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!