I can hardly breathe....literally

I was really uptight at work today. I was sitting at my desk and could hardly breathe. I am so behind at work and I will be off Friday to set up for the show which will just make it worse. Plus my brother is in the hospital to have a third surgery on his knee replacement. He originally had it done at a community hospital and then had to have a second surgery due to infection. When they suggested a third surgery we jumped in and insisted he come to the hospital where Lou and I work. It is a major medical center. We got him a specialist and he had the surgery today. He did well. Small world...the surgeon grew up in the next town over from where we grew up and Mom knews his father and uncle. I'm so glad he is through this. He will need one more surgery but we all feel so much better that he has new doctors.

I am gradually going through my checklist for the show. We popped the tent tonight to put the canopy back on. The neighbor on the corner was walking by. She is a silver/goldsmith and I don't know why I haven't gotten to know her yet. We talked a bit about doing shows this year. I'm going to have to get to know her.

I still have a ton of jewelry to tag and bag. I was doing assembly last night and realized I had to quit and get stuff tagged. I've decided that I have to do assembly after each load comes out of the kiln. I can't just make batches and batches of stuff and then try to do assembly 48 hours before the show. It's not working. I have visions of sitting at the show putting things together.

If I had to do it over I don't know if I would do this many shows at once. We'll see...if I make alot of money I will be thinking differently. I am going to give some serious thought to taking a year off from shows. I cold really use the time to remodel the house. I think I need an assistant....to take care of the house while I do the jewelry.

Stress is such a fun thing. The only way to beat this stress is to be well prepared for the show....so back to work.