A little disappointing

I spent a few minutes at the end of my day Friday looking at flights to LAX, which were advertised as super low on Virgin.  Ha!  I don't know why I get sucked into these types of things because they're never what you expect.  Sure sure, there are $99 one way fares into LAX from Seattle IF you want to catch a 7 am plane going down and return on a stop-over flight that gets into Seattle at 1 am Monday morning.  Not ideal.  Not doable.  When I put in the flight days and times I need for a long weekend it takes it right up to normal so no trip to California in my near future.  But I've got two nice little mini-vacations in the next two months so all is not bad.  All is good.

I did have a nice, laid back weekend for the most part.  Early to bed Friday and a nice Saturday - dog walks in the decent weather.  The snow didn't return and we're actually having warm weather this week.  I guess it was a fluke.  Sunday was not so terrific though.  I went walking on the UW campus to look at the cherry trees in bloom, and all of the other wonderful gorgeous flowers in bloom and all of a sudden I was wheezing and coughing and could barely breath!  I had left my inhaler at home, since I wasn't planning on running.  It was definitely no fun getting home and it is very tiring, not being able to breath.  I took a few puffs from the inhaler and calmed down but my cough was back in full force.  I still had to go to my niece's birthday party so I rallied and had a nice hot shower, which also helped to open up my chest.  I had to use that inhaler a couple more times - basically once every 3 to 4 hours, even in the night.  Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway) I feel as bad as I did last week!  But I'm at work and hoping that I'll be feeling better soon.  I already have an appointment for my annual exam next week so I really don't want to try to see my doctor this week as well.  So I am hoping that if I keep a low profile, NO RUNNING, and take it easy tonight that I'll be okay tomorrow.  Fingers crossed.

No knitting this weekend.  I do have a couple of errands tonight so I probably won't be able to do much tonight either, although I would like to get at least a couple rows done on those socks.  We'll see. 

Snow!

Sure enough - it has been getting very cold these last few days and now snow.  The outlying areas of course have gotten more.  There's nothing to see on the roads or grass here in town but a few flakes are indeed coming down.  Crazy business, but that's spring in Seattle.  Don't like the weather?  Wait a few minutes.  It isn't going to impact me either way today.  No running in my future this lunchtime.  I am much much better than earlier this week, but still too "chesty" to run.  I should be back on track next week.  And weather be damned!  I'll be out there.

I had a very laid back evening last night.  I was so tired from my terrible Wednesday night that I didn't even pick up any knitting.  I watched some bad TV and played with my iPod in bed.  The last time I saw my doctor - gosh I guess that was early August? - anyway, he gave me some non-habit forming sleeping pills that actually work fantastically.  They're called Silenor.  I took my last one and I had an absolutely perfect night's sleep.  I woke up before the alarm and wasn't even mad!  I feel great and not drowsy at all.  Ahhh ... perfect. 

It doesn't matter what the weather is like this weekend.  I've got a nice, low key weekend to look forward to.  My only social obligation is a birthday party for my niece Sunday night early.  I don't know what I'll do with all this free time but I suspect some knitting, some reading and maybe a movie.  Plenty of nothing is fine with me for a change. My next little mini-vacation is coming up in 2 1/2 weeks so next week I think I'll start thinking and planning the route for the wine tasting tour.  It's been ages since I've been down there and I am really looking forward to it.  It would be nice if the weather cooperated, but you know what?  I don't care one way or another. 

Air fare to LA is super cheap right now, so I'm also trying to find a way to visit with my sister.  She's super busy until the end of June and that's a long way off!  I'll try to get creative.

A splurge!

I don't buy as nearly as much yarn as I used to buy.  Partly because I don't have any room to store it!  I have a little room on my new skinny shelves in the bedroom (err ... I mean sleeping nook) and they are taken up with the best yarn that I could not bear to part with.  One of the packages is 10 skeins of Noro Cash Iroha that has been discontinued for oh so long.  But I love that yarn and every once in a while I will see some on a liquidation web site called DBNY.  They have become the place for yarn stores going out of business or personal stash (I mean HUGE stash) liquidations.   I see it there now and again and always want to buy it but either there aren't enough skeins to be worthwhile or I balk at the price.  However, yesterday I found 10 skeins of pink that looked like it was the same color as my other 10 balls, even if the dye lot isn't the same.  So I snatched it up!  I was originally thinking of using the first 10 balls to make another Hemlock Ring Blanket, but there's not quite enough.  Now I have enough and then some!  I can be a really big one.  I will just have to alternate rows with the different dye lots so it's not noticeable.  Well, this is a project that is down the road, especially since warmer weather is coming and I've already got a big project - the Mariah.  But if was a very satisfying purchase, all the more so since it's been ages since I've bought any quantity of yarn.

Warmer weather - I am speaking well in the future I am afraid.  The cold moved in yesterday on some pretty powerful gusts of wind.  I saw cars with snow on them in the park and ride lot this morning.  Oh my -- yesterday was the first day of spring and I missed it!!  Happy spring!  Well even though the trees and bushes are starting their show, it's still winter to me.

The Mariah got some good work done at noon knitting yesterday but nothing in the evening, not even the socks.  I was tired and retired early to watch some things on my iPad.  But as luck would have it, last night was one of the off nights for my wireless.  It's odd.  Sometimes it's seamless and I can watch whatever I want and it never stops.  Other times it's torture and I just gave up.  I read and bit and was asleep by 10, but that didn't last long.  Something woke me at 11:30 and I was awake off and on for hours, coughing and stuffed up.  I took some Nyquil but I wish I had taken it much earlier.  I am groggy today and coughing still.  I'll take a nice walk in the cold sunshine at lunch.  That should get me good and tired for tonight.  And hopefully the cough will be gone for good tomorrow.

Straight to my chest

Saturday I hosted a surprise birthday party and it was a smashing success.  The birthday boy had no idea and was completely and utterly surprised.  My apartment Great Room is just the most wonderful party venue.  There's plenty of room for people to spread out, two TVs, a pool table and a full kitchen plus lots of comfy furniture and even a fire place.  And my own apartment stays nice and clean.  Perfect!  It wasn't a late one because you can only have the place for four hours, but that was plenty of time.  I was all cleaned up and back to my own place a little after 10.  I stayed up for a bit - oh, there was left over cake!

The next morning was not too wonderful though.  I woke up feeling terrible.  I thought it must be a hangover, even though I VERY rarely get one.  But I tried to rally.  It was a gorgeous day and I had planned on meeting friends at the Ballard Market.  I didn't feel any better, even after a shower and a stroll through the market so I thought a beer might do the trick.  Not.  I couldn't even finish it.  I did some shopping and then headed back home.  Tinkie needed a walk so I took Monika on a tour of the creek area and as we were strolling I realized that I felt like a cold was coming on.  Ah ha!  I wasn't hung over, I was sick!  And it was downhill from there.

Thankfully I had gotten a nice loaf of bread and gone shopping on Saturday so I was okay to just hunker down, which is what I did.  Sunday night wasn't so bad but Monday was awful!  I slept 90% of the day.  The cold went straight to my chest and I was coughing and very uncomfortable.  Of course this happens when I have tons of things that need to be done at work.  It couldn't have happened ... oh, I don't know maybe the last three weeks?  *sigh*  Anyway I'm here today and feeling better.  The cough is controlled.  I'm tired but what else is new? 

I don't suppose I will be running at all this week.  It is pouring rain but I can't breath anyway so it's not an issue.  Noon knitting is on for this lunchtime anyway.  I knew I was feeling better yesterday late afternoon because I wanted to knit and I did a couple rows on the Mariah.  Pictures soon. 

Another banana check

I was feeling wild yesterday, so I switched up my breakfast and instead of having oatmeal and a banana I had oatmeal and berries.  And guess what?  I had a tough time of it on my run.  Yes, it was the uphill one, but still -- it was tougher than it should have been and that is because of the banana.  Today it's back to tried and true and hopefully I'll have a little easier time of it!  Of course, when I'm counting calories my energy isn't what it is ideally.  I eat the same thing for breakfast every morning, but I don't usually come to work with an empty tank.  I definitely need that little bit of extra energy the banana affords.

The socks got some quality time last night and the Mariah languished in the corner.  I was hoping to be able to carve out some time this weekend but right now it doesn't look likely.  Tomorrow I've got all sorts of errands in the morning, then picking up the last minute party items in the afternoon (cake, balloons).  Then I'm going to have to get ready and maybe I will have an hour if I try.  Sunday will be recuperating from the party and then I'd like to go to the Ballard Market, if it's not pouring rain.  And bam!  That's the weekend.  Even an hour would be nice.  I should make it a priority, yeah?

Still feeling wildly optimistic and happy.  It beats the heck out of NOT feeling happy, doesn't it? 

Just once in a while

For no apparent reason I woke up today feeling awesome and brimming with optimism.  Happy, one might say.  Happy-go-lucky.  Spring is SO close, and the weather is mild.  I get to run today and it's not raining or blowing.  I am getting a new computer at work today - finally!  This one is excruciatingly slow at times.  The only thing that could make this day better is being Friday instead of Thursday.  Oh well.

I did some good work on my Mariah at noon knitting yesterday.  I am just so excited about this project!  I sure hope I don't get bogged down and not finish it.  I know -- just do it, right?  But how many projects have we all started, all gung  ho, and then had it ripen at the bottom of a basket for years, just needing one last button band (Cloisonne Jacket) or sewing together or whatever?  I think if I can do the body and fronts together that may help my cause.  Then the only stumbling block I can see is getting the zipper sewn in, since I don't have a sewing machine now.  But that is weeks and weeks away.  In the meantime I'll just concentrate on finishing the sleeves, yes?

My evening was eaten up by phone calls and doggie walks and dinner.  I got a few rows of the sock foot done, but frankly I was very tired from the bad night I had Tuesday so I retired early and read, then had a great sleep.  Except for the part when I woke up with a bad headache (I know -- again??).  But I drank down a couple of fizzy tablets and conked right out and woke up feeling -- well, awesome [see above]. 

 Fingers crossed the wind stays calm.  I'll have a good run today and I am already looking forward to it!

Against the wind

I had a decent run on Monday and was very much looking forward to my run yesterday.  It was not an easy one.  It was quite breezy and I've changed my route because of the construction that causes a detour on my regular route.  My second choice route is my older route that goes down past the stadium to 25th, then back up.  And while it's only a 5% grade it's not flat and when the wind if blowing in your face, it's not fun either!  I did okay but I'm grateful for the day off today.

I have finished picking up all of the gusset stitches on the Bamboo socks and now am just working on the foot portion.  Maybe I can finish them up this weekend.  Nope - that's to ambitious.  I'll shoot for next week.  And in the meantime I brought my Mariah sleeves in for noon knitting.  I haven't touched them since Saturday so I'm looking forward to a few rows at noon.  I should measure too so I can be ready for six inches and the increases.  I was going to snap a picture but there's really not much to show yet.  I'll wait for another 10 rows and then shoot one.

I had a nice quiet evening last night and went to bed to read.  I've been reading a book rather than reading off of my iPad and it's a nice change.  Plus I have heard - I don't quite believe it yet - but I've heard that the blue light from one's iPad or iPhone causes sleeplessness.  In fact I get just as drowsy when I read on my device as I do from paper and it didn't seem to make any difference last night.  I was sleepless!  I read and read until my eyes wouldn't stay open and then tried to sleep.  No go.  Turned the light on and read some more around midnight, but I was still awake at 1 and got up again at 2:30.  I don't feel too bad this morning, thankfully.  I sure hope I get a good night tonight.

My knitting friends reminded me last week that I hadn't yet set a date for our April knitting party - either ripping out a project or doing finishing work.  That's my errand when I get home tonight.  I'll stop by the office and find out if there's a Saturday in April we can use the Great Room.  I will shoot for the 3rd or 4th Saturday.  Maybe I can get the Cloisonne Jacket finished?  That would be awesome!

Bye bye headache

Holy cow!  It took long enough.  That headache dogged me all Friday.  I finally left work around 11 because I was feeling sick from it.  I went home and took a couple of fizzy tablets and stretched out on the couch.  I think I fell asleep even.  Around 7 or so it finally disappeared. and, knock on wood, hasn't been back since.  Most likely it was the pressure change that caused it.  We had another lovely clear day on Saturday but it didn't come back and now we're back to our regular clouds and rain and I'm feeling perfectly fine.

After it left I did manage to get some good work done on the Mariah sleeves.  I am two rows away from completing the first cable section.  Next I do rows 13 through 50-something three times and at the same time, when I have done 6 inches of the sleeves, start the increases.  That will mean three separate counters to keep track of at the same time.  It's a nightmare and one must have their wits about them all the time.  It is going to be quite nice.  The Fez, wool and camel blend, is lovely to work with although tends to be a bit splitty.  

The sun Saturday was such a treat and it was even kind of warm outside!  Regular Saturday errands ate up much of the day, and Tink got some nice walks.  The Mariah is not TV knitting and I wanted to watch a movie Saturday night, so I switched over to the Bamboo socks.  I managed to finish the heel, turn it, pick up the gusset stitches and get a good bit of the gusset done over Saturday and Sunday.  Tonight I should be able to finish up the gusset and then all that's left is the foot!  Perfect TV knitting.  (Boy I miss football!)

Sunday I got the very last of my pictures hung and a couple more things taken up to the storage unit.  What a relief!  I do need to get one last thing.  I need a tall narrow mirror to use as a full length mirror.  The others that I have hung don't show my entire body and I really miss that.  You need to be able to see top to toe.  I was hanging back from buying one because I thought my white mirror would be able to do the trick, but it doesn't.  No matter.  I can get one this coming weekend and be done with it! 

I did find out that weekend are definitely going to be challenging during these warmer months.  Saturday I guess a new film opened up and there was a late showing, therefore there were people leaving the theatre later than normal PLUS a whole gang of them milling around waiting for the previous showing to be through so they could go into the theatre.  They were very very noisy.  I'll need fans just to blank out the noise.  Otherwise, it's perfectly quiet.  Small price to pay.

Ready to spring?

It does seem crazy early but tomorrow night we turn our clocks forward.  I think we are three weeks earlier than Europe.  When did this change?  It used to happen at the same time, or within a week anyway.  Whatever ... I am just glad it's here now.  And in another month or so I'll be able to comfortably sit outside at the fountain or the fire pit.  That's going to be so nice.

Knitting was on the back burner last night because McG stopped by for a visit on his way to a jam session in Snohomish.  We had dinner and a few laughs and then he was on his way.  Tinkie got a nice walk - it was nice and not raining - and then I settled in to do a little knitting before bed.  I thought better of trying to work on the complicated cables and instead started the heel flap on the Bamboo Socks.  I'd like to get those out of the way soon so I can concentrate on the Mariah, although it's not going to get to the state of TV knitting until the sleeves are on their holders.  The body only has cabling on the ribbing.  Otherwise it's just stockinette and keeping track of increases and decreases, which is TV knitting in my book.

I'm hoping for a relatively quiet weekend, especially with the big one I have coming up next week when I'm hosting a surprise birthday party in my Great Room.  I've got to get that cake ordered Monday, and I'll have to get decorations and stuff this weekend.  But other than that, hopefully I can carve out some quiet time to knit and, if the weather permits, have some nice long walks.  It looks like we're going to be getting rain this weekend. 

I have had a headache for 24 hours.  I wish I had remembered to grab some of those fizzy tablets I got in London last time.  They seem to be the only thing that works on these sinus headaches.  I couldn't even run yesterday it was that bad.  Well, if it doesn't go away soon I'm going to throw in the towel and go home.  I'd rather have it go away though.

A clean start

I brought my Mariah sleeves to noon knitting yesterday.  Peggy had fixed the twisted stitches but after taking another look we all realized that the problem ran a little deeper.  As in four rows down deeper.  Monika spent nearly the full 60 minutes trying to fix it and she came pretty close but at the end of the hour we all decided that I must take out those four rows and start fresh.  So when I got home I sat down and, using a second needle, tinked back four rows and re-knit them and then finally put it back on the circular needle with the other sleeve.  I am actually very happy that I took the time to do that.  They're now both perfect.  I suspect that if the mistake had been further up the sleeve and not really noticeable unless closely inspected that I would have let it go.  But as it was, it was at the very start of the intricate and beautiful Celtic Knot pattern on the sleeve and it would have been just too obvious.  Now I am happy.  I don't think I'll get to touch it tonight since my friend McG is picking  me up from work.  But hopefully I can carve out some quiet time tomorrow and through the weekend to make some progress.  The sleeves are the hardest part of this project and I always do the sleeves first, so after they are done it will be fast work to finish it up.

It was quiet last night, mostly because it was pouring rain.  I did get a good sleep finally.  I wanted to read but because of the rotten night I had Tuesday I just dropped right off.  And for that I am thankful.  Maybe I'll have a strong run today?  Fingers crossed. That beautiful sunshine we had Monday has been gone since.  At least it's mild.  I am sure hoping it holds off and doesn't start pouring.  As it is, it's just misting and I don't mind that.  And now I've got this new hat - although it's autographed and I don't think I want to take it out in the rain!  I have my old one here.  That's what I'll use if it's raining and the new one if it's just misting. 

Rescued!

I brought my Mariah in yesterday to have my friend Peggy take a look and see if she could untwist those stitches for me.  Ah ... piece of cake.  She just knew exactly what to do and tried and tried to explain it to me.  I understand conceptually but I still don't think I could actually do it.  I was going to post a picture but I realize I don't have a good spot to snap a picture here in my office.  I'll try to find a place tonight at home.  Anyway, I was thrilled she could fix it and couldn't get home fast enough to get on with it.  I finished that row and did two more rows.  It's slow going right now because I don't know the cable symbols by heart yet.  Every designer has their own way of indicating cables on their charts.  Wouldn't it be nice to have a universal language for that?  I'm surprise there aren't universal symbols for all the knit stitches.  I prefer written out directions rather than charts anyway.  It makes more sense to me that way.  But I seem to be in the minority.

It never did rain yesterday, although it sprinkled just a bit in the late afternoon.  I had another decent run.  Not speedy, but solid.  Today is a day off for noon knitting.  The rest of the week is supposed to be nice so maybe I'll have a nice run in the sun tomorrow!

Well, I have my April vacation all planned and now am just counting the weeks - 5 more to go.  After that I have another short vacation in May already!  It's a blues festival in eastern Washington.  I've never been to it - it's  a small one.  But some friends rent a condo every year and it sounds like it's going to be a blast!  So that's on the calendar as well.  Now for June - I might be going to Luxembourg for a week.  It's still pie in the sky at this point.  I have a few things to handle before I can commit to that, but I haven't been to Europe in the summer in ages and ages!  It would be fun.  And oh so different from my usual cold weather jaunts over there.   Fifty-fifty right now, I'd say.

I had insomnia last night.  The first in a long, long time.  I have gone old school - I am actually reading a book NOT on my iPad.  I brought a couple home from Christmas at my sister's.  Anyway, I started one last week and have been reading myself to sleep.  Last night I read until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer, shut off the light and ....... all of a sudden I was wide awake!  This went on, with breaks for reading and water and strolling around the apartment and Nyquil, until I must have dropped off around 1 am.  How do I feel this morning?  ugh

A day of sunshine

Yesterday was just absolutely wonderful!  A nice sunny day and everyone smiling.  It wasn't warm but it wasn't freezing cold either.  Crazy Seattle - as soon as the sun appears people strip down like it's the tropics.  We're back to the clouds today but we have more sunny days coming this week.  And then Saturday we turn the clocks.  I don't mind that it'll be a bit darker in the morning.  I am like a vampire when it comes to light in the morning.  Ick.  That's why I love hotels with blackout blinds.  Perfect.

I had a nice solid run yesterday.  Still don't have a race in the works but that's okay.  When I'm counting calories I get a bit slower than normal so sometimes it's just a victory to finish my 30 minutes.  I might consider doing the May race at Volunteer Park.  It's a Cinco de Mayo themed race and I believe there will be a bunch of taco trucks at the end of the race.  Although it's like the new crazy of having a beer garden at these 5K races -- who feels like drinking beer at 10 in the morning after running for 30+ minutes?  Would I really feel like eating a taco in the morning?  Probably not.  But it could be fun all the same.  Costumes are encouraged.

Maybe it was the sunshine yesterday, but I did indeed feel energized and took care of a few things that had been marinating -- made doctor appointments, balanced the check book, etc.  I wanted to work on my Mariah last night and took another look at those four stitches when I got home, but I still couldn't figure out how to fix them so I brought it with me and Peggy promised to take a look.  She's going to take one look at it and know exactly what to do.  I am sure I learned a long time ago how to fix this particular little glitch but I can't remember and I don't want to mess things up and have to start over.  It is nearly impossible (for me anyway) to rip back cable work.  A bunch of plain stockinette -- no problem.  But even if it's ribbed it's a challenge.  And then there are people like Peggy and Monika who can look at the work and just know how to read it and how to rip back successfully.  It's a gift that I don't possess. 

Almost perfect

Well it has taken some time.  I moved in December 15 and this Sunday I finally felt like I had everything just how I want it, with the exception of a few pictures that I need help hanging.  That I can get next weekend.  The storage unit was a key piece, along with getting rid of the old wooden wall units and large dresser.   Saturday was busy with running around doing errands and getting my hair done.  But Sunday I dedicated to finishing up moving a few more things to the storage closet, rearranging things, and I am pretty darned happy with the results.  I'd say I'm at 99%.  When the final pictures get hung I will be most happy.

It was a glorious and sunny day Sunday.  Tink let me sleep in, partly because I walked her late on Saturday.  After a terrible night Friday, due to another late night drunken session out in the courtyard by rowdy tenants, I was ready to sleep Saturday and it was great!  We walked over to the Starbucks at the mall, which I didn't know was open before the mall until I thought to check.  It opens at 8:30 and that's early enough for me on a Sunday.  After a nice leisurely walk and breakfast I dug in to my chores.  I was all done, even giving Tink another walk in the sunshine, before 1 o'clock.  Then I sat down and got to work starting the Mariah.  This is a difficult pattern.  In the sleeves at one point you are working from two different charts AND keeping track of increase and decrease rows for the raglan!  I got the cuffs done and started in on the Celtic knot cable pattern which is the central panel on each of the sleeves.  The background is reverse stockinette and I found that I had made a mistake in the second setup row, knitting when I should have purled ... or purling when I should have knit.  It's only 4 or five stitches but they are down a row and I don't know how to reverse engineer that mistake.  I know someone who does, thankfully.  So I put it away before I could do any more damage and spent the rest of the evening working on the Bamboo Socks.  I'll bring the sleeves in tomorrow and see if my friend can fix it for me.  I don't relish taking them out and starting over.  That's definitely not my favorite thing.

It is cold and clear today and I must run.  I only ran once last week so I've got to get back into it.  Plus I need to find a race to shoot for since I am missing St. Paddy's Day Dash.  I looked Friday but nothing really caught my eye.  Something could turn up. 

The best thing about March ..

No ... it's not St. Patrick's Day!  Although ...... no.  It's only ten more days until we get to turn the clock's forward!!  Hoorah!  Spring is on its way for sure.  One can see the buds on the shrubs and things like that, but it's the light that says it for me.  I have definitely noticed it being much lighter both morning and evening but I like it when it's lighter in the evening.  I tend to check out much too early when it's dark outside.

After finally getting my last pieces of old furniture out and the new and improved pieces in I found that there is still one area that drives me crazy and that's the closet.  Yes closet - singular - since there is only one closet in my apartment.  It's large - it's 10 feet long and regular depth - but it's not enough.  There's no way to switch out seasonal wardrobes for one thing.  And I have to wrestle my cleaning things in and out, which is just wrong.  So I asked about a small storage unit on Wednesday.  I thought the price was a bit steep so I went online yesterday to check out the other storage places nearby and found that the one at the apartment complex is in fact a deal.  So when I got home last night and got Tink walked I signed up for a storage unit and began shifting a few things down there.  I got all of the heavy boxes using their handy cart.  Next I am going to take my rolling clothing rack and load it up with cold weather things - most of them anyway  since winter seems to have skipped us this year - and then I will have a useful and handy closet.  I am very excited about this. 

That was basically my entire evening.  By the time I got done wrestling those loads upstairs to the storage closet I was more than ready for a nice shower.  I made some lovely pasta for dinner and Tink got another little walk and then it was time to go to bed to read.  I had a nice sleep, especially compared to Wednesday night.  Tink slept the entire night quietly. 

I would like to start my new project - the Mariah - this weekend.  I have decided that Sunday shall be a big chore day.  I can finally finally FINALLY get everything set up the way I want it this weekend!  My pictures will all be up.  I'll do a nice tidy up job and the new project will be my carrot.  I suspect the weather is going to be crappy all weekend.  It's March coming in like a lion.  So it will be a perfect weekend for chores.  I was realizing last weekend how much I miss football.  It was a way to make me relax on the weekend.  Now it's just go go go and I come into work on Monday craving a rest.  It'll be here soon enough and in the meantime there's spring and summer to look forward to.  And let's just make it through March.