We Interrupt This Blog.......

for

 a

 very

important

announcement.

I will become a grandmother this September!!!

More details tomorrow plus a giveaway in recognition of attaining 30,000 hits on the blog.

More Preparations

I have two appointments tomorrow with job placement firms and spent much of the day preparing for the meetings.  I've had to tweak my resume to more closely match a position available at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, which seems to be one of the area companies with multiple openings.  I'm telling you -- this looking for a job thing IS a full time job.

More tomorrow...............

New and Wondrous Things

You are about to witness something that heretofore has never been seen in the history of the world.  Something so shocking, so stupendous, that only someone with a vivid imagination could ever have envisioned such a thing prior to today. Under the complete direction of my more-than-capable roommate, who orchestrated this unfathomable feat, I bring you......

Yes.  I, Suzanne Jones, now have a place of my own to sew!  No longer relegated to the poor kitchen table I can plant myself in the laundry room and sew all I want and not be in the way.  Let the sewing begin!  I must be psychic because I ordered several new quilting books from Amazon last night.  Can't wait for them to arrive.

Happy New Year ! ! !

Long but worth it, I promise.  I received this last year and while I did try to follow many of the tips, I have many areas I need to improve upon.

Print it and tape it to your fridge or have it on your nightstand so you (and others) can read it from time to time!

TIPS FOR AN EXCEPTIONAL, SUPERB, & POWERFUL LIFE! 

(1) Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant. 

(2) Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
(3) Buy a Tivo (DVR), tape your late night shows and get more sleep. 
(4) When you wake up in the morning, complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to ________ today.' 

(5) Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy. 
(6) Watch more movies, play more games and read more books than you did last year. 
(7) Always pray and make time to exercise. 
(8) Spend more time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6. 
(9) Dream more while you are awake. 
(10) Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less foods that are manufactured in plants. 
(11) Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts. 
(12) Try to make at least three people smile each day. 
(13) Clear the clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life. 
(14) Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment. 
(15) Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class . . .. but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime. 
(16) Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card. 
(17) Smile and laugh more. It will keep the energy vampires away. 
(18) Life isn't fair, but it's still good. 
(19) Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. When you hate you're letting others control your life. They have forgotten the incident and are enjoying life! 
(20) Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. 

(21) You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

(22) Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

(23) Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 

(24) Ladies - Go on and burn those 'special' scented candles, use the 600 thread count sheets, the good china and wear your fancy lingerie now. Stop waiting for a special occasion. Every day is special. 
(25) No one is in charge of your happiness except you. 
(26) Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

(27) Forgive everyone for everything. 
(28) What other people think of you is none of your business. 
(29) Time heals almost everything. Give time, time! 
(30) However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 
(31) Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch with them. 
(32) Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. 
(33) Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need. God provides, remember?! 
(34) The best is yet to come . . . . in Heaven. 
(35) No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up. 
(36) Do the right thing! 
(37) Call your family often. 
(38) Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: 
-'I am thankful for _________________.' 
-Today I accomplished ________________. 
(39) Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed. 
(40) Enjoy the ride. Remember that this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride. 

LIVE, LOVE, LAUGH. LIFE'S A GIFT ... UNWRAP IT!


Best wishes for a happy, healthy 2011.

So long 2010

I'm closing in on 30,000 visitors to my blog.  Who knew?  Well, when I get there I'll have a super duper giveaway.  In the meantime, Kate over at Lazy Kate Creates is having a great giveaway so check her blog out.

Today I only managed to knit about 5 inches on my first sleeve for the Caddy Cardigan.  I didn't start until after dinner because my day was just too full.  I started by shopping for clothes at Macy's and while I swore I'd never buy the next size up, I caved in the name of comfort.  Looking at yourself mostly naked in the dressing room with a three way mirror is about the most humbling thing one can do.  I think we all imagine ourselves about 5 inches taller and a few many pounds slimmer.  I have to use this experience as a jumping off point to get back into shape.  For the millionth time.  Seriously.  Gotta do it.

Despite the dressing room ordeal, I was reasonably successful -- three new pair of trousers, a pair of jeans, a cute shirt/sweater combo top, and three pair of shoes.  I'd say that was successful, wouldn't you?

Hours after arriving at Macy's I finally headed to my next destination -- Kinko's -- to print off my resume.  I had put the file on a flash drive -- aren't they just the handiest things?  20 copies of my resume cost me $8 so I sure hope they are effective.  I have to wait for the outplacement firm to contact me about reviewing my resume, interviewing tips, etc., so I didn't want to make too many copies just yet.

I'm killing myself in the kitchen lately.  I'm feeling like Julia re-incarnated.  Tonight's New Year's Eve feast was stuffed Cornish game hen with whipped sweet potatoes and a white wine from Pancake Cellars called Big Day White.  Bon Appetit!

I've been going to bed way too late lately, 1:30 last night (or should I say this morning??) and I need to stop doing that!  I'm usually putzing around, reading patterns or books, but I need to finish up and get to bed at a reasonable time.  That way I can get up at a reasonable time too!  Funny how that works.....

Zipping Right Along

I finished the right front of my Caddy Cardigan tonight and cast on for the first sleeve.  I should be able to get both sleeves done tomorrow if I don't waste spend too much time shopping for interview clothes.  Yes, you read correctly.  I have my first interview next week.  Woohoo!  Maybe I'll be able to wear my new cardigan????

My friend Martha offered to help me practice interviewing and I know it would be beneficial to do so.  Maybe we can get together on Sunday.  The knit shop will be closed so that would be a great time.  It's so nice to have friends to help with difficult tasks!

More Progress

I got quite a bit knit on the Caddy Cardigan today.  I finished the left front:

The photo color is still a bit wonky.  I think it might be better in the daylight and with me fiddling around with the settings on the camera.

I started the right front tonight:

I think I'll have some leftover yarn at this point.  It took a little over 1 skein for the back and about 2/3 of a skein for the left front.  I bought 8 skeins!  I think I'll have enough left over for another project.  Or two.....  Maggie thinks I should knit her a nice walking coat:

Ok, so maybe that's NOT what she's thinking.  Do you suppose she's thinking 'stay away from my rawhide bone'?  Oh, yeah.  She'll growl if you come near her.  I've been using the no bark collar and it seems to be working, even on the growling behavior -- SUCCESS!