Oy what a week...

What a week!

I spent a few days cowering in pain from my sinus infection.  I'm currently loving penicillin derivatives.

I started the Halloween Costume Construction lunacy.  This year, we're doing the T-Tunic thing. You know, fold fabric in half, cut neck hole, pin to fit, sew side seams.....  They can look like this:

But when you're doing something snazzy with sheer fabric for the sleeve, you have lots of extra from the sides... so you can do a variation on gores for the skirt... leaving you with something like this:

I still have some gores to sew in.... and some sleeve work to do... and likely a hem or two...  But we made a start.

I also spent about three hours on the phone with our HealthCare provider's accounts department (after who know how many hours working out a spreadsheet to line up what I know we've paid with what they show we've paid).  They don't show "received $100.00.  They show all the bizarre ways they've allocated any given payment to a charge.... so $100.00 gets broken down to $2.37 to this date of service, $15.20 to that one, 25.00 to this one 12.43 to this other one... $0.90 to that one (I kid you not)...etc. etc.

We found a good $100.00 in stuff that's been unallocated for over a year, and thus doesn't really show as credited....  Now I'm checking on whether they've over-allocated after insurance payments.

I'm hating it.

On the good side... I've also been spending time with the spreadsheets for Seasons of Lace... and awarding raffle prizes right left and center.

I had actually bound off the stealth knitting project I'm doing, but realized that I really did have enough yarn for another repeat of the lace body... and ripped it all back to use up as much of the yarn as possible.  Now I'm nearing the end again.  Sure wish I could show you!

Then we learned about Hurricane Omar.  You see, many many months ago, we got an omigod deal for a weekend in St. Thomas.  $399.00 paid for five days and four nights for all four of us!!  I managed to score plane tickets for all four of us for $329.00 each.  This weekend is the weekend we're scheduled to go (Oct 18-22).  Then this hurricane shows up and starts glaring at St. Thomas.

We got notification.  American Airlines seemed to be saying that if we were scheduled to fly between October 13 and October 18, we could reschedule at no extra charge.  We figure that's a good  plan, manage to move the amazing hotel deal... only to learn that the latest we can reschedule the flight to is.... Oct 18. 

Huh?  Why reschedule from Oct 18 to Oct 18?????
Moving it would have cost $563 PER PERSON!  hello??? more than the original tickets by a lot!

So, after hours of agonizing, and contemplating what to do with our weekend (since DH had finagled the time off), we had to scramble to reinstate the deal for this weekend.   NOW I really need the break!

Meanwhile, my dear friend, the Divine though Blogless Elizabeth, has given me my birthday present a tad early (it's not til Monday).

Are those not the CUTEST knitted shoe/slippers you've ever seen for an adult foot?
And they fit perfectly!

I Heart My Shoes!

I'm a little sad that they aren't really appropriate for the beach.

I'm secretly gloating a little that I get to spend my birthday on the beach.

Comments

[Theresa]

Happy Birthday, hope you have a great trip!!

I was wondering if you knew the pattern for your slippers...I am looking for a nice one and yours are great. What a great friend!

[gayle]

Yes, Yes!! The pattern? Lovely slippers.
Happy birthday!

[Bev]

Happy Birthday to us! We are twins - sort of! Hope you had a wonderful day and got lots of great SWAG!
And please send that slipper pattern this was too.

[Carrie K]

Happy Birthday, I hope the vacation is hurricane free!

Those costumes are darling. Easy looking too.

An Audrey, eh? I'm an Ingrid.

[Walden]

I was also wondering about the pattern for those slippers...if there is one to have.

[Monica]

Happy belated birthday!

I'd like to know what pattern Divine Though Blogless Elizabeth used too!