I love my friends!

I found a lovely surprise on my desk this morning when I arrived. A friend from another department had dropped by a little gift for me, knowing that the past few weeks have been rough, to say the least (see yesterday's post!).

Yay! Friendly surprises are the best :)

R is for...

Running! And Race! And Rock & Roll!

All sorts of R's this time of year! The race pictures are all taken from this year's R&R Va Beach 1/2 Marathon. I ran that back over Labor Day weekend when we were home visiting VA. (Lovely week, that - feels like ages ago now!) That race was part of why we chose that week to go home. I'd run it twice before moving out here, and it's always fun to go back and run a race close to home. It wasn't my greatest time, but it was consistent with the rest of the year. No, seriously - my 3 1/2 marathon times this year from Jan, Mar, and Sept have been within seconds of each other! I am nothing if not consistent! So, not bad considering how crazy the summer is at my job, how miserable the weather in the desert is to run in, and how rarely I run in the summer as a result of those two factors ;)

I always laugh at my race pictures. The one above and the one right below are from about mile 11-12-ish. The Boardwalk is along the very final stretch of the race, and, obviously I'm running on it! Yet, my smile's still big and they aren't bad pictures at all! My very best running pictures were like that - about mile 11 at the R&R a few years ago. Dunno - apparently mile 11 is a good point in the run for me, my photogenic peak of the race :) The race this year... well, honestly I think it helped that the photos were taken after we turned onto the Boardwalk. Couldn't see the finish line, but could see and smell and feel the ocean again. Hadn't seen the Atlantic for nearly 2 years at that point, and hadn't seen any big water since May, running in San Diego. Well, we went to a lake in June, but it's not quite the same, is it?

And, being a VB race, Mom and her running buddy were there too. And lo and behold: Mom crossed the finish line and got a picture with her head up!! Not that surprising that she finished - the amazing thing is that after all the races she's done, she's always looking down at her feet or her watch in her pictures at the finish line :) But look - you see her face! Way to go Mom! :)

And for complete silliness, all 3 of us realizes that neither our house nor Ms D's had Epsom salts, for that post-race soak. So, on our way back home, complete with medals and race numbers still, we stopped at the grocery store to restock :)

And another reason that R is for Running, is that Zach and I found the running club on post this week! There are several people I know in the club, and several right about my pace, and several training for races I'm doing or ones at about the same time as mine. Wonderful news! I need that friendly "where were you for the long run yesterday?" prodding sometimes. So, it also works out that it coincides wonderfully right now as I'm belatedly posting my letters. :)

Maybe with some training buddies, I'll be consistent enough in my training to bring my 1/2 Marathon time down. My next goal is to be under 2:15, but I'd really love to be under 2:00. Here's hoping I can stick with it!

I never want another fall like this

EVER!!

In case you're wondering why posting has been sporadic, well... the real world has sucked away all spare time and energy. Following a busy summer (my job is very seasonally-based), we have now been short-staffed at my facility for nearly two months (and in a work environment where you have safety-mandated minimum staff requirements, that's a BIG DEAL). Every time we think we're getting new people on, something comes up and we end up remaining short staffed, just with different people in the same slots. So, there's been tons of extra hours for anyone who can pick them up, and if no one else can, well then, I get them. Sucks to be on top sometimes!

I did have the vacation at the beginning of the month, but that honestly seems like a distant memory already. Things were so crazy the 3 weeks before we travelled, and then we came right back to a whirlwind of drama and stress (some of it actually even warranted!) that I've been going nonstop since I got back!

And the crazy part is that we are never short staffed by one person. It always seems to be several at once. The person who's traveling out of town never leaves on a weekend where nothing happens - instead that's the weekend where another gets very very sick and a third decides to quit! It's like we need to be almost double staffed just to have subs available for when things happen! Always, always, it seems to come in clumps like that. Maybe it's just that if it's only one person short, we just find a sub and don't notice, but that when it crosses a threshold of "down by 3" we actually notice. At any rate, it's stressful and tiring and I'm tired of it happening!!

Add to that, a hectic job for Zach and Army paperwork at its convoluted finest (Zach's working out several paperwork tangles at the moment), and it's just been a barrel of monkeys the last few months, lemme tell you! Regular craziness over the summer leading into the past two months of flat-out insanity!

(sigh) I really love my job - I mean, what I actually do on a daily basis - but almost every day I wish I only had to do it 40 hours a week...

Q is for...

Quilts!

One thing about our house - we may be cold, but we never will want for something to curl up under. We each have a grandmother who quilts, and as a result have several beautiful handmade quilts. All different sizes, some more casual and can throw in the wash, some heirloom-type and needing more care. Two are full size, and cover the bed, some are twin size and will reside in the guest room, when we ever get a house that has one, and some are throw-blanket size and live on the couch in the living room. I love them all. It's a special touch, knowing that it's a blanket someone made specially for you, not just something purchased off the shelf somewhere.

PS - If you were wondering about the pictures above, they've each got quilts there in the background.

P is for...

Penguins!

Lovely little birds :) And, as you can see, a recurring theme in the blog.

As I explained way back when, I've liked penguins for a while now. My user name on a lot of sites (Ravelry and Flickr included) is a reference to the Tacky the Penguin series - "Tacky was an odd bird, but a very nice bird to have around." As a result, the user avatars (or Ravatars, as the case may be) are often penguin related. Like the one below, used last year on Ravelry to celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day :)

It all started way back in high school. My swim team outside of school was abbreviated TAC (pronounced "tack"). After seeing us all practicing in drag suits and tights and the likes (serious swimmer stuff - don't ask), my dad commented that it should be TAC-ky, not just TAC. At about the same time we had discovered Helen Lester's book Tacky the Penguin. One thing lead to another, and I was eventually gifted a small beanie penguin as a good luck mascot for my swim bag. Still have the little guy, actually :)

As time went on, my time in the pool lessened some, but I started running more. In running and reading about running, I discovered John Bingham's column. John "The Penguin" Bingham, as he is known in running circles. Hysterical columnist who writes from a beginner/slower runner's point of view. I.e., the penguin, not the gazelle. It's the person who runs for fun, for enjoyment, not necessarily for speed. As he says, "waddle on, friends!"

So, suddenly, another penguin reference to my life! I especially relate to it, as am solidly on the penguin end of the spectrum, but married to one on the gazelle end.

And as a random penguin reference, have you heard Brad Paisley's Christmas song, "Penguin, James Penguin"? I mentioned it a few years ago, when I first heard it. Been almost two years now, and it still cracks me up. :)

Like a well dressed duck in a 3-piece tux...

And just for the record, I'd love her job :)

Oh, the penguins pictured here are from the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. :)

A FO!!

Finally!! Shetland Shorty is complete!

I started this way back in March, I think. It flew along so quickly, until summer started. And then all motivation to pick up my needles ended as work picked up it's pace to it's usual seasonal insanity. I just had about 4 months of being too tired to think about even basic stockinette, let alone picking up as many stitches as I had on that sweater. (Yes, the part that I did get stalled at was almost to the end - picking up all the stitches for the trim along the sleeves, front and collar)

Enter Knit Nights! I think that's the the only reason I was able to sit down and concentrate long enough to get all those stitches on my needles. Crazy work hours do take it out of you! Silly thing is, once all those stitches are picked up, it's less than 15 rows until you're totally done with the sweater!! I was stalled on the home stretch! So, I brought it with me to VA earlier this month as I'd finally finished all the trim sections of it and just had the weaving in of ends left. And, sitting down and chatting with family over the visit gave me the opportunity to finish!

So, ta-da! Here it is!

I really like this pattern. It was really easy to get into my hands, and (aside from the long ties and trim) went very quickly. The final piece's very comfortable, and very cute too! It's one of those nice shrugs, just enough warmth to keep the shoulders from getting chilled in an overly air-conditioned building. Love it.

I didn't use the recommended yarn, but used Lion Brand Magic Stripes instead, a little bit heavier yarn. I adjusted with the next size down then (S for me, instead of M), and it fits beautifully. The stretchiness of the pattern itself helps with any adjustment if the exchange wasn't an exact equivalent. I used just under two skeins, if you're interested in yardage. Nice thing about using sock yarn, too, it that this is washable, since I can see myself wearing it regularly :)

O is for...

Odessa!

I made this hat for the Ravelympics last year, but I thought it was worth another quick post. I swear, I have gotten more compliments on this hat than almost anything else I've ever knit! I think the only thing that's beaten it was the shrug I made for the wedding!

It was a Ravelympics project, like I said, and I wanted to challenge myself, so I tried beaded knitting for the first time. And I've been sooo pleased with how it came out, too. It fits well, it's soft yarn without being too expensive or hard to care for, it's cute and pretty and a soft color without being too PINK, if you know what I mean. I've few projects that I've been as happy with at the end.

As for this particular shot, I just like it, even though I haven't woven in all the ends yet :) You can see the pretty swirly pattern so well from that angle!

N is for...

Nom nom nom!

I know I've already used Joey for a letter this year, but this is one of my favorite pictures of him. He's sitting on the dining room chair, eating lettuce through the back of the chair, and enjoying every minute of it. Bunnies eating are one of the best things EVER! Such busy cheeks munching away! Awesome to watch, so cute! Makes you wonder why all bunnies aren't 25 pounds from people feeding them to watch them eat :) 'Course the bunny does have more sense than the cat, who definitely gained a few pounds while we were away. Silly feline will keep eating until he pops!

So, just a quick letter today, finally catching up with my letters (I'll keep catching up the rest of the week, too) and sharing a great picture of the buns while I'm at it :)

A reason to celebrate!

In case you didn't know, Agatha Christie's birthday is September 15. So, great literary minds have determined the week of September 13-20 to be officially designated "Agatha Christie week" in honor of the birthday of the Queen of Crime.

My aunt, another murder mystery buff, told me about this glorious reason for celebration. She and a friend decided that ways to celebrate could include Belgian chocolate, a good cup of tea, knitting, and devising ways to get away with murder. Am totally up for any celebration that includes 3 of my favorite things! (In case you were confused, I was referring to the chocolate, tea and knitting, not the murder!)

I think what prompted that discussion was this link my aunt found - The Guardian (British newspaper) is celebrating the week with blogs, podcasts and top 10s throughout the week. They kick it off with a pretty good quiz on Christie knowledge.

Yes, I did get 11 of 11, if you were wondering. I don't know if I'd have any excuse to get less, considering the number of Christie books on my shelf :)

Hark upon the Gale!

For those who missed the big game because they were watching such unimportant games last week as VA Tech vs. Alabama (love you, hon!), W&M beat our (academic) rivals UVA in the first football game of the season. Go Tribe! Mom sent this to me from our favorite sports writer's column in the paper back home (The Virginian Pilot):

"Even if it upsets the NCAA logo police, W&M’s win over UVA puts a feather in the Tribe’s cap – maybe 2."

I miss you, Bob Molinaro! No such writing out here :(

BACK EAST!!!

And we are back in VA!! Back home for a WHOLE WEEK, and it's actually supposed to be unseasonably cool this week, all the way down in the 80's as a high! (For frame of reference, it was 113 this past weekend back home, until the ash and smoke from the wildfires started cooling things off in our area...)

We were so funny on the flights today, too. Definitely the little kids so anxious to get there. The last leg of the flight especially. Couldn't understand at all why we were waiting so long to taxi out, even though everyone was on the plane, just wanting to go go go! Zach recognized a lake nearby, "Ooh Ooh, There's Smith Mountain Lake!" Just fidgety from there on out. "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

Talking with Zach tonight, it's not that I'm particularly attached to VA, though I do miss a lot about it. There were also things about it that drove me up the wall. But it's so green, and it's really the greenery that I miss. I've lived other places that Va Beach, but all of them have been green, and all the places that I've travelled where I thought "I could live here" have been green too. That's really what I miss the most at post - the natural beauty. I miss greenery, and seasons, and being able to be outside comfortably for longer than 5 minutes at a time. "Hot" and "Windy" just don't count as seasons for me, and those are really the only two that we have out in the High Desert area. I don't feel like our next duty station needs to be back in the mid-Atlantic region (though I'd enjoy that, too), but I'd really like to be out of the desert and back in a place where I want to be outside. We'll see how it goes - fingers crossed for us!

I plan on enjoying the beautiful weather here to the fullest, and then crying all the way on the flights back to CA! :\

Review: A Knight's Tale

Yeah, I know this one's a couple years old, but we were watching it the other night so I thought I'd mention it.

For those who haven't seen it (or forgot the trailers), Heath Ledger, pre-Brokeback Mountain, plays William Thatcher, a poor boy from London's Cheapside apprenticed to a knight. Thatcher wants to "change his stars" and rise from a peasant to become an honored knight and win recognition on the jousting tournament circuit. The story begins as Thatcher gets his chance to rise above being just a squire, when his master passes away at a tournament and Thatcher steps into his place, taking his armor and his horse to finish the tournament. Realizing the opportunity he has received, Thatcher becomes Sir Ulrich Von Liechtenstein of the Gelderland and seeks his fortune on the jousting circuit, of course aided by the standard troupe of lovable supporting characters. And along the way, meet girl of dreams and arrogant ruling champion of tournament. Yeah, nothing really new plot-wise, pretty standard under-dog story, just set in medieval Europe.

Casting is great. I've been a fan of Heath Ledger's since 10 Things I Hate About You, and continued to be pleased here. And so many familiar faces in the supporting cast, lots of people that I love to see on screen. Alan Tudyk is adorable and hilarious as always. And as much as I like Rufus Sewell as a good guy (think Dangerous Beauty), he does make a great villain as well :) Mark Addy is in so many BBC productions I've seen, I've forgotten where I saw him first. He's just one of those good supporting actors that you just accept as belonging there, you know what I'm trying to say? He just fits whatever role. And James Purefoy is great in roles like this one - good guy, honorable but burdened. I first saw him in a similar role in the BBC Sharpe's series (he was Jack in Sharpe's Sword, if anyone else is familiar with the series).

A great part of the fun is the soundtrack. It's an interesting juxtaposition, 70s rock in medieval Europe, but it's handled well. I enjoyed listening to the words of the songs in relation to the story - they are definitely well chosen. Of course, if you're one of those people who'd be bothered by Queen at a jousting tournament... well, then this is definitely not the movie for you.

And it has some good lines too. My personal favorite:
Wat: I don't understand women.
Chaucer: Nor do I. But they understand us.
Zach didn't find it quite as funny :)

I think the only part I really didn't like (other than minor things, like how drawn out the ending joust was) was the female lead. She just bothered me. Not as well written a character as William's band of supporters, and the costumer went overboard with her wardrobe. Like at the big dance scene after William's first tournament, her hair was just... bad. Twisted and spiked all over, with different colors all over. There are punk-y type hairstyles that do look very cute, or attractive, or edgy-glamorous, but the costumer just couldn't find them for this character. So, I guess it wasn't the love story itself that bothered me - that helped move the plot along nicely - it was just the girl.

Overall: 4 of 5. Yes, predictable and cliched, not a classic, but lots of fun. Rather in the same family as The Princess Bride - adventure, romance, witty writing, enjoyable time had by all (or most).