still cold

Another cold day here in the Big Apple. This morning it was 17 degrees and the saving grace was that it was not windy so it felt like 17 degrees.

The Long and the Short of It is having a contest where you can win $100 of free gift certificates/free books graciously donated by some very exciting ePublishers and eBook sites.

I worked on the quilt tonight by sewing on the label. I also stitch the wall hanging sleeve so the only two things left again is to do the binding and attach the hanging sleeve to the back of the quilt. Oh you wanted to know what name I came up with, Blue Notes.

This month I've read 12 books and discovered 2 new-to-me authors: Brian Freeman and Charles Hynes. I've read 4 mysteries, 1 romance, 2 thrillers and 5 romantic suspense books in February. The low count this month is due to the fact that I was sick.

Steps taken today: 5,206

Book Club Reading: Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline

iced apple

It was 19 degrees. It felt like 10 degrees. I had on an extra fleece jacket and I wore the leg warmers. This weekend, the temp is suppose to be in the 40s.

Have you ever had an itch that you couldn't scratch because of its location? Well, I had one and I ran off the train, ran to my building, pressed the elevator button, unlocked my door and breathe a sign of relief when I was able to scratch that itch.

I appliqued the small piece of material on the pinwheel quilt block. Next step is to either sew the binding or sew the label on and oh wow, I just thought of the perfect name for the quilt.

Steps taken today: 7,341

Still Reading: Triple Homicide by Charles J. Hynes

not much

Oh I found out that there will be 3 new episodes of the Women's Murder Club and there is still hope that it may be back next season.

We sampled a new appetizer (spiced rice ball with mozzarella) at one of the restaurants we frequent for lunch.

oh because Marianne mentioned it, I made some Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and it was yummy.

Steps taken today: 6,629

Book Club Reading: Triple Homicide by Charles J. Hynes

rainy tuesday

Rainy day in the big apple. Not much going on.

I got books from the library: Triple Homicide by Charles Hynes and Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline and I ordered Alibi in High Heels by Gemma Halliday, What Looks Like Crazy by Charlotte Hughes, Right Here, Right Now by HelenKay Dimon and Deadly Deceptions by Linda Lael Miller. I should get those next week.

Marianne, I love Allison's series. The last one in the last trilogy was rather dark, but overall I enjoy them.

Steps taken today: 6,178

Still Reading: Killing Fear by Allison Brennan

back to work

I enjoyed watching the Oscars last night. I started by watching Live on the Red Carpet continuing to the 3+ hour show. The outfits were great. There were a couple of misses, but overall I liked what I saw. I did not see any of the Best Picture nominees, but I did see Enchanted and The Bourne Ultimatum. I like how they showed past winners and their thoughts on winning their award. I didn't know that they had a cut-off when they do the Memoriam segment.

It felt weird going to work today. It was more or less the first time that I was outdoors and my head was spinning. I guess I had a touch of cabin fever. I was able to get caught up with all of my missed projects.

I forgot to clip my pedometer on today.

Still Reading: Killing Fear by Allison Brennan

Surviving Sunday

I love award shows. The Emmys. The Tonys. The People's Choice. Golden Globe and the granddaddy of them all, The Oscars. My sister recently told me that she doesn't like watching award shows because when she was younger she was forced to watch them. I asked, who made you watch them? She looked at me funny, then I smiled and said "oh yeah, me".

I'm better today than I was in the past couple of days. I still have a cough, but at least it is not a hacking cough. I took Nyquil the other day and I got this buzz going on in my head so today I'm trying to flush all of it out of my body. I feel like a space cadet with my mind going around and around with no place to stop and get off.

I finally saw the new Knight Rider last night. I enjoyed it. Next month, we should start seeing new episodes of our favorite shows and I can't wait.

I was lucid enough to work on the quilt. My quilts are never quilt-perfect. I can't sew, either by hand or by machine a straight line, so all my quilt will be unique and never duplicated. Below are the four quilted blocks. All that is left is to applique a small piece on the pinwheel and then do the binding.

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Reading: Killing Fear by Allison Brennan

winter wonderland

It's snowing. The weatherman said we've already have 4 inches in the city and I'm too sick to enjoy it.

I went to work yesterday and got sent home. Then I went to the doctor. I don't have pneumonia. I just have a nasty hard driving cough that chokes the life out of me. I have to let nature takes its course with it, so he did not prescribe me any antibiotics. Just keep drinking fluids, both hot and cold. He did give me a two breathing tests and the first time I had to do it three times because I kept having to cough.

My doctor was impressed that my blood pressure was in the normal range (120/74) and most impressed that I lost 10 pounds since the last weigh-in. He wants me to continue taking the high blood pressure medication.

I feel better today than yesterday, which is a good thing. I'm going to work on my quilt, try to read and if I have the energy, put some things away. Have you notice that when you're sick, thing just never get done.

What are your plans for the weekend? My plan is to get more rest, get better so that on Monday I'm able to survive at work.

Reading: Hard To Handle by Lori Foster

almost but not quite

I thought I would make it into work today but I didn't get any sleep last night. Continual coughing when laying down kept me up. So I decided to sit in the recliner and I nodded off 20 minutes.. This I know because I woke up to the start of anew episode on whatever was playing on Nick at Nite. I called my office today and coughed all over the message I left my supervisor.

I have laundry laying around my place. I hate that, so I did three loads and still there is two piles waiting. How did I get so much laundry in the space of a week. Oh I'll tell you, the many clothes I sweated out; the many clothes that I heaved onto; the many towels used to clean up the mess. I don't know how I did it, but I finished doing the laundry.

oh the interesting thing is, that since I don't keep sugar in my house, I've been drinking my tea with no sugar. That is a big accomplishment since I like my tea very sweet.

I worked on the quilt this morning. Right now I'm doing the quilt stitching on the machine. I have a question to quilters, when you machine quilt, how do you hide the end pieces of thread for each block that you individually stitch. Me, I just knot it in the back, but I'm sure there is a better method.

I finished Strangers In Death by J.D. Robb. Good mystery with a twist.

recovering slightly

Thanks everyone for your good thoughts. I really hate getting sick because it really knocks everything out of me. The other day I was trying to take some Tylenol but I couldn't get the cap off.

Thanks Devon, when I was looking through my tea stash, I found some ginger tea so that helped alot.

I would say that I'm better, but today was the first day I was able to eat a banana and so far so good. Right now I'm making my way through a toast. Yesterday, my temperature was 100.5, today it is 98.1 which is in the normal range. And to think I got a flu shot. They did say there were some strains that the flu shot will not prevent, how lucky am I?

I believe this is the second time I got sick while traveling back on an airplane. I know this is true because everyone on the darn plane was coughing up a storm. What happened to covering your mouth? Yeah I know, you catch germs from someone's touch, but still. If you know you're sick, then don't board the plane. My friend suggested the next time I travel, I should wear a mask. I may do that.

Right now I have this hawking cough, but at least it is not as frequent as it was yesterday.

I haven't taken any steps lately nor have I been in a reading mood, although I did finish Guns Will Keep Us Together by Leslie Langtry.

and why when I'm home sick, there is nothing good on tv?

sick bed

I caught something and it has kept me in bed. I'm trying to sweat whatever it is out of my body. I'm shivering. I have aches and I can't keep food down (this is gross, but it hurts when you try to heave with no food in your stomach). I also lost my voice again.

So all the projects that I wanted to do, didn't get done. I'm hoping tomorrow is a better day.

Book meme: the clear liquid is a mixture of meat essence and bear pheromones. Squirted on a person, the bear would attack him.

Book Meme

Marianne who is promoting her new book, “One Love for Liv" tagged me for a book meme.

The rules?

1). Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages)
2). Open the book to page 123
3). Find the fifth sentence
4). Post the next three sentences
5). Tag five people

From "Guns Will Keep Us Together" by Leslie Langtry

But use this puppy. She lifted the tube and depressed a button. Clear liquid shot about fifty feet, hitting a stuffed bear (the taxidermied kind) in the face.

I tag me, myself, I, Sometimes and Y

a change in temps

I'm back home safe and sound. My flight home was perfect. We arrived 20 minutes early and I had a great view of the Statue of Liberty while flying towards the airport.

When we landed in NY, it was 31 degrees. A whole lot colder than North Carolina where it was 48 degrees. And their 48 degrees feel like 58 degrees in NY. I had to immediately put on my winter coat. I'm back to reality now; it's cold up here.

I think my niece had a wonderful birthday gathering with her friends. Money was spent on them and they enjoyed their walk though the mall (we let them fend for themselves) and then the movies (again, we left them on their own). At the annointed time, we arrived back at the theater, gave them their goodie bag and waved as the other girls left with their parents.

How was everyone's weekend?

I'm off on Friday as we celebrate President's Day. My niece and nephew have school though.

Steps taken today: 9,096

warmth

My winter coat disappeared. Not to worry. Just for today since it is 67 degrees. Yep, in North Carolina, it's 67 degrees. I bet it goes higher than that. It is still a bit too cool to not have 0n a jacket, so it was a good thing I had brung my fleece.

We checked into our hotel this afternoon. Oh my what a great room that we have. The mall is right across the street. You don't need a car. Once my niece's friend arrive and they take a swim in the heated indoor pool, then we'll head to the mall and to window shop. I already know the name they have christened me last summer "Can I have" will make an appearance. This time their mother is here so she can say "no". After we've done with the mall, we're going to have cake and ice cream and then I'm going to sleep.

oh I didn't tell you about my flight. I got to the airport at 6pm..my flight was at 10pm and all earlier flights were booked. So I go to the gate, find a nice window seat and jammed to some music on my ipod while I waited. Around 9pm, I noticed that my flight is no longer listed at the gate. I approached the gate person and was told the gate was change and the flight is delayed by 30 minutes due to air traffic. I go to the new gate, check the time, go to restroom and come back and notice that now my flight is delayed 47 minutes. Another hour lapsed when I discovered yet another gate change and time change, now flight won't leave until 11:07pm. I ask, will I leave before midnight. Needless to say, I arrived in Greensboro at 1am, this having been up since 5am.

I'm headed back out in 67 degrees with no winter coat on. I'm loving the South today.

everyday stuff

This morning, one of my co-workers passed around a bowl of Hershey's Peanut Butter Cups and Almond Kisses.

oh, I'm quoted in an article that Allie wrote on WOW (Women On Writing) You'll have to scroll down. Look for the blurb: "The traditional idea of “happily ever after” is being challenged by today’s romance authors."

My co-worker and I was excited today. Kenny G was scheduled to perform during the lunch hour. He was promoting his new album and we could have purchased it, if we liked what we heard. We figured we would eat lunch while listening to soothing and entertaining melodies. Alas, it did not happened. Kenny G canceled this morning. Needless to say we were bummed, but still had a nice lunch of crab cakes.

I'm headed down south for my niece's belated 16th birthday gathering. I'm going to post this now, since I won't get to my destination until midnight.

Steps taken thus far: 5,120

Still Reading: Guns Will Keep Us Together by Leslie Langtry

rainy days

The snow is gone. It rained all day and we got puddles to prove it and the bottom of my pants are wet to prove it too.

I just read that the governor of NY wants to collect sales tax on out-of-state online purchases. That's one of the reasons I love shopping at Amazon.com, no sales tax when the items are from their stock. Of course, Amazon.com is fighting this and I hope other out-of-state online companies fight this as well.

Did I tell you that I'm a recent convert to granola bars. I never like them. They had no taste and they were chewy. Until I started this healthy eating style. My co-worker gave me a Kashi TLC Crunchy granola bars to try and I love it. There are three flavors but the one I like most is Honey Toastaed 7 Grain. It is pricey so I'll be looking for sales. When I went to Whole Foods I bought a box and left it at work. I found out that my local store also sells it, but you know what, it didn't taste as "fresh" as the one I got from Whole Foods. I think I'll stick with buying these there.

Another product that I'm loving is Nabisco 100 calories pack of Oreo Thin Crisp. They are the perfect size for a snack and it for only 100 calories it satisifies your taste for a cookie. And the sodium content is not so bad as well. They have other brands of Nabisco 100 calories cookies and I'll try them as well.

I just noticed that I haven't eaten sweets from the vending machine lately. Yay to me.

Steps taken today: 4,961 (raining)

Reading: Guns Will Keep Us Together by Leslie Langtry

Let It Snow

To the left is the quilt sandwich. The quilt top, the batting (it's underneath the quilt top and if you look in the top right corner, you can see a piece of the batting) and the back quilt which is the same fabric as the sash. After looking through various quilting books, I know how I want to do the quilt stitch.

We got snow. It even covered the ground. I was told we got 2 inches; not enough to make a snowman. The snow is suppose to turn to rain, sleet and then ice. This is not a good combination for the morning commute.

I went back to the variety store and bought the last two pair of leg warmers. I guess people went into this store due to the bitter cold temperature.

Steps taken today: 6,234 (snowing)

baby it's cold outside

It was bitterly cold today. It was eleven degrees when I left for work. Eleven. Degrees. That is just too darn cold. The other day I saw leg warmers on sale and figured I wouldn't need them. Well, I wished I would have bought them. Does that happen to you? You see something and decide not to purchase it and then later you actually needed it.

Did anyone see the Grammy's last night? I did and I actually enjoyed most of the musical performances. The opening act with Alicia Keyes singing a duet (Learnin' The Blues) with Frank Sinatra was great. Beyonce and Tina Turner singing Proud Mary; I just love that song. Herbie Hancock and Lang Lang playing Rhapsody in Blue on the piano together; what a great performance. A performance by Cirque du Soleil featuring the Beatles song was excellent. Makes me want to go to Vegas just to see it. I was especially eager to see what the whole fuss about Amy Winehouse was. I can't believe she's only 24 and she looks like she had a hard life. Drugs will do that to you. She looked jittery, to me, in performance, but I did get a kick out of the "no, no, no" chorus.

Steps taken today: 6,426 (too cold to walk outside)

Reading: A Time To Die by Beverly Barton

Blowing in the wind

It is windy out here. The meteorologist was not kidding when he said the winds would be fierce. I was walking to the store and the wind helped by pushing me along where I didn't want to go.

I didn't win the MegaMillion on Friday so now the jackpot is $150 million. I did win $5.00 on one of those scratch card game.

Took another stroll, but this time for 2 miles. I almost didn't walk because there was a wind advisory and the threat of rain after 8am. As I was walking, I felt rain drops but it must have been a passing one because by the time I got there, it was still cloudy but no rain drops. This is the view of the clouds and if you look out to sea, you can see two tankers.



I worked on the quilt top this afternoon. I am amazed at how the colors really worked out in this quilt. The first thing I had to do was sew the sash around the four blocks and then stitch the border around the sash. The next step is to make the sandwich (batting and the back) and then I'll be ready to machine quilt the three pieces.

I finished the video montage for my niece's 16th birthday celebration that I will be attending this weekend. I gathered 85 photos from her various stages of her life. It ends with a recent picture at the age of 16. The background music is Sixteen Candles by The Jackson Five.

Steps taken today: 11,559

Still Reading: Stripped by Brian Freeman

energize

I'm feeling better. I don't know what happened last night, but I felt nauseous and dizzy. I slept over 12 hours and woke up with so much energy I took advantage of it.

I took a one-mile stroll. Then I wanted to go to Payless to buy slippers and darn if they didn't close up that store.

I went to the library and picked up Stripped by Brian Freeman and A Time To Die by Beverly Barton.

On my way to the library, I saw several firemen doing fire drills or some kind of activity. I watched for awhile but what I found most interesting was that it took eight firemen to hold and fold a water hose.

On my way back from the library, I past a wedding that was ending. I stayed awhile and saw the bride and groom exit the church. They were beautiful.

I worked on my quilt. I was about to sew the sashing when I noticed that the "Rail Fence" block was one-half inch smaller than the other three blocks. Luckily all I had to do was remove the bottom piece and re-stitch a new piece. I may remove one-half inch from the sash on the four sides. Tomorrow I'll attach the border then the fun part begins...making the quilt sandwich and then quilting it together.

I took my blood pressure this evening and it was 128/76. I don't know if that is within the normal range, but it sure is a lot better than 160/100.

Steps taken today: 10,485

Reading: Stripped by Brian Freeman

quick post

I'm not feelng well.

Steps taken today: 9,541

brrr

What a difference. We were teased with warm temperatures yesterday. The temps in NY got as high as 69 degrees in the month of February. I just know that it will snow in March and April. I just know it. Today, the temps hoovered between 40 and 50.

To the left is the instruction and eight fabric materials that when pieced together, will create the fourth and final quilt block that you see below. During lunch, I went to the quilt shop to pick up more fabric, a pin cushion (the one I had splintered and the filling fell all over my floor) and extra needles.

This block is called "Pinwheel". Another easy block. Now that I've created the 4 blocks, the next step is to pick the color of the sashing and border. I don't want the sashing and border to overtake the blocks, so I will choose a soft color for the sash and a dark color for the border. The back is the same color as the sash.


These are all four completed quilt blocks, Pinwheel, Rail Fence, Flying Geese and Bow Tie.

I also went to Whole Foods (a different location from the one I went to before) and this one was only one floor. After walking around in circles, I found what I wanted. They have the same setup like the one on Union Square where you stand in an aisle and when your color is shown, it tells you which cashier to go to. In this location, their aisle is a patterned title. Kewl.

Steps taken: 9,961

Still Reading: Immoral by Brian Freeman

a day

We broke a record today. It was 67 degrees at lunch time. It was great being able to walk outside without the heavy coat. Everyone had their coats open or some didn't even have a coat on. We walked by St. Patrick's Cathedral and you should have seen the line to enter and be blessed and get the sign of the cross on their forehead for Lent.



To the left is the instruction and the six fabric materials that when pieced together, will create the third quilt block that you see below.




This block is called "Flying Geese". This also involved using folded material but this time I had to cut the piece that wasn't being used.





Steps taken: 9,249

Reading: Immoral by Brian Freeman

super tuesday

Today is super tuesday, because 12 states have primary elections to vote for the upcoming presidential election. For New York, today is a double pleasure because down in the canyons of champions, the 2008 SuperBowl winners, The New York Giants, are being paraded around on floats with ticker tapes thrown out of office windows. I couldn't go, but I did see it on TV and you could feel the excitement all around the city. There is nothing better than seeing the city gather around a championship team.

To the left is the instruction and the six fabric materials that when pieced together, will create the second quilt block that you see below.

I bought a table top ironing board for quilting purposes. This morning I had to press the seams on one of the pieces and after I ironed I saw several spots where fabric use to be. Geeze, you would have thought the packaging around the ironing board would have said "you need to buy a cover". Of course the store where I purchased the darn thing doesn't carry the ironing board covers for table top. I guess I'll use a towel until I find a cover that fits.

This block is called "Bow Tie". This one was a fun one to do because I had to use folded material.

I went to vote this evening and they couldn't find my name among the list. I told them that I always vote in a primary election. They looked through three books and finally the lady went through the book where my name should have been listed and found the page. It was stuck to the one above it. Anyway, I saw an interesting data, I've been registered voter in this district for 21 years.

Steps taken today: 8,239

Still Reading: The Deadly Neighbors by Merry Jones

nothing mch

I won $40 in the football pool.



To the left is the instruction and the three fabric materials that when pieced together, will create the first quilt block that you see below.




This block is called "Rail Fence". The easiest of the blocks that I will be piecing together.

I started Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz this morning on the subway ride into work. I was getting to the good part when I had to close the book and go to work. During my lunch break, I read some more. So far, I'm liking this book. Towards the late afternoon when it got slow, I read some more. Soon it was time to head back home where I knew I had an hour to read more.

Steps taken today: 8,901

Reading: The Deadly Neighbors by Merry Jones

good day

[update 10:07pm: The NY Giants Won The SuperBowl]
I took a nice 2-mile walk this morning and saw an amazing site. The sun still climbing to the sky but shining ever so peaceful on the ocean. Of all times, I didn't have my cell phone with me. Next time I hope to see that moment again and will have my camera.

I had an unexpected guest today. My long-lost nephew has decided to make his presence known. He hasn't been long-lost really, I knew he was still in the area, but we haven't heard from him in a couple of years. We had a lovely visit and I told him he better visit his grandmother. The big joke around my family is that I never have food in the house. Yeah, it's true, so for the visit from my long-no-time seen nephew, I baked chicken wings and made a Caesar salad for lunch. Yep, I actually cooked. Another big suprise is he didn't want anything from me, no money, nothing. I'm so proud of him.

I spent some time looking through my books to figure out what blocks I wanted to create. I was looking for blocks that I haven't made but ones that were easy to make. I find choosing blocks the hardest part of the quilt-making process. After picking out the four blocks that I liked, I spent time cutting all the pieces for each individual block. I always find it amazing how you can take any piece of fabric, cut it into squares or triangles and after you piece it together, you have a design. The photo shows the cut pieces on top of their block instruction.

The Superbowl is on tonight between the New England Patriots and the NY Giants. I'm not a football fan, but I will be rooting for the home team. I will be watching only for the commercials. I did pick some boxes in two football pools so if we must root let's hope the score if reflective of the boxes my name is associated with.

I didn't get a chance to read today, so hopefully during the football games I'll be able to read a couple of chapters.

Steps taken today: 11,411

Still reading: Last Seen Alive by Carlene Thompson

miscellany

There's been a breakthrough in talks between the Hollywood studios and the striking writers.

Did you hear? Expect 6 more weeks of winter. I'm still waiting for my first major snow storm.

I went to the library today and picked up The Deadly Neighbors by Merry Jones, Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz and Immoral by Brian Freeman. I have to read one more book that is a part of my reading club before I can start all the other books that I have.

I did some work on the website that I maintain. I had to reformat the word document to html and then upload. After, I sent off an e-mail to their members alerting them that new information has been posted to the website.

I took out my folding table and the materials that I will use for my quilt. I think I'm going to make a mini-sampler (top layer of fabric is a collection of different block designs placed together in a planned or random set).

About four years ago I was taking low-impact aerobics. It was a fun class to take. All of a sudden I began to have chest pain. At first I thought it could be indigestion, but it got worse especially after I finished my aerobic class. Then I thought I was having a heart attack. Anyway I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with costochondritis which is an inflammation of the joints that connects the ribs to the breastbone. I've never heard of this and had the doctor write it down for me so that I can research it. This is something that the cause is unknown. So, my doctor told me I can no longer do physical exercise. The reason I bring this up is because yesterday my girlfriend who's been complaining of chest pains went to her doctor and you will not believe what her diagnosis was. Yep, the same thing I had 4 years ago. Amazing.

Tomorrow is Superbowl Sunday? What are your plans? Me, it's all about the commercials. I don't even know who is performing during half-time.

oh goodie, The Closer is having a marathon on TNT tomorrow starting at twelve.

Steps taken today: 9,620

Reading: Last Seen Alive by Carlene Thompson

wet

It rained today. No, I mean it, it really rained today. Perhaps I'm using the wrong words. It was pouring rain today in that the rain soaked through my sneakers. My coat got wet. Rain water got inside my coat pocket and I don't know how. The bottom of my slacks are soaked. I even had to wring out my gloves. It was really raining cats and dogs out there. We did have a winter watch or something like that so maybe the rain is related to that. So how was the weather in your neck of the wood?

This month I've read 18 books (that does not count the ones that I've re-read) and discovered 8 new-to-me authors: Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Janelle Denison, Fran Rizer, Kasey Michaels, Merry Jones, Earlene Fowler, Kit Frazier, Cody McFadyen. I've read 1 memoir, 10 mysteries, 3 romance, 3 thrillers and 1 romantic suspense books in January.

Steps taken today: 8,386

Reading: Three In Death by J.D. Robb