Happy New Year to Everyone!

It is hard to believe that we have been in the 21st century for 10 years. I remember when everyone was running around trying to upgrade computers and stockpile food and water for when the “Y2K” disaster happened (that did not)lolol. I am going to have a laid back and stress free New Years Eve and I hope that all of you do also. My resolution for the year is to make no resolution, for either the year or the decade.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Blogs and Missing Mojo

Do you ever wonder what people are thinking when you read comments on blogs? I have been reading a blog that is interesting, if a little outlandish about being frugal and living within your means. Nothing terribly outrageous, but it has the blog’s writer being attacked from a great number of people, and these people are making very mean and nasty comments that bother me. Maybe I am just a wimp about mean comments, but I just do not see the need, I wonder if any of those people heard the rule, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” Many of those people should follow that rule.

My knitting mojo seems to have left me lately; all I want to do is play Mafia Wars on Facebook, which is a serious time drain. Does anyone have a suggestion for getting back into the groove??? I sure could use one.

Christmas and Resolutions

I hope everyone had a great Christmas; our family did, though it was quiet, as my oldest daughter could not get there because of the weather. I had never before realized what a cleaning junkie she can be, normally we have an overly organized Christmas, but this year, we didn’t even have a trash bag when gifts were being unwrapped and it took me most of the day to get the boxes out to the recycling bin. The house is still a wreck. I guess DD2 and I are slobs, but I don’t think I will laugh at her for cleaning any more. lolol

It was weird to have only the three of us this year, the Hubster, DD2 and me. It made the cooking load lighter and the house quieter.

I know many people are planning for the New Year, getting ready with their knitting projects and resolutions; however, I have decided not to make resolutions this year. I rarely keep them longer than a week, and springtime is easier for me to start a resolution. IMHO, spring should be the start of the New Year, not the in January (yuck the winter). The cold and the dark are not conducive for making a plan and following through for me at least. What about you, do you have huge numbers of resolutions??

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

Happy Winter!

Today is the first day of winter (at approximately 10:40 am) so happy winter to everyone. It is supposed to be 58F degrees here today :-).

Spent and Tired

I am now officially out of spending money, I have been a shopping fool! I cannot believe I have spent so much money, lolol but it was fun. I guess that is what happens when you leave it all to the weekend just before Christmas. :-0 I also made 2 batches of fudge, two dozen cherry cookies, three dozen chocolate oatmeal cookies, two batches of lotion for dry skin and two batches of sugar honey scrub. I am tired now and going to bed!

Have a great new week!

Blather and Friday Fillins

I am so pathetic; I forgot what day of the week it is until I read Grace’s blog. I have had the creeping crud (again) and it took everything I had to just make it through the week, I could not get anything else done. lolol That is not good since the old shopping is not done. The dogs have loved it since I have spent as much time as possible in bed, including some of the time when I was supposed to be at work. I think it may be a good thing that I have worked for the feds for over 25 years, or they would probably dump my ass. Not that I would blame them.

I hope you are all more prepares for the holidays than I am, cause I have some serious work to complete this weekend in order to get everything completed for next week. It’s a good thing I am not planning on passing out knitted gifts this year, cause that would be a giant fail.

I have decided I am not going to worry or stress about the holidays this year, I am going to knit my through them and hope that everyone just enjoys being together. I am not rushing out on Christmas Eve to buy one more present, if I do not have everything by Tuesday, it just won’t happen. If a present is wrapped in newspaper, at least it is wrapped, no more perfection (or attempts at) for me. This all sounds really good doesn’t it? Does anyone want to take bets on it happening this way?

Have a great weekend; I will see you in the funny papers!


1. No, we will NOT be traveling for Christmas.
2. Christmas dinner will be at the old kitchen table.
3. I watched the steam rising from the hot cup of coffee (or tea) and thought: mmmmm.
4. Everything is going to be okay.
5. I'll take two, please.
6. People are sometimes difficult to understand, at least from my point of view.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to baking cookies and knitting, tomorrow my plans include shopping, replacing the battery in my car, baking some more, and knitting and Sunday, I want to clean up, clean out the refrigerator and decorate the tree!

I Don't Think So

You Are Cleaning the Toilet

You are tough, determined, and strong willed. You are willing to take on any task, no matter how unsavory. You have nerves and a stomach of steel. It's hard to gross you out, and it's hard to get under your skin. You have what it takes to go far in life. When other people give up, you're still gaining momentum. You are willing to put in the hard work to achieve the best results. You aren't afraid of getting right in the mix.

What Household Chore Are You?

Blogthings: Free Quizzes for Everyone

The Villain and the Victim; Friday Fillins

When we got Tiny from DD1, we also purchased a water bistro (aka- the Villain) for the animals, the cats are good with it and so is Tiny, but Lola (aka, the Victim), not so much. As the water drops through into the bowl, the air bubbles sometimes make a noise that scares the crap out of Lola, so she runs away. The other night, she was thirsty and sat and barked at the waterer, I felt so sorry for her I had to get up and get her a small bowl of water. I am now not sure how we are going to adapt her to using it as whenever she is thirsty she just sits and barks at it and will not drink from it. I guess it is a good thing I have a normal water bowl in my bedroom or poor Lola would be very dry.

The Villian according to Lola-->





I would be knitting tonight, but both dogs feel the need to sit on my lap.

Have a great weekend!


1. Good times: good friends, good food, good wine.
2. Welcome to my home.
3. Sleigh bells ring are you listening?
4. _____________ little.
5. Once more, with feeling!
6. Will 2012 be the end?
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to nothing, tomorrow my plans include cleaning, shopping and baking; and Sunday, I want to do it all again, with maybe some knitting thrown in!

BRRRRR!

I am cold! Bone-chilling, numbing cold. I never used to be cold; in fact, I am the one who would turn the thermostat down in December because I was hot, even if everyone else was cold. The tide has turned and I am the cold one now, so tonight on my way home I am buying flannel sheets and a space heater for my bedroom. I hate going to bed cold and waking up cold brrr. I guess it could have something to do with our weather, the high is 18F today and 14F tomorrow with snow. I think it is colder here than it is in Alaska. This picture is the view out my backdoor, gray and cold.

DD2 and I bought our Christmas tree Saturday and it is up, but not decorated, we are soooo lazy, but it is just too cold to get into the garage and dig them out. We were both so curmudgeonly on Friday, I was not sure if we would have a tree. Neither one of us has been feeling the season, it is a problem sometimes, it is awful when we both get in a funk. I know it is too early in the season for it to be a seasonal funk, but there you have it, maybe just being around people helped out. We spent Saturday having a girl’s day, pedicures, massages, and shopping, perhaps that helped a bit.

When we go for massages, I always use them for therapy on shoulders, neck and arms, but the one I had Saturday almost crippled me. The guy found the sore spots and worked them hard, so yesterday when my sink fell apart (garbage disposal had a clog) while I was trying to cook, it was just about the straw that broke the camel’s back. And my hands were also sore from the massage, so I could not knit. I need a holiday from life I think.

I hope you have a warmer day than I am having. :-)

Shopping, a Question, and Friday Fill Ins

I started my Christmas shopping last night, thank goodness for the internet or no one would receive anything from me. lolol. I hate going to the store and shopping for things, especially when I am not sure of what I want. So almost everything is coming from the internet this year, in fact, I cannot think of anything that isn’t. Saving time, frustration, money, and gas!

I was doing the Friday Fill-in thingy and number five got me to thinking. You know how panhandlers will stand at the highway off ramps and busy intersections collecting money with little signs saying, “I am desperate” or “I am broke”. I always wonder how you can tell which of those people are truly desperate and which of them just make their living that way. I always feel guilty for not giving them money, but at the same time, I feel like I work hard, and I do not want to give money away to someone who doesn’t want to get a job (I don’t mean someone who cannot get a job). I always feel guilty if I do not give them money, but my husband always tells me that they make more money than I do, but can that be the case with everyone who stands on a corner asking for money? So my question to you my bloggy friends is how do you decide which people to give to or do you at all?


1. You get cookies for Christmas.
2. I find that it is best to get right to the point.
3. It's holiday time.
4. Life is often ridiculous!
5. I feel more blessed when I read about others who are not.
6. I’m done...goodnight!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to making dinner, grocery shopping, tomorrow my plans include going to the movies, cooking, and knitting and Sunday, I want to decorate the tree and veg!

Dogs on Thursday!

It has gotten too cold to be believed! 8F at 7am, the high is supposed to be something like 18, which means that I should be home in bed, not at work! I took the dogs outside this morning while the car was warming up (because of course there is too much stuff in the garage for me to park in there) and Lola did her thing cause she is used to the snow, not because she likes it. Tiny, on the other hand, stepped in the snow and cried; he then discovered that if he went under the car there wasn’t any snow. Therefore, at 7:30 I am down on my hands and knees trying to get the little wimp out from under there so I could carry him back into the house. I was finally able to get my finger into a loop on his collar and pull him to me, (remember short arms), cuddle him up, and carry him to the house. This dog has never been out of Georgia so I think he is in for a rough winter (or I am).

Ohh, and I got to knit last night! Wahoo.

blather

Did you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend? I did, DD2 and I went to Iowa to visit DD1 and we had a great time. We cooked a traditional meal with all the trimmings in the little kitchen and had fun chatting and being silly. I always have a great time when I hang out with them and I think I value it more since they are so rare now.

DD1’s boyfriend came up on Saturday and brought their rescued toy poodle for me to take care of for them. He originally belonged to an elderly couple who could no longer afford to keep him so they gave him up, he was adopted out twice and they were getting ready to put him to sleep because the adoptive families kept bringing him back. One family said he bit, and I don’t know what the other family’s reason was; well, DD1 and BF adopted him, even though they had two dogs and two cats already and things were going okay until DD1 started working in IA instead of GA. Suffice it to say, the little snausage is with me for a while. He is a very needy little thing, always wants to be on someone’s lap or someone must be petting him. He does play with Lola, but she lets him know when he steps over the line, so it’s all good. The biggest problem is that he weighs 10 lbs and should only weigh seven, and he thinks he only needs to eat people food, and that said food should be available to him at all hours of the day and night. So we are having a test of wills, since he is 9 years old, I have to get that weight off of him before he starts having problems with his hips. Fortunately, for me he does not have opposable thumbs, so I will be the winner. Lolol Why is it so much easier to keep the animals on a diet than it is to keep ourselves on a diet????

UPDATED TO ADD
Don't you think it would have been nice of her to tell me that the dog is hard of hearing?

Have a great day!

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for so much, that I have no sure way to express it all. I have had a great life and nothing too terrible has happened, no one has been murdered, been life threateningly ill, and everyone loves one another. We have all received wonderful opportunities in life, education, fun, and work wise. God has been good to us!

I hope you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving

Another Silly Quiz

You Are Edward Cullen

In general, you are an upstanding, ethical, and compassionate person. You aren't a stereotypical vampire. Of course, you're only undead, so you can't help but be tempted occasionally. You do a good job keeping your cravings in check. You are a true romantic, and you live to take care of your sweetheart. You couldn't go on if you hurt the one you love. You have many worries and conflicts deep in your heart. You may seem distant or cold, but it's only because you care so much.

What Famous Vampire Are You?

Work is Hard. Time for Blogthings!

I thought this was appropriate as I just saw New Moon and loved it!

You Should Date a Vampire

You're attracted to intense, complicated people. You think danger is sexy. You're willing to risk your heart (or even your neck) if it means you get to be with a super hot, super powerful vampire. You think that there's a fine line between pain and pleasure. And you're certainly willing to learn exactly where that line is. You think there's nothing hotter than a vampire falling for you. You're honored to be chosen by such an experienced and wise creature.

Could You Date a Vampire?

Blogthings: We're Not Shrinks, But We Play Them On the Internet

TGIF or . . .

I would say TGIF, except that I have missed the last 2 days at work so it kind of seems rude to say it. :-) My eyes are slit on my head, I have a new eye drop and it is working a little better, but it is slow going. It hurts to focus on anything tooo long, so knitting, reading and watching TV are out. They better be feeling a little better in the morning because I am going to New Moon no matter what. You know earlier in the year I stood in line for the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and it was good, but frankly, it was a zoo standing in line and the weather is much colder now. I just don’t feel the standing in line bit when it is 32F outside. lolol


1. We need more love and charity in our world.
2. I saw the sun and it made me smile.
3. If you want to accomplish something it is best to get off the computer (unless you want to accomplish a lot of blogging).
4. I am hungry because ice cream for dinner does not cut it.5. Massachusetts has a proposed 5% sales tax on elective cosmetic surgery; I think that Massachusetts is just looking for more money. Why should someone have to pay higher taxes because they can afford to spend money on something that is considered frivolous?
6. Family and love makes for a happy holiday.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to see nothing, tomorrow my plans include going to see New Moon, shopping, and laundry and Sunday, I want to knit!

Have a great weekend!

Thankful Thursday

I think this Thankful Thursday is a wonderful idea, it reminds us to be grateful for what we have instead moaning about what we do not have. So here is my list for this week-
I am thankful for my internet friends. This would have been a hard few months without them.
I am thankful that my daughters and I will be together for Thanksgiving because we always have fun together.
I am thankful that the weather has warmed up from last week and that the snow is almost gone.
I am thankful for my rotten cats that are so funny and make me laugh.
I am thankful for the coordinators who work with me and their patience, as I am perennially late.
It doesn’t seem like much, but every little bit helps. :-)

Now I can whine, right? You knew I had to; I haven’t for a couple of days. My eyes are not as icky now, but they are almost swollen shut and they hurt to touch. It wasn’t bad enough that I had to throw all the makeup away, my eyes are so swollen it looks like I am walking around with my eye shut, not a pretty thing in this very round face of mine. lolol

I am responsible for holding a quarterly conference call and it was scheduled for today, I of course could not see so had called in sick. I woke up about 5 minutes before the call and had to dash around setting up my work computer and putting my cell phone on the charger so I could call in. I finally got on the phone about 5 minutes late and had to apologize to 31 people who were waiting for me. It was embarrassing.

Icky Eyes

I woke up nice and early this morning because I knew it would take forever to clean my car off, it had not moved since the snow started. I opened my eyes and oooppps! Both of them were stuck, yuk. (It was very nice of me not to include a picture this time, don't you think?) I slowly pried them apart, sat up, and realized nothing was being accomplished today as my head was spinning too. I did get a doctor’s appointment so I now have many antibiotics and eye drops to use. It’s very irritating, I hate being sick, but like I told a friend at least I was able to get out of bed and take care of business, it sure beats the alternatives. The good news is that now I have a reason to buy new eye make-up, as it all must be replaced, behind every cloud is a silver lining. I think I will go home tonight, get in bed and knit. I can either work on the beret to go with the scarf shown yesterday or continue to work on the striped scarf for DD2.

I hope your day is wonderful!

Actual Knitting Picture

I finally took a picture that is knitting related!! Here is the picture of the scarf that my cats like so much, it is the Yarn Harlots one row scarf using Noro Silk Garden, sorry it is so dark, we haven’t had sun for a few days. I like it and hope my daughter will also, though it hasn’t yet gotten really cold in IA/IL so we will see. I am getting ready to start a beret to match, I purchased this yarn intending to make me a sweater, but I am not sure I would want a sweater out of this color. Have you ever purchased yarn intending to use it for a purpose and then a year later couldn’t imagine what you were thinking?? As you can see by the pix below, we received a lot more snow than was predicted, it was originally predicted to be one or two inches. Right now it is 25F (the low tonight will be 15F) and still snowing lightly, I hope it stops soon; I have a lot to do tomorrow

Winter wonderland out my backdoor.

This is a snow cake on my patio table lolol

A Cold Saturday

I am cold, it is 27F outside, and it seems to be seeping into my bones. Is that from being old? It has snowed most of the day and it is supposed to snow more tomorrow. Ahhh winter, don’t you love it. I have not done anything all day except for, got a massage, picked up groceries, cooked meatloaf, and paid for the chimney sweep to fix the chimney that was not drawing correctly. I think tomorrow I will do nothing but knit!

How is your weekend going?

A Cat Tale and Friday Fillins

Remember the scarf that I finished with Noro Silk Garden that I have yet to take a picture of? It was lying on my bed last night waiting for me to weave in one more end and my cats found it. They think this is the most wonderful yarn in the world and would like a bed made out of it. I looked over and Jack and Onyx were laying there nuzzling up to it like it was their mama and fell asleep on it. I told them that it needed to be dry-cleaned, but they just yawned and turned over. I evidently love my kitties more than I should.

1. The last band I saw live was too long ago to remember.
2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is being with family and sharing the cooking with my daughters.
3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is not even thought of yet.
4. Thoughts of sugarplums fill my head.
5. I wish I could wear skinny jeans without looking like a ballon on a stick.
6. Bagpipes are very cool.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to nothing but reading and knitting, tomorrow my plans include making bread, knitting, watching the snow and Sunday, I want to do the same thing all over again!

Thankful Thursday

I have been thinking all day about being thankful and grateful; it is sometimes hard to select the things we are grateful for, as there are times when things do not looks so great or are just plain depressing. Today I have a meager list of what I am thankful for, but I know in my heart, that there are many more, it is just hard to see them today.

• I am thankful for the fact that my family is healthy, no flu (piggy or otherwise) no colds, no major illnesses.
• I am thankful that I have a job that puts a roof over my head and provides for my retirement without too much effort from me.
• I am thankful that my daughters have become responsible and productive adults.
• Finally, I am thankful for all the people who care about me and others when they are low and feeling down (gee isn’t that phrase from an old song?).

Veteran's Day

Thank You!

Blather

Wahooo, tomorrow is a federal holiday (day off for me) and a maid is coming tomorrow. You would think that since my 23 year old daughter was home alone for the best part of 3 weeks, that the house would be somewhat clean, NOT! The house is so dirty I can’t stand it, so I spent the morning looking for someone to come and clean it for me. YEAAA! And I will sit and knit while someone else cleans up my dirt. My kind of day!

Maybe tomorrow I will also get off my butt and download all the picture I have taken and post some of them :-)

My Sister Toni

I am sorry I have been an absentee blogger; however, we came home from vacation last week (Saturday) and I got all the laundry done when I received a phone call telling me my sister had passed away, I had to repack immediately and fly to California. I was in shock as no one had contacted me to tell me that she had been ill. Turned out that none of her kids or my other sister thought she was that bad, everyone was in shock! In fact, they all thought she would be released from the hospital on the following Monday. Toni had not been comfortable in her life since her first stroke and she had been in assisted living for several months, she was in emotional and physical pain and there wasn’t anything we could do to make her happier or more comfortable. Life was hard for Toni, she was bipolar and anorexic, plus she had many other emotional and physical issues. I will always miss her, but part of me wonders if she is happier now that she is with our mother, whom Toni has missed dreadfully since she died 27 years ago. It is always hard to lose someone you love, but is it sometimes kinder to let them go when they no longer want to be here??

I am now back in Colorado and I miss Toni and I know her kids do also, though they are all grown and on their own. It does not seem right for a sister younger than me (15 months) to be gone before me. Because we were so close in age we were raised almost as though we were twins, we dressed alike, shared clothes, received the same presents on the holidays and hung out together until we married and I moved out of state. I wish that I had called her more and sent her more emails.

Blather

I am still in Hot Springs AR; I will get a wonderful massage and facial tomorrow. Life is slow but enjoyable right now. I dread going back to work, as I will have to jump in with both feet; I am trying not to think about it but. . .

I completed the Silk Garden scarf (picture tomorrow if there is any sun) and will start a hat to match tonight, just cannot decide on the style, beret or beanie cap. I will probably decide by the amount of yarn, which makes sense. lolol I have also started another scarf and getting ready to cast on a pair of socks, when I find the double points I brought with me. I have not figured out how to use the magic loop yet, I keep getting confused, but how can it be so difficult for one person when so many others are able to use it? I think I have a thick head about some things. :-)

DD2 sent me a text message telling me that my cats miss me; she said they woke her up this morning and she was not the least bit happy about it. I told her she could close her bedroom door, but she is a wee bit cranky so she did not like that answer.

We start home on Thursday, and should be there on Saturday. See you in the funny papers!

A Quiz

You Are Optimistic and Sweet

You're the type of person who wears a costume representing who you wish you were. You're likely to dress up as a historical figure or a super hero. You think it's fun to dream and play a little. Halloween really brings out your lighter side. Your favorite Halloween celebration is with your favorite people. You love to see what costumes your friends end up wearing. You feel like you can learn a lot from what your friends choose to be this time of the year. It's how they really reveal themselves.

The Candy Apple Test

Blogthings: Take a Quiz. Annoy Your Friends.

Still On The Road and Friday Fillins

See the picture below, this is where we spent Monday night, the largest truck stop in the world (as it is advertised). I have such aspirations, lololol (picture me with my tongue in my cheek). We met DD1 there so we could see her new apartment on Tuesday. Once we left her house we drove south heading towards Hot Springs AR to soak up the hot water, but on the way down, we found Lambert’s Café, the home of the thrown rolls. They throw fresh hot rolls at you and you have to catch them, they are good and there is waaay too much food served, but I would really rather they put my rolls on a plate and hand them to me.

We are now in Hot Springs, soaking up the hot water and doing nothing. I am knitting and reading and floating. The scarf I started with Noro Silk Garden is almost done and I am just about ready to start a matching hat, so I am accomplishing something with my vegging.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful autumn!

1. The crickets sing, _???__.

2. Thankfulness is good wherever you are in your life.

3. I want to get far away from the meeegrums.

4. I was on a tour of the world; this was a dream.

5. But as for me I will continue to be productive and try to help others.

6. Hiawatha, is where I come from

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to knitting, tomorrow my plans include soaking in the hot springs, reading and knitting, and Sunday, I want to veg some more!

On the Road Again. . .

crazy-jokes.com/pictures/cartoons_454.shtml

Vacation Here I Come and Friday Fillins

I am going on vacation, not because I necessarily want to but it is a sort of obligation, which is hard to explain. We are going to Hot Springs Arkansas and then I don’t know where. I will post where I can, but who knows how often that will be. I hope that my wrist will quite hurting while we are gone, I had to take Di’s leftover pain medicine (vicodin) last night because it is hurting so bad. I am not a crier, but this is making me cry, it hurts more now than ever.

I hope everyone has a great weekend and I will post when I can!


1. So are we going someplace fun?

2. Danger is what's up ahead.

3. I love to knit, veg, and eat chocolate.

4. _????____ of some sort.

5. I walk a little bit.

6. Love is the true elixir of life!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to getting ready to leave on a trip, tomorrow my plans include riding in a truck, knitting, and reading and Sunday, I want to soak in a hot tub!

Work Can Sometimes Suck

This is not turning out to be such a fun week. Monday was great because we were off for Columbus Day, but it has gone downhill from there. We have been in conferences all week, which is not a horrible thing, but due to the nature of my work, I then have to go back to the office and work, while everyone else gets to go home. I think that sucks, but I guess I will survive and I am going on vacation next week so. . . The good thing is that I manage to get knitting into my day, I am working on a scarf out of Silk Garden and it is very comfy looking.
I am tired, sorry for the short post, but it is off to bed with me.

You Are Most at Home in the Bedroom

You're the type of person who finds sanctuary in your home. Your home is your private space. While you may be a social person outside the home, it's very rare that you invite people into your home. There's nothing like spending time alone in your bedroom - relaxing and reflecting about your day. You truly treasure your time by yourself. You need to be able to recharge every so often in order to thrive.

What Room Are You Most At Home In?

Blogthings: If Quizzes Are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Take Quizzes

Blather and Friday Fill Ins

Can anyone tell me why I can get to Twitter from my work network but not Facebook, does that make sense to anyone? I can waste just as much time on Twitter as I can on Facebook so that cannot be the issue. Oh well, mine is not to reason why, mine is but to do or die. Lolol

This has been a really long week; I have been prepping reports for the department, and writing the memos that go with them, justifying any variances or out of whack issues. The reports sections are not difficult, I can manipulate the data easily, but writing the memos kills me. I like to write as I talk (as you can tell) and I cannot do that in memos to the department. I have to use “governmentese” which is not pretty or easy to understand in most cases.

DD1 has been in Illinois this week looking for an apartment, and it has been very funny. She has never had to relocate on her own before, so she has never searched for an apartment and evidently, there was not a lot to choose from. She did finally find one across the state line in Iowa, but she called me a gazillion times while she and her boyfriend were looking. She starts in a couple of weeks and the agency can move her at any time during her training, so the boyfriend will not be going at first and she will be all on her own.

I am so happy that this is a three-day weekend I could die! Have a great weekend!

1. Sweet dreams to you.
2. & 3 Silliness is imperative, especially for me.
4. I will not be home this Halloween.
5. Outstanding or not , I will knit.
6. A gooey, creamy chocolate bar is what I want right now!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to cleaning up, tomorrow my plans include cleaning, errands, etc. and Sunday, I want to veg!

Aging or Ageless?

Did you ever notice how there is always something or someone around to remind you how old you are? Even when you don’t feel your age, something will hit you in the face and remind you. Age has never been a big thing with me, I have never felt that I was the age the calendar told me I was, I normally feel at least 10 years younger than I am and don’t think about my physical age. That is until I go the doctor. I have been searching for a doctor that I feel is competent and I am comfortable with since we moved to Colorado. I think I have finally found her, but. . . . The new patient paperwork I filled out asked how I was on my immunizations, and I haven’t even had a tetanus shot or anything else except for a flu shot since the 1980’s. I told her that I have a flu shot every year, but have not worried about anything else; therefore, we had this entire discussion regarding the immunizations and that I needed them, then she threw in the pneumonia shot. I asked her why I needed it, I said I had not had pneumonia since I was 15, and (you already know what she said don’t you) she said that since I was over 50 I should have one annually. I was a tad upset about that, because I just do not feel 50, or 50-something, or 53 (my calendar age). Here I am happily swinging through my day and get my toe stamped on with a giant 50 being dropped on it. Lololol It is a good thing I am not sensitive, but arbitrary lines irritate me, not just with age, but also with quotas, or limits of any kind. This was my rant for the day. :-)

I am still knitting, though the shot in the wrist yesterday made me want to rethink that. I have three different scarves going, plus three pairs of socks and a sweater. I have quit knitting for extensive periods of time, and I do the exercises, but I have been working 7 days a week so of course the stupid thing is not improving! DUUHH

I have decided I want a cape for fall and early spring, I have been freezing to death lately and I think a cape would handle that. Does anyone have suggestions about patterns???

BTW, it is supposed to snow here this weekend, tomorrow’s high is forecast at 42F.

Have a good day and be productive.

Time Off and Hoarding

I started to read Julie and Julia, but there was something about it that I just could not get into, so I finally put it down and decided I was done. Then I read what Barb had to say about it and I realized that was the problem, it was depressing to me. Therefore, that goes in the stack to get rid of. I hate getting rid of books before I have finished them; in fact, books are a thing that I have to try very hard not to hoard. But that brings up another question, when does a collection become a hoard? At what point does my collection of whatever, become too much? How do I know when my fun collection becomes a problem? Any suggestions are welcome.

I enjoyed my whole 4 days off. I did not touch my computer and did not answer the phone. I slept when I wanted (which Lola really appreciated), ate when I wanted to, and showered (if and) when I wanted to (let me point out tho, I do have a delicate nose so the shower thing is always daily, just different times of the day sometimes.) I actually washed every pair of underwear I own (yes I was out of underwear) which has not happened for a while. I even sat my butt in a chair and used the sticks and strings for fun, not to meet a deadline or for someone else’s wants. Now tomorrow when I go to PT, they are going to ask why my wrist is swollen, lolol.

The weather has been cold here, poor Lola was very glad that I have been lying on my butt so she could stay warm. Have you ever noticed that a Chihuahua is usually cold?

I have to get back to work, but I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!

Happy New (Fiscal) Year!

Yeah, the financial system is done, which means I am and the fiscal year is over!!!!! I am taking my lieu day and Friday off and doing only what I want to do! This year has been a drain but I completed what needed to be accomplished and survived it.

Whining and Friday Fillins

I am tired, tired, tired. Work should be banned, I still have a few more days of over time to go and I will be done for a few days. Tonight I am going to go home, get a sandwich, go to bed, put on a bok on tape, and start a new something or other on the needles.

DD1 is moving to Illinois in October, she got a great job with the feds and she will be moving next month. She worked for 6 months with applications and resumes to get a federal job, and she found a good one. I am proud of her for persevering, though I know she got discouraged. I asked her if she needed help, but she says she does not, so. . . But since she is moving from GA to IL she needs winter stuff, (I don’t think she realizes how cold it gets there) that means scarves, hats, gloves, and socks for her. lolol

DD2 is sloooowly recovering, I don’t think she has ever been this ill, she is so miserable, she is sleeping a lot. She has missed an entire week of classes and I know that is going to make the next few week miserable for her.

I hope you have a good weekend!


1. One week ago the weather was much warmer than it is today.
2. I learned to tap dance when I was young (but sure cannot do it now).
3. Mama told me to always wear clean underwear (without holes).
4. ____???_____ you and me.
5. Take your time, life goes on.
6. And this too will pass!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to vegging, tomorrow my plans include working 12 hours and Sunday, I want to play but will be working!

Whiskers on Wednesday

Okay, the Devil Cat, aka Onyx, is in deep doo doo. DD2 was in my room talking to me while I got dressed yesterday morning and that meant that the entire zoo was up there too. We looked around and Devil Cat was urinating on my pillow (and through the pillow, the comforter, all the sheets and the mattress pad)! I could not believe what I was seeing. And it wasn’t just a little, I-am-going-to-mark-my-territory type of pee, no, it was I-am-going-to-empty-my-bladder-on-mom’s-bed sort of pee. I am so mad at her I could spit, and she knows it. She is going to the vet to make sure she doesn’t have an UTI and then I am going to string her up by the tail (not literally, just in my dreams). GRRRRR The sad part is she was so cute the night before, she crawled up under the comforter, curled up, and went to sleep. Last night all cats were closed out of my bedroom!

It is still cold here (43F), but no snow last night, which is a good thing, but now they are predicting it for rush hour. Thank goodness, it isn’t cold enough to stick!

Weather

Yeah, the first day of autumn is here.

The weather forecast for tonight is snow.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Blather

It is cold here today, so whether I am ready or not, fall is here. Rainy and cold, 50 degrees at noon. And lucky DD2 has the flu; they told us at the doctor’s office that when they test for flu, they are no longer trying to differentiate between the regular flu and swine flu unless the patient ends up in the hospital. Evidently, the swine flu is so prevalent, they have given up. That is somewhat scary, with all the talk about the pandemic etc.

I finished the blanket, and it is cute, picture tomorrow when it is dry. I am working on a lacy one-row scarf that I started in June; it is lightweight so it doesn’t hurt to hold it and knit.

I have nothing else for now, working 7 days a week is a real drain on my brain (I am a poet who didn’t know it). lolol

Work, Work, Work, and Friday Fillins

I am going to try not to whine today as I left all my cheese (some of it turning green) at home. The blanket from he!! is almost done, four more rows. I decided the arm would hurt anyway, so now I knit whenever I want, as long as it is not hurting. So I have start a pair of socks, a scarf, and I am getting to buy yarn, it has been so long since I have purchased any knitting related items, that I am not sure if I can remember how to do it. But I bet it comes back to me very quickly :-)
This is another weekend of working full time, it’s too bad I can’t get over time and have to settle for comp time. But looking at that in another way, the comp time is covering my physical therapy appointments (is that a silver lining?)

1. My car needs to be cleaned inside and out and waxed.
2. Nap time is coming up next.
3. Lately, things seem to be piling up.
4. My bed is one of my favorite 'hiding' places.
5. What happened to summer?
6. Knitting with a boo-boo is not impossible!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to knitting, tomorrow my plans include working and a massage and Sunday, I want to play, but will be working again!

Have a great weekend!

Whiskers on Wednesday

My kitties, Jack and Onyx have been especially cuddly and clingy lately (I think it is because Di is not scaring them away from me). So Jack and Onyx have been fighting over who can sit on my feet while I work from home, once they argue about it, they normally both curl up on my feet and go to sleep until I disturb them. The really hate it when I take their picture when they are under my desk, as you can tell by the glare in the Devil Cats eyes.

Jill (DD2’s cat) checks on me at night (and wakes me up) but she is the funniest cat. Demands that I keep the water bowl in my room filled for her (she is the only one that uses it) and she will get pissy with me until I do.
Aren’t cats great!

This and That

I am looking at my blog and seeing that it is still looking summery and beachy, while the weather outside is turning into fall. While I love the way the light looks in the fall, I am not ready for it this year, which is odd since it is normally my favorite season. I hate taking down the beach theme of the blog and changing to fall/winter, it seems like it should still be summer. I remember starting school after Labor Day in CA and it would still be 90 degrees outside, way too hot to put on school clothes and sit in a un-air conditioned classroom. I guess it is inevitable, summer turns to fall, and in different parts of the country (world) it changes earlier than others do. Or should I just blame it on El Nino??

Look at the cool knitting organizer I bought from thesweetcushion at Etsy. She was very responsive, gave me a choice of fabrics, and had it to me very quickly. I love it and it is a great way to organize circular needles, which I have a ton of. The size goes from 1 to 19 and the little pocket on top hold little gadgets. You will note of course that while it is hanging on the wall, it does not appear to have any needles in it; there are, but they are all in the bigger sizes and I could not get them all in the picture.
I am supposed to be working, but I know how long it has been since I made that last sad post. I have been knitting even though “they” say it is a bad thing. Nevertheless, I need the comfort knitting gives me (when I don’t have to work) I worked 7 days last week and it looks like I will this week, so I figure the knitting is not going to make much of a difference.
Have a great day!

Blather

Thank you to everyone for your kind words, thoughts, and prayers. They have meant a lot and made a bad time a little better.

Sunday and Monday where horrible days, I only wanted to sleep, cry or eat; however, I needed something to do, so I started knitting. You know how I have been knitting a row or two every night for several weeks. Well, I knit as much as I wanted to and didn’t do any housework. I did not feel any better, but at least my fingers were working. Of course, when I got to physical therapy on Tuesday morning my entire arm was hurting, but at least I knew why.

It is amazing how attached I was to Di, I didn’t realize before how much we were together, even in the bathroom, she was where ever I was. Now I look up to talk to her (even though she couldn’t hear) and she is not there. On the weekends, I only got up in the mornings because she needed to go outside and have her medicine, now it feels as though there is no reason to rush down stairs. I feel like I have lost a limb, and I know this will pass, but it is hard to get used to. At least I can write this (almost) without crying, I couldn’t yesterday or the day before. I know she is no longer in pain and that she is much happier where she is, keeping her alive any longer would have been cruel and I am okay with that. I will always have her in my heart, whether she is in my bed keeping my toes warm or not.

I’m sorry, this did not start out to be a sappy post, sometimes I start writing and just keep writing. You should be very happy I just cut myself off.

Have a great evening and knit an extra row for me (as there is no knitting for me for a couple of weeks.)

Goodbye

Well, the day finally came. . . We had to have Di put to sleep this morning and I think it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. We had her outside where she was smiling at us and wagging her tail like she was feeling chipper, we brought her back in for meds and food and she had a seizure. It was very sad. I can’t say anymore right now, it hurts too much.

Blather and Friday Fillins

I am such a dumb ass sometimes. I have been going to physical therapy and wearing braces, etc for my sore arm for almost 2 months now, so to make it all better, I sat and rushed through that dishcloth the other day. Now, my arm is crying and when Di needed help last night I had a hard time picking her up. Sometimes she does this weird thing where her legs are splayed and she is stuck on the floor, unable to get up. If she were young, I would probably laugh and play with her about it, but since she is so old, she always looks like she is losing her dignity when it happens, it makes me cry.

Have you heard the big uproar over the President’s speech to schools? People are saying he will be spreading propaganda and such, but I don’t remember this kind of uproar when Bush did the same thing a few years ago. I must be missing something.

I am so fortunate; I get to work on Saturday. I used to work 60 to 70 hours a week at this time of year, and now I am only working only 50 to 60, but I hate it. Wow, I am full of complaints! I will go away now, so I cannot complain anymore. :-)

Have a wonderful holiday weekend!

1. I feel blahhh.
2. Going to physical therapy is always fun, NOT.
3. Right now, I can hear these things: my fan, the AC, women talking, and my ear ringing.
4. _____?______ and I'm glad _____?______.
5. The last time I had a decent vacation was when I went to Hawaii.
6. I have to work this Labor day weekend.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to nothing, tomorrow my plans include work, knitting, and a picnic and Sunday, I want to knit and veg!

Rag Tag Knitters

Go Rag Tag Knitters! Woooha.
I received the box Monday afternoon and it is now Tuesday evening and I am on my way to the post office to mail it out to the next person on the list. And I worked all day Monday and most of today at my real job. My box had yummy salt water taffy in it that I love, and some quilted coasters that Emily made and they are so cute, if you can see the pictures below. I also took a picture of the washcloth, but because of the pattern in the yarn, you can’t really see the pattern of the knitted fabric. It is a checkerboard design, very cute. I hope we can keep up the momentum!

Now I think I will go buy a bag of ice for my arm and wrist. lolol

A Rant

Let me say I am sorry for this rant right up front, but it still needs to be said or I will go nuts (not a long trip). It is so ironic. Di is very sick and can go or be put to sleep at any time. However, the vet is afraid that Di is becoming addicted to her hydrocodone. . .

Now granted, she is taking a huge amount of them, she started at one a day last year and now she is at three, three times a day. Where is the freaking sense in this? The dog is more comfortable with the medicine, she actually wants to play for the first time in 3 months, but they are worried about her becoming addicted?!? I don’t think so. This is one of those things that makes me want to pull my hair out or slit my wrists (cyber wrist slitting). Come on, the dog is dying, nothing can be done for her but to make her comfortable so what the hell???
Sometimes I just don’t get it.

Pictures. . .

A view from the loft of Jack and Onyx. Notice that they are laying on the baby blanket that I get to work on for 2 rows at a time. At least someone is enjoying it. Onyx did not appreciate me waking her. . .
Lola and Di enjoying the front yard and looking for something to bark at (Di is not gaining weight, that is fluid that we cannot keep off of her and it builds up in the belly) -

The tomatoes are about the only ones Di has not eaten off the vine-

I just got off work for the day so I am going to get a pedicure. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

This and That, Friday Fillins

I realized last night that I had not posted all week, but I am just not feeling it for some reason. Not just blogging, but anything, I don’t know why, but there it is. DD1 left me a comment telling me I was not blogging enough for her to keep up, I just laughed but I should have asked her where her blog was (snicker). Have you noticed bloggers who have decided not to blog on a regular basis anymore? I have decided they are putting too much pressure on themselves by blogging every day. I mean, they are great to read, but who can do that every single day of the week; don’t get me wrong, I love opening Grace’s blog to see what she is talking about every day, but I don’t know how she is keeping that up. I cannot.

I forgot to mention the last Mean Girls Sock kit; it had a cool gadget in it that I have wanted for a while (I love gadgets). It is a stitch saver. I think they are very cool and I used it for the very first time the other night when I was doing my allotted row for the night; mine has cool little beads on it. I wish I had purchased it before, because it is great! These are made by 5elementknitr and if you want one you can go here.
1. He was a butthead of the nth dimension.

2. Bad weather is what I look forward to most this time of year.

3. My best friend gives me unconditional love.

4. If I want to win the lottery, I should buy a lottery ticket to be honest with you.

5. Appearances can be deceiving.

6. The last person I gave a hug to was Di.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sleep, tomorrow my plans include going out to breakfast with DD2 and her friend who is visiting from out of state, working and knitting 6 rows of anything and Sunday, I want to veg, but will be going to bunco!

Chatter and Friday Fillins

Remember back here when I discussed furry cats and shaving them?? Well, I have decided it is easier to live with furry floors. We did shave Jack, but DD1 who is living in Georgia was the one who used to be in charge of shaving and was much better at it than DD2 and I, we did not get nearly as much hair off and we were very messy about it. Jack loves being without the hair, though he is not so fond of the process; he always gets more hugs, loves and pets once he is shaved because his fur is so thick and he has dandruff.

KnittySue recently had a contest that involved showing the contestants work space or table with all the paraphernalia that is kept in the area. It was fun to go and look at everyone’s work area, some of them had lotttttttts of stuff and it made me wonder how pets were kept out of the stuff. My cats are very nosy and if I leave anything out they will deliberately knock it on the floor and tear it up. Everyone else must have pets with better manners.

Guess What, I got to knit last night for 3 whole rows! Yeah!!!!! Project Runway started last night and I watched and knit. Maybe someday I will get to knit a whole project?!


1. I remember, I remember how to knit and when television was mostly black and white.
2. Dear Dear Daughters, I want you to know that you are both wonderful women.
3. Is that my pair of leggings on your legs!!???
4. I'm trying to resist the temptation of walking out the door of the office and deciding not to work for the next week.
5. I'm saving a hug just for you!
6. If I made a birthday list all of my pretend friends would definitely be on it!!!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to working late and then vegging, tomorrow my plans include working, and doing 4 rows of knitting and Sunday, I want to veg, but will be preparing the house for company!

Blather

We just had our second hailstorm in less than 24 hours, and it is positively cool (70) outside. I am sitting under the sky light in the loft watching the hail hit the window (glass, plastic, Plexiglas??) wondering how hard the hail has to be before it breaks the window. It feels like we are heading into autumn already, that does not bode well for the winter. Everyone seems to be suffering from the heat right now, but us. I guess I will send you all some of our snow come October. :-)

I listen to recorded books a lot, and I have a subscription to Audible, where I can download books and listen from the computer or I-Pod. I love this as it keeps me entertained when I could possibly be bored with sitting still and I am not stuck watching mind numbing television. I am perturbed that I downloaded “Born in Ice” by Nora Roberts; her books are entertaining and easy to listen to when doing other things. The reader/narrator sucks big time! You cannot tell what character is speaking, as he never changes his voice. I am going to complain; even though it is the first time I have been disappointed with anything from Audible.

I feel like I have become a boring blogger since I cannot knit, it is very irritating. . .

Have a good day (or what's left of it)

More Blather

When I want to visit my favorite blogs, I normally link to them from my blog, but lately when I use my back button to return to my blog nothing happens. It is like the blog I am visiting is holding me captive and can be frustrating. The weirdest part of this is that it is happening on all 4 of the computers I use (2 personal and 2 work). The OS on one of them is VISTA, but all the others are Windows XP, and the laptop with VISTA has the newest version of Exlorerer, but all the other have the older version (I am not especially fond of the IE 7). I wonder what is causing this. . .

I was able to knit for two whole rows last night, it was very cool! It was my reward for with dealing with stupid on Saturday. You know I am working Saturdays now, until October 1, but it seems like some of the users I support don’t bring their brains with them to work on Saturday.

We are still trying to decide where to go for the week of Thanksgiving, but since it will only be the two of us, we decided to go away and have fun instead of trying to downsize turkey and mash potatoes for 2. Any suggestions?

Blather

I am in a much better mood today, even though it has rained already today and I am working. It is much nicer to work from home than going into the office, at the office I have to wear clothes and when working from home I can work in a T-shirt and undies, much more comfortable.

I go into the Wee Tiny Sock club for autumn, very cool. There were only 8 spots left when I got in. I wonder how the knitting will go?????I have noticed my arm is feeling better, but now the back of my hand is hurting, the therapist says it is compensating for not using my thumb as much and too much work. Well, unfortunately, work is a necessity in my life (how about you?) so that will continue and I guess as long as it is hurting I know I am alive. :-)

Have a great day!

This is a gloomy day here (and I think my mood is matching the weather), I cannot figure out why we have had such a gray summer. I am so tired of work, and we are only at the beginning of the hump season at work. I am planning a vacation for the week of Thanksgiving. Anyone have any suggestions on where to go?? I would love to check out Galveston, but I don’t know if it ever recovered from the hurricane that wiped them out. Maybe I should just go to Key West and forget anywhere else? That’s sad, I can’t even figure out where I want to go . . . I would truly love to go to Greece, but, I must be realistic, I guess. :-)

Have a great weekend!

1. When will the sun shine again?
2. I cannot remember what the last good book I read or movie I saw or tv show I watched.
3. Everything has its beauty but dawn has a beauty all its own.4. Pizza is what I had for dinner.
5. I'd like your input on how to knit faster.
6. The beach (Key West) is where I want to be right now.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to work, tomorrow my plans include more work and Sunday, I want to veg!

Dogs on Thursday

And now for another sad version of Dogs on Thursday, with a funny. Di is not doing well, DD2 took her to her vet appointment today, and we are now injecting furosemide into her. We are trying this for 4 days, and then she goes back on the pills. There is nothing more than can be done, there is one treatment they can try, however they do not think it will work and it is verrry expensive. The vet she saw today told my daughter that once a Dalmatian develops heart issues, they are normally very resistant to any of the medications that are available. We still have to trick into giving her the huge number of pills she takes every day, but she is very sly. Last night I was giving Lola her hormone, and Di told me she wanted some, so I got her a spoon of peanut butter, before she would take though, she sniffed the spoon to make sure there were not any pills in it. Lolol

She has discovered that the tomatoes bushes are good things, I put her outside the other night and she walked to each bush to eat the tomatoes, and she is very picky, she normally will only take the ripe ones. Needless to say, DD2 and I are not seeing many of the wonderful vine ripened tomatoes.

I am a team captain for Dish Rag Tag, and I cannot wait to get started. I always have a good time with that. We are trying to think up a team name now, and I am so bad at that. I wish I were more imaginative and original.

Have a great day!

Yuck . . .

I am in such a horrible mood I cannot stand myself. I think I need to knit more. . .
The fur floating around on the floors of my house is killing me. If I clean the floor this morning (which isn’t going to happen), they are covered in hair by evening. DD2 vacuumed the furniture in the living room yesterday and it looks almost like new. So tonight, I think we are shaving the cats; hopefully they will look like this in the morning-

But I think they will get more of their heads and paws shaved if we can.

Notice

Have you ever noticed how people who are in their late twenties and thirties complain about aging and worry about birthdays? Have you ever noticed that when you get into your fifties aging is not as big of deal as living and a birthday is a celebration of life?

Just saying. . .

Baaah

I wish I was at Sock Summit. . . .
1. Enjoying the sun is my favorite summertime activity.
2. My favorite John Hughes movies is the Breakfast Club.
3. Di’s snout is something I love to touch.
4. The full moon makes me want to howl!
5. I need to take a nap right now.
6. When daylight fades I sometimes get a creepy feeling.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to working (it is that time of year again), tomorrow my plans include more work and Sunday, I want to do nothing!