The preview is up…and I got my designer copy and tear sheets in the mail on Friday. It’s a really fun issue, in my opinion…lots of interesting shapes. Katie and Lisa are really good at choosing garments that are contemporary and are actually things that people could/would wear. I’ve met both of them in person and, yeah, they’re stylin’.

It’s an especially fun issue for me (and Kate and Jennifer):

I also have a pattern in there, and in the knitting on the street section…there’s Carrieoke wearing her Forecast!

personal life update:
I’ve been really taking it easy the past few days. Well, since about Wednesday, actually. Trying not to exacerbate the sciatica stuff. Using the pillows, doing the stretches, etc. (Thanks for all your suggestions in the comments!) I’m feeling really edgy today, though, because I know I have so much to do and it’s Monday tomorrow. I took my NP seriously when she told me to take it easy, and the back feels better, but I feel totally anxious.

I’m going koo-koo trying to find some balance between complete zone-out rest and crazy-busy.

I think I just crashed.

Arg. OK, so I mentioned that I’m having this back pain. It was so bad on Tuesday that I could hardly walk. It was making me feel ill, it hurt so bad. I kept thinking it was a pulled muscle or pinched nerve and would go away, but it just kept getting worse. So I called the NP (Nurse Practitioner) who told me to come in “NOW.” She was worried that it was some kind of cramping or a kidney problem. We did several tests, and there’s no organ problem…it turns out that it’s SCIATICA.

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(butt image courtesy wikipedia.com)

My friend Jayme worked in a hair salon when we all lived on Lawn-Guy-Land and she has the funniest impression of the clients, “Ooh, my sy-aht-ik-kuh.” You have to say it in a voice like Geroge Castanza’s mom and bend over at the waist with your hand on your left hip and make a face. So all I can hear is this Long Island accented older lady when I think or say the word. And I do stand bent over with my hand on my hip. It’s insane.

And it really hurts! I read in my pregnancy book about sciatica, but it typically (I’m learning there is no “typically” with pregnancies) happens later when the baby’s weight compresses the nerve, but here I am…month 3…big old back pain!

So Tuesday morning I meet Nicole at the “Southwest Sport & Spine Center” to start physical therapy. Jeez.

In the meantime, I’ve got a wedge-shaped butt pillow and one of those “body pillow” things to sleep with. Nate says I can throw out the pillow and just spoon him. But the pillow don’t snore! And he DO.

I also decided to go to yoga. The city offers before and after work exercise classes, including yoga and pilates…so I’m going to sign up. $1.50 / class! They told me that the instructor can tailor any of the moves so that I can do everything safely. The site doesn’t really give a great indication of all the classes or the schedule, so I have to go there to get more info. I don’t understand businesses not having functional websites. I searched “prenatal yoga, las cruces” and some references to classes showed up…but none of the organizations have websites! Tsk Tsk. I don’t have time to drive all around picking up literature. (Cranky back pain talking.)

I mean, even if I’m getting a haircut, I want to go online and check out all the services before I go in so I can have a price in mind.

Ok, I need to do something non-gripey.

Sunday.

This is the first weekend that I’ve been home in several weekends. Home with no class to teach and no out-of-towners to entertain. (Though I’ve LOVED entertaining all the o-o-t-ers!) My house has been a disaster. My “craft room” had become the dumping ground for everything yarn. Knee-high piles of sweaters, yarn, books, business paperwork…it was really giving me nightmares. Every time I walked by, I shut the door. To look was to cringe/feel guilty/wonder what exactly the cats were DOING in there.

SO Friday night I cleaned it! I had come home from work and gotten right into my PJs, as is my wont of late. I’ve been coming home at 6, lying on the bed and reading till I just pass out. As late as 8 if I’m lucky. The thing is, it was 100 degrees outside, and the craft room was the only room with an A/C unit! SO…in order to sit in here and enjoy it…I cleaned.

I can see FLOOR! I have shelf space! I can see what I’m doing for the next book! I can get to the closet! I DID move the A/C to the bedroom…and sleeping last night was SO NICE. We’ve been having 100+ degree temps the last week, and are supposed to be in the 100s next week, too. Summer in the Southwest!

Yesterday was also a big cleanup day. I did laundry and hung it to dry, but the major-major-MAJOR thing I did was to go through my closets. I put away all the summer stuff that I know I won’t be able to wear this summer, as well as all the winter stuff that’ll be too small…keeping out cardigan sweaters and elastic-waist pants. (I’ll be SO stylin’!) I filled up 4 22-gallon Rubbermaid tubs for the garage, making room for Hugo’s clothes and accoutrements.

So…I’m working my way from the back of the house to the front. Craft room, bedroom, linen closet…next are big bathroom (I don’t go in Nate’s bathroom!) living room, and kitchen. Maybe next weekend. We’re meeting my parents at 2 for a Fathers’ Day lupper. Nate’s outside mowing the “lawn” and I’m getting ready to do some work for work, re-pot a couple houseplants, and see how much I can get done by 2. I really feel like I need about a week off…then I could be all caught up with everything. That’s not happening…so I’ll take a few more weekends at home. There’s something so NICE about not having any set plans.

Monday.
Nate mowed the lawn and put some plants in the ground. We’ve got hibiscus, sage, and lavender in the front bed now along with 3 little rose bushes. I did get 3 houseplants repotted…then fell asleep from about 3 till about 7. I just totally konked out. Then was able to go right back to sleep at bedtime. And now…it’s Monday again already.

Are you on Ravelry?

It’s a little tricky to figure out who’s who…but my username is Stefanie, and if you ‘friend’ me, I’ll ‘friend’ you back.

I’m just getting set up there and figuring things out. So far, it really is a great organizational tool!

I haven’t had a chance to spend much time in the forums…but looking forward to having more time later in the summer!