A Really Good Day!

Yesterday was a really good day!

First, I fit into a pair of pants that I haven't been able to wear all summer and they were loose!!!! Yea, Me!!!!!

Then my walk was really nice - no leg cramps or hurt toes, although I ran over my big toe with my suitcase last week and it is showing black and blue under the polish. It just healed and started to look like a regular toenail again. I have lost the nail on that toe, at least, 3 times and I really don't want that to happen again.


I had some energy and went through my yarn stash and culled some yarn I am selling on EBay. So far so good on that.

My printer didn't survive an electrical outage and I had some Amazon gift certificates I hadn't used, so that worked out. I got a new printer for less than 1/2 of its price. Of course, I didn't really want a new printer - I just bought ink for the old one - but at least I didn't have to spend a lot of money. Nothing else was damaged and I don't know how the printer was - it was plugged into the same surge protector that the computer and shredder were.

I finished a sweater that was inspired by a sweater I saw in Knits To Be Noticed. What I did was change the construction of the sweater. I used the same lace stitch and style - hoodie, but knitted it in the round. I hate finishing so I knitted top-down. It worked really well. It even fits me. I was knitting on it at the beach and everyone commented on the color. It is made out of Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece seconds that I got on EBay. The color is uneven but I liked it - it sort of looks worn already.






I also finished the Fair Isle vest I designed for my youngest grandson. His mother commented that it was beautiful when we were at the beach, so maybe he will wear it.

We went to Barnes and Noble around 6PM which was probably a mistake in timing. I found 3 new knitting magazines and sat in the cafe with a chai latte to look at them. Then I couldn't fall asleep last night until after 3AM. Danny came downstairs to find me and then he couldn't sleep and ended up canceling his run with Joe. I guess I owe him one for that. I think the chai had something to do with it, but I also think that it was a chance for me to be alone in the house. Since he has retired, he is always around. I used to come home from work and have about 3 hours to myself. I didn't do anything I can't do now, I could do it when I wanted and for how long I wanted. Now it seems I am subject to his schedule. That is not really a bitch, just something I am getting used to -or trying to.

Work went well this week. I didn't talk much in Treatment Team. As usual, it was a waste of time and I have decided not to add my 2 cents and prolong the agony. T. seems to have kept her cool - although I usually find out after the fact.

I gave everyone the first chapter of Catching Fire. They were all so excited. I found a pin that is the symbol of the books - a mockingjay - at Borders in Virginia Beach and wore it all week. The kids recognized the symbol. It was such a teacher thing to do.

I finally was able to order library books and videos with the N&D money this week. D. and T. commented on the Black History videos I ordered. Evidently I spent too much money on Black information - never mind that most of our kids are Black and the rest wish they were. And they are both good Christians - who hate gays and don't believe in Global Warming and I don't know what else because I try really hard not to bring up any topic they don't agree with. That is actually pretty difficult, since I am constantly surprised at what "good" Christians believe. Like that Baptist minister who preached a sermon "I Hate Barack Obama."

My 4 year old grandson went to pre-school this week. We called him to see how his first day went and he told us all about it. I think he is too young, but the expression of that opinion created a problem with his father when we were at the beach. Enough said.

Reading back over my post - I am really not bitching although I was in a bitchy mood at times this week. I think I had a really good week. And today is beautiful!

I Have Been Busy!

I am still sticking to my diet - haven't weighed myself though. We were in Virginia Beach for the Labor Day weekend and we ate out every meal. That makes it tough - I don't think I ate more than 1 serving of fruit the whole time. i did find an interesting book about food - Eat This Not The Supermarket Survival Guide I actually do ok with my food choices. I was pleasantly surprised.

I knitted all the way to Virginia Beach and back - an 8 hour drive. I am close to finishing my lace sweater. I finished a vest for my youngest grandchild - pictures later.

I am in the process of getting used to working 8 hour days again. I get used to it and then I go on vacation - I know, poor me. But this week it is really kicking my ass. And of course, school has been really busy. And the tension is obvious - T is such a bitch and so negative. I had to run for supplies today and usually I ask if she wants to go, but today I thought I just didn't feel like playing nice for the time it would take to get there and back. I think it pissed her off, but I really don't care. How is that for being bitchy?

Sleepy.

I am low energy all of the time. I think I need an increase in my thyroid medicine. I have been sticking to my diet - still counting calories and all that. Yesterday my neck really hurt - from a bike ride and making jam - so I took ibuprofen and for some reason that always makes me retain water. I weighed almost 4 lbs heavier today than yesterday and I ate less. That is discouraging but also the reason I should stop weighing myself every day. I might try that.

The knitting is coming along, but I have been reading more. I always feel starved for reading when school is in and I want to knit. We have been trying something new - reading in the evening and not watching TV. Since all we watch are political shows - MSNBC, we are absolute progressive liberals - and really there is not much on now in August, this is working out really well.

I just read a book Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson. It was about a kid in high school who was put on probation for a stupid prank and turned from a loser into a winner. I was hoping that it might appeal to the students I teach, but I don't know if any of them could relate to the protagonist. He is a kid from relatively well-off parents and he may have been bullied, but he is not psychologically damaged like most of them are. I might use it for a back up. He also comes very close to committing suicide and I don't want to give them any ideas. I am still waiting for Suzanne Collins' next book.

Busy Day

Today was a busy day. I had a 9AM appointment with the chiropractor and then I had errands to run. I hadn't seen the chiropractor for 2+ weeks - on vacation - and I was ready. My neck gave me a bad headache yesterday. So bad, I finked out of walking. All I wanted to do was sit with my vibrating pillow on my neck and knit.

Thinking about my knitting though - I am making a sweater inspired by someone else's design. I like to make sweaters in the round from the top down, so I modified this pattern. Actually I just used the same stitch pattern to make my top down summer hoody. I am working on the sleeves now and I have a good 4 inches done thanks to sitting with my neck pillow, but I don't like how the pattern stitch looks under the arm. I have to decrease and that messes up the pattern. After thinking about it, I'm going to frog what I did yesterday and start over with straight stitch where I have to decrease under the arm. This is what it looks like now:



It doesn't look bad where I picked up the underarm stitches, but when I start the decreases it gets messy. So I think I will be happier if I start over. So far I am really liking this sweater. The yarn is Brown Sheep cotton and wool in paradise blue. The yarn is seconds that I got on EBay. The color is a little uneven, I really don't mind that. I love Brown Sheep yarn. And I love that it is American made.

Husband and I went and looked at gyms today at his insistence. I could tell he really would like for me to join a gym with him. I went for a while last year to a gym that added an extra hour and half to my daily driving time. I liked using the machines, but couldn't hack the drive. It takes me 40 minutes to and from work now and it just got really old spending that much extra time in the car. He was really insistent that I go with him to check out these gyms all the while telling me he really wasn't putting pressure on me to join with him. Of course he was, but I didn't commit which I am sure drove him crazy. I did like the one though. It had a separate women's weight machine room that led right into the locker and a great looking hot tub in the locker room. It was clean and had a lot of machines. They also offered a yoga class - I have been interested in that for a while, but can never find a class that suits me time wise. The women's machines looked light weight but not as light weight as Curves. After a few months, I felt like I outgrew Curves. I might give it a shot, but I am not going to let him know right away. I'm mean that way.

It was pouring rain this morning but it seems to have cleared up. We ate at Chipotle Mexican Grill. That place was great. The food was fresh and even though it was fast food, it was really good. I have been sticking to the diet and the exercise - I know, only the 4th day, but still... I walked 3 miles today and counted my calories. Only ate about 3/4 of my lunch - 1/2 would have been better, but ... Really, so far so good. Now to keep it up.

New Day.

I'm still going strong with the diet. Of course it has only been 2 days - this is my third and it's morning, but I am optimistic. I got a B+ on nutrition and I walked 3.24 miles on the treadmill. It has been raining so much that I prefer the treadmill to trekking outside and coming home soaked.

Today there was a full paid "ad" in the newspaper from US Citizens Association. I don't know who they are, but from all of the misinformation/lies in the ad, they must be a right wing political group. They blame the market crash and the sub-prime mortgage crisis on the Democrats, starting with Jimmy Carter all the way to Obama. My understanding is those problems began with the deregulations that Reagan enforced. I heard a clip of Reagan denouncing "socialized medicine" on the radio the other day. Reagan was the beginning of what I consider the end - Obama is not doing the job I voted for him to do. I want him to say, "Fuck the Republicans. Let's do what is best for the country without them." I am losing optimism daily - every time I hear things like "public option is only a sliver of the bill, not really that important."

US Citizens also said that there is no global warming - the CO2 is just water vapor. I said that at school as a joke and evidently all three of the other teachers believe that global warming is a myth "used by the government." I'm not sure and they sure didn't know what reason/motive the government would have for promoting that. I couldn't believe 3 people that I thought I respected, were so clueless. But then again, none of them are really interested in what is going on in the country. I would be surprised if any of them listened to any news at all. They just blindly support Republicans and vote themselves into misery. No raises this year because of the economy - but that they just bitch about and do not connect to their votes.

Sitting in front of the computer is what is giving me headaches, shoulder aches and arm aches. NOT KNITTING!!!! On the 12 hour trip home, I knitted for at least 6 or 7 of those hours and no problem. I was on the computer for most of the morning yesterday and I have a headache and shoulder ache. I am so glad it is not knitting, I really don't want to stop that. Speaking of which, I have been on the computer for a while now.

Day 2

I kept my calories under 1300 yesterday and I walked a total of 3 miles. Of course, I was really tired last night and couldn't wait to go to bed. I also ate a dish of ice cream and whipped cream before I went to bed. I made a deal with myself - if I exercise, I can have a dish of ice cream. I actually have been doing that for a while now - please, I know it is a rationalization, but no arguments.

I also found a web site that counts my calories for me Calorie Count This site is free and also grades you on how you ate that day. I got an A on my first day - emphasis on "first day." Even with the dish of ice cream.

We just got back from vacation and I really feel far behind on everything. I have a lot of things to do - nothing major, but still... One of the things is to post on the Paperback Swap site. I love this site!!! You simply post your books on the site - easy to do, just list the ISBN # - and then if someone wants one of your books, simply mail it to them to earn book credits. And if you want a book, just request it. The only cost is postage - I buy the postage through the site (they charge a small fee) and print my labels and put it in the mail. I have ended up with even more books that I need to read. If only I didn't have to work...

Speaking of which, the only thoughts I have had about work during this month off is about my fish in my office and the book I want to start my students on that isn't coming out till Sept 1,
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins We have read the first in the series, The Hunger Games
and all of these students who are mostly at 3rd grade reading levels were really into it. They and me can't wait until this new book comes out. Even the guards who are usually bored to tears in our classes, sat up and read the book.

Back to the fish - I hope they are ok. I have an automatic feeder but as backup, I usually put one of those vacation feeders in the tank. I didn't this time and now I am worried about them. I could email one of the therapists and ask her to check, but I haven't worried myself into it yet.

I received more books on thyroid conditions. I have been diagnosed with hypothyroidism which is when your thyroid doesn't produce enough hormone. I am beginning to wonder about how it makes me feel. Coming home from our trip, we stopped to eat. One hostess acknowledged us and then went to clean off a table for us, another hostess came and I told her that the first was cleaning off a table for us. The second hostess told me not to get all hot and bothered, that she knew what was going on. For some reason this has been bothering me since it happened. I wasn't trying to be abrupt or rude, I was just telling her that we had already been taken care of - or so I thought. I have tried to rationalize it by excusing the hostess for a bad day, but I keep wondering if my tone was off or something. I think the for the most part undiagnosed thyroid condition had me on edge for most of last year. I know I didn't have the patience I used to have, but I may not have realized that my tone was so harsh. The more I read about hypothyroidism, the more I think that this has been my problem for more than a few years.

Knitting: I have finished Jared Flood's Girasole. He does such beautiful work. I wanted an afghan for my knitting chair. Sometimes in the winter I get cold sitting there knitting, so I wanted an afghan that I liked - I like none of the traditional patterns - and I found this and loved it.



I tried to knit his adaptation of The Hemlock Ring Blanket but for some reason, I couldn't follow the directions. That was last year - September, in fact - I think I may try again. I am almost finished with about 4 sweaters and determined to finish them before I start anything new. I received new knitting books in the mail and I want to start at least 2 new projects. I am hopeless - too much to read, too much to knit, too much to eat, too much to ...

I Am Really Going To Do It This Time!

Well, vacation is over over over over! We had a wonderful time in Edenton, NC - eliminated as a retirement prospect, way way too quiet! - and at Waves, NC - house was great, no family fights - and in Southport, NC - definite retirement prospect.

Pictures of me on the beach and in the pool, plus feeling uncomfortable are making me really want to lose weight. style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';">Plus all of the obvious reasons - health, fatigue, and not having to knit yards and yards of fabric to cover me. I am starting today and plan on keeping a daily log on this blog to spur my progress and prevent my failure. That sounds like I am expecting failure - it has happened before, but I am eternally optimistic. I am taking Tonalin CLA every night and that seems to have decreased my cravings for carbs????? I am walking 3 miles a day and biking when I can, so I feel like I am on the right track so far. My eating on vacation has been bad, but one thing I have been doing is eating only about half of what I am served - that, at least is a start. Now I need to learn to order salads instead of hot roast beef sandwiches with french fries and gravy. Or does that mean, I am still craving carbs?

Felt the Urge

Here I am, sitting in front of a computer instead of playing with my grandsons at the beach in Waves, Outer Banks, NC, and since I just got finished reading Julia and Julie and that was all about blogging to figure out your life, I decided to start a blog to figure out my life. I am nothing but suggestible and easily influenced by the current successful thing that someone else is doing, but figuring out my life is something that it is about time that I do. I am in my sixth decade and I have tried this before numerous times, but have never succeeded.