Projects On The Side

You may think I've forgotten or abandoned my knitting. But I'm still working on my sweater wrap. I have to knit until the length measures 64 inches and I'm only halfway there.



I'm headed to Michael's today (after I exercise) to buy yarn for a baby blanket. I have a baby shower to attend next weekend. Yes, I'm starting this project with only 6 days to finish it. I will have to put the sweater wrap on the back burner and really focus on the blanket. I've picked a fairly easy pattern (Baby Afghan for Beginners) so I'm confident that I can complete it. The mother-to-be is also registered somewhere so I'll probably get something as a backup. You know the old saying about the best laid plans....

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I'm nearing the end of my second 30-day challenge and I've been losing weight. The scale says 5 pounds but the big deal is that my clothes are fitting better! When I start my next 30 days, I'm undecided if I should move up to high intensity or re-do the medium intensity.

I gained so much weight in the last year that, even with this progress, I still have a long way to get to a truly healthy weight. I'm not delusional; I have no desire to be a size 0 or 2 because that is just not possible for me. However, I would like to ultimately lose at least 40 pounds. I'm averaging a pound a week so by the end of the year I should be close to my goal.

Praying For Good Health

I was in the bathroom stall today (sorry if I am grossing you out), and I just had this rush of a feeling that I can't believe this is where I am at this age. And I don't mean literally at that second, because using the bathroom is a normal function of life. But, here I am, 9 months away from being 40 years old and everything I do is tempered, measured, or limited by a variety of influences (finances, schedules, etc.). Could I possibly just let go and throw all caution to the wind and do something wild and fun and just amazing for my 40th birthday?

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I love Daylight Savings time; walking out of work at 5:00 p.m. and it just feels like I'm escaping early and I still have plenty of usable daylight at my disposal.

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I just added the following to my To Do List: (a) Figure out what exactly the Healthcare Bill really means; and (b) Clean out my car. I am ashamed of not knowing the provisions of the bill but even more ashamed of the mess in my car. Because I am working a temporary position, I do not have access to decent benefits. I have to provide for my own health insurance, which seems almost like catastrophic coverage because the deductibles are so insane. I am THAT american who needs access to coverage even though I am not currently a part of an insurable work group. I really dropped the ball on getting involved and educated on the health insurance reform. Instead, I was just angry and opinionated about those opposing the measure. Those people seem so greedy and selfish, and I get angry because I take their opposition personally. I have always been a hard worker and I do not slack when it comes to taking on my fair share. But somehow I have been lumped into a category with those who work the system and ride others' coattails. And, as of this instant, the bill has been signed into law (I know there are about 14 states, including my Florida, waiting to file lawsuits to have it declared unconstitutional), so I guess the naysayers have to eat their words for a bit. Of course, I can still have hope.

As for my messy car, if I just took all the books out of the backseat, it would be a HUGE improvement.

I Did Not Forget To Wear Green Today

I've been neglecting this blog because I ended up with a temporary job at a law firm and my brother was in town last week. Time to catch up with what's on my mind.

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Turns out that Ms. Delilah is perfect in every way, except for her "serious" Bartonella infection. I have to give her liquid antibiotics every day for 21 days. Although Delilah was not sick from the infection, I think her upper respiratory problems (she is the sneeziest cat I know) were a result of this.

Her latest favorite place to crash is in front of the bedroom window in Steve's ugly green recliner. When Steve and I started seriously seeing each other, we bought a green cotton throw. It was always over at Steve's house for my use when I got cold or chilly. Now, Delilah is attached to that blanket like crazy. She loves to cuddle up in it and sleep, be it on the chair, the bed, or the couch. Usually, when I get home from work, I find her curled up in the chair on her green blanket, as below.


Of course, I can't let her sleep in peace. I must take a picture.

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I cannot stand making mistakes. Yes, it is irritating and upsetting in a general sort of way. But my problem is that I constantly berating myself. It's like my internal voice just is stuck on repeat. When I am working, this problem is magnified ten-fold. I can handle mistakes and screw-ups when I'm around my family or friends. However, in the face of co-workers and clients, mistakes I make send me spinning and I end up compounding errors. While I logically realize what I do and what I am responsible for is merely a blip on a blip on a blip in the huge scheme of things, once those destructive thoughts form in my head, I can't keep them from multiplying until they become my only thought. I have to forcibly distract myself in order to get rid of them. They are strongest on my way home from work; thus the reason I try to make as many phone calls as possible on my way home. To avoid the negativity......

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I'm halfway through my second 30-day workout session with Wii Active. I know the workouts are going to get even more intense. I have been religious with following the routines, but the weight is not really dropping off. But, for a change, I am withholding final judgment until I complete a full 90 days of exercises (Wii Active on low, medium, and high intensity). Meanwhile, I have to congratulate (on a daily basis) Steve on his 20-lb weight loss.

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I'm only halfway through my sweater wrap. I've been neglecting my knitting as I have my blogging, and for the same reasons.

I Have Time To Exercise

First, let's get to the good news. Delilah is a very healthy cat. The vet's office called and said all the additional blood work was clean. She is still recovering from all the shots, but she actually moved around and even ventured outside for a few minutes.

For dinner, I made chicken and zucchini in a garlic sauce, and the dish was delicious. The recipe is going in my cookbook (a gift from my mom for christmas last year). I imagine this dish is even better the second day due to the garlic sauce; and Steve will have to fill me on this theory as he is taking the leftovers to work. I actually made this recipe because I was craving zucchini but Steve was unsure if this was a vegetable he could work with. Turns out we were both very happy with the results.

This morning, I started my new 30-Day Challenge on Wii Active, this time with the intensity level set on medium. Day One had 18 exercises to complete, three of which are running and four of which are squat-related. I felt good because I could keep up with the program and definitely credit the fact that I previously worked through the entire 30-day challenge on low intensity.

I'm eating better (not great, but better) and exercising; I have seen my energy level increase and my moods have been really good (even though I am an out-of-work loser). However, I have quite a way to go before my shape is something that I am not embarrassed by. Because I am looking for work, I think my weight can be a negative to a potential employer. I would hope they could see past my shape because I am a truly great employee, but with so many people out there competing for work, who knows what employers are basing decisions on. Right now, I am focusing on staying positive and keeping up with my exercising.

Delilah In The Dumps

Delilah has been lethargic and moping around since her vaccinations yesterday. I'm afraid she was overloaded with the poking and prodding. She slept most of the day and night and didn't ask to go outside - very unusual for her. I believe I heard her eating yesterday but I'm not sure. I've put together a small bit of food and water and moved it to be closer to her. Her favorite spot seems to be near the window with the light coming in on top of her.

From what I've read on the internet (some of which was pretty damn scary), I should see an improvement in her attitude and interest in eating within 48 hours of the vaccinations. I wish she would let me hold her and make her feel better.

All Over The Place

My blog entries jump around too much; the paragraphs do not flow into each other smoothly. I don't do transitions very well. I'm going to try something new and create a header for each idea, so there is at least a semblance of delineation for the separate thoughts.

Cat News
I took Delilah to the vet this morning. I was completely stressed out by the whole idea. I had to keep reminding myself that I had to make sure that she was healthy. The car ride over was uneventful; Delilah did not make any noises at all. After we got situated in the exam room, Delilah started in with the growling noises and I could not comfort her. By the time the vet tech came in, Delilah was very vocal about her uneasiness. The tech took her in the back room to do lab work and I could hear how unhappy she was. Lucky for us, the vet pronounced Delilah to be very healthy and she tested negative for feline leukemia and feline aids. There is more blood work being done and we will have the results in a few days. However, I feel good about it all.

The aftermath of today's appointment was that Delilah did not talk to me for a few hours. She went outside and sunbathed. I got her to come back inside and she slept in the sunlight, all curled up.



Technology Pains Me
I have the worst luck with audio/video setups related to our television. This started years ago when I purchased a receiver without really investigating what input/output configuration was necessary. So the one purchase of a simple receiver caused me to spend a ton of additional money to buy component parts to work together. The worst part of it was my experience with Radio Shack. At the time, I was buying a antenna so we could access over-the-air free HD signals. As I described my television to the Radio Shack guy, he smugly informed me that I did not own a television but a "glorified 42" monitor". Ugh. Anyway, I am back on that track simply because I want use my "glorified" monitor to watch television online.

It should be easy. I connected the laptop to the television via the VGA port. Now, to get sound from laptop to the television. I had to go Radio Shack and get a Audio Y Cable (stereo male to Dual RCA). The cable goes into the headphone jack on the laptop and into the red/white audio inputs on the television. But I still cannot get sound to the television,......errr, monitor.

I searched the internet to find out what the heck is wrong with this configuration. I'm going to call my brother and get his opinion. He's better at this stuff than me.

My Kitchen Experience
I made homemade chocolate chips cookies last night. Yes, homemade, as in mixing flour, baking soda, vanilla, sugar, eggs, and chocolate chips. They are good, not great, and even better the second day. Mind you, I did all of this without the assistance of a mixer, handheld or stationary. Totally powered by my muscles, and, yes, my arms were tired from all of that stirring. I think I just had to prove it to myself that I could do it actually make something edible.

Knitting Burns Calories, Too

I resumed knitting; I did a quick knitted cap since we are still experiencing lower-than-normal temperatures. The cap looks really good on Steve, but he's asleep right now so I can't get a picture of him wearing it. I'll post it later.

I started knitting a sweater wrap and was imagining that I could give it to my mother as a gift. I have not knitted cables in a while and so, I didn't refresh my memory before attempting it. Of course, I made a mistake on the first cable and now the sweater gathers at the bottom. Perhaps it is something I can fix when blocking the piece, but I really do not want to gift it when I know I screwed it up. The good news that I am still knitting it and I didn't just rip it all out. I liked the color more in the store than in the bright sunlight. The pattern is incredibly easy to memorize and the cable is really simple, even though I screwed it up the first time. I lost my cable needle and instead I'm just using one of my double-pointed needles.



Next week, Delilah has her vet appointment. And based on her attitude this morning after I trimmed her nails, she is going to be very mad at me on Monday. I have noticed that Delilah has modified her schedule over the past month. In the mornings, she is a very needy cat; she will talk to me until I sit on the couch, at which time she will jump on my lap and take nap. She does expect head rubs at this time as well. Delilah is very unusual cat because she does not meow. Her communication with us consists of trills and cries, which is common for Maine Coon cats. I am convinced that Delilah is a Maine Coon mix. Although she is not the right size for a Maine Coon (they tend to be large cats), she has the other features, such as the furry raccoon-like tail, the tufts of hair in her ears and between the pads on her paws, and her full and glossy coat. She's so pretty and she knows it. Just look at this photo of her looking out of the front window.



I am almost finished with the 30-Day Challenge (EA Sports Active for Wii). I plan to start a new 30-Day Challenge as soon as this one is completed; the new challenge will be on medium intensity. I'm working on low intensity because I am so out of shape. After I complete the 60 days, I will consider joining Steve on the Insanity workout. This workout DVD program is so intense and, currently, I do not have the stamina or the endurance to do it. This is such a rough program - even the people on the DVD who do the workout along with the instructor actually STOP doing to the exercises because of the intensity. It's funny to watch the program and see all of the participants in the back dropping like flies because they cannot keep up with the program. And believe me, these people are in seriously great shape. So roly-poly me does not really stand a chance without building up some time of stamina with "regular" exercises.

Unsteady On My Feet

While exercising today (Wii Active Day 17 of 30-day Challenge), I started feeling nauseous and dizzy. I knew what was happening - I was overheating. This is first time this has happened to me while exercising. Wii Active was leading me through an exercise of kick-ups and I was alternating between fast kick-ups and slow kick-ups for an extended period of time. I was pushing myself pretty hard and my body revolted. I had to yell for Steve to come out to the front room (waking him up) and, true to Steve, he wanted to check my heart rate. What I needed was a cold compress and water to bring my body temperature down. Luckily, he listened to me and, after a few minutes, I was feeling better. I finished the exercises for the day, which focused on my upper body.

I've only experienced overheating one other time in my life, but it was not while exercising. I was in Nashville at the CMA Music Fest, more commonly known as Fan Fair. It was a very hot day and I did not keep myself hydrated. I passed out on a concrete staircase and was transported to the First Aid tent, where I was covered in wet towels and cooled down with copious amounts of water. This was not the highlight of the trip, and I learned my lesson to always make sure I had something to drink.

I think this latest experience was that I pushed myself too hard on that kick-up exercise. I will have to plan more water breaks if the level of my exercising is going to increase.

To end on an good note, here's the lovely Delilah:

Tuesday Mish-Mash

My second attempt at felting was a miserable failure. I can't even take a picture of the result of the felting because the bag was stuck together like glue. It was bizarre. Steve and I tried to pry it apart but it was melted or fused together. I am obviously doing something wrong but I'm too frustrated and disappointed to try to work through what that could be. I started knitting a ribbed cap, so no blocking or felting required.

I made chili on Sunday night, and it turned out yummy. Pictures were taken but they don't look so appetizing so I will spare you. Last night was sweet italian sausage and peppers and onions. So far, so good. I'm not doing anything fancy but I have learned that using fresh produce does make a difference. For example, using real garlic instead of the stuff in the jar or, even worse, garlic seasoning, has a definite positive impact on the taste of the dish.

I cannot stop taking pictures of my cat. I played around using digital macro on my camera and managed one cool picture of Delilah.

Saturday Details

While the mid-Atlantic states are being hit with a ridiculous amount of snow (my brother and his family in D.C. saw more than 2 feet of snow today), our Florida Saturday was seriously beautiful, albeit a bit on the windy side. Now, I'm not complaining about it at all. I went to a car show in Lake Mary with Steve and I got to enjoy the day. Cars don't interest me at all, as I see them as merely transportation. Steve, on the other hand, is a car enthusiast and was thrilled to see the collection of Bentleys, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and yes, the million dollar Bugatti.

I made stew for dinner and I have a couple of gallons left over. It was pretty good, for such little effort. And technically it's going to be "cold" tomorrow, so the leftovers will be appropriate.



I'm back at work at another bag. My first bag, pre-felted, was really nice, and I had high hopes for it. But, once I ran it through the wash, the felted result was just yuck. The colors didn't run together in a pretty way; they appeared more as a mush. My solution is to start over, with different yarn and a size larger for needles. I'm almost done with my second attempt and I promise to take pictures of before and after, no matter the outcome.

I have got some great pictures of Delilah, I'll probably post them next time.

And It Tastes Good, Too

Yes, I have resolved to get into shape this year. I am actually exercising, using my Wii, but I haven't got on board with any type of diet menu. Even though I am almost 40 years old, I still believe that if I can just get a good cardio program going, I will lose the weight, no matter if I still decide to eat bread and rice.

I cleaned my house and I have kept it clean and organized! I have to work at it every day because the second I let anything slide, then I'm afraid that the clutter will take over again. Now that I'm basically organized, I've started meal planning (not for a diet, mind you!) and I've made a few actual meals. For example, I made rice soup with carrots and green beans. I added shrimp too, and it made a good meal. In fact, I still have leftovers to eat.

I also just made my first lasagna, very simple and easy recipe (no jar sauce, either). It turned out very well, very tasty. I have a lot of leftovers. The picture below is right after I took it out of the oven. The only drawback of this recipe is that the prep time was almost an hour. The cooking time was an additional hour. I don't know if I would normally say this, but all that time was worth it because I think this recipe was a real success.



We've been subjected to a few days of rain and clouds and dreary, overcast days. At this time of year, rain usually means cold weather, which I hate. However, I'm not turning on the heater for this short stint of cold weather. I'm just pulling out my blankets and quilts. My electric bill was almost $30 higher during our two-week cold spell a few weeks ago. And my budget has tightened seriously in the last two weeks and I think I'm going to need to carefully manage my money for the next few months.

I felted my first bag last week and HATED the outcome. I must confess that I threw it away because I couldn't even look at it. My solution was to go out and buy different wool yarn and start over. I can't really pinpoint what I hated about the first bag because I loved it before I sent it to the washing machine to be felted. I'm going to have to read up on felting to see if I did something wrong the first time. I think the most obvious reason I hated the outcome was because the colors didn't felt into each other in a good way, if that makes sense.