Defeat the Winter Doldrums final post!

For this week, go through those who've commented on last week's topic - find someone who had an idea on their day that sounded appealing to you, as well, and tell us why, or what appealed to you, and link to their blog! If you can't find someone who has a day you think you'd enjoy, find one that you thought was interesting, odd, or funny in some way, and talk about it!

I read every post, which was pretty fun, and the one that sounded most appealing to me was on Dorothy's blog . I too would like to run my daughter around until the point of exhaustion, guaranteeing me a nice, long nap. Some days, there is nothing finer than a nap on my couch. In fact, I try to nap as often as I am able, which I sometimes feel a little pathetic about, buy mostly I love!

I mailed my swap partner's goodies yesterday, and am anxious to find out when she receives them. I hope she likes them. Does anyone know of any other fun swaps going on? I'd like to sign up for another!

Oh yeah...

I had a snow day... woo hoo! Trying (unsuccessfully) not to gloat about it, but oh how I love those unplanned days off! It would have been a fantastic day, except that as I was helping my daughter get dressed and helping her fix her hair, I suddenly and unexpectedly RUINED her HAIR and I needed to say I was SORRY right NOW or she was going to scream bloody murder at me until I did. She'd still be screaming right now, except she gave up, because I damn well wasn't going to say I was sorry just because I was being told to by a FOUR YEAR OLD! So that was a lot of fun. I did work in a trip to my LYS where I used my gift certificate from Christmas. How did I hold out so long, you ask? Beats me...

I was supposed to go visit my parents in Michigan this weekend, but with the nasty weather around here, I'm postponing until next weekend. I now have two days in front of me with no real plans. In many ways, this is a good thing, but for whatever reason, I'm feeling a little confined and anxious and needing to be alone right now. I think I was really looking forward to the break from my daughter that comes when I visit my parents. My sister still lives at home, and my daughter worships the ground she walks on, so I'm basically nonexistent when we go visit. Which really is fine with me - the break is always appreciated. I really do love my child. It's just that I am. so. tired. all. the. time. And she is very needy and clingy and very much all about mommy right now. I imagine that someday I'll wish I had that kind of attention from her, when she won't talk to me anymore and intensely dislikes me just because I'm her mom. But right now, sometimes that doesn't sound so bad. I don't know how single parents do it. I think I would lose even more of my mind than I already have.

Here I Am!

Whoa - too long since I last posted! Here's the latest dishcloth swap post...

If money were no object, and the day was just perfect - not to hot, not too cold, sun shining, slight breeze - how would you spend a perfect day out that had been given to you in the middle of a cold and blustery winter?

I would start the day with coffee and the crossword puzzle on my back patio. Then, after a long shower and taking all the time I want to get ready (remember, I have a four year old!), I would head to my LYS and pick out some new sock yarn and the dpns I would need. I have never knitted a pair of socks, mind you, so I would be choosing purely on touch and color. I'd take my yarn, and Ann Budd's book, to Sharon Woods, where I would sit by the pond and start making my first socks! When I got hungry, I'd go to Grinder's and have a turkey ruben (because if we're fantasizing about a perfect day, calories would not count, of course) and then to Graeter's for some Strawberry Chip ice cream. No matter that it's only available in the summer - this is my dream day! Then, I'd head for home, where I would take up residence on the back patio with a good book, a good wine, and good music on my ipod. I'd probably fall asleep in my comfy chair and stay there until someone made me move!

Wow, that day would be phenomenal... I should try really hard to make that all happen for myself one of these days. When I do actually get a day off, I get so caught up in the things I think I need or have to do, and I never get around to doing much fun stuff. That kind of day would really feed my soul. It's probably really insightful (to someone) that my perfect day doesn't include other people...

In other news, it's snowed pretty much all day here, just a really light powdery kind, and it's so pretty. No hope of a snow day tomorrow or anything, but it's nice to look at. It's almost time to mail my things to my dishcloth swap spoilee! I just need to pick up 2 more small things and I'll be ready to package and mail! Woo hoo! I hope she likes it - she doesn't often post on her blog, so I'm kind of flying blind. But I think she'll be happy. Also, selfishly, I'm so excited to get my package!!! :)

Sunday night

and I really, really don't want to go to work tomorrow. After only working 2 days last week, I'm not looking forward to a real week for this one. Although, I do get Friday off, so at least I have that going for me. I'm secretly hoping for a wind chill day - it's so cold here right now, and the wind chill is vicious - it's 7, with a wind chill of -11. Holy poo.

Here's the knitalong topic for this week...
" Defeat the Winter Doldrums" for some of us we get the doldrums and others don't. For the ones who get doldrums what helps you get rid of them? For the ones who don't get the doldrums, what helps you keep them away?
I do tend to get the doldrums, but I've only started to realize it over the past few years. Medication helps! Yep, I'm on the good old happy pills! And therapy works well for me. I have found, though, that when it gets to be too much, I need to make myself get out and do something, like take a walk or go to the gym to walk on the treadmill. I think a change of scenery works for me. I also like to take the occasional mental health day, send my daughter to day care, and veg out on my couch all day. Retail therapy is also effective, though not so good for my wallet. And trying to find time with my friends is also good for me. When the sunny days do come, which isn't too often around here, I throw open all the blinds in the house and try to soak it up.

Off to finish watching the Grammy's - so far, the Foo Fighters have been my favorite act. Love them! Send wishes my way for a day off tomorow!

Life is just really so not fair...

I have a dear friend, M, that I met in birthing class when I was pregnant with my daughter. She had a little boy, T, and another woman from the class also had a little boy, C. We three moms have become incredibly good friends. My daughter, T, and C have grown up together and enjoy one another's company. It's so fun to see them play and interact with each other. Unfortunately, T has cerebral palsy. It affects his movements, although he is walking, and has cause some cognitive delays. He is non-verbal but has learned some signs and communicates well. He has the most beautiful smile I have ever seen and he is a joy to be with.

M and her husband had twins in October, a boy and a girl, J and J. They were a little early, but both were fine and beautiful and wonderful. When the twins were born, some med students from Ohio State were offering to run extra blood tests on newborns that the state of Ohio doesn't typically run. M and her husband just got the results back earlier this week, and their son J has tested positive for Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy. Now I ask you - how much is one family supposed to have to handle? How can this be fair?

M has such strong faith and such an incredible attitude. She believes God doesn't give us any more than we can handle. I am having to believe this right now, too, because I do believe that M is the most special woman I know, and if anyone can handle this, she can. I certainly don't think I could. She is amazing to me, as is her husband, and I know her family will be fine. But I'm angry, and I'm sad, and I just don't think it's fair.

Ugh...

Just saw some pictures of myself from my daughter's b-day party. Wow, am I fat... to be fair, I wasn't at all ready for being photographed and didn't get to position myself very well. But holy crap, it really sucks to see yourself in horrible positions looking probably like you look to the rest of the world all the time. Poop.... less eating, more knitting.

Yikes!

So I've been gone for a while. Oooops! Life has been a little crazy. My daughter turned 4, my husband was out of town, and then when he got back, we had a b-day party for her. About 30 people in my tiny house - it was cozy, to say the least. And, of course, during it all I managed to get sick. It's the nasty cold/flu thing that's going around. I'm home from work today because I have no voice at all. Not very conducive to effective teaching. Anyway, I haven't been keeping up with the posts on my dishcloth swap, so here's the latest one.

I'm not going to take pictures, because I don't really have a dishcloth yarn stash. I usually just buy what I need and then knit it up. I always use my size 7 or 8 bamboo needles. I don't have any pretty stitch markers, just the cheapo plastic ones from JoAnn Etc. That's it!

Hope everyone is having a great Monday, and that you all enjoyed the Super Bowl last night - or at least the commercials!