Last day for swimming

We slept in for a bit. I wanted to get up early, but Chris had other ideas. When I did get up, I ate breakfast and checked my e-mail until Chris was ready to have his computer back. Then I put on my bathing suit and went out for a swim. The water was almost warm, and mostly clear. I had a good time. After what seemed like a long time, James and Becca came out. So did the kids and Cecily. Even Alfred came out for a while. There was one jelly fish floating around (dead). He caught it and buried it up on the beach so we could all relax. When the others went in with the kids, I stayed behind chatting with Cecily. It was almost noon when we came in. I took a shower and went upstairs for lunch. Michele had made kimchi chigae again. But she wasn't in the kitchen. She and Chris were in her room playing with other 'voices'. After lunch I worked some Sudoku puzzles. Around 4 Cecily went to the pool with the kids. I noticed that the waves had gotten bigger, probably due to the boats that were tugging the pipe around. So I suited up and went back to the beach. It was wonderful! The sun wasn't so hot, the water temp was great, and the waves were way more interesting than this morning. I wore a t-shirt over my suit 'cause I was looking a little red. Well, better to burn on the last day than on the first. I was having so much fun, that I didn't notice the wind picking up. Then it was warmer to stay in the water than to get out. But after a while I was so tired that I had to get out. The hot sand under my feet helped to warm me up. I came in and stripped. Chris was computing on the bed, so I lay beside him and did another puzzle. It was a 16x16. When Michele announced that supper was almost ready, I got dressed and went up. Most of the leftovers in the fridge were laid out on the bar. We each got a plate and ate whatever we felt like eating. We cleaned up a lot. After supper, Cecily went through the rest of the food, throwing out what she didn't want to take home. We did some laundry and ran the vacuum in the bedrooms. Some things got packed in the cars, ready for us to leave tomorrow morning. When Chris finished with his computer, he let me borrow it for my blog.
* Tugboats trying to get the pipe properly situated. *

Typical day at the beach

I awoke to the sounds of running children. They were up at 6. I stayed in bed for awhile longer. Then I dressed and went down to the ocean. The surf was quite cold. The sun had already risen, but I could still watch as the view changed. The clouds shifted, and different parts of them were illuminated as the sun climbed. So I sat on the edge of the boardwalk to the beach and played with the sand. After a bit, big biting flies found me. I fought them bravely for awhile, then retreated to the safety of the house. I prepared my breakfast and at it while using Chris' computer to check e-mail. When he had finished eating and showering, I let him have it back. I decided to put on my swim suit and go back to the beach. James and Olivia came along, but she reconsidered her decision fairly quickly. Then Becca and Michele came out. They found it to be too cold, and did not stay in long. There was only one jellyfish today and I think it was dead. It floated into my hand accidentally and did not sting. I brought my goggles along and tried to look at the bottom. But it was hard, so much sand in the water. And I kept floating up. Finally I came out and helped them look for shells. When I felt a twinge in my back, I lay down on a mat in the sun. It was so relaxing. But I started to worry about burning, so I came in, too. Cecily had come out with a book and elected to stay longer to read it. After changing out of my suit, I started in on some Sudoku variation puzzles that Cecily had given me. Then it was lunchtime. After lunch, there was more sudoku. And then Chris, James and I went to Food Lion to get a few things for supper. I got on Chris' computer for awhile to clear out more e-mail. Some video segments take as long as an hour. Chris made burritoes for supper, laying out the ingredients buffet style. I did not take a burrito shell, but ate my share of fixins. After supper, I went out the to surf and discovered it was amazingly warm. Then I sat on the step and played in the sand again. When the flies started biting, I came in. No one knew where Chris was. I found him in Michele's room. They were on their computers ready to play with 'the voices', but not enough voices 'showed up', so the game was canceled. Very sad. I went upstairs and selected another book to read. Cecily went to bed, and then Becca. Finally James and the kids turned in. It got very quiet until we heard fireworks. Alfred and I went out on the deck to watch, but the show was unspectacular, and short. Finally I went down to ask Chris for his computer to write this blog post. He is asleep already.
P.S. Although we waited all day to see the pipe in action, it never happened. People flocked to the beach just like on all the other days. They gave it no personal space, setting up chairs near it, and swimming around it almost as if it weren't there.
* People watching the pipe-float being carried off *

The Pipe

I could not sleep after going to bed. Probably 'cause I'd fallen asleep while reading in the afternoon. So after laying there restless for some time, I went into the bathroom to read without disturbing Chris. I don't know how long I read, hours most likely. When I had almost finished the book, I came to bed. We woke up around 6:30 or 7. We dressed and went for a walk on the beach. The water was warmer than yesterday and still clear. I picked up a few shells that caught my eye and saved them for Becca. When we got back, we had breakfast. I used Alfred's computer to check e-mail. I ruthlessly deleted things I know I'll never have the time to read. Then a group of us put on our suits and went to the beach. Michele came with us. The water was nice, and the sun was out. We were out there quite a while. One by one the others went in until only Cecily and I were left. We had a chat. When I came in, I went to my room. I showered and did some tapping. Chris came in for awhile then left. Cecily stopped in to pay for the purses I made her. Then Chris came by to offer me his computer. So I spent some time checking the e-mails that take longer. I did go upstairs briefly to make a salad for lunch. Then spent the rest of the afternoon listening to audios and interviews. I gave up when one of the videos stopped loading. A strange man appeared in my room. Apparently he was looking for a broken vacuum cleaner which he was supposed to fix. I checked the closets for him, but there was no vac. I could have given him a list of other things that need fixing around here. Soon it was time for supper. Chris and Becca had prepared 4 pizzas. I think they were all different. I ate chicken legs and salad. While we were eating, some interesting boats and earth moving equipment arrived on the beach. A large black pipe was floated to shore on a pontoon. Tug boats positioned sections of it until they formed a straight line. Then they primed it with slurry. We had heard that someone would be dredging up sand and adding it to the beach, but were not expecting it to happen on our watch. When everything was in place, they covered the end of the pipe and drove away. Then the public who had stood by so patiently during the long, drawn-out process, came over to touch the big pipe and maybe look for shells caught in the slurry. We had finished supper and were sitting around chatting. Chris decided to go to bed early, and once again, I will try to sleep, too.

Chris is here!

I woke up a little after 6 and went out to watch the sun rise. The water was again clear and cold, but not too cold. I saw dolphins jumping out of the water. Like yesterday, the sun rose, and then went behind a cloud. Yesterday was overcast all day. Would today be the same? I went inside, and selected another book to read. Olivia was the first one to come up and join me. But soon others woke up, too. I think Michele was the last. I prepared breakfast and then ate it. I wanted to check e-mail, but did not have a computer to do it. Cecily checked her e-mail and found one from Chris. His flight to Dulles was delayed so he missed the one to Richmond. The airline gave him a room at the Hilton for the night and put him on standby for the 8am flight. We were very sad to hear that it would be even longer before we could see him again. He did catch that flight, and got a ride to his parents house. But then he took a nap before driving out to meet us at the beach.
Meanwhile at the beach, we donned our suits and headed out to the water. We had a lovely time. I even laid on my towel for awhile to enjoy the sun, which came and went. The others stopped at the pool, but had gone in by the time I came in from the beach. I changed out of my suit and read until lunch. Michele and James made kimchichigae for lunch. It was excellent. We saved a little for Chris. After lunch I settled in to read some more. When I realized how close to 6 it was, I walked downstairs and outside to watch for Chris. Michele then told me we were leaving fot the restaurant in 20 minutes. Olivia came out to ask me what I was doing. I said I wanted to be the first one to see Uncle Chris. She said "Me, too". Finally I went back to my room to change for supper. Then I noticed Chris' car turning into the drive way and I raced outside to greet him. He had three bags of garden produce from Cecily's neighbors. He was able to come in for a bit before we left for The Flying Fish. We go there every year 'cause Olivia likes it. But it is expensive. We ali enjoyed our meals. I ordered the seared raw tuna and the spinach salad. The tables are covered with paper so the kids can draw on them, and they did. Then we came back. Becca and Cecily had made rum raisin ice cream for dessert. I wasn't having any, so I went outside to get warm. When I came in, Chris was in bed already, asleep. So I went upstairs to beg/borrow/steal a computer to write my blog, planning to join him afterwards.

Second day

I awoke a little after 6. I dressed and went upstairs to check e-mail on Alfred's computer. But Cecily was using it. She had woken up early and couldn't sleep. So I went out to the beach and stood in the surf. The water was cold, but not too cold, and there were no jellyfish. In fact, there was nothing in the water at all, it was clear. The rising sun went behind a cloud, so I went in. Cecily let me use the computer. I prepared and ate breakfast while checking e-mail. Then I sat down under the house and did a few pages of tapping. Alfred came out to check for standing water, but he didn't find anything. When I finished, I found a broom and swept all of the wooden walk from the front steps to the pool area. That way we won't track sand in the house after washing our feet. The others had just left for the beach, so I put on my suit and followed. The water was still clear. I waded in a little, until a big, cold wave hit me full on. Then I figured I couldn't get any wetter or colder, so I swam in. I had a wonderful time floating, and swimming, and riding the waves. But after a while I got too cold. The sun was still hiding and the air was barely warm. So I went back, finding the others playing in the pool. I washed my feel off and went inside to find a book to read. I thought it better to read books already there and save the ones I had brought for later. The book I selected was called "Map of Bones" and it was missing the front cover and the last pages. But it sounded so good, I had to read it anyway. I read until lunchtime, then ate lunch. Cecily dispatched Alfred and James to go to the grocery store, and I tagged along. We went to Harris Teeter again. They did not have the bagels Cecily wanted, so we stopped by the NY Bagel store, but it was closed. We came back and unloaded groceries. It was cold inside the house, so I went outside to read. I read until supper time. We had bought 3 rotisserie chickens at the store and Becca and Cecily had prepared corn on the cob, green beans, and wild rice to go with it. After supper James and I cleared the table. We had homemade ice cream for dessert. I ate just a spoonful of Michele's. Then I went outside to read again. When it grew too dark to read, I went inside to finish. It was about 10 when I came to the end of the pages. It was such a good book. Guess I'll have to write my own ending though. Then Becca graciously let me use her computer to post this blog.

First full day

After posting to my blog, I realized that everyone but Michele had gone to bed. I wasn't sure what to do with Alfred's computer. So I unplugged it because of the storm. I took a shower and noticed that the drain was clogged. Then I went to bed.
I awoke early, before daylight. I heard the garbage truck make it's rounds. I lay in bed until I could see around the room. I got dressed and went out to the beach. It was 6 am. I stood near the surf, staring at the bright spot in the clouds, waiting for the sun to rise above them. I did this for over half an hour. Then I went inside. I got back on Alfred's computerto clear out e-mail. I made my breakfast and ate it. Olivia was the first person to come out to the livingroom. Soon William came, and then Cecily. After everyone had breakfast, Cecily and Becca and the kids went to the beach while Alfred, James and I went shopping. Our first stop was the Bru-Thru for beer. Then we went to Harris Teeter where we got most of the things on our lists. Finally we found clothespins at Rite-Aid. We took the groceries home and put them away. The others were back from the beach by then having lunch. So we sat down and had lunch, too. I hard-boiled 8 eggs, and inadvertently left them sitting by the stove while I went to the pool. I took a run across the hot sands to the surf. The water was cold, but not as bad as yesterday. However there were jellyfish hearts all over the beach and in the surf. I went back to the pool. When I was done sunning and surfing, I went to my room and did a few Sudoku puzzles. The light wasn't good, so I went into the livingroom to finish. Cecily was there obsessing over the week's menus with Becca. They were making a new grocery list for tomorrow. I sat outside for a while to warm up. I could smell the pork loin that Becca was barbequing on a little charcoal grill. I could also hear the ice cream machine whining louder and louder as its contents froze. Soon we were sitting down to eat. Michele had a headache and retired as soon as she finished eating. The pork loin was spicy but good. We had sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, peas, and apple rings to go with it. We cleaned up the dishes and went to the beach. I did not make it there because I had a Kodak moment when I saw the tiny grill. The coals were still glowing. I ended up sitting there and tapping for some time. The others returned and went inside. When it began to get dark, I followed. The kids were put to bed, and then Becca called up a movie on Netflix using Michele's computer. So Alfred lent me his to write my blog. Someone set off fireworks on the beach. I ran out to see them, using the downstairs door because the upstairs sliding glass doors were covered with bugs. Michele and I think they look like moths, but Cecily is convinced that they are mosquitoes.

Going to the Beach

After blogging on Michele's computer this morning, I prepared breakfast. Cecily was running around trying to get everything on her list. We were trying to help and/or stay out of her way. By 9 everything was packed in three cars. We all hugged Mimi goodbye, and headed out. Each car had a walkie-talkie, and Alfred and I soon discovered that ours didn't work. Around 10:30 we stopped for lunch at a fast-food restaurant. I got a grilled chicken salad. Trying out our walkie-talkie with Michele's , we determined that the others can hear us even though we cannot hear them. Our next stop was the toll booth. The other two cars drove through with Easy-Passes, but we had to stop and pay $6. Then they were ahead of us, so they stopped at a rest area and we joined them there. However, leaving the rest area, we got separated. James called us using the On-Star number. We all agreed to meet at the realty office. We were so far ahead that even though we had trouble finding the place, we still got there ahead of the others. Cecily picked up the key, and we drove to the beach house. Everyone helped to unpack the cars. Michele passed out towels, while Cecily put things away in the kitchen. I put sheets on my bed, and unpacked my clothes into the bureau. When we were all ready, we went to the pool. I put sunscreen on, and walked to the beach, or tried to. The sand was burning hot, so I went back for shoes. Then I made it to the surf, only to find that it was ARTIC! My first clue was seeing lots of people on the beach, but only a few in the water. So the pool became the best destination. I swam with the kids, and sat in the sun. But soon it was too much. I went in. When I heard the kids come in, I went down to the sand by the pool and sat barefoot. I did a little tapping, too. Then I came in to read. That seemed to last for hours so I quit to check on supper. It was not ready yet. The temp in the kitchen/eating area was frigid, but no one seemed to notice. I put on a wrap. When supper was ready, we sat down to eat. William wanted to go to the pool, and Olivia wanted to go to the beach. They had a hard time waiting for us adults to finish eating and clear the table. By then it was getting dark. James took William to the pool. Alfred,Cecily, Becca and I took Olivia down to the beach. The sand had cooled considerably, but the surf was still freezing. We watched lightning in the distance, and came in when it got close. Becca sat on the porch to watch the storm. Alfred offered me his computer, so I took the chance to write a blog post. Now that others are chatting about logistics while I type.

The others arrive

I alept in until 6. I read outside for an hour or so. Then prepared breakfast. Michele was on her computer. I asked to borrow it long enough to 'publish' my blog. Then I packed up my 'stuff' and moved it downstairs. Cecily and I stripped the sheets, and pushed the twin beds together to make a king bed. We dressed it with king sheets for James and Becca. Michele moved her stuff to the computer room. She ate her leftovers from Cracker Barrel for lunch and then the rest of us ate lunch. I was outside reading under a tree when Michele and Cecily left to go to the grocery store. While they were gone, Mimi arrived in a bright yellow rental Camaro. We chatted until the shoppers returned. At 5:25 we left for church, leaving Michele at home to welcome James and Becca if they arrived. It was a Catholic service and they sang a lot of songs I didn't know. But it seems like I was the only one who didn't. I was uncomfortable but pretended not to care. When we got home, James and Becca were not there. We arrived at Uno's at 7. Soon James and Becca arrived, preceded by their kids William and Olivia. I couldn't tell who was happier, the kids or their grandparents. Such excitement! The kids were excited about going to the beach, too. They ordered make-your-own pizzas. I got the goat-cheese salad. Three people ordered dessert. Michele had me walk with her outside for a break. It was sprinkling. We talked for a bit, then resumed our places at the table. I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open. When we came home, we gathered in the den to chat. But I fell asleep on the couch and they sent me downstairs to sleep, asking me to wake Cecily by 8. I awoke several times to visit the bathroom. The moon was really bright, but not full. When it rose far enough not to shine in my window, I went back to sleep. I awoke at 6 and went outside to read. After an hour, I heard others up and about so I went in and convinced Michele to let me post my blog on her computer. Thanks, Michele.

Friday at Cracker Barrel

Michele said she missed Cracker Barrel so Alfred took us there for lunch. Cecily and I had salad, while Michele and Alfred had breakfast entrees. Out in the sales area the big attraction was a rolling broom with a witch's hat that cackled as it moved. On the way home we dropped off Cecily for her nail appointment. Michele and I read for awhile, and Alfred went back for Cecily and they stopped for potatoes. When they got back, Michele, Alfred and I went to Goodwill. We were just curious so it was ok that we did not find anything we wanted. We read some more, and I checked e-mail. Cecily showed Michele how to cook corned beef and cabbage in a pressure cooker. They also made potatoes, carrots, and onions. Then I read outside until supper was ready and Michele delivered a bowl of it to the neighbors. The TV says we are having a heat wave but it just doesn't feel that hot to me. AFter supper we watched Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. Then I sat on the couch to read and fell asleep. Michele woke me up to go to bed, but I elected to stay up and watch HOUSE. Hopefully now I can sleep in a little later.
I am writing this post on the desktop, but I will have to go to Michele's laptop to publish it. For some reason the "Publish" button doesn't work with this version of Internet Explorer.

Thursday is Uno's

On Wednesday night I fell asleep fully clothed. Not sure when. But I awoke at 3 am and couldn't go back to sleep. When daylight started peeking through the curtains, I went outside to read barefoot. Yea! No rain. It was very nice. Michele joined me soon after. She wasn't sleeping either. Isn't jetlag fun?
I read for so long that I ate breakfast around 11. After lunch we went to Kroger. I stopped by the nearby GNC to get a few things, but all they had on my list was coconut oil. The clerk regaled me with his tale of two jobs, two kids, and possible twins in the future. Then I rejoined my group in Kroger. Ah, what a wonderful thing to have so many choices - not like the commissary. I got flax seed, bean sprouts, cardamom. They had kimchi, kefir and organic eggs, but I decided to get those later. On the way back from Kroger we stopped by a convenience mart that sells kimchi. We bought two containers. Michele wants to make kimchi chigae. She asked the Korean lady there how to make it. She told her to boil it with salt and ___. Turns out the ___ is msg. Too late I thought that maybe she puts it in the kimchi. For supper we went to Unos. My in-laws have a favorite waitress who takes really good care of them. I got a goat cheese, broccoli and fig pizza on a gluten-free crust. I wasn't planning to eat the crust, but I couldn't scrape the cheese off, and figured it would be ok just this once. I wore my 20 minute pants.
After supper, we sat around reading and watching TV. I fell asleep. Michele woke me up to go to bed around 10. I woke up again really early. I stayed in bed until I just couldn't stand it anymore then went to the den to read. I watched the sun come up and then went outside to read some more. I borrowed Michele's computer to Skype Chris. I found out his plans have changed. Now he isn't leaving until Tuesday, arriving at the beach on Wednesday. This did not sit well with me, but some big meeting just got scheduled for Monday and for some reason they need HIM to be there.
Then I ate breakfast and took a shower and now I am reading my e-mail. I think we are going out for lunch.

Going to the states - all the juicy details

I was packed the night before. I woke up as Chris was leaving and kissed him as he took my suitcase and headed off to work. I fed the cats, showered, and had my breakfast with e-mail. I had a few minutes left, so I made a pair of lightweight seersucker pants. Praise God for sergers which make such things possible. Michele and I grabbed our carry-ons and headed for the walk-in gate. We met Chris there at 8. He dropped us off at the DHL to catch the shuttlebus to Incheon. Mary Ann was there to see us off. She went with me to the ATM. Then as we waited for the bus I realized that this was the last time we would see each other before she PCS'd. Tears came to my eyes as we hugged. Then I boarded the bus and we were off to the airport. I think we had the slowest driver in bus history. When we got there, we used the 'easy check-in' machine, then went to the counter to ck in my suitcase. It seemed to confuse the lady that the third leg of our flight was on a different airline. When we went through security, they scanned my luggage several times and then pointed to something on the screen. It was a sewing machine screwdriver and they wouldn't allow it. So I had to go back. The wrapping station packed it in a box which I then checked through the luggage station. I tried to go through the security line again, but apparently they had marked my ticket, 'cause they sent me around to a special door. Then my stuff and I were scanned again. And they wanded me. Finally I cought up with Michele who wasn't allowed to come with me. It seems they don't like it when you go back through security. Then we caught the airport shuttle to the concourse and found seats near our gate. When I checked last week, we had no seats assigned on this flight, but we were seated together on the long flight. But now we were seated separately on both flights. I hoped we could get it changed back. As we filed towards the plane, we went through another bag check. It was not very thorough. Then we sat two rows apart on the place to Narita, Japan. The crew was very nice and the steward looked like Tony D'nozo on NCIS. We were served a sandwich (which I declined) and a beverage. I read my book on improving eyesight. My ears, which were fine on the way up, had trouble with the descent. In the airport we had trouble finding the gate for our connecting flight. But the steward took us to a shorter security line and told us our gate would be right after that. It might have been a shorter line, but it moved slowly. At the other end, a lady standing in front of a sign board, pointed the way to the Continental gate. When we got to the gate, I presented my ticket and the print-out showing our reserved seats. The agent printed me a new ticket with the original seat number on it. Whew! Then I did some stretching as we waited for the plane. I got tired of sitting on the last plane, and was in no hurry to sit on this one. During the 12-hour flight, the meals were better than I expected, and I was able to watch 6 episodes of Big Bang Theory, and two movies. Because of the time difference in the states, we were scheduled to land 5 minutes after we took off. Michele cleverly said "By this time today we will be in the states." Twice during the low-light period I tried to sleep, but the first time it was too noisy and the second time just didn't work. The landing was a little rough and Michele threw up. We had to leave the bag in the seat and I whispered to the stewardess so she would find it sooner rather than later. Then we stood in line for customs. Michele went first. Then she motioned to me. They had a problem with our official passports. We were taken to another area for questioning, but were soon released even though we could tell them nothing that we didn't tell them at the customs station. From there they let us into the baggage claim area where we picked up my suitcase and the little box with the screwdriver in it. Then we waited in another line to drop off the suitcase. Then we passed a Continental check-in machine, so we used it to get boarding passes. But after confirming our flight, it said to check with an agent. We came to a security ck pt but they wouldn't take us without a boarding pass. So we tried another machine, but that one did not help us either. An agent told us where to find the check-in counter, but it was full of machines, too. Only when another agent had run our info through and gotten nowhere were we given a person to talk to. She was able to give us passesm but by then we were short on time and still had to get through security. That turned out to be slow, but uneventful. Except that we noticed a man in line that looked like Michael Caine. When we were done with security, we were lost, so we asked two men standing by the wall. One of them took us down the hall and told us to catch a bus to our terminal. Luckily it was a 3 minute trip. And a small terminal. It only had a few gates and ours was one of them. Another plane boarded from our gate at the time we should have been boarding. So we boarded late. And then we sat on the runway while someone tried to figure out how to get to Richmond on the fuel we had. Finally we turned around and went back to the terminal for more fuel. We had lost our place in line to take off and were not a priority being such a small plane. I fell asleep waiting for take off. I'd wake up, notice we were still on the ground, and go back to sleep, several times. At the time when we were supposed to land, we took off. The one good thing about that is that we got to see the coolest cloud formation at night, all lit up by rapid flashes of lightning. Really neat! 55 minutes later we landed. My in-laws were waiting for us. We stopped at baggage claim to find my suitcase just rolling by. We had an uneventful trip back to their house, and stayed up talking. Cecily showed us her newly renovated bathroom. And I ate one of their homegrown tomatoes. Then we went to bed. I slept in until 9:30. I sat outside and read for awhile, then came in for breakfast. I tried to post to my blog, but it wouldn't take my password. Their password recovery system refused to believe I had ownership of the account. Michele wanted to go to the Cheesecake Factory and then do some shopping. So we all went. First we ate, and then we shopped. I found some tops at Ann Taylor. I thought they were 50% off because there was a BIG 50% off sign on that table. But the saleslady told us as we checked out that it only applied to items with a special tag. That was NOT what the sign said. And we didn't see anything with a special tag. But Cecily wanted to get them for me, so she did. She got some for Michele, too. We then went to a few other stores and Cecily bought Michele a dress and a pair of leggings. Then I noticed that my wrap was missing so I went back to Ann Taylor to find it. After that, we walked into Williams Sonoma to get a bread basket. We stopped by the Cheesecake Factory to get two pieces of cake to take home. When we got home, I sat at the computer to try blogging again. It still did not work, so I decided to record the events in an e-mail to myself. Cecily made supper and we sat down to eat. We talked then for hours. When she went to bed, I went back to blogging.

Going to the states - the short form

We took the DHL bus to Incheon. Flew to Narita, then to Newark, then Richmond. My in-laws picked us up there and took us to their place.

Packing for the trip

Got out of bed early to clean. I washed the bathroom sink and toilet, and the mirror. Then I wiped the countertops in the kitchen. I sliced some cheese cubes for lunch. Then I read e-mail while eating breakfast. After breakfast and a shower, I juiced up the fresh veggies, making popsicle from the juice and kimchi from the pulp. I gathered up as many recyclables as I could hold, and carried them to the bins downstairs. I went to post, arriving at the SPC late. Cathy was there by herself setting up machines, etc. After awhile one or two others showed up. Some left early. There were only four of us for lunch. Still, we made 5 quilts today. At 2 Mary Ann and I went to the gas station, and then my place. She visited with the cats while I considered packing. I could not find the packing list I wrote months ago, but thankfully I had entered it on the computer. I printed it out. It turned out to be incomplete, and I had to add a few things. I charged the ipod and put some meditation and hypnosis stuff on it. And I charged the mp3 player. I don't remember how to change what is on it, but what is on there already is acceptable. I gave my apartment card and keys to Mary Ann so she can take car of the cats while we are gone. I packed everything on the list, including supplements. I hope airport security doesn't think I am a drug dealer. I laid out all my pairs of shorts and discovered that I have made A LOT since I came here. I picked tops to match. Mary Ann said I should lay out what I want to pack on the bed, and then pick a suitcase to fit it. But I want to get the largest suitcase the airline will allow and then see how much I can fit into it. Chris said I could use his, since it rolls the best. So I packed it almost full. Michele added a few things too since she is only taking a carry-on. Her carry-on was torn so she asked me to fix it. Then she needed a bra fixed. They weren't fixed well, but it is kinda last minute. I wanted to make one more thing, but there isn't time. I just might be able to cut the fabric and bring it along to finish in the states. I packed the three purses for Cecily and tucked a bit of velcro in the pockets to sew on later. When I finished packing the suitcase, I left it by the front door for Chris to stow in his car in the morning.
Chris came home with the mail, including a box that contained my 'organic' sunscreen and hemp oil. Unfortunately the hemp oil had a leak and it got all over the box. I'll bet Swanson's will replace it. They are a very good company.

More sewing, but at least it didn't rain.

We were a little late for church but were intent on going since neither of our usual pastors would be there. Father Gene asked Bob to read a sermon to the congregation, and we wanted to support Bob. The service was shorter than usual 'cause there was no communion, nor offering, or passing of the peace. At the fellowship time afterwards, we said goodbye to 'Doc'. I did not know he would be PSCing to San Antonio while we are on vacation. So many people have gone there from here. And church attendance goes down again.
From church, we went to the Px for elastic, and then to the commissary. We did not buy much because Michele and I are leaving Tuesday morning for the states. Chris will follow at the end of the week. I worked on the purses until Heidi called to come for a lesson. Then I cleaned it up a bit. Her lesson was on stitching elastic. After she left, I went back to work on the purses. I took a break for supper and Sudoku, then finished all but the velcro part of each purse. I took a picture, but in order to get it on my computer, I have to take off the IPod which I am trying to learn how to load with music files for our long trip. I haven't calculated how long it will take us to get to Richmond. Let's see, four international airports, 3 coach flights, 2 layovers, and a partriiiidge in a pearrrr treeeee! Hmm. maybe I ought to pack...
* Another quilt from the Tokyo show *

A day for sewing (and more sewing)

It must have been like sleeping in for Chris to get up at 8 to play with the 'voices'. As he and Michele played, I read through my e-mail, deleted over 200 pictures from my camera, and then worked in my sewing room. I finished three pairs of shorts, the fushia top, and the third pepper purse. Now My mother-in-law, Michele, and I have matching purses. We'll be 'stylin' at the beach. So then I started on the three purses my Mother-in-law asked for when she was here. I have been doing them all at the same time, like a production line.
As for the cats, they weren't around much. Cinnamon tried to walk into my sewingroom when I broke for lunch. And later I found her sitting in the window in the computer room. It rained again today, so I did not get to sit outside, or take out the recyclables. (I hope she didn't use the computer.) I did learn one new thing though. I read that eating kimchi helps your body get rid of pesticides.
* Quilt from Tokyo show *

The quilt is almost done!

It was about 7:30 when I got up. I read e-mail for a bit, then had breakfast. I showered, dressed and went to the AnC center. Mary Ann and Cathy were already there. Mary Ann was ironing her quilt backing. We got it all loaded onto the Statler and Cathy quilted it. I showed Mary Ann how to cut and piece the binding. Then I cut pieces for Cecily's purses. At noon Cathy had to leave. The quilt was almost finished, and then I used the longarm to add the binding afterwards. Mary Ann trimmed the excess batting and backing and she left for an appointment. I stayed to finish cutting pieces. Then I had to walk out into the pouring rain to go home. Michele was watching Tremors 2, and I watched a little bit while having a bite to eat. Then Mary Ann came over to join the ends of the binding and to get started on the handsewing part. I worked on my purse while she sewed. For Mary Ann's benefit, I am going to mention the CD's I found on my sewing room floor. I highly suspect a cat climbed on my bookshelf and tried to make itself comfortable on the top shelf. After she left, I did some handsewing on the purse while listening to an interview on the internet. I was almost finished when my thread ran out. Now I have finished my e-mail and am ready to hit the hay.

Exchanging Underwear

I got up early to sit outside and read but it was raining so I went back to bed. When I got up again, it was 8:30. The rain had stopped so I went down to the courtyard to read. The rain started back up so I moved to a bench under the pergola (not sure I have ever used that word in a sentence before). When my hour was up, I went back upstairs. I ate breakfast and read through some e-mail. Then I got dressed and went to the thrift shop, taking with me the underwear I bought on Tuesday. There weren't that many books, so I shelved videos (lots of videos) and counted flash cards, and checked out games for missing pieces. As I was getting ready to leave, two bags of books were dropped off. Thankfully it did not take long to separate them. I picked up the two bookshelves that Mary Ann had dropped off (they look like the kind you can't reassemble, but we shall see) during a period when the rain had stopped. Mrs. Chung wrote me a note in Korean to give to the underwear seller explaining that I needed a smaller size. When I finished at the shop, I drove to gate 19 to catch the subway. I usually use gate 17 but Collier Field was being used by the commanding general for a change-of-command ceremony. When I got to Dongdaemun, I showed the seller the note. She waved me off without reading it. Finally I pulled the underwear from its bag and said "Exchange?". Then she read the note and gave me three in the colors I had selected in the smaller size. I wished her an enjoyable day in Korean. It is the one phrase I know and I use it as often as I can. Then I went to the other seller, and exchanged the flesh-colored ones too. She was much more cooperative. Then I went home. As I walked in gate 19, I was passed by a cavalcade escorting someone important onto post. No idea who. So I waited a bit before I headed out to the walk-in gate. When I got home, Michele was awake and on her computer. It was around 4. I raided the fridge, read e-mail and listened to some interviews. I ripped stitches as I listened to pass the time productively. Chris came home, but I had already eaten my lunch/supper. So he and Michele had leftovers. Cinnamon came around mewing vigorously, but for what reason we could not tell. I tried following her, but all she did was hide under the futon in the computer room. Chris went to bed early, and I made him a sandwich for tomorrow. Now I am going to bed, too.

First Place

I got up early to make Chris' sandwich, then went back to bed. Later, I got our anti-virus software started on it's usual Wednesday run. I read e-mail for a while, had breakfast, fed the cats, and worked on my shorts. I had some lunch and took a shower, after which I felt like lying down to read. So I did. Then I got dressed, and wrote up the minutes for our group. I met Chris at the gate. We went to the AnC center for an awards ceremony. In the fibers category my dahlia got first place for professional, and Cathy's lilac quilt took first place for novice. We each got a shiny crystal-like award. Chris took a pic. Mary Ann came, too. After the ceremony, while everyone was having refreshments, I asked Ms. Kim about substituting a better pic for my charm quilt. It only got an honorable mention and it might be because of the picture. She said if I sent her one today she'd see what she could do. I got Cathy to sign the minutes, and dropped them off next door. Then Chris dropped us off at the gate and went back to work. Mary Ann had brought her washed quilt backing. We cut it in half, ironed it, pieced it, and trimmed the seam. I also trimmed the edges so it is a perfect rectangle and ready for the longarm. After she left, I looked at Chris and said "Michele isn't here." It is the mating call of parents everywhere. So..., and then we had supper. I got on my computer to answer e-mail and to log my volunteer hours.

Shopping for sewing supplies

I tried to get up early, but it was already 7:30 when I woke up. I don't really remember what I did this morning, other than read e-mail and edit and print some files. Oh, and feed the cats. It was almost 11 when I finished. And then it occurred to me that I should take out the recyclables on the way to the thrift shop. So I assembled the bags of sorted items and headed out. I dropped off the watermelon rind first, then the cans, bottles, and plastic. It was raining and I got a little wet. At the thrift shop there were not as many books as we have been having lately. I finished them and then worked on DVD's, CD's, VHS, etc. I gave a lot of empty DVD and CD cases to charity. Someone dropped off some Xanth novels, and I bought 4 of them. I also got a tie for Chris that I think will match his tan suit. I finished up at 2:20 and picked up Mary Ann from the DHL. We parked at gate 17 and rode the subway to Dongdaemun. We were looking for 60" flannel, but could only find it in white. So she picked a nice gold from Happy Quilt. I bought a nice green. I don't think I have it already, but I liked it so much that it is ok if I do. Then I bought size 11 needles for our group machines, and matching thread for two of my projects. We walked outside to get food. Couldn't find regular kimbap, so we settled for mini-kimbaps. Then we walked across the river to the underwear market. I got three pairs of my favorite flowered ones, and three pairs of flesh-colored ones to wear with the white shorts in progress. I took Mary Ann back to her hotel, and went home. Since neither Chris or Michele were home (and it was after 5:30) I figured they had gone to a movie, so I ate leftovers from the fridge. That was when Chris came home. So he ate on his own. I had brought home some movies from the thrift shop, but only one would play. It was "Romeo and Juliet" with Leonardo Di Caprio. I didn't like it 'cause the dialogue was in the original old English and it was hard to interpret. Then I finished serging my three pairs of shorts. I added waistbands and hemmed one pair. I need to hem the others and add elastic to all of them. I also want to finish the purse I started for class. I made Cecily one, and Michele one, and if I have one, we will all have matching purses at the beach in two weeks. Cool, huh?
* Tokyo quilt *

Quilting - nothing unusual

I woke up early, hearing Chris' alarm. I tried to go back to sleep, but then the cat started miaowing. So I got up to see what was the matter. I found the cat up on a piece of furniture, just fine and dandy. Since I was up, I stayed up. I worked on the shorts I started last night. Then I had breakfast, and checked my e-mail. I was working on changing a file that I intended to print out, when I got a call from Cathy. She was asking for a ride, but why so early? Only it wasn't early. It was 9am and I was behind. I showered, dressed, packed food, and headed out. It was raining up a storm. I picked Cathy up at her apartment, and we went to the SPC. We got everything set up with the help of a lady and her daughter who arrived on time. We were a small group and there were only 4 of us for lunch. I brought cheese and bean sprouts since I had so many. Helle brought a delicious salad as usual. The lady and her daughter who helped this morning disappeared for lunch, and came back later. Carla stopped in to say goodbye and to tell me that she had recruited a few new ladies for us. Yea, Carla. We found a leak in our storage closet. Luckily the only thing damaged was our box of packing paper. We were packed up by three, having made 7 quilts today. We dropped them by the hospital, and then I dropped Cathy at her apt. Mary Ann came with me to mine. The rain had almost quit. She played with her cats while I worked on my shorts. I started another two pairs. But I had to redraft the pattern to fit the fabric since the vendor skimped on the yard I bought. She left after Chris came home. He made twice-baked potatoes for supper. I checked my new e-mail and then worked on the shorts while watching NCIS. Then I made Chris's sandwich, and soaked my sprouts in preparation to go to bed.
People keep asking me when we are leaving. And I don't know. Our future seems so uncertain right now, but then has it ever been different? I guess each time we moved somewhere, I felt like it was our new home and we would stay there indefinitely. But when we came here, it was with the understanding that we would not stay. Everybody leaves, sooner or later. So I guess I am ready to have a place to call home, where we might not leave - at least not in just a few years.

Hair Cut

Awoke early (before 6) thinking that my phone was ringing, but when I got up to check, there was no call. So I went back to bed. We got up too late for breakfast, but we made church. It was Stan and Beth's last Sunday so we stayed late to talk. Then we went to the salon where I get my hair cut. They said it'd be half an hour before Nancy could cut my hair, so we went to the PX. Then we sat for quite a while. Finally I told Chris to go. He went to work to check e-mail. When Nancy cut my hair, she told me to tell my husband that I look good in short hair. She also said that when I came three years ago, I had no gray hair, and now she has to shave it off the back of my neck. I DID have some gray three years ago, just not as much as now. I called Chris when she finished, and he came to get me. We went to the commissary for groceries, then picked up Mary Ann and drove home. She sewed some more on her quilt top until my student came. Then she visited with the cats until I was finished. When Heidi left, Mary Ann finished her borders while I ironed more damp fabric and gave Chris a haircut. After she went home, we had supper (pork with homemade barbeque sauce!). I finished ironing the fabrics while watching TV. Then a Harry Potter marathon came on. I cut out a pair of white shorts and started sewing. Then Chris came in to kiss me goodnight, and I had to quit to blog and make his sandwich.
* Here is an Egyptian themed quilt from Tokyo *

Mary Ann's quilt in progress

I got up this morning expecting an e-mail from Julia saying when we were to meet. But there wasn't any. After checking e-mail and putting out cat food, still no e-mail. As it was raining, I thought that maybe she changed her mind, so I ate breakfast. Then she called to say we should meet at a particular restaurant for brunch. Ok. It would have been a long walk, but I took bus 730 to Noksapyong station, and then walked from there. She was going to take a cab, so I thought I had to hurry, but the cabs were hard to get so she arrived 20 minutes later. I watched her enjoy Shrimp Benedict while I sipped water. Then we called a cab to meet us at the kimchi pot gate (across the street from where we were sitting). The cab dropped us off at the thrift shop. The manager was planning a $2 sale, but canceled it because of the rain. So no sale. But Julia bought several pairs of pants. Then I walked with her to gate 52. We chatted for a bit, then she walked towards Itaewon Acres, and I headed home. Mary Ann called to say she was coming, so I finished ironing my stack of damp fabric to get it out of the way. She brought me two bouquets of flowers and a carton of tomatoes, arriving just as Chris and Michele were leaving for a movie. They all helped me switch the silk rug in the living room to the previous one. Mary Ann worked on her quilt while I watched and gave advice. She had added two border strips when it was time for her to leave. When the laundry in the washer was finished, I put it in the dryer and added a load of fabrics. I went downstairs to the courtyard to read for half an hour. I did not see Chris and Michele go by, but they were in the apt when I returned. I partially dried the fabric and folded it to be ironed later. We ate supper and they put on Lord of the Rings. There went my chances to get anything done. Now it's time for bed. What a wasted evening.

Rhymes with 'kittyspit'

I think the first thing I did when I got up was to juice celery and carrots. I drank that and was too full for breakfast, so I checked my e-mail. When I came out, I noticed something on the floor next to my silk rug. It wasn't kitty SPIT. I picked it up with a tissue and disposed of it. Then I noticed something on the rug. I did not know what it was other than a cat product. Mary Ann thinks it might have been kitty spit-up. I don't know how one is supposed to clean a silk rug, but I used a lot of cool water and very mild soap. Then I propped it up to dry. I was not happy. Then I had breakfast, and got to work altering some clothing. I put elastic in the wrap-n-tie pants. I put a v-line neck in a shirt with a collar. I put a v-line neck in a t-shirt and lined it with ribbon. I had intended to get my hair cut, but just didn't feel like leaving the apt. So about 4 I called Mary Ann to tell her she could come over. I ironed dry some fabric until she came. She and I worked on her quilt top and got all the blocks into rows. While she was sewing and trimming, I covered the spot on the rug with baking soda to neutralize any acid in it. After a while I swept it up. We thought Chris would come home at 5:15 which would alert us to the time, but he didn't get home until almost 8. It was too late for Mary Ann to get through the gate. So she had to walk to old gate 52 for her husband to pick her up. Chris brought me a letter from Switzerland. It had hst's from the exchange. Isn't it wonderful? We had leftovers for supper and then cut into the watermelon from yesterday. Michele and I each had an eighth. I rechecked my e-mail, seeing that lots of new stuff came in. When Chris kissed me goodnight and went to bed, I decided to post to this blog and then follow him. BTW, the cats are locked out on the porch tonight.

Rain

It was not raining this morning but I got an e-mail from Chris saying that it would later. I checked my e-mail and had breakfast. I went to the thrift shop at 11. There were books to shelve, and when I had time, I reduced the price of books-on-tape 'cause they weren't selling. I checked out what I thought was an inversion table, but it was just some ab exercise thing. Mr. Kim had brought the staff a watermelon and for some reason they gave it to me. I bought a large stainless steel pot, put the watermelon on top, and carried it out. But it was raining hard then, so Geri came with me to hold the umbrella. I wanted to buy some shelves that Mary Ann had donated to the thrift shop, so I picked her up at the DHL and brought her back. She was going to help me take them home, but she said if they got wet, they'd be unuseable, so I decided to get them on a sunnier day. We went back to my house. She visited with the cats while I ate lunch/supper. Then we sewed, trying but failing to keep Cinnamon out. Chris came home with stamps, which she and I both needed. I fixed my umbrella with a pin stuck through the supports and curled around. (It pays to have a well-stocked sewing room). We finished up sewing, and went to the SPC. She helped me set up tables and stuff. Others arrived to help and I was please that they did, until I discovered that they weren't early. Setting up must have taken a lot longer than I thought. I worked on my current purse while the others worked on theirs. Most people were working on the straps by the end of class. We cleaned up and left. It wasn't raining so hard then. I came home and had two veggie pops. I checked e-mail, and finished a double Sudoku puzzle. Then I made the sandwich and was going to quickly blog, but Windows XP wasn't cooperating. I had to restart twice and wait a really long time before I could open Firefox or Windows Explorer. In fact, I was writing my blog by hand, intending to post it tomorrow when it finally came up.

Busy little bee

I was incredibly productive this morning. I made a loaf of bread, washed up the other half of the fabric I bought last week, dried it half way and folded it to be ironed. I gave the cats food and water. I hard-boiled a carton of eggs. I checked my e-mail. I juiced up carrots, celery, cucumber and pepper to make veggie pops, with a little left over to drink during the day. I also made a new batch of fermented coconut milk. Then I took a shower. Michele and I went to the DHL so she could do some banking. Then I picked up Cathy at the SPC, and dropped Michele off at the walk-in gate. Cathy and I parked at old gate 17 and took the subway to Dongdaemun. We had a fine time buying what was on our lists and just looking at fabric in general. I bought some fabrics to make shorts for the shirts I bought at the thrift shop. IT was about 3:30 when we left. When we got back, I dropped Cathy off at her place, then picked up Mary Ann at the DHL and brought her back to my place. She visited with the cats and with us. Chris came home. We never did get to working on her quilt. At 7 she left to meet her husband. We had supper and I did some Sudoku. Then I got on my computer to check e-mail once more and complete my Swansons order. But the 10% offer had ended. Oh well. I got an e-mail asking me to attend the award ceremony for the Arts and Crafts ceremony. So I guess my amateur quilt photos weren't so bad. I have my fingers crossed that I got first place instead of second like last year. Excuse me, I have to make the sandwich.
* pic from Tokyo show *

New Expletive

I awoke around 7. When I realized it was quiet in the courtyard, I went down there with a book on improving eyesight and my glasses. I read, barefoot in the sand, for about an hour. Then it hit me that I had forgotten my door pass. So I pressed the call button to our apartment building. But then a lady came out, so I went in. I took the elevator up. The door alarm was not sounding as I walked in the apt and Michele was still sound asleep. I fixed breakfast. Then I refilled the cats bowls and washed their water dish. It was a little slimy. I decided to call it 'kittyspit'. It dawned on me that it would make a good name for a rock band, or a great expletive. I don't have a rock band, so next time something goes wrong, I'll just say 'Oh, kittyspit!'
Anyway, after checking e-mail, and showering, I went to the thrift shop, dropping off a load of recyclables on the way. They had many boxes of books waiting for me, but I stayed until I had processed them all. Did not get to all the DVD's however. But I did add a bunch to the $1.50 rack. Mrs. Sharp stopped by for a bit to ask about Mary Ann. I stayed a little late to shop for tops. I bought 4. I plan on altering some of them. Then I sat outside, had a bite to eat and some water. I did a little energy work. Then I called Mary Ann and picked her up at the DHL. She came home with me. She said hi to the cats, and then we worked on her quilt. She sewed and cut cross-strips. By the time she had pinned the first stack (I am making her chain-piece them), it was after 5. Chris came home and we all chatted for a bit before she had to leave. It is her son's 21st birthday and they were going out. Chris heated up pork for supper. I also ate 3 veggie pops. Then I finished ironing my stack of damp fabric while watching 'Hancock'.
* Here is a pic from the Tokyo Show *

Independence Day

I awoke, not knowing what time it was, and it seemed early so I went back to sleep. But the next time I woke up, I saw that it was 10:30. Egads!!! I did not mean to sleep so late. Wondering if Cathy had called, I checked my phone. She hadn't, but I saw that some people called me yesterday while I was at the commissary without my phone. I had breakfast with e-mail. Then I made plans with Mary Ann. I sorted the recyclables to carry down on my way out. Chris and Michele went to drop off his car at the garage. I took my car to the DHL to get Mary Ann, and then we went to gate 17. Old gate 17, I should say. The gates have been renumbered and I don't know the new number. We walked through the subway station, and out the other side. I bought eggs where I usually buy eggs and kimchi. Then we walked around the area looked for 'Mono Mart' 'cause I read that they sell natto. We did not find MM, but we found an organic store that had it. It was more expensive than at E-mart. Mary Ann called Bob who met us at my gate. The three of us walked to my apartment. She and he visited with the cats until he had to leave. I laid out baby quilt squares on the bed. I also washed a load of fabric and put it in the dryer. When Bob left, she and I picked out some fabric that she liked in order for her to make a quilt. Now I have an excuse to buy more fabric. We cut, she sewed, we pressed. She made good progress. Then she had to go home for supper and Chris finished baking a chicken for ours. After supper, I cleared more e-mail, then sewed the squares together into a quilt top. I was watching NCIS by then. Since it wasn't over yet, I grabbed a few washed fabrics to iron. When it was over, I made Chris' sandwich, soaked my sprouts (which germinated nicely) and now it is time for bed.

Wet Sunday

We slept too late to make church. But later we went to the commissary for groceries. I did some Sudoku puzzles, read through some e-mail, cut and arranged leftover blocks for another baby quilt top (using up the last of the leftover blocks). I downloaded another hypnosis mp3 and listened to that. Chris and Michele watched War Games, and several of the Hobbit movies. He made pork, peas, and potatoes for supper. Oh, and it rained again today. Not all day, just a deluge as we left the commissary. And the south porch collected more water. Not sure where it is coming from. The cats were pretty much unseen again today. Maybe it was the water.
* Here is a pic from the Tokyo show *

More sewing

Chris got up early to talk to the voices- something that hasn't happened for three weeks. I checked my e-mail, Skyped Kurt, and had breakfast. I sewed a baby quilt top from leftover squares. Then I took a break to vacuum the apartment. Mary Ann had asked me the other day if I had seen hide or hair of the cats. The answer is - more hair than hide. So I swept it up. I came across a very nice mp3 on the internet that was a free download, so I copied it to a CD. I also went back to my quilt entries to change the amateur pics to professional ones. But the site would only let me change the descriptions, not the pics. Darn! I went back to sewing. I made another baby quilt top, similar to the first. Then I heard fireworks! So I rushed up to the 19 1/2 floor window and stuck my head out to watch. It was great at first, but then the accumulating cloud of smoke hid all the best parts. I also remembered that last year the window was closed and I didn't open it 'cause then I could see all the way to the ground and it was scary how high it was. So I had to remind myself all through the fireworks not to look down. When I got back to the apartment, Cinnamon was miaowing. When I checked her litter box, it was full. I must have removed 5 pounds of 'used' litter. She sat serenely by, as if to say "YOU have to clean MY litter box, ha, ha'. I spent the rest of the evening reading a book called "Passages".
* I can't remember whose quilted item this is, or why I have a pic of it *

Professional pictures

After having breakfast and skimming e-mail, I went into my sewing room to finish the dahlia quilt. I auditioned three fabric for the binding, and chose one. I cut the strips and sewed them together, then put my ironing board in front of my sewing table to make it bigger. I moved my machine to the ironing board to sew on the binding. Then I made myself comfortable in Michele's chair in the living room 'cause that is where the light is best. I sat there and hand-sewed the binding for a little more than 4 hours. About 3 Mary Ann came over to visit the cats. When I finished the quilt, I called the AnC center to make sure the photographer was still there. Then we took the dahlia quilt and the charm quilt over there to be photographed. If I had known how inexpensive it was, I would have taken all my quilts. Anyway, the king-size charm quilt was too big to photograph it all, but he did the best he could. Then he cropped the pics and put them on a CD for me. Cost was $7. Mary Ann was thirsty so we stopped by the shoppette for a drink and sat on some rocks near the Chosun. I was glad to be able to rest my bare feet on the ground (not raining for once). We chatted for awhile, then I took her back to the DHL so I could go through my gate before it closed. Michele and Chris had already eaten, so I had leftovers. Then hit my inbox pretty hard. With all the quilting lately, I have not been able to keep the unread messages down to 16.