Look casual and don't make eye contact!

Psst! Psst!

I’m over here, behind the big rose bush.

Yes, I know it’s weird, but this is the only hiding place they haven’t been able to find.

Who are they? You know, the people at that place that necessity dictates I spend 40+ hours a week, doing my juggling act to keep the wheels turning.

Yes, those people, the ones that don’t understand the words “No, it’s time to go home!”

So let me fill you in before the guards are sent out to drag me back to my desk.

b   I had a great time at Stitches West; the Fair Isle tam course was well worth the cost- I picked up some new skills, cool short-cuts, & the desire to try more, & the instructor was wonderful- equal part informative, entertaining, & instructive. Friday afternoon I met up with my friend, did a little browsing thru the Marketplace, then checked into our room before heading down for a wonderful buffet dinner in the hotel restaurant & joining the scores of knitters taking over the bar & lobby. Saturday, we had a leisurely breakfast & checked out, before heading into the Marketplace at 10:00 am. I stuck to my resolve, only looking during my first complete walk-through, stopped for a break to watch the fashion show & rest my feet, met up with my Friday night knitting group for lunch, then back to the booths that held my treasures. I even stayed in budget, buying only 3 skeins of yarn, one pattern, a small Fibersphere, & some stitch markers!

b   Sam did make the Tennis team, earning the 1^st varsity doubles rank & 6^th overall, but his eligibility is a touch precarious, since he’s been lax about keeping up with his Algebra 2 homework (can we say “senoritis”?) & is currently failing. He has already played 3 pre-season matches, winning 3 out of 5, & will have his first regular season game on Tuesday. He’s still tired but has been (surprisingly) mature & sensible about his schedule- he spoke with his sensei & is taking a break from teaching karate (unless needed as a back-up) & will only run the sound for youth every other week until school is over (10 weeks & counting!)

b   Had a couple local adventures~ went back to Scottish country dancing class for the first time in over a year & was pleasantly surprised that I still have my muscle memory (if not my stamina, but that will return in time); had a girl’s night at a friend’s last Saturday- homemade potato soup, fresh bread, nibbles, sparkling cider, & - what else- knitting project show & tell; took a vacation day & went on the annual Garden Club nursery crawl- didn’t find much in the way of plants, but it was a gorgeous day outside- & you know what they say: “A bad day at the nursery is better than a good day at the office anytime!”

b   Lastly, a “God is in control” story: Chris had a staff meeting last Friday & his hours have been cut to 32 per week for a least a month, probably longer. This was somewhat unexpected, as they have had more work to get done before the season opens then they had time or people to complete it, but who ever said corporate is logical. Anyway, we currently have money in savings, which was earmarked for buying an older pickup (think big & cheap) as an extra vehicle for Sam to use & rate him on for car insurance purposes (both our cars are still being financed), but priorities are what they are. Here’s where it gets interesting: Saturday morning, we received a long overdue refund from our insurance company, which ended up being $200 more then we expected- the total was enough to cover the shortage for one month & set aside some money for Sam’s Senior Prom in April. Then, Sunday afternoon, just as we were heading out for a walk in the lovely Spring-like weather, Chris’ cell phone rang; it was KJ, the woman who owns the horse training facility & had hired Chris last spring to do various jobs on the property. He hadn’t heard from her since August, when he recommended some part-time laborers since he was too busy at work to help out anymore; she was calling to beg him to come back to do some work & supervising for her, as she was going back into the hospital for hip replacement surgery. He went out that afternoon, & says she has enough work to keep him busy one day a week for at least a month, maybe more- which will cover one more month of short hours. Wait~ it gets better! Our state income tax refund (the first we’ve had in 3 years) was finally released by the cash-strapped controller’s office yesterday- another month’s makeup money is in the bank!

 

Rats!

They found me~ back to the grindstone.

Only 11 weeks until vacation.

*sigh*