10 Things for my better 2006

<- The M's - Christmas Morning 2005














10 Things for my better 2006 –

Get a new job!
Cultivate friendships
Stop bumming cigarettes
Encourage joy
Get back into reading
Ride my bike to the new job
Spend more time in the outdoors
Try something more challenging for a knitting project
Help my girls be more independent
Eat healthier


If I can accomplish the first two items – the rest will be easy – they are just frosting and will come naturally.

I have to get a new job – I have two now – one I love and have had for 4-5 years but it’s only part-time-on call. It is fun, challenging, interesting, appreciated, intellectual, satisfying, makes me think, and the setting is incredible. The second is boring, tedious, unsatisfying, unappreciated, the setting is terrible (Chemical smells), but it is stable and has good benefits. But I dread getting up every morning and going to work. I’m not appreciated and I hate the politics. I can either stick it out for another year and half till M3 graduates from High School and then move and reinvent myself or find something better now – which today is what I’d like to do!!

I do need to stop bumming cigarettes – it’s not part of my healthy plan and I can’t go on long bike rides if this keeps up – so I’ll work on it. Last year I spent my tax return on a good road bike – rode it around the neighborhood – but never a real tour. My buddy from Montana has moved back into the area so maybe now I’ll have a partner to ride with – but she will have to be patient with my slow old body for a while!

I do have to cultivate friendships – I seem to have lost many friends in the last few years – changed jobs, people moved etc…..I can’t continue to spend so much time by myself just knitting away – although that is nice too. The M’s will be away to college before I know it and then what do I do!

I used to be an avid reader – but my I needed a new prescription for my glasses and I still am not satisfied with them (thank heavens I can still knit). I belong to a great book club but haven’t read the book for about three months now – really strange for me (too much knitting I think). I am working on compiling the book list and will post it one day soon.

I’ve got to reinvent myself and be prepared for when they are really gone. I need a plan and something to look forward to. I’ve spent the last 24 years being a Mom and now I’ve got to work on just me for a change. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t regret a moment. I’ve been blessed with wonderful children and very good health – but once the kids are on their own – good health doesn’t mean a great life.

So its time to get working! Wish me luck and any suggestions and discussions would be appreciated.

Happy New Year to all!!!

Book Club List

The following is a list (as best as I can remember) of the books my group has read the last few years....Not necessarily in order!

The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency- Alexandra Mc Call Smith
Seabiscuit -
The Secret Life of Bees – Sue Monk Kid
Rue Tatin – Susan Loomis
Kristin Lavransedatter – Sigrid Undset
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time – Mark Haddon
The Moon Spinners, Mary Stewart
A Kiss from Maddalena – Christopher Castellani
The Big House – George Howe Colt
Cry the Beloved Country
The Power of One – Bryce Courtaney
Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
Empire Falls – Richard Russo
The Other Boleyn Girl-Gregory
The Good Earth – Pearl Buck
The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver
The Prodigal Summer – Barbara Kingsolver
Women of Silk – Gail Tsukiyama Gail
The Samurai’s Garden - Gail Tsukiyama
Reading Lolita in Tehran – Azar Nafisi
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
Hannah’s Daughters – Marianne Fredrikson
Lying Awake – Mark Salzman
Under the Tuscan Sun – Frances Mayes
Electroboy: A Memoir of Mania – Andy Behrman
Where Rivers Change Direction – Mark Spragg
Life of Pi - by Yann Martel
Birds without Wings, Louis De Bernieres
Hanna’s Daughters, Marianne Fredricksson
Reading Lolita in Tehran, Azar Nafisi
Undaunted Courage, Stephen B. Ambrose
John Adams

Interchangeable needles

It's over -
the house is still a mess of course but tonight I come home to my own space - I will miss them all but it's nice to have a break so I can get serious about knitting again.

Especially since a Christmas vest didn't make the cut - it's too big for my sister and I couldn't see wasting all that beautiful yarn - so on Christmas Day I took it all out and have started over!! Just what I needed another project! But I really want it to be right for her and it won't take me that long!

Christmas with my family all here was wonderful despite a few clitches - my Dad and his lady friend arrived 6 hours late.....which was 5 hours of worry about them driving 3 hours in the dark in lots of traffic. We should have been worried - they had a minor accident - not surprising since Dad is 80 years old, it was pouring rain, it was dark and there was tons of traffic. But they finally arrived late Friday night.

Had a wonderful family dinner on Saturday - Christmas Eve is our big dinner - it was fun and sad as we did special things to remember my mom who passed away this last spring. She had some glass icicles that she carefully hung on the tree each year - so I asked my Dad to bring them over and I handed them out to everyone Christmas eve and asked them to hang them on my tree for Mom. I explained that I would bring them to who ever had the family Christmas next year and we could do the same thing. Also Mom's best friend sent us a letter to be read and little silver angle medallions for each of us - so between the two we all shared some tears.

Christmas morning was chaos of course - the kids may be teens plus - but they get just as excited! I got new knitting books and knitting cash which I intend to spend for knitting - not groceries! Who needs food?

Which brings me to the question of the day - I'd like to buy some interchangeable needles - does anyone have any recommendations? I never seem to have the right circular needle (although I have so many it seems - I knit almost exclusively in the round) and thought this might be a good solution. Any thoughts would be really appreciated.

Hope everyone has a knitty new year!!

Way too Busy!`

OK - I'm so sorry I haven't updated in awhile - tis the season. Still have vest to finish - finish one side, put together, button bands etc. And one sock to finish. Then of course do all the shopping. So I won't be writing much for the next week or so.
But Happy Holidays to all - hope you are all enjoying the time with your families and may your knitting help release that Holiday stress!
ttfn

Stash and Suggest

I'm having a very boring day at the job I hate - so am spending it wisely and reading other blogs!

What I have found interesting is the huge yarn stashes other knitters seem to have. I probably have enough in my stash to knit maybe 10 pairs of socks and one sweater - that's ALL!! How can you let great yarn sit without creating something and where do you get the money to horde yarn!!

What I wish is for a way to display my yarn - I just love to look at it!!

Once I get through the Christmas rush I'll be on the hunt for a sweater for me - yes, me! I want something with an interesting stitch pattern, knit with sport weight or so yarn, solid color - that I could knit in the round and cut open with a steek. OR maybe a faire-isle - I did a Philosophers Wool cardigan awhile back and really loved it - so any ideas would be appreciated.

The snow is rapidly melting - my least favorite part - hope we get some more. The girls went out and practiced driving in the snow this morning (big sisters CAN be great if given the chance!) and cut bags of Juniper branches with great berries for Yule decorating - the house will smell so good! I don't think I'll get the tree yet - maybe next weekend. I've just got too much to knit to worry about decorating yet! I just hate it when that happens.

I've still got to think of a few presents for those I don't have time to knit for or who wouldn't appreciate it. Geeky son is a perfect example. I've got a big present - but need a few little things to throw in from Santa. He is so hard to buy for - he always gets himself the latest gadgets he wants. Guess I have to just go and shop! Too Bad!

It will be a quiet weekend - the girls have full agendas - M2 is working and M3 will be watching the boyfriend play in a basketball tournament. So it will be knit on for me. Think I'll make a big pot of soup - M1 can come for dinner and install my new garbage disposal - what a thing to break just before you have to cook a ton and no extra pennies!

I just found out this week that a really good friend who has been living in Montana is moving back to Central Oregon - yea - she knits! It will be good to have a buddy around to knit with for a change. Actually I think I may go to the Knitting group tomorrow. I don't usually have a free moment on Sat mornings - but looks like I might tomorrow - so haul out the socks and go!

Hope you all have a good, creative and productive weekend. I know we are all in that rush mode!!
ttfn