A Book in the Making

I am itching to write a story.  The idea came to me tonight.

I've never aspired to be a writer.  I've never thought I had what it took:

A story, continued access to my creative self, the fortitude, .....

I'd like to try.

I have identified 2011 as the year I ditch the fear.

Sewing with Kids

12 Days until Christmas.......or 12 for me to get into a good mood.  I really think I can do it!  Add another week onto that and I'll be raring to go for 2011.  No doubters now!

I'm pretty sure I've ruined any chance of turning C into a domestic goddess and certainly not a quilter .  We had our issues with each other when I tried a couple of times.  I put the blame squarely on my shoulders.  I didn't give up trying to get her to want to sew even if I couldn't teach her and so I enrolled her in a couple of summer camp classes at JoAnns a couple of years ago.  She went, but she never asked to go anymore or learn anything else so I dropped it.

S is a different story.  She seems interested.  I've tempered my perfectionist ways and let her be.  I'm trying to teach her the basics as much as possible and then allowing her to grow.

We sewed a bit together yesterday.  She started a quilt months ago, but stopped working on it.  She invariably wants to start sewing at 8:30 at night.  It wouldn't be so bad, but we don't keep her sewing machine out.  I need to fix that and find room so she can just hop on and sew when the mood suits.

She burned her finger on the iron yesterday and that put a damper on her wanting to keep sewing.  I should have supervised her better or not let her iron at all, but she really wanted to.

Resistance is Futile

Resistance is futile.  I could never be classified as a Trekkie.  I have a huge respect for fans and the shows, but this is probably the only line I can quote and I probably didn't even get it right.  I've always been fascinated by the Borg.  I sometimes think about being part of a collective and maybe being a Queen Bee.  hmmmm.....  After my last post I had this dream where I was a part of a collective quilting group of pod people--it got really scary!

Onward!

I dumped awarded the Christmas shopping to M this year.  My involvement has become less and less over the years.  M is always the one with the money.  We use to shop together, but I don't even bother with that anymore.  It was tough a couple of years ago when he first started shopping, but I would sometimes give him too much input.  (It's really bad for me now as my past has finally really caught up with me.  Merry Christmas to me!)  The kids have written their lists and he has them in hand for some unfettered shopping and of buying things that I would never buy because of impracticality and the expense.....but, hey, it's not my money.

Like the baby doll that S wants that is $69.95.  WTF?!  The thing is just a doll and doesn't even poop or cry....  He was having trouble finding things on S's list so I went online with her last night and helped her look things up and send him the exact links.  When I got to the baby doll, I couldn't believe it?!  I was like, "Wow.....that's a lot of money" and S was like, dejectedly, "really?".  I hated to disappoint, but really??????  I planned on talking to M about it and suggesting we find something different, but when I approached him he said he had already bought it.   ooooookay, then

And before anyone says anything about what I should do, etc.....been there, done that.  Pretty much all there is left to do is leave or live with it.  After almost 20 years, I've made my marriage bed so I guess I'll have to live with it.

After the baby doll talk, we lit on a discussion of a gift suitable for his cousin and hubbie.  The family is the only one we exchange gifts with from M's family--everyone gives us stuff but we get a pass because of the four kids and our financial situation.  The daughter wants gift cards.  I've always made a quilt or something homeade, but not this year.  M and I discussed it last night and didn't resolve anything.  I refuse to get sucked in.....  My suggestion was for him to send them Harry and David or something.

Not that I wasn't tempted, mind you--I want to make this for someone.  (don't ask me why that someone isn't me?!)  Wouldn't it be cute to make this for someone and give it to them a month at a time?....because God knows I would never be able to get a full set done in time to gift all together.

Quilts in Montana


Bah Humbug....everyone  It's no way to live.

The Cranky Quilter

As I sit here, at work--don't tell, pondering my existence....or at least the future of my quilting and this blog for the 100th time, I'm also reading a blog from start to finish.  I don't remember how exactly I came across this blog--probably hopped from someone's sidebar--but I'm so happy that I did and thank you to whomever helped me find it.  I've been entertained immensely.
The Cranky Quilter and the first post.

It's a well known fact that I'm cranky.  I'm cranky most of the time and often worse.

How is it that some people can be loved for their crankiness and some, like me, just seen as whiny or a chronic complainer who can't be happy about anything?

Does it have to do with the frequency, the degree, or the manner in which one is cranky that causes one to be liked, tolerated, or disliked?

Last Saturday I went to the first meeting of the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild.  I almost didn't go.  I figured this would probably be my last chance to be a part of a quilting group.  I'm very lonely you see.....  I made up a ton of excuses not to go.  The meetings are in Monument for goodness sake.  The family wouldn't like me doing something on my own.  I'm not a modern quilter--I like patterns, my ruler, and for my points to match.

I went.  I told myself to keep my mouth shut.  hahahahaha...  I told myself to go with the flow.  I told myself to enjoy the ride.  I told myself to not worry about what was going on at home.

I was there for all of a couple of minutes before my mom was calling my about my suicidal brother who had an anxiety attack, was experiencing alcohol withdrawal, and was in the hospital.  "Don't worry, though."  M was texting me at 7 to ask when I was coming home?  He hadn't fed the kids and thought that I would be home in time for us all to go to dinner at the disneyland of dining, The Golden Corral.  (I know I told him when and where the meeting was....  Oh, and it's perfectly fine for him to schedule family outings and be pissy when something goes wrong.)  I didn't keep my mouth shut at the meeting.  I also didn't keep my mouth shut on the way home with my carpool gals.

What is it about women getting together?!  Is it just me or is it a recipe for disaster?!  We were all pleasantly polite, but there was an undercurrent to the meeting.  The leader got of to a great start by insulting have the people attending with some ageist comment....I kid you not!

Oh, and do you want to know why there isn't a Denver Modern Quilt Guild--I guess there is or is going to be but before anything got off the ground there was already a falling out.

********I had nothing to do with it***********  I didn't even hear about it until on the way home?

Modern quilting is supposed to be the new wave because of the no-rules mantra, hyper-creativity, and inclusive membership but I can tell you that there was a distinct bias towards old, fuddyduddy quilters and traditional rules who belong to guilds like ACC which is probably akin to the way traditional quilters and guilds look at modern quilters and the movement.

Why can't there be a meeting of the minds even in the quilting world?  Oh, yeah...., women are involved.

The modern movement is just as bad as the traditional one.  Everyone looks down their noses at everyone else.  Fights break out over whether or not to wash fabirc before its used.  Steam or no steam when ironing PRESSING?

Gawd!

I left the Front Range Modern Quilt Guild.  I don't think I have the stomach for it.  I thought it better to quit while I was ahead or before I ended up with scissors in my back.  I'll just stay lonely....

There's a First Year for Everything

I think this is the first year since I've officially designated myself as a quilter that I haven't had a quilted gift in the works for someone for Christmas.

I'm sure most everyone is breathing a sigh of relief.....

My family for not having to put up with my last minute raging sewing.

The recipient who most likely would have preferred a store bought gift or a gift card....oh, and a gift that is actually finished and gifted on time.

I can't say that I haven't felt the urge to make something for someone.  I have and the urge has been actually pretty intense, but I've resisted it so far.  I have seen some really cool quilts and gift ideas in my travels to shops and blogs.

Yes, I'm experiencing the joys of another year not being organized or ready for Christmas.

There's always next year....

Queen of Mashed Potatoes

My record remains intact.  I have never cooked a turkey.  .....Haven't needed to as my mom always has it covered.

When M and I first got together, we celebrated multiple Thanksgivings with family.  We're down to one, but it's screwier than ever.  It would have to be, right?

We've evolved to my mom cooking everything at her house, including the turkey, and then bringing it to my house to eat.  Why not just go over to her house and eat?  She's a hoarder and there is nowhere to sit and eat.

It is what it is.  I try not to be upset about anything, because it's just one day a year.....  My mom identifies with her cooking skills.  Her health dictates the situation.  There are many reasons.....

I didn't breakdown until yesterday morning.  M tried to make it all better with a Venti Gingerbread Latte.

I was doing okay with the situation until I learned that she wouldn't be coming over to bake pies on Wednesday.  We still had the pies...... but, not anymore as of this year.

Part of the problem is that she is almost immobile.  I live in an old house with two sets of four stairs to get into my house.  (She even fell yesterday on the way in!)

I made M's apple pie yesterday.  We prefer ham so I cooked that--well, heated it up.  I also made him his chili (a family traditional dish for him that he puts on his mashed potatoes....can you believe it's the first year that I made it for him?!)

I am also the Queen of Mashed Potatoes.  I get to make them.

I had my fuss in the morning and got over it throughout the day.  I should have been happy because I didn't really have to cook.

And, yes, I totally got over myself when we sat down to eat.  It's easy to forget, forgive, and get over all the drama as soon as that first mouthful of delicious mom-cooked food passes my lips.

Happy day after Thanksgiving everyone!

Tangled up in love

S and I went to see Tangled today.  I loved it!  I think S liked it, too.

I'm a huge fairy tale fan....the more romantic the better!

Is it possible to be in love with an animated character.  Flynn Rider...be still my heart!  I suppose if I can be in love with a fictional character, Edward, why not an animated one?

I didn't realize that this was Disney's 50th animated film.  I didn't realize it was CGI until I got home to see some of the interviews about the film.  I thought the animation looked different.  We didn't see it in 3D as I'm not a fan.

I thought Mandi Moore was perfect as Rapuzel.  I've always loved her voice and acting.  I couldn't picture who Zachary Levi was so I had to look him up...oh, Chuck.  Donna Murphy, who?  She is delightful as Mother Gothel and rivals any other Disney villain.

The story was developed just enough.  The were just enough songs.  The comedic parts were well placed.  Rapunzel was rescued but did enough rescuing of her own and was just enough of an independent heroine.  Flynn Rider isn't a perfect hero, but he ends up coming through in the end as any true prince would.

How good was it?  I would see it again!!  I rank the movie up there with my favorites, Beauty and the Beast and Anastasia.