Tai Chi and Wedding Traditions, Somehow They Go Hand in Hand

Despite this being Saturday and my normal day for sleeping late, I was up early with KP and Hubby and heading to Georgetown for tai chi class. JustBill was not there, but class proceeded and more movements were added to the every growing repertoire for me.

Doing tai chi outside under a clear sky with the sun baking your body (I was very glad for the sunscreen KP had brought and the hat I had left in the van) helped to make me feel even better.

KP and I practiced more of 16 form, commonly referred to as "the short form" while the others practiced 103 form, or "long form." Although I am moving my upper body for the majority of it all I can tell a difference in the loosening of tight muscles in my back and great stretches for my arms and shoulders and even chest.

Suddenly, while doing the movements a wonderful peace settled over me. KP and Jaybird were there, two wonderful friends, and Hubby. My Hubby. My partner. We were finally doing something together we both could enjoy, and actually did enjoy. Once home we even talked about different moves and the new friends we were making in the tai chi class. JustBill had said last week that tai chi "was a way of life" and that "it should be used in every day living" but that really didn't make sense to me truly until this week when I was getting frustrated in writing and remembered yet another thing we had been told in class: So I distanced myself from the computer a couple of feet, sat in proper posture and breathed.

That's it. Just breathed. Slowly the frustration and annoyance I was feeling slipped away with each exhale and when I opened my eyes -- I had been unaware I had actually closed them -- the computer screen wasn't my enemy and the story wasn't a disaster in my head.

Another thing I did yesterday after just my first lesson in 16 form: I stretched my arms and shoulders slowly and carefully in "wave hand like clouds" move and felt the built up tension of pain leave a little at a time. The pain medicine is still needed, but the extra pain of tension may be something I can actually do without and keep from collecting. Will I ever be free of pain medication? I don't know, but I am unafraid to hope...now.

LadyD (finally have a nickname!) said she had discovered little things through her study of tai chi for herself. At the first class on Thursday I was expecting to learn little things about myself, but not quite so soon. I was definitely not prepared to "hope" in anything except for maybe trying to remember the movements. How much things are changing in this slowed down leaps-and-bounds of tai chi! She was there today, LadyD, and without fear or even warning I asked a question about a movement. Being comfortable with new people has always been hard for me, however, being comfortable with the tai chi group was almost a given from moment one!

Shocked? Amazed? Surprised? Oh yes! All of them and more!

I am hooked.

Although I wasn't planning on writing about tai chi today, I am quite glad I have because I love sharing the wonderful things I've found and discovered in this new life that is happening.

What was I going to write about? Wedding traditions. You can check them out here. I will also list a few of them throughout the upcoming weeks because some of them surprised me with their simplicity or where they came from, and, as always, made me think of something similarly related.

No post will be made tomorrow, probably, because it is Sunday. So, enjoy the weekend everyone. See you on Monday!

Perfume, by Patrick Suskind

I finished reading Perfume today by Peter Suskind.

This thing was creepy and downright surreal at the end.

At the end of the book the guy commits suicide by getting people to eat him alive.

Yeah, maybe I won't recommend this one so much.

And Life Progresses

The more this new life progresses, the more I am slowly beginning to realize that in order to have a life in this modern age and time you have to fight for the slow-down time, the quiet time to regroup and process what has gone on in the day.

Today was one of those regrouping days for me. Hubby went to his job (*happy dance of joy*) and I was left to my own endeavors and entertainments. Since my left leg is currently not happy being a part of my body, I let myself rest and relax and remain in the bed for quite a while. Normally this phase would have been looked upon with great joy and excitement. But this is not my "normal" any more and just laying there caused me much boredom so that when I did expel myself from the bed I was...happier.

Somewhere along the way I have become quite an active person. How it happened is quite easy to follow, realizing it has happened and how it helps to make me feel active and a part of life is harder to see -- although I do enjoy it. This enjoyment of it is quite a surprise on my part.

Once up and about I began my day and found writing to be quite an exhilarating event. The words progressed and the ending of the story came a little clearer into view. Of course, the ending I glimpse now can easily change. Writing is like that -- always changing -- so that when you think you have found the ending in reality you may have only found one of many possibilities of an ending. The central thread may be there, but other things change, grow, mature, or sometimes, which is much rarer for me these days, it becomes even more simple.

n though a great amount of writing and thinking was accomplished, there was also great moments of just sitting and reading. However, I didn't get to my knitting like I had hoped. The story I am currently reading, Perfume by Patrick Suskind was just too good to put down. A book like this one makes me remember why I love good stories. It is interesting, descriptive, and the story is spooky and creepy in all of the right places. Although you can pretty much guess what is going to happen, getting there is half the fun with this one. However, it is not for the squeamish or those who have problems with psychological thrillers. Perfume is both of these and something else, something I can't put my finger on descriptively.

So, instead of picking up my knitting needles I read. And I enjoyed my day without a husband under foot and, I am sure, he enjoyed being at work instead of at home. However, once he was home, the pace of life picked up considerably because we were heading to the Kentucky Horse Park for qigong and tai chi.

Doing tai chi (I missed the qigong section, but plan on making this up next week) outside under the shade of trees with horses and birds all about helped relax my very soul. Although I am doing tai chi in my wheelchair, there is still movement and I can also feel my energy rise and move with more fluidity than it has for quite a while.

Our instructor is a small woman with a soothing voice (haven't come up with a nickname for her just yet) patiently went over the beginning moves and answered the few questions we had -- there will probably be more as the class progresses -- and somehow this encouraged me.

JustBill said to "jump in the middle" and today it felt as if I really had done so. The acceptance of yesterday continued on through today with the tai chi. It was almost spiritual in its peace for me.

Now it is late and tomorrow is a PT day since I had another appointment and couldn't do pool Wednesday. Before that, however, is another day filled with writing. Somewhere in there, though, the knitting is going to be added.

Yes, down time is very important when life becomes so fast paced, especially when you aren't used to it. I don't want to burn myself out on this new life before it has completely born fruit. Some how I believe I am not going to "burn out" this time. Why? Maybe because I am older and don't feel so possessed to make the most out of it. Or maybe, for the first time, I can honestly say I am going to make the most out of it -- my way.

An Accepting Eye

Today was my OT/PT day at Cardinal Hill. OT Guy worked me pretty good in the upper body. There was even a nice sheen of perspiration to remind me I had a body and said body was moving. Luckily there wasn't any more pain than normal. This in and of itself is beyond wonderful - that I can work out my body and my pain level not increase so drastically I am ready to quit. OT Guy is pretty good about that, and he even warned me today to not over-do it. "You know your body better than anyone else," he said. I looked to Hubby and Hubby merely gave me a half smile of encouragement. That little half-smile means a lot to me and tells me a lot about how he is feeling and hoping good things for me.

See, Hubby pushes. He pushes hard. It isn't because he wants me to hurt more, but that he wants to see me improve and get stronger. However, being an exceptionally strong man himself he doesn't quite comprehend when I am doing my best and when I am over-doing it. I've tried to keep up with Hubby on more than one occasion, but this leads to extremely sore muscles and a lot of pain which causes me to be angry and feel horrible and bitch like...a bitch. This is one reason why I made the decision to step out and go to OT and PT because it wasn't worth my marriage and make me not like the man who truly is my best friend on a semi-continuous basis. So, when OT Guy said this relief flooded my entire being.

I don't mean just my physical being, nor my mental being, but my emotional being as well. Relief washed over and through me in a way I have not experienced for quite a while. A lot of pressure was taken from me while at the same time my own desire to increase the movement and do more grew. This time it grew within limits, and I knew I had the freedom to push myself and not disappoint someone rather than push myself and feel as if I was letting down the one person I love more than even I can express. (Why did I feel like this? Because I knew I could never accomplish what I thought was being asked of me.) It was a liberating moment. It was a liberating moment with a lot of meaning and possibility for the future laid out before me. It was also quite sobering. Why? Because today was a step taken toward regaining my independence on all its levels.

Yes, I know I have been going to OT/PT for a while now, but today everything clicked into place somewhere inside my head and heart. I was free to improve without setting too many limits on myself and I was also free to say, "I'm sorry, but I can't do that today." It was an odd feeling finally accepting inside myself that some days aren't going to be good days and some are going to be great ones. Usually the ups and downs of arthritic life plays havoc with my emotions and self-esteem. Today was yet another step toward moving forward in accepting my possibilities rather than just acknowledging my limitations.

So, while pondering these things deep inside and still working out, I took a serious look around me in the OT gym. There weren't many people there today working out, but it was still quite early in the morning. OT Guy and Hubby were some of the only people there who didn't have a physical problem readily visible.

Out in the hall heading toward PT it was quite easy to see all of the people who had "problems." There were people in wheelchairs, people on crutches, people on canes, people with walkers, and people attached to oxygen tanks. There were several who walked with a prosthetic leg. As they headed toward their destinations I slowed and took a closer look at them and the people who were there to help them improve and advance in their health and in their lives.

Everyone was smiling. Can you imagine that? Everyone was smiling? The people with problems, disabilities were smiling and relieved even though they were heading toward certain pains and yet they smiled. It wasn't only polite smiles we are all taught to give, but genuine smiles. Then I watched the therapists closely. They smiled, too. They listened, they chatted, and they encouraged as well as held back some who were, like me, used to pushing themselves too far and hurting themselves in the process. The therapists smiled genuine smiles, not only because it was their job to smile, but because they really and truly were hoping good things for those they worked with.

Even my very own OT Guy was smiling while helping me work out my schedule. PT Lady was smiling and encouraging and helping me to remember movements and pauses I had forgotten. Neither of them were disappointed in me despite them reminding me. At the same time they were reminding me of how much I had progressed in the time I had been there.

No matter the ability or inability to move or do something stopped anyone from patient to therapist. No one was looked on as odd or "different" and my heart beat just a little faster. My throat felt tight and I was afraid I was going to cry. It has been a long time since I have felt accepted. Suddenly who I am, with all of my physical problems -- I was normal. Really normal. It was humbling. And exciting.

There was a time when occupational therapy and physical therapy was really just something you did so you could move more like "normal" people or do things as closely as possible to what "normal" people did. A lot of pressure was placed on the person to change who they were so "normal" people would accept them more. So you could "fit in" more easily. When did it all change?

I'm not complaining. At. All. I am just stunned. Humbled. Encouraged. Hopeful. Having a place where you are accepted, no matter how different you are makes a huge difference in how you perceive the world's population, and the world itself. I was lucky. My family loved me, still does, and accepts me even though, on some occasions, I have not deserved their love and acceptance. I have even been blessed with a wonderful man who likewise loves, likes, and accepts me just as I am. And my friends, I couldn't have dreamed of better friends to have around me! But having an entire place, a physical place, where wheelchairs and all of the other movement aids are nothing but the norm let's a person like me breathe deeply and relax for a moment before heading back out into the world again with all of its lack of curb cuts and elevators that fit and their buttons easily used; or doors too heavy to open.

Sometimes you can't imagine how some of the more simple tasks are so difficult to accomplish or how little it would take to make them usable by everyone!

Today more than anything else, I permitted myself to be accepted and accepted everyone else around me.

Yes, I know I am going to have to go through more pain and more fears and this isn't the ending of anything -- merely the beginning. The thing that truly changed today was the pressures of being different eased and life looked as if it had become more manageable, or at the very least more accepting to my eyes. Today was a Good day.

We have pink!

Finding the right planner for this next life I am preparing to live has been something of a problem. It isn't imperative the planner fit the person, i.e. me, but it does help if something about the planner speaks of something about said person -- me. I had practically given up hope of finding anything and was about to settle on a very generic creation when I happened to find the planner above. It was an impulse buy from a couple of years ago and when I opened it I discovered it was refillable!

So, now there is a planner for this new phase of life. It has refills. It isn't fully me, but neither is it completely against who I am either. And, it is definitely pink. I mean...pink. It isn't going to be easy to lose this sucker!

It is difficult to believe June is so close and the 21st is going to be even closer once the month actually starts. It feels strange this return to school as well as realizing I am having to schedule things and keep them organized as to not over-book my life. Keeping time in the day for myself and Hubby is not difficult, it just takes a lot of conscientious effort. Plus the writing. We can't forget the writing! (Which I am going to do more of today.)

Already the this week in the planner, as well as next week, is marked with a copious amount of notes.

Stone's Throw

Saturdays are usually my day for sleeping in and doing as little as possible. Usually I feel this is almost a right I possess with everything else that goes on throughout the week. Today, however, I gave Saturday over to friends and my darling Hubby who always attends tai chi out at Yuko-en which is a Japanese garden not too far from here in Georgetown, KY.

Despite being in a wheelchair, there were a surprising amount of movements I could do with my upper body. One of the most interesting and exciting things about the tai chi group was that when the instructor and the older students came around to correct everyone's posture or movements, I was included quite easily in the group and no one hesitated in correcting my movements with a gentle touch here or a soft correction there. Most places I have gone (other than physical therapy or occupational therapy of course) the people are almost loathe to touch me either because they don't want to hurt me or because they are afraid (sometimes subconsciously) they are going to "catch" my disease -- rheumatoid arthritis. Having physical contact, physical correction, especially as gentle and as encouraging as it was given, made me feel a part of everything, and actually solidified the decision to make sure and keep going back each Saturday.

Just-Bill, the instructor, encouraged me "To jump right into the middle of things." He said this at breakfast where the tai chi group had collected for food. (It is remarkable how this sort of activity can make you quite ravenous.) So, as part of this "jumping into the middle of things" attitude, I am planning on going to the qigong class which is going to be held out at The Kentucky Horse Park here in Lexington. This is going to be on Thursdays. Little by little each day of every week is beginning to have something planned. And the things are those things which give me joy and pleasure, as well as make me feel as if I am living life and no longer sitting on the curb watching Life itself go by.

It is amazing to me how all of this started really -- with a piece of string.

Through my knitting and feeling at peace with myself I have found Life isn't passing me by nor am I watching as it goes by -- sometimes rapidly, sometimes slowly -- but I am there, enjoying the moment and being creative and pro-active. Knitting has helped me take back control of my life, or, probably, helped me see I could take back control of my life, my world.

Since I have become such a knitter I am always on the look-out for yarn stores or places affiliated with knitting. (We all know how much I love Michael's!) Well, it just so happens there is a yarn store in Georgetown and it is open every Saturday! It is called Stone's Throw Artisans and is owned and operated by Beth Stone. In roaming through Georgetown once breakfast was over, we (Hubby, Cheyenne, and I) found it and I was in absolute heaven!

Yarns of various textures and colors greeted the eye as soon as the door was open. One entire wall was given over to needles and tools and the selection of sock yarns was genuinely amazing to my yarn-starved eyes!

Spindles and roving also occupied a nice section and knitting books were sectioned off nicely for you to peruse and choose at your leisure.

Stone's Throw is one of those places where you can relax and just let the world go on by. Not like a cave to hide in, but more like one of those nice oasis's where you can just rest for a moment, collect supplies and prepare for the continuation of your journey from Here to There.

My hands itched to knit, to touch the yarns and feel the roving and dream up projects for this yarn and that color. It was one of those places where even Hubby didn't rush. He just relaxed and let me roam and enjoyed the moment of cool peace himself.

Much to my surprise, when I hesitantly asked if there was layaway possible, I was greeted with positive information. So now there are needles and yarn waiting for me at Stone's Throw and since I am going to be there every Saturday, then retrieving the yarn isn't going to be a problem at all!

Knitting has led to occupational therapy and physical therapy which has led to the energy and hope of tai chi and tai chi has led back to knitting. I can't say things have come "full circle" because I am still moving out, still developing and living my life, but I do believe small circles, positive and negative ones, do exist along the path and this, my friends, is one of the more positive circles.

William Drummond of Hawthornden

I know that all beneath the moon decays

I know that all beneath the moon decays,

And what by mortals in this world is brought,

In Time's great periods shall return to nought;

That fairest states have fatal nights and days;

I know how all the Muse's heavenly lays,

With toil of spright which are so dearly bought,

As idle sounds, of few or none are sought,

And that nought lighter is than airy praise;

I know frail beauty like the purple flower,

To which one morn both birth and death affords;

That love a jarring is of mind's accords,

Where sense and will invassal reason's power:

Know what I list, this all can not me move,

But that, O me! I must write and love.

William Drummond of Hawthornden (1585-1649) was a Scottish poem and historian. The tragic death of his fiancee on the eve of their wedding inspired many of his sonnets.

From Great Sonnets Edited by Paul Negri, Dover Publications, Inc., New York.

Camera Desires

Today a friend of mine and I went to the mall and did one of the first mall roamings I have done in quite a while with a girlfriend. It was one of those excellent moments of total and complete relaxation I've had in quite a while.

In roaming through the mall we, of course, went into one of the music/video places (forgot the name of the store) but while there I discovered something I truly want - a mini-camera on a key chain. The one in this link isn't exactly like the one I saw in the store, but it is close. You want to know the super sad part about the entire thing? It was on sale for $9.99 and I didn't have the extra funds to purchase said camera.

Yes, I know the camera probably isn't that great and really wouldn't do everything I need it to do and the photos may end up being absolutely yucky, but at the same time it would have been SO neat to have. My darling Hubby's camera is so big I almost dread taking it with me to capture those odd photos I enjoy taking and documenting my odd little trips into the back yard or when I am out-and-about like today. The little key chain camera just seemed right for my purposes, and quite expendable in many ways so using it to its fullest would not have bothered me if, in three months, it decided to give up its little camera ghost and rest in peace. *sigh* Still, since I know such things exist I will place this on my list of "things to get when I have money" list and just keep going. In some ways, having such a camera is dangerous for my family and friends. My subject matter is usually quite odd compared to everyone else I know.

*The above camera comes from www.ccgoods.com.

Lookit!

Isn't this amazing? My darling Hubby made this lightsaber! I couldn't believe watching this piece come together.

It is chrome/silver and sparkly in just the right places. It looks simple and yet very important and some how powerful.

Yes, my husband is a Star Wars . . . fan. He is not a fanatic, but he dearly loves Star Wars and all of the characters.

I hope he keeps making his lightsabers because I am more than willing to help him work on a costume. I'm not sure where he would wear it other than for Halloween, but it would be fantastic to see him bring out his alter ego and be the Jedi he is.

It really is too bad that there isn't a cool saying exits in the Star Wars universe. Yes, you do have "May the Force be with you." But, for me, it isn't as cool and poignant as "Live long and prosper."

Alien Taste by Wen Spencer

Finished another book recently, actually Thursday or Friday. I simply have not had time to just sit and relax and tell you about it until now. Since Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest as well as preparation there isn't any better time than the present.



The book recently finished was Alien Taste by Wen Spencer. Although I am half convinced I have read another Wen Spencer novel, this one really made me sit up and take notice. I found myself wanting to read this book and scheduled time in my day to get a few pages in if nothing else. Since I am becoming one of those "busy women" most of us are, scheduling my reading has helped me relax through the day when there were moments to do so (along with my knitting of course, can't forget the knitting!)

Alien Taste is about Ukiah Oregon. No, not the place, the man. He is a tracker who helps his partner in a private detective agency find lost people. He is good at it because not only can he pick up a trail where most people don't even see one, he can mysteriously know parts of their DNA, something only his partner knows. How does he do it? Because he isn't fully human. How he is not fully human is one of the big parts of this story and it has nothing to do with the normal areas of science fiction you would expect.

It appears Ukiah is the result of a cross-breeding of human and alien. His alien father was fighting a horrible war with his race because he did not believe in their way of "colonizing" worlds. They took over everything from DNA up. When the surface of the planet was completely populated with their kind they moved on to another planet and so on. But Prime, Ukiah's father, believed this was wrong and died try to stop it over three hundred years ago. Yeah, Ukiah is old, but to his own memory he is probably about 21 or 23 because when he was found in Ukiah, Oregon he was about 12 years old and caught in a bear trap eating the intestines of a rabbit because he had been raised by wolves.

Thus enters one of his moms into the story. He has two mothers, Mom Jo and Mom Laura. This is one of the better descriptions of an alternate family story line that I have seen or read for a while. It is caring and not the main story. It is just part of how Ukiah finished growing up.

Of course there is a love interest in the story -- Indigo. Although she isn't the main focus of the story, she is an integral one as an intrepid FBI agent who falls for Ukiah and whom Ukiah loves with a passion that made me keep reading, not only for its sincerity, but because of its beauty.

As you would guess, there are good guys and bad guys. The good guys are the Pack and the bad guys are the Ontongard. To get all of the twists and turns of how they work and don't work you just simply have to read the story.

Through it all Ukiah is trying to figure out who he is, and when he does, he has to learn how to tell the woman he loves as well as his two moms, as well as his partner that, well, is really like a father to him. Their reactions to who he is is also another major part to read this book.

All in all, Alien Taste was one of the more uplifting books I have read in a while complete with twists and turns you can't really expect, guess, or figure out ahead of time. No, it isn't an impossible read in this area, but it does flow perfectly from point A to point B without falling over itself. If you need a good, uplifting and encouraging story as well as one heck of an adventure, I highly recommend it.

Can you believe it?

Today I took a test to see if I placed for any scholarships with Sullivan in my given program. Now begins the waiting game that I won't have the results for the next couple of months! *sigh* Run a few steps forward. Stop. Repeat. This gets old after a while.

For all the people who do (including me)

I is tired

Jerry Falwell....gone?

I couldn't believe it when I read just a few minutes ago Jerry Falwell dead at 73." I mean, this guy seems to have been around as long as I can remember. He coined "moral majority" and really pushed for President Ronnie. I never agreed with the man on a consistent basis, or ever if I remember correctly, but his passing has shocked me.

And, you wanna know something exceptionally strange? I was shocked to discover he was just 73! I mean, the man has seemed "old" as long as I can remember remembering him! It isn't just me either. My friend Jeffner agrees. She said, "He has been 'old' forever." Isn't it strange how some people strike you that way?

May he rest in peace.

An' *YOU* thought turtles didn't hold grudges!

Click Here for more great videos and pictures!

*yawn* promises promises

Quite tired. There is a nice post forthcoming complete with pictures. Had wonderful weekend. Will explain more later. Right now I am quite tired and off to bed.

Night/morning all.

Does this surprise anyone?

You Are Ani Difranco!

Honest, real, and well liked. You're not limited by any boundaries. "And you can call me crazy But I think you're as lazy as white paint on the wall"

Who's Your Inner Rock Chick?

Today I Give You Linkage!

Today has been a day of ups and downs and headaches and numbers. Stupid, stupid numbers!

Yes boys and girls, I am filling out FAFSA forms for financial aid to go to school. Tomorrow I get my classes and then I wait until the 19th when I try and score some scholarship(s). Scoring the scholarship(s) requires taking a test. I have firmly decided to stay away from much that has to do overly much with numbers.

Because today has been such a day I give you linage:

Need help with fleas? Check this out. There is also another good article here, and for cats you can check this out.

And for something funny, you can't deny this guy's obsession with socks is a bit too much! Exactly how do you drop a sock with hints of malice? This I would like to know because not even my overly active imagination can come up with something! "Don't move or I'm going to drop this sock!"

And finally for something on relationships, you can check this out. It actually was good advice I am going to try and take.

I forgot to take the camera today, but....

Today was one of those days when things just seem to work out.

Yes, I am talking about my decision to do the "higher education" thing and go for the paralegal studies at Sullivan University here in Lexington. It feels odd I am actually in the process of going to a business college. It would be nice to have a four year degree, but, quite honestly, I don't feel the need for it: If I can get the required and desired B.S. in paralegal studies in the short span of 36 months and actually do quite well with it, then why should I shell out so much money for a four year degree? I am not the young chicken, nor am I old by any sense of the word. At the same time I am far more "seasoned" than I would like to admit.

However, I am beginning to think, nay believe, this seasoning is actually going to work to my benefit. I am actually going to be more capable of shuffling through more of the crap than some of the younger students, those fresh out of high school for example, and can settle into studying and learning than what I could do before. I've already been around a similar block so this one isn't as terrifying as I remember going to EKU was. Back then I was filled with excitement and nervous energy. Now...?

Even though this isn't EKU or UK, I do find a familiar excitement in my breast at returning to a school. Learning has been one of the utmost joys in my life, and it hasn't changed apparently. Today, after doing about 1/3 of the paperwork needed for me to actually get myself registered and prepared to take classes, I sat in the shade of a tree while waiting for my ride (the Wheels van) with my earphones in and listening to some radio while beginning reading a novel. The sky was filled with perfect blue and birds were singing all around me.

The parking lot was full of cars and people were moving here and there occasionally as they came to classes or they were leaving for the day. There were people of every age in these classes. I am definitely not one of the oldsters taking classes, just, perhaps, a little older than some because there were several faces, male and female, who were indeed older than me just signing up for classes and some who were leaving classes.

People walked around in chef's attire and others in business dress, and still others were in jeans and shorts (tasteful in length). Everyone had either a book bag, backpack or something transporting learning from the building to the car or back again. People were smiling and talking about making it home to see the kids home from school or the spouse home from work. There were also a few who couldn't wait to get home to see what mom or dad had cooked for supper or a snack could be found in said refrigerator. It was far more a mix of ages and people than at EKU.

Maybe it was because of the mix in ages, but people, the students and faculty, seemed far less stressed than at EKU and UK during classes. There were quite a few smiles on faces and hellos were called more often than I remember them being given in my college days. Everyone seemed to know a lot more about life and whether or not they received perfect grades wasn't as important as making sure they had done their best. It was both refreshing and quite familiar which made me smile just sitting there and helped to boost the excitement that kept bubbling up inside my chest.

Sitting there today wasn't anything like I expected it to be. Instead of feeling as if I was on the sidelines waiting to join the flow of traffic, it felt as if I was already in the very middle of it and the stream was flowing at a comfortable pace, not too fast, not too slow. It was all moving and I was there as a part of it, not waiting to join.

Yes, there is more paperwork to do. It is an institution of higher education and learning. There is still bureaucratic hoops you must jump through to make sure all of the bases are covered and you are given the thumbs up to proceed, but it was familiar and new at the same time. It was life beginning again instead of being dormant and waiting. It was good. It is good, and I am a part of it.

On a roll...with laughter!

Survived the weekend. Didn't do that much really, but sure was a busy little bee nonetheless.

This is how things have been of late, especially since the weather has warmed. Every day usually brings a trip of some sort and, as I said earlier about the planner erupting, and now papers are having to be filled out. So far nothing has to be filled out in triplicate, but I'm not saying it won't happen. The very second I say that it is going to happen. See, I am getting just a little smarter in the current process of my life! Ha ha! Tomorrow is going to be the big day of filling out papers because that is the registration day for Sullivan. I am both excited and...not.

I still believe this is a good idea -- going back to school I mean -- and getting a degree I can actually use for a good job. It just works for me in my head. Hopefully it will likewise work for me in reality. However, there are some days when I just need a laugh. A good, serious laugh. I got one last night by reading Cherie Priest's description of what happened with her husband's possible nightmare. Read it and tell me it isn't funny. I dare you. No! I DOUBLE DOG DARE YA!

The meme didn't work so....

Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!

My Planner Has Erupted!

I was going through my planner today to make sure I had all of the important dates down. As I was penciling in things to do, calls to make, and events to attend I could easily remember when there many blank pages before there would be something filled in. It wasn't that long ago either!

Dates, times, events - all of them are listed in as precise a handwriting or printing as I can do. Not all of them are for myself either, some are for my dear Hubby who needs to be reminded when he needs to do something or where a job interview is supposed to take place. The majority, however, are mine. Some are recurring like the physical and occupational therapy (I made it into the pool without screaming this last time!) and how I need to call the Wheels van to come and pick me up or take me to certain appointments. My life is suddenly track-able and this makes me feel...corralled.

I have always been one to enjoy the spontaneous-ness of life itself. Growing older and becoming responsible has also made me see I really need to make sure certain dates and times are taken care of because life really does matter and these things help the good things in life come about such as making it on time for job interviews, classes, and knowing when certain projects are due. Always before there was at least a modicum of uncertainty because there was a time when I didn't know what life and living was all about and felt a greater sense of adventure than I do now. Luckily, some of that sense of adventure is still present, which helps me face each day with a smile, usually (once I have fully woken up, of course).

Now the planner is filling up with things to do on days and events that reach farther into the future than they did merely two weeks ago. I am taking this as being a good thing. The only thing I could possibly add is writing projects, and then actually follow through as on when I need to have so many words done!

Life progresses.

Reminding myself about turtles in the water

Rediscovering Self

Yesterday was my evaluation with the occupational therapist at Cardinal Hill here in Lexington. It surprised me how very young he looked, and is. Speaking with him and going over what I would like to work on and hearing what he thinks we also need to add to it made me also see just how much the place had changed since I was a child. Today it hit me that, maybe, I was the one who had changed. I am not a child any longer. (This is also quite evident when seeing that most of the people who are helping me at the hospital and elsewhere are quite a lot younger than me.)

Today I feel as if I have stepped off of a very tall cliff and instead of falling am walking on one of those illusion bridges even though, should I look down, I can't truly see any solid ground beneath my feet. Still, I have taken several steps upon the bridge and I am still moving forward in as straight a line as I can possibly go to reach the other side, although, what is at the other side is still very much a mystery to me. Nothing is predictable at this stage of things. I have let go of everything that was stable in my life for the most part and am in uncharted territory. There is this place in the back of my brain that says I know the final destination I need to end up at, but right now I don't see exactly a way to get there.

If ever there was a fantasy adventure in the works, this is one. I know very little of what is before me, except for a few dangers concerning dangerous waters and needing to learn new skills to survive. Everything is new and different.

Hopefully on this new and interesting adventure I can rediscover some of those more important things about myself I have forgotten. In rediscovering them perhaps I will find that inner strength I seem to have misplaced throughout these past years. I think I know who I am, but I'd really like to fully know who I am.

The gray matter is prickly today.

My brain is working overtime of late where the knitting is involved. Despite everything that is happening with me and how busy my planner/calendar says I am, my brain is planning things to knit despite me.

The chart to the right is going to be used in a bag for a friend. I have some lovely blue and fuchsia yarn that I believe would bring out this skull pattern quite well. Blue background with a pink skull. Yes, I know, girlie, but I believe it would be exceptionally cute. It isn't going to be a very large bag, granted, because I couldn't afford more than one hank/skein of each color (I think it would be better if I had another hank/skein of the blue I have).

This is so accurate it is almost scary! I love purple!

Your Inner Color is Purple

Your Personality: You're a dreamer and visionary. You believe you were put on this earth to do something great. You in Love: You're very passionate but often too busy for love. You need a partner who sees your vision and adopts it as their own. Your Career: You need a job that helps you make a difference. You have a bright future as a guru, politician, teacher, or musician.

What's Your Inner Color?

Feeling a bit better about the water.

I love turtles. Everyone who reads this blog knows this. Many times I have even said I feel like a turtle sometimes because my chair makes a nice shell and I am not as quick as everyone else. Cumbersome is a word I understand quite well.

During my PT session in the water recently the terror was something I had to fight with for a good 45 minutes before I could finally ease and let myself enjoy the water. The thought of going back into the pool/water has not given me nightmares, but I have noticed I really do tend to just push the date of the next visit from my mind (though I have duly recorded it in my planner so I will not forget when it is).

Knowing my dislike for the water and my love of turtles, Hubby found a video of sea turtles and sent it to me in an email. It was a beautiful video with wonderful music (sadly I can't embed it here or link directly to it for some reason successfully). Watching the turtle in the water become so graceful and beautiful helped something uncoil inside me. And, coincidently, a friend sent me a small wooden turtle charm in the post recently. Yes, I firmly believe God does give us little messages through people and events, now perhaps more than before.

Although my fear of the water is still there, something of the terror seems to have gone. We'll see how that goes once Wednesday returns. But, the next time I go into the pool I will have my little turtle charm around my neck, and I will keep firmly in mind the beauty of the turtle in the water. Maybe in the water, I can be beautiful and weightless, too.

Since I couldn't link/embed the video I received from Hubby, I give you another video of sea turtles. It is amazing to me how gracefully they move. Enjoy.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you peed on an electrical fence guys?

Click Here for more great videos and pictures!

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you peed on an electrical fence guys?

Click Here for more great videos and pictures!

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you peed on an electrical fence guys?

Click Here for more great videos and pictures!

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you peed on an electrical fence guys?

Click Here for more great videos and pictures!

Knitting, Meetings, and Life Marches Forward (I'm tired already.)

Finally! I have made a hat that meets with my approval as well as Hubby's for his head! It really was a quick knit and would have been quicker if I had indeed just kept to the needles and kept working on it. Why didn't I? Because I was going to PT and today I went to a local business college and worked out when I need to apply for classes for a B.S. in Paralegal Studies. Yeah, it is hard for me to believe as well. I mean, here I am over the ripe age of 40 and I am heading back to school for a degree that will let me work in a law office, or some place for at least part time. It boggles my mind at least.

Classes begin on June 25th and orientation -- my gosh, orientation of all things -- is on June 21st. It is as if everything is moving so quickly for me, and Hubby. He is also considering going back to school to become a teacher. Between you and me I believe he would make a wonderful teacher. I hope he goes through with it. This way he would, hopefully, always have a job, one he liked, and he could even have summers off, which is even better for him, and us.

I am going to have to work on making arrangements, of course. I need to make sure PT can happen in the afternoons, and if I have to go in the mornings then I need to make certain I can get to class on time and make sure I will have on some good dry clothes because pool work will be involved for a while I imagine.

Isn't it strange how you go along nicely and then one day you just can't go on any more in the same way. A change is needed and when you know what change needs to be made the steps to make it also seem to appear. And they have been there all the time. It isn't like a kitten opening its eyes for the first time to see the world; it is more like having a bandage on your eyes, or blinders, and when they are removed, when it is time, the blinders and bandages go away and you can see a path you need to take. The removal of bandages is how this feels to me.

Now all I need to do is make sure there is time to study, be with Hubby, be with friends, play with the animals, go to class, go to PT, and knit. No problem. Right?

It feels like a lot in front of me, but I feel more confident right now than I have felt in a good number of years. God surely will give me strength for all of these changes that are happening.

I Survived!

A lot is popping around here of late. I have finally decided to get off of my butt, metaphorically and almost literally speaking, and get to doing some things that are actually important.

One thing I am doing is going to physical therapy at Cardinal Hill Hospital here in Lexington. Yesterday was my first actual physical therapy session and it wasn't overly challenging. Today, however, was one of the most challenging days I have had for a while. I went into the pool.

OK, for most people this is probably not a big deal, but when you can swim, and you really can't move all that well, getting into the water is almost terrifying; for me it is terrifying. Getting onto the liftchair that lowers you into the water made me clamp down on the inner part of my jaw to keep from screaming in pure terror. Even my therapist, her name is Jesika (a beautiful and sweet blond who is quite slender, but extremely strong). She kept asking me if I was all right.

At one point Jesika asked me if I was ready. My response was an honest one, "No, but just because I'm not ready doesn't mean I won't do it." She didn't quite know how to take that at first.

Hubby was there and stayed close by the pool but let me and Jesika work this thing out together. By the time I was relaxing it was time to get out of the pool.

I did some leg exercises in the pool and then did some walking. At first I was clinging to the bar with a death grip. By the time it was over I was not holding on to it quite as much, but did want to make sure I always knew just how close it was, or Jesika. I'm going back there next Wednesday for more pool work. If Hubby has a job by then I'll be doing this solo, except for Jesika. Having Hubby there today helped me relax a little because I knew he would get me out of there if I needed to be gotten out. Learning to trust Jesika so much is going to take time.

The second thing I'm doing is preparing plans for going back to school. I am going to go to Sullivan University, a business college here, and get a degree in paralegal or medical claims/information where I can either work at a law office or in a hospital. I am actually leaning toward getting both. If all goes well, tomorrow I will be going to have an admissions meeting and start filling out the financial aid papers and getting myself ready for classes which will begin in June.

Of course I have not given up on the writing either. I am possibly clinging to it harder now than I ever have before. Everything is going to work out. I have to try and help Hubby if I can at all do anything.

See, things are popping again.

Festival and News Central for Lexington and Surrounding Areas!

Today was the Kite Festival in Georgetown, KY. Hubby and I had a wonderful time with Jaybird, Lil Jay Jr, and Jayette. Bright colored flags flapped in the breeze while bright colored flags fluttered in the sky above us. Kids were everywhere, as were people.

Since today was Earth Day as well, people were out-and-about just celebrating being alive here in Planet Earth. The festival planners themselves also thought of this and there were Chinese performers, Samoan performers, Latin, bluegrass music, Indian, and several other cultural groups performing as well.

There was even a bellydance club that formed and choreographed their own dances. Although some of the dances weren't awesome a couple of performers really did catch my eye and made me wonder if I could do some of the things they do. While watching them also discovered a bellydance instructor that said that, perhaps, I could be taught and that she had done dancing with more elderly people in nursing homes and hospitals to keep them moving and help them remain limber. This was quite encouraging.

Met several fiber arts people there as well. One woman has a yarn store in Georgetown itself and we talked for several minutes about yarn and where to buy it. Then discovered there was a pen with a real live llama in it (I SO wanted to sing llama-llama-duck but refrained. Are you proud of me Cheyenne?) and discovered there actually are places to buy roving, raw fiber, and spindles! Enthused!

Hubby also had a fantastic time because, well, he was able to meet a tai chi instructor who is a real tai chi enthusiast and actually will let you join his practice for free each and every Saturday. Can you guess where Hubby is going to be for the next few Saturdays? So can I. The odd thing about this is that I may actually be joining him some because they do tai chi in a chair and far differently from most people. I myself feel more encouraged about taking tai chi, or at least moving and settling with this sort of approach than any other.

And just what can I say about Lil Jay Jr! He is definitely Jaybird's boy. You can tell that by looking at him now. Will he grow to look more like Jaybird as he grows up or will he begin to favor Jayette more? I am curious to see. He is such a friendly and social baby! He caught my eye several times and just smiled and laughed and kicked and joined in our conversations to the best of his ability, and when Hubby didn't actually respond to him he just looked so confused. He is adorable! And talk about loving music! That kid is going to be dancing soon as he figures out how to get his feet under him. I just adore babies, especially ones like him. Plus, tonight is momentous for him because he has his very first taste of food (baby food that is) and it is going to be something absolutely yummy -- bananas!

The next time we are all out I am going to make sure batteries are fresh and in the camera!

Upcoming Events
May 17-20th there is an International Craft Festival in Berea, KY. There is even going to be a "knit in" happening and I want to join! Plus all kinds of neat things happening there. So excited about this one.

Andthe Llama and Alpaca Daze are in full swing. There will be fiber arts, lots of llamas -- you even get to groom a llama if you want -- and information about llamas; vendors, food, and fiber arts people. It will be fantastic!

I am so jazzed about these two festivals. Who is with me?

God Bless 'Em

I have been sitting here thinking through my feelings about the horrorible happenings at Virginia Tech. There is nothing I can say people aren't already saying. So, all I can genuinely say is

God bless all those who are hurting, and may God give peace to the newly returned Souls to Him.

The BBC Reports Ferral Terrapins

It sounds amazing, but the BBC is reporting that ferral terrapins are terrorizing the native wildlife of England. According to the article, they are imported from North America. However, as far as I know, terrapins are endangered and aren't supposed to be captured, transported or sold, especially the North American Terrapin or the North American turtle or "common box turtle" as we also know them by here in Kentucky.

Since I am a big turtle fan, the animal, not TMNT, I am always very interested in how the species is advancing and hopefully prospering. As I have said repeatedly: Turtles prove God has a sense of humor - walking rocks. Besides, how can you not love modern day dinosaurs?

Just one more. This is the first song of the movie

This is one of my all time favorite movies!

Asoka is an awesome movie.

One more

Movies, knitting, and TAXES!

OK, let's get the worst out of the way: I did our taxes. They are pretty much ready to go into the mail tomorrow. This year seems to have been a good year for us as far as returns are concerned. Although we aren't going to get a huge amount, we are still getting some back and I didn't have to worry about paying anyone else to do them for us because I did them myself on the 1040EZ form and the EZ form for state. If it ever gets beyond these I hope Kolbar and I are making tons of money so we can actually pay someone else to do the taxes for us.

Kolbar was actually quite encouraging and helpful yesterday when I did the beasties. He helped me prepare my coffee. Helped me empty the garbage so I could, of course, put more trash in the garbage can. And he even came in and asked how it was going a couple of times and once even gave me a hug (though I did have to ask for it).

Movies
We went to see Grindhouse at the Kentucky Theater. It is the oldest theater in Lexington and perhaps even Kentucky. It is beautiful and old and just added to the booming nostalgia of the movie itself. If you attended drive-ins during the Seventies then you will get this movie without a problem, plus, it will be something of a shock to see so many big names in pretty much bit parts. The second half of the "double feature" was my favorite. Girls kicking butt with fast cars. Plus, I can honestly say Kurt Russell can scream like a girl with the rest of them. His part was a departure for his heroes and how it all worked out was actually quite wonderful. Go see the movie. I highly recommend it. Since seeing the movie, however, I would love to have the soundtrack if I can just track it down.

Knitting
On the knitting front today was the first day I actually picked up the needles in quite a while. The little project begun today is a cellphone carrier. There is going to be a longish strap involved to put it around my neck so when up on my crutches there isn't any worry with dropping it or having to leave it in another room. It is actually going to be quite useful once it is finished (tomorrow should do it) and will look pretty. I am going to raid our stash of beads and add some decorations to it to see what comes of it. I believe it is going to be downright cute! Yes, I am excited.

Oh, and the baby bibs are almost finished! I just need some pink ribbon to attach to the baby bibs and make one more. They look adorable and all pink an' cute and soft. Leave it to a brand new baby girl to bring the pink out in me.

Storm Front, by Jim Butcher, a Review

Storm Front is the first book in the Harry Dresden series, or "Dresden Files" series. The voice is spectacular and learning the ins and outs of Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden is quite enjoyable. This book stands alone quite well, and leads us into a world where magic exists and co-exists with us non-magical folk.

There is a lot of action. There is quite a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor that really made me chuckle a couple of times.

In this introductory novel, Harry must discover who is killing people with magic, one of the big no-no's with magic. Some people believe it is him, especially Morgan, Harry's guardian who is supposed to make sure Harry doesn't break the laws of magic. This wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that Morgan doesn't like Harry. At all.

Storm Front moves quickly and easily from one space to the next without making you bored and letting the reader experience the descriptions as their mind sees fit. It isn't an elaborate read where you must pay attention to every single word, but it is in-depth enough that it keeps you reading.

Twists and turns are present. There is a happy ending. Harry survives. If he didn't I suppose it would be quite difficult to have an on-going series.

Storm Front was quite an enjoyable read and made me want to read more in the series. Which I will do.

I give this one a Four out of Five stars. **** It is a good, fun read.

I've Decided I Still Live

Holy Week and Pascha this year has worn me out! It has worn me down to the core of my being and then perhaps a little further. However, it was absolutely beautiful and wonderful and I will do this again at Pascha 2008 as well.

For those of you who have asked, "Pascha" means "the Great Passover" because of Christ's sacrifice upon the cross. Of course there is more to it, but this is about all I have the energy for at the moment.

Pascha and Easter fell at the same time this year for the Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike. Holy Week was from Palm Sunday to Pasha/Easter. This meant we were at Church every night if at all possible, and Friday night, Holy Friday or "Dark Friday" as I have heard it called, me, Hubby, Cheyenne and Cheyenne's girlfriend (sorry, haven't come up with a name for her yet) made Holy Bread for the liturgy on Saturday. Once that was done much running was done and preparations made for the service that began on Saturday night at eleven o'clock in the evening.

For a while there no one went to bed before two o'clock in the morning or later. On Pascha evening we had our service and then the wonderful feast afterwards and most people didn't make it home until four o'clock Sunday morning! It was a splendid time!

So, for the past few days I have been sleeping quite a lot. Yesterday I was so tired I kept falling asleep, even during my beloved wrestling! I just couldn't stay awake. My body was worn out and my spirit was just too happy to deal with everything. Today I slept until Noon and am going to try very hard to go to bed by eleven tonight or perhaps earlier if I can get everything done I need done.

Knitting
Have finished the first of the baby bibs for L's new baby. It has already arrived and as far as I know mother and daughter are doing splendidly. I am making a set of three bibs out of wonderfully soft yarn that will feel spectacular, I hope, to the wee one. Once this project is done I am going to turn my hand to making something else. The "to make" list is SO long I just don't have a clue, at the moment, what I am going to make. Although I am leaning toward a summer purse. I have some wonderful cotton thread in bright green and multi greens and some yellow that would make a wonderful knitted bag. Since it was so expensive I could only get two balls of the thread so it will probably be somewhat of a smallish purse. Still, I believe it will look wonderful and be perfect to carry this spring and summer.

Hubby
Hubby has a job interview tomorrow. We are praying he will be hired. At the moment he is playing God of War and enjoying it. He finished KOTOR2 and said he felt a little jipped because the ending was somewhat anti-climactic and most of the loose threads were still quite loose. Still, he enjoyed getting to the ending, and appears to be enjoying GOW at the moment. Hopefully this will keep him occupied somewhat.

*** *** ***

Now that things are settling down again, there is probably going to be more regular posts and life is going to be pretty much good. So, until tomorrow, I bid you - good night.

Something cool and Pascha

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This little clip was interesting and made me smile.

Smiling is hard today because the weather has suddenly turned off quite cool. Yesterday it was 81*F and today it is 40*F. For me, this means pain, and a lot of it. So, I am just muddling through and hoping and praying I can make it to Church this evening for the Unction Service.

Headache from hell and itchy knitter hands.

This makes my hands itch. Not in that annoying way of having a bug bite, but in the "I really wish I could get my hands on this and knit something with it" way. It is beautiful to look at. It is purple. It is lace weight, which makes me nervous. It is because of this lace weight and the price that makes me not save up my pennies so quickly for it because I have never knitted lace before. However, this is going to be taken care of quite easily since I now have Victorian Lace Today. I just have not worked up to lace yet, but, by the end of the summer I am going to be a lace knitter, or at least have delved into it some (enough so I won't be so nervous about it).

I am having headaches today. For the most part they are quite dull but then there is a stabbing pain like someone is stabbing my brain with an ice pick. When that happens everything just freezes in me for a second and I wince and tighten because it f'ing hurts!

Still, I am up and I am dressed, and I am contemplating retrieving my knitting. Hubby's hat isn't far from coming off of the circular and on to the double pointed needles.

Because of an on-line knitting group I have joined, I have found a sock pattern for two needles, which I am most tempted to try. I have yarn for socks waiting to be used, even though Hubby says he doesn't want socks. So, I may just make some "slouch socks" for myself, or one of my friends, or one of my sisters.

This makes sense:

"You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result."

– Mahatma Gandhi

Yay! A hat!

Yes, I know it is late and I should really be in bed by now, but I simply had to post this - my first ever truly knitted hat. I have always crocheted hats before, never knitted.

One of the most interesting things about this hat is that I didn't use a pattern. At all. I just cast on a good number of stitches, enough I think would fit my head, and I started knitting. I knew I wanted a k1 p1 (knit 1, purl 1) rib before the full knitting of stockinette stitches. So, I just began the thing yesterday and finished it today. *happy sigh*

My Hubby liked the hat so very much he tried to actually take it, but it wasn't big enough for him. This is the only reason I am able to have it currently on my head at the moment. So, to make him happy, I have begun him another hat. Since the first one wasn't so planned out and it turned out OK, I'm doing the same thing with his. But I'm changing it up some. I am doing it on US size 3 circular and double pointed needles (dpns) just as soon as the decreases begin to make it very difficult to keep the hat going on the circulars. Because it is being done on such a small needle size I added a good twenty extra cast ons and then am working in a k1 p1 rib, but I don't believe I am going to make it quite as long as the one I did for myself.

The thread is cotton, so these will be able to be worn during the heat of summer. I also want to make myself a scarf out of this thread and perhaps a nice little bag. I'm dying to try out an idea for a bag, which is the original purpose for purchasing this thread, but since projects come as projects come, I am pleased with what has been happening here with the thread. I believe there is another ball of the thread I can pick up from Michael's just as soon as I have a little bit of extra funds to spread around at a couple of different yarn places. (JoAnn's has better prices, but the store simply doesn't have the choices that Michael's has in the yarn department, or in the needle department. It would be so nice to be able to get into the yarn store near UK, but I can't, so no use in dreaming about it.) One of the said places is going to be on-line for some needles which I am having a problem finding in an actual yarn place.

I am going to start saving my pennies soon for the yarn I need to make an afghan for someone for Christmas. I also need to work on Hubby's sweater I promised him; plus there is a pair of shorts I would like to make myself. The baby blanket needs to be finished or I need to make some baby bibs or something for the babette which is soon to be here.

My mind boggles at all I need to do with this knitting thing! It is the perfect end to a very busy and hard writing day, or when you aren't feeling well. Knitting makes me feel productive even if I haven't really been. I love knitting.

Vince McMahon and Donald Trump are really hitting the waves.

McMahon got Trump to agree to this hair vs hair match by giving a sizable donation to charity. I wonder which charity. If someone knows why don't you share with us?

TV, Reading, and Just Living

Today has been one of the more painful days I've had in a while. It has been such a downer that I haven't even thought about picking up the knitting and finishing the cap I started yesterday. Yesterday, in and of itself, wasn't a good day per se, but it was a little better than today has been. Luckily I am not a major grump-ass like normal. Why? Because I actually figured I was going to have a few days like this until the weather stabilized to its normal spring and summer temps. Since this was expected I am just smiling the best I can, moving slowly, and just letting life roll right along with me.

One good thing about yesterday was that I began reading Storm Front in earnest. Jim Butcher has a wonderful character in Harry Dresden. I am just sad I didn't know anything about this series of books until the series came out on SciFi. You can check out the series here at SciFi.com. The thing I really like about this series is that you get to catch up on the episodes you've missed on SciFi.com itself. I really enjoy that.

If you haven't started reading The Dresden Files I highly encourage it. They are wonderful books. Storm Front has not let me down so far. Yes, it isn't finished, but it is going to be finished very, very soon. So, enjoy reading. Roll along with life, just like me.

Strange news stories, writing, and Jocalat bars.

Today has been one of those lazy, happy, hopeful days filled with friends, books, talk and laughter. To put it succinctly - it has been a wonderful day.

Yesterday wasn't a shabby day either. I sat me down and got some words down on WP #1 and the current word total is 25,037! I am so stoked about that. Although it is late, I am going to sit myself down and get a few more words down before I go to bed or do some knitting. Books, sadly, don't write themselves or spring from your head fully formed. They take time. They take thought. They just about drive you insane in parts, but the appear to be quite worth it in the end. *sigh* So, I plod forward and the words grow and life goes on, and the life, this life, still feels pretty good.

In order to keep the writing going to to give myself a physical reward, I make sure and treat myself with a Jocalat bar in the orange and chocolate flavor or the coffee and chocolate flavor. Yes, I know, seeing the word count go up should be all the reward I need, but when even that joy fails to push you further into composing the story you need a little extra help. I love these things, and I make sure and eat one only after I have worked on WP#1 (or whatever writing project I have going at the time). It works. Which is good.

I am also doing a ton of reading of late. I have three books borrowed from a friend and purchased several. Today I found the first book in the Dresden Files series since I absolutely love the show. The first book in the series is Storm Front. I read the first chapter and am hooked. I want to read all of them now and am going to have to make myself take one book at a time! Since I am still in the romance reading phase, I am also reading Lie By Moonlight by Amanda Quick. It isn't a bad read either. I began reading Lie By Moonlight before Jim Butcher's Storm Front so I will finish it before reading Dresden.

Now for some odd stories in the news I found today:

Baby boy supposedly emasculated by family pet, but the mother was high and the injuries are not consistent with a dog attack. Also, the dog was an 8 lb dauchsund.

People want to exhume Houdini's body.

Peace is really in a piece of string.

Yesterday I was left alone and set free in Michael's after Church. It felt like the perfect beginning of Spring to me! Hubby took a nap in the van while I shopped for yarn and cotton thread for some projects I have in mind. I roamed the isles touching various yarns and holding several to the side of my face. Knitting needles were perused carefully and selected with the utmost of care. Several ladies appeared during my wandering of the yarn and yarn tools section. Each and every one of those ladies took as much care as I did about picking out a skein of yarn, and several times they placed yarn to the sides of their faces. This is a knitters way, I believe, of tasting the yarn to see if it has the proper amount of softness before the strands are tested, ever so gently, for stretch and pull.

I was in there for a little over an hour rolling here and there in utter contentment and peace. Hubby was sleeping in the van to get over his weekend of doing various work tasks for Church. He deserved a nap, and, with the way he was feeling about me - I deserved time to enjoy myself in the yarn store. Yes, yes, I know that Michael's technically isn't a "yarn store" but this is the only place with a moderate selection of yarn that is wheelchair accessible here in Lexington, KY. (I could go to Wal Mart, of course, but I would really prefer to purchase yarn there for very large projects in hopes of saving a few pennies.) So, I go there and enjoy myself with the almost carefree abandon.

My selection for the day was a nice ball of cotton, which you can see in the picture, some Caron soft colors in earth tones; US size 8 double pointed bamboo needles, US size 3 dpns (metal), US size 2 straight needles, and US size 5 straight needles.

(I have threatened Hubby with socks from the earth tone yarn, but he says he doesn't want socks. If he truly doesn't want socks, this leaves me open to use this worsted weight yarn for other things, perhaps some leg warmers. My plan is to have several pair of leg warmers before the winter comes back to help me keep my legs warm.

So, I left Michael's feeling as if I had the best treasures I could possibly afford. When I came out the sun was still shining, the air was warm, and the sky was just as blue as when I had gone inside.

Hubby, having been awakened when I opened the side door of the van to deposit my wonderful treasures, decided he would like to go to a park and sit by the water and just rest. So, we drove out to a local park with the windows down.

Everyone pretty much had the same idea because the park was packed with people. So, sitting by the water I reached into my bags of recent purchases and picked out the cotton yarn and some needles and began playing with it. It was perfect for knitting there. Hubby just chuckled and we talked about nothing important and everything in between while my hands were busy with the thread and the needles. It is amazing how peaceful you can be when you're playing with some string and two sticks.

Rat poison in the pet food!

According to MSNBC.com aminopterin was found in the wet pet food. You can find the complete story here. The really strange thing is that there isn't going to be a criminal investigation. How many pets would have been killed if this wasn't discovered in time? Isn't the poisoning of pets a criminal action? It would seem to be.

Oh well

I had a lovely entry made with my discussion of the reenactment of the Victorian era, not the Civil War, and my computer hated it and made Explorer close which caused me to lose it all. Bummer.

So, I will post more on this later when it isn't quite so late and I actually feel like doing it a little more.

Getting over the flu is rough.

Um.....

What does this mean exactly to us non-math people?

I need to remember this:

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." – Helen Keller

Cat and Dog Food Recall -- Serious

Cat and dog food is being recalled because of some deaths. It is causing renal failure in some animals. There are 50 brands of dog food and 50 brands of cat food being recalled, including IAMS and Eukanuba. This is wet food and "moist" foods so far. About the only brands I didn't see on the list is Alpo and Purina. We are having to take back some canned food for our dogs. Luckily the wet food/canned food is just a treat for our brood, but I don't want to do or give them anything that might hurt them. This is important. Pass it along. You can find info about the entire story at CNN.com.

Not So Much Progress to Report

Yuck o! Yep. That is the current feeling of this household. Yuck O. You really need to stress the last part of it to get more of the feeling of it, unless you have the current crud going around (here at least).

It is nasty. The tummy can't decide which end is best used in getting rid of most food and the head feels as if the universe, or, at the very least, the galaxy has decided your head can't be trusted to think, feel, or be anything other than congested.

Yep. Yuck o.

It isn't just me either. Hubby has it too. However, his "constitution" is stronger than mine which means his tummy is revolting. However, he has pains in the tum tum and his sides are sore from sneezing, coughing, and just feeling absolutely like crud of the worst sort.

Still, today is a little better in some ways than yesterday. Except for my head. I need a new one of those, or at the very least a new nose and sinus pathways. Yesterday I could sit and knit and sort of watch Hubby play on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II and pass the time and pretend to feel better. Today there just really isn't pretending. I feel bad. This means, of course, it is time to dig deep and grab the boot straps and go for feeling better if at all possible. I'll work on that tomorrow.

Progress!

There has been progress.

Word Count WP#1 = 23, 943

This was from last night. Hopefully there will be more today, after getting back from my doctor's visit. Don't worry, this one is just routine.

One of Those Questions

Why does reading encourage you to writ your own stories?

Lately I've been reading voraciously, as you all know. Today I finished another book. Moon Called, by Patricia Briggs. It wasn't a "romance" novel per se. A man and a woman didn't fall in love and live happily ever after at the end of it all, but there was a possibility of romance you could leave to your imagination. It was filled with lots of action and twists and turns that kept me reading and enjoying every moment of it until the last page. And, at the last page, I smiled, because I could see myself doing something along the same lines as the main character, Mercedes, or "Mercy" did.

This book was filled with werewolves and fae and witches and loads of action and guns and fighting and .... Just a good read.

About half way through it I kept thinking about my own project, WP#1. It needs to be finished. It needs to go through all of its cycles and have a beginning, middle, and end. It will undoubtedly meet its word count, but, quite honestly, it needs to be finished and, much to my surprise, I am ready for it to end. Reading as I have been doing of late has given me the release and relaxation I've needed to prepare for the ending of my own work. Isn't it odd how it works.

So, if you like action and a good heroine story with werewolves and the possibility of love, check out Moon Called by Patricia Briggs.

It's time I get to work myself.

Determination!

Something can be said for determination. Check out this video. This is one determined hampster who wants one of those tasty cookies sealed in the dang plastic! Silly two legs!

Cuteness and Knitting

Today I was roaming around the Web and just seeing what all I could find that was interesting. A friend told me about Cute Overload.com so I finally went there for a peek. If you love animals then have a wonderful time browsing the site.

Several people have asked if I would list some of my favorite knitting sites recently, so, being one to always try and please the readership. My first pick to list in the week is Knit Picks.com. One of my favorite things about Knit Picks is that you can build your own circular needles with interchangeable "cords" which go from 16 inches all the way up to 61 inches. This I likes very muchly.

Speaking of knitting.... The first legwarmer of the legwarmer pair I am almost finished working on and will soon be beginning the second. Although the weather is beginning to warm and it is pretty likely I won't be using them much at the current time, I will have them safely stored for the coming winter and probably fall. Now I begin looking for new projects to do. One of them, I hope, will be knitting my own teddy bear or possibly a mouse. If anyone has a fairly easy knitted pattern for it, please share the url with me?

The Crochet Hook of Love

Today was a very emotional day for me: a wooden crochet hook my mother gave me broke, and so did a piece of my heart.

My knitting bag fell over and got tangled in the back wheelchair wheels. Despite my best efforts to set it free so it could roam wild in all of its knitting goodness in one spot, I couldn't. This meant yarn was scattered from my front room into the living room and needles had fallen out and thus the crochet hook. Before I could move to use a crutch or grabber to get the crochet hook out of the way, my front wheel ran over it and broke it.

This sent me into tears. I was sure all was lost until Hubby called and said he was stopping by the house on the way to Church this evening. In less than five minutes of being home, he had the knitting bag strap untangled from the wheel and had placed several wayward balls of yarn seeking their freedom, or perhaps trying to commit suicide by tempting the cat, were collected and placed in easy reach for me to wind and set back to rights. Hubby then proceeded to the shower and I rolled yarn and cried.

The breaking of said hook brought everything very clearly into focus of my Mom's passing of March 11 four years ago.. Using the crochet hook in knitting projects (yes, you need a crochet hook when you knit) made me think about my Mom. Not in a sad way. It made me remember her smile and the way she would cock her head when she was listening to something funny, and how she would clap her hands during UK basketball (that's University of Kentucky Wildcats for the possibly uninitiated) games, or any time she was interested in what was happening around her. It reminded me of seeing her own hands at work in quilting and sewing, or crochet. I felt close to her, in a good way.

Hubby finished his shower and came out to greet me, still winding balls of yarn. "Why are you still sniffling? The bag is OK." I told him I was OK. "If you were OK you wouldn't still be sniffling. What's wrong?"

"It's the crochet hook. Mommy gave it to me." More tears. Sorrowful tears I tried desperately to quench.

Hubby went to Church and I finished winding the balls of yarn and even settled down long enough to knit one row on the leg warmers I am making myself.

I cried while I knit.

I cried while I lit the kerosene heater.

I cried while I heated and ate myself some supper.

I cried while I talked to a friend on the telephone.

Lucky for me the friend on the phone helped me to see positive things and get me distracted from my horrible loss.

Hubby came back from Church and as I was opening some roasted chicken I glanced down and there was the crochet hook. It had a piece of bamboo glued around it and it felt solid in my hand. All I could do was smile as tears welled up in my eyes.

"You are amazing," I said, although I'm not sure he fully understood just how wonderful a gift he had given me. Hubby just went about the business of fixing himself a snack as I rolled into the living room and slipped the repaired crochet hook into my knitting bag where it belongs. My heart was too full for words.

People don't understand how things can be important sometimes. They are just "things" after all. But usually those things are symbols and remembrances of a great and powerful love. They are irreplaceable, just like the people and memories they are associated with. Now the crochet hook is doubly more important to me. One, because my Mommy gave it to me. Two, because my husband cared enough about me to fix it so it could be used and a means by which I could always have my Mommy with me. This, ladies and gentlemen, is what is known as LOVE.

Wow. Monday.

Can't you just feel the enthusiasm there?

Yes, today has been Monday, but not the normal Monday with everything starting all over again and life being all hectic and un-nice. Hubby had a job interview that seems to have gone well, and I had a few hours of solo time. As we all know, this Editor needs time to just sit and have space, time to play silly games on Yahoo! and have in depth discussions with the dogs and cat about the current state of the Universe. These are very important for keep The Editor, which is me, somewhat on the more saner side of insanity.

Much was accomplished, nonetheless. Bills were paid. Games were played. Play was had with the loverly dorgs, and the kitty was properly pampered. No writing was accomplished. No earth shattering, or earth trembling epiphanies was had. Just quiet time with the music blaring and happy times all by myself.

It was needed.

Hubby also used the time to visit family and friends on his own time and he came home with brighter, happier smiles than when he originally left this morning.

Yes, today has been Monday. And it has been quite refreshing.

Heart of Honor, a Book Review

Heart of Honor, by Kat Martin was an absolutely surprisingly wonderful read! According to the front cover, Heart of Honor is "The first in a breathtaking new trilogy" concerning these characters. Even though I am not a romance reader per se, I must admit here and now that I will indeed be reading this trilogy!

From beginning to end it was romantic, heroic, and truly a read I was not expecting. The action moved forward well and kept my attention from beginning to end. The characters of Leif the Viking and Krista Hart, the Englishwoman who fell in love with him, shows how love can conquer all. Of course it can! Romance novels are for that very purpose! Love conquers all and there is a happy ending, which, I am discovering, gives us women hope when all else seems to be in shaky stability around us. It is an escape, this novel, of wonderful proportions.

The back cover says:

Krista Hart, publisher of the weekly London ladies' gazette Heart to Heart, is not afraid to speak her mind. Even on such unpopular issues as social reform -- risking her reputation and her very safety -- Krista will not be intimidated, although she knows full well she is the target of angry opposition for her outspoken views.

When she encounters a powerful Viking descendant imprisoned as a local sideshow attraction, Krista angrily demands his release. Although she tells herself that freeing Leif Draugr is simply the right thing to do, she can't deny being attracted to the fierce Nordic chieftain, especially after her father transforms him into a "proper" English gentleman.

Bu as anonymous threats against Krista become more and more aggressive, it is Leif who must face the unseen enemies desperate to silence her, even as they push her closer into the embrace of a warrior prepared to do whatever it takes to make her his.

I must admit, this was an excellent, adventure packed, love filled, heroic story. I give it a four out of five stars. ****

Spring causes me to think of change and growth.

I know it isn't spring yet with all of the snow falling out west, but the rains have begun to fall here in Kentucky. April showers may bring May flowers, but in Kentucky you can expect a fairly good amount of the wet stuff in March as well. Just as the snow has been falling in the west, rain has begun to fall here, which makes me think of the coming spring and how I would like to see differences, changes in my surroundings as well as on the blog and in my little corner of the world in general.

Yes, change is coming to The News. There could be a new look in its future. It may also move (perhaps, but not likely) from Blogger to some other place where it would just be The Kentucky Mountain Girl News.com. However, the content would pretty much be the same and it would still be open to submissions and life would go on otherwise just as it has always gone on.

Today I feel more like the writer than I have for several months. The arthritis hit, of course, because of the rain, but it did not cause me so much pain I didn't think even for a moment of not putting words down on WP#1 and anywhere else I have taken it upon myself to post words such as The News and the little LJ I also keep.

Today I have seen a continuation and a change in how I approach writing. This is a new development. Right now everything has its set pattern, just as it has always had, but there is more attention to detail and to thought before some words go down. This is good, I believe, because I am indeed pushing myself beyond the safe zone.

Many writers, many people, have a safe zone, that place where they know something will work and their minds and intentions aren't challenged and called into question. With writing, or any art, this can be a "death zone" as well. Since I am still so young to the writing world, I know this could be a death knell to something before it has begun and have, therefore, endeavored to keep it from happening. And it feels good. It feels very good indeed!