Annette's Acre

Thanks everyone for the birthday and get well wishes.  I am *much* better

Today, I received a Biscornu Exchange:

Scissors…just what I need   And they even came pre-fobbed with a gorgeous purple tassle.  I love it!!!

Monday was my birthday.

Along with some lovely gifts, I got sick.

Thought it might be flu (cough, congestion, lowgrade fever) but I think it’s just a cold…..until 4am this morning when a deep pain in my right ear screamed ‘ear infection.’

After  a trip to the doctor today, I know have *way* too many pills.  800mg of ibuprofen 3x day.  Augmentin (*huge* pill) twice daily.  And I gave in to some pain medication (Vicodin 3x a day) so I can actually get some sleep.

Between naps today I finished the latest Dresden (Small Favor).  Tomorrow I’ll hopefully finish my square exchange (“front” square is done, just need to do the “back” square with my name, location, etc.

Probably need to go light on the pain meds, though.  I’m thinking it would be a frog magnet!

When my week is hectic, I always try to find quiet time on Sundays.  Yes, today that included a baseball game (Braves lost) and a bit of stitching.

It also included photography.  My first Fair & Square exchange received from Marie P!  I love the squares

I’ll be finishing off my stitching for her tomorrow and mailing it out shortly thereafter (due out by the 25th).

I also pulled off pictures of last Sunday’s excursion.

That’s Jim Butcher.  He writes The Dresden Files and Codex Alera series.  I was *seriously* excited to meet him and got totally tongue-tied when he signed my book (I was first in line).  I did remember to ask for a picture, though, and even brought my own photographer (my dear husband):

He answered questions from the crowd (over 100 people) for about 45 minutes.  The Dresden Files will be twenty “case” books and then an “apocalyptic trilogy” to wrap it up.   It was great!

That’s all for tonight….

Yes, I’m still alive and kicking.

I’ve learned a couple things about myself lately:

Baseball is very important to my mental health.  The chance to schedule down time over the weekend which is then utilized for stitching time, tends to reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed.  A feeling I’ve been living with for most of the last few weeks.

There is a point where I am beyond using my stitching to reduce the abovementioned ‘overwhelmed’ feeling.  At that point, reading is the only true fail-safe method, preferably with an “old friend” like Harry Dresden or Daemon Sadi.  Gaming is second on the list, but its not quite as consistent in results.

Why am I in this situation?  Let’s see……consider:

Work – We had an “organizational announcement” two weeks ago for my group.  As of this writing I have not heard officially who I now work for nor my actual role/responsibilities.  Now, do I have an idea of which of the three directors (formerly one) I will report to?  Oh yes.  Is it a good switch?  Yes, I believe it is.  Do I know what I’m going to be doing in this new role?  I *think* so, but one can never be too sure until it’s in writing.  In the meantime there’s a lot of questions and not a lot of answers and the work just keeps rolling in.

Car – Oh yes, this is still not resolved.  Friday, dealer called to say it was done.  Saturday I went to fetch my car (dealer provided me a lovely red Dodge Charger for the second week, which was *very* nice) and got about 20 miles before the light was back on and two miles later, I was sitting on the side of the freeway saying words that I’m glad my children weren’t around to hear.  I’m now driving a PT Cruiser (a nice steel blue) while dealer tries for Round II.   Estimated completion date is Tuesday.  We’ll see.

Children – My daughter is now 18 and graduating in six weeks.  She’s revised her long-term career goal from vet to geneticist.  Oh to be young again.  My son is nine.  He is his father’s son: stubborn and smart.  A deadly combination at the age of nine.  Hopefully both he and his parents will see ten.

Wrist – I’ve done something to my right wrist.  It hurts.  Just enough to be annoying, not enough to see a doctor…..yet.

I did spend a good number of hours this past weekend with my Braves and Dbacks and Allie’s UFO.  Wrist didn’t impede the stitching progress much.  Just had to take a few extra breaks now and then.  As I had to mail out today, and hadn’t had much in the way of focus for the last weeks…..I wanted to put in at least ten hours over Saturday and Sunday (accomplished).  Now back to another exchange (Fair & Square).  If it weren’t for my obligation stitching, I’m afraid I would be in a pretty bad slump

I did do something Way Cool on Sunday but the evidence is still in the camera.  I’ll save that for the next post…..