I use the word success, because for me – that’s exactly what it is…

Yesterday, I went to an in-person doctor for an actual physical exam. Success #1.
My lab results came back and they were the best they’ve been in 20 years. Success #2.

I attribute both of these to my starting Weight Watchers Freestyle late last summer.

My last physical was in October 2016.  That experience, along with the subsequent comedy of errors resulting from that visit, left me not wanting to ever set foot in a doctor’s office again. So, I didn’t. I used the online doctor service through my health insurance provider and the local clinic at the corner pharmacy to meet basic health care needs. Kind of silly, yes I know, but that’s how I needed to work through it.

When I first started WW, I set a goal that once I reached a certain target weight, I would  schedule a physical with a new primary care doctor. I met my target weight over spring break. I’d already researched doctors and had a couple of candidates in mind. I scheduled an appointment with the one who had the earliest availability (still 2 weeks out).  I LOVE my new primary care physician! I still don’t like going to the doctor, but I no longer dread it.

According to Dr. P, I still have 20 more pounds to lose (more than I thought), but he was very encouraging of the steps I’d taken so far to take control of my health. The lab results clearly showed what cutting back on sugar, red meat and fast food can do for one.  I had a biometric screening done August 2018 for my employer’s wellness plan. My April 2019 numbers were much improved. Total cholesterol had dropped 55 points and my blood glucose level was within normal limits – not pre-diabetic like it was last August.

I am ready to tackle the last 20 pounds and schedule the remaining health screening visits for the summer months (ob/gyn, dermatologist and gastroenterologist), so I am up-to-date on taking care of ME.

As the saying goes, “Your health is your wealth.”  If one physician isn’t a good fit for you, then go find another one who is.  I actually liked my previous physician, but not her practice manager (who has a god complex and states it’s his decision whether or not you remain a patient of the practice).  In hindsight, I feel really stupid sometimes giving that fool the power to keep me from taking the best care of me for nearly 18 months. The good news is I wised up and that won’t happen ever again.

Oh and success #3 – I found the white 1964 Singer Featherweight I’d been seeking! It’s set to arrive on Saturday!  Sew excited!

In elementary schools, Genius Hour is a dedicated time where students can explore anything that interests them. Some sort of output is usually required in the form of a physical object, writing piece or digital multimedia presentation. Our Friday clubs are my school’s version of Genius Hour.

My Stitching Stallions were required to design and make blocks for Block Party, which is a kid-focused quilting exhibit (open to all K-12 students in Georgia) that will be on display during Georgia Celebrates Quilts in June, 2019.  Most of my kids had never touched a sewing machine before the end of January.  They love to sew long lines of fabric together, so we decided on strip pieced blocks as the overall design for everyone.  The kids cut the bulk of the strips themselves using my Sizzix machine and strip dies. Some of the kids really took their time and kept a fairly consistent seam allowance throughout the entire block construction. They carefully selected colors that would complement one another and arranged their strips in a certain color order. Other kids took a lot of creative liberties with sewing wide seam allowances because they wanted different width strips, or sewing the strip directly on top of the other one because they liked the look.  Their written block descriptions are due back Monday. I can’t wait to see what they wrote about the experience!

This Friday sewing club has been a treasured part of the past four years I’ve spent at this school. We learned on Friday afternoon that there would be no more clubs for the remainder of the year due to the new state-mandated testing schedule.  The rumor mill (usually accurate) also says there will be no clubs next year.  This confirms my feeling that it’s time to dismantle sewing studio B,  re-home four sewing machines and divest the bulk of the craft materials (rather than waiting until the end of the year).  Two sewing machines and some supplies will be kept in the Media Center for Maker Space activities.

Two years ago, I attended the event in Savannah.  Had a BLAST!  Immediately put QuiltCon 2019 in Nashville on my calendar. I had a good time and met some nice folks, but I left without the warm fuzzies that I did in Savannah.

Why?

1. Downtown Nashville is very crowded.
2. Parking was expensive.
3. Conference hotel prices were outrageous.
4. Food vendors were confined to one small space where the dining seating (roped off to boot) also served as the seating for the demo stage.  I had to eat my lunch sitting on the floor of the loading dock.  Not cool.
5. Unless you sported vibrantly colored hair, nose rings, full sleeve tattoos and a hipster vibe, some of the vendors weren’t that interested in you. I saw more than one customer leave an armload of merchandise in a booth because they grew tired of waiting for someone to take their money. Apparently Instagram followers are more important than paying customers. 
6. There was no communication at all from QuiltCon or the instructor regarding a required kit fee for one class.  This caught several class attendees by surprise, many of whom don’t carry cash.  We had to pay the kit fee at the door before we entered the classroom. Why wasn’t the kit fee included in the class fee?
7. Dear instructors: please remember your students paid money to learn and sew- not listen to you constantly pitch the various products you sell, represent, or serve as a brand ambassador for during the entire class.  Once, maybe twice, is more than enough.