You know, the name PMS is really quite inadequate. I mean, it's already capitalized. So, on the occasions when you need to emphasize the extreme nature of the condition, you've lost one of your most useful options for written emphasis. PMS? Doesn't really do it, does it? PMS? A little better, but still kind of reserved. PMS just looks like you're linking to something. PMS! looks vaguely perky and well, I'm so not. Everyone knows that writing in ALL CAPS online is akin to screaming.
Right. Screaming. See the problem?
So, I'm resorting to the best solution I can come up with: P! M! S! Damnit. And thank goddess for a little something from Doc Norma.
Soothing herbs. My family thanks you, Norma. The booze base to the tincture doesn't hurt either.
I am profoundly cranky. I'm sick with a cold that makes it so that I can't breathe without coughing. My children are possessed by the devil (this may not actually be true, in fact, it's possible that it's me who's possessed by the devil, but I have P! M! S! so everyone else is wrong and I'm right, taking notes? Yes?). Pots are boiling over at not one but two jobs and yesterday was a holiday at preschool (happy Colonialism day in the U.S.A., oh, and Thanksgiving for my Canadian friends) but not at any of the jobs around here. I'm trying to plan a weekend away (dogsitting, directions, etc.), keep up with email, and try not to look like a total slouch at both my jobs, while my kids are treated to me being a b-i-t-c-h and way more Noggin than I am really comfortable with.
Even the knitting sucks. I even decided to try crochet. I read Stephanie's rant in her new book about how crochet is so fast people don't have time to reconsider bad decisions about making ugly objects, and I ran out to the store to get a pattern for some baby stuff for a rapidly-approaching shower, thinking "faster? really?" Dude, it's only faster if you don't suck at it. I keep thinking I could knit this stinking hat faster and then crochet the cute little oak leaf on when I'm done. It may well happen that way.
I have had a few moments of being a good-enough parent. We made pumpkin bread from some pumpkins a friend gave to Henry & Eleanor.
She's saying PUMPKIN! for the camera. Doesn't really work as well as cheese. We used (modified, I'm like that with food too) a recipe from the fabulous Knitting Bloggers' Cookbook (put together by Elizabeth of My Favorite Things) that came, unexpectedly, in the mail on Saturday.
I also got a fabulous t-shirt from the Boston Knit-Out and Crochet 2005 from my, again, fabulous Secret Pal. Thanks Secret Pal! So it's like I was at two of the four fiber events that happened on October 1 (the other two were Judith Mackenzie-McCuin at Nutmeg Spinners and a Spin and Knit-Out on the Amherst Common that hosted Grafton Fibers and Bay Colony Farm). But had I not gone to Vermont I wouldn't be picking up HEN this weekend, I would not have gotten to see some very dear friends, and most importantly as far as my family is concerned, I would not have the Motherwort.
Everything is a bit worse because we have Big Life Changes going on that we are finally acting on, namely a possible change in DP's job situation that will hopefully make our lives more sane. Further updates as events warrant, and specifics when I can. But you know, this kind of stuff freaks the hell out of me, and with the cold and the hormones and the not being able to go to my jobs thing, it means SuperFreak. I'll be glad to get the report on how tomorrow goes, though this whole thing will happen slowly, I know.
I think I'm going to count this as my Random Wednesday entry so that I don't have to stay up late tomorrow. And I think I can say without question that it is sufficiently random. And I don't really feel like creating a category for "Tuesday Tantrums," and I expect you don't want to read one every week either. Though I'm certain I'm capable of producing them on that schedule.
Sweet dreams. Or in my case, sweet lying in bed and coughing.
Being sick sucks, but being sick, PMSy, and overwhelmed *really* sucks. I'm so sorry. Get some Lemon Echinacea Throat Coat tea (Trad Medicinals makes it), pop some chocolate chips in that pumpkin bread, and go take a nap. Don't worry about Noggin for now - they'll survive. It's all temporary...
Posted by: Jenny in NC | October 11, 2005 at 09:47 PM
Ick, hope you're feeling much better in every way soon!
Even though I'm as regular as anything I still end up once a month with that lightbulb coming over my head and saying 'so THAT'S why I was in such a bad mood, duh....' lol
Hugs
Posted by: Anna | October 12, 2005 at 06:14 AM
Allrighty.... let me get this straight... the Motherwort tincture is -- helping? ;-)
Hang in there. Just a few more days till sheep. And wool. Sheeps and wools. And friends.
Posted by: Cassie | October 12, 2005 at 06:45 AM
Why is it that moms don't get sick days? There should be elves (other than the Noggin ones, whom I use way too often) who come to entertain your children while you cough and moan and dream of knitting. Sigh.
And it really is all about being a "good enough" parent. Which you are, and then some. Repeat my mantra: "They will be fine."
I will be looking for you at Rhinebeck on Saturday! Feel better!
Posted by: Katy | October 12, 2005 at 07:57 AM
My PMS just ended. This second. TMI? ;-)
Can't wait to see you at Rhinebeck - remember - I've got a humongous HUG for you - and I can't wait to meet the family!
Let the craziness flow over you. And if Norma's cure isn't working - Junior caramels (I've become the official proselytizer) work great!
Posted by: Cara | October 12, 2005 at 08:06 AM
Ugh. But maybe the good news is hey - no P!M!S! at Rhinebeck. And probably no cold either, and definitely, the kidlets will have something (some people) other than Noggin to distract them.
But, you're having a few sucky days which just, you know, sucks.
mwaaah - Sara
Posted by: sara | October 12, 2005 at 08:50 AM
Hugs from me too. I'd recommend lying in a hot bath reading a good book but that would require the child-care elves...
Posted by: JoVE | October 12, 2005 at 08:52 AM
This too shall pass. Hope you feel better soon, sounds like you have much to look forward to when you make it through this phase of crappiness.
Posted by: PumpkinMama | October 12, 2005 at 09:50 AM
More like Tantrums Every 28 Days. That'd be quite a category...
Eveyone is sick or creaky, P!M!S!ing or whatever - it's the transition of the seasons.
Just take a few drops on the tongue as needed and visualize wool....
Posted by: Juno | October 12, 2005 at 09:55 AM
1. Feel better.
2. Yes, crochet is evil.
3. Good luck with Big Life Changes and job stress.
4. I'd like to send a little something if you'd be comfortable giving me your address.
Posted by: Kat with a K | October 12, 2005 at 10:07 AM
I'm laughing....Not AT YOU, of course. P!M!S! I should have put that on the label. And yesterday I was talking all about the colds. I've become the regular Blogging Apothecary. The FDA will be after me next!
Posted by: Norma | October 12, 2005 at 10:10 AM
Oh dear. You sound so overwhelmed. I'm thinking you need a fiber festival to set you right round. And maybe the joy of welcoming a new spinner to the fold. ;-)
Posted by: Carole | October 12, 2005 at 10:26 AM
Aw, Cate. Hang in there! It'll get better, it really will, just . . . not as fast as you want it to. But it IS only three days til' Rhinebeck . . . that's something, right?? (Just pray for good weather.)
Posted by: --Deb | October 12, 2005 at 10:50 AM
Sounds like everyone else has given you lots of tips for feeling better. Since I can't add much to this, I'll just leave you with this happy (at least for you) thought: Rhinebeck, you, me, Sheila Bosworth. Soon-to-be yet another junkie. :) If you're still feeling crappy, I'll be happy to bring you something healthy and/or yummy. Just let me know...
p.s. How do bloggers who have never met in person find each other at these fiber orgies?
Posted by: Sneaksleep | October 12, 2005 at 12:45 PM
Spend as much time in bed as you can between now and Wool. Lots and lots of hydration brings the white cells to the viri so they can do battle. I hope you feel better...soon. The most practical advice? Bring lots of tissues.
Posted by: Laurie | October 12, 2005 at 01:37 PM
Sorry you're not feeling well. I have the same breathing = coughing thing going myself and am not happy about it. Oh yeah, I'm supposed to fast tomorrow to atone for my sins. Sigh. Praying for good weather for Sat. Looking forward to seeing you guys!
Posted by: Risa | October 12, 2005 at 02:28 PM
I hope the worst of it has passed - in the tmi category I can honestly say that not having my period start during this set of boards was a blessing. Thanks for taking one for the preveribal med student team. (I had an odd moment during the exam today - was/is your mom a Latin teacher? I found myself thinking about her as I deciphered the words I'd never heard of...)
I'm sorry I won't get to see you (and your family and dp) this weekend - if I were closer I'd love to borrow the dog. Have a great trip!
Posted by: Kristen | October 12, 2005 at 08:46 PM
Oh dear, poor you...
You don't know me from Adam (or Eve) but as a formerly breastfeeding (10 years, four kids), knit-addicted mother of twins who is a left leaning democrat (albeit in Australia) and has a twin son called Henry....I just had to say hello ;-)
Hope your cold is better soon - and that shawl is to die for.
Posted by: genj | October 13, 2005 at 05:31 AM
Hope you are feeling better!! Keeping my fingers crossed for good (or at least decent) weather on Saturday. Will you be bringing the twins?
Posted by: Lisa | October 13, 2005 at 09:53 AM
You and me both, babe, on all four accounts...P!M!S!, kid more demanding, job more deadline-driven, and I've got a wicked cold starting up. My kid sounds like a wounded seal, she's coughing so hard.
Bleah.
Have fun you-know-where.
Damn, I still can't believe I'm not going.
Posted by: Lee Ann | October 13, 2005 at 10:47 AM
The Yarn Harlot posted a link to you, and that's how I got here. No fiber comments, but I can relate to the PMS thing. As someone who has actually had out of body PMS experiences (I have watched myself from a safe spot overhead as I lashed out at my husband and children, unable to stop the irrational behavior, though desperately wishing I could at least keep my mouth shut. The monthly insanity ends in a near-audible rush of shifting hormones, at which point I instantly feel beneficent and euphoric. It's some scary s**t.) Anyway, through some totally non-scientific internet research, I discovered that (a) Two Tums twice a day, every day, completely eradicates the sore-boob problem and (b) a B-vitamin supplement taken daily eases the mood swing thing (and headaches and digestive issues) to an amazing degree. It took two months to kick in, though. I ran out of B vitamins for a while and YIKES that was a mistake. I won't say my PMS is gone, but I have to write my due date on the calendar now because I can't pinpoint it by my symptoms anymore.
Sorry for the non-fiber post. But I do sympathize.
Posted by: jessie | October 13, 2005 at 01:29 PM