Friday, November 21, 2008

Six random things

I have noticed that people are getting tagged in the six random things about me tag game so I decided to play it by myself. I'm not quite a part of the stitcher's blogging community yet because I don't post often and I don't participate in exchanges (as of yet anyway). Basically I am afraid to try the exchanges because I think I will fail. I also need to learn how to finish small projects before I try my hand at exchanges.

So...here are 6 random things about me.

1. I once jumped into a hole in the ice (with just my panties on) in March in Maine and I have the pictures to prove it.

2. I have lived in 8 different states as well as numerous different cities. The longest I have ever lived anywhere is where I am now (since 1982).

3. I try to live a simple life and I don't buy much stuff. It has never made me happy to acquire a lot of things, so I just don't do it.

4. I love to read the New York Times and my mother and I often discuss what we read.

5. I worked at a sod farm for 2 years, mowing 100 acre fields of grass.

6. I went to school for "like forever" and due to my inability to never know exactly what it is I really want to do, I ended up, in my 50's, working for a major retailer that expects great things.

Ok, I am off to take some photos for the Let's Stitch blog to prove that I really do like cross stitch!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

I'm still here!

I have been stitching away but don't have any good photos yet. I should be done with 2 or 3 small pieces this week which I will post on later. I need to increase my stitching speed. I never have used my stitching frame for small projects, but it might be a good time to do so. And I want to get some Q-Snaps. I also need to set aside some time to finish and frame. I think once I get into the habit of actually sewing up ornaments and other small things, it won't be so hard for me to get going. Just need practice.

I can't believe the election was just a week ago. Seems like forever. I don't want to turn people off because of my political views, but I am absolutely thrilled with the results of the election. McCain is a good man, but I am a life long Democrat and I was totally taken with Obama (after my initial letdown that Hillary wouldn't be running).

I worked at my precinct polling place on Nov. 4. It was only busy very early in the morning when we had a line waiting at the door at 6:30 a.m. Many people voted early and it probably wasn't even necessary to do that. Wouldn't you know that the very first person in line was not on our poll list, even though she should have been! She was able to vote provisional though, only 1 of 4 people that had to do so in our precinct.

We had an observer there all day long. I felt sorry for her because she didn't get paid like poll workers do and she hadn't brought much food with her. We were not to accommodate observers, except to give them a chair and answer questions as needed. At times I felt like she was stepping out of bounds and it was awkward because I have known this person for many years.

Over the weekend I went out of town with my husband to a mountain bike race called the "Iceman Cometh." There were 3000 bikers, including my DH, who did very well. He was disappointed he didn't make the podium, but he didn't need to be. He is in great shape for a 56 year old. We were in the Traverse City area of Michigan and it was lovely.

Overlooking Lake Michigan at Sleeping Bear Dunes



DH in spandex (and ancient eyeglasses) and me at the Iceman