I Found Some of the Promised Photos!

    I found some photos that I had promised to post when I found them. First up is my 3rd tattoo. At the time, I couldn't find a photo of it, but last night I found a good one!

 

   Remember the post about my dad? I couldn't find a good photo of him. I asked my daughter, following her advice, I checked all her photos on facebook. It turns out that she had a pretty good one there! And here it is for you to see! Although he usually had facial hair. I prefer that look! And the baby in the photo is my daughter Sara, she must have been about a year old.

 

 

And lastly, at least for today, is a photo of my favorite baby blanket to make.

 

 

  This is the one I shall be making for Sara's friend. I did have a thought though. Maybe instead of making it all pointy, I shall make it in the round. No points. I will have to think on that one, probably ask Hubs' opinion. This is also his very favorite blanket.

Not Just Another Day

    No, it wasn't. Today was my birthday. I had a pretty good one, nice and quiet, just like I prefer. I got to hang out with Hubs this morning, then tuck him into bed. I babysat for Miss Malia, then later on, after Hubs went to work, My good friend Kim and her Cherub came over.


    Cherub swam, and performed a Vegas showgirl act while wearing my lemon slice float on her head. Hilarious! Kim and I laughed alot at that one. Due to the cooler temperatures at night recently, our pool water temp has plummeted down to about 75 degrees. It was up to 82 degrees at its warmest.


   It was very sweet that Kim and Cherub came bearing birthday gifts! Knowing my love of hedgehogs, Cherub presented me with a very adorable figurine, and Kim outdid herself with the triquetra shaped wind chimes. I will probably put them in my new craft room. They are so very cool, and of course, match my new tattoo! Oh, and Cherub made me a birthday card too!


    After they left, I made myself some dinner, then went over to friend Bonny's house. She had invited me over to hang out with her by the fire pit. Since it seemed like it was gonna be chilly, I went! We always have a good time. I wasn't able to go last night, as I wasn't feeling very well. Thankfully I had recovered enough today, that I was able to go.


    All in all, it was a nice quiet birthday. I'm not one for excitement any more, I guess that's what comes with getting older.


    I am still on a crafting break. There is nothing that I feel the need to create at this time. However, a very good friend of daughter Sara's is expecting, so I am mentally gearing up for crocheting another couple of baby blankets! Unfortunately, I have to get the yarn from my NOT favorite store, Hobby Lobby. Oh well, the things we do for the ones we love!

The Day of Medical Drama

     First let me make it clear, the drama was not mine. When I got to the medical group, I walked in the door at the same time as another woman. She walked past the desk, right to the elevators. I stopped at the desk, to say "Hi" to Pam, the very friendly receptionist.


    When I got upstairs, the other woman had already finished at that desk, and gone in to the other waiting room. I got held up at the desk, so I got there after her. By the time I got in there, she had already been called for her IV line to be put in. So I had to wait again. She went first for the special photographs thing, then it was my turn. When I came out after my photographic session, she was already in on the treadmill. In fact, when I walked by the treadmill room, she was laying on the stretcher in that room.


    They gave us IV's because they inject us with radioactive stuff so they can see the blood flow through the heart better. I was wondering if I would glow in the dark...


    Listening to the nurse and nuclear tech talk, this woman was having chest pains while on the treadmill. Apparently she had had a heart attack only a month ago. The nurses were concerned, her chest pains weren't going away with rest. They even gave her nitroglycerin, and that didn't help. They ended up calling an ambulance for her, to take her to the ER. Across the street. I am not kidding.


    So I had to sit there in the waiting room for the ambulance to come, and take her away. I was wondering as I waited, couldn't they have moved her to another room, say, the waiting room, so the rest of us could get on with our testing? In the long run, it didn't matter, I really wasn't in any hurry.


    I finally got to get on the treadmill. That poor woman's experience made me really determined to do my best. Unfortunately I only lasted two minutes. The good news is that in that short time, I actually hit my target heart rate! So it wasn't necessary for me to get back on the thing. I sort of suspected that it wouldn't take much to get my heart rate up, as I have been told that my heart works harder than normal because of my lung issues.


   All in all, I think I was gone from home about 6 hours. I left at 11 a.m., which was early, because I had a few things to do on the way. I needed to get a sandwich so I stopped at Cranberry's, then I had to get some gas. As I was leaving the gas station, I realized I had forgotten my sweater. I was reminded to bring one because it can get "really cold" in the waiting room. I decided to drive back home and get it, as I still had plenty of time. I arrived just at my appointment time of 12 p.m. I arrived back home at about 5 p.m.


    It was a long day, but well worth it. Next Tuesday I have a follow up visit with the cardiologist to go over the test results. And I didn't glow in the dark!

I think I'm finally done with the skull thing...

    Yesterday, while I was babysitting, I finished my second skull potholder. Then I was stuck with a napping toddler, and nothing to do! Anyway, here are photos of the finished potholder:

    Yup, I'm such a rebel, I made the two sides different. Just like the blue/purple one. Here is a photo of the two together!

    Unfortunately, this means I currently have nothing to work on. Perhaps it's time for a break. I will let you know, and keep you updated on the crafting front.


    And perhaps, if I feel up to it, I shall report on the medical tests scheduled for later on today. But right now, I'm starving, and cranky. No coffee this morning, and no food after 8 a.m. I watched Cherub this morning, so I wasn't even home until 8:30!

And Now For Something Completely Different!

    Sometime last month, I saw my pulmonologist. He ordered a CT scan of my chest. A week later, I got a phone call from his nurse, telling me the Dr. wants me to go visit my cardiologist. She doesn't say why. I have no idea if they saw something on the CT scan... or what.


    So I make an appointment, I am lucky I don't have to wait three weeks. He can see me the next week. Then I get a call, the Dr. is sick, next week he's on vacation, and the week after that, he has hospital duty. So that pushes it back three weeks anyway!


   I finally got to see him last week. I asked him the reason the other Dr. asked for the consult. He told me they want to rule out any other possible cause for the increased shortness of breath. During that visit, I had the sonogram of the heart, I forget the fancy name for it. I also had an EKG. Tomorrow I get to do a Nuclear Stress Test. They are going to inject me with some radioactive substance, make me sit for a long time, then take special pictures of my heart. Then I get on the treadmill, to get my heart rate up, and take more pictures.


   Sounds like fun, doesn't it? But with my lung issues, the treadmill part should be interesting. The Dr. asked me more than once if I could do it. I told him I would do the best I could. He did say that if I can't do it for too long, it will still be useful information.


    The worst part, for me, is the radioactive stuff. After that IV, I can't be around little kids for 24 - 48 hours. That means I can't babysit Tuesday because of the test, and Wednesday because of the radioactive stuff. I told Miss Malia's mom that it's entirely up to her, whether I come Wednesday or not. She found someone else for that day. I can't even go hang at the karate school Wednesday evening either. That sucks.


   I guess it's all good. Better to find out now if there is a problem, right? Hubs is concerned about the test itself, he's worried it may wear me out too much to even drive home. I promised him that if I am too tired, or if anything at all is bothering me, I would call him, and he can come get me.


    Then on Thursday, I get to celebrate my birthday with my good friend Kim, and her Cherub, who are coming over to swim after Hubs goes to work. And they will be bearing gifts! Does it get any better than that? I think not!

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

    Last night, at about 8:30, I checked on my blog. And I had broken 10,000 post reads!! I am thrilled, and honored, that you all have been reading what I have to say. All I can say is THANK YOU!! I never thought I would ever reach 10,000.


    That's it. That's all I have right now. Just a great BIG thank you to each and every one who has ever read my blog! I am sure I will have something on my mind later...

Busy Busy Day, and Crocheting Too.

    Today was a busy day, alright! I've been up since 5 a.m. I got up to use the bathroom, and couldn't get back to sleep. About 6:30, I gave up, got up and made some coffee. About an hour later, Hubs was up too.


    So by 8:30 a.m. I was ready for lunch, and by noon I was ready for dinner. But I had somewhere to go today. Son's karate school was playing a softball game for charity at 2 p.m. and I was going to support the team, and watch them get their butts handed to them. They were playing a team from Waste Management, who apparently belong to a league, and play on a regular basis. The Karate school team is made up of instructors and parents, and some adult students, who don't play softball on a regular basis.


    The good thing is that all the money raised was going directly to their charity, the Relay for Life to fight cancer. So far, the karate school has raised over $10,000!


    I brought my crocheting with me, but didnt' get a chance to work on it. I was too busy talking to people. I finished the one I was working after I got home, and started the next piece! Here is a shot of the first one I finished, all done!

    Here is the second side. I decided to have them not match.

   Here is the first side of the second one, finished today, I love it!

    The second side will look like the second side of the other one, but in pinks, purple and white. The skull is the same pink as the background of this one. I'm not sure yet what color I will use for the border. I might be thinking the white. Extra points to those of you who can spot the booboo.

A Deeply Personal and Somewhat Awkward Venting

    There is something I need to vent about, my friends. I have quite a few friends on facebook. Not hundreds and hundreds, but enough that I am content. I have reconnected with some friends from high school, and friends from jobs, old and new.


    There was one particular friend from high school, that I would catch glimpses of, in comments of mutual high school friends. I went to his/her page, and found lots of religious stuff there. That really turned me off, I have to say. So I didn't send him/her a friend request.


    Time went on, I still saw his/her comments on other friends posts, etc. I decided to check his/her page out again. This time, there was no religious stuff at all. I thought maybe he/she had seen the light, to borrow a phrase. So I sent him/her a friend request. He/She quickly accepted. We even had a brief conversation about what we had been up to since high school.


    Now, I have friends on facebook of all religions and persuasions. Many of them post awesome  photos and sayings that I frequently share. I even have some friends who are Uber Christians. As long as you don't preach at me, we can be friends. Post all the "God is good" and Jesus loves you" stuff you want. I won't share it. I believe you have the right to believe what you want, but you know what? So do I.


    Some of you may have gathered that I am leaning towards the Pagan side of things, religion wise. Truly, this is such a personal thing, I have trouble sharing. But I know it leaks out for some to see, especially those whose eyes are truly open.


   Now comes the vent part. This "friend" on facebook, who was such a "good", religious person, has de-friended me. I recently looked at my friends list, and he/she is no longer on it. This comes after I shared a few Wiccan themed photo things. Apparently he/she decided that I was evil or something.


    All of my adult life, I have avoided talking about religion with people. If it comes up, I don't contribute to the conversation. It is such deeply a personal thing to me, I prefer to get to know someone, usually pretty well, before my religious leanings get revealed. That way, I am not pre-judged. (There's that ugly word - prejudice)


    After all, isn't the main tenet of Christianity "God is love"? Doesn't that mean that everyone is worthy of love, regardless of their beliefs? And that is the main beef I have with some of the followers of that religion. Apparently they believe you are free to embrace a religion, as long as it's theirs. If you choose another? You are damned and going to hell.


    Many years ago, I saw a comment somewhere, I can't remember where, but for years it was posted on my refrigerator. "I don't have a problem with Jesus Christ, it's what people do in his name that offends me."


    This was a particularly difficult post to write. I wonder if I'll get flooded with hate comments. How very un-Christian that would be....

The Potholders are Done!

    At long last, the pot holders for my daughter Sara are done! I finished up the last one yesterday afternoon at friend Bonny's house. I have since started on a pair for myself. That is, if my hands don't hurt too much!

  
    As a reminder, here's a photo of the first one -

    And now the unveiling of the second one!

    And finally, a photo of the two of them together!

    May she get good use out of them, and never get burned! I started making the ones for myself, and here's how the first one looks so far:

    I am not caring that the purple in the variegated is almost the exactly the same as the solid purple. It makes it look a bit wierd, and you can't even tell where the nose is! At some point when it's finished, I may take some white and outline the nose.

This Week's Craft Report

    This week, I have been busy crocheting away on the skull potholders for my daughter Sara. The first one is finished, the second one, almost done. I am up to the eyes on second of two pieces. Then I crochet them together, and voila!  it's done.


    I haven't mentioned my knitting project, it was bad, and it's having a long time out. When I feel like working on it again, I'll get it out, and have my good friend Kim take a look at it to see where I screwed it up.


    While I was out with Hubs earlier this week, we were in Walmart, and  I found some more cotton yarn that would go great with some I had already bought. I picked up two balls, and we headed on to the rest of the store. Unfortunately, we decided not to purchase anything else, so all we had was my two little balls of yarn. Of course, every single check out line that was open had at least 10 people waiting. I decided that I didn't want the yarn that  badly, so I put them down in some random place, and we left.


    Now I'm kicking myself, I really want that yarn. But I made the right decision, it totally wasn't worth waiting for so long to spend less than $5.

My Problem Ring

    A few years ago, probably more than a few, I bought a garnet ring from ebay. I love this ring. It's in a simple setting with a wide band, looking vaguely middle eastern. Shortly after I got the ring, I discovered a problem with it. This problem has made me put it away and not wear it much. Actually, there were two problems with it.


    First, the woman who sold it to me so very nicely added all kinds of religious literature to the package. I find this annoying to the extreme. This fact comes back into play later. Wait for it.


    As I wore the ring, I noticed that my finger hurt after a while. I took the ring off, and there was a deep hole pressed into my finger, where the ring was. After examining the ring, I could see that the stone is taller than the setting that it's in, so the bottom point of the stone sticks out, and into my finger! I hope you can see it in your minds eye.


   Today, I spent almost an hour trying to get a photo of this aspect of the ring. For some reason, my camera won't focus on something so small. Perhaps my photographic skills need some work.

    I finally managed to get a blurry shot, but you can see the point of the stone sticking up.


   Anyway, this evening, I was at karate with my friend Kim, and showed her the ring, the point of the stone, and the depression it makes in my finger. Then I told her about the religious literature that accompanied the ring. She pointed out that perhaps the ring was intended to be like that. You know, like a celise. "My suffering is like   Christ's suffering", or whatever the idea is behind causing yourself pain.  I just find it extremely annoying. I am seriously considering taking a file to the point of the stone.


    Or I could take it to a jeweler here in town, and see if she can put some kind of spacer in the setting to raise it up. Or, I could just put the freaking thing back in my jewelry box for another ten years.

Tah Dah! One Down, One to Go!

    And here it is, the promised photo of the first finished pot holder!

    I altered the pattern slightly, as it was too short, more a rectangle than a square. I added rows at the bottom and top,  as well as one in the jaw part, and one between the top of the nose and the start of the eyes.


    I am pleased with how it came out, and have already started the second one. Yesterday, when we were out, I had Hubs stop at A.C. Moore and I ran in and got a different color for the second one. I am keeping the bright pink for myself.


    I worked on the second one last night, when I couldn't sleep. I went in to bed, tossed and turned for an hour, then came back out and took a med. I sat here, watching TV and crocheting until I finally felt sleepy. I think I went back in about 2:30.


    If I didn't mention it before, this project comes from The Happy Hooker, Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet, by Debbie Stoller. The actual potholders were designed by Kacy Fallon.


    I decided not to post photos of the second pot holder, to keep the color combo a secret, as my beloved daughter reads my blog...

In Which I Have Skulls on the Brain

    Before the relatives decended the other day, I was talking with Sara, and showed her the cool pot holders I've been working on. I am only making them for lack of anything else to do at this point...


   Anyway, she really liked them and asked me to make her a pair. She wants two different color sets. No problem! I went to Michaels craft store this morning, and picked up some colors to use with the colors in my stash. See, I can stash bust with this project!


    I stopped and took photos a couple of different times. It really went quickly, to my supreme delight!

    That one was just before the row where the eyes are started. The next one shows the first one all done!

    I have already started the second one, then they are crocheted together, and voila, they are done! The second color combo I will keep to myself for now. I'm not sure if I like it. I may have to go back and exchange one of the colors, to one I think Sara will like better. I will take another photo when the whole thing is finished.

A Visit With The Aunties and Uncles

     Yesterday my Aunts and Uncles came for a visit, to my daughter Sara's house. These are three of my dad's four siblings. Uncle Joe lives in Florida, too far away to visit. My dad was the second oldest after Uncle John. Dad would have been 80 this year, so I know Uncle John is older than that. After dad was Aunt Kate, then Uncle Joe, and lastly Aunt Lou. Aunt Lou is only ten years older than me.


     Most of them live further upstate, and Aunt Kate and her husband Uncle Chuck were in Catskill for a bowling thing this weekend. So they went to Uncle John and Aunt Marge's house, and, along with Aunt Lou, they all came down for a visit when Aunt Kate was done bowling for the day.


     This is a photo of Uncle John, Aunt Kate and Aunt Lou.

    Here is a photo of all the Aunties and Uncles, and my mom too.

    From left to right - Uncle Chuck, Aunt Kate, Mom, Aunt Lou, Uncle John, and Aunt Marge.


    Aunt Lou is a hoot. My brother Chip stopped by for a while, and he looks so much like our dad that it makes Aunt Lou cry.  Here is a photo of my brother and his wife, Carol.

    So we all had a nice visit, Sara made food, and everyone got the tour of the house. The Aunts and Uncles had never been, it was their first visit. I think I'll even throw in a photo of Sara and Mike's house too!

   And lastly, here's a photo of Aunt Lou and Sara when everyone was leaving.

     My mom loves when she gets to see dad's brother and sisters, it makes her happy and I think she feels close to him. It was a good day. Thanks, Sara!
   

Crochet Project Update and More

    Well, you may be glad to know that I figured out Kim figured out where I had gone wrong with my crochet project, and it has since been remedied and the first part finished. Here is what it looks like!

    I have started a second one, but it's different than this one. I feel that if I were to make another one exactly like the first, right after finishing the first, I would just lose my mind. So I started the first of another pair.

    I was supposed to have company today, to go swimming. But when I texted to see if they were coming, I learned that Cherub was fighting with her mother, and mother didn't feel that Cherub deserved to do anything she might enjoy. I totally understand that logic. It's like: You talked back to me and were very bad, now let's go swimming!! Kind of rewarding bad behavior. So I swam by myself today for a while. Here is what I saw from one corner by the fence:

    That building is empty, it belongs to the local water district. They used to have offices there. It's right at a bend in the creek.

    Then this is the view from my Queen Chair, looking across the shallow end of the pool.

    That's my lemon slice float. I used to have an orange slice too, but it's gone missing. Underneath is Hubs' mattress float. This hasn't been a very good year for our poor pool. First we had a hell of a time getting the chemical balance right, then Hubs had double ear infections, and I got a new tattoo. One more week until I can sped some serious time in the water.


    Not only did we have a hard time with the chemicals, but we had to get a new pump too. The old one, which wasn't all that old, began making loud noises last summer.  It was even worse this year when we turned it on. We had seriously considered just filling in the pool, we'd discussed it for two summer seasons now. I'm concerned that I'm the only one that really uses it. I know it's a lot of work for Hubs.


    I guess we are committed to at least a few more years now, since he spent the money and got a new pump... And he might be willing to get a new liner too.


    In closing, I would like to point out that when considering getting a tattoo, don't get it in the summer. Especially if you like to spend lots of time in the water!

Sharing a Childhood Memory

     Again yesterday, I had nothing to say. I'm sorry about that. At least on Wednesday, I had a back up post ready to go! I had written about the hedgehogs weeks ago, and was saving it for a day when I had nothing. Who knew I would have nothing for two days in a row??


     This morning, as I lay in bed, I was thinking. I seem to be very aware of what time it is when I do things. Even what time I go to sleep. The first thing I do when I wake up is look and see what time it is. Anyway, as I lay in bed this morning, I think I figured out why I'm like that.


    When I was in second grade, I think it was, I remember the teacher bringing out the big cartoon looking clock. I even remember her name, it was Miss Bosco. She was about to teach us how to tell time. For some reason, I had no desire to learn this, so I paid attention for a little while, but soon I was staring out the window. It all went in one ear and out the other.


    So I didn't learn to tell time. I got away with not knowing for at least three years. At some point, my parents must have figured it out, because for my birthday just before sixth grade, I got a watch. So I sort of had to learn. Today, I am very grateful for their gift. I figure that's why I am kind of obsessed with time, and what time things happen.

I've Hit the Wall, Knitting Wise

    I sure have. I screwed up my lace stole project a few days ago, and haven't figured out yet where I went wrong. I haven't frogged it, I still have hope that either I can figure it out, or my friend the knitting expert can.


    In the meantime, I have been crocheting. I'm trying again to do the skull colorwork potholders, from the Stitch n Bitch Crochet, The Happy Hooker book. I tried once before to make these for my friend, but I wasn't happy with how it looked. Since then I have watched her make some, and decided to try again. So far, I am happy with how it looks. Even though I'm using my least favorite hook, the size G. This hook size, I consider my nemesis.


    So for now, I am crocheting. I will post photos of my progress. I am really not too happy that to make the potholder, I have to make two of these fracking things. Grrrr.

    And for a double Grrr, as I am looking at the photo, I see the eyes are off center, which means I have to frog the last row that I did. I didn't notice until I looked at the photo! Oh well, at least it's not a whole bunch of rows...


    Tattoo update!! It has now been 8 days since my tattoo, and the last little bit of crust has finally come off. It's still itchy, and I'm still lotioning the shit out of it. I know it seems early, but I have always healed quickly. I am told the color looks awesome. I can't see it myself without mirrors. I think I'll ask Hubs to take another photo of it.


    Crap, I see it's almost midnight. I better get my crap assembled and publish this, or it will show up with tomorrow's date!!

Hedgehog Love!

    I have always loved hedgehogs, and have wanted one for a pet for years. Unfortunately, they are way too high maintenance for me, so it's not feasible. Instead, I have some really cute photos of hedgehogs to share, that I found online!

    From newborns, to babies, and even a hedgehog getting a bath!

    Aren't they just the cutest things ever? Since I can't have one, maybe that's why I collect them. I have some stuffed animal ones, and even one on a necklace. They are harder to find than you would think! Mostly, the ones I see are in the dog toy sections of grocery or pet stores.

    These darlings were my mother-in-laws, she gave me one, and I inherited the rest when she passed away. They are outside on my stoop, next to the step into the house.

The Tale of the Sock Fairy

    When I was a young girl, I noticed that every year for Christmas, my maternal Grandmother sent socks as gifts to everyone in the family. Well, she also usually made us kids knitted mittens that were waaaay too big, and I always got a bag of Hazelnuts. I loved them, and still do.


    By the time I was a smart-ass teenager, I was referring to her as The Sock Fairy. Which was fine with my family, until the one Christmas Grandma stayed with us. She heard us refer to her as such, and was mortally offended. She got all huffy, and said that if we felt that way, she would never get socks for us again. And she didn't.


    It kind of became the family joke, who the sock fairy would be each year. Mom took over for a while, and after I got married, my mother-in-law became the sock fairy. I must say, she wore the title with pride. Each and every year, along with our other gifts, we always got socks.


    Well, before Christmas came in 2010, my mother-in-law passed away. And that year is when I became the family sock fairy. I have taken to it with enthusiasm. I get socks for everyone, even my son-in-law.


    And yes, this is the Grandmother who taught me to knit, whom I lovingly (not) call the Knitting Nazi.

The Picnic in the Park

    Every year, my son's karate school has a big picnic, at a local town park. There is a swimming pool, a big pavilion, and a large flat field where they set up a net for badminton and volley ball. Sometimes they get a touch football game together.


    It's a potluck affair, so everyone brings food, and there is usually a contest for the best particular food. One year it was chili, and this year was wings. They only had two entries, so they didn't do the judging.  The instructors are the judges.

    I only took a few photos, as my camera battery is getting low, and I was afraid it would die on me. The above photo is a shot of one of the food tables. Salads, desserts, chips and drinks.  The next one is a photo of part of the pool, with lots of kids in it!

    My daughter and son-in-law came too, and here they are:

    Right next to the pavilion, there is a really adorable little copse, with some trees and rocks. I always think it would make a good photo, so I took one of it.

    And that is my day. I sat and ate, and watched the kids swim and talked to people. I was so very tired, so after a few hours, I left. I felt bad leaving early, but Julie said she would watch my taboule salad, and bring me home my bowl after the picnic was over. They were just here a little while ago. There was still salad in the bowl.


    Like I said, I was so tired, when I got home, Hubs was in the shower, he had just gotten home from the Fishkill house. Then we went into the bedroom, and took a long, well deserved nap. I got up about an hour ago, Hubs just got up a few minutes ago.


    I took my knitting with me, but didn't work on it. I made a booboo, and really, just didn't want to deal with it. I couldn't devote enough of my attention to it, to find the mistake, and possibly attempt to fix it.