bec. knits’s

Things are still fun and exciting at work. Now before you get the idea that everything is perfect, it is not. I just choose not to stress over the imperfect. My boss does not always communicate well. Somethings I found out directly relating to me, I actually overheard as she was telling somebody else outside my door. Ha. There is an issue of my pay. When does that exactly happen? Hmmm. Not sure, but since this is not causing my family hardship I am going to wait until this Friday and see what happens. Also I need to go to one of our other sites next week. I found out because the co-worker I am meeting there told me that Boss told him he might want to meet me somewhere so I can follow him. Fuck that! I'm not following a man. She may need a man for things, but I have Google, Bing, Yahoo and an awesome sense of direction. I politely declined his offer. Even he laughed at the idea.

The job, however is fantastic. Everyday I meet with all sorts of people. Most are excited at their new adventure that I get to help them map out. One student came in for an unofficial audit for GRADUATION! I am so happy for her and I have never met her before. She had to know I was happy for her because I was smiling like an idiot and bouncing. THEN later I had a drunk person in my office. The student had just taken a test and was sent to see an advisor. They should not have sent him to me but this happens and it is not a big deal. He was slurring and telling me all of the schools he's been to and the online college he is attending. It was all hard to follow, but I sent him on his way to the right place. If I was wrong, he will not remember. Believe it or not this was the second drunk person in our offices this week and I did not even work on Tuesday!

Thing 2 may be getting the flu. He was directly exposed to H1N1 (aka hini) but he also receive the mist vaccine. That can cause a low grade fever and a little coughing from the drip. The kids' main school is closed for the rest of the week because so many students and staff are ill. However, they both have to go to their other schools. T2 doesn't have it today so he can just rest and do homework.

Well I am off to work! Yay.

Loathe:

• H1N1
• People who do not inform themselves and rely on hearsay 
• People who hack and sneeze without covering their face

LLLLLooooove!:

• Seeing my 12 year old son hug my 17 year old daughter as she cried
•  My job
• Families that love to be with each other
• The IT lady at my husband's office
• Eucerin Hand Creme
  

Our local paper gives a quick run down of the police and fire activities in town. Some are really bad/sad things. Some things are not meant to be trivialized but sometimes I find them entertaining because of how they are written. Here are three:
VICIOUS DOG ATTACKS: Police reported two vicious dog attacks:

• A 7-month-old pitbull named Thor was attacked and bitten by a 3-year-old beagle and blue heeler mix named Sparky about 1:35 p.m. Tuesday in the first block of Eldred Street. Sparky was quarantined.

(I find it funny that they put the names of the dogs in the write up. I can just picture Sparky getting his mug shot and paw prints taken.)

• A red-and-brown pitbull named Mutt Face attacked a 13-year-old Brittney Spaniel named Brittney about 11:35 a.m. Tuesday in the 200 block of Cove Drive. Mutt Face was residing with a 57-year-old woman who said the dog belonged to her boyfriend, who is currently in prison. Officers notified her that she is now the dog's owner, and cited her for the vicious dog. Mutt Face was taken away by animal control.

(I love the original thought that went in to Brittney's name. Although, I am not sure who to blame for the misspelling of Brittany Spaniel: the owners, the police or the writer of the article. All are suspect. The added information of the boyfriend's absence being due to his incarceration is a nice touch.)

RESISTING ARREST: Police and animal control responded to a call of a dog being choked in the first block of East  Street just before 1 p.m. Wednesday. Once there, police located the dog, but the alleged owner, a 47-year-old woman, struck an officer with the dog's leash, cussed and yelled at another officer, and gave the police a false name. She was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

(Is anybody surprised that it does not say the lady was intoxicated? AND why was the canine victim not properly identified in this write-up? No name, no breed, just DOG. I smell a cover-up.I hope the lady has had her shots. My guess is she is in quarantine along with Mutt Face, or Mr. Face, and Britt.)

Steve Betz wrote about his encounter with rattle snakes. I have never seen one before, but I remember my brother killing one once when we were youngsters. However it did remind me of a snake encounter of a different kind.

Right after Alan and I married, I worked at a daycare center. At first I was in the infant room. Somehow I slipped into an assistant  to the director role. She was out of the building one day and one of the workers came into the center yelling for her. Kids were out on the playground and there was a snake. It was the harmless, garter snake. As we went out there we could see a toddler had picked it up and was beating it on the ground. The teachers out there saw it the same time we did. Much yelling ensued. The tot looked so happy playing with her new toy. Children were ushered towards the doors. Hands were washed thoroughly. A floppy snake carcass was flung over the fence. The end.

So it was not much a story but it popped in my head and I thought I would share. 

Ahhh fall. OK not technically but it is a crappy rainy day so why not send the young un's back to school where they belong. Since it is cold it is perfect knitting weather.

J began her senior year. Thing 2 entered seventh grade but is taking high school French and who knows what level math and language arts. We'll call him 7+. How about a picture? Yes I still take pictures.

Like the shirt? She is pretty proud of herself.

Then I had some "me" time. This is the first time in 5 years that I have not had some kind of first day of school along with the kids. Today "me time" meant knitting. It was good to see Marty, Alice, Miss Em, Carina and Holly. And as a bonus the other Marty, also known as Mel, was hanging with us. For the occasion we brought some stash to share with Iraqi Bundles of Love.Here is a little bit of what we packed:

No it is not an illness. It is Iraqi Bundles of Love. This very cool dude wants people to donate sewing and knitting supplies. How is your stash? Not sure what you are going to make with that one skein that looked oh so lovely? Send it to IBOL. A few years ago I happened upon a garage sale and bought a bunch of needles. Why? Well, I am crazy and I inherited this gene that does not allow me to pass up butter cream frosting and good deals.

Time running out though. You have only until September 7!!!! Sometimes I do better with short deadlines, hopefully you do too. I only wish I had a bigger following. If this does not apply to you but you know somebody who is a knitter, quilter, or sewer, send them to IBOL. I can guarantee they have extra supplies, fabric, and/or yarn. Crafty people are hoarders. Don't believe them if they say any differently.  They are good people, they just hide the fact that they have to have lots and lots of stuff. 

Have you ever experienced a natural disaster? If so: when, where and what happened?

Growing up in the mid west we are raised knowing that tornado's can destroy and kill. In schools we grow up practicing tornado drills. Many times we end up in halls or other window-less rooms sitting cross legged, facing a wall with our heads down and hands clasped behind our neck. The teacher hushes giggling children and we remain in this pretzled position until the all clear is sounded with an announcement over the PA system by the principal.

I remember one morning going to the house of the lady who watched us before school. The air seemed different. It was not gloomy as much as it felt green and still. I truly do not remember if this was the same morning of 6th grade when our drill became real. The sound of the sirens were heard before the school alarms sounded. We knew this was real. I don't remember hearing a train like sounds.  As we headed for the door to the hall, I looked back over my shoulder to see an angry pea green sky swirling about.

In the hall little kids' cries seemed to drown out all noise. We did not sit facing the wall with our bum's in the air. We huddled together and hugged each other. Mr. H then did something that was not in the handbook. He instructed us to sing Row, Row, Row Your Boat.  His goal was to calm us and to help the little kids as well. Many years later I found out that in another hall a girl was hysterically trying to run out the doors to go home. They had to restrain her. 

When the storm finally passed and we were released at the end of the day, the walk home revealed trees and lines down through out the neighborhood. Nobody died and as far as I can remember no houses were destroyed. Forever tattooed in my memory is the sight of that sky as I exited the classroom.

Your Local Yarn Shop Celebrated its 1 year anniversary with a knitting under the stars event. The store was full of knitters shopping, We got to meet a marvelous yarn dyer. Miss KellyJ and the ladies had wonderful sales and treats. Being presently unemployed I resisted buying even after I carried some yarn a round to see if it liked me. Really it liked me a lot but I was strong. Plus, I am trying to stick with my plan of not buying unless I have a plan for the yarn.

After browsing I along with fellow Zombie Prom Date Knitters retired to the porch (ok it is not really a porch but it has that feeling when we all have our chairs parked out there) to knit and gab. I met Miss Jax. She is knitting a handsome scarf for her handsome man. Shannon and Emily were spinning. Crystal was knitting (btw: loved the green eyeshadow!) I also caught up with Sue W. and her sister Mimi. So all was fun and I got the heel turned on my "My Doc Rocks!" socks on circs. I really should read the directions on this process because I had a freaking mess on my hands when I got home. it is all straightened out....for now.

One of the things I love about hanging with the Zombie Slayers is the conversation. There is always cause to laugh. Somehow Miss Holly got to talking about how she was helping a baby go to sleep by singing a lullaby. Here is a sample of her repertoire. 

I underestimated this knee thing. In my mind I could see myself hobbling around the house sans crutches by today. This is not going to happen. The pain is not horrible. The swelling is uncomfortable. I have taken only 3 of the pain meds since I have been home. My pain tolerance level is high and frankly it is not that helpful. I have switched to over the counter NSAIDs to help with the swelling and mild discomfort. I laugh at myself when I think that I would have been able to get on my exercise bike.

My kids have been incredible. However, I have stressed them out a bit. Thing 2 makes sure the crutches are right by my side. He gets nervous when I hobble around without them. Don't worry I can't go far. I was also oozing a bit and he told me that maybe if I used my crutches more that would not happen. The nurse who called to check on my progress got a chuckle out of that and seemed to agree with him. J laughed at me when she realized that when I woke up before either of them, I carried what I needed (phones, book, band aids, etc.) in a little backpack to my chair in the living room. Luckily our house is a ranch style or I would be going down stairs on my butt.

Yesterday my Mom called to tell me about a gathering for my Grandma's birthday. Mom and Dad forgot about my surgery. I intentionally told them about it last week so they would not worry so long. I am not really surprised they forgot. I don't feel bad it just is another part of my life.

Ang's husband Doug brought dinner over. Earlier in the day somebody else offered to bring dinner to us and I declined. It was her birthday, but I was so touched by her offer. Doug called and told me he had food and wondered if anybody would be here to get the door. His generousity overwhelmed me. Oh Angie is out of state for a wedding. She has been texting me frequently to keep tabs on me.

Today the plan is more sitting. J may take me to the yarn store to get a little help on my shawl. Otherwise we are on season 2 of Alias. I have two books that I can read too. That seems like a doable adjenda.

I am home and feeling good. Actually, right now I am feeling very good. Sorry for the TMI, but I got my monthly gift from Mother Nature so on top of knee pain I have cramps and hip pain. Everybody at the hospital was so nice. When I came to in recovery they told me I was a light weight (meds wise.) Then the nurse said, "OK I have to ask you something. Is your hair naturally curly?" I thought that was funny because of its timing but my curls are so irratic I don't think anybody would intentionally perm their hair like this. 

J was with me when my relaxing meds kicked in. I owed her. 2 years ago when she had her surgery I got such a big kick out of her giggles. She is not a giggly girl. I even took a picture. She did not take one of me. Once I got into the operating room things went fast. They had my arms out on two side boards. The oxygen mask was tickling my nose making it itch so somebody offered to scratch my nose for me by rubbing my mask on the itch. That was the last thing I remembered. Cool.

It felt good to get something to drink (hot tea and WATER) and they brought me cinnamon toast as well. I passed on the extra pain meds and they let me go home. Really I was home by 4. The hospital is minutes from my house.

At about 6:30 I asked Alan to go get my pain meds. Now I am feeling great. My knee is propped up with ice (not sure how it is doing any good with the wrapping) on my knee and a heated rice pack for my back craps.

All is great. I think the crutches will not be necessary for long as I am able to bear weight.

Tomorrow will consist of reading and movie watching. I think I am going to have somebody take me to YLS to get some help from Kelly J on my shawl. It is time for the edging.