Five years or so later. . .

Above is my most recent completed project--I feel like I can share the picture now that the two moms these were stitched for have received them (so this isn't a spoiler). But, like many of the stitching projects I signed on for prior to leaving teaching, this one took me way longer than I expected.

Checking my Amazon order history, I discovered I ordered these on January 15, 2015. They sat in my project bin in Kansas City for a long time, then in a box in the attic once I got promoted to a director's position, then moved to Arkansas in 2017. Originally, I went shopping for these because one of the residents in D's program was pregnant for the first time and the nursery theme was woodland creatures. 

Apparently, I double ordered. There might have been some wine involved. It's possible--maybe even likely--these were ordered during one of D's night shift rotations.

So, now that the kid I originally shopped for is old enough to start kindergarten, those bibs went out to his parents this past week. He has a new baby sister, so at least they will get used by someone in the family!

The other set goes to a dear med school classmate who just had her first baby--also a boy. So, I kind of feel like I hit my target, just in a different time loop.

I did manage to get a review done recently of this wonderful memoir by Tim Seelig. If you like memoirs check this one out. Understandably, since Baby Huey has pushed himself further into the closet that is the Baptist church, this book brought up a lot of things for me. Mostly, I am sad that instead of dealing with his issues and coming out like Seelig did, Huey has turned to ministry and is apparently doing some sort of TV ministry now. And life-coaching for men. 

And defaulting on a car loan, if the call I got last week from "loss prevention services" is any indicator.

​Life has to be so hard when you deny who you are.

I'm still horribly distracted by the pandemic and the world being on fire. This is evident in my inability to reread Tryon's Harvest Home within two library cycles. I did manage to finish it after checking it out three times--with six days to spare. I managed to get about 1/2 way through the Hunger Games prequel in a loan period, but even though I knew I couldn't recheck it due to the waitlist, I couldn't power through.

I have a couple of new reviews coming out in the next month, and those deadlines do help.

In other boring distracted news, I am rehabbing an injury. D and I started running again (starting with walk/run intervals) on June 1st and we pretty much made it out every day with a few of those days being walking days. Then, three weeks ago, I suffered an IT band injury. With yoga and changing my stride, I kept going. Until I strained my calf muscle on that same leg (compensation injury) two weeks ago today.

After two weeks of cross training (some jogging in the pool, some marching workouts, yoga, walking, and a step workout or two with some calf strengthening and hip abductor work), I was finally able to start working in some slow jogging intervals yesterday. I'm making myself take it slow and really listening to the hip, though, as limping is no fun.

I hope everyone is being kind to themselves and staying safe.