In Virginia

Made it to Hampton, Virginia. Dead beat and plum tuckered out, as Husband would say. It's nearly 10 p.m. East Coast time..but wait, that's only 8 p.m. my time! Why am I so pooped?

I'll tell you why...it has a lot to do with not sleeping much. And when I do, it's not quality sleep. Bad nightmares, weird reruns of inconsequential things...and if they're not strange enough, I just make up stuff to worry about.

Weird.

Dad is hanging in there. He's back home, and his hospital bed has been set up in the living room, where he can watch tv if he likes (thankfully, we got them cable for Christmas), or meet with visitors. He's had a lot of them in the past day. They only stay a few minutes. (Also thankfully)

The hospice nurse told Mom to tell me that she didn't think Dad would make it until Monday night. One factor, nurse said, was that Dad's knees were cold, and his legs above and below were hot -- a sign that his body was starting to break down. (I'm not commenting on this...I have no idea...it's what the nurse said.)

However, he went and sat at the table for supper tonight, and also spent some time sitting in his chair. He seems more coherent, though he does sleep a lot. (I can't talk to him on the phone again -- not a good sign.)

So instead of taking the train Sunday, I'll fly back either late Saturday night or really early on Sunday.

God willing, it will work.

Dad Update

I know some of you blog friends have been following the health of my dad, suffering from bone cancer:

He's back in the hospital for a few days, to get re-hydrated. Radiation's stopped. (The doctor said it's helped control the pain, and that's all they planned for. I don't understand this, since Dad is still saying he's hurting.) Dad is too weak, though, for more right now. And there is no sign he'll get stronger.

Sometimes he's lucid, sometimes he's not. It comes and goes.

But Dad gets to be home soon-- where he wanted to be in the first place. Doctor told my mom 2-4 weeks. My brother thinks 2 weeks. I just want to be there. Have got to do the Mancuso conference first, which will take all next week.

Hang in there, Pa. I'm coming as soon as I can.

David Brick, Happy Birthday!

Husband, my best friend and treasured companion, has his birthday today! I'd like to get something splashy for him, like an ATV or a trip to Panama; he's a wonderful guy, and deserves it. But I will continue to be a responsible adult, and behave...

So I cooked him an omelet and steak for breakfast, and it's supper with friends tomorrow night.

Lunch at Red Robin with the girlies, a Sachertorte birthday cake and a few (sigh) modest presents... and my love and affection to him forever.

Happy Birthday, my darling.

Tale of A Rose

Did you hear about the man who woke up from a coma...just as they were getting ready to turn off the machines?
http://news.aol.com/health/article/man-in-coma-has-miracle-recovery/349065

This actually happened to a cousin, as well. Kayleen had been in a horrific traffic accident, and the doctors said she was brain dead. But she wasn't! It took time, but eventually she came out of the coma...and recovered.

* * * * * *
Working on the California Gold book today -- and researching a special flower. When pioneers moved west, they often took along cuttings of a tough-as-nails yellow rose they called "Harison's." According to Deborah Bedford, author of A Rose By the Door:

George Harison, an attorney and amateur rose-grower, discovered the species in the 1830s growing in his backyard. The roses were fragrant and hardy... Harison gave a slip to Thomas Hogg, a local nurseryman, who assigned it its first and perhaps most accurate name, given how far it would soon range: “Hogg’s Yellow American Rose.” A second nurseryman, William Prince, better equipped to propagate and distribute it, renamed it ‘Harison’s Yellow.’ In an 1846 rose catalog, Prince wrote that his rose was brilliant and beautiful. He also wrote that “a hot sun makes its blooms expand and lose much of their beauty.”

The rose cuttings were kept moist stuck into a potato, or wrapped in damp rags. So many were planted that some historians say the path of homesteaders can literally be traced by the Harison's Yellow rosebushes still thriving by house and cabin foundations.

I've wanted a Harison's for literally decades, but couldn't find one anywhere...until High Country Roses in Utah hove into view:

http://highcountryroses.com/Qstore/Qstore.cgi?CMD=011&PROD=1079916052&PNAME=Harison%27s+Yellow

http://www.highcountryroses.com

It is really (I mean really) dry here; in fact, our area, in spite of being at 6,250 ft, is categorized as "High Desert." Very little grows easily, except for columbine, day lilies, iris and -- ironically -- dandelions. But the Harison's is known for triumphing in such conditions. I ordered it, as well as a mystery pink rose that thrived in the neglected Fairmount Cemetary in Denver. (The second oldest in Denver...)

It's nice to think of roses when you're staring out the window at a tan, windswept landscape. There will be more about the Harison's in the book, too -- including a rose-themed pattern. I just have to remind myself to use only one 'r!'

Tired

Hanging on...but barely.

A batch of appraisals and reports need to be finished and mailed in before I leave next Tuesday for the Mid-Atlantic show. One quilt needs a few more hours of repairs, then binding. The new book (on California gold, gold, silver, copper, mining, etc.) is begging for time spent on it. And I must finish a few sample tops to take with...and ship a few packages...plus send out invitations to a bridal shower in Michigan for our new niece, to be held while I'm there in early March...

And Husband's birthday is Friday, which means celebratory meals, a birthday cake, presents, etc.. Go figure. (Actually, he's been very understanding about this part -- which makes me all the more determined to do up something nice for him.)

Then there are the everyday things, like a sinkful of dishes, three wet shirts (that need ironing), an ice-clogged freezer and the round of meals/cleaning/errands that make up life.

Can't I run away to Panama? (Husband says he'll join me.)

Finally I realized I am obsessing about some of the silliest of the items -- like whether people who go to the bridal shower will be able to see Niece's favorite colors. (I'll scan the paint chips sent, and e-mail anyone who's interested. Problem solved.) Or whether I can get the bathroom scrubbed by tomorrow. Or whether one of the dogs (who are both old, and have been having health problems) will die before I get back home.

Or -- and this is probably what's really bothering me -- whether my dad can make it a few more weeks, until I'll be there to see him. The doctors discovered a new line of tumors down Dad's spine, and he just had the fourth treatment of what is definitely a stronger, more agressive radiation than any before. To top it off, he also got the flu...which means achiness, fever, chills, weakness, vomiting, and -- if he's lucky -- sleep.

Dad has eleven more treatments to endure. He is definitely getting weaker. I must do this upcoming gig. I must also give this uncertainty to God -- there is nothing I can do about it.

* * * * * *
George Washington is crossing the Delaware...in a new frame!

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-entertainment/20090216/Washington.Crosses.Delaware/

But, as the Met museum spokesman quipped, "George Washington crossed the Delaware, but we can't get him off the second floor of the Metropolitan." The canvas is room-sized, and rolling it -- the way it first got into the museum a century ago -- would cause too much damage. So the frame will come to HIM.

And The Simple Dollar has a long, thoughtful look at his approach to finances lately, including his primary goal in life. (Hint: it's NOT about money.)
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/02/16/whats-first-whats-next/

And I'm off to seal some envelopes for a wedding shower, then memorize the folds on my pillow. After all, it's midnight.... g'night.

Global Warming...Or Cooling?

I'm confused.

This article argues that global warming is worse than ever. And accelerating at a rate far worse than scientists predicted. The blame is whumped squarely on the shoulders of nations like India and China, and their nasty coal-powered factories. (Whew, we 'enlightened' countries can straighten up and draw a big sigh of relief. We're off the hook.)

Here it is:
http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20090214/NEWS-US-CLIMATE/


On the other hand, this appeared elsewhere on the Internet:

The data are just in from the National Climatic Data Center and they show that for the year 2008, the average temperature across the United States (lower 48 States) was 1.34ºF lower than last year.

Worldwide we set cooling records in 2007 as seen below. Is this all a part of man made global warming???

To top that off our January in 09 set all kinds of cold records throughout the country and world.

We have had the greatest drop in temperature ever recorded for one year, verified by all four of the world's most respected sources between 2007 and 2008..
UK’s Hadley Climate Research Unit Temperature anomaly (HadCRUT) Dr. Phil Jones
The NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies(GISS) Dr. James Hansen
University of Alabama, Huntsville (UAH) Dr. John Christy
Remote Sensing Systems of Santa Rosa, CA (RSS)
Source:Global ∆T °C
HadCRUT - 0.595
GISS - 0.750
UAH - 0.588
RSS - 0.629
Average: - 0.6405°CThe data are just in from the National Climatic Data Center and they show that for the year 2008, the average temperature across the United States (lower 48 States) was 1.34ºF lower than last year.

Worldwide we set cooling records in 2007 as seen below. Is this all a part of man made global warming???

To top that off our January in 09 set all kinds of cold records throughout the country and world.

We have had the greatest drop in temperature ever recorded for one year, verified by all four of the world's most respected sources between 2007 and 2008..
UK’s Hadley Climate Research Unit Temperature anomaly (HadCRUT) Dr. Phil Jones
The NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies(GISS) Dr. James Hansen
University of Alabama, Huntsville (UAH) Dr. John Christy
Remote Sensing Systems of Santa Rosa, CA (RSS)
Source:Global ∆T °C
HadCRUT - 0.595
GISS - 0.750
UAH - 0.588
RSS - 0.629
Average: - 0.6405°C

So...Colder. Hotter. Colder. Hotter. Which is it?

* * * * * * * *
It's definitely chillier around here, even though the sun is shining. But we need the moisture -- bad. A houseful of company was fun this afternoon, but so was the long, luxurious nap both Husband and I needed -- big-time. Tomorrow is a vacation day for him; that means sleeping in and pancakes for breakfast. Too bad quilt writers/teachers don't get the day off, too!

Are They REALLY Adults?

Sigh...this is how I feel about the girlies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_dkyByzD-Y

State Farm's got it right...

They say they're 22 and 20 years old, respectively...I'm not so sure.

More Valentine's Thoughts

Watching the Charlie Brown Valentine specials, and thinking...

Gather Little By Little has some great Valentine tips:

http://www.gatherlittlebylittle.com/2009/02/emotional-bank-account/

What can I do for Husband? He is such a wonderful guy...even a bazillion dollars, blown on ATVs and month-long trips to Mexico, wouldn't be enough for him.

I'll do my best:
*a nice slab of ribeye, grilled rare, with baked potato and crisp Japanese veggie mix alongside

*a hand-lettered Valentine on a lacy heart

and no doubt, what will be his favorite:

*shirts ironed, cookies made...and the garage cleaned!

Ideas for Your Valentine(s)

It's done! It's finally done! I feel like prancing around the house now that Quilt #2 is in the mail and on its way to the client. What a relief...this has been on my 'to-do' plate for way too long. A few small jobs to finish off, and the restoration plate is a bit cleaner.

Whew.

MoneysavingMom has some nice links (and ideas) for Valentine's Day:

http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/02/valentines-ideas.html

Think I'll go take a nice hot bath to celebrate. (And soak the aching wrists.)

Cleaning A Rug -- Easy!

It just takes dish soap, a hose and a push broom.

And it's the same method the 'big boys' of rugdom use.

I had no idea!

http://20dollarsaday.livejournal.com/55585.html

Stitching, Stitching

Still on the couch, finishing up some quilt restoration (or two, or three)...but I'm at third plate, heading toward home. This morning, it's The Greatest Story Ever Told (surprisingly heartbreaking), Blackadder Goes Forth (of special interest to you House fans, since Hugh Laurie takes a prominent part) and maybe a pirate movie or two.

Hey, fingers at work, mind easily entertained.

Speaking of easily entertained, try this little ditty on how women should smell:

http://living.aol.com/holidays/valentines-day/romance/smells-that-turn-men-on-and-off

And back to stitching. A lovely day, too...darn it.

Working...And Watching

Haven't budged much from the couch today -- am trying hard to FINISH, once and for all, this quilt restoration. I'm close.

Saw both Mummy movies, two specials on UFOs, and now it's Star Trek. At least I can keep my mind busy at the same time as my hands...

Hope your weekend's more fascinating than mine!

Vietnamese, Anyone?

Daughter #1 and I met for lunch today...she came into downtown on the bus, and I picked her up after a morning of appointments. We stopped at New Saigon, billed at one of the best places in Denver... http://www.newsaigon.com/

And they're right!

Husband and I have been going there since Daughter #1 was a baby. Chicken with lemongrass; crunchy spring rolls wrapped in lettuce with a sprig each of cilantro and mint; strong coffee with a layer of sweetened condensed milk, poured over ice; crab and asparagus soup. YUM.

Vietnamese cooking incorporates Chinese, Japanese and French elements...but has a light, bright hit of flavor all its own. Try some here:

http://www.vietnamese-recipes.com/

Then Daughter and I hit one of the local Oriental grocery stores. A 25-pound bag of Rose rice went in the cart, along with curry paste, bok choy and other fresh greens, including cilantro and mint (mixed with coconut milk and garlic for Daughter's famous sauce). A bottle of cooking wine and bag of tangerines added to the mix. Daughter, fascinated by all the staring, glassy-eyed fish, nabbed one for grilling; I got a pound of octopi (wonderful in stirfry tonight with tofu and a handful of shrimp). Some (Vietnamese) lady in the checkout line gushed over the rice -- said she'd never seen Americans buy that brand before. (It was the sticky type.) She made a big fuss, asking Daughter if she had a rice cooker. (She does.)

Daughter's Fan club meeting over, she headed for home -- and work. I headed for home -- and work. I miss her already.
I do wonder how she got that fish home on the bus, without someone asking her about it!

The Bad...And the Good

From the "Don't-Point-Fingers" Department:

(Denver Post) "More than 200 college student leaders are to descend on the opulent Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs on Friday and Saturday to learn about rural poverty, homelessness and market-based approaches to poverty eradication."
You read that right. College students are attending a weekend conference to learn more about poverty and dealing with it -- at one of the most opulent, snooty hotels in the state.
The rep for the El Pomar Foundation, who is sponsoring the conference, says, "This year, as we have done every year, a competitive bid process was undertaken to determine where the conference would be held, and the best bid came from The Broadmoor." (She also noted that El Pomar's offices are on the hotel grounds.)
Husband snorted when I read this tidbit..."Notice she doesn't say cheapest."

Serves me right. I keep fussing about extravagance in Washington D.C. and elsewhere -- but it's in Colorado's backyard, too. Sigh.

* * * * * * * *
President Obama, when capping a $500,000 salary limit for executives of companies the government is bailing out:
"We don't disparage wealth. We don't begrudge anybody for achieving success. And we believe that success should be rewarded. But what gets people upset -- and rightfully so -- are executives being rewarded for failure, especially when those rewards are subsidized by U.S. taxpayers."
* * * * * * * *

And finally, people who did some good with their money and actions:

http://news.aol.com/article/teacher-gives-2-million/329228

E-Trade...Baby!!!

The E-Trade Baby commercials just make me grin. How about you?

You can see them all at http://www.etrade.com/baby

or...the best of the batch -- the so-called outtake commercial:

https://us.etrade.com/e/t/jumppage/viewjumppage?PageName=etrade_super_tv_ads&SC=SMSB09&coid=HP_MAIN09_O_P_HP_MAIN_ETBaby_PostGame09_020109_URG

Just don't laugh so hard you spit up.

They Still Don't Learn...

Wells Fargo just recently got a $25 billion boatload of bailout money from the U.S. Government.

It lost $2.3 BILLION in the last three months of 2008 alone.

So what do the farseeing executives of Wells Fargo do?

Schedule themselves a lavish junket to Las Vegas -- most expensive hotels rooms, natch. Entertainment. Prizes. Gambling. For 12 whole days.

After someone (I'm guessing the media) found out and alerted congressmen (and us), the event was suddenly cancelled.

Morgan Stanley, who also has a place in the bailout lifeboat (but only at a paltry $10 billion), planned to send its top employees to a hotel in Monte Carlo this April. (That's in Europe, folks -- Monaco is one of the more expensive places on earth.) A similar trip to the Bahamas was scheduled. Suddenly a company spokesman announces that both events were cancelled on Monday. Again, after someone finds out and publicizes them.

Reasons given -- 'Well, people need to be recognized. And we're not using bailout funds to do it.' Just money that could be used to re-hire the people who were laid off. Or maybe even (gasp) pay back bailout funds.

What were these people thinking!?!
Husband: "They're thinking about cutting a fat hog -- that's what they're thinking."

Why didn't Congress "add some teeth to the agreement," as Husband says, and prohibit this from happening to OUR hard-earned money?

http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/wells-fargo-another-bailed-out-firm/327746

Pass It On!

Cupcake Studio, bless her crafty li'l heart, has a new 'hit'... you're supposed to stick with one word, but I'm going to expand it to two. Feel free to post your own answers on your site...or here! And once you're done, send it on...

and do take a minute to visit Cupcake's blog -- it's got some wonderful graphics. (I am eating my heart out over all the trims and embellishments.) Here she is:

http://www.cupcakestudio.blogspot.com

And here's your 'survey' -- I'm giving you (and me) two words, instead of just one:

Where is your cell phone? shirt pocket
Your significant other? darling Husband
Your hair? graying
Your mother? worried
Your father? going downhill
Your favorite thing? contentment, peace
Your dream last night? working
Your favorite drink? strong coffee
Your dream/goal? accomplishments travel
What room are you in? living
Your hobby? mysteries, design
Your fear? recriminations, arrogance
Where do you want to be in six years? content
Where were you last night? couch, '24'
Something that you aren't? pompous
Muffins? indifferent
Wish list item? Mexico, Europe
Last thing you did? e-mail
What are you wearing? denim shirt
TV? NCIS, Leverage
Your pet(s)? Weimaners
Friends? encouraging, spicy
Your life? changing
Your mood? waiting, working
Missing someone? brother
Drinking? milk, coffee
Smoking? nope
Your car? Cherokee
Something you're not wearing? watch, shoes
Your favorite store? thrift, antique
Your favorite color? cobalt blue
When is the last time you cried? Saturday ("Defiance")
Where do you go to over and over? mental travel
My favorite place to eat? QDoba's, Willie's
Favorite place I'd like to be? Mexico, Vienna

Now it's your turn!

How was Your Weekend?

It's been a long one.

My "baby," the California Gold exhibit, came down at the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum. It was time...the exhibit had been up for three months. I still felt like throwing myself against the entrance and moaning "Noooooo..." But I was a good girl. Together Karen, RMQM's collections manager, and I took the exhibit down, and started hanging the next one, a Depression era look at Sunbonnet Sue and other 30s/40s goodies. It's going to be a real pastel charmer -- you'll want to visit it at http://www.rockymountainquiltmuseum.com/

Went out for burgers with our friends, plus the movie "Defiance." REALLY good -- you've got to go see this, especially if you have an interest in WWII history. I'd thought of myself as reasonably well-read on the Holocaust...but I'd never heard of the Bielski brothers.

A big batch of appraisals are finally finished up. Now to clean up around here, and get some serious restoration work done. I've got some corny musicals saved up, for just that purpose. (Quilt restoration uses your hands and eyes -- but your mind can still enjoy the antics of Judge Judy and Gene Kelly.)

Ebay Selling Coach is offering a free e-book on selling! All you have to do is download it:
http://ebaysellingcoach.blogspot.com/2009/01/paying-it-forward-free-book-for-moms.html

And I intend to try out Gen X Finance's method for making a salad that will last all week:
http://genxfinance.com/2009/01/22/how-to-prepare-a-salad-to-last-all-week-for-just-a-few-dollars/

Dad update, in case you're wondering:
It's not good.
His pain is a constant problem now. (Bone cancer is known for being particularly painful -- after all, your bones are being eaten out from the inside.) His medication hasn't been doing the job -- doctor just put him on a higher dosage of Oxycontin. No more pain...but Dad's mind kind of went south. Very confused -- and being a big man (6'3", though he's shrunk a bit now), he is very tough for my 5'2" Mom to handle. If he doesn't want to step to the bathroom, for example, she's not strong enough to make him!
The longer we can keep him out of the hospital, the better...but some kind of changes are needed. Clearly the Oxycontin will not be enough to handle his pain soon, either.

Past midnight. Time for bed -- and a fresh start tomorrow.