Shamrock Knits

Beautiful Blogging and About Me

Someone nominated Robin for a Beautiful Blogger Award, which is definitely desired. She then nomiated me for some unknown reason. LOL

Here are some things that you may not know about me.

1) I have low/no self-esteem. I was fat as a child (nicknamed Miss Piggy) and grew out of it somewhat as an adult. More on the chucky and curvy side than fat. My weight fluctuates like a yo-yo.

2) I don't like to talk about myself much or like to be in pictures. This probably relates to #1.

3) I was recently layed off. I don't have any bad will against my former company, but items #1 and #2 are definitely a hurdle in a job search. It has made me realize how bad I was with keeping in touch with people. That's something I'm working on improving.

Enough with the Debbie Downer items ;)

4) I'm a collector. I collect first edition hard cover books (mostly mystery), DVDs (have about 300 movies), yarn and now fabric (as most knitters and sewers).

5) I support the troops through BooksForSoldiers. I used to be more active in sending care packages, but I got a little burnt out. I've got shelves of paperbacks, puzzles, games. pens, used DVDs in my basement ready to go. Each box is about $15 for shipping, which is not bad, but financially not a good time for me right now.

6) I'm a Facebook game addict. Right now I can't stop playing crazy quilt software. Ironic, right? I don't post very often (like here), but I go and play the games too often.

7) I'm an only child with an extended step family. I have a stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, and two stepsisters. One of my sisters has been my housemate for over 5 years and we're three months apart in age. Made for interesting coversation during college bar days (same last name).

9) I've been trying to exercise over the last couple of years. I was doing extremely well between my personal trainer and starting to run on my own. My #3 item has put a dent in that schedule. You would think I have all the time in the world to exercise, but I find myself less motivated. I think it's a mix of guilt that I should be doing something more productive (looking for a job), no regular daily routine anymore (go to gym after work), and I really hate working out. I did feel better overall and was definitely looking better than I have in the past. I haven't stopped all together, but sometimes it's weeks before I get back to the gym.

10) I take pictures of flowers when I go on vacation. I'm having difficulties with my computer, so this is the only picture I can post right now. This is a picture from a California winery. They plant flowers and roses near the grapes as an early frost warning system. Effective and beautiful.

Update: My computer is feeling better now. This picture is from Arizona. My sister and I were walking up Camelback Mountain and this was on the way there.

Can't have flower pictures without one from Hawaii. This was in a strip mall parking lot.

Here's one from House on the Rock. There's a small, but beautiful, Japanese garden there.

 

Supporting our Troops

I haven't been sending many packages lately through the BooksForSoldiers website. Between working so much this year, and my dad and mom's health issues, it's been pretty hard. I do send donations every now and then. Unfortunately, the website may have to shut down this year because they haven't raised enough funds to maintain it. Last year, the site was targeted with viruses. They've spent alot of money and continue to need money to stop this from happening again. It makes me mad that hackers, or whoever, would do this to a site that is solely for supporting our troops.

It doesn't matter what political party you're with, or whether or not you agree with the decisions our government has made in this war. We all need to support the men and women that are sacrificing their lives to maintain our way of life. Their efforts allow us to have differences of opinions. Their sacrifices allow us to speak freely without fear of harm. Supporting these men and women is not the same as supporting the war.

The name of the site is a little misleading. It started out as sending books only. It has now grown to sending just about anything the soldiers are asking for. Here are some of the examples of what soldiers ask for. My basement is full of cards, used DVDs, used books, games, hats, snacks, batteries, fleece blankets, etc for send for packages. I hope the site will be able to continue on next year.

Last year, I received a thank you from a soldier from one of my Thanksgiving care packages. He said it was the only turkey dinner he was getting that year. I'm guessing he was on duty that day or was at a site that doesn't have a large mess hall. One group of marines I sent packages to were living in a house in a residential area. There were 50 marines in one building. They just got a microwave and refrigerator, so I sent them each the microwave dinners that don't need to be frozen. I also sent them a bunch of DVDs. The soldiers usually have their own personal stash, as well as a library of sorts.

If you can show your support by donating money to the site, it will greatly appreciated. Enough of my ramblings on the subject. Have a great day!

Knitting Time-Out and Charity Updates

It seems I can't work on a project unless I've started it three times. I've been trying to work on the Lacy Little Top, but I kept making it too big. I've officially given this project a time-out because I've frogged it now three times. It's got bad mo-jo around it right now. I'm a loose knitter and I've been knitting on size 1 needles because I felt the size 0 looked too tight. Kathy thinks I might knit looser during the project than I do for the gauge swatch. I guess she has done in the past. It's one possibility. Doree said that I seem to think I'm a bigger size than I am. That's a very likely possibility. I think there was discussion about ease with this pattern on Knitting Daily. I'll have to check that out before I start this project - again.

I've finally been catching up on the knitting podcasts that I listen to. Both WEBS and Stash and Burn mentioned donating to The House that Yarn Built. This is a team sponsored house in Brad Pitt's Make It Right organization for rebuilding a section of New Orleans. It takes around $150K to build an eco-friendly home. I've been buying a lot of yarn at the WEBS anniversary sale, that I figured I could at least donate $20 to the cause.

I also received an email from the Books For Soldiers group that I support the troops through. They've had difficulties raising funds this year, so they may have to end the site this year. They were also the target of a major cyber attack. The IT resources used alot of funds defending the website. I usually just send packages and forget to donate for the site maintenance, so I did that as well. It makes me mad though that they were specifically targeted. There's not enough fighting and hatred already?

My life

Robin tagged me in a recent meme last Saturday. It's taken me this long to think of something. This is 10 things I've done that others may have not. I was trying to think of things in terms of that "mass amounts of people might not have done". LOL

Here goes:

1) I'm a CPA and MBA. I feel like I've been a perpetual student sometimes. I'm always taking classes to learn new knitting techniques. Maybe that's why I've felt in the past that I haven't made many FO's.

2) I've worked at the same company for 18 years. I started as a part-time teller for a bank, when I was in college. I then moved on to Assistant Manager, Trainer/Internal Auditor, Staff Accountant, Branch Operations Manager, back to Accounting for Instore branches, then Consumer Lending Functional, and now I'm back to Retail Reporting. I can't remember when I became a Vice President, but I know it was by 30.

3) I'm a collector. Over the years, I've collected shot glasses, glass paperweights, nutcrackers, tea pots, and first edition, signed hardcover fiction. Some collections are now gone or dwindled. I only continuing on the signed hardcovers now. Since I've been knitting, you could say that I'm collecting yarn and knitting books as well, because my stash seems to be ever growing. :)

4) I a machine knit, hand knit, crochet, and sometimes bead. I haven't done as much machine knitting lately, so I need to try to do more of that. I also want to try some chain metal bracelets. I bought a book at Michael's recently and there's a bead store in Lisle that has some gorgeous metal jewelry. They have classes there, so I'll probably sign up for one soon. (see, perpetual student)

5) I have a tattoo. One of my sisters gave us a family cruise right after her divorce was final. She got her belly button pierced and I got my tattoo. I'd been thinking about one since I was in college, but the opportunity never presented itself. I have a small shamrock, of course, that cannot be seen even if I have a bathing suit on.

6) I'm a clutz and bruise easily. Not a good combination. When I was little, the doctors used to question my mom about every bruise. I've vowed to have a party the day I don't have a bruise somewhere on my body. It hasn't happened yet.

7) I've had lasik surgery. Without my contacts, I was blind. Now I can see the clock in the morning, go snorkeling or swimming without worrying, etc. It's great. The surgery was a little freaky, but I'm so glad I did it.

8) I'm getting invisible braces. I just had the molds done and now waiting to get the braces made. Even though I'm 38, I want to get them for myself. Hopefully, they'll help with my TMJ a little.

9) I have a 300-disc DVD player. My original intention was to put all of my DVDs and all my CDs in there. When I put my DVDs in there, there were 100 (including the extra DVDs that come with some movies). I decided I'd see if I can fill it up entirely with DVDs. There are about 250. I don't buy as many as I used to, but I'm going to take the supplemental discs out of there and see how many are just movies. I guess you can say I collect movies as well!

10) I send care packages to deployed soldiers. I've been doing this through Books for Soldiers for about 3 years now. During the holidays, I try to send more care packages and hold drives at work. I try to send a couple care packages a month.

Knitting and Politics

A couple years ago at a knitting retreat, the owners of the facility shared with us a poem that their mother, Peggy Chester,  wrote in 1971. It was published in one of the Kendaville, IN newspapers but I don't know the exact one. I hope this doesn't violate any copyright laws, but I thought it appropriate to share today.

Download poem.pdf

I think I'll send extra packages this month to deployed soldiers through my group, Books For Soldiers. It's overwhelming to see the number of requests on the site. But like one of my volunteer cards say, "Supporting our Troops, One Care Package at a Time".

All Caught Up

I finally caught up on my New Year's Resolution to send 2 packages per month to the troops through the Books For Soldiers group. I also went crazy at the party store. I cleaned them out of the water pistols, patriotic beach balls, patriotic hand clappers, clearance computer games, and some of their clearance thank you cards. I had the entire shopping cart full of this stuff. The non-clearance was 50% off the clearance items were really cheap. Can't beat that for a little fun during down time. These will go in the remainder of my summer care packages that I'm sending out. One email I received from an Army guy in Bagdad said it was at least 90 degrees at night over around 120s during the day. Dry heat doesn't cut it when it's that hot!

Troop Support Catch Up

One of my New Year's resolutions this year was to send 1-2 boxes to the troops through this site. Unfortunately, I haven't done anything until now. I think the main thing holding me back was that I have all my stuff (non-books) in bags and boxes all over the basement floor. There was so much that I couldn't get to the middle section or even see what I have. I just dreaded going down there and basically avoided it.

I run a drive for Thanksgiving and Christmas at work and let everyone know that I send packages throughout the year. I had a coworker donate $20 a couple of months ago and I've felt guilty that I haven't sent anything yet. Last weekend I went to the store and put together 2 metal shelving units and organized all my stuff. I can't say how relieved I feel. All that dread is now gone. I've sent 2 packages in the mail today. Since postage is $8.95 a box, that uses up most of that $20.  Check off 2 boxes for January. I'm planning on catching up 2 boxes each for Feb through Jul by the end of July, so I'll be caught up. Whew - monkey is off my back!

These are my "organized" shelves. At least I can easily get to what's there and get packages out. Throughout the shelves I have games, toys, puzzles, cards, DVD's, holiday items, mini nerf footballs, blankets, deodorant, body wash, soap, hot chocolate, tea bags, candy, shipping supplies, etc. I'm a big shopper of dollar stores, bargain bins at Target/Walgreens, and there's a used music/book store (Frugal Muse in Downers Grove/Darien) near my house that I can score used DVD's for $3-$5. I also buy holiday items after it's over. For example, I'm planning on getting patriotic goods after 4th of July is over. I can probably send that stuff all year long. I bought about 12 mini xmas trees and decorations and alot of holiday cards half off in January at the dollar store, so I've got a jump start there. The cards are for the troops to send to their loved ones. I put some blank cards in every box I send.

These are bags and boxes full of mostly paperbacks. I went to a ton of library sales last summer and fall and bought tons and tons of books. They are mysteries, science fiction, thrillers, classics, and a few westerns. Basically everything but romance books.

I put out another flyer at my work to see if I'll get donations of goods for summer packages. I'm not expecting alot, but hoping to get enough items for one or two boxes.  I'm really doing it to be a reminder that I send out support packages "all" year long.

If there are any knitters reading that would like to help me, I would love to add hats to this year's holiday packages. Last year, I was able to send out 30 packages through work donations, so I'm hoping to do at least the same again. If you have leftover yarn and spare time, I'd love it if you can make a hat or two for the holiday boxes. I have some patterns available from the web that I can send you if you don't have one. Think Christmas in July. :) Thank you, thank you, thank you in advance to anyone who wants to participate.

Holiday Madness

I can't believe it's been two months since I've posted! I've been so busy sending out Thanksgiving and Christmas care packages to the troops through the Books For Soldiers group. I held two drives at work to raise funds for the care package items and the postage ($20 for a box or $10 for an envelope). Each box was $20 and the envelopes were $10. I was able to send a total of 72 boxes and about 10-12 larger envelopes full of goodies. I'm overwhelmed by the generosity of my coworkers. This is the second year that I held the drives at work and it was definitely a success!

For the Thanksgiving boxes, each soldier received a box with canned turkey, corn, green beans, microwavable cake, instant mashed potatoes, hot chocolate, either an audio CD of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow or a the black & white Nosferatu DVD, and a thank you card. I received a thank you back from a soldier saying that he was able to have turkey for Thanksgiving because of the package he received. It's definitely giving me inspiration to continue this each year.

The Christmas boxes had a wrapped semi-recent used DVD, audio CD of A Christmas Carol, two paperbacks, hot chocolate, peanut trail mix, candy, tuna packet, pair each of hand & foot warmers, soap, deodorant, lip balm, mini Xmas tree with decorations, blank cards, thank you card, coloring pages from children. The envelopes had the DVD, CD, hand/foot warmers, lip balm, candy, coloring pages, and thank you card.

A couple of my coworkers brought the coloring pages to a school and girl scout troop. I had about 100 coloring pages that were just adorable. One of the soldiers sent an email thanking me and named each of the children that did the colorings. Thar was very nice of him to take the time to name each of them. There were about 8-10 names, so he must have written them down or brought them with to his computer.

It took an average of 15-20 minutes at the post office to mail about 6 packages. I think I was there 2-3 times a week to get them all out in time for holiday delivery. I'm glad I'm done, but it was fun doing the shopping. :)