Pick Up Sticks

ADD

I think I am an ADD knitter...I always have too many projects started...I get bored easily with one project and flit to another...or another one catches my eye and I just have to start it.  Right now I have on my needles:

• Striped scarf-inspired by the one on brooklyntweed's blog and others found all over ravelry.  I have two sons and they are so hard to knit for...but both liked this scarf - as well as brooklyntweed's square hat - so they have been started and will be Christmas presents.  Of course I wanted to start right away and didn't have any Noro in my stash but started one with Cascade 220 and some Paint Box - both lefover from my intarsia class.  Almost done with the first one...easy mindless knitting.
• Turn a Square Hat - to match the scarves
• Kelp Forest Scarf - from Ocean Breezes book.
• Baby sweater from Berrocco book knit with comfort in a non-gender teal color.
• Mr. Greenjeans - which I got to the point of starting the cables and then realized I had lost enough weight to make it huge on me...have to rip it out...but for a good reason!
• Totally Autumn throw - from Anne Hanson of knitspot...just need to wind some more yarn...I'm lazy about that.
• Fingerless gloves in Delaware Blue Hens colors for my husband...not needed until late September.
• Baby Sweater in berroco comfort for my friend's first grandbaby.

I have lots of other that I have started, ripped out, forgotten...

My goal this weekend is to take inventory of what I have started, what yarn I have bought for which project and to just try and get better organized.

A New Beginning

Most of the time - as a mom and wife - we make decisions based on what is best for our family - not necessarily what is best for us.  There is nothing wrong with doing this...being part of a family is always about give and take.

But for the first time in a really long time I have made a huge change in my life because it was best for me...for my sanity...for my happiness.  I had been working in a job that I use to love...but over the past few years it became a place of dread for me...I hated going to work.   I didn't sleep because I thought about it...I stuffed my face with food to try to soothe my nerves...nothing worked.  In June I was offered a position elsewhere...I had been interviewing for about 3 months but only wanted to leave for the best reasons...not just taking the first offer.  I gave my notice in early June - gave 3 weeks notice and worked hard to try to get as much done as possible before I left.  I worked at my old job the weekend before starting my new one...trying to get caught up and leave things in a good place.

On Monday, July 7th I started a new job...totally out of my safety net.  My old job was 5 mintues from home.  I went home everyday on my lunch hour...walked my dog, did laundry, started dinner...it was convenient.  My new job has me driving into the city - not a huge city granted - but this was all so new for me.  The new office is very quiet...but so far I really like it...it's so much more professional...no cattiness, no back stabbing...and I really don't forsee that happening here.  I come home from work relaxed...no more headaches...I'm sleeping so much better.  It was a good decision...for me...and I truly believe that in the long run it will be better for my family as well...because I am happier.

My father was furious with me...my old job was very secure...the retirement was very good (a school district) and secure.  He thought I was crazy to leave.  But I reminded him that I spent 8-10 hours there a day...being miserable.  I've learned quite a bit in the past few years...losing my sister at 41 has taught me to look at life differently...we never know what tomorrow brings...life's too short to spend that much of it miserable.  I think he understands my decision...whether he agrees with it or not is another story...but luckily my husband has been very supportive. I'm lucky that I was at a point in my life that I didn't have to worry about kids and daycare and sporting events, etc as we no longer have kids at home full-time - just one away at college part of the year. 

I've learned so much from making this decision...you learn who your friends are - I left some very good friends at my old job, I learned that you can teach an old dog new tricks, and most importantly - I learned that I can be happy again.