Pride before the Fall

I was doing so well on the SSS, finished Clue 2 and anxious to start Clue 3...Now I'm 5 rows into Clue 3 and have made so many mistakes that I'm considering ripping back to my last lifeline. However, I think I need to find out where and how I'm making the errors so that I don't continue to do it. Anyway, I got so disgusted last night that I put SSS aside and worked on the Feather and Fan shawl.

After the Storm

I'm staying at Mom's house in St. Mary's Park, SF during her recovery from breaking her hip on Jan. 30. Mom was supposed to start on the stairs this morning but that didn't work out so the PT lady has her practicing using books and will try her on the front stairs at Friday's appointment.


Yesterday and Saturday we were supposed to have a really big storm, power outages likely, possible thunderstorms, etc. But all we got was lots of rain and some gusty wind. The island in front of Mom's house is usually littered with tree debris after a storm but not this time. I talked to L at home this morning and he says we got 3/4" down there. Today is partly cloudy here in SF and there is no rain predicted for the next several days.

Last night I finished Clue 2 of the SSS. I'm sure there are many mistakes but I can't see them and I'm not going to rip it out unless I can. I took some photos last night because I wanted to start Clue 3. Of course the pictures aren't very good with the artificial light but they'll have to do. With any luck I'll finish Clue 3 this week and it'll be a moot point. Right now I'm only 6 clues behind with 4 left to be published. So I guess there's darn little chance of catching up now.

Yesterday's Lunar Eclipse

as seen from St. Mary's Park in San Francisco.

I May Live After All

Where did I spend our Golden Wedding Anniversary - in my sick bed! Poor L, I'm sure he didn't expect this.
On Wednesday I started a cold, which threatened to become the flu. I know they are not the same virus, but I don't usually have a fever with just a cold. At one point my temp was about 3 degrees above normal. By Friday evening I was feeling a bit better, so L picked up Chinese and I was able to eat some. Big mistake because within half an hour the intestinal problems started and I was in misery until this morning. I had eaten hardly anything Thursday and Friday and, after losing Friday evening's meal, didn't eat anything but a few saltines until dinner last night. I prepared a "refrigerator soup" - that is, all my leftovers plus additions from the pantry as needed. (L had gotten rid of the leftover Chinese food.) I ate only a very small bowl and didn't feel too good afterwards, but I kept it down.
Today I tried to eat small amounts of nutritious foods: soft-boiled egg for breakfast, non-fat yogurt with Kashi nuggets for lunch, a piece of apple for a snack. I cooked a normal dinner tonight and ate some of everything in small amounts, no wine. I've only had a few sips of coffee all day. I'm still feeling nauseated after eating, but I think I'm on the mend. Very weak, though.
One thing that's happened is my carpal tunnel problem has almost disappeared (I noticed that on Thursday evening) and my sore shoulder/arm hardly hurts at all. I sure hope getting better from the cold/tummy troubles doesn't bring the pain back. I haven't taken the fish oil since Thursday morning but plan to start again tomorrow morning if all goes well.
We are scheduled to go back to SF on Friday. Mom is supposed to be able to go home Sunday if the surgeon releases her.

Still Undecided

The morning papers still didn't know which Democrat has taken California in the primary although it may be decided by now. I'm still trying to avoid TV news and L is watching Vertigo instead of the news.

Today I prepared the taxes. I decided not to put it off any longer because I want to do some relocation in the house. Mom may be coming to stay with us for a while so I'm changing the tech center into a guest room and moving the desktop and all my office supplies into the sewing room. It may be crowded for a while (until I weed out all the junk) but Mom and any other guests we might have should be a lot more comfortable not having to share a room with all my sewing stuff.

I just looked out the window and there's a beautiful sunset. Not wanting to try to photograph it, I logged onto KSBW.com to check their webcams. Fremont Peak showed a big fog bank, Monterey appears to be socked in, but Santa Cruz was clear; looks like low tide.

I started Clue 2 of the SSS last evening and found it not too difficult. I managed four rows and hope to make good progress tonight.

Super Tuesday

We voted last Friday before we went to SF, just in case we couldn't get back in time. So today was something of an anti-climax for us. I tried to stay away from TV news because I'm already sick of politics - they started so early this time.




I found this little darling in the overgrown area under the sewing room window. There must be more spring bulbs in there but they are almost hidden under two-year old snapdragons. I really need to prune them back and pull the weeds.

San Jose Snow 2008

San Jose Snow 2008
Originally uploaded by srednierm/Marty

Driving out of San Francisco today, the snow remaining on Mt Hamilton was visible as far north as Daly City. At first we didn't realize that it was Mt Hamilton we were seeing - it looked so close, probably because the air was so clear after the recent storms. I wanted L to stop so that I could take a picture but he wouldn't, so I took several from the moving car as we were going through San Jose. I haven't downloaded them yet but I really don't think they will be any good. Meanwhile I found this superb photo on Flickr. It was taken several days ago but there is almost as much snow today, although there were no clouds.

Later:

You can just see the snow-capped peak in the distance.

Clue 1 Finished

I finished this last night while we were watching the Season 4 premiere of "Lost" - actually it spilled over into "Eli Stone" which is the new show after "Lost." I am reserving opinion on that one. I'll watch it again, but I'm not yet committed.
Anyway, I'm beginning to think I should have used a solid or heathered yarn as recommended, instead of this variegated yarn, pretty as it is. Clue 2 is said to be much more challenging although there are fewer rows. I need to put in a lifeline and then I hope I can get started tonight.
We went to the City yesterday and started home at 4pm during the storm. It rained so hard that there was actually standing water on 280.
Problems with our water softener - Wednesday night it did its regeneration but then wouldn't stop the cycle. It was still pouring out waste water Thursday morning, even pulling the plug didn't stop it. We finally had to turn the valve off which left us with no water in the house except for the cold water tap in the kitchen sink. L called Sears this morning to schedule service. Tuesday is the earliest they can be here. Fortunately we found the bypass valve so we now have water in the house. We are heading back to SF today and may be up there until Monday, so the water problem won't affect us.