at last . . . no more pain and I didn't have to cut off my arm . . .

I coughed.  I then sneezed.  Then in a desparate attempt to not drop my knitting or my Nook while I sneezed again, I managed to pinch a nerve in my shoulder.  Pinching that nerve then sent a screaming pain down my arm, into my elbow and zipped down to my hand causing pain in my little and ring finger.  It was like having a permanent hit on the funny bone.  I couldn't sleep.  Had a tough time working and, gasp, couldn't knit.

This all occurred on January 20, 2015.

I know the date because my son had a swim meet and I didn't have to time or work the computers or nothing.  I could sit in the stands, watch the kids swim, knit my heart out and listen to a book on my Nook.

All at the same time.

Which is why, I know that if I had been timing or working the computer I wouldn't have hurt myself with the sneezing.  I wouldn't have been worried about dropping the knitting or the Nook.

Almost a month later, I decided I couldn't stand the pain.  Keep in mind that I live in the Greater Cleveland area.  We are inundated with healthcare workers and facilities.  I called the Monday before President's Day and got an appointment on President's Day to see an orthopaedic doctor.

She was wonderful.  Truly.  She knew exactly were to press to cause the pain to go screaming.  It was truly amazing.  The upside is that while the pinched nerve was something that exercises, etc., can take care of, the pain in the elbow required a bit more.  Six physical therapy appointments, with shocks to the elbow, and it is mostly good.  I am also taking Turmeric as an anti-inflamatory and being better about taking the fish oil.

And I can knit, just not for long periods of time.  Yet.

Tips to help teen find life balance . . . a contest.

http://juliasalbum.com/2014/12/7-tips-to-help-teens-find-life-balance-mixify-100-visa-gift-card-giveaway/#comment-272252

I've entered this contest and will get another entry by blogging about it.  This site has lots of great ideas and I enjoyed reading about the "Tips to help teens find life balance."

Thinking about my kids and finding a balance, it is really easy when they are young teens and rely on Mom and Dad for car rides.  We eat meals together and spend lots of quality time together even if it is spent driving to/from swimming, school, marching band, etc.

It is when they get older that it becomes a problem.  And when they want to flex their authority.  Both my older daughters don't think twice about not eating something that is on the table.  However, we do put our foot down if they start to pull out other things that they want instead.  If it isn't on the table as part of our meal, then they can't have it.

The other problem is making sure that not only are they eating well but they are being fully hydrated.  None of them drink nearly enough "good" beverages.  Too much pop, not enough milk and not enough water.  It is a battle.

Not about knitting at all, at all

We aren’t cool parents.  Never have been, never will be.  First of all, we are old.  Truly, how many 13 year olds have 60 year old Moms or 63 year old Dads.  And, gasp, we have rules:  chew with your mouth closed, use a napkin, sit up straight, change the toilet paper.  I mean geez, we are hard-nosed.  But I would like to think that we have tried to get our kids to be themselves.  While it is hard to get across to them, that they only get one crack at high school and they should get involved, we also want to encourage them to be themselves. 

Do what you love!  Be all that you can be!  Demand more!  Make a couple of really good friends and you will have them forever.  Good advice from not-so-cool parents to their kids.  Oh, that would be Dave and I.  So you get interested and involved when your kid(s) get involved in something that they really like doing.  Then came marching band, band camp, symphonic band, etc.

The girls didn't do marching band.  First of all they went to an all girls high school and the only football games played by the girls were done in prom dresses as part of a powder puff game.  Plus, they played the piano (Sarah) and violin (Lindsey).  Neither instrument lends itself well to marching band.  Snort. 

Zachariah plays the trumpet.  His trumpet teacher played with the North Olmsted High School Marching Band.  Even if Zachariah had gone to one of the local all boys schools, he would have been in marching band.   

Marching band is not just the weird kids that play musical instruments wearing funky uniforms to every Friday night football game.  It is more.  Remember the "demand more."  It is part of that more.  Many of the kids that play musical instruments are artistic, funny, brilliant, shy, outgoing, clumsy, popular and/or geeky.  In marching band you get them all. 

And the great equalizer is the uniform.  Truly.  Everyone looks the same.  Unisex.  Some uniforms are sharp and stylish (those schools must spend a small fortune on them), while others are traditional.  That would be the NOHS marching band uniforms . . . after all, if they have been in use for 30 years, they must be traditional.  There is, however, a lot to be said for traditional.  The cost savings alone is primary.  Someone told me to purchase new uniforms (hats, jackets, pants) is $400/each.  That would take some serious fundraising.

While some people might think that the kids don't look good in the uniforms, I have to disagree.  I think they look great.  No matter if you are the youngest, dorky freshman or the senior 6' stud that can make the drum line rock, you look good.  Again, the uniform equalizes EVERYONE. 

And, for the record, I LOVE the spats.  Our team wears white spats.  You really see the difference when two marching bands are on the field and one has spats and one doesn’t.  The spats showcase the rhythm and consistency of the marching band.  You just don’t get it from those bands that are wearing black pants, black socks and black shoes. 

Plus, the uniforms don't come home.  Really.  The kids pick them up before the game.  They return 

them after the game.  A group of parents (i.e., the Moms), re-hem, sew buttons, fix lapels, every week during the season.  And, when they start to stink (and they will, since they are wool), they are sent out to be dry-cleaned.  Really.  Except for the socks and the under-armour that the kids wear, you don't have to worry about cleaning the uniform.  However, I do recommend investing in quality socks and shoe sanitizers.  Marching around on wet muddy fields can tend to lead to stinky feet. 

Band provides kids from different grades and areas and likes/dislikes to comingle.  Your freshman may never have met some of the seniors.  They need to perform.  They need to practice.  They need to learn to work together.  Marching in band is not something that you just "do."  Everyone needs to learn how to do it and it is the older students who make sure that the younger students get it.  They take care of each other.  Not only during band but at other times in school.  We've only been at this one season, but I am awed by the way the older kids treat the younger kids.

Band Camp.  Talk about serious exercise.  All day for a week, no matter the weather.  It is hard, exhausting, tiring but according to my son and others that I have talked to, it is also awesome, fun, great and totally cool.  They concentrate on their music and they don't know that they are getting a workout.  I am sure that someone has done a study on how many calories are burned marching for five days from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in August in Northeast Ohio, but I am sure it is a whole lot. 

And after day after day of marching, they sleep really well, even with the cat, at 6:00 p.m. on the porch

As for me, there is also the commaradarie that is formed.  When you sit around sewing buttons and hems every Wednesday for weeks, you learn things.  You learn that your kid isn't the only geeky one in the bunch.  You learn which teachers are great and which are iffy.  If you or your student has an issue, you learn who to go to in the School Administration (and it isn't always the principal . . . LOL).  When you work the concessions on Friday nights, you get to meet other people and learn other things.  Band parents are really nice.  They are concerned not only for their kids, but for all the kids.  And they tell the best stories.  

Band kids are busy.  They are marching or practicing and doing homework and practicing and sleeping.  And you will find that, while they are in the car, they will start drumming out band songs.  It is kind of difficult to get in trouble when you are marching.  

how do I love thee . . .

So yesterday was a very productive day.  Breakfast, shopping, a little more shopping, clearning out part of the upstairs hall and defragging Zachariah's computer. 

Breakfast was eh.  Perkins.  They forgot the corned beef in the corned beef hash, but that is okay, I didn't need it anyway.  They eggs were perfect as was the toast for dunking.  Sarah ate my potatoes.

Went to Penney's and dragged Zachariah through Zephora just to irritate him.  It was even more irritating when the young lady asked if she could help and I said "nope, we're just hear to embarrass this one."  She laughed.  He humphed.  Sarah did buy a dress for the wedding we are going to next month.  It is black and has one sleeve and the other side has a strap with sequins.  She is planning on wearing red pumps, really high red pumps and red dangling earrings.  There is a guy that is going to be there and she wants to knock his socks off.  It also helps that since got divorced, she has lost 40 lbs and is now in a size 8.  I also have to hack about six inches off of the dress.  This is way outside her comfort zone.  We haggled over the hem length. 

Did our usual zip through Target to pick up various items or various endeavors then headed on home to do some serious cleaning . . . . both the computer and the hallway. 

I should have taken a picture.  Really, it was totally incredible. 

I know exactly how to entice Zachariah . . . watching HGTV.  He is a sucker for home remodeling.  So while his computer defragged (it was taking hours), he and I sorted all the yarn in the hall.  I am destashing big time and was brutal.  My niece is getting gifted with a huge parcel of stuff that while I bought it, I don't want it or don't have any plans for it.  Some of it is good.  Some of it is lousy and made me scratch and wonder WHY I ever bought it in the first place.  It is a colorful collection and I am sure Amy will make great use of the stuff.

He also took all of my straight knitting needles and many crochet hooks and put them in a vase on the table.  They do look rather loverly.   He rewound balls and raised an eyebrow more than once, especially when I unearthed the sweater that I was making for him when he was four . . . or the one sock that I finished for him when he was six.  His feet have grown two sizes since January, so there isn't even a remote chance that it would fit.

But the funniest thing happened.  While I managed to fill a huge zippered container for Amy, I still ended up with LOTS of yarn.  But I only kept stuff that I loved or that Zachariah would put his hands into and say "ohhhh,  this is nice."   I bagged matching stuff in zip-locked bags.  Sorted by type.  Frogged some projects.  Saved lots of stitch markers and redeemed many needles.  Got rid of lots of random patterns and still have about three large bags of bagged yarn.  All nicely sorted.  I have an entire bag of cotton for dishclothes, etc.  I don't even like cotton but I do like to make dishclothes for wedding presents. 

Zachariah thinks that is all of the yarn, as does Dave.  Oh well, as they say, what they don't know won't hurt them. 

Shifting Gears in Chroma - Atlantis and Smoothie

Shifting Gears from O/C Knitiot Designs.  It is a wonderful shawl using two very contrasting yarns.  It is a Crescent Shape Shawl worked with 2 different long striping yarns to create a stunning use of color. Featuring a beautiful scalloped loop cast on, 2x2 Fair Isle knitting, short rows, and an I-Cord bind off.  I am currently in my third repeat of the Fair Isle knitting, which for me is very SLOW going. 

The yarn I am using is Chroma from Knitpicks.  I love this yarn.  I've made several things in it and have always found it to be interesting and fun.  It has very long repeats, which is perfect for this pattern.

The colors (Atlantis and Smoothier) are as follows:

 

The description of Atlantis is: Step back in time and into the lost city of Atlantis with this cool, mysterious colorway! The deep water blues of Atlantis blend with soft grey and teal shades that fade into a dark seafoam green and finally, into a barely there icy spring green.

 

The description for Smoothie is:  Inspired by the vivid colors of its namesake, Smoothie introduces splashes of orange, tangerine, and papaya with a handful of farm fresh strawberries for good measure. These cheerful colors combine together to make a rainbow that is just as yummy as the best fruit smoothie.

 

 

The cool thing is that with this pattern, these colors really work.  I can hardly wait to show you . . . but I haven't taken a pic yet.  Soon and very soon, I will.  

 

I love you, more

It was just yesterday that he started in kindergarten . . . a minute, a second ago . . . this was the smallest shirt that we could get him.  The school required polo shirts, belts, dress shoes and khaki pants. 

 

He just graduated from 8th grade at St. Mary of the Falls School in Olmsted Falls, Ohio, last Wednesday, June 4, 2014.  Fr. Wally and Mrs. Rajincek passed along his diploma. 

 

The girls were there to celebrate with him.  For someone who has always been so small, when did you get taller than Sarah and almost as tall as Lindsey.  It isn't like you've grown to be tall, by any stretch of the imagination, but you are becoming a young man.

Although, he wasn't pleased with the smooch from Lindsey, IN FRONT OF HIS FRIENDS.  The embarrassment of it all!

We have a marching band meeting this week and swim team practice to get ready for the high school team.  You are registered and ready.  But, truth be told, I am not.  I can celebrate who you are and how you are but I still love the times when you take my hand. 

I love you, my son, more. 

Eden Prairie . . . ta da . . .

Started in March and finished last evening . . .

from Knitpicks yarn

 

progressing through bits and pieces . . .

to the finish.  And I used this idea from Samurai Knitter to seal off all the ends. 

 

it just needs a gentle bath and gentle blocking to be a done deal.