Lorenzo Knits A Tomato

Update

My brother had his surgery on Wednesday. I've called him every day and while he's still in a lot of pain, he sounds 200% better than he did on Thursday. He's been walking laps around the hospital floors and went from 7 laps on Thursday to 18 laps, yesterday.

The doctor said the removed kidney looks "clear" so that's a great thing. Thanks to everybody for thinking good thoughts and asking how he's doing.

I think they're going to send him home tomorrow and I'm pretty sure that's an insurance company thing. He's still not sure how he's going to take care of himself and it's got to be a scary thing to get discharged before you feel like you're well enough.

My mom called me at 5pm and told me that he's on his way home. The hospital was taking him home in a Lincoln Towncar! I've never heard of that happening but it's a nice touch, isn't it?

I can't knit when I'm upset but I did find something I can do.

I made stitch markers. And I took them for a ride on Wednesday, to my LYS. 6 sets didn't make it back. LOL. They're gone to good homes and that's why I make them.

I have to update my shoppe but this weekend has delivered a really bad headache and trying to take individual pictures made me want to hurl. Loverly.

Instead I'll show you some fun things my postal worker recently delivered.

It's scary and I won't open it until it gets dark on Wednesday. Promise, Rox! I might even wait until Thursday just to be sure to avoid the (ominous music) Cuuurrrrrse of the Winged Thinnnnnnngs. BWAAAAAA!!!

This beautiful set came from Jane. She put magnets on the back so they're going to find a home on the fridge. They're half of a swap and she's getting her goodies once she's moved.

Just because I make them doesn't mean I can't enjoy other people's markers. <"http://nytefalle.etsy.com">Melissa and I did a marker swap. Check out her shop. These are SO cool!

Finally, this comic must have been written just for me and my "double tall, decaf, non-fat, light whip, extra hot, vanilla mocha".

Stats

Illness/Injury/Whatevs = 3
Rhinebeck = 0

Mom came out on Friday (her new car is BEAUTIFUL!) and we had some fun doing Mom/daughter stuff. Lunch at Wegman's (chinese buffet - yum), shopping for munchies for the Rhinebeck ride, Kohl's, Starbucks.

Then back to the homestead so I could show her the new BlueAnt bluetooth for her car. It's the coolest thing EVER! All of you people that drive with the phone to your ear - STOP IT! Getting a ticket or having an accident while on the phone has got to cost more than the "Ant". Clip this to your visor and you're good to go.

We got to bed late because we waited for Tom to get home from work (11:45pm). I got a whole 90 minutes of sleep (no idea why - I even got up and took something to help me sleep and it didn't work), woke up with a raging headache, wonky left eye and cramps. The TRIFECTA! LOL! I went downstairs to tell Mom and she said she was worried about walking a lot because her ankle was bothering her. And THAT was the end of Rhinebeck for this year.

I took the snacks and camera out of my bag. Broke the news to Drew (my GPS) that we weren't going and then attempted to salvage the day. We did a good job of it, too.

We went to Kraemer's. Mom got some yarn and I bought this beautiful Elsebeth Lavold book at 50% off.

They're doing a lot of work at Kraemer's so most of their yarn is gone, except for the store brands. Once they finish renovating they'll be back in action.

More lunch at Wegman's and then we went bowling! Mom and I used to bowl in a league together and she said she missed doing that, so she brought one of her bowling balls with her. Usually we never get the time to bowl but this was "Let's make up for not going to Rhinebeck, Saturday". So we did.

Dumb ten pin. We saw too many of these standing.

We bowled 2 games. She won the first and I won the second. Nice and fair, right? I won't tell you that my average is 50 pins higher than hers. I won't, I tell you!

Another stop at Starbuck's and then back to the house. We were WORN. OUT. and it felt like we were 2 kids that refused to take their nap. We were fighting staying awake from about 4pm, on. Whining about how tired we were. Poor Tom came home from work around 9:30 and were were zombies. But zombies that had a good visit.

In the last week or so I've gotten a little bit of yarn.

This gorgeous, soft, sheepy smelling yarn is from Lori at From The Wool Room. Colorway: Fireweed. The colors make me happy!

And I got just a "teensy" bit of Wollmeise that required "inspection".

I love that the colors come in 3 different "intensity" shades. These are Birkenrinde (dark), Rosenrot (medium), and Zenzi (dark). I've got about 10 more in my "cart" but will get them a little at a time.

Of course, I DID save all of that money by not going to Rhinebeck....

Coffee Swap Three

Things here are nuts. Or maybe I'm just nuts. Whatev's. Here's the scoop, Barb. (Ha ha ha. Get it? Scoop! Coffee Scoop!)

QUESTIONS
1. Whole bean or ground? Whole bean

2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Decaf

3. Regular or flavored? Regular

4. How do you drink your coffee? Disguised as a Vanilla Mocha.

5. Favorite coffee ever? A mix of Wegman's Hazelnut and Chocolate coffee. I like flavored coffee but usually buy it out.

6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? Fairly fussy. A dark roast or espresso blend.

7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Those big black and white cookies at Starbucks. Stella D'Oro Anisette Toast

8. Anything else about your coffee preferences? Nope. Be bold. Innovate!

9. Yarn/fiber you love? Sock yarns. Mercerized Cotton. Fine Merino.

10. Yarn/fiber you hate? Novelty stuff/fun fur. Scratchy wools.

11. What's on your needles? Slogging thru the Drunken Argyle (from Knitty) for my DH. It's been over a year, now and it's the ONLY project I'm working on until it's DONE. The rest of the UFO's are languishing.

12. Favorite colors? Wine/burgundy, jewel tones, olive green, charcoal grey, black.

13. Allergies? Cigarette smoke, perfumed things.

14. Anything you really love, really don't like, or just need to get off your chest? Just no pastel colors. That's it!

I know. It's been a while. And there's a lot to catch up on. No time now. Mom's coming for a visit. Rhinebeck looms.

I can tell you that today was my brother's surgery to remove the bladder cancer. Haven't heard anything in a medical sense but he was home before 3pm - it's an out-patient procedure! - and my Mom said he sounded good. Big surgery next week.

And....

2 Sunday's ago Tom was in a golf tournament. AND HE WON! It was all over the papers! Did you see it?

And by "all over the papers" I mean stuck in the local sports section in a 2" x 1" box with everyone elses name that placed. But he WON! He shot a 60, with his handicap. He's finally stopped floating above the ground and will speak with the little folk.

Tom and I finished the first 8 books in The Dresden Files series. Now I'm Harry-less. I miss Harry. :-(

I've got the Touch

Nothing comes into the house without thorough inspection. But now...I've got the Touch.

But have to learn how to use it. Yesterday I was playing with it and found out that it may not work so well with Bloglines. Yup. Again. POOF! Gone. I saw that there were 60 to read and then...nada. Sigh.

During the week Tom and I had lunch with his Dad to celebrate his 75th birthday and then HAD to visit a dear, dear friend. The Bakery in Plainview, NY. Hugs all around.

Tom looks happy (if not a bit orange - dumb camera), no? Chocolate chip cookies bound for the freezer.

Thursday was bowling. Somehow, I could do no wrong. I bowled my first 200 of the season and then had 2 very good games for a 576 series. Maybe this year I'll get my first 600.

More golf shopping during the week and a lesson on Saturday.

Here's some of my golf "stash" - is there such a thing?

Notes from my first 2 lessons.

My cool green putter.

So it's not jealous, a shot of my other putter. Philly Mc. Yup. Philly McPutter. It's the same one that Phil Mickelson uses. Get it? ha ha ha.

And the perfect place for a "Think Pink" pin.

Wonder where my yarn money is going?

This week's line up is a 3-day Atlantic City trip (I'm bringing my knitting bag and plan to get a lot of the vest done), bowling and then....who knows?

Rhinebeck looms and Mom's all excited about going. Me too!

Oy

It's amazing how fast you can clear out your Bloglines when you - mistakenly - click on "Mark All As Read". Poof! Gone.

Yes. It sure was Monday.