Challenges

I’ve had a few these last three weeks. Mostly blood glucose related. Even though I’m not taking a sulfonylurea Byetta is kicking my ‘arse’. I’m still experiencing lows in the evening (40’s and 50’s) which make getting anything accomplished nearly impossible.

My knitting for one is suffering….it’s hard to focus when you’re struggling to get your BG up. These lows last for several hours and by the time I manage to get my BG up into the 70’s I feel like a truck has drug me down the road by my ankles and all I want to do is sleep.

I’m nervous about how I’m going to deal with all of this in the middle of this outdoor festival I’m doing the second week in September….dealing with a low would not be a good thing. On the plus side this stuff has really made my morning numbers great and I’ve had fasting levels that would make a non-diabetic envois. 82 morning fasting when I take the dinner dose….140 when I don’t. And of coarse when I start my day with a fasting of 140 my numbers the rest of the day stink. It’s just those pesky evening lows….which by the way no one has an explanation for. Not my doctor, not Lilly, not other people using Byetta….no one has every heard of that happening to anyone not also taking a sulfonylurea. I’m an anomaly.

I hate being an anomaly.

But again….on the plus side….I’m drinking a boat-load of juice….something I hadn’t be able to do in a long time. I ‘heart’ juice.

I’m still hoping to finish the August socks when I get home tonight….lets just hope my body cooperates.

I’ve been distracted

This came the other day:


A birthday present from my son…..I ‘heart’ it. Even though it’s a little frustrating since the shuffle is a continuous play MP3 it makes it nearly impossible to use for audio books which is what I was hopping to use it for. But I’ve downloaded an Agatha Christie podcast which will hopefully take me through finishing my August socks.

I see a regular ipod in my future ;)because I'm hooked.

Pictures of the finished socks and ‘not even close to finished’ wrap later…..

Back among the living...and a contest

I took 3 whole days off….3 days. That’s nearly unheard of around here. I had planned on taking Saturday off for my birthday and it just snowballed from there. Of course this will be the last day off until ACL Fest is over….

The daughter and granddaughter took me out from dinner on Saturday at Carrabba’s my favorite restaurant of all time. I’m sure I ate too much (ok….I KNOW I ate too much and that 300 BG confirms it) and yes I did have the tiramisu complete with a candle stuck in it.

Lots going on in the health front (if you want to be bored to tears feel free to go to the other blog )

I haven’t finished my August birthday socks yet. Have turned the heels on both of them but I’m not even done with the gusset decrease on one (yes I knit two at a time….but on double points because I’m just a freak that way) For some reason I just haven’t been all that interested in working on them. The yarn is yummy (a gift from Janette for SP10) the pattern is called ‘baby cable’ which I don’t hate….I just really haven’t hit my stride with this pair.

I’m not getting very far along with my wrap either (also in yummy yarn gifted to me by Janette)….knitting in spurts.

My mother sent me two 50g skeins of Debbie Bliss 100% silk in black….not sure yet what I’ll turn them into but right now petting them is making me very happy….they are SO soft. ;) She also sent me a birthday ecard everyday for a week leading up to my birthday….silly woman. ;0)

I also got a very funny ecard from my secret pal…..thank you SP11...I loved it.

Speaking of Secret Pal 11…..Jenn (my SP11 hostess) has this little contest to kick off SP11 in style. The prize you ask? Handpainted sock yarn!! And I do love me some handpainted sock yarn….don’tcha know. ;)

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without? My Denise interchangeable needles. I ‘heart’ them so much.

2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If
so, how much and what type of project? Heck I take my knitting to work with me…so of course I’d take it on vacation. Ahh….not that I actually ever GO on vacation. I’d take whatever I’m currently working on that I can do without having to refer to the pattern too many times. Socks are always good…and maybe a wrap or shawl.

3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot? Well I LOVED New Orleans before Katrina….Anywhere there is ocean works for me.

4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it? Sensational Knitted Socks is a real staple….but I’ve fallen in love with Vogue Knitting. Nope don’t own any Vogue yet.

5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)? No podcasts YET….my son bought me an ipod for Christmas and then never sent it to me. :/ He swears he sent it the day before my birthday….tap tap tap….yep still waiting. Once I get it I see many podcasts in my future.

Alrighty must get back to work….

Secret Pal 11 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like? Guess I’ve turned into a fiber snob….natural fibers are by far my favorites….novelty yarn gives me a rash ;)

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in? My straight bamboo needles live in a vase on my dresser (hey it’s art…ok?) my double points are in a plastic stackable organizer (which seriously needs organizing) and my circulars live in their Denise ‘box’.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced? My grandmother introduced me to knitting. I’m a beginner in some things an intermediate in others….and advanced in my dreams. ;)

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list? Yes I do….on the side bar somewhere.

5. What's your favorite scent? I love lavender, rose, carnation, sandalwood, patchouli….not very found of fruity smells.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy? I have diabetes so I don’t indulge my sweet tooth often….BUT Welch’s makes these fruit snacks which are kinda like gummy bears only fruit shaped….YUMMY.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin? I don’t spin….yet ;) I do have a knitting board which I LOVE and I make soap, candles and jewelry.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD) I like rock and blues and Cajun stuff….New Orleans Jazz and bluegrass and SOME country. Rap makes me break out in hives.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand? I love earth tones….and greens and blues. Just can’t do pink.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets? I live with my husband and our two boxers Brutus and Janis. Our adult daughter moved back home with our granddaughter temporarily (please God let it be temporarily)

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos? Not very often but I do LOVE ponchos and shawls and wraps.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit? Socks…

13. What are you knitting right now? Socks and a wrap

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts? I do very much!!

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic? I’ve bent all my bamboo double points SO I have to go out and buy some aluminum or plastic (knitting too many socks) I’m swearing off bamboo for awhile until I stop snapping and bending all of them. :/

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift? I got a yarn winder from my last SP and I love it. No swift yet.

17. How old is your oldest UFO? Well….I hate to admit….6 months (a poncho) and 8 months (a blanket from HELL)

18. What is your favorite holiday? I LOVE Halloween!

19. Is there anything that you collect? Pigs…I love pigs… Wade 'whimsey-on-why' houses….Boxer dog figurines, and anything 'tea' related.

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have? I have a subscription to “YARN” from Australia (LOVE IT!!) other then that…I love to get my hands on all kinds of fiber related things.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn? Socks on circulars and socks toe up.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements? Yep…I knit socks. I wear a US 71/2

23. When is your birthday? August 18th

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID? Yes I am…although work hasn’t allowed me to really spend much time there….my id is: Monika

Happy Birthday Mom

I love you!!!