Look, we made the funny papers! Pearls Before Swine is one of my favorite comics. (And yes, I read the comics first each morning). Rat is so cynical and Pig is so simple. And sweet. I used to read the news first and then I went to a seminar and the speaker said that he liked to start his day with a smile so he read the comics first. That made so much sense to me that I now reach for the comics first and then if I have time I read the "hard news". It never hurts to laugh in the morning.

Today is the day I go to the endodontist and have the root canal retreated. I didn't sleep well last night, too nervous I guess. Today I woke up with raging allergy symptoms. I have medicated them as best as I can and now I just have to wait for the meds to work. My tooth hurts which is a good thing. At times over the weekend when it wasn't hurting, I had the thought that I could cancel the whole thing and just forget it. Not the smartest idea but appealing nonetheless. Today it's not a choice.

I kept working on the Opal sock and turned the heel last night. I had forgotten that I used Opal for another pair of socks and really like them now. It does bloom when washed so I'm going to finish them. The pattern is pretty but like all lace, is hard to appreciate until you stretch it out.

Have a good Tuesday. I'll be at the dentist if anyone needs me.

This is a pattern I've wanted to try for a while and some yarn that I had in the stash (or boodle if you prefer). It's an Opal yarn, I forget the color but it's white with little bits of blues and purples randomly placed on the yarn. The pattern is Snowflake socks from the departed Magknits. (I don't know if it ended up somewhere else.) These are the laciest socks I've ever done and they're fairly easy. My problem is that there is an 12 row repeat and the rows are just similar/different enough that I can't easily remember it and have to keep looking at the directions. I am not enjoying the pattern, though.

As I was walking down the street toward work this morning, I realized that I don't enjoy knitting the pattern and I'm not sure I like the way it looks. I have 2/3 of the cuff done and would hate to rip out all that work but I knit for pleasure and it's not giving me pleasure. I'm going to let it sit for a few days while I try to figure out why I don't like it (it looks pretty enough, maybe it's too thin). In the meantime, I have finished one of the Reims pattern socks and started sock number two. I'm looking forward to finishing all the holiday gift knitting so I can go back to the Wildflowers shawl and finish the edging.

I had a good pj day yesterday. I lost some of it when I fell soundly asleep on the couch with knitting needles in my hand. When I woke up, I was disoriented and out of sorts for a bit so I know I was deeply asleep.

My plan is to work all day and go home and put dinner in the oven (meatloaf and roasted potatoes) and then take a short spin on the bike and then finish up the dinner and relax. I figure I need a routine so I get used to riding the bike before the weather gets too cold. I'd like to be able to ride a little distance and not feel like I'm going to fall over when I get off.

It's Columbus Day here in the US. It's a federal holiday which means no mail, no recycling pick up, and for lots of people, no work. The train was empty this morning. Sigh. As the powers-that-be remind us frequently, we are a healthcare institution and not entitled to every little holiday as people may need us.

Well, I'm off to check the phone messages and see if anyone needs me.

One of the tough things for me for blogtoberfest is not coming up with things to say (even though sometimes I know they are inane). It's having to turn on the computer on the weekends. I often don't use the machine on Saturday or Sunday. I prefer to spend my time with my mp3 player and my spinning wheel or knitting or (gasp!) my family. This has led me to do quick posts in the morning and then I can turn off the technology and go about my day.

Today is going to be a pajama day. I may actually put on sweatpants but it will be a pj day in spirit. I feel the need to relax and indulge since yesterday I cleaned, did laundry and did the grocery shopping. The weather is glorious and I may take the wheel outside and sit in the sunshine and spin. If the mosquitos (which have been horrendous this year) don't eat me alive.

So, I'll leave you with an interesting link: postsecret. I always assume that everyone knows more about what's on the internet than I do. This is probably because my family delights in reminding me I am a technology dinosaur. Postsecret is a site that Emily led me to about a year ago. It started with a man, Frank, who passed out blank post cards and asked people to write a secret down. It had to be something that no one else knows and it had to be true. The response was overwhelming. He has received millions of cards in the few years he has been doing this. There are several books of postcard secrets and a website where he posts some each Sunday. If you go there, I am warning you. Some of the secrets are heartbreaking. Some are mean and bitchy and some are heartwarming. But they're always interesting and so very human. If you already knew about it, I'm not surprised, you all are a pretty savvy lot, enjoy. If you didn't, go try it out. See how many secrets you share with others.

Have a happy Sunday.

Oh, and the bicycle for exercise is not going to work if I ride it to the store for ice cream and whipped cream! But the resulting banana splits were delicious.

Although my birthday is not for another month, yesterday Pk and I went out and bought my birthday present. Introducing my new bike. I haven't figured out what her name is. I guess we don't know each other well enough for her to tell me, yet.

I went out looking for a pink bike but it became quickly clear that the color was the least important part of the bike. Instead of looking for beauty, I got comfort. Literally. It's what is called a 'comfort bike'. The seat is wide to accomodate my wide self and it has shock absorbers to help keep the ride comfortable. And the handle bars are not flat so I have to lean way over. I was afraid that would hurt my back and I figured if it hurt to ride, I wouldn't do it.




And I added some fashion accessories. Like some blue sparkle lights that are motion activated and blink when I ride. They're really only partly fashionable and partly safety. I also have a light on the front. Then I have my favorite part, the lovely pink pinwheel streamers.

They spin around as I ride. Oh, yes and a helmet. It's the law in NJ for children under the age of 14 to wear a helmet but it just makes good sense to me. I kinda value my head and if I fall off the bike or get hit it might make a difference. And a bell. I love bells.

I haven't ridden a bike in over 35 years and was a little nervous but it felt wonderful to be zooming (well, maybe not zooming) along! I remembered how much I loved my bike when I was a kid. And then I got off and my legs felt like rubber bands. Talk about out of shape. It's going to take lots of short rides to get some muscle back in my legs and to regain stamina. I think I might have found exercise that will help me be healthier and I'll enjoy at the same time. Pk likes to ride, too but he's been riding a lot longer and he'll have to have some patience with me until I catch up.

Last night we went out for dinner for our anniversary to a cuban restaurant situated in a large old house. The atmosphere was lovely, all oranges and yellows and dark woods. The food was meh. Pk ordered paella and thought the chicken was overcooked and the scallops were so miniscule that in the dim light, he thought they were kernels of corn! I had chicken in a citrus sauce that was also rather overcooked. Tasty but over done. We had a good time anyway. It doesn't really matter where we eat, it's the company that's important.

Bells and Georgie came up with the word transform for today's blogtoberfest. I love the word transform. It holds a world of possibilities in those letters. In my field (mental health), we are transforming a system of "treatment" into a system of "recovery". Much more positive and life affirming.

In my life, I am trying to transform my soft, nearly 51 year old body into a somewhat healthier one. I am trying to eat less/better and now I will be getting more exercise. That can only be good.

Have a good and safe Saturday.

Today is my and Pk's wedding anniversary. 27 years. More than half my life spent with the same person. And never once have I regretted it. No, we're not perfect but it's the realization that we are not that makes things work. I believe that you can have more than one love in your life and I know lots of people who found love the second (or third) time around but I wonder if it would be possible to feel the same level of affection/closeness/connectedness to someone I met at this stage of my life. Pk and I have grown up together. We were 23 when we got married and while legally adults, we were so young. But we got to learn together. And boy, did we learn. Some lessons were harder than others. We are still not good savers. We are still rather impulsive. We like to laugh and we do it several times each day. We both like bad horror movies (especially when zombies are involved) and enjoy good books. We both have found hobbies that are fulfilling and we can do separately and then share with each other. (I am learning far more about woodworking tools than I care to know and Pk shocked me at the sheep show when he said "look, they have drum carders there"). We both like comic books and the humor section of the bookstore is the first place we go. Neither of us likes brussel sprouts or liver. And we love our children to distraction.

For better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.

Vows we took all those years ago and they still resonate. He still makes my heart beat faster and brings a smile to my face faster than anyone else on earth. The emails that arrive at work with "to the most beautiful woman in the world" in the subject line, make my whole day. I am a very lucky woman and I know it.



BTW, on Tuesday I am having the root canal "re-treated". I think this means it is being re-rooted. Needless to say, I am filled with joy and excitement at the prospect. The dentist rightly says that if I don't deal with the cause and just keep throwing antibiotics at it, it won't get better. Knowing she's right doesn't make the dread any less. In my mind, root canals were one time forever deals. Evidently, I was wrong. Bones shrink with age and things shift around. Who knew? Then a week later, she gets to go back in and finish it off with a new post. And the fun just keeps coming.

It's Thursday morning and I woke up with a toothache. Well, I went to bed with a vague achey feeling in the tooth that has no nerves (because of the root canal) but I ignored it. I'm learning that as I get older, something always feels vaguely unsettled. This morning I bit down and owww.

Now I'm waiting for the dentist to call me back. I probably should have explained to her that I have had several infections over the past few years (two were MRSA and required hospitalization for a week at a time for IV antibiotics and surgery) and I tend to get nasty infections. I think the antibiotic she prescribed was not strong enough and not of long enough duration. I hate the thought of starting another round of medicine but I hate the thought of losing my jaw bone to an infection even more.

I have decided to keep the current pair of socks I am knitting for myself. I am loving the pattern and the intended recipient is "meh" about it so they will be mine. Like that is a hardship. I like the colors and I like the pattern. The bamboo/wool blend will only get softer once they're washed. This is not a stretchy pattern nor does it race along. I wonder why some patterns seem to fly off the needles and some leisurely mosey along. I already have something else in mind for gift giving so it's all good.

Oh, and I knew I liked Brigitte Bardot for a reason (not because she could act). She was quoted as saying that Sarah Palin was saying things that were "so disconcertingly stupid that she is an insult to women". Gotta love people who just put their thoughts right out there.

Nothing profound today. Too many thoughts of the dentist poking around saying "just a little pinch...."

ETA: I've tried several times to break up the preceding paragraph to make it easier to read but blogger seems to think it knows best. Sorry.

The voting issue is an interesting one. I don't think I'd mind having compulsory voting (we have compulsory car insurance and registration and compulsory military registration) if I had the option of voting for "none of the above". This campaign has me in a quandry. I had hoped by now to have a clear favorite but it is indeed the lesser of two evils for me. I know there are fervent Obama supporters out there and I wish I felt the fire but I don't. He's vaguely frightening to me but not as frightening as John McCain. I may, as Amy put it, "spit in the wind" and use a write in vote. At least then I can live with my conscience.

We were on a later train this morning and it was more crowded. It gave me a chance to "people watch". I noticed that most people had looks of intense concentration on their faces (maybe they were solving quadratic equations in their heads) or maybe they were frowning or just not looking forward to their day. No one had a smile. No one looked the least bit happy and it was a beautiful fall morning. It made me distinctly conscious of my own expression. I try to make an effort to keep a pleasant expression on my face. (This may be why people talk to me while I am waiting in lines.) Now, I am not ecstatic about going to work. I would much rather spend my day at home playing with my toys or just sleeping in but it's not all that bad. Not bad enough to walk around with a cloud on my face all day. Goal for today: Be aware of my expression as I go through the day.

Here is a detail shot of the red felt bag. This is a wooden closure that I found at the sheep show and it fits the style perfectly. The straps have the polka dot lining on one side and red felt on the other. I'll see the young woman next week so I'll give it to her then. I have hung the painting up in a discrete place in my office. It's an abstract of a sitting nude. There is the suggestion of a breast but it is so abstract that it's really just a suggestion. Still, there are those who would be offended so it is not in full view of everyone who comes into the office.

Day 8 of blogtoberfest and it's not as difficult as I thought. Although maybe I shouldn't say that aloud. I am finding that I can blather on about just about anything.......