Still no husband

I had a heck of a night. I fell asleep early, got up to post to my blog, then laid down in the computer room to listen to a hypnotic audio. I kinda fell asleep, but in a very uncomfortable position. I think it was early morning when I finally went to bed. I seriously considered not going to church. But I needed some social interaction.
I went to church, and was asked by several people where Chris was. I told them he was on his way home and I expected him later today. After church I met a lady who lives near Osan who is a quilter. I invited her to join our group, and she seems eager to do so, in spite of the long travel time. Then I went to the SAHS bazaar to see the Christmas fabric he promised to bring. I selected a few for our next class. It is easier to part with fabric bought specifically for class, than to part with fabric drawn from my stash. Then I stopped at the commissary for groceries. When I parked in front of our building, I gave Michele the bags and got ready to leave (to park the car in the parking deck). At just that moment a delivery man on a motorcycle pulled up behind me and left his cycle there as he muttered something at me and went inside. I sat for a while waiting for him to come back and move his cycle, then decided to risk trying to back around it. I left a large black mark on the curb, but I managed to skirt the bike. He came out just as I was turning to leave. He deserved a piece of my mind, but probably wouldn't have understood a word.
So, after parking, I took my fabric upstairs, and saw Michele had put the groceries away. I prepped the fabric and started the washing and drying procedure. I checked my e-mail and found there were several interviews to listen to. Kurt skyped me for awhile. It was the middle of the night for him. Then I pulled fabric from the dryer slightly wet to fold on the bed. I didn't get to iron it until after supper. Michele ate cold pizza (her choice) while I made bison with onions, garlic, tomatoes, green peppers and celery. Mmmm. I wanted to leave it out for Chris, but wasn't sure when he would get in. So I put it away, and went back to the computer. Around 9 I realized he wasn't coming and I got very sad. I started ironing all my fabrics, with the S.A.D. light on. I tried to find a good movie on Korean TV but it was all vampires and stuff. So I put on 'The Last of the Mohicans'. Michele came in to watch with me and we watched until 11:30. We can finish it tomorrow.
* I didn't take any pics today, so here is another one from the auction *

Quilting

The alarm woke me up at 8. I went to bed so late that I did not feel that I had a whole night's sleep. But I dragged myself out of bed, had a shower and breakfast, skimmed my e-mail and headed for post. I drove in and was pleasantly surprised to find that traffic was light. I arrived at the AnC center right at 10. Helle was waiting for me. The first quilt top she had was only for basting because she intended to hand quilt it. It was hand-pieced. And it was good practice for the second top. That one was also hand-pieced. She was easy to please, and chose a stipple pattern. It went quickly, even though I didn't remember how to set it up. But I got it done. Afterwards, we parked at the DHL and went to the SAHS bazaar. The fabric man was there, and I bought 30 packs. He wasn't handing out freebies:( Helle guarded my stash while I drove the car around. She loaded the fabric in, and then took her stuff and walked to gate 10. I am not sure where she goes from there, maybe takes a taxi or a bus? I went home, intending to prepare and wash all that fabric, but ended up in front of my computer checking e-mail and listening to audios that are only up for 48 hours. Around 7 I decided I had time for a nap before bed. But it lasted too long, and seemed like it was better to just tuck in for the night than to get up bleary-eyed to post to this blog. But I just couldn't sleep right without it, so here I am, posting.

Decorating for the auction

I got up before 8, exercised, had breakfast, showered and pondered what to wear. I wasn't sure I would have a chance to come home and dress up before the auction, so I tried to wear something nice all day. Finally Maryann called in a panic because I wasn't there yet, and I just grabbed something to wear later and ran out. I met her at the gym. She had found some volunteers, led by her husband, to blow up helium balloons. So we decorated the gym with black, purple and silver balloons. At 3 I went home to make a silver top to wear with black pants and a purple scarf that I made from scraps leftover from the table toppers. Unfortunately there was a pattern piece missing and I had to draft another one. So I did not finish the silver one, but wore the gold one instead. I drove to the gym at 5:45. I staked places for myself and Sonyo at table 29. Maryann and Bob had places saved there too. I looked at all the items for bid, both silent and live. I walked around for a bit, then got in the food line. There was a platter of fresh vegetables. And I had a meatball, and some shaved ham and turkey. Everything else was empty carbs. There were two food stations and three bars set up. They did everything they could to push drinks. I mean the Main Post Club that was catering the event. There was a half hour of nothing after the silent auction closed and before the live auction started. I was bored and tired, but couldn't leave because I had to be there to clean up. I did not bid on anything because the prices went up rather quickly. The kimono quilt we did went for $600 live and the small one brought $100 in the silent auction. I do not know how much the tablerunner brought. It was at $20 when I last saw it. Once the event was over, we started cleaning quickly. I collected up all the little plastic stars that we scattered everywhere. We also had a LOT of balloons to deal with. Some people took some home, and a group of young men were happy to oblige in popping them. Some of the teenagers took some to suck out the helium and sing silly songs. It took over an hour, but we got it done. Then there was a stack of pizzas AFSC bought to feed the teen volunteers, but they didn't eat them. So I took two for Michele, and for Chris when he finally gets home. When I got home, I put the pizzas in the fridge, and got on my computer to blog. Chris is also on Skype so I am texting him, too.

Christmas crackers

There was a layer of fine snow on the ground this morning. So I wore my warmest pants and socks. Like yesterday, it warmed up and I was too hot. I drove to the thrift shop about 10:30. Traffic was quite reasonable. Parking was plentiful. So were the books. But, by the time I left, I had shelved all of them, plus the DVD's, videos, and Cd's. I also had time to straighten up the shelves. My student's parents finally got in touch with me to tell me she couldn't make her lesson, so I left. I walked home over the pedestrian bridge, leaving my car on post so I would have it later. I had lunch and read through my e-mail. I read that sitting for more than 30 minutes at a stretch signals the brain to start storing fat. So I got up. I decided to unpack my new light and plug it into the outlet near my sewing machine. The directions say it is not to be used with a transformer, but what else can I do? I sat with it on, while separating some selvage edges from a bag. Then it was time for class. I drove over there and set up. A new lady came with her three daughters. Hurray for the next generation. They seemed to enjoy their project, which was a Christmas cracker. Sue showed Shirley and me the pressure point for curing a headache. She also told us about an acupuncturist that only charges $15 for a session. The session includes acupuncture and cupping, and a massage. When she described cupping, I decided I could do without that part.

Namdaemun goes Christmas

I know this looks like a Thursday post, but that is because I am posting after midnight. Hopefully I can make this short. Ha!
The alarm woke me at 8. My back still hurt, and was stiff from lying in bed all night. But I got up, had breakfast and was reading e-mail when Maryann called. She was hoping I felt better and could go to Namdaemun with her. Because she intended to walk there from her apt, I agreed to go. She picked me up at my gate, stopped at the post office for me to mail my Mom a package, then suggested we drop by the Chosun. I stayed outside, and waited for her. Then we walked to Chris' office to get the mail. There was a really big package for me. It is the HappyLightDeluxe. Maryann had to carry it for me. We took all the mail back to her van and went to her apt. From there we walked to Namdaemun, and bought 8 vases for the auction decorations. We also bought flowers and searched for star confetti, but didn't find any. Finally we walked back, stopping at large hotel to go to the bathroom. They were putting up their giant tree. At her apt, we examined the vases and played with her cats. One crawled into a plastic bag and when it came out, got the handle around its neck. So the bag kept following the cat, which freaked it out, and Maryann had to catch it to release it. It lost a claw in the frantic running back and forth.
Around 6 we picked up her husband and he drove us to my place. They both helped carry all the mail and flowers up to the apt. Maryann filled the vases for me before she left. Then I cooked supper with the organic beef I had left out earlier. I didn't think Michele would like it because I cut up onions, garlic, pepper strips, and radishes. But when she came home, she put some in a burrito with cheese and was happy enough. We put on a Netflix movie that came in the mail - Atonement. What can I say about a movie that basically ends "they lived happily together. No, actually they both died before finding each other again, but we didn't want to tell you"? I worked on the binding of a small quilt during the movie but didn't get very far. Then I retired back to my computer to listen to an interview with Flylady. She gives tips for organizing and getting through the holidays stress-free.
While I was listening to her, Chris Skyped me. The connection was so bad, that we consented to text only. I am writing this blog while he types. Good thing he is slow at it.

No errands for me

I woke up with the same backache I took to bed last night. I was hoping it would work itself out as the day went on, but it didn't. I cleaned the kitchen and sink, and that made me feel better, at least emotionally. But finally I had to call the thrift shop and Maryann. I apologized to them both that I could not keep my commitments to them today. Then I stayed home. I had visions of working in my sewing room, but I found myself going through my gift bag looking for gifts to send home for Christmas. Until my back seized violently, and then I laid on the floor for awhile, then went to bed. It got a little better, but remained worse than when I woke up. I spent quite some time on my computer looking up studies showing that amalgam fillings cause mercury poisoning to send to my dentist friend. I came across an article about Weston Price. He found that root canals cause all sorts of diseases because the tooth harbors bacteria that antibiotics can't reach. Reportedly he cured many people of arthritis and other diseases by removing their treated tooth/teeth. He also discovered that remote native populations practice no dental care, but also have no tooth decay. But that changes when they are exposed to Western processed foods.
* Here is my star quilt as it stands. Any suggestions for extending it to twin size would be appreciated. *

Sew-sew day

Got up, made breakfast, checked e-mail quickly, showered, cut up cheese, packed my stuff, headed for post. Drove to SPC, Cathy was already setting up. As I helped her, more people showed up. She showed us her latest efforts: two twin quilts in different colors. Then we all made baby quilt kits and Helle sewed binding on a QOV. Lunch was partly healthy and partly empty carbs, so I did not get much to eat. I was looking for a chance to surreptitiously raid my secret stash of nuts and raisins. But we got busy again after lunch, and then MaryAnn came over with her three rolls of fabric. The others left, and she and I proceeded to cut up 100 yards of fabric into 45 inch squares. Also cut one 49 yard roll into 4 equal pieces. Maryann was so glad to have my help, that she took me out to eat (and invited her husband). We sat in Figi for three hours, eating sushi and talking. It was nice. But then it was time to go home. It was too late to park the car and walk through the gate, so I drove home. I would have walked but it was too cold. I did not have a clicker in the car, so I had to get the guard's attention to let me into the apt complex. He was either engrossed, or ignoring me. I parked on the lowest level and walked up, grabbing the clicker from the other car along the way. Maryann wants to go to Namdaemun tomorrow to get flower vases for decorations. So I will go along, after working at the thrift shop. Don't see how I will make 16 hours there this month. But am happy to go to bed just now. I strained my back this morning and it hasn't been happy since.
*I forgot to mention that I read a new way to beat a cold or the flu: put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in your ear until the bubbling and tingling subside. Then drain that ear and do the other one.*