Not my speed! I've been told I drive "like a little old lady". I thought I'd be able to knit but not so much, squeezing my eyes shut and stomping on the passenger brake. (It doesn't do much.). (Okay, the average was the average speed but we were on some l-o-n-g stretches of road.)
Eastern Oregon and Southwest Idaho are pretty much high desert. We drove through what had been a huge fire outside of the border four days previously - 530,000 acres - that was just chilling.
The wedding was fun - it rains in Idaho! It rained after the ceremony and almost after dinner - it felt pretty nice because it was probably still 90 degrees at 7:30 at night. When it rained again during the first dance, we bailed. After all, being sugar, I could melt.
The next big trip in my future is a trip to the hospital - I went to the doctor for a cortisone shot thinking I was getting the beginnings of arthritis and lo and behold, I have spondylolisthesis complicated by a cyst crowding my spinal column. So 4-5 days there, 6-8 weeks at home (possibly) and 3-6 mos recovery. The very first thing my mother said to me? "Good thing we moved all the furniture already." True. It looks so good.
And maybe I'll get some knitting done......
The Pendleton Factory in Pendleton, OR.
I bought a blanket. No wool for sale! Boo.
Other than that, it's been all about catching up and getting ahead so it won't be too crazy while I'm recuperating. On vacation I took my mom's copy of Charlotte Armstrong's book The Protege, written in 1970 that was pretty good. Nicely psychological with no mass serial killers, just old fashioned murder-for-a-reason. Even a bad reason.
And someone wanted a carbon copy of an itinerary! That takes me back. A used bookstore in Pendleton had The Turret Room and Dream of a Fair Woman, both good but I liked The Protege best. It was refreshing to have a 74 year old woman protagonist that wasn't portrayed as a dotty old woman but was fully fleshed out. Her son and her daughter and the Protege himself motivations seem differnt than modern day standards.
Right now I'm reading "How To Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe" by Charles Yu. I just want to blockquote all of it.
Oh, my --- do you need anything from me pre- or post-op? I am here for anything.
Posted by: Kim | July 26, 2012 at 01:56 PM
My sister once brought me mill ends on cones from Pendleton. Someday I WILL learn how to use that knitting machine.
Posted by: Marj | July 26, 2012 at 03:48 PM
So sorry to hear about your illness. Should we start making guesses at how many books you will read during your down time at home, little miss speedy reader?!
I'm jealous that you got to go to the Pendleton Mill. I'm a huge. Fan of Pendleton blankets. I consider mine a necessity during our cold winters. I went to an exhibit a few years ago to see a colllection of blankets at the local art museum. It was stunning. Very inspiring. Steve insists that I don't need to follow suit. He's seen my yarn stash and is afraid of my my collective issues.
Posted by: Knittinbrit | July 26, 2012 at 07:47 PM
Oh my! I hope the surgery goes tickety-boo and recovery is a snap (or as much of a snap as possible, anyway). That's gotta be some good knitting opportunity there, though, right? (Silver lining, silver lining...)
Posted by: Kathleen | July 26, 2012 at 08:05 PM
I hope your op goes ok. Sounds like you had a great trip.
Posted by: mrspao | July 27, 2012 at 03:42 AM
Sounds like a good trip, but yikes about the operation!! Do they have any idea what caused the spondylolisthesis???
Posted by: Chris | July 27, 2012 at 05:19 AM
Blech! Plenty of knitting time? Unless they give you good pain pills, then STAY AWAY FROM THE WOOL! Just sayin'.
Hey! Since I can't find my address book, can you email your address again?
Posted by: Stacey | July 27, 2012 at 05:21 AM
Oh, damn, Carrie!
Purty pictures, though.
Posted by: teabird | July 27, 2012 at 08:26 AM
Glad that you had a good trip! But yikes, sorry to hear about the health problems. I hope the surgery goes well and that you heal quickly.
They sell yardage at the Pendleton outlet store here in Portland. I could hook you up. You know, in case you need a wool fix.
Posted by: Big Alice | July 27, 2012 at 08:28 AM
Oh, no! I'm so sorry about your back. Hope everything goes well. Does all that recuperation time mean you'll have time to come up with a FO?
Posted by: Cheryl S. | July 27, 2012 at 09:42 AM
Good luck with the recuperating! I'm sure everything will be fine.
Also, that last book sounds like a keeper. I must look it up!
Posted by: Nicole | July 27, 2012 at 03:07 PM
Carrie- Bummer about the surgery, but at least it isn't arthritis, and you can knit.
I love Pendleton blankets.
Posted by: lorraine | July 27, 2012 at 05:05 PM
I love your mother. She DOESN'T drive like a little old lady!
xoxox
Posted by: Cookie | July 27, 2012 at 05:42 PM
Oh, hope the surgery goes well and that the recovery period is full of reading and knitting!
The Protege sounds fabulous! Have you read of Christopher Fowler's series about two octogenarian detectives in London? Quite good, too!
Posted by: Aarti | July 28, 2012 at 01:09 PM
Oh, good grief! My husband just had spinal surgery 2 weeks ago (L5-S1 fusion) and I am oh-so-familiar with the recovery. Are you going to stay with your mom? Because you will need 24hr care for several weeks after you come home. Laptop w/ wi fi, Hez to snuggle, no knitting until after the pain meds. E me if you want.
So. No fall busy season for you, then?
Posted by: kmkat | July 29, 2012 at 08:58 PM
Crap, Carrie! I hope they give you good drugs! But only garter stitch on those...at least your trip was fun. Was that a Prius dashboard? Me, I have a lead foot.
Posted by: Mary Lou | July 30, 2012 at 08:21 PM
Oh-my-goodness!!! OY! Surgery? Hon. I'm so sorry...Will be thinking of you.
(((hugs)))
Posted by: Knitnana | July 31, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Sending healing thoughts your way :)
Posted by: Rachel | August 01, 2012 at 07:49 AM
Those are nice blankets! Oh, I didn't like reading the part after the lo and behold! How soon do you go in? I'm sending thoughts for rapid and complete healing your way! HUGS.
Straws are good for beverages. Stream some old Castle episodes. Get in some good naps. :D
Thanks for the book discussion. I'm definitely looking for good portrayals of women over 30.
Posted by: Angie | August 01, 2012 at 08:30 PM
Glad you had a nice trip, but oh, your poor back! Hopefully recovery time will allow for lots of knitting and reading. So Charles Yu's book is good? I've been wondering about it, haven't seen too many people reading it but just the title is tempting me.
Posted by: Stefanie | August 03, 2012 at 11:53 AM
Well I'm glad you're having the surgery! It needs to be done, and you'll be so much better for it. :D When are you going in?! (Mine's in less than 2 weeks!)
Posted by: Brigitte | August 09, 2012 at 11:18 AM
Gorgeous photos! I haven't been to Idaho in years, but I remember loving it.
Good luck with the surgery. Having had back surgery, I can tell you that it's worth giving yourself all the recommended recovery time and more. When do you go in?
Posted by: Jocelyn | August 26, 2012 at 01:32 PM
okay, now i see a post on why you were in the hospital although I have no idea what that long word means. I'll have to look it up but I'm guessing it is back related.
Now...granted I was in the field in western washington at the time but that's beside the point. you drove through eastern oregon and didn't tell me?!?!?
Posted by: Rachel | November 02, 2012 at 05:35 PM