Sock it to me

I finally finished a sock!

It’s for my mother, who has very narrow feet and slim legs so it looks a bit hilarious just laying there but it does fit her (or it did before I started the star toe). She’s asleep now so not putting it on her foot yet.

Now to get its friend cast on! I’ve only been working on these when I’m away from home. I need something that’s small enough to fit in my purse.

Pattern is Vanilla Latte Socks by Virginia Rose-Jeanes. So far, so easy.

…ans because I’m procrastinating:

What’s your show history?

– First show – Vince Gill at the WV State Fair with both of my grandmothers 😅

– Last show – Avantasia at The Palladium in Worcester, MA

– Next show – Heavy Montreal! Teo day festival at the end of July in Montreal, of course!

– Best show – Falconer, ProgPower USA 2015 in Atlanta, GA. It was their final show and let’s be honest, I didn’t think I’d ever get to see them perform. It was amazing!

– Worst show – There are a few up for the running. I’m going to go either with Anathema (PPUSA 15) or Tarja (PPISA 18). As somebody else put it, Anathema was like being waterboarded with sleep…and I did fall asleep. Tarja was pure diva and boring. For all the hype, I left early, as did most of the other people in attendance. It was pretty miserable.

– Who have you seen the most? I think that’s also a tie between Sonata Arctica and Battle Beast. I think I’ve seen them both five times. I had tickets for October when they’re touring together too but something bigger came up.

– Best show venue? Center Stage in Atlanta is my favorite. I also really liked The Filmore in Philadelphia. The Egg in Albany is also pretty nice.

– Worst show venue? The Webster in Hartford, CT. It was so bad I’ve refused to go to another show there. I also really didn’t like the PNC Pavillion in Charlotte, NC.

– Who have you not seen but want to? Powerwolf, Orden Ogan, Ayreon, Dream Evil, Turisas, and Eluveitie are the ones left on my bucket list. Seeing Powerwolf and Eluveitie this October and Orden Ogan in September!

– Bands you’ve seen that you want to unsee? – Alabama. They looked like they’d escaped from a nursing home, sweatpants and all. Also not my genre.

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I’ll be away from home until the July 4th weekend. I’m worn out just thinking about it. It’s so tempting to run away. 😅

25 random facts about yourself that may surprise friends..

1. Do you make your bed? Usually

2. The first car that was officially yours? 97 Nissan Altima

3. Three grocery items you don’t run out of? Eggs, butter, milk. Those three are too important.

4. When did you start doing your own laundry? Little. I flooded the basement one or twice doing laundry an spitting in too much soap

5. If you could, would you go to High School again? Not for all the money in the world.

6. Can you parallel park in under three moves? Last time I tried but it has been a while

7. A job you had which people would be shocked to know? Babysitter. I don’t really love kids that much so it seems to be the surprising one.

8. Do you think aliens are real? No

9. Can you drive a stick shift? Learned on one but it has been years since I’ve had the chance to drive one.

10. Guilty TV pleasure? RuPaul’s Drag Race love that show

11. Would you rather be too hot or too cold? Cold. You can only take so much clothing off

12. If the world ends do you want to be one of the survivors? Ambivalent either way.

13. Sweet or Salty? Salty

14. Do you enjoy soaking in a nice bath? Yesssss

15. Do you consider yourself strong? Not really but I’m often told I am

16. Something people do, physically, that drives you crazy? Slurping spit when they talk

17. Something you do, physically, that you are sure drives people insane? Crack my joints

18. Do you have any birth marks? A little one on my toe

19. Favorite childhood game? I used to love hide and seek.

20. Do you talk to yourself? Not really

21. Do you like doing jig-saw puzzles? Aye

22. Would you go on a reality show? Don’t think I would but depends on the topic

23. Tea or coffee? Tea

24. First thing you remember wanting to be when you grew up? Veterinarian

25. No matter how much money you have or don’t have, what are you an absolute snob about? Crafting supplies and food ingredients. With either of those you can’t end up with an end product that surpasses what you put in to it.

I’m stressed. Holy crap am I stressed.

I’m visiting my mother. She was in the hospital for 10 days and they called me in to manage everything. It was a rollercoaster fuckfest. One doctor said she had lung cancer and was gonna die quick. One thought lymphoma. She was told her thyroid was too high, then too low. She was hypercalcemic and that caused kidney damage. She has stage 4 CKD now. The cancer guesses were wrong, she has sarcoidosis. I’m still here to make sure she gets the doctors she needs coordinated. It’s not healthy for me here so I’m having a hard time of it.

Distractions needed!

40 odd things about me.

1. Do you like bleu cheese? Not really. I can handle it on occasion but don’t go out of my way to eat it.

2. Coke or Pepsi? Coke

3. Do you own a gun? Technically, yes. My dad owned several and left them to me. I don’t have any of them at home though.

4. What flavor of Kool-Aid ? Fruit Punch

5. Hot Dogs? Oh yes. Delicious processed mystery meat

6. Favorite tv show? Star Trek

7 Believe in ghosts? Nope

8. What do you drink in the morning? Water, sometimes cranberry or pomegranate juice

9. Can you do a push-up? Only a girly one and only if I have to.

10. Favorite jewelry? Earrings

11. Favorite hobby? Knitting, currently. I like them all but knitting is what’s tickling my fancy right now

12. Do you have ADD? Probably. Mom always said I fit the testing but she never had it made official.

13. Do you wear glasses? Yes

14. Favorite cartoon character? Renji from Bleach if anime counts. If not, probably Pam from Archer.

15. Three things you did yesterday?
1) Checked the water system when the water here died. I can’t fix a pressure tank.
2) Made rolls
3) Got another few mats out of Mom’s dogs fur

16. Three drinks you drink? Coke, water, black tea

17. Current worries? Feeling stuck and wondering if that’ll ever change

18. Do you believe in magic? Nope

19. Favorite place to be? Outside in general. If it’s nice, I always prefer sitting on the deck

20. How did you ring in the New Year? Alone this year. My hubs was at work the whole day and night. Usually we go to GA to soend it with his friends.

21. Where would you like to vacation? Right now, Mallorca. Going in October.

22. Name three people who would most likely play along? Nobody. This is just a distraction.

24. Favorite color? Green

25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Never have so don’t know

26. Can you whistle? Yes

27. What are you doing right now? Fighting some anxiety

28. Where would you rather be right now? Anywhere. 😅

29. Favorite food? Peaches or country ham or dill pickles. Don’t make me go without any of those.

30. Least favorite chore? Cat litter

32. What’s in your pockets? No pockets right now.

33. Last thing that made you laugh? Is it horrible that I can’t remember?

34. Favorite animal? Cats of all kinds.

35. What’s your most recent injury? I broke half of a toenail off again a few weeks ago

36. How many tv’s in your house? A whopping zero

37. Worst pain ever? Ovarian torsion resulting in organ death

38. Do you like to dance? Negative

39. Do you like camping? All depend son who it’s with

40. How do you eat your steak? Medium well with garlic and salt.

These are fun to do and fun to read.
Please copy and play (if you want. 🤷)

Sleep Hygiene can suck it

My neurologist fusses that I don’t get nearly enough sleep.

Every time, I get a lecture on sleep hygiene. Trust me, I know what I should be doing. It doesn’t help. I’ve tried since I was a teenager and nothing has ever helped. Sometimes tequila does and sometimes blogging to dump out everything in my mind does.

I don’t fancy becoming an alcoholic so here I am! 

Hubs started his new job last week. He’s already breaking his promise to not work late or bring work home. I knew it was going to be a problem and that’s why I fought the change so hard. His preference to be at work all the time is really taxing on our relationship and I have enough trust issues from his past behaviors already, so things haven’t been so hot for many months now. I don’t have many friends, much less ones I talk candidly with, but the three that do know the full situation all think I should leave him…but two of those are long term internet friends and the other is an ex, so it’s hard because none of them know the hubs and one has hated him for years so probably isn’t the best person to offer opinions on the topic. I don’t want to talk about our problems with our mutual friends though. It’s just not a happy situation right now. I’m hoping things will smooth out but who knows. I’m not an optimist so things never seem like they’ll work out.

There are two birds nesting at the house right now. The Northern Flicker is back in the owl box- I love watching her. She’s so fiesty! We also have a Robin that returned. She successfully nested here last year but a feral cat got into her nest not long after hatching. It was really sad. This year she moved her nest a bit higher and is right outside my bathroom window. Last year she was at the laundry room door the floor below the bathroom. It’s a real treat watching the babies grow. I especially love catching a feeding!

My mom was admitted to the hospital on June 6th – the 13th anniversary of my sister’s death…so not the best week. The doctors have found a good deal wrong with her but can’t figure out what’s causing the problems yet. She’s asked me to come “back home” after she’s transferred to a larger hospital several hours away. I’m her medical power of attorney and her husband apparently is being about as shitty as mine is currently. She has hypercalcemia and they’re trying to remove what calcium they can from her blood. Her kidneys are almost shot – the nephrologist graded them over stage 4. She has mediastinal lymphadenopathy, with some worryingly large nodes near her heart, which will require a biopsy at a larger facility. She also has spots on her lungs, type yet to be determined. The hospital is basically just running endless tests on her to prepare to move her to the learning hospital without providing any real answers.

…and my little dog is still sick. No clue why. She starts another round of medicine this week. This is why I’m not an optimist!

I also had my annual torture session at the dermatologist. My old patch of morphea is starting to break up after seven years…just in time for a new patch to show up on my freaking spine. I also broke out in an awesome rash over both arms and my torso while there. The doctor was impressed because she even commented how clear my skin was aside from the morphea. So much for that. I have an awesome case of very itchy folliculitis now and get to bathe twice a day with antibacterial soap until it goes away. If it doesn’t go away, I get oral and topical antibiotics added to it. Yay. I have the best luck.

So to distract me more from all the annoyingg stuff going on:

Pick one band and answer the questions using only song titles from that artist.

Falconer, they’re my favorite so why not!

1. Are you male or female? Tower of the Queen

2. Describe yourself: Field of Sorrow

3. How do you feel about yourself? In Ruins

4. Describe your ex: The Past Still Lives On

5. Describe your current relationship situation: Scoundrel and the Squire 

6. Describe your current location: Halls and Chambers 

7. Describe where you want to be: Substitutional World

8. Your best friend is: Man of the Hour

9. Your favorite color is: Enter the Glade 

10. You know that: Dawning of a Sombre Age

11. What’s the weather like: Pale Light of Silver Moon

12. If your life was a television show what would it be called? Carnival of Disgust 

13. What is life to you? Upon the Grave of Guilt

14. What is the best advice you have to give? No Tears for Strangers

15. What is your favorite way to travel? Hooves Over Northland 

16. What are you most afraid of? Perjury and Sanctity

17. How would you like to die? Portals of Light

18. Describe your soul’s current condition: Lament of a Minstrel

 

…those sounded way darker than the should’ve. I’m fine, for the most part. A bit stressed and tired, but I’ll get through it. I always do.

…now to hunt down sleep. I hope! 🙂

P. S. I had my birthday recently too! I have a new 30 pound weighted blanket and it’s glorious!!!

It’s also nice to have air conditioning again; I sleep so much better if it’s freezing cold. The gutter guys broke the coolant line last year and I just had to shell out a small fortune to get it fixed…fighting with the gutter company for a reimbursement but not holding my breath.

Cold + heavy blanket + purring cat on my pillow = I might sleep tonight