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      <title>Stress Reaction</title>
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      <description>Guaranteed Cranky 98.6 % of the time!</description>
      <language>en</language>
      <copyright>Copyright 2010</copyright>
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            <item>
         <title>On Snowy Days and Spinning</title>
         <description><![CDATA[They just seem to go together, snowy days and spinning.

<center><img alt="PeriwinkleSingles.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/PeriwinkleSingles.jpg" width="600" height="450" /></center>

Not to mention I found these little 1oz battlets particularly apropos:

<center><img alt="PeriwinkleBatts.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/PeriwinkleBatts.jpg" width="600" height="450" /><br>Peri-twinkle Beautiful Battlets<br>
95% Hand-dyed Superwash Merino & 5% <b>icicle</b> sparkle</center>

Purchased from the ever creative <a href="http://knittygrittythoughts.typepad.com/">Keri</a> of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/kmckiernan">Knitting Gritty Thoughts</a> (blog and shop of the same name).

Finally, in a frenzy of momentum, I cleaned off a bobbin that has "rested" for about three years, with the following results:

<center><img alt="ooooooooooooldsingles.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/ooooooooooooldsingles.jpg" width="600" height="450" /></center>

Overspin much?]]></description>
         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2010/01/on_snowy_days_and_spinning.html</link>
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                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Spinning Freak</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:59:44 -0600</pubDate>
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            <item>
         <title>Eye Candy Friday (I know, it&apos;s been awhile)!</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<center><img alt="ecfnorman.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/ecfnorman.jpg" width="600" height="450" /></center>

My betta buddy Norman admiring himself in the mirror.]]></description>
         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2009/02/eye_candy_friday_i_know_its_be.html</link>
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                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Eye Candy Friday</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:22:32 -0600</pubDate>
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            <item>
         <title>25 Random Things About Me (wrote this for facebook, so this is a twofer)</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<center><img alt="LoveThesePines%21Rome.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/LoveThesePines%21Rome.jpg" width="600" height="450" /></center>

1.	I am an unashamed and ardent fan of the Twilight and Harry Potter series.

2.	I love fast cars.

3.	I am passionate. When I do something, I do it well, and with passion. If, after a reasonable amount of time, I cannot do something well, then I quit doing it. (There is one notable exception to this. Those who know me well know what this exception is).

4.	I love music. I don’t play an instrument, read music, or have any knowledge of what makes music work. I’m just glad it does.

5.	I am addicted to my <a href="http://nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/?locale=en_us&token=B5F39309-BCEB-6B78-489E-FB64885869A2">Nike+</a>. (Thanks <a href="http://www.karensquared.net/">Karen</a>)!

6.	I love my work. I am blessed with having chosen a career with stability. It is never boring, and I never dread going into work each day, which I have learned a lot of people do.

7.	I hate to budget.

8.	My job pays me well, which is good, in light of #7.

9.	I have a good eye for photography. Unfortunately, I am lazy about taking pictures, so I miss a lot of great shots.

10.	I love to knit.

11.	I wear hand-knit wool socks most days between November and April.

12.	I have more sock yarn collected than I can ever possibly knit by hand.

13.	I bought a working antique sock-knitting machine last year, though I have yet to master using it. Meanwhile, the sock yarn collecting continues….

14.	I am a techno geek. I update my computer about every two years and my cell phone yearly. My home has WiFi, and my computers, TIVO and the Wii are all wireless. I set it all up myself.

15.	I took HTML classes online last year and built a website from the ground up, just because it looked like fun. It was. But I’m done with that for now.

16.	My kids are happy, healthy and not in jail, and they think I am a “cool mom”. 

17.	I consider motherhood a success.

18.	I can be very impulsive. This has led to poor decisions in the past, and though I have regrets, I would not change the past, because it has made me who I am, and I like myself.

19.	I have one tattoo. I plan on expanding that, but I have this thing about tattoos having meaning and being connected, so I am working with an artist on a theme.

20.	I have dreamt since Junior High School of being a writer.

21.	I love to read.

22.	My husband has suggested that if I read less and write more, I might actually realize my dream.

23.	I consider this a challenge.

24.	I look forward to Eternal life. This life is fun, but I chafe at the limitations, be it time, money, age or whatever.

25.	I truly believe that success and happiness in life are self-limited.


]]></description>
         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2009/02/25_random_things_about_me_wrot_1.html</link>
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                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Daily Grits</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:32:10 -0600</pubDate>
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            <item>
         <title>Today.....</title>
         <description><![CDATA[1.<strike>Get to the tag agency when it opens to renew drivers license and get new passport photo.</strike>
2. <strike>Continue to smile politely while they take my license photo…twice. And my passport photo…twice. </strike>
3. <strike>Arrive only three minutes late to my appointment with the dental hygienist. </strike>
4. <strike>Drive to the passport office and wait only five minutes before realizing I don’t have my birth certificate. </strike>
5. <strike>Drive home and get my birth certificate and social security card, just in case….</strike>
6. <strike>Drive back to the passport office and wait 35 minutes in front of a closed, locked door that says knock/ring bell for service. </strike>
7. <strike>Restrain myself to two rings and one knock (but was glad that the guy in line behind me rang twice too). </strike>
8. <strike>Continue to smile politely while the passport agent comments that the tag agency photographer “didn’t do you any favors, did they”? </strike>
9. <strike>Stare with incredulity at the passport agent when he states that my just renewed license might cause the Department of State to question my citizenship. </strike>
10. <strike>Provide the passport agent with birth certificate, social security card, Sam’s card, and two credit cards (account numbers blacked out) to bolster my claim of citizenship. </strike>
11. <strike>Smile politely for a third set of passport photos (the ones from the tag agency where off center). </strike>
12. <strike>Drive to work and see 15 patients. </strike>
13. <strike>Drive home and….</strike>
14. Watch American Idol.
15. <strike>Feel very productive. </strike>
]]></description>
         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2009/01/1get_to_the_tag_agency.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.stressreaction.com/2009/01/1get_to_the_tag_agency.html</guid>
                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Daily Grits</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:29:53 -0600</pubDate>
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            <item>
         <title>Baby, It&apos;s Cold Outside</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<center><img alt="laundryday.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/laundryday.jpg" width="600" height="450" /><br>Laundry day at the knit-sock-sweatshop</center>


This woman I used to work with (the <a href="http://www.stressreaction.com/2006/03/just_sit_right_back_and_youll.html">Unhappy Woman</a>) used to mock me (with most people it could have been considered teasing, but I didn’t like her and she didn’t like me, so we’ll call it like it was) about my $1,000,000 socks. 

Now a $1,000,000 might be a bit off the mark, but realistically? Sixteen pair at an average cost of $20 (a <em>very</em> conservative estimate, as those of you who regularly purchase sock yarn can attest) a pair = $320. On socks. And that’s not including labor, needles, stitch markers, knitting bags and the various accouterments that make this hobby so enjoyable.

I am blessed indeed.
]]></description>
         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/12/baby_its_cold_outside.html</link>
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                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Daily Grits</category>
                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Knitting Freak</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:11:31 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Eye Candy and Sky and a Big Thank You!</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<center><img alt="eyecandyandsaturdaysky.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/eyecandyandsaturdaysky.jpg" width="600" height="450" /></center>

Last Wednesday was a bad day.

Today and, in reality, most days are good days. Last week was stressful and tiring and I got sick this weekend (the less said about <em>that</em> the better), so I think I was coming down with something.

But you guys are awesome! So much love and support and prayers and good wishes and good advise. And I’m not putting it to waste. I promise. Because even though today is a good day, and most days are good days, those bad days do happen. And they are not fun when they happen.

So I have a plan. And a loving group of friends to help me follow the plan. Yes, I am looking at <strong>you</strong>!

1.	I am going to seek out a grief counselor. Maybe what I am going through is normal, but it will help to hear that. And I could definitely use some coping skills to help me on those bad days.

2.	I am going to start walking everyday. I know all about endorphins, and it’s time to kick those suckers into gear. 

3.	I am going to join a local Pilates studio. I used to do Pilates religiously about 10 years ago and not only did I love it, but I was in the best shape of my life!

4.	I am going to start spending more time doing the things I enjoy. Like photography, and reading, and knitting, and less time wasted on watching stupid TV like COPS (Sorry hubby, and anyone else who likes COPS and shows like that. Nothing against them, but I think they are stupid and the only time I like it is when they taser the bad guy and he screams like a little girl. Doesn’t matter how big he is, he screams like a little girl. Now if they made a show that was nothing but tasering of bad guys, <strong>that</strong> I would probably watch, thereby revoking whatever humanitarian memberships I have)!

5.	I am going to start researching my trip to Europe! Whoo and Hoo!!!

My sister and I have booked a Mediterranean cruise for the end of May. And I am so excited! We are flying into Barcelona a few days early, and then we embark on a 7-day cruise with several stops in Italy, France and Spain. 

So, no more yarn shopping*, but lots of cruise knitting coming up. I’ve got visions of myself standing at the railing with the beautiful Mediterranean water in the background and a lofty lace scarf blowing back with my hair in the gentle breeze! Can you see it? I can!

<em>*I am such a big, fat liar! Within an hour of this post I scored some <a href="http://shop.sweetgeorgiayarns.com/">Sweet Georgia</a> Yarn. But it's <a href="http://shop.sweetgeorgiayarns.com/">Sweet Georgia</a>! Who can blame me? Not to worry, though, I'm still on track for the rest of the "plan"!</em>
]]></description>
         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/eye_candy_and_sky_and_a_big_th.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/eye_candy_and_sky_and_a_big_th.html</guid>
                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Daily Grits</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:08:52 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Wednesday&apos;s Child is Full of Woe</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<center><img alt="wednesdayschild.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/wednesdayschild.jpg" width="600" height="450" /></center>

For the last 18 months I have been pretending that this isn’t so. 

But the truth is, I feel broken, the pieces scattered. 

And if I am committing to blogging <em>most</em> days of this month, I’m going to run out of bright and cheerful things to say. 

I don’t have a lot of experience with depression. Anxiety I know. We are long acquainted and get along the majority of the time. But depression is unfamiliar to me. I’m not sure how to negotiate this new landscape. Or how long I should expect it to last. How long do you grieve for your mother?

Even the things she said that used to piss me off, like Wednesday’s child is full of woe (usually said when I did something to piss her off). I don’t know if she was predicting my future, or hers with me, but it was something she used to tell me all the time.

Full of woe.

]]></description>
         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/wednesdays_child_is_full_of_wo.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/wednesdays_child_is_full_of_wo.html</guid>
                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Daily Grits</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:14:46 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Bead Brained</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The bead thing is absolutely killing me. I love the beads. I want to bead everything I knit for the rest of my life! I’m a bead addict! (My addictions are intense, but short lived!)

But which beads with which yarn? I’ve cast on this stole twice, but I’m thinking the third time is going to be the charm. The dagger beads look great with the Olive, but I think the pink beads look even better. Any thoughts?<center><img alt="hgpinkordagger.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/hgpinkordagger.jpg" width="600" height="450" /><br>Hanging Garden Stole by Sivia Harding<br>Fleece Artist Suri Blue in Olive and Ivory</center>
]]></description>
         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/beaded_brained_1.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/beaded_brained_1.html</guid>
                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Daily Grits</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:31:08 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Saturday Sky</title>
         <description><![CDATA[<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mary-heather/">Some</a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scoutj/">people</a> rave about New Mexico skies.

If I can do them justice, I think Oklahoma skies can compare.<center><img alt="satsky08.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/satsky08.jpg" width="600" height="450" />
</center>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/saturday_sky_1.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/saturday_sky_1.html</guid>
                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Daily Grits</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:02:32 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Eye Candy Friday and Weekend Plans!</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Shall we spin?<center><img alt="eyecandyspin.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/eyecandyspin.jpg" width="600" height="450" /></center>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/eye_candy_friday_and_weekend_p.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/eye_candy_friday_and_weekend_p.html</guid>
                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Daily Grits</category>
                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Eye Candy Friday</category>
                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Spinning Freak</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:05:03 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>TGIF Afternoon</title>
         <description><![CDATA[Light afternoon. Lot’s of flu shots on the schedule, which means a lot of work for my nurse, but not so much for me. And I need that after yesterday and this morning, days which tested my endurance, my patience and my dedication to my field.

So, Friday afternoon, new socks on my feet, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/futab/">FUTAB</a>!

What’s not to love? <center><img alt="futab.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/futab.jpg" width="600" height="450" /><br>Monkey Socks<br>Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Spring Forward<br></center>
]]></description>
         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/tgif_afternoon.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/tgif_afternoon.html</guid>
                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Daily Grits</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Fri, 07 Nov 2008 12:34:50 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Twilight</title>
         <description><![CDATA[The day was over before I knew it. I woke up, feeling almost hung over with the stress and anxiety of yesterday.

Here's to peace, healing, renewed prosperity for this country. We need to move forward from division. Work together. Remember we are United.

Please be with me.<center><img alt="lovethesky.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/lovethesky.jpg" width="600" height="450" /></center>]]></description>
         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/twilight.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/twilight.html</guid>
                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Daily Grits</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:46:58 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>I&apos;m Counted...Are You?</title>
         <description><![CDATA[I voted!

It kind of made me a little weepy, this privilege and obligation we have. The way the National Anthem makes me weepy. Almost like the time I full out cried when, just after 9/11, the band unfurled the US flag along the entire width and breadth of the football stadium.

Because I love this country. And as messed up as it is, and as much as it feels like our government has incited the hatred of the majority of the world, it's still who I am, who we are. 

Americans. <center><img alt="ivoted.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/ivoted.jpg" width="600" height="450" /></center>
]]></description>
         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/counted.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/counted.html</guid>
                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Daily Grits</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:50:25 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>NaBloPoMo</title>
         <description><![CDATA[I didn't even know what <a href="http://nablopomo.ning.com/">NaBloPoMo</a> was until yesterday. Then, I wanted to do it!

I'm late. I know. But I'm going to do it anyway. I’m looking at it as a growth opportunity. My usual approach is to not start anything late. And definitely not to skip steps. So here I am flying in the face of my own convention, and it feels good.

I might slip a couple of extra posts in there to satisfy my own sense of order. I mean, after all, there is personal growth and then there is just plain running amuck!

So, for today, some fall color. <center><img alt="fallcolor.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/fallcolor.jpg" width="600" height="450" /></center>


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         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/nablopomo.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/11/nablopomo.html</guid>
                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Daily Grits</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:52:35 -0600</pubDate>
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         <title>Those Were the Days</title>
         <description><![CDATA[I miss the glory days of knit blogging.

There’s lots of knitting still going on, but a lot less of it showing up on blogs and a lot more of it recorded on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a>. Which I can’t say is a bad thing. Searching for a particular pattern or yarn has never been easier. There’s been a ton of stuff added to my knitting queue because I saw a variation on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a> that made me look at a pattern a second time. For once my intended knitting actually has a chance of using the majority of my stash. If I live to be a thousand.

I’ve gotten a good head start. <center>

<img alt="finished%20socks.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/finished%20socks.jpg" width="500" height="500" /><br>
1. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54451567@N00/2875618873/">Artichoke Socks in Fleece Artist Sea Wool</a> <br>2. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54451567@N00/2527758923/in/photostream/">Traveling Vine Socks in Seacoast Merino Tencel </a> <br>3. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54451567@N00/2528578962/in/photostream/">Creeping Vines Socks in CTH Supersock Merino</a> <br>4. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54451567@N00/2528576544/in/photostream/">Lenore in STR lightweight</a></center>


And a new toy to make working through that stash a bit more efficient.<center>


<img alt="newtoy.jpg" src="http://www.stressreaction.com/newtoy.jpg" width="500" height="375" /></center>
]]></description>
         <link>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/10/those_were_the_days.html</link>
         <guid>http://www.stressreaction.com/2008/10/those_were_the_days.html</guid>
                  <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Knitting Freak</category>
        
        
         <pubDate>Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:37:35 -0600</pubDate>
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