You're getting sleepy ... very sleepy ...

There's a new show in town.

Mysteria dinner theater recently opened in Mandan, ND. They have snows ranging from hypnosis to comedy to illusion ... and some very tasty food.

Corey and I, and four friends went to Mysteria on Saturday evening. I had heard great things about it. So great, in-fact that I was worried my experience wouldn't live up to the reviews.

First, our dinner was delicious.

Second, the show was hilarious. Two of our friends, Mike and Eric volunteered to be hypnotized. Unfortunately they were unable to be fully hypnotized (the only two it didn't work for!). Apparently they are a bit too left brained. Regardless, the show had me in tears from laughing. There were so many funny parts ... too many to try to describe. Our friends Mike (right) and Eric (left) are the two dudes in the photo.

This was my first hypnosis show and I really had no idea what to expect, so I didn't volunteer to be hypnotized. After the show I regretted not being involved. I could tell I would have "gone under" very quickly. The hypnotist was good too - he didn't have them do anything too embarrassing to recover from.

After the snow the hypnotist did a small magic act and asked Corey to be one of two helpers. Turns out Corey had to gallop in place (on stage) while shuffling cards. It was pretty entertaining to say the least. That's Corey on the right, before the galloping began.

I can't wait to go back.

the plot thickens

Today on my way home from work my doctor's office called. They were wondering if I was notified by the State Health Department yet. I said no. They asked how I was feeling. I said pretty good - just a cough and some congestion. They said "oh well that's good because your second test came back and tested positive for Influenza A, specifically, a non-human strain." This leads them to believe that I had/have the H1N1 virus (the Swine Flu). 

The good news is that since I'm feeling good and don't have a fever, I'm no longer contagious and can be out in public (yay!). The bad news is that I would have been contagious last Thursday and Friday, May 7-8.

My third test will now be examined by the CDC. I am officially the second "probable" case of the H1N1 virus in Burleigh County. For the record, the CDC released today that the person I possibly had contact with, did, in fact have the H1N1 virus.

Do I get an "I survived" T-shirt?

I'll be sure to update you all when I hear back from the CDC with my final test results.

A very strange day

There is only one way to describe today: strange.

For one - it just snowed at my grandparent's house (only about 10 miles from our house).

Secondly, I was confined to our house all day today. I have been sick for about a week but I didn't think much of it until yesterday when I was informed that I may have had contact with someone that has H1N1 (the swine flu). I was told that if I had any of the symptoms, I should contact my doctor. Well, since in the past week I've experienced all the symptoms, I called my doctor right away. 

In short, my doctor's office took the "better safe than sorry" route and decided to treat me as if I have the H1N1 virus. They made me wear a mask and they all wore masks when seeing me. They took three nasal swab samples for testing (not a fun experience at all!) and gave me a prescription for Tamiflu. I was also instructed to not leave my house until I was told otherwise. Yesterday afternoon was one of the strangest afternoons of my life - everyone was super cautious around me. I just kept thinking how bad I'd feel if I've been infecting everyone for the past week. 

Lucky for me, I'm on mend and am feeling pretty darn good except for a cough ... so being stuck at home seems rather silly.

So ... today I was home. What's a girl to do when stuck inside all day? 

Sew.

I made great progress on the 4-by-4 color block quilt. Now I've got a few green/aqua blocks and a few purple/blue blocks completed. These blocks take plenty of time and patience so this will be one quilt full of love (and time).

I also finished my week three 9-patch quilt-a-long blocks. 

Oh and I made a potholder from skirt scraps.

I just can't get enough of the red ric rak. So fun.

...

The afternoon brought good news. My doctor's office called and said the test that they conducted here in Bismarck came back negative. They also sent one test to the state and one to the CDC (both of those tests are more sensitive and take more time). So as long as I don't have a fever (which I don't), I have permission to be out in the world (and back at work). I was so happy to hear the good news. I think my husband will kiss me again :)

They said that just because the test is negative now, it doesn't mean that I never had it. So anyone that I have spent time with recently should pay special attention to flu symptoms and go to the doctor if they become ill.

Above all, this is a great reminder to wash your hands, cover your mouth, drink plenty of fluids and stay home when sick.

Stay healthy!

(sorry for the crummy photos, it's dark, rainy and gloomy outside)

Update: 8:30 pm 

It is snowing.

Sun and thunder

Here it is - my finished Barcelona skirt! (never-mind my hand in this photo ... the camera was on self timer mode and I was not ready)

I think it's a good springtime skirt.

Speaking of springtime, our yard is in full spring mode. This is our plum tree that has never produced a plum.

Mister plum tree again.

bleeding heart bush

tulips

...

We have our first severe thunderstorm warning tonight. Yep, it's officially spring.

Happy anniversary to my grandparents - Darwin and Irene - 53 years!

Quilt-a-long: two weeks down

The one-a-day, 9-patch, quilt-a-long is two weeks old already ...

... and somehow I've managed to keep up! I think my red/green Christmas quilt will be pretty darn cute when it's completed. I'm still planning to sash each block in white. We'll continue to make one block a day until mid-summer, when we'll each have enough for a quilt top.

My Amy Butler Barcelona Skirt is finished ... and it fits great. I'm going to wear it and take photos of it on me tomorrow (so check back Tuesday for photos). I made a small substitution to the pattern - button and elastic loop for hook/eye closure. Walmart didn't have any hook/eyes so I made do with what I had at home. I actually like the little red accent - it was one of my Great Grandma Dolly's vintage buttons and I'll think of her whenever I wear it. Grandma Dolly always wore red, so it's pretty special that I have a red button on my new favorite skirt.

It feels very fancy to have the lining on the skirt. I almost left it off but I'm really glad I included it. I used Joann's (super affordable) quilters cotton for the lining and it's surprisingly soft on my skin.