Tired and vamped and ready to rock

Tired: Still not getting enough sleep.

Vamped: I had blood taken today.

Ready to rock: I have a Zipcar membership.

I'm looking forward to packing up a Zipcar or Ziptruck full of donations or consignments or hazardous household waste and taking it off to someplace other than the Chaos.

Think I owe a hair update...

...it is still not colored.

I'm tired of doing it.

I had to file my taxes early so that we could fill out and submit financial aid forms for college.

I'm getting a refund.

It got deposited yesterday.

Work is having another convention booth down in LA at the end of March.

I've lost 9 lbs.

I'm stressed and not sleeping enough.

I deserve a rest.

I deserve a treat.

Mid-March I will be going for the works.

Mid-March plus one day:

The before mid-March will be forgotten.

No grey hairs.

A sassy new haircut.

A happy me.

...and I won't scare anybody off at the convention.


Bring it.

Remember the Knitting

OK, so here I sit typing up a blog about knitting when I should be fast asleep.

Whatever.

Some things have not changed in The Chaos.  It hasn't moved and I haven't done much with sorting through things lately.

Some things have changed in The Chaos.  The Queen of The Chaos (that would be me) is shrinking.  Just a little.  If Her Majesty could get off her Royal Bum, she might be shrinking faster.  But that's a whole new blog post.

The point is, this sweater has been languishing in my project bag for a long time.  A very long time.  I'm making it with the most scrumptous yarn (in the 07 Autumn colorway) I have ever gotten my Royal Paws into...bought in England.  Yum.  And Purrrrrrrrrr.  And if I had an entire room of it, I would sleep on it.

Yes, it's THAT yummy.

Anyway, I had a feeling all along that Juliet would end up being too big, but that did not deter me one bit in continuing to knit it.

Why?

Well, honestly, because I have no concept of gauge and how to manipulate that S.O.B. to get it to work in my favor.  Also, well I am a short, potato shaped knitter with a warped sense of what should fit.  It's not that I'm a size 20 trying to fit into a size 2.  It's just that I cannot for the life of me accurately judge what size I am.  Seriously.  Measuring does not help.  I just cannot correlate measurements with making garments that fit me.

That sounds much better than "because I'm a total nutter", doesn't it?

This gauge imparement is why I make socks and scarves and hats.  Simple stuff for my simple brain - until I can get a handle on this whole gauge thing.  Honestly (again), if I could handle free-form knitting that ended up as something usable, I'd do that.  No pattern, no gauge, no rules - just KNITTING at it's purest.

Right.

Anyway, back on topic.  Now that I'm not so much the large Idaho I used to be, but, still potato shaped none-the-less, I realize that my Juliet will need to be frogged and restarted.

Which does not bother me in the least, because if you have been reading me since the beginning, you know that deconstructing is one of my favorite knitting activities.

Because then I can knit it all up over and probably over again.

There goes that whole "not admitting to being a nutter" theory.

Reigning in the Chaos...a little at a time...

This past week has been a doozy, but I sit here today typing, so I obviously survived the dooziness.

A lot of things have changed lately, from where I sit, for the better.  Here are a few tidbits:

1. I was starting a new online shop.  I've cancelled it for now.
2. I was whole-hog on the looking-for-a-new-place.  I've slowed down.
3. I had signed up to do a local craft fair (at my complex, this weekend actually). I cancelled.
4. I felt like crap all the time.  I've changed my eating habits and I'm moving again (as in easing back into something that can be called exercising). 
5. I was trying to remember too much with a memory that isn't as good as it used to be.  I've emptied the extras out onto paper and left other things forgotten. If they were important, I'll find out soon enough.  Then I'll add them to my calendar or my notes.

All of them important changes that add up to me being able to sleep again.  Not stressing over where I should be and what I should be doing or when things should be done or how many things still need doing.

Life is complicated enough, I really don't need to make it more so.

There were many things (both big and small) that signalled me that I really needed to change my ways.

The two most obvious things:

1. My body was screaming for mercy.
2. I sat down in front of some very pretty sparkly jewelry supplies, had a zillion ideas in my head about what to do with all those pretty sparkly things and could do nothing but look at the pretty sparkly things and think "ooh, pretty sparkly things, aren't they pretty and sparkly?".

When my body talks so loudly (or in this case just about whacks me over the head with a baseball bat) and my creativity STOPS, I know there is something wrong.  Not only has something been wrong for a long time, but I've been ignoring it.  Bad Donna. Bad.

This time, I sat back and looked at ALL aspects of what was going on, not just the one that was complaining the most.  I unloaded the unnecessary things, rearranged the necessary things, and added some new very necessary things.

I am by no means done, but I have a very good start.

Now if I could just get back all those lost hours of sleep, I'd be golden. :)

Note: I know I am moving in the right direction.  I was able to sleep last night even after having 2 earthquakes yesterday that scared the living daylights out of me.

Someone's in my kitchen cooking all day...

...oh yeah, that would be me!

Started off today with a short ride to the farmer's market down the street. Note to self, drag your bum out earlier and you won't have to dig and dig for the few really good veggies that are left.

Anyways, got some fresh ingredients for some healthy veggie soup. Healthy as in not so full of sodium, but still tasty. I've tried just about every low-sodium canned soup out there and have yet to find one that I like, so I decided to try my hand at making my own. I was channel surfing last night and came upon the Dr. Oz show and lo and behold, they were talking about a healthy veggie soup that this woman made that helped her lose weight. I thought I'd give it a try. Don't care whether it helps me lose weight, but being that I am currently obsessed with finding a tasty low-sodium soup, well, there you go.

Since I wanted it low-sodium, I substituted 4 tsp. of Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute spice mix (no salt in it that I could find in the ingredients) for the 4 cubes of chicken bouillon (which is way too salty for me). It still has an hour to cook, but so far, the broth tastes good.

I added zucchini and cut back on the celery and cabbage cos we don't like those too much here in the Chaos. Also, the cans of Plum Tomatoes at TJ's are a bit smaller than needed, so put in all of the two rather than waste the extra, so now it's a bit more. I believe I also cut back to 3 cans of water instead of four.

I'm going to make some Mexican Star pasta later (since I'm using my pasta pot to cook the soup) and will add that if I want to make more of a meal out of it. It's an uber chunky veggie soup, which is what we like here. And oh boy does it smell GOOD. My turn to fill up the hallway with the smell of what I'm cooking. Hee hee.

The only problem I have is...how to store it all? Not sure if I have enough containers....I'm pretty sure I'll be using them ALL...sigh.

Can't wait to take this to work for lunch!!!!!

Actually got some knitting time in...

Well now that the Olympics are over, I've started up knitting on Spencer's beanie.

I actually picked it up on Saturday. I pulled my back on Friday, so couldn't do much at all. Knitting and reading were about the only things I could manage on Saturday, so there you go.

I knit a good 2 inches or so on it during the afternoon and evening in between getting up and walking and stretching and reading bouts.

Would have much rather been out doing something else. Like going to a good friends' 50th b-day party. Yeah, I missed a big one. Sigh.

Still feeling sore and smelling of Tiger Balm - I'm using the patch version on my back - it's done wonders, but the smell...oi... It wouldn't be too bad, but I'm sensitive nose-allergy-wise to some of the ingredients. Luckily, they are in small quantities and I've been able to deal. Small price to pay for the back to feel better.

Life back to "normal" round here I guess. As normal as it gets here in the Chaos.

#569 It's a Miracle!

Hey Everyone!

I made something! *I* made something!

Hee hee...

Yesterday morning was a bit of an adventure... Taking Spencer to go get xrays in the middle of a deluge, a stop after at the groc store and hardware store and a long walk home in the rain...

Don't worry, Spencer is OK. He hurt his wrist, but nothing is broken, it is just a sprain.

Anyway, we were both soaked to the skin. So after drying off, hanging up everything to dry, climbing into our warm jammies and several cups of tea and some snacks...I couldn't keep my eyes open.

So off to nap I went...and I had a dream about something wonderful...

Last night, I made my dream come true.

I started with this....leftover beads from Antonella's necklace and a bracelet chain.



It turned into this...



...and ended up as this...



I call this the "Foreign Bracelet".

The "main" beads are from England, there is an Eiffel Tower Charm, an English Phone Booth Charm, and some sort of Asian Charms with Chinese characters on them (I think it's Chinese).

Anyway, I love it! It was fun to make - pain free even! It took me several hours, but only because I searched through everything bead related that I have to find just the right pieces to add - just ask Antonella, I've got a lot of stuff!

So there you go...I made something. I love it.

TA-DA!

My Post Counter is Wrong

Wrong I tell you! I've been posting and posting and jabbering on and on and the count is still in the 550's...I swear it's been that way since the beginning of summer. I KNOW I've posted more than 10 times since June. Gah.

Whatever, time for some more jabbering.

I miss knitting.

I tried with the Tunisian Hook last night - no dice. Even that was too much. Regular crochet doesn't work either.

Neither does sewing, making jewelry, or any other sort of crafting.

My consultation appointment with the wrist doc with the "New and Improved" MRI is tomorrow morning. I'm SO FLIPPIN' TIRED OF WAITING.

The wrist REALLY hurts. The damp and cold IS NOT HELPING.

There has been a whirlwind of sorting and organizing activity here in the Chaos.

My apartment complex is getting inspected by the City on Friday morning. Nothing like an "incentive" to get you moving a bit faster.

The only storage areas left for sorting are the big, useless dining room closet and the smaller, but still as useless hall closet. Those will have to wait until after the inspection. Boxes and whatnot that have already been sorted but don't have a home yet will be marked appropriately and put wherever there is room - need to get them out of the way.

I've made so many trips up and down to the recycling bins and dumpster that I should have buns of steel.

I've made 2 trips this week (so far) to the thrift store with a very large metal cart full of donations each time - on the bus - it's been quite easy actually. The big cart is now sitting full in the corner waiting for another run. Can't go tomorrow cos of doc appointment and Friday I'm expecting a package delivery, so I guess I'll start up with the thrift store runs again next week.

My doc appt is tomorrow.

I've been doing some culinary experimentation. It sounds a lot better than its been tasting, trust me. It's been fun tho - and I can usually salvage most of it, so we haven't been starving.

My doc appt is tomorrow!!!

Back to work putting things away. I've done as much sorting as I can, now just to get it all back under the bed and in the closets and tucked away til after the holidays. I will do more as time and wrist permits - don't think I'll have it all done before the Holidays and I really do want to decorate for Xmas. So....everything goes away, clearly marked and mostly in their permanent homes.

After New Year tho...it's back at it full force!

I got a new exercise DVD today from my DVD swap club. I'm so excited. It's Core Conditioning and what not, but uses belly dancing moves. I watched it thru while eating lunch today (yeah, I know) and I think I just might be able to actually do this one and keep on doing it - I like belly dancing and the instructors aren't annoying and my body is familiar with the moves - and it's very low impact.

I'm going to the doc tomorrow.

Hello...are you still there?

Just a quick Mom update. She's recovering nicely. My sister says that she is bossing her around, so she's definitely feeling much better than procedure day. hee hee. That's it for Mom updates as they are quite boring and there's not really much I can say. Thanks to everyone for all their thoughts and well wishes!

I've been keeping busy. Yes Virginia, you can be unemployed and still be busy.

I miss my jewelry class. Sign-ups are on now for the Fall class, but I'm not going to do it. It's an extended version of the one I just took and it's during the day again. I'm being optimistic and saying I'll be busy working soon, so can't be playing at jewelry class on Friday afternoons. :)

No knitting lately. I've tried, but I just can't do it. Not only am I lacking in knitting mojo, but my wrist has decided to bother again (a cyst from the past has returned with a vengeance), and so I've replaced knitting and crocheting with reading and jewelry making. Now that Mom's on the mend, I just might drag myself into the doc's and see what they can do for my wrist.

I've also joined Paperbackswap.com...damn...it's like having a job! It's really cool tho, you join, post books you'd like to trade and then, well, start trading. For every book you mail off to another member, you get a credit. The credits can then be used to "order" books from other members. It's all quite addicting. I just joined up this past Thursday and have already sent off 12 books...with 8 more waiting for the appropriate approvals. Go check it out. If you decide to join, please put me in as a referral my swap id is ladilynn. The site also has two sister sites, one for CDs and one for DVDs.

After all the mailing I've done, I'm finally getting a book sent to me. WooHoo!!!! Unfortunately, most of the books I REALLY want have waiting lists. Oh well...

Drawing Class tomorrow!!!

YAY!!!

I'm hoping to have a fun time with the class and not sit there like a bump on a log.

The two, giant, tunisian crocheted blankets have not done their job. I am still blocked.

I have figured out that there are many reasons why:

1. I've been very lazy. Very easy to be very lazy when you don't have to get up and go someplace where people have promised to pay you if you show up and do stuff.

2. My apt is a chaotic mess. Result of the laziness, of course. I have promised myself today is chore day - going to get all the basic stuff done, pack for class and then work a bit more on getting my crafting supplies in order. Ooooh...it's lunch time! Chores will have to wait - can't do chores if I'm hungry!

3. I have no idea where to even begin being creative. I have many lists of ideas. I have many ideas in my head. I look at the lists and it's as if they are in a foreign language. I go to pull ideas out of my head and they are no longer there...they return when I decide to leave them alone.

4. I'm feeling rather lonely lately. Lonely equals woe-is-me, pity parties that totally block out any desire to do anything but park my ass on the couch and watch nonsense on TV. Which then ends up with me in bed with a book or magazine cos there is nothing but crap on TV. And then I can't even concentrate on what I'm reading.

I do get out with my friend Antonella, I chat daily with my Honey, Spence and I spend lots of quality time together when we get the chance, I still call the family and chit chat, and I have actually been dragging my ass out on the bike and have been swimming once. My blood pressure is down and so is my weight - 4 more lbs actually.

I should be happy. I think about it all and go "meh - whatever".

Trying not to put too many high hopes on these classes I'm taking and I think I'm doing pretty good with that. Stepping out of my creative box with the drawing is something different which I think I will really enjoy. The jewelry class can only help me as I have had lots of ideas for new pieces but I have no idea how to bring them into reality.

The classes are what they are and my chaos is what it is...hopefully being in contact with more people will get me back to whatever it is I was before I lost my job - ironically, I don't even know what that is, really.

Meh - whatever!

Sorry so boring around here lately...

I can't help it. Not only have I been extremely busy, but I've been sick off and on for a very long time (damn allergies) and for the past week I've been dealing with a pulled back muscle.

There are many days where I don't even want to get up. What's the point? The coughing, the sneezing, the pain. But yet I do, and I trudge thru the days and try to sleep thru the nights.

Whine whine whine...

The lastest...

My last day at the paying job is tomorrow (or should I say today, it is after midnight). I just checked my bank balance. The last deposits have been made. It's pretty much officially over except for shipping out the laptop. Sigh.

Work on the costumes continue. The dress is almost done. I have to do just a few more things to finish attaching the bodice to the skirt and then it's the hem and we're off to school sometime tomorrow. And that's it for costumes. Good thing too, the first performance is next Wednesday.

The Casa de Chaos is a total wreck. Even worse than before. The poor cat is covered in bits of fabric and thread. That's what she gets for sleeping under my sewing table in a pile of fabric bits and pieces. She's royal, she likes velvet, what can I say?

I've got lots of cleaning up to do. Looking forward to getting a few boxes worth of stuff out of the house and back to former paying job. Then it's time to dive into what's left. Not like I'm not going to have some time on my hands. Sigh.

Taking some time off. Maybe I'll see a movie. Maybe I'll just stay home with my butt and relax for once. The back needs rest. The brain needs rest. My sanity needs rest. Yes, doing nothing for a week or two sounds wonderful.

Next Friday begins KublaCon Weekend with the Boys. WooHOOOOOO!!!!

I hope to be out on Sgt. Puff again next week, so definitely need to get my back well. I haven't been able to do much and even spent Mother's Day flat on my back in bed and medicated. Lovely.

Also need to kick the job search into high gear, help out a friend at his new business (non-paying job), and start making some stuff for my online shop. I've been ignoring way too many important things around here - including myself.

Sigh.

It's late, I'm tired, my bed is heated up and ready. I know, it's hot out here, but it does feel good on my back and helps my muscles relax after a long day at the computer and sewing table.

Oh, and THANK GOD for massaging shower heads.

Oh, and Ibuprofen too.

Still here...

And still working hard...

Things have been rather chaotic in the Chaos lately. I'm taking a much deserved break tonight. No personal crafting, no chores (I'm look at you laundry), no costume work....just me and the couch tonight.

This old body needs a rest - it's been thru a lot lately.

Lots of stuff going on...end of job next Friday, final fittings of costumes on Monday/Tuesday, KublaCon coming up, loads of ideas for the shop, loads of ideas for personal crafting projects...sigh.

On a happier note, I think the pools have opened! Time to start up swimming again. Spencer and I LOVE swimming.

It's the 500th post...whoopty doo....

OK, so it's not as inspired and creative and all hoopla-y like I wanted it to be...deal with it.

I've been fighting a losing battle with allergies and finally went to the doc today. Came home with some really gung-ho meds. Nothing like some booyah drugs to take care of bidness! Looks like I'll be on the allergy meds full time during the 'season' again. That's what I get for wanting to get out and bike while it's snowing pollen. I've got some nerve, don't I?

Really sounds like I'm on something besides allergy meds doesn't it...what DO they put in those nose sprays now-a-days?!?

Seriously tho, I'm just so excited cos after one spray up my snozzle, I'm ready to go. I've got lots to do, so the whole world better just step aside, I'm back...and I'm going to start knocking out some awesome stuff.

First off, Spence and I had this totally awesome Sammie Sunday planned out. Picture Kitty in an easter basket surrounded by fake grass and plastice eggs. Kinda like a "Watch out Cadbury Bunny, Princess Sammie is in da house/we're really not amused about this" thing.

As you can see from the lack of photos, that didn't happen. Total. Non-cooperation. Damn. Cat. Next...

My big plans for a really cool 500th post shot to hell once I figured out I needed a zillion photos to do it and lots more time than I had and more brain power than I could muster...so now it's going to be a series. I'm calling it "The Family Jewels Series". Not the crown jewels, altho that does give an idea for a Sammie Sunday photoshoot. And not those kinds of family jewels - you dirty minded people!!!

This series is going to highlight the artistic side of my family - as in every one is a jewel to be admired cos they are talented and I love them, etc. Which also will include Honey and his folks cos they are quite talented as well. And with everyone included, it will be a lovely, long and hopefully extremely interesting series. Stay tuned. Not only do I have to gather photographic evidence, but it all has to be organized and of course I've got to pull all these ideas out of my head, but make sure nothing else leaks out.

Good heavens this is getting long. Next...

Been doing a lot of reading...can't do much else, so have been knocking back the Terry Pratchett Discworld Series... came to a halt with that one tho, as I still need to get some missing books, so have moved over to Angels and Demons for something different. Love me a good mystery, murder every so often. Next...

Working on some costumes for Spencer's school. The drama class is putting on "Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead". I'm making 5 pieces and one Queen's dress. Cue panic. I've lost a lot of time with this cos of all the stomach flu and allergy and sinus headaches bordering on mini-migranes (oh the PAIN!!!). But that's all over now and I'm back in business. Time to start crankin'!!!

AHA!!! I've remembered why I'm such a spaz right now. I'm caffeinated. Forgot to tell the girl to give me decaf when I got a coffee while I was waiting for my prescription. NEXT....

Still trying to get some cool projects out of my head and off the "to-do" list and on to some needles. Shhh...they are secret. So I'm hoping the 'Jewels' series of posts will keep your minds off what I'm doing. heh heh heh. Next!

Working on another project called "Stitches on the Bridge". I'm hoping to make a small panel with the Golden Gate Bridge double knitted on it...thought that would be cool to make a bridge to go on the bridge. Have the yarn, have the swatch, need to grid out the design. Thought it would be cool to get in on some "sanctioned" guerilla knitting - after, all the panels get auctioned for charity. So I'm knitting for good and not evil. Next!!

Am so far behind on my SF sock club socks. Don't really care, I AM working on them and they DO get knit on during sock club meetups and bus/train rides. Next...

Lastly - yay!!! she's about to shut up!!!! - got some "new" stuff to work on more things for my shop! OHHHH, and speaking of shop, check out the videos that were just posted up over at the Phat Fiber blog. D'Lnn Designs gets a shout out at timestamp 6:35 in the first video. Yay!!!!

I'm sure there is lots more I could post, but I think I'm starting to crash. GOOD GOD!!! When did it turn 8pm...I've been working on this damn 500th post for too long. Gah.

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.

Another Jaw-sie night

Last night's Basket Job - the shredding - is going to have to be continued tonight.

I had quite a bit to shred (really should keep up with it better), and the poor shredder started to get a bit warm, so I shut it off after a bit to let it rest and cool down. Not much left, so I will continue that Basket Job tonight.

If I feel up to it, I will pull out another Job Paper from the Basket. Most likely not though as Spencer and I are working on our special project tonight.

Oh, and the tray is not and never will "be". That little project failed in an epic way. Sigh.

The whole point was to take bits and pieces I got on the cheap and make a cool tray.

All I got out of it was some more stuff for the trash dumpster (not going to spend any more money on it) and a wee hole through the tip of my finger.

Don't ask.

PS. The finger is fine, just a bit sore.

Voter #325

Lonely and cold in the dark night...

Spencer came home from school feeling sick, looking terrible, and quickly warming up (as in fever). He was deligated to the couch with tea and dinner.

I'm not feeling all that well myself, so bundled up and headed out in the chilly darkness to vote, hoping that I could hold off anything germ-wise until I was done.

12 minute walk there, 10 minutes voting, 14 minute walk back.

Knitting never made it out of the bag as there was NO line.

So much for the voting entourage and our Family Tradition. Sigh.

And I sure as heck hope that more than 325 people in my precinct have voted. Maybe that's the 2nd or 3rd machine they've had today. I have no idea how it works, and I really wanted to get back home so didn't stick around to find out. And definitely didn't want to talk to anyone more than I had to so that I wouldn't pass on anything germ-ish.

Sigh.

Still.... Civic Duty Performed?




Check!

PS Oh, and Cherry, they finally shut down about half past midnight on Saturday. And the reason we're feeling icky? One of them had the sneezes while he was here. Gee. Thanks.

Just when I thought it was over...

WHAMMMMMO!!!

Seems like last week's bout with disease was just a prelude to today. I've got exactly what Spencer brought home from school last week.

I caught something last week on Thursday and thought I'd gotten it all over and done with, but no. That was just a wee little warmup.

Spencer is back at school this week. YAY! And I was feeling wonderful and working away at work yesterday.

This morning? Not so much. I've been doing what I can in between naps and bouts of self-pity and moaning and groaning. I've gotten quite a bit done actually.

Amazing how much I can get done while I'm sick when I don't have to take care of a whining teen.

Time for some more tea, juice, and another self-pity fit.

Oh, and I finished the first sock of my Mom's b-day pair on Sunday and finished the toe of the second (they are toe-up)! Guess after I finish my pathetic dinner of toast and tea, I just might muster enough strength to knit a bit on the foot.

Or maybe I'll just reroot myself on the couch and think of how I'd redecorate the living area if I had gobs and oodles of cash laying about.

Dream big or go home.

Shiver Me Timbers

aaargh and all that...

...and that's all ye get...we be sick here in Casa de Chaos...

Nom Nom Nom...

What do you get when you take a package of letter shaped pasta, a jar of sauce, some frozen precooked turkey meatballs and add in fresh onions, mushrooms and some chicken/apple sausage?

A couple of full bellies!

While the water was boiling for the pasta, I cut up and sauteed the onions, mushrooms and chicken/apple sausage. When that was done, I added a jar of chunky pasta sauce. Popped the meatballs into the microwave to thaw them out and warm them up, then put them in the sauce to finish cooking.

Damn that was good. Sure beats pasta with jar sauce and some meatballs. Hee hee.

Been knitting and sewing every now and then...concentrating on a few late birthday presents. (Don't say it.)

I've been tossing about various Christmas present ideas and Spencer and I have been working on a special project, several actually. I'll tell you about them very, very soon, promise.

Right now, Spencer isn't feeling well and I'm tired - work has been busy busy busy busy...sigh. Time to go spoil him a bit with a nice cup of tea and a blankie.

Oh, and don't forget, this Friday is "Talk Like A Pirate Day". Time to dig out my blinged out pirate T-shirt. Sparkly skull and crossbones - can't go wrong with that.

Sigh...back to the same old #@%*&!!!!

Hey everyone,
Well, it's back to work, school, and chaos here in the Chaos.

Lots of work going on.

Second week of school in progress.

Too many things to do around here and not enough time or energy to do them.

Nothing new.

Once I get my butt in gear, I'll start posting photos of something, cos I've got lots of photos and have to do something with them.

On a positive note, Spencer and I have started swimming every day. It's a much better exercise for me, and well, it's been hot as hell over here. I've lost a few pounds and some inches overall since we started about 11 days ago.

That makes me happy.

Work, teen angst, and a messy, chaotic apartment do not.

Oh, and as is tradition during the first month of school, someone has given me a bug. New school, new kids, and public transit...gah.

Excuse my while I sit on the couch and whine...cos you know my head is *this* big...

Too bad the only other living creature here is the cat and she doesn't give a flying hoot about how I feel - just as long as I keep the food and water fresh...