Approaching Glory

Socking Along

Sorry I'm a day late.  Let's just say that the tests are done and leave it at that.  I'll know more soon on the results.  Anyway -  I have been knitting off and on and actually have some finished objects!

These were made with Austermann's Step with Aloe Vera and Jojoba Oil.  I started out working the yarn in a tube sock pattern and then decided I didn't like it.  So I used a plain toe-up pattern and a 1x1 ribbing (which I like better than 2x2 because it is snugger around the ankle).  I'm a little disappointed that the yarn pooled so differently on the one sock - but I don't think any one is going to mind.
Then we have: 

These socks were made from Socks that Rock in Mochaberry (100% merino washable).  I've got to tell you - this is awesome yarn.  Thicker and spongier than regular finger weight yarn.  Great for those cold winter days.  The pattern is Spring Forward from Knitty's summer 2008.  I love the pattern.  It is easy and looks great - wish I could get a better pic of it for you.  I'm currently on the second sock in the same yarn in a green - Footzey Foo (I believe it's the color that they show the pattern in on the Knitty site)  Finally -

I was going to make these in a lace pattern and then decided it was too much for the yarn.  This yarn is Online Supersocke in the colorway City.  It is being knit up in a plain toe-up with the 1x1 ribbing.  I'm just about done with one sock.  These are being made as a birthday gift for my niece.  Unfortunately, I'm going to miss the deadline (tomorrow - bad Aunt).  But I think she'll like them when they are done - they just happen to match her current color-guard costumes - so they'll be a reminder of this show.  BTW her color-guard won first in their regional area.  I got to see the performance and they were great!  Not to be outdone by "silly things".....

Tango decided to see what was so special. He believes he ranks much higher on the list than some dumb socks - so I snapped him as well. I do think he's pretty cute.  Don't you?

Heart Movements

Today I had part one of my stress test.  Let's just say I'm not looking forward to part two.  My head is aching so I think I'll leave you all with this video I made of Hubby's trip to Colorado last spring.  The small window looks best.

More tomorrow on the tests and knitting!  Blessings to you all.

Change I Can Do Without

Well, Mr. President, you've shown your hand quickly.  Without a lot of media coverage you signed this order.  Why am I not surprised?  Shame on you.  Remember that big difference we had about the sanctity of life?  Sure you do.  The person typing this blog may not have been here on this earth had abortion been available when I was conceived.  My son may not have been here either - praise God our birth mothers chose to carry us and give us life.

You stood up in front of our country at your inauguration as a symbol that America has finally gotten it through our heads that all are created equal and should have the right of liberty and freedom.  All what?  I take that to mean - human beings.  ALL human beings.  Don't get into a philosophical discussion with me about when life begins.  Any scientist worth their weight will agree that life begins at conception - that's a scientific fact.  Viability?  Don't go there either sir.  I really don't think you want to play God - no matter to whom you are likened by the media.  Mr. President, you are not the Messiah - Jesus Christ.

So the bottom line then of this sneaky move was what?  Why do I think it was money?  Because somehow I can't picture you as a champion of women over in some foreign country who feel cheated because they can't have an abortion.  If that was the case you would have, and could have championed that argument for years and years.  So - really sir - who got to you and for what reason?  Could it be the funding?  I believe so.  So let me ask you then, Mr. President - how much is a human life worth?

God never changes - He's always the same. 

Update:  I had to update the link to a media newsreport on what Obama signed.

Dancing Around the Laptop

I put off getting Jbird a laptop for quite awhile.  I surfed the Net for every type imaginable.  I looked at every company I could find.  I read all the on-line computer magazines, bookstore reviews, etc.  In other words, I did A LOT of research.  We also had many discussions (as a family) as to what to purchase and why.  Here's some of the reasoning that took place:

1. If we purchased a super charged tower, a wide screen tv, a wireless mouse, and keyboard we could put it downstairs and have a knockout entertainment center.  We would have to call AT&T and tell them to come out and hook us up to their tv package and - voila! - we would have a digital tv, a computer capable of doing more media goodies than we'd ever need,  Hubby and Jbird could play their PS2 through the system to a wide screen monitor, (dumbest move I ever made as a parent was letting the boy down the road give J his old PS2 - if you don't have one - don't go there - and yes I'm well aware we are at the Wii level now), we could save shows whilst out or doing other things (oh and the ALL IMPORTANT )- the guys could see sports. (but Mom you could watch your cooking, history, and mystery stuff too)  While this all sounds jolly - the cost was enormous and in reality I don't care if our tv picks up signal after February or not.  I rarely watch it at all.  And since discovering Hulu I'm happy as a lark.  I can watch all of my old favorites - Hart to Hart, Ironside, Remington Steele - for free. (yes Mom - but you could see it on a wide-screen!)  The child has an answer for everything.  Besides which, I don't want the distraction of all those tv options open to a son who is supposed to be spending his time studying and focusing on college.
2. After the rolling snowball of  unexpected expenses (see last post) this option was no longer a real option - much to sonny boy's dismay.
3. A regular desktop computer which would be in Jbird's room.  Hmmmm..... nope - not gonna happen - we'd never see the kid again.  And if we got a souped up version I would want at the thing and I don't want to spend my time in the deep dark lagoon (better known as Jbird's disgusting bedroom)
4. A laptop.  I'd want one with all the bells and whistles.  I'm just that kind of a tech geek and I would want to know that my computer would stay up to par with tech advancement for at least a couple years beyond the sale date. (which is a real joke considering most computers are already old before they come to market)

Then I started thinking minimalist.  This is a college kid who has accommodations that allow him to take the laptop into his classroom for note-taking.  What in the world does he need with a big screen laptop that takes up all the desk space? (btw it is a hoot to walk through the student center and see all the kids with these BIG laptops taking up their table space - not to mention the 6lb does wonders for hauling it al over the place) What does Jbird really need except word processing and email accessibility?  Nothing.

So I began the search again - still looking at academic discounts - etc.  Time after time I read rave reviews about the Acer Aspire - which is a mini.  Think smaller than a composition book.  Fits niftily into a backpack and would slip nicely into a medium sized handbag.  I think I read one or two bad reviews out of about a hundred.  I try to read reviews spread over a wide representation of skills and ages.  That's why I was so pleasantly surprised to read good comments from techies, women who use it for everyday purposes, and college students.  Best price was found online at Walmart. Let me tell you the delivery was super fast - I would easily shop with WallyWorld again online.  I wanted the 160 gig with the 6 cell battery ( instead of the normal 3 cell).  I got a great package deal which got me a small carrying case as part of the deal.  The computer weighs less than 3 pounds.  It comes loaded with XP home version (which I chose over Linux or Vista - in my opinion XP is more stable).  Now I also purchased an external DVD/CDR drive because the mini doesn't come with one.  This will allow us to download our software to the computer.  It has more than enough USB ports and Jbird's flash-drive will work great as a backup.

I'm so impressed with this little computer.  Actually, the one who spends the most time on the little thing is my Hubby - since his computer died he has "adopted" this one.

Recommendation:  Five stars easy.

And Some Things Never Change....

Thanks to Far Beyond Pearls for this bit of laughter. 

Where Has All the Money Gone - Far Far Away

I slept until 10 A.M. today!  Can not believe it.  It has been a long, long time since I've done that.  Tuesdays and Thursdays are Jbird's long days at college.  His first class starts at 8 A.M. and his last class doesn't get over until 5:30 P.M.  Yesterday he got a call from his violin teacher that they were waiting on him - did Jbird forget there was a performance?  Umm... no - you told him it was optional (that's what I wanted to say but didn't).  Jbird got on the phone and then ran around like a mad hatter to get there.  Evidently it went okay - he had the first violin spot again.  Can't imagine what it sounded like since I don't think J even knew what selections they were going to be playing.

Today was supposed to be my first day back in art class.  Unfortunately, financially it isn't an option.  Let's see -  we've had some unexpected things like:

1. emergency surgery for J, doc visits (we consider this Hubby's birthday present since it happened on his birthday)
2. back doc for Hubby
3. washer died (this was MY birthday gift cause it happened just before MY birthday)
4. refrigerator died (poor thing has been going for two years and it finally went)
5. my upper GI, colonoscopy, blood tests, doc visits, EGD - and upcoming stress test
6. oh and I forgot to tell you about Hubby falling on the road whilst walking dog a couple of days before Christmas - hurt shoulder, and wrenched his ankle (really really badly) still walking with brace and it will probably be about three months before his ankle is any where near normal
7. paid college tuition, bought books (that's a wad let me tell you)
8. Sonny boy came down with a case of strep - off to the doctor again.
9. my computer had to be taken to the Geek Squad because it got hit with a virus (this is WITH a wad of protection on my machine) fixed but not quite normal to the tune of $200.00
10. Hubby's computer crashed.  I mean like into the wall with no survivors.  It was a lemon HP that I got many years ago and it had a major crash over three year hence.  Luckily we were able to revive it and it clunked along doing its best to be amongst the living - and then boom - gone)
11. the purchase of a video card and some software which Hubby thought was the issue but wasn't, and they are both sitting there sticking their tongue out at us because we have no use for them whatsoever (and you know the policy - once opened - it's yours)
12. the purchase of software for me (my Christmas gift) that promised me the moon and the stars - to take my old cassettes and turn them into MP3's at the touch of a magic wand - we won't go into all the other things it promised - let's just say - if I had a shotgun.....
13. the purchase of a laptop for college boy - I'll say more about this in my next post
14. the trip for our anniversary

All of the above have left the coffers coughing (if you know what I mean) and therefore there is nothing left with which to attend a painting class.  This does not mean however that I have given up hope.  First, there is a lady teaching a portrait drawing class that I've wanted to take for over two years.  Right now there aren't enough to warrent a class but I put my name on the list and maybe by next Thursday (the first day of class) a miracle with finances will happen.  I can paint and draw at home.  I have the stuff I need - I really wouldn't neet to attend any class right now.  But I will truly miss Christopher and the crew.  This was something I did for me and I don't like giving it up.

Thankfully, we had the resources to address the issues above - even if it means paying a little here and there until they are all paid up.  God is faithful.

Dear Mr. President

Dear Mr. President,
Congrats on winning the election and having a historic day before you.  Praying all goes well and safely for you and the family.  Part of me is excited to be part of such a major event.  It definitely will be (should the Lord tarry) one of those times when people will say "I was there" or "I watched it".  I've been through quite a few of those in my lifetime - some good - some terrible.  I've seen one president assassinated, one resign, and one who was impeached. (although he never left office)  May your service to your country do well.

Here are some of my thoughts for today - I did not vote for you.  My voting for the other side was not due to race, but because of basic differences in our views and beliefs concerning the sanctity of life.  Let's not get into my concerns regarding your socialistic educational leanings.  I'll just let you know you are doing a lot for my prayer life - and for that I thank you.  I would like to believe the United States will resemble something of what I fondly remember when, and if, my son ever has children.

I know the world is watching us.  Many countries still are astounded that we have such a smooth transition between those who serve in office.  I am proud to be an American. I feel blessed to have been born here and to be part of the Christian heritage which has profoundly effected the development of our governing system.  May you remember those roots.  I am deeply grateful for our men and women who serve us in our military - may you do right by them. 

So Dear Mr. President - may you grow in the knowledge of the One who is the King of Kings and to whom one day you will bow.  May the wisdom of His Word guide you, comfort you, and give you hope and courage for the days ahead.  I believe you will need all the prayers you can garner for the future of our nation.

One for whom He died.....

The Support Group

Today was my return visit to the doctor.  I was supposed to bring my "support group".  I figured it would be Hubby and I since Jbird was lost to the sleep monster.

However, when I got to the doctor's office there was Judy waiting for us.  Now - just let me tell you that Judy does NOT get up early in the morning.  So I knew this was REAL support.

The doctor went over all my information again so that they could hear the details.  I got congratulated on my weight loss - 5 lbs - it's a start.  My sugar level was good.  My blood pressure was down but still high.  The doc is still believing that it will go down on it's own in just a bit.  I was getting that "how did I get here" feeling again.  I didn't say anything but it was rising up from the dark lagoon of my thoughts when the doc said, "Remember - this is genetics.  We don't know the family history.  You can thank your birth parents.  This has been coming on for over ten years."  Right.

I did get the news though - that I've got to go for a stress test next Monday.  Boo - hiss.  I'm figuring Judy will go with me since both Hubby and Jbird have to be at school at that time.  All in all - the doc is happy with me so far - although he did emphasize the necessity of the exercise.  Now that the sinus infection is gone, I feel like I can start down that road.  I see the doc again in a month.

After the appointment we met up with another friend at IHOP's.  I had a piece of chicken with steamed broccoli and a small salad.  Which, while it tasted fantastic, was a far piece from the pancakes that my friends were gobbling down.  I am having to tell myself over and over, "You can do this.  Don't eat that - it is poison."

I will continue to post on my progress through the maze.  Read earlier (back postings) to get the scoop on the story.

Back From the Mountains

We woke up at the cabin with visibility less than 100 from the cabin!  The snowflakes were the size of quarters.  It was beautiful - but we had to get down off the mountain!  So we packed up and cleaned up after ourselves quickly.  And then I just felt like we were supposed to wait "just a bit more" and within a half hour the skies had cleared and we could see a winter wonderland.  We got safely down the mountain - we saw kids with saucers playing and met one monster truck coming up the one car road.  Thankfully, we got passed him.  As soon as we got seven miles from the cabin there was little to no snow.  So I feel we were blessed to see such beauty.  Here's a small video I made of our cabin.

Thanking God for a blessed time and a super Hubby.

Going to the Mountains

Hubby and I are packing up and heading for a mystery location.  That is = it is a mystery to me.  I know we are going to a cabin.  I know it is up north.  I know we are going for two nights.

Since the weather has turned so cold and with threats of snow, I had to ask Jbird to give up his plan on spending one night over at his bud's house.  He wasn't real happy about it, but did give in when I suggested he just spend the day at his friend's and get home by dark.  Poor Tango wouldn't want to become a frozen popsicle.

So off we go and I'll let you know how it the anniversary trip went.