Interestingly, since notifying my siblings of the test findings the other day, I’ve only heard from one of them.  Now it is possible that they are wrapped up in their current events (one is with friends from Brasil– how can they afford that much travel?) and the other is on her way to Alabama with her husband in an RV.  The third sister, I don’t have a clue what she’s doing but it is my birthday tomorrow so that could be why I haven’t heard from them– maybe they’re waiting until my birthday to call.

That’s fine.  Whatever.  I didn’t think of it until last night which is more than 24 hours since I sent them an email about it.  I’m a little disappointed in their lack of response, however.

When my middle sister was in the throes of near death last year, we were all over them with prayers and emails and phone calls.  Now, grant you, I’m not near death (thank the Lord Almighty for that) but still, an email that says “Keep us posted” wouldn’t be too much to ask, would it?

I’ll give them until Sunday and then I’ll get truly pissed off about it.

Several years ago, we all agreed we weren’t being very good family to each other and it seems that we’re slipping back into that– which is fine but why?  Because we spent a week together last year and that was too long?  Because I don’t see why I need to kiss the feet of one of the older ones?  (Well, I guess I’ve let my feelings about that slip out, eh?)  Maybe we should go back to not being involved with each other– certainly would be less hurt feelings that way.

Inevitably, the possibility of a serious issue with my arteries makes me think of death and dying.  Not like it is going to happen tomorrow but that it will happen eventually.  I’m okay with that as long as I’ve had an opportunity to sew most of the fabric and all of the embroidery designs in my collection– then I’ll be ready READY, ya know?  Until that time, not so much but then, it isn’t my choosing.

I’m also okay with not being in control of CHOOSING when/how I will die.  I know that’s up to God and I know that it won’t matter to me when I’m in Heaven with Him.  They say you don’t KNOW anyone when you get to Heaven but I’ll bet I can figure out who my parents are: My dad will be the one with the best garden and my mom will be laughing that magical laugh she had.

I picture Sally, Lucy and MOLLY– especially MOLLY– racing up to me and smothering me with kisses (so who cares if Lexi is stingey with kisses now) when I get to Heaven.

Heaven is a happy place, I’m sure. We’ll have tea every day and good coffee when we wake up from a nap.  I’ll help sew the fabric that makes up the next baby that will be born so I’ll be able to continue sewing, too.  No machine embroidery though– the needles hurt too much.

I know– strange, huh?  Oh, well, it is “All About Me” here and I get to tell you what I’m thinking.  Mostly, I’m thinking that it isn’t going to happen soon– I’ll have time to sew up the rest of my fabric (what will Brian do with it if I don’t?) and run out the rest of my designs and all will be right with my world.

Sorry about that– I guess I’ve been busier than expected and lost track of whatever was happening here.

So what’s been happening here . . . snow . . . snow . . . and, yes, more snow.  Lovely.  Okay, I’m done now.  If this were Michigan 30 years ago, I’d move again but this is Maryland, I’m married and have to stay here.  I guess I should be grateful it isn’t Michigan, right?  It would be worse there, that’s for sure!

Last week’s agenda was fairly blank which meant there was a lot of time for quilting.  Unfortunately, I didn’t have all of the t-shirts for the next t-shirt quilt (until now, one 2/12 I received them from the customer) so I sewed on other things, none of which were memorable enough to recall at this time (apparently since I can’t remember them).

The BIG thing for this week is that in what was supposed to be a baseline screening, we found out that my arteries (yes, both of them– lucky me) are 60% to 79% blocked.  This isn’t good, needless to say.  I have an appointment set up Thursday with a vascular surgeon so that we can determine next steps.  Brian’s going to go with me since he’s better at processing the information than I am and can translate for me.

Freaked?  Now, not so much.  At the time, yes, I was because I have a lot of fabric to sew yet!  I always figured I wouldn’t live into my 70s but I’d like to make it to 60 for crying out loud!!  I don’t think my husband understands that because he always shakes his head at me when I say that sort of thing.  My family history sucks and his is glowing– he’ll live into his 90s but, unfortunately, he’ll do it without me.  My dad died at 62 and mom at 67; now they both had cancer so that didn’t help.  I’ve quit smoking and have had a complete hysterectomy so I won’t get those diseases (probably) but that doesn’t eliminate artery problems, apparently.

My grandmother on my father’s side had a stroke when she was in her 70s.  She was incapacitated thereafter; I wouldn’t mind having a stroke in my 70s but not in my 50s for crying out loud!!

Today’s activities are going to be dropping off 4 quilts at various and sundry quilt shops.  The purpose of dropping off the quilts is because they are the samples for my classes to be taught in said various and sundry quilt shops.  Unfortunately, I can’t know how long I’m going to be gone (I’m going to be stopping at my church for lunch with a group called the Joy Fellowship) so I’m going to crate Lexi.

Poor dog.  Of course, this morning she got the remnants of my turkey sausage/egg white breakfast so I think she’ll survive a few hours in the crate.

Interesting header, eh?  Well, here’s the thing: As a Christian, it is a “sin” to pass judgment on people– “Oh, he’s so fat” or “Did you see how much food she ate?”  But are those judgments or opinions?

I think the first one is definitely a judgment but it could be that the second one is more of an opinion– perhaps it is the person’s job to see how much food they can eat.  Yeah, I know– I’m wrong on that, aren’t I?

The thing is (and if you saw me, you’d know I have no ROOM (Literally!) to talk) that there is a difference between someone who continues to shovel food into their mouths (such as I am trying to re-train myself NOT to do right now) and the one who eats to sustain life.  I’m working on that– it is extremely difficult and much easier to go the slovenly route.

I’m still fairly young and I have a LOT of fabric to sew into quilts (see yesterday’s post) so I’m trying to get healthier instead of going into the slovenly side of life.  In the past two days, I’ve done well; I’ve got a long way to go however.

I’ll keep you posted.

Yes, I admit: I am addicted to fabric and quilting and all things therein related.  I love to touch fabric, feel its softness or lack of it, to feel the grain or just enjoy the texture on my fingertips.  I cannot buy as much fabric as I would like because My Husband says that we can’t afford it.

I’m getting better at NOT buying fabric but it is tough.  I’m signed up to several authors (Nancy Zeiman, Eleanor Burns, etc.) because they have good ideas that I’m SURE I’ll be able to sew out some day but they also have websites on which they sell . . . FABRIC.

ARGH!!  So I go and I look and I look but I just have too much fabric to sew in the basement (where my sewing area is) already that I just don’t have time to look at all of the fabrics that they have!!  So I don’t buy online . . . very much.

The biggest problem is working at The Local Quilt Shop.  Ahh, that’s the tough one– I see things come in and I want to touch them and OWN them but I resist (mostly) and don’t buy the fabric even though it is SCREAMING my name (MARCIAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!) as I direct a customer who can buy it to the rack that has the loudest scream.

Some day we WILL win the lottery!

I’ve still got three quilts to quilt and I need to set up some others for teaching.  The good news is that one of them is a repeated class so it will eliminate some of the preparation time.

Exercise is high on my agenda again.  I’m trying to do my physical therapy (for knees and hips) daily and riding my recumbent bicycle in the morning.  Maybe by the end of the week, I’ll be able to work the elliptical into the line-up as well.

At any rate, I must get to it . . . TAH!

I’m thinking that maybe with the “ICC” (InterCounty Connector) I’d be able to drive to and from Rockville for a job but I really don’t want to do that.  I’m not good with driving stress and don’t want to start smoking again or drinking in excess to calm my nerves when I get home.  And 495?  HAH!!  Not on your life– it sure as heck wouldn’t be MY life that’s endangered out there if I were to drive it!  (I think that makes sense, huh?)

Anyway, I’m going to stick closer to this side of the world and I’m willing to do anything– office manager, secretary– I don’t care just don’t make me drive more than 20 minutes!

I’m teaching a quilt class at The Local Quilt Shop (well, the one most local to me– there are others but we’ll talk about those later) and spent most of my day doing that on Saturday.  I also helped out on the floor since one of the girls had to leave; her uncle died and she was very upset by that, needless to say.  I was out in time to have a light dinner and go with Brian to see our friends, Linda Rose Payne and Mary Payne Omohundro (I think I spelled her last name right!) perform.

If you’ll recall, I met Linda Rose more than 10 years ago when I was working part-time at the Viking (sewing machines) store in Columbia.  She and I hit it off and through thick and thin (both of us), we’ve hung in there and been each others support over the years.  We haven’t seen her sing, in person, for probably 5 years or so (or at least, that’s the best we can remember and we tried to remember Saturday night!); she is FABULOUS!!  Linda Rose has such an expressive face and is spectacular at bringing you INTO the song with her– loved her performance, needless to say!

Mind you, Mary, her sister isn’t chopped liver– Mary’s voice is just as beautiful but of a different quality and octave as Linda Rose’s.  Mary can belt out Broadway or wend your way through your heart with her tones and singing.  Barbara, Mary’s high-school-aged daughter, made a cameo appearance and at 17, you gotta know that girl is going to go places!  Man, she’s fabulous and has a very bright future ahead!!

Anyway, we had a lot of fun and really enjoyed the show– the drive was nearly an hour each way but Brian made it without any visible signs of stress. More than I can say for me– I hate driving here!  (That’s another topic for another time.)