Personal Updates

Just completed a 3-day FEMA CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Train the Trainer course and am now certified to teach Basic CERT classes. This is the online version http://www.citizencorps.fema.gov/cert/IS317/  It's a start but the in-person training includes hands on training, more unites, and the opportunity to ask question, meet current CERT members and professional members of the community brought in to teach many of the NINE units.  Not to mention that local CERT organizations don't recognize the on-line training and one would need to take the in-person class to become active. But it's interesting and better than nothing. The goal is to teach individuals how to prepare for and take care of themselves, their families and their neighbors after a disaster until professional first responders can arrive. It also provides you the opportunity to assist first responders in a large scale event or disaster as well. Most of the material is REALLY interesting.

I've also been pulling together Radio Operators to assist Race Organizers before and during the Lone Star Races in Arlington on April 26th. This is the second year I've had the opportunity to do so. Last year we used 8 operators. This year will be 16 or more.  Last year Start/Finish was at The Ballpark (Texas Rangers), now formally called Globe Life Park. This year Start Finish starts in front of City Hall. The 5K and 10K have routes through Central Arlington, particularly through the large UTArlington campus. The Half-Marathon heads east, past Cowboy AT&T stadium, past The Ballpark, the back just the other side of The Ballpark, within 1 block of where Mother lies in rest, 2 blocks from my church and 2 blocks the other direct from I grew up, south for a bit over a mile then west almost to my neighborhood, then back east, cutting behind UTA's Maverick Stadium, down Greek Row, 3 blocks back north then a short distance east to City Hall. Although I did all this successfully by myself last year, this time the OEM asked the guy who was my mentor, then walked out, then came back after I had no choice but to ask for technical help, to also assist. I'm still doing most of the actual recruitment, correspondence and document preparation - that's mostly because I did it last year and still have the forms and info on my computer. :D This year I'm keeping time records!

As for the seminar, it was a 26.1 mile, 30 to 55 minute drive depending on traffic and route. All this on only 7 hours sleep the entire 3 days. That CERTAINLY was NOT my intention!!! I just couldn't get to sleep after I got home in good measure because of all the other stuff I was already working on here. Saturday night the only sleep I got was sitting at the computer (we had to do a teach-back which I learned would not be acceptable in the form we'd planned until after my teaching partner had already left and it was after 5:30. Since he was staying at hotel because his commute was slightly longer, it was up to me to put together all the props for the demonstrations then figured out what I THOUGHT would work, wouldn't. So I had to decide what to do on my own and didn't have the opportunity to tell him until we got to class the next morning. He wasn't happy. I don't blame him. I was a severely anxious nervous wreck. I don't know why. I've presented court cases and taught college, but this time I could barely function. We only had to go 5 minuets, nothing for someone who had 75 minute classes. Or so you'd think. I swear I only talked (barely) for 90 second when the instructor called time. I also swear that other teams had FAR longer than just 5 minutes each. I think some others did as well because looks started being made. My poor teaching partner hadn't had time to rehearse with the props at all, couldn't get his protective gloves on, etc. I felt badly for him and quite guilty because the center prop we were going to use that really didn't work, he tried to use anyway. But we both passed. Maybe one day we'll laugh about it. At the time I was mortified re myself and felt very VERY badly for him.  Thankfully I had 2 micro naps just before the review for the final test (which I was also very anxious about but turned out just fine. I missed one question, probably everyone else made 100.

I'm sure all this is so fascinating (NOT), but I'll end here by stating emphatically:  I WISH I HAD HAD THE TRAINING I TOOK THIS PAST WEEKEND BEFORE I TAUGHT AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL!!  No idea whether I'll ever teach a CERT class, or any other class for that matter, but I now know MUCH better how to do so.

No, I haven't done any stitching in 3 or 4 months. I'm thinking about stitching but I never get around to picking up a project or a needle.

Everyone have a great week!

Added freebie site

• New York Dreamer Blog - 5 freebies: Christmas, Valentine, Religious

Cat freebie, Update and some DFW winter pics

Tom Pudding Designs - A House is Not a Home without a Cat

Update: I removed the posts about my fall and black eye. Some remnants of black eye and small bump remain. I've been really skittish about falling again, so with all the wintry weather the past 10 days, I'm staying home and in general being extremely careful when I'm up and about! I was really thankful when I was told to "Linda, stay home," when I was literally ready to walk out the front door on the 28th to help with the Cowtown Marathon. Instead I sat at the computer from about 6am to 2:30pm logging (taking notes) on the amateur radio traffic. Except for the Half Marathon that they ran a day late, the rest of the 2-day event was cancelled. After all the runners left the corrals, it got pretty boring. Should have used the time to stitch between radio transmissions!

Our recent weather: For those under several FEET of snow, please don't laugh derisively. I truly don't know how you handle it. We normally get only an inch maybe 2 all winter, if any.

February 27th - up the street

February 27th -  My driveway - 2 inches of snow topped with 1/4 inch of ice

March 5th - Looking across the street - 1/4" sleet topped with 2.8" of lovely snow.

March 5th - Straight out the back door. Those are houses on the higher ground across the creek.

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Heart Sachets and Love Birds

Heart Sachets  From Cross Stitch Collection  (I love the padded hanger!)
Love Birds Heart  From Janie Hubble Designs

Finished Halloween Biscornu Freebie

I just discovered a Korean website that has posted several photos of my Halloween Biscornu design along with the chart, but thankfully giving me credit and a link back.  I've never seen it stitched and it's REALLY CUTE (giving self pat on back!)  You can visit the page here.  I translated the page, but I never did see a "contact" link so I could ask permission to use a couple of the photos. If you find one, please let me know! Also, if anyone is interested, I can change the year to 2015. :D

Pre-Christmas Freebies Still posted

From Cross Stitcher Magazine and Cross Stitch Collection, the free charts (that were posted "only for 24 hours") can still be reached through the following links: 

1. Day 1 (December 12th) : From Cross Stitch collection:  Christmas Carol - a Victorian Village with carolers!  104H x 192w - must d/l by 2 P.M. December 15th (not sure which time zone so don't wait!) From Cross Stitcher Magazine: Reindeer Cushion - all of Santa's reindeer including Rudolf by Kate Mawdsley; individual designs suitable for smaller projects - d/l by the 15th
2. Day 4 (December 15th) -  Seasons Tweetings - 4 card/ornie designs and 3 gift tags
3. Day 9 (December 20th) - lovely dove ornament charts to download 
4. Day 12 (December 23rd) - download two floral Thank You cards to stitch 

TWISTED THREADS by Lea Wait

For those who have taken a look at my "Reading List Page, you'll see that the ONLY comment was made by author, Lea Wait, in August, 2013 about her upcoming cozy mystery "stitching series."  I had read all her Antique Print cozy mysteries to date and posted them to my Reading List, but how she ran across it, I haven't a clue. I was surprised and delighted that she had. As for the new stitching series, I've been waiting ever since.

Twisted Threads, was released on January 6th. In honor of its release there have been a few give-aways. I was amazed and delighted to learn that I won a copy! Wow!!!. Can't wait to receive and read it! Thank you Lea Wait and Dru Ann. I'm sure it will be an intricate plot involving a needlepoint piece written by an author who is very skilled in crafting plots, characters and descriptions. I'll recommend it having yet to even read it!

Shadows on a Maine Christmas, released last September, is a continuation of her Antique Print mystery series, which includes fascinating details about various antique prints - many of which are woven into the story line. Each chapter begins with a comment and/or picture about an antique print, many of which are incorporated into the storyline. The information is authentic and fascinating- Lea Wait is an antique print dealer in real life. For example: Shadows of a Down East Summer is multi-period, the story interwoven with a summer spent on the Maine coast and the prints/paintings by Winslow Homer.

Read about Lea, her background and her books for children and adults on her website!}

Not a cozy mystery fan? Didn't realize I was/would be either until the last few years. Seeing as how I read The Complete Sherlock Homes the summer between 6th and 7th grade, and all of the Mrs. Pollifax novels, starting with one in a Readers Digest Condensed Books volume at about the same age,  makes you wonder why not, doesn't it?  Give Lea's books a read. I'm pretty sure you'll be hooked as well.

I highly recommend Lea's books for adults and children to all those cozy mystery readers. Actually I recommend them to anyone who enjoys a good read!

BTW, my neice, Denise Belinda McDonald, who has had several e-books published/released, is starting to write cozy mysteries. She's sent me a copy of the one she is currently shopping. It's my next "read!" Stay tuned.

A New Freebie Every Friday

Happiness is Cross Stitching - New in 2015 - Monthly Cross Stitch Mini-Cats, other Mini-Cat and cross stitch freebies, gift tags and other items to print. Check out this interesting site.