nice

What another beautiful day to spend outdoors. Took another stroll and this time I took a walk on the wheelchair access to the ocean. I didn't walk across the sand nor get near the ocean, but the view and the breeze felt good.

Added another row to the quilt and I now have a name for it.

May reading round-up: This month I've read 24 books and discovered 2 new-to-me authors: Margaret Grace and Elizabeth Gunn. I've read the following types of books: 18 mysteries, 3 romantic suspense, 2 thriller and 1 romance.

Still reading: Don't Look Twice by Andrew Gross
--

Book Expo

What a beautiful day today. The sun was out. The ocean breeze felt good.

I attended my first and probably only Book Expo America and for the two hours that I was there, I had a blast.




We picked up books, comics, candies, various items and bags. We saw people walking around with these big red bags and we just had to get one. The first autograph that I got was from Karin Slaughter who writes the Grant County mystery/thriller series. Then it was off to the Romance Writers of America site where we picked up another autographed book then it was on to the Harlequin space where they have at least 5 authors signing their books.

Nine Month with Thomas by Shirley Hailstock; Red Hot Lies by Laura Caldwell; Under Her Skin by Susan Mallery; Lucky Streak by Carly Phillips; Bride of the Wolf by Jennifer St. Giles; The Abstract by Goodloe Bryon, CockRoach by Rawi Hage; MP3-CD of Undone by Karin Slaughter and The 13th Reality by James Dashner.

The funny thing about the Dashner book - the one that I picked up was printed backwards. When you open up the book, it's printed upside down and backwards. I told the author that this book will be a collector's item. I'll take a picture of the opened book so you know what I mean.

Then we got one of those plastic bracelet "Peace Through Education"; a little pin for Catching Fire; earbuds from Playaway; luggage tags from Michelin and a little great hero series book on Obama. We also picked up comics books. I really had a great time. We couldn't stay for the whole day but again, the time I spent there, if I get another opportunity to go again, I'm there.

Oh, I was talking to the RWA person and she said that since I love book, that I must attend the next RWA function. I told her when it comes to NY, I'm definitely there.

I also added another row to my quilt design. I do not know what it is, but it is too long to be a wall hanging, so most likely it will be either a lap quilt or a sofa doily.

Steps taken today: 10,345

Reading: Don't Look Twice by Andrew Gross
--

general public

The third row of quilted triangle squares have been added and it's now taking shape. I already see how this will look and I'm excited that this is flowing well.

I'm excited to be attending the Book Expo America tomorrow. We are only able to attend the floor exhibitions and book signings. This event is not open to the general public, only those who work in or around the book publishing industry. I had to put the word "book" there because I've been working in the "consumer magazine" publishing industry at least 20 years and I'm considered the general public.

My outpatient procedure is in 7 days. One of the things I can't take are aspirins or anti-inflammatory medication and wouldn't you know it, my throat felt sore and swollen.

Melissa's Crossfit Challenge #2 Day 12

Steps taken today: 8,456 (rain)

Still reading: The Cat, The Quilt and The Corpse by Leann Sweeney
--

new

It just amazes me how everything comes together. Do you see how this quilt top is forming? I started with red and blue fabrics, cut 20 triangle squares and watched a pattern flow as I was hand sewing the pieces. I already have an idea of how I'm going to finish it off before I put the quilt sandwich together. I really like it.

Nothing happened on the streets today. Oh, we did go to a new placed that opened up that serves a variety of sandwiches.

I may be attending the Book Expo America on Saturday.

Melissa's Crossfit Challenge #2 Day 11

Steps taken today: 10,034

Reading: The Cat, The Quilt and The Corpse by Leann Sweeney
--

is it really Wednesday

I finished the rows that I'll be using for this quilt project. Next is to layout so that I can see how it flows. I already have a design in mind, but it doesn't hurt to try something else in case it works better than my original thought. The next step will be to sew the five rows together that will create the quilt top.

They were having an "sweet" event and we got to sample mini-cupcakes, dark chocolate pearls and coffee which I didn't take any since I'm not a coffee drinker. We also got a dollar off coupon for Ben & Jerry ice cream.

Melissa's Crossfit Challenge #2 Day 10

Steps taken today: 9,543

Reading: Love Mercy by Earlene Fowler
--

I got nothing

Here are two of the five rows that I'll be creating with the triangle squares.

Melissa's Crossfit challenge #2 Day 9

Steps taken today: 11,046

Reading: Night and Day by Robert B. Parker
--

Memorial Day

We should always honors those who served and died for our country everyday.
Happy Memorial Day.

I went to the movies with HN and saw Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. It was a fun movie that I would see again. During the previews they showed 3 movies that I want to see, Up by Disney, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and Aliens in the Attic both by 20th Century Fox.

Still reading: The 8th Confession by James Patterson
--

sunday

Today it was hot, humid and hazy and we're not even in June yet.

I was sitting on a bench overlooking the beach when I discovered to my right that there is a blue walkway on the sand. It must be for those who is not quite ready to walk on the sand. Since it's there, I may venture out on this walkway to as far as it goes before it hits the sand. Maybe it will get me close to the water.

I still can't find the pattern that I was looking for but nonetheless, the pieces needed to be sewn. Because I had more red material then blues, I had to reconfigure the quilt design in my head to emphasize the red and then make it flow. All in all, I have 24 squares (really 48 triangles) that will compose the quilt. I originally had 20, but one of the blues didn't mesh and in order to add length to my original plan, I had to add a row. I played around with a couple of designs and narrowed it down to two. One really made me say "wow" and that's the one I'm going with.

Steps taken today: 15,498

Reading: The 8th Confession by James Patterson
--

hearing bells

I finally figured out why I could never hear my cell phone when it rang. It was never set at the factory, unlike my last phone. Then I had to search through the various options before I discovered where to set the tones, so now I can actually hear my phone with I get phone calls and/or text messages.


I have nothing planned for this holiday weekend. It will be a spur of the moment kind for me. I do know that I will work on the quilt. I'm still trying to find that pattern. If I don't, then I'll wing it. The surprise quilt patterns always comes out better than anticipated.


Steps taken today: 10,080

Reading: 5 Bodies To Die For by Stephanie Bond
--

another day

When I was looking at one of my quilting sites, I found this quilt pattern using triangles that I liked and wanted to pattern the quilt that I'll be working on after it. The problem today is I can't find the pattern. I know which site I was looking at and it's not there. I even went as far as looking at my history and nope, it's not there either. Anyway, today I cut 32 8.5 inch squares that will be used for the triangles. As you can see, the color combination for this are reds and blues.

It was another nice day going up to 80 degrees. Another vanilla soft cone this time with rainbow sprinkles was had by us. Today's freebie was Poland Spring bottled water.

Steps taken today: 10,298

Still reading: Last Gasp by Carla Cassidy
--

quiet over here

I've watched Wheel of Fortune for two straight days and I want to know why must they scream their lungs out? The woman yesterday did a screaming screech that caused me to change the channel.

Today I had a soft vanilla cone with chocolate sprinkles and it was yummy.

Steps taken today: 10,456

on TV tonight: Criminal Minds

Reading: Last Gasp by Carla Cassidy
--

stuff

Cell phone etiquette: if you don't want people to listen to your sensitive issues, then don't scream or talk loud into the phone. Sometimes I miss the days of no cell phone in public places.

I spent a couple of hours this week volunteering my services to help the less fortunate.

I'm going to cut right triangles for my next quilt project. I still don't know what I'm going to do, but it will be interesting.

re: things done before leaving, seems like most feel their beds must be made. I remember one time I was running late and left before I made the bed and my unmade bed played on my mind all day until I got home. And yes, I made the bed when I got home, even though in 4 hours I would be asleep in it.

Steps taken today: 10,094

on TV tonight: NCIS, The Mentalist, Without A Trace

Some of my shows have been canceled: Without A Trace, Eleventh Hour

Reading: Murder of a Royal Pain by Denise Swanson
--

wordy today

My new clean windows. Not much of a view when I sit at the sewing machine, but I know there's an outside. The terrace windows are so clean, now there's a view! That's where I spot the cruise ships from afar and see the fireworks in July. I have to buy faux grass for the terrace and some furniture so that I can sit out there.


I got my walking foot for my sewing machine today. So I'm reading the instructions and it says to "raise the pressure foot". I'm saying to myself, "what pressure foot". Tells you that I know nothing about my sewing machine. Then it says to "loosen the set screw on the foot holder". Again, what foot holder. I had to go to my machine and compare the 3 little drawings on the instruction sheet to identify the pressure foot, the foot holder and the set screw. That's the walking foot in front of the sewing machine above. Next to it are the fabrics I'm planning to use in my next quilt. These are extras and I'm combining two colors, blues and reds and I can't wait to see what transpires.

What is with this cold snap we are having. This morning it was 50 degrees. Tonight it's supposed to go down into the 40s.

Oh, we were having a discussion at work about nothing and talked about chores we have to do before we leave the house and my response was that my bed have to be made and there can be no dishes in the sick. What about you? Do you have a chore that must be done before you can leave your home?

Steps taken today: 10,532

on TV tonight: Two and a Half Men, Rules of Engagement, Dancing With The Stars

Still Reading: 4 Bodies and a Funeral by Stephanie Bond
--

seeing clearly

I love my new clean and shiny windows. The window washer was supposed to come yesterday but we had rain, so on this cloudy day, he washed my windows. He even washed the window rim and window sill both inside and outside.

I spent the afternoon visiting my friend from Iowa who's son live here in the borough. It was her granddaughter's 4th birthday party, so I headed out to the avant garde place where the party was being held. We had Greek food, a pinata, birthday cake, and opening up the present. She liked her memory quilt that I made for her. She also loved the birthday card I made for her, having put her name on the front of the card. A good time was had by all.

on TV tonight: Law & Order: Criminal Intent, In Plain Sight

For those who don't know, Castle and Bones have both been renewed.

Reading: 4 Bodies and A Funeral by Stephanie Bond
--

end of week

Tomorrow the window washer comes and I can't wait to look out my shiny new window panes. Of course I have to move my sewing table, my ironing board, my window sill decorations, floor lamp, two fans and the curtains before he shows up. Last time I didn't have to remove my blinds and I hope I don't now because one of them I can't get back up if removed. oh no, I have to move my computer desk as well. This is becoming more work than I expected.

I've been on a reading frenzy. I've read Mayhem in Miniature by Margaret Grace, Malice in Miniature by Margaret Grace and Killer Cuts by Elaine Viets.

Nothing else to report. It's been a slow week.

Steps taken today: 10,456

Reading: Killer Cruise by Laura Levine
--

quiet world

It's quiet in my world. I'm reading. I'm working. I'm quilting. I'm watching TV. I'm playing on my computer. I'm visiting the doctor. My health is okay, I just have to have an out-patient procedure done. Well, it looks like my world is not as quiet as I thought.

Steps taken today: 10,084

on TV tonight: Criminal Minds, CSI: NY

Reading: Malice in Miniature by Margaret Grace

stuff

We went out to lunch at a new-to-us Italian restaurant and on the menu was a "recession special" for $15, which included Caesar salad, soup of the day and the entree was penne vodka, Margharita pizza and two other things that I can't remember. I had the Caesar salad and penne vodka which was quite delicious.

I had a fun time creating this mini lap quilt. I love coming up with the color combination and then making it work so that the colors flow. Sometimes I'm surprised at how well everything works. For this particular quilt design, I had a certain picture flow in mind, but when I stitched the pieces together, the wrong set was sewn together, but once it was completed, it really didn't matter because the outcome was the same. Introducing Elektra.

Steps taken: 10,279

on TV tonight: Two and a Half Men, Rules of Engagement, Castle

Still reading: Whisper of Warning by Laura Griffin
--

seen

Today I saw a beautiful moon; a cruise ship coming into port; a sign alerting us that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Boom A Ring is coming to town and the future location of the circus that was previously filled with discarded buses and junk.

on TV tonight: Cold Case, In Plain Sight

Reading: Whisper of Warning by Laura Griffin
--

busy day

What a mixed mash day with the weather. First it was raining. Then we were surrounded by dense fog. Then the fog lifted to cloudy skies. Then the sun tried to peek out of the clouds. Later more rain is predicted. It was somewhat humid but nice just the same.

I finally bought the last two sky blue blinds for the kitchen. It actually looks nice in my blue kitchen. I also bought two paper blinds, but I'll wait to put those up until after I get my windows cleaned.


I also worked on my quilt project since the birthday party is next week. I had a design in mind and had it set up but when I started to sew, the groupings got mixed up, but it still worked for what I had in mind. Then I was trying to determine the pattern flow for the sashing and I two ways to do it. The final decision I made worked very nicely. The last two steps are to sew the quilt sandwich and do the final binding.

On this day in 1794, The United States Post Office was established.

Reading: One Hot Mess by Lois Greiman
--

friday

Yeah, the Statue of Liberty's crown will be open to the public on July 4. That was one of the highlights of my school-age youth-walking up to the crown and looking down at the people who looked like ants and the ocean. I'm probably one of a few New Yorkers who has visited all of the well-known tourist attractions in the city.

Steps taken: 11,633

Reading: Notoriously Neat by Suzanne Price
--

rain, again

When will all this rain cease? I need some vitamin D and prefer to get it naturally from the sun that wants to be seen.

The next step in my quilt project was to cut the pictures. I had printed three sheets of 8.5 x 11 fabric paper with four pictures on each sheet. After I washed the excess ink off them, the color red is definitely a bleeder, I dried then and then trimmed the twelve pictures leaving a half-inch border. Next step will be to create a design pattern that will showcase the photos and then stitch them to fabric. This will be interesting.

Today was a bad allergy day. My eyes twitched. My whole head hurts. I felt blah. Darn allergy.

My doctor gave me a pamphlet on the keys to your heart and I thought I'd share with you guys:

1. Regular exercise - 30 minutes, 5 days a week of moderate exercises
2. Mental fitness - keep up with your friends - call a pal every week
3. Wise diet - eat like the mediterraneans - olive oil, leafy greens, whole grains, nuts, fruit, fish, red wine, tomatoes
4. The right test - know your numbers: cholesterol; blood pressure, fasting blood sugar

Steps taken: 7,345 (rain)

On TV Tonight: Bones, CSI

Still reading: Too Rich and Too Dead by Cynthia Baxter
--

new quilt project

These are the fabric that I'm using for the small memory lap quilt for my friend's four-year old granddaughter. My friend sent me 12 pictures from various stages of her young life and I plan to use every single one of them. I prewashed the fabrics and now they are drip drying and I printed the pictures on the fabric paper. Once I trim the pictures and lay them out, then I can begin to cut the fabric and create a design. I can't show you the pictures because she's a minor but when the quilt is done, I'll display it.

Steps taken: 11,098

on TV tonight: Criminal Minds, CSI: NY

Reading: Too Rich and Too Dead by Cynthia Baxter
--

ramblings

Another quiet with not much to say day.

I picked up my new glasses. I like them.

My doctor's appointment went well. I lost 10 pounds since January. I lost 2 inches since January. I still have to take the medication for my blood pressure and to improve my blood flow to the heart. If I continue with my healthy eating habits, exercises and weight loss, then I'll be able to get a lower dosage and then perhaps down to not taking any prescription medication.

My next quilt project is a memory quilt for my friend's 4-year old granddaughter. I got pictures for every stage of her life and I can't wait to see the finish project. Tomorrow I'll select the fabrics and pictures and come up with a design. I will most likely make her a small lap quilt.

Steps taken: 8,987

on TV tonight: NCIS, The Mentalist, Without A Trace, DWTS

Still reading: No Such Thing As a Free Lunch by Shelly Fredman
--

foot

Anne-Katherine asked what is a walking foot? A walking foot is an attachment that feeds both layers of fabric evenly through the feed dogs...used for straight line quilting.


Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment and I'm hoping to get some good news.

Steps taken: 8,450 (rain)

on TV tonight: Two and a Half Men, Rules of Engagement, DWTS, Castle

Reading: No Such Thing as a Free Lunch by Shelly Fredman
--

quilting class

re: I am afraid of water but will get on a ship as long as there is a very long/high distance between me and the body of water.

1) 2)

Today was my class "Machine Quilting Basics" and it was fun. It was a 4-hour class where we learned to sew stitches on a quilt sandwich. We covered a lot of information and techniques. One of the accessories we used for the quilt sandwich was the walking foot. Our instructor said all quilters should have one, which I don't.
The first thing we learned to do is stitch in the ditch. Then we stitched 1) grids; 2) uneven 60 degrees parallel lines which I didn't do too well and 3) a star using freezer paper template.

on TV tonight: Cold Case, In Plain Sight

Reading: Loitering With Intent by Stuart Woods
--

having fun

The weather cooperated with my fun-filled family time with my mom and other relatives. I woke up to pouring rain; left for the train in drizzling rain and arrived at the pick-up spot with no rain. It didn't start to rain again until after we boarded the bus and was on our way to Philadelphia. Besides my mom and my aunt, several other relatives were also going on this outings; cousins I haven't seen, some in 15 years. It was good to re-connect with them and the minute they said they were on Facebook, we all said "I'll friend you".

The two-hour cruise on the Spirit of Philadelphia covered the Delaware River with spectacular views of the Philadelphia and Camden skylines with sights such as the Ben Franklin and Walt Whitman Bridge, Red Bank Battlefield, Shot Tower, Naval Shipyard, and the Sports Complex. Our lunch menu included: green salad, Italian pasta salad, potato salad, macaroni salad, baked tilapia, roasted herb chicken, Asian beef stir fry, three-cheese pasta bake, fluffy rice, fresh steam green beans/broccoli, traditional New York-style cheesecake and sweet chocolate mousse truffle.

Then our final destination was Atlantic City where we visited two casinos Trump Taj Mahal and Showboats. I won $12. Woo Hoo!

We got back home around 11:30pm and my sister who was supposed to pick up my mother didn't - and my mom didn't want to take car service home so she took the bus and I had my nephew meet her bus and call me when she arrived safely home. Me, I took the train home, yes at midnight, and call my mom when I arrived.

Later today I go to my quilting class.

excitement

Not much going on except....I'm going to the circus and I'm so excited. The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is coming and I can't wait. I also got seats in the first row. Woo Hoo! This will be my first time attending the circus. I can't wait to see the elephants, lions, tigers, clowns and everything.

Tomorrow I'll be away for most of the day. I'm taking my mom on a pre-Mother's Day spirit of Philadelphia cruise. A bus will take up to Philly where we will board the ship and after a luncheon and cruise, we'll head up to Atlantic City and enjoy the time there for a couple of hours before we head back to the city. Too bad the weather is not cooperating with us. We'll have periods of rain. Oh well, it will be fun regardless.

April reading round-up: This month I've read 22 books and discovered 7 new-to-me authors: Sara Rosett, Judi McCoy, Dana Stabenow, Joanna Campbell Slan, Amanda Stevens, Shelly Fredman and Susan Donovan. I've read the following types of books: 18 mysteries, 2 romance and 2 thrillers.

Steps taken: 8,432 (rain)

Reading: Redneck Cinderella by LuAnn McLane
--