It ain't Shakespeare But I’m not, and that makes me sad.
We go on a winter vacation ever other year with a group of friends. This is our fifth trip, but S’s first with this group. This year, we planned to head to Globe, AZ (east of Phoenix by quite a ways) and spend a week there. There are 13 of us this year, coming from different parts of the country - mostly Chicago and Wisconsin, but also Ann Arbor and San Francisco.
Seven of the 13 are already there, having decided to go before Christmas.
Our saga started last night around 10:30, when we got a call that two of our group had their flight from Midway canceled and that they couldn’t get out until later (turns out to be Tuesday evening), and that they just were worried about the 4 of us coming from Milwaukee. So, we get online and discover that our flight, too, had been canceled. Then, I proceeded to sit on hold for 2.5 hours with the Midwest Airlines “help” service. They couldn’t do anything for us, and couldn’t get us onto a flight until 1/6.
Um, no. I have to be back at work on 1/5.
Fortunately, we had the foresight to retain our return flight, just in case something else worked out.
At that point (2 in the morning), there was nothing whatsoever we could do, so we slept a bit, and got up and started exploring options. Two of us went online and checked every possible date, departure point, and arrival point within about 7 hours of Milwaukee and Phoenix, but airfare at this late of a date is prohibitively expensive.
Then we looked at other options, and decided on different paths. S pitched a fit (he called it a “persuasive argument”) and said he’d be taking Amtrak, and I, being the dutiful wife **cough**cough** decided to go with him. There was no room on today’s train, so we’re leaving Milwaukee tomorrow and will arrive in Flagstaff, AZ, on Monday late, and meet up with our friends on Tuesday.
The last two of our group decided to drive their Prius, stopping tonight in Springfield, MO, and tomorrow in Albuquerque, NM, before arriving in Arizona on Monday, hopefully.
Looks like our Christmas celebration is delayed for a few more days, but we’ll get there, come hell or high water!
And I? Am extremely tired, and plan to take a nice long nap this afternoon.
Hopefully, all will go well tomorrow, and I won’t be posting for another week. Fingers crossed!
      
1. I’m supposed to drive to my grandma’s today. Actually, I was supposed to go yesterday, but the snow (more snow! Arrgh!) delayed me. It was probably for the best, though it’s going to snow more (aargh!) today. I’ve done the 100-mile drive in the snow before, and, let me tell you, it’s NOT fun.
2. My grandma came home from the hospital yesterday. She seems to be OK, up and about. The pneumonia is gone, and the rehab work did her some good. But she’ll still never be over the underlying condition. And she’ll never again be the grandma I remember.
3. Some days, it’s no fun being married to a railroader. Most days I don’t notice. But days like today, when he’s technically on duty, they could call him in at any time to work, even though none of the trains in his depot are running today. They may need help elsewhere, which is, unfortunately, 50 miles north of here. Kind of makes it difficult to make plans. Needless to say, we’re bringing all of his gear along just in case he gets called in and has to drive home.
4. Snow, snow, and more snow. I’m nervous about getting to the airport safely on Saturday, and being able to fly out. TONS of flights have been cancelled here in the last few days and weeks due to the snow.
5. No snow tomorrow, fortunately. That makes the drive home a little better.
6. We’ll be spending Christmas without either of my uncles. I’m hoping my aunt will join us tonight. She’s the one married to the uncle that recently died. It’s going to be awful to have Christmas without him.
7. The other uncle is stuck Up North where he lives - they’re apparently expecting blizzard conditions today, and he’s not willing to make the drive today. He and my cousins will be at my grandma’s tomorrow, but we’ll be leaving, so we’ll miss them.
Why, yes, I AM back in therapy. Good thing too. This is getting to be too much to deal with.
     
Yes, the Christmas knitting is done!
Let’s recap what I had planned:
- A pair of socks for a young friend in grad school in Scotland. Finished!! I loved making these. They’re a basic 3×3 rib with a 6-stitch cable running up the side of each sock. Nothing too complex, but I loved the yarn, and they came out great.
- A bathmat for my great-aunt. Finished! Six strands of kitchen cotton held together, knit with size 15 needles. 3 strands of green, 1 pink, and 1 off-white with flecks of color. Nicely done!
- A pair of mittens for my grandma. These went fast. I used Wool-Ease, so they’re washable. Not the easiest pattern, but still a quick knit. Love how they came out! Unfortunately, I forgot to photograph both mittens after I finished them (but before I wrapped them), so I’ll have to get a picture of them on grandma!
- A Santa and Mrs. Claus in the style of the Creepy Cute Crochet figures for my aunt. This was my vaguest idea and least likely to get done, but I did find a pattern, made a few modifications to suit my tastes, and here they are!
So I? Am totally done with the Christmas knitting and can get back to knitting for my favorite recipient - me!
     
I’ve committed myself to three Christmas knitting projects:
- A pair of socks for a young friend in grad school in Scotland. They’re a basic toe-up 3×3 rib sock with one cable panel on each. But she’s got size 12 feet, so they’re taking longer than I like.
- A bathmat for my great-aunt. Shouldn’t be any great challenge, since it’s knit with SIX strands of cotton on size 15 needles. I’ll probably throw in a washcloth or two, also.
- A pair of mittens for my grandma. Maybe a hat, also. The mittens shouldn’t take long, either.
The real challenge for me, however, is that I haven’t started ANY other Christmas shopping. Nada. Zip. Although, to my credit, I have good ideas of what to get most people. Except…
Unfortunately, I have NO idea what to get my aunt (who was married to my uncle who just died three weeks ago). We usually exchange some sort of Christmas decor, so I kind of want to do a Santa and Mrs. Claus in the style of the Creepy Cute Crochet figures, but I’m not a good enough crocheter to just make something up, so I’d need an actual pattern. Fortunately, one exists…
     
Another quick(?) jaunt(?) to Chicago today, and now I’m home. Went to see my Grandma in the hospital. She’s weak, but looks like she’ll be there a few days and then be able to go home.
Unfortunately, her overall condition, while not itself fatal, will never get any better or even improve. That’s the problem with little-know progressively degenerative disorders. But for now, oxygen, antibiotics, and fluids is what she needs and what she’s getting.
I’m feeling a little better about it tonight, and I’m really glad I went to see her. Last night, completely against my will, I found myself slipping into an anxiety attack, even though I didn’t think I was that worried. Fortunately, S recognized it, and I have medication for such occasions (though they are extremely rare for me, they do happen), and he was able to get me calmed down.
Apparently, I’m more stressed about this than I thought. I’m wondering how much more stress my poor body can take.
I’m thinking of calling my old therapist (who I haven’t seen for a few years), but I’m not sure what good it will do. I know that the problem is grief and stress - what else except time is going to start to relieve them? But whatever. I’ll see what she thinks.
And now Kitty has decided that I’m done with this post, as he’s standing on my stomace and purring and making it very difficult to type.
     
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w, don’t include this meme (I think. I can’t remember.)
