You might have noticed the small graphic up there on the left... well, click it! There's a ton of heart related information there and I challenge all of you to wear your red on friday in support. Here's more info from their site...

 

"Everyone (men too!) can support the fight against heart disease in women by wearing red on February 2, 2007 — National Wear Red DaySM. It's a simple, powerful way to raise awareness of heart disease and stroke. By joining together with thousands of women, companies and organizations, and cities across America, you'll help the American Heart association support ongoing research and education about women and heart disease."

Well, saw a doctor again about the hives I've had for almost 3 weeks now. I've been put on Zantac, Allegra and Benedryl and told to push the fluids. Hopefully I'll see the hives gone by the weekend or at least have them tone down enough that I can get back to sleeping at night. Last night I got up 3 times due to them and got maybe a total of 3-4 hours of sleep.

 

Sad news also comes across today as the Kentucky Derby Winnter, Barbaro, was put to sleep today after more complications with his leg and it's healing. What a magnificant and beautiful horse with such a wonderful spark in his eye. Sad, sad news.

10. Your opening line is: "So, what's your URL?"

 

9. You see a beautiful sunset, and you half-expect to see "Enhanced for Netscape 7.0" on one of the clouds.

 

8. You are overcome with disbelief, anger, and finally depressed acceptance when you encounter a Webpage with no links.

 

7. You felt driven to consult the "Cool Page of the Day" on your wedding day.

 

6. One of your best friends is Mirsky, and you've never met her.

 

5. You are driving on a dark and rainy night when you hydroplane on a puddle, sending your car careening towards the flimsy guardrail that

separates you the precipice of a rocky cliff and certain death, and you desperately look for the "Back" button.

 

4. In stressful situations you wish you could Ctrl-Alt-Delete.

 

3. Your dog has his own webpage.

 

2. So does your hamster.

 

And the number 1 sign that you have overdosed on the World Wide Web:

1. When you read a magazine, you have an irresistible urge to click on the underlined passages.

A friend of mine (from Italy) asked me to share 5 secrets of mine with the rest of the world. I was tagged, so here are my answers...

 

1. My very first job was when I was around 7 years old and I picked flats of strawberries out in a large field for 50 cents a flat. I still have savings bonds I bought with some of my money back then. It was a great way to learn that with work came money.

 

2. I don't like the taste of chocolate. It seems very bitter and gives me headaches.

 

3. Back in college I worked at a little laundromat that also had a coffee bar, TV sets and couches where students could come to study while doing their laundry. I loved that atmosphere and would love to own something simular one day - IF I was ever wanting the stress of owning my own business, which probably won't happen.

 

4. My degrees are in Speech Pathology and Elem. Education with minors in Phoenetics and Theatre... and yet I work at a computer for the government all day long.

 

5. One thing I don't do much of that I wish I could do it more often is skeet and trap shooting.

 

TAG: Angela, Val, Dani and anyone else who is on my bloggers list over there on the left!

I wouldn't wish stress hives on my worst enemy. They are very hard to take a photo of... but here goes. Anyone with ANY ideas? Cortizone 10 and Benadryl do not seem to work. Here's some on my right leg, just above the knee. They are on the left leg as well, elbows and on my back and left side. ICHY!

Stole the piggy personality test link from Dani's site:

 

I won't post what my piggy tells about me as I don't want you to be influenced in drawing your own. You can check back once you have the "guide" after drawing your own - if you so choose.

 

Here's my piggy...

I was able to give my mom her Tatty Teddy today for her birthday so I finally get to add the photo to my blog. I'll post more tomorrow but wanted to share. =)

Amy got her bookmark in the mail today! Glad it got to her safely. She likes bears so I used a simple alphabet to do her name. The exchange was a personalized bookmark ... so here it is:

This week's question from SBQ:

 

Thank you to the 3 of you who took time out to email and ask if I was doing ok and had noticed I hadn't posted a blog in awhile.

 

I'm doing "ok" and currently seeing another doctor and going through some ultrasound treatments trying to relax the area and also take down some swelling. So far I'm not noticing much - but I'm really, really trying to keep positive - but it's getting more difficult. I'm now getting cramps in my legs and serious pain down the backs of my legs to my knees. My hips are also protesting with painful spasms. I'm icing constantly and just need to keep going.

 

In other news, I've finished 2 stitching projects but they are on their way to their owners this week so I'll post more on that next week sometime. I'll be starting our wedding sampler on a different kind of fabric (Monoco) and stitching 2 over 2 instead of over 1 ... so I hope I'll get used to it quickly.

 

*hugs* I'll try to be better of a poster in the future.

Thankfully it's been pretty easy getting back on track and back on the plan for WW. Last week I dreaded going in but I stayed the exact same weight wise ... which is awesome considering I did 2 weeks without any exercise and no counting. Something somewhere in my head must be keeping me in check in a wonderful way. We'll see how it goes this week. I'm close to another 10 lbs gone and we'll see if we make it.

 

Work is going - BUSY. We'll have a new director at the end of the week which will be weird after having the current one for 8 years. Also a new Governor will be coming in so that should shake things up as well. Right now we're rushing to change letter heads, website references and so on. Never a dull moment.

 

Lastly, on the stitching front it's been really slow going lately. I'm working on a Tatty Teddy and it's my first shot on working with Evenweave. The backstitching around him is indeed easier with the 2 over 2 ... but my head hurts trying to remember it's not 1 over 1 when I'm working on it. I can't stitch for long periods doing that. After about 40 mins my brain shuts down. *smirk* I'll try to finish him tonight and go back to something nice on Aida. I really need to get going on some gifts and also a wedding announcement for Dan and I. Still haven't found JUST the right sampler. Also need to get back to the Advent calendar again sometime.... whew!

 

Welcome to 2007.

HERMAN EDWARDS: “Obviously our football team is very disappointed with the way we played the first half offensively. I think what happened is we got into a rut where we couldn’t make a first down. That’s a credit to Indianapolis. They did a good job defensively, getting us off the field.

 

Oh well, Herm... there's always next year, right?

Spiritual and calm, you tend to live a quiet but enriching life. You are very giving of yourself. And it's hard for you to let go of relationships. The purpose of your life: showing love to other people; Famous blues include: Angelina Jolie, the Dali Lama, Oprah; Careers for you to try: Psychic, Peace Corps Volunteer, Counselor

 

Link: http://www.blogthings.com/whatcolorisyourauraquiz/

... Stand up eight.

 

That was a Japanese proverb waiting for me in my email from a good friend. I doubt she knew just how great of timing she had when she sent that. The past few weeks have been tough and I needed a pick me up. I feel like I'm emerging from a soft sadness that is probably due to a couple of things that have happened in the past - but I am feeling better each day.

 

My back is hanging in there. Hips are still sore and I would say my bouts of severe pain are getting fewer. I've been having accupuncture treatments and hope that will help. Dan has also told me to get back to monthly massages so those should help as well.

 

This New Years we went over to western Iowa to see family. We ended up getting snowed in and having to spend the night - but that's ok. We were able to get out the following morning. It was a great visit and I'm stunned at how fast our little niece is growing. There are a couple photos over there in the gallery of little Kassidy. She's a true blessing.

 

Finally, I'm getting back into WW and counting points. I haven't been bad - just lazy. Friday I'll be heading back to the meetings and kicking it into gear. Also be looking for more proud moments.

Thanks to a 35-30 win over the Jaguars and some help from around the NFL, the Chiefs have clinched the sixth and final seed in the 2006 Postseason. The Chiefs will now play at the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the NFL Playoffs on Saturday, January 6th at 3:30 (central).

 

Go Chiefs!!