Now what?! Go to sleep, silly brain!

The ‘contract to hire’ position is a decent job BUT…. there are no open positions at the company.  None.  Haven’t been for ages.  A temp has been hired here and there over the last few months but there are dozens of temps that have been there for up to two years now.  hmmm….  interesting.  Won’t bore you with the details but let’s go with there was a conversation between the 30 or so of us former Caremark employees and the temp company that pitched this as a permanent type thing.  Whatever.  It’s a temp company and it’s a temp job not a perm one.  HOWEVER…. HR messed up my schedule, instead of the 8:30 – 5 (perfect!) that I was told, it’s 9:30 – 6 which absolutely does not work.  Earlier works, later does not.  This is a major problem.  Not good.

Our severance checks arrived yesterday – good!  (taxes totalled 62% – wow! that’s a lot of money in Uncle Sam’s pocket)  I’ve been getting some things taken care of like car insurance, rent, utilities, you know… the stuff that gets you in serious trouble if you go for weeks without money.  Since yesterday was also pay day for last week at the temp job, the first thing I did was cash that check and got a Diet Coke and some chocolate.  It’s true – I went for over a week without a Diet Coke!

not my pic, but pretty much how I feel about it!  yummmmmmmmmmmm

in knitting news….   four stitches slipped off the needle on the Olive Drab Socks 4 Soldiers.  Yes, I had them in my knitting bag…. which I also had another skein of yarn and er well, let’s see, hair mousse, herbal tea packets, cough drops, lip gloss, hand lotion, and my lunch.  Perhaps that was the problem – over crowding without proper precautions.  ARGHHHH   I’ll pick them up and do any repairs later today.  Just can’t quite bring myself to do it right now.

On the observation list for today – we watched a dvd a Monday on the Utah State Correctional Facility at the ‘Point of the Mountain.’   I drive by it every weekday (and often on weekends as well) but never paid a whole lot of attention to it other than it’s just there.

Apparently, Utah’s state prison is one of the most violent in the country.  Interesting.  What really struck me though was the difference between the men and women’s facilities.  It may have been the way MSNBC edited, or who knows, but the point was made that at the women’s facilities the offenders generally work together, support each other, generally try to make life tolerable and perhaps even a bit better for one another.  Not quite the same at the men’s facility.   This could be a rather long observational bit about anthropological/sociological differences, etc.  I’ll just stop here though and comment that I found it particularly interesting.

Part of the program is on Youtube.

The other bit of oddity for the day – a half green, half red apple grown in Devon (UK).  It’s amazing!

It’s true – insomnia is striking again.  Doing the relaxation things, doing the shutting down stuff but…. brain just keeps going and going like a very demented Energizer Bunny zig zagging through the quagmire of situations going on in life.  Silly brain.  You must sleep now!  Oh wait, not just yet – need to take daughter to a friend’s bridal shower this afternoon and get some more bills paid and see what’s on for the weekend, finalize the car insurance stuff, might be good to hop in the shower before all that, oh and my nails reallllly need to be done and  …. yeah…… kinda like that.  Again, silly brain!

If you’re in the mood for a vent, see the “Life” page.  Add your own vent!  Go on, you’ll feel better!!!!!

Continental and Magic Loop revisited

…And Bad Mommy

I’ve tried using the continental knitting style several times with varied amounts of success, it’s not really difficult, just doesn’t always ‘feel’ right… but… I did do half of yesterday’s knitting continental style.  Go me!  AND…. I was youtubing for a better way to pearl using continental and came across CraftSanity’s video.  It made soooo much more sense to me.  Perhaps it’s because I learned to crochet before I knit and she shows the similarities, I’m not sure… but either way – it’s easier for my brain to do it this way.

The ‘pick up’ isn’t as high as I’d been taught before which was undoubtedly part of my problem getting decent tension.

And now…  Leila47 (ravelry link) encouraged me to do a new youtube search for Magic Loop and showed me her method (sans needle and yarn – we were doing resume review you know!).   For some reason, the importance of yarn direction had escaped me so her demonstration combined with the various videos I found LiatMGat’s easy to follow, fun and detailed enough to … tada… I cast on and did a few rounds!   I’m not starting a new project with it just now, I simply wanted to actually figure it out in a way that sinks far enough into my brain/hand relationship that I can use it at will.

You might want to check out Liat’s Blog, I’m loving her Leaf Bug Root Gloves.  She also has Stix Inspiring Yarns for Creative Hands – which is now on my ‘must do’ when I visit my brother in Montana.

In other news – only 27 more days of employment.  More legal stuff.  Need to go see Mom and Dad this weekend, they seem pretty lonely without Heidi.  Still forcing myself to find something to look forward to so I can keep going.  It’s not all bleak, just a bit on the dark/cloudy side still.

And, I took David to get two more guages in his ears this afternoon.  A different dude did the piercing this time and David started bleeding.  I know, I’m the ‘rocker mom,’ the one who signs the piercing forms, does Slipknot concerts, and doesn’t freak when the little darling blogs about his reasons for being an athiest (which includes quasi-sexual content), but I had to stop myself from getting violent, or at least verbal.  It wasn’t the piercers fault, he must have just nicked a small blood vessel or something but the automatic momma bear instinct kicks in when I see blood coming out of one of my kids.  Bad Mommy.

One thing….

Thought seriously about going in to work this morning but after breaking into spontaneous tears around 5:30a.m., decided not to.  Grief is a rather odd thing; it sneaks up on you and slams you pretty hard then slowly edges off just a bit until you feel like you can function then it starts over again.  What an odd emotion!

We’re all getting laid off September 2nd anyway so I’m going to spend part of the day in the ever dreaded job search mode then go over to mom’s for a while and then up to WRT’s and see TJ for a bit too.

Yesterday some of my sisters, nieces, Marci, parents and I spent hours in Mom’s living room  going through a life time of pictures sorting out the ones we want to use for the funeral program, etc.  My poor sister, Lynna has very few in comparison to the rest of us.  Apparently, that’s what happens when you’re #8 of 9 children. ooooops!

And, might  I add…  the 70’s had some fairly horrendous color and fabric choices.  Frightening, actually.  (Then again, the 80’s hair – how did we do that?!)  We chuckled over the ‘unisex’ outfits Mom made – she was quite the seamstress back then.  Everything went with everything else for the younger kids since they came in ’sets’ of boy/girl then boy/girl again.  Think red white and blue plaid double knit pants with red shirts, white shirts, and blue shirts.  We got a bit teary eyed looking at Heidi’s graduation photos – there weren’t a lot of them, wonder what happened there?  and didn’t bother holding back the tears when we came to the photos of her and her son, Tyler. (He passed away at age 4 1/2, his birthday is today.)

Yeah, that’s kind of how it went.

What’s the one thing you ask?  Life goes on.  It’s such a cliche, but comes from truth.  The last few months have been fairly intense; my living situation got too tense and I just moved back down to Utah County and am renting a room in my first husband’s house (yes, we have a fine relationship, just can’t be married to each other), the kids are here and that’s what’s important to me; was diagnosed with Lupus; Mom had breast cancer and a mastectomy, still needs the knee replacement; my oldest graduated from high school – insert happy face here;  getting laid off in a little over a month and the job market here is bleak; and the most painful of all,  Heidi passed away….  yet time keeps moving forward and so do we.  I’ve made plans for the near future, the further future and it will keep going.  (as I tell myself every few minutes)

In knitting news – I ‘discovered’ Verena and The Knitter while browsing Barnes & Noble across the street from the hospital.  Wow!  I’m in knitting love.

Verena Knitting

The only problem that I have with Verena is the exclusive use of charts.  I’m not that great at reading charts.  I’ll just have to work on it.  The Knitter has a different emphasis

The Knitter

They have Trailing Leaf – a lovely diagonal lace patterned sweater.  Zippy-Applebrain (Ravelry) is currently working on this one and it looks gorgeous in the light blue she chose.

.   There is also Honeysuckle by Sarah Hatton (ravelry link)

honeysuckle

WRT’s summer socks are coming along, I’ve stopped working on them for a couple of days since all the knitting in the hospital makes them difficult to pick up just now.  I’ll pick them back up tomorrow.  Anyway, basic men’s short sock – 1.25″ 2×2 ribbing, 1.50″ SS then broken pearl stripe for another inch or so, down another 1.50″ then heel flap worked in Sl1 K1, pearl WS rows, short row turn and then gusset pick up and on to foot portion.

Some of the nurses in ICU are knitters; talking knitting with them was a pleasant diversion from the constant chatter about the monitors, meds, ups and downs, etc.

And in entirely different news:

David’s been wanting to get his ears guaged for a while now so…. I took him to go do it a month or so ago.

And again….

Blogging from the library today – yes, there is still no computer around and won’t have one for a while yet. Other priorities and all…. although school is very high on the list and obviously requires one.

Anyway….. I’ll be posting pics of the roll top purlies, green fraternal twins (socks, I got bored, they are ‘matchish’ rather than matching), along with a couple other projects. Socks for Soldiers is still a high priority although I’m hybernating the original pair and working on olive ones now. The first pair is still giving me fits so the logic is, go to the second one.

I’ve moved into a house with several roomates, constantly changing roomates, lots of coming and going. It’s really not working out that well, unfortunately so will be doing something differently soon. Oh, and the current diagnosis is lupus. Not exactly thrilled but it’s the only thing that makes sense to the various doctors so am moving forward.

Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last week. She’s handling things reasonably well but Dad’s taking it very hard. We’re trying to show him the statistics on how treatable it is when caught early but he’s a bit stuck in the death sentence it was a few years go. It doesn’t help that she had to postpone double knee replacement surgery to go to her oncology apt. Yes, I’m concerned.

Free Lace Stitch Patterns, Roll Top Pearlies Progress, more of life….

Roll Top Pearlies are coming right along -

Roll Top Pearlies free sock pattern

So….. there have been several new pattern possibilities running through my head. I want to combine several lace patterns for some new stoles, a blouse or two, perhaps even a skirt. Rather ambitious for such a slow, beginning lace knitter! One of the projects rambling around is screaming for attention – a wrap/stole/shawl type object with combination of lace edgings and lace border. A few of the current faves are:

Apple Leaf Lace 1

English Lace 1

Palm Leaf Insertion

Wouldn’t this make a gorgeous sleeve edging?

Fluted Lace With Edge

Where can these pieces of visual delight come from? Knit Wiki, of course!

And I’ve been toying around with the idea of using the underskirt and edging panels in Inspired to Knit by Michelle Rose Orne as a shawl and matching skirt.
Will I get those projects on the needles and turn them into finish objects?!? Very good question!

The words for the week are: insomnia and nightmares.

It hasn’t been a bad week just long and a hella lot of life ’stuff.’ I got home about 7:30 or so last night after work, made some spaghetti for myself, sorted through knitting and yarn, threw away a bunch of stuff that I’m simply not moving (some call that stuff ‘junk’), approved a couple patterns for inclusion on ravelry (go me!!!!! seriously – I’m beyond thrilled), knit for a while, frogged about 2″ on sock1 socks for soldiers due to a dropped stitch then re-knit, they even have their own container now – Christmas candy bucket, works perfectly! - 

I wasted some time playing games online, re-worked the divorce papers and went over January’s bank statement (so far). Maybe that was the root of the latest round of nightmares hehe. 4B has spent $1,068 on bars, taking someone or other out to dinner, etc so far this month. Rather a lot considering his income is about $1500/month.  That doesn’t include ANY household expenses such as electric, gas, rent, etc.  I’ve spent $500 total on myself including regular meds, 2 doctor visits and 2 rounds of other meds, my luxury item – nails, of course, and a couple other necessary things.  Yet, I managed to get rent paid, utilities paid, blah blah blah.  He wonders why I’m not out of here just yet…. hmmm……

I’d do a self-congratulatory pat on the back but that’s soooo not the point. Can you hear the “it’s only a few more days” chanting in the background?

Getting the hang of it

I haven’t blogged the last few days, been trying to find a place to live and had some complications with that. It’ll work out somehow though.

This week I’ve been concentrating on getting gauge while knitting between calls at work and am FINALLY getting there. The first roll top pearly is nearly done, it’s been my concentration/experimentation knitting. When I’ve got it down, I’ll be able to work on the Socks 4 Soldiers there. I’m so glad! The legs of first regulation pair are nearly finished (knitting consecutively on dpn’s) and I am soooo glad. I can’t wait to get these sent off and get started on the next pair.

And…. have been re-working the divorce papers. I plan on submitting them on Monday, was going to do it a while ago but some things changed and had to add a few clauses. Wow that feels good!

Roll Top Pearlies Free Sock Pattern

This started out as something I can pick up and put down at a moments’ notice. Have to admit, I’m really loving them! So far, I’ve only got one nearly finished but here’s the pattern straight out of my scary brain:

roll top pearly sock heel view

The ‘lumpy’ things are pearls – they look cute and add texture when stretched out – pic of finished object coming shortly.

roll top pearly sock 2

Materials:
Knit Picks Essential Lilac (2 skeins)
dpns: size 3 and size 2.75mm

Using size 3’s cast on 60 stitches fairly loosely, join in the round
Knit 6 rows
Knit 2 Pearl 2 ribbing 5 rows
Switch to smaller needles
Knit 2 Pearl 2 ribbing 2 rows

Knit 18 rows throwing in 2 pearl stitches wherever you feel like – try for somewhat random look

Divide for heel putting 15 stitches each on dpn 1 and 2; 30 on dpn 3

Slip 1 Knit 1 across
Slip 1 Pearl 1 across
repeat until you’ve worked as deep as you need your heel, about 30 rows

Turn heel beginning on WS row:
Pearl 17 Pearl 2 tog, P1 more turn
Knit 5 Knit 2 tog K1 more turn
Repeat this until you have 18 stitches left (knit or pearl according to side to one stitch prior to the ‘gap’ P2 tog on wrong side, K2 tog on right side then do one more stitch)

End on knit row then pick up 15 stitches evenly across heel edge, knit along the top (I usually move the sock top stitches onto one needle at this point). Using another dpn pick up 15 stitches along other edge and knit to middle of heel. Arrange stitches if needed so you have the 15 picked up stitches and half the heel stitches on one dpn and half the heel stitches and the other 15 picked up stitches on the other.

Knit around.

Gusset decreases:
Beginning at middle of heel knit to last 3 stitches, K2 tog, K1
Knit across top
K1 S1 K1 PSSO (pass slipped stitch over just knit stitch)
Knit across next round
Continue this pattern until you have 15 stitches remaining on each of the heel needles. (Note: I only decrease until 18 stitches remain since I have wide feet then do extra toe decreases later. Feel free to adjust as needed.)

Knit around 40 – 44 rows according to foot length stopping 1.5 inches shorter than total length of sock foot.

Toe: Starting at the center back of the heel, work across to last three stitches and K2tog, K1. On instep needle K1, Sl1, K1 psso, knit across to last three stitches, K2 tog, K2. On second heel needle K1, Sl1, K2, psso, Knit across.
Knit across next round.
Continue this pattern for 9 rows until you have 24 stitches left, 6 on each of the heel needles and 12 on the instep needle. Knit across next heel needle, slip remaining heel needles’ stitches onto that needle and continue knitting across. The yarn should be at the side of the sock. Cut yarn leaving about 15 inches and weave remaining stitches together. (See Kirchner link on side bar.)

Stash additions – fun stuff!

The olive drab Regia Stretch arrived from Sarge (Kim Opperman, President of Socks for Soldiers, Inc.) on Saturday and my KnitPicks order arrived today!!! The Regia is well… drab… but I’m knitting away an hour a day as promised.

KnitPicks rocks! They have great wool and silk yarns are very affordable prices; perhaps not top of the line but well within budgetary constraints and soooo fun to work with. I’ve got a couple skeins of Jay Kettle Essentials which will eventually be a pair of soft socks for B.

A couple skeins of Essentials Glacial which are mine, mine, mine for socks and… several balls of Fog Palatte just waiting to be turned into a lace piece. I also bought another pair of double points from them, seem to be needing more all the time. I also found a previously stashed ball of acrylic multi color that will be turned into toys for grandkids – no, NOT mine, none of those yet thank goodness.

Currently on the needles are Socks 4 Soldiers leisure pair 2, roll top pearlies socks for me, grylion’s socks, lace scarf, rib scarf and some handwarmers.

This weekend B and I went to O’Sushi again, we love that place.

O'Sushi

We’d planned to go to a show at the planetarium but I managed to lose my phone so we spent quite a while trying to track it down. He’s such a good sport and is constantly amazing me. The rest of the weekend was pretty quiet and thoroughly enjoyable.

DUH! and DUH!

Since work is sometimes slow in the evenings, I often knit between calls. (I work in Pharmacy Benefits Management for Medicare Part D providers.) I tried working on the regulation socks for soldiers but picking up, putting down, picking up, putting down constantly throws my gauge off. It’s not that big of a deal for most of my projects but those babies need to be perfectly on gauge. This has really been bothering me. Until the light bulb FINALLY went on. I can do leisure socks to be sent while working and do the regulation socks at home. DOHHHHHH! (Can you hear Homer Simpson?!)

So, I cast one on last night and got most of the ribbing done – Originally, I’d planned to do men’s socks but after asking several age 20-30 male colleagues if the yarn color was masculine, switched to female. It seems the ‘red’ is a bit on the pink side and if those guys wouldn’t wear socks with pink, I’m guessing a soldier wouldn’t be so thrilled wearing them either. One even commented the green was a girl shade of green… never thought about that one. I’d always figured anything darker than light minty baby green was gender neutral. It seems that I was wrong. Good thing to know!

This morning I had a court hearing, the judge was very fair. I’m happy. I also wrote a letter to the judge in a related but different matter requesting she allow socks for soldiers to be included in community service hours. No, I’m NOT a habitual offender. I just made a rather stupid mistake last summer in trying to get away from a verbal attack by 4B. Yes, I’m the one who drove after downing a couple of beers and a shot. At the time, ‘fight or flight’ took over and I chose flight. Fortunately, there wasn’t an accident, no one was injured. I take full responsibility for that idiocy on my part and am trying to take care of all the ramifications from that act.

It did serve one good purpose though, it was then that I resolved that I am not going to allow his alcoholism to invade my life any more. It hasn’t been easy to break some of the patterns, I don’t go take him oxygen anymore, I stopped feeling responsible when he chose to drive after drinking heavily, I’ve quit feeling guilty when he goes on one of his verbal and/or physical rampages, and I’ve disengaged emotionally. If he chooses to call and ask for a ride home, I will do that. I’d far prefer picking him up than having him drive drunk but he rarely calls and only once in a great while gets a ride from someone else.

Last night he chose to go drink at the bar he works for tips – after calling in sick. While there drinking, he asked for the rest of the week off. He was let go. He sees it as inherently unfair and is hurt and upset. I do feel badly for him on one level, he has made that his life and ‘family’ and now has lost that as well as his real family. On the other hand, it takes a special kind of stupid…..again, DUHHHHHH!

And he drove home. He was all ready pretty wasted when I saw him about 7:30pm – had to switch vehicles and needed the keys from him. Why did he drive? Because he was pissed off. Ohhh, okay. That works. NOT.

I’m financially concerned as that was part of his ‘drinking’ money as well as whatever he spent out of ‘our’ money (he perceives everything as his). He’s been spending around $1200 – $1400 per month on drinking and related activities.

Even though we’ve been separated since last summer we’re still sharing the apartment. I’m leaving as soon as humanly possible so am trying to get things in order to make that possible. I’ve made a new life and am happy with it. Just getting the details sorted, so to speak.

D’s decided to stay at his dad’s for a few weeks, although it’s difficult for me, I agree with his decision. He can’t be around 4B without wanting to do damage – he’s 15, it’s an appropriate response for his age. Choosing to remove himself from the situation shows maturity when he would rather stay.

Something for me!

I need something to keep my hands warm but still functional so cast on a pair of fingerless gloves Saturday (yep, at work).   Since any type of lace work is impossible for me if there are interruptions I waited until Sunday to do the patterns on the hand and finish the first one.

The lace pattern is an adaptation of the Elaine’s Blouse in Interweave Knits Winter 2008.  The pic is a little wonky and yes, the tree is up – coming down today, promise!  But you get the general idea.  The top has an eyelet border that may or may not show when blocked.

I went with a buttonhole thumb opening since I need my thumbs not to be slippery most of the time.  I’ll be casting on the mate shortly.  This is definitely a test knit and will be making mods before posting the pattern.

Then… I’ve got a pair of socks on the needles for myself, too!  The color is one of my favorites – lilac and they’re turning out soft and cozy.  (Knit Picks Essential).

I’d originally started on 2.75 mm needles and dropped to size 1 but after turning the heel realized there was no chance my size 8 feet were fitting in 64 stitches of that tinnnnny of a gauge so frogged and redid the top part on size 3’s and will drop down to 2.75s after another row or two of ribbing.  I actually like the roll part on the larger needle anyway.  It’s less of a tight roll and more a fluid roll/wave.

Again, as this is a knit at work project and has to be put down and picked up readily, nothing complicated or even requiring thought with this pair.

I’m a little frustrated at not being able to knit Socks for Soldiers at work.  I am absolutely committed to working on those daily.  But, I discovered the constant picking up/putting down changes my gauge too much and that just won’t do!

In non-knitting news….  4B is sick and I’m rather concerned about him but trying not to fall into the co-dependent thing again.  I’ve stayed away for the most part but did stay a couple nights ago to make sure he’s surviving and call a few times a day.  It’s difficult to know where to draw the line right now.  I have decided though if this turns into pneumonia then I need to be around.  It’s far too dangerous for someone with full blown emphysema to be alone with pneumonia and his decision making skills are somewhat skewed.

—————-
update – 4B actually did take himself to the VA yesterday. (I stayed elsewhere last night so just found out when he woke up this morning.) It’s a lung infection and they wanted to admit him but he refused. This is not good at all.

2009 commitments

I don’t make resolutions. I turn into a big bowl of pure fail if I do. So… this time it’s commitments. I can do those! I’m a pretty committed person.

Knitting:

• Socks for soldiers – knit 30 – 40 minutes per day.  It’s not difficult, suck it up and do it girl – you enjoy it, the need is strong and you know it.
  
• Get stash replenished.  1/4 of purchases will be socks for soldiers regulation yarns.
  
• Learn color knitting and finish at least 2 major colorwork projects
• Finish Grylions socks.  Geez!
  
• Make yourself some socks – your feet are cold, you silly girl!
• Finish your scarf – it’s beautiful and you know you want to.  Besides, it was a gift.
• Make the freaking sweater – you know the one.
• Make at least one lace shawl.
  

Personal:

• Get the divorce finalized and survive through it – well.  It’s the best thing and you know it. You’ve moved on.
• Lose those pesky last 20 pounds.  Again, it’s the best thing and you know it.
• Get back in school.
• Pay it back and then start paying forward.
• Get a new sewing machine and start sewing, quilting again

Work:

• Keep moving forward.

Cutting Steeks

I have no problem slicing and dicing store bought fabric but cutting into fabric that I knit?! That’s an entire different matter. I just made it! I can’t cut it!!!! BUT…. I am determined to do colorwork in 2009 so I must learn to hold my breath and just do it. So…. here’s how… just cut – carefully….

with very sharp scissors to avoid pulling the yarn.

Kirchener Options – 3 Needle Bind Off

Although Kitchener is by far the best sock bind off I’ve found, there are options that work pretty darn well. My fave is the three needle bind off – it makes a great seam and is typically used for shoulders, seams, etc. Why not toes?!

Basically, you’re doing a pretty normal bind off, just with three needles instead of two. Think of it as sewing the seam shut with the third needle and it’s pretty easy.

I have no idea why I didn’t think of this the other day when I was grafting toes at work. It would have been a whole lot simpler!

Finished! and started…

WRT socks are finished and gifted!!!  And apparently liked!  I’m so glad.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get a pic of the finished pair so here’s just one –

The toes turned out okay but the grafting is a bastardization of Kitchener, I was at work when I did the second one and had no way to look at instructions. oops!

This evening I’m casting on a pair of gauntlets for myself and a pair of socks.  I’m re working the Grylion socks, too.  And… I’ve been asked to make a couple pairs of fingerless gloves for friends at work.  Cool!

Happy Christmas…accident and nearly finished!

M (daughter) was rear ended yesterday at a stop light.  Fortunately, she only has a sore back.  Her boyfriend was in the car with her and doesn’t seem to be injured, that’s good.  My son left me a voicemail letting me know they’d been in an accident but it broke up in the middle of recording so I was a bit frantic for a few minutes there.  When I asked why he didn’t call the emergency line he said she wasn’t dead so it’s not an emergency.  Uhmmm…. ok, the logic of 15 year old males! geeeeez!

She was driving her dad’s car, stopped at a yellow light, and some guy wasn’t paying attention.  He slammed into the rear end since he wasn’t expecting her to stop – brake lights should have been a clue, dude!  How dare you hit my child!!!!!!

The bumper and back light have quite  a bit of damage, the dash cracked and the stereo popped forward.  I’m grateful that it wasn’t far worse.  Fortunately, her dad is pretty understanding when it comes to true accidents and realizes when you’re stopped and the person behind you doesn’t stop – it isn’t your fault.  She was pretty shaken up but seems to be handling it pretty well.

I was able to get off work shortly after and 4B arranged to get new rear tires put on the car so I could get down there.  The wondrous Grylion called while they were working on them – it sure was good to talk with him!  I’ve been riding around on metal showing baldies and there was no way one wouldn’t have blown driving 30 miles at highway speeds.  He was pretty concerned about her, too.  He can be a pretty decent guy sometimes.

D’s been at his dad’s for the holiday break and came back up with me last night.  I have missed him! We  spent a lovely couple of Christmas Eve hours at B’s.  He took me completely by surprise and gave D and I fantastic guy/girl matching leather jackets..  We’d picked out a heavy hoodie for D all ready, which D loved.  Then he excused himself, went upstairs and came down with D’s first real leather jacket.   He went overboard and I’m touched.  D is THRILLED and so am I!  By the way, he makes outstanding chili – wow!

It’s snowing hard right now and my new tire went flat last night.  The spare is flat too.  My jack doesn’t have a handle.  Had to call B and have him give us a ride the rest of the way home.  4B’s truck is in the shop and he spent Christmas Eve with a friend and a bottle of Cuervo so that wasn’t really an option.  (Joys of ex’s that live with ya……)  It’ll be fixed sometime though.

D (son) is up here and needs/wants to be at his dad’s this morning.  His dad feels it’s snowing too hard to come pick us up so we won’t be there for present opening and then run down to my mom’s.  (His dad often still comes to family things which is totally cool.) I couldn’t reach my sister last night to see if she could pick us up on her way down and she’s still not answering so guessing she’s all ready gone.   It’s only a 45 or so mile drive.  We’ll figure something out.

Other than that, it’s a beautiful Christmas morning! I’m working on the toe for B’s second sock (WRT socks) and finishing 4B’s 3×3 rib scarf.  Marci loved her stocking (the Felted Christmas Stocking).  I’ll figure out a way to get TJ those fingerless gloves   It’s all good!