Ain't Too Sick to Knit! But, Yes I Am.

I caught a cold.
Bah.
Bad luck, but not surprising.
It's that time of the year, and I'm only thankful that it's not the flu.
Didn't get a flu shot either, so who knows, that could be coming too.
Anyway, I had to drive to NYC on Friday to pick up my erstwhile travelers.
Not too taxing a drive, it's about 6 hours, but while I always say that I talk like a trucker, in actuality I could never be a trucker because driving makes me sleepy. Not a safe combination, eh?
My travelers left this:

And now they're back in the snow.
Hubby ended up driving back almost the entire trip on Saturday because I slept most of the way.
I was feeling so sick that I could barely stay awake.
Stupid cold.
Anyway, baby girl was so happy to be home, but I think she had a good time:

She came back nice and tan.
And of course is probably irritated by me already.
You've gotta love a good mother/daughter relationship.
So the crux of me having a cold means that yesterday, Sunday, I didn't do two things.
One, I never made it to church. I took some nighttime medicine at 9:00 and fell asleep again for close to three hours. Very restorative.
Two, I couldn't knit. The most I could do yesterday was rip out about 10-15 rows on a sock and then make sure that all the stitches were back on the needles. After that, I just couldn't even function.
I did do something else, an ugly necessity.
I had to go buy a new washing machine.
Something that was not budgeted for, but thank you, Lowe's for your 10% military discount.
Now we have a nifty new washer, plus a nice chunk of money to pay to Lowe's.
Is it terrible that one of my considerations when buying a washer was to make sure that I could use it to felt my knitting, if necessary? Seriously, I haven't felted anything in a few years, so why this was a concern I'll never know.
Once hubby and son got the washer installed, and once I cleaned up the water dripping down from the ceiling where a pipe wasn't fastened, I was beat.
I fell asleep by 8:30 last night which means I did not watch Downton Abbey, I did not start my knitting (although I did wind my yarn finally), and I am already behind on my Mystery KAL.
Here's hoping that I get a little better day by day, and my desire to knit comes back.
Stupid cold.

Sick, sick, sick

I know, I know, I know...I hadn't been sick once this winter.
That was true, until yesterday.
Fortunately it was a true 24-hour bug, even though it's left me a little weak, and almost completely without appetite.
That's when you know I'm sick.
Plus I was too sick to knit, and I could only read, and then sleep, and wake up to read some more, and then sleep again. And then I went to bed at 9:00 last night.
I must have been sick.
I'm on the mend, however, and am able to function like a human.
Tonight I had to drive my daughter to her friend's house, and it's a good distance from the house, so the following song is the one that I found I had to listen to, you know how that is. And then you listen to it over, and over, and over.
Fortunately the little one had headphones on, or else I wouldn't have been able to get through it once while she was in the car.
Here's an abbreviated version of the song:



Not a great video, and this piece is missing over 3 minutes of music, so if you're so inclined, take a listen to the overture in its entirety. Love that Vanessa Mae. She's an amazing (not without controversy, but still, an extremely talented musician).

Poor Wee One

My poor little one has come down with strep throat.
The timing could be considered advantageous as she is off of school all next week, but it's really not a good time at all.
She was supposed to be leaving this morning for NYC with a friend's family for four days, but she decided last night that she does not feel well enough to go.
I thought that was a very mature decision, don't you?
Well of course she's sick and she probably shouldn't go anyway, but I can tell you that around Monday she's going to regret not going because by then she'll be feeling much better.
Or else she'll start bugging me to take her shopping.
That's already happened, of course.
She's on antibiotics, but they take a while to kick in, and in the meantime last night her fever and general malaise started getting worse, so she decided to sleep in the living room.
Guess who else got to sleep there too  - on the couch.
Yes, that would be me.
And of course the dogs decided to wake me up at 4:00 by barking at roaming cats, or was it college students, and then I had to take them outside.
I'm nursing a headache, but intend to work on some projects today such as finishing a hat, and then starting on some socks.
After a nap, of course.

Bedtime for Bonzo

This blog has been called on account of sickness -- I have a cold.
Will resume normal blogging tomorrow.

Not too sick to knit

I stayed home from work yesterday.
Well everything was fine until just before I left for work.
Then I couldn't decide if I was going to throw up, or if "it" would work it's way out from another end.
I had to stop by work, but I could barely walk for fear of losing "it".
After coming home, I ended up sleeping for about 2 1/2 hours, and felt better.
I still fell asleep before 9:00, but fortunately "it" is gone.
Thank goodness.
I did begin working on SN1's scarf, but didn't make too much progress.
Enough, but no picture yet.
Trust me, you'll be glad to see the final product. All that in-between stuff would take forever because I'm a slow knitter.
I did feel better to go to the movies this afternoon.
What an excellent movie it was too.
We saw Coraline.

It was fantastic, even SN2 kept saying how much he really liked it.
Truth be told, we all know that any movie that has Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders in it is going to be great (even if it is only those two who are any good).
In this case the whole movie is good, albeit a tad scary.
I tried to knit, but dropped a stitch on a scarf I'm making for charity (trying to fulfill a personal goal this year), so I just gave up and enjoyed the movie.
For the record, no dry spots.
Entertaining from start to finish, and I stayed for almost all the credits.
Go see it.
Let me know what you think.

It's Friday, Yea! So why is it snowing?

I barely made it through class last night.
It had nothing to do with not finishing my reading.
Honest.
(Fingers crossed)
Really, it is extremely difficult to focus on Edmund Spenser when you can barely focus on driving when you're on the road.
My cold/semi-flu is subsiding but the coughing continues to give me a headache.
But I was glad I stayed in class because we had some very interesting discussions, as always.
Of course it didn't help that when I went out at break I saw the snow/rain. Come on, it's almost April, why are we having another storm?
I don't think we're expected to get more than 3" but I'm supposed to be looking at crocuses popping out their beautiful purple heads from the ground, not look to see if they've even been able to break through the bed of snow in the yard.
Guess it is a good I'm still working on socks because our house is still cold. Unfortunately, since I knit at a snail's pace I don't know if I will have sock #2 of my second pair done before spring comes.
And since you asked about my sock I can tell you that the heel has been successfully completed and I am now working on the foot.
No pictures, sorry, but I'm sure you can visualize.
I'm anxious to get started on the second sock and then get started on a bunch of other socks.
Do you think if I had different socks in various stages of completion I would get a pair done quicker? Or do you think I should just focus on one?
Because I have to tell you that I am ready to have about 6 or 7 socks going at the same time.
I'm loving this!
Bring on the weekend!

Long, hard winter = no pussywillows

Yesterday was Dyngus Day.
I had actually forgotten all about this holiday until I was listening to a Buffalo radio station on Saturday and they mentioned it.
Given the fact that I'm not Polish and do not live in an area that is rich in Polish ethnicity might account for the fact that I had forgotten. But Buffalo is and man do they go all out for Dyngus Day especially considering that they are the self-proclaimed Dyngus Day Capital of America.
Check out this website if you think I'm kidding.
So according to them, Dyngus Day is:

Historically a Polish-American tradition, Dyngus Day celebrates the end of the often restrictive observance of lent and the joy of Easter. Over the decades, Dyngus Day has become a wonderful holiday to celebrate Polish-American culture, heritage and traditions.

Fortunately they give you some valuable tips - keep this in mind for next year's Dyngus Day:

As the popular polka anthem explains, “Everybody’s Polish On Dyngus Day!” Many parties begin during the mid-morning on the Monday after Easter with a large buffet of traditional Easter foods (kielbasa, ham, fresh breads, eggs). It is common to hear polka music on Dyngus Day with the mandatory dancing of at least one polka. Many parties continue well into daylight on Tuesday. (A tip to the first time Dyngus participant….take Tuesday off from work.)

So why the pussywillows? You may find your true love on Dyngus Day. Of course if you're married you will probably just get drunk. But if you're single, bring along some water and pussywillows:

This is a yearly debate among Dyngus Day revelers. The tradition holds true that on Easter Monday boys would sprinkle the girls with water and tap them with pussywillows. On Easter Tuesday, the women would return the favorite. At modern Dyngus Day parties it is common practice that both men and women trade water and pussywillow equally.

I had never even heard of this holiday or celebrated it until I was 18 or 19 because this is not something that they celebrate in the greater Rochester area. I remember after I first joined the Marine Corps I would mention Dyngus Day to people and they would just look at me as if I were completely out of my mind. Sometimes they would do the same thing when I mentioned Euchre. Have you ever played it? That seems to be a regional thing too.
Now unfortunately this year there is a shortage of pussywillows, primarily because of our long, hard winter.
I have no doubt that this stopped people from drinking lots and lots of piwo or vodka.
Perhaps we'll hit it up next year, when everyone is not quite so sick around my house.
Yes, I'm spreading it.

I will not get sick, I will not get sick, I will not...

...oh crap, I am sick.
It started as a little tickle on Wednesday morning. By the afternoon when I left work it was a full compression on my chest and the coughing had begun. I rushed to the store and I've been ODing on OTC cold and flu medicine since Wednesday evening but it is a Sisyphean task. Once sickness comes it's there until it's over.
Of course I have taken so much medicine that now I do not know if I am loopy because I'm sick or because I'm over-medicated.
Or if it is just my natural demeanor.
Hmmm....
I've been so out of it that although I have been able to accomplish mindless knitting - stockinette on my second sock and K2 P2 on my new socks - I haven't been able to focus on much more than that. As a matter of fact I am at the point where I can do the toe on sock #2 but because I am having so much trouble focusing I am afraid to work on it until the fog in my brain clears.
I can only hope that this doesn't turn into the flu.
Although I would like to go back to bed - not to work.
They say this cough is called the 100 Day Cough.
I have to tell you, there are not enough Depends in the world that could see me through a cough for that length of time.
Okay, rather than leave you with that nasty thought I'll leave you with something better - some vintage Jeannie C. Riley (LOVE her boots!!!).

Who knew the PTA had so much power.

(Note at 7:40: And on top of everything else, it is snowing again! Come on, it is after Easter! Can we please have some relief?!?!)

A Day at the Hospital

Today DH had surgery to reconstruct his ACL.
We arrived at the hospital at 6:00 and he went into surgery at 7:30.
He wasn't done until after 10:15, and I couldn't see him until after 11:15, so I sat there reading, listening to my iPod and knitting a simple K1 P1 scarf I don't even really like.
It kept my hands busy.
And now they'll be busy again ripping it out.
He wasn't allowed to leave the hospital until 3:30, so we had a very long day.
I'm exhausted and didn't even have surgery!
This is one of the many reasons why I am not a nurse.
Except for giving the medicine.
"It's time for your Percocet!"

(Personal to Sheri and Jean: I was so irritated today that I almost channeled DZ. I saw someone from transport taking an older woman down the hall in a bed but he was only using one hand to push her because the other was connected to his cell phone!! He was talking the entire time he pushed her down the hall!! I think I may actually write a letter to the hospital. So unprofessional. And I'm sure this lady did not want to hear his conversation.)

(Personal to Jean: Hope J and HS/SS are doing okay.)

Who Got Me Sick?

Someone did.
I started feeling yucky on Saturday night and started self-medicating immediately.
On Sunday I took the tree out and my pictures prove I took everything off the tree, but what you won't see is that I haven't put any of the ornaments away!
They are all over the floor still!!
What a slob, I know but I felt so bad that after I finished with the tree that I had to sit down on the couch to watch a great movie and rest.
The movie?
Only Angels Have Wings starring Cary Grant and Jean Arthur.
If you haven't ever seen it, you should, and disregard all the fake special effects. Yes, we know those planes are not real, you can practically see the strings on the toy prop planes, but the story is wonderful.
I made it to work today but ended up coming home early. I thought I'd feel better if I worked at home but honestly I feel awfully weak and unable to do much.
I can knit, but slowly and only 4 rows at a time.
So I'll sign off and hope I feel better tomorrow.
Perhaps this crackling in my ears will be gone by then.
Cheers!

Things are looking up

For one thing, it's Thursday.
Tomorrow is Friday! Yea!
DN1 came out of the hospital yesterday afternoon, and in response to queries about why she was admitted, unfortunately she does not want to be known as a poster child for a piercing gone bad.
But I think she may become one anyway.
So let it be said that if you get things pierced (like ear cartilage), infections can happen.
Thanks for all your concern, now she's back to her manic life and catching up on schoolwork.
And as DH brought her home yesterday afternoon, we spent the first part of the evening eating crappy Chinese food (and not from the place that tried to blow up the block with gasoline) but another restaurant.
As an aside I have come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as "good" Chinese food in this area.
While we were eating our Chinese we watched this that came in the mail yesterday from Amazon:
I enjoyed it, and at this point when I watch a Christopher Guest film it's like watching a group of good friends entertain you, and you look at who they were in other movies and who they are playing in the new one. Somehow that doesn't sound as eloquent as I'd like it to, but I think you know what I mean. It's all good.
After it was done I went upstairs to watch some tv and knit but got distracted by watching this:
It was pretty damn motivating, and I loved watching the footage from Quantico and thinking about running on those trails.
I miss them.
Oh, and Rick, I thought about you as I saw the DIs pushing the Candidates through the Quigley - they should have filmed you doing that, because I know you are a true ball buster.

Sometimes it takes more than chocolate

My cold is still lingering but winding down, DN2 is just about over her cold and flu and is finally back to sleeping almost normally, but DN1 still sits in a hospital bed.
Hopefully she'll be out today, but if a doctor comes in at 0630 and tells you the swelling is not going down the way they expected and they'll have to figure another course of action, you can bet your sweet bippy she'll be in that damn bed for another day.
None of us are loving it.
Every class and lab she misses puts her that much farther behind and I have a presentation to prepare for class on Monday which I haven't even started yet.
Anyway, I did buy this last night at the drug store on our way back home from the hospital:
Yes, sometimes it does take more than chocolate, but I'll start with this and let you know if I need something stronger.

P.S. Does anyone else notice that my photography skills totally suck when taking a picture of what's inside my handbag, but when it comes to photographing a bag of chocolate crunchiness the picture is completely clear and in focus? Amazing.

What provides comfort

Can you tell me what these three items have in common?

They are all items to provide me comfort since I am beginning to get a cold.
What better way to spend a Sunday but in bed with your knitting and Ioann Gruffudd and Robert Lindsay.
Well, it's not quite a threesome since they're on tv, but a girl can always hope, right?