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?

As Seen on the Way Home

​Carlos was not at all averse to joining me in bed earlier than usual last night. He naturally spends a great deal of time on the bed, by the window, but he likes to have my company, and has been known to try to "herd" me to bed before I'm ready. Having me there before 9 suited him just fine, therefore, though I think he would have preferred less of the "Ow, it hurts" whimpering that was going on (as would I, of course).

My head was better this morning--still a 1 on the scale, not 0, but that will do. Last night was unusual, going from nothing to moderate pain in a really short period of time. This head is not just messed up, but inconsistent. Maddening.

​Meanwhile, it was another gorgeous day, and I enjoyed lunch outside very much. "They" say we may get rain tomorrow afternoon, so I've been trying very hard to fully appreciate what the weather has been the past two days (i.e., perfect)(or, to quote Pop Larkin*, "perfick"). Isn't it hard to accept, that all things, even good ones, must end?
*What? You say you haven't read The Darling Buds of May, by H.E. Bates? Please rectify that startling omission at once. You may thank me later.

I took a few pictures on the way home tonight, so let me share them with you.

This is rather a violent mascot, don't you think?

Very cool car! And later I saw another, different but also very fun, but we were both in motion, and no chance to get a picture.

I am a little concerned about what kind of test requires a hole just here.

Finally, just because the flowers are pretty.

Clouds and Cat

​After the weird weather that blew through so tempestuously last night, the weather today was glorious: mostly sunny, mid-80s, perfect. I had the worst time making myself go back inside after lunch, and was eager to leave after work for more than the usual reasons. Those storms yesterday, man: it was raining lightly when I left work, then rained harder while I was at the chiropractor but had stopped when I left, and when I left stitch and bitch later it seemed to have cleared right out. But I was barely home when I heard thunder, and not ten minutes later, it was sheeting down. Crazy!

It didn't last long, though, and it did lead to some pretty clouds.

Quack! See the duck?

I did ride the bike last night, though only for 5 minutes as my head wasn't entirely settled. Still, the sock is past the heel and the gusset decreases, meaning I can cruise down the foot now. Whatever motivation works, right? The last three weeks, I've ridden at least a little every night when my head allowed it (except when I gardened!). I'm pretty proud of that.

I don't think I'll be riding tonight, though. My head was fine today, but it's starting to hurt now for some reason. Fucking headaches. Making pasta salad sets it off now? Writing a note to my grandmother? Listening to a podcast?

I'll sign off with random cute Carlos pictures from this morning.

Talk to the paw.

 What did I just say?

Briefly of the Head, Between Stitch and Bitch and Thunderstorm

​At work today, my head started to bother me a bit (not terrible pain, or anything, but enough to be worrying), and when I looked at my calendar, I could see a really odd trend: almost* every Monday in July, I've had a headache. What the hell? Before that, I hadn't had a headache on a Monday in months. I can't think what it is about July that would be causing me to have half my headaches on Mondays.
*The only one when I didn't was, ironically, the day all the bigwigs were in the office. So thank god for small favors. Though that week, I did have one by Wednesday...

It's a small sample size, but a decidedly weird one. I wonder if it could be related to sleep? That's one thing I haven't been tracking, but it's true that I didn't sleep great last night--well, fine up until three, not so solidly after that. Now, of course, I don't recall if that happened previous Sunday-to-Mondays, but it's certainly possible. Interesting.

Okay, it's really booming outside, and I want to turn the computer off now. Ciao!

Mostly Cats. You Know. Sunday Night.

I say we all pretend that it's only Saturday. Everyone who normally works Mondays, don't go to work tomorrow. If your boss questions it, tell her that you were sure it was still Sunday! Are you in?

Okay, fine. Whatever. It was a pretty good weekend here (I hope the same for you), but nothing much to report on it. Some sun, yay! But not enough. Some knitting, yay! But secret. Some rain, unfortunately; some hanging out with friends, fortunately; blah blah blah. Whatever. Look at cute cats.

And finally, how about a video? This cat knows where he wants your hands: down. Now

Who could argue?

Friday Night: the Bike, Kvetch, Sunset edition

Do you know what day it is?

On the other hand, once again, it is 60 and raining outside, and it's hard to believe that tomorrow will be at least somewhat sunny and in the 80s. This July has been one odd weather month.

I haven't ridden the bike yet tonight--the laundry is still ongoing--but I plan to. I did last night, and it was actually harder to ride the bike for five minutes on Wednesday night than it was to ride it for ten minutes last night. Isn't that weird? Not that it was easy last night, but it was ... tolerable, I would call it. I can't say I understand how these things work, but anyway. Biking. Yes. Exercise, damn it. See if we can lose some weight, or at least lower the blood pressure.

I must admit that, after being told over the years that my losing weight would do everything but bring peace to the Middle East, I almost hope I lose some weight and still have problems. Not that I want the problems! But honestly, thin people have health problems, too. Losing weight is not a cure-all.​ I'm just stubborn enough (I get it from both sides) that I wouldn't be entirely sorry if I could say to the doctor, "But I lost weight! Like you told me to! Why do I still have this problem?" and then bat my eyes at him, all innocent, and see what he says.

*****
Do you ever find that describing a situation well is so satisfying, it almost doesn't matter that it doesn't solve the problem? I was trying to find the perfect word to describe someone once, and the feeling I got when I captured Just the Right Word (it was truculent) was palpable.

Today I was feeling kind of crabby (you=shocked, I know), and the noise My Least Favorite Coworker (MLFC) made typing, of all things, seemed crazy-excessive. But then I came up with this:

She types with a ferocity that implies the hounds of hell are on her heels and will only be discouraged by the sheer volume she produces.

And suddenly, I felt better about it.

Not about her, mind you, just about that. She's still super annoying. She coughs and sniffs and clears her throat constantly, all day long. And then there's the bracelet.​ I tried to imagine what her face would look like if I told her that I had put my headphones in to help me resist the temptation to pull the bracelet off her wrist--the one that goes clunk-clunk-clunk against her desk with her Every Move--and throw it through the window.​

I don't know if she wears it every day, but some days I don't notice any noise, and other days I notice it but it doesn't bother me (when my work-neighbor sent an e-mail earlier this week with the subject line WHAT IS THAT NOISE, I had to ask what she meant, and once she told me, I heard it but it didn't really bug me). Today, though, I was grinding my teeth and holding onto my last wisp of control, because no, you can't rip her arm off and beat her to death with it. Really, no.

Some day when it isn't driving me so crazy, I will see if I can bring it up in a casual, Doesn't that bother you? sort of way, since I personally don't like to wear anything bracelet-like if I'm writing or using the computer. We'll see what she says. (Probably just, "Oh ... no.") I don't imagine she will get the hint, but I can try.

*****
Tonight I am celebrating that the small mistake I found in my checking account balance spreadsheet was in my favor. I don't like to make mistakes, but when it means I have a little more money than I thought I did? That's the good kind of mistake!

*****
On Monday night, I cleared the headache just enough to notice that there was an interesting sunset. Not classically beautiful, but interesting, wouldn't you say?

Have a nice weekend!

Kind of Health-Related Things, Mostly. Well, Not All of It. Random!

​During the latest head-capades, my sore legs took a back seat, so to speak, but I would now like to report that my left leg is still sore from Saturday's gardening. Yes, just the left leg. Yes, from five days ago. Tell me about it; I am mighty sick of this.

Both legs did hurt, basically the backs of the thighs, on Sunday, and progressively more as the day went on. Monday, more so, but by Tuesday, I could tell it was getting better, especially the right. Yesterday the right barely hurt, and today it doesn't. The left, though? Well, it is getting better, oh so slowly, and I'm trying to stretch it out when I can (sitting at my desk, standing at the sink to wash my hands or brush my teeth, that kind of thing), but it's pretty annoying. Get with the program, muscle! Stop whining!


Partly to try to stretch it out, last night I got back on the bike*! Only for a few minutes, but after missing headache days, every bit counts. Especially if it's true, as a (preliminary) study suggests, that obesity contributes to migraines, which is a disturbing thought. And especially especially this:

"the risk of episodic migraine in those with obesity was greatest in those under 50 years of age, white individuals, and women."

In other words: me! Yikes. Perhaps I should print that out and put it over the bike, to serve as an additional reminder when I need it.
*So now the fronts of my calves are a bit sore. Excellent. Soon I will be spending more time stretching than actually riding the damned bike.

*****
I don't actually eat that much first thing in the morning: I have a cup of coffee while I read the paper, then I make my smoothie and will drink a little bit (the part that doesn't fit in the container) before drinking the rest at work. Yet even that small amount is something my body expects, and this morning as I drove to the lab to have a (stupid, annoying) fasting blood test (remember that story? second time lucky today)(no, they really don't get much walk-in traffic), my stomach was rumbling at me:
Hey! You up there! What gives? Feed me!
I carried the smoothie in with me, and started drinking it as I left their office. Man! Creature of habit much? Sometimes it's routine, sometimes it's rut, but whatever you call it, there I am.

*****
Being told, by a doctor, that "Losing weight is easy, it's keeping it off that's hard" makes me want to eat a gallon of ice cream in one sitting. Even though it is 60 degrees and raining out. It makes me angry and hurt and upset and all of that. Yes, keeping it off is hard, absolutely. But never in my entire life have I found losing weight to be "easy". He's a nice man and, I think, a good doctor, but dude? Shut up.


*****
I got an e-mail from a recruiter today, about a position I'm not qualified for, in a city over 100 miles away (Connecticut!). Fail-fail!

*****
"Following" on Etsy: is this a thing you're familiar with? Assuming you're familiar with Etsy?

Etsy is a website for mostly handmade stuff (but also vintage things and so on). There is a lot of very neat stuff there, it's a good place to kill time, and if I had unlimited money (and storage space), I would be buying a lot there. Living in the real world as I do, however, I have made five purchases in about four years (and one of those was a gift certificate; also, this; and here). I'm not a frequent shopper and am far from a trendsetter.

And yet, ​back in April I got an e-mail that so-and-so, a stranger to me, "started following you on Etsy" ... and then another a few weeks later, in May ... and now one today in July. Why? Why me? Do you understand? Anyone? Bueller?

I don't get it.

Head Musings and Happiness

​The head did get worse over Monday night, but wasn't so bad Tuesday morning; I took it easy, and when it seemed to be settled, I went in to work​,​ a bit late (9:30 instead of 8). My work-neighbor took one look at me and commented, not unkindly, that I didn't look well, and we had an interesting conversation about working through pain when you don't have other options. I mean, of course I can stay home, and if I need to, I do; but I get enough headaches that I can't really afford to stay home every time I'm not 100%, if I can still function. And that was Tuesday: not 100%, but functional. I got work done. And if I had to stop and just rub my head sometimes, and if I couldn't stay late to make up for coming in late, well, I got more done than I would have if I'd stayed home. (Stupid work ethic, though: thanks, Mom.)

In the past, I've tried to come up with a scale of 1-10, or actually 0-10, to rate my headaches, but the fine delineations have defeated me. Rating the headaches as mild, moderate, or severe works better for me. Specifically:

• Mild: Anything from "aware of my head" up, while remaining close to normal levels of functionality. At this stage, the worst pain is the worry that it will get worse.
• Moderate: Increased head pain and frequently an upset stomach (aka the burps). The "trying things" stage, where I'll try anything that might have a chance of helping. Go to bed early? Eat something? Maybe if I lie down? Take some Excedrin? How about Alka-Seltzer? How about just a glass of water? Would a cold pack on my head help? What about a hot pack?​ Still somewhat functional, but impaired: can work, but maybe not a full day; will put off non-essential errands; and may cancel plans with friends for fear of being caught out with an increase in pain.
• Severe: The worst, obviously. Everything gets canceled. Often accompanied by an awful upset stomach, which rarely but occasionally leads to vomiting. The body wants to lie down, desperately, but sometimes the head and/or stomach won't let me. Often found sitting on the edge of the couch, rocking a little, trying not to cry from the pain. All true, but writing it out makes me realize: This is the pathetic stage! And this explains why I am so happy that I've had fewer of these, as well as fewer total, since I started seeing the chiropractor.

So, today was barely in Mild; by early afternoon, I was a little euphoric about it. I had been a bit worried last night, when I got in bed at 8:30, then was awake for a while, then got a cold pack, then that didn't help ... but the heat pack did, and I slept pretty well.​ I felt good enough to run a few errands at lunch today, and I got some groceries after work despite feeling slight twinges of uh-oh (it's not bad right now, but it isn't gone, either). Honestly, it's a little sad how happy I am not to have a headache ... but there we are. Almost as happy as this dog:

And that's pretty happy. Another thing that made me happy today, oddly enough, was a spam message. But how could this not?

My diplomat has arrived! Or, rather, "arrive". Do you know how long I've been waiting for my diplomat to arrive? Forever! Has yours arrived yet?

It Goes Up and Down

The head is not all better. It was okay enough that I was able to work most of the day, but it's not great. I was just sitting on the couch, summoning the energy to get ready for bed, when this walked into my field of vision.

Ah, hello? Any chance you want to feed the kitty now?

What do you mean, "Again?"

Fortunately, Unfortunately

The good news is that I finished the secret knitting project I've been working on, and am very happy with how it turned out. One day I can show it to you!

The bad news is that the slight headache that started this morning is worse now. Off to bed, to hopefully sleep it off. We'll see!

The Weekend, in bullets and photos

It was a good weekend and an overall busy one, and now I'm at the end and I'm tired and all that depressing jazz. Let me bullet-point it, so I feel dynamic and all that shit.

• Friday night I did some laundry.
• Saturday morning I basically lazed. Talked to my mother, cuddled the cat, that kind of thing. Very pleasant.
• Before noon, I was on the road and headed to central MA to visit my friend. We hung around her house while she got dinner in the crock pot, then went out (with the two youngest) to run some errands. Including the Tractor Supply Store, where I had to photograph a few things. Not that they're that weird intrinsically, but just so far out of my normal sphere.

I mean, the sort of places I go, "they" would see me in one of these!

I like that it's "select", right?

Doesn't calling it "pork femur" seem disturbingly specific? Just me?

And you know, retriever is spelled correctly on the package, which is Right There. Just saying.

• I did a little weeding in her garden while she was getting things ready for a yarn sale. I couldn't make much of a dent--it's a really big garden, and life has not been at all kind to her gardening schedule (among other things) this year--but maybe it will free a few things to grow. I took a few before-and-after pictures, and they're not that impressive, but hey, if my hands and legs are going to ache, I am by god putting the pictures up. Not all of them. You're welcome.

• Yeah, I know. Unimpressive looking. Humor me. We ate dinner, which was delicious; would you believe, steak and baked potatoes and corn on the cob from the crock pot? But I swear, it worked! Amazing. And before I left, she let me try a blueberry right off the bush. Just as delicious as you imagine it would be!

•  This morning I read the paper, did a few things around the house, then stopped for cat food on the way to pick up a friend and go to the movies. Despicable Me 2 was, we thought, just as good as the first one! I had tears in my eyes at the end from laughing so hard.
• Then we went back to her parents house and had dinner, which was good (burgers and beans and potato chips: classic American summer food), and they introduced me to the troublingly delicious Cadbury/Blue Bunny ice cream bars, which is one of those things that is so good, you kind of wish you didn't know! (The toffee was delicious, and I want to try the Caramello ones too.)

And now it's time to get ready for the week, and get to bed. Sigh. How was your weekend?