January WIPocalypse and TUSAL Updates

Where to begin... I guess I will start with my WIPocalypse update. Although it doesn't look like a lot, I am quite pleased with my progress on Lobo for the month. I didn't really start until January 8th, but I was able to get almost 1800 stitches in. Since my goal is to get a minimum of 50 stitches in a day, I'm actually very, very happy with this update. Top is where I started, bottom is where I am today. And when I finish the column I'm working on now, it's a page finish! Yeah!

Now for the Question of the Month -- What SALs are you participating in this year?

Well, for the last two years I promised myself that I would do some research, and find a SAL that I wanted to join and then get myself all set up and prepared to start it on January 1st. Well, that didn't happen once again. But, I did hear about the 2017 Smalls SAL run by Stitching Lotus. Since I do want to make a small pattern each month to use as birthday cards next year, I think I will join this SAL starting next month.

Of course, I'm also participating in Daffycat's TUSAL, and here is my January update. I basically have three ORT containers. My little glass boot collects my ORTs when I am stitching in the livingroom while watching TV with my DH. That has been emptied now that the picture has been taken. The plastic bag is my travel ORT container, since I like to stitch on the train home from work. And finally, there is my beer glass ORT container that sits next to me in the bedroom in my stitching corner and collects my ORTs from Lobo.

Finally, an update on my travel project, which for the last week has been my Friendly Felines. Definitely happy with how this project is coming along, and actually hoping I might finish it in March. Sort of a birthday present for myself. Have to start thinking about what I will start next...

Thank you so much for visiting!

Doing Pretty Well

Yesterday, I was very happy when my coworker told me she hopes she looks as good as I do when she reaches my age. She thinks I look much younger than I am and she hopes she ages as well. It was such a nice thing for her to say.

Today I was happy that my very first Webinar went really well, and the participants really liked the training module I developed.

Other than that, I hate to report that today has not been great. Came home to find that we have a leak over our fireplace. What makes it really upsetting is that we had a leak in this area for years. We kept having the roofer come, he would patch something and then we would have a leak again. Finally, after I don't know how many patches he had fixed it. It hadn't leaked for at least 2 years. We finally got the ceiling scraped, patched and repainted two months ago, and boom! The leak must have reopened, and the ceiling is ruined. I can't even put into words how upset I am...

A Little Trip Down Memory Lane

As I was making hummus to bring to a Christmas Eve dinner, I took a good look at my 28-year-old food processor and I realized it was time for a new one. But the following memory rose to the surface which makes me smile everytime it comes to mind.

When I moved out of my parents' apartment and into my own, 29 years ago, I started cooking a lot, which I enjoyed, and baking which I LOVED. I worked with people my own age, and I would bake a cake for everyone's birthday. Someone asked me to make them a carrot cake. Without thinking about how I was going to shred the carrots I said yes. Let me just say it took longer to shred the carrots than it would have taken to make a 5 course meal. The cake was such a hit that the next person to have a birthday asked me to make the same cake... Well, I couldn't say no... When the third person asked me to make the same cake (I have to admit, it really was that good) I left work and went directly to a store to buy a food processor.

The reason this memory has come to mind today, is because the Today's Special Value on QVC today is a food processor, which I have placed an order for. It's sad to replace the old one, but I look forward to cooking new and exciting meals with this new one. And that is my happy moment for today... my little trip down memory lane has made me smile, as has looking forward to the future.

As for my stitching update for the week, this month's card project took a lot longer than expected. Mostly due to the changes I have made in my homeward bound traveling. Not a bad thing. I just need to make some adjustments to get a little more time set aside for my non-BAP stitching.

My BAP stitching has been going well. My goal is to get in at least 50 stitches a day. I did miss out on one day of stitching, but I got more than 50 stitches in each day that I did stitch for a total of about 500 stitches this week. I'm very happy that I am seeing progress on that project.

Thank you so much for visiting!

Seals!

Yesterday was a good but somewhat stressful day. Without getting too political, I do not support Trump, but I definitely do not support rioting! That is not a protest, it is just criminal behavior, and nothing good will come of it. So when we got home we decided to go out for a drink and a bite to eat. We had barely sat down when two friends from work came in. It was such a happy surprise and we had such a nice time sitting together for a little while and talking.

Today we went to Cupsogue Park to hopefully see the harbor seals. And we saw a lot of them. There were about 75 by my count. Even though I've seen them before, it is still a surprise when I see them so close. I just don't expect them. As much fun as it was to see them I think it made me happier seeing other people arriving at the park as we were leaving and asking us if we saw any seals. Each time we said yes, the people asking looked so happy and excited. I knew how happy they would be when they actually got to the beach and saw the seals.

Respect

I've always felt that everyone is deserving of respect and I have always tried to show respect regardless of the situation. Unfortunately, I don't feel I am always afforded respect in return, but the things that have brought happiness to me the last two days have been moments when people showed me respect.

Yesterday, one of our Principal Investigators, came down to the facility to say hello and shake my hand. We have e-mailed each other for years and he felt it was time to meet face to face so he could say thank you in person for all the help I have given his lab. It really made me feel good.

Today, in our IACUC meeting, there was a training issue being discussed, and a group of the committee members turned to me to ask my opinion on an issue. And everyone listened to what I had to say. Again, it just made me feel good that people were asking my opinion, and then paying attention to what I had to say.

Watching the First Gardening Show of the Year

The thing making me happy today is that the first gardening show of the year is on QVC right now. Yeah! Yes it is still winter, but if they are starting to sell garden supplies and plants, spring can't be too far away. 

Yesterday I was alone in my office as everyone else had off for Martin Luther King Day. I enjoyed being able to focus on my work, and I was very happy with how much work I was able to get done!

Doing Better Each Day

This week was interesting in terms of stitching success. The hubby had to work late so I was on my own for the trip home each night. The new subway line enabled me to get to the LIRR and home about 30 minutes faster than normal which was a wonderful thing, but since I had to transfer trains and the train is more crowded, I didn't get my evening train ride stitching in. I still managed to get a few strands in each night though.

In terms of stitching on my BAP Lobo - total success! I got in at least 1 hour of stitching each evening which resulted in a minimum of 60 stitches per night. A huge success for me since I am a slow stitcher. Not going to post a picture until the next WIPocalypse post, though.

With respect to my positivity, I may only be posting every other night, but I am finding something that makes me happy every day. Yesterday my happiness was found cooking. I actually love to cook and just wish I had more time so I didn't feel rushed. That is what tends to make it a dreaded task instead of an enjoyed activity. Yesterday I had the whole day to cook and I made two of my favorite dishes that also happen to be the hubbies favorites -- Arroz con Pollo and Chili con Carne. We have lunch for the coming week and then some!

Today happiness came at the gym. Just our second visit. But a woman who saw us on the elliptical and then saw us do the 30 minute workout circuit complimented us on our stamina! I don't feel like I'm in very good shape, but I'm trying, and able to do more than others, and more than yesterday. She really helped me see the positive.

Supportive Behavior and Prize

It appears I will be posting my daily happy moments every other day. Well, it's only been one week, so I guess I should give myself a little more of a chance before declaring defeat. And every other day is not defeat, just not totally meeting 100% of my goal.

So my happy moment for yesterday, was a very supportive and complimentary interaction with my boss. Very different from her usual behavior towards me. Very unusual, but much appreciated, was that she actually complimented me in front of others.

Today's happy moment was receiving the Cassie skirt that I won from my LuLaRoe consultant. I was expecting it would be a pattern that was not very nice and that she just couldn't sell. But it is a really beautiful pink and black pattern that I absolutely love and can't wait to wear!

Girl Scout Cookies and the Gym

Somehow I didn't publish this yesterday, but that's okay. I was so happy that all of my friends, coworkers, and colleagues are being so wonderful about buying my cousin's girl scout cookies. They are even seeking me out to make a purchase! With today's sales added in, I have sold over 100 boxes. Gabriella is going to be so happy.

And today I am happy because Mike and I finally got to the gym. We worked out for 45 minutes and both of us feel totally accomplished and happy.

Monday Positivity

So I am trying to stay positive, and this weekend I definitely succeeded. I did forget to log on and blog my happy moment from yesterday, but that's okay. So for yesterday...

I am very happy because I not only got 50 stitches into Lobo on Saturday and Sunday, I actually got over 300 stitches in, and I really enjoyed it. I think I am back on the road to finishing that project one day.

Today my co-worker and office mate Rinosha told me that I am hysterical and always make her laugh and that made me very happy. I like to make people smile and laugh, if even only for a minute or two.

Joining WIPocalypse

So my main goal for 2017 is to be more positive. Last year was a very hard year. Finding my mom passed on January 1st kind of set a sad start to the new year. As the year progressed and the deaths accrued (my pigeon, an uncle, my cat) I was really battling with depression setting in. But it didn't, and I realized that was something positive to celebrate. I made it through a very difficult year without medication and minimal therapy 😌.

One thing I didn't do though was work on my BAP Lobo from HAED. One of the very last things my mom said to me was that she hoped she would live long enough to see it finished, and as a result I just was not able to pick it up and work on it all year. I know that would not make her happy, so my stitching goal this year is to join WIPocalypse and work on Lobo. Here is where I left off.

At a minimum I want to get 50 stitches in a day (I am a very slow stitcher unfortunately). It is day 7 of the year, and I have no progress to report 😞 but that is okay, as the goal of the WIPocalypse is to make some progress and I am determined to do that! If you would like to join the WIPocalypse or learn more about it, here is the link to the sign up page.

This month for our post we are supposed to introduce ourselves, our projects, and our goals for the year. I guess I've introduced myself and my WIPocalypse project. My other main project is Friendly Felines by Karen Brittan. I found the pattern in the June 2014 issue of Cross Stitch Gold. This is where I was at the start of the year, and the progress I've made this week.

I have two other goals for the year. One is a stitching goal. I want to work on miscellaneous smalls. I am hoping to complete enough this year, so next year I can give everyone a handmade birthday card.

My other goal goes back to positivity. A friend introduced me to a 'positivity jar'. At the end of each day she takes a moment to write down one good thing that happened and made her happy. Then she puts the slip of paper in a jar. My goal is to blog everyday. Six days a week it will most likely be one sentence with the thing that made me happy for the day.

So here is today's happy moment. One of the reasons we love the Mineola Diner is because it is such a friendly place. We met two new people at the diner today, Debbie and Jimmy, and look forward to seeing them again.