Okay, NOW I'm HOPEFULLY Coming Back from the Dead for Real

Okay.  This summer has been so horrible and I hope that along with the season, all the things that have been going on leave.  In addition to the other stuff I already talked about, I had a really bad wart that needed a few laser treatments to remove it, but I had a bad reaction to the laser every time. Which resulted in a horribly bad and deep blood blister, so I couldn't walk for about a week each time.  I had another bout of sinusitis that spread to my eye, ear, and throat.  I also had some colds, more issues with my lady bits, and problems with a couple organs.  The latest thing is pretty much my fault, but still sucks.  I went to the Renaissance Festival wearing some shoes that looked great, but hurt my feet... really bad.  I did eventually switch to tennis shoes, but it was too late.  Both of my big toes turned purple, I had to get some meds (which caused yet another lady bit issue) and had parts of both nails removed.  Healing has been a long process, hindered by yet another cold.  Yay for me.

On a more cheerful note, I've been doing some glass fusing, experimenting with stuff... that mostly isn't turning out, but hey, live and learn.  I am also knitting, which is soothing since I haven't been able to spin when I have feet issues, though I did just have to frog a big secret project.  My sister in law had her baby, which is the most adorable baby in the entire universe.  I've gotten to visit her a few times, and even watched her once!  Hopefully I will get to see her again soon, but ever since she went back to work they've been busy.  Andy is her godfather :) which kinda makes me like a step-godmother sorta.  I'm the one who has time to plan things for her and stuff :P I knit her a couple pairs of socks and a blankie (that I of course forgot to take pictures of).  And I might or might not be working on some other things *shifty eyes*.

Tonight I'm going out for the first time in a while.  One of my friends is in a band that is part of a charity concert SlutWalk Benefit Concert @Acadia which benefits slutwalkminneapolis.  Don't let the name scare you, check it out.  It's an awesome cause. It's at a bar/restaurant place so there will be seats and food.  Perfect for a nice night out that isn't too taxing, all for a good cause, and watch my friend perform!

Back From The Dead

For the last couple weeks, I've been plagued by sinusitis, an eye infection, an ear infection, two lady part problems, and now it seems the ear infections might be coming back, but aside from feeling incredibly weak and tired, four prescriptions later I'm doing okay.  Besides the ear pain.
Anyway, I've been too sick to even spin (I've been mostly sleeping) so I've missed out on most of the Tour de Fleece, which is really sad, because I missed out on a bunch of fun, and some contests.  Now I'm going to be too busy to finish it up, what with catching up on some essential cleaning (seriously, without me broken dishes stay on the floor* and garbage bags don't get replaced. NOTHING gets done, except dishes) and family.  And my puppy has an ear infection as well.  Lovely day it was today.  On the plus side, I finally had the energy to cook again, so I got some real food :)
I did start Skyrim... I haven't put too much time in, but so far it is awe-inspiring.  The graphics are just freaking amazing,  I like some of the new things they are incorporating, and the dungeons are less repetition, more fun (so far, because I guess I haven't done too many yet).  The only thing I want is the ability to hold more weight, but that's just me.  I'm a whore and OCD about picking up everything.  Everything.  And then selling it or collecting it.  In Oblivion I was a total drunk for potions so I could hold over 1400 pounds.  I <3 flax.  Anyway, I'm in love.  I've been actively avoiding spoilers, so please don't ruin it for me.
Wish us luck!

*okay, only one broken bowl

Belated Birthday Post

My 26th birthday was quite a doozy!
My husbear, who is sweet, but never good with the whole gift giving thing, bought me a top of the line mac book pro!  My old laptop has been dying slowly for the past year, and I've taken to playing games of minesweeper in between the loading of pages.  This thing is fast.  Very fast.  And it's my first mac product ever.
On sunday, We went to Quarry Park with two of our friends and our puppy, hiked to the nature preserve, and went off the beaten trail to hike around the woods for a few hours.  That was awesome.  I took pictures until Teddy got snow all over the camera, at which point I put it away so it would hopefully dry in peace.
On the way home we picked up some firewood from some really nice folks that live near us, and after some nourishment, Andy assembled the fire pit we got for Christmas.  It was bigger than we thought it would be, and after setting it up on the shoveled out patio, had a nice large fire :D  My dad even came over, and we roasted hotdogs and made s'mores.  It was awesome.
Tuesday, for my actual birthday, we did the traditional Mexican Village (steak fajitas, heck yes!) family meal, only without my mom or youngest brother, because they were, and still are, down at my Grandma's place helping her clean up the neighborhood after a tornado ripped through.  Her house wasn't hit directly, but there was damage, and her RV was totaled.  At least she was okay.  She wasn't even at home at the time.
I'll add pictures later, when I have time to upload and organize them.  I'm feeling lazy right now :P

Christmas, New Year's, and beyond.

Okay.  My meds are doing great things.  Christmases were filled with great presents and conversations.  Among my favorite gifts... well all of them are great. Here's the list (that I remember)

*Kindle keyboard (I'm still not ready for touch technology) Andy and I actually got matching ones :D
*Amazon giftcard
*Silk Cocoons- heck yes
*Star wars themed usb drive
*A giant cutting mat for sewing, because my old one was too small for fat quarters without doubling the fabric up
*Some tank tops, you can never have too many tank tops
*Electronic catch phrase
*A whole mess of candies from around the world and various other goodies
*Target giftcard
*Best Buy giftcard
*Boba Fett piggybank (to go with our Yoda and Darth Vader piggybanks)
*Fuzzy dice (I love dice)
*Cash
*My camera
*Ribbon for crafts
*A remote controlled car customized for me :)

Three generations of ladies :)

My fuzzy puppy enjoying his new toy

Our happy little family <3

My whole nuclear family.  From left to right: Me, Andy, Drew, DJ, Mom, Dad

How DARE I interrupt their play time!

All tuckered out!


New Year's Eve was really nice.  We bought way too much food.  WWWAAYYY too much.  We still have unused frozen stuff.  It was just some family and friends getting together to eat, talk, and play games, especially Trivial Pursuit.  This year the women kicked butt!  It helped that we realized that last year the guys got the easy pile, and the girls got the hard pile :P

Only a portion of the food we had!!!

Yearly tradition of trivial pursuit, guys vs. girls!

With the start of the new year came a new insurance in addition to Andy's work one.  My parents added me onto theirs because they could (and probably because they want grandchildren :D), so I have extra insurance through March, which is when I turn 26.  So I am announcing now that I have been going through an insane amount of fertility tests.  I have a couple things left, including having something removed, but now I pretty much know what's wrong with me.  Andy will have all of his tests done on the thirteenth of February, so soon we will know everything.  I even have an ultrasound picture of my uterus :D  Somehow all of these things keep happening on knit nights and spinning guild, so even though I feel like I'm ready to go to one, I haven't been able to.  For example, I have a minor surgery on the same day as spinning guild.  Things just keep coming up!
I have been making social contact with people though.  Through Andy's work party, I have made some new friends that are really awesome.  I have done everything from trying karaoke for the first time, to going Irish dancing for the first time!  I am really enjoying myself and trying to open up. 

Meds, take two

Yeah, the internet sucks royally.  I wrote out everything all eloquently, but then it got deleted because of an outage.  So yeah, you now get the crazier, me trying to remember what I wrote, and typed up hastier version.
The meds that I wrote about last time worked for a while, but then I realized I was gaining an amazing amount of weight.  It was causing even worse, constant paralyzing panic attacks, and I didn't want anyone to see me, ever.  I was also changing my diet for the better and starting to work out in my home, so I should have at least been staying even for weight.  But no.  So the doctor gave me a new prescription, and everything would have been fine, except that it's expensive, so I freaked out over the price, and didn't get it for too long, and went without any meds for a while... It got really bad.  I finally just said that we had to, and gave up seeing the chiropractor to get them.
They seem to be working pretty good.  I've been feeling better, and am getting through the holidays with happy feelings.  It's nice.  I even got a camera for christmas (early) so I'll write about more cheerful things like presents and post pics soon.
I want to do stuff with people, but probably won't make the first contact for fear of, well, people.  Friends, and people who want to get to know me better, I'm not always this crazy, and I'm getting better, so I apologize for the crazy/ lack of communication.  But just initiate something, and I'll do it.
Your friend, even through the silence,
Jenny

Birthday Fishing!

Andy (my husband) had his birthday recently.  So to surprise him, I made 46 cupcakes with my mom at her place.  I should have made them from scratch, but I only had time to use a box mix.  However, the frosting was homemade. There were 17 vanilla, 12 marble, and 17 chocolate.  I gave them random frosting designs, and brought them to his workplace.  He loved it!

On his actual birthday we were so busy with a baby shower and grad parties, we barely had time for the traditional family birthday at Mexican Village.  Luckily, we managed to get in everything we needed to.
The next day, we went up to my grandparent's cabin to get in some fishing!  We just used droplines, which are our favorites for smaller fish.  We tried going for sunnies, but the good places for them were either too choppy, or taken.  We made due, and caught some fish that we eventually let go.  I caught a crappie and two perch.  Andy just caught one perch, but he said he enjoyed just being with me and didn't need any fish :D

I have more pics at that flickr place, for friends only right now, and I'll see about facebook.

Get Out! (and Knit)

I had another assignment a bit back that I think is pretty spiffy.  I had to incorporate a few different elements for the teacher, and it all came together well.  I had to create something in response to this group called Futurefarmers.  They go out and do stuff in communities.  They are a collective based in San Francisco, CA that works with tons of stuff.  It had to have at least one of these elements: performance, collaborative, or temporary installation.  I chose performance.  The teach added a couple more parameters to this.  Because of the earthquake and fire in 1906 in San Francisco, I had to spend at least $19.06 (bonus if you can spend exactly that, which I did!  Thank you Bonnie) and I had to use wood or the woodshop.  It also could NOT be in the art building.
I went out and made my own double pointed knitting needles, which went better than I could have hoped for.  I might make my own again sometime when I don't need a specific size. 

I then bought some spiffy yarn and went out to Quarry Park and knitted bracelets while I hiked and gave them away as I made them.

It was a bit disorienting, but worth it.  I couldn't work too fast because of the hiking and cold, but it was so fun.

Some were scared when I approached them and tried to give them a free bracelet, some were excited.  It was really nifty to just pop in on people in a place where you don't run into many, and give them something handmade for free.  People just don't expect it at all.   I plan on doing it more, after the busy semester is finished.

Go there sometime.  You definitely will enjoy the scenery, and you might just get something extra ;)