Between

I am between vacations right now - leaving one week from today to have my girlfriend getaway in Boston, after having returned from Ohio to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and niece.

Had a nice time in northeast Ohio. It was good to reconnect....I am not "best friends" with my brother, but I would like to establish a relationship, at least. Therefore, I am working on it.

We tried Chrissy Hind's restaurant in Akron, called The Vegiterranean. It was a beautiful restaurant and the food was very good, also. All vegan, how about that! I tried the Gardein (meat substitute) Scallopini...very good, but a little oily. I hope it was olive oil....

Also "between" is dear husband - between contracts. The days he has off now are weekends to him, he doesn't have to do anything. I don't have any days to myself in this between time. Shit.

At least he said he'd complete a honey-do list, so I'd better get to work on it. Yay, his time off generated another task for me. At least he agreed.

But for God's sake. The dishwasher was full of clean dishes since we got back Tuesday night. You can't put dirty ones in it. So....uh...empty it? You have all day, don't you? Apparently not.

Now he's following me around the house. I get up out of bed, it's time for him to get up. I work in the kitchen, he watches TV in the (adjacent)family room. I move into the office to check email and work on my blog, he suddenly needs to work on his email and computer things. It'll be curious to see how often this happens today.

I hope he gets a job soon.

Cath lab

I applied for the cath lab position. I haven't heard a thing...although it's only been one day. I mentioned it to two potential coworkers and one of them was very excited. We'll see what happens. I'm not convinced I will go if offered, but I need to try.

We will spend this weekend away visiting family in Ohio. It should be a good time. It will be good to get away for a few days. Flying, even.

Gardening success!

I pulled my first carrot from the 2009 garden today. Joy! I have grown a 4 inch carrot and it was delicious. My God, it tasted like a carrot!

I have struggled with carrots for the last two years. This year I tried a different variety ("YaYa") and I amended the soil more vigorously. It worked. I have many more carrots growing.

I harvested my first cucumber today as well. I have picked about a dozen yellow plum tomatoes so far and I have one Roma tomato and one Jet Star tomato ripening inside.

A special thrill is that I have a melon on the vine. I hope to harvest it in a week or so.

A vegetable garden is truly a miracle.

Quilting Success

My Iris block is nearly done and it is very pretty. My applique technique improves with every piece and I am eager to start a new block. Although, before I start a new one, I need to finish up the Posies block, now that I've figured out how to do the center medallion.

Life Success

Not quite yet... A position is definitely opening up in the cath lab. We learned late last week that one of their RNs will be moving out of state. Should I apply? I don't know; I continue to pray for guidance.

Quilt Guild

Guild Meeting

Yesterday was quilt guild day (Blue Valley Quilter's Guild) and it was my 3rd meeting as a member of the programs committee, a.k.a. Vice President.  There are three of us who are the "vice presidents" because it is a big job to be responsible for conducting the programs part of each meeting.  We arrange for speakers, work out all the logistics for the speaker's presentation, help the speaker in any way possible, set up the room for the meeting, check equipment, promote and advertise workshops and programs, and clean up afterwards.  We do whatever is needed to make our programs successful.

It's a big job. I also find it rather stressful; yet, the sense of accomplishment at the end of a successful meeting is gratifying. I think this year's committee is doing a pretty good job. 

Yesterday's meeting was the annual garage sale, auction, and potluck lunch. We had to get there early to set the place up,  conduct the business of the garage sale, collect items for the auction, answer questions, and then run the auction. The garage sale is where people clean out their sewing rooms and donate sewing items for sale to other members. 

The auction involves "big" items that people donate. It amazes me what people give away. We had a huge quilt frame for hand quilting, several entire quilt project kits that retail for $40, $50, even up to $80 or $90, sets of completed quilt blocks, unfinished quilt tops. All of this auctions off for mere fractions of their original worth, not even counting the work put into some of these items. You can get some real bargains. 

We ended up with 48 things to auction. I don't know how much money we made over all, but I estimate it was over $1200 and that will help us afford our speakers. Sometimes we get national-level speakers who fly in from around the country. The costs add up in a hurry.  

My Garage Sale Finds

I purchased some of my favorite kinds of things. I got a "grab bag" box of fabrics, a box of assorted threads, and a partially completed kit for a fabric purse in some lovely fall colors. I also bought a number of old magazines (for 25 cents each, woo) to leaf through, then recycle. 

The thread box contained at least 60 spools of various levels of thread, some high quality, some cheap. I got several wooden spools, even. A few spools of Mettler and Sulky thread, even.

The box of fabrics was a real treasure. I found many scraps and large pieces of cotton, mostly. I found three completed points for a "Lone Star" quilt top and much of the fabric to complete it. Wow. I discovered some lace and dozens of skeins of embroidery threads.  Oh, I don't know what I'll do with it, but it sure was fun. 

My Thoughts on Being Programs VP

It's stressful. I worry about the meetings. I worry about the expenses. I worry about missing something and making mistakes. I don't like all the work.  The meetings so far have been very long for me. And clean up after a meeting is a pain; for example, I got "stuck"  with two full size quilt frames left over from the sale. What will we do with them? Right now these behemoths are in my car. They'll probably end up in my garage for a few years.

However, I don't do all the work - my co-VPs do an equal amount of work, if not more. Thus far we've been quite successful; people are signing up for the workshops, and I have not heard many complaints. This job gives me a chance to exercise my organizational skills. Additionally, there are some perq's  - you get to meet the speakers on a more intimate level, you get a few freebies from time to time, you get to set the direction of the lectures for the guild for the next year or so.

I'm ambivalent whether I'll continue this position for more than one year. We'll see how the rest of the year goes....anyway, they may not ask me to continue, after all. 

July

These are the days that I live for. Hot, sunny, occasional rain. The weather this past week was sheer bliss and I was too occupied with sitting outside to write any posts. I have my *chair* outside in which I sit to experience backyard joy. You have to say "chair" with special emphasis, as it is one of my small luxuries. It's merely a lounge chair bought at Wal*Mart last year. Yet, it brings me such pleasure.

I have a little table next to the chair where I sit my drink. Joy.

I'm not totally lazy, though.  The *chair* is a good place to do hand sewing, including my applique project and hand quilting. 

Topic Du Jour

I really wanted to write about a topic I mentioned 3 months ago: what I think my purpose in life really is. 

I am an assistant. I am an excellent "left" hand. I'm a really good supporting actor. 

I have struggled with this until recently. After all, our society never glorifies the support, only the leader. All training in this world is about how to be a leader, how to be number 1. But you know what? Our society would not function without operating room techs, back up singers, violas, and super-talented administrative assistants. 

My ego has been taught to seek number 1.  I function in much greater harmony with life as a second fiddle. Here are some examples:

1. I am a really excellent second clarinet. I am sensitive to the musical line and I have a good ear for tuning and expression. True, you can fill a second clarinet position with a frustrated first clarinet, but will that shade, color, and support the music optimally? Instead you will get a clash of egos.
   
2. I am happier as a nurse where I can assist rather than lead. Although, in my own way, I do lead.  (I don't mind lead-by-example)
3. I dream about being a backup singer. Really.  I don't want to *be*  Allison Krause. I want to harmonize with her. 
4. I'm very good at application of existing ideas/designs/concepts rather than being the i inventor of original ideas.
5. I am good at administrative details, covering all the bases, getting practical things done.  For example, husband wanted to go to Japan for years. It took me to get it done.

Intellectually, I read what I've written and I feel insulted. Why can't I get the glory or number 1? Don't I *deserve* it?

Well, I could, and yes, I do deserve it. It just wouldn't satisfy me. All of my achievements wouldn't be grand enough, or I'd be plagued by self-doubt, worry, and stress.

I think this is one reason why I struggled with the business world of computing. It's a very male model of the hero taking on the problem alone, using only his personal resourcefulness, intellect, and cleverness.  I tried to be this lone warrior but it didn't feed my soul. And, my ideas were hardly revolutionary. 

Heh, although, ironically, I hold a patent for one of my non-revolutionary ideas.

So, instead of the stress and self-doubt, I get lack of recognition, lower pay, and my contributions devalued. There's always a trade off. One thing I've learned in my 40-some years is that I must be true to myself in all I do.