"Be thine own palace, or the world's thy jail." That's the quotation on my blog today. I admit, I'm a quotation junkie ~ I get an email every day with one (related to education), I own a Bartlett's, as well as several other books of quotations, and I have a growing Word document filled with random quotations I've found. I make small posters of some of them to post in my classroom.
This one, the one on my blog today, spoke to me. I've been feeling, to be honest, too much like that "world's my jail" lately. I've been letting the outside, or at least part of it, determine my inside, and I have to stop doing that.
It's easy to succumb to that. I mean, there's a lot going on in the world that intrudes in some way on my consciousness. Bad news is always available. Gloom lurks. Despair is gearing up for a banner year. It's a precarious year for a thinking, feeling person. The shootings in Tucson. The level of hate used in communicating almost anything these days. The continuing attacks on public education, on teachers, on teacher unions, on all unions. Our seeming inability to rein in the easy access to guns ~ any gun, anybody, anytime is not a slogan I think the world needs, or can survive. Arizona decides that transplants are a luxury, so patients on death watch, waiting for a transplant, formerly covered by Medicaid, are turned out, told they have to pay for it with their own money (like someone receiving Medicaid has money. Duh!) And now they are dying, waiting for sanity to intervene. And other states are getting ready to follow suit. States with Republican governors and assemblies. Who screamed about "death panels" in the (Democratic) Health Care Act. Who knew they thought death panels were a good thing? Even the news, in the NYTimes today, that greed has come to microlenders ~ those "banks" that lend to the very, very poor have suddenly decided that they can make a profit from that by raising the interest rates and going public. Never mind that the poor can't manage the new interest rates and have begun to default on the loans. Dollar signs are blinding the lenders, again. I mean, really, what is wrong with us? Why do we do these things to ourselves?
I've decided, though, to invest my time and energy in the creation and use of several mental filters. To change my perspective. To escape from that "jail" I've let the world create. Instead, only the things I do, personally, determine my "palace". This is, obviously, a work in progress. My heart still aches for Christina Green and the other 5 who died a week ago. I'm pulling for Gabby Giffords' recovery. I'm still funding Kiva loans. I'm still political, in speech and action. I'm still teaching in a public school, and spending my own money to supplement the decreasing dollars available to the school to educate other people's kids. I'm just changing the way I look at the world, the way I let it impact me. I think I'm developing a much healthier, more sustainable perspective. Only time will tell.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Friday, December 31, 2010
Good bye to 2010
It's officially the last day of 2010, albeit very early on that day. I can't say I'm going to miss this year very much. While no major catastrophe happened, in all this just wasn't my year. I didn't knit very much, although I bought enough yarn to knit every day for years, all of which just got added to my collection. (Remember, I'm not calling it a stash anymore.) Money was tight, but not really tight. It's a struggle saving nearly a thousand dollars a month just to cover my "summers off" (read unpaid planning time for those two months, in reality). I still don't understand why my district won't go to a 12-month cycle, instead of a 10-month one.
My health was lousy this year. February saw the start of my knee problems, which continue to this day. I got only one nasty case of whatever was decimating my class, although they went through 3 cycles of it. And of course, just before Thanksgiving, I fell in my classroom, badly spraining my left foot, which put me in bed during the week off for Thanksgiving. Then, I fell going down the stairs at my apartment on Christmas day, carrying packages to my car. My own fault, couldn't see where I was going, and missed a step. I prided myself on not damaging a single package, and not landing on my left knee or foot. However, I spent a miserable Christmas night, worried that I'd sprained or broken my right foot. I wrapped it firmly in an ace bandage, and had to sleep with my right leg bent at the knee, with my foot flat on the bed (not a good position for sleeping, I can now verify), but come morning, it was much better, and it hasn't caused me any trouble since. The only reminder of it are the scabs on my right foot, where I scraped all the skin off it in the fall. Not pretty, but not particularly painfull.
I didn't accomplish as much as I wanted or needed to this year. I seriously need to get my life more organized. My apartment is overflowing in books, knitting magazines, yarn, and school-related items. I need more closet space for my clothing. I need more cupboard space for my kitchen items. I need to get everything organized and put away in its place. (Once I figure out what those places are.) I think I actually need to find a new place to live. One with more room, on the ground floor. The thought of packing up, though, makes me nauseous. I think I'm going to channel a little Scarlett O'Hara and just think about that tomorrow, though.
Politically, this wasn't the year I'd hoped it would be. Obama accomplished a lot, but not enough, and he certainly hasn't found his defining idea yet. He's too concerned with bipartisanship, and not concerned enough with getting his goals accomplished. And the coming year isn't going to be any easier. Harder, in fact, with the "Just Say No" Republican party taking over the House. His compromises make the nay-sayers look better. It's time he stood his ground, and let the Republican party be seen for what it is, these days. All that screaming about the deficit, and how it was killing America, and what do the Republicans demand? Tax cuts for millionaires. Tax cuts for the wealthy inheritors of million-dollar estates. Which of course added billions to the deficit. But you don't hear any Republicans talking about that, now. Gingrich did this "just say no" bit back in the 80s. Shut down the government, even. But his "Contract with America" didn't turn out well for him, since Clinton ended up looking much better, and the Republicans looking very bad, indeed. Obama should stand his ground, and let the Republicans show the American public exactly what they're after. Anybody paying attention to what's coming out of the Republican leaders knows that America isn't synched up to it. And most of us realize that, unfortunately, raising taxes is going to be necessary to save ourselves from ourselves.
California, thankfully, elected the right governor, although I don't envy Jerry the state our state is in. We honestly need to scrap the state constitution and write a new one. And if we have any sense, we'll omit that part that says anyone at all can put a measure on the state ballot that casts certain revenues or expenditures in stone, and removes the Assembly's ability to manipulate funding to match need. Or that tries to amend the state constitution to discriminate against one group of citizens. The initiative process has made governing California nearly impossible, between tying up funds, raising voting numbers for passing any sort of revenue-generating process, and spending millions on lawsuits fighting initiatives that are flat out wrong. (And no, it isn't just the latest gay-bashing initiative that we've paid out for. There was that lovely little initiative not too many years ago that tried to turn priests, pastors, teachers, etc, into immigration agents. Imagine anyone telling me I have to turn in the names of my students to immigration, if I'm not sure their parents are here legally. Not in this lifetime! That was one law that I fully intended not to obey. Fortunately, the courts ruled it illegal for a variety of reasons, so I didn't get to go to jail for civil disobedience.) California schools can't take any more budget cuts, folks. We need a new, sane, state constitution.
So, all in all, this wasn't a year I'm going to look back fondly on. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good, either. I don't do resolutions, and I'm not betting on anything, either. But, I am hoping that 2011 is a better year. We need one.
My health was lousy this year. February saw the start of my knee problems, which continue to this day. I got only one nasty case of whatever was decimating my class, although they went through 3 cycles of it. And of course, just before Thanksgiving, I fell in my classroom, badly spraining my left foot, which put me in bed during the week off for Thanksgiving. Then, I fell going down the stairs at my apartment on Christmas day, carrying packages to my car. My own fault, couldn't see where I was going, and missed a step. I prided myself on not damaging a single package, and not landing on my left knee or foot. However, I spent a miserable Christmas night, worried that I'd sprained or broken my right foot. I wrapped it firmly in an ace bandage, and had to sleep with my right leg bent at the knee, with my foot flat on the bed (not a good position for sleeping, I can now verify), but come morning, it was much better, and it hasn't caused me any trouble since. The only reminder of it are the scabs on my right foot, where I scraped all the skin off it in the fall. Not pretty, but not particularly painfull.
I didn't accomplish as much as I wanted or needed to this year. I seriously need to get my life more organized. My apartment is overflowing in books, knitting magazines, yarn, and school-related items. I need more closet space for my clothing. I need more cupboard space for my kitchen items. I need to get everything organized and put away in its place. (Once I figure out what those places are.) I think I actually need to find a new place to live. One with more room, on the ground floor. The thought of packing up, though, makes me nauseous. I think I'm going to channel a little Scarlett O'Hara and just think about that tomorrow, though.
Politically, this wasn't the year I'd hoped it would be. Obama accomplished a lot, but not enough, and he certainly hasn't found his defining idea yet. He's too concerned with bipartisanship, and not concerned enough with getting his goals accomplished. And the coming year isn't going to be any easier. Harder, in fact, with the "Just Say No" Republican party taking over the House. His compromises make the nay-sayers look better. It's time he stood his ground, and let the Republican party be seen for what it is, these days. All that screaming about the deficit, and how it was killing America, and what do the Republicans demand? Tax cuts for millionaires. Tax cuts for the wealthy inheritors of million-dollar estates. Which of course added billions to the deficit. But you don't hear any Republicans talking about that, now. Gingrich did this "just say no" bit back in the 80s. Shut down the government, even. But his "Contract with America" didn't turn out well for him, since Clinton ended up looking much better, and the Republicans looking very bad, indeed. Obama should stand his ground, and let the Republicans show the American public exactly what they're after. Anybody paying attention to what's coming out of the Republican leaders knows that America isn't synched up to it. And most of us realize that, unfortunately, raising taxes is going to be necessary to save ourselves from ourselves.
California, thankfully, elected the right governor, although I don't envy Jerry the state our state is in. We honestly need to scrap the state constitution and write a new one. And if we have any sense, we'll omit that part that says anyone at all can put a measure on the state ballot that casts certain revenues or expenditures in stone, and removes the Assembly's ability to manipulate funding to match need. Or that tries to amend the state constitution to discriminate against one group of citizens. The initiative process has made governing California nearly impossible, between tying up funds, raising voting numbers for passing any sort of revenue-generating process, and spending millions on lawsuits fighting initiatives that are flat out wrong. (And no, it isn't just the latest gay-bashing initiative that we've paid out for. There was that lovely little initiative not too many years ago that tried to turn priests, pastors, teachers, etc, into immigration agents. Imagine anyone telling me I have to turn in the names of my students to immigration, if I'm not sure their parents are here legally. Not in this lifetime! That was one law that I fully intended not to obey. Fortunately, the courts ruled it illegal for a variety of reasons, so I didn't get to go to jail for civil disobedience.) California schools can't take any more budget cuts, folks. We need a new, sane, state constitution.
So, all in all, this wasn't a year I'm going to look back fondly on. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't good, either. I don't do resolutions, and I'm not betting on anything, either. But, I am hoping that 2011 is a better year. We need one.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
The Holidays
I am officially done with Christmas shopping. I still have wrapping to do, and in my niece's present's case, some cutting and tying (yes, I opted for the hand-tied fleece throw), but I don't have to leave home to do any of those things. I was able to order the Lego kit my sister-in-law wanted online, and it should be arriving this week. But my nephew isn't getting cooking lessons. His mom called me at 6:30 Thursday morning, hoping I hadn't gotten the lessons confirmed (I hadn't), because her son was begging for a particular Lego kit, which they hadn't gotten for him. I tired to order that online, as well, but it was backordered, and wouldn't ship for 30 days. And I didn't want to put a picture of it in a box, along with a note saying it was coming soon. So, I called the nearest Lego store, and bought one over the phone, to pick up. This is how much I love my nephew ~ the Lego store is inside the Ontario Mills Mall, a nightmare mall, to me. It's got 8 entrances, and it's sort of circular, but with random angles, and there are stores along the outside wall, and stores forming an inside circle. The first time I ever set foot inside this mall was with a group of friends who thought it would be fun. Heh. We got so completely lost we had to get security to help us find our way out of the mall and back to our car. I'm so not a mall kind of person.
So, I called my sister-in-law and told her she would have to go with me to get her son's desired gift. She's as much into Legos as he is, and I knew she'd know exactly where the store was, and what entrance to use, etc. And she did. We were in and out in no time!
I have tutoring two days this coming week, and my kids and I are performing Thursday night at the school's Christmas program. (It was the upper grades' turn to do the Christmas program) We're singing three songs, no religious ones, just fun ones. "Nothing Says Christmas Like a Pair of Socks", "We Need a Little Christmas", and "Deck the Halls". My kids really wanted the Deck the Halls song for some reason. Turns out some of my kids have decided that they really, really like We Need A Little Christmas, though. I got to hear them humming it all day on Friday while they worked on other things.
So, I've got 3 days of practice, two days of tutoring, two performances (one at night for parents, one on Friday morning for the school), one party, and then, at last, two weeks off! I still have Christmas cards to write for my colleagues, and two presents to wrap up for two of the teachers I'm really close to before the end of this week, but I'm putting off any wrapping, cutting, or tying for the family until this week is over. My students, like all students, are totally wired by now, and so ready to be on vacation. It's a struggle to get them to sit still even for 5 minutes. While this is understandable, and cute, even, it still makes this last week a very stressful one, especially with the added pressure of performing in the Christmas show. I'll be off early on Friday (it's a minimum day for both students and staff), and right now I'm planning on coming straight home and going to bed.
In other news, I had to take an early afternoon at work right after Thanksgiving to get down to my local courthouse to apologize for failing to show up for Jury duty. With the sprained ankle and all, I completely forgot to call and postpone it, and further forgot that I was supposed to report bright an early the Monday after Thanksgiving. I was on my way to the car at 4:30 Monday when it hit me that I'd just blown it off. They take jury duty very seriously here, and when you don't show up, they will often come out and arrest you for failure to appear. (We had a few years where it was hard to make up a jury because of a lack of jurors, so they got really deadly serious about it.) They also don't accept most excuses for getting out of it anymore, either. Self-employed? Tough. Going to graduate school? Tough. Have small children at home? Tough. I think the only folks who get excused are military, police, and lawyers. The rest of us have to serve. And I don't really mind it that much, to be honest. (Although I do hate the fact that I can't take my knitting into the jury waiting room. Like I'd mess up my needles and yarn to stab someone with one of the needles!) Anyway, I got down to the courthouse, and they were very understanding. They rescheduled me for early April, during my spring break, and even gave me the paperwork to get a refund on the parking fee I'd paid to get into the courthouse. I guess it didn't hurt that I was very apologetic and willing to serve.
The only thing not going well for me right now is my sprained ankle. It should be fine by now, but it isn't. It still swells up from time to time, and it goes from pretty much pain free to nearly cripplingly painful in 2 seconds flat. I guess I'm going to have to go see my doctor about it.
I actually had some pictures to post with this blog, but for some reason, when I click the Insert Picture icon I get a URL not found message, and I can't figure out how to get around that. Oh, well. That's Blogger for you.
So, I called my sister-in-law and told her she would have to go with me to get her son's desired gift. She's as much into Legos as he is, and I knew she'd know exactly where the store was, and what entrance to use, etc. And she did. We were in and out in no time!
I have tutoring two days this coming week, and my kids and I are performing Thursday night at the school's Christmas program. (It was the upper grades' turn to do the Christmas program) We're singing three songs, no religious ones, just fun ones. "Nothing Says Christmas Like a Pair of Socks", "We Need a Little Christmas", and "Deck the Halls". My kids really wanted the Deck the Halls song for some reason. Turns out some of my kids have decided that they really, really like We Need A Little Christmas, though. I got to hear them humming it all day on Friday while they worked on other things.
So, I've got 3 days of practice, two days of tutoring, two performances (one at night for parents, one on Friday morning for the school), one party, and then, at last, two weeks off! I still have Christmas cards to write for my colleagues, and two presents to wrap up for two of the teachers I'm really close to before the end of this week, but I'm putting off any wrapping, cutting, or tying for the family until this week is over. My students, like all students, are totally wired by now, and so ready to be on vacation. It's a struggle to get them to sit still even for 5 minutes. While this is understandable, and cute, even, it still makes this last week a very stressful one, especially with the added pressure of performing in the Christmas show. I'll be off early on Friday (it's a minimum day for both students and staff), and right now I'm planning on coming straight home and going to bed.
In other news, I had to take an early afternoon at work right after Thanksgiving to get down to my local courthouse to apologize for failing to show up for Jury duty. With the sprained ankle and all, I completely forgot to call and postpone it, and further forgot that I was supposed to report bright an early the Monday after Thanksgiving. I was on my way to the car at 4:30 Monday when it hit me that I'd just blown it off. They take jury duty very seriously here, and when you don't show up, they will often come out and arrest you for failure to appear. (We had a few years where it was hard to make up a jury because of a lack of jurors, so they got really deadly serious about it.) They also don't accept most excuses for getting out of it anymore, either. Self-employed? Tough. Going to graduate school? Tough. Have small children at home? Tough. I think the only folks who get excused are military, police, and lawyers. The rest of us have to serve. And I don't really mind it that much, to be honest. (Although I do hate the fact that I can't take my knitting into the jury waiting room. Like I'd mess up my needles and yarn to stab someone with one of the needles!) Anyway, I got down to the courthouse, and they were very understanding. They rescheduled me for early April, during my spring break, and even gave me the paperwork to get a refund on the parking fee I'd paid to get into the courthouse. I guess it didn't hurt that I was very apologetic and willing to serve.
The only thing not going well for me right now is my sprained ankle. It should be fine by now, but it isn't. It still swells up from time to time, and it goes from pretty much pain free to nearly cripplingly painful in 2 seconds flat. I guess I'm going to have to go see my doctor about it.
I actually had some pictures to post with this blog, but for some reason, when I click the Insert Picture icon I get a URL not found message, and I can't figure out how to get around that. Oh, well. That's Blogger for you.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Post-Thanksgiving/Black Friday
Thanksgiving was quiet, just my brother's family and me. My brother did all the cooking ~ he's turned out to be quite a good cook, and he really seems to enjoy it. One of the things I'm thankful for, every Thanksgiving.
Black Friday came and went, while I stayed home. Well, except for a brief trip to the grocery store for a few staples that I needed to get through until payday next week. Since I sprained my foot, I wasn't able to get out earlier for much of anything, so I really had to go out yesterday.
I've never participated in the insanity that is Black Friday. I can't even imagine getting up to go shopping at 3 am, which is when some stores opened yesterday. I don't like crowds. Actually, I get claustrophobic in crowds. I don't even do malls during the holiday season. I guess I just don't understand the logic behind lining up in the cold dark (and it's been really cold lately!) for a chance to fight over what you want to buy, and then stand in line hours to pay for it, and then fight for another hour or so getting out of the place and home. Of course, I don't actually want anything from those stores, not as Christmas presents. The folks I buy for don't need or use anythng from general stores, so there's just no reason at all to participate in the frenzied shopping experience that is Black Friday.
My nephew is getting cooking lessons, from a local place that offers a variety of lessons for kids. I haven't decided what my niece will get, yet. Her mom said she was lusting after a "hand-tied fleece" throw, but I'm not sure about making one of those. My brother is getting a variety of cooking related items ~ a salt sampler, a mini-smoker that goes right on the BBQ, etc. My sister-in-law will probably get a Legos kit she wants (my nephew and his mom are Lego fanatics). Two of my friends are getting personalized notecards (already purchased and arrived) from Silhouette Blue. My sister is getting the scarf I knit for her. Her kids will get gift cards which they can use to get something they'd like. I don't know them all that well, since they've almost always lived far away, and I see them rarely. And my brother-in-law? I still haven't figured out what to send him, and the time is growing short for that.
So, it isn't yet December 1st, but my Christmas is pretty much set. No last-minute panic needed, thank you very much. Which means I'll be guilt-free knitting this month, no deadlines, no "I should be doing something else" worries. I don't even put up a tree at my apartment, since my cat considers any plant-like item to be his personal toy. I tried it once, and lost more than a dozen cherished ornaments when he pulled the tree over climbing on it. I do love my cat, but I'm not risking more broken ornaments and coming home to a trashed tree. I did, however, come across a pattern for a very cute knitted Christmas tree, which I might actually make this year to go with the small one I made using alphabet blocks and tiny ornaments several years ago. (He can't knock it over, since it's heavier than a tree and it's solid, unlike a tree. It comes out every Christmas, and so far, he's swatted it a few times, but otherwise left it alone. So, other than figuring out what I can have my students make for their parents, I'm looking forward to a relaxing December. (Well, except for report cards which have to be written quite soon, and the hectic class party I have to organize for my students.)
Black Friday came and went, while I stayed home. Well, except for a brief trip to the grocery store for a few staples that I needed to get through until payday next week. Since I sprained my foot, I wasn't able to get out earlier for much of anything, so I really had to go out yesterday.
I've never participated in the insanity that is Black Friday. I can't even imagine getting up to go shopping at 3 am, which is when some stores opened yesterday. I don't like crowds. Actually, I get claustrophobic in crowds. I don't even do malls during the holiday season. I guess I just don't understand the logic behind lining up in the cold dark (and it's been really cold lately!) for a chance to fight over what you want to buy, and then stand in line hours to pay for it, and then fight for another hour or so getting out of the place and home. Of course, I don't actually want anything from those stores, not as Christmas presents. The folks I buy for don't need or use anythng from general stores, so there's just no reason at all to participate in the frenzied shopping experience that is Black Friday.
My nephew is getting cooking lessons, from a local place that offers a variety of lessons for kids. I haven't decided what my niece will get, yet. Her mom said she was lusting after a "hand-tied fleece" throw, but I'm not sure about making one of those. My brother is getting a variety of cooking related items ~ a salt sampler, a mini-smoker that goes right on the BBQ, etc. My sister-in-law will probably get a Legos kit she wants (my nephew and his mom are Lego fanatics). Two of my friends are getting personalized notecards (already purchased and arrived) from Silhouette Blue. My sister is getting the scarf I knit for her. Her kids will get gift cards which they can use to get something they'd like. I don't know them all that well, since they've almost always lived far away, and I see them rarely. And my brother-in-law? I still haven't figured out what to send him, and the time is growing short for that.
Friday, November 19, 2010
A Very Clumsy Day
Well, I knew this day wasn't going to be my best when I spilled half a (tall) cup of coffee at 5:30 this morning. It was confirmed when I dropped the wand part of my mascara down the sink drain at 6 am. But it was made crystal clear when at 9:30 this morning, in front of my students, I stepped down from the stool I had been reading from only to find my left leg wasn't there ~ at least I couldn't feel it at all ~ and promptly fell down, hearing a loud "snap" as I did so. All my kids rushed up to me, trying to help. Picking up the papers and clipboard I had dropped on my plunge to the floor. Picking up the cup of coffee (with lid) I had been holding ~ didn't spill this one, though! I had to sit for a few moments before I could even consider getting up, since my foot was really painful. I hauled myself up, and sat down in a kid's chair, since my left foot wouldn't hold me up.
Of course, I told the kids to calm down, I would be alright, and just needed a few moments to recover. And then I noticed my foot swelling up. So, I asked one of the kids to go next door to get my teaching partner (who broke her foot at school last year) and when she arrived, I had to tell her I'd at the very least sprained my foot, but might have broken it. (We both laughed about this, and when the teacher on the other side of me came in a couple of minutes later, we warned her that it was going to be her turn next year.) They sent one of my kids to the office to get the wheel chair, and then wheeled me up to the office.
I ended up at the clinic that handles work injuries. I insisted on driving myself, which made my principal very nervous. I called once I'd arrived and been put in the waiting room, so that he wouldn't be worrying about me driving. So, an exam and an Xray later, the good news is I didn't break it. The bad news is I sprained it badly, with ligament damage. And the swelling isn't swelling, but a large hematoma, which the doctor said would probably "express itself as bruising". Yay for me. They wrapped it and made me wear a "shoe". They wanted to put it in a boot, but I convinced them I wouldn't be able to fit it in my car. Those boots are huge!. I am vertically challenged, so I have to have the car seat as far forward as possible, and in my Corolla, there's no way I could fit my foot in the boot in the space left between the seat and brake/gas pedals. They gave me extra-strength Tylenol and Darvocet. Haven't taken either one, and probably won't. Pain meds don't generally work for me, anyway.
This is, of course, the leg I've been having so much trouble with, with my knee. And I noticed just a little while ago that my knee is swelling up, too. At least, more than it usually does by the end of the day. No pain yet, but given this week, I'm expecting that to kick in when I try to go to sleep later. (This is the week I also received a jury duty summons and a speeding ticket).
I had lots of plans for next week, since I'm off work for the whole week. Was taking my niece and nephew down to the Natural History Museum. Was spending a day making cookies with my sister in law. Now, I have to stay off my foot, and be back at the clinic Tuesday morning. Not what I was looking forward to. At least I don't have to take sick time at work, and write lesson plans for a sub.
Maybe the rest of this week will go really well. I mean, if bad things come in threes, I've met the target, right?
Of course, I told the kids to calm down, I would be alright, and just needed a few moments to recover. And then I noticed my foot swelling up. So, I asked one of the kids to go next door to get my teaching partner (who broke her foot at school last year) and when she arrived, I had to tell her I'd at the very least sprained my foot, but might have broken it. (We both laughed about this, and when the teacher on the other side of me came in a couple of minutes later, we warned her that it was going to be her turn next year.) They sent one of my kids to the office to get the wheel chair, and then wheeled me up to the office.
I ended up at the clinic that handles work injuries. I insisted on driving myself, which made my principal very nervous. I called once I'd arrived and been put in the waiting room, so that he wouldn't be worrying about me driving. So, an exam and an Xray later, the good news is I didn't break it. The bad news is I sprained it badly, with ligament damage. And the swelling isn't swelling, but a large hematoma, which the doctor said would probably "express itself as bruising". Yay for me. They wrapped it and made me wear a "shoe". They wanted to put it in a boot, but I convinced them I wouldn't be able to fit it in my car. Those boots are huge!. I am vertically challenged, so I have to have the car seat as far forward as possible, and in my Corolla, there's no way I could fit my foot in the boot in the space left between the seat and brake/gas pedals. They gave me extra-strength Tylenol and Darvocet. Haven't taken either one, and probably won't. Pain meds don't generally work for me, anyway.
This is, of course, the leg I've been having so much trouble with, with my knee. And I noticed just a little while ago that my knee is swelling up, too. At least, more than it usually does by the end of the day. No pain yet, but given this week, I'm expecting that to kick in when I try to go to sleep later. (This is the week I also received a jury duty summons and a speeding ticket).
I had lots of plans for next week, since I'm off work for the whole week. Was taking my niece and nephew down to the Natural History Museum. Was spending a day making cookies with my sister in law. Now, I have to stay off my foot, and be back at the clinic Tuesday morning. Not what I was looking forward to. At least I don't have to take sick time at work, and write lesson plans for a sub.
Maybe the rest of this week will go really well. I mean, if bad things come in threes, I've met the target, right?
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Moth Damage
Well, I lost 5 sweaters to moths, but I have 3 that can be saved by darning. My yarn seems to be fine, however, so at least that has no loss.
I still don't know how I acquired moths, but I'm putting up cedar blocks everywhere, and I've made a schedule for refreshing them that should deter any new invasions. I suspect that I might have gotten them from yarn bought on EBay, so if I buy anymore, it's going in the freezer upon arrival. I also informed my landlord, so the next time they spray they'll include something for that (he says). I still haven't found an adult moth anywhere, however, so I'm going to keep looking. I put up pictures of what they look like in both my craft room and bedroom, so I can remember what they look like. (Although I'm tempted to use them as impromptu dart boards!)
After the upheaval of the moth invasion, I can't find either my yarn winder or swift, so the sock yarn I've bought is going to sit for awhile until I can locate them. I just don't want to wind 400+ yards of fingering weight yarn by hand, and of course, my handwound balls are not beautiful or easy to use. I've just never figured out how to hand wind a center pull ball, so I'm at the mercy of my winder/swift.
I picked up some Vesper sock yarn in the Wild Berry colorway, (Since the yarn isn't available anymore, only a thumbnail was online, and enlarging it blurred it a bit) which I'd planned to use for the first socks I knit.Well, after the first socks I experimentally knit, anyway. I'm looking for some so-so yarn to use for the first trial socks. I figure I'm going to be ripping out many times, so I don't want to use a really good yarn for that. I have lots of yarn, but almost none in fingering or even sport weight to use for this, so I may end up just buying a ball of Kroy, and using that.
My sister's scarf is done and on its way to VA. It's wrapped up, so she'll have to wait for Christmas to open it. I'm just glad it's on its way. No pictures, since I still haven't located the charger for my cameras' batteries. I guess I really am going to have to bite the bullet and go buy new chargers. It just seems to me that since both my cameras are Nikons, they could at least use the same kind of batteries, so I'd only need one charger. Oh, well.
On another note, I've been following a video-cast (vcast? vidcast? who knows?) done by TheKnitGirllls. I really enjoy their show, which is up each Sunday. Leslie and Laura are fun to watch, plus they showcase a lot of new stuff ~ books, yarn, fiber, fiber festivals, yarn shops, etc. Laura's book reviews are also interesting. I like that she shows the inside of the book, highlighting several different pages or patterns. It's almost like being in a bookstore, browsing it yourself. If you haven't caught them yet, head on over to TheKnitGirllls.com and check them out. They're also on iTunes, and they have a Ravelry group, as well.
I still don't know how I acquired moths, but I'm putting up cedar blocks everywhere, and I've made a schedule for refreshing them that should deter any new invasions. I suspect that I might have gotten them from yarn bought on EBay, so if I buy anymore, it's going in the freezer upon arrival. I also informed my landlord, so the next time they spray they'll include something for that (he says). I still haven't found an adult moth anywhere, however, so I'm going to keep looking. I put up pictures of what they look like in both my craft room and bedroom, so I can remember what they look like. (Although I'm tempted to use them as impromptu dart boards!)
After the upheaval of the moth invasion, I can't find either my yarn winder or swift, so the sock yarn I've bought is going to sit for awhile until I can locate them. I just don't want to wind 400+ yards of fingering weight yarn by hand, and of course, my handwound balls are not beautiful or easy to use. I've just never figured out how to hand wind a center pull ball, so I'm at the mercy of my winder/swift.
I picked up some Vesper sock yarn in the Wild Berry colorway, (Since the yarn isn't available anymore, only a thumbnail was online, and enlarging it blurred it a bit) which I'd planned to use for the first socks I knit.Well, after the first socks I experimentally knit, anyway. I'm looking for some so-so yarn to use for the first trial socks. I figure I'm going to be ripping out many times, so I don't want to use a really good yarn for that. I have lots of yarn, but almost none in fingering or even sport weight to use for this, so I may end up just buying a ball of Kroy, and using that.
My sister's scarf is done and on its way to VA. It's wrapped up, so she'll have to wait for Christmas to open it. I'm just glad it's on its way. No pictures, since I still haven't located the charger for my cameras' batteries. I guess I really am going to have to bite the bullet and go buy new chargers. It just seems to me that since both my cameras are Nikons, they could at least use the same kind of batteries, so I'd only need one charger. Oh, well.
On another note, I've been following a video-cast (vcast? vidcast? who knows?) done by TheKnitGirllls. I really enjoy their show, which is up each Sunday. Leslie and Laura are fun to watch, plus they showcase a lot of new stuff ~ books, yarn, fiber, fiber festivals, yarn shops, etc. Laura's book reviews are also interesting. I like that she shows the inside of the book, highlighting several different pages or patterns. It's almost like being in a bookstore, browsing it yourself. If you haven't caught them yet, head on over to TheKnitGirllls.com and check them out. They're also on iTunes, and they have a Ravelry group, as well.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
I have moths!
You can only imagine my horror when I arrived at school yesterday morning, and sitting down in the brightly lit lounge, I noticed several holes in my wool jacket. On further inspection, I found lots of holes, some small, some very large. Moths!
I don't understand how this happened. I keep my wool jackets and sweaters in sealed plastic bags, and they're all cleaned before being sealed inside. So how did those damn moths get in there?
Needless to say, I came home as soon as possible from school, and started packing bags of wool garments in my freezer (after I'd removed enough food to make room for some bags, which means I'll be cooking a good bit this weekend). I stopped on the way home and picked up lots of small cedar blocks, which I stuffed into cupboards, closets, and the bags I couldn't fit right away into the freezer. I tell you, I'm terrified of opening those bags and finding what damage has occurred.
I'm also tucking cedar blocks into my bags and tubs of yarn. I'll be inspecting the yarn after I get through the clothing. I can't believe this happened. All I can hope is that the damage is limited, and I won't have to be shopping for a new wardrobe any time soon. And that my yarn is okay. And that I don't need to invest in a lifetime supply of mothballs (assuming I can find those around here.)
I didn't sleep much last night. I kept imagining I could hear the little beasts munching. And as I was driving home today, I realized I didn't bag my wool pants. I thought of the sweaters, but for some reason, I just never connected pants to moth-danger. So, I 'll need to go through all my wool pants, checking for damage, too. And the wool area rug I have in the living. And ~ OMG, I just thought of all the fabric I have in my sewing room.
I'm 58 years old, and this is the first time in my life I have ever encountered moths. My mother never had them. Growing up, none of the neighbors had them. I've never had them. I don't even know anything about them. Guess I'll be searching the Internet tonight, looking for information.
About 11 o'clock last night, I sat on my bed and just cried. Maybe I'm being ridiculous, but this just hit me really hard. I absolutely loved that wool jacket I had to toss in the trash bin on the way from my garage to my apartment yesterday. (I couldn't take it off at work, because the top underneath was a little too skimpy to wear while teaching 10 and 11 year olds). I itched all day yesterday (and I know that's ridiculous, cause those moths don't bite people ~ at least, I don't think they do!)
I don't even know how long to leave the bags in the freezer. I know I'd read on somebody's blog about freezing the little monsters, but not how long they had to be frozen. So, I'm leaving them there until Saturday afternoon. 3 days. And when they come out, the next batch, now marinating in eau de cedar, will go in. I need a little time before I jump in to looking for damage in the wool clothing. I don't think I can handle that right now.
I'm also trying to get ready for parent conferences, which start next week. Ive got tons of material to sort out, reports to print out, forms to fill out. That's what I'd planned to do this weekend, rather than cooking up most of the contents of my freezer, and inspecting many of my most favorite sweaters for moth damage.
I don't understand how this happened. I keep my wool jackets and sweaters in sealed plastic bags, and they're all cleaned before being sealed inside. So how did those damn moths get in there?
Needless to say, I came home as soon as possible from school, and started packing bags of wool garments in my freezer (after I'd removed enough food to make room for some bags, which means I'll be cooking a good bit this weekend). I stopped on the way home and picked up lots of small cedar blocks, which I stuffed into cupboards, closets, and the bags I couldn't fit right away into the freezer. I tell you, I'm terrified of opening those bags and finding what damage has occurred.
I'm also tucking cedar blocks into my bags and tubs of yarn. I'll be inspecting the yarn after I get through the clothing. I can't believe this happened. All I can hope is that the damage is limited, and I won't have to be shopping for a new wardrobe any time soon. And that my yarn is okay. And that I don't need to invest in a lifetime supply of mothballs (assuming I can find those around here.)
I didn't sleep much last night. I kept imagining I could hear the little beasts munching. And as I was driving home today, I realized I didn't bag my wool pants. I thought of the sweaters, but for some reason, I just never connected pants to moth-danger. So, I 'll need to go through all my wool pants, checking for damage, too. And the wool area rug I have in the living. And ~ OMG, I just thought of all the fabric I have in my sewing room.
I'm 58 years old, and this is the first time in my life I have ever encountered moths. My mother never had them. Growing up, none of the neighbors had them. I've never had them. I don't even know anything about them. Guess I'll be searching the Internet tonight, looking for information.
About 11 o'clock last night, I sat on my bed and just cried. Maybe I'm being ridiculous, but this just hit me really hard. I absolutely loved that wool jacket I had to toss in the trash bin on the way from my garage to my apartment yesterday. (I couldn't take it off at work, because the top underneath was a little too skimpy to wear while teaching 10 and 11 year olds). I itched all day yesterday (and I know that's ridiculous, cause those moths don't bite people ~ at least, I don't think they do!)
I don't even know how long to leave the bags in the freezer. I know I'd read on somebody's blog about freezing the little monsters, but not how long they had to be frozen. So, I'm leaving them there until Saturday afternoon. 3 days. And when they come out, the next batch, now marinating in eau de cedar, will go in. I need a little time before I jump in to looking for damage in the wool clothing. I don't think I can handle that right now.
I'm also trying to get ready for parent conferences, which start next week. Ive got tons of material to sort out, reports to print out, forms to fill out. That's what I'd planned to do this weekend, rather than cooking up most of the contents of my freezer, and inspecting many of my most favorite sweaters for moth damage.
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