Is It Friday Yet?
I've been asking that question since Monday evening. I feel like I've packed two weeks worth of busy-ness into one week. I'm living the old addage "When it rains it pours". I'm going to spare most of the work details... probably everyone has heard enough struggling startup stories to last a lifetime. And work on its own wouldn't be so bad. I've sort of gotten used to the low level state of panic constantly going on there. The thing that I am not coping well with is family related.
My mother-in-law has come to stay with John and I. It's for a good reason and it won't be forever, but I am not adjusting gracefully. I am one of those people who shouldn't be talked to before I have my morning coffee and need quality time alone with myself after work. I'm not used to having my empty house filled with someone else. And I'm not terribly used to sharing my husband on a Thursday night when we're watching CSI. And did I mention that she doesn't speak much English? And that I don't speak any Polish?
It's only been a week now, and I am beginning to cope with this a little bit better than when it first started, but it's still a challenge for me. I spend a lot of time wondering if I live up to her standards: I don't cook much, cleaning isn't part of one of my regular skill sets, I don't go to church, and I'm happier in front of my computer or bonding with my knitting needles than hanging out and chatting. John assures me that she's not judging me badly, but, poor guy, he's more or less in the middle dealing with a mother having a personal crisis and a wife who wants to be handling the situation gracefully but isn't.
So to help brighten my mood, I've turned to yarn stash enhancement procedures... I just ordered some Karabella Zodiac for a little halter top knit-a-long with Kerstin from School Products and Matt of ThreadBear fame is helping me pick custom colors out for a Charlotte's Web shawl. The theme for the shawl is "Fall in Northen Michigan". He's given me several lovely color combinations which I am mulling over now. I show the "winner" as soon as I figure out which one it is.
Probably the best thing in the works, though, is a trip to Milwaukee this weekend with Julie. It's a total road trip for two girls looking to dive into some yarn. Ruhama's is the main event, but we'll probably be hitting some other stores, too. I'm looking to find myself some dye-able wool yarn tomorrow as I've got a whole bunch of Kool-Aid to make a mess with in my kitchen. Hmmmm... wonder what my mother-in-law will think of that?
As to knitting... I am making a little progress on the grey striped Opal socks for John. Not enough for a picture yet, though.
I'm getting my Koigu for the Charlotte's Web lace shawl sometime this week... can't wait! I chose the colours myself... I think you took the wiser route! :)
Thank you for the kind words on my blog.
My brain was mush last night ,due to tiredness ! The clematis is called Etoile Violette - just in case you were frantically tring to find it !
Have a great weekend ! ;-]
M-I-L's = a bit of a touchy subject ! Can't stand mine.We live maybe 30 mins drive away.In 21 years of marriage [Good grief ! I'm not old enough to have been married that long !] I've seen her maybe 20 times.15 of those since we had Oliver.
Oh Theresa,
You poor thing. You dealing with your mother in law sounds a whole lot like me with mine. Mine at least does speak English as her first language, although she speaks Central Florida Cracker English, and she and I sometimes run head to head into how little we have in common. What seems to help a little with mine, well, the last time she was here at least, was giving her jobs to do, and then thanking her quite a lot, even though they were things that we would have done ourselves with less fuss and bother, or things we wouldn't have bothered with. Some of them, of course, she chose herself, with no input from us. (Oh, how very kind of you to have shaved the cat. I'm sure she'll be much cooler that way and I never would have thought of doing that myself…) (Yes, I'm making that one up!
She is probably as concerned about intruding on your space and living up to your standards. And focusing on her crisis. Keep your chin up. You're not the only one who needs quiet, skips church, focuses on the computer etc. During one of my MIL's visits I sent a cousin email titled "Just Shoot Me Now" and just ranted away. And, after MIL left, I walked around the house saying "BAH" in to all the corners – pretty sill, but I felt like I was showing her out of my house somehow. Any thing you can get her involved with with yarn or knitting? It's a long shot, I know. It would be a don't-even-go-there thing with my MIL. I get along so much better with her from a distance! Good luck to you, all!
Oh, I feel for you. I have a hard time with anyone else but the hubby and the kids for an extended period of time. There is so little time to have fun (yep, knitting and computer stuff) and it's a major bummer to feel guilty about snatching that time for yourself.
You asked about Karabella yarn arrival? Two days. Then again, I'm in Boston. You should have it soon. I'm workin' on Smooch to free up some time for the halter.
WooHoo!