Still sick : (
I'm not sure what this germ is but it's nuclear powered I think. I'm still sick! Still have a sore throat, and now DH is sick too. Luckily DD hasn't caught it but *sighs* I just want to feel better so I can clean my house up so I can feel like I can stitch.

I haven't stitched in 2 weeks, I don't really feel I can do it when I have so much else to do.

*blah*

The voice, it is gone...
So i've been battling with a sore throat now for the better part of a week--no big deal right? Sunday I start coughing...hmm, okay..no big deal right? Monday morning I feel like a Mac Truck has hit me and I'm down for the count. But okay, I sleep all day and no big deal right ? And then, Tuesday morning happens.

Tuesday was a very important day for me. It was the first meeting of my Brownie Girl Scout Troop. I took over my daughter's troop from the old leader when she stepped down last year. I'd been in Scouting for years as a girl, but never a leader, so this was new. I'd been preparing, writing handouts, getting paperwork ready. My co-leader and I had our meeting planned. I had the parent's meeting planned. And then Tuesday morning happened.

I lost my voice.

Not totally, not at first. It faded in and out throughout the day. It resembled nothing more than rough gravel and it was hard to talk above a low speaking voice. Then it got hard to talk above a whisper. As I rushed through making my copies at Kinko's (250+ EEK!!!) I wondered how I was going to get through the evening. Twelve little girls. Then their parents. Missing this was not an option. I'd been looking forward to it for months.

The girls thought Miss Angi sounded funny. Most of them know me as 9 of the 13 (1 absent) are classmates of my daughter's. The Brownie Smile song was pitiful--cause I couldn't sing a note. My co-leader, she is the outdoorsy, active type. I'm the music, artsy craftsy type. We'll work well together ;) But, the song was just sad. I even had to tickle some of my new girls to get them to smile. We'll do better next week. They liked their activities though. They enjoyed the Chinese jump rope game. We only had one bumped head, causing an already loose tooth to get looser and bleed. (Just how fast can I get that first aid training? and thank heavens for the Daisy leader-and mom of one of my Brownies-next door who is a nurse). Most, if not all my parents showed up for the parent meeting, and even put up with my voice. I got a cookie mom volunteer, and a good feeling from the group. They even told me to rest my voice. I think we'll all do well together this year.

My voice is still gone ... even worse. The whisper is almost as good as it gets today. I'm coughing, and feverish, and just want to die. But last night, I was in heaven. I love the Girl Scouts. I love what it teaches girls. I love how it empowers them to believe in themselves and their skills. I love how it brings girls together. I'm going to love my troop. I already do. My voice was a very small price to pay.

Monday, Monday...
Well it was another exciting weekend here! (not) I got little to nothing done besides running kids here and there, grocery shopping, laundry and watching Patriots win (again!!). Other than that, the weekend was pretty quiet.

Was working on something and realized that printer ink had gotten onto my fabric. So into the Orvus that piece of fabric went. Thank heavens it all seems to have come out!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

It's Friday!!
Yes, it's Friday folks! Thank heavens! Sorta... My busiest days are coming up. Saturdays the alien has soccer in the morning, and then there is shopping to do this weekend. My stepson comes over on the weekends, and of course now there is football. At least the Patriots play this weekend, AND they are the early game this Sunday! WHOO HOO :)

I've made a little (read LITTLE) progress on FutureCast. I'm not sure I like how he's coming out, but I'm kinda stuck now. We'll see, maybe it'll be okay. I"m hoping to pop out to the border today and feel like I *really* got something done. We'll see. I'd also like to complete one of the next to last bands on the wedding sampler I'm doing. I am like >< that close to having it done, and yet I'm dragging my feet about it.

DD is home from school today, so I imagine there'll be much snuggling and sweetness .... well okay I can hope right ??? I've got handouts going for my Brownie parents, we got our first two meetings plotted out yesterday, and I'm starting to feel like I might have gotten a handle on this. *snorts* Self-delusion, gotta love it!

Welp, ya'll take care of yourselves today!

Progress... maybe?

Well, I haven't done much stitching of anything lately. I went to a GTG at Kari's house this past weekend with tiggerpoohs, and had a blast! They however gave me such a hard time (in fun) about not having any TW Wips or completions that I spent all day Sunday pulling colors for FutureCast. I have put a few stitches into him and we'll see how that goes. :) I'm really close to finishing the True Love Sampler, and then it's off to the races on the rest of my projects for the holidays *sighs*. I never used to do obligation stitching. I won't do it next year. Blech.... Although I'm lucky that everyone I stitch for Loves it and appreciates it.

I'm almost ready for our first Brownie Troop meeting, and the parents meeting that night *eek* I'm organized, and just hope I don't totally flop with the kids! :( I'm very excited though, I love Girl Scouts, and what it can do for girls.

Not much else to talk about today... Ya'll take care of yourselves!

Gratitude...


I'm so grateful to my online family! :) To my in-laws. To my friends... to everyone who helped my daughter reach her secondary goal in the fundraiser!! If we could have sold 10 more items, we could have won her the DVD player she wanted, but she did sell 90, so she's getting the electric scooter. I'm so thankful to have friends like ya'll!!

My secret stitcher sent me Just Nan's WinterHaven *boggles* I was stunned!!!! And so grateful. I love this chart, and now need to figure out just how I want to do it, and in what type of threads.

Life is pretty damned good today :)

It's wrapping paper time!!

Between now and Sept 27, my daughter is trying to earn a DVD or CD player. She is selling wrapping paper from Innisbrook. You can order through their website, and have it shipped directly to you, and she will get the sales credit! The great part about this is, her school earns 50% of all sales!!

Here's the link:

http://www.innisbrook.com/acb/basket/index_child_reg.cfm?internet_id=20563&DID=7

if that doesn't work, please email me for her codes!! :)

I thank you in advance, and if you order.. she'll send you a thank you email!

**** Apparently Innisbrook's server is working overtime, and is hard to reach during the day. If you have problems, maybe at night would be better ? :( I'm sorry if anyone gets frustrated:( Thanks! :( ****

Thanks so much!

Lost Friends Found! :)

in all my incarnations online, I've made lots of friends. One of them in particular, a guy, was extra special. There was nothing we didn't talk about, laugh about~all that stuff! In our infinite wisdom, we decided that we'd try our hand at being romantically involved. *laughs* that ended in a spectacular display! But we battled back to being great friends. We lost touch however when he moved from where he was, after getting out of the Navy and then I moved here to NH to be with DH. It'd been 2 1/2 years since I'd talked to him, and I'd worry about him-ya know how you do when you're missing someone.

Well... two nights ago we stumbled across each other again! Gosh it was wonderful!! We ended up chatting until 4 am one night, and catching up on the phone last night. It's like the last years haven't happened! We still know each other pretty well, and I'm thrilled to get my friend back! We both got married in this time, and he'd not seen pics of DD since she was 4! It was just amazing.

I'm pretty grateful to have him back in my life as one of my closest friends. And of course i've warned him that if he disappears again, i'm hunting him down and shooting him!

Ya'll take care!

Clear the way Maties, we're goin down...

I'm beginning to hate my stitching.... I've got too much obligation stuff to do. I am doing Mystery 6 from Chatelaine, I've only got part 1 done (out of 8 released parts). I've got Taj Mahal from Chatelaine, and I don't even *have* the first part of that done (out of 6 released parts). I have this wedding sampler I need to get finished, plus a shop model.

Not to mention the hell my home life is becoming again... can we say stress ? I think I need to replace my certs with Tums again, start eating them like candy. Something has to stop the pain in my stomach.

Anyyywho, enough whining. I hope...

Never underestimate the power of Love

Love has brought David Tippin home. Love has kept him safe. Love kept him warm and cool, and helped him find a place to stay protected from the elements. Love helped a resourceful little boy find water, and apparently food. Love kept him wrapped up close in his mother's thoughts while he was gone for 3 days. And love has brought him home to his mother's arms.

I am so grateful for the stitcher's I have met through this joyous hobby. We gathered together this last 3 days, and sent all of our love and hope to one of our own, Stacey Tippin-Prinncess. We kept her held up and supported. Our Love surrounded her and now her little boy is home. Thank you all. I love you all...

Stacey, you are so precious to me. I cried tears, and my heart worried. And my heart rejoices, although not even close to as much as yours. You hug that lil precocious oh so smart adventurer for me okay ?

We are an awesome force...

Bring David Timothy Tippen HOME!


My heart and my thoughts and my prayers are with Stacey, our very own Prinncess and her husband Robert today. Their son, David is missing. He is just 4 years old. Stacey gives all the details in her blog, Perle Moon. Please visit it and please pray for his safe return.

Please come home safe, David. Your mommy misses you.

To my Tory Kat
 
Today is your birthday.  It is almost inconceivable to me that you are seven years old today, but you are.  The last seven years have flown by.  I have watched you grow up so fast, from a sweet baby to the capable young lady you are becoming.  It is hard for me to admit you are becoming a  capable young lady.  I don't want to admit that you don't seem to need me as much as you used to, in the same ways as you used to. 
 
True, you don't need me to wash your hair for you, or give you a bath.   You don't need me to feed you, or cut your food for you all the time.  You don't need me to tie your shoes for you anymore, or zipper your jackets for you.  You don't need me to always make your bed for you, or dress you anymore.  You don't need me to help you with your seatbelt, or opening the car door, or even reading the directions for some of your activities.  You don't need me to read you books anymore, or help you color in the lines.  You don't need me to build your sandcastles for you, or to carry you into the pool. 
 
Realizing you don't need me to do all those things for you anymore brought tears to my eyes.  Where did my baby go?  What could she possibly need from me anymore ?  And then I realized....
 
You need me for kisses all over the face before bedtime, and hugs around the neck~because without them, you simply can't get to sleep.  You  need me to listen to all the things you did in school today because you want me to get as excited about you being the calendar girl as you were.  You  need to cuddle against me during a thunderstorm.  You need to tell me you love me after you fight with me, and you need to hear me tell you I love you no matter what.  You need to chase away the monsters in your bedroom at night sometimes, and you need me to reassure you that the bears your big brother tells you about outside are NOT coming in to get you.  You need me to protect you from the spiders, even though you know I'm as scared of them as you are.  You need me to remind you to flush and wash your hands~every single time!  You need me for soft touches to your forehead, just to reassure you you are not getting a fever.   You need me to shudder and ewwww! at every single bug you bring me just so you can giggle at me.  You need me to cook your favourite dinner on your birthday, and stay up all night the night before wrapping presents. 
 
So today baby, Happy Birthday.  I love you more than anything in my entire life.  I can't remember my life before you came into it,  seven years ago today.  I don't even want to.  You are my shining star, and I thank the heavens for you every day.  There is nothing you cannot do, cannot be.  Your smile and laugh are my joys, and I hope that I see and hear them every day.  They are what *I* need.  I love you, my lil girl. 
 

Attention Stitcher X (and everyone else who ever sent a hateful anonymous email/ezmsg):

During the fuss and the muss of JPC closing, I'm sure you snuck in, struck with your poisonous words, and left. You even deleted your user account, so that no one could or would be able to respond to you. A classic hit and run.

The cowards way.

Yes, I said it, a coward. ANYone who doesn't have the guts to sign their name to something is a coward. If I have something to say, I sign my name. I mean, if I feel passionate enough about something to write about it, I have the responsibility to stand behind my words. Sending one line emails, filled with vitriol and hatred, while it may be passionate, is also childish. And in my opinion, behaviours like this are the main reason that JPC on the TWBB has become a place so filled with controversy, hatred filled debates, sniping, backbiting, and secrets and why the forum is going away.

I don't know that for sure, but I do know that there is just so much childishness that anyone can put up with. If you are so sure of your beliefs, why not stand behind them publically? Why do you hide ? Or do you hide because you might be shown the truth, not the speculations that fill your mind? I know this, the mean and hateful things said in an email from Stitcher X to a close friend of mine are absolutely NOT TRUE. Unless you are TW, Miss Stitcher X, then you really DON"T know why JPC is being deleted. I sincerely doubt however, that TW would stoop to an anonymous ezmessage, and not sign her name.

I can't believe that such accusations are flying around, and I can but hope that we all learn how to act like the adults we are supposed to be. No one person is to blame for this, we all bear part of the burden. Let's shoulder it and move on.

I'm finally a LADY!!!




I took the most accurate villain personality test
created by: The Arch Villainess Gracie

Uh-oh LOL

How to make a Angi

Ingredients: 3 parts anger 3 parts silliness 3 parts joy

Method: Combine in a tall glass half filled with crushed ice. Serve with a slice of wisdom and a pinch of salt. Yum!

Username:

Personality cocktail
From Go-Quiz.com

Well I think it just might be me folks ! :)

A	Arty
N	Nutty
G	Graceful
E	Explosive
L	Lazy
A	Awesome

Name / Username:

Name Acronym Generator
From Go-Quiz.com

Today's Blog, courtesy of Maroon 5's song Harder to Breathe


How dare you say that my behavior's unacceptable
So condescending, unnecessarily critical
I have the tendency of getting very physical
So watch your step cause if I do you'll need a miracle

You drain me dry and make me wonder why I'm even here
This double vision I was seeing is finally clear
You want to stay but you know very well I want you gone
Not fit to funkin' tread the ground that I am walking on

When it gets cold outside and you got nobody to love
You'll understand what I mean when I say
There's no way we're gonna give up
And like a little girl cries in the face of a monster that lives in her dreams
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe

What you are doing is screwing things up inside my head
You should know better you never listened to a word I said
Clutching your pillow and writhing in a naked sweat
Hoping somebody someday will do you like I did

When it gets cold outside and you got nobody to love
You'll understand what I mean when I say
There's no way we're gonna give up
And like a little girl cries in the face of a monster that lives in her dreams
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe

Does it kill
Does it burn
Is it painful to learn
That it's me that has all the control

Does it thrill
Does it sting
When you feel what I bring
And you wish that you had me to hold

When it gets cold outside and you got nobody to love
You'll understand what I mean when I say
There's no way we're gonna give up
And like a little girl cries in the face of a monster that lives in her dreams
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe
Is there anyone out there cause it's getting harder and harder to breathe

I HATE confrontation. I absolutely abhor it. I avoid it at all costs. I will walk away from IM's with little warning, I will grow quieter on a phone call, I will avoid a friend for weeks at a time, if I feel I need to avoid a confrontation. What I won't do is totally ignore something someone has said while *IN* a confrontation.

Someone in my life is going through a rough patch right now. I hurt for them, because they hurt. Where do you draw the line at sympathy though, when you don't agree with the direction they've gone? When you can only see more pain, more suffering and more fights for everyone involved if this path is walked? Your opinion is asked, do you give it? Do you murmur platitudes ?

I would hope that I can be honest with all of my friends. That if my opinion is asked, I can offer it. Even if it is painful, even if it is NOT what they want to (or think they need to) hear at the time. I would hope that I wouldn't lose any of my friends when something is asked and given that differs so deeply with their course of action that it angers them. Then again, how can I know?

I don't. But I have to have faith. Because for me, I trust my friends to tell me the things I need to hear. The naked truth, even if it hurts. Even if it's not what I need right then... it's most likely what I'm going to need to hear later. I try to surround myself with those who are honest. I trust in their judgements and opinions. Quite frankly if I didn't, they wouldn't be my friends.

What about you? Do you trust your friends to tell you the truth? Even when you don't want to hear it ? Something to think about, huh?

Take care.

Notes from the Past...
There’s been a song that’s been speaking to me lately. Actually, at the volume I play CD’s in my car when I’m alone, my DH would say it’s been screaming, but he’s just silly. Good music is been when played LOUD! But that is neither here nor there. The song is Because of You from Nickleback’s new album Long Road. It’s the best song on the album I think as far as a rocking song. But that’s not why it’s speaking to me. It’s the lyrics.

I’ve written about my issues with my illness before. Before I was diagnosed, and for a little while afterwards, while I was getting stable, I was an emotional mess. I had no coping skills, and my childhood was, well… let’s just say abusive and leave it at that. I was an emotional manipulator because that’s what I knew how to do, and that’s what got me attention. Being locked into manic and depressive cycles is awful, and not knowing it is worse. Being an emotional cripple on top of all that is horrific.

So is what I did to all the people who cared about me during those times in my life. Those that loved me. I look back, and I’m amazed anyone stayed around for any length of time. That I didn’t push them away faster than I did with my behaviours. That’s why the lyrics really talk to me in this song. Let me show you:

Edge on the mirror, Can't get much clearer, Can't make this all go away
Now that you're bleeding. You stare at the ceiling, Watch as it all fades away
With what you do. Because of you

You know I can't be there. Each time that you call
I swore not to come, But I'm here after all
I know by the look that i see in your eye
I won't stand around and i won't watch you die
For what you do Why do you Why do you think I don’t love you
What becomes of you Why do you Why do you think I’m blind

Now that you did this,You ask for forgiveness, Doctor could you be my priest
You say you're mistaken, But look what you've taken,You laugh as you lie through your teeth
With what you do, Because of you

(repeat Chorus)

Edge on the mirror, Can't get much clearer, Can't make this all go away
Now that you're bleeding, You stare at the ceiling, Watch as it all fades away
With what you do, Because of you

You know I can't be there,Each time that you call
I swore not to come, But I'm here after all
I know by the look that I see in your eye
I won't stand around and I won't watch you die
For what you do, What you do, What you do
What becomes of you, Do, what you do,What you do
What becomes of, Because of you, Because of

If you got this far, I appreciate it. This blog is reaching epic lengths already. It was pretty important to actually put all the lyrics in there. The verse sorta describes how I used to be, and the chorus describes everyone in my life I think.

Many of those people I can no longer find. Most of them have moved out of my life, onto their own lives. Old boyfriends, ex-friends. In a way I’m sad they can’t see how I really did straighten out my life, and get it right. I wish that they could. But that’s not the biggest reason I’d like to find some of them right now. I’d like to say…. I’m sorry. From the bottom of my heart and soul… I’m so sorry for the hell I put you all through. It wasn’t fair, and it wasn’t right, and I’m so grateful for the love that you gave me then.
It made more of a difference than you can ever know. Thank you.

Ya'll be good to yourselves. And to the ones that love you :)

The Stitcher's Five

1.)Which is your favourite brand of speciality thread?
I have to pick one ? *nibbles a lip* Well right now it's Gloriana Silks. But I'm an equal opportunity specialty thread addict.

2.)Why?
Gloriana's are so soft and beautiful. The colors are stunningly gorgeous. My favourite right this minute is Monet's Pond, along with Cranberry, and Silver Fox. Hmmm...also Twilight... I could go on. They are just beautiful!

3)How many other brands of thread do you have in your stash?
Wow, I have to tell this ? Wonder if I can keep DH from reading this!
Silks: Thread Gatherer, Waterlilies, Dinky Dyes, Au ver au soie, Silk Mori, Milkpaints, TBN Bloomin Threads, Gloriana, Gumnuts, Rajmahal, Eterna Overdyeds, Colour Streams, SMF Candy Floss, Needlepoint Inc, Stef Francis, Cascade House, Vikki Clayton, Silk Serica, Silk Trezibond, Caron Soie Crystale
Cottons: Six Strand Sweets (full set), GAST (full set), WDW, SMF Candy Floss, TBN Bloomin Threads, Delectable Delights Floss, Needle Necessities, The Dye Shop, Dinky Dyes, Stef Francis, Dyepot Threads.

4.) How do you store your threads?
Most of them are in their own Floss-a-way baggies then in boxes or drawers in my storage tower. My Silk'n Colors are in a drawer in my specialty box, along with the TBN threads. I have pretty limited storage so I do the best I can

5.) How confident do you feel at substituting between thread types and colours compared to what the chart calls for?
I'm getting more confident. I really like the look of overdyed threads and so I love to substitute colors and see the different looks.