Well, I have had a horrible week, down with a nasty cold - feeling miserable, and then a job "blowing up" at work - so I am sick and stressed... in a bizarre in between world of exhausted from the cold and sleepless from anxiety. All in all just terrible.
There's no weigh-in data either because I couldn't get there, but i don't think it will be good - I haven't been well enough to exercise at all....
AH BAH, WHY DO I DO WHAT I DO FOR A LIVING????
On a brighter note I received my pin swap back this week, and I am really impressed with the returns. All so great:
These girls are just so clever!
This week (mainly yesterday) I did more little houses (told you that this theme hadn't worked its way through completely) for a swap on Arty International. They have come up fairly well...
Each one is different, so it will be interesting to see which one I get back! I will hand them on to Greta next weekend at a playdate at Gail's house.
I am now down to my last July swap to be completed - YAY!!!! I now have to do 14 ATC's for the Shoreham stamp camp. The theme is empowered / inspirational women, which has set me to thinking about who that that is to me - particularly apt as I am having such a crap time at work!
I thought I might share some of the front-runners I find to be inspirational.
Indira Ghandi: Born into the Nehru dynasty, Indira was always destined for great things. She served as the Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms from 1966 to 1977 and for a fourth term from 1980 until her assassination in 1984. She was India's first and to date only female Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher: She was the first woman to lead a major political party in the UK, and the first of only three women to have held any of the four great offices of state. Among other things, she defiantly opposed the Soviet Union, and her tough-talking rhetoric gained her the nickname the "Iron Lady". She served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and was said to only need four hours sleep per night.
Queen Elizabeth I: Dubbed The Virgin Queen, she reigned from 1558 until her death. Elizabeth succeeded her half-sister, Mary I, during whose reign she had been imprisoned on suspicion of supporting Protestant rebels. Elizabeth is acknowledged by historians as a charismatic performer and a dogged survivor, in an age when government was ramshackle and limited and when monarchs in neighbouring countries faced internal problems that jeopardised their thrones. Such was the case with Elizabeth's rival, Mary, Queen of Scots whom she imprisoned in 1568 and eventually had executed in 1587. After the short reigns of Elizabeth's brother and sister, her forty-five years on the throne provided stability for the kingdom and helped forge a sense of national identity.
Oprah Winfrey: Oprah is a multiple Emmy Award winning host of her own and the highest-rated talk show in television history, Oprah can also boast being an Academy Award-winning actress, influential book critic and magazine publisher. The richest African American in the 20th century, the most philanthropic African American of all time and some would argue, the single most influential woman in the world.
I must say that Oprah is my current front runner for the ATC swap. The fact that she has been INCREDIBLY influential in getting America to select Obama as the democratic candidate for presideny is absolutely amazing. I am in awe of the fact that she was instrumental in breaking 20th century social taboos in the US and allowed gays, transsexuals, and transgender people to enter the mainstream of American life.
Most importantly to me though, is her incredible work as a philanthropist. Oprah's Angel Network is her charity aimed at encouraging people around the world to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged others. Accordingly, Oprah's Angel Network supports charitable projects and provides grants to nonprofit organizations around the world that share this vision. To date, Oprah's Angel Network has raised more than $51,000,000. Winfrey personally covers all administrative costs associated with the charity, so 100% of all funds raised go to charity programs. Oprah also personally donates more of her own money to charity than any other show-business celebrity in America. In 2005 she became the first black person listed by Business Week as one of America's top 50 most generous philanthropists, having given an estimated $303 million. Oprah has also put 250 African-American men through college.
A truly inspirational woman. If you feel in the need for spiritual healing, go to her website: www.oprah.com
blog you all later!
