December the Two

I am The. Worst. Blogger. EVER!

I didn't used to be, but something happened. Somehow, somewhere, something got really out of whack. I dunno, I think when the ship hit the sand here at home, I lost my UUMMPPFFFF or something. I am going to do better. I have to. For ME.

So, here I am, at the beginning of December, yet again wondering what in the world I am going to get the kids for Christmas. Why is it the older they get, the harder it is to buy for them? I suppose we could go the simple route and give them gift cards or money. But that seems kinda cheesy to me. I'm sure they would love it, but dang, that kinda makes the old tree look a little barren and Charlie Brown-ish. And let's face it, I don't need any more reasons to not enjoy this season.

I used to love Christmas. Once upon a time. But that was long, long ago and far away. Before. When I actually had a FAMILY. Now, it's just hard. I'm still not speaking to my brother....or rather, he isn't speaking to me. So that eliminates 5 people right there that I have right here close. Plus, any time it's "family time", I have to deal with Mom. I'd rather have a mammogram or a pap smear than have to deal with the trauma/drama that is a constant side dish with Mom. I feel so sorry for Dad. He really IS a saint in my book. She likes my brother better anyway cuz he puts up with her particular brand of BS so, if things go like they did for Thanksgiving, I won't have to worry about it. She went to his house and I didn't hear hide nor hair or a single peep from any of them. Too bad. I'm a fabulous cook and they are missing out on enjoying the day with us. I am bummed for the kiddos though.....the nieces and nephew. I'll mail their gifts I suppose. How stupid is that since they are only 20 minutes away?? Oh well, if my brother wasn't such a jerk........

I REALLY wish I could be with my sister in California. I need some time with her. Badly. We don't connect often enough to suit either one of us. She works incredible hours with her job at the hospital AND her private practice. She is always SO tired that she goes to bed with the chickens. The two hour time difference makes it tough to hook up sometimes. (And just last year she was worried to death that when she opened up her private practice that she wouldn't have any clients.....) I am SO proud of her.

On the fiber front.....I have actually knit the whole FRONT (or back depending on how you look at it) of my very first sweater! The pattern is ever so simple, but I couldn't have picked a dinky-er yarn to knit with the first time out! During the summer when my LYS was having such a fantastic sale, I got a whole gob of Rowen Silky Wool and Silky Tweed for a dollar a skein! So, when it's all said and done, I'll have about 10 bucks in yarn in a whole sweater. It's going to be pretty I think....two tone charcoal and cinnamon. I need to take a picture to post just to prove that I really did it.

I did set it aside for now though. I've signed up for the Socks For Soldiers project and been working on a pair of socks for it. Plain Jane black socks that have a leg length of 12". They are gonna take a while so I figured I'd best get crackin'. I love hand knit socks, but damn I hate that tiny yarn!! Takes 10 forevers to get anywhere. But it's for a good cause. Wish me luck......I'll need it!

Tuesday has got to be a better day!

We aren't gonna talk about why yesterday was icky. It started out great, but it ended up like a great big egg sucking, rotten ass, crybaby day. I. HATE. WHEN. THAT. HAPPENS! SERIOUSLY!

On a lighter note, little Miss Heather Feather will no longer have a cold noggin cuz her Mimi fixed her up.

I think it's cute and even better, so does she. Anyone who tries to swipe it had better think twice cuz I'll hunt you down with a furious vengence (even if you are only 10).

Oh! Greg is out of the hospital!!!!!!! He is not quite firing on all cylinders yet but man-o-man does he ever look great! He is kinda pissy cuz he has to use a wheelchair for now. He has a bloodclot in his leg somewhere and they don't want it doing any moving. They have him on some kind of clot buster. His face looks awesome for someone who had it literally smashed to oblivion and they did an amazing job repairing his eye socket. That just goes to show you that prayers ARE answered!

I wish some of MY prayers would be answered. I am really REALLY getting sadder and sadder over a particular situation. The good Lord has got to listen to me you'd think eventually wouldn't you? I mean wow, it seems like I am always talking to him and asking him for his intercession. We need some relief up in here.....and soon. I'm getting pretty tired. I'm not doing so good from not sleeping and I'm not eating alot either. Seems like just when I think all is ok, whamo! the ship hits the sand and I'm knocked on my emotional ass yet again. I just don't understand why this is happening to me. I'm a good, decent person. I love my family with everything I have, I try to take care of others and I never EVER put myself first on the list. I know I should sometimes, but somehow, it just doesn't seem right. I'm a natural born do-er and giver and that is my comfort zone. I just don't particularly appreciate it when certain people take my feelings for granted or act as if they don't matter or whatever.

I don't know.......maybe I'm just being a bitch and being hypersensitive. All I know is that I'm getting sick and tired of being sick and tired and bawling like a squall tit baby every other day. Rediculous. And I know for a fact that it drives Tony bonkers when I cry. He can't STAND it. He would rather leave than listen to it. Well.....not always.....just most of the time cuz he is too darn sensitive too.

Newsy news

Well they moved Greg to a rehab facility in Hot Spings, AR yesterday. He is not a happy campler to say the least. Not for sure how long he'll be down there yet. I suppose it depends on his progress with their program. They did tell is that when he does go home he will need a 24/7 caretaker for who knows how long. This just breaks my heart because he is SO independant and had been such aa hard worker. My daughter and her husband are trying despirately to keep his shop going. They are so overwhelmed with all of it.

My upstream pal LOVED her purse that I made for her. It's the Noni carpetbag pattern. I chose her favorite colors on purpose so that I could be sure that she would at least use it for a little while. She is also oooooooh'ing and awwwwwwww'ing over some of my bath and body products that I slipped in the box for her. She deserved to be pamperd! She has become a great friend since we "met" because of the Tote Exchange.


We went to the last home football game this evening and just about froze to death! Somewhere between home and the game I lost a glove which really chaps me because they were my very favorites and I've had the such a long time I bet I won't find another pair like them. Major bmmer!

I finally think that we are getting closure on the "issue". After our long talk last night I think that the light at the end of the tunnel is visible. I am so glad that things are progressing in such a positive manner. I'm still very stressed out and can practically cry at the drop of a hat, but I'm getting better. My dear husband, bless his heart is starting to really spiral down because of the time of year it is. This year will mark the 2nd anniversary of the fire. He is talking about things more than before so the is vry positive!

We have 3 cold nights of tournament baseball to look forward to starting tomorrow. Poor Preston is going to be worn out! It's bad when alot of coaches are begging for your son to play on their team. I guess that really is a compliment though because he is an awesome ball player. I do think he is getting nervouse about it because tonight I noticed that he was ticking WAY more than he usually does.

Looking up

I am happy to report that things are looking up here at chez Englant. We have absolutely reached a turning point in our most recent crisis. I feel a great amount of relief. As noticed, I have been a slacking poster. I just couldn't focus enough to post. Too many balls in the air and not enough "me" to go around so something had to be dropped. Now that my stress levels have calmed down, I hope to be able to write more. I wasn't in a good frame of mind to write before.

Alot has happened that is noteworthy. Greg, a very good friend of ours is still in intensive care after a riding accident. The horse he was riding fell with him aboard. When that happened, Greg hit his head on the side of the horse trailer. His head injury is severe and very critical but now he is making progress. They already have done one operation to repair his shattered eye socket. Unfortunately, while they were doing the surgery they found some additional actual brain injury and they had to remove a small portion of his brain because it was dead. So far he is doing ok after the surgery. We are not sure how much longer he'll be in the hospital. His recovery after he is released is going to be long and slow. They are talking about transferring him to some type of rehab facility when he ever IS release but knowing Greg, that won't fly. He wants to go home. NOW. I can't blame him but we all know he can't take care of himself just yet. He still has a long road ahead of surgeries to repair his crushed facial bones etc. Please add Greg to your prayers.

Tony is off work again. His own injury from the train vs. train accident has flaired up again. Neurosurgeon and his orthopedic back doc feel that he'll have to undergo a surgery similar to mine. Needless to say, daddy isn't real happy with that idea. He has too much experience with how awful it can possibly be because of my multiple surgeries. The next test for him to endure is going to be a diskogram which really stinks. It's a painful test and there can be no anesthesia given. uuggghhhh! I wish it were me instead of him.

On the needles is a two colored wool/silk blend sweater. It's coming along nicely.
The felted bag I made for my upstream partner turned out FANTASTIC. I used my Noni pattern for a carpetbag. I'll definately do one for myself! I even lined the thing! I'm just too impressed with it. I'll stick a pic here when I take one so you can see.

Remember us in your prayers please. We aren't out of the woods completely, but we are definately working on it.

Where have I gone?

Well I knew it had been along time since I'd written, but I sure didn't know it had been SO long! How time flies when you have so much fun!! I can't even begin to catch up so I'll not even try.

I've not been knitting much these recent days. I just can't right now. I'm too antsy to sit still. I think it would be a better time to spin. That would give my jittery feet something to do besides just waggle all day. I've got nice fibers to spin so perhaps that is what I need to be doing right now.

I did start work on a new tote for my upstream person but I'm not happy with it at all. I think I'll do something else. I just don't like the pattern as much as I thought I would. No worries though, I'll make nice scarves from the yarn instead. So for that project it is back to the drawing board.

Keep the prayers coming please! We're doing ok but still need them.