Wednesday, December 26, 2007

sorry to keep you waiting...

...and even more sorry that I am going to continue to do so for the moment.

Between the progressive gift exchanges, the normal holiday stress, post-semester let down, and a stupid chemical imbalance in my brain, I do not even feel like checking my email. I'm sure that my Pirate Library friend has sent me several, along with others. Sorry, I just do not have the mental capacity to do more than this post and a quick library update on Ravelry.

More later, including responses to all those emails waiting in my InBox.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

I think I just saw Alice

...as I fall down this bottomless hole. Just 5 more days, and the holiday will be over and done with.

New pills are starting to work, but I still feel horrible. Luckily, Cable is keeping me sane. And I get a whole day away from the house tomorrow. Stash. What a wonderful place. My new happy place.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

insert title here

I made 3 A-'s this past semester. This has to be the best GPA I've had since the third grade.

Currently, I am reading J.M.Barrie's My Lady Nicotine (published 1890, but my copy isn't that old). Nothing whatsoever to do with thesis research, but it is a delight to read. I love the persona Barrie created for this piece, so pompously Imperial yet the narrator cannot see himself as the hypocrite Barrie means for him to be. Thus, it is sooooo funny.

My friend Purl Fiddlesticks sent me a drop spindle for Christmas. Along with a book of instructions and starting materials. So we shall see how quickly I can become addicted to this new hobby. Good thing I like thick-thin wool as that is what nearly every beginner spinner creates.

Next month, I start my first KAL (Knit A-Long) it will also go hand-in-hand with the reading of Twelfth Night by Shakespeare. All knitted items will be inspired by the play. Cool, huh? In more knitting news, I am nearly done with the Younger Twin's Jacket. Still have to block the thing and maybe add some details.

Cable, despite finding some lye, is back to her normal, active self. She drank just a tad-bit Thursday while I was in Memphis. After a weekend of giving the kitten medicine, the Maternal Grandmother was glad I was home to give it for the remaining time. But I know Cable is doing great because today she has climbed the tree 5+ times, discovered a lamp-shade, and practiced jumping unto the dryer. The sweet thing.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

whoa

I unplugged this weekend (minus a few occasions) for my holiday break. Tomorrow I go back to research and stuff.


Thursday's thing was cool. One of the perks of grad school: having drinks with profs. So out of the four of us (prof included) I was the only non-drinker, non-smoker. We went to Cafe Society off Popular and had a great time. Bad part was that now my thesis adviser knows my "voice." Meaning: no cheating (as if I have ever done that). I highly doubt there is another soul on this planet that has my subject. Jupiter might have somebody, but I don't think so.

I had a small Christmas this weekend with the Paternal Grandmother. PotC 3 and a dozen handkerchiefs. I was going to buy my own, but she would not let me. How great is it that I now have enough handkerchiefs to last two weeks without doing laundry? Now to find someone to embroider my new one.

Lastly, the StepPaternal Grandmother's "confused dog" (read: goat) passed away this afternoon. I just got in from the funeral. The Younger Twin cried but the Elder didn't understand what it all meant. The man in charge of Animal Control was already at the place (we had already had an open house which he attended) and read Psalm 23. StepDad had a hole digger and 'dirt-putter-backer.' The Mayor was there, as were several other friends and family members. All in all, I say the Twins' first funeral went pretty well.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

such a tuesday

Where to even start? Well, the Younger Twin knocked the socks off her speech teacher. The class of three had to each make a sentence using the word "outside." There was the run-of-the-mill answers such as: 'I like to play outside' and 'I go outside.' My sister came up with the following, (please not that this is a direct quote) "When my mother goes outside to garden, she plants bulbs." Is there any greater reward than this sentence coming from a 5 year old? My ultimate goal, to astound all their teachers is succeeding.

My neurologist took me off one happy pill and put me on a new one. Migraine pills are the same as they always have been. I go back the first of February. So, we'll see.

I'll miss SnB this week at the bookstore, one of my classes is having a post-semester party. I shall also be missing the Memphis Knit Mafia (a Ravelry group) December swap. With my head, there is little chance of me coming back in time from the Paternal Grandmother's house in time. Ah well, such is life. I do hate that I miss so much knitting with the SnB group, but I do have my knitting time at Stash. Silver lining and all...

Sunday, December 09, 2007

and another week begins

...with me nearly done with one paper. Yea! Almost finished with Kid's Lit.

Sadly the computer thought it would be funny to save my Mod Brit Novel paper (that only needed a conclusion) in computer language. Thankfully, I had not thrown out all of my notes and was able to rewrite most of it. However, I am still about two pages short. Somehow I have completely blanked out on what those two pages were about.

I am nearly done with Christmas. Only two presents left and two presents to ship. Not a shabby way to start my week's to-do list. Have to admit, I have given up trying to keep Cable out of the tree. She likes looking down on me from the top. Or maybe she thinks it is her natural role: star of our house. I think she and the Elder Twin will fight for that spot.

In my knitting news, I can now knit 'backwards.' Hard to explain to non-knitters, but the knitters among us understand what I mean. The process is still a bit awkward. I'm talking mediative state of mind to do it. But I can. Now to move beyond the knit/purl stuff. I am free to never turn a work again. Yea. Life, liberty, and yarn for all.

Friday, December 07, 2007

I almost forgot

the most important information of the day. Here goes: The Younger Twin got one of her French fries pulled today (this equates to a name and check mark).

It broke her heart. Mom went to have lunch with the Twins and the conversation went something along these lines:

Mom- So girls, how is your day going?
Younger Twin- :breaks into tears: I'm having a bad day. I'm sick. Can I go home now?

Turns out, the kid was running a temperature and got to go home. She got in trouble for talking when she wasn't suppose to. Then she had to pull a French fry because she contested it. My words, not hers. It did not help matters that her BFF said they weren't friends anymore.

Oh the drama of Kindergarten.

Well, it's happened

she did it. We knew little Cable had climbed to the top of the tree. The bent star was the smoking gun if you will. However, tonight I caught her in the act. Twice.



First attempt, the pictures were blurry except this one. Due largely to the fact that my camera would like to die. Thankfully, she repeated herself. Look at her, she knows she has overcome the last great mystery of the world.





Stars, I do love her.

Thursday, December 06, 2007

lagan things

if you don't know what "lagan" means, you should look it up. I am not doing your homework for you.

My new favorite song is "My Lagan Love" sung by The Corrs. Anuna's version is a bit slower and more haunting, which is pretty but I need something a little more upbeat. Hence, The Corrs. I swear, my inter child is dancing.


Well, the last day of classes was yesterday. :insert happy dance: Today was a study day, so when the Middle school called desperate, I skipped studying. 6th grade. Not. Fun. At. All. Funny thing, everyone seemed to confuse me with my Full-Blooded Sister. It took them a moment to see the differences. This is funny in that it rarely happens.

After I clock-ed out at school, I filled the tank up and went across the River (ha, more lagan) to my other job. I so needed the laughter. I have also promised myself no new yarn until I finish a big project. And I did not buy new yarn tonight. New needles, yes. But I was so expecting to buy yarn despite myself. The problem wasn't the want of yarn, but want of project.

I sub again tomorrow afternoon. But for now, I'm off to Ravelry for a moment. Update the projects and all. Therefore, I leave you with:

Where Lagan stream sing lullaby
There blows a lily fair
When twilight gleam is in her eyes
The night is on her hair
And like a love - sick lenanshee
She hath my heart in thrall
No life have I, no liberty
With love is lord of all

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

another update

sorta. This weekend was drama filled action. The Elder Twin got her hair caught in a treadmill, thankfully she only lost some hair. She picked up a virus and is missing a whole week of school. The Younger Twin is doing fine. Yea! Oh, and I might have had a petite mal seizure. I zoned out and was "spacey" when I came back to earth. I know I slept like my mind was doing something funky when I napped afterwards.

Despite the drama, I did finish the paper that was due today. And in time for a buddy in the department to look it over with me. Next week's papers are nearly written. I was elected the leader of a debate before I even knew I was nominated. No big, I have been arguing Johnson's side since we started reading his stuff.

I think I'll take the night off.