Only Wednesday

So this week has been a little taxing on me. I am still job searching, and networking (which I can’t say I love), and dealing with the unemployment commission and all that good stuff. I have a job interview set up for tomorrow morning, and I would certainly appreciate any good thoughts you can throw my way for it. Friday morning I have to take a test at the unemployment commission to prove that I have the equivalent of an 8th grade education (because my bachelor’s degree isn’t proof enough). So, four hours of my friday morning will be devoted to that.

And although it may appear that I am getting alot of stuff done, I don’t want to give the impression that being out of work is all fun and games, and that I am just reclining on the couch, stitching and eating bon bons. I spend 7-8 hours a day working – either training, applying for jobs, scouring the classifieds, interviewing (when I’m lucky), networking, meeting with the unemployment people, etc. I am pretty much still just using my evenings and weekends to stitch and do all the other projects I’m working on. I do spend an hour or two a week and work on the quilt during the week, while Eric is gone to work – the rest of the quilt gets done when I can spare a Saturday to go to my mom’s. Frankly, I’m exhausted. And unfortunately, since I spend all day working on the computer, I just don’t have the inclination to stare at the moniter at night too, so I apologize that I am visiting blogs so infrequently. I do try to catch up when I can.

I also appreciate those of you who have checked in and asked about Romeo. He is doing mostly ok. He is so needy for attention with Hamlet gone, and so he spends most of his day in my lap while I’m at the computer. He and Othello have never really been close, so they both come to Eric and I for attention, rather than each other. They both used to get their attention from Hamlet though. I need to call the vet again to discuss his insulin treatment with her. It seems that each time we increase the insulin we’re giving him, his blood sugar evens out and is at a good level for about a week, then he starts to get high blood sugars again. It’s like his body just acclimates to the new dose and then he needs more. I am a little concerned that we won’t ever hit a level that this won’t happen at – a level that continues to be effective. So, mostly he is ok – I think he misses Hamlet, and I don’t think he feels really great when his blood sugars are high. But, I haven’t seen any other problems with him really, so he seems to be ok. We’ll get the insulin under control and he will be his normal happy self, I hope. But thank you all for your continued concern and interest.

As I mentioned, I had my book club on Friday night at the museum. The book we were reading was The Accidental Masterpiece. Throughout the majority of this read, I was really disinterested in it. It is a series of essays about life and art, and in some cases, why artists create. There were a few stories that stuck with me though, and as I read the last two essays, the book sort of came together for me and melded. I came away from it with a vastly different opinion than I had during the first half of the book. I think it also helps to discuss with a group of people, it helps you to see things differently, or to clarify your own opinions. One of the essays deals with earth works, and the whole idea of pilgrimage to see works of art in the places where they were intended to be seen. Two pieces, for example, are Smithson’s Spiral Jetty (above), or de Maria’s Lightning Field (below). He talks a lot about the ability of art to make you pay attention to things, either your environment, or day to day objects, etc. I found it very interesting. And strangely enough, the book tied right in with my class Monday night in which we talked about being present and fully aware of each moment. A lot to think about.

And of course, I also mentioned that we went to the museum on Sunday to see the Picturing the Bible exhibit, which was early Christian art. There were some really beautiful pieces there, including the piece below. This cross is a reliquary (an object intended to house a holy relic), in this case it houses pieces of the true cross. What I did not know, and learned at the exhibit, is that when reliquaries travel and leave the Vatican, the relic is covered. So, the little part of this cross that you can see the piece of the actual cross through, was covered with a little piece of black fabric. I had no idea of this practice. The exhibit also featured some photographs of some of the catacombs in Rome – unfortunately Eric and I missed seeing this in person while we were there. All in all, an excellent exhibit. The next exhibit is Impressionist paintings, and I think that begins in June or July.

Since we went to the exhibit on Sunday, I wasn’t able to get around to my Barnabee stitching this week. I hope to get back to him next Sunday though, I am enjoying stitching on him. I did however stitch a little bit on my Cuisine d’Ete last night. I am not happy with how the L looks. It is six stitches across, but the space it is stitched in does not have an even number of stitches across, so it gives me three stitches on one side of the L and four on the other. It just looks off-center to me, so I may rip it out and make it one stitch closer to the left side, which may visually make it look a little more balanced. I am so picky! LOL! I do like how the colors are working together though on the yellow fabric.

I also finished up my quilt top. I sewed the last two rows on, and now all I have to do is quilt it and put the binding and label on it. I am planning on going to my mom’s on Saturday, so hopefully I can make a big dent in that and just have a little bit left to finish when I leave there.

Here’s a closer view so you can see some of the detail. I love how it’s turning out!

And since it is now April, I need to recap my March goals and see how I did:

Stitch March Red Thread block and start on border done!
Finish Wedding Quilt top done – just needs quilting and binding!
Stitch on Mermaids for SAL with Anna yes!
Finish Katrina’s RR & mail, start on Carol’s finished Katrina’s and mailed, haven’t started Carol’s
Finish Barbara’s prize and mail finished the stitching, just need to put it together
Stitch on Cuisine d’Ete yes!
Stitch at least one ornament no, haven’t gotten back to my ornament at all
Read book for book club yes!

And my goals for April:

Finish wedding quilt for anniversary
Start new job
Binding & label on $5 quilt
Label for Pigwidgeon
Mail Barbara’s Gift
Carol’s RR
Stitch 2 ornaments
Keep up with SALs: Red Thread, Barnabee, Mermaids
Make Shepherd’s Bush wallhanging
Stitch on Mystery 9 – Finish Artichokes
Stitch one motif on Cuisine d’ete

Let’s see how I do! Oh, and I’ve been able to cross a few more things off my 101 Things list. I did several things from January through March, so that allowed me to cross off several of the “do ____ for three months”. And, in similar news, I completed the Walk to Rivendell. 458 miles! It took a little over a year, but I am proud of myself for completing it.

Until next time!

Walk to Rivendell: Cross a small stream. Rest stop. Rest stop. Camp where road bends right to run down slope toward the River Bruinen. Leave early morning, hobbling along (ca. 7 a.m.). Road running downhill. Much grass on sides. Road plunges through a cutting of red stone with tall pines. Glorfindel says “Run!” Hobbits are halfway across grassy flat when Nazgul burst through behind them. Attack at the Ford (ca. noon). Glorfindel’s horse carries Frodo across Ford. Nazgul drown. Frodo falls. Company meets Elves sent from Rivendell (est. 2 p.m.). They take Frodo ahead. Rest of company follows on foot. Come to the sudden cliff into the valley of Rivendell. Frodo reaches Rivendell carried by the Elves (est. 4 p.m.). Others arrive in evening. (Total Miles Walked: 458 miles – finished!)

I am grateful for an unexpectedly good book.