Wonderings from the Wack

Last night Leah and I volunteered at Chilliwack Bingo. We did the Late Night shift ( 10:00 to 12:30 ) so that our school will get it's gaming money. There were very few people there so it was kind of boring. Most of the winners were using the Starship ( computer ) machines, so we didn't have to handle the payouts. A few winners had hand-held machines and/or cards, so those payouts we had to do.

It was rather interesting to see how the games were handled, and the lingo is a riot. I liked the game of "a fly swatter and 2 flies". I have never played Bingo in my life and it took some getting used to how things were done. Leah and I figured that we should come one night and play. It might help us know what to do better during our volunteer shifts!

Hmmm, kind of creepy.....

Your Birthdate: March 19

Your birth on the 19th day of the month adds a tone of independence and extra energy to your life path. But at the same time, it poses a number of obstacles to overcome before you are able to be as independent as you would like. The number 1 energy suggests more executive ability and leadership qualities than your path may have indicated. A birthday on the 19th of any month gives greater will power and self-confidence, and very often a rather original approach. However, a somewhat self-centered approach to life that may be in conflict with some of the other influences in your life. This 1 energy may diminish your ability and desire to handle details, preferring instead to paint with a broad brush. You are sensitive, but your feeling stay somewhat repressed. You have a compelling manner that can be dominating in many situations. You do not tend to follow convention or take advice very well. Consequently, you tend to learn through experience; sometimes hard experiences. The 19/1 is a loner number and you may experience feelings of being alone even if you are married. You may take on a tendency to be nervous and angry.

I got this from Blogthings, but as usual their link is buggered up.

I just went to have a look at my folder of AQP charts, and noticed the media package that James ( the project's founder and our Fearless Leader ) put together and that I received from Lorrie.
It contains info about the project, James' emails to various designers and people like Zweigart fabrics asking for donations, his emails to hospitals that are on the US's donor list, emails from NICU and Patient Care Co-Ordinators who have given donated quilts to patients, and most importantly, thank you emails and letters from parents.

I read one in particular that made me damn sure of why we are doing this. The parents sent James an email about their son, who was born in Alaska. He was very early and lived for only a month. The day he died, the hospital staff gave his parents the quilt. They could not express enough thanks to James and the project members. The even asked him for the names of the quilter and stitcher so that they could send personal thanks to them as well.

I always feel a little guilty about asking new members for their address. I don't want them to feel like I will be using it for some illicit purpose. But parents like the people in Alaska are exactly why.


( It's amazing the difference to ones' thought that blogging at 3 in the afternoon versus late at night makes )

I am having a hard time staying excited about being the head honcho of the Canadian division of the Angel Quilt Project. I got all anal and organized a "delivery person" for each hospital so that I don't have to mail boxes of quilts all over Canada. Everyone was great about volunteering for that job, which I was grateful for. Jessica Fang is busting her butt in Ontario getting us more members and that is good too.

Has Sharon received any quilts for McMaster yet? Just emailed her tonight to find out. I am kind of hoping so, since I was in contact with the head of the NICU there at the beginning of JUNE to tell her that they were next on our list.

Is anyone stitching anything? Is anyone quilting anything? Does anyone take a photo of a finished quilt so that I can put them in my Web shots album so that when members ask me how their panel turned out in a finished quilt I can tell them something positive! ( Sorry for the run-on sentence...)

I know I am the pot calling the kettle black, since I haven't stitched anything either. I should be trying to get a craft sale going to raise funds too.

Sorry if any members are reading this, it's late and I just felt like a little whine about the fact that it seems like I am the leader of nothing sometimes.

So...how soon can I start stitching "Jeanne Love's Angel"?

Toni went to the Yellow Barn on No. 3 Rd. yesterday to pick up the dill cukes on his way home. The lady he bought them from said the best way to wash them is in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, but don't let them spin. It works like a hot damn!

I just had to take a picture as evidence. I think Lisa figured I was making up some shit to blow her off about Wal-Mart. Sorry Lisa, but I had fun playing with my husband cucumbers. (Cucumbers in the washing machine is a way better euphemism than "laundry", hey Andrea?)

Kyra took the photo on the right of the finished product.

I got the email from them a few weeks ago and finally got around to registering. The run is October 2nd. I have made a donation page for anyone who might want to donate online and help me with my fundraising goal of $200.

Wish me luck with the run. I am sure I will have more posts about it as it gets closer.

Poor Weezer! Mommy guessed wrong when I signed up the kids for swimming lessons a few weeks ago. They haven't gone in over a year and I forgot the stuff that they knew already. She went in the 10:30 Dolphins class on Monday and couldn't keep up. The instructor Chris was great. He said to take her out of the pool and go to talk to the main instructor who co-ordinates everything. The woman is amazing and must know in her head what kid is currently in what class. She said that so-and-so in the 10:30 Seals class is doing well and should move up and then Kyra can take her place. Well that finally was organized this morning, and Kyra had a great time. Kyle had a rocky start on Monday, but now he's excited to go and has fun. He really needs to stop drinking the pool though.

I am impressed by the Cheam Centre's pool. It's organized chaos in there, but it all runs like clockwork. Chris is Kyle's teacher and he is low-key, but firm. Kyra's teacher Erica is brisk and energetic and doesn't give them time to even think "no I don't want to", much less say it.

The kids' lessons are M-F until the 15th. I may put them in for another 2 weeks until we go away, or wait until we get back from our holidays. I'd kind of like to keep them on a roll though, especially Kyle. I don't want him to think too much in between.

We HAD to get this shot! Jane was taking the view from below and Kyle didn't want to participate. My toes are the ones painted red ( for Canada Day of course! ) and Sonya has the ankle tat. The left-most toes are Toni's, Lynsi is wearing the greenish capris and Jake ( Lynsi's boyfriend ) is the hairy-legged guy in front. That's Sue in the back next to Sonya.

This picture is 6 of of the cousins. My 2 little guys plus Sonya, Lynsi, Joel and Brady.

Oh my God! My stomach hurts from laughing. We got home this afternoon from 4 days at my sister-in-law's place. We had a family reunion/grad party/Canada Day party from Wednesday evening until this morning. All 3 of Sue's kids were graduating or finishing a degree, so that was the reason for the party. Not that the family needs much excuse! Brady finished Grade 12 and is off to Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops to study Biology, Joel has his degree in Applied Conservation and is working at Bowron Lake as a Conservation Officer, and Lynsi has her B.A. and will do her year for her teaching certificate in Castlegar. We are all very proud of them.

The Bare Toes party on Canada Day was a blast. Now that Blogger has this imaging thing going, I will post photos after I get them off the camera. We always have a good time and the wine and beer manage to flow quite freely, but no one misbehaves and embarasses themselves ( at least not any more, Dad's pear tree in '93 not-withstanding....).

Yesterday was low key. Several of us walked down to the lake with the dogs. Sue took Kaiser to the model train exhibit at the museum. Phil and Lynsi's boyfriend Jake went to look at a collection of old cars. Dad and Toni went to visit Bill Barr, who is recovering well from his stroke back in March. Last night's dinner was roast, salad, veggies, bread and almost everything had lots of garlic in it. Have to keep the mosquitos away! We were sitting around after dinner drinking wine ( before switching to tea ) and Jake says to me, "Here we are on Day 3 of heavy drinking." Lynsi you have to keep him, we like him a lot!

The kids had so much fun with their big cousins. I think the big cousins had fun too, as they don't get to see the 2 Ks much and Weezer and Kaiser can be quite the characters when they want to be. The big cousins are very patient with playing cards, reading books and running around the yard with the little ones. Lynsi is going to be a fabulous elementary school teacher. I hope Joel settles down with his girlfriend soon, we need another great-niece or great-nephew. He was really sweet on Friday night, helping Kyle settle into bed and then laying down with him and reading 4 books.

We'll go back again at the end of the month to visit, and to wine tour with my folks and their friends, who go to Osoyoos for a week at the beginning of August. Now I just need to rest for a few days and drink a lot of water....