Once upon a time…..

…..a long, long time ago,* this was a daily-type blog, with a small, but ever so faithful following.  Now, well now there’s a job, and everything that goes along with that—–positive and negative.  Not to complain, mind you, I quite like my job (on most days); it pays pretty good, and the hours suit me.   But, after sitting in front of a computer for the better part of the day and trying my darndest to meet the needs of all my patients (and some who aren’t mine), my brain is fairly used up at the end of the day.  As for days off, well, they get spent doing things that haven’t gotten done during the week, and stuff like getting haircuts and seeing the chiropractor and such.  Time goes by and…….well, here it is the end of March.

It’s not like nothing has happened either.  I mean, I have lots and lots to talk about.  The problem now is how to do it.  To continue on in this conversational tone will take longer than I have to write (and way longer than anybody will want to read).  I guess I’ll start where I left off and see what happens.

In our last episode, I was washing up nice fresh skeins of handspun mystery wool.  These I took, along with a few other goodies, for the gift exchange at Camp Knitaway.  Here is a quick rundown:

—3-8:  arrived in Seattle rather late and was met by son number 2, Alex.  Headed North to his cute new apartment, stopping for a quick bite to eat and a nightcap at one of his favorite bar-type places.

—3-9:  Alex drives me up to Camp, after having coffee, picking up some camp type provisions and checking in with son number 1 Brett.  I arrived at camp, got checked in, sweet Alex schlepped all my crappola to the room and left after delivering hugs to me and his grandmother (who I go to camp with—–I really must tell you sometime about my nutty other mother-in-law, what a hoot).  The afternoon was spent putting together afghans for Camp Brotherhood.  In the evening, it was the gift exchange and altogether good time.  About this time, the tickly cough I had had since Christmas started to get really annoying. 

—3-10:  We have breakfast and meet our teacher, Bev Galeskas of FiberTrends, who begins to walk us through the proper construction of a penguin.  Very cute and fun to do.  In the evening it’s show and tell, which though very cool, goes on and on while I try not to cough. 

—3-11:  More work on the penguins (people got really silly as the bodies of these critters started to get finished)

In the afternoon it was time to go.  Alex met up with me at the cabin and we headed south again, meeting up with some of the posse for coffee (posse: the group of young people that hang out with my boys—there are quite a few). I was informed that there would be cocktails and debriefing later in the evening.  Picked up my mom, went to dinner with her, Alex, Brett and Cora—grandpuppy stayed in the car. 

9pm or so, Brett and I made a stop for cough syrup and other necessary supplies given that I am of a certain age and have had two children and I’m coughing like mad—–you get my drift?  Met up with the group at the same little bar that I had gone to with Alex a couple nights earlier.  Began what ended up as a bit of a pub crawl, ending the evening (sometime around 2) winning at blackjack and sipping scotch to calm the cough. 

—3-12:  Realized that this cough was not good, took myself to the doctor I use to work for and got some antibiotics  (bronchitis)  Hung out with Brett and Cora, had dinner with Mom.

—3-13:  Alex took me to the airport, I put my sick body on the plane and tried not to cough on my neighbors.

—3-14:  Back to work.  Honestly, I don’t think I did anything that week except work (cough) and sleep. 

Moving along now, March 17th was Brad’s birthday—-I bought him waders which he was ever so anxious to try out, and we bought another little digital camera.  The day was gorgeous, near 70 and we had a nice drive to a fishing spot that Brad couldn’t remember how to get to.  Probably a good thing, since in all his excitement to try the waders, he forgot to pack his fishing pole.  Still, we had a great time.

Sometime in the following week, I finished the penguin—

—3-23:  We packed up the camper and headed to Rocky Mountain National Park, near Estes Park.  If you have been checking in long, you know by now it’s one of my favorite places.  We set up camp with sleet falling and woke up Saturday morning to snow…

 

…heavy wet snow, falling fast and serious.  (see the coyotes???)  We stayed snug and warm in our camper   About 9 we headed into town for some breakfast, and then on to Boulder to meet up with the girls from the knit group who were on a yarn crawl.  Shuttles, Spindles and Skeins was good fun, as many of you probably know.  I bought some pretty merino roving, and a Lantern Moon basket. 

 

A couple of the girls bought another “ball” of roving for MY BIRTHDAY; they were trying so hard to be sneaky, but the roving kept disappearing from my basket, and Kirsten kept coming up with weird excuses why she needed to see my roving, and so they weren’t really able to surprise me like they’d hoped—-sorry girls.  We had a nice lunch at a local cafe, and then the girls headed south and we did some shopping and went back to the camper.

We actually got to stay up there until Monday—-when we headed home and stopped by the Schacht factory.  Long story short, we ended up getting a personal tour of the manufacturing facilty, from one of the owners.  If you are ever in Boulder, and you have the time, go for it.  It was so fun.  You might want to give them a call so they will know you’re coming. 

In rather big news, Brad bought me a new wheel for my birthday, a folding Lendrum.  (like Emmylou, right Margene??)  It is still in transit, but I’m really excited.  I’ve been thinking about a portable wheel for a while, and I got to spin on my mother-in-laws Lendrum at camp.  I was really impressed with the way it worked, so now I will have one of my one.  I really think I will be saving up for a Schacht wheel too—-talk about yummy.

So now we’re up to date.  This week I have been dealing with what will likely be some life(style)changing medical issues, still waiting on some tests.  I have to tell you, medical professionals are the worst when it comes to taking care of themselves.   I wonder if it’s denial, or perhaps the old “ignorance is bliss” mindset.  Whatever it is, denial nor ignorance is no longer a prudent choice.  ‘Nuff said.

Until next time………..one more

*this is the way my mother always begins a story—-whether it’s in the book or not.  It always ends with “and they lived happily ever after.”

Yarn Therapy

You know when you’re having one of those days?  The kind where everything is going along wonderfully, and then something happens and you’re thrown a bit off balance…..everything is still going okay and you keep plugging along…..and then all of a sudden your whole world (at work anyway) goes to the hot place in a coach bag?  It was one of those days. 

I think I may have mentioned at some point, that most of what I do involves a computer; both a Windows based charting program, and a DOS based program that the Windows based program talks to……or is suppose to anyway.  This morning, and then on and off for most of the day, neither program was functioning.  This meant that I was basically dead in the water (so to speak).  Add to this, the provider I’m assigned to had an emergency at home and we had to cancel the afternoon, and then the final straw came when I had no fewer than 5 people crowded in and around my tiny office, wanting something.  For the first time in I don’t know how long I left almost on time…….my brain was about to explode.

I did what any of you would do…..I came home, poured myself a generous adult beverage (whiskey sour, for anyone interested), put on some fun music and set the twist in some fresh spun skeins of mystery wool.  The plan, is to make these skeins part of my exchange gift for camp in a few days.

And……I’m feeling better.  It’s amazing what a little yarn play can do for one’s attitude.  Tomorrow, of course, will bring trouble of it’s own, but for now, I can enjoy looking at the yarn suspended from my kitchen cabinet and look forward to camp in a few days. 

How do you deal with a bad day???

Testing…1…2……3………

……take…..I lost count.

I spent some time this morning putting together a great post, with pictures and links and everything, which if you read the previous little blurb, you know it failed to materialize when I pushed the magic button. And then I wrote an abridged version, pushed the magic button and….poof…it too is lost somewhere in cyberspace. Not one to give up easily, I’m gonna try it again, but if it gets any more abridged, it wont make any sense at all. It’s hard enough for me these days to get something written, but having to do it three (four? five?) times?

Here we go…….

The epic fair isle project is coming along nicely. I had set a goal for myself to do one band a week, and I’m right on target. Anne, of course, had finished the body, the neck band, both front bands and was finishing up the first sleeve the other day.

Lady Eleanor made it off the blocking mat yesterday (hey, it’s only been there two weeks…..whaaaat?), and the finishing touches were added. It looks great, and will go with me to Camp for show and tell.

The third and final pair of Trek Along Socks have been finished up, worn and washed. “bout time, huh? Pattern: Yarn Over Cables—Charlette Schurch.

I got a sucky valentines day gift…..you can read about it here. Love. It.

Work is good.

 Can’t wait for Camp (March 9-11).

Bought tickets for Aida and The Producers.

Thinking about summer vacation.

That’s all for now.

Reader Digest Version…..

……take two.

I spent some time this morning putting together a great post, with pictures and links and everything, which if you read the previous little blurb, you know it failed to materialize when I pushed the magic button.  And then I wrote and abridged version, pushed the magic button and….poof…it to is lost somewhere in cyberspace.  Not one to give up easily, I’m gonna try it again, but if it gets any more abridged, it wont make any sense at all.  It’s hard enough for me these days to get something written, but having to do it three times? 

Here we go…….

The epic fair isle project is coming along nicely.  I had set a goal for myself to do one band a week, and I’m right on target.  Anne, of course, had finished the body, the neck band, both front bands and was finishing up the first sleeve the other day. 

  

Lady Eleanor made it off the blocking mat yesterday (hey, it’s only been there two weeks…..whaaaat?), and the finishing touches were added.  It looks great, and will go with me to Camp for show and tell.

The third and final pair of Trek Along Socks have been finished up, worn and washed.  “bout time, huh?   Pattern:  Yarn Over Cables—Charlette Schurch.

I got a sucky valentines day gift…..you can read about it here.  Love. It.

Work is good.

Can’t wait for Camp (March 9-11).

Bought tickets for Aida and The Producers.

Thinking about summer vacation.

That’s all for now.

My fabulous post…..

…….complete with pictures and links is lost in the ether.  I’ll try again later

Miss Me???

There is nothing quite so splendid as a day off, in an empty house.  No questions, no expectations, just hours to sit and knit, catch up on TiVo or read before slipping into a nap.  Weekends are nice, but a weekday home is heavenly……especially when one has so recently given up countless quiet days to do something else.  You’ve probably all given up on me by now and I’m talking to myself, but so be it—-I enjoy my own company, after all.

The job that has taken me away from the blogisphere lately is settling in a bit better.  I think I might have said before, that for me, anyway, some things are just better learned while doing them.  That has been what I’ve been doing—-taking phone calls, talking to patients, answering questions and bumbling my way through a windows based charting systems coupled with a DOS scheduling system, (Remember DOS? Yikes).  The good news is that I’m slowly getting the hang of things, the bad news is that there was a HUGE misunderstanding (bordering on deception and sneakiness) in regards to what I would be paid, and I’m actually only getting about 80% of what I was expecting.  When this came to light last week, I was left with the decision to stay or quit, which of course brought about some serious evaluation, and adjustment to my thinking.  I’ve decided to stay, for the time being anyway, given the fact that the pay is reasonable for what I’m doing, that is is more than I earn sitting at home knitting or spinning, and that the extra income is awful nice.  I could lodge a formal complaint, but after thinking it through, I’ve discovered that it would not in any way affect my paycheck, and would land my immediate supervisor in hot water.   As she was every bit as shocked as I was over the pay issue, and I really truly like her, I don’t think that is something I want to do.  I have, however, let the budget guy know, in no uncertain terms that what happened was deceptive and not at all clear, and that I thought it undermined his integrity.  He either was really truly sorry, or should be nominated for an Oscar.  Nuff said.

There has been knitting, albeit not as pervasive as once was.  There have been occasions when I’ve been able to knit through a particularly useless meeting or two, but mostly I’ve worked on simple yet engaging Lady Eleanor in the evenings in front of the telly, or the Fair Isle sweater on Saturdays with the girls.  Lady E is nearing completion, I’m about to join the final ball of yarn.  I’ve really been anxious to get it finished and blocked, I can’t wait to swing it over my shoulders for a bit of warmth.  I’m still thinking about how to finish it off–whether to use the fancy fringe that the pattern suggests (lovely, but a little fussy for me, I think) or another edging.  I’ll be thinking on it as I knit up the last of the yarn. 

 As far as the Fair Isle goes, I’m also contemplating a variation in the pattern.  Take a peak at the picture here.  See the bands of orange and green checkerboard???  Not diggin’ them.  I’m playing with the idea of substituting neutral checkerboard bands instead, perhaps browns and cream.  I don’t think it would affect the overall color progression, but it would tone it down a bit.  Any thoughts???  I’ve got three more rounds to make a decision.

On a really happy note, I’ve sent in my registration for this years Camp Knitaway.  I can hardly wait!!!  I’ve scheduled the time off, bought my plane tickets and I’m looking forward to spending a weekend knitting with my Camp buddies.  You can read a review of last years adventure here, (scroll down).

Last, but not least, Tomorrow is my one year blogiversary!  I know, I’ve tapered off quite a bit over the last few months…….but I am so thankful for the experience, for the “friends” I’ve made in this blogging community, and for everything good that you add to my life.  Thank you.

And now I’m off to knit, eat Superbowl leftovers and enjoy the day—-

Here’s the deal

It seems that after spending all day either looking at a computer or suffering death by paperwork, the only thing I can really bring myself to do is passively check in on you all.  Seriously, email, I can do in fits and starts, reading my daily dose of blogs is doable after a snack, but posting????  That just requires a bit more brain power than I’m up for these days.  This will be really quick—I really want to sit in front of the telly and knit.

First: The job is progressing.  The last couple of days I’ve actually done a bit more than sit like a toad with a dumb look on my face, listening to “this is this and that is that” while filling out orientation checklists.  The past few days I’ve come home at lunchtime to let the doggies out and re-group.  It is ever so nice to get a break in the middle of the day, and it makes it feel like I haven’t been stuck in a windowless office non-stop….did I mention that my new office has a window?  Can’t wait   There is still lots to do; in fact at some point there is stuff to do on the computer, that I can actually accomplish at home (off the clock, but I’m thinking it’ll be nice to get it over with, ya know?)

Second:  The knit group had a grand time here at the house over the weekend.  Due to my current lazy status, you can read all about it here, and here.

Third:  Monday was a holiday…..which means that both Brad and I had a day off, and the car dealerships were open.  Yes, indeed, we finally reached a decision and came home with a new car.  The good news is it’s pretty, and comfy (let’s hear it for heated seats!!), the bad news is that it’s all dirty from the yucky roads, and that before we picked it up it had a little run in with a snowplow.  There’s a new bumper on order and all will be well before you know it.  (I just re-read that and it sounds much worse than it is…..the manager of the dealership had been clearing snow……the blade of the wee snowplow got a little to friendly with my front bumper).  Anyway, things will be good as new, or I will get new, and that will be good……got it?

Okay….I’m off to find my sweats and sit by the fire.  Over and out.

Week One

Every time I think I’m getting to the end of the paperwork, a few more things get added to the stack—-so goes the first week on the new job.  At the rate we’re going, I might actually get to do a little nursing sometime before summer, but I’m not making any promises.  We are still waiting for the proper form, so we can get the proper computer coded ID badge, so we can get into the computer to do actual work.  Everybody and their dog has asked for our social security number, many want our birth date, and Mr Security even wanted my mothers maiden name.  We’ve done hours of computer based training, everything from what to do with a suspected mail bomb, to proper office relationships, to how not to use our government credit card—-which we won’t have.  We’ve become acquainted with the gal who runs the espresso cart in the lobby (she closes at noon), and the dude who keeps track of training (he’s from Florida).  I’ve about broken in my new tennies, and I think I can locate every bathroom in the clinic.  But what I’d really like, what we would all like, is to get to work.  Some things you just have to learn by doing.

We all got to leave early today because of another winter storm……go figure.  Sometime during the night, we got some freezing rain, which was then covered up with a thin layer of snow.  The temperatures are brutal (it was about 5 degrees when I drove to work this morning), and the roads are dodgy.  I’m glad to be home early, in front of the fire and feeling not quite as brain dead as the last few days.

Tomorrow, if the weather is not too dangerous, our merry band of knitters will be coming over for ‘brunch’ and the kick off of our KnitPicks Palette Fair Isle knit-along.  From the email traffic, I can tell that some of the girls have started today—-Chery wrote a theme song, Kirsten added some new lyrics and it looks like everyone is having a good time. 

Me???  Well, I’m hoping that my brain will be less cluttered in the morning and I’ll be able to focus enough to cast on the 3 million little stitches.

How about a Favorite Foto (remember when we used to do this every week??)

This is what Mount Rainier looks like on a clear day from 30,000 feet or so.  You can see that the peak is covered in a layer of fluffy cloud, but I don’t think I’ve ever (in all the times I’ve flown in and out of Seattle) seen this view.  A day like this one is rare in January in this part of the world…..ask anyone who has lived or travelled to the Pacific Northwet.  We were lucky to get such a clear view, lucky to be on the correct side of the plane, lucky all ’round. 

If you haven’t heard from me this week, I’m sorry—–by the time I get home I just can’t bear to look at another computer.  I’ve checked in on most of you, but only made quick trips.  Hopefully things will ease up soon.  Have a terrific Holiday weekend.

Swatching, swearing and security…..perhaps not in that order.

The planets must have aligned just so, such that I headed off to work this morning, ’round about the time I’m usually contemplating getting up and looking for coffee.  Let no one suggest that this new schedule will take getting used to—-I know.   Anyhow, I got myself to the proper office, with the proper documents and sat through a couple hours of information and an official swearing in.  Believe it or not, each of us in the room took the very same oath of office as our president takes, the same as a newly minted military officer takes and the same one I heard Ahnald take last week on the telly.  Who knew? 

After that it was off to the clinic with the other three that have been in a holding pattern for months.  We were greeted with enthusiasam and given more to do—-new name badges and such.  At noon, we were released to go home and work through the stack of paperwork that’s required—-not just a simple W-4 and hear ya go, no sir-ee, there are pages of payrole paperwork, and a whole packet of paperwork for a security clearance.  Thank God I only have to go back 5 years, no telling how long it would take.  One of the blocks I needed to fill out was to list 3 people who know me well, people who are not related and that I hadn’t already used as references on other parts of the form.  It was unbelievably hard; to think of people who know me well.  How well?  For how long?  Under what circumstances?  I came up with the first one pretty easy, the second required a long distance phone call to my lifelong friend in Washington (I don’t remember a time when I didn’t know Eric), and I’m still muddling over a third, waiting for a couple phone calls.  When you’re married to the military, and move every few years, long term relationships are rare, and the neighbor that knew me well in 1997 has moved to the Midwest, and the folks I went to college with are God knows where.  You just have to pray that the people you choose love you and won’t tell the nice man in the black suit that you sell rocket launchers out of your garage or something.

Enough of that.

Over the weekend, the knit group met at our pal Ellen’s for knitting and tea (proper tea, with scones and clotted cream and dainty sandwiches).  Ellen knows her way around a kitchen and she really outdid herself—-we all had a blast. For a more complete documenting of the day, check in with MJ.  I worked on Lady Eleanor, and then started swatching for the Fair Isle knit along we’re kicking off this Saturday.  After a quick bath, it looks like I’m getting gauge, or damn close anyway.  Now to decide which size to cast on.  The pattern gives directions for 36″ 40″ 44″…….but what I’d like is 42″.  I’m trying to decide whether to do the 40 or 44 and risk a poor fit, or figure out how to do a 42 and have the pattern repeats come out properly.  Right now, though, my mind is too full of work related errata to think about stitches per inch and the like.  Maybe later.

Now, I’d better get to the bank and have them sign my direct deposit form so I can get paid.  After all this time, that might be nice, don’tcha think?

Better late than never….

In true Black Sheep form, I must now be the only blogger in our community that has not yet posted in 2007.  Once upon a time, about a year ago, I was religious about posting each and every weekday…..and the occasional weekend if there was breaking news.  Our summer trip to the homeland broke me of that habit, for good or for ill, and I have to say that once out of the habit, it is tougher to get back in the groove (so to speak) than one would think.  Having said that, there really are good reasons why I have been absent of late.

 

Excuse Reason 1:

If you recall, our last visit was the Wednesday prior to Christmas, and we here in
Colorado were in the midst of the mother of all blizzards.  DH barely made it home, folks were stranded up and down the freeways and highways and Denver International became the states largest B and B for about three days. That evening, I felt a little tickle in my throat and by the next morning, with snow still falling, I was hit with the virus de jour, and retired to the sofa to knit and feel sorry for myself.  It was vital, you see, that I be well by Sunday (good luck with that, you must be thinking), because………

 

Reason 2:

………..we were flying to the homeland for Christmas.  I know, I know, I didn’t say anything about this earlier.  For the first time ever, only a very few people knew we were coming (my sweet sister in law, who was doing the cooking; my mother with whom we were staying; and our kids).  When we were home earlier in the month, there was—shall we say—gentle encouragement to be home for Christmas, as it would be the first time in a few years that all the kids (6) and their families would be in attendance, (lemee see….that’s nearly 30 of us….not counting the four legged family).  And, we pulled it off!  There was hopping up and down and hugs and kisses and shocked looks everywhere.  Very fun.

 

In this case, waiting till the last minute really paid off; seems nobody really wants to fly on Christmas Eve, or day, so the tickets were almost reasonable AND more importantly, had we planned ahead and flown out on the 21^st—-we’d have been stuck, and likely not made it at all.  As it was, we left the evening of Christmas Eve and were enjoying stockings and breakfast the next morning.

 

We had a very full week; a couple days way north doing Christmas and Boxing Day—lots of visiting and game playing.  Back at Brett and Cora’s there was more visiting and gifting and gaming.  The 29^th, Brad and I celebrated 27 years of marriage with a trip to IKEA (love ikea….love.it.) and a really fun dinner at The Melting Pot in Seattle.  On the 30^th, Alex and his buddy Dan turned 21, and our families and their friends got together for dinner and a little partying afterward.  Was a gas—-and what fun to be invited to go out with a bunch of twentysomethings, (we were the only parent type people to go out after dinner).  The next morning, every one of them dragged their hung over behinds out of bed and met us for coffee before we headed back to the airport.

 

Reason 3:

An important lesson.  Remember the virus, cold thing I spoke of earlier?  Well, I learned something on this trip.  No matter how much good for you stuff you pour into your body, no matter how much better you think you are feeling, without proper rest, you just don’t get better.  The Zycam helped a bunch (miracle I tell you), the vitamins and the water and the echinacia, and all that were a great idea, but when we arrived home on New Years Eve……I was finished.  Since then, I’ve tried to be good to my body, going to bed at a reasonable hour (or at least staying in bed until I’ve felt rested), and napping on and off.  I’m finally feeling about back to normal.

 

Reason 4:

In years past, my New Years Day has been one of football and parade watching, not because I’m married to a football junkie (he’s quite the opposite), but because I was raised by one, I suppose.  I always make chicken wings and potato salad, and I plant myself on the sofa and watch game after game.  This year was different.  After the parade was over, I shut off the telly and picked up a book I was given for Christmas, Stretching Lessons, by Sue Bender.  I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting, but whatever it was, this wasn’t it.  What I found was akin to a woman’s journal, her musings and thoughts over a period of time when she felt herself being stretched in new directions.  It is about her journey into becoming “bigger than” she had been.  For that day, and for much of yesterday, I read, and thought and mused myself. 

 

Thus, I’ve begun 2007 taking stock of myself; unpacking my box (so to speak) and deciding once again what fits, what does not, where I’m comfortable, and where I may need to stretch a little.  I’ve come to believe that we cannot grow as individuals without doing this from time to time.  Someone said, that insanity is doing the same thing time after time and expecting different results.  I would add that growth occurs when we begin to look at things from different perspectives, gleaning what is useful and disregarding those things which are not. 

 

Reason 5:

In a couple weeks, our merry band of knitters will kick off a knit-along.  Several of us will be knitting the Palette Fair Isle Sweater from KnitPicks.  With that in mind, I’ve been working on Lady Eleanor, wanting to have it finished up before I start the sweater.  Shortly after my last post, I did some measuring on the stole and found that by adding 3 pattern repeats, I had added 6 inches to the width—way too many—so I frogged about a foot of knitting and cast it on again, just as the pattern directed.  It was the only knitting I took along for the holidays, and I’m thinking I’m just over halfway done.  I love knitting it, don’t find it boring at all and am endlessly amused by the way the yarn, Paton’s Soy Wool Stripes, causes each rectangle to knit up in a different color.  It is a perfect yarn for this project.  Anyway, the knitting, has kept me away from the blog. 

 

Today, I’m thinking I need to un-decorate the house and take control of the stash….which has wandered through my family room and is occupying most of the window seat now.  With the boys gone again, I have two closets that I can use for stash management, and I plan to do just that.  In addition to that, there has been more progress on the job front, though at times it seems like we are always in a hurry up and wait pattern.  Moments ago I received a call from the main office in
Texas that handles hiring, and despite having been sent my transcript no fewer than three times now, they have yet to have their hands on it. They are still hoping to have me “on board” (their words) by Monday morning.  It makes me wonder: if our government has this much trouble hiring a nurse, how can we expect to shut down the insurgents in Iraq?  Just sayin’.

 

Just in case the stars align properly and I have a job by Monday, I’d better get something done today.  Happy New Year to you all………….albeit a little late J