Happy New Year!

I want to wish health and happiness to everyone in 2011. I think that it's been a tough year on many levels.

I have been spending the past few weeks working and recovering from the cough that I caught in Egypt. I'm mobile and able to go into work, but dang, when I start coughing, everything stops for about 5 minutes.

I've spent this afternoon re-organizing some of my fabric stash and trying to sort out fabric that I'm not going to use and that I should donate/trade/gift. I'm going to do the same thing with my clothing. I just have too much fabric in my apartment. I'm participating in PatternReview's Stash contest, so I need to clear out space for new garments in my closets and drawers. I have several TNT patterns for tops that will work nicely, including the BurdaStyle 9-2010-121 turtleneck that I managed to trace off and sew earlier this week. Since I can make these patterns over and over again, I should take the opportunity to clear out tops that I no longer wear.

The massive amounts of sewing related stuff are making me feel uncomfortable and I'm glad that I'm sorting through things. Last night I went through and organized my sewing magazines (Burda, Knip, Threads) to clear out some space. I managed to pull out my UFO's (Un - Finished Objects) from under my sewing table (when I reached a stopping point on the project, I put it in a 3-4 gallon ziplock bag and tossed it under the table. Out of sight= out of mind). I seem to have more trousers projects than I remember.

I'm not buying any more fabric until I go to Los Angeles in March (fingers crossed that my plans work out). I did manage to buy some more fabric for Christmas New Year's presents for my coworkers, as well as a quick trip to Fabrics R Us in San Jose for garment fabric. I'm was sad to realize that Fabrics R Us has consolidated to two storefronts, instead of the three that I'm accustomed to seeing. I worry about the fabric stores and vendors--I am seeing more sales announced more frequently: I sense more tough times ahead. I hope that my friends and colleagues remain in business.

My goals? To consume what I purchase (to reduce on stashing--if I can purchase it once, then I can purchase it again. I don't need to buy it all at once); to take a worldview on events (to look at things from a perspective more widely than my own); and to take pleasure in simple things.

Also, if I'd appreciate it if I could find the key to my storage unit, so I can put my luggage away. :)

Home

Frankfurt airport, December 9.

I'm home from my travels. I'm still recovering from jet lag, and the lingering cough from my mystery Cairo cold. My cough was so bad that talking would set off a round of coughs.

I also had a sewing mishap while putting away my luggage. I have generic black Costco luggage. I wanted to make certain that I could easily identify my stuff on the airport baggage carousel. So right before I left, I used my rotary cutter to cut several strips of brightly colored fabric ( about 12-14 inches long and about 1/3 - 1/2 inches wide) to decorate my luggage handles. I just tied them around the handles.

It worked wonderfully, so after I returned I decided that I would cut some more strips. So, I'm jet-lagged, recovering from a cold, and not paying enough attention--yes, these are all the ingredients for a rotary cutter accident. Direct pressure and elevating my hand worked very well, but dang it's difficult to type with a bandaged fingertip. Over the past few days, I've graduated to a regular band aid. Good news, though--no blood got on the fabric!

Did you spot it?

I'm in Zamalek in Cairo for my conference. The Zamalek neighborhood is the home of many embassies and is international. I walked past this news stand twice before I noticed the Patrones Joven. When I walked down the street, I found copy of Elena coutoure.

Spelling

My iPod edits and "corrects" my spelling without paying attention to grammar. In my previous post, I meant to write "words to that effect" not "fords to that effect"

Sent from my iPod

Shopping is a sport

I imagine that it's a retail frenzy now in the USA. I'm in Aswan Egypt, which is in the south. It is hot here and it's supposed to be more laid back and relaxed. It doesn't have the Cairo's frenzy, but it does have it's own intensity.

In egypt, Shopping is a sport--the merchant befriends you, you talk, the customer gets tea, he makes an offer, you make a counter offer, then he counteroffers (accuses you of being cheap or fords to that effect) you walk away, he lowers the price and you accept or you keep walking while the storer owner shouts outrage. This goes on and on. But the next day, when they see you, it's like you are an old friend. ( i had a roommate like that). And this happens at practically every shop.

Not all shops are pushy--many of the storeowners do express a sincere curiosity and interest in tourists (especially if try see you everyday) but the noise, being constantly greeted and hearing everyone call out, "Obama! Amreeka!" happens frequently enough that I'm staying away from the souk until i leave for the train station.

Another aspect is that (at first glance) i look Egyptian (or like a native Arabic speaker). When I ask for the price in Arabic, it costs 2 LE. When I asked for clarification (in English)--I can't recognize the numbers when spoken--and I'm buying two of the items (e.g. Small cartons of juice), the second item costs 3 LE. 1 LE is a small amount to worry about (an American perspective) but this endless haggling is, well, annoying. I'm not going to Luxor (where I hear it's worse), and I not going to the Cairo markets without friends or a guide.

I swear after this experience JoAnn fabrics will look heavenly. *smile*

Elphantine island

A view of the archeological site. In the upper right, I think that is the mausoleum of the Shah Aga Khan.

A technical note

I have two camera with me on this trip--- a canon digicam about 5 years old and this iPod touch about 4 weeks old. (This iPod touch is one of my favorite purchases of the year. I just have to make certain that I have access to wifi.) The pictures I'm posting were taken with the iPod. At some point in the future (not immediately after I get back) I will be able to download the pics from my canon.

Obligatory fabric note: I wore my blue linen HotPatterns Marrakech pants and a brown long-sleeved T shirt (Burda) made from bamboo jersey. I was fairly cool. Linen and bamboo seem to be great fabrics for hot weather. The Marrakech pants garnered a comment from an observant moslem man who called out, "thank you for wearing modest clothing" then he wanted to talk about Louis Farrakhan. I told him I was Catholic, shrugged then walked away.

Sent from my iPod