So the past week was up and down.

I had a large headache start on Monday while at work and just get progressively worse. Knitting was fun, though it was a real struggle to make myself leave the house and go into the cold weather to drive there. There were also quite a few new people their, which while nice, was also a terrible thing to put to a headache. There was so much chattering and intermittent noise that I left early; my headache had mainly gotten worse.

I've been gone from work a lot lately, so I was really trying to stick it out this week, I worked almost 10 hours on Monday, a bit over 9 hours on Tuesday. By Thursday my headache, which had been coming and going, had gotten pretty bad. I did manage to stay the entire day though. Friday I woke up and wanted to push my eye out of my head; it hurt to open it. I slept most of the day and spent the rest watching mysteries (or rather, listening to them). I finally went in to the clinic and was diagnosed with a tension headache. They gave me a shot, recommended some neck stretches (which I had been doing throughout the week already) and sent me home for rest.

I really do love the job that I do, but as responsibilities and the amount of work has gone up, my ability to deal with the stress and my depression, has gone down. I did the right thing, by making an appointment with my doctor for next week to discuss coping mechanisms.

Not really an inspiring post, but more of a catalog of how I get to these points.

Also, Terry pratchett is damn funny.

Restart

I am restarting this blog. Precautionary alert: I have never been good at putting up regular blog posts. I am hoping that this project will propel me into posting regularly.

My new goal for this blog is to help raise awareness about depression and mental illness. The majority of the time that mental illness makes the news is when there is a negative problem with it (i.e. school shootings, stand-offs, etc.). Depression affects 5–8 percent of adults in the U.S. (NAMI.org). It affects women more than men. It can be debilitating.

Please do not think I am doing this for sympathy. I have seen people around me suffer, I have suffered, and it is time to bring this issue out into the light. Once upon a time breast cancer was something to hide, but that is no longer the case. Look at how many people are helped each year by breast cancer awareness. My goal is to bring that type of awareness to mental illness.

thanks.

-h

embroider much

While I don't often embroider on the facts, I DO embroider on cloth!

I've been busy working on fairytale characters and the like for a baby blanket. Said baby is due in January and I need to work on a few more characters/scenes before moving into Phase 2—putting blanket together.

Enjoy!

This last one is not going on the blanket. : )

Sweater Sleeve

I started the sleeve.

That is all. : )

Christmas is on the way

We received our first Christmas present in the mail today (probably the only one that will come by mail, too). It traveled here from London and is wrapped in pink angel foil paper. What a fantastic bright spot in a pretty good day.

Also working on Christmas sewing. I have LM's messenger bag almost finished. I'll take a photo soon and post it.

For the time being, here is the first bag that I made on the sewing machine. I love the birdies (I think that birdies is more appropriate for this fabric than birds).

Attention Cats: No sewing for you!

This is photo evidence of why cats should not be allowed in crafting areas.

“Hi Mom! Whatcha doin?”

“Oo, is that string? Can I eat it?”

“Photos? Aren't you meant to be sewing?”

Some days I just don't have anything to say, and then it seems to go on for a week or so. I still don't have much to report, but hate being absent.

I had a wonderful day yesterday at the lovely Heather's house. There were olives, cheese, veggies, and wine as well as good company. Knitting was had, spinning was done, and a movie was watched. There was also an understanding between women that sometimes a quite day alone with a book or yarn and a diet Sprite is really all you need.

Friday night was well spent going on a date night to see Date Night with my husband. I don't think I've laughed that hard since knitting night got a bit raunchy, which was quite a while ago. You try listening to Tina Fey saying intravenous penis medicine and NOT laugh. Really, try it. It isn't possible. : )

Next post I will try to round up some of my embroidery photos. Here is one for now.