Stuck in the mud

Today’s card: The three of Wands.

Here’s a fellow, looking out over the waterway (could be a large lake, small ocean, or just a wide river), which appears to be a haven for vacationers (sailboats and canoes), but also a method of commerce and trade (ferry and tug). He, of course, is on shore. I think he missed the boat, frankly, and now he’s watching it “pass on to bigger waters”. The card actually means thinking ahead—or having foresight. It stands for leadership and being in for the long haul. It could also mean a trip over water.

OH! I’m going on a cruise? Fat chance that will happen!

Of course, you might know, I pulled the card in reversed position, which means I’m feeling a little stuck—and this is true. Stuck on land, unable to fly. I don’t seem to be able to get anywhere these last couple of weeks. Even sock knitting has become something of a chore. The only GOOD thing about this feeling is that once it hits bottom, there is only one direction left to go—up.

All I can think of is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), because it makes you…well…SAD! It happens to folks like me in the North country—the sky goes a little grayer every day, there’s snow (four letter word) in the forecast—or worse, snow showers, and it gets colder every day. Winter is my least favorite time of year. Actually, I don’t like either of the extremes in Michigan. I like spring for the green grass and new leaves on the trees. I like autumn for the colorful maple trees. But once the leaves have hit the ground, it seems like I hit the ground too.

So, I need to come up with hints of something new to do that will make my whole outlook sparkle. I’ve already done my coif and had a manicure. A pedicure sounds good, but I wonder if I have enough in my budget to allow it. There I go…the “but” queen! I could head over to the coffeeshop and have another of those wonderful cups of coffee with caramel and white chocolate, like I had yesterday. That was a wonderful change of pace, and tasty too! And as much as I’d like to do that, I don’t want to do it again TODAY. Maybe that can be a Friday treat.

This morning, I parked in the lot beside where I work, and I might take it at lunch time and just go somewhere, but WHERE I’ll go, well, that’s another story. When I get in this “blue funk”, even shopping for yarn doesn’t help. It’s like I’ve overloaded on life, and now, I’m coming down the other side of the hill. A change of pace and direction is needed, but I’m so stuck, I have no idea which way to go. Up is the only way that sounds good.

Can I blame this on my ex-husband? Yes, I can! Later in the afternoon, I decided to head over to the nursing home to see my ex-mother-in-law—it has, after all, been over a week since I last went to see her. He had spirited her away for a couple of days. Well, at least she gets to see her cat, and I’m glad for that because she misses her cat a lot! The thoughtless part of it is that it costs $200 a day to take her out of the nursing home for overnights, and this will seriously put a cramp on her holiday time! What with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming in less than 60 days! She really doesn’t have the money to go visiting on overnights—so even thought it’s none of my business, I still wonder how my ex is going to pay for it. He’s never been one to save money of any kind for such purposes, and I hope that he doesn’t expect his poor mother or the rest of the family to pay for his thoughtlessness.


On a good note:
Our house is getting new facings—or a face lift, if you will. Soon, we’ll get new gutters. So far, the house looks quite nice. The new gutters will complete the outside the house repairs. From there, we’re going to work on the INSIDE again—this time, the downstairs. There is a ton of work to be done down there, along with a bunch of things to be “tossed out”. My old computer is down there, and all of my fabric and sewing supplies…along with 3 sewing machines. One is a treadle, one is a featherweight and one is a Montgomery Ward heavy duty cog machine with several elaborate stitches which are made by switching the cog in the top of the machine. In short, working on the downstairs is going to be a major effort, and not one that I’m looking forward to. There are still many small jobs that could be completed upstairs…for instance staining the bay window—but that’s another story.

Gray Days and Rainbows

On the way home from work, it started to rain suddenly. Then, just as suddenly, the sun came out from behind the big rain cloud--and caused a complete double rainbow.

I took pictures, but they need editing yet. Otherwise, nothing interesting to report--even though I had my spin night last night.

Today's tarot card is the 10 of swords. This card is of a person, lying face down in the dirt with 10 swords sticking out of his back.

Well, I guess you know that today doesn't bode well for me for some reason--the heading on the Celtic Circle deck says Disillusionment. It sure looks like somebody died there on the card. But the 10 isn't a "death" card, but more like a "for heaven's sake, can things get any WORSE?" type of card. True to it's background, it defines my spirit this morning and yesterday at spin night. Sort of dull and difficult to bring life into the mix. A bla-zay day meant for staying home and sleeping in. One of those "gray days" that I have now and then. However, there is hope for gray days--they can only get better, and you can't have rainbows unless you have gray days.

Of course, they are forecasting snow-showers today.

Recognition for the job I do

I've forgotten to put a picture of my red sweater on my blog, which I promised last week, and there has not been time to put it here--unless you want to see a picture of this really crazy lady trying to take a picture of herself in the bathroom mirror--a picture that looks much to uncertain--including the frustrated face--because I didn't think you'd want my face, but the sweater instead--but somehow, it just would not come out...so I have to get my hubby to take a picture of me in one of those circus mirrors that show you at your thinnest...not that I'm wanting to be a bean pole, but would prefer that you see the SWEATER, rather than Me...First the "Do I really want to do this so early in the morning?"

I also have some updates from other pics I've taken--some good, some bad. The MSU-UofM game was this last weekend, and as predicted, MSU lost again. About the only really good thing was the picture I got of the blimp floating overhead, but I got that snapshot the day before. MSU has a tendency to do really well in the first half--they look good, they play hard, and they are usually ahead by the end of the first half. But you know, I think maybe the coach goes home at halftime, because when they come out after the band leaves the field, the game is all but lost--especially to UofM.

Remember the pic I tried to get when it was early in the morning and dark outside, and I couldn't get a picture of the walk-don't walk sign? Well, this was what I got.

Now, I am NOT a photographer, but just to show you that I am capable of taking a reasonably good picture, here's one by the river, not too far from where I work.

See? See?

Okay, so what that the band didn't make me drum sergeant again this year! Oh, all right. Yes, I'm really ticked off about it. We had the annual general meeting, and they asked me to keep everybody "on task" (I think they called me "chair-person"), and it was the quickest AGM we'd ever had. Not that I have a lot of experience keeping things "on track", but the meeting seemed to go well. Even so, they didn't give me the sergeant's stripes, which is what I've been working for since time began. So now, the trick is not to work so hard over it, I suppose. They want to play in competition next year. They want to do the ceilidh. They want to play more parades and make more money. All good things...yes, but do they have the staff to do it? Will enough people be available to actually play?

Good questions. Even so, I'd like the recognition for the job I do in the band, and so far, it's not been forthcoming. I don't want a pat on the back "good job". My pride is realized by obtaining the brass ring on the merry-go-round.

I've taken up drinking coffee. Yesterday, I drank the equivalent of 8 cups. Normally, I drink about 2 cups in the morning, and decaf soda the rest of the day. Yesterday, I was really tired, but I was also really WIRED. Tight as a drum head, literally. And now it's Monday again, and I'm blogging at 4 am, drinking more coffee. Has anyone ever figured out why coffee is such a "morning person's drink"?

Well, I'm really trying to fill up time now, trying to get this picture uploaded. It would seem that blogger doesn't work well on a dialup computer.

Wiggle worm

That's my dog.

Mandy climbs into bed with hubby and I, lays between us, on here back with her feet sticking up into the air.

Then she wiggles in, trying to find that comfortable spot. Other dogs turn around chase their tail a while, then lay down at the foot of the bed, where there's more room. Not my dog! She's got to be right in the middle of things.

So I'm up earlier than usual on a bright, sun-shiney Sunday morning. Grocery shopping needs to be done. We are out of everything. Laundry needs to be done--thankfully, we are not out of everything n that respect.

Just wanted to let you know, that THE PIN WORKS! I'm speaking of my red sweater. And so, the plan is to wear it on Monday to the office. Not to brag or anything like that, but the LYS was really impressed with that sweater. I'll have to get a picture of me in it and post--one of these days when I'm a bit more photogenic--what am I saying? The last time I was photogenic was when I was 10 years old. I don't think it's coming back...know what I mean?

So I decided that the next project would be a pair of mittens for me to wear. The last pair I made were double knit and not very warm--so I was thinking of making a pair of estonian (read that "color work") mitts, but don't know how to do it in double knitting...let alone working two colors across the back and front--as these particular mitts are made flat, rather than "in the round". I suppose if I do 2 color mitts, I will have double thickness, but I'll also have threads to catch my rings on--okay, so not such a good idea.

Well, hands are falling asleep--need to get off the keyboard and get moving. Why am I so unmotivated this morning?

Class Cancelled--

I drove in to the LYS to get to my class, only to find out I had the wrong needles with me. So, because the LYS didn't have the correct length, I drove over to another LYS, bought them and headed back, sat down and waited for the teacher.

The owner stopped by the table, and let me know that I had been the only one to sign up for the class, and it had been cancelled.

Well, I was heartbroken.

These things happen, though, so I signed up for the "next time around" in January, heaving a sigh, because I stayed up until after midnight to get the cuffs done.

From there, I drove to see my ex-mother-in-law, and we had a nice chat, then I went back to the LYS and used my gift certificate. Then I went home.

I added a few new projects to my list of things to be done. I started supper. I printed off my mitten pattern, and decided to make another pair. I'm torn between making them out of wool or making them out of wool-eze. I could do either. I've got an entry there about my red sweater button band? Did you notice that? Well, I finished the neckline, then decided that I didn't like the button band. I made it wrong, and it gaps in between the buttons. The LYS and I brainstormed for nearly an hour, and the best idea was to take out the neckline, drop down the button band and reknit it OR get a pin/broche and forget about the button band all together. I've got a pin!!! I'm going to test the pin idea out. Failing that, I'm going to undo the neckband and drop down the button band and reknit it from the 5th row or so--a task I'm not really looking forward to, so we'll see if the pin idea works. If I like the look of it, I'll go with that, saving the button band issue for another day in, say, another lifetime.

So...the fair isle kit goes into the closet for the time being, and I get myself ready for cooler weather.

All in all, sort of a boring day, really.

Today's tarot card is the Emperor. Usually when I draw this card, I have some sort of disagreement with my husband, or a concern about my husband. Right now, he's playing "Mr. Distant". He was irritated at me this morning for going to the class, what with tomorrow being band practice and all. He doesn't seem to be upset...in fact, he's watching television...more horror movies.

Boo.

Roller Skating, Buffalo Herds and other non-sequitres..

It's been immortalized in song, recorded by Roger Miller, I believe...

You cain't roller skate in a buffalo herd, but you can do it if you've a mind to...

Well, yesterday, I saw the strangest thing. I'm walking to work in the morning, and the walk/don't walk sign is telling me to walk and not to walk at the same time. Does this mean to walk in place, I wonder? So I decide it's time to take a picture. I pull out my camera. Dead battery. So I laugh, shrug it off and cross the street anyway.

When I got home I charged up the battery, hoping that it wasn't fixed the next morning.

And sure as shooting, it was still "on the blink" literally. Flashing walk one second, don't walk the next, the holding both alight. There was no one standing in the middle of traffic, so I figured we were all safe.

I took a picture.

Now normally it's daylight, and pictures develop quickly on my digital camera, but now, it's 7am, and it's still dark outside.

I learned I cain't hold the camera still that long.

I ended up with red and white streaks, because the shutter stayed open so long, but since I was late for work, I knew I just had to try one more time, and then I would press on...but picture #2 was no better. So I headed to work, without the priceless picture.

Ah well, Kodak moment missed again.

I purchased a kit for the knitting. I'm taking a class tomorrow in fair isle, learning to knit with both hands. Yes, of course I knit with both hands normally...you won't see me walking down the sidewalk with one hand holding and knitting at the same time--quite a feat in my book, and probably in ANYBODY'S book for that matter...Anyway, the kit is "color your own" by Philosopher's Wool. Friends have told me that the yarn stinks. Well, it smells like Straw. It smells very strongly of straw.

I don't know about YOUR sheep, but MY sheep do not smell like straw. They smell like lanolin. The wool that I take off them, even after coming back from the mill, STILL does not smell like straw. It smells like...wool, I guess. Even after washing in DAWN dishwashing liquid, it STILL smelled like straw. Not as BAD as it did before washing, but still...like straw.

So I washed it, dried it, balled it, and left it in the open air as much as possible to help air it out an give it an opportunity to breathe. I figure that maybe it needs to get it's "sheepy-legs" back. Return to it's roots. And tomorrow, it will be knit.

Well, some will be knit tonight as cuffs for the sleeves as homework preparation.

I received the wool for a pair of socks with argyle and skulls on it. Another reason for taking the fair isle class.

Husband is watching horror movies. I don't like horror movies. We watched Jeepers Creepers II, and afterward, he wouldn't take the dog out potty. It was dark out there. I told him I'd do it, if he went with me, and HE LAUGHED AT ME! In fact, I told him a little later that I didn't want him out there with me, as he'd probably yell BOO at me, then laugh when I tried to shake myself back out of the tree to try and land on my feet like a cat. In reality, I wasn't as scared as I "let on", but he wouldn't go out in the dark--and the dog did go out in the dark, and the fearless woman and her faithful dog accomplished the feat.

I guess I need to get the dog chain back up to the house so that I can let the dog out without the boogieman getting me. It's just one of those things.

So the weekend has come around again, and there is knitting class, grocery shopping and visit the Ex-mother in law. Sunday is band practice. Busy weekend, and someone stole our gas container. I have to tell you that it's getting pretty bad when someone steals your gas can! I have no idea how much gas was inside it, but at the prices these days!! So, hard lesson learned by hubby..don't leave it out..out of sight, out of mind, you know?

I still can't believe someone stole our gas can. :\

Well I am off to knit the cuffs for my class. I hope that it goes well. I'm not expecting problems, but you know how these things go!!

Are We there Yet, and similar questions...

Ever notice anytime you get in the car with kids, they are always asking "Are we there yet?". Even in the movie Shrek II, Donkey asks nonstop. Finally, Shrek and Fiona tell him they're not because they are going to the land that's far far away, and it takes a long time because it's so FAR FAR AWAY.

Well, my Japanese Heirloom Knitting project from the Knitting Beyond the Hebrides KAL has been one of those projects that has taken me a lifetime to finish. The sweater is done. The buttons are on, but I didn't like the neckline, so I ripped it out and redid it. Twice. I think I'm finally satisfied with how it turned out, but it seems a tad small for my thick neck.

Yeah, yeah...tell me that I need to lose weight again.

Now the button band gaps.

I can't win.

So, at lunch today, I'm going to JoAnn's fabrics to pick up some matching thread to sew on some grosgrain ribbon to give the button band some stability. I figure that once I finish that, I can then put it away and probably never wear it, because it frustrated me so much. There is something to say about the experts here, telling me to do the button band by itself with fewer stitches (of course, for just such a reason), but idiot moi, figured that a twisted rib wouldn't stretch that much vertically! God forbid that I should consider the horizontal stretch of ribbing--DUH! And because I knit the button band directly with the fronts, I would have to reknit the fronts entirely, and THAT ain't gonna happen!

So learn from my mistake children...do not knit your button bands with the rest of your sweater, or it will never "look right", and you will forever be dissatisfied with the final result.

So "Is it done yet?" No. But hopefully tonight I can finish it, then wind up the balls of yarn for my fair isle sweater, and knit my cuffs. Maybe I'll wear my Japanese Heirloom sweater to my class on Saturday? Not a bad idea, if it's done yet.

Today's Tarot Card: The Wheel of Fortune

Not a bad card, if you like to gamble and win. Especially in the upright position. This card speaks to taking chances on the long shot--going for it, bag of chips and the rest of it. Thinking of asking for a promotion--take it on. Thinking about trying a new technique to get work done? HO! There you go, now's your chance, it will likely work! But as with all things that spin, there can be a downside to the wheel of fortune....after while, things basically TURN ON YOU. It's a very inreliable card. One minute on top of the world and nothing gets you down, the next, you're so far down the ladder you can't see over the tops of your socks. It's not that someone's got their foot on your head. It's your own undoing that got you there. It speaks to the time when wisdom needs to step in to help you make the right decisions for you and everyone around you. Keep your friends close and your enemies on the other end of the spectrum....but don't lose sight of them.

The wheel is like a standard wagon wheel, upright, the happy happy joy joy is at the top, and the desperate weeper, with her head in her hands at the bottom, the rest are in various modalities of emotion from best to worst. It's the bipolar sufferer's card. One minute on top of the world, the next, the world is falling down around your head...and the road is long on the trip back up.

So take care today, this card says. Things will be good, but can go bad just as quickly and just as easily.

Have a good day ya'll, and I'll let you know if I get my sweater done.