Misty morning

It wasn't supposed to be rainy today but the ground was wet when I left and it was misting quite a bit by the time I got to the bus.  And me with no umbrella.  But it is also quite warm so I don't mind. 

What a nice weekend I had.  I did indeed sleep in Saturday AND Sunday and it was gorgeous and everything I wanted it to be.  I did a little running around Saturday, a little shopping.  I found a very cute top to wear Saturday night and finally found a warm bathrobe.  Last week I downloaded the latest software for my iPhone and Saturday started the update for my iPad when I took a little nap before getting ready to go out.  But I noticed that the iPad got stuck and wanted me to plug it into iTunes.  Really?  So there went the nap -- I got up and turned on my laptop, having forgotten that the PC laptop has outdated software because I hadn't been using it.  As soon as this course is done I'm going to take my MacBook Air home to use as my work-from-home computer, but in the meantime I've got this clunky PC to deal with.  It was a frustrating hour and I finally gave it up and got ready to go out.

Dinner was at an Italian restaurant and I had some of the best linquine Puttanesca I have had in a long long time.  It had a little heat, just enough anchovy and it was yummy!  And some nice Chianti to go with.  As I suspected, the jazz wasn't jazz at all, but a very good guitar player with an impressive synthesizer so that his guitar could sound like any instrument, and then recorded background bass and drums.  It was fun and the company was nice.

Sunday I tackled the iPad update again, after setting up a new DVD Blu-Ray player with internet connection.   I got Amazon Prime and Netflix and HuluPlus all up and running.  Nice.  Anyway, after innumerable updates I finally got the iTunes to recognize the iPad and then it was wiped clean and couldn't find any of the backup.  Good heavens.  At least I remembered what had happened with my iPhone and plugged it into a wall socket rather than my computer and got it restored.  It took hours and hours but I have everything back finally, as it was.

The Husky game on Saturday was good, and the won.  The Seahawks also won - it was a rematch of the Superbowl and it went into overtime.  A nail biter.  And it looks like I'm going to win my matchup this week as well.  Woohoo!  My opponent has one guy, but that guy has to get more than 30 points and it is rather unlikely.  Not impossible, but unlikely.  Fingers crossed.

And another week starts.  I didn't get home until after 7 on Friday.  This week will be easier.

I am truly happy it is Friday

I am beyond exhausted.  I could not believe it when the alarm went off this morning and even though I had slept like a rock last night, I could barely drag myself out of that bed!  All I can think about is crawling back into it, but there is a long long day ahead of me.

I have been driving to the transit center to catch the bus across the lake to work, rather than taking a bus from home to the transit center.  This is better for a couple of reasons - mostly because I don't have to wait for a second bus on my way home.  Yes, I have to drive in traffic, but at least I'm moving and I know it's going to be really worth it when the weather changes.  This morning as I was pulling into the parking garage a woman zoomed toward me and turned left into the parking garage right in front of me!  And then had the audacity and bad manners to flip me off!  She cut me off!  Of course at that time of the morning the only spots available are on the top of the garage and I knew I would be able to see who she was.  Indeed I did and she works here at the U.  I don't know what department, but she's been here nearly as long as I and always nods and smiles when we meet.  Obviously she didn't know it was me.  And now I am really pissed.  Not the way I want to start this day.  This long long day.

My proctoring doesn't start until 1:30, and then when the exam finishes at 4:30 I have to wait for the grades to come from the lab exam so that I can enter them into my spreadsheet and the boss can know who is in trouble in the class for the weekend.  I will be lucky to get on a bus before six.  Ah well.  I'm sleeping in tomorrow, that's for sure.  And tomorrow night it's out to hear some jazz.  I have mixed feelings about that because I don't think the band is going to be any good.  But it's always nice to get out.

I swear there was steam coming out of my ears!!

Nobody likes to lose their temper, especially not at work.  But I lost it yesterday for sure.  Lucky for me my boss seems to think it's especially hilarious when people make me angry.  Here's what happened - there is a young man who works in the Dean's Office as a receptionist.  His other job is to reconfigure the small group rooms that are used by first and second year medical school courses.  He needs to consult his spreadsheet and get to the rooms between sessions to open or close the dividers and move the tables around.  When I got the imaging faculty upstairs and set up in their rooms I could plainly see that the dividers had not been closed nor had the tables been moved to a classroom set up.  On top of that, two of the four projectors were not working, and that's a different department.  I called Classroom Services to get someone to come up to fix the projectors and then I called Sean, the person in charge of reconfiguring the rooms.  And instead of apologizing and saying he'd come right up, he started arguing with me that there were no small group sessions happening!  I said, "Don't argue with me Sean.  We can deal with your spreadsheet later.  Are you going to help me or not?" and what did he say?  He said no, that he didn't think he could help me right now!  Are you kidding me???  I asked him where the gadget was to close the walls and he said there might be one in the ICM office (an office on my floor).  Seriously?  By this time I was beside myself with anger.  I called the woman in charge of the spreadsheet, a lovely girl, and she said of course she could help and she ran right upstairs with the gadget and got the dividers closed.  She said Sean had disappeared.  I told her what he had said and that I was fed up with him.  She is going to report his conduct to the Dean.  I don't suppose he'll cross me again.  And I'm going to make sure he doesn't have any question about when my next small group sessions occur.  Little jerk.

When I got home I was in a state so I took a nice walk with Tink, then a calming shower, made a cocktail and watched football and knit.  In a couple of hours I was fine.  But it still makes me mad when I write about it. 

Tomorrow will be a long day.  I've got to stay late.  I am SO looking forward to my weekend.

The $100 door stop

I finally got my accounting from the apartment yesterday.  I was expecting all of my deposits to be refunded because I left that place in great shape.  At one point, however, I did manage to snap off the spring door stopper at the bottom of the front door.  I should have super glued it back on I suppose, because they deducted $100 for baseboard repair.  Well, one can't expect any less.  I am happy to get back what I did.  So I promptly spent a great portion of it on a pair of winter shoes or should I call them booties?  They're like oxfords but have a bit of a heel and good non-slip soles and will be good in the rain and snow.  Also a new DVD player that will stream Amazon Prime and Netflix.  That took a bite of out it.  I'm happy.

Tink was in rare form when I got home last night and after a nice long walk wanted to play and play and play!  I guess she was under the weather there for a couple of days, but back in good form now.  I wanted to get her a nice haircut this weekend, but they can't fit me in until the first Saturday of October so I guess I'll have to bathe her this weekend and give her a nice brushing and hope that'll do for a few weeks.

Crazy days -- it's Noon Knitting today but I've got to get the imaging faculty set up so I am going to miss part of it.  And Friday is the second exam.  Then only two more weeks of anatomy to go.  I know it's hard on the students, but it's no picnic for me either!  I am so exhausted all the time I can hardly manage to do anything after work but cook and read.  I didn't even knit last night and barely read a page before I was out.  Tonight I will watch Inside the NFL before I sleep, I hope.  Adrian Peterson is again off the team until his court date.  My fantasy opponent for this week's match up was frantically trying to get a trade going with me last night.  My back up QB is out, but I'm not worried about that.  My QB doesn't have a bye week until week 10, so I've got time (fingers crossed Aaron Rogers doesn't get hurt!!) to get a backup if RGIII doesn't get back in the game. 

The weather has stayed fine and warm.  It's going to be hot again this weekend too.  I love September!

Not last!

Hah!  I am not in last place!  The two guys in my fantasy league who are the biggest talkers and, in fact, the winner last year, are last.  Both of them trying to make trades with me too.  I'm holding steady.  I get Adrian Peterson back for next week and I have a couple of other guys who are warming up, as it were.  I should be in pretty good shape for next week.  Hopefully.  I would like to win - duh. 

What a cruel subconscious I have!  I was so tired yesterday and did get to bed rather early.  I read for about a minute and then conked out.  I woke up sometime in the middle of the night because Tink wanted off the bed for a drink of water - thankfully NOT a trip outside.  And as I was laying there going back to sleep I somehow calculated that it was Friday night.  It didn't take me long to figure out I was wrong though and it was Monday night instead.  It's going to be a long week.

Tink is feeling better this morning, thankfully.  I put a little olive oil into her food last night and she ate, and ate again this morning and her digestive tract is back in working order.  It's hard when one's dog is sick because, obviously, they can't tell you what's wrong.  That's the problem a woman at work is having with her Westie.  He's in the vet hospital, not eating and they can't figure out what's wrong with him!  That's scary.

My hand is feeling better after that marathon knitting session so I am hoping to get some knitting done tonight.  Last night I was just too tired.    I've been thinking I should start getting caught up with Ravelry.  I haven't posted anything on there for more than a year!  When things calm down here I'll have plenty of time, I suspect.

Practically perfect

As predicted Saturday was a very busy day, ending with an impromptu card party that, thankfully, didn't last too long into the night.  Saturday morning I got my eyes checked, this time with a new doctor.  I use two different contact lenses, mono vision.  One eye corrects for distance, one for close up and together they're good.  He suggested we correct the astigmatism in my near vision eye, which the other doctor hadn't done.  I didn't have any change in my prescription other than changing this one contact and I'm trying it now.  I like it, especially for computer work.  I also picked out a new pair of frames and I am really looking forward to them.  I am sick of my current ones, although that's probably because I've had to wear them a lot since August.   I didn't want to order 90 days worth of contact lenses if I was going to have a changed prescription.

The rest of Saturday was spent rearranging the kitchen and unpacking the rest of my kitchen boxes.  The last things to do are the hall bathroom and then hang the pictures, but that's going to have to wait for this coming weekend.  While we were working we watched the Huskies kick some football behind.  They are 3 and 0, all non conference games.  But that's a great start with a new coach.  All of the teams were decent, no push overs.

Sunday I slept in!  It was gorgeous! I caught up with my sleep, staying in bed until after 9.  Ahhhhhhh ..... perfection.  And the rest of the day was football and knitting.  I knit so much that my hand was sore at the end of the day.  Unfortunately the Seahawks lost. They were simply outplayed and it was not fun to watch.  My fantasy team did okay, although I lost my best guy - the first pick in the draft - due to him supposedly spanking his son with a switch.  I have one player tonight, but so does my opponent so I'm probably going to lose again.  I made a switch on Sunday so hopefully I can get a few more points next week.

Sunday night - bad.  B-A-D.  Tinkerbell had a stomach issue, which means I was up with her not once, not twice, but three separate times.  In between, when I got back to bed and to sleep I had nightmares.  Terrible ones  I feel like a zombie today.  Not only do nothing Monday, but go to bed early Monday!

Thank goodness for web searches

My main concern with my iPhone yesterday was my pictures.  The fact that they hadn't shown up when I synced with iTunes on my laptop had me a little scared, so I did some searching and found a person who had a similar experience and followed her instructions on how she fixed it.  Basically I had to reset it again (scary), then plug it into the wall (rather than through iTunes) and once you go through a few hoops you can choose to restore to the last backup.  And that, my friends, give you everything back the way it was, even the apps!  Yay!  It took a long time to get all of the photos reinstalled but now everything is back to the way it was and I'm happy I didn't lose any of my precious pictures.

Check out this flower.  I saw it when I was out for a little walk at lunchtime yesterday.  Does anyone know what it is?  It was on a shrub and there were lots of them.  It's about two or three inches across, and no obvious scent.  I just thought it was so pretty.

The sun is out again today but it was quite chilly this morning.  I know we're supposed to get back into the 80s for this next weekend and into next week, but the mornings and evenings are definitely starting to feel colder.  The leaves are taking their time turning, but I noticed these two last night, out of the entire tree.  In the picture, right in the center.  In fact, all the trees around - these are the only two starting to turn. It's not a very good picture.  I had to take it with my iPad since my iPhone was busy being restored.  The quality isn't good enough to blow up.  Maybe I can get another one tonight that's better.  See that dark hole in the middle?  That's where I saw seven deer come through early this spring.  Seven!

I have a big weekend planned.  First - sleep.  Well, no first I have an eye appointment Saturday at 9 am.  But Sunday I swear, I am sleeping in for as long as I want.  I am still sleep deprived after last weekend!  Maybe I'll have a nap tomorrow, because after the eye appointment it is going to be time to finish unpacking.  There are still kitchen and bathroom boxes to put away.  And knitting during football on Sunday.  Sounds like a perfect weekend to me!

Simple? Not hardly.

I hopped on the bus yesterday morning at 10 to make my appointment at the Genius Bar at the University Village Apple Store, which by the way was packed.  And even though I had made it clear on my appointment request, I had to leave my phone and come back in the afternoon to pick it up.  Hardly convenient but what could I do?  The instructions on the website for getting your battery changed say that you should back up everything to the Cloud, which I do, and then reset everything, virtually taking it back to new.   Then when you're done you just reinstall everything from the Cloud.  All well and good but when I picked up my phone they had started it rather than letting me restore from the Cloud.  So there I was with no contacts, no nothing on my phone and I had to go home and restore using my laptop.

Now here's the thing -- yes you get all of your contacts back, but all of your music and things like that are still in the Cloud.  I have to get on line and do some searching to find out how to get all my photos back.  Thank goodness they are on my iPad but it's not obvious how to get them back on my phone!  I rarely plug my phone into my iTunes on my laptop any more so I'm not up on all the changes there.  And the Apps -- you have to reload them one by one.  The good news is that you can see what you purchased and then just put the ones back that you actually use.   But all of your setting are wiped out there so you've got to re-sign in and/or enter all the info, like with my checking account, since I didn't pay for a backup service.  And my Audiobooks, well I am hoping it will sync up to the last position, like Kindle does.  It's just so very time consuming, trying to get everything back like it was.

Well I didn't even bother going back to work, since it was nearly three by the time I was out of the Apple store for the second time.  My idea was to go home and have a little nap, but then I had to plug my phone into my laptop and that started another mess.  My laptop is saying that my Windows is not a valid version, even though I've had this laptop (second hand from a faculty person who left) for over a year and used it for work.  I didn't bother bringing it in, but I will check with the IT guy about it.  I think when the course is over I'll just take my Macbook home with me and use that.  I love it and it's a much better thing than the PC laptop I have for home.

The sunshine came back but it was definitely chilly this morning.  I even got cold at night.  It will be hot this weekend but I'll bet it's the last of that.

Confusion reigns

Let's pull out all of the cliches, shall we?  Too many cooks spoil the broth. The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.  What else?  I completely understand how it happens but that doesn't lessen the frustration on my part.  The last two weeks of the course are still in disarray and I am unable to fix it because I cannot do what needs to be done.  I can't re-write the study guide chapters myself.  And if I'm not cc'd on the important emails I cannot make the changes to the schedule.  Am I to intuit that a guest lecturer wishes to move her lecture up a week?   So the students are confused and I'm frustrated.  It makes me unhappy.

What makes me happy though is that I get a new battery for my phone today.  Hoorah!  I've got an appointment at the Genius Bar at 10:20 this morning.  I'd better find the email that tells me how to prepare my phone. 

A little rain this morning.  I sure hope the sun comes out later today.  I need my sunshine today.  Really I do.

The road back to good humor

Sleep deprivation does terrible things to me.  I am much better this morning thanks to a decent night's sleep.  Truth be told, I could easily have slept another couple of hours, but I'm doing okay.  There were two Monday night games on last night, but I only watched the early one, where my player was playing (badly).  I lost but I am 8th overall and that's NOT last.  And as I said, plenty of time left to work my way up the ladder. 

I really should start back up running.  Now that the weather is beginning to cool off.  It's still pretty darned busy work-wise but maybe next week I can get my routine going again.  It will help my state of mind as well.

Tomorrow I'm going to get my new phone battery.  Woohoo!  I am going to be happy to leave the big battery case at home.  I am expecting miracles.

I started exploring options for a weekend in Portland, Oregon.  I love getting on the train and riding down the coast.  It's a nice little city and very walkable.   I've decided on the week of October 26 so I think I'll buy the train tickets and wait a bit on the hotel.  I found a few but they are boutique and a little pricey.  I just mostly want someplace walking distance from the train station, and cute.  Yes, that usually means pricey too. 

It was raining this morning.  It's funny how rain sounds much different in the country.  Well, not funny.  Logical I guess.  The rain drops hitting leaves makes it sound like it is raining harder than it actually is.  The rest of the week we're  back to sunshine.  The tomatoes are loving it!

I was right about one thing

Yes, the weather.  It was stunning.  Hot, actually.  But a nice rest?  No.  Not even close.  Late nights and WAY too early awake both Saturday and Sunday.  WAY too early.  I did buy the last bottle of a Joseph Drouhin Macon Villages 2006 that the local boutique/wine shop had.  I wish I had thought to buy all of the stock last time I was there and I was going to do that -- well, I did.  But one was all they had left.  I enjoyed it.

What else?  Visited a very lame Farmer's Market in Shelton.  Got some knitting time in, but it was so bloody hot. 

The weekend did not get off to a very good start because of a horrible mess up with the grades.  Not my mess up, mind you.  And there I was stuck on the freeway and not able to do anything about it.  Extremely frustrating. 

The Huskies won their game this weekend.  They had their regular QB.  I am doing okay with my fantasy team (new name this year -- Victorious Secret) but my opponent has 3 players left for tonight and I've only got one so .... I probably will lose this weekend.  Plenty of games left.

I am in a terrible TERRIBLE mood today.  There are just so many things going on at work and I feel like I've got a dozen balls in the air.  And if one more person gets a smug look on their face and tells me I haven't done something when I most certainly HAVE done it, I'm going to scream.  Perhaps even lash out.  You never know.  I'm that close.  I'm going to start planning a weekend away in Portland for October.  I need something to look forward to besides work and unpacking.

Wins and losses

When I drafted my fantasy team I vowed to not make emotional choices.  So I didn't.  I got the best player available at the time and didn't worry about which team he was on.  I ended up with Aaron Rogers as my QB and Jordy Nelson as one of my WRs and they played the Seahawks last night for the season opener.  As a side note, Seattle was absolutely crazy yesterday!  And downtown at the stadium - bedlam.  A free concert by Pearl Jam and other bands and it was a scene.  Anyway .... of course the Seahawks won and I got only half of my QBs predicted points and most of my WRs.  Ah well -- the Seahawks won,  so I don't mind.  There are plenty of weeks left. 

I found out something about my iPhone's battery yesterday and I am so happy.  I knew something was wrong with it.  I have an iPhone 5 and my battery is so bad that I had to buy an external battery case because I couldn't even do a run using my Nike app with music and have it last for 30 minutes on a full charge!  It ends up that Apple has put out a list of serial numbers of phones with faulty batteries and mine is one of them.  I get a new battery!  yay!  I made an appointment to do it next Wednesday.

Yesterday was such a busy day and today is another one.  But it's Friday and we're going away at 4 o'clock to Alderbrook for the weekend.  I've got to give an exam this morning and get the grades all entered, hopefully, by the end of the day.  I am ready for a nice rest this weekend.  The weather will be stunning. 

Now I'd better get something to eat.

An unexpected perk

Last Saturday was my regular hair appointment but I couldn't make it.  So I took a chance a booked an appointment with the salon where I got my nails done, a mile from my new place.  Wow.  What a difference.  I mean, she did an excellent job for half of what it cost at my other salon.  Half.  That's huge.  And I'm happy.

Well the Seahawks open the season tonight and the whole city is going nuts.  I have it sent to record.  Kick off at 5:30.  My fantasy QB and one of my running backs is on the opponent so I'm going to be having mixed feelings.  But I tried hard not to make any emotional picks this time.  I want to win my league, or at least be in the top three.  Fingers crossed.

Busy busy busy day.

It gets worse

After a grueling day - the first day of class is always a tough one - I was only looking forward to getting home, putting my closet back together at some point and relaxing with some knitting.  I stopped on the way home for some shaved Parmesan and some other things to make a really yummy pasta and headed home.  I walked in and remarked to myself how lovely everything smelled.  So flowery.  I didn't have anything special around to scent the place so it was a little strange.  I headed into my dressing room to put my things down and there I was met with yet another disaster.  I had put a few things up on the shelf  - maybe a bit precariously I admit, and the whole mess had come down on top of the already huge mess of clothes.  One of the boxes had some perfume in there and the bottle had broken .... oh, what a mess.  I did get it cleaned up but the scent is pervasive.  It's lovely, but a bit much.  I aired things out as best I could, but a huge storm was coming in and finally I had to shut some windows because of the wind.

By 7:30, with three braces in place, I was able to put my closet back together one (last?) time.  The boxes that fell are in a neat stack in the dining room waiting to be moved somewhere NOT my closet.  And the implicit understanding hanging in the air (along with the perfume) that if it falls another time some clothes must go.  *sigh*

I cooked a nice dinner along with a Caprese salad with fresh tomatoes.  Oh my, really .... it hardly gets better than that.  The only thing better is a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich with fresh tomatoes and real mayonnaise.  That we had on the weekend and it was such a treat.  The storm was huge and loud and we had lots of rain, but the sun is going to come out again later this week so I have hopes of a few more of those gorgeous tomatoes ripening before fall really gets a grip.

I've been driving to the Transit Center and then getting my second bus in to work from there.  All was smooth sailing until school started and now the traffic getting there is much worse and I had to run for it today.  I guess I'll have to start out a few minutes earlier next time.

Tonight I'm trying a new place for my hair.  We're going for another golf weekend at Alderbrook so I couldn't move my hair appointment from last week to this weekend and I've got to get it done.  It will be interesting.  I don't think she can mess it up too badly now, can she?  We'll see.

I told you so

That's not really a very useful phrase and as I get older I find that I rarely use it.  I think it a lot though.

As I suspected it was a very very busy long weekend.  Saturday morning bright and early I was at the truck rental place picking up a 15 foot truck.  The others met us at the apartment and at 9 we were getting the furniture and the rest of the heavy boxes and things out of the apartment.  We were unloaded by 1 pm.  Zippy fast!  The Huskies were playing at 7:30 but I managed to get a few boxes emptied before then.  They beat Hawaii, but only barely because their first string QB was suspended the first game.  Good thing it wasn't one that counted.  But, as I said, they won.

Sunday I got to sleep in just a bit then it was back to the apartment where I spent a few hours cleaning, spot cleaning the carpet, scrubbing floors, emptying trash, etc. etc.  All of the moving carts were being used so after hours of hard labor I ended up having to make five trips in the elevator carting down the cleaning supplies, the contents of the fridge and little bits and bobs.  Then I went to turn in my keys and got a great surprise.  The apartment is rented as of September 15!  Woohoo!  If it had not been rented I would have had to pay 6 weeks rent, but as it is I only have to pay two.  Nice!

More emptying of boxes when I got back, even though I was exhausted.  I hate chaos ,but I didn't make much of a dent.

Monday was my day, then, to make some progress.  I worked and worked and worked and got my dressing room looking quite presentable, plus books were put away, nice glass things in the display case.  In short, everything emptied and stored except the kitchen.  That's going to take some doing and it was an absolutely gorgeous day and I didn't want to waste the entire long weekend working.  We took Tink to a park by a river in Duval for a nice walk and a dip in the river, then we stopped for a nice cold beer, did my grocery shopping and came home.  Then I walked into my dressing room and found all my clothes on the floor (and draped over the shoe racks) and I wanted to scream.  See I had said that we needed THREE braces in the closet.  But no, that was not done.  The piece of wood that the brace was set into was put into the studs and that was that.  That's when I wanted to say "I told you so", but I did not.  No reason to do that.  It was obvious.  And it was a pain in the butt to get dressed this morning.

My fantasy draft started out great with me getting the first pick.  But when all was said and done I only got a B- grade.  We'll see how it unfolds.  I couldn't sleep after that being all wound up and today is the first day of class.  I sure hope I can sleep tonight!

Well that was no good!

The Seahawks were beaten by the Raiders last night!  I know it's only preseason, but the Raiders??  Good heavens.  I didn't even watch the entire thing.  It was painful.  Very few of our number ones were playing, but still!  Terrible.

You know what else was painful?  My foot!  My toe, to be more specific.  Shooting pains and throbbing.  I do recall that I felt the toe crack a couple of times during the day, but not a painful thing.  More like when your knuckles crack accidentally.  And then I noticed that it was a bit swollen as well.  Oh man, I am absolutely NOT happy about this.  I iced it and that made it feel a bit better.  I haven't been running for 5 weeks, I think.  Maybe more .... I went on my trip, then a week of vacation, a week sick, and that brings us to six weeks.  I have been doing quite a bit of walking, and not in my running shoes, so that might be the problem.  Well ... I'll keep a watch on it.

I've got to be busy and active this weekend, especially Saturday since I'm moving furniture that day.  Sunday cleaning the apartment, and Monday putting things away and trying to get ready for this fantasy draft.  Actually, I'm leaving early today so hopefully I can start this evening with at least one mock draft.

My presentation went well yesterday and I've got nearly all my ducks in a row for next week.  But nevertheless I woke up during the night and my head was whirring around, thinking about all of the things I have yet to do.  Things I had forgotten about.  But I'm on it  now and still I think I can get out of here around noon today and finally get that manicure and pedicure I've been wanting for quite a long time.  And maybe even find someone to do my hair as well, since I had to cancel my appointment with Dana this Saturday.  Well much to do, anyway.  Hopefully I can carve out some time to do a little knitting and relaxing!

One week until Football

The final Seahawks pre-season game is tonight and next Thursday they open the season.  Have I done anything with my fantasy team yet?  No, no I have not.  I haven't had one practice draft.  I haven't read one single article.  I haven't even looked at the standings!!!  I have got to get on it.  Maybe this afternoon I can get a little time.  And tomorrow I hope to leave early so maybe then I can do a couple practice drafts. 

I got out for the bus extra early last night but the traffic wasn't quite so bad so I was in fact early for my second bus.  That is much better than missing it!  I watched a little stupid TV, made a really tasty dinner - a tomato salad (I had meant to make Caprese but I put the fresh basil into the fridge instead of leaving it out and it was gone) and TJ's wonderful lobster ravioli.  And then I had a nice long gab with my sister on the phone and then ..... well, then it was time for bed.  I was too tired to unpack anything -- again.  The best laid plans, etc. etc. etc. 

I have to give a presentation to the new students this morning at 11 or so.  I'm all ready - it's basically the same talk I give every year.  This year we're using a brand new website LMS (learning management system) and as usual, being the first class, we're the guinea pigs.  I have worked with it before so it's not entirely new, but new enough.  I am sure it'll be fine.  That's what the practice quiz is for this afternoon - for the students to learn about the interface and for me to learn about the input I get from the quiz. 

My plan -- get everything done before noon tomorrow so I can take the rest of the day off and get a jump on the long weekend. 

The best laid plans, etc. etc.

I'm not doing so well so far on my plan to unpack a little each night.  Again the traffic was atrocious in front of the medical center and even though I went out to catch the earlier bus, which would come by just a few minutes before my normal 4:10, I didn't get on a bus until nearly 4:30!  So obviously I missed my 232 again.  However, the bus driver for the 931 must have been new because he started the route at 5 o'clock rather than 5:15.  I didn't complain.  Even with the mile walk I got home before six and that's what is important.  Tinkerbell got her walk, I got a load of laundry in and then made myself a gorgeous salad to eat after my hair was dry.  Fresh tomatoes from the garden, goat cheese, pistachios ..... other stuff.  Yummmmmmm

Did I unpack any boxes?  Nope.  Did I take the clothes out of the dryer? Nope.  Did I knit?  Nope.  So yes, it was Do-Nothing-Tuesday.  I must do some work tonight though.  I must.

The thing is that I am so busy at work that I'm exhausted when I get home.  I don't want to work.  I will certainly regret it if I have to work all of the long weekend and don't get any time to rest.  Move the furniture Saturday, clean on Sunday and rest (and fantasy football draft) on Monday.  That's the plan.  Looks good on the screen, doesn't it?

Oh that darned traffic

I can't figure this out, but yesterday was the second time I missed my second bus in the afternoon because of bad traffic outside of the medical center.  Once the bus was on the freeway it was smooth sailing.  Last night the 232 was right in front of my bus but by the time we got to a bus stop my bus had missed a light and I couldn't catch it.  It is a HUGE hassle.  My choices are wait 45 minutes (yes, that's right .. 45 minutes) for another 232 to come by or, the less heinous choice, wait 25 minutes for a bus that gets me within a mile walking distance.  That's the choice I took.  I'd rather walk a mile than sit and sit waiting for a bus, wouldn't you?  Well truly, I'd rather not miss that freaking bus!! In the future, when I see the earlier bus running late I'm going to run out a few minutes early and catch that one.  I just missed it both times and now I know that if it is running late, my 4:10 will be as well.  I should just start driving to the Transit Center.  I really don't want to though.

So then I got home and I was hot and tired and pissed off.  But my deal with myself is that I've got to unload and put away at least one box, if not two, every night this week.  My compromise was that I cleaned up the kitchen and put away the rest of the things I hadn't put away Sunday.  The weather was SO gorgeous and mild and I couldn't stand to be cooped up inside any longer.  I had a nice shower, poured myself a glass of wine and sat on the deck and knit and knit and knit until it was getting a little too dark and I was feeling it start to cool off.  But that wasn't until 7:30, so that's pretty good.  I am loving knitting on my new project.  The lace pattern is easy to memorize, the beads look totally awesome and it's going fast.  This is going to be a really cool scarf/wrap thingie.

Work is totally crazy and I feel almost overwhelmed.  It won't be that long though and it'll be calmed down.  In the meantime .... back at it!

Carrot and stick thing

It was that kind of weekend - talking myself into doing things I really didn't want to do and then rewarding myself with some fun.  Saturday was packing and getting half (or less, really) of the moving done.  Oh my goodness do I hate moving.  And for someone who hates it so much, I sure have done a lot of it in the last few years.  This is the fourth time since March, 2011.  And please all supernatural beings, let this be the last for a long time!  The good thing is that I have pared down my belongings so it's not nearly as bad as when I started out.  I got rid of a bit more this weekend and made two trips.  It was a tough day for me, I won't lie.  The carrot was going out to hear some music.  As luck would have it, the Triplehorn Brewery was having an annual do and I absolutely love their Belgian beer.  The weather was super awesome so it was nice to be outside.  There was live music but I must say I wasn't all that keen on the bands.  The music was not danceable and I had wanted to dance.  Oh well, no matter.  The beer was wonderful and I had the best BBQ sandwich I have ever had, hands down.  The BEST.

On Sunday I would have liked to get back to the apartment to start on cleaning and maybe get my manicure and pedicure, but that was not to be.  A big family party, thankfully early in the day, was planned and I didn't have the time.  A quick trip to Costco and the grocery store for necessary items, then off I went to the mall for a really quick sweep through to get my makeup and some face cream.  Nordstrom is on one side of the mall and that's the only place I can buy Chanel makeup and then WAAAAYY on the other side of the mall is Macy's where I get my Clinique stuff.   The party was nice.  Tink had a couple of doggies to play with, and they all enjoyed a little dip in the creek.  And rolling in the dirt.  Too much food and it was so hot and I was so thirsty that I drank 3 cans of soda!  So I was full, but did manage to eat a bite of most things. Big Italian family so you know there's going to be too much food.  And good thing, the family stuff was done and I was in the shower, washing off the dirt and sweat before 5.  And my carrot Sunday?  No, not putting boxes away.  No, not doing laundry.  I sat down in the quiet and cast on for my new project and then I got to do two repeats and start on the third!  The pattern is super easy and my beads that came Saturday are absolutely perfect.  It took a while to get used to lace weight yarn again.  It's like knitting with thread!

I don't think it will be Do-Nothing-Monday tonight.  I have to unpack a few boxes or I'll go nuts.  I hate clutter.  And laundry.  And maybe some more knitting?

I thought it was automatic!

How long have I been commuting now?  Since I left my big house and moved to the apartment on 105th.  So that's since March of 2011 - over three years.  And I keep learning new things.  Like make sure you pull the cord (or push the button) to get off at your stop.  I always assumed that my morning stop at the UW was one of the automatic ones where the bus always stops so I quit pushing the button because the Stop was always lit.  Well today he went right past the stop!  I suppose because so many people are on vacation or taking Friday off there was nobody else on that bus getting off but me and I had neglected to push the button.  So I had a lovely walk back to my building. 

I really really really wanted to get cast on for the Melon Pattern Shawl last night.  I found my needle, got some waste yarn, found the video of the cast-on method I was using and started casting on the 91 stitches.  Except Tinkerbell was so needy.  She just wouldn't leave me alone!  I had already played ball with her and let her out and in and out and in.  She wanted my undivided attention and so I had to put my knitting aside or there would have been no peace at all.  I haven't gotten my beads yet anyway so I guess it's okay.  But what am I going to knit on while the game is on tonight?  Iwi I guess.  I should get a pair of socks going.  That would be good for commuting and football too.

I was in the mood for a football movie, so I went old school and watched North Dallas Forty.  Good movie.  Very dated but good.  And tonight it's Seahawks.  Only two more pre-season games to go. 

Big weekend - working on packing and moving.  Not fun but it must be done.

Clothes off the floor!

Hooray!  My closet bar is back in place and I got all of my clothes hung up again.   And bonus -- it didn't fall down in the night!  I threw away three bags of clothes when I was packing last weekend and I feel like I've got only what I wear, but I suppose there are a few more things I could toss.  I'll go through it again when the weather changes. 

During noon knitting I got all of the ends taken care of for the Venomous Tentacula and then picked up the Iwi and did a row.  It had been quite a while since I had picked it up and I looked at my row counter -- oh, row 4.  So I did row 4.  It wasn't until I had finished it that I realized ... duh ... that I should have turned the counter and done row 5!  Mind you, this is the pattern that I changed from knit flat to knit in the round and I'm reading the lace pattern backwards on even numbered rows.  There is no way in the world I could tink that back.  I think my best bet is to just pretend I didn't do that and carry on with row 5.  I mean really -- what else can I do?  It's either that or frog the whole thing and use the yarn for something else.  I'm not there yet.

I was quite keen on getting that lace yarn wound last night, so I got my swift and ball winder out and went to it.  It has been a long time since I've used lace weight yarn.  I can't even remember -- maybe when I did the Frost Flowers Shawl?  That yarn was on a cone so I didn't have to wind it.  Therefore I was not prepared for such an ordeal.  Each skein is 1000 yards.  That's 10 football fields!  It took me almost 30 minutes for each skein!  My arms were getting so tired I had to keep switching right and left.  Also I made some little jerk now and again so each ball has a funny little loop or two that I know are going to cause problems down the line.  Anyway I'm going to try to cast on tonight for the Melon pattern shawl.  I have to use a provisional cast on and I'm increasing the original pattern from 70 to 90 stitches, which will make it a little wider with two extra pattern repeats.  Fun!  Not fun, really.  I don't like provisional cast on.  I did one last time that wasn't so bad -- if I could remember where I found the instructions.  Ah well .... it'll be fine.

It felt a little chilly this morning.  I almost wished I had gloves.  It does move in quickly, doesn't it? 

Baking is science and cooking is art

I read that somewhere.  In the broadest of terms, it is right.  When one bakes the ingredients have to be measured carefully, the thing has to be cooked at a certain temperature for a certain length of time.  Once you know the basics of cooking though, you pretty much can't fail and sometimes things turn out fantastic.  That's what happened last night.  I had purchased some prawns from the fish market with the intention of making some sort of lemon-y shrimp pasta.  I looked up a few recipes but never wrote anything down.  Then I picked what was left of my basil (and now I know to nip those flowers off - thanks to Monika) and with some capers and a fresh lemon, vermouth and olive oil and butter, I made a super awesome dish.  I was very pleased with it.  I will definitely be doing that again.

I need to get back to running again soon.  I haven't been doing it since I got back from my trip!  First I got sick, then it has been too bloody hot!  Now I'm just very busy AND it's too hot.  Once the class gets going I'll be able to have more time during the day and I can go run and get on it.  I would like to race this fall at least once.  I already know I'm not going to make the Women of Wonder race this year. 

When I woke up this morning I saw that my phone had not taken a charge during the night.  While I was checking the weather and my emails before hauling myself out of bed it died.  I plugged it in while I was getting dressed and in twenty minutes it still wasn't ready!  Usually the lightening plugs work by then.  So I walked Tink and still not ready.  Thank goodness for my new watch - at least I could tell when the bus was coming!  Finally by 7:20 it was charged enough to start.  That's an hour without my phone.  Crazy.  It wasn't that many years ago that it wouldn't have been an issue.  But now ....stupid.  I had my iPad but it's Wi-Fi only and all of my media is in the Cloud.  I could have read but really the reason I like my iPhone in the morning is so that I can have music in my ears and I don't have to hear the gabble of the people on the bus.  Maybe I should make sure I've got music on my iPad from now on.

The lull before the storm

It is awfully quiet here at work.  So many people gone on vacation.  And the others working like crazy to get ready for class in two weeks from today.  Still things are up in the air about what is going to be happening to anatomy in the new curriculum.  I am just not going to worry about it.

I was happy it was sunny yesterday and it's supposed to keep up the rest of this week.  There are lots and lots of tomatoes that need to ripen up!  I remember one year I had a couple of plants at my little house in Ravenna.  Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and I think I had maybe four ripen out of all of them.  That was disappointing.

Do Nothing Monday stayed pristine, which means the closet is still down.  It makes getting dressed a bit of a challenge. Hopefully tonight we can get it fixed up.  I watched some football, prepared some vegetables and some super awesome stuffed Portobello mushrooms to go with a nice little piece of steak.  Then I settled in to finish up my Venemous Tentacula and I did!  The ends aren't tucked in nor is it blocked but it's done.  I will bring it in to noon knitting tomorrow pre-blocking so they can all see.  I don't think this one is going to look significantly different after blocking though.  Just the bottom part will be more uniform.  I am hoping that the stitches will even out as well.  All that casting on and casting off -- it's tough.  I guess I'll bring in the Iwi and start going on that again and see how it feels.  I am waiting for some beads I ordered before I start the other new project, so I might as well do something constructive.

A mysterious bump in the night

I was sure glad to be done with the week and get home Friday to some football and knitting!  The clouds were still hanging around, but it was still a lovely evening and the Seahawks really kicked some behind.  That's always nice to see.  Our fantasy draft has now been set for 8 pm September 1, so when I watch preseason football I should really pay more attention to things other than the score.  I did find a football website that shows the depth chart for each team and that's going to be a big help to me.

The weather was much better during the weekend but, with the exception of the wedding on Saturday, the majority of the weekend was given over to the process of moving.  Shuffling things around, repopulating the shelves in the garage, a trip to the Goodwill to drop off donations, a trip to the garage to drop off the truck (!).  Bad timing, that.  It means I wasn't able to use it on Sunday.

The wedding was fun and the weather was absolutely perfect.  It wasn't quite so fancy as I had thought it was going to be, but it was lovely all the same.  The ceremony was outside in the gardens at Tibbets Creek Manor in Issaquah.  My one disappointment was that there was no wedding cake, but a little cake at the top for cutting and then a cupcake tower.  But I had such a huge day on Sunday, plus in order to have a vehicle to get to the apartment and back, I had to take Ben to the golf tournament at the crack of dawn Sunday morning, that we skipped out after dinner and the toasting while the dance floor was being cleared.  The upside to having to drive him to the tournament was that I was in the apartment working by eight AM. 

Because I had the fancy convertible, there wasn't a terribly lot of room to haul things back, but I was able to pack some things with the few boxes I did have and, the biggest thing, got ALL of the clothes into the back seat.  I couldn't see out of it.  And I couldn't put the top down because they would have been blown all over.  But I got them all transported, plus all of my knitting tools and my new YarnBox yarn so that I can wind that up and maybe start my new project this week.  I got all of the bedding and towels washed, a few cupboards cleared out.  The time just flew by!  I ran out of boxes at about noon and I had planned on stopping by the mall to pick up some face cream and make up that I'm nearly out of, but I was a sweaty sight, so I had a quick little power nap before I had to head up north to pick up the golfer.

So here's the kicker.  I got my clothes in, hung up in the dressing room arranged by color.  I walked Tink.  I had a shower and got my hair dried - and in the heat that was a serious bit of work.  THEN I got to have a few hours of weekend.  In the middle of the night I heard a strange thump but I wrote it off as some sort of critter sound.  Alas, it was not.  I walked into my dressing room this morning and what do you think I found?  Any guesses?  Come on -- I'm sure one of you has guessed by now.  Yes, all of the clothes down.  The brace holding the rod pulled right out of the wall!  *sigh*  My Do-Nothing-Monday night just got cancelled.

There's just not enough time!

Every evening this week has seemed the same.  By the time I get my little chores done and dinner cooked and deal with Tink, I'm tired and ready for bed!  Work must be sucking the life right out of me.  And the fact that we haven't really had much sun this week is a big change and must impact my energy level as well, don't you think?  I truly wanted to buckle down and finish up that shawl last night but it didn't happen.  Tonight however I've got a better chance.  The Seahawks are playing their second pre-season game.  Football and knitting go together SO well.  That will be my goal then - finish up!

I'm on a roller coaster at work.  I am either waiting for input and bored or furiously taking care of something or other.  Today I've got to get the class web site going.  That is, of course, of the guy in the School of Medicine has finished giving permission for the dental students to use the site.  I understand he has to do that manually.  I can't send out their pre-class handout, which specifically states they need to get onto the class web site, until the dental students are able to do that.  One year, not knowing that the SOM hadn't given them permission, I nearly had a riot on my hands.  Lesson learned.

I've got a pretty fun weekend coming up.  AND the weather is supposed to be nice too.  My friend's daughter is getting married.  I love weddings!  Especially fancy ones.  Oh ... isn't wedding cake the absolute best?? Mmmmm  Plus, added bonus, I get to see my friend embarrassed since he's the father of the bride and must dance with her for all to see.  He is the worst dancer in the world.  It's going to be epic.

What a nice change

I must say I have been enjoying this cooler weather.  It's not cold by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not 90 degrees either!  It's just a bit easier to take.  We're not used to the hot and humid weather here in Seattle.  As soon as the clouds part it gets very hot again, as it did yesterday afternoon.  I keep having to get up and walk out into the hallway so I can get a bit of cool air. 

Quite innocently I started a controversy on Facebook a couple of days ago.    I simply said that I have known people who put the silverware into the basket handles down and I prefer handles up so that when I put the silverware away I don't have to touch the tines or spoons, and also knife points are down so you don't accidentally cut yourself.  Well I guess not everyone sees it that way.  My friend Steve insists that handles go down, but he lets his dog lick the dirty dishes before the dishwasher is run so ...... yeah, there's that.  It's pretty funny.  And WAY better than reading about Robin Williams. 

I didn't finish my project in noon knitting, nor did I pick it up last night.  I am so close.  Maybe tonight is the night it's finished up.  It was cool enough to knit but I just didn't have it in me.  I made a nice salad with the last of the ripened cherry tomatoes.  There are tons of tomatoes just waiting for more sun to get ripe.  That should happen this weekend, fingers crossed.  The few that I've tasted have been spectacular.  I love home grown tomatoes.  Well, who doesn't?  Oh -- Emma doesn't. 

For years and years and years I've been wearing a heart necklace.  White gold, pave.  I had to replace the chain but seriously, it's like 15 years or more that I wore that every day.  When I got back from Paris I noticed it hanging a little crookedly and on closer inspection I saw that the chain had worn away one side of the bale!  Have you ever heard or seen anything like that?  I hadn't.  Now I've got to find a jewelery repair.  I feel just naked without it!

Leaves on the ground!

I suppose from all of the storming these past couple of days, but I have been noticing a few leaves on the ground.  It is a bit early, don't you think?  I believe I read that it is more about the lack of water than the temperature as to when the leaves start to turn and fall.  The big trees haven't started yet, but the two or three outside my window here at work, in the courtyard, are starting.  I think they're beech trees.

It rained in the morning yesterday and it had stopped by noon.  I went out for a little walk (I still can't run because of my chest congestion.  Hopefully next week I'll be entirely done with the virus) with the intention of sitting in the lovely air conditioned lobby of the School of Medicine for a little knitting.  However, something was going on down there so it was back to my stifling office.   But it's Wednesday today so I'll get a whole hour at noon.

The days are busy at work and Tuesday zipped by.  Do-Nothing-Monday gave way to lazy Tuesday.  I hadn't had a very restful sleep Monday so I was tired.  At least it was a bit cooler in the evening and Tink got a couple of nice walks.  I did get a little knitting done and I'll be very close to finishing up today.  Maybe tonight I can finally be done with it.

My Fantasy Football draft had been set for Monday the 1st of September, which is a holiday and the day after I have to be out of my apartment and have it clean.  However, one of the guys objected and now it is moved to August 31 at 7 pm.  I am going to be exhausted!!  I picture myself sweating in that little box with a carpet cleaner right up to the last minute.  Well, there's time yet.  I should take steps, shouldn't I?  I want to enjoy the draft and, more importantly, I want to do much better than last year.  The draft order is randomly chosen.  Let's hope I'm lucky!  Plus I've got to do a little better study before I dive in. 

Les orages

I have many many MANY wonderful memories of those six months I spent living in Paris from January through June, 2000.  One of my favorites is the thunderstorms.  I remember being in my little apartment watching the lightening flash and jumping at the huge rumbles of thunder.  The smell of the rain and the sound as it hit the cobblestones in the courtyard.   Every time I am in a thunderstorm now it takes me back there -- as if I ever need much of a push anyway.  Last night we had a huge thunderstorm.  It felt like it was going right overhead and the poor dog was very uncomfortable, panting and whining.  At least it was over quickly.  It was over 90 degrees yesterday and this morning it's hot as well.  I believe we're not done with the thunderstorms.

It was too hot to knit and besides, it was Do Nothing Monday, so I did exactly nothing.  Or nothing much anyway.  I used the left over lamb for a curry.  I drank some wine.  I didn't even read.  I am rather anxious to finish this wrap, so hopefully between tonight and tomorrow's Noon Knitting I can get it done.  Maybe I'll knit at lunch today if it's raining outside.  We'll see.

My sister's birthday gift arrived yesterday.  It's an adorable Betsey Johnson watch with a Seahawks green band.  A rose gold case and Mother-of-Pearl face with a pink sweep hand with a heart on the end.  Like it was made for me!  It's very cute and right up my alley.  It's sad to say goodbye to the birthday week.  But it's over. 

I am very sad about Robin Williams' death.  What a waste. 

A rather uneventful birthday weekend

Fancy French birthday dinner ..... postponed.  My gallant dinner companion would most definitely have gone through with it, but he's sick and coughing (yet another victim of this vicious virus) and I simply didn't want to make him go through that.  It's postponed to September 6.  Something to look forward to during this very busy month. 

It was, then, a rather quiet birthday weekend.  I knit and did laundry and read and had some nice meals.  I got some ripened goat cheese with a vein of ash ..... gorgeous!  The weather was sunny and hot.  The tomatoes are starting to ripen - there were a few little ones and a Roma ready to be made into a salad as well as the one lone red pepper.  Delicious.  Leg of lamb done on the grill outside.  Scrumptious.  A beautiful bouquet of flowers from the outdoor market with while Stargazer lilies.   Just quiet and relaxing.

I am very very close to being done with the Venomous Tentacula and I've decided on a pattern from Victorian Lace Today - the Melon Pattern, which is a rectangle with a knitted on border.  I had to read that book three times before I finally figured out how she was describing knitting on the border.  And the edition of the book that I own has the diagram for the melon pattern itself missing.  I finally got online and found the errata and see that the pattern stitch is quite easy and the repeats small so that working from a chart is not an issue.  I can put a bead into the middle of "melon" and it'll be really nice.  I am going to make it wider that the pattern calls for but I have plenty of yarn.  I could make it twice as large as the pattern and have left over.  I won't make it twice though.  That'd be too large.  I won't be starting it right away either.  I want to make another stab at the Iwi and see if I can get my mojo back for it.  Plus my weekends are not made for yarn winding this month.  They're made for work.  Packing and rearranging and moving.

It is supposed to be over 90 degrees today!  And then the clouds will move in and we'll have thunder storms tomorrow.  I hope not during the day because it makes Tinkerbell SO scared.

When you have no vacation days to take for your birthday ......

I simply can't complain this year.  I had a super early birthday vacation and so I've got to work on the real one.  But it won't be so bad.  It's a lovely day and it's not supposed to get so hot today.  I have a great fancy French dinner to look forward to tomorrow evening.  Tonight I'm pretty much stuck until 10 pm with nothing scheduled.  I have been pretty self indulgent all this week, especially since I've had to stay in the hottest of hot apartments.  But last night was the last night of that nonsense.

One could have hoped for a better outcome with the game, although sitting and knitting and watching football was pretty awesome.  However, the TV, which in the apartment is using an HD antenna, was acting strangely and it kept stopping.  I suspect it's because of all of the fans going.  It looked like that type of interference.  And when I turned the air conditioner off it calmed down a bit, but it made watching the game very very annoying.  And then they lost in the end.  It's the first pre-season game the Seahawks have lost since 2011.  But the Broncos were out for blood and we didn't have very many of our best players active.  Then one of our guys lost his cool and threw a punch and there was a penalty and ... there ya go.  I got lots of knitting done and I made and consumed another fabulous chicken salad.  It wasn't a bad evening.

That is until 2:30 am when my eyes popped open.  I don't know what woke me up but I was wide awake and it wasn't until nearly 4 that I was able to get back to sleep.  I feel fine though.

I keep searching Ravelry for the perfect pattern for all of that laceweight yarn I got from YarnBox.  I want a pattern that is written, NOT charts only.  I hate working from charts.  I can do it if I have to but I much prefer written instructions. AND the pattern has to have beads because I have now because smitten with beaded knitting now that I am doing this project with the beading done with a teensy crochet hook.  It's much better than stringing all those beads and having to slide them down.   And it's got to be big.  I have 2,000 yards.  No I know I don't have to use all of it, but just think how spectacular it could be.  If you have any ideas, please let me know.

Now to start my birthday.  

Don't rush it!

For some reason this year I've been getting happy birthday greetings early.  I love love love that people remember, absolutely.  I'm not complaining exactly.  I just don't like to rush time.  Unlike a child who counts the days until their next birthday, after one reaches a certain age we are not all that eager to add another digit.  I already have a hard time saying how old I am out loud.  And now I've got to add another year!!  I can wait another day.  But thank you all.  Really. 

I had a wonderful pre-birthday eve day yesterday.  Wednesday knitting with my girls after such a long lay off was so nice, especially in MaryEllin's comfy and air conditioned conference room.  I hadn't picked up my project for nearly a week.  It won't be long now before I'm done.  Then I treated myself to a little early exit and headed to the mall.  I've got this wedding to attend on the 16th and I hadn't decided what I wanted to wear.  Then I remembered that I have a really cute pink ruffled dress that I bought last year before I went to California to stay with my sister.  And on Sunday I had seen a really cute lace cut out jacket that I thought would work well.  So I headed to the mall, found a necklace that will add a little sparkle to the outfit, found the last jacket in my size (score!) and then went to DSW and found a pair of lower heeled sandals with rhinestones on the buckle that will complete the ensemble.  I have a feeling that this wedding will be outside and I didn't want sharp heels that sink into the grass.  I am well pleased.

Ah --- then I went home and got Tink and we stopped in at BevMo where I found a simply gorgeous bottle of Pouilly Fuisse - my favorite.  [As a side note, I have GOT to get back to Beaune.  I was so jealous of Deirdre and Eoghan.  That's where they were when I was in Paris.]  I had it chilling while I prepared a lovely chicken salad.  Then I cranked that air conditioner, took a cool shower and sat down and I even knit!  It has gotten a bit cooler lately and with the air conditioner blowing on me and keeping the bulk of the project to my side rather than on my lap I was able to complete quite a few rows. 

Tonight .... tonight on my birthday eve we have the most wonderful entertainment of all.  The Seahawks pre-season football game against the Broncos.  It doesn't start until six so I'll have time to get my dog walked, my little chores completed, a salad composed and I'll be all set.  Go Hawks!

An unexpected plus to moving

Moving house is always a huge hassle.  And all of the address changing that has to go on  ...... so tedious.  Yesterday however, I found a silver lining.  On Monday I had renewed my driver's license online (who knew? Very convenient) and while I was doing that also changed my address on my voter's registration.  I had gotten a jury summons in the mail and I needed to respond to that, which I did yesterday.  It had me coming to court the 9th of September for a week and that I cannot do, because of work.  So, I got onto the court website and, since the address change hadn't come through yet, tried to change my address on the site, but it wouldn't accept the Woodinville zip code, saying it was invalid.  I called the court and left a message explaining my problem.  Later in the afternoon I got a return call and yay and hoorah, I am excused from this jury because the Municipal Court only calls Seattle residents!  What a lovely bonus.

I have been very self indulgent these past few days, just going home, walking Tinkie and then just laying around.  It's too hot to knit even with the air conditioner.  I did go through the Victorian Knits Today book for some more ideas for that lace weight yarn.  I should have brought it with me today, but I want to knit at noon knitting, not read.  There's no hurry to pick a pattern.  I still have the Iwi I haven't worked on for a couple of months.  Not to mention a couple of other projects I've probably forgotten about.

I'm so hungry this morning.  I couldn't get it together to cook last night.  I should have made a salad with the chicken I have but the heat just saps me.  So I made a little plate of nachos.  Tonight for sure I'll make a nice salad as soon as I get home before the heat gets to me, put it in the fridge and when I'm ready there it will be.

I am finally catching up here at work.  Things were a bit nerve wracking but I feel like I've got it under control now.  Hopefully this heat will break and my cough will go away and I can start running next week.  Fingers crossed.

I love my Do Nothing Monday nights

Yesterday was a long, hot day.  I had lots of work to catch up and I feel good about what I did get done.  I took a short walk at lunchtime - no running until this cough is gone.  Plus it was about a million degrees outside.  I had made a hair appointment for yesterday a month ago and I couldn't change it so I did have to leave a few minutes early.  It couldn't be helped.  Poor Tinkie didn't get rescued from my hot apartment until after 6.  That's a long long day for her and I let her lead the walk.  It was so hot that she wasn't that interested in lingering too long.  Then I got the air conditioner blowing, took a cool shower, mixed up a martini and I was finally relaxing by 7:15.  I swear I could have fallen asleep right there but instead I watched a little TV and heated up a couple of slices of left over pizza for dinner.  Tink got a late walk a little after eight and it was still just beautiful outside.  Blue skies and not quite so hot.

Oh I wanted to knit, but even with the air conditioner blowing there was not any way I was going to put a pile of wool (or in the case of the Venomous Tentacula, alpaca) on my lap or even off to the side.  Just plain too hot.  It was all I could do to stay awake until 9:30.  And then with my fans blowing I fell asleep and slept just great.  I don't remember waking at all coughing so the worst is (finally) behind me.  Just a little cough now and again to remind me. 

I need to set up our noon knitting group for tomorrow.  Everyone has been either on vacation or sick for a month of Wednesdays.  It'll be nice to be back in the air conditioned comfort of MaryEllin's conference room (if it's available).  I got 2,000 yards of lace weight yarn in a lovely light green from my YarnBox subscription for July.  I think I'm going to tackle one of the lace stoles with a border from my Victorian Lace Today book.  I think there's a design-your-own kind of thing there.  I need to look at the book again.  What else can you do with so much lace weight yarn?  I guess I could double it for a cardigan or something.  But I haven't made a big fancy stole since I did the Frost Flowers Shawl years ago.  So, that's my plan for now.

I need to untangle this TA situation today.  Then you know what?  I need to realize it's my birthday week!  Since I got a couple of big presents already it almost feels like September.  But it's not.  So I'm going to work on the birthday frame of mind.  In my spare time. 

Worst summer cold ever

I lasted most of the day last Monday, but it was not easy.  I got sicker and sicker as they day went on and I got home and went to bed and .... there went the week!  I slept and slept and coughed and slept some more.  Terrible.  And the weather was absolutely stunning!  Work?  Oh man, the worst possible time of all to be sick.  But there you go.  I'm going to have to be working like a maniac for the rest of the month. 

Not the best start to my birthday is it?  Having to work like crazy.  BUT ... last night was the start of football season.  The Hall of Fame game was last night and the beginning of pre-season.  The Seahawks will be playing their first pre-season game later this week -- Thursday I think.

Well I should dig into this huge pile of work. 

Two whole weeks off!

What a treat that was!  Was it difficult to come back to work today?  Absolutely yes, it was.  I had such a super great time in Paris - of course - and my trip back was quite easy.  When I checked in to my flight I was able to change my seat to row 15 from row 31, which was awesome.  And then I didn't have anyone next to me again!  How's that for luck?  I only slept a few hours but as usual, jet lag is so much easier come home that it is going East.

I had a day and a half to myself before my sister and the boys arrived on Wednesday.  It was pouring rain Wednesday and I woke up with a terrible sore throat.  My sister arrived with laryngitis.  Would you like to guess how the rest of the week went?  It was challenging at best.  Neither one of us got better but there were things that needed to be attended and tended to.  Thankfully the rain was gone by Friday morning.  The family reunion on Saturday was a trial.  I think I would have found it much more amusing had I not been sick.

That being said, it was nice to be able to spend so much time with my sister and my nephews and the weather was awesome.  I just wish I didn't have this cold or virus or whatever the heck it is.  My throat is no longer sore but I am completely stuffed up and coughing like a maniac.  You should have seen the dirty looks people were throwing my way on the bus, even though I was trying my best to keep a low profile and keep the coughing to a minimum, into my arm.  Oh well ... I'll live.

Hot hot hot!

It is summertime, with plenty of heat. We finally got to Bruges in the evening, got checked in to a lovely hotel and found our way to a restaurant still serving. It was Argentinian and I had steak.  It was gorgeous.  The room was quite warm, but we were on a canal so it did cool down finally. The next day we strolled around the square and the little streets nearby.  It was so hot though!  We had to stop several times just to find some shade and have something to drink.

The countryside is quite beautiful with lots of trees bit reminds me of Oregon. Our trip back was easy, with moderate traffic. We got back to Luxembourg in plenty of time to clean up for a birthday party we were attending. I was going to do my hair but it was just way too hot. I went curly.

Today is a lazy day. At some point we are going for a ramble, then dinner at a Thai restaurant. Tomorrow we take a train to Paris so we have to get up and out early enough to drop the dog at the sitter. We can't miss that train!

Cooling my heels in Luxembourg

Monday was Bastille Day and the weather was just so pretty, which was especially welcome after the rainy Sunday.  I was up quite early, having been awakened by the patrons of the after hours club across the street. I got out and started rambling, first towards Republique then later in the day up and down rue de Rivoli which had been blocked to traffic. The parade was down Champs d'Elysee, but all of the military vehicles drove all the way to Bastille so I got to see a few things. And the airplanes and helicopters were very cool. I couldn't resist going in some of the shops and bought a pair of sandals.

The evening was so lovely and I walked with a friend to St Germaine to a restaurant for dinner. They specialize in champagne cocktails. Right up my alley. We walked back over the Pont des Arts which has been terribly disfigured by the "love locks" craze. Terrible. What an eyesore. I hear they are now also doing it in Dublin and London. I am not a fan.

I bought a sleep aid earlier in the day so I was able to sleep through the night. I had a train to catch at 1:40 so I had plenty of time in the morning. I walked to Gare de l'Est and had a nice tide to Luxembourg.   Emma picked me up, we made one stop to see a friend on the way and then drank wine and talked far into the night.

Today we are going to Bruges, but we are getting a very late start due to Emma not feeling tip top. Now I wish I had brought my knitting!

My wonderful Sunday in Paris

Ahhhhh... So here I am. My flight over was really not bad, especially since a girl asked me to switch seats with her friend and I got a better seat with nobody beside me. That is very unusual. I managed to sleep a few hours and watched some movies. We landed in the rain.

It took one and a half hours to get through customs, collect my bag, walk to the RER and get on the train. Then a forty minute train ride to town. I got off at Chatelet and walked to a cafe to pick up the keys to the flat and after a shower and change of clothes I was ready to hit the streets. It was sprinkling so I grabbed Deirdre's umbrella, thankfully. I walked a bit, then found a cafe and ate a warm goat cheese salad. Heaven. On the way back there was a cloudburst and I got soaked.

I tried a little nap, but only managed an hour, then off again. I went to the pub and got on the Wi-Fi. The World Cup finals are at 9 tonight but I know I won't make that. I headed back to the flat, stopping for a sandwich for dinner.

I love being in my old neighborhood.  It hasn't changed much. One of the bakeries is now a cupcake place. Things are pretty much the same.

Tomorrow is a big wander day. Maybe I will go up to Republique and then the canal. I want to stay away from the big tourist spots. I am meeting friends at 6.

I am so darned happy it is scary.

Friday before vacation

What a joy -- one more day to go and then .... vacation!  Starting off with a fantastic early b'day present trip and then a second, and probably more hectic, week at home hosting my sis and nephews.  If the weather keeps up it'll be super easy to keep them happy and occupied.  This next week, while I'm gone, it is predicted that it'll be in the 90's all week!!  That is hot.  Super hot.  I am kind of glad I'll be missing out on that.

I had a fast and busy day yesterday and I wanted to get laundry done in the evening, but instead of that there was a trip to Milagro in Kirkland to hear some music.  A musician that some friends just love.  However they had set him up outside on the patio and he had only a drummer and his bass player with him AND (final straw) you couldn't hear.  I especially couldn't hear because I was sitting right next to the open part of the restaurant where they had the music blasting, drowning out the live musicians.  I understand that you can't leave the inside of a restaurant completely quiet but they certainly could have lowered the volume.  Oh ... and a kid completely out of control.  Not an ideal situation. 

But I won't complain.  I've got a To-Do list here and I'm going to work my way through it this morning and as far into the afternoon as I need to.  And then?  Then I'm outta here baby!  I've got laundry to do and dinner out at 7 o'clock.  I know -- two nights in a row!  I'm going to be exhausted by the time I get on the plane which is absolutely perfect!  I need to sleep on the plane.

I'm taking Tink to a new groomer tomorrow.  She really needs it after that terrible haircut from PetSmart.  And just in time for the super hot weather.  I am sure she'll be much more comfortable with some of that fur gone.

Yesterday I bought myself a present -- some yarn (of course).  DBNY is hit or miss and, for me anyway, mostly miss.   But yesterday they had discount codes for percentages off your purchase, depending upon the final price.  There was some Cash Iroha, which has been discontinued for a long time, that I had my eye on.  I snagged 10 skeins of a lovely green for $77 including shipping!  That is a deal.  A steal one might even say.  I'm quite pleased with that purchase.  Happy (very early) birthday to me. 

While I'm gone I'll post pictures to Facebook when I can and, hopefully, I'll get a few up here as well.  It's more difficult to post on my blog because I don't have a reliable blogging app on my iPad.  Facebook is so seamless.

Now to my list!

Two more days to go!

Oh heavens .... two more days.  Thank goodness I'm crazy busy at work.  The time will zip by and I'll be on my way before I know it.  I got a text with all the instructions for picking up the keys to my friend's flat.  Just down the block from where I used to live -- handy because I know the neighborhood.  It's great timing.  She's leaving it at a cafe right next to her husband's pub and they open at ten on Sunday.  My plane gets in at 8:30 and so I'll just take it easy and take the RER into town.  It'll save me $50 at least and by the time I arrive I should be able to go right to the cafe.  And as an added bonus I can get some breakfast.  I do NOT want to take a nap.  I am going to really try to sleep on the plane.  If I eat, drop my bags and freshen up and then walk over to the Bastille market I should be able to get well into the afternoon before I will need a little nap.  But that's days away.  I'd best keep my nose to the grindstone here.

One of the things I'm trying to get buttoned up before I leave is getting our new web site up and running.  I would have done it a couple of weeks ago, but our IT guy, who needs to write the redirect code, was sick after his trip.  Sick for over a week.  It's a nasty bug out there.  So we were behind.  I got all of my edits done and then yesterday I found that I had made all of those edits on the WRONG version of the site!!  Oh ... seriously bummed.  I skipped lunch and re-did all the edits so we're nearly ready to go.  The administrator has a few things she wants to fiddle with and I've got a few more people to add to the directory, but that will be off my plate and out of my head. 

I'm tired.  I stayed up too late watching some stupid show on TV.  But I slept well and deeply.  The fan is the perfect white noise sometimes.  I didn't hear anything outside.  That's very unusual. 

I have decided not to take any knitting with me.  I think I've decided not to take any knitting.  It's tough.  I do have plenty of things to read if I do find myself with some time to just relax and do nothing.  I take knitting with me when I travel and I never pick it up!  Now is it a crutch of some kind?  I guess if I started to go really crazy I could go buy some needles and yarn and do something.  That wouldn't be a bad thing.  And I do want to go light.  We'll see.  The verdict is not in quite yet.

I am SO happy.

Why does she stay?

There is a woman in the office next to mine who constantly complains.  If she's not on the phone complaining to someone when I walk into the suite in the mornings she's here, it is unusual.  Sometimes I just have to shut my office door because I can't stand the constant stream of nonsense I hear day in and day out.  The thing is ... she doesn't need to be here!  She can retire!  She's been bragging about it for years, that she and her husband are set.  Plus her commute is insane.  Why oh why doesn't she quit?  Why would someone choose to put themselves through this if it's so onerous?  I honestly don't get it.  If I didn't have to be here I certainly could find plenty of things to keep myself busy and, most importantly, happy.  Why not be happy?

Hot yesterday again and boy, did I make a boneheaded move!  I was distracted in the morning as we, most of us anyway, are in the mornings.  Tired and not thinking clearly.  I was vacillating between two pairs of shoes, time was tight and so I just slipped on my patent leather loafers, which go well with the pants I had chosen.  But I neglected to put on any socks, which I realized on my way to the bus.  Oh well, I thought, I'll just sit in my office barefooted.  Nobody will know or care.  Ah .... good plan.  But I didn't plan on what the walk to the bus, from the bus to the office, back and forth to the kitchen and the bathroom, would do to my feet.  I had blisters on both my heels before 11 am!!  Well running was right out - not happy about that.  I ended up taking the bus to the pet store for food for Tink, then started to walk back, knowing I could hop on a bus if my heels started hurting.  I made it all the way back, mostly thanks to my running shoes and the excellent socks I have.  Maybe I could have run, but by that time it was a million degrees outside.

My evening was okay but it slipped by way too quickly.  Unfortunately, considering the heat, I had to do my hair.  A fan blowing on me helps.  I got some berries cut up and frozen, since I am leaving soon and I know I wouldn't get through them all.  I took Tink for a couple of leisurely walks and read until I fell asleep.  It's going to stay hot all week, in the 80s and going to be hottest on Saturday, when I leave.  In Paris and Luxembourg it's raining right now.  I think it's supposed to be nicer by the time I get there.  Of course, I don't really care, do I?  I was watching a movie on TV a couple nights ago and a part of it was in Paris.  That's when it dawned on me that I will be there soon.  I teared up!  I swear ...  So rain?  Do not care.   I do not care one little bit.

My Do Nothing Monday evenings

It is, of course, two months from Monday Night Football, but I like the idea of doing nothing on a Monday night except for cooking a meal and vegging, whether it's in front of a football game or a movie or just some nice music.  I don't do anything else on a Monday night.  I was pretty tired yesterday so I started out with a little knitting outside in the shade, then a quick little dinner and finished the evening off with a nice read.  Tink got a couple of leisurely strolls and a short game of ball.  It was too hot really for anything else.  Being outside was okay if under an umbrella and there was a bit of an evening breeze.

I got out for my run just a little before noon and it wasn't too hot yet.  However, after 30 minutes the sun was just that much higher and it started getting quite warm as I finished my run.  I ran nearly two miles out so that when I finished up my 3 miles I'd have a bit to walk back so that I could cool down.  Nice idea, but it didn't work too well.  I might have strolled up and down the air conditioned halls but some files I had been waiting for decided to arrive on my computer right as I arrived in my office and I needed to sit right down and take care of a few things.  By the time I was finished my wrist rest mouse pad was drenched.  I know - ick.  And now I remember why I started running in the morning before work.  However we know  how that worked out, don't we?  All was good until the light started to shift, I quit getting up and I didn't start running at noon again for a bit.  So - I am going to tough it out.  This week won't be so bad anyway because I'm only going to do it once more -- today.  Tomorrow is noon knitting, I don't want to run Thursday because I am going out Thursday night to hear some music and I don't want my hair to be a huge giant bush, and Friday I'm leaving early.  So - get through today and then a little vacation.  Easy peasy.

Oh how I love long weekends!

What a super weekend!  Three days weekends are just the BEST!  There is plenty of time to get the chores done AND have fun!  Throw in a holiday and some summer weather and it's fabulous. 

July is such a great time for summer produce, especially fruit.  I have a peach with me today and my entire office smells delicious.  There was a BBQ on the 4th and I made a huge fruit salad to bring.  Someone else made a pasta salad with homemade pesto.  Everything was so yummy.  I skipped the burgers and brought Italian chicken sausages instead.  On a BBQ?  Very very good.

Saturday was a girlie day - first a trip to Derby for my hair.  Gosh my hair grows fast!  Then I did a little shopping.  I needed some lighter denim and of course everything was on sale for the holiday weekend so I grabbed a couple of tops as well.  I also really needed to replace my walking sandals.  The ones I had are two years old and showing it, but I just couldn't find anything I liked so I gave up and renewed the search on Sunday, where I found the perfect pair.  So yay, I have a super comfy pair of sandals to take with me as well as another cute pair of higher wedge sandals to wear for walking on cobbles, which is a lot of Luxembourg.

I had plenty of time this weekend to watch movies and knit.  To watch sports and knit.  To sit outside and play games and drink wine.  It was quite a nice weekend.  It was hot yesterday, actually.  And it is going to be warm all week.  I think I'll have to get out running earlier than noon - maybe not today, since it's still over cast.  But later in the week for sure.

So I'm pretty much set for my trip.  I have a list of things I still need to gather, but I know what clothes I'm going to take and that's a big hurdle.  I think I'll be able to get away with 3 pairs of jeans, two pairs of shoes and six tops.  But I might make it eight tops.  We'll see.

Now to get through this week without screaming.

It was not my intention to be in Paris for Bastille Day!

No, it was not.  But that's how it's going to work out.  When I was figuring out what week would work for me for my trip it wasn't even in my mind.  Well I did know it was in July, but truth be told I thought it was the 7th for some reason.  So all my friends have been pointing out to me that Monday the 14th is Bastille Day.  That is the day I have set aside to have a seriously marvelous solo wander, so I guess I don't mind so much.  It'll just mean that there will be more people out and about and perhaps more little markets or parades or what not.  I'll stay away from the huge gatherings  -  the big military parade down the Champs Elysee, for example.  It'll be fine.  I suppose the shops will mostly be closed, but since I don't go to Europe to shop, I'm not bothered by it.  An adventure, that's what it'll be.  And if the crowds are really too much for me, I still have the following Saturday and Sunday.  Oh heavens -- I have another entire week to get through, so I'd better shut down the day dream machine!!

Our noon knitting group was just two - Monika and me.  I knit on the bus coming in to work because it's such an easy, portable project (the Venomous Tentacula) as long as I'm not on row three, the beading row.  I am just now ready to add the third ball of yarn and when that ball is gone I'll start with the decreases.  There are eight rows in a repeat, so if I start the decreases on row 4 (well, 5 really) that should make one beaded point the center.  I just love this thing! I love that the border is more organic than lace.  It's very different. 

True to form, our lovely nice sunny and hot weather is now under clouds and there were even a few sprinkles of rain on the way in this morning.  It's not supposed to rain for the 4th, but it's not going to be bright and sunny again until Saturday, according to the forecast.  I won't be going out to look at fireworks anyway, so I don't care. 

There's a workshop I need to attend this morning.  I'd rather crawl under my desk for a nap.

What a scorcher!

Wow!  Was it ever hot yesterday!  At one point in the commute I checked my phone and it was 90 degrees.  That is hot my friends!  My office is not air conditioned, as I have surely mentioned about a bazillion times in the past.  The hallway is air conditioned, just like my apartment building.  Useless inside, but if you need a breather, it's always there.  Monika put a fan in the doorway in the afternoon and cooled us down in here a bit by drawing in some of that cooler air.  My little window fan doesn't do much, I assure you.  It isn't supposed to be quite so hot today.

Well the world cup match was a disappointment.  The US played well but Belgium beat us fair and square.  I was reading that Seattle has the most soccer fans in all of the US.  And you can surely see it around here.  One of the labs suspended operations yesterday, put up a sheet on the wall and projected the match!  I'm not all that keen.  I love football.  Tick tock - it's not too far away now.  Training camps are starting up in earnest soon.

I was incredibly tired and sick feeling all of yesterday.  I couldn't get much done.  I just wanted to put my head down on my desk and have a snooze!  I was in bed early, put on my sleep mask and had a most wonderful sleep.  I feel fabulous today.  Plus it's noon knitting!  Yay!  The day will just zip by.

The weekend is shaping up to be another killer, busy weekend.  Friday, of course, is the 4th and a BBQ.  There is a card party in the works for Saturday but not definite yet.  And also on Saturday I have a list of errands a mile long including a visit to Derby for a hair appointment (if I don't get some of this hair cut off I'm going to go crazy!), a little bit of shopping for my trip, a stop at the jewelery store to get a new back for my earrings and a couple of other things I can't remember right now.  Busy.  I would also like to get Tink bathed sometime in there before I go.  This is my last weekend before my vacation so I'd better make some lists, yes?

The bus just never showed up!

How annoying is that?  VERY annoying.  But I got to work nevertheless.  It is quite mystifying when one looks at the bus app and sees that it is supposed to be there "NOW" and there is no bus, nor has there been a bus.  And then the next time it's refreshed the next bus shows and the first has disappeared.

I am like a zombie today.  I got quite wound up last night.  I was at Ben's and he has a piece of property with a large greenbelt behind it.  The critters are abundant around there and right now the rabbits are all over the place.  Tink is a terrier and prey driven so she always wants to go after them.  Last night she just slipped out of my grasp as I was hooking her up to a long line in the back and away she went.  I'll skip all of the wandering and calling and wading through brush and nettles(!).  She was recaptured finally.  I was a mess!  Do you know what it would do to me if she got lost?  There are things in the woods there that would kill her in a heartbeat.  But all's well that ends well.  Except I was quite wound up, as I said.  A couple of glasses of Pinot Grigio helped put me over the hump but I wasn't hungry at all.  I forced myself to eat a bit of hummus and some carrots and I did some knitting and watched the Mariners win.  I dropped off around 10, woke up at midnight and pretty much that was it for me.  I dozed around 4 o'clock for a couple of hours.  My mind was going a mile a minute.  I kept telling myself - hey!  It's 12 more days until vacation.  Slow down!!  Hah.  Well, I'm downing a double latte.  Hopefully two shots of espresso will kick start me.

Here's the trouble with wireless headphones (as if a missing bus isn't bad enough).  If you don't keep them charged up you don't have any music or audiobooks to drown out the people on the bus.  I think I'm going to go back to the ear buds.  It's supposed to be 90 degrees today.  Perhaps I'll skip my run and walk up to get new ones at lunch instead.

On Sunday I also visited the Ballard Market for the first time this spring/summer.  I didn't buy any foodstuffs except a jar of homemade kimchi.  They didn't have anything else I particularly wanted.  BUT I did find some yummy handmade soap and the flowers there are always spectacular.  I got some sweet peas and the scent is out of this world.  They still look perfect.