Cutting straight - A Lesson in Patience

I have discovered that I can't cut straight. I can't sew a straight line either, but that's another issue. I have all of the tools that you would think could help cut a straight line. I have a mat with measurements, a ruler with a handle, a rotary cutter, one eye and half sense, and I still cannot cut a straight line. I WANT to quilt. I want to make quilts that I can give my family or friends so that on cold nights, they can wrap up in them and maybe think about me. I know that's the selfish part, but regardless, you can't make a quilt if you can't cut a straight line. Last week I was trying to cut fabric across my left hand which was holding the ruler and made such a mess of the cut line. with little shreds of material that not only mess up your seams, but make your fabric uneven. I went to the other side of the table, thinking if I cut on the right side of the ruler, my cut lines would be neater. Okay - that should have worked, except that I turned my fabric as well which gave me the same problem only I was standing on the other side of my table. So when I figured out my issue (it was like Judy Finch and the gas tank) I added that experience to my quest for straight cutting. So I truly believe this cutting and sewing straight issue is a lesson in patience. There should not be a reason that I cannot sew straight. My mama has sewn for years. She made my clothes when I was growing up and I am pretty sure she probably finished my Home Ec and 4-H projects because I do remember them looking very neat and perfectly stitched. She still sews - very well. It is in my blood. I should sew. I am normally a very patient person and a very crafty right brained person. So why can't I mix the two? I tell people all the time - start a craft - it will help you relax and give you something to do. So, I wonder why I am having such issues. Most of it probably stems back to the days when I was learning to sew and wanted to go to the store, pick out the pattern and material, then come home and have the garment ready to wear by bedtime. Otherwise, I got frustrated and it wound up unfinished. Woe is me. Here is my new plan. I have read that I should stop multitasking and focus on just one thing at a time. So I am going to choose one part of a project and set aside just enough time to complete it. This morning, I cut and ironed the three rail part of the baby quilt I am currently working on, cut my inner blocks and laid out the quilt top on the bed. I sewed the first row together - wrong - twice. So once I got it together correctly, I picked up the second row to stitch. And then I stopped. I need to write. My book.

So now you know I can't spell (or edit).

I have committed one of my unpardonable errors - I misspelled the title of my last post. I tend to get agitated when my students do not spell correctly or use the proper grammar. So, I'll give myself a demerit and move on. I have a big week coming up. I am going to Camden County tomorrow to meet with my remaining students. Two graduated in May, so I have eight students left. For the most part, they are talented, eager young women. One with a little bit too much attitude, one is too "blah" and the other six are fine - typical high school kids! I do enjoy them. I am going to St. Simons this afternoon so that I don't have to make the 2 1/2 hour drive twice tomorrow.
It is mid-term and that means registration for Fall quarter. I don't know how else to stress the importance of advising rather than asking. Four students ended up not having the credits to graduate and I am afraid that is because my fellow advisor is not looking up the students' history before advising them. I don't want to get off on my soapbox, but just know that it is so terribly frustrating to put up with someone who doesn't share my passion for what we do. If you can get by doing shabby work, you will continue to do shabby work. I have quit accepting the fact that "this generation" does not have a good work ethic. I just think it is pitiful that these people are allowed to skim by, thus piling more work on those of us who care. I have tried to be patient, but it is wearing thin. In the whole scheme of things, I don't know if management doesn't care or just thinks I'll keep putting up with it. Either way, I guess it translates into "they don't care." I said I wouldn't get off on my soapbox, so I won't.
It's Sunday and I should be in church. Instead, I have to go to Walmart and I really really need to at least type what I have of the next chapter of my book. So, sitting here typing this is not getting that stuff done, so it's off to the sweatbox to get dressed.

Distrations

I know that I am probably the easiest person in the world to distract. Anything works. Something I thought of looking up several weeks ago. A picture or interesting headline. A craft project. Why can't my book be such a distraction. What is it that they say about good intentions? I know if I go upstairs now to work on that needlepoint project - which by the way - is my current "have to finish" project, I will go to sleep in the chair. I need to go to the store, but I am waiting on a list. Life really is good.
We got notice on Thursday of our three "Uncle Sonny" furlough days. I am not complaining. Who doesn't like an extra day off? I do worry about those who can't afford to miss a day's pay. I need to bump up my donations to my "worthy cause." Who knew a $1.83 box of 6 Ramen noodle cups would make such a difference. Apparently it did. Who also knew that the ones who complain the most about not having any money could go out and boast about buying huge flat screen TVs, Wii Fit, and $100 of quilt material but beg for the "poor you" feelings. There is nothing that peeves me more than a sense of entitlement. Nobody owes me anything. I detest people who feel that the world owes them something.
I had a student ask me this week if I prayed for her by name or just for my students in general. She needs prayer as do those of us who try to teach her to become a respectful person. So I have prayed for her by name. I do pray for those who have put their heart into school and I pray for those who are just taking up space because they get a check to come to school. I pray for those who will never make it in the workforce because they don't have the ability or the work ethic. I pray for those I gave a second chance that aren't taking it.
I really enjoy my job. I love the people that I work with. I am sad that not all of them share my passion for people and tend to alienate themselves from students and coworkers. Maybe I am too empathetic, but I know that is what healthcare is all about. I remember one hateful nursing instructor that I had but more so, I remember those who knew we were young and just learning about nursing and that a kind word did more than a harsh word of correction. I do hate to hear some of the things that are being said to students. I don't have any reason to believe that they are making it up. Embellishing sometimes, maybe, but attitudes lead me to believe that it is bascially the truth.
As I have been distracted for an hour now, I will go and do something - even if it is a short nap - I don't nap well - 15 minutes at most. I guess that is what they call a "power nap."
But first, I have to look up "Dog Days" - I have heard so many stories about what happens during "Dog Days"....

Why I don't "Facebook"

I am asked on a several times daily basis, "are you on Facebook?" to which I simply respond no. In case you wonder why or even if you don't really care, my answer is because I do NOT need anything else to help feed my addiction of procrastination. I understand the reconnecting with old friends and communicating with people aspect of Facebook, but I barely have time for my friends and family now - why would I want to take away any of that time? Facebook is something that my kids enjoy and I don't want to move into their territory. I know - I can only see their info if they are my "friends," but what if I am nosy or think I want to know where they are and what they are doing??? They will tell me what they want me to know and to the best of my knowledge, they have never tried to hide anything horrendous from me. I don't think they've done anything horrendous, but hopefully, you get my point. I respect their privacy. Sure, I'd love to know where my college roommate is and what she is doing - is she still working at John's Hopkins - and maybe one day we will reconnect. The last time I heard from her was almost 25 years ago. I wonder if she is on Facebook....
As I have engaged in my worst pasttime, procrastinating for over an hour now, I really need to jerk myself up and get on with my plan for the afternoon. I do have work to do and I really want to start the week off on a good note.
So I will continue to "Say NO to Facebook" and work at curing my addiction....after I check out another website and look for that long lost book that was on my table in the den for months until it disappeared....

Canned laughter and other ramblings

I hate watching a television show with canned laughter or laugh tracks. I especially hate reruns when the laugh track is so much louder than the show. Why do producers think they are necessary? Is the show not funny enough that the audience will know when to laugh? I just don't understand. I do know it is annoying. I wish someone would start a campaign to stop the canned laughter. Such a miniscule topic in the whole scheme of things, yet so irritating. Let me laugh when I want to laugh and listen quietly when I don't.
I like my new writing schedule. Small projects with short deadlines. I function much better. Evan as a last minute Lucy, it doesn't seem so overwhelming. I finished revising a chapter this morning and sent it in with a much better feeling about it.
My daughter moved this week to a new city and new life. The working life. She hasn't found the perfect job yet, but she hasn't really started looking. I wish the best for her. She is very talented and any company would be lucky to have her. I think she is excited, but that is somewhat overshadowed by having to leave a place she has called home for the past seven years.
My son is moving as well. I use the current tense because he is out of his old apartment, not into his new apartment and the majority of his posessions are in my living room. He is staying with friends until he can move into the new place.
I am really proud of my children. There are each becoming their own person and I am proud to say that I had a part in raising them to be the people they are. I never spanked them - well, they say I did once - because I didn't have to. They just learned right from wrong early in life and never gave us any cause for too much punishment. I owe that part to my parents.
Life is good.

Lazy Day

Woke up this morning to a welcome cool. I opened the house and let everything "air out." I am so surprised it hasn't been hot today. I hear the hot weather is coming back tomorrow, so for today, I am enjoying life here in all the splendor of fresh air. I haven't worked much today, just graded a few pitiful papers in Anatomy, some better ones in my Diseases class. And now it is Saturday morning and I am back from the Farmer's Market and a couple of other places. Bought some new local honey from a place in Brooklet. I think they must be a new honey farm, so I'll give them a go since the place I usually buy from was not there. We got a couple of Crepe Myrtle trees and another lime tree. I am going to replant some of my broken hen and biddie plants in the planters outside the front door. They have been pretty hearty, so maybe they'll grow like the ones on Mrs. Iris' front porch in Nevils!
Got some more fabric for a blue quilt. I am determined to learn how to do quilt. Anne is going to help me, but I want to be able to go from fabric to quilty by myself!! I think I have to invest in a walking presser foot, and can't find one of those here in town yet.
Time to get up and get busy.

Still on vacation - technically

I am still on vacation but have done quite a bit of work over the last few days. Also had to make some decisions about my inability to say no. Today I contacted the coordinator of the meeting I was supposed to go to in Chicago at the end of the month. I really really appreciate the opportunity, but as my book slowly sinks and my blood pressure rises, I think I need to back off some extracurricular activities. This Chicago trip was the easiest to let go. Hopefully my quarter will be a little less hectic than the last one. I know that I need to get organized because I work so much better when I have a plan. I am going back to working from a list. Write it down, do it, and cross it off. I need to have a home list and a work list - I'll work on that!!
As for the book, I found the way I started - with a notebook and a plan. It really worked in the beginning, so I'll go back to that format.
The key to my getting organized is getting off my keister and getting things done. Good example - a couple of months ago, I asked my Mama to make some side panel curtains for my front door. SO much heat comes through those windows in the afternoons. She made them and they have been on my dining room table since. Yesterday, I decided to put them up. What a piece of cake - there were already nail holes in the windows and all I had to do was put the brackets up (30 seconds at most) and hang the panels. Done in less than 5 minutes and what a difference it makes in the temperature of the house! Pretty amazing.
I am going to finish reviewing a textbook. Probably another thing I should give up until the book is done, but the money is so tempting.