"Frozen shoulder," it's called. Technically, adhesive capsulitis. Here's the way the orthopedist explained it: there's been a trauma to the muscles or tendons, but the brain perceives the damage to be much greater than it really is. When the body thinks it's about to be damaged even more, the pain flies in to stop movement. He said it takes about a year for the brain to realize, "hey, this damage isn't too bad" to allow regular movement again.
So, about a year of restricted movement, pain if I move the shoulder the wrong way. But the Rx is to keep it moving as much as possible without going to or past the pain point. It supposedly fixes itself in about a year, although if it doesn't show signs of "thawing" (they really call it that), they can manipulate it while I'm under anaesthesia to get it moving again.
Oh joy.
Orthopedist also discouraged pain meds - since it's such a long recovery, there's a greater-than-normal likelihood of dependency. He also said that surgery usually makes it worse.
Oh rapture.
So, good news is there's really nothing terribly wrong. The bad news is that even though there's really nothing wrong, there's a lot of pain in my future.
Fortunately, though, not when I knit! So at Monday Oddball Knitting Night, I worked on my new to-be-felted purse. Got through almost a whole 'nother skein of yarn. I will definitely need more, since I only have 3 left, and that just won't be enough to make it any decent size. And the lovely surprise of tonight's knitting is that Kelly sat with us at the table - in his cozy little corner, reading a little Stephanie Plum - while we knitted and talked trash against men. He took it well, probably because he knew we weren't including him.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
So As It Turns Out...
There really is something very wrong with my arm/shoulder/rotator cuff. Problem is, we don't quite know exactly what; that's what the MRI I had done on Friday should tell us. After crying at my doctor about the pain (for which he prescribed both pain killers and an anti-inflammatory Rx), he also had the staff book me into two MRIs that very afternoon. Then I went to my chiropractor (same office - incredibly convenient) and cried at him (his reply was to tape my arm and give me a sling, then suggest an MRI).
MRI done Friday afternoon, results tomorrow (Monday) at 10:00 am. The results with indicate whether we have a surgical option fix or a PT option. I'm rooting for the surgical fix.
In the meantime, we had a houseful of happy people for the party yesterday, probably about 35 - 40 throughout the day, with 9 staying for dinner. A grand celebration for a job well done. We are blessed to have such wonderful friends.
No knitting news, because I really wasn't able to knit until today, and then only in circles on the FOTM soon-to-be-Jaywalkers, and on a new to-be-felted purse.
As for now, my vicodin is kicking in, so I think I better spell-check then take a long evening nap.
MRI done Friday afternoon, results tomorrow (Monday) at 10:00 am. The results with indicate whether we have a surgical option fix or a PT option. I'm rooting for the surgical fix.
In the meantime, we had a houseful of happy people for the party yesterday, probably about 35 - 40 throughout the day, with 9 staying for dinner. A grand celebration for a job well done. We are blessed to have such wonderful friends.
No knitting news, because I really wasn't able to knit until today, and then only in circles on the FOTM soon-to-be-Jaywalkers, and on a new to-be-felted purse.
As for now, my vicodin is kicking in, so I think I better spell-check then take a long evening nap.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Ow Ow Ow Ow Ow
Woke up this morning with my arm hurting and throbbing. When I move it, it hurts; when I'm done moving it, it throbs. It hurts in motion and it hurts at rest. So what did I do today? I cooked! Kelly's party is Saturday, so I:
Thank goodness when I knit, my left hand is fairly stationary... I'd be in real trouble if I were a picker knitter.
- Chopped and mixed the bruschetta topping.
- Boiled the pasta and mixed the sauce and cheese for the baked ziti (actually, baked rigatoni, but close enough).
- Sliced and prepped the nectarines (mmmm.... fresh white nectarines from Gillian's tree) then mixed the Bisquick and made the cobbler.
Thank goodness when I knit, my left hand is fairly stationary... I'd be in real trouble if I were a picker knitter.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Stitch N Pitch
Joined many, many Bay Area knitters at PacBell Park (okay, I know it's now called AT&T Park, but I still think of it as PacBell) for Stitch N Pitch, the TNNA-organized event bringing together knitters who would never set foot in a ballpark unless knitting was involved, and baseball fans who don't know the difference between knitting and crocheting. It was quite a hoot to look down the row and see seat after seat filled with people (mostly women) knitting socks and hats and scarves and shawls and sweaters.
Unfortunately, not only did Barry not go deep, but after the Giants came back from a 4-0 deficit and went into extra innings, they couldn't dig out when the Braves scored 3 more runs in the unlucky 13th inning. Oh well. It was still fun, and I had my first-ever ride on CalTrain. Brought back my old Long Island Railroad days. While on the train, I worked on my toe-up Jaywalkers, and while at the game, I cast on for a new booga bag. Needed something mindless, and I can't think of anything more mindless than a felted bag - garter stitch square bottom, then round and round in knit.
Even though Kelly has claimed them, I wore "his" Rock N Weave socks tonight. Tres comfy. He may need to learn how to share them.
Unfortunately, not only did Barry not go deep, but after the Giants came back from a 4-0 deficit and went into extra innings, they couldn't dig out when the Braves scored 3 more runs in the unlucky 13th inning. Oh well. It was still fun, and I had my first-ever ride on CalTrain. Brought back my old Long Island Railroad days. While on the train, I worked on my toe-up Jaywalkers, and while at the game, I cast on for a new booga bag. Needed something mindless, and I can't think of anything more mindless than a felted bag - garter stitch square bottom, then round and round in knit.
Even though Kelly has claimed them, I wore "his" Rock N Weave socks tonight. Tres comfy. He may need to learn how to share them.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Later That Same Day...
Done! The BMFA "Rock 'n Weave" cuffed sock in Lemongrass - done! It is a tad heavier-weight than I had anticipated so I knew it would be a winter wardrobe item, but the cuff - while looking great and is a terrific design - makes it look sort of bootie-like. I gave them to Kelly to try on after I had Kitchener'd the toe (yes, I made them cuff-down, according to the pattern, instead of trying to adapt it to a toe-up version) and he liked them! I just had him try them on because we have the same foot size... I didn't even think to offer them to him because I thought they might be too "girly," what with the cuff and the picot edging, not to mention the lemony/greeny color. But he thinks they'll be great house slippers, so they have found a home. He's even picked out the buttons for the cuff. Don't worry, though - I'll wear them at least once as socks.
I did have a little problem with grafting the toe: After making the last "knit off, purl off," those last two stitches are very pointy. Need to figure out how to make that final step more rounded.
Photos to follow!
I did have a little problem with grafting the toe: After making the last "knit off, purl off," those last two stitches are very pointy. Need to figure out how to make that final step more rounded.
Photos to follow!
Woik, woik, woik
With Kelly on the hunt for a new job, I've approached my main writing client about doing more work for her. Luckily she said something to the effect of, "Oh, honey; I can keep you so busy!" So, I'll rearrange my days to give her more time and pump up the hours. (I mean that in a "I'll work more hours for you" way, not as in a "I'll tell you I'm working more hours but really just slack off" way. She gets her money's worth out of me - all my clients do.)
Of course, Kelly's job search will take a little breather for a couple of days while he takes the Bar exam this week. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. Tuesday is the day for essay questions, Wednesday they administer the multi-state multiple choice questions, Thursday's happening is a little ditty they like to call "pretend you're really a lawyer and write up this type of document for the senior partner in your firm." It's called the performance test and involves poring over some sample documents they provide, then writing up an analysis.
On the knitting front, I have started the toe decreases on my "Rock 'N Weave" socks! I'm only about 11 rows away from grafting it closed! Then comes button selection for the cuff. After these, I will attack Kelly's JoJoLand socks with renewed fervor. Then I'll head back to "Marble Arches" and then I'll pick up the "Fire on the Mountain" socks I cast on in class this week. They will likely be Jaywalkers - although, after looking at the toe-up pattern, they might be Jaywalkers only from the cuff up. Lots of strange instructions for the instep pattern - not sure I want to deal with them. Besides, I don't see the point of having a lot of pattern on the instep - it's the part that's in your shoe!
Of course, Kelly's job search will take a little breather for a couple of days while he takes the Bar exam this week. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm. Tuesday is the day for essay questions, Wednesday they administer the multi-state multiple choice questions, Thursday's happening is a little ditty they like to call "pretend you're really a lawyer and write up this type of document for the senior partner in your firm." It's called the performance test and involves poring over some sample documents they provide, then writing up an analysis.
On the knitting front, I have started the toe decreases on my "Rock 'N Weave" socks! I'm only about 11 rows away from grafting it closed! Then comes button selection for the cuff. After these, I will attack Kelly's JoJoLand socks with renewed fervor. Then I'll head back to "Marble Arches" and then I'll pick up the "Fire on the Mountain" socks I cast on in class this week. They will likely be Jaywalkers - although, after looking at the toe-up pattern, they might be Jaywalkers only from the cuff up. Lots of strange instructions for the instep pattern - not sure I want to deal with them. Besides, I don't see the point of having a lot of pattern on the instep - it's the part that's in your shoe!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
I Can Stop Whenever I Want
Oh dear. I've cast on two more pair of socks in as many days. Well, okay, for one pair, I sort of had to. I can't tell you why, but trust me, I had to. (Honest. All will be revealed later.)
Come to think of it, I had to cast on for the second pair, too. That pair was for the toe-up class I taught at Madonna's yesterday (two new students and one back for a refresher). Starting from the toe is a fairly awkward maneuver, especially since I use the 'magic loop' technique. It can't be taught with words alone.
Oddly enough, I find it easier to show Janet Rehfeldt's technique than to show a short-row toe start. Many knitters have problems with a provisional cast-on required for a short-row toe... not to mention being able to keep track of the short rows and wraps. So, I'm used to it, but for a newbie her technique feels like all bits of cord and twisted needles and yarn in the middle of everything and where's my cast-on tail and I need a smaller crochet hook and which needle do I pull and why is my worm facing down and why do both needles have to point the same direction and now that they finally are what do I do and ...
... even with all that, they find it easier than the short-row toe, so I teach it that way. About the third time they do it, it sort of sinks in, and they're off and running. Until then, they just try to keep their worm on the inside of their sock and remember to knit around the outside.
Come to think of it, I had to cast on for the second pair, too. That pair was for the toe-up class I taught at Madonna's yesterday (two new students and one back for a refresher). Starting from the toe is a fairly awkward maneuver, especially since I use the 'magic loop' technique. It can't be taught with words alone.
Oddly enough, I find it easier to show Janet Rehfeldt's technique than to show a short-row toe start. Many knitters have problems with a provisional cast-on required for a short-row toe... not to mention being able to keep track of the short rows and wraps. So, I'm used to it, but for a newbie her technique feels like all bits of cord and twisted needles and yarn in the middle of everything and where's my cast-on tail and I need a smaller crochet hook and which needle do I pull and why is my worm facing down and why do both needles have to point the same direction and now that they finally are what do I do and ...
... even with all that, they find it easier than the short-row toe, so I teach it that way. About the third time they do it, it sort of sinks in, and they're off and running. Until then, they just try to keep their worm on the inside of their sock and remember to knit around the outside.
Monday, July 16, 2007
A Monday Quickie
Still dealing with Kelly's job gone bye-bye, but the check with back vacation pay came today, so that gave us another month before starvation.
Three students signed up for an ad hoc toe-up sock class at Madonna's tomorrow - wheee! I get to cast on another pair of socks!
'Thank you' to the Google Help gentlemen who were helping to figure out why, when you click on the photos of the ship and socks below, nothing happens. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to try out their recommendations yet. I'll get there!
Looks like we'll have quite a crowd for Kelly's party next weekend - I think the number of attendees is up around 25 or 26.
Like I said - a quickie... that's it for today!
Three students signed up for an ad hoc toe-up sock class at Madonna's tomorrow - wheee! I get to cast on another pair of socks!
'Thank you' to the Google Help gentlemen who were helping to figure out why, when you click on the photos of the ship and socks below, nothing happens. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to try out their recommendations yet. I'll get there!
Looks like we'll have quite a crowd for Kelly's party next weekend - I think the number of attendees is up around 25 or 26.
Like I said - a quickie... that's it for today!
Saturday, July 14, 2007
The Nuclear Option
Yipes. Jobless. Yesterday, Kelly's company gathered everyone together and announced they were closing up shop and filing for bankruptcy protection. They will make Monday's payroll, but that's it, there ain't no more. Scary. Not that he can't find another job, not even that I may (may) have to go back to a full-time job. Scary that this house is an expensive place to maintain, on top of the alimony that he pays... We don't know if he'll be able to get the same salary.
On the other hand, this may be the right time for him to take the next step in his career. Is it consultant time? Is it hang-out-the-shingle time? (Well, no - he has to pass the Bar first, and the results of the July test won't be announced until mid-November.)
My knitting-instructor career isn't exactly bursting at the seams, but I can do more work for EMSS. Not enough to cover what he would make, but enough to help make the money in the bank last a little bit longer.
So... I knit - and I knit from stash. The last of the chemo caps is coming along; crown decreases are about to begin. My toe-up student on Tuesday has given me a great excuse to cast on the BMFA STR my Monday night group gave me last month (lightweight, "Fire on the Mountain"). I plan to make them into Jaywalkers, since I found a toe-up option for the pattern. Yay!
On the other hand, this may be the right time for him to take the next step in his career. Is it consultant time? Is it hang-out-the-shingle time? (Well, no - he has to pass the Bar first, and the results of the July test won't be announced until mid-November.)
My knitting-instructor career isn't exactly bursting at the seams, but I can do more work for EMSS. Not enough to cover what he would make, but enough to help make the money in the bank last a little bit longer.
So... I knit - and I knit from stash. The last of the chemo caps is coming along; crown decreases are about to begin. My toe-up student on Tuesday has given me a great excuse to cast on the BMFA STR my Monday night group gave me last month (lightweight, "Fire on the Mountain"). I plan to make them into Jaywalkers, since I found a toe-up option for the pattern. Yay!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Counting Down
So, we'll finally be taking our honeymoon next month... Yes, we sort of did things out of sequence - bought house, got married, moved into house, will eventually take honeymoon. But, face it - we were just too busy last year to squeeze it in. Kelly's job went away so he was job hunting, moving out of the condo and into the apartment, then the wedding, then moving out of the apartment and into the house, Kelly starting the new job... Not a lot of time to do anything more than drive down to Oxnard to visit with his parents for a few days.
All that may sound like I'm complaining, but I'm not. Last year was wonderfully busy and chaotic and frantic and fun and different and about as far from boring as you can get. It was great, but really, who had time to take a nice leisurely honeymoon in the middle of it all? So, once we had gotten through the wildest of the wild - around October - we talked about taking a nice trip this year, one that would serve as honeymoon, first anniversary, 50th birthday, and just about every other celebration in 2006 and 2007 (and one or two in 2008 for good measure).
After going to the travel agent with a Mediterranean or Alaskan cruise in mind, we settled on ... a Baltic cruise. Yes, horribly romantic, I know. Aw hell, anyone can go to the Med or Alaska - a Baltic cruise is wonderfully different, like us. So here I am, getting excited because now I get to say it's "next month" and we have the cruise documents and I'm reading the tourist guide books and visiting all the websites I can find.
Oh yeah - and Kelly's taking the Bar exam this month. So while I'm swirling about with brochures and articles and tid-bits of Helsinki wisdom or Stockholm trivia, he's, um, a little more distracted, instead quoting civil procedure or tort law. I don't blame him; the Bar is a grueling 3-day tour de force. One full day of essays, one full day of multiple choice, one full day of pretend lawyer analysis work. He'll be ragged at the end of that week - that's why we're planning the party the next weekend. Margaritas, mai-tais, and dancing girls, whoo-hoo!
And I got a new student at Madonna's tonight! Interestingly enough, not for tonight's scheduled cable class, but she'll come in next Tuesday for a two-at-a-time toe-up sock class. Yippee!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Painfully Annoying... or Annoyingly Painful?
Another chiro visit, this time less forward progress. It felt like things had been healing... right up until the intern tried to massage my muscles as he moved my arm. Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow. I couldn't bend (it seemed) nearly as much as I had when he did his work on Monday. So, he did a little knot in my neck muscle, cracked my neck both ways, and sent me on my way. I drove 40 minutes to the office for about 10 minutes of work. And I'm still driving with my hands clenched, so any good he did while I was there was probably wiped out within 5 minutes of getting back on the road for the 40-minute drive back home.
Oh well.
On the knitting front, I finished the brim band for the 3rd hat, then picked up stitches around the side so I can knit up to the crown. Oops! In order to get the band and the hat right, I picked up stitches with the needle on the wrong side of the band... then when I got back to the starting point 120 stitches later, realized that my working yarn was on the outside. Duh. Fixed it, but now have to figure out how to get down to about 80 stitches without it bunching too much. It can be done!
No yard work, no in-depth Bar study; we took a leisurely stroll tonight and walked around the area where the developer is putting in about 12 new homes. Pretty cool to see the ground being leveled with big tractors and huge holes dug for the pipes. Neat.
That's it for now. Tomorrow there's no chiro appointment, so I can do lots of writing work. And if I'm lucky, I'll have at least one student for the cable class at Madonna's. Or not.
Oh well.
On the knitting front, I finished the brim band for the 3rd hat, then picked up stitches around the side so I can knit up to the crown. Oops! In order to get the band and the hat right, I picked up stitches with the needle on the wrong side of the band... then when I got back to the starting point 120 stitches later, realized that my working yarn was on the outside. Duh. Fixed it, but now have to figure out how to get down to about 80 stitches without it bunching too much. It can be done!
No yard work, no in-depth Bar study; we took a leisurely stroll tonight and walked around the area where the developer is putting in about 12 new homes. Pretty cool to see the ground being leveled with big tractors and huge holes dug for the pipes. Neat.
That's it for now. Tomorrow there's no chiro appointment, so I can do lots of writing work. And if I'm lucky, I'll have at least one student for the cable class at Madonna's. Or not.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
And so it begins...
...although, in reality, it began on lulu.com, but I never could get the hang of where I was supposed to go to make updates, or get the photos quite right.
So, here it is. Blog the First, as NonaKnits would say. Me and knitting, me and writing, me (and Kelly) and life at "The Ranch." Or not. It will depend on the stars. Or the weather. Or not.
Party - Planning for Kelly's law school graduation party is in full swing. Yeah, right. That's almost 3 weeks away. Besides, with the wacky weather down here, we could be planning for an outdoor "do" and be stuck with 110-degree heat like last year. We learned our lesson; we'll do the serious planning the morning of the party.
Owies - Have been to the chiropractor 6 times now since the accident (car smash; driver and I are okay) and think I'm beginning to see some progress. Luckily no broken bones, and I still have almost 3 more weeks of treatments, so I have high hopes that I'll regain full range of motion in my arm.
Knitting - In between the hats for my GP's staff, I've made good progress on Blue Moon Fiber Arts "Rock 'n Weave" socks (STR medium-weight in Lemongrass - yummy). Even though I think they might be a tad too big, they look *wonderful*. I like the idea of starting with a strip-cuff and working the sock down from there. And I need to go find me some deadly cute buttons. Also making progress on the modified "Marble Arches" socks for Kelly using JoJoLand yarn, but since he likes his socks relatively high on the calf, I've still got at least another 5 repeats to go.
Teaching - Six classes offered at Madonna's since April and only one student, for the very first class. Teri's tried different things to market the classes, but she's getting very few sign-ups for any of them. And not just my classes, but also Aggie's, hers, and other teachers. I took some new signs over to the shop today to pump up this week's cable class; maybe cables will be the "it" thing that catches a potential student's attention. On the other hand, the Monday "Oddball" group is doing quite well with their toe-up socks. The toe technique is tricky, but once you do it a couple of times it "clicks." The short-row heel is easy IF you remember to count and not lose track of your wraps. The students are getting a little frustrated, but they're doing better than I did when I first learned the technique!
"The Orchard" - Six star jasmine, three euonymous boxwoods, two tomatoes, two lilies, one Meyer lemon, one blood orange, three wine grape vines, four table grape vines, four pumpkin plants, one black raspberry, one red raspberry, three garlic, two lily of the Nile, one rosemary, one flat of star creeper. Plus 12 moonflower seedlings and 12 pumpkin seedlings started. One grape vine seems to have mites; it's been treated. One may be getting too much water; it's been cut back. One pumpkin may not have made the transplant, and the two jasmine under the kitchen window are probably parched. But they all look wonderful.
Randomness - Getting excited about cruise... Got an incredibly pleasant surprise when I picked up our tax return this afternoon... Stitch 'N Pitch at the end of the month... Very glad to be here in Pookieland...
So, here it is. Blog the First, as NonaKnits would say. Me and knitting, me and writing, me (and Kelly) and life at "The Ranch." Or not. It will depend on the stars. Or the weather. Or not.
Party - Planning for Kelly's law school graduation party is in full swing. Yeah, right. That's almost 3 weeks away. Besides, with the wacky weather down here, we could be planning for an outdoor "do" and be stuck with 110-degree heat like last year. We learned our lesson; we'll do the serious planning the morning of the party.
Owies - Have been to the chiropractor 6 times now since the accident (car smash; driver and I are okay) and think I'm beginning to see some progress. Luckily no broken bones, and I still have almost 3 more weeks of treatments, so I have high hopes that I'll regain full range of motion in my arm.
Knitting - In between the hats for my GP's staff, I've made good progress on Blue Moon Fiber Arts "Rock 'n Weave" socks (STR medium-weight in Lemongrass - yummy). Even though I think they might be a tad too big, they look *wonderful*. I like the idea of starting with a strip-cuff and working the sock down from there. And I need to go find me some deadly cute buttons. Also making progress on the modified "Marble Arches" socks for Kelly using JoJoLand yarn, but since he likes his socks relatively high on the calf, I've still got at least another 5 repeats to go.
Teaching - Six classes offered at Madonna's since April and only one student, for the very first class. Teri's tried different things to market the classes, but she's getting very few sign-ups for any of them. And not just my classes, but also Aggie's, hers, and other teachers. I took some new signs over to the shop today to pump up this week's cable class; maybe cables will be the "it" thing that catches a potential student's attention. On the other hand, the Monday "Oddball" group is doing quite well with their toe-up socks. The toe technique is tricky, but once you do it a couple of times it "clicks." The short-row heel is easy IF you remember to count and not lose track of your wraps. The students are getting a little frustrated, but they're doing better than I did when I first learned the technique!
"The Orchard" - Six star jasmine, three euonymous boxwoods, two tomatoes, two lilies, one Meyer lemon, one blood orange, three wine grape vines, four table grape vines, four pumpkin plants, one black raspberry, one red raspberry, three garlic, two lily of the Nile, one rosemary, one flat of star creeper. Plus 12 moonflower seedlings and 12 pumpkin seedlings started. One grape vine seems to have mites; it's been treated. One may be getting too much water; it's been cut back. One pumpkin may not have made the transplant, and the two jasmine under the kitchen window are probably parched. But they all look wonderful.
Randomness - Getting excited about cruise... Got an incredibly pleasant surprise when I picked up our tax return this afternoon... Stitch 'N Pitch at the end of the month... Very glad to be here in Pookieland...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)