I've lost about 14 lbs. The bad news is it took a couple of nights in the hospital on IV antibiotics and staying on a low-sodium diet. Yup, cellulitus returned, this time on the lower leg. The reason for the low-sodiumm, and keeping it propped up all the time (edema). This round was an ugly one but I will spare you all the description.

So I am house-bound all weekend, no chance of enjoying the GORGEOUS weather we are getting. I am very very happy for all my renfaire friends however. Looks like one of those always-hoped for opening weekends. You all have fun!

No, not me, but our little Tuxedo cat, Strumpet. Story behiind cut......... ( Read more... )

When the crocodile head is in the reflecting pool..... long update behind cut ( Read more... )

Now if the power would just stay on here at work, I can get done what I need to do here :)!

Since this is probably only going to interest the other stitchers here, going behind a cut.... ( Read more... )

This was soooo not how I had planned to usher out the old and welcome in the new... cut for probably length and a little self-indulgent whining
( Read more... )

Did get out to enjoy a nice quiet early dinner on New Year's eve with duncanprime and spouse, which was great as we don't get to see them much with time to just visit. My to-do list at home, and at work, for that nice quiet week between Christmas and New Year's is a total loss however. Hoping to get the work list a bit caught up today but will probably have to miss Crown with things I still need to do this weekend. The weather had better cooperate for QPT!

Speaking of weather, the cats have been sticking to us like glue, especially the little black and white one. She discovered that the laundry basket is closer to one of the furnace vents so now if she can't be on our laps, she is nesting in our dirty underwear :). We don't usually have a problem with pipes freezing but this is just the type of weather we have had a little trouble with in the past so at least two faucets have been on steady drip for a couple of days and will continue to be through the weekend. Himself did a marathon job keeping the driveway and parking area clear enough that we can safely manuever 3 cars around without getting stuck. And the joints really appreciated being the one with the warmer car this morning (I got the garage!). Thanks Dear! Now back to work.............

Also the mimosas!

made it to Himself's family get-together last night. Lots of fun, kids and laughter (family trivia quiz, had to be there). Made it home by 10 pm in weather and on streets I really hope I never have to deal with again. So far it looks like everyone else made it home too (it wasn't snowing when we started!). Got up and saw the weather report and roads this morning so my family decided, even tho everyone is in town, not to be stupid and we are putting off our get-together by at least a day. Everything on the menu will be fine for another day. We are happily ensconsed in our warm house, currently on the second dvd. The housemate has moved up the standing roast she was going to do this weekend to tonight so we will still be eating rrreeaalll good.

Had a good Christmas morning with himself and the housemate. She was very pleasantly surprised with the T'ger cloak, he cleaned up on Lego :). I scored with books and Bab5, woot! Seed has been put out for the birds, a little shoveling will be done later, then, a nap! I could get to like these laid back holidays :).

Hope everyone and theirs is safe and warm with this weather. Stay home and enjoy!

I don't have the largest friends-list, but I still thought I would pass this on:

From The Alcott Arts Center in KCKS:
For those of you who know the Alcott we are usually closed at this time of year due to NO Heat. Well this year we got a request to host a fundraiser for a Local Talent who was injured while being a Good Samaritan, so the Alcott will open for one day only. We will host a Benefit on Nov. 20 8pm $12 913-233-2787 or for more details www.alcottartscenter.org The Alcott is NOT ADA Accessible, Yet !
In the very early morning hours of Sunday, November 8, Kansas City Actor/Director Paul B. was thrust into the middle of a physical altercation that left him with one hundred and fifty stitches in his face. In an effort to try to protect a friend who was physically incapable of protecting himself, Paul nearly lost his life, the blade that cut him missing his Jugular by a couple of millimeters. He was treated and released at a nearby emergency room, and is recovering very nicely. Because Paul has no medical insurance, he not only has to suffer the emotional aftermath of being attacked and scarred for life, but he also has to suffer the financial hardships of being on the hook for emergency room fees. Proceeds will go to help Paul with these fees, and any extra funds raised will be donated to The Kansas City Free Health Clinic.

On November 20, 8:00 pm at the Alcott Center, there will be an evening of performance, music, a silent auction, food and drink (adult and otherwise). There will be a $12 cover at the door, and inside you will find libation in exchange for your further donation. Doors will open at 7:30.
The evening will include performances from .....
Dean Vivian
Lezlie Revelle
Vi Tran
a special performance from Sony recording artist and American Tenor, Nathan Granner!
http://www.alcottartscenter.org
If you can't make this event, but still would like to contribute, you can use your paypal account to send money to cskippy2000@aol.com.

If you wish to donate items or services to the auction, or volunteer to help out, email me at cskippy2000@aol.com

Hope to see you there !!!


sablessam also recently posted about this. I know times are tight for just about everyone but needs like this look like great holiday giving to me :).

Shilling for my show:

I'm the costumer for a show opening tomorrow: T.S. Eliot's Murder in the Cathedral. It is about the murder of Thomas Beckett and is being performed *in* St Mary's cathedral downtown. Which is just an awesome setting for this story! To highlight the timelessness of Beckett's story the director's vision was to span the centuries costume-wise (what do you mean I can't just put everyone in T-tunics?!?!?! :) ). I think it works tho, and if I do say so myself it has created some very effective imagery. More info on dates, times, etc. may be found here: http://blessedthomas.blogspot.com/

Here are a couple of pics of the costumes from the first costume check. Behind cut..... ( Read more... )

Quick post for the folks that are house hunting:

If you are looking for a house in the NE Johnson county area there is one in our neighborhood for sale. It was a foreclosure but, at least on the outside, is in very good shape. Haven't seen the inside so I don't know about it. I think this was a case of someone getting the house in the divorce but not being able to keep up the payments. 60th & Antioch. Faces 60th but driveway/parking is on the Antioch side. 3 BR, 1 BA, partially finished basement, drive-out 1-car garage, backyard w/privacy fence. I think it is listing for 85K.

And if anyone needs a *really* good home inspector I recommend this guy:
http://insideout-inspections.com/index.html

He has done several inspections for family and friends and everyone has been very happy. He is very thorough.

Good luck all!

Last week went so fast, this one is dragging. Finally hump day however!

Got a lot done over the weekend. EGA class was great, of course now I can't put the project down (a little sampler strawberry, to cute!). Also dug out the henna and I'm a redhead again. Went a little overboard, forgot I usually only use half a box.... Oh well, it will fade, but in the meantime, in the right light, I look like a new penny :).

No renfaire again this weekend, which may be a good thing. Seems to be some respiratory crude going through folks out there (so far not the cutelittlepiggy flu, so far as anyone knows) and I am just as happy to miss it. Himself has also managed to miss it, at least so far, so I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Speaking of the flu, had the first full read-through of the show I am costuming last night. That could be a big concern there. Folks were advised that the director would be a bit lenient about missed rehearsals if you are coming down with something. Stay home so you won't infect the rest of the cast! I've seen actors plough through while being really sick but this one doesn't sound like it would be so easy, not to mention how contagious it seems to be. Hope we can avoid it.

Hope to get to Coronation this weekend. Would be nice to see folks, altho it means I will be within reach of a certain Evil Baron (tm)................