In sickness and in health

We Bach's love our beagles no matter what. Today we were faced with a new challenge. Harry has been diagnosed with sarcoma (cancer). He will undergo further testing on Thursday to be sure that he is appropriate surgical candidate for removal of the tumor (yes, it is the thing I found while dogsitting). If it has not metastized, he will have surgery next Monday. I must give kudos to mom and dad for being realistic and honest about how much they want to put Harry through. For now, we will continue to try to insure his comfort and quality of life. Momala and Dadala, remember you always have an oncology social worker on call. Thankfully, Harry certainly has no symptoms and at this time isn't in any pain. I think our primary goal is to get through the holidays with Harry. So think good thoughts for Mr Harry Reilly and his sibs/counsins...

additional thanks

19) My brother in law Michael. No wonder how much the Lions suck, you are a loyal, loving fan who knows all the words to the fight song. It is even better when he has had a few beers and sings it!

20) Alcohol; specifically the mixings for my current drink of choice, the Appletini; vodka (I prefer vanilla vodka), green apple pucker schnapps and butterscotch schnapps. Yum.

21) My mother's words of wisdom, "nice is as nice does." It really does work, even if you don't mean it.

Gratitude

"We can only by said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." Thorton Wilder

On this Thanksgiving Eve, I thought I would write about things I'm grateful for


1) The notion that Maxie is waiting for me at the Rainbow Bridge. Even though he is gone, I have wonderful memories of our last Thanksgiving at the JoyHouse. Max ate a motherload of turkey. I hope you are having some tomorrow big guy.

2) Maggie. No she can't/doesn't replace Max, but she is pretty damn cool. I love you Pie.

3) Gus and Molly. The "children of the corn." Thanks for grieving with me. I didn't feel so alone.

4) Sunday night TV especially Dr McDreamy

5) Abby, Justin and Julianna and their parents. Almost all safe arrivals, but happy, healthy babies.

6) The Wynne's. I love being Auntie Bach and that our friendship has grown so much since you became parents. Thanks for letting me be part of the family.

7) Yarn. ('nuff said)

8) My friends. You put up with all my quirks and for that I love you.

9) Dad for being the best dog sitter around

10) Mom for being my favorite travel companion

11) My IPOD for keeping me from hearing all the crazy people on the bus in the morning

12) Allison because you love America's Next Top Model and I love to chat with you about it

13) LOST

14) Cake from Genardi's

15) Luther, Harry and Murphy for being the other three beagle-amigos. Luther, I'm so glad you brought some more energy back to the old men and to mom and dad.

16) My new bed, washer and dryer

17) For some days remembering just why it is I became a social worker (like today)

18) That this is NOT my dog



This is Sam, the World' Ugliest Dog, who died this week at almost 15 years old.


and for these things, and I'm sure there are more, I say


Thanks.

Knitting Sunday

Yesterday rocked. I hung out with my bud Trish and we did some supreme knitting.
I finished my kicking NORO scarf. Here I am modeling it:

And here is Luther modeling it:



And here are Gus and Maggie


And here is Trish with her new project, a hot NORO sweater,
She is so crazy she finished the back already --- about 5 hours of knitting time. Trish is HARDCORE!

She enjoys knitting with Gussy on her lap!

To top the day off we had a dramatic reading of my favorite, politically incorrect children's book

Clearly, the days are just packed!

Missing

I know I've been missing the last few days. It has been a bizarre week; dominated by the arrival of the rest of the "BACH BEAGLES," Murphy, Harry and Luther, for a week at my house while my folks head to Florida. It is totally WILD KINGDOM here. Luther and Maggie play incessantly; rarely stopping to nap with the rest of the couch potatoes. Harry is getting in there with them now, which reassures me because I found this enourmous growth on him last night that wasn't there when he arrived. It looks like a fluid collection just above his paw. He doesn't seem to be in any pain, nor is it limiting his Harry-esque behaviors. He gets to meet Dr. Soli on Monday, just to be on the safe side.

Today I took an interesting and extremely frightening knitting class, "Fixing lace and cable mistakes." I love Grace. She has incredible patience and the coolest techniques that just make sense. Imagine a swatch with the ten middle stitches dropped down ten rows. Then imagine fixing it without ripping the entire thing back ten rows. This is what we did in class. I melted down after the stockinette, cable and the first lace swatch---but all in all I learned some techniques that will at least avert disaster until I can make it to the yarn shop.

So, to all of you whom I declared, "they call it a breakup because it is broken," to today. Thanks for letting me air my feelings. I'm not trying to influence anyone, but wanted to share why you might not see me as often. Of course, you can always find me here at knitty delicious .


n jjhghjl, <------ Luther gave the computer the paw and typed this all by his beagle self!

I'm going to sit by the fire and knit tonight...
And by the way, nice win BUCKEYES!

New Stuff!!!!

Photos of the new futon (which completes my knitting zen garden on the first floor) and the new bed

Gus on the new bed---I have to lift him onto it as it is SO tall. It towers over the nightstand

Maggie sacked out on the new bed; she is the only dog who can jump on to it

Gus and Maggie ready for bed

The new Futon

Molly REALLY does sleep in the closet

Maggie = Snoopy

From Croatia with Love

What a special Friday Treat! Matt Lauer's fantastic journey "where in the world in Matt Lauer?" took him to the Dalmation Coast of Croatia. Sure, it may be hailed as the next great Riviera, but who cares? Goran is from there.

I love you Dr Luka...even more when you are strolling through the streets of Dubrovnik with international hottie Matt Lauer.

Thanks for the pitter-patter this early morning (since I got up at 430am!!!!)

RIP Shannon

Holy CRAPTASTIC LOST was awesome last night. My biggest complaint was not enough naked Sayid...but I guess we can't get everything we want.

So, the the producers/casting directors, I am MORE than available to be the new love interest for the scorned iraqi. I'm the alter ego of Shannon-short, stocky and dark haired. Teehee.

So here's to you Maggie Grace...and to Michelle Rodriquez' bad ass self for taking her out. Frankly I was tired of listening to her whine.

Miami!

The day got brighter as it went on.

I talked to many about my issues...no more holding back. Emotionally incontinent with Kava. Thank you Kava.

Picked up Ambien refill on way home; plan to take soon.

Received letter from Leukemia and Lymphoma Society--picked to go to support group facilitators conference, all expenses paid, in MIAMI, in January! GIDDYUP!

Mom and I are going to Ocean City the weekend after Miami for scrapbooking weekend! MORE FUN AND GAMES!!!

Things are looking up...slowly.
I am not going to jump of a tall building....harm myself etc.
And tomorrow, knitting.

INSOMNIA

I am wicked crazy frustrated with my sleep issues
I was up ALL FRICKIN NIGHT last night...I would doze off and then wake again. It was horrible. And the TV last night, oye. Did you know that with appropriate investments and a training course from "INVESTMENTS 3000" I can make an average of $30000 a month.

I had a moment though this morning and realized that last night's episode of insomnia was the result of workplace related anxiety that is making me ill to think about. On top of it, I didn't process what had happenend with anyone last night, thus internalizing all of these negativities and anxieties about how/if I can continue to work at HUP if some things don't change.

I draw parallels to my education (pre-college), when I was BORED at school, didn't complete assisgnments, pay attention in class (ADD) etc and was then pigeonholed into the "average" group of students. I am bored at work. I cannot continue to operate in this capacity much longer. When given a ray of light, to work more closely with the SYMPAC team, I was hopeful. This hope was dashed in a one hour lunch meeting by one psychotic person who clearly doesnt play well with others. All in all, I'm feeling stuck in the mud, unchallenged, bored, anxious, and without much hope that it can or will get any better. OYE

Crossing the Line

Today, I crossed the line.

I moved from knitting in Rittenhouse Square, to knitting in Clark Park.

I allowed Maggie to gut the mallard

I finished the first of Grandma's socks for Christmas

And I bought Molly a sweater. Really, I bought it for Maggie, but it is too big for the little one. I think it looks just right on Molly.

I also did too much only one day into stage three of the dengue fever...Now I've got to go back to bed...

I forgot, here is a shout out to my bestest friend in the world, Ana. Congratulations on your engagement to Jeffy-Boy! I can't wait until the WT Wedding!

dengue fever: stage 3

I've entered stage three.

After taking an Ambien(full 10 mg strength) and sleeping upwards of 12 hours, I am feeling a BIT more functional but still pretty worn out. I think I will have to do the same thing again tonight and continue to try to sleep this out of my body.

Did everyone see Wendy (www://knitandthecity.blogspot.com) on the news????
Nice defense girl...
I will never get over the "there is only one way to give a blow job."

On knitting notes, when you are sick and lay on the couch all day, there is an disproportionate amount of time to think about and to knit. I finished grandma's first sock last night...grafting and all. It looks awesome. I also started by school products cashmere hat and continue to work on Mike and Ali's xmas gifts. I've got to start dad's, but I need size two double points which means, darn, a trip to the yarn shop.

I have to go blow my nose.

Yeastie Beasties

I'm clearly paying Dr. Soli's rent. Gus was at the vet today; aside from being deemed a "drama queen," as he thrased about during his pedicure, he has a massive ear infection---full of yeast and bacteria and white cells. It's shasta mcnasty. So he's on two (oral) meds and a lovely ointment I have to shove in his ear twice a day. POOR GUSSY!

Day 4 SEPTA strike...this officially bites major ass. I really can't afford to keep driving and paying for parking. I mean, I'm lucky, at least I have a car. According to the news, they are not meeting until Sunday, but at that point, the city and state policitians are sitting down with them to try to force an agreement. How long can they keep this up with no pay, no health insurance?

I'm am officially getting my first cold of the season and am bordering on miserable.
BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH

Cruelty

Insomnia sucks.

What stinks even more are these pharmaceutical companies who insist on constant advertisements for Ambien, Lunesta, Sonata et. al. on every channel, all night long.

Between that and "Elimidate," my options for late night wide awake television are extremely limited. I'm tired (literally) of being laughed at (figuratively) because I'm awake all night long.
I need a DVD player in the bedroom so I can watch commercial free, non mocking TV at 4am.

That is all.

A Girl and Her Appliances

I've done so much laundry and I'm so in love with the washer and dryer.
Heather took these silly photos of me right after the washer was delivered on Saturday and I was working on the inaugural load.

And Still More Photos

Sammy, Auntie Bach and Alex

Sammy's Ruby Slippers

T-Bone

More Photos...

Halloween, SEPTA and the like

This damn strike stinks; and it is only day 2. SEPTA can bite me.

Halloween rocked, here are the photos of my posse to prove it!

Julianna D. poses with her pumpkins

Alex; my fang man

Juliana as Raggedy Anne

Sammy; my fang woman

And last but not least, Justin "Dragon" Muttreja