Trying to get up and running...

I'm having a hard time starting my 101 in 1001. I don't even have the list complete. Ugh. Frustrating. I want my goals to be "worthy" of the list. I sometimes even feel that some I already have on the list are cutting it close as it is.


I suppose I'll have to use generic "space-holders" for a while. Didn't really want to. Doing that makes me feel like I'm starting a project without all the necessary equipment to complete it.


Also, I wanted to organize my list a little better, into single time goals, monthly, weekly, daily, etc. categories before I posted it here. I guess that will come later.


But anyhow, da-da-da-da...



My 101 in 1001
Start: Sunday, August 10, 2008 Complete: Sunday, May 8, 2011

1. Document my progress with this list in my blog at least once weekly.
2. Write a list of 100 things that make me happy. (0/100)
3. Blog at least 3 times a week.
4. Complete at least one knitting project a month. (1/33)
5. Apply to at least three jobs per week until I get employment.
6. Make at least two scrapbook pages a month. (0/66)
7. Call Christi once a week.
8. Take a vacation to Las Vegas.
9. Visit my sister and her family in PA.
10. Visit Door County.
11. Take a cooking class WITH G.
12. Get another tattoo.
13. Start savings accounts for: Bam, Lula, Cakers, J-Bug, G/Me.
14. Have a garage sale.
15. Donate what doesn't sell in the garage sale to a women's shelter.
16. Pay off my student loan.
17. Eat at a sit down restaurant all by myself, without reading, talking on the phone, etc.
18. Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.
19. Drink at least four 8oz glasses of water every day.
20. Donate 95,000 more grains of rice on freerice.com (for a total of 100,000). (16,500/95,000)
21. Learn at least one new word a week.
22. Walk with Bam on his paper route at least twice a week.
23. Make a house cleaning schedule and follow it.
24. Write a knitting pattern and submit it to a magazine.
25. Plant a tree for each of my children.
26. Have 500 "no-spend" days. (7/500)
27. Motivate someone to do their own 101 things in 1001 days.
28. Create a new list of 101 things to do in next 1001 days.
29. Take pictures in a photo booth at the mall.
30. Do 200 hours volunteering. (0/200)
31. Try 100 new recipes. (2/100)
32. Write and mail at least one 'thinking of you' card each month. (0/33)
33. Put everyone’s birthdays/anniversaries in a calendar and actually start sending cards.
34. Make a family cookbook for both sides of the family.
35. Get my wedding dress cleaned/boxed.
36. Buy new pillows for all beds. (At least as many as there are now.)
37. Make a photography book with at least 100 photos.
38. Upload 1000 more photos to flickr. (10/1000)
39. Get new glasses.
40. Do 5 brutal cleanouts of unnecessary clutter. (0/5)
41. Spend a weekend making 20 meals to freeze.
42. Eat 5 servings of veggies every day for a month.
43. Keep a food diary for 3 months.
44. Follow the Couch-to-5K Running Plan.
45. Take a road trip that involves at least one overnight stop.
46. Go 48 hours without the internet.
47. Dine at three new (to me) local restaurants. (0/3)
48. Sell something on etsy.com.
49. Sell items at a local craft show.
50. Donate $1 to charity for every item not completed.
51. Get certified in CPR/First Aid.
52. Teach someone to knit.
53. Make a sweater for myself.
54. Take a self-portrait once monthly. (0/33)
55. Make first pair of socks.
56. Start my own business.
57. Get rid of storage sheds.
58. Scan all of our print photos and archive them.
59. Write a children's book.
60. Have Lasik surgery.
61. Write 3 letters of thanks for good service. (0/3)
62. Write 3 letters of complaint for bad service. (0/3)
63. Make 5 new female friends.
64. Make friends with 4 new couples.
65. Get contact lenses.
66. Hold a Christmas in July dinner/party.
67. Go to a casino.
68. Ask for 3 songs from five different friends, make a CD, and send a copy to each of them.
69. Make sure my kids are all up-to-date on immunizations and check-ups.
70. Go on a date with G at least every other month.
71. Go on a family outing at least every other month.
72. Buy a vehicle big enough for our six-member family.
73. Have a salad dinner once a week.
74. Have tacos or taco salad once a month. (1/33)
75. Give at least 10 handmade gifts this Christmas.
76. Finish the black circular blanket (!)
77. Label all our DVDs and game discs with our name.
78. Check out the ( ) Area Knitters Guild and decide if I want to join.
79. Make 15 charity projects.
80. Make and follow a one week meal plan at least one week a month. (0/33)
81. Remember to take my pills every day.
82. TBD
83. TBD
84. TBD
85. TBD
86. TBD
87. TBD
88. TBD
89. TBD
90. TBD
91. TBD
92. TBD
93. TBD
94. TBD
95. TBD
96. TBD
97. TBD
98. TBD
99. TBD
100. TBD
101. TBD



So that's my list for Day Zero. Good luck to me and to everyone else out there making an effort to change their lives.



I have several FOs I haven't gotten on here. I've been slacking with this whole "new baby" thing going on. Although it is hard to knit with a squirming baby in your arms... I can do it, I just do it a lot slower than normally.



This one is a terrible picture but the hat is fantastic. I started out making a hat for J-Bug to match his blue sweater I made and it turned out too big. Plus it looked rather feminine. So I gave it to Cakers. On her, it looked like a cloche. Lovely but it kept slipping off. She's too wiggly for that type of hat. So I grabbed the yarn and some smaller needles and added a little over an inch of ribbing. It fits perfectly now and she loves it. All's well that ends well!

And here we have J-Bug's Gooseberry. It's just a bit big, which is what I wanted since it's August and too warm for hats, obviously.

I've got some matching solid blue yarn that I plan to make him some socks from. It will be my first attempt at socks. Eek! I can't help but be nervous. Socks look sooooo hard. I realize they are nothing but knit and purl stitches, just in a special order but that order is... really special. Thank goodness for Ravelry! I know I can go there and get advice if I need it.

My 101 in 1001/Day Zero

I've decided to begin the 101 in 1001 Project. It's a really cool idea someone had that's basically like your New Year's resolutions except instead of giving yourself a year to do them, you take 1001 days, which comes out to roughly 2.75 years, to do them.

Here's the synopsis of it:

The Mission:Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

I was going to call September 10th my starting date since that's my 30th birthday. But then I thought, Why wait any longer to start? Being the procrastinator I am, I figured it was just a way to give myself a reason to put off doing something.

So. Here I go.

I really am...

Even though it may not seem like it, I really am here for you.

I wish there was more I could do for you than just being available to listen. But I can't help you with childcare for work; I can't help you pay your rent; the best I can do is provide you with an ear and keep you in my heart. I hope that's enough, even if it doesn't feel like it to me.

I love you, Babe, and I know you'll make it through this.

So soon?!

Ha ha! Yes. I am posting again, already! I've got J-Bug balanced on my lap and he's only wiggling a little bit. :-) Poor kid's got the hiccups again.


J-Bug laughed for the first time this morning! It was sooooooooo adorable. I was holding him, letting him look up at the ceiling fan (one of his favorite activities). All of a sudden, he just started cracking up. Completely out of the blue. I wasn't even trying to get him to smile. Something about that fan was hilarious to him, though.



My sister brought me her nursing footstool when they came out for their visit. I love this thing! It's great here at the computer. The couch is too low, though. If I use it there, my knees are nearly up to my chin. Not the best position for feeding a baby.


He's getting so big so fast, too. Last Wednesday he was already up to 12lbs, 13oz! He really doesn't eat all the time but you can't tell from how quickly he's gaining!



I've gotten several projects done lately. My Ravelry notebook is probably the best place to check them out by I'll put at least a little bit about at least some of them here.



Lil Sweater for J-Bug: A sweet, fast knit baby cardigan.




























J-Bug's Hat: This one I made to bring him home from the hospital in. (Modeled on Lula's lovely

baby doll.)




























Ginger's Green Thick-Thin Scarf: I finally got this thing finished!
















Bam's Dice Bag: He chose a stitch pattern from one of my books and I whipped it into a bag.
He ended up choosing, of all things, Feather and Fan. I was sort of hoping for a bit more of a challenge, but I told him to pick whatever one he wanted.
















Cakers's Requested Hat: Cakers asked for a hat, here it is.

















And so the end of my post... J-Bug's getting ticked.

A bit of time

So while the baby is sleeping I've got a bit of time. I've been wanting to do an "About Me List" type post for a while. I couldn't decide how many to do so I asked my hubby for a number between 7 & 20. He chose 8. Here goes...

Eight (or so) Bits of Info About Me:

1. I'm addicted to knitting. I love the hows, the whys, the whats, everything about knitting. I consider myself to still be a newbie knitter. I love collecting yarn, needles, patterns, and any knitting goodies I can get my hands on.

2. I hate looking at myself in any mirror. If I can avoid it, I won't let my picture be taken.

3. I like to get drunk but I'm terribly afraid that I will end up being an alcoholic like my father. Alcoholism runs in my family on both sides, paternal and maternal. In my soul, I feel the potential for that addiction. It's very frightening because I know what it can do to a family.

4. Pepsi is my favorite non-alcoholic drink. Bacardi Light (rum) with Pepsi is my favorite alcoholic drink. Pizza is my favorite food. I think Papa Murphy's Take-N-Bake is the best pizza ever.

5. Purple is my favorite color but I also love pink, white, and black. Strangely enough, most of my yarn is other colors. Blues, greens, reds top the list. I wonder why. ???

6. I don't ever want to be without internet service again. I love my internet, even though I don't get on much anymore and blog even less, I hate the thought of being unable to access it. Ravelry is like crack to me. Yes, that's shallow. But it's true.

7. I want to own a house. A ranch-style with a laundry room on the same floor as the bedrooms, a pool table in the basement, and a kitchen with a big island in the middle of it. I wouldn't mind having a pool in the backyard, either. And a hot tub.

8. I'd rather donate to a charity or organization that helps people in the US.

So that's my Eight Things list. The baby is still sleeping. It was quicker than I expected it to be. I suppose that means it was easier to do than I thought. I'm not sure how I feel about that.

Another month has rolled by...

But at least now I'm not pregnant anymore! Hurray! I've got a new son and he's GORGEOUS! He's perfect and sweet and cuddly and mellow and huge. He was 9lbs0oz at birth and 21.5 inches long. Right around what we expected (well, for weight anyhow, length wasn't cause for concern).

My labor was nice and short. I checked into the hospital at 6am, got up to the room at about 6:15. After being monitored for what felt like forever, they came in and started the pitocin drip (it was really only about 7:30 when it got started). Right after the nurse got that started, the anesthesiologist came in and started my epidural. I had this annoying little spot on my left side that I could still feel no matter what he did about the epidural. It wasn't too bad to begin with, just irritating. The spot kept growing, though. My epidural wore off completely just about the time things got intense.

Sorry to all you people who think that giving birth without pain relief is liberating or something like that, but it frigging HURT! I've had four kids and felt no more like a mother after this most recent than the other three.

I also chose to have a tubal ligation. No more bebes for me. Being a mother of four has me maxed out! The surgery was the worst part of it all. I did enjoy the morphine and percoset they gave me afterwards. LOL.

But of course, the little man needs me right now... Can I get back here again in less than a month?

Back After a Month...again.

Well, I'm back for my once a month post. There has been so much going on, it's no wonder I never get on here.

Mother's Day was a wreck. Not for my Mother's Day, but taking the kids to see my mother. My sister happened to show up at the same time. And while that's a really nice thing, it sucked for me and the kids. We brought a little gift, what we could afford, and some muffins and milk for breakfast. She didn't even say thanks. Nor did she tell me Happy Mother's Day. I was so hurt. I understand she was happy to see my sis and all, since she doesn't get to see her very often, but come on! I am the one who spends my little bit of gas money to come up there pretty much every week, often more than once a week. I am the one who brings my kids up to see her. Does my sister? NO. And yet she'd rather see her. Thanks mom, you're the greatest.

Then later in the evening, we went to see G's mom at work. Thought it would be a nice surprise since she had to work on Mother's Day. Ha. She didn't tell me Happy Mother's Day, either. Bitch.

I don't expect a gift. I don't even want one. My children are my Mother's Day gifts. Without them, I wouldn't be a mother. But at least SAY the phrase. I was so hurt by my M and MIL not even saying it. And it isn't as if they forgot what day it was, we were there to give them their gifts!

However, my own personal part of Mother's Day was wonderful. My children kept telling me Happy Mother's Day all day long. It was very sweet. After leaving my mother's, we stopped by G's work and had lunch together. The kids behaved rather well, which is always a nice addition to my day. Then after he was done with work, we hung out at home until we went to see MIL. Dinner was made for me and everything was peaceful and "family-ish".

The weekend of Mother's Day was really tough without the disaster that was M & MIL's Mother's Day. Around the corner from us, on Saturday, there was an apartment fire. We woke up to sirens at 8am. We looked out to see tons of police cars all the way up and down the street. We couldn't figure out what was going on until I opened the front door and saw the smoke. There was so much smoke. It was horrible. After some time, I knew someone had died because one ambulance left very shortly after they arrived and another took their time leaving. They only don't rush when there is no hope. A little while later, we heard a woman outside screaming. She had just come to the scene in a car. Later, we found out she had been at work. The police wouldn't let her closer than almost a block away. My heart was aching for her. I knew it was family of hers.

That evening, we found out just how terrible the news was: A child. A little 7 year old boy. The screaming woman was his mother. I have a 7yo myself. It turns out that this little boy was in my daughter's class last year. I had thought his name was familiar when I read it in the news.

I feel so badly for this family. I wish I could afford to do something for them. They need everything, but most of all, they need money. I can't help there.

In the midst of this sadness, Baby news seems sort of crass, but I'll still put something. We are 37 weeks today. I'm sick of being pregnant. I just want this over. I want to go out and get a job. I want this mess to be over. At my last appointment, we measured 39, so it's apparent that his growth has slowed down a bit. I'm disappointed because that means less chance of an early delivery. And my sanity level is constantly dropping, my fuse is getting shorter and shorter with everyone. I feel like I'm about to go over the edge. I feel like I can't hold on to everything anymore. Hell, I feel like I can't hold on to anything anymore. It's even kind of scary. Thinking about how I'm feeling now makes me wonder how I'll feel taking care of a newborn.

Knitting has been... sporadic to say the least. I can't stick with one project. Honestly, I want to cast on about fifteen different things but know that they won't go anywhere if I do. I bought some Caron Simply Soft to make a really pretty sleeveless top. The magazine calls it a tank, I'd say it's more of a vest. You've got to wear some sort of shirt under it because it has big lacy holes in it. Well, I suppose you could go without the shirt under it... if you're into that sort of... erm... exposure...

I'm making hubby an awesome small dice bag. (Update: I was trying out a pattern I found online but the pattern was poorly written and full of mistakes. I ended up just playing with my own ideas after looking at other patterns.) I think it's my first step toward sock knitting. It's made on dpns but is basically just a little tube. Nothing like a heel or any of that. I feel the desire to make socks, but the price of sock yarn is my biggest deterrent. I don't think I'm concerned about the process anymore, or the difficulty (that used to be my biggest deterrent), it's more that I feel the need to get "a lot" for my money when it comes to buying yarn.

I finished Bam's Fingerless Mitts. I didn't even put the into my Ravelry yet. He loves them. He was incredibly impressed that I thought up the pattern myself. Considering how brilliant he is, it felt damn good to have impressed him with my brain power.