By Request

I've apparently been neglecting my blog lately. Not that this is an excuse, but it does seem that every time I look at my blogger homepage and consider writing a post, I think my life is currently too mundane to be interesting. However, blogging is a good exercise for focusing on the small good things as well as for writing about big events. So small good things it is.

I love crafts. Stamping, cross-stitch, embroidery, and now crocheting amigurumi. Amigu-what-y? ah-me-goo-roo-me - try it. It's fun to say. A friend got me started, and so far I have completed one elephant head and half of his/her foot. I'm undecided if it should be a boy elephant with a scarf or a girl elephant with a skirt. It's blue, which does tend to lean me towards boy.

And, speaking of amigurumi, the coolest thing happened last month! A friend of mine is holding online auctions of items or services or various things to help raise funds for her sister's family because they had to relocate to the Seattle area from Idaho for the sister's cancer treatments. So, a few weeks ago, my friend emailed Ana Paula Rimoli, the author of three of the best amigurumi pattern books ever, to ask if it would be okay to sell little critters made from her patterns for this auction. And the response was a definite yes, plus the donation of her latest pattern book and all of her etsy patterns as an auction item. Some people are so cool! And then, on the final day of the auction, after I was outbid in the last three minutes, Ana donated a second copy of everything to the second place bidder (me!). So, that was one of my moments last month where I was shown, again, how utterly amazing people can be. I write this not because I expect the world to read it and beg her for free stuff, but because she has such a beautiful attitude of how we're all here to help each other.

Okay, beyond amigurumi. Well, I started my new position in a differnt office. I miss windows. Not the computer kind - the clear glass things you can look through to determine if you need your coat or umbrella to step outside. Now I have to go down the hall, down the elevator or stairs, and outside to find out if I need weather gear. But, as I half-expected, I am enjoying meeting new people. Quirks and all. And we all have quirks. Especially after spending a week without seeing the sun.

So, now I'm looking around my room to figure out if there's anything else to blog about. The scraps of paper from putting together arts and crafts for teaching the Sunbeams (3 year olds) at church? The two-thirds complete Lego Hogwarts castle my little brother is building with me? The bookshelves I haven't dusted for months? The sheet music ... ah, the music! A friend asked me to accompany him on a special song he wants to sing to his wife. However, the music only had the melody written in for the right hand. Fortunately it also included the guitar chords, so I used noteflight to write in some non-melody parts for the right hand. It was surprisingly difficult and yet fun. The difficulty often came in trying to drag and drop the different music notes one at a time, but the fun is hearing it all come together at last!

I hope that's enough ramblings for now. I hereby make a goal to post more often in June than I did in May. Not that it will be too hard since I averaged less than one post per week. The hard goal will be to find something worth taking pictures of to share.

Dear

Dear Back,

I'm sorry. I know I tend do overdo things when I get into a gardening project, or when I get stuck in traffic for two hours on the way home. After more than a year of off-and-on discomfort, you would think I should know better, but I forget. Or I think I'm getting better and stronger. If I keep trying to remind myself to be careful, do you think you would consider cutting me a break today?

~the rest of me

Dear Washing Machine,

I know it probably gets on your nerves when I mix up your name with the Dishwasher. I know I don't spend a lot of time with you in that cold, cold garage. But please, did you have to ruin my absolute favorite blouse? I really hope the Oxi-Clean takes those mysterious stains back out. I know you're only three years old, but WM, you have solidified my dislike of front-loading washers. You don't work as well, your cycles take forever, and you grow stuff in that gross rubber seal thingey. So, this is your notice - your days are numbered.

~me

Dear Dan,

I'm sorry you're sick! Please get better soon. I think we've only had one week out of the last five where one or the other of us hasn't been sick. Can I do anything to help?

love,
~me

Dear Hulu,

Thank you, you save my sanity. I no longer stay up until 11:00 to watch that favorite show, and now I can watch that show anywhere. You're awesome.

~a fan