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International Pajama Day

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Super IPJ 2013

My darlings, Pamela has been after me to update the blog. And it seems there is a momentous occasion upon us. Super International Pajama Day 2013, which coincides with the Super Harbowl in NOLA. Normally, this is a non-event for me. Mr. Celia leaves the premises for a golf/football extravaganza with his pals somewhere else (this year in Tucson). I am not much for the big game. I usually take advantage of Mr. Celia's absence to watch movies, or marathon a series, or have the gals over for Mah Jongg. And I stay in pajamas all day. HOWEVER, we have been blessed here in the Bay Area with two championship opportunities this year. I was glued to the TV to watch the Giants win the big one in October and tomorrow this 49er fan will be watching Superbowl 2013, wearing red pajamas all day, and rooting for Jim's team. If I were the Harbaugh parents, I would be so proud.

So, join me!

Stay in and wear pajamas.

I deserve it, and I know you do, too.

February 02, 2013 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Losing Zelda

IMG_1000x

Today we said goodbye to the house dog, the Boyo's dog really, our Zelda.  I took her in to the vet on Tuesday, thinking I would be coming home with antibiotics for a supposed secondary infection, caused by kennel cough.  The only apparent symptom was a persistent and worsening cough.  The vet was immediately concerned about an accumulation of fluid in her belly, and recommended a series of xrays and other tests offered in the "senior package." Things went from bad to worse after that. The xrays showed fluid in her chest cavity as well and a large mass in one of the lungs.  Damn. Cancer.

Two days of steadily deteriorating condition and two nearly sleepless nights listening to her cough, as her breathing got shallower and shallower, ended in humane euthanasia in our living room this afternoon. Fast, efficient, quiet and at home in Zelda's environment, on her terms and surrounded by love.  I wasn't at all ready for this, nor was anyone else in my family, but we did the best we could, for Zelda's sake.

IMG_1039x

I'm going to miss her at the foot of our bed (on Mr. Celia's side - she was his girl). I'm going to miss the way she caught tossed carrot pieces and devoured them with gusto. I'm going to miss the baby harp seal look.  I'm going to miss her digging up the carrots in my garden. I'm going to miss her glossy white fur.  I'm going to miss finding white hairs all over the seat of my black wool trousers. I'm going to miss the sound of her toes hitting the floor in the morning. I'm going to miss her solid, stolid presence.

I'm really going to miss pulling up in the driveway and seeing this.

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As I write, we're in the middle of a satisfyingly wet thunderstorm - a rarity in these parts.

Zelda, kickin' it in heaven.

April 12, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (9)

New Year, New Approach

The holidaze has come and gone. 2011 has come and gone. Phew. That went fast. I have been on vacation - staycation - since December 17. You'd think I could have taken the time to put together a decent blog post on one of those vacation days, but it's been one of those seasons. People have been dropping like flies all around me. Seems like everyone has that winter cold that grabs you by the throat. There was shopping and crafting to be done, and cooking and cleaning and laundry to be caught up with.  The days have flown by quickly (they do that this time of year!), even though we've skipped most holiday events, except those involving family. The family gatherings have been multiple, subdued, and, actually, really lovely. Thank goodness for family. 

It's my sister who's been through the wringer over the holidaze. During the week before Christmas, she participated in a one-day nurses union strike (and SO MANY days of negotiations leading up to the strike), her husband was hospitalized with appendicitis, her father-in-law died on Christmas Eve, and now her husband's back in the hospital. And that's the abbreviated version. At least all her kids were home for the winter break. And they are grown up enough to take care of themselves and keep a festive attitude going, even when shadows have invaded from all directions. 

I have spent most of this break counting my blessings. Whether or not 2012 got off to a good start, things are looking up. I'm fortunate to be busy, learning how to say no, and also learning when to say yes. I love it that life is never boring, even as it's throwing you curve balls. And as for keeping up with things, well things are sometimes prettier when they're a little blurry.

So that's my "new" approach. It's recycled, but that's good. I'm not making any big resolutions. I just want to live as much in the present as possible and enjoy life.

Happy New Year to you and yours.

January 02, 2012 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Is the Recession Over?

Pre-construction remediation observed at the corner of Telegraph & Ashby in my neighborhood. Site of a former gas station, this mixed-use project has been stalled since the economy tanked. Sign of a brighter future?

Is the Recession Over?

September 01, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (3)

Backyard news

SQUIRREL1

All during breakfast this morning, I was fascinated by this little rascal as she scampered from branch to branch, tearing pieces off of the star magnolia in my back yard.  She carried each one in her mouth, up to the top of the tree, where she's built a dense nest. Methinks we can expect the pitter patter of even tinier squirel feet soon.

August 14, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Change: the only thing that doesn't change

We are all about change here at Unraveling, which is why you haven't heard from me since...OMG, since JUNE.  I'm reminded that change is why I started this blog in the first place. My Boyo was about to make us empty nesters AND my best friend was leaving town for good. All that change was making me feel blue.  But that was seven years ago. This is now and the only thing that hasn't changed is change. We. Are. All. About. Change.

I write these words from the basement of the house. In late June, finally accepting that our Girlie wasn't going anywhere soon (it's been a year since she moved back in with us), I gave up the sunny room on the second floor that I'd been using as a workroom so she could have her childhood bedroom back. She was just too cramped in our tiny guestroom, so I moved down to the basement.  It seemed like such a sacrifice at the time, but it makes more sense now that I've remembered that the basement has always been a very productive room for me. This is the room I used as a freelance costumer/seamstress.  This is the room in which I studied and wrote all my college essays, including my Master's thesis. 

All that productivity had slipped my mind because in recent years this room has become the Boyo's headquarters - a bastion of slacking - when he's visiting on school holidays from the University of Heidelberg. It can only be entered from the driveway, which keeps the noise to a minimum (young mens' days start and end so much later than ours do) and gives him more privacy when he's here(he being All.Grown.Up). But he's not here now and since I'm down here again, it really does make sense.  Not quite sure what I'll do for a workspace when our Boyo comes home again for a visit, but that won't happen until next February and I will wait to cross that bridge. For now, I am ensconced and feeling more productive all the time. A change for the better.

But wait, there's more.  The Girlie moved out of the tiny guest room and into her old bedroom. And in July, Mr. Celia grudgingly began to remodel the guest room so he could move his office out of the Boyo's childhood bedroom. That seems like too few words for the process, though. Too few words to describe the chaos that ensued and is just now abating. Not to mention the job that was driving Mr. Celila crazy. Please imagine a long-winded explanation with many digressions - I don't have the energy to relive it myself.  Mr. Celia had to move his office because my brother, Timothy (the New York brother), moved in with us on August 1st.  This is a good thing, his relocating to the West Coast, and it will only be disruptive for a short time (that's my new mantra: itwillonlybedisruptiveforashorttimeitwillonlybedisruptiveforashorttime...). Then we can get down to the business of four adults living together in this house. It will be fun.

But that's not all. I retired from my job at the Port of Oakland last year, as you may recall, and since then I've been working part time. I like working part time. It seems more humane. I've had time to take 3-5 yoga classes a week, I've been cooking more and taking care of Mr. Celia, rather than him taking care of me. I joined a community chorus. I took up playing Mah Jongg twice a month. And also I've just been relaxing. I like relaxing. Well, all that's changed. Since August 1st I'm back at the Port. Full time. Yes. Full time. But don't worry, it's temporary (that's my newer new mantra: it'stemporaryit'stemporaryit'stemporaryit'stemporaryit'stemporary...). I'm replacing someone who has a new baby. He'll be back in three months.

My carefully crafted life of ease has shifted dramatically on multiple fronts, but not my carefully crafted attitude.  I have, over the past year and a half, learned that it wasn't the job that was making me crazy, it was me. I'm taking better care of myself. I know it's ok to say no.  I can slow down and breathe. People don't take advantage of me unless I let them. I can tell people what I need and they will respect it. And anyway, it's all likely to change rather abruptly once again, and probably for the better. Just hang on and enjoy the white-knuckle ride, baby.

It's all good. Change is good. And that's what it's all about at Unraveling: Knitting and Life in Transition.

 

August 14, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (8)

Birthday Boyo

Birthday boyo

He is twenty-five today!

Who knew he would become a Uni Heidelberg spaetzele-maker...

Spaetzele

lovable goofy facemaker...

Goofy

Life-threateningly stupid fall survivor!

Stupid

Happy Birthday, Birthday Boyo!

 

June 26, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Juneuary

As usual, this month started with a flurry of activity. Yesterday, the Girlie's birthday. Today, it's Mom's 84th. What can I say about Mom? Always there when needed, beautiful, vibrant - see for yourselves:

Mom-gerda 
Happy Birthday, Mom! And many happy returns of the day.

That's the usual. What makes this year unusual is the weather. Rain, snow in the mountains, a twister in Yuba City? We really never had spring this year.  Might as well be winter, January perhaps? So...Juneuary in California.  Here's hoping for better weather and a real summer before winter comes around again.

June 02, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (1)

My Girl

Twenty-nine years ago today...

EV1x 
 

EV2x 

EV4 

Happy Birthday, Sweetie! 



 

June 01, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Call Your Mom

It won't take much time. She just wants to hear your voice.

That, and world peace.

May 08, 2011 | Permalink | Comments (1)

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