the annie blog

Last night I really do anything that I said I was gonna do. We grabbed some dinner out and then came home and I did some grading and worked on the computer awhile. After that I worked on my swap box – I had a blast putting it together! Then I started crafting.

Awhile back, Stef had talked about embroidering on cards. So I decided I would give it a try. I have some blank cardstock pre-folded cards, so I quickly drew something on it. Then I experimented with different sizes of needles and different thicknesses of thread/floss. I found a nice tiny needle and I decided on one strand of embroidery floss. Then I began embroidering. It looks great! The tricky part though – the cardstock is so thick and heavy that you kind of have to “punch” the needle through. Consequently – I “punched” it into my fingers repeatedly. Finally, by the end of the night I had three band*aids on, and had little blood stains all over the back of the card. What a beautiful gift that would be, huh? So, I started all over and this time I haven’t (knock on wood) punctured myself once. I should be able to finish up tonight. It would be so much quicker if it were on a piece of fabric. So, I now have something else to do with my blank cards.

Yesterday at work I had a little cry-baby moment. It had nothing to do with work, or Mark, or anything devastating. I was just surfing blogs and I started to feel highly inadequate. It’s hard to explain without sounding sappy, so I won’t. I’m fine now, I just need to focus on what I CAN do and not on what I have YET to accomplish. There, how’s that for a positive affirmation!

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Ok, the car is back – again. This time I think it’s going to be ok. So much drama when a car is sick. We made dinner last night then I set to work on my quilt blocks. I only got 6 done. Then I headed to bed to read. Don’t you love the feeling when you’re almost done with a book and you know you get to start a new one pretty soon? Well, I’m almost done and ready to start my new one tonight.

After work I have a nail appointment. Then I need to return a DVD, then run to the bank to deposit some checks. At home I need to vacuum and mop. Then worry about dinner. The rest of the night should be all for me. I really like accomplishing all my stuff and then having “me” time. I know I’ll be drinking some tea tonight!

I am giving a test in one of my classes today so that means I can work ahead on stuff while they’re testing. How horrible is this – the first week of this class I gave them a little quiz over the lectures – pop quiz. I know, I know – bad teacher. But I usually do it so I can get a feel for the group. Well, I noticed a lot of wandering eyes. So, I headed back to my office and quickly scrambled the rest of my tests and quizzes on my test maker program and now I have three different copies of everything. It was very funny the first time I passed out the test and their little eyes were peeking around and this mad look of confusion was on their faces. Then I quietly announced that, “Oh, by the way, I have three different copies of the test, so can you please put your test number on your answer sheet.” They were none too happy with me. But my goodness! It’s college. You don’t have to be here if you don’t want to be here. This class is specifically for majors too. They should like the subject and be interested in it if they’re majoring in it!

But who am I? I do not like cheating. I didn’t cheat. Of course I would daydream about somehow landing the test in my lap days prior to the exam. But I never cheated. I did last minute cramming. I paid the price if I didn’t study. I know people cheat on tests all the time, but not in my class – I’ll try to make it mighty difficult for you to cheat. I am the teacher that walks around the room – I am the teacher and stares at the kid that *looks* guilty – I am the teacher that pushes all books and notes *under* the desk so they aren’t tempted. Oh well, I’m trying to make a difference and instill in them that it’s NOT ok to cheat, that they won’t get anywhere by NOT knowing this information. Plus, I just like school and think that everyone should like it too.

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Get this – there’s more wrong with the damn breaks on the car now. Apparently they discovered something else- I have no idea what it is, they left a message with Mark and we haven’t seen each other all day. So, it’s a bunch of messages back and forth. URG! I wish it was time to go home!

That’s just lovely

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Good Monday morning. Another adventure. We had to take the car back in because all the brake fluid came out of the car – the line must not have held. So, Mark drove behind me so he would only have to slam into me. Which he almost did. We got tons of dirty looks. We were going 25 on a 65. I’m sure we made some people’s Monday morning horrible for them. Hopefully we can get it back today.

We stayed up and watched the Oscars. I’m happy for Sean Penn, but I was rooting for Bill Murray. Loved the dresses. For the most part everyone was super beautiful. I got tons of knitting done. I am amazed at myself. I want to make so many things, but I can’t understand the damn patterns. I wish they would spell them out for beginners. I got back and forth and look stuff up, but it still doesn’t make sense. Ok, that and the fact I don’t know how to increase or decrease. I try and do it, but it kind of makes a buttonhole effect. I hope I’m not destined to make scarves for the rest of my life. I want to try other things. Boo-hoo

I really should go – I’ve been goofing off online too long now.

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Nice weekend. We had a nap and watched some movies. Last night we watched “The Shape of Things” – it’s based on a play. Actually, we are seeing the play next weekend. That’s part of the reason we watched the movie. Mark had the script in his hand and paid attention to which scenes/lines they omitted or added. Always interesting to see what they changed. Specifically because the playwright directed this movie – which is highly unusual.

Tonight we watch the Oscars. We have a ballot that we’ve each put our votes on. We only differ on like 5, so we’ll see which one of us is the winner.

I plan on knitting during the show, I got tons of knitting this weekend actually. We watched a total of three movies, so that’s a lot of knitting. Tonight will be more!

Have a great week!

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As we were driving to lunch today, Mark commented on how he thought the brakes didn’t seem right. So, we ran our errands and didn’t think about it too much. We got home, put the car in the garage, and then a few hours later Mark ran out to get dinner. I peeked in the garage and there was a ton of brake fluid puddled up where the back passenger tire was. Well, no wonder! So, Markie called them when he got back and we’ll take it back in on Monday morning. We won’t be driving that car this weekend!

We just got done watching “Lost in Translation” with Bill Murray and we also watched “The King of Texas” with Patrick Stewart. We loved “Lost in Translation” the dialogue, the cinematography, it was beautifully shot and so gentle. The humor is so subtle and natural. As for “King of Texas” we only watched it because it’s based on King Lear – so we had to watch it. We talked all through it. We had to comment on the difference of the characters from the play to this movie and how the lines are different, and everything. It was fun for us. We like doing stuff like that. Especially if it’s a movie that we know the play. Then we have to figure out why they left certain scenes and characters out. There was tons left out of this movie. Lear is normally over three hours long and this was like an hour and a half. It was a fun little night for us Shakespeare freaks. I also knit all through the movies. I got a lot done, but I’m ready for a break – I’m gonna read before bed now.

Tomorrow we sleep in!

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Good Friday morning! We want to rent a movie or two tonight. I am glad about that. I will knit or cross-stitch, or cut loose threads on my quilt blocks while it’s going on. Did I say quilt blocks? Yes! I worked my little butt off last night in class and got the rest of my batting cut and completed 10 of the 80 squares I have to do. They’re sewn, and cut to size. Each square has 7 different pieces of fabric on it. So, I’m trying to keep my sizes and colors in the correct piles. It’s nice in the classroom because we have these gigantic tables to work on, but at home, I don’t have a gigantic empty table to use. These are big like those banquet size tables, but they have a nice top that doesn’t show scratches and each one is wired, so you plug your machine in anywhere directly to the table. I like sitting at the end and having everything to the left of me for some reason. It’s nice that we all get to design our own little sewing space. So, for not doing any of my homework, I feel mighty good about what I got accomplished last night. My school homework consists of lots of reading. I can do that. Not a problem. I think I have to do a little research and make a quiz or two also, but that’s no biggie.

No Friday Five this week.

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I got my car back and the brakes are awesome. I damn near catapulted myself through the windshield the first time I braked. But, they’re fixed. I’m not complaining. But, I am questioning why the mechanics insist on redoing every single one of my pre-set stations on the radio! UGH! I think they do it just to piss people off. Well, it works.

Tonight I have quilting and I haven’t done a single thing to my quilt. We usually spend the first few minutes going over each other’s projects and talking about their progress and trouble-shooting. Once in awhile someone has nothing to share, tonight will be my night. I bought a walking foot for my machine – why didn’t mine come with one? And I will get to use it tonight. How exciting will that be? I will be a sewing machine – wait a minute, that doesn’t work, does it? How’s this, I’ll be a sewing mama! That’s a little better.

We haven’t thought about dinner, but cereal is what we’ll probably have. Fine by me. We were at a health fair thingy this weekend and they did bone scans – mine are fine. Which is what I thought considering I must drink a gallon of milk a week with all the cereal I eat. I swear, I’ve been doing that forever now. I wonder how many bowls of cereal I’ve consumed in my lifetime. Mercy – I don’t know if I want to know. I might be embarrassed.

Tomorrow is Friday! We are going to rent a movie for the night. I am excited. Cuddle time!

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Well, it’s always an adventure with me. Yesterday as I was pulling into the salon for my nail appointment, my brakes went out. Not totally, but very, very close. I got my nails done and slowly headed home. I felt like I had to brake a block away from every light and had to press my foot way into the floor – practically on tippy toe. So, we made an appointment to take it in this morning. What an adventure. Mark drove it behind me – I was in the Jeep- we figured I should lead so in case the brakes totally go he would only run into me and not some complete stranger who might sue us. We took as many side roads as we could. We finally had to venture out where the speed limit was 55 – good God! We were going about 30 miles an hour. Thank goodness it was a two lane. People were passing us and giving us dirty looks. Oh well, we made it there. They don’t know if they’ll get to it today, but I don’t care, I just want it fixed.

I have a lot of homework stuff to catch up on today AND I haven’t done a single thing for my quilting homework. I really don’t think I’ll get a chance to either. I have stuff to keep me busy this afternoon, then I have stuff to do tonight – like dust, and then I need to finish all my homework I won’t get done here. Hopefully I will end up with a little time for myself….

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