2009 Christmas Tree

Some pics of the Christmas tree. [and Betty in the foreground]

[ps. someone needs to teach me how to make the cool online collages so I don't post a long line of pics...any suggestions?]

Sweater Updates

So, I'll show a few pics of the sweater, since I've been lazy about updating.
This is from a week ago after the class. The top is the collar, but I haven't started the actual collar yet [check out the link a in the post where I show the pattern link]. So that will be added later. The yellow yarn on the left and right is holding the stitches for the sleeves. I just finished the part where you put the sleeve stitches on 'waste yarn' and hold them till you wan to finish them separately later. The only stitches left on the needles are for the body.
This my current progress. Hopefully you can see how it's going to look a little now. It's a cardigan so the two cables in the center are the front. I got excited when it got to the point it actually started looking like a real sweater not just a loop of yarn on the needles.

Alright, back to the knitting while I still have some time on my hands. Hope everyone is enjoying the snow. Here's what my back deck looked like this morning.

Sweater Update

So, I'm super excited for my new sweater I started Sunday. The woman who teaches the class is really nice and helpful and more than happy to answer all my questions and make my insecure knitter self feel better. So it doesn't look like much yet and is all curled up but I'm started! The yarn I chose is an acrylic/wood blend so its easier to care for and it was cheaper, nice yarn is expensive!

So there's no color name, it's something like color "0670" so I'm calling it "dusty green with flecks of pink." It doesn't look as green in the pics as in real life, but here are some pics:


It's knit "in the round" which means its one large needle which looks like two needles with a string in between. It helps you knit larger things and things that are shaped like a tube. So, I've hit a problem with the pattern, the number of stitches it says I should have when I get to a certain point is not what I have, so I have an email in to the teacher. I don't want to be put on hold for a week since I need to make progress for the next class Sunday. I feel like pushing my work and the rest of my life out of the way so I can just work on this sweater but stupid work keeps me away from the shop during the hours it's open...maybe I can take a break tomorrow when working from home....

Ok, enough on that. I'm taking VAP to the oral surgeon Wednesday to get his wisdom teeth out. He's a little nervous about being put under but I'm trying to tell him he's gonna be fine. I myself had a horrible dry socket or infection thing that put me out of commission for several days and helped me lose like 7 lbs [not a bad side effect]. But that's not common. We're not all that excited about how much it costs, over $1,000, thank you crappy insurance! I wish he had all of his and I had the rest of mine [2 left] done when we both had our parent's insurance and parents to pay for it. But oh well, we're adults I guess. boooooo. Why do we have wisdom teeth anyway? If almost everyone has problems with them what has evolution done that we don't need them now but we have them?

Knitting Fun

So, even though I was sick for a while, I had some joy in that I got to wear my newly finished cabled hat that I knit!

I actually made this same hat in a different yarn a few years ago but didn't check my 'gauge' [the process that makes sure the size of the needles is appropriate so that your garment fits correctly] and the hat was barely big enough for a baby :-( This time I checked my needle size correctly and it fit! Now I'm making another one for a Christmas gift.

Today I'm starting a class at a local yarn shop. The class is for 4, 2-hour sessions where I will learn how to make this sweater, the Mondo Cable Cardi. I'm super excited b/c I really want to start making things I can wear, not just hats, scarfs, and blankets. But I'm also nervous b/c it's obviously harder to make a sweater than a big square or rectangle...but that's what I'm paying for the class for I guess right? So, I'll post my progress this afternoon if it's worth it.

Now it's time to get some cleaning and decorating done!

cough cough

I'm home sick today, little bit of a cough, no real sore throat just cough that makes the rest of me hurt :-( I debated going to work today but at 5 am who really feels good enough to go to work? So, I'm home and I'm glad. However, I feel guilty about using a day of sick leave. I have LOTS of sick leave, over 5 weeks, but all I think about is that I have to save that up in case...one day...I decide to have kids. Contrary to what I would ever believe, the US Federal govt. does NOT give you maternity leave, nada. You have to use your own sick leave or take leave without pay. So here I am sick, should probably not be at work, and I feel bad for trying to get better because I'm stealing a day from myself that years from now I might need...crazy. There's plans to pass a new law that allows parental leave, something like 4 weeks for maternity leave, but who knows when that will happen. Until then I feel the need to hoard my sick leave for the future possibility of kids.

I'm going to sit on the couch and relax and try to at least enjoy not being at work :-)

it doesn't take much...

...to make my day sometimes. Monday when I was leaving work I walked past the valet parking office of my building and waved goodbye to the security guards and the parking gentlemen that I see most days. This one gentleman in particular always says hello, calls me young lady and asks how I'm going. Yesterday he asked if I was going to watch football that night. I said probably not but my husband was. He gave me this look like, "you are married!?" Then he said something about thinking I wasn't old enough, saying I couldn't be that far out of high school. Now, I am not one of those women that feels like I look old or needs to be told I look good for my age or something, but there was something about the way this man said it, that was sweet and very complimentary. I see him most days and he always has a smile on his face and asks how I am and really means it. I honestly do not even know his name. After walking by every day and starting to say hi, good morning and the usual pleasantries we started to have a little hello/goodbye relationship going on. There is one other gentleman that is in the booth every morning. If he sees me walking by he gets this big smile and waves really big and mimes good morning. Again, don't even know this guys name but I make sure to look for him every morning because if I see him and he waves hello, there's just something so nice about that gesture that it makes me smile every time. I think they have a job where most people don't stop to say hi and wait to listen about how their day is going, so when someone does, they really appreciate it. And even though I work in an office all day where I see people and we talk and know a little about each other's lives, it's not the same-these guys are just sweet, kind people. It's the little things sometimes that can make your day.

shopping!

So, taking advantage of my day off today [thank you Federal govt] I went shopping. First to the Value Village thrift store to look for jean clothing. Added bonus, all Federal holidays are 1/2 price day at these thrift stores. VAP and are attending a "Jarty" aka, Jean Party after Thanksgiving. The premise is that you wear all denim. VAP does not own any jeans, so I had to buy him a whole outfit- jean pants, denim shirt, and sweet denim jacket. He's going to have the whole "Canadian tuxedo" going on. I just got myself a jean jacket. Not sure if I'd wear it anywhere but this party, but hey, it was only $2.50.

I wanted to buy myself another pair of jeans- new, not at the thrift store, so I headed to Arundel Mills. You could tell it was a holiday b/c the parking lot was pretty full. I don't want to think about what that place is going to look like when the holidays get closer. I can't really complain though because I pretty much always go shopping the day after Thanksgiving. While on the hunt for jeans I got distracted and started trying on just about anything. I think I experience the whole range of shopping emotions- happy to sad/depressed. How is it that the size you wear in one store is so completely different than another store? One store can make you feel good about yourself and then another can totally crush that. Besides the size issue, why is it so hard to find a pair of pants that fit right? Even in the same store trying on the exact same jeans I literally wore into the store that I've had for a few years- the new pair I tried on, didn't fit the same. Ugh. I feel the same way about bathing suits. Why can't I find a bathing suit bottom that fits as well as my underwear. No butt cheeks hanging out, not super low cut, just comfortable and covers all the right stuff.

All complaining aside, I did find a pair of jeans I could live with, and for $30! And...I found a new suit for work. I'm super happy about that, I haven't bought a suit since 2005 and I needed a new one. This one is actually separates that all match and are interchangeable which is sweet. I have a jacket and then either a skirt, or a dress. And it all looks flattering on me :-) Now I just need some place to wear it...

need to vent

so, at work I have been working over the past year to become somewhat of an expert in a certain field. Coworker A started working on this field a few years ago and was ahead of the crowd. In the past few years, I have worked hard to learn about this field, become professionally certified as an accredited professional and have been doing my own research, reading professional journals, and trying to give presentations to different organizations about this topic. Coworker B has also been doing this and we work together often. Recently, coworker A has been giving presentations on the subject, but has not really kept up her knowledge base over the years, hasn't gotten professionally accredited, and does not read journal articles. Coworker B and I have edited some of her papers and presentations and tried to kindly suggest she keep up her knowledge b/c we are constantly correcting her information. Part of me would like to let her fail and be recognized as not knowing her stuff, but when she goes out and makes presentations I feel that it reflects poorly on the office if she looks uninformed and stupid. So I'm torn, she's constantly asking coworker B and I about things that she should know, and should take initiative to learn and I feel like I can't confront her. I want to tell her off and tell her to stop taking credit for our knowledge- she'll take the info we give her and then go off and act like she discovered it herself and she's such an expert, when in reality she doesn't even understand the basics. It's so frustrating. I don't know how to solve the problem without being rude and refusing to help her, but at the same time I feel like I am going to explode and yell at her one day for being so selfish and rude. She always has the have the last word and look like the expert in the room, when often, she isn't and I feel like I may not get the respect I deserve for the work I've done. Ugh. It makes me super mad when I think about it, but I have no idea what to do. Tell the boss when I have my performance review next month? Then I feel like I'm acting like a cry baby. Otherwise I have no idea how to talk to her personally about it without ruining the professional relationship we have going now. Any suggestions?

sweet dreams

I had a great dream last night. I don't even really remember what the dream involved except that a good friend I haven't seen in years and sadly don't get to see anymore was there. Even in the dream I knew it was special that he was with me. I have to wonder if we get these special glimpses of people when they are thinking of us on the other side. All I know is that I woke up happy to have had that extra time with him, even if it was only in my dreams :-)

Quick Project

The other day while checking out cute stuff on www.etsy.com I found these patterns: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32429275 All kinds of cute knitted toys/stuff animals. VAP's favorite animal is the rhino. So, I realllly wanted to make the rhino for him. Not that he really wants a stuffed rhino, but because I though it would be cute. I started the project this afternoon and after looking up some knitting tips and instructions for things I was apparently doing wrong, I finished it a little while ago. It really is a quick project. You can make legs for these little guys too if you want, the pattern comes with 3 different choices. But I'm pooped for now. VAP left early this morning for Alabama for a work project. He comes back tomorrow night. I leave tomorrow morning for Nashville until Saturday for a conference for work. I haven't really packed yet [eeek] but I really haven't felt like it all day. I really wanted to see how far I could get with this project and I'm really happy I got as far as I did. I'll leave the little rhino on his pillow for him to find when he gets home. I'm bummed I'll miss him as our planes fly by each other. 5 days is a good while to be away, but at least I'll be busy with work. My major presentation is Friday so hopefully I won't be freaking out all week until it's over. Sad thing is I have another presentation at another conference next Friday too. Phew, I can't wait to be done with all this. I'll have been at 3 conferences in 5 weeks. Alright, I guess it's time to get packing!

*shower update*

[see previous blog]
So, my shower yesterday was awesome, I literally did a little dance when I stepped in b/c it was super hot and I didn't even have the knob at the all-the-way-hot side...and it lasted for my whole shower! I forgot how calming a nice hot shower can be. I really do enjoy them. Especially this time of year when it's getting cold outside and the bathroom steams up and the warm water and air inside the shower envelopes you for a little while making you feel safe and warm.

I might just go take another shower!

dreaming of a steamy shower...

Just took my last luke warm shower with the old water heater. Some time in June our water heater stopped working well. I think one of the two heating elements went out, so it took forever to get hot water and then it didn't last long. I'll be honest, I like to take HOT showers. My skin is pink when I get out. I like the almost scalding feeling, kinda like the hot tub, but during my whole shower. And I like long showers, I like to just stand under the shower head and let the water beat on my neck and back. So I noticed right away when the shower wasn't getting as hot. Andrew sort of noticed, but he likes his showers must less hot than I do. When we've been in the shower, um... at the same time...we have to keep changing the temperature so he's not getting 'burned' and I'm not getting goose bumps.

So, after like 4 months we are getting a new one tomorrow, and I am going to take the hottest, longest, best shower ever! watch out hot water heater, I'm gonna put you to the test!

OMG babies!

So VAP and I attended a birthday party for a friend yesterday. This friend is our age and is married and has two kids. So, the party was family friendly and anyone w/ kids was able to bring them. So, VAP and I ended up being the ONLY people at this party without children. EVERYONE else had kids and brought them. They were all nice cute kids, babies to toddlers, and the moms and dads were nice too, but I couldn't help feeling out of place or odd. No one really made us feel that way on purpose, but when conversation inevitably steers towards..."she's really not sleeping well lately, and she won't go down for naps...what kind of breast pump do you like best..." it's kind of hard not to feel a little out of place when you don't have kids, aren't sure if you ever will, but are sure you won't have any kids any time soon.

The thing is, after having gone to about 15 weddings in the past 24 months, including our own, we are about to be thrust into this lifestyle. Where your friends who have kids start getting new friends with kids and then they all hang out with each other and those kids, and where does that leave the childless couples? Now I know a lot of groups of friends go through this with married vs. unmarried couples and some people fall off the face of the earth once they get married or only hang out with the other married couples, but I think we have done ok staying social and seeing everyone when we can. I'm just a little interested [maybe worried] about seeing how this new thing [babies] could affect our group of friends.

At least one friend is expecting and that is really exciting too. This will be the first close friend who will be having a baby and I'm excited to give little baby gifts and hear all about the process and see her go through it. All rambling above aside, I think it will be cool and eye opening to see someone go through this first hand. I'm sure VAP and I will figure more out about what we think we want in the kids department as we see other people experience it. And I know that you will never be ready for such a big change in your life so you can't go around waiting until you feel ready. Still...I'm not ready!

Alright, enough of that, time to relax for the last bit of the weekend. :-D

Knitting Meet Up!

After hitting the gym tonight I went to Panera in Columbia to sit and knit w/ a bunch of other women [and one man]. I found this group on the website www.meetup.com and it looked pretty cool. It's all people who like to knit, or learn and get together every Wednesday evenings and some other mornings and just sit together and knit. They talk about projects, help each other, and just enjoy the company while knitting. I was a little worried about showing up by myself and when I got there it was pretty crowded already, so I felt weird just going up to a table. But I found a seat w/ two women, both named Karen [easy to remember] and it was really nice. They were both really friendly and we chatted about knitting and random stuff. I was glad I met some nice people and hopefully next week I can meet a few more. A lot of the women there seem to know each other and enjoy catching up. I'm hoping I can be friendly and meet some more people.

I am currently making a shawl, specifically a 'prayer shawl' for my old church. There is a group that meets during Sunday school and knits shawls for people. When I visited a few weeks ago w/ my mom they said I was welcome to take some yarn from the stash and make one. It sounded fun and it's always nice to have a new project. So I think I'm not too far off from being done, but it just resembles a huge triangle at the moment. I won't really know how it looks till it's done and off the needles. Here are some pictures so far:

I'll be sure to post some pictures when I'm done too, so you can see the finished product. I'll model it and everything! :-)

*home*

So I went home for the weekend to visit w/ my parents. Ever since I moved away for good, some time in college, I get the urge to visit home for a long weekend every once in a while. Now that I'm married I know I really can't drag the husband back to my parents house just to sit around all weekend. But I like just being home with no real plans. It can be relaxing just being back in the house I grew up in. Whenever I visit home these days, I always find myself 'exploring' the house. When I'm back in my bedroom getting ready for bed, I end up looking over my bookshelves, opening drawers and digging around and just -looking- at everything. That room really hasn't been my bedroom since I moved away to college that first year and it's like I'm in someone else's room when I go visit. But once I start looking around and remembering certain things I feel like I've been gone for so long. I found one of my old stuffed animals from when I was a toddler and it felt like a momentous discovery. I found old letters and emails printed out from middle school and high school [lots from CEBN], and I was glad I saved them because they provide so much enjoyment when I remember those times. I always end up getting in to bed later than I wanted because I get so distracted by my own stuff. There are so many things I think "I really need to save this and not get rid of it..." but then, it's not like I have room for more stuff in my new place. Hopefully the parents won't want to redecorate my room any time soon...

Crazy Fruits and Veggies!

So, it only took 3 years, but I finally finished my embroidered kitchen curtain!

I found these cute iron on patterns from Sublime Stitching they have tons of cute and cool stuff. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. Now I just need to finish the afghan I started around the same time and I can move on to new projects...

Happy Sunny Sunday!

My Husband is a Super Engineer!

So, all last week we had out AC off b/c it was really nice outside and we just kept the windows open. Saturday it got a little hot in the house so on our way out to a bbq we turned the AC on to cool the house down a bit. When we got home at like 10:30 that night it was still 83 in the house-when the AC was set to 75. Not good. At least it was still going to be nice for a few days and we could survive w/ open windows and fans. So, VAP, being a mechanical engineer, who designs large scale HVAC systems every day, talked to his work buddies about what might be wrong, came home w/ some gadget, fiddled w/ the AC for 15 mins [talked about hopefully not electrocuting himself] and soon enough had fixed our AC!!!! [far as we can tell- it's now cooling :-) ]

So, it pays to have a handy engineer around the house. He also fixed our washing machine a few months ago when the kill switch that keeps bad things from happening when you open the top when the cylinder is spinning broke. He just hard wired it so it doesn't stop when you open it-but now it will finish a cycle. Ahh the joys of inheriting old appliances.

So, I'm going to relax for another half hour before I have to go into 'bed mode' and wind down for the day. Looking forward to a ridiculously chilled house and snuggling under the covers!!!!!

Huzzah!

So, even though I was a little hung over by 8:30, the day at the RennFest was awesome. I got to see two of my best friends who go all the way back to middle school and hang out w/ all our respective husbands. I even think the men had fun together. It makes me happy when my husband can get along so well with my friends and their significant others. So between the Dragon's Blood, Black and Blue, and all the good food, I can say I had a pretty good day. The weather held out and even though it was hot and steamy, at least it wasn't raining. Here are some pictures for fun.

The ladies with our Dragon Blood.
The men conferring.
Shielding ourselves from the sun at the jousting arena.

Back in town!

Just some random pics from our trip, more to come soon!


View from the beach on the Penobscot in Passadumkaeg, ME.

Our sleeping quarters in the cabin.
Brewery #1.
Brewery #2
Brewery #3
Brewery #4!

Trip through VT and NH to Burlington.Random waterfall.
We're in Montreal! And eating poutine!
Streets of Old Montreal.
Drinks at the fancy "Wonderbar" at the W hotel.

bon voyage

VAP and I are off on a week long trip to the north. We're flying out w/a friend in about 20 mins to Maine. While there we're going to take a few day trip to Burlington, VT then to Montreal Canada. I've never been to either. Once back in Maine we'll head to Boston for the final day/night then fly out next Saturday. We're going to visit a lakeside camp for a few days and have a clam and lobster bake, go kayaking, go to brewery tours, a Ben and Jerry's tour, wander around a foreign city, and do whatever we please. I'm not usually ok w/ such a spontaneous plan, but I'm excited to wander and relax with friends. I'll try to take lots of fun pictures and reflect once I'm back. Hope you all have a great week!

I could have been arrested....?

So, while on vacation a few weeks ago down in Avon, NC, VAP and I went shopping. We headed for a shop I've gone to most years, though usually I just window shop. Walking up to the store, VAP asks, what's a nips? I look up and the sign on the door says, "No NPS Allowed." I think this is kind of funny and wonder, what letters could have fallen off to spell "NPS" [ie. National Park Service]. Upon closer inspection, we learn by reading the many posters, newspaper clippings and random rantings that are posted up outside this woman's business that she is VERY unhappy about the state of things on the Outer Banks and blames the Dept. of Interior, and specifically the NPS. I really couldn't tell you what her problem was, b/c unfortunately for her, she is not skilled at writing a reasoned argument. I really have no idea why she is so mad at the NPS but she had plenty to say. So, VAP and I thought it would be funny to get my picture [as an NPS employee] from inside the store. More for our own entertainment than anything else. I had visions of walking in and asking her if she worked for commission and telling her "Big Mistake, Huge" a-la, Pretty Woman, but eh, he store was filled w/ cheap crap I wouldn't have bought anyway.

So...I skirted being arrested [one poster said she'd call the police if you were caught on her property], and came away with this fun picture I will post up on my cubicle at work for everyone's entertainment.

"I know when I look into your eyes...

that a man can just drown in there." That is what the older gentleman at the circulation counter of the library said to me today. Not creepy, just sweet. What a cute old man. I told VAP he'd better watch out, I have an admirer.

super proud

SO, VAP and I went running today, around one of the lakes in Columbia. And I'm happy to say we made it around the whole lake without stopping, it's like 2 miles. We've never run that far together without stopping. Lately we've been running 3-4 four times a week either around the track at the gym or in our neighborhood. We started a few months ago and we've definitely improved, which is awesome. I don't totally love running, but I feel very happy with myself after I've done it, and I like being able to track my progress. I'm very proud of VAP. When we started he couldn't really run a mile w/o stopping or looking pretty pooped, and now we've doubled that. I'd like to be able to run 3 miles as my next goal, but that might take a while. I'm gonna work on making 2 miles my standard run for a while and get used to that.

So, hopefully tomorrow morning we head back out to run again. Then it's off to a family bbq/pool party, then later to a Jaws themed party in Frederick! Pretty good day lined up.

My Moral Dilema

So Sunday I had to choose between going to church and shooting guns. I've been trying to find a church up here that I would like to go to regularly, and I haven't been in a while, so I was figuring I'd try one again Sunday. Then VAP told me that he and a bunch of friends were going to a friend's parent's house to target shoot. I've never shot a gun before, and I don't really like the idea of having them at home, but the idea of shooting at a target and attempting to be accurate intrigues me. I was a 7th and 8th grade archery champion [as was BeepsNRays!]...so I've always wondered if I'd be good at target shooting.

So, guns won this Sunday. I have to say, it was pretty fun. I shot a 9mm and a AR15 [I believe]. There were other guns that I did not attempt to shoot. And to make everyone feel better, we were supervised by a cop who taught me how to shoot it and stood by me while I did it. So I felt pretty safe. Again, I have no desire to have a gun in my home, and I worry about other people that do, but I wouldn't mind going to a range and trying my hand again. We didn't really check the targets after each person for accuracy, so I don't even know if I hit what I was aiming for, or anything at all for that matter.

So, here are some pictures of me looking super tough!
Now for the super big gun...

'Garden' Update

So it's been a few weeks, here's an update on the 'garden'.
More tomatoes have sprouted, and some are even starting to look edible!
The peppers look awesome- these will eventually be red peppers [though, I did think they all come from the same plant and are just different ripenesses...]
Here's a new addition from my friend Sara. Her neighbor had lots of succulents and gave her some, so she shared. And, put this awesome plant art in, a ceramic 'stake' type thing w/ a cute flying heart. She makes lots of other ones w/ stuff on it like 'herbs,' 'basil,' and just pretty pictures. You can see them on her page here: http://www.kissmycraftsbysara.com/

So hopefully I don't kill these succulents like the last ones. Who, by the way, after I ignored them for a few weeks, pretty much assuming they were dead, actually are still alive [2 of the four]. We'll see if my new found attention kills them for good.

You know you are in WV if...

You know you are in West Virginia if your GPS has to ask you if you want a route that avoids unpaved roads...and you wonder- Can I get to where I'm headed without driving on unpaved roads? VAP and I drove to Alpine Lake Resort in Terra Alta, WV this weekend for a friend's mother's 50th birthday party. At one point we were on this road and the GPS clearly didn't know where we were b/c it kept trying to get us to turn off the road where no road existed, just trees.
This is the view from our car...we thought we might never see civilization again...

Once we finally got there it was time to relax and drink and eat. A rousing game of ladder ball and some BS card games. Then off to a WV style party. It was actually pretty fun, karaoke and bbq. I think I was in bed by midnight-sad but we did start partying about 12 hours before that.
AM and I taking a break from ladder ball. You can see the cabin we stayed in behind us.