July 2010

Okay, it has sure been awhile, but late is better than never....

1. Knit for friends' expected babies (this seems to be ongoing)
2. Finish my fair isle bag that I started last year
3. Get my 401k and other retirement vehicles in order (opened IRA for '09; need to set up auto accnt for '10.  this will be easier now that financial picture is getting clearer.)
4. Make 2010 Photo books for the kids (ongoing)
5. Purge house of junk; prep for possible home selling
6. Complete my NBCOT certification  done!
7. take a continuing ed course (attended two in March & April)
8. get ACP certified (2/3 comps are done)
9. start an article, that I will get published (I have an idea for it and I started an outline)
10. Give blood quarterly (need to reschedule, totally forgot about this)
11. compost (more steam; found a larger bin at BJs that we'll likely get)

I haven't made huge progress on this list, but I do get major points for moving and getting settled in the new house.

Check Up 4/30

Another month has flown by.  I thought it would be good to review.

A look at my goal list:
1. Knit for friends' expected babies  (I keep thinking that this is met, but then more people get pregnant)
2. Finish my fair isle bag that I started last year (it's far from finished but i made significant progress at SPA.)
3. Get my 401k and other retirement vehicles in order (opened IRA for '09; need to set up auto accnt for '10.  this will be easier now that financial picture is getting clearer.)
4. Make 2010 Photo books for the kids (ongoing)
5. Purge house of junk; prep for possible home selling (done, house under agreement!)
6. Complete my NBCOT certification  done!
7. take a continuing ed course (attended two in March & April)
8. get ACP certified (2/3 comps are done)
9. start an article, that I will get published (I have an idea for it and I started an outline)
10. Give blood quarterly (need to reschedule, totally forgot about this)
11. compost (more steam; found a larger bin at BJs that we'll likely get)

I plan, that is what I do.

So yesterday I accepted a full time (32 hr) position that will start May 3rd.  Which means that I have started the day today thinking about how that will actually work.  My mind won't give me a moment's rest.  To that end, and because I don't want to take 2 kids to the grocery store in the pouring rain,  I decided to begin experimenting with the crock pot today.  My plan is to come up with (either from cook books or my imagination) one or two slow cooker meals for each week.  This should make for convenient, healthy and 'less expensive than take out' dinners to keep us on our 'new house' budget.

Today's creation is currently in the pot:

1 package of frozen chicken breast (2 breasts/ea, BJ's perdue pack)
1 package of frozen, chopped spinach
1 can diced tomatoes, with their juice
1 8oz package reduced fat cream cheese ( this was largely because I had it, and didn't have a cream of anything soup)
1 tablespoon of minced garlic
1 box of penne, uncooked
1/2 can of water (the tomato can)
salt & pepper

I started cooking it at 10:30 am on low.  We'll see what happens.

Check Up 3/22

I had intended to do this at the beginning of the month, but, WOW is March flying by.  The majority of excitement around here lately has centered on the fact that we decided to put our house on the market.  We have spent much of the last month cleaning, purging, cleaning, looking a houses, reviewing our finances and cleaning.  Never in my life as a mother have I lived in a house this clean and neat and organized.  I can't find a damn thing.

Despite the stress that comes with trying to sell a house and buy another one, I am feeling much less unhappy than I was at the beginning of the year.  Maybe the looming had me down and the doing is bringing me up.  Not sure, but I am feeling pretty good right now, in spite of being really busy and pretty tired.

A look at my goal list:
1. Knit for friends' expected babies  (Keith remains.  I am working on Sunshine but I think that is destined to become Norah's Easter dress)
2. Finish my fair isle bag that I started last year (it's far from finished but i made significant progress at SPA.)
3. Get my 401k and other retirement vehicles in order (opened IRA for '09; need to set up auto accnt for '10.  this will be easier now that financial picture is getting clearer.)
4. Make 2010 Photo books for the kids (ongoing)
5. Purge house of junk; prep for possible home selling (done!! house looks great & is on the market)
6. Complete my NBCOT certification  done!
7. take a continuing ed course (scheduled for 'seating' in April, cardiopulmonary talk this week)
8. get ACP certified (2/3 comps are done)
9. start an article (that I will get published)
10. Give blood quarterly (need to reschedule, appt was snowed out)
11. compost (i saw steam the other day!)

Perhaps the biggest news is that I accepted a new job today!  Starting May 3rd, I will be the "Lead Therapist" at Sarah Brayton Nursing Home.  I will be working 32 hours a week.  I am hoping that this job leads to professional fulfillment, increased financial security for our family and increased time together as a family.  I think the 'opposite shifts' thing is beginning to take a toll on Tom and I.  Although I will be working more, I think we will be together more because our work schedules will be allowed to overlap.  Finn is starting at daycare on April 5th.

If things with the house work out, 2010 could be a very significant year for our family!

Check Up 2/06

It's bee a couple of week so I figured that "goal check" was in order.

1. Knit for friends' expected babies  (picked pattern for Keith's baby, need to swatch)
2. Finish my fair isle bag that I started last year (SPA weekend in 3 weeks!)
3. Get my 401k and other retirement vehicles in order (opened IRA for '09; will set up auto accnt for '10)
4. Make 2010 Photo books for the kids (ongoing)
5. Purge house of junk; prep for possible home selling (dumpster booked, mtg w/Arlene scheduled !)
6. Complete my NBCOT certification  done!
7. take a continuing ed course
8. get ACP certified (Comps are almost done)
9. start an article (that I will get published)
10. Give blood quarterly (first donation is booked for next week)
11. compost (stuff's going in, probably frozen right now)

Things in my life and family are going really well; everyone is healthy, we both have steady work, the children are thriving.  That is largely why I find my generally 'down' mood a bit troubling, but I'm keeping an eye on it.  I think the looming stress and transition of putting Finn in daycare, working more and trying to sell the house is a likely cause.  I find the idea of trying to work more than I am now, while keeping the house in better shape than it is, very overwhelming.   I am attempting to manage this by breaking things down into manageable pieces.  Right now, I am putting the emphasis on getting Finn registered, gradually ramping up my hours and setting up the 'purge.'  It's likely that the house will feel more manageable with less stuff in it.  I also have an idea for a 'to do' board in the kitchen that I have to run by Tom.  Just keeping doing the 'next thing." 

End of Month Check Up

I figured that since the end of January is approaching, it's a good time to check in on my goals for the year and see how I am doing.  In my work as an OT, I write measurable goals for patients on a regular basis and I have to re-address them on a weekly and monthly basis.  It seems that a similar strategy might help to keep me focused on my plans for the year.

1. Knit for friends' expected babies                                   two done, one to go
2. Finish my fair isle bag that I started last year                going to SPA weekend in Feb; I will  focus on this project there.
3. Get my 401k and other retirement vehicles in order    I will ask Tom to help me with this
4. Make 2010 Photo books for the kids                             folders created on desk top, Jan pics added
5. Purge house of junk; prep for possible home selling     scheduled for Feb; got agent's info, will call  this week
6. Complete my NBCOT certification                                done!
7. take a continuing ed course
8. get ACP certified                                                            'Basics' course done; working on comps.
9. start an article (that I will get published)
10. Give blood quarterly                                                     will make an appointment today
11. compost                                                                         been putting stuff in the composter; not sure it's "cooking" yet

I would say that I've done well this month.  A few things are underway or there is a plan in place.

Baby Knitting

 

My beautiful boy turned one in January.  I made him this adorable hat with scraps/stash yarn.  Ravelry details here.

I have several friends who are expecting babies in 2010.  I had this in mind when yarn shopping at Rhinebeck back in October.  I made a pair of baby raglan sweaters with Laredo by Maple Creek Farm.  The green one is for a baby whose gender isn't know yet.  The gray one is for a little boy.

I am really pleased with how these sweaters came out.  I notice that using good yarn and sensible patterns makes for really enjoyable knitting.  These two sweaters helped me to understand the concept of the raglan sweater and I feel that I could now make my own without a pattern per se.  I am tempted to try this in toddler sizes for my little ones once my queued baby knitting is complete.

A New Year

I have decided to re-activate this blog and use it as a personal journal of sorts.  I am much better at getting on the computer (read: procrastinating on the internet) than I am at writing in my paper and pen journals.  I started off 2010 feeling really overwhelmed and discouraged. I am hoping that by putting some of my plans, accomplishment, hopes and frustrations in writing, I'll get a better perspective.

So here goes:

I have set a few goals for myself this year.  They include (but aren't limited to):

Knitting
1. Knit for friends' expected babies
2. Finish my fair isle bag that I started last year

Family
3. Get my 401k and other retirement vehicles in order
4. Make 2010 Photo books for the kids
5. Purge house of junk; prep for possible home selling

Professional
6. Complete my NBCOT certification
7. take a continuing ed course
8. get ACP certified
9. start an article (that I will get published)

Community
10. Give blood quarterly
11. compost