Their Heads Are Made Out Of Rubber, Their Bottoms Are Made Out Of Springs

Having three dogs in the house that bear a striking resemblance to each other is a bit unnerving at times - I was petting Pearl and she was leaning, then I realized it was Gypsy and Pearl was downstairs. They play hard - since they're all the same breed it's a very equal playing field but it's fun to watch as they play and run at top speed at all times. All of the guests, canine and human left this morning - after Tommy got the truck packed and the two dogs in their crates Pearl The Traitor jumped in the cab of the truck and wouldn't come out. She was going home I think - or at least trying. They didn't do too well hunting but I think the next time Tommy comes if he arrives early in the season he should do well. But we all had a good time and I know David enjoyed seeing him and getting to hang out with a real friend. Someone said to me today that you can have acquaintances and people you know, but a real friend is hard to come by. She was right - if I think of who I consider a real friend they're all the people I've known for ever. When you graduate school it becomes very hard to find someone you can have that same level of trust and comfort with. Maybe as you become an adult and you become busier you just don't have the time to cultivate that type of friend. When I met Kim, Liz and Richard I remember spending hours and days in their company - if we weren't in each other's sight we were on the phone. We walked to town together, the beach, parties, slept over each other's houses in rotation, we were constantly in the company of each other in various and all configurations. If you really think about it our friendship has a massive base that you cannot duplicate - it's what gives us that comfortable feeling with each other, defenses down, no holds barred. Because I know even if they say something I don't like - the intent is not to hurt me or get me back for some real or imagined insult. Sometimes they've said things simply because they thought I needed to hear it - and I did. It makes me sad as an adult that I've been unable to find that kind of friend here - but maybe that's the way it is in real life. And maybe I don't need to - they are all still just a phone call or car ride away - can't ask for more than that.

The Beat Goes On

Christmas was quiet - I didn't mind though. I actually enjoyed the quiet and the ability to just sit and relax. We have so much coming up! Tommy arrived from West Virginia, his two dogs Gypsy and Sage along for the ride to visit with David and Pearl. Pearl was not sure of her guests at first - dog guests are a little ruder than people guests. They take your toys and eat your food, sometimes they even sit on your blanket - Pearl was a bit overwhelmed but is enjoying having them to horse around with. In the morning she dithers by the stairs to see if they're up. They went hunting yesterday despite the high winds and low temps and got one pheasant. Today promises to be a little less windy and a little warmer so hopefully Tommy will get a couple shots in too. We went out to dinner last night and it's great seeing Tom and catching up on all the news. The  weather has taken a winter turn of course - we didn't get the snow everyone else got but the wind was howling all day yesterday and the temp never got above 20. I had to drive to one of my clients that is over 50 miles - it was slow going due to the nervous nellies that seem to have to go out and then proceed to drive about 13 miles an hour. The road were fairly clear but that didn't stop them from being jerks. On the way back I stopped at the Gentle Arts in Honesdale and finally bought that Jordana Paige knitting bag - it was expensive but it's most likely the last bag I will buy and I did have Christmas money. I called David from the road to let them know I'd be home soon. Of course a snow plow appeared and we crawled our way towards home. He pulled over after about 5 miles to let us by and it was smooth sailing until the Nervous Nelly appeared. She drove 27 miles an hour except for curves, bends, downhills, uphills and anything else we considered a danger. She rode her brakes for 30 miles and straddled the center line so I couldn't get by. When we got close to home she made a right at the stop sign and I was tempted to follow her home and scream at her in her yard. But then I remembered I'm not from that side of the family and let it go. I just wish those people would stay home when it snows.  Tommy is leaving on Wednesday then Friday Jackson will be here - I have to call him today as he turns 21 today! Can you believe it? I cant! Adam will follow along on Tuesday and then off we go again. Who would have thought January would be this busy?

Stuckeys

I was sitting on the couch last night eating my pecan log I got at Stuckeys - we stopped there on the way back from Norfolk. I would say Stuckey's is overrated, but it's sort self-overrated. They invest a lot in big billboards announcing that you will soon be at Stuckeys! The first one told me I was exactly 48 miles from Stuckeys, Home Of The Pecan Log and Other Pecan Delights. The next sign let me know I could have my pick of over 100 Kountry Gifts for under a dollar. Next - only 20 miles!  Every sign extolled the virtues, pecans and bargains of Stuckey's - by the time we got there I could barely contain myself. David managed to contain himself quite well as Stuckey's was actually located in an overrated gas station and he was more interested in getting something to drink and use the bathroom than to scamper amongst the Kountry Klutter. And they did have Klutter Galore - plastic dogs and kittens, wind up Harley Davidson alarm clocks, Kute Kountry Wooden Signs and plenty of pecans. I bought a couple pecan logs, I wanted to buy enough to last me a nuclear winter but I knew that was not a good idea. I do not have enough self control to not eat them or to even save one in the event of a nuclear holocaust - I know I'll hog them down as fast as I can. I also bought a can of honey roasted peanuts which David ate, no Kounty Klutter as we have enough of the garden variety Klutter of our own. I have half a day of work today and David is working the swing shift so we finally put up the tree and got that decorated. Since the boys will be home after Christmas and David is working we're not really celebrating quite yet - for us Christmas is a day - and it will be the day we can be together. I can't wait! Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

What A Good Trip!

 We got up early yesterday to see Adam - he stayed over his friend Brit's house as apparently if you're stuck on a ship for 6 months you tend to avoid it like the plague when you hit land. So I picked him up around 8:30 - he smelled a bit like a brewery but   since his Aunts were responsible for supplying the beer what could ya do? He took his shower at our hotel room  and by that time the Aunts were up. They had been up late drinking with the captain, but we were on a Navy base so that is acceptable behavior. We went over to the Nex for breakfast, Adam was enjoying it as it's been overhauled since he left port. We had a great breakfast together and then set out to explore the NEX. I bought a few things and so did everyone else, I got some nice local wine to bring home. We stopped at John and Carleen's to hang out and say goodbye, then down to the ship for one final picture (Adam is ok as long as he doesn't have to board it) and after that it was getting late in the afternoon so we took Adam back to his friend's house and said goodbye. He returns to work today so we decided to head back to PA and that way we could get some stuff done around here. It  looked good on paper. Keep in mind we had gone to a big party, gotten up and driven almost 450 miles the next morning, then a full day, then another day, then back in the car for the 450 mile drive back. We were a little churlish to say the least. The pot blew the lid when David was mucking around with the radio and I yelled at him  - I was the one driving and I was tired with a headache. Then David gave me a lecture on how he had driven ALL the way down without complaining. I snapped back with a witty comment which David returned my volley and spiked the ball. My favorite part was when David claimed I had ruined the ENTIRE trip by yelling at him for touching the radio - I have no idea what we were thinking when we made this grand plan. We made it home late (we timed it beautifully so we could hit rush hour outside of Philly). I had debated not taking off today but I'm glad I did - we had a ton of stuff to do and I am tired. Pearl made out well in prison, the people that run the kennel show Vizla so that gives her a little bit of an "in" - the cats were OK of course but Vincent of course is stilled freaked out a bit. He is currently parked on my lap while I try to type over his little round head, he's purring like an engine, such a baby!

Still A Busy Bee

 On Saturday we had the Carnation Division Bayada party - it was at a casino, it was very fancy and the food was great. I didn't take as many pictures as I should have - I was a little preoccupied because we all know what I was doing the next day. Plus my foot is not holding up well, but enough of that. I'm sick of hearing about it too. Am too. Yes. Shut up. It was fun seeing all of my coworkers dressed up and we had a great time. The next day we didn't leave until 8 or so since there was no hurry. It took us about 9 hours, but we kind of meandered down, we stopped in Milford Delaware as that is on our list, it was pretty but not what we expected so it's now moved down the list. I think if we go back I would like to stay at Bethany beach but only if Pearl can come too. We arrived at Norfolk around 5 and met up with Janet and Diane at John and Carleen's house - it was fun for us to all be together as that rarely happens these days. Carleen is recovering from major surgery so John is in charge and doing a great job. We had pizza and then went to the Navy Inn which is conveniently located across the road. The next morning we were on the pier at 8:30 - it was freezing!! You could tell the new navy wives because they were in short skirts and spiked heels - the rest of us were bundled up. It took hours to dock and then the sailors came off in droves - no Adam. Still no Adam. Then I checked my phone and there was a voicemail from Adam letting us know he would be one of the last off the ship and would meet us around 11:30. They have large tents set up to wait in  and there tons of free coffee and food so it wasn't a hard wait. Adam showed up in civilian clothes as he has had enough of wearing a uniform - he looked wonderful and was so happy to be home.  He'd had a good tour - Bahrain, Greece, France, but was glad to be back. John had a welcome home lunch for him - he even made a cake which was very impressive and Adam was very touched that he went to so much trouble for him. We had a great day - David pooped out on us so he stayed at the hotel. We took Adam to have his phone reactivated and then to a Mexican restaurant where his friend Brit works. Then back to the hotel to pick up all the beer we had accumulated (don't ask!) and then dropped him off at his friend's house for the night as Adam is trying to squeeze 6 months in 9 hours. Adam will be at our house for almost 2 weeks in January - I can't wait!

Busy Bee

We had our quarterly audit - I was a little nervous because the first one I had just started in the office so it was sort of a freebie. The charts I had weren't really "mine" yet and the one that was, my mentor had been with me for the entire admission and open, plus the paperwork so it would have been super bad if it had not looked good. The audits for Bayada are more of a learning experience, they continuously audit so when the state comes in you're up to speed and not scrambling.  There were a few tiny things, but overall we did pretty well -  a few little fixable things, but that was it. So now it's back to real life - and with the holidays and vacations looming every day is a scramble and a rearrangement. . The client I've been waiting for auth for ever - we suddenly get authorized for, the visit I was doing next week is now this week due to unforeseen complications. I need tires, David wants to drop his baby at the body shop (that would be the car - not me!) (although I could use a new body!), we're both working tomorrow, there's the party, a trip coming up, Christmas, boys coming home, gifts going out, some  need to be bought, eek eek eek! Our office is moving along, it's a fun crew and even with the holiday stress everyone is still laughing. After work I'm busy on all my projects, all of which need finish. I have half a sock, the next 2/3 of the Shipwreck Shawl and I started a baby sweater for Emma so Maia can wear her dresses and not be cold. I'm making a wrap sweater so it will fit her for awhile with a lace and cable pattern on the bottom. I'll post when I get enough to do so.

Another Unsuccessful Run At The Dentist

The dentist I have started off well - he's still good, when you can get ahold of him and if you can steer clear of his rag tag staff.  I canceled two appointments, one because I didn't have 3 hours to sit and vegetate, the next because I had to be somewhere again and didn't want to have to reschedule. Today I was in half an hour after I arrived - not bad. Don't get hopeful, it went downhill from there. The assistant - and that is a VERY loose term came in and cheerfully asked why I was in - I told her for the cavity. That was on the X-ray.  She looked perplexed and then brightened up and asked what tooth was bothering me. I told her none of my teeth were bothering me but  the dentist had told me I had a cavity. That was on the X-rays. That had been taken at this very office. She looked perplexed again, then a little less chirpy but soldiered on. She announced we were going to take an X-ray and wanted to know what side the cavity I thought I had was on. I asked why we were taking another x-ray and she valiantly attempted to make up some story about how we needed to take another X-ray to see what the cavity was doing (??).  Since I had only had the X-rays taken about 6 weeks ago I didn't think it had been up to anything new but if she wished to take an X-ray we might as well. As she put the lead apron on she once again asked which tooth was bothering me that I had called the office about.  Now I was getting mad as not only was time being wasted but her new game plan was to repeatedly return to her original tack until we both believed her. I told her firmly that I had NOT called the office, my tooth was NOT bothering me and an X-ray was a waste of time since we already knew I had a cavity that the dentist had told me I had after he read the ORIGINAL X-rays. She darted out of the room and was hysterically chirping at the real hygienist about that lady that thought she had a cavity. Apparently I was being unreasonable.  It turned out the crackerjack team upfront had actually booked me incorrectly for an exam (which sugar pants would have figured out had she asked) and then dentist came in, put up my X-rays that sugarpants hadn't even looked for and then told me I should actually have a crown not a filling as that was way too big and he didn't know who told me it was just a cavity (that would be his partner but we'll leave that out). The other cavity was also missed on the previous exam so I did have repeat X-rays -by the real hygienist not sugarpants who was staying out of the line of fire - and when we get the authorization I will have two new crowns. After that I'm looking for a new dentist - this guy is great, but having to get past the Island Of Misfit Toys is getting  rather tiresome.

It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Christmas......

......but we are still lagging a bit behind. The decorations are still packed away downstairs, the ghosts are still Halloween ghosts. Part of it is with the kids gone, there's really no one to decorate for, no one to help with the tree or look for the Santa we put up every year. I know it would make me feel a bit more seasonal, I'll get there. We also have tons of plans - the Bayada Division party is this weekend so I've been trying to find a dress in between this and that - the dresses this year stink. I was trying so hard NOT to buy a black dress but anything with a bit of color to it is quite frankly weird this year. I tried on a bright red number -  the ruffle around the collar hit right below my ears - back on the rack it went. There was a black dress and I know what I said, but it had tons of taffeta and looked great on the hanger. I looked like a fine horse showing off my blanket. AND the skirt rustled loudly with every move I made - if you were going to commit a murder it would not be the outfit of choice.  There  was one that made me look like I had an exotic skin disease, a dress that was composed entirely of a space blanket, back back back. I did end up with a black sleeveless dress and will just have to wear some very snappy shoes. David was going to head out to LI but the truck he bought started doing something off so back to the shop - not a major repair, but a needed one. Since he has to work and by the time he got moving today he just ended up canceling it for now, he can go in the middle of January after all the excitement is over. The boys are hopefully both going to be here after the holidays, I need tires, etc. etc. And there is work - but it remains a great job so no complaints on my end. I'm doing Christmas cards tonight, Glee is on so I 'll be watching that while I write them all out

Is It Thursday Already?

I haven't taken any pictures lately so you'll have to revisit some old stuff. Not much is going on - a lot is going to go on, but it hasn't happened yet. And anyone that knows me for more than half an hour will tell you I'm extremely superstitious - I will not say Boo before things happen because if I do, then terrible things will happen and my life will be in shambles. So I guess this is sort of a Non-blog, skirting the subject but not really touching it. We're planning a few trips here and there and as they occur, I will  write. In other news, the Shipwreck Shawl is coming along well, I'm on the 3rd pattern already and it vaguely resembles the pictures, so I'm happy. Once I get past that part I'm taking a break and doing a baby sweater for a co-worker, then back to the shawl.  I have 4 more sessions of PT for my foot, jury is out again. I was doing really well and for the past two days it's been hurting again. I'm not sure if it's because I'm starting to slack off or I've done something, but I know I am tired of this stupid painful foot. I'm still exercising and stuff but it's just constantly annoying. I was hoping it would be all better by now, I have the division party coming up and the first trip, it would be nice not to have to worry about it or wear something other than clumpy shoes with my big green inserts in them.  Work's going well, we're getting super busy and I wrote a piece for the company newsletter that was accepted - but you know at some point the pins will be knocked out from under me so that keeps my ego in check.  I have no Christmas shopping done and it will be mainly gift certificates, I only have so much time and so much to do!

Blah Blah Blah

That kind of sets the tone for today. Not that today was blah - but I'm just going to blather. I don't know about your neck of the woods but the temperatures have dropped drastically. Vincent the cat however neglected to watch the weather channel and went out anyhow. When I came out for the second cup of coffee he was rather hilariously standing on his back legs with his little paws stretched up as high as they could go against the glass doors - I guess he was afraid I wouldn't see him.  He shot in like his butt was on fire, slammed down his breakfast and headed on in for his blanket on the settee in the bedroom - right over the heat register, life good again. David and I went out to Bethlehem today, I needed to make a trip to the Asian market, I'm completely out of tofu and  boy choy. I bought a big bag of Korean rice too, I usually don't buy rice in small markets because in the past, well, after a few days the rice has a tendency to, ahem, well - come alive. I had a Traumatic Event once involving this and challenging my vegetarian status - no details but it took a long time for me to eat rice again.  After that we went to Barnes and Nobles where I had to repeatedly remind myself it is not Christmas yet, then off to Borders where I bought the 3rd twilight movie Eclipse and books for Jackson that he already read so I will give them to Adam since they read the same things. We did Wegmans and stocked up on stuff then we haunted the car lots. David sold his truck, because we're tired of selling and buying our guns I suppose - apparently we're not happy unless we're getting a truck or gun or both on occasion.  He bought an older truck in good condition and now will buy a small gas efficient car to drive back and forth to work. That's the plan but we're actually just having fun looking and talking to a variety of People We Don't Know.  I was forced to ride shotgun - I HATE buying cars, it's one of my least favorite things to do. Transferring funds, DMV, inspections, all of that makes me crazy, mad and complaining  - when we bought my car I wasn't even allowed to see it before I got it unless I wanted to do it myself. I've heard from both the boys, Adam is close enough in to get on Facebook again so I see he's been on, making friends and comments. He's picked up a few "friends" I wish he hadn't but he's old enough to make his own bad decisions - as long as they stay off my page I suppose it has nothing to do with me.  I'm sitting with my foot up, I did go for a walk as I had planned, then I walked all day so it might have been a wee bit too much. But the idea of physical therapy is for me to get back to hiking so I guess if I want to make an omelet, I'll have to break a few eggs.

¡Todavía amo telenovelas españolas!

Years ago I somehow got hooked on Spanish soap operas - I have no idea how that happened but it did. I ended up taking a Spanish class at the local library just so I could figure out who stole Esperanza and Phillip's baby and better yet, why she was hiding in a cave. A couple of months ago I was in a DVD store and saw a pile of Spanish DVDs on clearance and on impulse, bought one. I have a portable player that I use while I'm on my elipse so I can watch while I worked out.  I just finished  En Nombre De Amore (In the name of love) - I thought I could brush up on my Spanish which I haven't used in years - but I gave in after the first 3 episodes and turned on the subtitles.  You're probably wondering what's so great about these as opposed to the ones we have in the US.  Spanish soaps do not run for years, they run for about 4 to 6 months, they tie up all the loose ends, and the bad guys get what they deserve. They run heavy on the religion, priests tend to be central characters that have some secret romantic past.  The lead character 99% of the time is a Chaste Young Woman that everyone picks on, her best friend will always plot to steal her One True Love, there will be at least one or two sleazy men to attempt to turn her head, and of course the Bad One will spend the entire course of the story pounding on our heroine. In this soap Aunt Charlota was bad, her niece Paloma was good.  Aunt Charlota: killed her dog, blamed her parent's death on her (they turned out not be her parents later on) she stole her inheritance, killed her real mother (that would be Aunt Charlota's sister Marcerna), killed her first fiance, plotted with Paloma's best friend to trick Paloma's boyfriend into thinking he had fathered the best friend's child,  drugged and took pictures of the priest in a compromising position (that was Paloma's real father), shot and tried to kill the local doctor, killed the dead fiance's father after he found out she had killed his son, killed Paloma's friend at her wedding, tried to shoot the priest, tried to kill Paloma by pushing her down the stairs AND killed the maid. My Spanish is no better but I have realized it's entirely possible to knock off half the town before anyone figures it was you.  Through out The Chaste Young Woman keeps her chin up, forgives as she goes along and gets rewarded in the end - the Bad One gets punished appropriately and that's the end - what's not to like? In other news, my foot continues to heal, I am going to attempt a walk tomorrow morning, I would do it this morning but we have errands and I need to replace the batteries in Pearl's electric collar. She's much better but still would like to eat a small dog at some point in her life. My luck she was eat a triple crown winner and I would have to sell my car to replace it. I've started a new project - twice - I'm attempting the Shipwreck Shawl from Knitty.com and it's pretty complicated. The only bad thing is I'm using actually mohair yarn lace weight so when you rip it back all those natural fibers clump and cling which meant repeated stopping, teasing it apart, rip, stop, pull, start, etc. It took almost as long to frog it as it did to knit it!

Plantar Faschitis And Me.

 I started physical therapy a couple of weeks ago, as I've been saying for the past couple of months my plantar faschitis continued to plague me, despite keeping off it, cortisone shots, a night brace, ice - it's very frustrating because you keep thinking it will just go away one day. And it doesn't. So my podiatrist signed me up for PT. I was a little skeptical I must say - what were they going to do that I wasn't doing? My first day was an evaluation, my therapist has a student with him so that meant I had to do things a few times until the student figured out what I was doing.  So I dutifully trotted up and down the therapy room while they  stared and whispered, it was like wearing high water pants to school and walking down the hall past the Popular Kids. SO they came up with a game plan and it involves me doing lots of stuff with my injured foot. The most surprising is that I'm to stress it all day with a specific exercise - instead of making it more painful by staying off it, exercising it in this manner actually builds it up. This is based on a model by an orthopedic surgeon who tore his Achilles tendon. They wouldn't operate unless it was  completely torn so he spent all day stressing it in an effort to blow it out and get the surgery. It had the opposite effect and he actually repaired it. In other words it was a case of a Doctor Actually Curing Himself.  Strange but true, so when Pearl is outside scoping out the squirrels I'm on the bottom step of the deck bouncing on one leg. Today my foot is taped to keep it from swinging in, a habit I've developed in an effort to make walking a little less painful.  I have to say my one foot is accumulating quite a few things - but I've reached the point I will do anything to make it feel better. I'm tired of being afraid of taking that first few steps in the morning because the pain will send me into the stratosphere, not being able to hike or even walk to the mailbox and back without paying for it later.  And the expense is a bit daunting, my insurance has a huge copay, at first it was $40 a session for the physical therapy - that's $120 a week in co-pays! Thank you Mr. Obama for your improvements in health care - but after threatening to cancel my therapy altogether the billing lady told me they would accept $20 a visit, not great, but do-able.  Of course that's also a sign of the times, they would rather negotiate the co-pay then lose the patient, I'm glad we're still in a position that we can afford to do that. But I'll be glad when I can go back to hiking, my faithful Chaser Of Chipmunks at my side, because being limited like this sucks.

Fun With Connie And Fred

 We've had a busy week, Janet and Diane for Thanksgiving, Mom and Fred for the weekend. They came up Friday but went to Mount Airy Lodge to try out the local casino. I was told it was so-so, but since I'm not taking up gambling it doesn't really affect my world one way or another. They got a bit turned around getting here - Mom was telling me she was on our street - I asked her if she'd seen a giant rubber chicken. Fred did so I knew they were on the wrong end of the road. The giant rubber chicken is in  a guy's yard and aside from being severely ugly it's kind of creepy as it's holding a plate of fried chicken. However it does have it's uses - like when guests end up on the wrong end of road. Saturday we headed out to Bethlehem for the Moravian Museum. The Moravians, as far as I can tell, had some sort of annoying religious beliefs so every time they settled somewhere they would annoy the locals and get asked to pack their toys and go. Eventually they saved up enough for a big place and stayed, but they died out or became less annoying over time- I don't remember which and here they stayed. Before we hit there however we saw a Christmas Festival which I should've known better given the huge amount of cars and tour buses. They charged to get it, it was super crowded and it was stalls and stalls of merchandise. But we had a nice German lunch and it was fun to look.  So after we got out of there we headed over to the museum which we already discussed and then headed home. Pearl was hostessing of course all weekend, sitting on top of each guest equally but as she gets older she gets less pesty. David was home yesterday, we didn't do too much. Bookstore, Chinese buffet and home to watch some football game. It's work for me today but we had a really fun weekend.

Happy Thanksgiving Of Course!

 One of the reasons I really love doing home health is I get the holidays off - no more 12 hour shifts on the floors while the rest of the world settles in for  sweet potato pie and dinner rolls. Last year David's brother and sister in law came for the holiday - 8 days after we moved in! But it was fun, we managed to cobble together a dinner and guest room and it was a nice way to celebrate our new home. This year my sister and sister in law came up - we all have to work tomorrow so it was just for the day but since we now live only 2 hours apart it's do-able. I bought a huge-o-la turkey - 20 pounds - but I'm expecting my mom and stepfather for the weekend and who doesn't love thanksgiving leftovers? For me I bought a Tofurkey, I've never bought one before because they are VERY expensive - $24 which is more than I paid for the real deal. But when David and I did our shopping they were on sale for $11 which was reasonable - I don't mind paying the money but I've never had one and didn't know if I would like it or not. I can see paying $11 to experiment, not $24. The day started off stinky grey and cold, David took Pearl happy pants hunting - it's been years since he's gone on Thanksgiving and after a little prodding off they went - they got two pheasant so it was a good hunt for them. While they were gone I cleaned and picked up, set the table and put the wine in the fridge. Around 10 I got the turkey started - since Janet and Diane would be driving back home I wanted to eat early afternoon. They got here around 11 - it had started to snow a bit, David started a roaring fire in our fireplace. Since it was their first visit to this house they got the Grand Tour, after we had coffee and caught up. Dinner came out great, I even made the green bean casserole which I think everyone remembers from 1970-something - it was standard fare at every holiday and potluck when I was growing up. Green beans, cream of mushroom soup with French's Fried Onions - who can't take a bite of that and not be instantly transported back to the land of Gaucho pants and Dorothy Hamil haircuts? They brought a bottle of white wine from Duck Walk and we all tried the Tofurkey - the verdict was.........it was pretty good. It didn't taste like turkey which I was grateful for because if it had I would have thrown it out - but it was really good. It looks weird when you take it out of the box - almost like a light brown football - but when you take it out of the oven it browns up and when you slice it, it's stuffed with stuffing! They got going around 4:30 or so, I'm on the couch with my foot propped up in a splint (I was on it too much today and it's aching!). Pearl is beside me in a turkey coma, dreaming no doubt of future hunts. The fire is burning down and I'm watching Beauty and The Beast - there is nothing like a good Disney movie after a big holiday.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone - I hope you all had a good one.

At Loose Ends

 Yes I finished it - I keep saying I finally finished it but really it didn't take that long, did it?  It was a fun shawl to knit, hard enough to be interesting but easy enough to watch TV. So now I am Project-Less. I am not Yarn-Less. Or Pattern-Less, just a bit Idea-Less. I still have to fix the socks I knit for traveling, they're taking too long. And of course I left off the second sock halfway (??) through the heel, maybe not - all I know is I ended up ripping it all out because I had a 1/3 less stitches than I should have. Not a biggie, but frogging a project is always a bit of a pain, ripping it back and then trying to pick up the live stitches without losing any. But while I finish the socks I'll think of what I want to do next - it might be another shawl but knitted in the round instead of back and forth. I have my DVD player going - finally! - I have been without since we got direct TV as it's not a simple procedure, it involves Secret Codes and a bit of Voodoo I think. I did what is easiest, begged and pleaded with David until he did it. He did it but was very churlish about the whole experience but he did it even though he does not care about the DVD.  I'm currently watching Coraline - I love Tim Burton, don't you? We're getting the house ready for guests, the cesspool is being pumped on Wednesday - that's a good hosting thing to do, isn't it? Actually the reason we're having it done is because we've lived here for a year now (actually a year and 5 days but who's counting?) but since there's no way for us to know when it was pumped last we figured we do it before the snow flies. And I think it will be flying soon - don't you?

In The Dark

Yesterday we woke up to a terrible storm - wind howling, rain pounding, trees whipping. I was lying there thinking I should get up and start the coffee, but then decided to wait - and the electric went out. Bastards. This house has a well, an electric stove so when the lights go off, we   are effectively screwed. David suggested we back to sleep which we did for awhile. Then I got  Bored. No coffee. No Facebook. No shower,oatmeal, TV, nothing.  It was like being dead. Stuck in limbo. I was again counseled to GO BACK TO SLEEP. I counseled David to go to the gas station and get coffee which he then wanted to know why HE had to do that and then I had to list a LOT of reasons why he should do it. Not to mention I was so Very Very Bored I was about to cease breathing which David might have been in favor of at that point.  Finally David broke and went to the gas station for a couple of gallons of water and coffee. The lights came back on quite naturally as soon as he brought the coffee and water in. This morning the coffee perk-u-lated in it's usually friendly manner and as we were having our first cup - lights out AGAIN. This time there was no reason for it to be out. When I called the electric company they were surprised too but the guy told me there seemed to be a lot more calls coming in - and he was right, our entire neighborhood was out. Despite sneaky questioning he still didn't know why or when it would come back on and took a report in order to distract me. David had taken his shower the night before and he had his coffee, I looked like a rag. Pearl and I went and hung out in the yard - BORING - but at least I had my coffee. I called again around 7:20 and the little message told me they would have the lights on by 9 which would have been ok if I hadn't needed to be at work at 8:30 and still looked like a rag.  So, using the 2 gallons of water I managed to wash my hair and myself really well. If pioneers had bottled water I would have done VERY well. yes I would have . Would too. Shut up. Anyhoo, about 30 seconds after I was done and was trying to figure out how to Pioneer Blow Dry my hair (plan A involved darting around the yard. A Lot) of course the lights came back on. Bastards. So I quickie  hopped in the shower since I actually hadn't done as a great a job as I said and got the rest of the soap out of my hair and was only 10 minutes late to work after I cleaned up my Pioneer Mess. I am leaving a couple buckets of water on the back porch just in case - but I will be a very Angry Pioneer if it happens again tomorrow.

REMIT

I got a work phone, for work quite naturally. After I activated it, I got about 4 phone calls in a row. Hmm.  Apparently the former owner, Britney, owes money. To more than one person. I've managed to get rid of most of them, but there is one company - TRC out of Bloomsburg that is VERY  persistant.  I've looked them up on the internet and from what I've read they're a very aggressive bill collection agency - there's even an ad on YouTube for a lawyer if they're after you! I've had this issue before with  an old number on a work phone and telemarketers but this is miserable.  I looked and in the past week and a half they've called about 10 times! After I set up my voice mail that seemed to cure a lot of it with the other telemarketers, I made sure I mentioned I was a clinical manager for Bayada. But TRC, on and on they call. I told them politely I was not Britney. Then I tried ignoring it. The other day I was getting mad so the gentleman on the other end carefully took my phone number and assured me I would be taken off the list. My phone rang again tonight - TRC again - yes I was mean and nasty. Because what I've found in the past is unless you really get nasty they just pretend to take your name off the calling list since it's obviously too much trouble  to actually do it and they continue to call. The woman calling refused to tell me why she was calling and told me rather rudely it was none of my business - I pointed out she had called ME. She asked me why I wanted to know if I wasn't Britney and I told her it was because despite repeatedly asking to be removed from the list they were still calling and Britney most likely owed them money too as that was the only reason anyone would call so much and I wanted to be taken off the list. She said well, you've politely asked to be taken off the list six times - I was like then take me off the list already!! ARRGH.  It's more upsetting that unless you get aggressive and nasty they do nothing - I know it's probably a time consuming activity to remove someone but it seems like unless you're screaming and threatening they just can't be bothered. How annoying is that.

My Foot

Well, back to the foot doctor I went - I have a splint to wear at night which keeps my foot straight up and the tendon stretched. I also have a prescription for physical therapy - a lot  of it mind you. The doctor is getting concerned because it should not still be this bad at times and if the PT doesn't work we will be back to the drawing board. I'm supposed to keep off it as much as possible so  I've been knitting  and watching movies in my spare time, I can still use my Elipse and my exercise bicycle which gets me moving. I'll look into the PT next week as I've been very busy lately. Work is picking up but as crazy as our office gets I still have the weekends to myself 99% of the time and rarely am out late - it's challenging and sometimes overwhelming but we work together well as a group. Working with kids is hilarious at all times, some of my clients notes include the Time Out Bench and detention, drama club and recess. I've started doing a bit of knitting for them when I have the time, their parents appreciate it more than they do (what kid wants a hat??) - but it's all good. Today David and I went to the Chinese Buffet before we went grocery shopping ,with David's new hours we are reduced to having one full day together a week so we try to do something fun since the other activity we do is grocery shopping on that day. I LOVE the Chinese buffet, I could live there forever and ever. I don't understand why Chinese buffets tend to include cheese & macaroni and creamed spinach but then again I've never been to China so maybe it is a local dish - who am I to say? We've been getting a little better at the grocery budget, it probably averages out to about $120 a week, I'd like to get it down further but the prices around here are not cheap. And we bring our lunches to work, both of us and we only eat out once a week so all things considered, I don't think it's that bad. The Yarn Budget is another story, I have slowed down due to Lack Of Space and I have to start knitting it up faster than I buy it I suppose. But they keep sending me stinkin emails that they have a sale!, clearance!, addi turbo bamboo needles! - it's like having a pipe sale at a crack house, how am I to resist??

Hunting, My foot and Other Sundry Items

Have you noticed there's a few more hunting pictures these days? David was lucky enough to find someone that hunts and they've been having a ball along with Pearl The Super Dog. I have to laugh because Pearl usually greets me full speed ahead - you open the door and she comes slinging through likes she hasn't seen another living soul for years. The past couple of weeks after a full day of hunting she comes pottering out to the kitchen, gives me A It's Just You look and heads back for the couch. They don't go every day so she gets a chance to recover before her next round of heading out.  But it's good for her and since I'm still dealing with this painful plantar facshitits I'm glad to know she's getting the exercise I can't do anymore. I'm back to the foot doctor tomorrow as my foot still continues to pain me - it's gone on way too long in my opinion. And pain after awhile is just frustrating. Hopefully it will be better soon. I've been doing a lot of knitting quite naturally - the shawl I started is almost half done. It's all scrunched up so it doesn't look like much so far but I think when I get it blocked it will be super neat. I've got other projects lined up and I've slowed down on buying books and stuff - since I pretty much have them all, don't I?

Home Again

It's good to be home - the ride back was horrible of course. The only issue I have with most conferences is they tend to be held near major cities and they ALWAYS let out at rush hour. And since Mount Laurel is right next to Philly you can imagine the mess. I tried to avoid the highway but that turned out to be a forced march - I knew it was getting dark, the traffic was heavy and the GPS wasn't exactly glitching but I think the roads are so close together it will tell you to turn on one road but it actually means one or two roads over. So after doing a brief tour of Sort Of Scary Neighborhoods I headed back to the highway and unfortunately hadn't wasted enough time to avoid rush hour. So I stopped and goed, mainly stopped. It was getting too dark to play with my hand held Scrabble game I keep for such emergencies and my new yarn and books were in the suitcase so I couldn't admire that and the sock I keep in the car is at the heel which takes stitch counting so all my usual traffic activities were halted. So I did what I do best which is sit and fume. David called a couple of times but then thought the better of it since he  was getting blamed for the traffic and there is so much ranting one can listen to. After doing a slow crawl it finally picked up - and then stopped. This was repeated at every exit, every town. Then it really picked up - and then I hit construction on 33 in which they have about 5 miles of it blocked off to one lane and when you come to the end there's a bunch of guys drinking coffee and standing around. That would be known as "night construction". They should all be slapped. Twice. I got home around 8:30 - it took me 4 hours to drive 130 miles which someone should be punished for. But after I got the suitcase emptied, threw a frozen pizza in, found pajamas and got situated on the couch with the World's Greatest Hunting Dog I felt better. Pearl is out this morning hunting again, the season ends around the last week in November so until then the cats and I have the house to ourselves. David has been having a great time with his friend Tom hunting the local areas.

Hotel Girl

Yes, that's a picture from yesterday but I didn't take any today. When you go to a conference there's not much to take a picture of . I have to say I wasn't impressed with my lodging in Delaware - they were OK, but not great. And it's probably the only hotel that DIDN'T have a complimentary continental breakfast - I know that now after  a $15 mistake. I was up early as usual and I knew they were having a breakfast at the conference so I went down for a little coffee and fruit. I had a little scrambled eggs too, I didn't finish them because they were luk-ie warm and a tiny bit rubbery. And while I was there some sneaky old lady asked me if I'd like more coffee and left a bill on the table  For FIFTEEN DOLLARS. Where on earth have you eaten lately that one breakfast could cost that much?? It's exactly what I said about eating in the hotel - 80% chance of being overpriced and 75% chance of being something you wouldn't eat on a bet. That aside the conference was great and I met some people to boot. I hate to eat alone as we discussed yesterday but I have no problem with pulling up a chair and plunking down - there was a table of us that had come alone and it was fun since we were from all over. I sat with a field nurse from Bayada, two NICU nurses from AI Dupont Hospital, an 80 year old retired nurse who had once done private duty for the Dupont family and was a red cross nurse - it was an interesting lunch. We got out around 3:45 and I immediately got stuck in traffic. Whoo. Hoo. It broke up after the bridge - don't you LOVE construction during rush hour?? - and I got off at the first truck stop I saw. I got gas and a veggie burger at Burger King, not my first choice of Things I Like To Eat but after yesterday's search and rescue for dinner I figured a burger in the hand is worth tofu in the wok. I try. Well, it was sort of funny. Was too. Shut up. I got here around 6 and had them use my Chase card just to see - I was telling the girls behind the check in counter what happened and they looked at each other and one said "It's a Chase card, isn't it?" - apparently I'm not the only one that's had that experience - it was still saying pending but since it's only to hold the room no one seemed to care much. My room is nice but smells slightly of smoke - but I don't care. Two full days of conferences in two different states is a bit much so I'll take what I can get.

My Trip So Far.

I took a vacation day -   since I 'm heading out this way, it's fun to just wander my way here instead of fighting traffic to arrive in the dark and scamper off to the conference at first light. I left around 9 am, took all back roads to Lancaster first, there was a yarn shop I wanted to hit on the way. I went to a total of 3 on the way here, two were great - one was in Tourist Land and was priced accordingly. As usual I went by about 4 billion places to eat, grocery stores, etc - later later. The last stop was a bit of a stretch - I went to Borders with a coupon of course figuring it had to be in a shopping complex. My figuring was incorrect unless I was planning on eating at Staples. As I got closer to the hotel it got more congested and not only would pulling off be difficult - I saw no where to get food.  I parked at a strip mall - there had to be something. I ended up in an Indian grocery desperately looking for something not stinking of curry (it's not an ethnic slur - I HATE curry) and walked out with some figs and some other cha cha that was curry free.  30 feet down the road was a Pita Pit (SCORE!) so I picked up something for dinner there. I hate to eat alone in a restaurant - I always feel self conscious waiting for my food - where am I supposed to look? - and if you eat in the hotel the food has an 80% chance of being horribly overpriced and a 75% chance of being something you wouldn't eat on a bet.  If I'm alone I prefer to eat in my room while gloating over my purchases of the day while pathetically trying to find any channel that doesn't feature a newscaster with a hairstyle from 1985. At the hotel I tried to use my credit card only to have it declined. I have a debit card of course but wanted to put it on the credit card to keep more money free for yarn purchases I might have to make. A quick call to Chase - they haven't posted the payment for the seventy five buckaroos we owe them. Yes you heard right - Chase Visa has put a hold on my credit card because our payment of exactly $74.85 cents is late by a week and a half. David called  to try and pay it but didn't know his bank routing number (who does??) and since it's a computer glitch (the payment actually was sent, just not posted) my care remains on hold. As soon as it's paid off it will be cancelled as that is ridiculous - we are never late and we pay off the balance as soon as we get it. So I'm currently sitting in the Marriot eating figs and getting ready to knit - the conference starts at 7:30 but it's right down the road so it will be just a quick scamper down the road. Until then I'll be eating figs and knitting!

Dave And Pearl

David met a fellow hunter a few weeks ago - David has the dog, the guy has  the fields. So off Pearl and Her Friend went - and they're still not back. I did speak to him, they got pheasants, had a great time and he's having a beer, I'm sure they're already reliving the hunt with Miss Pants snoring somewhere in the background.  We're starting to get a little bit more grounded lately, with my  much reduced hours and David having a regular work schedule things are coming around. We had decided a few weeks ago we would wait a full year before making any plans to stay or go and if we do decide to make One More Move the parties involved would have to have: a job in hand, a place to go that they had laid eyes on at LEAST twice, would need to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that moving would benefit all parties involved  and have the complete understanding that this is the Very Last Stop Before Actually Dying - because I have ONE more move and that's IT.  So like the last wish a genie grants it had better be a very careful and well thought out wish.  But in the meantime the other thing we discussed is we're actively trying to like it here instead of acting like we're just biding our time until something better comes along  - we're looking for things to do and people to meet. We had dinner on Sunday with friends in Lake Ariel, Joe and Eileen - they made a huge Italian spread and we spent the evening talking and eating. We left a bowl of candy on a lawn chair  at our house before we left just in case but when we came back it hadn't been touched, not even the bear had been by to see what we got good.  So much for Halloween. The Ghosts I keep up year around will be getting into their Pilgrim outfits soon - move it along move it along!!

Happy Halloween Of Course!

Happy Halloween -  I hope everyone has something fun planned. Since I'm not actually a big Trick or Treat fan it's not a big thing on my end. We have plans to go to a friend's house for dinner tonight, I'll leave a bowl of candy on the steps just in case. We had a trick or treat at work on Friday - that was a busy day. We had the staff meeting first thing in the morning, then a going away party for 3 staff members - the office is splitting and one of my co-workers is going to another office. Then after that everyone got their costumes on for the afternoon - Doris and I were Fred and Barney which was fun. At the moment I'm sitting with my feet up - I was told to keep off that foot as much as possible for the next couple of weeks at least and have a return appointment on the 11th. The shot worked, but yesterday afternoon it started hurting again - not as much but it's disappointing. So I'm trying to be careful and stretching it a few times a day. I've been watching Halloween movies of course and have started a new knitting project. I haven't made a shawl lately and there is one on the internet that I downloaded and kept. It's the Revontuli Shawl (that's Finnish for "Northern Lights")and you can find the pattern on Ravelry. I do love that website but it's a bit overwhelming if you're looking for something to knit - you put in "shawl" or "socks" and thousands upon thousands of patterns come spilling out - it took me a few times to figure out how to narrow down my search but once you get the hang of it, it's a great place for free patterns. You would think with all the free stuff I could stop buying knitting books - but those I love to sit with and page through with a cup of coffee. My collection is huge at this point, I especially am taken with sock books for some reason.  I stopped buying cookbooks though a few years ago - first of all with all that knitting who has time to cook and second of all, I've found for every cookbook I've ever bought there will be 2 or 3 recipes I'll use and the rest of the book is useless. For that the internet is perfect because I find a good recipe and just   print it out without having to buy something I won't use.

Well. That Was Interesting.

My foot continues to hurt, nothing has helped. Ice, heat, up down, off on, nothing. I've bought better shoes, used the inserts, stopped hiking.  There is nothing worse than an injury that won't go away - well, maybe being snatched bald by an angry ex-girlfriend would be worse, but not much. So I finally bit the bullet and went back to the podiatrist. I was avoiding him like the plague for obvious reasons  -  S-H-O-T.  He is concerned, I am concerned - it should be better. So he gave me a shot right in the BOTTOM OF MY FOOT IN MY HEEL.  A deep, 5 minute long injection as they have to "fan" it out into the tendon. No, you don't want to know. No really you don't. I didn't even want to know. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. I now have a spiffy band aid - the doctor said it will take a day or so for the pain to decrease - from the shot but hopefully it will get better. The other alternative is physical therapy. I have to admit the reason I don't want to do physical therapy is, well, hmm. I'm lazy. I don't want to spend the time at physical therapy when I can be using my time in a much more productive way like on Facebook or cruising by the yarn shot ogling the latest wool. I would have to see if my policy covered it and how much the co-pay was and I'd rather be calling Knitpicks and ordering stuff. A copay is money out the window, Knitpicks is a yarn swift that is Forever. I've been told Motrin, elevation, ice heat and stay off it for a couple of weeks.  I will try. Not being able to hike or even do our morning walk has been hard on Pearl - she's used to a lot of activity and me sitting in a chair all morning and reading is not computing for her. She keeps trotting over to my chair hopefully and then quietly waiting. I feel bad for her until she starts whining and then I want to smack her. I want to but I don't as that would be pointless anyhow -she'd just whine more.  I just tell her Be Quiet. Then I tell her I Said Be Quiet. She is a pest.  The hunting season has come just in time, even though it's not every day it gets her out and gets her some exercise at least.  She and David have gotten a few birds, they aren't used to this area so David has gone to a couple different places trying them out. Since he's working most of the weekend it's nice he has a few days during the week when it's less crowded. I'm deciding on my next project - I did one more hat and have half a sock left for the latest pair but I don't know what I'm knitting next. I have some yarn I'm going to skein tonight as I have a project in mind - we'll see. Since I'm staying off my feet for a few weeks I suppose I have time.

It's That Time Of The Year Again

 I'm sure I am the World's Worst Vegetarian - not only do I wear leather but I - eek - support hunting. I'm the one that told the Yarn Hater where the game preserve was located, I gave him the map with all the areas marked. I helped train the hunting dog and when he bought a gun on the Internet to resell, I was the one who suggested he keep it instead since he really really liked it. When they come home with game I have my camera in hand hurrying them towards a good background.  A lot of people find this a strange vegetarian activity but the truth of the matter is -  I just can't eat meat. I don't like it the way some people don't like beets or those horrid little Lima beans.  It has nothing to do with animal rights or Green Peace - I just don't eat it. What I don't understand is people that get upset by it that DO eat meat. Why do think that just because they didn't kill it personally that gets them off the hook for responsibility? I've had people tell me they can't bear to think of that poor little animal being hunted - but try telling them how to slaughter a pig correctly and it's hands on the ears and we need to change the subject. And you make sure the children don't hear! A lot of the problem is people are so far removed from the mechanics of meat they just don't add two and two anymore. Hamburger walked around at one point, lamb chops did too.  And  deer, turkeys, grouse that are hunted and killed - they roamed free didn't they? They weren't jammed in little pens in a barn waiting to get big enough to die. Things die and get eaten, that's the way it goes - just because you didn't participate doesn't keep your karma all clean and sparkly - and I think hunters waste less really. When you work that hard to get your meal you'd better believe you enjoy every last bite of it!

Use What You Have

On of the things that the Internet has changed big time is shopping and the competition for your money. I'm a big fan of Eddie Bauer and Victoria's Secret and paid large amounts for these item years ago. And I abided by our family motto Why Buy One When You Can Buy Forty Seven.  Now I wouldn't even consider it - and it's all due to the Internet. There is not one thing you can not price shop for and find cheaper. Victoria's Secret - $50 for a bra? Not if you keep checking the clearance - it might not be the color you wanted but it's $19. Eddie Bauer? Outlet down the road who emails me all the big sales and if that's not cheap enough, Eddie Bauer Outlet Online for me. KnitPicks 40% off all books, Amazon - Used.  I'm going to Delaware in November and would like to visit some yarns shops. Plugged that into Google and Voila! - six possible suspects in under 4 seconds. But then the over shopping happens - I won't shop Borders unless I have a coupon, but I have a coupon at least twice a week now. We are reining in the grocery bill, we've had a few slip ups but before we shop we make a list all week. And the other thing - we're eating what we have. All of the cereal is gone before it gets replaced, I rummage the freezer every night and plan around what I find. I can only eat so much tofu, David can only eat so much hamburger. I noticed when Donna put her shopping list up for me a month or so ago she shops for what they're eating now - not what they might eat in a couple of months. And I think that's where a lot of our waste comes in. We cannot possibly eat 5 lbs of carrots before they spoil, what was I thinking when I bought 4 lbs of fresh tofu? Yes it was cheap but having to throw some out still cost me money. That store is a little bit of a hike, but let's face it - it's not going anywhere.  I got rid of all the weird foods I bought on a whim (capers? elderberry extract?) and I think before I buy. I've realized if I have to hunt that hard for a book I want - I probably don't want one and even if I use a coupon I'll still be spending $15 for something I wouldn't have bought if I DIDN'T have a coupon.  It's not perfect of course, I've had a few silly buys here and there and we will never go to Sams again BEFORE we have lunch, that's just asking for a car sagging from the weight of Yodels. I bring knitting or a book for my lunch hour instead of thinking of a store to visit and go straight home even if traffic is uber zippy. Until I win the lottery I will continue to cut back, cut down - and use what I have!

What A Fun Week So Far!

 Sunday I went to the Promenade Shops over in Center Valley, PA with a friend of mine from work.  We went to a Thai restaurant and I had the Vegan appetizer (NO BEEF HEARTS Donna!!) and we split the Pad Thai - Doris wanted shrimp so she had them put that on the side. I thought they were small and creepy but as a good Lunch Companion I didn't voice my opinion. We went to the book store but since I had cleaned up in the book department the previous day while shopping with the Yarn Hater I just browsed. We went to Sage for shoes, I bought a pair of Danskos which cost way more than we all know I ever spend on a pair of shoes, but they are quite swanky and are good for plantar faschitis. After that we headed home, it was a wonderful day and the weather was perfect. David and Pearl ventured out hunting for the first time since we've moved here - I gave him a map of the state lands - the park over from the one where I hike is for hunting. They got two grouse their first day out, Pearl flushed a woodcock today but David missed, she was a little disappointed in him but has kept her opinion to herself. I finished the second fish hat that I made for Doris's son and I'm now at loose ends (pun intended!) - I should finish the socks I've been working on forever but I'll glom over my knitting books and patterns to see what I want to make next. David is working for the next four days straight, he starts his part time job on Saturday. Halloween is coming and I'll be dressing up this year, working in pediatrics isn't all fun and games you know!

Day Out.

 David and  I went to Dickson City - we really haven't been there since we moved, but it's silly because it's pretty much the same distance as Bethlehem. We had to wait for the guy to deliver the stone this morning before we left, hilariously he was of course from NY - Mastic to be exact. One of the guys at work calls East Stroudsburg the sixth borough. Anyhow guy came and dumped oodles of stone and left us with piles of oodles of stone. The yard has been decimated, mulched and leveled, David needs to spread the stone now. After this we have to hook up the new heating unit and a few other things and then it's a halt until spring. I feel like we're hemorrhaging money but it's really that everything was on the back burner until the other house was sold, which it has been. We're spending but as usual we hunt for the best deal. The heating unit we bought was $1500 but David got the floor model - $700.  We're huge fans of Floor Models, Clearance and Sales. I prefer floor models because they're already put together most of the time, can be less than half the price and come with the same guarantees as the full priced stuff. Anyhow we had a great time, went to the Spanish restaurant we both like, the book store and Wegmans of course. We didn't get home until 6 pm, Pearl has been a whiny pest as of late and was whining up a storm (still is as a matter of fact). My plantar faschitis rages on and we are no longer hiking or walking which is driving her crazy and in turn, she drives me crazy. I'll probably be going back to the doctor's next week, it's no better and some days its worse.

The Cat Is A Hat

I am so pleased with this hat, aren't you? It actually came out better than the pattern - I embroidered the eyes instead of using buttons and added a little smile to it. I've found with children's hats the less complicated the detail the more they like it - and I don't use buttons unless I have to because you have to sew the snot out of them so no one chokes. I'm making another fish hat for a friend and then it's back to more hats for the clients. Hats are fun because they used up all your leftovers, they're quick and it's pretty instant gratification.  I've been offered money from all quarters lately - and it is as it's always been, a big NO. You can suggest I make you something, you can hint but that's as far as it goes. When I'm asked I'll say no and sorry - then turn around and do it anyway. Makes no sense? Yes it does. If I accept money I'm on a time schedule - it will have to be a certain pattern, color, yarn. If the recipient doesn't like it I have to do it again. It becomes a job. If I'm doing it to simply give it away, I think about the person I'm knitting it for, how much fun it is to get a gift unexpected - if they don't like it they're morally obligated to say thank you and act like it's the best thing they've ever gotten - after all I did go to trouble and it was sweet of me to do it, wasn't it? I knit and don't worry too much and move on when I'm done. I've left more knitted gifts strewn behind me than I can even begin to think about. I do sometimes keep things, sometimes they hang around until I find someone who will fit it, but for the most part it flows out the door. I've been knitting and crocheting since I was six, seven? Over 40 years, think of all that yarn! The Yarn Hater says nothing, he glares a  skein being carried by, some times, but it's futile to say anything. David has been busy all week by the way, since we've sold the other house and are no longer under such a large black cloud he's been decimating the yard. He put the driveway back where it was originally, fixed the berm around the pool, he's taken up the cockeyed walkway and will lay it back down after the stone is delivered. It will be great when it's done, no more Mrs Havisham!

Blog Jumping

 If you look at any Blogger blog in the upper left hand corner, you'll see a little thing that says "next blog' - that's one of my favorite past times as it jumps you to random blogs on  the Internet. It seems to start off picking blogs that have something in common with the one you're reading. I sometimes visit my own blog to jump off of and it will start off with knitting blogs, then crafting, then stay at home moms, Christians, traveling Christians, travelers, etc. You get the idea. It gives you a weird snapshot of what people find interesting - my favorite one was a blog devoted to My Children's Allergies in which the blogger went into great depth of symptoms, medications and general reactions to all of the above. It was a bit of a snooze fest as you might imagine.  However since I tend to write about what I did today she might find me a bit of a sleeping pill also. Quiet weekend, I watched Sixteen Candles for the zillionth time and David couldn't believe I was watching That Again -we have this conversation every time it's on and I did point out I couldn't believe we were having this conversation Again. He cannot believe anyone would watch a movie over and over again. The next day I was parked on the couch watching The Quiet Man for the zillionth time - and David pulled up a couch and proceeded to watch it with me for the zillionth time. I asked him what the difference was and he seemed to think, well he really had no defense if you must know. I think the difference is John Wayne and that's about it.  I am spending a lot of couch time as you may have noticed - my plantar faschitis is a bit better today but I think I'll have to rest it despite having gotten thingies from the podiatrist. I did a short walk this morning and went out to get my hair cut but it's hurting now. I'm 2/3 of the way through the Cat Hat which is little and pink as the recipient is little and a big fan of anything pink. I  put my winter clothes out today also, I don't have as many of them as I thought but I think I did a major weeding when I put them up the last time. I'm going shopping next weekend with friends so I'll start at least looking. I had wanted to lose some weight first but let's be real - if we all REALLY waited to buy new clothes after we lost weight about 70% of us would be naked. The neighbors are not helping - I sent them over an apple pie and they sent back a lemon bread. Good thing my diet starts TOMORROW.