Stitching beginings and what the internet did for me LOL

I learned embroidery as a young girl. I stitched many pillow cases with x's and lazy daisies. My mom taught me that much. I never really had any more instruction... just being around mom was it. She sewed, so I sewed. I taught myself to use the sewing machine when I was about 10. I think I made a book bag. I made a lot of my own school clothes. I taught myself macrame when that was the craze. I did a little rug hooking. I've done a couple of needlepoint ornaments but just tent stitch. I have a quilt top that never got quilted but I really would love to be a quilter. A dear friend taught me to knit this year but I am just a beginner. Cross stitch is my passion. It wasn't until I finally succomed to the internet at home, about 7 years ago, that I discovered how much I didn't know about my hobby. I had no idea how popular it was or how much variety there was. I'll never forget my shock and surprise at the pages and pages of links that fated day I typed in "cross stitch" on a search engine. I was behind the times and I've been trying to catch up ever since. It didn't take long to amass more stash than any one person needs but it was fun becoming SABLE. Unfortunately, I was so far behind the times that even much of what I sought after in the beginning of my quest is likely never to be stitched. So, though it can be a source of guilt due to the cash I sunk in to it... much of it is useless to me now. Don't worry, I now have plenty of fanciful newer things but I still find I can not keep up with the newest things. Well..... there's plenty more to come... this should be fun!Here's some of the things I've stitched in the past year.

Getting organized

Many cross stitchers have two hobbies in one -- stitching and collecting stitching materials. We call the later "stash". Sometimes my stash is pure enjoyment and other times I feel very guilty about it. I have much more than I need. Yet, when new and fanciful things make their debut I want them too. Lately, I've been hearing about being "on the wagon" and stitching from our stash. I have decided I would really like to try to do this. The problem is there are a few items I want that are holding me back from making this jump. It should be much easier than it seems though because I am broke right now, so why should I worry about buying more? What I am doing to get started is making a list of the things I have started and the things I want to start this coming year. I thought my list was ridiculously long until I saw some other stitcher's lists. Another thing holding me back was the aversion to being a bit too organized about it. I stitch for enjoyment, I don't want it to become a taskmaster. I've felt that feeling when I was overcommited to too many round robins - three to be exact. I hated that. I felt like I was always stitching on someone else's work and I didn't get any of my own stitching done that year. I've avoided round robins since then but then I replaced it with smaller commitments of ornaments or mail art or other small pieces. I like that social part of it. The connection with another person who loves stitching as I do. I've seen some incredible round robin pieces the past year though and I couldn't help but feel regret. All I have to do though is look in the boxes and drawers around my stitching area and I remember why I had such resolve. I haven't begun to put a dent in all I want to stitch.
With all this rambling all I wished to say is that I want to have a good starting place for the coming year and a little organizing will help me get there.

Let's get this started

Hello.
I tried this blogging this once before. I thought I'd give it another go.

Today I voted. It's past midnight and they still can't declare a winner.
I love America.