April Fools!!!

Remember as a kid we were told "March came in like a lion and out like a lamb"?  We even made paper plate and cottonball lions and lambs.  Maybe that was in Sunday school.  I can't remember.  Well, several weeks ago (the Ides of March perhaps?) the weather was so nice we went rock climbing.  That day wasn't as warm as a few days previous, but it wasn't enough to keep us off the cliffs.  That was a Sunday.  The temperature has since steadily dipped down into the 30's and has threatened snow several times.  Actually, now that I think about it, it did snow one night, but had melted before I got out of bed for good. 

Yesterday was the opening of baseball season.  One patient was wearing a Washington Nationals jersey, because he was on his way to the game.  "It's better than working" he said.  I'm not so sure.  I don't like baseball, so I can't imagine that sitting in a drizzle for several hours (watching your team lose) would be better than work.  I guess it depends on what kind of job you have.  And how much you are a sucker for punishment.

Today the sun keeps poking out of the clouds.  I haven't looked at a weather map yet, it's been too depressing lately.  I was told Virginia was much warmer than New Hampshire, but so far not so.  Sure it was hot in September, but so was NH.  And once it started getting cold, it got cold fast.  I lived in NoCal for too long.  Even though I didn't like the rain all the time, you get used to the 50-60 degree temps year-round.  Lately I've only enjoyed a month or so in the fall, and a month or so in the spring, when the temperature resembles NoCal. 

I'm well aware that I'll soon be complaining that it is 'too hot'.  Deal with it.

Special Thanks to Etsy and Ravelry

I still have a few days before the month is over.

I suppose a lot has been going on, but it still doesn't feel like it.  I go to work.  Everyday feels like a Monday.  Just when I think I've got things figured out, I'm told I've forgotten something else. 

I feel guilty because I work at an allergy clinic and I can't wait for things to start blooming.  Which, they are!  Not that a little 70 degree weather hurt any.  There were little purple flowers in the neighbors lawn.  I'm sure she can't wait to mow them down, but I think they're pretty.  The first hint of spring.  Of course it's supposed to snow 4-6 inches tonight.  Hopefully a warm, wet snow, that helps things bloom even faster.

I've been trying to plan a wedding.  So far Karl is the only one whose accomplished any of that.  He got a church, and an officiant.  I've got 15 different swatches of yarn, designating the many attempts to find a yarn to make a dress.  Every time I think I've found 'the one' I find it has been discontinued.  At least the color I want.  To add insult to injury, the pattern I chose is also particularly difficult due to poor writing.  I'm tempted to re-write the whole thing before I begin.  At least I'm not the first person to make it.  People on Ravelry have very helpful ideas on how to fix the pattern, so the dress actually fits.  So I ordered purple yarn, which was approved by both Mom and Karl.  When it arrived, I almost choked.  It was bright fuchsia.  Not quite 'wedding dress' as 'tropical island getaway'.  Or maybe Vegas wedding dress.  But we gave up the Vegas idea.  Now I'm onto silver.  I only hope they ship it before it goes out of stock forever, too.

I did make invitations. It cost more to make 7 invitations than it would have cost to buy 100.  But they're super cute.  If you know you're already invited, they should be sent out Wednesday, just as soon as I buy cuter stamps.  Not that I don't like American flags and pine cones...  Oh, and I found rings.  We resorted to the internet to find something more unique than the average jewelry store.  I know Karl is skeptical, but everyone I know (including his jewelry making friend) has had good success with Etsy.  The seller was super fast, and accommodating to all my questions.  I'm sure we'll love them.

Like the title says, without Etsy and Ravelry I'd be a lot further behind in this wedding thing than I already am. 

An Arbitrary Reference of Time

We made it safely into the new year.  Well, except for a touch of the flu/stomach bug I got on New Year's Eve.  I'm a party-pooper.  I know it.  I think my brother held it against me the rest of the night, when really he should have just spent the night with our sister and brother-in-law, he would have had more fun than hanging out with Mom and Dad (and me and Karl).  Oh well, too late now.

It was definitely a whirl-wind trip.  We spent 5 days visiting people, and 3 days flying.  Every single flight we were on was at least an hour delayed.  Every one!  And the weather was great.  Sunny, calm, still cold, but beggars can't be choosers.  With the addition of a 4th suitcase we were able to bring all our presents home in one trip.  Don't take that to mean we had a ton of stuff, because my 2 suitcases are tiny, since the big ones have been destroyed by baggage handlers over the years.  And we needed 1 hard sided case to transport a bottle of wine.  Which I'm happy to say survived the trip.  Enjoy A & E!

But we did get a climbing rope.  As soon as the weather warms up, we'll be hitting the rock.

It was nice to see everyone, of course.  I wish we could have stayed longer, or preferably, they could come visit us for a change.  I like sleeping in my king-sized bed. 

I have not made any resolutions yet.  I haven't in years.  Of course I want to exercise more, and eat healthier, but I always want to do that.  Now that I have a job (for awhile) I can afford a gym membership.  I wanted to take a ballet class, but I forgot to sign up before we left.  The community center does have a pool though.  If only I still fit my swimsuit.  I guess I'll have to go to the fitness center first.  Then again, I do have a pound cake baking in the oven... I'm a sucker for sweet. 

Ah, yes. Commuting.

Yeah, yeah, I know I promised to write more frequently, and I did.  For awhile.  So what?

I did finally get a job, though.  Unfortunately it's only temporary.  Sure, I'm probably set through March and shouldn't worry about it, but I do.  I can't seem to enjoy it as much, or get as enthusiastic as I could, knowing that I'll probably have to leave in 3 months or so.  The head doc, and the office manager did mention it may turn into a permanent part time position.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  Prayers are welcome, too.

It's at an allergy clinic.  So far I've given well over 100 injections in my first week.  I even received one, a flu shot.  Next week I have to start doing my own interviews and charting, and answering the phone.  They're pushing me fast, faster than I would have pushed myself, but that's what being a temp is, right?  One of the nurses is leaving to have a baby in January.  I have to be independent by then.  I will be.

That just started Monday.  I had a second interview on the 1st, and was asked to start on the 2nd.  I started on Monday, because I had to buy new scrubs and a lab coat.  Apparently I've outgrown my old ones.  The rest of November was spent raking.  Have I mentioned that we have a ton of trees in our yard?  And I only rake the clear areas around the house.  We could probably hide a truck on the back half of the property, by simply parking it there.  There probably is one.  I'm afraid to check.

We haven't picked a date to get married yet (I phrase it as such, since we may still elope), but we have narrowed it down to 2011, possibly even to the spring.  Information will be posted as it becomes available.  

All it was cracked up to be

Yes, we went to the Rally to Restore Sanity, and yes, we had a good time.

I think everyone who went had a good time.  As far as I could tell (from the middle of the mob) no fights broke out, no one got hurt, no one was significantly upset about the content, well, at least those who could hear it. 

Everyone is now aware that the turnout was way underestimated.  And therefore, while we were hanging out by the last set of monitors, we were still about halfway from the stage.  Anyone beyond 7th street was out of luck.  But they are still able to say "I was there" even if they didn't find out what happened on stage until they came home and watched it on YouTube.  No one necessarily has to know you showed up late. 

Many of the comments, blogs and articles I've been reading online seem to think that the Rally was a complete failure.  I respectfully disagree, but I still don't think you are Hitler.  (Ha ha).  Either people felt like it didn't have a strong enough political agenda, or that it had too strong of one.  I read on one page that because Yusef Islam (Cat Stevens) was a guest, Jon Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity has become the Rally to Restore the Reputation of Islamic Extremists".  Really?  Where as another person said something to the effect, that being in the middle and not being on one side or the other, nothing can get done.  "The Civil Rights movement knew what side they were on."  (After re-Googling the news articles I was reading earlier, I no longer get the same results, so I can't give the exact quote).  I don't think that the Rally meant that we should be on one side or the other, or that we shouldn't have opinions, I think the purpose was to show that people from all sides can hang out in the same room together, without fighting, and have some fun.  It's okay to not have a 'strong' political opinion, but still have an opinion that matters. 

Another person complained there were too many white people there.  Well, I can attest to the diversity as I had the monitor blocked most of the time by a rather large black man standing directly in front of me.  (I'm short.  Everyone seemed to be blocking my view of the monitors).  I thought the diversity was pretty good.  Even Stewart said that it was a reasonable sampling of our demographics.  I really do hate to say this, but there are still more 'white' people in the U.S.    They said "where are all the poor, unemployed, homeless black people who live in the DC area?"  My guess?  Looking for a job, house, food, and taking care of their families.  Not everyone has time to go to even a 3 hour event.  Part of me had hoped I'd be working by then, and unable to go.  If we didn't live in the DC area ourselves, we wouldn't have been able to afford it. 

This post is starting to sound too political even to me.  I feel like I have to defend the Rally, though.  It wasn't supposed to be anything!  It was supposed to be fun, and to put into perspective the serious problems others have blown out of proportion.  Things are tough, but they will get better, just not overnight.  

"These are hard times, not end times."

I think Karl did a much better job of explaining how our weekend went on his blog.  He also took many more, and better pictures.