TGIF!

Short and sweet, I am so glad it is Friday.  I have a Toastmasters Contest to judge tomorrow morning and then I have the weekend free.  Some minor bits of work to do, but just plain relaxation.

In reality, the week has been a productive one.  I am closing issues on several projects, I have learned a great deal even though I did a good deal of complaining.  It is nice to see the recognition of a job well done, and more to do but… Now if I just had the promotion to go with the phrase!

More rain..

I used to love the rain, the gentle drops even the nice downpours.  I loved relaxing with my cross stitch and a great cup of coffee with a book near.  These days I dread the rain.  It seems that the weather change just makes my knee hurt like hell.  I have rarely been in pain after the initial surgery except when I rains or I do too much.  Just as I thought I was over the most of this – I am able to pedal a bike and can sort of lurch down a flight of stairs, this a happens.  My physical therapist is positive that the problem is arthritis.  Not surprising, but still painful.  She is working to get that last 15 degrees range of motion back and now this.  She is concerned because the pain is in the joint line.  She is refering me back to the OS to see what he thinks – and if there is anything we can do short of a knee replacement – we were hoping to hold off 5 years.  Dang it!

I have spent more time with my books than I have with stitching lately.  I just cannot concentrate with the pain.  It sounds weird, but…  I knew that this a was a problem immediately after surgery.  I have also been spending some time getting the house in order.  I absolutely love my new place.  My cabinets were custom made and the builder is going to make more shelves.  That will allow more storage space for dishes that I have had in storage for years.  It will also allow my short daughter to reach the bottom two shelves.  My son and I are tall – I am almost 6 foot and my son is 6 foot 5, we don’t have a problem, but my 5 foot 4 daughter has to get a step stool out to reach the 2nd shelves.  Since she does most of the cooking – this is a problem! 

Anyway, so much for my complaining.  I should get back to the last 1/2 hour that I want to do tonight on Merrick.  He is so very handsome – one over on Ocean Silkweaver Reflections.  I am just amazed at the detail!
Reading:  “The King of the Murgos” by David Eddings

Watching:  Project Runway

Stitching:  “Merrick” by Karen Weaver

Relaxing…

I took the day off to take my daughter to her therapist today, pick up her paycheck and turn her uniform in, go to the USPS and change my address.  Not a very fruitful day to be sure, but I did spend some of the time stitching. I truly believe that having a bi-polar 20 year old is stressful.  She has been in the hospital twice since July – once just to adjust meds, and once because she was severely depressed.  Her dad and I worry constantly.  Her memory is horrible and she will probably quit school this semester.  Missing 5 days of classes is difficult, but the amount of meds just makes everything worse.  I worry every second.  But at least stitching and reading give me the time to relax without worry.  I am so grateful for that.

My knee is doing better – at least I can walk up a flight of stairs foot over foot, but I still cannot go down them.  If my high rise building at work had an issue, I would be stuck upstairs waiting for rescue - or I would go down on my butt.  Neither choice would be good, but …  The joint area and muscles ache a good deal lately.  My VMO is very tight and exercises have not seemed to help lately.  At least the patella itself isn’t sore at all.  Just the muscles and joint itself.  It is so frustrating not be able to get into or out of the car without doing contortions to do so.  I know it won’t be long, but …

Stitching:  “Footprints” by Teresa Wentzler

Reading:  “Guardians of the West” by David Eddings

A chance to breathe…

Other than cleaning out a closet this weekend, I have a weekend pretty much to myself.  I stitched most of the day yesterday.  I was enjoyable to just relax with my stitching and animals cosy on my bed. I still haven’t found the perfect place to stitch, but right now any place is just fine.  My cross stitching items are happy at home now.  I am so pleased with the amount of room that I have now.  I just need to get to mom’s to put up the rest of the floss and beads. 

I still need to install the wireless router and I will be online more often.  Just getting the cable back was a pain.  The proverbial cable guys actually showed up right on time.  They were efficient and very friendly.  I finally have a recordable box so I won’t miss any of my favorite programs.  Gosh, what would happen if I missed Project Runway – I would have to watch some of the other of the multitude of times they show it! 

Anyway, I am pleased and I have a lot more room.  Work seems to be going better even though I was outraged last week with one of the other AA’s in my group.  I wish he would mind his own business.  I was so angry, but I finally got over it. In the long run he will be the idiot.  He was already ticking us all off in a meeting because of his side conversations.  I called him on it- he ignored me so my boss finally reminded him that this is a meeting with more than 2 attendees.  GRRRRR…. 

Stitching: Noah’s Sub

Reading: “Guardians of the West” by David Eddings

Finally finished moving….

I hate moving and I love moving.  I was able to clean out 10 years of items not often used.   It is scary to think of all of the items you can collect and keep for no reason over 10 years.  My daughter and I weeded down on clothes, shoes, and just stuff.  I actually think that my son moved everything he has ever owned. He still has crayons and legos from when he was a little kid.  His room is stuffed full and so is the garage which he believes is his domain alone.

We were out of the house on Saturday, Sunday I spent cleaning and cleaning.  Whew….now we just have to clean out the downstairs closet where we stored items that had no home.  Of course, my son needs to organize the garage and store two chairs and 2 end tables that are in the living room in the way.  The garage was so full, we didn’t have room for them there on Sunday.

I actually found time to organize most of my cross stitch related items.  They have a lovely home and they are easy to get to now.  I found time every night to spend some time with pieces although work is beginning to interfer with home right now.  I have great light in my new room so stitching during the day is easy.  The problem has been to stitch or to read.  That will always be one of my problems.  It usually depends on how involved I am in a book.  Sometimes my imaginary life takes over – especially if TV is bad.

Stitching: “Castle Sampler” by Teresa Wentzler

Reading:  “Enchanter’s End Game” by David Eddings

Moving Day…

Tomorrow will be the beginning of our moving day.  The kitchen in the new place is huge in comparision to the place we live now.  The cabinets are just beautiful.  I even have room for all of my dishes and my daughter’s.  The colors on the walls are perfect.  We have the kitchen and the living room completely packed.  My daughter and I are ready as well.  My son, on the other hand, has the entire garage to get ready to pack.  Fortunately the new garage is 23 and half feet long.  It has a wonderful closet at the end that we will put shelving in to keep the place perfectly clean.  He is in heaven.

The dogs will stay in their kennels during the day because they make a mess.  New carpeting = no dogs!  My sheltie is getting old and he goes when he has to.  When we are home that is no problem because he barks to be let out, you just have to move quickly. 

My formal dining room will be the reading and cross-stitch room instead.  I don’t do formal dinners and we have an eat in kitchen.  My friend, Tawanda, made her dining room into a beautiful reading area and she promised to help.  I cannot wait.

I have to buy my son a new bed.  After all he has done for me, he deserves someting new. He wants a nice futon so that his room is more comfy.  My daughter will still only be at home for another 6 months or so.  Then I will have a guest bedroom again.  My brother will actually be able to stay with me when he visits next summer.  Oh yes, I am so happy. 

My knee is doing very well.  I won’t be able to move many items – and no furniture, but I can move smaller items.  Maybe all of my Longaberger baskets that will now have a nice home.  I now have 110 degree of motion.  I still cannot go down a flight of stairs, but I can now manage to go up if I have handrails.  My exercise bike will need to live in the garage, but I can still work out out there.  I plan on going back to the gym next week.  I will bowl as well.  Wow!  Friday was the first day that I actually felt as if I weren’t limping and wobbling.  It was a great feeling.  I believe that some of that is due to the PT.

My therapist said I only lost about 1/2 of muscle.  She feels that it is because I was actually working the quads and calves as I could even at full extension.  I have been dedicated to getting back to 100%.  She will help me so much!

I even had some time to stitch today!

Stitching:  The Minstrel by Teresa Wentzler

Reading:  “Castle of Wizardry” by David Eddings

Watching:  House Hunters