Attack of the Behemoths

It is a long proven fact that I am short. I don't argue with the statement, 5'4" is considered short to almost the entire world. That said, things this week seem to be gigantic. Take for example, the Christmas tree.

I went and helped pick it out, but somehow it didn't appear to be this ginormous when it was out amongst all of it's brothers and sisters. Yikes. And as I've mentioned before, I get to decorate it. Double yikes. Here's a perspective picture, you know, in case you're not able to absorb the massiveness of this tree.

Lights and ornaments will go on tonight after work. And now on to happy news. Guess what this is:

Wrong, it's not just ice. It's ice from my brand new ice machine that is located in the training room that I am inhabiting for the winter season, and not ice from my beloved ice machine way far away in the ice rink training room. Now, to most of you, you won't understand why I'm so excited. Let my explain. Way back in September, early September, the old ice machine went on the fritz. Again. It did this last year too. And the volleyball team would complain that they couldn't get ice because it would randomly stop working. If you unplugged and replugged it in, it would work, a few times. And then it was kaput. So I called the maintenance team so they could look at it, and told my athletic director that a new machine might have to be ordered.

He, of course, didn't want to hear that, and said that the maintenance guys would be able to fix it. A few weeks later I finally got a hold of head maintenance man, and he explained that it could not be fixed within a reasonable price range (mind you, a new ice machine is in the budget for the new training room after they completely redo the gym, which is supposed to happen soon, so $700 for refrigerant for like a year isn't really reasonable). So he says that he told the AD that a new one was needed. A month later, I finally move into the training room, and have no new ice machine. So I track down the AD. And he says he didn't know that we had to get a new one. Groan.

So, finally, December 11, I have a working ice machine. It only took 3.5 months. And I no longer have to sludge through slush down to the rink every day to get ice for water and injuries. Yay. But, this is no ordinary ice machine. It's a monster of a machine.

See. Everything is humongous this week. It's over 6' tall. Wanna see the best part?

See that? It's got a spot to hold the ice scoop. So hopefully, my wonderful little angelic athletes will be able to resist just tossing the scoop into the depths of the machine, never to be seen again. Note the depth, and how full the ice is after running all day. Seems slow, but it's not.

And now for a bit of knitting. Thanks for hanging on this far. So, Christmas Project 3, after much internal debate, is now a St. Patty's Day surprise, and therefore, on hold for a little while. But I still needed a gift for it's intended recipient. So, I give you, the amended Christmas Project 3 (I can show some pics because giftee doesn't read this blog).

It's the Double Irish Chain mitten pattern from "Favorite Mittens" the fun book that Ellie brought back from Jersey for me a couple of visits ago. Love them, but I'm finding that I love all things Fair Isle, especially when I'm doing the knitting. I think it's just amazement that I can do it. Would've gotten more done last night, but I decided to work on my Christmas cards. I show pictures later, when people have received them, so as not to spoil the surprise.