Just trying to help ...

You can read all about it here.

Call The Man

Ever have one of these kinds of days??? ...

Long and Deep

I know it's been a while ... a LOOOONNNNGGGG while ... but I'm here. So much has happened since I stopped blogging. I've just needed some time to get my head around it all. I guess you could say I'm ready for re-entry into the atmosphere.

I'll try to give you the Readers Digest Abridged Version of happenings and goings on here at the House of Bling since I last chatted with you in ... OMG ... April!! I know ... bad, bad blogger!

I had my surgery on May 21st and everything went BEAUTIFULLY. The relief from pain, numbness, muscle spasms and tingling fingers was almost immediate. I've been healing well and life is good again ... physically.

I was out of work on medical leave for 2 and a half weeks. Approximately three and a half hours after my return to work, I was fired. Dude - my coffee hadn't even gotten cold yet. But you know what ... it was truly a blessing. I'd been quite unhappy ... okay, flat-out miserable at my job for quite some time (a year). Because I had no sick time left and hadn't accrued any vacation time, I couldn't even interview for a new job anywhere. Simply put, I was trapped and had no options. I felt like I couldn't make any changes or move, so the good Lord moved me. As Friend's mother said, "Sometimes when we feel like we can't move, the Lord kicks us in the ass and moves us."

Upon my arrival at home on that life-changing day, I had such a sense of relief and peace. It was amazing.

I was able to spend the summer at home with my girls. I've continued looking for a full-time job, but it just isn't happening. I'm submitting 2-5 resumes each week and barely getting calls for interviews. The problem? I'm over qualified. Companies are looking for entry-level admins (a.k.a. secretaries) and are only willing to pay entry-level salaries/wages. I'm far from entry-level. I've been an executive level admin for over 20 years. Companies want my skills and experience ... they just don't want to pay for it. I even applied for a part-time position two weeks ago. I even got an interview for said position. But in the end, they offered it to someone else. I'm even ready and willing to take a paycut for a position with benefits. In fact, I interviewed for one a few weeks ago that would have been an almost $10k paycut. They offered it to someone else because they couldn't believe I wouldn't have continued looking for higher-paying opportunity elsewhere. I can understand their concern. But at this point, I didn't consider what they were offering as a negative. Quite the opposite - it was an opportunity.

Believe it or not, I'm not stressed about this. The Lord has always provided for me and I know He'll see me through this. I have some money coming in ... I'm doing some work for an attorney and I'm working my Mary Kay business. Up until now I've just been doing the Mary Kay on a part-time, almost hobby level. But, I've been doing alot of praying about this and I know I need to work my MK biz as if it's my full-time job. It's the only thing I've got going right now and I need to make it work.

This means I have to give it serious time instead of just chatting about it or mentioning it to people in passing. Last weekend I worked a couple of events (the Dog Day Festival and the State Fair) for the sole purpose of getting leads to grow my business. Starting Monday, I'll be on the phone booking those leads as facials and/or classes.

My kids, especially DD#3, love me being here when they get off the school bus every day. And I love it too. This is also giving me the chance to volunteer at each of their schools, read to DD#3's class once a month, and even go read to Niece#2's class as a Mystery Reader once a month (my 1st time reading to her class is coming up in a couple of weeks ... I'm really excited about it and can't wait to see her precious little face when I walk into her class!). I couldn't do any of these things when I was working outside the home.

After my surgery, it took some time for my knitting mojo to return. I think a combination of the change in my knitting tension/gauge and the pain I was in before surgery took its toll on me. Knitting became a bit of a struggle and I wasn't feeling the knitting goddess's love. After losing my job, depression added to it so I still wasn't knitting much. In August I went on a road trip with my mom, my uncle, his 6 yo son and DD#3 to visit family in Decatur, Alabama. I started feeling the knitterly love on that trip. I'm sure the mini yarn crawl with my mom and finishing a pair of socks helped! Since then, I've almost completed a 2nd pair of socks (I'm on the toe decreases of sock #2) and picked Thermal back up.

On many levels (job, knitting, finances in general, spiritually, relationship-wise), the last few months have been a time of major evaluation and contemplation for me. In less than six months time, I've had some pretty major changes:

• I've finally resolved physical problems (my neck) that I've been dealing with for 9 years
• I left a job that was killing me (physically and emotionally)
• I ended a 10-month relationship that should have ended 8 months earlier
• I've grown still and quiet so I can hear God's voice and grow closer to Him
• I've learned to trust the little voice inside, which I now know to be God's voice
• I've re-evaluated my financial needs and desires
• I'm letting go of material possessions that have been weighing me down and creating chaos in my life, my head and my heart (no, this does not include yarn ... sorry!)

I'm on a new path. I have no idea where it's leading, but I know it's not about the destination ... it's about the journey. I'm not the same person I was 6 months ago. My priorities have changed. My passion and desires have changed. These changes are not the result of one moment or an epiphany, but about all the moments.

I can't wait to see where this journey takes me ...

GNO*

* GNO = Girls Night Out

Here are some photos from the last time we did this. We had a blast!

Why, you may ask, am I sharing these pictures with you now? Because we're having another tonight and I can't wait!!! After a yummy dinner at O'Charley's, we'll be going to see the ultimate BFF movie of the summer, of my life, actually ... Mamma Mia! The 2 friends in these photos and I are TOTALLY Donna, Tanya and Rosie.

Friend and I saw the play earlier this year (I saw it a few years ago too) and I love it so much. The movie is fabulous! My kids know all the words to the soundtrack. I have the soundtrack from the play AND from the movie. And I may have Abba's Greatest Hits on CD somewhere too ::grins sheepishly:: And this is one movie I'll be buying on DVD when it's available.

If you haven't seen the movie, you've got to go as soon as possible. Run, don't walk, to the nearest theater. And share it with your BFF!

Psst ...

I'm here but like most of my favorite TV shows, on hiatus for a little.

I'll be back ... promise.

Is anybody there?

I guess I've kept you waiting long enough for an update. Sorry.

I had 2 epidural injections in February but unfortunately, they didn't provide the relief the docs were hoping for.

I met with the orthopaedist today and learned that my situation is actually worse than I first thought. There are actually THREE herniated cervical (in my neck as compared to lumbar which would be lower back) discs. The C7 is the worst and pressing on the C7 nerve (as I mentioned before). The C6 is running a close second to the C7 - however, the herniation/bulge is pressing against my spinal cord. The C5 has a very minor herniation. Minor, but nonetheless there.

I have a few phone calls to make to find out exactly what is covered by my insurance (do I have a co-pay or co-insurance?) This is critical and could mean the difference between me having to pay a few hundred dollars ... or several thousand ... because I'm going to need surgery to take care of this. They're going to do an anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) on 2 discs (C7 and C6).

The doc wants to do this toward the end of May (yikes!). He assures me it will alleviate most of the pain in my neck, the numbness in my hand and the spasms/cramps in my arm.

I have been knitting, albeit not as much as I used to. I'm going on a knitting retreat this weekend with the Knitting Guild and I can't wait!!!!! My mom is going and so is Friend. I think we're going to have a great time - we'll be at Graves Mountain Lodge. It's beautiful up there. I definitely need this get away.

Ouch!

The last couple of weeks have been an adventure. Unfortunately, not an adventure I've enjoyed.

I haven't said anything about this previously, but it's really affecting my day-to-day life. So much so that I've been out of work for the last 2 weeks.

I've been suffering with chronic muscle spasms for a few years now, thanks to a car accident in 1999. It's usually managable, but unfortunately I have flare ups sometimes. The end of October I suffered a major flare up ... my neck muscles became very inflamed and painful. I started going to physical therapy and was actually getting some relief. We were making progress - my therapist was able to break up some of the knots (spasms) and get the muscles to start relaxing.

One morning two weeks ago I was still in bed and stretched, with my arms above my head. I felt something pop in my neck. Major pain ensued and there was numbness in my left upper arm and hand. After two weeks of bed rest, major drugs, multiple doctor visits, consults with orthopaedists, and numerous tests (x-rays, an EMG and an MRI), it has been determined that I have a herniated disk (C6-C7) and it is pressing on the C7 nerve, which is the one that runs down my left arm.

I'm waiting to see a specialist for an epidural cortisone injection. There's no guarantee that this will work, but I'm willing to try anything before I agree to surgery.

Unfortunately the pain and numbness have seriously affected my knitting. My knitting mojo has gone bye bye. I'm ready to get back to my real life and my knitting.

Please think happy healing thoughts and pray for me. I can use all the help I can get right now.

SIPJ Day to the Rescue

You have NO idea how much I need this - won't you join me?!?!

New Years Eve 2007

It's that time of year again ... a glance back and then looking to the future. As you may recall, I didn't really set any "goals" for 2007. My hopes were to keep knitting and keep learning ... and more hand-knit socks.

I definitely kept on knitting. And the FOs for 2007, in no particular order:

Fiddlehead Scarf (Morehouse Farms)
Bella Scarf (Knit Picks)
2 Ponchettes ('07 PatternADay calendar)
Zud Hat (Dulaan Project)
2 Baby Hats
2 Bunny Blanket Buddies (Lion Brand)
Fur-Cuffed Stocking (Lion Brand)
Mistake Rib Scarf (Monet)
Baby Hoodie (Knitting Pure & Simple)
2 Multi-Directional Scarves
Soleil (Knitty)
Glace / Chinchilla Scarf (Knitting Sisters, Williamsburg VA)

And knowing my love for hand-knit socks, I'm sure you'll agree that they get their own category:

Jaywalkers in Austermann Step (MagKnits)
Baby Cable Socks in Regia Bamboo (Sensational Knitted Socks)
Inside Out Socks in STR Med Weight (Feb 2007 STR Rockin' Sock Club)
Herringbone Eyelet Socks in Cascade Fixation (Finally Waking Up)
Grasshopper Socks in STR Silkie (Apr 2007 STR Rockin' Sock Club)
Lightweight Stockinette Socks in KP Dancing (Knitting Pure & Simple)
Solstice Slip in STR Light Weight (June 2007 STR Rockin' Sock Club)
Lenore Socks in STR (October 2007 STR Rockin' Sock Club)

I had an unofficial goal of a pair of socks per month, but didn't quite make it. That's okay ... there's always 2008!

There was lots of learning going on too. A couple of things I've previously learned about knitting that still hold true: It won't knit itself - there are no knitting gnomes that will finish projects for me - I actually have to pick up the needles and knit. And it's just yarn.

Here's a look at some of the things I know now that I didn't know last year:

Short row toe up socks
Short row heel
Backward loop cast on
Crochet
Sewn bind off
Aran Sweater from the Top Down

There may be one or two others that I can't think of right now, but not too shabby, if I do say so myself!

I also continued taking over the world one knitter at a time sharing the joy and relaxation of knitting by teaching others to knit. I helped bring a hooker crocheter to the knitting side; I encouraged DD#2 to continue to learn new techniques (she's working on a pair of baby socks ... I'm SO proud!); and I taught a newbie to knit via prayer shawls.

Once again I wish the same things for you as I did last year: As the ball drops and we count down the seconds to the New Year, I hope you each find peace, happiness, abundance, joyful knitting and more hand-knit socks. Happy New Year!

Hello ... is this thing on?

I'm here ... I'm there ... I'm everywhere. Or at least it feels that way sometimes.

Much has been happening at the Casa de Bling. Again, in no particular order, I'll try to get you up to speed.

~ My lifestyle changes continue. I'm down a total of 20 pounds. When I started this venture, I was wearing a size 14 pants and they were getting too tight. Today, I'm wearing an 8!!!! I'm so proud of myself. I'm not fanatical about what I eat ... I eat what I want and what I like. I'm just careful. I've stopped drinking a latte every morning for breakfast. I've also cut WAY BACK on my McD's Large Sweet Tea consumption (I was drinking 1 or 2 of those each day - Yikes!). Because of scheduling issues, I haven't made it it a Zumba class yet, but I still want to go. I'm hoping to get into that after the 1st of the year.

~ My sis-in-law and I went to Vegas last month. All I can say is .... WOW!!!!! We had such a good time. For one thing, it was the 1st time she and I have gone anywhere just the two of us. We really enjoyed traveling together and spending time with each other. I promise another post soon with details about what we did and what we saw ... well ... as many details as I can share. It was Vegas ... and what happens in Vegas ... well, you know the rest.

~ I've been knitting. I have 3 WIPs on the needles right now: the Lenore Socks and 2 scarves. I know you aren't going to believe this, but ... there are no SSCPs this year! I hear the collective gasp. I know ... how can I not be a slave to the SSCP deadline? I've got to tell you, it's kind of a relief.

I know this is a short post and it's been so long since I've posted, but I've got to get back to getting ready for the holidays. Christmas is, after all, less than a week away. And even without SSCP knitting, there's still lots to do!

Bad Blogger

There's been so much happening lately that I simply haven't had time to blog ... I'm sure you noticed. Sorry.

I'll try to catch you up right quick - in no particular order:

~ I'm still working on my lifestyle changes (see the ticker above?) Friend and I had a discussion and since we don't diet or exercise ("We don't jog, Christina."), yet we wanted to lose weight and just generally get in shape, we decided to make some lifestyle changes. Since I had previous success with Weight Watchers, I'm doing that again. I've also started walking for 10-15 minutes, twice a day. I'm anxious to move more, so I'm going to start taking a Zumba class. I'm down 14 pounds and one pants size!

~ The countdown I mentioned in my last post is still happening. Now I'm only 13 days away from .... seeing Eddie Izzard .... live .... in VEGAS BABY!!!!! I've been trying to go to Las Vegas for years. The closest I ever got was 8 years ago, but unfortunately, that trip ended in a fatal car accident outside of L.A. .... I never made it to Vegas.

When I found out Eddie would be performing there, I called my sis-in-law {Hi Carrie ::waving wildly::} and told her, we started crunching numbers to see if we could go. Unfortunately, I just couldn't pull it off. A couple of days later, Carrie informed me that this trip would be a gift from her and my brother! Is that not the awesomest thing ever!?!?!?! To say that they made me cry (at work, no less) is an understatement. We're also going to see O. I can't wait!!!!!

~ I've met someone! Yes, I've met a new man. We've been dating for a couple of months now. He's wonderful .... handsome .... smart .... great sense of humor .... kind and thoughtful .... and so much more. I'm so fortunate and thankful to have him in my life.

~ There's even been some knitting here at the House of Bling. I'm currently working on the newest shipment from the Socks that Rock Rockin Sock Club. And, I'm very sorry to say, there's only 1 more shipment this year ::pouting:: As is my habit, I'll get some pictures posted in the next few days.

So, as I continue counting down the days, I leave you with this:

45 Days & Counting ...

Any ideas?

Pause for Pix

I just want to share a couple of long overdue photos.

Here are the beautiful Solstice Slip socks from the STR Rockin' Sock Club.

And this is the lace on Soleil. I'm almost at the divide for the neckline. I was hoping to have this finished this weekend, but yesterday was DD#1's 16th birthday, so we were a little busy.

Ciao for now!

A Little Poem For You

I found this beautiful summer poem and thought it might help make your day. It did me, and it's very well written. ENJOY!

"Summer"

a poem by

Abigail Elizabeth McIntyre

Damn!

It's hot!

The End of an Era

After visiting Diagon Alley on Friday night, I picked up my 3 DD's, my SIL and Niece#1 and went to the 2nd Harry Potter Party of the evening. We were each sorted by the Sorting Hat:

We saw Lucius Malfoy:


And had to watch out for the branches of the Whomping Willow:


Even Moaning Myrtle showed up for this party:


I know I didn't post this Saturday as I had intended. DD#1 came home with my copy of Book 7, which I promptly began to read. I finished it a few hours ago. No spoilers here .... I'll just say I'm quite pleased!

Party Potter-style

Whew - what a loooooonnnnngggg day. Don't get me wrong, I've had longer (like last weekend, but that's a whole other post).

After a full day at work, I raced home to change and headed off to the first Harry Potter Party of the evening. Folks, I went to Diagon Alley - and what a good time I had! Blogless Lou and I drank butter beer (very tasty!) at The Leaky Cauldron:


There was dancing

and Hagrid and Professor Trelawny were there:

There was even an L-B sighting ... but the always elusive L-B once again avoided the camera. I could have sworn she was standing next to Hagrid when I snapped his picture, but I must have missed her - drat!

Mad-Eye Moody and Sirius Black were hanging out:

And George and Fred Weasley were selling their wares:

Delores Umbridge even partied with us - she's a brave one. Showing up here after the way she treated everyone!

After this party, I picked up my girls, Niece #1 and SIL and we headed to the 2nd Harry Potter Party of the night. My dad, DD#1 and Niece#1 are in line getting our copies of Book 7 and I want to be ready to start reading when DD#1 gets home tomorrow morning. So, I'm going to head to bed now. I'll tell you about the 2nd party of the night and share those photos tomorrow.

Until then ... mischief managed!

Hello?

I'm still here ...

Busy at work ...

Busy with the kids ...

Knitting when I can ...

Blogging even less ...

Will write more soon.

Socks & Squares

I've been kinda slack on the knitting pictures, but that's certainly not an indication of how much knitting's been happening here at the House of Bling.

First, I present my finished Rockin Sock Club April shipment: Knee-high to a Grasshopper (but I did the shorter version instead of knee-highs) in their new Silkie in the Walking on the Wild Tide colorway.

Oops - I haven't snapped a photo of the finished socks. I'll take a picture and post it later.

Second, these are the finished Herringbone Eyelet socks that I finished last week:


I simply love the way that pattern looks. This was my first project with Cascade Fixation and I enjoyed it. These were fun to knit.

Yesterday while shop sitting at the From The Heart shop, I finished these Lightweight Stockinette socks using Dancing from Knit Picks:
This is the 2nd pair I've knit using this pattern and this yarn together. I did a pair a couple of years ago for my sis-in-law for Christmas.

I've decided to take a teeny hiatus from sock knitting and make a few afghan squares for the Hokie Healing project.

One is done and the 2nd on the needles. I'm hoping to do a couple more this week so I can get them mailed to Blacksburg.

I'm not sure if I'll start another pair of socks before the June Rockin Sock Club shipment arrives, but knowing me, I will. But for now, back to the Hokie Squares.

Happy Mother's Day

I know Mother's Day was last week, but I just have to share.

The day started with the girls fixing me a special breakfast of Special K cereal. It was special because I didn't have to fix it ... good enough for me!

Next, the girls gave me a new bead for my Pandora bracelet. They gave me the August birthstone since that's the month I became a mom.

I'll admit, I picked my gift and told DD#1 exactly what to get and where to go to get it. You do what you gotta do, right?!?

DD#3 gave me a coupon book with coupons good for things like cleaning her room, rubbing my back and snuggling with me ... the best gifts ever!

DD#2 then presented me with a poem she had written for me. As if this wasn't enough, she had the honor of reading it during the program her grade presented Thursday night at the PTA meeting. She received a wonderful response from the audience and brought me, and many others, to tears.

Here is her poem:

MY MOTHER

My mother's really pretty,

My mother's really sweet.

We play lots of fun games,

But it's she I cannot beat.

My mother's really smart.

My mother's funny too.

It is a miracle that I was born from you.

My mother's really good.

My mother's really kind.

I'm so happy that she is really mine.

Quick Recap

Thursday - Queen Elizabeth was in town

Friday - Dinner at the parentals

Saturday - Roadtrip with Friend

Sunday - Fondled new yarn and dinner at the parentals

Monday - Migraine

Monday Tuesday - Photos of yummy fibery goodness acquired on Saturday