Reflections on my first week of school.

Yep, it is that time of year again classes started on Monday. Thankfully I only classes 2x a week Tues and Thursday. I don't think I have ever been able to swing that before. I have always tried but there was always one class that I needed that would be on a different day. This is my first semester at a different school. I was nervous and excited on Tuesday. I got to school early to pickup the one book I wasn't able to get online. I was shocked to see a line about 10 people deep to get into the bookstore. Then another long line to pay. I finally got in paid $135(!!!!) for a lab manual and made my way to class. My only other problem was parking. I couldn't find a parking spot anywhere near the building I needed to go to class in or the bookstore so I parked in a guest parking area. I decided I better not risk getting a ticket and moved my car before class. 15 minutes later I was parked and rushing to get to class. Not a very good start to a new semester. I kept thinking this wouldn't be happening at my old school but I will try to keep an open mind. Just keep an open mind Holly was my new mantra! I really liked my A&P prof as a person. But as an instructor he is sorely lacking. He posts his notes online and skims over them during lecture. I know that I learn best when I take notes and hear a prof say something. But I decided it's the first day give it more time. Lab was interesting-ish. Then came Ethics. I realllllllllly wanted to take this class online but they were filled before I registered. My prof looks like if Dustin Hoffman and Richard Gere had a baby. He sounds very Dustin Hoffmanish. I had the worst time staying awake in his class, he goes off on these tangents that just never seem to end or be related to anything. Then today was my second A&P lecture. Parking was a nightmare again. I was sitting trying to take notes but he really wasn't lecturing when the girl next to me said" do you think he will ever lecture? I guess we have a lot of reading to do." I agreed then the guy sitting next to her said" this is it, this is how he teaches" I walked out of class very disappointed. I have had several great sciences teacher at my old school and couldn't believe this guy was so highly rated as a teacher. I came home and talked to Mom about it all and she asked well is it too late to register for another A&P class at your old school. I looked online and saw that my favorite Bio prof had openings in her lab and lecture. I signed up immediately and dropped my other A&P. I am so happy I did this. I know I need to know this stuff for Nursing and I really don't think I would have learned as well or as much as I know I can with Ms. Mason. I sent her an email tonight so hopefully I can spend the weekend trying to get caught up. Tomorrow I am going to return my lab manual and get my money back!

OK I know this is supposed to be a knitting blog and I bore you all with the everyday aspects of my life. Sorry! Here is a little something I worked on this week. Meet Go USA! baby oddball blanket! I really love how my section turned out.


I also updated the Southeast baby oddball blog.
I had the idea to show the blankets in progress instead of just as they are now and I am really happy with how our blog looks now. Not that I wasn't liking it before. I just think this takes it up a notch and really shows off each person's contributions a little better.

Goodnight all! Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo,
Holly

I am woman!

Hear me roar! LOL!!! On the side of our house there are 3 very badly overgrown holly bushes. They are huge and not very attractive. For a while Mom and I have been talking about taking them out and putting in something pretty. Well today was a beautiful day so I decided to conquer one of them. And I did!! Bentley and I went out early this afternoon. He was laying in the grass while I dug and dug. About half way through I decided to take a break and eat some lunch. When I came back out I was absolutely determined to get it. While I was digging my neighbor called over the fence to see if I needed any help. I thanked him but this was my battle to fight and gosh darn it I was going to do it. Thinking back I probably should have let him help, it would have gone much faster with another shovel! Finally I was able to cut all the huge roots and get the bush out of the ground! I don't believe I have sweat that much in a long time! I even started to get a blister on my thumb boo hoo. After all was said and done Bentley decided to help by making the hole bigger and laying in it. Tomorrow I will be planting in this new hole a Rhododendron that my Mom received for Mother's day that has been just hanging out waiting for a spot. I am so proud of myself! Now I just have two more to go. I can't wait, well actually I can but if the weather and my body hold up I am going to get them!

I made the cardiology appointment for B today. I thankfully only have to wait until Sept 10th. So not too much longer. Seeing him digging today it was hard to believe there is anything wrong with him. I guess he did stop sooner than he normally would have but he was really working on making that hole right. I wish I had had my camera with me he was so funny!

Unbelievably I didn't do any knitting today! I think this is the first day in a long time that I can say that. The more I think about it the more I am convinced that I need to add more length to the body of Mom's sweater. She has a really long torso and I am afraid that it will be too short on her. She keeps saying it will be fine but I don't want to make a sweater that she won't wear. Or that she will wear to not hurt my feelings and feel uncomfortable in. I would just have to unbind off the armpit stitched. I am still working on the darn sleeves. I feel like if I ever get them done it will be a miracle! I feel like I keep knitting and they just won't get long enough! I'm going to make them a priority. I really want her to be able to wear it in the fall!

I'm actually tired tonight. Yard work apparently is good for making people tired at a reasonable hour. Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo,
Holly

The summer has flown by!

I can't believe it is the end of August already! Where did summer go? I start classes again next week. Eek! I actually have a really good schedule. I only have classes Tues and Thursday this semester. I wish I could say my classes will be easy but that would be just a little too much good luck wouldn't it! As you can on my previous post I have been filling my break with meaningful endeavors. LOL! Remember how I told you about the engagement party and how my bros , sil and bro's dgf were coming down. Well Bro # 2 brought his Wii. So of course we played. A lot. On Sunday when they all left Mom and I were sitting around relaxing and suddenly she said 'I really want a Wii". Thinking who am I to argue I agreed it would be fun. So the next day Mom was running some errands and came home with a Wii! I didn't think she would actually buy one but she did! I haven't seen Mom this excited about anything in a long time. She loves it! Of course so do I! So my days have been filled with knitting and Wii. Not a bad way to relax!

I got the Autumn Leaves baby oddball blanket yesterday. I love the yarn Dawn used. I'm going to do my section in SS Autumn red. I also cast on for a new blanket Go USA! Spikey of the the Northeast region inpsired me to try a star pattern. Keep your fingers crossed it turns out! I'm trying to figure out a way to do exactly 50 stars. Yes, I am a little obseesive thank you. I'm going to have to play with the pattern a little to see if it works! I 'm really excited in last couple of days we have gotten 2 or three new knitters from Ravelry. Our little group is growing! Yippee!

I received some bad news from my vet this week. Bentley was due for his yearly. While I was there I mentioned that he has been acting really clingy to me. He is very reluctant to go out with Mom, and he just hasn't been himself lately. She thankfully listened to everything I said, asked a lot of questions and started his examine. He has alway had a slight heart murmur. After she listened to his chest for what felt like forever she said she wanted to get a chest x-ray. My poor sweet B has an enlarged heart now. So tomorrow I have to make an appt with a cardiologist for him. Those are words I never thought I would say. He has to get an echo. Dr W. is very confident that he can be treated. All of his blood work was good, he is a good weight, she said he is in great health except for this. But in the back of my mind I keep thinking of Ricky our first dog who died of an enlarged heart when he was 10. B is only 7. I hope I don't have to wait too too long for the appt with the Cardiologist. I need to hear from her that my baby is going to be OK, that this is 100% treatable and that he will have a normal long life despite this. I can't even imagine losing him. I would be heartbroken and so would both my cats especially Joey. I feel a little better get this off my chest.

Thanks for stopping by!!
xoxo,
Holly

Wordless Wednesday

Getting caught up

Hi! I know it's been awhile since I've posted again. I do have some what of a good excuse, I was on a mini vacation. My mom, Bentley(my dog), and I went up to visit my bro and sil for a long weekend. We drove up on Thursday morning and came back on Sunday afternoon. It was a ton of fun. I discovered my love for the wii. We played it every night I was there. I loved the bowling and tennis. I got much better at the bowling than anything other game. Mariocart kicked my booty! My bro and his friend said it made them carsick to watch me play. Yeah I rock! Lol! I tried the party games but wasn't very good at them either. I think I am going to have to look into purchasing one for myself, I am really interested in the wii fit package.

I am absolutely amazed at how long it has taken me to get caught up on stuff around the house after being out of town. I came home Sun night and feel like I have been doing laundry and cleaning ever since. I have to clean a little more than normal since we have company coming in this weekend and it will be a full house. I'm really looking forward to everyone coming! Both my bros, my sil and bro #2's girlfriend are coming. Along with bro & sil's dog. It will be a wild weekend.
A good friend of ours parent's are throwing him and his new fiancee a big engagement party on Saturday. Did you know that the spelling fiancee is for the woman and fiance is for the man. I just learned that this summer. I asked his parents were they are registered and was told they aren't yet. Eeek! They don't want any gifts for the party. I don't feel like I can go empty handed so I am going to make a batch of my white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and put them on a really cute plate and include the recipe. K & M both love the cookies and have told me several times that anytime I want to make them they would be happy to take any extras off my hands. The plate is adorable I have to take a picture of it!

Knitting wise I am still working on Mom sitcom chic and the oddball #4 blanket. I'll have picts of both soon! I'm not sure when Mom's sweater will be done.

I have to go now! Thanks for stopping by!!
xoxo,
Holly

Name Game

I got this in an email and it totally cracked me up so I thought I would share it here!( Thanks M!!)


1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car): Turtle Camry
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie): Country Peach Cobbler Chocolate chip

3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name): H.Pat
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal): Purple Dog
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born): Elizabeth Columbus

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first): Patho
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink): The Blue Water

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers): Dominic Louis

9. WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (first letter of mother’s maiden name & father’s middle name ): M. Edward
10. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter): McGee Madison

11. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower): Spring Violet

12. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”): Banana Khakie

13. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree):Honey Nut Cheerios Dogwood
14. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, favorite weather element + “Tour”): The Knitting Sunshine Tour

McGee Madison signing off! LOL!!

Quick Updates

It's late and I really should be asleep but I am not sleepy so here I am.
Apparently I didn't bomb my final in Stats as badly as I thought. Grades were posted last night and I got a B! This summer I made 2 "A"s and 1 "B" not too shabby if I do say so myself.

This afternoon I started the Atlantic Waves baby oddball blanket while watching Season 2 of Lost on DVD. Normally I don't knit during Lost but I had seen these episodes so I figured it couldn't hurt to try. I can finally say I knit mistake free while watching Lost, it's amazing! Now if it had been a new episode I know I would not be able to say that. LOL
Speaking of the baby oddball blankets our group has two new knitters! I'm really excited I think we have 15 now (including a couple of Mamadawn's friends who aren't registered on KH)!!! Yeah Southeast way to represent!
I sent my secret pal's package on Monday. I haven't heard from her if she has received it or not yet. She should have since it is only going one state away. I hope everything is ok.

The sleeves for Mom's sweater are slowly coming along. I am finally past her elbow! My goal is to finish the sweater in the next couple of weeks before I go back to school. I'm pretty sure classes start on Aug 21st. So I have 20 days. I know I can do it.

Mom looked at my wordless Wednesday post and said Wow it looks like our whole yard is in bloom. In the interest of full disclosure the whole yard is not in bloom, there are actually a lot of weeds and ugly things. But really who wants to see that. I'm still waiting for the Encore azaleas in the hedge to start blooming again. We have other Encores blooming away. I think the blooming ones have been getting more water. Hopefully all the rain we've had will encourage them to bloom.
I liked doing wordless Wed I might make that a permanent fixture of my little blog. I need other theme days too. Any suggestions will be appreciated. In the mean time I will try and be creative and think of something.


Well now it is even later and I am actually feeling sleepy. Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo, Holly