Let's See: Health, Knitting, Weekends, and Kittens*

*not mine

I don't write every single day, but I write here most days, and it feels funny to have missed last night. So where was I? In bed at 8:30 with a headache.

I actually started to feel it around 3 yesterday afternoon. I took a pill, and the pain didn't get very bad, which was a relief both for the obvious reason, and because I really wanted to go to stitch and bitch. I had a nearly-done sock to show off, after all! I'd even treated myself and paid to park at the T, so I wouldn't have to take the bus home to get the car and arrive late, and I wasn't happy to think that I might instead be driving straight home. But at 5, the worst of it was an upset stomach, so I got a ginger ale, went, and had a good time. Unfortunately, after I got home, the headache ramped up. Ugh.

Fortunately, I slept well other than a brief ginger ale break at 2, and today felt tentatively okay (though my stomach is still unsettled, to be honest). Sucks, though. I'm getting frustrated with my body lately. I don't just mean the last few months of gaining and losing the same two pounds over and over (although that? is pissing me off, truly). It's more like this:

A Letter To My Body

Darling,
Enough already with the aches and pains. You are carrying 20 pounds fewer than you were in January. You should be grateful, not hurting. The headaches, the right shoulder*, the left wrist**, the right hip***, between the shoulder blades**** ... please stop. I cannot, and will not, cease doing everything that might possibly be causing anything. I can't live in a bubble: it doesn't pay the bills. Help me out here: it's to your own benefit.

*It's been mildly sore for a while. I think it's mostly from carrying the work bag, so I've been trying to carry it more on the left side. Another possible factor is squishing into the seats on the T, since that's surprisingly physically uncomfortable. Not much longer, in either case.

**Back in January/February, I noticed a bump swelling up on my left wrist (not the tendinitis wrist). It's about where you'd put your finger to feel your pulse. The weird part was, it didn't hurt at all. So I watched it, but didn't go to the doctor. A few months ago, I noticed it was smaller than it had been. Then last week, it was a bit bigger. Not hugely different, but enough to catch my eye. Still doesn't hurt. WTH? Do I need to go to the doctor anyway?

***For a few days last week, my right hip was really sore. Did I sleep on it wrong? Who knows. But when I stood up, it took about three steps for me to relearn walking. It's not as bad now, so hopefully it's moving on.

****Might as well call this proofreader's neck. I try not to do all my work leaning forward, but that seems to be what comes naturally. As a result, I sometimes find that I move my neck a certain way and ow!

Also, what about the auras? My migraines have never been classic, never regularly preceded by an aura. The migraines started at puberty and I was in my early 20s before I got the first aura. Just once in a great while (like once or twice a year), the sparklies start on the right side of my vision, and I have to grab for the Excedrin while I can still see. Now, once or twice a year? Fine. But three times in two months? Too much. Please chill out. I was enjoying lunch Friday a lot more before I tried to read something and said, "Wait a minute..."

I'm losing patience, is my point.

love, me

*********
In happier news, I have some knitting to show off.

See this?

This is what we in the trade called a finished sock.

I set a personal record here, by a lot: ten days! Holy wow.

From heel...

...to toes...

I love this sock. The yarn, the pattern, the speed, the fact that it fits! On to sock two.

*********
Also in happy news (though not really news per se), I had a very nice weekend. I got a bunch of the usual stuff done, including a shining moment where there was not a single dirty dish or pan waiting to be washed (sadly, this is rare for me). (I successfully resisted the urge to dance around singing.)

Saturday night was dinner with friends, great to see them, good Indian food, strangely spotty service but no matter. It seems to me, on the few occasions when I eat out, that the restaurants aren't as crowded as I expect. Probably due to the economy, and it sucks for the restaurants, but it's nice not to be rushed, isn't it? Have you noticed the same thing?

Anyway! Weekend! Sunday afternoon was a gathering of friends that was such fun. There was hanging around chatting (and knitting, in my case), good food, good people, and I got some serious baby-holding-time with a 9-month-old who was super-cute. Really a practically perfect afternoon.

*********
Then there was happy news for this coming weekend, which is a long weekend for Labor Day here in the US. (I do find it funny that we celebrate "Labor" Day by not laboring, but I'm not complaining.)

I'm going to the Cape! That's Cape Cod, if you're not from around here. And if you have time to cross your fingers for me this week, please cross them and wish that Hurricane Earl doesn't mess it up too much. Currently, the forecast is 70s and mostly sunny for the weekend on the Cape, but as we all know, that could change.

*********
Someone near me at work this afternoon saw a mouse, and while that is a really good reason to shriek in the workplace, she made a very loud noise out of nowhere. I was tensed up for quite a few minutes after.

And, of course, itchy and twitchy for longer than that.

*********
In conclusion, guess what? My brother got new kittens! Such exciting news.

And as kittens generally are, they're too cute for words.


Really, their only flaw is being far away from me. Welcome to the family, little guys!