Wondering... and sneezing!

First, the verdict: Sinus infection, please take these antibiotics and don't wait so long next time before you come in. Lungs are clear -- just chest congestion (whew!).

Now, I'm wondering:

• Why this PA told me I should have come in sooner, when my primary doc told me last time to wait longer? (I think I held out one more day this go-around!)
  
• Why I've been sick for Christmas/New Year's WAY more times than not? Seriously -- last year, I was in the doc's office last year on Jan. 3 with a sinus infection. I spent more Christmases with ear infections and bronchitis... mom accused me tonight of being sick *every* year for Christmas, but conceded there were a (very) few healthy ones in between figuring out I was allergic to real fir trees and me deciding I could be sick anyway ;)
• Why I even bother with the antibiotics? I can't take anything good (aka fast-acting), so I'll feel somewhat crummy for a few days yet. (I remember in college, the girl across the hall and I had the same thing, and went on antibiotics the same day. She felt way better in 24 hours, and I was still sleeping and dragging.)
• Why pills have to be so darn big anyway? These suckers are monsters.
  
• Why I always feel bad when medical professionals have to look in my nose? I remember my first or second allergist had an intern look at it, because it was going to be the best one she'd see all week... but with a sinus infection, it's sure to be nasty. (And it was -- the PA was a little surprised!) But it's her job... and it's not like I can control it being swollen and yucky. If I could, I'd fix it myself. I crossed the TMI line here, didn't I? I'm tired, and I think my internal censor went to bed early. Smart chick.
  

Hope *you're* healthy -- or easily fixed!

Christmas Knitting

You know I did some Christmas knitting... I was very bad and didn't do a good job of photographing the results. The only thing I have to show is the hat I made for Lisa:

It's a Button-Tab Hat from a free pattern by Marcie at I Like Lemons. It's the first hat I've ever knit, and I made it to match the scarf I knitted earlier for Lisa. The scarf is done all in mock-cable stitch, so I used that again for the button tab. I'm showing this button-front, so you can see the tab, but it's obviously not meanth to be worn that way :) I used the absolutely delicious Malabrigo merino worsted weight yarn (yummmmmmmm) that I got at KnitKnack. The color is called Wintergreen, I think -- it's a pale greenish blue. Very delicate.

What else... A Sisters Hat in Jo Sharp DK, color cyclamen, for my Aunt. The first chart I've read -- and I didn't like doing that at all. Nonetheless, the hat is cute, and she likes it.

And a pair of Toasty fingerless gloves for my mom in Debbie Bliss superwash something or other in a dark green. I shortened the wrist length by an inch, and probably should have shortened it by at least another one. The finger side was really too long (I offered to rip them back and rebind), but mom asked me to leave it. Since they're knit in stockinette in the round, that edge rolls naturally, so she'll roll them back when she needs her fingers, and unroll when she wants them to be warm! Like many others, I thought the thumb was too tight in the first one, so I picked up three more stitches for the second one. Then I decided to have mom try them on before I finished them, so I'd know which one fit (and I'd only have to rip out one!). She liked them that way -- I guess one knuckle swells more than the other, so they actually fit. Go figure ;)

Anyway: is that three posts today? That's enough nattering on from me, I think!

Did you know that I'm a quilter?

There's been so little quilt content lately, I thought you might have forgotten! (I almost did...)

So, without further ado, here are my (very, very late) New York Beauty blocks for Miss November:

Margaret asked for 8" blocks in orange, red and purple. My sister picked out the main fabrics (the purple, the sort of spotted orangey one, and the red/orange print) when she was here in June. I added an orange commercial handdye, a red one, and the reds used in the quarter circles.

The top block is Rick Rack Beauty 2 from EQ6, and the bottom block is a modification of New York Compass, again from EQ6. Yeah, the top one has a bit of an issue. You should have seen it before I took it apart!

I doubt I'll get Miss December's block done on time, but I shouldn't be so far behind for her, I hope. Especially since Miss January will take a bit of a think! At least it's forward progress :)

Funny things seen on TV last week

I have other, maybe more (maybe less!) interesting things to share from my holidays at home, but I have to share these before the moment is too far gone. I should note that my folks do not have cable, so these were all seen on CBS, ABC, NBC or Fox affiliates. Also, the second and third are totally tasteless. You've been warned.

1. Tuesday night, while the seemingly endless lists of event cancellations were running on TV (it's important to remember that Tuesday was December 23): Tonight's Christmas Eve service is canceled. Tomorrow's service is still scheduled. Um, Isn't there only ONE Christmas Eve?
2. Saturday night, while up *way* too late waiting for the courier with my suitcase: a commercial for "Love Rub." Think of those KY commercials, but with a much lower production value -- and way less taste. The tagline makes me laugh every time I think of it: "It's more than a lube, it's love in a tube." I never thought I'd compare two commercials and have that KY one come out (ahem) on top.
   
3. And the final bit of pure tasteless-ness, which was seen several times over the week, was a commercial for The System (a phone-based dating service, I guess): The girl picks out three guys to meet/learn more about/whatever, and chooses one. The narrator says something like "... and you can return the rest, used or unused." EEEeeeewwww. We're talking about people here.

Yup. I lead a fascinating life, folks :)

Home Again...

What a week! Last Friday was NOT the best travel day ever. My flight to O'Hare was delayed because they were adding mail and cargo to our plane; by the time that was done, O'Hare had a ground stop. We finally get there, only to have the airport all but close. I so love sitting on the floor in the United E terminal... I did a lot of knitting, and waiting. All in all, I was in O'Hare for 5 or 6 hours -- I heard many stories much worse than mine, so I just practiced being patient. (That's not my best feature, so it did take some effort!) They had to fuel the plane for an alternate destination due to the fabulous weather, so there was another wait while they got everything to the right weight. Only about half the checked luggage made it on the plane -- of course, mine was left behind!

The automated lost baggage system said my suitcase would be delivered between 12:30 and 4p on Saturday. At 8:45p, I still had no bag. My mom loaned me everything I could need except for pants -- her longest pair didn't even come to my ankles! We made a quick run to the mall where I tried on four pair (and bought two) and a pair of shoes (not needed, but oh-so-cute!). To make a long story short (several calls back and forth with the courier and a LOT of bad overnight TV), I think the bag arrived around 4:45a. He didn't even knock on the door or anything -- just dropped the suitcase and left. Ah well -- at least I got to wear my own clothes on Sunday when we had our family Christmas ;)

Today, of course, all flights went on time or close to it, and my suitcase arrived at the airport at the same time I did. I'm not complaining, though! (Well, only about the teenage girl in my row on the Newark flight who snored like a sailor the entire 2 hours...)

More later -- I'm tired!

Is your cat plotting to kill you?

Packing...

Or not ;) Weather permitting, I'm headed to the mitten state on Friday morning for a week-long (much-needed) change of ZIP code. I should be packing (or at least eating dinner) instead of talking to you, but why do things the right way when you can do them my way?!

To do:

• George to kitty hotel
• Pay bills
• Eat supper
  
• Bank
• Taxi reservation
• Pack
• Change outgoing voicemail greeting at work
• Set alarm for 4 a.m.

Yeah... it's 6:45, and that's still a pretty long list. I guess I'd better get busy... although if I move slow enough, I won't need to bother with the last one!

7:30p edit: Crossed off supper, taxi and voicemail. That helps!
10:16p edit: Everything is done, except mailing the bills. I'll have to do that tomorrow, because I couldn't find a mailbox tonight! Now I just need a weather report and I can go to bed.

Have a happy everything!