I couldn't help myself!

Yesterday Monika and I took a walk up to our LYS to scout out their sale and what did I find?  Only an irresistible 10 balls of Debbie Bliss Silk Aran in a gorgeous shade of spring green.  I couldn't help myself - I bought it even though I have about a million and one projects (and the yarn for them) on my shelves.  But it is my favorite shade of green and the yarn is so deluxe - soft with a sheen from the silk content.  Maybe I'll make the lacy cardigan from the front the Loop-d-Loop Lace.  This isn't the best image but you can see basically what it is.  Three or maybe four different lace patterns.  The yarn would be perfect for this.

I had an odd night's sleep.  A bit restless and I guess I was super tired this morning because I barely remember the alarm going off and next thing I knew it was after 7.  Ah well ... I'm here now, not that there's any great hurry.  I don't have any appointments until 9:30 anyway.

I hope to be able to run at lunchtime.  It was sprinkling on my way in to work but I haven't run since the race and I really want to get out there and see how it feels.  I have decided not to sign up for the Great Kilted Run on the 22nd.  Besides having that open mic to go to, I just don't want to run that race.  I think the course would be nice and flat, but getting to the race and, more importantly, finding parking would be a nightmare.  Not to mention that I would have to rent a kilt.  Stupid. 

Fingers crossed we get some decent weather this weekend.  I need some vitamin D.

Just beyond sniffing range

As I suspected, the lilac growing in the garden near the swimming pools is too far away to get a sniff!   It is evident that the gardeners pruned it last spring, which is when you should NOT prune a lilac, and all the buds were snipped from the side closest to the fence except the ones high up.  My best course of action to get some lilacs, or even just get a close up sniff, is going to be scouting around the neighborhood on our walk to the lake this Saturday and/or Sunday.  It's a small window of opportunity and I must jump on it or wait for another year.  That would be bad.

We have a pair of ducks that come visit and paddle around the swimming pools at the apartment.  Just like in the first episodes of the Sopranos.  Some work is being done around the pools -- I can't tell what exactly.  They have removed all of the cement from around both the swimming pools, exposing the pipes and drainage holes.  But even so,  last night the male duck was sitting on the smaller of the two pools.  I would think that the chemicals in the pools would be bad for them, or at the very least be hard on their skin.

After trying out a couple of workout DVDs I seem to have stumbled upon a good one, finally.  The Wii Fitness was a good one to start with, but I quickly found it too easy and couldn't get any soreness.  I tried an EA sports workout and that was a little heavy on the cardio, which since I run isn't that important to me, and lacking in upper body and core work.  I have found that the second EA sports disk is the one for me.  Each 30 minute session has a warm up and cool down and the upper body and core work is tough.  I've even been able to get some soreness in my arms and stomach.  Tink doesn't know how to react when I'm down there moaning and groaning over the sit-up portion of the routine.  I'm pretty happy with my routine.  The EA Sports More Workouts has a six week program and each day of exercises is different, they vary in which part of the body they work and they get tougher as you go on.  Mixed with my running 4 times a week and all the dog walking and I'm shaping up quickly and (relatively) easily. 

Gregg called me last night about the songs we're doing for the open mic later this month.  He had chosen a song I wasn't all that keen on, but since he's playing the instrument(s) I figured it was his call.  He asked me did I want to do the song "Tell Me" and said he had an idea I wasn't feeling it.  I confirmed his feeling and said I'd look for another one we could maybe do.  It's my feeling that at these open mic deals people do too many ballads.  The crowd is noisy and nobody but your closest friends is going to be listening that hard.  I say the best way to get the crowd interested is to do upbeat and fast songs.  That's my goal.

Today is the start of the Weaving Works Mother's Day sale, so Monika and I are going to take a walk up there at lunchtime and see what's on sale.  Last year I didn't find anything I couldn't live without.  That's  not always the case.  And fingers crossed it's not pouring rain.  You  know -- I still have the warm lining in my trench coat!  It's May!!! 

The first Wednesday of the month

This is my early meeting day.  I just don't like it!  Thank goodness next year they are moving the time up to 9 am from 8:30 so that will make it little bit better.  I don't like the rushing in the morning.  I like to take my time when I get to work ... have a couple cups of tea, read the news, etc., then have a bite to eat.  But today I have to get moving before I am totally awake.  I won't have to do anything at this particular meeting though.  I can just sit and look interested.  Today is the day the students give their evaluation of the winter quarter courses.  I'm not so involved with the winter quarter courses so ... ho hum.

I have spent the last two days at home, a bit under the weather.  I thought perhaps it was something I had eaten on Sunday but I guess it was just a little bug.  I feel much better today. 

I had some time to think about my summer vacation -- the one coming up the last week of June.  My sister is very involved in her plans to move, although she and Mike don't seem to be able to find a place that suits them both.  The rental market in Southern California is brutal!  Extremely competitive and expensive to boot.  If this move happens she's not going to want to go away at the end of June but will most likely want me to come down there.  I don't know .... I will of course come down but I still want to go someplace as well and I don't imagine she's going to want to leave her new place right away.  Oh well..... I'll give it a bit more time.

I brought my Green Gable to noon knitting today.  I have decided not to put long sleeves on it after all.  It's nearly always too warm in my office as it is.  Might as well keep the sleeves short so I can wear it.  And so I can finish something.  My new projects are lining up.  Most likely more than I'll be able to finish before the weather turns again.  It's sunny today, so that makes me think of summer time.  I am sure it'll show up sooner or later.

What a great weekend!

I had lots to do on Saturday and it was pretty nice - which equals not raining - in the morning so Tink and I took off on foot to get my T-shirt and timing tag for the race on Sunday.  The pick up spot was a little bit further along that I had thought but it was doable and we were back home in just under two hours.  Tinkerbell was so tired that she stopped a couple of times on the way back and she even laid down in the elevator on the ride up to the apartment!  Needless to say she was quiet for most of the rest of the day.  I finished up my errands and had an early dinner before I headed up north to Gregg's to do a little rehearsing.  He has a really cool old old house.  But I sure would hate living so far away from the city.  It took me almost 45 minutes to get there.  We have four really good songs.  It is so nice to sing with him rather than Doug.  I got home at a decent hour and headed to bed early because I had to get up early on Sunday for the race.

At this time, it is pouring rain.  But yesterday ..... it was a gorgeous day!  A perfect race day and I had a pretty good race.  Not perfect but good.  I had forgotten to take a puff from my inhaler, and that would have helped me a bit.  My main problem was that I started out too fast so I started running down at about 2 1/2 miles.  I think it they had put up markers for people, like most races do, so that if you run a 10 minute mile you start at one point and each half minute there is another marker so the slower runners start together.  Also there were walkers mixed in with the runners ... it was chaos at first so I was running hard to get out of the mess.  Oh well, I finished and that's what counts.  I was less than a minute behind what I wanted to run, so that is good. 

When I got home I took Tink for a walk and then cleaned up and went to lunch and did a little shopping.  It was just so pretty outside!  Today we're back to our regularly scheduled rain rain rain.  And I'm home with a tummy bug.  I don't know if it's something I ate yesterday or what.  I'm just going to lay low and hope to feel better tomorrow.

Sunshine and fresh legs

It looks like we're going to be getting some spring-like weather for this weekend and the race.  It's still cold but it looks like it'll warm up over 60 for Sunday.  I had a nice, strong run yesterday at lunchtime and I have been debating whether or not to run again today, but my right ankle has made my mind up for me.  That is the ankle I rolled 5 years ago and I have found it aching and twinging lately.  I believe it is directly related to the little bit of yoga that I'm doing with the Wii fit DVD.  I can balance just fine on my left leg, but not so on my right.  I'm not going to risk hurting it just to run this afternoon.  I can use the extra day of rest.  I will be strong and rested on Sunday.

Last night was the first round of the NFL draft and our hometown boy, Jake Locker, was picked 8th overall by the Titans.  Way to go Jake!  I watched that for a couple hours last night while working on the lace project.  Then, again, I had another restless evening.  Nothing seems to be able to capture my attention.  Tink was also restless so we went out a couple times last night.  There was something going on -- somebody moving out or moving in.  The other dogs on the floor were also barking at a woman who was waiting in the hall.  I don't know how she got there since it's a locked building but ... well, maybe she was escaping something inside her apartment.  I just know it was making my dog crazy, and by extension, me too.  I did have a nice sleep though.

Big weekend coming up.  I'm exciting to be working with Gregg again and looking forward to a good race on Sunday!

Can you call it Spring Fever when it's still like winter?

Whatever you want to call it ... I am certainly feeling it.  Restless and chomping at the bit.  I can't say for what, exactly.  Just that elusive something.  Something fun or something different or ... I don't know.  I do have a fun weekend coming up and I am giving myself an evening off from my current dietary restrictions on Sunday after the race.  Saturday after my usual running around I am going to go to Gregg's and start working on the four songs he sent me yesterday evening.  Two of them I know and two I need to learn.  I think this will be fun - well, I hope it will be fun.

It was raining so very very hard when I got home from work yesterday.  Of course rain or shine, Tinkerbell needs to go out, but it was a very abbreviated walk and still I was soaked through my coat when we got back.  That made her very restless for the remainder of the evening and I ended up taking her out two more times for little strolls around the gardens.  We were a pair last night, for sure.  After my workout and dinner I was just wandering around the apartment.  I watched the new episode of South Park and finally turned Sports Center on and sat there working on my lace project and listening to the sports news.  It is quite exciting these days.  The courts have removed the lock out  so the football players are now able to go to their facilities and work out, and the draft is starting tonight.  I was able to get two rows done before I threw in the towel.  It was at that point that I got Gregg's email with the songs, so I downloaded them from iTunes and headed to bed where I listened to them for a while and turned out the light around 10 or so. 

The birthday in Vegas seems to be going over great.  We're going to have so much fun!!  I hate birthdays, but I am going to love this one!!

It won't be long now

I was noticing, while walking Tink around the gardens, that the lilacs will be opening soon!  The trees are leafed out and the buds are dark and big.  Unfortunately I also notice that they are situated in a way that I won't be able to get up close and take a sniff!  Have you noticed, you can never buy lilac blooms at the flower markets -- at least not at the ones in the nice grocery stores.

It wasn't raining yesterday at lunchtime, so I took my run in the neighborhood rather than the treadmill in the fitness center.  The route I chose was rather hilly, but I didn't have much choice in that.  I didn't run very fast, but at least I kept up for the entire 30 minutes and I felt good and strong.  It may rain for the rest of the week, but it is supposed to be nice on Sunday.

That thieving girl brought my clothes back yesterday.  I can't ... I am just still so incredibly angry about this!  I don't know what galls me more -- that she was rooting around in my closets and dresser drawers with impunity or that she had the colossal nerve to be abusive towards me when I accused her.  I am just going to have to let it go, because there is no way to make peace with it. 

I had a phone call from Gregg last night as I was in the middle of my workout.  I couldn't really stop to talk to him, but we agreed to meet this Saturday to start rehearsing for our little spot on the 22nd.  I am happy and excited to be doing this.  I am going to see him early Saturday evening.

I brought the Cloisonne Jacket in with me today for noon knitting.  I haven't touched it since last Wednesday.  Shame on me, I know.  What have I been doing?  Working on the Shining Bird's Eye shawl - 6 1/2 more repeats to go.  I was musing, as I was working on it this weekend -- didn't I say after the Frost Flowers Stole that I wouldn't ever do another lace project that didn't have a purl back row?  Not only am I doing just that, but it's a single motif and the markers move every other row!  It is going to be lovely ... I keep saying that and it is true.  Still ... no more with the lace projects that don't have a purl back row!!  Hold me to it now, will you??

That turned out to be not true

I didn't run yesterday, "no matter what".  It was not only raining, it was coming down in buckets!  I would have been soaked to the bone.  I am working from home today and I brought my running gear back home with me, so I will go out at lunchtime and if it's raining, I can just pop down to the fitness center and take care of it there.  I think if I run today and again on Thursday I should be fine for Sunday - rested but not too rested.

It was a funny day yesterday.  Not too busy at work, which has been the norm, but I think the weather is really starting to get to people.  It feels like winter still and it's pretty hard to take, my good mood notwithstanding.  I couldn't seem to muster up the enthusiasm to pick up any of my knitting projects.  I walked Tink a couple of times and caught up on some TV and went to bed early, only to toss and turn well into the night.  I did have my plans for Las Vegas to keep me amused for a bit.  I have a book that I am nearly finished with.  I should either finish it or chuck it and get myself a new book for my bedside reading.

I have an appointment this afternoon and am working from home today.  I have a few projects, but not much else going on.  It will be very busy soon enough. 

One day is better than none

As predicted, Saturday was a glorious day!  Cloudless, the temperature was in the 60s, which is the highest temperature we've had in Seattle since autumn.  I took full advantage of it, rising at 8 o'clock.  After a quick dash to Costco, Tinkerbell and I set out for a nice long walk to the lake.  She actually got in it a couple of times but stopped short of swimming.  It was just so nice!  Everyone had a smile on their face, a spring in their steps.  When we got home I opened all the windows and did laundry and put in a few hours on the Shining Bird's Eyes shawl.

Being in such a wonderful mood, I let my mind wander while I was knitting and came up with a SUPER cool idea. I am, as I have said, quite anxious to have things to plan -- vacation type things mostly.  June is up in the air because of my sister's schedule - all but the reunion Saturday, and November is still a ways out.  But my birthday -- that's not too far away and so I have decided to have it in Las Vegas this year!  My sister can hook us up with discounted rooms at the Mandalay Bay resort, it's close enough so my nephews and my friend McG can even drive there if they want to, and anyone else in Seattle or environs that wants to come can!  It will be a blast!  I'll do August 6 - 10 and that'll give people a weekend to join me, if they want, and/or week days too!  Oh I am just REALLY excited about this!  It's going to be awesome!

Sunday was quiet, as one might imagine.  I gave Tink a bath, and we only had a couple of small walks because, true to form, Sunday was cloudy and raining.  We did find a new park, though.  I gave Tink her head and we started out in a different direction and wandered into a park dedicated to, of all things, Frisbee golf!  It's a beautiful little spot, very close by.  We haven't walked up that road before because it feeds right into a busier street.  I had no idea there was a secret park.

I did have one rather annoying piece of news this weekend.  Because I had un-friended all of my soon-to-be-ex's friends and family from my Facebook page, when one sends me a message it doesn't show right up unless you go to messages.  It's an annoying glitch.  Anyway, I found a message Saturday morning that had been sent the previous Monday by his youngest daughter.  I had accused her of stealing my clothes when she was staying with us and she would deny it again and again, even though she was the only one with access.  Finally after discovering yet another nice piece of clothing missing and being abused by her, rather nastily, I asked Mr. M if he thought the housekeeper's workers could have been responsible.  His response -- well, if his daughter said she didn't do it .....  That led me to confronting Maria, and of course her workers denied any knowledge.  Well, the message from A said that yes, she had indeed stolen my clothes and she had wanted to tell me earlier but she was "too embarrassed".  Can you BELIEVE that????  And all the crap I took from here ... " How *dare* you accuse me of stealing your things!", etc. etc.  I sent Mr. M an email telling him of the confession and saying that the housekeeper deserves an apology.  He responded that he would take care of it.  Sure.  I am so very very very VERY glad to be rid of this family.  Ick!  What ever was I thinking???  I must have been simply crazy.  Insane.  If I could take a pill that would wipe out the last 3 years in my memory I would take it.  No kidding.

So.  Enough of that.  It's raining all week but it looks like the weekend will be fine for the race.  No matter what it's doing at lunch I've got to run today.  I feel strong and I am very much looking forward to the race this weekend.!

Oh Spring, where are you???

While we may have cherry blossoms and tulips, it's still cold cold cold!  I see that it is supposed to reach 60 degrees tomorrow but cloudy and rainy Sunday and through next week!  If I wasn't just so happy this weather might bring me down.  As it is, it's just annoying.  I hope the weather is nice for the race on May 1st.

I managed to spend a couple of solid hours on the Shining Bird's Eyes shawl yesterday and got a full four row repeat done and part way through the second.  Maybe I can do a few more hours this weekend.  I do want to get that finished up.  I can see that it would be useful in the springtime weather, should that ever show up that is.

There's not much on my plate for this coming weekend.  Tinkerbell needs a bath, we will have a couple of long long walks, and that's about it.  Gregg hasn't called and it's Easter weekend so I don't suppose we'll be getting together to sing.  I will be proactive next week and set something up for the 29th.  We only have four weeks to get something together.  It'll be easy for me to put a song together with McG because we have a duet we've done for years, but not so with Gregg.  We'll have to learn a few songs together or rather, I'll have to learn a few of his songs.

Looking forward to my run this lunchtime.  I have had two days off so I should be strong.  And fast.  I'm going to bring my super light Nike runners in to work with me next week.  Those are the shoes I want to race in, so I should practice in them at least a couple of times.

A disturbance in the sleep zone

I have been saying that since I've been on my own I've been sleeping extremely well.  Last night was the second night that I have had trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.  Both times I had this problem I had taken a cup of herbal tea before bed and that is the only common thread between those nights.  The teas are herbal and meant to be taken at bedtime so I am at a loss as to why or rather what is stimulating in those cups of tea!  Luckily I had planned on working from home today so I was able to sleep in until 8 and I feel fine but still, I'd like to know what caused that.

And speaking of feeling fine - my running has been going extremely well too.  Both runs on Monday and Tuesday were strong and, if I am to believe my NikeGPS app, faster than I have been going lately.  I took yesterday off from running because it was noon knitting and today I'm working from home and don't have a running bra.  I had purchased a new workout bra a couple weekends ago with hopes that I had found a substitute for the expensive running bras I have to buy.  Unfortunately that is not the case.  I can't run in that bra and it goes to show you get what you pay for.  I have ordered a second running bra to leave at home because my new workout disk has me running and I need it to be comfortable.  Also, on days when I can't run outside and want to run on the new treadmill I would need it as well.

Last night I worked on the sleeves of the Green Gable and watched the first episode of the new HBO show, "Game of Thrones".  It was gory.  And crude.  And I had a great deal of trouble following the relationships between the characters.  I'll give it another go, but first episode was kind of creepy and hard to watch.

My wireless connection at home is so zippy fast!  And with the southern exposure there is lots of light.  It's quiet and a nice place to work.  I'm not so busy though.  I am, in fact, getting quite antsy and it would be nice to be busier at work.  Maybe I am a bit bored with all this solitude.  I feel it has its purpose and while I'd like to be social I think it would serve me better to lay low for a couple more months.  What I need is a vacation to plan, to have something to look forward to.  November it WAY too far off to get any satisfaction from planning.  Since my cousins have been planning a family reunion June 25, I am going to take the following week off and as a bonus will get Monday July 4th.  My sister can't commit to anything right now although I know she wants to come for the reunion.  Her life is in such a flux at present, also she has a show to get ready for in early June.  This is all very frustrating for me and I don't know if I should just make plans on my own (not my first choice) or what.  Patience is not my strong suit these days, it seems.  I will try to give her another few weeks before I start pushing again.

How to turn a toilet into a tiara

My friend McG is a huge fan of British TV comedies and uses Netflix to search out programs and then I am badgered into watching them as well.  Not that I mind that much because I am also a fan of British comedy and I loved Saxondale, which I most likely would never have run across on my own.  The latest of the "finds" is a comedy from a few years ago called "Pulling."  The protagonist is a woman who breaks off her engagement with her boring fiance and moves into a flat with her two girlfriends to live the single life.  In the episode I watched last night one of the women said that staying drunk was how she got through being single - "That's how you turn a toilet into a tiara".  That is the best line I've heard so far in the five episodes I've watched.  Unlike McG, I don't like this sit-com near as much as Saxondale.  The writing isn't all that and, what I finally figured out, is that I don't much care for the characters.  That makes it pretty hard to watch.

I have a new workout disk for my Wii that is kicking my butt!  The Wii Fitness Plus is not a bad program but the exercises are not that difficult and the yoga is not so interesting to me.  I get a good aerobic workout with my four runs a week so it is the toning exercises that I am looking for and have found with my new EA Sports disk.  That is a hard workout and I am sore after only two days of it.  I know it sounds silly to be working out with a video game, but it seems to work and I just can't take any more time away from the dog, her being locked up 9 hours a day as it is.  This is a great compromise.

Speaking of being locked up .... she woke me up at midnight last night for the first time in weeks.  I really need to invest some time to teach her to use the Porch Potty so in those instances she must go in the middle of the night I can put her out on the balcony and she can go on her patch of fake grass.  Having a small yard is going to be one of the priorities when I get my new place.  Getting dressed in the middle of the night and strolling around the gardens is not my idea of a good time - well, not alone anyway.  It was nice and clear and the stars were out.  Cold though.  Still too cold.

Cold is on everyone's mind.  I spoke to my friend Steve yesterday afternoon.  Steve and his wife went to Italy not too long ago for a wine tasting tour.  Now he calls to tell me that they are off on two more trips in May!  At least they're not going back to Europe, but still ....  Anyway, he was saying that they had snow on the ground yesterday morning!  Good lord.  I sure hope we get a summer this year.

One third of the way

I have imposed a three month transition period for myself and yesterday marked the finish of month one.  My goals are simple - get back into shape and get my life back.  So far so good.  I am quite thrilled with my progress.  I have been faithful to my rather ambitious workout plans and I am seeing good results.  What I miss is the odd glass of wine or martini (or two).  It is just not conducive to weight loss and I'd rather suffer for a few weeks less, thank you very much.  I have a couple of built in splurge days, the first one coming up May 1st after my 5K.  Can I tell you .... I am quite looking forward to it.  I am very thankful that I am not having the sleep problems I had been having .  Now I'm just worn out from all the working out.  I haven't worked out this much in over 3 years.  I do feel pretty good and I'll feel that much better when I'm done.  Two more months to go!

I do wish the weather would warm up though.  It's still darned cold all the time.  We have yet to break 60 degrees and it's well past due.  I have noticed when I get home to my apartment that it is rather warm up there on cloudless days because of the southern facing windows.  I'm going to have to get myself a fan or two because I suspect it's going to be sweltering in the summer and there is no air conditioning.

I worked a bit on the sleeves for the Green Gable top and brought it with me to work today in case I can find a few minutes to work on it.  I have a long long list of new projects but I want to finish a few more of these old ones.  Tomorrow I'm going to bring the Cloisonne Jacket with me for noon knitting and start the facings. I can't seem to get it together to pick it up at home.

Sleeptime

I can't seem to wake up this morning.  I got a good night's sleep but if my chair reclined I'd be asleep now rather than writing.

I had a productive weekend and it went by rather quickly.  I got to bed at a decent hour on Friday night and so was up and going early Saturday.  Unfortunately it was pouring rain so Tink didn't get her morning extra long walk, but instead I decided to do my running around in hopes the skies would clear by afternoon.  First stop was a craft store to buy handles for my project bag that I was planning on felting that afternoon.  I did some research on Friday, called the store to find out of the carried leather tote handles and being told they did indeed and even had them in stock, I headed there as my first stop.  Once I got into the store I couldn't find them, so I asked a sales clerk and was told that all they had was hanging right there in the purse department.  Of course, no leather handles.  I even told the woman I had telephoned and was told they carried what I was looking for but .. uh, no.  So I made do with a pair of fabric ones.  Grrrr.  Still rainy outside I headed off for my manicure and pedicure, then the store.  By the time the groceries were put away the weather was fine enough for an hour walk.

When I got back I quickly finished up the bag and set it to felting.  It took two washers to get the desired effect.  First I washed it in hot water, low setting for one wash cycle and took it out before the rinse.  It wasn't felted nearly enough so I transferred the bag and two towels to a second washer and let it run the entire cycle and it was PERFECT!  I had purchased a bit of plastic webbing to put in the bottom for shaping and I dried it over the Wii  Sports Resort box, which was just the right size for the bottom.   On Sunday it was dry and I sewed the handles in.  I love it!  I should have taken pictures -- maybe for tomorrow.

While doing laundry I sorted through my WIPs, got organized to work on my Green Gable and that evening finally frogged the white angora modified Simple Bodice.  It's gorgeous yarn.  I'll find a good use for it.  And Saturday evening I was worn out!  I didn't stop moving until around 7, when I ate, watched a little TV and finally went to bed to watch a movie.  I had rented "I love you Phillip Morris" from iTunes but I just couldn't watch it!  Jim Carey and Ewen McGregor as two gay convicts.   Too real, too convincing and too cringe-worthy.

Having finished up all my chores and running around on Saturday,  Sunday was wide open.  Gregg had never called to rehearse on Saturday nor did I hear from him Sunday.  Also, I ended up sleeping very late again - 10 am!  I took Tink after breakfast for a two hour walk, which she loved.  And then after lunch I cleaned the apartment and read the paper and then it was 3 o'clock and .... for the first time since I've been on my own time was hanging a bit heavy on my hands.  I probably should have picked up the Shining Bird's Eyes Shawl and spent a couple hours on it but instead I had a little snooze with Tink. Ahhhh ... the afternoon nap.  Gotta love it.

It's quiet here at work.  Things won't really be picking up for me for another month.  That's fine.  I'm fine.  I call this my transition time and I'm doing great.  If ONLY I had a reclining office chair! 

Now I'm on a roll

I know this is a total cliche, but what is with these morons who carry on LOUD conversations on their phones on the bus?!??  I had my audio book going in my ear and I could still hear this oaf in the front of the bus conversing.  And conversing.  On and on and on and ON!!  He's lucky I wasn't sitting closer or I would have said something.  Heaven help the first person who does that sitting right next to me.  Unbelievable.

That was going home last night.  And it was raining.  When I got home I had to take Tink out, so I changed out of my skirt into a pair of pants and exchanged my umbrella for a hat and off we went.  It was coming down in buckets!  And cold?  Whoo .. felt like winter all over again.  We got soaked through, but an hour later the sky was nearly clear.  And that's springtime in Seattle for you.

Rather than work on the tedious facings for the Cloisonne Jacket I knit some more on the project bag.  I would like to felt it this weekend.  I have only about 20 more rows to go, so it is a possibility.  When I'm running around tomorrow I think I'll head to Jo-Ann's and see about getting some handles for it.  I'm supposed to be rehearsing with Gregg tomorrow as well.  I should give him a call tonight.

Today is tax return day and I have to sign my return.  My soon-to-be-ex is bringing the papers here today at 11.  This will be the first time I've seen or spoken to him since I left four weeks ago.  It already feels like a lifetime ago.  Well ... I'm happy now at any rate.  And it's only going to get better.  I just have to spend a few minutes with him and then that should be it.  I might never have to see him again, if I'm lucky.

Happy Friday!

Ah Ha!!

Mystery solved.  When my alarm went off this morning I reached my hand over to the clock, but instead of pushing the snooze button I turned it off!  I caught myself, obviously.  Maybe that's what I did yesterday morning.

I kind of feel like I'm getting behind on my rants.  I haven't had a good one in a while.  Of course, I'm happy now but .... well, things still do piss me off.  Of course they do.  Here's one that has gotten more and more annoying the longer I take public transportation.  (Mind you, it has not even been a full month yet that I've been riding the bus so it's bound to get worse). What really has started bothering me is getting on a bus and finding that person who is sitting alone on the seat, but leaves the window seat open!  It's not always the angry young men, either.  I saw an elderly woman doing it yesterday!  From now on I'm going to go for their empty seat.  hah!

I did finish up the collar on the jacket yesterday evening.  The little facings are now all that's left.  I might get to them this evening.  I would really like to get this thing done and off the list.

Arghghg!  One of my lights is going out and it's flickering.  Driving me crazy!  Must get this fixed ASAP.

No wonder I felt so refreshed!

I woke up this morning on my own, before the alarm went off.  And I felt terrific!  Completely refreshed.  I was surprised, until I picked up my iPhone and saw that it was exactly one our later than when the alarm is supposed to go off.  No wonder I felt so good!  My alarm is an iPhone docking alarm clock and the knobs for the volume and station selection are round like on the old iPod.  I must have turned the volume completely off when I put my headphones on it.  Ah well .... I managed to get in only 30 minutes late.  That's not so bad.  And I do feel good!

Last  night after dinner I sat down to pick up the stitches for the collar of the Cloisonne Jacket.  I got them picked up and knit about 1 1/2 inches.  I should be able to finish the collar between noon knitting and this evening.  Then it's the bands and that's it!  Woohoo!  Still haven't frogged the angora sweater but I will. 

I have noticed in my walks around the garden at my apartment complex that there are a few lilac trees getting ready to leaf out and the buds are thick.  I will miss being able to stroll along and snatch some, like I did in my other neighborhood.  Still, small price to pay.

Success

I had a wonderful run yesterday!  Thirty minutes seems a snap after doing an hour lately.  I didn't push myself but had a nice, strong workout with gas left in the tank at the end.  It was a bit windy, but today looks like it's going to be better weather.  It might be rainy the rest of the week but I noticed, as I was taking Tinkerbell for her morning walk around the gardens, that the new cardio machines are installed in our fitness center.  So, if push comes to shove, I can always do 30 minutes on the treadmill after work.

I had a rather boring evening last night.  I could have picked up the stitches for the collar of the Cloisonne Jacket or frogged the angora sweater, but instead I watched a little TV and worked on the project bag.  Tink was wanting to play, then go out.  I finally called it around 9 and just went to bed to watch Netflix on my iPhone.  My knitting ladies and my friend McG have both been after me for a year or so to watch "Doc Martin" so I started that and watched until 10:30.  I can't be such a slug tonight though.  I must pick up the collar stitches because tomorrow is noon knitting.

I am quite looking forward to this weekend.  I am going to rehearse with Gregg on Saturday.  I have no idea what we're going to do, but it's a step in the right direction - out.

No more excuses!!

Friday I did not run at lunchtime.  My reason - my calf muscles were so sore I was hobbled.  But that is the end of excuses.  I don't care how sore my legs are of if it's raining or .. whatever.  I have to run Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for the next three weeks because I am going to run that 5K on May 1st.  I will, however, take my afternoon runs down to 30 minutes from the hour I was doing before, since I am getting plenty more exercise after work.  I don't want to over do it, I just want to be ready to go for another personal record.

I had a great weekend and I realized something on Saturday.  I have been really really depressed!  This is probably not news to those outside of my head, but I hadn't recognized how down I was.   I knew leaving that ridiculous marriage was the right thing to do, but I didn't truly understand how it had been affecting all aspects of my life.  I feel energized and happy and like there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done.  And nothing seems a chore ... well, except vacuuming and dusting. 

Saturday was chore day.  After walking Tinkerbell to the lake and back (1 1/2 hours) I headed to the salon for a facial, then to the mall for a few essentials and finally the grocery store.  There were a couple items of clothing that I was missing and figured they must be in a box of summer clothes, so my next chore was to sort through those clothes and hopefully locate the missing items.  I also rearranged the dresser drawers and then bang! it was time to walk Tink again and make dinner.  Since I had done all my chores and running around on Saturday, Sunday was left for relaxation and knitting.  But for some odd reason I woke at 8 am Sunday, rolled over and the next thing I knew it was 10!!  I so rarely sleep that late, unless I've been out late.  Took Tink again for a nice long walk - this one for two hours - and then after the newspaper sat down to put together the Cloisonne Jacket.  That took hours - sew up the sleeves, sew up the shoulders and then sew in the sleeves.  And it looks great!  I am very pleased.  Tonight or tomorrow night I will pick up the stitches for the collar, then knit the bands and sew them down.   I have also been working on a project bag to be felted - that's my mindless knitting these days.  I had meant to frog that white angora sweater.  Maybe when I finish up the bag.

And now here's Monday!  I have tons of work to do.  Here's hoping I have a good run this afternoon.

Hello Friday

I worked from home yesterday.  My IT guy got the wireless connection working and I am up and running at home.  It was raining in the morning but when it stopped - around 11:30 - I took my microwave back and got a new one that doesn't run itself.  I am so glad I kept that receipt!

I think my knitting funk is over.  This past week I have ordered yarn twice and I got one of the orders yesterday.  There is a little cardigan called Kaleidoscope that I have been wanting to knit for a while and I found some Kureyon sock yarn in a great colorway on sale at Jimmy Bean's Wool.  And then the new Knitty is out and I fell in love with Rondeur, so I bought some yarn for that as well! It will be a perfect summer top.  And I started a bag a couple nights ago.  So, no let's not do the math right now.  I know I need to decide what to do with my current WIPs and I think my previous plan is good.  I will frog the white one this weekend and get my other projects out and make sure I have the pattern instructions, etc.  Also I really really want to sew the pieces of the Cloisonne Jacket together.  Hopefully Sunday.

Yesterday evening I got my Wii hooked up to the broadband connection so now not only can I play games with other people but I can play Netflix on my TV.  So that only leaves getting the sound system to work with the TV and DVD player.  This shouldn't be a huge deal.  I just need to see how the Wii is hooked in and, using the cords that I brought with me, make it work.  This is also something I want to put on the agenda for the weekend, which is filling up fast!

Tomorrow I've got an appointment for a facial, then I need a manicure.  Gregg wants to get together to rehearse for the show at the Oxford but he thinks it is April 22 but I know we have another month.  It's not until May 22.  It's always on a Sunday and April 22 is a Friday.  I would like to postpone going to his place until next week when my weekend shouldn't be quite so full.

Now let's keep our fingers crossed for decent weather so I can get a run in at lunchtime!!!

My annual April complaint

I am sure I do this every year.  There's something about April in Seattle that is so very annoying!  Yesterday it was finally sunny in the morning and into the afternoon even.  Because of noon knitting I couldn't run but when I left work I had my sunglasses on and was looking forward to a nice long walk with Tink when I got home.  It was cold and during the ride home black clouds rolled in, so that by the time I got off the bus I no longer needed my sunglasses and it was starting to precipitate.  I got upstairs, changed into my hooded parka and by the time I got back downstairs with Tink it was sleeting.  Sleeting!  The sleet gave way to pounding rain and after 45 minutes my parka was soaked through and I was freezing!  It kept it up all night.  And now it's not even 40 degrees.  We may get some sun breaks today and tomorrow but it's a crap weekend we have to look forward to.

I found a race to sign up for yesterday.  It's the second annual Top Pot Doughnut 5K.  I ran the first one last year and I haven't run a race since!  It is on May 1st, so plenty of time to get in shape.  I mean, I could easily run a 5K now, but  my time wouldn't be good.  Last year I had a personal best and this year I hope to break it.

I had to buy a new microwave when I moved into my apartment since it doesn't have a built in one ... old building.  I didn't get a very expensive one because I am sure my new place, even though months and months down the road, will have a nice one.  I settled for a middle of the road model.  A few days after I bought it I noticed some odd burn spot on the space between the door hinge and the body of the oven.  I thought perhaps there had been a bit of plastic or something in there and didn't think much of it until a couple of nights ago when I had heated something in it and about 5 minutes after I had taken the food out the microwave started up on its own!!  I quickly put two and two together and figured out that the burn spot was most likely from the thing running on its own for long enough to melt itself!  I unplugged it immediately and it is going back today.  Luckily I kept the receipt.  What a disaster that could have been.

Now I've got to do some work.  Hopefully my IT guy can get my wireless connection on the "list" so I can download and upload some things.

Early meeting day

Once a month I have a meeting that starts at 8:30 am.  Usually it's way far away, 4 floors down and east.  Today it is moved to my floor, only steps away from my office.  Handy.  The only thing I don't like is that I have to power my way through the first cup of caffeine so I can take a cup with me to the meeting.  Otherwise I would nod off for sure.

It has really gotten cold again!  Not freezing, but right now it's only 36 degrees.  Yesterday at lunch it wasn't raining but it was blowing like crazy and it was just too cold to run.  It's supposed to get nicer as the week goes on, but this morning as well it's blowing and dark.   Not that it matters to me that much since I don't have any windows.

I had a notion to start a new project bag last night and so I did.  I will be looking forward to trying out the top loading washer for felting.  Although, come to think of it, these industrial machines don't have a way to interrupt the cycle and re-start it.  It will be an experiment.

Here come the birds

It was still dark this morning when I heard a bird.  Mind you, this apartment complex is rather near the freeway so the traffic noise is not insignificant.  However, birdsong just cuts right through it.  I had to shut the window so I could catch another hour or so sleep.  Sunday night, for some odd reason, I had a very restless night so I slept like a log last night but I still wasn't all that keen on getting up.  It's cold in the morning still and this week is colder than it has been recently. 

Today it is not raining - or I should say not raining yet.  It is supposed to rain, but I saw patches of blue on the way in this morning so I am hoping that I can get a run in this afternoon.  I'm also doing an hour of the Wii Fit when I get home and loving it!  There are so many different things to do that I can't imagine getting bored of it for a long long time.  If I run in the afternoon, that's a bonus.  I still haven't been able to find a run in May though.  There are a couple in April but they are 1/2 marathons or 15K.  Too long for me at this stage.  I know there are a few 5K in June anyway, if I can't find one in May.

I gathered up all  the pieces of the Tepotzlan and the book and put them aside and picked up the camisole I started when I was on "vacation" in January.  I put vacation in quotes because it was one of the worst weeks of my life and to add insult to injury, I'll be paying it off for months and months.  That wasn't supposed to be the case but ... well, let's just leave it at that.  Anyway, I need to search out the magazine with the pattern for the camisole.  Somehow in the move it got separated from the project itself.  I know I saw it when Monika was helping me put my books away.

Of the four WIPs I have right now, 3 of them are done in the round and all three are in the boring phase of knit knit knit around to get length.  I am considering finishing up this camisole, then finishing up the Green Gables I started way back when and frogging the Simple Knitted Bodice I started like ... what, maybe 2 years ago?  I was kind of winging it with the pattern and heaven knows where I am.  I don't even remember what size needle I was using.  I should just frog it and use that beautiful white angora blend for something else.  My fourth WIP is the Shining Birds Eye shawl.  Zen knitting, I call it.  I haven't given up.  It's going to be gorgeous when it's done.

April showers!

As much as I wanted to run on Friday, it was pouring down rain at lunchtime and I just couldn't do it.  Even though I had given someone much grief about running on a treadmill(sorry about that), I figured since the weather was so bad that it was better than nothing.   After I gave Tink and abbreviated walk, since it was raining even harder by then, I put on my workout clothes and headed down to the fitness center at the apartment complex.  Several frustrating minutes later I called the office and found out that the treadmill was broken (why wasn't there a sign?) and wouldn't be replaced until April 8.  Likewise for the bicycle.  Back I went upstairs and decided that was the time to check out the Wii Fitness Plus I had purchased.  Something was on my side because it worked a charm!  I had a fun workout and used it Saturday and Sunday as well.  It is so odd though, the Wii goes through the sound system but I can't figure out how to make the TV and DVD player go through the sound system.  Well, that's a puzzle for another day.

I worked a bit on the sleeves of the dreaded Tepotzlan and watched a silly movie and had a great sleep.  I woke up early Saturday and Tink and I headed out at 9 for a walk to Green Lake.  It's only a 1/2 hour walk from my apartment to the shore of the lake!  And it's a wonderful walk.  We passed another Westie in a fenced yard and the owner was sitting on the porch, so he let him out and he and Tink had a pleasant sniff.  When we got to the lake we walked around there for about half an hour and then headed home.  We managed to beat the rain - it started coming down just as we were approaching the apartment complex.  Bad news though, I lost my Kureyon fingerless mitts that matched my Coquille shawl!  I was getting warm and took them off and put them in my pocket.  I guess they fell out when we were running.  It's very annoying!  All my other fingerless mitts have open thumbs and it is still getting cold here in the evening.  Ah well....

Saturday afternoon I spent getting my wireless router set up.  It was not an easy job and I ended up having to call the help line.  I blame the directions, which were very unclear.  The woman at the help center got me on the right track and now I am wireless and can work from home.  My next chore will be to get the Wii hooked into the broadband.  I tried on Friday but couldn't get it to work.  Now that I have the wireless router plugged into the modem I am going to have to get a different adapter for the Wii.  Baby steps, but we're getting there.

Sunday I thought I would take Tinkerbell to the off leash dog park before I gave her a bath.  It's very muddy and she usually likes to get in there and get dirty.  I don't know if it was because we had such a long (2 hour) walk on Saturday or what, but she just wasn't interested at all in the dog park.  I had to hook her leash up to get her to even walk along with me.  I finally gave up and headed out for further errands.  I stopped by the pet store and bought an adapter for the spigot in the bathtub so I could wash her, quick stop for a pedicure, grocery shopping and back for the doggie bath.  Bad news though - the adapter didn't fit so I had to wash her in the bathtub by scooping water up and over her.  It worked but was not easy.  The up side to that is that in the morning when I'm having my shower she doesn't lay right on the mat, but instead runs from the bathroom when she hears the water running because she's afraid she's going to get another bath! 

The sleeves for the Tepotzlan were finished last night.  Don't hold your breath for a finished product though.  I am not in the mood for finishing.  I'll keep it out and in my view and maybe in a few weeks .....  Nor did I do the finishing on the Cloisonne.  The weekend just got away from me.

I got a late start today - I had a visit with the Endodontist, who gave me a clean bill of health.  In other words, I don't have to have another root canal on the other tooth.  Hooray!  Let's hope the week continues on in this vein.

From great to even greater

Yesterday started out great and got even better not long into the morning.  I got a phone call from a friend I haven't spoken to in over 3 years.  I recognized the voice immediately and we started talking as if we'd had a conversation only yesterday.   There aren't many people in our lives like that, are there?  Maybe it's because we have conversations in my imagination daily, or ... well, who knows.  It was fabulous to say hello in reality and just put the cherry on top of my day.  My week.  Dare I say month?  Well yes, because it was the last day of that month.  Now I've got a whole new month to look forward to.  Plenty of surprises (good ones) are around the corners, I just know it.

I very much wanted to run yesterday afternoon since I'd been off running since my tooth incident last Thursday.  Because I had foolishly left my flat shoes at home and walked the mile from the bus stop in high heels on Wednesday and then, even though I know better, I turned around and took Tink for another walk in the same high boots, my knees were aching and that's not good.  I took an hour walk instead and also took my running shoes home with me so I could take the boots off and walk home without hurting my knees again.  They feel fine today so unless it's pouring rain I'll go do my hour at lunchtime.  It's raining now but I'll keep my fingers crossed.

The drummer from my band contacted me yesterday.  He asked me if I wanted to sing with his new group.  Two requests in as many days.  That's nice because I really really need to find more things to do with my evenings.  I am saving the putting together of the Cloisonne Jacket for an afternoon this weekend and I looked at the sleeves I'm working on last night and they are boring and I just couldn't make myself pick them up!  I am going to watch a movie tonight so maybe I can put in an hour or two on them so I can finish the darned thing!  I need something fun to knit.

I've got big plans this weekend - lots of chores to do, cleaning, walking Tink at the lake and dog park, maybe a pedicure and a good solid afternoon working on the Cloisonne Jacket.  I also want to finally test drive the Wii.  I bought a Wii Fit system I want to try out.  It has Yoga and all sorts of fun balancing games like snow boarding plus some strength training stuff.  It would sure beat visiting the fitness center at my apartment complex.

Things are humming along

I had a great day yesterday!  I seem to be settling nicely in my new space and Tink even wanted to play ball last night, which says to me that she is acclimated to her new surroundings and happy.  My contacts finally arrived and now I am missing only one last piece of the puzzle - my wireless router.  As it is set up now, the only way for me to get on line with my laptop is to unplug the Wii and plug in my computer, which wouldn't be bother if the cord was longer but as it is now I have to lay on my stomach to work the computer.  And since it is a work computer I have all of my audio books and iTunes library on an external hard drive which is on my desk in my office, so I can't download any new audio books or things from iTunes.  I spoke to Comcast a couple of days ago and was told that they are a little behind in their orders.  I sure hope it gets here soon though.  I am jonesing for a new audio book!

I had a very positive meeting with my lawyer yesterday and am feeling quite confident in her and in the ultimate outcome.  I feel relaxed about it for the first time.  And I sleep like a baby!  Yay!  No more grinding of teeth, clenching of jaws and the only pain is when I yawn, and that should be gone in another day or so.

I got a wonderful email from my friend Gregg, the bass player for my band, who I have not heard a thing from since New Years.  He has been trying to get in touch with Doug, the leader, but Doug seems to have withdrawn.  However, Gregg asked me to sing 3 or 4 duets with him at a show in May!  I am thrilled!  This is just the thing I need right now.  I am going to have to start being social soon and this is just the type of thing that will start getting me out of my shell, and my apartment.  I'm going to talk to him some more about it today.  Double Yay!

At noon knitting I worked on my sleeves for the Tepotzlan.  I have about 7 or 8 more inches to go and then that monkey will be off my back.  I hope to carve out some time this weekend to put the Cloisonne Jacket together and start the finishing process.  It's not going to be quick, but it will be lovely.

My friend McG turned me on to a new show last night called 'Saxondale'.  I can get it on Netflix which I watch in bed on my iPhone, or I can watch on TV too, but it's just more cozy on my iPhone.  He wasn't familiar with Steve Coogan, who I have seen on several things.  Very funny guy.  I've only watched one episode, but I like it.  I might try an episode on my TV tonight.  Still haven't dared turn on the Wii.   It's about time.

Still no love for the bus

This is my second week commuting by bus and it is still as icky as ever.  The schedules are pretty good in that I don't have to wait long for a transfer and on the way home if the wait is too long I can just walk that last mile or so.  There are two things that I find most uncomfortable.  First is the combination of the seat height and the drivers.  I am short and my feet don't always reach the ground. The drivers are not smooth, or I should say I have not yet had a ride with a driver who was smooth.  So each stop and take off nearly throw me off my seat, not to mention the corners.  Of course, yes, I can hold on to the seat in front of me but that is not always convenient due to other people, the person in the seat and how they are sitting, etc.  And let me tell you, find a seat as soon as you get on because the driver stomps on the gas as soon as the doors are closed.  And the second thing that I find objectionable is the majority of the people.  Call me intolerant, I don't care.  I am just getting through this and looking forward to the day when I can move to a nice place on the trail, or close enough.

And speaking of that -- I have an appointment with my lawyer today.  Baby steps, but each day gets me closer to my goal.

My contacts still haven't come and I am wearing my very last pair today.  I did get my blocking mats and the potty patch yesterday.  Tinkerbell doesn't seem at all interested in the Potty Patch so I think it's going to take some getting used to.  Until I know she will use it I am going to have to keep leaving so I can get home between 4:30 and 5.  I leave the apartment at around 7:20 and 4:30 is 9 hours!  That is a long long time for a dog not to go potty, especially if she's used to being in and out at her whim.  I have high hopes for this system though.  People swear by it.

The blocking mats were a bit of a disappointment.  I guess I had just assumed one would get a dozen and when I pulled them out of the box there were only 9!  Not enough room to block the body of the Cloisonne Jacket and the sleeves as well.  I soaked the pieces and then rolled them in towels and stomped on them.  Boy do I ever miss my beautiful washer with the hand wash cycle!!  I pinned the bottom of the body out but I am going to have to wait until the sleeves are completely dry and then do the body again.  I don't like the schematic either.  It's not clear how wide to block the body.  I'll wing it.

Almost back to normal

Okay then .... what an ordeal.  But I feel pretty good this morning, thankfully.  My  mouth is a little sore but otherwise I seem to be in fine shape.  I slept well last night, most likely because I wasn't in so much pain.

Despite the impending dental appointment, I had a pretty good weekend.  I had a few things I really wanted to get accomplished.  I started off bright and early Saturday morning.  After Tink's walk (in the rain) we headed out to Tuesday Morning where I found a gorgeous comforter set and sheets to match, plus more towels.  I tried to have a manicure but they were too busy for me so I took a quick trip to the mall and then went home for an hour or so before my hair appointment.  I worked hard on the stains on the carpet in my bedroom and so far no luck.  One of them, I now realize, is a burn from someone ironing on the carpet.  The other looks like oil.  I will give it another try and then I guess I'm going to have to find a throw rug to put down because it is driving me crazy!

Sunday was my day for hanging picture and mirrors, etc.  I had friends coming over in the evening to help with the larger things but, after a quick trip to the store and a manicure, I managed to get most everything hung to my satisfaction.  It is looking more homey now that I have all my nice things up and out.  The only thing I have yet to try is my Wii.  My friend Monika is very good with electronics but neither she nor her husband could get the speaker system to work with the TV.  Supposedly it works with the Wii but I haven't had the courage to try it yet.  I will this week for sure.

I did just a little bit of knitting on Saturday night.  I am quite anxious to block the Cloisonne Jacket but am still waiting for the blocking pads, as I am still waiting for my contacts!  I ordered them right after I moved in and it's more than a week now and no sign of them.  I don't know how I missed ordering new ones when I opened the last boxes but I did.  Anyway my eyes are getting a nice break.

It's looking quite spring-like around here.  If only the temperature would rise a bit.

Oh what a day

My appointment this morning was a nightmare. More than two hours in the chair. I was a total wreck afterwards. My plans were to rest up and do chores in the afternoon. But instead I came home, turned the phone off and tried to recover. I am still so sore and it is nearly 10. I have to go to work in the morning so let us hope I get a good sleep.


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I love my friends!!

Thank you my awesome friends up North. But there is no such thing as "too much wine". Monday 10:15am is the appointment. Unlike Demi Moore, I will not be posting photos.


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Better living through chemistry

Bad news. They want me to take a few days of antibiotics and come back Monday. Thank goodness for drugs.


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Oh joy.

Emergency root canal. At least the pain will stop.


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It can't be that much to ask!

I just want to run a couple of loads of laundry!!  Yesterday after our walk I went to the laundry card machine and bought a card.  Grand, all set to go.  Up I go the apartment, gather all my washing supplies and head to the laundry room only to get there and find I had no key!  The facilities key doesn't work for the laundry room.  Who's smart idea was that?  I telephoned the office, supposedly open until 6 pm, to find out of they had a key for me but there was no answer, even though it was only 5:30.  I will stop by yet again tonight and get a key.  In fact I'll call ahead and make sure they have one waiting!  This is getting ridiculous.

One thing I love about living in an apartment - when I come home there is not a sink full of dirty dishes waiting for my magic touch to put them in the dishwasher.  One thing I do not like about living in an apartment - when Tinkerbell gets an upset stomach at three in the morning I need to get dressed, put a coat on and take her downstairs and walk her around.  It doesn't happen very often and at least it was mild, but it is a hassle nonetheless.

Last night I watched a DVD called 'RED'.  Pretty cute movie about retired CIA agents.  RED stands for Retired Extremely Dangerous.  Helen Mirren is awesome in it as a retired British wet work agent.  I couldn't get the sound to come through the speakers but I am pretty sure that's because I need that extra cord.  Nor could I get the speak system remote to work although the lights were coming on.  I am going to assume the batteries are low and get a couple more when I get the cord.   This weekend for sure I'll try the Wii.  I am just a little scared to do it and find it doesn't work because then what will I do?  I guess I could call my nephew.  He could probably figure it out.  I will not call Mr. M.  I don't want him to know where I live.

I have a list as long as my arm of things I need and want to get done this weekend.  Tops on the list is work on the stains on the carpet.  I had asked them to clean it a second time when I saw the apartment a few days before I moved in.  They said it was done but I am skeptical because the stains I had pointed out look the same.  One is a black stain in my bedroom that is driving me crazy!  I hope I can get it out.  Otherwise ... maybe I'll have to get another little rug.

I have not yet gotten to knitting in my new place.  It just doesn't feel right until I get my art hung, for some reason.  Perhaps I'm still figuring out my routine. I am just wallowing in all the quiet and trying to relax.  I think I'm still clenching my jaw at night because the right side of my mouth is so sensitive.  I make a point of relaxing before I sleep but I imagine I am still having some bad dreams.  Nothing that time won't cure.

Best laid plans

I had another great run yesterday at lunchtime, but it's rest today and I think that's probably a good thing since my knees are aching just a little bit.  Of course, the high high heels don't help that but one must suffer for beauty, right?  I had noticed on Monday that my apartment wasn't as far away from the bus transfer spot as I had originally thought.  Using my map on the iPhone I saw that it was only a mile to my apartment, so rather than wait for the bus and since it was a lovely afternoon I walked home yesterday.  This means that it is only 1.4 miles from my apartment to the shore of Green Lake!  That is an easy walk and something that Tink and I can do in less than half an hour on the weekend!  It'll be great.  I don't know why or how I got so confused about distance.  It still doesn't mean that I can bike to work.  Oh the distance isn't bad nor are the hills, but it is all on busy city streets and some of them quite narrow.  It's not safe.  And getting my bike in and out of the apartment and up and down the elevator -- a huge hassle.  I may do it now and again this summer but I am not going to be doing it regularly until I can get moved and into a place near the trail.

My big plans for doing laundry went out the window yesterday.  After I got home and walked Tinkerbell I went into the lobby of the apartment complex to purchase a laundry card.  This is all new to me. How it works is that you purchase a card from one machine and then use the second machine to add value to the card and then in the laundry room you insert it into the machine you want to use and it deducts the cost of the wash or dry.  Fine.  I put in my $20 bill and .... nothing.  Okay, maybe it doesn't like the bill.  I try a second and same thing.  Very frustrating and also the directions are in Spanish, which I don't read very well, so I didn't understand what was going on.  I got one of the managers to come help me (heavy sighs on her part as if I were a moron) and she took my bill, put it in and .... oh what is that?  Won't work for you either??  Supposedly the machine had been serviced and it no longer took any bill larger than a $5.  So no laundry for me and I'll give it another go tonight.

With my apartment all tidy, with the exception of my pictures and mirrors that need to be hung [and that mess is driving me crazy] all I had to do was ... well, nothing.  Slowly I am feeling more and more like I am coming back together.  Still not ready to start my strength training, but that's okay.  I had a nice comfy evening catching up on some shows I missed and just enjoying the quiet and calm.  Tink got another nice long walk before bed and I settled in for a nice long read.  Pretty soon I'm going to have to pick up my knitting or find some other things to do, but frankly I feel like I've been through a war and it is just so nice to just BE.  I'll get bored of it sooner rather than later but truly I am enjoying the feeling of becoming Shelley again, if that makes any sense.

I didn't even get the Cloisonne Jacket blocked.  I don't have any clean towels.  I bought a few new ones, not wanting to take anything but Tink's doggie towel from that house.  I need a couple of towels to pin the parts out on since I don't have an extra bed anymore.  Perhaps I should bite the bullet and order those blocking pads from KnitPicks.  I grabbed the sleeves of the Tepotzlan for noon knitting today.  Might as well wade right into that mess and get it done.

Thankfully the weather has been nice, sunny and not too cold.  It is very springlike here.  As I was walking Tink last night I passed a pond and I could hear the frogs croaking.  Nice.  It is supposed to get raining this weekend.

Good intentions

I have come up with a rather ambitious workout regimen along with diet modification to get rid of this winter weight as soon as possible.  Plus, since I am not riding my bike to work I need to make up for that.  My plan is that I run for an hour each weekday lunch except Wednesday (noon knitting cannot be missed) and then when I get home do 30 minutes or more of strength training.   I did have an awesome run yesterday but I was so tired when I got home that I could barely get Tink walked.  And I still had a few more things to get put away, which I did.   I worked so long and hard from last Wednesday on through Sunday that I think it's going to take me another few days before I will be caught up and ready to add the second component.  Especially if I don't quit having unpacking dreams!  I only woke up once last night and went right back to sleep, but I think that during the second half of the night I must have had the dream.  I kept finding more and more boxes that needed unpacking!  It was a nightmare.

I am so very grateful that my apartment is quiet.  The only bad thing I've found so far is that my front door is next to the hall door so whenever anyone on my floor goes out to do laundry or take the elevator the door slams and it's quite loud.  My bedroom is nice and quiet with the exception of the traffic noise from the freeway.  What I might do is try to mask it with white noise from a humidifier, because it is a little bothersome with the window open except in the middle of the night when there is no traffic.

After doing a final bit of tidying and stowing yesterday evening I quite simply relaxed, watched some TV, took Tinkerbell for a second longer pre-bed walk and then settled in with a book.  Unfortunately I don't know where I put the books I had on my bedside table -- I managed to find one, but not one I had already started.  I have 5 bookcases to go through so rather than do that I just started another. 

I keep forgetting to post this link.  A friend of mine sent this to me and it is just wonderful.  Steven Fry was given the Harvard Humanists Lifetime Achievement Award and this is his acceptance speech. 

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZxe_Y2ZOKQ&feature=related


Big plans tonight.  I am going to try out the laundry and, hopefully, soak and block the pieces of the Cloisonne Jacket. I miss that gorgeous washer and dryer I bought but oh well, small price to pay.  I'll get another soon enough and in the meantime I can make do with the sink for soaking and blocking.

Apartment house living

It was a long, hard weekend.  I  hate clutter and crave order so I had my work cut out for me.  Two days to get the apartment unpacked and comfortable.  Thank goodness a girlfriend came to help me unpack on Saturday.  All I could  manage Friday night was getting my bed made and finding my toothbrush.  I had thought I would be able to go get a shower curtain and a few other necessities after the movers left, but since they took 9 hours to complete the move I had to make do with a bath.  And when I say "make do" ... I didn't realize that the plug in the tub was slowly leaking water for a few minutes.  I couldn't get enough depth for a really satisfying bath, but it worked okay.   And I slept like a log.

It was sunny on Saturday and I woke up early and got moving.  First took Tinkerbell for a nice walk and then started trying to bring order to chaos.  A quick run to Target for a few essentials (shower curtain, etc.) and then started unpacking.  One last (I hope) disservice done to me by Mr. M -- I took a television, my surround sound receiver and two speakers and my Wii and I ordered cable service and had them set to come on Saturday to hook me up.   I don't know a thing about hooking up electronics and as he was trying to tell me what goes where I said, "Oh I'll just have the cable guy do it for me".  And Mr. M told me that they wouldn't do anything but plug in the cable box.  I thought that was BS because I have had them do adjustments for me in the past, but it was enough to make me nervous.  So I was worried about it.   I got all of the components together and all of the cords laid out neatly and sure enough, when he came in he hooked everything up as well as the Wii and showed me that I needed another cord to get the stereo speakers working for the television when it goes through the cable box but the Wii goes through the speakers.  What a sweetie.  I haven't yet tried out the Wii or gotten around to getting the cord, but I can watch TV.

After my friend left I went out for a few little groceries - I was beat.  I watched a little TV, took Tink down for one last potty run and I was out like a light around 10.  Sunday was a repeat - unpack unpack unpack but I am THAT close to having everything done and it's looking like a home.  I have a few more details to handle tonight and then next weekend my friend will come over again and help me hang my art.  Then it will be perfect.

I hate the smell of the place.  It must be a combination of fresh paint and carpet cleaner.  I love the incense from L'Occitaine but they have discontinued it, so I use it very rarely.  Last night I burned one stick trying to get that other smell out of there.  No dice.  It will take time.

I am a little worried about leaving Tink for so long.  I gave her a nice walk before I headed for the bus but still it was 7:10 when I put her in the apartment and even if I leave here a little early and get home around 5, that will be 10 hours for her without a potty break.  I did order a ... well, it's kind of like a cat box for dogs.  But it hasn't arrived yet.  And until it does I think I'm just going to have to leave early so she doesn't suffer or make a mess on the carpet.  Otherwise she's doing fine there.  She already knows her way around and she's good about getting her business done when I take her out.  It's not convenient for me, being on the top floor, but at least I don't have anyone thumping around over me and I only have one wall that is next to another apartment and it's my office, so I don't hear my neighbors.  That's important to me. It's going to be a long time before I get my money back from Mr. M so I had better be comfortable.

And I haven't touched my knitting.  That is going to be another few days.  I did finish the sleeves of the Cloisonne Jacket so next it blocking the sleeves and body, putting them together and then picking up stitches for the collar.  I probably won't get around to it until the weekend.

This is going to be a heck of a week in many ways.  I'd better get on with it.

Wow

I am SO glad this day is nearly over. The movers came at noon and left my new place at 9 pm! I am just now, at 10 o'clock, sitting down with a sandwich. I hadn't eaten all day. I severely under estimated the time it would take. I thought I would have time to do some shopping, put some things away. Nope. At least I have the rest of the weekend to get this place in shape.

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One more day

I ache from the tips of my toes to the top of my head. I have been working solid since 9 this morning. Thankfully a girlfriend came over and helped for a couple hours. I didn't even stop for lunch. But I am done now. Time for a martini!


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Want to feel pathetic?

I have the perfect way. Just spend a day packing and moving by yourself. Guaranteed to make you feel really really bad. Friday night should feel great.


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Talk about detective work!

A few lifetimes ago (and a few name changes ago) I belonged to AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Actors).  I was doing radio and TV commercials and one needs to belong to the union to do that.  Yesterday I got a piece of mail from them, addressed to me using my maiden name!  Incredible.  I last used that name when I was 27.  That just is amazing to me that they were able to track me down after 3 name changes.  It's easier now than it might have been 20 years ago, but still pretty amazing.

When I first started listening to audio books I had downloaded a Flashman book on the advice of a friend and I couldn't finish listening to it because I hated the narration so much.  I wish I had remembered his name because I downloaded a book last week and he's the narrator.  He's not nearly as annoying in this book as he was in the other, but still I really hate how he does the voices of women.  He just comes off sounding like a very gay man.  I am liking the story though so I will finish it.

I woke up at 4 this morning and wasn't able to get back to sleep so I am just dizzy this morning.  I'm taking the rest of the week off to pack and move, so I can sleep in a little bit tomorrow.  I'm going to need all my strength.

No place to go but up

The weekend was just as terrible as I had suspected it was going to be.  I had some news I had to deliver and although I had wanted to wait until Sunday to drop the bomb, I had to do it Saturday morning instead.  Tinkerbell and I are moving this Friday.  This news was received with much wailing and gnashing of teeth.  I felt like a weight had been lifted, but there is still a long week to get through.  And how do I feel?  I feel positive about getting my life back, hopeful that I might once again be happy and not dread getting up every morning or going home every night.  I'm a little scared but I'm sure that will go away soon enough.  I'm proud of myself for finally having the courage to take the steps necessary, and I feel angry that I made such a stupid stupid mistake in the first place.  In high school I had a band teacher that was the first person I heard say, "If you're going to make a mistake, make a big one!"  That has always translated to me as living fearlessly.  Not carelessly or thoughtlessly but .. perhaps with abandon.  If you're afraid to make mistakes you're not going to live a very full life, are you?  So this is me living. 

The apartment is a compromise that I didn't want to make, but it's going to be a while before the entire mess is untangled and I can purchase my own place so, because of budget limitations, I had to chose either proximity or space.  I want all of my things with me - my books and furniture and art., and of course my dog.  All of the apartments I saw near enough to bike to work were just too tiny.  But I found a nice large 2 bedroom apartment, not too far out but too far to bike.  So for the next year or so I will be a bus rider and just suck it up until I can move again.

And through all the commotion I did get a good bit of knitting done on the sleeves.  I am now doing the sleeve cap shaping.  Maybe I can finish it up this week.  It is going to be a challenging week, that is for sure.

Bacon

You know how sometimes when you wake up you are right in the middle of a dream and the last line or two says with you for a while?  I don't know what I was dreaming about but this is what I remember.

Guy 1:  "You better hope they don't get any fingerprints off that bacon"!
Guy 2: "Dude.  You can't get fingerprints off bacon".

What in the world was I dreaming about???  Yes yes, bacon, obviously.  But something else was going on there and I can't put it back together.

Yesterday was a colossal waste of time.  I thought I had an appointment at 10 am.  When that happens I will work from home rather than go in and then turn right around and leave again.  So I got up and did a little work, got ready for my appointment and remembered that it wasn't until 1:45.  Sooooo ... I could have gone into the office after all but oh well.  Then at noon my appointment is canceled.  Mind you, if *I* want to cancel an appointment he needs 48 hours in advance.  I guess it doesn't work both ways.  I suppose it would have been a bigger waste if time if I had driven in to work and left and then come back.  It could have been worse.  But it was rather annoying.   I did get some work done but ... well, truth be told I'm a bit scattered of late so it doesn't make much difference now, does it?  The good news is that by this time next week things should be a million times better.  No, make that a billion times better.  I just have to get through the weekend.

There was no running yesterday either, although I did manage to get Tink walked in between rain storms.  It has finally stopped raining and blowing.  I should be able to get a really good run in this afternoon.

The sleeves of the Cloisonne Jacket are zooming right along.  I am on the decreases then will come the long, boring main part of the sleeve.  This is going to be a very pretty jacket.

That particular system works

I did buy the Adele 21 album on iTunes yesterday and it was directly because I had heard the song on the radio that morning.  I don't like to think I'm that easy, that suggestible.  I guess I shouldn't be broadcasting that type of information.

I got half of the lace portion of the sleeves done last night before I put the knitting down to finish making dinner and watch a little TV.  At noon today I may be able to finish the lace.  I have a meeting downtown at 1:30 so I won't be able to knit for the entire hour.  I should be starting with the main color tonight.  Depending on a number things -- I am not sure how my weekend is going to end up -- I may have lots of time for knitting or none at all.  I would just like to get this thing finished while it's still cool enough to wear.  Well, it is a jacket so I suppose I will be able to wear it in the spring.

I've been thinking about Doug and my band lately.  I know he was involved in getting his son and kids settled in his house but that has been more than two months.  I should give him a call this weekend and see what's up.  All that time we spent rehearsing and doing one gig -- doesn't seem a very effective use of time, does it?

No running today and I think that's fine.  Yesterday my foot started hurting about 45 minutes in so I walked most of the last 15 minutes.  For the second day in a row I have beaten my previous 5K speed and I think that's good.  I don't want to injure myself so even though I wanted to run the whole hour yesterday .....  I am pretty sore today as well.  I like that, although it makes it difficult to walk downstairs.

I need to dig up my diplomatic hat this morning.  I have a tough meeting coming up.  I am not very good at diplomacy.  Not very good at all.

Ahead of schedule

I was sure I was going to have a rough time of it yesterday when I went out for my run.  On the contrary, I had a super awesome hour!  And while I'm still not quite up to speed I did go over 4 miles in that hour.  My average pace was just over an 11 minute mile.  When I race the best I've done is around 10 1/2 minute miles.  This spring/summer I would really like to get it down to 10 minute miles.  But for training and every day purposes, I am quite happy with 11 minute miles.  Of course, as I said, that was just the average because I did walk a couple of times.  Today I'm going to try to run the entire hour with no walk breaks.  It is misty outside and I always run better in the rain for some reason.  Unless it's pouring.  I won't be able to run tomorrow due to meetings and such, but I should be able to do it again on Thursday.

And I was on a roll yesterday.  I got home and sat down to finish up the body of the Cloisonne Jacket.  I did that AND cast on for the sleeves.  Unfortunately I didn't read the directions all the way through and ended up having to re-cast on one sleeve.  So they are cast on and ready to go.  Tonight I'll get at least a portion of the lace done.  I've decided to do them flat.  Hope I don't regret it.

Adele has a new album out and on the radio this morning they played the Cure song that she covers, 'Lovesong'.  It's beautiful.  I haven't purchased an album on iTunes for a long while but I think I'll buy this one.

Maybe next year

It doesn't look like I'm going to be ready for the St. Paddy's Day Dash.  I was very sore on Friday and it didn't get any better as the morning wore on.  I went out at lunchtime for an hour but mostly walked.  I feel perfectly fine today and plan on running for an hour but I won't be ready for the race.  That's okay.  I'd rather be injury free and run in some race in April.  There's bound to be one.

It was a busy weekend, as I had anticipated.  Tink was at the groomer for most all of the afternoon on Saturday so I took care of chores and knit.  I have finished up both sides of the jacket and am now on the back.  I have about 10 rows of plain knitting left at the back, then shoulder and neck shaping for a few rows.  If I put my mind to it I could probably finish it up tonight, or tomorrow at the very least.  I want to plan on casting on for the sleeves on Wednesday and get this albatross off from around my neck!

Speaking of albatrosses ...the current audio book I am listening to is painful at times.  The only reason I am keeping on with it is that there is a secondary plot line that is interesting and historical.  Otherwise it is a not very thinly disguised Christian tract.  If I were reading the book I could easily skip the preaching.  However, it is a lot more difficult when listening on an iPhone.  I can go back in 30 second increments but to advance forward you have to scrub.  I don't want to miss the good parts of the story so I endure.  I think there's only about an hour left.  I shall do my best to avoid this in the future.

The birds were quite noisy this morning.  It's is going to be milder at night this week and maybe, just maybe I will be able to ride my bike.  I should check the tire pressure tonight.

What shall we call it? Accident prone or clumsy?

My head aches this morning.  I suspect it is directly related to hitting it on the deck.  Last night Tink needed to go out.  He tummy was upset.  Earlier in the day it had hailed like crazy, then rained and at 2 am it was very cold.  I let her out for 10 minutes or so and then stepped out onto the deck to get her to come in.  The deck was very slippery and I was sleepy so I didn't even notice.  As soon as I took a step both feet came out from under me and I landed first on my bottom and then fell back and hit my head.  I must have braced myself with my right arm because my shoulder was sore this morning.  I don't have a bump on my head but as the morning wears on my back and neck are getting sore.  I feel like an idiot.  An achy idiot.

After working yesterday I did a few more rows on the Cloisonne Jacket.  I think maybe one more inch and I'll be starting the sides and underarm decreases.  I am excited to start on the sleeves.  I shall do them two at a time.  I haven't decided yet if I'll do them in the round or flat.  I am inclined to do them in the round, of course.

I would like to run this lunchtime.  I know I've been saying that all week and I mean it.  I think even if my back is sore I will at least walk, unless it's precipitating.

Big plans for this weekend.  Big goals, anyway. 

Cloisonne Jacket color work finished!

It has taken months and months and months to complete these forty rows.  Of course I only did one or two rows a week because I knew it would languish at home.  That way I had a chore to do every Wednesday afternoon.  I am very very happy with how it turned out and I am sure now this will be completed very soon.  I pinned it out so the pattern shows.  It is very difficult to see the pattern when you're working on it.  This picture really does it justice.  The colors show perfectly on my monitor.  By the time it is finished it will be too warm to wear I imagine, but I will certainly wear it as soon as I can.  And as for color work -- I love the way it looks but I will never ever ever EVER do it flat again.  Ever.

I had an appointment this morning and now I'm working the rest of the day from home.  And it's time for lunch.

Sticky songs

While I was away this last weekend I went into a shop that had some horrible background music and one of the songs stuck in my head.  It was that Kenny Loggins song "House at Pooh Corner".  TERRIBLE song.  And yet it kept playing and playing.  I managed to banish it on Sunday, finally.  But now I have a Shawn Colvin song, "Monopoly" is what it's called.  It's a beautiful song, but oh so sad.  I wish there was a  product like TuneUp to clean all the sad songs off my iPod. 

I tried to run yesterday but it was raining too hard and I just turned around and came back.  I can't run today because of noon knitting so no matter what, I must run tomorrow or I will surely go mad.  Not to mention I need the exercise.  I don't like how I  look these days.

And no knitting again last night.  I don't know what's gotten into me!  I am going to take my Cloisonne Jacket home with me tonight.  I only have about 3 more rows of color work to do, then it's smooth sailing and maybe that will get me out of my slump.  It's not just boring stockinette.  There will be shaping and the lace to do on the sleeves. 

Early meeting this morning.  Time for one more cup of tea.

Coming in like a lion

After having that little bit of fake spring a few weeks ago, we are now back to our regular terrible weather.  The snow is gone but the clouds, wind, rain and low temperatures are going to be here for a while.  I can't even remember the last time I rode my bike in to work.  It has been weeks.  I just refuse to bike in this nasty stormy weather.  It's just too far for that.  I also skipped running yesterday but I must go today so let's keep our fingers crossed for mere sprinkles rather than the downpour of this morning.

I finished my second Kate Atkinson audio book while driving home Sunday.  Titled "Case Histories", it is the first of 3 books she has written with the same protagonist.  The first one I listened to was the 3rd in the series and I enjoyed it so that's why I got the first one.  It was good but I kept noticing that the author used more than a few odd ... conventions I guess is what you could call them.  For example in both books there was a dog and she chose to name it Poppy in both books.  Different dog.  Different owners.  Why would she use the same name?  Also, in both books there was a character enamored of etymology.  Again, not the same character.  Well there were lots of things like that.  I am tempted to get the 2nd book to have a listen and see if she's done it in all three.

The one I am listening to now may be a bust.  The jury is still out but I can say for sure that the narrator hasn't grabbed me yet and the story ... it could be a little trite.  I can't remember why I chose the book.  I suppose because the description caught my interest.   I'll give it a bit more of a listen when I run this afternoon.

My knitting slump continues.  I watched a stupid movie in bed last night rather than sit up and knit or do something else constructive.  Maybe it's just me in the slump.