(What's so funny about) Peace Love and Understanding?

It's the last night of the year and I can honestly say that this has been one hell of a year. I keep focusing on the negative which is truly unlike me, but a clean slate start tomorrow right?

Statistical recap:

1 incurable SYNDROME that I'll try to manage for the rest of my life. Good thing I like pills. Fuck you fibro.
2 old friends that died too young. We are all just into our 40's. I call not fair.
4 new tattoos. OH SO AWESOME.
2 new tricks I taught my doggie. Do a little dance, and roll over. see below.
1 new bathrobe. Sweet.
Too much nail polish to count. At least to mention to you normies anyways.
6 new drugs I got to try. Side effects are fun. NOT.
2 drinks is all it takes to interact with my meds. Learned that the hard way at a party. Which leads to
10 panic attacks in which I thought I may be having a stroke but fortunately didn't! HURRAY FOR THAT.
1 poker tournament that out of the 2 I played I won. Cool.
2 new pairs of shoes. Way less than Jake and Chris.
200+ awesome nights of sleep on the bed that dreams are made of.
1 earworm that WILL. NOT. DIE. see below.
100+ horror movies of pure joy. The grosser and nastier the better.
6 times I watched Kick Ass. I love that movie.
2 little doggies that give life meaning.
1 awesome kidlet that isn't a kidlet anymore.
1 fabulous husband. He knows it.
Too much time missing my Mom. Still do.

Happy New Year everyone. 2010, don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.

In the waiting line...

I am not known for for my X-mas spirit. I haven't been fussed about celebrating it for many years. You'd think this year would be the same and in many ways it is.. yet it's the first year I've had gifts wrapped, both of our little trees and lights up well before X-mas eve. Both of my BFF's have lost a parent too, and both have said that the first holiday is the worst. Just the worst. I can see that coming down the road, but am letting little lights shine on all day/night to combat that kind of dark. It seems to be working.

This little birdie is one of my favourite ornaments. My parents brought it to Canada after being stationed in Germany over 50 years ago. I think we started out with maybe 6 of these but you know how that goes.. kids+ornaments=smashy. This is the lone survivor. My Dad gave it to me this summer after my Mum died. I was super happy to have a place to put him this X-mas. Isn't he sweet? Why is he a he? I have no idea.

Last night Pickles decided to wear his toy as a hat as he sat there squeaking it. Over and over and over. He is truly the dog with the most personality I've ever had. This is a good representation of what evenings are like here. Chilled out with knitting on the couch, a big glass of water and dogs all lounge-y. I just noticed this is actually a decent picture of one of Chris' atom tattoos. He has the matching one on his other arm. I wondered as we were at his company X-mas party what his co-workers would think if saw us both in sleeveless shirts. ...

Aren't they quite the pair? In Pickles mind it's a trio there. Rocky is real to him I think sometimes.

I can see clearly now.....

Proof that I have been doing stuff besides the whinge. I actually have been super productive. Did some test knits, some holy shit I have no hat must knit hat now, knitting. Some more scarfy knits too. I have no desire to knit mittens but I need some more. Maybe I'll  (gasp) buy some. Also, proof that if there is any knitted objects laying about you can be sure Pickles is resting at least one body part on it. I had to take some pictures for the test knitting I did, and had to shoo him away repeatedly. He is such a cam whore.

I knit this Cordova out of some bulky yarn I had left over from a sweater fail. It looks smashing on, but dude, I am not subjecting anyone a picture of me right now. I really need to tint my brows. White eyebrows=ugh.

I knit 2 of these. One right after the other. How whack is that? Whipped has proved to be one of my fave things to knit this year. I can totally see doing another one out of worsted weight. It would be like a puffy cloud.

This was nice to knit too. I know part of it is the yarn choice but Chinook was a great TV knit. The Punta Yarn was an absolute joy to knit. I'd like to do something a little tighter gauge wise next time with it. Also, OMG CHEAP. I got it at Pudding for 10$. Yeah 460 yards for 10$. I picked up a red a green too. Good deal!

This was the test knit. Isn't it gorgeous? I used up some Rowan Silky Wool I had and it was a great pairing with the pattern (Intermediate Scarf in Silk Rhapsody Glitter) and blocked out like a dream. Lucky me to be able to test something so freaking lovely!

In other news, Chris and I got new phones!! I have a pal who has an android phone that I have been secretly coveting for some time now, and I have to say it was that covet-ness that made me do it. We weren't eligible for a hardware upgrade from rogers yet (2 months for me, 12 for Chris) but I managed to persevere*and get us both upgraded now!

AHHHHHHHHH!! It's the proper internets in my phone!! Fantastic thing this technology! It's so pretty, and shiny and oh my gracious!

Pickles says stay warm and beware the gummi bears... they are 3 days from taking over the world.

*stay on the phone for 45 mins on hold to the retention dept. Once I got a service rep, she rather unhappily told me since I was sent there by a shop she couldn't refuse my request. So I said "um.. yay for me? and boo for you.. sorry" BUT YAY NEW SEXY PHONE!!!

Monster Hospital

This is hard to write about. I mean come on, we all have it sofa king good here. How can a whinge from a person who never has to worry about where I'll sleep, if I can eat or if I will be safe count? By accident of birth, I live in the best country in the world*, where my standard of living is ridiculous compared to most everywhere else in world. Yet here it is, the incessant voice of pain, banging at my door. Some days are easier than others not to open that door, sometimes the damn door is already open by the time I get to it, and sometimes, I can't NOT open it. Know what? I've come to realise that my life is changed, forever marked differently than it was. Get over yourself Karen.

Things I love:
-cashmere yarn
-new tea mugs
-my husband who will sit up with me until all hours. And think it's awesome.
-dogs. all dogs but especially mine.
-video games. I'm looking at you Dragon Age. and um, Alistair.
-my kiddo who is one of the funniest people I know. Kind and sweet. He'll roll his eyes when he reads this. But you are, so there.
-my sheepskin on the couch. Why did I wait so long to get one of these? WHY?
-pink lady apples.
-my friends.
-especially well produced singles. music and yarns.

This list could go on to be gigantor, but I'll keep some things for another day. I keep them in a little chest in my mind and bring them out to turn around in my hands when I"m feeling like this. Hold fast, the ride can get bumpy!







* true fact

I'm a picture that I'm holding of someone who is cool..

Don't know where the time is going. This year is sliding by like crazy. Not being measured by happy moments this time, but things that leave a red mark on my heart. Hope they will fade, and with time and liberal applications of love, nail polish and puppies that they won't scar. Another friend from the olden days has died. Too young and tragic to forget, it makes me lay down and fall backwards into the past. It makes me sit up and take stock of what I got and know it's all good. Let the lovin' come back to me..

So what makes everything better? This. I try to explain that it's pain with a purpose, productive pain. Chris sees it too now. It's a moment frozen.

Sometimes all you want to do is shine, and now it will be that way forever. I love my tattoo artist. Rick. Fits us in like old friends and bangs out minimal ideas into full fledged art.

I said on Facebook that old friends know the best stories and they really do. I was lucky enough to get a flying visit with a friend and it felt like we were 15 still. With older more real life stuff, but still lying on the couch, it was 1984 again. Lou Reed says "You're going to reap just what you sow". I am trying to sow the seeds of a better year. Let the planting start.