Counting the days

It was three years ago today that I started my little blog. For three years and through 987 posts, I've been anesthetizing you by sharing the daily exploits of a boring hospice nurse who just so happens to knit. There is no charge for this service. I do this out of love. After all, conscious sedation is one of my specialties.

Though this will post on Tuesday, I wrote it on Monday. Still feeling hungover from last week, I clocked into work remotely and realized when I hung up the phone, I'd pushed the code to clock out instead of into work. This mistake may have been wishful thinking, but inadvertently, I'd created a monster which will perpetuate itself without correction and now I will have to involve my boss because I can't fix my own mistake. Sheesh. Did I mention it's only Monday? When I thought about the whole thing, I realized I likely didn't clock out Saturday at 0h two hundred and since the pay period ended Saturday night, I really messed things up. It should take at least 2 pay periods to fix my sloppy time keeping skills. Ugh.

I need that vacation that's coming soon, don't you agree? I'm counting down the days (32 to be exact) on this beautiful Australian calender that Ruth sent me (see top photo). I like looking at it because when I see photos like that, I can pretend I'm there and it's likely warmer than here. Much warmer. The temperatures here are still in the 20s and we're to get a little snow today. I'll not despair as the countdown to Ground Hog's Day is just a few short weeks away. Whatever may happen, the days are getting longer and sooner or later, this frigid weather will go away.


To help myself feel better, I temporarily set aside the second mitten (unfinished) and cast on, Pimpelliese, a little something I think will be quite special when done. I'm using Blue Ridge Yarns Kaleidoscope in the Mossy Hollow colorway. Instantly, I was transported to spring--never mind that I ripped the first repeat out 3 times before I got it right. The colors are perfect for spring and the yarn came from Virginia. I'd been waiting for the right project to come along for this yarn and last night, there it was right before my eyes. I was helpless in the process. A clever little pattern, it begins with only 7 stitches and grows in width on one side of the marker. The other side of the marker is the border which helps me because I don't have to add it at the end. It'll all be finished at the same time. Done in garter stitch, there are no purl stitches--only knit stitches, yarn overs and decreases.


Lastly, I thought you'd like a word or two about Leo. He's been so good lately and I'm truly hoping his winning streak will continue. There have been some break-ins in the neighborhood and we had a discussion that we'd feel better if the dog wasn't crated. We started with short little trips and on Friday, he was on his own for most of the night. Nothing was chewed, no food missing, no messes to come home and clean. In short, he was very successful and I'm so happy for him. Not that he minds his crate, because he doesn't; it's just that he seems happier loose and able to stretch out on the sofa.


Here he is trying to conquer his desire to shred the paper on the floor and balance that with his desire to please me by paying attention when I tell him no. I won. So did he. We were both pleased with the outcome. He's been a welcome and refreshing addition to our little family and I'm thrilled he's adapted so well.

I'd like to say thanks to everyone who reads and to all of you who have become long distance friends and pen pals. I never imagined how much fun writing a blog and reading all of yours could be and can say that this is definitely an entertaining part of my life.


Oh... And I'm giving away a little something as is my tradition on my blogiversary. Leave a comment by Friday night at midnight and win a fabulous hank of my handspun yarn (I think it's BFL) in the Sangria colorway that my friend Sarah dyes so beautifully. This will be awarded by random selection. Don't knit? Leave your comment and I'll make you a hat or cowl to help ward off what's left of winter's chill.

Twenty Questions

WANNA PLAY?

Win this beautiful shawl
(yours will be black)

About a year ago, I began toying with the idea of starting a blog. In a not so auspicious manner, I launched that blog on January 5th, 2008. Along the way, I've gotten back in touch with my creative side. I've had opportunities to meet others and I think I've made some new friends. How nice is that? Originally, I began this quest to learn to write creatively. I wanted to chronicle my life as a urology nurse in a job that gave me and my friends A & N a bazillion laughs. There was wine involved when we dreamt up this hair-brained idea. If I tell you two of us were blond at the time, would that explain it better? Anyways, that's the reason I started my own little website but, I've written very little about that past life on these pages. I'm saving those for a rainy day. It's still a thought because I can see a book about that job leading to a screenplay and movie glory. If you find yourself wondering just what kind of work environment that was, think the staff of Grey's Anatomy meets Dynasty, Sex in The City and The Sopranos and that should be enough to clue you in on just how much fun we had. Going in each day to see drama unfold was spectator sport of the best kind. It was a hundred times better than watching General Hospital. One thing I've learned in this past year is that writing is hard work and punctuation is a pain in the arse. I know now that I'll need a real writer to partner with me if I ever want to write that book.

When I first began reading other bloggers, one of my favorites did a get to know me post on the occasion of her blogiversary. She posed questions from past posts and her readers had to look back through her archives to find the answers. In that way, I read her entire archive; it was no easy feat since she posts just about every single day. It was good reading though. Wisely, I try not to fall behind when reading her blog.

Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, in that same manner, I'm going to take her idea and turn it into a treasure hunt. There will be a prize-hot off my needles for the winner: My Clapotis shawl.

Without further ado, here are the rules:

1. Answer the treasure hunt questions correctly but don't post them here.
   
2. EMAIL your answers to me by January 3rd to rudeek45atgmaildotcom (just substitute @ for at and a . for dot)
3. The winner of the hunt will be announced on my blogiversary, January 5th, 2009.
4. In the event of a tie, my youngest child will pull the winner's name from a hand knit hat. If we are quick enough to read it before she eats it, we'll have a winner.
5. Nobody will be excluded including those with far off zip codes and those who usually just lurk and never don't always comment. This wrap with its dropped stitches, is ideal for anyplace. Even people in warm climes would like it-especially while in air conditioning. You are all welcome to enter this contest.
6. When all is said and done, I'd love a picture of the winner-wrapped all cozy and snug in Clapotis.
   

All this reading won't be easy with the holidays and such so I've given you a 3 week head start. Yes, reading what I've written can be considered painful at times, especially the early posts. But then, you don't want something for nothing, do you? Well, sure you do, but you can't always get what you want-why should I be the one to change that reality? Besides, it's taken many hours, several months and six skeins of yarn to finish Clapotis. I think the winner should have to put forth a wee bit of effort into winning the prize. Without further fuss, here it is, my first annual treasure hunt.

Clapotis Treasure Hunt

What is the name of the house I like to visit in Virginia?

Which picture on this post do you think gets the most google search hits?
(ya gotta guess-it's not the Hello Kitty microscope)

I was in a war this year. Which one?

What kind of buttons did I put on the baby sweater I knit?

What kind of vacuum cleaner do I own? I love it so much, I wrote it a rather steamy letter.

I met a lady through my blog who comes from Pennsylvania. What brought us together?

Who gave me Sacrament of the Sick this year?

What is the recipe for putting annoying people on ice?

What book was I reading when I went into labor with my oldest child?

I've been to court twice in the past year. Why?

What did I name my handbag?

What did I name the dog I tried to rescue? (damn dog doesn't count)

What is the name of my friend Jeanne's blog?

What is my mother's first name? (mom is not an option)

Why is Stinkerbell McBookeater wanted- what was her crime?

Can you name one blogger I've knit for (there are two)?

What did my husband get me for my birthday?

Can you name 3 people who reside in the Insane Asylum?

What name did my new boss mistakenly give me?

Although many are worthy, which group of Swedish men do I adore most?

Now venture forth (really back) and win yourself a beautiful shawl. It is so warm and snugglie. At present, there are a handful of rows to finish. I'll post a picture of the goal of this treasure hunt when it's all done.