I usually DON’T do New Year’s Resolutions – mostly because by January 15th, I’ve forgotten what I resolved to do, but this year, I do have some, and I intend on keeping them.
I resolve to get more organized (Kate – stop laughing, yes I know I’m anal).  I need to organize my craft room and my pantry because I can’t find anything.  I’ve been knitting a hell of a lot more, and I want to organize my yarn stash by type so I know what I actually have and what I can get rid of.  I have a ton of acrylic yarn, but since I’m now knitting more complicated pieces, I’ve started to by real wool, so I want to know what I’ve got on hand when I start a new project.  I also have to go through all my needlework stuff, and my scrapbooking stuff so I know what I’ve got.  My pantry is a shambles and I can’t find crap, which I hate when I’m trying to cook, so yeah, that’s on task for this week too.  Plus, our front entry closet is so messy I can’t find anything.  Driving me nuts.
I resolve to get to my goal weight – which has also been revised.  I want to get down to 165.  I need to get back to the basic rules of my surgery – protein first, measuring food, 80 to 100g of protein per day, no drinking 30 minutes before or after a meal, etc.  And I need to start exercising again.  I’m hoping it relieves the back pain I’ve had lately.  I just have to be careful, as I still have a ton of restrictions on my knee – no kneeling, no jumping, nothing more than low impact.
I resolve to get my debt paid off (well, except the mortgage).   I figure I’ll be done paying off my credit cards in April.  Then I’m going to double  up on car payments.  Once the car is paid off, I’ll double up on my 2nd mortgage, etc.  It won’t all be paid this year, but I’m hoping by 2015 to be completely debt free.
I resolve to stress less.  Of course, the strateline is helping with that (I love my chemical happy pills), but I also intend to keep up with my sleep rules, and be zen about things I have no control over.
I resolve to spend more time with my girlfriends.  I’m starting that this Tuesday by having lunch with my long time BFF.  MUAH.
Happy New Year my friends.  Remember that the most important things are family and friends.  And have a big spoonful of blackeyed peas for goodluck today.

See?

And I just finished this hat….

So, I got home Friday and baked two batches of candy cane cookies (sugar cookies with crushed candy canes on top), a sweet potato pie (sugar free) and made up my cranberry relish to take to my Mom’s. Kelly and Brian showed up around 4pm on Friday afternoon, and left about 8. Four hours with my grandkids and I was ready for an energy infusion. Holy cow. Madison walked in, snuggled with me for about five blissful minutes and then whispered in my ear, “Gramma, where is my present?” LOL She loved her presents this year – a bag full of art supplies and a Barbie should could take in the bathtub. Barbie played with her new Justin Bieber doll, and then proceeded to draw me picture after picture. My fridge is now appropriately covered in kindergarten art. Kelsi, who is now 5’6″ and holy shit with the curves, loved her sock monkey hat but has to wait to use her itunes app store gift card until she gets her ipod back. She’s on restriction because her grades are in the toilet. Love my Kels, but she isn’t interested in school at all. We fed them pizza and they played with Mia (who LOVED the kids) and Kelly and Brian spent a little quiet time before going back to their Mom’s. By the time they left, Bob and I were exhausted…LOL

Saturday we were up bright and early and packed up the car for Delaware. We got to my Mom’s about 10:30 I guess, where Bob had to fix my Mom’s kitchen sink before we could get started on the cooking. I baked the turkey, made another batch of cranberry relish (this one had sugar in it). I also made our Christmas eve dinner – we had a bunch of finger foods – steamed shrimp, pepperonchini, olives, cheese and crackers. We didn’t get around to eating until late – about 7:30 or so. By then I was so tired…LOL But Christmas eve was nice and quiet. I spent the day with those I love.

We got up around 7 on Christmas Day and I made my Mom’s birthday breakfast – eggs, bacon and biscuits. Then we enjoyed coffee before I had to start putting things together. My sister and her husband were coming to eat. I put together plates of quick breads, cheese and crackers, pickles and olives. I made the stuffing, mashed potatos and gravy. We heated up some turnip greens and cooked a pumpkin pie. I’m not sure who I thought I would be feeding since there was only five of us. LOL We opened our gifts, which were modest this year. Bob got me a gift certificate for a mani and pedi, and a pair of gold hoop earrings. My sister and her husband arrived a little later, and we ate an opened more gifts. I swear my sister spends a fortune at Christmas. After they left, we snacked and mom and I watched The Help while Bob went downstairs to watch the football game. I finished up my first knitted sweater and started on a hat.

Yesterday morning we got up and had to fix mom’s toilet. Then we had breakfast, and got everything packed up to go home. We got home about 1:00, and then Jessica and TJ and Brae came over about 2:30 or so. Poor Jess – she has a horrible cold (I hope she didn’t pass it on to me). Brae was a wee ball of energy. She opened her gifts – three homemade hats and a cape, and a Barbie. I gave Jess (and Kelly) homemade scarves and gift cards to Kohls.

Back to work today, but off next week, so that makes me happy. I get a lot done at work this week because no one is ever in the office. And I’m looking forward to resting next week. I need it!

Hope everyone had a great holiday!

This year, I planned ahead.  I took time off from work last week, and arranged to work from home yesterday and today because our dog is so spazzy when she’s left alone that I knew if I left her for 10 hours during the day, she’d either chew herself up, or eat one of the cats.  And that’s not something I’d want to come home to.  I felt relatively safe this time with Bob on his annual hunting trip.  I was going to enjoy my vacation from my husband.

And I made it from Friday to Sunday afternoon with no disaster.  None.  Went shopping with my girls…saw my mom…got some christmas crafts done…it was all good.  Until Sunday afternoon.

DUN DUN DUN

I got back from my mother’s, and put the dog inside.  I went back outside to unload the car, got off the front steps, took two more steps, and boom…..

I went down.  Right in the front yard.  I don’t know what happened, or how it happened.  But I went down.  On my knee.  My freshly repaired knee.  The one I’m supposed to be really careful with.  The one I’m not supposed to kneel on.  So, I didn’t technically kneel.  I more like crashed on it.

I’m sure the neighbors are wondering where the crazy shrieking was coming from.

So, my knee is ok…I guess.  It’s a wait and see kind of thing.  You see, the donor cartildge I had put in takes 18 months to grow in.  And at this point, I can still do some very serious damage to it.  But as I said, it’s wait and see.  It’s too soon to know if I did any real damage.

My pride, on the other hand, is quite wounded.  And I have a boo boo.

So, we were coming to the court of last resort here lately.  Doggie prozac.  Now, as much as our pets are totally dependent on us, we can’t claim them on  our health insurance.  And I’ve looked into pet insurance, and it costs more per year that actually taking my dog to the vet, and the basic cost doesn’t cover extras – emergencies, drugs, etc.  Sad.  We’ve had Mia on calming pills (made of brewer’s yeast and ginger and some other holistic ingredients for a month) but the problem is, you can’t predict when she is going to have a bought of separation anxiety.  And those pills are expensive, so you don’t want to have to give them to her every eight hours.

My girlfriend has a dog who was also abandonned, and he freaks out at thunderstorms.  She’s been doing some research and looked into the Thundershirt.  She forwarded the link to me and I looked into it as well.  The thundershirt is basically an anxiety wrap for dogs.  Vets have long stated that constant pressure on the dog’s nervous system tends to calm them.  This shirt wraps around their torso and waist and fits them snuggly, like swaddling a baby.  But they aren’t cheap – they run around $40.  The material is breathable, soft and washable (very important when you have dogs).  But still, $40 during Christmas season was just slightly out of my budget, and honestly, was it going to work?

But, my wonderful mother (who worries about her granddog) decided that she was going to go ahead and purchase the Thundershirt for Mia.  So yesterday, we tooker Meems and had her fitted.  I was still skeptical, but let me tell you, the difference was night and day (after of course we got her home from there store where there were kitties and treats and toys all at eye level).  She is a different dog.  No pacing.  No biting herself.  No chasing the kitties (they are thankful).  Instead, she spent most of the evening passed out on the sofa.  Even when I went downstairs to bring up laundry, which normally would have sent her into a biting episode.

And today, she’s a calm, happy dog.  She’s not pacing.  She’s not constantly begging me for attention.  She’s not biting herself.  She’s not searching the house for her daddy (who is off hunting).  I’m amazed.  I’ll give it a week, but if this is the thing that brings my baby some peace and serenity, then I’m all for it.

Thundershirt HO!

Let me tell you, we had the Best. Day. Ever.  But we don’t know how to act in public.  So we may not be allowed back…LOL

First, we hit up the Cannery in Havre de Grace which is full of antique dealers.  OMG, we laughed so hard at some of the things we saw.  Aside from some of the most gorgeous antique pieces of furniture, there was some stuff that just made you go, “ummmm…”  Of course, we had to model some of them…Like this freaky angel…

Or this wrap – um, I’m sorry, but this is just freaky – it STILL had the paw pads on it…

My girlfriend Karen found this awesome hat…

And seriously, who can resist a little J. Giles Band with Magic Dick…

After the Cannery, we headed over to the Rampant Lion – a place where local artists can display their crafts.  We were in search of The Susquehannah Knitting Company – and OMG did we find her.  Best. Yarn. EVER.  I got some gorgeous chunky yarn that I’m going to use to make some handwarmers, and Karen got the same yarn and some gorgeous sock yarn.  We also met a woman that wraps cheerios in silver and fires them in her kiln to make silver cheerio beads.  Gorgeous.

From there, we headed over to Chiparellis for lunch.  Besto Pesto Penne with chicken.  NOM.

After lunch, we headed over to Andy and Bill’s.  They have a great antique store, but they are going out of business and everything was 50% off or more.  Karen and Heather and I totally couldn’t act like grown ups in there, but honestly, who can when the first thing you see is a skull wearing a sequinned cap?

And then we saw a stained glass image of Jesus.  Now, not to be blasphemous or anything, but I didn’t know Jesus was so ripped…he picks things up and puts them down…

We were laughing so hard, people actually came upstairs to see what we were having so much fun with.

And then we saw this….I don’t even know what this is, but honestly?  It looks rather phalic, don’t you think?

We ended our day at Jana’s Java laughing hysterically over coffee and wondering why we don’t spend more time together.

I love my girlfriends!

This year, I’m making my own cranberry sauce for the first time.  In the past, I’ve always doctored up the canned variety, but I can’t use them anymore because of their high sugar content.  So this year, I’m making my own with fresh cranberries, oranges, pecans and splenda.  I’m going to go ahead and make that tomorrow, as well as a pecan pie for my hubby.  I’ll also knock out chopping the veggies for the stuffing, and make myself a sugar free sweet potato pie.  Thursday, I’ll make some fresh potato bread, and do the turkey, stuffing and mashed taters.

I’ve been struggling with our Christmas budget this year.  Trying to figure out how to buy gifts with limited funds, and trying to think of low budget things for my honey to get me.  What I really want for Christmas is to just get a break from all of the stress.  Stress blows.

But I am thankful this year.  Thankful for so much.  Familiy and friends.  A job (even though it stresses me) and my health.  Being surrounded by the people I love, and having them love me.

So this year, hold you loved ones close, and eat like pigs.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

This year, it’s only going to be my husband and myself.  The rest of our family has plans, and to tell you the truth, I’m actually kind of happy it will just be Bob and I.  I don’t get nearly enough time with him, and the thought of spending the day with him alone with nothing but good food and football doesn’t hurt my feelings at all.

I have been thinking about our Thanksgiving meal for weeks.  We’re having turkey, and stuffing, and mashed potatos and corn (um, hello carbs, I’m your bitch).  I’m also baking my husband a pecan pie, and making homemade bread.  This year I’m attempting my own cranberry orange relish, and making myself a sugar free sweet potato pie.  Luckily I remembered to take the turkey out of the freezer today so I don’t have turkey popsicles on Thursday.

And then we shall watch football.

My husband leaves Friday morning to go on his annual hunting trip.  I have plans to do nothing at all.  Just me and my dog on Friday (I am NOT a Black Friday shopper).  Saturday, I’m  having a girls day with some friends.  We’re going antiquing, and to lunch, and then we’re watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (or Elf…) and gossiping.  Because yes, women do that.

So, I bid you all good eating this week.  Enjoy your family and friends.  Enjoy your food.  And give thanks, for everything you have and everything you hold dear.

Let the holidays begin.

OH – and just a quick update to my previous post – it appears I have a vit. D deficiency.  They’ve upped my D supplement and if that doesn’t work, they’ll be adding in Zoloft.  Hopefully it will get me over the hump to actually ENJOY my holidays.

I don’t know how many of you read Hyperbole and a Half, but if you do, you will have seen the recent entry about depression.  Sigh.  I so relate to that.

Since my knee surgery in July, I have been having issues.  I’ve been exhausted, and cranky, and supermega stress – and it’s not been pretty.  I’ve snapped at people, and in general have been a cranky, sleepy, upset bitch.    Seriously, I could really rival some of the big bad villans in your favorite superhero stories.  I haven’t wanted to be around myself, and I’ve been existing on coffee.  Most days, I resemble this:

Between school, my job, and stress over some random crap at home, this was how I wanted to spend most of my day…

So, I sucked it up, and I talked to my doctor about it.  With a history of mental issues in my family combined with what I was going through, it was smart to bring it up with my doctor just to make sure everything was ok.  He and I spoke, and he said he thought my problems may have stemmed from a lack of sleep.  I was having issues falling asleep and staying asleep, and he wanted to determine if my issues stemmed from the lack of sleep, or if the lack of sleep were due ot depression.  So, he prescribed some ambien to take care of the sleep issues, and gave me some sleep rules – the bed room is for sleep and sex, nothing more.  Go to bed when its dark, and wake up with its light.  Get 8 hours of sleep.  No napping.  NO NAPPING?  WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN NO NAPPING?  SERIOUSLY, THAT’S MY FAVORITE PASS TIME…*ahem*

So I got the ambien filled.  Now, let me tell you about ambien.  It says to take it when you are ready to sleep.  And they freaking mean it.  Because no sooner had I swallowed the pills before I was drooling.  ZONK.  It’s not one of those pills you take in the bathroom and think you have time to make it to the bed.  Because you’ll end up like this:

So, for 20 days, I took my ambien, and followed my sleep rules (to the dismay of my husband, who very much misses watching tv in bed) and I got 8 hours of sleep a night.

And I was still stressed and grumpy, and exhausted.  So they checked my thyroid too.  Because blood work is so much fun.  But my thyroid is normal.  And they are checking my vitamin D, which could be low…and and and…I feel like a pin cushion.

So, now I’m waiting two more weeks to determine if my Vit D is low.  If it is, they’ll increase my D supplements and perhaps put me back on iron.  And if that is all ok, they are going to put me on happy pills.  No matter what, I’m determined to beat whatever is holding me down…and get back to happy…because everyone deserves to feel happy…no?

And I’ll beat the evil depression/exhaustion/whatever it is once and for all.

Because I have lots of opinions to share.  LOTS.

I’ll have some more free time starting Friday when I finally finish up my physical therapy.  FINALLY.

So stay tuned and please come back!!