Get Ready for Pictures!

​I had a headache this morning (mild through moderate and into aura, which was pretty weird, and finally into storm-blew-through tired and wobbly), and looking back at all the recent Monday* headaches I've been having is making me wonder if I'm subconsciously more stressed by this job than I consciously think I am. It's actually six of the last eight Mondays that I've had at least a mild headache, and that's not good.
*I'm already looking forward to having Monday off in two weeks. Come on, long weekend!

A possible contributing factor for the last few weeks (though not months) is that I've been waiting for official word on something, something that the editor-boss mentioned as a change we would be making, a change that I very much do not agree with (either the change itself or the reason for it). If it actually happens, I think it will be the last straw, the point at which I start job searching again (ugh). No job is perfect, no company is perfect, but when enough of the table legs wobble, the situation becomes untenable, and we're approaching that point. Now, maybe the division head will say no, in which case good, but if not, well. Ugh. Fingers crossed.

Speaking of wobbly table legs, I called the insurance this morning about the lab work snafu, and 22 minutes* later, she is resubmitting the claim since as it turns out, yes, the lab should be a participating provider, yes it should. OK then; now we wait (again), since the claim? takes 20-25 business days. Nice scam, insurance, isn't it? I could feel my blood pressure going up when she told me that the lab, the one I found on their website, was not a participating provider.
*Mostly on hold while she "researched it further".

Happier thoughts! I had such a nice afternoon with friends yesterday, down on the Mass/Rhode Island border (lunch in Westport, which is MA, then shopping and beach walking in Little Compton, which is RI). It wasn't a traditionally beautiful day, but nice enough that we could eat lunch outside, and though it sprinkled on us while we beach-walked, the weather wasn't really all that bad. I even found a few pretty shells, which is not always the case on our northeast beaches.

Large and small! And really crappy pictures, since I just realized I didn't take one of them yesterday. Oh well!

Even in the rain, I love the beach. The sky, the water, the birds, the patterns in the sand.

 

Surprise! Yarn store!

It was really nice. I narrowly escaped without an armload.

Fun art gallery:

 

 This is a lamp!

Door knocker!

Flowers

Trees, being artistically strangled by vines

 

 

Architectural detail on the house that would be ours if the world worked as it ought.

​And its view, too.

Just a beautiful day, in spite of the lack of sun.

Please, sir, may I have another?

Picture Time!

Let's see what's been caught on "film" as I've been around and about lately.

Not the best picture, but look at this man's sneakers.
Forget glow in the dark, those glow in the sunlight!

Not the usual car type to see in the rear view mirror! The driver was kind of a jerk, but hey, plenty of those in regular cars, too.

Noosa yogurt, or "yoghurt" (from Australia, apparently: Noosa, Australia). This was actually pretty good, but the packaging is fun, too.

Some knitting has been happening, too. I mentioned briefly that I wanted to try knitting washcloths to see what they're like. I made a simple one first:

Cotton yarn (Sugar'n Creme), US 4 needles, 30 stitches. Alternating 3 rows of K1P1 across with 3 rows of P1K1. Turned out fine, but shrank a bit, so not as big as I like to use.

Second one, in yellow Sugar'n Creme, same needles, 31 stitches, using the Bee Stitch pattern that the Yarn Harlot had shown with 2 stitches of garter as a border.

For comparison:

Isn't it interesting that they're only one stitch different, but look about three? Anyway, better size, but also shrank a bit. I used them for the first time, like them fine, enough to start making a third one, anyway (at 42 stitches, thank you). Still in process, and not photographed yet.

Technically, I started one before these, that didn't get that far before it was ripped out. I was using different yarn, and it being thinner, I didn't like how it was turning out. Sometimes, it isn't meant to be.

The one I started today, in fact, I started a different pattern, and it turned out to have a cable effect that was not a happy thing to do with cotton yarn, which notoriously has no give to it. Lots of frogging around here lately! Hopefully it's just a phase.

Cards On The Table Time

​I've been having kind of busy evenings this week, and it's nice to be have come straight home and be quietly doing laundry tonight. Not that I've been doing anything bad, or hard, this week; just, you know, I'm a homebody.

Monday I went to the chiropractor and to stitch and bitch, and then went pretty much straight to bed, still feeling wobbly from Sunday's headache.

Tuesday I returned a library book on the way to get my hair cut, then bought cat food (a Carlos-approved errand for sure!) and filled the car with gas.

Wednesday I went to CVS (Coke on sale!) and then Whole Foods: the chiropractor suggested I could try magnesium and gave me the name of a brand to try: it's powdered, and you add it to water. I spent the extra dollar on raspberry-lemon flavor, hope it's good. I also splurged on a fancy water drink, in a pretty bottle:

And you know, it was rather tasty. It's always a toss-up, trying these things, but I liked this one. I won't go back tomorrow for another, but I would buy it again. After that, I met up with my secondary knitting group, which I haven't actually been to in a long time, and used the big table to see what I was doing as I worked in the ends on the blanket. Got home close to 9, meaning I was up late, which I am not doing tonight, just saying.

Anyway, I know this isn't that much, but it was nice to just come straight home tonight. That's not to say that the evening has been without its annoyances, though.

First, I got a statement in the mail from the insurance about my recent blood-work, Remember that? Well, guess what? "Not covered." Apparently, routine blood-work is not something my plan covers? Riiiiight. So, another phone call, another round of arguing ... I couldn't face it tonight, but I'll have to soon, since I'm certainly not paying $363 out of my pocket.

Which, just as the icing on the cake, includes $40 coded as TRAVL 1 WAY NEC LAB SPEC; TRIP. Given that I went to them (twice), I hardly think that can be right.

In smaller but also annoying news, I was surprised to see, when looking at my bank account online, that my paycheck was a few dollars less than usual. I mean, five dollars and change isn't breaking the bank, but why? However, the statement hasn't come in the mail yet, and I don't seem to have written down the password I chose for accessing it online, so I'll have to wait and see. Annoying, when I was already annoyed..

There is humor to be seen as well, though. I got an e-mail suggesting blog sponsorship, since my blog "is not only refreshing, but it also inspires me to put together a beautiful home no matter how much your budget is." (You agree, right?) They then get straight to the point:

Here's what we had in mind:
We give you something or we pay you money.

Well then! Sign me up! (Not.)

Laundry out of the dryer time!

Fine, and In Brief

​Today the head was much better, thankfully, though I did notice an increase in the number of times I banged my hands on things as I moved around. For some reason, I always get less coordinated* when I have a headache, lurching into door frames and the like, and on the headache hangover day this is generally also noticeable, though to a lesser extent; but I found it kind of funny that just the fingers still seemed to have it today. The weirdest things are connected.
​*Yes! it is possible for me to be even less coordinated than usual! I know it seems impossible, but it is in fact so.

I want to get to bed at a decent hour tonight (last night I had the light off before 9! man, I was tired), so I'll leave you with this to ponder. Today's New of the Stupid, via Boing Boing: According to the Wall Street Journal (the Wall Street Journal!), the recent Oprah-in-Switzerland kerfuffle could be explained by language issues. Namely, "The clerk's English isn't great, and Winfrey probably doesn't speak Swiss." Oh, ow. Thoughts?

Did Anyone Get the Number of That Truck?

​I woke up today feeling rather like I had been hit by a truck: bruised and dazed. Yes, another headache day on Sunday. Man, did that suck. The pain is bad enough (believe me), and then there's the fear: how long will it last this time? (Oh, you were having dinner with a group of friends? Not today!) And what will it spoil next? (Other fun day plans? Apple Festival? Rhinebeck?)

Another thing I resent about the headaches is how they make me shrink from the sun. You know how I love the sun, how happy I am for a sunny day. Look how happy I was about Saturday! Turning into a vampire the very next day makes me extra crabby. And losing three days in less than a week, well, that's crabby beyond words, except maybe these: effing hormones.

I was at least able to go to work today, something that would not have been possible with Sunday's pain level. I would have loved to stay home, in fact, since I still wasn't feeling great, or even normal, but let's face it, I can't assess the need to stay home in a vacuum. If I don't absolutely have to stay home (which I didn't), and I missed a day and a half of work just last week (as I did), the answer is: go to work. I wasn't really in pain, just wobbly and generally feeling "off". And sorry for myself, if that doesn't go without saying. But, hey, I got through the whole day, got some work done, went to the chiropractor, went to stitch and bitch, showed off the blanket ... and now I'm home, and exhausted, and planning to get ready for bed. So it's only 8, so what? This kind of tired should have its own time zone.

Here's hoping for better tomorrow. Better for everyone!

Saturday, of park and sun and bunnies and books

It has been such a lovely day! In spite of lingering cramps, I have had a nice, laid-back, sunny day, and I'm feeling pretty good right now. They even say it will be sunny again tomorrow! That would be awesome; I don't feel like I'm nearly summered out yet, and I worry, as August passes, that I won't get my fill before autumn sets in. Every sunny day helps! I even sat outside for half an hour today, reading, just to be in the sun. (I needed it, it poured all day yesterday.)

Then this afternoon, I went to Somerville to check out the Handmade Arts Market, which was well worth the time on a beautiful day. (It's outside, so on a bad weather day, it would be significantly less fun, in my opinion.) There were all sorts of crafters, many jewelry but others too, some very creative, and though I didn't buy much, I did get the first Christmas present of the year, so check off that milestone. I had some nice conversations with a few of the people there, and saw lots of neat things (check out this guy: his chainmail-type jewelry and the leather masks were all really neat). I don't imagine I'll ever have the money to get everything I see that I like at that type of place, but it's fun to look nonetheless.

When I had gone through the whole thing, I wasn't really ready to go home yet, so I decided to check out this little park, River's Edge, that I have passed a million times and never stopped at. It's so pretty! And peaceful, for its location. It was also practically deserted, which surprised me on a sunny August weekend. I guess because it isn't on the way to something by walking, even though it feels like it is, so unless you live right there, you'd have to go there on purpose. I don't know; it was nice, anyway, and I think they have little festivals there sometimes, so I'll have to keep an eye out.

Speaking of keeping an eye out, this guy fled my approach and then held very still, hoping he hadn't been spotted.

Really lovely, right?

The flowers were mostly past peak, but there was still a wonderful smell in the air.

Next year, maybe I'll remember to go earlier, and catch them all blooming.

Further down was a wonderful willow tree.

This could have been the same bunny, but it was far enough from where I first saw one that it could have been another.

He,too, kept an eye on me.

But there was nibbling to do, so he didn't flee.

I was certainly monitored, though.

You can't watch these people too closely, you know.

I took out my knitting and sat for a little while, enjoying my surroundings, then came home, and have been doing laundry and dishes and all the things that must get done eventually. I think the evening calls for a movie and some knitting time.

Oh, but the book, I was going to tell you about the book I showed you yesterday! Last year, I read about a Kisckstarter project--wait, does everyone know what Kickstarter is? Okay, back up.

Kickstarter is a way for people to try to get their dream projects funded: you start a project by announcing what it is you want to do, how much money you need, and what kind of rewards you'll give to people who contribute. People pledge as much as they want, and if the project makes the goal amount* in the set period of time, the pledges are collected and the person starts working on it. There are no guarantees that they will be able to do what they say they will, so it's a bit of a gamble, but I've contributed to a couple in the last year or two, and so far they have worked out.
*If the goal isn't met, poof, it dies on the vine.

1. The first was a present for my brother, the IT guy.
2. Then, from an online comic I like, I got a t-shirt from the Wormworld Saga.
3. This book was the third one, bringing together my love of Shakespeare and especially Hamlet with my childhood memories of choose-your-own-adventure books.
4. Still in progress (at the printer, apparently) is a book from another online comic, this one a knitting one, Worsted for Wear.
5. And also in progress, from yet another online comic, Girl Genius, another book-at-the-printer situation.

I would like to say that by far, not all Kickstarter projects are based on online comics! Those just seem to be the ones I hear about...

Anyway, I'm delighted with the book I just got, and I haven't even started playing with it yet! It's great quality, really nicely done, something Ryan was able to do because his project blew its goals out of the water; he wanted to raise $20,000 in a month, and instead he got over $580,000, so as the money pledged grew and grew, he upped the deliverables (if we reach X, I will add Y). The book got bigger and it got better, and the results are amazing. This is a solid book, weighing over two and a half pounds, both b&w and color illustrations from many illustrators (11 pages of them, listed at the end), and I'm really looking forward to diving in.

I want to say, though, that even before the book came, I've been enjoying the process, because Ryan has clearly been having the time of his life. There have been regular updates about all the steps along the way (and I do mean updates: 60 so far), and his delight comes through clearly. Such as:

• "Right now is exciting times, you guys!  Right now!  THIS VERY SECOND."
• "Yorick skulls are shipping separately! So when you open your package and there is no skull there, do not be sad! There will be a skull sent to your house in a separate package. That is a real sentence I just wrote."
• (Relative to customs problems with some non-US deliveries) "I'm really sorry that this is occasionally happening, but it's also in the purview of international relations which is pretty much entirely beyond my control. The upside is that if this happens to you and you do dispute it, you are now technically causing an international incident which is surely on most people's bucket lists?"

I mean, I guess if he was enthusiastic and incompetent, I would not find the enthusiasm so charming, but since he is both, I do.

Now, the kitty has come to point out to me that I am neglecting him. Off I go!

Quickly

Quickly, since it's Friday night and there is relaxing to be done:

• I finished knitting the blanket wedding present! It needs to be washed and blocked, and the ends tucked in, shown off to knitting friends, and mailed, tra la.
• I started knitting a washcloth; the Yarn Harlot showed one that she's working on today, and it's something I've been wanting to try, so after the blanket was cast off, I cast that on. We'll see! I want to find out if they're as magical as some say.
• I got something fun in the mail today:
  
  
  I'll tell you more tomorrow!

I'm Back! Head Clear!

There is nothing like a two-day migraine to make cramps seem simple and bearable. Oh, ouchie, whatever, la-la-la, take more drugs, my head is better!

I may be giddy. With the combination of day-after-headache hangover and cramps (and the drugs taken for the cramps), I suppose it's unlikely that I wouldn't be. I'm pretty pleased that I was able to work a full day, at near normal pace, and get a few groceries after. (Though I think I'm giving myself a pass on the bike, you know, just for tonight, even though I missed the last two days. There are limits.)

Since I didn't have the slightest headache on Monday, it was a surprise to wake up around 3 Tuesday morning and find myself in the middle of quite a bad one. I guess I'm used to them building while I'm awake, but this, whoa, there I was, ow.

So I went in to work late, once it was somewhat if not all better, and tried to take it easy. I only managed half a day before I had to leave, though, and Wednesday there was no question that I couldn't go in. I spent the day moving between the couch and bed, between naps or nap attempts and watching Bugs Bunny cartoons on the iPad.

It's funny how often, when I'm in the middle of one of these things, that the thought crosses my mind, "My head hurts." Like this is news! yes, dear, that's how it works. You have a headache. But I have to stop myself (when at work) from saying it out loud.

Perhaps the hardest part of working with a moderate headache is keeping all the whining inside. Well, that and not being able to burp out loud when I need to. But that was Tuesday; today, other than feeling a little wonky, was much much better. I finished one report and started another and was both slightly sluggish and delightedly non-headaching.

A funny thing happened at the grocery store, actually. I was buying some frozen stuff, and realizing that my insulated shopping bag was at home, I decided to buy another ($1.99 big spender!) since having two isn't a bad idea in the summer. When I got to the register, I put it down first, then the perishables, then the other food. And when it was my turn, the girl took the bag and handed it right to the bagger. I said, "Oh, but I have to pay for that, I'm just buying it now," or something like that, and she said Oh and took it back to ring, and I added to the bagger, "But then I want to use it!" She rang it up, and handed it back to him, and he looked at me, dead serious, and asked,

"Do you want the cold stuff in that?"

I wish so much that I had said no, but my mind went blank. I blinked at him a few times, then said yes, please. And ever since, I keep thinking of it and smiling, and shaking my head.

Five Unrelated Ponder Points

​I don't want to say that I read "too much" science fiction, since that's a relative term, and anyway I read some but not all that much, really. However, I definitely read enough that, when reading about the FLT3 gene in a report at work, I keep seeing it as FTL. Which, in case you don't read that much sci-fi, stands for faster than light. FTL flight is part of some Elizabeth Moon books I'm quite fond of.

​That have nothing to do with cancer, unless you are dyslexic. As I sometimes am.

*****
​​The weather seems to have missed the memo that it's August. Summer is supposed to be hot, and while temps in the 70s are very pleasant, they aren't August to me. I'm not ready for summer weather to be done! Just because I'm making plans for October doesn't mean I want it to be October yet. One more heat wave, at least!

It was sunny today, there is that. I was happy about that much. 

*****
​Am I being overly judgmental if I think that an adult, professional woman (in her 50s) should not be ending a business call with, "Bye-bye"?

*****
On Saturday, as I was paying some bills, I reflected that vet bills seems to have been on my mind a lot in recent months. I decided to see just what the reality was, dollar-wise, and I went back to last September, when Carlos and Miri had their regular checkup, and added up that, Carlos' subsequent treatment for blood in the urine, ultrasound, follow-up, x-rays, and then the dental  work. In less than a year, it adds up to over $4,200, which was simultaneously validating and slightly sickening. No wonder it's been having an impact--that's not exactly loose change.

​Good thing I love him, eh? He's my therapy cat.

*****
Have to go now: that fresh local corn on the cob isn't going to cook itself!

The Kind of Uneventful Weekend Report I Like

Not a whole lot to report this weekend. Laundry, vacuuming, dishes, Target; reading, knitting, wandering online. Perfectly satisfactory, and delightfully migraine-free, but not newsworthy. The closest I come to news is related to Rhinebeck. Did you know that this is the fifth year I'll go? I didn't realize it myself until I looked back; cool.

Anyway, Saturday morning I thought that I would call the motel to see about booking a room, why not get that set up, right? Well, surprise: the motel we've stayed at each year is already full. I looked back at my e-mails from last year, and it was September when I called then to book the room! Yikes, indeed. I spread the word among my knitting friends who plan to go, and one of them (who wants to go for her first trip) got some recommendations from other knit-friends about where else we might try. That one is full, that one's $259 a night, ulp, that one's 20 miles away, can't we do better ... but one of them isn't too far from Rhinebeck, and had room, and at less than half the above rate, was much more reasonable. So I booked it quick, and felt much relief. It's more than two months off, but I put in vacation requests* for October on Friday, and am already starting to do my anticipation planning. Fun!
*The Friday and Monday around Columbus Day weekend for Apple Festival, of course, and the Monday after Rhinebeck to recover!

While I was padding around today tiding the house, I saw Miri on the bed, and then a little later Carlos on the bed and Miri lurking on the floor. Later, I went back in and saw this:

Please don't spoil it, please don't spoil it...

Look how close I got to him! Please don't spoil it!

I started (and ripped, and started, and ripped, and am about to re-start) another secret knitting project today, and though I won't show you the whole thing (if I manage to do it, that is!) until after it's given, I thought I'd show you the start.

Very illuminating, I know! The cast-on is fiddly but seamless, as advertised; that's not what caused the problem. A wrap-hole issue plus a yarn issue the first time, and a wait-a-minute, why are there 9 stitches not 10 on this needle the second time. Knitting keeps me humble! Off to hope for third time being the charm.

Happy Friday: Some Knitting Updates

Oh, Friday. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

Well, not really, but a lot. For tonight, I think I'll count the knitting instead.

Now, there's the secret project I finished last week, and another secret project I did, and another I'm about to do (my goodness, I know a lot of Virgos), but I also have not-so-secret updates. For instance, the blanket I'm making for my friend who got married earlier this year, remember that? I started it in April? Of course, it's only not a secret because she doesn't read my blog. (That I'm aware ... I suppose if she does, then it isn't a secret.) Anyway, I'm finishing the next-to-last ball of yarn, meaning that the end is in sight, so I laid it out on the bed to get a look at it. It's looking good, if I do say so myself!

 

 

Can you believe I made that? I almost can't. It makes me think of this:

And that's a double bed, so it's a good size, which is what I wanted. I also like how the cables are coming out, since when I saw the pattern, I liked the idea of it as symbolizing the two families being woven together. Yay, one more ball to go!

On a very different note, here's something I started, and finished, today, knitting after work with friends. A stress egg/ball:

 Just hand sized.

I thought of making one recently (when the chiropractor had me lying down with my head tilted backward), that it would be nice to have something for those times when I can't knit. I took the pattern I used to make my grandmother Easter eggs a few years ago (remember? of course you do), using a heavier yarn (left over from the Frost Diamonds shawl), and made it longer in the middle. Et voila! I'm quite happy with it.

I guess that's all I can show you right now. I'm going back to the knitting. Happy Friday to you!

Ups and Downs

I saw this picture on Facebook last night and I could not stop laughing​.

Maybe it struck me at just the right moment, I don't know, but wow, the combination of the photo and the caption? Could not stop laughing. If it makes me smile, that's a good thing.

Especially today, when the sun has gone away in more ways than one. If I had a mood button here, it would read ​Today I Am Feeling: Discouraged.

There wasn't a crisis, nothing like that, but several small things that happened at work today/this week added up to a despondent feeling for me, a why-bother sense of ennui. The idea of searching for a new job makes me want to weep, but I just don't know about this. Not a great day.

Of course, I have been unhappier than this at a job before--much. But the fact that this thought crossed my mind today does say something.


It was an unfortunately confluence of Not-so-Good Things, is all; everyone has days like that sometimes. Nibbled to death by ducks. We had cake this afternoon, for someone who's getting married, and it was good cake. That helped. Then, to add amusement, I had a postcard in the mail from my chiropractor--wishing me a happy birthday. I will bring the card to my next appointment and razz them about it, since my birthday is not until October. There is such a thing as being too far ahead, don't you think?