(T)arina and (A)tkins in Chicago

Hi there!
So, I’ve been thinking I need something to do on my days off. Otherwise I end up watching the Olympics all day. Not that that’s a bad thing. I’ve seen some pretty amazing events. I’m just thinking it’s probably not the absolute best way to be spending my free time.
I think my pottery class has gotten me all fired up about finding other things to do. It’s good… I need to get a hobby, and I think that’s going to have to be something art-related. I have a few half-finished things, including my wedding scrapbook and a cross stitch I started oh-so long ago:

I have part of one of the legs on the wolf on the right done. Sad, I know.
Also, I have another cross stitch pattern I bought and haven’t started yet:

I am the queen of unfinished projects! At least that one’s cat related.

Even though I have all this unfinished business, I’m thinking I need to start painting again. I still haven’t gotten the details all worked out, but I am pretty sure I can figure something out that will work. And the good thing is that our clinic needs new art work! How’s that for fortuitous timing. And since I’m taking care of the redecorating of the clinic, I can hang whatever artwork I damn well please, and it might as well be mine. At least in part. :)
I just need to figure out a couple of things. I think I’ll probably paint in the office and just close the cats out while I work. Now, I need to know where to put my paintings out of reach of the cats as they dry (the paintings, not the cats). Hmmm. I suppose that’s actually the only detail I really need to work out. That’s not too bad. I’m sure inspiration will strike me soon. And then I will have no excuses!
And I have a nice paint set that Atkins gave me a long time ago and I never used. It looks a lot like this:

Well, I’ll keep you updated. I am sure something will present itself as the best option and I’ll be a happy, productive girl. ;)
In the meantime, I’ll take suggestions!

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Okay, I have finally started paying attention to the thread counts on sheets. At first, I couldn’t afford to be picky. Now that I am actually making more money than I am spending (having a job is really nice!) I can buy nicer things. Like sheets with thread counts higher than, oh, five. I’m pretty sure that’s what we were sleeping on before–the ol’ WalMart special that felt kinda like sandpaper. Yeah, that’s the joy of being broke.
Anyway, so we’ve gotten a couple of sets of 500 or 600 thread count sheets. The problem that I have now is that they are constantly wrinkly. I take them out of the dryer right away, but they are just covered in wrinkles.
Does anyone have any tips? Should I dry them on a higher heat? Lower? Dry them with something that is heavier and will beat the wrinkles out of them? Kinda like drying pillows with tennis balls or whatever.
I don’t know why I am posting this seeing as how no one reads this blog, but if someone does happen to have some advice, I would be very appreciative! Thanks, all. (or none, as the case may be)

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