Everything is Sew Crazy busy

Things have been crazy busy around here.

No. I'm serious, I mean staying up until 3 am/back up at dawn and back at work again crazy busy.

As in we've got a work party tonight at the church/a parade float to pull off tomorrow morning/out-of-town company coming for a big family party tomorrow afternoon/Christmas Family Craft Night fundraiser at the church tomorrow night kind of crazy busy.

Or maybe I'm just crazy, because we actually planned things this way. We agreed that we should get all the hardest 'work' out of the way at the beginning of December, so that the rest of the month will be a breeze in comparison.

But I hadn't counted on the strike affecting things so much for me this year.

Oh, not the Writer's Union strike in Hollywood. I'm talking about the strike by the local Home Appliance Union.

Not familiar with that one?

I'm not sure why, because around here, it's become almost routine. An annual cycle, really.

It usually goes something like this: I get busy with a couple of gargantuan tasks I always seem to be involved in. These tasks usually need to be done by a certain day, and the Sewing Machine picks up on this, knowing things weigh heavily in it's favor, and decides to press it's labor issues with me.

I'm getting a little worried, because it appears that the Sewing Machine has also talked to other appliances in our home which are also pressed into heavier than usual work-loads this time of year (the Iron, and the Crock Pot, and the Washing Machine), and it they're making sounds about a walkout, too.

After all the recent trouble we'd already had with the Automobile Union, this could mean big trouble.

I almost hesitate to even voice my concern about word getting around to the Computerized Electronics sector, because 3 years ago at this time, the computer crashed just prior to my getting our Christmas Card and a dozen other vital projects printed up. Took a Techie a full three days to get things up and running normally again. Lord willing, nothing like that will crop up to complicate an already delicate situation.

Now heading up a parade float committee is hard work. Even for a crafty gal like me. And I've had LOTS of help thus far.

But for the one who conceptualized the idea, there are always myriad details to tend to. Those little things that we want done just so, and therefore usually end up doing ourselves.

I'll admit, I've been working all parties involved much harder than usual, and last night, around midnight, my sewing machine up and went on strike.

Why? Because of on-the-job labor disputes and in-fighting.

And yes, I did the unthinkable. I crossed the picket line. I did some hand sewing on my own because it was faster than stitching by machine.

However, I'm pleased to report that aroud 1 am, an agreement between parties was finally reached, bringing the strike to a relatively quick end.

After considerable negotiations and the promise of a tremendous medical er, mechanical benefits package increase (intensive New Year tune-up) and more considerate regular, on-the-job treatment, including regular grease oil on the squeaky wheel inner workings, we were back in business.

There are some conditions, however. Straight seams only, with no zig-zagging, hemming or hawing, or there will be bunches (as in bunching of the bobbin thread) of problems in the future.

The mutterings have died down in the Iron, Crock Pot and Washing Machine camp, and we're hopeful that continues on through to Christmas and well into the New Year, as we're pretty well tapped out as it is.

:: :: :: ::

Since the above was such a riveting and stimulating piece of journalism, I thought you'd be further impressed by my tossing in a little impromptu poetry:



Buying fabric by the bolt
with which to decorate a float
seemed like a great idea then
before the sewing machine went on strike, again

Yes, it happens every year,
the Sewing Machine seems to slip a gear
Something gets all wound up tight
And I spit and yank and tug and fight.

Time marches on, pressure hovering over
Til the stress gets to me and I'm ready to take cover
Fabric waiting stacked in heaps and piles
To be transformed into things that will bring parade-goer smiles?



Why do I take on such tasks
I ask and ask and ask and ask.
I could have kept it simple, but no, not me
Instead I've gone and dreamed it up big and fancy

Like the Nativity Scene with costumed girls and boys
to bring our neighborhood the true meaning of Christmas Joy
Like acrylic fleece scarves in red and green
So everyone will match while caroling?



And don't get me started on trying to sew
with my little 'helper' under foot and toe



If he wasn't playing with the foot pedal
he was twisting the tension knob and testing my mettle
Playing with dangerous items on a whim
like scissors, cutting wheels and sewing pins

Perhaps it's time he went down for a nap
and I quit blogging and got back to my tasks
"Sew" much to do, and so little time
I better not even start in with that whine

The parade will be fun, and worth all the 'pain'
...though I'm not sure it'll happen now,
what with all the rain.



We're officially on standby. The decision won't be made until tomorrow morning, to allow every opportunity for the skies to clear enough for the parade to go off without a hitch.

Praying for clear skies!