Summer hours 2011

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This week we started Summer Hours.  That means we have the option to work four 10-hour days though not everyone in our office takes advantage of this.   We either work Monday-Thursday or Tuesday-Friday.  Some have sitter issues, some don’t want to work two extra hours a day for one day off, some just don’t like change.

Me?  I’m all for saving 1.5 gallons of gas a week but mostly I like having a 3-day weekend every week.  This ends up being an extra 13 days off and all I have to do is go to work one hour earlier and stay one hour later for 52 days.  Seems like a good deal to me.

So on Monday I painted (details when I’m finished), met with my financial advisor, cleaned the guest room and bath for our visitors this weekend (Hi Leah!), installed a cordless window blind in the guest room, washed rugs and my swiffer covers, knit another swiffer cover and another Leafy Washcloth.

My first washcloth

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I made my very first washcloth yesterday and started the next one last night.  I’ve been knitting for a long, long time and never made a washcloth before.

The first one is drying and I didn’t get a picture of it.

I thought these would be a nice hostess gift or a “thinking of you” gift along with a bar of handmade soap.  I don’t make soap but I do know a few people who do.

The pattern is from Megan Goodacre and can be found here.  There are actually two leaf patterns to choose from.  The first pattern is all knit with some increases and decreases.  The second one is knit and purl as well as the increases and decreases.  This would be a great pattern for those interested in trying those skills.  Or for anyone who wants a quick project that uses a small amount of cotton yarn.

I’m using Lily Sugar and Cream since I bought more than I’ll ever use several balls of it to make the swiffer covers.  This is a quick knit (took me less than 1 1/2 hours) and something a little different from a plain old square.

I’m sensitive

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I’ve been sensitive my whole life but things are changing.

Emotionally I can brush off a lot more than I could a few years ago.

Physically I’m getting worse.

I’m sensitive to cocoa butter…applied topically as well as ingested.  I love chocolate and know how much I can eat before it bothers me.  I don’t knowingly apply cocoa butter to my skin at all.

I’m sensitive to dish detergent so I have to wear rubber gloves.  Not necessarily a bad thing.  I will wash dishes without them if I’m at someone else’s house.

A few years ago I discovered I’m sensitive to sodium lauryl sulfate in toothpaste so I have to be careful what kind I use.

Now it’s the adhesive on bandages.  Last summer I had some of those sticky heart monitor patches on my torso and one started melting into my skin.  Literally ate my skin.  It took months to heal.  Last week I has a blood test and the lab assistant put a Band Aid over the site.  When I took it off, my skin was red and blistered.

Tuesday afternoon I had a visit to the doctor that required a couple of Band Aids and sure enough when they were removed, my skin was red, blistered and burning.  But I had to replace the bandage to protect my clothing.  I found some gauze and paper tape to use and am hoping I don’t have any more red, blistered, burning skin.

Mr. Aitch called a repair man about our heat pump/air conditioner.  He was out so maybe he’ll call today to schedule a service visit.  Mother Nature cooled things off last night and we were comfortable with the lower humidity, lower temperatures, and a refreshing breeze.  Should be a much more pleasant day today.

Cha-ching

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When our house was built, we had two heat pumps/air conditioners installed.  One for the first floor and one for the second floor.  When it’s hot in the summer, we can turn on the second floor air conditioner so it is nice and cool at night.  In the winter the heat pump keeps the first floor warm and since heat rises, the second floor heat pump doesn’t have to work as hard.  We are comfortable all year long.

We’ve had 90+ degree days the past three days with humidity levels to match and it looks like we’re in for another hot one today.  Last night Mr. Aitch noticed it wasn’t as cool in the house, particularly the first floor even though both air conditioners were on.  Seems like we have a problem.  And it’s not going to be cheap.