Tuesday, December 28, 2010

A schedule - finally!

I'm just back from one pre-surgery appointment. Nothing extraordinary, just a quick physical, bloodwork, and instructions. The day before surgery, I have to have some dye injected so the Dr. knows which lymph nodes to sample. Apparently, I'll have blue skin for a while afterward. I also have my pre-surgery appointment with the plastic surgeon the day before. Both appointments are in the same building. It's too bad those two appointments are 5 hours apart. I'll have to figure out something to do, because I don't think I'll want to drive home in between.

Then came the bad news - I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 am. Yes, AM, as in morning, before sunrise, no coffee allowed! I am not an early riser. This will not be pretty. I refuse to not shower either, because I won't be able to shower until my stitches come out 7-10 days later. That's the part I'm dreading the most - not being able to shower. Yeah, I could take a bath, but our bathroom is FREEZING in the winter! Not fun to take a bath in January. I also won't be able to lift my arms over my head for a while, so I'll have go to the salon to get my hair washed.

After my Dr's appointment, I went to the music store and got myself a new music stand. It's my "performance" stand, to take to my LMS gigs. Unfortunately, it didn't come with a case. I'll have to see if it fits into one of my many tote bags. I'm excited about it though. It's so pretty!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Desperate Measures

It's 5pm on Christmas Eve. I'm finishing up my final knitting project/gift - a pair of felted mittens for my dad. I am loving this pattern, and I've used 75% stash yarn for all my gifts this year! I have about one inch on top and the thumb to go the last mitten, and I've run out of yarn! It was yarn from my stash, there isn't any, and even if the yarn shop was open, it's very doubtful they would have this lot number in stock (I bought it last year). What do I do??
The only solution? Rob Peter to pay Paul:


The thumb is done with a separate piece of yarn, so I carefully undid the thumb of mitten #1, and started knitting with that yarn. I'm very careful to only pull out as much as I need, so I don't undo the entire thumb. I finished the top of mitten #2, and picked up stitches for the thumb. I knit up so there are an equal number of rows on each thumb, then change to another color to finish each thumb. They look OK. I threw them in the washing machine, and 14 minutes later - nice warm, thick mittens for dad! I've got them speed drying on the boot dryer!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

I'm getting there

Things are coming along with my handmade gifts. I got 2 pairs of mittens felted this morning (felted = intentionally shrunk so they're thick and warm, for you non-knitters). Now the house smells like wet sheep. I finished Karl's Christmas socks yesterday, then started the third pair of mittens. I didn't get very far on those, but there's still time. Today I'll start and hopefully finish a knitted coffee-cup sleeve, then go to town on those last mittens.

I'm on day 6 of a 7-day work marathon (2 different jobs), and I'm looking forward to tomorrow: it's a fun job, and I'll have a day off after it's done. I found my backbone and said "No" to working an extra day at the store and "No" to playing at the Xmas Eve church service (mostly because she called 6 days before she needed me - um, yeah, I might need time to learn the music?).

What's left to do before Christmas? Wrap gifts, bake cookies and bread, get a christmas tree (hopefully happening today while I'm at work) then decorate that tree, and probably a bunch more. THEN, I can relax, and it will be "Happy Birthday to Me"

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Musical

This is too good not to post:

This morning when I went to wake up Katrina, she was laying in bed listening to her iPod. She told me that just before she woke up, she had a cool dream - she was at an actual Beatles concert, and that she could really hear the music in her dream. And when she woke up, she had her iPod on, and the music was on!

I'm a brave woman

I forgot about the girl scout meeting when I said I'd work my flower job today. Not good. But instead of canceling scouts, I'm forging ahead - straight from work to the meeting.
Of course I'm Mrs Last-Minute, planning and shopping last night for supplies. Of course, Hobby Lobby didn't have everything I needed for the cute Christmas craft I'd planned, so I had to change on the fly, and use one of the project sheets they had at the store. It involves glass ornaments, glitter, and funnels.
Wish me luck and get the wine chilling - I'm going to need both!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

White Stuff

I have always loved winter. Snowy days just make it OK to snuggle on the couch under a blanket all day.
But today, it's just making me nervous. Blizzard warning until 6pm, scattered power outages, and we have our City Band Christmas Concert at 4pm. The Opera House is literally one mile from the house, no big deal for me, and most of the other band members. But, my mom lives 45 minutes away (in good weather) out in the country. For her sake, I hope the concert is postponed. It would be fine if we weren't playing "Hallelujah Chorus" with each trumpet playing a different part. As hard as I try, I cannot play two different parts simultaneously.
So, for now, I'm snuggling on the couch, watching a movie, and working on another christmas mitten.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

FUN!

Wow. I had a great time last night with Ladies Must Swing. (yes, I know they need to update the bios and photos - email the webmistress) Despite playing for 3 hours, my lip held out, but my feet did not. I worked an 8 hour day at Giggles, then had to put on some heels and stand for 3 hours - how come only the trumpets have to stand? Because we're the best looking - that's why!
I started playing with the Ladies about a year and a half ago, as a substitute. Then, last summer, they asked me to be a permanent member. We have such a good time, and my playing has definitely improved because of them. I look forward to each and every gig.
I didn't get home until midnight (gasp!), and Katrina even let me sleep in this morning. I thank her for that. Those mornings are few and far between.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Surprise!

I had a lovely surprise yesterday morning, right after I got to work. The surgeon's office called: they had a cancellation and"could I make it in that afternoon?" Well, yeah! Much better to miss work on Wednesday than the Friday before Victorian Holiday Weekend! The downside? I hadn't shaved my pits.
It was a good appointment, the doctor is great, he went through the different options, told me what would be best for my situation, and reassured me that waiting until after Christmas won't be a problem.
So now, I just have to wait for the nurse/coordinator to call to let me know what's available for surgery dates, and get my pre-op appointments scheduled.

ETA: Woo-Hoo! The nurse called already this morning, and my surgery is scheduled for Jan 18.
Damn! I'm still going to have to do inventory at work.