it's food)!

5. Favourite colour?
   Colours... Black, black and black. Crimson, purple, lime green, burnt orange...

6. Music Preference?
   Way too long list, check my Last.Fm profile or jump straight to my weekly charts.

   

7. Last person you talked to on the phone?
   Let me think... I can't even remember when I talked in phone last time, even less with whom... I'm not very fond of talking in phone.

8. How old are you today?
   26 years, 10 months, 20 days, 15 hours, 54 minutes. (At this very moment.)

9. Favourite drink?
   Water, coffee, chai, rooibos.

10. What is your favorite sport to watch?
    Anything with men in revealing clothes.
    Actually I don't watch sports.

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
    Only last... 12 years or so. I disagree with nature about my correct hair colour (I'm not blonde even I've born as one! *grin*).

12. Do you wear contacts or glasses?
    Glasses. And even contacts might be 'easier' I wouldn't look like myself without glasses. ^^

13. Pets?
    Four adorable cats, dust puppies. (One Wolf.)

14. What will you stay home to watch?
    ...next....

15. What was the best movie you have seen lately?
    Saw II.

16. What is your favourite day of the year?
    I'd say Every day I'm alive. I don't prefer any day over another - at least not at this moment.

17. What do you do to vent your anger?
    Write, cry, wander around...

18. What was your favourite toy as a child?
    Car ferry (it had cars in it and all) and my baby doll (very realistic imitation of a baby), and my little grey cat.

19. Vanilla/Chocolate?
    Both, please.

20. Living arrangements?
    Apartment, rented. With cats.

21. When was the last time you cried?
    Few days back. Missed Wolfie (and had my periods, wonderful mix for emotional outbursts). (The thing in missing him is that it is 'good' feeling (as much as missing someone can be). That's why I don't cry as often as might otherwise. It's very interesting phenomenon. ^^)

22. What did you do last night?
    Night? I slept. Evening... stitched a bit, dreamed, read TechTales, played online chess etc.

23. Favourite smell?
    Scent, I'd say. Musk, sandalwood. Freshness after rain. That smoky scent before weather changes to freezing. Cat's fur. Fresh coffee. Jasmine tea.

24. What inspires you?
    Intellect, thinking outside of the box.

25. Least favourite person right now?
    -

Oh, I almost forgot. Consider yourself tagged.

S-A-T: Epilogue

It all started from this...

This is what I had few minutes ago

Not that much, but my Stitch-A-Thon goal was to cure my mojoitis and it seems to me that it worked.
And I had good reason to be slow. I've had a migraine today because I stayed up after 3 am today. I slept 7 hours, which should have been enough, but apparently I'm getting old and grumpy.
Or maybe I just should obey my migraine head and try to live like a good person.

Though... it was worth it. First time, in that 40 years we've participated, when Finns success in ESC. It wont probably happen again during my lifetime. (No, choice of blogging song has nothing to do with my lifetime or being old and grumpy.)
Anyway, metal (though Lordi is categorized as hard rock, I think) is what Finns do best. Long, cold, dark winters; short, warm summers without any actual darkness... We just don't know how to do good pop because we're not cheery enough.

Nrrd in love

Isn't this cute or what? ^^

And while talking of nerds in love... Meu Lobinho just knows how to be cute. ^^
I wished him good night (in Portuguese - just because I can, and little things are important) few hours ago, and just thought aloud in that SMS that I should improve my Portuguese... And what did he do? Yes, he gave me short lesson of diminutives before hitting the sack. ^^

Just about the most wonderful thing you can do for knowledgeholic like I am. ^^

WE WON!

Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki 2007!

Lordi did it! First time ever! We won!

These lovely creatures made history in many sense (First ESC win for Finns, highest points (292 all together) ever...) :

Svenja, as I said: Monster rock is great.

Wikipedia.

I foresee stash!

/me is so happy! I just got an email from SB&B that my order has finally been shipped! Woohoo!

SAT Milestone; Green blob with a blue mug

Poor little dragon got into frog related accident last night and lost it's tail.
Fortunately I came to rescue and gave hir (Have I ever mentioned that I dislike sexing in languages (just blame my neutral native)? Hir (him+her), almost PC finite form) new one! Wonder of tapestry needle acupuncture.

Ah, there it was!

My mojo, that is.
Yes! I stitched one part of MSAL last night! ( [teeny]... and in addition of enjoying stitching again I also got some extra cuteness points from Wolfie, because I happened to mention about my cured mojoitis *blush*. It felt good. (I may have mentioned that I love the fact that he appreciates my stitchyness?) [/teeny] )

And I think I've decided my SAT project. It'll be 'Morning Wizard' by Dragon Dreams, if I just find suitable piece of fabric (in other words: decide between all those (boring) brown shades I've in my stash - or be brave and stitch on black. As I don't think red would work. Though... you never know.).

Color Quiz; Ye 'ave a need fer a shrink...

Found this from Barbara's blog.

snowprincipessa took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "Intense, vital, and animated, taking a delight in ..." Click here to read the rest of the results.

And then some analysis of the analysis...

What bothered me most was this (ok, this was just for fun, but I'm pedantic): "Remains emotionally unattached even when involved in a close relationship." Since when?

Ah, this was good: "...seeking a rather unrealistic perfection in her sex life." Says who?
I'm hedonist (and depraved pervert, but that's more than you really need to know), I admit, but I also happen to know that great sex exists.
/me thinks someone has a problem with one's own sexuality here.

"Able to achieve satisfaction from sexual activity." Isn't that why we have sex, mostly? Because it's fun - or at least supposed to be.

"The fear that she might be prevented from achieving the things she wants..." Ok, I agree with this.

Interesting little thing, good way to spend few minutes.

SBQ; Now... Where's My Mojo?!

This week's

Stitching Bloggers Question

was suggested by Jenna and is:

"Lately, it seems that many stitching bloggers have experienced a loss of their stitching mojo. Have you ever lost your stitching mojo? If so, how did you get it back and how long did it take?"

Oh, just ask how many times!
Very suitable question after my latest entry.

As I see it there's few ways to find lost mojo:

1. Let time pass, it'll come back sooner or later.
2. Forget every single project you should be stitching and start with something new!
3. Chocolate helps always. At least it makes you feel better, and stains your fingers so you've good reason not to stitch. (Unfortunately I've none at the moment. *deep sigh*)
4. Stash shopping cures everything!

Usually when I suffer from mojoitis it heals by itself in 2-3 weeks. Sometimes you just need little break from all that creativeness.

And when it comes to my latest one... If I could afford I were shopping like a crazy at this very moment, but as I can't I've spent some time trying to decide my Project of Healing for weekend's Stitch-A-Thon. There are 2-3 sample designs from Dragon Dreams (Now, who's surprised?) I've been thinking of. I just need to decide which one.

Quote of the day

"People's good deeds are used by the Eternal as seeds for planting trees in the Garden of Eden: thus, each of us creates our own Paradise."
(Rabbi Dov Baer)

Diagnose

I know what this thing is... I'm having a stitching slump! Dreaded slump...

It's interesting in a sense as stitching doesn't sound like a bad idea, but I just don't seem to have any ongoing projects I'd like to drown myself in...
I'm getting so bored I've been cleaning voluntarily (I admit not being a household wonder in that sense). And that is serious!

It's Stitch-A-Thon weekend though so maybe I could get myself motivated again. I really don't know... *sigh*
Maybe I just should be nice to myself and get another WIP (...sounds tempting).

Gushing

Jenna, it's good to know that I've at least one reader who's not completely bored to my teeny blogging about Wolfie.
Very much appreciated. ^^

Fact is that he is a real sweetheart so I can't do anything else than just gush (ah, new lovely word to my vocabulary) about him (and this is my blog anyway *grin*).
And for the first time in long, long time (sorry to say, noticing that I've been in relationship(s) most of my adult life - not a comparison, but something I've noticed - maybe I'm biased, but anyway) I feel that someone really appreciates me as I am.
It's in small things, once again. For example he's happy that I like same music he does (not difficult: he has good, and broad, taste and so have I) - he happens to like same music I do, he talks about his worries and problems with me - and he's interested of mine, he sends little I love yous - and appreciates my mushy messages/mails, he shares his daily life with me, even we still have ~7885 kms between us... Those things matter to me, those little things. Those little things matter most.

Some people could say 'you get into that day-to-day life phase sooner or later so why you have to begin with it right away?'
I just happen to appreciate day-to-day life, and I prefer to know person trough it rather than romantic illusions (I'm not saying I would be free of those, though, but I think it's natural to have them). As that day-to-day person is one who's there in most days, one is the person you (may) live with.
I prefer to have romantic illusions of that day-to-day person. ^^

"You're not perfect sport, and let me save you the suspense, this girl you've met she's not perfect either. But the question is whether or not you're perfect for each other."
(Sean Maguire to Will in Good Will Hunting.)

Chocolate for your ears...

I got an interesting thought few days back while 'looping' one song. If chocolate was music it'd be Flying Carpet (Ambient Mix).