To Resolve, Or Not To Resolve....

I quit making New Year's Resolutions long ago. But at the end of 2007, I have made several sewing resolutions. They are:

1. Rearrange the sewing room so it is more user friendly for quilting;
2. Finish several/all UFOs;
3. SEW MORE! Every single day if possible.

I have already started the process of sewing more and attempting to finish UFOs. Two UFOs are in the process of being finished and I have been able to devote some time every day to sewing since making this resolution.

Tom and I have been considering the idea of selling online and starting up a website to sell some of these things. I'm not giving up my day job, that's for sure but it would be interesting to see how things sell and the things aren't doing me any good just sitting around the house taking up space. Tom has also signed on as creative consultant/moral support/whip cracker, all designed to keep me on task. He will also be doing some of the web design research.

Even if the idea never gets off the ground, at least I think it will force me to keep my sewing resolutions for 2008.

Christmas has come and gone

I just want to report on how exceptionally well Roscoe did at the Borders book wrap. He was there along with a 14 year old springer named Robbie and both of them were a hit with the customers. We made $140 in four hours which was a pretty good amount and it all goes to springer rescue.

Everyone wanted to pet Robbie and Roscoe and many of them thought they were actually rescue dogs that we were trying to adopt out. Roscoe was a rescue but he is my boy and certainly not going anywhere with anyone but me.

He started to get a little antsy a couple of times but was mostly as good as gold and really friendly to everyone who wanted to pet him. We even got donations just because people were allowed to pet the dogs! Who woulda thunk it? Another amazing thing was that there were several MEN who actually got down on the floor to pet these dogs. That was pretty nice.

Christmas was very nice. I had no expectations and put myself under no added stress so I was not disappointed with anything or in a bad mood because things didn't go my way. Went to a children's mass on Christmas eve which was long but really nice. It was packed to the gills too. Saturday night masses never have this kind of attendance. Same goes for Easter.

Tom got me several photography books including several that were specific to Photoshop CS3. That software is totally amazing! Also got a lot of gift cards which I think make great Christmas gifts to give and to receive.

I'm making a very primitive Christmas wall hanging for next year and making a tote bag with Raggedy Ann and Andy on it for a friend who fixed my decapitated Steiff bear that I received when I was a child. She wouldn't take payment and I know the repair work was tedious and time-consuming so she deserves something in return. I think she will like it since she is a doll maker and makes lots of Raggedys.

Medical update

Got the results back from the MRI/MRA. Everything is normal. No stroke and no TIA. I have scheduled an appointment with the ENT who specializes in dizziness but that is not until 1/21/07. I'm not sure what to expect there.

Tom wanted me to add/change my last blog so anyone who reads it will not think he is a dog beater. He stresses that he "barely" kicked the dog and he was doing it as a noble gesture to help Addie. Again, I don't know what I would have done if he was not there because the teenager was useless and I would have been pretty close with two dogs at the end of the leashes.

Currently, I have no sewing projects underway and no interest in taking photographs. I hope to get my Photoshop CS3 installed on Christmas Eve so I can play around a bit with that. Maybe after the holidays, I will kick it into overdrive and get going on some of my new and old hobbies.

On another note, Tom sent me a link about the first blogger. December 17, 2007 was the anniversary of the first blog. Interesting reading.

Stuff

Had the MRI/MRA done almost a week ago and still no results. The MRI was no big deal at all. I was in there for probably about 30-45 minutes and even though there was a constant loud banging noise, it was actually rather restful. The time passed fairly quickly and I was able to stay still all that time. Called the doctor but his office said they had not yet received a report from the radiologist. No news is good news, right?

Last Friday was our department's Christmas party as well as bunco night. I left the house at 7:00 in the a.m. and didn't get home until about 11:00 in the p.m. That was one long day but it was a really good day. The party was at Friday's Front Row at Chase Ball Park and it was a very nice atmosphere and the food was really good. Plus, it was free and you can't beat that.

Then, on to Bunco. Lynn's house was all done up for Christmas and she actually used real china, crystal and silverware. I would say she really put on the Ritz. Too bad I was not a winner.

Sunday evening was a party at my old neighbor's house. It was nice and I was able to see many people I had not seen for awhile.

Next Sunday, I'm helping out springer rescue by wrapping books at Borders. I'm taking Roscoe with me which should bring in some more money having a live dog and all. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that even though he is housetrained, that he doesn't take Borders for some kind of outdoors arena where he can pee all over. As far as I know, he's never been in a store so I'm not sure what he will think.

When we walked the dogs last night, they were attacked by another dog. The other dog had Addie's hind end in its jaws. It was lucky Tom was along for the walk because he just kept kicking at the dog until it let go. I'm not sure what I would have done if I was alone with both dogs. The stupid idiot at the end of the attack dog's leash was some teenage girl who was pretty clueless about the whole situation. I guess I should give her the benefit of the doubt and say that she probably was pretty scared. But God! Control your dog better!

I'm thrilled

Recently, I donated a very small Christmas tree quilt to springer rescue to do with as they pleased in order to gain funds for the group. They raffled it off and it made $165!!! That is much more than I would ever have expected it to go for but I'm just pleased as punch that this money will now be used to help the springy spaniels.

Rats!

Well, the doctor's diagnosis of the dizziness dilemma (say that fast 5 times) was not a simple ear infection. Nope, the ears looked pretty good.

Although he seriously does not think it is, he has to rule out the possibility that I might have had a stroke or a TIA (transitory ischemic attack or something like that). So Tuesday, I go for an MRI/MRA. I don't think this will be any big deal but it is just one step in a process I don't want to go through. I just want someone to end the dizziness.

If it proves not to be a stroke, then I am to go see an ENT who specializes in dizziness. My doctor went on and on about how great this guy is so I guess he must be pretty good. We will see.

I didn't stay up to watch Project Runway but I heard my favorite designer has been auffed. Kind of sad about that but I'm sure he'll move on to bigger and better things.

We're in the home stretch

Next week will be our photography class final critique. We have all been busy color correcting, adding frames and mats and other cool photoshop techniques and then uploading the finished photos to our eportfolios. We need to have three rule of thirds, three leading lines and three framing photos. I have finished mine even though adding the frames and mats to them was giving me fits. They are good but not fantastic. I have seen some other student's work and some of them are incredible. Some of them are just so so.

I have pretty much decided against taking the advanced photography class next semester. Maybe I'll take it in the summer or next fall but I want a break to just learn more on my own and process what I have learned regarding digital photography. I have checked out several photography books from the library that fill in some gaps left by the teacher. Maybe I will actually buy some photography books in the future. After all, I never took "official" quilting classes but only learned from books and have done alright. Maybe photography will be the same way.

I stayed home from work yesterday and got to work late on Monday because I am going through some dizzy spells. This is my third bout of dizzy spells in about 8 months and something needs to be done because these "spells" don't just last for several minutes; they are lasting for hours and days at a time. Hopefully, it is something as simple as an ear infection. I go to the doctor today to see if he can figure it out. I just don't want to go through a bunch of testing only to find out there is nothing that can be done. Keep your fingers crossed that I just need a good dose of antibiotics.