Crochet, the new knitting.

Ok, just the easier knitting. Anyway, while I was trying to make a hat and my cousin was trying to make me a toe/cast cover we realized we were each doing a better job of the other's task so we switched assignments. Now I have a loose but warm toe cover and a chunky, cool hat that match each other and a scarf I already own! Yay giant hooks of happiness.

How I broke my ankle, and what came next.

Please excuse any spelling errors, I'm a little impaired due to pain killers I think.

So I was walking down a very messy, snowy, icy hill because Saltspring Island has no snow removal equipment (and usually wouldn't need it.) I felt one foot slip and thought to myself "shit, I'm going to land on my ass and have a wet butt the whole ride to Amy's house (my cousin, we were leaving my aunt's place). Then my right foot didn't slip and instead caught on something and ended up under me as I fell. I felt something fold, thought it was just my boot at first but was quickly sure it wasn't. My uncle and my cousin's boyfriend got me over to the car (after a brief rest on the ground) and I got my boot off as quickly as I could because there was definitely going to be swelling and, well, they're new boots and I didn't want to have to cut them off. Fortunately the hospital was only about 20 minutes away so I did some deep breathing and thinking about happy things while we drove. The waiting room was empty so I got wheeled in right away and after some discussion of where I was from and my doctor's name etc the doctor told me in a very calm voice that he was quite worried because my ankle was swollen on both sides and so I would need an x-ray. I quite liked his bedside manner, it was a very calming way to tell me is was in baaad shape. X-ray guy came and wheeled me in to the next room, took some shots of my foot and wheeled me back. I got to see one angle displayed on a monitor but they don't actually print them out anymore. I wanted a copy to take home but no such luck.

I got sent home with a temporary cast. We took photos of the process so I'll try to get them up soon. It all seemed like an interesting adventure once they got my ankle stabilized and the ouchiness decreased to a bearable amount. I did have to get taken to Duncan BC by my very kind aunt and uncle the next day (Tuesday) where the orthopedic surgeon evidently operated on my foot although I know nothing more than that I fell asleep in one room and woke up in another wondering when they were going to start the surgery. Incidentally they operated on the proper leg which was reassuring since they tried to check me in as Lolita Ayeldas with a broken left ankle (I said to go for the one with the cast). I got properly registered as Roberta and all seems to have gone well. The cast I have now is a different colour than the one I went in to the hospital with so they must have done something right? Tomorrow I go back for a follow up x-ray and a long-term cast and, hopefully, permission to fly home on Sunday as planned.

I'm feeling very glad about having spent the last 3 months or so working on balance and leg strength at karate as it is definitely coming in handy now! How I am going to keep this up for 6 weeks remains to be seen as I am already feeling frustrated at having to depend on other people for everything and not being able to just get up and get it myself. Good lesson in patience and gratitude for me I think.

So, that's the story of how Robi broke her first (and hopefully last) bone ever!

Robi - the newest kung fu panda.

I have been going to Karate for the past month or so and I am really enjoying it (as I thouht I would). I am so much more inclined to exercise when someone is telling me to do it. If only Anne would offer to boss me around in some sport I would actually do! Maybe we'll find one someday.

John (my cousin) actually gave me a compliment the other day. He is one of the blackbelts /Sensei at the karate club. At the last class we had to present our forms (katas) to the whole group and when we got home he told me I should enter a tournament which I take to mean I looked like I knew what I was doing. Woot!

Yeesh

Yep, I totally am not good at updating my blog but really, how many pictures of my cats do you want to see? Here are some pics of my new classroom in my 'happy clappy' school which I am really enjoying. I have grades 6-8 which we refer to as Senior Class. There's only 10 kids in the class and they're all pretty great so no complaints so far. I'll try to get some photos of the work we've posted on the walls so you can all (both?) see how artistic these kids are.
PS. I'm really not in love with my current digital camera, anyone have one they love and would reccomend?

What am I doing?

Leaving a real full-time job for supply teaching? Or some other school? Am I crazy?

Let's hope not. It's time to be closer to family and friends and further from the things that are keeping me from being a better teacher and believer, becoming a mother, and, hopefully, wife.

It has been great in many ways to stop all the travelling for a while and let my life catch up and take stock a bit but what I see is that I need to go.

Started reading "Through Painted Deserts" by Donald Miller. Not quite as in love as I was with "Blue Like Jazz" but we'll see. Anyway, as I was praying for some sort of sign I am doing the right thing and not crazily jumping off into the void, the theme of Chpt. 1 is Leave. Quote to follow when I have the book in front of me.

So, now we pray that I end up in the right place I guess.

Sweater Vest invented

I made an argyle sweater that had only 3/4 length sleeves that were driving me crazy and wasn't getting worn into a sweater vest. I ripped out the sleeve stitches but it is going to need a bit of tidying up as the sleeves were incredibly well attached.

I LOVE IT! But I still wan't more...

More on sweater vests.

I like something over a plain shirt, especially for school, it looks a little dressier and is easy to remove if I get too warm. I have a few fleece style vests but I find myself taking them off without even noticing I'm doing so. I like the extra layer without the extra bulk of sleeves. And I think they're cool. I'm very disappointed that "sweater vest nerd" on Beauty and the Geek has been encouraged to give up his sweater vest lovin' ways entirely. He needed to get some cooler and better fitting vests but to lose the vest entirely, no way man, not cool.

Sweater Vests

This is part one of what I imagine will be a continued rant.

I want a friggin' sweater vest! Everyone else gets them (go watch Juno or Dancing with the Stars for crying out loud, that's got to be the pop culture gamut) and I want one. An argyle one and a navy blue with a white stripe on the v neck collar one. I have been looking for three years at least now. Don't tell me to make one bacause I am not going to learn how to knit well that quickly. Just find me one and tell me where to go get it. 'k?

Pie!

I made lemon meringue pie. Not from scratch but it tastes good anyway! Here are my proud-pie-making-pics! (And the look at the mess I made doing it pics too!)

Happy Easter!!

Easter & Babies

I am taking it relatively easy this weekend although my "veg out/ get caught up on school stuff" weekend seems to be filling up a bit with visiting and dinners. Oh poor poor me. Don't worry family, I'm coming home soon (as soon as the ferry runs anyway.) Looking forward to seeing my new cousin/niece Zoe. She looks very cute from the photos.

No babies for me yet (sorry Anne). I have set myself a goal of getting knocked up next summer (2009 that is) hoping it'll be with some nice life-partner type fella and not just donor 65243, sigh. What a weird concept to put it into words but I am tired of waiting for life to put itself in order for me... Feedback??

This looks interesting.

I was wandering around the 'net and came across this
The Ancestry Project

I think it looks pretty cool and I have always wondered about my ancestry, especially on my dad's side since they all live far away and I have a family tree but little detail. I don't know about the $100-200 it would cost but maybe some day when I'm feeling rich I'll go for it.

Need anti-virus suggestions

Or maybe just confirmation that this would be a good choice:

Bitdefender.

I found the review for it here: http://anti-virus-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

Sounds good to me. What are you, gentle reader, using these days?

I stole this from Anne & Luke's friend's site.

http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/

It makes me laugh! Go read it.

Also: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=demetri+martin&search_type=

Funny!

I know I know

As Anne pointed out I need to update but not a lot happens that seems worth posting.

Only big thing: I drove off the road and can no longer brag about being the only family member not to anymore (poop). The car is fine (unfortunately) and I was perfectly ok, just hit some ice and skidded off into the deep snow. Yay CAA for coming to the rescue, although they were too fast at the extraction as I was hoping to get a photo and didn't.

Next: in lieu of kid photos or car photos, here are some cat photos 'cause they are all I have for now by way of domestic attachments.






Yes, this is the cat under the fridge. She will do anything for a fake mouse. I can't wait to see her with a real one sometime (but preferably not in the house now that I think about it...)































This is other cat being as cute as she can to make up for the fact that she is the older model and is hoping not to be replaced by that zesty young kitten who keeps crawling under the fridge. (She really shouldn't worry, I totally love her the best but don't tell, ok?)



Hmm, time for the crazy Robi to get some sleep methinks!

TTFN

2008 will be the best year yet!

I have been having a lovely time visiting with my family and friends. I feel like I have regained a bit of myself that gets lost when 90% of my life is taken up with school and the other 10% is TV or other similarly mundane activities. Yep, it's time to get back to where I once belonged (and it would seem, still do!)
So, my resolution this year is to get done whatever it is I need to do to make sure I can be closer to those I love because they are what makes life worth living.