Boxes, Boxes, Everywhere, and Not a Place to Sit

We have officially moved from STL! Sad. Things are beginning to look up, however. The living room, dining room, and kitchen are taking shape. The 2nd bedroom has become a huge storage closet for all of the classroom stuff I can't use, and our bedroom is well, our bedroom.

Dave and I have had A TON of help. My mom spent last week helping me pack all my stuff. People from STL helped us not only pack up the van, but clean my apartment since I've been so sick. The folks here had our van unloaded in an hour flat. I was impressed to say the least. Dave's brother even came down from Minnesota to help, AND my parents even traveled up here with us and took the dogs in their car. They're helping us unpack this week. Definitely blessed.

It's interesting to be in a condo that we actually own (or will in 30 years). We spent a week painting everything before we moved in, and it is personalized. I've always had white walls before, so walking around and seeing green, blue, and yellow is refreshing. The first thing that Dave did when we got here was put up my window scarf/swag/thingie. Last time we were here, he promised to, but we didn't have time or energy. Things are looking up.

MOVING

We are now almost entirely packed. We move tomorrow and Saturday up to Iowa. ACK! This has been one of the hardest moves (I didn't think it could get worse of moving the week of the wedding.) I have been MORE dizzy and nauseated the past two weeks than I have been for about 2 months. I have trouble standing almost at all. Packing makes me heave (sorry, tmi, but there it is.) My mom has been a LIFESAVER! She has been here everyday this week helping me/packing for me.

Dave took today off so that he could help. He's amazing spatially! He looks at stuff and puts it into boxes. WOW! I have been laying down, closing my eyes, and holding onto the bed for dear life! SO SICK!

Today was also my last day at work. Whew! They gave me the most beautiful wind chimes and a wonderful plant. :0) I felt loved.

What I did on my summer "vacation"

Dave and I went last week and closed on our condo. Dave likes to think of himself as a "landed gentleman" (I've explained that part of the point behind a condo is that there's no land involved.) I am so relieved that we finally closed. I don't have to continually correspond with realtors, brokers, and other people who want to help me spend my money.

After closing, we immediately went to buy paint. Not that I don't like white, but it gets boring after awhile when it's the only color on the walls. Plus, I've never painted walls before. And after what happened this week, I hope to never need to again. Aren't there people you can pay to do this. So, I'll have to post pictures later, but I'm surprisingly thrilled with how things turned out. Although, when I showed the before/after pics to family, they were very reserved in their reactions.

We still have a huge To-Do list. We worked from Tuesday through Saturday (leaving Sunday) from morning until night, stopping only to refuel (on paint or food). Every time we left the house, it seemed to cost another $200. It was ridiculous. I never knew this could all be so expensive. Dave and I don't have a muscle in our bodies that doesn't ache. I really don't think I've worked this hard in my life. And there's still more to do.

I also went on two job interviews while there. One with a private school for an activities director position; one with an insurance company for a sales position. I don't think either one went that well. I enjoyed the private school, but I wonder whether I'd really get to explore my vision of what the activities program could be. With the insurance company, I was asked back for a second interview, but if I HAD gotten the job, I would have never seen Dave, and since we're talking about increasing the size of our family, that would make things a bit difficult. So, I continue in the job search. Ergh.

On a completely unrelated note: Today is Dave's and my FIRST ANNIVERSARY!!! Yeah! I survived a year (which has nothing to do with wonderful husband, has to do with sinus infections, vestibular migraines, and all of the world basically trying to do away with me). We're going to go eat at a nice restaurant tonight. Mmmmm.

My anniversary present from Dave. :0)

Pics of Projects

Maybe.
If this worked, you'll see some of the projects I've been working on.
Okay, so I lied. Press the random rectangles and then you'll see.

SWAP

I have found the world of knitting swaps and am SO excited! Basically, when I joined, I filled out a preferences questionnaire and got a person's name who filled out same questionnaire. I now get to stalk said person around the internet for the next few months while buying things they may enjoy. What fun!

If you are stalking me, I feel the need to explain my queue on Ravelry. I know that I may never get to those 144 projects or so, but I LOVE looking at and lusting after these patterns--even if half of them may be beyond me at this point. :0) My favorite ones so far are from Mochimochi Land. I HIGHLY recommend them for hours of enjoyment while knitting and after.

Dr. Appt.

I saw the dizzy doctor again today. Not great news. Dave and I are contemplating having a baby soon, so I can't take any medicine to help with the vestibular migraines. I'm so frustrated. At this point, I don't think I can teach this next year. I am devastated.

The good news is that this may get better in time. Doc said that he rarely sees any 60-year-old patients. Also, I'll have good and bad days (think sin wave).

Still trying to figure out what to do.

Just Keep Knitting, Just Keep Knitting

So, in my knitting adventure so far, I've been making mostly dishcloths. The past couple of weeks, I've been working on various items: toy grass, a dust bunny (as if I don't have enough without making more), and some cute hearts. Photos will be forthcoming as soon as I can find my camera and the thing that plugs into the computer.

I'm currently working on my first "big" project: a purse. It's about 15x12 or so. I'm not even finished with the front. Ugh. At the same time, I'm kinda excited.

KIP Day

The adventures in knitting continue. Yesterday was Knit in Public day, so off I went to the Arch grounds with MissA and knitted my little heart out. MissA has been knitting for about 2 days at this point, and she needed help with knitting, purling, etc., but the people were so friendly and were able to help us out.

I'm currently working on a few projects. I've just finished knitting grass and hearts and am going to felt them soon. (My first felting project--Hurray!) I found the best yarn at Knitorious. It works perfectly for the hearts.

I can't believe how much I've improved since I've started. It's amazing me what I'm attempting. I haven't successfully tried to knit with DPNs yet (double point needles, in the round), but I'm working on it.

Loopy Ewe = Heaven

I went to a yarn shop for the first time today. I wanted to buy the entire store--at least the part I wasn't allergic to. Walking into the store was like being drenched in a rainbow: intense blues, perfect periwinkles, etc. Fortunately, I have a rule. After scrapbooking for years during high school and college, I've determined that I'm not allowed to buy anything that I don't have specific plans for. I bought too much paper, stickers, and accessories during the past few years that were cute, gorgeous, or that I just "had to have", and yet I NEVER USED THEM. NO MORE!

I was very productive (read I spent a lot of money) while at Loopy Ewe's. I found a pattern for beginner lightweight socks, DPNs (read double point needles), and, my favorite, sock yarn for Dave's first socks. This store carries so many options in yarn, and I was almost overwhelmed. It was great being able to feel things that I could otherwise only see online. It gave me a better idea of what I was and wasn't allergic to.

I started playing with my new yarn and DPNs already. I'm too scared to actually start knitting the socks, so I'm practicing using insanely tiny needles and the thinnest yarn I've ever used.

Knitting

I decided around Valentine's Day that I was going to learn to knit. I can now officially cast on, knit, purl, and bind off. Anything else is quite daunting and beyond me. I have made 2 1/2 dish cloths and 1/56th of a blanket.

I am about to begin knitting D a pair of socks. This was actually the whole reason behind the learning-to-knit idea. D's previous girlfriend knitted him 3 or 4 pairs of socks. He loves them--a little too much--and would wear them for days at a time if I would let him. The only problem is that they are beginning to wear out a bit. Now, rather than buy him socks that are handmade, it would be easier/cheaper for me to do this. Wish me luck, this should be interesting.

Surgery

Hubby is at home (my mom's that is) now after surgery yesterday. He had a herniated disc in his back fixed. In case you ever wonder, my husband is a handful. He had all of the nurses eating out of his hand and laughing.

When he was in pre-op, they had him take off his wedding ring. The surgery RN came up to him, and Dave automatically blurts out, "Just so you know, I'm taken."

The nurse assured him that she was also taken. He then went into a stand up comedy routine. My husband is just cute.

After he was out and just about ready to go, Hubby got in the wheelchair. Rather than waiting for the nurse that was going to take him out, he starts wheeling around and toward the door. While I'm trying to stop him to wait, he starts ramming the door with his wheelchair yelling, "JAIL BREAK!" The nurses ran over, laughing their heads off. D then charmed an ICEE out of the nurses before going.

He's doing okay now, but I'll be happier in a couple of days.

It is funny that neither D nor I can really take care of ourselves at this moment. I still have my vertigo/vestibular migraines, etc. We went on a walk this morning, leaning on each other. We looked like we were 70. I guess we can start practicing now.

Happy Thursday

Today I return to school during the school day for the first time in six weeks. Before this, I have been slipping in and out like a thief in the night (morning). Hubby would take me at 6 a.m., and I would pick up completed work and leave sub plans, books, supplies, etc. Today is the end-of-year picnic and yearbook signing party for the eighth-graders. I want to go and say goodbye to my kids in an unstructured atmosphere. I'm also going in tomorrow, but I want to be able to talk and chat today. Tomorrow will have to be a bit more structured since it's the last day of school.

I have to admit: I'm scared. I have a bad habit of getting sick when I go out in public. If I walk too much, turn too quickly, stand too long, talk too much, I make the most horrendous noise that sounds like I'm barfing--probably because I'm about to. Ick. My mom is coming with me so that I can leave whenever I want. I kinda feel like I'm IN middle school again. I feel sheepish that my mom's coming--like when your mom or dad chaperoned a field trip: you're happy they're there, but you don't want to admit it, nor do you want to admit the fact that you need them.

Dave has his preoperation appointment today. As happy as I am that he's able to get surgery so quickly (he went to his neurologist the first time last Friday), I wish that he didn't have to have it at all. Luckily, it's outpatient surgery, and he has a skilled doctor that he likes. However, the surgery is to fix a herniated disc. They're playing with his spine. ACK! He has to sign this waver stating that he understands that he could be paralyzed, lose functions of different body parts, etc. It scared both him and me to death.

Anyway, wish us both luck!

Sigh.

It's 3:50, and I still can't sleep. Hubby and I are supposed to get up at 4:30 so that I can drop by school to pick up/drop off/etc. I'm tired, but thoughts keep racing through my mind. I feel too dizzy/nauseated to sleep. Sigh.

Come Friday

So, Dave started his new job today, and thankfully, they are willing to let him take Friday off for back surgery. Dave has a herniated disc and is now in constant pain without medication. It's outpatient surgery, and his doctor has a good record. Now, I'm just trying to figure out why I'm TERRIFIED!

This Friday is also the last day of school. Grades are due, students leave, things end.

Let's just say I'm not looking forward to Friday.

A Diagnosis

Woohoo! I am so happy! I went to the doctor (otonyrologist, or something) yesterday and now have a diagnosis (or at least a tenative one). Apparently, I may have vestibular migraines. Basically, instead of having a constant headache I have restricted bloodflow that causes me to lose my balance/feel like the room is spinning.

The good part of all of this is that I have finally found a doctor with whom I can communicate. He's ordering more testing (he wants to do a more thorough test of my ear to rule that out). In the meantime, he'd like me to reduce the processed foods, chocolate, and cheese in my diet. Sigh. No more lean pockets--although they taste like cardboard, it's good, cheesy cardboard. He's also having me try vestibular therapy.

The sad part, besides the diet and therapy, there's not much I can do to control this. There is no magic pill. There are medications I could try, but since Dave and I are going to try to begin increasing the size of our family shortly, there's nothing that is safe during pregnancy. Also, I may take 6-12 months to get better.

Last piece of good news: I should be ready to teach by this August!

I'm Eating All the Ice Cream

I am all alone. I still have vertigo. I am watching Dr. Phil--the horror. I am eating Moose Tracks. Sigh.

Bored.

It's amazing how many things you can avoid being while still being bored. I am still struggling with vertigo, and so have been in the house for DAYS/WEEKS now, with the exception of the weekly short trip for food/supplies. We'll see what I can find to do. . .

Oh, The Places You'll Go--If You Can Walk a Straight Line

Big news: Husband has been accepted to grad school in IOWA! Hurray! We just got the official letter on Saturday--off to the land of boy bands, corn, and Hawkeyes. We're hoping to find a nice place there and hunker down for the next 6 years until I attempt to drive us back to the Promised Land. In the meantime, I am roaming through the house and trying to picture everything in small, brown boxes. I am not amused. We plan on moving in July/August, so there's plenty of time, but not a ton of energy.

On an entirely different note, I have vertigo. I had always thought that vertigo was just an old Alfred Hitchcock movie, and that I was better off not knowing too much. Unfortunately, 2 weeks ago, I woke up, rolled over, and noticed that the bed continued to roll. Yep, the entire earth was moving around me without actually visually moving. Weird. So, I probably have this thing called labrynthitis which is big word that basically means I have vertigo and can't think to save my life. Husband has become my chauffer and guide to the outside world. I am free to wander the apartment at will, but have a tendency to get sick when I depart from the inner sanctum. Ergh. Who knows how long this will last? In the meantime, I am learning a lot about the top of the ceiling above my bed.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I'm beginning to wonder if I should actually post. Most of you have probably given me up for dead, or at least my postings. Yes, I've been a little busy. I started a new job as an eighth-grade teacher this year, and I've been insane.

Christmas was wonderful. I got a gift certificate for a massage, a gift certificate to a bed and breakfast, a blanket with my name on it (one of my favorites, cause it's so warm), and a sinus infection (my least favorite present). The good news is that I'm feeling better, and I can sleep through the night again. Woohoo!

Well, I'm off to go hang out with Clone 1 now, so I'll have to update you all later. If you're still out there.

Good News!

I'm engaged!!!

Friday night, the guy I've been dating since July asked me to marry him! Yep. I'm very excited. (Hence all of the exclamation pts.!!!!!!)

I went to his apartment at 7 p.m. Friday night, knocked on the door, and no one was there. I called him, "I'm here, where exactly are you?" He claimed he was taking a walk, and I could pick him up in front of the fountains (where we went and talked for hours after our first date).

I got to the fountains in just a couple of minutes, but he wasn't there. Another phone call, and I went to the bench we spent our first date on. Nope. Not there either. I begin to call him again when I get a text message (no, it's not what you think, thankfully. He didn't propose with a text.) The message said to follow the candles. Unfortunately, I couldn't find the candles. Another text helped me find the candles. I followed them to a bridge.

When I got to the bridge, no guy--just a poetry book with the engagement ring underneath. I opened to the bookmarked page and began to read. Beautiful, wonderful poem, still no guy. I got to the last line, and hadn't quite finished reading it, when two ducks got startled and flew above me. Guy snuck up behind me (he had been laying (lying?) down flat on a part of the bridge that I couldn't see.

Guy: "You're supposed to say 'Aw' when you finish, so I can know you're done."

Me: "I actually have to finish first."

I finished the poem, and the amazing man knelt down and asked me to marry him. I obviously said yes. (since your reading about this now)

Our date is set for July 7 this summer. I can't wait!!!!