As I enter into November, it is high gear for holiday knitting. So, all my goals are around finishing all the things I need to make to give for gifts.
Lilly -- Orizal socks out of the blue Elan
Leslie -- Just Enough Ruffles out of Hunter Green Wool-Ease
Brooke -- Stuffed Frog
Sam -- Sweater out of Red Wool-Ease, I haven't chosen a pattern yet, but I am thinking a placket sweater.
Snowmen for everyone... well perhaps not everyone, but some people
Oh and I am test knitting some spiral socks, so those have to be done by the 21st, or I will be in big trouble.
I probably won't be able to get all of this done, but I sure am going to try! Then, it will be back to baby blankets, my sock yarn blanket, another sweater for me, a scarf for me and of course socks and all will be right with the world.
I am a bit freaked out by the lack of unfinished objects in my pile.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Finished Objects
Here is the most random thing. I have absolutely NO unfinished objects in my knitting bag. It is freaking me out. I am so used to having all these projects to work on and feeling sort of overwhelmed to finish them. It is strange to be done. Guess that means it is time to cast on a whole bunch of new goodies!
Some pictures:
Some pictures:
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Employment Contract
Last night, Wiley was very agitated. She wanted to go out. Since she is an old dog, we usually assume it has something to do with her kidneys that causes her to want to go out. We don't argue with her about this.
Not this time, this time she sensed that something was in the yard. As it is her soul job requirement to keep other animals out of our yard, I guess she felt compelled to deal with the situation.
I would like to remind everyone, that until this very moment in time, Wiley has not actually take her job very seriously. In Connecticut, she allowed deer to eat my roses. Here in Illinois, she has allowed rabbits to give birth in our yard.
But, for what ever reason, Wiley was feeling very motivated to tend to her job. She went out and barked at what ever animal it was until they left. We didn't think much about it, until she came back in at 11:00 pm.
Not only would this be a picture of the animal she chased out of the yard, it is also the one animal her contract expressly says she is not responsible for managing.
Yes, Ladies and Gentleman, it is the famous black and white striped cat, aka skunk. We noticed that there might be an issue when she walked by leaving a trail of stench behind her.
11:00 at night, just when I wanted to give the dog a bath. What is going to get the stench out? A quick internet search yielded the following: Peroxide, baking soda and dish soap. I have those things in my possession. With no regard to the proportions listed on the website I created a concoction of the above items and slathered the past on the dog. It took me 45 minutes to clean all the soap off of her, but she doesn't smell anymore.
We will now have to review the language in her employment contract, but I am thinking we may need to get Donald Trump to issue the famous words of "YOU'RE FIRED."
Not this time, this time she sensed that something was in the yard. As it is her soul job requirement to keep other animals out of our yard, I guess she felt compelled to deal with the situation.
I would like to remind everyone, that until this very moment in time, Wiley has not actually take her job very seriously. In Connecticut, she allowed deer to eat my roses. Here in Illinois, she has allowed rabbits to give birth in our yard.
But, for what ever reason, Wiley was feeling very motivated to tend to her job. She went out and barked at what ever animal it was until they left. We didn't think much about it, until she came back in at 11:00 pm.
Not only would this be a picture of the animal she chased out of the yard, it is also the one animal her contract expressly says she is not responsible for managing.
Yes, Ladies and Gentleman, it is the famous black and white striped cat, aka skunk. We noticed that there might be an issue when she walked by leaving a trail of stench behind her.
11:00 at night, just when I wanted to give the dog a bath. What is going to get the stench out? A quick internet search yielded the following: Peroxide, baking soda and dish soap. I have those things in my possession. With no regard to the proportions listed on the website I created a concoction of the above items and slathered the past on the dog. It took me 45 minutes to clean all the soap off of her, but she doesn't smell anymore.
We will now have to review the language in her employment contract, but I am thinking we may need to get Donald Trump to issue the famous words of "YOU'RE FIRED."
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Faithful
At my very first job after my MBA, I worked with a bunch of older and wiser ladies. I was their boss, but they certainly coached and mentored me much more than I did for them. Bearing in mind that these women did not make much money and all of them were in marginal situations. I am sure that I was sort of annoying to them, as my problems were not even on the same playing field.
One of the ladies, who lived paycheck to paycheck and supported her adult children, told me, if you have faith, G-d will take care of you. Now, I believe that G-d also helps those who help themselves, this conversation stuck with me. I asked her, how is G-d going to take care of me? I need money to pay bills, G-d can't provide me with that. She said, sometimes G-d does and money arrives when you need it.
I thought she was crazy, how could a being that doesn't have a form give me anything tangible. I thought that the whole thing was silly. Yet, as I have gotten older I have learned that perhaps she wasn't so crazy. Shortly after our basement flood, a check in almost the exact amount landed on our doorstep. There are many other examples of this sort of thing. I always find it curious when it does happen, and I am forever reminded of the conversation that I had with MF.
While I don't know if this is the case for all, most of the truly faithful people I have met, seem to be alright. It would seem that perhaps G-d does take care of his flock. This isn't to say that bad things don't happen, but in the end, these folks seem to end up ok. Not always in the same shape or space they were in originally, but ok.
Perhaps that has a lot to do with attitude, I don't know. But, I do that things sometimes don't seem like they will work out, they always seem to in the end. Sometimes it surprises me when they do.
One of the ladies, who lived paycheck to paycheck and supported her adult children, told me, if you have faith, G-d will take care of you. Now, I believe that G-d also helps those who help themselves, this conversation stuck with me. I asked her, how is G-d going to take care of me? I need money to pay bills, G-d can't provide me with that. She said, sometimes G-d does and money arrives when you need it.
I thought she was crazy, how could a being that doesn't have a form give me anything tangible. I thought that the whole thing was silly. Yet, as I have gotten older I have learned that perhaps she wasn't so crazy. Shortly after our basement flood, a check in almost the exact amount landed on our doorstep. There are many other examples of this sort of thing. I always find it curious when it does happen, and I am forever reminded of the conversation that I had with MF.
While I don't know if this is the case for all, most of the truly faithful people I have met, seem to be alright. It would seem that perhaps G-d does take care of his flock. This isn't to say that bad things don't happen, but in the end, these folks seem to end up ok. Not always in the same shape or space they were in originally, but ok.
Perhaps that has a lot to do with attitude, I don't know. But, I do that things sometimes don't seem like they will work out, they always seem to in the end. Sometimes it surprises me when they do.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
What we used to have...
In Sunday school we discussed the concept of appreciating what you have. The teacher told a story about a family that was very wealthy and then the lost their wealth, and through a series of misfortunes they ended up penniless and barely making it. At each stage of their journey, they always longed for the comfort they had prior to their latest demise.
The story really struck home with me, because as a family, we have been through a series of misfortunes in the past several years. Things seem to be on the uptick, but it was an important reminder that while things aren't like they used to be, they still aren't bad.
When ever I pay the bills, I certainly long for Bob's larger paycheck of days gone by. But, in exchange for that paycheck, Bob lost out on being a part of his children's lives. When we moved here we did it so that he could stop traveling and be a part of the family. Watching him play Wii with the boys last night was something that wouldn't have happened when he was traveling. He was just too tired when he finally got home to really hang out with us.
He has coached Sam's soccer team and now is going to coach for Hannah. This certainly would not have been possible when he was traveling, or even in last job.
There are times when I long for the friends I had before we moved, the house I had before I moved, and the life I had before I moved. I sometimes wonder if that story wasn't a message to tell me to stop longing for that which is no more, and focus on and appreciate what I have right now.
When my father died and I was unemployed, my therapist told me to be present in today. To not worry about yesterday and stop thinking about tomorrow, but to be in the moment today. It was the same message. Enjoy today, and what you have, because you don't know what tomorrow will bring.
The story really struck home with me, because as a family, we have been through a series of misfortunes in the past several years. Things seem to be on the uptick, but it was an important reminder that while things aren't like they used to be, they still aren't bad.
When ever I pay the bills, I certainly long for Bob's larger paycheck of days gone by. But, in exchange for that paycheck, Bob lost out on being a part of his children's lives. When we moved here we did it so that he could stop traveling and be a part of the family. Watching him play Wii with the boys last night was something that wouldn't have happened when he was traveling. He was just too tired when he finally got home to really hang out with us.
He has coached Sam's soccer team and now is going to coach for Hannah. This certainly would not have been possible when he was traveling, or even in last job.
There are times when I long for the friends I had before we moved, the house I had before I moved, and the life I had before I moved. I sometimes wonder if that story wasn't a message to tell me to stop longing for that which is no more, and focus on and appreciate what I have right now.
When my father died and I was unemployed, my therapist told me to be present in today. To not worry about yesterday and stop thinking about tomorrow, but to be in the moment today. It was the same message. Enjoy today, and what you have, because you don't know what tomorrow will bring.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Monkey Butt
I finished Hannah's monkey in time for her birthday. She loved it!
Isn't she fancy? I think she is very sophisticated, with the diamond earrings and bling-y sweater.
As we all know, there is the problem of evil monkeys in her room. She isn't afraid of them, because her gorilla is a monkey butt kicker and he protects her when she sleeps. The issue is that I just made her a monkey. Would gorilla kick the butt of her new monkey? Only time would tell.
As you can see, gorilla feel head over heals in love with the monkey. They are getting married. Gorilla has given up monkey butt kicking.
For now, the princess is happy that her friends are in love. That is until she needs some evil monkey butt kicked.
For the record, I was told that she wasn't afraid of real monkeys, just the evil imaginary ones. Go figure.
Isn't she fancy? I think she is very sophisticated, with the diamond earrings and bling-y sweater.
As we all know, there is the problem of evil monkeys in her room. She isn't afraid of them, because her gorilla is a monkey butt kicker and he protects her when she sleeps. The issue is that I just made her a monkey. Would gorilla kick the butt of her new monkey? Only time would tell.
For now, the princess is happy that her friends are in love. That is until she needs some evil monkey butt kicked.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Self Talk
I have been thinking about the power of self talk a lot lately. Remember in an earlier post I talked about the power of attraction. How, you attract positive things when you view the world positively. Conversely you attract negative things when you view the world negatively.
Recently, I was at the gym and we were doing a shoulder exercise that was hard. My arms felt like they were going to explode and I thought, I can't do this. Then I remembered the whole thing about self talk. I thought, what would happen if I kept telling myself I could do this, rather than saying I couldn't and it was ok to stop. As corny as it sounds, with every drum beat I said, you can. You know what, I did and I could.
I have been talking to the kids about this a lot too. Especially with Mac, when he starts to feel out of control I tell him to remind himself that he is able to control himself and he wants to be a good boy.
It is hard to stop sabotaging yourself with negative thoughts. Think about how many times a day you say something negative to yourself. It is most of the time. We aren't conditioned to say, hey, good job, way to go.
My final thought on the subject is, when you feel you can't, be inspired, because you probably can.
Recently, I was at the gym and we were doing a shoulder exercise that was hard. My arms felt like they were going to explode and I thought, I can't do this. Then I remembered the whole thing about self talk. I thought, what would happen if I kept telling myself I could do this, rather than saying I couldn't and it was ok to stop. As corny as it sounds, with every drum beat I said, you can. You know what, I did and I could.
I have been talking to the kids about this a lot too. Especially with Mac, when he starts to feel out of control I tell him to remind himself that he is able to control himself and he wants to be a good boy.
It is hard to stop sabotaging yourself with negative thoughts. Think about how many times a day you say something negative to yourself. It is most of the time. We aren't conditioned to say, hey, good job, way to go.
My final thought on the subject is, when you feel you can't, be inspired, because you probably can.
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