Llamas are just ghetto alpacas

Agree or disagree?  I have to say I love Miranda Lambert's comment about llamas and her wish to own an alpaca.  Who knew they can cost up to 100K though.  Really?  That is one crazy expensive animal!

Its been a long day, full of the tantrums of a almost three year old.  But no news.  I'm tired.  

One piece of good news

Mom got good news today.  There are no other spots of cancer in her body.  They are still exploring treatment options for her, she has to talk to doctors about a round of chemo and a round of radiation.  Luckily, we are in Boston, where one of the most world renowned research centers on cancer is located, and they are hopeful that there will be a study to involve her in, as it turns out the cells that were bad were of the rarer forms of cancerous cells.  It is a relief to have that news behind us, and know that the prognosis is all good at this point.  

I still haven't heard anything on my move just yet.  I'm still waiting, and hoping that news is coming sooner than I think.  The moving company is anxious to book my move too...  which is good, cause the last time I dealt with a moving company they kept my stuff hostage on the opposite coast from me for over a month.  I must rather this over eager approach.  I do have a couple of offers of places to stay if I do want to head out to Chicago now, before the apartment is ready, but I'd rather avoid those.  I'm not fully comfortable staying in someone else's space.  And I want to make this transition as easy as possible on my stress levels.  I think I need that right now...  as I've been on over load lately.  

I did manage to finish up the bag that mom wanted today.  Its wrapped around a box and drying after being felted this evening.  She'll be happy to have it, as she requested it for mother's day last year.  It is a slightly different shape and size from the ones I've made before, mostly because I lost the pattern somewhere in the middle of America on one of my tours and had to create it from memory.  But, I think I like the shape better than my original bag.  Now its back to working on my sweater...  

Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers for mom and the family was we went through this testing process.  

Maybe Tomorrow?

For a few weeks now the date of March 10th has stuck in my head as a day I'd learn something about my move.  Tomorrow is March 10th, so here's hoping that the feeling stuck in my head holds true and I do hear something.  I am trying to keep the mindset of I'm closer than I think.  Pray I'm right on this one.  

Today was a truly gloomy day here in Southern Massachusetts.  I needed to turn on the lights as soon as I woke up...  usually I get to sit curled in the sun for the first few hours of my day as it streams in my windows.  I did finally finish up the second of my fingerless mitts though, as I needed a quick project to get some level of satisfaction for completing something.  I've just got a few rows of the thumb left to do.  I'm slightly upset that the thumb on the first one had to be pulled out (and destroyed) due to my knitting it in a counterclockwise direction, which gave me a purled thumb rather than a knitted thumb.  Because of this, I need to break into the second ball for just the thumb.  I do hope to make a hat as well out of the same yarn, so I guess its good that I bought multiple balls.  

I'm feeling a bit blase lately.  I feel so run down by life.  I want to have a place where I can curl up and forget about everything that is going on.  I kind of want to talk, but I don't know who I want to talk to or words to say what is going through my head.  I guess I just want someone I can be quiet with then.  I want to know when I get to move.  I want to know the results of mom's tests (she goes for those tomorrow afternoon).  I want her to not be worried or stressed.  Or for dad to be either.  I know all of these things will come with time.  

I just really hope that tomorrow brings good news all around...  for mom to not have any other spots of bad cells, and for a moving date to be set.  Say a prayer...  Cross your fingers...  Light a candle...  Find a four leaf clover...  And send me a laugh if you've got one.  

People say the darnedest things...

Said by my 60+ year old aunt, in front of my mother, in regards to her up coming hip replacement surgery:

"Well, I've just got to think to myself, its only a hip replacement, at least I don't have cancer like Betty (aka mom)."

Said by my favorite 3 year old, while we were out shopping the other day:

"My jacket is a slippery little sucker.  It keeps falling off."  

Her mom had no idea where she came up with that one.  She's also request that I send her postcards when I move away...  refused to discuss (using those words) potty training...  and knows that credit cards are for shopping.  She keeps me laughing constantly.  

Still Waiting

It seems like I spend so much time waiting these days.  Waiting to hear this or that, get this news or that news.  It drives me a bit crazy.  I'm working on staying calm and not letting it get to me too much.  But, right now, I'm feeling a bit anxious.  

The last I heard on my apartment was Saturday.  I don't know when I get to move yet.  I really just want to know that date.  It seems like so much will hinge on that information.  When I can book the movers, who came back with a very reasonable price quote.  When I can be on the road.  When I can start working and make some money to pay off the loans I just took out to pay for school.  

I'm developing a nervousness about it all.  I'm questioning whether or not its going to work out or not.  And that is driving me crazy.  I'm trying to stay focused on positive and relax...  but I feel on edge as this week draws to a close with no more news.  I actually took my friends advice this morning and woke up and screamed.  It let a bit of the tension out...  especially when I woke up still exhausted (which could be the combo of being out til 2 am with friends who were in town with their tour combined with the stress of waiting)

Mom had a PET scan today.  They gave her this note to take home saying that she would be radioactive for the remainder of the day and that she wasn't allowed to hold any babies or play with any kids.  I found that entertaining, as we joked that she'd really been making WMDs in the backyard.  She'll find the results out on Tuesday, and hopefully that will be good news.

I've been doing lots of praying and trying to focus on being calm and focused and positive and knowing that good things are coming.  Its a different way for me to handle things, and has left me feeling calmer and less agitated and worried.  

I just hope I get news soon!

Making Progress

Check one of the to do list: The movers came today and checked out my boxes.  I'll hopefully have my dates soon, so I can get stuff on the truck and start on my way.  I'm excited to stop at Niagara Falls.  And to start decorating my new place and making it a home.  

Check two on the to do list: I electronically signed all the documents for my school loans...  UGH.  More money I owe to Sallie Mae.  

I'm also making progress on my Somewhat Cowl.  

I've started in on the waist decreases.  I need to do some needle switching tomorrow and try it on again and see how its working.  Its been a quick knit so far...  I've been working on it for just over a week now.  

Mom has to go in for more tests in the coming week...  a scan to make sure there are no signs of suspicious spots any where else in her body.  But due to a complication of the first surgery taking too long and her blood loss, there is a high chance she'll have to go through another surgery.  I think the part that bugs her the most about that is spending another 6 weeks post that surgery recovering.  She's been laid up now for 5 weeks, and is slowly going a bit stir crazy as her inability to "live" life.  I can't imagine what another 6 weeks added onto the 3 more she still has to go will be like for her.  

Hopefully tomorrow will bring dates for the move...  I'm anxiously awaiting news as to when its REALLY going to go down.  

Boxes and Tape

Well, a couple of boxes are packed.  A couple of items are in the donate to charity pile.  A ton of papers have been burned up (yay for fireplaces and it still being winter).  Several loads of laundry are done.  But there is still so much more to do.  I must be productive tomorrow.  

I finally had the conversation I've been waiting to have for the last month.  After a conversation with a good friend and mentor last night, I couldn't take much more waiting.  I tried calling C, but when I didn't get an answer, I sent an email that bordered on over the top...  I was angry and hurt and felt like I had been cast out and lied to.  Granted, it could have gotten his attention because I mentioned mom's bad test results...  but either way, we talked and maybe we are on the path to the friendship part of things.  I think it will be a slow road...  Not that that is a bad thing.  And now I have someone to help lift my tv onto its table when I move to Chicago.  And help me get a couch up two flights of stairs when I purchase that.  

I also got a bit more done on my somewhat cowl sweater.  I joined it into the round, so now its time to figuring out the shaping for the bust and the waist.  I've already made a couple of modifications, after measuring the raglan sleeves on my FLS I decided to only do a 7 inch diagonal rather than the 10 that the pattern called for.  I can't even imagine how baggy the arms would have been if I had stuck to the 10 inches.  

And now as its almost 2 am...  I think its time to try and get some sleep.