Hello, it's me
I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet
To go over everything
They say that time's supposed ...
Oh, wait, I forgot I'm blogging and not singing Adele's latest song, Hello.
I thought I last blogged mid November. Appears that I blogged last in mid October! Well, a lot has been happening and not much on knitting. First of all, I had a deadline with my work as a programmer. The deadline was the week of Thanksgiving, but we were not done (far from done). I was working 10-14 hours each day from the week before Thanksgiving to the week after Thanksgiving. The Wednesday after Thanksgiving (December 2), I felt a muscle ache on my left arm that suddenly occurred while I was driving home (8:30 p.m.). You know you read about left arm pains = heart attacks... so I took my blood pressure... nothing abnormal - maybe about 10 points over my usual for both numbers. Took a shower - finding that my breathing is a little labored... but still feeling ok. Went to bed and woke up at 4 am suddenly, feeling like a pile of books is on my chest, especially on the left side where my heart is! Woke up, took an aspirin, a Zantac for gas (nope, not Xanax!). Took my BP again.. still not too bad. And I had a UTI so I was on this antibiotics. The PA said my blood sugar is extremely high, but when I got home, I poke my finger for a reading and it was normal, so I don't know what that was about! Anyway, what I was feeling could be side effects from the antibiotics or I'm having a heart attack!
First thing first... I signed in to my work at 4:30 am. Made sure everyone can continue with their work if I don't make it. 7 am - I crawled into bed with my husband and asked if I should go to the ER. He said I sounded fine. I got up, packed my toiletries bag in case I need to be checked into the hospital. Packed my knitting. 8 am - I said goodbye to my husband as if I may not see him again (OK - he felt guilty not driving me in), but he did show up 2 hours later at the hospital. I showed up at the ER desk and asked if I should go to the Urgent Care of the ER.. she couldn't give me any medical advice due to legal reasons, of course. But I knew that if I went to Urgent Care and mentioned the words, "chest pains", I will be sent to the ER... so I took a short cut and checked myself in at the ER. They did the enzymes test, EKG (or ECG now, as it's called, because K for the German spelling for Cardio, (Kardio?)...they couldn't get a Nuclear Stress test scheduled that day so I had to spend the night. I was discharged by 5 pm on Friday. My heart is normal - no blockages. Heart is pumping properly and can get to a certain heart rate. My problem is I have to do a better job at handling stress. A follow up with my doc ended up with a breathing exercise, which is the most challenging thing to do. How can I sit down and just relax and breathe? I also don't know how to take deep breaths with my stomach sitting up so I have to lie down.. Maybe when I'm an expert at it, I can do stomach breathing while knitting?
Also, I picked up an old hobby, making hand stamped greeting cards. My home office is now filled with paper and tools. I spent hours on Pinterest getting ideas. I even ordered a stamp for my cards as I was ready to open my etsy shop!
Here are some cards I have made.
So, another excuse for not knitting, not blogging.
I'm now trying to clean my yarn room. I've put all the bags of yarn I've acquired in 2015 on the bed. Thank goodness I'm off from work this week (and last week, too!)
When I do knit, I've been trying to meet my goal for leveling off my blanket, and I did it yesterday! I now have 560 squares and I'm 2/3 done with it. Give me 2 more years and it will be done! I started this in June, 2010.
Did I tell you about the watermelon square I knitted last year?
This year, I added the American flag square:
Last month, I had my Tuesday Night knit night's girls over and they brought their blankets to work on. Here is our group photo.
I did not knit any gifts this year as you can understand.. I do want to knit a headband for my friend, Sharon. I already have the yarn - just didn't have time to knit. But I did start on an infinity cowl for my daughter, who will be starting at the University of Minnesota next month.. She transferred from University of Wisconsin - Madison. She is majoring in Food Science. So the colors for the U or M is Gold and Maroon. I'm not done with it, but I'm more than 1/2 way there.
This is a pattern by Irishgirlieknits - Ring of Kerry.
When it's done, it should look like this, but really, I wasn't quite following the pattern!
I went on a knitting retreat in November. Less than a mile away is a nice yarn shop that I don't get to visit too often.. It's about 30 miles away from my house. This was the loot from the shop:
This was the shawl that inspired me to buy 2 sets of yarn for. My friend, PurpleKathy posed with the shawl.
I haven't blocked mine, but I did get it done at the hospital!
I'm itching to start a shawl, but don't know which yet. The colorful set above was purchased to knit this colorful shawl. It's a kit from a Three Irish Girls Trunk Show. The featured shawl is not the same kit as the one I bought.
I finished my first sweater! But the sleeves were too long for Beckett. I may ask if I can fix them.
I participated in the SKA Mystery Sock in November, but just didn't have the time or energy to complete even the first sock!
And yes, the only shop I went to on Black Friday was at my local yarn shop where I DID NOT draw the 75% off the entire purchase poker chip. I drew the 25% chip (which was the lowest denomination if you got there before 10 am).
I was brave enough to get yarn for a sweater! GASP!
OK - I'd best go back to my yarn room...
AND - my birthday is tomorrow. Tell me what you want to read more about on my blog and your name will be entered into a drawing for some yarny goodies. OR, SPOILER ALERT if you have not seen Star Wars The Force Awakens - close this window now!!!!! I will draw a name on New Year's Day.
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Who do you think is Rey's father? Luke or Han? As much as it makes sense for it to be Luke, being a natural pilot and all, I think that the evil can't be turned into good by a cousin, but by a sister, maybe? I don't think I'm spoiling anything here but just in case... I have to see it again to make sure I didn't miss some important clues...
