Eary meeting day again

Oh I am beginning to regard Fridays much like Mondays.  No "bonk" on the alarm - I just have to jump out of bed and hit the ground running.  This isn't usually much of a hardship -- in fact, much more of a hardship for Tinkerbell who doesn't like getting out in the cold and dark to do her business any earlier than she has to.  But when I have a night like last night when I can't sleep, then it's much much harder.  And I don't know why I couldn't sleep either.  I read in bed until I couldn't keep my eyes open and then when the light went off -- pop goes my eyes.  And I was reading a book, not on the iPad so we can't blame the computer screen.  Ah well, it is Friday so I can sleep in tomorrow.  Ahhhhh yesssss!

I did a lot of good work on the Artyarns project and in fact finished up the lighter of the two solid colored yarns.  Again, I hope to finish that up this weekend.  I am getting rather excited about making an actual garment again.  I still haven't decided if I'll do the lace front draped cardigan or something with the new Merino Cloud I bought.  I'm still looking for the right pattern.  It probably would be best to start the lace fronted cardigan just because I am more likely to wear a spring garment.  Decisions decisions

The rain continues.  Solid, nonstop, soggy.  And it's rather warm to boot.  Perhaps we'll be having an early spring and no winter again.  It was supposed to snow on the weekend but that chance has disappeared as the temperature rises.  It definitely is lighter and in about eight weeks we'll be turning the clocks again.  The year just zooms along.

And speaking of zooming, I got nearly all of my train reservations done yesterday.  Getting the night train reservation was the hardest.  Boy, you have to practically belong to a secret society to figure that one out.  You need to go directly to the Thell site and even then it wasn't a straightforward experience.  Regardless I got it done.  It's not cheap to get your own compartment but I just can't see sleeping in a room with strangers.  Not going to happen.  So Ben and I have our own sleeper compartment from Dijon to Milan.  Seven hours.  It'll be lovely.  We do have a rather fast connection to Monterosso.  We are scheduled to get in at 5:50 and the Monterosso train leaves at 6:05.  I am sure we can make it in 15 minutes if our train is on time.  If not, then we can catch the train at 8 o'clock.  I just don't want to reserve that one because I don't want to hang around Milan train station unless I am forced to do so.  We'll do our best to make the connection.  Oh thank goodness I have that trip to look forward to!

Who uses that yarn and for what?

Those oddball colorways.  Or even the pretty ones.  When they are knit up it is usually NOT a pleasing effect.  The single exception is Noro because there are long long runs of color and, usually, they compliment each other.  But some of the others ... well I should say most of the others .... just knit up looking homemade in the extreme.  I know that novice knitters love them, typically, because they're pretty.  More experienced knitters tend to keep to single colors.  It just came to mind because I always pull up the Wool Watcher Deal from Jimmy Beans Wool and the deal this morning is a Madelinetosh pashmina in a horrible colorway.  Yesterday however I bought 5 skeins of Artyarns Merino Cloud in a beautiful grey.  Sometimes you can find a good deal and sometimes you get these awful, ugly colorways.  So, what am I going to do with 1,000 and some yards of Merino Cloud?  I don't know but whatever it is, it will be soft and beautiful.

Last night I did more work on the Winter's Breath Wrap and I also got a good bit done at Noon Knitting.  It's quite easy and goes along quickly but I still have a good bit to do.  I want to finish it up this weekend.  It will be a good scarf to take with me to Europe in the spring.  I think it'll look nice with the pink coat I bought a couple of weekends ago.

Work has been pleasantly busy this week and now it's Thursday!  Woohoo!  Tomorrow I have an early meeting.  I've no plans for the weekend however.  Although we do have to take Ben's new computer bag back to the store so there's that.  And the ProBowl.  Hmmmm .... better start thinking of something.

Only one more thing to do

Well my friend in France got me all riled up and anxious for our trip this spring, so yesterday I got off my duff and got our accommodations for the rest of the trip.  I've got a place in the old city in Monterosso, a place in central Rome and a nice duplex in the Marais.  So today I've got to sort out the travel plans -- train from the airport (or Paris) to Beaune, a sleeper from Dijon to Milan and on to Monterosso, train from Monterosso to Rome and a flight from Rome to Paris.  I did some sleuthing a few months ago, so it shouldn't be too bad.  Then I can relax and daydream about the trip!  Unfortunately my friend Emma won't be able to meet up with us, but she's planning a trip in September to visit here, so that'll be nice.  I'll miss her but it's nice knowing we have September to look forward to.  And it's always so beautiful here at that time of the year.

I baked some zucchini muffins last night with golden flax meal.  I haven't eaten one yet.  I'm saving it for my breakfast.  It smells great though so I'm hoping the taste will be decent.

More work on the Artyarns shawl.  I brought it in with me today.  I should be able to finish that thing up this weekend and then get the camel Dunes stole done.  And then I'll work on the cardigan I think.  I'm feeling it.  Or I'm starting to feel it.

Down time

Yesterday was such a busy day at work.  Those days are few and far between, believe me.  But yesterday I turned around twice and it was time to go home!  Nice!  Plus it was sunny and not freezing, so it great to get outside.  The only downside was that I developed a headache and it would not go away.  It hung on and hung on.  It is to be expected, since I have gone off sugar cold turkey (along with a couple of other things).  Last night I woke up and it was, mercifully, gone.  This morning, back again but I took a couple of aspirin -- old fashioned, but it works for me -- and I'm feeling quite well at the moment.  Today is my early day, since I've got the late meeting, so if it comes back I can always have a lay down in the afternoon.

So it was a very dull evening.  I got my lunch ready for today, prepared dinner, cleaned up  .... all the while watching stupid TV in the background .... and at 8 o'clock settled in for a good read.  I was tired and the reading got me nice and relaxed and off I went.  Perhaps today won't be quite so dull!

I would like to finish up that Artyarns project and the other camel stole and actually knit a garment after that. I do have the yarn for the lace front cardigan, which I think would be something I could actually wear in Seattle in the springtime.  So .... I will put that in my brain to percolate.

How spoiled we have gotten

After the few years that the Seahawks have had such success, it's quite a let down not to be watching them in the final games.  I was very happy that the Broncos beat the Patriots.  Not so happy about the Panthers.  There is no denying that they are on fire.  But I just can't stand his personality.  Ah well.  There's always next year.

I got to sleep in Saturday and Sunday, which was glorious.  We went for cards on Saturday night and honest to goodness, I didn't win one single hand!  Not ONE!  Do you have any idea what a loooooong night that makes?  Oh it was torture.  Sunday it was sunny so Tink got a walk in the park.  She knows "park".  She goes nuts when I say lets go to the park and doesn't even fight much to get in the truck.  Cute. 

I did a little cooking, preparing meals for this week, while I was watching the Broncos win.  It was knitting time for the Arizona/Panthers game.  Thank goodness, because I sure didn't want to watch it.  Holy cow.  They ran over the Cardinals worse than the Seahawks.  Which makes me feel a little better about the whole thing.  I am rooting for the Broncos in the Super Bowl.  I wish we weren't going to a party because I don't really care.  Except it would be nice for Peyton to go out with a win.

I sure love the yarn in the Artyarns kit I'm knitting, but oh my goodness, every once in a while I go on a sneezing jag.  I must be a little allergic to the mohair.  It is SO gorgeous and SO light.  I have some purple - a lot of it - from a previous Luxe box.  Maybe I'll make a nice fancy lace shawl from it later on.

I got an email from from the people we're going to the gite with in April.  Details details .... they're all coming together.  I am getting very very excited.  This trip is what is going to get me through the next 13 weeks.

My second Friday

Because we had reservations for dinner last night, the entire day it felt like Friday.  Right up until the alarm went off this morning, that is.  Anyway it's Friday now.  Traffic was light this morning and it is pouring rain.  Pouring, dumping.  I really don't like driving in that kind of traffic. 

So the Seahawks are out of it, nevertheless there are a couple of pretty good football games on this weekend.  Other than that, a little housecleaning and some shopping and, since it's going to be ugly and wet, maybe some good long spells of knitting.  A movie or two?  Probably.  Other than that ... typical winter weekend.  It's going to be a long long three months.  But then France!  We are  planning a little weekend get away to Astoria, Oregon.  Probably not until late February though.

Two full days ...

Argh!  Day number 2 of full day retreats.  Yesterday I brought my socks to knit during the retreat and I've brought them along with me today as well.  I don't think there's going to be anything for me to do today but listen.  And gofer.  

I have been having a lot of fun with the Artyarns kit.  It's a quick knit.  And oh my goodness, the colors are extraordinary.  I will take pictures when I've finished.

So .... I am getting excited about my trip!  Three months.  Three months.  I have really got to get on this.  I need to get my accommodations for Monterrosso, Rome and Paris.  We'll stay in the gate until Thursday, that night we'll take the night train to Monterrosso and then have the weekend there, then on to Rome for a couple of days and end up in Paris for a couple of days.  Ah ... sounds good, doesn't it?

It's pouring rain.  Pouring.  I have got to stay away.  Stay awake ......

The end of the season

Oh dear .... the Seahawks lost to Carolina Sunday morning.  It was a terrible game in the first half - they got hit hard and fast and never pulled out of the dive.  In the second half it was a different story and we scored and they didn't but it wasn't enough.  So .... next year then.  The bad news is that there's no more football until August pre-season.  The good news is that by then I'll be that close to retirement.  In fact I think the first football game of the season is the weekend after I retire.  I'll have to check that out.  Oh, that makes me happy!

I had a pretty busy weekend.  Saturday I spent a few hours at the mall buying some new clothes - I hadn't had anything new since September.  I also got a couple of new bras and some totally cute new boots with fringe.  Oh, and a beautiful pink fake suede coat.  It's machine washable and SO beautiful!  I was going to get myself a new winter coat but I couldn't resist this.  I'll make due for this winter and get a new winter coat next year.

I made a quiche Saturday night for Sunday's breakfast and that was about it.  Then Sunday the game.  I knit for the entire time, it was so nerve wracking that I couldn't stand to watch it directly.  As I was preparing a side dish for dinner I was chopping onions, the knife slipped and I cut my middle finger badly.  Oh my goodness, it hurt like crazy!  The onion juice ... nasty.   It's still quite sore today but I don't think it's infected.

Yesterday I had the day off - MLK day - and I had a hair and nail appointment set for 11.  I couldn't get the nails done because of the cut finger, but I got my toes done and my hair.  Then it was gas up the truck, do the grocery shopping, have lunch and get some laundry going and, finally, wash Tinkerbell.  After that I had a good part of the afternoon left, so I wound up the Artyarns yarn and started the project from the latest Yarnbox.  It's a beautiful little scarf/wrap thingie.  I love love love the colors I got this time - beautiful teal-ish super soft deluxe silk and mohair.  I wondered if it was going to be strong enough to be wound, but it was.  I got a up to row thirty before I put it aside for a movie.

This is going to be a weird week.  Today nothing much on, tomorrow a full day seminar and Wednesday a full day mini-retreat for MBB.  It's going to drag on and on and on.

End of a non-sick week

Hooray!  I am feeling 100% finally and even dried my hair straight last night!  Now with the new meetings schedule I have an early morning meeting on Friday and Monday.  I got the 7:11 am bus and that gets me to work way before 8 so that I can be ready for the meeting. 

Oh this meeting .... on and on and on.  I think it's better than having this as 5 o'clock at night.  Then when 7 rolls around ..... gahhhh  At least now it'll be most of my morning gone which is , yay!

No knitting last night.  Just a lot of talking and a couple of stupid TV shows.  I wanted to stay up until 10 so I could have a good night and I did.  But now I'm so darned tired.

I'd like to get some knitting done this weekend.  I've got a big shopping trip on Saturday since I haven't had any new clothes since September.  But then it's football.  And football and more football.  Go Hawks!!

Have you noticed?

It is getting lighter!  I noticed yesterday when I had to stop at the grocery store on the way home.  It was cloudy and raining but at 5 o'clock it was not pitch black!  And again this morning, just the barest amount of light when I was walking out the door.  Enough to see the steps.  Isn't that great?  Oh I think so.

Yesterday was my first full day at work and I did okay.  It was noon knitting so I didn't get out for my lunchtime walk and therefore I was a bit groggy at the end of the day, but not too bad.  My cough is just about entirely gone and my sniffles ... well, I'm still sniffling but again, better and better every day.

There's not too much going on today.  This is the one day of the week that I don't have a meeting.  I've got a bit of work to do and then ... well I don't know.  I'm going to have to buckle down and start working on finishing up the details of the spring trip.  Maybe next week. 

Kicked it!

Holy cow --- it seems like I've been sick for months rather than a couple of weeks. But you know what?  Today I feel normal.  I really didn't feel well on Monday, but I made it in to work.  I took yesterday and just rested at home and all I did was a couple of emails and my 5 o'clock meeting.  There are ways I know I'm really sick - like I can just lay on the couch and look outside and not be bored and I can't knit.  Yesterday I woke up at 8, rather than 10 and I was hungry.  And I felt like doing things.  I ended up working on the Dune wrap.  Ahhh ... and I slept all night without waking up once with a coughing fit.  That is the biggie. 

So ... now what?  It's that dark time of the year.  Football, thankfully, is still on for the Seahawks.  They are playing the Carolina Panthers this weekend for the second game of the playoffs.  Another morning game, since it's away.  I sure liked it a lot better when they were the number one seed and all of our games were at home and at 1 o'clock.  But they're in the playoffs.  That's the good thing.  So anyway, in a few weeks football will be over for the year and the days will still be dark.  I'll be working on the European trip again but it's only two weeks and it won't take nearly as much work as the other trip.  Work is going to be a slog.  We know that. 

I am going to the mall this weekend.  I realized that I haven't had any new clothes since September!  It makes a huge difference not living so close to a mall.  I don't just go and browse much any more.  It has to be a destination.  Well it will be this Saturday.  I'm going to return a couple of Christmas things and get some new clothes!  Maybe some shoes and definitely I need a new coat too.  It'll be fun! 

It is pouring rain.  The cold weather has taken itself off to the mountains and now we've got the mid-40s and heavy rain.  Wet, big sloppy drops.  it's a bitch to drive in.  I do not like it.

From the office

I felt almost normal on Friday and I made a pot of soup and did a few loads of laundry and even walked Tinkerbell at the park.  As it turns out, I over did it ... I woke up Saturday morning feeling very sick again, which was fine because I had my doctor's appointment that afternoon.  As I hoped, she gave me antibiotics and more good cough medicine and I am feeling better every day, although the cough hasn't disappeared and I am quite tired.  I made it in to work today.  I have a spread sheet on my deck top that I need and a few others things to do that are difficult to do from home.  I don't know how long I'll be here, but hopefully I can make it through to lunchtime.

Well ... so how about the Seahawks?  What a game yesterday!!  They won, but only at the last second because of a missed field goal from the Vikings.  And now they are going to play the Panthers next weekend.  That will be some game.  I could barely stand this one.  What a roller coaster ride!

Yesterday I finally felt good enough to do a little knitting, and managed to do an entire 24 row repeat on the Dunes wrap.  Last Friday I got my Yarnbox and Artyarns box and it is gorgeous!  I just love it!  I almost started that instead but not yet.

So -- I've got to dig myself out from this pile!!

How NOT to start a new year

Sick.  Sick as a dog.  That horrible cold and cough I had starting in November never really went away.  Then January 2nd I woke up with an even worse cold.  And sore throat and ears aching.  I tried to get in to see my doctor but she's booked out until Saturday so Sunday I went to Urgent Care and saw the same people I saw on November 15th.  I have more of a rapport with them than I do my GP!  Anyway the good news is that I don't have the flu but another virus, RSV.  If you have influenza there is Taiflu but for this, nothing but rest and OTC.  So I am resting in between all of the video meetings and all of the other work I can do from home.  Of course, I've been not so busy but now .... busy.  But I can snooze between meetings and since the neighborhood is quiet, take Tink for walks in my jammy bottoms.  I hope to be back on my feet soon.  This sucks.