Thank you for all the support

Remember in "It's a Wonderful Life" when Clarence says "Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends".
Well, just in case I didn't know it before I know it now. I have friends and so I can't be a failure, in anything I do!
I have had well over 20 private e-mails and 47 messages left on my previous post, not to mention phone calls and hugs I have received. I wasn't sure what would happen when I put my life into a blog post. I am glad I did.
I have been doing the WW points thing for a week now. It is going well. My husband has been my rock. He is doing this with me and is so supportive of me in each step.
My highlight of my week was that I found a place to weigh at. When I went to my doctor's office they didn't weigh me. I just guessed at my weight when I went in. I joined WW online and so I don't go into an actual meeting. The online e-mail support couldn't give me any info whether I could weigh at my local WW office or not. My doctor's office is about 20 minutes away and not open the hours I am off.
So Friday I just popped into the local WW office and talked to the leader and explained my situation. She said I could come there and weigh in. Whew! Who would have thought that I would be ecstatic over being able to weigh!
Bad news is I am about 2 pounds heavier than I thought. Good news is that by next week I will have that taken care of!
The bike (my friend) is getting much easier! I still can't go long on it, but I am improving.
Let me tell you all thank you from the bottom of my heart. You all are my angels here on earth. Thank you for coming along with me on this journey!

Time for a change (rather long post)

Today is World Cancer Day. It is a day set aside to focus on ways to prevent cancer. Their slogan is "Cancer can be prevented too!".
Everyone knows things like quitting smoking and getting breast exams are ways to prevent cancer.
But did you know that obesity is one of the biggest cancer risks there are? It causes higher breast and colon cancer rates along with skin cancer and other cancers.
For the past year and a half of my life, I have been consumed with helping American Cancer Society Relay For Life. Most of my stitching has been for fundraising. Most of my spare time has been going to meetings, talking about Relay, posting stories about cancer prevention and patients going through treatment. Crying at stories that tear your heart out.
But there is one person I haven't worried about. That is me. You see, I am obese. Morbidly obese (that is a diagnosis on my medical chart). I don't eat healthy. I don't exercise.
I have been overweight most of my life. Not so much when I was young, but pretty much in the past 30 or so years. I would lose weight, gain weight, lose again. I was pretty agile, even for a fat woman.
Six years ago I lost 100 pounds through Weight Watchers, but gained it back. I got married and thought I should cook really big meals. And of course with cooking those meals I also ate.
I have been generally happy all my life, fat or not. I am happy with my looks, happy with my personality.
Until the past year. My weight has taken a toll on me. My knees hurt all the time. I don't go to the doctor as much as I should because of my weight. I mean really, what does the doctor want to do to help me if I don't want to help myself?
My life has taken a turn that I don't like. I can't walk hardly at all without getting out of breath. Fun stuff, like shopping or going on vacation is surrounded by the thought, how far is the door from the parking lot and do they have an electric cart for me to go around in. There is a local museum here I want to take my grandsons to, but I know I can't do it. I have tried. I almost pass out and the pain in my knees are unbearable.
This past Christmas I attended a party at a friend's house. My first thought was "are her chairs going to hold me up? What if I break one?".
A work acquaintance asked me to go on a small trip with some staff. I had to say "no" because I knew I couldn't do all the walking they were going to do.
Going out to restaurants and parties and everything is centered around "how close are the chairs to each other? Is there enough room for me to get around?".
All of this is minor compared to what my weight is doing to me. I am 49 and feel like I am 100. And I am at risk for cancer. A big, fat risk.
I didn't write all this to make you feel sorry for me. I did this to myself and I am not looking for sympathy.
I am looking for a change. It is time that I do something to really prevent cancer. IN ME!
So last Friday I joined Weight Watchers. I am adding vegetables and fruit to my diet. Stopped drinking coffee (Starbucks I hope your stocks don't fall). Am drinking more water.
I went to the doctor and talked with him. He is sending me to a cardiologist before he will release me to join a gym. I go on Feb. 10. But for now, I can walk as long as I take it easy, as well as light exercise.
And I added something to our house. My sister named it Satan, and at times it feels that way. But I think it should be named Friend. My friend is a stationary bike. I can't go too long on it (only a couple of minutes at most).
I think God had a hand in bringing my friend into my house. It was on sale at Wal-Greens. The only one. Someone had bought it online and never opened it. It was not supposed to be returned to the store but the assistant manager didn't know that. They had it for $129 (regular $199). And the manager gave me another 15% off that.
So now everyday I get on my friend and I do something to make me less a cancer risk.
Is this going to be easy? No. Am I probably going to fail at least once? Yes. Am I going to keep trying. Yes. Am I going to need all the support of my friends and family? YES, YES, YES.
So I am asking you to follow me on this journey. Many of you have followed me on the journey with my SFAC project. Follow me now. Encourage me. Scold me. But mostly love me as you always have, fat or not. Be my friend.
Because it is time for a change and I want to be around a long, long time!

WIP (or UFO, whatever you want to call it), a trip and a surprise

I have been steadily working on my SFAC project for so long that it has consumed my stitching time. I made several of the Christmas ornaments and several of the quilt squares, along with cutting fabric and getting everything ready to go to the quilter.
We have one quilt sent off to sweet Halina, our quilter and the other is just about ready to go.
So, along with the pillows I have and left over ornaments, as well as the quilts, I think we are set for our fundraising for the 3 Relays. Whew!
Now I can do some "just for fun" stitching. I pulled out this WIP (more like a UFO since I have had it for so long). I started stitching this for my director several years ago and then it got put away. It is from the Cricket Collection. The picture isn't great, but I tried and tried to get a good pic.


It is on 28 count Cashel linen which used to be my favorite until I found Lugana. It is with Sampler Threads and a bronze metalic thread (it called for silk, but silk thread and I do not get along!). Hopefully I will finish this before he retires!
Yesterday, my DH took me to Austin. I had to go to Relay University for a training session. On the way back home we drove by 6th Street (no trip to Austin is complete without a trip by 6th Street) and we also ate at my favorite restaurant, Baby Acapulco. They have this amazing chicken soup that I just love.
If you wonder why they say Keep Austin Strange, well this picture says it all:

Did you see it? Go back and zoom in on it. Yes, it says Bat Jewelry on sale! Well, now I know where to go when I am in need of Bat Jewelry!
Mom and I went for a drive to the Arboretum today. I didn't have my camera, but I saw something special. The daffodils are peeking their green sprouts out. I think in about 2 or 3 weeks we will have daffys. If that isn't a sign that the groundhog is not going to see his shadow, I don't know what is!
I have been going through some changes in my life here lately. On Feb. 4th I have a big announcement I am going to make. So check back here then!

Another year, another NATIONAL HOLIDAY!

Whew! It seems like my birthday was just the other day! And now it is time for another.
Some of you may wonder why I have a groundhog on my blog. Well that is because my birthday is Feb. 2, Groundhog's Day! This year I turn (excuse me while I gather myself to say this) 49! At least it is not 50. At least not yet!
And just like last year I am going to have a giveaway to celebrate!
But this time there is a twist!
Birthday Bash Blood Drive and Fundraiser
Help me collect 49 units of lifesaving blood and help me raise $490 for our Relay For Life Team on my 49th birthday! My birthday is February 2nd! Donate blood at any Carter BloodCare donor center or blood drive and use Sponsor number: SPON048845 or donate at any blood center and shoot me an e-mail to let me know. If you can't donate, then go with someone to donate and let me know!
If you would like to help me raise the $490 for my Relay For Life team, you can easily donate as little as $5 online at: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/donnakarl
Now here is where the fun begins!
Leave me a message stating whether you think ol' Phil will see his shadow or not! I will put all the names in a drawing and draw a name on Feb. 2, 2010. The prize you might ask?
Well, it is just 5 skeins of your choice of Sampler threads AND a 13 by 18 cut of your choice of Expressions fabric (your choice of linen or evenweave, count and color).
And here is the twist:

If you donate blood or take someone to donate or you donate to our Relay For Life team, I will enter your name twice. We are on the honor system about the blood donation. Just leave it in your post or leave me a message at dwooleybooger@yahoo.com and let me know.
Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me... You know how I feel about birthdays! They are National Holidays

My gift from friends (dual post)

If you read my stitching for a cure blog, then this is a duplicate post.
Aren't these amazing? Well, the story behind is more amazing.
Some of my stitchy friends, 8 of them plus my daughter to be exact, went behind my back and did this project for me.
Why I am deserving of this wonderful gift still eludes me, but it is a true blessing. Even my daughter kept it secret since Oct. 2nd.
6 stitched angels on the quilt, plus a stitched piece in the center plus a pillow with another stitched angel. All in the most beautiful shades of purple and pink.
Mary, Janet, Tara, Carrie, Ethel, Moma Judy, Georgena & Penny had a part in making the beautiful quilt and pillow. My daughter had the job of keeping it quiet from me. Mary did the most WONDERFUL quilting on the quilt. All in all it is spectacular!
Do you know they even set up a special Yahoo group for it? Stitching for Wooleybooger!
I have been very tearful over this gift. It is quite possibly the best gift I have ever received. I know it is the most beautiful one. I can't wait to show it off to my Relay friends and friends at work.
There are not enough words to say thank you. I haven't had a chance to read all the posts on the Yahoo group. I have my grandkids here and they are demanding that I not spend as much time as I want to look at it all. Makes for a difficult situation: pay attention to grandkids or read the posts! LOL.
I have been so blessed with my friendship with all of you. I wish you all were here to share in my joy! But via the net, maybe you can know that you have truly touched my heart. If you are judged by the friends you have, then I will be judged as a very fortunate person, a person who was and is loved very much.
Blessings to all of you! And thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Donna

Merry Christmas

This holiday season…

Hope

Enjoy!

Laugh

Give Blood

Take a nap

Be thankful

Read a book

Celebrate life

Watch a sunset

Play like a child

Be still and listen

Take deep breaths

Hug someone special

Relive enjoyable moments

Listen to your favorite music

Dance like nobody is watching

Bake cookies (or buy them like I do)

Enjoy time with friends and loved ones

Donna Karl

A little better

Well, I am a little better. Not much, but better. I have had mood swings like crazy which makes me think I am (God I cannot believe I am going to type these words) "going through the change".
Which would probably be the reason for me not being holly jolly this year. Between snapping at friends and family and bursting into tears, it has been a roller coaster of emotions.
All though I didn't go to my EGA party for the first time in nearly 20 years, I did go to my work party tonight. I took my sweet Mother with me. She never gets to go to parties and was so happy to get out tonight. She even started picking out her outfit on Thursday night and had her stylist paint her nails red with green dots. Very festive.
A good time was had by all. I even won a door prize! We went and looked at Christmas lights afterward. Here are some pics:

This was Mom & me!

My manager Kristin and one of our consultants, Dawn

Another of our consultants, Terry and his wife Patty

Our HR Coordinator, Esmeralda and her fiance, Cesar

And finally, our Director of Operations, Jim & his lovely wife Elda.
My grandsons will come to visit me for a week starting the day after Christmas. Surely that will keep me in a good mood for a week or so. At least that is what everyone around me is keeping their fingers crossed for!
I really pray that each and everyone of you have a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season! You have all been blessings to me.

Bah humbug

I am in a not so Christmasy mood. I don't know why but I am. And nothing I do seems to change that.
I don't want to see pretty decorated trees, sparkly Christmas lights and Santa. I don't want to go to Christmas parties and exchange gifts.
Every year I REALLY look forward to going to my annual EGA Christmas party with the annual handstitched ornament Chinese gift exchange. I pick out my pattern way in advance of the party and have my ornament wrapped and ready to go at least a month before the party.
This year I have not only NOT MADE one, I am not going to the party at all. Don't wanna. Not interested.
And I was going to my annual company Christmas party this year despite my bah humbug mood until someone changed the plans for the party. Nothing big; just a little tiny itsy bitsy thing. And BOOM! Not going. Can't make me.
I am not even interested in going to see Christmas lights, one of my absolutely favorite things to do. I don't even have a ooh or an aah in me for them.
What is up? Anyone else feeling this way?

A giveaway mention

Jennifer, at http://feathersinthenest.blogspot.com is having a giveaway. You must go over there right now and see! A beautiful box and 3 pairs of beautiful scissors.
And as a bonus, her blog is fabbie!
Thanks Jennifer for the giveaway!
Donna

Surprise, Surprise!

Since this is Thanksgiving, I decided to draw not once but twice! LYNN, you are the second winner in my Thanksgiving giveaway! I will send you an e-mail, but you too should go to www.silkweaver.com and pick out the color, fabric and count of Expressions fabric you would like! Happy Thanksgiving!
Donna

And the winner is...

Thank you to all who left a message on my blog and on my Yahoo groups!
My niece drew a name and RANAE is the winner of a 13x18 piece of Expressions fabric from Silkweaver's.
Ranae, I have sent you a private e-mail from my dwooleybooger address. Please e-mail me with your choice of count, fabric and color and I will in turn send your fabric to you!
Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Happy Thanksgiving and a Give-Away!

I would like to take this time to wish all of my online friends a very happy and safe Thanksgiving.
I am thankful for much this year: My sweet mother, who lives with me, my dear husband James, my daughter, Jen and her husband Chris, my two grandsons, Trent & Craig, my sister Brenda and her husband and my two nieces, Sabrina & Sierra. I am also thankful for my husband's family who have made me part of their families.
I am thankful for my job and for my co-workers, who I also call my friends. I am thankful to God and to my Church.
There is so much more that I am thankful for that it would take this entire blog to write about. Much has to do with the friends I have found through my Yahoo groups and my two blogs, including my Stitching For A Cure blog.
This past year I have been amazed at how many came forward to help with the SFAC project, most of whom did not really know me. We raised well over $1000 for Relay For Life, which is amazing!
As a thank you to all of you, I want to do a little give away. I figure you all are stitching madly for Christmas and might need a little fabric.
Here is the deal:
Leave me a post with your e-mail contact information. Tell me you want to be entered into the drawing. On Thanksgiving day I will draw a name randomly and notify the winner.
What do you win, you may ask? Well, it is a 13x18 piece of Silkweaver's Expressions fabric, your choice of fabric count and color! If you have never seen Silkweaver's fabrics, you are missing out on some beautiful, hand dyed fabric. You can see the fabric choices and colors at www.silkweaver.com
Happy Thanksgiving to all and good luck!

Lunch with friends and a pic of my honeybuns!

Today we had a potluck at work. Good friends, who just happen to be co-workers, met to break bread in the office.
The food was great!



The laughter was even better! Here are some of my friends:
Stephanie, who always looks so put together and today had a beautiful cashmere scarf on:

Dawn & Kristin, who are two peas in a pod!

Janet & Deb, who brought most of the laughter to the room. And Deb brought most of the food! The girl can cook!

And then here is a pic of Deb and her son Kirk. I found out SOOOO many secrets about Debra from her son today. It was great!

My boss Jim, who is more like a father to me, and his beautiful prayer warrior wife, Elda. Seriously, when I was in the hospital the last time, I physically felt Elda praying for me!

And then there is Will. Have you seen his pic on America's most wanted? I am sure it probably is there. If so, contact me and we will share the reward. Just kidding Will!

And last but not least, my husband James was not able to be at the lunch, but this picture was so good I just had to share it. He is my honeybuns! Love you James, better than bread and butter!

All in all, a great time was had by everyone and our tummies were full and our smiles were wide!

The family and some stitching

Today our whole "local" family went out to lunch to celebrate my BIL birthday. Mom, my 2 nieces & one's bf and my sis & BIL and my husband and I. We started at Texas Roadhouse, but they were too full for a table of 8 so we ended up at Logan's. The food was really good and the company was even better. Here is a rare group photo of us all:

One of our local firefighters was killed by his son this past week. It was terribly sad.
My mom has a lifeline button and so when she falls & I can't get her up, the station this firefighter was at is the group that comes and helps her. This particular firefighter was always so nice to Mom and even remembered her name when he would come out.
After his death I spoke to the fire chief about how sad we were at his loss. The local TV station got word of that and asked that Mom & I do an interview for the news.
You can see the interview at KWTX.com and then look on the right side where it says video. We are the one that says "Waco residents remember"
And finally I have started stitching again. I am working on a square for my SFAC project. Here is a picture of the start:

All in all it has been a nice weekend. The weather has been wonderful. Maybe this means the week will get off to a good start. Hope your weekend has been great and your week is even better!

Thank you to all the Veterans

I want to take a moment to personally say thank you to all the veterans and all the military personnel and their families for the job they do (and have done) in keeping us safe and living in the best country in the world.
My dad was a veteran. He hurt his back in Korea and always walked hunched over as long as I can remember. I had just been born when he returned from overseas in a body cast. He was my hero in many, many ways and his being a veteran was one of them.
My boss Jim served in Vietnam. He was a Navy pilot. That took a toll on his back also. Many days I see him in pain even now for what he did for our country. And unlike the soldiers that return to the US now, he wasn't greeted with parades and people cheering. Like this war now, many people disagreed with us being there. But unlike now, they couldn't support our soldiers without supporting the war. Thank you Jim for all you did for our country!
Our Community Relations Director, Keith served in the military and while I don't know exactly what he did, I am thankful he served and helped keep us safe.
And we have two fine phlebotomists, Billy and Eddriel, who have served recently. Billy is going back in March and it will a big void when he leaves. Thank you to you two for what you have done and what you will do for us.

Another crisis and another outpouring of support

I have been in blood banking going on 20 years now. I love my job. I love the fact that I am making a difference each day.
But when a crisis happens in our community, it is the outpouring of blood donors to support those victims that gets me through the crisis.
I first witnessed this years ago during the raid on the Branch Davidian compound here close to Waco. When I saw on TV the officers being shot at I immediately called our blood center to see how many units of blood we were shipping to the hospital. And as the scheduling coordinator for staff, I knew my next thing was to mobilize all our collection staff to have them come in on that Sunday to help collect blood for the emergency.
Imagine my surprise when I arrived at the donor center before the doors were even open and saw over 100 people there. They continued coming until the compound burned down, even though they were aware that no one was using blood after the first initial strike.
I saw this happen again and again. The Oklahoma City bombing, when we went to war during Bush, Sr. presidency, after a Class 5 tornado and of course when the Twin Towers were struck.
On Thursday, when the largest military base, Ft. Hood, that is just 45 minutes from here, was attacked by an armed gunman I saw it happen again.
Thursday evening we saw about 120 donors. And again yesterday we saw over 100. We sent out 190 units in the first day. Every one of our blood drives all over our territory are seeing an increase in blood donors. So much so that at this time we are asking folks to wait a couple of weeks to donate more.
Why do these donors come out during these tragedies? I mean, if you look at the big picture, there is a tragedy happening somewhere every minute. Someone needs blood every 3 seconds. It could be a surgery patient, a cancer patient, an accident victim. And the truth of the matter for those big tragedies is that if someone hadn't donated blood BEFORE it happened, there wouldn't be blood to save those lives WHEN it happens.
Here is my thought (and you know I have lots of thoughts!): People need to do something PHYSICAL when a tragedy happens. They can pray, they can cry, they can wring their hands, but for a healing to occur in a community, they have to do something that comes directly from them. Like donating food for a food shortage, donating blood during this time makes them feel a part of them has actually become a part of the victims. And that they have really made a difference.
If you ever witness one of these type blood drives (and I pray that you don't!) you will see the emotions on the faces of the donors. And if you stuck around after the doors close, you will see the emotions on the faces of the staff. And it is at that time a healing begins. Emotional wounds are healed during a blood drive.
The one thing that each blood donation center would like to be able to get across to donors is that they can be a part of a healing everyday. Those patients in the hospital needing lifesaving blood may not have been the victim of a gun welding insane man, but they are victims none the less. Victims of illness, victims of accidents, victims of violence.
And they need you, everyday. When you donate blood, try to imagine your neighbor, your child, your spouse as the one needing that donation. Because you never know who is the face on that blood bag.
As the holidays approach, donations drop. And after an outpouring of support like we have just seen, during the weeks after donations drop.
We need donors. Just not today, but everyday. We need you in the weeks to come.
Give blood. Often. You can make such a difference. You can be a part of healing, a part of something great!

November

Well, November kicked off with a bang. I have felt really bad for several days. No fever, coughing or runny nose, but plenty of general achiness, sore throat and ear ache.
Feels like the flu, but with no fever or coughing.
But right now, I feel better. Just a sore throat and a slight headache.
I started a new SFAC project. It is always so exciting to start a new project to raise money for cancer patients.
And now I need to start a ornament for an exchange party I have here. But what to do, what to do?!
I guess I will dig through my patterns and fabric and decide. And probably look online and find a new pattern and then rush to get it done. This year I just can't seem to get into the whole "holiday" thing. Usually by now I am planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas. But Thanksgiving is less than a month a way and I don't have a clue what we are doing.
And Christmas? I haven't bought a single present and have no idea what my grandsons even want. All I know is that they will be here the day after Christmas and will stay with us for a week by themselves. I know they want to go bowling and the oldest wants to make a snowflake craft of some sort.
How are you all doing on your holiday plans? Anyone else in this same sort of standstill that I am in?

Happy Halloweenie!

Just wanted to wish all of you a Happy Halloweenie!
Whether you are trick or treating with little ones or going to an adult party please have a simply marvie time but also be safe out there!
And don't forget for those of us in the States, we get an extra hour of sleep on Sunday due to the clocks rolling back for a hour.
So party til the cows come home. You have an extra hour to catch up on those zzz's!
BOO!
PS: Check out my SFAC blog for a new project! Click on the link on my right sidebar!

A night to remember

Last night was Relay For Life. If you have been following my Stitching For A Cure blog, go over there and see all the pictures of the tree. Quite spectacular.
Relay is a fundraiser for American Cancer Society.
Every year I go to Relay I get inspired to go back out into my world and make a difference. Since most blood collected is used by cancer patients and I am in the blood "business", cancer touches my life almost daily.
And I am a 23 year cancer survivor.
This year I participated in the survivor lap. I never thought of myself as a survivor since I didn't have to undergo the chemo, radiation, etc. that most patients have to go through. And since it was so long ago, I hardly think about it.
But last night, WOW! There were 450 survivors that made the first lap. Everyone else goes to the sides of the track to cheer them on, give them high 5's and clap.
As I write this I still get chills. The support for those who have fought the battle and won or are still fighting is AMAZING.



This year I had my daughter and two grandsons with me. It was wonderful. We also had a team there.
I danced with my grandsons while there. Here are some pics of Craig & I. It was so much fun to dance with them!


I also had the opportunity to speak before the crowd and to announce the winner of our annual blood drive challenge. This was wonderful! Over a thousand people heard the message that blood donors were needed to help in patients' cancer treatments.

And finally, this is what we gave those in the midst of their battle:

It was a night to remember!

The Boys Are Back In Town

Have you seen this pattern?

It is by Just Another Button Company and is free with the purchase of the button pack. It can be found at several ONS or at your local shop. Just too cute!
Next Friday is Relay and is the debut of the tree. If you don't know what I am talking about you must be living in outer space because it has consumed me for the past year. Check out my SFAC blog link located on the right side of my blog for my final countdown.
I have committed to another Relay For Life at the end of April. I am going to do a quilt and will be offering up squares on my SFAC blog for anyone who wants to stitch one of nine squares. Check it out in November for details.
As for me, I am holding on. My MIL is doing better, but still has not been able to get any real financial help. SSI is still pending and food stamps said since she worked some last month she is not eligible for emergency food stamps. Crazy. She didn't earn enough before she got sick to hardly make a living and they want to deny her now?
My DD and grandsons are coming next weekend to help me with Relay. I can't wait to see them. I told the oldest I was going to give him lots of wet kisses. He hesitated and I said "how about a big hug instead?" That seemed acceptable to him. He is 7 and the other one is 5. Soon they won't want hugs or kisses at all. They grow up so, so fast!
Hope this fall is finding you all well. Thank you for following my little blog!