Hurray for change!

People in Chicago watch President Obama's speech on a giant TV near the Michigan Avenue bridge. View is from my window at work.

I don't remember an inauguration where so many people were so excited about a new president. It's exciting to be amidst people who feel hopeful and encouraged. And this despite the economy and the brutally cold Chicago winter. (It was -17 F (-27 C) the other day and that's before wind chill!)

I hope Mr. Obama lives up to his promise of hope, of healing. His speech was encouraging, especially saying that we need to return to traditional values of "hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism. ...

"What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

"This is the price and the promise of citizenship. "

Ah. Taking responsibility for one's actions. That would solve so much of what is wrong in the world today, would it not?

In the meantime, I will endeavour to take responsibility for my UFO list. I made one; it's quite long; I will post it to the blog at some point. Pulled one UFO to work on, and started something new. More on that later.

But first, I must deal with the computer that wouldn't boot up and had all my photos (and recipes) on it. Oh, and last night we discovered that an ice dam on the roof has caused a leak in the first floor ceiling. Not to mention a leak down the wall of the second floor. So glad PB arrived home right before me as I dealt with last February's broken sewer pipe and the flooded basement the year before while he was out of town. Next week I'll be out of town on business!

What have I done ... what will I do?

No New Year's resolutions here. Going out to breakfast and eating pancakes plus almost all of the "crabmeat" and asparagus omelette encased in hash browns definitely would have torpedoed the obligatory diet resolution. Although having the omelette made with egg whites has to count for something. On the other hand, breakfast at Gail's is always a good way to start the day if not the year.

Been reading other blogs all day and seeing what other's have accomplished or plan to accomplish. Thinking of starting Bonnie's mystery quilt because I'm itching for something new. I still have that nearly 9-year-old half-square triangle UFO that I'm close to finishing. And, it has friends. Even after several years the old projects don't tempt the way a new one does, do they?

What have I done this past year? Hmmmm. I did finish some UFOs, some baby quilts, some presents. Or was that the year before? Time sort of blurs together. I did finish a couple UFOs. Here's photographic proof of one. (Can't find the picture of the other one I know I finished this year. It's on the bed, so I could take another picture later.)

A finished UFO! This is old. It's been sitting around for more than 5 years (and probably less than 10). From a "spa day" at a quilt shop in Orlando that is now closed. Blocks done, but for some reason I didn't put the top together until this year.

Maybe the blog will help me document some of my finishes a little better. And I could go make an inventory of my UFOs to check off. Or I could start cutting that mystery quilt. ... Or make dinner.