Soundlessly trying

I absolutely *love* my mp3 player.
But today, it let me down. Mid stride during my run this morning it just stopped. I thought maybe I pushed the pause, or power button or something...anything. I had to slow the shoe grinder down, and check it out. I had *oops* let the battery run down... What was I thinking? Why hadn't I checked it? I can deal with the fact that I overlooked charging it, but what I couldn't deal with was the timing. I still had another 15 minutes of running and *gasp* I had to run without the music to distract, scratch that, motivate me. I think that last 15 minutes on the grinder was the most gruelling encounter with the gym. ADD, impatience or whatever you want to term it makes my head go "whom whom whom" when surrounded by an annoying sound. That little tapping of a pen during a meeting is amplified to someone banging a drum in my ear. For real. So the 2 people who seemed to be alternately jumping rope... yeah I was loving that. I even amped up my speed to try to bring my focus back on the treadmill... and it worked. It worked so well because I had all I could do to breathe, and not fall off. I began to have visions of myself being whipped off the machine and my hair getting caught in the track.

Needles to say, my savior (aka mp3) will be plugged in tonight.

Spring has finally arrived!

This weekend's weather absolutely rocked!
I got a chance to rake out the backyard, which by the way, I was very tempted (HG talked me out of it) to rake the leaves and then dump them into the neighbor's yard. There are NO trees, as in not a single one, in my backyard but I had tons of leaves.... Not fair!
There was the smell of BBQ in the air, and as I raked I had fantasies of having my own BBQ. I love warm weather!
HG & I also got out both days to ride his Harley... and it was beautiful! We put on about 200 miles between Sat. & Sun. I'm toying with the idea of buying a small bike of my own. I used to ride rice rockets (aka street bikes), and had started learning how to drive but since then haven't been back on again. I love the freedom, but am not sure if I'll think too much to do it and scare the bejessus out of myself...and HG. So it'll have to be a really inexpensive bike so I don't feel bad if I decide I'm a better passenger. Anyway, that's a thought in the back of my mind, right now I'm enjoying HG's driving. Bonus as a passenger is that I get to gawk at everything ;-)

Knitting:
Um... yeah, no progress. With the newly arrived warm weather, I've been outside, and not knitting. Once the leaves are raked, and I can get my hammock up, a-knitting I will be, outdoors of course :-)
The Yoda sweater I've done the right front, back and am in the middle of the left front. Then I'll just have to do the sleeves, and sew it all together. I'm not so excited by that thought as my other baby sweater clearly indicated that I sucked at that! Again, good thing it's for a little one!

Catching up

Pictures I've been meaning to post:

My first baby sweater... (if you see mistakes, don't tell me about 'em. This is my v ery first sweater)

Summer dress for baby gumpa (it's nearly backless and very stretchy so it should be easy to get on over her cast)
HG's new baby...good thing there's a seat for me, otherwise I might never see him this summer

Most recent yarn purchases....(don't worry I have specific items in mind, and yes I bought much more of each but they were falling out of the chair...)

Current Project: "Baby Yoda Sweater"

This is for baby gumpa. It's a baby wrap sweater that ties in the front, and the green isn't the green I though I was getting, but it'll work too. Baby gumpa is going to be in a full body cast for a few months, so I thought this would be easier on baby and mum to get on as opposed to most of her clothes that are pull on... Poor baby gumpa inherited daddy "butter bones" luck.

Gym Characters

I don't typically talk to strangers, even if they are strangers that I see daily like at the gym. However, while I don't often talk to these people, I'm a huge people watcher. I get much of my gym entertainment by watching others, (since there are no remotes for the TV's, and the one TV that you could change the channel on, I'm still too short to reach).

-Character 1- Sweat lady:
There is a lady who looks to be in her forties with a stocky build who works frequently hits the stair master next to me. I've seen her on a fairly regular basis, and each time I see her she is SOAKED. I mean dripping wet, her hair plastered to her head, her shoulders and back damp, crazy wet. I see her working out, and she's a tough cookie, but I sort of thought maybe she dampens her towel to cool herself down?? I don't know, it seems like excessive sweat. Anyway, the other morning I had been on my favorite elliptical for 15 minutes when she climbed on to the stair monster. I finished my half hour intervals and moved on to some weights. I did my thing and was headed to grab my bag and hit the shower when I noticed she was still on the stair monster... and the sweat was literally dripping off. I mean, worst than a leaking roof during a thunderstorm... one bucket wouldn't have been enough. She definitely deserves some snaps for it though, because I'd say it was a little over an hour on that dreaded machine. (Note- she thoroughly wipes down machines after use... I watched)

Character 2- Sweat man:
Sweat man doesn't drip as the sweat lady does, but his clothes are soaked thru. We seem to run on a similar gym pattern, as I'm often hitting the weight machines around the same time he is. I've got nothing against people sweating, this is a gym, but I'm not a fan of sharing equipment with said characters. This guy, who seems nice enough, sweats profusely, and only wipes the hand grips. Ok kudos for using the handy sani wipes on the handles, but listen, I don't want to sit or lean in your sweat. Wipe down the damn seat/rest. If they were dry when you sat, and then soaked when you stand that should be indication it's coming from you. Again let me reiterate... I don't want to sit in your sweat. I end up skipping the machines he's on, or wiping with the sani wipes and my towel. Some consideration please.

Character 3- Wandering guy:
There is 30-ish guy who comes into the gym mostly to do the free weights. When the other guys aren't there (moral support maybe?) he slacks hardcore. He walks around the machines (maybe inspecting?) watches the mirror (Maybe checking his walking form?) and when he hits the treadmill he walks slower than my dead grandmother. I haven't really figured this guy out. When the group support is there, he hits the free weights hard, but when they aren't he just wanders....

Character 4- killer lady:
There is a woman that I've only actually seen 3 or 4 times, but she does a short walk on the treadmill than hits the free weights. I don't usually go into the free weight section because it's often too full of testosterone for me, so kudos to this lady for not being intimidated.
I don't know if the testosterone is affecting her, because if you look at her, she looks like she's ready to attack and kill... you. For real. This lady makes me nervous. We happened to be using 2 leg machines next to each other, and I felt like I was being hurried off my machine by her glare... weird. So the other times I've seen her, I've fortunately not being using any of the same machines, however she never looks happy. Or more she always looks like she's on the attack & kill mode. Yeah- I avoid this one.


Since I'm a people watcher, it makes me wonder what others see when they are watching me, and if I've been caught doing something stupid. This is me, so I'm sure I have.

"Sweetie"

Hey it's Friday the 13th....


I’ve discovered that I may be a hypocrite, although I’ve always suspected that.

Here’s my story.
Have you ever been in a store and this little old man says “ Sweetie, could you help me reach that?” or “Could you be a dear and…” I have, and it’s never bothered me that this little old grandfatherly like person called me sweetie or dear. I’ve even had guys my age say something equally sugary… and if they weren’t being excessively gross, I would just let it go as innocent flirtation.
Now, here is the bad part.
This morning on my way from the gym to work, I stopped at Dunkin Donuts (great idea right?). A female, who sounded all of 12, took my order thru the drive thru speaker and instructed me to pull up to the window. I pull up to the window and there is a 35-ish not so attractive male at the window. He opens the window and says “that’ll be $3.61 sweetie”… He wasn’t cute, and he wasn’t grandfatherly and so it somehow bothered me that he referred to me as sweetie.
If that wasn’t enough, as he’s handing me my change he says “That’s $6.39 honey”… and again I realize that I’m being unfair to this poor guy who is probably just being sweet, even if it’s a sickly, slimy sweet, but I don’t like it. If your not old enough to be my grandfather, don’t call me sweetie, dear, or honey. Really. Don’t.

Busy Saturday

Saturday NM and I went to Webbs in North Hampton. I thought I was prepared for the hugeness of Webbs, thanks to the warnings of a local knitter we were meeting later. I wasn't. I had made a list of what I what yarns & books I was looking for, for upcoming projects- Thankfully otherwise I might have been there all day petting various yarns. Even with the list, I noticed I was picking up other yarns and thinking I could make "this" and "this" and... this was all in the smaller store front... I hadn't even gone into the back. I went into the back, where it's more of a warehouse of yarns, and was immediately in awe. I just randomly walked up all the isles, and picked up yarn after yarn. Luckily I picked up what was on my list first, so I did end up putting back most of the not listed stuff.... and I was quickly running out of money.

NM and I were headed to a Korean Restaurant where we were to meet a few of the knitters from home. We went straight when we should have gone right, twice... yup. I want to clarify that I was not driving... and we took an entire parking lot to turn around. Actually it was very hilarious, and each time NM did something silly, she'd look at me and say she was being safe, and that she really wasn't a bad driver... I'd be laughing to hard to say anything.
The Korean Restaurant we ate at was interesting. It had only 5-6 tables, and I swear they had the a/c on... for real, I couldn't take my jacket off the entire time. Being a Korean restaurant, they set the tables with Chopsticks... no silverware anywhere in site. Um, yeah not so proficient with the chopstick. I ordered a Vegetarian dish of sauteed vegetables served with rice. I could get the veggies with the sticks, but didn't have so much luck with the rice. I felt like I was picking it up grain by grain. The appetizer they served was a variety of vegetables cooked in what I assume is traditional Korean ways, served with a red pepper sauce of some sort... that had a bit of kick to it. All in all, the food was delic, and I would be willing to go again.
After leaving the girls and the Korean restaurant NM and I headed home via Yankee Candle. We had thought we could be in and out in less than 15 minutes, since NM was looking for 2 items.... an hour later we left with bags in hand.

When we finally got back to my house, HG was in the garage putting parts on his Harley... I asked what the various parts had cost... his cool response "hey, you buy yarn, I buy parts."
Hmm... ok had to hand that to him, based on how much I had spent in the last week on yarns.

After a frantic cooking hour to get a dish prepared for the party in G-town, HG and I headed out. The house in G-town is a bit of a trek, it takes us about 40 minutes to get there, where we arrived fashionably late... as usual. My brother & wife were there with the my niece. As were a variety of other family & friends, but I think I went mostly to see Anna. After mom fed Anna, she was promptly thrown into my arms, and there she remained most of the evening. I say promptly thrown, but this was after touching and cooing over her while mom fed... and waiting patiently beside mom while she finished. :-) Hey it's the first baby gumpa, and I am the Aunt, and determined to be her favorite auntie. Actually she was awake for a while so I got to play with her before she dozed off again. As much as I'm on the fence as to whether or not I want to have kids of my own, I love kids, especially cute little kids. But I'm concerned that my fascination with babies is like that of puppies and kittens, everything is cute when they're babies, but at some point they all grow up... and then I'm more like "'eh, yeah I'm all set."




Sunday was spent cozing up on the couch with HG, a little knitting, a little tea and a couple old movies. Actually I was watching Legally Blonde (I know, I know) and after catching the first one on cable, HG popped in the 2nd one... to my surprise.
The title rolls and I just stare at him.
HG: "What?"
me: "What are you watching?" (Like I wasn't)
HG: "Well, I've never actually seen it"
me: laughing and pointing at him...

Sunday was nice, now if only we had more Sundays and less work days :-)

Movie Review...

HG and I recently watched (at my insistence of course) "Holiday" with Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, the chick from Titanic, and Jude Law. I have to admit that I liked it, even though it was a bit cheesy. And I'm not so much a fan of Jude Law, but the character he plays... adorable.

Another Cheesy movie I saw recently, "Pursuit of Happiness"... again a bit hokey, but could bring a tear to a glass eye. Although I may be a bit bias because a) I'm a Will Smith fan and b) it's based on a true story. Both of those are good points in my book. Btw, I've never beaten that damn Cube... ever.

Books

Recently finished reading "Memory keeper's daughter"....
It makes you question people's moral compass, and even made me think "what if that were me, how would I feel, what would I say". I think anything, be it books, movies, or other people that make you think are good. So yeah, I like the book, but would I rush out and buy copies for all my friends....ah, no, not so much. There are some books that you feel everyone should read, they are that awesome, but then there are books you're glad you read, but doesn't necessitate everyone you know reading it. This is one of those.

My two all time favorite books, that I think everyone should read are "Jonathon Livingston Seagull" and "Tuesdays with Morrie". I think I've lent out and purchased these books for a number of my friends.

By the way... I've just finished reading "Memory Keeper's Daughter"... want to borrow it? ;-)

If you don't have anything nice to say...

I'm not going to say it.... well at least not today.

Not work:

[family]
We are proud owners of a Harley Road King. The Mr got his way about vehicles , and since he's been objecting to any nickname that I've tried to pin him with on the blog, will now also be referred to as the Harley Guy (HG). So two points for HG... don't worry I'm sure I'll get my way on something else, I always do :-) While HG has been going for local rides almost daily, we took a longer excursion to see my brother, sister-in-law and niece... which further proved that we are stubborn fools! The outside temp was never above 55, and being on a bike helped to speed up the freezing up of me, the always cold Colombian. Aside from the temp being cold, it was actually nice, and all the fresh air helped me fall asleep almost instantly that night.
My niece, since she's out of her brace for a month (she gets casted in May, bummer:-() has returned to being a happy baby, and is starting to sleep for more than 2 hours at a time, which in turn has meant that mom and dad are also getting more sleep. So all in all the entire family was happier :-) Butter bones (my brother) is happy about the easier diaper changes without the brace, and after seeing HG's bike is thinking it would be fun to have a bike too. Um, Butter bones wife is adamantly saying no to this... not that I blame her at all. Butter bones, literally has broken more bones and had more injuries than any normal human being, hence the name butter bones. While few if any of his injuries have ever been serious (we don't count broken wrist, arms or ankles), he has had many visits hospitals across the state, often at the least desirable times... for example, right before you're headed to a family holiday gathering... and I do mean literally a few hours before. "Damn it butter bones..."

[personal]
I've gotten acclimated to going to the gym in the mornings surprisingly quick. I don't dread it, not to say that I'm super excited to go sweat, but I typically feel good about it. I've not really had to talk to an weird strangers, and by definition a weird stranger is anyone I haven't met. The gym I go to is not overly social, people really go to work out, although if you had a question or got hurt, someone would probably help you out, people tend to mind their own ipods and mp3 players. By the way, a little plug for HG, I absolutely h-e-a-r-t my mp3. I'm not saying people at my gym wouldn't work out without their respective mp3.... but I bet there would be a lot more banter and a lot less sweating. And more conducive to weird strangers trying to strike up conversations... I'm just saying...

[yarn whoring]
I have a yarn groping excursion planned with some local knitters. It should be fun. I'm trying to formulate a list of yarns that I need for projects so that I don't go crazy once I get there. Actually what would probably happen would be that I would be overwhelmed by all the choices... and be there for hours groping and petting yarns only to leave either without anything because I could make a decision of that magnitude... or with one of everything, broke and without enough of any one yarn to make something.


Work:
March madness is over, thankfully. We now return to our regularly scheduled program.
Actually some of the bigger issues from work have been discussed at length with the head & manager of the department, and will be addressed formally in an upcoming staff meeting. Hopefully this will sink in, and we are making some management changes that also may (hopefully) solidify the new requirements. Again, Yay! We'll see, but I'm hopeful.