X-Ray Vision

I had my first follow-up appointment with the surgeon this morning. He unwrapped all the dressings and I got to see my gruesomeness in person for the first time. It's actually kinda cool, and healing very well, so all is good.

I have a long scar, about 3-4 inches, down across the front of my knee (a little to the interior side), and 4 smaller incisions around the knee where, assumedly, he used probes and junk. He removed the staples from the smaller incisions and sent us home with a staple remover so Mike can do the rest next week (ew!) It hurts a little, but it feels good, mentally, to get the staples out.

Note to self: take a pain pill about 1/2 hour before letting Mike attack those staples!!!!

I wish we had our scanner set up. I've got copies of my X-rays from today that show the metal plate and 7 screws. Holey moley, Batman! It's surreal to think it's actually in my leg! As soon as I get them digitized, be assured I will share them with my loyal readers!

So I got home from that trip (getting in and out of the house with Mike pushing the chair and navigating our ramp), and was totally exhausted. I had a very light lunch and basically passed out in my recliner for 1.5 hours until the physical therapist came. This new guy is named Tony, and he was very nice and encouraging like the others have been.

My assignments: thigh/bun crunches, straight leg lifts (right leg still too heavy to do this, but I'm working on it), and what I'm calling body lifts (sitting on edge of wheel chair, arms bent back to arms of chair and lifting up butt using shoulders/back), as well as walking with walker a few steps further each day. Tony says to get up and "walk" every 4-5 hours as possible.

I am now able to get in and out of my chair independently again, get to and from the potty alone, and can navigate about 20 steps and turn around to get back with the walker. Not bad, really, just a week after surgery. My goal these next few days is to get the guest bed cleaned off and start trying to sleep in there at night. We'll see. Mike is VERY tired from taking care of me, and cleaning is not his gifting. I think I'm going to have to rely on some of my GF's and my sister for this!

What I'm thankful for:

• First, last and always, I'm thankful for my wonderful, caring, compassionate husband. He is such a great guy and is doing so much to assure my comfort, my quality of life and my peace of mind. He is even dealing with my crying jags with amazing fortitude. I am having fewer and fewer, but when they come they shock us both.
• My dear kiddo, Simon - he has no idea how precious those hugs are, and how much Dad and I both appreciate all that he's doing to help out around here.
  
• Friends and family (especially Mom and Dad and MIL and FIL and sister and brother(well, brother's gf writes and calls -lol)) who check in often, by phone, email, twitter and other means
• People who I know are praying for me - those prayers are working because my mind and soul feel very peaceful most of the time (not really my M.O.)
• Already being able to go longer periods of time between pain pills (and yes, I am staying ahead of the pain - I promise!)
• A great surgeon - I have so much confidence in him, and I feel like he did a great job on my leg so far, and is giving good advice for the knee-fixing to come.
  
• Samwise and Rosie - proof, to me, that it is true that pets can provide healing juju. Sammy has been sleeping on top of me every night I've been home, keeping me warm and letting me know I'm not alone.
  
• God - I know he didn't cause this, but I do believe that he can and will use this to strengthen me and help me grow up again, which is pretty cool.

Sorry I don't have any illustrations, again, today! I will work hard to figure out how to get some for next time . . . and I actually knit a few rounds on the socks I've got going, so a knitting update may be forthcoming.

It's supposed to snow here again tomorrow - be careful on the ice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Physical Therapy

The physical therapist came out today.

She had a lot of paperwork/computer data entry to do since it was my first visit, but the time went really well.

She showed me how to take off the knee immobilizer and adjust all the wrappings, which is great. Knee braces and stuff tend to slip down the leg every time you move or stand or anything, so it felt great to get it all adjusted and to know that I can do it again anytime (with help).

We also went through the basics of what I have to do to get up and go to the bathroom, and then get back into my chair. Then she gave me some exercises to help build my leg muscles, my upper body muscles and so forth. Just a few things that don't require me standing but will still prepare me to be able to move around better.

She was extremely encouraging and positive, not to mention helpful. I even learned how to scoot from my recliner to my wheelchair without standing! I doubt I'll need to use it much, because it involves removing one of the wheelchair arms, and it is frankly just easier to stand on one leg and pivot, but it is still cool.

I will probably get about 2 visits a week from a PT, sometimes less if there's no more to learn before getting more freedom from the surgeon. As we move along, getting more freedoms will allow me to do more, of course . . . and the PTs will adjust what they ask of me as those other parameters change.

I'm tired tonight, but I'm feeling pretty good about things, and I'm feeling very blessed. Thank you all for keeping in touch, and for your support, encouragement and prayers.

We'll now return you to your regularly scheduled recliner

Hi honey, I'm home! Mike brought me home from the hosp yesterday at around 5:30 or so. We drove through the pharmacy on the way, but (thankfully) I already had the meds I needed to last til today. Mike will go to the store this morning for the rest of what I'll need.

It's so nice to be back in my recliner - so much better than that bed! Admittedly, that call button was pretty nice, but here at home, when someone responds, it's quicker and it can even include a kiss or a hug! yay!

I've not felt like knitting for a few days, but I might get back to it today. We'll just have to see if I can stay awake long enough. :-)

Pain - under control most of the time.
Leg - awkward and heavy
Chair - so very comfortable
TV - better than at hospital
Food - better quality but less variety . . . but more controllable
Company - love being home with Mike, Si and the cats!!!!!!!!!!!
Phone - able to take calls again . . . :-)

Dearest Husband!

DH was just here, helped me wash my hair, held my hand and talked for a long time, comforting one another. He's a great guy, and it's really cool that he understands how much it helps to have clean hair!

Thank you all for your kind, supportive comments and stuff. At this point I don't really need/want visitors, though. With all the Dr.s and techs and other people who work here, I get no sleep as it is. Once I'm home I'll put out the call for visitors - I promise!

Thanks to Nick, I'll have a wheelchair ramp at my house tomorrow afternoon (he's handy like that!), so I'll be going home again! Yay!

For now - it's naptime! Washing your hair can really wear a person out!

Prez Day

Very tired today, but seem to have turned the corner a little on the pain. In other words, it's a little better today than yesterday. I'm enjoying some music today, washed up this morning (hair still gross), and feeling like maybe I can make it. Mostly I'm just tired. Seems like everytime I get to dozing, someone comes in, the phone rings or something. Please don't take it personally, but I think I'm going to turn off my phone for a while.

Had a bad nurse yesterday - she was awful! - and I think that made my emotional state even worse. Today I have great folks again, and everything looks/feels better. Still in pain, but taking it one hour at a time. Not thinking further into the future than just getting home.

It's the little things that make a huge difference:

• Simon drew me a great forest scene on the whiteboard in my room, which is really sweet.
• a nurse's assistant who is pro-active (do you need more ice in your cup?)
• someone who thinks to pull my hosp gown closed in the back, giving me some sense of dignity and privacy
• a smile from the dr, understanding that the pain sucks
• being able to adjust my bad leg on my own . . . a little
• washing my hands at the sink
• sunshine outside the window
• turning the TV off
• planning what I'll write in my letter to the hosp. about that bad nurse yesterday who rolled her eyes when I said I was in pain

Just about everyone here has been really great. Don't you worry, folks, this will eventually be over.

Creative Post Title

I was going to try to write a limerick, but the pain meds have taken over and my rhyming facilities have diminished, so you're going to just have to settle for a quick list update.

• The pain seems worser today than yesterday. Taking more meds, slowing down my mobility rehab, and sleeping more.
• I'm turning down visits from just about everyone today because I think I need the rest. Also the narcotics make me really uncontrollably weepy, and it's ridiculous to try to carry on a conversation under these conditions.
• I finished my simple knitting project and I don't feel like starting something new at the moment. (How is THAT for an indicator of where I am at the moment?)
• I know this will improve, but at the moment I just feel sucky.
• Whoever invented the ice-water-circulation-knee-brace-thingamajiggy should be given the Nobel Prize.
• Real pudding and real jell-o and real popsicles (with sugar!) are totally delicious, and I believe that they will actually help my boo-boos heal faster.

That's all for now - it's naptime again.

Post-Op Playlist

Good Stuff:

• friends have been so kind - so encouraging - emails, FB notes, flowers, tweets - thank you all so much
• Hubby and Son are both wonderful, kind, loving, the best, really!
  
• surgery is done, bone is repaired (screws and a plate)
• pain is under control, as long as I don't move much
  
• got up already! can hobble across the room, even . .. with the walker
• my surgeon (a.k.a. Dr. Cajones) is fabbo
• the nurses and the assistants are all fantastic - excellent customer service from everyone so far
• my PT was way fun and inspiring and got me up and moving, Bless him
• this wifi at the hosp is amazing - what a blessing to be able to be online!
• good music through blip.fm (Chuck Mangione at the moment)
• sunshine coming in the window - looks beautiful!
• phone calls from Mom, sister, MIL . . . and friends - yay!
• new issue of Interweave Knits came in mail yesterday and DH brought it to me!
  

Bad Stuff:

• nearly all the ligaments in my knee are torn, and I will need more surgery once the bone is healed - maybe even a knee replacement
• pain still hurts - go figure
• I hate the way the pain meds affect my brain. . . but I guess that's the point of what they're supposed to do, right? Sigh
• our home still has no power - Mike and Si went to a hotel last night, and might need to hotel until Sunday!

Isn't it cool how the good stuff outweighs the bad? God is good.

Black ice, however, is evil. My buddy, JB, declares a word of the day on twitter every day, and today's word is EVIL. This inspired me to write the following poem for Friday, the day before Valentine's Day . . . surely you'll figure out how this all connects (you're a smart bunch).



POETRY FRIDAY!

E is for the exit lines you gave me
V is for the very vicious pain
I is for the injuries to my knee, and
L is for the limping once again

Oh yea, breathing

I didn't mention - my chest X-ray did show a little spot of what might be the beginnings of pneumonia. Seriously? So I'm getting antibiotics for that . . .and I have a cool breathing thing - some incentive breath-something-or-other. Blah. Cough! Thing is, my lungs already feel better. Sigh.

So - icing on the cake for my DH? we have no power at our house. Wind messed it up somehow, and there's about 4 houses in our neighborhood w/o power, including ours. Like we needed more stress!?!?!?!? Pray for DH - handling the household/simon/no power/me in hosp. He's taking the next 2 days off work, which is good for him. I'm encouraging him to spend some of this time just taking care of himself . He needs regular alone-time to stay sane.

3 Beautiful Things (and 2 bonus Things):

1. A fun, relaxed nurse on duty, willing to laugh with me and bring me graham crackers . . . and who put my cranberry juice in an actual cup with ICE! instead of just bringing me those little cupthings with foil lids that always spill.
   
2. The smiles of my DH and DS as they brought me my laptop so I can use my WIFI here!
3. Cable TV in the room that allows me to watch Top Chef and Alton Brown's Good Eats.
4. Dr. Cojones (not his real name) working extra time tomorrow to do my surgery as soon as possible.
5. Knowing that I have lots of people praying for me/thinking of me/caring.

BTW - we have 3 tickets to see the Tannehill Weavers Friday night. I'm encouraging DH and DS to go, but they might have an extra seat - anyone else a fan? Yea, I'm a huge fan and am bumming to have to miss it. Blah.

Over the Hump, but not really

I went to the "new" orthopedic surgeon yesterday. He was appalled that it's been 11 days since my fall and I was just getting to see him (it's not my fault!). He suggested I come straight to Riverside and be admitted so they can monitor my heart/lungs for a day to make sure my other health issues aren't aggravated by the surgery. I'm set to have surgery tomorrow morning (Thursday) 8 am (although that is subject to change). They're going to have to put in some screws, possibly a metal plate, some synthetic bone grafting material, etc. It is more complicated that it would have been a week ago, but it's all necessary. I'll be going home, probably, Fri or Sat, I hope. I'll need 8-12 weeks recovery time. (gack!)

So - that's what is going on with me. Not pretty, but on the upside, I was able to take an actual shower today! Also, the hospital has wifi! Props to Riverside!

Comics Crack Me Up!

I laughed very loudly when I saw today's Foxtrot. I don't know how to embed the image in a readable format, but you can, I think, see it here. I've had a great admiration and fascination with Fibonacci for a while. I've even tried writing some fibonacci poetry. :-)
And, speaking of poetry, I also enjoyed Sally Forth today. What kind of poems will you share with your loved ones? Free verse? Iambic Pentameter? Fibonacci Poems? Limericks? Double Dactyls? Haiku? Do share!


Sunday update:

• The pain seems to be under control, and I'm gaining a little bit of mobility (which really just means that I'm not completely glued to my recliner all the time anymore - still can't do stairs at all)
• Ran out of yarn for my mini-Clapotis, and sending DH to LYS today for more (if he's ammenable)
• I'm enjoying sleeping with the cat on top of me every night - he loves having Mama downstairs in the recliner, too, I think . . . and immobile
  
• discovered blip.fm (thanks to MM), a sort of online music social network - I'll try it out and see if I like it or not, but for now:
  

Poetry Friday!

I've been thinking alot about being adaptive this week, so our poem today comes from an online project where people are striving to write a comprehensive dictionary entirely in limerick form. They are currently working in the D's somewhere. If you're interested, you can check it out for yourself.

adaptiveness by David Schildkret

My adaptiveness, much to be praised,

Leaves the people who meet me amazed.

I speak Roman in Rome,

And Alaskan in Nome,

And in Amsterdam, pure Hollandaised.

To tink or not to tink . . .

Settling down in my recliner for the evening, I picked up the easy scarf I've been working on. It's nearly mindless knitting, which is why I wanted to work on it. As I was knitting along, however, I realized I'd made a mistake every 4 rows for the past . . .hmm . . . well, many rows. I had about 10 more stitches than I should have. Now, I could have tinked back and fixed it to make it perfect (it's not like I don't have the time right now) . . but I didn't. . .

Maybe it's the pain meds, or maybe it's the odd sleep patterns of convalescence, but I'm feeling philosophical about knitting. Why don't I care about making it perfect? This led me to think . . .

Why do I knit? Why has it become so large a part of my life? Why do mistakes drive me crazy in some things, and in other projects I let them be?

Well, first of all, why do I knit?
I love:

• creating (same reason I love to bake)
  
• being part of something beautiful
• the feel of the fibers in my hand
• being artistic, but ending up with something practical (usually)
• making one-of-a-kind gifts for people I love
• donating hand-made things to good causes

But sometimes, I also just appreciate:

• keeping my hands busy (it helps keep me from being distracted by other things)
  
• doing something quiet that helps me think
• having a project that helps me not feel obligated to maintain eye-contact with whoever I'm with
• having an excuse to get together with knitting friends
• feeling cool because I'm making cool stuff

So back to my point - should I tink this or not? Here is what I consider when faced with this decision:

• Is this project for me, for an unknown person, or a gift for someone specific?
• If it's for someone else, who, what kind of person are they (perfectionism-wise)?
• Is this a project where every stitch counts (pun intended) or not?
• How important is it that I follow the pattern to make it look decent?

Often, if I'm going to be gifting the item, I'm more likely to tink. If it's just for me, I can deal with these little "design features" without a guilt conscience. If the project is one where the mistake will be GLARING (lace, cables, something that will show every imperfection), I'll probably tink. Of course, if it were a project like that, I'd notice the problem LONG before having to tink back 40 rows . . . usually.

Confession time:
I did not tink today. The scarf I'm making is an extreme modification of a loose design that will not show the mistake as horrible or disabling (in terms of wear-ability), and frankly, I doubt most people seeing it would even notice. I will keep on with my nearly-mindless knitting, engage my mind enough to compensate for the error, and complete my scarf.

And, heck, aren't you glad I finally found something to post about other than my damn leg?

Doctor Which?

I went to the surgeon this morning, and he took some Xrays, and then he said that he's not the best Dr. to handle this case. He's referred me on to a different surgeon, who specializes in this particular knee injury.

Good News: the fracture is going to heal just fine on it's own, mostly likely. My bones are all in proper place, and all is well there. I do have to stay off it, though - no weight on it at all.

Tiring News: there is most likely a ligament injury, probably the ACL. I'm doing some research on this, and it looks like it's going to be a while before I can renew my dancing career (ahem!).

The new Dr. can't get me in until next Tuesday, 3:45. Gack! For those of you keeping track, that's another week before we know if/when/what the solution will be. Sigh.

Luckily, the pain meds make me drowsy, and I've spent a lot of time sleeping.

Tuesday Night

Well, tomorrow morning I'll go see the orthopedic surgeon. I'm anxious to hear what he says! I don't even know what to hope for, though. NO telling if it would be better to have surgery or not. I'm praying that he just has a very clear mind and is a very good, ethical, thoughtful doctor so that he makes a good recommendation.

What I did today (not in particular order):

• took several naps
• ate delicious soup brought by my friend, Bu-ying yesterday
• had yummy red grapes - sweet!
• took a sponge bath and washed hair (my husband is a saint)
• watched a few sappy movies
• watched a few silly movies with Simon
• commanded Si through his morning routine so Mike could sleep in, but somehow we managed to make so much noise that Mike woke up anyway - naughty us
• talked on the phone to workers' comp people and several times to Mike who was test-driving a mini van that looks like a good deal
• knit a little
• acted as matress to Luxury Cat (see point #1, because when we nap, we nap together)
• played online Canasta with my seestor
  

Boy, my life is so freakin' exciting, huh?

Oh, although I didn't really take any of the pain meds yesterday, I'm back on them today. It is better to be able to relax and heal than to tough it out and be grouchy and miserable. (paraphrasing both Mike and our heart surgeon from a few years ago). No point in being "brave" if it makes everyone around you feel like S%$T.

Be careful on the ice!

heart murmur?

I've always had heart murmurs . . .but this one takes the cake . . .

Sunday night

Just realized I forgot all about Poetry Friday - maybe this week I'll do Poetry Monday, unless I forget about it again tomorrow!

What I've accomplished today:

• got myself to the potty w/o assistance several times
• talked to several folks on the phone, and online
• figured out how to get myself situated in my recliner w/o assistance
• stopped taking the narcotic this evening and just taking Ibuprofen (might take one more narc for the nighttime sleepies)
• knit a little (2 diff. scarves, one boring, one lace), read a little (The Graveyard Book), fooled around online a lot (blogs, twitter, facebook)
  
• visit from my BFF - she brought Chinese carry-out! Yum!
• watched most of the super bowl

All is well in my little queendom, a.k.a. the recliner.

Update from Narcotic Haze

Hello dear friends! Firstly, thank you all for your well wishes, your offers of help and your compassion. I'll be honest - it hurts like a sonnofabitch. I've added some ibuprofen to my Percoset ritual, though, and that should help. Narcotics always make me weepy/chatty/sleepy in varying degrees, so you never know what you'll get when you talk to me at the moment. One good thing is that I hate the mind-altering drugs so much that I will NEVER get addicted.

At this very moment I'm feeling chatty (remember those Chatty Cathy dolls?), and I thought I'd take it all out on you guys since the boys are out of the house.

OK - so right now I'm just laying around in my recliner, listening to the landline ring (because I can't get up w/out serious help and yelling and stuff). If you want to call me, you'll have to get my cell number. Feel free to share it amongst yourselves.

I'm also trying to control the cat (Sam) who really wants to sit on my lap, but who also has a tendancy to walk on my legs, which would hurt bad. Oh, and did I mention that he weighs, like 20 lb? Right now he's fine, and I"m using a strategically place stuffed animal (thanks, Simon!) to keep him off the bad bits. I think he seriously resents the laptop.

Oh - and I'm watching figure skating! Which I never really get to do when the guys around because they find it "mind-numbingly dull". :-) Mostly I love the music, but I do watch it, too.

I"m doing OK, though, and I promise I'll call for help if/when I need things. You are all so wonderful! (OK, weepy again - dang these drugs!)

Oh, and I've learned that a little lace project is just the thing for getting your mind off the pain in the middle of the night.

Ouchies, and boy do I feel stoopid

Well, it went like this:
I went out to my car to leave work. My right foot lost footing on the ice, and my left foot wasn't helping at all. My right leg hyper-extended - a lot. I fell. I yelled. I cried. I dug my cell phone out of my coat pocket and called the circ desk. Amazingly, Kelly understood when I asked to send security out to save me (I was a little hysterical by then). William . . . and Patty . . . and Gary came out, and they called 911 (exciting, huh?) By the time the squad came, Mary Beth's hubby was there, and they had all gathered up my library stuff (exercise DVDs, ironically) and put them in my car, etc. They had to lift me up (the paramedics and William and Gary - I have no idea who actually did the hoisting) and put me in a chair-like stretcher thing (whoever invented those stretcher improvements was genius) I went to Riverside. X-rays and Cat scan later, and I was diagnosed. There is a small vertical fracture in my tibia, and a bone chip behind my patella. They gave me crutches, pain med prescription and a big velcro immobilizer and sent me home. Don't even ask about the physical comedy of me dragging myself into the house and to the bathroom!

Mike and Si are being fabulous. Seriously fabulous. They're keeping their cell phones with them so I can call for help, even in the middle of the night. My boss, also is wonderful, telling me over and over not to worrk about work. I will call the orthopedic surgeon Monday morning to make an appointment in the coming week. He'll determine if I just need time, or if I'll need some kind of surgery.

So - be careful on the ice!

I'll be off work for a while, and, thanks to DH's great decision to get a cable plan that includes WiFi, I'm able to come to you straight from my recliner! Even more helpful, because, apparently, narcotics make me even more talkative (until I get too sleepy). :-) Lucky readers!

What's on the needles . . . and what's off!

I'm working on several things at the moment, and I'm about to start another! LOL I have a short attention sp . . . . oooh, look! Something shiny!

Anyway, I thought it was high time I gave you all a gander of the yarny goodness that has been keeping my fingers happy . . .

First the done ones . . . these are slippers I made out of 2 strands of Lamb's Pride Worsted Weight on #10 needles. I love them, and I think I'll make more! They're probably from the same pattern my Grandma used when we were kids. I love nostalgia, and I love warm feet! I think I'm using slightly better quality yarn, though, because I recall the ones she made making the bottoms of my feet feel like the skin was peeling off or something.


This is a black and grey chemo hat for a guy I went to college with. He's a cool musician, now, so I figure the colorway would be perfect. This is from Panda Silk (silk, bamboo mix) and it's delightfully soft. I think silk yarn is perfect for chemo caps . . . especially since my pal, Julie, told me so. I really wish my friends would stop getting the big C, but I'm glad that I can do this small thing for them.


These are neck scarves. It's an absolutely perfect pattern for luxurious yarn - easy to do w/o a lot of thinking, uses about one skein (more for me because I'm an ample Woman, and like ample scarves).





This is silk/wool blend and I fell in love with the first one so deeply that I had to make another. I might go back to the Merc againand buy yet another color someday soon. Just see if I don't! I wore the pinky one today with a navy blue dress. Looked great!




Now for the UFOs (unfinished objects):
This is a lovely lacey sampler scarf I'm making with leftovers from the shawl I made Mom for Xmas. It's alpaca/silk blend, very fine lace-weight yarn. I found the pattern in a book and actually BOUGHT the book . . . more of a pamphlet, really. Usually I just get books from The L.




This pic shows the blanket I started crocheting last . . . umm . . . Spring, maybe? I still haven't gotten very far on it, but I wanted to show you that I really AM still working on it now and then. It's out of really horrid acrylic yarn, but that's what the donation places prefer with blankets, so acrylic they'll get! I learned to crochet after seeing a friend whip up an entire baby blanket in about 2 hours. How does she DO that??? Trust me, this is no 2-hour blanket!

These are the toes of the socks I'm making. The yarn is lovely merino, tightly spun and very smooth. It's purples and greens, and it's really nice. I knit on these when I don't have anything else mindless to work on. I'm doing 2 at a time, toe-up with the Evil Sock Genius' pattern, on 2 circs, size 1. And yes, I know what you're thinking - that is a freakin thin needle!

I also still have a sweater on the needles that will eventually be fore my long-suffering DH. Poor thing might need to wait a while because I STILL don't really feel like tackling it again. I've frogged (ripped out) the sweater I made for myself a year or two ago. It never fit right, I never wore it, but I still love the yarn. I'm finally blocking the kinks out of that yarn so I can make myself another sweater with it.

I think that's my complete knitting update.
Over and out.

It's System-wide Post on your Blog Day!

I mean . . . it's a SNOW DAY! WOOHOO!


(Si put a can of Coke into the snow pile to get cold, and marked the spot with an arrow . . . while shoveling)

We are home for the day, so like all my colleagues who blog (CWB), I'm going to post! One of my twitterbuds linked me to this great blog, and I just had to laugh - and it got me thinking that maybe my loyal readership would be interested in hearing about our day here!


First, I woke up at around 4 am. Yes, you read that right! Very early, I know, but Samwise (see his pic to the left) decided that either I should get up, or he should lay on my face, kneading my cheek, drooling into my ear and purring. Lovely. I love you, too, Luxury Cat.

Of course, if you know me you'll know that once I'm awake enough to be snarky, I'm awake. Darn you, over-active brain cells!

Neilson just called me! In the middle of posting - seriously! They wanted to know what I know and think about movies currently in the theaters. HA! He actually started laughing when he was talking/asking about Hannah Montana, the Movie - how great is that?
OK - back to my regular post . . . where was I?

Oh, so this morning, I got up and went right online on my laptop, snuggling on the couch. The cats were annoyed because they don't like the computer in my lap when one of them could be getting warm there! Tough!

For 2 hours I kept checking the closings site, seeing if we were listed. No dice. Then I see a TWEET from a coworker, and voila! SNOW DAY!




Here is a list of all the stuff we've done today so far:

1. laid around on the couch
2. taken a nap (just me)
3. drawn pictures of soldiers (just Si)
4. gone to work (poor DH!)
5. not gone to work or school (Si and I)
6. made homemade brownies - dark choco with choco chips (Si and I) - totally yummers!
7. panicked at not having ground meat for chili (me)
8. made chili with chicken instead (again, just me)
9. talked to the Nielsen dude (me), saying yes, I'll probably see that, and no, I definitely won't see that
   
10. shoveled the driveway (Si)
11. dug through the closet for a pair of gloves for Si (me)
12. knit! (me)
13. goofed around with blogs and crap online (me)
14. watched Iron Man (my first time - it really is as good as Si has been saying!)
15. snuggled with cats (Si and I)

Yea, we've had a very productive day!

Come back later for a knitting update. I just realized I've updated ravelry, but not here. Also, I'm reading a great Ready to Read related book, but I'll tell you about that when I'm done!

Yay! Another Meme!

Have I done this one before? I don't think so . . . taken from AWTB's blog . . .

Bold whatever you have done.
1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty. (I bolded half of this because I walked as high as they would let us walk 2 different times I was there.)
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you're not sick.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.--Does the Venetian hotel in Vegas count?
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagra Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen and Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to truly be satisfied.
38. Seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke. (Boy, howdy, I need to get back to get me some Karaoke action soon! Bob's Bar, Sunday nights!)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served in a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. (Si has commandeered most of them by now)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. (well, it FELT like it was speeding, although I'm sure it wasn't, and it terrified me so much I have never gotten on one again . . . I was about 5, I think)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book. (I've helped write chapters . . . and I've published book reviews and articles - lots of them)
81. Been to the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car. They were new to me!
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the paper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had Chicken pox.
89. Saved someone's life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit. I've been subpoenaed a few times for library-related cases.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

I'm In!

I've pledged to volunteer at least 5 hours this year, and I got my free cuppa from Starbucks this morning!



Maybe I should really be considering to pledge ONLY 5 hours of volunteer work this year and spend more time at home? hahahaha!

Good Day - and Poetry Friday!

Greetings, my friends! I know I haven't been posting often lately. I've been thinking a lot about work and about my role at work and about what the role of my work is in the community - lots of big stuff, and let me tell ya, it wasn't all grins and giggles! However, this has been a phenomenal week, Tuesday was fabulously historic, and it's all good! Here we are, nearly at the end of January, and I've not even shared with you my goals for the year or anything! You know I love lists, so here goes (even though some of this won't really fit in a traditional list . . . but hey, y'all know me well enough to know I don't care about being normal, right?):

• I will think about the food I eat, eat healthier, and not let one bad food decision keep me from making a better decision with the next bite (this is my version of WW - you do it your way . . .)
• I will care less about what is on TV than I care about who I'm with when I'm watching (in other words, bring on the geek stuff, Honey, I'm just there to be with you . . . well . . . and to knit!)
• I will not worry about "how it looks to other people" when I make decisions about my career (it's not about moving up, it's about doing what your best at and serving the customers well, or, as our NEW PRESIDENT said, it's about making the hard decisions and doing what is right to change things for the better)
• I will share more book thoughts on my blog (I feel like I've not done a review in a long time!)
• I will exercise more often (which, honestly, won't take much)
  

OK - that's it for now. ON to POETRY FRIDAY!

Today, I give you an old college pal, David. You can read his story and see more of his music, if you like:



Check back in a few days, and hopefully, you'll see a book review or two. :-)

Lurve Poetry Friday!

Cheryl pointed me to the "I Love you more than" website - it's fun!


I love you more than watching what I like on TV.
I love you more than getting my own way.
I love you more than a clean house.
I love you more than sleeping in.
I love you more than dark chocolate . . . with roasted pecans. . . . ok, maybe not with the pecans.


I've also got to tell you that I love the book Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech. It's the sequel to Love that Dog, and it's great. I'm listening to it in the car, and I actually laughed out loud on the ride to work today (even though my toes were froze) It's written mostly in poems, or at least that is how the reader is reading it. Lurve it!

OK - today's extemporaneous Lurve Poem:


I love warm
warm, cozy, snug
cuddled like a bug
cocoa in a mug
chili in my tum
mitten on my thumb
toes not numb
warm.

Poetry Friday!

I was going to write about snow . . . but then decided I needed to compose something extemporaneously . . . with apologies to Robert Frost

Whose mess this is I think I know
His room is down the hallway, though.
He will not see me stopping here
To bend and lift, the trash to throw.

My lazy cat must think I'm queer
To pick up toys and jump with fear
At seeing bits of curdled milk.
A sniff will tell me, yogurt's near.

My son's a slob, the mess is deep,
but I have dusting, things to sweep,
And vacuuming before I sleep
And vacuuming before I sleep.

(oooh - you should see the glare my DS just gave me!)

New Look

I finally got brave and updated the look of the blog. What do you all think? I should add a poll, shouldn't I? I have hundreds of pictures to choose from for the header, but for now I've got the sunset over Lake Erie. Soon, I"ll try a sunrise over the ocean. With DH around, we are never at a loss for lovely, beautiful, miraculous pictures to use!

Let me know what you think. Cheryl has already said she likes it better . . . and it was her previous comment to me in email about all the pink that finally lit a fire under my html butt to change things. Thanks for the gentle prod, my friend!

Thoughts about life

MUSH WARNING - THIS IS A VERY EMOTIONAL POST

Life takes funny twists and turns. There are heartaches, illnesses, disappointments in all of our lives, and there are usually shiny, warm, sparkly things in each of our lives, too. Sometimes the balance between those two sides seems out of whack, but all we can do is keep on plugging and trusting that there is a reason for it all. That's what I believe, anyway.

I don't usually get very intimate in this blog, but there is enough going on in my life right now that there's little else I could do and still keep the blog active. Oh, sure, in another week I'll probably be back to posting knitting pictures and family stuff, and I'm sure you'll get that again, but right now, I feel the need to share just a few thoughts about . . . . well . . . life.

I like lists, and I love memes, so I'll make this list in random order of some of the thinks I've thunk lately.

• The people who are in charge are the ones who get to choose what's important. That's just the way it is. The rest of us need to find a way to let that be OK in our brains.
• My dad always said that you have to figure out what you love to do, and then find someone who's willing to pay you to do it. This is excellent career advice. We should all follow it.
• Sometimes, my dad's advice is impossible to follow, and you just have to suck it up and work for a living, even if the job isn't your dream job.
• Excitement and challenge are sometime over-rated.
• You need to cherish the people you care about, and tell them often that you love them. Trust me, it's important.
• God has a plan for each of us. I do actually believe this to be true. Sometimes I want to grab the power and make my own *&^%ing plans because His don't make sense to me, but that never seems to work out well.
• Each day, you should think about what's most important to you and do something that has meaning. For many of us with kids, that can be as simple as sharing a book or conversation with the kid. Hey, it works for me!
• At the end of the day, you have to be able to be a peace with who you are.
• When it comes right down to it, all of life is really just between you and your creator. Build that relationship, and all the rest will fall into place. . . . at least, that's what I'm thinkin is true.

To my dear friend, Billi, who recently passed away: I wish I'd spent more time with you recently. Your compassionate heart and generosity were always a comfort to me, and the way you cared about everyone's kids was so very sweet. I wish I'd told you, but of course, when I actually did, you brushed it off. You were like that. I only have a few pictures of you, from when you dyed my hair purple at the L. It was so cool of you to come do that.

To my readers: If you are a praying person, please offer up some prayers for our friend, Braeden, who lost his mother last week (and his dad, Michael). Braeden is 14, and he is going to be reeling from this for a long time.

Xmas Memories, vol 2

"Second Christmas" was at my parents' house. Again, there were great presents. I was especially excited to see my mom open the shawl I knit for her (she loves it, of course!)





To block it, I had to stretch it out on our kingsize bed (to give you some perspective), but it's so soft and light it feels like a cloud (without the damp cold).






We spent several days there since it's been months since we've been up there. We did puzzles, played games (together, and individually on their computers), and did some traditional Xmas things.





We spent time with my brother and his GF.







We made some traditional Swedish dishes (from my paternal grandfather's mother's tradition) of Sylta and Barley(made using the broth from Sylta and adding enough barley to choke a horse, then mixing in ground liver - not my kind of dish, but DH lurves it big time) DH has some good bonding time with my 'rental units by making this with them every few years.


and I made Swedish Limpa Rye Bread to go with it. I didn't use the linked recipe, but instead used one from an old cookbook Mom has from the Swedish church in town. This is about the only rye bread I enjoy. It's got a lovely sweetness from the molasses, and a bit of light tang and bouquet from the orange zest.







I also was able to get together with some old HS chums (thanks for having us all over, ma cher femme!)






And I got DH to pose with his new convertable glove/mittens. Isn't he cute? He lurves these, too, and gave them a test-run today for the annual Christmas Bird Count in the Hocking Hills.

Xmas Memories, vol 1

We started our official season a few weeks before Xmas when my sister and our friend Vicky came over for G-bread house decorating. This is Simon's. It's not just a house, it is a Viking Mead Hall . . .




complete with gumdrop Vikings. He had names for them all and regaled the younger boys (Vicky's kids) with tales of King Ragnar, Ivar, Goorton and Eric.





Our First Christmas was with my in-laws. They are really terrific people, and we love to visit with them. They were very generous with gifts, too! Simon is the only grandchild . . . in both of our families . . . so it's always a big deal to unwrap it all.

We take turns, one person at a time opens one gift at a time. We all agree that it's just as fun watching others open what you've gotten them as it is to open your own stuff.

Beau, one of their cats, was enjoying some sun in the afternoon . . . sharing the table with our Christmas Feast.







Simon and I had some fun outdoors trying to make his new RC Dragonfly stay in the air for more than 2 seconds (crash!)

We had a great time in Marietta. Check back later this weekend for more Xmas stuff . . . and at some point I'll have the whole load of pics on Facebook.

Xmas Meme

My friend, Netter, tagged me a while ago, and I've been so out of things (grouchy, petulant, self-absorbed) that I didn't even know til just now! So, here's me, finally catching up. . .

1) Wrapping paper or gift bags? The tradition in my family, for as long as I can remember (so at least 40 years) has been, as much as possible, to wrap box lids and re-use the boxes with fresh (or gently-used) ribbons. Problem this year: we've had Xmas other places so much these last few years that I have no pre-wrapped boxes in the house! Gift bags are nicely re-usable, though.

2) Real tree or artificial? Artificial. I think I've had a real tree, maybe, 5 times in my life. For the past several years we've mostly used a very cheap 4 ft. artificial tree that I got on sale about 20 years ago. It doesn't even come close to fitting all our ornaments, but I like the way it looks in our front window, put up on my grandma's old sewing machine stand. We leave the lights on and store it, with lights, in a big garbage bag. We also distribute extra ornaments around the house on anything that has something sticky-outy and could hold an ornament. I love the haphazardness of it . . . and we have a tendancy to find random ornaments for months after, in odd places where Simon has hung them.

3) When do you put up the tree? After Thanksgiving, on a weekend when we have time.

4) When do you take the tree down? Usually at or around the beginning of January. One year, when Si was little, and we had a big tree in the livining room and the small tree in his bedroom, we left his small tree up til late Summer or later. Yea, we're just lazy that way.

5) Do you like eggnog? I think I've only tried it once or twice. I think I liked it, but to be honest, it's extra calories I don't need so I never buy it or take it if offered. I'm just as happy with black coffee or straight alcohol. :-)

6) Favorite gift received as a child? I’m not sure … the crocheted afghan my Aunt Ginnie made for me. It is what is now called "Rainbow Blankie" in my house, ever since my son stole it from my bed.

7) Hardest person to buy for? My brother. He keeps his thoughts/desires/feelings very close to the cuff, and is so un-assuming about wanting things that he almost never admits to wanting anything.

8) Easiest person to buy for? My mom. She loves what I love, so it's always a joy to buy/knit for her.

9) Do you have a nativity scene? I would love to have a larger collection of them, but we really have no room. I have 2 sets that are grown-up-ish (one plain stained wood silhouette set, one is the set from my childhood), 2 kids sets (one is almost like little tykes, the other is printed/stuffed cloth that my mom assembled) and a few smaller, self-contained creches.

10) Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Stomach flu - about 6 years ago.

11) Favorite Christmas Movie? I love Christmas movies! I love "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Christmas in Connecticutt", even though they're both pretty schmaltzy. For TV specials, you can't beat "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Charlie Brown". I'm a sucker for shows that highlight the true meaning of Christmas.

12) Favorite Christmas song? Angels We Have Heard on High (I love the Glo-o-o-o-o-o-rias!)

13) Travel at Christmas or stay home? We used to stay in town for Christmas when Si was younger, but now we travel. Each year's agenda is different, but we hit both sets of our parents. This year we're just now ending 3 days w/Mike's parents and heading home. Saturday we'll go to my family's for about 6 days.

14) Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, why not? I’m all for recycling!

15) Favorite ornament theme or color? I prefer hand-made or ornaments with some kind of special significance (like ones we've found on vacation or ones from our childhood). I also have a special collection of pewter ornaments from Wendell August Forge that I display on long strips of red felt, hanging on the wall. I love them so much that I am considering leaving them up all year this year. Mom gets me one each year, and has for over 20 (nearly 30?) years.

Netter said to tag 5 others, so here goes:
Cheryl
Amanda
Kim
Shawn
Don
. . . and anyone else who reads and would like to do the meme - you all know how I love memes!

I'd love to tag both my moms (Hi Mom! HI MIL!), but neither have blogs. Please, if you're up to it, post answers in comments?

Poetry Friday!

Vacation Day

A peaceful way to knit and play
and move us t'ward this Christmas Day.
A mom's tradition, tightly held
allowing me to clean and meld.
I knit some gifts, the flour sifts,
the gingerbread with tangy wiffs.
My friends can come, the house is done,
contentment when the battle's won.

~ Cat

Several years ago, not able to take time off right at the holidays, I took a week at the beginning of December. It was bliss! Taking a few days off now means that I approach the holidays with MUCH less stress and worry. The house is ready (even though we're not really having guests this year), the gifts are bought (and I'll start wrapping soon), and I have time to finish knitting gifts (don't expect pictures til after they've been gifted!). I'm not baking much this year because of WW, but I will make Dad his sweetroll, and Si will want to make some sugar cookies, I'm sure. That'll happen next weekend. Although this week has been different than in past (had to work Mon. afternoon and Thursday, spent Tuesday with a good friend going through Chemo), it's been a blessing and a joy.

3BT

Quick post since I'm tired tonight:

1. I found the perfect edging for a thing I'm making for someone I love, and I did it by experimenting . . . all by myself (and abandoning all the tricky patterns I'd gotten from The L.
   
2. Chocolate chunk cookies, warm for when Si arrived home from school.
3. Both DH and Si enjoyed the marinade I put on the chicken - several "mmms".
   

Deco and Bolo

We've decorated for Christmas! We might still try some outdoor lights, but the indoors is about as decorated as it will get, short of all the gifts being wrapped and under the tree!

It takes us about an hour to deco. We have a small artificial tree that we just pull out of a garbage bag, with the lights still on from year to year. Then we put as many ornaments as can possibly fit on (hanging 2-4 per branch and some from the bead garland, too).




We put Christmas music on the computer, decorate the tree, and then Simon, the self-proclaimed "crazed 14-year-old decorator" ran around the house hanging miscellaneous decorations wherever there's a place to hang something (ornaments on the lamps, etc). He also set up all the nativity sets (I have several - I sorta collect them).



I did hang some holly boughs on each of our doors, though, as our outdoor decos. It looks pretty, but the ugly, dirty screen doors sorta dull the effect.









The Bolo Ceremony
Today we went to a banquet for Simon to be awarded his special bolo for leadership training. Actually, it wasn't just going through the week of training in August, but to earn the bolo, the boys needed to set some high goals back then, and meet them (and have leaders sign off) by the end of October (or something like that).


I'm very proud of him for doing all of that! His goal was to work with his Bible Study leader to increase attendance at their gatherings, and he did!

Don't you just love handsome men in uniform?

Poetry Friday!

Christmas is so close now
I feel the deadline looming
I must do all my shopping,
the cleaning and the grooming.
There's so much still to do,
I can't quite fit it in.
So now I must prioritize,
Make lists and categoricize,
Knit this, clean that, now knit a hat
I wonder if it's this boy's size . . .

Or maybe what I need to do
Is focus on what I know is true.
This holiday is ringing clear,
Spend time with those that you hold dear.
Don't worry about each speck of dust.
Baking more sweets is not a must!
Find time to nurture, time to hug,
Slow down and spend time close, and snug.
Presents are nice, and cookies, too
But more important, is being with you.

~ sappiness brought to you by Cat, herself.

Holiday Cheer!

This lovely little house belongs to my in-laws. If you look closely, you can see an enormous Holly tree in their back yard, peeking (well, maybe towering) above the roof.






We spent T-giving with my in-laws. We drove down to Marietta, OH on Wednesday, cooked all morning Thursday (yay - I love doing the Turkey and stuffing!) and had great food (if I do say so myself).


We had fun with some games of "name the best . . ." which we love to play, and we played dominoes and Shanghai Rummy.

Simon is now taller than both of his paternal grandparents - and he loves it!







These vases are in Zanesville, OH, and it was a surprise find for us. I love it when you see something lovely and new on a "old" path.






Then we drove home on Friday. I had to work yesterday, but I got to slip out a smidge early so we could catch dinner before going to see Christmas Carol last night with our friend, Jeri K. Fun weekend! Today is a "clean, launder, organize, grow-up and pay bills" day.

This little church was on our route home, and I've always loved little wooden churches in the country. I took this from the parking lot of the gas station. Glamorous, huh?

Poetry Friday (day late again)

Thankful
Week before Thanksgiving,
I limp around real strange.
Huddle in the corner,
As though I have the mange.
All the other turkeys,
Just gobble, gobble on.
I'm silent, and I act
As if my gobbler's gone. Everyone is thankful
On Thanksgiving Day.
Friday it's forgotten.
You all go on your way.
I know what thankful is
So listen when I say.
"It's great to be a turkey,
After Thanksgiving Day."
Unknown

tile mosaic

I need to figure out how to save this as a vid and embed it, but til then . . . go to this site, and click on "View Replay" in the mid, right side . . . then you can click on the little plus sign to make it go faster.

HAIR!

I started with Celebrities . . .




















And ended by meshing me and Si - creepy.








Playing with the hair mixer . . . fun!


Heck with the hair - when can I just get one of those celeb bodies?

How Dewey Do?

I nicked this from ridiculology while trolling through random blogs from participants in the Learn & Play initiative at work. Yes, I spend my home-time doing stuff like that - I'm just that boring.

Anyway, it yielded this cool meme, and you know how I love memes!

caterwauller's Dewey Decimal Section:

675 Leather & fur processing

caterwauller's birthday: 7/11/1964 = 711+1964 = 2675


Class:
600 Technology


Contains:
Health, agriculture, management, public relations, buildings.



What it says about you:
You are creative and inspired to make the world a better place. You can work hard on something when it catches your interest. Your friends have unique interests in common with you.

Find your Dewey Decimal Section at Spacefem.com

Plans for the next few days:

• knit a lot
• enjoy being with my MIL and FIL (I do love them!)
• cook a fabulous meal Thursday (I love having the luxury of time to cook a big meal!)
• stick to my Wonder Woman Training!
• Read a book or two!
• Post another poem on Friday
  

Think that's too much for just 3 days off?

3BT

1. It's my brother's birthday today, and I know he knows I love him.
2. I call my husband to tell him I'm late and he says "I hope you're not angry with me, but I ordered some pies from one of the Boy Scout Moms for a school fund-raiser."
3. Dinner is waiting, warm, on the stove when I get home to a blissfully empty house. Sometimes even extroverts need quiet.
   

The Times are A'Changin'

3BT

Again, 3 beautiful things:

1. Delicious apricot preserves, no sugar added, make my pork chop perfect.
2. Seeing my son bouncy and energetic again after a week of being a sick slug on the couch.
3. I opened the mysterious package in the front room Friday to reveal NOT a present I'd bought for someone else ('tis the season, afterall), but a totally surprise present for me. Made my eyes moist with wonder.
   

When I Grow Up . . . .

Many years ago, I was temporarily "in charge" of the place where I worked at the time, and someone on the work team said I was powerful and it was going to go to my head. I said "Yes, I am She-Ra, Princess of Power!" It sort of stuck a little, and I still refer to myself as She-Ra as needed.

Well, I was talking to a dear friend last week when I was giving myself a pep talk to finally go back and re-join Weight Watchers. I was calling it WW to save typing time, and he said -

"Don't think about it as a diet - consider it Wonder Woman Training."
It is working! It has cheered me up to think of this, and to have this image in my head all week. Well, now I have my own Wonder Woman Bobble-head doll to remind me that I am doing something powerful! He must have ordered it while we were chatting, because it arrived a short 7 days later. Thanks, my friend!!

Even superheroes like She-Ra can use some cross-training sometimes, right?

Being a Mom

This is very clever, frighteningly true, and had me laughing as loud as possible when the rest of the household is still asleep!