Computer Problems and Stories

Well, bummer of all bummers, my computer seems to be giving me fits and won't let me access the pictures on the little SD card, and since there are hundreds of different shapes of USB cable ends, I can't do that either. WHY are there so many different little plug ins for cables that do exactly the same thing? I know the answer is so that you have to buy a different cable for every little thing in your life, but still, it's annoying.

So I took all these pictures with my new camera and can't even show ONE of them. *cry* And it's so cool because this camera actually shows the colors as they are. It doesn't turn all purple into blue and doesn't change the blues into other blues. The greens are right, the pinks are right, everything is right but my computer is being difficult. GRRR

Anyway, I guess I'll just have to tell stories instead of showing pictures. I actually have 3 FO's! (I'm frustrated, can you tell?)

So, the drama at school I mentioned half a month ago. We have a new instructor for this mod (5 weeks per mod, probably short for module) and he has been quite an adjustment. At least once or twice, sometimes more, per day he snaps and goes off on us. We were sort of getting used to it when he had the mother of all snaps all over me specifically. It was SO bad that by the end of his tirade I was glaring daggers at him to the point he had to look away. It was over something totally trivial, too, and I was accused of critiquing him, when what I said was only meant to be helpful. At any rate, I was so mad that later I started crying (which only made me more angry because now I appeared to be hurt instead of just mad and frustrated). THAT got everyone up in arms in my defense and these people went to the head instructor and started leaving notes for the director, and eventually I had to tell the director about it.

Strangely, after all that, even though this particular instructor still has his little fits here and there, now he acts like I'm his favorite student. (which confuses me, but ... oh well) Anyway, we have all sort of gotten used to each other just in time to switch to another instructor. (One we are pretty much already used to because she subbed for us once) Anyway, things were pretty tense there for a couple of days, and several of the students were trying to get out of his class, which isn't really an option. The funny thing is, one of the other students, the one I usually sit with, had been stressing big time about the disorganization and other irritating things, and I was saying, "Give him the benefit of the doubt... etc etc" and then he went off on me, not even knowing I was one of his few advocates. (that sorta changed a bit) lol

It's hard to believe that after this mod, I'll be half-way through school. Goes fast! I'm now sorta starting to stress about whether I can get a job that pays enough to pay the mortgage and utilities. I suppose it'll all work out in the end. ACK!

Now, the story of the camera. Most of you know, that the last time I was in the hospital with my third nervous breakdown or whatever you want to call it, a cleaning frenzy of great magnitude descended on my house and rearranged everything and cut half of my trees' branches off, moved my plants and lost my camera. Not that I'm not thankful for the help... just... well that's in the past. Anyway, the camera. So we've also had several shingles blown off in various hail storms and such, which finally got claimed on our insurance. I was told that if we had any extra after the work was done I might get a new camera out it. (bear in mind this is the same person I'm in the final stages of getting divorced from) The controlling issues are still there, which meant I had no say in which camera I got... but that's another story. (story of my life, really, like when I said I wanted an iPod and got a 3 pound RCA thing that never worked, but again I digress) So I was presented with a new camera about a month ago. It's super nice, still auto focus, but... hey it's better than what I was using before, even the lost one. (and it's being called 'my' camera, so I'll probably get to keep it when the parting of the ways happens)

The situation is very odd, here. I've been trying to extricate myself from this relationship for quite some time, and just didn't get taken seriously. In retrospect, I should have just packed up my kids and left about 3 years ago, before I got so stressed that I fell off the deep end repeatedly. But that's the thing about retrospect, it doesn't really do you any good. Of course, the fact that I did have a breaking point was being used against me and I knew it from the beginning. Which is why I knew I'd have to bide my time and get balanced and whatnot before I would be taken seriously. Well, I bid my time too long, and broke yet again, but this time I was very adamant that I had to get out of this marriage. I still wasn't being taken very seriously, and my breaking of course was held over my head as a weapon to remove me from my children. I was told I was going to have to leave and that I would be set up with "a little apartment" and I could keep the kids as much as I wanted (babysit) until he got home from work, but they just couldn't live with me. Naturally this flies in the face of all reason, if I can "babysit" them till all hours, I clearly can live with them. Of course I refused such an arrangement and didn't leave. That was back in the Spring.

Summer, Autumn, Winter have come and gone (of course, Winter is still here). The tones have calmed down, the threats have subsided, and there is now a completely different plan in the works. It's obvious now, that yes, I am still a good mother, and yes, I am still doing everything plus going to school, and yes, I would fight for my kids and probably win. So the fight has been taken off the table and more congenial terms are in place. So hopefully, things will continue to improve.

I should mention that I have left out lots of the details about both of us, and rightly so. I don't want to paint myself as a saint, because that's far from true. I did what I had to do to get out and be taken seriously about having to get out. I'm dealing with the consequences of that, but I'm not 100% sure I'd do it different if I could. Except for the getting out three years ago and preserving my sanity a bit more.

That's too sad a note to be the end. It's not easy to admit my failings, but I felt it was necessary for some reason. The candour thing, I suppose.

It's been a pretty icky year in some ways, but I've learned a great deal about myself about others and about forgiveness. In spite of all the troubles of this year, somehow we've managed to preserve a working relationship and some respect for each other. I guess that's how it works when you still have to live in the same house while going through all these different changes. I don't really do New Year's resolutions, but I do plan to do some things very differently. It's going to be a good year! If I say that enough times, it will be true, right? =)

Good bye 2008 - It's been real


hopefully the computer will start acting right pretty soon

Stay Tuned

Guess what? I finally got a new camera. Shock of all shockers. I'm in such a strange situation. Anyway, I don't have proof as of yet - picture wise, well I do, I just didn't upload them yet and I want my first new camera pictures that y'all see to be KNITTING.

Just wanted to give all of you something to read here in the meantime. There has been some serious drama at school. (ah transitions, don't we love 'em?)

It's freezing butt cold here for a couple of days at least. No ice on my street, but between me and school - a LOT, so... tomorrow could be interesting.

What else? Grades still good - but we, as a class, are a bit behind. That's a little part of the drama, but we'll be ok. I'll go into a little more detail later - no names of course in case anyone from there stumbles into our knitting subculture. =)

I have a couple more sky pics to share, and maybe some art. I'm still conflicted about putting it up here sometimes in case it gets stolen and used or something. Not that many people come over here anymore, so it's probably safe =)

Well, it's quickly getting towards bedtime and I'd better put the spaghetti away. I'll be back soon with proof of the new camera, and some odd stories. (as always)

Take care be safe and all that jazz.

Knitting Content - But WAIT there's MORE

Holy blog abandonment Bat Man! I haven't posted since November 21st? FOR shame. I have loads of excuses of course, but why bother about the past?

I got nice grades on all my finals, upper 90's for all the grades at the end of the mod, so ME HAPPY. I think I still have the 4.0 (heheheheheee) How pissed am I going to be if I lose that? lol (repeat after me - chill out chill out chill out)

We actually did Stress Management today in class. I didn't bring up rehab but I did say psychotic snap once =)*) -- Hey it happens, why pretend otherwise? No point being ashamed of something you have absolutely no control over. Which was pretty much the theme of Stress Management, naturally. I think I need to exercise more though. I KNOW I do.

ok off topic - get back on track

SO... KNITTING! Yes I have been doing it, even though there has been little proof around here. I guess I did the knitting instead of talking about it, I don't always have the window of opportunity for both.

Here's the evidence:

I think this pic is squished a little

One, ONE new scarf AH HA HA

Two TWO skeins of Baby Alpaca

Eight, EIGHT feet eight inches long AH HA HA HHHAAA!
(nearly 3 meters!)

I was needing something more mindless than a sock on tiny needles. Plus, even though I have made lots of scarves, I don't really like very many of them. Mostly because my main scarf knitting time was back in the beginning before I knew God created better yarn than acrylic. I have one skinny scarf I like, but it's not SO great when it's super cold. The only thing I would have liked better is if I had some ridiculously long (46" circ) bamboo instead of the addi turbos. I love the addis, don't get me wrong, it's just that this yarn is super slippery and I had a little trouble at first dropping stitches here and there. So I ripped it back and started over, and made it a few stitches longer, putting it at about 305 stitches on a 10.5 46" circ. YEAH baby!

Once my loverly new scarf was done, I finished the sock. So my oldest has one new sock and another one on the way.


As you see, I ran out of the green and had to use some navy blue on the toe. If I had been thinking and paying attention, I could have used it on the heel, too, but that's okay, it'll never show in shoes. He likes it anyway. I was planning these to be dress socks, but he wants them to be play socks, which means I could have made them less tall, since he's used to the ankle kind. Oh well, they'll be good for cold school days anyway.

Aside from the knitting, I've been taking lots and lots of sky pictures. We have had a major amount of awesome sunrises and sunsets lately. I even got a couple of decently unblurry moon shots with this dinky camera. Most of the pictures are from my camera phone - which can be a challenge, but I'm getting better. I'll try to whittle it down a bit, since there are loads of them. So breath deep, center yourself and enjoy =)

the dinky camera

Yarn-mares

A couple of nights ago I dreamt of yarn, BAD yarn. Fake crushed velvet yarn, nasty fake chenile yarn, overly slippery nylon yarn and sorta scary crochet.

I dreamt I was looking over a friend's project. Some guy friend who happens to crochet and knit. I don't know this person and I didn't recognize him at all - one of those made up dream people, apparently.

Anyway, he had crocheted and knit a cover for a stuffed wiener dog. It was crochet from the top to about the middle of each side in those little crocheted squares - not granny squares, but sort of like the smaller parts of those. Little squares all connected in straight lines. (no clue what the name of that stitch may be since I don't crochet much) This part of the project was done in solid black yarn.

The knitted part, connected at the sides, was done in stockinette stitch in a yarn that was black with accent colors in yellow, green, white and red. This particular yarn was self plaid-ing. I don't think that's even a possibility when it comes to yarn. In addition, it was also a tweedy yarn (not Tweety the bird - lol) because in my dream I pronounced it "a very nice tweed" - so it must be so.

While looking over the project, I realized that I have a stuffed wiener dog, too! (and actually I have 2) So... I go looking through my stash. This is where I encounter every manner of scary bad yarn I've ever seen. MY stash! Every skein I take out is worse than the last, and I start to panic. In the end I pull out two skeins of nylon so slippery that they don't even stay in their wrappers and start spilling out all over the place.

I woke up with a start and my pajamas all in a twist. The butt seam was on my left side!

I wonder what a dream analyst would have to say about that? I definitely feel the need to go into my stash and touch my good yarn, just to be sure and then take out ALL the stuff I don't like anymore.

There is a little acrylic in there, mostly baby yarn, which as acrylics go, are the least scary to me.

Oh yes, and for the record, I have ZERO interest in covering a stuffed dog in yarn - regardless of how cute the crocheter/knitter guy in my dream was. I think I'd just show him my hedgehog and be done with it. (why does that sound dirty?)

Finals so far:
Pathology 102
Anatomy and Physiology 101
Swedish Massage Practical Exam 92 (an actual massage that is graded)
(no curves so far)

3 more finals on Monday

I hope I can maintain my 4.0 average from last mod - but I should really chill a bit, I think lol

A Bit of Fun

You Are a Cherry Muffin

You are very friendly and sweet. You love to socialize. You have a bit of a fire in your heart, and you secretly love adventure. You are well known for speaking your mind. You tell people exactly what you think. However, you're so nice when you're honest, no one really cares! Even though you're down to earth, you're not exactly the girl or guy next door. You are actually quite worldly and sophisticated. You are well traveled and well read.

What Kind of Muffin Are You?


AND.... I made 102 on my Pathology Final
woooooooooot woooooooot!

One down, and like 5 more to go, or something ridiculous like that

Time Keeps on Slipping Slipping....

I was doing SO much better about posting at least once a week - then that time warp thing that is school/life/etc, etc...

I haven't knit even ONE little stitch since my last post. I have taken some pictures, but they are downstairs. I may be close to hiring a roofer to fix the roof that has been messed up for well, something like a year - NICE going nameless dude that was so gonna do that like forever ago. I know it's off topic, but hey, when we got torrential rains a couple of days ago - water started POURING in through the A/C vent in the ceiling of one of the upstairs rooms. NICE like I said. Anyway, it was a bit distracting.

Enough whining.

So I got a 100 on my Kin quiz today(Thursday)! That's SO much better than how I was doing in Kin last mod. My other grades have come down a bit, just a little, but Kin and Path have gone up. It's that balance thing. Believe it or not, tomorrow is the 1st final for this mod and more finals all next week. One week from today (if you are reading this on Friday - although I am typing it on Thursday) I will be done with TWO mods and one term, with four mods and two terms left. WHOA! At this rate I'll be working in a flash. (which will be super nice)

Another thing about this learning and studying the muscles and how they work and stuff, it sorta makes me want to get in shape. weird

Well, that's all I got for now, I'll try to pop in sometime soonish - hopefully before the end of next week and show some pictures of something interesting. Won't that be special? - 80's SNL blast from the past, I know... but hey, it's all I got at the moment =)

Start of Second Socktoberfest Socks

Here is the beginning of my 2nd Socktoberfest pair of socks. It's amazing how much faster one sock goes when you have done two at once! Of course, the drawbacks are that you have to start all over when you get done with one, but at least you feel like you are getting somewhere a little quicker. Instant gratification and all that jazz.

Speaking of instant gratification, there's nothing like smooshing 3 strands of yarn together on size 11 needles and whipping up a hat in two days. DD Ms. 7 soon to be 8 girl needed a hat last Friday for hat day. (It was anti-drug week and every day was a theme of some sort) This hat is actually purple cotton - like the dishcloth cotton stuff - 2 strands and one strand of variegated ribbon yarn stuff. It turned out totally cute and was a hit with all the girls at school, who immediately said they wanted me to make them one, too. he heeee

Sweet as that is, I don't have enough ribbon stuff for 3 more hats, although I do have tons of dishcloth cotton. (and no homemade dishcloth aspirations) Still, with the extra curricular knitting? Not so much. That's the great thing about requests - you can always say, NOPE =) No guilt, either. My time is worth mucho denero these days, I could totally be napping instead.

FO - 1st Socktoberfest Socks

Didn't I say these would be my only Socktoberfest socks? I was wrong, I started another pair immediately in a nice green color - but you'll have to take my word for it because I didn't take a picture yet. Of course, they probably won't be finished until December or something ridiculous like that, but... that's life in the fast lane these days.

DD absolutely loves these things and I had to tell her to save them for school or she would wear them every second. (which I totally understand, but...) I'll be needing to make her more so she has a better selection.
We already have the yarn for her next pair, though, and it is another very stretchy yarn, so I'm getting plenty of practice with these elasticized sock yarns. Even though they confuse me and I have trouble not bunching the elastic up while I knit.

for once I think the color is spot on

The green sock yarn I'm using for DS the 9 year old's socks is the same as the purple stuff, I should be good at this knitting with stretchy stuff before long. Maybe when I'm done with these next two pairs, I can go back to the stretchy bamboo white sock yarn I tried to knit before and do it better. ? We'll see.

Oh yeah, someone asked me to make them socks the other day, "I'll buy the yarn" she said, and I smiled and shrugged without quite saying "NO waaaay!" I barely have any knitting time left, I don't think I'll be doing anything other than family stuff for... at least the next SEVERAL months. Speaking of knitting, I think I'll get to it.

Solo Socktoberfest Socks

Here are the pictures of the one and only knitting project I have going on. ONE lonely pair of socks is all I can manage this Sockoberfest. That's okay though, most of my energy is being exerted elsewhere these next few months.

Cute little tootsies, yes?

They are actually a very nice shade of pink, not as they
appear. They are nice and roomy, but not overly so. DD is tickled pink
and giggled the whole time she had them on.

DS now 5 always brings me at least one flower a day.
Today I got a pretty little nose gay.
What a sweetie pie =)

Finals Finally Finished

WOW what a stressful week that was! But I got through it and even made a couple of good grades!
I got 101 in Anatomy and Physiology
94 in Swedish Massage
100 in Health and Hygiene (but that one was a freebie so I can't take credit)
88 in Pathology
and 82 in Kinesiology

The last two are going to be graded on a curve, and coolest of the cool, I made the best grade in Path, so my 88 goes to 100. (that was a major shocker for me) ... and though it may not stay true, when she graded my Kin final, my 82 was the highest so far. Either way, it'll go up whether I break the curve in Kin, too, or not. SO I was totally stressing my head off for nothing. Not really nothing, I studied and studied and studied that Kin stuff, but it's HARD to remember all the bones and muscles and where they start and where they end and what they do... ARGH! But DUDES! I'm totally happy with 82! Even if there was no curve.

SO... my first set of finals are down and I survived. (Thanks in part to Excedrine)

AND what did I do when I got home? Dishes and knitting! Pretty soon I'll have a pretty little pair of Socktoberfest Socks to show off. I tried them on my daughter tonight and they aren't nearly as floppy as I thought they'd be, but there is a little growing room, so that's nice anyway. Pictures later.

The Time Does Fly

Can you believe that tomorrow I have my very first final exam? Yes, that's right folks, I am nearly finished with the first Mod of my first Term. There are 3 terms and 6 mods (I think it's 6) There are like 4 more finals next week or something. One of them being a "Practical" which means an exam the body mechanics, strokes, client/therapist interview etc etc. It's a bit wild because, since we are doing lower extremities this mod, you have a total of ten minutes for each leg and that includes turning the client from face down to face up.... so it's a very quick process. The point being that you are eventually able to do a full body massage in one hour, so that's 2o minutes on just the legs. The time really flies during massage, too, and you have to do all five strokes (which is what makes Swedish Massage what it is) I'm actually getting really comfortable doing everything in that short time, too, which I wouldn't have guessed at the beginning of last week. The first time we had a timed practice I was a bundle of nerves. But I'm getting betta =) (I think I'll tayke a walk)

I DID have a 100 average in Swedish Massage until today... grrrrrr - but that's another story =) It's cool. My therapist said,"Well it's pretty good when you get upset about getting an 80." That's true. lol Didn't think of it that way.

I am actually looking forward to tomorrow's final. I feel pretty well prepared, thanks to my awesome Canadian teacher! She's so cool. Really knows her stuff, and even though she's the youngest instructor there, she's actually the Senior Instructor. Cool, eh? I thought so.

Anyway, the weeks are flying by, and I'll be graduating before I know what hits me, right? lol Well.... maybe not THAT fast. Speaking of fast, the supper time thing is creeping up on me, and I still don't have any good ideas, so better jet for now.

No more knitting has been done, I'm sorry to say. Maybe I'll try that study/knitting thing again? Don't think I ever actually got around to doing that. ooops

Oh yeah, I'm all done with my feeling poorly thing, and thanks for all the well wishes on that front. Feeling like crap and going to school is a bad combination. I would have stayed home, but I don't know when I could make up that time, since the rest of my day is pretty much already taken up by kids, kids and oh yeah, more kids =)

and studying

Well... till next time, take care and GO GREEN - like green earth, not green politically because I don't know what that means =))

Music Meme

Since I had the flu last week and a migraine the last 3 days, I present thee with a meme. Funny how having the flu totally jacks with a person's ability to absorb information. NOT good for my two quizzes on Friday. Thank God for extra credit assignments that take the place of a bad test grade, lol. Here's hoping tomorrow will be headache free... hope hope hope

Till next time, hope enjoy this blast from the past =)


A) Go to Music Outfitters
B) Enter the year you graduated from high school in the search function and get the list of 100 most popular songs of that year
C) Bold the songs you like, strike through the ones you hate and underline or italicize your favorite. Do nothing to the ones you don’t remember (or don’t care about)

Class of '87

1. Walk Like An Egyptian, Bangles
2. Alone, Heart
3. Shake You Down, Gregory Abbott
4. I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me), Whitney Houston
5. Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now, Starship
6. C'est La Vie, Robbie Nevil
7. Here I Go Again, Whitesnake
8. The Way It Is, Bruce Hornsby and the Range
9. Shakedown, Bob Seger
10. Livin' On A Prayer, Bon Jovi
11. La Bamba, Los Lobos
12. Everybody Have Fun Tonight, Wang Chung
13. Don't Dream It's Over, Crowded House
14. Always, Atlantic Starr
15. With Or Without You, U2 mmmmm Bono
16. Looking For A New Love, Jody Watley
17. Head To Toe, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
18. I Think We're Alone Now, Tiffany
19. Mony Mony, Billy Idol
20. At This Moment, Billy Vera and The Beaters
21. Lady In Red, Chris De Burgh
22. Didn't We Almost Have It All, Whitney Houston
23. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, U2
24. I Want Your Sex, George Michael
25. Notorious, Duran Duran
26. Only In My Dreams, Debbie Gibson
27. (I've Had) The Time Of My Life, Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
28. The Next Time I Fall, Peter Cetera and Amy Grant
29. Lean On Me, Club Nouveau
30. Open Your Heart, Madonna
31. Lost In Emotion, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
32. (I Just) Died In Your Arms, Cutting Crew
33. Heart And Soul, T'pau
34. You Keep Me Hangin' On, Kim Wilde story of my twisted life
35. Keep Your Hands To Yourself, Georgia Satellites
36. I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me), Aretha Franklin and George Michael still love it
37. Control, Janet Jackson.... meh okish
38. Somewhere Out There, Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram
39. U Got The Look, Prince
40. Land Of Confusion, Genesis
41. Jacob's Ladder, Huey Lewis and The News
42. Who's That Girl, Madonna
43. You Got It All, Jets
44. Touch Me (I Want Your Body), Samantha Fox
45. I Just Can't Stop Loving You, Michael Jackson and Siedah Garrett
46. Causing A Commotion, Madonna
47. In Too Deep, Genesis
48. Let's Wait Awhile, Janet Jackson
49. Hip To Be Square, Huey Lewis and the News
50. Will You Still Love Me?, Chicago
51. Little Lies, Fleetwood Mac
52. Luka, Suzanne Vega
53. I Heard A Rumour, Bananarama
54. Don't Mean Nothing, Richard Marx
55. Songbird, Kenny G
56. Carrie, Europe
57. Don't Disturb This Groove, System
58. La Isla Bonita, Madonna
59. Bad, Michael Jackson
60. Sign 'O' The Times, Prince
61. Change Of Heart, Cyndi Lauper
62. Come Go With Me, Expose
63. Can't We Try, Dan Hill
64. To Be A Lover, Billy Idol
65. Mandolin Rain, Bruce Hornsby and the Range
66. Breakout, Swing Out Sister
67. Stand By Me, Ben E. King
68. Tonight, Tonight, Tonight, Genesis
69. Someday, Glass Tiger
70. When Smokey Sings, ABC
71. Casanova, Levert
72. Rhythm Is Gonna Get You, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine
73. Rock Steady, Whispers – steady rocking all night long lalalala
74. Wanted Dead Or Alive, Bon Jovi
75. Big Time, Peter Gabriel
76. The Finer Things, Steve Winwood
77. Let Me Be The One, Expose
78. Is This Love, Survivor
79. Diamonds, Herb Alpert
80. Point Of No Return, Expose
81. Big Love, Fleetwood Mac
82. Midnight Blue, Lou Gramm
83. Something So Strong, Crowded House
84. Heat Of The Night, Bryan Adams
85. Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You, Glenn Medeiros
86. Brilliant Disguise, Bruce Springsteen
87. Just To See Her, Smokey Robinson
88. Who Will You Run Too, Heart
89. Respect Yourself, Bruce Willis
90. Cross My Broken Heart, Jets
91. Victory, Kool and The Gang
92. Don't Get Me Wrong, Pretenders
93. Doing It All For My Baby, Huey Lewis and The News
94. Right On Track, Breakfast Club
95. Ballerina Girl, Lionel Richie bad memories yuck
96. Meet Me Half Way, Kenny Loggins
97. I've Been In Love Before, Cutting Crew
98. (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right To Party, Beastie Boys
99. Funkytown, Pseudo Echo - who doesn't love a little Funky Town? lol
100. Love You Down, Ready For The World

If I only had a time machine =)

Happy Student X-ing

I LOVE SCHOOL! You know, I think I could easily be one of those forever college people. Just keep on going to school and learning and learning. Happily, this thing I'm going to school for can very easily accommodate that desire. Once I'm done with this course, there are SO many weekend seminar type learning opportunities, and several other specialties a person can learn while spending a few more months in school of some sort.

Of course, I won't be opting to do that right away, because I really need to start getting a paycheck within a few weeks of graduation. Long-term, however... it's gonna be fun. Especially since my bestest friend is also a massage therapist, at some point we may get to travel together to do some classes. (how fun would THAT be?) squeeeeee!

So, I've mostly made 100's on my quizzes (excepting 3) (and that's only 3 out of... oh.... 8 or 9 or something like that) I need to go back and write down my grades. One thing I've noticed is that I have MUCH less test anxiety at 39 than I had at say 17 =) hahahaaa funny how that works, eh? I'm retaining a surprising amount of this stuff, too, which is a relief, cuz I was a LITTLE worried about that.

I have NO more knitting to report, but I think I will soon find a way to study and knit and watch TV at the same time. Now if I could just fit chocolate in there somewhere.... lol mmmmm that reminds me, I need to go to the store =)) yaay chocolate.

OH yeah, one cool thing I did the other day.... I've had pepper plants in the ground since the Spring, and they've bloomed and bloomed and stopped blooming and bloomed again with NO peppers even thinking about developing. SO... the other day, I noticed there were blooms again, so I pollinated the blooms myself. Guess what? Now I have peppers and that was just last week, so it worked pretty fast. I don't think I've ever done that before. It's sorta weird because we have plenty of bees and such around here, not sure why the peppers were overlooked, unless the pollen is just too spicy or something. It is a little spicy, I rubbed my lip (not thinking) and it heated up a little. It was sorta cool. Hopefully the peppers have time to mature a bit before they go off into a Wintery oblivion. We'll see.

One more story and I'll let y'all off the hook. It was so sweet. I was talking to my youngest (soon to be 5) kiddo and said something about massage, and he perked up and said "WHAT?" I said, "Yeah, I'm going to massage school." He opened up his little arms for a hug and said, "Mamma! That's AWESOME!" - How sweet is that? **blinketey blink** Such a great little guy - sigh.

Ok, off to figure out this knitting/study combination thing... ttyl =)

Socks and School

First, the socks. I did a bit of knitting on Saturday to decompress from being exhausted after the first week of school. I've started the heel flap which is some variation of a garter stitch heel. I really wasn't in the mood for purling. - really - just - couldn't - do - it - ack You can sorta see the beginning of it here:
What I'm doing is the slip 1 purlwise, knit 1 to the end on both the right side and wrong side. I'm trying to bring the heel in a decent amount, because they are going to be a bit on the big side. I guess I should have done a swatch or something. I don't think I've had the presence of mind for swatching though. I just need to knit and the more mindless the better, yes?

Here the socks are posing with the evermore maturing hanging cantaloupe. I love the squiggly lines on them. It was cool when they were mostly smooth, and there was just the beginning of the squiggly lines.

Either I've been knitting too long (not likely) or it's been a long time since I grew any fruit, but don't the squiggles resemble random cables? They duck in and out of each other, behind and front, and squiggle on all rambly. I think I want to do a freaky random cable thing someday in tribute to a cantaloupe.

I forgot, there is bad news on the watermelon front. Both the melons on the ground have developed some sort of black moldy rot thing. Too wet I guess during the hurricane spin off stuff. Too bad. It's really gross, eh?

Yeah, VERY gross EW!

I think this watermelon has a chance of not getting that yucky stuff, since it's hanging. It probably won't get hot enough again to let them ripen very well. But then again, we are supposed to get 90's this week. (what is that, upper 30's gaining on 40 ish for centigrade? I need to get that better in my head one of these days)

Ah... more squiggles on cantaloupe number three. This is the biggest one, I think. Wonder when they are ready to pick? Better get that right at least or I'll be OH so sad! =) I may do a bigger patch earlier next year with hay or something for the poor watermelons. We'll see.

And yes, the flowers that invaded from next door again. I should really say migrated or immigrated or something more flattering. They aren't unwelcome alien plant invaders or anything. They sure are pretty though. I wish I could get the actual color right. It's sort of a dark lilac color.

I tried putting it with the sock to see if it would effect a color change. It did a little, but it's still not really purple enough.

So, now the school update. I did okay for Wednesday and Thursday, but Friday... WHOA! I was SO out of it by the time I got home, I just had to go to sleep. And SLEEP I did! I felt some better after that, but I had been attacked by the ragweed, because my regular regimen of green tea and local honey got interrupted, because of the routine change. By Sunday, I woke up really rotten feeling and migrainy, which was yuck, and I couldn't sleep like I wanted to, for obvious 3 children reasons.

Today, Monday, however, I woke refreshed and ready to go. Much better. Hopefully it'll last me until Friday. I'm getting to bed much earlier, thank goodness. I got 95% and 100% on my first two quizzes. yaay me! =) Tomorrow's quiz, though, yikes, gotta go study! Oh yeah, I've been dreaming about the course content! Like studying in my sleep! How weird is that? I think it actually helped though. lol

2nd Day of School

My first day, yesterday, was awesome. Only had to get up 30 minutes earlier than usual, plenty of time for breakfast, coffee, getting kids ready for school or babysitter (my sister). Lots of fun at school, etc etc no homework, blah blah blah.

Today, the second day of school, I woke up in a time warp. Or maybe it was molasses that I woke up in. Not sure. Same time, same stuff to do, except I had the coffee maker set up so all I had to do was push the button. So WHY did it take me so much longer? It's that cotton in my brain, or is it bamboo? Could be the stuffing from the hedgehog, but my brain did NOT work today and I'm SO TIRED - boooo whoooooo - not that bad, really, but NOW I have to try to absorb the mountains of material we 'learned' today. HA! I know I can handle it, but... oh the bed is calling me.

WHY did I think me and the kids in school at the same time.....? No it'll be good, just a whole other routine now that I'll have homework too. And ummmm.... there'll be NO knitting in class. I'm constantly with the note taking.

OH, but one note of interest.... Can you guess? Probably not. Anyway, I have a CANADIAN teacher! Yes of COURSE I do! Like... HOW are there so many Canadians around me? Sorta like left handed people. I am a lefty magnet and a Canadian magnet. It's cool. Oh, Ontario, too, of course =) Somewhere near Toronto OF COURSE! lol

I love Canada

Another FO?

Can you believe it? Two FO's in two weeks? I finished my socks! yaay I can't find the yarn band at the moment, but it's a cotton/bamboo self striping stuff that is very squishy.



I even started another pair. Sorry for the horrible photography, but it's nearly 10PM here, so the artificial light leaves something to be desired. At least the background is in focus. =)

this yarn is Cascade cotton with elastic
very squishy, but I have difficulty using yarn with elastic
too tight a knitter, so I have to loosen up

I start school on Monday, I can barely believe it. I've been spoiling myself by sleeping in this last week. Well, I was a bit sickly last weekend, and I think it made me overtired. So I did need the extra sleep. Starting Monday, though, I'll have to be up and at 'em early. It's going to be a big change in my routine. If I think about it though, when I was in out patient therapy last year, I did pretty well with a similar routine. I think I can do it. I mean, I KNOW I can do it! I can, I can do the can can. (well sometimes, my ankle is still a bit not right, and probably will be for some time)

I'm glad it's a pretty easy schedule, I'll be in school less time per day than my kids. Of course I'll be studying like... uh.... someone who studies a lot. (don't like using the words crazy or mad anymore, for obvious reasons)

Oh, we had the edge of Hurricane Ike today, nothing damaging, just clouds and rain. So glad I mowed yesterday, though, the rain we've had is really making everything grow in leaps and bounds. The cantaloupes are much bigger and the watermelons, too. The one tiny one is already getting big. It's wild.

Well, I think I'll throw a load of clothes in the washer and turn in. I hope. I'm sleeping downstairs these days, so getting certain people to go away from there can be a challenge. Such a weird situation. Oh well... that's the freaky life I lead at the moment. ta ta for now, my lovelies =)

A Motley Post

How my kids look when they AREN'T fighting

Proof that I am a closet farmer girl


Well, not so much in the closet as stifled
since I've been in the city


and away from my home town where
we had an awesome garden


This garden is a little sad by comparison
those are centimeters not inches btw

But it's about the best I can do
under these circumstances
those are inches

The soil here takes lots of work
before it will grow anything but weeds


Which means digging and hoeing and
using humus and cow poo
and seriously? Look at the tiny little patch
can you see the hanging cantaloupe?

And don't you love it when your
next door neighbor's flowers invade your yard
and make it prettier?


I do, however enjoy being the mysterious
farmer girl next door
even if this is the wrong side of the stole
because I wasn't paying attention


Having this Stole really adds to my mysteriousness
if you are rolling on the floor laughing
then you know how ridiculous that idea is

And this proves my daughter takes good
pictures, even if she is only 7


and she's good at swinging from the rafters
even though we don't have rafters

Fern Lace Stole - FO

I can scarcely believe it myself, but last night I finished the Fern Lace Stole! yaay! I think next time I block it, I'll block it more in the length than the width, as I did this time. But it shows off the lace work very well this way - which is the main reason I blocked it as I did. (is that dumb? lol) I also am including some shots of a strange little plant the birds brought me. And another Colin Firth pic. I'm working my way through all my Colin movies and will be sharing pics, just because =) Oh yeah, I'll model the stole tomorrow or the next day. I think I could use it as a table cloth, though. I may need to re-block it to model it right. Not sure. We shall see, we shall see.

yucky flash, but shows the leaf stuff better

foot for scale =)
65 inches long
36 inches wide

yaay for blocking wires!

the remains of the yarn

interesting flower

looks like green beans

even the leaves are different

Hello Mr. Darcy, you find me all alone.
Mrs. Collins and Maria are out
running errands or something boring like that
shall we chat? (would that work with Mr. Darcy?)
I think my connections and status are worse than Elizabeth's
oh well

OH yeah, I forgot to tell y'all (or did I?) - I enrolled in Massage Therapy training and start on September 15th! It lasts until the beginning of May, only 8 months, so it's pretty cool. Can't wait to dig in. I love learning new junk! (well, I just love learning) Anyone want to be a guinea pig? lol I'm totally jazzed. Wonder if they'll let me knit in class?