Currently working on:  http://www.bernat.com/freebabykimono/

I have the two front pieces finished.  I love the yarn.  Big surprise.  I'm a sock-a-holic knitter anyway.

If you're a knitter...  have you every really realized that knitting is the ultimate distraction to those impossible or uncomfortable moments?  Someone saying something you don't like?  "Darn!  I just dropped a stitch....hang on."  On the other hand, it keeps my idle brazen temper on hold while I'm listening to someone's problem.  I.e.  I'm a better listener/problem solver with knitting in my hands.  It also provides a soothing atmosphere to the non-knitter interacting with me.

Case in point:  Talk about flies with honey.  The kids are magnets for me and my knitting.  As soon as I pick up the needles, here come the precious questions to life's greater battles.

Wouldn't trade it for the world.

On the other hand, I'm reminded of several uncomfortable situations I was forced to participate in.  Knitting becomes my comforter.  I park in a shady place where I can stay for awhile, and I concentrate on my next piece of knitting.  People understand this about me and my neuorsis.  They don't find it awkward to come up and speak to me--it gives them a topic other than weather to begin without feeling tense.  Consequently, I'm vain enough about my knitting that I am pleased to talk about it, even with those I am also tense with.

So...  knitting makes me a better person.  Period.

I have managed to do my leg/shoulder exercises two weeks in a row now.  The exercises to strengthen the IT band definitely help longevity of walking.  I worked through the pain, and had a 5th steroid shot last week.  Next week, we have fun in Chicago with a surgical consultation.

Over the months, it is very easy to get zapped of energy working through labral tears and IT band issues.  I tried staying still, exrercising, not exercising, steroids, etc.  It's hard to do "what you're supposed to do" every day.  To stay focused, and not get caught up in the misery.  To not let the misery drag you down, and others along with you.

Writing has been creeping back to my thoughts the past two weeks.  I can feel the energy there.  Now, if I can just tap into it....

9 months status-post right acetabular tear.

Little is known about hip labral tears.  They hurt.  Constantly.  That's about all I need to know.  Today, I might be able to walk quickly to the bathroom.  The next three days, I might hobble at a snail's pace.  If I do the strengthening exercises, I can manage to walk pretty decently.  After 9 months of hobbling like a cripple (I also had a resultant T12 disc protrusion from not walking properly), I'm irritated, angry, and frustrated at my body.  I passed the nightly crying stage several weeks ago.  I've gained 10-15 pounds from the steroids (oral and injection), and after loosing 115 pounds, I'm pretty satisfied with that minimal re-gaining.  Not happy, note.  Just satisfied that it isn't more.  I'm further irritated by the recent knowledge that if I want to procreate, I HAVE to have the surgery to stabilize the joint to bear the weight of pregnancy.  Otherwise, I can continue on as I am, and possibly need a replacement off in the distance.  I've done my research, and I continue to do it.  Learning as much as I can before making the ultimate decision.  It's hard when most of the case studies are on people much, much my senior.  Anyway.  If you're in the Rockford, IL area, I highly recommend Dr. Rosche for pain management and Dr. Marie Walker (Rockford Spince Center).  You couldn't meet more energetic, sympathetic doctors who understand.

I continue to do my stretches and monitor my muscle/fat numbers to keep the weight gain from rising further.  They help most assuredly; however, it's no way to continue living:  Watching the kids instead of playing with them.  Watching the people walk their dogs, and know you cannot join them.  Constantly thinking about which way to walk, and what surfaces to avoid walking on when mandatory walking is necessary.

It's hard to keep the spirits up, but I am very lucky in that regard.  I have a very supportive husband along with a peanut gallery of happiness in our kids, my step-mother and my mother/father-in-law.  All-in-all, I'm working on advancing my knitting skills even higher than they were before....anything to keep that darn food out of my mouth.  (I'm an emotional eater.)

Also, I lost my 9-year pet support giver:  Bailey Ann Elizabeth.  Simon (my 13-year pet support giver) and I are still grieving in our own way, but comforting each other on to success despite.  We miss her dearly.  I'm still looking around and forgetting she's not there posing adorably on her pillow while I knit and relax after working out.

From time to time you may hear a knitter say, "I had to give my knitting a time-out."

Remember when we were all two-year-olds at the age of 7.  We'd pound our fists, stomp around, possibly yelling nastiness as anyone who would listen to us (and most likely the listener was a loving parent wondering what monster had just occupied their child).  Those wild and crazy tantrums we'd through, just because we got frustrated trying to do something.  Now we look backwards, reflecting on our lives, and how elegant we've managed to become.  We tell our children how we walked uphill, both ways, over 10 miles just to get to school.  We giggle with others about silly things we are now easily able to accomplish.  We're setting ourselves apart from the negativity of frustration or "writer's block".  Yeah, right.

Don't be fooled.  Tell me just how many times you frogged your last row before throwing your own tantrum and severely maimming your work?  It took me three attempts Friday morning in the car on the way to work.  And then, without a word, without any anger--I sentenced my lace piece to a day of time out in my knitting basket.  IT needed to get it's anger and anymosity out of itself before it became worthy again to be held by my ever-loving hands.

Time-out:  The essence of being able to blame your knitting for your tantrum, and then the action of being able to send it away shamefully until the anger has dissipated enough to be worked on again.

(I have a knitted afghan in my stash...It's been in time-out status for about 8 years now.  I'm still patiently awaiting it's return.)

Can you practice the art of silence?

Have you ever observed a situation as a participant instead of having to be the forefront attention monger?

It's amazing just how many people these days are bound and determined to be the center of attention.  I wonder sometimes, who is their audience?  If everyone is busy playing the center of attention, no one is really listening--they're too busy being the center of attention.

It's amazing to me what I can learn about humanity just by standing back, opening my ears and eyes, and observing what goes on around me.  I had the distinct privelege of having 2 very big opportunities to do this very thing this past weekend.  It floors me to learn how sitting in the corner, not saying a word, smiling and listening to everyone around me, and enjoying the time--certain people perceive me as actively doing things to upset others.

In my head, I'm thinking about what I'm witnessing.  I'm watching those I love be themselves, and enjoying watching it.  I'm learning nuances in character about those I love.  I'm quietly catching on to little things that cause me to think more of my loved ones; that give me new insights into my relationship with them.  Then, if I can remember them, they will help me deepen and strengthen the bonds I have with them.  Take my husband, for example.  I watched him socialize trying to make others around him feel more comfortable.  Knowing him as I do, I know what he's doing is watching for other's insecurities, and helping them to feel more comfortable--giving them a smiling contact point for the event that is easily approachable.  I admire and respect that, because part of the reason I'm sitting silently off to the side is my own societal fear of approaching people I don't know.  I'm watching him converse ligthly with people regardless, and I wonder, do those 10 years of difference make that easier?  He'll tell me no, but there are things that are easier for me to do today that weren't quite so 10 years ago, even 5 years ago.  He loves me so what does he see when he looks at me, quietly passing the time with my knitting needles in hand.  He stops once to make sure I'm happy doing what I'm doing, and when I verify that--he's off to the next interaction.  (What?  Me NOT be happy knitting??  Did hell freeze over?)

On the other hand, there are also people around me who don't like me.  Some ignore me completely, while others stand, stare, and point.  Do they think I don't see it?  I suppose, in the grand scheme of things, I don't.  Not really.  Because I'm a people watcher.  I watch to learn how to positively improve myself--what works, and what doesn't.  If those types aren't doing anything positive to watch, I'm simply not watching.  Somewhere along the line, maybe 10 years ago, the need to "watch the train wreck" was replaced with a need to never have to even see it coming.

Those who don't like me, I have learned, don't see a quiet knitter.  Instead, while I'm quietly watching, they're filling their heads with doom and gloom about what I'm doing and thinking.  Funny, how a simple hello and a smile are turned into such loathing, spiteful, and resentful perceptions. A wise person recently told me that when given any situation, we humans are doomed to append all our historical experience to that situation.  Creating a static that blocks out the realituy of said situation.  So, if I'm smiling and quietly watching, and someone sees me as "playing a martyr", I would then tend to wonder--weren't they really the martyr?  We're so quick to assign our first-impression feelings to things we know absolutely nothing about.

Yes, even me.  Right here.  Right now.

I'm just trying to watch others to revise and interpret my assessments positively.  Sort them out, and figure out who I want to be.  Given what I observed this past weekend, I am happy to observe/learn how to be gracious and kind in my heart and mind at all times, private and public.  I received the feeling of peace and calm in my heart, knowing that time after time I'm not a lemming.  I don't follow everyone off the Brooklyn Bridge.  I make a conscious effort in every situation to choose to handle things better and positively for all involved.

p.s.  Honestly, I really was sitting and just knitting.  That wise man also said, "What's good for you, has to be good for me, too.  Vice Versa.  No matter what."  Yes, I believe that very much.  Life is too precious to waste time on negativity.

Yes, my friends, we're at it again tonight. The new season of softball started with a pre-season game against Allstate (the blue).  First off, it was freaking cold.  Somewhere around 40 degrees for game time--at 8 pm!!??  The girls still have school in the morning!

Anyway, we're not keeping official score, but Allstate won; 20-12.  However, yours truly's, Screamin' Sheila Green's back in action.  She brought home 2 runs, and saw two innings at 3rd base and then another two in RF.  3rd's where the action was tonight, ladies and gents.  She nearly tagged out one, and popped the second one to end the inning.  She grounded out a 2 RBI, then popped out to RF, followed by a strike out at the very end.

She played her heart out, froze her toe-sies off, and had some of my special hot chocolate while relaxing in a nice warm bathtub.  One week of school left so, as we close here at a little after 11pm, everyone say goodnight, Screamin' Green!

MOST EXCELLENT GAME!

We're happily married!

Score:  12-3, win for UWSA

Game Time:  8:15 pm

Game Highlights:  SMOKIN' is how you describe this UWSA team tonight!  Every inning they were bringing home the runs, they were making the plays, and they were laughing!  Screamin' Green had a super quiet evening in RF so her action is at the plate tonight.  Her first at bat she line-drived to 1B.  In what should have been an easy out, Screamin' Green ran her butt to 1B and the effort paid off big-time!  The 1B girl was so sure of the out that she got a little sloppy and dropped the ball.  Screamin' Green took her base, where she was advanced on to 2B by the next batter.  Then she stole 3B on a wild ball.  Can she?  Will she?  OF COURSE, folks!  You know our gal!  Screamin' Green STOMPED ON HOME PLATE!!  Her next at bat saw her going down swinging, but that's ok!  It's better to go down swinging than watch the strikes land in the catcher's mitt.  In-between the sixth and seventh innings, the fans took a break and watched the space station, followed by the space shuttle, fly overhead.  The Assistant Coach had to wake us up, and get us focused back on the game.  Wow!  Who knew the space station was so bright!  What a night!  Screamin' Green's last at bat saw her dueling hard against the pitcher until finally, Screamin' Green popped up a foul and the catcher robbed her of her turn at bat.  What a game!  What a team!  The fans LOVE UWSA!

Stats:  3 at bats:  line drive single to 1B, 1SO, 1 foul out; Position:  RF (5 innings); 1 RBI

UWSA Record:  3W-5L; 1 tie

Screamin' Green's Batting Average:  .320; 2 RBI's

Ahhh...what a season.  Look at Screamin' Green's stats!  She's had one fantastic year!  Sadly, tonight's game was the official last game of the season; however, the rained out games from this past Monday are still being scheduled.  I've heard rumors they are lined up for Monday night.  If so, Screamin' Green may not be in them due to a planned, much needed vacation with her adoring Aunt Kim!  It's hard to balance a team commitment and family, but Screamin' Green does an excellent job at both!!  There is also talk about finishing up the first game of the season where the girls tied with Knights of Columbus.  We'll keep you posted!

Way to go, Screamin' Green!  Thanks for the fantastic season!

Score:  22-8, win for Knights of Columbus

Game Time:  6:05 pm

Game Highlights:  Here we go again against the Knights.  The girls were battling pretty good in the first couple of innings, but then fell behind.  Screamin' Green sat out most of the game nursing her newly installed filling.  Her first at bat saw her battling fiercely.  She threw back 2 foul balls into the stands.  Then she took a couple of balls.  Then she threw another foul into the opposing dugout.  Another ball.  Another ....ball!  Batter take your base!  Sheila trotted down the first base line, and waited for her moment.  Zing!  There she goes to 2B on a steal.  Zowie!  There she goes to 3B on a steal.  Unfortunately, that's where she ended the inning as the girls weren't able to bring her home.  In the fourth inning, she took her place at 3B.  She floated like a butterfly, and stung like a bee!  She dodged, weaved, and bobbed to try and keep the balls in front of her.  Looking pretty good out there, Screamin' Green!  Then she came up to bat her second time.  POW!  First pitch.  Line drive double into right field!  The next batter took a walk so Green advanced to second.  Then the next batter took a hit pitch to the foot, and Green advanced on to third where the next batter struck out, leaving Screamin' Green wishing on her second close-call with stomping on home plate.  Following that, in the fifth inning, Screamin' Green took her favorite position of RF.  She ran up on the ball, and tried to keep it from blowing by her (and the infield).  That's where time ran out, and the game was over.  UWSA:  Put your running shoes on, and haul butt down to first base!!  Keep your feet lively, and chase those balls down!!

Stats:  2 at bats:  1 Walk, 1 double; Position:  3B (1 inning), RF (1 inning)

UWSA Record:  2W-5L; 1 tie

Screamin' Green's Batting Average:  .318

Don't miss the next exciting game tomorrow night at 8 pm!!  Let's go stomp on homeplate!  Let's go girls!

*Sigh*

Here we are, ready to do battle again, and you're telling me the sky is about to let loose??  Where's the justice?  My skin's blistered, and now we're sweating rain?  By the way, Proud Papa and I have hooked our bodies up to the water heater and have been warming up the household water for the past two days with our sunburns.  Ouch!  Don't touch there!

A happy Screamin' Green danced her heart out in the rain as we waited to see if the games would be called.  We actually made it through two innings before they finally did call the game.

Screamin' Green reports that it was totally FUN playing in the rain and wishes to tell the officials--KNOCK IT OFF--I WANT TO PLAY IN THE RAIN!!  The Cubbies do it, why can't we??

So, we'll see everyone back at the field tomorrow night at 6 pm when Screamin' Green goes to the plate after having a cavity filled.  Yikes!

P.S.  Ok, this really isn't funny.  Bring the bottle of Solarcaine back...NOW!