Today was the last day of my conference here in California. It's been really informative and fun. Today, I gave a presentation. I think it went well. The audience was very kind to me and very interested in the work, so I guess that's good! I always feel such a huge sense of relief when my presentation is over. It feels good!
Remember how I told you my cousin Terri is fighting breast cancer? Well, she lives in California, too, so my sister and I drove up to see her the other day. It was so fun to spend the day together. She's doing okay, but she's pretty tired and wiped out from the chemo. Mostly we had a great time....laughed a lot. We all sort of cried a bit too, wishing we could just hang out together more often. We wish we could do that about once a week. We really enjoyed our day together. It is always sort of like being kids again when we can hang out together....just the three of us. Remember when I told you I sent Terri the charm bracelet? Well, look at it now! Look at all the charms people have sent her! It's so full! She went through each charm and told me who gave it to her and what it signified. It was really cool. She said she absolutely loves it. I am so glad that she does. I'm glad I gave it to her! I'm really grateful that family members and her friends all participated in the way they did. Just great.
We made a pact....when she's done with her chemo and radiation, we are going to make a girls trip...the three of us and our moms (my mom and her mom are sisters, and they both fought and won the battle with breast cancer). We told Terri she gets to pick the destination. We'll all meet there and just have a long weekend together. Should be fun, and it gives her something to look forward to! Actually, it gives us ALL something to look forward to.
Tomorrow, my sister and I are going to west L.A. We're meeting up with Candice. I can't believe it get to meet her IRL, finally! I can't wait! We're going to go shopping and have lunch together. I'll take photos and blog it.
Then, Sunday I fly home.
Before I left for this trip, I went to Barnes and Noble and bought this issue of American Patchwork & Quilting.
I thought it would make a good magazine for something to read on the plane. I even had a coupon for 20% off one item, so that was cool.
Then, I got home and realized I already had this issue! I forgot I had a subscription to this magazine. Doh! Do you ever do things like that? Sheesh.
So, I'm going to do a giveaway of my duplicate copy. If you'd like this issue, just leave me a comment below. I'll draw a name on Sunday night (February 19) sometime when I get home. I'll send it out to a randomly selected winner. :-)
UPDATE: THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER WAS #2, SEWCALGAL! CONGRATULATIONS!
Some more sad news....Sweet Pea's goldfish died. Sigh. Just what she needed.
Papa Pea has been spoiling her while I'm gone, though. Last night, to surprise her, he brought Rosa in the house. (She's an outdoor cat, and we usually don't let her in the house, despite her frequent attempts to sneak in!) Sweet Pea's eyes apparently about bugged out of her head. Papa Pea brought Rosa over to Sweet Pea and put her on Sweet Pea's lap. Sweet Pea got to snuggle with Rosa in the house for about 30 min. Rosa loved it, but Papa Pea said Sweet Pea was in hog heaven. She just loved it. And, he told me, tonight he let Sweet Pea do it again. (Papa Pea has been worried that Rosa has seemed pretty lonely since PJ died. He thought Rosa needed a little extra attention, too.)
Some really good news....Papa Pea was offered a really good job this week. He accepted the job today! He's been doing consulting for the past year, which has been good, but it's an exciting job and a very steady income. We are very happy about it. We could use a little good news, huh?! We're going to have a little celebration and go out to our favorite expensive restaurant when I get home!
Hope you all had a good week. Have a wonderful weekend. I'm not getting much sewing in, it seems, these days! Hope you are!
Until next time,
Mama Pea
Yay,yay,yay for the job! That is awesome news! I'm so sorry for Sweet Pea though. Seems like she's had more than her fair share of loss recently. It's also hard for the parent Peas because she is hurting and there isn't much you can do to make it better.
Glad your presentation went well. Strange how you can get up in front of a class multiple times a day, yet still be nervous about a presentation! I'm the same way.
Posted by: Lynn | February 18, 2012 at 12:28 AM
Wow, you've been busy.
Glad to hear about Terri and her charms. Very special.
Sorry to hear about Sweet Pea's goldfish.
Would love to win this magazine, as I've not seen it and I do so enjoy quilt magazines.
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Posted by: SewCalGal | February 18, 2012 at 12:31 AM
Geeezzz, you really have your plate full! Prayers are on the way for Terri; great idea to have a special weekend trip for her to look forward to after all of the medical treatment! Papa Pea is one smart cookie! I betcha the little one loved holding and petting the kitty! Sometimes our pets give us comfort when we most need it. Congrats to him on the job -- just stellar news!
Posted by: Elizabeth McDonald | February 18, 2012 at 12:52 AM
There is so much going on in your life! I am glad your cousin is doing fine and I agree, a trip together seems like the perfect thing to look forward to.
And congratulations on your husband's new job! I know exactly what it feels like to go from a job with a not so steady income to one with a very predictable income; so much less worrying to do!
And tell Sweet Pea I am sorry for her goldfish, he surely is in goldfish heaven swimming around with all the others :)
Posted by: Johanna | February 18, 2012 at 04:25 AM
If the giveaway is open internationally , I would like to discover this magazine ( we don't find it in France ,)...
Posted by: Florence | February 18, 2012 at 04:33 AM
So glad you had a great visit with your cousin! And we should make time to be with our family more often! Too bad about the gold fish making the trip to the big blue lagoon in the sky! But YEA to Papa Pea on getting a steady job!
Posted by: Maggie Szafranski | February 18, 2012 at 08:11 AM
Be sure to give Candice a long, inappropriate hug from me :) I miss her pretty face.
Posted by: Jana | February 18, 2012 at 08:22 AM
The idea of taking a trip when Terri finishes chemo is a great idea that provides anticipation for good times in the future. Sending good thoughts for Terri.
Congrats to your husband on the new job!
Posted by: jenclair | February 18, 2012 at 08:57 AM
Glad you got to see Terri and spend some time with her - congratulations to your husband and commiserations on the goldfish!
Posted by: Gill | February 18, 2012 at 10:43 AM
I love the charm bracelet an how it's grown. I've been considering getting one myself for fun. I have my aunt's old one (she died long ago) and get a good laugh looking at the charms and thinking, "she liked CHIHUAHUA's?? She SKIIED???" :)
Sorry about the goldfish. Love how she's getting kitty love, though.
And congrats on the job news. It's a special thing when you can land a good job in our state these days.
Posted by: April | February 18, 2012 at 02:22 PM
So glad you got to spend time with your sister and cousin. Love that charm bracelet. I can just see Sweet Pea with that cat. Congratulations on PaPa Pea's job. I'm so happy for all of you. About that magazine...would love to win it.
Posted by: carolld | February 18, 2012 at 06:13 PM
Glad you guys are planning a girls trip. It's great to get away and have fun and rehash the old days. I know it's rough losing animals. My daughter's cat is 14yrs old. He's moving alittle slower and sleeping alittle longer. Glad your husband has a new job. New adventure!
Thanks so much for your giveaway and a chance to win. Isn't the quilt and the applique on the cover awesome?
usairdoll(at)gmail(dot)com
Posted by: Jodi G. | February 18, 2012 at 09:23 PM
Congrats on your husband's job! I know that's a feeling of relief to have a know-for-sure income coming in. Please tell SweetPea that we all are so sorry about the goldfish but glad that she's getting to spend some quality time with her pets. Don't put me in the draw for the magazine. My husband gave me a subscription for Christmas, and I'm loving it. Be safe getting back home; glad that all went well for your presentation and that you got to see friends.
Posted by: Deb | February 19, 2012 at 02:39 PM
You definitely have a lot going on in your life. Congrats on your hubby's new job.
Posted by: Robbie | February 19, 2012 at 07:07 PM