Clean Clothes

I've been accused on more than one occasion of being tight. Not that I won't spend money, but why spend more than you need to or at all if you can do without or make something work?

We bought a new washing machine 15 years ago more or less. Over the years, it has been used and abused, as the kids learned to do their own laundry, much like when the learned to drive a stick shift, there were errors. They broke the agitator twice (and burnned the clutch out of my car once). Bob has fixed it on more than one occasion both the agitator and clutch. I even fixed it once when he went fishing, there were no clean clothes and it didn't feel the need to work. Having helped him often enough, I figured it couldn't be that hard, ended up taking out the part that keeps the lid locked and it is has worked ever since (except for those new adgitators).

I finally had enough and announced that it was time to admit defeat and get a new machine. I spent a week looking for a washer. well actualy only one day, saw what I wanted, went back with the spouse - who then copped an attitude because he didn't want to spent 90 to have it deivered and they had some lame rebate of a 90 visa card. Don't want a stinkin visa card, just give me the money back. Then I went on a quest to find another washer. He said go buy the first one and we'll pick it up. HA! no one in this house has the time or inclination or the desire to pull a back in order to have clean clothes.

Finally Sears has saved the day once again and why didn't I just go there first? Went into the store at 9 pm friday (becaue of course what else would anyone do on a friday night?) and by 9:20 was writing a check for a spanking brand new machine 70 delivery/take away fee and thy will send me a check back for the 70. Then they said sunday deilvery? but I said oh no, I'd never get the basement clean in time for sunday delivery - WHO IN THE HECK DELIVES ON SUNDAY????? that is awsome and I would have snapped at it in a heart beat if it wasn't for that tiny little issue of a messy basement. So, they said fine, we'll call you sunday for a monday time. Got my time of 9 - 11.

Remembered when they told me that about my new refrigerator a few years ao, they showed up at 5 minutes to 7 . . . in the morning. . . . I heard the truck while I was in the shower and hadn't emptied the refrigerator yet becuase hello. the sun isn't up yet. and actually they did wait until about 7:15 when the sun was up to knock on the door and I bet my neighbors LOVED that truck rumbling out side at o' dark thirty. But I digress.

My basement is clean, the cute guy called at 9:10 to say they would be here in 5 minutes. They were, they took the old one, put in the new one and were gone by 9:35. I am using the washer first before any adult child has the opportunty to break the new machine. it is quet, BIG and for today, life is good

Ripping Out

After weeks of trying to talk myself into it. last night I started ripping out the hanna sweater I've been working on and off on for the past year. I should have neve let it go on that far, I should have ripped back after the first major misstake I told myself I could go back and fix later - like this is a computer program? this summeer I needed a project to carry on a trip and thought oh, I'll work on a sleeve. that way at least one will be done, I can work on the other one later and then will only have the body to finish. Got 2/3 done with the first sleeve and saw HUGE error at cuff. 2 inches of HUGE error. stared at it for a day, then riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip. Ive started it over, and want to work on it some this weekend while it is rainy and the begininings of fall weather. The of couse, I started working on the sleeve of another sweater last night becuase it is on us10's (and the hanna is on us 2s), so of course I'll get the new one done quick fast and in a hurry and can justify just about anything if I put my mind to it.

Some profound person has said (and I'm sure more than one has said it) you get to enjoy your knitting more if you rip it back and do it again. extends the joy of working with a wonderful yarn.

I'd get more enjoyment out of actualy wearing a sweater I've finished because already I'm cold. And let's not even go to the drawer with a sweater done but not sewn together yet.

Girlfriend Day

I always hear about these things at the end of the day/program/month/whenever it is too late to get my act together. Thought about talk like a pirate day for months, find out the 29th that it was the 19th. Figures. Of course, if I was more compter savvy, I'd have the fancy dancy calendar bing at me a day or two before those important events . . . like birthdays. I always remember my momma's happy birthday, and the kids happy birthdays and even the spouse's happy birthdy, but my sister, nephews, niece and friends -- I know the months but always seem to miss the day.

So for all my girlfriends out there who I am connecting with today, happy girlfriends day and lets go do something fun :)

Friends

I had a wonderful relaxed lunch with J today. We don't get togther very often, maybe every couple of months for a leasurely sunday lunch and conversation. Her kids are young 9 and 12, mine are old, but we seem to have a wonderful friendship/connection with life. She is fortunate that her husband understands now that she needs some me time, it took mine awhile to get that.

It was a sunny warm day, we spent too much time in the restaurant then walked to the river and sat under a tree and reflected on life. Should have gotten ice cream, but didn't think of it. we've decided to go there again, and maybe one day meet with our spouses to have a leisurly dinner with adults.

life is good

I have got to get a handle on expenses. food is where I spend the most money, and see the most waste. Fortunately, it is getting cooler now and soup is always a goood leftover user. I saw a receipie for made from scratch corn bread I think I'll try and I use to make bread from scratch. Think I'll try that tomorrow with a roasted vegetable soup.

Change

Norma posed the question, what are you doing that is new and improved . . .

Funny, I've been on the "change my life story" for the past few months myself. I'm certainly not old, don't feel old and don't want to feel old, but will be reaching another of those milestone birthdays early next year and don't want to spend the next 50 years sorry for what I didn't do.

On this journey, I've started to take better care of myself (sorta), am learning to do for myself first and not put everyone else ahead of me. No, it isn't selfish. I've spent the last 25 years taking care of spouse and kids. They are all grown up now, have declared their independence - although two of them still live at home - and are forging their own lives. Spouse is making retirement noises, which is an entirely different entry.

I'm learning to say no without guilt and to say this is what I am doing because it is what I want.
I have let go of the notion that I have to do all/be all to everyone so that they will like/love/accept me. It is a hard process but after the first few times of my saying no, I won't help/give/accept what you want/need/tell me, I found it was easier the next time and my family and friends or even strangers didn't turn on me - hmm. guess all those books, shows etc. about respecting yourself so others will is actually true. I'm liking this.

I knit more, putter around the house and go out with friends, well not as often going out but mostly because I don't feel like it. I am more often relaxed and less short tempered. I'm getting a grip on the house and how I want it and am less concerned about what someone might think when they walk in the door.

All in all, I think I'm finally growing up, although I still don't know what i want to be. Maybe that will be the next 5 year project.

nothing today

Well, pretty much got nuthin this mornin, got a pair of fingerless gloves finished this weekend, and they took me way longer to do than they should, but they look good, I see what I want different and think I will make a few pairs for christmas gifts. Which I need to think about next I guess. Planning to go on a knitting retreat with my mom, daughter and sister in March, it will make a nice end of the winter break, of course have to pay for it now which is both good and bad. I'll have money to shop while I'm there, but now money now - all about me today

Angry People

It must be extremely difficult to live angry and unhappy all the time. There is a woman in my building, who was quite friendly 4 years ago when we moved in, chatted often, said good morning. Now - nothing. No good morning, if you pass her in the hall and say hello she looks down and stomps on by. Nothing. Wow, it must be hard to hold in all that anger, resentment or unhappiness. The energy she is expending could surely be used for better purpose. She seems to live life by confrotation, which has apparently worked well for a number of years. She is also EXTREMELY judgmental and we did discover early on that she has definate opinions about what is right and wrong and man you'd best agree with her. Somehow, I don't think her stand of open toe slingback at church is a crime punishabe at the pearly gates - but she is convinced that is sacralegious. And don't dare ask her about strapless wedding dresses. Could be because she wouldn't look good in one - oops, there I go starting to sound judgmental.

While no one is the building is fond of her, and I will say some tenants go out of their way to speak to her for the sole reason that they know she won't respond. Which actually is kinda mean but really, who can't at least be bothered to say hey?

Her elderly dog died recently. the only reason we knew that was because her office mate told us "in case we noticed she was more cranky than usual". Hmm well I won't touch that one. Any way, we sent her a sympathy card. We're all pet owners/lovers and know how hard it is to lose a beloved pet. Her response? She got pissed at her office mate for telling us personal things about her.

Does she have friends? Work associates? Does she treat everyone like that or only the few of us in the building? There are only 6 of us.

I hope that I never get there.

Ripping Back

SO, knited a pair of wrist warmers last weekend, hated the first one, tried to rip out from the beginning since the secnd half looked good. I know that doesn't work, why did I even think to try? threw the entire thing in the trash and will knit another one. uck. Which made me really think about the huge (for me) jacket I started knitting last summer, about 1/4 done, see some problems and thought oh, I'll just rip out and knit back. So now I know, don't even bother trying, rip out the ENTIRE thing and start over. almost makes me want to cry but then again, practice is supose to be a good thing. Think I'll start another sweater in the meantime so I have something successful, and will probably be done sooner.

First Day

Wow, well lets see what happens. The next test will be to see if I can actualy do this, get back into it :) and keep it up. Then, of course, there is the rest of the setting up of all my info.