the December that got away

Where or where to begin.

Lots of work.  Usually December is my slow time.  It is when I can catch up, breath easier, meet friends (who I have been unable to spend time with) for lunch, read, knit and generally, enjoy the upcoming holidays, etc.

This year, though, was, to say the least, different.

First of all Zachariah is on a swim team.  If you don't have kids that are involved in sports, you don't know what it is like.  If you don't have kids who have been on a swim team, you really don't know what it is like.  Swim teams are much like hockey, except that it is cheaper (and wetter) to swim than it is to play hockey.  However, in comparing notes with a friend whose son plays hockey, not that much cheaper.  First of all, the kids go through lots of swim suits.  They don't wear the skimpy things that the Olympians wear.  They do wear what is called jammers (think lycra shorts).  Zachariah is 4'8" and weighs 62 pounds.  His jammers are these wee little things that cost anywhere from $20 (if you are lucky) to $60 each.  And during one season, they will go through at least 3 pairs.  So when you see these babies on sale, you snatch them up.  Then they need goggles (at least two pairs although three are better) and the replacement bands.  At least two caps.  Note: caps are not designed to keep the kids hair dry . . . nope . . . these are designed to make them sleeker.  In fact that kids dunk the caps in the water before they snap the caps on their heads and literally, they do snap them on their heads . . . girls . . . boys . . . doesn't matter . . . although the girls often need help if their has any length.

This is at one of the meets and was taken with my phone.  Not the best pic.

Then there is the swimming.  Four nights a week in the pool for 90 minutes, one night a week for dryland (think: pushups, etc.) and a meet every other weekend starting in October and running through the end of January, plus occasional invitationals.  This weekend, there are two meets one on Saturday starting at 1:00 (for warm-ups; 2:00 when the meet starts).  The other is on Sunday with warm-ups starting at 9:00 a.m.   For the home meets, I am a timer.  Dave officiates.

Anyway, he actually started swim team this past summer and has continued into the Fall/Winter.  The Sectionals are the first weekend in February.  If they progress (he won't), he would be swimming at the championships in March and the whole thing starts over again with "conditioning" in April.

Then, Lindsey got her temps and we did lots of driving, usually in the evenings while Zachariah was at swimming, we went driving.  It was frightening at first . . . very.  I had her practice manuerverability in the parking lot at the Rec Center . . . away from the other cars.  Pulling in backing up pulling forward backing up the other way, etc.  She actually nailed her test the first time trying.  She also purchased a car from a former teacher.  It works.  Having decided to change her major from engineering to education, she did not return to the University of Dayton but is instead attending classes at the local community college.  This summer she will transfer to Cleveland State University (CSU).  CSU has a very good educational program.  Dave went there for his social work degree and his education degree and his masters in education.  It is also where I got my MBA.

Sarah attended one of the summer swimming invitationals with me.  The same day, Dave and Kyle moved Sarah and Kyle's stuff into a new home (rented) in New London.  We barely have seen her (or Kyle) over the last year.  Talked to her a lot but she had returned to school full time and was working.  She finished her program the end of November.  She left her husband the week before Christmas.  They had been together for almost five years and married for 2-1/2.  It was an awful time for all but best for her in the long run.  She is still dealing with the grief of the whole thing.  It was a very tough decision but she needed to do what is best for her and getting lots of support from her friends and family.  

And work has been crazy nuts.  A new office opened.  Budget planning time.  Two summers ago, I spent weeks and weeks working on the three intranet pages for our department, which then got shelved.  Of course, the middle of November, the powers that be decided that it would be good to dust them off and get them up and running.  Sooner than later.

And, of course, there were the holidays.  Fun.  Hectic.  Different.

So we are already in January.  I have joined a facebook KAL which is great fun.  I did one with the same group after Labor Day and this one is called New Beginnings.  We are only through the first clue and if you go to facebook and look at everyone's pics, they carefully opened up their lace and took wonderful pics.  Being me, I called my yarn vomit:

Just as I was starting the Labor Day shawl, my sister-in-law's mom started her chemo for breast cancer.  As I thought and prayed for Helen quite a bit while knitting this, I thought it only appropriate to give it to her.  She loves it.  It isn't a "traditional" prayer shawl but frankly, it is totally cool!

I did complete Wingspan for me and I get tons of compliments on it whenever I wear it.  

I also did an entrelac scarf that I gave to my friend Wendy for her birthday.  It was done in Knitpics Chroma and I loved it and so did she!

I have to admit, the upside to swim practices and meets (as long as you aren't timing) is the amount of knitting time that you get in.  I just have to have patterns that are mindless or easy.

I've also volunteered to teach knitting to some people in my department.  We want to make mittens to donate next winter.  We shall see.