Is It Time to go Home?

Finally got photos of my sweater. I'm very pleased with this; I used the same colors as the pattern, but reversed them so that the main color is the darker color. Absolutely easy to knit, including the two-colored patterns at the bottom, cuffs and neck.

















My first mitten ever! It was a challenge like all things done the first time. Now that the first one is complete, the second mitten is a real breeze!

When knitting and pulling the yarns along, I did pull a little too tightly. I'm attempting to make the knitting looser on the second mitten, but not sure if I'm accomplishing that! Anyway, I did block this mitten a bit, and it fits, so that's all that matters.

Palm side of mitten. Go me! This is something I thought would be very difficult to accomplish, but after working slowly through it and reading the instructions at least 10 times, it's not so difficult as I had imagined. It's become so easy that I've offered to make my daughter a pair of black and white mittens to go with her new black pea coat that she got for Christmas. What a glutton for punishment I am. I'm going to use a thicker yarn (Wool of the Andes) and a bigger needle (size US 4) since her hands are bigger than mine. I'd rather have them a bit big than she can't get her hands into the mittens at all.

Next on my list (not knitting) is to find some new exercises. I'm doing well with the running and the strength training, but I need to do something totally different to rev up my metabolism. I'm looking into swimming, either here in D.C. or maybe getting Dave to go with me on Saturday mornings. He could use the exercise, as well. I've fallen off the wagon with WW point counting, so that's another thing I have to attend to. If Sara can make her meals, freeze them, eat proportionately, so can I. I might not make meals in advance, but I can plan menus every week.

Thursday, But It Should Be Friday

I've made it this far; my left-hand mitten is moving along; and I have one more day to trudge off to work. That pretty much sums up the day. After purchasing wool for Sara's mittens, I now realize I should have bought two skeins of each instead of one. Not a problem, I can always order more! I'm anxious to start her mittens, and I'm anxious to start the dragon scarf I want to make.

Last week I bought some fabric to make a skirt to go with the plaid jacket I just finished. The skirt is nice and has a border at the bottom of it. I have enough of the plaid material leftover so I use that as the border and the jacket and skirt will tie in together! Brilliant, eh? Too many projects and not enough time.

Since I'm going out to lunch today, I did go to the gym this morning, abbreviated as it was, but I am glad I went.

Once again, the weather for the weekend isn't looking too wonderful for riding. Cathy is judging on Sunday and she wants to re-schedule for Saturday. Saturday has a 40% chance of snow showers with a high in the 30s. Sunday is going to be sunny, but very, very cold. 52 days to spring and it can't come soon enough.

Doing a horse show at the end of March. I've forgotten Training Levels 1 and 2; better get out my Whinny Widgets and refresh my memory.

It's Tuesday and the Left-Handed Mitten is Started

After cursing and ripping out the right-handed mitten, my attempts at the left-handed mitten weren't going too well. Sunday night I cast on and ripped out three times before everything decided to cooperate with me. And, now that I vaguely know what I'm doing, the left-handed mitten doesn't look as tight, but time will tell when I get into the body of the dog picture. Oh, well, that is life, and no one can complain, but me.

DH took pictures of my right-handed mitten, but hasn't gotten them off the camera, yet. He also took pictures of the gray Alice Starmore sweater I completed. Once I get them, I can post them here, on Ravelry and on Facebook. My friends on Facebook don't really care about the knitting, but it is what I want to do.

Work has been hectic this afternoon; working on power point presentations for Thursday afternoon. Boss says he wants things done one way, paralegal tells me it's wrong. I go with the boss.

Tonight is Idol night and pizza night. If I'm still awake, I'll work on the left-handed mitten. I have to get it done now because I told Sara I would make her a black and white pair to go with her new coat. Stupid me! What was I thinking? Sometimes I wonder why I promise people things like this.

Gym work was 10 minutes on elliptical and about 25 more minutes doing core, weights, etc. Not many calories burned, but my muscles certainly feel the "burn". Ha! Have to keep at it. I read some information that as a person gets older, she accumulates more fat than muscle; therefore, motabilism gets slower and it's harder to burn calories than when younger. Ack! How horrible.

It's Friday, and Not Time To Go Home

Here I am, at work, again. Another week down the drain. The good news is I have accomplished quite a bit on my projects. My right-hand mitten is almost finished. It was a real learning experience, and I'm hoping the left-hand mitten will go more smoothly. I'm hoping I've figured out the tension when bringing the second color along and not pull so tightly. Fortunately, wool will stretch, and when I block the mitten, it will become the size it want it to be - at least I'm hoping it will.

If the weather isn't too bad, I'm going to Georgetown to the fabric store to get buttons for the jacket I made. I had all intentions of bringing it with me or at least a swatch of the fabric, but I forgot both. I'll have to wing it; if all else fails, I'll have lunch out.

Saturday right now doesn't have any earth shattering events. Sunday is a riding lesson, then I'm getting a massage. It will be interesting. I've never gone anywhere to have a massage. I'm just feeling sorry for the poor person who has to see me!

Need to take pics of my grey sweater, which is finished and has been worn several times already.

That's it for now. Just have to slug through the day.

Back to Work; Last Holiday Until Memorial Day

Since Sunday was a rain-out, I went yesterday for a riding lesson. The weather was great, the sun was out, but the ground was a big muddy bog. I'm glad the temps got warmer, but I'll be happy once the ground has dried out!

My riding boots were just covered in mud; fortunately, I brought sneakers, but the dilemma was walking from the tack room to my car. There was nothing but a sea of mud that I had to navigate. Donna to the rescue! There were plastic shopping bags in the tack room. First, we put my riding boots in bags and took them off. Secondly, after I put on my sneakers I covered the sneakers with two more plastic bags. The effect is very dramatic especially since the bags don't even match. I think everyone who rides should invest in this new fashion. And I do believe the socks just set off the entire look.

Tuesday and Wednesday were quiet at work; I'm still putting together my training documents, and the next step is to tab it all so it looks professional, well as professional as it can be! One of the senior partners turned 88, so we had cake as a celebration. Always food for celebrating...... I did not eat any cake, so a pat on my back.

Getting closer to quitting time. Another AI on tonight; what a treat; two times in a week. I must get a life.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Got up looking forward to my riding lesson, put on all my riding clothes and the many layers I would need, took the dog outside, and lo and behold! it's raining! It was such a nice day yesterday, and wham! rain on my riding lesson? That put a damper on the day, but I will have a make-up lesson tomorrow. I don't have to go to work, and I'm bringing in the horses and feeding them, so might as well get a lesson in, too, since I'll be there. Whew!

Didn't do a lot yesterday, but tinkering around on my mitten, the Santa counted-cross stitch. I made spaghetti sauce and chocolate chip cookies. Then, lounged around some more, had a few glasses of wine, had dinner, and that was the end of the day. We put in "The Red Violin" to watch, but I could not keep my eyes open, until it was over! The movie was sub-titled, so I couldn't even listen to it.

Today is a trip to COSTCO once DH wakes up, and that could be who knows when.

Many projects to work on. My choices: sew wool jacket, counted cross stitch, mitten, start new dragon scarf, pick up cable sweater that I've been working on for at least 2 years. Don't know why, but I can't get more than a few rows knitted before giving up. All I have to do is finish the sleeves, which I'm knitting at the same time, and do the collar and sew it all up. It's not that much, but one day it will be finished. I can't frog it, it's too far along to frog.

It's Saturday Morning and Still Dark Outside

As I had estimated at the beginning of the week, the scarf I HAD to have is finished. Well, I deemed it finished yesterday morning on the train into work. It's being blocked and will take a few days to dry. Not bad, not bad.

Meanwhile, I pulled out the mitten I was working on. I knitted on the train home, and because of the intricacies (Is this the right word?) of the design and using 5 (FIVE) double pointed needles, I was only able to get two rounds finished on the ride home. Still, not bad, and I haven't gotten lost on the chart, either. Even with enlarging the chart, it is still difficult to read, and I have to have complete concentration while knitting it. As with the counted cross stitch Santa, it and its mate should be finished by next winter if I don't get sidetracked (which I never do) and find some other project that I just HAVE to make. Can't say that I'm sitting around and doing nothing.

More knitting - I bought yarn to make a scarf that has a dragon on it; very intricate (again), but this time I only have to use 2 needles and go back and forth and not round and round.

Friday at last! and a 3-day weekend to boot!

Not to be outdone by my daughter, I ran 3.25 miles on the treadmill this morning. I'm going to lunch with a friend and will not have the time to exercise. Getting into D.C. early does have its advantages, and I have the option of going to the gym early! Never really thought of it before, but now I can do it. (Go to the gym in the a.m.)

Got paid today, and it's not looking pretty. Medical, vision and dental insurance premiums went up! And the mortgage payment went up! AND NOW MY CHECK IS GOING DOWN, DOWN, DOWN. To paraphrase Johnny Cash: My check fell into the burning ring of fire. It went down, down, down and the flames went up higher.

Horse Show Update

Cathy sent out a tentative show schedule with various types of events: dressage, combo shows, eventing, hunter pace, short course. Depending much on my pocketbook and if I'm feeling confident enough, I would like to do at least one show a month. Alot depends on Cathy's availability, and if she is not available, if Aileen would be taking Cassidy to a show, and I can tag along with them.

Only 98 days to Rolex! Aileen has graciously offered to purchase the tickets for us, and we will pay her back once she gets the bill. This way we will have seats all together, which doesn't make much difference where we sit, anyway. It is nice to be near one another. Looks, though, as if Aileen, Cassidy, Sara, Ingrid and I are the only ones going this year. Sallie has volunteered to be a translator at the "world" games, and she doesn't want to go twice to Kentucky. Donna isn't going because she has other plans; Cathy doesn't know if she can go yet because of work and she is worried about her father's health.

Knitting: Started my third skien on the scarf. I'm very, very close to finishing; only problem then is I have to block it just a tad as the ends keep curling inward. Drat!

Ran 3.25 miles on the TM yesterday at a nice, steady pace. Slowed down only twice, but that was to fix my iPod.

Knitting Projects

OK, so I've gotten distracted from my mittens. I decided that I HAD, absolutely HAD, to knit a scarf with the leftover yarn from my grey sweater. Well, the real reason was I wanted something simple to do and the mittens were driving me nuts - even though I am enjoying working on them. Even the counted cross stitch Santa is very detailed oriented. I'm on my second skein of yarn with the scarf and depending on how long I really want it, I should be finished very soon - the end of the week, maybe? Then, it's back to the mitten because then I have to make a left-handed mitten. Why do I torture myself like this? No, no, don't answer that.

Work: I've been asked to put together a training program to train the secretaries in my office how to file court papers, either paper filing or e-filing, how to put together a pleadings file, costs of filing documents, the whole nine yards. Today is the "thinking how I'm going to actually do this" day; hopefully, tomorrow I can start putting things down on paper.

Oh, BTW, I got home on time last night! And a good thing, too, because it was the first American Idol show of the season! There are more disillusioned people out there than anyone can count. I can hardly believe it when the contestants say that everyone just loves their voices, and when they sing, they sound like cats being skinned! Yikes.

Ran 3.25 miles today on the TM; a very steady pace, slowing down only to get my iPod to the music that won't put me to sleep.

MARC Train 9 Minutes Early This Morning, But 20 Minutes Late Last Night

I'm so glad that MARC conductors announce when the train is ahead of schedule when we arrive at Union Station in D.C. However, they never seem to take note of the lateness of our arrival at stops going home when there are delays. Now, this is just my observation, but it seem sto me that all delays are in the evening on the way HOME! Very rarely are there delays going IN to work; haven't figured that out, yet.

The train was so late one Friday, I was so happy it was a 3-day weekend because it would have been time to get back on the train by the time I got home, ate dinner, and went to bed.

Ice Riding (sort of like ice diving, but on horses!), But Not Really

The weekend sped by, as usual. I went to Bits & Bridles this weekend. It's a tack shop that is going out of business. I felt I needed a new helmet since I've fallen off frequently lately and hit my head several times. When I went into the store, it looked like a hurrican had come in. So many items were gone and the store was looking bare. Were there any helmets? Not many, but I hightailed it over to the area and started trying on helmets. I found a Charles Owens helmet (about $200), which fit wonderfully! With the discount and my gift certificate, I paid $40 for a nice helmet. I'm very proud of that purchase.




Went riding on Sunday. Since coach does not have an indoor ring, we trailered the horses to a nearby farm that has a large indoor ring. It was cold, but without the wind, it was bearable. After riding awhile, I did warm up except for the toes on my right foot. Go figure! When I put on my regular helmet, boy, did it feel like crap even after the short time I had worn my new one. What a difference in - well - everything. I am keeping my old helmet for lesson riding and saving the new one for shows. Of course, I've been falling off at shows, so we'll see what the spring time brings in the way of falling off, that is.

Decided to use up some leftover yarn from a sweater I made, so I am making a scarf; it's very lacy, but easy and am halfway finished already. I had to take a break from the mitten I'm working on as it is very detailed and I have to count and keep changing the colors I'm knitting with. I also worked on my Santa counted cross stitch, which I am hoping I'll have finished by Christmas 2010 or maybe before so I can get it framed - no wait - maybe make a pillow out of it - I don't know what to do with it. I'll worry about it if I ever get it finished. No, not IF, WHEN. I must use more positive words.


Back to work today. Already off and running.....




Since I've been to the gym and very tired now, I have lost my lust for complaining about all the nonsense that went on this morning. Probably a good thing; no one wants to read about a whining person.

Tomorrow is the start of American Idol and DH can't wait! He used to hate this show, but now it has become his favorite show - EVER!!!!

So, last night's train ride went without any disruptions. Today, however, was another story. These MARC train stories never end! We had snow last night (not much, mind you), but the trains were 15-20 minutes late because of several switches that were not working. Either it's too cold and they don't work or it's too hot and they don't work. Whatever.



Been working diligently on the new mitten project. Got stuck at one point and could not figure it out for the life of me. Don't know what I did, but I seem to be back on track now. I think I will work on counted cross stitch tonight. I've had enough of this for awhile. Talk about short attention span deficit.



Been quite busy today; invoices, airline reservations, hotel reservations, car reservations, dulles to las vegas, las vegas to san diego, then back to dulles, but not for me!

Last night's train ride home was, shall we say, very long??? Train left on time (5:51 p.m.) and we are chugging along until the dreaded loudspeaker comes on. We all know when that happens, it isn't good news. There was a car accident at Sunnyside Avenue (how could that happen? Sunnyside? Shouldn't we be happy on the sunnyside [of the street]) right at the train crossing. Don't know what happened, but the MARC management never tells us the whole story, anyway.

Next announcement: We will be holding at Greenbelt for an undetermined amount of time.

Next announcement: We are going back to Riverdale (the direction from whence we came) and a decision will be made later what to do. This doesn't sound too great to me.

Next announcement: We are holding at Riverdale until the next southbound train passes us because MARC is single-tracking the trains. Meanwhile, we will have to back up even more so the train can cross over. (By this time we could be back at Union Station in D.C.)

Next announcement: We are now leaving Riverdale and will make ALL stops. What? This is an express train. It doesn't make all stops! These people are nuts. We travel to Greenbelt and stop, again.

Next announcement: We are holding at Greenbelt waiting for another train to pass us going south. 10 minutes or so later we finally start moving, again.

Next announcement: Muirkirk.
Next announcement: Laurel.
Next announcement: Savage.
Next announcement: Dorsey! At last! I can get off this bloody train. Got on the train at 5:51 and got off at 7:51. So, does this mean that the longer I'm on the train, the cheaper my fare is? Think about that.

By the time we got home and had dinner ready, it was 8:45! What? It was time for me to go to bed.....

Thursday Morning - Today

Train arrives on time at Dorsey, no problems; arrive Union Station AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. Since the Govt. Contracts group in my office is having its belated holiday luncheon today, I went to the gym this mornng and ran 2.5 miles. I was literally sweating bullets. I felt as if I had chalked up 5 activity points, but it was only 2. 2? Sheesh, but I'll take them.

Day Two Back on Weight Watchers

Monday night on the way home I fell asleep (on the infamous MARC train and dark when we left Union Station). When I woke up, I had no idea where I was and I thought I had missed my stop! I was really panicy when I realized the people who get off at my stop wern't in the car any more. Not to bring any attention to myself, I slowly got up, put on my coat, collected by belongings and slowly went to the train car where I was to exit. Much to my relief, I saw all the Dorsey people standing in the aisle in line to get off! Whew! Almost had a panic attack. Tonight's mission is to: a) stay awake or b) wake up before I miss the stop.

As the afternoon wanes to an end, my exercise and eating regimen has been a success (so far!). I ran on the TM for 45 minutes and over 300 calories burned.

January 6

1.5 pounds down since Monday's weigh-in. Ok, Ok, I know, it all works if one follows the plan correctly and diligently.

Good work out today - elliptical for 20 minutes on Hill, Level 8. Strength training. Just about 200 calories burned today.

Tomorrow is a Department lunch, but I have already figured out what I am going to have. It's really nice that restaurants post their menus online. Now I don't have to sit at the table wondering what I should have.

A New Beginning

The new year is here; work is here, as well, but nothing new at work. Took off time before and after Christmas. I finished projects, started new ones, ripped out a mitten that I started, cast it on this morning on the train. Cut and out started sewing a jacket for work. It looks really nice, and I'm anxious to finish it. I might even go out on a limb and make a skirt!! I haven't worn skirts in years.

Made a rocking chair cushion for Sara's rocking chair out of two quilt blocks my mother had made. Sara took it home the other day; hoping it looks well. Waiting for picture from DH, who snapped it for me. Picture is here now.

Sara went to Georgia with "the boyfriend", and she had a great time. She had originally planned to go to Uraguay, but with the winter storm we had, her flight was postponed for three days, and she finally decided that she had lost too many days to make the trip worthwhile.

Meanwhile, Dave's parents bought a Christmas tree for me because they felt with my mother's death in October and Sara being away, this was something they wanted to do to help me through the season. They came over last Tuesday; I made the traditional roast beef, yorkshire pudding and trifle Christmas dinner that my mother always made when we were little.

I'm thinking about what I can do to increase the amount of running I do and to increase my time for 5K races. I seem to be at the 32-35 minutes timeframe. For many years I've been attempting to get to at least a 30-minute 5K. However, it hasn't happened, yet.

Got on the scale this morning; almost had heart failure, so I have put myself back on Weight Watchers. I've been so lax about the food intake even though I have been very dedicated about working out. Apparently, the intake has overtaken any output of activty!

Also on my list is how to improve my riding. The last few shows I've been to did not go well. My Halloween costume was a hit at the show; my dressage tests were ok, but I just had fun with the costumes. After Bella (the horse) and I got out of our costumes, I got ready to warm up to do the jumper series. In the warm-up ring, and trying to avoid all the other people, I pushed Bella to the vertical jump, which she decided not to jump. My coach told me that I wasn't using enough leg, so I put Bella up to a canter, we were moving at a great speed, I was in two-point, ready for the jump, and she veered to the left, I crashed down right onto the jump and broke the jump poles. I could not believe this! Some idiot next to me was throwing poles in the air as his daughter jumped the jump. Bella, for good reason, did not like this, so she was getting the heck out of the way! Needless to say, I could not participate in the jumpers because my inside ankle was in great pain.

My next show was an eventing show. What could go wrong you say? Dressage test was ok (again), but my coach was happy with my form, and I usually like to make my coach happy. Stadium jumping was also ok; Bella refused one jump and then knocked over a pole on another - 8 faults. On to the cross country jumps. We were doing well, got over jumps 1-5, started cantering on to jump 6, and wham! I'm on the ground. What the **))(?????? As I turned around, Bella is hightailing it back to the trailer without me! Needless to say, I couldn't finish the course, but I did get 7th place. That's a trick: get eliminated and still place with a ribbon! I like that.

Thought I wouldn't have much to say, but I've rambled on enough, I think.