I’m Beautiful Like Me.

My last few posts, I’ve ranted about the things that really suck in my life, so I’m going to spend a minute to discuss the things that are great.

We received a substantial amount for our tax returns, so we were able to (once again) pay off all of our bills and even put quite a bit in savings. It was really nice to give my mom a huge chunk, too, considering all that she has done for us in the past (six months, especially). We still had quite a bit left, so we all got new shoes, Joy got some new school clothes, Buddha got some new toys and Husband and I got ourselves a little something each, too. He got some "nerdy computer stuff" (as Joy calls it) and I got myself the Knit Picks Harmony interchangeable needle set I’ve been ogling for forever now. They are beautiful and simply divine to knit with!

I’ve been working on perfecting my Skulljoy Armwarmers pattern with them, made a cozy for my French Press and have a sock for Husband on my needles right now. I’ve never knit socks with worsted weight yarn, so these seem to be breezing by quite quickly! I’m going to make them with afterthought heels (also called short-row heels), so I have to wait for the book I ordered (Teach Yourself Visually: Sock Knitting) to arrive before I can proceed. I’ll have both cuffs done before it gets here.

My good friend P dragged me to see the movie "Twilight" before I started the final book Breaking Dawn. I haven’t seen a movie in the theater since the first Harry Potter movie! It wasn’t horrible and I’m not sorry I went by any means, I just wish my own image of Edward hadn’t been tainted. Sorry P. I did finally finish the saga, though and hafta say that I really rather enjoyed it. Thanks to all those folks online for turning me on to some new reading material. As soon as I catch up on the DVR (which will give me a chance to do some serious knitting), I’m going to start something new - maybe Wicked or Dean Koontz’s The Darkest Evening of the Year. It is so good to be reading again.

I quit my job at the downtown restaurant last week. It was the most reckless thing I’ve done in a long time and it was very liberating to just not go in. Those people (the ones who own it, that is) are complete jerks and I’m glad to be rid of the feelings I’d have just before going in. In the meantime, I’ve applied with the county school system for several jobs, did the clerical testing, paid for the background check and fingerprinting. Now they just need to hire me!

I also applied for financial aid and at University of Louisville. If only I could decide what the hell I want to do when I grow up! I’m leaning towards either a Mathematics degree of maybe Justice. I need to make an appointment to talk to an advisor, I think. My education is at a stage where I really need to know which direction I want to head in.

And it’s really super-cheesy and maybe a bit morbid, but I’m excited that the latest episode of one of my favorite shows "The First 48" is airing a local homicide. My love for cop and law shows is what has me considering a law-type degree.

Finally, the basketball team at Joy’s school has made the finals! It’s very exciting for these little guys and I’m really proud of them. Here’s the latest video from their game last night.

My apologies for a long absence. The truth is that I’ve been otherwise occupied and trying to limit my online time. I will try to catch you up without dragging on.

I was offered a job with a starting date of January 5th. So after the latest incident at my job, I quit on New Year’s Eve. The family spent the day running about town on errands, just being together. After, we headed out to P’s place for another ringing in with their family. Last year was a great success and I’m rather fond of building traditions. I told P that she was forever stuck with us celebrating transformation - the end of one year and the beginning of another.

We had a great time. We paid for it dearly the next day, but it was worth it. We spent most of the night outside in the gazebo with candles, space heaters and a small firepit, drinking and being belligerent. Big Rob had to have a photo of P’s “eyebrows” made by shadow cast from candle and eyeglasses. P’s sister H joined us, as well. When P’s husband B arrived sometime after midnight still very sober, I managed to catch this picture of him in the unfortunate position of being in front of our empty bottles. It’s my favorite picture.

P and I; L and Joy; me and Buddha (still sober)

P’s “eyebrows”; Husband and I; L, Joy and C

P, P’s sister H and Big Rob; classic Big Rob; P’s husband B’s unfortunate position

Suffice it to say that New Year’s Day was spent in a haze of frequent bathroom trips and fitful sleep.

On the 5th of January, I started my new job, also waiting tables. It’s a great job: the hours are awesome as the restaurant only operates 11-3 M-F and closes on all major holidays. The pay rate is slightly higher than average ($2.85 vs. the usual $2.13 per hour), the guests are mostly regulars and I’ve made pretty decent tips every day that I’ve worked.

There are some down sides, though and they mostly center around the restaurant owners (a married couple). They are unfriendly, rigid and absolute control freaks. The man tends to follow me around in front of the patrons and nitpick every.little.thing I do that isn’t to par with his standards, as though I have never waited tables and he thinks I’m an idiot or has little faith in me or both. I’ve tried to convince myself that the trade-off is worth it. Nonetheless, I have started searching for new work. I’m happy to report that I had a job interview yesterday that went pretty well. Hopefully, I’ll hear something very soon.

In the meantime, I’ve been knitting and reading a lot. I made 3/4 of a purse for my niece for Christmas (I got to the hand-sewing part and just stopped), started and frogged a sock, and finished a leg warmer. I’ve enjoyed reading so much that it’s been over a week since I’ve even thought about knitting! I’ve finished both Odd Hours by Dean Koontz and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I’m eager to start another book. Last year (or was it the year before? Wow, time is flying!), I purchased the last book in the Harry Potter series and never read it. Same story with Dean Koontz’s The Darkest Evening of the Year. Of course now, I’m eager to continue to New Moon, as well.

Buddha is as obnoxious as he is cute and Joy had her first pep-rally and basketball game last week. I took video, but it wasn’t very good. I’ll try my best to get better video to share when we go tonight. The Step Team was so good, they received louder cheers than the basketball players and the cheerleaders! Naturally, Joy is very excited to be a part of all this and I’m thrilled, too.

On Tuesday night, I was very nervous about heading to our new meeting grounds, Perkfection, for knit-night. The bunch had been going for several weeks in a row now, since Sunergos has been entirely too crowded for us to knit comfortably. I had been there before. However, the weather was icky, very cold and very wet. Furthermore, Perkfection is across the bridge in Indiana. Bridges are especially icky in very cold, very wet weather.

But it was a night we’d been planning for weeks now. We’d drawn names for a Secret Santa swap and Tuesday was the night we’d planned to do the exchanging. I bit down and drove myself there, very, very cautiously. I stopped in to visit with Anne at Grinny Possum beforehand to wish her a happy holiday and to discuss my recent knitting tragedies. Just as every other knitter I’d ever met so far, she listened with patience and an abundance of empathy, sympathy and the occasional strategically placed curse word directed at the yarn, the fates and anything that required cursing on my behalf. Anne, if you are reading, I love you!

I made it to Perkfection early, grabbed a seat and chatted up the cashier. We’d become acquainted the week before and I rather liked her right away. Still in Secret Santa mode, I purchased a caramel latte for my spoilee and impatiently waited for everyone else to arrive. The turnout was amazing! We even had a new knitter join us - a man I met several weeks earlier while helping out at Grinny Possum. It seemed like forever before everyone was there and the exchanging of gifts commenced. I did more talking and socializing than knitting, too! We each watched as everyone opened their gift, allotted for plenty of ooohing and aaahhhhing. It was the most fun discovering who had whom.

I got the most beautiful package, complete with a perfectly-tied red bow. I carefully peeled away the wrapping paper and found a nifty Christmas box inside. I love stuff to put stuff in! I removed the lid to find amazingly beautiful purple and pink self-striping sock yarn - YAY! As much as I love the yarn, I love the red bow. I tied it in my hair for the remainder of the evening.

After everyone had opened their gifts, I wanted to accompany J outside for a cigarette. I was convinced that there was a good reason to wait, totally persuaded by superior diversionary tactics. With complete complacency, I sat there and continued to gab away, oblivious to what was to unfold next.

Nellis and Samagchestlah came in from outside (I hadn’t even noticed them leave!), arms full of gifts for my family and I. I was absolutely blind-sided by them, rendered speechless by this surprise and nearly moved to tears. Elevena had donated books and toys from her own childhood, including a vintage Little People castle and all the pieces. Sonnie, Nellis and Samagchestlah had shopped for clothes and toys for the kids. Someone had donated a brand new makeup bag filled with facial scrubs and makeup from Clinique. It was a monumental moment in my life - one I will always, always remember.

And as if that weren’t enough (oh, but it was! These ladies really outdid themselves!), they next handed me a Christmas card with $100 inside.

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Reliving the moment as I write this, again I feel quite speechless.

Maybe they know, maybe they don’t, but that $100 will help make next month’s rent.

I cannot emphasize enough how grateful I am that each and every one of these women have come into my life. I feel incredibly blessed to know them. I feel incredibly blessed by their patience and generosity. I feel that words are insufficient to truly convey my innermost feelings. They encourage me when I am down, praise me for work well done, kid with me, laugh with me, cry with me, embrace me, give so much to me, share words of wisdom, extend a hand to me, relieve me from the real world for 2.5 hours every week and are my friends.

To the group formerly known as Quills Knitters, I love you. Merry Christmas to you and yours. Thank you so much for the Merry Christmas to me and mine.

Thank you so much!

P.S. I promise that I will post pictures as soon as humanly possible. Husband and I had to use every trick up our sleeve to camouflage all the great stuff you gave us in with the decor in our tiny apartment. Stay tuned!