Gwynnie and the Vet

I didn't have time to post anything last night (exhausting day yesterday) nor today, as I need to run off to the yarn store, but all we found out yesterday was that something is causing the dog's eye problem and we need to do a bunch more expensive tests to find out what that might be, none of which sound "good." But we got medicine that might relieve her eye swelling and inflammation and might even help the retinas re-atach, maybe, perhaps.

Lots more, hoping for plenty of time this evening for typing, as I am supposedly on vacation. I will now go vacate.

Comments

DianeS said...
I'll be keeping Gwynnie and her eyes (and her people) in my thoughts. It's so hard on us when our beloved pets are sick!(I'm gonna get to your comments on my blog later today. I promise!)
Tuesday, March 14, 2006 11:23:00 AM

What Friends Are For

So, last night I got to have dinner and hang out with two of my friends and one spouse-of-friend (SOF). We went and ate at the Austin-shabby-chic Artz Rib House, listened to music and talked. While Jeff and the SOF talked about music and recording with the random musician friend who also showed up, we females got to chat about whatever we wanted to, for once without having to type all the words. As nice as our email list is, and as convenient as our online chats can be, nothing substitutes for spending time together. And as I was thinking about it last night after they wended their way home, I realized the happiest I am these days is when I am with one or more of this lovely set of friends. I also get pretty happy with my few remaining former church friends, too. So, I am so grateful that one of them could come here from Iowa to attend South by Southwest, and the other could take time off from painting her cool rehabilitated house near Seguin to get together!

Today we went to the Interactive part of South by Southwest, where at the Exhibit Hall I met some folks I'd like to explore working with in the future, and learned about some interesting tools that might work for my current job and some of my clients, as well. Quite worth the $7 parking fee that mortified Jeff! Networking is fun. I also joined the Electronic Frontier Foundationbecause they seem to be doing good work, plus I got a cool t-shirt about supporting bloggers' rights.

Support Bloggers' Rights!

Having a Reasonable Time, Wish You Were Here

Last night, as I mentioned yesterday, I went to a concert. I volunteer for the Live Oak Coffeehouse Concert series. Right now I am one of the ticket-takers and do set up. I met my partner at one of these concerts, so it's special to me! I thought I'd share a photo of last night's featured performer, John Flynn, in action on the stage (thanks to Jon M. for the photo). It was awfully darned nice of him to do the wmen in the audience a favor and take off his jacket so we could see his sleeveless shirt.

It's too bad not many people came, because he had some really moving songs (in a liberal folkie peacenik way), and told some interesting stories about his life and spiritual journey. I really like it when people talk about that kind of thing--how they pray/meditate/interact with their deities and such. He had three huge boulders moved to his house from a meditation space he once frequented, for example. Just interesting to me. On the other hand, Jeff thought he was a bit heavy handed in his social messages and was hitting us over the head telling us to be nice to each other and embrace peace. I guess I don't mind so much when someone is making a strong point I believe in, too!

Speaking of sharing spiritual journeys, before I got back to blogging I enjoyed another one of those. I like to watch late night television (it's about the only TV I watch, while I do my knitting). I love the Daily Show and the Colbert Report, then I head over and watch the end of Letterman and the show with Craig Ferguson. I am very fond of Craig, for a lot of reasons. One is he takes risks with the genre and does some things differently (some work, some don't). And another is that his monologues are not highly scripted--he knows what he's going to talk about, but then just takes off. And finally, he does not erect a huge barrier between himself and the audience like Carson, Letterman, Leno and those folks have mostly done (Letterman occasionally lets something through, like when he had the heart issue, and when his child was born). He is open about his alcohol issues, his marriage issues, his rough childhood, etc.

So, about a month or so ago, Craig Ferguson's father died. The Monday afterward, Craig did his show as scheduled, which surprised me. But he came on, all serious and wearing a tie, and just talked about his dad. Did a wake kind of thing, sharing stories, laughing a bit, crying a bit--just like anyone with a fresh loss would do. Then, as his first guest, he had on an addiction specialist who had been on the show before, and the therapist asked Craig some really interesting questions about his experience. The part I liked the best was when he asked Craig if he had any spiritual beliefs that were helping him along. And Craig pretty much said, "no"! He then talked about his history with religion, what he did and didn't believe, and it was quite genuine and rang true. His next guest was a really lovely woman, John Ritter's widow (ack, can't remember her name). She also talked to him about spirituality, and how it affected her when her husband died--and she also admitted she didn't get much from organized religion. Well, this was so refreshing to hear, and so courageous of both of them to admit, on national television in the USA of today, that they didn't exactly have the belief system of the "moral majority" folks. It was the most uplifting show I saw in ages, even if it was a wake, and Craig was rightfully sad.

I think if more of us agnostics, atheists, seekers and such spoke up about how our nontraditional beliefs comfort us or serve us well, it would be a good thing. OK, I am off my soapbox now. Note, of course, that I firmly believe everyone should choose the belief system that works best for them. If only more others returned that favor!

Not about My Dog, but with a Dog Photo

I had promised a photo of this "summer" dog sweater, so here it is, on a rather frightened looking toy greyhound, the kind of dog who, I guess, in Michigan or somewhere cool, MIGHT want a summer dog sweater. I can't tell you what yarn this is made from, since the yarn store owner kept the labels for inventory purposes. It's a store sample, and that's good, because I don't think either of my dogs would wear it, even though it's cute enough, I guess! It was fun taking a sweater from a book and turning it into something different altogether. The original was a very nice fair isle pattern (which I still would like to make sometime). I crocheted the legs, rather than knitting them, since ribbing in the fuzzy yarn really was more trouble than it was worth.

What I am working on right now is rather humbling, as I have managed to mess up a predominantly stockinet stitch sweater twice. First, I could blame the instructions for not being clear about how they wanted stitches slipped. I was glad there was a sample sweater at the yarn shop so I could look at how the cute little edge pattern was supposed to look, because it is WEIRD (this is the sweater I linked to a few days ago, if you want to see it, Cindy from Berocco). Then, I made it to the simple, plain stockinet section, which should be pretty boring, and I managed to mess up slipping the first stitch of the row (forgot I was slipping the LAST stitch and working the FIRST stitch in the row) and made an ugly hole, which I didn't see until I had knitted 6 rows. Sigh. That is what I get for trying to knit in the dark while watching a movie. Well, some day I will finish this thing.

Dealing with some work stress--every day wondering what new announcement will come. Today's announcement was particularly icky, as I will be losing one of my favorite coworkers soon. And there is more to come on Monday, oh boy! So, think of me on that. At least there is a coffeehouse concert tonight, so I will see some of my friends (you can read about the concerts at http://www.liveoakuu.org/coffee/ ). And a wonderful friend who does podcasting will be in town for the South by Southwest event that is here this week. But, this is the last weekend before spring break, and I am a bit concerned that the kids will have trouble flying--it will be their first time flying without unaccompanied minor status--Kynan is 15 now and considered an "adult" by the airlines. Yow.

I am taking off from work next week, which will be a nice stress relief, I hope. Between the dog and the latest work thing, I am having anxiety symptoms (love those chest pains).

Comments

DianeS said...
Any news about Gwynnie?
Friday, March 10, 2006 6:34:00 PM

Suna said...
We take Gwynnie to the doggie eye doctor on Monday (it's on Metric somewhere). We have not received word back on her blood tests yet, though the vet promised to let us know. She seems to do better sometimes and worse others, like it is reattaching and detaching. That has to be even MORE confusing.

The News Is Not Good

Poor Gwynnie. It was not a fun trip to the vet, though she traveled well in her crate and did not spew hair all over my new-ish car. But, she walked into a post and hurt her eye a bit, and it was so sad to see her not knowing there were steps to go up to the building. The vet looked at G's eyes and said the retinas looked "bad," like they had detached. Said it is really weird that BOTH were detached. They checked for glaucoma and high blood pressure, likely causes, but she doesn't have those. And we are pretty sure she has not been hit on the head hard enough to damage her eyes--there is no evidence of it, anyway. She's never away from us except in the back yard!

Anyway, it is pretty sad. We are taking her to the fancy doggie eye doctor on Monday, the soonest we could get her in. In the meantime, I talk to her and guide her to places, but she seems to be getting around better and better by smell and sound. Poor dear.

To cheer you (and me) up, here is a picture of our other dog, Scrunchy, from last night, when he fell asleep with his head on a stuffed pig. He is somewhat porcine, himself, so we enjoyed this sight a lot. At the time, Gwynnie was hiding under my bed, after somehow making her way up the stairs. We carried her back down.

My Poor Dog

I am really scared about my dog. Gwynneth is a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and will be 9 years old on Monday. She is the first dog I ever had that I owned (not my family's dogs). She has rapidly become blind over the past few days, and we do not know what has caused it. We noticed her bumping into walls on Saturday, and now she really gets lost a lot, can't find her food bowl at feeding time, and hesitates to go outside to do her business. It is so sad to see her like this. In the picture she is standing at the top of the stairs. I had to carry her down those same stairs last night, as she kept walking into a wall looking for them, and I was worried that she would fall. When I clipped her toenails this morning, she jumped off the couch straight into the coffee table. I know blind dogs adjust, but this is so rapid, she is not used to it. I am taking her to the vet this afternoon and will post an update. I know hardly anyone reads this, and it's mainly for me, but I just wanted to say how worried we all are about her. She reminds me of my dear departed mother, and last night I dreamed my mom was in a wheelchair and stuck in the stands at a baseball game. Like poor handicapped Gwynnie, stuck at the top of the stairs. Sniff.

The pug (Scrunchy) is fine, but even he seems a bit worried, subdued, etc. There is much less running around and barking than there was this time last week. The cat is happy as heck that Gwynn is not after him every time he dares walk through the downstairs in the house.

Made Another Blog! And I Am a Butterfly?

Yes, I finally made a blog for the yarn shop I do the website of and teach some classes at. About time! Feel free to visit--we hope to add lots more content as time goes on.

I can't believe I never posted a picture of this sweater I made last fall. It is the cover sweater from the Fall 2005 Vogue Knitting, done in blues--Lorna's Laces worsted weight. I am showing the back view because it is so pretty. The whole thing is a big circle, with space for the arms. You can wear it as a shorter sweater by turning it upside down, in which case it has a big collar.

Other than working, today (enjoying seeing some projects coming together and moving forward!), I have been thinking a lot about attitudes, and how hard it is to change them, but how nice it is when you finally do. I've read this before, but firmly believe it is true that sometimes people stick with what they are used to, even when it actually isn't good for them, just because they are more comfortable with the familiar. That includes relationships, jobs, social groups--and even attitudes. Sometimes it is easier to just keep feeling attached to someone or something, even if it is doing you no good!

Lately I feel like a butterfly who had to have its chrysalis opened with a sledgehammer, which felt awful, but feels much better now that it is flying around in all the colors and light!

Birthday Lessons

Hello, I have been having a heck of a time starting this post (things I clicked on kept loading into the "picture upload" window and canceling it--duh), but here I am another year older and a couple of decades wiser, at least in my perceptions. I am 48 years old today, and glad for the chance to perhaps stick around for another year. I was thinking about birthday lessons I have learned, and thought I'd share, along with sharing a close-up of the pattern from the vest I am wearing in the scowling photo from a couple of entries ago (I have a happier photo to share later).


One lesson for me is that, if you want to have a good time, you are responsible for making that happen. I realized that if I sat around and stewed and moped, and never mentioned birthdays to the family, I would be guaranteed a dismal couple of days of additional feeling sorry for myself, as if I have not done enough of that lately!! So, on the spur of the moment, I told my friend M. that she could invite people to her house last night for a potluck. I am so glad I did. I was really missing my friends from my former church community, and it was so nice to get together with some of them and just talk--no pressure of "doing" some event--just laughing and talking. And we talked about doing more things in the future, and made some plans for other get-togethers. I think everyone was happy for a chance to see each other socially, too. More than one person commented on how you get all busy and then put off nurturing your friendships for far too long. And that is so true! Since I am on my church "sabbatical," it is up to ME to create opportunities to see my friends!

And I did, too. Last week I had three lunches with people from the former church, which were great networking and fun, too. It's always nice to lunch with G., because we give each other so many insights into our issues and flaws--it's like free counseling. And I am back to helping one of the ministers with his website, and that is nice. He will be doing "podcasting" soon (after YEARS of being ahead of his time and sharing MP3s of his radio show!!). I'll link to that when it is more ready to share. I plan to schedule more lunches and opportunities to "hang out" with friends soon. Yes, really, I will.

Another lesson I have learned is that there still ARE kind and generous people out there. When I look only at the negative aspects of my work or former church community, I tend to forget that, when really it IS a balance. Creepy people are balanced out by kind, generous and loving people. The kindness of the yarn shop staff, customers and owners is a great example. They celebrated my birthday so sweetly yesterday, with a hilarious portrait of me (which I MUST scan, as it was accurate down to my gray hair in the front of my head), my favorite lemon cake from the HEB grocery (if you live in Texas you really should try their lemon cake), and wonderful gifts, including things I had expected to pay for. I got yarn, beautiful Noro Silver Thaw (color 5 on the page linked) that I had only JUST been wishing I could see or touch a sample of--the woman who picked it is truly the "Yarn Whisperer," as they call her. Plus a really snazzy electronic row counter that I had intended to pay for, and a gift certificate. I did not let that certificate burn a hole in my yarn bag--I knew exactly what I wanted to make and what yarn I wanted, as it was a project I had reluctantly decided was not in my future due to the pay cut. I will be making this silky sweater in red. The yarn is incredibly soft but also shows stitch details beautifully. So, if I ever stop making store samples, that one will be next, for spring.* Anyway, the kindness of these women, whom I have only known a year or so, really touched me.

I am getting e-cards and emails from random folks, got a couple of really kind cards (one hilarious one from a friend in North Carolina that said: "This is not the exact location at which I stand, neither is it the place I wish to be. How fortunate, then, that I'm elsewhere" -- must go in my .sig) and my dad called last night, so I am feeling very loved--now to hold on to that feeling. I wish I could do a better job on people's birthdays, I need to put them all in my outlook calendar so they will also be in Plammy the Pam Pilot, my best electronic pal.

Tomorrow I will provide a link to a special CD project, and then I hope to share yet another dog sweater best worn by a toy dog...stay tuned, and thanks for all the wishes!!

*Of course, it IS spring here, and my front yard looks prettier than usual, with the redbud tree and the prostate rosemary both blooming, in pink and blue. Too bad the recent drought means it won't be a good year for bluebonnets or other wildflowers.

SHAMELESS PLUG

Lake Affect, by Jeffrye Glenn Tveraas. The cover, which you see there, is a lake in the fog, so you can hardly tell where the lake ends and sky begins. The music is what they call "chill out" or "ambient" music. It sounds like what I used to call "New Age," and reminds me of my beloved old Enya CDs, just no tracks have words.
It is great to listen to while you work, and is also wonderful for helping you relax, meditate or get to sleep. I would think it would be an ideal CD to play in massage therapy places or for doulas and birth attendants to use with their clients. If you know of anyone who might find the CD useful in their work, please share the link to the CD!
This is Jeff's first new CD in a long time, and he is proud of how well it came out. The sound quality is superb if you have a fancy sound system to listen to it on! We hope he will soon also have a new CD in his more usual singer-songwriter/'>singer-songwriter vein, but we'll be happy to sell you one of those. I'll have them in the shopping cart soon, but if you want a singing CD, just write that in the comment box on the order form and he will get back to you on it.
Thank you for reading my commercial!!

Perseverance, and When to Let Go

I thought a lot about perseverance last night. [I have deleted this story, sorry.]

On one of my email lists a woman just praised me for finally deciding it was time to "let go" of something that has been dear to me for a very long time. It was something I cared so much about that I put a lot of myself into it, and worked so hard to do my part to help it succeed. Recently, I finally hit the point where I realized it wasn't going to work, and through no fault of my own, this Titanic is traveling through a field of icebergs and is sinking fast. And this email list woman is right in being happy for me--I do feel an incredibly lightened stress level, and don't feel so "guilty" thinking about new projects and priorities. I am someone who sticks with commitments and is perhaps overly loyal, so it is painfully difficult to let go of something I have committed to. But unlike learning socks, sticking this will not bring me years of pleasure and beauty, but will continue to provide me with more unpleasant "growth opportunities" and lessons in dealing with disappointment. SIGH.

In happier news, the photo for today is the fru-fru dog sweater I made as a store sample. I am now, get this, making a "summer" dog sweater. It has a lovely fluffy border. Oh yeah, I am sure a REAL dog would just LOVE these fluffy things. But, humans will just eat them up, I bet!

Comments

Stephanie said...
Hooray for you and your shift to a new phase of your life. Your friends are here rooting for you in all aspects of this adventure.In the meanwhile, are you gonna share the pattern for this adorable doggie sweater?! Maddy would just LOVE to sport one around town.XOXO
Wednesday, March 01, 2006 4:16:00 PM

DianeS said...
Sorry to hear about the income drop! But congrats on taking it so well.Wish we could stay in better touch. But know that I think of you often and other friends are asking how you're doing. I'm glad you're blogging again (and I won't spread it around!).DianeS
Thursday, March 02, 2006 4:17:00 PM

Suna said...
Hey Stephanie and Diane. The dog sweater is the cover sweater from the book "Knitting for Dogs," by Kristi Porter. The toy dog does remind me of your precious puppy, Stephanie, and it is EASY, so you could do it! Just wait until I post the summer sweater, which is on a larger toy greyhound. I find it a bit scary, but ladies love it and are all clamoring for a dog sweater class. OK, fine.Diane, we have to get the yarn group going better. Karen and I talked about taking it back to people's houses and soon. Of course, you and I could try to actually do lunch or something.
Sunday, March 05, 2006 1:26:00 PM

Vicki said...
Yay! Suna is blogging again!I am proud of the work you have done to get to this point. You had a very rough week last week and are doing a remarkable job caring for yourself!Happy belated b-day.
Monday, March 06, 2006 11:53:00 AM