Of course it is cloudy

We are heading for the fourth of July weekend and heaven knows we always get cloudy weather.  How many times is the 4th sunny?  Not all that often.  More likely it's going to be cloudy and maybe rainy as well.  It's been strange because it's starting out cloudy and then it gets sunny in the late afternoon.  It just makes me sleepy.

I had been craving roasted chicken so I stopped at the store on the way home last night and got a chicken to bake.  It was yummy, especially since I used fresh herbs.  I didn't do a very good job planning dinners for the week though because I don't have a clue what's for dinner tonight.  Maybe pasta?  I've got some tasty meatballs in the freezer.  Add a little salad and voila!

I got caught up in silly TV and didn't pick up my knitting last night but I am in the mood now.  Too bad I am at work. 

It feels like I just left!

I swear -- when I walked into my office this morning it felt like I had never even gone home yesterday.  Insane.  How am I going to make it through these next 9 1/2 weeks??  How?  Minute by minute. 

Yesterday was my last late meeting day and I left around 1:30 so I could get my manicure and pedicure done before the meeting.  I had plenty of time left over to get home and walk Tinkie and get the kitchen cleaned up and have my shower and make some cheese and crackers and a nice, icy martini.  I got myself settled in the back garden, under the umbrella on a comfy lounge chair and dialed in to the meeting.  And the only people on the meeting were me and my replacement.  We stayed on, chatting about beer and things for ten minutes when we threw in the towel.  So that's it.  I am done with having a reason to leave early on Tuesdays.  But I don't think that's going to stop me from walking out whenever I get the urge.  Do you?

Knitting and martinis don't mix, so instead of picking up my project I got my lovely pink MacBook and watched Shrek 3.  Then re-heated some ribs from last week, steamed some potatoes and that was dinner.  My sister texted in there asking did I want to come to ComicCon with her in July.  Of course!  But in the cold light of day, I realize it would be a terrible time to leave work considering I've got my last deadline coming up August 1.  And so I called her to tell her so and she tells me it's a good thing too, because she can't get a hotel room. San Diego is booked up.  Booked. Up.  Ah well.  Maybe next year we can think about it a few months in advance?

Noon knitting today.  Diana's last day, but she's having a party at her office so she won't be there!  But I understand that she's going to be training another person so she'll come in once or twice to do so.  Hopefully on a Wednesday.

Slogging through the week

Oh I feel like I am swimming in a vat of molasses.  I am pretty darned sleepy this morning, so that's probably why.  I was hot last night.  Ben went to bed super early, but I've been knitting like a fiend on the Rising Dawn shawl.  As I suspected the Noro Silk Garden Sock is the perfect yarn for this project and it's rather easy - a perfect TV knit.  It was also very warm last night and so before I went to bed I opened lots of windows.  It didn't cool down until probably around 2 or so.  But there was a phone in the bedroom -- not my phone -- that was making noise all night long.  Grrrr .... somebody forgot to turn it on silent.  So my sleep was disjointed.  Hopefully I'll get a better sleep tonight.

Today is the last day I'll leave early for my "late meeting day".  That's kind of a drag because I enjoy having that little bit of extra time on a Tuesday afternoon.  Today, for example, I'm getting my manicure and pedicure since I didn't want to take the time on the weekend.  Well, pretty soon that won't be an issue now, will it?  I can do all of my chores on a week day and leave the weekends for fun.

Because of the fuss made at our last poker party, there doesn't seem to be anything in the works for the Fourth of July.  Typically Ben's sister and brother-in-law have a big picnic but since he went crazy a couple of weekends ago, we haven't heard a peep from them.  We're going to Anacortes for Saturday - just one night and coming back Sunday.  The traffic should be minimal and it's nice to get away, even for one night.  There are some really good restaurants up there plus they have at least two and may more places with live music.  And by live music I don't mean a guitar player in the corner playing bossa nova.  Hopefully it'll be a fun time.

Today -- one meeting and a little bit of training.  I'm getting the departmental web site off my back.  I will be sharing out the duties between Monika and Joyce and they'll have me around for a few weeks to help them if they get stuck.  Little by little, piece by piece.

Dragonflies

Did you know that the Dragonfly is the state insect of Washington?  So it is and I saw two this weekend, up close.  I spent Saturday morning doing work in the garden - planting a couple more color spots, trimming the tree around the tomato plants, that type of thing.  All of the new plants - the five rhododendron bushes and four roses are doing very well, with new growth on all of them.  The tomatoes have grown out of their cages already and are covered in blossoms.  As I was puttering around in the front I saw something -- a butterfly? -- perching precariously on the middle tomato cage.  I slowly walked up and saw that it was a big dragonfly with a green body and transparent wings with black dots.  It flew away and then circled around and perched back on the cage again.  And then not ten minutes later I looked over and there was something red/orange in the same spot.  I looked closer and saw it was another dragonfly, but this one smaller with a bright red/orange body.  Fascinating.  It was nature weekend.  I saw a deer as well. 

The weather was lovely all weekend and because Ben had to work on Saturday I stayed at home and got all of the chores ... well, most of the chores... done.  When he got home we went out to one of the breweries we saw at the beer tasting festival last weekend.  The Sumerian.  Not great.

Sunday was more yard work and car washing.  My new car got its first bath.  Later in the day we took Tink to the river in Duval.  But before we left home she had been eating greens and she wasn't really that interested in the river, preferring to find more greens to eat.  This went on all afternoon and into the evening.  Thank goodness the worst was done before bedtime so she slept through the night and woke up her hold self again.  But she was really really not feeling well for a time there.  Didn't even want a cookie!!  Seriously.  That's scary.

So -- Today starts the real countdown.  Ten weeks and counting.  Ten.

Sneaky audiobook

As I have mentioned before, I listen to audiobooks during my commute and when I walk the dog.  I go through different phases - literature, historical fiction, science fiction, mysteries, fantasy .... pretty much everything.  I take advice on choice of material from my sister, friends and the suggestions from the app itself.  I started listening to my current book on the advice of the app, but as I get into it I find that it's quite "romance-y".  I do not like that stuff.  Get on with the story!!  This might be one of the very few books I do not finish listening to.  I've got eight more hours of this to go and I am hoping for more action or I'm going to shut it down.

I started a new project last night -- I know I know -- but I had two skeins of Noro Silk Garden Sock that I was dying to knit with.  I started a Steven West shawl called Rising Dawn.  It's good TV knitting. 

It rained and rained again last night but thankfully no thunder or lightening.  Tink got SO wet when she went out for her pre-bed potty.  I ended up getting my umbrella to bring her in.  It's not cold outside so she was not too unhappy about being out there.

I don't have anything much on for the weekend.  It's supposed to get nice and sunny so maybe I'll work a bit in the garden.  Deadhead the new roses and trim around the tomato plants.  They are growing like crazy!!  They are growing out of the cages and there are tons and tons of blooms.  I hope I get some fruit this year.

I got to get rid of two of my meetings yesterday -- the Friday morning meeting (which I'm listening to right now, just in case) and my late Tuesday meeting!  While that does mean I can't leave early on Tuesday but at least I don't have to sit there and listen to that crap any more.  Woohoo ....

June gloom

The weather is supposed to clear up soon and we'll have a lovely week, but for the past couple of days it has been cloudy and rainy and gloomy.  I've been awfully busy at work but I like to go home and sit in the back and watch the bunnies and birds.  I did for a while yesterday but the clouds moved in and it was too cold.  Oh well -- I'll be complaining about the heat here in another few days.  Typical

I worked on my Venomous Tentacula at noon knitting but didn't pick it up last night.  I was relaxing. Tonight though I imagine I'll be doing a bit of knitting since I'll be on my own.  Just me and Tink that is.  Ben's in Spokane for his monthly visit.

Yesterday work was a trial.  Every day it gets harder and harder to care about what is happening and to deal with the paranoia and angst, the panic.  It's just too much.  I know these next two months will pass but not quickly enough for me.  That being said, I don't want to wish the summer away either!  Ah well ...

Dish and NFL network

There still doesn't seem to be any good information about Dish and NFL Network.  Obviously we can't do without it, and the couple of other channels that are having a problem with their contracts, but I absolutely do NOT want to move back to Comcast.  There is one other satellite service, Direct TV, that we could move to if absolutely necessary.  The deal is that Dish just a couple of months ago raised our rates, so now if/when they do get things back so they're serving up NFL, are they going to try to raise them again?  We'll just have to wait and see I guess.

Yesterday was a busy morning with a long meeting, and then late meeting day so I left at around 2.  I think that will be it for the late meeting.  I am going to suggest that my replacement start taking over both my early Friday meeting and my late Tuesday meeting this week.  I'll talk to her about it today.  And then all I need is the person to replace my block duties and I understand they're interviewing now for that person.  Can't come soon enough.

Noon knitting today and I brought in my silk mohair Venomous Tentacula.  I got a little work done on it yesterday and the bigger it grows the more beautiful it becomes.  It is as light as air and with the beads to give it just a teensie bit of weight, should be a perfect autumn wrap.  I am close to deciding to frog the lace front cardigan.  Almost.

Reservations for Paris

I know it is months away, but I made reservations for Kelli and I for her birthday trip to Paris.  I got an excellent deal on a Norwegian non-stop from LAX plus I found an AirBnB apartment a block from Place des Voges with two beds, rather than a bed and a sofa, which is what I had been finding.  I'm stoked.  I love going to Paris at any time, but around Christmas is so magical.  All of the beautiful decorations and much fewer people. 

I was busy yesterday.  Besides doing my reservations I had actual work to do and meetings to attend.  Today is late meeting day, but I think this might be my last late meeting day.  I am going to try to hand both HFF and MSK off to Meredith this week.  I think she's ready and if she's not, I'll be here for another couple of months to help her out.  Now if they'd just hire the new manager downstairs so I could hand off MBB I would be enjoying the "wind down". 

A thunder storm rolled through last night.  Thank goodness for Tink's tranquilizers.  They work super fast and don't leave her all dopey in the morning.  Thunder storms.  Fireworks.  She just hates it! 

I got my information from the DRS (retirement system) and I was right with my previous estimate.  Now I just have to finish up the application, and do the application to change over my health insurance.  I seriously need to get on that this week.

Happy first day of Summer!!

Thursday and Friday I worked from home.  I had a bad sore throat and there's a nasty summer cold going around.  I managed to keep the worst of it at bay, thank goodness. 

Saturday I had tickets for the Washington State Brewer's Association event at Marymoor Park.  It had been raining and pouring all Friday night and Saturday morning, but we just togged up for the weather and headed out.  It wasn't cold and the rain actually abated for a few hours and we had a fun time.  But oh my goodness, I am pretty much off beer for a while after that extravaganza.  Then when we got home Ben was feeling like a card party, so we rounded up the usual band and since everyone already had dinner plans, we just met for drinks and cards. 

Sunday was a lovely day and so after running a few errands we set off to find a new park and Ben re-discovered a wonderful place that I just love!  It's a park with a farmyard and animals, plus beautiful paths and fields.  We had a great time just wandering around and looking at the animals.  Tink loved it.

Speaking of Tink, we saw the vet again on Friday and she's getting better.  We have another few days of pills and ear medicine but she was friskier after the first dose of Prednisone.  Better living through chemistry.

I have lots and lots of work to do today.  Ten weeks and counting.

Perhaps my knitting mojo has returned

Last night I really really needed to knit.  I am dissatisfied with my lacy front cardigan because of the yarn -- it's from at least two different dye lots which I didn't cop to when I started, but only when I brought it in to noon knitting.  I didn't want to touch Dune, which is my normal noon knitting project.  I'm not crazy about the yarn.  So that left me with either starting another project or picking up the second Venomous Tentacula, which I am doing with the lace weight silk and mohair ArtYarns yarn I got from a Yarnbox.  It was meant to be a carry along with a worsted weight yarn, but that yarn is variegated and I do not like how that looks.  The challenge is working with this thin yarn, much more like thread than yarn.  But oh, it looks fabulous and the finished product is going to be stunning.  So I picked it up and away I went.  I had also been having problems with the needles - wood ones with rather dull points, which make all the casting off and on more difficult.  But metal ones would be a disaster with this yarn -- too slippery.  But I seem to finally have gotten the hang of it and I got at least one pattern repeat done.  I brought it for noon knitting today.

It was my early day yesterday because of my late meeting, and I had to take Tink in to the vet.  Sure enough she has an infection in her ears and the vet thinks it is bacterial rather than yeast this time.  No wonder she can't hear!  Her ears are so swollen inside that she couldn't get the pointy scope down there.  And I could tell it hurt Tink as well.  We're on our way to getting her all fixed up - antibiotics and Prednisone for a few days and we'll check back on Friday.

And it's quiet this morning but not going to be for long.  I'm busy and have a meeting at 10.  Better dig in.

My morning cup of tea

Sometimes it just smell sooooooo delicious!  This is one of those mornings.  It tastes good too, but the scent of it.  It's a little chilly this morning so it is very welcome.

I was awakened twice last night by the sound of the rain.  I think the downspout on the gutter near the bedroom window is leaking because the sound was more of a splat than a gentle pitter patter.  I had come home and soaked the new rose bushes and the rhodies and then they got a double soak from the rain. I don't have to worry about them any more though.  I am 100% sure they were soaked to the roots and then some.

Yesterday was a long and busy day.  First I had a dentist appointment at 10 and then the rest of the day was back to back meetings.  And I couldn't keep my eyes open.  I kept getting up and walking around in an effort to stay awake.  Very annoying.  I did sleep well last night though, except for the rain.

Tink is going to the vet today to get her ears checked.  I know something is going on with them but I'm not exactly sure it's a yeast infection, which is the normal thing that goes wrong.  She shakes her head but her ears are not dropped.  There was moisture and gunk in there and I did dose her up a couple times with the yeast medicine.  What is really getting me though is that when I come home sometimes she's sleeping in her bed and she doesn't come right out when she normally would.  I can go into the room and stand there and call her several times.  I know she's old so maybe she's just losing her hearing, but I want a professional's advice.

I wish I could find my knitting mojo.  I think I have to reassess the projects I have going and maybe frog something.  I don't know.  I need time.

The garden grows

Friday we headed off to get plants at Flower World, which is more of a park than a nursery.  I love that place.  We found some gorgeous and rather unique rhododendron plants for the back, at the top of the ravine.  My hope is that in the fall and winter when the deciduous trees lose their leaves the rhodies will help mask the empty space.  We don't see much of the further houses, but enough that it bugs me.  After that we went to Home Depot to get a closet door and happened upon some rose bushes.  We bought one to put in the place of the rosemary bush that didn't take last winter.  Then Ben suggested we put three in the front in place of the ugly bushes under the bedroom window.  So we got three more and I am super stoked.  I love love love roses and I got one of my favorite ones.  Super fragrant and a lovely lavender color.  Then after lunch I was off to get my hair done and all that great stuff.  I am going to have to start paying closer attention to my schedule and stagger this stuff.  It's brutal when I have to do it all in one day.

It was a family oriented weekend and the weather, for the most part, was nice.  Thursday night we had a fun dinner at House of Hong.  The drive in wasn't much fun because of the traffic, but otherwise nice.  Friday, see above, and Saturday I drove into West Seattle and picked Kelli up from her AirBnB and we went shopping.  I got a great pair of shoes.  Saturday night we went for dinner at Purple and then we came home and drank martinis and stayed up talking until 3 am.  Urghgh  I was not happy Sunday morning. 

There was a surprise party for Sophia Sunday night and she was entirely surprised.  Her brother hired a Mariachi band which was awesome.  The food was great and the weather cooperated.  All in all a super success.

Dentist appointment this morning and the rest of the day work work work and meetings and more meetings.  Tick tock.  I am twelve weeks out.  Someone told me to "enjoy the wind down".  Hmmm .... perhaps a bit later.  Right now it's not so much fun.

Not Friday is actually Friday this week

Hoorah for another short week!  I've been busy so it's just flown by.  We're having dinner tonight at House of Hong for Omie's birthday and tomorrow I am sleeping in, shopping for plants, and getting my hair done, nails, etc. etc.  I don't know what's up for tomorrow night.  But then Saturday I'm going to drive in to pick Kelli up and we'll have a girlie day and night. 

Work aggravates me something awful.  I don't want to do anything new and I resent even the easier chore.  I just don't know what's come over me.  Well .... I don't want to be here, that's for sure.  Time will pass quickly enough though, won't it?

Busy is best

I was pretty busy yesterday and I've got a lot on my plate today as well.  That is good because the days go by just a little bit faster.  Plus it's noon knitting day and we all know how I look forward to that.  My new YarnBox Luxe came yesterday and oh my is it ever gorgeous - Lorna's Laces silk and bamboo mix.  I'm not crazy about the dye job but it will definitely be good to work with, especially in the warmer weather.  I don't know how much longer I'll be able to chip away at  my Lace Front Cardigan and Dune considering the composition of the yarn.  I might just have to start a new project with something like ... oh silk maybe?

The MSK meeting wasn't too painful and my replacement sat in, so it won't be long before I give that meeting away.  Then I won't have any reason to leave early on Tuesdays ... hmmm .....

I am taking Friday off since we're going on Thursday night for Omie's birthday.  I wasn't going to take it off, but I have lots to do and I'd rather get it done so that I can spend all of Saturday with my sister.  So on my plate for Friday is getting the new plants for the back -- rhodies -- and getting my hair done.

I have so much to do today.  I'd better get on with it.

This is not easy

I was hoping my transition would be painless.  That was a foolish hope.  It's not going to be painless.  I can't help but make people mad along the way.  I don't want to take any new responsibilities.  Is that crazy?  No it is not, but not everyone is going to see it like that.  The problem is that as far as I'm concerned I'm already gone.  Fact is that I'm here for another 12 weeks.  That's a long time. 

It was hot yesterday and it's going to be hot again today but we're on a downturn.  It's getting cooler.  Of course this weekend is the big U of W graduation not to mention a visit with my family up for Sophia's graduation and it's supposed to cloud over and rain.  What luck.  I hope Kelli has better luck with the weather when she comes up for my birthday in August.   We do usually get good weather then.

Okay so .... head out of the sand.

Done for another year

This morning was my annual wellness exam.  And now I'm all done with check-ups for another year!  Woohoo!  Well, except for the dentist.  But that's not nearly so onerous as the mammogram and annual exam. 

What a weekend!  Nonstop fun.  Well, with a little work thrown in.  And hot hot hot!  I mean HOT as in 90s.   Saturday morning we got up early and went to Duval Days.  What a cornball celebration but we managed to have a lot of fun.  Helped out by mass quantities of Bloody Marys.  And a nap.  We did a run to Goodwill and shopped and that was that for Saturday.  Sunday was another nonstop day.  We got the garage finally cleaned out and we put both cars in!  What a treat.  And then we had a party.  Steve and Ginny and McG came over for a barbeque.  Probably not the best thing to do before a physical exam - drink margaritas and sparkling wine.  But at least I remembered to drink lots of water before bed and I am feeling just fine, if a little hungry.

And now I've got to get to work.

As I start giving things away

Well today is my last HFF Zoom meeting.  I'll be handing it off to my replacement after today.  I'll keep MSK for another couple of weeks and hand that off -- which will be super nice because then I'll be shed of the dreaded 5 o'clock meeting -- and I'll only have MBB left until they hire my replacement downstairs, which I am hoping will be by early July.  Some people are having a very hard time with my impending departure and that's not fun.

Ben was off to Portland yesterday so I got to park my new car in the garage!  We'll finish up the garage this weekend and then we'll both be able to park in there.  What a treat that will be next winter, although I won't be driving away so early in the morning.  Still it will be nice to have a dry, frost free car to drive to the gym or whatever. 

With Ben away I had a girlie evening.  I lighted a scented candle, got the kitchen cleaned up and all my food ready for today plus a salad for dinner, then watched Pitch Perfect 2, which I've been looking forward to watching.  After that I called my sister and we talked on the phone for 3 hours.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Once we get started ..... Anyway it was nice to nail down the December trip to Paris and her visit for my birthday in August.  I love planning trips to Paris, don't I?  And it'll be lovely to be there when the Christmas decorations are up.  And fewer tourists around. 

Okay then ... time for my meeting.

I got my new car!

Oh what a great day it was yesterday!  Well the morning was not so great -- mammogram day -- but the afternoon was awesome!  I picked up my new car in the afternoon.  It is a joy to drive and I love the entertainment system and all the bells and whistles.  It's going to take me a while to learn everything.  I'm going to have to spend an hour or so just sitting in the car and going over all of the various setting on the heat and air conditioning.  But I love love love it!

I had noon knitting yesterday and did kind of feel like knitting later but then I got caught up in my car and reading the manual and so I didn't.  I know I probably won't tonight because I've got too many chores to take care of.  And the weekend is going to be hot ..... I'll get to it.

Right now things are just so jumbled in my life.  I'm getting ready to make this HUGE change in my life and I just seem to be bumbling my way through the days.  Every day feels like Friday, for some odd reason.  But it's not Friday.  Thursday and I've got meetings and a bunch of students to see.  I'd better get some food.

The sleep

Oh my.  What a day yesterday.  I was okay until about 2:30 in the afternoon, which is 12 hours since I had awoken in the night.  I hit a wall.  I was wiped out.  Needless to say I didn't do much when I got home.  Did my chores, had a shower, watched the Mariner game and went to bed early.  I crawled in at 8 to read until my eyes would no longer stay open.  Then I slept and slept and slept. 

I've got a big day today -- I've got my mammogram at 10am in Ballard and then this afternoon I pick up my new car!  I had to take the bus to the transit center this morning.  The bus is scheduled to arrive at my intersection at 7:09 and instead got there at 7!  Lucky for me I was already at the stop. 

And of course there's noon knitting today as well.  I probably should not go since I've got to leave here around 2 or 2:15.  But I will.  At this point .... I'm just phoning it in. 

It's supposed to get hot later this week and at the weekend too.  But let's get through the week.