Ending the year right

Joanne found me on Facebook. It's been many years and I'd forgotten how much I miss her. She was half way between my parents' age and mine so she was like a young aunt or older sister to me. We had so much fun together. Then, as things do, stuff happened and our lives all separated. We've decided to get together on January 2 -- a new beginning. Oh how I love Facebook! I've also found this quote that's going around Facebook and thought I'd leave it here so I might remember to read it a few times: And hopefully in the new year I'll write a tiny bit every day. I did pretty good this year ... until I stopped.

Closing time

The end of the year is getting close. I was doing good, even though my posts weren't interesting, and then stopped. I will try to go back to posting. I did see this on someone's status on Facebook and it's so true that I have to keep it: Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about New Englanders... "Forget Rednecks. "If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance And they don't work there, you live in New England . If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, You live in New England . If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with Someone who dialed a wrong number, You live in New England . If 'Vacation' means........................ going anywhere south of New York City For the weekend, you live in New England . If you measure distance in hours, You live in New England . If you know several people who have hit a deer more Than once, you live in New England . If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' in the Same day and back again, you live in New England . If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a Raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England . If you install security lights on your house and garage, But leave both unlocked, you live in New England . If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how To use them, you live in New England . If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a Snowsuit, you live in New England . If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph you're going 80 and Everybody is passing you, you live in New England . If driving is better in the winter because the potholes Are filled with snow,you live in New England . If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still Winter and road construction, you live in New England . If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, You live in New England . If you find 10 degrees 'a little chilly', you live in New England . If there's a Dunkin Donuts on every corner, you live in New England . If you think everyone else has a funny accent, you live in New England . If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them To all your New England friends & others, you live or Have lived in New England. Except for driving in the snow ... and I used to do it! ... this is me. I love New England with all my heart!

Living in historic times

This whole thing that is going on ... it's not in the least bit good and yet not too many people are seeing that. It's freaking scarey. Occupy Wall Street has spread across the US and no one sees what's happening at the top. Each person is going into it with their own agenda and yet the top is laying down the format for a complete dictatorship. They are planning to take over the government. It's so obvious. The speeches from the activists sound like Jim Jones and they're offering their members up like sheep. They're sort of like in their own little cults but all of them getting together to follow their god. Oh my God! I know that only bad is coming. While the government has been long overdue to be revolted against, this is NOT the way. Our country is more divided than it has ever been. It's horrible. I definitely wouldn't drink the koolaid. So I have to not watch the news and try like hell not to think about what's going on. Otherwise I will want to hide away until it's over. But there's really nowhere to hide. Instead I play online and I read and I knit. I have the book Spud and Chloe at the Farm and would like to knit my way through it. I have knit up Chloe's body and need to start the rest.

Two down...

And one to go. I know I haven't posted in awhile, but really ... life is just normal. Knitting-wise I finally finished my exchange and mailed it -- Owling fingerless gloves. Made a teeny tiny Mochi Mochi chicken and made a Natural Suburbia maple leaf. Now that the weather is autmny, I can knit again! YEAH! But as for the two down ... last night I got a mistake phone call from Sue T. who I used to be friends with. Her daughter went all the way through school with Anthony. But over the years -- the kids have been out of school for almost 16 years! -- you fade out. We see each other a few times a year in passing -- say hello, we should get together, and go on. Well she called by accident and we had a nice time talking. Tonight I went to Cosmic and who should come in? Carol who I worked with 32 years ago at Charlton. What fun reminiscing. Imagine -- haven't seen each other in 32 years and both know Donna and are Cosmic memebers! So I'm thinking this week I'll get another blast from the past and it will be another wonderful conversation!

Almost done and Facebook Dudes and stuff

Haven't written in awhile even though I had decided to write something every single day, meaninless or not, for a year. I slacked. Even on the meaninless stuff.

But first I'll say I'm almost done with my pairs exchange and have to mail that out soon. The weather has turned and now I can knit to my heart's content. Got my partner for the Christmas swap on Ravelry and have started stalking. This is going to be fun.

I am NOT political. I have always hated politics and I don't believe in parties so I'm registered independent. But I always try to help out the candidate I feel will be best for us. This year, as I have since he first started running, I've volunteered to help our current mayor, Tony.

This is the first fundraiser I've ever attended of his though. For the Republican party period. I've gone to the Democratic town committee ones and last year got to shake hands with Ted Kennedy, Jr. That was awesome. But this year I'm so pissed at Democrats that I wouldn't go if the queen of England were there!

Anyway the dinner was awesome. I ushered. We had tons of people and it was like old home time for me. People who lived in the neighborhood when I was growing up. Four of my high school classmates. Lots and lots of familiar faces. I wanted to cry!

And then Linda McMahon! She's such a tiny person but so BIG in charimsa. She's running for senate again and hopefully will win this time. But best of all Facebook dudes! For real. I mean these two guys are really high up there, they either invented and run it or close to it. One of them looks like a young Al Pacino. The other one is actually from Derby and his parents are here. When I heard what they do, I just said, THANK YOU!! I love you! LOLOL!!!

A totally awesome night in all!

Weirdness

This new interface thingy is very weird. I wonder if it will grow on me? I'll have to go back to the blog view anyway to change things on the sidebar. I need to add the next book. And I totally forgot what I was going to say in here. So I'm just going to go to bed now. OH!! My electric bill is off the wall high and about to be shut off if I don't pay and make arrangements by September 6. I was going to pay the back amount -- close to $400 but my car break line blew and that cost me $200. So now I have to pay the current amount, $290 and make arrangements on the balance. No problem except that Hurricane Irene has made UI put ALL their phone numbers on the emergency call in for people. Understandable. AND you cant get on the website because too many people are trying. Understandable. I will try to pay at the Cigar Store tomorrow if that will go through but that won't help with the arrangemnts. So if we get shut off, I'll be extremely pissed -- UNDERSTANDABLY so!

And it's ov

We didn't get hit, thank God! Not much anyway and not here at our street. A little wind and a little rain. What a let down after all the hype. We were totally prepared. Unfortunately not everyone was as lucky as us and Hurricane Irene was devastating to a lot of people.

Power was lost at SCSU so we didn't have work until noon today. The skies have been beautiful and autumn is in the air. The hurricane refreshed my world. And all the prep we did, well at least some of it can be considered the beginning of autumn cleaning.

I almost finished half of my exchange knitting and plan on doing the rest of it over the long weekend. I need to get it to its destination before the end of September.

Oh and I my brakes are gone. Ant #2 took the Jeep out a little while ago and lost the brakes. Luckily Carol's not going to work until Tuesday so they can give me rides to work. She got her new job and worked there yesterday and today and starts for real on Tuesday.

I am sore as hell. Went swordfighting last night for the first time since faire ended. I missed the first class last week. Oh my God! Chris is lighter on the fighting, so far, but a lot heavier on the stretching. No more "go stretch for 10 minutes". Now it's this is what we do and we do it all together. It didn't hurt at all until I woke up this morning. Now it's oh my God!

And so it begins

Carol and family are home. Don't know if I wrote before or after they got back last night -- around midnight. Safe and sound.

Played with the Pumpkin on and off all day -- she actually sticks out her foot now when I say give me the baby toes! We had to go through our little routines, honking my nose, kissing the baby toes, the fake coughing, pushing the buttons and making the music play on her toy so I could clap. I think she really did miss me!

We spent the day getting ready for Irene and hoping she doesn't come. At Anthony's suggestion we filled as many ziplock sandwich bags with water that we could pack into the freezer around the food. I also filled all the larger canning jars with water and put them in the big freezer downstairs. We filled every available bottle and all the baby bottles with filtered water. #2 went to buy water but was way too late. All the stores were sold out. I could have told him that! But with all that's in the freezers to keep the food safe if we lose power, we'll have plenty if we need it.

We got rid of all the dead plants on the porch and tied down the few bits of furniture. We have bags packed with a few things in case of evacuation. The jeep is parked on the lawn so the water shouldn't rise into it. We have plenty of food. So I think we're all set except for filling the tub so we can flush the toilet if we lose water.

Still hoping she doesn't come but if she does, we're ready!

Oh and it started to rain a few minutes ago.

Hurricane Irene

I'd grown a bit bored with posting nothing every night so I stopped for awhile. But now it's time to start again. The East Coast is awaiting the arrival Hurricane Irene -- the worst hurricane, for us, since 1938. Should be interesting.

Carol, #2 and my Pumpkin are on their way home from Virginia. They left at 11 a.m. this morning and are still on the road. Traffic was horrendous. NYC is being evacuated. All shores along the East Coast are being evacuated. Even people living near rivers. The universities canceled all activites for the weekend. I have no work on Monday. Even Broadway in NYC is closed for the weekend!

No porchetta

So we were going to go to the monthly porchetta dinner but couldn't get near the place. Seriously! The closest place we could find to park was about half a mile away. We'll try next month and go earlier! We ended up at the new diner down the hill.

Stuff!

So last night I was too tired to even think about writing in here. I could barely sleep the night before.

But I did get a few rounds done on my exchange gift and I finally caught up with Sandy. We're going to get that porchetta dinner tomorrow night. YUM!

Voted NO again today, fat lot of good that will do but at least I tried. And I found a pretty nice blog, Catholic and it has a list of other Catholic blogs. Maybe it will motivate me.

Still working on trying to figure out how to either get out of the unions or switch unions.

Another day well spent

I did most of my ironing. Didn't do any knitting but I went shopping and got stuff we needed. It feels like I did a lot more. Hmmm. No matter -- it was a great day. I love the rain!

A full day

I just looked at the clock and noticed it's after 9:30! Holy cow!

I didn't get up until around 10 a.m. and then started doing stuff. I went downtown (I love downtown) to the post office and over to the cigar store to see if Darmish had any newspaper inserts for me. The ones he gave me didn't have any c/o fliers. Hopefully whatever is left Monday after work, will have some.

Sandy didn't call so I had the whole day do putz around. I started my pairs project, the weather was good for knitting. I'm excited! I filed all my c/o fliers; did all my laundry; went to Shoprite; cooked supper; ate; etc. And somehow the whole day flew by.

It was a good day!

First tooth

The Pumpkin popped her first tooth today, as happy as can be. I am so filled with joy and gratitude whenever I see her smile. She makes coming home at the end of the work day, a wonderful, wonderful thing. Today she's 9 months old.

I was looking at when I started this blog and used to actually write some things. I'll have to go back to five years ago and post some about it -- maybe tomorrow. I can't believe the incredible amount of changes from then to now.

1. Allen dead
2. Had to move
3. Tony being an asshole and not having that part of my family real anymore.
4. Carol divorced
5. Carol with #2
6. The Pumpkin
7. Leaving SCRF
8. Learning to do stage combat swordfighting
9. Becoming a part of a new faire from the ground up and performing in public
10. Quitting smoking
11. Becoming an Elk
12. Becoming an officer in the Elks
13. Having a car accident
14. Getting divorced (almost forgot that one)
15. Aunt El dying
16. Jay dying
17. Paulette dying
18. Becoming a Facebook addict (love it!)
19. Sam moving in with Ant and me for two years
20. Sam being in high school!!
21. Lou having brain cancer
22. Almost buying a house but now credit back to crap
23. Carol moving to Florida
24. Carol movving back home
25. Joy inspite of setbacks -- life is GOOD!
26. Joining Cosmic and meeting all kinds of new people

Wow!! And that's off the top of my head.

Waiting for supper

#2 is out on the porch grilling hamburgers and portobellos and I'm totally starving!! Ugh!!

Also I changed my mind twice today about what I'm going to knit for the exchange. Geez!

Blackout!

So I'm in the middle of baking pork chops when the power goes out. At first we thought it was #2 using the vacuum and the coffee maker being on at the same time. Nope. The more than 2,500 homes in Derby were out and 38 homes in Ansonia. For hours. Luckily I have a gas stove and Anthony had a coleman so we could eat with a light.

When the power came back on we found out it was a tiny little bird had fried itself on a power line and blew out half the city!

Then I try to get on here and it's down for maintenance. At least everything is working now!

Got my exchange gift already -- a beautiful pair of leg warmers! I haven't even started knitting mine yet. Good thing there's still plenty of time!

We're losing

Looks like CT is screwed, especially those of us who work for the state. If there were a way for me to move out of state, preferably up north, and be able to live, I'd do it in a heart beat.

Hot again

I hope it cools down soon. I need to work on the next knitting exchange. I have a pattern I want to try and if I don't like it, I have to start over with something else. But it's been too darned hot to even think about doing anything!! Not hot enough to really complain but too hot to touch yarn or wool. *sigh*

Ghosts

So the investigation last night was not what I expected. Margaret couldn't be there with her equipment because she had a migraine so we did what we could with voice recorders and evp things and Greg's motion sensor camera. Donna had her dowsing rods which seemed to be the best in getting yes and no answers. It's not easy trying to communicate with karaoke going full blast either! LOL!! We definitely communicated -- there was a point where I was sure, and even said so, that there were fleas up in that room. My ankles were being bitten and itched like heck. Two of the others were having almost the same problem. But Donna made sense -- it's a restaurant and there are no animals. Weird! Got home a bit after 2 a.m. It was definitely interesting!

Busy today

Going to an annual cookout and then on an investigation with Cosmic tonight. I'll be home for awhile after the cookout. Donna's picking me up at 9 p.m. for the investigation and we won't be back until maybe 4 a.m. Should be interesting.

Home alone!

What a novelty. It's just me and the dogs for a few hours. We' just sitting here vegging out, watching tv.

Putting this link here so hopefully I'll find it again if I want to see it:
Our interview in the Valley Indy

And wow!

Yesterday I couldn't find my camera or the ziplock that has flash drives and sd cards in it. I looked everywhere and I even called the Elks since I was there Tuesday night. Nada. Nowhere. Then, after asking for St. Anthony's help, I decide (and there was NO reason for me to look here) to look in with the last thing I was knitting on. Lo and behold -- camera and ziplock nestled in with the yarn and needles. Weird place for them to be.

Meanwhile on Sunday I totally lost a rain check and $4 coupon for the dogfood we buy. The raincheck was for buy one bag (usually $19/bag) get one free. Deduct $4 and that would bring my total cost down to $15 (from $36) for the two bags. A HUGE savings. They were nowhere to be found. I even looked through the trash.

Tonight Carol hands me the baby while I was sitting on my bed. I look down and there, sitting on top of my knitting stuff, are the rain check and the coupon. Double thanks to St. Anthony.

I wonder if someone is trying to tell me I should be knitting. At least tonight the weather is better and I decided on my pairs exchange.

Need to center myself ... seriously!!

I'm upset with the governor and union -- big time.
I'm upset with the president.
I'm upset with all Democrats because it's their fault.
I'm upset with the Elks
And now there's jerks messing around with our annual All Class reunion!

Geez!! I need to focus. And they say one person can make a difference. But I'm proving 'them' wrong since I'm trying and trying and trying and no one is listening.

Centering. Grounding. Time to burn some sage!

Wow! Blessing -- St. Anthony. I thought I'd lost my camera and flash drives, and I sort of did. St. Anthony to the rescue. Asked and then found them within minutes.

New day

So I had to stay home today because there were several inches of water INSIDE my Jeep. I ended up using a shop vac on it and hope it will dry out completely.

It was a bit cooler so I knit a few rows on one of my She-Knits bags that I've been working on for over a year. Then I noticed I screwed up and had to tear out 40 rows! LOL!!

Elks meeting tonight.

Wow. Back from the meeting and just, wow.

Blessings -- aside from the normal (and the most important -- baby smiles), my Jeep runs. I'm alive and doing well. God is wonderful. I love my life. :)

Storm!

Wow! Boy did it storm. Hail and enough rain to flood the front of our street and the side road where I am parked. I sure hope my Jeep starts up in the morning. But it sure cooled us down!!

The usual

No knitting again today because it was too hot. But I did get a crap load of stuff done around the house. There's still a ton to do but I made a dent. YEAH!

I also went grocery shopping -- blessing: I had enough money to buy what we needed!

And I washed all my bedding.

Sandy isn't going to the Cosmic meeting or the investigation so I emailed Donna to see if she can pick me up.

Running around

Went out with Sandy on a regular Saturday. We went to a few stores and bought a few things. That's about it. It was hot but dry so the weather was tolerable!

The Swagbucks thing is working in my post.

swagbucks part two

I removed the swidget because it was just blank with an exclamation point today. Wonder if I can put it here?



Ok, guess so. We'll see if it leaves here too!

Swagbucks

So I found out Swagbucks has this widget thing that you can get codes from. I put it on the bottom of the page here so hopefully I'll remember to use it. I can also search using it, if I remember. :)

Better day weather-wise and I'm praying we don't get the heat they're predicting for the weekend. I'd love to get some knitting done.

Still battling the governor and the union leaders and we have an informational meeting on Tuesday. I am so discouraged. The governor is threatening like crazy and putting rifts between people. He's forcing us to do what he wants by saying he'll lay more people off and if we don't vote yes he'll take sports out of the tech schools. I will not vote yes. I will NOT vote yes.

Warm but dry

I'm enjoying today's blessing -- a not humid summer's day. It's still hot out but at least tonight is nice. Last night was pretty nice too.

Better today

Heat wise. It was HOT but then rained a tiny bit and cooled down some. Still too humid for knitting tonight. I will be loving it when fall hits. :)

Not complying

If the governor and the unions win, and I'm so very afraid they will, then I will be out $100/month because I will refuse to comply with their socialist medical plan. I will stop going to the doctor once a year and I will take meds if I think I should, not if the doctor does. That means I will have to pay an extra $100/month for my health insurance plus $350 copay if I need medical attention. I can't lie down and let Hitler rule again. I would drop health insurance totally but if I do then I'll get hit with Obama's screwing us and have to pay double that in taxes come 2014. I. Will. Not. Comply.

Blessings again

The tomatos are growing even though they're in their original little pots. Charcoal grilling on the porch -- yum. I love that smell and the food always tastes great. Not giving a crap and telling people off for calling other people stupid and ignorant. That was on Facebook. If I misunderstood, they still called someone stupid and ignorant. And that's bullshit! Baby smiles and giggles. Lots of them!

Blessings!

Today was not quite as hot as yesterday. YEAH!! Sandy didn't want to go anywhere for more than an hour so I opted out and stayed home. Went through some folders in the desk and got a bunch of stuff ready for shredding. While going through the stuff I found the 1099 so I can show the IRS that I do NOT owe them close to $3000! YEAH again! LOTS of baby smiles and giggles and laughs. All in all it was a good day!

99

That's what it is outside right now at 8:39 p.m.

Tomorrow is supposed to be cooler.

I hope so.

Hot!

And tomorrow's supposed to hit almost 100. Oh well, it IS summer after all. After these few days, even the 80's will be tolerable! LOL!!

Blessed today as usual. I hope I keep rememberint to post my blessings so I don't forget them. Work is still mostly caught up -- we're planning on being totally up to date tomorrow. Baby smiles -- always!! A beautiful breeze in spite of the heat. Have library books to read and Eureka to watch. My life is great. Chontelle called me last night and invited us to her house for her kids' birthdays next month. Missy brought me some goodly amounts of Mixed Chicks to try out.

Blessings

And I forgot to mention blessings yesterday. Forgot my coffee at home so one of the trades supervisors bought me a coffee from the truck. LOTS of baby smiles. Other blessings that I can't remember, of course.

Today's blessings -- President's annual picnic at work. Getting to see Sylvia. Work caught up. Chontelle called. Food on the table. LOTS of baby smiles. :)

Still too hot to knit though.

Fast day

It's 8 p.m. and I just now had a chance to get online. Ran to the grocery store after work then came home and watched two episodes of Eureka. There's no chance of catching up before this new season ends and I'm also watching that. I am on episode 8 on Netflix with a total of 43 to watch. LOL!! But I'm loving it!

Then I putzed around. It's way too hot to knit -- actually it's the humidity that's really bad. :(

Gratitude

Today we buried Aunt Lizzie who passed away a month or so ago. They brought her ashes up from one of the Carolina's where she lived. Then we went to her granddaughter's house. I felt like I was home. It made me grateful for the past I had with these people, even though it was destroyed by things that happened. No one made me feel like I shouldn't be there. Everyone welcomed me like I really did belong. I miss that.

Hot again

And getting hotter. It's supposed to be brutal by the weekend. Hoping the forecast will change. Oh well -- July is almost over and then we just have August and half of September to get through.

Went to lunch and to the stores (Post Road) with Sandy today. So now it feels like a Saturday! LOL!!

Definitely no knitting but I did pick up Spud & Chloe at the Farm which I've been wanting and haven't been able to find. That will be some fun knitting.

Blessings -- Carol did all the shopping for two weeks. Pumpkin's smile -- always a blessing there. Found some negatives from when we went to see Stephen King's house all those years ago -- the pictures went missing forever ago! Find the Spud and Chloe book. Not spending money all over the place. There are many more but my brain doesn't remember them at the moment. *sigh*

Wonderful day

Blessings -- Slept in until around 9 a.m. Got some stuff done in the kitchen and my room. "Found" some extra money -- actually had more on a credit card than I thought I did so I got a full tank of gas. Got a call from Brenda, who was at Beth's asking where I was -- Carol forgot to tell me that I was invited to a party at Beths. So I went up there and spent a few nice hours with friends. Remembered that Haven is back on and am watching that.

Tore out a few things that I know I will not knit and restarted one of them. All in all it was a really nice day. :)

A nice day

More blessings -- St. Mary's Food festival with the family. Seeing family there. Work caught up. Lots of ideas for knitting.

Just need to get cracking on the knitting. LOL!!!

A nice day

More blessings -- St. Mary's Food festival with the family. Seeing family there. Work caught up. Lots of ideas for knitting.

Just need to get cracking on the knitting. LOL!!!

Joyful intentions

So I'd forgotten about the intentions and blessings thing. And God is always blessing me and I just forget to record them. Of course I can't record all of them because I'd spend my whole life typing. LOL!!

I set some intentions today and they're already happening. One is for joy in my family and of course the baby's smile always fills us all with joy. But today's blessings for me are seeing a very few dollars more than what I thought I had. I know I'll have enough money to cover all the bills as they arise and I'll be caught up too. Also a play that my daughter has been wanting to see for years is returning to Off-Broadway and she's sooooo happy!!

Blessings -- a roof over our heads and food in our bellies.
June's work is finally finished but for the report and that will be done tomorrow!
July's stuff will be up to date on Monday.
My family is all together under one roof.
I'll be going to St. Mary's Food Fest for the first time in years tomorrow night.
I have to weigh my whole batch of Simply Knitting magazines because one person in Canada is buying them all. Have to bring them to the post office tomorrow to be weighed for postage. :)

Oh and did I mention that the weather has turned for a few days -- humidity went way down and it's supposed to last a bit.

Cool tonight!

It was so hot today -- probably hotter than yesterday. But all of a sudden, when the sun went down, it cooled right off. It's 73 degrees right now and my fans are off. I have goose bumps! You can't not begin to comprehend how happy I am!!!!!!!!

264 posts

And they're all about nothing. LOL!! But I'm doing it. Maybe someday there'll some actual content, but for now I'm still focused on posting anything.

And it was even hotter today. UGH! It's 90 right now and it's full dark. Hopefully tomorrow will break the heat streak. If not, oh well, I shouldn't complain. We had the best winter in so many years and this IS summer, after all.

Hot!!

Hot and humid. I may take two sleeping pills tonight to make sure I can sleep. UGH!

Watching Eureka -- need to go back to number one since I like this show! Alphas premieres next and might be good and then Warehouse 13 -- which I love. Good tv night for once!

Not a night for knitting at all.

Another nice day

It was dry out and the weather was perfect. I worked a little on Autumn -- only a few rows and I watched a few episodes of The A-Team. I'd forgotten how I used to like that show! It really was a good day today.

Anthony came home from wherever he went so the family is together again. I love that feeling.

Knitted today!

The weather was dry and the fan cooled my room off. I finished the knitted chicken I had started for the baby. YEAH! And the best part is that she loved it. I really don't think she liked the penguin -- black and white is too blah for her. But the chicken -- she played with it for more than an hour!

Went to dinner with a bunch of old classmates tonight. What a great time we had!

Warehouse 13 starts Monday

So I'm finally catching up on the ones I didn't see. One more I can watch now and one left after that. I love this show!

Heading to bed

Pretty hot day today which is very draining to me. Went to Cosmic and am home now and headed to bed.

Ambien brain?

It seems like ever since I started the ambien in March, I have missed bill deadlines like crazy. Every month one or two bills are late and I get a late charge. Before that I was early or on time. I hate this but I need to sleep and that's all that works for me at the moment. I don't know what I'll do when I get immune to it!

ATT problems

I couldn't post last night because the internet was down yet again. ATT is coming tomorrow to check the problem.

Anyway the last days of faire were wonderful and I'm already going to miss it. I think it was a huge success. I know it was at least with the way everyone was treated and how we all interacted with each other. No drama and that is good! I stayed for the party and left after a few hours.

Today we went to Jack's for a cookout and had a great time.

Last day tomorrow

Faire will be over. I will really miss it. It's hot work. It's sticky. It's tiring, but I love it.

Wonderful night

What I posted on Facebook tonight: Just back home from a great night hanging out with my sister. We haven't done anything like this in years. Went down to the Elks for a drink, ran into old friends, walked over to Shelton to try and find the faire group, didn't find them but found friends of my sister's in time to watch the finale. LOL!! Went to strangers homes to use the bathrooms, back to the Elks and saw more old friends, and now home. Great night!

Wake tonight

All I can say is WOW! I have seriously never seen so many people at a wake before. The line was doubled back and didn't stop the entire three hours I was there. Jay was well loved.

Edited to add: Well here's an interesting turn of events. We are not invited to the burial service. Seriously! "The girls are overwhelmed". Understandable. But your brother in law told several people, strangers to me and they didn't know Lisa at all so they're obvioiusly not family, that sure, they could go.

Again -- interesting. I'm so glad that Renee and Allen made me immune to shit like this or I'd be hurting as badly as my sister is.

Better today

Everyone has calmed down and the oven hasn't been turned on. It's cooler, or at least dryer, than last night so I'm not as bitchy either. I made tilapia and broccoli for supper -- all on top of the stove.

I think I've sold the last of my Simply Knitting magazines and now will have to post all the other books and magazines I need to destash. I have a gazillion projects I want to knit.

Tomorrow night is the wake. I haven't talked to Anna or Lisa since I have Rita talking for the both of us and don't want to overwhelm Anna. Rita and I both feel we should have ran to them the second we heard because that's how it used to be and should be. But we're all grown up now and have semi lost touch and neither Rita nor I know what to do. I believe Anna is staying at Lisa's, as she should, and I don't have a clue where Lisa lives. How sad is that? We were so close and now I'm clueless. :(

Jay is dead

I got a call today that Jay died. Anna's Jay. That really sucks. He'd been doing fine with the bladder cancer but got pneumonia and died. :(

And apparently my daughter is going to use the baby as a weapon now. She's pissed at me because I don't want the oven turned on when it's 80 degrees in the house already and we have no AC anywhere near the kitchen. The only AC is in THEIR room. There are other ways to cook chicken. Fuck it. So now she's going to have Linds babysit when they go to Mohegan. I don't play that game.

Dishes

While I don't mind washing dishes, I am really resenting housework at my house lately. I am not the most fastidious person in the world. Far from it. But I'll be damned if I am not tired of having to do dishes every time I walk into the house. No matter what time it is. No matter how early or how late, there are always tons of dishes. And it's not like there are little children or even teenagers here. Everyone in this house claims to be adult. Not counting myself (59) they are alnost 32, 28 and 22. How fucking hard is it to rinse out a cup or wash a plate???

While were on a roll -- why am I the only one who takes the dogs out, shuts off lights when no one is in the room, etc. Sometimes I'm the only one who feeds the dogs too.

I don't like playing this game anymore. :(

Tonight was also the end night of Wood and Steel. The name has gone with the owner. We will continue our swordfighting but under a different name and with a different teacher. :(

Back!

I was so mad at my laptop last night that I threw it in the trash. I couldn't get online. We may have overloaded the wireless network with laptops but I'm not sure that's possible. Anyway my 1.5 year old laptop decided after I toss it, that it didn't want to work anymore. Kaput. So #2 took it out of the trash and we reformatted it tonight. And now I'm back.

Faire couldn't have been any better. The numbers were great. The weather was great. AND Blackmores Night showed up. Richie was trying to pay and I told him to forget it, they were comped of course! Then he wanted to pay for two people in his group. I said no, the entire group was comped. They had the baby with them them and they walked around faire and then they sat and played and sang. Oh my God. Listening to Candace sing is like listening to angels.

And they were just so nice. Of course I got an autograph. The day just couldn't have been any better.

Faire tomorow!

And the second weekend is hear already. I'm praying it doesn't rain. We've had rain all week and it's time for dry skies. No matter what the faire will go on. I love it!

Knitting plus

Worked on an UFO (She-Knit's Autumn from last year) tonight while I watched Haunted Collector. That's a good show that doesn't scare me ... yet. Look at me -- a paranormal investigator with legitimate organization and I'm a big chicken. LOL!!!

Got caught up on things at work too, which is good. Even better is that it looks like the unions have just about voted no against the governor's concessions. I think one more union has to vote and then we find out. Then the war will begin. Jerk!

Great supper

Chicken tacos. Sounded weird to me at first but they're delicious. I'm not much of a beef eater and I even get sick of chicken. I think I'm a pork and fish atarian. LOL!!!!!!! It is on the hot side tonight and raining so no knitting.

Tired

Back on the ambien stuff and it's doing good. But the brain isn't. Went to the lodge meeting tonight. I need to start getting back there. I miss it. I am sooooooo tired. Bed.

Back on Ambien (generic)

I have to call and let the doctor know. I can't do the lunesta. It just doesn't work and it leaves a nasty taste in the back of my mouth. I HATE the ambien. It makes me stupid, stupid, stupid! But at least it will help me sleep a little.

We had practice tonight but it was short. We wanted to be done before dark.

Faire!

Best faire ever -- at least as far as working it and stuff. It was so nice seeing old faces, including vendors. I love faire time. I love our faire. I am happy to be back at Warsaw Park and I remembered my whole fight. What a wonderful day today has been!

Thunder and rain!

And lightening -- wow! I sure hope it's dry out tomorrow and Sunday for faire!

Went and got my tooth fixed and the doctor called about going for Reclast. I have to get bloodwork done first and then get the Reclast on the 27th. She also said I can take 3mg of Lunesta. We'll see how that works!

And faire is tomorrow. I know I said that already but I can't believe it's here. It seems like it was just being planned and it will be over very, very soon.

Lunesta and the IRS

I took the Lunesta last night and was awake every hour or so. I did fall back to sleep pretty fast and this morning woke up well. But I don't like waking up every hour so we'll see how it goes.

And then I get a thing from the IRS saying that I made a mistake on my 2009 return and I have to pay back over $2,000! Yeah, right. If -- and IF is the key word -- I can find my W2 and I must have had a 1099 or something, then I can prove I was right. Besides, Diane did it for me that year because I had extra money and it had taxes taken out. All the IRS has is the tax info from my W2. I guess that's incentive to go through my little file cabinet and pray that's where I put it. That's where I found the copy of the tax return. Geez!

And so

No knitting today but sold two of my Simply Knitting magazines. Have to mail them off tomorrow. I still have a big stack of them. I will NOT throw them out and I have to recoup some of the money I spent. I am behaving myself and not buying one every time I see one on the shelves. I have more than enough projects to do. WAY more than enough! LOL!!!!!!!!

Voting on the governor's assinine 'concessions' was today. I don't know the outcome but I'm praying that it's no and that any other unions voting vote no also.

Almost forgot -- picked up my Lunesta 2mg today. We'll see how that works. It HAS to be better than the zolpidam (generic ambien). I hope so anyway.

Doc was happy

She was actually happy with me! And she's ok with the fact that I'm weaning myself off aciphex -- taking it every other day instead of every day. And she switching me from the generic ambien to lunesta. She said that it shouldn't make me stupid the way this med does. Now if I could only sleep without meds, I'd be happy!

Chill pill

I think I need to make one of these:

http://knittingpony.blogspot.com/2011/05/chill-pill-free-knitting-pattern.html

Keep it is a reminder to stop making issues in my head over every little thing!!

Went to see Dr. Anita today and Dr. Grey fixed my tooth temporarily. Something permanent needs to be done but I can't do anything until after faire.

UFOs

So today was another beautiful day in the low 60s. I can live like that always. Sandals and jeans and tshirt weather. Perfect.

I made blueberry muffins and I went grocery shopping.

But I also worked some on Autumn, a bag from She-Knits that was a mystery KAL from last year or the year before. I never can keep up. So now that my exchange project is done I want to work on ufos when I get a chance to knit. I have a ton of projects that I'd like to start but I am going to be good and finish some, if I can be that strong-willed, and then start another. And hope the new one doesn't become an ufo! LOL!!

Finished project

And broken tooth! Thank God for root canals because if that tooth hadn't had one, I'd be screaming in pain. Front tooth of all places. I bit into a piece of Italian bread (YUM!) and heard SNAP and there it was. Damn it! Hopefully the dentist can get me in Monday because I have no intention of going to work until it's fixed. And I won't go to practice Monday night either and faire starts Saturday!!!

At least I finished the exchange gift. Today was awesomely beautiful and cool. I don't care that it's raining -- it's not hot and that's all that matters!

No knitting today

It's a bit on the hot side plus I have to do the finishing on my exchange gift. I plan on getting up early tomorrow and finishing that up. Maybe even mailing it! Wouldn't that be great? LOL!!

I went to Home Depot yesterday and bought 8 rolls of Bounty Basic paper towels for 26 cents a roll after coupons. Went back today and used the rest of my coupons to get 6 more rolls. Also went to Shop Rite near work and got 4 free pouches of Nestle Quick with coupons. I'll have to get the other 3 next week since our Shop Rite doesn't sell them and neither does Stop & Shop. And Shop Rite only accepts four of the same product coupons. That's ok!

Mother of all thunderstorms

And I was at Target. I went in and it was hot and icky out but light out -- a little overcast. A half hour later I am in the store and hear thunder then it downpours. And when I went to pay it was dark outside -- only 6 p.m. and lightening like crazy and thunder. I got soaked going to the car and had to open the door between lightenings because I didn't want to be touching the outside of the car if it got hit. Got in FAST and then sat and watched in awe. WOW!

Now it's comfortable in the house and I'm going to sleep good tonight!

Hot, hot, hot

I'm trying not to bitch about it. I can't breathe. I can't eat. I hate this but I WILL live through it just like I do every year. It's hotter today than it was yesterday and tomorrow is supposed to be worse. Crap!

Baby was sitting up without falling over today. First time. Not for long but she did it and was so proud of herself.

And summer is here

Ugh! I guess I shouldn't complain. We have had some awesome and cool weather and now it's time for the nasty heat. I could totally do without summers but that's not nature's plan. So I'll deal as best I can. And I do not use AC at home or in the car so that's that.

Lou is going to be a grandmother. The baby is due in January which is when both the parents' birthdays are. How cool is that?

Double rainbow

We had faire practice tonight and as we were fighting someone looked up and there it was -- the most beautiful double rainbow I ever saw. Both rainbows were bright and clear and full of color and stayed for quite a while. Then it rained a bit. It was great!

Practice went well. My bleeding out is more realistic -- the fall and the pain, etc. I think it's going to look pretty good.

That's it for tonight!

Two projects finished

Today was another beautiful dry and sunny day. I went out to lunch with Sandy, then we ran into pay our respects to the father of a friends and then came home. So I was able to work on projects.

I finished the exchange gift except for weaving in the threads and I ran to Joann's and bought the buttons. Hopefully I'll do all that early this week. But I also complete finished a crocheted penguin for the baby -- it was the one from Lion Brand. It came out beautiful and she loves it.

Another great day!

Beautiful weather

Oh my God -- if it could stay this way until autumn, I would be thrilled. I am cherishing every second of this beautiful, dry, sunny and cool weather because I know the heat and humidity will hit and I will hate it. I hope the faire days will be like this!

I went to the mall with Roseann and Anita -- they needed to buy a picture to hang on their wall -- and when we were outside at all, it was cold enough for a light sweater. Nice!!!!!!!

Finished for the most part.

I finished my project for the exchange. Now I have to get two buttons -- I have several of the right size but not a pair. Then I can mail it off. Yeah!

I'm also feeling so meloncholy and sad. How can I miss someone who threw me away? ... wow, I'm not going to do this. So many freaking years and every so often it still comes back to punch me in the stomach. It will pass in a few minutes. It always does. Geez!

Beautiful day

I am almost done binding off. I'll probably finish tomorrow night, then have to get buttons, and then I'm done. I am so excited. It came out just as pretty as the model I saw at WEBS.

The day was sooooooooo beautiful -- cool and dry and sunny and 'they' say it will last all week. Tonight will be in the 40s. YEAH!

I hope I remember to write about my email to the union today and the reply. I don't know what will happen but I started something and will see it through to the end. I will not, will NOT, accept an insurance plan -- through the state or through the feds -- that does not give me a choice in what I want to do. If I decide I don't want to go to get a checkup or a mammo or a colonoscopy or whatever, that is MY choice. Hopefully I remember to write the whole thing in here. But not tonight. It's been a very odd day and I'm heading to bed.

Late night

Just got in from the Cosmic meeting. It was a really good meeting tonight. Donna picked me up because Sandy didn't go. I enjoy Donna's company and she said she'd be glad to take me anytime. That was nice of her.
So I really wasn't home for long at and and it was seriously humid today so I couldn't knit. The chiller was down at work too so we had no AC. None tomorrow either. Ach!

Furlough

Furlough = A day off without pay.

This should be the last of them. I would rather have three a year and not what they are trying to do to us, but I also believe whatever happens I'll be fine. I believe in God believing in me and He's always seen me through!

Anyway on my day without work I slept in and then watched the Pumpkin so her daddy could run to the store. She's so damn cute! I finished my exchange project, but for the binding off and will work on that during the next few day. I hope to mail it off on Saturday. YEAH me!

It was a good day, really it was. :)

Awesome day

I have one and a half rows left to do on the edging of my exchange project. I actually got a bit done today after the parade but then the sun came out -- along with mega humidity.

We spent two hours in the pouring rain, most of us without umbrellas, waiting for the parade to start. Then the rain let up a bit and the sun came out AFTER the parade. But you know what? It was a lot easier walking in the rain, soaking wet, than in the sun.

Tonight we had practice and except for the mosquitos, it was great!

Missing reading lists?

I seriously didn't record what books I read in 2009 and 2010? Wow! That sucks but oh well!

Long day today -- walked the parade but pushed the back of the water/card cart while another girl pulled. It was NOT easy. Definitely got a work out!

I finished the exchange knitt except for the edging. It was way too hot after the parade. Hopefully I'll get the whole thing done tomorrow or Tuesday.

Ice cream overdose

I was going to go to watch karaoke at the lodge tonight but my stomach is upset from ice cream overdose. Geez!

Got my hair colored today and then stayed home. Did laundry, transplanted the moonflower, did some knitting (it's hot today!) and almost finished the third Dresden book. The next book I'll be reading is the first Sookie Stackhouse book. I'm actually re-reading up to where I left off so I can remember stuff and keep going. I'm about four books behind.

Ansonia parade tomorrow -- I hope it's a bit cooler than today.

Long Day

It's been a long day. Commencement was today and we brought the subs down to the guys. Hung around til they were done and then back to work. Normally we get out of work early the day of Commencement but we didn't today.

Came home and made potato salad -- killed it actually. It would have tasted perfect except that the potatoes cooked unevenly and some were hard.

I'm finally just sitting down for the night. It's 73 in my room according to my fan and I don't feel like knitting so I'm going to read and finish watching the season end of NCIS.

Plants and knitting

I only have around 20 rows to go on my exchange gift and then I have to pick up on the side (around 100 stitches) and knit three or four rows. Then I'll be done. I think it's going to come out really pretty as long as I don't mess up the side!

So today I went to Home Depot to buy a yarrow plant and a bee balm plant -- saw them both there yesterday, and a bag of organic soil. I had a hard time finding them, but I finally did. In the meantime I came across those long hot peppers that I've been trying to find for years. YEAH!! And I also picked up a lavender and a rosemary plant. We'll see what happens. I try every year and every year I kill the plants. I know this year it's going to work!!

Nothing to say

This is getting old. I really should stop since I never really have anything to say. I don't even document my day. Ugh!

Pissed at unions

The unions are trying to coerce us into voting for a health plan that will take away every right to our own bodies that we have. The governor is blackmailing the unions and they're threatening us. And I am pissed.

Another rainy day

We are so very lucky not to have the tornadoes that they are getting in the Midwest. It's horrible. I can only pray for those poor people.

Busy day

I am finally about to sit down and knit for a little while. We went to brunch at the lodge today and then went shopping. Carol wanted to go to Burlington then we went to eat a late lunch at TGIF, then to Savers, then to Best Buy. Then we came home -- late this afternoon. I then remembered I needed to run to Adams to get Hellmanns that's finally on sale and use my two $1 coupons which expire today. Got to the store and realized I left the coupons and list home. Came back home, went back to the store, back home, did a load of clothes which are currently drying. Now I'm going to relax for an hour or so before dumping all the old food from the week and helping #2 with the recycling and trash. Oh yea -- have to take the dogs out now and THEN I can have some coffee and knit before getting my clothes out of the dryer. Geez! LOL!

Made it through

Made it through the non existent Rapture. Made it through the Mass this  morning with at least two people sitting in the back who think they're better than everyone else. Made it through the after funeral brunch with those two and another two or three sitting at the bar the whole time ignoring us. I made it through without hitting anyone.

If there is one thing I despise above all other is someone who tears apart another person's faith. No one says you have to agree with it -- even if you were raised in it. But you have no fucking right to tear it down unless something so traumatic and horrible happened to you because of it. But this person tears down other people's faith because she thinks she's so much better than everyone else. I had half a mind to walk up to her during Mass and ask her why the hell she was there. Because if she feels so strongly against Catholicism then she has no right to walk into a Catholic church, not even for the funeral Mass of someone she called friend.

Oh I am so angry right now I could spit nails. It's a dumb ass cliche, I know, but it's true.

Tomorrow

Get gas in case there's no Rapture and I have to go to work on Monday. Mass for Paulette. Then coffee with Jack. Can't help out with Angel Food -- I thought it was next week but I wouldn't have been able to anyway because of the memorial Mass.

Didn't knit today. After work we took Sylvia to SBC and we had a great time. I didn't get home until around 7:30 and then of course I played with the baby for awhile. :)

Holy crap -- I finally forgot

I really forgot to post. I just realized that there's something I haven't been doing and this is quite obviously it. I think the generic ambien is getting to me. I am forgetting more than ever -- even forgetting words as I am about to speak them. This never happened before and I knew something bad would happen when I realized the sleeping pills are ambien. NOT good!

I will have the doctor get me off them and onto something not dangerous when I see her next month. I can't wait for the appointment!

At least I got some knitting done on my exchange gift. I did have to frog the whole thing and start over but it's moving right along.

Down a pound

I forgot to post yesterday that I actually lost a whole pound last week. So that's a good thing. The week before I had stayed the same.

Did I post that Artemis gave me my sheath? Don't remember, but he did. He made me a beautiful leather sheath for my sword. Now I have to decide how much to pay him for making it for me. When I asked him how much I owe him, he said think of a price but don't insult him by giving him TOO much. *sigh*

I'm finishing reading Fool Moon, by Jim Butcher tonight before watching Castle. The book was due back at the library today and it was an interlibrary loan. Well one day late won't be too bad!

No knitting today

I've been knitting on things pretty much every day but didn't get any done today. We brought Pino to get his stiches out and he's mended great. Still has a naked butt, but the fur will grow back eventually.

We went grocery shopping so we're all set for the week. Of course Saturday is Judgement Day according to the nut cases so we may not need any food after that. LOL!!! At least we'll be in church on Saturday because that is when they're having Paulette's memorial Mass. I still can't believe she's gone.

I'll be meeting Yvonne and Iona for the Mass. I suppose the others will be there. After all, they were her friends. And they were good friends to her. I just wish things had been different. I do not want to see one person at all but I don't have to talk to her if she's there. We'll see.

Yesterday plus

I couldn't post yesterday because blogger was down every time I came in. Yesterday was just another day like usual. I am blessed. I truely am. My life is so very good inspite of the crap that I lived through and the negativity that tries to creep in. As long as I keep counting my blessings and refusing the negativity, the joy is always here. :)


Now -- today is interesting. The bastard governor is trying to kill the state and doing a damn good job of it. The latest is that he won't lay off state workers for four years if we agree to his concessions. No raises. No longevity pay (that's a whole $75 for me so I don't care), no lump sum (I'm supposed to get $750 in April) death to retirement. The kids want me to take early retirement and stay home with the Pumpkin while they both work. I won't get much -- don't even know if I'd get enough to pay my own bills so I have to check into it. I'll have to talk to HR or someone to see how it works and what my income would be.

So tired

And I don't know why. Laid down for a few hours after work and I'm still tired. I'm going to have to take two sleeping pills tonight and hope that I can sleep.

A friend died last night

And the last words I spoke to her were not very nice. She and the others had spoke to me in a year or more because they were angry at another friend of mine. Childish. But still ... I always thought they'd come around or I would see one of them and things would be ok. I never saw any of them since they stormed off. How sad.

Practice tonight

I'm not fighting in the chess game. They changed their minds again. That's ok. I'm still fighting in the melee and that will be fun.

Strange today but I knit

I was woken up this morning by a phone call from a past friend. It was so strange hearing his voice because he and his friends and my cousin have had nothing to do with me in several years. They don't like one of my closest friends and they have held a grudge for many years.

Anyway he called to tell me another past friend, one of the ones who hasn't spoken to me in years, is in ICU and has had two heart attacks. We then talked a bit -- how have you been, etc. and he apologized for the things he did. I told him I was sorry if I did anything and he said I didn't. We said we might like to try to begin over. I have learned not to hold my breath in matters like this. It will be nice if it happens though.

I called my other good friend to let her know the news since the one in the hospital used to be her friend for over 40 years. She was going to call the family and I'm waiting to hear more.

I did finishing knitting most of the pieces for a chicken I'm knitting for the baby. All that is left is the feet and then assembly. Hopefully I'll have time to do it this week.

Off to bed now. A new work week starts tomorrow. :)

Almost forgot to post

Not that I have anything interesting to say but I want to keep at it.

Today Sandy and I went to Southbury and Woodbury and roamed around at the flea market and thrift shops and just had a nice day in general. Later I went to Orange with Roseann and Anita.

That's about it and it's time for bed. How much more boring can this be? LOL!

Sitting here

Waiting to fix supper. Diana and the girls are here and I just don't have enough for everyone. If I had known and been prepared, it would have been different. Going to see if WW is working from here. I got on at work but it's here that I need it.

No weight watchers

I probably blew today and tonight because there was no way to track my points. I did try and eat the best I could. I couldn't get on weight watchers tonight at all. It just wouldn't let me log in. Grrrr!

Tired again

Worked today and then Cosmic. Another long, but good evening. I'm thinking of actually trying to really blog. But I need time. What IS time?? LOL!!

Lodge meeting

Went to my first lodge meeting since I stopped being an officer. Boy was it long and the sub drama still continues. But I realized I missed going down there and need to get out and get going there again!

And so

While everyone is seriously excited and happy that Bin Laden is dead, the US is on alert. People are worried that there will be retaliation. I hear some people saying they'll stay out of the big cities, like NYC. Personally I prefer not to let terrorists dictate my life. We're going to be attacked or not. Should we hide out and wait? Nope!

Life should be a bit more interesting now. We'll see!

Bin Laden

Is dead. Wow! Just wow!

Back home

Back home and glad to be here. We had a nice time doing the usual -- shopping. Someday I am going to go see the historical places -- at least what I want to see like Emily Dickinson's home, etc. But in the meantime I love shopping at Webs, of course, and downtown Northampton. The other stores I can take or leave since we have them here and I rarely go to them here.

I over ate on my points so bad that I'm not even tracking for yesterday and Friday. We went to Cracker Barrel (that's the tradition) so Friday morning alone was all of my points for the day and I even went easy -- I hate multigrain pancakes and egg beaters. This morning we went there again (more tradition) and instead of not eating at all, which I did consider, I had an apple bran muffin and egg beaters. That was it. *sigh*

At home Carol and #2 went to storage while I watched the baby. Got my spring/summer clothes and they brought back the cold weather stuff. I washed everything and now I have to iron. I will only iron clothes for tomorrow because I'm sooooooo tired.

Also cleaned out the cutlery drawer and put the newer stuff in there. We're already missing three forks and it's only been a week since we took all of it out of the box. Hopefully Anthony has them in his room.

Off in the morning

Going up to Massachusetts and going to WEBS. Going to Yankee Candle also but I have way too many candles so I shouldn't be buying anything. I didn't sleep well last night so hopefully tonight will be better.

Tilapia

Made it for supper. YUM! I am so ready to go to Northampton. I'm tired and need a few days away.

New sandwich

Yum -- new to me but healthy and delicious -- turkey breast (used leftovers this time), bread, light mayo, mustard, slices of green apples and a slice of light cheddar. I've gained new respect for the light stuff. They've come a long way. The stuff actually tastes yummy whereas before it was nasty and left an aftertaste.

I'm determined to do this and not starve and hopefully it will work.

Friday Sandy and I are heading north to Hadley and Northampton. Can't wait to go to Webs. I am not buying yarn (maybe) but I will go drool and have to buy something!

Easter plus

I can't believe I finally blew the blogging thing. I know I don't write much and certainly nothing interesting but I have been trying to write every day. Geez! I was so tired after such a long day yesterday that I forgot.

Easter was wonderful -- all the kids were here and the little ones and I enjoyed every second of it. I miss having them all together. :)

This morning I took a sleeping pill instead of my vitamins. That's only the second time ever that I did that. But no way could I drive to work so I slept all morning.

At practice tonight Danny told me and Sandy that we will continue fight practice after faire in spite of our teacher dropping out. There are other people to teach us. I'm glad about that.

Bed now.

Home again

Pino is home and they said he was very happy there. Figures! LOL!! His butt is bald and his scrotum is purple and his boy parts are gone. We just have to keep him from licking the incisions and keep the area clean.

Pino

Pino now has to get is boy parts snipped. At 12 I figured it was dangerous but the doc said it's fine. But he's got to stay there over night and he's never, ever been away over night or without one of us.

Tired

I don't know why I'm so freaking tired but I'm heading to bed in a few. Carol got a good job and will be starting work on Monday. Hopefully between us all we will get ourselves in order.

We colored eggs for the baby tonight -- only did five eggs, one for each color in the kit.

Too tired to think. Going to bed.

Ghost Hunters

Back from the Reveal party for tonights Ghost Hunter's show that was filmed at the Sterling Opera House. We had such a nice time. And Rich said Cosmic can definitely go in and check the place out when we're ready. Also he said we could bring Danny in and show him around -- Houdini played there and Danny, being a magician, loves him. I also found out tonight that Bing Crosby played there and signed the wall. I never knew that and I thought I knew of all the people that played there. I love my city! And Adam -- Allen's Adam -- his spirit is also there and it's so appropriate. Wow! Just wow!

Tuesday

And another day of work done. It took me two days trying to track down 20 cents on the monthly report, but I did it. AND I found a way to avoid that hassle on the next ones. Geez!

New fight

I'm fighting on the chess board after all. They decided I will be fighting Lee, who is on her way home from Texas. So I'll be working with her after my 10 minutes with Jess on Mondays. Lee will be fighting with a bo staff and me with my sword so this will be a completely different experience for me. We will have to write our fight out. Hopefully Lee will be able to come up with something. If not, I'm sure Kevin will help us.

Arggg!

Couldn't get in here from explorer so had to use google chrome. Works great.

I over ate a LOT -- three egg, cheese & bacon omelet with wheat toast at lunch and tonight the all you can eat Chinese buffet. I don't even know how to count those points so I just put it at 36. It's probably a lot more.

Went to Palm Sunday Mass with Sandy then to the restaurant and Pay Half. I am so stuffed. Since I blew it anyway I am going to have two dark chocolate pirouettes.

Geez!

I must be really losing it -- it took me several minutes before I could figure out how to make a new post here tonight. Blah!

Bought the new Harry Potter but it got too late to watch it. Guess we'll watch it tomorrow night.

Kept well under my points tonight but tomorrow I'm not sure what will happen.

Better today

I'm about to eat some yogurt ice cream and I still have two or three points left for the day. AND I id 7000 steps, 1.6 miles, on WIO. My legs are going to fall off but I'm loving this game. LOLOL!!!

Over ate

Sort of. I pulled 1 so far for tonight from the weekly and I still want a cup of yogurt ice cream later so that will be 4 more points. I have a mess left of weekly points and I have seven activity points. I never swap those out. Yet.

I did over 6000 steps today on walk it out. It's kind of addicting because you don't want to stop if you're
'building'. LOL!!!!

Rainy day

Today has been one of those dreary, rainy days -- actually the kind I love. I hate having to work on days like this. Oh well! I have a job. I am blessed.

Came home and played with the baby a bit, she watched me do the Walk it Out. I forgot to check my start time but I figure I did around 45 minutes. It clocked 4100 steps but I did lots more since it missed a bunch.

Now I have to try and do some every day. I'm losing around a pound a week but would like to hit 2 pounds. :)

Overate

Once again one of my sword fighting partners didn't show up and the other was too busy with another fight to bother. She gave me three whole run-throughs of our fight while she practices every Monday for at least 45 minutes with one of her partners and the same with the other AND gets together with one or both during the week. Well I tried! I told her I need at least 10 minutes of her time every Monday. We'll see.

Since my other partner wasn't there, Sandy and I left and went to the diner. I had a shrimp quesidilla which was NOT a good idea. I only ate 3/4 of it but I am fairly sure I went way over my daily allotment. Actually, if I calculated right, I'm 10 points over for the day. And I don't feel all that well -- I ate TOO much. :(

Got the ok for four of us to go to the Ghost Hunter's Reveal Party on the 20th. Should be fun!

Another nice day

I didn't go outside at all today except to take out the dogs. Did some laundry. Carol, #2 and I watched The Half Blood Prince to get ready for the DVD of the next movie on Friday. Then there's one more movie and the end of Harry Potter. It's so wild watching those kids grow up!

Busy day

I woke up very late -- 10:00! But I did get a bunch done. I also went grocery shopping. Doesn't sound like much but it was a good day!

Tire fixed

I had the tire replaced -- they did it for free. Took a loooong nap and made stuffed artichokes and stuffed mushrooms and sauteed chicken tenders for supper.

Arg!

Took Pino to the vet. He's amazingly healthy for a dog his age who has never been. But he does have a growth on his anal glad that needs to be removed. So today cost me $265 -- because of shots and tests and stuff. The surgery will be over $500. :(

And we get home and I get out of the car and there's a bubble on my tire. The tires are pretty much brand new -- only a few months old. But I can't find the paperwork and I'm afraid BJs won't honor them. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!

Awesome

Great night at Cosmic at Milestone. Took pictures and got orbs too.

Better day

...for the baby. They're using a natural teething gel and it seems to be helping. Yeah!

Pork chop and mashed potatoes for supper and I'm stuffed.

No practice

Went to practice. No partner for Sandy and Jess was fighting with her other partner so we got to leave. *sigh*

Happy day

Spent all day with the family -- Carol, both Anthonys, the Pumpkin and even Karla and Kayla. I day well spent. I love it.

I also worked a few rounds on the Chakaras socks.

Only lost one pound this week, but still ... I think I'm doing going!

Almost here

Carol and family should be here in an hour or so. I can't wait to see the Pumpkin! I hope she isn't afraid of me. :(

Sandy and I went to the plaza today. We ate at the Pacific Buffet and between that and supper I blew all my days points plus a bunch of the weekly ones. I have to weigh myself tomorrow -- I hope I did ok!

Almost forgot

 to post tonight. I've been trying to get the place ready for Carol and family. They'll be here around 8 p.m. tomorrow. Then Diana and the girls came over so I stopped. About all I got done was making their bed and dusting their room and doing all the couch blankets.

I was going to do more after everyone left but I decided to cast on the Chakaras socks and I did a few rounds on that. And then of course I got distacted watching tv -- hey! It was Sanford and Son! And the time slipped away. I'm going to take out the dogs and go to bed. :)

This dog...

Just might be leaving with Carol. I was going to fight to keep her but I can't do this anymore. I really can understand the separation anxiety thing or that she's mad because I leave the house. I know that she pees/poops on purpose when no one is home. There's no way it isn't on purpose and I've been dealing with it. But tonight, instead of letting me know she had to go, she went into my craft room and pooped on the rug. And she knew damn well she was bad because the second I saw it, she ran to my room and dove under the bed. I refuse to do this anymore. I can't do this. Not if she's going to do it when me or my son is home too. Let Carol deal with it since she doesn't think it's bad. Clean dog poop/pee AND take care of a baby. And I love her so much and treat her so good. I've never met a dog like her.

5506 steps today

Not bad. I was trying to unlock the suspension bridge but still... This Walk It Out thing keeps you going because you want to unlock events and stuff. LOL!! Whatever works!

Finished watching Serenity. *sigh* I wish they hadn't killed off Wash and The Preacher. :(

Seven points

I made herb roasted pork and we had mashed potatoes and mushrooms and I had an ice cream cone and I still have seven points left to use tonight. Not bad! Plus I did ten minutes on Walk It Out -- not as easy as it sounds. Hopefully I can keep this up. Saturday is going to blow because we're going to the buffet and there's no way I'm not going to use all my points at once. Bet on it. I don't have any idea how to calculate those but I know it's going to be bad. *sigh*

That's about it! Got lunch all set for tomorrow. Leftovers. Yummy ones. :)

And so

My melee partner practiced all night with her other partner. My chess match partner showed up but then had to leave. Matt H's partner didn't show up so he and I just practiced 5-blocks all night.

I don't know why I haven't been motivated to knit at all. I have the Lenten scar knit along that's four weeks into it and all I did was two or three rows. There's only a few weeks left!

Going to watch Castle and then going to bed.

Workshop today

Unlike the days of old at that other faire, I thoroughly enjoyed our improve workshop today. Three hours of playing games with old and new faces and I loved it.

Carol and family are in Virginia at Michelle's. They will be home by the weekend. I have a bunch of stuff to do still to get ready but I'll get it done. I'm definitely a procrastinator!

Weight Watchers -- I am one point under my daily allotment. I think I tracked my supper right. We ate at Archie Moore's so I'm not 100% sure. I walked about 10 minutes on the Wii Walk it Out and need to get up more time. I also did one run on the basic run.

A full day

This morning I volunteered to help out at Angel Food Ministries -- Mary had posted on FB that they needed help. The first person I saw there knew me by name and when I said she looked familiar and asked her name, it turned out it was the woman who was the director of Spooner House when I was first on the board. She was the one who actually invited me to join. What a small world. I haven't seen her in 10 years!

After that I went to Barb's crop and actually completed around seven pages.

Altogether it was a great day. And Carol will be on the road to Virginia tonight and they'll be up here by next weekend. That means I have a ton to do here but oh well! My family will be together again. Can't wait!

IPhone success

For a long time now every song that plays on my IPhone was repeating itself. Well DUH! How was I supposed to know there's a repeat button????? I finally sat down and googled until I found an answer and now it's all fixed. YEAH!

I stayed home from work today intending to recuperate from yesterday and to get some cleaning done around the house. What a waste! Landlady had the plumbers and Water Authority here with the water shut off all day, digging up all the pipes and replacing them. *sigh* I did get together some stuff for the crop tomorrow.

First thing in the morning I have to go help out with Angel Food Ministries. Mary, who is in charge of it at her church, had posted on Facebook that they didn't have enough volunteers and might have to end it. So I volunteered. It's only a few hours and it helps tons of people.

Still trying to work out the Weight Watchers thing. I guess I'll figure it out eventually.

Home today

I went to work and then left after 45 minutes. My stomach was killing me. Came home and went to bed. I woke up once, ate and went back to sleep. Didn't get up until 3:30. I hope I can sleep tonight but I'm staying home tomorrow anyway to make sure I'm ok. It obviously wasn't IBS and I didn't end up throwing up like I was afraid of. The toilet stuff stopped before I got home from work but still ... if I slept that much, I was definitely sick.

Danny called and wants to do the workshop(s) at the lodge so I called Tony to let him know. We did agree that we can do swordfighting stuff on Sundays. This is just not swordfighting.

Yeah!

I did it! I made it tonight with two points left over. And that's after I have my pineapple with cream cheese fruit dip that I'm saving for when I get hungry later. I also did a tiny bit on the Wii but apparently not enough to get any activity points. I really have to work on that! LOL!!

And it's snowing a bit. "They" are saying we can get up to six inches but I really think it won't be that much. Our snow is pretty much over for the season.

And that's about it. I've been working on getting my stuff back into my old room a little bit at a time. The craft stuff is going to stay in the craft room. Carol can figure something else out if she can't fit their things in there without them being in my way. Sadly I haven't done any knitting but I do have to think about what I want to make for the One Skein exchange, especially since I'm running it. LOL!

Day two

And it's worse than quitting smoking. Oh my God! Yesterday I kept under the points with no problem. Today I'm over by 17 points, still have some of the weekly ones left, but still. I feel like I used to when I tried to quit smoking. I need to be eating something even though I'm not the slightest bit hungry. I'm not sure this is going to work. It never worked with smoking. I just decided one day that enough was enough and did it by being on welbutrin and the patch for two weeks. Then it was over and never another craving.

My God -- how do people do this when they have to lose a lot of weight? I only have to lose around 20-25 pounds and I'm doing horribly. And carrots or grapes just aren't going to cut it. I'm going to have a cup of coffee and see if tthat works. At least I drink it black.

Great practice!

So far I am loving every second of practice and the idea of my part in faire. Somehow my confidence level is way, way up there and I just know I'm going to do great and faire is going to rock! I'm thinking of getting a new set of garb, maybe something a little less constricting. Plus I've worn the same thing each year. Maybe it's time to check around online. Hopefully I can find something affordable.

Ghosts!

Today was Installation of Officers at the lodge. I made an appetizer for the cocktail hour and went down to meet Yvonne and Spencer. At the installation itself, I decided to take pictures. Second time I ever took pictures in the Ritual room. First time was at the children's Christmas party and those pictures were fine. These pictures that I took today were full of orbs. The ghost(s) decided to make a showing at the installation. Since he's hanging around the Elks it must mean that the lodge meant a lot to him so this day is important to him as well as us. Wow!!

Christmas in March

Went to Roseann's tonight for her annual between Christmas and New Year's get-together. We had a great time. It was postponed until now because of her father's illness and death.

Earlier Sandy and I went to the Post Road and shopped. Again, it was a nice time.

Great night

I went to a fundraiser fashion show tonight with Arlene and Tina and Arlene's old childhood friend, Bianca. I really had a great time -- more with the company than anything else. We've decided to try for more girl's night outs and hopefully Carol will come next time.

Casino tomorrow

So they had cake for me at work today. Chocolate with chocolate frosting -- yum. I have a bunch of people signed up already for the One Skein from Stash exchange, so I'm looking forward to that. It was an Immodium day so I didn't eat at all until now. I'm eating pizza but they must have changed the recipe because it's got LOTS of parmesean in it, which I hate. Grrrrrrrrr!!!!!!

Casino tomorrow. Hopefully I'll come back not broke. LOL!

Last time as officer

Just got back from my last Elk's meeting as an officer. That's ok, I'll still be down there and hopefully volunteering and hanging out. I do love the lodge and the people there are great. I had a nice time before and after the meeting. Yvonne tripped over something in the lodge room and went flying. Land so hard on her knee that the room shook. Hopefully she'll be fine.

I'm fighting with the report in work but I'm determined to finish it tomorrow since I'll be off for my birthday on Thursday. Besides, I usually like to have it done by the tenth or eleventh and tomorrow is the 16th. Geez!

Going to fight

Zooey got her stitches out and all is well there. I worked on some quilling bits for the cards for the exchange. I have to get those done tomorrow night before the lodge meeting.

AND ... I was given a part in the chess game. This time with a sword. Against Matt M. and I will be the winner! I was shocked that they put me against Matt and shocked that I'll be using steel. Normally they put me and Sandy together and we use whatever because we're the comedy faction. I was also asked if I could handle a second fight, a different one, for the melee. I said yes!! Wow! Who would have believed even three years ago that I'd be doing this? I hope I do well. I KNOW I'll do well. I will!

Almost forgot

To post today and since I'm on a roll, I don't want to do that. While my life may be boring as hell -- is hell boring with all that writhing and screaming? -- I still want to do this. Personal challenge!

I worked on the cards a bit for the exchange and I took a ride to JoAnn's and oh yes, sold my Kia. Karla drove it home and loves it. Now as long as the registration process goes ok, we're all set. The check engine light is always on. When it goes off, then it means there's something wrong. John tried to fix it and he couldn't so I hope that doesn't hurt if she has to go for Emissions. It works fine, just the opposite of what it should be.

I did clean the fridge out and neatened it and I got myself all set with lunch for tomorrow. Other than that, nada!

Great day

First I took down the blinds in the bathroom and living room and soaked them in the tub in bleach and Dawn. I accomplished a little today -- washed those windows and put the blinds back up after they were dry.

Karla is buying my Kia tomorrow for cash, which will put me back into a safe place money-wise. I'll have enough to cover the rent for a month should anything unforseen come up. YEAH for that!

Sandy and I got back into a normal Saturday routine. We went to Uncle Willie's for lunch and then hit the Seymour stores. After that I went to Bob's to buy sneakers with backs on them because I found out last Monday that swordfighting and backless sneakers do not mix if you're doing footwork also. Got a good deal there -- $49.00 for the sneakers minus two $10 discounts so I paid a decent price. Then I went to Big Y and bought 10 packages of meat, small packages but worth $5+ per package, for $40.

Came home after being out from 11 a.m. to almost 5 p.m. and Zooey had not peed on the floor.

Sandy gave me my birthday presents -- a knitting book and a few other things and I got a message on my Facebook from Tommy saying , Happy birthday BEST friend. I was shocked to see him call me his best friend, oldest, yes, but BEST was awesome. I also received a birthday card from Lou and will have to remember to call her tomorrow. AND I received a letter from Nationwide's lawyer with a summary of the deposition of the accident reconstructionist they hired. He said that the accident was definitely the other lady's fault. I knew that and Nationwide knows that and HER insurance company knows that since they paid me a whole $2000 for the car and my trip to the hospital. We'll see if she's still going to court with this.

Oh and the weather was perfect -- sunshine and in the high 40's. Couldn't ask for a better day!

A beautiful day full of sadness

It rained all day but by the time I got out of work it was over, the sun was out and it was in the 40s. Perfect weather! The horrible news of a massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan overshadowed that thought. Those poor people. I cannot watch the news about it. I don't think I could bear it. All I can do is pray for them and everyone affected by this.

Today's stuff

My beautiful scarf from the knitting exchange came today. It's made of ribbon yarn and she also sent me a bag of dark chocolate candies. YUM! I did mail mine off so that's done. I totally forgot to take a picture of it though.

It's a rainy evening so I decided to order Chinese food. Of course I ordered enough so I'll be eating mine for lunch and supper tomorrow and tossing the rest. Why do I do that??

Carol and the Pumpkin will be here the first weekend in April. I can't wait!

Carol's coming home!

Skyped with Carol and my hands are shaking so's I can hardly type. They're coming home. For good, for real. For good she said. I hope she means it. The end of the month she and my Pumpkin will be here. Anthony will stay there until he's done with his GED and done selling the cars. In the meantime she's put in applications and when they have income they'll get their own place. I'm so frigging excited. I can't believe it!

Watching more Firefly and downloaded a bunch more music, including the Ballad of Serenity, to my IPhone. Gotta love technology.

Ham steaks and macaroni salad for supper. YUM!

Burnt pancakes

Well actually they came out delicious but the whole apartment filled with smoke and it's still smokey more than an hour later. Ugh!

That's about it. Nothing really to write in here.

Fantastic evening

I didn't go to physical therapy because I simply was NOT going to go to the fourth floor in an elevator.  I tried the stairwell but it only let you get out on certain floors. A building like that is not safe. So I'm done with therapy and decided to go to practice.

I had so much fun and realize how much I miss swinging a sword! I paired up with Kevin and he treated me like the airhead that I am so our 10 move fight only had six moves and when it was our turn I remembered the whole thing. He wrote a good fight that I could actually feel confidence in doing.

So now I'm pleasantly tired and probably hitting the bed soon. :)

Great day

Home from a long, but very fun day. We were a bit too early for Orientation -- got there at 11 but didn't realize it didn't start until 2. So we went roaming around a few stores then had lunch and then went back. Orientation went really well and I signed up to not only do whatever fighting they put me into but also take turns at the Pub and told Brenda I'd help out making decorations. I'll also go on build days if there's something they have that I can do. It's going to be a great faire year!

I'd like to do the St. Patrick's Day parade in New Haven next Sunday but I have a feeling Sandy won't go so I'll have to see who I can ride with if I decide to do it. I think the first workshop day is also Installation and of course I said I'd work that. Maybe there's a way I can do both. I have to check on the times of both.

I'm very excited about faire this year!

Awesome day

The wedding was freaking awesome. I'll post about it tomorrow if I remember. I just got home a few minutes ago and have to get ready for bed. Sandy's picking me up at 9 and we're going to McD's for breakfast then orientation from 11-2.

Friday

I picked Zooey up and she was so happy to see me. I'm supposed to carry her up and down the stairs and not let her jump around for at least a few days. Yeah right. I couldn't stop her from running up the stairs, and later down to go out, and back up again. She's jumped up and down on the couch so many times I've lost count. At least right now she's laying still and resting. Geez! Even after major surgery that dog has more energy than I do!

So I've been having myself a Firefly marathon. I'm on episode five with nine to go but I'm hitting the bed at 10. I have Dorian's wedding tomorrow. I remember saying to Lou shortly after the boys were born that soon we'd be dancing at their wedding. It does seem like the time went by that fast. But Allen should have been going to the wedding too. If he were alive now he wouldn't go because his wife wouldn't allow it even if he wanted to go. How fast the time went by and how much has changed.

Today

Brought Zooey to the vet and she tried to follow me out. I felt so bad leaving her there. She must be so petrified. But they did the surgery and I pick her up after work tomorrow. Yes, I said work. No jury duty -- YEAH! She came through it fine and I can't wait to get her home.

That's about it for today.

My Wii

Spent most of the afternoon trying to configure my Wii to the internet so I can play Netflix shows. It took hours and a needless trip to Radio Shack and Gamestop, but I did it it without help from anyone. YEAH!

Made chicken and broccoli for supper and I AM going to Dorian's wedding. Zooey to the vet tomorrow and I have to remember to see if I have Jury Duty on Friday.

And I forgot to hit post. DUH! So this is on the wrong day. Should be 3/2

Lodge meeting tonight

Tonite will be my second to last meeting as an officer. I don't know who will be the new Inner Guard but I doubt they'll ask me since they put someone up against me for the first chair. That's ok -- no more obligations for awhile. I can go to meetings or not as I please. I'm sure I'll still go to as many as possible. I love the Elks!

Zooey's going under the knife the day after tomorrow. They called to remind me. I asked, yet again, how much it would be. The first time they said around $450. Then last week they told me $292. Tonight at first she said $585!!!!!!!!! Holy crap! I can't afford that! Then she said no, it was $452. Better but still high. But at least it's around what I expected. Geez!

I am so tired I almost don't want to go to the meeting but I'm forcing myself to stay away. I did lay down for around 45 minutes. It helped a little but not much. I didn't cook and I don't feel like eating. Something tells me spring is coming sooner than later. I always feel crappy when winter is ending and spring begins. :(

41 years ago tonight, my life changed forever. I said yes to dating Allen and never looked back. And even though we split, I never wanted to be with anyone else.

I hate titles

I can't think of a title. I left work around 1:30 because I was feeling crappy. Came home and hit the bed and didn't wake up until 5:30. Since I felt better I went to the library to the wrap up meal. It was nice -- finger foods catered by the woman who does the cooking demos. I really enjoyed it and hope I can go again for the Summer Reading program.

Home now and watching tv.

And the winner is...

Aren't the Oscars on tonight. I don't watch them since I go to the movies maybe once a year so have no clue who's who. Actually I don't think I've been to the movies since Star Trek so that was several years ago. Wow! There's not a single movie that I've seen promoted in all that time that has made me want to pay $8-$10 to go see.

Anyway the winner is me! I finished the scarf. All I have left to do is weave in a few ends and block it and take a picture of it. YEAH!

I attemted to make Rachael Ray's linguini with portabello mushroom sauce and it came out more like a thin soup instead of a thick sauce. I let the stuff simmer forever and it never thickened. It does taste good though. I think she made that in one of her 30 minute meals shows but, not including the simmering, it took me well over an hour to prepare and another hour at least to simmer and it just never got thick. Oh well!

Finished reading the last library book for the Winter Reading Program. I can go to the wrap up party tomorrow night because I can't swordfight just yet. Tomorrow is my last physical therapy so starting next Monday I'll be back fighting again.

The UFO I have decided to work on is Sourwood Mountain. I'm doing them in a cranberry color and have one wrist band done -- I started there instead of with the body of the mitts, and one cast on. They are going to be sooooo pretty. Since there's nothing on tv tonight because of the Oscars, I figure I'll watch some dvr'd stuff while I knit tonight.

Almost done

I only have a few more sets of the pattern to finish the scarf. My skein of blue yarn and cables and some needle tips came in from Knitpicks today too. I'm going to do the Lenten Mystery Scarf KAL and had all the colors, in Knitpick's Pallette yarn, except for the blue. So I don't think buying one skein of yarn is bad. I'm trying to work through my stash and it's a HUGE stash! LOL!!! And I should be able to keep up with that scarf since it will be a square a week and I have no obligations until April I think. That should be when I run the One Skein From Stash exchange at K&C.

So I ran around today and managed to get some errands done. I went to Target and I bought coffee -- $7.99 for my Folgers on sale for $1 off. I hate paying $8.99, the normal price at Target, but elsewhere it's upwards of $10! Ridiculous! I also got something called Bender Ball -- it's an excercise program, I think, but the ball is what I need to continue, at home, the exercises I do at therapy. They said they'll cut me a piece of the band I use for my arm exercises and I can probably use that for the hip thing too. I also bought a cool pair of rubber boots and threw out my old boots that were probably 10 years old and don't keep out the wet from snow or rain.

I also mailed out #2's controller and a mess of other stuff for Carol.

Went to the grocery store and got some meats -- chicken breasts, pork chops, a pork roast and ribs. Hmmm ... I see a pork pattern here! LOL!! Ribs are in the oven and unfortunately won't be done until around 10:30 tonight. And I'm starving now!

And I knit several pattern sets on the scarf. Going to go back and catch up on my dvr'ed NCIS's and knit some more  now.

More weather

Instead of snow we had heavy rains on and off today. They predict dangerous winds but the winds haven't kicked up yet. It was actually flurrying when I took the dogs out earlier!

I am watching tv and working on the scarf. It's not due to the recipeint until the end of March but I don't think I have a whole lot more to go on it. Then I have to block it -- I very rarely block stuff but this is going to need it. I WILL remember to take a picture of it and post it here and at Ravelry.

My baby (only sibling actually) sister turned 50 today. How weird is that. I can so remember the surprise my parents brought home and oh how I loved her even though she wasn't the roller skates I wanted and they wouldn't name her Lisa. LOL!!!

Linds and I were going to take her out but she begged off because of the weather -- we're going to try for next week.

1984

I need to read the book. I don't remember if I ever did, but it's something I should read!

Went to the Elks for awhile tonight. Took Zooey to the vet. I scheduled her spaying for next Friday then get home to realize that I have jury duty that day. UGH! I will go for that day but I do NOT want to 'serve'. Never have and never will. Now I might have to reschedule the surgery unless the vet is open at 7:30. I was supposed to have her there for 8:15 but I have to be at court by 8:30. Grrrrrrrrrr!

Therapy

I gave notice at therapy today. Monday will be my last day. The doctor said I could stop whenever I want so I'm stopping. They did a world of good but I don't see me getting any better. I can do a lot of the exercises at home so there's no sense in continuing.

Tomorrow Zooey goes to the vet. Should be interesting!

Some from stash

Like I need another knitting project, right? LOL!! I have decided to do the Lenten Mystery KAL, which will reduce my stash by six skeins of Knit Picks Palette fingering weight yarn and also hopefully keep me in the Lenten spirit. I will have to buy only one color -- blue, which I will order as soon as I'm done with this post.

I went to a wake with the Elks tonight and got to witness their ritual for a deceased member. It is so moving and the man who died was a wonderful man and a WWII war hero.

And so...

I think I forgot to mention yesterday that we went to Borders at the mall and I bought an ereader. I won't be buying reading books for it, probably won't by any books myself for it. I asked Carol to get me Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day for the Koob. And it's pre-loaded with 100 classics, most of which I'll probably read on it since I haven't read them since I was a kid.

The main reason I wanted it, and it was at a good price, is for recipes and knitting patterns. I can put them in PDF files and load them on the Koob and then they're super portable. I can bring it with me instead of carrying, and losing, paper patterns or carrying a bulky book for one pattern. I think it's going to be fun. Actually since I LOVE techno stuff, I know it's going to be fun!

I went grocery shopping and bought a ton of stuff. I want to have food for the whole week so I don't have to think about what to make for supper or bring for lunch. Tonight we'll have meatloaf (I have two in the oven), broccoli, stuffed mushrooms and mashed potatoes. I had also bought a roasted chicken because it was actually cheaper than buying one and roasting it myself. So we'll have that later in the week with whatever. AND I bought the fixings to make Rachael Ray's whole wheat linguini with portabello mushroom sauce. But ours will be regular linguni.

Whoops -- timer rang. Meatloaves are done. Going to eat now!

Forgot to say that I went to physical therapy this afternoon -- Mondays and Wednesdays -- an they put me through a real workout so no Wii today.

Ate meatloaf, mashed potatoes, bread and a bunch of tiny stuffed mushrooms. Yum!

My weight

I realize I weigh less than a lot of people but the doctor said, for the first time in my entire life, that I need to loose weight. I finally decided to do the Wiii Fit for real. So I did the whole test thing and I need to lose around 20 pounds. So that means I really need to start watching what I eat and using the Fit regularly.

Maybe if I log it here??? So I did the short run, I did the yoga breathing and the first yoga one -- stretching?? Did the step thing three times -- I suck at coordination. But that's it for now. Hopefully I will do those same ones every day and then add one or two a week.

I put my goal as losing the 20 pounds in three months, which comes out to about 1.5 pounds a week. We'll see!

Saying goodbye

I think I'm finally done wih Allen's family, except for his sister. I do believe it. I believe that there's very few of them, only their kids, who give a shit. They've made it clear. Screw 'em. Who knew it would be like this all those years ago when saw that cute boy in the store window? I never thought I'd even meet him, nevermind be asked out by him, eventually marry him, have his kids, have him leave me for my 'best friend', divorce me many years later, marry her, and die two years later. And then be banned from his services and never have closure. Done. And who knew that two  years after his death, the pain would keep resurfacing? And the assholes be assholes still? Done! I'm done! I wish they'd stop pretending they miss me and be all over me when they see me. Thank God it's rarely once a year now.

I'm a loser...

LOL!! Didn't win a cent at the casinos and lost some money. But I had a really great time and I ate soooooooo much!

I didn't get a chance to knit at all because we didn't even get back into the hotel room until 10:30 or so and I crashed. Then we were out in the morning and now I'm home.