Approaching Glory

Antennas, TV, and Me

I've lived out here in rural land for close to twenty years now.  We can't get cable out here and it is only within the past three years that I've been able to get DSL.  I know we could get the DISH but quite frankly, I can't seem to justify the monthly cost when you consider how little we watch TV.  And normally it is okay with me - we buy DVD's for the cost of going to a movie and then we can watch whenever (or as often as) we'd like.

Youtube has been of real assistance to me in this department.  If I can't get the TV to show me American Idol - I can catch the performances there.  Ditto with Dancing with the Stars, interviews, or musical performances.  Want to see a golden oldie perform?  Youtube probably has them in all their glory.  Must say I enjoy some stuff over at Godtube as well. 

Most of the time this is fine. Except every four years or so when the Olympics happen.  And then I get all irritated and hot about not being able to watch what is going on - live or delayed.  I don't watch very much in the way of sports but there is something about someone representing our country and their determination that I truly appreciate.  And while I'm whining/ranting - I want to see more coverage than the what the regular networks provide.  I'd love to see archery, synchronized swimming, and rythmic gymnastics! 

Well - the antenna that rests precariously on the top of our house got zapped by the last huge electrical storm. The booster box was nuked.  Today the guys got up on top of the roof and dragged the poor puppy down and leaned it up against a tree.  It is a toss up whether or not to invest in another booster box because come January our TV won't be worth a thing anyway.  Then we will pretty much "have to" decide if we want to invest in a digital high definition "boob tube" (as my father lovingly called the TV).  Of course if we do that then we must confront the Dish issue again.  And considering Jbird will be beginning college he may not need multi-channel temptation.  Which leads me to confess - that if they'd had half the technology gadgets when I went to college, I doubt I would have ever gotten any work done.  I am SO distractable!

Things going on today:

1. Made a batch of Cherry Crumb Bars to add to the cookie platter that goes to the Ball.  A little disappointed with these - not the taste (they are great) but they would be better cut into larger square pieces and served as a dessert with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.  Their consistency doesn't lend itself to a good sturdy bar cookie.
2. Hubby did decide to get the booster so he'll be working on that this afternoon.
3. Jbird goes to the Ball.  Another night of waiting for child to get home from Forsyth at late hours.  Who wanted him to learn to drive?  Slap 'em!
4. I will clean kitchen, start a couple of loads of laundry, listen to book, download a movie, and knit on my sock.

Past the Heel and Cookies Made

I'd take pics but I think I'll wait til the sock is at the toe.  I can not say enough good about this pattern - Spring Forward.  More on that when I have the FO.  Meanwhile, we had our first Friday together.  Jbird and Hubby worked outside some.  I stayed inside and took antibiotics and allergy meds due to grass being cut.  I am in the process of listening to A Case of Bad Taste by Lori Copeland.  This book was the first in what I suspect was hoped to be a long series.  The author actually produced three.  I haven't read anything else by Copeland but I'm not enarmored by her style.  It is supposed to have a Christian background but I'm not impressed with the build up of that either.  I had listened to the third in the series awhile ago -boy I hate it when I get series books out of order! 

I discovered that I can download movies from my library.  So I downloaded The Little Princess with Shirley Temple.  I loved that movie when I was a little girl.  So I knit away and "watched" the movie.  My next movie will be McClintock - I always enjoy that movie too.  They don't offer much of a variety at this point - but I hope they will add to their selection. 

And on the topic of movies to knit by - I love The Pelican Brief with Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts.  I finally found a DVD copy at Wallyworld for $5.00.  Problem was it cut off before the end of the movie.  I thought it was the player I had it on and so I tried it on the computer - nope same problem.  Hubby and Jbird went to Wallyworld and did the exchange thing.  Hubby sat down with me to watch the movie (he was correcting a paper and I was knitting away again).  And guess what?  This copy did the exact same thing - at the same place.  Somebody burned the movie to the disk incorrectly and there is no end copied.  Cute.  Back it will go to Wallyworld.

Made another batch of the Chunky Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars for Jbird to take to the Ball on Saturday.  They may get there - lol!

Close Times

Lots of things have and are changing around here.  Jbird finished up his high school.  Woo hoo!  I have officially ordered his diploma from Homeschool Diploma.  We've invested ten years of our lives into the "graduate Jbird from homeschool" project and I wanted a diploma that was going to look beautiful.  I believe I found it.  Hubby and I made all our choices and placed our order.  We also selected a very lovely looking graduation announcement. And I got the all important tassel and thank you cards.  The announcement looks every bit as good as the ones I've seen from the public schools around here and I think Jbird is going to be very pleased when he sees it.  As soon as it comes in it will be mailed to family and friends.  Of course this raises the question - how to celebrate?

Well - right now all three of us are on different pages with that.  Jbird would love to have a formal dance with his buds (this boy has definitely got a thing with formal dances with tuxedos!).  This is an issue due to place to have it and the location - all of his buddies live up Forsyth.   I would like something with our family and friends like a potluck type thing.  And Hubby says - there's no big rush.  Right - typical guy response.

When Jbird and I were in Wallyworld yesterday I immediately went over the Back-to-School stuff and asked, "Do you need anything?"  He looked at me a little strangely and said, "Mom - I'm done."  I must have gotten quiet cause as we started walking again he asked me if I was going to miss it.  And I'm sure he thought I'd say "no" considering the tug of war it had been at times this past year - but instead I looked at him and said that I was definitely going to miss our time together.  Not the arguments - but the closeness and the learning together.

Today as I type this I realize that God had given me exactly what I had prayed for back in 2004 after we had tried one semester at one of the local high schools - please God let Hubby see that Jbird needs to come home - give me a second chance.  And God did just that.  Now we are at the end of all that.

Yesterday when Hubby got home from work he had a smile on his face and said how well the day went.  And for some reason I really looked at him.  He was relaxed and happy.  I almost cried.  God had answered my prayers for Hubby as well.  Hubby has spent the better part of those ten years working two jobs in order for us to homeschool.  He was leaving at 7 in morning and not getting home until 9pm - five days a week. The past two years have been very tough on him.  He would come home so tense and tired that he couldn't get to sleep for hours.  His blood pressure began going up and he literally appeared to age in front of my eyes.  He has one job now where he teaches from Noon - 8:30pm - four days a week - and gets a full week pay.  When he kissed me goodbye this morning he said, "I have tomorrow off - don't I?"  His face had a big smile. Now, we eat breakfast together or have a cup of coffee together in the morning - it is a wonderfully close time.

Due to everyone's schedule - we've really let the house go.  And now it is time for Hubby and I to focus on cleaning, repairing, and preparing. Tons of books and "stuff" are going out the door to return no more.  We both have a feeling that the time here in this house may be coming to an end and it is time to get the house ready.  So tomorrow we begin that work.  We will take one room at a time and work together.

Oh - and I downloaded an album by Second Chapter of Acts.  They were one of the groups that really launched contemporary Christian music back in the seventies.  I have copies of their LP's and I haven't been able to listen to their music for years due to not having a record player anymore.  So Hubby and I listened and sang along - I cried - lots and lots of memories for both of us.  My first Christian concert back in 1976 in Raleigh, NC - the first place where I ever raised my hands to the Lord.

Lord - it is a time of ending for us and a time of new beginnings.  Just as You heard my prayers before and so lovingly answered them - hear me now as I ask You to direct our steps and help us make the choices and decisions that are pleasing to You.

Giving Yourself Time

Am I the only one who - when they begin to think they feel better - starts to overdo?  I don't think so.  I started coming back into focus and realized the kitchen looked like a tornado had hit it and we were out of food and staples.  Made breakfast for all and then Jbird and I headed out to do some shopping.  I could have picked a better day - it was a bad ozone day and the temp was near 100.  The humidity made the air clingy. 

We went to the big new WallyWorld (WalMart) and took it one aisle at a time.  I thought I might need two carts I was packing in so much.  Everywhere I looked I was amazed at how the prices have increased since the last time I had been shopping!  My oh my.  I spent over two hundred dollars and I didn't get meats or fresh produce.  But I did get two - three months worth of toilet paper, paper towels, deoderant, etc.  One thing I did was to buy two of those big hot/cold bags for a dollar and told the bagger to put all my dairy and frozen goods in those for the trip home.  Considering the weather - that was a smart move.  When we got out to the car and got it loaded up the trunk refused to latch correctly - ugh!  We were both hot, thirsty, and hungry and we were in NO mood to deal with it.  I ended up tying it shut and off we went to Taco Bells.  We ate on the drive home and then we had to haul all the stuff into the house.  Well - Jbird hauled the stuff in the house and I had the job of putting it away.  Looks like it is time for us to invest in small freezer again (ours died a couple of years ago).  I need to be able to make casseroles and divide them up if we are going to stay ahead of the food costs.

Then I made some rice and heated up some of the teriyaki meatballs I had gotten for dinner.  Boy those things are good!  I first had them at my SIL's last winter.  This is the first time I've had them here.  I can see those in our future.  For the three of us we used about a half a bag of the meatballs - with seconds for the guys.

Oh I forgot to tell you that Jbird and Hubby went to a Men's Meetings last Friday and I had to make something for them to take.  And this is what I made (it's the same recipe I used for Hubby to take to his school for their opening lunch):  It's from the Cake Mix Doctor and you can get it here.   It's called Chunky Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars and they were a huge hit!  They are very very rich and you can easily get 48 bars out of a 9x13 pan.

Oh and btw - when Hubby got home and I told him about the car trunk - he went right out and fixed it. 

Spring Forward Socks

Last time I was here talking about knitting I told that I thought I was going to run out yarn before I finished the second Spring Forward Sock.  Well.....Praise the Lord.... I made it with a little tiny ball to spare.  I was SO happy.  Here they are complete except for kitchenering the toes.  I will finish both pairs of socks and do that in one sitting.

As soon as I finished these I started on my second pair.   This is the same Socks that Rock Yarn as the first pair.  I really really like this yarn.  As I stated before it is considerably  thicker than Opal,  or most sock yarns, so you get a much heavier sock.  But I like it as it is so soft and cushy.  They'll be great with sandals when the weather turns cold.  And I discovered I was making my ssk's wrong!  I can't remember how I ended up on Youtube watching a demo on ssk's (think med fog here) but as I watched it I realized I had knit them wrong on the first pair of socks.  So I made sure that I'm making them correctly on this pair.  Actually, I think my error on the first pair made the stitches pop a bit more.  Anyway - this pair is the way it should look.

And I was knitting to what books?  The first pair was knit to Joanne Fluke's books, Key Lime Pie Murder and Carrot Cake Murder.  The green pair has gotten me through Cherry Cheesecake Murder and I'll be starting a new novel today.  Oh - and I knit through some Monk episodes and an Xman movie or two also.  (Jbird's choice not mine) I don't know if I care too much for some of the main characters in the Fluke books (I think the main character needs a swift kick now and then) but I do like the recipes in the books.  I tried a couple of them and they are very good. I've got a couple of books checked out and downloaded to my computer.  I love being able to visit my library online and get audiobooks.

In Which She Returns ...Yet Again

I've been sick and I'm still on the mend.  I started getting a sinus infection about a month ago.  I kept thinking I could fight it, and I put off going to the doctor.  When it reached the point that the inside of my nose was burning, my top teeth felt like I was having a root canal without the numbing medicine, and my right cheek was broken, I decided I probably needed to go see the doc.   But before I could get there Jbird came home with a summer cold and within 24 hours I was running a fever.  Then I went to see the doctor.

Now I've been going to this doctor for years.  He has seen me countless times for bronchitus/sinus issues.  When I go in I am convinced that I am wheezing and he's going to tell me that I'm pretty bad off.  And normally he says my lungs are clear.  Not this time.  I was wheezing and didn't even know it.  My oxygen stats were low but okay.

So he says he wants to give me a steriod shot.  Nope.  Not going to happen.  I am one of the rare people who has psychotic happenings when steriods infiltrate my system.   I"ve post about this condition before and believe me my familiy does not want Susan Steriodius to come and visit.  Which is SO not good because that is the first line of defense for irritated lungs and for poison ivy.  He looks at me and says it's okay and gives me a ten day supply of heavy hitting antibiotics and some pain meds.

I took these little jewels for two days and slept around the clock.  I still am falling asleep for a couple of hours during the daytime.  On the third day of taking meds my body had an allergic reaction to the pain pills.  My system was zinging along and I was itching in places I didn't know I had.  Hubby rushed out to get me Benadryl.  He also got a bunch of yogurt to replace healthy bacteria.  I so need to get an allergy ID bracelet.  I now can add that pain medicine to the list of the other seven or so meds I can't take.  I truly wonder what they can give me for pain anymore.  Hubby says I should not get hurt or real sick.  Right.

I am beginning to feel like I'm on the other side of this.  I've got a few more days of meds to take and hopefully my energy will come back.  I didn't realize how ill I was until my ears popped open one day and I woke up without pain in my teeth and cheek.  Trust me - I won't wait that long again to go the doctor.