May 16, 2008 - Coming Home
Thank you all so much for your good thoughts for my Dad. The surgery took 5 hours instead of the 2-4 they promised, but he has no more leg pain! I talked with him last night and his voice sounds so much lighter than it has in months.
He's coming home this morning - told my Mom to call him at 10 when my sister gets to their house, but he started calling her at 7:45 am to ask when she was coming. He will have some back pain at the incision site, but all other pain is history.
This weekend we have a graduation and more housework to do in order to prepare for #1's graduation next week. The thought of him graduating makes me excited and my stomach hurt all at the same time. He was just born! Head full of fuzzy hair and huge brown eyes. Now, he's STILL got a head full of hair (not so fuzzy) and big brown eyes. Things change but they don't. I'm not sure I'm ready for all this.
In knitting news, I am on repeat #12 of 14 for Hypoteneuse, so there'll be no trouble making the May 26th deadline for my sisters' gift. I'm on the cuff of ugly sock #1, will bind off soon and begin sock #2. Mom's already claimed them. I should never knit around her.
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May 13, 2008 - A Simple Request
I'll be out of pocket tomorrow. I'm taking my Mom and Dad to the hospital early (leaving my house at 5:30 ayem). Dad is having sugery - a lumbar laminectomy and bone fusion. His quality of life has been sucky lately, so we're hoping this can alleviate a lot of the pain he's been having. While this is not one of your more complicated surgeries, my Dad is 79 and it's always a little scary going under the knife.
If you're so inclined, would you mind sending good thoughts his way?
Thanks!
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May 12, 2008 - It was wonderful
I had a wonderful weekend! My family decided that Mother's Day should start on Friday night! Watched a Penguins game (They Won!), and a friend came over to visit. Saturday, we lazed around until it was time to go visit my Mom. Just. Did. Nothing.
Sunday morning, I was taken to brunch, then we went to the park and watched #2 and HD play in their wiffle ball games, then came home and watched the Pens win. AGAIN! Woot! Carded up a few ounces of alpaca while we watched the game. Progress!
My wonderful hubby gave me something I've wanted for a long time, but would never pull the trigger on. Piano lessons. I played flute in high school, but I've always wanted to play (or try) piano. Heh. Who knows? I could be the next Liberace, or Barry Manilow, or Rick Wakeman. *Snort*
I did work on Hypoteneuse and the ugly sock (TM). Here's a pic of the ugly sock (which has grown another 1.5 inches):
And, because he makes me laugh, a picture of #2 and his creativity:
See? Wonderful!
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May 8, 2008 - Safe Travels
Dear Friends:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face;
the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
- traditional gaelic blessing
It has been an honour and a joy to get to know you. Here's to many years filled with friendship to come!
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May 7, 2008 - Grumble, grumble
TAP TAP
It's Wednesday! Woo hoo! Only 2 more days to this week. Then, the weekend is mine! This will be the last weekend where I'm not expected to be somewhere or have to do something for somebody until June. Not too far away.
HD and I joined a dart league and I have really enjoyed it; however, (and there's always a however) I have managed to either pinch a nerve, or aggravate my bursitis in my right shoulder. To the extent that if I throw even ONE dart, it hurts like a mofo. Knitting doesn't hurt, I'm a continental knitter. Thank god. I would go insane. Then last night, I managed to spill boiling water on the same hand, again, hurt like a mofo.
To cap it off, I participated in a swap and once again, I was burned. This is the third time now. I'm done. No more. I love meeting new people on the interwebs but after a while, you get a complex, you know?
Whinging aside, I am over halfway on Hypoteneuse and I've decided it's for my dear sister. She turns 50 (OMG) on the 27th and she's going to need a nice wrap to keep those old bones warm. Heh.
But HEY? You know what? The Penguins have advanced again and the first game is Friday night! Woo Hoo! Go PENS! Gotta love me some hockey.
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May 3, 2008 - Taking a moment
Do you ever had those weekends where they feel like major hurdles to get past? The hurdles this last weekend were enjoyable but they were hurdles nonetheless. Our friends were married on Saturday evening and it was a beautiful ceremony. HD did an awesome job officiating - he has the touch. Yesterday was my last group spinning class and it went well. I truly enjoy meeting new people and bringing them over to the dark side! A couple of my students are friends and I see them on a fairly regular basis, so the corruption will continue! Heh.
In light of the new Interweave Knits hitting my mailbox and the article on Elizabeth Zimmerman, I thought I would give a small opinion on the "Knitting Workshop" dvd's I rented from Smartflix. If you haven't checked this service out, you should. Lots of DIY stuff, and they are easy to rent from.
I had the set on order for a while and they came last Monday. I have enjoyed watching these. EZ was a wonderful woman who has a way of making you feel like you can do anything you want. She takes you through several lessons starting with the very basics of casting on. I'm not a new knitter but I still enjoyed watching this stage of the lessons. Always good to just touch back on basics, IMO. The master lessons go over knitting lace, fair isle, arans, steeks, and color work. These dvd's are the most enjoyable how-to's I've watched in a long time. I'm putting these on my amaz*n wish list.
I have done a fair bit of knitting, some spinning and not enough laundry. Never enough laundry. I swear there are gnomes residing in my house who wear HD's clothes with abandon. The never-ending blanket o'doom (TM) nears completion, but it seems each row takes FOR FREAKIN' EVER.
Oh well. Pictures someday. One day.
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April 25, 2008 - Drive by post with a promise
Hmmm. Blogging seems to be about a once a week thing right now. Life is a bit crazy and let me explain. #1 son is graduating from high school next month along with two nieces. Three weekends in a row with a graduation ceremony happening.
My brother-in-law is coming down for four days the weekend before graduation weekend, the MIL is coming down the weekend of, we're having a graduation party the day after, a Memorial day/family birthday party on Memorial Day, and with all this, I still have to work! It's going to be a whirlwind of activity for sure.
We also have two dear friends getting married on May 3rd and my dh is performing the ceremony. Yup, he's an ordained reverend. He'll be doing this again in October for two more dear friends. He's a popular guy, my man is.
I am also in the midst of a spinning class. Which is SO. MUCH. FUN. Gets me out of myself and lets me focus on other people. I love helping people learn this skill.
I should have some pictures for you. I'm hoping it rains tomorrow so that we don't have to go a neighborhood parade. Please pray for rain. I need it. I need a morning curled up on the sofa, reading blogs, drinking coffee, and then cleaning.
Oh, and tomorrow night is the prom for #1 and then we run off to see Joe Jackson in concert.
Bye! MIss you!
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April 10, 2008 - Better Living through Chemicals
Sinus infections suck. Antibiotics are good. Yogurt is good. Regular blogging will resume, really.
That is all.
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April 8, 2008 - The Pollen
I know the reason for pollen. I also know that it is slowly robbing me of my ability to walk (vertigo is a cruel, cruel thing). It seems the older I become, the more the allergies are bothering me.
I promise to post soon, along with pics, of my wonderful weekend just past. I'll post when I can get off the sofa to get my camera. And find my little card reader thingy. Really, soon.
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April 3, 2008 - I can name that song in six notes
Nah, just kidding. I've been tagged by Gotta Knit! to state my philosphy of life in six words.
"Enjoy life, do not endure it."
So here are the rules: 1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules.
3. Share a 6 word philosophy of life
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April 2, 2008 - One All
Just got back from the Braves/Pirates game - Braves won! Series is tied, tomorrow night is the tie-breaker. But I won't be watching the game, nope. I'm going to the bestest ever yarn store in the world to hang out with the bestest bunch of knittahs in the world. I haven't been in forever and I need it bad.
Just have one bag left of the Shetland left to wash and I'll start carding all this fiber. We're talking carding about 4 pounds of fiber. And according to the challenge, I have til the 15th. Just trying to figure when I'll get that last bag done....probably Saturday. I'm not too stressed about not meeting the washing deadline. Boingo's last few days with us kept us all pretty occupied. I'll try to take some pics of all the fluffly fiber drying on window screens in my basement. It's impressive.
Friday evening, we'll be in Athens for a special someone's Thesis Installation Reception (I hope I called it by it's proper title). I'm looking forward to seeing her work although it's with mixed emotions. It signals the end of her time here with us in Georgia. I guess I can retire the freezer.
*Sniff*
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March 31, 2008 - So, my friends?
They came over on Saturday and played in the dye. My friends are much better at taking pictures than I am. In fact, go on over to their blogs and hopefully, you will see fun things there. ESC has pics up on hers, I know the others aren't far behind.
It was a lot of fun and I think we learned we're all pretty much fly by the seat of our pants types of gals. Melissa did get a tiny bit "technical" and tried to measure things, but we kept it real for her. Thanks for the fun ladies!
Here's the only thing I dyed. 4 ounces of a superwash/nylon sock blend from Sheep Shed Studio. The shiny bits are the nylon. I'm going to run this through the drumcarder and get an easier-to-spin bat, but this should be fun for some sock yarn, right?
Right?
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March 27, 2008 - Is it Friday yet?
Whew, what a week! I'm personally glad that Friday is almost here. Tomorrow night we're going to see Underworld perform and I'm really looking forward to some dancing!
Saturday will be full of fun and friends! Sunday, I finish washing all my fleece per my challenge with Nytefalle. I also continue to trudge along on the blanket o'doom and I hope to have it done soon soon soon!
May you all have a wonderful weekend!
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March 23, 2008 - Thank you all
Your kind words and thoughts have helped a great deal this weekend. It feels strangely quiet and every time I hear something I think Boingo's into something. His spirit is in the house for sure.
We're getting back to borderline normal, HD did a few honey-do's around the house and I did the grocery shopping plus some laundry. We decided last night that we needed an Indiana Jones marathon and that's what we did. Watched movies while I teased up some alpaca for carding. I did get the rest of the alpaca fleece I have sorted, so this week I will get it plus the Shetland washed up.
Tuesday evening, I'm giving a private lesson and on Saturday a few friends are coming over for some fiber fun. I'll do some picture taking along the way this week, I'm trudging along on the blanket o' doom (TM) and even put a repeat on the Hypoteneuse scarf at the March family birthday party yesterday.
As you can see, my thoughts are scattered, but slowly gaining some order. I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday.
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March 22, 2008 - "Good night, sweet prince.
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."
Corky's Oingo Boingo
May 7, 1996 to March 21, 2008
He was in a great deal of pain, but he never snapped, bit or complained. Always graceful, always loving.
You will be missed, my sweet boy.
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March 20, 2008 - Don't feel like doing much
It's been a rollercoaster of a week. Our old man, Boingo the Vizsla, has been in and out of the vets having tests run. Seems there is something wrong with his liver but the vet won't say what til she gets the definitive results back from the sonogram. He's 12 years old and has always acted like a puppy until last fall when he developed arthritis in his hips and knee. The meds we put him on for this could have contributed to what is wrong now, but he has had such a better quality of life until this past weekend, that I refuse to feel badly about that.
Funny how these animals have a way of worming into our hearts and planting themselves firmly there.
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March 17, 2008 - A conversation
Apparently, it was decided that yours truly needed an intervention. I don't think I have a problem, but they seem to think so. So Nytefalle decided it was time to issue the smackdown.
Nytefalle: i expect to see your finished batts by the end of the month
Hockeymom: I AM NOT A MACHINE!
Nytefalle i'll make you a deal. you finish your paca/shetland by the end of the month & i'll finish my paca/blf by the same
Hockeymom: no no no
you cannot do that!
i have to go slow
i have teaching and family birthdays
and the kids need beatin'
Nytefalle: you have a nicer carder than i do
Hockeymom: the pasture needs plowing
cows need milking
Nytefalle: i have inlaws & also birthdays
Hockeymom: you win!
Nytefalle: end of the month
and...
i'll even spin up the silk you gave me by then since i'm processing less fiber
Hockeymom: you're crazy
Nytefalle: deal?
Hockeymom: there's no way i can do that
Nytefalle: deal?
Hockeymom: dude
it's already halfway through the month
i could get it all washed but not carded up
Nytefalle: what's your point?
wash every last bit of it next free day
i'm even going to throw my paca back through the wash
Hockeymom: i don' have enough window screens
hmm
Nytefalle: you're making excuses
Hockeymom: i could wash the alpaca tonight
most of it at least
i have quite a bit left though
wait
i won't get home til after dark maybe
i could maybe wash one bag
Nytefalle: you can wash alpaca in the dark
Hockeymom: i have to take it out to shake and check first
it's got a bit of straw in it
Nytefalle: by the end of the weekend, i expect to see piles of freshly washed fluff
Hockeymom: lol
Nytefalle: you even get a long weekend if you guys take off good friday or easter monday
Hockeymom: you're a hard taskmaster
hmm
Nytefalle: no "hmm"
Hockeymom: i can give it my best shot
just have a big thing we're doing
we started spring cleaning yesterday
Nytefalle: if it'll make you feel better, i'll have an indeterminate amount of llama to process shortly
Hockeymom: just have one more closet to do
LOL
k
i can have it all washed by the EOM
Nytefalle: 
Hockeymom: i have a lot on my plate tho
i have to finish #2's blanket
Nytefalle: <-- doesn't like to be thwarted
Hockeymom: dude
Nytefalle: if you wash everything by month end. then you'll have another 2 weeks to get it carded
Hockeymom: i can't deny my child
Hockeymom: ok
i have til 4/15/08 to get it carded?
Nytefalle: yes. you have until tax day
Hockeymom: k
They could be onto something here. Stay tuned to see how this ends up!
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March 17, 2008 - 21 Years Ago
21 years ago today, HD formally proposed to me. We celebrated by drinking champagne, then daiquiris, then beer and then irish whiskey. Needless to say, I ended up spending a little time driving the porcelain bus and some things are foggy in my memory. What remains clear and in focus was the fact that I knew I was meant to marry this man, and 21 years later, it's even clearer that I made the right decision.
Love you babe!
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March 14, 2008 - Favorite Color Swap Questionnaire
So, I am participating in the FCS3. Here's my little doohickey:
Favorite Color Swap Questionnaire
1. What are your top three favorite colors? Red, grey and green
2. What crafts do you really enjoy? Knitting, spinning, quilting
3. What products do you really covet? Laceweight yarns
4. What other activities do you enjoy besides your favorite crafty things? Gardening and watching hockey
5. Is there anything you collect? Apparently anything to do with spinning.
6. What is your zodiac sign and/or Chinese zodiac symbol? Leo/Rat
7.What are your favorite…
…scents/smells? Lavender
…types of music and/or bands? Jazz, reggae, techno
…authors? Ayn Rand, Janet Evanovich (I know!), John Sandford
…animals? Dogs Sheep Alpaca Llamas
…places to shop? yarn shops
…season? winter/spring
…yarn/fabric/paper/other craft supplies? laceweight
…candies or goodies? I love any snacks that are gluten free
8. Do you have any wish lists? Nah
9. Are you allergic to anything? Wheat/gluten
10. Do you have any pets? What are they? I have two dogs - Boingo the VIzsla and Bella the Basset Hound
11. Please include anything else you would like your secret pal to know about you- anything that would be helpful in finding you little gifts that you will really enjoy. Also, if you have a Ravelry ID, please include it here. I love little things to put around my garden like tacky trolls, buttterflies, insects and garden gnomes.
My Ravelry ID is hockeymom.
Party on y'all.
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and, she spins too!
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