Bluebirds of Gratitude

So ... several people asked me if I was bringing my sewing machine to Seattle with me. The answer to that question is ... yes. Yes, I brought my two hands, some blue thread, embroidery scissors and a toothpick. That machine constitutes what I need to do hand applique.

And when I'm doing it, I am quite the sewing machine.

I decided just about a week before our departure that I wanted to sew birds. Blue Birds. On Blue Backgrounds. I got all the backgrounds, birds and wings cut out ahead of time. I spent most of my time in the hospital (when not caring for PDaddy or yakking with Gin) reading a biography by Amy Tan. Then I managed to eke out these four babies in the last couple of days.

Only 12 more to go.

And just in case you are wondering, I am no longer sitting in the hospital, I am in the hotel. PDaddy got discharged yesterday. And yes ... that would be in record time.

We are just trying to figure out whether or not this qualifies for the Summer Olympics or the Winter.

What's your vote?

Bathroom Talk

So ... I have a couple points to touch on today ... and they all involve the bathroom. In a good way. Seriously.

Like this lovely picture of (fake) flowers from my bathroom. I love the white ... and the green. And the ... fresh.

Speaking of fresh, here is my latest acquisition from Bath and Body Works. It's their scent du saison, so I already know it will go away until next summer ... just like my all-time-favorite Dancing Waters did. This one is called rainkissed leaves, and it is just a green version of DW. But there is one little problem. The spray makes me choke. Like ... I have to spray and then hold my breath and then move to a different place before I inhale whatever it is that is floating in the air. All of that involves breaking a sweat, which is immediately counter- productive.

Has anyone else had this problem?

This last tidbit involves Park Tae-hwan from Korea, pictured above. PDaddy and I watched him win the gold in the 400mm freestyle on Saturday night. Before he raced, they told his story:

He was at the 2004 Olympics as a 14 year old. As the race was about to start (also 400mm freestyle) he literally ... jumped the gun. He dove into the pool, prematurely and was immediately disqualified. And then ... then ... he went into the men's room and stayed there for several hours, feeling very humiliated.

I have been there, haven't you? (I was there, as my most angst-ridden teenage moment came in Junior High when I got accidently locked in the restroom and had to scream until someone found a janitor. When I walked out ... a small ... snickering ... crowd had formed.) I did not go on to win a gold medal in Junior High. But I did ... go on. Just like Park.

That's it. Bathroom Talk. Inspiring and sweet smelling.

Just like success.