A word.
02 Jan 2012 1 Comment
A few days ago I read this post, written by someone I knew back when I lived in Los Angeles. It’s been percolating in my brain for the past several days. I don’t know if I need a necklace, or a charm or talisman, but as a thought exercise I wondered if I could find a good word for myself in 2012.
Last night, as we laid in bed in the dark, Wes and I talked about what resolutions we might make for this new year. Neither of us came to any real conclusions, but at some point I talked about that One Little Word and Wes agreed that I could use a mantra.
And so I’ve spent the last 24 hours deep in thought. I want to find a word that I will be able to use all year. I want it to be a word that is positive, that gives me a plan of action. A word that I can use as a theme in the new year to improve myself, to bring joy to my life and to the lives of those around me. And I know that when I find that word I will know it; I’ll get that feeling in the pit of my stomach and KNOW it is right.
I’m still thinking, and looking, and occasionally checking the thesaurus. I’ll share my word as soon as I stumble upon it.
What’s your word?
2011: Year in Review
31 Dec 2011 1 Comment
in Deep Thoughts, L'il Ole Me, Notes to Myself
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
I learned to weave. We planted a garden in our yard, with mixed success. I explored Kansas and posted for 31 days straight. I fell in love with electronic books and had a renewed affair with local libraries. I opened my own craft shop. I survived things I never thought I could survive.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t know if I wrote any resolutions for 2011. Looking back on the blog it doesn’t appear that I did.
My resolutions for 2012:
* Cherish the time I spend with my friends and family.
* Whip my debt into shape.
* Knit and spin from the stash and stop buying like it’s going out of style.
* Read more.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A friend from California had a baby boy and I knit a handspun baby surprise jacket. A local friend had a beautiful baby girl and I dyed some yarn with Koolaid and knit a beautiful baby blanket.
It looks like 2012 is going to be a banner year for babies. I already have half a dozen baby gifts lined up to knit!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. Our world was shaken this year when we lost my brother in law James. We will never be the same again.
5. What countries did you visit?
None.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
A vacation. We couldn’t get away this year.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 17, 2011, the day my brother in law died.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
This year our family went through one of the toughest things a family can ever go through. And in these cases families can either splinter, or come together and become closer than ever. I’m proud to say that we have done the latter.
And I suppose I should also count finishing our wedding afghan (around our 3rd anniversary!).
9. What was your biggest failure?
Have you seen my craft room? We could talk about my out of control spending or the lack of organization. And no one ever accused me of keeping my house spotless or cooking well.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing that I can think of. And we went an entire year without a trip to the ER!
11. What was the best thing you bought?
For us, a Canon T3i camera – it’s been so much fun for us both to learn how to use it and become better photographers. For Wes, a remote controlled helicopter. He LOVES that thing. For me, I’m grooving on my Kindle Fire.
12. Where did most of your money go?
The mortgage, paying off the new siding on the house. I’m sure it will come as no surprise to you at all that my discretionary “fun money” went to yarn and fiber.
13. What did you get really excited about?
Belinda visiting for a few days this fall. Getting to go home for Thanksgiving. Reading books and getting to discuss them with my knitting group. Buying some new dresses for a wedding in the spring.
14. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Adele’s Rolling in the Deep.
15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? About the same.
– thinner or fatter? About the same.
– richer or poorer? About the same.
16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wish we’d spent more time out of doors, working in our yard and adventuring.
17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
I wish I’d spent less time worrying: worrying about money, about how things were going to turn out and just lived in the moment.
18. How did you spend Christmas?
We had our first Christmas in our house. We got a live tree (which will soon be planted in the yard) and stockings and spent the whole weekend in the house playing games, cooking and enjoying each other’s company. I wouldn’t change anything.
19. What was your favorite TV program?
As a couple, our favorite is easily Big Bang Theory. This year I was mostly disappointed that the series that I have been following were less compelling: The Good Wife, Castle and even Bones just didn’t measure up. We still love NCIS and I confess that I fell in love with watching Friday Night Lights on Netflix. The weirdest watch of the year has to be American Horror Story.
20. What were your favorite books of the year?
The Help was hands down my favorite. Others are here.
21. What was your favorite music from this year?
Listening to our local band, Flannigan’s Right Hook. Not music, but rediscovering NPR and listening to it on the way to and from work every day.
22. What were your favorite films of the year?
We didn’t spend much time in the theatres this year. We managed to see the final Harry Potter. At home the highlights were The King’s Speech, Black Swan and, surprisingly, The Hangover.
23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
We went for our annual dinner at Piropos. We took my mother in law and her boyfriend with us, and celebrated my 33rd year.
24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having us all together at the end of the year.
25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Hah. I normally mock myself as “what not to wear.” Of course this year I could say it’s the year of the handknit sweater, eh?
26. What kept you sane?
Wes. My fabulous family and group of friends, both online and local. My knitting/book group. My crafting.
27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Always cherish every moment you can with those around you. Keep them close to your heart because you never know what is around the corner.
So that happened…
30 Dec 2011 3 Comments
in A Picture's Worth 1000 Words, Notes to Myself, Off the Needles
Around our house last night:
Me: Stick a fork in me, I’m done! I finished 11 sweaters in 2011!
Him: Well you got that one in just under the wire, didn’t you?
Me: Holy shitballs I knit 11 sweaters in 2011!
Why yes, yes I did.
1. Vestpa, 2. Jeweled 3. The Amazing Technicolor Dream Sweater, 4. Blue Morpho Surprise, 5. Channel, 6. Staying Warm at Camp, 7. Rosy Retro Redux, 8. Idlewood, 9. Rocky Coast, 10. Rusty, 11. Lobstah
May I never be so silly as to try that again.
Blogiversary
05 Feb 2010 4 Comments
in A Picture's Worth 1000 Words, Family, Notes to Myself
Tomorrow marks 5 years since I started this “blog” thing. I can barely believe that it has been that long, but I have a cute little reminder. My nephew was born on February 1 five years ago. And look at him today:
Wes assured me that this voice changing Storm Trooper helmet would be the bees knees for a certain five-year-old.
Over the past year or two my posting has slowed down. Sometimes I feel like maybe I shouldn’t be blogging any more since most of my posts are related to knitting, and since Ravelry gives me a place to chronicle those. Sometimes I wonder if I’ve completely bored all (any?) of my readers to death.
But then sometimes I look back at old entries and find this really cool journal of my life over the last five years, and then I think that it doesn’t matter exactly when I post or what I post, but just that I do post.
In short, this isn’t an eloquent post but please accept my heartfelt thanks for hanging in there with me. Here’s to another great year!
2009: The Year in Review
31 Dec 2009 Leave a Comment
in Deep Thoughts, Notes to Myself
I’ve been reading Sundry for the last several years and each year she does a great year in review survey. So I thought I’d shamelessly steal it from her and let you have a peek into my year. If you choose to do this on your blog, leave me a link so I can see what your answers are!
Wherever you are, I wish you happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous 2010!
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
This year wasn’t quite the milestone year that 2008 was, but I did have a few firsts. I went to a knitting retreat and held a lamb. I fell out of bed. I grew a garden. We celebrated our first wedding anniversary. I grew by leaps and bounds as a knitter, and finished my most complicated project to date.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn’t specifically have a list of resolutions last year. But if I had, the top of the list would have been getting a new job, which I did in April! It’s also amazing what getting a real paying job will do for your financial goals! Wes continued to challenge me to get more active and be more fit and I’ve been working out more this year than in previous years.
I’ve been thinking long and hard about my goals for this year.
* Continue to resist my urge to be a couch potato and get up and move!
* Use my money with a purpose. After not having any for the year I was out of work, this year I went a bit crazy with the spending. In 2010 Wes and I hope to buy a house, so I’m trying to avoid spending my pennies on instant gratification purchases and saving them for the bigger ticket items.
* Continue to hone my craft skills. Challenge myself with new projects and techniques!
* Live, laugh and love.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! My best friend Light had a gorgeous little boy in October. The owner of the LYS had a beautiful little baby girl in October, and another knitting friend gave birth a few days before Christmas.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
This year we lost my great-Uncle Sy. I will always remember him as fun, with a sly grin and a great sense of humor. My last contact with him was a beautiful note he sent me right before my wedding.
5. What countries did you visit?
This wasn’t a big travel year for us. Here’s to looking forward!
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
The big one is a home of our own. I’d like to be able to BELONG somewhere and to grow a little vegetable garden. To have a craft room, and a place for Wes to collect power tools and for us to build furniture and raise a family.
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
April 20, 2009 – The day I started my new job. Being out of work for almost a year, and working at Macy’s for several months in late 2008 and early 2009 made me appreciate starting a new job that much more!
August 8, 2009 – Our first anniversary!
August 17, 2009 – The day I paid off my credit cards from my year of unemployment!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Doing what it took to pay the bills until I found a job that I could love.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Finally having a good paycheck again, I went a little crazy in the yarn buying department. This will surprise exactly no one. I want to be more financially purposeful in my 2010 spending!
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
2009 started off with a bang when I got cellulitis and made my inaugural visit to the Emergency Room. May 2010 not be nearly as eventful!
11. What was the best thing you bought?
No one thing stands out in my mind for this year.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
John McCain for his graceful concession to President Obama. Ted Kennedy for his tireless crusade for healthcare.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The list really is too long this year: Tiger Woods, Balloon Boy’s parents, Chris Brown…
14. Where did most of your money go?
Ahem. Four-letter word: Yarn. Oh, and our “House Down Payment” account, and paying off my credit cards (finally!)
15. What did you get really excited about?
I’m excited about starting a new year. And of course, I’d be lying, if I didn’t say that my knitting brings me more excitement and creative joy then I thought possible.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
I think 2009 is the Year of the Gaga.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? Definitely happier.
– thinner or fatter? About the same. Hopefully a little thinner in 2010!
– richer or poorer? Richer. Having a job will do that to ya!
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spent more time with hubby, outdoors in the good weather, indoors in the bad weather. 
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Spending time worrying about money. It always seems to worry about.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
We spent Christmas snowed in with the in-laws. It was a great weekend.
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Every day I fall in love with my husband more and more. I hope this lasts forever.
22. What was your favorite TV program?
This year Wes and I discovered The Big Bang Theory. That’s our don’t miss Monday night ritual now!
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Not that I know of!
24. What was the best book you read?
My reading has really taken a hit since I spend most of my time knitting! I tore through the Harry Potter series this year (I’m late, but I get there eventually!), the Twilight series. I also read, and greatly enjoyed, The Namesake.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I’m pretty hooked on Glee, as it has renewed my love for a capella. I spent another year listening to Pandora, creating my own radio stations to groove to at work!
26. What did you want and get?
A new job. A wonderful first year of marriage with my husband. Time with family and friends.
27. What did you want and not get?
I consider myself lucky this year to have had a job, food on my table, shelter over my head, and healthy and happy loved ones. I couldn’t ask for more.
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
No one movie stands out in my mind. We just saw Avatar and the special effects were amazing. Inglorious Basterds was the most enjoyable to see in the theater. The Reader for the incredible acting.
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
This year I turned 31. We celebrated with our annual dinner at Piropos!
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Achieving our financial goals.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Pretty much the same as the rest of my years…tragically neither hip nor funky!
32. What kept you sane?
My wonderful husband. Knitting and my amazing group of knitting friends. Laughing!
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No celebrity crushes to speak of this year!
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
It was the year for healthcare – I finally had decent insurance where I didn’t get turned down for treatment, denied covered and didn’t have to pay a disproportionate part of my income to be able to see doctors when I needed to. I hope the same will be true for everyone one day.
35. Who did you miss?
I miss all my Los Angeles friends (especially Ndef and Bel!) and Light who is on the east coast now!
36. Who was the best new person you met?
This year I met a fabulous group of individuals online – some of whom I will be meeting in 2010 face to face!
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Even though I will always worry, things usually work out somehow, so the worry isn’t really necessary!
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
It isn’t 2009, but it’s our song: My Baby Just Cares for Me
We interrupt this regularly scheduled broadcast….
02 Apr 2009 7 Comments
With a special announcement:
I GOT THE JOB!
The Daily DOH
14 Feb 2009 Leave a Comment
Random thoughts for the week:
- Apparently there’s a Valentine’s day dance at a few local schools. Ask me how I know?!?! Well the 12 women standing in dress shirts and ties screaming into their cell phones “what color is her dress again?”
- Today I learned about knives and crystal. Yup the Henckels rep and the Waterford rep came to the store. I learned more than I ever knew about both. Now I just have a lust for fine things. DOH!
- And the final Daily DOH: Apparently when trying to transfer money into my mother-in-law’s account I inverted the “From” and “To” categories and managed to transfer money FROM her account into mine. Don’t ask why they let me do that with an account that is OUTSIDE my bank and NOT IN MY NAME.
25 Things
09 Feb 2009 2 Comments
a.k.a. The STD-like plague that’s sweeping the Facebook Nation
1. I love to sleep. There are few things I enjoy more in life then sleeping late on a weekend morning or taking a nap in the warm afternoon sun.
2. I am not a pet person. I will watch your pets for you if you go on vacation. I might think they are a wee bit cute and cuddly (that’s your kitties Sean!). But I don’t want any pets of my own…. Unless we’re talking fish and a self-cleaning tank.
3. I quit my job last year to move to the Midwest with my husband. Since then, and especially lately, I have had a lot of trouble finding work. I am working as a department store clerk right now and for the foreseeable future. Part of me is proud of myself for finding a job and doing what it takes. Part of me is angry that I can’t get a better paying job given all this education I paid for. And part of me feels like a failure.
4. Knitting is like breathing for me. I knit a few stitches every day, and often a few hours of stitches. I can’t imagine life without it.
5. I have never been drunk.
6. I am neither a packrat nor a hoarder by nature. About every 6 months I get a cleaning bug and I get rid of all sorts of things and create order. But let me loose around yarn and it’s like I’m a whole other person. I have entirely more than I could use and I can’t stop collecting.
7. I like all kinds of music. Teenybopper pop makes me want to dance and I have a soft spot in my heart for country music.
8. I hated my teen years. I didn’t even like my college years that much. I finally REALLY started enjoying life when I turned 25. I was excited to turn 30 because, hands down, this has been the best year of my life!
9. I never thought I would get married. I just didn’t think I had it in me to love one person forever. Now I can’t ever imagine my life without loving Wes. And I made him promise me we’d be married at least 50 years, so I don’t think I have to worry!
10. Although I’m a little rusty, I speak French with a near perfect accent. So much so that when I speak with a native speaker they always think I’m a Francophile rather than an American.
11. I rarely wear makeup. I like the “wow” effect it has when I do.
12. I am a total geek. I LOVE learning new Excel techniques. I love playing with new technology. I have: played D&D, met my husband on a MUD back in the 90’s, skipped a social event to stay home and chill with my computer, met some of my closest friends on the internet.
13. I love to read. I don’t care whether it’s teen fiction (Twilight), 18th century lit (Jane Austen), business buzz books (Malcolm Gladwell) or non-fiction. I once joked that my dad’s reading list on his nightstand was going to require a public storage locker – well I’m getting there!
14. When I was little, I always complained of boredom. My father told me that he was NEVER bored and that when I grew up I would understand. Now I do. I could be reading or knitting or spending time with hubby… there aren’t enough hours in the day to fit everything in!
15. I have many virtues. Patience is not one of them.
16. The person I miss more than any other is my grandmother. She taught me how to knit. Weekends we stayed with her were full of cooking, shopping, crafting and having fun no matter what we did. I didn’t appreciate it enough then, and I wish I had more time now.
17. The house I grew up in didn’t have a saltshaker. (Well ok it did, but it was for company). My dad always had high blood pressure so we ate salt free pretzels, and low salt foods. As an adult I have discovered I love salt on a few foods: eggs, potatoes and popcorn!
18. I always wanted to learn to roller skate or ice skate, but unfortunately I can do neither. I was always jealous of my sister because she took so easily to both.
19. All through elementary, junior high and high school I did musical theatre. In college I performed with a vocal jazz ensemble. The idea of getting onstage and singing today terrifies me. How was I ever that brave?
20. A corollary to #17: I always wonder how my life would have been different had I decided to pursue a career as a singer.
21. My blog just hit its 4th anniversary. Who knew I had so much (or so little) to say?
22. I love the Hollywood Gossip. I used to work in an office where three of us would trade the gossip daily including photos and the latest stories! Not surprisingly, Wes isn’t nearly as enthusiastic when I try and share the gossip with him.
23. I love word games. I grew up playing Scrabble with the family. When Wes and I got together I taught him to play. Now he beats me almost every time.
24. Sometimes I wish I were a little more domestic – that I cooked better or cleaned the house a little more. Then other times I just want to order a pizza and hire a cleaning service.
25. I always thought I would live and grow old and die in Los Angeles. I NEVER thought I would come back to the Midwest after college. Just goes to show that you really never know.
Lumpy.
30 Jan 2009 4 Comments
So this week brought some new little hurdles, just as life always does.
On Sunday morning, I woke up with an extremely painful and swollen lymph node under my jaw. I wondered briefly what illness I was getting and went on my way to work.
By Monday morning, my day off, it had spread to the lymph nodes behind my ear. Thinking I might have some kind of blocked tube, I took a long hot shower, and then headed up to a health clinic to get checked out. The doctor wasn’t really sure what was wrong with me, but prescribed antibiotics and said to come back if the condition worsened.
By Tuesday, the infection had spread to most of my ear and was starting to appear on my face. The skin was red and itchy and swollen. By Tuesday afternoon I ended up in the ER getting IV antibiotics, bloodwork and a CT scan.
Thanks to my dad who told me to go, and the great doctors at the ER, I was diagnosed with cellulitis, a bacterial skin infection that is super serious, but treatable. I think if you cut me open right now I’d bleed antibiotics, but I’m FINALLY starting to see small signs of improvement. I have a follow up appointment tomorrow and another week of antibiotics, but I seem to be on the mend.
This week I’m thankful for my family and my friends, my improving health, and even my department store job which has been wonderful and guaranteed my job despite my absence.
You know you want to.
12 Jan 2009 7 Comments
Go ahead. It won’t hurt, I promise. Heck I’ve been up since 3:30am, so just leave me a little comment m’kay?
