Quilty Fun on Saturday

November 16, 2024
Stopping by to see Charlotte, one of my CRAFTLab students, at the Smyrna Mini Handmade Market

Quilts from the Etowah Valley Quilt Show in Cartersville, GA:

Tula Hexies
Jen Kingwell (I think)
Photo Collage
Alaska Quilt
Flea Market Flowers
Cute Pumpkin Quilt

Today was fun. Sadie and I stopped in to see Charlotte’s booth at the Smyrna Mini Handmade Market and took a leisurely stroll around the nearby lake. After dropping Sadie off at home, I braved I-75 on a Saturday and drove an hour north to see the Etowah Valley Quilt Guild’s biennial quilt show. It was a small show, but decorated very well with sewing themed vignettes and fall decor throughout the exhibit hall. There was a vendor mall offering vintage machines, handmade sewing accessories, quilt kits, FQ bundles and some sewing books. I picked up a weighted 7′ square tailor’s clapper made by a local woodworker for $20.00. This will be so handy when pressing blocks!

I took the backroads home to avoid traffic and stop by Kohl’s to look at jeans. I found one pair that fit me perfectly! That made an already great Saturday even more awesome!

Do you make yourself a priority?

November 15, 2024

The past few days have been ones of self-reflection. I had my annual physical last week. Blood work was fine, yet my cholesterol is still elevated (like last year). We chatted for a few minutes about increased caregiver responsibilities for my aging parents and hubby. My physician strongly cautioned about making myself a priority if I want to continue to be an active, healthy early retiree. Ouch!

He’s right, you know. I’ve made sure hubs has had what he’s needed for the past 5 years of his cancer journey. He’s currently stable (best possible outcome with his particular type of cancer) and well-matched in a volunteer opportunity that keeps him active and involved. We kept expenses in check during our gap period and my job navigating the maze to my official teacher retirement is done. At this point, I can focus on myself for a change.

Today, I had lunch with a good friend. We spent 2-1/2 hours catching up. It was good for my soul. He gave me an update on his brother, who is currently battling brain tumors and asked me for some tips on being a caregiver. I explained that the role changes over time. I shared that our journey has been one where I was more of a “nursing” caregiver after his surgery and recovery to more of a facilitator today.

My best caregiver advice:

  1. Don’t take anything the patient says personally. Mood swings are a reality. No-so-nice comments made by patients are generally directed at the current situation/circumstances – not at you. Remember this always: it’s not your fault.
  2. Abide by the patient’s wishes when it comes to the treatment plan – even if you disagree.
  3. Ask for help if you need it.
  4. Make yourself a priority. Keep up with your own medical check-ups. Eat right, drink water, get a good night’s sleep, take a walk, pray, meditate, read, journal, wear make-up and pretty, but comfortable clothes or whatever makes you feel good.
  5. Assemble a support group you can lean on when times get tough. I have two friends who went through something similar I can reach out to at anytime. They have kept me sane the past five years.
  6. Keep up with your own hobbies and interests as much as you can. It’s too easy to become isolated when you are in a high-maintenance caregiving stage. My friends check-in on me when it’s been radio silence on my end for an extended period of time. If you are unable to get out to be with friends, keep a small hand project nearby – knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, embroidery, EPP, calligraphy, adult coloring book, sketch book and pencils, etc. It does help.

This caregiver phase of life will eventually end. My husband and I tend to be rather pragmatic about things. We had some difficult conversations when he was first diagnosed. Quality of life, not quantity of life was his stated goal and I’m 100% onboard with this. Is it easy? Not by a long shot. We take it one day at a time and try to live our lives doing what makes us happy and fulfilled. Whatever happens, we have peace of mind knowing the other person will be okay afterwards. It will be hard, but life will go on.

So, if you are a caregiver of any sort, remember to make yourself a priority.

Local newspaper asks why the transit 1% sales tax initiative failed…

November 13, 2024

Today’s Marietta Daily Journal pondered reasons why the transit tax initiative failed. I’m not a subscriber to this paper. I glanced at the newspaper while in the check-out line at Walgreen’s this morning.

Raising my hand to answer:
(1) This initiative was for 30 years, not the same 5 year renewal cycles as the existing two SPLOSTS for education and special county projects (parks & rec, libraries, etc.).
(2) Because the super low levels of ridership do not warrant any additional investment. I frequently travel along some of the “higher utilization” bus routes and the buses usually have only 1-5 passengers on them. This is not sustainable long-term. If I start seeing buses 50%-75% full regularly, then maybe we’ll have reason to revisit the transit tax.

Most people who move to the ‘burbs do so without any expectation of public transit availability. The only bus service they might use would be the Express Buses that run M-F along I-75 into downtown Atlanta. (These run 3x each day/evening and are self-supporting.) As an alternative, many commuters use the toll lanes and buy a Peach Pass. Should I decide to relocate to Cherokee County in the future, I will consider toll lane entrance access a priority of where to buy.

The point here is I don’t expect the county to provide me with transportation to get from Point A to Point B. It takes me 20 minutes to get from my home to my part-time job by car. It would take almost 2 hours if I took the bus and the fares would cost more than the gas I’d use driving myself. Then, there’s the value of my time. I’d rather do other things than wait on a bus.

Madame Chair argues that in interest of equity, every resident should have access to wherever they wish to go. They already do – drive a car, ask a friend for a ride, call an Uber, take a taxi or walk. If it’s to go shopping, most things can be delivered to your home for a modest fee. The elderly and disabled already have on-demand senior transit services and disability mobility services available. Expand those services, if necessary, but trying to mimic a MARTA type bus service out here in the ‘burbs makes zero sense. That’s what the voters told you by a wide margin. I hope you listen.