"Still Alive" and Cat Smarts

Yep, "Still Alive"!
(I'm hearing Cloris Leachman in my head a la "The Croods" {a movie with which I became surprisingly smitten...and re-smitten with Ms. Leachman.}).

I'm not quite back at work yet. 

My temp had been pretty normal for five days, I was approaching my work-release date, the cough was essentially gone, and I thought I was on track to be free from strict home quarantine, go to work, and back to COVID-world normalcy. 

And then my normal temp went up .6 degrees yesterday morning, the cough came back yesterday afternoon, and today - headache. I am terrified about possibly spreading this thing so I told work I'd be holding off a few more days and went about trying to contact my GP - who I have seen exactly once - over a year ago. 

The GP was already overbooked so I am scheduled to have a video chat with someone else in his office. 

What is it about Wednesdays and COVID? First two fevers on Wednesday. Skip a Wednesday (lulling me into thinking I'm getting better...) and then my temp climbed again - on a Wednesday. {Wednesday used to be one of my favorite days...}

Per the conversations I had with a variety of folks today, COVID affects people in different ways but it is somewhat common that it doesn't leave when it should. So, yes, I'm wondering if it's going to be an annoying, mild lingering thing or if every odd passing pain I get means my spleen is failing. 

The good news....I stopped being queasy last week {VERY happy about that} and my eyeballs don't hurt anymore. My work is being super supportive.  {Thank you!!}

The husband is doing quite well and has been back at work for over a week. 

And Simon has a new trick. 

Simon is one of the kittens we adopted almost 2 years ago. He is a handsome fellow with crossed blue eyes and is a champion snuggler. I understand from his rescuer that he was a bottle-baby so he loves to be snuggled and adored but I have to acknowledge he is a bit self-oriented. 

See - extremely adorable.

So, Simon's newest trick relates to the fact that he has realized we keep certain string-y kitty toys up on a shelf on the husband's side of the master closet. He was complaining for a while and doing laps below after the last time I put the favored toys away. 

Have you ever wondered if your cat is a genius or Forest Gump? (There are smarts on both sides of that question.) 

Simon has discovered if he climbs up the clothes in the closet he can walk on top of the shoulders of the hanging clothes. Thus far he has climbed up the back of the clothes and he finds himself stuck behind the bar. 

When assisting him out of this predicament, I parted the hangers and he climbed onto my back - and then he tried to climb up to the kitty toys on the shelf (hence our realization as to why he was suddenly so interested in climbing the clothes). 

So he's climbed up the back of the clothes a few times, gets stuck, and he ends up on my back. 

For now, we're keeping the closet doors closed. Simon is not pleased. 

Ok, So It Wasn't a Test Run

 It has been a long week...and it's only been a couple of days. 

Today is the first day that my eyeballs don't hurt. Ok, they don't hurt much...

So when last I typed I thought I was on the road to recovery after contracting a Flu, having tested Negative for COVID 19. 

Later that day...
The husband attempted to get his COVID test results but the testing company's website was having glitches. He contacted them and they couldn't get it to work either so they sent him a work-around. He was pursuing the work-around when we got a text from his work indicating they had his COVID test results and they were Negative. 

Unfortunately, that text was immediately followed by a 2nd text: "Sorry, COVID test result was Positive".

Also unfortunately, that afternoon I realized I couldn't get warm. About the time I figured out another pair of socks wasn't going to help, the body aches started again and my fever was back. 

The next day we got email confirmation of the husband's Positive COVID 19 test. So I made another testing appointment with Pima County. The young lady who did the 2nd test was a bit more determined to get a really good sample - it still tickled but this one made my eyes water a bit. 

Yep, got the Positive test result the next day so I'm official. My best friend (the nurse) suspects I got the "Negative" test result because I hadn't had enough time to build up a "viral load" when I got tested the morning after my first fever (or that I caught COVID on top of a regular Flu). 

The husband has been doing pretty well on recovering. I appear to be lagging a week or so behind. I've been taking a lot of naps and watching the DVR stuff I've recorded but rarely get to watch. I still haven't lost the sense of taste or smell but I am regularly queasy and, as previously noted, my eyeballs hurt. Ok, even my hair hurt for a couple of days but it's improving. 

I feel cautiously....what? Optimistic? Lucky? Queasy?
{Yeah, I feel queasy.}
This thing can be profoundly nasty...and sneaky. I already thought I was getting over it once and I was Wrong. And COVID can have long term effects.
So...I'll just be cautious for now. 

Spring Cleaning...a little early

 You know how you feel when you clean out your closets or drawers? 

Nostalgic? {I remember when...}
Embarrassed? {Now, why did I buy that?}
Waffling on the keep or donate decision? Or the telling sound when you stretch a waistband to hear the elastic crinkle and expand never to shrink back again?
Satisfaction - as you view the closet with more space and the empty vehicle after you drop off the donations? 

I spent some time today cleaning up the blog links. {Yep, something I can do whilst sitting. My legs are less wobbly today but...}
A few things have been pulled off. Some are still under review (particularly blog and podcast links) but not a lot of radical changes. 
(Wow...and we're down to 2 yarn stores in Tucson. Am I missing any?)

I'm not planning on changing the background...I'm so in love with the rich, blue, fiber-y yumminess! But yeah, it was time do tidy up the blog and do a review. 

Some links are still on because they are still spiffy but not much has been posted to them recently...not unlike my blog. (OK, I think my blog is spiffy...at least occasionally)

Some are delightful "rabbit holes" that I tried very hard not to go down.
{Yes, Knitty.com, that would be YOU!!   Have you-all seen the current edition!?!?!}

Especially during our year of COVID, when checking on some the un-updated blogs I have to wonder if folks are OK. Have they just wandered away from blogging? Are they recovering? Were they taken from us like Cat Bordhi? {Lovely brilliant woman, there. She had so many gifts and shared so much with us.} Are they just distracted by life and not currently investing time in pulling thoughts together or getting pictures reviewed and posted. {guilty} Are they distracted by another social media platform (Twitter) and rarely taking the time to type up the long-version of their thoughts/adventures? {very guilty}

Yes, with our current stay-at-home world, you would think we would have more time for blogging.
{Insert quiet hysterical laughter here.}
Some of us have been working though all this craziness. Some folks have people to care for, entertain, or teach. Some folks are being creative and inspiring {Thank you!!} Some folks added to the foolishness on a grand, historic scale and they don't have a clue {Yes, 45, I mean you.} {Grrrrrrrrr}

Back to link-checking. Bear with me as I tweak the blog-look. I don't think it's time to "recycle" the blog just yet. But I'm looking forward to viewing my trimmed-down blog page with some satisfaction. 

Test Run

Howdy. Yep, I'm still here. Still able to type, wonder, comment, be ignorant, study, learn, revise my perspective, wonder some more...

Ok, half the challenge of writing a blog anymore is selecting a topic. 

There is soooooo much sh*... uh, stuff going on!?! 

So, before I type more on three different topics and then delete it...here's this week's current event in my life. 

I got to have my first COVID 19 test.       It tickled. 

It was preceded by the Husband coming home from work nearly a week ago - running a fever. I had him call out from work for the next day, gave him some food/meds, and made a run to the grocery store for quarantine food in case it was COVID.

Over the week, his work {slowly} made arrangements for him to get tested (next week) and I was not included in those arrangements.
OK. Fine. 

A couple of days after his fever appeared so did mine. I was inspired to get together with Pima County and get a COVID test. It was easily setup and accomplished (Thank you!!).
And it tickled. 

And the results were delivered the next day - Negative. 

So, I've been wearing masks and not going anywhere other than work/necessaries since, what, March 2020? I would have minor panic attacks at work because people were not taking the pandemic seriously. The fear has been there every day for the better part of a year. 
And the circle of the folks getting COVID is getting smaller and closer to us. It's no longer someone I know on line or the family of an acquaintance... now it's people I work with that are ill and the mother of one of my husband's best friends recently died from COVID. 

When I was at the grocery store after putting the fevered husband in bed, I tried not to hyperventilate into the extra layers of mask I was wearing. I kept thinking about the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of people that have died from COVID and how many more have long-term effects. 

Who will take care of the cats? Nikoli/Mikale & Simon/Shadow-Cat need to go together. Who would Gato-Kitty trust? 

I need to jot down a will so the cats and yarn will find a good home. Ah, the looms too.

Can't work on any gift-items in case I transfer the virus...

The self-dialog was acknowledging the fear but trying not to panic as...oooh...I found an excellent deal on cans of soup (.99 cents each if you buy 8!!). 

Does it matter what type of soup I get if we won't be able to taste it anyway? 

Can a text of who should get my Sewing Machine count as a will? 

Would anyone want the yarn stash if I die of COVID?

I watched over the husband and tried to keep him comfortable. I researched COVID, took temperatures, dispensed pills, kept a log, cooked, cleaned, slept on the couch and yes, we were now wearing masks in our house and trying not to pet the cats just in case.
Neither of us lost our sense of smell or taste. 
By the time I was sick-er and he was recovering, he started making me meals (Thank you!). 

Our fevers are done. We're still coughing and tired. I'll feel even better once his COVID test is done and comes back negative.  As a flu, it was average. As a focus of the fear for most of the last year, it was riveting. But the fear is still there. Vaccines are happening. But not yet for us. We're older but not that old. We are "essential" but not on the level of the many amazing people who save lives, care-take, clean, heal or teach.
{Apologies...I'm sure I'm leaving out other truly essential folks.}

And I'll be going back to work in the next day or so - wondering if the next selfish person who feels it's ok to come and breathe on me without a mask might bring COVID. 

Having just done the Test Run, I think we'll need more soup. 

Would a hug help?

Last night, as I inserted the last of those silly, charming, fun, and interesting videos and links into yesterday's blog post, I could hear that the News was on in the next room. Not good news, either.

The continuation of the global brutality and confounding violence, intolerance, and hate has been the top story for weeks now. Yes, I know, the top stories are always nasty, but I think it has been a lot worse lately.

I avoid watching the news. It gives me nightmares. If I can sleep at all. {sigh} I suspect it relates to being a bit too empathetic, a "fixer" {or wannabe fixer}, having a vivid imagination, and tending towards a "Lawful Good" D&D alignment. {Yes, even when I'm being serious my "geek" and odd sense of humor shows.}

The nightmares are definitely bleeding into every part of every day life.
Add to that the potential of my country electing a megalomaniac "reality" TV personality as our president and.....  
       ......      {Must remember to breathe...}

?
...
?

There has been a long pause in the typing.
I'm trying not to write up a tirade of "What the hell is going on?!?!?".

What it comes down to is this...I can't understand what is going on.
I didn't understand what was going on in December 2012.

The only thing I can do is try to help as I can and do the best I can in my tiny place in the world.
{Yes, this is me trying to dial down my personal panic, sadness and fear.}
I keep wondering if some compassion would have stopped these people from doing what they've done.
Would a hug help?
Would a lot of hugs help?
{Sigh}

Two more offerings:

These two videos show we are capable of doing better. Of being better.
Heck, that we've been better.
The vast majority of our lives are made up of small moments. Small decisions. Small gifts.
Perhaps the small day to day efforts can inspire change or the culmination of many small actions can result in something big and wonderful and heartful.

E-hugs. Many, many e-hugs.

"Video that will change your life. I have no words left."

"Arigato from Japan Earthquake Victims" 2011

Article Flashback and Pleasant Distractions

Ya know that "recovering work-aholic" phrase in the blog banner?

It's kind of a funny phrase, but in real life it has profound consequences. 

Ha - and that phrase "profound consequences" doesn't begin to explain. {sigh}

ANYWAY...I'm spending the break-time between the Spring and Summer semesters from the Fiber Arts Degree working on the many, many half-started projects/piles/tasks laying about my home. 

Yep, that is part of the "profound consequences". When you spend 85% of your life on work, prep for work, and just a little sleep before going back to work there's not a lot of time for much else.

This morning's to-do was a pile of the magazines in which I'd marked articles to be re-read or recipes to try, etc.  The intact magazines will go to Bookman's for credit trade. The magazines that I pull recipes/articles from will be recycled. 

In an Oprah magazine was a truly lovely, funny and poignant story: "What Betty Knows". 

I skimmed through it and the feelings it evoked when I originally read it washed over me. 

Because it was so amazing, I thought "Who can I share this with?". 

You perhaps?

I think it is worth a read. And a re-read. Oh - and you might need a tissue.  "What Betty Knows" by Monica Wood

The Burnout Flashback memories that opened this blog were inspired by another article in the same magazine. 

Years ago, I used to "joke" that I just cycled through levels of burnout. {wry grin/sigh}

I'd marked the page because I represented the later stages of burnout described in the article. I'd hoped the article might inspire some recovery. 

Life intervened (love of family, health, and unemployment) to inspire burnout recovery. I do think I am returning to the self I'm supposed to be and that is a very good thing. Much more pleasant.

Here is part of the original "Stay Cool" article on the Oprah website but it appears that CNN Living may have the full version by Martha Beck under "Ways to bring yourself back from burnout".

Deep breath. Here's some lighter stuff. 

More Good Earth Tea Bag Fob Wisdom: 

"To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am." Bernard M. Baruch 1870 - 1965 {Added grin - Mr. Baruch lived to be 95 years old!}

I recently discovered "Live from Daryl's House" on the Palladia channel. 

I'd seen some of Daryl Hall's lovely restored home on an episode of This Old House and I have appreciated his music a good portion of my life. I eventually went to take a look at his show and found I enjoyed the premise, music, conversation and setting. The gents in the band are amazing and Mr. Hall is an excellent host and musician.

I must confess many of the names of the guest stars in the program guide are unknown to me. But I'll explore more and we'll see if I might know their music. 

My current favorite episodes feature Cee Lo Green and Jason Mraz. Both gents were interesting, charming, respectful, and fun in their own way. Their interactions with Mr. Hall & Co. reflected their 

Well done!

Here's the video of "93 Million Miles" with Jason Mraz, Daryl Hall & Co.
{Pssst - the discussion of the inspiration for  "93 Million Miles" is especially nifty. Choose the "Dinner - Part 2" option at the bottom right of the video-play screen.}

I am fond of Cee Lo Green's clever "Forget You" but I've included "Bright Lights Bigger City"because  they rock this song on "Live from Daryl's House". 

Lastly, this is a current favorite: The heartful "I Won't Give Up" by Jason Mraz.

Hola! How goes your New Year?

Greetings and Salutations!
Welcome to a New Year!

What have you-all been up to? Fun stuff, I hope.

My apologies for dropping off the face of the blog when I completed my pledge to blog daily through December. Were you-all inspired to travel to any stores/sites to shop? Was I successful in my December Vicarious Shopping campaign?
{wry grin}

So, what have I been up to the last couple of months (when I wasn't setting up blogs)?

• Most recently, I have been finishing up some of my holiday to-do's. I finished and wove-in ends on a variety of fingerless Mitts for shipping and gifting. Some have been relegated to 2013 Christmas Gifts. {wry grin}  But I'll be ahead of the game next, uh, this year.
  (I have some pictures...I'll try to get 'em posted and you will be agog at the number of mitts created pretty much just in December. {Ok, well, I'm agog.})
• I've fallen behind on video podcasts but it's kind of fun to be able to go through several all at one time...no waiting for my next "visit", as it were. I've been trying to catch up on Single Handed Knits - with a side journey over to The Knit Girllls to view Mel from SHK appearing on the Knit Girllls video podcast along with hosts Leslie ("You don't call me Les") and Laura ("LaLa") and another guest, Diane aka "Knitables" (?) from where I don't know (I'll try to track her down).
• I have been listening to more audio podcasts (The Knitmore Girls, Cast On, Knitting Pipeline, CraftLit, and Writer's Almanac) although I'm still "living in the past" of most. {sigh}
• In Nov./Dec., I was a bit more present on Twitter (Where are the kitty-pictures, you ask? Yep, check the tweets. {That's a bit of a pun if you stretch it some... Cats...birds. Birds tweet...? Ok, moving on.}).
• I have walked on the Treadmill most every day but I did eat pretty much everything put in front of me the last two months (including some wicked-good baking I performed) so the weight-to-loss ratio is nil.
• I suspended my home-study of Algebra the last two... oh -three weeks. (The New Year is streaking by quickly). I'm plotting to test out of math {again} for the Fiber Arts degree. Apparently the rest of my General Studies degree from ages ago stands but the math "expires" so I'll have to test out of it again or take some math classes. (By the way, I currently favor the Khan Academy for my Algebra refresher
  {It's ok, I thought of "Star Trek II - Wrath of..." too.} ;-)
• I am being of more use to the Tucson Handweavers and Spinners guild (I'm working with the Raffle Basket co-chairs for the 2013 Fashion Show and Luncheon {Pssst - you don't have to be a guild-member to attend!!}) and have attended a couple of Weaving Study Group meetings (I feel like a High School kid sitting in on a University doctoral class - wow, these folks are talented!). 
• As previously noted, I did spend quite a bit of time exploring the Arizona Unemployment system, benefits, One Stop employment support classes, and some time exploring college options.
• The cats are feeling much more supervised. {wry grin}
• I am doing some minor, part-time work for friends (for which I am profoundly grateful) that offers me hope that I can still focus on school, bring in some funds to offset costs, work around the school schedule, and be of some use to the kind folks utilizing my skills (they seem pleased thus far!). 
• I have also been taking the Little Brother to a few eye Doctor appointments. He's doing very well and is busy in his life, work, and interests.
• A kind friend has taken me to some University of Arizona sporting events and a stellar UofA Music School performance.
  I have to say, the UofA Woman's Basketball team is amazing. No waiting for the ball to arrive on one end of the court - they press and work to get the ball the full length of the court. It was a really good game!
• I have not yet spent a great deal of time {ok, any time} happily "loitering" at my favored Yarn shops, but hope springs eternal. 

Ok, enough blathering updates. I'll sign off for now and plot some more blogs for the month. School starts soon and I'm very interested in the subjects and the school work-load.

Oh - and yes, I'm still smitten with The Piano Guys.
Here's a couple of their most recent videos.
The music is stellar and  the "MI" video is fun! (don't miss the out-takes at the end!!):

A little late, but still charming "We Three Kings":

Have a good day!!

Fair Question. Unfortunately, I don't know the answer.

Disclaimer...essentially no knitterly, craft or kitty content in this post. 
And to quote a certain podcaster, this post "may prove to be a bit controversial". 

I listened to the Sticks & String Podcast, Show 179, by David Reidy this morning. He is an "Australian bloke who knits" and Sticks and String is one of my favorite podcasts. Today's podcast contained an essay on a subject that has been much on my mind of late: the recent vicious shooting in Colorado at the "Dark Knight Rises" movie premier.

Mr. Reidy prefaced the podcast in Twitter as "may prove to be a bit controversial".
The dialog in my head on this shooting - and the other shootings that have occurred in the last two decades - is definitely controversial.
It was very interesting to hear a near "everyman" perspective of this shooting from another country.
And some of his comments paralleled some of the thoughts that had been circling in my mind.

I replied to his "Show is uploading" tweet with a Twitter version of "War and Peace" - a four part tweet series:

"(1of4) Well, that is the most well-considered/delivered "rant" I've ever heard. It echoes some of my sorrow & concerns. I was raised
(2of4) in a military, hunting & NRA-loyal family & I went thru a Firearms Safety course at a young age. Guns are not toys, not for
(3of4)power-tripping, &certainly not for murdering movie-goers,schoolchildren or guy who cut you off in traffic. Retaining our"Right
 (3of4) to bear arms"loses it's Revolutionary merit when faced with such ignorance, insanity & abuse. Apologies for the mini-rant."

Obviously I struggled but overcame the "short" comment premise of Twitter.
I'm not sure why I felt it was important to reply to his tweet/podcast - and, honestly, the Australian bloke certainly didn't deserve the tweet barrage. Perhaps I'm attempting to verbalize the internal discussion I've been considering for years. And now it appears to be continuing as a blog-post.

The preceding tweets and the following blog-comments are not an answer to the fair questions posed by Mr. Reidy.
It is not even an answer to the questions doing laps in my brain.
So - what is this blog post? I don't know. We'll see.

In my opinion, Americans do seem to have a fascination with guns. Does this relate back to the Revolutionary beginnings of our still relatively young country?
Is it representative of our desire for independence? Is it sourced in a real desire to ensure that if we have to overthrow a corrupt government that we have the weaponry to do that?
Does it have to do with the cultural fascination with the "bad boy"/tough-guy/gang/"cool" image that seems to go with the television/movies/linguistical changes that seem to be gaining ground in the average American mentality?

I stalled here as my brain ranged over a variety of concerns/cultural effects...instant gratification and quick fixes, the road rage that supposedly stems from a lack of control in a person's life, the economy and poor financial practices that have left people world-wide without funds, homes or jobs as well as the fear and additional violence and thievery that these changes have inspired.
The focus on "reality" TV and the pursuit of some for their 15-minutes of fame or extreme wealth.
Then there's the memory of the  policeman visiting my vandalism-damaged home years ago and his considered opinion that we are raising generations of sociopaths.
And I have to wonder if the physical distance of our social networks feeds that lack of humanity and consideration of the effects of a person's actions on fellow human beings.

Are people more crazy than decades past? Or do we just get to hear about it more because of our 24x7 media looking for more news to "sell"?
In our efforts to grow and be more accepting of people's foibles, are we overlooking obvious signs of insanity?
Are we becoming too desensitized to violence because of the constant bombardment in media?
Are the same percentage of people crazy but more easily dangerous because of the casual approach to serious weaponry available to the public?

In hindsight, people are asking Why.
Why wasn't there more security?
Why isn't there more gun control?
Why were these types of weapons available to these people?
Why is there so much violence in TV & movies & media?
Why didn't "anyone" notice this person was so obviously a danger to others?

Why????

I don't know WHY.

What kind of person plots to go to a movie theater to corner and shoot people? To shoot 6-year olds?

To shoot a congresswoman and other innocent souls at a grocery store? 

To enter a school with plans to kill classmates or random children and teachers? 

To blow up or fly planes into buildings with absolutely no regard for human life? 

Sociopaths? Chemical imbalance? Evil?
And obviously people don't need guns to do profound damage. 

Why? There are too many variables to provide a black and white, clear cut answer/solution.
I know that this type of lunatic shooting event does happen in other countries, but they seem to happen more often in my country. It shouldn't happen at all but that it seems to happen more in the United States of America, a "Superpower", the "Land of the Free" would indicate we could be doing some of our freedom a bit better. Where do we draw the line in preserving rights and preserving safety?

I wish I could discuss this with my Dad. He was a man of profound opinions, but he would pleasantly surprise me (I'm ashamed to say) with wisdom, kindness, and acceptance on topics about which I "expected" a certain type of reply. But he passed on decades ago.

So...where else to look for wisdom?
I'm afraid I have little faith in the media and for the most part, very little faith in our elected officials.
I believe many of our decisions are too self-oriented, short-sighted and are rarely truly made for the greater good. And if decisions are made to assist all (and not a particularly group of lobbyists) the selfish hue and cry from the American masses shames me.

I do think President Obama has a good head on his shoulders and comments are being made about reducing gun violence. I will ask some uncomfortable questions of my elected officials and watch the answers carefully. And I will continue to vote and do what I can in my very small corner of the world.
It doesn't seem like much, though.

So what is this blog post?
Just a rant? My worrying written down in a feeble attempt to purge some of the horror and fear collecting in my mind from these terrible attacks?
Acknowledgement that the "right to bear arms" perspective I was raised with simply cannot apply to every person or to every type of "arms".
Further acknowledgement that although there are many many amazing and good things about my country...but that there are improvements to be made and terrible things that must stop.

This is...many things. A blog. A debriefing. Questions - many questions. Wishes. Conscience. Grief. Even a little hope. But not much for answers.

"Life Happens" Continued: Chinese Curse or Klingon Proverb?

"May you live in interesting times".

This may be my favorite proverb. It seems to be applicable on both a personal and global level.
Although what I might like best about it would be that I attribute the source of this proverb to two cultures.

Primarily, it is considered to be a Chinese Proverb or Curse.
But I tend to favor the perspective that it is a Klingon Blessing.
{Yep, my geek is showing.}

I would also be in favor of having a slightly less interesting life.

Health. Important Stuff. 

My body seems to be trying to get my attention. And I don't blame it. 

The, uh, adventures of the last year have been interesting, educational, heartening, and, yes, stressful. 

So here's a very minor Soap Box moment. 

In the midst of heartbreak, family illness, life-in-general...please don't forget to take care of yourself. 

I know. You can laugh with me.... "Do as I say, not as I do" was a favored maxim of my mother's. 

I have not been totally neglecting myself, but the insomnia is back (coffee keeps me from falling asleep at my desk) and and I'm feeling my age (and my husband's age, and my brother's...and maybe my sisters). 

I need to do better for myself. And I'm working on it. 

The good news...the recent dental checkup was great. No cavities and the stress didn't wreak any real havoc on my teeth. 

Ok, the not as good news...the annual mammogram indicated there was something to check out. 

A biopsy indicates there is no cancer but there is stuff that can become cancerous and that will need to come out in the next few months. I actually went through something similar to this on the other side a few years ago.

I'm taking the new to-be-removed stuff as a broad hint that I REALLLLLY need to do better for myself. {i.e. This hint is the equivalent of getting smacked upside the head. With a 2x4.}

Friends reading this will be shaking their heads and agreeing. Several can legitimately comment that they've been worried about me and that "It's about time I take better care of myself".
Folks that don't know me as well might feel a "could do better for myself" kinship.
Many of us tend to put off our sleep, health, personal wants for work, family, the to-do list...you know how it works.

So, I'll have the could-become-cancer stuff removed and we'll hope that what was left after the biopsy is also not cancerous.

And I will plot to pursue the Klingon Blessing with my preferences of "interesting times".

• Time invested in more sleep so I can achieve better health with more time and energy for exercise, yoga, stretching, hiking. I'd like to take up Pilates again. 
• The new-new work thing will be challenging. I am a known workaholic. I'm really good at it too. However, the recent healing time spent with my little brother did evoke a profound shift in my priorities. I'm hoping I can build on that shift and apply reasonable boundaries to my significant work ethic. 
• The best "Interesting Times" for me relate to my fibre hobbies. More knitting, weaving, & quilting. 

The challenge of my directing the Klingon Blessing...is actually doing it. 

I've been smacked upside the head. Several times. I witnessed the Little Brother's recovery first hand. 

That's some pretty good incentive. 

I'm open to suggestions.

In the mean time, I'm for bed. Pleasant dreams and good health to you all. 

Hope your 4th of July is fun, safe, and Interesting. 

(As per the Yarn Harlot's tweet - If your Canadian, enjoy the round-the-clock showings of "Independence Day" inspired by our holiday.) {wry grin}

September 11th, 2001 - Where were you?

"A date which will live in infamy." President Franklin D. Roosevelt said those words on December 8th, 1941.

The phrase above came to mind when I tried to think about what I wanted to say today.
Today - September 11, 2011.

It's been 10 years. A decade.

The Twin Towers.

        American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175. 

The Pentagon. 

        American Airlines Flight 77. 

The attack stopped by the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93 in the woods of Pennsylvania.

I think the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, are this generation's "Pearl Harbor".

Horrific, surreal, tragic, heroic, poignant, unbelievable, shocking, educational, cruel, life-altering, displays of great hate and greater love..the start of another version of a "World" war. 

Where was I on the morning of September 11, 2001? 

I was waiting for a friend to to meet me for coffee at the Bristol Double-Decker coffee bus.
I had the week off with my husband for his birthday.
I had no idea what was happening. My friend was late and that was unusual.
I called her and she tried to tell me what was happening. I heard something about a plane flying into a building. There had been a few recent instances of small aircraft flying into buildings - it had even happened in Tucson.
I thought that was what she was talking about.

When I began to comprehend a little more of what she was saying - I presumed it was an accident of some sort. I still had no idea of the scope of what was happening.
She definitely wasn't coming for coffee and I definitely felt the need to head for home; calling my husband on the way.
My call woke him and he turned on the TV at my urging.

When I got home, he gave me a little more info...and we watched in disbelief as the towers burned and then collapsed. They collapsed. Imploded. That possibility never occurred to us as we watched the news reports. The cloud of debris looked like a pyroclastic flow rolling through the city.
It was like watching a movie - but with the certain knowledge that it was truly happening...and right then. And that knowledge included the comprehension that people's lives had ended - there - as I stared at a TV screen here.

The memories continue to surface as I see the a variety of television shows and specials reviewing the timeline of that day a decade ago.

My best friend was nearly deployed as medical/psych support. She stayed here as part of our local emergency services to keep watch over us. However, some of her friends and colleagues travelled across the country to help at Ground Zero.

We "civilian"-types, sent funds, stuffed animals, supplies, and wishes and prayers. Anything we could think of to "help".

I don't believe I'd learned how to knit yet, back in 2001.
I didn't listen to podcasts or read blogs.
I didn't know Heather Ordover then - but now I think of her on this day. She was teaching school in New York City on September 11th.  She's an amazing soul. Her 9/11 story is here.

The scope of what happened is still mind boggling.

I would like to ask...
To anyone who was around in December, 1941: Did 9/11 bring back memories and feelings of Pearl Harbor?
And...
Where were you the morning of September 11, 2001?