The sleep

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

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

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

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

Insomnia

Oh man ... what a night.  I  fell asleep just like normal and woke up at 2:30am and could not get back to sleep.  Not for a second.  I got up and had some water and walked around and tried everything and nothing worked.  Thank goodness it's my late meeting day so I will be leaving early.  If I can get home by 3 or 3:30 maybe I can catch a quick nap before my 5 o'clock meeting.

We had a pretty good long weekend.  It did rain Saturday and Sunday, but yesterday was really nice.  On Saturday I picked out my new car - haven't bought it yet but I drove it and decided.  Now we have to get the garage fixed up so that it can hold both cars.  To that end we worked on Monday rearranging things in the shed and moving things in the garage.  We also rearranged the back office/game room and made it more of an office/guest room.  We reclaimed the closet.  It still needs the guts and the doors, but the space is there and we'll be able to store a few things from the garage in there, like Ben's golf clubs. 

Saturday night we had steaks and I made creamed spinach for the first time - it was delicious!  And we played cards and this time I didn't lose.  I won a bit for a nice change. 

The baseball was okay - they lost quite a bit but finally won last night.  I knit and knit on the lace front cardigan.  I so want to be done with that but I've got a ways yet to go.  Maybe I should start bringing it in for noon knitting.

Friday at last!!

Holy cow!  I kept thinking each day was Friday.  Finally it is here and it is pouring rain.  Pouring!  I sure hope it doesn't end up pouring all weekend.  I want to test drive cars tomorrow and it's not too much fun in the rain.

I am hoping to get out of here early today.  Holiday weekend and all.  I got good news yesterday -- we have someone to take over HFF for me and she's sitting in to the meeting now.  I should be able to hand that over in a couple of weeks.  They are hiring someone downstairs (SOM) and that person will take over MBB for me. Hopefully that will happen in early July. 

Oooooo sun! 

I had a lazy evening again.  I wanted to knit but I was tired.  Tonight though I'm going to pick it up.  I want to start something new and I've GOT to finish a project first.  Oh but wait -- I think we're going to Triplehorn tonight.  I definitely won't want to knit when I get home.  Here's the deal -- I don't have any TV knitting projects!  Either it's the Venomous Tentacula, which has beads and is very delicate yarn, or the Lace Front Cardigan, which is ... uh ... lace. There are purl back rows but still you have to keep track.  And the Dune, which is also lace, and has moving markers.  I use that for noon knitting.  So yeah I need a TV knitting project.  But again, I don't want to start another project.  I'll figure it out.

Happy long weekend!!

The early birthday present

I left the office intending to get to the U Bookstore at 9 am yesterday, but I was a little late and got there at 9:15 instead.  And good thing I did!  The Tech Center, where you buy computers, did not open until 9:30 and they had a sign "The line starts here".  There were two people in line and that made me third.  By 9:30, when they officially began the tax free sale, there were nearly 20 people behind me.  I asked for my rose gold MacBook and when the salesperson brought out the box he said, "I wondered who was going to buy these.  We had three of them".  So it was a good thing I got there early!  I was going to spend the afternoon at work futzing with it, but instead I took it home and did it there with a celebratory martini.  I need to change the password to something simpler, because now it uses my iCloud password, which is rather complicated.  And then I need to start migrating files from my work computer.

So that was my evening.  I didn't feel like cooking so Ben did some burgers on the smoker and that was easy.  It was difficult to get up this morning  I kept thinking yesterday was Friday and woke up thinking today was Friday.  It is not Friday.  *sigh*  It's going to be a long 14 weeks.

Just as bad as I thought it would be

Yesterday was the day I finally told the last person I needed to tell about my retirement.  I was waiting to tell her.  I knew she'd be upset and she was.  I need to let it go.  It's just that she's my friend - or she was my friend.  I knew she wanted me to stay on until her block was over but frankly, I don't want to.  And what I tried to get across to her, I don't have to.  I know that the SOM will not leave her in the lurch.  I know that everything will be lined up and ready to go before I leave.  But she's panicked because she has counted on me for last minutes things for years and years and years.  I understand that but it's not about her.  It's about me.  For the first time in I can't remember how long, I won't be having nightmares during August.  Hopefully I won't be getting sick time and again next fall either.  No stress.  Basically, I feel really bad - except I am not going to be working in 14 weeks.  So I feel really happy too.

And today I'm going to get my new computer.  My rose gold MacBook.  The University Bookstore opens at 9 am and I'm going to get up there and get that thing before they run out of the rose gold.  The no tax day is pretty popular for computer buying.

I got my manicure and pedicure and made it home in time to give Tink a nice walk and get ready for the 5 o'clock meeting.  It was done before 6.  Nice.  Chicken for dinner and a movie.  Then to bed to read.  I know - boring life I lead, yes?  I didn't even knit.  Tonight.  Tonight I will knit.  AND at noon. 

Taking steps

I didn't do a lot of real work yesterday, but I did get in touch with the SSA to answer the questions they had on my application.  So that's squared away.  Then I called the DRS and asked for an estimate of benefits and an application.  I could do it on line and actually I think I have a hard copy in my retirement packet from the seminar, but I just really wanted to find out what the amount is that I will be getting.  I have an idea from on line but I would like the final true amount.  I was happily surprised by the SSA.  I'd like another nice surprise along those line.  Also, I've got a financial management firm lined up and I'll be seeing them soon as well.  Ducks lining up.  I love it.  Now I've just got to slog through the summer.

Do nothing Monday is back and I didn't do a danged thing last night except get my food ready for today and heat up some leftovers.  I watched a bit of the Mariners game and then went to read in bed.  I have been in a reading mood lately.  Hopefully I can pick up the lace front cardigan again tonight.  I'd like to push to get that done.  I'm ready to be done with it however I have quite a few repeats of the lace pattern to get through.

Up today - a Zoom meeting at 10:30 and then I'm leaving on the 1:40 bus for a 2:30 nail appointment and my late afternoon meeting.  And then tomorrow I get my new computer!!  yay!  I am really excited about that.  I received my case yesterday from Amazon.   It is going right into the case.

Such a boring weekend!

Oh my goodness!  What a boring boring weekend it was!  The weather was super crappy and there wasn't much going on at all.  Saturday we grocery shopped and watched the Mariners -  good news on that front I guess you could say.  As we wait for football season, it is always nice to have the Mariners be relevant.  Typically they are not.  This year?  They are doing very very well.  I really wanted to get the tomatoes in this weekend and also get the color pots planted and the herbs.  We went off to Fred Meyer and nobody else was there!  We had the entire garden section to ourselves - of course it was raining so it was messy and muddy but I got it done.  So a nice doggie walk in the park between rain storms and knitting and baseball and movies for Saturday.  I have switched back to the Lace Front Cardigan in hopes of getting that off my needles sooner rather than later.  And Saturday night we watched "The Man from U.N.C.L.E" which I quite liked.

Sunday we had some sun and so I took advantage and planted everything around the loads of laundry.  I was very happy to find some tarragon in the herbs section this year.  And the staples, of course.  I got three tomato plants, as usual, and this year I'll use some Miracle Grow.  I'd much rather have too many tomatoes than none at all, like last year.  Tinkie got another walk in the park in the afternoon and that was it for Sunday.  As I said - boring.  Next weekend is a long one and we've got a few things in line for then.  Hopefully it won't be quite as deadly.

Ooooo I am very excited for this week.  I am getting my new MacBook on Wednesday at the U Book Store's no tax day.  A rose gold one!  Finally I'll be able to plug my iPhone and iPad into iTunes.  It's been quite a while.  Otherwise the same old stuff this week.  Fifteen weeks.

Thursday from home

My voice was all but gone when I left work on Wednesday and so because I have been around people sick with nasty colds, I decided to work from home to see what it was gong to turn into ... or not.  Well, it ended up I was fine and that's a good thing.  It was a cold and wet day and I had plenty of work to do, so the day pretty much zipped by. 

I got a little work done on the latest Tentacula during the evening and I got to lay in bed and listen to the rain while I did a little reading.  Ben was in Spokane so it was a quiet night. 

There are lots and lots of things to do this weekend, considering that last weekend was taken up it will be our first real weekend home after the vacation.  I foresee a trip to the dump and a trip to the nursery.  Hopefully there won't be any rain and hopefully I can get some good knitting time in!

The vacation hangover

That must be what's up with me.  Oh, besides wanting to be out of here, that is.  But yes, a vacation hangover.  I do have a trip to Paris planned for December for Kelli's birthday but I was thinking it might be nice to go to Mexico in November and get some beach and sun and fun.  Maybe an all inclusive in Puerto Vallarta?  I'll look into it.

Yesterday was short day with a 5 o'clock meeting, so I did my morning and headed home around 1:30.  I wasn't very motivated.  I walked Tink and I could have gotten the kitchen cleaned up and did my food for today, but I didn't feel like doing anything but sitting on the front porch in the sun, so that's what I did.  The meeting was fine but somebody got a little pissed off (no, not me) and it ended badly.  Oh my I am SO SO SO done with all this crap.  Unfortunately it's not quite done with me.

I made a nice dinner last night -- a sort of chicken Florentine but in a skillet.  Easy and quite tasty if you like garlic-y creamed spinach, which I do. 

No meetings today but it's noon knitting, which I quite like.  I remembered to bring more yarn.  I'm still plugging away on my Dune.  It's a good noon knitting project and it'll be a nice warm scarf for next winter.

I am getting excited about my new MacBook and I'm looking for a nice clear cover for it so that the rose gold can shine through.  But I want to make sure it doesn't add much weight.  I shall keep looking.

Sixteen week, but who's counting?

Each time I drive down Avondale road these days I think "This is the last time I'll be driving to the transit center in May".  Sixteen weeks to go.  Sixteen long and boring weeks.  In 3 weeks I can make it official and I'll tell the last of the faculty, the toughest one to tell, that I will not be around for this coming September's mess.  It is difficult to hold my tongue.

I have been thinking that I really need to get myself a computer rather than hold on to my work MacBook Air.  I surely could do it, but I can't ... I'm not supposed to .... run my iTunes off of it.  I need to be able to do that!  And then yesterday I walked into the IT guy's office and noticed a card advertising the tax free day at the University Book Store for computers.  Voila!  There was my sign.  I can save $175 if I buy the computer I want at the U Book Store next Wednesday so I'm going to do it.  I'm going to get a 12" MacBook in rose gold.  It is so light!  Basically it will take the place of my iPad, at some point.  The iPad is getting old and is slow.  I will miss the touch bad but I'll bet you I won't be playing nearly as many games when I retire as I am now!

That jaunt up to the book store at lunchtime took the place of my run.  I was ready but that was more important.  Today is early day so no run.  Tomorrow is Noon Knitting.  We'll shoot for Thursday, shall we?

Rhubarb season is here and I can have rhubarb on my diet (almost done .... couple more months to fine tune) so last night I cooked some up.  Oh yummmmmmm.  I am going to get some more.

Where did the weekend go?

It was our first full weekend after the trip and it went by in a flash!  I knew it would.  We had a full day planned on Saturday with a long drive at either end.  We went up to Bellingham to have Christmas in May with Ben's niece and family.  The children were well behaved, the lunch was good and the shopping trip fun.  Not a bad day.  Then we came home and watched a movie.

Sunday was also booked, far in advance, for a trip to Emerald Downs with Ben's work group.  We didn't have to be there until 1:30 so the morning was taken up with chores and laundry and knitting!  Woohoo!  We didn't plan to stay long at the track and in fact made it through five races.  I had a ball - I guess because I won.  Not a lot because I placed only inexpensive bets.  But it was fun all the same and we were out of there around four.  That was grand and we were home in time to watch another movie. 

Therefore, the weekend coming up is full of things I wanted to get to this weekend and wasn't able to.  For example, buying my tomato, herb and flowering plants and getting them planted.  Going to the dump.  Making measurements for re-doing the back office to make it more of a guest room/office/closet. 

The clouds moved in this weekend and it looks as if they are going to stick around for at least this week and beyond.  Well, we always always ALWAYS have a crappy Memorial Day Weekend and since that's coming up in two weeks..... draw your own conclusions.

Work?  Oh it is such a chore to get here.  Today I'm going to get back on the running horse so that's another hour or so out of my day.  Otherwise it's just bleak and icky and meetings.  I am trying mightily to put a good face on it.  I don't like to hurry time but that being said ..... whew.

Not to be a whiner ......

But we have a heck of a weekend ahead of us and it's the first weekend after our trip!  I really really wanted to get my garden going.  I need to plant the tomatoes and get the color bowls done.  It's just not going to happen though.  We have our Christmas in May lunch with Ben's niece and her family.  We have been trying to get this set since Christmas but weekends are so difficult, especially since her husband travels for business.  So that's Saturday.  And then Sunday we've got the day at the racetrack, which is going to be awesome but again, I have other things I'd like to be doing.  It will all get pushed to next weekend and that's going to have to be okay.

I took off from work yesterday for an appointment downtown and because of buses and connections and the bridge being open, I just headed home when I was done.  It was a bust.  This guy is much more than I need for my paltry  "wealth".  I just need some advice.  He made a referral for a guy in Kirkland.  I'll look into it.

Well, meeting time.

Pretty much normal

Well I think today I am finally over the jet lag which, by the way, lasted much longer than usual.  I have no idea why, but I am thankful it's done with.  I had a super terrific night's sleep and am refreshed and ready to go.  The weather, by the way, is just gorgeous again.  This weekend it's going to be cloudy unfortunately.  We have plans to visit Ben's niece and her family on Saturday and Sunday we're going to Emerald Downs, for a day of racing with a group from his work.  It would be nice if the weather cooperated for that, don't you think?

Yesterday was noon knitting and a rather boring day.  Today I've got a meeting at 9 am and then at 1:30 a meeting with a financial advisor who I have been trying to get time with since March.  I have some very basic questions about what to do with my finances when I retire (77 days, 7 hours).  I also signed up with the SSA yesterday.  The wheels are rolling!

No knitting last night.  I had chores and cooking and just didn't feel like it.  I need to decide what to do with the lace front cardigan.  Do I keep going even though the dye lots are off?  I really should pick that up again since the lace is easy and TV knitting and not so fussy as the lace weight mohair I'm working with.

After two trips to Europe with the soft sided bags that turn into back packs I believe I've decided to forget that.  No matter how I try to pack light, they end up being way too heavy to carry on my back for very long.  I think I'm better off with a wheeled bag.  Plus I will be checking my bag when I go to Paris in December.  Neither Kelli nor I like to "schlep" our bags onto the plane.  Ben, however, insists. 

Catching my breath

Yesterday I felt pretty normal although I got very tired in the late afternoon.  Today I'd say I'm 99%.  I had a great night's sleep and I feel pretty good this morning.  For some reason jet lag was not so easy to get over this trip.  But I did much better than Ben, who napped extensively on Sunday even though I told him he should stay up.  Because of that he didn't sleep Sunday night much at all.  I think he's over it today too, finally.

We got home Saturday after an long and uneventful trip home.  Because I had trouble checking him through all the way to Seattle, we got to CDG about an hour earlier than we normally would, just to make sure we could handle whatever was up.  Turned out it was nothing, but better safe than sorry.  I watched movies pretty much the entire day.  I tried to sleep on the Iceland to Seattle leg, but I could not. 

Susan, Ben's sister, had retrieved Tinkerbell from the Doggie Care Resort for us, so she was home when we got home.  And all groomed too!  It was great to have her there.  We were too exhausted to go to the store for anything to eat, so we foraged in the freezer and I managed to stay up until 9. 

The trip --- well, it was great as usual.  My friend Deirdre always rents the best places and she and Eoghan are so much fun to be with.  We spent Saturday through Thursday with them in Corgoloin, a little village outside of Beaune.  We visited some sights, ate some great meals and relaxed.  Thursday night we took the night train from Dijon to Milan, then from Milan to Monterosso where we spent Friday through Sunday.  We love Monterosso but I think we've done with the Cinque Terre.  Monday off we went to Rome, which was just as noisy, crowded and annoying as I remember.  We walked and walked and saw the major sights, but outside.  No standing in lines for us.  And then Thursday we flew back to Paris and spent two days there.  We did a very touristy thing and rode the tour boat on Friday and otherwise just walked and ate and enjoyed the great weather.  There is never enough time for me in Paris.  I'm going back in December to celebrate Kelli's 60th birthday.  Cannot wait.

I was anxious to knit and Sunday I worked on the mohair Venomous Tentacula for a while.  We went to Costco for supplies and we went to bed early.  And Monday I took the day off to get my hair done and because I had the vacation time and then spent the entire morning - I got up at 5 am! - getting my check.  Ahhhh ...... and now, you know what?  All I am thinking about and working towards is September 2nd - my last day at work.  Yesterday I spilled the beans to the School of Medicine.  They were not happy but that's the way it goes.  *I* am happy.

I won't bury the headline

Well now, you'd expect me to be talking about my trip, but the REAL news is that finally finally FINALLY my ex stepped up and paid me!  Hooray!!  After four long years.  I can hardly believe it myself.  Now I don't every have to think about him again or deal with him again.  Done done D-O-N-E!

Now for the trip - it was awesome.  But I have a billion things to do.  It'll have to wait.

Yay for Thursday

Oh it is finally Thursday!  Yesterday was SUCH a day!  It's lovely when I'm super busy because the day flies by, but it was also aggravating.  Plus I had to work a little late, missed my regular bus and then the next one was late!  I barely beat Ben home last night.  Now that I am that close to vacation the alcohol ban was lifted and I had a wonderful bottle of sparkling wine to ease my frustrated mind.  And for dinner a great steak salad with left over steak from the night before.  Steak salad is one of my very favorite things.  What's another you say?  Pizza ... which I haven't had since January.  So that's what is on for tonight.  When I get back from vacation I am going back on the diet to lose the last few pounds but there was no way in hell I was going to stick to a diet in Europe, so this is going to be absolutely wonderful.

I am working here until I can't stand it any longer - probably around 1:30.  Then off I got to run a few errands and get a manicure and pedicure.  Then home to do a final load of laundry and pack.  I know I will pack too much.  How many times have I said I want to pack light?  A million?  But I'm going to take 3 pairs of jeans, a pair of shorts, a couple light dresses, five or six tops, shoes ....I'll try to cut it down.  I've got to lug the thing, or wear it.  We're carrying on.  It's Ben's preference and I pick my battles.  I can carry on if need be.

Well I've got a few bazillion loose ends to tie up.  I am going in.

Two more days

It is so very difficult to be here when I'm not that busy and I am looking forward to an exciting vacation.  Yesterday the morning just dragged by.  I had one meeting and that was it.  And I wasn't hungry for my lunch, so I just stayed in my office and took off at 1:30 because of my late meeting.  Of course I was hungry by the time I got home, but I wasn't about to eat my lunch at 2:30, especially since I wasn't all that keen on building another big salad.  So I cleaned up the kitchen and then Ben was home because he wasn't feeling well.  Too excited and stressed is what I think. 

The late meeting was pretty easy and then it was dinner time.  I was about ready to eat anything at that point.  I made some asparagus and we had lovely steak.  I wasn't as dead tired as I had been the night before and so I stayed up and got caught up on Once Upon a Time.  And then read for a while.  It was quite warm yesterday and it stayed warm all through the night.  Tink mostly spent the night on the floor under the bed. 

Another nice day today, Noon Knitting Wednesday.  As I figured, only one run this week but I'm okay with that.  I'm a little sore but not too bad. 

No knitting.  I wanted to take up the new Venomous Tentacula I'm doing but thought better of it.  I need some quiet alone time to really get back into the swing of that.  It is going to be really really pretty though.  I brought my Dune for today.  It's a good noon knitting project, especially since I won't be using it until next fall.

Oh please make the morning zip by.

Early run

It started out nice and warm yesterday and got hotter and hotter as they day wore on.  I decided to try to beat the heat and get out to run early so I headed out at 10:30.  That was a good decision it turns out.  It was plenty warm at 10:30.  I had a decent run, especially considering it was the first one since I had been sick with bronchitis.  Unfortunately I believe it's going to be the only one I get this week.  It's my early day today and I've got a few things to do before I head home for my late meeting.  Tomorrow is noon knitting and Thursday I'm leaving early to start my vacation.  But once is better than none, yeah?

I was SO so so tired yesterday though.  Not just because of the run.  It was all I could do to stay away until 8 o'clock.  I did my chores and had dinner and cleaned up and then went into bed to read.  I lasted about 30 minutes before I had to shut off the light.  I needed it.  I feel pretty good today.

There are still a lot of details I need to nail down before the trip as well.  I need to get a fire under me!!

Such an early spring

No complaints, but just an observation -- we are having an incredible spring.  Again this weekend it was approaching 80 degrees.  We spent a good amount of time out of doors and on Sunday driving around with the top down.  I went to the mall Saturday morning to get some jeans that fit.  Oh I had forgotten how much fun it is to shop when things look good on you!  Not to say that I don't want to lose a few more pounds, but at least now I look like myself again.  I got some nice comfy sandals and a pair of jeans at the Gap and another at Macy's.  However I ended up going back to Macy's in Redmond on Sunday because I had to switch out the jeans.  The sales person had given me the wrong cut when I changed the ones I tried on - regular length - for the short length.  And I wanted to see if the Gap had the flare jeans I had wanted to buy in Alderwood.  And they did, so I ended up with three pairs of jeans and a cute T-shirt dress.  Very good shopping this weekend.

Sunday I got the raised bed and all of the hanging planters cleaned out and new dirt in the raised bed.  All ready for when I get back.

And now to make it through four days and then vacation.  Four days.  Beautiful days though.  It's going to be hot again today.  I think I'll have to get out for my run by 10:30 this morning.

Yay Friday!!

Oh joy!  Next Friday this time I will have left Tinkerbell off at the boarders and I'll be getting ready for the trip.  Yesterday I got all of my tickets and AirBnb confirmations printed out.  All are correct.  Now just wait wait wait wait

The weekend will be fun.  Saturday I am going shopping and Saturday night a party.  Sunday?  I don't know.  Maybe just knitting and if the weather is fine go out in the garden and do a little clean up.  I can't plant until we get back.

I didn't touch the new Venomous Tentacula last night.  It is a project that needs some good light.  It should move quite quickly though.  I need to get back on it.  It will be a perfect spring wrap.

What else?  All I can think about is vacation.

I feel lighthearted

This day has a wonderful spring feel to it.  It's cloudy but there are patches of blue around.  And vacation is closer and closer.  Today I'm going to print out all of my train tickets and plane tickets and AirBnB confirmations.  And at noon I'm going to walk up the Ave and buy the thing Deirdre asked me to bring her.  This weekend I'm going to the mall on Saturday to buy some pants that fit.  I can't believe how crazy this sounds, but about two weeks before I decided to get back to "normal" size I threw away about 10 pairs of jeans.  Now all I have are HUGE ones and I haven't wanted to buy interim pants because I feel so guilty about throwing away all the others.  So this weekend I will get a couple pair of jeans and maybe a pair of shorts.  When I get home I'll have about 15 more pounds to lose so later in the summer I can get more if I need to.  I suppose I will.  Tops?  I've got tons of those.  Thankfully I didn't throw out everything that didn't fit.  Just the jeans.  But my logic was that jean styles change more than top styles.  And that is true so there was a method to that particular madness.

Saturday evening it's dinner and cards and Sunday?  Hmmmm .... I think I might start going through my cosmetics and all of those cosmetic bags I seem to accumulate from Clinique gifts with purchase.  I need to throw out the old stuff and the stuff I'll never use and pare that down.  I am going to be carrying on so I need to gather all the small sized bottles and jars.  I really really am going to be traveling light.  I am hoping we can do laundry at the gite in Corgoloin before we head to Italy. 

Now to make it through the day.

A little less frantic

Yesterday was a little calmer.  And fewer meetings - only two.  It was my early day since I have the late meeting on Tuesday, so I ran out of here at 1 o'clock so that I could make my appointment with Jane at 2 and get home in time to wrap Ben's present and get my meeting going.  You'd think that would be plenty of time, wouldn't you?  Jane was quick and I was out of there by 2:30, but by then the rain had started.  I got to the freeway and decided to forego the 520 bridge and drive around, since I had plenty of time and the traffic seemed to be moving.  Ah, it was moving, but slowly and even more slowly when I pulled onto the 405.  There was a vehicle on the shoulder and a car with flashing lights so the traffic just crawling.  Accident?  Not really.  But the two vehicles along side the road was enough to shut that thing down.  And it was POURING rain.  What a mess.  I made it home by 4 o'clock so just time to get the present wrapped and the dishes going.  I put Tink outside in the front, and the back, and the front again and she managed to get her business done.

The meeting didn't run over, miracle.  And Ben was happy with his gift -- another miracle.  We toasted his birthday with a shot of Don Julio and off we went to pick up some gorgeous Greek salad and get to the Triplehorn where we had a nice beer and ate the salad.  Tink was happy to be along and I was happy to drink my first beer since January!  Well ... I couldn't have a Diet Coke!  Too much caffeine.  And that was that.  A simple birthday.  Now MY birthday ... I'm already planning the party!

So what's on for today?  Noon knitting.  Even though MaryEllin is gone off to Retirementland we still get to use her conference room and her replacement, Maia, knits as well.  So there's that.  And a little work and I've GOT to get my trip printed out and start working on details.  One more week and a couple of days ..... arghghghghg

That was a fight

Yesterday was really a tough day.  Three meetings plus .... no, four meetings.  After being sick for so long I am definitely not used to being active and working for all of those hours in a row.  Needless to say I was just exhausted when I got home.  Thankfully the dinner was mostly cooked since Ben had put in a pot roast Sunday night for sandwiches during the week.  We just ate a bit on that, heated up some leftover greens from Sunday and I steamed some veggies.  And then it was only 7 pm and I was fading fast.  I made myself stay up and I knit on the beautiful, diaphanous Tentacula until 8 pm.  Seriously.  8 o'clock I crawled into bed and I was asleep in minutes.  Not only that I slept through the night.  Ten hours!!  But you know what?  I feel pretty darned near healthy this morning so obviously I needed that sleep.

I managed to get pretty well up to date and organized yesterday, which is why I could not sleep Sunday night.  I've a few more ducks to get in a row and I will feel back on top of it and ready for vacation.  Unfortunately I've got to wait a week and two days more for vacation to be ready for me.

Spring weather - sunny and warm and then cloudy and cool.  Today is a cloudy and cool day.  It's also Ben's birthday.  He doesn't want anything at all "fancy".  So for his birthday dinner we're going to get take away from a Greek place and go to Triplehorn with Tink.  I am planning something a little fancier for my birthday.

Back in the land of the living

Good heavens!  That was a long haul.  I was at work on Monday for a few hours and then I headed to Emergent Care since my doctor was off on Monday.  It ends up that the virus had morphed into bronchitis!  I was sick in bed for all the rest of the week and even though I was up and about this weekend, I am still not 100%.  I did make it through the night with only 1 coughing fit so that's good.

The bad part of being sick is that I cannot knit!  All that time and all I can do is lay around and read.  Saturday I did feel well enough and I picked up that Noro shawl and got that finished.  It is HUGE and there's no way that I'm going to be wearing it until next Winter so instead of blocking it I put it on the manikin and started a second Venomous Tentacula with the beautiful silk mohair from an ArtYarns box I have.  I know I won't use it together with the variegated yarn it came with but as a Tentacula - gorgeous!  It's so very light that it needs the beads to give it a bit of weight. 

I have so much to do at work and so much to get caught up with.  I had a hard time sleeping.  All I want to think about is my vacation.  Soon soon soon

It's been four months

Well I sure was hoping I would not get that virus Ben had, but Tuesday I was feeling a bit of a sore throat and woke up Wednesday full on sick.  I am still sick, five days later.  It has moved on from a sore throat and body aches to a nasty cough, of course.  And I've got tons and tons of work to do.  I would have stayed home again today except my new house cleaner is starting so I am here at work, where I'm going to try to get caught up and also get an appointment with my doctor.  Wish me luck.

Too hot and too cold

That's spring for you.  This morning it was in the 30's when I got up.  The heat kept coming on last night and it is set for 60, so when it comes on at night that means it's pretty cold outside.  I had to start the truck while I was walking Tink this morning to get the windshield clear.  And now I'm in my office and I'm too warm.  I hope I'm not getting sick.  I'm all paranoid since Ben's been so sick these last few days.  But, as I said, it's better to get sick now before the vacation so I can be all better and ready to go in less than a month!

Work is so difficult for me these days.  Today starts my double digit countdown.  I can not only see the end of the tunnel, I can smell it.  But I have lots of balls in the air and I don't want to let anyone down - any more than I will be already letting them down by leaving when the shit is just starting to hit the fan.  My plan is to give everyone plenty of notice, but that's not going to make things easier for them in their minds.  So truly the last two months are going to be the very worst of them all.  So I should enjoy this as much as I can!

I just have a couple more hours to do on that HUGE shawl I have made.  I'd like to get it done because I came up with what I think is a brilliant idea to use up some rather bright pink mohair and silk yarn I have.  I want to make another Venomous Tentacula and make one or two tentacles out of some silver beaded silk and sequins I have stashed.  It would be stunning and the beads would give the light yarn some weight.  AND the color is perfect for my pink Spring coat.  I seriously doubt I could get it done by the time we leave but maybe. 

Today is late meeting day so I get to leave early.  It is sunny outside now, albeit cold.  I can run after my morning meeting and now that the buses have changed the schedule I can catch my regular 542 Redmond bus all during the day so I don't have to walk over to the freeway.  Nice!

The quietest weekend

I cannot remember a quieter weekend in years.  Poor Ben was sick in bed for the entire weekend with a bad bad cold, sore throat, cough ..... and that left Tink and I at loose ends.  Nobody to play with and terrible weather. 

I ran errands on Saturday - Costco, a walk in the park despite the nasty weather, dry cleaners, grocery store .... the whole deal.  And then I spent the day knitting.  I am nearly done with that shawl, huge as it is, since I spent Saturday AND Sunday knitting.  Saturday I put together a big pot of chicken soup which Ben worked on.  I think he had it four times, but maybe six.  I think he's done with chicken soup.  It did some good, but he's still sick and home today.  I sure hope I don't get it.  I am going for some probiotics today, at my sister's insistence.  She swears by it.

Today while I'm shopping for the supplements I'm going to get a folder for my trip documents.  I think I should get them printed out and checked this week.  I had such a time getting all of my reservations and the dates correct that I want to double and triple check the printed documents.  Oh I am getting anxious.  I want to be gone gone gone!

Three meeting Monday.  I am in the midst of of the first one.  Oh it is going to be a long long four weeks.

Four weeks!!

Oh woohoo!  We are getting closer and closer.  One more month until vacation and I am very ready.  I am so impatient at work these days.  Everything bugs me, but mostly stupid people. 

Ben came home yesterday with such a scratchy throat.  A bad cold.  Not good.  BUT ... much better than coming home with a cold closer to the trip.  Now if I get it I should be 100% by the time we leave.

What's on for the weekend?  Probably nothing.  Dog walks and some knitting.  It is going to depend upon the weather.  It is a little early for gardening but clean up is always something that can be done. 

And plenty of sleeping for me.  I am tired.   Of course, I haven't had breakfast yet.  I am going to run today so fingers crossed it's not pouring outside at noon.

They are back

The bunnies are back in force.  I have seen an odd one now and again in the back where the entrance to the burrow is, but this morning I saw a smaller one in the front.  Tink, thank goodness, hadn't actually caught sight of it, although I know she had the scent because she was going crazy sniffing around.  It is rather exhausting, trying to walk her in the morning when she is more interested in chasing rabbits. 

Noon knitting was relatively quiet yesterday.  Diana seems to be still out sick, or rather out again, and it was MaryEllin's penultimate session.  I am working away on the Dune, although I should really get that lace front cardigan going again.  At home I have been feverishly working on the Noro wrap that I am intending to take with me to Europe -- although it is so darned huge.  You know me, I love to make the large wraps.  Is this really something I want to drag around Europe with me though?  The jury is still out.

Not Friday .... no running this noontime.  I've got to get to Northgate to pick up my Clinique order and get some Chanel makeup at Nordstroms.  If I do it at lunchtime then I don't have to fight the crowds at the mall on the weekend. 

Well, time to dig in.

Traffic

Oh how I am looking forward to not having to deal with traffic in the morning.  Thank goodness I take the bus.  But today there was an accident on the Montlake Bridge and we were stuck on the freeway for 30 minutes.  I know, it could have been worse.  But it was bad enough. 

Late meeting day yesterday so I worked all morning -- I have a million and one things to do -- and then headed out for home in the afternoon to get ready for my late meeting.  The sun was shining, which was a super nice bonus, and Tink was happy to see me.  She spent most of the afternoon outside waiting for rabbits to poke their heads out.  We have been seeing them.  Not tons but a few.  She is quite keen.

I had the entire evening to myself since Ben was out at an after work thing.   It was quiet.  I needed it.  A little TV, a little dinner, some knitting and early to bed.  I did get a good night but I'm sleepy this morning.  More tea!

That darned courtyard

I was looking forward to my run yesterday.  Now that it looks like I'm back on track, I am eager to get my wind back and most importantly, to get my strength back so that I can start really really enjoying my runs.  So even though it was raining in the morning, it looked like it had stopped when I checked outside through my office windows, which look onto the courtyard.  I changed, stretched, and headed out.  Ah, but then I stepped out the door and it was raining!  I did not have my hat.  I was not wearing my waterproof jacket.  I did know though that if I went back into the building to get my hat I most likely would talk myself out of going out at all, so I soldiered on.  I did have a hood on my jacket, but without strings to hold it in place.  I just kept it on as best as I could and went for an abbreviated run, turning around at 1 mile rather than a mile and a half.  The good news is that I was able to run .7 miles without stopping, which is awesome considering this is only the third time out.  The bad news is that I returned soaked to the bone.  But clothes dry and I am very proud of myself for getting out there.

It was a busy day, all in all.  It is my three meeting day.  Today is my late meeting day so I am going home at 1:30 or so.  And that confused me this morning so much so that I went out without my lunch.  I was going to take a frozen meal for a change.  No matter.  I can go to the salad bar.  But still ... I get confused easily at 6:30am. 

My train tickets were making me crazy yesterday but I have now gotten to the bottom of the confusion and I am 99% sure I have all of my reservations straightened out.  To make positive sure, I'm going to print everything out this week, if I can find the time, and make my travel book now.  Then I can enjoy the month of anticipation.

My shawl that I am working on at home is going to be huge.  I like big shawls though.  They can be used as blankets almost.  Very handy for traveling.

First Day of Spring

I have a vase of daffodils on my dining room table at home and they are so fragrant.  I needed that this weekend, the first day of spring on Sunday, to remind me of spring.  It was cloudy and rainy.  I was SO looking forward to sunshine after Thursday and Friday.  But there was no sunshine and it put me in a deep funk.  I couldn't face cleaning the house on Saturday.  I got my manicure and pedicure and we went to the Triplehorn where I had a diet Coke and watched Ben drink a couple of beers.  I was hankering for a taco salad, one of the things I can eat out with impunity on my diet, and we met the family for dinner.  I was satisfied and, since I was having such a bad day, I treated myself with a shot of tequila.  Ahhhhh ...

Five weeks until our trip.  Five weeks.  I am getting so excited.  I stopped by Costco on Sunday and bought a pair of glasses with transition lenses to take on the trip.  I thought it would be nice to have a single pair of glasses I could have to wear on day trips rather than having to drag around an extra pair of glasses each time we go out.  And the glasses are very different from my regular glasses.  It's nice to be able to have a spare look.

So yesterday ended up being the big chore day.  Cleaning and laundry.  Again, not a nice day to be outside although I couldn't stand it and took Tink for a nice walk at Cottage Lake Park in the mist.  She loves it there.

I turned the corner with the shawl I'm working on and now I am decreasing.  I did a nice stripe with the bead and sequin yarn.  Very pretty.

Three meeting day.  Ick

What I did yesterday

It was a super gorgeous day yesterday - as well as being St. Patrick's Day, of course - and even though it hadn't been in my mind to do so, I just decided I would go out running.  I didn't over think it.  I just togged up and went outside.  I knew it wasn't going to be easy because my asthma has been really acting up with all of the blooming trees, but I had taken a couple of puffs before I headed out and I had my rescue inhaler with me, just in case.  So away I went.  And you know what?  I was like falling off a log.  Granted, I didn't have the strength or the wind, but I ran way more than I thought I would be able to in relation to walking.  And when I walked it was just a few paces to get my wind back and I would trot again.  And my foot?  Not a problem at all.  That was my biggest fear, that my avulsion fracture would start to ache.  It did not.  So perhaps all of the laying off of it I've been doing was just exactly what I had to do.  This morning I am a little bit sore in my body - back, legs, stomach.  Not my foot.  NOT my foot.  Hoo-freakin'-ray!

I found a new recipe for pork chops yesterday with a mustard sauce and that's what I whipped up for dinner last night while taking a break from "Despicable Me 2". The sauce was very easy to make and quite tasty.  I would do it again with pork chops or maybe with chicken breasts and add some capers to make it a bit more sour, like chicken piccata. 

I took a break from knitting on my latest Noro Shiro shawl to start picking out an ill advised addition of a silver strand of ArtYarns beaded silk and sequins.  It just doesn't go with the deep green of the yarn and it was driving me crazy.  However, it is such expensive yarn I just couldn't cut it out, so I'm trying to pick it out and it's tedious and time consuming work.  I had to stop last night because I wasn't able to keep my eyes or ears on the movie.  I'll just keep working away at it during the weekend.  When I'm not cleaning.  Ick

How I know it's still winter

It's freaking cold, that's how!  There was ice on my windshield this morning and the heat went on before I got up.  Cold!!  This Sunday is the first day of spring so this weather is on its way out, but we have weeks and weeks before any decent heat.  And I suspect many weeks of rain as well. 

My early Monday meeting was moved to 5 pm yesterday so I got to go home early to prepare.  Tink needs her walk and I need to ... uh .... not be here.  Anyway we got the meeting done in a little over an hour, which is nice.  And then a hot hot shower.  I know ... I can't warm up!  I didn't make a fire last night though.  It wasn't raining.  I'm almost half way through with the new Noro Shiro shawl I"m doing.  I am putting in a row using some ArtYarns stuff with beads and sequins.  And I am regretting holding a silver strand of that same yarn along with a darker green a few repeats back.  But it's too late to tink back so I just might have to cut it out.  I can't decide.  I'll wait until I block the thing and it's finished and I've got the ribbon pieces tied onto it.  I want it to be a little Boho.

What else?  Not Friday again.  Next week should be a bit better but everyone is taking time off this week and it's like a morgue around here.  Except for SOM meetings.  They go on and on and on.  I have one at 9 am today.  Only one meeting today.  Oh!  And my early morning meeting is cancelled for tomorrow as well.  Tomorrow there is nothing going on.  Nothing except a reminder to send out.  Countdown - 5 months and 17 days.  107 working days, 7 hours and 40 minutes. *sigh*

Running around

Yesterday was spent running around.  Work is dead slow - as in spring break and nobody is around.  So it was a perfect day to work from home and do doctor visits.  First the eye doctor at Costco and then the dentist to get my new crown.  That was relatively painless and it is nice to have it done finally.  SO much more comfortable than the botched filling. 

Nobody was communicating from work and so I spent the afternoon cooking soup and getting my food ready for today and knitting.  And playing with Tinkerbell, who is incredibly frisky for a 12 (or is it 13?) year old dog.  I try to indulge her every time she wants to play.  I know she won't be around forever but I sure hope I get to enjoy her for a good while after I'm retired.

This is such an odd time of the year for me.  Or maybe it's because of the fact that I am seriously counting down the days until I can retire.  I think of those six months I spent in Paris in 2000 whenever people ask me if I won't be bored when I retire.  Was I bored EVER when I was in Paris?  No.  I always could find something to do.  Sometimes it wasn't anything too exciting - like lay on the couch and read.  But I took French class and I went to the gym and I walked and walked and it was a wonderful life.  I think this time around it's going to be even more wonderful.  It would be much easier to take these last few months if it was busier here at work, but that can't be helped.  I will soldier on.  Right now the trip is my focus.  Although I was realizing that it's now 6 months until my birthday so I do have some things I can start getting in motion, retirement-wise.

Noon knitting today.  We have very few sessions left with MaryEllin.  Lucky duck.

Big storm and no power

Saturday was a nasty day.  Cold and wet.  We skipped the trip to see the cherry blossoms and instead went to the DSW at Northgate, since it is larger than the closer one in Redmond.  I scored a pair of awesome Lucky Brand short boots and a super comfy shoe/sandal which will be great for the trip and any other time.  I can wear them with or without socks.  And then grocery shopping and that was about it.  A nice fire in the evening and a movie and lots of knitting.  Dinner was yucky though.  We bought some salmon burgers which looked good but were, in fact, terrible.

Sunday a big storm was brewing and it was the first day of Daylight Savings Time.  We got to Costco and pick up a few things and people were buying generators.  And then we sent to Safeway to get a few things I had forgotten and it was swarming with people stocking up on Presto Logs (us as well) and other things, getting ready for the storm.  We thought it might have missed us since it was alternating sun and clouds until about 2:30 when the heavy winds showed up.  And by 3 pm our power was out.  I moved the pot roast from the slow cooker to the stove and we got the fire going.  We didn't get the power restored until 5:10 am.  It was a cold night.

So what's up for this week?  Eye doctor Tuesday.  I get my permanent crown in on Tuesday.  And meetings.  And counting down until vacation -- six weeks.

So much color

I need to think of someplace to take Tinkerbell this weekend for a walk in a garden.  It is so so SO pretty this time of year.  The cherry trees and the plum trees and all of the other trees are blooming.  Of course it's aggravating my asthma because the wind has been whipping all of that pollen into the air.  In fact I had to take two puffs yesterday.  But it is all so gorgeous!  The cherry trees in the Quad are all blooming - maybe we can come to the campus this weekend to enjoy them.  As long as I have my inhaler .....  AND I noticed that the rhodies are starting to bloom as well.  If it's not raining we will go for sure.

Other than that I've got nothing in stone for the weekend.  I do need some new shoes.  The suede boots I bought before vacation last spring are trashed.  Of course, I walked for three straight weeks in them in Europe but in fact I think they were just poorly made, as in cheap.  Then the shoes I've been using as walking shoes are also trashed.  I noticed that one of the heels has pulled away from the sole.  And finally, my awesome silver cowboy boot/mules are also thrashed.  Maybe a trip to DSW this weekend?

Ben as in Spokane last night so I made a fire, kept it going, and knit for hours.  Tinkerbell was rather antsy though and I had to keep getting up and letting her out into the back and then the front.  I think the rabbits are starting to come out, although we haven't seen a single one yet.  She smells something though.  Shrews maybe.  Or mice?  For sure the critters are starting to show up.  It won't be long now.

I know what time frogs go to bed.

The frogs are really really loud these days.  We have a ravine at the back of the property and at certain times of the year the frogs are singing up a storm.  Not only do we hear them at the back, but across the street and behind those houses you can hear them as well.  Such a loud chorus that last night I could hear it in the house, despite the raging rain storm.  And then I went out to get some more wood for the fire at 8 o'clock and it was silent.  Boom!  From loud enough to hear inside to nothing.  Weird, huh?  I thought so anyway.

So the storm yesterday was intense.  Very rainy and windy.  On the potty walk this morning I could see blue sky, but on the way to the bus the wind was whipping the trees and I got nailed a couple of times.  I am alone tonight so I sure hope it settles down by the time I get home!  It's scary enough.

Happy Not Friday.

I am powerless

I don't know why, but when I get some new Noro yarn I just need to knit it up!  Right away!  So despite having the Dune wrap on my needles AND the lace front cardigan, I started another wrap yesterday with the 10 skeins of Noro Shiro I got from the Wool Watcher deal.  I found a sideways pattern so that I can use all 10 skeins and have a nice big wrap, like the Venomous Tentacula, which I wear all the time.  In fact I need to wash and block it again.  That's how much wear it gets.  I bought that gorgeous pink face suede coat a few months ago and I'm going to use that as my spring coat.  I made that swing knitted scarf last year this time for my trip and I'm making this one as well for the trip.  Both will go nicely with the coat.  Maybe I'll bring them both. 

Yesterday was my short day because of my evening meeting.  Tink was rather keen for a walk when I got home, which is unusual because that's in her prime sleeping time and she typically prefers to wait.  But not yesterday, which was fine with me.  I got her walked and then got my new project started.

While my evening meeting was going I got everything prepped for cauliflower bisque.  Such a good soup.  And I even had fresh parsley for it.  Although it's better with fresh crab. 

Noon knitting.  Only four more times with MaryEllin and then she'll be gone - retired.  And tick tock for me.  I cannot wait, in case you're wondering.  NOT for her to retire.  Me.

Yay! It's Tuesday

Friday was a half a day for me, since we were heading out to Astoria, Oregon by way of Portland.  I drove in, did my 8am meeting, then went to the parking garage to give little Tink a walk.  And then at noon we headed out for the drive to Portland.  I was listening to my book, "Little Lives" which is a very intense book, by the way.  VERY intense.  We ran into a little weather on the way down, but it was intermittent.  It would rain, then stop and then rain again.  Tink was a very good girl and we only had to stop once, and that was on me.

We got Ben at 3 and then headed to Astoria, getting there at 5.  Five hours in the car for that poor dog.  I felt so sorry for her, but she's a trooper.  We didn't do much - had a little dinner and watched a movie and went to sleep.  However.  However ... Tink was not having it.  She got the gurgling stomach thing and I had to get up to walk her in the POURING rain and wind so hard it nearly blew me over.  Thirty minutes trying to find her some greens to eat.  She found just a bare little bit - the place was newly landscaped so the amount of weeds and edibles for her stomach upset were few and far between.  Back in the room for an hour or so and then Ben took her out.  Same deal.  Then again at 4:30 and then again at 7:30.  Which you might as well call morning, yes? 

The thing is, all of the wind had blown the clouds away so it was sunny and we had a (crappy) breakfast at the hotel and headed out down the coast.  We had a nice walk at Seaside and then continued on down, finally stopping at Rockaway or whatever it's called for a nice lunch.

Poor Ben wanted live music but we could not for the life of us find a music club because ... oh, I don't know, THEY DON'T EXIST ANYMORE!!!  We did go out Sunday to listen to music but it was so gawd awful even Ben didn't want to listen to it.

It was lovely having all of Monday to get home and get settled in.  I got my manicure and pedicure, got the laundry done, the grocery shopping done, my lunch ready for today and dinner done.  Then I got to sit down and catch up to Once Upon A Time - new season started Sunday - and get some knitting done.  I did get the Noro Shiro I had ordered and now I'm wondering if I should start something new with that before I finish up my other two WIPs.  I'd like maybe a big new spring scarf for the trip which is .... wait for it .....7 weeks away!!!!

A running start

Whew!  This morning has been a race.  I got right up at 6 am, but I had so much to do before I could get on the road.  I did as much as I could do last night, and this morning got dressed and finished packing and loaded the car and put ice in the cooler and filled that and got Tink piddled.  We were only 10 minutes behind schedule, which isn't bad.  I had my regular 8am Friday morning meeting and I made it with about 5 minutes to spare.  After the meeting I went out and gave Tink a little better walk than the short one she got at 6:30 and she was able to finish her business.  Now I'm just waiting for the time to pass so I can get on the road.

On the road to Portland, where I'll pick Ben up at the store, and then we're off to Astoria for a long weekend - three nights!  The weather is cloudy but it's not actually raining and we have been getting sun breaks these past couple of days, so hopefully we'll get some of those as well.  I don't care, frankly.  I just want to be gone.  And at the ocean.  We'll go to Seaside and Tink will be able to play in the ocean and get all messy.  She loves to chase the seagulls and the foamy waves.

So tick tock.  Let's get moving!!

I'd better check myself

I was in a rotten mood yesterday, despite it being noon knitting day.  And I only had one meeting.  Nevertheless I was just crabby.  And I'm thinking .... I'd better start being nicer to people!  I can't be snide and snarky and sassy and frown all of the time.  My days are numbered here.  How many?  Counting today 118 working days.  That takes into account the vacation days and holidays between now and September 2.  Still .. quite close to double digits.  If I want any kind of send off besides a kick in the butt, I'd better start being nicer!!

Not to say that I am overtly nasty, actually.  I just had a bad day yesterday.  And for no apparent reason other than meeting overload and stupid people overload and rain overload and maybe ... just maybe this diet is getting to me.  I am not starving myself.  I am losing weight.  I enjoy my meals even, but this diet commands constant time in the kitchen!  Gone are the days and/or evenings when I could just say "Oh heck, let's just have a pizza".  Or eat some nice Indian food from the freezer.  Everything has to be prepared and weighed and it just gets very very tiring.  Yes, I could buy more frozen meals.  That is definitely a way to go.  It's just that my fresh salads are much more appealing than a frozen entree.  Same with my fresh, albeit frozen, quiche.  Or scrambling myself a couple of eggs with veggies the night before and taking them for breakfast.  Cheaper and tastier.  Well here's how I look at it.  It took me two years of being a slob and eating what I wanted and drinking WAY too much and not exercising to get here, so three months of this isn't too bad of a payoff.  I'm just whining.

So today is only a single meeting day as well!  Wahoo!  And I don't have to take notes so I can knit on my socks.  I'd like to finish them so I can get a pair going for Ben since he -- and I have no idea how -- put a hole in the ankle area of those gorgeous socks I made him a couple of years ago.  And then nothing much else.  Tomorrow morning will be busy with a long meeting and getting out a few reminders and then, noon, I'm off to Portland to pick up Ben and then we're heading to Astoria for a long weekend.  Ahhhh..... the Oregon coast.  Love it!

Check and double check

Yesterday I went over my Europe reservations again to make sure I had all of the train reservations.  I do.  And that they are the correct days.  They are.  Now I am super paranoid about it, of course. 

It was my short day yesterday - or should I say my broken up day.  That is more accurate.  And pouring down rain.  Even though I was carrying an umbrella and wearing a knee length coat, my pants were wet by the time I got to the bus stop at the freeway.  And then for what?  We had a very poor showing at the meeting and I had to listen to someone drone on for the entire hour, going over something that we all could have just read for ourselves.  Ugh

But dinner was good and easy to prepare.  I worked on the Dune wrap, which I have brought to noon knitting today.  I should really just keep on with the lace front cardigan.  I can't move on to another cardigan until I finish that.  Well I'll have an entire evening to myself this week - Thursday - so I can hopefully get a good hour or maybe even two into it.  Then Friday at lunchtime I'm driving to Portland and then we go to Astoria for a nice long weekend!  I know the weather is going to be crappy, but what else do you expect in early spring -- well, it's really not even spring yet -- on the coast.  It'll be fun and Tink will love it. 

Wednesday -- it's still only Wednesday.  I have a meeting at 9 and noon knitting and in between........ plenty of work.

It was one of those darned Mondays

My day started off with a flurry of emails - all before the start of my 8am Zoom meeting.  I was NOT in a good mood, and this did not help it any.  Oh and how much more useless do these types of situations seem when the end of the tunnel is in view?  Intolerable.  But six months is a long time so I keep my mouth shut (mostly) and keep going.  I think I got my point across about expectations - that people need to TELL me what they want rather than have me try to read their mind.  I suspect it's going to be in one ear and out the other with this one though.

Mondays are difficult because I have three meetings, which really cuts into the day.  I had a project to get finished up before the end of the day as well so I was feeling the crunch.   When noon rolled around and then passed and I hadn't taken a breath I made myself stop, push back from the desk and get outside for a nice long walk.  It was sunny and breezy and a little bit cold.  Bracing.  Then I came in, had a quick lunch, and got back to it and finished up the day a winner.  But I was beat.  I had planned on stopping at the store to pick up a few things but said forget it and went straight home.  Tink got her walk and a little ball chasing, I had a shower and I was supine upon the couch by the time Ben got home.  I turned on the BBQ and we had a hamburger, I steamed some broccoli and that was dinner.  I was falling asleep on the cough at 8 pm.  Eight o'clock!!  And that's with no wine or anything else.  Just completely and utterly beat. 

I was afraid that if I went into the bed I would wake up and not be able to sleep but hey, that did not happen.  I heated up my lavender eye mask and I fell asleep before it cooled down.  I found it on my pillow when I woke up later that night.  Turned over and went right back to sleep.  I had one of the best nights of sleep I've had in ages.  I guess that's all it takes, huh?  Get super pissed off at work and let that rage cook inside you all day.  Hmmmmmm

Oh what a Friday!

On Friday I worked from home.  I had a 2 o'clock dental appointment so I did my early morning meeting at home.  Then the weather was pretty nice, so I took Tinkerbell to the park, which she just loves!  After I quick little lunch I took off for the dentist, stopping at the Sephora at Northgate for my eyeliner and I found an awesome lipstick too.  Bonus.

I got the dentist a little early, so cooled my heels in the waiting room until my appointment.  And then .... oh my goodness.  How I hate hate hate getting a new crown.  I was in the chair for two hours.  Thank goodness I had my book to listen to - which, by the way, is an EXCELLENT book called "A Little Life".  Highly recommended.  I ended up asking for more Novocaine part way through and at the end asked for pain meds.  It was terrible.  Thank goodness that's all the bad part plus, bonus, I got that horrible filling gone and I don't have that ridge in my head anymore.  Now in a couple of weeks I get my new, permanent crown.  Hooray for me.

It will be a short week for me.  I am leaving at noon-ish on Friday to drive down to pick Ben up in Portland and then a long weekend in Astroria.  It will be awesome.

Sunglasses!

Wow.  It is so clear and sunny this morning that I had to put my sunglasses on when I got to the parking garage!  We are having another early spring.  I know it's going to cloud up and be raining for the next couple of weeks, but when we do get a clear and cloudless day it's actually not freezing.  I should enjoy these mornings because we'll be turning the clocks and then it'll be dark again.  It's awfully nice for now though.  I like starting off the day in a good mood.

Yesterday was another busy day.  Today only one meeting at 9, and then a Travel Fair at the HUB, which I'm going to check out before I go up to get Tink's food.  The afternoon should be pretty quiet.  I'm going to request to work from home tomorrow since I've got my early meeting at 8AM and then a dentist appointment in the early afternoon.  It's the first of two appointments.  The filling that got botched a couple of months ago is going to be turned into a crown.  Woohoo ... not.  But at least I'll get rid of this horrible gap once and for all.  And, at least I've got insurance so it's expensive but not as expensive as it could be.  I just know that I'm going to be feeling terrible after that ordeal.  I do not want to be on the bus tomorrow.  First of all because I'll have to get the early bus in order to do my meeting and second of all because I'll be feeling like hell after the appointment and I'll want to go straight home, not take two bus rides and then drive home.  So - hopefully I'll get permission.  And just think about it ... in six months that will be a moot point, won't it.

I do think about that a lot.  Like yesterday thinking .... next year I will not have to drive to the transit center in the morning in February.  Or ever, hopefully.

I always watch the sales at DBNY and usually when they start discounting, today it's 40%, all of the Noro yarn is gone.  Ah, but today there were 10 skeins of Shiro in a good colorway for 40% off their price, which means I got them all plus shipping for $82!  Now to figure out what I'm going to make with it.  I wonder if it'll be enough for a blanket.  Maybe a little one.

I truly need a vacation

Oh good heavens .... yesterday was SO frustrating.  We are getting ready for a big meeting today and I spent all of the morning wrestling with an Excel spreadsheet.  And then I had two late meetings starting at 4 o'clock, so I had to be out of here around 1:30.  On the plus side, it was a gorgeous gorgeous day.  Sunshine aplenty.  And, also on the plus side, the meeting today should take the pressure off for a while.  I keep telling myself, I just have to make it through another few months.  Another few months with a nice trip to Europe to break it up.  And then it will be truly spring and ... well, I can't get too far ahead of myself or I'll go crazy.

I think I am just simply burned out.  I can't whip up any enthusiasm for anything here at work and I have a hard time taking anything seriously.  Deadlines?  pah!  I am trying to NOT be a complete asshole about it.  Frankly, it is pretty difficult since I consider most of the issues to be complete idiocy.  Here's a tidbit -- some student complained to a faculty member that he wasn't being gender sensitive when he said, about an x-ray, that one had to be sure to look for the shadows of both breasts.  Seriously?  It's that kind of crap that makes it so very very difficult for me to even take the students seriously.  How can they learn when they are all on the lookout for any perceived slight?  It is crazy and I have to stop thinking about it.

Noon knitting!  I did get a couple of rows done yesterday while listening in to meeting number 1.  My hand felt okay so full speed ahead.  I already have another project in the queue.

No flashlight needed

This morning is so clear (and cold) that I didn't even need the flashlight when I took Tink for her 6:30am potty walk.  Of course, this is going to change soon when we turn the clocks forward, but more light in the evening is okay with me as well.  Last night I wanted to go to bed as soon as it got dark, which is not good considering it's full dark at 6:30.  I had a very very busy day yesterday.  Three meetings and in between lots and lots of work.  So by the time I got home I was not in the mood to do anything at all.  I gave Tinkerbell her walk, had my shower, put in a load of towels and watched a movie.  In the middle of the movie I heated up some of that gorgeous soup I had made last week - the leek and cauliflower soup and we ate it on the couch, drinking it out of mugs as we watched "Who Framed Roger Rabbit".  Here's hoping I can stay up a little later tonight, eh?

I've got meetings starting at 4, so I'm out of here today at 1:30 or so and I've got plenty between now and then to get done.  We're having a lock down meeting for the MBB block, which starts the Tuesday after my retirement date.  Yeah.  I'll keep that information to myself for a little while longer. 

Nine weeks

It was a happy weekend.  Rather busy but there was a lot of good knitting done as well.  In fact, I had to stop knitting last night and just cuddle down for a movie because my right hand was tingling.  That is because this project I am doing has a long (double) row of purling.  My hand is still sore this morning.  This is unfortunate because I have 17 more 20 row repeats to go.  I need to toughen up!

We had a party Saturday night and it was quite fun.  I had a full day of beauty -- hair and nails -- so that took up the majority of the day.  The party was held in a party room at the local distillery and I had given myself permission to have some of their whiskey.  The first alcohol in four weeks!  It tasted gorgeous but I did have a bit of a headache the next morning. 

Sunday we had a family get together and it was a long day.  I had laundry going and so we got home a little after five and I did get most of my laundry done.  Tonight I'll get the rest done.  And I watched a movie until nearly 10 when I had to shut if off to get to bed, since today is one of my early mornings.  Eight o'clock meetings are a drag but there ya go. 

It's a meeting kind of week.  And the week ends with a 2 o'clock dental appointment to take care of the botched filling I got earlier.  It's going to be a crown.  Yuk.  But it needs to be done so Friday is the day.  Think of me and give me strength. 

NOT Friday

That's my new name for Thursday.  I know this is a short week, but dang it, I definitely felt like yesterday should have at least been Thursday.  But it was only Wednesday, albeit Noon Knitting Wednesday, so I had that at least.  Otherwise, it was just a boring kind of day with a meeting stuck into the middle of it.  Today I've got a 9 o'clock meeting, and then I do have a rather detailed chore to take care of.  Hopefully the day will shoot by.

I was out of sorts yesterday, is the thing.  I can't say why exactly.  Just blah.  I didn't feel like knitting when I got home.  Didn't feel like much of anything, although I did have to get my food ready for today and get my dinner squared away.  I'm ready for my trip.  I'm ready for Paris and lovely wine and walking about.  I'm ready for vacation and we've got nine more weeks.  Nine. Whole. Weeks.  Nothing for it.  I've got to gut it through and try to find fun things to keep my mind busy. 

Here's the deal though -- I'm happy.  That's worth a lot, isn't it?

Again with the birds

I really heard them this morning.  They're cranking up.  Pretty soon they'll be so loud in the morning that I'll have to put the pillow over my head to sleep.  And oh I can see so many bushes and trees starting to bud and bloom.  Springtime!  It makes me happy.

Yesterday was my early day because of my 5 o'clock meeting.  But I got out of here even earlier because the nasty smell started at 1 o'clock and I wasn't going to just sit here and take it.  Especially since I had nothing pressing to do and I would much rather be on the way home.  So I took off, got a good connecting bus, stopped at the store for a couple of things and headed home.  Tink and I immediately headed to bed for a much needed nap, considering I had had a bad night Monday night.  The meeting didn't go much over 6 and I was done with dinner by 7.  I felt like watching some Firefly so that's what I did and knit some on the lace front cardigan.  I'm well over half way of the 2nd of 20 lace pattern repeats.  It goes quite quickly.  I had a much better night last night.  Oh, and I love love love my lavender eye pillow.  It really helps me drop off to sleep.  I had a nasty headache and when I warm it up it helps sooth that as well.

It's Wednesday already and noon knitting today.  A meeting at 2.  That's pretty much it.  Oh lordy I am so ready to be quit of this place. 

Did we all have a nice Valentines Day?

You know me ... Valentines Day is my special day.  I reflect.  I remember.  I heave a sigh or two.  I still wrestle with the cake thing -- If you had a slice of the best cake in the world in front of you, the only one in the world, would you eat it and know what you were missing for the rest of your life?  Or would you pass on it, not wanting the pain of missing it to be with you all of your life?    Not quite Schrodinger's Cat but still a philosophical question to ponder.  Okay okay -- don't nitpick.  Schrodinger's Cat is not a philosophical question - more of a paradox.  But you get the gist.  And love is eternal.  And timeless.

And here's another thing on the subject of love -- I believe it's not the people who love you, but the people you have to love that makes a good life.  I have lots of people to love and for that I am very very grateful.

So -- the weekend was, you guessed it, relaxing.  The weather was crap.  Rain rain rain rain and more rain.  Saturday we took Tink up to the groomer and then went for an early Valentines breakfast at The Commons.  I love that place and it wasn't packed, as it usually is.  Then off to do errands and shopping.  We picked Tink up around 1:30 and that was it.  A few chores, a movie or two, some knitting.  Sunday also was pretty crappy, but it was only sprinkling so we walked Tink in a new park we found a couple of weeks ago over by the Brickhouse Brewery.  It was nice.  Then another whole day of reading and knitting and relaxing.  I guess this is the time of year for it, because once the weekends get better the yard needs some attention!

I had Monday off and I slept in, intending to head up to Shane Company to get my jewelry cleaned and checked.  But then I thought it might be a bad idea, considering that Sunday was Valentines Day.  How many people got engaged and would be flocking to the store to get their rings sized or pick out rings.  So I skipped that and packed Tink into the truck and, after I got gas, we took a walk around Cottage Lake.  It was misting heavily so by the time we were done my jacket was wet through.  That was it for our outside time.  I spent the rest of the day doing laundry and cleaning and cooking soup. 

Therefore, a short week.  Hooray.  Next week is going to be a bitch.  This week isn't looking too bad.  It's short day for me too, because I've got a 5 o'clock meeting.

Bam!!

I nearly jumped out of my skin last night.  Tink and I were sitting serenely on the couch, watching Shrek and knitting.  Well, I was watching Shrek and knitting and Tink was snoozing.  All of a sudden half of the insides of the stove hood crashed down onto the stove!  I had cooked dinner earlier and I did have the fan on, but I swear I did not touch the insides of the hood when I turned it on.  Just bam, down it came.  Poor little Tink.

Other than that, it was a pretty quiet day and evening.  Work was slow and except for the ammonia fumes that keep showing up every few days, nothing going on.  We do have a long weekend this weekend.  Errands on Monday.  Tink gets groomed on Saturday.  Valentine's Day on Sunday.  If its not raining this weekend I'd like to get outside and rake the old leaves off the lawn. 

I finished up the body of the lace cardigan and now I've got to steel myself and pick up the stitches for the lace fronts.  I need some time and an empty table.  I hope to get it done on Sunday but maybe on Monday when I'm alone.

It looks and sounds like spring

Last Sunday I noticed the frogs croaking - the first I've heard.  And then I notice birdsong in the morning and it's light enough to see the stairs when I leave the house.  And then today, I saw my first daffodil blooming in a pot as I passed into the Health Sciences Building.  The weather is mild and wet and I think we've just gone another year without a real winter.  No matter, the mountains got snow and I hear that the skiing is good, so there will be no drought this summer.  I had just wished for some snow.  Ah well.

At noon knitting yesterday I noticed a disturbing thing.  Seems that the yarn I am using for the lace front cardigan comes from at least two dye lots.  Bummer.  I got twelve skeins and when I was winding them I fleetingly thought about checking the dye lots but alas, I did not.  And so we have a cardigan with at least one odd stripe.  It isn't at all even noticeable when I'm knitting at home, but get it into bright light, like MaryEllin's conference room, and it shows up.  I won't take it out.  Not my style. 

I don't have much to do today.  I was busy yesterday but I have no meetings today and I'm just sitting and waiting for input on a couple of projects.  I wish I could just stay home on days like today.  What is the point?  I tell you, if I had my laptop with me at home, I would have stayed there today.  But as it is, I left it here because I didn't have a bag.  Tomorrow I've got to come in because I've got an 8 o'clock meeting and Monday is a holiday.  Not good form to work from home on the Friday before a long weekend.  Pretty soon though .... not an issue.

Clumsy

Because of all of the Zoom meetings I am attending these days, I take my MacBook back and forth quite frequently.  Several days a week, actually.  Today is one of those days.  I was unloading myself in the break room when I got in this morning and as I pulled my laptop bag over my head and put it on the table it slipped off and when it fell the plastic clasp and plastic circle that the handle goes into broke!   Just shattered.  Well, as the woman I asked to re-order the bag told me, it only cost $19.99 so .... not totally out of the question that it would be a bit flimsy.  So, I got a good two years, maybe more, out of it.  And I'll have a new one tomorrow.  I'll just not take it home with me tonight. 

Yesterday was a fun day.  I took the day off - personal day - and went to the retirement seminar again, this time looking at it with fresh eyes and with eyes that will be out of here in a little over six months.  I felt a sense of urgency and the good thing is there are things to do at six months and three months, etc.  You can nibble at it.  Can you see me smiling?

It was one of those freakish days we get in February sometimes, into the 60s and sunny.  We walked down ... up .... the Ave to find a place for lunch, then went to Costco to pick up a few things and then home to take Tink to the park.  Ben had some work to do, so I left him to it and Tink and I had a nice walk.  There was a woman there walking her pig.  Really.   Then it was knitting time.  I put the lace front cardigan together - back and two sleeves - a couple of evenings ago and now I'm just working on the raglan decreases.  Perfect TV knitting.  Or just silent knitting.  You know me, I don't mind.

Ben is gone to Spokane this afternoon for a couple of days, so I've got two evenings to knit and knit and knit.  Maybe have a fire tool.  I'll be lonely but get lots of work done.

Super Bowl weekend

So, it's not so much fun when your team is not playing in the Super Bowl.  We had a party to go to on Sunday so we did all of our errands on Saturday.  I got laundry done and got lots and lots of good knitting done as well.  The sleeves are finished and I not only got the back cast on, but finished the back yesterday before we had to leave for the game.  Tonight I'm going to get the sleeves and back hooked up together and start on the raglan decreases.  This sweater is moving right along.  So Saturday -- two movies, which is why I had plenty of knitting time.  That's it for Saturday.

Sunday morning was just a lazy day. Tink got walkies and I got to chat with my sister and then we headed out for the party.  We didn't really have to bring anything to cook, which was nice.  I brought sock to knit on so I wouldn't be so completely bored.  Oh, but it was great actually because the Broncos put a whippin' on the Pathers and for that I am grateful!!  Ha ha Cam Newton.

It's going to be a busy week.  Tomorrow I'm taking a personal day to do a retirement seminar.   And then, like last week, I actually have work to do which makes the days scoot by.  Oh, and the weather?  Awesome and freakishly warm.  Nicccce

What a klutz!

I always have my headphones on when I'm on the bus, or out walking to or from the bus, etc.  The headphones I have are not the Apple ones, but full headphones and the cord is super long.  It is always getting caught on things, especially seat armrests on the bus.  Last night as I was getting off the bus it caught on the armrest.  I didn't realize it until I got off the bus and people were pointing at me to let me know that I was dangling.  My phone was still on the bus!  The good news is that my bus terminates at the transit center so I was able to run across the street and get my phone back.  What an oblivious klutz though.

Tink and I had another quiet evening.  She always wants to head into bed at 8 o'clock.  That's her thing.  Sometimes I just put her in there and continue knitting but last night I went in with her and snuggled and read.  Then at 9 I headed up my new lavender eye pillow and relaxed.  I just love it!  The only thing I don't like is that it came with an eye shade but you can't put it on under the eye shade so it doesn't stay put when you roll over.  I am going to have to look for an answer to this problem.  Otherwise it is so relaxing and I swear I drop right off. 

I am working like blazes on the sleeves.  I would really like to get them done before Sunday so I could bring some easy stockinette work to the Super Bowl party.  If not I can bring socks since I am just doing 2x2 ribbing on those right now.  Perfect TV knitting as well.

The Thello site was working seamlessly yesterday and I got my first ticket canceled with only a 38 Euro penalty.  And I got our new tickets purchased.  Yahoo!  Now the waiting ....

Took a little break

Honestly, I just couldn't face another hour of computer frustration so I didn't even try the Thello site.  I think I am sufficiently rested to give it a try today.  If I can't get it to recognize my ticket number I'll send an email.  I don't know what else to do since Emma wasn't able to find another number for me to call and, as I said, the phone just says to cancel it on line.  I just don't want to be frustrated again but I HAVE to do it.

It was a busy day yesterday and I like that.  Noon knitting was fun and the afternoon flew by.  Tink and I are alone for a couple of nights so it was pretty quiet at home.  She got her two walkies, I got my food ready for today and my dinner ready, then we watched stupid TV and I knit on the sleeves.  This yarn is a joy to work with and has a lovely halo.  Tink was ready for bed at 8 but I managed to get her to stay up a little bit longer.  Then we went in and I read for a while and dropped off around 9 or so.  It is SO quiet when I'm alone there.  I slept like a rock, except for the time I woke myself up snoring, or snorting or something.  Maybe it was Tink. 

I do have another rather busy day - again, I am super happy about that because the day goes by so much quicker.  I have a 1 o'clock meeting and I did want to go to Trader Joe's.  I guess I'll go at 11 and take the bus rather than walk.  I have no idea how long this meeting is going to go and I'll need to eat my lunch before so I don't really have time for a super long walk.  Ah well.  Tomorrow.

No joy

First thing yesterday I called the Thello number but still didn't get a live person.  At the very end of the automatic thing I got an option to push O for operator, but the person who came on the line did not speak English any better than I speak French and maybe even worse.  I believe she was Italian.  She told me the Thello site was not working and I should go to the TrainItalia site but, oh by the way, that wasn't working either.  I asked Emma to see if she could find a live English person for me to call, but she did not have any luck.  Everywhere it says I must cancel on the web site and re-book.  I don't have a problem with that.  I understand I will lose some portion of the original reservation.  My problem is that the web site does not recognize my reservation number!!  Well, I will try the web site again this morning and if I can't get it to work, I'll send another email to them.  I did get a response saying I needed to use the web site ..... see the round and round?  I'd LOVE to use the web site if I could get it to work!!!

Yesterday was late meeting day so I ate my lunch at my desk and left at 2:30.  I stopped at the store for more eggs and got the quiche into the oven and that didn't leave me any time to walk Tinkerbell.  She had spent more than an hour outside in the front and the back, but she really really wanted to go out about half way through the meeting.  What luck.  But Ben got home around 6 and took her out, so she didn't have to suffer much.

I got a good hour in on the sleeves and today I will work on them some more at noon knitting.  Then I've got two evenings alone while Ben is in Portland and I can knit and knit and knit to my heart's content.

One down one to go

Well I was not 100% successful yesterday.  I tried doing my changing train reservations on line and that was a disaster.  The Thello site didn't even recognize my reservation number.  And the RailEurope was just as bad.  So I found a number for RailEurope and called them and got that portion handled - Paris to Beaune moved from the 30th to the 23rd.  And that guy was very very helpful but he couldn't change my Thello reservation for me.  Actually the Thello is not exchangeable so I have to cancel my original reservation and lose I don't know what at this point, and then re-book.  I called the office but they close at 7 pm their time, so I just missed them.  It's first on my list this morning.  And then I'm going to double and triple check all of my other reservations!!

All of my free time yesterday evening was spent knitting on the sleeves for the cardigan I started.  It's slow going - two sleeves at the same time so I'm not seeing a lot of progress.  I'm about half way through my initial increases - two stitches every five rows ten times.  That's really the way to go though because if a mistake is made, it's made on both of the sleeves.

It is so cold in the mornings, but it is getting almost up to 50 in the daytime.  I wanted snow.  I guess we're not going to get winter again this year.  Oh -- today is Groundhog Day so we'll surely find out.  If you believe it of course.  And since they do it on the east coast it really never has much to do with us.

Onward

Hubris or haste?

Sunday morning I rolled over and picked up my iPhone, blearily going through my phone messages and I see a message from my friend in France.  I had sent her a message Friday after I made all of my train reservations, telling her when we would be arriving in Beaune.  Alas .... she pointed out to me that I had the wrong date!  Now let me tell you a little something about how I organize a trip.  I have a spreadsheet and I meticulously check and re-check my dates and reservations.  However.  However after checking it seems that I not only reserved the wrong dates for that train but also the NIGHT TRAIN!  Oh my god.  The night train from Dijon to Milan which costs a fortune.  I have reserved the wrong date.  *sigh*  Well I just couldn't face it on Sunday plus I have all of my records here on my desktop so today after I get a couple of fires put out I've got to dig in and fix this mess. AND double check all of my other reservations.  I don't know what was wrong with me?  Where did I go wrong?  I didn't double check before I clicked the button is where I went wrong.  And why?  Because I am SO sure I'm doing it right.  I never make mistakes.  Hah!  I made a doozy this time and it could end up costing me quite a bit - money and pride.

It was a relatively quiet and relaxing weekend.  Saturday we went back to the outlet mall in North Bend so Ben could exchange his brief case/messenger bag and I had my little income tax refund I was keen on spending.  He got his bag and I?  I found a most beautiful and gorgeous and irresistible bag at the Coach store.  Not a made for the factory store bag, but one that came from the retail outlet.  50% off and I couldn't resist.  So I bought it.  Love love love.

The stole was finished Saturday night and I decided that I would start the lace front cardigan which is a free pattern from Cascade that Monika made last year.  I bought yarn specifically for it, although not the cotton blend but a cashmere blend.  Same weight but much more beautiful.  I wound the balls and cast on and started while the ProBowl was on yesterday.  I'm well into the sleeve increases.  I haven't made a garment in a long while so I'm quite excited about this.

And so the week begins.  Thirty-one weeks until I retire.

Eary meeting day again

Oh I am beginning to regard Fridays much like Mondays.  No "bonk" on the alarm - I just have to jump out of bed and hit the ground running.  This isn't usually much of a hardship -- in fact, much more of a hardship for Tinkerbell who doesn't like getting out in the cold and dark to do her business any earlier than she has to.  But when I have a night like last night when I can't sleep, then it's much much harder.  And I don't know why I couldn't sleep either.  I read in bed until I couldn't keep my eyes open and then when the light went off -- pop goes my eyes.  And I was reading a book, not on the iPad so we can't blame the computer screen.  Ah well, it is Friday so I can sleep in tomorrow.  Ahhhhh yesssss!

I did a lot of good work on the Artyarns project and in fact finished up the lighter of the two solid colored yarns.  Again, I hope to finish that up this weekend.  I am getting rather excited about making an actual garment again.  I still haven't decided if I'll do the lace front draped cardigan or something with the new Merino Cloud I bought.  I'm still looking for the right pattern.  It probably would be best to start the lace fronted cardigan just because I am more likely to wear a spring garment.  Decisions decisions

The rain continues.  Solid, nonstop, soggy.  And it's rather warm to boot.  Perhaps we'll be having an early spring and no winter again.  It was supposed to snow on the weekend but that chance has disappeared as the temperature rises.  It definitely is lighter and in about eight weeks we'll be turning the clocks again.  The year just zooms along.

And speaking of zooming, I got nearly all of my train reservations done yesterday.  Getting the night train reservation was the hardest.  Boy, you have to practically belong to a secret society to figure that one out.  You need to go directly to the Thell site and even then it wasn't a straightforward experience.  Regardless I got it done.  It's not cheap to get your own compartment but I just can't see sleeping in a room with strangers.  Not going to happen.  So Ben and I have our own sleeper compartment from Dijon to Milan.  Seven hours.  It'll be lovely.  We do have a rather fast connection to Monterosso.  We are scheduled to get in at 5:50 and the Monterosso train leaves at 6:05.  I am sure we can make it in 15 minutes if our train is on time.  If not, then we can catch the train at 8 o'clock.  I just don't want to reserve that one because I don't want to hang around Milan train station unless I am forced to do so.  We'll do our best to make the connection.  Oh thank goodness I have that trip to look forward to!