Let sleeping (lumpy, puking) dogs lie

Even when you want to push and shove them to wake them up just because it's not fair that after keeping you up all night puking and gagging and having weird breathing episodes due to some SERIOUS allergic reaction they have going on, suddenly when you have to get up and get some work done they are able to sleep quietly.


I am trying to be a big person right now but it's very hard. I literally slept for no more than 15 minutes at a go last night, because whatever the dog is allergic to affected her throat and the only way she could breathe well and/or quietly was if her neck is extended fully and level with her head and shoulders (i.e., no hanging head, no resting it on the edge of the bed) It had to be EXACTLY in line or these wretched gaggy/snoring noises come out of her. Naturally this is not a position she intuitively sleeps in. Nor, as it turns out is it one she is particularly willing to sleep in, so we basically wrestled all night long while I tried to explain to her who does not understand english or common sense that I was doing this for her own good. Interspersed of course with wrestling Benadryl down her throat.

And now she seems to be on board with the plan and has curled up in her bed to sleep off the latest dose and is suddenly instinctively sleeping perfectly still and flat.


bitch.

Martin!

Shocking!

Hmmm....

Me = sick. Not feeling too bad today finally, but worn out and tired. Miscellaneous bugs seem to be just another one of the joys of spending my days working in the hospital. I'm borderline a Purell addict.

Dog = sick. Feeling poorly. Not only is she throwing up (bile, yum) she's refusing food. I think that might be a first, or second at most. We're on 24 hour watch now, then to the vet with us.

I do have tons of pictures of finished stuff and stuff in the works to post but I'm too blah to bother. Apparently my only reason for posting was to whinge.

mission accomplished.

good morning!

It's Thursday, my favorite day!!!!
It's beautiful out, (which won't last long once people start driving around in the snow) and I am -temporarily at least- in an excellent mood.

Yesterday was a fairly productive day in terms of work and crafty goodness. Star and I took some practice shots for our Christmas card, I will post some of the outtakes later. Prepare to be wowed, all I'm saying (not by the outtakes, by the real thing)

All the time I have been spending at NSI lately really makes me appreciate the days when I can stay at home and work. I got a shitload of stuff done, worked on my quilt for a little over an hour, got some knitting done (I might actually finish my current project in time to wear it for the winter!) and finished putting up my xmas decorations. Expect pics of all this goodness soon, I am just too lazy right now.

In the meantime, entertain yourself with this little number:
The Holiday Party Excuse Generator. Keep your eye on the snowman when you choose an answer.

I feel so loved!

Today I was in the middle of doing a whole lot of nothing when I realized I had not paid rent yet this month. DOH!

Even though it's the great blizzard of '08 in Baltimore with a panic-inducing *2 INCHES* of snow expected to accumulate on the ground, I immediately threw on my jacket and high tailed it up the street to make things right. My landlord rocks, and I always feel bad when I'm late with rent, especially since there is no good reason for me to be. L-A-Z-Y. The last time I was late I was *really* late and he kind of bitched me out, then he immediately took me next door to buy me homemade cookies at Rose's Cookies. Totally forgiven man, totally because I am easy like that (and also in other ways HA!).

Anyhoo, I went bombing into his shop waving the check and yelling (per usual) and the counter lady said "Kerry?" then started reaching under the counter. I hate being recognized, I have an issue where I always think I'm in trouble. probably because I was a bad child, but I digress. I asked if she was evicting me, and she just looked at me weird and handed me a present. My first xmas present! Yay! and totally unexpected too!

me and present are dancing in the streets

And here's the note on the present. I'm glad he doesn't want me to move.

Now that is a thoughtful note.

So I am now the proud owner of the Kidde Nighthawk CO and Explosive Gas monitor. I feel safer already! Not that I need it, because as someone pointed out, I am not using heat yet (and its snowing. I AM WINNING. Still don't know what I'm winning yet though)

Mine all mine. Even if I move!

Update

Day 600 of the cold: 50 degrees in the house, still no heat on. Why do I do this? I still don't know, but I'm winning. What competition I have no idea. The rules are no heat and no jacket. Everything in between is fair game, so I'll probably light a fire in a trash barrel tonight or something.

I admit I have a problem, isn't that the first step?

I shrink wrapped the windows last night, and today I hang my giant *handmade* "if it worked for castles in the medieval times it will work for me" tapestry that goes down over the door and windows on the north side of the house at night when it's windy. I might even address the whole doorknob conflict issue and try to shore up the front of the house completely. Maybe not though.

Monday, monday

Let me start this show by saying BRRRR! For no particular reason, this year I've decided to see how long I can go without turning on the heat. Seriously, there is no reason I just apparently have issues. Anyhow, it's 48 degrees in the house right now and I'm wearing a hat, boots, a scarf and 2 bathrobes, under my blanket under my computer (blessed be the Windows spaceheater!). I think I can go another month or so, this is totally livable, I'm not even wearing a coat yet. My fish are in semi-hibernation mode and I think it's because the water's cold. People keep asking why I'm doing this: I have no answer dammit!

So I'm finally back home after an adventure filled couple of days. This weekend was that traditional time of gifts, love, and gluttony known as Slob Thanksgivmas. I spent Friday night preparing the T-Shirts (I had to pause from making my GIANT HANDMADE QUILT to make some T-shirts. Because I am the golden craft god SUCKITJH) The T-shirts came out smashing, will post piccies soon. I might be onto something with this T-shirt business. I bought extra transfers and am already looking around to see what else I can make.

Saturday began mostly innocuously, my flight out was at 830, so I got to the airport around 7:30, brezzed my carry on having, pre-checked in self right through securi-tay and went to hang out by the gate. Then I was struck by how many people were milling around and I thought "uh oh" Checking around for a status monitor, I was struck by the fact that the money AirTran saves for you seems to cost you in terms of information and helpful people. Sigh. After asking 3 people, I was finally able to find someone who knew *some* stuff about my flight. More specifically I was told "you're being delayed I don't know how long I don't have time for this right now" Fine (bitch), I'll be at the bar. And don't leave without me!
For those of you with issues regarding day drinking, let me explain: There is no "morning" on vacation. And I was on vacation. The *second* my foot hits international air terminal soil, all things "acceptable" and "normal" cease to bind me. Things like "breakfast cocktails" and "wet breakfast" become totally ok. DON"T JUDGE ME!!!

so where was I? Oh yes, at the bar, having breakfast:

Mmm. Fruit juice, with vegetables and stuff. mmm.

So, after a round of fruit juicy delicious spice drink and witnessing some fantastic harassment of one bar employee by the other 5, I wandered back to the terminal to get an update on my travel plans. In the end the delay would total an hour and I still had time to kill. A little airport shopping (a serious hobby of mine) and some knitting (BECAUSE I AM A GOLDEN CRAFT GOD!) later and it was time to board. Flight =1hr, some bumps, nothing memorable. Except getting my whole own row and being able to put my feet up and enjoy myself a little. Woohoo!

Slob thanksgiving ensued and that has to be it's own post once I get some pictures. There's just too much to tell. The short version is I got the dinner I deserved on Thanksgiving and I might be over the whole goose thing. I ate until I was paralyzed, and I would do it all over again.

Sunday was a treat because I LOVE SLUMBER PARTIES and especially the morning after slumber parties. We hung out, had coffee, cinnamon rolls, more girl chatter before most people wrapped up and shoved out. Jenn and I are not most people, and we made ourselves quite at home on Holly's couch until mid afternoon, when we checked to find out my flight home was going to be delayed (Boo airtran!). I tried calling the airline to see if I could work out some arrangement that would mean I didn't just have to go sit at the airport for the extra at least 2 hours, but the girl on the phone was not much help. She told me she couldn't help me for less than $100 and that she didn't really understand what I was asking her and she didn't think I was making sense. I told her what I was asking did make sense if she thought about it, and that I doubted that her being confused was so infrequent an event that I needed to look inward for the reason. I left her pondering that one and hung up, then made my way to the airport. I decided as a gesture of conciliation that I would split the time with AirTran. They said I was going to be delayed 2 hours, so I went to the airport 1 hour late. Only I ended up being delayed 3.5 hours, so I guess they won in the end. It's ok though, I'm going to write them a letter. And since I'm right on a lot of major points, I'm hoping for a credit of some sort. Wish me luck!

So I finally got to Baltimore at 10:30 last night, instead of 7pm, which is not the same. I had planned to work more on the quilt, but there is a child in the rowhouse next door and I think my sewing machine would wake her*. Plus, I was tired from my long day at the airport. On the plus side though, I did finally knit through an entire skein of my alpaca yarn, which is rapidly turning into a big smushy, warm, soft scarf. Might be a xmas present, but very likely for myself.

For reasons including but not limited to this "I need to be sewing in the middle of the night" I think I am moving the craft studio at least partially to the basement. In addition to logistical concerns, the current location is also the coldest room in the house, and even with the windows all shrink wrapped n shizz when the wind blows in the winter, shit moves in the craft room. It's just not feasible that I'm going to work in there in the cold. The basement however is underground, near the heater, hot water tank and the dryer and remains a pretty reasonable temp year round. Plus is wind free (yay!) I think winter craft headquarters is down there. Not to mention HN's patio set. I stole it when he wasn't looking and figure that would make the perfect winter craft table. And so it shall be. But probably not today. I'll post pics when it's time.