Musings

Eric is sick. He’s been sick for 102 days. Fortunately, or not, it seems to be unrelated to his leukemia. His first illness started to clear up after the new year. Then, without a day of break, he immediately got sick with an entirely new, entirely unrelated illness. Today while we were out running an errand I asked him, “Can you just tell me something I can do to help. I am tired of feeling so helpless.”

He calmly responds, “Just drive me home. That’s how you can help.”

Immediately my brain said, “No, no, no. That’s not what I had in mind…” Then I realized, I wanted to help in “my way.” Instead, I drove him home.

It definitely made me think.

Enjoy these videos.

This is funny because it is about everyone else–not me.

More in the same genre.

Ikea Heights.

This post could also be called Tunnel Vision, Pessimistic Patty, or Deep in a Funk.

You know how when you get a new car, everywhere you look you see that car? My week has been like this. I’ve decided it is a cruddy week and everything I experience proves that it is a cruddy week.

I see and re-play my imperfections and mis-steps: coming up a little short on planning Easter lunch, forgetting to do something I said I would, focusing on what someone else might do to make me happy.

In reality it hasn’t been so bad. Instead I should be thankful for a fabulous Easter lunch that others super-graciously helped out with, that the thing I forgot was super tiny and it worked out just fine, and acknowledging the ways others are loving me in their own way.

Sometimes I find calling a spade a spade helps things turn around. Other times I realize I just need to walk through the funk. Here’s hoping it comes to an end soon.

…that my sewing room doesn’t look like this.

…Whole Foods salad bar. It makes eating healthy super-easy, though expensive.

…the gentle rain at noon that waters our growing garden.

…sparkling water in champagne flutes and seeing a classic movie, The Graduate, for the first time.

…finding a dive bar that friends play at and realizing a horse is tied to a tree outside of it when we leave.

…pushing myself to get back on my bike and going for a long, challenging ride.

…an impromptu dinner party.

…finding the perfect present for a love one, more than once!

…celebrating a friend’s transition from contract to full-time employee–it has been a year in coming.

…Eric’s new recliner. He’s wanted a recliner for years now. This was one someone purchased and decided they didn’t like. It has heated back, heated seat, massage, and a remote for going back and pushing you up to standing. It is major overkill, but Eric loves it.

I’m not loving…

…seeing friends very sick and close to death.

…figuring out internet and phone plans.

…the incredible amount our cats are shedding.

What about you?

Wow, what a week. So far, I’ve…

• Made a large pot of coffee but forgot to put the grounds in the filter and instead put them directly in the coffee maker.
• Forgot about the hole in my pocket and had my cell phone fall through my pants and bash my big toe. [I went back and forth between "whole" and "hole" way too many times.]
• Been a tad bit late to work just about every day.
• Gained a 1.2 pounds, while attempting to eat well.
• Laughed a ton.

I don’t do well with the time change. However, it is nice to see these situations as things that I can laugh about. I haven’t always been this way. Maybe I’m losing some of my “seriousness” after all. It’s only taken 29 and a half years to get here.

Peace,

^-^

We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have, ~ Frederick Keonig

Quote copied from a post by Gussy Sews.

I’m grateful for:

• A husband who offers to make me pancakes and coffee before he heads off to shoot zombies with his buddy all day.
• My parents’ safety in the crazy flooding in Brisbane.
• A new midday yoga class at our gym.
• A last minute ski trip with a friend.
• Cocoa mixed with decaf coffee and ice after yoga at the gym.
• Gorgeous weather.
• Calling my parents’ old phone number and being able to talk to them half-way around the world.
• A letter in the mail from a friend, right after hearing some frustrating news.
• A husband who can and is willing to fix my serger, even though he has no idea what it is used for.
• An entire day spent chatting with a friend.
• Finding a project half-finished that is perfect for finishing right now.
• Cute gifts for little ones.
• Gorgeous sun-shiny days.
• And photos like this

What are you grateful for?

Peace,

^-^

Skiing is always pretty, but in California is breath-taking.

Just like riding a bike–I didn’t forget a thing. Except when I was going through the rental line and a very nice man asked me if I needed help trying on the boots. Yes, please. I didn’t see the gizmo in the back that would help me slip my long-underweared leg and foot in. Whoopsie. And when I picked out my poles–my snowboard riding buddy suggested the poles that I originally selected were a tad long–they were at least five feet tall. Once that was figured out though, I was good to go.

I also forgot you don’t put your lift ticket on your jacket pull. When it is zipped up tight it beats you in the face as you fly down the mountain. It didn’t matter that I forgot so many little things, skiing was AMAZING. As my buddy said over and over, “It doesn’t get much better than this.” I hope I don’t have to wait 10 more years to say that again. But if I do, I hope my ski pants from high school still fit!

Peace,

^-^

Textiles and textile treatments have always fascinated me. This is a bit disturbing, though. Funny how solving one problem often causes another one. Reminds me of my favorite children’s book growing up, Hiram’s Red Shirt.

My birthday is almost here. Here is my first set of goodies. I tried to convince Eric I needed 5 little presents and one big one. The five little ones are for all the year’s he’s stolen my birthday! This year marks 5 years since his diagnosis. Crazy!

He didn’t really buy into my reasoning, but did get me a few little pre-birthday gifts. Here’s my first gift. Eric said the funniest thing when I opened it. One is junk food and one is sophisticated.

Yum!

^-^

Ah, Labor Day weekend. It is especially restful for us as we don’t usually make it out of town on the weekend–Eric’s job requires him to stick around. I prefer it though, because it always us to be REALLY lazy and rest up for the next few things coming in our schedules.

This is a random photo from the summer.

One of my favorite pastimes or procrastination devices is checking out the internet. Here are some fun things I’ve found.

• Danielle, of final fashion, just collaborated with Bloomingdales by designing some super cute paper dolls!
• A new-to-me local fashion designer that has been receiving lots of attention for dressing at the Emmys.
• A super cool Danish knitwear designer.
• A yummy sounding recipe for chai–ah fall I love you! The smells, the food and drink, the holidays, and the cool and crisp temperatures.
• This photo I found through a link on Craftzine. I made so many of these growing up. I even designed some of my own patterns and corresponded with Suzanne McNeill at Design Originals about submitting designs.

Some non-Internet weekend favorites were:

• Final group training for the triathlon. It was an “easy” workout which only took 3 hours. Sick, I know!
• Going to a high school football game.
• Dinner with new friends and talking like they were old friends.
• Being asked if Eric and I would be godparents.
• Making and enjoying a pot of coffee in the morning.

Hope you enjoyed your extra day too!

Peace,

Katy ^_^