Paper cuts

When I went to bed, my stomach was gurgling excessively. I did not think I would be able to sleep like that, but eventually I did. It was still gurgling when I woke up, but not as much. I wondered what caused it to do that. I woke up a little early so I got up to start the day. I swished and exercised. I got dressed and put out the recyclables. I juiced a cucumber and a red beet. My tapping buddy wrote that she wasn't feeling well. This is the third week in a row that she has canceled at the last minute. I went outside to cut some wheat grass and eat it. I listened to an audio, then did some tapping for her. I looked up engine temps to see why my engine is running at 190 when it usually runs much lower. But it wasn't in the red zone so I guess its alright. I did a Sudoku puzzle and made breakfast. I was listening to a Philosopher's Notes audio when the doorbell rang. The postman presented me with a package and some mail containing a card from Chris. I read it and it brought tears to my eyes. I packed up a project, and watered plants on the way to the car. I drove to quilting where I worked on cutting out the tiny pieces. I used both the X-acto knife and scissors. Ienjoyed talking to Pat and Marjorie. I used Pat's light, which was small and helpful. I continued to work a little after she left, then packed up to drive home. I stalled coming through the Garth/Drake intersection and wished I knew what happened. I brought my project in, and ate some lunch while checking e-mail. Then I mowed and ripped weeds out of the ditch from 4 to 5. When I came in, I checked my e-mail and played an interview, but for some reason the laptop would not load gmail messages. So I checked the desktop and saw a skype message from Chris. We talked for a little bit and then he had to go. I found my laptop was hung up so I shut it down. I listened to another audio, and heard a sound like a radio. I walked to the den to find that Parker had just left a message on my phone. I called her right back, but she did not answer. I rebooted my laptop, and did a Sudoku from a new book. It had blank grids in the back and I wanted to retry the one from Saturday but apparently I recycled it this morning:( I restarted my laptop and did some tapping videos. Chris skyped me back and I ate some blueberries while we talked. He sang to me before he hung up to go to bed. I did another Sudoku puzzle and listened to another short audio. I placed an Amazon order for a book on tapping for pain, and then downloaded the bonus meditations and tapping audios. Then it was time for bed.

Counter offer

I woke up early again but must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, the alarms were ringing, and in the wrong order. I got up to turn on the router and the laptop. I have been putting it in hibernate mode because it gets so hot. I drank lemon water while checking e-mail and got too far into it. It was 9 until I remembered to start swishing. I exercised and drybrushed. I thought about offering the buyers a reasonable amount of money to fix the things on their list and raise the price of the home. I did my detox and listened to audios. I learned that chlorella had the highest level of chlorophyll of any food, and capers won the contest for quercetin. I made warm salt water to drink in the sauna. I refilled my shampoo bottle and coconut oil bottle. I looked all over the house for my 2-piece bathing suit. I couldn't believe it had just disappeared. Finally I put on a one-piece as that was all I had. I packed my sauna bag. I was late leaving and paused at the door to ask myself if I had everything. I had my keys, and purse and ID. I considered counteroffer options all the way. When I got to post, I realized that I did not bring my sauna bag. So I went back home, not too happy with myself. I brought in the mail (junk) and checked e-mail for something from Parker. Then I grabbed my sauna bag and went back to post. Guess I was a little distracted by thoughts about the offer. I sat in the sauna and sweated. There was no one in there, so I turned down the heat a little. Ten minutes before I was done, someone turned the heat up but did not come in. ??? When the hour was up, I got out and took a shower and got dressed. As I passed by the front desk, on a whim, I asked if they had a lost and found. They pointed to a box in the corner. At the bottom was my bathing suit. How I could have left it in the sauna was beyond me. But I was glad to see it. I stuffed it in my bag and went home. I hung up the wet stuff and put my suit in the laundry hamper. I made breakfast and ate it reading e-mail. I also ate supper foods. Parker had sent a message about the VA not letting lendees get money back at closing except for certain items like appraisals and inspections. It was confusing the way it was worded. I guess she doesn't proofread her e-mails. I asked for clarification and then watched some videos in my e-mail. I also read about MEMS technology. It sounded pretty scary to me. I watched part of an interview with Ron Paul about the dollar crashing, but it looked staged. Chris skyped me at the last minute to sing me a song, then I had to leave for choir practice. It went well enough. I picked up the manual for Servantkeeper at the welcome center. After practice, Cecelia gave me her lily which was no longer blooming so I could give it a good home in a sunny place. I planned to plant it next to mine. When I had just finished parking in the carport, Parker called. I promised to call her back in 60 seconds, as I needed both hands to get my purse, folder and lily out of the car. When I got in the house I called her back. We discussed what the new banking regulations would allow at closing as far as cash back offers and appliance allowances, etc. Then I cut out little pieces of fabric with a craft knife while listening to an audio. Chris skyped me when he got in. After 15 minutes, the call dropped. He called me back, but not for long, as he wanted to go to bed. I finished my audio and went to bed.

New offer!

I awoke early, but got up with the alarm. I turned on the router and computer, and sent Chris a message asking how he felt this morning. I put the Netflix DVD in the mailer, but forgot to put it in the mail until I saw the mailman go by. I spit lemon seeds outside. I exercised, swished, and meditated. I juiced celery, carrots, and beans. I listened to an audio in which the speaker said if you rest your tongue on the bottom of your mouth, you can't get angry (or upset). I cleaned up, got my craft knife, and went to quilting. As I talked to Beverly, I tried to cut small areas out with the craft knife – it was not easy, and the cuts were not clean. Eventually everybody left. I stopped at the Asian store for kimbap and sprouts. I stopped at the Dollar store for new craft blades but they didn't have any. Then I stopped at the gas station, and noted that the price is going up. I went home to eat my kimbap with kimchi. I listened to more audios, finishing one with a meditation. I called Linda at church to ask about Servantkeeper software. She did not know much about the financial side and agreed to leave the booklet at the Welcome Center for me to pick up. I put a sticky note on my choir folder. I brought in the mail, but there was no card from Chris. Parker called and we talked about an offer that came through this morning. It wasn't great, but it was close to the ballpark. I e-mailed the details to Chris, then went outside to mow in the backyard and the side yard and the front yard. I plugged the mower in to recharge and got out the grass clippers. I trimmed the grass around the fence in the backyard and the tree. I called Sharon for advice on the offer and she said to ask for a gfe, and to send her address and she'll get intel on that market. I read e-mail, and heated butter in a dish on top of the coffee maker. I added a sweet potato and it was really good. I picked some wild lettuce and kale for a salad. I cut up cherry tomatoes on top. Chris skyped me an hour early because he had to go to a dinner. We talked about the offer and our possible counteroffers. Denise called and she and David weighed in. Then Chris sang me a song and he hung up. I ate some strawberries and cleaned in the kitchen while I composed an e-mail to Parker in my head. I got stuck reading comments on Warren's letter to Obama about the TPP. I did a Sudoku puzzle with my right eye. It was harder to see, but my logic functioned just as well. I wrote to my blog and considered going to bed.

What have I gotten myself into?

I woke up worrying about the test quilt. It wasn't something I wanted to do and yet somehow I felt like I should do it. Should I tell them no or say I will do part of it? Over and over. I got up to check the time and went back to bed because it was so early. Finally the alarm sounded and I got up for good. I exercised and checked e-mail. I called Dad to tell him Michele's address. I assembled the juicer but then did not feel like drinking juice. That was odd. It kind of stopped me in my tracks. Finally I went ahead with breakfast, assuring my stomach that if it did not want breakfast either, it did not have to eat it. But it was ok with breakfast when it was made. I ate and listened to an audio about a compassion technique that had similarities to EFT. I printed out the four patterns for the test quilt blocks. I made notes about the directions, which I had to load into 4 tabs to keep straight. I went downstairs to choose fabrics for the blocks. I went through my stash of batiks (what they recommended) to find a dark and a light that looked good together that I didn't mind using up. They also recommended SteamaSeam, but all I had was WonderUnder so I used that. I cut a piece off and traced the first picture onto it. It was slow and tedious. I packed up the rest and took them to the car. I could not resist watering the plants and seeds before I left. I drove to quilting. Debbie was there and she'd brought me a gallon of strawberries from a farm that she passed on the way in. I paid her and set up my sewing stuff at the small table by the irons. We had a large group and that was the only space left. I could smell the strawberries as I sat and traced more pictures. I ironed them to the fabric and cut out the outer parts. The inner ones were so small I figured only a craft knife would do. My scrap of dark fabric ran out before the 4th picture. So I had to 'piece' it with glue, which was already on the edges from where I cut out the first three. I had to finesse it though to keep from getting glue on the iron. It was a lot of cutting and my hands began to hurt. We all had a good time chatting with each other. Maryann was cutting up grocery bags to make crocheted mats for the homeless. I wished her luck with that. Around 5 I left to drive home. I wished for a bag to go over the strawberries so they wouldn't roll around in Chris' nice car, but the driving went smoothly and no berries left the bucket. I left my sewing stuff in the car, but brought in the cutouts and berries. I put them in vinegar water to soak off any pesticides. I put a beef tongue in a pot of water to cook. I washed and oiled 4 organic white sweet potatoes and put them in the oven to cook. I sat and tapped, nearly fell asleep listening to the oven tick. I did a Sudoku puzzle with my left eye. I left a message for Chris on Skype. I fished out the overly ripe strawberries, and ate some with the tongue. I picked wild lettuce and kale and made a salad with sunflower seeds and strawberries. I ate it while talking to Chris, who was bundled up on his couch, feeling cold. I hoped he wasn't sick. Then I watched “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”, which is a much better movie than the name would suggest. When it was over, I tidied up e-mail, posted to my blog, and went to bed.

Seeds

I got up shortly before the alarm went off. I realized I hadn't turned off the router last night. The inside temp was 74, still higher than the heat (which I turned off last night). There was a bad smell in my bedroom and I was unable to locate the source. I hoped it wasn't a dead animal inside a wall. I opened a window so the fan could pull in fresh air. I put laundry in the washer. I exercised, checked e-mail and made breakfast. I saw an e-mail from a quilt pattern company wanting me to test one of their patterns. It looked complicated. I took my shower after the washer was done. It seemed to get confused in the middle of the cycle and I paused and restarted it several times. Then I put the laundry in the dryer. After my shower, I got dressed quickly, wearing a dress that I usually don't wear because I cannot button the back. But I discovered that I can pull it over my head without unbuttoning it. I finished my breakfast and supplements, and headed to church. Choir practice did not start right at 10:20 so I had a moment to talk to Art. I told him I'd like to count at a later time next week due to Renegades. Cecelia asked me if I'd heard anything new about Chris' job right in front of Art. So he found out that I might be moving to SK. Then Shannon and I went in to practice. It went ok. I wore my new glasses. After the service, I counted cash (which was nil but I had to sign a paper to that effect) and agreed to meet Art back at 2:30. We gathered in the fellowship hall to sing Happy Birthday to Darryl on his 85th birthday. His speech started out “Four score and five years ago, my mother brought forth to this nation...” It was most amusing. I talked to Mike about how to get in touch with Linda about Servantkeeper software. I was going to go home to get my grocery list, but I remembered what was on it on the way home. My transmission was not doing as well as usual. But I did not want to drive Chris' car to Publix. After shopping I brought my groceries home. They sat on the kitchen floor while I changed clothes and brought up the dry laundry from the basement. Then I put the groceries away and ate some cheese while watching part of a video on seeds, and how seed saving is being discouraged and in some places illegal. They also pointed out that the pesticides that the GMO companies spray on their fields are killing the organic crops grown within several miles of those fields. The big companies are patenting not just seeds, but certain qualities – like heat resistance, coloration, etc which can make growing heirloom varieties that have those qualities illegal. I had no transmission trouble driving to church in the afternoon. We counted the offering and had a glitch that was small and easily solved. Then I went home, and restarted the seed video that I hadn't finished because my computer lost it's place. I ate lunch. I planted seeds and watered things from yesterday. I tried to pull out trees trying to grow in the back yard. I was back in time to watch the part of the video that I hadn't seen. I talked to Chris on skype and he sang me another song. Then I watched another video against mandatory vaccines, and wrote a check to the church for next Sunday. There was an interview with Sharyl Attkisson on her book “Stonewalled: my fight for truth against the forces of obstruction, intimidation and harassment in Obama's Washington”. Her fight lead her to quit her job at CBS News. While listening I was sewing on the hexecontehedron, but had to stop and re-glue some of the edges which then needed to dry. I looked up her website and read lots. I saw a post on the Nuremberg trials which said mandatory vaccinations violate the informed consent ruling under which those doctors were found guilty. Then it was time to go to bed. I never did pick fabrics for the test quilt.
* This is the treadle which really doesn't deserve to be shipped to Korea and back *

Mud run

Last night before I fell asleep, I heard the rain fall in earnest. I got up to put out the collection tubs. When I got up this morning, I brought them in, with a decent amount of water! I set it on the counter and proceeded to swish and check e-mail. I finished the weekend Sudoku puzzle and got it wrong – wondering where my logic was in error. I re-listened to an audio from yesterday because it was so interesting and I missed parts of it as I was working in the kitchen. About 10, I called Mary. She was riding with Annette and Cathy to the Paducah Convention Center. I wished I could have gone with them or met them there, but could not face the stress of getting up at three am to catch the guild bus and return at midnight. Anyway, it was good to talk to her since we met in Korea. Actually, I met all of them in Korea. Maybe if I do end up in Chinhae, they will visit me for the Tokyo Quilt Show:)
I juiced, and meditated. I processed all the rainwater, filling up several gallon jugs. I was making breakfast when Denise called. While she talked, I refilled jars and containers of nuts and seeds for tomorrow. After the call, I finished breakfast, and read e-mail. I made up a week's worth of supplements and ordered refills. I raked up the magnolia leaves and mowed over them and all the others under the tree. I also re-mowed some of the front yard since the weeds were mowed but not the grass. When mower quit (overheated), I used the time to uproot marigold seedlings and replant them in the flower bed. Then I mowed in the far back in front of the culvert. Then I planted the two large tomato plants near the patio. I talked to Craig and told him I got a new battery. I planted carrot seeds in the garden. I filled a tray with some of the soil dug from the yard, and added what was left of an old bag of potting soil. I watered it well to soak. I put 6 eggs on the stove to cook. I checked e-mail, and later realized the stove was not turned on. I turned the stove on. I ate a jar of Cecily's canned tomatoes. When the eggs were finished, I ate one. I listened to an audio about using electrical voltage to heal the body. I looked at pictures Chris sent from the mud run yesterday, wondering why anyone would want to do such a thing. I heard my backyard neighbor mowing in my back yard, near the ditch. I finished the audio, and Chris skyped me. Maryann skyped in a short while later so I promised to call her back. Chris brought Michele in on the call so we could talk to her. Denise called, but only had a quick question. She is signed up to take the state dept exam in June. Then Chris ended the call because he was exhausted. The call ended. I closed the garage door, and called Maryann. She had questions about stuff I wrote in my blog. Then I finished a Sudoku puzzle, posted to my blog and then I realized that I had not stacked the dishwasher or done the laundry as I usually do on Saturday night. I ran the dishwasher and went to bed.
* This is Team Skunk. Don't ask me why. *

Remote viewing

I slept in past the alarm – not actually sleeping, but not ready to get up. When I did, it was the usual morning routine. I swished and exercised and listened to an audio. I juiced and made breakfast. I did today's Sudoku puzzle. I sat to meditate. Denise called to say she was on her way over. I then went out with the mower to make sure it worked. I mowed until she drove up. When I plugged the mower in, the light was still green. Denise gave me a small pepper plant and a jar of homemade sauerkraut. She told me her news, and she offered to pray for me in tongues. That intrigued me, so I said yes. And she did. She said if I went to a group meeting with her, they would pray for me and I could learn to speak in tongues too. We spent the rest of the afternoon working on her second charity quilt. After she left, I felt a few raindrops but decided to mow anyway. I finished the back yard. I had to admit there was less to mow since the man next door mowed over the line. But the mower wouldn't quit. I could have gone on, but did not want to get wet. I put up the mower and found some food for supper. I picked wild lettuce for a salad. I read e-mail and Kurt skyped me. He was watching BBT on TV and I could see it from his tablet. That gave a whole new meaning to 'remote viewing'. Then Dad called to get Michele's address (which I could not find), so I talked to him while Kurt watched TV. When Dad hung up, Kurt decided to invoke screen mirroring between his tablet and his TV. I took a screen shot of his TV showing recursive images of me as shown via skype on his tablet. It got complicated. Anyway, he experimented with twitching his tablet which made the images on the screen twitch in sequence. It was wild. Finally he had to go to bed. So I posted to my blog and put myself to bed.

I did it!

I woke up before the alarm but did not get up until then. I tipped the mower battery onto the bathroom scale to weigh it. That must not have been a good way to measure because the scale read 25 and my sewing machine weighs that much or more. I got dressed and took out the recyclables. On the way back, I saw that a bucket of dirty rainwater that I was saving for plants had swimming things in it. That made me think of mosquitoes so I poured it out. I came in to check e-mail and listen to the last Philosopher's Notes episode. I read e-mail and followed links, swished and exercised. I noticed the kitchen was full of ants, so I put out ant bait. I was washing spinach to juice when Parker called. She said she was meeting with a couple tonight and expected them to make an offer. She promised to call afterward. I updated the Disclosure form and e-mailed it to her. She had sent pics (which did not come through). They've had a lot of rain but the basement is dry. After her call, I finished washing the spinach and sprouts. I juiced and then made breakfast. I went to Stitch-Its with my new light. The car stalled after going through an intersection. With so much going on, I had no idea what went wrong. When I got there, I plugged in my light. I worked by hand, talking to Betty and several others. Christie said I could post a prayer request (about Chris' job) on their Facebook site. I stayed late to avoid school traffic, but royally misjudged that. I was right in the middle of it coming home. When I got in, the ants were all over the bait. I took a picture of my treadle to send to Christie. I ate some cheese, and watched a battery replacement video for a slightly different mode and scoured a related forum. Finally I posted my question. I got the battery to the bottom of the front steps where I had placed a rolling cart. I rolled it to the garage. I went to the mower and the light was green so I mowed, but it only lasted for a few minutes. I used a drill with a star screwdriver bit to remove the screws. The inside was not quite like the one in the video. And the battery connections were a little different. But each problem had a solution. I had to work quickly since daylight was fading and time was short. I got the old battery out and the new one in, and the lawn mower back together. I plugged it in and the light was green so maybe it was already charged. But there wasn't time to investigate. I changed my clothes and drove off to New Hope. My back was uncomfortable, but I was elated to have figured it all out. I was three minutes late for the meeting of the North Alabama Conscious Living meetup. Two others came, plus the leader. We had a great time discussing what we were calling forth in our lives. Around 8:30 Parker called to say the couple had just left. They had had so many questions and still needed time to find agreement with each other. She expected a call (and offer) from them tomorrow. I agreed to talk to Chris about the chimney. When the meeting was over, I drove home, feeling good. Chris was waiting on skype. We talked for awhile and he sang me a song. I loved that. Then he hung up and I did the Sudoku puzzles for yesterday and today. It seems like I am always ahead or behind on those puzzles. I posted to my blog and went to bed.

I may need a new plan

I woke up early this morning, surprised that I had slept. Like yesterday, I felt achy all over, like I'd been tense all night. I started swishing and went back to bed until the 20 minute timer rang. I put on an audio and rebounded, exercised, and drybrushed. I boiled coffee and did the detox. I was glad to be ahead of schedule so I could get to church by noon. But at 11 Art called to say he had done the counting himself yesterday. So I did not have to go in after all. I did not know whether to be glad, or mad (having gotten up early for no reason and why did he not call me yesterday to tell me this?) Then it was time to juice. I had a lot of clean up after juicing because the pulp basket shifted away from the machine while the red beet was going through. The red pulp sprayed all over the wall and counter and mixer. I heard the man next door mowing his lawn and figured I should do the same. And I did, with a full on niacin flush. I brought in the mail, which was just Netflix. Then I checked e-mail and looked at the site I was reading last night. It was full of conspiracy theories, to such an extent that they cannot all be credible. It made me feel better about what I read last night. I heated up the salt water for the sauna and dressed appropriately. I packed my bag and drove to post. My first stop was MWR. I went there to get a new card. I had to leave the old one, and when I remarked that I still had my base pass, they confiscated it, saying they would take it to the One Stop and tell those people that they did not do their job. I went to the gym and got in the sauna. One lady I have seen before asked me if I had any soap, knowing it would be something natural. I gave her mine and she used it. She gave it back to me as I was sitting in the heat and I think it was melting, so I put it in my locker. I had a good sweat. Several different ladies were in and out. One slept, and we were worried about her. Later she said it was an effect of her allergy meds but that it was ok, she could sleep in the sauna for an hour with no problem. I did not understand how that could be so. When I got home, I made breakfast, and listened to audios while I ate. Then I mowed for the second time. I discovered that grass is thicker than weeds. After 10 minutes, the mower was cutting the weeds but only playing with the grass. When I plugged it in, I swept the garage floor. Then I listened to two audios. I weeded the front flowerbed so I could scatter seed. I also scattered old seed (poppies) in the back flower bed. It started to rain. I was inside listening to a Philosopher's Notes video when the doorbell rang. The UPS guy left a package on the porch. It was small but so heavy I could not lift it more than to get it over the doorjamb. It was the new lawn mower battery. I had assured myself that I could find a way to take the mower apart to get the old battery out, watching Youtube videos if necessary. But it never occurred to me that it might be so heavy that I could not move it. My plan might need some rethinking. I changed clothes and went to choir practice in the pouring rain. We sang a piece with a flute part and JenQ suggested I try it on trombone just for fun. So when I got home, I did. But some of the notes were just too high. I played more Philosopher's Notes videos while sewing by hand under my new lamp. I shortened it to a table lamp and tried it that way. The base seemed appropriate for a floor lamp but awfully big for a table size. My hands got sore from holding the layers together. I sat in the den to tap and heard the skype sound. Chris called me and we talked. He is planning to return to Huntsville in mid May. He sang me another song – one by Phil Collins. Then he hung up to go to bed and I did the same.
* These are my two large tomato plants, waiting to be planted *

What really happened?

I woke up from a dream about strange sea creatures used as fish bait, and throwing a piece of rotten fruit. It was before 8, but I got up anyway. I turned on the router and swished. I checked e-mail and juiced. I threw out the last piece of aloe. I thought putting it in water would keep the end from drying out, but it just got waterlogged and slimy. Art called and asked to count money tomorrow. Arrgh! I told him I could do it at noon. I realized that that could play havoc with my schedule. I wondered afterward if I should have picked a later time and tried to get in the sauna early. I got dressed, and drove to quilting. As I talked to Beverly, I worked on my hexecontehedron. She asked me to go quilt shop hopping for something called Row by Row. It starts in June. Before we left, I went to the bathroom. I had an OMG moment when I saw myself in the mirror and thought “I am not fat. How is that possible?” It was a good moment. I stopped by the Asian store but there was no kimbap. So I just got sprouts, and came home. I made breakfast and was checking e-mail when Jen called. She mentioned a tapping video I should see and said she couldn't go Thursday night. I finished my breakfast and mowed. I dug up some soil for seed tray. I planted peas, lemon squash, cucumber, a salad mix, and ground cherries in it. I sprinkled leftover pea seeds in the flowerbed. Extra cucumber seeds went in the garden. I put more kale seed in the in kale bed, and salad mix nearby. I made notes of these items to post in my blog so I would remember the order in which they were planted. I watched the top 10 shockingly horrible geniuses. #1 was Henry Ford for inspiring Hitler to act against the Jews. Wow! Then I came across the following video – which combined classical music and humor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKezUd_xw20&feature=youtu.be
I ate some cheese and an egg and some fruit for lunch. I took a break from a health audio to mow for a few minutes, wishing for my new battery to arrive. Then I finished the health audio (on hyperbaric oxygen therapy, IV vitamin C, and phosphotidyl serine therapy and others ) and ate some chocolate and dates. I watched another audio, this one on tapping. I went outside to plant a few more seeds, and do more weeding. I totally forgot about the sweet potatoes I had put in the oven earlier. They were perfectly done when I rescued them. I ate one with butter. I listened to an audio while filing bills. I was watching what I thought was a live Google hangout on pendulums when Chris skyped me. I called him back when the hangout went commercial. We talked for awhile and he sang me a song. Then I worked a Sudoku puzzle, and listened to an audio on tapping for trauma. As I was typing up my notes for this blog, I googled Ford and Hitler. What I came across was a completely different history from the one I learned in school. It was a history where the large companies like Ford, Morgan, Standard Oi, etc instigated wars so they could sell to both sides and make more profit. I was sickened and disgusted. Not only did Ford inspire Hitler (and his Gestapo), he financed his campaign.
I do not know if I can sleep tonight.
* kale from last fall *

All tapped out

I was having a dream which I don't remember now. I got up with the alarm, and went outside to collect rain water. I slipped so quickly that I was surprised to find myself lying down on the deck. I immediately came in to change my shoes. I brought in the rain water, and then got dressed to put the DVD in the mail. I processed the rain water and exercised while it went through the coffeemaker. I put some Terrashield in the diffuser to ward off insects. Lately the roaches I have been finding are small ones and I worry that they are breeding inside the house. I checked e-mail, and took my pre-breakfast supplements. Cecilia called to ask how I was doing. I told her about Chris going to Korea. And about the possibility of a job in Huntsville. Then Denise called. Things were not going well for her and she needed to talk. We did some tapping together. Then I juiced, and made breakfast. I was later than usual so I grabbed my sewing stuff and put it in Chris' car and drove to the church. I gave Carolyn back her templates which I had borrowed probably a year ago. I had a great time chatting with everybody. I turned in my yellow star block. I traced out a triangle to fit the wedge shape for Renegades and cut a few rectangles to match. I left about 5:30. I had some lunch and then mowed in the side yard. I did not get much done, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I uprooted more trees trying to take over the yard. I wondered where to plant the tomatoes. The usual places don't get as much sun as I would like, or have been contaminated by previous plantings. I came in to check e-mail. It was almost time for Chris on skype. But he was late getting back from work. Brad Yates put up a whole list of new tapping videos. Chris called while I was getting a drink between videos. During the call I realized that I had not had my phone with me. I pulled it off the charger and checked for messages. There was one from Parker about a couple that returned to see the house, and that there was a new roof leak, this time in the den. I told Chris about it. Before he hung up, he sang me a song. It was nice. After the call, I finished a Sudoku puzzle and returned to the tapping videos and finished them all, but it was late. Now it is past time to go to bed.
* Our group is making heart blocks *

I can see clearly now

I woke up hearing the blinds rattling. From previous experience I knew that it was a roach. I refused to open my eyes. Mentally I told it to be gone or be quiet. And the rattling stopped. When the alarm rang, I got up to turn it off and turn on the router. I emptied the dishwasher. I checked e-mail while swishing. I was doing my exercises when my back gave me a warning signal. From that point, I cut out any exercise that included bending or leaning. I made breakfast and took a shower. I got dressed, but without pantyhose since putting them on bothers my back. I listened to an audio, and paused when it was time to leave for church. I got there just in time for the service. The Luthermen sang. They are a quartet that sing acapella, and very nicely too. We had four confirmands. They were all dressed up and took their vows in front of the church. After the service, I helped Art count the loose cash. He told me that he could not count the offering this afternoon and would call me about counting tomorrow. I suggested Tuesday was better. Then I asked the church president about software that does all of the tracking of monies and spits out graphs. He suggested talking to the church secretary, but I could not find her. I drove home and went to the bathroom and changed my clothes. Then I drove to Publix. They had large tomato plants with tomatoes already on them, some of them ripe, for less than what I bought from Lowes. So as I was checking out, I mentioned that I wanted one. A grocery bagging specialist got a tag for the cashier to scan. Then on the way out, it took two of them to get the particular one I wanted. She put it in my car. The only place it would fit was on the floor behind the driver's seat. I wondered how I would get it out, or if I would be growing tomatoes in my car until Chris gets back. When I got home, I made two trips to take the groceries in the house, and then was able to carefully lift the plant out and set it on the wall. I checked e-mail and then put the groceries away. I picked wild lettuce and made a salad. I listened to audios as I did Sudoku puzzles. I cleaned two windows before the rain hit. I texted back and forth with Parker. I processed rain water. I started a new batch of fermented coconut milk. I cleaned 4 more windows after the rain let up. I skyped with Chris, then went back to listening to Philosopher's Notes videos on Youtube. I ate a boiled egg mixed with Camembert. I finished a Sudoku puzzle. I took my laptop downstairs to watch an episode of X-Files while ironing dry the fabric I washed yesterday. I came back up to plug in the laptop and watch a second episode. Then I put the disc in the Netflix mailer. I posted to my blog and went to bed.
* I think these are Jane Sassaman's quilts from the presentation Thursday night. *

New glasses and a tomato plant

I woke up way before the alarm but stayed in bed to do some mental programming. What I read last night was to think about what I really want and all the reasons why. So I thought about selling the house for a high price. I got up to turn off the alarm. I turned on the router. I checked e-mail and swished. I soaked the sprouts. I swept the kitchen floor. I watched several quilt segments. I put on a tapping audio and juiced. I juiced carrots and celery and some of the sprouts. Then I meditated and tried to deeply relax. I know my time alone is coming to an end and these things will be harder to do then. After meditating, I went out to mow the lawn. Again, I noticed how short the full power cycle lasted. I kept mowing until it just wouldn't cut it. I found mail in the mailbox and a box on the front porch. The box held supplements, and in the mail was my new pair of glasses. I finished the tapping documentary. I made my breakfast with a fresh can of coconut milk since I felt bad on breakfast yesterday. But it did not taste right, maybe because it was a different brand. I did the Sudoku puzzle for the weekend. I drove to the sewing group. Denise showed up, too. She worked on hexagons and I sewed diamonds together for the hexecontehedron. I did what I could, but several diamonds were missing from my bag. On the way home, I stopped at Lowes for the biggest tomato plant I could find. I was surprised that it cost $17. But there isn't time to start one from seed. When I got home, I pulled out the mower and cut only a fraction of the front yard. I plugged it back in and checked e-mail. I listened to an audio. I saw two e-mails from Parker. I forwarded them to Chris who then skyped me. While we were talking, I ordered a new battery for the lawn mower. After the call, I put laundry in the washer, along with some unwashed fabric. Then I stacked the dishwasher for later. I watched an episode of X-Files. I noticed that the default Dvd software was now working. When it finished, I moved the laundry to the dryer and ran the dishwasher. I watched another episode of X-Files, posted to my blog, rescued the clean laundry and went to bed.
* This is one of the comfy quilts, using fabric I used for a comfy quilt when I first joined the group. *

New ID card

I woke up with the alarm. The house was cold, so I turned the heat on. I took my nightguard out and laid down. But I got back up not too much later. I swished and checked e-mail. I printed some forms Chris sent me and went searching for the other papers I needed to get my ID renewed. I processed some rain water from yesterday. The old coffee maker acted like it had a blockage in the line. I juiced and meditated. I made breakfast, and listened to some functional health audios. I did some tapping for Parker and her accident. I paused the last audio and got dressed. I checked the mail and the box was empty. I took the forms to post. I asked for the lady that Chris had spoken to. I was not given a number, but asked to wait. I tried not to watch the TV in the waiting room. It was playing a soap opera. Finally the lady took my picture and made a laminated ID card. I took it to MWR. It was 10 after 2 and the person in the card renewal office had just gone to lunch. I did not want to wait 50 minutes so I came home. I finished the audio and started another. I was sitting and releasing negative energy when the phone rang. Parker called to say she was meeting with Mr. John tomorrow. We talked about quarter round, and the basement wall. She said one couple was getting preapproved and would likely make an offer next week. I asked about her accident and she said she had a headache that wouldn't quit so she went to the hospital this morning and they said there was nothing serious going on. After the call, I finished the audio, and checked e-mail. There was one from Pinterest. Since one of my quilting friends was trying to find my page on Pinterest, I used the link to 'invite' her. Reading through the pin suggestions, I found a page called “My life as an introvert”. Whoa! It was all so true. There was a lot of fodder for tapping there. So I did. For hours. Then I added new pins to my Pinterest page. I hardboiled 6 eggs and ate one. I went downstairs to sew up the DGS block. I came up to get my camera and couldn't find it for the longest time. It had fallen into my grocery sack. I took a pic of the block and then Chris was on skype. We talked for awhile. It was movie night for him, but not for me since Netflix did not come today. I read e-mail, and saw an article on detoxing. It suggested dandelion tea so I made some and drank it while working a Sudoku puzzle. I posted to my blog and went to bed.

Jane's presentation

My dream was interrupted by a storm. Some lady was telling me that her husband wanted to move to DC to take a job as the capitol ghost. Then the sound of thunder pulled me away from that. Finally I said “enough already!” and the storm moved away. I might have gone back to sleep, but I remember listening to the rain. The room was chilly and I snuggled under the covers until I thought about the basement. So I got up and checked the temperature – 71 inside and put on my robe. I put the collection tubs out, and turned on the router, drank lemon water and swished. I deleted the first round of e-mail. Just after I started my exercises, I remembered the basement again. Thankfully, it was dry. I put on an audio and finished my exercises. I did some handsewing with my new magnifier lamp to see how much it helped. I wondered if it was worth the effort of changing it into a table lamp and taking it to quilting today. That room is not bright and light is especially low on rainy days. I wrote to my congressman about fast track legislation (TPA). I juiced and meditated. I made breakfast. I did a tapping audio. I made up a week's worth of supplements, including today. I drove Chris' car to quilting and got there about noon. All I did there was some knitting since the lighting is so bad. The ladies said they would write letters to someone in town to get Chris hired here, if they knew who to send them to. I left there about 2 to go home and change cars. Then I drove to church to meet the pastor for some counseling. He is a really good listener. I left there at 4:15 to come home. I had a bite to eat, making a salad from wild lettuce and kale sprouts. I checked e-mail and saw one from Parker explaining the last of the expenses. There was one from Chris explaining how to get my ID card renewed. And I got a card from him in the mail. I went out to mow the lawn, trying to get the battery run all the way down. But it lasted longer than I did, even though it sounded like it was barely alive. I checked e-mail again. I filled out all the raffle tickets that I wasn't able to sell. 5 of 20 isn't bad. My big toe kept getting caught in a hole in my sock so I ran it under the sewing machine for a quick fix. I drove Chris' car to the guild meeting. I turned in the tickets and the quilt top Denise and I made. I sat with Jodi to collect Comfy quilts. When they were shown off during the meeting, I took pics. The low battery light came on, and the camera quit during the Jane Sassaman presentation. I went up to look at her quilts afterward. I talked to Sue on the way out. She has SCA garb too. I drove up the hill in 2nd. I parked in the carport but was not alone. Something as large as a squirrel shifted in the darkness. I brought all my sewing stuff inside. I checked e-mail, and saw a message from Chris on Skype. So I called him and we talked for almost 2 hours. Then I downloaded some pics from my camera to post to my blog and went to bed.
* This is a slide from Jane's presentation where she shows how to use her line of fabric in a quilt. *

Just not in the cards

I went to bed late but I slept really well. I had a dream I don't quite remember. Kelly and Becca and Michele were in it. I got up with the alarm. I brought in the rain water from last night. It looked free of pollen. I soaked my sprouts and got dressed so I could put the movie in the mail. I started processing the water. I refiltered the pollen water from earlier in the week. I put the branch of aloe in water. I swished and exercised. I signed a public petition against Philip Morris for suing Uruguay over anti-smoking laws. PM is still in a lawsuit with Australia for similar reasons. I started the detox routine. The doorbell rang and there was the postman with a package from Swansons. I resumed detox, listening to an audio on the desktop because the laptop speakers weren't speaking. Then William called. I asked about a new mower battery. Then I packed my bag and went to post. I sat in sauna with coconut oil in my hair and a scarf over my head to protect against the heat. The time went quickly because other ladies I had met before came in and we talked. One of the ladies asked if I lost weight. While my face suggests that I have, the scale does not agree.Then I took a shower and got dressed. I dropped my bag in the car and walked to MWR to renew my card which expires at the end of this month. The lady there said she couldn't do it, that I needed a 1602 from One Stop. So I walked there, and they said I had to have my husband there in person to get the 1602 (even though we did this last summer so they have already seen his CAC card and our marriage license). No exceptions, even though my husband is in Honduras. So I just went home. I hung up the wet stuff. I e-mailed Chris. I made breakfast and ate it. I saw an e-mail from our agent saying she'd been in a car accident but expected to be back in full force tomorrow. I sent her a condolence e-mail. I listened to an interview with a former drug rep. That was really interesting. I mowed inside the fence, but only got a few minutes of full power. Very disappointing. I finished an audio while working the puzzle for today. Then I rebooted laptop, and mowed again. I knew it wasn't fully charged. When I got back, the laptop was rebooted, but I could not get my open windows back. I thought I lost my blog notes, too. I changed my clothes and took my tablet to choir practice. We sang a new song with a complicated alto part. It was hard to play on the tablet in 4 sharps while singing. But we got through it. After practice, I talked to Jennifer and Mary. Jennifer said that vegetable plants were on sale at Home Depot. When I got home, I sat on a chair on the patio, breathing in the darkness and the cricket sounds. When I came in, I found my blog notes had survived the reboot. I listened to another interview, without headphones. It involved tapping for money issues. Chris called on skype so I paused it. We talked for a while, nothing new. He said I could buy a new battery for the mower. Then he went to bed, and I finished the audio.
* This is a quilt seen at the Tuesday group *

Stewardship

I had a dream about a squirrel that turned into a cat that hissed at me and I thought it was going to attack me. I woke up in a panic. I tapped until I could go back to sleep. I got up with the alarm. I sorted through the fabric I got yesterday to estimate the yardage. I brought in the rain water. I read e-mail while it processed. I swished and exercised. I watched a video on Fast Track, a process that lets the president negotiate trade agreements and all congress gets to do it vote yes or no, and there is a lot of pressure to vote yes. I also listened to an audio on benevolent capitalism. I juiced, and meditated, got dressed, and put a check in the mail. Parker said a prospective buyer asked about the electric bills, so I sent that information to her to pass on. Then I went to quilting. I made the rounds and sat with Beverly. She bought a raffle ticket and several others did too. I will fill out the rest and drop them off Thursday night so I don't have that to think about any more. I talked to a number of people. Jane asked about my dad and I told her he was doing ok, that he liked living alone and doing things his way. She wondered aloud who else fit that description. Ha, ha, no one I know. On the way home I stopped for kimbap and sprouts. I ate a few pieces in the car before driving home. I finished the rest with kimchi when I got home. I checked e-mail, and made breakfast. I listened to several more audios. I saw a video of a car that looked like a Radio Flyer wagon but was street legal. When I brought in the mail, I saw two bills from Shaeffer Eye Center. I called and they said someone would call me back. I repotted the two goji berry plants. I disassembled the structure covering the kale for the winter, and weeded along the brick wall. I cut yellow squares for the DGS block. I went up to look at the directions and ended up listening to another audio. I put away laundry. The Great Clips website said there was no waiting, so I jumped in the car and drove over. I think I did wait for a minute. Even though she cut my hair, it still looked like 'older sister' hair. Hmm, I wondered how to get my 'younger sister' hair back. William called while I was getting the cut, so I called him back. He told me about Dad donating Mom's jewelry to the church yard sale. There was a charm bracelet in there with our names on it. Then I walked into Schaeffer Eye Center. They looked at my bill(s) and insurance card, made a phone call and did something on the computer. They said it might take several months to get it straight, but they would resubmit it to insurance. I told them I might not be here in several months. When I got home, I mowed, and dug up treelings. I checked e-mail, had supper and supplements, and mowed again as darkness threatened. I cut white squares for the DGS block, and checked e-mail. Chris called me on skype, but there was no sound. I could only hear him if I used headphones. The call was short so I could change my clothes and shoes and go to the stewardship meeting. I brought my file, but did not need it. Art handed out sheets of numbers. He explained them, but his voice was so low that I could not hear him. Then the other Art explained the numbers for the capitol fund. The numbers told a story of giving below budget. After the meeting, I spoke with the pastor and then went home in the rain. I reset my collection tubs and checked e-mail, sending a message to Chris. He called me but I could not hear him with the headphones. The sound was outside the headphones even though they were plugged in. After we hung up, I wrote my blog entry and then watched the netflix movie “Edge of Tomorrow”. I think Chris would have liked it. I had to use the headphones. Weird. And then it was past time to go to bed.
* I think this is Robin's quilt *

Sharpest scissors on the block

I went to bed late, so did not feel like getting up when the alarm rang. After reading several posts about the value of sleep, I decided to sleep longer. So it was after 9 when I got up. I immediately got started with swishing, exercising and reading e-mail. I put out my rain collection tubs. Then I juiced. I got several e-mails from Parker. It looked like the previous owner did not get a permit to add the front bedroom and basement. So I went downstairs to look for the papers from when we bought the house. I did not find them there, but did find them in the den. I scanned and sent a copy of a page with a detailed sketch and measurements. I made breakfast and ate it in front of my computer. I did some tapping. I got several more e-mails from Parker so I sent here a note that I would be going to quilting and she could call me there if she needed something right away. I grabbed some blocks and got in Chris' car. When I got there, they were looking through fabric that Walter (Barbara's husband) had brought. We each took some. Then Carolyn said a prayer and we had lunch. I set up my machine at the back table. I told everyone that Chris had accepted a job in Korea and I would probably be leaving. Walter said I should go and Dinah said I should stay. Gee, it was good to see Dinah again. I worked on the Renegades quilt. I just couldn't seem to get the triangles right. Then I got a call from Parker. She told me that we did not need a permit for the bedroom addition, just the bathroom. She told me how much the plumber charged to replace the cut straps on the toilet drain pipe. We discussed several other issues and she said she would call tomorrow when they put in the new carpeting. I went back to sewing. Virginia was looking for a tissue and found one in my purse. I did not think it was clean but she did. I think it was Alice who said if I had used it, it was organic. It was so funny! I am really going to miss this group! It was after 5 when I packed up and drove home. I brought in the mail and opened the bills. One was past due. I e-mailed the bills to Chris. I had a bite to eat (maybe two or three). Chris skyped me briefly before he went out to eat with a group. I told him about the forms to be filled out and he agreed to do it. I washed the bathroom window inside and out. Michele wrote me back about her part time job. I looked up the man who put in the Airport Road bathroom. I found his name, address and phone number on the Windows 97 computer. I did several internet searches to find the name of his company and website. I was hoping for a licensing number or contractor number but did not find one. The website addresses did not work. Chris skyped me again. We talked longer. I sent him the info. I cut up more foil to sharpen another pair of scissors. After the call, I brought in another pair of scissors. I wrote a check to the plumber. I ran water and vinegar through both coffee makers again. I started sorting the old bills. I found the one was now past due and wrote Chris a note about it. I sliced up more foil. I soaked the sprouts. Then it was time for bed.

Slicker than spit

Last night I had trouble walking to bed. The side of my left foot felt a little swollen and painful. By twisting my foot, I could see a little black dot. I went to bed. I woke up around 7:30. I got up and pulled out one of the plastic drawers in the bathroom. I filled it with hot water and soaked my foot. I dug out the black spot with a pin, and put on clean socks. I emptied the dishwasher and read e-mail. Then I took a shower, and got dressed. I made breakfast, and listened to a TED talk on vulnerability. Since the choir was not singing today, I thought I had extra time, and so I unstacked the dishwater and was putting away laundry when I realized it was later than I thought. I dropped everything and drove to church. I expected to be late, but it worked out perfectly. The intern gave the sermon and did a good job. After the service I helped Art count the loose cash – all $2 of it. Then I went home for my grocery list. I went to Publix for groceries and put them away when I got home. I assembled the printing calculator and loaded it with paper. Then I changed my clothes and mowed in the backyard. I plugged in the mower and had lunch. At 2:15 I headed to church to count money. I was hoping it would go perfectly, but we (I) made mistakes and the printing calculator showed us where. It really came in handy (slicker than spit). When I got home, I put the defrosted beef tongue in a pot of water to boil. I cut up some of the chives that Jennifer picked in her yard for me. I hadn't the heart to tell her I had plenty growing in my yard. I read e-mail, ate something, tapped, and then found the motivation to mow. When the mower ran down, I plugged it back in, and turned to washing windows. I brought out the ladder so I could clean the bay window. The squeegee came in handy too. Then I used the ladder to trim non-flowering bushes. I uprooted some small trees, too. Then I put my tools away and went in to check the tongue. Chris was ready to skype, so we talked for over an hour. Jennifer left me some choir music to look at before Wednesday so I tried to play my part on the piano. To really hear it, I have to play both alto and soprano parts. But because it was in 4 sharps, I had trouble with that. I watched a TED talk on shame, and another audio on being stuck. I went down to close the garage. I disassembled my bobbin area to clean out the lint. Then I discovered that the problem was caused by a compromised thread path in the upper thread. I rethreaded, and finished the block from last night. I cleaned up some clutter in the bathroom and kitchen. I ran vinegar through the old coffee maker while I cleaned the new one. Then I ran the same vinegar through the new one. Both worked just fine. Then I listened to several audios while snipping the foil chocolate wrapper to sharpen my scissors. I also worked a few Sudoku puzzles. I had to pause the last video in order to go to bed.
* This is Denise's other charity quilt top *

Yard work and windows

Last night I set my phone alarm to 7. The house was warm so I turned off the fan but left the windows open. I woke up a little before 7 and waited for the alarm. Then I checked the temperature. It was 68 inside and 40 outside. I closed the windows and turned the heat on. I swished and checked e-mail. I made and ate most of my breakfast. I got dressed and put Netflix in the mail. I added cash to my wallet, and I put on a jacket. I had started pulling weeds in the driveway when Paige arrived. We went to a large neighborhood yard sale. 'Large' described the neighborhood but not the sales. I got a coffee maker and a movie. Then we went to a church sale where I got a book and a cute top and some peat pots. We looked for some other sales but did not find much. Last, we went to a plant and garage sale at a public pool. I got another top. Paige drove me home and left to get ready for an afternoon wedding. I checked e-mail and then changed my clothes. I had a bite to eat. I mowed as much as I could in the front yard. I found the mail on the doorstep while mowing. There were no packages, so I couldn't figure out why the mailman did that. I plugged the mower back in to recharge. I checked e-mail and responded to Parker. I listened to an interview. I called my dad because today is my mother's birthday. I listened to a short video on the don'ts of depression – don't isolate, don't insulate and don't ruminate. Do get sunshine and do keep a regular schedule of self care. A month ago I found a large piece of tinfoil blowing in the yard. I saved it in the carport. Today I sat in the sun and used two pairs of grass clippers to cut the foil into shreds, thus sharpening them. The mower's green light came on, so I used it to mow more of the front yard. I wanted to wash windows after that, but thought it was better to pull weeds since the ground was still wet and soft. So I pulled weeds that were growing in the cracks in the sidewalk, driveway and brick borders. Gotta pull while the pullin's good. I saw marigolds growing only in the cracks. I used the shear to cut grass beside the patio. That is when I found poison ivy. I came in to check e-mail and get my ivy glove. I pulled up the little plant, put it in a plastic bag, and threw it in the garbage can. I listened to an audio, and washed windows in the livingroom. Denise called and said things were going well. I continued washing windows and took my washing stuff outside to do the reverse side of the picture window. I realized the light was fading, so instead, I mowed a third time. Dillon came over to help. He told me that he had gotten my mail for me. Ah. His father invited me over for a few beers. Ha, ha. I never met a beer I liked. I checked the Creat Clips website and the wait time was 2 minutes. So I changed my clothes and ran over there to get my hair cut. Sadly I had forgotten to check their closing time. I arrived a minute later. So I came home, checked e-mail and waited for Chris. Then I gave up, put laundry in the washer and worked on the block for Carolyn. When the washer finished, I put the clothes in the dryer and loaded the dishwasher. I ran it and checked for Chris. He was online, so I skyped with him. After he hung up, it was after 10, so I posted to my blog, checked on the laundry, and tried to finish Carolyn's block. The machine messed up so I left it and went to bed.
* This is the top Denise and I made. *

New offer but no cigar

I went to bed last night with a bag of frozen peas to cool my brain. I laid awake for a long time. The peas did not help and neither did the magnesium oil, but then the loud thunder and bright lightning and torrential downpour might have had something to do with it. I had to close the windows and the house got stuffy. I went into the basement to check for water because of the deluge of rain. But it was dry. I sat in the den and tapped for awhile and then went back to bed. When the alarm went off, I did not feel like I'd gotten enough sleep, so I slept late. Then I laid down on the recliner in the den to do some mental programming. Finally I got up to brush my teeth and start my day. I checked the basement and it was still dry. I brought in the rain water before it could collect a ton of pollen. I read e-mail while swishing. I exercised, and processed the water, boiling it on the stove. I juiced, and made breakfast. I listened to several audios. I was meditating when Denise called to say she was on her way over. I finished meditation and picked up a little around the house. I was putting grocery bags in my car when she drove up. We talked. She had a thing on her neck that she wanted me to look at and lance, but it would not succumb. We worked on the two charity quilts she has in progress here. She took pics of them as I held them up. Then we tapped together for problems of a mutual acquaintance. My phone rang but I did not answer it while we were tapping. After she left, I checked my voicemail and there was one from Parker and from Chris. I called Chris, forwarding him Parker's e-mails on the new offer (still low). We agreed on a response and talked a little more. I ate an egg and crushed up the shell. Then he went to movie night and I watched TED talks on Youtube and then the last episode of X-Files on the Netflix DVD. I checked for new e-mail, then posted to my blog and went to bed.
* She hasn't e-mailed me any of the pics she took, so here is one of the goji berry plants. *

Our first offer

I woke up at 7. I tried to program my mind for peace, but I could not find any. I started tapping and although it did not bring a sense of peace, it did get me out of bed for whatever reason. It was almost 8. I swished and soaked the sprouts. I checked e-mail and exercised. I found an unread e-mail from January of last year about a process for looking for inner guidance. I did the process which is supposed to yield results in 48 hours. I tried to imagine being free and light and unburdened by the cares which torment me now. I looked up Maryann's counselor to see if she was on our insurance, but she wasn't. I considered calling her anyway. I tried the sway test while standing in the kitchen and asking myself questions about what I should do. I wanted to make sure the answers were consistent, so I did it again outside. I got different answers. Augh! I quickly juiced a cucumber and a zuchini. I sat down by the desktop and saw there was a skype message from my tapping buddy. So I called her and we had a good session. It was my turn to be tapped on and I had a lot of recent material to bring up. I felt better when we were done. I cleaned the juicer and made breakfast, noting items that will need replacing soon. I ate while reading e-mail and taking notes for my blog. I saw the mailman go by, so I went to the box and pulled out a package and bills. In the package I found two small plants, one labeled 'goji berry' and the other not labeled. There was no invoice, only a paper with instructions for growing 20 or 30 different kinds of plants. I watered them and put them outside, wondering what will become of them if I don't stay here. When I put my sewing stuff in Chris' car, I noticed the garage door was open. I closed it. When I got to the Thursday group, I showed off the Tuesday block and the sample from the weaving class. I talked to Marjory who recommended that I write on a sheet of paper all the pros and cons of my quandary (to go or to stay). Pat helped me start knitting a washcloth. When I got home, I saw Parker's e-mail about an offer. I e-mailed her back. She called and said it was too low but to make an almost meaningless counter offer. I went out to mow, but apparently forgot to charge the mower yesterday. I plugged it in and pulled sticky weeds instead. Then I wrote an e-mail Parker asked for officially declining the offer and proposing a counter offer. MaryAnn called on skype. After the call, I went out to mow but the mower was still charging. So I gave it another 20 minutes while I picked wild lettuce and brought in some rain water, and then I told it “Ready or not, its time to mow”. I mowed inside the fence, along the ditch, and then in the back yard. I ran it until I could barely hear it running. Then I put it up, and washed my feet. I tried filtering the rain water, but it had too much pollen in it which kept blocking the pores of the filter. I had a bite to eat and checked e-mail. I was hoping to hear from Parker who was showing the house at 7 EST. I read an article on how cooling your brain can help you get to sleep at night. Then I got an e-mail from Parker saying the new couple was interested but not yet ready to buy. I made and ate a wild lettuce salad. I placed my order for more supplements. Chris skyped, and we talked for an hour and a half. During the call, I got hot, so I moved the laptop into the den so I could take my clothes off. He noticed. I sprayed some magnesium oil on my skin to help me sleep later. When it hit my arms where the sticky plants had touched them, it REALLY stung. And even after most of the stinging subsided, it left red welts. I gotta watch out for that weed in the future. After Chris hung up, it was time to go to blog and go to bed.
* This is one of the other weaving projects from Tuesday *

First tulip today

I wore my night guard to bed last night. It didn't fit but it kept my teeth apart and somehow that stopped the clenching. Although I did not fall asleep right away, I tapped and eventually drifted off. I awoke while it was still dark. I tried to go back to sleep, but the thoughts and feelings going through my mind would not let me. I tried to breathe slowly and relax every muscle in my body. I don't think I slept then, but I dozed and woke up at 7:30. I got up to turn on the router, swish, and soak my sprouts – a practice that I imagine would be difficult to follow in Korea. I saw that the first tulip and first iris had bloomed. I started a list of things that would have to happen before I would go to Korea. I exercised and detoxed. I listened to a Wayne Dyer audio. I juiced the large bag of sprouts from the Asian store and packed my spa bag. Then Jennifer called to check on me. I went to the sauna. It was hot when I got in. Later a lady came in and laid down. I was worried that she would fall asleep and overheat. I worked Sudoku puzzles. After she left, the sauna cooled off. When I noticed it, I thought it was broken. I had been in for an hour and a half when two other ladies came in. They checked and saw that it had been turned off. I wondered if the first lady did that. I took a shower, came home, and brought in the mail. I checked e-mail, and saw skype message from Chris. I responded to Parker, who wanted forms for potential buyers. Then I remembered to eat breakfast. It was still sunny outside, so I mowed in the back yard. The grass had gotten tall over the last few rainy days. I ate the rest of the fish. Maryann called on skype, then Chris called on skype, We got disconnected and then I got an e-mail from Parker. I signed and sent her disclosure forms. I made up supplements. Chris called back and we talked and then he went to Wednesday night bible study. I did not have choir practice, so I called MaryAnn back. I listened to some audios that Jennifer sent me. I did not get a chance to re-order supplements, but there is always a new sale and the weekend ones are better. And so I tapped and went to bed.
* This is the Tuesday block I made yesterday *

Jane's class on curvy weaving

I woke up an hour early, and took the supplements and vit C. I went downstairs to select two fabrics, cut a fat quarter of each, and put fusible web on the back. Then I worked on the Tuesday block, but couldn't finish because one of the strips I used was too narrow so those sections were too small. I ate some kimchi and sprouts. I got dressed, found instructions for the class, and grabbed some supplies, worried that if I arrive earlier than usual, they will expect me to do it every week. I got there at 9:20. Jane had tables set up with foam board pieces for pinning. She showed me how to get started and checked back every so often. I drew the lines on the fabrics, but the lines did not show up well, and I did not know what they were for. One lady let me make a cut on her fabric before I did my own. It was so imprecise that I had trouble getting started. I cut between the lines, longitudinally on one and laterally on the other. Then I wove them together. I wished I had chosen a solid green but it was what it was. Everyone said they liked it. Afterward, I went to the Asian store for kimbap and ate some in my car. Then I stopped at the station for gas. When I got home, I finished the kimbap with some kimchi. I read e-mail while swishing, and then meditated. As soon as the meditation ended, I had to leave for the dentist. I took my night guard. I sat in the waiting room, freezing, until I got called back. The hygenist (one I had never met) examined the guard and how it fit into my bite. She said my bite had changed so much that the guard could not be made to fit again. She recommended a new night guard even if it was just one from the drug store. There was no charge. I came home, ate two of the dehydrated persimmons that came from the Asian store (with peanut butter). I tried to take a nap but sleep would not come. Mostly I cried. Then I went downstairs. I ripped apart pieces of the Tuesday block and replaced or resewed as needed to get it right. It was 23 inches square. I ate some fish while listening to an interview. The phone rang but not for long. I don't know who it was, but that is when I saw that MaryAnn had called while I was sewing. So I called her back. We chatted about Chinhae and her painting her bedroom blue. I finished the interview while doing two Sudoku puzzles. I saw an e-mail from Chris with a link to housing on the base at Chinhae. Then he skyped, so we talked at length. I reiterated my position that I don't want to go and am afraid of a major depressive episode with all the stresses of the past year. He did not know what to say. We agreed to talk again tomorrow night. I wrote to my blog and went to bed.



pf

Counting on my tablet

I woke up around 7. I only got up to go to the bathroom, but then I felt like staying up. At least, until I sat down to reactivate my 8am alarms on the phone. So I went back to bed, but that did not last long. Soon I was up again, turning on the router, swishing and exercising. I juiced, meditated, and made breakfast. I put on a black dress, and went to the church on Whitesburg. Carolyn I. was driving by as I walked up to the church, so I waited for her. We went in and met two other quilters. I gave Carolyn B a hug. Then some of us went to Zoe's for a bite to eat before the funeral. I only went for the company. We got back in time and found a seat for all of us in the back. But the church was full and the parking lot fuller. It was a great service: lots of good music and a trombone soloist. The pastor did all the speaking. Lou did not want testimonials or a eulogy, so he got great music instead. Then on the way out, Lauri showed me where the squares were for the heart blocks we are doing for Carolyn B. I told her what a great service it was and how much I enjoyed the music. I was amazed how calm I was. Then it was one o'clock so I drove home (in Chris' car) to change clothes, eat a carrot and go to my church to count the offering. Bertha, who lives near my church, said her power was out this morning. I took my tablet, thinking that there was no power for the printing calculator. Well, when I got there, the church did have power. I hadn't had a chance to unbox the calculator and load it with paper, so I just used the tablet. That did not work so well because it had a touch screen so you can't just run your finger down the list of figures to double check them. And we had to do a LOT of double-checking. Triple checking even. And the tablet spreadsheet was too bulky for adding a small amount of numbers because of having to type the function in at the end. Then when we finished, I asked about the Thursday and Friday services and he said we'd do them later. On the way home, I stopped at the fish market. They were out of salmon, so I got cod and snapper, knowing I would have to cook them. Denise had called while I was counting, so I called her back when we got home, but it wasn't a good time for her to talk. I sliced the fish into small pieces and stir-fried them in coconut oil. Denise called back and we had a nice chat. Chris skyped while I was talking to Denise, so when she was done, I called him back. He had talked to the commander of the Naval base in Korea and had a few things to say: the house there was partially furnished. His new office would be across the hall from one of the Admiral's offices. Chris was the second choice (the first one turned down the job). They liked his Imcom background. So then he was falling asleep and I started a Sudoku puzzle. He hung up and I finished that one and did several others to catch up (there is one a day). I meant to finish the Tuesday block but...oh well. It was time to go to bed.
* I think this is Rebecca's quilt from last Monday *

Is this what it's like to be blonde?

Last night, I ran the dishwasher and went to bed. Soon after I went to bed, one of the neighbors decided to have a loud party. I tried to block it out of my head. I never heard of a loud Easter party. Eventually I fell asleep. I woke up in the dark. I tried to go back to sleep, but could not. At 6:15 I got up to look again for the white belt with no luck. Then I took a shower and swished and checked e-mail. I watched selections from Easter Parade on Youtube., and exercised, dressed, and went to church. I got some attention and favorable comments. As I waited for the service to begin, I was glad I wasn't in the brass section. It was a good sermon, comparing the resurrection to wrestling matches where the good guy makes a miraculous comeback. During the sharing of the peace, one lady told me my hat was a work of art. I felt a little self conscious. After first service, I went home to make and eat breakfast. I checked e-mail, and started emptying the dishwasher. Then I went back to church. I warmed up with the choir, and got lots of comments. Kurt said the hat would be perfect for Derby day. Art and I agreed to count the offering tomorrow afternoon. Just before the service started, Shannon and her husband came in. He is about to go to Cosovo and will leave her and her son here for a year. Boy, do I know what that feels like! I did not tell her about Korea. As the choir assembled up front to sing the anthem, Cecelia asked me why I wasn't playing with the brass trio. The quickest answer I had was that then I couldn't wear this hat (it's true, though). I got more favorable comments during the passing of the peace. After the service, I helped Art count just the loose cash in the offering plate. Tim showed me the printing calculator he'd bought for our use. Cecelia offered me one of the lilies that she paid for and I thanked her. Jim said he really missed me playing trombone with him and the tuba player. He asked if we started practicing earlier, would I play next year? So I had to tell him I was unlikely to be here next year. Cecelia said I should keep in practice all year round so I would be ready to play for Easter and Reformation. One man (who was my height so I can't call him short) came up to me and at length told me how much he missed all the beautiful hats in church and he so appreciated me wearing mine. Don said I was looking more beautiful all the time and Chris should be worried. I got more attention for wearing the hat (and matching dress) than I ever did for playing my trombone in church. As I stood in line to shake the pastor's hand, the intern alerted me to look for cash from the breakfast brunch which should go to the intern fund. The organist told the pastor that I was leaving and so the cat was really out. I admitted that I was praying like Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane. Pastor said “Not my will but thine”. I admitted that I was still on the 'take this cup away' part. I went home with the lily. I took a selfie, trying to get both my face and the decoration on the hat. I changed my clothes, and tried to take a nap. Then I meditated. Still no sleep. I raked under the magnolia and picked dandelion. I ate it with vinegar and olive oil. I washed the kitchen window and then couldn't stop. I was washing a diningroom window when Craig went by, spraying weeds. I called out to him and we talked for a while. After he had to go, I washed more windows, then mowed spots here and there. Then I washed the outside of the windows as far up as I could reach. And I brushed off the frames. Then I came in, and ate some raspberries and chocolate while checking for new e-mail. I tried to watch X-Files, but the usual DVD software would not work. I tried one with a traffic cone for a logo. It worked passingly well. I let sweet potatoes bake in the oven while I watched. Chris called me on skype during the third episode. Then I went back to finish the video and ate one of the sweet potatoes. Now the plan is to blog and go to bed.

One big block

Again I misread my watch when I woke up. I thought it was almost 8 so I got up, but later discovered that it was 7. I got out my Easter dress and hat to inspect. I turned on the router. The house seemed cold, but it was at 73, although the outside temp was 40. I turned the heat on just in case. I brought in the rainwater from last night. It must not have rained long. I watched a short video about a book called “Take a nap, change your life”. It sounded like a good idea even though it wasn't even 8 yet. I threw out 2 jars of kombucha – sadly they were the last. I processed the rainwater, boiling it on the stove. I juiced greens and carrots and celery. My tapping buddy said she couldn't do our call today. I meditated, and then made breakfast. After breakfast, I picked up sticks on the lawn and in the garden. Then I mowed part of the front lawn. I cleared e-mail, getting down to 18 (really exciting) and skyped with Chris for over an hour. Then I started the laundry, and went outside with a sheet to nap in the grass, but never really fell asleep. I went in the basement to work on the Tuesday block. I pulled out the laundry, folding most of it but putting the towels back in. I ironed my dress. It was very wrinkled for a polyester fabric. And it had two brown spots, but what could I do? I looked for a white belt to go with it. I am sure I had one, but could not find it. I checked e-mail, excited to clear more. I set my phone alarm for tomorrow, not sure 7 was early enough. I did my best to find and download a spreadsheet app for my tablet. When I finally located one, I downloaded it and had to learn how it functioned. I set it up for tomorrow and plugged the tablet in to charge fully. I went back to the basement to work on the block again. It is a big block. One of the paper-piecing lines did not line up with the section next to it, so I had to redraw it. It wasn't perfect, and still unfinished, but I wanted to get to bed early.
* Susan took this picture of me on Thursday and posted it to that group's website. *

Good Friday

I woke up early and thought it was 6:30, so I did some mental programming and was surprised when the alarm rang half an hour later. I turned on the router and sat down at my laptop with a glass of water. All I got were spinning cheerios as it tried to connect. I decided that watched laptops never connect, so I walked into the kitchen to put down my empty glass and when I came back, it was online.
I discovered an e-mail from the rental agency asking that all renters carry insurance and if they already have it, to send a copy to the office. Hmm, did that have anything to do with Bob coming yesterday? I juiced chard and a red beet, and then cleaned up. It did not taste great, but I got it down. Parker called, and we talked for a long time filling out the sheet and discussing what comes next. We were able to get some of the info from the sheet Joyce sent. Thanks, Joyce. I wrote several checks: one went in the mail and the other two will go to church. I made breakfast and ate it. I watered the wheatgrass and chewed some. I picked up sticks in the back yard. I saw the couple next door in their back yard. They both seemed healthy. So maybe his mower doesn't work. I got an automated notice from the dentist office. When I clicked on the button for “add to Google Calendar” it came up in Korean. Is Google behind, or thinking ahead? Chris skyped with me when he got back from Comayagua where they had a Good Friday procession. We established that we are getting separate take-aways from our conversations. After he hung up, I ate a banana with peanutbutter – the act of a desperate woman. Then I worked on Tuesday block downstairs. I came up to take a shower, and get dressed for church. I checked e-mail one last time, and finished an audio. I tapped for a few minutes, turned off my phone and went to church. I practiced with the choir. We all sat together in the pews near the organ. We had a few people from Hope Presbyterian join us. Then I sat as still as I could for the service to begin. The service went well. I did not like the kneeling part because I was on the end of the pew and there was no kneeler there. But the music was nice. And we sang our bit in the dark at the end. While the congregation left in silence, Art and I counted the cash by the light of his phone. I hope we got it right, but I know he will count it again in the daylight. As I walked outside, I could see lightning and finally hear thunder. Ed said it was fitting for Good Friday. The rain started on the way home. By the time I parked, it was a downpour. I ran into the house, got my collection tubs and put them out. I got drenched, so I toweled off. I listened to some songs on Youtube. I finished listening to a tapping audio. I took off my wet clothes and put on my nightgown. Then I put on some classical music and mixed up a batch of spices for breakfasts. I watered the newer batch of sprouts. And I found myself eating kimchi, sprouts, and chocolate with dates: things I would never eat so late at night. But again, my life is about to be ripped apart and the schedule and habits (which have gotten me through the hard times) thrown out the window. They won't survive in Korea. In other words, now that I have solved for most of the variables, Chris is changing all the equations and I will have to start over.
* This is Lauri with one of her many quilts *