yeah, work was *special*. Took me 45 mins to get my packaged shipped at UPS due to the gals sending out solar car parts to various schools...they were neat to talk with though and I got to play games on my ipod. Got home with just enough time to eat a bowl of soup and then it was time to change clothes and head to a very chilly practice. Nothing was fitting right and it took my helmet forever to warm up the padding. I did get some fights in with Medric and with Auddy but again, my gloves weren't working with my sword and I kept hitting my bruised knuckle...you get the idea.

The open fields were okay..got slammed in a groin shot that took me off the field for a while. I <3 my head lady, Iosobail...thank you! Got back on the field after a break and headed into the gates...did much better there but again took a stout shot (I must be tabling my sheild again...sighs. So I was done. I got off the field chatted with some heads of households that I needed to talk land with and I chatted with other baronial folks on other business. So, at least I didn't waste my time. Got to hang with Mina while we watched the end of the fighting. Had some good conversations there...we are very kin on certain issues and that is nice.

Got about half the folks off the field before the lights went out. Got out flashlights and helped get folks stuff pulled together. We left about 1030 and when I got home I fed the cats and made cocoa. My hip was screaming by the time I headed out of the shower and a massage proved that things were seized. I snuggled up to keep warm and I was out very quickly. I awoke and was warm just a bit before the alarm. The girls had taken up a chuck of the bed and I was okay with that. Got up and dressed and into work. I give blood today and then its meetings, meetings and more meetings. Its cold in the office too..glad mel made me coffee that is in a thermos at my desk to have when I get back to it after giving blood.

Storvarr will be in town tonight for the arts night and for working with mel tomorrow. Anybody got any ideas of what I should bring with me to show off tonight? I'm kinda at a loss. I'm sure I'll figure it out by tonight though.

Yesterday was tiring on many levels. I'm still not feeling great after the tests on Monday. My arm is still got bumps though at least they don't itch...but I'm tired and out of sorts. Got home after a long day of paperwork (productive but still annoying) and slept for quite a while. The girls were happy to have me stationary and I slept well but was still out of sorts. I got dinner and then finished up the armor stuff, got dressed, tried on armor, mel made adjustments (though I need to redo the straps....ooops) and we left. The new armor is heavier in weight than my old but it fit so well that I thought I was missing stuff all night. I fought well, but decided that I should block a glaive shot with my basket hilt and I cut my knuckle and bruised the heck out of it. I couldn't grip my sword so I ended early...which made me mad..I still had some fight left...grump.

Tara took a picture so hopefully I will get that soon to show off. Though the weird thing is I got really cold due to the metal sucking out my body heat....so I'm thinking I will need to pad out my new coat. Sighs. I didn't want to quilt again but I guess I will. We got home from practice really, really late. Mel was chatting with a new person...we were still chatting when the lights shut off...yeah, we were really late. Got home, made cocoa, had a shower and then snuggled into bed and read more in Smoke and Shadows by Tanya Huff. I'm actually glad she wrote more in the world that I came to hate (didn't like the ending to the Blood series). I only made it about 5-6 pages and I was beat. My hand hurt and I probably should have taken something but I was too interested in a warm bed and cocoa than getting back up to get drugs.

We woke up really, really late (I guess we kept hitting the snooze)...and then I fell back asleep while mel was in the bathroom..oops. So, I didn't want to get up and here I am at 9am and I'm still tired and keep thinking of my bed. Sighs.

Well, tonight after work (I need to make up time) I will work on putting the placard on and getting better straps on the sides...though I might wait until the weekend...not sure. Then it will be kung fu and an early bed time...cause goodness am I tired.

This has been an interesting week to say the least. Lots of swirl on issues that I should care more about at work but I've got the end-of-the-year-itis and I need to snap out of that. My creative bug is screaming at me right now about sleep/work is for the weak and I should be at home making things. le sigh. I hope to get home on time, get packed and then lavish myself in projects until the girls head to dinner and the airport. I really want a new necklace for myself this afternoon...we'll see if I can manage...though I really should just get the moms stuff done and be happy with that and get personal gratification of neato stuff when I get back from california...eh, we shall see.

So, I managed to get my handwork set for the weekend (the last 7 ornaments for twila) and all I have to do is find my cheap snips and my thread cutter. I will be set. I hope to get them all done this weekend and be able to hand them over to twila when she returns from turkey day. Yes, I know thats an entire week apart but I have other projects, namely armor, banners and xmas gifts that need to be worked on over the holiday week so I want to get this commission out of the way.

Got a bit more progress on mom's necklace last night and then it was time for victory hall. This week has been an act in frustration but some discussion late last night had me thinking about learning styles and how as kids we learning how to learn. If something in your senses is not working well, you learn differently. Its been very interesting to think about and when I have kids, they will definitely be getting their eyes examined before they reach kindergarten. We had another late night after all of the conversation and ice packs but it was good and enlightening.

I treated myself to a breakfast burrito this am and it was good. The wind is rather brisk today and that is annoying when driving a very tiny, very light car pretty fast down deserted roads. But I made it work, I have a game plan and I just need to push on through till quitting time and take things as they come. Cause this weekend will be an adventure.

Well, work was dull...I'm working on my year end paperwork and well, its lots of typing and trying to remember what and when we finished things. Tedious. I interspersed it with trips to the factory but man it was a yawn fest. Got home and mel was making dinner. I unpacked boxes that had been shipped in. My mom sent us coins for xmas and it was a lot of them...wow. Then I got out my supplies to make things for syele's investiture. I almost got things set but not done by 630 and then it was time for practice. It was hard to motivate myself to go but I did..cause you go when you are tired and it will be fun and fine and all that.

I didn't do many singles but I save my energy for melee. I did okay...only got smacked too hard once and kept things in line. I did manage to stop Sean a few times and that was entertaining. Not a bad night and considering everyone on my side was in the "I'm effing tired but I'm at practice anyway" mode we gave it our all during each fight and then rested and then did it again. All good in that respect.

Got home, had cocoa...and shower and then sleep. I did start reading the first Dante Valentine Novel and the writing is a bit less defined as before and the set up now makes me wonder how we got to the second book which I've already read. Should be interesting.

So, I slept good and work has been busy. New processes get people irked and well, cope people, as Walt Disney said "Keep Moving Forward!"

Work was okay. I got lots done but stress is not a good things right now..cause I'm already a stress ball and I think, well actually I know, I'm taking it out on my coirkers. Apologies are in order...sighs. Anyhoo...got to leave on time and work on my helmet padding...and well, after doing it twice it still wasn't protective enough. I need a mix of soft cell and open cell foam and I only had the former. So, I will head to joann's when coming back from my doc appointment and pick up a few small sheets and a picture frame...does anyone know what size the matted tuskers frame to?

Anyhoo...I failed on the helmet and then steffan came over for music stuff. I'm getting better but not where I want to be by saturday yet. I just need more practice but physical limitations are to be considered...cause after 45 mins I have no feeling left in my fingers. eh, this too shall pass. I just need to relax, listen to the beat and concentrate on the notes.

So, without a helm to fight in I opted for getting sewing done but at practice since I had a bunch of swapping stuff fu to do with other people. I managed to accomplish quite a lot and watch the melees. We handled some fighter group business before I forced mel to get out of his armour, got folks to help snotblossom tear down and then got us going. We were home by 1030pm versus leaving the park by then. Heck we even managed a really quick household huddle. All good.

Got home, hit the shower, read a chapter and was asleep before mel even got done with things. I was tired. This AM is so far okay...I have Raven's Brew Resurrection Blend and I'm feeling chipper, even though my finger tips hurt on both hands. Eh. I got a clarification on the phone just now and that should be able to get one thing off of my plate today. All good. So, I meet again with the ENT today. We shall see what the next step is...cause this is getting old. At least we know things are working electrically correctly. After that will be joanns and then music practice and then home to work on sewing with the wonderful and faboo help of dqbunny. (BTW, I'm thinking 630 would be good.)

( Things to do by friday )

Well, work was again work. By the time I got home I was very tired. I took a nap and felt better. Mel had made a huge pot of dinner and I was grateful. Then I trundled along and got the old viola out and started practicing the piece for coronation. Its about an octave too high for my range. Called stephen and found out I'd missed a notation for octave down. Oops...well, that does make it better. Got dressed for practice and we were some of the first ones there which was weird. Dunno what was up with that. Had a good time fighting and then we had melees...and I realized without a doubt that I really, really need to repad my helm. Sighs. Just one more thing to do this week. Sighs.

So, I was out about 30mins earlier than I wanted. But the time flew by and I got a few other things accomplished. Which was a good thing in the long run. Got home about 1045pm and had cocoa to warm up. Showered, applied tiger balm, forgot to take and pain meds and then fell asleep after a few pages of the new book. Still very interesting, not sure where its going but the setup so far seems to be good.

I awoke this morning aching and my head is not happy. I got up and did the morning routine and mel was nice enough to have coffee on. I got drugs into my system and I'm almost feeling human now after a cup of coffee and some happy white pills. I'll be calling glenn when I get back from my 8am. I've got a 715 this morning that is gonna not make me happy. They (upper management) has decided to change the structure of the teams and combine for my team 3 people into one person...and that one person I've never met. I was just getting used to the old VSM and finally working on his level and I really liked the supervisors...so this will be a big change and its gonna suck. More and more reasons for me to be finding a new program. Grumptastic.

Work, well, has been sucky but its been productive. I'll be heading out to Farmington, NM next week for a few days with a supplier. I'm just having to hit the guys in the lab to get me my test results so I can fix stuff. Other things are blowing up but they are mild. I was limping pretty badly by the end of the day yesterday...I was back and forth so many times to the factory that I think my body had enough. Got off of work mostly on time and headed to Glenn's office. He was sorry that he hadn't been there and winced when I walked in. So he adjusted and adjusted and it hurt. Usually there is a nice euphoric release of pressure but this time...I didn't get that for a while since the muscles were so annoyed. I wasn't limping but things were aching. And true to his word I was nauseous and sore...still very sore now but nothing like yesterday.

I ran two errands afterwards to just make sure I walked around for a while. I headed to sports authority for tennis balls (to lay on to relieve tension) and they had sales on shirts that looked nice. Imagine my surprise when I fit in a smaller size than usual. yay! Then I headed over to performance cycle and got new glove, new cleats and 2 new pairs of bike shorts. Then I headed home where mel was cooking dinner. It wasn't very appetizing to me but after a bit the nausea left and I was kinda hungry. I ate a small bit and went back for a little more. It was very comforting and that was what I needed. I then started in on the documentation and got a bit further...not where I wanted to be but eh. I got on my gear and we headed to FP after I had a quick chat with mom. She has the worst habit of calling when I'm heading out the door.

Practice was good sized and folks were out enmasse. I got dressed and then waited for ed to do some singles. Melee's got called and we headed off out of the eric and ran through stances, shots and theory. I'm not sure how long we worked but I crammed the information into my head and I think asked intelligent questions. I just need to train the body to work on a few things and it was interesting to see that some of the internal stuff in kung fu completely applies. I chatted with folks after I got out of armor and then I had to sit down..I chatted with other folks and then mel was chatting with Walrick on war stuff and I wanted to go home. He still wanted to do pickups so I snuggled up against my armor bag and fell asleep. I have no idea how long I was out but when I was woken up I was cold and mel was telling people to grab my armor bag. I grumbled about that but when desert_moloch helped me up I realized he was probably right. I got to the car and we drove home.

Fed the cats, pulled off my boots and started peeling clothes off as I went down the hall. I was very, very cold and was grateful that I had had my new nalbinded hat and my light wool fighting pants on...but cold. I showered and mel made me a huge cup of sleepy time tea. I drank some ibuprofen down with the tea and was very happy to snuggle into bed. Sometime in the night obsidan had crawled under the covers to snuggle with me. I got up to hit the bathroom about 5 and butterfly took my spot so I had to move them both to get back into bed. It was a nice temp in the house since we had left the front door open. Very cool and nice.

So, I'm feeling much better today but still feeling behind and still sore. I'm enjoying my coffee and getting things organized. Gonna be another busy day at the bomb factory but I get to see the ENT about my sinuses this afternoon. The CT scan came back "normal" according to the GP that is covering for my GP but I want the ENT to verify this as well. We shall see.

Well, work was...work. We have a failed unit that is up for Failure review board and we're side stepping around trying to disassemble it too much cause its a qual unit...the pieces we think are broken are not part of the qual so we have to take things as they come. Hopefully the life check they do today will answer what side of the assembly equation things are at...but the unit physically was built perfectly and I need to tell my assemblers such. So that took up a chunk of the day. Then one of my analyses from June came back with comments and there were a few assumptions that weren't quite right...so a redo of some of the numbers. The outcome of what the analysis did is still gonna be the same, now the numbers will just jive better...but that was another few hours and I still haven't gotten my slides done for the morning meeting today and I left late yesterday.

But the annoyances of the day were eclipsed by the birth of Miss Holly Elizabeth Downard at just after 2 yesterday. 8Lbs 4 oz and 21.5 inches long. Mom and baby doing good...Daddy ecstatic.

Leaving late meant that laundry (fighting clothes got in late) and luckily mel made dinner so I could work on my documentation and laundry before practice. Mom called to chat about her going in to see a cardiologist cause a heart screening EKG came back with "Abnormal EKG". I'm pretty sure she's fine but she was freaked after her friend Connie went in for the same thing screenings and they had to do an emergency triple bypass. So we chatted for a while...which meant I didn't start getting changed until 655pm. And then my wickelbanders were being stoopid (or I was with them...) and we got to practice at 725pm.

Practice was good. We had enough people for melees and I did some singles and worked on new stances. Didn't do too bad against our Prince and even managed to kill him a few times. Melees were good...we had about 8 on a side for a while and I didn't do too bad but my new knees weren't fitting quite right today and I took a few rib shots that were stout and in the same place so I called out early. Plus blocking with your basket hilt against Gun swinging a glave can be done but doing it more than once will leave your hand sore. So, I had a good chat with Blossom before the end of the night and then it was time to drag our butts home. Mel was exhausted and we figured out when we got home that he was dehydrated..silly boy. I got dinner packed up and some seal mealed and then headed for shower and bed. Mel was nalbinding while I read after the shower and then it was lights out. I slept good but man am I sore.

So, the goal is today to get things done and get out of here on time. I have a studio to clean, dinner to make and I need to do a bit of grocery shopping before the A&S Night. Sighs. Yup...always busy...just different. Mel goes in to the doc today for a physical and to have them look at his elbow. He is bruised up pretty good and that should be interesting for the doc.

Well, I got up yesterday, snarfed some breakfast, heated up coffee from scribble and got out the door by 615am (a bit later than normal due to breakfast). After a quick tire fill up I got to Tangerine and 1-10 at 7am sharp to pick up coirker Lee, the SPE. Yes, that guy. But my new leaf is to not care with my heart, just my head about work so I enjoyed some lively conversation and a nice drive to Mesa. We were out by the Boeing plant near the Mesa Airport. The day was long. I was very sick at looked at the piles of inspection sheets, the little coppery parts, the discussions on interpretations and the annoyance of a design I'm constantly tweaking. I got home from phx at 550pm. Long ass day. Then I had a quick sammich and then a fitful nap that included 5 phones calls and 1 UPS drop off. I got up and was fuzzy but got dressed and even remembered the scroll I needed to take to practice. I had a nice time fighting with Mina after I switched to a smaller shield. Its reinforcing my belief that I need to switch to buckler to get my shots moving correctly. Then it was on to melee where it was an okay night for me. Folks were milling around a bit too much and talking while I was trying to give out orders. I really hate repeating myself. Sighs. Then I took a spectacular throat shot that wasn't really landskastefan's fault...with all of this weight loss my harness isn't fitting or sitting quite right and it wasn't feeling right all night. So, I lost my voice for a bit an now things are really scratchy. Eh. It read and sore, not sure if it will bruise or not but its making me feel very achey.

I have tons of paperwork to do today and luckily a few of my meetings got canceled for today which is good. Leaves me more time to work on the paperwork and get things rolling. Well, off to a meeting. Looking forward to the reboot this afternoon with friends.