Where Did January Go?

I thought that I would have soooo much time to update this blog and post the pictures I took ages ago onto Ravelry. But I haven't done either. And although we've been snowed in, and it seems like I'd have time on my hands, that hasn't been the case.

I have a good portion of my cotton/silk cardigan finished. I got to the arms and of course, instead of finishing up, I began another project. Just as I did for Sam, I am going to make afghans for Anna's friends who are graduating this year. Anna gave me the colors they might like, and I'm working hard. My rationale is that:

1. I have a deadline for these 3 afghans (or is it 4?). I want them done by June 6, 2009.
2. I have no deadline for my sweater (and it's for me, so I'm flexible)
3. It's better to work throughout the winter with a big heavy afghan on your lap, as opposed to like, April.

Also, it gives me a chance to start something new, which I love, as opposed to actually finishing anything, which is harder for me.

Daughter #1 returned to UMass Amherst on Sunday. I miss her but not that much because with modern technology, you can certainly keep in touch. But I know she had bored days toward the end (witnessed by her enthusiasm about going back), but it's still nice to have someone to watch TV with. Anna is so stressed with homework, work, and friends, I hardly see her except for her to complain about a) the car; b) the food; or c) the speed with which her laundry is returned. Oh, college is going to be such a rude awakening for her.

Speaking for college for Anna, she has gotten into everywhere she applied, thus far. She is still waiting to hear from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Northeastern. She's met someone from New York on Facebook that is leaning heavily toward UMass Amherst, and likes her very much. That may be the catalyst that propels her toward that school over others.

Work has been intensely stressful with lots going on in my real job, and then lots more other stuff happening with the Assistant Director position that I'm filling, but that is not my job. I also had to give a talk on Advocacy to the Key Users group this month. I'm often feeling overwhelmed, but if I ignore it long enough, it goes away.

On the diet front, the struggle to lose those last 3-4 lbs. is incredible. I could let myself get discouraged, and believe me it is tempting, but if I don't keep my spirits up, who will? So I will try to hold up.

The Day After

So Christmas Day has come and gone, but the season never ends. In fact, it's just begun. We still have Sunday afternoon in Newton, Monday night in Cambridge, and next Saturday at our house. I have yet to finish Jeremy's scarf (which I think Sam is going to take credit for) and after that I'll have to start looking for another project to begin. Or I could actually FINISH something, like Mike's vest, before the moths get to it, but I'm at a pain-in-the-neck place and I'm not certain I'm up for the challenge just yet.

Christmas was a surprisingly nice day. I got up an hour before everyone else to lay out the Santa gifts, and make another apple pie to take to my mom's. We then opened all the presents and I think everyone was, if not surprised, then at least happy. Showered, and drove to Mom's for dinner. When we got there she had 3 other small dogs (that makes 4 total). Before dinner Sam, Anna, Mike and I each took a leash and walked those little rug rats. We also stopped at Butch's and picked up Tyson, but he certainly slowed down the walk. We looked like the Piped Piper of Palmer as we walked through the streets with all those dogs.

Butch and Terri, Jess and Dwayne came for dinner and it was fun, if not crowded. Mom's food was excellent. Eddie, Lynn, Carissa and Nathan came for dessert so the house became even crazy. Sort of like Christmases of old. Sam won "Pick" twice. She's got quite the streak going.

After all that we headed home about 7 p.m. and then the girls went out with friends and I pretty much collapsed. We did watch the movie "In Bruges" with Colin Farrell. A very DARK comedy.

Today, back to work. Anna went in at 9 this morning and at 5:30 she's still not out. That's a lot of letter opening. And I'm back in here from 9 to 5 tomorrow. Can't wait.

A Day of Shopping

Ok, I'll admit when I'm wrong. And I had mentioned to a couple of close friends that I wasn't all that excited to have my oldest daughter home from college for the extended period that she was going to be home (Dec. 14th - Jan. 28th without a chance of a job). I knew she would drive me crazy with her hours (late), her hording of glassware and dishes in her room, and general aimlessness. But I admit it. . .I was wrong. Her sheer joy of life, her warmth and general kindness make up for all of the stuff that drives me nuts.

Spent the day Christmas shopping with this daughter. Her generosity in the face of a shrinking bank balance amaze me. The fact that she continues to buy gift after gift for her sister, when that sister barely manages to come up with one gift, makes me want to both hug her and slap her upside the head. As she said though, "I keep thinking if I buy Anna lots of stuff, maybe she'll start being nice to me," shows her "half-full" way of thinking, versus my half-empty way. She must get it from her dad.

The shopping wasn't that bad today. Lots of stuff on sale and of course I spent more than I should have. But except for a new faucet for my Mom's kitchen sink (don't ask, Mike wants to take care of this gift for my mother), and some last minute grocery shopping, I think I'm about ready for the holiday. I'll do the shopping in the morning, make a couple of apple pies, go to Cathy's for Christmas Eve (I still wish the girls would go with us, but I understand), then come home and maybe we can all watch a movie or play cards or something together. In the morning it will be Santa time (with 19 & 17 year olds; but I can't give up the Santa thing yet), then off to Palmer to spend time with Mom, Butch, Terri and whoever else shows up.

I'd like to stop at the cemetery to say hi to Gramps and Auntie Rena on Christmas morning too. I know the snow will be deep, and I understand that I can talk to them whenever and wherever, but it still feels special to be there. Every year there are less and less people, people I love, and the missing is more acute with the more people around you.

I feel like this year the holiday flew at me with little warning. And now it's here. And then it will be gone.

It's that time again

And I could mean Christmas, but I'm actually thinking about snow. How could I not? It's only been doing it for 3 solid days. I've never shoveled so much in my life. And my lower back can certainly tell the tale.

Of course a weekend of solid snow, while pretty and relaxing with staying at home, certainly put a crimp in my Christmas shopping. I had to dash out to Circuit City for an inexpensive webcam and Christmas Tree Shoppe for a 4 picture frame for the girls to fill for Mike. It was a nice surprise to find that neither place was crowded and I got in and out in about 15 minutes (with what I needed!).

The joke here at the library has been that there has been no where to park at the main library or either of the branches. In it's infinite wisdom, the Somerville (MA) DPW decided it was more important to plow out all the schools (which are closed until after Christmas) instead of the libraries (which are open every day except Christmas). I hope someone is getting a raise over there for the prioritizing abilities.

So this weekend . . . finished Sam's scarf, got all my gifts wrapped (except for the ones that I've yet to buy) and got the tree up and trimmed. Haven't brought out all the snowglobes (Anna usually hounds me about that, but she's been quiet this year and I don't feel like dragging them all up from the basement). Mike went out and bought the tree on Thursday night when I was working. Anna wouldn't go with him and Sam was at school so this was another year he did it himself. All I can say is that Charlie Brown is laughing at this tree. It's just awful. And what makes it worse is that unlike other years when he spent $10 bucks on an awful tree, this year he spent $40 on an awful tree.

This tree was so bad that as we were turning it to find the "good" side, we couldn't find one. And big branches kept falling out as we were trying to find a good side. We ended up having to stuff them in but I'm sure they'll be brown and dry by the time Mike's family comes on the 3rd for the family holiday.

Ok I'm off. We had to cancel our dinner tonight (Ellen and Denise and I) because the roads were so crappy this morning. We'll do it next week. I'm sure it will be fun.

Just one of those nights

First, on an up note, the weather is awesome, at least temperature wise. The rain is a matter of taste (I actually like rain) but it being 60 degrees in December is a treat and there's no way around it.

The downside of warm weather is that it brings LOTS of people out and about, including the library. I've already saved 2 separate patrons with software problems (can no one ever learn to SAVE?). So I've taught people tonight 1) how to size photos in Word without losing their proportionality; 2) How to actually save a document and email to yourself; 3) How to do spell check; and probably other things that I'm trying to block from my memory. On the upside, it is making the evening fly by.

This morning I made an apple pie from scratch and a decadent chocolate cake from scratch (can you tell I love to bake?). Mike has the bookclub at our house tonight and made the main dish and cleaned the house. He also does a good part of the cleaning, which makes this a win/win for me. I get to go home and find yummy leftovers and a still-clean kitchen.

I've been slaving away on the scarves for Sam and her friends. Anna grabbed hers first off, so forget about her getting it for Christmas. I haven't taken any pictures yet but plan to and upload them to ravelry. Got more yarn yesterday so I'll get cracking on that. I'd love to be able to knit at the reference desk, but it's been so busy lately that I'd probably lose my place and rip out more than I actually knit.

Making my first foray to IKEA tomorrow evening. Although I'm excited to see what it's like (I've heard good things), it's not a shopping trip but a picking up trip. And then shelping the stuff back to Cambridge and spending an hour or more setting the crap up. So basically it's a ride to Stoughton, standing around, and then watching Mike put together a sink basin. Oh goodie. After a full day at work.

Haven't even begun to decorate for Christmas. We aren't having the family over until Jan 3rd, so I'm going to put up the tree later rather than early, otherwise it'll just be kindling by the time we have the family party.

Ok enough for now. I'm actually tired and still have an hour and 20 minutes before closing. The fun never ends.

Catch up time

So it's been a while. Thanksgiving flew by and how Christmas is on the way. I've got some shopping done (because I've been doing lots of it online) but have no ideas for my mom or for Mike. I've still got to finish up the lacy shawl I'm making her for her birthday. I had one finished (it's actually around my shoulders right now) but she liked the colorway of the one I was working on and opted to get that when I finished it. So it's not MY fault she'll get Christmas and birthday gifts at the same time (hopefully).

It was weird having the holiday dinner at Linda's instead of at my in-laws. It was nice but my daughters were seriously disappointed in the food. That's not because Linda's not a good cook; it's because my father-in-law is such a spectacular one. We really missed his stuffing and tortolini soup. But Sam cornered him at the end of the day and got a promise out of him that he'd make her stuffed mushrooms when she got home from college. And I know she'll hold him to that promise.

I've been knitting quite a bit (but not on mom's shawl). Sam's roommates (friends) each wanted a scarf to go with their winter coats and Sam asked me to do it because they keep stealing hers. I got one done and was well on my way to the second when Anna saw it and co-opted it because it went perfectly with her coat. So I guess I'll be making more than expected. But they go fast (double yarn and size 13 needles).

Last night was Anna's soccer banquet. She was again named to the GBL All-Star team and was Coach's Choice. That was the height of irony. But whatever. The season was difficult for her but she played extremely well, handled herself like an adult and managed to pull 4 A+s and 3 As for her first quarter grades. High school soccer will soon be a distant memory and bad coaching is something you learn from, even if soccer isn't what you learn. She's also found a job at Century Bank. We find that she's most organized and focused when she's busy. She may be lots of things but lazy isn't one of them.

All for now.

Another Rainy Saturday

It's funny. . . I only seem to find the time to post while I'm working on the reference desk or another public desk here at the library. Otherwise I'm too busy at work and have other things to do at home.

It's been an interesting week. Younger daughter went out to Amherst to visit classes and get (another) feel of the place this weekend. She drove out with friends but spent the last 2 nights with her sister. Tonight she's back to southwest to stay with the friends she had driven out with. I can't get a feel if she's interested in actually attending the school, but she definitely likes spending weekends.

I was glad she stayed with Sam for a couple of days. I feel like when Sam's home they are both so busy with friends that they don't have a lot of time together. I do know they talk alot on the phone and online but it's always been important to me that they keep their relationship strong. There's no greater gift in the world than a sister and I want them to cherish that relationship.

It's given us a taste of what life will be like in September when both girls are off at college. And what it will be like is QUIET. No loud music, slamming doors, arguments about the car, and waiting up for everyone to get home from socializing. Somehow it's easier to sleep if you don't know exactly where they are and aren't expecting them to walk through your door.

But it's also kind of lonesome. I'm already feeling the "empty nest" feeling. I'm guessing a dog is in my future shortly. The cat is nice, but only on her terms.