Did you see this incredible winning shot for Roger Federer in the U.S. Open?
Just as good as his winning shot-between-the-legs last year...maybe better.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Home Again
We drove all night, and got home at 6 a.m. yesterday morning. Amazingly enough, within an hour I was having trouble with allergy symptoms -- or so I thought, until my fever started spiking.
It's been a fun time, trying to put stuff away and clean up in between shivering fits. It's times like these that MessyThrillingLife's encouragement to keep on keeping on is so helpful.
This uninvited "friend" will leave soon. I just have to hang in there.
It's been a fun time, trying to put stuff away and clean up in between shivering fits. It's times like these that MessyThrillingLife's encouragement to keep on keeping on is so helpful.
This uninvited "friend" will leave soon. I just have to hang in there.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Yes, I'm Still Here
I've been out of state, seeing the Mama in Michigan. She doesn't believe much in computers...our cousins, our main source for online happiness, have been busy with family and not home much...and McDonalds has a terrible connection here in Sparta. Thankfully, another restaurant's network is better -- but we didn't discover it until today (Friday).
How has it been without internet access? Not as bad as you would think. I've read a bunch of books, gone to the beach, and talked about old times about a score of meals and coffee with the Mama and a bunch of cousins, uncles and aunts. The staffers have held the fort at the home office, in the meantime.
Daughter #1 gave herself a boost by participating in the Warrior Dash, a zany mud-filled run up in the Copper
Mountain area:
(Credit by Alex Jiminez. Bear in mind it's cooolllld up in the mountains! She said she washed off in a pond -- "because the showers were just as cold, Mom. But I couldn't feel my arms and legs for a while.")
Read more about the Warrior Dash here. And thank your lucky stars you're not in your twenties anymore...
I'll be back early next week. Hold the fort until then, and have a great weekend.
How has it been without internet access? Not as bad as you would think. I've read a bunch of books, gone to the beach, and talked about old times about a score of meals and coffee with the Mama and a bunch of cousins, uncles and aunts. The staffers have held the fort at the home office, in the meantime.
Daughter #1 gave herself a boost by participating in the Warrior Dash, a zany mud-filled run up in the Copper
Mountain area:
Read more about the Warrior Dash here. And thank your lucky stars you're not in your twenties anymore...
I'll be back early next week. Hold the fort until then, and have a great weekend.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Week: 1. Cindy: 0.
...or so it seems. Many of the silly little jobs are done. But what about that Big Project? What about the paperwork...and the business...and...
I was e-mailing with a fellow appraiser last night, and said I'd missed her during the recent appraisers conference in New York City. This morning, her latest e-mail said, 'But Cindy, don't you remember? We had several long conversations together.' And she's right. I felt like an idiot.
Like this blogger, I am just about ready to throw in the towel.
Husband probably feels the same way. He was supposed to leave for the office hours ago. Instead, he's still changing the oil, a job he told me would be quick "because this model of Cherokee's easy to work with." (Unlike our earlier Jeep Cherokee, which had its oil plug somewhere in the vicinity of Canton, China.)
"Let's run away," I urged Husband this morning, when he was still sleepily rolled under the covers, his hair sticking straight up. "Ten minutes will do it. We'll grab a change of underwear, Buck and his dog food, and hit the road. We don't have to be responsible adults any more."
But we do. Sigh.
I was e-mailing with a fellow appraiser last night, and said I'd missed her during the recent appraisers conference in New York City. This morning, her latest e-mail said, 'But Cindy, don't you remember? We had several long conversations together.' And she's right. I felt like an idiot.
Like this blogger, I am just about ready to throw in the towel.
Husband probably feels the same way. He was supposed to leave for the office hours ago. Instead, he's still changing the oil, a job he told me would be quick "because this model of Cherokee's easy to work with." (Unlike our earlier Jeep Cherokee, which had its oil plug somewhere in the vicinity of Canton, China.)
"Let's run away," I urged Husband this morning, when he was still sleepily rolled under the covers, his hair sticking straight up. "Ten minutes will do it. We'll grab a change of underwear, Buck and his dog food, and hit the road. We don't have to be responsible adults any more."
But we do. Sigh.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Can I Get 28 Hours...instead of just 24?
I feel like I just joined an octopus juggling team...ninety million things to get done. Granted, most are little tiny bits and pieces -- little corrections -- a few shirts to iron -- something to proofread -- but the pile's getting larger.
Can I get them all done? Stay tuned.
Can I get them all done? Stay tuned.
WHEW. Stolen Quilts - Recovered!
Hooray, Sue Reich's quilts have been found...and delivered to her house this morning! Here's her post -- visit her on Facebook to learn more.
Brenda at FedEx in Memphis, and Sharon at FedEx in Salt Lake City, Utah are responsible for the return of World War II quilts on their way from Asheville, NC to Washington Depot, CT. We may never know their journey but that is not important. They are safe and can still be shared.
Brenda at FedEx in Memphis, and Sharon at FedEx in Salt Lake City, Utah are responsible for the return of World War II quilts on their way from Asheville, NC to Washington Depot, CT. We may never know their journey but that is not important. They are safe and can still be shared.
Yesterday morning, someone from the quilt world made the important call to Brenda at FedEx in Memphis. Brenda spent the better part of yesterday tracking the quilts. Sharon in Salt Lake City, made a special effort to examine yesterday's shipment of lost and found items in search of the quilts and found the quilts. Just as Brenda promised, the quilts arrived home at 11:30 a.m. this morning. They are all intact.
Through a trust in the power of prayer; trust in good people like Brenda and Sharon to do the right thing; and trust in the positive energy of friends and supporters, these WW II era quilts can once again be shared to honor "The Greatest Generation." Thank you, Sue Reich
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Home Again
Got back late last night from New York City, after an afternoon of dragging our suitcases to the Museum of Natural History. GREAT meteorite and gemstone hall at the Museum...and some of the worst manners in kids. They yelled whenever they felt like it, climbed all over the exhibits, and were pretty much ignored by their parents. Except in the planetarium, when the announcer said -- with a bunch of summer campers in attendance, who up to that point, had been totally obnoxious -- "if anyone in your group talks, everyone in the group leaves." Silence after that!
It took us two hours to get to the airport on the subway. Barely made our plane; I was so grateful we did.
*try to get breakfast included with your hotel stay. One solid meal at the beginning of the day can take you through to supper. (And food is expensive in NYC.)
*look for brunch, lunch and prix fixe specials, then tailor your schedule to take advantage of them. At one cafe, we got a full lunch and two drinks -- for $10. If we'd gone an hour later, the price would have been closer to $25.
*carry a water bottle -- a cheap one that can be thrown away. Too many galleries will not let you take water -- or even an empty bottle -- in. You need the moisture to keep going, though; those streets are hot.
*get a black cotton knit sundress and Greek (also known as gladiator) sandals. Going in the fall? Black pants or skirt, and a classic white cotton or silk men's shirt. Carry a big leather shoulder tote for stuff, or a nicer backpack. You'll fit right in.
*buy a New York City pass. Saves you big bucks, if you're planning on visiting museums, the Empire State building or Ms. Liberty.
*forget eating at museum cafes, or buying much in their stores. Prices were jacked up in every one of the places we visited...and we hit a lot of them. Postcards and clearance books were about the only bargain.
*use an all-day metro card to get around on the subways. You'll still have to walk a lot, but the subways are easy to navigate if you can read a map. You could keep adding money on a card, but it's a hassle, and a misread will get you stuck somewhere, trying to argue with a kiosk. It's not worth it. We bought a 9-day unlimited card (the next available after a single-day card), used it for 6 days and got far more for our money than if we'd just paid per ride.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Now a batch of mail and thank you notes await, along with a finishing-up batch of appraisals. I have to be in Cheyenne, WY tomorrow morning for three days of appraising, and the Cheyenne Heritage Quilters' annual show. (It's terrific, by the way -- if you're in the neighborhood of downtown's Civic Center, stop by. Lots of wonderful quilts, and a vendor's mall, too! Runs from Aug. 12-14.)
J.D. Roth is talking about confidence in today's post of Get Rich Slowly. He's got some great advice. I'd just add: if you're not sure what you're doing, study up. Learn as much as you can. Then act like you know what you're doing. Eventually you won't have to act!
It took us two hours to get to the airport on the subway. Barely made our plane; I was so grateful we did.
New York City lessons learned from this trip:
*try to get breakfast included with your hotel stay. One solid meal at the beginning of the day can take you through to supper. (And food is expensive in NYC.)
*look for brunch, lunch and prix fixe specials, then tailor your schedule to take advantage of them. At one cafe, we got a full lunch and two drinks -- for $10. If we'd gone an hour later, the price would have been closer to $25.
*carry a water bottle -- a cheap one that can be thrown away. Too many galleries will not let you take water -- or even an empty bottle -- in. You need the moisture to keep going, though; those streets are hot.
*get a black cotton knit sundress and Greek (also known as gladiator) sandals. Going in the fall? Black pants or skirt, and a classic white cotton or silk men's shirt. Carry a big leather shoulder tote for stuff, or a nicer backpack. You'll fit right in.
*buy a New York City pass. Saves you big bucks, if you're planning on visiting museums, the Empire State building or Ms. Liberty.
*forget eating at museum cafes, or buying much in their stores. Prices were jacked up in every one of the places we visited...and we hit a lot of them. Postcards and clearance books were about the only bargain.
*use an all-day metro card to get around on the subways. You'll still have to walk a lot, but the subways are easy to navigate if you can read a map. You could keep adding money on a card, but it's a hassle, and a misread will get you stuck somewhere, trying to argue with a kiosk. It's not worth it. We bought a 9-day unlimited card (the next available after a single-day card), used it for 6 days and got far more for our money than if we'd just paid per ride.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Now a batch of mail and thank you notes await, along with a finishing-up batch of appraisals. I have to be in Cheyenne, WY tomorrow morning for three days of appraising, and the Cheyenne Heritage Quilters' annual show. (It's terrific, by the way -- if you're in the neighborhood of downtown's Civic Center, stop by. Lots of wonderful quilts, and a vendor's mall, too! Runs from Aug. 12-14.)
J.D. Roth is talking about confidence in today's post of Get Rich Slowly. He's got some great advice. I'd just add: if you're not sure what you're doing, study up. Learn as much as you can. Then act like you know what you're doing. Eventually you won't have to act!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
New York City
Twenty postcards and a bracelet-from-a-street-vendor later, I feel...invigorated? Exhausted? Wondering how I've managed block after block plus umpteen stairs up and down to the subway?
A little bit of everything.
The past two days were straight appraiser stuff: a talk from a rep at an auction house, a meeting with artist Marilyn Henrion (and a viewing of her wonderful stuff -- incredibly textured, with a surface that often reflected light), a visit to see Suzy Chicago's "The Dinner Party" at the Brooklyn Museum. A talk on the quilts of WWII by Sue Reich, whose book on the subject is a great new research tool for quilt historians. (See the book here.)A visit with Gail Kessler of Andover Fabrics. (She thinks reproduction fabrics are alive and well, but look for the ones that will fit into your overall stash -- these are the keepers, and will let you do more unique work.)
One thing I can tell you -- the style on the streets of New York is greek sandals. We have seen pair after pair after PAIR, usually combined with black sundresses or some other black-variation outfit. I think I need a pair of new sandals.
Back again, after a shower to scrub the sweat off. It's been hot here, with lots of humidity. Makes you thankful for air conditioning.
A little bit of everything.
The past two days were straight appraiser stuff: a talk from a rep at an auction house, a meeting with artist Marilyn Henrion (and a viewing of her wonderful stuff -- incredibly textured, with a surface that often reflected light), a visit to see Suzy Chicago's "The Dinner Party" at the Brooklyn Museum. A talk on the quilts of WWII by Sue Reich, whose book on the subject is a great new research tool for quilt historians. (See the book here.)A visit with Gail Kessler of Andover Fabrics. (She thinks reproduction fabrics are alive and well, but look for the ones that will fit into your overall stash -- these are the keepers, and will let you do more unique work.)
One thing I can tell you -- the style on the streets of New York is greek sandals. We have seen pair after pair after PAIR, usually combined with black sundresses or some other black-variation outfit. I think I need a pair of new sandals.
Back again, after a shower to scrub the sweat off. It's been hot here, with lots of humidity. Makes you thankful for air conditioning.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
We Are Here. And It's Hot.
In more ways than one -- it's supposed to be in the 90s today.
Taking the red-eye is the quickest, cheapest way to get here. In less than seven hours (12:45 a.m. - 6:45 a.m.), we went from 5280 altitude to sea level thousands of miles away. The flip side, though, is that you lose your inner time sense, along with some hours of sleep. (The plane was too full to stretch much or give the knees a rest.) Nonetheless, less than 24 hours after we left Denver, the girls were having their pictures taken with King Kong on the top of the Empire State Building! Talk about surreal...
A good night's sleep helped, and we're getting ready to go out to see Her Ladyship, as well as the Ellis Island museum. Tomorrow starts the appraisers conference. I'm stoked already.
Taking the red-eye is the quickest, cheapest way to get here. In less than seven hours (12:45 a.m. - 6:45 a.m.), we went from 5280 altitude to sea level thousands of miles away. The flip side, though, is that you lose your inner time sense, along with some hours of sleep. (The plane was too full to stretch much or give the knees a rest.) Nonetheless, less than 24 hours after we left Denver, the girls were having their pictures taken with King Kong on the top of the Empire State Building! Talk about surreal...
A good night's sleep helped, and we're getting ready to go out to see Her Ladyship, as well as the Ellis Island museum. Tomorrow starts the appraisers conference. I'm stoked already.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Big Apple, Here We Come!
Dirty dishes in the sink. A pile of clothes drying on the line. Stuff everywhere that needs to be dealt with...
Tonight about 1 a.m., Daughters and I will be headed to New York City!
The primary focus is the annual PAAQT appraisers conference. (A good group, by the way, for learning more about your textiles). But after I'd registered for that, I got invited to a national bloggers summit. Lots of open houses, lots of new products...we're all looking forward to that one, too!
While I'm in class, or visiting an exhibit, or touring backstage at an auction house, Daughters will be bombing around...no doubt they'll find something to keep themselves occupied. (Plus they are under instructions from Mom to find us cheap tickets to a Broadway show.) This is the first time in years that we'll be together on vacation (ok, for me it's also 'work') without it being serious family business...or my having to teach or give a lecture. Whoo hoo!
I'll check in periodically to let you know how we're doing. In the meantime, paperwork is calling my name...
image from New York City Vacations: take a look for ideas!
Tonight about 1 a.m., Daughters and I will be headed to New York City!
The primary focus is the annual PAAQT appraisers conference. (A good group, by the way, for learning more about your textiles). But after I'd registered for that, I got invited to a national bloggers summit. Lots of open houses, lots of new products...we're all looking forward to that one, too!
While I'm in class, or visiting an exhibit, or touring backstage at an auction house, Daughters will be bombing around...no doubt they'll find something to keep themselves occupied. (Plus they are under instructions from Mom to find us cheap tickets to a Broadway show.) This is the first time in years that we'll be together on vacation (ok, for me it's also 'work') without it being serious family business...or my having to teach or give a lecture. Whoo hoo!
I'll check in periodically to let you know how we're doing. In the meantime, paperwork is calling my name...
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