Merry Christmas from the Chaos!!!

Our Chaos Tree...decorated while watching my new DVD of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer...you know...the Burl Ives narrated, animated one...



"We are Santa's Elves...Filling Santa's Shelves...."
"Lots of toys for good girls and boys..."
"OHHHHH...We are Santa's Elves!!!"

And now I can't get that doggone song out of my head...meanwhile Honey and Spencer are merrily shooting the living daylights out of each other on the Xbox.

And off I go to cook our Xmas dinner while merrily humming that stupid little tune. It was cute last night...

Boobie Tuesday, Special Edition

Have you fondled your boobies today? If not, you might want to... (or have someone else do it for you - hey, it has to be done, why not enjoy it?!?)

Don't forget, most important!!!

• Monthly self-exams
• Yearly Mammograms

Why do I bring this up now?

Funny you should ask.

I'll tell you.

Mid-November I was doing my own self-exam and found a tender lump.

A few days later was my yearly exam/physical. Doc takes a touchie feelie, yep, it's a lump alright. Sends me off with orders for a diagnostic mammogram.

Day before Thanksgiving, I'm getting all squished. Wait here while we check the films.

Step this way for an ultrasound, we need a better look. Wait here while we check the images.

Recommendation: biopsy

Cry on the way home. On the bus. It was raining.

Doc calls me back that afternoon with the name of some breast cancer surgeons.

Make appointment. J - That's where I was coming back from when you saw me going thru Heather Farms. I had just finished my consultation appointment with the surgeon and had found out exactly what I was up against.

Recommendation: Ultrasound guided needle core biopsy. We'll call hospital tomorrow and send over all your films and images. We'll call you when that's done so you can call them and set up an appointment.

December 18th, Honey and I bundled off to the hospital so I could have my procedure. It turned out a bit different than expected and now I have a small metal marker in my boob** - put there just in case they had to go back in for more. Oh, and we'll need to get a mammogram to mark the spot and record you have that in there. Gee. Thanks. You poke big fat needles in my boob and now you're going to squish it. Sigh. OK, you're all set - your surgeon will have the results at the earliest Monday.

Friday: soreness, occasional pain. Waiting.

Saturday: soreness. More waiting.

Sunday: We go out for a bike ride in the rain. The whole time this whole "is it bad or nothing" hanging over my head as I wait.

Monday: More waiting.

Tuesday morning: Results at last. I have good news for you. Nothing to worry about.

Easy for you to say. I wasn't the only one going thru this and my family, Honey, and a few very close friends have been waiting just as impatiently as I have. I haven't had a good night's sleep in a month.

I was in Target when I got the news. I cried tears of relief in the Target bathroom. And then again on the way back to the bus stop.

So Please, everyone. Do the needful and take care of yourselves and your loved ones. Make sure everyone has all their yearly exams and tests.

Luckily for me, the news was good. There are so many others where it is not.

I am happy to say that on the 11th 'anniversary' of when my Mother was diagnosed with colon cancer, I was not diagnosed with breast cancer.

We've had full days since Honey arrived. Out on the bikes and going all about and stuff. Now I hope I can FINALLY enjoy things and get into the Holiday spirit. And maybe now I'll be in the mood to decorate for Xmas.

I just haven't wanted to do anything.

** My first reaction was...is it made of plastic? Will it dissolve? Metal?!? Will it set off security alarms at the airport? NO?!?!?!?! wtf. What's the point in having something metal in your boob if it doesn't set off the scanners and embarrass the hell out of the poor soul unlucky enough to wand you. THAT'S NO FUN!!!! At least I got a laugh out of the ladies poking me with needles and stuff.

Now we can enjoy Honey's visit...

Hi All!

Honey made it here in one piece and has been very patient as I work out this week. As of 5pm today, tho, I'm on Xmas Vacation! YAY!

Today we took a long lunch and walked over to our favorite bike shop and purchased a used bike for Honey. We got a great deal. Once Honey heads back home, Spencer will be able to use it to ride around with me on the weekends. It's a very nice bike and the same type of one that was stolen from the BART station, only a newer model.

Honey has been spending his time working on a loaner bike we got from Spencer's Dad. It's a piece of crap bike that needed some chain oil and some brake ajustments. Honey has wonderfully done that and will test it out tomorrow.

Tomorrow is filled with bike testing, taking some stuff for donation, Spencer's soccer game and if there's any energy left - we will put up the Xmas tree and decorate up the apartment.

Sunday morning will hopefully be weather friendly enough for us all to hop on the bikes and hit the trail for a morning pit stop at Peet's and then a stop at Sports Basement to get some more locks and see what other sort of essential bike accessories we just have to have. hee hee

I am just so excited to get us all out and on bikes together. Going to have lots of fun.

Now all we need is Mother Nature to cooperate with some lovely weather.

J: We don't mind the rain. And yes, I was riding thru Heather Farms last Thursday, hope I didn't cut you off or anything. Was my first time riding in the darkness. Yes, my hair is long and I had it in braids. Did you notice my bright coral pink jacket?

PANNNNNNNNIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not really, but I'm am about to start the last minute running about, cleaning, laundry, and general panic that comes before someone visits. Especially before Honey visits. He arrives TOMORROW NIGHT!

Gulp. So much to do still.

Still working on Pay It Forward Gifts. Yes they are late. But they are done, all I have to do is some finishing and I can send them off.

Finally back to knitting on SPencer's argyle double-knit scarf. God, I love this project! Definitely going to have to do some more - probably not projects as big as a scarf, but I just gotta do more! Four pattern repeats done, about 12 more to go...sigh.

Rode the bike a few times, then the rain started. I'm going to still ride in the cold tho. I'm still deciding on the rain. Oh, speaking of keeping warm on the bike, I found a club on Ravelry for bike riders. Lots of helpful advice and awesome ideas and patterns I'm definitely going to try.

It's been hard getting myself to do anything, but I think I'm getting back into stride.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some online donations to get to...

A wonderfully pleasant surprise...

You know, I really thought this weekend was going to suck.

There was lots of stuff planned...most of it planned not by me...as in if I had a choice, I wouldn't have done it.

All potentially wearing me out (more like burning me out) before MY only choice for the weekend happened.

SURPRISE!!! I enjoyed everything. And I even got in an unplanned shopping event!!!

I'm a bit worn out now...but I sure had a wonderful weekend.

And, good heavens, I really needed it.

Weekend started Friday night with me totally cranking that the weekend was going to suck. I don't normally do stuff like that because, well, attitude is everything, right?

Saturday, up bright and early after sleeping like crap. Kitty makes noise, I yell at Kitty to shut her pie hole, kid takes that as sign Mom is up for the day. No...it's before 8am on a Saturday for criminy's sake. go away....both of you. Take this as a sign that the weekend is TOTALLY going to SUCK, moan, roll over and try to go back to sleep.

Epic Fail...get up 20 min later.

Once I have breakfast in me, feel much better, chat with Honey online, lunch comes round, time to head out.

Xmas party first, then Soccer game with Spencer.

Take early bus after hearing bestest friend complain about her bus never showing up...dudes...it never. showed. up. She waited over an hour until one finally came.

Thinking again...gah...today is totally going to SUCK.

Early bus on time, BART train on time, get to designated ride meetup time early. Emerge from Downtown Oakland BART station to the music of several marching bands.

WTF?

hahahahahahahahahaha....Oakland's Holiday Parade!!!! hahahahahahahahaha

Quickly dial ride and say we have to meet on other non-blocked- off street around here, where you at? Craziness ensues, we meet ride, all is well. Much laughter follows.

Xmas party is a lot better than I thought - I knew more people this year, have good time chatting...and I even had a beer.

Head off to soccer game....beer wears off as we wait, and wait and wait for game to start.

Game starts, boys win 6-4. Happy kids, happy parents. Have accepted that we've missed last bus home from BART station...head off home.

Is cold out, but we only have to walk a short way to taxi stand, get lucky and get a nice driver. (Some of the drivers there can be c-r-e-e-p-y or just plain standoffish)

Get home snack, change, relax, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

Up and at 'em early next morning...7am on Sunday people... It's time for SF Sock Club. YAY! And Spencer is coming with...hee hee.

We both really had second thoughts about going...we had to get up early after all, but we go anyway. Both of us have a total blast. AmpuT brought her son, another knitter brought her boyfriend, so the 3 "non-knitters" bonded over hot cocoa, pastries and video game discussion. (please note, that the boyfriend does indeed knit - just not yesterday - and had his eye on my Precious the whole time and is planning on making one - and you know I had my eye on him and the Precious!)

Spencer discovers Bike Shop across the street from the cafe, the boys head over to check it out.

Sock Club ends, we make a yarn run to ImagiKnit and head out home. Thanks for the ride home AmpuT and MyFK!!!! So glad to finally get the boys together...even if it was at a knitting club! How funny, cool, awesome, weird is that!!!

Both of us in an awesome mood...get home, Spence heads for the Xbox...he has a standing play time with a friend of ours from England. Some LIVE action shoot 'em up playtime. I chat with honey, Spencer gets his butt kicked and does some butt kicking as well.

Lunch is had, plans are made to meet Antonella for the afternoon.

Shopping ensues, awesome food eaten, Spencer gets some free goodies from the waitress, we walk to BART station and then taxi home.

Low and behold...it's the same driver from Saturday night! And he remembered us!!!

Hey you two!!! Same place as last night?

Yes please!

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee....

Back home now, tea is made, layers put on, homework completed, Tornado shows watched (hey AmpuT, we watched those same shows!!!), not much knitting went on, but it was good to relax on the couch all snuggled up with the kid and the cat and a cup of tea and a big, warm, handknitted blankie.

Satisfied sigh emitted.

Needed some more fluff...

Teddy Bears in SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE part deux

Movin' groovin' jammin' singin' Gummi Bear...

Don't ask...needed some distraction today and I found it. It's cute and perky and happy and all that crap.

Enjoy.




Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go bouncing round my apt singing the Gummi Bear Song.

Job Basket? What Job Basket. Maybe this weekend. ;)

Warm and Fuzzy....

So, I'm at the local Trader Joe's and I text the kid.

Me: Where's Waldo?

Him: Waiting for the bus home. It's cold. Brrrr.

Me: I'm at the store, you want anything?

Him: Big chocolate chip cookies

(TJ's sells these totally yummy big choco chip cookies that totally rock)

Me: OK, anything else?

Him: Just wanna get home. Bus is late and it's cold out here.

Me: OK sweetie see you soon. :)

So I gather up what I was going to get, throw in some Big Oatmeal Raisin cookies - no more choco chip - they are totally popular and go fast. And on the way up to check out I remember that we don't have any more Hot Cocoa Powder mix. So I decide to get more and find...

The best sounding hot cocoa mix ever.

Trader Joe's Natural Mint Cocoa hot cocoa mix.

Oh. My. God. Made with Vanilla Extract and Peppermint oil. OOOOOOoooooooooooooooh...now THAT sounds good. Just what Spencer could use after waiting outside for a late bus.

Pop back to dairy and grab some whip cream for an extra treat.

texting the kid again....

Me: Are you on the bus yet?

Him: yes, just came.

Me: Let me know when you pass the high school and I'll put in some milk for hot cocoa.

Him: OOOh...that sounds great Mom. I could use something warm.

Me: See you soon.

Him: OK

Even if I can't finish his scarf like, yesterday, I can keep him warm in other ways. :o)

Now we're both sitting around with our mint hot cocoa with a squirt of whip cream on top. YUMMMMMMM!!!!

Well, I was cold too!

Ooh...Honey, can't wait to make you some! If the weather keeps up as it is, we'll be having some every night after dinner.

Speaking of dinner, time to go heat up some leftovers. Now that we're warmed up, we can eat in peace.

And I just might have to make another cup after dinner as I knit on his scarf. We keep the temp chilly in the Chaos - saving on the heating bill and all you know. That's what hand knit blankies and warm, fluffy kitties and all that are for...

How's this for distracting you from current crafty projects?

Teddy Bears In Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace....

Shouldn't M.A.T. have a helmet tho?!?

OMG!!!! WAAAAAAAAAANT

If only...

...I could just jet off to England like RIGHT NOW...

...Had lots of money to blow....

I would soooo go here!

A costume house selling off old costumes and jewelry. Sigh. Thanks Dress A Day for pointing me here...too bad I can't go!!! Love, love, love, love vintage clothing and jewelry. And love costumes...love making them and seeing them...and wearing them. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!!!!!

I would so recruit several people, give each one the £50 to do the largest bag and tell 'em all to GO FOR IT!!!!

Imagine, costumes, vintage clothing, uniforms...and OMG! The jewelry. Don't care if it's broken - would so love to get my hands on some of that. I could make so much cool stuff out of it.

Cos of course, I'd have money to burn, and all the time in the world cos, you know, I just picked up and jetted off to England on a whim.

Oooh...this is soooo much better than having sewage back up into my tub and shower (in two diff bathrooms).

And it doesn't smell as much either...

And mmm mmmm mmmm mmmmm....love the smell going thru the apartment right now...dusted off the bread machine...making a fresh loaf for tonight's spaghetti and meatballs.

YUMMMMMMY