28 February 2008: Leap Year Day Eve

It's the night before the day that defines this year as a Leap Year. Tomorrow is the day that only comes around once every four years. I think I need to do something special. But what? Not that I need another holiday... but you'd think that a day that only comes around once every four years would be a special day, no?

20 February 2008: Bony Fingers!

I have just returned from the Madrona Fiber Arts Festival in Tacoma, WA. It was four days of intensive learning (it's good to be a participant/learner rather than organizer/teacher). I took classes from Nancy Bush and Judith McKenzie McCuin, Pat Brunner and Sue Ewens (shameless name dropper) and learned how to spin bison down, make gloves (with/without fingers) with a thumb gusset (very clever fitting technique); I took a class on the (for me) dreaded short rows and learned three ways to turn my work in the middle of a row... one method I really, really like; and finally, I took a class on knitting intarsia in the round. Those of you who are knitters will appreciate the puzzle of knitting intarsia in the round and how to get the colours joined and working in the right direction without any noticeable seam on the right side of the work. Ahhh... I feel so smart now!

Of course, I've been doing nothing but knitting and spinning for the last five days and my right hand is complaining. My index finger and my thumb are actually stiff. I will have to slow down now because I'm back to work and even though I'm a "yarn retailer" I don't get to knit all day long (common misconception). I must now get back to the business of stocking the shelves, teaching classes, working on schedules and the website, pricing, sweeping the floor, etc. It's not so bad... I've been eyeing up some new product that just arrived. Life is still good!

1 February 2008

I had a day off today. I had to go into a local hospital for a test and while it was a relatively simple process (no fasting, no prep) I still left feeling exposed and "undignified". I guess part of my discomfort was in having to undress and expose parts of my body for the test. It was cold in the procedure room and the instruments used were, of course, cold. Why is it that medical instruments always feel like they're 10 degrees below room temperature?

I'm so glad I'm not a doctor. I like to help people, but I'm really glad I don't have to make them undress!

15 January 2008

What is "Quality of Life"?
... sleeping in past your alarm (no matter what time that alarm normally goes off)
... having time to "catch up" with family members and friends
... not falling asleep in the middle of something you like to do
... eating wholesome meals (as opposed to picking up two burgers and a milkshake on the way home from work)
... having time to do a little housework every day (so that you don't have to spend your entire day off doing it instead)
... living in a safe area
... living with people who care about you

What do you need for quality of life?

12 January 2008

Today I resolved to work on my spinning projects. Sigh. I didn't get very far. I pulled out my Level 2 workbook and looked at all the research items I haven't finished yet. I looked at all the skeins I have to spin up and all the exotic fibres I get to use. I typed up the requirements for the (mis-named) 25 hour project (we all know the project will actually take 10 times the number of hours allocated for it). I even went to my spinning "library" and pulled out a book with the intention of reading up on the topics I need to write about.

But then, family members entered the room. They started talking to me about important things and I put my book down. My sister called me and needed to talk to me. I went out to get my hair cut and then out again to take care of some errands. Before you knew it, the day was gone. The finale? I picked up a knitting pattern that I've been wanting to try out and the yarn and needles just happened to be hanging out with the pattern. And so, once again, I was lured away from my "homework".

Tomorrow's another day?

5 January 2008

Despite the fact that it's been "holiday season" and I've had a few days off, I'm feeling very tired. Likely it's the holiday season (work has been very busy) and the short days. Do you find that you feel more energetic when the days are longer? I'm finding (these days) that I'm more tired when the days are shorter.

I'm happy that I was able to find a new laptop computer (I've been wanting one for a while now) that has Windows XP on it (rather than the dreaded new Vista platform). I don't mean to badmouth Microsoft... I just don't understand why they have to change their platform every couple of years. The new system doesn't "play well with others" when it comes to my software. I wonder why it is, too, that retailers don't want to sell or downgrade to the older system. They have all kinds of excuses and make it really tough for consumers to get what they want. Ah well. I've got what I want so I shouldn't complain...

So the new laptop has been my friend and companion for the last couple of days. It's enabled me to work on the couch, at the dining room table, around town. This is good. It takes me out of my cold, isolated office and puts me back in with the living and breathing. All good. Of course, it does prohibit me sometimes from interacting with the living and breathing, but one step at a time, eh?

31 December 2007

It's approaching late afternoon/early evening as I write this entry and the sun is setting rapidly now. The snow on the trees in the yard almost seems to glow in the twilight. The cat is keeping a patrol at the big window in the livingroom. She is on the lookout for rabbits and birds. It's a very pleasant way to see the end of the year out. It's quiet in my neighbourhood and inside our house. I'm very grateful that I'm able to spend my last day of 2007 here in my cozy home, in our quiet neighbourhood with my soul mate. I wish that my whole family were together this evening but I will have to wait a little longer for that.

It's been a good year. For me. I try to keep that in mind as I think about the upcoming year and all the plans I've been making. No real resolutions in store... but a renewed commitment to look after myself.

2008: I'm excited about attending the Madrona Fiber Arts Festival in February. I'm signed up for a 2 day spinning class with Nancy Bush and Judith McKenzie McCuin. I will endeavour to spend more time handpainting and spinning yarn (honing my craft). I'm going to go skiing with Lucy Neatby.

Tonight: pizza and wings, champagne and chocolates!