IntrinsicTina

My mother and I compare projects and knit together on Christmas Day. She's been a knitting fool over the Katia Triana specialty fiber. I've been ga-ga about Misti Alpaca that I got on a severe close-out. (severe close-out was 70% off!) Before the day was done, we went out on the Jimmy Beans Wool website and bought 10 balls of Katia Triana. These projects are just too much fun!!! Oh, by the way, this sexy pink one was a Christmas gift to my little sister and I was hamming it up for a Ravelry picture. It's a sibling rivalry thing.

This afghan is an oldie but a goodie, hand-knit by my mother, Charleen. Each year I am excited to unpack it and display it and bask in it's Christmas ambiance. The festive hat is my idea of a good time. I am told it is reminiscent of what the Whos wore in Whoville in the "Grinch Who Stole Christmas". I like that.

Today I am sick. Most likely with a bad cold and dear God, I'm certain that nobody has ever been sicker. (sarcasm) But seriously, sickness is a lonely business. At least it is in my household. I just want to be babied and coddled but my husband has flown the coop. He, of course, has legitimate concerns. Although he's been laid off and doesn't have to be anywhere, we are involved in a self-directed remodel of our rental home in a different county. He has laid about for many days without any attacks of conscience but after I spent one day at home with chills, fever, and post-nasal drip, he is gone, Baby, gone. As I sit here in my library quiet house, I am remembering one of my lesser, albeit important, reasons for getting married. I detest being alone, especially when sick. Oh, there are times when it's pretty delicious to be solitary and pursue trivial pursuits of fancy when I'm well. But when I'm sick, I really look to my mate to soothe my feeli

T oday is Day 16 of my new eating plan. Fourteen more days and I will add back in whole grains. I was bummed that I neglected to weigh-in at the beginning of this "re-newed" adventure but was encouraged with the advice that "the pants will tell the tale". I'm here to tell you that my belt is telling the tale of weight loss. I am down "two notches" on my blingin' Harley belt. Just an observance, I could have sworn that I was gaining weight or remaining the same as it seems that my tummy is pooching out more. Weight loss is a funny thing. One never knows where exactly it will come off first. Last time my boobs were deflated in what seemed like a blink of an eye and I mourned their loss. I'm sure they'll deflate back to a "normal" size soon and I'm bound to panic but I hope I will remember just how uncomfortable they were and how they caused a gap in every stinking blouse in my wardrobe.

Out with the "old" and in with the "new"? On this day we usher in a new year. I'd like to remember 2010. I spent most of the year on the roles of the unemployed but got a good job in August. With the help of my physician, I discovered that my crushing depression was organic and treatable and began a regime of vitamin D. Life has been good ever since. Though I put on a lot of weight (with the depression and all), I have hope that I can take it back off this year. I resolve to make better food choices, eliminating sugar, smaller portions, more water, meal planning and less compulsion. God help me. I lost my Grandma the day after Christmas but I got the blessing of being there at the end. I resolve to hold my family closer this year. I resolve to be an encourager, not a nay sayer. I resolve to get outta this bed and begin to live in 2011. Starting now....