April 21, 2010

Am at the Paducah Quilt Show and so excited to be here!  If you're here too, drop by to see me.  There's more information in the Appearance section.  As the next few days will be busy, we may be a little slower than usual in responding to the messages you've been sending, but we will get back to you all as soon as possible.  

Another very important note, Quilting King and Uber-Cupcake, Mark Lipinski needs a kidney.  Can you help?  Please take a moment to read more on Mark's blog for more informatin. Thanks!

 www.marklipinskisblog.wordpress.com  

April 10, 2010

The older I get, the more I value friendship - true friendship.  It's a rare commodity.  Sadly, as we go through life we sometimes realize that people we thought were friends are often only accquaintances -- sometimes even less than that.  But a friend, a real friend, is one of the greatest treasures life can offer.

Tonight, my dear friend Lisa came over for an impromptu Girl's Night In.  We ate some diet pizza (and though she is skinny and could easily eat full-fat, extra cheese pizza without guilt, she didn't complain), told some stories,and some jokes, listened to each other's problems, bouyed each other's spirits, admired each other's outfits, and even shed a few tears.  And it was just what I needed.  It always is. 

Lisa is the real deal - somebody who understands what I call Full Contact Friendship.  It's not always pretty. It's not always sweet. But it's real and you can count on it like the sun coming up in the morning.  

Recently, someone sent me a funny email that I felt described Full Contact Friendship pretty accurately.  I sent it on to my best girlfriends (like Lisa).  I thought I'd post it for you here (with a little bit of editing) for your enjoyment. 

1. When you are sad ~ I will feed you chocolate and help you plot revenge against the big jerk who made you sad.
2. When you are blue ~ I will try to dislodge whatever is choking you.
3. When you smile ~ I will know you are thinking of something that I would probably want to be involved in.
4. When you are scared ~ I will tease you about it every chance I get until you're NOT.
5. When you are worried ~ I will tell you horrible stories about how much worse it could be until you quit whining.
6. When you are confused ~ I will try to use only little words.
7. When you are sick ~ Stay the heck away from me until you are well again. I don't want whatever you have.
8. When you fall ~ I will laugh at you for being clumsy, but I'll help you up.
9. This is my oath .... I pledge it to the end. 'Why?' you may ask ~ because you are my friend.
 

Does this sound like someone you know?  I hope so. Because if it does,chances are you have a Full Contact Friend and those are the friends worth keeping.          

March 20, 2009

Well, I wasn't planning on announcing this to the world, but I just realized that today is National Quilt Day AND my birthday.  Coincidence?  I think not.

I hadn't thought of doing a whole lot on this birthday (no, I won't tell you how old I am but this is not a "speed limit" birthday) though we are going out for a nice family dinner in my favorite Dallas restaurant tonight, but now...Well, I'm thinking that I may need to go to a quilt store and indulge in a little fabric therapy.  

It just seems like the patriotic thing to do, you know? 

March 6, 2010

Many, many years ago, I worked as a scheduler - a person whose entire function is to manage the calendar of another, very busy, person.  I also owned my own event planning company staging everything from small conferences with 50 participants to enormous galas and fundraisers with thousands in attendance.

Given that, you'd think that I'd have some gift for organization.  And I do - as long as I am organizing not me.

When it comes to organizing myself, I am utterly, utterly hopeless, as the events of this week have proven.  

On Wednesday evening, I was scheduled to do a call-in with a book group in Minnesota.  This had all been arranged weeks in advance and was written on my calendar in ink.  However, at about 4p.m. on Monday, I had a new idea for Cobbled Court novel #4.  I excitedly sat down to work, happily tapping away until 10p.m. and, you guessed it, completely spaced my call in!  I felt absolutely horrible about my mistake and called the hostess, who was extremely gracious (Midwesterners are always gracious, I have found).  I still felt awful but we'll give another try next month.  This time I'm going to tattoo the date on my arm or something.

On Thursday, when reading the posts for our online quilt circle's Women's Heart Health quilt swap, I noted (with panic) that many of the group were sending in their completed blocks.    

"Good heavens!  Are those due now?  I thought I had until the end of the month!"  

A quick visit to the first post on the thread showed a due date of March 14.  Yikes!  I'm heading to Florida today, leaving the house and pets in the care of my son and daughter-in-law, and won't be back until the 12th.  The only way to get the blocks done in time was to go into full production mode, which I did all day yesterday.  By midnight, all 16 blocks were done, except one final seam that I decided to do this morning. (I was too bleary-eyed to attempt it then.)

I posted word of my progress (and panic) in the forum, only to be told by our swap hostess that I was right the first time, the date had been pushed back.  The blocks aren't due until the 31st!

Well, I had a good laugh at that. This is just SO exactly like me.  Maybe I need to find someone else who is good at organizing others but bad at organizing themselves and we can work out some sort of barter system.

But, in the meantime, I must run.  I have a plane to catch at 3.  At least I think it's at 3. Maybe it's at 2....Oh, dear.  Where DID I put those tickets? 

February 19, 2010

I've finally come up for air long enough to put together an album of photos from my recent quilt retreat at the Strong House Inn.  I just hated to leave.  I had such a wonderful time and, as you'll see, made some great new friends.  All this and quilting too!  Life is good!          

Good times in Vermont: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariebee1/sets/