Memorial Rings
31 Aug 2011 2 Comments
in fashion, Fimo, Interests, memorials, needlework / sewing Tags: adapting patterns for the disabled, keepsake rings, memorial beads, Shapewear
Time to post some recent work!
These are sterling silver rings with a Memorial Bead in the center. I’m really excited about adding these to my keepsake line, because they provide a really subtle way to wear a reminder of a lost loved one. The speckled stones in the ring are created with dried flowers and clay.
SHAPEWEAR POLL: A reminder that the poll closes tomorrow. If you haven’t voted yet, please do. The votes are anonymous, and you can see the results of the poll any time. I’ll be posting on Friday about Shapewear: what it is, how to make best use of it, and what I personally have experience with. (Before and after candid shots will be forthcoming. Wow, talk about being transparent….)
ADAPTIVE PATTERN SEWING: I met with my friend last night and we talked about the custom pattern she had. What she liked, what she didn’t. When she told me the pattern was ten years old, that made me think we maybe needed to go with something different. We talked about camouflage – how it’s difficult to find wheelchair-friendly garments that are intended to hide some areas and highlight others. When it was all said and done, we decided it would be better to find a dress pattern with slimming princess seams, that was made for a woven fabric. I took her measurements and then came home to look through my patterns. I found a few things that I think she might like, and she’s coming over on Friday to make a decision. I’m going to make a test garment out of some flannel (or some tightly woven plaid I have… the plaid would give me alignment benefits because of the pattern, similar to using a gingham). If the test garment works, then we’ll do the real thing. Plus, she’d have a sloper pattern to use for other garments! Double the benefit, double the fun. 
Sewing Adaptive Patterns
30 Aug 2011 3 Comments
in Interests, needlework / sewing Tags: sewing adaptive clothing, sewing for the disabled
Boy, talk about getting humbled…
I have a friend who is wheelchair-bound with MS. She is having an anniversary party, and I am sewing a dress for her for the party.
Think about all the things you would need to do to make a pattern fit: measuring bust, waist, hips; pin-fitting the tissue to see where alterations to the pattern need to be made; cutting the fabric and then pin fitting as you sew.
Now imagine trying to do all that for someone who is unable to stand, has to stay in a wheelchair all day, has very limited mobility in the torso and arms, and is unable to dress themselves.
Talk about challenges!
And here I was the other day, whining and complaining because I wanted to camoflauge my big hips. Next time I do that, just smack me and tell me to grow up. I should remember to be truly grateful that I have so few challenges with clothing, in comparison to all the people who are in wheelchairs.
Alright, so the good news is that my friend has a custom pattern already. The bad news is that she really, really liked this pink microfiber fabric, but it’s a woven and her dress pattern is for a two-way stretch. Hmmmmmmm.
We’d talked about doing a zipper and bought one. But the more I thought about it, the more uncomfortable I felt with the idea of putting a zipper in the back of the dress. She’d have to lean against that all day. And that could present rubbing issues, at a minimum.
I did some reading on message boards about making woven garments for people who are in wheelchairs, and they did give me some ideas. One idea I did like was to make a wrap dress, but the foldover fabric wraps around in the back rather than in the front. I saw some cute styles at a website that sells this type of garment. A bit old fashioned, but adapting details like necklines and sleeves are easy once you have the basic pattern.
So I proposed this idea to my friend, and we’ll see what she says. I go over to her house tonight to talk about what needs to happen to her custom pattern in order to create an additional custom pattern that is for woven fabrics.
If my friend likes the idea, then I’ll be getting some help from this wonderful blog post: Sewing Adaptive Clothing – Mom’s Wrap Back Dress.
Update, Peggy’s anniversary outfit
Here she is, with her beautiful smile, getting a fitting on her dress. She’d decided to choose an oriental style with mandarin collar and buttons. It was a shirt pattern that we’ve elongated into a dress, and now we’re doing the taking-in so that the dress has mock princess seams, fitted sleeves with mock buttons, a 22″ zipper down the back, and a 90″ bottom hem. I’m almost done with it, and the party is in two days – October 1st. More updates to come as I finish the dress, the shawl, and Peggy’s husband’s matching necktie.
Body Issues
28 Aug 2011 10 Comments
Does that phrase just make you want to curl up inside yourself? It does for me. Frequently.
“Every woman has something about their bodies they don’t like.” I know that’s supposed to be comforting. And it is, to a small extent. I know I’m not alone in struggling with this. But it doesn’t really help all that much. It’s more the ‘misery loves company’ kind of help.
I just want to look good! Is that too much to ask?
I want to feel good about my appearance. I want to make a good first impression. I want to have the confidence that I don’t look sloppy, or overly-done, or like I don’t take care of myself. There’s this illusive balance that I’m wanting to achieve: it lies somewhere between being intentionally comfortable in my own skin (regardless of it’s shape), and trying to fit into a media-driven culture that is pretty specific about what the standards of attractiveness are. And how I don’t measure up.
I’m not talking about the opposite sex, here. (Even though that is a huge part of what the culture says the measure of attractiveness is!) I’m talking about the kind of attractiveness that is pleasing and inviting, in a non-sexual kind of way. An attractiveness that projects warmth, approachability, self-awareness and self-confidence. And I want to appear put-together. Like I’ve got it all under control.
Wow. See what kind of issues that thought process stirs up? Yes, it has to do with physical appearance; but it also has to do with character. With who I am, down inside the shell. Cuz, baby, that stuff is gonna work it’s way to the outside – no doubt about it. I might have a Malibu Barbie body, but if I have a Wicked Witch character… yeah. Totally ruins it. Can I get an amen?
I’m sitting here asking myself where I’m going with this. I guess what I’m trying to say is that, even though I’m surrounding myself with books on how to have a realistic wardrobe that works for my figure and lifestyle, on a budget I can afford — that I’m also trying to deal with some deep-seated psychological issues, too. The (impossible to achieve) desire to be liked by everyone. The desire to be taken seriously and not dismissed as an air-head. The desire to even be admired. Rejection and acceptance…I’ve had these issues since childhood. And while I’m chipping away at them and can see that I’ve made some progress, I sure haven’t gotten them licked yet!
So really…. if I’m not comfortable with who I am on the inside, isn’t it nigh impossible to be comfortable with who I am on the outside? Am I paying attention to camouflaging my fat as an attempt to camouflage my insecurities?
I would like you to respond, dear readers. I really want to hear what you have to say about this, about your own struggles, and how you’re doing in dealing with them. But… do me a favor? I kinda don’t want you to try to ‘make me feel better’ by giving me compliments. Don’t worry, it’s not that I think I don’t ever deserve compliments (because sometimes I do. Oh, I have pride issues too… but anyway) it’s just that, right now, compliments aren’t what I’m looking for. Just know that I think sweet of you, to want to do that, and then go on and tell me about your struggles. Maybe misery loving company has some greater value, after all.
Shapewear Poll
26 Aug 2011 2 Comments
I’ve reworked my previous Facebook poll, to allow for more choices and anonymity. So please help me out with this poll, won’t you? I’ll be posting the results on my blog a week from now, and talking about the kinds of Shapewear that I use. You’re invited to leave a comment along with your vote, but no one will know what you voted unless you say so.
“It’s Probably Nothing” – Part 3
25 Aug 2011 15 Comments
in health
Ohmygoodness! Good news! Thank you all so much for your prayers, thoughts, and especially for your encouraging comments. I really do appreciate those. More than you know.
The mammogram was indeed diagnostic, as Melody suggested. What they saw on the first mammogram turned out to be a fibroid, which is benign.
I had a surprise though: the spot that I thought was the spot – wasn’t! You should have seen the look on my face. We did an ultrasound on the lump I could feel, and it’s actually a swollen milk duct, a menopausal condition called Duct Ectasia. There’s an explanation of that condition here. I don’t have any external signs of it like nipple discharge or areola changes, just the swollen duct. I’ll follow up on care for that but it’s nothing serious.
I felt mad and glad all at the same time, as I was leaving the hospital. So churned up! I was mad because I just spent $500 that didn’t actually need to be spent (yes, I know that’s not terribly logical; but at the moment I wasn’t thinking logically.) I wished that the technology for diagnosing breast conditions was more advanced, so that women like me didn’t have to go through these scary emotional roller coasters for no real reason. And I was sad for women who went through the scary roller coasters for months on end, only to have their fears confirmed. I’m better now, after having my mini-meltdown in the car on the way to Subway. My husband just patiently listened to me and didn’t say a word. Bless his heart; he knows me well, and weathered out the storm like a trooper.
Most of my texts, emails, and phone calls are made (saving the long one – my mom – for when I’m in the car). I’m headed to the library shortly, then my daughter’s and then a meeting for the youth group. Just for a briefest moment, I have this sense of feeling very, very alive. I know it’ll fade, but as relief washed over me, it seemed that the minutes slowed and the dust motes of life glittered in the sunlight.
“It’s Probably Nothing” – Part 2
25 Aug 2011 4 Comments
in health
It’s Thursday, and I still don’t know exactly what was found on my mammogram. I have spoken to nurses, and not yet gotten a call from my doctor, even though I’ve now left three messages for him to call me. Each time I had a question about the test, the nurse didn’t know the answer and had to tell me she would call me back after she talked with the doctor. Rather unsatisfactory, the way this is being handled on their end.
In the vaguest sense, they told me the mammogram had shown a “dense mass”. But not the same one from 2008; they no longer have a concern about that one. This one is bigger and it’s location concerns them. I asked if this was more serious than their concern in ’08, and the answer was yes.
I’m pretty sure can feel it, if that is what they’re talking about. I can’t find any other bump that’s as large in the same general location. It’s about half an inch wide and 3/4 inch long, smooth-edged and shaped like a teardrop. To my way of thinking, it just feels like a cyst or a fatty deposit. But what do I know? Really no clue either way. They have me scheduled for a second mammogram and ultrasound at noon today; but I’m going to lobby for skipping the mammogram. It seems redundant to do both.
More later today, if I’m able to know more.
“It’s Probably Nothing…”
23 Aug 2011 8 Comments
in health
I’m waiting on a call from my doctor, to get the results of my recent mammogram. And his nurse just said those words to me. There’s a big part of me that nods my head and believes she’s right. And there’s another part of me that goes through the What Ifs.
I have a friend who has survived breast cancer because she is diligent about doing her self-exams, and found a lump. I have another friend who passed away a few years ago, because the cancer was aggressive and only minimally responded to treatment. I can’t help myself thinking about those things.
I really only have two risk factors for breast cancer: one is that I was on a high dose of hormone replacements, for ten years after my hysterectomy. I was 30 years old. I’d had Endometriosis and fibroid cysts on both ovaries. After the hysterectomy, they left me one of the ovaries, but it is cystic and doesn’t always function – hence the HRT.
The second factor is the Fibrocystic Breast Condition (FBC). It does make mammograms that much more dicey, because mutant cells can hide within the fibers and cysts that fill my breast tissue. If you imagine feeling the outside of a padded bag of pea gravel, that’s what it’s like when I do self-exams, making it a bit more difficult to notice changes.
Now all that being said, my risk is probably still less than 5%. (I keep telling myself that.)
So when I talked to the nurse a little bit ago, she was looking at the test results and said, “Um… I think I need to have the doctor call you.”
“Oh?” I said, trying to keep my voice level. You know exactly where my brain went.
“Yea,” she said, “I can’t really read this thing, it’s all Greek to me. It’s probably nothing, but I’ll print this out for the doctor to see, and he’ll call you this afternoon or this evening.”
I felt somewhat better about that. If she couldn’t really understand what the Radiologist was talking about, then perhaps it truly IS nothing. I went through a scare like this back in 2008. It turned out to be a cyst in the end. No worries.
Right??
What God Hasn’t Said
22 Aug 2011 10 Comments
in church Tags: charles spurgeon, devotional, morning & evening, prayer, prayer journal, seeking after God
I was getting into bed a few minutes ago, and picked up a favorite book to read a little bit before going to sleep. Have I mentioned before that I’m a fan of Charles Spurgeon? You might not know who that is; let me save you the Google search by giving you a few sentences about him.
Spurgeon was a preacher in England in the mid 1800′s. He was very popular because he spoke in the common language of the people. His writings were published in newspapers and later in books. One of those books is the one I had picked up to read tonight, called “Morning & Evening”. It’s a collection of his thoughts about different Bible verses, one for each day of the year. They’re short, a few paragraphs. Easy to read in about 5 minutes.
So the one for today’s date was based on a verse from the Old Testament of the Bible. The verse reads,
“I have not spoken in secret,
from somewhere in a land of darkness;
I have not said to Jacob’s descendants,
‘Seek me in vain.’ “
This verse is from Isaiah 45:19 , for anyone who wants to look it up. (If you don’t own a Bible, you can use biblegateway.com and type the verse into the search box.) If you don’t want to look it up, no biggie.
Spurgeon is talking about the last part of that quote, what God didn’t say. I’d love to quote for you everything Spurgeon wrote about this verse; he was a man who had a rich grasp of human language and could state things with such eloquence. But there’s a legal limit to what someone is allowed to quote from an author, so I’m going to only quote a small bit of it. Besides… I’m used to reading his writing, and so it’s easy for me to grasp what he’s saying. For you, it might be like reading Shakespeare for the first time – confusing, and with a lot of thees and thous in it. There is a modernized version of this book, though, if you are interested.
Alright, getting to the point:
What God didn’t say is just as comforting as what He did say. He gives assurance to believers that their prayers will be answered, because He promises that our searching for Him won’t be in vain. Spurgeon writes:
“You who write bitter things against yourselves should remember that, let your doubts and fears say what they will, if God has not cut you off from mercy, there is no room for despair: even the voice of conscience is of little weight if it be not seconded by the voice of God. What God has said, tremble at! But suffer not your vain imaginings to overwhelm you with despondency and sinful despair. Many timid persons have been vexed by the suspicion that there may be something in God’s decree which shuts them out from hope, but here is a complete refutation to that troublesome fear, for no true seeker can be decreed to wrath.”
Did you hear that part? No true seeker. That means me, and perhaps that means you too. I can confirm this from my own life’s story, the countless number of times I felt I’d messed up so badly that God would hide His mercy from me. How humbling it was, to see a generosity poured out on me, which both God and I knew I didn’t deserve. He did it because He loves me, in a pointed, passionate, and focused way. Nothing I could do or not do can change that, because He has committed Himself to loving me no matter what. He won’t change His mind on that.
Here’s the thing on the seeker part: He appreciates that I am determined to look for Him, for His activity in and around me, to find out what He thinks about things, and to try to live my life according to His principles. He wants me to do those things, because He wants the best for me. I also have a part to play, because He really desires to work together on things. So He invites seeking, asking questions, getting His opinion, waiting on His timing for things. He won’t let those questions fall on deaf ears, because He sees that I really, truly want to know what He thinks. That’s what it means to be a seeker.
I want to challenge you, to try and be a seeker after God this week. For me, it’s a fairly simple thing that doesn’t take up a whole lot of my time. I have a little notebook that I write prayers down in. Well, not whole prayers; more like shorthand notes. Like “taxes”. Or “votive candles”. Just something short and quick that will be a reminder. And I just pray about these things, really more of an inaudible talking at God about them, whatever comes to mind. I also read some short passages from the Bible, and just kindof watch for anything that jumps out at me, kinda like what jumped out at me tonight. When it happens, you know. If it ain’t jumping off the page at you, well chances are it’s not critical at the moment. I could go into that quite a bit but for now I’ll leave it there.
But just watch for anything related to the subjects you were praying about. Encouragement could come in the form of a phone call from a friend. Or a challenge from something you heard on TV. Or a song on the radio, echoing the words you had been reading (wow, that one happens to me a lot….). When you feel like you’ve got an answer to your prayer, jot it down in your little notebook, and just add a little thanks with it. See, in that moment, God is saying to you that He loves you. He is confirming to you that your seeking after him will never be in vain.
Sewing & Style Book Reviews
20 Aug 2011 2 Comments
in books, Color Analysis, fashion, Interests, needlework / sewing Tags: book review, fashion advice book, sewing technique, style advice book
Last week I renewed my library card. It had expired 2 years ago, and I just hadn’t gotten around to getting it renewed. And now that I did, I’m thinking to myself, “you knucklehead, why didn’t you do this a lot sooner?” Yes, I missed my library.
So I checked out some books on sewing and fashion. There is one missing from this stack, I realized after I’d edited the photo. It’s a book on wearing scarves. I often wear them and happened to see a book about them on the library shelf. Well that book will make it into a different review. For now, let me deal with the ones in this stack, from bottom to top.
Singer Sewing Specialty Fabrics. This one is from the wonderful Singer sewing series. I have about half that series in hardback – a bonanza find at a thrift store. They are like gold to me. If I ever have a sewing technique question, one of these books will address it. Maybe not as thoroughly as I’d like, but I’d get at least a decent overview. This volume on specialty fabrics gives you some really good hints and tips to work with silkies, knits, and heavyweights. I would definitely go out of my way to add this one to my collection. The techniques are taught in a step-by-step method with accompanying step-out pictures. My only caveat: the garments shown in some of the volumes in this set are rather dated; but you aren’t reading this book for fashion advice, so it’s easy to ignore. I’ll be giving this one back to the library grudgingly.
Fabric Savvy. I was surprised by both what this book did include, and what it didn’t. I doubt I’ll be using African Mud Cloth in any of the garments I sew for myself. However, that section was pretty interesting. Yes, there IS mud on the cloth, apparently. I liked that this book dealt with pre-washing advice as well as pressing advice; not something that is often dealt with and certainly not in pattern packages! It also gives needle recommendations, stitch width and length, etc. A handy reference if you don’t mind how limited in scope the book is. I had hoped for more advice on now-common fabrics, like Rayon blends and stretch blends. That being said, there’s an updated version of this book, and I’ve requested it by inter-library loan. The description says it gives newer advice for newer fabrics. This particular volume goes back to the library without a backward glance.
Perfect Plus. This is a cute book, let me say that first and foremost. Some things I like about it: the author takes detailed photos of herself in the outfits she proposes that you sew. And to help you along, she has included all the pattern pieces! She gives you a little questionnaire to help you decide how many of the four garments (pants, top, skirt, jacket) you will need to fit your lifestyle. She gives fabric recommendations, talks about color coordination, and if you still don’t get it, she shows pages and pages of actual outfits in color-coordinated sets. Now, how freaking cool is that? I was falling in love with the book until I read one little statement: yes, the patterns go from sizes 14 to 24; but they are proportioned for a 5′ 2″ woman. Uh-oh; I’m 6 inches taller than that! I was actually pretty saddened because I wanted to make the outfits in this book. However – she gives me good advice on basic coordinated outfits, and because the lines are simple and clean, I already have patterns that would be similar to hers. So this book gets renewed and I’m not going to probably look for it on Amazon. My daughter and daughter-in-law are both under 5’5″, so I will probably show it to them, but the clothes are aimed more at women in their 30′s and up who want a simple, non-flashy, non-trendy, classic wardrobe. They might not want it now, but when their kids start coming along, they will want clothes that can be spit up on by babies, thrown in the washer and dryer, forgotten about for a week, and come out with no wrinkles to iron. (Good Lord… okay, that’s the kind of wardrobe I want for myself !!)
The New Secrets of Style. I am going to be a little bit harsh about this book. It is filled with pictures of actresses, tv personalities, movie stars, prominent figures, and the like. Filled. Literally. Page after page. It’s more like a having a coffee table book of collected InStyle Magazines. Okay, so why all the harangue? I admit to looking for magazines like InStyle when I have to sit and wait at the doctor’s office. But my motivation is purely voyeuristic; I don’t actually want to relate to the human beings depicted in it’s pages, let alone dress like them. I couldn’t care less what the Red Carpet Crowd wears. It’s totally impractical for my life. So why did I pick up this book? Well, two reasons: first, I did not look through it when I took it off the shelf. That was my mistake, because it would never have come home with me if I had. But also, I really thought the title, “Secrets Of Style”, was on creating your own personal sense of style. Admittedly it does touch on the principles of finding your own style and creating a wardrobe around it, but the advice is so shallow and weak it barely gives a nod in that direction. Alright, enough diatribe. This book goes back to the library post-haste.
Does This Make Me Look Fat? I think Leah Feldon should rewrite this book so that angels sing whenever the cover is opened. Little Disney butterflies should flutter out. Birds should come out of it and help you get dressed every morning. Yeah, it’s that good. The biggest reason this book is going to become a permanent part of my collection is because the author takes the time to tell you WHY. Why certain clothing works for you and why it doesn’t. The title should be, “WHY Does This Make Me Look Fat?” As I read this book, it was like the heavens opened up and I finally understood why some of my outfits looked great on me, and others not so good, even though they were in my colors. This book is painstakingly written, and there are NO photographs. The best you’re gonna get is black and white line drawings. There are no color-coordinated swatches, no examples of some cutie-pie modeling what the author is talking about. What you will get is down and dirty, make-me-look-slimmer advice. Pages and pages of advice, for everything from clothes to accessories to hair. I do have a couple of minor caveats, and they are very minor: first, the author is very opinionated, stating her advice as “rules”. She does say that you can feel free to break them, but you should do so knowing exactly WHY you are breaking them. She also believes that the Classic Style is the best style. I tend to disagree with that, because there are certainly people who will look better in a Sporty Style or a Romantic Style. However, most women work, and the working world usually dictates that the Classic Style is the style recommended at work, enforced more or less depending where you work. So I can ignore her little soapbox on the Classic approach, because in general terms she does have a point. The second caveat I have is that the author LOVES black. Black, black, black, black, black. “Hell, I’m an Autumn!” I say in dismay. “I can’t wear black!” Alas, that is simply NOT true. I have this one knee-length jacket that is black with a dark purple collar and cuffs. That thing makes me look HOT. Seriously hot! It’s my favorite power piece and I love how I feel when I’m wearing it. So if I’m an Autumn and black is not okay on me, why does this jacket work? It’s got two reasons: one, the color closest to my face is a grape purple color, which does look good on me. If the collar were black, it would drain my face of color. But since the collar is purple, it works. And two, the cut of the jacket fits me like a glove, skimming over my curves without being snug. So for those reasons I can wear black, with very careful moderation and attention paid to HOW the black is worn and where it is worn. The author’s focus on black is really a focus on monochromatic dressing. Black just happens to be her favorite monochrome. Now I can’t just go out there and start sewing all black tops and pants and jackets. I’d look like I was constantly in mourning and it would age me ten years. But I can do a dark cocoa brown, or olive green, or deep dusty plum. Put me in a monochromatic top and pants that were one of those colors, and I’d rock ‘em. It would look like I’d lost ten pounds. And that would have Leah nodding her head in agreement. Careful accessorizing makes the monochrome pop (scarves, pins, belts, jewelry, etc.) so you don’t get bored wearing just one color from collar to hem. So as I know you can guess, this book is getting renewed. I’m going to read through it a second time, a bit more slowly, and I guess the librarian is going to have to pry it out of my fingers to get it back.
Trinny and Susannah are a hoot. What You Wear Can Change Your Life is another book I do like. They have a very no-nonsense approach that is presented in a humorous way, softening the blow when they give you the do’s and don’ts of their version of style. I like their photos, using themselves openly and candidly as models. My favorite section of the book is where they talk about Shapewear. More on that in another post! These two do tend to have a more trendy outlook on the outfits they chose, and so their books will have to be updated every now and again as those trends change. But overall, their book is pretty good. They do skim the surface of the WHY question and their before/after photo comparisons are well worth the look. Will I buy it? Actually – no. It’s a cute book and I love the humor in it. I did get something out of it. But they really didn’t tell me much that I didn’t already know, besides the section on Shapewear. I had read their book from cover to cover in one sitting, devouring it and reading hilarious sections to my husband (to his dismay, since he was also trying to read. But hey, he was a captive audience). If you have this one available in your library, I would recommend reading it. And for you, it might be that sky-opening revelation complete with Disney characters. It just wasn’t for me. I’m debating whether or not to renew it and re-read it; I’m leaning toward giving it a second chance. But I don’t think I’ll cry when I have to turn it back in.
10 Things About Me
17 Aug 2011 9 Comments
in Family, fashion, Interests Tags: 10 things about me, 100 things about me
Note: I want you to know that it is due to you wonderful readers, you intrepid few, that I got my dishes done tonight. You’ll understand later as you read through my 10 Things list, as to why it is such a feat. But for now, relish in the fact that you moved me to do something completely out of character (and for the greater good, I might add).
I’d recently read a blog that I’m enchanted with: Jeez Louise. I’d found Louise’s blog when looking for instructions on washing my wig. Not only did she give me the information I didn’t know I needed about frizz and synthetic wigs, but she also had a list of 100 things about herself. Louise is an entertaining writer, and I enjoyed reading her list, even though I don’t know her at all.
So as I sit here eating my sugar-free grape Popsicle (another reward for getting my dishes washed), I thought today’s post should be 10 Things About Me. I’ve chosen only to give 10 things instead of 100, because it’s almost midnight and I need a good night’s sleep. So I hope Louise doesn’t mind, but since I couldn’t find an “official” list of 100 things to talk about, I’m going to use part of her list as a sort of jump-start template.
10 Things About Me (*ahem* clears throat: these things are in no particular order or importance; I wrote about them as they occurred to me or Louise’s list inspired me.)
1. I’m American. My family ancestry is a true melting pot, with a mixture of English, German, Portuguese, and Cherokee Indian. Aside from the Indian, my great-great grandparents were all immigrants.
2. I was born and raised in Central California. I grew up in the small resort town of South Lake Tahoe, where I spent my summers at the lake and my winters sledding down the hill behind our house. There was one winter that the snow was higher than the roof, and I literally slid down the house! That was so exhilarating!
3. I am the fourth strong-willed, first-born daughter for four generations on my mother’s side. At one time, all four generations of firstborn women lived in the same house. My poor grandfather… I don’t know how he survived it.
4. I was the tallest girl in my class for most of my education. I’m just shy of 5′ 8″, and had reached that height by the time I was 13. I was very thin, with very long legs and arms. My parents used to tease me that I looked like a Daddy Longlegs spider.
5. I hate spiders. Not because of the good-natured teasing I got about being rather spindly as a kid; but because I have an actual mild phobia of arachnids. I don’t pass out or anything, but if even a very small spider gets on me, you will know about it. From a mile away. This fact is legend in my family, and over the last 25 years my sons have taken great delight, even as recently as this past week, to try and scare me with plastic spiders. One of their favorite tricks is to place these artificial horrors where I will run across them… in the dishwasher, in my studio, in the clothes dryer. And then they wait. And wait. Aaaaand wait. When they hear the blood-curdling scream, they know their sniper target has hit it’s mark. One of my sons, before he left for his military training, hid a half dozen of these accursed things around the house and asked his siblings to let him know when I found one of them. I haven’t found them all yet; there are still two out there, lying in wait to catch me at my most unsuspecting moment. They’re plotting, I know it.
6. I’m allergic to dairy. The lactose intolerance is bad enough that if milk residue is left on a utensil and I go to use that utensil, I will get horribly sick with symptoms of a really bad flu, within an hour of ingesting it. I won’t describe the effects … let’s just say that you wouldn’t want to be in the same building with me when I am having a dairy reaction. And you wouldn’t be able to return to it for the next two days, because FEMA will have sealed the building off as a natural disaster zone.
7. I’m nearsighted. I’ve been wearing glasses since I was 5. Without them I would be well past the limits of legal blindness; I’m 20/450 in one eye, and 20/475 in the other. I just got my first pair of progressive bifocals and I like them, though I find I have to take my glasses off to do delicate beading and to slice fimo nail art canes. I’ve worn contact lenses in the past, but find them uncomfortable because of the extreme oval shape of my eyeball. My opthamologist says that my vision has progressed past the stage where I could wear contact lenses anyway, which is kindof sad. I had thought of getting laser correction for my vision, but the cost for the surgery is comparative to an entirely new wardrobe. At this stage of my life and vanity, I’d rather have the wardrobe!
8. About 15 years ago, I worked for an entertainment company. I was the event coordinator and handled everything from booking service and talent for corporate parties of 400 employees, to working a birthday party at George Lucas’ ranch. I was also one of the talent: a giant face-painting flower fairy (wings n’ all) named Petunia Flowerpot. Yes, there are pictures of me in my hand-sewn costume. No, you won’t get to see them. Not without a court order.
9. I’ve always been incredibly clumsy. You don’t want me handling your china, your great-grandmother’s locket, or your teacup poodle. Breakage is likely to result. I can trip over thread on the floor. If there’s no thread, my own two feet will do nicely. I regularly run into countertops and tables. I have never been without at least one bruise somewhere on my body, from falling over/bumping into/backing into/tripping over/turning around into/chairs, tables, counters, doors and walls, etc. If you ask me how I got such-and-such a bruise, I will look at you with a confused expression and ask you what bruise, and then when you point it out to me, tell you that I don’t have the faintest idea. Bumping into things is so second nature to me, that I don’t even notice when it happens anymore.
10. I am a defeated perfectionist. Now, that’s not as bad as it sounds. What it basically means is that, being the perfectionist that I am, I have to be anal about everything I do and it has to be perfect the first time or it isn’t worth doing. (This is an article that describes defeated perfectionism. And I found this really neat and useful tip here.) The entire house could be so cluttered that there are only pathways to walk through, and I could simply care less; there are things more important to do and I don’t want to take the time to de-clutter. However – don’t mess with the organization of my refrigerator, or suffer my wrath. Just ask my sons. Same thing with the cupboard that holds the plates and cups. I have no explanation for this phenomenon; I couldn’t tell you why the fridge and cupboard make that much difference to me, when the rest of the house doesn’t. I just know that they do. I could let the tasks on my desk pile up until I can barely read my computer screen; but I happily take the time to iron my clothes. In fact, I find ironing rather restful. I hate washing dishes. All manners of hate. But I enjoy vacuuming. All this inconsistency drives my girlfriend Tracy absolutely crazy; she can’t come over to my house without compulsively cleaning something. I just love that about her. But I don’t invite her over much, because my house would stress her out. So we meet at neutral eateries. Maybe next time we meet, I’ll ask her to share her 10 Things list with me.
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