Vacation - Day 7

Wouldn't it be great if the work week zipped by at the same speed vacation weeks disappear? I'll try not to gripe, though, because it's been a really good week. In this post I'll tell you what I've done since my last blog update.

On Wednesday afternoon I went to visit my great-aunt Orpha. That's not a typo...her name is Orpha. Pretty neat, huh? She's my paternal grandfather's sister, and she's 99 years old. Isn't that just wonderful? She's bright and interesting, and I just love to talk to her. She crochets and knits (mostly crochet) and makes all kinds of wonderful things. We had a great afternoon, and when I left, she gave me a dishtowel that she'd crocheted a border onto and a couple of crocheted coasters. I really enjoyed my afternoon with her.

Yesterday I left home bright and early and went to Mom and Dad's house. It was a beautiful day, bright and sunny. We left their house at 7:00 and went to the Cracker Barrel for breakfast (yum!), then headed for Pigeon Forge. I took a sock-knitting project along for the trip. I've always been notoriously susceptible to motion sickness and have never been able to read in the car. But for some weird reason, I'm able to knit while riding with no ill effect at all! Strange. I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to try it on two-lane road, but on interstate, I'm fine. It certainly helps pass the time, and I got a little over an hour's knitting done!

Our first stop was the Titanic museum. Like most Pigeon Forge attractions it's a little pricey to visit, but we spent over 2 hours in there enjoying the exhibits! We were there at the same time as a couple of school groups and a tour group of senior citizens, but the museum is so large and well-designed that we were still able to view all the displays at our leisure. It was a greally interesting attraction, and I'd recommend it if you're going to be in the area.

By the time we came out of the museum, we were ready for lunch and went to ... another Cracker Barrel! *LOL* When Mom asked if I'd mind going back to Cracker Barrel, I told her "Shoot, no, I can ALWAYS find something to eat at a Cracker Barrel!"

From there we went to one of the outlet malls where I found a few little things I needed on sale at the Coleman store. No, really they were LITTLE things....like $2 and under, honest! :-) Mom found a few things at Bon Worth, and we headed for Vanity Fair. By that time, I was beginning to run out of steam. I found a pair of slacks and a couple of blouses, then told Mom I was going to head back to the car where Daddy was waiting. (He's not a big shopper...*LOL*)

While we waited for her (she didn't take long), I knitted some more on my socks I'd taken along for the trip. When she finished shopping, we headed back home. I was tired, but it was a really great day.

On the agenda for today is nothing terribly exciting. I want to get my household drudgery out of the way today and will get my home desk chores done. Since I'm up early today, I hope to get everything finished in time to knit out on the balcony in the sunshine a good while this afternoon.

I have an appointment tomorrow mid-morning to have my hair trimmed, then will visit with Mom and Dad for a bit. Plans for Sunday? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I want to spend that whole day resting, knitting, and recharging my batteries for going back to work (ptui!) on Monday.

As for now, it's still too early to be making much noise doing housework (I'm a considerate apartment dweller), so I think I'll knit a bit.

Life is good. :-)

Vacation - Day 5

This has been a great vacation so far...doing nothing really big, but lots of little things. My kind of "rest and recharge the batteries" vacation!

Yesterday was my busiest day of the week so far. I needed to get my car serviced, so off I went to my local Wal-Mart. While they were changing the oil and rotating my tires, I did some shopping. Nothing exciting, just lots of "must have" household items.

I was scheduled to visit a friend at 11:30 to help her set up her new wireless printer. When I finished at Wal-Mart I still had some time to kill, so I visited the Dollar Tree. It always amazes me how many things you can buy there for $1. I didn't buy much of anything,but it's a fun thing to do once in awhile.

Next stop was Office Depot to pick up a few things. I'd bought myself a beautiful Cross pen and pencil set a couple of months ago, and yesterday I found that Office Depot had sets on sale at a really good price. So, I picked up another set to take to the office. I can always find something to buy at Office Depot. :-)

By then it was time to go to my friend's house. She'd recently bought herself a terrific Dell laptop and wireless printer, and we had the printer set up and going very quickly. Gotta love Dell!

She asked if I could help set up her e-mail program, because she didn't want to use her provider's webmail system. I hadn't set up an e-mail program in a long time, and things had changed a bit! *LOL* For instance, I learned that Windows 7 does not come with an e-mail program. How weird is THAT? But, I found Windows Mail on her system, which is quite similar to the old Outlook Express. It took me several tries to get the setting right, but after a bit I did manage to get it up and running.

After I left there I stopped to pick up take-out Chinese (beef and broccoli lunch special with hot 'n sour soup....yum!) then stopped by Goodwill to drop off a couple of bags of clothing culled from my overstuffed closet.

Next stop was my apartment manager's office to visit a bit and sign next year's lease. I picked up my mail, hauled all my purchases into the apartment, and collapsed into the recliner to call Mom. Then I made a call to my great-aunt (99 years old....isn't that wonderful?) to ask if I could come visit her this afternoon. She said that would be fine, so I'll be headed to her home (very near by) a little later to sit and knit and visit awhile. Should be lots of fun....she's a really interesting lady!

Had I told you that she crochets things from recycled plastic grocery bags? She inspired me to try it, and I've made a rug for my tent and a tote bag. I have lots of bags stockpiled but have been so busy knitting that I've not crocheted in awhile now. That reminds me that I must pull out my rug to take it to show her.

Off to find my rug!

A Week Off

When my alarm went off as usual at 5:30 this morning, I did the same thing I do every morning: I smacked the snooze bar and spent the next few moments trying to determine what day of the week this is. Happily, I quickly remembered that it's Saturday....the first day of my WEEK OFF! *happy dance*

I had actually meant to shut off the alarm last night (or at least change the wake-up time to a bit later), but forgot. Oh well. At least I got a little head start on the household drudgery.

I'm a apartment dweller, so I try to be considerate of my neighbors on weekend mornings. So, I spent the first 45 minutes of my day reading a bit in "Yarn Harlot: Secret Life of a Knitter" which I found dirt cheap at Amazon. It's gently used, and in really good condition. I'd sworn I was going to stop buying books, but dang it, it's Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. She's FUNNY, okay?

Then I changed my bedding, sorted some laundry, photographed my newest yarn stash additions that arrived yesterday, and settled in to take my Scrabble turns in Facebook and update the ol' blog.

In another hour or so I'll be comfortable about starting "noisy" work such as laundry, vacuuming, and such. Which means I have an hour in which I can post my stash photos, update the knitting blog, sip coffee, and loaf a bit.

The weather forecast for today is a little grim (showers, thunderstorms, severe thunderstorms), so my afternoon plans involve knitting and watching my latest Netflix DVD "The Lovely Bones".

Not bad....not bad at all. :-)

You Gotta Love Spring

Yup, it's spring all right. Birds are singing, trees are blooming, the narcissus that were so beautiful just a week or so ago have faded away. I'm sneezing, coughing, and constantly dabbing at my watery eyes with a Kleenex. Yup. Spring.

But we had a good steady rain yesterday which finally settled some of the pollen, and I believe it helped everyone's allergy symptoms. Today, however, is supposed to be warmer and sunny, so I know what that will mean for us "snifflers". Oh well. At least we have pretty things to look at, right?

I'm on leave next week, and am really looking forward to some time off that doesn't involve any time spent in doctor's offices! Though I'm not planning anything big, it will be a busy week. I have some photo scanning to do for Mom, I have to have my car serviced, and I'm going to help a friend who's a first-time home computer owner get everything set up. I also have a project planned that I'm really happy about: getting my camping gear out of the closet and ready to go! *happy dance*

I've decided that my goal is to make camping as simple for myself as possible. Less stuff taken is less stuff I have to carry out to the car and then back into the apartment! So, I'm going to be ruthless. Anything that's not absolutely necessary is STAYING HOME. Well. Except for my knitting, of course. *LOL*

A Practically Perfect Evening

Yesterday evening was really great. I'd worked yesterday and was a little tired, but not exhausted. I wasn't particularly hungry, so a cheese sandwich and Diet Coke was fine for supper. No dishes to wash. No household chores that couldn't wait another day.

So after checking in with Mom by phone and then making another call to deal with some items on a website for which I do a little volunteer work, my evening was mine to do with as I pleased.

I had some well-worn wicker furniture out on my balcony, and it was time to get rid of it. So, off it went to the dumpster. I resolved some time ago that since I don't have storage space for my porch furniture, I will not buy anything that can't be folded up and stored in a closet!

I pulled my Coleman chair out of its hiding place and carried it to the porch. It has a little attached side table with a drink holder, so I didn't need to pull out a table. I gathered up the cordless phone and the socks I'm currently knitting and settled in for a relaxing session of sticks and string in the warm spring evening.

Several of the residents of my apartment complex were enjoying the lovely weather. Some were walking, some were out on their little balconies talking quietly and watching the world go by.

I had a little pang of nostalgia, remembering how much MeggieDog enjoyed being "on patrol", sticking her head out from the railing around my second-story balcony and keeping tabs on what everyone was doing in HER parking lot. She'd have had a lot of things to watch last night.

I sat there in the comforting warmth of the waning light, knitting happily until it became too dark to read the pattern comfortably. I resisted going in for as long as I possibly could.

A practically perfect evening.

All's Well

Mom and Dad took me to a local surgery center early this morning for my colonoscopy, and all went well. *YAY* I'm certainly glad to have that over and done.

Because I had to be up at 4:00 am, I dozed a bit this afternoon, but haven't felt any aftereffects from the sedation at all. In fact, I felt well enough to go have a big ol' Chinese lunch with Mom and Dad on the way home from the center. The food there is always great, but tasted especially wonderful today since I hadn't had solid food since Monday!

As I was waiting my turn in the procedure room, I relaxed (as much as possible) on my little gurney with my warmed blanket on my legs, knitting happily away and talking with Mom, who waited with me until they took me into the procedure room. Speaking of warmed blankets, I don't know who ever came up with the idea of heating those little cotton blankets they put on you in the pre-op area, but whoever you are, I ADORE YOU.

The photo is a Feather and Fan Scarf I worked on while waiting my turn. It's a great "waiting room" project because the pattern is so simple and easy to memorize.

And so, another "patch and repair" item is marked off my "Stuff I Gotta Do for my Health" list. Now, back to my movie and sock-knitting. :-)

A New Experience

I have a new experience coming up in a couple of days....my first colonoscopy. I should've had it before now, but I've procrastinated. I should have been better about this, I know, but what can I say? It's just been too easy to put it off for another day. So the day is nearly here. *L*

Kris has been through this procedure many, many times due to a health issue. Mom and Dad have both been through it, too, all without problems. From all I've been told by them and by friends who've been through it, the prep is the tough part. So that's tomorrow. Whee.

I'm sure it will all go fine, and I'm looking forward to getting it over with.

Because I can't have anything with aspirin in it for 5 days before the procedure, I wasn't able to take anything for a sinus/allergy/spring headache I had Saturday. This developed into a migraine over the course of the day that I wasn't able to shake until this morning. It's still lurking behind my eyes....I can feel it back there just waiting for an excuse to pounce!

So I'm spending as much of my workday in my office as I can, avoiding contact with: 1) people with stinky cologne, 2) strong sunlight, 3) pollen. I hope I can get through the day without setting it off again!

The weather this weekend was just glorious, and I really resented not feeling well enough to be out IN it. Luckily I was able to get my household drudgery (or most of it) out of the way before the headache got me completely down Saturday, but I had a lot of fun stuff I was going to do Saturday afternoon (some knitting, scanning some family photos, etc.) that just had to be put on the back burner.

Stupid headache.

A Terrible Loss

A friend of mine lost his nephew on Easter Sunday. He was a bright and very accomplished young man, only 21, set to graduate from college in mere weeks. His death was completely unexpected, and I can't even begin to imagine the pain his family is feeling at this moment.

I hadn't seen him since he was a small boy, but I remember him as a very intelligent bubbly youngster.

It's just a shame.....such a terrible loss.

Rest well, Joseph.

Happy Easter!

Easter morning is bright and beautiful in my little corner of the world....I hope you have a lovely day, too!

Kris is now home from the hospital, thank goodness. She's still having a lot of pain, but is otherwise doing well. I'm so grateful that her surgery went so well, and I'm VERY happy that the procedure is finished and behind her now. Once she's healed from the surgery, she should feel so much better than she has for AGES.

One of Daddy's first cousins is having a family gathering this afternoon, and we've been invited. I'm so glad that the weather's going to be so nice for it. Should be fun, and it will be great to be able to be outdoors on a bright, sunny afternoon. (Those of us who spend so much time in offices with no windows during the week have a great appreciation for time spent outdoors. *LOL*) I knitted a couple of dishcloths to take to her, but I'll post about those on my knitting blog (see link to the right).

The narcissus in the photo is growing in Mom and Dad's front yard. The usually have their little faces upright and facing the sun, but the wind was really whipping around while I was snapping photos. So the narcissus seem to be a bit shy in these pictures. :-)

Well, I'd better get up from here and do a few things before heading out. Have a wonderful Easter, everyone!