I like lazy Saturdays. Slept late, knitted for a couple of hours, read a new book and now am playing on the computer. Giving myself permission to not feel guilty even though the house is a wreck. I did get a lot done this week and mostly got caught up on the tasks awaiting me post vacation.
I pulled out some of my counted crossstitch books and kits today. Think I'm going to start on a Christmas stocking for my grandson. I have a really nice kit that is heirloom quality (translated - many, many tiny stitches) If I start now I should be able to get it done in time for the holidays and still have plenty of knitting time. I used to do a lot of crossstitch and know better than to underestimate the time involved.
Off to do some more knitting and maybe a little nap.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Reality sucks
Back to reality after vacationing for two weeks, I've decided once again that reality sucks. As I waded through bills, errands I put off, laundry and work related tasks, I began to wonder how soon I could escape again! The cats haven't totally forgiven me for my most recent defection so guess I'd better wait a couple of weeks.
My son called this afternoon to let me know the pediatrician has decided my grandson is lactose intolerant and that's why he is suddenly having increased stomach pain and crying. And I thought it was because I left :-) I'm trying to get Skype set up on my computer so I can see the little bugger in real time. The wonders of modern technology.
Now that I'm home, I also need to get busy with more knitting. Other than a board meeting tonight, I don't have much going on in the evening for a couple of weeks. Sounds like prime knitting time to me. Besides, my husband is watching baseball. I think baseball is boring. Videos and knitting - home run!
My son called this afternoon to let me know the pediatrician has decided my grandson is lactose intolerant and that's why he is suddenly having increased stomach pain and crying. And I thought it was because I left :-) I'm trying to get Skype set up on my computer so I can see the little bugger in real time. The wonders of modern technology.
Now that I'm home, I also need to get busy with more knitting. Other than a board meeting tonight, I don't have much going on in the evening for a couple of weeks. Sounds like prime knitting time to me. Besides, my husband is watching baseball. I think baseball is boring. Videos and knitting - home run!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Homeward bound
I am sitting in Des Moines tonight on the last night of vacation. I volunteered to babysit my grandson so his parents can have an evening to celebrate their 5 year anniversary. It is such a hardship to cuddle my soft, huggable grandson :-)
I had four good days with my dad and got through most of his "to do" list. He still isn't driving so saves up chores like banking for when I'm there. Believe it or not, one of the things we did was buy him an Asus 1000HE netbook for his kitchen table. At almost 92, he decided the desktop computer just wasn't enough in his one bedroom apartment. I got it set up for him, we purchased a wireless mouse and he's good to go. Amazing.
Tomorrow I'll be headed home to hug my husband and my cats and enjoy the rest of the weekend. Tuesday I'm back to reality, but I'll think about that later.
I had four good days with my dad and got through most of his "to do" list. He still isn't driving so saves up chores like banking for when I'm there. Believe it or not, one of the things we did was buy him an Asus 1000HE netbook for his kitchen table. At almost 92, he decided the desktop computer just wasn't enough in his one bedroom apartment. I got it set up for him, we purchased a wireless mouse and he's good to go. Amazing.
Tomorrow I'll be headed home to hug my husband and my cats and enjoy the rest of the weekend. Tuesday I'm back to reality, but I'll think about that later.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
A new week
I'm still in the green of Iowa and freezing! The 45 degree drop between Arizona and Iowa is just about doing me in. Plus the pediatrician recommended keeping the house between 68 - 70 degrees as they think babies being too warm contributes to SIDS. At my house, when it is 68 degrees inside, I'm wearing a sweater.
Other than that we are having a great time. My husband and daughter arrived and we've been hanging out watching movies and holding the baby. However, all good things must come to an end. On Tuesday, I'm off to visit my dad for a few days before returning home. I've already heard we have a "to do" list, so expect to keep busy while I'm there.
It has been a great trip but I'm already getting homesick. It has been 7 days since I left and I won't be home until next Sunday. I miss my cats and my own bed. Do you think there is such a thing as too much vacation?
Other than that we are having a great time. My husband and daughter arrived and we've been hanging out watching movies and holding the baby. However, all good things must come to an end. On Tuesday, I'm off to visit my dad for a few days before returning home. I've already heard we have a "to do" list, so expect to keep busy while I'm there.
It has been a great trip but I'm already getting homesick. It has been 7 days since I left and I won't be home until next Sunday. I miss my cats and my own bed. Do you think there is such a thing as too much vacation?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Short and very sweet
At 20.25 inches Rowan is short compared to the rest of us and he's very sweet. A couple more pictures:
Roxie gave me permission to wallow in grandparenthood so I'm taking full advantage this week (then I promise I'll revert to other subjects most of time). Rowan came home yesterday and met his furry housemates (2 dogs and a cat). The are not terribly impressed with him so far, but don't like him being in the way of THEIR mom's lap. He was mellow yesterday but had his first non-sleeping, fussy night for his mom and dad. I got up at 3:30 AM to see if any help was needed but they deferred until tonight. Son is going back to work tomorrow so I'm probably on duty while he sleeps.
Rowan liberally sprinkled my son this morning during diaper change, so I think the baptism of new parents has begun :-)
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Off to Iowa
I'm taking off tonight to Las Vegas and catching a flight out to Iowa in the wee hours of the AM. My husband will follow in a couple of days and my daughter will be in Friday. I think my son and daughter-in-law are going to have more help then they need :-)
Since they just moved in to a new place, hopefully we can also help with finishing the unpacking and getting the rest of the house set up. I'm good at opening and unpacking boxes if someone else can direct me on where to put them.
We have a cat sitter lined up for week DH is away. After two weeks, they may not be speaking to me by the time I get home. Have to get going if I'm going to be ready to leave by tonight!
Since they just moved in to a new place, hopefully we can also help with finishing the unpacking and getting the rest of the house set up. I'm good at opening and unpacking boxes if someone else can direct me on where to put them.
We have a cat sitter lined up for week DH is away. After two weeks, they may not be speaking to me by the time I get home. Have to get going if I'm going to be ready to leave by tonight!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Look on the Bright Side of Life
Those of you who immediately thought of Monty Python would have fit well with the group I met last week. Early on someone spontaneously burst in to this uplifting ditty, and it became the theme song for out time together.
Thankfully my head did not really explode from all the learning, though Knittech's suggestion for duct tape makes a lot of sense. Exploding brains are messy I presume. Unlike many classes I've been to, this one asked us to learn a new philosophy to apply to our work as consultants, rather than new tips and tools. Any time I try to rewire my brain for a new perspective it takes a frightening amount of effort.
Each day we were asked again and again - "What is the highest potential for this meeting/group/project/day/person?" Next came "What conditions would have to be in place for me and the organization for that potential to be reached?" and on down the line. In simple terms we used the example of an upcoming trip. The destination is set. Naturally from there we reverse engineer all of the planning that would be needed to reach that destination (what will I need to take, who has to be involved, how will I get there, how much time will each step take etc.) We do it every day.
The meat of the class was learning how to do that kind of work with organizations. The destination is a mutually agreed upon vision (Our community will nurture the potential of all children) From there we help organizations work back to what that would look like, who would have to be involved, what can this group work on, steps, timelines etc.
The whole goal is ultimately for Community Benefit organizations to change the world by focusing on what we want/dream/envision, rather than getting stuck in trying to problem solve present day solutions. Yes, I spent the week with people who paid good money to go to class based on their values re:making the world a better place. It was awesome. The positive energy in the room brought us back excited every day.
We also laughed a lot, ate way to much and talked until we were exhausted. This explains why I got now knitting or reading done. By the time I got back to my hotel room, I was done. Now that I'm back to reality, the February Lady sweater is calling me. Since I have no meetings tonight, that is what I'll be doing.
P.S. Still nothing on the baby. Waiting, waiting, waiting. . .
Thankfully my head did not really explode from all the learning, though Knittech's suggestion for duct tape makes a lot of sense. Exploding brains are messy I presume. Unlike many classes I've been to, this one asked us to learn a new philosophy to apply to our work as consultants, rather than new tips and tools. Any time I try to rewire my brain for a new perspective it takes a frightening amount of effort.
Each day we were asked again and again - "What is the highest potential for this meeting/group/project/day/person?" Next came "What conditions would have to be in place for me and the organization for that potential to be reached?" and on down the line. In simple terms we used the example of an upcoming trip. The destination is set. Naturally from there we reverse engineer all of the planning that would be needed to reach that destination (what will I need to take, who has to be involved, how will I get there, how much time will each step take etc.) We do it every day.
The meat of the class was learning how to do that kind of work with organizations. The destination is a mutually agreed upon vision (Our community will nurture the potential of all children) From there we help organizations work back to what that would look like, who would have to be involved, what can this group work on, steps, timelines etc.
The whole goal is ultimately for Community Benefit organizations to change the world by focusing on what we want/dream/envision, rather than getting stuck in trying to problem solve present day solutions. Yes, I spent the week with people who paid good money to go to class based on their values re:making the world a better place. It was awesome. The positive energy in the room brought us back excited every day.
We also laughed a lot, ate way to much and talked until we were exhausted. This explains why I got now knitting or reading done. By the time I got back to my hotel room, I was done. Now that I'm back to reality, the February Lady sweater is calling me. Since I have no meetings tonight, that is what I'll be doing.
P.S. Still nothing on the baby. Waiting, waiting, waiting. . .
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