A little bit of love from Georgia...

Today I got a sweet care package from my mom...
It included House-Mouse stamps, vellum markers and Be Still {the Gallon Evangelist Team cd}.

Thanks Mom for making my day!!!  Love you!!!  XOXOX

Viewpoints

To commoners - The package that went in the mail yesterday is a box of stuff.
Flannel pajama pants, White Christmas, a coffeemug, hot chocolate, minty Hershey Kisses, faux snow ornaments

To me (and the recipient) - The package represents something more...it represents warmth and all of our favorite things packaged lovingly and with great care.  It represents friendship and time spent together (a cheery, cherry coffeemug from my kitchen cupboard) - celebrated across many, MANY miles.  It represents the holidays and a tradition that I hope we can continue to carry out even though we are separated.

Thursday...

Sooo today was the blood drive at work.  Twice a year the Rock Valley Blood Center sends their pink bloodmobile to my place of employment for a Blood Drive.  It's a wonderful way to help others...giving them blood.  It really is the gift that keeps on giving.  

I signed-up for a later in the day slot...not thinking at all that I would spend the entire day fretting the thought of being impaled by a needle.  It's how I am.  It's what I do.  :)  Just keepin' it real...

To prove that I was kind of a mess today...

8:05 this morning

Me:  Insert babbling about my morning to my co-worker

Said favorite co-worker:  "Sooooo how many cups of coffee have you had this morning?"

Me:  (pointing to my mug infront of me):  "One at the cottage and this half-a-mug here.  Why?"

Favorite co-worker:  "Are you sure?"

Me:  "Yes, oh, but you know what it is?"  (Insert miniscule pause)  "I am donating blood today and the needle creeps me out...even thinking about it."  (The entire last part was said as a run-on sentence.)

Favorite co-worker:  "That explains sooo much!"

Later in the day after donating blood...

Me: "I am kinda like a superhero.  I donated blood and saved lives.  Oh - but WAIT - I don't have a cape on"

Same favorite co-worker:  "Aren't you wearing a cape?"

Me:  "No Silly.  This is a poncho/shawl thing."

I am thankful that I was busy today at work because had I not been busy....danger-danger.  I would've spent the entire day contemplating that wretched needle impalement!!!  

I started a new knitting project.  It's a Christmas present.  It's a ribbed-cowl scarf.  I found the pattern online.  (Hip hip hooray for online free knitting patterns!!!)  You use circular knitting needles.  Cast on 88 stitches (or any multiple of 4).  Knit 2, Purl 2.  Repeat the ribbed pattern until the cowl measures 10".  Cast-off.  Simple!  I actually said that like this....

"SIIIIIIIMMMMMMMMM-PULLLLL!"  :)

Tonight I am being forced to skip the gym - per the nice blood bank lady that stabbed me.  :)  It's such a dreary Thursday that I am going to leave work and head straight for the cottage where I plan to don my flannel jammies & slippers...make a mug o'tea...put in the DVD Big Miracle (many thanks to Nancy for finding that on Half-Dot-Com's website!!!!!)...and relax.  Donating blood took a lot out of me.  Literally a pint of blood.  One pound.  Can you believe it?  That's all it took.  I learned from my impaler...

It will take my body 72 hours to re-create the 1 pound of fluid I am currently without AND it will take my body approximately 45 days to re-create the red blood cells.  Sooooo I will be good as new (or atleast as good as September 13th before circa 3 p.m.) by November 1st-ish...

Oh - yesterday I did get the package mailed across the pond.  I'm looking forward to seeing how long it takes to make it to its destination.  I want to remember this for future packages -- if it's under 4 pounds, it must go Priority.  Over 4 pounds and we have options.  :)  

Happy Thursday!!!

P.S. The impaler was making chit-chat about the apple orchard and now I want to go...