Well, of course I KNOW that this is a (supposed) knitting blog. Yes, I know that I haven't talked about knitting much for weeks.
Yes, yes I have been knitting.
On what? Well, I've been knitting on my Hogwarts sock swap pal's socks. No, really. I have. Pictures you ask? Uh, well, let me explain. . . . . . .
Yeah, I suck. I really need to do something to get my blogging mojo back. But I guess it's better to lose your blogging mojo than your knitting mojo right? So, I'm 2/3 of the way done with the first HWSS sock and about 1/2 of the way with the second. I decided that I wanted to add some increases to make the calf more comfy for my secret pal. I'm knitting them toe-up and want to make them a bit longer so I want them to be comfy and not a pair of tourniquets. I started off with a 3X1 rib and am increasing on every other purl to a 3X2 rib and after a few rows of that adjustment will finish off the remaining necessary increases so that they end in a overall 3X2 rib. I started the second sock so that all the increases occurred at about the same spot in the socks (as I am CERTAINLY not counting rows here). So I will be living the in the land of ribbing for a bit now but they are almost done and that makes me happy b/c I am NOT going to be late. Hurray!
I also pulled out one of my oldest (if not THE oldest) WIPs and knit on that for a while. It was like visiting with an old friend and I've truly enjoyed it. I don't want to go on too much about it b/c I don't want to disturb the tenuous relationship we have just re-established but if there is significant progress then I just might let you see who and how much, kay? I got the most beautiful drop spindle from a contest over at Liz's blog and it really is a crime that I haven't posted a picture of it yet. It's a Golding Solid Purpleheart spindle and it's beautiful and all mine! I need to get some plain jane roving to get myself into it again. I had started drop spinning months and months ago but I let it go by the wayside. This spindle though, it calls me to spin it, y'know? It's beautiful and it feels "right" in my hands. . . . .Uh, oh. . . . . .
I have had true distractions to the knitting though (one unfortunate and one fortunate). DS broke (yep another fracture - 2 in fact!) his right little (pinky) finger. No big deal right? Wrong! We had just started practices for swim team and he is in the middle to the end of his baseball season. Bottom line?
No ball sports for at least 2 weeks (almost the end of the season) and no swimming either! UGH! So the poor kid who was just getting into the swing (no pun intended) of things with the swim team in now benched. Sigh. He's taking it well though so I guess that's all that matters.
The fortunate thing that happened was that my cousin flew up from Florida on Friday and spent Memorial Day weekend with us. She came up to visit and for us all to attend GeoWoodstock 5 together! DH, DS and I have been loosely geocaching for 3 years now but my cousin is a die-hard geocacher. It was fun to go to our first organized geocaching event with her and it was a blast to cache all weekend long.
Prior to her coming up to visit, we had a total of 57 finds. We have gone above 125 (I think) this weekend. Woo Hoo! Very fun.
We got to explore our new home state and found parks and naturally beautiful areas, lakes, etc. that we would have never found without the caching. It's truly such a great way to get outdoors, explore the land, get some fresh air and exercise and enjoy eachother's company. It's good for the competitive streak in you too. Nothing like being the one in your group to be able to yell "I found it!" - tee hee.
I was supposed to work today but I got cancelled (probably retribution for cancelling myself on Friday to take DS to the orthopedist for his finger - oh well) today. So, I am watering the lawn (it will therefore rain tonight!), finishing and putting away (ugh) laundry and. . . .KNITTING!
woo hoo.
OK, OK, I will pull out the camera next time. SHeesh! You don't have to yell, y'know! ;-)
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
ooh, ooh, I hadn't done one in SOOOOO long!
You scored as Sarabi. You are Sarabi! Regardless of your gender, you have a warm spot in your heart for all things small and fuzzy. You tend to work well with kids, and they seem happy to oblige. You place a strong emphasis on family relations and chances are one of your closest bonds is with a familial figure of some sort. You're willing to give everyone a chance to prove themselves, even if they falter a few times. However, you do NOT tolerate agression well, and it's a big turn off for you in terms of finding a mate. And while you believe everyone deserves a second chance if they mess up, if their attitude is poor, you're less willing to accept them. Overall, though, you're very upbeat and personable - the perfect best friend!
Which Lion King Character Are You?
created with QuizFarm.com
Tee hee! yeah. (As you all know) I LOVE doing these quizzes. Thanks Knit Wit!! Now to figure out just who Sarabi is. Was that Simba's mom???
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Random Meme
OK, so I got picked for the 8 random things meme by Katherine from Fuzzy Love so, without further delay here they are:
#1) I HATE to read newspapers. I've never been able to hold them right and turning the pages is a pain in the arse. Let's not even start talking about the ink all over your hands or your clothing (if it's white - fuggedaboutit!). YUCKO! (except for the comics. Comics are cool)
#2) The only saving grace for the newspaper (except the above mentioned comics) are the coupons. I love me my coupons. Ooh, and if I can score a sale item with a coupon on a triple coupon day (my grocer always doubles) I am happier than I really should be. (I know, I'm weird)
#3) I can double cross my legs and it's so comfortable to me. I don't know how I do it, I just do.
#4) I have to figure out how to help my DS make a scale model, no bigger than 2 feet tall, of This lighthouse. It's a great one and it will be fun but I only have a week and a half to get it done. Augh! Did I say that there are only 3 1/2 weeks left of school? (we did go and get a styrofoam cone today at Wally World)
#5) I have to drink a can of coke each night at bedtime or I can't fall asleep well. It's weird but it works for me.
#6) Bananas cut up in tomato soup is one of my fave things that comforts me and takes me back to my childhood. YUMMY! (Hey, don't knock it without trying it first, kay?)
#7) Aneurysmectomy is my favorite word, nursing or not. Don't ask me why. Don't know. Just like saying it.
#8) 8 is my favorite number.
Okey, dokey. I tag Erin, Jeanne and Jessica.
#1) I HATE to read newspapers. I've never been able to hold them right and turning the pages is a pain in the arse. Let's not even start talking about the ink all over your hands or your clothing (if it's white - fuggedaboutit!). YUCKO! (except for the comics. Comics are cool)
#2) The only saving grace for the newspaper (except the above mentioned comics) are the coupons. I love me my coupons. Ooh, and if I can score a sale item with a coupon on a triple coupon day (my grocer always doubles) I am happier than I really should be. (I know, I'm weird)
#3) I can double cross my legs and it's so comfortable to me. I don't know how I do it, I just do.
#4) I have to figure out how to help my DS make a scale model, no bigger than 2 feet tall, of This lighthouse. It's a great one and it will be fun but I only have a week and a half to get it done. Augh! Did I say that there are only 3 1/2 weeks left of school? (we did go and get a styrofoam cone today at Wally World)
#5) I have to drink a can of coke each night at bedtime or I can't fall asleep well. It's weird but it works for me.
#6) Bananas cut up in tomato soup is one of my fave things that comforts me and takes me back to my childhood. YUMMY! (Hey, don't knock it without trying it first, kay?)
#7) Aneurysmectomy is my favorite word, nursing or not. Don't ask me why. Don't know. Just like saying it.
#8) 8 is my favorite number.
Okey, dokey. I tag Erin, Jeanne and Jessica.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Linda J. Villar, 41
disclaimer: the start of this post and parts of it are 'bummers' but there is light and hope interspersed throughout. Hang in there while reading, kay?
It's been so long since I have blogged regularly or with any substance really. Those of you who have followed me for a while now know that I have these times. Usually it's because I am in the midst of a depressive episode. I 'retreat' into myself and then when it's time, when it's passed, I resurface. It's a cyclical pattern that is triggered by anything, or nothing at all. I've been 'away' again because of another 'black' period. Not so horrible this time as others, but bad enough. I've given up on trying to analyze and pinpoint what set these episodes off. It's too much work and frankly, is of no use to me. The reasons are so varied and random that I can't really use the information to prevent this so, I just do what I must to get through it and then push on.
Thankfully, I am on the upswing. I have done a lot of selfish self-preservation, thinking, and praying to get back on the upswing. I questioned why this is so hard for me and why I am the way that I am. It usually (eventually) comes back to my realization that I am the sum of all my parts and this disease is one of the parts that MUST be there for the whole to be what it is. Just like in everything else, you must take the good with the bad. There are no free rides in life are there?
So, what is the name above you might ask? Well, it's my part in contributing to the Mother's Day Project. Have you heard of it yet? You might have so I won't go into too many details. If you haven't, it's all described here.
I read about the project, contacted Anne and was put on the list of contributors. Last week I got my name.
That is my casualty for the project. I started reading through blogs of others that have joined this project. Someone brought up a good point. Why do we use the word "casualty" when describing the death of someone in a war? What's so "casual" about war or death at all for that matter? There are many words in the English language that enrage me for their callousness in how they are used. Example: I am a nurse. I HATE when people at work speak of a patient having 'expired' - Milk expires, library book loans expire, magazine subscriptions expire. . . . people DIE. We aren't something that gets 'used up' or goes 'bad'. Someones passing is not a passive act - it's an action. A verb. They die. A death actively affects others - their parents, spouses, children, friends. . . . they all feel the loss ACTIVELY. For me, using such a passive term (expires) somehow lessens the significance of the loss, of their LIFE. It is one of the banes of my nursing existence and enrages me each time I hear it used.
It's been so long since I have blogged regularly or with any substance really. Those of you who have followed me for a while now know that I have these times. Usually it's because I am in the midst of a depressive episode. I 'retreat' into myself and then when it's time, when it's passed, I resurface. It's a cyclical pattern that is triggered by anything, or nothing at all. I've been 'away' again because of another 'black' period. Not so horrible this time as others, but bad enough. I've given up on trying to analyze and pinpoint what set these episodes off. It's too much work and frankly, is of no use to me. The reasons are so varied and random that I can't really use the information to prevent this so, I just do what I must to get through it and then push on.
Thankfully, I am on the upswing. I have done a lot of selfish self-preservation, thinking, and praying to get back on the upswing. I questioned why this is so hard for me and why I am the way that I am. It usually (eventually) comes back to my realization that I am the sum of all my parts and this disease is one of the parts that MUST be there for the whole to be what it is. Just like in everything else, you must take the good with the bad. There are no free rides in life are there?
So, what is the name above you might ask? Well, it's my part in contributing to the Mother's Day Project. Have you heard of it yet? You might have so I won't go into too many details. If you haven't, it's all described here.
I read about the project, contacted Anne and was put on the list of contributors. Last week I got my name.
LINDA J. VILLAR
That is my casualty for the project. I started reading through blogs of others that have joined this project. Someone brought up a good point. Why do we use the word "casualty" when describing the death of someone in a war? What's so "casual" about war or death at all for that matter? There are many words in the English language that enrage me for their callousness in how they are used. Example: I am a nurse. I HATE when people at work speak of a patient having 'expired' - Milk expires, library book loans expire, magazine subscriptions expire. . . . people DIE. We aren't something that gets 'used up' or goes 'bad'. Someones passing is not a passive act - it's an action. A verb. They die. A death actively affects others - their parents, spouses, children, friends. . . . they all feel the loss ACTIVELY. For me, using such a passive term (expires) somehow lessens the significance of the loss, of their LIFE. It is one of the banes of my nursing existence and enrages me each time I hear it used.
"Casualty of War" - that's another one of those terms. I am sure that Linda's husband & family did not find anything casual in their loss in early June of 2005 especially when I am sure they were planning her homecoming party - she was due to come home July 13th.
I do not find anything 'casual' in the intertwining of Linda and myself. There are so many commonalities between us that can NOT be the cause of just 'casual' circumstances. She was 41 at the time of her death - my age now. We both have husbands and children. Her daughter was 11 at the time - my DS will be 11 this year. She adopted New Orleans as her home after moving there during high school - DH and I lived there for 3 years and still feel it is a part of who we are. She was a CIVILIAN at the time of her death serving as support staff to the US Army troops there - my cousin Ana is a civilian in the US Air Force and her job very closely follows along the lines of what Linda did (Ana is also a USAF reservist (Sergeant no less) after having served full time in the USAF right out of high school - she's my hero even if she is 4 years younger than me!). So, as you can see, Linda and I have quite a bit in common and I truly feel that it is not coincidental that I got her name. This is what the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count page notes about Linda:
U.S. Dept. of the Army Civilian Linda J. Villar
Age: 41
From: Franklinton, Louisiana
Assigned To: Field Support Command
Based In: Fort Stewart, GA
Fatality Date: Friday, June 03, 2005
Fatality Cause: Hostile - hostile fire - mortar attack
Fatality Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Here is what the US Army Materiel Command said about Linda in the commentary about the Villar Memorial Room:
Linda was a Master's educated woman who chose to put herself in harm's way in order to serve and support the men and woman who serve and support our country and our freedom. By all accounts that I have read she was a remarkably kind, compassionate and giving human being. So much so that Fort Stewart dedicated a room in her honor in December of 2005. That was the month I turned 40 years old. I was surrounded by family and friends honoring my life in a happy, joyful manner while Linda's family and friends honored her life in a deeper and sorrowful way. Two families honoring woman at virtually the same time in such meaningful yet contrasting ways. How often does that happen? How much of our joy and elation is 'countered' in this universe by someone else's sorrow and pain?[Villar, acting chief, 3rd Infantry Division logistics support element, Baghdad, Iraq, was killed when an insurgent
mortar round struck Camp Liberty, June 3, 2005. She was the first AMC civilian killed while serving in Iraq. “Linda leaves behind a reputation of excellence; she leaves behind a reputation that serves for all of us that wear this uniform, whether you’re a civilian or military. Linda Villar is a tremendous example for all of us to look up to and remember,” said Gen. Benjamin S. Griffin, AMC commanding general and host of the ceremony. Villar, 41, spent most of her 24 years of civilian service with AMC, including the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center, the U.S. Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command, and the U.S. Army Field Support Command. Her awards include the Defense of Freedom Medal, the Meritorious Civilian Service Award and the Army Achievement Award. “Anyone that didn’t meet her really missed a great opportunity. She really touched everybody, and anyone that crossed paths with her knows what I mean,” said Villar’s husband David, a logistics assistance representative, Fort Stewart, Ga.]
So, I spent quite a bit of time thinking about Linda and her family this past weekend. I took the opportunity to thank God that I am so fortunate for all that I have and to feel blessed that I am here to see my son grow up and to grow old with my husband. I prayed for my family, my friends and for all those who serve and died serving this country. I thought about how I would pay tribute to Linda with the project and I decided to stitch her name in RED for the project. Red to symbolize my anger and rage. Red to symbolize the heart of this woman that gave her life so selflessly. Red to symbolize the LOVE this woman had for life and her family. Red to symbolize the blood that she shed for this cause.
I will stitch and I will pray and I will cry and I will be thankful for my life and all my blessings.
Thank you Linda and may you continue to rest in peace.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Happy Birthday Love
My sweet, love of my life, rock of Gibraltar, best friend hubby turns 40 today.
How'd that happen? He is too smokin' to be 40. Love you babe!
Oh, and here's some proof that I still knit AND finish projects!
Fibertrends Felted Clogs
Cascade 220 in Orange and Green (can't remember which ones)
Knit/felted in less than 10 days as a gift for my FIL post Cardiac Surgery.
GO CANES!!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Mashup and GREAT start for the day!
This is a great mashup. Thanks Kerstin!
More later. Today has started as a good day. DS won the code word of the day contest at RadioDisney on the way to school. $500 bucks ain't bad for a 10 year old, y'know? Oh yeah, THAT was the prize. Me? I've won a haircut. DS? He gets $500.
Go figure. Tee hee!
I was so excited for him.
Oh and to continue the fabulous day for DS, tonight is when we have tickets to see the local production of High School Musical.
Zippity do DA!
More later. Today has started as a good day. DS won the code word of the day contest at RadioDisney on the way to school. $500 bucks ain't bad for a 10 year old, y'know? Oh yeah, THAT was the prize. Me? I've won a haircut. DS? He gets $500.
Go figure. Tee hee!
I was so excited for him.
Oh and to continue the fabulous day for DS, tonight is when we have tickets to see the local production of High School Musical.
Zippity do DA!
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
What a great cause!
I found this over at the RAOK board (thanks Allena) and I thought I would post it for others to see as well:
Crocheted squares are welcome and appreciated as well.
Color choices for squares: Maroon, Burnt Orange, White, Black. Please knit or crochet squares out of the nicest, softest yarn you can afford.
Please mail squares to:
Mosaic Yarn Shop
880 University City Blvd.
Blacksburg, Va24060
Thank You to all participants!
xoxoxox,
The staff of Mosaic
Monday, April 23, 2007
Long time, lots of stuff
So, the last time I left you all with a real post, my Mom was here visiting. We took her to the opening weekend of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in D.C. and had a great time. The blooms were amazing this year. The entire basin was lined with them and they were gorgeous. My mom and I were both excited about the majesty of the blooms and all was right with the world.
We also took Mom to Guapo's for dinner (FAB food) where she had a sangria, I had a LARGE margarita and we both got the giggles. It's strange to think that I am actually old enough to get tipsy with my Mom and not worry about it. When did THAT happen? She was the one I always was most afraid of whenever I came home even after the slightest amount of alcohol. I never was, and still am not, a big drinker and I can count the number of times that I have been truly drunk on one hand but, something about Mami always made me nervous if I had ever had any amount of alcohol. Now, here we are getting tipsy together. Tee hee. Fun times.
Great weekend, great company, great time. . . . until we came home. We had left Sunny at our Vet's boarding for the weekend. When we went to pick her up on Monday morning something wasn't right. She came to me but she didn't run, spin in circles or prance as she usually does. She laid at my feet and waited patiently for me to pay the bill. Huh? The girls commented that she had been extremely quiet during her stay. Huh? MY socialite puppy? She turns those eyes on you and mesmerizes you into taking her out and carrying her along with you. What was up? I stood there worried a bit and one of the techs came around the counter. Then she licked her nose and we both noticed that her tongue was extremely pale. EXTREMELY PALE.
Fast forward, she has been diagnosed with Auto-immune hemolytic anemia. Her immune system has turned on her and is destroying her own red blood cells. We can't pinpoint what triggered it: she's negative for all parasitic and tick-borne diseases (but there are many diseases where no specific test is available for them so, who knows) and there aren't any signs of any tumors or other malignancies. Our vet says that sometimes one NEVER knows exactly what triggers this process. Looking back there were signs: she was less likely to bring a toy spontaneously than before; she was content to play fetch for much, much shorter periods of time; she would lay in her crate (usually just a night time thing) during the day rather than on one of her "daybeds" strewn around the house and she had been eating less than usual. Not any one of these things seemed like a red flag at the time and yet here we were. She was pretty sick and is still recovering but the doctor feels that she is no longer in imminent danger of dying (yeah, we were at that point) as she had responded extremely well to therapy.
She remains on steroids and antibiotics and we are monitoring her blood counts closely. We will always have to be aware of this process in her: she MUST be on tick/flea preventative programs; she MUST be on heartworm preventative programs (both year round regardless of weather conditions) AND she will always get minimal vaccinations from now on. We have to be careful to not stimulate her immune system into attack once again. She will have routine bloodwork done now on a regular basis and she will be on/off steroids depending on her blood counts. But, she is responding, she is peppy and she is 90% back to her normal self again.
OK, so that was trauma #1 (yes there was more) since I last spoke with you so, I will leave you with that and will be back with more PLUS pictures of the DC trip and of the FABULOUS yarn my hubby bought me while we were there (Yea, he's good to me - most of the time >wink< ) as well as of the jewelry that Mami and I made.
We also took Mom to Guapo's for dinner (FAB food) where she had a sangria, I had a LARGE margarita and we both got the giggles. It's strange to think that I am actually old enough to get tipsy with my Mom and not worry about it. When did THAT happen? She was the one I always was most afraid of whenever I came home even after the slightest amount of alcohol. I never was, and still am not, a big drinker and I can count the number of times that I have been truly drunk on one hand but, something about Mami always made me nervous if I had ever had any amount of alcohol. Now, here we are getting tipsy together. Tee hee. Fun times.
Great weekend, great company, great time. . . . until we came home. We had left Sunny at our Vet's boarding for the weekend. When we went to pick her up on Monday morning something wasn't right. She came to me but she didn't run, spin in circles or prance as she usually does. She laid at my feet and waited patiently for me to pay the bill. Huh? The girls commented that she had been extremely quiet during her stay. Huh? MY socialite puppy? She turns those eyes on you and mesmerizes you into taking her out and carrying her along with you. What was up? I stood there worried a bit and one of the techs came around the counter. Then she licked her nose and we both noticed that her tongue was extremely pale. EXTREMELY PALE.
Fast forward, she has been diagnosed with Auto-immune hemolytic anemia. Her immune system has turned on her and is destroying her own red blood cells. We can't pinpoint what triggered it: she's negative for all parasitic and tick-borne diseases (but there are many diseases where no specific test is available for them so, who knows) and there aren't any signs of any tumors or other malignancies. Our vet says that sometimes one NEVER knows exactly what triggers this process. Looking back there were signs: she was less likely to bring a toy spontaneously than before; she was content to play fetch for much, much shorter periods of time; she would lay in her crate (usually just a night time thing) during the day rather than on one of her "daybeds" strewn around the house and she had been eating less than usual. Not any one of these things seemed like a red flag at the time and yet here we were. She was pretty sick and is still recovering but the doctor feels that she is no longer in imminent danger of dying (yeah, we were at that point) as she had responded extremely well to therapy.
She remains on steroids and antibiotics and we are monitoring her blood counts closely. We will always have to be aware of this process in her: she MUST be on tick/flea preventative programs; she MUST be on heartworm preventative programs (both year round regardless of weather conditions) AND she will always get minimal vaccinations from now on. We have to be careful to not stimulate her immune system into attack once again. She will have routine bloodwork done now on a regular basis and she will be on/off steroids depending on her blood counts. But, she is responding, she is peppy and she is 90% back to her normal self again.
OK, so that was trauma #1 (yes there was more) since I last spoke with you so, I will leave you with that and will be back with more PLUS pictures of the DC trip and of the FABULOUS yarn my hubby bought me while we were there (Yea, he's good to me - most of the time >wink< ) as well as of the jewelry that Mami and I made.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Monday, April 09, 2007
Sunday, April 08, 2007
I am so excited about this one!!!!!
I just joined this swap and I am so super excited I can't stand it! For my secret Hogwarts pal, here is my questionaire:
Hogwarts Sock Swap Questionnaire
What Hogwarts house have you been sorted into?
Gryffindor! Go scarlet and gold!
Shoe size?
8.5 women’s US
Foot Length?
10 inches (that seems so looooonnng!)
Foot Circumference?
9 inches (really? REALLY?)
List your three favorite double-point needle brands, including size and length.
a. Lantern Moon - 5" size 1 - rosewood
b. Lantern Moon - 5" size 2 - rosewood
c. Brittney - 5" size 1
Would you like to try a new brand needle? If so, which brand? Size? Length?
I really prefer knitting socks with wooden needles (less slippery) and I like to use the shorter needles (easier to manage). I have gotten used to size 1 or 2 needles for socks as well.
If you are a RAVENCLAW, do you prefer the colors in the film or the book? Do you have a strong preference?
N/A to me (but I prefer the movie colors just for the record)
Are you willing to have an international Hogwarts Sock Pal?
Sure.
So, anyhow, this is such a cool, cool swap b/c
a) who doesn't love a swap
b) who doesn't love a sock swap
c) you get not only socks but a new set of needles and a matching set of stitch markers
d) Harry Potter rules!
e) even if we have to say good-bye (sob, sob) to the series, we get a cool pair of handknit socks to comfort us for our loss (boo hoo hoo!)
So, what are all you sock knitters waiting for? Go join! Even if you aren't an HP fan, what's not to love about getting/sharing socks?
Right?!?
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
How funny is this?
So, my Mom is up from Miami visiting for the week. We took her to DC this past weekend. If you all remember, my visit to DC last year to see the Cherry Blossom wasn't a complete bust, but most of the blooms had been blown off the night before by a huge storm. This year, we were there for the first weekend of the Cherry Blossom Festival and it did not dissapoint. Post and pictures on that later but I had to share this with you right away.
Tee hee. The great thing about this was that my hubby didn't even bat an eye when I shoved the camera at him and ran across the street to pose.
Yeah!
Tee hee. The great thing about this was that my hubby didn't even bat an eye when I shoved the camera at him and ran across the street to pose.
Yeah!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
No knitting but some excellent reading
DANG IT! My carpal tunnel is acting up and although I REALLY, REALLY want and need to knit, I can't. . . it really, really hurts right now. :-O
Sigh.
BUT, have no fear, I have found something to occupy my time. . . .has anyone else read this. Man, it's good. Ok, Ok, so I am not lil' miss politics and I do not know anyone who suffered a personal loss on 9/11. . . BUT. . . .
I do know what it is like to have friends who are your lifeline during hard times. I do know that it is very important to tell the people who matter to you that, well, that they matter to you.
This book? FAB! Yes, it's the story of 4 Sept. 11 widows and yes, they do talk about losing their husbands but it is NOT a book about Sept. 11th. It's a love story about 4 women who form a bond that is beyond a "normal" friendship. It is about how they come to understand that life is meant to be shared with people who you love: romantic love, familial love, parent/child love, and just as important, friendship love.
I've always been one to tell people when I love them. Yep, PEOPLE. Not just boys, not just men, not just my family, PEOPLE. I love people all around me in my life. . . and I tell them. I tell them whenever I feel it and whenever I am saying goodbye. I don't want to ever have something happen and have them not know that I loved them. It's important to me. I've seen so many people die with the regret of unspoken words or feelings. I don't want that for me or for those around me. So, if I love you, I'm gonna tell you. Live with it.
A few years ago I met the wife of one of DHs (back then) coworkers - (did that make sense?). Anywho, we met at a baseball game when DS and I got to go to the firm's suite at The Jake. We hit it off right away. Our lives where such parallels of each others. We both grew up in Florida. We both married our college sweethearts. We both wanted lots of kids. We both had just one son. (We both had very similar feelings about that but that's a different story). We both supported our families in New Orleans while our husbands both attended Tulane Law School (different class years - we were a year a head of them). We both are under appreciated (and under paid) professionals - teacher and nurse. (Again, different story). You get the picture, right?
I remember the first time I told her that I loved her as we were hanging up from a phone call. She was taken aback and just said "uh, Thanks". I persisted with subsequent conversations and meetings to tell her that I loved her when saying goodbye b/c I had come to love her. She mattered to me. I wanted her to know it.
I also remember her and I having a conversation where she told me how much me telling her that I loved her meant to her. She started looking at her life different and realizing that she, like many, just assumed that the people who mattered to her just knew that they mattered to her. Of course they know, right? Uh, not necessarily and even if they do, who doesn't like to hear that they matter, that they are loved? She thanked me for teaching her to tell people how she feels. She told me how she had started to say I love you more and how much closer it drew her to those that mattered. She told me that it changed her to hear that she was loved not just by those who were supposed to love her, but by other who chose to love her. So now, each time we write each other or talk, we say "LYLAS" (we pronounce it 'lilas') - love you like a sister.
So, this book, it's a good book. It's written by each of the 4 widows plus another author. Pick it up if you can. It's really a good read.
Oh, and by the way,
when was the last time you told your friends that you loved them???
Sigh.
BUT, have no fear, I have found something to occupy my time. . . .has anyone else read this. Man, it's good. Ok, Ok, so I am not lil' miss politics and I do not know anyone who suffered a personal loss on 9/11. . . BUT. . . .
I do know what it is like to have friends who are your lifeline during hard times. I do know that it is very important to tell the people who matter to you that, well, that they matter to you.
This book? FAB! Yes, it's the story of 4 Sept. 11 widows and yes, they do talk about losing their husbands but it is NOT a book about Sept. 11th. It's a love story about 4 women who form a bond that is beyond a "normal" friendship. It is about how they come to understand that life is meant to be shared with people who you love: romantic love, familial love, parent/child love, and just as important, friendship love.
I've always been one to tell people when I love them. Yep, PEOPLE. Not just boys, not just men, not just my family, PEOPLE. I love people all around me in my life. . . and I tell them. I tell them whenever I feel it and whenever I am saying goodbye. I don't want to ever have something happen and have them not know that I loved them. It's important to me. I've seen so many people die with the regret of unspoken words or feelings. I don't want that for me or for those around me. So, if I love you, I'm gonna tell you. Live with it.
A few years ago I met the wife of one of DHs (back then) coworkers - (did that make sense?). Anywho, we met at a baseball game when DS and I got to go to the firm's suite at The Jake. We hit it off right away. Our lives where such parallels of each others. We both grew up in Florida. We both married our college sweethearts. We both wanted lots of kids. We both had just one son. (We both had very similar feelings about that but that's a different story). We both supported our families in New Orleans while our husbands both attended Tulane Law School (different class years - we were a year a head of them). We both are under appreciated (and under paid) professionals - teacher and nurse. (Again, different story). You get the picture, right?
I remember the first time I told her that I loved her as we were hanging up from a phone call. She was taken aback and just said "uh, Thanks". I persisted with subsequent conversations and meetings to tell her that I loved her when saying goodbye b/c I had come to love her. She mattered to me. I wanted her to know it.
I also remember her and I having a conversation where she told me how much me telling her that I loved her meant to her. She started looking at her life different and realizing that she, like many, just assumed that the people who mattered to her just knew that they mattered to her. Of course they know, right? Uh, not necessarily and even if they do, who doesn't like to hear that they matter, that they are loved? She thanked me for teaching her to tell people how she feels. She told me how she had started to say I love you more and how much closer it drew her to those that mattered. She told me that it changed her to hear that she was loved not just by those who were supposed to love her, but by other who chose to love her. So now, each time we write each other or talk, we say "LYLAS" (we pronounce it 'lilas') - love you like a sister.
So, this book, it's a good book. It's written by each of the 4 widows plus another author. Pick it up if you can. It's really a good read.
Oh, and by the way,
when was the last time you told your friends that you loved them???
Thursday, March 15, 2007
I wish I could be there
I want so much to be here but unfortunately, DH has more business stuff to attend to than ever imagined and so I must be home to play stay at home mom. UGH! I so wanted to be a part of Represent (read the whole post please) because I don't think muggles truly understand how many of us, knitters/crocheters that is, there really are. I don't think they understand WHO we are either (all ages, all types, both sexes, etc.) and therefore underestimate the power of us as a whole.
Sigh. I'm passing on the info in case any of you don't know about this but can make it. If so, take a pix with the traveling sock for me, kay?
BTW, speaking of knitting, (lest you all think I am a complete liar) I have been knitting on the hood of Arwen. I THOUGHT I would have, no scratch that. I SHOULD have a picture of some progress.
Why isn't it here? Well, that would be because I misread my place on the cable chart and therefore crossed cables incorrectly which lead to frogging of MANY, MANY rows of knitting (sob, sob). I truly did almost cry, tears welled up but didn't spill. Sigh.
So I had to frog back to a point where the cables were correct AND where I knew where I was on the chart. This meant frogging much more than beyond the error. (AACK!)
I had to put it down. I couldn't photograph the failure and ensuing disasterous frogging. I might pick it up tonight for Grey's. Believe it or not, I haven't screwed it up while watching that show, just while watching American Idol (must be all the angst over Sanjaya still being there). Course, I just totally jinked myself didn't I?
RATS!
Sigh. I'm passing on the info in case any of you don't know about this but can make it. If so, take a pix with the traveling sock for me, kay?
BTW, speaking of knitting, (lest you all think I am a complete liar) I have been knitting on the hood of Arwen. I THOUGHT I would have, no scratch that. I SHOULD have a picture of some progress.
Why isn't it here? Well, that would be because I misread my place on the cable chart and therefore crossed cables incorrectly which lead to frogging of MANY, MANY rows of knitting (sob, sob). I truly did almost cry, tears welled up but didn't spill. Sigh.
So I had to frog back to a point where the cables were correct AND where I knew where I was on the chart. This meant frogging much more than beyond the error. (AACK!)
I had to put it down. I couldn't photograph the failure and ensuing disasterous frogging. I might pick it up tonight for Grey's. Believe it or not, I haven't screwed it up while watching that show, just while watching American Idol (must be all the angst over Sanjaya still being there). Course, I just totally jinked myself didn't I?
RATS!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
I love Starbucks!
I do anyway but tomorrow, March 15th from 1000 am to noon, they will be giving away free coffee!
So, how many different Starbuck branches do you guys think I can hit for a free cup of joe?
tee hee
So, how many different Starbuck branches do you guys think I can hit for a free cup of joe?
tee hee
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Ugh,
OK, so my shows have all sucked lately. Why you ask? Well first there's the debacle that is American Idol. AACK! Sabrina is gone but Hayley stayed on? WTF???? Sundance is gone but Sanjaya lives? DOUBLE WTF?!?!?!? I guess there is no accounting for America's taste. After tonight's performances I don't see how Sanjaya would be able to look himself in the mirror if someone else got eliminated. Seriously. He's made the top 12. He's going on the AI tour after the show. Enough already. I want to hear people sing and not just see what else he can do with his hair. Seriously. He did the Farrah flip, the grunge scrunched look, the flat ironed style, the ponytail at the nape and now the permed look. ENOUGH! All that's left for him to do is freak and pull a Britney Spears! America, open your ears and LET HIM GO AWAY ALREADY!
Then, THEN Rob and Amber got ousted on The Amazing Race. OMG! The worst part of that whole deal was that he KNEW the path Magellan took but he misspelled Phillipines. AND, he even said "this better not be a spelling thing". I was screaming at the TV. Honestly, I almost cried when they got eliminated. What a bunch of CRAP! They were the best team the first time they raced and they were again this time. They were just so OFF this last leg. . . . .sigh. . . .I really, really, really wanted them to win. Worse yet, we have to watch the crazy cousins (aka Charla and Myrna) for at least 1 more week. Blech!
We haven't had a Grey's in a couple of weeks and I am so GLAD that there will finally be a new one this week. Btw, have any of you done this? No? Well, I did and the results were:
You are Addison!
You are strong and independent and oh so capable, but sometimes you wish you had a shoulder to cry on. When it all gets to be too much, you might find one where you least expect it. You've been unlucky in love before, but maybe it's finally time for you to find lasting happiness. But no matter what is going on with you personally, you can take pride that you make a difference, every day.
Hmmmmm, not sure how I feel about that. I took the dang thing THREE times and each time was the same (y'know, there were a couple of questions where I could have gone between 2 answers - so I tried again).
Knitting newsflash! Arwen has a grafted sleeve cuff and the beginnings of a hoody! Pictures tomorrow (promise)
Then, THEN Rob and Amber got ousted on The Amazing Race. OMG! The worst part of that whole deal was that he KNEW the path Magellan took but he misspelled Phillipines. AND, he even said "this better not be a spelling thing". I was screaming at the TV. Honestly, I almost cried when they got eliminated. What a bunch of CRAP! They were the best team the first time they raced and they were again this time. They were just so OFF this last leg. . . . .sigh. . . .I really, really, really wanted them to win. Worse yet, we have to watch the crazy cousins (aka Charla and Myrna) for at least 1 more week. Blech!
We haven't had a Grey's in a couple of weeks and I am so GLAD that there will finally be a new one this week. Btw, have any of you done this? No? Well, I did and the results were:
You are Addison!
You are strong and independent and oh so capable, but sometimes you wish you had a shoulder to cry on. When it all gets to be too much, you might find one where you least expect it. You've been unlucky in love before, but maybe it's finally time for you to find lasting happiness. But no matter what is going on with you personally, you can take pride that you make a difference, every day.
Hmmmmm, not sure how I feel about that. I took the dang thing THREE times and each time was the same (y'know, there were a couple of questions where I could have gone between 2 answers - so I tried again).
Knitting newsflash! Arwen has a grafted sleeve cuff and the beginnings of a hoody! Pictures tomorrow (promise)
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
I'm not sure I understand why but I'll take it.
I've been posting a lot more regularly (and frequently) over the last few weeks. It's been kind of fun getting back into the swing of blogging and sharing stuff with all my knit/blog sibs (thanks Brenda for the term). I've especially enjoyed it since the move. You have all been such a support and joy for me since coming to NC. I lost all my "in person" friends but I got to keep all of you so, things have been a bit easier than they would have been without you. During the months since the move, whenever I've felt a 'black day' coming on, I've sat down and read my blogs (I really need to update my list, sorry guys) and written here. It's kept me much less lonelier than had you all not been here for me. Thank you so much for all that you give me.
That being said, let me explain the title of this post. Although I don't get a ton of comments (lurkers, I know you are out there - tee hee), I do get enough that I feel 'connected' with you all. I'm grateful for each comment I get. I have recently gotten a few wonderful comments where I have been complimented on my blog and have been told that this delightful blog (I still can't get over that - tee hee hee) is being added to their blog reading.
Me. Little old me is keeping you all entertained AND getting wonderful comments like that. I am humbled (and honestly dumbfounded). I mean, this is just me rambling on and on. I read other blogs and I totally "get" why they are so popular and why I have them on my bloglists but ME? Seriously? No, I mean, SERIOUSLY?????
So, I don't quite get why you all keep coming back but I wanted to say that I thank GOD every day that you do and that you all are so kind to me in your comments, encouragement and support. You have all been so much more to me than you can all imagine and I thought I should take a moment (and a post) to thank you.
SERIOUSLY.
(btw, March 15th can't come soon enough) - Hey, did I mention that I scored some of these? I am SO excited with them. They are AMAZING! Thanks again Amy, they are amazing.
Lest you think this is no longer a blog about knitting, I have completed 3 washcloths, a set of wrist warmer (Noro Silk Garden - yummy!) and have finished the first sleeve of Arwen. Slow but steady wins the race, right?
__________________*****************______________________
OK, so American Idol this week. Here are my calls.
Boys first as usual. What the heck is up with them? I agree with Paula, Randy and Simon. There are really only a few guys worth the competition at this time. But, only two have to go so I think that although SANJAYA is the first that needs to go, with the way things have been going (who is voting for him? - I heard that in the votes last week he was 4th among the guys - huh?) I think that PHIL (Leann Rimes song? WTF?) and SUNDANCE (only Eddie Vedder should sing Pearl Jam songs - especially Jeremy) are going to go this week.
Girls next: Please, please, please I don't think she will go but ANTONELLA should go. That being said, I think that HALEY (again please, please, please - if I want to see someone like her, I'll go on a cruise, ok?) and GINA (damn, I LIKE her) are going to go.
Who do I want to see go? I want it to be Sanjaya and Phil (though his story is fab) and Antonella and Haley. I'm afraid for Sundance and Gina though. . . . .
That being said, let me explain the title of this post. Although I don't get a ton of comments (lurkers, I know you are out there - tee hee), I do get enough that I feel 'connected' with you all. I'm grateful for each comment I get. I have recently gotten a few wonderful comments where I have been complimented on my blog and have been told that this delightful blog (I still can't get over that - tee hee hee) is being added to their blog reading.
Me. Little old me is keeping you all entertained AND getting wonderful comments like that. I am humbled (and honestly dumbfounded). I mean, this is just me rambling on and on. I read other blogs and I totally "get" why they are so popular and why I have them on my bloglists but ME? Seriously? No, I mean, SERIOUSLY?????
So, I don't quite get why you all keep coming back but I wanted to say that I thank GOD every day that you do and that you all are so kind to me in your comments, encouragement and support. You have all been so much more to me than you can all imagine and I thought I should take a moment (and a post) to thank you.
SERIOUSLY.
(btw, March 15th can't come soon enough) - Hey, did I mention that I scored some of these? I am SO excited with them. They are AMAZING! Thanks again Amy, they are amazing.
Lest you think this is no longer a blog about knitting, I have completed 3 washcloths, a set of wrist warmer (Noro Silk Garden - yummy!) and have finished the first sleeve of Arwen. Slow but steady wins the race, right?
__________________*****************______________________
OK, so American Idol this week. Here are my calls.
Boys first as usual. What the heck is up with them? I agree with Paula, Randy and Simon. There are really only a few guys worth the competition at this time. But, only two have to go so I think that although SANJAYA is the first that needs to go, with the way things have been going (who is voting for him? - I heard that in the votes last week he was 4th among the guys - huh?) I think that PHIL (Leann Rimes song? WTF?) and SUNDANCE (only Eddie Vedder should sing Pearl Jam songs - especially Jeremy) are going to go this week.
Girls next: Please, please, please I don't think she will go but ANTONELLA should go. That being said, I think that HALEY (again please, please, please - if I want to see someone like her, I'll go on a cruise, ok?) and GINA (damn, I LIKE her) are going to go.
Who do I want to see go? I want it to be Sanjaya and Phil (though his story is fab) and Antonella and Haley. I'm afraid for Sundance and Gina though. . . . .
Sunday, March 04, 2007
A funny thing happened while on my way to . . . .
walk around in New Bern, NC yesterday.
Let me explain. Yesterday afternoon, DH decided that we should take a little day trip. We enjoy getting in the car and just going somewhere to see what's there, enjoy the car drive and each other's company. So, finally at 12:30 (after quite a while of trying to find a place to go) we set off to New Bern. Nothing planned, just a drive. We were having a nice drive but along the way I got hungry so we stopped to have lunch at a Diner along State Route 70. Nothing planned, just lunch and then back on the road. We finally arrived at New Bern around 4:30 in the afternoon, knowing full well that most of the shops would be closed but figuring that we would walk around, see the town, eat dinner and go home. Again, nothing planned, just a nice day together.
As I got out of the car and started walking down the street, I heard some rapidly approaching footsteps and some laughter. I turned around and found myself face to face with Lolly! How weird is that?
Especially considering that a) we got off to a much later start than DH had anticipated, b) we happened to pick New Bern to visit c) lunch took longer than we expected, d) that we happened to park on the very street that she happened to be on at the same time that she was on it, e) that she happened to look out of the window from the shop that she was in across the street from where we parked at the very moment that I got out of our car. and f) that Lolly just happened to be visiting her sisters on this particular weekend.
Freaky neat, huh?
It was one of those synchronicity moments in life where things just all fall in to place to put you at a particular place at a particular time for a particular reason. Sorta spooky but cool at the same time.
I was glad to see my friend again. I hadn't seen her since last year and it was nice to see her again, especially so completely unexpectedly! Even funnier was the fact that while discussing where to go yesterday, we talked about going to see the Cherry Blossoms again this year and how I would have to write Lolly before we went there this year.
And people say that there is no such thing as fate. . . .
Let me explain. Yesterday afternoon, DH decided that we should take a little day trip. We enjoy getting in the car and just going somewhere to see what's there, enjoy the car drive and each other's company. So, finally at 12:30 (after quite a while of trying to find a place to go) we set off to New Bern. Nothing planned, just a drive. We were having a nice drive but along the way I got hungry so we stopped to have lunch at a Diner along State Route 70. Nothing planned, just lunch and then back on the road. We finally arrived at New Bern around 4:30 in the afternoon, knowing full well that most of the shops would be closed but figuring that we would walk around, see the town, eat dinner and go home. Again, nothing planned, just a nice day together.
As I got out of the car and started walking down the street, I heard some rapidly approaching footsteps and some laughter. I turned around and found myself face to face with Lolly! How weird is that?
Especially considering that a) we got off to a much later start than DH had anticipated, b) we happened to pick New Bern to visit c) lunch took longer than we expected, d) that we happened to park on the very street that she happened to be on at the same time that she was on it, e) that she happened to look out of the window from the shop that she was in across the street from where we parked at the very moment that I got out of our car. and f) that Lolly just happened to be visiting her sisters on this particular weekend.
Freaky neat, huh?
It was one of those synchronicity moments in life where things just all fall in to place to put you at a particular place at a particular time for a particular reason. Sorta spooky but cool at the same time.
I was glad to see my friend again. I hadn't seen her since last year and it was nice to see her again, especially so completely unexpectedly! Even funnier was the fact that while discussing where to go yesterday, we talked about going to see the Cherry Blossoms again this year and how I would have to write Lolly before we went there this year.
And people say that there is no such thing as fate. . . .
Thursday, March 01, 2007
What happened??
OK, so I got the girls right. Despite a poor performance, Antonella is good looking AND "edgy" right now (what with the pix and all) so I didn't think she would go. . . . quite yet. She better pick it up BIG time though. It's coming. . . . (no pun intended).
Now, WHAT HAPPENED with the guys???? Ok, Ok, AJ was next on my list (saved by a better performance than Brandon for my pick this week) so I can 'understand' him being gone. Nick was smooth though. Simon was right about the outfit and charisma but COME ON, Sanjaya did much worse in BOTH categories PLUS his performance was mediocre at best.
I agree whole heartedly with Paula and Simon. This may be a singing competition but the voting did not reflect that tonight. Of course this IS American Idol. . . . . .
Now, WHAT HAPPENED with the guys???? Ok, Ok, AJ was next on my list (saved by a better performance than Brandon for my pick this week) so I can 'understand' him being gone. Nick was smooth though. Simon was right about the outfit and charisma but COME ON, Sanjaya did much worse in BOTH categories PLUS his performance was mediocre at best.
I agree whole heartedly with Paula and Simon. This may be a singing competition but the voting did not reflect that tonight. Of course this IS American Idol. . . . . .
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
I said I would call it. . . . .
although I am not as sure this week as I was last week.
Alright so starting with the guys:
Great hair or not, Sanjaya is out. I would be shocked if he stayed. What WAS that performance??
Ugh! I am having such a hard time with picking the second one but I unfortunately think that Brandon didn't make a good song choice and for that alone he is going to be out. I normally would have said that AJ would be out next but his performance got the audience much more involved than Brandon's. Sorry B loved your voice but your song didn't showcase it at all.
I like Jared's voice and he is definitely some of the better eye candy but, ugh, he KNOWS it. Blech. Simon is right about Phil. Between being in the Military, his dedication on Tuesday to the troops, his story with the birth of his daughter and his personality, he ain't going nowhere anytime soon. He truly is adorable. If I could snatch up his smile and sell it I would be rich quick. But his voice won't carry him beyond the final . . . . . uh, 10?
Now the girls:
First, I have to say that the boys stepped it up a notch and the girls came back a notch so they are on equal playing fields. Other than Melinda who had an amazing rendition of "My Funny Valentine", everyone elses nerves were showing or they just aren't as good. Despite their improvements from last week, I am going to say that Alaina and Leslie will be leaving. If either one of them stays it will be because of their looks. It's a shame because I think that Alaina is much more talented than she is coming off on the show and Leslie is a great jazz vocalist but that doesn't win American Idol. Y'know?
Stephanie and Sabrina really let me down this week with weak songs and performances. I don't know, I guess I just don't like those genres (although I love Beyonce but that song not so much).
I'm gong to go out on a limb and say that although it's a hard choice between her, Jordin and Lakisha, I think that Melinda is going to ultimately win it all.
I really wish that Chris Sligh could win though. Gotta love him. What a sweetie and hilarious too!
BTW, I thought you all might get a kick out of this, despite not really "watching" the show (he sits through it because of DS and I) DH is amazingly on the same train of thought as Simon. It's kinda funny to watch actually. He'll make comments after a performance and then Simon says the same thing (sometimes verbatim). When did I marry a Brit?
Alright so starting with the guys:
Great hair or not, Sanjaya is out. I would be shocked if he stayed. What WAS that performance??
Ugh! I am having such a hard time with picking the second one but I unfortunately think that Brandon didn't make a good song choice and for that alone he is going to be out. I normally would have said that AJ would be out next but his performance got the audience much more involved than Brandon's. Sorry B loved your voice but your song didn't showcase it at all.
I like Jared's voice and he is definitely some of the better eye candy but, ugh, he KNOWS it. Blech. Simon is right about Phil. Between being in the Military, his dedication on Tuesday to the troops, his story with the birth of his daughter and his personality, he ain't going nowhere anytime soon. He truly is adorable. If I could snatch up his smile and sell it I would be rich quick. But his voice won't carry him beyond the final . . . . . uh, 10?
Now the girls:
First, I have to say that the boys stepped it up a notch and the girls came back a notch so they are on equal playing fields. Other than Melinda who had an amazing rendition of "My Funny Valentine", everyone elses nerves were showing or they just aren't as good. Despite their improvements from last week, I am going to say that Alaina and Leslie will be leaving. If either one of them stays it will be because of their looks. It's a shame because I think that Alaina is much more talented than she is coming off on the show and Leslie is a great jazz vocalist but that doesn't win American Idol. Y'know?
Stephanie and Sabrina really let me down this week with weak songs and performances. I don't know, I guess I just don't like those genres (although I love Beyonce but that song not so much).
I'm gong to go out on a limb and say that although it's a hard choice between her, Jordin and Lakisha, I think that Melinda is going to ultimately win it all.
I really wish that Chris Sligh could win though. Gotta love him. What a sweetie and hilarious too!
BTW, I thought you all might get a kick out of this, despite not really "watching" the show (he sits through it because of DS and I) DH is amazingly on the same train of thought as Simon. It's kinda funny to watch actually. He'll make comments after a performance and then Simon says the same thing (sometimes verbatim). When did I marry a Brit?
I'm so dead
Remember yesterday?
Remember this?
Well, she got a big sister today:
Sigh. I love her. Here are a few close-ups of some details:
I love the hammered silver rings. You can't tell in the picture but they have some character in them with the impressions left from the hammering. Too cool. I love the way the links of the chain mimic the look of the stones. Yeah for good "karma" when crafting.
Here they are together:
See? THIS is why hubby should NEVER leave me alone. It's a bad, bad thing. In my defense though, I had one lonely solitary bead left after making the bracelet yesterday and I didn't have a coordinating necklace and I just COULDN'T let that one bead go to waste. I probably would have lost it somewhere along the way. . . . .
That's what I'm going with anyway.
Will post my call for AI after the show tonight. Got some straight K1 P1 to keep me occupied without needing to concentrate on what I am doing.
Remember this?
Well, she got a big sister today:
Sigh. I love her. Here are a few close-ups of some details:
I love the hammered silver rings. You can't tell in the picture but they have some character in them with the impressions left from the hammering. Too cool. I love the way the links of the chain mimic the look of the stones. Yeah for good "karma" when crafting.
Here they are together:
See? THIS is why hubby should NEVER leave me alone. It's a bad, bad thing. In my defense though, I had one lonely solitary bead left after making the bracelet yesterday and I didn't have a coordinating necklace and I just COULDN'T let that one bead go to waste. I probably would have lost it somewhere along the way. . . . .
That's what I'm going with anyway.
Will post my call for AI after the show tonight. Got some straight K1 P1 to keep me occupied without needing to concentrate on what I am doing.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Lookie what I did today!
It all started innocently enough. Really. DH is out of town and I was running a few errands he left for me to do for him. Good wife, right? OK, so I went to the usual coffee and bagel place and sat there for about an hour drinking my coffee and knitting. Great and relaxing time. I made good progress on Arwen so I was really happy. All is good so far for the day. So, then I went on my way to run the errands and while I was doing that I drove by a store that I've been meaning to check out.
Love the store. Very ecclectic with lots of cool items. So, I found a very pretty set of earrings (dangling gold tone hoopy earrings) on the clearance table (woo hoo). I then found a cool long necklace, double chain with amber colored beads & hoops with gold-tone chains. Score! Cost of the two? $22 (including tax) - Gotta love them clearance tables.
So, then I was thinking of what I was going to wear with them. . . . and the OCD kicked in when I realized that I had absolutely no bracelet that would match. Dang!
What's a girl to do? I went to the bead shop that I have been meaning to check out and made this:
Love it and it looks GREAT with the earrings and necklace. While I was there I saw the coolest big chunky glass beads and I HAD to have them. So, I made this:
I tried to get the spacers in between the beads with the close-up but I don't think it showed up well. Anyway, they are just silver balls but they make the chunky glass really 'pop'.
Total for the two? $30. Man oh man I LOVE being crafty. . . . . .
until tonight when I totally screwed up the shoulder short rows of Arwen and had to rip out about 8-10 rows of work. That's what I get for knitting and watching AI at the same time. Good thing is that I just ended up back where I was when I left the coffee shop. Sigh. It's worth it though. This is my first major sweater (well, first sweater period), my first cabling and my first piecing together of a project/garment so I want it to be right. BTW, I am holding off on calling my elimination predictions on the AI contestants until after I watch the girls perform.
Gotta go review my short row tutorials now.
Love the store. Very ecclectic with lots of cool items. So, I found a very pretty set of earrings (dangling gold tone hoopy earrings) on the clearance table (woo hoo). I then found a cool long necklace, double chain with amber colored beads & hoops with gold-tone chains. Score! Cost of the two? $22 (including tax) - Gotta love them clearance tables.
So, then I was thinking of what I was going to wear with them. . . . and the OCD kicked in when I realized that I had absolutely no bracelet that would match. Dang!
What's a girl to do? I went to the bead shop that I have been meaning to check out and made this:
Love it and it looks GREAT with the earrings and necklace. While I was there I saw the coolest big chunky glass beads and I HAD to have them. So, I made this:
I tried to get the spacers in between the beads with the close-up but I don't think it showed up well. Anyway, they are just silver balls but they make the chunky glass really 'pop'.
Total for the two? $30. Man oh man I LOVE being crafty. . . . . .
until tonight when I totally screwed up the shoulder short rows of Arwen and had to rip out about 8-10 rows of work. That's what I get for knitting and watching AI at the same time. Good thing is that I just ended up back where I was when I left the coffee shop. Sigh. It's worth it though. This is my first major sweater (well, first sweater period), my first cabling and my first piecing together of a project/garment so I want it to be right. BTW, I am holding off on calling my elimination predictions on the AI contestants until after I watch the girls perform.
Gotta go review my short row tutorials now.
Monday, February 26, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Cold and CHAI!
So, it got up to almost 70 here on Wednesday. It was NICE! Then last night and today the temps have plummeted and we are back down in the 30's at night and low 50's during the day. Now, I am not saying that it couldn't be worse (Cleveland is 24 degrees right NOW! - brrrrrr) but a 20+ change in temp in 24 - 28 hours is a bit much, no?
So, I woke up this morning really cold and decided I needed some Chai. Chai warms me to my bones better than anything else I can think of or drink. I think it's all in the spices. The combination gets everything warm from the inside out. AAAHH! ;-)
I was mixing up my chai mix when I realized that I don't think I have shared that here on the blog. So, here it is:
Instant Chai Mix
1 tsp ground Ginger
1 tsp ground Cardamom (you can get it at most grocery stores or World Market)
1/2 tsp ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground Nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground Cloves
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk (I use the Fat-free kind)
Mix all the dry ingredients together. Place the sweetened cond. milk in a container and slowly add the dry ingredients mixing in well and thoroughly. Keep mixture refrigerated in an air-tight sealed container (I use gladware or tupperware).
OK, so now that you have this sugary concoction, how do you use it? Simple, simple.
1. Brew some strong tea (I like to use strong Black tea but any tea is good. I have even used your basic Lipton tea. I also think you probably want to stay away from 'flavored' teas as the flavors may compete with each other.
2. Add mixture to your tea to taste (I use about 1 1/2 tablespoon per a big mug of tea).
3. Mix thoroughly and ENJOY!
YUM-O!
So, I woke up this morning really cold and decided I needed some Chai. Chai warms me to my bones better than anything else I can think of or drink. I think it's all in the spices. The combination gets everything warm from the inside out. AAAHH! ;-)
I was mixing up my chai mix when I realized that I don't think I have shared that here on the blog. So, here it is:
Instant Chai Mix
1 tsp ground Ginger
1 tsp ground Cardamom (you can get it at most grocery stores or World Market)
1/2 tsp ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground Nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground Cloves
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk (I use the Fat-free kind)
Mix all the dry ingredients together. Place the sweetened cond. milk in a container and slowly add the dry ingredients mixing in well and thoroughly. Keep mixture refrigerated in an air-tight sealed container (I use gladware or tupperware).
OK, so now that you have this sugary concoction, how do you use it? Simple, simple.
1. Brew some strong tea (I like to use strong Black tea but any tea is good. I have even used your basic Lipton tea. I also think you probably want to stay away from 'flavored' teas as the flavors may compete with each other.
2. Add mixture to your tea to taste (I use about 1 1/2 tablespoon per a big mug of tea).
3. Mix thoroughly and ENJOY!
YUM-O!
Thursday, February 22, 2007
What to do, what to do
Aye, aye, AYE! What is a girl to do? Tonight is going to be a tough juggling act. Let's see @ 8 pm there's American Idol vs. Survivor and then at 9 pm there's Grey's and CSI. Well, 9 pm is really easy. I need to see how Meredith relays all the near-death experiences to the other characters. What IS Izzie going to say or do about Mer getting the chance to see and speak with Denny again? CSI is on the DVR and hubby and I will watch either after or another night.
Now, 8 pm is a whole different ballgame. Sigh. I think the deciding factor is going to be whether or not the hubby is home by 8 pm. He's not into Idol although he watches with DS and I. We are ALL into Survivor so, if he's here we'll watch that. Otherwise, DS and I will be intently watching Idol and guessing who's gone (I say it should be Nicole and Amy for the girls and for the guys I say Rudy and Sanjaya although Paul is in trouble as well).
All of these are of course on the DVR recording list so it's not like I won't see any of them. It's just WHICH one will I see live (uh, besides Grey's - tee hee)
BTW, does ANYONE know where I can get this dress???
I LOVE that dress. Did she look HOT or what? Ugh, how do I google that?????
Now, 8 pm is a whole different ballgame. Sigh. I think the deciding factor is going to be whether or not the hubby is home by 8 pm. He's not into Idol although he watches with DS and I. We are ALL into Survivor so, if he's here we'll watch that. Otherwise, DS and I will be intently watching Idol and guessing who's gone (I say it should be Nicole and Amy for the girls and for the guys I say Rudy and Sanjaya although Paul is in trouble as well).
All of these are of course on the DVR recording list so it's not like I won't see any of them. It's just WHICH one will I see live (uh, besides Grey's - tee hee)
BTW, does ANYONE know where I can get this dress???
I LOVE that dress. Did she look HOT or what? Ugh, how do I google that?????
Friday, February 16, 2007
Some pictures finally!
So I finally got around to getting some pictures of the "spoiling" that my Mom did on her last day here with me during her visit. My kitchen (which you all know that I LOVE) had a significant amount of space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling that was just screaming for "something". So, my Mom wanted to fill that space for me. Off to Homegoods we went for "the hunt". Who would have thunk it? We found just the "right" stuff. Take a looksy:
Ok, Ok, so that picture is hard to see the jars/plates. It was the best I could do to show you the entire area. I am trying to go with a rustic feel (I say Italian Tuscany'ish' but DH thinks it all looks much more French Provincial - either way, I LIKE IT!) So, here are the "close-ups"
We got 2 of these 'squarish' plates because there were only 2 types of plates but I needed a total of 3 plates.
Aren't they all just so pretty? It really made the kitchen seem more "finished" to have those on the tops of the cabinets and they brought out the color of the walls beautifully.
I also took a few more "progress" pictures of Arwen since I hadn't taken any in a while. Progress has slowed but I haven't given up. I am almost exclusively knitting on her, I just haven't had much knitting time period.
I like the way it's coming along. It's working up well. . . . .
Ok, Ok, so that picture is hard to see the jars/plates. It was the best I could do to show you the entire area. I am trying to go with a rustic feel (I say Italian Tuscany'ish' but DH thinks it all looks much more French Provincial - either way, I LIKE IT!) So, here are the "close-ups"
We got 2 of these 'squarish' plates because there were only 2 types of plates but I needed a total of 3 plates.
Aren't they all just so pretty? It really made the kitchen seem more "finished" to have those on the tops of the cabinets and they brought out the color of the walls beautifully.
I also took a few more "progress" pictures of Arwen since I hadn't taken any in a while. Progress has slowed but I haven't given up. I am almost exclusively knitting on her, I just haven't had much knitting time period.
I like the way it's coming along. It's working up well. . . . .
HOLY. . . . . . . .
OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG. Can any of you BELIEVE last night's Grey's???? Crap, crap, crap - 7 days is way too long to wait for the conclusion of this whole thing.
I don't have another word to say on it. There's too much to say except to quote Meredith "Holy. . . . . !"
I don't have another word to say on it. There's too much to say except to quote Meredith "Holy. . . . . !"
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Happy Valentine's Day!
I know, I know, it's a super sappy, over-commercialized excuse of a holiday where flower, candy, card and jewelry companies all take us on a ride and often times leave us stranded. . . . . BUT. . . .it is a day to show and tell the people you love the most how much they mean to you.
To my dearest hubby. I LOVE you. I love you in more ways than I thought I would every be able to love. You drive me to the edge of insanity on some days but always manage to make sure I never fall off the precipice! (tee hee) Thank you for all the laughter, love, joy and abundance you have gifted me with in all of our years together. I am blessed.
To my most precious son. You are an absolutely awe inspiring miracle that I cherish more and more with each passing day. How did I ever make such a thing of true perfection? Your wit, warmth and smile make my heart burst with pride and joy whenever I think of you. There isn't a day that I don't thank God for having allowed me the privilege and honor to be your mom. I don't know what I did to deserve you but I will forever be amazed by you.
As you all may have read earlier here, I spent the weekend before last with my Mom who came up for a visit (finally). We had a grand time. I had not seen her in over 8 or 9 months (with the packing, moving and settling in and all) and I had missed her terribly. It was a good visit. It was busy but not crazy and I spent every moment she was here with her. She calms me and centers me and I love her with a depth I was unable to comprehend when I was younger. The visit could not have come at any better time.
I was awakened early on the Monday morning of February 5th by a call from my dear friend Candi. Her mother was dying. . . . .that day. (She too is a nurse). She had taken a very bad turn the night before and now it was just a matter of a few hours. . . . . . .
I woke up and my Mom and I prepared a good breakfast for ourselves and DS. We dropped him off at school and had the entire day, just the 2 of us, together. We talked and shopped and just spent the day 'being' together. My Mom spoiled me. I let her. I took her to lunch. She let me. She was supposed to leave at a time where I would have to drop her off at the airport without her seeing DS again. Her flight was delayed. We went to pick him up and we were all thrilled that the two of them got to see eachother again and slip in some more hugs and kisses.
I had to explain to my DS that I would be leaving to go spend time with Ms. Candi because her Mom had passed. He looked at me with a comprehension beyond his age and told me simply that he "loved me" and how very very sorry he was for Ms. Candi. I booked my flights, DH came home, I quickly packed and I was off.
I arrived around midnight and spent Tuesday - Thursday with my friend. We stayed up late, we watched mindless TV, we ate, we drove around her city, we cleaned out her Mom's room in the long-term facility, we took shoes to the funeral home, we had dinner with the rest of her family, we laughed and we cried. I stood with her throughout the services and we were the only two standing there as they interred (sp?) her Mom's casket in the Mausoleum (sp?). It was as it's always been for us in our friendship. Just the 2 of us standing in a quiet understanding that is only shared and comfortable by the closest of friends.
On the flights home, I thought about how absolutely precious and short our time here is. I heard of the untimely (although not too surprising to me) death of such a young american personality in the airport and was again struck with the thought of life and death. I spent every moment possible with my boys this weekend. I helped my son as he prepared dinner for DH and I (THAT's a post in and of itself - too sweet) and was amazed at his maturity and abilities in the kitchen. I enjoyed every moment with each of them.
I worked both Monday and Tuesday and I took care of some VERY young patients (21, 23 and 26). Two VERY VERY sick (brain tumors - one definitely malignant and the other awaiting results) and one unexpected but in the end lesser illness (acute appendicitis requiring urgent appendectomy). The brain tumor patient with the diagnosis has a very BAD form and an extremely poor prognosis. So young. So sad.
Anyhow, enough with all that. My point here is that I've been getting many, many reminders about the preciousness of life and those around us and I am NOT going to ignore it all. I am going to celebrate my loves today. Despite the 'sappyness' and obvious commercialization - show the ones you love how much you love them today (and every day after that!)
Now, I am going to go and spend some time on loving myself (absolutely necessary - I am going to knit!) since my boys are at school and work (respectively) before I have to go run errands!
To my dearest hubby. I LOVE you. I love you in more ways than I thought I would every be able to love. You drive me to the edge of insanity on some days but always manage to make sure I never fall off the precipice! (tee hee) Thank you for all the laughter, love, joy and abundance you have gifted me with in all of our years together. I am blessed.To my most precious son. You are an absolutely awe inspiring miracle that I cherish more and more with each passing day. How did I ever make such a thing of true perfection? Your wit, warmth and smile make my heart burst with pride and joy whenever I think of you. There isn't a day that I don't thank God for having allowed me the privilege and honor to be your mom. I don't know what I did to deserve you but I will forever be amazed by you.
As you all may have read earlier here, I spent the weekend before last with my Mom who came up for a visit (finally). We had a grand time. I had not seen her in over 8 or 9 months (with the packing, moving and settling in and all) and I had missed her terribly. It was a good visit. It was busy but not crazy and I spent every moment she was here with her. She calms me and centers me and I love her with a depth I was unable to comprehend when I was younger. The visit could not have come at any better time.
I was awakened early on the Monday morning of February 5th by a call from my dear friend Candi. Her mother was dying. . . . .that day. (She too is a nurse). She had taken a very bad turn the night before and now it was just a matter of a few hours. . . . . . .
I woke up and my Mom and I prepared a good breakfast for ourselves and DS. We dropped him off at school and had the entire day, just the 2 of us, together. We talked and shopped and just spent the day 'being' together. My Mom spoiled me. I let her. I took her to lunch. She let me. She was supposed to leave at a time where I would have to drop her off at the airport without her seeing DS again. Her flight was delayed. We went to pick him up and we were all thrilled that the two of them got to see eachother again and slip in some more hugs and kisses.
I had to explain to my DS that I would be leaving to go spend time with Ms. Candi because her Mom had passed. He looked at me with a comprehension beyond his age and told me simply that he "loved me" and how very very sorry he was for Ms. Candi. I booked my flights, DH came home, I quickly packed and I was off.
I arrived around midnight and spent Tuesday - Thursday with my friend. We stayed up late, we watched mindless TV, we ate, we drove around her city, we cleaned out her Mom's room in the long-term facility, we took shoes to the funeral home, we had dinner with the rest of her family, we laughed and we cried. I stood with her throughout the services and we were the only two standing there as they interred (sp?) her Mom's casket in the Mausoleum (sp?). It was as it's always been for us in our friendship. Just the 2 of us standing in a quiet understanding that is only shared and comfortable by the closest of friends.
On the flights home, I thought about how absolutely precious and short our time here is. I heard of the untimely (although not too surprising to me) death of such a young american personality in the airport and was again struck with the thought of life and death. I spent every moment possible with my boys this weekend. I helped my son as he prepared dinner for DH and I (THAT's a post in and of itself - too sweet) and was amazed at his maturity and abilities in the kitchen. I enjoyed every moment with each of them.
I worked both Monday and Tuesday and I took care of some VERY young patients (21, 23 and 26). Two VERY VERY sick (brain tumors - one definitely malignant and the other awaiting results) and one unexpected but in the end lesser illness (acute appendicitis requiring urgent appendectomy). The brain tumor patient with the diagnosis has a very BAD form and an extremely poor prognosis. So young. So sad.
Anyhow, enough with all that. My point here is that I've been getting many, many reminders about the preciousness of life and those around us and I am NOT going to ignore it all. I am going to celebrate my loves today. Despite the 'sappyness' and obvious commercialization - show the ones you love how much you love them today (and every day after that!)
Now, I am going to go and spend some time on loving myself (absolutely necessary - I am going to knit!) since my boys are at school and work (respectively) before I have to go run errands!
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Seven link Sunday
Ok, thanks to Kate for this idea. Here goes:
Tipsy Knitter Bags
Chub Creek Podcast
Cast-On Podcast
Delightful Blogs
Knitting RN
Go Red for Women
And the last one which is really, really funny:
Pachelbel Rant
Well, there ya go!
BTW, Yeah the Colts one!
Tipsy Knitter Bags
Chub Creek Podcast
Cast-On Podcast
Delightful Blogs
Knitting RN
Go Red for Women
And the last one which is really, really funny:
Pachelbel Rant
Well, there ya go!
BTW, Yeah the Colts one!
Friday, February 02, 2007
Permission to vent
OK, so this isn't going to be knitting related. I just really need to vent here. Thanks for listening.
So, let me start by saying that work since the move has been good. I am doing agency work (rent a nurse) but doing it all at UNC hospitals (no hospital hopping) AND I am working all the hours that I make myself available. Everyone I have worked with at the hospital has been very nice and welcoming. No problems with coworkers.
Yesterday however I had an "issue" with a physician (of course a physician) at work. First of all, why is it that all Cardiothoracic surgeons are A$$es???? Where in their training do they pick this trait up? Or is it the nature of that specialty that only A$$es would go into it? Maybe all the current A$$es drive all the HUMAN docs out of that specialty. Maybe they all just learn to be A$$es during their work. I don't know what it is but I must say that after 18 (almost 19) years of CT nursing, I have only met ONE CT surgeon who was a decent human being. SERIOUSLY.
So, anyhow, yesterday. Yesterday I got to work and upon receiving report I quickly realized that 1 of my 3 patients was in seriously bad shape. SERIOUSLY bad. Now, problem here being that I was working on the CT stepdown unit and not in the actual CTICU. So, I knew that I had to do some work to a) get this patient better quick or b) get this patient to the unit quick. I went into his room first.
Without getting into all the specifics of the case let's just say that this patient was post-op Thoracic surgery and was now in a state where his respiratory rate had been deteriorating throughout the night and was now coming to a head. Respiratory rate rapid and labored, oxygen status low, obvious pulmonary congestion, decreased urine output, increased heart rate with borderline blood pressure.
As I was finishing getting report, the resident and interns on the case asked me how long he had been this way. I relayed the info I got from the night nurse and the resident was obviously not happy that she had not been fully kept up with the patient's status throughout the night. But she was not inappropriate with me. She told me what her plans where and what she needed from me. The intern assigned to the case and I got to work. (Remember, I have 2 other patients as well).
I suctioned the patient's lungs out, repositioned him upright in bed, removed his nasal feeding tube, inserted a nasally inserted GI drainage tube (to empty his stomach in preparation for his being put on a breathing machine in the ICU), drew stat lab work, had his oxygen changed from a venti-mask to a CPAP mask (gives increased pressure while delivering oxygen to 'force' oxygen into his lungs), did an ECG, gave a stat dose of diuretic and a stat dose of a beta-blocker (for his increased / irregular heart rate), got an xray to verify the placement of his nasal drainage tube AND assessed him completely. After assessing the patient, I informed the intern and resident that the patient was now febrile. I received orders for blood cultures and stat antibiotics (for possible pneumonia). All this while I was waiting for a bed to be available in the ICU.
I had not gotten a bed so I was doing all these things to help this man and keep him stable until we could get him to the unit. I was drawing his first set of antibiotics when the secretary called out to me that the unit nurse was on the phone for report. I called out "tell her that I am drawing her first set of blood cultures and I will call her right back". Reasonable enough I thought since I physically had the needle in this man's arm and was in the midst of drawing the blood when they called.
So, not a minute passes when the secretary calls out to say that my intern was holding on the phone. Now, I am STILL actively drawing blood here so by the time I get done and get to the phone, she's gone. (BTW, this was all in a matter of 2 minutes TOPS - drawing blood isn't a long procedure but 2 mins. is about right). Next thing I know, the secretary tells me (as I am about to call the unit nurse) that my intern had called back to say that my priority should be to get the patient to the unit instead of drawing a blood culture.
Uh, DUH! I didn't have the bed when I started to draw the blood and then I had a needle in the man's vein as the unit called for report. I was NOT going to stop drawing blood and have this man stuck again (for the 5th time). I thought this was strange as the resident and intern I was working with seemed to be very cool and worked well with me in the room. I was pissed.
I called the unit nurse and the first thing I did was explain the above. She said she was cool and that it wasn't me. I started to give report. As I was telling her the events of the previous night the team of MDs came onto the unit. I looked up to see the intern I had been working with mouth the words "I'm sorry" to me and realized that among the group were the resident, a couple of interns and the CT surgery attending (the A$$ of the story).
So, as I am giving report I say something to the effect of "so, obviously he's been going downhill. . ." and the attending interrupts me to yell at me "he needs to be going downstairs (the ICU) instead of downhill!"
I stopped my report, pulled the phone from my ear and said to Dr. A$$ "and I am GIVING report right now" motioning to the phone in my hand and continued to give the report to the nurse. I then hear him complain to our charge nurse that the transfer was taking too long and we needed to be more "expeditious" in cases like these. Didn't we know how sick this man was? AUGH!
Mind you, all the above occurred between 0745 and 0945. 2 hours but a LOT of stuff done in that time. When you are doing all that, 2 hours goes by in the blink of any eye AND my two other patients where on pseudo-auto pilot (thank God for my coworkers).
I was glad to hear the charge nurse say that we had JUST gotten the bed not 10 minutes prior to "Sir A$$'s" arrival on our unit. He went on to say "well then this place needs to figure out how to expedite the availability of beds for these patients" - uh, hello, dipshit - it was YOU who needed to move someone OUT of the ICU to get this patient INTO the ICU since the ICU was full. A$$hole.
Needless to say, both the resident and the intern apologized for the incident and both told me "it wasn't you" and we all know where all the hell came from.
My point is, WHY of WHY do these types of doctors (CT surgeons) always have to be such A$$holes?? I know that nurses don't make all the final decisions with patient care but I can not tell you how many times it's been ME or another nurse who has picked up on some sort of subtle change in a patient's condition which then lead to a change in the patient's treatment.
As PROFESSIONALS, nurses are well educated and trained in patient assessment and care. I get so SICK AND TIRED of all the "holier than thou", God-complexed, egocentric F***ers who think that we sit on our asses and eat bon-bons instead of taking care of our patients.
Who the F*** do they think they are??????
Thank you for your understanding.
p.s. Grey's rocked last night. I knit on Arwen and my Mom will be here in less than 2 hours. Woo hoo!
So, let me start by saying that work since the move has been good. I am doing agency work (rent a nurse) but doing it all at UNC hospitals (no hospital hopping) AND I am working all the hours that I make myself available. Everyone I have worked with at the hospital has been very nice and welcoming. No problems with coworkers.
Yesterday however I had an "issue" with a physician (of course a physician) at work. First of all, why is it that all Cardiothoracic surgeons are A$$es???? Where in their training do they pick this trait up? Or is it the nature of that specialty that only A$$es would go into it? Maybe all the current A$$es drive all the HUMAN docs out of that specialty. Maybe they all just learn to be A$$es during their work. I don't know what it is but I must say that after 18 (almost 19) years of CT nursing, I have only met ONE CT surgeon who was a decent human being. SERIOUSLY.
So, anyhow, yesterday. Yesterday I got to work and upon receiving report I quickly realized that 1 of my 3 patients was in seriously bad shape. SERIOUSLY bad. Now, problem here being that I was working on the CT stepdown unit and not in the actual CTICU. So, I knew that I had to do some work to a) get this patient better quick or b) get this patient to the unit quick. I went into his room first.
Without getting into all the specifics of the case let's just say that this patient was post-op Thoracic surgery and was now in a state where his respiratory rate had been deteriorating throughout the night and was now coming to a head. Respiratory rate rapid and labored, oxygen status low, obvious pulmonary congestion, decreased urine output, increased heart rate with borderline blood pressure.
As I was finishing getting report, the resident and interns on the case asked me how long he had been this way. I relayed the info I got from the night nurse and the resident was obviously not happy that she had not been fully kept up with the patient's status throughout the night. But she was not inappropriate with me. She told me what her plans where and what she needed from me. The intern assigned to the case and I got to work. (Remember, I have 2 other patients as well).
I suctioned the patient's lungs out, repositioned him upright in bed, removed his nasal feeding tube, inserted a nasally inserted GI drainage tube (to empty his stomach in preparation for his being put on a breathing machine in the ICU), drew stat lab work, had his oxygen changed from a venti-mask to a CPAP mask (gives increased pressure while delivering oxygen to 'force' oxygen into his lungs), did an ECG, gave a stat dose of diuretic and a stat dose of a beta-blocker (for his increased / irregular heart rate), got an xray to verify the placement of his nasal drainage tube AND assessed him completely. After assessing the patient, I informed the intern and resident that the patient was now febrile. I received orders for blood cultures and stat antibiotics (for possible pneumonia). All this while I was waiting for a bed to be available in the ICU.
I had not gotten a bed so I was doing all these things to help this man and keep him stable until we could get him to the unit. I was drawing his first set of antibiotics when the secretary called out to me that the unit nurse was on the phone for report. I called out "tell her that I am drawing her first set of blood cultures and I will call her right back". Reasonable enough I thought since I physically had the needle in this man's arm and was in the midst of drawing the blood when they called.
So, not a minute passes when the secretary calls out to say that my intern was holding on the phone. Now, I am STILL actively drawing blood here so by the time I get done and get to the phone, she's gone. (BTW, this was all in a matter of 2 minutes TOPS - drawing blood isn't a long procedure but 2 mins. is about right). Next thing I know, the secretary tells me (as I am about to call the unit nurse) that my intern had called back to say that my priority should be to get the patient to the unit instead of drawing a blood culture.
Uh, DUH! I didn't have the bed when I started to draw the blood and then I had a needle in the man's vein as the unit called for report. I was NOT going to stop drawing blood and have this man stuck again (for the 5th time). I thought this was strange as the resident and intern I was working with seemed to be very cool and worked well with me in the room. I was pissed.
I called the unit nurse and the first thing I did was explain the above. She said she was cool and that it wasn't me. I started to give report. As I was telling her the events of the previous night the team of MDs came onto the unit. I looked up to see the intern I had been working with mouth the words "I'm sorry" to me and realized that among the group were the resident, a couple of interns and the CT surgery attending (the A$$ of the story).
So, as I am giving report I say something to the effect of "so, obviously he's been going downhill. . ." and the attending interrupts me to yell at me "he needs to be going downstairs (the ICU) instead of downhill!"
I stopped my report, pulled the phone from my ear and said to Dr. A$$ "and I am GIVING report right now" motioning to the phone in my hand and continued to give the report to the nurse. I then hear him complain to our charge nurse that the transfer was taking too long and we needed to be more "expeditious" in cases like these. Didn't we know how sick this man was? AUGH!
Mind you, all the above occurred between 0745 and 0945. 2 hours but a LOT of stuff done in that time. When you are doing all that, 2 hours goes by in the blink of any eye AND my two other patients where on pseudo-auto pilot (thank God for my coworkers).
I was glad to hear the charge nurse say that we had JUST gotten the bed not 10 minutes prior to "Sir A$$'s" arrival on our unit. He went on to say "well then this place needs to figure out how to expedite the availability of beds for these patients" - uh, hello, dipshit - it was YOU who needed to move someone OUT of the ICU to get this patient INTO the ICU since the ICU was full. A$$hole.
Needless to say, both the resident and the intern apologized for the incident and both told me "it wasn't you" and we all know where all the hell came from.
My point is, WHY of WHY do these types of doctors (CT surgeons) always have to be such A$$holes?? I know that nurses don't make all the final decisions with patient care but I can not tell you how many times it's been ME or another nurse who has picked up on some sort of subtle change in a patient's condition which then lead to a change in the patient's treatment.
As PROFESSIONALS, nurses are well educated and trained in patient assessment and care. I get so SICK AND TIRED of all the "holier than thou", God-complexed, egocentric F***ers who think that we sit on our asses and eat bon-bons instead of taking care of our patients.
Who the F*** do they think they are??????
Thank you for your understanding.
p.s. Grey's rocked last night. I knit on Arwen and my Mom will be here in less than 2 hours. Woo hoo!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
I need to be stopped.
Oooh, Ooooh, new bags over at Tipsy Knitter. Yeah!
Does the "knit from your stash" yarn diet count for accessories??? I say, uh, NO!
tee hee.
Does the "knit from your stash" yarn diet count for accessories??? I say, uh, NO!
tee hee.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
I am a Thief. . . . .but it's OK
I stole this meme from my friend Tina because although she didn't tag me, I thought this was a cute one.
The Alphabet Meme:
A - Available or Taken: Taken (Hopefully I will be taken out to dinner tonight as well! Whatcha think honey? Sushi?)
B - Best Friend: This one requires multiple answers: Candi & Denise I don't know what I would do without either of them!
C -Cake or Pie: Chocolate Cake - yumm-o!
D - Drink of Choice: Non-alcoholic - Coca cola; Alcoholic - mojitos
E - Essential item you use everyday: Undereye concealer (I am so sad)
F - Favorite Color: All-time fave is PINK with Red as a close second
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Bears baby!
H - Hometown: Miami, FL
I - Indulgence: Chocolate, raspberries and knitting!
J - January or February: February - it's that much closer to springtime!
K - Kids & ages: 1 son 10 years old; 1 pomeranian 4 years old
L - Life is incomplete without: hugs and kisses!
M - Marriage Date or Most Memorable Date ( and why): I'll do both: August 5, 1989 (marriage) / December 1, 1996 (birth of DS)
N - Number of Siblings: 2 big brothers
O - Oranges or Apples: Oranges (you can't take FL out of me I guess)
P - Phobias or Fears: being alone
Q - Fave Quote: "Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart." Anne Frank
R - Reason to Smile: Anything! Truly, I try to smile as much as I can. I think smiles are infectious!
S - Season: Spring and Fall - I love the bursts of colors these two seasons have.
T - Tag 3 or 4 People: Jeanne, Jennifer and Cathi
U - Unknown fact about me: I HATE, HATE, HATE putting away laundry. I'll wash and fold but YUCK-O when it comes to putting them away. Bleck!
V - Vegetable you don't like: Peas
W - Worst Habit: I get distracted easily and leave piles of stuff along the way.
X - X-rays: Ribs (broke 4) and Head (migraines)
Y - Your Fave Food: BREAD! Any kind. Anyway - toasted, with butter, plain, with cream cheese, with olive oil and garlic, with cheese, etc., etc.
Z - Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
The Alphabet Meme:
A - Available or Taken: Taken (Hopefully I will be taken out to dinner tonight as well! Whatcha think honey? Sushi?)
B - Best Friend: This one requires multiple answers: Candi & Denise I don't know what I would do without either of them!
C -Cake or Pie: Chocolate Cake - yumm-o!
D - Drink of Choice: Non-alcoholic - Coca cola; Alcoholic - mojitos
E - Essential item you use everyday: Undereye concealer (I am so sad)
F - Favorite Color: All-time fave is PINK with Red as a close second
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Bears baby!
H - Hometown: Miami, FL
I - Indulgence: Chocolate, raspberries and knitting!
J - January or February: February - it's that much closer to springtime!
K - Kids & ages: 1 son 10 years old; 1 pomeranian 4 years old
L - Life is incomplete without: hugs and kisses!
M - Marriage Date or Most Memorable Date ( and why): I'll do both: August 5, 1989 (marriage) / December 1, 1996 (birth of DS)
N - Number of Siblings: 2 big brothers
O - Oranges or Apples: Oranges (you can't take FL out of me I guess)
P - Phobias or Fears: being alone
Q - Fave Quote: "Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart." Anne Frank
R - Reason to Smile: Anything! Truly, I try to smile as much as I can. I think smiles are infectious!
S - Season: Spring and Fall - I love the bursts of colors these two seasons have.
T - Tag 3 or 4 People: Jeanne, Jennifer and Cathi
U - Unknown fact about me: I HATE, HATE, HATE putting away laundry. I'll wash and fold but YUCK-O when it comes to putting them away. Bleck!
V - Vegetable you don't like: Peas
W - Worst Habit: I get distracted easily and leave piles of stuff along the way.
X - X-rays: Ribs (broke 4) and Head (migraines)
Y - Your Fave Food: BREAD! Any kind. Anyway - toasted, with butter, plain, with cream cheese, with olive oil and garlic, with cheese, etc., etc.
Z - Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Friday, January 19, 2007
So much to go over, part Deux
So, my last post I used those two dirty little words. . . . . .stash acquisition! Yikes! I know, I know, I already have way too much stash and I am supposed to be knitting from it without further increasing it however. . . .
This is where my DH gets the big time credit.
Remember how I said that we stayed an extra night after my husband's suggesting it? Well, turns out that he made the suggestion because he had done his homework and found out that there are 4-5 yarn shops in Asheville! Can you believe that? Who would have thunk it? First, who would have thunk that Asheville was such a hotspot for yarn shops and second, that my hubby would stay an extra day just to take me yarn shopping???
Well, ladies, Asheville is a happenin' town when it comes to yarn. There aren't just multiple yarn shops there. Nope, there are multiple GOOD fine quality yarn shops there. It was like a knitter's nirvana. We ended up shopping at 4 different shops and there was another one that we didn't get too in Asheville proper AND an additional one in the small town of Black Mountain. Anyone counting? Yep, SIX shops!
The shops were all great in their own way and I of course bought something at each one (how could I not? I had to make it worthwhile for my husband y'know. You all understand I am sure.)
First we visited The Earth Guild where they are very laid back and offer anything from soap making supplies to fine yarns to roving to fleece, spinning wheels (many, many different spinning wheels - Ashford and Lindrum and Louet, Oh my!) AND weaving looms, patterns, needles and books. It just went on and on.
This is the loot I got while I was there. There is a full 10 oz cone of the cotton yarn in the blue green colorway. There is an 6 oz cone along with a small ball of the same mauve, purple colorway yarn, also cotton. I am going to use those to make 2 of the simple shawl pattern that I purchased there as well. The yarns are "Dragon Tale" yarns and are locally dyed. Very pretty colorways and I saw some of it knit up and it was very nice with a soft drape to it. I also picked up (finally) some 5" Brittany DPN in US 2 for socks. Yeah for little DPNS! The store was very basic but laid out well according to "craft". Weaving corner, spinning section, knitting area, yarn area, book area, basket weaving section and class area. I think that covers it. Well, there might have been more but I had to go across the street to our next stop.
Purls is more of what you think of when you think of a "hip" yarn shop. The walls are lined with honeycombed style bins with yarns of all types stuffed generously into each of them. I liked the fact that they laid out the shop in colors vs. by yarn types. All the reds together followed by oranges to pinks then greens to aquas to blues going into the purple with gold, and yellows then browns following. The middle of the store had a large 4 sided display with boxed units holding all the whites, creams, greys and blacks. There was a generous sized entry area with a table and some arm chairs. The table held a myriad of magazines of the non-knitting as well as knitting nature (the husband's area). In the back of the store was a huge daybed with a coffee table and a couple of deep armchairs. This is where they hold their sit 'n knits. Very, very comfy and eclectic. I purchased a skein of Cascade "nina" in cream, pinks and browns. I'm thinking of a project for it but I am still considering options. . . (blogger isn't playing nice anymore - picture will follow). The lady working there was knitting a pair of fingerless mittens with a yarn that I couldn't easily identify. Upon questioning her she informed me that she was making the mittens for man from yarn spun using his pet cat's hair! She had a picture of a very LARGE orange and white tabby cat. Interesting huh? Well, remember that tidbit for later.
Next we went to Asheville Arts 'n Crafts. Smaller than Purls and arranged in the traditional "by yarn weight" style, they offer hand made items (knits, quilts, crochet, pottery, jewelry) as well as yarn. Their yarn choices include an entire wall of locally spun, locally dyed yarns many from local animals (both sheep and alpacas). The owner has her wheel set up in a corner along with her drum carder giving it a cozy feel. She also offers a service where she will spin pet hair (you know what's coming don't you?) for customers into yarn that can then be knit into whatever the owner may like. She had spun memorial yarns as well as yarn from living pets and had just finished spinning the hair of a BIG orange and white tabby cat for a local. She still had a picture of the cat in the shop (YEP, the SAME large tabby cat). How freaky was THAT???? I got a skein of Austermann sock yarn that has the micro-embedded aloe and jojoba stuff to soften your feet. Do y'know what I am talking about? If not, I'll have to research that for you and post pix later.
We did shop at a couple of local art galleries as they are plentiful in the area. Asheville has a very strong art and craft community with emphasis on the folk crafts of the Appalachians. There were many beautiful items to see and admire and I couldn't even begin to describe then all in a single post. Maybe another time? Now, back to yarn!
The last shop we went to was called Yarn Paradise and it certainly lived up to it's name. Based in an old Vanderbilt servant's home, this 2 story shops overflows with an incredible amount of yarns in all types and colors. Best thing? Their inventory was deep, very deep with PLENTY of skeins of any given yarn to complete even the largest of projects. They also had store made "kits" for many popular patterns in a variety of color options. This makes shopping very convenient, you like a pattern and there is all the yarn you need in a single plastic zippered pouch just ready to go. They've kitted felted bags to sweaters to afghans. They also carry Nona bag kits as well as Hanne Falkenberg kits (3 different colors of Mermaid along with other kits). Here is where I did the most damage. They had baskets and baskets and baskets overflowing with Koigu. Solids and KPPM! Yeah!!!!! I got 7 skeins. AND, I was only in the shop for 20 minutes, tops. SEVEN! 2 in a semisolid navy (socks for DH) 2 in a lavendars colorway along with a coordinating semisolid lavendar (socks for me) and 2 in a pinks colorways (socks?) as well.
All in all I was amazed at how much yarn and the variety of yarns that are available in this little city. I can't wait to go back and explore the remaining shops as well as the rest of this very fab and quaint city.
This is where my DH gets the big time credit.
Remember how I said that we stayed an extra night after my husband's suggesting it? Well, turns out that he made the suggestion because he had done his homework and found out that there are 4-5 yarn shops in Asheville! Can you believe that? Who would have thunk it? First, who would have thunk that Asheville was such a hotspot for yarn shops and second, that my hubby would stay an extra day just to take me yarn shopping???
Well, ladies, Asheville is a happenin' town when it comes to yarn. There aren't just multiple yarn shops there. Nope, there are multiple GOOD fine quality yarn shops there. It was like a knitter's nirvana. We ended up shopping at 4 different shops and there was another one that we didn't get too in Asheville proper AND an additional one in the small town of Black Mountain. Anyone counting? Yep, SIX shops!
The shops were all great in their own way and I of course bought something at each one (how could I not? I had to make it worthwhile for my husband y'know. You all understand I am sure.)
First we visited The Earth Guild where they are very laid back and offer anything from soap making supplies to fine yarns to roving to fleece, spinning wheels (many, many different spinning wheels - Ashford and Lindrum and Louet, Oh my!) AND weaving looms, patterns, needles and books. It just went on and on.
This is the loot I got while I was there. There is a full 10 oz cone of the cotton yarn in the blue green colorway. There is an 6 oz cone along with a small ball of the same mauve, purple colorway yarn, also cotton. I am going to use those to make 2 of the simple shawl pattern that I purchased there as well. The yarns are "Dragon Tale" yarns and are locally dyed. Very pretty colorways and I saw some of it knit up and it was very nice with a soft drape to it. I also picked up (finally) some 5" Brittany DPN in US 2 for socks. Yeah for little DPNS! The store was very basic but laid out well according to "craft". Weaving corner, spinning section, knitting area, yarn area, book area, basket weaving section and class area. I think that covers it. Well, there might have been more but I had to go across the street to our next stop.
Purls is more of what you think of when you think of a "hip" yarn shop. The walls are lined with honeycombed style bins with yarns of all types stuffed generously into each of them. I liked the fact that they laid out the shop in colors vs. by yarn types. All the reds together followed by oranges to pinks then greens to aquas to blues going into the purple with gold, and yellows then browns following. The middle of the store had a large 4 sided display with boxed units holding all the whites, creams, greys and blacks. There was a generous sized entry area with a table and some arm chairs. The table held a myriad of magazines of the non-knitting as well as knitting nature (the husband's area). In the back of the store was a huge daybed with a coffee table and a couple of deep armchairs. This is where they hold their sit 'n knits. Very, very comfy and eclectic. I purchased a skein of Cascade "nina" in cream, pinks and browns. I'm thinking of a project for it but I am still considering options. . . (blogger isn't playing nice anymore - picture will follow). The lady working there was knitting a pair of fingerless mittens with a yarn that I couldn't easily identify. Upon questioning her she informed me that she was making the mittens for man from yarn spun using his pet cat's hair! She had a picture of a very LARGE orange and white tabby cat. Interesting huh? Well, remember that tidbit for later.
Next we went to Asheville Arts 'n Crafts. Smaller than Purls and arranged in the traditional "by yarn weight" style, they offer hand made items (knits, quilts, crochet, pottery, jewelry) as well as yarn. Their yarn choices include an entire wall of locally spun, locally dyed yarns many from local animals (both sheep and alpacas). The owner has her wheel set up in a corner along with her drum carder giving it a cozy feel. She also offers a service where she will spin pet hair (you know what's coming don't you?) for customers into yarn that can then be knit into whatever the owner may like. She had spun memorial yarns as well as yarn from living pets and had just finished spinning the hair of a BIG orange and white tabby cat for a local. She still had a picture of the cat in the shop (YEP, the SAME large tabby cat). How freaky was THAT???? I got a skein of Austermann sock yarn that has the micro-embedded aloe and jojoba stuff to soften your feet. Do y'know what I am talking about? If not, I'll have to research that for you and post pix later.
We did shop at a couple of local art galleries as they are plentiful in the area. Asheville has a very strong art and craft community with emphasis on the folk crafts of the Appalachians. There were many beautiful items to see and admire and I couldn't even begin to describe then all in a single post. Maybe another time? Now, back to yarn!
The last shop we went to was called Yarn Paradise and it certainly lived up to it's name. Based in an old Vanderbilt servant's home, this 2 story shops overflows with an incredible amount of yarns in all types and colors. Best thing? Their inventory was deep, very deep with PLENTY of skeins of any given yarn to complete even the largest of projects. They also had store made "kits" for many popular patterns in a variety of color options. This makes shopping very convenient, you like a pattern and there is all the yarn you need in a single plastic zippered pouch just ready to go. They've kitted felted bags to sweaters to afghans. They also carry Nona bag kits as well as Hanne Falkenberg kits (3 different colors of Mermaid along with other kits). Here is where I did the most damage. They had baskets and baskets and baskets overflowing with Koigu. Solids and KPPM! Yeah!!!!! I got 7 skeins. AND, I was only in the shop for 20 minutes, tops. SEVEN! 2 in a semisolid navy (socks for DH) 2 in a lavendars colorway along with a coordinating semisolid lavendar (socks for me) and 2 in a pinks colorways (socks?) as well.
All in all I was amazed at how much yarn and the variety of yarns that are available in this little city. I can't wait to go back and explore the remaining shops as well as the rest of this very fab and quaint city.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
So much to go over, where should I start?
***Frustrated preface - I am not able to ONCE AGAIN load pictures via blogger! I will add later if I can. Or maybe try going here to see the pix. AARGH! - end of preface*****
Geez, I don't believe how busy I seem to be here. What's THAT all about??? I used to work 40 hours a week, now I work 36 (five 8 hour days vs. three 12 hour days) so I should have 4 more hours a week right? WRONG! Or at least it doesn't feel like that. Not quite sure when I will get my act together here but I hope it is soon.
So, as I stated on my last post (I think I did anyway) we were going off for a little weekend jaunt to Asheville to visit the house and I was planning on knitting on Arwen during the trip.
We did indeed go on our little getaway. It was just the thing that we needed as a family. . . .some time away. DH got us up on Saturday morning at an UNGODLY time and we left the house by 6 am (LEFT by 6 am - yikes!). I was planning on knitting on the drive out but: 1)it was too freakin' dark to see and 2) it was 6 am and I was too freakin' sleepy to knit! So, no knitting on the drive out. DAMN! Saturday was spent at the house and many pix were taken. We toured the house, the (empty) gardens and bass pond (pond? it was a small lake people - seriously how did people live like this??) and of course the Winery. It was a very full day and we were very tired (and hungry) after all that walking. Dinner was had at a local asian food buffet restaurant (I say Asian b/c they had EVERYTHING - sushi, stir fry, szechuan (sp?), cantonese, thai, etc., etc.) We were a bit amazed at how much good food there was.
Sunday was spent enjoying one of the great American traditions. . . . the long, quiet Sunday drive. Our road of choice for the day? The Blue Ridge Parkway. We love to go on drives. It's very relaxing and soothing to us to sit in the car and "see what we can see". The drives make for wonderful conversations and great quality time together. We stop when we want and drive where we want and it's just good. We got to drive up the highest peak east of the Mississippi although DS was bummed b/c the observation deck at the very top is being renovated and thus not open. All in all the day was full of beautiful scenery and relaxing times. I DID knit on Arwen but, for obvious reasons as mentioned above, it was only very little knitting at all. But, hey, any knitting is better than no knitting right?
Despite originally planning on driving back on Sunday, my DH surprised me on the drive out of the Parkway by saying "We don't have to get Sunny until tomorrow. Why don't we spend another night here?". I didn't see any objection and so we did. Why the suggestion to spend the night?
THAT my friend is what makes my DH the BEST! I am leaving you for a moment (this post is long enough) but will just say that it has to do with stash and further acquisition of such. . . . .
Stay tuned! tee hee
Geez, I don't believe how busy I seem to be here. What's THAT all about??? I used to work 40 hours a week, now I work 36 (five 8 hour days vs. three 12 hour days) so I should have 4 more hours a week right? WRONG! Or at least it doesn't feel like that. Not quite sure when I will get my act together here but I hope it is soon.
So, as I stated on my last post (I think I did anyway) we were going off for a little weekend jaunt to Asheville to visit the house and I was planning on knitting on Arwen during the trip.
We did indeed go on our little getaway. It was just the thing that we needed as a family. . . .some time away. DH got us up on Saturday morning at an UNGODLY time and we left the house by 6 am (LEFT by 6 am - yikes!). I was planning on knitting on the drive out but: 1)it was too freakin' dark to see and 2) it was 6 am and I was too freakin' sleepy to knit! So, no knitting on the drive out. DAMN! Saturday was spent at the house and many pix were taken. We toured the house, the (empty) gardens and bass pond (pond? it was a small lake people - seriously how did people live like this??) and of course the Winery. It was a very full day and we were very tired (and hungry) after all that walking. Dinner was had at a local asian food buffet restaurant (I say Asian b/c they had EVERYTHING - sushi, stir fry, szechuan (sp?), cantonese, thai, etc., etc.) We were a bit amazed at how much good food there was.
Sunday was spent enjoying one of the great American traditions. . . . the long, quiet Sunday drive. Our road of choice for the day? The Blue Ridge Parkway. We love to go on drives. It's very relaxing and soothing to us to sit in the car and "see what we can see". The drives make for wonderful conversations and great quality time together. We stop when we want and drive where we want and it's just good. We got to drive up the highest peak east of the Mississippi although DS was bummed b/c the observation deck at the very top is being renovated and thus not open. All in all the day was full of beautiful scenery and relaxing times. I DID knit on Arwen but, for obvious reasons as mentioned above, it was only very little knitting at all. But, hey, any knitting is better than no knitting right?
Despite originally planning on driving back on Sunday, my DH surprised me on the drive out of the Parkway by saying "We don't have to get Sunny until tomorrow. Why don't we spend another night here?". I didn't see any objection and so we did. Why the suggestion to spend the night?
THAT my friend is what makes my DH the BEST! I am leaving you for a moment (this post is long enough) but will just say that it has to do with stash and further acquisition of such. . . . .
Stay tuned! tee hee
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