Boring

   Have any of you ever had to answer a question/assignment somewhat along the lines of  "Name something interesting about yourself" In college, it typically comes up at the start of every class. Except a blissful few, in which the instructor does not care, nor do they want to pretend to care. Or maybe they can't think of anything interesting about theirself either. Regardless, that question, above all other questions, truly makes me feel like an incredibly dull and boring individual. Usually, I start out somewhat like this: 

"I am Emily Swisher. I work full-time as a paramedic in a rural area. I enjoy embroidery, cross stitch, playing the guitar, reading, and writing my blog."

  Potential is there, but overall, it feels kinda "meh." I usually use the instructor's example post as a guide of how funny or serious I should be. This one is pretty serious. Which leaves me out of ideas to add some pizzazz to my earlier statement. Well, that and the fact that I am pretty boring. Although, I may not be as boring as I think. You see, the assignment above did not prompt this blog post. It started with my supervisor knocking on my door. He knocked and I quickly shoved the mystery bus toy from my Scooby Snacks surprise box that I was putting stickers on into my backpack. When I opened the door, he  told me that the Office Manager needed to speak with me. Going up front to get a paper from her sparked my asking for a form to fill out for a day off, since we are out of them, and I would like to get paid for this day off (PTO to the rescue!). We-ll, the form was found quickly, but copies needed to be made. I am (usually) great with my baby, simple, user-friendly (read almost idiot-proof) printer for the non-tech-savy individual. But a fancy-smancy office printer that is almost as tall as I am and has more buttons than a slew of preschoolers would be able to push? Not so much. So, after being rescued by the billing specialist, BoyMom (she has 3 boys and uses the phrase a lot), I had my little paper to get paid for picking my cat up from the vet (Ladybug does not wish to be a mother.)* and babysitting attending Her Majesty's needs and requests, I, quite relieved, left the scene of the printer-being-smarter-than-I-am incident. And promptly made a large racket when I accidentally brushed against empty Culligan bottles precariously stacked upon each other. Let me tell ya, those things can flat out bounce! Which made me think, "Hmmm, I should write about this to my smarter-than-a-printer blog friends, and see if they know how to write this as a scholarly essay in such a manner that it sounds like my ineptitude and general clumsiness qualifies as actually being quite interesting?" So, my smarter-than-a-printer-copier-thingie buddies, do you have any ideas? While you think, I shall return to putting stickers back on my toy, thank you very much.

  Thanks,

 Not-Smarter-Than-A-Printer-Copier-Alien-Thingie

*Running a country [or in this case, household] as Queen takes up entirely too much time  for a half-grown cat, let alone adding the responsibility of offspring to the roster. Little ones would ruin her figure and cause her to neglect her royal duties while detracting from attention paid to her. And she has far too much on her plate to properly raise them and be there for them emotionally. And less than 4  weeks with one's own mother is hardly enough time to properly learn to care for mini fluff balls in a manner that would be consistent with Her Majesty's high expectations personality.

Stitching Progress

 

  Here is where I am at now. I did have another window almost done, but I did it with 2 threads and thought it looked too blockish/bulky. Today is window day; hopefully, I'll get more stitching in after I finish supper, but I am at work so there are no guarantees. I hope all of you are having a wonderful Sunday!

  Happy Stitching!

 Emmy

Sunday Stitching Update

   Not much to report today. Woke up (in my own bed, not work- yay!), got ready, ate breakfast, went to church with Mom (Kirst has her own church and Dad had to go back to work during the night), went home, fixed fajitas with the family, then watched a movie while stitching. How’s that for a run- on sentence? 

  Here’s the progress:

  Now Dad, Mom, and I are headed back to church for the evening service. :)

  I hope all of you have had a wonderful Sunday so far. How have you spent your Sunday?

  Happy Stitching!

 Emmy

Kitties and Stitching

      A very good combo indeed! Mr. Smokey required lots of cuddles- and his fuzzy blanket- on my days off.                        

                                                 

  Ladybug found it quite necessary to guide my package that came. She was using it as a temporary throne. This Queen may not wear a crown, but she does require a throne!

                                                 

  The Queen did remember us peasants when it came time to unload groceries and bring them in the house the other day. 

 I do not remember if I posted my Singing in the Rain finish here or not. I can't find a decent photo on my phone, or I would post one now. I must have accidentally deleted the more recent photos of it. 

  I did start this: 

  I finished Singing in the Rain before Christmas, and started this one (Baby, It's Cold Outside by Heartstring Samplery) around the same time. It is hard to see, but the linen is sparkly! I'm using 32 ct Raw Silver Belfast linen. For threads I am using DMC 869, 816, 730, 728, and either 712 or 3033. I am also using Petite Treasure Braid 300 for the snow. Can't have too many sparkles!!!

  I also got Mom various dinosaur/nessie sppons and things. Here is noodle Nessie enjoying her first sauna!

  Last, but not least, Robin, thank you for the lovely card!!! It made my day! That was incredibly sweet of you! I would post a picture here, but alas, it is at home, and I am not. 

  Well, I do not have much else to say. I am at work, and several of the shift's circumstances are suboptimal. That said, I am determined to have a good a day as possible!

  

I hope all of you are staying warm and safe! 

 Happy Stitching!

 Emmy

The Cat Elf

  Apparently Smokey was hungry yesterday- this is how greeted my Mom. And yes, he is wearing his elf costume. He gets mad if we take it off. And if he takes it off, he keeps making it abundantly (and occasionally aggressively) clear, quite loudly at times, that he is cold and wants it back on. I also think he greatly enjoyed the Day of Many Gifts, and hopes wearing this will bring it back soon. It is never boring in this family of dorks!

 

Unpopular Opinion on 2020

   So, I know that this is going to be an unpopular opinion. And that's ok. I understand that for many people, 2020 was terrible. Especially the folks that lost loved ones during the year, regardless of the cause of death. And folks having their own health issues, as well as any one of the myriad things that can go awry in one's personal life. You want to know the truth though? 2020 was not that bad. Weird, yes. Crazy- absolutely. But for me? Not that bad. Wearing masks suck. Gowning up in all the required garb for Covid positives and suspected patients- a panic attack in the making. Not being able to breath due to a mask- been there, still doing that. Honestly though- all in all, this has not been that terrible of a year for me and a lot of others. In fact, a lot of it was good. Many of us just don't want to believe that.

   Think about it though: many families got their first real time together in months, if not years. Parents found out how cool their kids actually are. Kids found out that their weird parents are actually kinda neat. (They may not admit out loud though). 

                                           

  We revisited the past, to see how our ancestors handled quarantine and plagues. We remembered people long forgotten, and said their names. People made time to listen the elderly's wisdom. The elderly chose to use this to encourage others. 

  Dogs got to on lots of walks! Kitties got extra cuddle time. 

    

  Folks have finally had the time to listen to what their body and heart are actually telling them.

  We learned to play again, and how to just enjoy a day for being a day. 

   

  People learned to cook, and to appreciate a homecooked meal. Even how to be grateful for  the homecooked meals that were more failed attempts than anything else. 

  And we all appreciate eating in a restaurant a whole lot more. And going inside of a store was more of a treat and less of a chore, in some cases.  In a lot situations, people have been more polite, and dusted off their manners. 

  We all learned to look at the world around us with a new perspective. 

                                  

  And to try to see things from each others' point of view. 

                                                

  We learned to kick our feet up and just relax for a change.

                                            

  And had a chance to dress however we wanted for a change.

   

  Nature was given a chance to start to heal from all that our busyness and greed has done to damage it. Some animals have had a chance to thrive. People learned to be excited when they saw a wild animal, and how to recognize the birds their backyard. 

                                       

  My coworker's wife had a baby girl, and a friend had twin babies! Babies were still born, still took their first steps. First days of Kindergarten still happened, as did high school graduations, and freshman college classes. Perhaps different from the norm, but these major milestones were still reached. 

  Bunny prints in the snow still occurred. And snow- snow coated everything, good and ugly, in a glorious, brilliant white that glistened as though a 4 year-old was given glitter and told to go wild with it!

                         

                                                  

                                         

                                                    

  We have started to realize how amazing the other people sharing this clump of dirt are. People started finding creative ways to show others love, and lift each others' spirits. People actively sought out ways to give others hope, and took the time to implement it as well. 

  People learned how to let the caring King/Queen inside of his/herself to shine through.

                                         

  We found things in common with those around us- like our common hatred of masks. And Covid. And the word "quarantine." 

  We learned to enjoy the view from our own porch, in all kinds of weather. 

                                

  And to see the beauty in how the same small area can still change so much. 

                                    

Above photo taken by Kirstie Swisher.   

                                     

    We learned to be there for each other, as some died, and others had to learn how to live without their loved one. 

  Long overdue heart to hearts took place. 

  Relationships grew stronger.

  Many got their first chance to slow down and rest in a long time. Others continued to do so, guilt free. 

                                    

  We learned to appreciate those around us, regardless of who they were, what job they did, what they looked like, and their political views. We learned to simply appreciate them, and remember that we can learn from each other. 

  New friendships were formed between former strangers. 

                                         

  Old friendships were rejuvenated.

  We learned to adapt. And how to effectively hide from vacuum cleaners. :)

                                     

  We all realized that oftentimes, the littlest things really are the big things. 

                      

  More pets than ever found new homes!!!

  We all became a lot more understanding of each other, even when we did not understand. We learned that we are all human, and we all need grace, forgiveness, and a little understanding. 

  We took the time to actually see the beauty, majesty, and incredibleness of God's hand in our lives and the world all around us. That alone is a miracle. 

                                            

  Don't get me wrong- I look forward to when we can freely go about our lives again. I miss going places without being judged for not wearing a mask where not required. I miss seeing everyone else's smiles, and not worrying about whether I will make my loved ones sick if I hug them. But this life is still so incredible. When we take the time to- or are forced to- stop and look around us, we finally see a tiny fraction of how blessed we are really are. We get to see God's thumbprints all around us, in the laugh of a baby, the purr of cat, the faces of our families and friends, the excitement of a dog when their owner comes home, the way the frost makes little raised polka dots on a car door- the list could go on for eternity! 

                                           

                                           

And that is not even counting the thousands of miracles and blessings, little and big, that surround all of us each and every day of our lives. All in all, I'd say that 2020 was weird, different, hectic, even a bit of a disaster at times. But, in my unpopular opinion, it was still a good year. Life went on, and exciting things happened. My sister started a new job she enjoys. I got accepted into a college with a paramedic to RN bridge program. Mom gets to come home from work and tell us all of the antics of the little ones from the daycare. We received some surprise time with Dad.  Life has always been a combination of good and bad; without the bad, we would never thankful for the good. We would be unable to recognize it, and would take it all for granted. And look at all of the amazing pictures, stories, and people that have risen out of this debacle of a year. So, I'll stick with my unpopular opinion, thank you. And I hope you are willing to see the good, as well as the bad, in every day, as well as every year. Perhaps, we should do as Smokey did; just because our normal is turned on its side, that doesn't mean that we can't enjoy the very changes we usually despise so very much.