Trying to beat my Stitch Gene into submission

Despite all the external forces, I'm still struggling with my ADHD, so I got the "brilliant" (aka, slightly crazy) idea to color complete the final row, because hey, who doesn't want to solely focus on one color for weeks when you can barely focus on anything, right? And what better way to start than with the color with the most left, 310 black! But, despite the ADHD hanging in there, the OCD must be kicking in because I actually finished the black last night and got to move on to 939! I was quite proud of that...it barely took me over a week. Last time, I had just started the final row:

I did stop a bit early last night because my head was hurting a bit (and my arms and wrists a lot, but more on that in a moment), but here is the finished black and a bit of the dark navy.

I did get through most of that glue I talked about last time, although there is still more spread about. Here's a look at some of that mess (although not a good look):

On to the "pain" aspect...my new stand. I'm really left dominant. I often say that my right hand really only serves to give a matching set. But I do stitch two-handed, my left on the bottom (because it can navigate) and my right on top as a worker bee. I don't even remember how to stitch one-handed, nor would I want to go back to the old days, I do stitch twice as fast now. So for me, the best placement of my new floor stand should be on my right side (not sure if my logic is sound, but it works for me). The way I hold my arms, I need my left elbow clear and it can't be if there is a bar in my way or, if my arm is constricted because there is a scroll rod sitting on top of it. I'm using my left to get the scissors, take a drink, operate the remote, etc, so if I'm reaching back and forth under the scroll rods, another headache. I tried it as it should be (as below), and it just doesn't work (and forgive the dirty house). Even if I can move it anyway I want up and down and left and right (which I can't do on the left, too many restrictions), the stand was obviously in the way of everything. But the major issue with how far over the project sits and I couldn't stitch all the way across the scroll no matter how I moved it (and it also doesn't help that I sit leaning toward the left edge of the chair, I tried to adjust myself, but I would just subconsciously move to the left before I realized what I was doing). You'd think, with all that movement area, I'd have no issues with being able to reach it, but it just didn't work that way. It's a bit far out in the pic below because I moved it to get out of the chair. I can't do that on the left (you'll see in a mo-mo). There is also problem with horizontal bar being wobbly or it not holding the project straight (but frankly it's that way on both sides of the chair, and that may be operator error, at least I hope it is and not the stand itself).

So I moved it to the left side, where I had serious restrictions on movement, but I could still reach the entire scroll somehow:

Now my arm is constricted under the project and I have to sit weird, hence the arm and wrist pain on my left side. I'm trying to use a pillow under my left elbow, but now that's causing left shoulder pain, if easing the arm and wrist pain. I also have to jack my right side up weird to tilt myself down to the left and my arm is raised unnaturally in the air, hence my arm and wrist pain on the right side. You'll also see the remote on my right side, I still can't operate the remote that way...I keep trying, but I eventually just pass it to my left hand and pass it back. It's why I've been spending more time on Hulu than YouTube.

I will say, when it was on the right side, the boys wouldn't come near it (and it was already bad enough I was sitting in the chair again), but since I've had it on the left, they are coming around, although they take their turns and never together for more than a couple of seconds...Bam, the never-invasive, ever-sleeping old man perches up under the frame:

And Bug, the ever-invasive, always attention-seeking monster, whose glaring eyes are constantly burning holes in the project:

What I hate about it on the left is, just to get out of the chair I have to rotate the entire stand when turning the project or it will tip over, it's just too top heavy. I didn't have this issue on the right. Ironically, I can't turn the stand sitting in the chair and I can't get out of the chair without turning the stand. Right now, it's a circus act and it's sometimes easier just to take the entire scroll frame out of the stand (which I'd rather not do). There is this strange concrete block in my yard that serves no purpose, I'm going to see if it's enough weight to hold it down so I can turn the project without having to turn the entire stand.

Then there are the issues with the joint that balances the scroll. I also had this issue on the right, but not to this degree. It's either too high, at too great an angle, not at great-enough of angle, it droops over when I try to rotate around to tie off a thread (and I'm trying to keep all the joints tight, but not too tight...they just work their way loose). Some of these issues may just be Maleficent, she's already wonky because she's on scroll rods that are too long.

I have since watched a few more YouTube videos and it seems as though the first generation K's Creation stand would have been better (it didn't have the joint in the middle of the horizontal bar, but they aren't for sale anymore anyway except for second hand at a higher cost) or, as much as I hate to admit it, I should have doubled the cost and just bought a Lowery's stand. I still can't afford that right now (I really couldn't afford the K's stand, but here we are). All in all, it's STILL better than what I was dealing with and I've made a lot more progress than I could have on the lap stand. I fully expect to be able to finish Maleficent (at least at my current rate) by Christmas. So any progress made is good progress and maybe I can work out a happy medium. I'm still counting it overall as a win, if some minor hiccups. The little side table attached to it alone has been a game changer.

But speaking of a finish, as I've mentioned. I'm on a start freeze until I finish something and I decided a long time ago what a couple of my new starts would be, although I think those plans might change now. Belle of Bonaventure was always the next in line. She reminds me of Christine Daae from Phantom of the Opera.

But now that they've charted Strangely Lonely, which is my favorite JBG artwork of all time, I'm starting to rethink that decision, although I'm still on the fence about it. I do own the print for Strangely Lonely, so it's not like it's not on my wall already, but it's just not the same. Maybe you guys can help? I don't really want two JBG's going at the same time and with Alice and the B's making one, it has to be one or the other. Belle is still leaning more heavily because it's not dithered since it's an older HAED chart and I still prefer (at least JBG's) to be non-dithered, but I do so love Strangely Lonely as a piece of art and, especially now, the premise is just, well...me.

I also have plans to do another DoNa Stitch, either Meridad or Aurora (I've already finished Rapunzel, I just want to finish all of these before I get them framed), but these are super quick and super easy (although Sleeping Beauty will be harder because I plan to change out the colors on the fairies to the "appropriate ones", hence my leaning more towards Merida right now).:

Part of me is also itching to start a Super-Sized Max Color, and most all of those that I have are Aimee Stewart Bookshelves, although I do have other ones of hers...again, still on the fence about all of them, but I am leaning towards Once Upon A Fairy Tale. I'm also going to have to learn parking and convince myself to do tent stitch (and either make my own scroll rods or spend an enormous amount to get some made considering the size of this puppy), but that's a decision for another day, even if I can learn parking and tent now on YouTube:

There is also the issue of doing something either Harry Potter, Once Upon a Time (my TV show) or Marvel related. I've been dying to do something in those worlds forever (although, in fairness I have done a couple of OUAT projects already). Part of me wants to start one of each. I'd also like to do a kit, something easy and NOT full coverage, but I have no idea which in my stash would get that joy, maybe one of my mice kits. But here again, we are getting in the territory of having too many WIPS on the go with no chance of finishing anything. Maybe it would be better to finish two current WIPS before a new start. As someone who grew up doing only one project at a time, this whole WIP experience is still a foreign concept, even after 10+ years of living in WIP-land and I'm starting to wonder if it's not the reason for my burnout...too many insurmountable obstacles (and a gigantic mental health struggle, but we aren't going there anymore, right?). I still need to show you the new Harry Potter's I got over Black Friday, but maybe I'll save that as a reveal as a new start? Especially since several of them are a series, although I am leaning more towards a full coverage one, we'll see. Maybe I'll show you them all after I decide.