Category: Blogging Memes

Blogging Memes

A meme to clear my mind

Anne S

Mr Obnoxious is still with me this morning, as I knew he would be, so I’ve decided to take some time out to catch up on blogs to take my mind off it, before I start concentrating on my interview information. Thanks for your supportive comments – I am going to take it further, and take the time after my interview to speak to both the Manager of the area concerned, and also our own call centre manager. Mr O is the sort of guy who twists one comment you make 50 different ways and turns it back as an accusation and keeps harping on about the same thing then making it personal. He doesn’t swear at all at you, unlike some others – if he does, then we have the full management back-up to terminate the call after telling him we don’t have to put up with that sort of language etc … I’ve threatened that twice before, and both times they’ve calmed down – this guy is just in a league of his own! I wish I could give you an example of what was said, but that’d be unprofessional. His main personality is to take one word or sentence that was said, out of context, especially loving to stop you mid-sentence and start a tirade, and harp on about it for 15 minutes to turn it into a personal attack.

Anyway, enough of that vile pig (as someone else called him last night) … on to clearing my mind of clutter, by doing some ‘fun stuff’ 🙂 I just noticed that Chiara tagged me ages ago to do this meme – for some reason her blog wasn’t showing on my updated list, then all of a sudden there were 36 posts there today, including my ‘tag’ … so apologies for the delay (and thanks for tagging me Chiara!), but here goes:

The Meme of Fives

Here are the rules: Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone else up a notch. Then add yours to the bottom spot. Like this:
Recent Runes
BOO
Zohrah
Chiara’s Loft
Feather Stitching

Then select 5 people to be tagged:
Um, I’m pretty sure that by now everyone in the universe has been tagged, and it would take me too long to wade through the unread posts to find who hasn’t … but if you read my blog, and you haven’t been tagged yet, feel free to join in 🙂

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Turning 30, working for a major international pharmaceutical company in Auckland, NZ, organising medical conferences for a living … wondering “what am I doing here?” and dreaming of working in the travel industry.

Five snacks you enjoy:

  1. Milk chocolate
  2. Salt & vinegar flavour potato chips/crisps
  3. Dips and with sliced turkish bread (eg hommus, tzatziki etc)
  4. Watermelon
  5. Chocolate-dipped strawberries

Five songs to which you know all the lyrics off the top of your head right now:

  1. Superman by Five for Fighting
  2. Superman by Five for Fighting
  3. Superman by Five for Fighting
  4. Superman by Five for Fighting
  5. … let’s just say, song lyrics are definitely NOT my forte! LOL – but I can hum along to all the tunes!

Five things you would do if you had one million dollars:

  1. Buy loads of aida so I can make more charity quilts, along with buying the charts and threads I’d need
  2. Buy a house near the beach
  3. Buy a new car for both myself (Mazda 323, blue, sporty model with rear spoiler shaped boot – not being specific, or anything LOL) and my Dad
  4. Take a long holiday to the places I’m still dying to see yet (Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Thailand, as well as many other places), and take Mum on a holiday too
  5. Share my spoils with others – give some of the money to my best friend and her family, some to Mum & Dad, and buy a car for Fraze

Five bad habits:

  1. Too soft, and easily taken for granted
  2. Swear like a trooper
  3. Don’t finish what I start
  4. Can be very untidy
  5. Great procrastinator sometimes

Five things you like doing:

  1. Stitching
  2. Watching DVD’s/going to the movies
  3. Having dinner with friends
  4. Walking on the beach
  5. Helping others

Five things you would never buy, wear or get new again:

  1. A car (it devalues so much as soon as you drive it off the lot)
  2. Uncomfortable shoes
  3. Clothes in pastel colours
  4. New DVD’s (would rather wait until the price comes down)
  5. ‘Label’ clothes/goods

Five favourite toys:

  1. My computer
  2. Mahjong
  3. Solitaire (pack of cards)
  4. Uno
  5. My stitching stash (spend more time playing in that than anything else! LOL)
Blogging Memes, SBQ

SBQ’s and a Meme

Anne S

I’m soooo behind with the SBQ’s so here goes, with everything all at once! Most recent is first …

15 February – Today’s SBQ was suggested by Heather and is:

“Comment on your comments (giving and recieving): Do you love comments or hate them? Do you check them every day, never check them, or find them helpful? And finally, are you convinced no one is reading your blog if you don’t get any?”

I love this question, and it’s one that’s very easy to answer … I LOVE getting comments. That’s the way I’ve found some more wonderful blogs to read that I wasn’t already aware of. When I first started blogging last year I clicked on other peoples links and found new blogs that way, but when people started leaving comments I didn’t do it that way anymore (or rarely) – I always pop over to a new commenter’s blog to read it, and most of the time have found some real treasures that way. In fact, I know there are people out there who read my blog but don’t comment – I’d really love it if you left a quick comment – even just to say who/where you are – so I can return the favour 🙂 I’d love to know who reads it, and where you’re located!

I feel guilty at the moment because I haven’t been reading blogs much, and now have 410 unread posts, but I don’t want to miss anything and will still go back and read every single one, even if I don’t comment on each post (in fact I’m allocating 3 hours of today to get through at least some of them). I think leaving comments shows you care/support the other stitcher, and I like to give back the support and love that I’ve been given. If nobody comments on my post, I don’t feel as though no-one is reading, just that it’s not a post that generates a response – sometimes I’ll read a post and enjoy it, but it doesn’t drive me to respond because I have nothing to contribute, but it doesn’t mean I haven’t enjoyed reading it.

As for reading them, I have it set up that I receive all my comments via email, and it automatically gets sent to a separate folder in my inbox – I read everything else, and leave my comments folder until last … ‘cos it always leaves me feeling positive at the end. So yeah, I love ’em!

8 February – today’s SBQ was suggested by Nancy and is:

“Describe your “perfect” project. (Include the designer or specific pattern, the fabric, the floss, and anything else that would make that project “perfect” for you.)”

OK, the ‘perfect’ design would be a stitching ‘small’ of some sort, incorporating bright turquoise and cobalt blue silk threads (Gloriana would have to be the ultimate brand), stitched on 32ct linen. In the ultimate fantasy, it’d be stitched on a balcony somewhere on a balmy day where the sun is just bright enough to give the perfect light, without being hot, and your fingers never getting ‘sticky’ – rainbow lorikeets would be chattering in full view, and ducks swimming around in the pond below the balcony. My floss wouldn’t tangle, and frogs would be non-existent …

Alternatively, I would be sat in a comfy recliner, with my favourite DVD’s on, and a daylight bulb giving the perfect light, and stitching whatever was on my scroll bar at the time – oh, hang on, that’s what I usually do … hmmm, maybe my normal stitching area isn’t too far from my own version of ‘perfect’ after all 🙂

1 February – Today’s SBQ was inspired by Renee’s visit with Dawn and is:

“With the exception of your online stitching friends, do you have any other stitching buddies?”

I’ve never had stitching buddies in real life – none of the people I know stitch, and the only way I’ve had interaction with other stitchers in the past is to sign up for classes. Since I’ve started blogging, though, I’ve met some amazingly talented and generous/kind natured stitchers online, and more recently met two of those face-to-face in my own fair city, so hopefully in the future I’ll be able to give a different answer as relationships get forged 🙂

18 January – Today’s SBQ is:

“Have you had a happy dance yet this year? If so, tell us about it! (Or just point to the entry that talks about it.) If not, when do you predict it will be?”

Yep, I had my first happy dance quite quickly … in fact I’ve had speedy needles for the early part of the year, but more recently had a bit of a stitching slump (just starting to make up for it again, though). My first happy dance was here – it was the Love needleroll ornament by Jeannette Douglas Designs, in the 2005 JCS Christmas Ornament issue.

* * * * * * * * * *

Also, I got the following from Jenna’s blog, which started in Melissa’s blog, and it seemed like a fun thing to do … so anyone who reads it, count yourself as being tagged 🙂 You have to list 5 things that make you happy, right at this moment.

Five things that make me happy today
1. Looking at my birthday scrapbook from Vicki, with the sentiments and colours – it’s giving me warm fuzzies.
2. Knowing I’m now living in a relatively stress-free environment after 2 1/2 years of mentally ‘surviving’ – I can do what I want, when I want, and enjoy doing it. I’m happy just enjoying the silence.
3. Sat at my computer watching the birds fly past outside my window, and having a dedicated stitching chair/area where I can stitch whenever I feel like it – I’m happy about where I live.
4. Happy about all the birthday well wishes I’ve had from near and far (mostly from afar).
5. And like Jenna, I’m happy about all the wonderful friends I’ve made online – it’s teaching me to open my heart again and be the ‘giving’ and happy person I always used to be.
All-in-all, today I just feel “happy”! 🙂

Blogging Memes

The Anthology of Anne – A to Z

Anne S

From Jenna’s blog:

A is for Age: 39 (but not for much longer!)
B is for Booze: Jim Beam and L&P (a Kiwi soft drink – I miss it!), or ‘original’ Margaritas, or Quick F*** shooters, or Golden Dream cocktails, or … yeah, OK, I enjoy a drink now and then! Jim Beam is usually my ‘fave’ though 🙂
C is for Career: Travel Consultant with an Airline
D is for Dad’s Name: Terence Henry
E is for Essential Item to Bring to a Party: Friends
F is for Favourite Songs at the Moment: Beautiful by James Blunt
G is for Goof-off Thing to Do: Web-surfing (usually stitching-related)
H is for Hometown: Doncaster, South Yorkshire (birthplace), but count Auckland, NZ as my actual ‘home’ – currently in Melbourne, Australia
I is for Instrument You Play: Used to play the recorder (!) and the viola (‘cos the saxophone classes were full!) – don’t play anything anymore
J is for Jam or Jelly you Like: Orange marmalade or Plum jam
K is for Kids: None
L is for Living Arrangement: 3rd floor 2-bedroom apartment/flat on my own
M is for Mom’s Name: June
N is for Names of Good Friends: My two real best friends are Frazier (Aussie) and Vicki (NZ)
O is for Overnight Hospital Stays: Gallbladder removal; Tonsilectomy
P is for Phobias: Spiders – BIG time!! I get chills just typing that word!!!
Q is for Quotes you Like: “What the…?” (from Rove, Aussie TV host/show)
R is for Relationship That Lasted Longest: Glenn (2 years, but long-distance)
S is for Siblings: None
T is for Texas: It’s also for Taupo, Tekapo and Toetoe!
U is for Unique Trait: Generous nature and sense of humour
V is for Vegetables You Love: Everything except cabbage! Really like fresh peas (but they never ever get in the saucepan!), asparagus, and silverbeet
W is for Worst Traits: Lack of confidence/self-esteem
X is for X-rays You’ve Had: Head (after concussion), knees (for joint pain), neck (for back pain)
Y is for Yummy Food You Make: Thai red curry and Mars bar slice (not together!)
Z is for Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Blogging Memes

My favourite things

Anne S

OK, Christine has asked on her blog, in honour of the 40th anniversary of the Sound of Music, what our favourite things are. Off the top of my head at the moment, I’ve come up with the following few things – no doubt if I sat and thought about it some more, I’d have more to add to the list, but here goes:

  • Anything that makes me laugh
  • Autumn leaves changing colour and falling/covering the ground
  • DUCKS!!
  • A freshly brewed cappuccino
  • Soaking in a bath for an hour with a good book
  • Anything blue
  • Walking on the beach listening to/watching the waves crashing in
  • Cuddling up with a feline/canine pal
  • Chocolate … milk or white, but not dark … adore Toblerone and truffles and NZ Cadbury’s and UK walnut whips … drool …
  • A peaceful sunny day in winter, with the sun strong enough to take the chill from the air
  • Being on the ski slopes in Wanaka – the view is spectacular
  • Frangipani flowers (white/yellow ones)
  • The feeling of peace that comes with stitching
  • Tigers – I can sit and watch them for hours
  • and did I mention … DUCKS!! 😉
Blogging Memes

I was Tagged … a while ago …

Anne S

I was tagged by Dawn, and forgot all about answering my questions – but I was just clearing out my emails, and noticed it … oops – oh well, better late than never! Here goes …7 Things I want to do before I die:
Go hot air ballooning
See more of the Greek Islands
Visit Canada
Finish my pile of UFO’s ;-P
Enjoy the life I’ve lived and make a difference to someone else’s
Learn how to put photos in my blog sidebars
Visit more of Australia (ie Perth, Ayers Rock in particular)7 Things I can do:
Cross stitch and embroider
Ignore housework ;-P
Be a supportive and loyal friend
Listen to people
Spend money on things I don’t need
Stand up for myself and other people when the need arises
Answer phones 8 hours a day!

7 Things I can’t do:
Crochet
Ride a motorbike
Bake cakes well
Stand by and watch someone being ill treated
Lie or hide my feelings
Stop buying stitching supplies/stash
Speak Latin

7 Things that attract me to another person:
Eyes
Smile
Sense of humour
Considerate and caring nature
Intellect
Quick wit
Sense of adventure

7 Celebrity crushes (can’t say I have any real ‘crushes’, so I’ve listed actors I enjoy watching):
Tony Curtis when he was younger
Mel Gibson
Brad Pitt
Bruce Willis
Brendan Fraser
Dennis Quaid
Rowan Atkinson

7 Things I say the most:
Welcome to the Melbourne Hotline, Anne speaking 🙂
Not being funny, but …
What the…? (from Rove’s “what the…” segment)
Do I HAVE to get up?
I’ll do the vacuuming tomorrow …
Gotta love it/them
What day is it today? (the joys of 7 day shift work)