2006...in a few hours

Vacation gets me into a rut of napping...knitting...sleeping...reading...watching tv...napping...you get the picture. Sadly, I have to return to reality on Monday (ie Philly) and to that place called work on Tuesday. So, here are my resolutions for 2006

1) Floss. I know this is my resolution EVERY year, but this year, I mean it.

2) De-Clutter. One room per month for the next 8 months. Included in decluttering is coming up with a system for organization and staying decluttered. Simplify...Simplify...Simplify

3) Knit a (successful) lace shawl for Annie's wedding

4) Be a gorgeous (haha), kick ass, graceful bridesmaid to Money and Annie.

As I reflect on 2005, a few things stick out in my mind---here are the ABC's of 2005

a) The re-enactment of the Michael Jackson trial on E!/which was even better in England because they don't censor anything (like the accusers name!) in England.

b) British TV stinks. All the good stuff is on BBC America. Really.

c) My world has changed since traveling overseas.

d) Three beagles is the magic number.

e) I suck at lace knitting (see resolutions above).

f) I am really getting into English Tudor history. Scary. But I did buy the mock chopping block at the Tower of London.

g) I never want to have another dental abscess/emergency root canal/need for Vicodin that involves teeth.

h) I love Baseball. The Phillies made it fun all the way into September, something they haven't done since I've lived in the town. Now if only we could win a championship...

i) Philly with Eagles fever (ie right before the SuperBowl) was CRAZY! I just wish there would have been a parade.

j) I finally PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE! Well, I am not sure if this counts to 2005 as it won't be published until Feb, but I did all the work in 2005. For all interested in a generalized snooze fest, you can find it in the North American Clinics of Anesthesiology special edition on Palliative Care.

k) Yes, my 13 year old cousin REALLY did declare at the breakfast table the other morning, "when did the Pope die?" Seriously. But what struck me about the Pope's death, and the death a few days earlier of Terry Schiavo was the "publicness" of their deaths. Since most American's fear dying alone, I guess they didn't need to worry about that since the entire nation/world was on the death watch for days. It really was a shame.

l) I cannot be a foster mom for BREW. Exhibit 1, Luther. He now lives at the Joyhouse.

m) I hope Maggie is a healthy dog. This year, I dealt with the death of Maxwell, Gus having serious back problems and Molly having Cushings disease. Even if Maggie has "something" I know I can deal with it as a good doggie mom; but I need a break. I'm in the process of joining "Dogster" in hopes of meeting a like minded beagle daddy looking to make a beagle Brady bunch.

n) I love being Auntie Bach.

o) Fall is Cape Cod is the best time of year. I vacationed during this delightful time with my good friends, Jen, Sammy, Alex, Jenni, Cesi, Jules, Tige and AnneMarie. Those, were GOOD TIMES. And man, can Jenni and I cook. I can't believe we didn't gain like 1000 pounds when we lived together all those years ago in the Fairfax...all those "bedsore" nights with Cinci Chili...

p) I may enjoy playing Scrabble, but I suck at it. At least that is what I thought until I discovered my sister CHEATS!

q) Netflix is the greatest thing ever. If only I could send back my movies from July.

r) I miss my girls from knitting circle!

s) I host a damn good knit-a-rama

t) I will never ever again make the "circle of friends" baby blanket. It might have come out nicely, but what a PAIN IN THE ASS. I'll stick to solo projects.

u) The sinuses are a body orifice I could do without. Getting the sinus probe shoved up them is the worst medical procedure ever short of...

v) A cortisone shot in the right shoulder, rendering me unable to move my arm for 2 days. Bursitis my ass.

w) The Philadelphia Parking Authority can KISS MY ASS

x) I love ice cream. We have had an onslot of yummy ice creams choices added to Philly in the past several years; so, here's to, Capogiro, Scoop deVille, Ben and Jerry's and Cold Stone. I remember when my choice was walking to Baskin Robbins at 40th St. Oh the shows Maxie used to put on there while eating his cup of strawberry banana

y) Marathon Matzoh Ball Soup is my current comfort food of choice.

z) The discovery of Omaha Steaks. In what other country can you get fresh cow, pig, lamb etc delivered right to your door, packed in dry ice! I never have to leave my house again!!!


Well, we couldn't go out to eat at the Oyster house tonight (Dad didn't make reservations) so of course we ordered Chinese...I plan on being asleep before the clock strikes midnight. So Happy New Year to all. And please, may the Eagles win just one more game tomorrow.

Festivus at the Joyhouse

Eight dogs.
Six humans.
One Romba!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah to all from Cape Cod. It was massive wrapping paper carnage yesterday morning as we tore through the cornocopia of gifts left by one fat man in a red suit.

Here are some photos of our time here at the Joyhouse thus far:

Maggie and Luther chase the Romba through the Great Room.
Dad has named his Romba "Lorena." I have no idea why.

Grandma models her socks. I think they look PERFECT!

The "twins" hang out in the "slammer" while we open gifts

Luther discovers presents and, even better, wrapping paper!

Mom has had enough of the family togetherness thing and pulled out the knife.
RUN!

Dad and Harry get their HOWL on.

The gift extravaganza

Mike models his knitted hat and scarf

Maggie is exhausted by this thing called "Christmas."

Dad shows off his new Phillies boxers. Why he is wearing them on his head, we will never know.

All in all it was a very lucrative Christmas...though that doesn't seem like the right word to use to describe the haul I received. I was most surprised by my new set of pots and pans. Thanks momala! I also got lots of books, gift cards, knitted gauntlets, and of course, my traveler's map of the world that will soon adorn the livingroom at my house. I'm sure more silly photos and tales from this holiday break will follow.

Also we watched "The 40 year old Virgin" last night which was hysterical.

I feel good (insert James Brown song)

Finished shopping tonight for our adopted family.
This is a shout out to all my collegues (Social Workers, CRC's and RN's on Ravdin 9) who helped make Christmas brighter for this needy family.

I literally have a CAR LOAD full of goodies for the kids and managed to get a nice gift card for the family to Target! Great job everyone and on behalf of our adopted family, thank you.

Also thanks to St Bernadette's Church in Drexel Hill for supplying food for the holidays for this family.

Three more days until vacation...got to get knitting...still have to finish daddio's gift!

Tales from a long lost blogger

Where have I been you might ask?
1) Recovering. The Levo is this sinus infection's savior. I'm much better and starting to enjoy the holiday season. Sadly, I'm not going to be able to take my clinical exam as planned before the new year, as I just haven't been able to study. And I've missed a few parties and going to New York to see my friends. But, ultimately and finally, I am better

2) Making cookies with my girls, Car and Elizabeth. Thankfully I forgot the camera for the actual during the cookie making festivities, as, during a quick trip to the bathroom, I noticed I was covered in cookie dough. But I did snap these shots of my share of the loot. I think we made 30+ dozen cookies. BOY, ARE THEY YUMMY!!!!

We made multiple types of cookies, including, Chocolate Crinkles, Snowballs, Peanut Blossoms, Gingerbread, Candy Canes, and of course sugar cookies. It was hardcore.

3) Knitting and trying to finish the last of the holiday gifts. It is lovely, but boring the crap out of me, which is why I'm less than interested in working on it.

This busy week includes our work holiday party, an emergency trip to the dentisit for a broken filling, Santa with the Wynnes, shopping for and delivering the gifts for our adopted family, packing, wrapping present, cleaning and driving to Cape Cod for a "good old fashioned Griswald...I mean Bach...family Christmas. So if the blogging is few and far between this week, that is why. I'll be sure to take the camera to the Cape and document the highway robbery...I mean present giving and getting...next Sunday morning.

And so to all, a blessed Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Joyous Kwanza, fruitful New Year and HAPPY FESTIVUS

Christina, Molly, Gus and Maggie

Bigger than Dengue

It's official...I blew through the first round of antibiotics and am still wickedly sinus infected.
They brought out the big guns yesterday, levofloxacin. I must say I'm starting to feel more human, but decided that even though I am going to be coached about my calling out sick again, it was the best thing to do for me and for my patients.

On another, fantastic note! We have Harry's pathology back. He DOES NOT have cancer! The three pound monstrosity they removed was a benign lipoma! So the original smear was a false positive! Dad says this is the best Christmas gift we could have received, and I couldn't agree more.

Back to recuperation

for my CRAZY knitter friends

I was at EMS on Penn's campus yesterday and they are selling off all their mannequins...just in case you needed something to block on! Sadly, they didn't have any heads for my hat blocking requirements

Happy Holidays from the Beagles; Part 1

I snapped these photos this morning while the kids were still a bit groggy and allowed me to adorn them with a cheesy Santa Hat

I'm an ANGRY ELF!

Aunt Trish had to help with Maggie's photo shot as she kept trying to eat the hat!

I'm a shy elf!

Also, here are grandma's finished socks. I've decided that Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock is my FAVORITE sock yarn!

Revenge of Christina

Thank you Allison Kelsey for telling me to take an Ambien last night. Seems what I REALLY needed to get over the dengue was a good nights sleep! I'm FINALLY feeling much better today! I'll be sure to take one again tonight to guarantee I am wide awake and enthusiastic while dealing with the second "winter storm" of the week!

Harry is doing fine! He had his surgery on Monday and returned home Tuesday. The vet estimated the tumor was about three pounds. They seem optimistic at this point as the tumor was encased in muscle and did not seem to have spread. We wait now for the pathology and what is next. My mom was happy to report that Harry snuggled with her Tuesday night and I heard him howl this evening while on the phone with the parental units.

Plowing through yarn at a feverish pace, however, can't post photos of anything as most recipients of knitted gifts read my blog. My father is having a great time "discovering" all of the things we have bought him for Christmas. Dad, there are still two weeks to ago. If you keep this up, we are taking back everything...EVERYTHING. I have a lump of coal for you if you keep this up.

Nose transplant

I'm hopeful about the woman in France who received a face transplant because I am going to need a nose transplant. If I don't stop blowing it soon, I swear it is going to fall off. Please forward donor information to knitty delicious.

At least I can knit and sit around and wait for it to snow. My prediction is 3 inches...but by the way people were freaking out at the grocery store, you would think we were going to get 3 feet. Yes, I managed to drag myself to the store for some more chicken soup and sunny delight. Probably not the best idea, but I've got the staples.

Crap, I've got to blow again

Revenge of the DENGUE

I feel like ASS again. This time however, it is a raging sinus infection causing multiple ingestions of mucinex, ibuprofen and augmentin. Maggie is in beagle heaven, chewing and disposing of pieces parts of Kleenex throughout the house.

As far as Harry is concerned, we are a bit more optimistic. The xray's did not show any mets to his bones/organs and his blood work was great. So Harry goes under the knife Monday afternoon. He'll stay overnight at the vet hospital and then will return to the Joyhouse to recoup after. So think good thoughts for Harry Monday!!!

Almost finished with sock number two for grandma! Just have to finish the toe decreasing and then do the grafting. Also making good headway with Mike's scarf. So, all in all, keeping ahead of holiday knitting and looking forward to what is next for me; finishing Cherry Tree Hill Sweater, Sammy's 5th Birthday Sweater, Fair Isle Mitts (thanks Allison for the pattern!), and socks for daddio. To my amazement, I noticed he had nearly worn through his Princeton Tiger Striped socks from Christmas two year ago. So, I'm ripping the gloves out I was making with the other coveted skein of tiger stripe yarn and making him another pair of the beloved socks. Anyone have experience with using reinforcing yarn? Though, where the sock wore out was on the bottom just below the heel on the bottom of the foot...would such reinforcing yarn work there, or just on heels and toes?

Well I'm going to attempt to lie down now, though every time I do, my sinuses go BONKERS and start to throb. If only I could learn to sleep upright...