Stress Relief is an Amazing Thing

Wow...hard to believe just how much better I am feeling with the hospital stress all gone.

Spoke with our primary nurse from Mount Sinai yesterday to give her an update on Riley. She was super excited to hear that he was doing so well, and she was very happy that we were able to transfer him out of MS to somewhere with more flexibility.

But, on the topic of being calmer, I have started designing my own pair of pants for Riley. Will post the pattern when I have completed them, but so far, they are coming along ok.

Also, I spent a good chunk of the day doing something I haven't done in ages...planting. I know, I am slightly behind in the season for it, but I don't care. It was nice to get my hands in the dirt. We now have a few sunflowers, beans and tomatos. I am thinking I may also nip back and grab some cukes. I love veggies grown by my own hands. Haven't had them in about 5 years, but they are the best.

Anywho, the little man (who, I might add, has established himself in a lovely pattern of bed around midnight, up around 5...how awesome is that??? 5 full hours of sleep!!!) is up and snuffling (and smelling like the wrong side of a horse) so...

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Sometimes, you need a good laff

So I recently found out about this lovely blog (rose-kim knits), and good lord some of her things made me laff so hard I am sure that the people I work with thought I had gone a little more insane. Sadly, though, there are some items that make their appearance there that I really, really like.

Kinda like with this gem:


"You're going to love my nuts!!!"

Wow...golden. Of course, in actuality, I want one. This thing looks super cook...and no more crying dicing up onions...

So anywho, in other, completely unrelated news, I have finished the Christmas sweater! Wee!!! Will post pictures later, but yes, it is all done. So happy about that. Finally have my stitch holders back and can finish the sweater for sprodling.

We also went out and got a crib set this weekend. It was on sale for 50% off...couldn't say no. So cute, and non-gendered, so will work either way, once we know what it is.

That is really all (work is calling me back to it).

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It's Jack and Sally Day!!!

Yes folks. It is Jack and Sally day...WEEEEEE!!! (Can you take a wild guess what I will be tucking in and watching tonight???)

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Unexpected Hiatus

Well, time flies. It feels like we just returned yesterday from our vacation, and here I was promising to update this site with all my loverly pictures. Sorry for the delay. :S

Seems sometimes that time just gets away from you. Between work (where we are currently moving offices, so that has been absolutely insane), birthdays (not including planning my little girl's one, there have been 3 since our return), weddings (some ours, some others), time has just gotten away from me.

On the knitting/crochetting side of life: currently working on an afghan for Am (crochet - I admit I am a little scared). It is, of course, pink and purple. Setting a goal of September for that one. Finishing up a few pairs of mittens (got a great book from the local library with tons of patterns...), too. Just waiting for the arrival of my order from KnitPicks. Got a really nice Black silk-wool blend for a sweater I plan on doing for the boy. Also waiting on a Cotton Linen blend so that I can knit up Zelda for myself. Not sure how well that will go, as I have never used a CotLin blend, but we will see.

On the wedding side of things: it would seem that we are making good headway on our own nuptials. Got Ammy's flowergirl dress. I know it really should be her choice, but she is an affable one, and the dress is a great mix of cute and pretty. And most of the big details all taken care of, too. Now it will just be a matter of the small ones. Got my dress all picked out, going out with the girls in a few weeks to get their dresses picked out. Still have to get around to my ma, as she wants me to help her pick a dress and do her hair and makeup and so on...she really is going kinda crazy over it. It is cute. Oh, and we finally decided on our song. :)

Well, that is about all.

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Longest Three Day Work Week

Yes, it has been. Not feeling the greatest either. My boss has been in with a cold/flu type thing all week long, and I think that she has past that on to me. :( There is nothing going on here at work, either, so I am dead tired, and would like nothing more than to go to sleep, but alas, sleeping at your desk is frowned upon. le sigh.

On the up side, only a few more days until our vacation...WEE.

Time Flies for an Anal Retentive Person Such as Myself

So I have recently learned a lot about myself. For instance, I am horrendously anal retentive. Much more so than I actually thought I was. I mean, I was fully aware that I had A.R. tendencies, but wow. In the few weeks that we have been engaged, I have already picked my dress out (not ordered, which would be much worse, but picked out), have the ceremony booked and deposit down on it, have the reception hall booked and the deposit down on it, have the invitations done (but no, will not be mailing them for some time), have the bridal party decided and asked (and have our first outing booked), have a dj, decided on a menu....lol...I could go on, but it is almost sad. For those who find themselves suffering from A.R., I highly recommend Frugal Bride. Enough lists to make the most detail oriented person happy. :)

I am also much girlier than I thought. I am okay with that, and even I am finding the humor in it. But it is kinda odd. :S

I found out yesterday that, despite my thoughts to the contrary, our work has given us both Monday and Tuesday off. WEEEE!!! So, since my daughter`s daycare is open on Monday, we are dropping her off for a few hours, and partaking in some down and dirty golf. Can`t wait!!

We leave for Nova Scotia in less than 2 weeks. :) Can`t wait. There are some people that I am going to have to try to get in touch with before we leave to see if we can meet up (and yes, I am referring to you Hellcat, if you happen by here).

And finally, tomorrow I get to be engaged again...lol. My ring was slightly too big. Just a touch. So I had to drop it in on Saturday of last week. So, of course, I have been having a blast this week using the good old standby of I don`t see a ring on my finger with the boy...lol

Anywho, that is all.

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Ugh!

So this has been one weird ass week. It started Wednesday, when I had a bit of a bump in the road and now have to deal with some pretty crappy stuff. :( But it will work out in the end (despite the nagging voice in the back of my head which is telling me otherwise, I have to believe this). However, this slight bump was somewhat alleviated by the fact that that same evening, I got home to not only have the delivery of Hogfather sitting on my table, but the delivery of pasties from the recent Pasties Swap on Ravelry there too!!!

Everything seemed to be hunky dorey, until yesterday. I finally found a sitter for my daughter for the day of the concert we are going to (June 18...a Wednesday, so it was difficult), only to find out that that is the same day as my daughter's graduation. I know that it isn't something massive, and it is, to paraphrase Mr. Incredible, another way to celebrate mediocrity, but I can't not go. The kid's all decorate the room for the graduation...they make it a huge event...all the families will be there...I just can't not go, nor can I keep her from it, since it will be the major focal point for her entire class for about a week before, and a week after.

So fine, I sucked up the fact that the tickets we have had for the last 3 months are now useless to me...when suddenly my sinuses decided to attack from the inside. We had running around to do...nothing major, but stuff that needs to be done before the out-laws arrive, and suddenly out of nowhere, I am almost blind from the pain.

It calmed down a hell of a lot, but egad...this week is truly a rollercoaster. Wonder what the weekend will bring...lol

Will post new pictures of the loverly stuff I actually managed to get done sometime this weekend...when I think of it.

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Hogfather and other Ramblings

So, since I am a geeky kinda gal, I have a deep and passionate lourve of Terry Pratchett and Discworld. Therefore I was very upset (very upset) to find out that despite Hogfather having been released in Canada yesterday, the HMV by my work did not get any copies in. *sniff* *sniff*...cue sad violin music...

I have been working away on the kinderwhore sockies...and damn skippy if Nikol Lohr is not correct in the statement of zombie mode...haha. Will likely finish one of them off tonight while zoning out to National Treasure 2 (told ya...geeky kinda gal).

I have also made the startling discovery that my workplace is some sort of a conspiracy to drive me insane. First, they switched the milk cartons to those little single use cuppy things so you spend about 5 minutes just opening them to make your damn coffee, then they upgraded the lighting to a scary brightness (I hate actually being able to see everything as well as the fact that everyone has a yellow tinge), and proceeded to make us all move around for 3 month periods so they could renovate and provide every floor with scary bright lighting, and finally, along with the renovations, they "upgraded" our bathrooms. We have those motion sensor flush toilets...you know...the ones where if you breathe while you are on the toilet, it takes it as that is you moving and flushes, coating your bottom in a loverly film of freezing cold water. Fun, fun, fun.

Ok...rant off

Also, I post it once it is complete, but I am currently working on a pattern for tights for my daughter. I whipped up a pair last year, but really haven't a single clue what I did. I am using those ones as a jumping point for the new ones, though, so I will have to figure it out, and figured might as well write it down while I was at it.

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Growing Up Creepie

So, this weekend, I was treated to a wonderful cartoon show on Sunday mornings called "Growing up Creepie". It was awesome. And it came on right after Ruby Gloom. I think that Sunday mornings are going to become my favorite cartoon day after all. :)

Got a lot of work done on my coat this weekend. I now have a vest, complete with little hangy bits that need desperately to be hidden away....

I am working on sleeve #1, and am about halfway through, at that. Hopefully, it will be completely done by end of day today, and I can cast on the match tomorrow. Ideally, I would like to have it completely done and wearable by Monday of next week. And it seems like, despite the bugger up of making two left sides, this goal is very workable.

The only downside is that I won't have the buttons for at least another week or so. I found these absolutely awesome ones on eBay (after searching high and low for a set of 12 really nice buttons that were bigger than a nickel, and would actually go with the colour - impossible, I might add). But, I am okay with wearing it with just the zipper until they arrive. Besides, it is getting too warm out for me to keep wearing my winter coat...something I am very happy about.

Also, I have just heard about the knit jamboree in Mississauga in May. :) Not sure what all it entails, but I am thinking I might head out to it, you know, purely for scientific purposes...lol

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Fabulous, with a capital F

WEEE!!! I must say that I am feeling fabulous. Absolutely Fabulous (and yes, that deserves a capital F). I had a really great weekend. The weather on Saturday was horrible. It snowed...and snowed...and snowed. But I don't have a driveway to shovel, and with underground parking, I don't have to dig my car out, so really, I don't mind. Sat around watching the 6th season of Charmed and did my hair (which I lust...I will likely post pictures later, because I am that much in lust with the colour). Did nothing!!! It was wonderful.

Yesterday, I cleaned (I can still smell the cleaner on my hands, sadly enough), but made up for it by going out shopping. I love shopping. Especially when it is for my little girl. I got my taxes done nice and early (because I hate the mad scramble of doing them at the deadline), so with the sudden surge of funds in my bank account, out we went. Got her a bunch of clothes for the spring, which I am sure will EVENTUALLY come, and also got a new computer. Nothing big or fancy. I don't need big or fancy. Just something that would take less than an hour to boot up and open solitaire. I have found, however, that after the initial jubiliance of something new (something new, in this case, being Vista with its thousand and one "are you sure you want to do this" questions), it is getting a little harrowing. But such is life. It is shiny and new and mine. :) And I can boot it up in less than an hour. Also bought myself enough yarn in a colour I adore to make myself a nice coat for spring/summer. Will start on that tonight, since I am almost (just have the zipper to install) done the Cobra sweater, and just have the sleeves to complete on the Lil Red Riding Hoodie.

Woke up this morning to the loverly drunken text message "I am a pirate". Hehehehe....

And the day just keeps getting better. Got rid of an old debt that I have felt bad about having. It was a personal loan that a very wonderful soul was kind enough to provide to me when I needed it and had no one else to turn to. And I feel better for having that gone. Only one more left to go!!!

Well, that is all. So far, this month rocks!! (Touch wood)

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Wow

It is amazing, after taking a few steps back, and a few really deep breaths, the amount of crap you see from people who would constantly denounce any and all who give the impression that things were not what they seemed.

Hmmmm...interesting.

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Need a Weekend to Recover...

First, despite the title, my weekend was amazing. It really was. Friday was a nice, low-key evening. Got home from work early, did the dinner thing and such with no problemo at all. Went to Walmart to scope out a new dresser for my daughter (figured now would be a good time to get it, since I wouldn't have to worry about unpacking it or anything else, just leave the box with the other things to be moved). While there, the bane of my existence, my daughter's hair (she despises having it brushed, and with all the curl that she has, it just meant that more and more it would become tangled and knotted and such...to the point that she would start crying and hiding the minute I picked up a hairbrush), was removed. As we were wandering around Walmart, I noticed that the Magicuts or whatever the hair place in there is called was still open. So, after putting it in terms Ammy could understand ("don't you want to have a cute little hairdo just like Dora??"), mission #1 for the weekend was accomplished. She looks adorable (yes, I am partial). And it is nice to actually be able to brush her hair now without having to figure out where she has hidden the brush, the hair ties or herself. Didn't get a dresser while we were there - but I did get decals for her new room, and managed to pick up some of the cheapie $4.99 art stuff that they have that is actually quite nice. Just all in all a good day.

Saturday was equally as good. My daughter and I spent the day grubbing about the house. Cleaned...vegetated...not much of anything. And I had a wonderful "date night" Saturday night. We went out for dinner, followed by Bingo. Yes, I said Bingo. :) And we won, too. It would appear that, despite the boy insisting on paying for everything during our date night, my winnings at bingo covered the entire cost, and then some...and that was after our splitting what we won. WEEEE!!!!

Yesterday, we painted my daughter's room. We move in 24 days, and I did tell my landlord that I would take care of the painting (all the paint was actually in the cubby under the stairs....just a matter of putting it on the walls - and the walls looked hideous from the state that the previous tenants left it in). So, in the morning, after being woken up at an hour that should not exist during the weekends by my loverly little angel and after getting a sufficient amount of liquid caffiene into my system to function in a somewhat normal manner, I set up the room to paint. That is when the boy woke up. And went to get coffees, as I had drained the pot. :) Between the two of us, the entire painting of her room took about an hour in total...not bad, if you ask me. And, well, this is my blog, so really, that is the only opinion that matters at the moment.

Then, one of my not-oft seen loves was mentioned...IKEA. We wandered, and played, and goofed off, and played, and wandered, and ended up getting a very nice, very cheap dresser for my daughter ($87) which I have promised her we will go to Home Depot and pick up some knobs (wholly unneccessary but she wants big pink ones) as well as a new TV stand (found the matching coffee table, but we don't really need one right now, so...). Since both of us were lazy (the boy and I, that is) and neither of us felt like cooking, we went to a restaurant for linner (had a very late breakfast, so this was sort of lunch/dinner) and somehow, on the way back to the car, my daugher and I sort of veered off course and ended up outside of Chapters. Honest, I have no clue how it happened. :p

So I now proudly own and will likely peruse and abuse with glee and joy, DomaKNITrix and Son of a Stitch n' Bitch. Wee!!!

Hope you all had a productive and enjoyable weekend.

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Technical Issues

Welcome to the third day of the new year!!! My New Year's resolution was quite successful. I did, as I resolved to do, wake up on New Year's Day. Wee...

What an interesting few days it has been. I ended last year with a tired, nearly asleep, crawl. Yes, I live such an exciting life. Movies on the couch in my (new - from Christmas - love them) togs and slippers. Got to sleep in a little on New Years Day (my daughter is so good to me some days), followed by a horrendously stupid drive to my sister's for our annual family brunch which, with the exception of the other members of her family, I was the only one in attendance.

I did learned, however, that though we are in a new year, it appears all the stupid drivers from last year made it here too. :(

I actually must say, though, that even though it was the smallest brunch (father was in California, complaining that the weather "only" hovered in the high 50s his whole trip, everyone else...well, I don't really know...), we did have a good time. Played poker, watched the kiddlings all play, free food...fun, fun, fun.

Just before the dawn of 2008, I got confirmation on my new place. Wee!!! Only 28 more days until I move. And yesterday, I got confirmation of a daycare position for my daughter. You would not believe (unless you have been there yourself before) how friggin difficult it is to find care for a kindergarten child. Everywhere has full day programs, or before and after school programs...but no one seems to want the kids if they are just every other day, and alternate Fridays. But alas, it is done. She has a spot.

The rest, well, that can all come in due time...I still have, after all, 28 more days to go.

And then, of course, my monitor exploded. :(

Okay, maybe not exploded. But it crackled, then it popped, then it went black and made a high pitch squeal. I am guessing this is not a good thing. Thankfully, I put in many overtime hours over the last little while, and *should* have enough left over this pay to buy a monitor. There are some good deals going on, and even though I had originally planned to do nothing more than save with this money, I can sacrifice $150...

Hope you are all having a great new year so far.

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happy 2 days after christmas

so the drama and trauma that becomes the holidays is finally over. Wee!!!

My daughter and I spent last weekend baking (she loves to bake, and despite what people think, I am very domestic). See what we made:

This became the majority of gifts that I gave out this year. Yummy goodness!! (There were about 200 cookies in total, 4 banana breads and 2 strawberry cream cheese loaves - also, though not gifted, there was a garlic herb roast, chicken casserole - messy but very yummy, and monster of all omelet.)

Also, just in time for Christmas (and yes, I realize that it was intended to be a birthday gift, but since I didn't see her until Christmas, such is life):

Yes, lady's sweater is finally done (it would have been finished much sooner had I not gotten pissed off with the left sleeve that seemed to somehow flip itself inside out every time that I started to sew it, and tricked me in to not realizing this until about halfway through the sewing - I eventually got it to behave itself and stop this trick, though).

Now on to the goodies...so, I ended up getting a breadmaker (yeah, my boy is good to me) as well as a convection oven (yeah, my ma is too). I now have a fully stocked kitchen...and am loving it (despite the fact that I have to pack it all up in a few weeks time to move).

I also got:
JACK SLIPPERS!!!! And they are beyond a shadow of a doubt mine, seeing as he now as a little coffee coloured birthmark on his head. (I have decided that I need to start drinking coffee from a sippy cup.)

I sucked it up, and headed out to Michaels on the weekend, too, as they had a 50% off any one regularly priced item sale going on (coupon), so I thought I would see what I could find. Well, there was tons there I wanted, however all of it was on sale for the holidays, so the coupon was useless. I did end up getting on thing for myself, though. I haven't yet decided where I will use them, but I do love them, so I will find a place:

And, the icing on the cake...

I have long admired the interchangable needle sets, however could never justify spending $100 on myself...I just couldn't do it. HOWEVER, my daughter's grandparents got me a gift certificate for Michaels. And, in connection with the 50% off any one item coupon, I could easily justify spending $25 for these puppies...and yes, I already have them in use.

Purely for me, because I need a little me time, even though I do have things that need to be done (but not until March, so it is not slacking, it is taking a breather), I am working on a knitted cape (pattern from the late 60s/early 70s). :) I actually purchased this one about 4 years ago, tried making it once, buggered up totally on the left front panel, and swore at the pattern. I have now forgiven it, and am going to make a go of it. Wee!!!

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Because i am bored, you will all have to make do with my rambling

So I am currently working some overtime (who doesn't need a few extra bucks come the post-holiday credit card season??), and i must say...I am bored out of my freakin skull. The person who i am currently booked in with, well, I have been here for 4 hours, and have done nothing for. Nothing. What the hell? I mean, okay, sure, it is nice to know that I am getting paid time and a half to sit here making up my grocery list for Christmas dinner, but come on...

I spent an ungodly amount of time perusing the blog of one of my ravelry friends (http://www.knitxcore.com/). Not that his site is ungodly, or that there is anything wrong in reading about the daily comings and goings of virtual strangers, but I feel empty. I could have been home knitting. Sure, I would not have been making extra money, but I could have been knitting.

But instead, I have spent the last few hours learning:

1. Jamie Lynn Spears is pregnant, and apparently the father has committed a crime in having slept with her, however no one has yet filed charges.

2. knitxcore has the attention span of a walnut.

3. There are literally hundreds of recipes for Seven Layer Salad, none of which seem to have the ingredients I remember in my mom's one from my childhood (must do further research...or pick up a phone and call her about this).

4. Lawyers cannot spell...even with a spell checker on, they ignore the warning of an incorrectly spelled word, and continue on their merry way.

5. The world is way to small some days...

And still none of this learning has brought me any closer to achieving ultimate enlightenment.

Pity.

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It feels like I am ready for Christmas...

but sadly, I think this every year...actually, I honestly do think I am ahead of the game somehow this year. not only did I make my final loan payment last month (meaning that I won't ever have to make one of those again...YEAH!!!), but I have provided my notice at my current residence AND have already started slowly sifting through the items i have collected at home that i really don't think i need (i found my breast pump....my daughter is 4...yeah, i am a bit of a pack rat).

of course, with the moving and the packing and the holidays and everything else, i am finding that i am having a hard time with some things. there are people who i have grown very attached to, very fond of, who are, unfortunately and through no fault of their own, being hurt by my actions. i hate this, and i hate knowing that all these things are things which i have put upon them. and i know that i have to start doing things for me, regardless of others, but it still affects me. i have hurt myself and been hurt by others enough to know beyond any doubt that i do not want to be the cause of that to someone else.

so currently i am trying to bury myself in things to do (i.e. knitting, cleaning, packing, organizing, decorating, baking, etc., etc., etc.). it has worked so far, but in the wee hours of the night, the guilt still sneaks up on me. hopefully once the move is done, and others realize that things are not as lonely, as far, as bad as they may seem, it will be better.

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Halloween!

Boo!

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Boredom

So, I am currently covering the lunch break of our receptionist. I have found that I have a whole new level of respect for receptionists since starting this. (There are three girls in our office, and we all take turns covering the lunch.)

I have only filled in for her a few times, however I have had people become very disgruntled because I cannot magically tell them what time others in the office will be back, or know where they are, or know why they are not waiting around for their call. I have suffered utter boredom sitting around here doing nothing...absolutely nothing...for the entire time that I am here. I have had to attempt to make coffee, answer the phone, transfer calls, provide directions and make copies of documents all at once (apparently this is a skill unto itself - for now, I will call it java-call-drive-copy, or JCDC).

Today, however, is one of those days which I have sat here doing nothing. Not a thing. Thankfully, I thought ahead, and sent myself, via external email, of course, the link to a great site with many different hat, mitten and scarfs patterns...so I have browsed. And I have found a wonderfully simple pattern that I can get my daughter to do (she loves the Knifty Knitter Looms...and oddly enough, can work it pretty good...but so far, we have only had scarfs of the waste bits of yarn I have not used).

Now, if that is not what you call a productive day, I really don't know what is. :)

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One of those days

I believe I am having "one of those days". :( I just sort of feel out of sorts, you know? There feels as if something is not quite right with me today, but I cannot put my finger on it. Everything seems to be a little off the norm. I hate this feeling, because it makes me second guess things that I know without a shadow of a doubt, and if I don't second guess it, it makes me wonder why, and then I become paranoid, and double check things because I should have second guessed it, since it is, afterall, one of those days.

hmmm....
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Wow...

Sorry about the delay in updating...it has just been a mile a minute non-stop for the last little while. I have been doing some knitting but not near as much as I would have liked to have accomplished...but sometimes, such is life.

I have much joy and happiness type things going on now...I started a new job on Monday...6 minutes from my house. :) And yes, I realize this has now cut into my 50 minute train commute where I can knit, but I will find the right balance once things get more settled.

That is all, really. :)

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