This is what I hear from people all the time these days. And it's true...I look and feel better than I have in a very long time! I feel good in my own skin. I hope all of you do too!
Enjoy the video...I can sing each word of the song in total agreement!!!
It's Teacher's Convention time around here meaning Skyechild would be off from school. So, today was my vacation day...was. Up at 6AM...do the dishes, clean the kitchen, sort & start the laundry, and brew a pot of coffee in order to work on my work laptop and finish an insurance project. By 11:00, all was well and it was time to pack up the laptop and head into the office.
Skyechild came along. Afterwards, we went to lunch and took care of errands before coming home to work on two large projects of our own. You see, while I was involved in a "working vacation", she was working on moving her clothing and other belongings our of her room. After our errands, she continued on her project and my project was the
hopefully final harvesting of the lawn.
Tonight, the laundry is finished, the cleaning is/was caught up, the lawn is harvested and the mower stowed away, the bedroom is nearly emptied, and new paint has been purchased. I'm sore and tired and can't wait to go back to work tomorrow. A vacation from my vacation.
Take a look...there it is...real, actual knitting! A finished pair of socks and a sweater body that is completed. Actually, the neckline is also finished at this point and the sweater merely needs sleeves. Honestly. Truly.
Here, take a look.
Oh crap. I deleted the photo by accident. But, that's the way of things lately. Too many things going on at once. But, it was a good picture of me, wearing the sweater as it is so far. Oh well...at least there was actual knitting.
It was a year ago that Panda and I were on the college search. At one point, she was considering a school as far away as New Orleans. In the end, she chose a school much closer to home...because it was the RIGHT school not the closest or cheapest school.
At the time, I thought sure she'd choose one of the private schools farther from home than the state school she felt had the best program. I don't regret having checked out all of the schools because when we finished the search it was clear that she'd chosen the right school for her. If we hadn't done the search and she'd chosen this one I would've felt guilty that she "settled" because of the grief my ex had put us through.
But, in addition to the curriculum and the "spirit" that made her feel that it was the right choice for her, there was one sign in particular that warmed me to the place...Sock Assassins.
This little sign in the stairwell made me smile and feel that the school was home to individuals with good spirits. Turns out it didn't stop there.
Today, Panda emailed me a photo she'd taken with her phone. Panda found this while heading to class this afternoon and couldn't wait to share the image with me! Seems the Knitta crowd has a few recruits on campus.
Seeing her this past weekend, spending time listening to her stories of school, activities, and friends should've been proof enough that my girl is right where she needs to be. But seeing her photo this afternoon reminded me that she is surrounded by the right kind of "spirits" as well. There be knitters!
It's 10PM and I can no longer form a fluid thought! It's been non-stop the past few days and those of you that have chimed in are probably right about the combination of good times, weather, seasons, and general blah going on at the moment. Unfortunately, as much as a daily nap would be so very welcome...it's a luxury that I frankly don't have much time for!
However, I'm also a firm believer in taking time for rest. The alternative is to burn the candle at both ends until your body calls for a "time-out" and you get your rest in the form of being sick. What's the happy medium? Has anyone truly figured it out yet?
Speaking of sick...they are conducting an H1N1 vaccination program at my daughter's school next week. I have to admit, I'm not entirely sure whether or not she should be vaccinated. There are plenty of scare tactics on both sides of the issue and frankly, I've lost trust in anything that is suggested out of Washington/the government/or anyone who presumes to tell me that they know "exactly" what's good for me and my family. I have concerns for and against having her vaccinated...and it's not clear which side of the issue is stronger in my head/heart. Guess that will be the topic of reading this weekend.
In the meantime, speaking of sick, keep my friend Jon & his family in your thoughts and prayers on Thursday. He's having a lump removed and it's lymphoma. Their family has dealt with more than their share of cancer in the recent history and my hope is that the prognosis will be far better than imagined. They could all use a bit of peace.
Okay...heavy post...and it seems that there was something lighthearted that crossed my radar screen today. Oh, yeah, it was this...
...definitely one that will be on my movie list during Thanksgiving break! Maybe I'll be caught up by then!
It's late...I've been to a bridal shower...my second in the past two months (and missed a third). I LOVE that new married lives are sprouting up around me. It makes me quite happy to be a part of new lives as they begin their journey. The one thing they always get from me is that love CAN endure...as long as both parties have faith in it...my mate did not have faith in anything, much less faith in a family that loved him unconditionally...so he left and didn't look back...not even to be part of his children's lives.
But, I digress. (Thanks to a couple of glasses of wine and a fabulous dinner!)
Tonight's shower was for my employer's granddaughter. A beautiful young Chicago lawyer. We were each to bring a holiday item but, in true form, I didn't necessarily follow the plan.
The jade plant at the far right is what I gifted to her. You see, when I was hired, one of the items that was my charge was taking care of her grandmother's jade plant. Since she travels a lot she's not able to do it herself and it became one of my duties.
Of course, it's not just any jade plant...but the jade plant that her grandmother had given her when her youngest son was born nearly 50 years ago! Early on I took caring for the jade as a type of job security issue...and panicked when it dropped a few shoots. However, I took the shoots and started new plants.
So, tonight it was with great pleasure that I could present to the bride-to-be a jade tree for her new life, that was from not only her grandmother but also her great-great-grandmother. I know that "family" and being surrounded by and supported by family is as important to her as it is to me. It was very easy to give her the jade and know that she would appreciate having that bit of history and family connection for her own life. New lives need the full love and support of family...in one form or another!
Two wonderful days! It was SO good to have my girl home! Her goal...surprise our friends Jon & Michele...she did.
Then I surprised her with her favorite foods.
And, if that wasn't enough to make the weekend exciting, we had house guests too. A young seminarian, his wife and their dog. Panda managed to talk her into adding a few highlights. Skyechild managed a bit of puppy sitting.
It's amazing, two weeks ago Skyechild and I determined that we needed some new echoes in the house. Today, we can say that we've succeeded in adding life to our house once again! It feels good, darn good!!
My girl is doing well and was thrilled to be home, be with family, be with friends, do her laundry and eat "real" food. It was great to see her!!! I miss her already...all over again!
Greetings! I'll be brief. It's a big weekend around here. Panda wanted to be home for it, so I took the day off from work and drove up to get her. She drove home. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to have two hours worth of conversation and knitting. It's been a very long time since I wasn't in the drivers' seat!!
Best of all...I have my girl home for thirty six hours! Lots of conversation, laughter, and hugs...life doesn't get much better than that!
Really it's not what you think!
First off, who knew that Oct 15th was National Grouch Day!?! There were even tips as to how to celebrate! Personally, I think sharing the Grouch Anthem seems good enough for me.
I'll admit it, the tune is catchy and it makes me smile whenever I discover myself whistling along.
Of course, National Grouch Day got me wondering what fun days may be ahead of us. A quick check of the calendar of events indicates that Oct 16th is National Boss's Day and Oct 17th is Sweetest Day. How does that happen!?! A grouch day followed by those two!! But, then let's not forget that Oct 18th is World Menopause Day!!! (Who comes up with this stuff!?!)
Needless to say, no sweetheart means no Sweetest Day this year. However, the 17th also happens to be Mulligan Day. A mulligan...'do over"...maybe Sweetest Day will be for me a do over next year. (Don't worry, I don't mean a "do over" with the ex...no how, no way!)
But, back to the explanation of "Down the Drain". Today wasn't grouchy, though it was cloudy. And it wasn't nearly as hectic as yesterday. In fact, tonight even included watching Flash Forward and a bit of knitting. However, that was only after one major house project was tackled.
Imagine...two blondes go into a bathroom...no joke. My girls...two blondes...with LONG hair...have shared a bathroom for eight years. I'd noticed recently that their sink seemed awfully slow. Tonight, it was time to tackle the hairy beast!
First, I dismantled the drain stop. Then fished out what I could...YUCK!!! And finally, ran some liquid drain snake cleaner. Once finished there was a cheer that came from my daughter when she saw how quickly the water now runs down the drain.
In celebration (for doing battle with the hairy beast), I sat in my chair, watched TV, and knit for nearly two hours!!! Heaven. Pure heaven! The perfect end to a day filled with grouches and dirty drains. Let's see what surprises tomorrow brings.
Krafty1 at Etsy