Finally!!

After all the overtime I've worked in the past few weeks, I finally get two days off IN A ROW! Saturday and Sunday...I never dreamed that getting a weekend off would feel like such a treat!

So what am I going to do with this lovely "regular" weekend? Well, this morning I've done a few (very few, admittedly) household chores and have Netflixed a bit. As soon as I finish this post I'm going to knit for an hour or so, then go visit my parents for a bit. I've been so covered up at the office that I've not visited them in the past couple of weeks.

Tomorrow I'm going to catch up on some more of my housework, then settle happily into the recliner with coffee, remote, and knitting. *happy dance*

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Two Long, Ugly Weeks

The computer conversion at the office continues to dominate my little world. *phooey* I must confess that these 70+ hour weeks are wreaking havoc with my abilities to sleep, knit, and chase dust bunnies.

Today's my first day off since April 9th, and so far today I've done practically nothing. My plans for the afternoon are pretty much the same....practically nothing. I need to finish knitting one small birthday gift, but it will require very little time. Then I intend to curl up in the recliner with a cup of rich, hot coffee, some mindless knitting, and the remote control. If there's nothing good on TV and there's nothing I've TiVo'd that appeals, there's always Netflix to stream through the Wii. Not to mention the prospect of a cozy nap sometime this afternoon.

I'm worn out, friends....keep your fingers crossed that this total disruption in my life ends SOON!!!

I *heart* Sundays

Good morning, fellow knitsters! I've been away a long time, and I apologize, but I honestly do have a pretty good reason. That computer conversion at the office that I mentioned back in February has caused a HUGE increase in my workload. In fact, today is my first day off in the past two weeks.

Needless to say, I've barely had the energy to feed myself, much less do my blogging. My knitting has suffered terribly, too. I've managed to finish a few dishcloths and Swiffer cloths for birthday gifts, but that's been about it. I hope to spend some quality relaxation time today with my recliner, a mug (or five) of coffee, my knitting, and Netflix.

I was on Amazon.com (with whom I have a nearly-first-name relationship) a few minutes ago ordering a gift for a friend and needed to add a bit to get free shipping. I popped onto my Wish List to see what might get me over the minimum and (even though it cost more than I needed for free shipping) ordered myself Mason-Dixon Knitting. It had been on my Wish List for nearly two years, and I've always heard wonderful things about it. So now I'm looking forward to receiving it; I've needed to treat myself to something for awhile, and this seems like a good choice.

Well, friends, if I'm going to spend some knitting time this afternoon, I guess I'd better get a few household chores out of the way. I hope you all have a glorious Sunday!

When I Grow Up

I was just reading today's entry on the Yarn Harlot's blog, and in it she mentions that Sock Camp is open to the general population. Curious, I clicked the link to see what Sock Camp is.

I learned that Sock Camp is one of those things for which I'd love to have the time and money. It's four days of sock knitting fun, and oh boy, would I ever love to be there! Not only would I love to have the opportunity to learn more about sock knitting from real experts, but the camp is being held at a BEAUTIFUL resort in Port Ludlow, Washington.

Unfortunately, I just don't have the time or the money for such a trip. My job (which I must keep because I've come to enjoy having food, shelter, and sock yarn) is unbelievably busy right now. I have scads of leave available, but just can't get away for awhile. Phooey.

Oh well, maybe I can content myself with finishing up some socks I'd started back last fall and had to put aside to do my holiday knitting.

Gotta say, though, that the Yarn Harlot sure makes that sock camp look GOOD! When I grow up and retire, I want to spend all my time going to knitting camps that I don't have time for now!

Some Days It's Just Not Worth Chewing Through the Restraints

Have I mentioned that we're going through a computer system conversion at work? It's kind of taken over my life, to tell the truth. By the time I get home from work and do the few things I absolutely HAVE to do, I'm too exhausted to even pick up the "mindless knitting" I keep in a basket by the recliner. And I mean MINDLESS. Knit in your sleep kind of things. But I'm too tired to even pick up the needles, much less knit.

Here's an idea of how tired I've been: one night last week I fell asleep while eating dinner. HONESTLY!! Anyone who actually knows me knows how unlikely it is that I'd fall asleep during a meal! *LOL*

Today has been an unusually trying day, so while eating my sandwich for lunch, I decided that this will be the after-work plans today:

1. Stop at Mickey D's for a salad.
2. Go home.
3. Call Mom.
4. Take a long hot shower and put on flannel jammies.
5. Eat salad while watching something mindless on TiVo. Maybe Gilmore Girls.
6. Make a big mug o' tea.
7. Log TiVo podcaster into KnitPicks podcasts I've not yet heard.
8. Knit something mindless while catching up on podcasts.
9. Repeat step 8 until dozing.
   

It's a gray, rainy day; I love rainy days. They pull the tension out of my body like a warm bath. So this should be a perfect evening for the "activities" I've planned for myself. I'm in definite need of some yarn therapy!!

What The Heck Was WRONG With Me?

I haven't knit a stitch in nearly two weeks. Now THAT's unusual for me. Especially since the weather in my neck of the woods was cold, snowy and nasty all during the month. That's usually wonderful knitting time for me, but for some reason I just didn't feel the urge.

Today is different. The sun is shining through the windows, I have housework to catch up on, and my plan is to clean awhile, knit awhile, clean some more, knit some more. It doesn't even matter what I'm knitting. I just want to feel wool in my hands.

It's nice to feel normal again. Whatever "normal" is. *LOL*

Sick of Snow and Cold Weather in General!

Yes, I know, I'm the one who's normally really excited about getting a snow day and having more time to spend in the recliner knitting. But DANG, I'm getting tired of winter!! The hot water bottle cover I knitted last year has come in handy LOTS recently.

Okay, enough grousing, let's do a little catching up since it's been nearly a month since I've visited with you! First and most importantly, Mom's aneurysm repair on December 20 went beautifully! They kept her in ICU overnight as a precaution, but released her the next morning without even moving her to a regular room. We had her back home by 10:00 am, and according to her follow-up visit with her surgeon this past Wednesday she's doing just fine, thank goodness.

Our Christmas was quiet, but lovely. To keep Mom from trying to do too much, I stayed with her and Dad Christmas Eve so I'd be there early to try to keep her from doing much for Christmas dinner. She was still in the kitchen, but hopefully I took some of the work off her. It's tough to keep her still, THAT's for sure. :-)

All who received knitted gifts from me for Christmas seemed to really enjoy them. I love knitting for folks who appreciate it!

I knitted a lot while I was off work for the holidays, but a lot of it was dishcloths. I'd given a lot of them away as small gifts, so I wanted to start building up a little stockpile again. Also, they're good mindless knitting to do at the hospital and while talking to visitors.

I'd also purchased two skeins of lovely yarn on sale at my LYS some time ago, thinking they'd make a lovely Baby Surprise Jacket. I started that a week or so ago and it's going to be really nice. I'm going to take it along on a visit to Mom and Dad this afternoon (between winter weather systems...*SIGH*), so I plan to make some pretty good progress.

And so, my knitterly friends, I hope your holidays were filled with peace and love and that your new year is filled with health and prosperity!

I wish you the best from the frozen mid-Atlantic states!!