Success

Friday was a pretty nerve wracking day.  Thursday night I had wrestled the dog crate out from under a pile of other rather heavy crates in the storage closet.  You have to have your pet in a crate when using a Zipcar.  The rest of the evening I relaxed and did some good knitting on the Indian Feathers shawl/scarf.   Then we were up at the normal time to get Tink to the vet by 8 o'clock.  The Zipcar is just a few blocks away so I incorporated our walk to getting to the car.  It's no problem getting Tink into the crate since she was crate trained and it still retains some of her puppy smell as well as some of Chloe's, her doggie buddy at the time.

After I dropped her off I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone and stop by the grocery store to do a little shopping and pick up my prescription.  Ah ... but the pharmacy doesn't open until 9 and I had to get the car back, so that was put off for later in the day.  It is a nice walk to the store so I don't mind, especially when the weather is as lovely as it has been - and will be the rest of the week.  Imagine my surprise when the vet called before noon to say she was ready to come home!  The surgery was quick and Tink came right out of her anesthesia.  But my Zipcar reservation wasn't until 3:30 and someone else had the car until then.  There is another car  in a lot another block further, but that too was reserved.  Two Zipcars for the entire area!  It's ridiculous!  There isn't another Zipcar lot for almost two miles in one direction and infinity in the other.  It seems very odd to me, since part of the deal about living where I do is that you don't need a car and are in fact encouraged to give them up.  I think I will suggest that we need more Zipcars.

She was quite perky when I picked her up finally, but fell asleep almost right away once we got home.  Here she is on my knee.  The vet suggested I get a cone for her and so I bought a soft one but she would NOT have anything to do with it.  I had it on her here after giving her a pain pill and putting cream on her stitches.  But this did not last.  Luckily she doesn't fuss with the eye except right after I put the antiseptic cream on the area so I have just been keeping an eye on her and leaving it off.  She is healing amazingly well and was chasing the ball on Saturday.  She was still a little off on Saturday but by Sunday was quite back to her old self.  Her eye looks perfect.  I am very pleased with how it went.


The weather was glorious all weekend.  Some little running around on Saturday, lunch outside at Duke's at Greenlake.  And Sunday lunch with friends and the finalizing of plans for a trip to Troncones, Mexico in January -- yes, 8 months away.  Ginny is a planner and I don't mind at all having something fun to look forward to.  A vacation in the sun in January will be just what the doctor ordered.  You know me.  I always need something to look forward to - long ways away and short term.  Short term is my long weekend at Ocean Shores in three weeks.  I'm not crazy about Ocean Shores per se, but Tinkerbell loves the beach and it's a weekend away.  Fingers crossed for good weather on the first weekend of summer.

I ended up finishing the 12th row of lace on the scarf and, coincidentally, the second ball of yarn. Since I am using a different yarn and needles than called for in the pattern I believe it's going to be huge.  But that's fine.  And I have several ball of this Shibu in other colors that will coordinate so it'll be fantastic, I'm sure.  The Indian Feathers pattern calls for either nupps or beads, but I am doing neither.  I am going to bead the fringe and I thought nupps would be overkill -- besides being a bit fiddle-y.  Hopefully I can get a few more rows done tonight.

One long boring day

That's what's ahead of me.  Silver lining - I can listen to all the silly sports talk I want.  But I am going to be proctoring an exam today - two actually since the exam is being given in the computer lab and we have to split the class into two.  So - all day from 8:30 with a half hour break in the middle.  It is going to be a long day.  Let's look on the bright side.  Maybe I'll catch someone cheating and it'll all be worth it.

I finished casting on the 411 stitches for my latest project and got 1 1/2 rows into the project.  The good news is that it gets smaller each row for a while and when I get to the stockinette it'll be about half what it is now.  I stayed up way too late knitting, then fooled with the iPad for a while.  I was sleeping well, since the weather isn't great and the ambient noise is like winter quiet.  However, Tink HAD to go out at 4 am.  At least I got right back to sleep. 

Tomorrow is Tink's eye surgery.  I have the ZipCar reservations for morning and afternoon.  Tonight I have to dig out the travel kennel.  It must be done but I am not looking forward to it.

Now off I go to the library.  zzzzzzzzz

Crazy traffic snarl

Two accidents on I-5 caused closures on the freeway putting all the traffic on the side streets which in turn made my normal 25 minute commute into over an hour.  I almost ran out of iPhone battery because I was listening to my sports podcasts (must remember to download a new book tonight) and playing games and texting and doing email ...... just ran that battery into the ground!  I usually have a charged up secondary battery in my purse but I haven't re-charged it since the last little trip.  I will do that for sure tonight.  My iPad is only wireless so if I run out of phone battery I am dead in the water when it comes to communicating.

It was so slow along Roosevelt that I would have jumped ship and walked the rest of the way to work, but I am not wearing walking shoes and so I sat there, listening to the talk about the college football quarterback who got suspended for academic misconduct.  What an idiot.

I had a good evening last night.   A little laundry and sushi for dinner.  I did start casting on for the new silk scarf/shawl but I realized after 100 stitches (out of 411) that I hadn't unwound enough yarn so I had to take it out and start over.  I got 50 in and called it a night.  I have been wanting to start watching the new Netflix episodes of Arrested Development.  I watched the first one.  It was very funny.  I am glad that they released all 16 episodes at the same time.  That way one can go through them as quickly as desired.

I really wanted to run yesterday but it wasn't meant to be.  It doesn't hurt to have a few more days off after the back thingie.  I can't do it today - noon knitting.  Nor can I do it tomorrow - proctoring final exam.  I am not likely to do it Friday because I'm working from home, although I could nip down to the workout room at lunchtime and do it then.  We'll see how I feel. 

I've got Mariah with me for noon knitting.  Tonight for sure I'll get the rest of those stitches cast on and maybe even a row or two knit.  It's just 27 rows of lace pattern, then short rows in stockinette for the rest of the scarf.  It'll go quickly.

One day it's fine and the next .... not

That's the way it seems to go with my hair.  One day it's fine and the next it's WAY too long.  I wish I had booked a haircut for my last appointment but I didn't and now I have to wait until the third week of June!  I should have blown it dry last night but I was just simply not in the mood, especially since it's been raining and I knew I would be running today.  So I can spend 20 or 30 minutes drying my hair and then go outside for one run and it looks like I've been electrocuted.  Maybe I won't be so lazy tonight - but I'm not going to count on it.

I finished the socks finally.  I got the toes Kitchener stitched last evening.  I wanted to cast on for my next project but I put it off.  It means casting on over 400 stitches and I wasn't in the mood for that either.  Tonight I can hopefully do it.  I am going to use the Ella Rae Shibu I have stashed and the Indian Feathers pattern to make a summer scarf/wrap.   I'm going to modify it by adding fringe with beads onto the points of the "feathers".  I will do nups rather than beads on the lace feather portion since I plan on adding beads to the fringe. I think both places would be overkill. 

I did have a pretty nice and lazy weekend.  The weather wasn't very nice though.  Saturday was the best, weather wise, and I got to spend some time with some girlfriends looking at condos and then having lunch.  But Sunday and Monday both were cloudy and rainy.  Tink got some good walks and I got some good down time.  And Sunday afternoon I saw the new Star Trek movie at the IMAX 3-D theatre.  Oh it was fantastic and Benedict Cumberbatch was perfect as the villain.  The Regal also has the digital 3-D in a couple of theatres so next time I go I'm going to try that.  Supposedly it's a better 3-D experience.  I don't know how that could be.

I know it's only May -- late may -- but I have friends who rent vacation villas in Mexico and they have already made their reservations for late January 2014.  This is basically 8 months in the future, mind you.  I would love to go.  I do really enjoy Hawaii but I've never been to this part of Mexico and the villas on the 4 mile stretch of beach look fabulous.  They all have gorgeous swimming pools and they are also right on the beach.  The pictures they sent while on their last vacation there a few months ago looked just like Hawaii.  But I hear the food and entertainment is much less expensive.  So -- that's something to look forward to.  Something WAY down the line.

The medical students are having their finals this week and I'm slated to proctor two different groups on Thursday.  Otherwise I'm planning on a fairly quiet, short week with Tink's surgery on Friday.  I'd better book my ZipCar and start digging out the travel kennel for her.  That's not going to be fun.

Ooooo! My back!

Sleeping on a too soft bed makes my back tweak-y and the bed I had during the "blues" festival was too soft.  I was on the edge but had managed to keep a full blown tweak away until Wednesday night.  It was a double whammy but I didn't feel it right away.  I have been trying to figure out how to make myself a good knitting spot and I did figure it out.  It's not as comfy as my big purple comfy chair and ottoman but what can I do?  I just simply do not have the space for a comfy chair now.  So I moved the storage table from the right side of the couch and put it under the console table, then ... and here's where my first mistake happened .. moved the lamp back so that I could put a small wooden table next to the couch.  I picked up that big lamp and I simply did not lift it as I should.  Still I was okay.  The coup de gras came as I was playing with Tink.  She was doing her crazy running around .. in that small space ... and I was lunging this way and that and I twisted juuuuust right.   Zing!  So I was flat yesterday, letting my vibrating heating pad do its magic.  I brought it in to work with me today.  I know we're going to be shorthanded because it is the start of a long weekend.  When I get sore after sitting for a while I can plug that in and hopefully keep from getting completely tweaked again.

How long have I been in this apartment?  I moved in December 15, so that's 5 1/2 months.  Last night I finally got my Wii hooked up with the internet.  I kept thinking it was going to be a long frustrating process.  Silly girl.  It was dead simple!  And now I have Netflix on the TV and also I can play Mario Cart online!  Ah the simple pleasures.  And Sunday the Arrested Development episodes will be available.  I watched the trailer and it's going to be hilarious.

At noon knitting I got into the toe decreases and I think tonight I can finish up those socks finally.  And then I believe I'll take the Ella Rae Shibu I have been hoarding for all these years and make a lovely summer scarf/shawl something or other.  I do want to make a blanket but absolutely this is not the time of year to  start that.  A silk shawl on the other hand ... perfect.  Now to find the exact right pattern.  I want tassels but I can put tassels on anything so it doesn't have to come with tassels as the pattern is written.  I want something that has plenty of TV knitting potential.  Something like the Annis - a crescent shaped one with some nice lace pattern and then plenty of easy stockinette.  I'll look today.  Hooray for Ravelry.

I have no big plans for the long weekend.  I don't want to have big plans.  I would like to relax.  I'd like to get sick of relaxing.  It feels like I've been running and running for the last few weekends.  The weather is not supposed to be so good.  Perfect for reading and knitting and laying around.  Count me in!

One Hundred and Eighty Degrees

After such glorious weather earlier this month is it very strange to be walking into the building and notice that I can see my breath!  It could be worse, of course.  It could be raining and it's not.  But it's not far behind.  Ah well ... that's the way it goes in Seattle, isn't it? 

I had a busy day yesterday but I did finally make an appointment for Tink to have the surgery to remove the small growth on her lower eyelid.  I made the appointment for next Thursday the 30th but after some thought last night, I believe I'll try to move it to Friday the 31st.  I have to proctor two exams on that Thursday besides getting her dropped off in the morning.  If I had a car it wouldn't be a problem, but my car-less options are less than ideal on a busy day.  Taking the bus is not a good option because it would be right in the middle of rush hour both getting her there and taking her home.  ZipCar would be an okay option if I didn't have to rush right to work.  There are two drawbacks to the ZipCar solution.  First is that I can only have her in the car if she's in a carrier, which currently it in my storage room, under a stack of boxes and full of my bike clothes and accessories.  Perhaps not the best place for it, but needs must.  The second drawback to the ZipCar solution is that it would be very expensive to rent one for the entire work day.  I could take a taxi both ways in that case and still save money.  Therefore if I were doing this on a normal day I could get the ZipCar from near my place, take her to the vet, take it back to my place and then work from home until I pick her up.  I'm going to try to arrange that.  It just seems a lot more logical. 

On my way home from the weekend I stopped at the grocery store and one of the things I bought was some flowers.  It was a stupid move.  Even though I examined them carefully for freshness it turns out I was not that observant.  I love the little spray roses -- the barely pink ones.  They looked good for a few hours and now this morning they are gone.  I should know better than to buy flowers so close to Mother's Day.  I seem to be making quite a few stupid mistakes these days.

I finished my audiobook  -  Life After Life.  I really enjoyed that book.  It had an interesting twist on the idea of reincarnation in that it was built around the premise that we don't live different lives, but rather keeping living the same life over and over until we get it right.  I like that idea.  I can think of a few mistakes I most likely would not make the second .... or maybe third .... time around. 

For noon knitting today I brought the socks.  If I can get those decreases started I'm much more likely to pick them up at home.  Plus I really need to figure out how I can make my current sitting situation more comfortable for knitting.  I think my problem could be fixed with a well placed table at my elbow.  As it is now, I have no easy and comfortable place to put a beverage.  I do have a combination storage basket/table but it is wicker and the top is not exactly flat, even with a coaster.  So I'm always afraid whatever it is I'm drinking is going to fall on the floor.  Well ... more thought is needed.

When is a blues festival not a blues festival?

Answer:  When there is no blues being played.    Okay - slight exaggeration.  I do believe there may have been three blues bands at the festival.  And it was pointed out to me that the exact name of the festival is the Rhythm and Blues Festival which does leave it open to interpretation.  Let's just say then that it was mostly rhythm.  Not great.  I was expecting something entirely different.  It is water under the bridge and I did get to get out of town for a few days, which is always nice.  The company was pleasant, the food good, and drink plentiful.  The weather was best yesterday, the day we left.  It was decent on Sunday but Friday and Saturday there were periods when it was raining and windy.  You can't expect great weather in the springtime.

I brought my socks to knit on and had plenty of time, but it is the start of the toe decreases and I was afraid that if I started I would mess it up so I will start them tonight.  I would dearly love to get those socks off my needles.  I shall keep plugging away at Mariah during noon knitting, but I need a simple, TV knitting project to start when the socks are done.  Hopefully I can come up with something other than another pair of socks!!

It is a short week since I took Monday as a vacation day.  Then it's Memorial Day weekend so next week will be short as well.  It's very quiet around here again.  Time for the students to study up for their finals.

It was difficult getting out of bed this morning.  It's raining here and dark.  It is supposed to be like this all week.  Ah well, we did have some awesome weather earlier.

Bad decisions

I am no stranger to bad decisions.  I have, after all, been married three times.  But what I did last night ..... I was tidying up and gathered together a bag of recyclable things to take to the trash room.  On each floor of our building is a room with two chutes - one for trash and one for recycle.  And here's what I did -- I went out into the hall and into the trash room without shoes.  It's always so very clean in my building that I didn't think anything of it.  That is until I felt the sharp pain on the bottom of my left foot.  Immediately, instinctively,  I brushed that foot across the top of my right to rid myself of whatever I had stepped on.  I thought perhaps a small piece of gravel.  I headed right back to my apartment and into the bathroom to wash the foot and realized I had stepped on something much sharper - most likely a piece of broken glass.  Well, it serves me right!  What kind of stupid person goes to the trash room barefooted??!!  I washed the wounds, put on a generous amount of Neosporin and bandaged them.  Good news is that I am not hobbled this morning, so that's a bit of luck considering I'm heading out of town tomorrow.  What an idiot though. 

It's time for another bus driver rant.  The driver of my afternoon bus is the target today.  He is always early, and I don't mean a minute.  Always at least five minutes.  But I've gotten used to this and I am waiting when he arrives, only to drive two more stops and sit by the side of the road to catch up to his schedule.  Plus  he drives like a maniac, so no wonder he's early.  Anyway, the bus that is ahead of him picks up a disabled woman and that takes some time.  Typically he sits behind the stop and waits for that bus to finish loading up and then drive to the stop.  He is, as I said, always early so he's not trying to catch up to his schedule.  Yesterday he drove around the bus, didn't even hesitate and drove off!  Oooooo!  I was SO mad!  I would have to wait another 30 minutes for the next one so off I went to catch up at his waiting spot so I could give him a piece of my mind.  Ah!  Perhaps I gave him the piece that would have stopped me from going to the trash room without shoes.  He said he had looked and not seen anyone.  Which is ridiculous.  That stop had at least 20 people standing there.  How could he have known who was for him?  I need a vacation.  Oh.  Good luck then, because I'm out of here early today and that's when vacation starts.

I worked on the flasks again last night.  What a tedious business.  Next time I get a bright idea like that I'm going to ignore it.  It's very difficult to get the initials and things centered and even.  Yes, I use a guide but still.  Knitting is as crafty as I get.  Yay!  Noon knitting today.  That's a nice way to start a vacation.  I brought the socks rather than the Mariah because I don't think I have the patience today for anything but easy knitting.

The extended forecast shows good weather for the blues festival.  Let's hope the music is good as well as the weather.

Fabulous Lady Day

I had a busy busy weekend, the highlight of which was my visit to the Derby Salon for a lovely facial and a salt glow.  Oh .... it was SO nice!  The facial was more like a face massage with a foot and leg massage thrown in.  And then the salt glow .....  I was so relaxed by the time I was done there.  Plus soft all over. 

Tink had an early appointment at her own spa for a much needed grooming, so I was up super early to get her there by 7:30.  It's always so nice to be able to see her face again. 

The rest of the day and evening was taken up with a party and thankfully the weather was still fine.  It turned much more seasonable Sunday evening and yesterday it was raining and blowing very hard.  It's not so bad today though.

I must stop planning vacations that start in the middle of the week.  It is incredibly difficult to be productive when I am thinking of what I'm going to be doing later in the week.  I had a dentist appointment yesterday morning, so the day went by fairly quickly.  Today I will take a long walk at lunchtime to the Apple store for a new pair of ear buds and tomorrow I will have noon knitting and then be off around 2.  But I have a feeling this is going to be a long long LONG day!

All this beautiful beautiful weather!

Oh how very lucky we are with this gorgeous spring weather!  I can't get enough, nor can anyone else it seems.  The square at Thornton Place is full all the time.  I was working from home yesterday and I swear the fountain had children squealing and playing in it all day.  I'm not complaining.  There are much worse and more annoying sounds out there.

We managed a couple of walks yesterday in the sunshine and I had to trek to the pharmacy.  And in the evening I went to watch a 55 and over soccer game.  It started rather late - I suppose because the geezers get last pick at the pitch times.  They were quite a spry bunch but there wasn't all that much scoring going on.  Tink was happy to get lots of attention and in the end spent the last 30 minutes on my lap.  It was WAY past her bedtime.

If I don't get any knitting done tonight - and I would really like to start the toe decreases on those socks - then I won't get any done until next Wednesday noon knitting.  I have a massive weekend ahead of me.  Thursday morning it's off to the blues festival for four days so I suspect the first of next week is going to be a bit of a drag.  But I've lots to do today, so I'd better get on with it.

A picture at last

Today is noon knitting and I've brought my Mariah sleeves in to work on.  I have started the increases, which means they are now a few rows longer than six inches.

The yarn is lovely and squishy.  It's Debbie Bliss Fez, which is a merino/camel blend.  I just love it.  I really do need to figure out how to cable without the needle and I think if I do that it'll go a bit faster.  I have the cables on the far ends memorized but the Celtic knot section in the center of the sleeve is a bit trickier.  Once the sleeves are done and put on holders, the rest of the project will go much faster since it's just stockinette with the little cable on the ribbing portion and around the raglan.  It's not really warm weather knitting, is it? 

The day yesterday started out like it is today - a little chilly and cloudy.  By 11 it was sunny and gorgeous and I had another run, this time even better!  I am sore though.  I felt just fine yesterday morning but as the day wore on my muscles got more sore.  I had a good stretch before my run but still in the afternoon I was hobbled.  No matter.  I've got the day off today and tomorrow I'll be set and ready for an even better time.  I'll need to start looking around for a race to sign up for soon.

Because of this heat -- we were actually as warm as Phoenix on Monday -- the lilacs are blooming and fading right away.  The best I have been able to do this year was take a sniff on my way to my appointment last Friday.  I am afraid I will not have another chance this year.  I will have to make a more concerted effort next year to get some blooms in my house!

I'm supposed to be going to a 9 am meeting but even though I sent an email yesterday afternoon, I've yet to receive an agenda.  Perhaps I'll make a phone call.

Record breaking weather

This morning we have some low clouds, but we are still expected to see 80 degrees today!  The weather has been just spectacular.  I decided to take last Friday off as a vacation day and I'm so glad I did.  I just knew I wouldn't be able to concentrate with all the sunshine and nice weather plus I really wanted some uninterrupted knitting time.  My friend Peggy showed me how to fix my backwards stitches on the Mariah and I was ready to get some real work done on it.

Tink and I had a nice sleep in and then a walk.  I had a 10:30 appointment 2 miles away and walked it rather than get a ZipCar or fiddle with the bus, which didn't go straight there anyway.  I was back home before noon and Tink got yet another walk, then I was off to the mall.  I wasn't planning on it but I dropped in to the Nordstrom Rack just to poke around and came out with two pairs of pants and two summer tops.  My original errand was a pair of footless tights and that's what I went for next but Macy's didn't have any except white and black and neon ... NEON .... pink or orange.  Pass.  I really wanted navy but ended up with a nice grey from Nordstrom's.

I grabbed a sandwich and then I couldn't put it off any longer - it was time to do some cleaning.  And oh, I did.  I cleaned that apartment from top to bottom.  One of the nicer things about living in 660 square feet is that it's easy and quick to clean.  And finally, when it was all cleaned up I sat down and did some knitting on the Mariah.  I also did some more later in the weekend.  I should have taken a picture ... well, I will for sure tomorrow.  I have started the sleeve increases and I am starting to know the symbols for the cables so hopefully I can start doing them without the cable needle.  I will start with the simple 2x2 on the edge of the super intricate sleeve cable.  Once I get that technique down I'll move on to the other ones.

I purposefully wanted to have a lower key weekend, especially since this one coming up is going to be super jam packed and then Thursday it's off to the blues festival.  It was perfect weather for riding around in a convertible.  Something that we get much too little of here in Seattle.  Tink was going to get groomed but when I got to the groomers it seems they had written our date down for the following - this coming - Saturday.  Which couldn't be worse but they were already very frazzled so we'll make do.  I had to give her a wash in the meantime though.  Oh she was SO dirty!

Yesterday I went straight to the doctor for my annual exam, although I've seen him so much in these last 6 weeks it seemed pretty silly.  But he did want to check my chest again and we got two thumbs up.  So I ran yesterday for the first time in 7 weeks!!!  It felt so good and I made my entire 30 minutes with only a couple of short walking intervals.  The worse thing that happened is that the zipper on the leg near the ankle rubbed a little blister on my ankle above my heel.  I'm not even sore today!  I can't wait to get back to it this lunchtime.

A cat or a dog??

I haven't owned a cat as an adult, but my sister has and when I visit I notice that the cat runs around and plays in the middle of the night.  Dogs don't do that.  Well, not usually.  For some reason Tink was doing it last night though and it woke me up!  It was a little scary at first because I couldn't figure out what the noises were.  I thought it might be the blinds hitting the window, but it wasn't windy out.  And then I heard a familiar sound, that of her chewy hitting the kitchen floor.  Silly dog.  It's not like she didn't get any walks either.  She had a really long one in the late afternoon and then went with me to dinner - dining al fresco now that the weather is nice.  If a restaurant has a rail, rather than a wall, around their outdoor dining area I can take her.  And she's very well behaved.

I'm getting a little fed up with Facebook.  I don't spend a lot of time on there.  Mostly I do a quick scan in the morning to see what pictures my friends in Europe have put up or to see what my cousins are up to.  It's my high school friends that make me craziest.  I guess I should put friends in quote - "friends", because the majority of those people were not my friends in school and they're not my friends now.  I try not to get sucked into their super conservative christian BS, but sometimes they are just SO stupid that I can't help myself.  From time to time I un-friend people who continually post saccharine crap ten times daily, or the "Click 'like' if you have the most wonderful (brother/sister/cousin/daughter/blah blah blah)".  Can you tell I am fed up??   I guess it's time to delete a few more people.

At noon knitting yesterday I did some very good work on the Mariah.  I'm now at the spot where I am going to have to get a third counter to do the sleeve increases.  I did find another mistake where I have purled when I should have knit.  Peggy is going to help me fix it again and this time I'm going to pay special close attention so that I can do it myself next time.  It's not rocket science, after all.

Today at lunch I'm going to walk up to Trader Joe's.  I bit the bullet and wore footless tights and sandals and it wasn't so bad.  It's warmer and warmer in the morning and this weekend it's going to be HOT.  It's opening day of boating season and the big rowing race.  Last year it was pouring rain and cold.  What a change this year! 

Curly or straight?

My hair is naturally curly and for the longest time I wore it that way.  And then a year or so ago, I started blowing it straight and that's how I wear it now.  Except once in a while, like last week when I was still so sick and too tired to blow it dry, I let it go natural.  The problem I have with that is that my hair looks dry and dull, especially the next day.  So when I was at the salon on Saturday I asked my stylist about what I could do to make my curly hair look better and healthier.  I am thinking about the blues festival coming in in May.  I just know that it's not going to be on my list of priorities to dry my hair straight, especially since it's likely to be humid and/or hotter than here and I expect I'll be drinking and dancing a lot, which is not conducive to keeping a straight hair-do looking good.  My hair curls at the slightest hint of moisture, so often times when I run and it's warm my hair poofs out.  Same when I'm dancing a lot.  She suggested a product and gave me a sample, which I tried last night.  I must say that my hair is shinier than it typically is when I go natural, and I also sprayed it with something other than scrunch spray, and that gave it a little more curl and it's not so dry.  Of course, I can always keep it in a pony tail, but that's not such a good look, especially if it's sunny and I'm wearing a hat.  Options.  Now I've got options.

Speaking of options -- it's May (hurrah!) and we are, thankfully, getting the gorgeous Seattle spring weather.  This morning the sky is blue and by the end of the week we're going to be very warm.  But for now, the mornings are still quite chilly.  Oh how I wanted to wear sandals today.  But it was only 39 degrees!  So I had to go with boots.  Hopefully one morning soon I can go with sandals.

Noon knitting and I brought my Mariah.  I did work on the socks last night while watching the return of Warehouse 13.  I was somewhat disappointed with the episode.  Maybe because they're running out of artifacts or something.  It just seems a little too .... too much.  Maybe I'm just getting tired of the premise?  I'll give it another few episodes before I write it off.  I have enjoyed it since it started, so maybe they're just having a slow start this year.

And before I go:

Hurrah Hurrah
The First of May
It's Outdoor Intercourse Day!

Better and better

So here it is, the last day of April and I still have the cold symptoms.  BUT ... but I am definitely getting better and that is a wonderful thing.  It's been six week since I've been able to run.  Six weeks since I got that original chest cold.   I predict that I will be 100% back to normal by the weekend.  And oh, it is supposed to be a glorious and hot weekend!  It rained last night, but it is blue sky and puffy clouds this morning.  Pretty spring weather.  Yesterday for my lunchtime walk I had to go to the store and that's not such a pretty route.  Today I'll go to upper campus and walk in the gardens.

Sleep was my number one priority last night, but before bed I got lots done.  I ran the dishes and did a big load of laundry and Tinkie got her two walks.  I had soup to heat up so I didn't have to cook.  I almost reached for my socks -- I am getting very near to the toe decreases -- but I was interrupted by the phone and then I decided to read in bed and that's what I did.  I dropped off super early, but I really needed the sleep.  I feel great this morning.

Another thing I was planning on doing last night was downloading another audio book.  But I've gotten so hooked on the sports talk pod casts (!) that I don't miss the books.  That is until I've listened to all the episodes in a day and then I've got either music or nothing.  That's when I miss the books.  So tonight I'll do that for sure.  Kate Atkinson has a new one.  I read (heard) all of her other books - a detective series set in Scotland - and I loved them.  This one has a little sci-fi bent to it and sounds pretty interesting.

Noon knitting tomorrow and I think I'll bring my Mariah in and get back into that.  I just can't seem to carve out the hours or silence and solitude I need for that at home.  I should get a little more proactive about that or I'll never finish it.  Actually ... once the sleeves are done it's going to be TV knitting, more or less.  So I'll keep that at the front of my brain and perhaps I can get a few rows every day or so.

Lilacs

I really noticed them this weekend, and riding in to work this morning.  There is a downside to my new apartment that I hadn't considered when I first moved in.  I no longer have the neighborhoods to wander through when the lilacs are in bloom.  For so many years I've always had places I could walk and if not snag some to bring home, at least get a few deep breaths.  Not so now.  And I don't currently have any friends or acquaintances with them either.  That scent really says spring to me.

As usual these days, I had a jam packed weekend.  I managed to get a decent sleep Friday but Tink was up way too early Saturday morning for my liking.  She needed to go out so of course we went, then I tried to get back to sleep but that wasn't happening.  The mall doesn't open until 10 on Saturday and I had a few things I needed to pick up, and also have my manicure touched up, so I did a little tidying and took Tink for another little walk and then headed over to the mall around 9:30.  I was under the mistaken impression that DSW opened at 9, but it's only the Bed, Bath and Beyond that opens early.  I didn't have to wait long though because I had stopped at the Starbucks for a nice coffe and an 8 grain roll -- which I love because it's full of raisins.  Mission accomplished and I had a few minutes to grab a sandwich at home before it was off to Derby to get my hair done.  And while I was there I booked myself a fabulous lady day for the Saturday before I take off for the blues festival.  I had gotten an email with May specials and noticed they have a salt scrub for $65, which is a bargain and I have been wanting one for so long.  I just decided to splurge - the salt scrub AND an hour facial.  Oh my, I can hardly wait for May 11th!!

My final item for Saturday was going to be practicing driving a truck.  On Sunday I was going to go with my friend when he picked up a new car.  But I haven't driven anything that large since my sister had the big SUV when she had her art gallery.  So we're talking probably 10 years.  I wanted to practice, but that went out the window because an impromptu meeting was set up at a restaurant for us five to talk about what we're bringing to the condo for the blues festival.  We met at a Mexican restaurant and the food was just out of this world.  Not to mention the drinks which were .... wow ... very strong.  The truck driving had to wait.

So Sunday morning before the mall opened I drove that truck around the parking lot before I dared to venture out onto the streets.  Actually it wasn't difficult at all.  Mostly I was distracted by the big mirror on the driver side, which seemed to block a lot of my view.  I got a little scared on the freeway but otherwise it was (mostly) smooth sailing.  I did have a bit of a problem backing out of the parking lot at the car dealership.  It was a tight spot and I was backing and turning right towards a row of brand new cars.  It's nice to know that if I ever had to, I could drive a truck.

Add in a few chores and whoosh -- there went the weekend.  I managed to get a few more rows done on the socks.  I sure miss my comfy purple chair.  That was the perfect knitting spot.  But oh well - no room for it now.  I have a spot on the couch that isn't bad.  It isn't perfect and I think if I could just come up with a way to make it a bit more comfortable perhaps I could do a bit more knitting.  Anyway just an inch or so more and I can get the toe decreases started.

It's a little cloudy today but by the end of the week we're supposed to have some great weather.  Maybe even as soon as Wednesday.  My cold is still hanging in there.  I am getting better but oh so slowly.  I don't think I'll be able to run this week either.  But I can walk and I'm going to have a nice long one at lunchtime, since I managed to forget a couple of key things at the grocery store this weekend.  Let's hope the rain is through for the day by then because I forgot my umbrella!

Silence

Wow ... it is SO quiet here at work.  So many people are on vacation and/or out sick.   Seriously, I can't hear another human right now.  Well, it is early, but still.  It's kind of eerie.

I'm very happy it's Friday.  I made it through an entire day at work yesterday and it wasn't all that bad.  The sun was shining and I got out for a little walk in the sun at lunchtime.  It's just so crazy -- I haven't been able to run since March 15!!  I was hoping to start back up this week but we know what happened to that idea.  Now if I have a good weekend and this cold finally goes away then I can start next week.  Slowly, but at least I can suit up and walk and run to get my wind back.  I bought new running pants when I was in Oregon a couple weeks ago and I can't wait to get them on.  My other ones were getting so ratty.  These are nice Nike ones with a clever zipper pocket at the small of the back for my iPhone.  That'll be so nice to have the headphones behind me and the cord out of the way.

I was quite tired when I got home last night and I had a perfect relaxing geek evening planned.  After walking Tink and doing a few chores I turned the NFL draft on.  It wasn't a very exciting one, but surprising.  And even though our team doesn't have any first round picks, it's fun nevertheless.  At least for an hour or so.  I knew I needed to get some good sleep (for a change) so I went to bed early and read and then actually had a pretty decent night.  I didn't wake up coughing, which is a bonus these days.

I still haven't booked Tink's eye surgery.  She has a benign growth on her lower eyelid and I need to have it removed because it is irritating her eye.  I was going to book it right away but then I realized that I'm going to be putting her into a kennel in three weeks when I go to that blues festival, so I must talk to the surgeon to find out how much time I need to consider for her recovery.  It's probably better that I put it off until I return.

We've had such gorgeous sunny weather while I've been sick this week and it looks like we have to say goodbye for the weekend.  That's okay.  There's plenty of spring and summer to come!

Round two

The weekend started out so well.  Friday night I had a girlfriend over for dinner and it was a 3 hour gab fest.  A perfect girlie evening.  And the next day was my knitting brunch.  Everyone brought something delicious to eat and a project or 2 (or 3) to either rip out or finish.  I finally finally finally got the facings knit for my Cloisonne Jacket!  yay!  Now I need to sew them and re-block the sweater.  Yes, I did block the pieces before I sewed it together, but it's been sitting in my basket for two or more years so it needs another go 'round in the wash and re-blocking.  Everybody had a nice time though and I want to do it again soon.

So I woke up Sunday with a terrible head cold.  I couldn't believe it!  AND a sore throat to boot!  I had been coughing a bit more since I had finished one of my medications but ignored it.  I couldn't ignore this.  Headache and body ache all over again!  So first thing Monday I called my doctor and they fit me right in.  He says it's another entirely different virus.  Oh yay me.  This one has given me a sinus infection so it's back on antibiotics.  It's Thursday and I'm back to work but seriously, I'd rather be in bed. 

On a positive note, the weather has been extremely gorgeous.  Not that I've been able to take advantage of it.  I did have to walk Tink every day so at least I got to be out in it for a while.  Mostly I slept Monday and all of Tuesday.  Yesterday I worked from home.  I can almost do everything on my iPad but not quite.  But since my apartment is so compact, it's easy enough to sit up to the desk and get a little work done.  Not much walking needed.

And so -- with my head all stuffed up here I sit, trying not to cough all over my nice clean computer screen.  I wish I had a futon so I could curl up under my desk for a little nap. 

Love/Hate relationship

Generally speaking, I'd say my car-less life is going quite well.  But every once in a while .... like yesterday morning ... it can be frustrating.  I have an app on my iPhone called "One Bus Away" and it is supposed to let you know if your bus is running on time. Yesterday the app was showing that the bus I was taking to my 9 am appointment in Ballard was running quite late.  So I called them, saying I am running late and should we re-schedule, perhaps when I have reserved a ZipCar.  The woman said to just come along whenever I could.  And as soon as I terminated the call here came the bus, on time!  It was nice I got there in time, but I could have done without the fire drill.

My latest infatuation with podcasts is eating up my iPhone battery at quite an alarming clip, however it is fine since I can just plug the phone into my computer here at work and oh I do so love listening to football talk when I'm doing tedious tasks.  I found a couple more yesterday - Rich Eisen and Dan Patrick both have their own podcasts.  I don't spend the evenings in front of the TV watching ESPN or the NFL Network, so this is perfect.

We are now into the spring rainy weather -- April showers.  I haven't run all week since I'm still coughing and I'm supposed to be running indoors anyway.  But I have had a few nice walks, besides my normal doggie walks.  Today I'll go up to the grocery store at lunchtime so I can get the ingredients for my brunch dish for Saturday.  Plus I'm having a girlfriend over for dinner so I need to get something for that as well.  I still don't know what I'll make.  I am hoping for inspiration at the store.

At noon knitting Wednesday I got a good hour in on the socks and last night another hour.  I need to measure because I should be getting pretty close to starting the toe decreases.  I am looking forward to finishing up the Cloisonne Jacket tomorrow.  I dragged the big bag of sweaters home last night and actually during the day I was wearing the Trellis Shawl since it was pretty cold here in the office.  Maybe I won't frog that one after all. I always get compliments on it.

Oh I am SO glad it's Friday.  If only it were Friday afternoon and not 8:30 am!!!

Sunglasses in the morning

Oh hooray!  It's finally light enough in the morning to wear sunglasses.  Now I can stare with impunity at all the weirdos on the bus. 

Yesterday was a little better.  Not so much vacation hang over and I have a big project that keeps me busy.  It's a little tedious at this point while I'm making pages and links, so I can indulge myself and listen to some podcasts.  I have found sports podcasts and now I can listen to football talk whenever I want to.  It's spring practice time for the universities so there is much chatter about that -- some interesting and some nonsense.   There are podcasts about sports in general and some about football only.  When it's closer to the season then I suppose I'll only listen to the football ones.  The thing is, there are only so many hours in the day and I also listen to audiobooks on the bus.  But this way, when the current audiobook is done I can listen to sports rather than Pandora or my iTunes.  Sometimes music makes me too nostalgic.  Or too yearn-y.  Is that a word?  You know what I mean.

After my chores and Tink walking I actually picked up my knitting and I knit on those socks!  I must say it felt pretty good to get my needles back in my hands.  I just can't knit when I'm sick, and I've been sick for nearly a month!  Now I've got to start back running.  On my mini-vacation I bought some new running tights.  My doctor doesn't want me running outside this week and I still don't really feel up to it inside OR outside.  I'll give myself the rest of this week if I need it, but  next Monday whether I feel like it or not, I'm going to get out there and at least pretend.  It's going to take a few times to get back into it.  I'm sure my legs will be fine but I'll have to work on my wind.

Noon knitting today, but poor Peggy is still out sick.  It sounds like she's got something like I had, although hers went to her ears.  Ouch.  At least she was smarter than I and went to the doctor WAY sooner.  Hopefully she'll be able to join us Saturday.  

Tax day

I am the type of person who gets her taxes finished and filed as soon as possible.  But this year it was a little different -- well, the past few years have been different because I've had to file with someone, but that was a blip.  Anyway, because of a few tricky things I didn't feel comfortable doing them myself, so I went to have them done.   But because I was sick for so long I kept postponing it.  Then when I finally got all my papers to the tax accountant I was missing a document and I had to wait for someone to get back from vacation to get it to me.  And finally I got all of the documents to my guy and then I left on vacation.  So I had an appointment yesterday after work to get it filed.  Talk about last minute.  But it was done and I was home by six.  With the exception of one load of laundry, I did nothing last night and it was lovely.  Tonight for sure I'm going to get going on those socks.  I want them done done done!

While I was gone last week there were more than a few outstanding meals to go along with all the gorgeous wine.  One of the unfortunate side effects of a few days of decadent dining is nightmares.  I mean waking up screaming nightmares.  It happened to me two times on this trip.  I can't remember what the dreams are about even, but they're scary enough to cause me to scream myself awake.  Not fun at all.  I slept very well last night though.  I didn't even wake up coughing.  I think that's the third night in a row that I have not coughed myself awake.  Well it's only been a month.  It's pretty mild out so I had not only the window but the big slider open last night and I did wake up when a huge delivery truck pulled up in the courtyard to deliver something at 3:30 am.  But I went right back to sleep, so that's okay.

I am so looking forward to Saturday.  I'm having my knitting buddies over for brunch and finishing or ripping out.  Those things are much easier done in company.  Maybe I can even finish up my Cloisonne Jacket.  That will be my goal.  I have plenty of things to undo and recycle the yarn as well.  I will remember to bring my big bag of big sweaters back home with me and maybe I can get one or two of them undone.  All the yarn is delicious and gorgeous.  I just don't wear big sweaters any more.

Work was tough yesterday.  It always is after a vacation, even a short one.  Hopefully I can buckle down and get a few more things done today.  I wasn't a complete bump on a log yesterday.  I worked but my heart wasn't in it.  I have a walk to the post office planned today.  Perhaps I can be running by the end of the week.  My doctor did not want me running outside this week.  I can use the gym at home after work but it is very difficult to get myself into the exercise state of mind after work.  I like doing it either before work or at lunchtime. 

There is such a thing as too much wine!

My little 5 day mini-vacation was absolutely perfect!  The drive down to the Willamette Valley on Wednesday morning was relatively quick.  All of the rush hour traffic was missed, but it was absolutely pouring rain, which made for a few dicey moments.  But once down there it was perfect weather.  Oh sure, there were a few clouds here and there, but plenty of blue skies and it was just gorgeous. 

McMinnville is a cute little, old town.  And the Mcmennamin Hotel Oregon is a very old building that has been updated somewhat.  I had reserved the best room which was one of the two rooms in the hotel with bathrooms en suite!  I hear that the shared bathrooms are nice and clean but ... ick.  I have to say that the food there is SO bad and the beer that they serve is their own and it too is pretty much the worst beer I have ever had.  I ended up drinking Coors light because that was the only other beer you could get.  Our of sheer laziness being in the sun and all relaxed I dared order a personal pizza and it was truly inedible.  I should have listened to all the locals.  They do know what they're talking about.

The majority of wine tasting was done on Thursday, with just two stops on the way into town on Wednesday.   Friday before heading out to the coast there were three I wanted to visit, but my palate was completely fried so after the first one I threw in the towel. 

The second part of the mini-vacation was out on the coast in Lincoln City.  The hotel room was HUGE - a suite with a full kitchen and two bathrooms and a queen sized Murphy bed in the living room.  It was much colder at the ocean but so nice to watch the sea.

Friday night there was a fun blues band at the Roadhouse 101 and Saturday was spent cruising the outlet mall.  That's pretty much all you've got in Lincoln City if you're not into the gambling, which I'm not really.  My friend Scott and his girlfriend came to spend the night Saturday and we had a ball.  That woman -- she's a talker.   But it was so wonderful to see Scott again after who knows how many years.

I brought knitting with me but only got so far as to put it on my lap for the ride home.  I didn't even open it up!  And I was just WAY too exhausted last night to do anything.  I was gong to make dinner but instead ate some cheese with a lovely Pinot Noir from Lange.  I was surprised when the wine was unpacked that there were only six bottles!  I thought for sure I bought more than that.  But they're all great bottles and each one will have a prime place at a meal or, like last night, a quiet evening with some nice cheese and that's just fine.

It was great to have Tinkerbell back at the end of the bed.  She is always so worn out after I pick her up for a stay at the Doggie Resort.  They bathed her and then she rolled in the mud so they had to give her a second bath!  She was still a little damp when I picked her up.  But very happy to see me.

Five more weeks until the next mini-vacation.  Better get my nose to the screen.

Short week

I just have to make it through lunchtime and then I'm gone!  On vacation!  Woohoo!  I have to see my doctor so he can check on my progress, and I got the last appointment I could get, so I'll be here until a little before two, then off to see the doctor, then to get my taxes done.  I didn't pack last night because it's only five days and I can do that in a few minutes.

Two weekends ago we got a lovely couple of days with lots of sunshine and warm weather.  I was really hoping for that this coming week, but it doesn't look like we'll get it.  But on the other hand it is going to be mild and it's not supposed to rain too much.  It'll be fine.  It's always great to be at the shore, no matter what the weather.  And driving around in the hills in the Willamette Valley wine country is also gorgeous no matter when.

At Thornton Place there are still four or five empty storefronts and there are a couple of businesses I can think of that would make the environment all that much closer to perfect.  One of them is a pub and there is the perfect spot on the south west end of the complex.  A great spot with a place for tables outside even.  As I was walking by a couple of weeks ago I looked in to see chalk markings on the floor.  At closer inspection you could see things written -- Darts, Bar, Table ..... ah ha!  I checked with the office and sure enough, we're getting our pub!!  The owners of The Fiddler's Inn and the Latona Pub, both favorite spots of mine, are opening this spot in June!  Perfect!  I'll be able to take Tink and sit outside to have a beer.  There will be someplace closer than the Ram to watch games.  Now all we need is a little grocery and a dry cleaners and we'd be set.

I will be taking the socks with me for knitting and riding, although I don't imagine I'm going to get a lot of knitting done.  Drinking wine?  Oh yeah, there will be plenty of that.  Fingers crossed for some sunshine!

Well enough to rant

It has been a long, long haul but today I feel pretty darned good!  I didn't wake up coughing one time last night!  That's the first night in weeks that I haven't had to get up to take cough medicine.  I am still coughing, but very little and I am rested and in very good spirits today.  Finally.  I am feeling SO good that I am ready for a rant - I have left over energy.  Nice.

So here's the deal -- about a month ago my friend Monika asked me if I wanted to go to the Vogue Knitting Live event with her.  Just the marketplace - neither one of us wanted to take any classes.  I was all for it, so we got on the web site and purchased our marketplace tickets for $15 by the deadline.  Supposedly the cost of the tickets would be going up, thus the deadline.  And then what happened?  The VERY NEXT DAY the same tickets were advertised for half off!  HALF!  That is just so annoying.  It's not that $15 is a lot of money, but the fact that we were lead to believe the price was going to go up and it was slashed instead.

So we were not very well disposed to this event from the start, I must say.  I got up fairly early Saturday, had some breakfast and then went to get my manicure and pedicure. I was tired and feeling just a bit woozy, but I really wanted and needed to get out and start doing some normal things.  Monika picked me up in the pouring rain and off we went.

Mind you, we are paying for the privilege of going into a marketplace to buy more stuff.  Wouldn't you expect there to be bargains, some freebies?  Something to justify the entrance fee?  Free espresso.  Period.  End of story.  No yarn snippets.  No free patterns.  Hand cream samples?  Nope.  Unbelievable.  Just plenty of high end yarn - gorgeous but completely out of the question for a casual purchase.  We were both underwhelmed.  I did buy some extremely cute buttons.  That was my big splurge.  I was actually hoping to snag some gorgeous cashmere or silk or something special.  Even if it were one skein of lace weight for a nice little shawl or whatever.  But it was all just WAY over the top.  Oh well, I don't really need another shawl or scarf but I did feel very disappointed in the entire event.  I won't be going back.

Except for that disappointment the rest of the weekend was very satisfying.  I bought a few items for brighten up my spring wardrobe - it's been a long time since I've had any new clothes.  It was true spring weather with plenty of wind and rain, downpours, and then spots of sunshine.  I hadn't done laundry or cleaning in weeks (!) --- well, I've been sick! -- so the apartment got a top to bottom cleaning and I treated myself to some good knitting time Sunday once everything was in its place and the soup was on the stove.  Yummy chicken soup.

What I didn't get around to this weekend was making the winery tour agenda but I will have time to start that tonight.  As I said, I only really have to get Wednesday set and I can work on Thursday later if need me.  Just now need to get through today and part of tomorrow and then -- vacation!!!!

Slow progress

Progress nevertheless.  I made it through another night without an asthma attach (hoorah!) and only woke three times coughing.  Each time was quickly handled - a sip of water or a dose of cough medicine - and right back to sleep.  I think I got the best, most restful sleep last night in a week.  I was asleep crazy early, but after a full day at work I was very tired.  The socks continued to taunt me from atop the basket, but truly I didn't have the energy to do anything but lounge and heat up some soup.  I have a ticket to Vogue Knitting Live - no classes, just the marketplace - for tomorrow.  I'll take it nice and slow. 

I've been so caught up in being sick that I haven't even started making my wine tasting route!  I've got to get on that.  I'm leaving next Wednesday early morning so I need to get a few places set for on the way to McMinnville, and then a second set of places for the full day of tasting on Thursday, and then maybe a third for the trip out to the coast on Friday.  Although I am pretty sure nothing will be open and by Friday I most likely won't be wanting to taste wine in the morning. 

The weather has turned to the spring blustery storm weather.  Yesterday it was pouring rain and in the night I could hear the wind and rain, so it must have been seriously coming down.  It's not bad this morning, but still windy.  No matter.  It will be another week or probably more before I can even consider going out to run.  Wow -- this is the third week.  At least I haven't had much of an appetite.

Why am I so stubborn?

It took a third horrible night of coughing and asthma attacks to make me finally finally realize that waiting for my annual exam appointment was about the stupidest thing in the world.  I just get these things in my head and ... well, it's just stupid.  I called my doctor's office right before they broke for lunch yesterday and the nurse said there was a cancellation at 2, so I got my clothes on and headed right over.   It turns out that she was wrong, she had been looking at the next day, but they fit me in, thank goodness.  After being scolded for not going to the emergency room a few nights ago (!) the doctor set about getting me back on track.  I guess he's been seeing quite a few cases of walking pneumonia, so I got a chest x-ray to check on that and in the meantime had a nebulizer treatment, which helped right away.  And then I was loaded up with a massive amount of prescriptions.  I was tired and having no appetite hadn't eaten all day, but managed to get a cookie down when I picked up my prescriptions so I could take some.  And after a quick trip to talk about my taxes - thankfully only a few steps away at the mall - I was in for the evening with some Greek food which tasted pretty good.  Even in a few hours I was feeling better.  Not perfect but at least I could breathe.  I still had to sleep with three pillows to keep me reclining and I did have a couple coughing fits in the night, but  no asthma.  I'm tired today too, but here at work.  Every day now is going to be better and better.  I'll take a nice little stroll at lunch to get more cough syrup.  It's raining but not cold.  I don't mind.  No wheezing.  I am happy.

I wish I hadn't missed noon knitting but there was nothing for it.  I think tonight I am going to feel like knitting!  I want to get those socks done.  They are taunting me.

Ahhh .... deep breaths!  I love it!

A little wait for my new computer

It has been weeks and weeks since the departmental IT guy has been telling me that my new computer is ready.  Then I was out sick for most of two weeks and he didn't want to install it then.  So yesterday I went home and little early and when I came in this morning there was a new computer, monitor (huge) and keyboard.  He left me a note with my new password.  Only thing is, the password didn't work.  It seems he forgot to include the entire thing.  Missed an 's'.  Crucial omission.  But now I'm on and all is dandy.  It will take me a few days to get used to the new interface, but I am loving the new keyboard and the massive screen!

I am feeling improved today.  I left at lunchtime yesterday and had a nice quiet afternoon and evening except for the 3 or was it four asthma attacks I had to endure.  My hairdresser was saying that this whatever it is going around is really bad for people with asthma and that is most definitely true.  Asthma is pretty new to me, having only had it for a few years and then just when I exercise.  But this cold has certainly exacerbated it.  I am sure my doctor will have something better than my current inhaler for these coughing fits.  And in the meantime I can make it work.  I only have to wait another couple of days.

My knitting mojo has deserted me but I am sure it's because I've just been so darned sick lately.  I don't feel like doing anything but laying around reading or maybe watching something on TV or my iPad.  I looked at the socks last night, but in the end left them where they were and went to bed to read and play word games.  I have noon knitting tomorrow so at least I'll do a few rows on my Mariah, which hasn't seen the light of day for two weeks.

The sun didn't come out until late yesterday and it looks like the same for today.  But it is mild and beautiful, but with all the trees and shrubs blooming and turning green.  And vacation in only a week!

A whole week gone

I knew I wasn't feeling all that terrific when I got to work Monday but I had no idea just how bad it would get.  That cold came back full force and then some.  I went home around 2 o'clock and I was down and out for the entire week!  I think the last time I was this sick for so long was five or six years ago!  And I'm not out of the woods yet either.  I am at work but I seriously doubt I'm going to be here all day. The cough has been driving me crazy.  Why does cough syrup taste SO bad??  I must say that the Robitussin has been my savior but good heavens it tastes nasty!

So where did the week go?  I slept and walked the dog.  Eating wasn't high on my list of priorities, which was handy since I was not feeling much like cooking anyway.  Oddly, when I am sick knitting is not something I can do.  So yeah ... an entire week of sleeping and coughing and walking the dog and coughing.  On Tuesday I had to get myself together for a meeting with my lawyers.  I got dressed, did the meeting and came home and went right back to bed.  I thought for sure I'd be back Wednesday, but no.  And then again Thursday, but I just couldn't get on top of this bug!  I have my appointment for my annual exam this week or I would have tried to get in to see my doctor on Friday.  Ah well, I can wait a couple more days.

The weather has been absolutely stunning and I tried to get out to enjoy the shirtsleeves weather at least a little bit this weekend.  A couple longer strolls with Tink and then long naps.  The sun felt so good.  What a treat that was.

Ten days until vacation, even though it's a short one.  I am looking forward to that.

A little disappointing

I spent a few minutes at the end of my day Friday looking at flights to LAX, which were advertised as super low on Virgin.  Ha!  I don't know why I get sucked into these types of things because they're never what you expect.  Sure sure, there are $99 one way fares into LAX from Seattle IF you want to catch a 7 am plane going down and return on a stop-over flight that gets into Seattle at 1 am Monday morning.  Not ideal.  Not doable.  When I put in the flight days and times I need for a long weekend it takes it right up to normal so no trip to California in my near future.  But I've got two nice little mini-vacations in the next two months so all is not bad.  All is good.

I did have a nice, laid back weekend for the most part.  Early to bed Friday and a nice Saturday - dog walks in the decent weather.  The snow didn't return and we're actually having warm weather this week.  I guess it was a fluke.  Sunday was not so terrific though.  I went walking on the UW campus to look at the cherry trees in bloom, and all of the other wonderful gorgeous flowers in bloom and all of a sudden I was wheezing and coughing and could barely breath!  I had left my inhaler at home, since I wasn't planning on running.  It was definitely no fun getting home and it is very tiring, not being able to breath.  I took a few puffs from the inhaler and calmed down but my cough was back in full force.  I still had to go to my niece's birthday party so I rallied and had a nice hot shower, which also helped to open up my chest.  I had to use that inhaler a couple more times - basically once every 3 to 4 hours, even in the night.  Needless to say (but I'll say it anyway) I feel as bad as I did last week!  But I'm at work and hoping that I'll be feeling better soon.  I already have an appointment for my annual exam next week so I really don't want to try to see my doctor this week as well.  So I am hoping that if I keep a low profile, NO RUNNING, and take it easy tonight that I'll be okay tomorrow.  Fingers crossed.

No knitting this weekend.  I do have a couple of errands tonight so I probably won't be able to do much tonight either, although I would like to get at least a couple rows done on those socks.  We'll see. 

Snow!

Sure enough - it has been getting very cold these last few days and now snow.  The outlying areas of course have gotten more.  There's nothing to see on the roads or grass here in town but a few flakes are indeed coming down.  Crazy business, but that's spring in Seattle.  Don't like the weather?  Wait a few minutes.  It isn't going to impact me either way today.  No running in my future this lunchtime.  I am much much better than earlier this week, but still too "chesty" to run.  I should be back on track next week.  And weather be damned!  I'll be out there.

I had a very laid back evening last night.  I was so tired from my terrible Wednesday night that I didn't even pick up any knitting.  I watched some bad TV and played with my iPod in bed.  The last time I saw my doctor - gosh I guess that was early August? - anyway, he gave me some non-habit forming sleeping pills that actually work fantastically.  They're called Silenor.  I took my last one and I had an absolutely perfect night's sleep.  I woke up before the alarm and wasn't even mad!  I feel great and not drowsy at all.  Ahhh ... perfect. 

It doesn't matter what the weather is like this weekend.  I've got a nice, low key weekend to look forward to.  My only social obligation is a birthday party for my niece Sunday night early.  I don't know what I'll do with all this free time but I suspect some knitting, some reading and maybe a movie.  Plenty of nothing is fine with me for a change. My next little mini-vacation is coming up in 2 1/2 weeks so next week I think I'll start thinking and planning the route for the wine tasting tour.  It's been ages since I've been down there and I am really looking forward to it.  It would be nice if the weather cooperated, but you know what?  I don't care one way or another. 

Air fare to LA is super cheap right now, so I'm also trying to find a way to visit with my sister.  She's super busy until the end of June and that's a long way off!  I'll try to get creative.

A splurge!

I don't buy as nearly as much yarn as I used to buy.  Partly because I don't have any room to store it!  I have a little room on my new skinny shelves in the bedroom (err ... I mean sleeping nook) and they are taken up with the best yarn that I could not bear to part with.  One of the packages is 10 skeins of Noro Cash Iroha that has been discontinued for oh so long.  But I love that yarn and every once in a while I will see some on a liquidation web site called DBNY.  They have become the place for yarn stores going out of business or personal stash (I mean HUGE stash) liquidations.   I see it there now and again and always want to buy it but either there aren't enough skeins to be worthwhile or I balk at the price.  However, yesterday I found 10 skeins of pink that looked like it was the same color as my other 10 balls, even if the dye lot isn't the same.  So I snatched it up!  I was originally thinking of using the first 10 balls to make another Hemlock Ring Blanket, but there's not quite enough.  Now I have enough and then some!  I can be a really big one.  I will just have to alternate rows with the different dye lots so it's not noticeable.  Well, this is a project that is down the road, especially since warmer weather is coming and I've already got a big project - the Mariah.  But if was a very satisfying purchase, all the more so since it's been ages since I've bought any quantity of yarn.

Warmer weather - I am speaking well in the future I am afraid.  The cold moved in yesterday on some pretty powerful gusts of wind.  I saw cars with snow on them in the park and ride lot this morning.  Oh my -- yesterday was the first day of spring and I missed it!!  Happy spring!  Well even though the trees and bushes are starting their show, it's still winter to me.

The Mariah got some good work done at noon knitting yesterday but nothing in the evening, not even the socks.  I was tired and retired early to watch some things on my iPad.  But as luck would have it, last night was one of the off nights for my wireless.  It's odd.  Sometimes it's seamless and I can watch whatever I want and it never stops.  Other times it's torture and I just gave up.  I read and bit and was asleep by 10, but that didn't last long.  Something woke me at 11:30 and I was awake off and on for hours, coughing and stuffed up.  I took some Nyquil but I wish I had taken it much earlier.  I am groggy today and coughing still.  I'll take a nice walk in the cold sunshine at lunch.  That should get me good and tired for tonight.  And hopefully the cough will be gone for good tomorrow.

Straight to my chest

Saturday I hosted a surprise birthday party and it was a smashing success.  The birthday boy had no idea and was completely and utterly surprised.  My apartment Great Room is just the most wonderful party venue.  There's plenty of room for people to spread out, two TVs, a pool table and a full kitchen plus lots of comfy furniture and even a fire place.  And my own apartment stays nice and clean.  Perfect!  It wasn't a late one because you can only have the place for four hours, but that was plenty of time.  I was all cleaned up and back to my own place a little after 10.  I stayed up for a bit - oh, there was left over cake!

The next morning was not too wonderful though.  I woke up feeling terrible.  I thought it must be a hangover, even though I VERY rarely get one.  But I tried to rally.  It was a gorgeous day and I had planned on meeting friends at the Ballard Market.  I didn't feel any better, even after a shower and a stroll through the market so I thought a beer might do the trick.  Not.  I couldn't even finish it.  I did some shopping and then headed back home.  Tinkie needed a walk so I took Monika on a tour of the creek area and as we were strolling I realized that I felt like a cold was coming on.  Ah ha!  I wasn't hung over, I was sick!  And it was downhill from there.

Thankfully I had gotten a nice loaf of bread and gone shopping on Saturday so I was okay to just hunker down, which is what I did.  Sunday night wasn't so bad but Monday was awful!  I slept 90% of the day.  The cold went straight to my chest and I was coughing and very uncomfortable.  Of course this happens when I have tons of things that need to be done at work.  It couldn't have happened ... oh, I don't know maybe the last three weeks?  *sigh*  Anyway I'm here today and feeling better.  The cough is controlled.  I'm tired but what else is new? 

I don't suppose I will be running at all this week.  It is pouring rain but I can't breath anyway so it's not an issue.  Noon knitting is on for this lunchtime anyway.  I knew I was feeling better yesterday late afternoon because I wanted to knit and I did a couple rows on the Mariah.  Pictures soon. 

Another banana check

I was feeling wild yesterday, so I switched up my breakfast and instead of having oatmeal and a banana I had oatmeal and berries.  And guess what?  I had a tough time of it on my run.  Yes, it was the uphill one, but still -- it was tougher than it should have been and that is because of the banana.  Today it's back to tried and true and hopefully I'll have a little easier time of it!  Of course, when I'm counting calories my energy isn't what it is ideally.  I eat the same thing for breakfast every morning, but I don't usually come to work with an empty tank.  I definitely need that little bit of extra energy the banana affords.

The socks got some quality time last night and the Mariah languished in the corner.  I was hoping to be able to carve out some time this weekend but right now it doesn't look likely.  Tomorrow I've got all sorts of errands in the morning, then picking up the last minute party items in the afternoon (cake, balloons).  Then I'm going to have to get ready and maybe I will have an hour if I try.  Sunday will be recuperating from the party and then I'd like to go to the Ballard Market, if it's not pouring rain.  And bam!  That's the weekend.  Even an hour would be nice.  I should make it a priority, yeah?

Still feeling wildly optimistic and happy.  It beats the heck out of NOT feeling happy, doesn't it? 

Just once in a while

For no apparent reason I woke up today feeling awesome and brimming with optimism.  Happy, one might say.  Happy-go-lucky.  Spring is SO close, and the weather is mild.  I get to run today and it's not raining or blowing.  I am getting a new computer at work today - finally!  This one is excruciatingly slow at times.  The only thing that could make this day better is being Friday instead of Thursday.  Oh well.

I did some good work on my Mariah at noon knitting yesterday.  I am just so excited about this project!  I sure hope I don't get bogged down and not finish it.  I know -- just do it, right?  But how many projects have we all started, all gung  ho, and then had it ripen at the bottom of a basket for years, just needing one last button band (Cloisonne Jacket) or sewing together or whatever?  I think if I can do the body and fronts together that may help my cause.  Then the only stumbling block I can see is getting the zipper sewn in, since I don't have a sewing machine now.  But that is weeks and weeks away.  In the meantime I'll just concentrate on finishing the sleeves, yes?

My evening was eaten up by phone calls and doggie walks and dinner.  I got a few rows of the sock foot done, but frankly I was very tired from the bad night I had Tuesday so I retired early and read, then had a great sleep.  Except for the part when I woke up with a bad headache (I know -- again??).  But I drank down a couple of fizzy tablets and conked right out and woke up feeling -- well, awesome [see above]. 

 Fingers crossed the wind stays calm.  I'll have a good run today and I am already looking forward to it!

Against the wind

I had a decent run on Monday and was very much looking forward to my run yesterday.  It was not an easy one.  It was quite breezy and I've changed my route because of the construction that causes a detour on my regular route.  My second choice route is my older route that goes down past the stadium to 25th, then back up.  And while it's only a 5% grade it's not flat and when the wind if blowing in your face, it's not fun either!  I did okay but I'm grateful for the day off today.

I have finished picking up all of the gusset stitches on the Bamboo socks and now am just working on the foot portion.  Maybe I can finish them up this weekend.  Nope - that's to ambitious.  I'll shoot for next week.  And in the meantime I brought my Mariah sleeves in for noon knitting.  I haven't touched them since Saturday so I'm looking forward to a few rows at noon.  I should measure too so I can be ready for six inches and the increases.  I was going to snap a picture but there's really not much to show yet.  I'll wait for another 10 rows and then shoot one.

I had a nice quiet evening last night and went to bed to read.  I've been reading a book rather than reading off of my iPad and it's a nice change.  Plus I have heard - I don't quite believe it yet - but I've heard that the blue light from one's iPad or iPhone causes sleeplessness.  In fact I get just as drowsy when I read on my device as I do from paper and it didn't seem to make any difference last night.  I was sleepless!  I read and read until my eyes wouldn't stay open and then tried to sleep.  No go.  Turned the light on and read some more around midnight, but I was still awake at 1 and got up again at 2:30.  I don't feel too bad this morning, thankfully.  I sure hope I get a good night tonight.

My knitting friends reminded me last week that I hadn't yet set a date for our April knitting party - either ripping out a project or doing finishing work.  That's my errand when I get home tonight.  I'll stop by the office and find out if there's a Saturday in April we can use the Great Room.  I will shoot for the 3rd or 4th Saturday.  Maybe I can get the Cloisonne Jacket finished?  That would be awesome!

Bye bye headache

Holy cow!  It took long enough.  That headache dogged me all Friday.  I finally left work around 11 because I was feeling sick from it.  I went home and took a couple of fizzy tablets and stretched out on the couch.  I think I fell asleep even.  Around 7 or so it finally disappeared. and, knock on wood, hasn't been back since.  Most likely it was the pressure change that caused it.  We had another lovely clear day on Saturday but it didn't come back and now we're back to our regular clouds and rain and I'm feeling perfectly fine.

After it left I did manage to get some good work done on the Mariah sleeves.  I am two rows away from completing the first cable section.  Next I do rows 13 through 50-something three times and at the same time, when I have done 6 inches of the sleeves, start the increases.  That will mean three separate counters to keep track of at the same time.  It's a nightmare and one must have their wits about them all the time.  It is going to be quite nice.  The Fez, wool and camel blend, is lovely to work with although tends to be a bit splitty.  

The sun Saturday was such a treat and it was even kind of warm outside!  Regular Saturday errands ate up much of the day, and Tink got some nice walks.  The Mariah is not TV knitting and I wanted to watch a movie Saturday night, so I switched over to the Bamboo socks.  I managed to finish the heel, turn it, pick up the gusset stitches and get a good bit of the gusset done over Saturday and Sunday.  Tonight I should be able to finish up the gusset and then all that's left is the foot!  Perfect TV knitting.  (Boy I miss football!)

Sunday I got the very last of my pictures hung and a couple more things taken up to the storage unit.  What a relief!  I do need to get one last thing.  I need a tall narrow mirror to use as a full length mirror.  The others that I have hung don't show my entire body and I really miss that.  You need to be able to see top to toe.  I was hanging back from buying one because I thought my white mirror would be able to do the trick, but it doesn't.  No matter.  I can get one this coming weekend and be done with it! 

I did find out that weekend are definitely going to be challenging during these warmer months.  Saturday I guess a new film opened up and there was a late showing, therefore there were people leaving the theatre later than normal PLUS a whole gang of them milling around waiting for the previous showing to be through so they could go into the theatre.  They were very very noisy.  I'll need fans just to blank out the noise.  Otherwise, it's perfectly quiet.  Small price to pay.

Ready to spring?

It does seem crazy early but tomorrow night we turn our clocks forward.  I think we are three weeks earlier than Europe.  When did this change?  It used to happen at the same time, or within a week anyway.  Whatever ... I am just glad it's here now.  And in another month or so I'll be able to comfortably sit outside at the fountain or the fire pit.  That's going to be so nice.

Knitting was on the back burner last night because McG stopped by for a visit on his way to a jam session in Snohomish.  We had dinner and a few laughs and then he was on his way.  Tinkie got a nice walk - it was nice and not raining - and then I settled in to do a little knitting before bed.  I thought better of trying to work on the complicated cables and instead started the heel flap on the Bamboo Socks.  I'd like to get those out of the way soon so I can concentrate on the Mariah, although it's not going to get to the state of TV knitting until the sleeves are on their holders.  The body only has cabling on the ribbing.  Otherwise it's just stockinette and keeping track of increases and decreases, which is TV knitting in my book.

I'm hoping for a relatively quiet weekend, especially with the big one I have coming up next week when I'm hosting a surprise birthday party in my Great Room.  I've got to get that cake ordered Monday, and I'll have to get decorations and stuff this weekend.  But other than that, hopefully I can carve out some quiet time to knit and, if the weather permits, have some nice long walks.  It looks like we're going to be getting rain this weekend. 

I have had a headache for 24 hours.  I wish I had remembered to grab some of those fizzy tablets I got in London last time.  They seem to be the only thing that works on these sinus headaches.  I couldn't even run yesterday it was that bad.  Well, if it doesn't go away soon I'm going to throw in the towel and go home.  I'd rather have it go away though.

A clean start

I brought my Mariah sleeves to noon knitting yesterday.  Peggy had fixed the twisted stitches but after taking another look we all realized that the problem ran a little deeper.  As in four rows down deeper.  Monika spent nearly the full 60 minutes trying to fix it and she came pretty close but at the end of the hour we all decided that I must take out those four rows and start fresh.  So when I got home I sat down and, using a second needle, tinked back four rows and re-knit them and then finally put it back on the circular needle with the other sleeve.  I am actually very happy that I took the time to do that.  They're now both perfect.  I suspect that if the mistake had been further up the sleeve and not really noticeable unless closely inspected that I would have let it go.  But as it was, it was at the very start of the intricate and beautiful Celtic Knot pattern on the sleeve and it would have been just too obvious.  Now I am happy.  I don't think I'll get to touch it tonight since my friend McG is picking  me up from work.  But hopefully I can carve out some quiet time tomorrow and through the weekend to make some progress.  The sleeves are the hardest part of this project and I always do the sleeves first, so after they are done it will be fast work to finish it up.

It was quiet last night, mostly because it was pouring rain.  I did get a good sleep finally.  I wanted to read but because of the rotten night I had Tuesday I just dropped right off.  And for that I am thankful.  Maybe I'll have a strong run today?  Fingers crossed. That beautiful sunshine we had Monday has been gone since.  At least it's mild.  I am sure hoping it holds off and doesn't start pouring.  As it is, it's just misting and I don't mind that.  And now I've got this new hat - although it's autographed and I don't think I want to take it out in the rain!  I have my old one here.  That's what I'll use if it's raining and the new one if it's just misting. 

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.