Thursday, June 05, 2008

Ten Years Ago...

book cover, Eclectic Sole by Janel Laidman
I rarely do memes… yet always enjoy reading them. So, when Janel tagged me last week, it seemed to be about my turn. Janel, a knitter, yarn dyer and expert, just released her new book on knitting socks, pictured above… If you’re a knitter (or just smitten with color), you’ll love looking at this one. Ok, so here’s the meme…

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

1998 is certainly a year to be remembered! Head-over-heels, totally-bonkers, jump-up-and-down in LOVE, I floated through the entire year, not in the least troubled by selling my business (Beads Indeed) and packing up the cozy Seattle home I’d bought 24 years earlier.

I was 55 years old then and had never been married. Although a few special men had earlier crossed my path, I wasn’t ready to settle into a permanent relationship until I met Robert, who also had never previously tied the knot. But 10 years ago, I knew I’d met my future husband, as indeed I had. We married Jan. 12, 2001… Some things are worth waiting for… I know, because it just keeps getting better and better! Here he is... during a silly snow storm we had this April...

Robert, April snow storm, 2008
2. What are 5 things on my to-do list for today (not in any particular order)?
  • I get about 15 legitimate email messages per day. One of my bad habits is to let them go for a few days, and then have to spend several hours getting caught up. That’s the situation today… so it's number 1 on my list.
  • Kits. Akkkkk! Can you imagine what it’s like to put together 150 kits? That’s what I do every time I teach at a conference… order supplies, print handouts, package beads and other materials for days... and days... and days. Alarmingly, just around the corner is the International Quilt Festival in Long Beach. So, today, getting started on kits is number 2 on my list. I'm making this public commitment right now... I WILL get the kits for at least one class ready today.
Geeeest, that’s enough for one day… I already made the bed, fed the cat and took a brisk 2-mile walk, for goodness sakes.

3. Snacks I enjoy.

This is a tricky question because I’m doing Weight Watchers (on-line). I’ve lost 12 pounds so far and have about 40 more to take off before reaching my goal. I’m a little afraid to mention this, because I don’t want to jinx it… oh well…

My sister-in-law has done VERY well on WW and is a tremendous inspiration to me. She is the one who taught me a very valuable dieting trick. “Snacks,” she says, “are important! But they must be managed.” She finds certain things that appeal to her for snacks and using the package information, she calculates how many of the item is equal to ONE point. Then she counts out the items and puts them in little zip bags to have available as one-point snacks. These are the ones I use:
  • Kellogg’s All-Bran Crackers, Multi-Grain. Yummmmy! Crunchy, a tad sweet, a tad salty, a little hint of graham, good fiber count, 9 crackers = one point!
  • Newman’s Own Pretzel Nuggets. Not so delicious as the crackers above, but nice for a change of pace, and I get 12 of them for one point!
  • Peeled baby carrots. Juicy, fresh and filling! I get 20 for one point!
Before WW, I used to snack on just about everything. Peanut butter, nuts and dried cranberries were my favorites. I still fit a few into my WW days.

4. Things I would do if I were a billionaire.

This one is impossible to answer. I simply can not wrap my mind around the concept of a billion dollars. I’ve always lived near the edge of poverty (by US standards), and am quite content to do so. I would hardly know what to do with a thousand dollars if it fell into my lap, let alone a million. Whoeeee… a billion? Ha!

5. Places I have lived.
  • Los Gatos, CA – born nearby in San Jose, CA.
  • Sutter Creek, CA – a sleepy little place back then, definitely NOT the tourist town it is today.
  • St. Paul, MN – moved there when I was 7 yrs old, moved away 20 years later.
  • Seattle, WA – love at first sight, lived on a house boat for several years, then an apartment, then bought a little bungalow home in Ballard, no thought of ever moving again until I met Robert and moved to the island to be with him.
  • San Juan Island, WA – close to paradise in every way except high cost of living.
Places I could live? I love Hungary and the Hungarian culture! I would be happy living there, except for the heat in the summer, which is what ultimately drove me away from MN. Robert and I have thought about where we might move (especially every time the price of a ferry ticket to the mainland goes up), but nothing we’ve seen has the appeal of this beautiful island.

6. Peeps I want to know more about.

I'm tagging the above cyber-friends for this meme and hoping you’ll be willing to do it. By the way, “doing it” means you get to answer the same 6 questions as I have, and then tag 5 or 6 more people. Of course, you don’t have to do it. But if you do, please let me know so I can be an appreciative reader!

18 comments:

  1. I really enjoyed reading your meme, Robin!

    I cannot believe that you cannot think of something to do with a billion dollars. I would start by taking as much time as I needed to travel the entire world shopping for beads... :D

    And, would you believe I came up with an idea for the first Lone Beader kit??? LOL. Yes! It's true!! Now I need to sit down and actually design it...

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  2. To LB ~ Well, duh! Of course... what a fabulous idea!!! We could buy whole factories of beads! OMG, my mind is going wild with the possibilities. Whoeeee! Thanks for your comment and good luck with your kit. Hope you don't get sick of making them, because you'll probably get lots of orders. Robin

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  3. Hi Robin,

    Thanks for tagging me. Interesting set of questions. Hmmmm. Have to think a few minutes. I'll put it on my blog tonite.

    Arline

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  4. Sure, I'll play along! Let me gather my thoughts (these days that can be real job), I'll write them down and let you know.
    Timaree

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  5. I forgot to say I'll be looking at that book of socks. The one on the cover is stunning. I want to make one now! Well, after I finish my bead pages!

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  6. Robin,

    I have posted my meme.

    Arline

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  7. Great stuff, Robin! That sock book is very, very tempting . . .


    Kathy V in NM

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  8. Robin - of course, I'll play. It will take awhile especially for where I've lived. I'll let you know when I've posted. Hum bead factories! Exciting thoughts. It was fun to learn more about you too. Hugs -

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  9. I'm glad you did the meme. I always love learning a little more about you. And I must agree with The Lone Beader....you could buy tons of beads with a billion dollars! And just think of all the enjoyment you could give us with that many more of your fantastic creations!

    P.S. - Robert looks like one of the good guys....much in common with my HB!

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  10. You are such an inspiration! I am new to this whole blogging internet community, and am just thrilled to see the impact you have had on the beading world. Count me in as your newest admirer! I absolutely loved your latest book and hope to be adding more of your books to my library soon. --Lynn

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  11. To Lynn ~ Welcome to the blogging world and thanks for your comment. I've been beading for 25 years and it's great to find this way to pass along some of what I've learned! Robin

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  12. Hi Robin
    Just letting you know that my tag post is now available for viewing!
    I agree with the above about your billion dollars answer. I am glad you are at least dreaming about it now!

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  13. Well, as far as my kit idea goes, I think I might do a limited edition one to see how people respond to it. I am just toying with this idea for now and need to think of a design first, but I do want to try it!!

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  14. Oh, you live on an island??? That's great. Very beautiful pics on Robert's website! I would love to live on an island, preferably on one of those German North-Sea islands. Have you ever been to Hungary? I was just surprised that you would like to live there ...

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  15. Thanks for sharing more of yourself Robin. I'm having a ball wandering around various blogs reading all the responses. Congratulations on your progress with WW - I wish you success in reaching your goal!

    That billionaire question is really hard - I can't really fathom it either. It's difficult (for me anyway) to see a big picture on this one.

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  16. To Beadexplorer ~ Thanks for visiting! Hungary? Yes, I've been there 13 times, the longest for 6 weeks. I started going there for folk dancing, and fell in love with the rich folk culture (embroidery, beadwork, felting, music, rope making, leather work, backet making, bead making...) and the people. I gradually picked up enough language that I could travel to remote villages, where the folk traditions are still practiced. I see you're from Germany... I bicycled in your country for a month in '74 and have kept several contacts there all these years... another wonderful place!

    To all ~ I love your suggestions for spending a billion dollars and also the responses from those tagged. Now it's really fun to think about it... my latest idea is to give $1,000 of it to every lampwork beadmaker to make me a set of their best beads. Wouldn't that be a wheeeeeeee!

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  17. Wow! 13 times! That's a lot. And funny that you bicycled in Germany. I guess, a lot of things have changed since 1974. ;)
    Thanks for your comment!

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  18. Hi, Robin!
    I am Russian and I live in Kharkov, Ukraine. I saw your works of beads some days ago and I loved them all.
    I would like to say you, that you are very talented person and I would like to wish you the best things in this world. Good luck and happiness! I think , that all your dreams will be done in really time in nearest future. I am delighted by yours as a great woman and I would like to be like you in some life moments. I am sorry for my english, but I hope, you will understand what I wanted to say.
    Svetlana

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Thanks you for joining the discussion on this post today!