Cross post: What I have been up to?

Because I am getting sick, but I hope no one minds...

Behold, the new designs!

Firstly I have great news to all you mail art lovers out there!
As I know many MA enthusiasts I decided to give mail art a try and came up with Berry Mail Art.

The model is stitched with DMC's Variations called Chilean Sunset (I love the name), but the design is easy to adapt for different seasons just by changing the colour of the leaves and the berries. If stitched on 36 count the finished envelope is suitable for A5 sized card.
This is actually my first piece of mail art ever and I can say that I understand why people love these so much, mail art envelopes are such fun! I am sure this won't be the last design suitable for mail art from my brains. :)

And what's better way to fill it than a stitched ornament - or six!

Lumikukkia was inspired by a piece of burgundy linen sent to me by Leena from Violarium and the desire to make ornament set for winter's festivities, but which also would suit for general home decoration regardless of your religious domination.

Even the picture features the monochromatic version this design set contains also coloured versions with a colour key - and why not change the colours to suit your own likings and decor? :)

If you are looking for a quick autumny stitch there's always
Berryscornu!

This design would look good also stitched over one and finished as a scissor fob or an ornament.

AND... I have added a new complimentary design to the Sample Designs page! So do pop by!

(Cross post from Tales from Periphaeria... I am sick so I hope you bear with me.)

About two weeks ago I was still mostly too tired to even open my futon every night (fortunately I am short enough to sleep well on it when it's a sofa) and when I had enough energy putting it back together proved to be very exhausting.
During the home spirometry I have been slowly improving and this weeks has been a ball, even though I get nasty side effects from the medicine. I have actually felt so good that I almost forgot to take my evening meds last night - because, first time in ages, I was able to breathe freely for hours.
But then... I have been taking appr. 1200 micrograms/day instead of my "regular" appr. 600 micrograms/ day. It kind of makes a difference, you know.

The test ends up today and I have to get back to the prescribed dose... I dislike the idea, because my physical (and mental) state won't keep on improving on that small dose and it will take week or two before I get the doctor's appointment i.e. before I can get the decent medication.

And as silly as it sounds I am afraid of not getting the diagnosis for some odd reason, even though I know that I fill the diagnostic criteria (even my and my immediate family's medical history fills the diagnostic criteria). Maybe it's just being afraid of getting back to that living dead I was for months - not to forgot the fact that asthmatic person get sick easier and more severely and the flu season is coming (when I get the diagnose I will get free flu shots because it's cheaper than fill the hospitals with severely ill asthma patients who have flu complications ).

By the way, it was good to nag: the heating is on. (At least it feels like it.)

And it's a.... goal!

It's almost September (and I am not intending to have any happy dances before next month) and therefore time for our regularly scheduled goal check.
As usual strike and green equal a success. Orange is for "put some work to said piece, but not enough for a success", and red goes, as you guess, for a failure.

Goals for August were:

1. Stitch Autumn dragon on Jenna's RR. Started, but the send-out isn't before 15th.
2. Participate Stitch-A-Thon. Done!
3. Start one of the new models for November launch. Started.
4. Stitch one secret model. I have started it three times and am pleased the third one so it is half done - in theory. *grin*
5. Finish Bunny Baby and send it before 15th. Done! Though I didn't send it before 15th, but anyway it made it to Italy before the deadline.

Additional:


6. Stitched and finished new complimentary design for Periphaeria Designs.

And goals for September are:

1. Stitch Autumn dragon on Jenna's RR and send it to Christine.
2. Finish one secret gift.
3. Stitch the Halloween Exchange item.
4. Participate Stitch-A-Thon with Loy Krathong.
5. Finish the secret model.
6. Stitch another Top Secret model.
7. Finish the started model and start another one.
8. Start the bourse for Linda.
9. Start the Hardanger Bookmark SAL. (If you are interested to join there's still time as Kristine will keep the chart up until 7th of Sept. )
10. Finish the layout for the alephbet sampler (based on the alephbets at the Kooler Design Studio's freebie section) and start it. (I have to remember to show the floss I dyed for it, it's really yummy!)
11. Prepare the last installment of the Birthday Thread Exchange (to Edda).

With the Hebrew classes starting (I need some extra practise for a while because I have forgot so much) and the course I wonder when I am going to sleep...

Fear me Maslov! aka. Codiaeum variegatum

According to Maslov's hierarchy of needs you fulfill your basic needs before you fulfill your need for beauty. Aesthetics are the fifth and highest level of the hierarchy.
And I realised today that in my case need for beauty is a basic need and sometimes goes even before eating i.e. one part of survival.

We visited Viherpaja, a local "greenhouse" (it's more of huge flower shop which is built in old greenhouses), today (Check this link for pictures, there's also shots from their Japanese Garden which is lovely place, even though small - and the Cactus Garden is nowadays filled with cacti) and as they accepted Visa Electron I had to buy a Croton because I find its colours very inspiring and cheering.

I'm freezing!

Nag, nag, nag. It has been around 8 °C outside in the morning for few days and these smartypants haven't put the heating on yet... because it's not even September yet.
Wake up in the reality folks, it's autumn and I need my central heating...

How come it's a disease?

1. I checked my PatternsOnline wishlist yesterday: 110 patterns (including almost all TWs they stock).
2. I updated my pattern stash spreadsheet and realised that it's way bigger than I thought and it contains designs which I didn't even knew that I own.
3. Even I know I don't have the time I want this and this (and maybe this, I need to remember to ask additional images from Leena..).

Round Happy Dance #34, stash and plans

But as it is a freebie for Periphaeria Designs' next launch I won't share a picture of it before 1st of September - and anyway it lacks finishing (which I'm intending to do during the evening, but noticing how zombified I have been today I'm not sure can I do it).

Stash!

I received the Blackwork Fruit Bellpull in the mail today and I have to say that it was really worth the about 11 euros I paid for it. I love it how it looks as a chart and the fact that the chart has big enough symbols to read without a magnifier - actually I could read it from other side of my bedroom without any problems *grin* - is a big plus.
I have been thinking that this design would probably look fabulous on black evenweave with golden (or metallic burgundy) blackwork. I know, that metallic part sounds insane, but it would look fabulous nevertheless.

And I can recommend doing business with Pam: she's very nice and answers to stupid questions of a new Etsy user patiently. And she ships fast. ^^

Career plans

One of the options I have came up with since the course started is an apprenticeship.
I would be a part-time student and I would study during my work hours (in sense of getting paid full wage for studying). From what I know I should be get the minimum wage, which is in this particular career ~1500 €/ month (and with some luck my employer could have some financial support from the government for my wage due my health and employement issues). After taxes and living expenses I would still have about 700 euros/ month (which is twice as much I have at the moment) for food, cats, clothes, stash and... I could finally pay my debts and therefore be debt free (and have almost three years worth of experience) when I'd get my degree. (I'd be approximately 32 when graduating and if I wish I could continue on higher level degree in the evenings.)

But, I have found out that I am afraid of commitment. It would take only three years, but I'm having all kinds of worst case scenarios... even though I know that this would be absolutely the best choice for me (I could study and live without working after the regular hours).
We will have a lecturer from local Apprenticeship Office in the end of September and I think I will have a little chat with her.
In the end I will grab this chance if I just can. (The issue is to find the work place.)

It's better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not...

... but when it comes to being hated for something one is not I am not sure what one should say.
Some dimwit deduced from G-d knows where that I am Indian and as person in question had some serious antipathies against Indians you can imagine what crap one came up with.
My absolute favourite was the part was get out of us...

1. I know what the profile he based his idiocy states and it does not say anything about U.S.
2. no matter what I speak better English than our dimwit, who probably was native English speaker (most Indians I have met do too *grin*).

This kind of incidents make one sad, not because of the plain idiocy (I have got used to that), but because of the blindness and fear humans can carry inside of them.

Partially I am offended because of the fact that I actually may carry some Indian blood in me (if my skin keeps tanning like this it won't take many years before I look like a real stereotype *grin*). And honestly speaking I don't see why it would make me any less valuable individual. (If I have even a drop worth Indian in me I can always say that I am Aryan, unlike people who are "purely" Caucasians. *grin* [digress](Aryans remind me always of A... I once asked from him (jokingly) how he can date woman of lower race i.e. not an Aryan, as he was/is an Indian and Indians are one of the real Aryan nations. (But then, his family apparently thought that that was one of my great flaws (in addition me not being a Hindu).))[/digress])

Procrastinate!

Click here and then click Create your own Simpsons avatar.

Looks exactly like me, right? *grin*

Unconscious Mutterings

Week238

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Uneven :: Imbalance
2. Wonder :: Stevie Wonder
3. Spider :: Legs
4. Emma :: Jane Austen
5. Swing:: Swinging
6. Orbit :: William Orbit
7. Flirt :: Me
8. Donation :: Charity
9. Veil :: Hide
10. Atmosphere :: Feeling

WIP: Autumn Dragon for Jenna

Excluding few stitches on the horns this is all stitched in the afternoon - and as I am having a day off in Monday (officially it is a independent study day, but the thing we have to do won't take me more than 30 minutes (it's always like that with ISDs which is a bummer as it's not very challenging (most fun (it also took longest) was to make production plan for a theatre production (4h and I heard from more experienced that I should become a producer *grin*)), but I like the day off) I am quite sure I get this stitched and sent to Christine on time.

In general I love how this is turning out as the shades of copper, mahogany and golden brown look so vibrant and fiery on the black fabric.

Stash

Maybe I should say "Heather made me do it!" as I went and purchased the Paradise of the Tiger (and one bag of stamp quilt pieces (400 pieces $5, could you resist?) - not that I quilt, but just in case (actually I have done two basic quilts during my life (I even hand-dyed the fabrics for the other one (which was/is my own design))) after reading her article in INN as I thought that even this month will be financially tighter because of it at least I have it now (taking that USPS won't lose it...).

One more "What if?"

I think I have to suggest to the GP I'm seeing next that I may have developed asthma related sleep apnea.

I have begun to wake up at night to the sense of asphyxiation (I have had few of these attacks before I got the medication so it's not caused by salbutamol). I'm not sure did I pass out (not doze off, pass out) last night right after I had woke up, but I remember waking up gasping for air... but that is only thing I remember, it went black after that.

It's either sleep apnea making me stop breathing occasionally or I am having serious asthma attacks when I sleep (for some odd reason)... (Hmmm... how about nocturnal asthma? The thing is that when I take Ventoline just before I go to bed I don't wake up gasping for air...)

One Finnish poet has written along the lines there's nothing which makes you such a beast than lack of touch. I have always agreed with him, I still do.
I can live without love as long as there's no one intriguing enough, I can live without sex as long as I am not in love, but, no matter how hard I try I can't learn out of craving human touch.

And good FWBs are hard to come by... to be honest I would be happy with just a cuddling buddy, someone to sleep with, someone to watch movies with and lay my head on his lap... as that is what I miss more than anything else.
This makes me wonder how hard the last winter had been if I hadn't had N. around, if I could not have felt like home even couple of times per month, without being hold when I slept. Without having the chance to forget everything every once in a while...

I could use that chance again as, no matter how good thing this asthma may be for me in the end, I want to forget my failing health for a while, and I want to forget the loneliness of the skin. (It's odd how you can be alone and not be lonely, but your skin can't stand being alone...)
I just want few stolen moments to keep me sane.

R(ecipe)-I(n)-P(rogress): Rice flour chocolate chip cookies

I go, oh so, American; 12 cookies

• 2 eggs
• 1 dl sugar (probably needs 1½ - 2 dls)
• 4 dl rice flour
• 2 dl dark chocolate chips (needs some more)
• pinch of salt
• 150 grams butter

Preheat oven to 200 °C. Mix chocolate chips with 1 dl of rice flour. Whisk butter and sugar, add eggs, rest of the rice flour, salt and chocolate chips mixed with rice flour. Divide to 12 separate piles of dough on the cookie sheet (covered with baking paper).
Bake about 18- 20 minutes.

The recipe also could use some vanilla extract and maybe mixed chocolate chips (white, milk and dark).

Seiichi goes Warhol

... or something like that. I was playing with my new digital camera's effects yesterday...

I think I am going to love that thing when I learn all its finesses.

And now I am off to try some rice flour chocolate chip (or rather chunk) cookies!

Foto Pherrets: Rain

Week 85

This is frequently falling, but it never breaks.

This week's word is: Rain

Well chosen word, it's raining outside (autumn is coming ^^).
Anyway, rain drops during one of the afternoon rains at Bangkok in summer of 2006. I never took the camera out when it poured because it was his camera, otherwise I'd have some great flood shots.

I'm such a sucker...

I know I shouldn't get any more obligations due time constraints and anyway I did sign-up for another charity square, this time for a little boy callen Caydon who lost his mother in a car accident and also got badly injured himself.
The quilt could use some more stitchers so if you are interested check here for more info.

The course

Two more hours to my day, the course is only 6h/ day excluding the "training" periods (altogether 52 working days) and as it's quite close to me commuting doesn't take too long.
And, the thing I had completely forgot: SII pays me more per day because I am on the course - though I'm not sure am I allowed to keep the 8 more euros/ day as an inspirational income, noticing that my allowances are paid by the government and the city... at least I can hope, it would be great though.

Shrinkage

..of the better kind.

Since I quit Xyzal my weight has come down ten kilos (from the worst point) and I am now exactly from where I was after my weight loss stopped two years ago.
So, you could think that I would still be of the same size when it comes to clothes... I am not: my pant size has gone down over one size (not enough to be two sizes) since.
I don't do diets (my limited, forced diet is enough for me at the moment, thankyouverymuch) nor I don't exercise - excluding my walking obsession (or rather necessity: it saves money for new stash *grin*)... but for some reason I apparently burn some fat and transform it to muscles. Same goes to the effects of steroids (for asthma and allergy): many men would kill to get my biceps.
I have always had big biceps for a woman, even more for a woman who doesn't lift weights, but they have never been this well sculpted.
"Well", I thought, "as athletes use steroids to enhance their performance and grow their muscles, why don't I as these things apparently work well - and are completely legal and necessary in my case?"

My intention isn't to grow my muscles, but shape my lower body, burn some fat, have fun and keep my physical condition good as it's a necessity for a person with respiratory illness (less surprisingly being in good physical condition is beneficial to your health when you are not completely healthy).
Therefore, after I have paid my laptop (October is the first payment-free month), I will begin to save for... a cross trainer.

It's indoor sports, I have room for the elliptical in my living room, I can exercise when ever I want to, in long run it's cheap option, it saves time (I don't want to spend time commuting to the gym and back, I rather stitch *grin*) and I can walk/ run even if there's -30 °C outside.
It also allows me to use interval practises, which I love and which work very well with my system - because my muscles need some *real* challenge and because I am addicted to endorphine (who isn't?). I just need to figure out my blood sugar issue when having a rough exercise (that is why I stopped going to the gym...).

Somehow I do think that it is odd that my goal is not to lose any weight... not that I'd mind losing it, but I don't mind my current weight either - as when it comes to PCOs women there is The Right Weight and it may be surprisingly high (I know cases who are fertile only when their BMI is way over 30).

More things to need: Paradise of the Tiger. I need to see how my finances are in September, but still I think I need to give up eating for few days and order that from Pam's Etsy Shop.

First week, day five

Based on five days peak flow statistics I fulfill two diagnostic criterias (1. ≥20% difference on at least three days in a week for at least two weeks; 2. ≥20% improvement of peak flow following treatment) out of three (3. ≥20% decrease in peak flow following exposure to a trigger (e.g., exercise)) most common criterias used to diagnose asthma (when I was a toddler my mother had blood tests meant to diagnose asthma (which came out negative, because of that it took over a year before she got the diagnose - and apparently they weren't very reliable as there's no mention about that diagnosing method anywhere anymore)), but my peak flow results are sometimes so low that I may be directed to hospital for further investigations (I'm too young, smoke free, atopic and reactive for steroids to have COPD, but my morning peak flow results are suitable in about every other day... that is actually only criteria I fulfill *grin* And to think of it, COPD would probably be visible in thorax X-ray and mine was clean).

Or maybe they will use my poor lung function as a third diagnostic criteria. The normal average for a healthy 28 year old, 165 cm short (I have lost four cm since I was twenty! (if I lose another cent I can ask further investigations as then there is good reason to believe that my spine has some degenerative issue) female is 445 l/ min and anything over 365 l/min is considered as normal... I can have it as low as 320 l/min (when medicated it may go up to 620 l/min)...
That kind of makes one wonder. And understand why I have been feeling like crap for few months.

Monday Madness

August 20th

1. How many desktop computers in your home?
   (That sentence no verb.... it bothers me.) One. At the moment, bits_2_whole gave me another as a birthday gift (assembled from scrap parts she has), but it's still being modified.

2. How many laptops?
   One.

3. What kind of internet service do you have? (i.e. phone modem, dsl, etc.)
   1/512 ADSL.

4. Do you tend to use more than one email account regularly?
   Have to. Business, blog, my "personal" (have had it since 2000, I think), dating... do I need to continue? *grin*

5. Do you use email as a main source for communicating to your family and friends?
   No. I keep in touch with my family through our own IRC channel and our discussion forum. When it comes to friends it's mostly emails, blogs and forums.

6. What kind of computer monitor do you own (flatscreen, or other)?
   CRT (two of them actually).

SAT: Happy Dancing Epilogue

This is where I started from

and this is what I have now:

Pieces of information:

• Designer: Ellen Maurer-Stroh
• Design: Bunny Baby
• Fabric: 16 count aida (I know, but while signing up they gave evenweave as another option, but as, less surprisingly people prefer aida (for reasons beyond me) it was what we were given.)
• Why?: This is for Stitchers for Children charity RR.

I didn't achieve as much I wanted or as much I seemed to be able to achieve based on my speed in Friday, but my new allergy medicine makes me really tired - and it doesn't help to take it in the evening as I will be twice as tired during the day...
Maybe I will do better next month, as I will ask for another new antihistamine if my energy levels stay this low.

Nevertheless, a happy dance!

Keeping myself busy

After getting her cell number from the synagogue I called to the Hebrew teacher in Friday... and now I have more things to do every week, in other words I will spend an hour every Tuesday in good company of alefbets.
What makes it interesting is that I haven't been in the lessons in two years and her opinion was that I can easily continue from where I stopped.
Admittedly one of the reasons why I have always liked her is that she doesn't seem to know the phrase I/ you can't do it.

This means that my stitching time will be limited in Tuesdays (as the day will go as follows: course -> back home -> shower -> eat -> head to the synagogue (well, in sense of correct terms the lessons are ran in the Jewish School of Helsinki, which is in Jewish Community Centre which is commonly referred as synagogue - the temple itself is in the community centre and in the same building as the school) -> learn -> come home at 21), though I have come up with a plan: I can stitch small items while waiting the lesson to begin (I usually have about 20-30 minutes to wait due buss scheduling (I'm too lazy to use the bus- train combo)) and therefore have some progress every day.
I will probably take something small with me to the course too, in case there are any idle moments (lunch, coffee breaks etc.).

And now, I am off to bed... (I foresee some lousy peak flow results in the morning. *grin*)

Unconscious Mutterings

Week237

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Darling :: Captain Darling
2. Majesty :: HRM
3. Pebble :: Bubble
4. Fate :: Destiny
5. Instant :: Coffee
6. Screen :: Saver
7. Unplugged :: Off
8. Dairy :: Milk
9. Benefactor :: Filantropist
10. Market :: Area

Friday's Feast

After a long, long break it's time for feasting again!

Feast One Hundred & Fifty Six

Appetizer: Describe your laundry routine. Do you have a certain day when you do it all, or do you just wash whatever you need for the next day?
I don't have a spesific day for it, I do the laundry when I have the energy.

Soup: In your opinion, what age will you be when you’ll consider yourself to truly be old?
Hmm... even I love to say how old I am in the end I think that I won't feel myself old before my health fails so badly that I can't do everything I want to.
Honestly speaking I have felt really old this summer because of the respiratory problems - you would be surprised if you'd try living few months lacking oxygen, it's very tiring. (It hasn't been just once or twice when I have been giggling to the fact that I know more agile 80 year olds than I am at 28 without proper asthma treatment.)

Salad: What is one of your goals? Is it short-term, long-term, or both?
I have so many pet goals that I don't know which to choose... One of them is to get that darned asthma diagnose and get SII to pay my re-education.

Main Course: Name something unbelievable you’ve seen or read lately.
Nothing surprises me when it comes to human kind so I can't name anything...

Dessert: On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how happy are you today?
Eight. (It will rise up when I get my next salbutamol dose... oxygen does wonders to your mood and is therefore very addictive. )

SAT goaling and lung thoughts

Even Loy is my official SAT piece I need to get two deadline projects done so I will spend my weekend stitching Bunny Baby and Autumn Dragon on Jenna's RR.
My official goal is to finish Bunny Baby, but as I am planning to spend this weekend sitting on the sofa to minimize the need of Ventoline during first test week (I should actually be 100% medication free, but as breathing is more important than having exact results one is allowed to use medication - there's special field in the spirometry document for it) I think I might be able to start Autumn (depending on how tired I am - new, strong allergy medicine, you see).

Speaking of asthma... It's silly actually. If you look at my unmedicated peak flow results (morning values) they are what an average woman in my age and height should have, and my medicated values are in the same line with an average man of my age and height. Which means that when I am not medicated my lungs are female and when I am medicated they turn out to be male...

I think I did say something about having strong lungs?

Do you need a Religion Free DVD Player?

\o/

I got in that course!

They interviewed me in Tuesday and today I had an envelope waiting "You are one of the 16 out of 43 interviewed who got selected. Welcome". (I am sure that my age was one of the reasons: I have decades before I retire, it's wise solution in long run to help me to find the direction where to head.)
This means that I have things to do every week day from 22nd of August to 31st of December. Which also means that there won't be a dull moment in near future with the course and all the stitching and other stuff.

99% probability

I dare to diagnose myself: asthma.
The nurse show me how to use the peak flow meter and made me try three test blows (she has a blow job... harhar) and after that she checked that I take my attack medication correctly... before meds (though only about 40 minutes after my last fix) my highest was 540 and when I got back home my highest was 620... close enough for that 20% change they need for the diagnose I would say...
And the diagnose would mean that our Social Insurance Institution kind of has to pay my next degree (or rather my living while studying, studying is free in here anyway) because I can't work as a weaver even if I got a job (the dust, you know)...

Foto Pherrets and stash

Week 84

In many cultures, circles are said to be sacred.

Our word for this week is: Round

How's this for round? (This handsome little (9 kilos of little) guy is another one of my mother's cats.)

SEX!

I had to, it wasn't me! Blackwork Fruit Bellpull will be travelling to mommy some of these days.
Even it's not my style I loved it enough to pop by at Pamela Kellogg's Etsy shop and order it right away. (And hey, it's available for limited time only. (Any excuse will do, as you know.))

Jewelry issues

I have confronted an odd problem: even though I have good selection of necklaces and pendants none of them "speaks" to me. Even my favourite, choker with a glass flower (yes, glass) which I wore almost three years (24/7) since my separation (I bought it few days after Dan moved out) just felt wrong couple of weeks ago and hasn't been hanging around my neck since.

Necklaces are my trademark, I wear them always and I feel naked without one (there's also the seduction factor..). And it's disturbing to know that I have necklaces, but also be aware of the fact why I can't use any of them... most of them have similar reasons: I am getting rid of negative memories and am looking for symbols to represent the Real Me. (Rest just aren't my style anymore.)

In the end I am like Imelda Marcos complaining that she can't find suitable shoes from her shoedrobe...

SBQ: In the Beginning There Was a Stitch

Today's

Stitching Bloggers' Question

was suggested by Jennifer and is:

How did you get started stitching? Was there a person that inspired you?

The timing od this question is curious as there is a poll on the same matter at my favourite cross stitch board (favourite meaning the board I idle in most - and as I am part of the staff... *cough*) so let me copy and paste...

"I remember doing a cat on a prestamped fabric when I was about the size of a fire extinguisher (about four, I think) which would mean that my mother has had her hand in my addiction, but I still say I am self taught (as my mother doesn't know how to stitch, which is curious).

I recently found towels I have cross stitched (on waffle cloth) as a gifts when I was 13 or 14 which means that I was actually so self taught that I never even had saw any instructions when I started. (If your mother shows something to you when you are four you won't remember it when you are 13...) I just knew how the stitches were supposed to look like.

Though the official story is that I saw Cross Stitcher with a Kipper the Dog on the cover (January 2001) and the rest is history. (The addiction got bad after I separated my now ex-husband (huzzah, three years of addiction!) - as I had much more time on my hands for some odd reason...)"

But since I started I have had many inspiring persons in my life. In addition to all my stitching friends I have a very supportive mother, I had a supportive husband (well, at least he was supportive in something *grin*), a supportive ex-lover (you guessed it right: Wolfie) and a supportive ex-FWB (I still think that N. considered watching me stitching over one as a turn on... ). (Actually I find it odd that all of the supportive men have seen the technical side of stitching and those who haven't appreciated my stitching have seen it only as a "those things women do". (Nowadays I only seem to get along with men who see the technical side of the art I create with my needle.))

Things to-do ~yesterday

In (more or less) respective order:

1. Stitch Bunny Baby
2. Stitch Autumn dragon.
3. Stitch two models.
4. Stitch two gifts, sew one.
5. Stitch and finish Halloween Exchange.
6. Stitch and finish Linda's bourse.
7. Stitch a replacement for Angi.
8. Finish those two badly belated gifts.
9. Stitch and finish a piece for Cross Stitch Lottery.
10. Work on PIFs in between of everything.

Health

By the way, my lungs are where they are supposed to be and they look clean which means that there are no odd inflammations, growths or anything to worry about. Next step is to follow my air flow at home: first one week without medication and then one week without and with medication - I just need to remember to make an appointment with a local "asthma nurse"...

And the kitty...

Memes: One Word Answers and Unconscious Mutterings

Shamelessly snatched from Jenna:

1. Where is your cellphone? Table
2. Relationship? None.
3. Your Hair? Shortish
4. Work? Freelancish.
5. Your sister? bits_2_whole
6. Your favorite thing? X-rated
7. Your dream last night? Odd.
8. Your favorite drink? Water
9. Your dream car? None.
10. The room you’re in? Bedroom
11. Your shoes? None
12. Your fears? Many
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Mother
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? Mother
15. What are you not good at? Socializing
16. Muffin? None
17. One of your wish list items? Love
18. Where you grew up? Europe
19. Last thing you did? Drank
20. What are you wearing? Knickers
21. What aren’t you wearing? Shirt
22. Your pet? Cats
23. Your computer? HP
24. Your life? Good
25. Your mood? Annoyed
26. Missing? Calmness
27. What are you thinking about right now? Water
28. Your car? None
29. Your kitchen? Problematic
30. Your summer? Short
31. Your favorite color? Black
32. Last time you laughed? Today
33. Last time you cried? Blank
34. School? Not
35. Love? Wonderful

Unconscious Mutterings: Week 236

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Voyage :: Bon
2. Patricia :: Arquette
3. Transformation :: Change
4. Vocabulary :: Lexis
5. San Francisco :: Hills
6. Edward :: Grieg
7. Sawyer :: Tom
8. Literary :: Me
9. Tiger :: Tiger Woods
10. Seal :: Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel

[/holiday]

Though admittedly I could have passed the load of emails I had waiting when I returned, as there's once again issues building up and I just can't take it.
I don't want to take it because I see no reason to accept how some people find it ok to change things already agreed upon. (Once again I remember why I like to do things on my own: I can trust myself to keep what I agree upon.) Let this be a reminder of certain policies of mine...

Yes, I am a day early as I found out just before I left that I have a meeting tomorrow and there was no possibility to change the day (I tried). But then, if it goes well I have something to keep me busy to the end of this year (in addition to going back to Hebrew classes).

Anyway, few pictures can be found from here and from here. (White/ blue and blue/ white cats are my mother's.) (Some stupid /me forgot to take the camera with her when we went to hunt wild roses yesterday as I could have got great pictures... ah well, such is life.)

Gone!

Ok, not yet actually. The day changed to tomorrow (joys of not having a driver's licence and having to use a driver *grin*), but my plan for today is to vegetate, drink loads of coffee, eat too much ice cream, stitch and sleep so I'm practically offline from now on.

See you next week!

mondaysabitch: Shiny things

Oooh shiny!

Metallics

1. Gold or silver? Which looks better on you?
   Silver, absolutely. I am too pale for gold (in my opinion gold looks good only on people who have tanned (natural or acquired) skin.).

2. What is your favourite Olympic sport to watch?
   Anything with well-developed men in tights.

3. Goldfinger or Goldmember? Would you rather watch a James Bond movie or a Mike Myers comedy?
   It depends on with whom I watch it.

4. Have you ever won a trophy?
   No.

5. Do you set off metal detectors in airports?
   No.

Wish list keeps on growing...

Ye shall not play with Google's image search... another addition: Ganesha - The Hindu God of Wisdom

My body really wants to tell me something...
I just happen to think that this is cute and I could actually stitch it to my kid: In The Beginning. (Maybe it takes me back to childhood, I had the cutest Noah's Ark placemat when I was a kid.)
Now, I have chosen my wedding sampler and sampler for my kid(s)... from where I can buy a custom made husband?

Unconscious mutterings - and surname in Google

Week 235

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Voices :: Hearing
2. Have to :: Must
3. Machine :: Sewing
4. Seventh grade :: 13
5. Beach :: Sand
6. Roommate :: Annoyance
7. Cyclone :: Wind
8. Theater :: Dream Theater
9. Pregnant :: Gravid
10. Phoebe :: Friends

Images...

Once again I played with Google's image search, this once with my surname and found a picture which made a great avatar (elsewhewre) - even it is yellow: Peri.

Repetitio est mater studiorum etc.:

"In Persian mythology, Peris (in Persian پری Pari) are descended from fallen angels who have been denied paradise until they have done penance. In earlier sources they are described as agents of evil; later, they are benevolent.
They are beautiful, exquisite winged, fairy-like creature ranking between angels and evil spirits who sometimes visit the realm of mortals.
In Indian Mythology Pari is the equivalent of a fairy.
Also, a common Turkish name for women in the form of Perihan, meaning queen of the fairies or Peri, meaning fairy." (From what I have heard it also stands for "extraordinary" woman (in Hindi) and a beautiful woman (in Turkish) - and, "of course", I know that it stands for fruit in Hebrew.))

Call me an angel or consider me as a demon, you are never wrong...

Asthma attacks

If I hate something it's having an asthma attack while sleeping... How I know I have them if I sleep? They come into my dreams, though nowadays my Salbutamol discus is also in my dreams, but nevertheless I don't enjoy breathing problems when I am awake nor when I am sleeping. EVen less when I am sleeping as it means that I will wake up tired... and I should clean and do the laundry and pack my things and all that...