Happpy New Year!

Thought this was a hoot....it was from the Lion Brand website newsletter..see the skein of yarn on the left of the sofa....I have used yarn for so many things!

Fifty Eight Years Ago.....

Today is my birthday...I am on the downhill slide to being a fabulous 60 year old....and guess what I am GREAT! LOL Body needs some work, but the sharp whited mind is all there! Who said getting older is awful....I am one great cougar (did I say that!) ......LOL

Oh my goodness ...it's almost time for Santa!

Well....I let time slip by again. So much has happened in the last few months....subtle things and decision time for me. Because of my procrastination, I had to reapply for college because I had been out 3 semesters. I did go for my last science class at the community college but that doesn't count for missing the 3 semesters at UMW....so I had to reapply, go into a new catalog and take two more classes! Yuck! So next semester I will be signed up for 3 online classes and probably be going crazy, but done! Graduation time in May!

I also have opted to have my knee surgery...knee replacement. I am tired of hurting and my quality of life going downhill each day. So I have pulled up my big girl britches and I am going to make myself better! Yes I am still knitting some but spinning my wheels on finishing projects. Once again this will one of my New Years resolutions...maybe one year I will accomplish it! Uh huh....sure....dream on ....hehehehe....what can I say I am a true optimist.

We had 20 inches of snow last Friday and Sat. For some of you....that's not much but for us who have very little or none most winters, this paralyzed the area. My wonderful neighbors dug my driveway out....I couldn't and was stuck in the house for 3 days! Not bad though....never dressed, no makeup and coffee all day was good to the last drop. Did I accomplish much...NO....but I did a great imitation of a slug! LOL

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas... or to be politically correct Happy Holidays...but for me I wish to all a Very Merry and warmest Christmas with of lots of love, good cheer and happiness. May our new year be filled with lots of accomplishment, lots of yarn and fabric and most of all peace on earth!

Words for thought!

I came across a great saying today.....

"Our dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the same time; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better." -- Sydney J. Harris

Isn't this pretty much how we all feel. I know I do. I hate things to change...I always get pulled in kicking and screaming but then I accept it. I do fall prey to nostaligia though. I am so sentimental...and at times I wonder why things have changed.

How about everyone.....any thoughts?

I am back....

I guess those who happen upon my blog from time to time have wondered about what has happened.....it could be laziness, busy or just tired of blogging. It has been all three. I was busy with work, then changed departments which was a blessing and then in September when I was away, someone broke into my house. I now live with an alarm (ugh!) and the tedious tasked of trying to remember what all they took. So many of my drawers I couldn't remember what I had in them. Chalk it up to the seamier side of life....criminals touch us one time or another. I am just grateful they didn't destroy my home.

I wish I had some things to show but once again I can't find my camera cord...I hope they didn't take that! I have my camera, but I need to find the cord. I did find this cute picture on LOL cats and I thought I would share!

I hope within the next few weeks I will have some pictures of some shawls I am working on. Until later....but not as long as before!

Awwwww

My son in laws brother was married this past weekend. On facebook my daughter posted pictures and this one just melted my heart. In the center of the picture is my 11 year old grandson dancing with his mom, my daughter.....she is so beautiful and he is such a grown up little man...

Memorial Day

I hate to say this but I am so looking forward to have a long weekend. I am just beat from work and school and trying to get my well water problems solved. I finally have water after a weekend without and after paying the plumbers....well....no new yarn and fabric for me for a while. Okay I will just cut back!

The weather is so beautiful that I just want to sit outside and soak up the sun. Imight just do that. I have no plans for the weekend....wasn't invited to any bar-b-ques which is just fine with me. I did go to the grocery yesterday and I am set for my stay-at-home weekend. I am so in the mood to sew.

To all those who are planning family or friend get-to-gethers, have a wonderful and safe time! Enjoy.....it will soon be so hot we will not be able to stand it!

We are getting out of work early....so happy holidays and be safe!

I passed!!!!!

I passed my Historical Geology class! Thank Goodness! I only have one more class to either CLEP or take and I will have my Bachelor's Degree. Don't know whether I will walk next year (I missed it this May) but I am going to throw myself one heck of a party! I feel so relieved about this class, no one has any idea! Yippeeee!

And the world keeps going!

Well, last night I took my final exam for my class in Historical Geology....and let me tell you I was so exhausted but relieved. Now I just hope I have passed this class so I can complete my final one and I will have my degree! Yeah!
I had such a struggle with this class and looking today on line I found the most perfect cartoon for how I have felt over the last semester. Procrastination was my middle name...not because I am one...(okay a little bit of one) but because it seemed no matter how I tried to plan things I had to change them and then I procrastinated on other issues.....I guess you would say I am in the great 'burn out phase" of my college days....my advise to anyone....get a degree no matter what age...but do it as young as you can.....some days my brain feels like it will explode if I have to memorize just one more thing or read just one more textbook! Anyway.....here is the cartoon! Enjoy!

Is it Spring or did I miss it?

We went from 50 degree weather right into the 90 degree stuff! Of course this is a typical Virginia weather pattern if you life within a 50 mile radius of Washington DC. I think I have complained about this along with everyone else for years.....what can I do about it .....absolutely nothing! LOL The really bad part about this weekend is that I found out that my brand new air conditioning system failed. So I have to get the repair man out to see what is the matter with it...I was miserable yesterday. I can take the cold but I can not take the heat.

I was in FL last week visiting High School friends. We had such a good time and I hated to come back....I love the slower pace there and of course the gorgeous weather..... oh well ....I have a number of years before I can even entertain retirement....so until then I will just visit!

I wanted to knit yesterday but I was so sweaty that I couldn't hold the needles very long.....yes it did cross my mind to go to an air conditioned place....but guess what....I stayed in my jammies all day and didn't want to get out of them....sad....huh? I think I needed it though!

This week at work is going to be hectic and I am finishing up my class....which I have done horribly in.....and then I am going to relax for the summer.....or at least do some things I want to do. Being a responsible adult just isn't what I thought it would be when I was younger.....LOLOLOLOL...

Happy Belated Easter to Everyone!

This weekend was a blur. I seemed to get things done and yet not all that I needed to. I am leaving on Thursday to meet friends in Florida for a much needed vacation. I am so tired of this cold weather and my allergies have acted up....I feel awful and my knee is really getting worse. But on the positive side I have lost 7 lbs. and still trying. I am back on my healthier eating plan. I joined an at work Weight Watcher program and I feel very good about things. I am watching more what I eat and making those healthier choices. Harder this weekend, but I managed to be pretty good. The good thing about being around my friends this weekend is that they are trying to stick with the program too...so we will shop for goodies instead of eat! We do plan to go to our favorite restaurant and have this wonderful salad we always get when we are there.....so I will tell everyone about it once I get back. Happy Belated Easter and I hope everyone had a glorious time.....

FOR ME IT IS FRIDAY!

I think I am wishing my life away. This week has been rather draining and since it is my short week and a three day weekend for me I am relishing in the fact that in 5 hours I will be headed out the door of work! I think having school two nights a week for me is so mentally and physically draining. I have to drive so far once I get back to the train station. But the end is soon in sight. I feel like my journey has been well worth it and I feel a great accomplishment within my heart. One more accomplishment checked! Yeah!

I want so desperately to knit and sew all of the time! It will come soon one day. I have packages that I promised my swap partners would be out last week and alas...I have been neglectful...or rather just beat. The weather here in VA has flip-flopped so much that I ache from my head down to my toes. "Arthur" settled in and "Sore" came to keep him company....LOL

I am looking forward to my "productive" weekend and hopefully I will be productive...LOL....any encouraging words out there for me? I see pictures being posted in my future! =o)

Well once again I have signed up for WW!

Well....I did it again. I have signed up for Weight Watchers at work. I think this time it will work. I feel this fighting urge inside now. I am heavier now that I have ever been in my life and I hate myself for what I have done to "ME"....but I got myself into this mess and I will get myself out. I think being at work I will feel more in control of the whole situation and not be tempted to cheat! Please ...everyone keep good thoughts for me and keep those encouraging thought waves heading to me...I can be weak and bad at times.....but this has got to stop and my whole life needs to change. I just plain feel bad and with all my health issues in the last few years....I am old enough to know better than to some of the crazy eating frenzies I have been on......
To healthier eating and that is that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think this is a first!

I don't think I have ever posted twice in one day. I have gone from being "Happy Mom" to unproductive worker. It has been so unbearably hot in our office today....not from lack of heat but from no air circulating. I work in Washington DC in a building that was built in 1932 as a warehouse for tanks parts during WWII.....we have no windows except if you are lucky enough to work in the perimeter of the building which is reserved for upper management and I do not even come close to the privilege. Out of curiosity I looked up the building. I wish it looked like this but alas this is what they project the building will look like someday with renovations. I had to laugh because we still have pink and green bathrooms from the 50's and some of the sinks and toilets I think date from them also....The outside is vaguely similar. It looks like there are more windows than we actually have. I work in the center where there are none! I enter on the right side of the building. It has a slight slope to the back. Directly across the street is the train station and this is where they use to load tank parts to the freight cars .....now they just load people! LOL Oh well.....just a little trivia.

But to the reason for this little fit..... every thing I tired to do I found....it's broken, won't connect to the network, or I can't find it....that's our government ....what can I say...but our great Congress can vote themselves a terrific bonus....okay....I promise I will not journey on that bumpy road! So I am ending this day with "I can't wait to get home after class and put on my jammies and knit before I fall asleep"! I am wishing my life away because I need a vacation....Sad isn't it...Okay I am laughing in all my misery.....=o)

Plus, I found out I studied for only part of my quiz tonight...he added pages from a chapter we are working on.....argh.....I think I am going to look into the extra credit paper he suggested at the beginning of the semester....I need all the help I can get....I have senior -itis just like a kid!!!!

I am a Happy Mom!

Today I am going to accept the fact that I am a good mom! LOL Seriously, in the last few years I have been able to accomplish so much and share my joy with others. From my previous post you know that I bought a Kindle II. I can't even begin to tell anyone just how much I enjoy it. It has cut down the heavy load I carry to work each day with a book to read on the train. Well....my daughter is an avid reader...I mean she reads all of the time. She admitted she was so envious of my purchase but held out the hope that all of the family could pitch in and buy her one for her Birthday. Well....I couldn't stand it....I knew she even more than me would use and appreciate the technical tool and really get good use out of it. I bought her one last week and it was delivered to her last night. She was almost speechless. I had kept it a secret for a week and kept tracking it to see when it was delivered. She has already charged it and downloaded her first book. She is traveling this weekend and it came just in time for her to enjoy it even more on the plane. I am a good mom (I hope and Steph tells me so) in many other ways, but now in my older age and better times I can financially afford to treat and it makes me so happy....so does this qualify me as a good mom? I hope so.

I Just Have To Rant!

I know, I know...I need to post pictures but they will have to wait later in the week. Right now I just have to rant about this. I was so furious on Sat. I could have just spit!

Well...my Saturday started out with me being a little late for my hair appointment and I just hate that because my hair dresser is the sweetest young lady and cute as she can be. She really performs miracles on my head and I just am so greatful to have found her. She is also the one who led me to my massage person who lead me to the nail lady and so on....Okay....I came out of the salon feeling so beautiful, headed for my care to meet a very good friend for breakfast when I hear someone calling...."lady" ...."lady"...so I turn and this little Asian lady was waving me to come to her in her dri-cleaners store....okay..the whole time I am checking to see if I have something stuck to me or my pants are dragging toliet paper or something. When I get in she explains she owns the store and she tried to catch me when I was going into the salon. I am thinking she dragged me into her store for some sales promotion when I was in a hurry. Oh NO.....she asked me did I know about a weight loss product that she was hocking and she would like me to try it.....I was flabber gasted!!!!!!!!!! She pointed at my full figure and said I could use it....by now I ready to deck the little busy body and I looked at her and said no thank you I am on another program....and that I took medicine which I could not just take any quackery type items....she then tells me it is "all natural"...I was so pissed I just turned and left! Can you believe this!!!??????? How dare anyone even think they can begin to do this. In her broken English she kept talking to me about this stupid product....I couldn't believe it. The words I wanted to fling back and they were not pretty....but I didn't. AND THEY CALL AMERICANS RUDE. I grant you I need to loose a significant amount of weight but I am 5'9" tall and carry my weight well. I do work on it but when and how is my business alone!!!!! I would no more turn to anyone and say something about their hight or any type of noticable thing I would perceive as a flaw. This women had no idea who I was or my circumstances. I could be dying and have taken medicine that created this. RUDE! RUDE! RUDE! I plan to talk to the owners of the Salon and make sure they understand that this RUDE women is accosting their customers...I am not the only fluffy lady who frequents that salon. BTW...my wonder hair dresser is fluffy like me and is more beautiful than this horrid little women ever could even imagine being. Oh....I am still boiling.

I Received My New TOY!!!!

On Friday I retrieved my packages from the post office and it was like Christmas. I received a wonderful package from my Coffee and Yarn swap partner, my knitting book I ordered and my Kindle II!!! I will have to post pictures of the wonderful package my swap partner sent. She so read me! I wanted to dive into the butter cookies but I am being good to photograph all first. I have already downloaded two books on my Kindle and well....I am so happy right now....LOL

I had my girly day also on Friday. I went to the post office, then headed to my massage lady...oh Heaven. I then went to have my nails done and finally my facial. I am getting so pampered and I am loving it. I have to admit that my facial is more of a corrective procedure and my lines around my eyes are diminishing along with that horrid menopause acne I was getting.

I am not vain at all, but I believe in trying to keep myself the best looking I can...after all I am on the market! (LOL)

Okay.....pictures will follow if I am not completely exhausted tonight.

My New Toy!

Guess what I bought myself? I couldn't resist and my reasoning behind the purchase....think how much junk food this will keep me from buying!

I bought a Kindle 2 from Amazon! I have been eyeing them ever since Kindle One arrived. I waited until they worked out the bugs and then I pounced!

I travel each day by train to my job and the trip is about 1 hour 20 minutes one way. So I spend almost 3 hours commuting. I have carried my knitting and other small sewing projects but when I want to read it has been a hassle to carry books sometimes because they can be heavy. As I grow older I try to lighten my load as much as possible. When you work so far from home you have to carry certain things to survive...okay we women carry so much, but who do you think the men turn to when they need something!

With the Kindle I can carry several books on the Kindle and when I am finished with one I can move to another or read 2 at a time. This will be great to carry when I am waiting at the doctors office and other appointments. I am just so excited. It is so thin and light weight. I am becoming such a Techie nerd!

My Kindle is suppose to arrive tomorrow and I am so excited. I am already scoping out books on Amazon to purchase. At $9.99 or less....you could go crazy! You can also subscribe to papers and magazines. Wow....no more clutter in my house. Well less clutter....there will be times I will have to go out and purchase the real thing probably, but until then.....Kindle all the way! I am starting to feel like the organization bug is biting! Mmmmmmm......

My Mom and her Great Grandson

I was on facebook looking at my niece's pictures and saw this picture of my mom and my great nephew. I just loved it. My mom just loves children and can get them to laugh and smile so easily. I just love this picture. I came to visit mom when they were up and this was taken just before I got there.....I believe it was in November....to me it shows just how loving my mom is. She is terrific. She is 83 and full of life.

My family has been blessed to have her in our lives. She has been able to enjoy two great grandchildren....my grandson and now my great nephew. (BTW...he is my first great nephew!)

Happy Valentines Day!

I hope all of you have someone special in your life, whether it be a significant other or a husband truely enjoy the holiday! I am still looking for that person but alas....none yet. I still have hope. LOL

Well...I am sticking with my plan for this year so far. No new projects. Finish the ones I have started. I will have to post a picture on the project I am working on now. It is a shrug that can also be a scarf or wrap. It has buttons to make it into a shrug. The pattern was free from Knitty and it has been so much fun to knit. I have used a little heavier yarn and it is still turning out beautiful. The only problem I have had is forgetting the buttonholes. I have had to frog a few times when I realized I put a buttonhole on one side and not the other. Oh well...frogging builds character....or so I keep telling myself. I have forgotten the name of the yarn, but when I post the picture I will fill in the details.

Better start working or I won't have a yarn income! LOL

Knitting and Coffee Swap IV

Here are my answers to the posted questions for Knitting and Coffee Swap Four!

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Whole bean or ground? Whole

2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Fully loaded

3. Regular or flavored? Regular

4. How do you drink your coffee? Cream and sugar. I use raw sugar when I have it.

5. Favorite coffee ever? Seattles Best. But I am open to new types of coffee. I love a medium robust blend.

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? I like a good robust flavorful coffee. I do like Folgers so I am not really picky.

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee?8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? I love butter cookies or any type of cruchy treat that is great with coffee. Anything chocolate is also my downfall!

9. Yarn/fiber you love? I love all fibers. I prefer natural fibers.....I hate the acrylics.

10. Yarn/fiber you hate? Acrylics

11. What's on your needles? What isn't. I have several shawls and many socks. I am on a quest to finish things before I start something new.

12. Favorite colors? I love just about any color. I tend to lean towards blues, purples, pinks and greens. Brown being my least favorite. Even though lately I have started liking mocca colors.

13. Allergies? None really, but I can't be around things that smell like smoke.

14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? I really love many things and I am not hard to please. I love post-it notes, stationary, pens and mechanical pencils. I love bags and any little thing that is interesting to make knitting more fun. I am a quilter so I love fat quarters, pins, needle cases and anything that has to do with knitting and sewing.

Inauguration Is Here!

Well...January 20th is just 4 days away.....and we will have a new President. For those of you who have not kept up with my blog, I work in Washington DC about 2 blocks from the Mall (where the re brick Smithsonian is - the original one). For weeks we have been alerted to all the closures of streets and from the press release we received yesterday, I am not sure how the President elect will be able to navigate the streets....just kidding....we know that is all taken care of. So many of my co-workers and others are planning on coming to this history making day....they plan to brave the cold and stand with the tremendous crowds. But I have to agree with what Whoopie Goldberg said last night on TV when she was asked was she going to the Inauguration....and I quote "Nooooo....! That's what they made TVs for baby!" I applaud those who have parked their common sense and brains, but they would see more on TV than they will in town....and be a heck of a lot warmer. I lived in the DC area all of my life and have never and I repeat never come downtown for an Inauguration....just watched on TV.
So for most of you I am sure you will, like me, have your knitting and/or sewing in your lap with the warmness of your home and family and/or friends surrounding the glorious invention that keeps us informed and will see more than the brave souls that will fight the crowds, endure the weather and continuously whipe the snot from their noses as they try and get a glimps of the Presidential car and the new first family.

But I will be relaxed in my recliner and drinking my hot coffee in the comfort of my home and witness this Ignauguration like all the others in front of my own TV and I might record it at that. Hey what can I say...some of us have more common sense than others, but who am I to say they are not wise....but just cold...and worn out...LOL

To another new year and more change than I think some of us want.....but we are Americans and we should be very proud of our freedom of choice and be proud of the great nation we live in.....not just now but for evermore.

Whew...it is only Wed.

I just read my post for a happy new year and boy did I sound gloomy! I didn't mean to. I guess like everyone of us who try and be super human and do all "fun" things and extra special treats....we just burn out and even though we try to put on the happy face, our gloomy extremely tired side comes out. But another year is done and now we face a new year, a new president and new changes.

BTW....working in DC, I am more than grateful that I have off the day before and the day of Inauguration.....it is going to be a mad house. They are closing all streets and some metro stops and blocking so much! I have lived in the area all of my life and believe me when I say....I have never and I never intend to come downtown to see the parade! Whew....you would have to be nuts. The TV will have a better view than you can get being in the thick of things. My mom tells the story when she and my dad came into DC for Truman's Inauguration and they got only a little down the street and were so in the crush of people that my mom said they agreed never again......She said all you could see was tops of peoples heads. Remember that was in the 40's and the only mode of transportation was car, bus, or trolley. And you were lucky to get on and into the city. But the way mom talks about it ....you got around better than we do on the Metro...I guess not as many people as today....and guess what....homeless on the street corners ...sleeping on the grates....just like now....not much has changed.

Okay...not going down the sad road again......so far, I have completed some of my swap items and they are in the mail. My contest winner prizes are going out this weekend...and my post cards that I so owe people for are going out this weekend too. I am accomplishing things. I also am working on projects started and not new ones.....let 's see how long I can keep that up....but my plan is to keep it up! Keep your fingers crossed for me....
Almost time to leave work and I am headed to the grocery store and then home to knit on a past project....lace shawl that is driving me nuts, but it's because I didn't write down where I stopped so I am trying to figure it out...I will....I know I will! Tootles.!

Happy New Year!

Okay I am a bit late, but I spent this weekend trying to catch up on things. I am just about caught up on swap items I owe people. I am going to lay low with swapping this year. I need to accomplish things for me.

I hope everyone had a great holiday and as usual I am glad the frenzy is over. Though I have to say I didn't do a great deal ...I cut way back....it is still exhausting when you hurt. The old knees have given me trouble for the last two weeks....but I am determined to make it better this year.

I am back at work...not wanting to be here....but what can you do...you know the food and shelter thing....LOL. My desk is such a mess, that it will take me all day to clean and organize. I will have to really buckle down and get things done.

I am trying my very best to be more organized and I am slowly getting there. I am trying to finish projects instead of starting new ones. I hope I can keep this momentum up. Time will tell...LOL...but that is my full intention this year.

Well....Happy New Year again to everyone and I hope this is the year we all knit, sew and be merry all year long with an abundance of finished projects!