2010 UFO's & Long Arm Day #10

Mid-year I did a little overview of the fateful UFO list--with the promise to take another look by year end.  Guess that means now!
So to recap: 2010's UFO list started out in January with forty items that had left the starting gate but were unfinished. In 2008 & 2009 the lists started with about the same number, and only one fifth of those lists made it to completion by year-end. That's not too bad, except at least that many new, unfinished projects got added to the subsequent year's list each time--an annual Sisyphus project...
This year--since leaving the job-that-ate-my-life--have I faired any better? I haven't finalized the 2011 UFO list, but I can say that for 2010 (drum roll, please!) nineteen items have been completed, or 48%!  Woo-hoo! Regretfully I didn't make it over the half-way mark, but roughly twice as many UFO's made the finish line this year.  I can also gladly report there are not 19 items to newly add to next year's list--so I've (finally) netted a gain. That's largely due to finishing many items that were started this year, and hopefully nearing the "bottom" of the UFO project box--I think I've found most of them now! The 48% is slightly misleading as some of the projects completed this year--or much closer to completion--are large, time intensive projects. Conversely, many of the remainders are smaller or needing less time to actually complete.  (And there are a rare few that may be 'retired' from the UFO list altogether.  I'm coming to terms with the reason some have not been completed is directly related to my loss of interest or commitment to those items.  After enough time, they may do better being cast out into the 'universe of UFO's'...sans guilt.  We'll see.)
I scheduled a final day of longarm fun for the year after the school break arrived--happy holiday to me! How fitting that my last longarm day was 'number 10' for 2010! The day was mostly spent on a UFO that's been on the list for several years, and I'm glad to say it's now been bound & completed!
This project deserves special acknowledgement due to it's infamy in my round-robin group.  More years ago than we usually care to claim, we went shopping together & stumbled on a truly lovely sampler quilt (a Pam Bono pattern).  We spontaneously decided we would use that as a starting point of our small group work.  No disrespect to the pattern designer, but all of us soon discovered the error of our decision--and in the years since it has become the benchmark of low points. (As in: "well at least it's not a PB" ____; fill in the blank with pattern, project, idea, etc.  You get the picture.) The two type-A members promptly worked their way through large & glorious quilts that included all the blocks planned.  One member made two of the 18" blocks & then cut them up & threw them away in exasperation.  One member made four blocks, made them into lovely pillows & gave them away (as in, get these away from me!). One member tediously converted the patterns to paper-piecing patterns & then left the group; don't know if she ever persevered with completing those blocks with the patterns.
Several of us slogged on with the project at intervals, losing hope for completing all of the blocks, but having invested enough time into the ones we had that we kept them on the UFO list with some magical hope of a final product. It has been the group's 'inside' joke & for that reason was well worth the efforts.  I've had many a great laugh over our group misery these many years! In my case, I completed five blocks and then made a firm decision to stop while I was behind & come up with some plan that would allow a finished quilt.

This was the outcome.  A square quilt (about 72"x72") with lots of open spaces for quilting.  That translates to a very visible canvas that highlights all of the errors in my  'advanced beginner' longarm quilting (so don't look too closely--and as ever, pictures aren't great, especially with hanging such a monster!)
All of that said, ya-hoo, I finished this project! and by the end of 2010 so I can cross it off the list!

Wednesday on Whidbey--Deja Vu!

I thought this was worth sharing:  the family-foursome was in Seattle Tuesday.  We had an early start & so headed into a neighborhood coffee shop to finish our morning allotment.
Imagine my surprise when I did a double take of this sculpture in the commons outside! It's not exactly the same but definitely a 'twin' (by the same artist) to the one on campus outside my office.

Seattle-near University Village

Island version--posted early November

What a funny discovery--given all the possible coffee shops in the city!

Wednesday on Whidbey

The Cascades from Langley
(click on it for better view; sorry about the power line...)

The Year of SSR

As the new year is about to launch, I relish looking backwards at the year finishing up.  In the reading department it's been fun to peruse this year's take--and very fun to recognize there's been a year's take to ponder! Hopefully that trend will continue. When the boys were young, there was a school term that wandered the house regularly: SSR.  Stood for 'Silent Sustained Reading'. I've definitely been earning my SSR points for the year!

Probably above all, it's been the year of the memoir.  That wasn't preplanned--but once I entered the genre it was hard to step out. Didn't really want to.
I have not read some of this year's memoir headliners--notably George W & Sarah's second. Why knowingly stick your finger in the ghost-writing socket? (My favorite Mudflats has done a nice 'twelve days' tribute to Palin, including her book.)
Instead, I've been randomly pulling items off the library shelf & in most cases have been pleasantly surprised. By my count, I've finished sixteen memoir this year, with another five that might be considered 'second-hand-memoir' (told by another).

Top three for the year I think would be: McCraken's An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination, O'Brien's The Things They Carried which launched me into all of his books, and Steil's The Woman Who Fell From the Sky.

Close runner-ups: Janzen's bittersweet Mennonite in a Little Black Dress and Patchett's timeless Truth & Beauty.

I happily 'met' authors Christopher Moore (Lamb was my favorite) & Ariana Franklin. Slowest slog but worth it: Baker's Family of Secrets. Fanned my love of Tracy Kidder with three additional works by him this year. Also worth noting, Ivin's Bill of Wrongs & Stockett's novel, The Help. 

I know a book or so a week isn't a land speed record but it's about a ten-fold improvement for me! And that doesn't count the many wonderful books on quilting & all the related techniques that I've enjoyed diving into.
Here's to all the places I'll go & people I'll meet in the books of 2011...

Two Christmas Delights in One

There are always many thoughtful & humorous items that change hands in our household for the holidays.  This year, even more than normal, there were obvious personalized, well thought out gifts that were not costly but very special.
One gift, though, deserves special acknowledgement.  Special friend Julie (now in Pennsylvania) and I have fairly consistently exchanged gifts at the holidays.  The often humorous, always heartfelt, & sometimes late items (if I'm the sender!) are special, even sentimental, items.

I can't peg exactly when we sent a particular box to Pennsylvania (can you, Jules?) but I think either 2002 or 2003. Next year, here came the same box back with different contents. So we dutifully recharged the interior & off it went.
By our count, the box has crossed the nation at least six times now--but it could be eight.  It's looking a little dog-eared but it's almost waterproof now with the layers of tape. It's especially perfect as the addresses are always at the ready depending on which flaps you fold in first. Now it's Washington or--presto chango--now it's Pennsylvania.
Besides just reappearing once again, the box always makes us laugh as it passes through local 'customs'. The original sender (not Julie) incorrectly sent it to our street address rather than our PO Box & the post office staff make a big 'her-umph' every time an item shows up without our box number. You know, they 'have to look it up'! (this is the moment you place your hand to your forehead with a big sigh!) By now, our PO Box number has been written in large magic marker on almost every face of the box so it no longer delays the delivery & as Jim told the post office staff this year, 'just give it up!'


This year the contents were especially wonderful:  a great little balancing monkey.
It's a Brass Monkey!!
Too hard to explain, but suffice it to say there are Brass Monkeys residing in Pennsylvania & Washington that have been "members" for nearly 35 years!
How perfect!  Isn't he just the cutest?! (Maybe it's a she!?)
I think he'll go with me to my office as a daily smile-maker.

Thanks, Julie!
The box is resting now, awaiting the next season ahead...

Merry Christmas to All!

From our house to yours: 

wishing you a wonder filled, warm & restful holiday! 

What a Great Week--Part II

After acknowledging all the showmanship surrounding the end of the 111th Congressional lame duck session earlier this week--it seems only fitting to give a round of applause & very loud "way to go!" for the final accomplishments of this session, despite all of the wails, finger wagging, and 'nuh-uh'-ing by the Republicans.

Topping the list:

• New START Treaty ratified
• Continuation/reinstatement of health care services for the 9/11 responders (Special shout out to John Stewart's 'shame on you' campaign that really helped)
• Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell--one of the best presents of the all!
• Oh--and Nick reminds me: a big win for low-power FM stations with the passage of the Local Community Radio Act.

There are many more items I'm sure, but the summary statement: that's a lot of work done in a brief amount of time! What a great way to end the year, & a great high for the end of Pelosi's leadership. Thank you, Madam Speaker. And thanks, Mr. Obama, for looking & sounding so presidential (once again) at the press conference highlighting all the work that's taken place. Well done!

What a Great Week!

You know how some weeks are just sort of ho-hum? Not a problem, and maybe some enjoyable things but not particularly noteworthy? Well this week would not be one of those! Holy Happenings, Batman!

We got to the Winter Solstice--not ever a small feat in my mind. From this point forward the days will start stretching out--ever so slowly--from the whopping big 8 hours daylight we currently experience.  Thank you, Mother Nature, for only slumbering this long before you start to waken.
To highlight the solstice we had a lovely full moon!  And then:  a full lunar eclipse!  Wow!  Those three factors will not coincide again in my lifetime (sometime after 2060).
 A small but mighty group of us bundled up & went to the high hill at the cemetery to watch the moon finally vanish from sight (and each other shivering in the windy rain!). Alas, we didn't await the moon's return appearance as the rainy, cloudy sky allowed only snatches of viewing.  But good for us: we got there for the 2010 celestial event & pondered all those great questions that arise when you have a ring-side seat at one of the greatest shows available!

If that wasn't enough, my brother had a birthday and retired on the same day! Way to go, Will!! Woo-hoo!
All of this plus a banner week for the 111th congress (but that deserves a post of it's own..!).  Before the week is over, Christmas will also arrive--complete with food, family & fun together time! Both boys will be home by Christmas eve. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Clause--and he came early this year!

Want Some Cheese With That Whine?

The 'think happy thoughts' post will be coming soon (as there is much to be happy for this week!) but I pause just briefly for a rant.  I've really had it with the cries of 'foul' & claims of 'that's not fair' being made in recent days about the outgoing 111th Congress.

They may not be the smoothest game in town, but they're conducting life like a patient nearing the end of life.  What's important now that I don't have to worry about the election and there's precious little time left?  If that could somehow be translated to business-as-usual sessions we might be in business!
A bill was actually floated to ban lame-duck sessions in the future.  Right.  Gotta love that one. You guys are on the payroll through the end of the year & you took plenty enough time off for campaigning. Now you should just sit back & do nothing like a sulky teenager for two months? Sorry. Can't get so pouty just because the shoe's on the other foot this year. I appreciate the work that's getting done--& have little empathy for the whining about no breaks, it's so busy, & it's Christmas!

I'm hoping the (very lame) sound bytes of the likes of Lindsey Graham & John McCain will come back to haunt them in coming months. Graham, who is crowding to the front of the line as a prominent face for the 112th, comes off as a bullying rich kid who knows his big brother (aka the newly elected) will be walking in the door soon so he can say whatever he feels like & 'you can't hit me'. Wanna bet?  If these guys don't, your tea-partying 'big brother' likely will. I think he better quit while he's behind:  he keeps predicting 'this won't pass'--and then it does (whatever the it is at the moment). Like herding cats, huh bubba? Just wait for the next session! Besides looking like he's leading from the back of the train, his personal position on things like the New START Treaty are a complete about-face. Which is it, Lindsey?  What you said last summer or this month?! You know we do listen...

Then there's the homophobe from Arizona that just looks old & broken.  For months he's been saying 'we just need to wait for' one more thing on Don't Ask, Don't Tell.  We need to wait for the survey of the members of the military.  We need to wait for the report from the joint chiefs. Turns out we needed to wait until the cows come home, as Uncle John now says we have to wait until we're no longer in an active war theater. Can we just lean him in the corner & let him nap until it's time for him to go stump for Sarah?

And one more thing.  Would someone please get John Boehner on some meds?  We're really trying to adjust to the skin-color-not-compatible-with-life but this impromptu crying has just got to stop. It's not a trump card to keep playing whilly-nilly when you're gonna be the new Speaker, okay John?  (I think Mrs. B. would be relieved, too. When Leslie Stahl asked about the tears in interview she just sighs, shrugs, & says 'he's always been like that'. Great. Now she tells us! No wonder she stays in Ohio...)

So buck up, boys, it turns out the duck isn't so lame after all!
Rest up. It's gonna be an interesting ride to 2012. (Are you crying?!)

Wednesday on Whidbey

Mt Ranier from Ebey's Beach--a chilly sunset 

My Friend is So Clever...

What fun! Last week an impromptu gathering of several friends from my previous job-that-ate-my-life happened at my house.  Great to see them & have a chance to offer up some spontaneous relaxation--something that seldom occurred when I worked there.

One of them is also a 'quilting friend' who has a special skill with re-purposing old clothes & found items.  She brought me this sweet little ornament made from a vintage quilt top that couldn't be salvaged intact. Isn't it a great idea?! Lucky me!

Wednesday on Whidbey

My favorite town park dressed up for the holidays--click on it for a bigger view
(thanks, Brittany!)

Learn vs.Teach

As ever, feel free to skip over the current school review!
The posts have been few & far between the last few weeks--reflective of the end of the quarter & accompanying busy days of finishing up.  Kind of started with Thanksgiving: the big storm before the holiday became five days off instead of two-- a welcomed break for students & faculty alike!
Upon returning, the reality set in that only two weeks remained and students pressed on with a strange mix of hopeful cramming and depressed fatalism.  This week launched with two days of 'last exams', quickly followed by grade calculations & one-on-one end of quarter evaluation conferences with twenty-one students (a third of the total group). Whew!
A much more talkative group came through my office door this time, and most of them are settling into the jogger's pace needed to see them through the remainder of the program.  Definitely the marathon & not the sprint-- and it's encouraging to see confidence developing on most faces.
At mid-quarter evals there were many unknowns and some worrisome performances. At the quarter finish line here's how it settled out: two of twenty-two withdrew with the option of program re-entry in a year or two, two full-timers opted to transfer to part-time status with a more manageable pace, and the remainder finished the first heat with the required C+ or better with the next round to begin January 3rd. Cover your ears as the stampede for the front door ensues and the three week break begins. (and why am I using sports metaphors?!)
My own scorecard looks something like this:
Areas for improvement - start-to-finish time per lecture improved, but still needs work; as does the variety of in-class activities utilized. Still don't have clear understanding of all services available to students & inner-workings of the organizational beast, but progress noted.  Retaining verbal information, although significantly improved from week one, needs work; especially if I want to stay on the good side of the dept's administrative assistant!  Not one office visitor doodled on the white board or art pad next to the chair, but several have returned spontaneously and have begun to find their voice for ideas rather than facts. Difficulty getting enough steps in most days--still gotta work on the balance of active vs. quiet times (especially because someone keeps the office chocolate jar full most of the time!).
Progress:  Getting to know some faculty outside of my own department.  Good marks with the first quarter of tenure committee and dean's review/observation. Managing time & my schedule pretty well--and on the worst weeks of the quarter still put in about 20-24 hrs less than the usual week at the job-that-ate-my-life! (no comparison!)  Didn't get short of breath when the near-final schedules for next quarter came out at staff meeting this week. Got my 'professional development plan' finished that will help get me through this three years of tenure-track work. Learned a fair amount about technical tools for the classroom--with more to come. Realizing there's a fair amount of information stored away in those dusty old memory banks--kind of fun to drag it out & put it back to work!
In the just-for-fun category: turns out these students know how to throw a great potluck! Books on tape are a great separation between work & home, having just finished my fifth one. My closet now includes uniforms & white shoes again, after thirty years, for those fateful clinical days ('never say, "never"!')
So, today is the end of quarter one--woo-hoo! Will actually be able to prepare for the holidays, read, write, cook, quilt, play games with the boys. How fun to have a true break--but I also look forward to new adventures in the quarter ahead. Bring it on!!

Wednesday on Whidbey

Escaping inside...

Wednesday on Whidbey

Backyard visitor during the arctic storm