midgeling: life in a shoe.

Yup. Still sick. Slept most of today so far. No photo today because I just cant muster up the energy for it. I got the new dishwasher yesterday. I love it. It works great - except for the fact that the heating element doesn't work. That will be fixed soon.

Today Lexa crawled into bed with me and was cuddling. I remembered that I have been meaning to make her an appointment with the pediatric dentist to get a cavity filled. When I said that thought out loud, Lexa dove under the covers and shouted "No! No dentist! I protest!" The girl does not have the mind of an ordinary 5 year old.

Okay, I am going to do get myself some more tea and juice and crawl back in bed.

Posted by midgeling at 03:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I like Plurk. I like being able to quickly spit out whatever is bouncing around my brain at the moment. Sometimes people make me think, and actually have to put these thoughts into words, which I really think is good for me.

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Posted by midgeling at 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I slept like crap. Tossed and turned. Today will go smoothly. Today will go smoothly. Today will go smoothly. Today will go smoothly. Today will go smoothly. Today will go smoothly. Today will go smoothly...

Posted by midgeling at 08:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

This is weird. When I first read it I found myself saying "No, this is all wrong. That's not me. Oh, wait. Maybe... Oh, yeah. I guess it is." The ADD-ishness, flaky, tightly wound? Not attractive traits, but yeah. They apply. Getting in trouble? That's mah specialty!

What My Name Means

You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

Posted by midgeling at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Superstition: In Holland, people with red hair bring bad luck.
I have a redhead Dutch sailor ancestor who settled and reproduced on Guam. Could it be that he was driven from his homeland for bringing bad luck?

The damn Throat Clearing Doc is in this damn office again today. At least the dorky bastard didn't log me off my PC and toss my purse in the corner again. Lunch with Marti was good. We had a good talk. I feel bad that I can't wield a magic band aid for her though. Surgery on her 10 year old is a stressful thing.

I sometimes have a problem with floccinaucinihilipilification and my self-image. I'm getting better. It's rough sometimes, but things seem to be looking up for me. We are finally actively looking for a house. There have been a few times I have felt like choking the life out of Mr Midgeling over a few house and finance related issues, but there will be a better time for that down the road. We looked at a house Saturday, and it is on the "maybe" list. This is all sort of scary, though.

ETA: Um, the post shows up MUCH better when you change the post status to "Published". Duh.

And now for your previously scheduled sock photo:

It's the latest Zen String sock club shipment. (Okay, well not really the latest. The latest shipment is currently en route to me.) I love the color - it's springtime in a skein. After trying 2 or 3 different stitch patterns, I decided what I was really looking for was a simple 2x2 rib sock. No frills. Just something simple and pretty. Because I am a dork, I misplaced the ball band. But I'm pretty sure it's the Lotus Toes in the colorway called Hope. It's just my default sock pattern. Toe-up with short row garter heels and toes over 56 sts. I do love Angelina's color sense.

Posted by midgeling at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Virgo
August 23 - September 21 You really need some rest, dear Virgo. Even though you have a list of tasks and errands a mile long, see if you can leave some of them for later. All signs indicate that you should not stray too far from home today, if you can possibly help it. You are easily distracted, making you prone to accidents. Behind the wheel of a car is not the place for you to be right now. Stay home and tackle all those little chores you've been meaning to get to.

BWAAAAAHAAAAAA! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Heheheheheh. Ahem.

No kidding. Too true. Stay home? I wish.

Posted by midgeling at 08:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You know you are in need of a mental health break from work when the following email sends you into fits of giggles and snorts:

----- Original Message -----
From: Shirley
To: midgeling; Stephanie
Cc: Tricia
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 11:51 AM
Subject: 3 PIGS XRAY ACCOUNT

And in the email, the patients are referred to as "PIG ONE", "PIG TWO" and "PIG THREE".

No mention of a Wolf or his whereabouts was made in the report.

Posted by midgeling at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

"Let's Play the Glad Game!" Pollyanna used to be my favorite movie when I was younger. Well, and when I was older, too. I just like it. A lot. I lost count of how many times I have seen it. [Okay, I just had a giggle fit over the lamest thing ever. I originally misspelled Pollyanna. Polyanna. I had visions of multiple girls named Anna all lined up like clones in a funhouse mirror. I tell you, I have been stressed.]

Okay, so for the last couple of months, things have really kind of sucked and I have been chanting to myself little blurbs about how things will get better. And for the last couple of weeks, my pissy alter ego has been yelling "LIAR!! You LIE woman!" But really. I do know I have a lot to be thankful for. Like my sisters and brothers and parents and extended family.

And Marti, is probably the best friend ever. Monday started off my particularly crappy week. During lunch she did one of those "Here, I think you should have this" things. She gave me a secret little gifty thing of yarn love that made my day. It was totally unexpected and is so what I needed to perk me up. Thank you. Non-fiber people just don't get it. It's almost like being given a kitten that doesn't need shots, flea spot, food or a litter pan. Trust me. It's a wonderful feeling.

And Marianne. Thank you. You leave me the nicest notes of support and encouragement. It really means so much to me. It is amazing how people in your life both face to face and a few hundred miles away can help you get through ugly stuff without resorting to poking out your own brain matter.

Okay, and here's something else I have been thankful for:

"No Mom, I didn't eat the gummi bears..."

She has been so sweet and helpful lately. She switches out my ice packs for me in the freezer. She showers me with kisses and tells me she hopes my back feels better. Last night this child was hilarious.

Lexa: Let's read stories tonight, Mom. We can real mine first, then we will read yours next.
[So we read Would You Rather Be A Bullfrog and Ten Apples Up On Top. ]
Lexa: What's your book called?
Me: Programming the Universe: A Quantum Computer Scientist Takes On the Cosmos by Seth Lloyd.
Lexa: Oooh! Cool. Like NOVA! But that's too hard for me. What's this one?
Me: This one is called Ocean breezes : Knitted Scarves Inspired by the Sea by Sheryl Thies.
Lexa:[opens book and pretends to read] Cool. Yarn, yarn, yarn... Yarn, yarn, yarn, yarn...."

And the last thing I have been glad about and thankful for: The sharp pains in my back are getting better. I have a ways to go, but I was beginning to wonder if I would ever show any improvement at all. I am able to knit for longer stretches of time (maybe 15 minutes) before my hand and arm start freaking out on me. Better is good.

Posted by midgeling at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

I just spent almost $300 on Christmas gifts for the kids today. And almost all of what I got was on sale.
And I am not done shopping for people yet.

Posted by midgeling at 02:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

These are my beloved kitties. Baby is the big boy at the top. Stella aka Fatty aka Fat Cat is the pretty little thing below Baby. She has the most adorable fat rear end that gives her the cutest waddle when she walks. We have a lot in common, except that her waddle is much cuter than mine. I really missed the most adorable shot of Baby licking the top of Stella's head, and her laying there with her eyes closed enjoying every minute of it. They refused to cooperate and repeat the scene for me.

And here is Harley creatively modeling another Christmas gift hat. Um, I don't really have much else to say about it. Harley pretty much leaves me at a loss for words.

Okay, I finished the hat several days ago, but I am only just posting it now. Why? Because Kassie brought home another virus. There were aches and congestion and fevers to go around. She gave it to her baby sister, who gave it to me. We all pretty much spent the weekend sleeping and taking over-the-counter drugs.

But a few minutes ago, I was listening to Knitters Uncensored on my iPod while knitting another Critter Scarf and watching Quilters TV on TiVo (yes, all 3 at the same time) and I realized that I was actually awake and had photos, so I may as well post them.

So there you have it. Another (not so) exciting day in my life. Oh, well there was the Starbucks Date earlier tonight. But that's another story to be told tomorrow.

Posted by midgeling at 10:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

This is my beautiful oldest daughter. She is 14, in the gifted program, honors student, etc. Very bright - really. Last night she was messing around and blowing bubbles from a container that she got in a birthday party favor bag. The bubbles smelled good - sort of fruity. So she ate one. And she was actually somewhat surprised that they tasted bad.

"But I thought they were the flavored kind!"

She makes me so proud, lol!

Posted by midgeling at 08:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Lexa Puts her Mom in Her Place

OMG. Remember when Lexa said "What's wrong with you? Don't you understand Chinese?"

She just started up with that again. So after a few minutes of listening to her tease her sister about not understanding Chinese, I said "If you are so smart then, say something in Chinese!"

So Lexa quips "Wo ei ni!"

Which is Mandarin for "I love you." (Thank you, Auntie Laura.)

Um, yeah. So I will just shut the hell up and let her go with her big, bad self.

Posted by midgeling at 10:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Haaahaaaa! It is snowing some nice, big, puffy flakes right now. It looks lovely. The weather reports yesterday morning said that it wouldn't be snowing until next weekend. Poor guys just can't get this straight. I am supposed to be on a plane Friday morning to go to Denver where I will be faced with even more snow! Wheee!

My dishwasher broke. The motor went out. I get to wash dishes for 6 people by hand. Every day. What else? Yeah, my ceiling is growing mold and the chimney leaks water into the kitchen and living room. At one point we were growing mushrooms on the ceiling. I kid you not. So what is the mold doing to me? Yup - asthma that won't go away. So we get to tear this house apart some more and make it look worse than it already does.

Nathan took Harley to her taekwondo tournament in Greenwood at Lee's Martial Arts there. It is a small in-house, so hopefully he will get some good pictures. I hate not having my camera available. It makes me feel nekkid.

There are so many more things I need to do. I mean for me. Not like "More chores around the house" crap. There is ALWAYS that. I mean that I read the Danny Gregory book Everyday Matters last year and it has gotten me thinking. I rarely draw anymore because "I am so out of practice that whatever I draw these days just sucks". Okay, dumbass, if you don't start practicing again, it will never be anything but out-of-practice-sucky. So last week I checked out The Creative License, also by Danny Gregory. I have yet to crack it open, but I need a minute where I don't have naked, screaming children throwing things at me. With all these @##@$# snow days we are having, they will never get their butts back to school and let me have a bit of quiet around here.

Continue reading "Scattered Thoughts, page 2" »

Posted by midgeling at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

WTF? This is one of the headlines off the MSN page: "Family Feuds Dog Famous Folks in Death". What the hell does that mean? I have read it several times and I can't make any sense of it. My 3 year old makes more sense on a bad day than that.

Heehee. Yet another truck trying to get past my house on my icy hill. What makes these people driving trucks weighing a couple of tons think that they can drive up a fairly steep slope that has a 2" ice sheet covering the top? It is just another snow day here in the Seattle area. Today was the second snow day. It didn't snow yesterday. I fact, it was quite sunny and bright. But it was so cold that very little melted. The only snow melt was what was up in the trees - and all that did was melt, drip down to the ground and re-freeze. So my whole hill is ice and I have 4 kids home and destroying the house when they should be at school learning something useful.

I finished one of my socks for the Lime and Violet Sock Sock Marathon 2007. And here it is!

One down, one to go. Then only 9 more pairs to go, lol!

Posted by midgeling at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)