Turned the corner

I'm happy to report that I now have rejoined the world of the living. I can tell it is going to take a while to get completely well but there certainly is a big improvement. Thank you for all your good wishes, I'm sure it helped. I took Roxie's suggestion and pretty much dosed with cough medicine all day too. I've slept a lot and done nothing when I am awake except watch television and knit.

Thanks to the magic of Netflix I've started watching Monk, which I never saw when it was on. It's quirky, intriguing and cheap entertainment. I've also been using the instant movie part of Netflix to watch Dead Like Me on my computer. I remember the buzz on the show when it aired but never saw it.

We finally watched Iron Man and I know understand the comments about Robert Downey Jr. you all made. I absolutely agree with whoever said that isn't fair for someone to look that good when they've done everything he has. Very fun movie!

I'm rereading the Charlaine Harris, Sookie Stackhouse books. Hubby and I have been watching True Blood and I needed to revisit the real Sookie. I haven't decided whether I really like the show or not. Anyone else watching? What is your reaction?

Sleep, sleep, sleep

I'll keep this short as my life is really boring right now. The cough medicine worked and I actually slept last night for the first time in days. What a difference that makes! I have antibiotics, codeine cough syrup, nasal spray and eye drops. On top of everything else, by yesterday I had a raging case of conjunctivitis in both eyes.

It is really sad when your doctor's PA looks at you and says, "Poor thing, you are a mess". That is never a good start to a visit! I can tell it is going to take a few days to really get results but as long as I can sleep, I can deal with that. Thankfully, this is a little lull in our business development while are brochures are being printed so I'm not missing anything major.

I'm hoping by this afternoon I'll be able to knit again. I've been so tired I couldn't concentrate and my eyes were so gunky I couldn't read to see the pattern. I'm excited about trying this baby cardigan as it is good practice for my future grandchild. Since my 401K is now in the toilet, I might as well invest in wool. Does that sound like a good plan?

Still not better

I am now pretty sure my cold has turned in to bronchitis. I've had it a number of times before (back in my smoking days) and recognize the constant cough and technicolor drainage. I'm doing all the things I know to do but still am only getting a couple of hours of sleep each night. The cats think I have taken up residence on the couch, except when I've got my face over a steaming pan of water with a towel over my head. That one really confuses them :-)

I know that current wisdom is that bronchitis is viral and I'll just have to deal with it, but I think I'll try the doctor tomorrow for some heavy duty night time cough suppressant so I can sleep. Hopefully they'll decide it is a bacterial infection, give me antibiotics and I'll feel better in a couple of days.

My goal for the week is to get the new business computer set up. I have to arrange with the geriatric care software company to get our charting system set up and then do a bunch of data entry. That should keep me out of trouble for a while (a week or so anyway).

On a totally different subject, if any of you are in to Homeric works, the Sanguine Gryphon's Kypria line of yarn is fascinating. She's been working on reconstructing the Kypria, lost in the 3rd century CE, which was the 3rd Homeric work, containing stories of the events leading up to the Trojan War. Each colorway contains a small piece of the story. Those of us who have a skein or two are adding our pieces on Ravelry so we don't have to buy every colorway to read the whole thing. My husband is still trying to figure out what Homer and yarn have to do with each other :-)

That's me

I borrowed this from KnitTech. Who knew an internet quiz could be so true :-)

You are The High Priestess

Science, Wisdom, Knowledge, Education.

The High Priestess is the card of knowledge, instinctual, supernatural, secret knowledge. She holds scrolls of arcane information that she might, or might not reveal to you. The moon crown on her head as well as the crescent by her foot indicates her willingness to illuminate what you otherwise might not see, reveal the secrets you need to know. The High Priestess is also associated with the moon however and can also indicate change or fluxuation, particularily when it comes to your moods.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

It's cold and flu season again

For the last couple of days I've been struggling with a scratchy throat, itching eyes and that dry hacky cough that keeps you awake all night. I'm not sure at this point whether it is allergies or a cold but it certainly is annoying and messing with my schedule!

I therefore gave myself permission to do pretty much nothing today. I reviewed some bylaws for a local nonprofit and typed up some notes for the new president. That led to a much needed nap due to the stimulating content. It's been a tough day LOL.

We had wild winds blowing through today, so of course all of my campaign signs are down again. Sigh. Sigh. I'll probably have to make one more attempt at putting them back up since the election is less than two weeks away.

I've talked to my daughter (loving nursing but still exhausted), my son (trying to stay on top of all those papers to be graded), my daughter-in-law (3 tests this week and starting to show just a hint of pregnancy) and my dad (asking if I thought he'd like beef stroganoff). Just call me communication central. Thank goodness for unlimited home digital and cell phones that let us stay in touch.

I've cast on a baby cardigan for a friend's little boy. Since I've never done a sweater before I may need some helpful hints. I'll keep you posted.

Keep your puppies safe

First, thanks to all of you who responded to my last blog. I sometimes have to be reminded that there really is a lot on my plate and I'm not a slacker for being tired. Dad seems to be coping and is managing with the resources we put in place. He still gets very down about the sudden change in his life but is trying to keep moving forward. Most days that is all any of us can do.

My word of warning this week is to keep your dogs and cats safe from coyotes. Over the weekend my good friend Sue had her dog killed in the fenced back yard by a coyote that sailed right over the wall. Sue and her husband knew the coyotes were hanging around the neighborhood and were trying to be especially careful to go out with Taz or check the area carefully. In a flash it was too late. Although coyotes are particularly plentiful in the Southwest, they exist all over the country and are very smart.

On the bright side, hubbies band played over the weekend and sounded great. Our daughter came for the day to hear the band and brought her new boyfriend. Surprise of surprises, we both like him. (If you knew our daughter's dating history you'd understand that one). It was great to see her except for the dark circles that have reappeared under her eyes. Twelve hours of sleep per school week doesn't count as rest.

I'm off to run my morning errands as the fur people are out of food and I still have a box of campaign signs in my back seat that need a home. Have a great day!

Is it November yet?

I'm now remembering how crazy our fall schedules used to be. It wasn't just the soccer, plays rehearsals, dance, school events etc, etc, it was all of my clubs and volunteer activities hitting high gear. That was before the holiday crazies piled on top (but we won't go there today).

I've had a comfortably busy but relatively quiet life for most of the last year. I've now officially thrown myself in to way more activity than I really want and am starting to get that "I told you so" look from my husband. I have something scheduled every night and most of the days for the next 10 days. I knew intellectually with a new business, sitting on two boards and running for elected office it was going to get this way but the reality is always different and more exhausting.

I know I'm whining and cranky this week and I'm sure part of it has to do with worrying about my dad. I'm also feeling the time crunch of having been gone for 10 days. The world and my responsibilities just kept moving along and now I'm racing to catch up. I think this means all those holiday knitting projects I had planned are getting scaled way back.

Enough complaining for today. The world awaits and it is a glorious day outside.

Facebook Games are so addictive

I'm a sucker for extra points.

Tired but Happy

Home - it is so good to be home. Much as I love my dad, I want my own bed, my own shower, my cats, my husband snoring loud enough to wake the dead (ok, maybe not that last one) but you get the picture.

I think we got things situated as well as we could in Iowa and I'm glad I went. The timing couldn't have been better, as the next couple of weeks are pretty packed. I may go back in November for a weekend providing that Allegiant Airlines keep flying those Iowans out to gamble in Las Vegas. The fact that I'm going the other way doesn't seem to concern anyone and I don't lose any money in the slot machines.

I stayed in Las Vegas last night since my plane didn't get in until 10 PM. I always get nervous driving across the desert by myself at midnight. There are some big stretches of nothing and no traffic should something go wrong. Adding in the voids with no cell service, it seemed better to wait until morning. Wouldn't you know, coming back today, I hit something in the road, popped a tire and was sitting on the side of the highway with one bar of cell signal. Everytime I managed to connect to the auto club, the signal dropped. Thankfully a very nice man and his wife stopped and changed my tire. I was able to get to the next town on my little donut tire and buy $235 worth of tires (so I'd have a matched pair that will wear evenly). I do know how to change a tire but can't necessarily break those lug nuts free. It is good to know that there are still Good Samaritans in the world.

On the exciting news front, I can now officially announce that I'm going to be a grandma for the first time! I got to hear the baby's heartbeat last weekend when my son and daughter-in-law came up to visit. So many knitting projects to plan. This kid had better like wool :-) My daughter already has dibs on knitting hats, since she won't have a lot of time to knit while she is in nursing school.

On that note, I'm headed to bed. It may be 9PM here but my body still thinks it is 11 PM. G'nite.

Day by Day

I just wanted to give you a quick update in case you were wondering how my dad is. Radiation is going well and already is showing some results. Volunteers are supposed to be lined by the American Cancer Society to take him back and forth to treatment the next three weeks.

It is a huge change for him not to be able to drive and I'm sure none of us would adapt well to that sudden loss of freedom. The life care facility he lives in does have transport vans but of course you have to go on their schedule. We are putting together options and making a little progress.

I wish I could stay longer but am glad I could take this week to help him out. I should be back home by Monday. On the bright side, the fall weather has been beautiful. I think October may be my favorite month of the year in the Midwest. Glad I got to experience a little taste of it!

Motivation

I'm sitting here on the couch trying to get motivated to pack, clean the cat pan, shower and all those other little things I need to do before driving to Las Vegas to catch my plane. It is pretty sad that the only thing I go to Las Vegas for is an airport, when people come from all over the world to party there. I'm either hopelessly boring or have just lived near Vegas for too long (I'm pulling for the latter).

I did attend the training on the open meeting law and found it as stimulating as I thought it would be. Major Yawn. The lesson I came away with is that you shouldn't really talk to any board member outside of a meeting - you might violate the law and someone could think you are colluding on school business. I get the intent but the application is just stupid!

I finished my five more questions from the forum. They included things like, "Is it important to fund athletics?" Do you think that is a hot potato? In 200 words or less I focused on the need for all extracurricular activities for a well rounded education and then pushed the state tax credit to help support them. Our override is due for renewal in another year and if the economy hasn't picked up, probably won't pass. Then not only will extracurriculars be on the chopping block, but art, music and pretty much anything other than the 3 R's. UGH. I picked a great time to run for school board didn't I?

I have to admit to you all that my knitting has been at a stand still for the last month. This has not stopped my stash from growing (Harry Potter yarn did come out after all). I have been spending way to much time playing on the computer in the evenings. My addiction is not new, just revitalized. If cutting down on computer time works as well as my diet, I'll be on the computer 24 hours a day.

On the exciting side, I got new family room furniture. I would like some proper appreciation for stimulating the economy, which I'm sure will help us turn the corner on this subprime mess!
Our recliner sofa mechanism broke for the fourth time and it just had to go. The timing wasn't the best - I was pulling for it to go another year. Anyway, I got a new sofa and love seat and matching tables. It looks like grown up furniture and when I get back I'll take a picture for you. Since I am not a grown up, I have already gotten a salad dressing spot on the sofa. Now it feels broken in.

I'd better get moving on those morning chores or the plane may leave without me. Have a great weekend.