Remembering

It's been a while since I posted, but I couldn't let today go by without a post. 
As I sat down at my desk this morning, I remembered sitting down here 12 years ago, turning on my PC and seeing the news.  At that point, it didn't say how big a plane.  I tried calling my sister who worked in 1 WTC on the 89th floor.  I left a voice message, hung up and my phone rang.  It was her, saying she was okay.  It wasn't until a subsequent conversation that I learned she had only just been leaving home when the plane hit, so she never made it downtown.  The day was filled with phone calls, assuring friends and family that she was okay.  A year later, I was dating a member of the FDNY - my now husband.  I spent some time with him that day, at his firehouse. Later, I went to meet my sister and some of her co-workers for drinks, as they celebrated being alive.
As the years go by, there will be more and more children growing up who were not alive on 9/11/01 or were too young to remember.  We must never forget, we must make sure they know about the heroes that day.  That they know good men and women risked their lives - gave their lives - to save others.  That they know that good does triumph evil.  And that they know that life goes on, people love again, laugh again, live again, life renews.   

Annual Hibernation Day

Mother's Day is this coming Sunday.  It can be a hard day for women who wanted to be mothers and aren't.  I have learned that hibernation is often the best way to deal with the day.  So many people wish "Happy Mother's Day" to every female that has reached child bearing age.  I guess they figure it's safer that way.  They don't mean to hurt those of us who aren't mothers, but it can hurt quite a bit.  I had thought this year that I might go to the gym - safe enough really.  But, just a few minutes ago here at work, someone wished everyone in our office a Happy Mother's Day - then came back and asked me "Kate, do you have kids?"  Now, I sit here, ready to cry.  Unable to finish the banana I just started, unable to think about much else but hibernating on Sunday.  If I venture out - I may not have any issues.  I may be in a mental frame of mind ready to deal with anything - but I know it's safer to plan for the worst.  I have a lot of knitting to do and the house could use a cleaning, so I think that's where I'll be.

"Get over yourself"

Ever want to say that to someone or mulitple someones, but you can't because it wouldn't be politically correct - but it really should be said to them?  That's how I'm feeling right now.  You know - like when the guy next to you is saying "Oh, I broke my toe.  Poor me, I broke my toe."  And you want to say "DUDE!  You broke your freaking pinky toe.  Joe broke both legs and an arm.  GET OVER YOURSELF!" 

So, right here, right now on my little blog - you don't know who you are - but I'm rolling my eyes and privately thinking "Oh my God.  Get over yourself woman.  Seriously."

I feel so much better now.

knitting update

Trying to post some pictures here.  This is my St Enda, an aran sweater.  I'm very happy with it.  The yarn is soft and warm.  I like the cables - first time I did a closed end cable.  Very cool.  I really enjoy cabling.


Here's a hat I did with some leftovers, sent to my sister who loves to wear hats.  I wish the picture wasn't so washed out - they are great colors.


I think that's up to date for finished projects.  Working on a few right now, planning the next ones.

The middle finger's other uses

There are more things that the middle finger does than just flip someone off.  I learned this when I sprained mine over the weekend.  It was a gardening mishap.  I was moving some daylilies to try and pull out the onion grass there when a big fat bumblebee came flying out.  In my haste to escape the dangerous bee (I am very, very, very afraid of bees), I managed to sprain my left middle finger.  Gripping doorknobs is not easy.  Griping my fork to anchor my meat so I could cut it was paintul.  I found that lifting some things - like my ipad - are impacted by the pain.  Worst seems to be hooking my bra - I'm not sure what role exactly the middle finger plays in that, but it hurts to do it.  Fortunately, it does not impede my knitting.  And fortunately, or not, I can still flip someone off - with the other hand.

Holy Cow it's been a while!

So, the Aran sweater was finished - at 11 pm the night before the St Patrick's Day Parade.  Or so I thought.  I did a final check the next morning and saw one end not woven in.  Fixed that, wore it to two parades - so proud, will post finished pictures soon.  Now I am working on three projects.  One is a cardigan with an interesting stitch pattern - the name of the pattern is Neon.  It's got kind an openwork pattern - a nice spring/summer sweater.  I'm also working on a Quill shawl - the colors are gorgeous.  I knew they were nice, then yesterday I was sitting outside knitting and in the daylight they are even prettier.  Must take pictures!  The last project is a travel project right now - socks for A.  It's a simple pattern, k3, p1 ribbing.  Great travel knitting - no need to keep referring to a pattern.

In other news, my brother got engaged - very happy about that.  His fiancee is terrific.  Boomer is happy that it is getting warmer out and he can go lay out in the yard, work on his tan.  Life is generally good.  I've just been a bad blogger.

Happiness is...

...making good progress on a knitting project. 
I started an Aran sweater earlier this month.  I should finish the front tonight or tomorrow night.  This is giving me great hope that I can finish the sweater by St Patrick's Day.  I would love to wear it to the parade - after all, it's an Irish sweater and it's green.  This project has made me appreciate Ravelry more than ever.  Looking at other people's St Enda's (the pattern) and reading their notes helped me see that if I stuck exactly to the pattern, I would be making a sweater for someone far taller than me.  So, here are some pictures of the sweater as it stands now. 

The color is not quite as green as it appears in the first picture, it's closer to the second. And I must say that I am loving this yarn.  It's slightly heathered looking, which really works for this sweater and it's soft.  For anyone who cares, it's Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool Worsted.

Boomer in the snow

The snow has melted some, thanks to the rain Monday and some slightly warmer temps.  So, Boomer has ventured out into the yard a few times.  This morning, the snow had a bit of a crust, so he could walk on top at times and would fall through at others.  Is it bad that I got a laugh out of watching him navigate?  Here are some pictures I took.

16 inches

16 inches - not too bad.  Not as bad as some people in my home state got it.  Boomer's not such a big fan, but really, all in all, not bad.  Let's just hope we don't get more storms!  I have some good pictures, so I'll post those.  I finished a hat, made good progress on my St Enda sweater and got some good exercise in doing snow removal. I suppose I can handle a blizzard once in a while - but would prefer not to have to do it.

Hunkering Down

Blizzard on the way!  It won't be as bad for us as for our friends and loved ones in CT and MA, but it won't be good.  We have plenty of food, just need some milk and coffee and  A will get that tonight.  I have plenty of knitting to do!  I finished my Bombay Sapphire - I'll have to get pictures loaded from my ipad.  I've now started my Aran Sweater!  The pattern is St Enda if you are on Ravelry.  I'm excited about this.  I've wanted to knit one for a while, finally found yarn I thought was just right in October and now, I'm almost done with the ribbing for the front.  I hope to make lots of practice while snowed in tonight/tomorrow.
Working out is going well - I'm addicted again.  I had night meetings every night the beginning of the week, so I got up Mon & Wed and was at the gym around 6:30 and did my workouts.  I think I'll have to reschedule tonight's appointment with the trainer, due to the weather.  Hopefully I can move it up to earlier in the day and just leave work early - but I'm not sure yet when the snow is going to start.  Bottom line though - it's working.  I'm eating healthier and feeling good about working out. 
Now - the even better news - A is working out again.  I'm so happy about that.  I want him to lose weight and be healthier and he's doing it!  YAY!  So proud of him.  I know full well how hard it is to get started.  We'll be looking good, feeling good for our cruise and beyond!

So much yarn, so little time

I'm trying very hard to be on a yarn diet.  It's really hard.  I see gorgeous yarn and think about what I could make from it.  The problem is that I really don't have enough time to knit everything that I would like to knit.  Another problem is I have yarn that someone bought a tag sale years ago and gave to me that I feel like I should use - but I know it's not great yarn so I'm not inclined to use it for something nice.  What I might do with that old acrylic stuff is to double it up and knit a quick blanket or two or three for my dog and to donate to a shelter.  I just don't think I should toss it, so maybe the blankets or donate it to the senior center.  And another problem I've run into is the colorful baby blankets I've made that didn't use the full skein, so I have a bunch of partial skeins.  I'm trying to use them up by making blanket squares.  I'm working my way through, but like I said - I see pretty stuff and it's hard not to add to the stash.  So, I'm on a yarn diet and a food diet.  Fun stuff!

I hate my scale....

,,,.not because of what it's saying - well actually - yes because of what it's saying.  It says too many different things.  Move it to one spot on the floor and I've lost weight, move to another spot and I've gained, move it one more time and I've gained a different amount.  I'm done.  I cannot rely on this scale anymore, so a new one is on it's way.  It's gotten great reviews on Amazon, so hopefully this one will do better.  BTW - I've gotten back on the wagon.  I'm working out, eating better and feeling good.  In a couple of days, I hope to know how good.

Fat Fingers

Oops! I deleted a comment because I missed the publish link and caught the delete link instead.  Sorry Brenna!  So, this taught me something, apparently you can't retrieve deleted comments.  Anyway, I don't really have fat fingers, it just sounded good as a title.

Happiness is...

...makign progress.  Sometimes the trip is just as rewarding as reaching the destination.  So, I'm happy that I'm making progress with my decluttering.  I'm also happy that I'm making progress with my knitting projects.  Mostly right now though, I'm happy that I'm making progress with my workouts and diet.  I'm also happy that my husband is making progress with improving his diet.  Now, if I could only get him on the treadmill.....

Purge Report

3 garbage bags full!  Yes!  One is clothing good enough to be donated.  The balance was worn out t-shirts, old shoes, old empty shoe boxes, broken hangers, etc.  Amazingly, not one purse tossed - turns out I didn't have what I thought I did in terms of purses.  That was Saturday's effort.  On Sunday, my husband and I set to work in the basement.  We only did one small area - the tool bench - but again we were looking at something like 4 garbage bags full when we were done.  There is plenty more to do - but we are getting there.  This coming Saturday I hope to attach my dresser top and night stand top.  If I get decluttered enough, my plan is to hire a housekeeper for say every other week to do the dusting and vacuuming and the bathroom.

Purging

My plan for Saturday - a great purge.  Clothing, makeup, handbags, shoes - I'm doing it.  I've already been working on the clothing part.  I've decided that t-shirts over a certain age are gone.  I plan to apply that to sweatshirts as well.  I'm going to be brutal.  After that is done, I'm going through all the stuff - well maybe I should call it crap - on my dresser and night stand and I'm going to be brutal there too.  I will have a bin for the questionable saves - put them in there, put them in the basement, if I haven't needed it in a year - gone.  I just have too much clutter in the house and not enough space to keep all of it and have a home that appears neat and tidy.  Maybe next weekend I'll attack the glass/mug cabinet in the kitchen and get rid of all the unnecessary stuff there as well.

I'll be back next week to let you know how it goes.

Happiness is....

....knitting progress.  I finished my Noro Striped Scarf before Christmas.  It is pretty.
I am also making good progress on a top I'm knitting for myself.  My goal is to finish it by the end of the month.  I've got one blanket square done and am working on another - nice mindless knitting for lunchtime - while I watch the shows I didn't get to see during prime time.

a full week

I have not worked a full week since the first week of December.  This week is going to drag.  Or not.  Budget season is upon us, so I will be busy at work - which should make the days fly.  Please please please.

On the knitting front - I'm working on a top for me.  I'm about to the end of the increase section.  I am planning to add short row bust darts to a garment for the first time.  It's kind of a necessity for me, unless I want sweaters that bag in the midsection or which ride up in front.   Hopefully it goes well.  I'm also working on some blanket squares.  The woman who owns a yarn company that I like is collecting squares to make blankets for the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting.  I'm about finished with my first and will cast on for #2 after #1 is done.  This is my lunchtime knitting.  I'm using up some yarn from other projects and some yarn I dyed myself.  It's great mindless knitting, since she wants garter stitch squares.  I would like to send off 3 or 4 squares.

26 Random Acts of Kindness

I'm working on 26 Random Acts of Kindness in honor of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.  I know that others are as well.  Mine tend to be really random - like just doing something when the opportunity presents itself.  I know others are more planned about how they are going to do them.  Either way works, I'm just not the type who can plan to go out today and pay for someone else's meal at the drive thru.  So, it may take me a lot longer to get to 26 than it has for some other people.  I'm at 4.  Two of mine have resulted in positive responses from the recipient that just made my day.  It does feel good.  It feels positive - which is an awesome way to remember the innocent children and hero teachers who were killed on 12-14-12. 
So, the moral of my story is - go out and practice random acts of kindness.  You don't need to do 26 just do some - because you will find that there are 2 beneficiaries of your kindness - the person you helped and yourself.

New Year's Resolutions

I have three.

1. Be kinder - just in general to anyone, including myself.  I have been working on 26 random acts of kindness in honor of the victims in Newtown.  I have found the little acts of kindness make me feel good, so this is partly selfish, but mostly a lesson thing.  Being kind to others has positive benefits for all.
2. Take care of my body.  This means eating better, trying to stay away from fad diets and working out.  I am already doing well with the last part.  
3. Blog more, which will include more on my knitting and more pictures.  This means I need to take more pictures, which I suppose should be its own resolution.