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.

Oh that dog!

Tink had one of those nights last night and I feel like I didn't sleep more than an hour at a stretch the entire night.  First she wanted on the bed.  Then off the bed.  Then on the bed.  Then off.  Then she whined to get back on and when I reached for her she shimmied under the bed.  And on and on it went.  This is unusual for her and I don't know exactly why she did it, except that it was exceptionally noisy outside last night as well.  Loud trucks late at night.  Horns honking at 1:30 am.  Kids skateboarding!  All unusual.  No - it's not a full moon either. And it's not getting any better here at work.  Two people out in my office suite - the ones who take care of accepting packages and doing the mail - all those things I don't do.  Plus the fire alarms in my office and in the hall are making a weird noise due to some sort of test.  I have been here all of ten minutes and I'm about to scream!  I am not in a good mood.  Maybe my run will give me some well needed endorphins.  I might need to go out earlier than noon!

I had a fairly productive evening last night working on the socks.  I think I'm about half way through the leg.  I should measure tonight before I go much further.  I decided that I want to use that gorgeous Debbie Bliss Fez yarn to make the Mariah hoodie from Knitty.   I'm not sure yet if I want to do the zipper.  I think I do.  I don't have much luck with button holes and the zipper gives it a nice finished look.  I'll just have to borrow someone's sewing machine since I had to give mine away when I moved.  It was clunky anyway.  I'd like a new light one but seriously, I so rarely sew that it's not a necessity.

Rain today but it's still nice and mild.  I hope it holds off for my run.  I don't want to take my brand new autographed Seahawks hat out into the rain!  I kept my old one here for that event.  As long as it's sprinkling I'll go out.  Pouring.  Nope.  I do need to find another race to have on the horizon.  I can't do the St. Paddy's Day Dash this year and I'm quite disappointed.  But I have volunteered to host a surprise birthday party on the 16th in my great room and I know that I will be in no shape to run four miles the next morning after that party.  So I need to find one in April.  Or May.  I'll look today.

Chaos plus

I worked from home yesterday amid the chaos.  I had a problem with my fridge and in case they had to switch it out, I had to be there.  The good news is that they did NOT have to move it, but I did lose some stuff in the freezer. 

It was kind of difficult to get much done in that mess, but I managed to keep my head above water and also to slowly get things in order.  The bookcases weren't too tough to put together and I managed to get all three done and by bedtime things were mostly in place.  Tonight I have to hang the rest of my pictures and then it is just the closet I need to deal with.  Despite my best efforts I still have things that need to be stored rather than in the top of my closet taking up valuable space that I could (and would) use for clothes and storing seasonal wardrobes.  So to that end I stopped in at the office to find out the situation regarding storage units there in the building.  The least expensive storage unit is $55 for 17 sq ft.  Ah.  That's maybe the size of a closet.  That is way too much money for that little bit of space.  So now Plan B - find a friend with a house who has a little bit of storage space they're willing to let me use. 

Tuesday  night I did a few rows and again last night a few more on the Bamboo Socks.  Oh I am still really loving this yarn!  So soft!  And now that I have been able to unpack my stored yarn I am chomping at the bit to start a real project.  Meaning something I can wear other than a scarf or hat.  I rediscovered the silver grey yarn I bought for a hoodie and the lovely blue grey I bought for a cute Henley type shirt.  I would like to do the hoodie but I'm not sure about the particular pattern I had originally thought of doing.  I am going to double check the yardage I have and maybe find another pattern.  The one I had bookmarked is actually a pull over and I would like a cardigan hoodie.  It shouldn't be too difficult to find a pattern for that.

Noon knitting today and good thing too because I am still sore from the move Saturday and moving and building furniture Sunday and last night.  My run on Monday wasn't great but I think I will have a good one tomorrow.

It is warming up.  It's going to be nearly 60 this week.  And I noticed this morning that it is light - much lighter.  I guess I haven't really noticed how much lighter since it's been so cloudy lately.  Oh but spring is in the air!!

Living in chaos again!

Zoom!  There went the weekend!  Friday I went right to the mall to get my nails done because I had too much to do before the party on Saturday evening.  But one thing led to another and I ended up stopping by a party at the apartment complex.  So 7 o'clock Saturday morning was NOT a fun time to be up and around.

I had to help with this move, since I had been helped by this same gang so off I went to tote and generally be miserable.  Ah, but I did it with a smile.  And really it wasn't so bad at all.  I got home with time to have an hour lay down before I had to clean out the two wall units that were being picked up.  That was easy but now every surface in the place is covered with things that were in the wall units.  Those things include yarn and needles and books and magazines and all my pretty bowls and little arty things that can't be hung.  Big mess.

Saturday night was the fun silent auction event, which wasn't quite so fun as the one last year.  Last year the food was set out in a buffet and it was all finger food.  This year they had waiters circulating with things that mostly had to be eaten with a spoon or fork!  Very awkward.  And I couldn't get close to the blackjack table, where I cleaned up last year.  But it was pleasant and I got to chat with some friends and drink some nice wine and I got an autographed Seahawks hat, which I sorely need because my running hat is a mess.  It was good.

I found someone to take my dresser - it went to the new house I had moved my friend into on Saturday.  So that further messed up my place because all the clothes in that dresser had to be taken out, obviously.  Where to put them?  On the bed of course.  Then it was off to Ikea [Oh, someday I would love to be able to purchase furniture that I don't have to put together].  I got a new chest of drawers, new wall unit and TV stand and three tall narrow bookcases.  The chest of drawers and the wall unit and TV stand were finally finished up by 7 last night.  The bookcases I will start on tonight.  Oh but it is lovely to be able to actually move around in that bedroom!  Little by little this week I will be able to get things put away and the rest of my art hung.  And THEN the place will be perfect.  But for the next few days - chaos reigns.

A storm is coming in

As mild as it has been this winter, it looks like we're going to get a bit of a blow here pretty soon.  When I went out for my run yesterday it was quite breezy.  I had to run into the wind, which I hate, but at least it wasn't raining.  It is blowing quite steadily this morning but only misting.  I am hoping it will stay like this so I can run at lunchtime.  I most certainly won't be going out of it is storming.  Not worth it.

I have a busy weekend coming up so I've been laying low this week, marshaling my energy.  Tonight I have to empty my wall units since they are going away tomorrow afternoon.  Yay!!  Tomorrow morning early I'm going to help one of the friends who assisted in my move.   Good news is that however the move is going, I have to be home by 3 to meet the people picking up the wall units, plus I need some time to rest and get ready for the fun charity auction event.  I tried on the dress I want to wear tonight and hooray -- it fits.  I've been quite the sloth lately so I wasn't sure.  I guess I'm not as bad off as I thought.  Well, that means I have to go to get my manicure and pedicure tonight after work.  Sometimes there aren't enough hours in the day.

The socks are coming along great.  I meant to snap a picture last night but ... well, I haven't been very good about posting FO's now have I?  I have recently finished a wrap and two hats.  I'll post pictures.  Maybe next week.

I am going to be tired Monday.  I have all my running around to do on Sunday, not to mention going to get my new chest and wall unit and shelf unit.  Oh well, there's nothing I can do about it.

No willpower.

None at all, when it comes to starting a new project.  Tuesday afternoon was lovely and I decided I wanted to start a new pair of socks that evening, so I walked up to my LYS for some yarn.  I found the yummiest sock yarn ever!  It's plain - I didn't want a pattern - superwash merino with angora by Regia!  It is just gorgeous!  It's washable, but of course you can't put it in the dryer because of the angora content.  But who cares?  I never ever ever handwash my handknit socks and I have learned that most of them don't fare well in the dryer, so it's not a big deal to separate them out from the wet clothes and let them dry.  I found a pattern on Ravelry for relatively plain socks called Bamboo Socks by Lorraine Ehrlinger.  What I love about them is the leg, which is ribbed, but there are purl lines every few rows which mimic bamboo shoots.  So it keeps the leg, which is the most boring part, interesting but not too complicated for TV knitting.  And seriously I could never understand the intricate lace things that people get into with their socks.  Who the heck is going to notice?  It was difficult starting out because the yarn is rather slick and I have Addi circulars.  Metal needles and slick yarn make for a difficult start.  But I got it finally and last night nearly finished the first 20 row repeat.  These are going to be super soft and gorgeous socks.

I have decided that this is the weekend I'm going to get the new wall units and get my apartment, if not finished, then nearly so.  I do have a fancy party Saturday night, but I'll have Sunday to sleep in and then off to get the new stuff.  It will take me a while to get it together but hopefully I can get the current wall units out on Saturday or maybe even Friday night.  It's going to be messy for a few days but oh so nice when it's all done and I can move about in my teensie bedroom at least a little bit.

I'm going to run today.  I haven't been out for at least a week.  Let's hope the rain holds off.  I was going to sign up for the St. Paddy's Day Dash this year because our apartment complex is putting together a team and it would be lots of fun.  However, I have volunteered my great room for a surprise birthday party on March 16th, the day before the run.  I certainly will not want to get up early and run 4 miles - the St. Paddy's Day Dash is not a 5K.  So no matter.  I can find another run to sign up for in April, maybe after my little holiday.

Tuesday I left my iPad at work!  That is the first time I have done that since I got it and I was so mad at myself.  The positive side of that is that I actually started a book!  Of the four (yes 4!) new books I have laying around since Christmas, and perhaps earlier, I finally picked one up and of course, read far too late.  I didn't forget it last night though.  I don't suppose I shall do it again either.  That's the first time I keenly felt the lack of a car because if I had a car I would have driven back to work and fetched it.  I lived.  But lesson learned.

I can't play darts

Saturday evening I met up with some friends for happy hour and snacks.  The party continued and we all ended up playing darts.  But I don't play.  I hadn't in years and years and I never was any good anyway.  Needless to say I was not an asset to any team.  I think ... I think I may have gotten one number.  And we played two rounds!  As the evening went on and the alcohol consumption continued I got even worse, if that's possible.  I do remember hitting the wall with two out of my last three throws. 

It was a holiday weekend and I had taken Friday off anyway so I had a nice long break.  Friday my friend Robert and his new lady friend came over to give me a present he had gotten in India - a beautiful pink silk scarf.  I gave them bowls of my yummy potato leek soup and it was a big hit.  And then off they went.  I had no idea he had a new girlfriend.  Good for him.  He deserves it.  And he's taking her to Venice in a few months.  Lucky lady.

My apartment is still coming together - slowly slowly.  And no I haven't yet been able to get rid of the old wall units and dresser and that will be the final piece.  But I had a brainstorm and carried it out Friday night and I am SO happy with the result.  I had realized that putting my desk facing out was blocking the main source of fresh air, which is the sliding floor to ceiling window.  I had first thought that having my desk there would be awesome for working from home, but I don't do it enough.  The weather has been unseasonably warm - in the 50s - and the small window in the living area is not giving me the air movement I desire.  So I emptied the baker's rack and put the cook books on a different shelf I was saving for the books in the bedroom and got rid of it.  Then I moved the desk on that wall and put the little dining table in the space vacated by my desk.  Now it is much lighter, I can get to the windows more easily and open it a lot or a little.  It does make a huge difference in the amount of fresh air in the sleeping area.  I'm happy.  I am hoping by the end of this month I can have the other pieces in place and I can finally get the last few pieces of my art up and I'll have a little wiggle room in the sleeping area.  That will be super. 

I very much want to start a new knitting project and I just can't decide what to do!  I know I have a couple of projects ready in the cupboard.  I remember a cute Henley type T-shirt.  Hmm ... maybe I'll take a look at that tonight.  If memory serves I bought really yummy yarn for that.  And seriously, the weather is really getting warmer and I can see the buds on the trees and shrubs.  It looks like we're going straight into spring without any snow to speak of this winter.  So a short sleeved project would be perfect!

The difference a needle size can make

Happy Valentine's Day!  My favorite day of the year.  

I finished up a second Phoncible, this time switching out to a size 8 needle after the stranded band and that was perfect!  I now have the slouchy beret I was going for in the first place.  This hat is a wonderful way to use up the bits and bobs of Kureyon one may have laying around from other projects.  I don't know what to do with the first one.  I won't wear it now that I have a second that looks like what I wanted.  Hopefully I can find someone to take it.

I've been under the weather the past couple of days.  Nothing specific - a little sore throat, body aches, fatigue.  Luckily work hasn't been too terribly busy so I took the time.  I'm in today but I've got tomorrow marked off as a vacation day.  I have a lunch planned with a happy wanderer who is bringing me something from his trip to India.  Other than that, nothing special.  Doggie walks if it isn't too rainy.

I've got my April vacation hotels chosen.  One old and picturesque place in McMinneville and another more eclectic choice, a cabin in Lincoln City.  It looks quite eccentric but I hear that it's not bad and the breakfasts are very nice.  So - something different.  Now to get through the next 8 1/2 weeks.  Shouldn't be so bad. 

I have noticed buds on the shrubbery.  We might miss out on a real winter this year.  So far no snow to speak of and the temperatures are relatively mild.  Rain?  Oh yes, but that is SO much better than ice and snow.

Whoosh!

That's the sound my weekend made.  Talk about jam packed.  I am still spinning.  Of course, I forgot to set my alarm so I've been running since 6:45, but that's another story.

Friday was a relatively quiet evening because Saturday (not Sunday, as it usually is) was race day.  This is the first time I've taken the bus to a race from this apartment and I cut it pretty darned close, I must admit.  But on the positive side, at least I wasn't standing around getting cold waiting for the start.  I got there, found my place and away we went.  I had forgotten to take in a little extra hydration at breakfast and since I got to the race late I didn't have time for my usual stretches so I got a cramp up the back of my left leg into my glut.  Ouch.  But I kept going and I did better than I thought I was going to.  Lately I've been right in the middle or lower of my age division, but this time I was higher - 19 out of 49.  That's decent. 

I wanted to get my nails done but after lunch I went to the salon and they were too busy for me so I had to skip it.  I got to have a 20 minute snooze and then I had to leave to Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna.  It was really something.  All except the clowns.  I don't like circus clowns and I particularly don't care for the European style clowning that they do.  Otherwise it was a spectacle.  Beautiful and entertaining. 

The Ballard Farmer's Market stays open all year 'round, so since it was beautiful and sunny on Sunday, that was my destination.  Met up with some friends and did a twice around all the stalls.  By the end of the first trip around I was carrying a bag that looked like the stereotypical Hollywood market bag - baguette and flowers sticking out of the top of it.  I bought some tulips and some incredible lamb ravioli and .. oh just tons of stuff.  Leeks for soup and mushrooms, cheese - although the guy who sold that wonderful aged goat cheese wasn't there and I was looking forward to that. 

I did finally get my nails done Sunday early afternoon and then enjoyed a nice long lunch.  A nap would have been nice but it was getting late so I finally took advantage of the free movie passes I get each month and went to see "Identify Theft".  It was cute.  Light fare.  Nothing to strain the brain. 

I cooked up that lamb ravioli and braised some green I got, but I did something wrong and they didn't taste nearly so nice as the last time I did it.  And then I got my relaxing time.  An hour or so watching stupid TV and knitting on my hat.  This is much more colorful than the last and I am really happy with the floppiness of the crown.

I woke up with a sore throat on Sunday.  Still fighting it.  I took Nyquil last night and slept decently.  Maybe I will be able to hold it off again.

Tried and true

The cure for the February blues?  A plan.  That's right - a plan!  It came to me yesterday.  It was sunny and cold and I had quite a decent run, so I know the race tomorrow won't be a total bust. I won't be breaking any records, but it should be fun.  Anyway a good run and sunshine always brighten my spirits and that's when I realized that all I need to get myself through the rest of this winter is a plan.  I'm thinking an 8 week plan with a little holiday at the end of it.   That's a short enough time to keep me engaged, a long enough time to get rid of my winter flab and get back into my nice jeans, and then spring will be in the air! Yay!  I'll put a few more details together maybe this afternoon while I'm copying an exam - something to help me through that mind numbing process.  And definitely this weekend.  By Monday I should be ready to book some hotels.  I am thinking about a road trip to Oregon for some wine tasting with maybe a stop on the coast for a night or two.  It sounds weird, but Oregon wineries are awesome!  And it is extremely beautiful there in the hills.  It reminds me of France in Burgundy, which is the same latitude I believe.  Is it Burgundy?  Or .. well, anyway it's a fun trip and there are some quite good restaurants down there as well.  So - something to dream about and plan about and get me through this darkness of body and spirit. 

I wish I could figure out what it is that causes Tinkerbell to have a restless night.  The thing is that she has a routine that is practically carved in stone.  She has her inner clock and at 7 o'clock she lets me know it's time to go outside and at 8 or 8:30 she wants to be in bed.  Even if I'm just quietly reading or knitting she wants to be ON the bed, not laying next to me on the couch.  Then most nights she'll sleep just fine.  But last night she was on and off the bed at least 3 times, maybe four.  And that, my friends, makes for a very bad night for me.  I am so groggy.  I've got to get a good night's rest tonight so maybe I'll make her play ball for a little longer and make sure she's good and tired. 

I finished the band and started on the body of the hat last night, changing to size 8 needles rather than size 7.  It seems to be making a difference and I think this one will definitely be floppier, which is what we're going for.  Then I think I might pick up one of my unfinished projects and do some finishing.  No, really!  I have two projects that come to mind.  One I have all the pieces made and it just needs to be sewn together - a little top that I think would be good for these temperatures.  Then there's the Cloisonne jacket, which I only  need to finish the facing and sew in on.  Probably an hour's work.  Yes.  I will finish one or the other.

Tempests in tea cups

Where do you stand?  Love 'em?  Hate 'em?  Yeah, me too.  My sister and I were on vacation a couple of years ago and both of us at some point(s) during our holiday were either reading or responding to work email.  Work is with us everywhere now days and one must consciously NOT look at work email or respond to it.  So last night - I can't help myself - I checked my work email before turning out the light and lo and behold there's a storm a brewin'.  Seems that the mid-term answer key had an incorrect answer.  The answer key for an exam that was given last week, by the way.  The professor hadn't looked at her item analysis.  If she had she would have noticed right off the bat that most of the class missed a certain question and could have nipped it in the bud.  As it was, the students figured it out.  Now, this is really a non-issue.  It happens.  Sometimes it is because of a  human error filling out the key, sometimes it is a bad question that needs to be thrown out.  The point is, it's a simple fix.  But everybody was going crazy last night and I made the mistake of reading it.  It's already - here it is 8:32 am - it's already being re-scored.  But my night was not restful.  When will I ever learn?  Well, we know the answer to that question, don't we?

I am NOT in a good mood.  I am disappointed that I'm not having good lunchtime runs, for one thing.  I guess I should just shake it off.  It happens sometimes, just like it happens when I all of a sudden start having super fast and great runs.  I'll have fun at the race Saturday but it is ever so much more fun when I know I'll be fast.  You know - relatively fast.  The shirts are really great this year though.  That's a good thing.

I think I need to plan something before March.  Definitely.  I need a mini-vacation.

He went the wrong way!

This has never happened to me before - of course I haven't been riding the bus to work for that long - the driver took a wrong turn!  Or rather, did not turn at all when he should have.  It took him nearly 10 minutes to get turned around and back on track.  Crazy.

I had a most disappointing and terrible run yesterday at lunch.  I don't know why, except I wasn't feeling 100%, with a sinus headache.  I can't run today so I've only got two more days to get it together, because Saturday is the race.  I left work early and went home and had a nice sleep.  I will count on good training sessions Thursday and Friday.

I've downloaded a new audiobook and I am hoping it'll help my state of mind - my February state of mind.  I have GOT to nail down a vacation sometime soon.  I need something to plan for, something with a large sunshine and warmth component.

Noon knitting today and I've brought in three things to show - my completed chunky cowl, the Argosy Wrap and my first Phoncible.  I did a little more on the second one last night and brought that in to work on.

Oh dear -- I've got a meeting soon and I need some food.

Right on schedule

The February blues.  There is a reason I always ... almost always ... plan a vacation for March or April, and that's the February blues.  Yesterday it descended with a vengeance.  Not helped in the least by the music I was listening to, which can kick you in gut as surely as a scent.  I finished my audiobook and haven't yet downloaded a new one.  So yes, I'm trying to keep my music as neutral as I can and I'll get a new book on my iPhone soon. 

Work is busy and we're shorthanded.  Since I've moved into an office in the main office suite I am called upon to do a few housekeeping things when we're shorthanded.  No disasters so far, thank goodness.  People are aware of my lack of familiarity with these things and give me simple commands - "turn off the coffee maker in the break room" - like that.  I can do that! 

I washed the Argosy Wrap last night and brought out my mats to block it on, but it's too long to have them two abreast and it flops over the sides with just one block, but that's what I had to do.  So I'm not pinning out the ends but it's drying just fine so I think it'll look good when it's dry.  I also walked up to get another skein of Kureyon and started another hat last night.  I only got a couple of rows in because of phone calls and dog walks and dinner.  I can work on it more tonight.  It's great TV knitting.

I had an early meeting this morning and another meeting tomorrow after the monthly curriculum meeting, all starting the planning for Anatomy, which starts September 2nd this year.  I know -- 7  months in advance -- but it's that complicated, getting the schedule set and everyone on the same page.  Plus we're making changes this year.  Wheeee ....

I feel like I have a bag over my head.  We need sunshine.  I need sunshine.

Another cute hat

I've been on a roll -- I finished another project. This time a hat.  Because I had left over re-claimed Kureyon, now that the Argosy Wrap is finished, I looked for a hat to make and found Phoncible, which totally fit the bill.   I cast on for it Friday evening and by the third quarter of the Super Bowl I had it finished.  It is SO cute and I actually wore it to walk Tink last night.  I rarely wear knitted ski or watch caps, but if the hat is more like a beret I do indeed wear them.  This is floppy beret-type hat and nice and warm.  I am sorely tempted to pop up to Weaving Works at lunchtime today to purchase another ball of Kureyon and get another one on the needles.  I know I have enough of one colorway but I need a contrasting one.  Maybe this time something a bit brighter than the shades in my first version.  It is perfect TV knitting.  Or, as was the case with me, hanging out and drinking and chatting knitting. 

Of course I should be running today, since I've got a race this coming weekend, but one thing led to another and I didn't get my running clothes laundered so .. I'll take a nice brisk walk and call it good.  I know this is going to be a slow race.  I'll have fun and that's all that counts. 

The Super Bowl was a close game, which is always nice.  The bad part was that the power went out during the game, right after half time, so that added more than 30 minutes onto it.  I was just fried by the time I got home and there was absolutely no way I was going to do laundry.  I barely made it through a shower before I crashed.  Tink was wiped out as well.  There was another dog at the party.  She is small - I can't remember what kind but maybe Pomeranian - and she tolerates Tink.  She won't play, but neither does she attack.  Although she did get a little put out when she found Tinkerbell playing with one of her toys.  Tink was happy getting everyone to scratch her belly. 

I noticed this weekend that it is noticeably lighter around 5 o'clock now.  IF it's clear, which it was Friday evening.  February and March are always such hard months for me.  Plod on.

Finally!

Oh it is done!  I finally finished that Argosy Wrap.  I have no pictures today though because I do want to block it.  As it is, unblocked, it's 90 inches long, so I'm not going to be trying for any more length, but rather pinning out the edges.  Will I use it?  Maybe.  It's striking, that's for sure.  But I wouldn't call it pretty actually.  As for my next project -- still up in the air, although now that I have all that recaptured Kureyon I may do a little slouchy hat if I can find the pattern again.

For the first time last night I was having trouble with noise.  I am harboring no illusions that it's going to be quiet once the weather changes and people are able to sit outside in the plaza.  I know I'm going to get some good ear plugs at that point and I don't expect it to be too troublesome until the weekend.  But last night people were coming out of the theatre, late, and it sounded like a group of them stood in the cover of the theatre and talked and laughed for about an hour.  I could be misremembering because I was awakened twice so maybe it wasn't the same group of people.  I know I woke at 11 and again at 12:30.  I can't imagine a movie getting out that late though ... hmmm .. I'm going to do a little more checking on that.  But I was not happy.  And that's with only one little window open.  When it gets warmer I'm going to have to open the larger floor to ceiling window.  I don't call it a door because it opened onto a Juliet balcony, which is no balcony at all, but gives the appearance from the street.  It will, however, get me some much needed fresh air in the warmer weather.

This has been a busy busy week and I'm certainly ready for the weekend.  Super Bowl party on Sunday should be fun.  And I'm helping a friend with a huge remodel, so Saturday will be spent, part of the day, freely giving my opinions.  That's always fun, isn't it?  Well, rarely do I get paid for them.

I had a nice run yesterday, strong and much faster than Tuesday.  I am looking forward to another one today.  The rain has gone and I saw some blue sky.  Fingers crossed - it looks like we have skipped winter, at least down here for now.  It's quite mild today.  The mountains have been getting lots and lots of snow.  That's where it belongs.

Weak signal

I haven't been spending a lot of time streaming video on my iPad since I moved into this new place.  I'm either on the Internet or reading.  But last week I was in the mood so I got onto HBO GO to see what was new and found a program I wanted to watch.  But it kept stopping, which makes for a frustrating viewing experience.  I didn't think much of it until I tried again last night and couldn't even get a connection.  So I ran SpeedTest and find that my signal in my bedroom is practically nonexistent.  Not good.  I am going to have to move that modem around a bit to see if I can get a better signal.  Oddly, when I was at my other apartment there was a wall and a small kitchen space between there and my bedroom and I got fine reception.  Even in the office, which was way in the back of the apartment another room removed from the modem it was fine.  So I am hopeful I can get a decent signal back there with a little shuffling around.

It was a busy day yesterday and I was tired when I got home.  Tink got a nice walk in the drizzle.  It hasn't been cold really, just dark and moist.  I've got to run early today because I am proctoring an exam at 1:30, so let's hope this morning stays like this, except perhaps not so dark.   One of my buddies helped me frog some of those silly squares I had made a few years ago and now I have plenty of yarn to finish the Argosy Wrap, which I worked on last night.  Now it's a joy, because the end is in sight and it keeps getting smaller and smaller and smaller.  I have been thinking about where I'm going to be able to block this monster.  I think it'll be too large for my bed.  I do have blocking pads.  The kind that you put together any way you want.  I could put it in the hall, but how will I keep Tink from walking on it?  Yeah ... well I'll keep thinking.

Poor Tink has another ear infection.  I guess her breed is just susceptible to them.  At least I am an observant enough owner to recognize the signs early on before she's really suffering.  I have medicine left over from the last time.  Now it's 5 days of twice a day application and 5 days of once a day. She is such a good dog about it.  Just lays there and lets me clean everything up and put the medicine in the ear.  Actually it must feel pretty good.  I expect it's rather itchy.  Poor little dog.  She'll be better in a couple of days.

I thought Tuesday was Wednesday and today feels like Friday, but alas it is only Thursday.  I'm looking forward to this weekend.  I've got a fun party to go to for the Super Bowl.  But that's a ways away.  Maybe I'll have the wrap finished by then and can start some Super Bowl socks.

I need to let it go

It's the anachronisms in this book.  I know I should just enjoy the story, which is quite good, and disregard the rest.  But it is puzzling to me how these glaring mistakes could have gotten by an editor.  Well, they couldn't have, could they?  It must have been a conscious decision to let them stand for the good of the story.  In that case, how can it be described as a piece of historical fiction when the history part is not accurate?  I know this type of thing is wildly popular.  Witness the HBO series "Deadwood".  I couldn't watch it - it was so violent and the language so awful.  Well -- I need to quit obsessing. 

It was indeed raining at lunchtime yesterday but I went out anyway and had a decent, albeit slower than usual, run.  I can't afford to slack off any more.  February 9 is not that far away.  I am already resigned to the fact that I'm not going to be breaking any personal records.  But I just want to have a decent time.

Another good evening on the Argosy Wrap last night.  I've turned the corner and am now working on the end of it.  I've still got a good few hours on it but I've already started thinking about what I'm going to cast on for next.  I have a good many projects lined up.  Or - hey, here's an idea.  Why don't I finish up a couple of the nearly done projects?  Yeah.  Why?

8 o'clock

Yes ... 8 o'clock.  That is the time I woke up this morning!!  I did wake up very early ... what I thought was the middle of the night ... and realizing I hadn't set it before I went to sleep, did so at that time.  It must have actually been after 6:30 at that point.  Next thing I knew I turned over, stretched and yawned and noticed how light it was.  I hadn't had any alcohol last night before I went to bed, so I wasn't hung over.  But I did take a Benadryl at 2:30 am.  I figured it would be out of my system in four hours but I guess it wasn't.  I jumped out of bed, threw on some clothes and some make-up, got Tink outside for her necessarily quick potty walk, back upstairs, grabbed my purse and I was on the 8:35 bus.  Whew.

Considering how long I've been slacking off, I had a pretty darned good run yesterday.  It was miserable running weather though.  Not only cold, but raining as well.  I got soaked.  I am hoping for the rain to hold off this afternoon.  I can't face another rainy run.  I like the drizzle but those big, fat raindrops are annoying.

I had the occasion to make some chicken soup for a pour wretch with a cold this weekend and last night I had the left overs for my dinner.  Oh it was gorgeous!  I am going to have to make that again soon.  I used parsnips and leeks instead of onions and carrots, but added some carrots too.  It really hit the spot.  Soup, like stew, always tastes better a day or so later, doesn't it?

I did end up going to bed rather early and read, finishing The Double Game finally.  Before that I got another few rows done on the Argosy Wrap.  I am going to have to unearth some more Noro Kureyon and I know where I'll get it.  I have some squares I started for a blanket I will never finish.  Might as well put it to good use.  It's my favorite colorway too.  It'll be perfect.

Just a taste

First college football disappears, but the NFL quickly takes over those Saturdays.  Then the playoffs and then ... no football.  Oh there was the Pro Bowl on Sunday, but not until 4. And it's really not a very exciting game.  Time lay a bit heavy on my hands this weekend.  I know it's like this every year and it just takes a few weekends to get a new flow going, but it wasn't easy this weekend to stay busy.  I got a taste of the future.

I finished up the cowl on Friday and gladly used it Saturday and Sunday.  It was cold and wet and windy, but Tink was happy for all the walks I could give her.  Saturday was chore day and I gave my teensie apartment a good cleaning, although I am not yet able to really move around in my sleeping space.  Just another few weeks and I'll be able to get that furniture out and put smaller pieces in there and then I'll have a bit more room.  But as it is, I actually cannot maneuver the vacuum anywhere except the one side of the bed.   So I spent a bit of time grumbling to myself about how I cannot wait to get this place finally put together.  I will be much more comfortable.  I can't even wear my jewelry because I can't put it away yet.  That's starting to really bother me.  But ... patience.  Just another couple of weeks.

I had a hair appointment Saturday afternoon and I was going to take Tink with me on the bus, but the weather was so awful and wet I thought it would be better to just let her stay home.  It's very easy to get to the salon and back on the bus, so I didn't even consider Zip Car.   I was realizing this weekend it's been two full months since I've been without a car and I still haven't used the Zip Car.  I keep saying I'm just going to go joy riding on a weekend.  But none of the really cool cars are kept in the close Zip Car lots.

My poor stylist was having a very bad day and she was late because her 15 year old client had chosen a hair color and then after it was done, hated it so thoroughly that she was crying.  Poor Dana, my stylist, was trying to change the color to something the girl would accept and at the same time, take care of me.  She was in bits.  I forget how everything to a 15 or 16 year old girl is HUGE.  And the girl's mother was fanning the flames.  It was crazy.  What a burden it is to be a teenager.

So Sunday came around and Tink, bless her little doggy heart, let me sleep in.  Oh it was luxurious.  I didn't get out of bed until around 9:30!  I made myself a cup of coffee, put it in a travel cup and I let her take me on a long, long walk.  It was very cold but she hasn't had a nice hour walk for a few weeks.  At my other place I would walk her for at least an hour both Saturday and Sunday, but there aren't the same kinds of neighborhoods in my new area.  Nonetheless there are some lovely little hidden parks and we are finding them.  Then off to get my manicure, pick up some lunch and .... tick tock an entire afternoon in front of me with nothing scheduled and no football.  That means knitting, of course.  I picked up the Argosy Wrap and got to work on it and made some good progress, starting the decreases to finish this monster.  It is like a Dr. Who scarf.  It's enormous!  But if this weather keeps up I'll get lots and lots of use out of it.  I'll have to use the panorama feature on my iPhone camera to capture the whole thing.

Early morning

I have an early meeting this morning and so decided to take the bus right before my normal bus to arrive in time to grab a cup of tea and head to the meeting.  I was groggy.  Tink woke me up at 4 and I had a hard time getting back to sleep because I knew I was going to need to get up earlier than usual.  And then I did get back to sleep, but had a falling dream so my sleep was much disturbed.  I checked my OneBusAway app to get the exact time of the bus I needed to catch, but I didn't have it on the right bus stop so I ended up catching an earlier bus and so I was here in my office a full 30 minutes before the meeting.  Ah well ....At least now I will have plenty of time to find the meeting room.  I know the room number but I am not at all sure how to get there.

I got a bit more done on that cowl last night.  It is getting more difficult to unravel the yarn from the sweater now that I have used up the body and gotten up to the joining of the sleeves.  I had to cut the yarn and start at the bottom of a sleeve.  It looks like I'll have just enough yarn to finish the project.

No big plans this weekend except to clean my little apartment and hopefully get the rest of the pictures hung.  A long walk or two with Tink is also on my list as well as getting my hair done tomorrow.  No football really.  The ProBowl on Sunday but that's not such an interesting game. 

I did not get to run yesterday.  I MUST go out today.  I feel like a slug.

The distraction of anachronisms

I really love historical fiction and my latest audiobook is set in 1699 in the colonies.  The story centers around a magistrate and his oh so logical young clerk and the trial of a witch.  It is a large book and it is broken into four parts for the audio version.  During part two I began to be aware of some glaring anachronisms, like medical treatments and diagnoses not known at that time, and the description of garments that wouldn't have been worn then, ridiculously modern turns of phrase - things like that.  It is so distracting to me!  The story is good though, so I will finish listening.  I just prefer more accuracy.

My new hat was a big hit at noon knitting and it was suggested to me that I make a cowl to go with it.  That is a perfect use for the rest of that sweater and I couldn't wait to get home and get started.  I chose a simple pattern because the yarn has a thick and thin quality that does not work well with patterned stitches.  It is a few rows of ribbing and a few rows of plain knitting.  It'll be perfect with the hat.

It rained yesterday for the first time in 12 days and it has warmed up some.  I absolutely must run today and so I am glad it's warmer.  I've got only a little more than two weeks to get into shape for that race.  I have to stop being so lazy.  Now that football is over - well, all except the Super Bowl - I will have more time on the weekends to get out and get moving.  Tink will be very happy.

The cutest hat ever!

The Tassel Hat by Diane Serviss is unbelievably cute! While looking for a different type of hat  - not a beret and not a ski hat - I ran into this pattern and I am so glad I did.  I finished knitting the back of the head last night and couldn't stop until I finished making the tassels.  Since I am using the yarn directly from the sweater as it unravels, the yarn is kinked up.  It doesn't show in the body of the hat, but the tassels are curly, which I think just adds to its whimsical appeal.  Adorable. 

It was a hard slog at work yesterday since I was still in vacation mode after my long weekend.  I so wanted to run, but I had twisted my knee while climbing a few flights of stairs carrying my suitcase from the train station up to the street level on Monday.  I really could have used the endorphins and the fresh air.  No running today either, but tomorrow and the next few weeks I have GOT to get out there every day that I can to get ready for the Love 'em or Leave 'em race February 9.  Thankfully we have been having decent - cold but dry - weather.

Tink was still rather quiet yesterday which made it easy for me to finish up my hat.  She's always kind of snoozy for a few days after coming back from a stay at the Dog Resort.  I am hoping that the weather will be decent this weekend and I can take her for a long walk someplace new.  We have lots of uncharted neighborhood to explore.  I am sure she'd appreciate a few new smells.  I have noticed now that there is not any grass for her to roll in she stays much cleaner.  In fact when I picked her up Monday the girl at the counter wanted to know how I kept her so white!  Which is amazing considering she was always looking rather gray a few weeks after a grooming.  Oh she wants to roll.  It was a chore a couple of weekends ago when I took her to Green Lake.  All of that goose poo around - I had to keep sharp to keep her clean.

My new pet peeve

When I arrive at work I cross over a bridge from the upper campus and enter the Health Sciences building through two sets of doors.  The first takes you into a vestibule where you can go up or down stairs and the second takes you right into the building.  The right door is equipped with automatic opening devices for disabled people, but many able people tap on those plates so they don't have to actually open the door.  I am able bodied and I open my door myself.  However,  and this has happened more than once, someone behind me will hit the plate to open the door while I am walking towards it, causing me to nearly walk into the swinging door!  It makes me crazy!  It's dangerous as well, since I nearly got hit in mouth last time it happened.  Nearly.

I had a love long weekend.  The weather in Portland was absolutely perfect.  Yes, it was very cold, but also clear as a bell.  The hotel was right on the river and luckily an upgrade was in the stars and a river view.  The first room was on the top floor and from what I could see briefly it was a lovely room.  The reason I only had a brief look was someone was in the room!  Not actually physically there, but the bed was unmade, there was a briefcase on the floor and a bottle of wine on the table!   Thank goodness nobody was in there!  How embarrassing.  The front desk apologized all over themselves and a better room was offered.  Done!

Portland is a wonderful place to walk and so of course I walked and walked and walked and walked!  Cold and beautifully sunny.  Sunday was football.  It would have been nicer if the Seahawks had been playing, but it was fun all the same.  The train ride back home was uneventful.  I actually spent the entire ride reading, which was such a luxury.  On the way down on Friday evening the mountains were visible.  St. Helens was incredible.  I didn't notice much scenery yesterday and by the time we got into Washington the clouds were back.

It was so wonderful to get my doggie back.  We had a nice quiet evening.  She went straight for her chewy and after a good chew, went to sleep as I knew she would.  She's always very tired after a few days at the Doggie Resort.  I am so happy she likes being there.  I got lots of work done on that hat and tonight will finish it up.

And now it's back to work.  And it's cloudy and dark and I'm sleepy and wishing I had another long weekend.  But I'll have to wait for February for that.

Old dog, new trick

Tink was absolutely perfect on her bus ride yesterday!  I had given her a normal walk after work and then went upstairs to get her food and her short leash, then off we went to the transit center.  The bus we needed to take, the 41, arrives at the transit center from downtown and then goes on out to Lake City.  My only concern about this ride, being that it was taking place during rush hour, was that the bus would be full and we'd have to stand.  That would make it very uncomfortable for her, with all those strange feet and legs around her.  But the transit center is the final stop for most of the passengers, since it's a park and ride lot, so we had room to sit.  She stayed quiet and calm for the entire ride, which was only about 15 minutes.  Then I walked the block to The Dog Resort and dropped her off and then caught the bus back home.  The entire trip, including a stop on the way home to pick up something for dinner, was done in less than an hour.  Not bad. 

And there I was - an entire evening alone to get myself packed up for a long weekend and then do whatever I wanted.  That was knit and catch up on some programs I had recorded.  It only took a few minutes to gather my things together and pack them up, then I poured myself a cocktail and picked up my project.   The new season of "Girls" started on HBO last weekend, so I watched that and a couple of other things, all the while working on that cute hat.  It was a super awesome evening capped off by a great night of sleep.   The quiet and not having a doggie snoring at the foot of my bed - that makes for an uninterrupted night.  Ahhhh

I put my lace blouse project bag in my suitcase.  I don't know if I am going to have that kind of time this weekend, but if I do I'm all set.  I didn't bring the hat because it is attached to a sweater, and I have so many books to read that I am hoping I will be able to get some reading done. 

Looks like the weather is going to be decent in Portland.  By decent I mean neither raining nor snowing.  The cold I don't care so much about, but I plan on doing a bit of walking while I'm there and I'd rather not be slogging through the rain.  I'll miss my dog but it's going to be nice to not have to worry about walking her, especially in the nighttime.  I know she's having a ball at the kennel.  She never even looks back when I drop her off!

A second chance

In the cold morning yesterday, I wished I had put on a hat.  All of my hats are in a box on a shelf in my (only) closet.  I need to find a way to make them more accessible but that's going to have to wait another couple of weeks until I get rid of the current wall units and dresser and change to the new, smaller pieces.  Then perhaps I can find a way to either display them or make them easier to get at.  But I digress -- I was thinking about hats and decided I would like a new one.  I have had a pattern in my Ravelry library for a few months.  A cute hat, very different from the usual berets and cloches and such that I make for myself from time to time.  I don't even know if it'll look all that good on me, but it has been nagging to be made.  However, it calls for super bulky yarn, which I simply do not use any more.  I think of it as the yarn of beginners.  It's colorful, it's easy to see your mistakes and the product appears quickly.  So my choice to make this hat was go purchase some bulky yarn or double up some yarn I already have in hopes it will come out to the right gauge.  But yesterday I thought of a third solution - recycling one of my older sweaters, all of which are sitting in my office.  Perfect!  There was a gorgeous subject right on top, in all of its bulky glory AND in my favorite colors!  I started unraveling it as soon as I got my evening chores done and cast on.  It's moving along quickly - of course - and very cute already.  I hope I will wear it.  I am knitting it directly from the sweater - in other words, I just got the unraveling going and rather than roll it into a ball I am turning straw into gold.  If I don't finish it up tonight though I don't think I'm going to want to take it with me on the train like that.  I will have to give that some thought.

Tonight Tink will have her first public transportation ride.  I have to take her to the kennel tonight and taking the bus is the logical choice.  It will be an adventure.  She's such an attention hound, I suspect she'll just love it.

My sniffles are well under control and I wish I could say that for the rest of the office.  I am thankful that it didn't get worse.  One day of the blahs and I kicked it! 

Into a cloud

The sky was perfectly clear when I left home.  I could see the mountains clearly on all sides and a perfectly pink con trail of a plane in the sky.  It was gorgeous.  And then, the closer I got to work the cloudier it got.  It's very strange.  It was almost foggy, the clouds are that low.  I am hoping that the clouds will warm things up.  It was well below freezing.  I know it was exceptionally cold last night because Tink was not only on the bed all night, but came to cuddle up with me in the middle of the night, which she very rarely does.  And then wanted to get under the covers.  Again I will say - I don't mind the cold.  It is not snowing and that's all that I care about.

I was under the weather all day, but since we were so short handed and two other people had to leave early, I stuck it out.  Everyone is so scared of catching the flu, and since I have a fun weekend away coming up I am perhaps a bit paranoid.  I'm still a little sniffling this morning, so it's just a little cold I guess.  I relaxed last night, did some good knitting and went to bed early.  I now have another new book in my queue.  A friend recommended - no, insisted I buy, the book he is currently reading.  He's a friend that always gives me good recommendations and so I downloaded it as we were talking on the phone.  So that's 2 new ones and one 80% read on my iPad, and two by my bed.  And so of course, going to bed early my thought was that I'd finish up "The Double Game".  But once I got into bed and got warm I was out like a light. 

Noon knitting today.  I brought my lace blouse in again and, not thinking about that, I wore a black cardigan so of course it's going to be covered with white fluff.  Ah well .. nothing I can do about it now anyway.  I also remembered to bring my Denise set so I can add a little length to the circular needle.   This project grows and grows.  I don't think I can get another two rounds on that length. 

I'd like to get some socks on the needles for train travel time Friday.  I have some Kureyon sock yarn that I can't remember the reason for buying.  It does make good, warm socks.  The last pair were unfortunately felted by accident.  Perhaps this time I should make them a little larger than usual and felt them on purpose.  I find it useless to make socks that cannot be put into the washer and dryer.  I rarely remember to remove them from the washer and then find little baby socks in the dryer.  I learned my lesson and now don't buy sock yarn that I intend to use for socks that doesn't go into the washer AND dryer.

That grotty feeling ....

Something is going around the office.  Of course it's been all over the papers that we are having one of the worst flu seasons in years so I think some people take that information and make use of it, if you catch my  meaning.  Although I know for sure one is actually sick since she was hacking and coughing around here for a few days.  The point here is that I am not feeling all that chipper myself this morning!  Nothing I can really put my finger on -- a little tickle of a cough, drippy nose, headache.  No sore throat so I shall keep my fingers crossed that it is nothing but the sniffles. 

I spent yesterday evening tidying up my teensie place.  I didn't get around to getting a mop this past weekend and I must put that on top of my list.  This place is so small that I go crazy if anything is out of order.  But the good news is that it doesn't take long to put things into order.  I wanted to knit but instead spent time on the phone and lazy time with some silly TV.  Since all my chores are done maybe tonight I can do some knitting and some reading too.  I have 3 books I haven't even cracked and one left to finish!  Oh .. and I started a new audio book.  I just LOVED the Tom Wolfe one.  Yesterday I started a new historical fiction, this time set in the American colonial time.  So far it's a good listen.  It's called "Speaks the Nightbird".  It is starting out well. 

Tink was restless last night and snoring as well.  At one point - I think it must have been around 3 am - she went out to the living room and started chewing on a bone!  Silly dog.  Maybe I'm just tired this morning. 

You can't get away from the pigs

I must admit to being entirely amazed by how slovenly people can be.  I wasn't as much amazed when I was living at the other apartment, but where I am living now it is quite unusual.  Still it happens and just stuns me.  The way the community is set out, instead of grass parking strips there are little gardens with drought resistant plants.  These little gardens are around the entire block that encloses the creek and all of the buildings.  Sunday when I was walking Tink toward the path around through the creek I found a large Christmas tree that someone had abandoned right there in the little garden!  Just dumped there!!  Can you imagine? 

Well, the Seahawks season is over.  They played Atlanta on Sunday in a real nail biter.  And they came back from a 20 point deficit to one point ahead.  Then Atlanta came back with 35 second left to play and scored a field goal!  A real heart breaker.  But they played so very well.  If the team doesn't lose too many players in the off season we'll have another killer team next year.  In the meantime I'm going to have to root for San Francisco in the divisional game next weekend. 

It was crazy cold this weekend but thankfully clear so no snow, but plenty of ice.  Tink got a wonderful long walk around Green Lake on Saturday in the brilliant sunshine, along with what looked to be half of Seattle out enjoying the weather.  She needed the exercise.  I don't have a really good long walk for her from this apartment.  I mean there are no good parks nearby.  There are city streets, but she is too easily distracted by the people and it makes it difficult to get any pace going when she's stopping to get petted by each and every person walking by!  She is being boarded at the kennel next weekend while I go to Portland and I had to get her Bordatella updated on Saturday so I got to weigh her.  She was getting a little to heavy and now that there is no pantry cupboard for her to scratch at, she is getting fewer treats and she's lost a pound.  She's perfect now.

No knitting at all on the weekend.  I wanted to knit but the games were all too exciting and I don't have any plain TV knitting.  Maybe I should make that a priority.  I have a lot of chores this evening but I'll put that on the list too.

Oh how easy it is to forget

My asthma hasn't been an issue for months, thank goodness.  But still before I go running I use my inhaler, because it is exercised induced normally.  Yesterday I forgot and it wasn't until I was just stepping on to the trail that I remembered.  But my lungs were clear and I wasn't about to turn back since it was very cold and sprinkling.  I knew if I went back in I would most likely talk myself out of going back outside.  So off I went at my normal pace.  It is the cold air that causes the constriction and the colder it is the worse it gets, so it wasn't long before I was really feeling it and cursing myself for forgetting.  I made it through the entire 30 minutes, but I was slow.  You can bet I won't be forgetting today.  It is not going to be raining icy needles today.  It is clear and even colder.  This morning it is below freezing. 

My evening was so nice and quiet again.  I was really in the mood to read.  My sister gave me two books when I was down there at Christmas and I've got a new one on Kindle I haven't even started and one I have yet to finish.  But I was also in the mood to knit.  (Oh that Argosy wrap .....)  I have yet to find the perfect knitting spot.  Nothing will be as good as the comfy chair and ottoman I had to give away - at least not in this apartment.  But I think I can find a spot on my couch that will work.  It just needs to be configured.  Last night I only got a few rows done.  Between finding the perfect spot and playing with Tink, the evening flew by and pretty soon it was time to turn in.  I had stayed awake way too long the night before.  I ended up watching a pilot of a new show by Nick Kroll that is going to start on Comedy Central on the 16th.  I love the way iTunes gives away pilot episodes.  And that was it -- too tired to read.  I slept like a stone.

Busy football weekend coming up.  The highlight will be the Seahawks game Sunday morning.  Fingers crossed.  They are playing Atlanta in Atlanta.  Well, they beat last weeks opponent at their home field.  It could happen again.

My poor soaked orchid

After finding my yellow orchid soaking in a pool of water - and I still don't know who did such a thing - I did my best to dry it out.  Also I put it on my desk where it would get some nice filtered light.  Unfortunately all of the new growth is brown and dead and I'm going to have to cut the stems back all the way.  Also, I lost three leaves.  I haven't given up hope yet.  If it stops shedding leaves it might yet come back.  On the other side of the coin, that inexpensive purple one I bought at Trader Joe's right after I moved into my new office is going great guns.  I have a new bloom and 4 buds just ready to burst open. 

I had some errands to run after I got home - in the pouring, icy cold rain I might add.  In fact, there was snow mixed with that rain.  It was a mess.  Thankfully I didn't have far to go.  I wanted to get cozy and do a little knitting.   I had worked on my lace blouse during noon knitting yesterday but I couldn't pick it up again last night.  Tink was feeling frisky and that project is one that takes concentration.  And oh my does it ever shed!  That angora yarn is gorgeous but it shows up on everything.  I wonder if I'll ever be able to wear this sweater.   So it was silly TV and nice, quiet time.  I stayed up way too late playing on my iPad.  I don't think I turned out the light before 10:30, which is late for me. But I feel fine today and I'm looking forward to my run at lunchtime.  My ankle is just fine.

This is the time of year when we have weeks and weeks of dark left and I get itchy feet.  I have a little three day weekend coming up later this month and I'm going to Portland on the train.  But I've got to get a March trip on my calendar soon or I'll go crazy.

My new apartment complex has an online presence, as do most these days, and each day we get an email with the previous 24 hours of comments and discussion.  I was surprised to read that there is a woman who finds the place way too noisy to be able to work at home.  She called the walls "paper thin" and complained about the gardeners blowing leaves in the morning.  Now I didn't hear a thing when I was home Tuesday.  Yes, I'm on the 4th floor which helps, but paper thin walls?  I hear the garbage trucks coming in to pick up the bins behind the clinic, but it hardly even registered.  This is a huge complex though with quite a few buildings and they are all different.  I guess I lucked out.

Dark and wet

That pretty much describes the past 24 hours and, most likely, the next as well.  The clouds have moved in, the temperatures have risen and it has been just pouring.  Even the dog is not excited about going outside.  Oh, she goes.  But he's not unhappy about going back in either.  I am thankful it's not snowing.

I worked from home yesterday and I'm happy to say, my new place is a joy to work in.  It's quiet, the light is good and my desk is comfortable.  I had given the IT guy at work a heads up and sent him my IP address, so when I did need to get onto the departmental server it was seamless and quick.  Perfect.  It's always nice to check these things out when it's not crucial.  Now if I get sick this winter I'll be confident I can get anything done from home.

In the late afternoon I hung a few more of my pictures and set up the front entryway to be a little more handy.  I put Tink's leash basket up there as well as a little table for my keys, and finally hung a mirror outside of the bedroom so I can get at least a partial look at myself.  I'll need to get some help to hang the larger pieces and the mirrors and I'm not yet certain of where the photos of Paris will go - most likely down the hall wall.  Baby steps. 

It's curriculum meeting day as well as noon knitting so no running for me.  I'll be fine - there is still more than a month to go before the race.  I don't like running in the rain, so if it's just too icky tomorrow I guess I'll try our fitness center at my new place.  It's very nice from what I remember of the tour. 

I finished the hat last night and tried to work on the Argosy wrap but I got sidetracked by a phone call.  I brought the lace blouse for noon knitting.  I don't suppose I'll get much done, but I'd like to try anyway.  Now I'd better have something to eat before the meeting.

It was all about football

My weekend -- football, football, hang a picture, football.  There were a few doggie walks and some meals, a little laundry, but otherwise that was about it.  I was planning on running around Green lake Sunday morning before the games started but Saturday night I stepped on one of  Tink's toys in the hall and twisted my right ankle.  Not good.  When I woke up Sunday it was sore and a little swollen so that was out.  I spent the day with it up and iced and today it's really pretty good.  I won't run today and we'll see how it goes tomorrow.  I want to do that race in February and I'm not going to risk getting out there too early.  This is the ankle I tore up all those years ago and it has never been entirely right since then.

The BCS game is tonight and is definitely going to be better than last year's snooze of a game.  The big ... no huge ... football news of this weekend is that the Seahawks beat the Redskins and will move on in the playoffs.  Next they play Atlanta, and they're not going to be easy.  It was a good game and I went up to Steve and Ginny's to watch it.  It's always much more fun to watch a big game with lots of good company and food.  Steve made chili and because Dungeness crab is in season, a gorgeous crab bisque.  And of course, incredible wine. A super fun afternoon made especially wonderful by a win.

I did very little with my apartment this weekend, on purpose.  I just needed a weekend off.  I didn't get to sleep in since I had to get Tink to the groomers by 8:30 Saturday morning.  Maybe next weekend I can sleep in.  I did however want to hang more than one picture but that got sidelined by a particularly exciting game Saturday.  Ah well.  I am getting clearer ideas about where I want to put everything, which is good.  And I did buy a lighted mirror for the bathroom.  Thank goodness the counter space in the bathroom is very generous and there is plenty of room for a mirror on a stand.  This bathroom is very much like a hotel bathroom and we all know what I think about hotel bathrooms.  They all seem to have been designed by men with no thought to how a woman is going to put on her make up.  The lighting is atrocious and the mirror is too far away.  The mirror is a perfect solution and is on a stand that is tall enough so I don't have to bend way over to get my make up on.  I love it.  Every little step makes the place better and better.  The bedroom is still the biggest challenge.  I can't use my jewelery cabinet nor can I get into any of my dresser drawers without laying out on the bed.  It is not going to stay that way much longer.  Hopefully by the end of this month I can have it all put together.

Last week I broke my perfect tea mug.  It kept it hot, was pink, had a nice lid but was also glass.  It was perfect and I knocked it off the counter and it broke.  So now my tea is cold before I'm done with it.  I must find another perfect mug.  I just don't like those metal lidded cups.  They're okay from time to time, but not every day.  Something will turn up.

Not so bad

It was so pretty yesterday when I went for my run.  Clear and very cold, so I was happy to have the new jacket on with the hand covers.  It was a difficult run, but I did better than I thought I would, which is always nice.  I have been such a slug for the past few weeks.  I signed up for the race on February 9, so there's no turning back now.  I'll be ready.  That's 5 weeks from now.  It's on my favorite route - Green Lake - and I am going to work up a strategy to deal with the bottleneck on the path.  I don't know what yet.  I have seen some people just run off the course and run around the bottleneck.  It seems like cheating but really - it's just a race for fun.  Actually, that seems the only way around it.

The clouds moved in and by the time I took Tink for her 7 o'clock walk it was sleeting.  Ick.  It has warmed up, thankfully, or it would be snowing today.  As it is it's just raining and warmer.  I don't mind.  Not that I have any real say in the matter, do I?

I started a hat Sunday evening and worked on it a bit last night while watching an awesome bowl game.  By the second half the Ducks were running away with it, so I retired to watch something on my iPad.  I didn't even make it all the way through it (the first show of the second season of  "The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret") and that's okay.  I needed a good sleep and I got it.  It makes SUCH a big difference being in a quiet environment.  I knew the freeway noise, and other parking lot noises, bothered my sleep but I didn't realize exactly how much until I moved here.  It is SO quiet.  I love it. 

I am making this hat out of left over bits of cashmere.  Thank goodness I didn't throw out any cashmere yarn!  I got a little crazy, cleaning things out.  But not so crazy that I'd toss perfectly good cashmere yarn!  I'd like to work some on the lace blouse, but I can't see that I'll have much free, quiet time this coming weekend.  It's not TV knitting and there are bowl games on tonight and tomorrow, and Sunday is the Seahawks playoff game.  Plain knitting or no knitting.  It's going to be very exciting.  All that and errands too.  Tink is getting groomed and not a week too soon.  I hate to bathe her when it's so cold but I had to on Sunday, she was so dirty.  Well ... here's to Friday.

When a favor isn't a favor

It almost feels wrong to rant about someone trying to do something nice ... but I can't help myself.  I have a gorgeous yellow orchid that had bloomed and when I moved there were no blooms on it but I always leave the stems for a few weeks to see where the new growth is going to come from, and then trim the stems at the appropriate place.  To my delight, there was new growth in several places.  Orchids only need to be watered every 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the size of the pot, etc.  As I was getting ready to go to California I took the orchid to the sink to moisten the roots and found it sitting in a puddle of water!!  And that means it had to have been sitting in that puddle since I moved into the apartment, which at that point was one week.  The only thing I can come up with is that one of the people who helped me move took it upon themselves to water my orchid!!  I drained it, of course, and hoped for the best.  But it looks like all of the new growth is dying now and I'll have to clip it back all the way.  grrrrr ..  The one I have at work is doing great and has a new bloom and five more big buds.  I was telling my sister this story while I was in California and she says she has a friend who has a few in her place of business - a Pilate's studio - and people are constantly watering her orchids.  Crazy.

I am listening to Tom Wolfe's latest book, Back to Blood, which is narrated by the actor, Lou Diamond Phillips.  He is mispronouncing words though and it's driving me crazy.  One of the main character names is Ghislaine, which he pronounces Jizz Lane.  Otherwise he's doing a good job.  Typical Tom Wolfe, but that's why we like him.

Today I will finally be able to run after a couple of weeks off.  It's going to hurt and it's terribly cold.  But I received a wonderful Christmas gift from my sister - a new running jacket with the long sleeves that have a thumb hole.  This is a very useful feature in this climate.  I'll be signing up for the February 9 Love 'em or Leave 'em race, which can be very very cold.

Happy New Year!

It seems very weird to have had a work day in between Christmas and New Year's Day.   I can't even remember how long it's been since I've worked on that day.  But it was okay - very quiet.  I got out of here early and took Tink for a nice long walk in the cold sunshine.  We found a new little park-ish walk across 5th avenue.  There the recently uncovered Thornton Creek continues and a lovely little walk has been made in a green belt between some apartment buildings and the library and community center.  It's really nice, but because it is usually dark when I'm walking her, whether it's before or after work, the only time I can enjoy it right now is on the weekends.  We will definitely be going back.

I went to a fun party and actually stayed up to ring in the new year.  Usually I'm fast asleep by midnight.  It was fun.  We ate and drank and played cards.  I really really wanted to sleep in Tuesday but that was not to be.  The good news is that I got the Christmas tree out of my minuscule apartment and after vacuuming up all the needles I didn't do anything but knit and watch college football bowl games.  The good ones are still to come, but the two I saw were entertaining. 

As much as I want to finish getting my apartment together - and believe me, I REALLY want to finish getting it together - I have decided I'm going to give myself a break.  I am going to decided where I want to hang all of my pictures tonight and then just rest the rest of this week and this coming weekend.  I think I'm overly tired and I need to recoup some of my energy or I'm going to get sick.  I know exactly what I want for the new pieces, so it's just a matter of purchasing them and getting rid of the old wall units and dresser.  It will be nice to have them, but it's not necessary right now.  I think I need a weekend of nothing at all to do instead.

I am looking forward to noon knitting today and then tomorrow I've got to get back on my running schedule.  Today I'm going to look up the date of the Love 'em or Leave 'em race and maybe even sign up if registration is open.  It's always nice to have the race on the calendar. 

The consequences of loving to travel

That's what I'm suffering today.  Even though it's New Year's Eve and typically I take this day off with my Christmas holiday, today I am here at work.  It is dead quiet.  The sole reason I'm here is that for the first time I can remember I have used all my vacation time before the end of the year.  Oh I get close always, but this year there wasn't a drop left in the bucket, so to speak.  The good news is that we'll be closing up early, so I'll have time to get home and get ready for the party I'm attending tonight.  It's not dressy, which is good news.

I couldn't seem to catch up on my sleep while in California.  On alternate nights my sister and I would stay up late - late as in 4 am.  And then the next day sleep the morning away.   She had to go in to work the day after Christmas and I stayed home and got lots of good knitting done on the lace blouse.  That was the first knitting I had done for ages and ages and it was wonderful.  It is going to be quite the garment.  Since it's being done with an angora blend yarn, the fuzz factor is huge.  I have no idea what I'll wear it with, but hopefully I can find something that won't attract too much fuzz.

The weather was quite chilly for what I am used to when I visit, but I didn't mind too much.  It was an excuse (reason) to keep a fire burning which made it quite festive.  And during the days it was mostly sunny.  We got out for a day in Chinatown and Little Tokyo.  Did a little shopping (big surprise), although because of my current lack of closet space, I only purchased an accessory. 

I didn't get home until late Saturday night and yesterday was spent watching football -- the Seahawks are in the playoffs!  I will be getting the Christmas tree out of my teensie living room on Tuesday, then I'll hang the pictures.  I spent a little time yesterday deciding where I wanted them to go.  I still love my new apartment and I will love it even more when I get rid of the two wall units and my dresser.  I have chosen a glass TV wall unit that will open up that space a little more and for the bedroom a white chest for my clothes and a small glass shelf unit for my yarn and needles.  Hopefully I can get those in the next week or so.  And I have a friend to store a few more things out of my hall closet to open up a bit of wiggle room there so I don't have to curse the laundry basket when I try to open the doors for the washer and dryer.  And ... horror ... I must purchase a mop.  My other apartment, while full of storage, had very small bathrooms and kitchen and I could, and did, wash the floors on my hands and knees with a spray bottle of cleaner and paper towels.  Really small.  This place has much larger kitchen and bathroom floors that are going to require mopping.  So it's not there yet, but still it's very comfortable.

I must wake up.  Time for a second cup of tea.  Happy New Year!

Lost and Found

As much as I hate packing for a move, there is an up side.  That's finding lost treasures. A few months ago I was lamenting the fact that I must have donated my awesome BCBG boots, because I couldn't find them anywhere.  It was surprising, since I loved them and couldn't imagine getting rid of them.  But when I was packing I found them at the bottom of a box in my storage closet.  Evidently when I first moved in I left them in the box with other odds and ends because it was springtime and I wouldn't be needing them.  And then I forgot about it.  So yay me!  I love these boots.   Although with the super high heel it was a bit dicey walking Tink and getting to the bus.  It's a little slick out there.  No rain though.

As much as I wanted to empty that last box and put away things into my bathroom cupboard, I had to get a few presents purchased and a few wrapped.  The convenience of being able to just walk to the mall is fabulous.  No parking hassles.  Just cross the street.  I did quite well, met my goals and was able to relax around 7:30.  Unfortunately, I wanted to relax in front of the TV and it wouldn't go on!  The television would, but I couldn't get the cable box to work.  After a telephone call to the cable company I figured it out.  There is an outlet that is controlled by a switch and guess which outlet the TV is plugged into?  Yup.  I know -- don't say it.  Move the plug to another outlet.  But because of the wall unit's placement, that is much easier said than done.  So for now I'll just have to be sure to keep that switch in the on position.  Once that was sorted I fixed some dinner and watched a silly movie.  I wanted to knit but I don't quite have myself set up for that yet, lighting-wise.  I'm getting there slowly.  I think once the dining chairs are gone to Goodwill and I have my little storage bench and ottoman I'll feel better, because there will be just that much less clutter around.

I forgot to check my channel line up for the Husky bowl game tomorrow.  I'll have to do that tonight, because if I don't get that channel in my new set up then I'm going to have to plan on going somewhere to watch it tomorrow.  Probably the Ram.  It's fun to watch football there with all the other fans.  It's almost like going to the game.  But since this one is in Las Vegas ....  And then the Seahawks on Sunday night.  That is going to be a fantastic game.  Since they've put more than 50 points on their last two opponents, and  San Francisco is also doing well, it is getting a lot of hype with the playoffs coming up.  Very exciting weekend.

Foiled by the rain

Oh my - is it ever raining -- still.  I was hoping to be able to get rid of the two chairs to the donation station set up at the mall, but the rain made it impossible.  Also impossible to get a Christmas tree.  I have carved out a little spot for a small tree but I didn't want to be hauling a wet tree into my apartment so that'll have to wait for the weekend.  It is supposed to stop raining soon.  But rain or shine, I MUST finish my Christmas shopping tonight.  I just have a couple of things to pick up at Nordstrom and then a quick trip to Barnes and Noble and that should do it.  I'll pick up some wrapping paper as well and get started on that tonight, hopefully.  I was thinking ahead and all of the gifts I bought while I was on my November trip were small and thus easily packed into the bottom of my suitcase.  Then when I get to my sister's I can put the ribbons on them. 

It is very difficult to be at work this week.  I don't have anything that's urgent and therefore I have a hard time buckling down to do any real work.  I'd rather be home finishing my apartment.  There's not much left for me to do until I can get new furniture for the bedroom, and that's going to have to wait until January.  My artwork is stacked up in the bedroom against the walls, making it even harder to get around.  But I don't want to hang anything until I see how much wall space I'm going to be opening up in the bedroom.  Maybe I should re-think that.  I could probably get a good bit of it up in the living area and the hallway and that would in turn open up more room in the bedroom.  But I honestly don't think I'll be able to fit it in this weekend.  I'll be getting home late tomorrow, and Saturday is the Husky bowl game and Sunday I'll be getting packed to leave on Monday.  So I'm going to have to just relax about it and try to enjoy the holiday.

I found out this morning that one of my neighbors - I can't tell if it's upstairs or downstairs - gets up at the same time I do.  Their alarm went off at exactly the same time and it sounded like vibration, so I am guessing it's an iPhone too.  But that's all I heard, as if the phone were on the floor or against the wall.  This apartment building reminds of me of a nice hotel.  When you go out your door the hallway is quiet and the door makes a nice click when it closes.

I thoroughly enjoyed noon knitting yesterday, even though I only did a couple of rows on the Argosy wrap.  I'm going to take the lace blouse with me when I go to California.  I am hoping I can get a few quiet times for some nice, relaxing lace knitting.  And just in case, I'll get a pair of socks on the needles for TV time.  Kelli always watches the most inane shows.  At least I can have my hands busy.

Is it rain? Is it snow?

It's a mess, that's for sure!  I didn't wake up until 7 this morning -- forgot to turn on my iPhone alarm last night -- and I could hear the rain.  But when I walked out the door of the building with Tink I could see it was snow as well.  It's just over freezing, thank goodness, or it would be all snow. 

Tuesday kind of disappeared.  I wasn't feeling terrific on Monday and blamed it on being overly tired, but it became increasingly clearer Monday night that it was a little bug, so I stayed home yesterday.  By mid-afternoon I was feeling good enough to work more on re-arranging my place.  The kitchen and living area is now done.  And I combed through my closet Monday night and took another bag of shoes and three more bags of clothes down to the donation bin that is so handily located in our recycle room.  So now my closet is lean, baby.  If I buy anything I have to throw something else out.  No more junk in my closet.  It feels pretty darned good, actually. 

I have two dining room chairs - one I use for my desk and the other sitting behind the table.  So if I have company for dinner there is a chair.  I don't have any room for the other two chairs.  I refuse to be tiptoeing around my own living space.  Just because it's small doesn't mean it has to be cluttered.  So they need to be taken to the Goodwill bin.  The bathroom will be finished tonight.  As soon as the little cupboard is bolted to the wall I can finish putting away the rest of the bathroom things.  That leaves the bedroom. I was WAY off on how that could work.   A couple of smaller pieces of furniture in there will make a world of difference. 

I just love the building so much!  Everything is super clean, the tenants are extremely nice, and there are breed restrictions, so no aggressive dogs are allowed.  No Pit Bulls, no German Shepherds, no Rottweilers and ... oh, one other one I can't remember.  And quiet?  Oh heavens ... it is so quiet.  The only noise I heard yesterday was the maintenance man vacuuming the halls.  Tink has a nice long hallway to chase her ball in, and she seems to like the paths round the creek.  I am happy happy happy!!

And now Christmas is looming.  I haven't finished my shopping, nor have I wrapped and mailed gifts to California, so I guess I'm going to have to put them in my suitcase.  It's getting a little late.  Maybe if I wrapped them tonight I could get them sent tomorrow .... I'll see. 

Noon knitting today.  How long has it been since I've run?  Too long.  Hopefully I can do it tomorrow and Friday before my week of sloth in California.