So my purse was stolen from my house on Wednesday WHILE I WAS HOME around 3 pm. I thought I'd heard our front door open, but when I went downstairs, I didn't see anything and thought maybe it'd been the wind or something. Until I received a phone call from my credit card company Thursday morning asking if I'd tried to buy gas four times that morning. Yikes.
The good news is that criminals are stupid. Really stupid. The thief used my credit card at gas stations, which have surveillance cameras. The police were able to retrieve at least one tape of the jerk. Since the house across the street from us was robbed at the same time, the police are eager to catch this guy. Unfortunately, I won't be able to help the police identify him, as I (fortunately) didn't encounter him.
As much as I'm annoyed about having had to call the card companies and replace all my photo IDs and freaked out about having had a thief in the house, I'm also annoyed about losing the purse itself and the other contents. The purse and wallet I bought on our last vacation to Crete, the photo of DH I've had since we were first dating, and the item that my stitching friends will most understand -- the full punchcards from my LNS, including the one that would have gotten me a nice discount on my next framing order. Sigh.
I'd like to be able to shrug it off and say that at least no one was hurt, but I can't. I've been having a stressful month. There's been a lot going on personally and professionally. I bit off a bit more than I can chew in terms of my professional commitments this month (two papers and a report -- and formal writing tends to make me stress). I haven't really had time to stitch or do much else that's really relaxing (although I've been watching bits of Le Tour de France-- go, Cadel, go). Plus I'm still trying to get our house in order post-renovations. Well, last night all this stress caught up with me, and I got to spend several hours at our local hospital. All's fine now. I've been ordered to take it easy and go see my regular doctor again in a few days. So I rested most of today, and I plan to do the same tomorrow, while trying to figure out how to get some stuff done while not increasing my stress again.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Re-reading a Classic
Last night, I couldn't get to sleep. I think it was the excitement of besting JAL in Word Twist finally. So I did what I usually do - I read for a while. After I finished one of the books* I'd been working on for a while, I was still wide awake. At that point, I went looking for a comfort read, something I'd read numerous times before and therefore would be less likely to be sucked in completely since I knew how it ended.
I ended up with A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. I first read this when I was in the 6th grade and immediately fell in love with her universe. It also launched me into reading not only the rest of her books, but the Narnia series and many other classics of children's and young adult literature. These are books I continue to love to read. They bring back that sense of wonder and adventure that meant so much to me during my early teen years. (Yes, I needed to escape, even if it was just into a book.)
Over the years, I've continued to read children's and young adult novels. When I was in my library science program, I took a Children's Literature class, which was fabulous and connected me to some new authors. Unfortunately, since then, many of my books have been in storage due to the house renovations. I haven't had the opportunity to revisit many of my favorites. Plus, other than the Harry Potter books, I haven't found newer books that appeal to me as much. I think it's just that I'm experiencing them for the first time as an adult.
Be that as it may, it's been a delight to re-read Wrinkle. Since it's a short book, I was able to finish it this morning. It reminds me of the lost arts of both concise writing and good editing for many books that make it to market today. I think of it as being a timeless story, but I wonder if that remains true. When do the childhoods portrayed in all my favorite books become dated because they don't reflect the modern, technological world? Can you imagine From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg happening today?
* I finished A House in Corfu by Emma Tennant. I'd give it a score of 3.5 out of 5. There were occasionally great descriptions of Corfu, Greek food, etc., which is why I wanted to read the book, but for a memoir, it was strangely detached. I think this may be due to the house being her parents' rather than Emma's. She wasn't the one struggling with the day-to-day challenges of building and maintaining a house as an ex-pat.
I ended up with A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle. I first read this when I was in the 6th grade and immediately fell in love with her universe. It also launched me into reading not only the rest of her books, but the Narnia series and many other classics of children's and young adult literature. These are books I continue to love to read. They bring back that sense of wonder and adventure that meant so much to me during my early teen years. (Yes, I needed to escape, even if it was just into a book.)
Over the years, I've continued to read children's and young adult novels. When I was in my library science program, I took a Children's Literature class, which was fabulous and connected me to some new authors. Unfortunately, since then, many of my books have been in storage due to the house renovations. I haven't had the opportunity to revisit many of my favorites. Plus, other than the Harry Potter books, I haven't found newer books that appeal to me as much. I think it's just that I'm experiencing them for the first time as an adult.
Be that as it may, it's been a delight to re-read Wrinkle. Since it's a short book, I was able to finish it this morning. It reminds me of the lost arts of both concise writing and good editing for many books that make it to market today. I think of it as being a timeless story, but I wonder if that remains true. When do the childhoods portrayed in all my favorite books become dated because they don't reflect the modern, technological world? Can you imagine From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg happening today?
* I finished A House in Corfu by Emma Tennant. I'd give it a score of 3.5 out of 5. There were occasionally great descriptions of Corfu, Greek food, etc., which is why I wanted to read the book, but for a memoir, it was strangely detached. I think this may be due to the house being her parents' rather than Emma's. She wasn't the one struggling with the day-to-day challenges of building and maintaining a house as an ex-pat.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Another Friday Feast
Appetizer: When was the last time you had your hair cut/trimmed?
I had my bangs trimmed about 4 weeks ago. I need to get a full cut in the next few weeks.
Soup: Name one thing you miss about being a child.
Lazy summers.
Salad: Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil.
Olive Oil.
Main Course: If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why?
This one's tough. I've studied French and Portuguese, but not really learned either. I've always thought I should learn German, but haven't. I really *should* learn Portuguese, but just to be different, I'll say Luxemborgisch.
Dessert: Finish this sentence: In 5 years I expect to be…
The last time I answered this question was 9 years ago in an interview for what turned out to be my first job with my current employer. I was completely wrong then, so I think I'll pass on this one for now.
I had my bangs trimmed about 4 weeks ago. I need to get a full cut in the next few weeks.
Soup: Name one thing you miss about being a child.
Lazy summers.
Salad: Pick one: butter, margarine, olive oil.
Olive Oil.
Main Course: If you could learn another language, which one would you pick, and why?
This one's tough. I've studied French and Portuguese, but not really learned either. I've always thought I should learn German, but haven't. I really *should* learn Portuguese, but just to be different, I'll say Luxemborgisch.
Dessert: Finish this sentence: In 5 years I expect to be…
The last time I answered this question was 9 years ago in an interview for what turned out to be my first job with my current employer. I was completely wrong then, so I think I'll pass on this one for now.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Baking or Cooking
I haven't been stitching much or working on anything else that lends itself to pictures lately. I've mostly been working on getting our kitchen in order and moving stuff back into other rooms in our house. Not terribly exciting or blog-worthy.
We did have some friends over for an Independence Day lunch. Nothing like some beef ribs and broccoli slaw to say "Happy 4th", especially when followed by a homemade strawberry-rhubarb pie. Yum.
Which leads me to my question: Do you prefer to bake or cook? Or do you prefer some other method of food preparation altogether?
I'm a baker. If I'm going to fuss with food prep, I want something substantial at the end. Stove top cooking just doesn't get me there most of the time. I'm also sort of a one-bowl and one-pan sort of person. I don't want to end up with a whole lot of bowls or pots dirty at the end, and I seem to be better able to control this when baking. If I do need to cook, I prefer to grill or throw things into a crockpot. It's just easier.
We did have some friends over for an Independence Day lunch. Nothing like some beef ribs and broccoli slaw to say "Happy 4th", especially when followed by a homemade strawberry-rhubarb pie. Yum.
Which leads me to my question: Do you prefer to bake or cook? Or do you prefer some other method of food preparation altogether?
I'm a baker. If I'm going to fuss with food prep, I want something substantial at the end. Stove top cooking just doesn't get me there most of the time. I'm also sort of a one-bowl and one-pan sort of person. I don't want to end up with a whole lot of bowls or pots dirty at the end, and I seem to be better able to control this when baking. If I do need to cook, I prefer to grill or throw things into a crockpot. It's just easier.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monochromatic Times Two
Here's what I've been working on lately. First, my July SAL ornament. The theme was fish. Yes, I realize it's still only June, but I'm trying to get ahead, as I know that the end of the year is going to be crazy here. Isn't it everywhere?
My second project is from Milady's Needle. The pattern is Rejoice. This will be my ornament for November (angels/churches). I'm stitching it with GAST Cranberry, over one, on 28 count platinum cashel linen. When I stitch over one, I use two threads and half-stitches (/), rather than one thread and full-stitches (x). It's much easier that way.
What you see here represents 3 or 4 hours of stitching. I knew I was going to be sitting in waiting rooms a lot last week and wanted something that wasn't too fussy as a project to keep me occupied. This fit the bill perfectly, although it's going to take me *forever* to finish at this rate. It's a good thing I got a jump on it.
My second project is from Milady's Needle. The pattern is Rejoice. This will be my ornament for November (angels/churches). I'm stitching it with GAST Cranberry, over one, on 28 count platinum cashel linen. When I stitch over one, I use two threads and half-stitches (/), rather than one thread and full-stitches (x). It's much easier that way.
What you see here represents 3 or 4 hours of stitching. I knew I was going to be sitting in waiting rooms a lot last week and wanted something that wasn't too fussy as a project to keep me occupied. This fit the bill perfectly, although it's going to take me *forever* to finish at this rate. It's a good thing I got a jump on it.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday Feast
Jennifer over at Sweet Pea Stitching has me hooked on these, so you may be seeing a few more in the months ahead. The questions come from FridaysFeast.com.
Appetizer: What is the weather like today where you live?
Hot and humid. "Summer" has come to DC with a vengeance.
Soup: On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how career-minded are you?
7.5
Salad: What type of window coverings do you have in your home? Blinds, curtains, shutters, etc.?
I have sheers in our computer room; roller blinds in one bedroom; bare windows in the kitchen, bathrooms, and basement; and pleated blinds everywhere else in the house. Two of our doors have internal miniblinds.
Main Course: Name something that instantly cheers you up.
Yellow flowers. Miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. A beautiful day. Unexpected contact with a good friend (phone, mail, email, in person, ...). Thoughtful surprises.
Dessert: How many times do you hit the snooze button on a typical morning?
Many. Way too many most days.
Appetizer: What is the weather like today where you live?
Hot and humid. "Summer" has come to DC with a vengeance.
Soup: On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how career-minded are you?
7.5
Salad: What type of window coverings do you have in your home? Blinds, curtains, shutters, etc.?
I have sheers in our computer room; roller blinds in one bedroom; bare windows in the kitchen, bathrooms, and basement; and pleated blinds everywhere else in the house. Two of our doors have internal miniblinds.
Main Course: Name something that instantly cheers you up.
Yellow flowers. Miniature Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. A beautiful day. Unexpected contact with a good friend (phone, mail, email, in person, ...). Thoughtful surprises.
Dessert: How many times do you hit the snooze button on a typical morning?
Many. Way too many most days.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Pineapple for June
Here's my June ornament. It's a freebie available as a PDF here, or go to the Rainbow Gallery's website and scroll down towards the bottom.
A Traditional Welcome by Erica Michaels
Stitched on a scrap of 14 count off-white Aida with the following substitutions:
S933 - DMC 743, S909 - DMC 728 , S971 - DMC 744
S847/848 - DMC 471 only, S848 - DMC 470, E899 - Ecru
You can't really see it well in the image, but the cross lines are couched down. I thought doing the couching was going to be really annoying, but it wasn't and it went quickly. The couching definitely gives the look of the little pineapple nubs more than I thought it would.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)