Not Knitting Needles - Acupuncture and a Flu Shot

The huge agency I work for had their annual staff conference this past week. Our agency is so big, that the conference runs for 4 days to accommodate all the employees (over 2000 across central and western NY State). Breakfast, lunch, lots of speeches and a Wellness Fair make up the day. While cruising the Wellness Fair, I tried acupuncture from a very soft spoken lady acupuncturist. She took one look at me and said "let's try here on your ear - this will relieve stress". A split second with barely noticeable tiny prick and the needle was on m ear - not the soft parts, but on the big part toward the top middle. At first I felt nothing. Later, like 7 minutes later, I felt relaxed. A small crowd gathered around the lady and we all chatted while she stuck needles in our ears and hands, for stress, for back pain, for hip pain. There was an older man who nearly shouted "this works! it really works!" We were all satisfied customers. I would definitely try this again.

I got a flu shot. No big deal, right? For me it was. The first time I ever had a flu shot, I woke up the following day feeling like I had been kicked in the stomach over and over. I had heard the expression "doubled over with pain" been had never experienced it until after I had that flu shot. I literally could not stand up straight, the pain in my abdomen was so bad. I called my doctor's office - where I got the shot. A nurse told me I had a "bad reaction" and to take motrin for pain and OTC anti-gas medication to survive it. How come nobody warns you of THOSE types of side effects? Needless to say, I was hesitant to get another flue shot - for like the past 10 years. But I said "what the hell" this year, "let's try this again - maybe it won't happen again - and if it does, I'll get a day in bed!" So I left during one of the really dull speeches and got the flu shot - no waiting! It has been 5 days so far and I am happy to report that outside of the site of the injection being rather itchy and tender, no ill effects!

News on the Job Front

Now here's the best part of the day. I am off work for 9 days!!! I haven't been off from work for this long in YEARS! I am tickled. I have so many projects I want to work on during this time - I can't wait! I want to finish some things - I want to load up a page with FO photos! I want to dye yarn. I want to knit up swatches of my hand dyed yarn to photograph so people can see how it looks knitted. Most importantly, I was to do some research to find alternative employment. I have come to the conclusion that I am pretty burned out and need a BIGTIME change in the work department. Since there really are no options I am interested in the agency where I work now, I am looking elsewhere. And not necessarily Social Work. I have lots of ideas to research and a few concrete steps I can take. I know the change is needed and welcome. As soon as I decided to make the change, I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I am hoping to find ways to expand my yarn dyeing business or another way to make money using my creativity in fiber arts. Meanwhile, I will also pursue some part time work to pay the bills.

Spinning

A few years back, I tried my hand at drop spindle spinning. In retrospect, I actually did get the hang of it (ha ha). I had given up on it, although I can't exactly remember why, but I am trying it out again. I ordered a beautiful top whorl spindle, made of rosewood and mountain ash, from a craftsman in Australia, and some lovely wool roving - dyed in lovely bright colors. Can't wait to start!