I am just bursting with good cheer. One would think it is nearly Christmas rather than Thanksgiving, I feel so good.

This morning I had a phone interview with a recruiter about a job on my way to have a coffee date with a friend and former coworker. My friend is the most amazing woman, beautiful and upbeat, great sense of humor, and so talented. I just feel full to bursting with good spirits after every visit with her.

After coffee -- well, actually mine was green tea,...

Yesterday I mentioned that knitting is a Mindfulness practice for me, and my propensity to make mistakes if I don't stay mindful. Yep, last night as I was knitting my last set for the day, I looked down and ... DANG IT! I saw a glaring mistake about a set down. Obviously I drifted away without realizing it, and failed to check my work before I continued. Grrr.

Oh well, nothing to be done about it but take it out and do it over. Wisely, rather than attempt...

The aspercreme calmed my throbbing hands and wrists last night (from too much knitting yesterday), so I was able to knit another eight rows on my current scarf project this morning with my coffee.

I love knitting. I am not very good at it so I have to stay completely focused on the act of knitting. If I get "comfy" then I make a mistake -- sometimes many. Thankfully, my mistakes have taught me to be an excellent tinker (reverse knitting).

In addition to...

As a young woman (after my terrible twenties) I always had a plan. I had a life plan, with five and ten-year milestones. I had yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily plans. My daily planner was mapped out in quarter-hour increments until I finished my degree -- it took 13 years.

Did everything go to schedule? No. But for those occasions I had back up plans -- aka: "contingencies." Get attacked in a ladies restroom -- no worries, plan for the recovery, the counseling, the...

Yesterday I finally got the results of my x-rays and learned that I have degenerative arthritis in my spine and SI joint. Not what I would call good news, but good in that it isn't something terminal, and I've got a good chance at managing the pain. At least I hope so.

I've suffered through the low back, hip, and thigh pain associated with this situation for a very, very long time and it is nice to finally be able to put a name to it. Apparently I need to get back into a gentle exercise...