Blog life. And what happens when a crazy stitcher travels.

I haven't actively read blogs in a couple of years (yikes!), I think that more or less after spring 2008, that spring when I first realized that there is something wrong with me and got lost in my brain fog.

2008.

Three years ago.

I met Darling Husband that same year, even it feels like yesterday.

Anyway, today I started, out of the blue, collect all my feeds from Bloglines to Google Reader as I decided it would probably be better in the end as I have my calendar at Google too and this way I can get most of my necessary stuff on my iGoogle.

There was abandoned and hijacked blogs, which I just skipped, but many of those blogs I used to read are still going strong so do not wonder if a new, yet familiar sounding name starts commenting. It's just me coming back.

My first anniversary with thyroid meds is on Wednesday and I am still surprised how much the whole thing has affected to my life. And how much it still affects. But life must go on and with time things will get easier, I hope.

Travels

My mom and I went to Tallinn earlier this month: ate like horses in an medieval restaurant (see the virtual tour here. In addition to great surroundings (this time we at at Krusensterni Saal) they serve great food), bought Estonian cheeses, dark roasted coffee and... I found craft magazines.

In other words: Estonian beading magazine and Russian Susanna and Cross Stitcher.

And we are going to Tallinn again soon as we, or rather my mother, got two free ferry tickets from tax free (this company gives free cruises after using certain amount of money in their tax free store). We are going to hit one shopping mall... there is a craft store too. Guess where I am going?

It wasn't me...

... it was a pink elephant, called Lou, sitting on my right shoulder...

...and Lou went crazy at 1-2-3 Stitch! some time ago.

Twice, actually.

And as you may have noticed from the picture with floss I still have my turquoise period: I accidentally ordered five skeins of Weeks Dye Works' Blue Topaz.

"Ooops", in a good way.

And that scrumptious purple linen - also by WDW - is something I just had to buy because of the colour - and it is cheap(ish) too! (There was also a beautiful shipment of gorgeous earrings from KittyAndMe's Etsy store - but I will share them later, when I am able to get a decent picture of them.)

In other news: thyroxine seems to be working! ^^

30 o.O

I had my bestest (yup *grin*) gift when Mr. Wonderful wished me good birthday when I woke up. Having him here is the best gift I can possible have today - due our financial situation no huge gifts, but he gave me the sweetest card (which I have placed on top of the TV).

30 years old (I almost wrote 30 years odd...)

Oh mi gosh, etc.. I don't feel like thirty at all, but I have already noticed all the things coming from getting older: I got an invitation for the official PAP smear today... oh well, at least it's good for me. In addition to that I have to book an appointment to our nurse because I have been sick so many times between January - March. It has to be an one hour appointment, and for what? We just come to conclusion that asthma, customer service job and flu season are not a good combination.
But that is what my employer wants me to do so there I go.

And in addition to that there is another health check coming within next two months. Groovy. And I know that this time there is this "and how about your weight then?" conversation... though, I can tell them that I have lost whopping 12,5 kilos since March without any dieting and that we shouldn't meddle with what seems to going well.
Though... they could check my thyroid levels, just for future reference as it seems that our mother has hypothyroidism despite her levels being within so called normal levels. I just can't help, but wondering did I really have point with my suspicion of having hypothyroidism when I was prescribed antidepressants...

Well, what is my weight loss secret? I am not quite sure, but I guess that the combination of Mr. Wonderful and Nigerian food is the thing - that yummy okra soup he makes every now and then may be big contributor in this. (This is interesting.)
One thing I am sure of: I am not complaining.

Her Highness

Thank you for your condolences.
She was put to sleep after, this is what the vet thought, her kidneys had failed. Poor dear couldn't control her bowel or bladder any more so it was just gentle to let her go.
My mother took her with her and buried Her Highness somewhere in her cabin's garden.

In general: odd changes

I have noticed extremely odd change in me lately: I like to shop and I am actually looking forward to buy *GASP* more *GASP* feminine clothes (what, aren't jeans and T-shirt feminine enough?! I am getting scary!) in future - and I have started to wear *GASP* earrings.
What boggles me almost as much is that I have this odd mania for turquoise stones (or glass pieces, whatever) - in general I have a thing for turquoise which I can't explain...
I have even grown my hair longer because He asked to (and it's not dark anymore, more like dark, bright red).

Should I be worried or should I just come to conclusion that I am in love?

Shiny... my preciousssssssss!

Well, my excuse is that I was shopping for a gift for bits_2_whole... you know how it goes with international shipping... So, I bought two rings for myself:

And after that I had some pleasant window shopping... Ooh, pretty: Nepali Sterling Jali Mandala Necklace and Nepali Sterling & Lapis Mandala Earrings!

And more...

• Boulder Opal in Ironstone Matrix Earrings
• Green Amber Celtic Earrings
• Green Amber Celtic Ring - North/South
• Green Amber Celtic Necklace
• Ammonite Drop Earrings
• Sterling Teardrop Earrings
• Sterling & Garnet Khamsa Earrings (I have ordered this already)
• Simple Amethyst & Sterling Drop Earrings
• Zuluwood Adventure Earrings
• Nepali Sterling & Opal Necklace
• Rice Grain Dangling Earrings
• Yemenite Sterling Filigree Paisley Earrings
• Copper Bead & Silver Spike Earrings

Oh my, I am afraid that I am getting all girly. O_o

Actually I have had in mind for some time to buy Chai (Life), but my problem with most of the available pendants is their price or the style and/or the metal used (gold is out of the question for two reasons: 1. I may be allergic to it, 2. the colour is wrong for my pale skin - gold looks good on tanned skin). Few days ago I found what I was looking for from Israel Catalog and today I rewarded myself as the Cross Stitch Expo went well on Lady's behalf.

2 cm/ 0.79', '925 sterling silver, with chain, $24.95 and in theory no postages. In theory because I also bought a David D'Or CD of which I had to pay postages. (That man has a voice (and eyes) of an angel, and I want to get all his CDs about yesterday so I decided that I can start collecting him now.)

As I have probably mentioned before I have high belief towards the power of words and the beauty of them (and alephbets are beautiful, piece of art as themselves) hence decorating myself with a word is a natural derivation (?).
And in its way חי reflects my attitue towards life.

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...