just stuff

I wanted to post today, but don't really have much to post about, so you get a random stream of consciousness ramble...

I'm still loving the Yorkshire Tweed sweater (but I need to com up with a better name - I can't call it Slinky Ribs - it just doesn't fit the look) I'm just about ready to join the body in the round. As KnitTech said in the comments, I'll probably modify the pattern, and yes, I will. I think I'll continue the ribbing (as much as I hate knitting ribbing) further down, to create a bit of waist shaping (without actually doing any waist shaping).

I've lost 6 pounds recently. I"m not one to slavishly follow the scale, but I've been checking and am pleasantly surprised to see the numbers going down. Not doing anything special except trying to cut out snacking (or at least reaching for a orange instead of a cookie). It seems to be working, and I'm glad. I still eat cookies, just not as many. And walking. I'm trying to walk more. It helps. Huh. Who knew. Better eating habits and more exercise works. (we won't talk of how many more pounds I should drop - I'm not on a schedule, just trying to do things better)

I love coaching basketball more than I thought I would. Except for one kid. We have an 8 year old with some severe anger management issues. Severe enough that he intentionally tried to hurt another kid at practice last night, and I have to get the league involved. I'm worried about liability. The other coach and I have worked very hard with this child to help him, but to very little avail. His parents don't do anything to stem it or help us. It seems to be a cultural thing, which makes it very difficult. I hope we can work it out, but the rest of the team has to be my first priority - both their morale and safety, so we'll see what happens.

I still haven't received my Briggs and Little yarns! It's probably a good thing, as I don't need a distraction right now, but still, I want it.

We're heading to the cottage tomorrow night for the Easter weekend, and I can't wait. For a heathen like myself, Easter is all about chocolate and long weekends... While I appreciate the reason for the season (both Easter and Passover), it's an opportunity for us to have the family cottage to ourselves. The three of us are going up tomorrow night, then my BIL and nephew are coming up Friday morning. We have a turkey planned, and the neighbours are all going to be there, so we'll send the kids on a massive treasure hunt for eggs and peeps and all kinds of good stuff. I talked to a friend up there and the ice is pretty much gone. Plus the weather is supposed to be incredible. They're even throwing around the term "Humidex". In April! Outstanding. Must pack shorts...

My computer issues have been resolved at work. My temporary laptop has become permanent, all my favourites have been restored, my off-site VPN login has been fixed, and my email archives are back. Life is good. Our IT guys are the best. One - they fixed everything up quite quickly, two - they did it cheerfully, and three - they're not your typical IT nerds. (Sorry to any IT nerds out there).

I'm in two NCAA March Madness pools, and I'm doing poorly shall we say, in one, while I have a chance to win in the other. Any Duke Blue Devil fans out there? I need them to win, and as much as I like Michigan State - sorry Spartans, I need you to lose. Actually, I needed Kansas and Syracuse to do better than they did, but that's water under the bridge. Small world tidbit for the day - Andy Rautins, guard for Syracuse is the son of Leo Rautins, former Canadian National Team coach and broadcaster for the Toronto Raptors. Leo Rautins played basketball in my driveway with my brother and friends 20-odd years ago, and I had to fill in occasionally when they needed an extra body. I often got slammed, but it helped develop my love of the game.

I'm wearing my favourite linen pants today. In March. Linen. I think Global warming is a big problem, but I have to say I like the fact I can wear linen pants in March.

It's my husband's birthday tomorrow. Yes, on April Fool's Day. And our 18th anniversary on Sunday. We'll do nothing special. To us, it's more about the marriage than the wedding, so we celebrate each other every day. (okay, not every day, there are times when he annoys me to no end, as I'm sure I do him, but still, it's all good.) I mention this because we just found out his youngest sister is separating from her husband, moving towards a divorce. Truthfully, not unexpected (we actually expected this years ago - the relationship has never been co-operative or good). Their kids are 12 and 16, and they are trying to do this as amicably as possible. We will be there for her and the kids (he was never our favourite person, so severing him from the family is not a hardship). It will be interesting because my SIL and niece both thrive on drama, and are somewhat, how can I say this, shrill sometimes. My nephew is a bit quieter,but is also going through withdrawal from a year long stint in the Sound of Music, so he's kind of bereft right now. He (and his parents) was assuming that he would jump right into another major production. Rejection is difficult for a 12 year old, and I hope his parents recognize that he made need a little more from them, even though they are going through their own issues.

Well! not just random, but a little more insight into my life than I usually share. I promise to lighten up and show more knitting soon...