Thoughts on the Economy and work

For months now we've all been inundated with "The Economic Crisis" here, in the States, in Europe - everywhere, I suppose. Some are flying in the face of it with a "live life today, for tomorrow you may die" approach, others are taking a bunker mentality and hoarding cash, food, and likely weapons against the looming End of the World as We Know It. Most, as far as I know, are taking a middle ground. That's where I've been.

Today, my employer laid off 22 people. This represents an incredibly small fraction of our total workforce, but it is still jarring. The first response was "Well, it's not me. My job is safe." Then I thought, "too bad for those people, I hope they find something else soon." THEN I thought, "Everyone has to make tough choices in business, and if this is what needs to be done to make the business succeed, it's the right thing to do."

Then I stopped a minute. And it occurred to me that I, like so many people (I suspect), are pretty darn passive about our employment, and the success or failure of our employers. It is far too easy to say: "I put in my hours and do my job, what more do you want?", but then is it right to say: "I put in my hours and do my job, this company OWES me my job!" ? I don't think it is.

To my way of thinking, if you want your job (career, if that's what you prefer to call it) to continue, and especially to thrive, you have to take responsibility not just for your personal tasks but also for your employer's success in general. You can't say, "Not my department, not my problem." You have to look for that little extra bit that can make things grow and succeed.

Call it what you want - networking, promotion, corporate pride, "pimping the brand" - whatever. If you are proud of your employer (and if you're not, you should be working somewhere else), you should be walking your talk and talking your walk, every single day. You should - no, you MUST - get to know your coworkers, and take a moment to not just acknowledge them, but to really connect with them, every day. People are PEOPLE, not positions or email addresses or files. Have coffee. Have lunch. Tell a joke, bring donuts. Learn about their kids, their pets, their hobbies. Show them you give a damn what they think and feel.

The other thing is the old "Continuous Process Improvement" jazz. The funny thing is, it's not just for managers and consultants and MBAs. Don't just DO your job, look for little (or big!) ways to do it better, faster, more environmentally friendly, more CONNECTED to the big picture. Change is scary sometimes but it can also be exhilarating. Stop a moment and really THINK about the possibilities. See the opportunity, take the chance, offer the opinion. Just as there are no stupid questions (no, really!), there are no bad ideas - just ideas that may not suit the situation. But you have to keep thinking, and thinking beyond "my job". Because your job depends on the success of your employer, and their success depends on every single one of their employees doing their very best.

There's a classic movie, "The Bridge on the River Kwai". If you haven't seen it, check it out. It's a World War 2 story about a Japanese POW camp full of British soldiers, who are forced into labour to build a bridge for the Japanese that is critical to that war effort. They resist - naturally, who would want to help their enemy? But the leader of the British troops, he turns it around. He makes the bridge THEIR bridge - a proper bridge, an historic bridge, built by the best efforts of his men. He inspires pride, teamwork, craftsmanship, and discipline. He appeals to their sense of duty and honour. He is a capital-L Leader.

His opponent, in a sense, is the camp commander, a Japanese officer who is also a man of honour and discipline, but who is not a Leader. He instructs the British, "Be happy in your work!", but happiness in work must be rooted in a sense that the work is meaningful, part of a larger purpose. His continued frustration at the lack of blind obedience the British soldiers display is magnified when he sees how the true leadership of the British commander is seemingly effortlessly effective.

However, there is a piece of the puzzle that goes beyond duty, honour, and pride. It's loyalty. Loyalty in the workplace is a lost art, a semi-archaic notion, many believe. However, loyalty is at the core of corporate community and success. We must feel that if we do our absolute best work, we will be rewarded fairly (and, one hopes, continually). If we are loyal, should our employer not be loyal in return? Simply, yes, but these are not simple times. Our employer must be loyal to the workforce as a whole entity, a living growing thing. As with the human body, sometimes the corporate body requires the removal of an unwell part, or an excess, to continue to thrive. To reference another favourite movie ("Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan"), "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few - or the one."

So, now that I've pontificated and quoted and so forth, I want to say something simple. I have grown to be good friends with many of the people I work with. Some have left, just as friends in my personal life have drifted away over time. It's the natural order of change. I miss my friends. But I am happy in my work.

How to be happy when you're sick

1) Have a fantastic day and evening on the day-prior-to-sickness.
2) Wake up feeling totally miserable but secure in the knowledge that your spouse is going to make sure you don't die.
3) Sleep. A lot. Like 20 hours out of 24.
4) Wake up day 2 feeling marginally less miserable but secure in the knowledge that your spouse is going to make sure you don't die (and will make you soup when asked nicely).
5) Realize that work things are not so urgent that they can't wait until Monday.
6) Rest, hydrate, geek a bit, and appreciate the love of spouse and kitties, who only want you to feel better.

Yes it's a holiday. Yes I'm at work.

It's Monday morning, and while the allure of another lazy day (and the obvious temptation of a warm, husband-filled bed) was strong, the knowledge that I have a mountain of filing and organization to do at the office poked my "responsibility center" firmly and kicked me out of the house.

Surprise! All the feds are working today, so the building is pretty much full as usual, with the exception of our floor.

So, work before play, I have three hours to get 'er done, as Larry would say, and then back home for some afternoon WoW with the family and a leisurely evening. On the upside, if I hadn't driven into work this morning, I wouldn't have heard Van Morrison singing "There'll be Days Like This" on Radio Two Morning. I love that song. Love that show! In fact, today I feel like I love pretty much the whole world.

Happy Monday. The sun is shining!

Long weekends, laziness, and love

It's a provincial holiday here tomorrow so we get a nice midwinter long weekend. The sun has been shining, though it's cold, and I have been having a glorious emotional rebirth. The past couple of weeks, I have shed a lot of negativity and embraced challenge, change, and stubborn optimism. There's a whole lot to this - some of it work-related, some of it personal - but it goes back to Ghandi "We must be the change we wish to see in the world." I must be the change I want to see in me!

Step 1: Decide what I want. Make a list. Discuss, debate, really talk things through with people I trust.

Step 2: Dive in. Start making changes, doing more, being more; I don't need permission but I do appreciate support.

Step 3: Stop and smell the coffee. Or the herbal tea, or the chicken curry or whatever. Do more living in the moment, and you know what? More moments get lively.

So I've been having a FANTASTIC week, and it's culminated in this weekend which is all about spending really close personal time with my spouse. Talking, not talking, being silly, being serious... just being TOGETHER in a way that the usual Monday-Friday doesn't always leave time and energy for. It's sheer coincidence that it's Valentine's weekend, because honestly I don't buy into that Hallmark-holiday stuff. And it's good, really good.

HAPPY DANCE!

Sam is back! Happy day, happy day! Woohoo and Skip-a-dee-do-dah, Sam is BACK!


(I really missed Sam)

The other foot... or the truck, or whatever

You know, it was just at Christmastime that Peter and I were reveling in our new home, jobs secure, finances in order, kitties and family happy and healthy. And I said, "I'm scared. Things never go this well."

I should have shut up. Less than a week later my Granddad died. The stupid bus strike goes on and on and friggin' on. Every piece of knitting I pick up, I screw up. And now, turns out we made a MAJOR oversight in our finances and things are going to possibly be very ugly for the foreseeable future. Frak.

The upside is that we still have secure jobs, our home, our kitties and family (one less family person, sadly), and our health. But the money thing - that was a real kick in the danglies, when we really thought we had it together. Argh argh frickin' argh.

Heh. The funny thing? I quit smoking 2 weeks ago. I could REALLY go for one now, but I can't afford them. Lucky thing hey?

Saturday morning

Saturday morning is starting to become my favourite time of the week. I can sleep late if I want, hang out in my PJs and knit or surf or blog or read. I can listen to Radio 2 Morning on CBC, and have a fire in the fireplace, and cuddle my kitties, and just breathe. It's a terrific way to start the weekend.

Last night I went out for SnB with the gals down in Westboro and had a LOL-type fun, relaxed evening. A lovely bunch of ladies (and one charming young man!), who made me feel welcome right off the bat. Got to meet Yumi's buddy KY, who is as quirky and cool as advertised. And just so I keep them all fresh in my mind, hello to:

Miriam, Elizabeth, Emma, Kim, Alex, Fiona, Jen, Alicia, and Arden!

I also made good progress on Jamie's cowl, so I should be able to finish that today and get back to my poor neglected green Henley sweater. Peter said last night that this weekend is going to be "stay inside and be mostly lazy" time, so I'm all on board for that plan!

Oh, and for a fabulously funny start to the day, check out Simon's Cat on Youtube. If you have a cat, or know a cat, these cartoons will make you squirt tea out your nose. Trust me. (Thanks, Yumi, for reminding me!)

In which our heroine accomplishes a task

Sorry, been reading Robert Rankin's Brightonomicon today, and the narration style is a bit peculiar... actually the whole book is downright weird, but entertaining nonetheless. Especially when one has a head full of cold, as I do. And may I, just for a moment, digress to say that I strongly dislike those coworkers of mine who come in to work when they should clearly be home in bed, and not only do they come in, they refuse to take any symptom-suppressing medication, and therefore spread their noxiousness all about our poorly-ventilated offices? Because of three of such folk (yes, three separate and distinct sets of symptoms), I was forced to stay home today myself. First, to get the appropriate amount of rest, fluid, and Tylenol. Second, to not further spread the trifold plague. See? Considerate and thoughtful, that's me.

Despite my moderately-incapacitated state, however, I did manage to complete my first knitted FO of 2009 - Peter's Day & Ross socks. I must post a picture once I get Peter to take it, but right now he's taking down the Christmas tree (huzzah!), so I shan't disturb him and get him off-task. EDIT: Here they are!


Now, my Knitting Plan for the year involved a carefully-crafted schedule, based on certain gift-able occasions and a reasonable amount of apply-butt-to-chair knitting time. However, we in the world of generous stitchery all know that situations arise where we must absolutely set aside the current (or next) project and cast on for something urgent. This, my dear blogosphere friends, is one of those times. My dear friend Jamie, recently married and utterly charming, is one of the blessed souls who embraces our planet by walking to and from work each day. Good girl! However, she also has gorgeously long and thick hair, which completely fails to dry before she leaves for her 30-minute trek, and so she has been arriving at the office of late with a cold, somewhat-frozen coiffure. Not Good. So, in the spirit of friendship and avoiding the perils of going out with wet hair (I'm sure her mother, like mine, told her to Never Go Out With Wet Hair), I am going to knit for her a moebius-style scarf/headwrap, to keep her warm(er) and dry(er). This will be a simple garter stitch on big needles and I fully expect to bang it out over the weekend, provided that what I think is in my stash closet is actually in my stash closet.

So, this is what I need to go and check, now. As soon as I rescue Peter and the tree from the "assistance" of Mok, who is... helping? Oh dear.

My Granddad

Harry Lownds

1920-2009

LOWNDS, Harry Richard - 88, Halifax, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 2, 2009, in Camp Hill Veterans' Memorial Building, QEII. Born in Halifax, he was a son of the late, Walter and Blanche (Wambolt) Lownds. Throughout his life, Harry had dedicated his career to the Canadian Air Force as a firefighter, a profession he loved, retiring after 32 years of service. He was known to have been very politically involved at various capacities. He was a handyman who loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. He had a passion for horses, and was once known for horse ice racing. In his retirement, Harry thoroughly enjoyed managing the Dartmouth Trap and Skeet Club. He is survived by his loving wife, Jean (Charlton); his son, The Rev. Jon Lownds (Ada), Fredericton, N.B.; daughters, Sandra Thurber (Arden), Ottawa, Ont.; and Terri Batt (John); and sisters, Margaret Graham (Jim), Edmonton, Alta.; and Florence Leech (Henry), Cornwall, P.E.I. He will also be sadly missed by his grandchildren, of whom he was so proud, Richard, Elizabeth, Karen, Beth, Kathy, Sarah, and William; and his great-grandchildren, Michelle, Anthony, Taylor, Gloria, and Abigail. He was predeceased by his parents; half-brother, Bill Lownds (Maura), and his uncle, Guy Wambolt, who was like a father to Harry. Cremation has taken place under the care of J.A. Walker Funeral Home (2005) Ltd., 149 Herring Cove Rd., Halifax, N.S. (477-5601). A memorial celebration of Harry's life will be held on Monday, January 5, at 1 p.m. in Bradford Hall, Parkland Estates, Fairfax Dr., Halifax, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate remembrances to the Canadian Cancer Society or to Juvenile Diabetes. Words of comfort may be sent to the family by visiting: www.walkerfh.com

Something beautiful, on someone beautiful...

Here is lovely Yumi on Christmas Eve, wearing her very own (and finished 20-minutes-prior-to-party-time) Gryffindor Golden Snitch hat! Wasn't it good of her to wear a pashmina that just happened to colour-coordinate with the hat?

Pattern available FREE from Marian at Freshisle Fibers - go see it, and the other patterns, and buy her yarn! Really, it's awesome yarn. I could knit it FOREVER! And, it seems like I am right now, as I am nearly done the first sock of the pair of Peter's new work socks. 9" leg and 9" foot. SIGH... but, totally worth it for super-warm and machine-wash-dry 100% wool socks. Actually I think that I may cast on the second sock tomorrow morning (god knows I have enough sets of 4mm DPNs) and get the leg going on that one before I finish off the foot of the first. Gotta keep the momentum going!

The ex-patriot's story

It's a cold but sunny day today, and if you're out of the wind, quite pleasant. I went for a smoke outside, and was chatting with one of the gentlemen who works at a food service place in our office complex. He's in a wonderful mood, looking forward to his New Year vacation and enjoying the sunny day. I noticed he had a really intriguing accent, and I asked him, "where are you from"? He answered, "Cuba". Then, I got some education.

I couldn't possibly relate everything he told me, but it was certainly eye-opening. In Cuba, doing the same work he does here in Canada, his rate of pay was $15 (Cuban) per month. To buy one litre of milk costs 2 Cuban dollars. Adults go without and keep the milk in the freezer to make it last, so their kids can have milk at least before they go to school in the mornings. The average Cuban goes without shoes, and wears the oldest of clothes - and of course in Cuba it's scorching hot, all the time. He told me that when working outside, he would often feel as though he was going to have a heart attack from the heat, but he must work.

He told me of a friend he has, who is in his words, "ignorante". This other man loves Fidel Castro, Fidel is all good and makes Cuba all good. He told me, Fidel is no good. Fidel lives in a huge mansion, huge table, loads of food with $700 bottle of wine with his dinner, while the common Cuban people go hungry. But, he is optimistic. Now that Fidel's brother is president, things are slowly starting to change. The Cuban people (if they can afford it) are now allowed on the land of the resorts which we North Americans flock to - before, they were barred. There are plans for casinos to bring more money and jobs to the country. But, he told me, after living there for 24 years, he came to Canada and HIS eyes were opened.

"The first time I went to buy groceries, there was a wall of milk. All this milk, I thought it was just a display. 'No,' my wife said, 'it is all real, all to buy.' So much food! Incredible." He is grateful for his job, for his home and for the ability to buy warm clothes for our cold winter. He is happy that his wife and daughter are healthy (and all three of them have milk to drink). His daughter goes to school with a good breakfast and sleeps in a soft bed with no bugs or leaks. He told me, "After I lived in Canada one year, I went back to Cuba. I saw my house, my family - I cried. I cried because before Canada I thought that was all there could be. And then, then I hate Fidel. The people are not free. Canada is free, we are very lucky here." I agreed with him, wholeheartedly. We ARE incredibly lucky here.

This smiling man, enjoying a cigarette break from his job in the sunshine, looking forward to his vacation. "People work hard, but they need to rest. I'm going to relax, enjoy myself a few days." So right.

Back to work!

All good things must come to an end, including Christmas holidays. Yesterday, being Sunday, we were completely lazy - gamed most of the day and knit and watched a movie. Today the alarm went off and I was not pleased to hear it beeping!

So, back to the office to hear about everyone's Christmases and do some work - albeit at a rather leisurely pace. This week is about closing down 2008 and prepping 2009, file maintenance and cleanup. Time to get our ducks in a row!

Happy Monday!

The continuation of Christmas!

So today, the day after Boxing Day, we ventured out to spend our Christmas money - whee! Peter got some good beading tools and resource books (his newest passion - made me a lovely tigerseye bracelet for Christmas). I hit the warehouse sale at Wool-Tyme but nothing really stirred me there, so we went into the main store and I found some gorgeous Galway Highland Heather (colour 620, the deep burgundy), which I will turn into a Mr. Greenjeans later this winter. Also got some pretty Cadenza (colour 955, a shocking but lovely purple mix) that I am going to make into Brenda Dayne's Pembrokeshire Pathways socks. Of course I want to start them both right away!

But, I am going to try to "be good" this coming year, and work on just one project at a time (hm, sound familiar?) Right now I am almost halfway through Peter's new work socks (well, halfway through the FIRST one), and of course worsted-weight socks go quickly. Then I want to finish that green pullover I started for myself back in the fall, which got stuffed in a bag and ignored in all the moving fuss. And then, a pair of Fleece Artist socks for Mom's birthday in February. THEN - then, I can start on the new projects!

Today the weather turned warm and wet - right now it is about 2 degrees above zero and just *bucketing* rain down, which is sitting on top of the ice and making walking and driving kind of... interesting? But we are home safe and sound with no drama, thank heavens.

Hm, I just want to grab that Galway and give it a squeeze, for luck, you know? So it doesn't feel neglected. Nope, better leave it in the closet or else things might get silly. :)

Holy cow - in the time it took me to write this post, Peter just whipped together a beautiful pair of earrings for me! I will have to post a picture of them later... such a creative and generous hubby I have! Now I *really* should get back to work on his socks, I guess!

'Twas the day after Christmas...

And all through the house, was the sound of the keyboards as I geeked with my spouse!

Yes, it's Boxing Day and we are having a nice quiet geeky morning, gaming and catching up on newsgroups and blogs... I need to re-find all my blogs because I got a new (hand me down but still kickass) computer and of course haven't transferred all my files and stuff over yet!

The holidays so far have been lovely. Christmas Eve day I played hooky from work (the roads were bad, Peter didn't want me driving so I took the half-day off) and we had a nice quiet day of naps and knitting and baking the annual fruitcake! Finished Yumi's new hat just in the nick of time, as Christmas Eve we spent with the Bundy&Kid household, feasting (and feasting) on yummy nibblies and enjoying pleasant conversation and some good laughs. Home to bed early, and to all a good night.

Christmas Day we were up at the crack of dark again and immediately logged in to WoW to get our Winter's Veil presents from Greatfather Winter! So much fun to get all these neat virtual toys, snowball fights and rocket car races in the city... good silliness to kick off the day. Then out to Mom & Dad's (with a Starbucks stop of course), for present-ing and turkey-ing and all. Lots of laughs over gifts given and received - everyone was pleased and spoiled rotten as usual! I was particularly happy that my niece was THRILLED with a top we got for her - $3 at Value Village and she looks like a million bucks in it! I think everyone got what they asked for - I know I did - both the practical and the indulgent. Got some "do not spend on bills" money which is going straight to the big warehouse yarn sale tomorrow!

Today we are going to do some house chores (funny how things can pile up in a hurry when you're preparing for the holidays) and then out to Peter's brother & sister-in-law's for Boxing Day dinner. Mmm she makes an amazing ham! Then the whole weekend to goof off in before I go back to work on Monday (which will also involve some goofing off I'm sure, but what the heck).

I started a new pair of socks for Peter yesterday after the gift opening; the Freshisle Fibers Hunter's Socks in Marian's Suffolk Wool - they will be safety orange with black stripe, heel and toes. Perfect work socks! Hope to get some pictures up soon. I hope you and yours are also having a wonderful and relaxing holiday time!

Why I hate winter

Tonight, I was going to go to my first Knit Nite out with the girls in MONTHS. This morning, I walked up to the corner to catch my ride into work, and when I stepped from the street to the sidewalk, hit a patch of ice under the snow and BOOM! down I go. Blacked out briefly. Cars went by. Nice neighbour lady stops and helps me up, and back to my house (thank god), even so far as to take off my boots for me and make sure I was ok before she went to work (I hope she got in ok).

So I drag myself upstairs (thank god for good sturdy railings), get breakfast and anti-inflammatories into me right away, and up to bed. After a movie-pseudo-nap, assessed the damage:

1. Left knee definitely sprained;
2. Left ankle also sprained and size of a small football;
3. Left hamstring badly strained;
   
4. Lower back completely twisted;
5. Left shoulder making weird popping noise, probably strained but not too painful;
6. No headache so I guess no concussion;
7. Slight numbness/tingling in a few fingertips (yeah, no gloves, stupid).

Checked my work email on the Blackberry and a certain executive is screaming about certain deadlines yadda yadda so it looks like I will be going in tomorrow with a bag of painkillers/anti-inflammatories and my crutches (conveniently still at hand since last year's RIGHT leg injury). I will be there, I will be productive, but dammit someone is going to be fetching my coffee and snacks for me!

The real pain in the butt about this is that I can't even blame it on the OC Transpo strike, because the spot where I fell I would have had to walk across to catch the bus, too. Dammit. Ok, time for some more painkillers and maybe some knitting. Might as well!

Home sweet Home

Well, we've been in our new home for six days now and we absolutely love it. It's big, bright, clean and beautiful! My knitting chair is set up next to the fireplace, backing onto the living room window (southwest exposure, perfect for afternoon knitting), and the yarn is safely stowed away (and organized!) in its own yarn cabinet here in the computer room. Well... most of it. Three bags full of wool didn't QUITE fit, but they are for specific projects and therefore not part of the general stash, so that doesn't count... really.

It's five minutes for Peter to get to work, and a very relaxing bus ride for me (one bus, wohoo!) - about 30 minutes in the morning and 45 in the evening. Love not having to drive in the traffic anymore, especially with it getting dark so soon and the bad weather coming on.

I do have some small Christmas knitting to get onto soon, but first I'm making something for me; another One-Row Scarf, this one in green and black to match the Basic Cable I made last year for Peter (and then mistakenly felted in the wash - oops). It's actually a 2-row scarf, because I'm using some Patons Classic that had been worked with the green and black together, and I'm untwisting the two colours as I go. So it's two rows green, two rows black, and so on. I think it's coming together very pretty, and I can actually knit it on the bus using a small circular - the advantage of being one of the early stops on the route, I always get a seat!

So back to the new place... (sorry, very VERY excited about the new place). We are probably about 70% unpacked now (many more empty boxes than full ones!) and having a great deal of fun with finding just the right places for furniture and all the bits and pieces that make it home. Also clearing out MASSIVE amounts of stuff - some to a friend who is moving at the end of this month, and probably a couple of carloads full to the Value Village - still good things, but we set ourselves strict criteria:

1. Do we need it?
2. Do we LIKE it?
3. Do we have a place for it?

Amazing all the things that pile up over the years and you don't notice because they're squirreled away in closets or they've just "always been there." It's really refreshing to clear the junk this way (would have been better to do it BEFORE the move and not have to pack it all, but no system is perfect!). And we are acquiring a few nice new things - little touches like new bathroom mats and dish towels, start off fresh and clean and keep good housekeeping habits right from the get-go. We are finding so much enjoyment in little things like doing the dishes together, right after dinner, so that the kitchen is clean and tidy before bed. A real sense of accomplishment at the end of the evening - we both go to work, we come home, we unpack some stuff, we keep it all tidy and clean and we go to bed feeling happy and proud. It really is an incredible feeling, and it feels like HOME.

Moving day in 5...

All the knitting is in a box. All the books are in boxes. After today, the computers will be in a box. We are moving in five days and everything but the kitchen is now in a box.

I am SICK of boxes! I want to automagically be done. I'm tired, tired, tired. And I miss my knitting. :(

Countdown's on...

So here we are, two weeks out (well two weeks yesterday) from the move, and we are about 80% packed up. Utilities and cable/internet/phone booked, movers booked, and a BIG pile of boxes in the front porch. Still lots to do but I'm not stressing too much, and making sure to take time for some R&R along with the preparations. I made a pair of slippers! For my grandmother, she loves them (little booties, I need to take a picture), and they are nice and cozy and warm. Felt good to start/finish something quickly!

So looking forward to the new place - yesterday it rained all day and Peter said how perfect a day it would be to curl up by the fireplace with a couple of good books. Soon!

One minute

I set my watch alarm this morning to be sure and remember to stop and pray at 11:00. It beeped, I advised my co-workers of the time and bowed my head in thanks and sorrow. I had set a second alarm for exactly one minute - it did not beep. The battery in the watch had died.

Somehow, that's appropriate. It takes far more than sixty seconds, once a year, to properly appreciate the sacrifices of people in uniform, and of their loved ones.

Remember - always.

Fall back!

Yes, the time change was last night/this morning, and even though I was up at 6:30 (new time) I feel pretty good today. That extra hour is a bonus!

Been working on the packing up and staying on top of the housework so that come moving day everything is clean and ready to go. Even got some knitting in yesterday on my green sweater, I was watching TV after I twisted my ankle in the shower (it's better today) and really needed to knit. A little progress is a good thing!

Still lots to do, this week I need to arrange for the utilities to be transferred on the right date, and talk to the DMV about switching my car over to my sister, and get the mail forwarding / change of address stuff set up with the post office. We did get the movers booked, so that's all set to go. Now more packing, more tossing, more packing, more sorting, more packing... but it will be SO much easier at the new place when all the unpacking is smooth because stuff is sorted and labeled properly.

And, it's November! A little over 3 weeks to go... then we get all settled in and ready for Christmas. Life is good!