Knitpickity

Comments only a true friend would make . . .

I ran into a friend of mine at work today and she blurted out "Has anyone told you today that you look like a Stepford Wife"  LOL It made me laugh and feel the best I felt all day.

I have been sick for about 3 weeks with some kind of stomach bug and possible potassium problems so I have lost 8 lbs.  So none of my clothes fit - dresses and skirts are always easier when you have changed weight so today I wore a church outfit of a pink gingham sheath with matching pink cardigan and white high heeled sandals.  I wore hoops instead of pearls to give it a more businesslike look LOL

I got many compliments on the color and the outfit but the Stepford wife comment meant the most.  I have found that dressing well is important for your career, but it also helps you get through every day - whether it be good or bad.  It is a kind of armor you can put on.  If life is good, you reflect that in your dress.  If life is terrible, no one knows because you look so darn put together.

How often do we look past the stylish outfit, the nicely done makeup and the good hair day?  How often do we say "You look nice today" and how often do we say "that was an awesome thing you did for a friend" or "you always come through no matter what"

I am not saying we should not compliment looks, it does make a person feel good.  But I think we forget to look past those and see what really matters.  Caring and intelligence and courage and integrity and a myriad of other characteristics that are much more attractive.  And they are visible from the outside too, you just have to think to see them.

And a warning - nobody's life is perfect.  If you have a friend that always looks put together, dig deeper.  If her house is always fresh, wonder what she is hiding.  It is easy to quest perfection and order to compensate for other, more valuable items that are missing from life.

A true friend will always be honest with you, a true friend bugs you and never lets you hide.  If you have never wished them a million miles away, then they are not your closest friend.  A true friend knows your mistakes and does not care, knows your secrets and keeps them, knows what you look like without all of the styling and thinks you are fine just the way you are.

Which is scarier revisited

Months ago I posted which is scarier - spiders or your ex

well I have an answer

neither they are just part of life that you have to deal with - neither good nor bad, just part of the daily routine.

I don't post much about my thoughts and feelings much anymore.  Part of it was when I was working the data center move I was honestly to tired to think much.  Part of it was my former SIL decided to go off on me on the blog through the comments section and I was not comfortable.  Hey it is a free world and this is a public blog, she wanted to say her piece and I have the freedom to delete and block.  If she had wanted to confront me two years ago that would have been appropriate but at this point I think we all need to make sure we have moved on with our lives.

Life is so normal now. Good days, bad days, blah days.  I am comfortable with the routine and I never thought I would say this, but I think this really was for the best.  I feel calm and confident and secure in my life.

They say that which does not kill you makes you stronger.  I don't totally agree with that.  I think that which does not kill you gives you the OPPORTUNITY to be stronger.  It is up to you what you do with it.

Knitting Content and why I love the internet

It is scary - not only do I have the desire to knit again, I knew exactly what I wanted to knit.  A few years back I knitted a bunch of chenille flower washcloths, gave em as gifts - loved em - they were a blast to knit too.

But where oh where was the pattern??!!

Behold the power of the internet - not only did I find out that this was the reverse-bloom flower washcloths from Interweave Knits winter 2003, I found some AWESOME AWESOME variations as well Whimiscal Knits - Thank you Thank you

So I am going to go get my yarn and needles and knit again

pictures soon :D

Vacation ends, Patrick's adventure begins

Trip was easy peasy lemon squeezy

Patrick is settled into his dorm room and I talked to him tonight and he is having a great time!!

There was a small problem about a business venture involving snack sales that he was involved with that earned a call home from a program administrator, but hey LOL

Here he is smiling with his new roommate Kory (and a kid named Ed I think LOL) -

 

Heading to Texas

Catherine and I are driving Patrick down to Texas A&M this weekend for his three week political theory class

Yes he learned to do laundry

The bags are packed

The route is planned

And I am going to have a hard time leaving him 500+ miles away

Be back in a few days with Pictures but in the mean time

Here is Peace blooming in my garden

Vacation Time

Started my vacation today - played Frisbee with Catherine, went to the bookstore, Catherine and I had pedicures today (I have on OPI's "Chile or Caliente" and Cat has on "Up the Amazon with out a paddle")- nice lazy day - I also finally started teaching Patrick about Laundry since we will be going down to Texas A&M in a week to drop him off for three weeks.

He is so excited but a bit nervous - I am too actually - I am going to miss him so much!  But we are going to enjoy this week before doing family things and just hanging out. I may even try and make soap one day this week.  Lots of cooking, sleeping, reading and playing.   It is nice not being frantic and stressed out.