Old white guys....

I am NOT thankful for old white guys today.

Old white guys think that they should be able to get their rocks off with any woman they want.

Old white guys think that they don't need consent to get their rocks off with any woman they want. It's not rape.

Old white guys think that unless a woman fights back hard when they want to get their rocks off with any woman they want, it's not rape

Old white guys think that a woman should not be able to get an abortion if she falls pregnant unless a woman fights back hard when they want to get their rocks off with any woman they want. It's not rape, right?

Old white guys think that society has no responsibility to a woman who falls pregnant unless she fights back hard when they want to get their rocks off with any woman they want. Because it's not rape, right?

Old white guys that think that society has no responsibility to a woman who falls pregnant unless she fight back hard when they want to get their rocks off with any woman they want.....

Got no rocks.

Crashed and burned

So yesterday I had a minor surgery. As always there's a story.

Y'all probably know that I have a thing for swimming. Especially if you're connected to me on Facebook.

So you may not know that for the last 12-18 months, I have had a white mark on my back that won't tan. Heck, some of you won't know that I can in fact tan. Suffice it to say, the white spot on my back was a concern....The Rock was asked to examine and said there was a bump under the skin. Over 18 months, the bump got bigger and I got me to the physician. Redheads and things on skin don't mix.

Off to the doctor I go. Doc says, yep, I know what it is, harmless, we could remove but it would be elective. Oh, yeah, sometimes they get infected. So he refers me to cosmetic Dermatology for the removal.

While I wait for the Dermatology department to call, the damn things bursts under the skin and gets inflamed. So Memorial Day Weekend, I am at the doctor again, yep, inflamed, infected, here's some Sulfa to take the infection down and a surgical appointment to get it removed.

Two days later I report for what is supposed to be surgery, but turns out to be a consult. So I get to my consult anxious and nervous about being cut into. ( I don't care for doctors much, because I have issues with their God complexes.) So long conversation with the excellent and compassionate surgeon, who also refers me to the Dermatology department for a discussion re: skin cancer risk. A week later, I get on the surgical schedule.

So, do you see that this thing has netted me 4 doctor appointments, when they could have taken care of it at the get go??

So yesterday I had it removed. The surgeon was excellent and chatted with me the whole time. I just wish that she had told me that the anesthetic had a stimulant in it, as pixelpurl suspects.

Why? is the reader's part.

Well, those of you who know me IRL probably know that I don't take stimulants. Yup, no coffee, no caffeine, no drugs. No stimulants at all. And you also know that my response to the coffee question is:

Have you ever seen a lemur on caffeine?

Lemurs are cute Madagascar primates. At the zoo they can be seen to be running around alot in the trees and on the ground. They're high energy for the most part. Picture them after a cup of coffee. I'll give you a moment. Yeah.

So now you know why I don't use stimulants.

So yesterday I get home from this appointment and after an bit, I am literally shaking. And then I crashed. Hard. I worked gently through my day and was asleep by 9pm.

Oh, yeah, and the doctor wanted to give me some narcotics too. Bless her heart.

Anyway, the procedure went well, I am a little hungover today, and not in a lot of pain, despite the way the doc laid it out. Turns out I really did not need narcotics.

Don't understand

If I can put on 5 pounds in the course of a day, why can't I take off the same 5 pounds in the course of a day?  

One of the mysteries of life.

It's not cancer

I don't know that I thought it might really be, but with my history, I dare not take a chance, and so I got me to the physician.  According to the doctor, the sore on my lower lip is atypical, but does not look cancerous.  She gave it a bath in liquid nitrogen and told me to come back if it does not heal properly in 3-4 weeks.  

So when I look at the list of risk factors for skin cancer, the only risk I don't have is that part about having had skin cancer.  I have had bad sunburns, even 2nd degree sunburns, bad sunburns as a child, fair skin, light hair and eyes, and some family history of skin cancer.  

But today, it's not skin cancer.  

I don' write, I don' call!

It's a New Year, and I don't write, I don't call. Yes, I know, and rest assured my guilt over this is profound. But in all fairness, I have my reasons, which I could go into in 3 part harmony, but won't, because really, mostly folks don't care.

Let's just say that there's been a lot of things shaking up round here and I have not felt bloggy as a result.

But it's also a brand new spanking year, and I have a lot to be grateful for, such as a yob, a business, a book, 2 healthy children and a man who clearly loves me to death, or at least to dyeing.

New years are nothing without the occasional goal (a.k.a resolution) to look forward to. I have accomplished two of mine already, one accomplished yesterday, when I got my professional certification. You may now call me Ceallach, PMP. That was a huge deal, for which I have been applying, audited, studying and examined thoroughly. I swear that the testing center stopped just shy of a cavity search before they would let me sit for the exam. I get the whys and wherefores, but wow, it's easier to get on a plane, let me tell you.

I am also doing the 12 Sweaters in 12 months challenge on Ravelry, for which I am almost done with my 1st, right on time. The next one is a toss up between a heavy and challenging sweater like a cabled something, or something more simple, like a camisole knit with Ceallach Dyes' Lace yarn to wear under my workee sweaters, which would be helpful.

So what are you up to?

Back in action

So I am back in action. What have I been doing?

Well, trying to get the book done. I really need to spend a day just working on the book without interruption, but I am also really wanting family life back.

By that I mean that I have been working fulltime, commuting three days a week, telecommuting 2 days. On Saturdays, I get ready to dye and shoot on Sunday morning. It does not leave a lot of time for family and knitting and whatever else a working mom of two needs to do. Including exercise.

I have now managed to put on 20 pounds (or damn close to it) in the 7 months on new yob. Vacation did not help to be sure. It's to the point where I am embarassed to go to work, because I look awful in my clothes and have not been able to find some new pants say.

I cleaned my closet out ruthlessly last weekend, and have fabric out to sew, but little time to do so.

The worst part is knowing that I need to lose the weight, not because of the way I look so much (I am beyond thinking I will be a skinny minnie) but because I feel slow and my clothes don't fit right (and I know from experience, that buying new ones won't help) and my cholesterol is up a bit.

Mama said there would be days like this

She did not however say that the days may stretch out into weeks or months.

You know how sometimes in life, things are clicking along just fine, work is going good (fabulous actually), the book is coming along, you just got the bills paid off, and took a long vacation wherein despite taking 12 knitting projects, plus two extra yarn packs, just in case, but still there is something disquieting about it all.

Not a slump exactly.

Not depression.

Just things tripping along, almost without you in the driver's seat.

What is that?

Well, ladies and gentlemen, that is where I am. Things are tripping along, and it's all good.

I think that I am waiting for the shoe to drop. You know, the other one that They hold in the air until you relax, sigh a deep sigh and relax ever so much. Then They let go and the shoe drops whistling through the air until

BAM!

You guessed it. The other shoe dropped.

Now you're in for it.

It does not even matter what It is.

It will be bad. Unpleasant. Less than enjoyable....really take your pick of your descriptors. They all mean the same thing.

Are you with me?

Yeah, that's the kind of day it is. The worst part though is not knowing.

This is my new patio.....for 8 years we have had white glaring gravel or hard pan and just a bunch of stuff that has made being in the backyard untenable. Now I have this....I will be planting small plants in the cracks and we have a bunch of extra flagstones that I have plans for.

For two days, we have eaten outside and enjoyed the new patio, which is just fabulous for me and the kids.

The Rock was so fabulous at this, and got all those huge stones from the front to the back mostly by himslef on a dolly, which is definitiely not as easy as it might look.

I am so proud of him, and this is the best thing he ever could have done for me.

Cali Rocks!

At risk of placing myself on the political spectrum, California rocks.

California rocks for upholding the rule of law, not bowing to pressure from special interest groups driven by hatred and bigotry, and for making a landmark decision that will once again provide equal protection to everyone.

That's all I am saying here.

But California, pat yourself on the back today.

You rock.

Life intervenes sometimes

Y'all have noticed that I have not been blogging much lately. I thought that I would do a quick update for everyone, so that they know that I am alive, hale and hearty....

The business is cooking along, and there will be some changes this month to the way it's done, keep an eye out for those. I will send an announcement to the mailing list when the changes are done, so be sure that you are on it. Registration is here for the mailing list:

Ceallach Dyes Mailing List

I am spending most of my time, dyeing for my book, and getting very generous help from Janet at Pixel One Purl Two on the photography....the daisy and lavender pic on yesty's entry is from my garden. The manuscript is with editor for her probably and hopefully not so tender ministrations, while I do the dyeing, some of which is experimentation at this point, but off we go.

The new day job is going fairly well, although I tire of the baggage from the last two showing up at the oddest and most awkward moments. This too shall pass, yes?

The Rock is quitting the night job as he has been treated like dirt on shoe there, and I tire of my dear husband coming home humiliated by managers who could not manage their way out of a paper sack. He has a freelance copyediting job lined up that he can do from home, which may replace the salary, but will also allow us to have some family time, which has been totally lacking for 4-5 years in our house. We plan on doing some home improvements, which have been totally neglected.

As a result of everything going on, I no longer knit at home, but rather on the train two days a week, that allows me 2 hours on commuting days....that is really good, and I have gotten a lot of work done on Cheryl Oberle's Kasai Vest in the last few weeks, which is a great pattern, because you do 3-5 rows of pattern, and then 2 rows of plain stockinette. I tend to get one repeat done on each train trip, which is really gratifying. And I am focussing on one knitting project at a time right now also, because I find that I can see the progress easily. I just did the steeks for the armholes on the vest last night, and so should see the progress speed up a bit with 60 fewer stitches, so the end is in sight.

So I hope that all are well, and the knitting is good.

A funny thing happened on the way to knitting last night...

The Earth ate the moon and I have photographic evidence to prove it.

Here it is at the start of the drive to knitting group.

And from the top of the parking garage somewhat later.

Fabulous news!

Sometimes the universe is looking out for you and serendipity assures you that she is alive and very well indeed.

That is what has happened this week. An old colleague of my husband's thought of him when an incredible opportunity arose in the amazingly exciting world of Arabic publishing....and it's perfect for DH. He would be a copy editor for a very old and illustrious publication that is going online, only the third edition in over 100 years.

He would be able to work at home part-time to full time as he is able with the kids, and at any hour of the day, and since the company that publishes it is located in Europe, he would be paid in Euros, which are converting $1.56 to 1 EUR, at the moment.

So we have an incredible opportunity, contract in hand, and I am just bursting, because it means that DH and I are finally realizing some of our dreams, and we will also be able to spend more time together if he is not working nights and weekends.

Can you say giddy?

Cameras in custody

So the cameras have turned up at Grandma's house....don't ask how they got there. But I do think I overheard them talking about a digital photo of a remote control plane as a mode of transportation.

No pictures yet, as I started a new job on New Year's Eve....it's a good one, and the bestest part EVAH was that I get to telecommute 2 days a week. It has not settled down to that yet, but it's been two weeks. It's a lot to take in, new commute, new city, new company, new schedule, new business. So I am trying very hard to take it easy, but it is killing me. I wanted to be past that whole noob thing, so that I can refocus on the business and the book.

Although have ya noticed the decided lack of sunlight lately....honestly, what is it? Winter or something??

Tomorrow I am off to lovely downtown Long Beach to check out TNNA. I may be vending there in the near future and so I am on a reconnaissance mission. I understand that they will teach me the ultra super duper secret handshake when I get there.

The cameras though will stay at home.

I don't wanna blow my cover.

Ceallach Lives!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, she is alive, despite many rumors to the contrary. It's been cuhrazy round these parts, what with starting a(nother) new job, adding a new client to the business, and other events surrounding this time of year, including something called Christ Mass.

Oh, and if anyone sees my digital cameras, they are AWOL. Please drop me a line and I will send the Yarn Police round to take them into custody.

Would you believe that 2 digital cameras have disappeared in the last fortnight?

Call me Debby

Well no, not really, Ceallach is fine.

But you can call this yarn in process Debby, short for Debouillet....a variant of Merino originating in France. I mentioned that I had gotten the whole thing combed up and was looking forward to spinning it up. Yep, I have one bobbin full wound off, and another bobbin underway. I would have spun on til it was gone, but my wrists are bothering me a bit. I am overdue to see my crackin' chiropractor, and boy do I feel it right now.

Not to worry, Chris the Crackin' Chiro is hosting a food drive Saturday and you bring some canned food in to feed the poor, the hungry and the socially disenfranchised, and in return he cracks you up. Literally one bone at a time. Ah, the joys of holistic medicine!

Anyway, back to the fleece, I took a picture of the combed fiber deliciousness, and the first bobbin for you to drool over. Please don't drool on the fiber because it could felt if you give it a hot look, it's that fine.

Fluffy unspun goodness in a basket.

Fluffy spun goodness in a basket.

Oh, and to all of you thinking good thoughts for me yesterday when I was feeling, well, under the weather and under the gun, thanks so much! My head is clearing, and so are my sinuses. There is some movement on the money front, and I don't feel like I could crawl out of my skin and be the better for it anymore.

Now, if y'all could come on over and give me a kick in the pants to get some progress on the book done, please be my guest. I will even put on my shirt that says:

Betwixt, between, discombulated and restless besides!

It's been two weeks now at home. My list is dwindling as we speak, it was a full page of people to see, things to do etcetera etcetera etcetera. I have cleaned out my pantry, cleaned out my closet, rearranged my living room, applied for jobs, applied for certifications, responded to certification audits, given my daughter a new bedroom, sold yarn, dyed yarn, spun yarn, knit yarn, finished Bertha and just generally puttered about. I have lunched, linked in, networked, contacted, created postcards, and written patterns. I have swatched, switched, washed, straightened, sneezed, coughed, tricked, treated and interviewed.

I have even gone to gawk at the Alhambra Creek Beaver Lodge and Dam. Real Lodge, Real Dam, no hide nor hair of said beavers, who are set to be relo'd anytime now, due to the perceived threat of flooding the entire downtown of My Town USA. I do mean flooding....think 12-18 inches of water rushing through the streets toward the river. Yeah.

And I must say, I am really quite tired. (Admittedly not in the way that Julia Roberts meant though in Erin Brockovich. Watch the movie and you will see what I mean. ) I also caught some kind of creeping crud, that is making me miserable....when I wake up I sound like Barry White, when I am usually a soprano, and by mid afternoon, I have a raging headachey achey everything.

I am done. Really done. Like retire to my bed done, and damn the torpedos.

Top it all off, I have two companies I am talking to, I know their timelines to fill positions, and so it's hurry and wait, but dang it, I hate waiting.

So anywho, just needed to vent a wee bit on the state of the things.

Thanks for stopping by. I am going to bed now.

Thanks for the help!

So my last post was written when I was feeling extremely overwhelmed by life in general, which I think can happen to most of us at some time or another.

Bezzie and Batty, thanks ever so much for your suggestions, which were excellent. I did make a list of the things hanging over my head and started out to knock some of it off of my list.

The contract is off to where it needs to go, and I spent a few evenings doing nothing....watching lots of stupid TV and just generally imitating the vegetable of your choosing.

I also spent a bit of time knitting on a long languishing project, which shall be posted once completed. If you are feeling bored, the project was the Bosphorus socks from forever ago and is somewhere in the archives of CeallachKnits. I am halfway through the second sock now, just need to throw some waste yarn in to mark the heel and one more repeat of the medallion.

I also cleaned up the sewing room, put away the clothese that were piled everywhere in the bedroom, took some long baths, and you know, I am feeling better.

The last thing that I did was provide some feedback to my boss at work that I was overwhelmed and overallocated against the work. (This week was a 60 hour week) So bossy man is trying to spread things around a bit.

But I have to say, I have someone that I work with and had asked to help me with one task that I needed to do, and he gave me this Oh, I can't do that....blah blah blah....turns out he could do it, he just has visions of being an 'idea man', and that saved me some time on the number of tasks completed Friday. But dayum, the fit I had to pitch with this guy was really insane.....

And if one more person tells me that this is the way it is at a small company, I am gonna smack them. EVERY company has resource problems, whether there are 200 employees or 200,000....but working people to death is never okay. Sorry, I said it. It does not help that if I had worked this hard at the old company, I could have expected compensation in return. This new company has no bonus program, and so the incentive is just not there for me.

Edited: One fleece is washed from Black Sheep Gathering now, a silver Romney lamb fleece. I love how fleeces change from sticky dirty messes of fiber into something that you just want to roll around in.... And, the article I am writing for a collection is just edited and sent on again. It is become two articles, and I can say no more. Scratch off two things from my list. Now I can go and do something fun, like cast on the pink and purple Koigu for Littlest's sweater. Or the blue cahsmere silk, or the peach wool and cotton for her....OH, MY! Perhaps I best just finish up the Bosphorus socks, shall I?