primer

I was rereading my previous post and realized that the spellcheck went a little haywire and I did not pay enough attention.
so here is a primer
nest Christmas = next Christmas
Satiate was beautiful = Saturday was beautiful
SEC's = SC's (Skeintily Clad's)
tempos hitting the 60's F = temps hitting the 60's F (rumored to happen again this weekend!)

As far as I can tell, those are the corrections.

Well, now for a funny anecdote, an update on craftiness and, not sure what else.
Anecdote: Since I have had Evil Gutt for a couple of months now, everyone in the lab is familiar with my Butt Donut. Well, a second popped on me (even with the 10 year warranty!). I was massaging my aching butt and lower back while getting a drink of my vitamin water when my boss looked at me and asked "Anything new?" Now a smart person would put in something about science or the progress I am making on my postdoc packets or the like. But no, I decide to answer her rather open-ended question in the following way : "My second donut popped and now my butt is sore." Followed quickly with "You'd think my ass would be cushioned enough on its own!?!"

Craftiness: I went to SC's on Tuesday to knit a bit while watching House. toiling away on BF sweater, which progresses painfully slowly. While there, I offered to help SC with a project, so I took some felt home and sewed them into stars. I return them today so that she can needle felt some designs on them. But the bit of sewing I did reminede me how much I enjoy sewing. Cleaning off my craft table, which was covered in dirty clothes and magazines, so that I could access my sewing machine caused me to uncover many started-but-as-yet-unfinished projects.

And yet, my postdoc packets are not yet complete either.

Ciao

Hrm...

The response from that last post was... deafening. Well, here is something way less interesting...

This past weekend was the four day Thanksgiving weekend-ishk. It started on Wednesday, when I really couldn't justify staying at work past 2:30. I wasn't getting anything done, and I needed to be doing other things. So I went home and began to bake (cupcakes for Thursday's feast) when I realized that I did not have cupcake tins and would, in fact, have to go to the market. Ugh - on the worstest day of the year. So off to the Hannaford I trotted. I picked up tins and some other things I can't remember, and then headed home. I baked up the cupcakes and then proceeded to decorate them like turkeys. TSB arrived quite late, after placing the bird in an overnight bath of salt and beer, and we ate some dinner.
We went to bed early, since we were expecting to leave my place by 9 AM!!! Thanksgiving dinner was hosted by some friends of TSB who live in Worcester. TSB was responsible for the Turkey prep and cooking - thus we had to be at their place quite early. I brought knitting - specifically a Boyfriend sweater for TSB. While the turkey cooked, I knit. I managed to cast on and knit up a good 2.5 inches.
Sidebar: the BF sweater is knit in the round. It is kind-a designed by me with heavy influence from Saranac and Lucky. TSB has also weighed in several times when I have been faced with too many options (like k:p ratio). We (he) decided on k4p2, which I think looks quite good. I am using Peruvian wool. I reminded myself of cable cast-on, managed to count to 252 after several tries and even managed to knit 2.5 inches. Go me! TSB is still teasing that he won't see the completed sweater until nest Christmas. Hey, it's a goal. end sidebar

Anywho, TG Dinner was great. We stayed very late and did not get back to my place until after 1. Which would not have been a problem, 'cept the Evil Gutt made an appearance. TSB and I had already promised each other that we would sleep in as long as our little hearts desired on Friday, so the two hours of pain and crying I experienced from 1 until 3 AM didn't really cut into our schedule too much. I am not sure what prompted this latest bout. I was this close to having TSB take me to the emergency room. I have been very conscious of what I have been eating and drinking lately, no caffeine, no liquor, no (little, much reduced) processed sugars, lots of fiber and veggies and water. I am at a loss. Hopefully the doc will have an answer for me next week.
Friday, TSB and I cycled between napping, sleeping and dozing for most of the day. I did not eat anything all day (like I would do for my dog if she had a bout of Gurgly Tummy or Messy Poopy Bottom) and drank a ton of water and gatorade. Finally we roused ourselves around 4 PM and headed out to SC's to take care of the felines.
satiate was beautiful and we were determined to be active during the daylight hours. We took a long leisurely walk to SEC's. While there, I spun while TSB played a silly game. The walk home was colder and the Evil Gutt was unhappy. Oh Well.
Sunday dawned just as beautiful as Saturday, and was warmer with tempos hitting the 60's F. TSB and I went for a hike for a couple of hours. It was beautiful and peaceful and I was sad we didn't think to take Halley, though again the late afternoon was cool and she would have been cold.
We got back home in time for the Bears-Patriots game, which I had wanted to watch. It was a good game. While that was on the boob tube, I cleaned the kitchen somewhat and make gallons and gallons of turkey soup from the carcass we snagged on Thursday. I also made some whole wheat rolls with herbs which smell remarkably like stuffing. They were yummy and the soup came out like Mom's, which made me really, really happy.
I am thankful for many things - among them, that I get to cook for TSB and me. In previous years, I would not even think of making turkey soup for just me. But since it is for someone else, I don't even hesitate. I like that.

Ciao

Thanksgiving day thots.

While I was driving back from Boston this morning - having taken Skeintily Clad and her BF to South Station at 7:30 - I heard a story on NPR about a Waltham family whose husband/father is stationed in Iraq this year. I encourage all who read this blog (I know, there are scads of you) to take a minute and listen to the story WBUR page with link to audio.

This story got me to thinking - especially about the young girl who was so wanting the basketball net set up - are there any resources for the families of the men and women serving? Not monetary, but more like - who puts together the basketball net when dad is away? Who does the light maintenance or repair jobs around the house? I was thinking, hey, I could help out, go over and put the basketball net up. Then I heard the dad's admonishment to his daughter - 'mom's decision but it has to be safely constructed.' I thought to myself that I could probably do it, but my dad would be better at it - being all handy and such.

How strange it would be for my dad to just show up at these people's home and say "here to put up the basketball net." Or would it? I wonder if there is a way for people who want to help out can get connected with people who need help - specifically for these types of things. A way to connect families of service men and women who are down a whole family member with people who have skills and/ or motivation, and want to donate their services. I might not put a basketball net competently (nor have the necessary tools) but I could rake a yard. Or set up a computer. Or figure out a way for people to help the families who have to keep on keepin' on, even when they are down a player.

I am envisioning a transient thing - similar to the Helping Hands website we set up for QB, after the blood clot. Families would post what they need - help putting up a basketball net, raking the front yard and taking the leaves to the dump, one offs and such, and volunteers could request to take tasks - like a carpenter with two extra hours on a Sunday to put up a basketball net for a kid whose dad is in Iraq for another 9 months.

Anyway, I need feedback. Does this already exist? Are there places for volunteers to do such things in support of the families?

That was my Thanksgiving thot. Not sure what to do with it, other than write it out and beg for opinions or information.

Ciao

a good giggle

a friend sent this to me in a Fwd. usually I hate fwds, but this one made me laugh out loud.

THE PENIS WANTS A RAISE



I, the Penis, hereby request a raise in
salary for the following reasons:

1-------- I do physical labor.

2.------- I work at great depths.

3.------- I plunge head first into everything I do.

4.------- I do not get weekends or public holidays off.

5.--------I work in a damp environment.

6. -------I work in a dark area that has poor ventilation.

7.------- I work in high temperatures.

8. -------My work exposes me to diseases.

Reply:

Dear Penis,

After assessing your request, and considering the arguments you have raised, the management denies your request for the following reasons:

1. You do not work 8 hours straight.
2. You WORK IN SHORT SPURTS AND fall asleep after EACH brief work period.
3. You do not always follow the orders of the management team.
4. You do not stay in your designated area, and are often seen visiting other locations.
5. You do not take initiative - you need to be pressured and stimulated in order to start working.
6. You leave the workplace rather messy at the end of your shift.
7. You don't always observe necessary safety regulations, such as wearing the correct protective clothing.
8. You will retire LONG before you are 65.
9. You are unable to work double shifts.
10. You sometimes leave your designated work area before you have completed the assigned task.
11. And if that were not all, you have constantly been seen entering and exiting the workplace carrying two suspicious looking bags.
Sincerely,

The Management



and then this:

Five reasons not to be a penis ..

1. You're bald your whole life.
2. You have a hole in your head.
3. Your neighbors are nuts.
4. The guy behind you is an ass hole and...
5. Every time you get excited, you throw up and then faint

Honestly, I don't know why this has tickled my funny bone so.
ciao