The Blackburn Digest

Confucius say “Never celebrate success of journey until destination is reached”. (He probably didn’t, but . . . . . .)

Poor DH got a 4 am wake-up call - - - well, more of a wake-up whimper, actually. The story began at 1 am; I’d been courting sleep for over an hour and gave it up as a futile enterprise. There were just too many unhappy joints sending pain messages*, and my brain insisted on a detailed & repetitive review of the many steps remaining on my current miniature project. (*Although the renewed Enbrel therapy does seem to be making a difference, we’ve had unstable weather & bouncing air pressure for several days. Happily, it has brought a bit of welcome rain along with the discomfort!)

I took one of my favorite T-shirts out of the closet a few days ago, looked at it, and then put it back on its hanger. The shirt is black, with white lettering proclaiming “I’m Blogging This”. I haven’t written a blog entry since late-March, and need to re-earn that T-shirt! (So much for “Blog 365″!)

A passing glance at what has been happening in my world since the last post:

- I have *started the ball rolling* on the hideously expensive dental surgery which will (I hope!) end my on-going war with my upper dentures! Oh, it fits fine - it’s just that the palate plate and my over-developed gag reflex (coupled with the ever-present Texas allergens) are making making me miserable:( This will be a long-term project, since it involves consultations, scans, impressions, more scans, evaluations and more consultations before the actual surgery.

Quick note tonight; I’ll come back and expand on it tomorrow:)

I followed up last night’s e-mail with a phone message this morning to the miniaturist who is selling her Lady Jane Glass Conservatory, and then left the Casa to run errands. On my way home, I received a call on my cell phone; I’m mailing my check today and the Conservatory is mine!  I have dreamed of owning one of Lady Jane’s masterpieces since I read the first article (of many!) about her creations - that was quite a few years ago. The prices of her pieces have - rightfully so - waaay out of my price range.  This purchase is a dream come true!!

God Speed, Heath Ledger! Unlike so many of the *train wrecks* who’ve occupied waaay too much news space recently (IMHO), he seemed to come from a stable home and have a solid set of values. He was talented and showed great promise. It is too soon to assume suicide (Yes, sleeping pills were found near his body. However, he had an appointment for a massage this morning) - it is not too soon to rue the loss of a young actor who died much too early.

MLK Day - DH was off for the day and DS is home between ten-day work-shifts. DSIL (Daddy to my adorable 10 month old GD), however, was committed to office projects which wouldn’t end till 9:30PM!

The weather was pretty awful for the MLK parade and errand running; fairly dense fog (which thickened to travel-advisory status this evening) with rain dripping through it. Good reason for a gathering of the clan - minus DSIL - at Casa Blackburn for a computer fest and beef curry!

Our grand-daughter was pulling out her new “magic tricks” in fine style: she loves to wave Hi and Bye-bye; has become quite adept at walking her way from play table to terrarium to grandfather clock (not “Look Ma, no hands!” yet - but she’s getting close!) and definitely has added a new word to her vocabulary. “Cat!” (said without the troublesome T) announces each sighting of one of our fur-kids.

I reeealy dislike alarm clocks on weekends. It’s not as if the RA allows me the luxury of “sleeping in” very often anyway, but arising at the demand of a chirpy-voice radio DJ or the beat of a C/W song should be exclusively a work-week activity! Still, I dutifully arose and put bare foot to cold floor at 7 this morning; it’s the third Saturday of the month, my day to “herd cats”, Club Day.

The morning challenge (of converting me from stiff/sore ogre to presentable human being) was rendered somewhat more problematical by yesterdays’ thorough ‘wetting and chilling’ episode. It was also accompanied by an on-going internal dialogue; “You have to attend, you’re the president”, “You can’t hold a hair brush, how are you going to hold an art knife”, “You need to be there to keep activities moving along”, “You haven’t even worked on the current project”, “You enjoy the social time with them”, ‘You’re not going to be pleasant to be around”, ”You have to do the two-week food shopping today, and you don’t have a menu or shopping list yet” and on it went. 

Slowly (verrrrry slowly), several of my projects are progressing:

1) The miniature yo-yo quilt (commissioned last Sept.) is nearing completion. It is requiring about the same amount of time as its catalyst (the SAM’s auctioned quilt), for the same reasons; it’s an insane undertaking for someone with wonky hands! But then, I haven’t laid claim to sanity in several decades:D

2) My Tower work-bench is becoming more organized. . . . . .each time I go hunting around on it for some missing tool or material! LOL! The miniatures display room?  Um, well, let’s not discuss that, O.K?

3) A pair of pants DS has been waiting for are now waiting by the sewing machine. Hey, they’re on the right floor, at least!

4) The total re-do of three miniature “shops” (The Petal Pusher, Le Beastro Pet Supplies & Sound Advice)  in a new barrister’s four-shelf unit, and permanent installation of Wakefield Public House (Pub) in the fourth shelf is finally moving forward.