Well, isn’t this fun…

OK - first let’s get this out of the way.  I got nothing knit wise to show you.  Nada.  I being a n00b at the creating my own pattern, etc. guessed wrong on how much yarn I would need (even though - honestly?  I did get guage.  Really - I swatched and everything and the guage matches.)  I just didn’t realize how to measure correctly apparently to get enough to make the Hug & A Prayer blanket long enough.    SO - I’m extremely lucky that Jennifer is so very talented at her craft and understanding of n00b’s at the same time. which mostly means that I’m not even knitting on H&AP because I want to be able to alternate the newer skeins in with the older skeins just to hide any changes in the “dye lots”. (keep in mind - this is custom painted yarn. I’m EXTREMELY lucky Jennifer is a little bit insane, and enjoys a challenge.

In other news… My office is literally IN the news.  Well, not my specific office, but the building we are in.  There was an electrical fire somewhere the other night that damaged the HVAC and released chemicals.  So, yesterday when we went to work, the elevators weren’t working and neither was the HVAC.  BUt we had power, and they let us in the building, so off to work we all went.  Then, a little bit before 3 (~2:45) we get a phone call from building management that they are closing the building at 4.  Everyone out.  there will be NO power at all.  No excuses, no yelling, no negotiating, out.  AT 4.  Period.  Oh, and they wouldn’t be letting us back in till mid-day on Friday.  Hopefully.  90% certain we’d be back in by Friday.

Now - we are tax attorneys.  and back a couple of months ago a Tornado swept through downtown Atlanta and caused some damage.  and the IRS gave an automatic extension to everyone in Fulton County (and a couple of others) including the TAX PREPARER OFFICES located in Fulton County.  Free pass.  NO required filing of an extension, didn’t have to pay estimates, etc.  Totally free pass.  Till May 19. 

Our managing partner said - we were going to ignore this and continue to try and get all tax returns done by April 15 regardless.  Our tax manager (who I rather dislike) ignored him.  and no one called him on it because he gets the work done and no one else wants to do it.  (This is one of the main reasons I dislike him.  He’s got a Napoleon complex, and he’s allowed to get away with it.)

SO - NOW though - NOW we have lots and lots of tax returns that have to be done by May 19th.  Which is Monday.  and they were telling us with just about an hour to prepare that we had to be out of the building for ~2 days. 

We called our network support guys and one of them (actually the owner) came and helped us carry our servers out (down the stairs - because the elevators aren’t working remember?!?) and took them to their offices to at least figure out a way to give us access to our network.  but because we’re basically piggy-backing on their network, we can NOT redirect our mail to their or it would interfere with THEIR mail.  SO - all the emails are going to MY personal email address and I then have to forward it on. 

Our phones are not working - and we don’t even have the option of having a message saying we’re closed due to emergency repairs.  We don’t have the option of an “out of office reply” on our emails.  Our fax machine is not working.  We are not getting any mail (which also means payments), fedexes, or courier delivered packages. 

But it’s just till midday tomorrow - and OK.  we’ll deal.  (Although my legs?  Hurt today from going down that many steps.  I’m VERY out of shape and this really sucked.)

I got an email a little while ago from our office administrator.  she’d just been speaking with building management.   Guess what time we can get in tomorrow?

Tuesday.  May 20.

Knitblogging

Hmmmm… it’s been a while since I blogged.  And what do I have to show for it?  Erm….

Oh look!  Something shiny!

Didn’t work did it?  ::sigh:: Oh well then I guess I have to admit the truth.  I’ve gotten NOTHING finished since I last blogged.  I’ve made some progress though.  just not much.

April was sucked up by work though.  That deadline right in the middle of it?  Yeh.  I worked harder and more than I ever have.  (which is really sad if you knew the truth of it all)  but we’ve been down one support staff member since sometime in January.  Which means there are TWO secretaries for (hang on, counting…) 9 attorneys, 2 paralegals and the administrator.  cause whatever secretarying or running of the office that they need done - was done by us two.  and since I’ve been there 11+ years - I’m the one who knows how to do the billing, I’m the one who knows how to do the AP/AR and I’m the one that it mostly fell to.  In addition to my extremely high maintenance boss who got even more high maintenance whenever he saw he didn’t have my full attention.  Never mind that what I was doing was tasks that he has always said are the most important ones for the firm (billing).  He felt it necessary to prove again and again that we needed to find someone else to hire to share the load.  Which they were trying to do - as quickly as possible.  Can I just tell you though?  Not as easy as it sounds.

So - we’ve hired someone, tried to train her, and let her go, and hired someone else who’s on day 2 of her “temp-to-perm” assignment.  And guess who gets to train her?   :)  I’m not very good at that when things need to get done.  I never have been.  I’m much more of a “move over and I’ll get it done” kind of person.  Which is fine when you want to get things done - just not so much of the training.  I’ve really had to work at being a different personality lately.  Yeesh.

Anyway - knitting-wise - when I have time to knit - I’ve been working the Hug & a Prayer blanket.  Which is going well - but slowly.    And hanging out on Ravelry.  Lots.    Really really lots.  :) 

More later - my attention is gone. 

Doodlebops!

All righty - I haven’t blogged in ages and of course the last thing(s) I blogged were depressing and not something I wanted to point people towards!  So today I get a note that I’ve been linked from the Tsarina’s website.  Which while it may not be anything like being Harlotted - still is likely to send at least a few people over. 

 So - Hi!  Welcome!  Ignore the last couple of posts and I will resume knit-blogging shortly.  (Not this second though - I’m at work and probably going to get busted for all the time I spend on Ravelry already!)

(and of course they’ve changed the way this all looks since I last logged in so I’m floundering around even longer….  yeesh.)

ETA - see, already 4 hits and that was just 20 minutes ago.

That Bad

When is it “that bad”?  Everyone always says that phrase as if it’s an actual measure.  But you know, it’s different for everyone.  How do you know what constitutes “that bad” for someone else? 

In particular as regards to suicide.  We had a young woman who was married, with kids, kill herself this past week.  (her father and my boss are good friends - so it’s not someone close to us, but still.  It impacted us.)  sparked a conversation between my boss and myself about nothing being “that bad”.  But obviously - to her it was.  And today - I’m seeing partially from her point of view.  For whatever reason today - I get it.  I’m not saying I agree with suicide, or that I would actually commit it myself.  And I’m not trying to be dramatic or worry anyone or anything like that.  But today - I’m particularly irritated at the phrase “that bad”.  And people in general - their use of it. 

It’s different for everyone.  What is “that bad”.  Part of what makes us unique is our differences.  And part of those differences are the circumstances surrounding us and how we deal with them.  Or don’t deal with them as the case may be.

One thing that my boss and I were talking about was how selfish suicide is.  And it is.  I honestly believe it’s the most selfish act you can possibly commit.  But at the same time I can understand how you can convince yourself that your kids, your family, your friends, whatever would actually be better off without you.  And I don’t think society in general is very tolerant of that. 

(Sorry to be a downer today - just frustrated with cliches and meaningless words)

It’s here!

It’s here, and it’s swatched.  The color in the photo is a little bit darker cause it’s wet.  Now I gotta figure my gauge and cast on!

                    

Yarn, yarn and childhood cancer

I’ve got yarn on the way from the WONDERFUL Jennifer for my Hug & A Prayer blanket/lapghan.  SO very excited about this.  The pic I saw, it’s a beautiful, fabulous green with bits of creamy tan in there to break up the monotony.  And according to Jennifer, it’s really soft yarn (it’s Knitpicks superwash merino).  I can’t wait to get started on it.  I gotta get it done too - I’m hoping to finish it before her next chemo treatment which is probably not going to happen, but you can bet I’m going to try.  She had her first one around 10 days ago and did really well.  She didn’t get sick and felt fine she said.   They’re doing them every 21 days, so I’m probably dreaming that I’ll get it done before the next one. 

I had great fun with my ball winder over the weekend.  Worked REALLY hard at not tangling any more yarn.  I have to admit (and I’m really ashamed to say this actually) but my shoulder/back (back of my shoulder?  My back at my shoulder?  You get the idea) was REALLY sore on Sat.  and I think it’s from the untangling and winding.  That’s really sad.  BUT - I added up all the time I spent untangling - and honestly, I spent somewhere between 5 and 6 hours.  And then wound it all (which the shoulder that hurts was the one that was holding the yarn with tension not the winding one - which makes me think it was more of the untangling than anything.)  It didn’t hurt the next day though, so I’m thinking I just held it in one position for way too long.

Little man loves the ball winder also.  He got very tickled watching the balls I’d made while untangling roll around the floor as I wound.  (Cats were very interested in this too).  I gotta say though - I’m really not looking forward to winding all the yarn for the Hug & A Prayer.  My one local knitting friend has said she’ll come over and be my swift - but she’s got 4 girls so I don’t know when she’ll be able to come over.  We’ll see what happens. 

Got both of my yarns for the March KAL of the Christian Knitters & Crocheters.  Waiting on my needles.  Hmmm…. This might take me a little longer than March.  We’re doing Little Slip of A Thing (it’s a bag) from Knitty.  One of the members is already done though, and she said it’s a very fast knit.  So, we’ll see.  (My main thing is that I’m going to be knitting HAAP mostly.  But I won’t be able to do it only.  I’m just not capable of that.)  We’ve already started talking about what to do for April, and we’re talking about doing Branching Out (also from Knitty).  I’m very excited about it - it’s lace patterned, but you can use a variety of yarns.  I have to admit, I’ve already ordered a yarn for it.  So whether we do it or not, I’ll be making one.  I’ve heard really good things about it though so it sounds like something I can make lots of possibly.

And, last but not least, I’ve got 2 (different) socks on the needles.  I’m doing cuff down right now because I just wasn’t able to concentrate enough to learn how to do toe up this weekend.  I was going to, I printed out instructions, I had my Tsocks 101 kit, everything.  I even read through all of it.  But I wanted to knit.  Not read and look at my needles, and read, and look at my needles, and read and look at my needles.  So I just started from the cuff so I could see the yarn and how it’s going to look.  If I had one more set of #2’s I’ was planning on starting the second one of one of the sets as a toe up.  But I’ve only got the 2 sets and they’ve both got a sock on them.

Mostly, just really not wanting to be at work today.  The time change always kills me for a few days.  Plus, Little Man and I have been fighting off another cold.  We just keep passing one back and forth I think.   And it’s not bad, but I really want to sleep.  And I think because I didn’t take my antibiotic the way I was supposed to (my fault totally - no doubt about it) that I haven’t completely gotten rid of that sinus infection.  My ears, head and face still hurt.  I should probably call the Dr. admit I didn’t follow directions, and see if I can get a refill.  But then I have to admit I was stupid and I’m really just not up for that.      (I’m a pharmacist’s daughter.  I know better than most that you’re supposed to take all of the antibiotic.  Not just stop when you start feeling better.)

On the flip side - I feel like a moron for even complaining about that.  There is just so much worse that is going on all around me.  (Don’t you find it interesting that people you’ve never met, who you read about on the internet (blogs mostly), become what you consider a “friend”?  I find the phenomena itself interesting.)  But several of my internet friends have much worse things going on.   And I read these blogs, and just thank God for my health.  And Little Man’s health mostly.

On that note - we’re coming up on St. Baldrick’s Day.  If you’re not familiar with what it is - it’s a group that helps raise awareness and funds for children’s cancer research by shaving heads on (around) St. Patrick’s Day.  “St. Baldrick’s is the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising event for childhood cancer research. Thousands of volunteers shave their heads in solidarity of children with cancer, while requesting donations of support from friends and family.”  http://www.stbaldricks.org/  I’m sure there’s an event somewhere near you if you don’t actually know someone participating.  Please consider donating.  Please. 

(I also accept any hats in children’s sizes if you wish to donate them.   For these children, a hat sometimes means the difference between life and death.  Sounds dramatic, but when you’re bald, and your immune system is shot, catching a cold can literally kill you.   If you have knit/crocheted hats, or even store bought ones in childrens sizes that your kids have outgrown - send me an email and I’ll send you an address.)

Tonight

the part of the swift will be played by:

And what a wonderful swift he makes - let’s hear it for Little Man!

(He was watching Power Rangers, and kept griping about having to keep his hands up and out like this.  I don’t think I’ll ever get him to do it again.)

Something a mother never wants to hear from her daughter:

Look ma!  I’ve got balls!

Well, actually only 1 that I have a picture of.  No, wait I do have a picture of the other one:

 

What’s that next to it?  Oh.  yeh, that’s the reason I only have one and a partial. 

   This is it BEFORE it got bad.  (I don’t have more pictures, sorry - I was too frustrated.)

 I do however have a picture of this (before it became a ball):

Anyone think I need a swift? 

ETA:  I have one more pic to share!  And it’s not my knitting, but my friend.  but she doesn’t have a blog, and she doesn’t have a ravelry account, and I (personally) am very impressed with this and want to show it off to everyone - so LOOK:

 Isn’t it pretty!!

(here’s what it’s going to look like)

bits & pieces

First of all - I finished my 2nd Dashing!  So now I actually have a pair to wear.  Yay! 

Also have a new ball winder to wind my new yarns that I got from Ravelry people.  Yay!

Got Little Man signed up for kindergarten this AM.   Cost me an arm and a leg (relatively speaking) but we know it’s a good class, the teacher is a friend of my mom’s, and it’s at a church, so it’s Christian.  I was always one of those people who laughed at the parents who are worried about the “right” preschool or “right” kindergarten or whatever, but I’ve figured out that I have a little bit of that in me now that it’s my kid.  BUT - I still reserve the right to laugh at the ones who are just weird about it.  (and if this program had been full and he had to go to the public school, I would have been perfectly OK with that.  I live in this county specifically because the school system is a good one.  So I’ve got LOTS of choices.)

What else have I done?  Hmmm…. work, knit, frog, sleep, lather, rinse, repeat….. yep.  that’s about it.

 Later days! 

catching up

Benji died over the weekend.  He got Ich which if you look it up about what it is and what it does - it’s AWFUL.  Gross, nasty, horrible.   Ya’ll - it was awful.  there was nothing I could do for him.  By the time I figured it out and got medicine for him, it was too late.  So I had to watch him die slowly.  Cause I kept hoping he’d get better.  Maybe the medicine would work.  Should I just flush him and put him out of his misery?  No, he seems to be breathing a little better right now and there’s not as much white fuzz. 

 These are the times I wish I had a husband.  Mostly, I’m OK with being single.  It’s not my “preferred state” so much as it is what it is.  I do wish I had someone to share things with.  worries, joys, what to do about the fish…..  But then I hear the stories about how annoyed people get at one another - and I’m glad again it’s just me.   And I hear the good stuff too - the stuff that makes me go “Oh.  I wish I had that” - but let’s all go ahead and admit right now that’s not as common.  but yes, I do have friends with good marriages, and while annoyances are part of the deal, it’s balanced out by the good stuff.  Much like having a kid.  Unfortunately, there are no guarantees on either, and I’m enough of a chicken that risking it?  I haven’t met anyone who’s worth that yet. (Not saying I won’t ever - just haven’t yet.  I’ve got time.)

 Anyway - my knitting all seems to have stalled - I don’t really have anything to show for any of it. Work has been extraordinarily busy, and I’ve been working from home after Little Man goes to sleep at night frequently, and then this weekend I ran around and signed LM up for karate and swim lessons.  Had his friend over to play on Sat. so that Sun he could go to his house and I could go in to work for a few hours.  So I’ve also been going to bed pretty early lately.  with the sinus infection (did I tell you guys I had a sinus infection?) sleeping was just really nice.

Last night was LM’s introduction to karate.  They do 2 semi-private lessons at this studio to see if it’s something you want to do and give you an idea of what it’s about.  LM didn’t want to leave.  it was only 30 minutes, and he was very upset when it was time to go.  I’m very pleased with it also.  The instructor, Mr. Adam, was very good with the kids, and I really like what they’re teaching.  They don’t focus as much on karate as discipline, integrity, leadership, setting personal goals, trying hard, etc.   I’m really impressed so far.

gotta run - work to be done.