29 October, 2014

What is wrong with people??

What happened to courtesy?  Or manners?  Don't parents teach their children basic skills for living in a polite society?  It was raining hard yesterday and I didn't feel like going out for a run and getting soaked to the skin, so I instead took my umbrella and walked up to PetCo to get Tinkerbell some food, and then walked back.  It is just a little over a mile each way.  During that walk a young man bumped into me so hard that my umbrella banged into my face.  No "excuse me" or "sorry".  Nothing.  And then a girl was so close on my heels that when I stopped at a crosswalk she walked right into me!  Again, nothing on her side.  No "oops" or "pardon me".  No acknowledgement at all.  Beasts. 

I was looking forward to movie night.  I changed my Netflix account from only streaming to streaming with DVDs and I had "Captain America - The Winter Soldier" waiting.  What a disappointment.  First, Captain American is the most boring superhero ever, but Scarlet Johansson is usually able to put some sparkle into the mix.  The story is just so boring that I couldn't finish it and ended up going to bed before it was over. 

The blues are still a constant companion.  Monday's run helped a bit but that could have been the sunshine as well as the run.  It is noon knitting today and that always cheers me up.  It would be better if I could knit all afternoon though. 

28 October, 2014

Idiots in the parking garage

It was pouring rain on the way to the Transit Center this morning, but my commute was going along just fine until I got behind a school bus, which slowed things down to a crawl.  But I got into the parking structure at the normal time and pulled in.  However, after the second turn there was a huge backup of cars.  When I finally did get up to the top I could see the problem.  People were pulling into spots and then backing up, across the lane effectively stopping the flow of traffic so that they could position their cars.  *sigh*  Add to that a rather large puddle of water spanning four or 5 spots and you can see a mess in the making.  I pulled into a spot (any spot!) and gathered my things, but that few minutes of chaos pulling into the garage was enough to put me off my schedule and I got to watch my bus pulling out into the street. 

It was sunny yesterday which meant that I got to run in the sunshine.  I needed that!  Pushing myself slightly, I had a terrific run.  I don't know what my chances are for today.  It is stormy and raining hard.  It may slow down.  I hope it does.

I just got beat in my fantasy match up and I'm torn about it.  Of course I wanted to win and I was ahead until last night's game.  My opponent's player had to make more than 14 points in order for him to win and since he was only supposed to make 7, I felt pretty confident I'd pull this one out.  Ha!  He had an incredible game and I lost by a hair.  The opponent was my nephew, who is in first place and barely lost last year, so I guess I'm not too unhappy about it.  I don't have a chance to win first place anyway, at this point.  I'd rather have him finally win it.

Tinking back my mistake was my first order of business last night, after the grocery shopping, requisite dog walk, kitchen clean up, and shower.  I made myself a cocktail and sat at the dining table, carefully picking back about 60 stitches.  Then I started again, moving the markers up by two stitches.  I didn't want to take up my entire evening with it, and it's not TV knitting at this point, so I put it down after I was confident I had the problem solved so I could properly watch the game.  I do have half a skein of the blue on its way so now I know I won't run out of yarn and I can continue happily knitting along.

Okay now - happy thoughts for a rain free noon time!

27 October, 2014

Too short

That's what's wrong with a weekend away.  It's just not enough time.  I had a difficult time getting anything meaningful done on Friday morning.  I've started planning a trip for next April which is six months away, but these days many things have to be reserved that far in advance.  So I did a little sleuthing and then headed out to the train after lunch.  It's very easy to get to the train station from here and I was not carrying any luggage, which made it even easier.  I had purchased business class seats, so I got my seat assignments and headed to my car.  All was nice and quiet and I was starting to relax when there they came -- mom, dad and chatty toddler.  D'oh!  I had forgotten to ask for the child free business class.  That child would not shut up for the entire 3 plus hours of the trip.  I heard the father say more than once, "I though you said he'd go right to sleep.  I have work to do". 

The hotel in Portland was just perfect!  A boutique hotel in the Pearl District.  There were plenty of great restaurants around, the Saturday market was easy walking distance as was everything else, actually.  Unfortunately the room opened up right onto 11th so it was noisy with the window open, but the streetcar does not run all night, so it was tolerable. 

Portland is an interesting city but in this particular area there are quite a few homeless people - mostly young - hanging about and sleeping on the streets.  Not the crazy, forgot-to-take-my-meds type of sad homeless people.  No, the nomadic, almost hippie kind of street people.  Grubby and annoying.  I don't feel sorry for them. 

Saturday after a swing through the outdoor market I stopped by Powell's Bookstore and spent WAY too much money on guide books to help me plan my trip - one on Venice and the other on Florence and Tuscany, and then an early lunch at a sandwich shop that came highly recommended.  The Husky game was on at 7:45 on ESPN, so the plan was an early lunch so we could get to a particular fancy place for an early supper before the game.  But the lunch, even shared, was such that there was no way I was going to be able to eat any nice dinner at 6 pm and enjoy it.  Ah well ... a picnic and some good wine is a fine way to watch a football game.  It would have been much better, however, had the Huskies found some offense and a won the game. 

The trip back home was in a quiet car, thank goodness.  I just wanted to get home, get the dog and watch the recorded Seahawks game.  There had been a storm Saturday night and quite a few people were without power.  It wasn't looking good on the way back, you could see the smoke in the air, indicating people were using their fireplaces, but there was power.  And after some quick unpacking and a shower we got to watch the Seahawks win finally!  I tried to knit as well, since I was feeling the need for the comfort of it.  But the pattern changed drastically at row twenty and after about three repeats I could see I had made a mistake, so I put it down and I'll have to sit in a quiet place tonight and tink back and start over.

And here we are back at Monday.  I had the Sunday night blues something awful last night!  I got my running clothes washed though and I am looking forward to getting outside at lunchtime and having a nice run and finding my happy place again.

24 October, 2014

Just like that

I'm cold.  All it took was a solid week of rain and now for sure the summer is gone.  What a spectacular Indian summer we had!  But I have been cold in my bed for the last two nights - especially last night since Tinkerbell wasn't there to add her warmth.  In the mornings too.  Today I wore my full gloves.  Fingerless are not going to make it any longer.

Since I'm taking the bus to the train this afternoon I couldn't drive to the Transit Center and instead took the 7 o'clock bus from home -- well, half mile away from home.  I was right about the traffic.  That bus which always made the 7:24 bus to work missed it by almost 5 minutes so I had to catch the later bus which got me to work a full 20 minutes late.  That's all because of the schools.  Which is something I was unaware of when I started this commute in the summer.  Ah well I truly do prefer to drive to the Transit Center.  It is extremely uncomfortable standing in the pitch black on that busy highway.  I carried a small flashlight this morning so that the bus driver could see me standing there.  I would have been very unhappy had he passed me by!

I got an email this morning from a woman who has some of the yarn I'm looking for!  She's going to weigh it for me and if it's a third of a skein then I'm in business.  I got the switch over to the other needles done last night but I'm not taking the project with me to Portland.  I know I will not be knitting. 

I surely hope we have a better football weekend than the last one.  I have both of the game set to record because I'm pretty sure the Husky game would not be on any TVs in Portland.  You never know.  We might blunder in to one of those places that has ALL the games on but I'm not counting on it.  They're playing Arizona this weekend.  Maybe they'll win!

23 October, 2014

An "ah ha!" moment

I think I have put my finger on the cause of my super sensitive teeth.  I don't think it was from he jaw clenching.  I think it was because I changed from a soft toothbrush to a hard one.  In fact I'm 99% sure.  I got a new set for the master bathroom when I moved and my soft toothbrush didn't fit into the cup holes, so I took one that did fit and .... yup, it's hard.  So I went shopping for a soft one that fits into the cup and now we wait.  I am going to the dentist next month so there is time to see if this will indeed make the difference. 

Here's a pet peeve -- having to call a company to cancel.  This goes for all sorts of companies.  You can do everything in the world on line but cancel a membership or a magazine subscription or, in this case, a ZipCar membership.  The renewal date is a couple of weeks away and I honestly don't think I used it at all during the last 12 months, and there are no Zipcars in Woodinville.  So I can save myself some money if I can only get someone to pick up the freaking phone!!  I've been on hold for at least 10 minutes so far. 

It happened to me again last night.  The needle tip came out of the knitting, even though I'm being super careful about making sure I don't twist the work.  So, that means I am going to have to switch needles with another project.  I think the needle I'm using on the Melon scarf is long enough to accommodate these 600+ stitches.  I just now have to figure out a way to actually make the switch.  I guess I could use other tips to transfer the Melon scarf onto another Denise cord, and then I would have a free needle.  I wonder if I can do that tonight?  I have a lot to do -- Tink goes to the dog boarding place, then I've got to do my regular evening chores as well as get set for the weekend in Portland.  We'll see.

Still on hold.  *sigh*  Eighteen minutes!  Good heavens.  Isn't that crazy?  I should call back and choose a different option.

We have gotten the bike share racks on the campus and around town.  I wonder if this will take off here.  It seems that there are plenty of bike owners and people who want a bike, have a bike.  The chains still look pristine on all of them.  And boy are they ugly!

Okay -- more than twenty minutes on hold.  Unacceptable.  I am going to call back and chose an option that I know will get a person on the other end.  Wish me luck.

22 October, 2014

Just ouch

I had to go down to the Dean's office yesterday to pick up some exams and that's when I saw the line up of people getting their flu shots.  I had forgotten it was yesterday so I filled out my form and went right back down to get my shot.  Now I don't usually get a flu shot.  I can't remember the last time, actually.  But since I've had that nasty respiratory virus not once but twice since July, I thought it would be a good idea to get the flu shot.  I forgot that it hurts like the dickens!  My left arm is SO sore.  Then I went for my run and by the late afternoon my legs were very sore as well.  Every time I rolled over in bed last night I woke myself up.  Good thing I get a rest today. 

Tink had to go outside at 3 am.  This is not her typical move but when she has to go ..... and I had to put the outdoor lights on and stand guard because a neighbor put up a sign yesterday that they had spotted a bobcat in their back yarn.  Last year at this time I saw two bobcat cubs so I imagine it's one of those come back. 

The cauliflower soup I made was just outstanding and so very easy too.  I made a roux with a tablespoon each of butter and flour, added 4 cups of chicken broth and the cauliflower with a half of an onion and a few carrots.  Then I simmered it until the vegetables were soft and then blended it with an immersion blender.  And I just seasoned it with salt and pepper.  Amazingly good. 

I did not knit.  I watched a little TV and went to bed early.  Tonight I'll knit while I watch "Inside the NFL".  Still nothing on that extra bit of yarn I need.  Maybe I won't need it after all.  I need to spend some time with my stash and my WIPs and get organized.  I don't have any markers because they're all in projects that I had set aside.  I should work on them or frog them and use the yarn for something else.  I should .....

I am looking forward to my trip downtown today and my visit with my lawyers.  A lot.

21 October, 2014

Yippee!!

Finally!  It has been since July that I have been able to run, what with being sick and then the class and being sick and the weather and being sick ....  Anyway, even though it was raining in the morning, it was fine at lunchtime and I actually got out there and ran 3 miles.  I was slow, but I don't care.  I had to walk a couple of times, but I did not have to take extra puffs of my inhaler, which is huge.  My legs felt like rubber at 2 3/4 miles, but that is to be expected.  And I am sore today, but not limping.  I am going out again at noon today if it's not pouring.  It was very wet on the way in, but by the time we got to the U there was blue sky showing, so I am thinking I'll be fine.

After my terrible football weekend, I really wasn't in the mood for Monday night football, especially since I didn't have anyone on either of the teams and I had already lost my fantasy matchup.  I cooked a nice dinner - sauteed scallops and some pasta and a great salad from Trader Joe's.  I love those composed salads.  The one I've been eating most lately is the Seeds & Greens - arugula, roasted squash, dried cranberries and some grain I can't remember.  It's delicious though.

I attending a very frustrating meeting yesterday.  Good thing I had already had my run and I was rather subdued.  I have been on edge lately and I suspect if I hadn't run I might have been even more obnoxious than I was. 

I think I'll have to cancel noon knitting tomorrow.  I've got an appointment downtown with my lawyers at 2.  I think it would just be two of us anyway.  I didn't even pick it up last night, but hopefully I can get a few rows in tonight.  I'm going to make cauliflower soup when I get home.  That's not too taxing and therefore I should have plenty of energy left for a row or two.  Now those rows are approaching 600 stitches!  And still no word on anyone having extra yarn to sell me.  I sure hope I don't run out!

20 October, 2014

We are in for a rude awakening

The weather continues to be mild.  Extremely mild and record setting.  Sunday was too warm for a jacket.  Once the weather turns it is going to be really hard to take.  It's like we're living in California here.  Except for the rain, which has settled in for the week, I believe.  We had a little respite on the weekend, well Sunday at least.  But the man on the news last night said it's rain and clouds for the rest of the week and into the weekend.  I don't really care too much except I do want to start back running today.  I can go when it's raining but I prefer  not to.  I'm so antsy though that I suspect I'll go today no matter what's happening out there.

I spent Friday working from home.  I've got an interesting week coming up.  A meeting today at 2 o'clock and a meeting Wednesday at 2 o'clock downtown with my lawyer.  Thursday night Tink goes to the boarders and Friday I have to take the bus from home because Friday afternoon I'm getting on the train to Portland.  Rain or shine, that's going to be fun. 

Now I'll tell you what's NOT fun -- watching both of my teams lose this weekend.  The second loss for the Seahawks, who haven't had back to back losses since 2012.  Oh it was just brutal.  We lost so many players in the off season and then we've had some injuries.  Ah well -- it's early days yet.  As for my fantasy - I got killed there too.  I guess it is not my year.   Again.

I didn't get much done this weekend, which is okay once in a while, isn't it?  You can't work all the time.  There was sunshine to enjoy and walks to take - Tinkie got a nice walk at Cottage Lake for a change.  It's a nice little park and the lake is lovely.   Movies and a fire - even though it's warm, it's always nice to have a fire.  I got lots of great knitting done on the Brown Eyed Susan.  I'm on row 19 of the lace border and I've put out a request for another skein of the blue.  I'm just not entirely sure I'll have enough.  So far no luck though.  I had gotten a start on the lace border Thursday at work, but row two wasn't working out and so I had to take out both rows - tinking back over 350 stitches twice.  I realized I had done the t2l (twist 2 left) incorrectly.  The instructions in the book were not sufficient.  Once I did a little more digging I realized my mistake and from then on I was on fire.  Except when my Denise needle came apart from the cable!  Oh heavens ... what a mess.  I got it fixed but I was going crazy trying to keep the stitches from unraveling.  Now I am very very careful with it.  It is getting heavy with now over 500 stitches and those cables can twist out if you're not super careful.  I am using my other size 6 long circular for the project that is on hold - the Melon scarf - so I'm stuck with the Denise set.

So let's keep good thoughts for a dry-ish noon time.  I am just crazy anxious to start running again!!

16 October, 2014

It's a let down

After being so terribly busy for a couple of months, I am finding it very difficult to keep interested now that it is not busy.  I much prefer to be super busy -- well, who doesn't?  I've got to find something interesting to do.

The good news is that I've been sleeping great.  Again, not surprising.  The nightmares and jaw clamping must have been disturbing my sleep a lot.  It was so very cozy this morning, I really didn't want to get out of bed.  Therefore I was running late and didn't have time to make my coffee to take on my drive.  I pride myself on getting up and out in less than an hour.  I can do it in 40 minutes, but I must know what I'm going to put on.  I can't be dithering in front of my closet.  I had decided to wear one of my new dresses today but when I decided that last night I hadn't quite decided on the shoes, so that was what held me back.  What shoes?  Or boots?  I need grey ones.  The black would have worked but since I wore super high heels twice already this week I thought I might wear lower heels today ... see?  That takes up a lot of time!  Tick tock.  So I wore something else entirely.   And missed my coffee.  And had to rush Tink on her walk.

At lunch yesterday I found a nice little spot and knit and knit.  I wanted to go for a walk as well, but it was pouring rain.  I think I will be able to run next week!  My cough has almost disappeared and my lungs feel good.  So -- next week I will start up.  I cannot wait.  I need my endorphins.  I can't get endorphins from knitting.

I think I'll be able to start the lace border on the Brown Eyed Susan tonight, if I get a good solid hour or so in at lunchtime.  I hope I have enough yarn to finish up the body.  I might not have enough for the contrast lacy bind off though.  That would be a drag.

I was reading something the other day about how certain things in your resume make you look old.  Did you know that putting two spaces after a period is now considered passe?  That it is a convention only taught on type writers?  I hadn't noticed but I'm going to start looking to see if I can spot the difference.  The person writing the article had to train himself to put only one space and he said it was quite difficult. I can believe it. 

15 October, 2014

Awake at last

I finally feel human and as if I've had a good night's sleep.  In other words, I'm not groggy this morning - or not as bad as I have been the first two days of the week.  I fell right asleep last night - which I know because I looked at the clock when I turned out the light - 9:16 (!), and then an Amber Alert made my phone buzz just after 9:30 and I was already deeply asleep.  Unfortunately the Amber alerts do not turn off when the phone is in Do Not Disturb mode.  I need to search for the alerts and turn that one off.

It's still raining today and it's starting to feel like autumn.  I'm ready.  But it's going to be a long long winter without a trip to look forward to, I'm afraid.  I am starting to put together a three week trip in early spring and I don't have many vacation days to spare between then and now.  A few -- I think maybe 5 -- days I can use around Christmas and the New Year.  It's going to be tough, make no mistake.  Ah but to have three whole weeks off in a row, now that is going to be awesome!  It's a long ways away.

Noon knitting today and I'm going to be the only knitter.  MaryEllin and Monika are off on trips and Diana has too much work to do before her two weeks off and that leaves me, since Christina hasn't been coming lately, nor has Peggy.  Of course Peggy has a good excuse, since she's across the lake.  So - just me.  If it's not still pouring rain I can have a nice little walk and then find a corner and knit for a while.  I am only ten rows from the lace part of the Brown Eyed Susan.  Yes, I know I have a few (million) WIPs, but I felt like doing this and so I am doing it.  At some point I need to dig through my WIPs and figure out what I'm going to finish and what I can frog.  I am running out of tools - needle point protectors, markers, etc. 

Yes .... I slept better but I could do with a bit more still.  It's got to be the lack of sunshine.

14 October, 2014

Tuesdays at the Transit Center

What a huge difference a few weeks makes at that Transit Center parking garage!  When I first started driving in and parking every morning it was still summer and there were always tons of parking spots.  Now though school has started for the med school and the undergrads.  Tuesday and Thursday mornings must be very popular for classes because I was just two or three minutes later than usual today and I had to hunt for a spot.  Since this is an express bus it only stops at a few places right off the freeway and if you're not at the Transit Center or the next stop you have to stand.  That bus is packed to overflowing.  I had to fight my way out of it this morning. 

It rained last night and I find that noise to be so soothing.  I slept like a log.  I was going to read but I couldn't keep my eyes open at 9, so I just turned over and fell asleep.  Ahhhhhh ..... better this morning.  Although I know I could have easily slept another two hours.  Maybe it's the darkness that is keeping me so sleepy these days. 

The nightmares have gone the way of the stress, thank goodness for that.  It was getting quite tiresome.  What hasn't gone away is the sensitivity of my teeth on the right side of my mouth.  Obviously I was clenching my jaws as well as having nightmares and I am afraid I've injured that tooth.  I'll give it another few weeks though.  I've got my cleaning appointment in November so that will give it enough time to heal, if it's going to.  I really want to avoid a root canal.

I'm looking forward to the little weekend getaway coming up in a little over a week.  A train ride to Portland for the weekend.  Hopefully there will be some sunshine and some good music.  Just getting away is fun for me, but getting away on a train is always better.

I wore my new red shoes all day yesterday, with the exception of a couple of hours in the afternoon when I put my running shoes on and went for a walk.  I can't run until my lungs are clear and, can you believe it, I'm still coughing!  It is getting better, slowly.  But what I can do it put on my running shoes and get out there for a real walk.  My concern was for my foot, and I can't say it didn't hurt at all.  It didn't hurt much though and I have heels on again today and I'm still not in pain.  This is a good thing.  I'll be running again real soon.  And in the meantime I can wear some nice shoes!  

What should I do with the rest of this tea?  Pour it over my head or drink it?  Which way is going to work faster??

13 October, 2014

Never enough

I feel like that this morning - that I can never get enough sleep!  I am just dizzy and I even went to bed at a decent hour.  I slept through the night, but eight hours just isn't enough sometimes, is it?

I discovered a little leak on Wednesday and ended up having to work from home for a couple of days to get that taken care of.  And then Friday was my spa day.  Oh heavens, it was bliss.  It was so incredibly relaxing,  And then I went shopping!  I got some dresses for work and some crazy beautiful red suede shoes.  High heels, zippers in the back.  I love them.  Practical?  Well, no.  No they're not.  But they are gorgeous!

There was an incredible rain storm Saturday.  It was a downpour for about 30 minutes.  I was in a parking lot and couldn't get out of the car because the entire lot was a river!  The walkways in front of the stores were rivers.  Flooded streets because of overflowing or plugged storm drains.  And as quickly as it started, it ended.

The Seahawks got beat last night, at home, by the Cowboys.  It was a terrible game.  So difficult to watch.  My fantasy team is losing big this week as well.  I had some good players on bye and a couple underperformed and somebody else was injured.  Not a good football week for me, except the Huskies looked pretty good.

I finally got about half of the stuff hung on the walls.  I'd like to live with it for a while before I get the rest of it up. 

Oh I hope this caffeine kicks in soon.  It better or I'm going to put my head down on the desk and have a little snooze!


07 October, 2014

Shoes!

I was positive I was missing some shoes.  Shoes that I hadn't room for in my teensie apartment but shoes I couldn't bear to throw away, so they were in my storage locker and then disappeared when I moved.  But they surfaced yesterday and I'm so happy!  I didn't get a chance to go through them last night, but I know for sure there are some booties in there and I almost bought another pair on Sunday.  And some fabulous brown heeled oxfords and ... well, I am sure I've forgotten but they're all good winter shoes and boots and I'll get to them tonight, maybe.

I have lots I want to do tonight that I couldn't do last night because of the game.  The Seahawks won but the number of penalties called on them was absolutely obscene!  I guess it comes with the territory.  I do have to at least start the tomato sauce.  I picked the last of the tomatoes except a couple behind a spider web.  I will get those tonight if they're still good, then I'm going to do what most of the recipes suggest, which is blanch them and peel them before removing the seeds.  Time consuming but I think it is a necessary step.

When I took Tink to the vet on Sunday I also needed to get her flea pills - anti-flea pills, I should say - but they had run out of them!  Ridiculous.  Obviously I can't drive all the way back there just to pick up pills, so the doctor wrote out the prescription and I stopped at the vet by my house to get it filled.  But guess what?  They don't carry those pills.  *sigh*  Now what?  The receptionist suggested I go to an online vet pharmacy.  So that's on the list for today.

The students took their re-exam yesterday and I just sat and knit while they did their exam.  And that's that.  Anatomy is over and it'll never be taught like this again.  Now we start putting together the new curriculum.  Or soon, anyway.  I sure need a breather.  Luckily Histo is not so demanding right now.  I can take some time to clean up my office - it is a wicked mess with stacks of papers and piles of other papers, x-ray envelopes piled on the filing cabinet.  Untidy, although I can put my hand on anything I need.  Still, I'd like a clean blotter for a change.  Right now on my blotter - so that I can't see anything but Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the last two weeks - a red folder (empty), invisible tape, an iPhone charging plug with no cord, a pencil, a pink highlighter, two pens, assorted yellow sticky pads, pieces of white note paper with lists scribbled and checked, white envelopes with who knows what in them ..... No food anyway.  That's a good thing. 

The weather is strangely warm.  I was out walking Tink in the pitch black last night in just my cotton PJs!  Usually I just take her out there to the end of her leash and let her piddle, but it was gorgeous so I strolled around with her, watching the stars and the big moon.  Sure enough, there was a rabbit, but all you could see was it's white tail as it hopped off into the forest.  It's sure to turn soon, but right now it reminds me of a particularly warm November when I was in London.  Walking around through the parks in late November in just a turtle neck sweater and a shawl.  It was that warm.  We could be in for a very mild winter this year.

06 October, 2014

Odd little observations on getting older

First - I hate it.  Well, not all of it.  I love not caring at all what other people think.  That's wonderful.  But other parts of it - not so much.  One of the things is hair.  As in, grey hair.  So you get your hair highlighted to start with and when that's not doing it you move on to all over color.  And that works fine but having dark hair I notice that the roots are more noticeable and rather quickly at that.  What's the next move?  You have two - you can chose to go natural and therefore grey.  Or you can lighten your hair color so that the roots are not quite as noticeable.  That's where I went.  Rather than just having face framing foils I had my new hairdresser do my foils all over my head.  So now I'm lighter - not blond exactly but not all brown either.  It will take a bit of getting used to, but I like the change just to shake things up.

I dearly wanted to sleep in Saturday but there was too much going on.  Tink got her hairdo, I got mine and then time to pick her up and me to change clothes and it was off to Frank and Shannon's.  I was hoping it wouldn't go long but that was not the case and there was no time left for tomato picking or anything much at all but watching some college football.  I also had some work to do.  The final exam was on Friday but a few students failed so I couldn't post the grades until Saturday afternoon.  And today we have a re-exam for three students so I'll be home late again.  And Monday Night Football is the Seahawks.  It's recording.

I was hoping the nightmares would be done now that the class is done, but that's not the case and I had another screaming nightmare Saturday night and another, though not screaming, last night.  Do I need a relaxing day?  Oh yes.  A relaxing week is more like it, but not in the cards right now.  I don't think it would be so bad if I hadn't gotten another cold -- which by the way is hanging on still.  I so want to start running again this week but not until the cough is gone. 

We are having an incredible Indian Summer!  It was positively hot yesterday so rather than bring in the outdoor furniture and winterize I enjoyed the weather for as long as I could.  I even knit outside for a while until the late game was on.  I nearly won my fantasy this weekend - nearly.  I am disappointed because it was so close.  I won the close one last week though. 

Well -- I must dig in and get an exam ready.  It's going to be nice today at least.

03 October, 2014

Thursday night football

In the past the NFL games were only on Sunday and Monday until Thanksgiving, but this year we're having Thursday night games all season long.  Last night my fantasy QB and a receiver plus the defense of the other team played.  Well, my QB is Aaron Rogers and the Packers just killed the Vikings.  They were so far ahead that they pulled Aaron Rogers and put in the backup for the last quarter.  Of course then my defense got no points to speak of but Aaron Rogers and Jordy Nelson got me nearly 30 points.  That's a good start.  I'd like to win a second in a row and move up a little more in the standings. 

The Seahawks don't play until Monday night which means that Sunday is a little more open than it would typically be.  I set up Tink's annual vet appointment for Sunday morning.  I can move my hair salon, but I don't want to change vets at this late stage.  She's been going there since she was a puppy and we don't go many times a year, so we'll keep her vet.

It's going to be a busy weekend.  I've got to drop Tink at the groomers first thing Saturday morning, and then I've got a hair appointment at 9:45 and after that a family gathering at 1 o'clock.  Hopefully it won't go too long.  I'd really like to do some serious knitting this weekend.  I did get a couple rows done last night, but I've a long ways to go with this beaded shawl and I've got two new knitting books coming today plus the yarn from YarnBox is really calling my name.  I am going to make "Brown Eyed Susan" from Juju's Loops and I actually was going to have someone check the book out of the library for me to copy the pattern, since it's the only one out of the book I want.  However, the book is published in London and it's not in our library system!  Therefore I had to fork out $30 for one pattern.  I know ... but I really really like it!  And I think it'll be perfect for the yarn I got.  I should take pictures -- the blue is absolutely the most gorgeous peacock blue ever.  It reminds me of the ink I used when I used to write with a nibbed pen.  The ink came in cartridges rather than a bottle.  I thought it was so elegant and romantic to write with an ink pen, but my teachers didn't think so. 

I got my appointment at the spa all set for Friday and got the day off on the calendar at work.  Oh joy!  I'm to get to the spa at 11 am to soak in the tubs for an hour before my body scrub, and then I'm having a body moisturizing as well.  That is just SO relaxing.  And they put this fresh green mask on your face while you're getting lotion massaged into your freshly exfoliated body.  You come out of there as soft as a baby all over.  Then I'm going shopping and I'm going to buy myself something really nice.  I haven't had any new work clothes and I deserve it.

Also on the agenda for the weekend is to take the cushions off the outdoor chairs, put the umbrella down, take the cloth off the round table ... winterize, in other words.  And I'm going to get the last of the tomatoes in and make sauce.  I tried it last weekend and it was okay in the slow cooker, but I didn't care all that much for the recipe.  I will do it in a big pot this time instead and I will not use nearly as much olive oil as that other recipe called for.  Fun weekend ahead.

02 October, 2014

Fat rabbits

Poor Tinkerbell.  She will NEVER get a rabbit and it is driving her absolutely stark raving mad.  The one time she got away from me this early spring was to chase the rabbits, which got away thank goodness.  And now I swear they taunt her.  There is one big one, or perhaps they all look the same at this time of year, that seems to be in the same spot every morning when we go out for our walk.  It sits and sits until we get up rather close and then darts away, but not ALL the way away.  Just away enough to watch and drive my poor dog crazy.   I love watching them, especially the little tiny babies.  But I will be glad when they are gone, because I don't like to see Tink all worked up like that.  Part of me really wants to let her go and have a good chase, but I would feel just awful if she actually caught it and killed it.

Two more days of this insanity at work.  I am just about tearing my hair out.  I did absolutely nothing last night -- well, I did my hair and cooked a lovely curry for dinner.  Other than that though, I just watched "Inside the NFL" and relaxed.  I am feeling better.  I still sound bad, but I am feeling better.  I long for a day just to myself to sleep and shop and that's what I'm going to do next Friday.  I'm going to take a vacation day and go to the spa and go shopping and just pamper myself.  I can't wait.

01 October, 2014

Flu shots

Generally, I avoid them.  I don't know when is the last time that I've actually had the flu.  Oh I get colds, bad colds.  But flu?  However, since I am now enjoying my second cold since July, I am most definitely getting a flu shot this year.  Absolutely.

It took me a while to get home, but after a late bus and a quick stop at the store for necessities, I was in bed and asleep (again) by 3 and slept for two solid hours.  Then I got up and got a few things sorted out in the kitchen.  I was feeling better!  Yay!  I had picked up comfort food at the store - chicken pot pies.  Something easy to heat up and warm and nice.  I had some hot whiskey, watched some silly TV and went to bed early.  I slept pretty well except having to get up once to take more cough medicine.  And here I am today, on time and ready to go.  And it's Wednesday, so there's knitting to look forward to at lunchtime.  I'll be a little late, but no matter.  I should be able to get 40 minutes in at the least.

I was hoping to be able to start back up running this week, but that went down the drain.  I'll have to shoot for next week then.  And start off slow since it's been since the first cold that I've run - actually since my trip in July!  Twelve weeks.  I suspect it'll take me at least two weeks to get my wind back up.  That's fine.  I know I'll feel much better once I can get running again.  Things won't be so busy at work either, for at least a few weeks.

Have you noticed how dark it is in the morning now?  I am looking forward to turning the clocks, but it won't be until the end of the month.  I almost turned the porch light on to walk Tink this morning.  I guess I'd better find a flashlight to take with us soon.