Battening down the hatches

Oops, I keep forgetting to post here. Mostly, I think, because I don’t generally have a lot of new, interesting things to say! Work’s good, home’s good, knitting’s good… plus I don’t know if many people are even reading. Say hi if you are!

Today (well, technically yesterday now, since it’s after midnight) was Jeff and my 6th wedding anniversary, and we did… well, nothing much, really. No money to go out this weekend, plus some unpleasant health news to deal with (more on that in a moment). So, we loafed around the house, and then ventured out into the rain to try to find inexpensive items to make Jeff a Halloween costume for work Wednesday — his office really gets into dressing up and all. We’re trying to figure out how to make a Plumbbob, the little green diamond thing that floats over the heads of Sims:

We have a few ideas; Jeff really wants to figure out how to make it glow, but I’m not terribly optimistic about that. We shall see! (I have to work Wednesday night, but I don’t plan to dress up. I don’t know if anyone at the library does, plus Halloween has never been my favorite holiday as far as participating goes. I’m perfectly happy to watch everyone else dress up and such!)

Work has been good — extra hours lately, which is always nice. This past week was actually pretty hectic, since a lot of people were out at network-wide meetings and training sessions already, and then The Cold from Hell began felling the staff who were still around. Wednesday I was already scheduled to work some extra evening hours, but I woke up to a frantic message from the library director, asking me to come in in the late morning to cover the desk, since someone had called out sick. Thursday, I spent the evening at the Circulation desk, since one of the two people scheduled there was out sick — we just closed the Reference desk and directed everyone to Circ. It was fun, though, and I had been wanting to spend a little time there, to get my bearings; I know a lot of the basics, since my previous job was at a circulation desk, but there are always details that are different. I like to be as flexible as possible at work, so I can help out wherever I might be needed, you know?

The unpleasant health news — Jeff and I had long-overdue physicals, and got a bunch of blood work done, and mine came up great except for my blood sugar. After fasting, mine was 137 — normal is 100 or under, so that’s too high. My doctor said it’s not diabetes yet, and he doesn’t want to put me on medication; he thinks that I can bring the number down through diet and exercise, so that’s what I’m going to try to do. it’s pretty overwhelming, though, since a big part of it is cutting carbs and (obviously) sugar. I know a lot of ways I can cut back on sugar — I have a raging sweet tooth, especially at night — but the carbs are more of a challenge. Mostly, I was freaking out over what I can eat for breakfast and lunch and snacks. I’m also trying to figure out working more exercise into the day, especially when I’m working. I walk to work, which is great, but it’s only a couple of blocks — not nearly enough. I can’t afford to join a gym, and since I don’t get off work until 9 at night, that makes scheduling a little tough. But on the days I don’t work, I really need to get outside and go for walks.

I do have friends who’ve been through the same thing, though, so I’ve gotten some really good advice, and I’ve already requested a bunch of books from the library. It’s a challenge, but it’s something I absolutely must do — I don’t want to end up diabetic. Sigh. (Jeff’s blood sugar was just a little bit high — his problem is his blood pressure. So between the two of us, we have some major changes to make.)

As for the knitting… I’m taking a break from the sweater. Nothing’s gone wrong with it, it’s just… well, it’s gotten to the “Oh God, I have to repeat this same lace pattern HOW many more times?!” stage. So, I’m on a wee break from it. I’ve been wanting some nice light scarves to wear to work, and since I don’t really have money to buy any, I’m going to make them. I’m currently working on a Hitchhiker shawlette, in a lovely, soft merino-cashmere blend yarn that I got at the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool festival a few months ago. It’s coming out very nicely:

 
Pardon the crappy cell phone picture.

And now, we’re battening down the hatches to prepare for Hurricane Sandy, which is supposed to really hit tomorrow. The library is going to be closed (I wasn’t scheduled to be there anyway, but it’s nice to know my coworkers won’t have to try to get there) and Jeff’s office is closed for the day, so neither of us has to leave the house. We have battery-powered lanterns, an oil hurricane lamp, plenty of food and water, and I have a pile of knitting. Hopefully the storm won’t be too awful. If you’re in the path of it, stay safe!