Knitting Nurse all News Posts

Knitting Labyrinth

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:15:52 GMT

I have started, twice now, my second sweater. I am so very excited! it is Labyrinth by Stitch Diva found at stitchdiva.com . I have now worked my way down to the waist decreases. I had to start this pattern twice because I did not pay close enough, or maybe read too much into the instructions, and ended up casting on way too many stitches. And to make matters worse, I found this out while canoing with my family and some friends. So on the river, I was in the middle of the canoe so was able to work on the sweater, but oh!! I was so mad, I ripped the whole thing out and put it away. I re-cast on the RIGHT amount of stitches, and have made some great progress. Check out my progress on Ravlry.com

Chao!

Army Stuff!

Sun, 6 Jul 2008 00:52:43 GMT

I am in Washington State with some army stuff I'm doing and will be here for another 14 days or so. I am a nurse, obviously, but because I am enlisted I have been tasked to be a driver, fun. I still have hope to go hiking, but I need to find someone to go with me for safety reasons. I will probably rent a car and go. Mt Reiner is one of my main stops I want to get to, but Seattle yarn shops are up on the list too. I just hope I can get my rear in gear and go do the things instead of sitting and doing nothing.

I am making soap bags like crazy as they take me about an hour to make and they fit so easily in my pockets. I need to start making them shorter, like 3 ½ to 4 in instead of 4.5in. I can’t wait to get back home for my SFS package so I can start knitting my first SFS sock. I do need to get going on the pair I have cast on now though, I think I will bring them with me driving tomorrow, I should have time to knit on them.

‘Till the next time I can get internet access. . . .

Some Days . . .

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:29:16 GMT

Some days I just hate ignorant people. Usually I'm just irritated with them, but today/Sunday, I truly wanted to tell them off. I went to church and from there I decided to go to the humane society to get a fur fix since my baby is visiting her semi perm home for the next 3 weeks while I'm away. I had finished playing with the kitties and stopped in to see the puppies, there were two women in there looking at a dog and as I was washing my hands to leave I overheard one say to the other, "6 years, why would someone get rid of their dog after 6 years?" I piped up saying "sometimes situations change, for example military personnel might be moved to a place where they are unable to keep their pet." This lady then has the balls to say, "Well then why did they get the animal in the first place then?" this ticked me off to no end that only those who could see into the future and know there life will never be changing, could get a pet, so I replied "they get lonely too" when I really wanted to hand her ass on a platter, but I had just come from church, so I took a deep breath and left. I opened my windows of my car, turned up the radio and relaxed as best I could. I just could not believe her gal. My own personal situation with this scenario was that 3 of my buddies adopted 3 sibling kittens from a liter. One of these soldiers did not know his orders until the week before our graduation from training. At that point he was unable to get the paperwork to the airline to bring his cat with him and did not have anyone at home that would be able to take his cat, so he was going to give Onyx to Pet Co. I stepped in and took his cat home with me and she is having the time of her life eating chipmunk-sickles and mouse pâté. But case in point, should he not have had his cat that he loved for a year just because he did not know he would be unable to take her with him? I say no. If I was forced to leave tomorrow, I am blessed to have my parents close by who would foster my cat until I was able to get her or come home. I hope I will never have to give my girl up, and would be crushed if I did, but I refuse to be held back from the love of my cat just because a possibility is possible!

Spay and neuter your pets!

A Day in the Life

Wed, 14 May 2008 05:11:59 GMT

I started this post on Wednesday morning, midnight and it is now 5 am Saturday, I can't sleep. I'm not sure why, I am tired, but who knows. I tore out moms old blanket last night and started working on it, so far so good. I'll try to post pics. So long 'till I can get some sleep.

Who Will You Choose?

Mon, 5 May 2008 20:32:55 GMT

I Chose You

One Sunday morning during service, a 2,000 member congregation was surprised to see two men enter, both covered from head to toe in black and carrying submachine guns. One of the men proclaimed, "Anyone willing to take a bullet for Christ remain where you are."

Immediately, the choir fled, the deacons fled, and most of the congregation fled. Out of the 2,000 there only remained around 20.

The man who had spoken took off his hood, looked at the preacher and said "Okay Pastor, I got rid of all the hypocrites. Now you may begin your service. Have a nice day!" And the two men turned and walked out.

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God... and then wonder why the world is in the condition it is today.

Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, think, say, or do anything the Bible says!

Funny or is it scary?

Funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still follow Satan (who, by the way, also "believes" in God).

Funny how you can send a thousand 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how the lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but the public discussion of Jesus is suppressed in the school and work place.

Funny, isn't it? Funny how someone can be so fired up for Christ on Sunday, but be an invisible Christian the rest of the week.

Are you laughing?

Funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them.

Funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me.

Are you thinking?

Will you share this with other people? Or not?

I picked you.

What day is it?!

Thu, 1 May 2008 07:28:40 GMT

So last night I worked a midnight and am working one tonight, I have absolutely NO idea what day it is today, or tomorrow, or which is it? I need one of those rip away calendars just for an extra visual reminder, I doubt that will help on days such as this when I am still slightly befuddled, but I need all the help I can get.
I've been thinking about my fish wants and have decided that I cannot get my fish until after my summer excursion with the army. I think it would be very poor of me to get these fish and have them die while I'm gone. I also don't want to foster yet one more thing onto Yo for the summer, she has so graciously agreed to watch Joey, I need to get her an awesome thank you gift.
More cleaning ensued today, I can now see the seat of the couch. Yeah! I even got to take a nap on it prior to my shift. Knit Quest posted this entry http://knitquest.typepad.com/knit_quest/2008/04/workspace-redo.html and I am using this as my goal/inspiration. Holy cow good job Samantha! I also threw away a lot of papers from my bookshelf and couch. I did the dishes and now the kitchen is closer to livable, I can now see counters, and boy do they need a good scrubbing.
I need to find a countdown timer for school, I am so excited to finish and get my RN. I found a note about getting my bachelors online, giving me some more motivation excitement.
I am getting closer to finishing my watch band, I got a lot done last night and I have the feeling that I WILL get it done and it will be wonderful. I seem to have the knitting style of starting project I am more than capable of, losing faith in myself of finishing, so I stop knitting it and I have tons of UFO's. Now I understand that this seems a bit oxymoronic, how will my UFO's GET finished if I stop because I don't think I will finish them. Talk about a self fulfilling prophecy. Good Grief!

I have decided to be more positive and complain less, even when Blogging. I think that it is self defeating to Blog negative things; it goes back to my great pet peeve of only hearing ban new and no good news in the media. I shall not be a part of it, or at least as much as I can. I do not promise to not post some rantish Blogs, but I will decrease the number DRASTICALLY.

I think I am done for now, see ya!

Clean Clean Clean. . .

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:35:08 GMT

I have agreed to host two upcoming events, one small one larger. The first, I have invited a friend to come and watch the Derby this weekend and in May a Party Light party. So I have been cleaning my apartment and cleaning out. I took a load of stuff to the thrift shop today and made out like a bandit! I have wanted to buy an all in one printer laser jet, the one with a huge toner cartridge. Well, online I found one that I liked for around $130. YIKES! That is so not in my budget right now. But on my excursion today, I found one! It works, and I bought it used, with toner, for $5 not $50 not $500, FIVE DOLARS! Mom stopped buy as she was going home from a business trip, she says she should have named me Sarah Jean Anne, not just Sarah Anne. I thought that was really funny. I know Grandma Jean is with me often, there are too many things I do that are so similar to what she would have done, and I can't believe anything else.

Yo gave me I think 8 Eggplant seedlings, they are looking wonderful. When the temperature gets warmer later this week, I think I will plant them into my old bucket that has a crack in it. It will solve two problems at once, one, a use for the bucket, and two, the crack will aid in drainage. I am worried about my tomato plant. I had put it out in the Topsey Turvey last week, and boy was it windy. I did not notice until too late that the wind had in fact twisted the stem. I added a support, but that was like putting a band aid on an amputation. So I brought the whole thing into the apartment and hung it on my shower curtain rod, close to the end so that the rod would not break or bend. Then I left lights on so it wouldn’t die. Well, I notice yesterday that more of the leaves were wilting than when I had brought it in from outside. So yesterday I moved its location to a side lying position on my kitchen table, which was a bit of a mess, but I so seldom use that table, it worked, until I realized that there was no way for me to water the silly thing with it lying down. So now there is a kitchen chair on top of my table with this whole contraption hanging from it. Now before I hung it, I did reposition the seedling so that the injured portion of the stem was protected in the bag and dirt. Hopefully it will survive. Three of my apple seeds that on a whim were planted, are sprouting! Dad has agreed to make Joey a climber so she can climb and watch the birds at their level. 'Twill be fun.

I also have decided upon my next adventure. As soon as all my gardening stuff is moved to their final locations and are basically self sufficient, I want an aquatic frog and some fish. I know what tank I want, I found one for a decent price nearby. And I even like the filtration system, though I think I will discuss options with an 'expert' prior to purchasing. I found miniature African aquatic frogs at Pet Co and I love the blue color of their backs. I think I will have to add yellow mates, guppies are what I want, but Goldfish will do. I know that I am supposed to be de-cluttering and downsizing, but I find having live things that need me, need me to nurture, feed ECT. These things make me happy, and stave off boredom and the blues. So as I clean out my apartment, which I have been doing well, I am taking a strong look at what I decide to bring back in. I know Mom and Dad think that I am just using shopping as therapy, but that is not true. As I stated before, I am being very selective in what I purchase and I have moved away from just things and more toward items that will bring long term enjoyment, and that have some semblance of delayed gratification. I am trying to work on that portion of my life as well.

Life is Good!!

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 06:05:42 GMT

I have returned form camping up in Grayling and despite some trying times, me and my battle throwing up, I had a good time. The weather was beautiful and I qualified with my rifle! I am home now and just went to a TEAM meeting last night and wow wee!! I am so excited! We are now working with Mona Vie and the whole system is amazing. My goal is to be part time optional by fall so that I can go to school and not have to worry about my job.

Which brings me to this; I’ve been accepted to another position at a home care agency. At this time it is only a contingent position, by my request since I am still working part time. I will be interviewing with a client on Friday to see if I will be a good match for the paraplegic. I am so excited; I will actually be using my nursing license for something other than pushing pills on old people! I still want to be a nurse Midwife, I will get there and hopefully TEAM will help me get there faster.

I received in the mail a new pattern and yarn for a really pretty lace sleeved sweater. The sleeves flare at the end and are made up of this tessellating lace, the geometry nut in me is going gaga. The only problem is that the instructions use the dreaded, “work front same as back” Sorry, I like my boobies and they are not “same as back” so I think that I may be using pattern for a body on another sweater I like and just add my sleeves to it. I just have to make sure the arm holes matchup. Hurray for me!!

My seedlings are doing great! My tomatoes are thriving, the bell pepper has one sprout, but it looks very healthy. The Christmas tree is doing well also. My clippings seen to be thriving as well, and I have added to my collection. I have four Christmas cactus clippings, one Ivey vine, one multi leaf circular plant I have no Idea the name and a bamboo type grass plant again, mystery name. But all seem to be putting out roots and thriving, I just hope I don’t kill them!

Joey, my kitty is doing great, she is defending my apartment from the evil finches that come to my feeder to get some munchies. She is so cute when she chirp/barks at them. At least for now I think I have stopped her from jumping onto the table so she won’t eat my garden.

I am walking again, quite regularly in fact. And I do believe it is helping. Not only do I feel more energized when I walk, but I also seem to be shedding some pounds. I am now at 158 according to the scale at work. I am also visibly thinner and more toned; I’ve lost most of the Prednisone weight, now I just have to lose my weight.

Aloha!

Off Camping

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 23:11:56 GMT

I am going camping tomorrow, for the whole weekend! Yeah finally a vacation! So what if I’m going with my reserve unit and so what if the temperature will still be flirting with freezing, I am going to have a ball. We will be qualifying with the M16 so in short terms, I GET TO SHOOT STUFF!!! I never thought I would be one for firing a weapon, but I highly enjoy it. I don’t know why per say, but it is fun. And I am going to get to go shoot little green targets all weekend. I also will be catching up on my magazine reading and some knitting. Mind you, before drugs, (anti depressants/anxiety meds) I would be freaking out about the whole thing, did I pack the right stuff, will everything go right, what are we doing. . . but now, I don’t care, I just know that I get a paid vacation to go camping and get to shoot a rifle! I am not entirely thrilled that it will be over my birthday, but since I have been celebrating that glorious event from the first, I won’t mind that I will be otherwise occupied on the third. Besides, I’m going camping!

I just wish there was going to be a campfire and smores to look forward to, but I think that would be too much to hope for.

Until next time!

The end. . . for now

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:54:34 GMT

The end has come for me. I have officially failed out of my OB section in nursing school. However, I will be able to retake the course this coming fall. This is good. I will have time to calm, relax, work through the year and will not have to stress out that I do not know enough about OB to become a midwife. So until next fall, I have time. . . . . . . .

Another FAIL!!!

Wed, 6 Feb 2008 22:11:12 GMT

I'm not a bad student. I never have been. I'm a mediocre student,but I am smart so make up for the poor school abilities. Now in L&D I have failed yet another test. I don't fail tests, I barely pass(80% for this course) but I don't fail. Now I have failed 2 tests in a row. the first test most of the class failed, the second, I'm not sure but it sure pisses me off that I study my ass off and still can't get a passing grade in the one subject I truly enjoy. This is where I want to work for the next 10+ years, but I can't even pass a stupid theory test. I can do the hands on like a dream, but put a test in front of me I seem to become stupider than a cockroach. I know I don't take tests well, but if when I look at the answer on the test and say to myself, 'Oh! I know that one' shouldn't it be fairly simple to pass a fucking test?!?!?! Maybe I'm just not supposed to be an L&D nurse. But if not that, what else can I do?

Losing Hope

Another Washcloth

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:05:35 GMT

At first I did not like the idea of making washcloths. I'm not
sure why, I think it was the simple repetition. but now, I'm in
school and stressed out to my gills I love washcloths. I don't
have to think, and I can knit without looking at them, so I can
study, and knit to keep my stress down. I love them now!

Mystery Yarn

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 07:05:30 GMT

I hate my watch band. I love the watch but hate the band. It is
Velcro, and sticks to EVERY item of clothing I wear. Whether it
is the sleeve or a scarf, my watch is getting much too friendly. So
I was overjoyed to find a pattern on Knitty.com that was for a
knitted watch band that I would not only enjoy making but wearing
as well. So I scoped out the pattern and bought some GORGOUS
Lime & Violet sock yarn, I believe it is called Grace Kelly, But it's
not in front of me so I could be way off. Anywho, it is beautiful, and
I had bought it with this project in mind, but there was soo much,
and it was soo pretty, I did not want to wreck the beauty, (read no
umbrella swift and one nasty knot experience in the bag) I decided
to go with MYSTERY yarn from the stash I inherited from my late
grandmother who passed away this time last year. The color is
strawberry, and the Company Bernat. The fiber is 50% wool 50%
Nylon and I believe the weight to be lace, it's smaller than fingering,
but there is no proof on the packaging. It's a 10 oz 150 yard skein
(now ball as I have already wound it up for this project). The
instructions say the gage should be with size #1 US needles, 44
stitches to 4 inches, I cast on 18 and only reached 1 inch. I ether
have to change needle sizes drastically or yarn weight. I'm not sure
what I will do yet. But I am antsy for that band, this one is driving
me NUTS!

Songs

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 06:59:20 GMT

{To the tune of I've been working on the railroad}

Oh, I've been working on the 3rd floor, all the live long day,
I've been working on the 3rd floor just to pay those bills away
Can't you hear the patients shouting, 'Arn't 'cha gona' bring my pills!'
Oh, I can't wait to graduate, and run away from here!

Yet another midnight, double no less and the mind has evaporated into
a hazy green cloud that looks remarkable like the Green Lantern.
Though I have no idea what the Green Lantern ACTUALLY looks
like, this is what I am going with.

Bitchery

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:55:44 GMT

So I am finished with my first OB test. I don't think I was as
prepared as I thought I was. I had studied in a manner that I
knew the gist about every thing, my instrtuctor tested on being
indepth knowlageable on everything. I hope I did well. I know
alot of the material, but the testing aspect gets me all in a tizy.
Now for the Bichery, I love that word. I am staying at my friends
house for 2 days a week while I do my clinicals. I am very
appriciative of that. BUT! last week, I cleaned, vaccumed, and
changed bed linnen in the room I am staying in. This week the bed
I made, has been slept in by someone else, I know this because I
made the bed before leaving last week and this week it is unmade
with cloths all over the floor again. Understand, I know this is not
my house and I do not expect to sleep in the same place each night,
It's not my place, I am a guest. However, the second bed in the
room is still stripped from the last time I striped it and no bed has
been made up top replace the one that is so obviously in use. One
would think that they would at least leave out sheets for the new
bed. But no, I will have to hunt down clean sheets, make my own
bed, the top bunk by the way, and step over somone elses dirty
clothes just to get to sleep tonight. I am a guest, so will not
complaine about it, but I am a guest, why am I relied upon to do
all this. Oh, I know, because I will and it's just one less thing that is
on their to never do list.
And so the Bichery ends and I say Adue.

Another midnight, another entry!

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 10:02:43 GMT

So, I am now in my OB rotation at school, wow it's hard. I
am very interested, point for me, but the information is
overloading due to the short semesters. Oh well, I will do
the best I can, pass the course, re-read my book and go on
to become a Nurse Midwife. I came across this awesome
pattern on Knitty. It is a knitted uterus! I totally geeked out.
I am even now planning on adjusting the pattern to make it
anatomically correct and am going to attempt to make a whole
series. Such as a felted pelvis, a uterus pre-pregnancy, during
pregnancy with ligaments and baby, and post pregnancy. Just
call me a geek/nerd, I already know I’m one.

Why I add content on midnight shifts

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:12:10 GMT

My new Diet.

Sat, 1 Dec 2007 00:59:03 GMT

I was complaining too much yesterday about my weight to not
do something about it. My mom brought to my attention this
handy site called sparkpeople.com it takes your measurements,
sets a long term goal for you and gives you short term goals to
help you meet your final goal. I am attempting to make 142 lbs,
by March of 08. I think that this will be attainable, especially if I
pay attention to my intake habits, and work on my exercise routine.

GRRRRR!

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:46:18 GMT

GRRRR! I have had a HORIBLE headache today. It still is
not gone. Hopefully by tomorrow... so I checked the scale
today and almost cried, 166lbs. Holy crap, I'm supposed to
be 135-140. I gained all this weight when I was on prednisone,
a steroid, but I've been exercising and the weight still won't go
away!!! Well, I guess I'll have to work some more. Let’s hear
it for treadmills.

Thanksgiving Eve

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 02:08:12 GMT

It is Thanksgiving eve and I am with my parents. Yeah, I love family. Happy Thanksgiving!