Ten On Tuesday

This weeks assignment:    Ten Things I am Looking Forward to Right Now.

1.    Breakfast.    Yes, I eat breakfast every day, usually oatmeal or a egg sandwich, but today I
       will have something different because I have a day off.

2.   Shoveling snow.   Yep, that would be the cause of why I have a day off.    Not only is my office
       closed, but the Fed. Gov. is closed.    That would mean that everyone will be heading for the
       mall later.  Silly people

3.  Sun.   Because when it shines on the sparkling snow it is extra pretty.

4.  Visit with my mom this weekend.

5.  Spring.   Yep, a long way off, but already I am thinking about what to do in the yard, how
     soon I should get started, and the all important question . . . will I actually DO anything?

6.   A little housework.   Because I slacked off this weekend having fun with family - much
      more important that housework, the bathrooms and kitchen are clean so it isn't horrible.

7.   Church rummage sale.    Next month.    I like working in the baby room, sorting clothes and toys
      and getting them ready for the sale.    I also like gathering stuff out of my house to donate.

8.  A quiet day knitting (after shoveling snow)

9.   Girl Scout Cookies - Arrival anticipated any day now!

10.   Getting those taxes finished.

Ten on Tuesday

This week's challenge:   10 things I love:

1.      Of course my family.

2.      Knitting.    Most of the time.  Sometimes I find myself putting it in time out or throwing it on the floor and stomping on it.  But I still love it.

3.      The early morning quiet of my house and a hot cup of coffee.    Except when Jack is hungry, that cat can make more noise than a screaming toddler.

4.      Being outside.    Yeah, a little vague, but the fresh air, sun, clouds, SNOW.

5.      Reading.    Need to do more of it, and working toward that goal.

6.      Finishing something.    I have so many projects going on and “things to do.”  That feeling of I am done is a good one.

7.      Health Insurance.   Very controversial subject, but when we need it, I’m glad I can afford it.

8.      Exercise.   Sure, I grumble when I remind myself to get started, but it feels good when I am done, and especially when the waist band of my pants is a little loose.   Not that it is these days, but I’m working on it.

9.      My warm fuzzy sweats on a cold evening, with a hot cut of tea.

10.   2014.    It was a year of trials, tribulations and chaos.   But I could honestly say a few weeks ago that as bad as last year was, the one good thing I learned was to bite my tongue.   For me that is a BIG DEAL.   My mouth often separates itself from my brain and any common sense that I may or may not have goes away and my mouth just runs with it.    I learned in 2014 to step back from the problem/turmoil/whatever, take a deep breath, maybe wait a day to respond, and then be thoughtful in my answer/response.    WOW.

 

okay, I have 11.    I Love that I totally just realized today is Wednesday but I'm posting my Ten on Tuesday anyway!

Ten on Tuesday

Intentions.    A much better word than “resolution.”   Since I’ve never successfully set a list of New Year’s Resolutions and then stuck with them past mid-January (or even the 5th).    So this is my list of ten intentions for this year, in no particular order.

1   Start your day by expressing gratitude for what you have.  When I think about it, even with all the every-day life issues, I have it pretty good.    I have a home, a job and healthy family.

2   Read a book a month.    I use to read.   all. the. time.   Then I allowed life and other things get in the way.   Mostly sleep got in the way because I would get into bed and open a book then be asleep before I turned the first page.   Since I have readjusted my sleep pattern in the past year I think I can do this!

3   Learn something new.  It doesn’t have to be life changing.   Even if it is just a new exercise routine or a crafty skill - or speed reading.

4   Figure out the areas of your life you want to improve and, ask for help.   There are plenty of benefits to having a mentor.   This is a big one and will take many months to organize, but I’m not getting any younger and really, what am I waiting for.

5   Be positive not reactive.   This will be a HUGE challenge for me.  Mostly when it comes to email correspondence because as soon as I see something that pisses me off, my inclination is to fire something right back.    I have spent the past 6 months working on stopping and taking a breath before answering ANY email.    The ones that fire me up, I take longer and tend to send to someone else first for editing.     Now I am going to work on being my own editor because I am a grown up and can do this.

6    I am going to continue working on being less judgmental.    A huge fault of mine.    I have gotten better and am proud of me for finally getting that.    Of course, the way I got better about it was to just step back and shut my mouth.   That has backfired just a tad because in some cases the other person thought I didn’t care or was ignoring them (in their time of need).    Not true, and I would address the issue later, but I felt it better to say nothing until I could be kind.     This has morphed into the damned if I do and damned if I don’t syndrome so this year will be learning to guard my tongue instead of just saying nothing.

7    Find a new job.    It isn’t that I haven’t been looking, but I haven’t been looking outside my current employer (which is pretty big).    I will widen my circle and plan to have something new by fall.

8    Re do my bathrooms.    We’ve been saying for years that the bathrooms are a disaster and need refinishing.    Well now they all are looking like the 50 year olds that they are so I am going to get serious about finding the tile and appliances that I like and just suck it up and get it done.

9    STICK to the new exercise/eating routine I started.    Since I just spent almost $70 on a new program I am going to remind myself every day how much money I wasted by not doing what I’ve paid for.  That should be motivation enough, don’t you think?

10    Start my Christmas knitting by February and be done with Christmas shopping by November 30th.    Every year I want to be done early and every year I get better (i.e., I am not shopping on Christmas Eve) but this year I want to not have to go to the store for anything except milk and bread by December 1st.

 I can do this!

Don't Neglect Yourself

Resolution:  Don’t neglect yourself:   You are the one person you can neither leave, nor escape, so invest in your relationship with yourself.  Take yourself out for coffee, get to know yourself.

Well, I am actually sitting at my desk with coffee, and I’m getting to know myself in ways I’d prefer to ignore.   I am committed to getting in shape.    Haven’t been in good physical shape for close to 30 years.    Oh, not horrible, but not good either.   I thought “when I turn 50” I’ll make sure I am in the best physical shape of my life.   I did actually GET a physical when I turned 50 and nothing horribly wrong with me showed up.   Oh, I could reduce my cholesterol a tad, but all in all, you’re good to go was the diagnosis.    

Then of course life and outside stressors got in the way.   

With sweet pea’s arrival I declared that I would get in good shape so that I could chase him around, get down on the floor and play with him and be the fun grandma.    Well, after a day with him my back aches and I need a long nap.

So again, starting last month, I re-declared I was going to get this done and change my lifestyle to suit me.   I re-connected my bodybuddy so that I can track my activity.    I have successfully logged in my food for the past three days (yay me!).    I ordered yet another exercise program and this morning sat down with the on-line part – because the CD's haven't arrived yet – and filled out the stats.    I have to take a before picture.   Yipee.   Think I’ll leave my face off of it.   The measurements were demoralizing enough.   Although in my defense, for the past year I decided to control my weight with eating alone and not focus on the exercise so much.    How’d that work for me?    Well, I only gained 5 pounds, so I know that my eating won’t have to change drastically along with my workout program….which has been non-existent to date.   One change at a time.   Right?

January 1, 2015

I am not one for New Year’s resolutions, although here I go again anyway.    I spent the last week working on re-evaluating 2014.   There were lots of things I didn’t like, but lots of things that I did like.  I have my list of goals and dreams and whatnots that I am going to work on this year.   

First I am going to let go of 2014.  

Work was one big year of sucking the happiness out of the job and the life out of me and by default family.  It took me almost six months to wrap my head around the “new normal” at work and make peace with things in the office.   Once I did though, I became instantly calmer and the satisfaction in life started to come back.   Not completely, and going to work still doesn’t give me the joy it did in 2013, but at least when I walk in the office I don’t want to cry and run sit in a corner chewing on my hair anymore.

Let’s just say that the bullies in the office were allowed to run amok.    One has since left when it was finally proven that he really was a worthless piece of flesh pretending to be an employee.   The other is still there.   But as I became more focused on what I could control, and others in the office started changing their attitude as well, a new kind of calm took over.    It became apparent to the one remaining bully that she had burned too many bridges and people.    All of a sudden she realized she had no allies remaining in the office and almost overnight became a smiling and sickly sweet woman.   Well every now and again her true personality comes out, but her “happy” self is really scary.   She is now in the uncomfortable position of realizing that the team has re-grouped and recommitted to doing our best and she is left on the outside.    Her efforts to make nice have been met with polite professionalism but no warmth or inclusion.   So,  at some point in time a new division leader - yet to be found will start (and the 10 months of no leadership is a story for another day) and take the office in a new direction.   

There was drama in the first six months of our family life, but fortunately it was met head on.   Swift decisions (and a smart judge) made the process as painless as possible for us and now we are moving on.   Both my brothers-in-law suffered medical crisis and are now doing better.  

My determination to have “happy thoughts” and continue re-routing the negative into some kind of positive will remain the main focus.  Self improvement is next on the list. 

Saturday's PSA

That would be public service announcement.

Last Monday when day care was closed, SweetPea spent the day with us.    Nothing unusual about that, he is at our house a lot.    Makes himself right at home.   He knows where Granddaddy keeps the "good" crackers.  

Stanley decided to bring a friend inside.    Stanley, in case you have forgotten, because it HAS been 9 months since I sat down to entertain everyone with life in the TinkerPro house, is a cat.    His friend was a chipmunk.    I think the same one that Jack was playing with out back a few days earlier.    Poor little thing was scared and making noise hiding behind a box in the dining room.    Stanley, to his credit, was just sitting there staring at it.  He is not a hunter.     So, I put SweetPea in his highchair with a banana, grabbed a broom, opened the back door (which was less than 2 feet from said visitor) and moved the box.   Chipmunk ran toward the door, and I put the broom between him and the rest of the house.  He ran up the broom and into the living room.    Of course he did.

I lost him behind the desk.    So, being a normal, not enthusiastic about rodents in my house kinda girl, I went to get Granddaddy.   We opened the front door and started moving furniture.  I even remembered to close all doors to rooms but then noticed the gaping space between the bottom of the door and the floor so figured it wouldn't make much difference.    Finally we saw him coming out from behind the clock and headed toward the dining room.    I chased and he ran.   Not as fast as I would have expected.   And then he paused by the door.  The open door.   The door to freedom.   Where he could not see a cat sitting in wait.   Mostly because by then, both cats were sitting on the sofa watching.   

Tell me again why I keep them?

All this leads up to my topic.    While we were moving things, I realized that my housekeeping skills have not been challenged in quite some time.   I am the first to admit, I'm not fond of cleaning, and have a high tolerance before I will dust.   However.   Even I was not pleased with what was behind the furniture.    So, first thing this morning, I pulled all the curtains down and started washing.   I washed windows, floors, walls, baseboards.    I did not look at any cleaning instructions however.
Hung the sheers up still damp because, well, they will dry.    Hung the drapes back up.   The full length ones.    They are now 6 inches shorter.    Oh, the tag says dry clean only.   Well.  

I was going to replace them when we got new furniture anyway, so will just live with them until that time.    Then I was thinking, not all is lost, I might be able to use them in the bedroom since I wanted to re-do that room too.   

Fitness

I've started two new programs this month.   One is my birthday gift to myself awhile ago, of the body media system.    We are not getting along, mostly because my skills when it comes to technology are less than stellar.  I am almost afraid to contact customer service again, but will Tuesday if I can't figure this latest "blip" out.  

The second is a LifeWorks exercise my sister is doing.   She suggested I join her and maybe one or two other people.    I'm not all the big on figuring my life out, mostly because I'm too busy doing things, but maybe this will be a good year to sit down and really think about what it is I am doing and where I expect to me in the next decade (or even month).  

I started the workbook, which begins by closing out 2013.   I'll really have to think hard about the good and bad of 2013.   Of course one definite good thing was SweetPea's arrival in June.  

Ten on Tuesday - A Day Late But Not A Dollar Short

Ah, the Oscars.    No, I don't watch them either.  So I can't write 10 Reasons Why I Watch the Oscars, so my assignment is to write:

10 Reasons Why I Don't Watch The Oscars:


1.    They go on way too long.    I get up early and thus am usually in bed by 9:30

2.   I object to the price at the movie theatre.    Maybe that doesn't coincide with the Oscars, but the Producers say it costs money to make a movie, the actors say I may only make one movie this year, so I need a boatload.   The crew says I don't make enough and am exploded.

3.   I would like to see all the dresses and whacky clothing, but can usually catch it later.   This year I have not bothered yet, so by the time I have time, they will probably be gone.

4.   Hmmm, I may not have 10 things.

5.   During the show, when there is something going on stage, like each song up for nomination, the cameras pan everywhere but not long enough on the actual performer.  I don't need to see the audience.   Unless she is necked.

6.    Sometimes, a winner will use their time on stage as a personal podium for whatever cause they feel for at the time.    Don't foist your ideas on me please.   This is suppose to be entertainment.

7.   At least 1 presenter will make a stupid mistake that could have been prevented by actually practicing what they are suppose to say.    Especially someone's name - how hard is that? 


Okay, that's all I got, but if I come up with anything else, I'll add it.
  

Random Friday

Because it is Friday, right?    Pretty just posted about jeans that don't fit.   And finding pants that do.   She is right, they are near impossible to find.    And what is really baffling to me is that for years - or at least the last 10-15 that I have been paying attention, women have been complaining to designers and stores that they are not making or selling pants that fit and flatter.   Yet nothing changes.   Dudes!   Our bodies aren't changing to fit your clothing, when are you going to make clothing that fits?    And stop with the granny pants.   Yes I know, some women need them.    My mom for one.  But then she is 94 years old and when I'm 94 I too will gradually wear pants with elastic waists but I won't be happy about the baggy part.

Stop using teenage girls as your models.   Honestly.   They have no shape.   Sure, they are cute, and I'm sure they help with the sales, but let's be practical please.   

Don't get me started on shoes.

Ten On Tuesday

Today's challenge, begin ten sentences with I feel:

1.   I feel happy and not a big guilty that I love the snow and was happy to see it today.  And I know I'll be glad to see it tomorrow too.

2.  I feel annoyed that I'm going to have to do something about this blog not being compatible with my browser apparently.   Tech savvy I'm not and just grrrrr.

3.  I feel happy that I got a spot in the mini knitting retreat next month and annoyed with myself that I waited to sign up so missed the sign up closing date.  By one stinkin day.  

4.  I feel grateful that my BIL seems to be doing better despite the severe health challenges he is currently facing.

5.  I feel really grateful that my sister made sure they had good health insurance so the care of my BIL won't bankrupt her.

6.  I feel like stirring the pot at work just a little bit, and today did so.  Not in a mean way, but in a way that lets someone else who is being petty know that if you throw crap at me and mine, I will toss it right back at you and throw you under the bus with no remorse.

7.  I feel less tired today because I napped on the couch right after dinner last night so when I was up in the middle of the night, it wasn't so horrible (and I actually fell back asleep for a few hours).

8.   I feel blessed that I have a grandson who is always happy to see me.

9.   I feel like kicking some lazy ass in my life, including my own so that I can get back on track with exercise and eating better and fit back in my pants.

10.  I feel like buying new shoes.

Ten on Tuesday

So this week's ten is on the Olympics.    Like last week's favorite red things, I don't think I have ten things about the Olympics because I don't watch them.   But we shall see.

1.  I don't watch them. 

2.  Not because I'm protesting Russia because that seems like a stupid reason, I more protest
      them because they let professional athletes play the games. 
 
3.   I don't have cable TV so can a only see what  the station chooses to show on "free" TV
      which is fine, but I would like to see more than skiing and ice skating.

4.    Yes, I know I could stream them on my computer.   That would require me sitting down to
       figure out how to do that since I haven't yet.   Sure, everyone says it is simple, but they
       haven't met me.

5.  The Olympic committee rather pissed me off when they slapped back Ravelry for daring
     to use the word Olympic in our games.  

6.   Here is the sweater I planned to finish while I wasn't watching the Olympics but would work
      on during the game weeks.

It is the back and done.    I'm about 3/4 done with the front.    Then I have to put the shoulders together, pick up the stitches for the neckband, then pick up stitches for each sleeve and knit them then seam the sides up.

I actually had both front and back done and the neck band on 3 weeks ago.   I decided to try it on.   Too tight.   I thought about "oh it will block out just fine".   But the more I thought about it, the more I knew if it didn't I would never wear it and be pissed.    So riiiiiiip it out.  Of course, I was then cocky because I've done this pattern once, so the second time will be a snap.   That was my first mistake.    Because of course, when you change sizes, the pattern changes.   Duh.   I was done with the front, spread it out to admire before putting shoulder seams together and hmm, something wrong, but what.

Oh yeah, that cable going up each side?   Skipped it on one side about half way up.   Riiiiip

As of today, I have the second half of the front split for the neckline half done.  So about 13 more rows.   I have double and triple checked after every 3 rows and even resorted to putting life lines in when I'm sure I'm good so far.  So this one won't be ready before winter is over.   I know that because even though February is only half over, it is 100 wool, and a chunky wool at that.   But that's okay, I'll have a "new" sweater for next winter.

Day Off

Today we woke up to the snow so hoped for.   I know, a lot of people don't like the snow, and it is a lot of hard work.   But I live in an area where we are teased about snow every winter.    The weather guy says it is coming, everyone gets excited, then poof.   Either it stays just south, goes north and west or is just plain rain.    I get that our weather guys cover a LARGE area, and we have mountains an hour away, and I get that we are in a weird spot on the equator that makes the line such a hard thing to pin point.   And people laugh when they hear about the weather rock in my yard.   But then after a second they agree, it is probably most accurate way to tell what it is doing outside.

The weather rock has been a family joke for years.   The kids get up and want to know what it is like outside before going to school.   check the rock.  Is it wet?   Then it is probably raining.   Is it hot to touch?   Then it is probably hot outside.   You get the picture. 

I also did today what I promised myself I wouldn't do.  Shoveled too much.    I tried to remember to be careful and only shovel in layers - since we have about a foot of snow, and I let the guys with the snow blower do most of the work.   Just not near my truck.   and the front steps are rather a shovel area, not snow blower area.    And we always go up and shovel the elderly couple out just in case, so again, steps and around the car.   I only do one of their cars, the other they wait for melting.    And now I ache.    Sure hope we don't work tomorrow either.   Although if we're closed, I'll probably go in for a little while just to get caught up on stuff.   But then I don't know why.   No one else will.....

And knitting.   I've been working on a sweater.    I should have been done by now and I was ready to start on the sleeves, but after I put the shoulders together and the collar on, I tried it on.    Unblocked it was too tight and I was afraid I wouldn't get it stretched out enough.    So riiiiiiiip it out.    And start again,   There is 3" of ribbing on the bottom.   about 16" of plain knitting, and then the pattern across the top.   I got the back done and everything matches.   I have now done the front pattern part three, count them THREE times.    I'm a little discouraged.   On the other hand, I know the pattern pretty well now, and have though about reducing some of it to make a special little boy a sweater for Christmas (because I probably won't get around to it until next fall).    So The pattern repeat is 2 times of 17 rows and then when you split for the collar in front, you've got to get funky with the pattern to make it match (where I seem to be challenged).    Lifelines this time.    ugggg

Ten on Tuesday

Carole's choice this week?    My favorite things that are red.  Hmmm, could be a problem here, I’m not much of a red person but here goes:

 

1.       My first bought by myself car – a red firebird

2.       A sweater I made.  I like the body, but hate the sleeves so it is being “amended” then I may love it.

3.       My second bought by myself car – another red firebird.   To be fair, in the middle I had a station wagon I loved because I had little kids and it wasn’t a minivan.

4.       Red high heel pumps.   I rocked in those shoes

5.       Red Wine.

6.       Raspberries grown in my side yard, I got the roots from my uncle about 25 years ago, he had a boat load in his back yard

7.       Red tulips.  I love the simplicity of tulips.  And daisies but they are white with a yellow center.  Not red.

8.       Sparkly nail polish.   I only wear colored polish on my toes, my fingers are always French.    Too often I rub the color off the ends and then I’m a week or two before I see my nail lady again.   It drives me nuts.  

9.       Lipstick.   Not orange, not pink, but red.

10.   Henry’s cheeks.   Who can resist the rosy red/pink of a baby’s cheeks?

 

Well, maybe I am a red person after all

February

The month that FlyLady says to de-clutter.   A wise choice of things to do in this cold and dreary month.    I like winter.   I like snow.  Unfortunately, we get the cold and the dreary, but usually the snow is just a teaser.    Oh, we see snow flakes now and again, but usually we get sleet and ice.    Which is nice for delayed school openings, or being closed altogether.  I'd rather have the snow.  But at least in winter I can wear the sweaters I love to knit.

As for the de-cluttering, I'm all about that.   This month marks the first time in close to 30 years that there are no offspring living under my roof.    The last child has flown the coop so to speak.    Of course, they are all close by and they still come over often - usually when they are out of money and need to eat, but nonetheless, they do come over.    The kids still have a few things here that need to go.   And honestly I was so tempted to load my truck up yesterday with some of their stuff and deposit it in their respective abode when I knew no one was home.    But I did not.

I am using this prompt to start the purge and replace phase of my life.  To be fair I am starting with my knitting/craft room.   It needs help just as much as every other room in the house.   I have tossed a ton of stuff I know I will never reference or use.   Even as I was going through it all I asked, why did I keep this again?    Of course no fiber is being hurt in this process.  I would never dispose of that.

So woman cave now, then I'll move to the next room, decisions decisions.   I've even thought of moving it to another room, but think I'll stay where I am.  Starting with the one room has allowed me to roam from room to room at random times, pick something up and decide, keep or go?    I've got a box started for the rummage sale at church next month.   The youth hold a huge event every spring, and raise a lot of money that helps support their trips and other programs.   Every year I find one or two things to donate, I think this year there will be a LOT more.

It is nice to be able to finally stop keeping stuff for "someday" and "because so-n-so gave it to me".    Stuff finally no longer holds me hostage.  I have my memories and I can either free a tangible item  from my home to bless someone else, or send to the dump because it isn't worth passing along.  

I am working slowly, so may not get it all done in February, but bet I'll have a good start.

Ten On Tuesday

Carole's challenge this week is 10 things that start with I am:

1.  I am glad Henry is here tonight while his mom is in class.  I'm sorry his dad is sick and can't take "baby duty" but secretly not that sorry.

2.  I am going to start blogging this year again.  Yeah, you've heard that before right.

3.  I am going to exercise more this year too.   Researching computer aided tracking devices now.

4.  I am learning to bite my tongue and not fire off emails immediately.

5.  I am not sick of winter yet, and hope for more snow.

6.  I am one of those people who don't really care another actor died this week.   And that probably makes me sound callous.   I am always sorry to hear that someone died, especially when they have young children they have left behind.   But I don't need to hear about it all the time.

7.  I am glad I got to spend a few days this weekend with my mom.   I don't see her often enough anymore and need to make more of an effort.

8.  I am glad I have a good job that I still enjoy going to.

9.  I am glad I didn't read everyone else's "I am" blogs before I started mine because while it is really hard to come up with 10 things, I'm almost done.

10.   I am glad that my children are secure, self sufficient children who have figured out how to support themselves and are now all officially out of my house and in their own homes!

They Don't Make Them Like They Use To

Oh, guess that can be said about just about anything anymore, can't it?

Five or Six Years ago, we bought this:





It was great for about 6 months.   Super quiet after the 20 year old machine we had been using, which worked great, only needed to be repaired once.  But finally it was time to allow it to go to that big washing machine place in the sky.     But I digress.  

First the quietness of the new machine got a little louder, until it sounded like I don't know what, but it was loud.    Mr. TinkerPro did some research and found out that there were many complaints about the noise, something about the rollers the tub spun on wearing out.   Okay, I can live with that, I just don't start the washer before bed since it is right below my room.  Two weeks ago it started a new noise, and decided that instead of spinning the last cycle,it should just show error code.  And once it got started again, it usually started half way through the cycle so another 30 minutes of filling up with water, etc.    At least I was sure there was no soap left in the clothes, but more often than not I had to let them drip for a day before I could put them in the dryer.  NOT a fun way to do laundry.

Research and shopping brought us to this:



Not exactly in love with it, although I've only used it 4 times since it was installed (yesterday), but at lest it does the job.  For now.    For the first time ever we bought extra insurance for an appliance.   Typically I think that is a waste of money, but since research had proven that big ticket items are not made to last anymore than 6 years,  and we had problems with the last washer in less than 1 year, we decided that it was worth it.     I can guarantee that every little problem this machine has will result in a call to the repairman.   

Clumsy

Apparently walking is an art that I haven't quite mastered yet.   I fell Monday walking in a hallway.   No water, in fact the floors have a tile on them that is slip resistant.   Well, I can say that is probably true because my feet didn't slip out from under me, I just went down.   I got myself home, propped and iced my foot and felt sorry for myself.    Tuesday, because every male I ran into said "go to the doctor" I did.    Just in case and so they would stop.

I called the orthopedist we used for TInkerSon2 when he played sports.  He was there at least once a season, and whenever anyone else had a bone problem, we went there.     Apparently it has been so long since we have been to see this doctor, they deleted us from the system.   Which I guess is a good sign.   Right? 

Nothing broken, but you did sprain the top of your foot.   Super.   A broken bone means a cast of some sort, which means no pain for a few weeks, then you're better.   A sprain?   Yep.   Here's a boot to help with compression and immobilization,   Of course it fits inside your shoe.   No.   It doesn't unless said shoe is a flip flop.   Which was the shoe of choice anyway because my foot was so swollen none of my shoes fit anyway.   And it will feel better in 3-4 weeks.   Try not to move your toes.     When you tell your toes not to move, that is all they want to do.    They have minds of their own apparently.  

My bandage from drugstore makes it feel better than that expensive-ass boot, and my shoes fit again - yay

The worst part about this fall was that I was carrying my favorite mug.    It is a simple mug (I should name it Glen).    It keeps my hot beverages hot for over an hour if I remember to put the lid on it.    Just sitting around knitting or reading, it keeps my coffee hot until I'm ready for a refill.

I ordered a new one before I went to bed Monday night.    You'd think that if I love it so, I would have more than one.   I have lots of mugs, and I like them, this one wasn't cheap and I am.   But it came on Thursday, and is sitting in front of me right now with hot coffee.


Here is the best thing about this week.    The little boy is doing well.

Life and Death

We welcomed a new baby into our family on Saturday.   Sweetest little boy who has a "real" name but needs a handle for this blog.   Maybe I should have a contest?   hahahaha!   TinkerBabyBoy?   Dunno, I'll think on it some more.

And Tuesday we said good bye to a friend of TinkerSon2.  Tommy had a motorcycle accident on fathers day, and after being in a coma for almost 3 weeks  passed away.

Tommy and TS2 were great friends in high school.   Of course, after graduation, they went their separate ways and lost touch.    When TinkerDaughter moved back home three years ago, she made new friends, and one night went to a party so took her brother.    She called me later and said do you remember Tommy?   Sure, he was a sweet, big kid, always had a smile, always willing to help out and the nicest guy.    Apparently he was also dating TinkerDaughter's friend.   She said that the two of them walked in the door, TinkerSon2 and Tommy took one look at each other, shouted each other's  name and then hugged for 5 minutes.    They apparently were inseparable the rest of the night and it was rather sickening.   Silly boys.   

Last year Tommy got married, it was not a good experience, and I won't sully this post with the story, that is for another day.  In a year or two.  Maybe.  Lets just say that he and the bride lost all their friends over the event.  And less than 3 months later, they separated.   

He never reconnected with his friends.    Various guys would periodically try over the next few months to reconnect, but by the first of this year, they just stopped.   Thought they would try again this summer when maybe he wasn't so raw.   They made plans to just gang up on him and force the issue.  

Because Tommy was in the same hospital TinkerDaughter had her baby, TinkerSon2 even got to get a 2-for-1 parking pass last Sunday.   He went to visit his sister and new hunting buddy, and then went and spent almost 2 hours with Tommy's parents.   Said it was a good visit and they seemed very up beat.   He told me, I should have forced Tommy to see me last winter.   I told him he couldn't force Tommy to do anything Tommy didn't want to do, and  the only thing he could do was keep in touch with Tommy's parents, visit at the hospital, and when Tommy got better, he would be a captive audience so they could reconnect then. 

I am watching my grown son walk around with a hollow look in his eyes and no emotion in his voice.    I can feel the guilt eating away at him.   Now we will never know why Tommy cut everyone out and wouldn't let anyone reconnect.   I hope he knows how much he was loved and admired and how much he will be missed.

 But we do know that he was a wonderful friend, brother and son.  

Happy July!

New month.   New ‘tude.   New member of our family.   After a mere 12 hours, TinkerDaughter gave birth to TinkerGrandSon.   GOTTA come up with a better name for him than that.    It isn’t as if we haven’t known he was a boy for the past several months.   Tempted to offer a contest, but that seems a little crass, doesn’t it? 

Textbook pregnancy.  Textbook  delivery.   So of course, TinkerDaughter had to pay during recovery.    But by all accounts all is well, and they will probably go home this afternoon.  

Let the fun times begin!

 

April

How is that for stating the obvious?   Well, I let March get away from me about as much as I did April.    However, I had my weekend retreat in March and that was fun.   And I took a class on duct tape dress forms.    That was fun and let me tell you nothing will make you say I'm losing weight NOW than having your body wrapped in duct tape and then cut of and stuffed so you see every stinkin bump and lump.    My goal now that Easter is over is to lose for good those last 15 pounds and get into fighting shape.   Unfortunately, I'm not exactly interested in exercise.   But I walk with TinkerDaughter and I'm starting to spend more time in the yard since I want to grow some of my own veggies this year. 

I tried small container gardens last summer and they worked very well, so again this year, we will have home-grown lettuces, bell peppers and I'm going to try spinach and beans and tomatoes.    I need a few more containers but will get those taken care of this week. 

I decided silver duct tape wasn't flattering, so I decopoged it with left over fabric from another project.   I'm going to put a boa around the neck.    And I declare, that I will make another one in August, with a more plain fabric and it will have shape.